Tax Free Holidays for Back to School Shopping

Tax Free holidays are popular times for parents to head out shopping for back to school clothing and supplies with the kids.  Expect stores to be crowded, and pack your patience to take advantage of the extra savings.

Below is a list of dates where states have announced a state sales tax holiday.  Georgia, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts will not have a tax free holiday in 2017.

State	Items Included	Dates
Alabama	clothing, computers, school supplies	Jul 21-23rd, 2017
Mississippi	clothing & footwear	Jul 28-29th, 2017
Tennessee	clothing, school supplies, computers	Jul 28-30th, 2017
Florida	school supplies, clothing, computers	Aug 4-6th, 2017
Ohio	clothing and school supplies	Aug 4-6th, 2017
Virginia	clothing, school supplies	Aug 4-6th, 2017
South Carolina	clothing, school supplies, computers	Aug 4-6th, 2017
Oklahoma	clothing	Aug 4-6th, 2017
New Mexico	clothing, computers, school supplies	Aug 4-6th, 2017
Missouri	clothing, computers, school supplies	Aug 4-6th, 2017
Iowa	clothing	Aug 4-5th, 2017
Louisiana	Personal Property <2500	Aug 4-5th, 2017
Arkansas	clothing, school supplies	Aug 5-6th, 2017
Texas	clothing, backpacks & school supplies	Aug 11-13th, 2017
Maryland	clothing & footwear	Aug 13-19th, 2017
Connecticut	clothing and footwear	Aug 20-26th, 2017

Source:  https://www.freetaxweekend.com/

Photo Credit: Jimmie. School Supplies Homeschool. (Flickr)

Stride Rite Cooper Lace Sneaker, a review

While a girls basic white sneakers are fairly easy to find, finding a supportive athletic shoe in plain white is much harder to find. So when I'm shopping for white sneakers for my daughter to wear to school with her school uniform, I head to our local StrideRite store and straight to the boys shoe aisle. She's on her 3rd pair of StrideRite Cooper Lace Sneakers.  She's worn them each year since first grade. Each time she outgrows them, we pick up a new pair.

These sneakers are great for school because they hold up to wear and tear on the playground.  They are available in solid white or black making them a great choice for uniform kids.  They have a leather upper and mesh lining.  Big kids, and younger kids that take pride in the ability to tie their own shoes, will like the lace up style.  For the preschool set, and those that prefer not to fuss with laces, will appreciate the Cooper Hook and Loop version of this shoe. They come in sizes ranging from Preschool sizes 8 - 12 and Kid sizes 12.5 through 6 and come in three widths of medium, wide and extra wide.

The care instructions advise you to brush off dry dirt and to clean with a damp cloth with a little mild detergent.  I have cleaned my daughter's sneakers in this same manner several times.  Once they got very dusty from a visit to a playground, so I removed the laces and hand washed them with soap and water.  Overall, these are very low maintenance shoes that just continue to hold up well and look good.

They are excellent quality.  They are worth the regular retail for $42.00.  If you can catch them on sale, even better!

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Featured Basic: Youth Casual Sneakers

Youth Casual Sneakers

In many uniform schools, kids are required to wear basic sneakers in simple colors like white or black or another color that match the school uniform colors. At my daughter's school, the kids are required to wear sneakers on days when they have PE class that are "mostly" navy, white or black. It is my interpretation that the term "mostly" is used because the policy makers recognize how hard it is to find a basic sneaker in just one solid color.

I have commented before, that solid white or black sneakers are hard to find.  Sneaker colors today are anything but basic.  They are colorful in bright, fun shades. So I was pleasantly surprised to come across these basic sneakers in plain white.  They are also offered in a cute Dark Denim color.

They feature a leather upper, which is easy to keep looking clean. I also love the antimicrobial finish which helps prevent shoe odor. They retail for $39 at Lands' End.  Right now they are on sale for $19.99.

Fun Find: Fringe Slip On Sneakers at Crazy 8

 

While browsing the uniform items, I came across these fun Fringe Slip-On Sneakers at Crazy 8's. They feature fringe across the toe with a bow.   They are navy blue and are canvas/man made mate They are available in toddler sizes 9 through girls size 5.  Regularly they retail for $19.88, today you can snag them for $9.94.

I think these shoes would be a super cute alternative to basic Mary Jane's with school uniform. Through Wednesday 7/22/15, you can get 50% off all regular price items at Crazy 8.

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Frugal Find: Girls' Mary Jane Shoes

I spotted these Girls' Unit Bottom Mary Jane Shoes on clearance at Lands' End. They still have a most sizes available in navy, black and black patent in both wide and regular widths.

I love the basic navy Mary Jane with the school uniform, and the black patent are perfect for dress up occasions. These have an easy to use Velcro closure.  My favorite features are the rubber sole and the antimicrobial finish to reduce odor.

 They regularly retail for $39.00, and are now only $19.99.

If you act fast,you can pick them up for a steal with this special offer:

Limited time - 5/21-5/25 only! Start your summer right with Lands' End's Memorial Day Sale! Receive 30% off everything at Lands' End. Use code THRILL and pin 4110. Ends 5/25/15.

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zulily Private Event - Up to 70% off Kids Spring/Summer Shoes

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links

Stock up on spring and summer footwear for your kids with the zulily 'Fun in the Sun Kids Shoes' event! Starting today, zulily is featuring a huge selection of footwear for both boys and girls, up to 70% off! This is a private zulily event that can ONLY be accessed through the shopping links below:

Girls Private Event - Up to 70% off Girls Spring/Summer Shoes - Shop Now!
Boys Private Event - Up to 70% off Boys Spring/Summer Shoes - Shop Now!

Make sure to head on over to zulily right away and take advantage of the amazing savings... because this sale ends on 4/30 at 6AM PST. Take a look at some of the featured items on sale:

Pink Metallic Flower Sandal $33.00 $14.99

Light Pink & Green Polka Dot Boat Shoe $20.00 $6.99

Purple Mesh Water Shoe $12.00 $6.99

Blue & Black Water Shoe $12.00 $5.99

Camo Green Marble Clog $10.00 $5.99

Black & Gray Double-Strap Sandal $20.00 $11.99

Kids Crocs for Summertime

Crocs Inc. was born in Boulder, Colo. in 2002 as the maker of a simple, comfortable boat shoe.  The crocs clogs shoes we've all seen is made of material called Croslite™, which is a "a proprietary closed-cell resin that gives each pair of shoes its soft, comfortable, lightweight, non-marking and odor-resistant qualities."  Today, you can now “Get Crocs Inside” in newer styles, including canvas sneakers, leather boots, heels and sandals.  They have also expanded into new lines such as the Ocean Minded™ by Crocs which is a line of men’s, women’s and kids’ sandals and apparel inspired by and perfect for the beach and warm-weather wearing occasions. Golfers can check out their new Crocs™ Golf collection that features a number of men’s and women’s styles that can be worn both on and off the course.

As an affiliate partner, I recently visited their website looking for children's shoes for summertime.  Many summer camp's require a closed toe shoe, no  flip flips or sandals are allowed.  Kids want simple, comfortable shoes that will take from from the playground to the pool. We , s parents, want them to last through summer vacation without turning into little stink bombs. Below are a few cute, summertime selections:

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Crocs Iris / Neon Purple Girls' Duet Busy Day Mary Jane (Children's) Shoes $34.99







Crocs Ice Blue / Iris Girls' Crocband Airy Hearts Flat (Children's) Heart Flat




Crocs Navy / White Kids' Beach Line Lace Boat Shoe Shoes available in both Children's $39.99 and Juniors $44.99





Crocs Black / Black Kids' Swiftwater Sandal (Juniors') Shoes $34.99





Crocs Ultraviolet / Black Kids' Hover Sneak Metallic Kids' Comfortable Sneakers also available in Fuchsia $39.99

Olly Shoes School Fundraiser

I'm always on the lookout to learn about school fundraising programs, especially those that relate to school clothing.  So given that it is National Foot Car month, I was pleased to learn that Olly Shoes partners with local area schools and offer either a discount on required shoes to parents or a percentage of sales back to the school to assist in funding school programs.

