SPOTLIGHT: SAL & PIMENTA KIDS

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Let me introduce you to Sal & Pimenta Kids. They are just about the sweetest children’s line from Lisbon, Portugal. I’m a sucker for European children’s clothing, and If you are anything like me, you will love to dress your children in sweet little angelic outfits with European details. It’s difficult to find brands that are unique, and that you don’t see on children everywhere.

Sal & Pimenta Kids is one of our favorite lines for sweet, detailed swimwear with impeccable quality. In addition to swimwear, they design and sell girls, boys, and baby clothing. It’s a line that you will rarely see when playing at the park. The look is a bit more refined, but in the best way! We love the Europeans.

Designer, Teresa, created Sal & Pimenta Kids 10 years ago. She is mother to 2-year-old daugther Maria. Teresa says, “It has been truly overwhelming watching this small brand evolve and grow step-by-step, now occupying most of my time.” She loves this line and everything related to childhood. Teresa hopes that one day the children who wore her pieces associate them to their “happy and preoccupation-free childhood.” She knows that there is “nothing like childhood and I know that my costumers make an effort to add a touch of magic to their children’s world.”

All of Sal & Pimenta Kids‘ products are handmade in local ateliers by people who dedicate their entire lives manufacturing clothes for little ones.

Outfit Details: Whales Swimsuit

SUGARY SWEET SUMMERTIME

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Nothing says summertime quite like a snowball and heat index of 106 degrees in South Louisiana. The icy-goodness paired with the sweet, sugary syrup gives me all the summery feels. We are lucky enough to have a snowball stand a short distance from our house, and while it’s usually packed, yesterday it wasn’t. The girls and I stopped for a quick treat while running around town. Eloise chose pink lemonade and Charlotte Cate chose strawberry. Their #ootd perfectly coordinated with their yummy treats as well.

Outfit Details: Stella McCartney Kids Amie Floral Playsuit (similar pieces here) // Lali Kids Bloomer Set (similar) // Native Jefferson Shoes (similar) // Old Navy Perforated Slip-Ons

LEMONADE FOR SALE

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This past Saturday, we were asked to pop in to Oh Pair’s summer sale. Oh Pair offers affordable, durable, high quality shoes and accessories in an assortment of sizes, widths, and styles to accommodate every parent’s needs. The children’s shoe store, located in Baton Rouge, was offering a “Pop and Save” sale where customers could pop a balloon to save 20%, 30%, 40%, or 50% off their highest priced item. The store also had a sale table with shoes priced as low at $15. Charlotte Cate and Eloise each choose a pair of pink Cienta sneakers for $15. What a steal!

In conjunction with their summer sale, Oh Pair, hosted a Lemonade Stand benefiting Cure for Daisy. Daisy is an amazing 7-year-old in South Louisiana with Juvenile Myositis, a rare incurable disease. She’s raising money and awareness for CureJM. Daisy was diagnosed with Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM) at the age of 3. Juvenile Myositis (JM) is a group of rare and life-threatening diseases in which the body’s immune system attacks its own cells and tissues. Juvenile Dermatomyositis is the most common form of JM.

Charlotte Cate and Eloise enjoyed selling lemonade knowing it was benefiting Daisy and those with JM!

Follow Oh Pair @ohpairbr and Cure for Daisy @curefordaisy on Instagram.

Outfit Details: Red Beans seersucker bloomer set // Red Beans seersucker halter top // Old Navy skinny jeans (only $9) // Gold Salt Water Sweetheart Sandals // Gold Salt Water Surfer Sandals

SPOTLIGHT: TOOBYDOO

Toobydoo, founded in 2008 in New York, is all about the active kid and the fun of play. It’s about the philosophers Plato and Sartre’s famous quote, “To be, is to do.” Toobydoo also believes in carefree, easy-going kids, as when Frank Sinatra was singing do-be-do-be doo, as a reminder “to be.”

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Toobydoo’s mission is “To be the world’s most inspiring brand for modern kids and their parents.”

We think they are on the right track! Not only are their designs current and modern, but their pieces are designed with children and mamas in mind. Their knits are soft and comfortable for my girls, but the detail and construction in these play clothes exceeds my expectations as a mama. The ruffles, delicate straps, precious ties, and watercolor striped and doted fabrics definitely set Toobydoo apart from the rest.

Toobydoo designs for baby, boys, and girls. For those of you mamas with multiple children, they have some darling sibling sets for all ages. We especially love the Ruffles Dresses, Beach Dresses, and Rompers for girls this season, and they all coordinate so well together.

