Baby Sale at Gymboree

Gymboree is having a baby sale (sizes from newborn to 5T). It is a good time to stock up on some winter basics for baby.  The sale ends on Thursday, September 13.  Happy shopping.

Diaper bags

 Many women don’t want to carry around a bag that screams baby, but need some place to keep all of baby’s necessities close at hand.  Essentially, a diaper bag holds the baby’s stuff, but the mom is wearing it.  You need something that will fit all the things a baby will need and your stuff as well.  I have seen women carrying around 2 bags, but I have to ask, why?  The only time I think this is appropriate is if the bag is to be left with a care provider.  Why would you want to carry around 2 bags plus a kid?  It doesn’t make sense.  Find a bag that you like that will fit your stuff and baby’s.  You will have to downsize some of the things you carry for yourself, but there are many sacrfices when baby comes along.

I didn’t go crazy when I had Amber.  I was frugal to some extent and didn’t see the virtue of shelling out the big bucks for an expensive anything, but especially for a diaper bag.  Then again my purses were purchased inexpensively, too.  I learned the error of my ways when I recieved my first Coach purse.  I quickly gave away all my cheap purses and, now my closet is filled with Coach bags.  Even though I was not willing to spend over $50 for a diaper bag, I did want function and some style.  I found the perfect bag at GAP.  It could be either a backpack, for longer walking trips with your child, or a messenger style bag, for easy access.  I still have that bag and though it is a little beat up from it’s constant use it is good enough to keep in the car filled for emergencies  when the time comes that I don’t need to carry everything except the kitchen sink with us on an outing.

Like I said things changed when I recieved my first Coach bag, so it was natural that when Sam arrived I wanted to try the more expensive bags.  I first wanted a Coach diaper bag.  This would prove to be disappointing.  The straps were not long enough to go over your shoulder when the bag was filled.  When filled it felt like a stuffed sausage and it didn’t fit in the stroller basket.  The bag would be put up in the closet waiting for extra special occasions, like a wedding or a St. Louis Catherdal baptistism.  First rule even if the bag is the prettiest you have ever seen, make sure to try it out in the store.  I am not talking about putting all your stuff in it, but really examine the bag.   Think about the things you will need to carry for your child.  Make sure it will not be hard to carry when full or if it has room for your items.  Also, will it fit on or in your stroller?  Diaper bags get heavy, especially if you are carrying around your child.  It will be nice to give your back a break and hang it from the handle of the stroller or in the basket.

My search began for a nice bag that filled my needs and wants.  I found Skip Hop.  This is a great everyday bag and at a cost of about $60 it is not too bad price wise.  Skip Hop has stroller straps, so you don’t have to worry if you have handles instead of the bar.  There are tons of pockets and even a special half pocket for your stuff.  My favorite features were the pen holder inside one of the outside front pockets.  This is where I carried my pens, of course, and my chapstick,  one thing that must be accessible at all times.  The bag, also, has a handy strap above the back pocket for easy handling without the shoulder strap.  The bag is sturdy and comes in colors and prints.  I used the Dash when Sam was an infant.  It was just big enough for all his stuff, but not so big that it looked like I was carrying around my house.  I haven’t tried the Duo, but considered it when I was looking for something a little smaller now that Sam is a toddler and only requires half of his possesions to be with him when we leave the house.  I am not fond of how long the bag is, but I am short and don’t like bags that constantly hit my hip.  The straps do adjust, I just prefer the Dash.

When I wanted to branch out and find something with a little more design, I started looking at the Petunia Pickle Bottom bags.  I had seen them everywhere and liked the designs.  One big problem was the fabric.  Diaper bags are flung and put down just about anywhere and I hate to walk around with a dirty bag.  Sure the intricate design might hide the dirt, but I would know that it was there and it would bug me.  Then I found Timi and Leslie.  They were similar to Petunia Pickle Bottom but they are laminated.  That might sound strange, but really you get a beautiful bag that you can wipe clean.  I think it is genius.  The best part of this bag was the extra little wallet that it comes with.  You can store your things and simply remove it for a quick trip, without changing to an entirely different purse.  Timi and Leslie bags have enough pockets to be organize, but not as many as Skip Hop.  I would have like the shoulder strap to be a little wider, but that was a small problem that I got use to.

Now, I have moved on to the Timi and Leslie tote diaper bag.  I got the black and white toile pattern.  A pattern I would have never considered  before, but now I don’t have to fear any major cleaning to keep the bag looking like new.  The tote is set up a little more like a Skip Hop bag and it doesn’t come with the larger bag’s extra wallet.  I like that I don’t have to remove the straps in order to hook it to my stroller.  Also, the shoulder straps are long enough to be comfortable.  It is a great bag that is just the right size for all the things a toddler might need.

