Birthday T-Shirt

Rexford celebrated his 3rd birthday last week. We had a mini celebration since we were gearing up for the big move. He’ll get his big presents once we make it to AZ, but he did get to wear his special birthday tee that I picked out from Petitelemon.com. They have the cutest things, don’t you think? Rex is wearing the Colorful Number Boy T-shirt in Red.

Boys’ Summer Shoes

1 // 2 // 3 // 4

A blogging friend of mine recently posted about her son’s first pair of shoes and it really got me thinking about the shoes I put on my sons. Now that both of my boys are past the teeny baby stage and even my youngest has been walking for over a year now, they are wearing real big boy shoes. In my opinion, you really have to search if you want your boys to wear anything that doesn’t look “middle aged man” and these four shoe picks are some of my favorites for little boys! I’m not really a huge fan of the look of Crocs, but my 21 month old son LOVES the independence of these shoes because he can slip them on and off himself! I’m loving the cheaper old navy version of the trendy Natives. Saltwater sandals are super darling classic children’s sandals and of course every little boy needs a pair of rain boots for splashing in puddles! Happy summer shoe shopping Mamas!

Visit my personal blog at comesincolours.blogspot.com!

-Gillian

Is there anything cuter than baby shoes?

I have a very serious question for you today… I would like to know if there is anything cuter than a tiny little pair of baby shoes? I mean seriously, if you really think about it… the tiny little feet scrunching up those tiny little toes making it hard to put on those adorable tiny little shoes. But once those shoes are on… how super cute is it to see fat little legs kicking and kicking those shoe covered feet?

So today, let’s talk about the most adorable of all the adorable baby shoes shall we?

1 // All About Heidi
The most adorable petal shoes! Handmade out of a single piece of leather, there are no seams so no roughness on little feet. The petal silhouette allows your little one to stretch their toes any which way while still being protected. Perfect right?And if you are interested there is a giveaway going on over on my personal blog for a free pair!!

2 // OWO Shoes
Handmade out of leather and lined with a super soft lining, they come in some fabulous colors! The laces ensure a perfect fit and they come in all kinds of sizes from newborn on up! I’m pretty sure they will become something to keep and treasure forever. I mean look at them… are they not adorable?

3 // Freshly Picked
Ohh moccs… I have a soft spot for moccs… The colors, the fringe, the silhouette, the fact that they become more adorable as they’re worn in AND they’re handmade? Basically they’re worth every penny!

4 // Scarlettos
Baby canvas shoes that look like little Toms! With elastic so they stay on! Handmade with lots of different patterns! Adorable!

5 // Manimals

Now these are moccasins. The mix of the fringe and the little tie are perfect for a little boho baby! Plus they come in yellow and HOT PINK! Sweet right?

6 // Weepereas

Little cloth reversible slippers with an endless list of patterns. Don’t these look like the perfect little things to keep those socks on those adorable little feet?

For more from me be sure to visit Just Dawnelle! I’m there chatting it up everyday and would love to have you!

Elephantito & Exploring a Decaying Barn

On Sunday morning Harper & I went out for a drive with camera in tow. It was a fabulous 70 degree morning & Harper was all dressed up in her brand new outfit from Elephantito. (i am obsessed with their sweet girly dresses & shoes!) Harper wore the:

* Mauve Floral Smocked Tunic Dress (ON SALE NOW!) I am OBSESSED with the fit & fabric of this dress, it is so lovely.
* Crossed Sandal – Orquid Leather They are just a tad big on her still. They come in many colors & I just love the criss cross of the leather.
* Light Olive Green Peony Bohemian Floral Headband by Just Dawnelle. Dawnelle is a contributor here on Spearmint Baby and she has some serious style. Her Etsy shop is full of fabulous/affordable headbands for women/girls.

The first stop for our mini photoshoot was an old, deserted barn about 5 miles from my house. I’ve driven by this decaying barn hundreds of times, but never actually had the guts to check it out! I thought it would make a pretty backdrop for photos so we pulled into the grassy lot.

After about 10 minutes of picture taking in front of the barn, we decided to walk around to the back. On the side there was a cutout for a window. I lifted Harper up to peek inside and the view was beautiful! We had a discussion about all of the different animals that may have lived here a long time ago. Then we walked around to the back of the barn. There were enough wood planks missing from the back right side of the barn that we were able to walk inside! It was an absolute gem… the barn had hardwood floors, an old/rusty fridge, a handmade chair, and a spectacular wooden ceiling/roofline. The 1st photos of Harper were taken inside.

