Every year in the fall, kids all over are either excited or nervous for the first day of school. Or, if you are like my kids a little of both. Well, maybe my older child is not that nervous, but my younger one is, but also excited. I have a daughter going into 5th grade (oh, the HOMEWORK!!!) and a son going into 2nd grade.  They go to private school and have the dual curriculum so they are loaded with work. Thank G-d my two bigger kids love school (as I did as a child) and I don’t know what my baby girl will be like, but I have a feeling like my older daughter, loving interacting with others, being social, etc. because she is already!

Last night, we had a TRIAL run for school. Why? Well, because it has been the summer, after the kids camp ended, we have been a bit lazier, getting up a bit later, eating breakfast a bit later, etc. so I was afraid their lazy head Mom who goes to bed way too late would make the kids miss the bus on the first day of school (which is early this year; Sept. 1st before Labor Day b/c Rosh Hashanah is so early this year, they decided to start a week before Labor Day…)  It went really well. My son was up by around 6:30AM. I shortly thereafter got up and went to make him breakfast; I let my daughter sleep a little longer since she shares her room with her baby sister and she instantly wakes up when I walk in the room. How she can hear me tip top so quietly and tap my older daughter, I have no idea…but she does and then she is up. My son made his bed (like he does every morning) and brushed his teeth; put on the clothes I prepared for him and was downstairs in less than 5 minutes. I was very proud of him. My daughter, on the other hand, takes a bit longer, but she came down by 7am, not too bad!

We ended up going to the bus stop with 7 minutes to spare. I was very proud of the kids.  Funny, my son said he had a dream about his new teacher. He said that during a play he was wearing pants that I bought him (he said they were too big) and in the dream, he kept tripping because they were too long and the teacher kept saying “Noah, what is wrong, why do you keep tripping?” and then he woke up. He thought it was funny….he said he never heard his reply.

I also noticed that the last two nights, my daughter went in to bed and less than 1/2 hour later, she walks down the stairs to me on the couch where I am watching TV and she is sort of half asleep. I asked her if she is okay and she answers yes. I say, okay, you just wanted another hug and she says yes. She hugs me and goes back up to bed. It is strange, but perhaps she is apprehensive about the new year or extremely excited. I hope the latter.

Let’s hope tomorrow, the REAL first day of school goes as well as today did. I was too tired to prepare the lunches for them, so I will have to do it in the AM. But, they have all their clothes prepared and bookbags with all their supplies labeled, so they should be all set to go and LEARN about lots of good things in school.

Good luck to everyone else out there sending their kids off to the first day in the next week or so. Hope it is a wonderful year of growth and learning for everyone!

We are selling on www.startingoutsmall.com snackTAXI reusable sandwich and snack bags. We are selling out quickly, so come and take a look. They are terrific, easy to wash, come in nice style and stay tuned for more on the way!  My neighbor just bought 4 for her two older children tonight. They are an excellent and eco friendly way to conserve plastic and the environment.

We also have some new hair accessories and PACIMALS, a great idea to keep your baby’s pacifier in place when their tiny fingers let go of it…what a concept. We have them in some great animal designs, come and take a peek.

We have extended our sale on the three most new TRUMPETTE SOCK SETS that we have now, Ballerina, Baby Buffalo and Baby Camouflage. Only $19.95! Compare it to Nordstroms and Bloomies, they are MUCH cheaper. We deliver ASAP too.

We are offering an additonal 10% off from now until Rosh Hashanah, so what are you waiting for? Come stop and shop….

Ciao for now!

Rebecca Barkai/CEO

www.startingoutsmall.com

info@startingoutsmall.com

How tragic! I cannot even imagine the parents of this dear baby who died, the agony they are going through!!! But, can’t all these things be prevented if we all only followed the instructions on products?

Additionally, I personally DO NOT UNDERSTAND why they have not taken CRIB BUMPERS off the market yet? I used them for both my two older children, but over the last several years they have come out saying HOW DANGEROUS they are; kids can suffocate, so WHY do stores still sell TONS of these beautiful crib bumper sets? I know I had written about this on another blog a while back, but I felt it was important to bring up again after reading about this very sad article!

So many deaths or near deaths or injuries could be prevented if only we, as consumers were made more aware of the harms and that stores also PULL THEM OFF THE SHELVES, but, I have seen the shelves completely stocked with all kinds of crib/bumper sets for babies cribs…in Buy Buy Baby, BabiesRUS, etc.

Shame, Shame, Shame!

What are your thoughts everyone?

Rebecca Barkai/CEO

www.startingoutsmall.com

info@startingoutsmall.com

201-248-3629

Every summer or as it approaches early spring, I get all crazy about having my children wear sun tan lotion to protect their delicate skin. Every year the same old story, can I reuse the suntan lotions left over from the previous summer/s? I do tend to hold on to them in the cabinet, but always buy new ones as well and then just use whatever I can find when the time comes during the summer months.

I have heard differing opinions; some say, NO you must toss the old ones out and then there are those that say they are fine…Who should I believe? It is all so frustrating….WE, as adults tend to often think only of our children being protected, but PLEASE don’t forget about your own skin as well.

You must find lotions or creams that protect both UVA and UVB rays, it is not enough to protect just one. I also found it interesting that those sun protections that state/have a seal of the American Cancer Society on it, PAY to have those on their lotions/creams and it is NOT necessarily checked by the ACS…just a note!

Unfortunately, skin cancer is not a laughing  matter and has become more prevalent over the years, unfortunately…  They say it is best to use 50 SPF and that anything higher does not really make a difference.  So, I tend to buy a minimum of that….

Again, I still don’t know, even after reading the informative article I have attached…which sun tan lotion I should buy. I guess I will have to do a bit more research. Or, as the article states “Sometimes it takes a few tries until you find the one that works for you and your kids”, everyone has sensitivities and what works for one may not work for another.

IF ANYONE HAS ANY OTHER HELPFUL INFO TO ADD, PLEASE COMMENT! I always appreciate feedback from my blogs. Thanks!

Stay safe, keep cool and enjoy the hot weather….

Rebecca Barkai/CEO

www.startingoutsmall.com

info@startingoutsmall.com