Want, Need, Wear, Read (+ a Santa Gift!)

Last year, I started the WANT, NEED, WEAR, READ idea when buying each of my kids' Christmas presents and I really liked how it kept the spending under control! I chose to do it again this year...only I also added a "from Santa" gift because Ella is old enough to understand that Santa brings toys too!

Want: Peppa Pig Campervan | Toy Organizer

Ella is 110% OBSESSED with Peppa Pig this year, as you can probably tell by the amount of Peppa Pig in this little collage! She really wanted this campervan, as well as an organizer to store all of her Peppa characters (they keep getting lost under the couch!). 

Need: Play Makeup

So, I really need to change the "need" to another "want." Ha! Ella keeps getting into my makeup and putting it on, so I NEED her to have some play makeup of her own! Hopefully this keeps her out of my stuff! 

Wear: Hat | Mittens | Scarf 

Ella specifically asked for a scarf to wear outside when it's cold, and I figured I might as well throw in a hat and mittens too. I bought all 3 things in the cream color, Old Navy just doesn't have the cream mittens on their website anymore!

Read: Peppa Pig and the Little Train

Another Peppa thing. We've read pretty much every Peppa Pig book in existence, except this one because the library doesn't have it. 

Santa: Peppa Pig Performing Arts Center

This is what Ella wants more than anything this year. She's consistently asked Santa for it, and has also told us this is her #1 thing on her wish list. 

Want: Paw Patrol Ultimate Rescue Fire Truck

Lucas is obsessed with Paw Patrol, fire trucks, and driving large toy trucks around our house. So this is perfect because it combines all 3 of his loves!

Need: Hot Wheels Race Track | Car Transporter

Lucas also loves "racing cars," and I found a simple Hot Wheels race track on a local Facebook group for cheap! He also loves car transporters (yes, seriously...he freaks out whenever he sees one on the highway!) and when I saw that this could hold all of his 1,000 little matchbox cars, well SCORE for me. 

Wear: Pull-On Joggers

Lucas has about 86 pairs of khakis, but hardly any knit pants! 

Read: Supertruck

We have checked this book out from the library approximately 392 times. It’s time for Lucas to have his own copy! 

Santa: Fisher Price Little People City Skyway

We were recently at a friend’s house and Lucas played with this the ENTIRE time we were there. Don’t worry, I didn’t pay that astronomical Amazon price; my friend found it for me on a local Facebook group (thanks, Chels Bells!)! 

Want: Wooden Race Track

I’m not sure exactly what Bennett “wants” but when I found this cute race track on a lightning deal on Amazon, I thought it would be cute for him in a few months! And Lucas can play with it in the meantime ;)

Need: Cozy Coupe

The older two kids both got Cozy Coupes for their first Christmases so of course Bennett NEEDS one too! 

Wear: Freshly Picked Moccs

Guess what else Ella and Lucas both got on their first Christmas?! Yep, some Freshly Picked moccs! 

Read: Indestructibles: Baby Animals

These came highly recommended, and if Bennett is anything like his brother, we will definitely need “indestructible” books in the future! 

Santa: Bright Beats Smart Touch Play Space

I saw a friend’s baby playing with this, and thought it would be a cute thing for Bennett both now and when he learns to stand. I found it on a local Facebook group because it apparently isn't sold in stores anymore?!

And there you have it...15 presents that will hopefully be big hits with all 3 kids!! 

Five on Friday!!

Happy Friday!!

Sorry I’ve been so absent from this little space of mine...I wish I had a good excuse but frankly, we just don’t have that much going on this time of year! No birthdays, no fun seasonal things...we’ve just been very low key and blah lately, which is kind of a welcome chance of pace!

Anyway!

1. I feel like I need to give a few thoughts on the Bachelor finale. 

-I love Becca, and can’t wait for her season of the Bachelorette. Yes, after Monday night I swore I’d never watch this crap again, but then ABC went ahead and named Becca bachelorette Tuesday night so...

