For Your Cutie Patootie**coupon code below**

I always love a new find...a brand, a website, etc. After going to a little camp reunion, I found out about a friend's wife's online boutique. Everything I heard about it seemed right up my alley and I couldn't wait to get home and get online. Check it out for yourself:

www.sweetpatootiekids.com

You can find baby, toddler, and little kids sizes and can dress your little one up for a family party or get something comfortable and of course stylish for a summer play date at the park. The list of brands is long but some of the highlights are Hazel, Luna Luna, Mish Mish, and so many more.

One of my favorite items is the OUCH tank with dots and bow detail.

It is $24 and is a great way to dress up a summer outfit with a little fun.

I also LOVE the Cotton Caboodle Tunic ($40). It comes in 2 colors and is a great spring item or for a cool summer night. Throw on a pair of capri leggings and your fashionista will be styling and incredibly comfortable.

I know that some of you are sick of reading about girls clothes so I have found some must haves for the boys. There are a ton of options but if I had a boy, he would definitely be strutting his stuff in a Blume thermal tee with a tie ($42)...how adorable!! And what little tot doesn't look great in a classic rocker tee (Rowdy Sprouts)?

Need a baby gift? Be creative - check out the Ooh La La Mama onesies ($30), the organic cotton items, sports bibs/towels/blankets, and a ton more!

**It gets even better. Put in the coupon code MLFblog and get 15% off full priced items (does not include custom items).

Have I gone too far???

Need some opinions. I LOVE them. But I know that I am a little over obsessed with tie-dye and probably more obsessed with shoes. Pros - will match a lot, stretchy slip-ons, cute style; Cons - ordering shoes for Liv for the fall in April isn't normal.

Green Shoes!!!!!

This is really an addendum to my last post. Our rain boots came today (yes, Saturday delivery) from endless.com and I love them!! Mine fit really well and Olivia was walking around the house for hours in hers. They were easy to put on - you don't need the ones with the handles. But the real reason for this post is to tell you about the cool recycling program that Kamik has - you can recycle the boots when you are done with them! They include instructions with the shoes in the box but check out this link:

Recycling your Kamik boots

I bought Liv a size up and she has no problem walking in them. I figured that if they make it through the fall, I will really get my money's worth. I ordered red ones and black ones for me but I think I will keep the red. For Liv, I kept the magenta boots.

When Liv grows out of these, I will definitely pass them down to my niece (who has a fantastic shoe collection thanks to her big sis and her cousin) or recycle them. What a fantastic idea!!

Rainy Days

I should be too embarrassed to admit this but I have spent the last 3 hours shopping online for a raincoat and rain boots for Liv. Like most toddlers, she loves to jump around and splash in the puddles but I really don't want her ruining her adorable shoe collection. So I have found some rain boots on my favorite shoe website, endless.com. One brand I kept coming across is Kamik. I saw a pair of boots with a cute pattern in Nordstrom but I decided to see what else I could find.

I was on the fence about the raincoat and rain boot sets - you know the ones that have matching prints or are animal themes. They are cute but I wanted something a little more simple. I almost ordered bright yellow boots and a coat from LL Bean but changed my mind last minute because they didn't seem to match each other.

I decided to go with the Kamik Slosh and Kamik Willow 2 rain boots from endless.com ($29.95). Then was the decision about color. Since endless.com has the BEST return policy and they make it so easy to do, I ordered 3 pairs - pink (Slosh), black (Slosh), and a pink floral pattern (Willow 2). I ordered a size up so they can fit her through the fall. I'll see which ones are the cutest in person and keep those. I also ordered a pair for myself - Kamik Heidi rain boots in 2 colors and will also decide which one I like better when I see them.

Let your child splash around in the April showers but DON'T sacrifice a cute pair of shoes in the name of fun. Pick up a pair of rain boots, a cute rain coat, and if you really want to make their day, get them their own umbrella. You will have some great functional items and an excellent photo op!

It is time to get a Crewcut

I thought I knew a lot about kids clothes - especially the mainstream brands. How is it that I knew so little about Crewcuts?? J. Crew (my second favorite store in high school) has a kids line full of trendy and classic styles. They have basic tanks, tees, and khakis as well as frilly and trendy frocks.

For basics, they have some great tanks. I got Liv a bubble tank ($19.50) in

white - a great top to go with a denim skirt or capris.

The khakis are a good spring staple and come in a range of colors. I got Liv a great tiered top in a light coral on sale for $19.99 with a pair of basic capri leggings ($14.50).

There are plenty of adorable items that are priced on the higher end. The girls' Story Time Cardigan ($44.00) comes in 6 great colors for spring and can go over many of the basic tees ($19.50 and up).

One big problem I have lately dressing Liv is with her pants. She keeps getting more and more narrow (I wish I could go on her diet) and her pants fall down! She is tall so I cannot go down a size. Do you know how difficult it is to find a cute belt for girls??

J. Crew has always been a great place for accessories and Crewcuts is no exceptio

n. They have glitter headbands ($14.50) and glitter belts ($22.00). We all know how much Liv loves the bling so I got her a gold belt and a bronze glitter headband (sale - $6.99).

J. Crew has come along way since high school. Instead of those wool sweaters that came in every color under the sun, they focus a lot more on the sophisticated trends. It is cute and will definitely fit into your fashionista's wardrobe!

My New Baby (Jogger that is)

I did it. I got a new stroller. I was sick of the stroller I had. It is heavy, annoying to fold, and if I am anywhere other than the mall, it is difficult to push. This stroller (Peg Perego Pliko P3) came VERY highly recommended from a bunch of resources but the bottom line is, I hate it. So, I took the plunge and I got a Baby Jogger City Mini and I LOVE IT!!! I brought it home from Buy Buy Baby ($229) on Sunday and Olivia couldn't get enough of it. She sat in the thing for a solid half hour! It is soooo easy to close and moves so smoothly. It can also function as a "snap-n-go" type stroller if you get the car seat attachment.

Baby Bargains was my bible when I was registering, shopping, researching, etc. If I could do it all again, I would have made a lot of different decisions - especially when it comes to the stroller. If you have the stroller blues too, mother's day is soon and you deserve something that makes your life a little easier. The Baby Jogger City Mini is the answer to any of your stroller woes!!!

SALE ALERT!!!

I have mentioned this item in previous posts but it has come to my attention that there is a FANTASTIC sale and I had to share it with you! Whether it is winter, spring, summer, or fall, a girl needs her basics. The Children's Place have the sturdiest leggings I have come across. Usually, they are $9.50 each or 2 for $18. Now, they are on sale for $5 each...and if you ask the cashier to use any current coupons that are out, you might be able to get an additional 10% off!! You can't beat $4.50 for a pair of lace trim leggings (similar leggings at Nordstrom are around $12 to $14 and a little more at Denny's).

They come in a variety of colors each season and have full length leggings in the cooler seasons and capri leggings in the warmer months. They have a cute lace trim on the bottom and are made of cotton with a little spandex for stretch. They wash well and do not seem

to stretch out. I recommend getting a couple of pairs in white and black so your little fashionista can wear her summer dresses as early as April! I know I can't wait to get Liv into her summer wardrobe and will definitely take advantage of these soft and comfy leggings.