Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Bla Bla...BLAHHHHHH...






Is anyone else tired of seeing Bla Bla dolls accenting every child's room in America?! I KNOW...they are cute, but I think they are a little played out. Almost every nursery I see on Oh Dee doh or Project Nursery has them propped on a shelf or lining a crib. It's time to be original...so why not try something new in the plush animal department?  I found some great alternatives by KLT Works on Fawn and Forest. They are handmade and somewhat vintage, kitschy and colorful and a unique addition to your nursery or child's room.













so pretty, it hurts...

Ohhhhh, how I love a pretty silhouette! Whitten Grey takes little girls dresses to a new level with their precious styles and wonderful organic fabrics. They are simple, but stylish and perfect for your next special occasion. What I like even more is that for every dress purchased, they will donate one to a girl in need. Amazing!!! Every girl should have a pretty dress, right?!













Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Bridesmaid doesn't have to mean "BORING"

I absolutely love the line Thread Social. I was perusing their site for some inspiration when I came across their bridesmaid dresses. I had always heard how wonderful they were, but I needed to check them out for myself. Oh ladies, if I was to get married now and be able to foot the bill for my bridesmaids, I would have chosen these dresses. They are STUNNING and sexy with beautiful silhouettes and great colors to choose from. Only drawback is that they are on the high side. But for something that looks this good, it might be worth it!!! Not to mention, you really COULD wear them again...







Loving this flirty strapless taffeta dress. It comes in 8 colors and you can choose from mini-length, knee, tea and full length. The price goes up as you add more fabric, but it starts at $290 for the mini.






This strapless banded Faille dress is a KNOCKOUT...and girl, you know I love a dress with pockets! This is shown in Tea length for $320







The color of this dress immediately caught my eye, and I also LOVE the one shoulder ruffled silhouette. This is in Kelly Green Faille for $290






The one thing that stood out for me was their entire line of different seersucker dresses to choose from! If you are just a preppy girl at heart, or if you are having a beach or summer wedding, these are THE CUTEST. And, they have 6 different shades of seersucker you can pick from!!!!









Who is the fairest (costume) of them all?





The Kansas City Star and the Kansas City Repertory Theatre are hosting a GREAT Halloween costume contest for kids! Winner wins $1000 Visa Gift Card...think of all the great things you could do with that?! Also, 5 runners-up win $100 Visa Gift Card. You vote and the fan favorite wins!

If you want to enter your cutie, go to this link . Enter now until Nov.2nd!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Stelllaaaaaaaa!!!!!




No, not Stella from a Street Car Named Desire, but rather, Stella McCartney. I am sitting here with goosebumps as I just read (in my new Cookie mag) that she is doing a line for Gap Kids, which is debuting November 2nd...Holy Crap, that's in just over a week!

Cookie has a whole article on the line and her inspirations. She is a mother of 3 and she really used THEM and what they like to wear as her inspiration. She used organic cottons, cashmere and wool that "wasn't scratchy" because we all know that children will not wear anything that's scratchy! Stella also incorporated the style from her runway looks, here is a Leopard Intarsia dress from the runway that was used in a design for the kids line...




and here is a shoot for the kids line, notice the same intarsia sweater!?





image via wwd.com 

how about that pink tutu?! Oh and she designed the boots and shoes too!

The line is sized 0-12 years and ranges in price from $14.50 to $128. You better believe I WILL be there to check it out. If you see me in the girls section drooling, just point me in the direction of the boys racks (sigh....)

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Procrastination makes "perfect"

Unfortunately I am kind of a "last minute" type of gal. So, it's not surprising that I waited until a week before Halloween to figure out what my 13 month old was going to wear as his costume.

I blame my mom (in a good way) for my dislike for store bought costumes. My mom always handmade our costumes, or threw something brilliant together with items in our own closet (or hers!).  This year I felt totally uninspired by everything I saw on the store racks. I am crafty, so  I decided that I was going to whip something up that would be cute and fun and creative for our little guy.

What I came up with as a DIY "love bug" costume. It was SO easy and super cute and I want to share it with you all in case you are in need of a last minute costume yourself. All craft products were purchased at good old Hobby Lobby...

I started with a basic white long sleeve tee from Target $6, some felt, pipecleaners and glitter glue.



I cut out a heart and created a bug ( hence the "love bug" name) using different colored felt. For the bug I used pipe cleaners for arms, rhinestones for eyes and used glitter glue to add detail to the body (a glue gun is the best thing to put all the bug parts together) I hand stitched both pieces on to the shirt




on the back of the shirt I used the thicker coated felt that actually had glitter within the felt. I cut out wings, added pipe cleaners for texture (with a glue gun) and then hand stitched the inner edge so that they would flap when on.




For the antennae I used my headband (that is coated with fabric, so it is softer), pipe cleaners and foam balls that I painted black. This was SUPER easy and light weight so that the antennae would stick up when on his head.

To make him look super cute we added striped baby leggings by Skidnees and his converse chuck's tennis shoes. The black leggings are in the girls department at Target $5

HERE is the finished product! You can tell he is REALLY thrilled about it (poor kid was NOT in the mood)









Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Skip-Hop...a one stop shop!

