Favorite Fall Accessories

Tights ||  Necklace || Baggu

Headband  || Tights || Barrette

Scarf || Gloves || Bracelets

I like to show my new favorite accessories a lot. There are so many good ones out there, and they generally don't break the bank like new wardrobes, so I'm a big fan. I'm particularly loving the yellow barrette these days. Zuzii makes such cute things.

In other news, last night I stopped taking NyQuill because I was feeling much better, but I couldn't sleep! I had convinced myself that in three days I must have become addicted (I hardly EVER take medicine because of paranoia!) and now I'll never sleep well again, when Brian said jokingly to me "hey Kate, did you give us caffeinated coffee?" 

Every night when the kids fall asleep, we make some decaf. It's our substitution for dessert. We always always make decaf, until last night. When he asked, I knew in that instant that, yes, I had subconsciously made caffeinated coffee. Dun dun duuuunnn.

A lot of tossing and turning, and many minutes later, we fell into a deep sleep. I didn't look at a clock after midnight because it would have totally stressed me out. ;)

Thankfully, Maggie decided to let us sleep until 7:30, and we woke feeling refreshed-ish and, obviously, I'll be teased for awhile. 

Ohhh Tuesday. 

New Shoes

It was time. Sophie had blisters from her shoes, and would cry when we walked too far that her feet were hurting. Brian's mom came in town this weekend and decided she must do something to fix this.

Enter: our new and old, tried and true favorite footwear (and outfits to accompany):

flats // dress // hat

sneakers // jeans // sweatshirt

casual // tee // skirt

Sophie got measured for new shoes, and tried about ten different pair, and we settled on two. Does anyone else have serious trouble picking shoes for their pre-schoolers? We want them to work with a lot of outfits in their closets, so we get the most bang for our buck, but I also want them to be "fun," and interesting enough for my children to want to wear them! There's the comfort and durability factor, and the on/off factor, the "will they stand up to the park" factor, etc. 

That said, we try to replace shoes accordingly. We like to have one flat/princess shoe, one sneaker/park shoe, and one comfortable shoe that can be versatile and neutral. We also love having some Minnetonka boots in the rotation. 

Sophie has never had sneakers like her new New Balances she got today. We mentioned they look like my running shoes, so when she wore them tonight on our walk, she wanted to race her daddy the whole time. When they finally stopped, she looked up and said,

"Daddy! This is great! These sneakers really work!" 

Now we have a little marathoner-in-training. 

xo

So Good: Skylar Luna Pajamas

We ordered Skylar Luna pajamas the other day.

Sophie picked the colors and I've never seen her so excited for something to come in the mail. I had no idea that it would be such a big deal that she got to choose her pj's on her own! Every day after we ordered them, she's been asking if today was the day they would come. She's SUPER excited about my in-laws coming in town tomorrow, so she really wanted the new pj's to come in time for them to see. 

They came! And they're every bit as lovely and soft and organic and eco-friendly as we hoped. The girls giggled when they put them on, and Maggie couldn't stop shouting "MATCH! MATCH! MATCH!" because- well- the girls kind of matched... also because she is in a phase where she repeats words until everyone hears and acknowledges. I love toddlers.

Maggie loved hers so much that when I asked her to get dressed this morning, she insisted that she needed to keep her pajamas on. "No clothes" today, she said. They're so cute that I was perfectly fine with that. You can only get away with this sort of thing for about two years of your life, so I figure I may as well allow it. ;) 

I'm also excited because I've found my new go-to gift for little friends' birthdays! Pajamas are one of those things that are thought about LESS than daytime clothing, but as a mother, I've realized that the bedtime clothing and cozies get so much more use than the daytime outfits. Beautiful 100% cotton organic pajamas it is! Thank you Skylar Luna! 

Here are some other options we like (for boys AND girls!): 

Samples were provided for review but we were not compensated for this post. ALL opinions are our own. We LOVE Skylar Luna. xo

Loving: Peppercorn Kids

Photo via PeppercornKids 

I love telling you about brands that make us smile.

Peppercorn Kids is one of those brands. Your child loves fish? Hey, here's a purse they've created just for you! Bows? A giant bow necklace! Perfect. Hearts? Yes, this will work perfectly. Foxes? Pilots? Sparkles? Check, check, check. 

