A Visit with the Big Guy

We visited the big guy this past weekend, and I'm calling it a success! Violet didn't want to sit on his lap, but thankfully he was more than accommodating with a roomy bench that had plenty of room for mom. She was too cute - so starstruck that she forgot what she wanted to ask him for! Luckily that's what mamas are for, right?

Lucy was quite suspicious of this strange furry man, but didn't cry when Kev plopped her on his lap :)
Maybe next year we'll be able to get a picture of the two of them together!

And just because she left on the pretty bow that I put in her hair for more than a minute (probably due to the cookie in her hand), here are a couple of pictures from just before we left:

Our Christmas New Year Cards

Based on my Facebook news feed, I'm not the only one who missed the Christmas card boat this year (I hope!) We scored a great deal on professional photography last year ($45 for a 45 minute session plus all of the digital files) but our photographers couldn't make it due to snow. Luckily, we were already dressed and managed to snap some iPhone pictures to use for last year's cards. This year we tried again and this time got rained out. :/

Luckily we were able to reschedule, but not in time to get Christmas cards out. Rather than scrapping the cards entirely, we decided to go with New Year cards this year! I love how they turned out:

I just love Violet's pouty face! She SO wasn't into the idea of posed photos, but did better on the more candid shots. A big thank you to our awesome photographers, The Susquehanna Photographic, for the great deal and for working with our grouchy little person and crazy family! And to Minted for the beautiful cards - we always love working with them!

Here are a few more favorite photos:

Holiday Gift Guide 2014: Dolls + Dollhouses

I definitely have a soft spot when it comes to dolls and dollhouses, and so do my girls! They could both play with them for hours. They're definitely some of our most-used toys in the house. Here are a few of my favorites this year:

Handmade Doll Bedding
The Dollhouse Book
Knit Doll
Dress-up Dolls
Mouse House
Doll Carrier
Cottage Dollhouse
Wooden Dollhouse Family
Felix the Cat
Jenny Lind Doll Bed
Handmade Wooden Doll Stroller
Super Ted
Goldilocks Doll
Wooden Dollhouse

P.S. Last year's doll gift guide

Handmade Love

Isn't this the cutest little shop? I found it on Etsy and fell in love with just about everything. You can see more right here. xo, Lauren

Holiday Gift Guide 2014: For Him

A few of my favorite gifts for the guy in your life this year...

The Curious Bartender
Atari Flashback Game Console
Minnetonka Moccasins
Larry's Bag of Smoke
Weekender Bag
German Kerosene Lantern
Faux Shearling Check Long-Sleeve Shirt
USB Vinyl Record Player
Santa's Steak Combo
The Essential Bar Book
Crisp & Co. Pint Pickles
Refillable Brown Leather Notebook
Fireside Chestnut Roaster
Whiskey Stones
Polaroid CUBE Action Camera
Wusthof Classic Chef's Knife
Walnut USB Charging Bank

(Actually, I think I want the Atari for myself!)

P.S. 2012 Gift Guide for Him

Reminiscing...

Tonight I found myself reading back through past posts, reminiscing about Christmases past and dreaming of those yet to come. It's hard to describe what it's like to see your child's eyes light up at the first snow of the season, or how you can almost physically see their little hearts skip a beat at the mention of Santa. I'm so thankful for my girls and how much joy they've brought into our lives. I'm reminded of this during the holidays most of all - everything just seems more magical, fresh, new again. Here are a few of my absolute favorite photos from years past (really I wanted to post about a hundred more!)

Lucy's first snow:

A visit with the big guy:

A very merry Christmas:

Christmas is love:

'Tis the season:

Can't. wait.

Choosing our Christmas Cards

We're getting our photos taken for our Christmas cards this weekend and I'm so excited! We tried for it last year after I got a great deal on professional photography ($45 for a 45 minute session!), but we got snowed out and ended up taking our own selfie photos with our iPhones. Luckily they still turned out great, but I'm very excited to have photos taken of our family where we can both be in the shot without our arm extended lol. I've been browsing Minted's selection of Christmas cards, and I think I've narrowed it down to the top contenders...