So, I started doing some research on diaper bags and I came across this fabulous site called Skip Hop.  Their bags aren't the most "fashion" forward, but what I did find is how functional and parent friendly their products are! They have everything from diaper bags, to tools to make mealtimes more efficient as well as on-the-go paraphernalia that will make outings so much easier!

The company started in 2003 with a diaper bag that converted into a stroller bag. From there they moved on to so many other great, innovative products. Here are my favorite picks for all you mom's out there!



The Canvas Pronto: an all in one wipe carrier, changing pad and diaper holder with a handle or clip for your stroller. This is ingenious!




The Dash Deluxe Bag: the best feature is the patented "shuttle clips" that change this bag from a shoulder bag to a stroller bag. This diaper bag is chic enough for mom and cool enough for dad. Best part...$58!!! There are many cute poly-canvas fabrics to choose from.




The Swipe Wipes Case: the best part about this wipe holder is that it keeps the wipes moist, and has an easy access opening on the top and a clip for your diaper bag or stroller. $8 isn't too shabby for this great product!




The Playspot: a super soft floor surface that can keep your child happy and comfortable, keep your floors in tact and they are also super cute! Only $79 for 70x56!




The Splash: a VERY cool looking bottle drying rack, with a center spot that holds your bottle brush. From a mom that had a drying rack for 12 months on her counter, I have to say this is much better looking than the one that I had! I also love the holder for the brush-it keeps the "clutter" all in one spot.

there are so many more cool products, check out their great site...www.skiphop.com 


Sunday, October 18, 2009

Take the school uniform from boring to bright!




I am so excited to launch the new addition to my Mel-Belles hair bow line. We now have a new category called Bookworm-Belles! A line of coordinating stripes and solids to go back to your traditional school uniforms. I have three different bold stripes in Red, Yellow and Green that will go perfectly back to any Navy and multi plaid jumpers or skirts. If solids are your thing, I also have solid navy, but trimmed in the striped ribbon to add interest. My twin nieces are in Kindergarten and it's their first year wearing a uniform. They were GREAT models, don't you think?

$8 each or 2 for $14



















Thursday, October 15, 2009

Football Games: No jerseys or team logo apparel required...

OK, don't hate me. I am all about supporting your favorite team. BUT, I kind of have an aversion to Jerseys. My husband is a very stylish guy, his wardrobe is without a doubt better than mine. But for some reason he LOVES jerseys, he has a whole collection of them! Chiefs, Notre Dame, Cleveland, Minnesota Wild, Cubs...yes, the list goes on.

I don't mind wearing an occasional team tee shirt, but truthfully, when it comes to game attending attire, I just like to look cute and stay warm. Fall football games are the perfect occasion to bundle up in your favorite sweater, riding boots and down coat. Oh and don't forget your favorite hats or scarf, they are the ideal accessory for when you are braving the cold at soldier field or in South Bend, deflecting flying trash at a Chiefs game (it's been a rough season...many bitter fans), or dodging flying footballs (and beers) at a tailgater.

If I was going to cheer for my favorite team, this is what I would be sporting...

A coat is a great place to start.  I think for football games and cold bleachers a 3/4 Length coat is best, it keeps your buns warm and padded at the same time!





A cozy sweater is a MUST!










layered with...






paired with...





American Apparel makes the BEST leggings...they make a thicker version for fall called the "winter legging"







Riding Boots are great for function and fashion. They are comfortable and will keep your legs extra warm!



and all these hats were so cute, I really couldn't decide!








Wool headbands are a super stylish way to stay warm...






and lastly, I have to add this...you MUST invest in a pair of smartwool socks. I know I have been talking a lot about this brand lately, but they truly are the best wool product out there. They don't itch, they don't make your feet sweat and they will keep your toes nice and toasty! Trust me, your feet will thank you!






Fancy Pants...

My friend Kara just reminded me of the fabulous site Mahar Drygoods. The site is AMAZING and filled with wonderful vintage finds and hand-crafted items. There were so many great things on there, but one item immediately caught my eye. These fabulous hand knit baby pants by designer Amy Kett. Made from 100% Peruvian wool and a drawstring waist to accomodate your growing baby. Every size features extra rows to make room for cloth diapers (which is fabulous, right?!) LOVE, LOVE, LOVE...








Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Fur and Pom Poms, what else could you want?

It's just not fair, it really isn't...there is SOOO much cute girl stuff out there!!! I had so much fun "virtual" girl shopping for cute coats and hats. The big trend I saw were puffers with fur trimmed hoods and crocheted wool hats are everywhere (with ear flaps, pom pons or flowers). Here are my favorite finds for your little girl this winter!


I mean, could you DIE?! Little Marc Jacobs in Milkshop.com

Paired with these and tights....I DIE again...









I just came across this site, the original makers of the Bomber Jacket-Alpha Industries. They have some of the cutest outwear for kids I have seen! Like original peacoats for boys. And all of it is very well priced. I loved this one too...










Love the hardware and detailing on this one...

I COULD NOT RESIST THIS ONE...OMG...





seriously?!!!  On Neimanmarcus.com



My favorite hats...





















LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails