3 Before You Shop Back-To-School Tips with Dick's Sporting Goods + 5 Giftcard Giveaway

this post is sponsored by Dick's Sporting Goods® and VocalPoint. all opinions and photos are my own!

welp, we made it through the very first week of school, y'all! hoping and praying that us newbies, veterans-- everyone has a fantastic school year. my Kindergartener was crazy excited and prepared for his very first day and beyond, thanks to Dick's Sporting Goods®! DSC_0921-01 this Fall 2016, six locations will open up in/around the Houston area:

Baybrook Mall

Deerbrook Mall

First Colony Mall

The Woodlands Mall

Willowbrook Mall

we stopped by one of the largest locations to come above, The Shoppes at ParkWest (across I10 from Katy Mills Mall) for a quick pic, and we can't wait to actually go inside soon! Processed with VSCO until then, online back-to-school shopping it was. less stress for me = no gas used, no getting in and out of the Texas heat, and no lines to stand in with 2 rambunctious boys and a baby bump. besides, what kid doesn't love to receive packages in the mail and tear open their 'gifts'!? everything was for Chiso's big Kinder debut, but of course we've gotta involve lil' bro. Processed with VSCO he chose a fresh pair of kicks, DSC_0874-01 a super-fly book bag, and a lunch box to match.

3 money-saving before-you-shop tips:

shop your child's closet with them and take inventory of what they already have. i wanted to make our online experience fun and let Chiso pick things he loved, but i made sure he knew we were only purchasing items we truly needed for the new school year.

buy with 'hand-me-down' in mind (especially if you have younger siblings of the same gender of course). i try not to buy super trendy items (ex. t-shirts with current sayings, sneakers with outlandish colors/patterns, etc.) and stick to classic colors and designs for the most part. i'm not saying i don't ever buy those types of items because that's no fun, but they are rare and usually reserved for special occasions. i should definitely credit Hubs for that tip, so i will ;) Dego (2) has plenty to mix and match from for a good while!

splurge on the high quality, durable items that will be used daily. else you'll possibly be buying those same items several times a year. this might be a no brainer, but i think of the things Chiso will be carrying daily (lunch box, back pack) and how often they get thrown around, banged up, and used in general. i treat those items just like i would my sports bra purchases. when i buy them cheap, i can't be mad when the support is basically non-existent after a couple uses and washes! it's something i truly need and use daily, so spending the money on a few quality bras is the best investment. the same applies here.

ready. 20160822_080623-01 i was too! #NoTears 20160822_080519-01 off he went. 1 week down, 17 years left to go, haha.