The Thermos 12oz FUNtainer bottle uses vacuum insulation technology and is able to keep contents cold for up to 12 hours. My favourite features include the push button lid with pop-up straw and the integrated carry handle. After reading instructions on care and use of FUNtainer bottles, I learned a neat tip: pre-chill the bottle by filling with cold tap water 5-10 minutes prior to use.

There are many licensed Thermos bottles to choose from and my kids had a hard time selecting just one. Ultimately, my daughter went with the Monsters University FUNtainer and my son chose the Spider-Man FUNtainer, currently listed at $15.99.

From Star Wars to Hello Kitty, the 2013 Back to School selection of Thermos products includes a variety of bottles and lunch kits that kids will love. These 12oz Hydration Bottles, which are BPA free, also come with an integrated carry loop and an easy to use flip up straw. These are currently listed at $8.99.

This past weekend, our family took to the outdoors as we dove into a new season of recreational soccer. Colour me less than thrilled. You see, I'm not the most enthusiastic soccer mom you'll ever meet. The truth is I would much rather avoid having to spend a few hours sitting around on the field either be it in the cold wind or on a relentlessly hot day. But I am starting to believe that my children are developing a passion for the sport much to my dismay their father's content. And so, this big buttercup is going to suck it up and take one for the team. Time to return to our regular routine of loading the Jeep with lawn chairs, packing healthy snacks and filling up bottles with fresh, filtered water.

Last summer, Brita sent us a pair of reusable water bottles with built-in filters. I thought it was such a great idea because both the kids and I could enjoy filtered tap water no matter where we went. On hot days out on the field with no water fountain in sight, however, I opt for a much larger jug to keep thirst at bay. With the new Brita Stainless Steel Pitcher, I can fill up the water jug with tap water that tastes great. The Brita filter is designed to reduce the taste and odour of chlorine as well as the amount of copper, mercury and cadmium that may be in our water. The pitcher is also BPA free and can hold eight glasses of water.

If you like the look of stainless steel, this sleek and shiny pitcher with brushed stainless steel has a fingerprint-resistant coating (unlike my refrigerator) so that makes mommy happy. Its slender shape also makes it easy to squeeze it in between the jug of milk and the carton of orange juice. The electronic filter change indicator is a handy reminder to replace the filter every two months or 151L. What I found to be a bit of a nuisance, however, is the problem that arises when filling the reservoir with too much water. The excess water will spill in the handle part and leak out at the bottom. This is easily rectified by taking care not to fill it with too much water at once. Unless your my husband. In which case you will completely forget to heed said warning.

This September, I will be sending off not one but two kids to school. My four-year-old son is starting kindergarten and I am still having a hard time believing that the day will soon be near. I know it's not much different than dropping him off at daycare and I am confident that he will be ready for this new adventure. But it will still be a huge adjustment. For all of us. I am excited for him to be able to take the school bus with his older sister, since he only has eyes for things with wheels these days. And I can't wait for him to make new friends and further develop his love of learning. I am, however, dreading the very idea of having to prepare an additional lunch bag this year. It is true that I need only prepare a snack and a water bottle for his half-day of kindergarten. And luckily, he will be among the first to use the brand new Brita® Kids’ Bottle.