If every other kid in school also has the Dora bag, consider upgrading to something truly unique. Vessel's Zoo Collection bags are made of sturdy canvas and have bright, graphic designs that featuring giraffes, elephants, and porcupines. The company also makes zippered sacks that are perfect for taking toiletries to sleepaway camp and adorable beach hats.

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Those yellow number-twos work just fine for scribbling a mundane post-it,
but larger writing endeavors deserve an implement with a little more spunk.These monogrammed pencils from Superdeluxe come packed in a matching linen-bound box, and are available in six gorgeous shades. Use one when penning a lunchbox note or journal entry, and let their whimsy inspire you.

Ethnic-inspired textiles were all over the season's catwalks.  Why not cart a bit of spring fashion with you wherever you go, with this line of journals and notebooks designed exclusively for Barnes & Noble by John Robshaw? The covers are bound in rich, colorful fabrics inspired by Robshaw's many trips to far-off places, and the handmade paper is the perfect place to write about your own travel adventures.

In September, the promise of brand-new school supplies is enough to get the kids excited about class. But come April, a freshly sharpened pencil won't quite do the trick. Why not reintroduce some excitement with this series of Vintage Marvel notebooks? The set of four 48-page books features graphic scenes from vintage editions of Spiderman, Captain America, and other favorites. You could even dole them out one at a time to keep things interesting, but remember: with great power comes great responsibility.

Want a touch of the exotic in your kids' decor? These Morrocan-made Zid Zid bookends are a playful way in. Made from faux leather and beautifully embroidered, these pudgy pachyderms can stand up to the weight of 50 books. (They're filled with natural sand, so you know they aren't going anywhere). We think they'll blend in nicely with Junior's other stuffies (click here for more newborn gifts) -- and when he outgrows them, they even look swank enough to go in your room!

It's a familiar battle cry: "This is the year I get organized!" Let the Sieger planners be your motivation. Made by a German book manufacturer, the system lets you pick a suede or leather binding in a variety of gorgeous shades, then fill it with a choice of writing pads (square, lined, or plain), calendars and address book inserts. You pick how much of each filler you want (say, two-thirds writing pad and one third address). Finally, a useful weapon in your armory of get-it-together tools! Go to sieger.org for ordering information.

If only everything in life could be this convenient-and portable. The Fujitsu ScanSnap S300 is only about three pounds, but it packs quite a punch - it can scan 8 pages per minute, front and back, recognize the size of the document, and make content searchable as soon as it's scanned. Hook it up to your computer, and it's perfect for documents, ranging from business cards to medical records. Plus, it fits practically anywhere. Get creative, or get to work...

Need a luxe, last-minute gift that doesn't feel like an afterthought? Here's one so thoughtful it even gives back. DHL and famed designer Zac Posen have teamed up this season on a colorful Tote for Teachers. The Italian leather tote is lined with cotton twill and features the signature DHL colors. All proceeds go to TeachersCount, a non-profit striving to elevate the cultural status of teachers and provide better resources to the education community.

Can you believe this is a diaper bag? The Journey Pack from Petunia Pickle Bottom's Scout Collection, made from industrial-weight heathered felt, isn't too pretty to deliver: the stylish pack comes with a water-resistant changing pad and an antiqued-brass wipes case, and is equipped with nine pockets for bottles, magazines, diapers, stroller clips, and your cell phone. It's billed as a bag that Dads won't object to toting around, but a minimalist mother will surely appreciate the sophisticated subtlety, too.

Keeping track of your family's medical records can make you feel queasier than the stomach flu--which is why we were so excited about Knock Knock's latest sanity-saving wonder, the Medical Organizer. The three-ring binder stores medical notes, contact info, prescriptions, and other vital stats (like allergies). There's even a business card holder for referrals, stickers to color-code your family members, and an attached pen to keep you from having to fumble through your purse.

Though it's billed as the ultimate homework tool, Leapfrog's FLY Fushion Pentop Computer just may revolutionize your own note-taking system. The sleek little pen boasts a calculator, MP3 storage, and even a Spanish dictionary. To use it, just jot down ideas, notes, and reminders on the special FLY paper. Write down a math equation, and you'll hear the answer instantly. Write out an English phrase and you can hear the Spanish equivalent. And once at home, plug that guy into your USB port, and your notes convert automatically to an email or a searchable word document. Meet George Jetson...

It's not impossible to get organized; maybe we just need the right organizer to make us want to do it. Just in time to coincide for your kid's annual September clean slate, Busy Body Books' Back to School planners are perfect for whipping your engagements into shape after the lazy days of summer. The graphic patterns make us smile, and their unique five-column grid lets you organize not only your own busy schedule, but also your hubby's, your kid's, and maybe even the pet's. Don't laugh; with a system this easy, you might just want to.

