Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours! We had a lovely day with relatives. This is a special holiday because my dad's side has always gotten together to celebrate. My grandmother had surgery and could not attend. It was nice to still be together in some semblance of normal. Hopefully she's back next year! 

Sammy wore some camo! He only ate mac & cheese and drank water. I got this sweater for $5 at Gap last year. He wore it last year too - it was too big but worked. :) 

Week of Clothing Wednesday!

Monday I decided to dress Sammy up! I did a button up under a vest. I got this one from Thredup for about $2. I paired it with a pair of skinny jeans from Gap.

Tuesday since we were dealing with his foot issues I was glad we just had a pair of jeans with a layered tee. It was warm and easy. He started out the day in these shoes from Target, but ended up in some from Stride Rite. I like the price on the Target way better!

Wednesday it has been cold so I have this tee from Target. The version we have is layered and pretty warm and cute. I have some Carters pants with a liner and some boots. Warm socks are a must right now!

Thanksgiving! I will put Sammy in the lined camo pants my brother in law gave Sammy. That with a grey sweater and some boots. It will be adorable! (Pics to follow!)

Friday I am planning on staying in. Probably some blue pants from Carters and a graphic tee. Easy and pretty warm. 

I am still really loving layered tees for Sammy. Very easy to make a statement. I have some great ones from Target and from Carters. 

Break in Regularily Scheduled Programming!

This week has taken me by storm. Sammy fell and sprained his ankle. We had a couple of mad rush around town days dealing with that.

Made me do some thinking about priorites. When you have to miss work due to a child's illness-  you kind of see things in a new light. Who is supportive and who you have supported in the past. How everything seems to kind of fade away when you have to get your child seen at their pediatrician or they really need you. My first priority is to be a great mom. I do try to place my marriage above everything else in my life but so often my husband needs me to be a good wife by taking off of work to care for our son. Just interesting feelings.

Sammy is back in action. We went to Stride Rite to get a pair of very supportive shoes. Of course right- I was worried his Target boots could exacerbate the problem. That was a total experience. Seriously this world needs more trained & knowledgeable people regarding shoes. But all in all we were able to get him a pair of supportive shoes and out of there back for a nap. They were $51. I did not have a coupon, and I was not happy camper.

Luckily Thanksgiving is coming up. I have some great ideas for Sammy's outfit and can't wait to share!

Carters Sale this Weekend!

I received a coupon for Carter's 30% off. Now is the time to go and save. I plan on spending about $100. I save $30 when I do that and hope to use coupons to get the rest down. I will post a video of the haul tomorrow. This is the time to really save. They have a mix of short and long sleeves so if you get some great items you will get that next size knocked out!

This shirt is really cute!
These green chinos are a must!
This windbreaker is adorable. Size up and wear for two years!
These jammies are so cute on!
This plaid shirt is really flexible. Chinos or jeans would look great.

Sorry about the links! Carters is not letting me use their photos. If anyone knows a way around that- shout it out!

Head over to the store! Get yourself some goodies. I know I will!

Week of Clothing Wednesday!

This week we were really low key. Since its the big birthday! I wanted things to be easy because I had prep work to do in so many other areas. I am really big into the layered shirt look for Sammy. It just is his style. I love it with his chucks or boots with red laces. Friday I will do a button down to break it up a bit. 

I realized I forgot to put him in his birthday shirt. I am really annoyed at myself. I will stick it on Saturday when we're having a very small family party. Monday's shirt I really love from Target. I had to have that when I saw it. It looks great on. I ordered a pair of Gap skinnies for him so be on the lookout for that. Both outfits I am hoping to do more of an in depth post on.

This week is kind of getting the best of me. The laundry sitch at our house is bad. I have a ton of dirty clothes, and clean clothes that need to be put away. Towels are dirty and need to be washed but I want to get the clothes done first. Sammy grew out of some of his cloth diapers so those have to be sanitized and put away for when we decide to have another kiddo. So... crazytown at my place. We'll get it. I am trying to focus on having a good week so we're just in dig out of the laundry basket with a smile on your face mode right now. 

This post is actually a day late. I wanted to spent time doing this- and I am not attempting to do this on my ipad... So when I had some free time today at the desktop was my better bet. I thought I would make it great instead of make it fast! 

Sammy & Bee!

Weekend!

Weekend Recap.

