School’s in full swing and a pleasant change from last year, Madelyn is picking out her own school outfits, a few days a week at least.  It’s a good thing I’m not a matchy-matchy kind of person or I’d come close to fainting every morning when she walks down stairs.   You would think she is pattern blind sometimes because she loves mixing polka-dots with stripes and stripes with a pattern.   She’s eight though and can pull off the funky look.   My favorite of her recent outfits is when she wore a shirt over a dress.  Unfortunately I didn’t get a photo but it was the dress above, which she got from Schoola, with a short, loose fitting blousy shirt.  She might have gotten the idea of layering a shirt over a dress from my sister because everyone knows I’m not brave enough to do that.  My wardrobe consists of black pants, black shirts, a few sweaters.. mostly black, a couple of dresses, and black shoes.  I’m super fashion savvy right?

While Madelyn’s not a shorts and t-shirt kind of girl, she dresses up for any occasion.  She also spends a lot of time outside.   Did you ever ride a bike in a dress?  Madelyn has mastered it!   She enjoys riding her bike, swinging, doing homework or art on the back patio, and lucky for me, she loves to water the potted plants.   A few days ago she and I were about to water the plants when a package from Schoola.com arrived.  You read about Schoola.com here a few weeks ago. Madelyn was super anxious to open the box so I let her go inside and open the box while I got the hose.   I wish I was there when she opened the box because I heard a squeal and a gasp and then nothing for 5 minutes.  I called in to her and she said “mom, don’t come in my room –  I have a surprise for you”.  Five minutes later she walked daintily down the stairs holding the tip of the skirt of her beautiful new Soprano dress in her right hand while gently dragging her left hand down the handrail.. just like I imagine she will do on prom night.. but she won’t actually get to leave the house that night. 😉  Of course I didn’t have the camera ready and you can’t redo moments like and she’s not a fan of posing for photographs so I’m sharing the photos I took of her watering the plants.

Schoola.com offers parents an affordable way to dress their kids in stylish gently used clothes while donating to schools art and music programs.

40% of the proceeds raised from purchases made on Schoola.com goes to buying art supplies music instruments and supplies as well as new books for libraries at schools across the country.  Parents like you and I can donate our children’s gently-used clothing.  Learn how to donate clothing to Schoola here. 

Schoola makes it easy to find exactly the pieces you’re looking for with their sorting feature.  You can first sort by gender, then choose your child’s age range, then size, and even drill down to color, brand and price.   You’ll find clothes from The Gap, Zara, Old Navy, The Children’s Place, and even designer clothes like Madelyn’s Soprano dress.   Madelyn’s outfit (above) cost just $20.70 and $8.28 of that went to help schools art, music and pe program all around the country!  Schoola.com even has a great selection of items for high school kids!  I found an Old Navy sweater for just $5.98 and a Hanes fleece pullover, Sebastian’s favorite thing to wear these days, for just $2.98!

Go through your kids closets, figure out what they need, grab a cup of tea and head to Schoola.com to shop for clothes!

25% off Schoola.com through 10/12/14!

Get 25% off your Schoola.com purchase when you use promo code givingstyle through October 12, 2014!