After we finished at the barn we took a drive over to Main Street. The photos below were taken there. Do your kids like posing for pictures? Mine DO NOT & I usually have to make up some sort of game to get them to stand still for more than a few seconds. I had to bribe Harper with ice cream to get some photos while walking up and down Main Street. After we were finished she picked out a NESTLÉ Drumstick at the 7-11 across the street.

Thank you to Elephantito for Harper’s beautiful new clothes! Be sure to bookmark them for special occasion clothes. They have so many GORGEOUS things for baby, girls & boys. & you can follow Elephantito on Facebook for sneak peeks of their new collection as well as fab sales!

Trending Now / Jumpsuits

Oh my holy cuteness! Jumpsuits!!! Trending right now, and forever more in my mind, are jumpsuits. These are just too cute to keep to myself. Stripes, ruffles, patchwork, florals… you name it and they’ve put in on a jumpsuit this season. Here’s just a few that I’ve found so far…

FLORAL BY MINI BODEN
PATCHWORK BY VIVID DRESS
STRIPES! ON TIKETA
RUFFLY RUFFLES ON PRSPR KIDS

just love
//kelly

Psychobaby Personalized T-Shirts

Psychobaby makes a variety of really cool personalized clothes/accessories/& gear for babies & kids. If you are looking for something special for your little one be sure to check them out!

Harper & Rex are wearing the Psychobaby Tiny Tunes DJ Tee & the Psychobaby Tiny Tunes Lil Brother Tee. (they also come in onesies!) The tees were perfect for our awesome dance party over the weekend!

Kid Clothes

Hi there, Irene here from designstiles. I’m in that age group now where friends are either having babies or have babies. Because I don’t yet have kids of my own, I get a kick out of buying baby and kid clothes for friends. There’s so much cute stuff out there. And affordable too. Thanks to stores like Old Navy, Gap and H&M.

Today I’m sharing some cute kid clothes that I would totally consider gifting.

one // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight

Cute, yes?

Happy Wednesday!

Irene Lovett

decor . styling . consulting

Harper in Vindie Baby

I’ve been soooo excited to share this gem of a store with you, Vindie Baby! We are working with them this spring to share some of my favorite pieces for your toddler & little girl. YAY!

If you are like me, you’ll likely fall in love with EVERYTHING at Vindie Baby. No worries because the prices are SO AFFORDABLE that you actually CAN buy multiple pieces. I’ve picked out a dress, a swimsuit, & a new outfit for Harper to wear this spring/summer:

1. Danielle Green Lemon Lace Dress
2. Olene Blue Stripes Swimsuit
3. Candy Pop Mint Collar Top & Lila Checkered Skort

They are seriously LOVELY. I’d love to hear about your faves from Vindie Baby.

* thanks to Flor.com for providing the fabulous chevron carpet squares. Harper is pictured with the Made You Look design squares in Tangerine! WE LOVE THEM!
* Harper’s sandals by POM D’API from Fawn Shoppe.

The Mini Social

Anyone else do most of their shopping online these days? I often wonder how moms of little ones used to shop when there were no computers/internet!

Do you have a favorite site to shop for your baby/kids? Today I want to introduce The Mini Social. Every weekday The Mini Social launches new sales for babies, kids and moms. Sales last for a limited time (typically 72 hours) and sell out quickly, so you have to act fast. Membership is absolutely free, and all you need is your name and email to access the site.

The Mini Social currently has one of my favorite brands, Little Society on sale! & remember Harpers cute easter outfit by Rayil? Well, Rayil is going on sale TODAY! So join now to get access to the best prices.

Happy Shopping!

TRENDING NOW / BOWTIES AND HEADBANDS

little mr / colin’s closet / little gentleman’s closet

This spring is shaping up to be AH-MAZINGLY adorable! If you follow Brickyard buffalo on Instagram I’m sure you’ve seen the leggings and now moccasin frenzy that crashed their site – Cray cray! And now I am seeing bowties and knotted headbands everywhere! I snagged both sets of these beauties on B/B and am now impatiently patiently waiting for them to arrive. Here are a few other fab shops carrying these trends…

sekilola / the pink ruffle / little hip squeaks

So tell me, what trends are you seeing this Spring?

// kelly

Are we connected?

