cabbage rose dress

Today we went to Mass and the girls wore their matching Cabbage Rose Print dresses from Polarn O. Pyret (PO.P). I got them in February 2011 during their winter clearance sale for them to wear this fall/winter. So glad I guessed their sizes correctly. Matilda is wearing a pair of matching striped tights, also by PO.P and red Primigi shoes that I bought used on eBay. Magdalena, shown being held by Father Martin, wore her dress with Logan Berry colored tights by PO.P. I can't remember why I bought hers solid cored instead of striped like Matilda's. They were either sold out, I wanted the variety, or I wanted them to match other outfits from the same collection. Magdalena is not wearing shoes in the last photo because she had ditched them before that during Mass. She wore handmedown black Mary Jane style shoes by Umi. She also wore a rosary that she found somewhere around the house.

fall floral dress

 Photos by Darren Whitley

Matilda is 3-1/2-yrs-old, 38" tall

Fall Floral Dress by Polarn O. Pyret, Verry Berry color, size 2-3 yrs

Fall Tone Eco Leggings by Polarn O. Pyret, Guava color, size 2-3 yrs

Painterly boots by Umi (from last year)

Colored Slim Fit Jeans by Polarn O. Pyret, Poison color (from last year), size 2-3 yrs

Mary Jane shoes by Primigi, Fuxia color (from last year)

Pink socks by Old Navy

I was thinking of waiting a bit longer to get the Fall floral Dress for Matilda, but when I looked at the sizes available it looked like it was getting really low in stock so I bought the last size 2-3 yrs (98 cm) that PO.P had available online. This dress is made of a really nice, soft cotton knit. The cuffs are unexpectedly wide, but fit her just right. The dress hits her right at the knees. She really loves that it has pockets for her new Smurfette toy (in her hands on the last photo). I ordered the Guava colored tights, thinking that they would be the same color as the pockets, cuffs and collar, but it's dark like the background color. I can't decide if I want to keep them so I put them away right after this photo shoot. The black Umi boots are the ones she wore last year and I'm not sure how much longer they will fit her but she insists they still fit.

After this photo shoot we ended up liking the dress with the green pants rolled up, and the black Umi boots. She wore this outfit on Saturday and got many compliments on its fun style. The green pants are from a previous season but they look really well together and I don't think that the green has to be an exact match since the green flowers are so small on the dress.

Other options for this dress are the matching Everyday Fall Tights in Very Berry color, which I think match the pockets, collar and cuffs. Or if this dress is no longer available in your size, you can still get the Fall Floral Keyhole Tunic in this same print and pair it with green pants or jeans.

fall transition

 

Last Saturday we went to Kansas City to attend the Mattie Rhodes Center's annual Dia de los Muertos Street Fair. It's located in one of Kansas City's primarily Latino neighborhoods. My son had a soccer match in the morning in our town and since we were going to spend the day in the city I wasn't sure how to dress. I had them all wear short sleeved shirts/tunic tops and pants packed hoodies for everyone. It turned out to be a gorgeous Fall day. I wore a plain fitted tee and jeans and actually got hot. I ended up wishing I hadn't forgotten my new Dansko sandal clogs that I was going to take as a backup because I think I would've stayed cooler than by wearing socks and casual sneakers.

My little Magdalena and I checked out the exhibitions inside the art gallery while my hubby watched the older two kids act like total monkeys at the bouncy houses. Magdalena wore her PO.P Traffic tunic dress (similar to this one) from Spring 2010, size 9-12 mos (80 cm) and Colored Carpenter Pants in Meadow green from Spring 2011, size 9-12 mos (80 cm). They're bunched up from me carrying her but they do go all the way down to regular length. She's wearing handmedown robot Robeez that both Mateo and Matilda also wore as babies.

outerwear sale

 

PO.P just kicked off a 20% off sale featuring their outerwear and I'm seriously lusting over a lot of things. Last winter I told myself that this would be the winter I got the kids proper layers for playing outdoors in sub-zero temperatures. Although I've been living in the Midwest since I was 9-yrs-old, I never realized there was a science to layering up for winter until recently. This video made by Kari and her filmaking hubby helps break it down. They live in Canada so they're serious about being properly dressed for outdoor play.

I live in a very affordable part of the US where we can live comfortably on not a lot of money, so unfortunately for me, that means we don't get much disposible income so I have to be very careful about what I buy and really make it count. So combine that with my mild case of OCD and here's what I've been obsessing about:

first layer

 Mateo plays the hardest, even in frigid temperatures, so I'm most concerned about getting the layers right for him. I think he would enjoy wearing this Elk Print Function Top $26 (reg. $32.50) made of 100% Polyester that is "ideal for base layers, because it is warm and dries fast." The matching pants are also on sale for $26. He would probably also end up wearing it as sleepwear in order to justify the cost.