-speaking of Becca, she reminds me of a strange combination of Jessica Garvin and Kristen from Vanderpump Rules. Anyone else see it?! 

-Arie definitely is my #1 worst bachelor everrrr, surpassing both Nick and Juan Pablo by at least 10 miles.

2. Moving on! I’m selling way too many of my kids clothes at my favorite consignment sale this weekend and if you’re in Charlotte, you should definitely check it out!! Here is what my car looked like yesterday on our way to drop everything off! 

The good news is that I’ve regained a little bit of my guest room closet! (Minus the dress up clothes, a few Well Dressed Wolf outfits, my wedding dress, some formal dresses and a large stash of off-season clothes!) 

3. Pro tip for consignment sale shopping: take a picture of your kids’ drawers/closets so you know what you already have. Ella needs some shorts for this summer pretty badly, so I snapped a quick pic of her shorts/capris drawer so I can make sure I’m not buying a color/style she already has. Much easier than making a list of what you already own (although I do love a good list)! 

4. Dr. Seuss’s birthday was last Friday and we celebrated by making these cute little cat in the hat props! Well, Ella made them...Lucas ripped his as soon as we tried to get him to take a picture with it. March is reading month, so by all means, you can certainly still make your own! Here is the link!! 

5. Sunday is one of my favorite days ever! Selection Sunday!!!! Yay!!! I’ll be making my favorite enchiladas, as our annual tradition!! Hope UNC gets a decent spot! Can’t wait to make my brackets with my kids!!

{Don't forget how last year turned out!!! Probably not happening this year, but hey we can all dream, right?!}

Have a great weekend!!! 

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Boy Clothes Sizing

I find it absolutely hilarious that one of my most popular posts is about girls clothes sizing. People have been emailing me, basically since Lucas was born, asking if I would do one for boys' clothes. I held off because boys' sizing is SOOOO awful. Like, way worse than girls. Boys obviously don't wear the oh-so-versatile dresses (which we have turned into shirts as Ella gets taller!) and their legs are all different lengths. It is so freaking hard to figure out what size Lucas should wear right now, let alone try to plan ahead for the next season. 

So here is my best attempt at the crazy world that is boys' clothes. A few disclaimers:

-At his 18 month check up, Lucas was 32" (35 %) and 26 lbs. 14 oz (83%). So he's kinda short and stocky. 

-Some of these brands are things I have already bought Lucas for this summer, so I did my best to guess what size he would wear now. (I put what size fits him most comfortably in parentheses.)

-The BEST measure of clothing for me is measuring shoulder to stride (STS). 

This obviously only works on jon jons and longalls, but I did my best to include it for whatever we had that I could measure. 

-NONE of this applies to pants! Pants and shorts, I have found, run crazy big. Lucas wears 12 month and 18 month pants right now. 24 month pants are HUGE on him. And from what I remember from last summer, boys' shorts run really big too. 

Ok! So here we go...

ARB Blanks: runs slightly small (2T)

(This is the brand of blanks that my monogram girl uses...another popular one is Blanks Boutique and I feel like they run somewhat smaller as well.)

{this is a 2T}

Baby Boden: runs slightly small (18-24m)

{this is 18-24 months}

The Beaufort Bonnet Company: true to size to slightly small (18-24m) sts 16.5”

{this is 18-24 months}

Bella Bliss: runs small (2) sts 17”

Carter’s: VERY true to size (24m) sts 16”

Children’s Place: true to size (18-24m) 

For Children's Place and Carter's, Lucas can still squeeze into their 18m pajamas...but for everything else (shirts, rompers, etc.) he needs 24 months.

