Vintage Loves

It's almost December and I have no idea where this year has gone. What happened to fall? Did we just skip that whole season? I don't know. But I seem to remember sometime around July swearing that I was going to get my Christmas shopping done early this year, and now I have less than a month and I've barely even started. All of those handmade projects I had swirling around in my brain? Not happening.

Part of the problem of Christmas shopping for me is that I keep getting distracted by things for myself or the little one that neither of us really need, but that are super cute anyway. Vintage finds really make me swoon, but they're often pricey or delicate. When buying presents for Kirah I try to weigh the price over how much she'll actually use the item. Wooden train set and dollhouse are both justifiable gifts - expensive vintage sweaters not so much.

Fun to dream about wee charming vintage-y goodies though.


Miniature Miss Sunshine Dress, Green tweed coat set, Tin saucer collection, Strombecker doll table and chairs.

<3 Lovies

UGUiSU

I just want to talk a little bit more about the balloons in yesterday's post. I am IN LOVE with the shop I bought them from, and there are so many other cute little things I wish I could buy from them.

The shop is UGUiSU and they sell stationary and gifts from Japan, including the washi paper masking tape that has been super popular with scrapbookers lately.

A while back I bought an assortment of their cute little paper balloons to hang in Kirah's room.

My favorite is the huge puffer fish!



They all came in one big, colorful package, and one of the balloon sets came with a party blower as well, so you can imagine how much fun Kirah had opening up that present and looking at everything.

I don't know what I would use half of their pretty little things for, but I love all of them.



Definitely check it out - if only for the eye candy.

Where the beastie sleeps

As promised, some pictures of Kirah's room now that she has her big girl bed. Just a few shots of here and there.

As you can see, she has so much stuff crammed into her little bedroom that I don't even know what we're going to buy her for Christmas this year - there's nowhere to put anything else!


Bugs drawn with window crayons, new bed and comforter, vintage dolls and furniture from thrift stores.


Washi paper balloons, her closet "playhouse", "Ollie" the octopus chair.


An animal tea party, some of her art, "Kitty" who goes EVERYWHERE!

Boots and mini boots

As I mentioned before, little whispers of autumn in the air make me crazy for all of the little joys of the season. Starbucks has released their fall beverages (hello again, pumpkin spice my love), it was cold enough to steal my husband's stripey scarf last week, and I'm planning an apple orchard trip with the fam. I'm giddy.

Fall item #3,407,012 that makes me all excitable: boots! I'm on the lookout for some good ones right now. Some ankle boots for me and something cute for everyday for the kidlet. One pair in particular is driving me crazy, but I've got other, more important things to spend money on right now.

Anyway, here are my infatuations:


Villie, Dee Dee, Leaftops, Studded Suede.



Sweater knits, Line Dance, Neon zippers, Elephants.

Love them? Hate them? Got any other pairs I should know about? Comment and let me know ;)

IKEA 2011

The IKEA 2011 catalog is out!

IKEA is one of my favorite stores for cheap and interesting pieces for our home. Most of our large furniture is from the store and I'm always drooling over their ridiculously low priced knick-knacks and things.

Aside from the new catalog offering plenty of eye candy for me, the children's pages are adorable.


Wouldn't it be great to have a cute little wardrobe just for dress-up clothes?


How much fun is a bunk bed with a tent?!


Their toy prices just beat the pants off of the high end versions.

Looks like hubby is getting talked into a shopping trip in the near future!

Window Crayons

The last time Grandma came over to babysit she brought with her a present that we have fallen in love with.

Crayola Window Crayons.



These things are bananas. They don't seem to be intended for a toddler to use to smear your sliding doors with color, but they work well for that purpose anyway! They go on smooth and creamy, making it easy for little ones who don't press very hard; they come in roll-up tubes which makes them unbreakable and unmushable; and they wash off easily and instantly. Plus, who doesn't love coloring on windows??



Kirah's cousin Alex, who is 10, had a blast helping little Kirah decorate our patio door - the pictures I've posted are her creations. The kitty is modeled after one of our own fluffy family members. I think she captured him quite perfectly, don't you? Minus the skirt and bow, of course...



He seems pleased.

Shopping the Boy's Section

I have so much fun dressing up my little girl. The options for childrens' clothes today are just amazing, and while boys' clothes are (stupidly, if you ask me) fairly restrictive as far as color and style, girls can wear just about anything. One of my favorite ways to temper the amount of pink and sparkles in our house is to shop the boy sections at stores. Why not? Girls like trucks and sharks and alligators too!

I'd love to show you some of my favs of what's out there at the moment.



This vintage-looking origami set from Tea Collection is cute on it's own, but you could make it even cuter and more girl friendly by breaking it up. Match the shorts with a white cotton eyelet top, or the tank with a pair of ruffly white or orange ruffly shorts (a la?)

This Stella McCartney designed set for Baby Gap glows in the dark! Need I say more?

Cool, comfy long johns from Hanna Anderson are just the type of jammies I would steal from a boy if I was that size. There are lots of nicely preppy color choices on these ones as well.

borrowed from my brother section. Check it out, if only for the inspiration - I can't think of anything more brilliant than pairing a checked button-down with a tulle skirt and some sparkly ballet flats.

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I'm thinking I need this cardigan in my size as well. It's got that sweet borrowed-from-grandpa thing going for it.

These pants from Lucky Wang NYC look super-duper comfy! I'm in love with the wide leg, and they come in a few colors (including a soft lavender).

The hoodie from Masala Baby seems like the kind of thing Kirah would live in and never let me wash. I'm also a fan of the unique coloring.




I can't get over this motorcycle jacket. Knock that price down and I will be all over it! How much fun would that be over a brightly colored summer dress?

A trendy T-shirt is such an easy way to get a little boy style without going over the top. This one makes me happy with it's not-too-cutesy print.

And lastly, a well worn, cozy hoodie is a kid essential. Tea Collection's stands out to me in it's simplicity.

Now go get some snips and snails and puppy dog tails for your baby girl! And if you're not sure if she looks too boyish, just throw on some pink, heart-shaped sunglasses, and you're golden. ;)

Baby Loves Dress-up

We love playing dress-up around here. With a few leftover Halloween costumes, some hand-me-down jewelry from Grammy, and a nicely worn blanket to use as a cape, we have at least a few good hours of imaginative play guaranteed. Then we venture into my closet, throw on a dozen scarves, twice as many necklaces, and a pair of heels so high I have to laugh when Kirah shuffles around in them.

If Kirah can find a way to affix it to her body, it will become part of today's story, where she's an astronaut, or a cowgirl, or a dragon, or whatever.

I love that she can imagine a towel into a cloak and a necklace into a crown, but from time to time I come across some special piece of dress-up finery that I wish we could add to our collection.

Here's what's captivating me this week:



Silly felt beards from Mahar Dry Goods.

Any and all of the adorable tutus from Tutu Posh.



These luxe looking capes in every color.

This fantastic handmade kimono for girls or boys.



A complete and comfy looking knight costume (check out this etsy seller's whole shop for more!)

And my favorite, this super cool bird mask and cape from shak-shuka.

Mmm, I can dream.