Kids' clothes on a budget

My kids looked so cute in their "new" fall clothes I couldn't help but snap some pictures!






[Curls at the nape of the neck. The. Cutest.]










[Who's that coming down the sidewalk? It's Grandpa!!]

Edmund:
shirt: Old Navy via garage sale
corduroy pants: BabyGap via Goodwill
shoes: kohls.com (last year, purchased with my mom's Kohl's Cash)

Lavinia:
sweater: Circo via Once Upon a Child (resale shop)
cupcake T-shirt (under sweater): Sonoma via Salvation Army
jeans: Old Navy via garage sale
shoes: Wal-Mart

Here are my tips for shopping for kids' clothes on a budget. If you have any more, please share them in the comments!

• Try garage sales, thrift stores, and resale shops. Garage sales often have the best prices. I always scope out the newspaper ads beforehand and only hit up the sales that advertise clothing in my kids' sizes. This sounds horrible but I make an effort to show up right when the sale starts if the garage sale is in a "rich" part of town -- sometimes means nicer brands and newer clothes! Visit a variety of thrift stores every so often to browse their offerings. Also, I was pleasantly surprised to visit a resale shop in a larger city recently and find that their prices were nearly as good as (and in some cases, better than) a thrift store. The fact that everything was organized by size and color was also a huge bonus (less time wasted browsing). I will go back when I can!
• Know what you like. I stay away from silly slogans and pop characters on T-shirts. Just not my thing. Neither is sportswear (for wearing when not actually playing sports), so I don't waste my time sorting through a pile of track pants when there are corduroys and jeans nearby.
• Only buy clothes you like and that are in good condition. I don't just buy whatever is in my kids' sizes. I only buy it if I actually like it and will enjoy seeing them wear it. I examine each item carefully for wear, fading, stains, holes, etc. Only buy an item that needs mending if you know you can and will mend it (like a missing button). I don't gamble on stains coming out.
• Buy a few sizes ahead. If you see something you like that is a size or two larger than what your child is wearing, snap it up! A lot of Edmund's 4T fall clothes this year were purchased last year when I was looking for 3T sizes at the thrift stores. I usually only buy ahead two sizes, just because I don't want to store things for too long and lose track of what I have.
• Know what you can spend on. I have had a hit-and-miss experience finding second-hand shoes for my kids. If I can't find what they need secondhand, I just buy them new shoes. I have a hard time finding jeans for Edmund, so several times I've bought him a new pair (looking for a good deal at the same time).
• Hit clearance racks and end-of-season sales. I can often find new clothing in stores that's on clearance for thrift store prices at the end of the season. Buy a size up for next year and your kids will grow into it.
• Modify your expectations. I'm not a fan of the Pepto-Bismol shade of pink that is all over just about every item of girls' clothing. But, since I'm buying a lot secondhand I just can't be that choosy about completely excluding it from Lavinia's wardrobe. I do try to buy items in a variety of colors for her, but I don't sweat it if her coat is pink. At least it's BabyGap and in good condition!
• Have fun. You know what, if you see some item of clothing in a store that you absolutely love and think your child would look adorable in it, BUY IT! It's OK to splurge once in a while. I've looked forward to having children for a long time and it's fun to dress them. I enjoy seeing them in cute clothes. God has been good to me and I want to celebrate that! So I'm not going to spend $30 on a dress for Lavinia every time, but once a year? I can make it work.

Beauty tips for busy moms

Yesterday I found myself having to get ready for the day in a hurry, and I ended up employing almost all of the timesaving tricks I've managed to find in the past few years of motherhood.

HAIR:

• Dry shampoo. My favorite brand is Dove, as I find the Suave brand makes my hair kind of tangly. With dry shampoo, I can wash my hair every-other-day and, in a pinch, even go two days without washing.
• Curling wand. I picked up a travel-sized curling wand last summer and it is a helpful styling tool. The curls last really well. It gives my hair some body and texture to style into an updo on day-old hair. I have very thick hair so it takes me about 20-30 minutes to curl my hair, so I don't do this all the time.
• Straightening iron. Pregnancy has left my hair sort of wavy, sort of straight, so if I just let it air dry with no styling it looks pretty awful. This is what I try to do on days I don't have time to curl it. I can straighten my hair in about 10 minutes or so, and then that will last into the next day.
• Good quality bobby pins. I learned the hard way that it's better to just plunk down a little extra money for a product that works. I've been buying my bobby pins at the drugstore for years. I finally bought some more expensive ones at Sally Beauty Supply and the difference was immediately noticeable. It saves me time when I don't have to struggle to get my updos to stay in place.
• Good quality haircut. A good haircut also makes hairstyling easier and faster.

MAKEUP:

• Simplify. I've always been an all-or-nothing kind of gal when it comes to makeup, but I am learning to just do what counts when I'm in a hurry. For me, that is under-eye concealer, eyeliner and mascara, and some natural-colored lipstick. It definitely makes me look more lively and awake than nothing at all.

I could write about clothes, too, but dressing as a mom is a topic complete unto itself. :) What are your timesaving beauty tips?

Red shoes for fall

Lavinia's ballet flats: handmade gift from Shannon
Edmund's high-top Converse sneakers: Kohls.com (thanks to my mom for her Kohl's cash!)

Summer WIFD - day seven

On the final day of my WIFD, I wore an Anthropologie top with my newly-finished linen Beignet skirt from Colette Patterns.


I made this from stash fabric as a "wearable muslin" and I'm quite pleased with the way it turned out! Colette Patterns are a bit pricey but you will end up with a very well-made garment. If I bought a skirt like this in a store, it would cost me well over $100, and it wouldn't even be tailored to my figure. Choose some quality fabrics like wool and silk habotai lining and you'll up the luxury factor even more. At times, it pays to sew your own clothes!