Cherokee: runs really small (2T)

Classic Whimsy: runs big (24m) sts 18”

Eleanor Rose: runs big (2) sts 18”

{this is a 2 and you can see it might even fit him next year!}

Gap: true to size (18-24m)

Hanna Andersson: true to size (80=18-24m)

Lil Cactus: slightly small (2T) sts 17.5”

Little English: true to size (24m) sts 18”

Kelly’s Kids: runs big (18m) sts 17”

Masters Collection: (like, from the golf tournament!) runs pretty big (24m) sts 18”

Mom & Me: slightly small (2T) sts 18”

Old Navy: very true to size (18-24m)

Petit Ami: true to size (24m) sts 18”

{this is 18 months, and you can see it's getting a little short!}

Polo Ralph Lauren: runs really small (2T)


{this is 2T}

Posh Pickle: true to size (24m) sts 17”

Remember Nguyen: runs big (18m) sts 

17” but very wide 

Sassy Lil Sprout: slightly small (24m) sts 17.5”

{this is 24 months}

Shrimp and Grits Kids: runs big (18m) sts 17.5”

I actually debated getting Lucas 18m stuff in this brand for this summer, because some of their 2T stuff was THAT big on him. 

{this is 18 months}

Smocked Auctions/Southern Sunshine Kids: true to size (24m) sts 18”

Southern Tots: runs big (18m) We don't have this brand in anything in Lucas's current size, so I measured the sts on 12m, which was 17” (so it could basically fit him now, haha)

Stellybelly: true to size to slightly big (18m) sts 18”

{this is a 2T and it was huge!}

Tea Collection: true to size but slightly short (2T) sts 16”

Three Sisters: runs big (18m) sts 17.25”

{this is 18 months}

Vive La Fete: true to size (24m)

Well Dressed Wolf: true to size to slightly big (24m)

Zucchini: runs really, REALLY big (24m) sts 19”

Hope that was somewhat helpful for you boy moms! And if there's a brand I didn't list, ask me anyway and I can check my bins of outgrown sizes to see if I can figure out how it runs! 

Also sorry this was another boring post for most of you!! ;) 

Five on Friday!

Happy Friday!! 

1. We got SO much SNOW here on Wednesday!!

I was expecting a dusting, if anything, so we were all so surprised when it kept snowing and snowing and snowing all day Wednesday!!!! 

The kids had an absolute blast the 140 times we went out in the snow. But now that we've had one big snow, I'm ready for it to be gone and spring to arrive!! 

2. This big guys is 20 months old today!!

How we are only 4 months away from his second birthday is beyond me. He loves dogs, books, Paw Patrol and any kind of sports/balls. If I ask him what he wants to wear in the morning, he goes to the sports jersey section of his closet and says, "Ball!" He is so funny....nice try buddy, but I get a few more years of you in smocked clothes before you convert to all athletic apparel!

3. Speaking of cute, non-athletic clothing...the Shrimp and Grits Kids Spring 2018 collection is here!!! And I am obsessed with it. 

My kids went over to our local rep's house to try on a few things a few weeks ago, and I want it all!!

{Shrimp Boat Shortall & Rainbow Scallop Dress}

{Shem Creek Crab Shortall}

{Birdie Golf Shift Dress}

{Sailor James Bubble...I could have literally eaten Lucas up with a spoon while he had this on! 😍}

{Magnolia Eyelet Dress}

{Pink Eyelet Top & Rose Bud Bubble Shorts}

Stuff is selling out super quick, so I went ahead and ordered the golf dress and jon jon for my kids before those were gone! If you'd like to order something, just let me know and I can get you free shipping! :) Or put in my code 70024 at checkout!

4. I finished another book!! 

I flew through The Husband's Secret...it was SO good!! I highly recommend, especially if you liked Big Little Lies (same author) like I did!

5. My friends Dana sent me this soup recipe forever ago and I finally got around to making it on our snow day!

Cheesy Taco Soup from Iowa Girl Eats

It was the perfect snow day meal! Super quick and easy, but it warmed me right up! Definitely making this again!

Also, I need to mention that today is my grandpa's birthday!!! He and my grandma occasionally read here (they're cool!), so Happy Birthday Grandpa!!!!

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Five on Friday!

Happy first Friday of 2018! 

