Tiny TOMS

Speaking of Spring wardrobe pieces...check out the Spring shoes I just bought for Gracie. Too cute...I couldn't resist.

Tiny TOMS "Marley", $29

Spring Wardrobe

I used to spend a lot of time buying clothes for Sophie. She was like a doll that I could dress up. But ever since she started going a preschool that required uniforms, I was not keeping up. I realized recently that we've been recycling the same two or three outfits for months, because I didn't really need regular clothes for her during the week. All of her clothes were too small and too tight.  So this past week, I've been getting her Spring wardrobe in order. Here are some cute things I've picked up...and thank goodness for MYHABIT, by the way! It's where I got a lot of the pieces from kicokids and Neige:

Darla blouse from Neige

Bensimon Tennis Elastique from Neige

Skirt from kicokids

Dress from Neige

Dress from Tea Company...how do you like Sophie's haircut, by the way?

Baby Animals Nursery Art

Have you seen the baby animal prints from Sharon Montrose? They are so adorbs! So simple and graphic...perfect for a kids' playroom, bedroom, or nursery. She also carries prints of adult animals for the rest of the house.

all images via The Animal Print Shop

Black Nursery

Forget the pinks and blues and the predictable-baby-name-on-the-wall. I am in love with this chic nursery.

image via ohdeedoh

Reward Chart

We've been going through some trying times with Sophie lately.  Who once was our little princess, attentive, focused, polite...has turned into a Jekyll/Hyde creature who can be distracted, picky, emotional and selfish.  We've been trying one thing after another, trying to keep it positive, and trying not to scar her for life with our obvious inexperience.  A friend of mine has recommended using a star chart and as luck would have it, Small for Big recently posted a free downloadable reward chart on her site.  I'm going to give it a try starting this weekend and see how it goes...

image and reward chart via Small for Big

Skip to my lou

When my sister and I were very young, my thrifty mom would scour garage sales and come home with records and toys for us.  We may have been poor, but we felt rich with the few things we had.  One of the best things that my mom bought for us was an old LP called Disney's Children's Favorites.  I spent countless hours listening to songs such as "On Top of Old Smokey" and "Skip to My Lou" over and over again.  I recently found the LP on sale on ebay, and I'm on a mission to get this music for my girls.  Unfortunately, I don't have a record player anymore...anyone know how I can convert an LP to digital music?

Anthropologie Winter Kids Collection

I am loving these new pieces from the Anthropologie Kids Collection. I only wish they weren't so expensive. At these prices, I'm going to have to wait until they go on super-sale and see what's left!

Love Letter Dress, $228

Tussie Mussie Skirt, $168

Switcheroo Beanie, $58

Etsy Goody: Wild Things

I am dying to buy this dress for Grace!

Little Fox Girl's Dress, $55

Nautical dresses

I love all things nautical, and I immediately fell for these two new designs from Perryfinalia on Etsy.  Now the question is, which one should I get for Sophie and which one for Grace?

Shiftmod mod tunic, $38

Simple mod jumper, $42

Easter Weekend, The Grand Finale

The grand finale of Easter this year was the White House Easter Egg Roll, which I participated in thanks to my cousin's generous offer to share her extra tickets.  We went early in the morning, but it was already sunny, hot and humid.  Especially with only the two of us moms and three toddlers and an infant.  And strollers in the mud.  But it was all totally worth it: we saw the Obamas, who were so elegant and regal that I felt my heart swell a bit with pride, we rolled some eggs, and we picked up our wooden souvenir egg, which I hope will remind my girls of this special day.

Tiny TOMS

I just ordered a pair for Sophie's Spring sneakers. How cute are these?

Etsy Goody: papernoodle

There are many paper artists on Etsy, but this one is one of the best I've seen. How beautiful is this print? I just snatched up one for Sophie's room!

image via papernoodle

Heart Lollipops

I stumbled on this idea a bit too late, but I'm putting it in my inspiration files for Sophie or Grace's school Valentine's day party next year.  How sweet is this? (literally!)

image and concept from The Decorated Cookie

A more perfect mom

Images like this one taunt me, making me imagine there are better moms out there making these lunches for their children.  If you're like me and want to self-flagellate, check out more lunch inspiration at LunchBots.

My inspiration.  Is that sad?

image via LunchBots

Elephantito

I'm always on the lookout for kids' clothes that are unique and ironically, the places to buy cute and imaginative clothes online are becoming more and more plentiful...my latest discovery is Elephantito.  They're having a great sale right now for Thanksgiving where all regular priced clothes are 30% off!  Here are a few pieces that I am eyeing for my girls:

This dress is sooo Sophie...

Feathers Dress w/smock, $34.50

And I can't forget my littlest one, Grace!  I can buy these for next Spring...

Baby Tunic w/Bloomer - Teal, $23

Bouquet Bloomer, $18.50

Party In a Box

With two little girls, much of my social calendar is filled up with children's birthday parties, both as a guest and a host and planner.  I love the idea of a handmade party, but it's been very time consuming to come up with ideas (or steal from other blogs) and then source and make all the decor (never again, candy necklace garland!).  The Acme Party Box Company seems to be a great solution.  Started by a couple of women who love throwing parties, this company offers all the decor, favors, and activities I need to make my party smashing.  Above is the circus-themed party...I love that it includes quickly degradable bamboo plates and stemware, plus vintage toy centerpieces for decor.  I will put this little resource in my back pocket for my future parties!

all images via Acme Party Box Company

Etsy Goody: My Sweet Prints

My Sweet Prints offers cute and hip prints, perfect for a child's room.  They even have bedtime and morning versions of the trendy bus-stop posters that can be seen in all the design magazines.  And the best part is that all these prints can be customized for your own kids.  Here are a few that I'm considering picking up:

...for obvious reasons:

S is for Sophie, $20

..I like how this one can be changed to reflect your own bedtime routine:

Bedtime Bus Roll, $24

...worth the effort to try and read it!

Customized Eye Chart, $22

...for a French-themed girls' room:

Counting in French Poster, $20

all images via My Sweet Prints

Air and Scare

 This weekend we attended the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum's Air and Scare event.  It was sooo crowded and even after we made it inside, there was a long line for everything.  I don't know if we'll go again next year, but it was really cool to see all the other costumes.  That was definitely Sophie's favorite part of the entire outing.

Did I mention that it was crowded?

Star Wars was very popular!  At the Air and Space Museum....go figure!

Sophie enjoyed the activities more than the candy.

Sophie got a picture with her heroes.

Sophie and Bodhi.  Aren't they adorbs?

Egg Lamp Nightlight

When perusing this nursery makeover on Little Green Notebook, my eye immediately was drawn to the gorgeous sculpture on this dresser. Turns out, it's a nightlight--the kind that projects stars onto the ceiling. I love that it's not too cutesy and the palette of available colors is beautiful. It's exactly what Darren and I were looking to give Sophie for her birthday (especially now that she's afraid of monsters in her room).

image via Little Green Notebook

The olive colored one would be my pick. It's available here for $135.

And here it is, doing its thang at night. Cool, huh?

Tassel Top

Girls' water lily tassel top, $40 ($28 if you buy it today)

J.Crew is having one of their sales and I picked this cute top up for Sophie to wear next Spring.