Chapter III

Seven. Little shoes for little feet - Sadie's profile.

I love shoes. My mom used to tell me I would line up all my shoes on the stairs when I was a toddler. They are still my favorite accessory by a landslide.

Even though I am on a self-imposed Sadie shoe diet, I couldn't help pick up these little Mini Melissa slip ons today at the Shoe Hive. She is intrigued, and calls them her apple shoes. They are so adorable, and justifiable since she has officially grown out of hand-me-down crocs (thank goodness, I loathe crocs).  They can definitely be worn in the water, and they velcro where the buckle is. I ordered a size up - she wears a 7 but I got an 8 and they fit well with a bit of room. They come in yellow and blue as well

My all-time favorite brand of little girls shoes is Livie and Luca. Just picked up these for Fall, they are on sale along with a bunch of others right now on the company's website. 

These I picked up in the Spring - they go quite nicely with her Badger hat and pattern overdose, don't you think? Hoping they carry us through the Fall. They are on sale right now here! Free shipping over $30 and they're $46 on sale. 

These Petal shoes are my favorite all time sandal! Sadie wore them when she was about a year. There was a shortage of them about a year ago and people were selling them on Ebay for $75. Seriously? They are back in stock now, though limited in sizes. The Purple Goose carries them, as well, and is having a 30 percent off all shoes sale. These are also on sale online here! Also free shipping listed at $39.90.

Another Livie and Luca favorite I picked up for Sadie when she was about a year. They are so retro! Reminds me of a pair my mom would have chosen for me and my sister in the late 70s, early 80s. They are on sale!

Sadie also likes trying on my shoes, can you blame her? Especially these sweet floral pumps courtesy of Mrs. T.

And one of my favorite shots, Sadie wearing my old red rain boots and vest, note the large chunks of mud all over her.

One more pair for Sadie's fall collection - these little See Kai Run tennies. Too cute and ones i won't mind dirtying up in the mulch & mud this Fall. 

The irony of it all is that Sadie prefers bare feet over any shoe! Go figure. Another post on boys shoes forthcoming (and way shorter!).

Chapter II

Six. Address Labels

I love addressing envelopes. It is a strange love, I know, most people can't stand it. Receiving my Christmas cards in the mail to address while I watch TV is one of my favorite holiday traditions. But, I don't love writing my address on the back over and over. Ta da, the address label. (a great gift for friends who have moved into new homes!)

Classic Labels from Felix Doolittle. They arrive in the  most beautifully packaged box (see below second photo). 

Graphic and fabulous (or their tagline "Tradition with a Wink") from IOMOI.

Or Minted's great skinny wrap around style. 

These are a few of my favorite things - Chapter I.

Channeling Mary Poppins, I am inching back into la-la-blog land unconventionally.  My plan is to weave in bragging moments of how cute my kids are (HELP - they are growing up faster than Lightning McQueen, who I am missing terribly these days, Dora & her annoying backpack & map & monkey are on my last nerve), with sharing things that I love in addition to my precious little munchkins. This would include gifts, fashion, travel, random finds, etc.

I have yet to figure out how to best format this, so until I do, it will appear somewhat, uh, apple 2GS flashing cursor on a blue screen-ish. Believe it or not, this is fun for me, and it will hopefully prevent me from continuing my online shopping after 9:00 and two glasses of wine habit. Well, it won't kick the wine habit, but maybe the shopping one if I can help other people shop instead!

Here goes:

One. Happy Doh Lucky

So I really shouldn't even be posting this if anyone who is reading this is my friend because it has become my absolutely FAVORITE little gift for kids - friends who are about to head out on plane travel, siblings of new babies, birthday gifts.

Started by an Arlington, Virginia teacher & mom of three, this play dough is a million times better than store bought (super soft, easy to mold, stays fresh in container, made from kid friendly ingredients) comes in all sorts of colors with a sweet little creature to play hide & seek with (dinosaurs, ladybugs, butterflies, sea stars). While she makes it with wheat (in her very own kitchen) rumor has it you can specially order Gluten Free (close to me heart the celiac that I am) in case your kid generally has a habit of sampling crayons, playdough, etc, like mine.

(Yes, I am also obsessed with the parenthesis)

Little containers sell for $4 on her Esty site, or $4.99 at the Purple Goose in Del Ray (beware of low stock, I think I've bought her out of most of it but she restocks frequently) and Kinder Haus Toys in Arlington. Talk about supporting local & supporting moms, BRILLIANT! Larger kits for $16 on etsy, like the flower "cupcakes" below, make chocolate play dough with accessories! Local stores also carry.

How cute is this little set for space lovers?

TWO. WASHI TAPE

If I like you even a little, I've probably written you a letter and sealed it with washi tape. I love letters! Receiving, writing, buying note cards, even waiting in the line at the post office and buying stamps. 

Washi tape is a Japanese craft material that is decorative on one side and sticky on the other. Two reasons I like washi tape. Most importantly, it is BEAUTIFUL. Of equal importance for celiacs, the glue on envelope has gluten in it (shocked right? glue, gluten). We celiacs cannot lick envelopes. But you don't have to be a celiac to love washi tape! 

You can buy it all over - etsy, craft stores, paper boutiques. In Southeastern Wisconsin, at my favorite paper & gift boutique in Delafield, Mongraham. 

And there is so much more you can do with washi tape besides avoid that icky taste of licking gluten-filled envelope backs.

My personal favorite for a party, a find of my super savvy and brilliant design minded sister!

THREE. PINK CHICKEN.

Pink Chicken might be my favorite little girls line of all time. I just ordered both dresses & the shorts below for Sadie. They are having a crazy, awesome mostly half priced sale right now. (top dress originally $68 on sale for $47, bottom dress originally $68 on sale for $34, shorts $32). Yes, that is my very own little pink chicken in my favorite pink chicken dress that got me on the pink chicken train! 

FOUR. Wallpaper. 

It is my all time home decor passion. I'd like to wallpaper every room in my house (Farrow & Ball and Thibaut are two favorites). My tally sheet checks off powder room, dining room, Sadie's room. By year's end I hope to add foyer (Thibaut faux grasscloth, a find thanks to a combination of two brilliant design savvy friends and a wallpaper God) and pantry to the list. Every home should have at least one room wallpapered. 

A couple favorites of the moment - 

Graham & Brown 

Oh my gosh this is so long you have to click the below button for the rest!

An oldie but goodie for Uncle Matt

On the eve of Sadie's birthday, here is Luke at two years old.

Augie & Aunt Lis!

Such a treat! A visit from Augie and Aunt Lis, last minute, in the cold of March - what troopers! 

We LOVED our visit! Augie is such an expressive little munchkin and having Aunt Lis around is like hanging out with your best friend 24-7, the very, very best. 

Luke and Sadie introduced Augie to their close buddy DIEGO. Diego is part of our family. 

We braved the cold a few times to hit the park. Augie came prepared Wisconsin-style.

Love Augie's happy, OH face!

Momma and son.

Sadie hearts her Aunt "sis"

You so crazy, Sis!

Sadie also hearts her dada.

Me and my Orca-Lu.

Fish kisses. Yes, everything has a "sea" connotation in our house these days.

We loved our visit (tho missed Uncle Matt) - count down to the BEACH - 27 days! xoxo