If you missed it, you can check out the Retail Round Up post on Olly Shoes from earlier this month which features several great selections fro school shoes.  There is a useful link labeled School Shoes in the upper right hand header of their web page to take you right to the selection of great school shoes including pediped, School Issue, Merrell, Jumping Jacks, Sperry, Puma, and New Balance.  They also carry Jefferies socks and tights.

So far, they are working with schools in PA, DE, MD and NJ. To receive information about our program and get your school involved, email your request to info@ollyshoes.com.

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Olly Shoes in the Retail Round Up Series

Olly's has locations across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Ontario. If you are withing driving distance of a store, take the kids to check out their OllyScan. An OllyScan is a patented, computerized measurement system that takes a picture of your child’s foot and measures it at 6 points to determine their size.I also love that they have a link for School shoes right in the top of the website.

When shopping online, unused purchase can be returned by mail within 30 days.  Olly has a reward program called Olly's VIP members where members get an additional 10% off.

Here is the Olly Story from Founder, Katherine Chapman:

"OLLY Shoes began as a result of my own challenging shopping experiences with my family. As a mother of three kids that ranged in age from newborn to seven, I found it extremely difficult to find shoes that fit my kids properly. My goal was to create a shoe store that made footwear shopping fun for kids - and easy for their parents. OLLY Shoes was born in 2001 and has received an overwhelmingly positive response. We offer a wide variety of athletic, casual, seasonal and specialty footwear, as well as unique accessories and gifts. Come see why parents who shop us consider OLLY the best one-stop kid’s shoe store in the business. We look forward to serving you at OLLY!"

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Here are a selection of great looking school shoes I found while browsing their site:

School Issue Semester
Who doesn't want to rock these blue suede shoes?  These are great looking saddle shoes for boys. They are available in navy suede, brown oil and dirty buck.

Price: 44.95

School Issue Scholar

Basic boys's school oxford shoe.
Price: 54.95

Jumping Jacks Tutor

Perfect Mary Janes's for girls.  Available in navy and black.
Price: 59.95

Puma GV Spedial Jr

Basic girl's sneaker in white; perfect for PE.
Price: 49.95

New Balance KX624

Basic boy's sneaker in white, perfect for PE.
Price: 39.95

APMA Launches New Children's Foot Health Campaign

(c) APMA

The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) launched a new online educational resource for medical professionals and parents. The "First Steps: Keeping Kids' Feet Healthy and Happy" campaign aims to educate the general public about the importance of maintaining children's foot health at all ages, and the role today's podiatrist plays in promoting positive foot health. Pain-free feet are the first step in making sure children stay active and healthy.

"The most critical stage of the foot's development is during a child's first year, when feet grow rapidly. It's important that parents pay close attention to children's feet even before they start to walk, beginning at birth and continuing as they take their first steps, go to school, and participate in sports."

APMA President Frank Spinosa, DPM  

Don't let a child's foot pain stop them in their tracks. Today's podiatrists are uniquely qualified among medical professionals to treat the complex structure of the foot and ankle, based on their level of education, training, and experience. They can provide guidance for keeping children's feet healthy at all developmental stages and treat any injuries or abnormalities.

The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) is the nation's leading professional organization for today's podiatrists. They have created a suite of education materials as part of the First Steps campaign, including an online resource page, poster, brochure, videos, and a Pinterest board of children's products that have earned the APMA Seal of Acceptance.

Celebrating National Foot Care Month

Does your kid need new kicks for school?

The American Podiatric Medical Associations promotes April as National Foot Care Month.  They conducted a national study conducted in 2012 that investigated teenagers' attitudes toward their overall foot health.  Here are a few key findings:

• Only about half of teenagers see feet as important to overall health; few recognize their complexity and the need for expert care.
• Teenagers are just as diligent as adults (or in some cases, more so) in caring for their bodies, except their feet.
• Most teens participate in some type of sport, and of them, almost 4 in 10 say they have injured their feet doing so.
• Two in 10 suffer from foot pain from uncomfortable shoes – girls more so than boys. High heels are the most painful shoe choice. A third of girls say they would rather go barefoot than wear shoes!