1. It is SO freaking cold here!!!! Yes, I lived in Pennsylvania/Michigan/Ohio for the first 22 years of my life....but good gracious, I cannot handle these temperatures anymore! I know all of my Ohio friends are laughing at me. Yesterday, we had to walk up to the car place to pick up my car from an oil change (right outside of our neighborhood) and I thought we might all freeze to death during that 10 minute walk! 

2. Totally switching gears, I am really ready for warmer weather with some of my new Lilly stuff!!! 

In case you've been living under a rock, the big twice-yearly Lilly Pulitzer sale was going on earlier this week, and I went a little nuts. Trav got me a very generous Lilly gift card for Christmas, which was very convenient for this sale!!! But, you would think I could just stop buying when the gift card ran out of money....oh, but Lilly, I just can't quit you. So whoops. Please tell Travis I bought all of this with his gift card! 

First thing Tuesday morning, the kids and I hit up the Lilly store at the mall, and I scored all of this!

Paulina Jumpsuit

Kalissa Knit Tunic

Daley Tee

Maia Leggings (obvi for Ella!)

Lucas was really excited about it! {PS Lilly, when are you going to make more boys' stuff?!}

Then the online sale started Wednesday! I got right in at 8 AM on the dot....added about 4 things to my shopping bag....and then the site kicked me out!!! Oh, I was SOOOO mad!!! So I had to wait in the virtual line for about an hour to get back in. I did manage to score all of this, so all was not lost! 

Girls:

Caila Dress

Classic Shift Dress

Mini Callahan Shorts

Mara T-Shirt Dress

Women's:

Essie Top

Meredith Tee

Seagate Cover-Up

La Fortuna Top

Inara Linen Beach Top

Skipper Popover

I'm still on a MAJOR hunt for the Mindy swimsuit for Ella (mostly because it's my name, but Ella also needs another swimsuit for summer!). That was one of the only things that I had in my bag originally that sold out when I got kicked out. So if you find one in size 4 or 5, please let me know!!! 

3. Speaking of spending money, I'm quite proud of myself for finding Kyle Richards' house on Realtor.com the other day.

Maybe I need to get a life. But, you are welcome. I still can't get over the $35,000 mortgage. A MONTH! I clearly need to get into real estate. In Southern California.

4. Who is watching the Bachelor this season?!?

I'm not the most excited it's Arie, but I guess I'll watch it anyway. My thoughts so far: everyone seems way too young for him (he's 36, they are like 25!), the single mom Chelsea is an exact replica of Olivia from a few seasons ago, and the girl with the short hair (Bekah) already drives me nuts. 

My favorite recaps to read each week are here, here and here. 

5. Last, something a bit more practical for you! If you're not using these Shout Wipes, you need to get them ASAP. (I think they are cheaper at Target, PS.)

They are legit magical and get stains out of EVERYTHING. For example: Ella's shoe gave her a blister, which resulted in blood all over her dress....I used these and literally watched the blood disappear before my eyes. Magical. You're welcome.

Have a great weekend, and stay warm friends!!! 

Want, Need, Wear, Read

I got a little out of control with presents for my kids last Christmas. So this year, I decided to reign myself in and only buy them 4 presents each (well, kind of...you'll see in a second): something they want, something they need, something they'll wear and something to read. 

I finished shopping for them on Monday (thanks for all of the sales, Cyber Monday!), and here's a look at what they are getting:

Want: Puppet Theater | Farm Puppets | Palace Puppets

Ella loves to put on shows and has been begging for some puppets, so I thought this would make a great gift for her! Confession: what she REALLY wants is more Paw Patrol stuff, but I refuse to buy anymore of it! I'm a mean mom, I guess. Leaving it to the grandparents to get her that stuff 😉

Need: Pocket Chart

#YouKnowYourMomWasATeacherWhen... Yes Ella really wanted this! One of her little friends has it, so of course Ella needs it too.

Wear: Rain boots

....because she wants to jump in "muddy puddles," just like Peppa Pig!

Read: Princess Bedtime Devotional

Ella has been really into reading her Storybook Bible before bed, and we have read almost all of the stories in it. This book was highly recommended by some friends, so I think it will be a great thing to read every night!