My girls are the types who want to play dress-up every day all day, inside and outside. I have strict limits about wardrobe practicality when we go on adventures, but I'm totally game with them using their creativity to accessorize anytime.

I love Peppercorn for their design ingenuity. I love that I've eyed their pieces on other sites without realizing until recently that all of these cute things are created by one brand. They're just delightful for little girls. They have even created some stylin' pieces for boys {if I had a boy, I'd totally love these ties!!}. ;)

Also, obviously near and dear to my heart: they recently donated 500 of their beautiful pieces to St. Jude's cancer research patients. I dearly appreciate companies who do what they can to bring smiles where they're desperately needed. 

The best scarf. 

Thank you Peppercorn Kids! We are some of your biggest fans!  

xoxo

Samples were provided for review. We are truly fans of Peppercorn Kids, and all opinions are our own.  

So Good: Wunway

Here's a little story: Sophie randomly decided one day that she likes wearing extra long leggings that she can wear under the heels of her feet. She would refuse short leggings because she couldn't keep that little fabric under her feet when she's wearing short leggings. 

Thankfully she's come out of that stage, but it delighted her to no end when a little box from Wunway came in the mail, carrying leggings that did just that on their own. Wunway just seems to KNOW what kids love... 

It's no big surprise: the creators of this charming brand are three mothers themselves- to 10 children between the three of them! They're well versed on comfort + style... whimsy + edgy, with neutrals mixed in to keep things just right. In addition to a modern loop leggings, Sophie got the new twirliest dress in her closet. This dress spins with the best of them. 

"Style starts young" is Wunway's motto and how true it is. I've learned that somehow opinions- strong ones- develop early, and preferences are clear.  

Maggie is a bit young, and for her, comfort is everything. She is enjoying her high-waisted animal-print leggings and cozy cream sweater because of its softness, mostly. I think it's adorable because it gives this high-fashion-for-kids look, but feels JUST right for a backyard playtime. (and those chubby toddler hands are my favorite thing). 

The clothing at Wunway is unpredictable, yet on trend. They are always fresh, and always comfortable for kids... And their accessories options!! I love when kids' accessories and clothes don't take themselves too seriously! 

So! Here are some other favorites from Wunway... and you'll have to drop by their site and check out the other cuteness they offer! 

Samples were provided for review. The opinions are all our own. xo

Summer to Fall

That chill is coming and it's one I know and love: FALL. Crisp leaves, cider, coats, yes please.  

We had the most fabulous little photo shoot at Blink Inc. the other day, which is where I got these amazing pics of my kiddos... One, painless little 10-minute photo shoot was all it took! I'm baffled at the skill level.

We created the shoot as a way to show how my girls like to transition their summer staples into their fall wardrobe. (I managed to forget to bring Sophie's jacket, like any good mother taking their children in 65 degree weather, taking pictures for fall, but we can all use our imaginations and get the idea...)  

Maggie likes shorts. I like when Maggie wears shorts because it means it's nice and warm out, and I'm probably exploring the city and smiling and laughing a lot. Shorts are a one-season item, right? Wrong. Shorts are crazy-adorable on little girls who want to look their preppiest in the fall. Shorts with grey tights and sassy moccasins and their favorite green peacoat hand-me-down. Happy all around.  

There is nothing my Sophie loves better than a good twirly dress. Her go-to is a floral number that she has worn or requested to wear 23 of the 24 days she's owned it. She loves it to bits. It has a halter though, and that's just not necessarily a practical decision when the temperatures drop a bit. What do we do when she wants to hit the playground in her favorite dress when it's a misty morning? Knee high socks, rain boots, warm scarf, and any basic jacket or sweater! 

The moral of the story? KEEP the summer gear!! Be creative with it, and have your kids' clothing live to see another day, stylishly! 

The other moral of the story? Find Blink Inc. ASAP and book a session. Photographic brilliance in mere minutes. GREAT for the kids who just don't love long photo sessions, and SO much fun to do with props!

Cannot wait for the next chance to get more picture gems of my kiddos. 

xoxo