Back to School Tradition

It ends Sunday!

Every year for as long as I can remember, I enjoyed shopping with my mom for back to school items.  From clothes to shoes to backpacks and accessories, this special tradition is one I treasured.  The tradition continues as my mom now treats each of the grandchildren for a “Back to School” Day with Bapka (Polish for Grandma).

Our trip includes a visit to our favorite anniversary sale at Nordstrom. I spent many years working at Nordys in my teens (loved that discount), and would spend many paychecks there as well.  Their sales were the best, especially the Fall Preview. Growing up in Nor Cal allowed me to bundle up and accessorize with hats, jackets, and all kinds of boots….so fun!

Now my kids look forward to this time every year.  They focus in on three areas at Nordys…backpacks, the cool shoes and fishes in the shoe department and the yummy tomato soup at the cafe.  It is a morning to mid afternoon treat. We always start in the shoe department when the store opens.  The kids head right to the coloring station.

Nordstrom is always ready for us..balloons, snacks and sizes.

With four kids at the children’s shoe department, we are there at least 2-3 hours.  I decided to take 2 kiddos this time around as others were in camp, but wee ones attention spans can only go so far.  Yes, here we are already…

After sizing and picking out their favorite uniform dress shoe and a pair of PE shoes; kids are off to try them on.  Both big girls chose these adorable dress shoes by Primigi ‘Kapri’ Mary Jane (Toddler, Little Kid & Big Kid)

Sale: $39.90  After Sale: $74.95 – $94.95

My 3-year-old is in preschool, so I have some flexibility on her PE shoe.  She was all over these SKECHERS ‘Shuffles’ Light-Up Sneaker (Walker & Toddler)

Sale: $29.90   After Sale: $44.95

The PE school shoe my oldest picked out is the Reebok ‘ZigActivate’ Running Shoe (Little Kid & Big Kid)

Sale: $39.90 – $49.90    After Sale: $59.95 – $79.95

My son had some fun before he decided on his dress or PE shoe.  He just had to have these DC Shoes ‘Spartan – Hi’ Skate Shoe (Little Kid & Big Kid).  They did not have his size in store so they shipped them to our home for free.  They arrived this week while he was playing outside, you think the kid hit the lotto!

Sale: $34.90  After Sale: $49.95

For PE , he went with the Geox ‘Stark 1’ Sneaker (Toddler, Little Kid & Big Kid)

Sale: $44.90   After Sale: $64.95 – $79.95

The baby picked up some fashion fabs as well.  Cute, comfy and stylish were these Stride Rite ‘Dana’ Mary Jane (Baby & Walker)

Sale: $29.90   After Sale: $45.95

For all the fun dress up days, she looked adorable in these Nordstrom ‘Brooklynn’ Flat (Walker, Toddler, Little Kid & Big Kid)

Sale: $29.90   After Sale: $39.95

Backpacks are a fun treat and my girls loved the reversible neon and print ones this year.

This sale goes on until this Sunday, August 5th, so grab your kids and try to put a smile on the littles to get them excited to go back to school…

I am sure you will be grinning from ear to ear soon enough!