September 16, 2017
Back-To-School & September Picnics
Camille began attending a preK3 program this year, and while we are confident it was the best choice for her and our family, we have certainly felt the difference on the days she isn't home with us. Lily will go looking for Camille in her room, or wander around the house calling for her "sissy". It's adorable and a tiny bit heart-breaking all at once. Lily has also been quite fascinated with Camille's packed lunches and always wants to see what's inside.
As a way to help Lily feel included, and to make sure we are making the most of our girl-time together on the days Camille is home, we've started making picnic lunches to eat together in the backyard. We keep things simple with fruit and snacks most days, but the girls always have so much fun!
White Divided Plate - 2 Pack - $5.99
I searched high and low for the perfect sippy cups when my oldest was still a baby, and fell in love with the ones from Re-Play. I actually found them here first, sold in a 3-pack for $13.99 & free shipping. Praise hands!! They were easy for her to use and truly no-spill/leak free, which is seriously so hard to find - you moms know what I'm talking about! I'm a tad bit OCD, want everything to match, and don't love characters or crazy designs, so I was thrilled that Re-Play made their cups in solid colors (including white!)
I searched high and low for the perfect sippy cups when my oldest was still a baby, and fell in love with the ones from Re-Play. I actually found them here first, sold in a 3-pack for $13.99 & free shipping. Praise hands!! They were easy for her to use and truly no-spill/leak free, which is seriously so hard to find - you moms know what I'm talking about! I'm a tad bit OCD, want everything to match, and don't love characters or crazy designs, so I was thrilled that Re-Play made their cups in solid colors (including white!)
It wasn't until much later that I learned the story behind Re-Play, and discovered their full range of available products, which made me fall in love all over again! I already told you my superficial/aesthetic (pretty/simple/solid colors) & functional (no-spill/easy-to-use) reasons for loving Re-Play, but a few things I learned that made me want to support their brand even more were:
- Re-Think It Inc. is a family owned and family-focused company dedicated to providing sustainable and affordable products, while following responsible environmental and social business practices.
- Each plate, bowl, cup, and utensil is manufactured out of recycled, FDA approved, food safe plastic.
- All Re-Play products are proudly manufactured, assembled, and tested in the USA.
- Re-Play uses curbside collected HDPE plastic. Using recycled material saves waste from the landfill and uses less energy. Additionally, Re-Play products can be recycled again!
- Each product is designed with early eaters in mind. From divided plates with deep walls, to spill proof sippy cups with their patented No Spill valve, Re-Play's goal is to make the self-eating process enjoyable and successful.
- Re-Play products are free from BPA, BPS, PVC, lead, phthalates and melamine.
- DISHWASHER SAFE !!! (again, Praise Hands!)
We now use Re-Play cups, plates, bows, utensils, snack-stacks etc... exclusively! They truly do hold up so well and stack easily on top of one another, saving space in our cabinets. Even my minimalist husband approves. :) I've linked a few of my favorite items below; you can click the image to go straight to that item:
Solid Babysuit Onesie, Primary, $7.00
Now I've already told you how I feel about characters, crazy patterns etc... so I'm sure you can guess that I feel the same way about clothing. Getting dressed in the mornings shouldn't be a fight, and it was important to me to find clothing that was comfortable for the girls, easy to mix & match, and something that we could all agree on (Lily doesn't have an opinion just yet of course, as long as she's comfortable, but Camille has reached a point of pretty much only wanting to wear dresses).
Now I've already told you how I feel about characters, crazy patterns etc... so I'm sure you can guess that I feel the same way about clothing. Getting dressed in the mornings shouldn't be a fight, and it was important to me to find clothing that was comfortable for the girls, easy to mix & match, and something that we could all agree on (Lily doesn't have an opinion just yet of course, as long as she's comfortable, but Camille has reached a point of pretty much only wanting to wear dresses).
Short Sleeve Dress, Cobalt, $15Now, dresses are great! Don't get me wrong. They are wonderful for potty-training and make getting dressed a breeze. They can be layered with knee socks, sweaters, etc and are easy to dress up or down, depending on the occasion. That said, finding simple, cotton, solid-colored dresses was SO MUCH MORE DIFFICULT than I ever imagined. I was getting close to believing they didn't exist, at least not in a price range I could afford. Then I discovered Primary, a company founded by Galyn & Christina, two moms with a passion for creating go-to kids basics at reasonable prices. All of their items are made using quality (soft, yet sturdy) cotton fabrics, are simple & classic in design, and are priced at $25 or less. They also offer Free Shipping on all orders, all the time.
I'll go ahead and link a few of my favorites below, but you'll definitely want to explore their site yourself to see everything they have to offer. From dresses, skirts, t-shirts, shorts, to pants, cardigans, pajamas & swimwear, Primary truly does have every basic item you'd need to create an easy foundation for your little one's closet.