Toobydoo wants mamas to remember that kids are always asked what they “want to be” when they grow up, and not what they want “to do.” Yet when we grow up, we seem to be much more focused on the doing, rather than the being.

Toobydoo has created a special code for all Mama etc. readers! Use code MAMAETC for 20% off your purchase. 

I’ve teamed up with Toobydoo to give away a $100 Toobydoo gift code! To enter, follow @kwcascio and @toobydoo on Instagram, like my original Toobydoo giveaway post, and tag a friend! Giveaway closes Sunday, July 2, 2017 9am CST. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram.

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IMG_6802IMG_6912Outfit Details: Toobydoo Lucy Ruffles Dress // Toobydoo Mila Romper // Native Jefferson Shoes (similar) // Old Navy Perforated Slip-Ons

 

DIY: DIAGONAL PATTERN FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS

IMG_5610Nothing screams summer quite like friendship bracelets. As a child, I have a vivid memory of making these with my cousins and best friends – especially on rainy, summer afternoons.

Last summer, Eloise dabbled in making friendship bracelets. She learned how to make the Chinese Staircase pattern and practiced until she made them perfect. She enjoyed choosing color combinations that she knew friends and family would find special. As school started up, she let the craft take a back seat to homework, soccer, and gymnastics. However, with the rainy, summer days upon us again, she has picked up the craft once again.

This summer, Eloise has learned a new design – the Diagonal Pattern. She’s excited again to choose unique color combinations for whom her bracelets are designed. Her first bracelet, designed for herself, includes neon brights in orange, coral, pink, and lavender. Good choices, Eloise!

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IMG_5593Diagonal Pattern Friendship Bracelet

Materials:

  • embroidery floss
  • scissors
  • safety pin

Directions:

  1. Choose 3 or 4 colors of embroidery floss
  2. Cut each thread to a length of 60-65″
  3. Fold the floss in half and knot to create a loop at one end
  4. Use a safety pin to anchor floss
  5. Loop thread 1 over thread 2 to form a number “4”
  6. Take thread 1 and go under thread 2 then up over thread 1
  7. Pull thread 1 up to tighten (hold thread 2)
  8. Repeat steps 5-7 with thread 1 (you should have two knots now)
  9. Use thread 1 to make two knots on each of your remaining threads
  10. Repeat process with remaining threads until desired bracelet length is achieved

If all else fails, there’s a YouTube tutorial for everything! I hope your little one enjoys this classic summer activity as much as my Eloise does.

 

STATEMENT EARRINGS

Mood BoardAs a mama, getting myself dressed is usually something that takes place in record time. When we have somewhere to go – whether a birthday party or running errands around town – I never have as much time as I once did before children. I’ve learned to simplify my wardrobe, yet up my accessories game. On most days you can find me wearing a blousy t-shirt (usually white) and jeans (skinnies or cutoffs depending on the season). While the combination is fairly simple, it’s in the accessories that I like to play up the look – earrings especially. Earrings are such a great way to elevate your mama style. They add impact in such an easy way. I’ve completed a round-up of some of my favorite statement earrings. You can see Mignonne Gavigan and J.Crew are obvious favorites!

Shopping Details: Mignonne Gavigan Polly Earrings // Mignonne Gavigan Double Pom Pom Drop Earrings // J.Crew Beaded Flutter Earrings // MISA Ombre Tassel Earring // J.Crew Arty Sculpture Earrings // Mignonne Gavigan Mini Madeline Earrings // Bauble Bar Gabriela Fringe Drops // J. Crew Leather-Backed Sequin Petal Earrings // Mignonne Gavigan Rayna Earrings // Mignonne Gavigan Burst Earrings // Mignonne Gavigan Mary Hoop Earring // Elizabeth and James Stevie Earrings

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Outfit DetailsMignonne Gavigan Polly Earrings // Le Papier Studio Tiny Silhouette Charm Necklace // J.Crew Ruffle T-shirt (in store) // Gap true skinny jeans // Rose Gold Superga Sneaker

SPOTLIGHT: EVERBLOOM

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Have you ever tried leaving the house when your little has a queen-sized meltdown because errand-running can only happen in her finest costume? Cue Everbloom. If your little girls love to play dress-up, and often want to leave the house in their costumes, then Everbloom may be your new favorite brand! The collection allows the best of both worlds – whimsical accessories and clothing with amazing details mama can appreciate, yet pieces that still feel like magical costumes to your littles.

Everbloom is a charming collection of accessories and clothing each uniquely hand crafted. Every accessory is made in small batches or one-by-one using the finest materials new and old. Soft bamboo felt, wool felt, colorful wood beads, tiny cotton prints, ginghams, plaids and soft cotton jersey for tops and bottoms. Washed cotton styles with fine embroideries or embellishments add an element of surprise to the collection. This whimsical collection has been a staple in our house for a while now.

