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
Rikshaw Design: Website . Facebook . Twitter . Pinterest . Instagram . Blog
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

Free Thanksgiving Printables

Just in case you're looking for a few goodies for the kids' table this Thanksgiving, here are a couple of fun (and free!) Thanksgiving printables that I created last year:

I am thankful Placemat: In pink and white, this is a fun, easy, (and inexpensive!) way to jazz up the kids' table this Thanksgiving. You can find the original post and links to download the printable Thanksgiving placemats right here.

Paper Doll Turkey: Dress your bird any way you like, color your designs, or even have your kiddo design their own styling ensembles! You can click here to find the original post, with links to download the printables.

Fun & Funky Teen Room

Another idea board I've had in the works for a while and just never got a chance to finishing. I think this would be such a fun room for a teen girl (okay, who am I kidding - I want this room!)

Sources:
Triangle Decals: Surface Inspired on Etsy
Hot Springs Duvet Cover: Urban Outfitters
Faux-Fur Pillow: Anthropologie
Patina Rug Blue: Land of Nod
Campaign Chest: The Papaya Tree on Etsy 
Marquee Upholstered Bed: Land of Nod
Arrow Lamp: Worley's Lighting on Etsy
Sheepskin Rug: IKEA 
Pink Geo Pillow: Shapes & Colors Textiles on Etsy 
Woven Wall Hanging: Woven Laine on Etsy
This Girl is on Fire Print: Live Love Studio on Etsy
Heart Print: Live Love Studio on Etsy
Marquee Letter: RH Baby & Child

Pink & Mint Nursery Design Board

Pink and mint - two of my all-time favorite colors! Mix it up with a bunch of warm neutrals, and you've got a recipe for a soft, feminine, and fun nursery.

Sources:

Pink Abstract Artwork: Mimi & Me Design Co. on Etsy
Mint Triangle Changing Pad Cover: New Mom Designs 
Cloud Mobile: RH Baby & Child
Wooden Fox Toys: Ooh Look, It's a Rabbit! on Etsy
Diamond Flatweave Rug: RH Baby & Child
Floral Prints: Katie Vernon on Etsy
Mint Wooden Camera Toy: Twig Creative
"xo" Letters: Flea Market Sunday on Etsy
Tassel Garland: Little Dovie on Etsy 
Bunny Felt Animal Head: RH Baby & Child
Love You Nightlight in Pink: Housey Home on Etsy 
Succulent Vase: Oli's Cupboard
Pretty in Pink Crib Bedding: Little Auggie
Fox Porcelain Nightlight: RH Baby & Child
Wingback Swivel Glider: RH Baby & Child

Interview on Rosenberry Rooms

Rosenberry Rooms interviewed me a few weeks ago, and it's up today on their blog! You can check it out right here. xo, Lauren