What we’re wearing (Spring)

Quinn, Rhys & Avery’s
Spring outfits c/o Tea Collection

Are we connected?

Rayil & Our Easter

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter, Passover, & Spring Vacation! I’m back to regular blogging this week after a week at home with my kids. Harper & Rex were so excited to go back to preschool this morning & I am equally excited to get back to work!

Today I’m sharing one of Harper’s new spring outfits from Rayil.  (We can’t thank them enough!) Harper’s favorite color is PURPLE so we saved her Rayil outfit for Easter.  It was chilly here in NJ so she had to pair it with a white cotton sweater and leggings, but before we went out egg collecting I took some photos of her going through her Easter basket.

If you haven’t heard of Rayil, they make absolutely gorgeous clothing from the finest Indian silk and cotton fabrics. I am obsessed with their wrapped tops! Harper is wearing the Ambrosia Wrap Top with the Ambrosia Skirt. I also have my eye on the Reversible Blush/Ivory Cape. Wouldn’t it be perfect for an evening wedding?

Twin Style / 9 Months

Her / Carters + H&M

Him / Target + Old Navy

just love // kelly

OshKosh for Boys

I bought the boys new outfits for Easter at Target this year. It was a good excuse to get them something new for spring since we are pretty casual about Easter in my family. I instantly fell in love with these neon shorts! You can’t really tell from the photos, but the shirt also has little neon specks in the fabric as well- so cute! There are a lot of really adorable OshKosh brand little boys clothes at Target right now, some of my other favorites include this striped shirt and these striped shorts! Is anyone else really excited for warm weather??

-Gillian

Visit my personal blog at comesincolours.blogspot.com!

Fawn Shoppe For Spring

Good evening! We are on spring break this week which means I am home with the kids… which means it is hard to get a blog post finished while my kids are awake!

It wasn’t quite warm enough for the park today, so we kept busy with lots of puzzles! We also started going through spring wardrobes. Harper has so many beautiful new pieces for spring and I’m so anxious for the sun to shine bright so I can paint her toenails and put her pretty sandals on!

This outfit is one of my FAVORITES:
Harper’s dress is by Egg Baby from Fawn Shoppe. It is absolutely stunning! Her shoes are from Fawn Shoppe as well. They are the star sandal by Pom D’Api. (& leggings from Old Navy)

Little Leggings

<<<<<<< 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 >>>>>>>

I am so into the baby legging craze right now! Leggings are great for little boys and girls because they are comfy, easy to put on and ADORABLE! I had a hard time finding cute inexpensive leggings for boys until I started looking in the girls section at stores! LOTS of leggings can be gender neutral so don’t be afraid to shop for your baby boys in the girls section!

Visit my personal blog at comesincolours.blogspot.com!

-Gillian

Klever Kids

Good MONDAY morning! We had a really nice spring-like weekend & took full advantage of it on both Saturday & Sunday. On Sunday we loaded the bikes in the car and took them over to our favorite park. It has a beautiful paved trail around a large pond.

The nice weather also got me anxious to pull out the spring/summer clothes. I’ve received some adorable sample clothing for the kids this summer including a few pieces from Klever Kids’ new All Aboard collection. The RED, WHITE, & BLUE pieces are super smart & would be perfect for your spring/summer vacation. My favorite piece = the girls high waisted shorts.

Trending Now // Spring Pantone Color Picks – Him

Do you follow the Pantone colors each year? You all may have heard that the color this year is Emerald, but Pantone doesn’t stop there. They very lovingly break the yearly colors down by season as well. So, here are my interpretations of the colors for spring; for the little him in your life.

1 / Emerald – Friends Print by Arian

2 / Lemon Yellow – Wooden Tractor by HC Woodcraft

3 / Tender Shoots – Fraser the Frog by La Petit Lulu

4 / Monaco Blue – Airplane Backpack at Nordstrom

5 / Poppy Red – Trees Romper by Winter Water Factory

6 / Grayed Jade – Bespectacled Baby Cap by Ruche

7 / African Violet – Octopus Tee by Old Navy
(I know, not even close, but this is not a year for violet in the boys department)

8 / Dusk Blue – Shark T-Shirt by Tea Collection

9 / Nectarine – Ubuntu Hoodie by Tea Collection

10 / Linen – Linen Blazer by Zara

// kelly

Trending Now // Bright Colors + Denim

California is beautiful right now. Sorry to rub that in, but it totally is. With sunny days in the high sixties there is little to complain about. You could of course find something… hay fever, allergies, a winter cold that you just can’t seem to kick…
But with this awesome weather comes Spring biting at our heels. Here are some of my fave finds from this years Spring trends.