This week was a good exercise for me as I now see I have plenty of options to make it through a week of dressing femininely, without resorting to the grubby or sloppy (oh, it happens!). I've tried to pay more attention to accessorizing as I think those little touches can add a subtle and beautiful look to an outfit. As to why I even bother trying to dress nicely at all, you can find some of my reasons here. I hope these posts have been an inspiration and encouragement to you!

Other WIFD participants:
A Joyful Handmaiden
Pursuing the Calling

Summer WIFD - day six

After my great-uncle's funeral, we headed West to join up with Douglas' family and friends in the mountains. We all enjoyed a few days together at the family cabin.


I wore my Simplicity 5914 skirt (again) with an Anthropologie tunic top (on sale) and a belt from Charlotte Russe. My day was mostly spent enjoying family time and relaxing -- not too bad!

Other WIFD participants:
A Joyful Handmaiden
Pursuing the Calling

Summer WIFD - day five

This day, we were traveling all day in the car so I opted more for comfort than style. I wore a short-sleeved knit wrap cardigan over two J. Crew tanks and an Old Navy knit maxi skirt, plus flip-flops for easily slipping on and off in the car.


In his college days, my husband was accustomed to driving very long cross-country trips to get from school to home and back again, and thinks nothing of filling up the tank and driving until it's empty again. By the time we reached Meramec Caverns in Missouri, I was begging for mercy. ;-) We got out and stretched our legs a little, although we didn't tour the caverns this time. Then back on the road again!

Other WIFD participants:
A Joyful Handmaiden
Pursuing the Calling

Summer WIFD - day four

This is my "soaking up Vitamin D" pose. The grass is getting a little too much sun as you can tell from its bristly, dry appearance. Anyway...

I didn't intend to go entirely homesewn again today but this is what I picked out of my closet! My first Sorbetto top and a white linen-look skirt made several years ago from Simplicity 5914. Today was a busy day so I wore my hair pulled back in a low ponytail most of the day. Not much else to say about this -- it's a very easy and comfortable outfit!

Other WIFD participants:
A Joyful Handmaiden
Pursuing the Calling

Summer WIFD - day three

So far this week, I've worn all handmade items! I'm impressed with myself. ;-) Actually, it's more of a reflection on the fact that it's cheaper for me to make things myself than buy styles I like to wear in stores. With all the weight fluctuation of pregnancy and nursing, my wardrobe has been kind of a mish-mash the past two+ years!


Today I wore version #2 of the Sorbetto top. I made it from Lisette cotton lawn (available at Jo-Ann Fabrics). I omitted the center pleat (as in the cream rayon version) and added bias ruffles at the neckline. I left the edges of the ruffles unfinished so that they would fray slightly in the wash.


The skirt is also one I have showed you before. It's a nice, versatile neutral color. I like that the fabric is heavy enough that I don't need to wear a slip -- a real bonus during these hot summer days!

To add a little extra color I wore some turquoise drop earrings Douglas gave me.


Other WIFD participants:
A Joyful Handmaiden
Pursuing the Calling

Summer WIFD - day two

If you read my blog regularly, the dress I'm wearing today isn't new to you! To shake things up a bit, I wore a vintage gold chain necklace that I haven't paired with this dress before. It belonged to my Great-Grandma Irene -- I miss her a lot and it's special to me to have some of her jewelry. I haven't worn it in a while and as I put it on today, it struck me that it looks very much like a modern bib necklace.

I spent a chunk of the morning helping my neighbor sew a skirt for herself, and the rest of the day has been spent doing laundry, ironing, folding and hanging clean clothes, preparing food, and other sundry household chores. It's hard to be motivated to put on something cute when I'm not going anywhere "special" -- but I need to get it into my head that being around my husband and son is special enough!

Plus, if Douglas gets in the mood to surprise me with a fun date tonight (hint, hint), I'll already be ready to go! ;-)

Other WIFD participants:
A Joyful Handmaiden
A High Calling
Pursuing the Calling

Summer WIFD - day one

Since I'm in my Sunday best today, I'm afraid the rest of the week is going to be all downhill from here! ;-)


The sleeveless blouse I'm wearing today is my third version of the Sorbetto top. I eked it out of some cream-colored, twill-woven rayon remnants I found at a garage sale (yes, I have been doing a lot of garage saling lately -- a lot for me, anyway). I hemmed the ruffles with my rolled hem foot and the perfectionist in me loves how beautifully neat the stitches look! The rayon was slightly sheer, and since I didn't want to have to wear a camisole underneath, I self-lined it. This cut out the need to bind the armholes, but I did bind the neckline because of the ruffle.

I made my skirt several years ago from Simplicity 3841. I have always loved this fabric -- it reminds me of Paris in the 1950s. :)

And now to end, a prudent reminder to myself as I strive to dress in a feminine way: "Do not let your adornment be merely outward -- arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel -- rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." -- I Peter 3:3-4 (emphasis mine)

Other WIFD participants:
A Joyful Handmaiden
A High Calling
Pursuing the Calling

Warning: WIFD ahead

What, you may ask, is a WIFD?

It is a phenomena peculiar to the Sense & Sensibility message forums and stands for Week in Feminine Dress, though the original idea came from LAF/Beautiful Womanhood. Every so often, the S&S ladies will commit to a challenge of dressing femininely and documenting it for the encouragement/inspiration of other board members. I haven't participated in a WIFD since before my marriage, and it's high time to do another one! Starting Sunday, July 24, I'll be posting photos on my blog as well as at the forums.

I'll post links to other participants' blogs at the end of each day's post, so if you'd like to join in, leave a comment and I'll add your link too!