Toddler Outfits Under $40

Ah spring... it's finally kind of sort of happening. To celebrate, I've concocted a couple of fabulous spring outfits for the littles, both of which ring in under $40. Both ensembles focus on trendy colors for spring (mint! cornflower!) and feature pieces that can be worn together or separately with other items from your child's wardrobe. Don't be afraid to play with color and have fun! 

Little Miss: Polka dot  blouse: H&M / Chambray Shorts: Target / Ballet flats: H&M / Headband: Gap 

Little Mister: High Tops: H&M / Shorts: H&M / Oxford Shirt: Old Navy / Bow Tie: H&M

Mother's Day Gift Guide: The Mama-To-Be

Since it's Wee Wednesday (and since I know a lot of women who are about to become mothers for the first time) I thought today would be a good day to focus on the mother-to-be. If she's expecting, waiting for placement or just a fantastic human being who loves kids, she could be happy with some or all of the items listed below.  

1. If she's expecting, buy a special outfit for her baby-to-be. My husband did this for me before I gave birth to our daughter, and it is still one of my most favorite gifts. 

2. An elegant asymmetrical initial necklace is fabulous for any lady.

3. Scarves are a lovely accessory that fit all shapes and sizes. I love a good floral.  

4. A pair of indoor/outdoor slippers (especially ones this fashionable) could be a fabulous secret between the two of you. You know, the whole "I'm wearing slippers in public and nobody knows" kind of secret. 

5. Who doesn't love a good bath? And stress relief on top of that? Perfection.

6. An organic cotton throw with an interesting pattern is always a good idea. Always.   

7. Is that a nursing bra? It's the nursing bra. 

8. Comfy robe. Enough said. 

Fab finds for toddlers

Today I've compiled a few toddler clothing items that you can procure for a great deal. Everything below is $10.99 or LESS. (Mostly less, just FYI.) Miss S just might own everything in the girl section. Maybe. Plus, all online orders at gap.com are 30% off today with the code: GAP30. So, for some of these items, it's a deal on top of a deal.

Top row, l-r: tee, skort, tank, leggings, tee
Bottom row, l-r: tee, shorts, socks, pants, polo

Happy shopping! 

I heart Freshly Picked

I don't know about you, but I've been itching to get my hands on a pair of Freshly Picked moccasins for a long time. And not just because the children of a certain Kardashian sport them. (Though of all the Kardashians she is "my" Kardashian. You know you all have one.) I love the fact that this product is handmade-to-order, and love to support independent businesses. 

I was especially intrigued after Freshly Picked's creator, Susan, was chosen to be a guest editor on Brickyard Buffalo. The discounted metallic moccasins she provided single-handedly killed the site for a whole week. In response, she gave away three $500 gift cards (yup, you read that right) to her shop, and is holding another sale of her metallic moccs in May. (Oh the platinum...) Based off of my limited email correspondence with her, I can also attest that she is genuinely nice and really cares about her customers. Who wouldn't want to support someone like that?

Behold, the beauty of metallic moccs...
[Image by Heather Mildenstein, courtesy of Freshly Picked]

These moccs just make me feel happy
[Image by Heather Mildenstein, courtesy of Freshly Picked]

Consequently, when I was asked if I would be interested in reviewing a pair of moccs, I jumped at the opportunity. I picked the Poppy version (shown in the photo above) because I think they're perfect for spring. Plus, I knew my daughter would love the color. 

[And, since this whole blogging process can sometimes become convoluted, I feel it's important to note that all of the opinions below are my own, based on my personal experience with the product.] 

The minute the moccs arrived, I slipped them on my daughter's feet. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the elasticized design of the moccasins made them easy to slip on, in spite of my active toddler. The first thing she said was, "cute shoes." Which was exciting both because she loved them and also because she's just barely beginning to string phrases together. And then she started to dance. (Melt my heart.) The best part? The moccs stayed on. She was able to run and dance around with no inhibition from her shoes. 

After consulting the Freshly Picked sizing chart, I ordered my daughter's typical size, and was happy to see that there is a little room to grow. I tend to have terrible luck when buying my daughter's shoes, so this discovery was doubly exciting. The leather will also stretch a bit over time, which makes them even more versatile and wearable. 

"Cute shoes."
Cardigan: H&M | Leggings: Old Navy | Moccasins: c/o Freshly Picked

Dancing! Even with all of this foot movement, these babies stay put.
(And yet they are so easy to slip on and off.) 

Plus, they're just pretty.
Denim jacket: Gap | Top: Target | Leggings: LeviAndMarley | Moccasins: c/o Freshly Picked

Great for climbing, running and dancing. High quality leather affords room to grow. 

The verdict? Freshly Picked moccs are the bees knees. The cheese to my macaroni. (Or would it be my daughter's macaroni?) Let me put it to you this way... I can't wait to buy another pair!