This weekend we were insanely lazy. Saturday we trekked an hour away to the mall in a nearby town. I had a gift card for yarn I needed to use for Christmas Knitting. Score there!

Then we walked around the mall a bit. I brought Sammy in the Bugaboo Bee and fell in love with it all over again. It has the rider board behind it. He won't sit in the stroller anymore so this is basically a life saver. He did dart off, and Tim was pretty mad but overall it really helps him stay with us while granting a bit of freedom. Sammy will get there.

On Saturday he just wore a pair of Carters jeans and red sweatshirt from Target. I stuck his little red chucks on and called it a day. We hit up Old Navy and they had socks for $1. I got 5 because we've been running out lately. They didn't have anything else worth calling home about boy section wise. I honestly had carte blanche to spend and got nothing. Says something about Old Navy for little boys. Or nothing because that's about how much energy I feel they spend into boy clothing. How are they so closely related to Gap where I find way more.

Yesterday Sammy was inside all day- we had a lazy Saturday and he wore his diaper. Pretty much all day after taking off jammies. Can't get more real than that. Cannot believe tomorrow I will have a three year old. Where does the time go. He's getting a LeapPad2- I need something entertainment wise for the car and this seemed decent. And it fit into his hands. We have a very long car trip coming up for Christmas.

Sammy & the Pink Panther

Mom Tip

Sammy growing up has been so bittersweet. On one hand I feel so blessed to see him grow and learn- and on the other- I feel sad that I will never have the time again. This tiny little being's time with me is limited and that is a hard pill to swallow. Clothing seems to really tie into that for me. Getting rid of favorite outfits has been hard since the old NB & 0-3 days. So I started doing something right away that has really helped that anxiety. And this is not a money saving tip.

I buy at least the next size up in everything I really love. When I have to put something away- I know I have the exact same item in the size I need. It costs money that I do budget for and since I usually have clothes ahead of time- it works out well and doesn't cost me a fortune. If I really love it, I probably will get every size they make. (My husband is off somewhere praying for a second boy when the time comes so we can use those clothes again... He is very supportive but probably sometimes think I am a little crazy.)

Skull Prints & Your Little Dude

Skull Prints. I think you either love them or hate them. We love pirate type things. We had an all out pirate themed first birthday for Sammy. You know the over the top pinterest kind that really get other moms up in arms.

 It just is fun and a bit rock and roll. I think you have to be careful buying little boy clothing with too much skull on it, because it can turn into a "too adult" quickly and kind of take over the overall look of your child's wardrobe. I honestly found that we were better able to pull it off the younger Sammy was. Now that he is older, we have to be more careful because he's not infant cute to balance it out. I feel it is kind of going a bit out of style unless incorporated into a wardrobe with just and hint and pop of it there.

 For example, Gap does a great job of adding in pops of skull prints without it being too overwhelming. I like for the overall look of Sammy's wardrobe to be varied and unexpected. The shirt below is by Amy Coe. She has a line in Babies R Us. I really do like the line. The price is higher than I like to pay. If its on sale, or I find something I just have to have, I grab it and use their 20% off coupons. But I prefer BuyBuyBaby and don't go in there too often these days. The quality is good, this shirt is very soft and has held up really well. There is an attention to detail that I admire about that brand, this shirt the back is printed as well. The little tag on the sleeve gives it a little something extra. I'd say if you are drawn to skulls- check her out. And give Gap a whirl. There's always a sale online at Gap.

Week of Clothing Wednesday!

Week of Clothing #3! I've had a blast dressing Sammy this week. He is so darned cute. Every mom thinks that I know! Monday it was still nice enough out that he didn't need to bundle up. I just had him in a little pair of jeans and a graphic tee. The one shown is from Boden, but I think ours was from Target. Similar but I saved $! I love vests as we all know! They really are a great layering piece. Tuesday was pretty laid back- hoodie and navy pants with some red chucks. Fairly certain the socks were dump trucks that probably did not match!

Wednesday I went all out! This morning I put him in a pair of cords with a cute OshKosh button down. I put a sweatshirt on over for added warmth. It was like 24 this morning. Tomorrow will be some grey jeans with a graphic tee and Friday sweater with jeans! Pretty easy this week. I've been happy with the clothes I selected and felt like we're easing into the 3T size well. I put the Carters jeans on just to see and they are much larger than the Boden's we love and longer as well. So they are probably going to sit in the closet for a while.