1 / A bright denim jacket from Old Navy will certainly get you in the spring mood. // $25

2 / These adorable Mustache blankets from Little Hip Squeaks for the occasional chilly day. // $58

3 / This giant lemon graphic onsie from Bobo Chooses makes me want lemon aid, real bad. // $43

4 / Denim, denim and more denim is on sale at H&M. // $10 and up

5 / Zara’s studded flats for your mini me are seriously killer. // $39

6 / Every girl needs a floral sun dress for the season and Old Navy has it going on. // $19.94

7 / Lemon colored saltwater sandals from Tea Collection are simply adorable. // $34

// kelly

Shopping Online & Gilt

What is your “go to” place to shop online for your children? I am currently obsessed with Gilt Baby & Kids. I’m lucky to get shopping credits from referrals through my blog and facebook.

I currently have my eye on these things for Harper… which is your favorite?

Diesel in Bloom ♥♥

I am a HUGE fan of handmade, and especially LOVE supporting working mamas! One of my FAVORITE handmade discoveries this month is Diesel in Bloom. Cassandra (the owner/creator) makes the most adorable cardigan onesies with the CUTEST prints! Wouldn’t you love to have your baby photographed in one of these? Which is your fave?

Cassandra also has a darling blog that talks about family as well as some of her DIY projects. One of my favorite projects is her DIY Valentine’s Day arrow leggings. She teaches you how to make your own with a stencil and fabric paint. Anyone else dying to try this!?

Kitty Cat Trend

Have you noticed the kitty cat trend? I have to admit, I’ve always been a dog person but all of a sudden I have this OBSESSION with cats! (I even added a coool cat background on my Twitter page!)

I’ve been seeing quirky cat faces everywhere and wanted to share some of my favorite kitty cat dolls, pillows, artwork, etc. Do you have any cat inspired decor/accessories in your home/child’s room? Harper has this pink kitten print in her room.

1. kitty cat mask & tail
2. cat sweater, bobo choses
3. pretty kitty
4. cat ears headband
5. cat cushion
6. cat art
7. party cat greeting card (frame it!)
8. coco the cat
9. wood painted striped tailed cat
10. puffy sleeve kitty cat tee
11. kitty cat baby hat & booties set
12. cat hats
13. neon pink kitty baseball tee
14. mog cushion, donna wilson
15. grey hand made cat with embroidered face
16. kitten cloth bag

P.S. check out my new KITTY CAT pinterest board

Brother Style.

Ok, I have to admit that since I found out I would be having another little boy, I have always dreamed about dressing my children in matching outfits. I’m not sure what it is about kids that match – but it is always adorable! My mom used to dress my sister and I alike pretty often when we were little. These outfits for my boys just kind of “appeared” into my life. I bought Roman the blue Old Navy skinny jeans and the rest of the outfits were gifted by family members. Of course I had to jump at the chance to grab some cute matching photos of them!

All of these items were on clearance from Target and Old Navy which are my favorite stores (following thrift stores of course!) for children’s clothing.

Shirts (Target) Skinny Jeans (Old Navy) Socks (Target)

Visit my personal blog at: comesincolours.blogspot.com!

-Gillian

Little Girl’s Ruffle Apron

One of the toys that my daughter enjoys the most now is her tea set.  She has tea pot, stove, saucers, tea cups, and spoons. She pretends to pour the tea, stir and serve it to us..it’s the cutest thing! I made this apron for her so she can use while she plays with her tea set.

I had about half a meter of this blue cotton fabric left over, so I cute small square for the bust part, and rectangle for the skirt part. The edges are finished with stripes bias tape I made out of some scraps.  I made this using my new industrial sewing machine, which works so fast.

What is your child’s favorite toy?

~ Chie  {find me elsewhere: blog, shop, facebook, etsy, twitter}

J Crew Spring Flats

I took a few minutes to page through the J Crew catalog this morning. The Mila Ballet Flats are SOOO CUTE!

Bright & Colorful Maternity Style

Recently I stumbled upon a blog, called Fancy Tree House. She is an online vintage shop owner and a mother of adorable baby girl, Goldie. I kept reading her past posts and fell in love with her maternity style. When I was pregnant, I tended toward wearing darker color, such as black, navy and grey since I thought those colors made me look skinnier. Coury did not hesitate to wear bright colorful colors and to mix and match colors like yellow & hot pink and red & orange! I was so inspired by her style, it made me want to be pregnant again.

