The Grass is Always Greener

Kid's Clothing

It's tricky to find children's clothing which is stylish yet affordable.  That's obvious, right?  I still struggle with it all of the time.  These kids keep growing up (and out of their clothes every few months).  So while I would love to deck them out in Janie & Jack or Mini Boden or such, we simply can't afford to.  (Though I do splurge once a year on a holiday dress for Sylvia and sweater for Hayden at Janie & Jack, because they always photograph so well and are very well made.)  On the flip side, there are some affordable and well-made clothes for kids that are just absolutely without imagination.  So where to shop?

Most of my kids' clothes come from Old Navy, The Gap and Target.  I buy a few staple pieces from The Gap, though I often wait until they go on sale.  I LOVE their cardigan sweaters for both boys and girls, as well as their cotton button-up shirts.  But I save some cash by buying their jeans and most of their shirts and sweaters at Old Navy, Target and occasionally Fred Meyer or Sears (for Lee or Levi's).  The girls' selections are better than the boys at Old Navy (I'm just not into Old Navy logos or skulls all over everything), and I'm often surprised how much I like what they have to offer.  Sears is great for a few Land's End items (classic styles, though not terribly creative).  The best part about shopping at Sears for kid's clothing is that if the item wears out (think holes in the knees of their jeans), you can exchange them for a new pair).  

        
 

Old-school t-shirts from Old Navy / Madras Shirt from The Gap

I used to be a fan of Gymboree but their style has become too precious in my opinion.  I'm more attracted to their sister brand, Crazy 8 (maybe because items are about a third to a half of the price of Gymboree's).  

Which brings us to Target (one of my favorite places to shop).  Their selection may not be large, but what they have is pretty cool and the prices are quite reasonable.  I like their lines Genuine Kids from Osh Kosh, Paul Frank for Target, and some of the Cherokee items.  There are some great pants and sweatshirts for boys by Shaun White (pro snowboarder), and their DwellStudio line for newborns cannot be missed!  The latest, a temporary line for girls by Liberty of London will keep flying off the shelves as well.  I was fortunate enough to pick up a to-die-for romper and summer dress for Sylvia yesterday (both pieces just $14.99 each).  If you can't make it into a store, shop online.  

      

Liberty of London line for Target

I have to sprinkle into their wardrobes a few pieces from Tea Collection, and some small labels.  Local independent children's stores are great for these, though their numbers are unfortunately shrinking.  (West Seattle's Mill Creek Town Center's Lil Lads-n-Lasses just closed their doors last weekend.)  Try Bella & Max in Bothell's Country Village if you're on the Eastside, and schedule your child's haircut while you're there.  There are also some great independent websites (try Oliebollen), and a great source for children's clothing and toys at big discounts is the new Zulily (a free sign-up gets you on their email list and notified of their "events").  

Go Play Outside! Our Favorite Places to Celebrate Autumn in the Puget Sound.

 

The Arboretum, October 11, 2009

Autumn is truly my favorite time of year!  I love that the weather has cooled from summer temperatures but has not reached the icy temperatures of winter.  I love the colors of Autumn - Washington State is absolutely gorgeous this time of year, and families need to get out as much as possible to enjoy it!  I love the activities of the season as well - farm and pumpkin patch visits, Halloween parties and dressing the kids up in their costumes of choice (always interesting to see what they want to "be" each year), annual photo shoots for holiday cards, the annual Thanksgiving feast, and the early Christmas shopping, letters to Santa, etc.  On a personal note, we celebrate many birthdays in October and November (for my niece, sister-in-law, daughter and even myself!), love using the fireplace again, do a lot of baking and make a lot of soups and chili, and love long Autumn drives.

Here is a list of some of our favorite places to celebrate Autumn, sorted by activity.  I hope you get out and enjoy them too!

1. Take a long walk and let the kids jump into a big pile of leaves.  Best places to do this:  The Arboretum (Seattle), the University of Washington Campus (Seattle), Discovery Park (Seattle), Bothell Landing, St. Edward's Park in Kenmore, and the Kubota Garden in Renton
2. Visit a farm - pick pumpkins, drink fresh apple cider, roll around in the hay, and wind your way through a corn maze.  Best places to do this:  Snohomish County takes the prize on this one!  We've got most of the best ones up here - Stocker Farm (Snohomish), Craven Farm (Snohomish), Biringer Farm (Everett), Carleton Farm (Everett), and Foster's Farm (Arlington).  Of course, Remlinger Farms in Carnation is magnificent as well.
3. Take a drive.  Best places to do this:  Chuckanut Drive (this drive is so fantastic, there's an entire website about it), Mt. Baker Highway, Highway 2 from Monroe to Leavenworth (of course, you'll have to spend some time in Leavenworth when you get there).
4. Learn to make the perfect soup or chili, apple pie, turkey, etc. without spending a fortune.  Williams Sonoma Technique Classes (Free, but sign up required);  PCC Natural Markets (various locations), Whole Foods Market (Salud Cooking Classes in Bellevue, Redmond and Seattle) and Sur La Table in Kirkland (most expensive of the bunch).