Well... Train Plans Derailed.

I intended to post today about Sammy's train outfit. I wanted to show you how adorable he looked in those red jammies with the red lightening McQueen slippers that he loves so much- but plans change sometimes.

Friday we headed down to the town that hosts the Polar Express event. We were so excited. After checking into the hotel- my dad let me know he was going to the ticket office early to get our tickets so we could relax and not fuss after dinner and rush.

My dad calls to let me know the lady he spoke to earlier in the month had given him the wrong date- that we were to go December 8th not November 8th. The train sells out months in advance- there is nothing they can do for us. I felt horrible for my dad. And really scared Sammy would get upset after we've told him all week that he was riding the train. He's three- he does not understand these kinds of things.

So... We told him the train had an ouchie. We took him to see the train right after it came in from the last ride- he didn't get that the other kids were getting off, he thought they were there to see it same as he was. It worked out pretty well. He loved seeing the train and was excited that he could come back when the train was "all better". We ended up going to dinner and enjoying ourselves with some delish Chicago style pizza. Sammy ran from room to room in the hotel and we gleaned some fabulous tips to make our December trip amazing. It really was nice to have a practice run. And honestly my whole family needed time away.

On Saturday we woke up and headed back to the train before it started running for the day. Sammy was able to see the train and cars, caboose and hop onto all of the platforms. I was so happy we decided to stick it out and make his trip as special as possible during both trips. From a little guy's perspective- it was all to plan and he had a blast. <3 Just goes to show you that kids are generally ok if you are.

Sammy wore his moose hat with an OshKosh vest. I put him in a Thomas shirt with some Cherokee green pants. He ended up being plenty warm for the 50 degree weather and looked adorable. Warning on the Thomas shirt currently available from Target - the arms are crazy long. Longer then the rest of it really - fits everywhere but the arms. I am really loving these vests. He can move freely but they are warm!

Sammy at the Polar Express!

Tuesday Tip!

Think OFF season! Right now its not  yet cruise time and its too cold most places to swim. This is a perfect time to grab a couple pairs of discounted swim trunks. Boden has some right now for $14.40 and its 22% off there this week.

Always build the next size up while you can save. Keep the tags on! Most places will give you a year to return (esp Boden) and if you get the hint your kiddo is up sizing past one size in a year you can return and start again using some of the savings tips I've mentioned.

Hope this helps!

Playing at the Library!

Reindeer Hat! I love these little vests. Perfect for that 50 degree weather where he'd be roasting in a coat. Layering is a fun way to express style and customize outfits for the weather. This ensures he's warm but not too warm and can move and play freely!

Follow us on Instagram! Xoxoandrea82!

Follow us! I love to post pics of Sammy in his every day life- and you can see more of the full story!

Week of Clothing Wednesday!

Monday started out pretty cold. I paired a nice sweater from Oshkosh with jeans and red shoes. I put a little red shirt under in case he was too warm. This sweater is currently at Target. Tuesday was just a simple outfit from Carters- khakis and a graphic tee. I really love anything bear or fox related right now. (Hartley has some to die for cute bear jammies I am lusting over) Wednesday is a simple grey sweater- I have a similar one to this from OshKosh Target. I just put it with dark pants and lighter boots. This sweater pictured is from Boden. I like those boots but be careful with a pull on. Sometimes with little feet it can be quite the feat. Thursday is a set from Carters. I will put him in this tomorrow. Easy and cute. The pants are very comfortable. I will probably put his red converse with this to give it a pop of color and a bit of creativity. Friday Sammy will be wearing his pajamas on the train! I could not find the exact ones we have- actually it was hard to find anything similar. His are red Thomas ones and I will do a little post on them probably Saturday.

Mom tip! Bogs. A friend of mine recommended these to me, she is from the Pacific Northwest and it rains and gets quite cold there. I knew I needed something for the snow and rain here, our climate is very unpredictable. These bogs are kind of a rain boot/snow boot combo. I like that they are flexible and he can move around quite well, and they keep his feet toasty. Good buy. Pricey but well worth it. And since you only need one pair- its not AS bad. :)

Easy Outfit!

Sammy has on his striped GAP tee with Boden jeans cuffed and target bought red laced boots. 

He's super comfy! Watching Polar Express and playing cars & trains. These gap tees look great even after a hard day playing at school. 

Save a few Pennies!

