Trendy Tot Tuesday - Week 2

Today I am going to break down where and how I shop for my kiddos.  But first and OOTD for Lillian. 

 

{Shirt and Legging Comb: Carters from Costco (I think) / Shoes: Unknown}

Now onto my favorite spots to shop for my littles.  

Kohls is almost always my first go to spot.  I love that they have affordable items for all my kids.  I can shop newborn, toddler, and school aged all right there.  And I think their Jumping Bean line of clothing holds up really well for staple pieces and play clothes.

Gymboree and Baby Gap I kind of group into the same category.  It is where I find special occasion pieces, church clothes, a nice sweater that I know will go with leggings from Target.  The nice additions to an outfit that make them look a little nicer.  

Old Navy is another go to for cheap play clothes.  I also love their swimwear.  Also you can't beat their price for simple plain tee shirts.

Carters.  I mean enough said.  Carters is a staple in ever newborn and infant closet I believe.  I stopped "boy" shopping there when Matthew was around 3, but I feel like I love their older sized girl items, and Lilly still gets a lot from Carters.  And, it is the only place I buy pajamas.  

H&M.  I always forget how much I like their kid clothing.  I barely shop there, but every time I do I love the items I get.

Crazy 8.  A sister store to Gymboree, it is no surprise I like them.  I will say, I almost never find boy things there.

Lands End and Macys.  Again I group these together.  When Matthew isn't wearing a Nike tee and Jeans, I turn to polo shirts which I usually find from Macys.  I also have a feeling Lands End is going to become my new best friend, as our kids school is switching to a uniform next school year (more on that another day)

 

There you have it.  

Once again I am linking up with Megan, Kelly, and Lindsay for Trendy Tot Tuesday!

Saying Goodbye To My Hometown.

This weekend Matthew and Lilly stayed in VA and had a weekend with Daddy, while JD and I packed up and headed to my parents house.  This visit was unlike any of the hundreds before, we were helping pack up my childhood home.  

The very exciting part of this is that my Mom and Dad are moving South.  Something they have wanted to do for some time now.  They will be living on a golf course, right near the shore.  It is going to be amazing for them, and make for some great spring break vacations for us :)

The tear jerking part is saying goodbye to "home".  The house I grew up in, had every elementary and high school memory in.  Too many sleep-overs to count.  A wonderful childhood, all stemming from the wonderful town in Western PA.  More than those, some of the best memories I have as an adult also come from this perfect little town, and our home.

 

{My engagement to Matt.  November 2006, he took me to the bell tower on the campus of the college we fell in love at, and asked me to be his wife}

{Matthew's First Christmas.  At just 4 months old, we got to wake up Christmas morning, and start all the wonderful traditions of the season, there in my parents house}

{Matthew's First Birthday.  It was so special, that we got to share the wonderful day with family, celebrating surviving the first year of parenthood, i mean a Birthday Party for our baby boy!

{Lillian's First Christmas.  In keeping up with tradition, we also celebrated our baby girls first Christmas at my parent house.  Our kids love being at their Grandma and Papa's for Christmas morning.} 

{Lillian's First Birthday.  So many celebrations have occurred here, and Lillian's birthday was no exception. We are just so lucky that my parents are so relaxed and allowed us to throw our parties for them there}  

I could go on and on.  My baby shower, my 21st birthday, where I met and fell in love with my husband.  An amazing opportunity to grow up in a small town, where everyone knew everyone.

We are so excited for their new adventure, and can't WAIT to come visit them for some beach time!  But the small town of Clarion, Pennsylvania will always have such a special place in my heart.

May Goals.

I have been having a very hard time keeping up with life lately.  Let me tell you, a family of 5 somehow creates 10 times the amount of laundry as a family of 4, explain that one....

Anyway, I have seen so many people doing monthly goals and recaps, and I thought I would give it a try.  

So, Goals for the Month of May:

1.  Start a Vacation Pack List.  This shouldn't be difficult, because it is preparing for my favorite time of the year, a week away from all the stress and craziness.  Just us, the pool, and beach.  It is a major undertaking making the list each year, preparing all the food, and getting everything ready to do...Hubs thinks all you need to do is load the car and go (lucky him!), but it takes a lot of work and I need to start soon.

2.  Set up and confirm summer camps.  Both Matthew and Lilly are doing VBS, but I need to fill out the form.  Also Matthew really wants to do Basketball camp, so I have to look into that.

3.  Wash every window and window sill in the house.  This is on my to-do list every day, and it NEVER gets done!

4.  Deep clean the inside of my van.  It is hard since it is the middle of baseball season, but it needs vacuumed so badly, and I need to organize things and get it summer ready.  Fully equipped with bug spray, and sunscreen. 

5.  Get into a workout routine before school gets out.  I was doing so good, but then life got in the way and I have worked out in weeks.  Time to get back on track!

So there we go, my first month of goals.  Hopefully I will be able to report success at the end of the month!