Moccasin Boots?!?!

I remember wearing moccasins as a kid - with little beaded designs on the top and fringes on the side.  Even as a little girl, I always appreciated a cool pair of shoes.  Far be it for me to deprive Olivia of the same shoe experience.

So I went online, Googled "moccasin boots for toddlers" and found an ADORABLE pair of boots for Liv for the fall.  Minnetonka makes moccasins for all ages ranging from around $20 and up depending on the style.  I recommend the booties for an infant (in beige below) and the low boots for toddlers (in black below).  The infant booties are around $20 and come in at least 5 colors and the toddler booties come in at least 3 colors and cost around $30.  Minnetonka can be found at endless.com, shoebuy.com, and are also carried at Jay's Shoe Box (locations in Livingston and Marlboro, NJ).

If you don't like to shop online and don't live in NJ, go to any Baby Gap store and check out their "Tall Boots" in brown for $42.50 and come in kids sizes 5 through 11 (below).  Since Gap almost ALWAYS has some sort of promotion going on, you can probably get them for 30% off ($29.75).

Pair with a pair of jeggings or some "riding" leggings and your fashionista will certainly be ready for school this September!!

Damage is done

I give myself a limit before I go to the Nordstrom sale but this year, I didn't need it.  I like the things I got but overall, it wasn't their best performance.  While I still love tie-dye and bling, they have to come up with something new!!

I picked up a couple of items from Tea Collection, an adorable fall coat by Mack & Co. (above), a couple of cute plaid tunic/dresses, and a few more things (Jenna & Jessie ballerina shirt on left).  The good news is that the stuff for boys was pretty good.  I went with a friend who has a toddler boy and she got some great jeans and long sleeve tees.  It is worth a visit but don't plan on finding your child's whole fall wardrobe.

If you need some shoes, there were a couple of options.  A few of my favorites are below.

So, if you have some time this weekend and you feel like roaming the mall, it is worth a visit.  If you get frustrated and need a pick me up, hit the coffee bar, get a latte, and check out the lingerie.  This is the best time of year to get rid of that bra that you only save for when you really need to do laundry and get some new ones!!

BPA Free does not mean boring anymore

I know that most people do not put much thought into what their tupperware looks like but I am here to change that!  At this point, all of us know how important it is to get cups, plates, etc that are BPA free and you can find these things at a lot of stores but I am bored of my Gerber bowls and Nuby cups!

If you have taken your child to the beach, I am sure you have experienced the abundance of snacks necessary to get a toddler through a few hours away from the comforts of home.  Sometimes a Ziploc bag is easier but it is not the best for the environment and not the best for all types of foods.  So here is my pitch - check out Pottery Barn Kids and their great line of BPA free utensils, cups, plates, and of course, tupperware.  The set above is the Spencer Clear Food Set.  What I love about this set is that you get 4 containers for $18.50 that are BPA free, dishwasher safe, clear on the bottom, and colorful on top.

There are four colors available (I think you can guess which one I got for Liv).  I also have one of the retro lunch bags.  They are reasonably priced at $22 and can be monogrammed (great for kids in school).  They come in a lot of colors and two different styles.  When Liv starts school, I want to get her the classic lunch bag in chocolate butterfly (below).  I can use all of the PBK tupperware because it fits in and matches perfectly.  Throw in a couple of ice packs and you can use it for long trips instead of a boring cooler.

If you are going for the lunch bag, you gotta check out the Klean Kanteens in matching prints.  They are $19 and while they may seem a little expensive for a child's water bottle, they are good for the environment, can be personalized (again, good for school), and they match!  If you really want your child to make a statement on the first day of school, you can get a matching backpack.  They start at $26 for the preschool size, $39 for the small, and $45 for the large (Mackenzie Backpacks).  They can also be personalized.

One last thing - not sure if this is a temporary thing or not but I just placed an order and got free shipping...no minimums or anything so act fast!!!!

Go to www.potterybarnkids.com and stock up before this stuff goes out of stock.  (I have tried to get the tupperware many times before and they are ALWAYS sold out of pink!)

Back to school shopping is here so stay tuned for lots more posts to get you and your fashionista ready for fall!

Tsuki-what?

In Olivia's extensive shoe collection, I have come across many shoes that I like and some that were put back in the box to return quicker than you can say Tsukihoshi.  From the advice of a friend (credit to DBA), I found Tsukihoshi.  It is a Japanese brand of kids' shoes and I found it locally at Jay's Shoe Box in Marlboro, NJ.

So what is so great about these Tsuki's?  What sold me is their lightweight feeling and the fact that they are machine washable.  They have microbacterial insoles and one of the styles I got Liv (01 - above) has been awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance for promoting healthy foot development.  The velcro closure makes it easy for you and for them to get them on and off.  If you check out their website, www.tsukihoshi.com and click on the tabs, you can see what makes these sneakers so great for kids.  I don't love the styles as much as Puma or Converse* but check out the cute styles I got for Liv (style 10 below).

They run from around the $40 to $60 range and can be found online at Zappos, Piperlime, Shoes.com, and more.

As you are getting your little one ready for preschool or daycare this fall, consider a pair Tsukihoshi's.  You can wash them when their art project ends up on the floor (and their outfit) and feel secure that your little fashionista is not only in style but also running around in shoes that are good for their little feet!!




*Moonstar, the parent company of Tsukihoshi, gets credit for Converse's success - Liv has one pair of Chuck Taylor's every season!