1. I love these super simple foil-pressed cards - they really make the photos the focus, and that simple gold-dipped edge is just perfection:

2. Love this year-in-review style card as well. It'd be such a cute way to share some updates with family and friends without writing the full-on Christmas letter:

3. Maybe it's the baby and the toy car, but I think these cards are completely adorable:

4. These gold foil cards are pretty amazing as well - I love the calligraphy and the clean, simple look:

5. Another option I'm considering this year is the ornament card. I love the idea of our friends and family being able to hang it on their tree and use it from year to year as a decoration if they so choose, rather than tossing it in the trash after one season:

Which do you think we should choose? And keep your fingers crossed for us that we don't get snowed out again!

Holiday Gift Guide 2014: Little Travelers

My kids have family in both Germany and Australia, and we very much love to learn about the world around us. Here are some of my favorite gifts to inspire your little ones to learn about faraway places and distant lands...

U.S. Map Puzzle: Land of Nod
Statue of Liberty Nanoblock: Alex & Alexa
Scratch-off Map: Amazon
Scratch-off Globe: Urban Outfitters
Sydney Opera House Nanoblock: Alex & Alexa
Pop-up Book London: Alex & Alexa
World Chalkboard Map: Dirtsa Studio on Etsy
Maps Book: Amazon
This is the World Book: Amazon
Paris Play Set: Anthropologie
London Guard Maileg Mouse: My Sweet Muffin
London Bus: Anthropologie

P.S. Don't forget to enter the big holiday giveaway - over $1100 in prizes to one lucky reader!
P.P.S. More gift guides right here

Holiday Gift Guide 2014: Little Movers

Boys and girls alike, everyone loves gifts with a little action. Here are some of my favorite finds for little movers...

Wooden Riding Toy: Amazon
Wooden Marble Run: Amazon
Street Tape: Amazon
Wooden Pirate Ship: Amazon
Boxed Wooden Airplane Set: Amazon
Handmade Wooden Car: Ooh, Look - It's a Rabbit! on Etsy
Unpainted Train Cars: Amazon
Wooden Push Cart: Pottery Barn Kids
Slinky: Amazon
Wooden Sailboats: Poketo
Pinky Hi-Bounce Balls: Amazon
Wooden Cars: Candylab Toys
Wooden Railroad Set: Amazon

I also love these road play mats and these handmade custom neighborhood mats. And did you know that if you use Amazon, using Amazon Smile will allow you to donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice - even local ones! It makes me feel a little bit better about all of the online shopping that I do! Because let's face it, getting out and shopping with two tiny people in tow during the holidays is a recipe for disaster! xo, Lauren

(And no, this post wasn't sponsored by Amazon or Amazon Smile, I just love the idea!)

P.S. Last years' Little Movers Gift Guide
P.P.S. Don't forget to enter the 2014 Holiday Giveaway - over $1100 in prizes to one lucky reader, including an Ergo360!

Holiday Giveaway 2014

I'm super excited to say that I've rounded up some of my all-time favorite baby items and partnered with some of my favorite shops to create a fantastic giveaway! One of you will win EVERYTHING on this list - over $1100 in prizes. You can enter via the Rafflecopter below.

