Style Lush

Easy Valentine Gifts

by Natalie

I get that Valentine's Day is all commercialized, yada, yada, but I still like to make little gifts for my kids to celebrate the holiday. One year I made little heart shirts with with their names on them, which got opened at breakfast and then worn all day, and another I baked heart shaped cookies. Nothing too crazy, but still fun and festive.

This year I stopped off at Paper Source and did a little shopping... man, that place could take ALL my money and I wouldn't even blink. I love it so.

I picked up a cute letterpress card for each of my girls; they're similar to these:

Then I grabbed a couple of small photo albums, which look like this:

I'm filling each book with photos of the girls from the past few years. We have so many photos on the computer, and while the girls will sit in front of it every now and again to look through old pictures, they ADORE being able to see photos of themselves from when they were small. These are just the right size and I know they'll love them.

Do you do anything special for your kids for Valentine's Day?

{card photos via papersource.com, album photo via amazon.com}

 

Simple kids craft: Pinecone bird feeders

by Emily

This is one of my favorite crafts to do with the kids. It is easy, it doesn't get too messy (and even if it does, the elements are pretty easy to clean up), it doesn't have to look perfect, AND it's cheap.

The only things you need are:

Pinecones (we gather ours around the neighborhood)
Peanut butter (I buy the cheap Target brand specifically for this project)
Birdseed (any kind will do, and you only need a small bag)
Butter knives
String
A surface to work on (we prefer a towel spread on the floor if we're working indoors)
A container about the size/shape of a casserole dish

First, gather your pinecones. We like to find big, broad pinecones with as much space as possible between ... uh, whatever those parts of the pinecone are called. You know, the parts that stick out. (Shut up.) Tie a string around the top of the pinecone before you begin -- this is how you'll hang the pinecone once you've finished. Then, have the kids spread the entire pinecone with peanut butter and when you've decided that's enough (and trust me, YOU WILL HAVE TO DECIDE THIS, because they will spread peanut butter for HOURS if you let them), pour some birdseed into a pan, lay the pinecones in the birdseed, and either roll it around in the seed or sprinkle it on top. Then once they're covered in seeds, take them outside and hang them up for the birds to enjoy.

Or, squirrels. Squirrels always steal ours, but the kids don't know that, so we just keep making them. Perfect for a slow winter afternoon!

[photo credit: craftzine.com]

Kid's Silverware

By Jen

My three-year-old recently declared that she was DONE with baby silverware.  We've long had those forks and spoons with the giant plastic handles and apparently, she is now way too grown up to use those. 

Enter the IKEA Fabler children's flatware set.  It's a stainless steel set, so it looks like adult silverware, but it is smaller and more suitable for a child's hand.  It's really nice quality and feels like it will last a long time.  Plus, it's only $4.99 for the three piece set of fork, knife, and spoon so you can afford to buy more than one set. 

{Image from IKEA.com}

Adorable Kid Gift: Boogie Monster Dance Kit

by Lawyerish    

For Christmas, my mom sent our daughter the Boogie Monster Dance Kit, and we have had such fun with it!

 

The kit contains a book, a music CD and a set of Boogie Monster legs:

Yes, they are shaggy orange leg warmers.  And my kid says, "Put on my Boogie Legs!" whenever she sees them.

The book is a fun read with a nice rhythm to it, and the text suggests different moves for the child (and parent, if you're so inclined) to try as you read along.  The CD is a fun, non-grating set of songs to help you and your little one get your groove on.

It's a great way to spend some time with your favorite small person doing something active without even having to leave your living room.  I think kids age 18 months to 4 years are especially well suited to the Boogie Monster's ways.  Give it a whirl!

(Photo credit: bn.com) (and my own)

Nautical Inspired Swimwear for Baby Girls

By Megan    

Look, I know it's still January, but clothing stores everywhere are launching their swimwear lines. While I refuse to think about a swim suit for myself yet, I can fully embrace shopping for my daughter.

Typically I prefer a modest two piece swim suit for my girl for easy diaper changes, but I'm head over heels for this anchor print swim suit from Old Navy.

Naturally, she'll need the matching sandals to complete the look.

The only thing that could make me love these more would be if they came with a cloak of invisibility so I can join her in the pool. This nautical tote, at only $9.94, is helping me to warm up to the idea of swim suit season.

 

{Photo credits: oldnavy.com}

 

Elephant and Piggie: Willems wins again

By Lauren

We are big, big fans of Mo Willems' Knuffle Bunny series around our house. My two-year-old son insists on reading the books more frequently than any others we own, and he sleeps with a little stuffed Knuffle Bunny of his own.