If you click on Guava instead of Black for the Elk Print Top you will get the image on the left. However, this season's Guava color is purple. So it's weird that the top looks red on red. I hope that in real life it's purple on red like the rain boots on the right in the same print and also listed as Guava. I really want this matching top and pants for Matilda. Maybe this year she'll play outside longer if she can stay nice and toasty properly layered.

second layer

Mateo and I share a green obsession and I'm in love with this Recycled Windfleece Jacket, $57.20 (reg. $71.50) in Baby and $68.50 (reg. $85.50) in Child. I love that it's partly made of recycled plastic bottles! I can't afford to get the outfits above plus this so I will just have to keep my fingers crossed that it's still available in this adorable and unisex Meadow green at further markdown, although I have a feeling it won't. 

These are some wonderful deals on fleece leftover from Spring 2011. Spring Windfleece Jacket in three different colors starting in size 6 and up on sale for $22.22 (reg. $63.50) in Child and $19.77 in Baby (reg. $56.50). I don't know why there are so many Hexi Dot Windfleece Jackets  still available. Do people just not like hexigons? Available in Pea or Poppy in lots of sizes for $27.50 (reg. $78) in Child.

outside layer

All of my kids will be able to wear the same jackets from last year, but just like checking out a man in uniform, it doesn't hurt to look. 

I'd better not show Matilda this season's Shell Jacket in Pink Flambe $91.20 (reg. $114) because she will beg for it. She's a 3-yr-old-pink-loving-fashionista. Matching Zip Shell Pants in Black $68.40 (reg. $85.50).

I wanted to post more, but it's crazy late and you get the idea. Lots of great deals. Don't forget the matching socks, mittens and hats!

fall closet

 

I started to switch out the summer clothes from our closets and put out fall clothes this weekend. I was actually a bit surprised by how much PO.P the kids already have to kick off the season. Most of it I bought last year during PO.P's end-of-winter sale for it to be worn this fall and winter. I estimated their right sizes in most things. However, the adorable Carpenter Corduroy Pants in size 1.5 - 2 yrs (92 cm) that I bought for Maggie, my youngest daughter, will much too big for her this year. I was a bit disappointed about that because right now she's still in cloth diapers and I really love the way these pants work so well with them. I can't buy her girl's pants from other brands because they make them so slim that they look ridiculously tight on her. So it looks like she will mostly be wearing size 1 - 1.5 yrs (86 cm). But, I am glad that she will be able to wear again a cute and comfy Fine Rib Top that I was able to get for her cheap last year, as well as continue to wear the Shell Jacket that she has been wearing for over a year now.

Fall wish list for girls

It looks like Polarn O. Pyret's USA website is finally filling up with Fall items. I tried to navigate PO.P's Swedish website (the motherboard) and I think we have most of what will hit the US market until they release the Holiday line. It makes me so sad that their sleepwear doesn't meet US standards so I don't even bother to look at those because they're because I know I can't buy them.

FYI- Use code POPFRIENDS to get 15% off regular price items and free shipping on your first order. Use this code wisely since you can only use it once! Tell them I sent you.

Here are some adorable outfits that I chose from what's available right now. Not sure what we'll get, but I thought I'd get my wish list ready for when there's an unbeatable discount code (usually 20-35%) or I end up winning one of their gift card contests that they're constantly sponsoring...hint, hint.

 Garden Print Tunic, Popsicle color, $35.50. I really like this modern print. Based on the sleeve length. I think it will fit similarly to this summer's Blooming Tulip Tunic in my previous post. It says the color is Popsicle and I think that these Best Basic Eco Leggings , Navy, might be a match, not sure though since it doesn't suggest them when you click on this top. They're $32, which is kinda high for leggings, but they will match quite a few dresses and tops for this season.

Garden Print Tunic, Rowan color, $35.50. This is the same as above, except in PO.P's iconic lady bug print. If you're thrifty, you can go with a basic black pair of $4 leggings from Target, but if you're OCD like me, you could catch the Full Length Summer Leggings that are still available for sale for $16, originally $32. Rowan is a really wonderful shade of red, with a hint of orange that I have seen in the last two years since I've been buying PO.P. My daughters have Shell Jackets in Rowan check print from two winters ago, similar to this one.