Timi and Leslie or Skip Hop might be out of your price range, but have no fear because I saw something today that made my heart pitter patter.  Skip Hop has a new line of diaper bags selling at Target for the reasonable price of $29.99.  There are not as many colors or patterns, but I am sure you can find something that you don’t mind hanging off your shoulder.  Even if it is a basic black.  Spark, the line at Target, seems to have all the things that Skip Hop offers in it’s more expensive bags: the stroller straps, many pockets, changing pads and special parent pocket.  The bag is shaped like the Duo, which disappoints me, but I would be more willing to shell out $29.99 to try out the bag than $60.  Another great item that Target is selling, made by the Skip Hop people, is the changing wallet.  I have seen many versions of this, but I like that it has a strap to hang from an existing purse.  This looks like a great thing to keep in the car or have on hand for quick trips. 

There are so many choices for diaper bags these days that no one should be stuck with Winnie the Pooh jumping all over their bag.  You may be carrying your baby’s stuff, but it doesn’t have to look like you are. 

The Good Ole Days

My mother in law use to tell me how she dressed her daughter in puffy dresses whenever they went out.  It was hard for her to understand why I didn’t dress my daughter like she was meeting the Queen of England whenever we went out.  Well, there are a few reasons for that:  I know that most people are paying attention to my children, but I don’t think I should give the impression that I shop at the thirft stores for myself and spend all our money on my child’s clothes.  It was easy to wear the puffy dresses back in the 50’s, because the kids didn’t use carseats.  Have you ever stuffed your child and her dress into a carseat?  I have.  It isn’t pretty.  Then there is the changing of the diaper.  It was hard enough to change a squirming toddler on those changing tables in public restrooms, but to fight with 15 layers of frill plus trying not to get poop all over it was not something I really wanted to experience. 

Then I get emails from Janie and Jack and all those logical thoughts go out the window.  Janie and Jack is Gymboree’s fancier and more expensive sister store.  The clothes echo back to a time when everyone dressed when they left the house.  Think of Donna Reed vacuuming in her pearls and you know exactly what her little girl would be wearing to go to town for a few errands.  Even though, that is not how we do things today, Janie and Jack still have their place.  There are special ocassions that warrant a nice dress.  Considering some of the prices I have seen in the boutique stores Janie and Jack are better priced.  And like their sister store, Gymboree, you can find all matching accessories for your outfit of choice. 

Now, if you live in the Hamptons and need something for your children to wear on the yacht or their ultra exclusive pre-school then this is your store.  A girl can dream, though.  I just need to find an appropriate place for my children to wear something like this:

       

Maybe a nice pumpkin carving party.  

Let’s Talk Shoes

This morning my daughter woke up and while she was getting dressed I reminded her that she had P.E. today. This means that she would have to wear her sneakers.  After overlooking her outfit, that she picked out, I suggested the pink maryjane sneakers from Stride Rite.  She bounced off the walls and declared her love for shoes.  I was overcome with emotion.  Although, I think I heard a thud, where my husband fell, from the other room.  Yes, it is true that the majority of females love shoes and, from the looks of my husband’s side of the closet, shoes prove to be more than just a necessity for men.  We all need shoes to protect our feet from the dangers of the big wide world, but we all like to look nice, too.

The big question, at least the one I had, is do infants’ need shoes?  I would venture to say, NO, but that doesn’t mean they can’t wear shoes to pull their outfit together.  Now, that may sound silly to most, but after the initial trauma of having a newborn wears off most moms will dress their kids nicely.  During the time that your infant is basically a lump in the corner, I would steer clear of the expensive shoes.  Socks work well for keeping the feet warm and there are fluffy booties for the colder months, but really that infant doesn’t need hard sole shoes to just lay there and poop.  Once your baby starts becoming mobile, and this can include scooting and crawling, you may want to consider soft sole shoes.  At this point, it is not really necessary, but if your child must wear shoes then this is the way to go.  The leather is easy to keep clean, and there are many different styles to suit everyone. A soft sole shoe is better, also, for when your baby is starting to pull themselves up or cruising.  Ultimately, bare feet are better to learn how to walk, but sometimes a soft sole shoe can give the child closest to bare feet but the protection their feet need at the same time. 

Robeez are popular among the crawling set.  They come in a ton of cute designs and more of a bootie type with a soft sole. Slip them on and go.  I wasn’t a big fan and found them a little difficult to put on my son’s constantly wiggle feet.  However, many moms swear by them.  Besides, they can serve as a visual distraction while baby chews on his feet. 

