Back to School with Gymboree

Disclosure: The following blog post contains affiliate sales links.

Gymboree always has the cutest clothes! I love, love, love the looks they've put together for kids this fall. I always say Gymboree carries clothes that "Mom's want to see their kids in". The clothes that just scream..."I'm cute and well cared for"..LBS. Although they have a variety of styles and collections I gravitate towards their preppier looks. So when it comes time for Back to School shopping, I'm there. Picture day, there. Formal but informal events, there. School assembly, concert just about every occasion...I'm there. I've gathered a few of my favorite looks...I hope you enjoy. Oh, and right now everything in store and online is 16.99 or less.

                  Shop Gymboree NOW

The first outfit going clockwise is a super cute and probably super comfortable dress and it's paired with some of the designed to maych tights and knee high boots. This is the type of outfit my 9 year old likes to wear on outings and to birthday parties. 

The next three outfits I picked with my four year old son in mind. He will be going to preschool this year and I just love these rugby, preppy big boy looks on him.

Below are a few outfits I chose with my Kindergartener and nine year old in mind again. The floral with the prepster blazer and pink hat just screams five year old fashionista. I really love girly things like prints and bows. Gymboree dresses with matching sun hats are just right for soaking up these last weeks of summer. Click one of the links above and shop Gymboree.

He's going to love these!

Hubby and I are huge adidas fans and now our oldest son is starting to get into the brand. He picked these Hoops Light ups and they arrived today. I know he is going to LOVE wearing them!

Click here to shop adidas now!

I need to order a few more pairs especially since from now until 8/31 shoe personalization is free. Yes free...so get your name or whatever on your kicks or cleats. Make them yours!

Socks.

The Childrens Place.com has been running all kinds of crazy good sales lately and I thought I'd share one of the deals I recently caught. Socks. 66 cent socks.

Graco Comfy Cruiser Travel System in Stratus

I was recently contacted to review a Graco Click Connect Comfy Cruiser Travel System. I was super excited to say the least.  The system arrived and I couldn't have been happier. I received the Stratus style system and I really like the contrasting blues and the sky print pattern. The stroller was super easy to set up we were rolling twenty minutes out of the box.

The carseat itself is lightweight and the stroller can be folded and unfolded with one hand. The only thing that wasn't a winner for me was that the carseat insert wasn't full enough to support baby's head. There would be times when his head would tilt or bend over to the side because there was so much room in the seat without a cushion to support him sitting upright. Even still, this is an uber nice system and it's moderately priced so that you could purchase an infant head support separately. Personally I'm waiting until he is a few months older to use this system because I love the stroller too much to let it go  and I'll continue to have him in another carseat.

Diapers, diapers, diapers

While I was pregnant I seriously considered cloth diapering. I know...
It sounded amazing. First, I got excited about the idea of all natural cotton against my baby's skin and how less chemicals meant less incidence of eczema,  which my kiddos all have had at one time or another.

Then there was the cloth diaper gang...
"You'll save a ton of money" they said. Yeah, eventually. First you'll fork out a few hundred for your adorably addictive practice to begin with.
"Don't contribute to the billions of diapers in our landfills...yada, yada, ya.  I'm here for helping the environment, I'm in tune with Mother Nature.  I'd like to think we live a green lifestyle, okay pale yellow but the point is... we try. 

I researched a lot and invested a little. Finally settling on whats called the prefolds and cover method. Until the reality of life and laundry for a family o eight drop kicked me back to my senses. So we're using disposables...for now. 

Check out Honest brand diapers if you're interesred in real, natural and pronouncable  ingredients against your little ones skin.

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He's here!

After 38 weeks of being hormonally challenged We were finally ready to welcome our Baby boy to the world.

He was born weighing 7 pounds and 13 ounces of pure adorableness! I'm so in love! 

Now let's tell this Baby story...

Starting with our hospital prep...

"...Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"

The Jackson 5's " I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" sparked a "Santa Myth Debunked" conversation on our car ride home the other night. With the two youngest asleep and the radio playing all my favorite holiday songs I was sort of a deer in headlights to the whole ordeal. It started with our 7 year old son shouting "What?!" in response to Michaels lyrics. Quickly followed by an "I know right..." from our 9 going on 19 year old daughter. While navigating through the conversation and traffic I overhear "just gross" and then nonchalant as always, A.C. our oldest, chimes in, "Are you going to tell them, or should I?".

Shocked and slightly amused I give her the go ahead. I mean, what better way than through song...and a classic at that. A.C. breaks it down and ends with "...so, your parents are your Santa Claus". Nicely done A.C.
Not to be one upped, of course the nine year old "kinda knew that already". Here she comes with a plethora of questions. I brake. Uggh, stop and go traffic and it's only snow flurries...get it together people.

 Before she gets her first few past her lips my sweet 7 year old son almost with tears in his voice says so loudly, "OR, maybe the Dad is one of Santas Helpers, he has lots of helpers you know". We all pause. A knowing pause. It's too soon, he still wants to believe and we let him. I agree with him and shift the conversation to "the Spirit of Christmas". Afterall, Santa Claus can be your parents, relatives, a lover, a stranger or a blessing from The Most High. Last year they each became SecretSantas (click to read about it) to one another and those are the types of memories and lessons I pray they hold fast to through the years.