I hope this short list gets you started.  I plan to add more soon, but I'm off to enjoy some of it for myself!

Free Friday Night at Imagine Children's Museum in Everett!

I can't say enough good things about Imagine Children's Museum.  I think it is the best indoor play space in the Puget Sound, and well worth the drive up to Everett for those of you who are further south.  And I'm not alone - Imagine has received numerous awards over the past few years as the best play place, museum, camp and party place.

Imagine has been busy updating the museum again - they recently expanded the train exhibit, updated their farm area, and added a Treasure Cove (think pirate fanatics!).  In fact, if you have a little Pirate at home, be sure to visit the museum on Sunday, September 20th between 11 am and 5 pm for their High Seas Pirates Day.

Every year we purchase a membership to the museum, and are fortunate enough to only live about 15 minutes from the museum.  But if you don't have a membership and want to try it out, or are on a tight budget, be sure to visit the museum every third Friday night each month between 5:30 and 9:00 pm when admission is absolutely FREE!  If you're worried about the time bumping up against dinner, no worries - the museum has hot dogs, chips, cookies and juice for sale those nights, or you can take a break from the museum and walk to one of the great restaurants within a block of the museum.    

Next free Friday night at Imagine is this Friday, September 18th.  Enjoy!

Seattle Tilth Harvest Festival - Saturday, Sept. 12th

Ooh, ooh, this is where we'll be with the kids this Saturday, on what looks to be the last day of summer around here (sunny and 85 degrees)!  We already have our own chickens in the backyard, but my husband is constantly talking about adding goats and bees.  (Don't worry, neighbors, it won't happen here.)  We are also all about farmers markets and fresh produce.  I'm also about Mighty O Donuts and Theo Chocolate, and they will be there as well.  The kids will love it - they can bring their own musical instruments and participate in the Harvest Parade at noon, as well as lots of other activities geared for them.  (Just the word "worms" peaks their interest.)  After the money and fried food blowout that was the Evergreen State Fair in Monroe, this fair will be a welcome relief!

Click below for more information, and we hope to see you there!
 

Finding Wonderland: Fox Hollow Equestrian Farm in Issaquah

Last December and just before Christmas, I had the privilege of photographing a large family reunion at Fox Hollow Equestrian Farm in Issaquah. (Photos are posted on my photography blog at http://teddiyaeger.blogspot.com) The entire farm was blanketed in snow, but even then I could tell that it was a magnificent estate.  The owners, Autumn and Tony, had moved to it recently from the East Coast, and they have done a lot of work in the few months since I was last there.  The farm is a bustling place - a full riding school as well as summer camps and seasonal events, plus their new drop-in play dates!  I'm personally excited for their Autumn Harvest and Halloween events in October!  They also have packages for company events, family reunions, birthday parties and such.  

Fox Hollow is the kind of place where I would love to raise our kids.  It's the kind of place that you hand down to your children and your children's children.  Perfect for celebrating holidays, family reunions, the seasons, life in general.  The kind of place I would purchase in a heartbeat if I won the lottery.  But since that has happened (yet), I will have to be content with visiting it from time to time, when it's open to the public.

It's also the perfect place to spend an idyllic summer afternoon, so a couple of weeks ago, I headed out to Fox Hollow with my two little ones in tow (ages 5 and 2 & 1/2 years) for one of the drop-in play dates.  The cost was only $5 per person.  The kids immediately started running around the barn, picking up any farm animal that they could and petting those that they couldn't pick up.  There were chickens, peacocks, bunnies, kittens (running loose in the loft), horses, ponies, ducks and even a pot belly pig (who we discovered quietly sleeping in the shade).  The kids then rode around on little John Deere tractors on the lawn, and then discovered the huge inflatable castle to bounce around in.  After a while, I convinced them to follow me to the back lawn behind the house for a snack and rest in the shade.  (Several picnic tables were filled with moms and children having picnic lunches.)  We wandered over to the stream (gated off from the rest of the lawn), to watch a couple of inner-tubers.  Issaquah Creek runs right behind the property at a nice, gentle pace, and I suddenly wished we had brought our swimsuits.