Want: Balance bike

Now clearly an 18 month old can't really say what they want, but Lucas loves anything with wheels and LOVES being outside. So this was an obvious choice for him this year. 

Need: Puddle jumper | Stacking boats | Magnetic boats | Fishing set

Bless Lucas's heart, he's gotten stuck with all of his sister's old bath toys. And over the years, most of those have gotten moldy (and been thrown away immediately when I see that mold! Yuck!). So this guy needed some new bath toys desperately. I tried to get ones where the reviews specifically said "does not mold!" I also threw in the puddle jumper as part of this, because, water. And he will really need that next summer (plus if we go to the indoor pool at the Y before then)! 

Wear: Romper

I swear, there are no more one-piece rompers after size 18 months! I love these things because they are so dang easy to throw on him in the mornings. I found this one an Amazon, but I am hunting for one or two more to give him!

Read: Little Blue Truck Leads the Way

Lucas is Little Blue Truck OBSESSED right now! We read Little Blue Truck (and Little Blue Truck's Christmas) every. single. night. So we need to add another book to the mix!

If you need more gift ideas for kids of these ages (3.5 years and 18 months), you can check out Ella's Amazon wish list here, and Lucas's here. 

As for me? I want: healthy kids. Always. I need: a new car. Ha! I can dream, right?! Wear? Ugh no idea...more Lilly stuff I guess?! And read...who has time to read these days, haha. 

Linking up (a day late) with Momfessionals for Show and Tell Tuesday...on a Wednesday. Whoops!

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Five on Friday

Happy Friday, friends!

1. Ella just finished another fun week of YMCA camp...this time was swim camp! She had an absolute BLAST!

Lucas and I went up to the Y to swim with some friends yesterday. I kind of thought maybe we wouldn't see Ella since the pool is so big and they aren't even in the pool the whole time?! But, of course her little group walked right into the splash pad where we were! She looked like she had seen a ghost when she saw me! It was a fun surprise! 

This boy just loves the water...maybe next summer he can do swim camp, too!

2. You all know I am not a big reader...I just don't have time! But since I had a lot of time to myself on the cross-country plane rides I took last week (and some time to do more reading by myself at the pool, since I wasn't chasing 2 kids around!), I thought I'd share the 2 books I read!

First, Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World. I had been wanting to read this book for a while, and the author had several good points. A lot of it was a little too conservative/religious-based for me personally, but overall I found myself nodding and saying "YES!" in my head quite a bit. It was a little more geared towards raising middle/high schoolers though, so I may need to re-read in a few years when my kids are asking for iPhones! :) 

Big Little Lies...I couldn't get into this book at all at first, but by the end I couldn't put it down. I definitely need to watch the show now!

3. Amazon Prime Day...did you score anything?! I was on an airplane for a good half of the day, so the only thing I managed to get were these sandals for Ella next summer! 

I never have good luck with Prime Day...what is the secret (besides, not being on an airplane of course)?!

4. What I did have good luck with (kind of) this week was the Nordstrom sale. I just can't be a blogger without mentioning the Nordstrom sale, right?! I am like you and am sick of hearing about this dang sale, but I do enjoy seeing what other people bought/want to buy, so I thought I'd share what I picked up yesterday!

{bell sleeve tee | red turtleneck | cold shoulder sweater | maxi dress}

{booties | off the shoulder top | Natives}

Since the Nordstrom website kept messing up, I accidentally ordered that striped shirt and the Natives twice...plus I'm already not really liking the maxi dress or red sweater, so those may get returned when I see how they actually look on me. I kept trying to delete them from my shopping bag but they wouldn't go away! So I felt like it was a sign I needed to get them I guess. We will see what all I end up keeping. 

5. Ugh, another shopping post! I'm sorry guys!!!! 

But, the new line of Shrimp and Grits Kids just launched this week, and how stinking cute are these models?!

I want everything!!!!

Have a great weekend!

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