finds: halloween picks for tots

Happy October, Everyone!

October might the most universally loved month of the year. The crisp air and promise of cozy sweaters and those pumpkin lattes that everyone is talking about just get people in a good mood.

Of course, in addition to all of the other fall fun, October always brings to mind Halloween so I thought we'd kick off the month with a roundup of some of my favorite Halloween finds for kids.

Books:

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four / five

six / seven / eight

Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin holds a special place in my heart - we read it hundreds of times last fall without getting tired of it. We always love Llama Llama and Little Blue Truck books and the Baby Lit series is awesome. We own Peek-A-Who? and I'm sure this Halloween version is just as fun.

For Girls:

one / two / three

That cat dress is so sweet and it has the cutest little cat tail on the back side. I wish it came in toddler sizes for Elia. Thankfully, the Boo pajamas do and she especially loves that the little stars glow in the dark. And that monster sweater, that puffy little monster is so charming!

For Boys:

one / two / three

Both pairs of pajamas are darling and could be worn by boys or girls. Wells will be rocking his Peek-A-Booo bodysuit this month for his first Halloween.

What are your favorite picks for Halloween? 

holiday cheer: baby's first christmas

We are getting very excited for Christmas around here.  The day after Thanksgiving, Elia found the perfect tree for us.

We've also met one of Santa's reindeer.

And even the big guy himself.

It's so much fun to expose Elia to so many of our favorite holiday traditions.

With only a few weeks until Christmas, I thought I'd do a quick gift roundup for all of the little ones left on your shopping list. I'm a fan of classic toys with minimal lights and sounds so that Elia can spend more time figuring out how the toy works and growing that little brain of hers instead of encouraging an environment of constant entertainment.  Here are some of my favorite holiday-themed gifts for babes:

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

1. Melissa & Doug Slice & Bake Christmas Cookie Play Set

I think every child has memories of baking and decorating cookies growing up and it's certainly one of my favorite traditions.  This wooden cookie play set will allow your kids to practice their baking skills all through the holiday season.

2. Maileg Rudolph Reindeer

This sweet stuffed reindeer is such a darling toy and perfect for snuggling up with on cozy Christmas evenings.

3. Hohner Kids Handy Jingle Bell

Elia loves shaking or banging on just about anything that will make noise right now. I looked everywhere for a baby-friendly jingle bell and I finally came across this gem. At only $3.25 plus free shipping, this is the perfect stocking stuffer for a baby!

4. Olivia Helps with Christmas

There is something about this little pig that I find downright charming. We only have one other Olivia book but as Elia becomes more interested in books, I hope Olivia becomes a favorite and can't wait to read this with her every December.

5. Santa Sack

We believe in keeping Christmas gifting pretty low-key so I don't anticipate every needing a whole sack to fill with Elia's gifts. This Santa Sack is so cute though that I could see buying it to hold seasonal kid's items.  I'm sure any kid would get a kick out of opening this bag every year as the holidays approach.

6. BabyLit: A Christmas Carol

If you haven't seen these books before, check them out now. BabyLit takes classic novels and makes them baby friendly by focusing on counting, colors, etc. I love the idea of exposing kids to literature young and The Christmas Carol is such a favorite - I just love this!

7. Uncle Goose Merry Christmas Blocks

I've been a huge fan of Uncle Goose blocks since I discovered them a few years ago. They have everything from classic blocks to foreign language blocks (Arabic, Spanish, Dutch, Chinese, Swedish, French and more!) and even hieroglyphic and Braille blocks. Beyond this, they are made right here in Grand Rapids so by buying them and from the area, you'd be shopping local, which is a huge plus.

8. Manny & Simon Reindeer and Sleigh Wooden Push Toy

There is something beautiful about the simplicity of push toys and this sleigh and reindeer set is just gorgeous. I love the smooth, clean lines and I think that between the wheels and antlers, this would keep E busy for hours.

Now you've seen some of my holiday favorites for babies, what are some of your favorite toys and gifts for the babies in your life?

holiday cheer: home decor

Technically, this is a lifestyle blog and, you may have noticed, our current lifestyle is baby. Still, life can't be all bottles and diapers so I thought I'd write a few posts on holiday goodies and ideas.  It's a little early to post about Christmas but, of course, it's always good to be prepared and I know that I will be cutting down my Christmas Tree in just over a week. Plus I spotted this today so I'd say the holiday season is upon us!

I'm one of those people who loves a festive home but doesn't like to go overboard with decor. A few baubles here and there, a few gold and silver accents, a live Christmas tree, and some evergreen-scented candles and I'm good to go.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 

1. Illume Balsam and Cedar Garland Glass

I got last year's version of this candle as Christmas gift and I loved the look of it so much [gold polka dots - what's not to love?] that I kept it out on my desk all year long. The balsam and cedar scent fill our living room with the scent of Christmas all season long.

2. West Elm Boxwood Round Wreath

In my opinion, boxwood makes for the perfect wreath. Faux or real, it tends to look great and doesn't need to be accessorized with extra glitz. Hanging one each of the small and medium above a fireplace would be so darling. These wreaths would also be great on a front door in the spring - I have a similar one on our door.

3. J.R. Watkins White Pine Hand Soap

J.R. Watkins is the best and their White Pine Hand Soap is no exception. It's a limited edition to get to Target and stock up!

4. West Elm Papier-Mâché Animal Sculptures

Okay so maybe this doesn't quite fit into my subtle holiday decor aesthetic but last year I kept seeing white reindeer busts pop up and this silver version is so fun. Plus, who isn't looking for something different to put above their mantle?  This fits the bill.

5. Threshold Faux Fur Ivory Throw

Nothing says winter wonderland like a cozy fur blanket. At $34.99 the price is right on this one so cuddle up!

6. Threshold Pine Tree Snowglobe

Snowglobes remind me of childhood; there is something so magical and enthralling about the snow falling around the figurines. The white tree puts a grown-up spin on a childhood favorite.

7. Lindsay Letters O Holy Night Canvas

Beautiful song, beautiful lettering, beautiful art. Lindsay Letters prints are scattered around our home and I've had my eye on this canvas for a while. For a more economical option, check out her prints and make sure to browse her shop for other holiday and home prints.

I hope you like these goodies and have a fabulous time decking your halls in the coming weeks!