Welcome to the Pura Vida section of LBMO.com. Check here each month for tips on fashion, decorating, activities to do with your families and fabulous contests, all con sabor latino! It's Back-to-School time again! Check out our picks on this year's best bets for heading back to classes - whether it's Kindergarten or College, we have something for everyone. The looks below represent what's hot this fall! (And don't forget to check out the fun contest at the bottom of the page!) Parents can let out a big sigh of relief because showing skin is no longer "in." Not only are more and more schools cracking down on dress codes, but fall fashion calls for jeans paired with long, flowing tops topped with crocheted sweaters. One great thing about this look is that it flatters all shapes and sizes and allows for so much individuality to shine through. While this look is considered casual, the bohemian look can be at once sweet and funky. It can even be dressed up or down, with inexpensive accessories.* One the greatest things about fall wardrobes is getting to wear boots. Boots can be tall or short, casual or dressy and look great with skirts, dresses or pants. The look shown here is a perfect example of all the things we love about this season's hottest looks: a bohemian skirt, a denim jacket and western boots.* Contradictory to the bohemian look, but just as popular, is the preppy look. Polo shirts are great alone or in layers. This style can be made to look casual or nice with simple accessorizing. Guys always look good in polos, with or without a jacket, with jeans and tennis shoes for an athletic look, or with khakis and nice shoes for special occasions (or making an impression on the first date). A collared shirt under a sweater always looks great as well.* Other pieces to make sure you have in your fall wardrobe include a poncho or two to throw on over just about anything as the weather chills up; long thin scarves to be worn around the neck or as belts and funky tennis shoes in vibrant colors. Dressing the tresses can get costly, and those in school are usually on a tight budget. Save time and cash by simply touching up your roots in 10 minutes, in between all-over colorings at home or your favorite salon. Our pick for a quick root touch up is Clairol's Nice 'n Easy Root Touch Up (shown here in Medium Brown). * (Fashion styles shown above were all courtesy of Marshall's - a great place to shop when you want designer looks at affordable prices, for the entire family.) * * * * * As we focus on school trends for the fall, we wanted to give you some money savings ideas to keep your family looking great on a budget. One of the major trends this new school year is embellishment! Everything is getting a touch of pizzazz - denim jackets, jeans, tops, accessories, you name it. Buying things in the store which are already adorned in the latest styles hinders you in two ways. First, if it's the hot new look, it's typically not in the sale racks. Secondly, what you buy is going to be what everyone else buys too. Avoid both of these issues by getting a great fitting pair of jeans from the clearance section, or a plain bag or tee shirt, then adding your own style at home. Start with a visit to an arts & crafts or fabric store, and for very little money you can get sequins, beads, threads, patches, jewels, buttons, fabric pens, glue…everything you need to create your one-of-a-kind look, for less. Now you're stylin', unique and have extra cash in your pocket for other back-to-school needs. * * * * * Now that school is back in session, kids should be watching minimal television and focusing on their studies, extracurricular activities such as sports and arts, and quality family time. All TV is not equal, however, and if you've got children at home that have some spare time or aren't in school yet, our favorite choice for quality children's programming for all ages is PBS. We've featured the show Maya & Miguel before and it's one we still recommend for its natural use of bilingualism. Another highly educational show is Cyberchase, which integrates mathematical concepts for kids ages 8-12 in an adventure and mystery-filled cartoon. Adventures from the Book of Virtues is based on the best-selling book by William Bennett and features children and animals who serve as positive role models, teaching the viewers all about noble virtues such as courage, friendship, faith and loyalty. DragonflyTV is another great educational program that focuses on science through fun and exciting investigations using real-world applications that appeal to preteens. This award-winning show is so fabulous it is actually used in classrooms around the country. Other PBS standouts include Reading Rainbow, Postcards from Buster, Between the Lions and ZOOM. Visit http://pbskids.org for the lineup of all these shows and many more that combine entertainment and education for preschoolers to teens. The website even contains activities and more for kids, parents and teachers. ¡Bravo! * * * * *