As summer winds down, families are shifting into a new season filled with school days, fall sports, weekend adventures and plenty of time on the go. We’re rounding up fun, functional finds that help kids—and parents—make the most of everything fall has to offer.
WEEKEND GATHERINGS AND GAME TIME
From Labor Day gatherings in the backyard to camping trips, lake days and everything in between, the right outdoor gear can make every weekend feel a little easier. YETI’s lineup is built for exactly that kind of versatility. The Trailhead® Camp Chair is a natural go-to for backyard barbecues, campfires and soccer sidelines, with supportive FlexGrid™ fabric, a packable crossover frame and a carry bag that can be worn as a backpack.
For outdoor cooking, the Carbon Steel Pan brings serious versatility to the table. It’s pre-seasoned for naturally nonstick performance that improves over time, nitrided for rust resistance and designed to work across cooktops, ovens, grills and campfires—so it can handle everything from a Labor Day breakfast at home to dinner around the fire.
Then there’s the gear that keeps the whole weekend moving. The Camino® Carryall Tote is waterproof, puncture-resistant and easy to clean, with a sturdy molded bottom and deployable dividers to keep everything organized—from picnic supplies and camping essentials to the inevitable muddy or sandy gear. The Rambler® Beverage Tub is made for the hosting side of the weekend, keeping drinks ice cold for backyard barbecues, celebrations and impromptu get-togethers, with room for up to 20 cans or 12 wine bottles.
And for all those meals, snacks and drinks that happen wherever the weekend takes you, the Rambler® Stackable Cups and Insulated Bowls bring YETI durability to the table while making packing and serving easier. The stackable drinkware is designed to save space, while the insulated bowls are built for everything from camp meals to backyard entertaining. YETI has everything you need to move seamlessly from Labor Day entertaining to lake weekends to Saturday morning soccer—because the best outdoor essentials are the ones that work just as hard as your weekends do.
PACK, SNACK AND GO
From school lunches and snack breaks to after-school pickup, make it easy to keep kids fueled and ready for whatever the day brings. Think smart lunchboxes, snack containers, reusable totes and grab-and-go essentials designed to keep food fresh and organized from the classroom to the carpool line. YETI is bringing its signature durability to everyday back-to-school essentials. Their collection of lunch coolers, insulated water bottles, totes, backpacks, and carry-all bags are built to handle busy school days while keeping drinks cold, lunches fresh, and everything organized. Our families are often going from school and work to an afternoon of activities and sports. We love that YETI lunch coolers come in a variety of sizes and its insulation keeps your food fresh for the entire day. They are also YETI® Ice Sheet and YETI® Food Storage compatible.
Another must have for the Fall sports season is the Silo Half Gallon Jugs. It comes in a variety of colors, hangs easily on the fence, rugged, and can be customized. We love YETI tumblers and water bottles. Dishwasher-safe YETI water bottles are also double-wall vacuum insulated so will keep your hot drinks hot and your cold drinks cold! These can also be customized, which makes it helpful when there are so many similar water bottles at school.
ON THE MOVE
From first bell to final whistle, fall keeps kids moving—and Famous Footwear has the sneakers to keep up. Whether they’re heading from the classroom to practice, running around at recess or spending the weekend on the sidelines, these styles bring together the comfort, performance and fresh-from-school-season style kids need for their full schedules.
For everyday wear with plenty of sporty energy, the Nike Air Max 270 makes a standout choice. The men’s version in bold Red-Black-White brings iconic Air Max style and cushioned comfort to busy days, while the Big Kids Air Max 270 in Pink gives girls a fun pop of color with the same sporty, statement-making attitude. They deliver a distinctive look and cushioning made for all-day movement.
When the game is the main event, the Nike Giannis Immortality 5 is ready for action. Designed with sculpted cushioning, flexible support and court-gripping traction, it’s built for quick cuts, fast plays and all-game movement—while the Black-Grey-Volt colorway brings a bold finish that works beyond the court, too.
And for a little more everyday personality, the adidas Grand Court in Pink Hearts brings a playful, skate-inspired look to the school-day lineup. With a low-profile silhouette and signature 3-Stripes, it’s the kind of sneaker that easily goes from classroom to carpool to weekend plans. Together, these picks prove that back-to-school sneakers don’t have to choose between getting kids through the day and looking great doing it.
MEALTIME MADE EASY
Busy fall schedules call for meals that can keep up. Pick up dinner on a hectic weeknight, make Friday night easy after the big game, or bring everyone together over a family-style spread. And when it’s your turn to entertain, catering makes it simple to feed a crowd without spending the night in the kitchen. Sammy’s has everything from woodfired pizzas and salads to shareable dishes, there’s something for everyone. Our family favorites are the Ladou’s Barbeque Chicken pizza and New York Style pizza. Sammy’s pizzas are all made with their famous hand-made dough and mozzarella cheese.
We love that Sammy’s uses local, organic and nutritionally balanced ingredients whenever possible Whenever we order a pizza, we pair it with a salad and Sammy’s has so many great options like the Balsamic Chicken Salad and the Orignal Chopped Chicken Salad. Sammy’s recently added sandwiches to their menu including a turkey wrap, steak sandwich, Chicken Caesar sandwich and Club Sandwich. And no trip to Sammy’s is complete without a Messy Sundae.
Whether you have a late night study session or the games run later than expected, we also love that Sammy’s is open 24 hours. Making it easy to grab or order your favorite dishes.
