Gift Guide: for the toddlers (and other little ones!)

I’m going to be sharing two gift guides this holiday season, for two areas that I think I know a good amount about - sewing and tiny humans! haha. Today is all about toddlers (some work for babies or older kids, too!). These are some of Penny’s tried and true favorites.

Bookroo

This is my faaaaaaaavorite gift idea to share for kids every year! Bookroo is a children’s book club subscription box service. You can choose from 1, 3, 6, or 12 month subscriptions, personal or gift for someone else, and you can choose from board books, picture books, or chapter books. So it works for any age from 0-10! And you don’t have to worry too much about receiving books you already own - their mission is to find and send out hidden gems rather than classics. If you do happen to get one that you already have, take a picture of you gifting it to someone else, and receive $$ off your next subscription! Oh, and Penny’s favorite part? Each book inside the box comes individually wrapped like a present. So each box that arrives in the mail is like Christmas morning!

Use the code MERRYDARLING now through 12/25/19 and get 15% at Bookroo.

*** I received a Bookroo box in exchange for review and blog post, but all thoughts are my own. We have been receiving Bookroo boxes in the mail for years (seriously! search my blog!), and we honest to god love them. Penny flips out when one comes in the mail!)

June & January

when she’s not wearing something handmade, June & January is my go-to clothes for P. They have the cutest basics in all sorts of fun colors. And so incredibly reasonably priced! Everything P is wearing in the first photo, including the bow and sneakers, is from J&J. And we love their pajamas, too!

Micro Kickboard Scooter

Penny owns both a scooter and a balance bike. And while she likes both, she definitely favors the scooter a lot! She got it for her second birthday and its still a huge hit with her - she asks to go out and scoot aaaaaaall the time. The Micro Kickboard scooter she has comes in a whole bunch of colors, and the handles can be adjusted up and down to accommodate for their growing height!

Nelly Lou

shameless plug - my own Etsy shop is filled with handmade headbands and turban hats in sizes newborn - toddler. I also have scrunchies that work for toddlers- adults!

toddler-friendly digital camera

This is something that Penny is getting under the tree this year! She has a a pretend camera and has always loved to pretend to take our pictures, she says “saaaaay cheese noodles!” haha. And recently learned how to take photos with an iphone, so the camera roll is filled with photos of her stuffed animals.

I found this tiny little, silicone covered, toddler-friendly digital camera on Amazon, and I’m so excited to give it to her. I know it’s going to be a hit! She’ll be able to take real photos just like mama and daddy, and connect them to the computer to see them. It also comes in blue!

Tubby Todd

We’ve been using Tubby Todd products since P was a baby! Penny asks for lotion every night before bed, and we’ve gone through a few different brands. Tubby Todd is still my favorite. We also use the all over ointment for her eczema/dry patches in the winter, and the bubble bath is a hit with P, too!

handmade Paw Patrol dress-up costume

If your household lives and breathes Paw Patrol like we do, skip all the little plastic toys (no judgement though, we own all those little plastic pup figurines and toys, haha) and go for a handmade dress-up outfit instead! I got this Skye dress-up kit for P for Halloween, and it was a hit. If you search on Etsy, you can find a whole bunch. Here’s an example of a Skye one (not the one I purchased, but very similar), and you can find ones for the other pups too. Support a small business/maker this Christmas and buy handmade!!

(and p.s - that pink leotard is from June & January that I mentioned above!)

Penelope Flora is 3 years old!

Penny turned 3 years a couple weeks ago, and I realized I never posted any photos from her party here! She requested a rainbow and kitty cat party. Actually, she’s been telling me that that’s the kind of birthday that she wanted for months. And she never waivered. 

Zach made her pretty rainbow cake, and I made the kitty cookies. I found a contact paper rainbow craft on Pinterest for the girls to do, and for extra decorations, I hung up a bunch of the rainbow paintings and drawings that Penny has done over the past few months. I’ll link as many of the other supplies as I can!

Penny’s rainbow dress: Old Navy

Penny’s cat ears: Target

Penny’s sunglasses: Gymboree

cat plates, rainbow cups, 3 and cat candles: Meri Meri

rainbow napkins, rainbow wrapping paper, pom Pom garland, rainbow balloon, 3 balloon (dollar section) - all from Target  

letterboard: oak & made

cat cookie cut outs: Amazon 

handmade wardrobe // jumpsuit twins

jumpsuit fabric: Cloud 9 double gauze from Fabric.com

my jumpsuit: free pattern with purchase of Mimi G Sew Sew Def magazine

Penny’s jumpsuit: Hello Dear Kids harem jumpsuit

Penny’s turban: Nelly Lou

my tee : Madewell

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A part of me thinks I may be getting a little out of control, a little crazy, with these mommy and me matching outfits. But also…… I’ll never stop, HA. Usually when I make matching outfits for us, I use the same fabric but different types of garments. With this one I went all-in and made matching jumpsuits. Maybe thats why I think its a little crazier.

