Back To School

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So it's coming up to the end of August which only means one thing in our house: the countdown to school, or more specifically, Year One. Layla turned five this June so has said farewell to Reception and is off to her first 'real' year of school. Layla's been gone for two years now - first afternoons in nursery and then full day's in Reception but this year just seems special somehow and add in the fact that Amelia will be attending nursery in January 2014 too and I'm a little baby-sick. I miss their baby days. I miss when they needed me for everything. In the same breath I love that they're both confident, independent young girls with a passion for learning anything and everything and love meeting new people and making new friends. I'm one proud mama.

Anywho, back to the reason for this post. I love school shopping and I don't ever really bother buying uniform from the school shop (£18 for a child's jumper - no thank you). I've tried pretty much every high street and supermarket shop for uniform and find that George at Asda is the best. Now with Layla loving bows we already have a lot of these pinafores from last year but this year I bought a few more in the next size up and everything else has been washed and is in a bag ready for Amelia starting nursery. These shirts have adorable bows on the pocket, the shoes are a mini version of shoes I already own and God, she just looks adorable in them.

This year is the first year Layla will need a backpack and a purse for her lunch money so I've gone down the natural route and opted for Cath Kidston. I remember Layla pleading for this bag last year in the store but I told her she'd have to wait as they weren't allowed for anything other than PE kit and now the time has rolled around and she is thoroughly excited. Hopefully it'll be on it's way to me in the post this week but I am very very excited and may even steal it for myself. I'll also be teaching her the importance of keeping her purse safe so this adorable coin purse will serve her well for lunch and responsibility issues.

Before the first day of school every year we always have a pampering session where we'll put her hair in rags, have a bath with a Lush bath bomb or bath melt (this is Mmmelting Marshmallow Moment, one of her favourites), clip her nails and add a coat of clear nail varnish to her toe nails so she feels like a big girl and get everything ironed and organised. I'll be buying a few of these Mmmelting Marshmallow Moment's just so I can use one after they've gone to bed!

Are you ready for September?