Which is exactly how we were treated the whole time - as guests. From the time we were escorted to a parking space in their large lot, to signing in and wandering the grounds, there was always someone greeting us, asking if we needed anything.  It was an absolutely idyllic summer afternoon, and I thank Autumn, Tony and their family and staff for their hospitality.

For more information on Fox Hollow's events, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Place of (Donut) Worship in Mill Creek!

Okay, Seattle, we bow down to your cupcakes - it's true.  Sure, you've got Cupcake Royale and Trophy Cupcakes, and I've worshipped them plenty.  But now we've got a new place of worship over here on the Eastside (Mill Creek to be exact).  The brand new doughnut shop Frost just opened at Mill Creek Town Center, and I'm clamoring to get my worship on as soon as possible.  On today's menu:  Banana Fritters, Banana Creme w/Walnuts, Marcona Almond & Tart Cherry, Smokey Bacon Maple Bar, PB&J 2.0, Wedding Cake, Red Velvet, Aztec Chocolate, Tropical Storm, Bourbon Caramel Pecan, and many, many more!  

Oh Lord, I'm a believer!!!

Note:  I stopped by Frost for the first time on Saturday afternoon, and not surprisingly, it was pretty busy.  They were out of their banana donuts, so I picked up a half dozen of the following:  2 vanilla donuts with sprinkles for the kids, 1 Pink Lady (chocolate cake donut with pink frosting), 1 Red Velvet with cream cheese frosting, 1 Bourbon Caramel Pecan and for the hubby, the Smokey Bacon Maple Bar.  Just as the name implies, it was a maple bar with chunks of cooked bacon sprinkled on top.  The donuts did not disappoint!  My favorite was the Bourbon Caramel Pecan, but I got to taste a few of the other ones as well.  (In fact, the hubby was too freaked out by the maple/bacon combination, so I ended up eating it the next day.  It was a bit strange texture-wise but tasty - think maple syrup over bacon and you get the flavor.  I hope to stop by in the near future and get my hands on some of the banana ones, but apparently its the early bird who gets the banana donuts in Mill Creek.

Planet Happy Kids

I first discovered the completely quaint Planet Happy in Ravenna a couple of years ago while searching for playgroup activities, and find it such a quiet refuge from most "toy stores" (they label themselves as a studio/showroom).  Don't wander in expecting to find a huge, fluorescent-lit warehouse full of all things Disney and Lego.  This tiny shop breathes life into the toy shopping experience, and manages to create a destination for families looking for something to do!  It's located just to the north of University Village, next to the Queen Mary Tea Room.

Animals are always a big draw for kids, and this shop offers both the living/eating/pooping variety and non-living/eating/pooping (a.k.a. plush) variety.  Doves, finches and a hedgehog inhabit the store, and apparently the birds have been breeding, so there are now babies too!  

Guests of the store can also make buttons, bath salts and engage in other small activities when they visit. (When we were there the first time, the kids and I were able to make our own scented massage lotion, buttons and plant seeds to take home with us - all for a couple of dollars.)  The store also hosts events and parties, and the latest is a free story time in Mandarin.  Planet Happy also offers art classes on Saturdays, with a different art project each week.  Check their website for more information.

Website: http://planethappytoys.com
Blog:  http://iamplanethappy.blogspot.com/
Phone:  206-729-0154

Of course, they also sell toys and great ones at that (Plan Toys, Haba, Folkmanis, and unique gifts from local crafts people), which you can purchase in store or online.  And for every $10 they sell, they plant a tree (hence the name, Planet Happy).  So...kids happy, parents happy, Planet Happy!

Target Practice - Aug. 3, 2009

I love me some Target.  As much as I love wandering around a Target store, the best (almost secret) designer buys are only on their website.  Did you know that Target sells brands like Dwell Studio, Phil & Ted and Paul Frank?  Most of their top designers design lines specifically for Target, so you will find products that are cheaper and unique to Target.  That's not to say, though, that there isn't some super cute, super cool stuff to be found at Target or www.target.com.  

So I'm starting a new segment called Target Practice, where I browse Target's website or stores from time to time, and bring you my picks.  Here's the first go-around:

DwellStudio for Target Bird in Tree Duvet Set:  $49.99-59.99

I want this for Sylvia's room!  She is almost out of her toddler bed and into a regular twin bed, and she'll need new bedding.  Her room has always been done in a bird theme, so if I stick with that, this is the bedding I'll buy.  Super cute, and that price is for the entire set!

Circo Robot Bedding Collection

Boys' bedding just never seems as cute as girls, but I think this one might give them a run for their money!

