It’s that time of year to start thinking about going back to school. Those thoughts always come with both excitement and dread from parents and kids alike. Here at Des Moines Moms Blog, we want to equip you parents out there with the best Des Moines has to offer to get you “school ready.” We hope you enjoy this back-to-school series as much as we enjoyed putting it together. Be sure to read each day as there will be many giveaways and discounts throughout the week.
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I had the best time skipping through Merle Hay Mall with my friends Haverlee and Michelle – plus all of our littles – in hopes of finding all things BACK TO SCHOOL! Part of me was super sad to even say those words. I can’t believe we are already there! Late summer nights and cozy sleep-ins will be traded for stricter bed times and busier schedules. Although part of me is sad, part of me welcomes it. Routine is good for this momma’s brain! 🙂
SO, back to shopping. I LOVE, love, LOVE to shop, and Merle Hay Mall is one of my regular places to shop! Not only is it close to me, but they also have my two all-time favorite inexpensive stores: Target and Old Navy! Plus lots of other great options – Younkers, Foot Locker, Children’s Place, Justice (Mom sigh. Girls shriek with excitement.), Journeys, etc. Everything you need in one place? That makes mamas HAPPY! Plus, there are tons of specials happening for Back-to-School, including the semi-annual sale at Younkers and $10 clothing sale at Old Navy, not to mention TAX-FREE WEEKEND coming up this weekend!
We stopped at a few of our favorites, and my kiddos and their friends modeled some AWESOME back-to-school options. They even selected most of the outfits all on their own!
Our first stop, Justice (just for girls). Justice is every little girl’s dream – glitter galore and funky, trendy tween styles are not lacking in Justice!
I loved Hallie and Sydney’s leopard print selections! Lexys and Quinn rocked a couple plaid numbers, and Harper opted for some a summer sundress with a jean jacket!
It was soooo much fun to see how much fun they had! All five are quite the shoppers!
NEXT, we headed to Old Navy. You can’t beat the prices at Old Navy for both basics and trendy items. They always have awesome sales and promotions, too! Here are our little models showing us just how great Old Navy is!
We then skipped over to The Children’s Place and checked out their options for back-to-school! We hit the jack pot again! Mom’s favorites? Definitely Hallie’s romper and Quinn’s striped pants! LOVE! OH – and Dawson’s adorable face!
NEXT stop, STAPLES!! Why? We needed backpacks and supplies to get these little ones prepped for their first day! Here are the little models with their favorite backpacks. MOMS… need some desk/office organization at work or home? Check out Staples’ Martha Stewart line of office organization. It is super cute!
Next stop… SHOES!! Every child heading back to school needs new kicks! The kiddos picked out their favorite tennis shoes at Shoe Carnival! AND, SCORE, Moms – Shoe Carnival almost always has buy one get one 1/2 off! So, if you have more than one kiddo, Shoe Carnival is perfect for you!
Our last stop before we all melted down was Target! I needed to pick up a few necessities, so we swung by to see all the school supplies. Target never disappoints! It is always very organized and all in one spot. Another win for mom, and the kiddos were super excited, too! Also, I peeked at the clothing, and girls’ jeggings were on sale for $10! I LOVE TARGET!!!
Upcoming Sales and Tax-Free Weekend Events
Be sure to stay connected to the Specials page on Merle Hay Mall’s website. They are updating it daily with deals, discounts, and more! For example, check out these steals from Old Navy:
- Kids’ Denim from $10
- Girls’ Dresses from $10
- Kids’ Active from $6
- Kids’ Tees from $4
- Adult Offers: All Denim from $19 and All Active from $7
Tourn-E for Everyone Video Game Tournament
As if all the fun shopping weren’t enough, Merle Hay Mall is hosting a video game tournament Saturday, August 2, from noon-3 p.m. in the Target Court. They’ll have a PS4 Station, Wii Station, and Xbox Kinect Station for players to battle it out. Everyone wins a prize. More details here. This sounds like the perfect something fun for families to do when shopping. (Or when you need to send the husbands or the boys away while you get that serious shopping done.)
So there you have it, friends. Everything you need for back-to-school shopping and entertainment all in one destination.
What are your must-stop places at Merle Hay Mall? Leave a comment below!