Throughout the month, we will be celebrating shoes, socks, and foot care. Upcoming posts will highlight several affiliate vendors that carry school shoes and socks in the Retail Round Up Series.  We are participating in several shoe giveaways (Hotter Shoes and Mozo Shoes) this month.  You gotta enter to win and fans of Uniform Mom will find easy entries available.

Clean Up those old School Shoes with Mink Oil

© Rene Shonerd 2014

My daughter's everyday school shoes had seen better days. They have navy leather uppers, but the toes were almost white with scuffs and wear.  They look like they needed replaced. I had been looking unsuccessfully for navy shoe polish as I was out shopping over the holidays.

While cleaning up after the holidays, I came across a very old container of mink oil. I had used it on odd occasion to clean up and shine up my leather shoes. I've had the same container when I was in school and somehow it's traveled with me for numerous moves yet spent years in the bottom of a box in the closet.

I figured I couldn't do anymore harm to those school shoes, so
I found an old cleaning rag and rubbed a small amount of the mink oil into her shoe.

It worked like magic.  I couldn't get over the difference.  I grabbed the camera before I did the other shoe, so I could show you the before and after shot. See how the show on the left is all discolored, but the one on the right looks like a new shoe again.

The directions read as follows:

Remove all excess dirt. Apply with a clean cloth, especially around seams and stitching. After five minutes wipe off excess and polish. Prevents drying, cracking and salt stains. Recommended for all smooth leather and vinyl. May darken certain leathers. Do not use on Suede of Nubuck.

It did actually work that easy. I rubbed it on paying special attention of the areas showing the most wear. The dry leather soaked in that oil bringing back it's color and shine. I plan to spend an evening this week sprucing up my shoes, my husband's shoes, and my handbags. Since its not a stinky spray that you need to use in the open air, you can do it indoors while watching a TV show. I am definitely going to keep that container handy and use it much more regularly with my daughter's shoes.

The brand I have is so old that I cannot find it listed online, but I found Kiwi Mink Oil Conditions & Waterproofs Leather 2.5/8 Oz. available on Amazon. It is inexpensive. I recommend you add it on to your next order.

Classroom School Uniforms Unveils New Footwear and Legwear Collections for 2014

Classroom School Uniforms, a leading national manufacturer of school uniforms, announced it is adding footwear and legwear collections to the Classroom brand. The products will be available at retail in June for the back-to-school 2014 buying season.

The Classroom footwear collection includes five styles for boys and three styles for girls in sizes pre-school to adult. Styling for boys includes Oxfords, Slip-ons, Loafers and Trainers. Girls styling includes Mary Janes, T-straps and Saddle Shoes.


The Classroom Footwear line provides outstanding value and style, along with the "Real World Tested" quality families expect from Classroom. Using easy care man-made uppers and non-marking thermoplastic rubber outsoles, Classroom shoes are built to go the distance of a full school year. Fit and comfort features like padded heel counters and insoles, 4-eyelet tie or hook and loop fasteners and textured, slip resistant soles make these easy to wear all day, every day.

The Classroom legwear collection is a high quality, moderate cost program with a unique twist: All socks and tights are Rayon made from Bamboo, a processed fabric using sustainable fibers that is moisture wicking and helps prevent blisters. Available in crew and knee-highs, Classroom socks feature reinforced heels for durability, hand-linked, seamless toes for comfort, and are sold in a 3-pack with peg hanger. Classroom tights are a premium weight flat knit with an anti-roll waistband, sold as a single pack with peg hanger. All are available in 6 colors.

For more information about Classroom's complete line of products, call our uniform hotline at 888-593-6616 or visit classroomuniforms.com.