Robeez, Maple Leaf

My personal favorite for infant shoes is PediPeds.  I can’t remember how I discovered these little gems, but they were the ones that I had to have for my little boy.  Amber was born during the summer, so socks were all she wore until she started walking at 10 months, by then I just started her off on Stride Rite.  If I would have known about Pedipeds, she would have had a closet full.  They look like regular shoes, but are soft sole.  They are all leather and come in a variety of designs.  These are the only shoes my son wore from ages 6 months-14 months. At that point, he started walking and the soft sole can prove to be slippery on some surfaces.  He still has a pair in his closet and wore them outside on occasion.  So don’t think that soft sole shoes are only meant for non-walking or walking inside.  They can be worn out in the world.

How can you not love these shoes? I think my uterus just skipped a beat.

Forgive me, but we lean more toward camo for the boy in our house.  I wonder if I shrink Sam’s foot and keep him from walking, I could justify these.

Then your kids start walking and your whole world falls apart.  If they are anything like mine were they will want to walk around while out in public, too.  Silly kids.  You are faced with wanting good shoes that look nice, but don’t force you to mortgage your house.  I say good shoes are important. I don’t buy all my kids shoes at Stride Rite, but I do buy the ones they will mostly likely wear the most.  Other shoes that are special occasion or trendy are either purchased at Target or Payless.  I do believe that Stride Rite has perfected the art of shoes for kids.  They are built to hold up to the torture that kids can dish out and look good.  I especially like that there is not one sneaker style for girls.  When teaching your daughter the art of loving shoes, one must have options.  Amber’s school required that her sneakers have velcro fasterners and really why would you want anything else?  I understand that kids need to learn to tie their shoes, but it will come in due time.  And as for adjusting for comfort all I can say is velcro has come a long way, baby.  A secret to getting your kid quality shoes at good prices is looking for outlets in your area.  The closest one to me is about 45 minutes away, but we go to Destin at least twice a year and they have a huge outlet mall.  And the one store we never miss is Stride Rite.  I got 2 pairs of shoes for each child for just over $100.  Depending when we go and how far off the school season is, I will buy the shoes a little bigger and set them aside.  My children haven’t skipped a size, but be careful.  I have been told that children can be a size 3 one day and the next need a size 5.  As you should know, kids are full of surprises.  Excercise caution when purchasing ahead of time.

An example of a sneaker that can be paired with jeans, shorts, skirts and dresses.

Because boys need more than just sneakers.  Functional, yet nice to look at.

I will leave you with my favorite and most used shoe.  I believe this shoe should be in every little girl’s closet.  It can be dressed up or down and still allows for playing without the fear of major injury: 

Classic Keds Daphne

Up until recently, I have purchased this shoe every year for Amber.  It starts in infant and goes up to little girl sizes.  It truly is a classic shoe. 

I do love shopping for shoes for the kids.  I find it is a way to branch out of my comfort zone and go for something a little more fun.  I always consider what the shoe is going to be used for and how it will fit in with the children’s clothes.  Even though my husband will argue the point and show you my kids’ closet as exhibit A, I try to find shoes with more than one purpose.  I don’t like buying dress shoes that will only go with that one dress and be worn once.  I like to find shoes that serve more than just one outfit or one purpose. 

Fall Approaching

I don’t know if you noticed, but summer is officially over and fall is creeping in.  (Could someone please tell Mother Nature, she appears to still be having some hot flashes?)  Kids are in school and while they maybe getting away with their summer clothes for now, soon we will need to be adding layers. 

I have lived in the Deep South all my life and there were very rare occasions that required a heavy jacket.  Although that didn’t stop us from wearing them when they were all the rage.  Knowing my kids and the fact that they are still in carseats, I like to layer them.  Remember your carseat buckles will not fit snugly against your child when they are wearing heavy jackets. 

Layering is great, because you go from cold outside to warm inside throughout your day, it allows for you to just peel away what is not needed at the time and then add it back.  If your child is anything like my daughter they will constantly complain that it is too hot with the layers and then complain it is too cold once the layers have been remove.  I simply chock all her clothes into a bag, give it to her and let her worry about her own internal temperature.  That is what comes with age: responsibility of your freaky quirks about temperature.

I made my first purchase with Hanna Andersson this year.  I had flipped through their catalogs many times, but only decided this year that I would actually purchase from them.  I like their look for girls, boys and managed to find something for me.  I am not big on wearing a jacket, either, so I was happy with my purchase of a pullover.  Throw it over a long sleeve t-shirt with jeans and you can run your errands without freezing off a limb or marinating in your own juices.

Reversible pullover.  Two pullovers in one. 

I found some great pieces for the kids, as well.  I bought Amber a pullover, like mine.  Hers is in pink/purple, because I am not by any means Laura Ashley (Hello, the 1980’s are calling), but the pullover is so nice and comfortable I knew Amber would get a lot of use out of it this year.  And maybe next year.  I almost bought one for Sam, but I had to stop myself and found a more appropriate pullover for him. 

 Manly, but sized for the little ones.

