August somehow snuck up on us, and with the end of summer comes the start of school. The kids might have sour expressions initially, but they will start to smile when they receive autumn duds, educational gadgets, and the promise of a fresh start.

Cool Mom Picks has just come out with their annual Back to School Guide, highlighting plenty of excellent products for school days. Check out the newest trends (plaid and stripes,) eco-friendly options for lunch boxes and backpacks, healthy snacks, and even some mom-sanity savers.

Cool Mom Picks enjoys finding mom-run and independent stores to support. These products tend to be well-made and more cost-effective than some of those more generic retailers. Their back-to--school guide is definitely worth a look for unique, fun finds.