Also check out  the nursery she put together for Goldie! So cute!

~ Chie  {find me elsewhere: blog, shop, facebook, etsy, twitter}

Mother & Daughter Style: At Wedding

Left: Lace wedding dress, Right: Made to order (contact vivatveritasshop@gmail.com)

Hello Spearmint Baby readers! How was your New Year? My year 2013 didn’t start off so well. My sewing machine and laptop broke and I had to replace them both..sigh.

Today, I wanted to show the dresses I made for a lovely lady from Sweden. She is getting married in February, and her little daughter is going to be her flower girl. According to her request, I made a matching dress for her daughter. The sleeves, fabric and the neckline are all mini-version of her mother’s wedding dress! I thought the idea of matching dresses was so special.

~ Chie  {find me elsewhere: blog, shop, facebook, etsy, twitter, pinterest}

H & M Spring Picks

I’m super excited to be working with H&M this winter. Today I wanted to share some of my favorite looks for little girls this coming season. Jan/Feb/March is such a dreary time for us north-east coasters… too cold to really even think about spring fashion. So why not just freshen up her wardrobe with some COLORFUL new pieces that will transition perfectly into the Spring season? I love H&M’s mix-n-match styles & want so many things for my little girl!

I’ve picked out 6 looks to freshen up Harper’s late winter wardrobe. H&M is soooo AFFORDABLE which is really important to me as a mother on a budget. What do you think? What are your favorite looks for spring?

Target + Neiman Marcus Collection Clearance

Did you see all of the beautiful things that Target sold over the holiday season as part of the Target + Neiman Marcus Collection? I was birthday present shopping at Target with my kids yesterday and everything in the collection is on clearance! I bought the Marc Jacobs Pouch in GOLD to store our passports, and fell in love with the bicycle by Alice + Olivia. All of the little girl’s dresses are marked down to $17.99-$23.99. If you have a special event or wedding coming up these dresses are stunning! I almost purchased the polkadot dress for Harper. Which is your favorite?

Harper’s Christmas Outfit

Thanks to Klever Kids for providing Harper’s Christmas day outfit. She wore the Happy Days Long Sleeve Crew Neck & the acid green Bubble Hem Skirt.

The Klever Kids line is designed for boys and girls ages 2 – 8 years. The entire collection is made from 100% Peruvian pima cotton, making the clothes ultra-soft, comfortable & stylish. Be sure to check them out!

PAIGELAUREN Baby

For the luxurious baby that prefers classic baby clothes that never go out of style, check out PAIGELAUREN Baby. PAIGELAUREN Baby makes clothes that are simple & unadorned. They rely on luxurious fabrics, fine tailoring, and subtle details. The result is somehow both modern and classic, and assuredly luxurious.

My girlfriend is expecting her 3rd baby on January 11th. It is her first BOY after 2 little GIRLS! Check out what I picked out for the little guy below. HAPPY SHOPPING!

Mini Piccolini’s Easy Pregnancy Style for Autumn

I struggled so much with what to wear while I was pregnant, but of course, now that I’m not any more, I keep seeing great, easy, comfortable but chic pregnancy clothes!

I love this pregnancy outfit with a dressed down maxi skirt and layers. I think Hillary Duff’s look is super cute and looks so comfy and practical.

Here’s how I would do it:

• The Ultimate Cardigan by Hatch Collection. A wrap/shawl-style cardigan is the best thing to have around with a newborn (PERFECT as a cover for nursing on the go!) so why not invest in a pretty one while you’re pregnant. This one by Hatch Collection is cashmere and it looks gorgeous.
• Foldover Maxi Skirt by Asos. I think you could dress this skirt up or down throughout your pregnancy and really get a ton of use out of it. It’s on sale too!
• Maternity Scoop Neck Vest by TopShop. Some of my best maternity buys while I was pregnant with Louis were from TopShop (here are some of the pieces I loved the most) and this tank looks like it has a great shape
• Diane von Furstenberg Zebra Ballet Flats. Flats are a (pregnant) girl’s best friend and these ones from DvF would be super cute with jeans too!
• Quilted Shopper by Zara. You’re going to be lugging around a huge diaper bag everywhere you go for a looong time, so enjoy some funner bags while you still can! This one is big enough to carry the essentials even if you have a toddler to take of while you’re pregers.
• Rhinestone Bangles by Isharya. Bangles are cute but not very practical with a newborn – wear them now!

