30% Off & Free Shipping at Gymbo

Thought I would share the great coupon I received:

Through Sunday, May 17:

Take 30% off your entire purchase and receive free shipping at Gymboree online:

http://www.gymboree.com/

Enter Coupon Code: CFFRIEND

Enjoy!

Oh where, oh where, have the windbreakers gone?

Oh where, oh where, could they be?

First, I'll tell you where they're not: Macy's, Gap Kids, Gymboree, Sears, Children's Place, Marshall's, TJ Maxx, Target, and Dick's Sporting Goods.

I would like to thank Mimi & GG Fashionista who both helped me on a hunt for a spring play jacket for Chicky. We found many zip-up sweatshirts, rain jackets, and dressy jackets, but had a very tough time locating traditional windbreakers. I have heard from a few other moms (in various parts of the country) that they, too, were having a tough time with this mission.

What we found:

• Kohl's: The two I checked had about 3 infant and toddler-sized jackets on clearance. Online they have a white (how practical) jean jacket for girls. If you're thinking "that's easy, I can bleach it," not so fast--it has bright pink plaid sleave cuffs.
• Burlington Coat Factory: I popped into the Nashua, NH store on Monday night and found a good selection of Carter's, Rothschild, and no-name windbreakers for $19.99 each. I bought Chicky a bright green Carter's jacket with embroidered flowers and gingham trim. These appear to be available in-store, only.
• Hanna Andersson: They have great classic jackets, but they are no bargain at $69.50.
• LL Bean: They sell a Casco Bay soft cotton-lined classic jacket line for $29.50 each (available in aqua, navy, orchid, and orange). They also have some slightly cheaper rain jackets that come in many cute prints and look like windbreakers, but be warned that they are very thin and do not have a soft lining.

Great Buys for the Girlies at Marshalls

I've been to two different Marshalls this week (in different states), and found they both had adorable designer and designer-like girls' clothing.

Some of the items included:

• Floral print Lilly Pulitzer sweaters (compare at $79+ for $29.99)


• Lilly Pulitzer capri pants, sundresses, and skirts (all for less than 50% the original price)


• Adorable spring/summer dress tops with stretch pants for $12.99

What I bought:

Jenny & Me 100% cotton fabric top (looks like a light linen) with stretchy pants that have some gathering with bows on the ankles. $12.99

Good Thoughts for Freshy & Freshy's Fashion Sense

First, I apologize for the shortage of posts over the last couple of weeks. Freshy has been dealing with a minor medical problem, and things have been very hectic around here--so hectic that Mommy Fashionista forgot to get him an Easter outfit (how unlike me). Please keep good thoughts for Freshy.

Also, Freshy would like me to show you all how he thinks 3-year old boys should dress. Yes, I did let him go out in public like this (the dolphin raincoat he was wearing covered the undies). He wasn't feeling well and Mommy Fashionista becomes "Mommy Whatever-You-Want-My-Cute-Freshypants" in times like this.

Freshy is modeling light-up Spiderman pajamas, his favorite Bob the Builder underpants (on the outside), and his sister's two-sizes-too-big pink water shoes. To complete the look Fresh has his (only partially opened to avoid bad luck) dolphin umbrella.

As always, too cool for school, Fresh Man.

Five Tips for a Super Affordable Superhero Birthday Party

Freshy loves Batman, Spider Man, Super Man, and many other heroes. He could not choose between them when it came time to throw his 3rd birthday party, so we went with a generic superhero theme. We threw a small house party that was both affordable and tons of fun for the kids. Here are some tips that made our party a "super" success.

Tips:

1. Create an invitation that is shaped like a superhero logo or typed up like a newspaper headline. Use creative wording to get your guests in the spirit. Ours said "Holy cake and icecream, Batman! Freshy is turning 3! Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to report to Superhero Headquarters for a party." For extra fun you can add the following caveat "Superhero costumes optional." Most of the kids came to our party in old Halloween costumes, superhero pajamas, and really creative homemade numbers. Even some of the adults got in on the action:



Super Auntie and A Man



2. Download superhero theme songs to play at your party (e.g., Batman, Spider Man, Wonder Woman, The Incredibles, etc.). This really brought the party to life and set the atmosphere when guests arrived.


3. For decorations, use posterboard to create comic book-style text star bursts (e.g., pow, bam, boom, zap, and kablam) and hang them around the house or party room. The Minis enjoyed creating these decorations and were very proud to show them off at the party.


4. Create a list of missions (an agenda for the party) to hang on the wall for guests to see when they arrive. This was a big hit at Freshy's party, and it helped keep the party rolling. I used military times, and worded everything to sound like a mission (e.g., the activity coloring sheets was worded "help the superheroes locate their missing colors."). I ended the list with "Collect a reward for completing the missions. Great work supereheroes!"


5. Play some super games! We had a Mr. Freeze dance contest, played pass the kryptonite (we used a glow stick), and pin the webs on Spiderman (store bought). I also had coloring sheets (printed for free off of the internet) for the kids to color while we waited for guests to arrive. The grande finale was a Batman pinata (I told the kids that Batman's evil twin had "captured the energy bits" and he needed their help to free them).

Happy 3rd Birthday, Master Freshy Pants! SMOOCH! Love you to the moon & back!

