A great deal on footwear for your wee one

Hey all, I'm happy to say that today RUUM footwear is on sale on Zulily for over 50% off! We paid full price for these, and have loved them. (I'm almost tempted to buy another pair a size up since they're almost too small.) 

So check out this amazing sale, and let me know what you buy! 

(Not a member of Zulily? You can join here. Happy shopping!) 

Our favorite books for the toddler(s) in your house

Reading is a pretty big deal at our house. But said reading has to come from board books, since I'm convinced my daughter might just be part goat. Below are a few of my daughter's currents faves (I've already explained my love for all of the BabyLit series, but we're also obsessed with Gyo Fujikawa and Eric Carle.) 

1. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? - This has been a favorite of my daughter's since she was little. It's a great way to introduce colors and animals.
2. Babies - This was one of my favorites as a child, and my little one was so attached to this book that at one point, she had to carry it around everywhere.
3. 1, 2, 3 Count With Me - Baby girl loves her some Sesame Street, and this cute little book presents a fun way to count to ten.
4. There's a Wocket in my Pocket! - Dr. Seuss is just amazing. Seriously genius.
5. Pride and Prejudice - Beautiful illustrations and fun text.
6. From Head to Toe - Baby S loves to mimic all of the actions. (We also add in sound effects.)
7. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom - A whimsical way to learn your ABCs.
8. Romeo and Juliet - I want every page of this book as artwork in my girl's nursery.
9. The Very Hungry Caterpillar - A classic.
10. The Foot Book - Another great toddler-friendly Dr. Seuss book.
11. Ten Little Babies - A little quirky, but my little one loves it. 

What are some of your child's favorites? 

Mama Fashion: Casual

Every once in awhile I have a bit of a fashion crisis, where I'm not really sure what to wear. Let me clarify a bit. I used to be a working mama, and found it easy to continue to dress as I used to, pre-baby. Since I've made the transition to being at home full-time, I often grapple with what to wear. 

My nicer knits and office wear are now saved for special occasions, and I refuse to wear workout clothes/sweats all day. (Maybe because I don't own any? Though, in my opinion, leggings are fair game.)

Today, I've put together an outfit that I think strikes the balance between being functional and fashionable. Also, I happen to own the tee and pants that are featured, and can attest that they are both great options for an active mama chasing around her kid(s). 

The perfect tee

For me, it was finding the perfect tee. One that was comfortable but also felt special in some way. And I'm so happy I found it. (Though I'm sad that it doesn't come in the amazing mint color I own online.) 

Comfy, yet stylish pants

I love these striped trousers because they are very in harmony with what's happening in fashion (i.e. linear patterns and black and white), but aren't too fussy. 

Fun flats

Finding a great pair of flats is key for a day at the playground. It helps that they're really in style right now, but for me, this is mainly functional. 

Colorful bangles (or another great accessory)

My daughter just loves to pull at my earrings and necklaces, so I have found that bracelets are the way to go. I love the variety and colors of this set. 

The cutest tank for your little girl... for $3.95

I have an uninhibited love for H&M (even though their sizing is oft times crazy). Recently, I happened into the store and found the perfect tank for my little. The best part? It was only $3.95. Seriously. 

I only bought one (shown below), but believe me when I say I was tempted to buy it in every color and pattern.

Image via

Perfect for some serious porch swinging

I'd recommend visiting soon, because these tanks will go fast. And while you're there, pick me up a couple more mmk? 

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! 

BabyLit books are the best

Much to my delight, my daughter has inherited my voracious appetite for literature. (Hers oft times more literal than mine.) I'm always on the hunt for great children's books with fun illustrations and educational content. And, lucky for me, my mother-in-law happens to be an elementary school teacher with an uncanny ability to pick out the best books for my babe. After she gifted us this book, we were hooked. 

I did my research, and found out that it was part of a larger series of books, by a charming company called BabyLit. I immediately ordered Pride and Prejudice, and pre-ordered Jane Eyre and Alice in Wonderland. Skip to a year later, and now there are five more classics that I can't wait to get my hands on. 

Each book features a form of instruction, ranging from counting, colors, opposites and weather. They each cleverly address the plots of their respective story, in a child-friendly manner that is coupled with amazing illustrations. (And if you're as big of a fan of the illustrations as I am, you'll be pleased to know that BabyLit also sells prints!)

Remarkably, these four books have held up against my daughter's "book ruining" propensities. Every day, she points up to the mantle so we can read, "Jay," "Rome," "Prej" and "A-lise." It's pretty dang cute. Hopefully, she'll also share my intense fascination with vampires once I order this.    

What are some of your favorite children's books? 

To catch a thief (and a bandit)

The list of reasons why I love the brand thief & BANDIT are endless, really. The brand encompasses a line for women (including clothing, accessories and home goods) and a line for kids, each of which radiate modernity and uniqueness. Plus, all pieces are handmade and handprinted with non-toxic ink, using organic fabrics. (T&B for the win!) If I could afford it, little miss S would rock the entire line. 

Until then, here are a few of my favorite items from thief & BANDIT kids...

Check out thief & BANDIT kids here, and the thief & BANDIT blog here.