Back to School...

And just like that, summer is over. 

Today the kids went back to school. Emotions were running deep this morning. Excitement, nerves and even a few tears... and I'm sure the kids felt the same way too. 

I deal with anxious times by throwing myself into a project, and this year it was all about capturing and creatively displaying these "first day" moments. Using no less than four different apps, I came home from my two drop-offs (Zoe's in an afternoon 1/2 day program) and cropped, colored and collaged away the emotions that come with the milestones of your children's growth.

First Lucas:

Picture taken with Olympus PEN E-PL3 / App used: Phoster

My big kid. He loves clothes and accessories and picked out his own BtS outfit this year from Tillys. His back-pack was courtesy of the Land's End Back to School event I went to while in New York. I will admit that I was worried it wasn't going to be cool enough for my very style opinionated 8 year old, but he loved it. And it's a nice, solid backpack that looks like it can take a 3rd grade beating.

This was also the first year of the "Stop it Mom, you're embarassing me!" phase... but I still made him hold my hand as we walked down the hill. 

Picture taken with Olympus PEN E-PL3 / App used: TurboCollage and LabelBox

Lucas is wearing the Lands' End Kids' School Rules Classmate Backpack in Medium. It was a gift to me for attending the New York event, and it's currently on sale for $27!

Zoe:

My little pickle who is growing up too quickly.

Picture taken with Olympus PEN E-PL3 / App used: PhosterThis 2-year kindergarten thing will get confusing when it comes to pictures, but I'm SO happy she is in this program. Entering kindergarten isn't something you think of when you first have a late-fall baby, but wow, the decision of to hold-back or put in can drive a parent nuts. 

Zoe is my little fashionista in the making. She chose this dress and the slouchy ankle boots to go with it. She wanted to wear lip gloss, but I wouldn't let her. YES. I wrote that my 4.5 year old wanted to wear lip gloss to her first day of kindergarten. 

Zoe was excited and nervous. She told me she had butterflies in her belly, but she couldn't wait to meet new friends and play with them on "her new playground." Her teacher seems amazing. She created the curriculum for this transitional K program and is excited to be able to give the kids a proper, solid foundation. Zoe got a little clingy when it was time to line up, but then she marched right in with a smile on her face. 

I managed to hold it together while standing outside the class, waving good-bye. But as I was walking back to my car a mom behind me said "Great, now I'm going to go back to work and sob at my desk" ... and that's when I lost it.

My baby; Growing up too fast. 

Picture taken with Olympus PEN E-PL3 / App used: TurboCollage and Labelbox

So home I came. The first Monday afternoon I've had to myself in what? 8 years?

After pulling myself together, I downloaded pictures and created collages. Putting my mind to work and trying not to think about how fast my kids are growing while simultaneously trying to make sure that I never forget the special moments of these precious years.

Picture taken with Olympus PEN E-PL3 / App used: Phoster

Summertime fun… just in time for Summer to end.

It’s the last week of summer break for my kids. Next week marks the passage into 3^rd grade for Lucas and {transitional} Kindergarten (a 2-year K program at our school for kids with late fall birthdays) for Zoe. Being that it’s late August and school is about to begin means one thing in San Diego – our summertime weather has only just now started. SIGH.

All summer the kids have been begging me to get in the pool with them, but being a spoiled So. Cal native means I only take a dip when it’s really warm out. Besides, you should see our community pool after a day of 1000 kids…not really where I want to be swimming.

Last month Sony asked me to be a “Sony Mom.” As an ambassador for this program, I’ll have the opportunity to review various products over the next few months. The first product was a Sony Cybershot DSC-TX20, a super cute waterproof camera perfect for capturing those days at the pool and the beach.

While I couldn’t wait to try it out…I kept waiting for warmer temps. Then I went to NYC and somehow managed to bring the sweaty weather back with me. Flip side? I finally got to really try out my new Cybershot.

The kids had a great time “posing” underwater, and the pictures and video were clear and crisp. For a little more drama, I ran the images through Snapseed and played with coloring and effects. I love the cool vintage feeling.

 

Next time I want to do a full “dressed-up” underwater photo shoot with the kids. I also can't wait to take this camera to the beach or snorkeling. Guess we may just have to take some kind of tropical vacation...  

Now that we are all dreaming of sitting on a beach, sipping a Pina Colada, I will give you the techy info:

The Sony Cyber-Shot TX20 comes in five different colors: orange, green, black, blue, and pink. It’s currently retailing for about $300 – but check around because the price ranges.

It has:

- 16 MP “Exmor R” CMOS sensor

- Waterproof, dustproof, freeze-proof, and shockproof

- 25mm equivalent lens with 4x optical zoom, 8X virtual zoom via “Clear Image Zoom” technology

- “Extra High Sensitivity” technology enhances low-light shooting capabilities

- Captures 12 MP still images while shooting video

- Full HD Movie Shooting capabilities with 1920×1080/60i and two direction Optical Image stabilization with “Active Mode”

- 3.0" touch screen

- BEST FEATURE EVER: The "Soft Skin Mode." It's like automatic air brushing for the skin. I highly recommend always keeping this feature on when shooting anyone over the age of 10. Your friends will thank you and will probably use the picture you take of them in this mode as their new Facebook profile picture. Seriously. It's that good. 

**Disclaimer: I was selected to be a part of the Sony VIP Mom Blogger Review (#SonyMoms) program. I was given a Sony Cyber-Shot TX20 for the purpose of this review. I was not otherwise compensated. The thoughts and options shared above are my own and do not reflect those of Sony.

Loving My: Longchamps Le Pliage Tote

Bags by hipmamab featuring longchamp tote

I needed a new tote bag. Something I could carry on with me when I flew to New York but then could also use to carry around my iPad, water bottles and random pieces of swag while at BlogHer. My mom has had this same Longchamps tote for awhile and has always raved about how light of a bag it is; Perfect for schlepping whatever it is you need to schlep. 

Determined not to get the same bag as my mother, I searched high and low for a tote bag that a) zipped b) was light and c) was big, but not too big. Coming up empty handed, I quickly ordered the Longchamp tote from Nordstrom five days before I left for New York City.

When it comes to bags, I should just always defer to my mother... She was right - this is THE PERFECT bag for travel. I got magazines, water, a pashmina and all other "purse" items it without issue. It sits nicely on my shoulder, fits perfectly under the airplane seat and most importantly - it looks CHIC.

In fact, I noticed that it is currently THE IT bag of the ladies of NYC.

Since I've returned, I've continued to use it as my daily purse. It looks as good with a shirt dress and flip flops as it does a business suit. And a MAMA BONUS? It's nylon, which means easy cleaning. I already had a mishap involving something chocolate and the 100 degree heat wave, but it cleaned right up with a wet nap. 

Needless to say, I'm in bag love...