WARNING: Socks--Not Just Fashion Accessories

Please excuse this next post, as it does not exactly offer any fashion advice. It is more of a fashion safety PSA of sorts.

I will begin by saying Freshy has always had a thing for socks. As a young baby he would work for hours to pull them off of his sticky little toes. As he became mobile, he liked to carry them around in his mouth, like a dog. As he grew into a toddler, he loved to put them on his hands and have "socky" puppet shows. Please heed the following warning, as his almost 3-year old 'tude, has decided to give sockies a new purpose.

CAUTION: Size 7 toddler socks can act as weapons of destruction and disgust.

Here are two examples of Freshy's latest tactics:

A Few Weeks Ago...

Freshy was upset that I too quickly flushed the potty without giving him the chance to. Honestly, I should have known better. There's nothing worse you can do than take away a victory flush from a potty-training soon-to-be-3-year-old. But, in a moment of messy desperation, I went to flush the first half of the clean-up effort to make room for the rest. As soon as I let go of the flusher, panick set in. My face dropped. Sugar, I messed up. His face turned to me, blank, mouth open, he just stared. Uh oh. I knew I had a 5-second window to change his near devastation into content.

I told him he could flush the rest. I told him I was sorry. I tried to play it off like it wasn't a big deal. I told him he could have an extra M&M. I told him he could start over (I know, that's a reach, but usually what he wants to do if I accidentally help him with one of his "big boy" things). I told him a Batman joke. I tried talking about what activities he wanted to do that day.

It was too late. He wasn't buying any of it. Freshy's blank face changed to shades of red and purple as he transformed into meltdown mode. *Cringe.*

"YOU FWUSHED NIE POOPIES!!!!" Uh oh. "Be right back, Fresh!"

I booked it upstairs as fast as I could, 2 stairs at a time, to find one of his really cool pairs of big boy underpants. "That will work. He has been asking for them for days. Come on, come on, where are you Freshy's blue (not red) Bob the Builder pants?"

By the time I found them and flew back downstairs I noticed an unexpected calm in the air. I suspiciously rounded the corner, one brow raised, to find Freshy standing quietly in front of the toilet. He proudly raised his chin and declared "I flushed nie sockies in the toyet." And with his trademark "hmph" he crossed his arms over his chest and stared at me. This time he had the raised eyebrows. Sweet toddler revenge. Perfect.

Well, the good news is the toilet didn't break. Freshy got a speech and a time out. I locked myself in the bathroom and laughed hysterically, yet silently (something I've mastered as a mom), for the next ten minutes.

One Week Later

We were hanging out as a family and Freshy misbehaved (I forget exactly what he did, it was minor) and Daddy-O corrected his behavior. We went back to playing games, and apparently we failed to pay attention to Fresh. Daddy-O took a sip of his drink and suddenly started to gag and spit. Then he screamed Freshy's name (think Fred Flintstone screaching "WIL-MAAAAA"). Uh wa oh.

The cause of the upset.

So, if you have freshies of your own, don't say I didn't warn you. ;)

Attention Easter Fashion-easters

Easter is my favorite holiday. Okay, I admit it, I say that about Christmas and Halloween, too (three-way tie). In any case, besides the real meanings of the holiday, I also love the kickoff to spring fashion!

On Easter I dress the minis very traditionally (and that may be an understatement).

Chicky's attire includes: Straw hats or bonnets, puffy spring dresses, gloves (if she'll wear them), spring dress coats, ruffle socks, and leather or patent leather mary janes.

Master Freshington's attire includes: Shortalls, knee socks, and white leather or saddle shoes. NOTE: If Auntie Fashionista is reading this, I PROMISE he will be in long pants this year-cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in each eye.

Freshy's First Easter.

As you can tell, he didn't care for this beautiful Sarah Louise bubble.

These styles aren't for everyone, I realize, but my shopping strategies should work for most.

Shopping Strategies

• I'm not a big "in store" shopper (I prefer to shop online due to lack of time); However, after Easter and Christmas I always make it a point to drop by a Marshall's or TJ Maxx to check out their clearance holiday clothes. I know, I know...the last thing you want to think about after all the rigmarole of a holiday is doing it again. I swear it saves stress and money in the long run if you just suck it up and make a couple quick stops. I have had luck on a few occasions, finding beautiful dresses, coats, and shoes by designers such as Ralph Lauren, Sarah Louise, and Biscotti. I then buy a size bigger and stash it away for the next year. Mimi Fashionista does the same, and has also had really good luck finding clothes for the Minis at those stores and at Filene's Basement.
• Go to expensive websites and find the clothes you like but cannot afford. Write down the designer and style names. Google them. You'll be shocked at what 20 minutes of clicking can uncover. Also, if you don't have any luck, try a different search engine. I usually use http://www.dogpile.com/ (which compiles 3 or 4 different search engine results).
• Check ebay or other auction sites. I have had amazing luck on ebay. I got Chicky the most beautiful $200 Susanne Lively Christmas dress for $20 (new, never worn!). I have also purchased a brand new $90 eton suit for Liam for $5, and several other designer dresses for $20 or less. Go to websites like http://www.bestdressedchild.com/, find the designers you like, and then go to ebay to search. Enter the designer and size (e.g., "Sarah Louise 4").

Tip: for coordinating sibling outfit ideas, check out http://www.woodensoldier.com/.