Who says that back-to-school shopping is just for kids? As a mother of two girls under the age of four, I'm here to tell you that moms need some back-to-school supplies, too! Besides a great hat to help battle bad hair days or an amazing bag to tote all your gear, consider the following to help you survive this school year with style and grace.

Top 7 Essentials on Mom's Back to School Checklist

Coffee Machine

Help fight those early mornings and invest in a single-serve coffee machine such as a Keurig, Tassimo or Nespresso machine. They're quick and easy with virtually no clean up. Perfect for grabbing your morning cup of joe while hustling the kids out the door. Plus, the cost-per-cup will run you less than a dollar, well under the price of that Grande Caramel Macchiato.

Calendar

This is a no-brainer for any mom. You can easily create a reusable calendar system by looking on Pinterest for ideas. If you're more tech-savvy, you can use your smartphone's calendar system to have instant access to your family calendar while on-the-go. Don't get along with technology? Check out Franklin Covey's selection of day planners and organizational tools.

e-Reader

Between the crazy morning rush and afternoon pick-ups, you'll have time to spare waiting in the carpool lane or at your child's dentist appointment. Buy an e-reader like the Nook or Kindle and stock up on books for those spare moments. Remember that ebooks don't have to cost a fortune either; MrFreeStuff.com offers a list of 14 resources where you can find free downloads. You can also check with your local library to see if they participate in the e-lending system.

Fuel Rewards

You'll be spending a lot of time in the car now that school is back in session. Between drop-offs, pick-ups and after school activities it seems like I'm at the gas station as often as I am at Starbucks. To help cut the cost of gas, I fill up at grocery stores using my membership cards to get discounts on fuel. Check out this article from Suddenly Frugal for a list of gas reward programs and be sure you add them to your back to school checklist.

Mommy Cards

No, I'm not talking about credit cards (darn!). "Mommy cards" are business cards for mothers and are extremely helpful during the school year. Trying to set up a playdate with new friends from school? Hand out your mommy card with your name, your kids' names, address and contact information along with any allergies your children may have. Order these from VistaPrint.com or TinyPrints.com, but don't limit yourself to just their mommy card selections; sometimes pre-designed business cards can work as well.

Camera

There will be lots of things for you to capture this season, whether it's a school play or sporting event make sure you have good camera to capture all the action. Look for a camera with a quick shutter speed and video capabilities to ensure you don’t miss a thing.

Workout Video

With kids now in school, what will you do with all your free time? Clean the house, run errands, cook, or how about getting back into shape? Purchase a set of workout videos to do during school hours. Getting back into shape doesn’t have to take a lot of time or expensive gym memberships. Check out this list of the most effective workout videos from LiveStrong.com.

Maisie Knowles is a working mother of two with three-year's experience writing on parenting and partner issues. She received a B.A. in Communications from the University of Colorado and co-founded Kinoli Inc. with her husband. Maisie currently spends most of her time at home with her two young girls.