Merry Christmas! xo, Lauren

The giveaway includes the following fabulous prizes:

1. A crib sheet and crib skirt of your choice from Rikshaw Design
2. A $200 credit to Rosenberry Rooms (I picked out this sweet little Petit Collage owl mobile and this adorable play tent!)
3. A set of swaddling blankets of your choice from Aden & Anais
4. A Four Position 360 carrier from Ergobaby
5. A handmade bib of your choice from Whitney Deal
6. A handmade knit hat of your choice from Maggie & Gray
7. A $200 credit to Minted (I picked out this adorable birth announcement!)
8. This set of three handmade organic knotted headbands from luckypalmtree
9. A hand-knit pretzel rattle from Estella
10. A changing pad cover from New Mom Designs
11. Dream layette in pebble gray from Little Auggie
12. A $50 credit to Leetle Chicken Shop (I picked out this onesie and these booties - so cute!)
13. A large handmade doll of your choice from Blabla.
14. Your choice of a Skwish toy or baby beads toy from Manhattan Toy
15. A handmade personalized wooden teething toy from Little Sapling Toys

So sorry to all of you international people, this giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

Lots of ways to enter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A big thank you to our giveaway sponsors! Show them some love:

Minted: Website . Facebook . Twitter . Pinterest . Blog
Aden + Anais: Website . Facebook . Twitter . Instagram . Blog
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Rosenberry Rooms: Website . Facebook . Twitter . Pinterest . Instagram . Blog
Ergobaby: Website . Facebook . Twitter . Pinterest . Blog
Whitney Deal: Website . Facebook . Twitter . Pinterest . Instagram . Blog
Maggie & Gray: Website
luckypalmtree: Website . Facebook . Twitter . Pinterest . Instagram
Estella: Website . Facebook . Twitter . Pinterest . Instagram . Blog
New Mom Designs: Website . Facebook . Instagram . Blog
Little Auggie: Website . Facebook . Pinterest . Instagram
Leetle Chicken Shop: Website . Facebook . Pinterest . Instagram
Blabla: Website . Facebook . Twitter . Pinterest . Blog
Manhattan Toy: Website . Facebook . Twitter . Pinterest . Instagram . Blog
Little Sapling Toys: Website . Facebook . Pinterest . Instagram

Giving Thanks

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for...

My family, who fill my days with purpose, love, laughter, and joy.

My parents, who are one of my greatest supports - who unfailingly give of themselves - their time, love, and energy to help me in any way that they can.

My sister, who understands me better than almost anyone and loves my children like her own.

My college roommate and close friend, who agreed to watch my girls when I went back to work part-time and who pours out buckets of love, care, and attention on them each and every day. I am amazed daily at the wonderful and unselfish gift that she has given me.

My husband, who is a wonderful partner and an amazing father. Who supports me in my work and in my decisions. Who is trustworthy, thoughtful, and honest. Who is the love of my life.

And for the relationship that my girls have. There is nothing like the love of two sisters, and these two pour out their love for one another in such a way that you can almost feel it radiating out from their little hearts and souls.

I hope you all have a wonderful and joy-filled Thanksgiving, surrounded by all of the people you love most in the world! xo, Lauren

Holiday Gift Guide 2014: Little Reader

One of my favorite things to buy for the girls is books - you can never have too many! Here are a few on our list:

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

Puffin Hardcover Classics Box Set

Sam & Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett 

Heidi, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, A Little Princess: Puffin in Bloom Books

Once Upon an Alphabet: Oliver Jeffers

Foxy Bookshelf: Cardboard Friends on Etsy

A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni

Brownstone Bookcase: Land of Nod

Peter Pan: J.M. Barrie

Big Wolf & Little Wolf: Nadine Brun-Cosme

P.S. I still love the books in my 2012 and 2013 Holiday Gift Guides for Little Readers! You can check them out here and here.

Holiday Gift Guide 2014: Play Kitchen

My girls absolutely love to play chef, so I always buy a few new things for their little play kitchen every Christmas. Here are my favorite picks this year:

Apron: Fawn Shoppe
Wooden Petits Fours: Le Toy Van
Wooden Cake Set: Plan Toys
Wooden Shopping Cart: Pottery Barn Kids
Pie Slice: Bug Bites Play Food on Etsy
Wooden Pots & Pans: Hape
Wooden Orange: HABA
Wool Apple and Pear: Darling Clementine
Coffee Maker: Pottery Barn Kids
Wooden Toaster: Plan Toys
Wooden Play Kitchen: Sprout
Felt Baguettes: Mummy Made It Me on Etsy

P.S. You can find my play kitchen picks from last year right here!