For more pregnancy style ideas, click here. And check out my Pinterest board Pregnant in Style!

Click here to visit Mini Piccolini - all the best stuff for Moms, Babies, Kids & Families!

And visit us on Facebook and Pinterest as well!

DIY Little Girl’s Skirt

I love, how little fabric, it takes to make small kids’ clothes. With less than half a yard, you can make an adorable little skirt! I sew clothes for adults (for my clothing line, Vivat Veritas), but sometimes I like to take a break and sew for my daughter. It takes much less time , and gives me some instant gratification.

I had an wool plaid wrap skirt that I was going to take to a thrift store, but decided to try and reuse it. The construction of the original skirt was very simple so it made it very easy to deconstruct and remake. I wrote up a little diagram below to show how to make this simple square elastic waist skirt.

You will need to measure your child’s hip and waist measurements. Cut two square fabric sections with the width of half of your child’s hip multiplied by 1.5. The length can be however you want the skirt to be plus 2″ for seam allowances (1″ on top and 1″ on bottom). Then sew the side seams, and hem the skirt. For top, fold once and sew to make a loop to insert an elastic band. Make sure to leave 1-2″ space so you can insert the elastic. After inserting the elastic (the length of the elastic should be your child’s waist measurement), sew the space you left.

With the left over fabric, I made Christmas stockings too.

~ Chie  {find me elsewhere: blog, shop, facebook, etsy, twitter, pinterest}

Appaman for your Cool Little Guy!

Anyone else obsessed with Appaman? I first learned about the brand when Rex’s best buddy, Aaron, was wearing this fabulous Navy Bowery Coat. His mom told me that it is their absolute FAVORITE brand. Her daughter Julia has the purple Appaman Puffy Coat.

Appaman is inspired by, and named after, the childhood companion of founder and designer Harald Husum. While growing up in Norway, Husum befriended a corduroy ape named Appaman. Together they traveled the fields and fjords of their native land, sharing many fantastic adventures. Appaman reflects the whimsical spirit of those youthful times and celebrates the unbreakable bond between a boy and his ape.

Appaman was launched in the summer of 2003 & every season Harold Husum brings a unique Scandinavian perspective to children’s street clothes. Some of my favorites for boys include the hockey jerseys, mini professor jackets, & their fab line of outerwear.

This winter Rexford stays warm in the Appaman Ski Jacket & the Appaman Polar Jacket. HAPPY SHOPPING!

Appaman Fall Winter 2012 from Appaman on Vimeo.

NUNUNU – cool.

If you are looking for just.plain.cool. clothing for your 0-8 year old this holiday season, check out NUNUNU. No teddy bears or fairies, just cool urban clothes made of quality fabrics!

Harper is wearing the french terry baggy star pants & the pink “NO!” long sleeve tee. To find a store near you, click here. HAPPY SHOPPING!

Toto Knits for Rexford

Remember the 2 pieces that I picked out from Toto Knits? They arrived (all the way from Kenya) last week….& are just gorgeous! Every piece of clothing is hand knit by a group of single mothers in Kenya. Rex is already wearing his green & natural stripe organic cotton knit pants. I wrapped his Zebra sweater and it will be waiting under the tree on Christmas morning!

Loop Collection

This month I’ve been sharing some of my favorite things for the holidays. Today I want to show you the GORGEOUS sweaters that I’ve picked out for Rexford and Harper from LOOP Collection. One of my FAVORITE new brands for beautiful apparel for children. & stunning blankets as well!

Founded in 2010 by two New York City knit designers, Loop Collection was born out of the idea that you should do something you love. I so agree with this philosophy. Working hard on your passion makes it much more fun, right?

If you haven’t seen Loop Collection’s sweaters and blankets in person, I guarantee they do not disappoint. They are the kind of pieces that you will keep forever…maybe even pass down to your grandkids one day.

The sweaters have a very cool vintage vibe. Color combinations are bold and beautiful…lots of MAROONS, DARK GREENS, MUSTARDS, & ROSY PINKS. I especially LOVE the cardigans with their chunky wooden buttons!

One more thing to note:
Each Loop Collection garment is proudly knit and assembled in the U.S.A. All materials: yarn, sustainably harvested wood buttons, & even packaging and labels are also domestically manufactured.