Fall Floral Dress, Very Berry color, $42.50. I LOVE this dress. If I only order one thing from PO.P this fall it will have to be this dress. I love everything about it. Even the color name Very Berry is irresistible. I think it would be super adorable with green leggings but couldn't figure out what shade matched. It could be Meadow that was also used this summer or these Nettle Colored Slim Fit Jeans, $50. But if you want to play it safe and have a monochromatic look, these Fall Tone Eco Leggings in Guava should be a perfect match. And if you can't get enough Guava, this Professor Patch Cardigan, $42.50 would complete the look. Since it's not essential to the outfit, you can always try to catch it at winter clearance, around February 2012. Oh, and speaking of cute, but non-essential, don't forget the matching socks!

Green Thumb Dress, Deep Sea color, $42.50. This dress has really grown on me since the first time I saw the SKU. I'm especially obsessed with the endless opportunities for matching bottoms. You could do a solid colored bottom, like the Guava leggings I have listed above. Or you could go with any of these fun printed tights I chose. I especially love the Green Thumb Tights $18.50 in the exact same print. How OCD is that?! My daughter said she liked the Poppy colored Fall Floral Tights , $18.50 (that also match several other dresses, like the Kangaroo Pocket Denim Dress from this collection). I think that the Fall block Stripe Tights in either color wave will also look great. I've bought PO.P's striped tights before and the quality is absolutely unbeatable. They're usually made in Denmark or South Korea. You can let your monkey, I mean daughter, play worry-free in these tights. I have found them to run a bit large in the past so I do not recommend sizing up. 

Lollypop Peek a Boo Tunic, Egg color, $32.50. I think this top is super adorable but I don't know why they're calling it a tunic since it looks like regular top length to me. It comes in either Black or Egg, which was used in a few pieces last winter. I'm now kicking myself for not buying the Carpenter Corduroy Pants in Egg color that they were practically giving away after the winter season. I kept seeing them sale after sale for as low as $12 or so. Maybe they'll dig up any leftovers and put them in a PO.P UP sale again. They do have Corduroy Carpenter Pants again this season in the new colors (showing up in Baby section right now). This one is Very Berry, $42.50. All of my kids have Carpenter pants for all seasons in either denim, corduroy or cotton. I snatch them up when they're on sale. They work really well on my cloth-diapered toddler as well as my slim Kindergarten son.

PO.P summer sale haul

So my 3-yr-old daughter finally, sorta, kinda agreed to participate and try on the clothes I bought for her during Polarn O. Pyret's (PO.P) annual summer sale a few weeks ago. The timing of this sale was perfect because I had just sold some outgrown clothing and other items on eBay so I had money from that in my PayPal account and PO.P accepts Paypal payments. She is 38" (96.5 cm) tall and everything is size 3-4 yrs (110 cm). Since our summer is almost over, everything is intended to be worn next spring and summer. Please click on individual photos to see larger image.

 Garden Party Print T shown in Calypso color. It's still a bit long on her and slightly big overall since this is supposed to be a more fitted cut. But it will be super cute next spring and summer. Shown with Sweatshirt Shorts Eco. For being the same size as the shirt, these are huge! I hope she can wear them in a year...or two. I wish I had gotten them in size 2-3 instead of 3-4. She refused to turn around for the photo.

  Surprise Dot Tunic, Bamboo color with matching Everyday Eco Leggings, Amaranth color, both size 3-4. I love these tunic tops because they can be worn for a long time. Right now it's a great length but will transition well as she gets taller. I got these leggings in Amaranth because they will also match the Buffalo Check Linen Dress in my previous post. I was hesitant to buy the Bamboo color because it looks so stark online, but it's a surprisingly natural and earthy color. So glad I went for it. The baby, wearing a PO.P outfit from a year or two ago, insisted on being in the photo.

Blooming Tulip Tunic, Amaranth color and matching Everyday Eco Leggings, Amaranth color, both size 3-4. This top is longer and roomier than the Surprise Dot Tunic. Right now it fits more like a dress.

 Happy Tea Pot Tunic (sold out) in Indigo with matching Three Quarter Summer Leggings in Turmeric color. I love the elastic neckline and sleeves. These dresses are surprisingly versatile. I really like them with matching leggings or bikers peering underneath the dress. I think it's a fun and modest look. She will be able to wear this dress for a couple of years because it can even be worn as a top as she gets taller. This dress is much roomier than the ones with the same cut that we bought last year.

 Happy Tea Pot Tunic (sold out) in Rowan color with matching Three Quarter Summer leggings. Also available in this print is the Happy Tea Pot Sundress.

 Garden Party Print T with Colored Slim Fit Jeans. Limited Edition Print Rain Boots (sold out).

 And again, the baby, this time wearing her sister's big boots.