This is my third time making a version of this jumpsuit (see the last one here), so I obviously love it. It’s not the easiest to get your hands on - you have to buy Issue 2 of Mimi G’s PDF magazine. It doesn’t list the jumpsuit as one the free patterns, but it is included, and worth it. The only thing I change is that I cut the straps into 4 pieces instead of two, so I can tie them and make it adjustable. Its definitely a layering piece for me because of the low cut, I would never wear it without something underneath. But thats how I like to wear most of my jumpsuits anyway. It makes it more comfortable when going to the bathroom in a jumpsuit - you don’t end up completely naked just to pee, ha.

But my favorite part of all of this is P’s jumpsuit. Its a harem pant that goes all the way up to under her arms. And the ruffle at the top and ankles are just the sweetest. Her favorite part, of course, are the little pockets. The PDF pattern is another one from the Etsy shop Hello Dear Kids. And again, the instructions are not the best. But its pretty straight forward if you have any knowledge of sewing and using patterns already.

Penny's handmade wardrobe // yo mama made this

I recently set aside some time to do some sewing just for Penny. I mean, I did use fabrics that were left over from my projects (that turban fabric is from my Rowan bodysuit from my last post), so she’ll still match me, but the time and the projects were just for her.

The top and jumper are actually from the same pattern - Simplicity 8706. Which is technically a baby size pattern, the largest being about size 18-24. Penny is between a 2T and 3T. So I just cut all pieces roughly a little larger than the largest size, and it worked perfectly! I’ll even be able to extend those straps a little longer for more length as she grows into it, giving it a longer life.

Turban is my own pattern that I use for Nelly Lou, and boots are from Target.

Holiday Gift Guide: Bookroo

Hi friends! I have a fun gift idea to share with you today. This is Penny’s third time receiving a Bookroo subscription box (you can see the other two reviews here and here), and we are just as in love with it as before. I love this idea as a gift idea for little ones! Especially if your child loves books and presents like Penny :)

So, Bookroo is a monthly subscription box for kids founded by 3 sister-in-laws. With a subscription, you get 2-3 books in the mail that come individually wrapped. That’s right - wrapped up for them to rip open. Like Christmas morning every time a box comes in the mail. That just adds to the excitement! Presents to unwrap AND new books to fall in love with. And it’s fun for so many ages - you can choose between board books (ages 0-3), picture books (2-6 years old), or chapter books (ages 7-10). The books that are chosen are hidden gems that go through an extensive review process, so don’t worry about getting duplicates of something already in your collection (but if you do, take a photo of you gifting it to someone else, and get $5 off your next box!).

Whether its for your own child or someone else, you can choose between personal or gift subscriptions at varying lengths of time (1 month, 3 months, etc, up to a year subscription). See what I mean about it being the perfect gift?

Use the code DARLINGGIFT now through 12/31/18 and get 15% at Bookroo.

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P.S - our book boxes were gifted from Bookroo. But we seriously do love this woman-run company, and all these opinions re my own.

Handmade Wardrobe // Mommy and Me in Pink

I'm so soon in love with how these came out! I know I say that with almost everything that comes off my sewing table, but I really mean it with these ones. They make me so happy. And fit so well. I originally bought this fabric with this dress in mind, but when I had just enough yardage left to squeeze something out of it for P, I couldn't resist. I think from now on I'll purposely be buying extra yardage so I always have enough to make her something too. 

My dress is a modified McCall 7595 (view D)

Penny's dress is the Macy Pinafore by Jilly Atlanta

fabric is from Cali Fabrics (I don't see it available anymore)

Penny's Handmade Wardrobe // Checkmate

I've been sewing a lot for Penny late too, and thought this one deserved its own post. I mean, just look at that little model!

It's Simplicity 1470 (I can't find it on the website), but I left off the waistband and back bow because of lack of fabric. But still oh so cute. This might be my favorite thing I've made her. I might as well stop making things now, because she's just going to live in this all summer. My work here is done. 

Her sunglasses are from Roshambo Baby, purse and shoes are Old Navy (find them under 'Penny's Closet' at the top of the page!)

Owl Love You 2 The Moon : Penny Turns Two!

If you follow me on Instagram, then you've probably seen all of these photos from last weekend. But I wanted to document them here too, because my baby is TWO! We had a small birthday party with friends over MDW, Daddy made her a galaxy cake, Mama went overboard decorating with balloons, and Penny got a scooter, binoculars, sit-n-spin, and so many toys. 

We love our big girl, and I'm still in denial that she's already two. Wasn't she born, like, yesterday?

P.S .....

Penny's dress : hadmade

Penny's turban: Nelly Lou

2 the moon balloons: Studio Pep

leterboard: Oak & Made

pink tray (under the cake): Target

Peabody Essex Museum, Salem MA

Our heads and hearts are already gearing up fro spring, but mother nature has had other ideas. With one nor'easter after another pummeling us with snow, we've had to find ways to keep busy indoors still. Zach's coworker told him about the fun interactive exhibits at the Peabody Essex Museum, and it was such a perfect snowy saturday trip!

Penny could probably live in that balloon room, and I don't blame her. 

P.S - locals, the fun XYZT exhibit runs through April 22nd, and the Play exhibit (with the balloon room) runs through May 6th!