Outfit Details: Everbloom pompom headband // Everbloom dot capri leggings // Everbloom wink tank // Everbloom Lola skirt // Everbloom pompom headband // Everbloom dot capri leggings // Everbloom star tank // Everbloom Lola skirt // Everbloom tassel necklace (similar)

 

 

SUMMER BUCKET LIST

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Eloise and Charlotte Cate are officially finished with school, and summer is upon us! Today we wrote out our first-ever Summer bucket list, and we are ready to start checking things off the list! Compiling the list got the girls excited and helped to add some fun to the monotonous rainy days we’ve had over the past week. If you haven’t made a bucket list with your little ones, I highly recommend it!

I can’t believe Charlotte Cate will be starting Pre-K soon! I am trying to soak up every last minute of having the girls home together before they are both in “big” school. Even when they get sick of each other, we are going to make this the best summer yet!

 

SUMMER FUNOutfit Details: Everbloom Girls Cotton Sundress // Everbloom pompom headband // Everbloom dot capri leggings // Everbloom panda t-shirt // Everbloom Lola skirt // Everbloom pompom headband

MAMA+ME: RUFFLE SKIRTS

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Ruffles, usually a staple for little girls, have been popping up in mama’s fashions lately. It started with fluttery, cascading sleeves and has made its way to nearly all pieces in womenswear. One of my favorite trends right now is the ruffled midi skirt. It’s an easy piece to wear as a mama as it allows you to easily chase little ones while still elevating your style.

I love how the feminine, ruffled skirt pairs well with a variety of tops – from poplin button-downs and off-the-shoulder statement tops to simple graphic tees. The look also goes from day to night with a quick shoe change – sneakers to heels. Ruffles are so fun to wear right now! I love the playful, girly touch they add to classic pieces. This look is here to stay!

Shopping Details: Who What Wear for Target Women’s Ruffle Wrap Skirt // J.Crew Collection Ruffle Skirt in Striped Shirting Fabric // ASOS Wrap Midi Skirt in Cotton with Ruffle Hem (Khaki) // ASOS Tall Wrap Midi Skirt in Cotton with Ruffle Hem (Light Pink) // ASOS Wrap Midi Skirt in Cotton with Ruffle Hem (Pale Pink) // J.Crew Ruffle Wrap Skirt in Cotton Poplin

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IMG_2285IMG_2280Outfit Details: Dondolo Striped and Floral Bloomer Short Sets // Gold Salt Water Sweetheart Sandals // Gold Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Lo Sneaker // ASOS Pink Ruffle Skirt // Gap White Poplin Shirt (similar) // Mignonne Gavigan Mary Hoop Earrings // Rose Gold Superga Sneaker // Le Papier Studio Tiny Silhouette Charm Necklace 

SPOTLIGHT: DONDOLO

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IMG_2285IMG_2280Dondolo has been one of our favorite children’s clothing lines for a while now. Their pieces are timeless and classic with the sweetest details you’ve ever seen – darling appliques, delicate ruffles, sweet bows, and some of the best floral fabrics around!

Even better, Dondolo is making a huge impact on mamas in Colombia. When you purchase their high quality pima cotton clothing, you are doing so much more than giving your child a timeless look. You are providing jobs to single mothers in Colombia, who stitch the clothing by hand. Proceeds from sales through Dondolo provide articles of clothing to children in Colombia who are deeply in need. Together, Dondolo and their customers are empowering motherhood.

Learn more about Dondolo’s mission here.

We adore these Dondolo striped and floral bloomer short sets for so many reasons. The details are impeccable – pink and white stripes, dreamy floral print, sweet bows, and buttons down the back! I’m a mama who loves a good sister set, and as my girls grow older, these sweet sets are harder and harder to find. I love the bloomer shorts because it gives me the bloomer look I love, while still feeling like shorts and appealing to my growing girls. The sleeveless top is perfect for our hot summers, too – keeping my girls cool and comfortable. Not only are these bloomer short sets precious, but also so practical! We love you, Dondolo!

Outfit Details: Dondolo Striped and Floral Bloomer Short Sets // Gold Salt Water Sweetheart Sandals // Gold Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Lo Sneaker // ASOS Pink Ruffle Skirt // Gap White Poplin Shirt (similar) // Mignonne Gavigan Mary Hoop Earrings // Rose Gold Superga Sneaker // Le Papier Studio Tiny Silhouette Charm Necklace