COUPON CODE: HOHOHO for 30% off until december 5th. HAPPY SHOPPING!

Christmas Wishlist:: Coats, Hats and Wooden Toys

Knitted Toddlers Hat by Sweet Meadow Street, $25
Blue eyed cat A4 print by lukaluka, $16.06
Wild Grey Wolf Coat by Little Good All, $165 
Girl’s Dress Coat PDF pattern by BurdaStyle, $5.40 
Children’s Puzzle, Rocking Horse Toy by Berkshire Bowls, $19.99
Children’s Neighborhood Chair by Paloma’s Nest, $228
Zu cloud cushion by Petit Home, UK 35

 Even though my husband is a grinch who hates holidays, I can’t stop browsing the internet for cute Christmas stuff for kids. I post my favorites on Pinterest (here is my “baby” board) to organize, and revisit the board later to see what I really want to buy. Etsy is also a great place to search for gifts for your little one. I like browsing their treasuries, which are small collections of items curated by etsy sellers each having different themes. For instance, if I’m looking for something pink to decorate my daughter’s room, I would search the treasuries by typing “pink, girl, room”.

I thought this girl’s dress coat pattern by BurdaStyle was a great gift for yourself or your craftsy friends. I can’t imagine how expensive it would be to buy a dressy coat like this at a store. With less than two yards of wool fabric and some sewing skills, you can make this on your own!

~ Chie  {find me elsewhere: blog, shop, facebook, etsy, twitter, pinterest}

Burt’s Bees Baby

For those of you with brand new little ones this holiday season, I wanted to share some of my favorites from the Burt’s Bees Baby holiday collection. Dress your baby up in something soft and cozy + 100% organic cotton!

I love the holiday collection because it is festive, but still very wearable after the holidays. My FAVORITE holiday outfit is the Bee Festive Tee Set. I loved it so much that I purchased it for my girlfriend’s brand new baby boy, Nolan. Check out how delicious it is on baby below:

P.S. Get 20% off & free shipping on your order of $85 or more! Enter BBBSANTA at checkout. TODAY only!

Toto Knits

The holidays will be here before you know it… Hanukkah begins Saturday, December 8! I’ve decided to start my Holiday Gift Guide series EARLY for those that celebrate Hanukkah. Christmas still seems far away, but I swear every year it kind of sneaks up on me!

Today I want to share a new store I discovered earlier this fall. It is called Toto Knits. Founded by Erin Brennan Allan, Toto Knits is a line of organic cotton knitwear ethically made by a group of single mothers in Kenya. I love love love this!

Erin designs fun children’s apparel and then the group of knitters make the clothing. The knitters are paid by the piece which allows them to work as much or as little as they like. They are able to put their children first and work on the side to help support their families/communities. I REALLY love the business model & have so much admiration for those that start businesses that help so many! Not only is each piece of clothing made by hand, but it is also signed by the knitter.

I picked out 2 pieces to have made for Rexford for Christmas. He is getting the Organic Cotton Zebra Sweater and the Organic Cotton Knit Pants in GREEN & Natural stripe.

Be sure to order early if you want something for the holidays. Because these pieces are hand knit they may take up to 2 weeks to complete. Allow time for overseas shipping as well.

More fun things…

A sneak peek at more fun things that have arrived. Holiday Gift features begin next month. I can’t wait to share some of my new favorite things!

Pictured items include:  books, Cole Haan via Zappos, Tomat Kids, Loop Collection, & Babatude Boutique.

Gilt Picks

Some of my picks from GILT baby & kids today. oooh, I love that blouse in the lower right corner!

Styled Little Models

Two children’s fashion lines I’m loving right now are Fleur + Dot and Misha Lulu.  What caught my eye of both of these lines were definitely the impeccable styling.  Both have not only gorgeous little numbers, but also has a whimsical and playful feeling to their collection.  Hop on over to their sites right now – I promise you’ll be in love with at least one of their outfits.  Christmas is right around the corner after all…and how cute are these little models?!  -ijin

P.S. This is not a sponsored post, I just love the collections!

Mini Piccolini: Stylish while Nursing

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – fashion is not my forté. I struggled while pregnant and only really managed to pull it together a little at the very end.