Paul Frank for Target Short-sleeve Tiara Julius Tee Aqua - $9.99

This is sooooo Sylvie!

Paul Frank for Target Rainwear Collection Yellow - $6.99-14.99

In infant (which I don't understand) to toddler sizes, this rainwear set is just too sweet and so is the price.

  

Kids' 'All About Peace' and 'Swirl Tie Dye' Rainboots - each $16.99

I know it seems like a really strange time to think about rainwear, but autumn and school are just around the corner and in this part of the country, that means rainwear.  These rainboots for girls at Target are really hip!

So if all of these great finds are hidden on Target's website, what's a busy mama to do? Well, check back here on my blog, or you can cut right to Target's Red Hot Shop (in conjunction with Daily Candy).

Are you loving you some Target yet?

Free Books! Free Books!

Have I got your attention?  In my many efforts to save my family money these days, I turned to a long-forgotten resource and feel so dumb for not having done so sooner.  I LOVE books (in a big, I "heart" books t-shirt kind of way)!  And I spend far too much money on books.  My biggest vice these days?  Cookbooks.  I cannot enter a bookstore without walking out with at least one cookbook.  My children are now just as interested in books as I am, so lately I've been transferring my love and pocketbook to them.  

As much as I love them, this is just not a habit I can keep.  So what's a newly frugal mama to do?  The answer is simple (duh):  get a library card!  

Remember the library?  I certainly do, but haven't used one in the past ten years!  Signing up couldn't have been easier - I knew where the nearest library to us was, having driven past it many times.  (If you're not sure, consult this website to find your nearest branch.)  So one recent Thursday morning, the kids and I wandered in.  Ah, the musty smell of old books, the peace and quiet, the Dewey Decimal system - I've missed you all so much!  We wandered immediately to the children's book section, and the kids were in heaven!  Within ten minutes we had a huge stack of books and video tapes teetering on the table, and five minutes later had a brand new library card in our hands.  Our library, part of the Sno-Isle library system, also has a summer reading program for kids, with lots of fun little goodies to encourage kids to read (not that mine need any encouraging).  And there are lots of free events for families as well - a whole calendar full of story times, concerts, etc.

Since our first visit, I have returned to the library by myself to browse leisurely, the way I used to at bookstores.  I headed straight for the cookbook aisle (thrilled that the library had any cookbooks), and couldn't believe the selection.  (While it's nothing like Barnes & Noble's selection, I still found many recent titles by cooks like Jaime Oliver and Tyler Florence.) Unlike the bookstore, I was able to leave with a huge stack of (new-to-me) cookbooks at absolutely no cost to me.  While I love adding to my library of books, I love FREE so much more!  My quick and easy solution to "borrowed" cookbooks is to copy the recipes I'm interested in on our color inkjet printer and stick them in plastic sleeves inside a three-ring binder.  (Instant cookbook, and one that I can actually wipe clean!)

I even picked up two cookbooks geared toward picky kids - The Toddler Cafe by Jennifer Carden (links to The Toddler Cafe blog!) and Favorite Family Meals by Annabel Karmel, and will share any gems that work on my children with you soon.  

I'm happy to report that for the past month, whenever I've come across a book that I'm interested in, I've done a search on the Sno-Isle website instead of Amazon (good for the library, bad for Amazon).  I can easily place a hold online, and the library emails me when the book is available to pick up at our local branch.  Sometimes it takes a few weeks, but I'm not complaining.

Grilla Bites: Great eats (psst, it's healthy and organic too!)

I love the relatively new cafe in downtown Snohomish called Grilla Bites (like Gorilla and Grill combined).  Grilla Bites is a small franchise operation with the best of intentions, offering healthy, organic food, and another one of their objectives is to purchase their products from small scale manufacturers and local farmers, thus supporting their local economy and community.

All of that is great, of course, but the main thing is how does the food taste? Fortunately, the answer is that it's delicious!  My personal favorites are the Thai Tuna sandwich and quinoa salad.  The kids like the grilled cheese sandwiches (and I like that they use real cheese).  They have also just started offering smoothies.  We tried the Creamsicle smoothie today - yum!  

The owner of the Snohomish store, Annie, is one of the warmest and nicest people I have ever met and instantly makes you feel like family.  

Speaking of families:  Grilla Bites has teamed up with neighboring toy store, Rowdy Rascals, to offer story time every Tuesday at 9:30 am.

Find them at:  1020 1st Street, Suite 104, Snohomish, Washington 98290 

(A Seattle location will be opening this year at 901 8th Avenue.)