We were delighted, then, when a family friend gifted him with three new Mo Willems books this past Christmas. Willems' Elephant and Piggie books are perfect for young readers, but are also delightful to read to the pre-reader set. My son is particularly enthralled by Should I Share my Ice Cream?, which he refers to as the "ice cream book."

As with all Willems books, the characters are delightful and the stories charming. Best of all, though, they're the sort of books that never seem to get old. Highly recommend.

Crown Birthday Cards

By Jen

Want to be the cool aunt?  Send one of these birthday cards for the next birthday. The outside looks like a regular birthday card, but when you open it up, there is a crown with perforated edges.  You tear it out and insert a few tabs and then the birthday girl has a shiny crown to wear for her birthday. 

I cannot find them online anywhere, but I did find one in my local Walmart, so I took pictures for you. 

Also, they were a huge hit. 

{Images by Me}

She wore them all day.  Definitely a cool aunt gift.  It's a nice way to send a little something extra with your birthday card. 

 

Valentine's Day for pre-schoolers

by Christina

I am so super excited about Valentine's Day for my 4 year-old, it's kind of silly. I was in the valentine section of Target this past week and was wondering -- do they make the tiny cards like they used to? I didn't see any. I looked around and really didn't see anything I'd love to send to school with him for his party that wasn't candy as he goes to a  lame candy-free school. Then I remembered something I'd pinned ages ago! I know the day is a good three weeks out but since these will be cut and sewn by hand, I figured I should share them with you now.

I mean, couldn't you just die? These images are from pinterest via Katie Did- I am so glad I found this, I can't wait to send him to school with these.

Special occasion outfits for little girls

By A'Dell

My brother is getting married in February and I've been shopping for dresses for my girls to wear to the wedding. (They are 3-years and 8-months-old.) It's been tough to find a wedding-appropriate dress for each of them that isn't too holiday (though those are all on sale right now) or an early Easter frock. After a lot of searching I ended up  with some winners but I didn't exactly bargain hunt.

I wasn't willing to settle for something I only sort of liked (Pictures! They last FOREVER.) and I wanted the outfits NOW. I didn't want to have to actually go to a store or drag out this exercise longer than necessary. Plus, it's my brother's wedding and I only have one brother so....I didn't mind spending too much on a little girl dress is what I'm saying.

For the three-year-old:

Bow metallic dress ($52), pink bow ($12) and pink tights ($14). All from Janie and Jack. Shoes are Kenneth Cole (yes, designer shoes for a three-year-old, I am all too aware how ridiculous this is) and I got them at Zappos ($45).

(Hopefully, she can wear them with jeans and dresses this spring, after the wedding.)

(Whatever, they're cute and I wanted them.)

For the 8-month-old:

Chiffon ruffle dress ($50, but I snagged it for 30% off) (What is UP with dresses for babies that cost as much as dresses for adults?) and gold ballet flats ($20, also applied 30% promo code to these). I will probably also stick a bow on her head. 

 

Recordable Books

By Jen

We live far from all of our family (we move a lot), so we try to find ways for our three year old to keep in touch with her relatives.  Now, this is particularly tricky since she often refuses to talk on the phone.  And by refuses, I mean runs screaming out of the room. 

So this year for Christmas and her birthday, we asked for recordable books as gifts.  Have you seen these?  You can record the story and then it plays back as you turn the pages. 

{Image from Amazon.com}

There are light sensors on each page so that the book knows which page to play.  Some versions include music that plays before or after each page. 

We have several of these from various relatives and my daughter asks for them by which person reads them.  I'm trying to get one from each of our immediate relatives so that we have a complete set.  (Ahem, Grandma and Auntie Ashley.)  We've also recorded one and sent one as a gift to my godson for his second birthday.  I let my three year old help with the recording and I am told that he adores hearing her "talk" to him, especially the part at the end where she tells him that she "yuvs" him. I also think they are great because they are a gift that cannot be duplicated.  Even if you get the same book from two different people, the recording is going to be different and make the story unique.  Most of the books have a dedication page where you can talk to the recepient, but even if it doesn't have an official one, you can record a personal message on the first or last page. 

These are perfect for faraway relatives and also great for children who cannot read yet themselves.  The stack we have has bought me some precious making dinner time.  They are also a wonderful gift that doesn't clutter up the house.

Do you have any of these for your own family or have you given any as gifts?