And in my opinion, nursing fashion is even more of a challenge than pregnancy style. Not only are you probably not the size and shape you were pre-pregnancy (nor are you a size and shape you would want to shop for since you’re not planning to stay that way), but you might have a sensitive c-section scar to consider, your boobs might be huge (or at least huger than usual) and you need quick and easy access to them at all times. There is also a lot of spit-up and other goo to contend with when you have a newborn attached to you at all hours.

And though it seemed impossible just a few months ago, the truth is that there is one stage of life where the clothes you can buy are actually uglier than maternity clothes. I have yet to see any nursing clothes that I would care to sport outside of the comfort of my own home.

Needless to say, I am struggling a little.

On Friday we went to some close friends’ for an “Aprés Nursery School” get-together. It was rough and rainy out and I got caught off guard by how late it was in the afternoon and how little I felt like getting myself all dolled up. But in the end I found the perfect alternative to sweats:

1. A Jumpsuit. Mine is a black jersey jumpsuit by Filippa K that I have had for a few years. There are a ton of fun jumpsuits available and if you can find a strapless version and wear it with a cardigan, it’s actually very convenient to nurse out of. Mine has straps that you can just tuck into the top if you want to go strapless. It’s soft and comfortable and it was easy enough to just pull down one side of the jumper to breastfeed.
2. A Shawl-style Cardigan. Nice and warm and cozy for a chilly day, it is also the perfect thing to wrap around your baby like a blanket or to cover yourself while nursing. I have a BCBG hand-me-down from my ver stylish sister that I am loving so much right now.
3. A Good Nursing Cover. If you’re not comfortable nursing completely out in the open, there are some great covers available. I love my Hooter Hider in Camden Lock (though I could do without the ruffles). It’s pretty, it’s convenient, I can see down to Baby really well, it’s not too heavy and it gives us some peace and quiet for nursing on-the-go.
4. A Good-Looking Diaper Bag. I love my Kate bag from MZ Wallace. It carries everything I need but doesn’t look too mommyish.
5. Flats. After whining for months (here) about not being allowed to wear heels, I find that I’m not exactly dying to don my 3-inch favorites. On Friday I opted for comfy J. Crew ballerinas. Even for shorties like me who really should wear heels 24/7, there are so many great ballerinas out there now.

See how I navigated maternity fashion here. And click here to follow my Pinterest board Mum Style.
Click here to visit Mini Piccolini - all the best stuff for Moms, Babies, Kids & Families!

Cute Maternity Sewing Patterns

When I was a pregnant, I had a hard time finding a cute and comfortable maternity clothes at local stores available around my place. Most of them were too shapeless for my test, making me look like I was wearing a big garbage bag. So I either wore regular non-maternity clothes and cinch the waist (or the skinniest part above the belly) using a sash or a belt, or made my own clothes. Megan Nielsen, an Australian clothing designer, offers several different maternity sewing patterns, so you can create your own maternity clothes! Her design is cute, and sure to flatter the maternity figure. I’ve used her wrapped maternity top sewing pattern, and modified into a dress. You can see my variation on my blog, here!

~ Chie  {find me elsewhere: blog, shop, facebook, etsy, twitter}

Handmade Kids’ Halloween Costume – Animal Ver.

I was thinking of my 18 month old daughter’s Halloween costume the other day, and found these cute handmade costumes on etsy!

1. Penguin costume, $55.
2.  Pig Halloween costume headband crochet pattern, $4.95. This seller offers PDF pattern for this adorable pig headband for kids. If you like crafting, it would be a great project for you!
3. Baby bunny hat and diaper cover, $45. Adorable on newborn! The seller makes these made-to-order, and offers different options for color combinations.
4. Cat kids felt animal mask, $14.75. More animal masks here.
5. Feathered chicken Halloween costume, $39.99.

~ Chie  {find me elsewhere: blog, shop, facebook, etsy, twitter}

Leopard Print Ballet Flats

These are Harper’s new Leopard Print Ballet Flats. Actually we got these back in July, but they were a tad big. They are just right now and have quickly become her FAVORITE shoes! Quite possibly my favorite shoes from Target as well.

White & Red Polkadot Little Girl’s Dress

Halloween is coming up soon! Are you guys preparing for your little ones’ costume? I still haven’t decided on what my one year old daughter will be, but I wanted to show you the Minie Mouse dress for a little girl I made for my friend’s child last year. I bought the white and red polk-a-dot fabric, traced the existing dress pattern that fit her well and made this dress. I wrote more sewing process here, if anyone is interested..

~ Chie  {find me elsewhere: blog, shop, facebook, etsy, twitter}