Source: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1623812#ixzz2n5S4R5DX

Basic White Sneakers for Back to School

The Back to School ads from the shoe stores feature brightly colored sneakers in a wide variety of trendy colors at prices that don't break the bank.  The uniform dress code at my daughter's school requires black or plain white sneakers.  Last year, I got her a pair of Saucony Radar Lt LTTs at my local Stride Rite outlet (read my review).

When I browsed the selection at the same outlet this year, I couldn't find any basic white sneakers at all.  I asked the sales staff and she brought me another pair of the Saucony Radar Lt LTTs from the back.  I bought them again for my daughter.  Please, if you know my daughter, don't tell her she's wearing a unisex shoe.  The box is labeled Boys and if she found out, we'll ..

This led me to 1) quickly dispose of  the shoe box when I got home and 2) begin to shop around to see if I could find other options or to confirm if the choices are in fact as limited as they seem to me.

I was pleasantly surprised at some options I found online.  I was also surprised to learn that most of these basic PE sneakers are also unisex shoes as you can see below from the "Children's" label.   I already know which ones I'll be ordering next time my daughter is ready for another pair.  I hope these links will help you out with your back to school shoe shopping.

If you found some other options that I don't have listed, please list them with the name of the retail store where you found them below in the comments.

Update - This post originally contained images,descriptions and links to basic white sneakers that I had found online.  The retailer links were no longer working, so I updated them with a simple list provided below. You are likely to find these shoes at national online retailers.

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• Saucony Kids Radar LT LTT (Children's) - White Leather
• Reebok - Club (Children's) - White Sheer Grey
• File - Disruptor II (Children's) - Triple White
• K-Swiss - Class (Girls') - White/White
• Skechers - Fireflies Glintzy Girl (Girls') White/Silver
• Reebok - Classic Jogger (Children's) - White/White
• New Balance - KX624 (Boys') - White

Related Posts:

School Shoes with Man Made Materials

Stride Rite for School Uniform Shoes - Retail Round Up Series

School Shoes at Shoebuy.com - Retail Roundup Series

Payless Shoes for School Uniform

Stride Rite Carla, a quality shoe for school

Saucony Radar LT LTT Sneakers, a Review

A Year in Reviews-Kindergartner's School Uniform clothing items

School's out!

It seems like just yesterday we were attending Preschool graduation. Tomorrow is the last day of school for our daughter, and I can't believe how fast this school year has gone. During her first year at elementary school, she has made new friends and learned many new things, probably most importantly reading and writing simple sentences and basic addition and subtraction.  Socially, she made new friends and learned how to hold her own on the playground with the big kids at after school care.

Since she started Kindergarten at a school with an established uniform dress code, she doesn't know any different when it comes to school clothes. I've become a fan of the uniform dress code because it makes getting dressed for school each day very simple.  After I learned which stores carry uniform collections, shopping for her clothes is simple.  I've become a fan of several brands that have held up well for her this past school year.  Some items didn't work so well, and we'll skip over those during next year's shopping.  I've learned when things go on sale and learned to spot a bargain on the quality items.  

As we wrap up the school year, I thought I'd look back at the items from my daughter's Kindergarten wardrobe that I've reviewed this school year. Last fall, I set out to buy a week's worth of school clothes and hoped to pick items that would last the full year.  Each of these represent lessons learned- some good and some bad.

• Izod School Uniform Bermuda Shorts
• Cherokee School Uniform Pants
• Izod Flat Front Skirt
• Cherokee School Uniform Scooter
• Izod Short-Sleeve Woven Shirt
• George brand long-sleeve polos
• H&M's Organic Cotton T-shirts
• Lands End Girls Uniform Pleated Twill Skort
• Cardigan sweaters (Land's End, Cherokee and French Toast)
• Lands' End Knit Ruffle Front Dress
• Children's Place Active Skort and Fold-over Active Pants
• Myself Belt's Navy Canvas belt
• Lands End Kiki 3 Strap Skimmer shoes
• Saucony Radar LT LTT Sneakers
• Stride Rite Carla shoes 
• Cherokee uniform shoes (Falda Ballet)

(photo used with permission from Microsoft)