I stick with cottons, because they wash well and you don’t have the problem of itching which then leads to lots of complaining about itching.  Yes, when you layer you can avoid the itchiness to some extent, but in my experience I have learned to stick with something that keeps the moaning to a minimum from the starting point.  Besides,  I would rather save the more expensive fabrics for the dream vacation that my husband has promised to take me on to see snow.  Anytime between now and before I die will be good.

I like to see Amber in dresses and skirts, which she seems to be fighting at the moment, so I couldn’t pass up this cute ensemble.

I stick with dark colors for her shirts to keep the mess limited and bright it up with the skirt.  What girl could pass up this pink skirt?  And the twirl factor was more than satisfactory for Amber. It was the first thing she did when she tried it on.  Because I like to see Amber in dresses and skirts and it is winter, soon (okay, maybe 2-3 months for us), I needed to find something to cover her legs.  We tried Babylegs last year, which were fine and cute, but was too much of a distraction for Amber in class.  This year I wanted to tried Hanna Andersson’s tights.  They looked sturdy (not something you really want to hear about in fashion, but we are talking about kids here) and comfortable.  Matter of fact they call them loose tights.  Amber, like most girls I would expect, is rough on stockings so I like to go with tights.  They are warmer and hold up better when running around chasing boys.  Then I came across the footless tights:

I thought this would be a great transition piece.  Again, living in a warmer climate I believe that Amber will still be able to wear these during the coldest of our winter months.  She could either match her socks or go with a completely different complimentary color.  I do understand that I will have to be involved in that process.  However,  I have learned to never doubt my daughter, she has come up with some stuff that looks pretty good on her own.

There were many good ideas in the Hanna Andersson catalog and online store for back to school clothes.  Things that are good for the transition months, but you could still use to keep the little ones warm when the temperature dropped.  Like this outfit:

Amber has many components of this outfit, already, but not the shoes. So instead of killing my husband with a heartattack over prices, I compromised and just got the shoes.  Now, that I have the idea of this outfit we can make it our own when we shop in Amber’s closet.  If you haven’t already stopped by Friday Style, then go read up on how to shop your closet and become make your wardrobe green.  And I am not talking about the color.  I believe that many of the suggestions Susan has, regarding our own closet, can be passed along to our children’s closet.  It may even be more important to watch what and how much we buy for our kids. They do need clothes more than we do and it is easier to over do it.

While shopping for the kids is fun, we must remember that:

1. If you have a child dressing themselves, you don’t want to overwhelm them with choices.

2.  Just like us, kids don’t need tons of clothes to get them through the school year.  Take advantage of their innoence and save your money for when they are teens and want every name brand under the sun.

Now go and look through Hanna Andersson’s online store, get ideas and shop your kids’ closet.  I am sure you can find there are many things that they can still wear and only a few little odds and ends needed to pull it all together.    

Do We Really Need a Blog About Children’s Clothing?

The answer is, why not? 

I find shopping for children’s clothes fun and a challenge.  I like children that look like children, but still look as if their parents cared about how they look.  Another aspect is when your child actually has an opinion on what they wear.  It happens way before you ever expect.  One day you are picking out darling outfits for your wee one and then all of a sudden he/she speaks up and tells you, with disgust in their voice, that they will not wear that.  The key is to supply your child with versatile pieces that give him/her the freedom of choice but won’t leave you walking 20 paces behind your child pretending not to know them.  It doesn’t always work, but children are nothing if not a challenge all around.

I have a daughter, 5 years old, and a son, 19 months old.  As you can guess my son doesn’t have much of an opinion, yet, but I fully expect it at anytime.  My daughter started voicing her opinion on her clothing at around 3 years of age.  I let her pick out her clothes for school, but warn that if it takes too long or is to big of a  fuss then she will wear what I choose.  That usually helps speed her along.  We have tried the night before selection of clothing, but she changes her mind by morning.  We are on our second week of school and so far, so good.  Amber leans toward the same pieces in different formations.  Like adults she has hits and misses.  I will be posting pictures of her choosen outfits.  I will do my best for Sam, but having a toddler stand still for anything is an Act of God and very rarely happens.

I do have my favorite places to shop.  They can all be found on the Shopping page.  I will be expanding my horizons and hope to find many treasures.  There will be all price points featured.  I lean more toward quality, because my children are on the small side of the growth chart.  They can wear items, like shoes, much longer than most kids, so I would like them to last and still be presentable.  Higher priced pieces can be an asset in children’s clothing if you plan to have more children or can pass the clothing on to friends and family.  With that said, I don’t go crazy.  I do like quality, but I understand that it is still children’s clothing and it has a short shelf life.

I hope I can help parents create a wardrobe for their children that can go from playground to restaurant with ease.  Just because your children run and play doesn’t mean they can’t be adorable and ready for that unexpected run in with an old friend or boss you are looking to impress.