Any moms looking for colored jeans- H&M has several pairs for $10-15. You can even get them online. I am thrilled because I need a pair for Sammy and H&M is downtown in the mall I never go to.

Sign up and receive their emails- I got a 20% off coupon code. Unfortunately no free shipping!


Also Boden is sending out free $10 vouchers! They can be combined with other deals. I JUST got an email for 15% off and free shipping so on Friday I hope there will be a new cool shirt from Boden on my doorstep!

Where to Find Great Little Boy Jammies!

We use a ton of pajamas! You would think that I never do laundry. Well that is not quite true! I find that the pants and shirts walk away from each other and I end up needing more than I thought I did to get through the week. I am a working mom (redundant phrase!) and after work I typically don't do laundry. And putting it away is pretty much the bane of my existence. So I am going to share how many jammies we end up needing per size, and where we find cute items that I enjoy putting my son into.

We typically get ours from Carters. They have held up wonderfully and the fleece looks great even after they're outgrown. Hand me down quality. Their sets of two are great too- you just need to size up, they run about a size small I've found. Target and Walmart both carry great lines and the quality appears to be very similar to the Carters retail line. I have found the fleece footed jammies from these places does run a bit smaller- but not much. Again this is good to know when kids are growing and need to start sizing up. That next size in Target or Walmart Carters will fit before the retail Carters.

Old Navy and Gap have really adorable jammies too. But the price point is a bit higher. The quality isn't quite as great so I usually pass. If that have a really cute pair or I have a coupon that really helps.

If your son is around potty training age- you might want to reconsider the fleece footed jammies. They make a shirt with fleece bottoms for older kids that might work better. Fleece holds in moisture so its kinda nice to have a extra layer from your sheets as boys get older and wake up wet sometimes. Sammy isn't to keen on this potty learning thing so... we use the fleece footed jammies.

Don't buy anything without a dedicated mate. The three pack with shorts, pants, and one shirt is pretty much the most aggravating idea ever. Unless its on a great sale, or you have a shirt you'd like to use already- waste of a garment. Just buy the two sets of jammies package.

Extra mom tip* If your child has a cough- vicks vapor rub really helps. I use that and rub generously on his feet and stick those fleece jammies on over. The warmth is good to help him sleep and he can't get it off like he can with socks.

We typically buy
4 Fleece Footed Jammies! I like for at least one to have crazy feet.
2 packages of the two packs in shorts & short sleeved shirts. For hot nights.
3 packages of the two packs in long sleeves almost always from Carters!
1 Christmas set of Jammies. We celebrate and this is important for Polar Express.

** The Christmas jammies I buy in a larger size and we wear for two years. They're red Thomas the Tank jammies  that are adorable. Hopefully I get some great pics of those this weekend. We are taking Sammy on the Polar Express train ride and he could not be more excited!

A few great places to find jammies!
* Hatley
* Boden
* Babies R Us
* Target
* Walmart

Review! Pottery Barn Kids Halloween Costume.

This year we purchased our Halloween costume from Pottery Barn Kids. I was skeptical because they are kinda pricey. Each costume is only used once (most of the time) and doesn't come large enough to wear again the next year.

I love the book, Where the Wild Things Are and knew that I wanted Sammy to be Max just once before he had his own opinion. Pottery Barn was one of the only places that actually have the costume so we knew we had to get it there. I kind of wish we'd waited a bit because the sales came closer to Halloween - but I didn;t know sizing and also wasn't sure how many of each were stocked. So we've had the costume about a month.

Honestly- it was worth it. The costume is hand me down quality. It was warm and held up great. I know I can wash it and use it again if we have the opportunity. The little treat bag we ordered was great also. The sizing was a bit small- my son is in a 3T and the 2-3T was just perfect. If your child has been in the 3T for longer you'd need to size up. Since the costume had little feet I knew we had to be pretty close on this one.

PBKs gets two thumbs up! Pics are posted below of Sammy enjoying his time out as Max!

Monday Quick Save Tip!

Happy Monday!

Today's Quick Savings Tip is to sign up on the actual manufacturer's website. Never buy from a third party. Every layer you add includes a markup. Example- I saw some really great blankets on Zutano. This one in fact- must have. And I signed up for their newsletter and will receive 15% off when I go to buy it.

That works for most every kiddo clothing brand- sign up and receive their notifications on coupons and sales. Know what you can save at each place before taking the plunge.

Happy Halloween