Le Toy Van on Zulily!

I'm so excited - one of my absolute favorite toy companies, Le Toy Van, is on Zulily at the moment! That London bus just kills me! You can check out all of the goodies here. xo, Lauren

Wooden Ice Lollies
London Bus
Wooden Ice Cream Sundae
Petite Cake Set

Holiday Gift Guide 2014: Get Cozy

It's that time again! Time to kick off our annual holiday gift guides. I've been loving all of the warm and cozy fabrics and textures that I've been seeing just about everywhere this year. And with how Fall has been going, it looks like we may be in for another polar vortex! Needless to say, anything cozy and cuddly is going to be a hit with the littles. Here are some of my favorite soft, warm, and cozy gift ideas for your littles:

Bear Sleeping Bag: RH Baby & Child

Knit Bus in Mint: Oeuf NYC 

Faux Sheepskin Throw: Pottery Barn

Bear Hat: Zara Kids

Sherpa Mittens: Gap Kids

Pointelle Blanket Mist: Blabla Kids

Bunny Slippers: Zara Kids

Knit Bunny Rattle: Anne-Claire Petit

A-Frame Tent: RH Baby & Child

Bunny Ears Hat: Anthropologie 

Ergobaby Carrier Winter Edition: Amazon

Lambswool Hippo: Tiny Warbler

Bear Slippers: Gap Kids

Knitted Jacket: Mini Boden

The Cutest Holiday Dresses for Little Girls

Violet's a total girly girl when it comes to clothing, and I'm not one to turn down a good reason to dress up my kids, so for the holidays we usually look for something on the "fancy" side. Here are a few of my favorite little dresses perfect for all of those holiday parties and get togethers (including one dress that I would never ever buy because of the price tag, but I just couldn't resist adding it to the list, it's SO pretty!):

Red Velvet Dress: H&M
Glitter Bow Headband: JCrew
Tulle Bow Hairband: Zara Kids
Corduroy Pleat Dress: Gap Kids
Silk Sequin Shift Dress: JCrew
Sequin Party Dress: Mini Boden
Brocade Party Dress: Mini Boden
Ankle-Strap Ballet Flats: Gap Kids
Glitter Ballet Flats: Mini Boden
Patent Ballet Flats: Zara Kids
Festive Mary Jane Bow Flats: Baby Gap
Velvet Bow Dress: Carter's
Cord Dress: Mini Boden

Keep Cozy: Favorite Outwear for Girls

I managed to survive on outerwear hand-me-downs until Violet was three and stretched out her first new winter coat for two years in a row, but I think I'm going to have to break down and buy a couple of decent (and warm based on this week's temperatures!) winter coats for the girls this year. Violet pretty much completely wears her coats out, so I basically have nothing left to hand down to Lucy. If you follow me on Pinterest, you probably noticed that I was on a bit of an outerwear shopping mission. Here are a few favorite winter coats, hats, gloves, and boots that I found during my hunt:

Red Hooded Pea Coat: Old Navy 
Bow Shift Coat: Gap Kids
Duffle Coat: Gap Kids
Pom-pom Ears Hat: Zara Kids
Fair Isle Gloves: Zara Kids
Warmest Empire Puffer Jacket: Gap Kids
Sherpa Mittens: Gap
Fur-Trim Puffer Jacket: Gap
Funky Duffle: Mini Boden
Cable Knit Warmers: Zara Kids 
Solid Rain Boots: Gap Kids
Furry Earmuffs: Gap Kids
Handmade Bear Hat: Zara Kids
Quilted Fleece Coat: Zara Kids 
Checked Jacket: Zara Kids