Just say no to plastic. Sigg's water bottles, long considered the go-to favorite for the fashionable environmentalist, marry Swiss design with a myriad of pretty colors and patterns. Made from single-sheet aluminum, the bottles are crack-resistant, effective against leeching, and impossibly lightweight; they also protect against residue build-up for easy cleaning. As a result, drinking filtered water from a Sigg vessel is actually healthier than spring water bottled in chemical-laced plastics--for you, your kids, and our landfills. Any questions?

Pack any sack lunches lately? The lunchtime garbage generated by just one child reaches roughly 67 pounds each year -- and keeping your house in sandwich baggies can cost a good amount, too. Just in time for back-to-school, Lunchopolis has a solution. The lead-free insulated lunch box comes with four reusable plastic containers and one bottle, which all fit snugly together in an upright position (no more smashed sandwiches!) for easy packing and taking. The bottle even has a wide enough lip to hold ice cubes, meaning it can double as a cold pack for any perishable food.

Let's face it: as much as you want to encourage creative, active play, sometimes fingerpaints are enough to make you want to pop in a DVD instead. Enter this adorable smock by Petite Violette. Durable cotton fabric and a waterproof coating come together with attractive prints, to make a covering for your kid that's less rubber-duckie-raincoat and more budding-Picasso-in-training. The smocks are lightweight enough to avoid protest, and boast simple Velcro fasteners to boot.

Wouldn't you love a bag that does it all--gym clothes, diapers, beach gear, work stuff, etc? Check out the Built NY Duffle. Made from the same stretchy neoprene that has made their lunch totes famous, the bag can even pinch-hit as a cooler. It comes with a nylon webbing strap that eases the load on your shoulder, and though it repels moisture, the bag is also machine-washable.

Indulge your inner child--or entertain your real one--with Doodles to Go, by Deborah Zemke. The book comes with pages of step-by-step instructions for drawing impressive-looking animals, a black pen, and perforated pages to make it easy to share finished artwork. Plus, all the doodles start with letters and numbers, so there's even a little education thrown in. (We'll call it smart doodling.)

Anyone who fears letter writing is a dead art should surf on over to Paper Source, where stationery is stocked in over 30 shapes and sizes and comes in every color of the rainbow. And it doesn't stop there: they've also packed the site with stickers, punches, embossing plates, and crafting accessories, not to mention a host of letterpress cards. Fill one of their elegant linen folios with a selection of your favorites, then scribble and stamp to your heart's content.

Now the tools that store owners have been using for years to create signs and window displays are available in a non-toxic, non-smearing, wipe-away version for kids. Chalk Ink works on most non-porous surfaces (tile floors, mirrors, countertops, windows), blend easily, and come off completely with water. The only hard part will be keeping your little marker-armed artist from getting carried away and attacking the walls. Available nationwide at Michaels.

If trying to keep all your work- and playdates straight makes you feel like an office drone, consider Smythson's midyear diaries in the limited-edition Capri collection. The rich yellow leather is embossed with an ostrich pattern, and the delicate blue watermarked pages are a visual breath of fresh ocean air. It's a perfect gift for a slightly glamorous graduate, or for any busy mom who appreciates a shot of luxury.

MoMA's latest office-design find is the Amigo line of desk accessories, a troop of three leather critters all designed to get you organized in cheerful Argentinean style. This jaunty red kangaroo--made entirely of recycled leather remnants--can hold all manner of cards, coins, clips, pens, and even your cell phone in its pouch. (It is even amenable to carrying the most important memos in its mouth). Qué inteligente!

If your usually modern mom still has a fondness for old-fashioned sensibilities, she'll swoon over this stationery gift set from Wooster & Prince Papers. The keepsake box has silk ribbon accents and contains a sleek silver writing pen, a matching address book, and 12 note cards and envelopes. Designer Amy Ormond's rich patterns hint at vintage wallpaper and textile designs, and her unique combinations (shown: Mandala) stand apart from the other sets out there. Plus, the elegant box, which closes cleanly and satisfyingly with a magnet, can be enjoyed long after the cards have been used up.

Nothing is more emasculating than carrying a bag with pink polka dots or flowers. (Never mind that it's stuffed with binkies, toys, and powder-scented wipes.) But rather than pull Dad off diaper duty just so he can retain his street cred, get him one of these testosterone-friendly totes. The city-chic Fleurville Re-Run comes with a wipe case and changing pad and has a fleece-lined pocket for electronics or sunglasses; we also love that it's made out of recycled plastic bottles. JJ Cole's System bag has a sportier look, a smart pacifier pod for baby, and an MP3-player pocket with cord escape for Dad.

Alphabet charts are kid's-room staples, but wouldn't it be great to find one that doesn't look too babyish when the kid is old enough to actually know what the alphabet is? Enter the Photogram Alphabet, winner of the American Institute of Graphic Arts typography award. The letters are created using shadows of found, recycled, and reused objects that start with that letter—an L formed by lollipops, N made of nails, etc. All the items were photographed together and are shown exactly to scale. Even we got excited when we recognized some of the trickier ones.