Category Archives: style

10 Modest Bathing Suits for Little Girls

10 Modest Bathing Suits for Little Girls

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10 Modest Bathing Suits for Little Girls

I’ve read a few articles, and the hundreds of comments that follow, about how difficult (some say “impossible” it is to find modest bathing suits for little girls. Other complaints are that even the baby and toddler suits are “sexualizing” our little ones, and that finding a suit that isn’t frilly, pink, sparkly, or otherwise overly “girly” is a huge challenge.  Personally, we have never experienced these issues, and have found great, age appropriate, full-coverage swimwear at Target (We also find great suits at Old Navy and through LL Bean and Lands End)

Avery and I ventured out to Target, to put this to the test, and we’re here to share our results!  Avery is 40inches tall with a 16 inch inseam. (All leg!) Her waist is tiny (she still fits into some 18m bottoms–in the waist) but being leggy, we often run into the issue of things being too short.  The first 5 bathing suits shown here are from the Girls section – sizes xs(4/5)–xl(14/16) (Avery is wearing the xs)  The last 5 are from the Baby & Toddler section, and she is wearing a size 4t

1. Sporty One Piece with Shorts

Sporty girls bathing suit with shortsThere were many things I liked about this suit! I loved the little cover-up shorts, and the fact that the one-piece suit offered full coverage on top and on the bottom. I was also drawn to this suit since I had one almost exactly like it when I was a kid!  Avery like this one because she thought she looked like a life guard!

2. Tankini Sparkle Pineapple

Pineapple Tankini Cat and Jack bathing suitThis tankini obviously doesn’t cover as much as the other suits, but I thought it was a good compromise for those who really want a bikini, but want more coverage.

3. Girls’ Bikini With Rashguard

Rash Guard Tropical GirlsAvery and I both loved this suit.  The bottoms are a full coverage brief, and the rashguard is great for sun protection!  Depending on your daughter’s age/development, you can wear the bikini top under the rashguard if needed for additional coverage, or just wear the rashguard on it’s own.

4. Love Tie Dye Bikini And Rashguard

Love Tie Dye Bikini and Rash guard setThis was a cute suit! I’m a big fan of tie dye, and I loved the color of this one  The bottoms aren’t as full as some of the  others but they still covered Avery well.

5. Sunset Palm Bikini and Rashguard Set

Sunset Palm Bikini Rashguard setThis suit was our favorite of the big girl swimsuits! Avery loved the surfer style of the rashguard, and the “boy shorts” The bikini top fit well and covered very well for a bikini (It was more like a sports bra) and it was clear that it would stay-put.

Now on to the Toddler/Little girl suits…

6. Polka Dot Halter One Piece Swimsuit

Polka Dot one piece halter swimsuitThis swimsuit is adorable. Avery loved that it looked like a Minnie Mouse suit, and I loved that the bottom was cut to offer really great bum coverage. On Avery it looks a bit like an old-timey suit, since her torso is so short, the bottom is almost like a boy-short cut.

7. 2-Piece Stars & Stripes Rash Guard Set

Stars and Stripes two-pieceI loved this suit! The top, with it’s long sleeves, it great for sun-protection, and the bottoms offered great coverage!

8. Sun Is Shining Long Sleeved rashguard set

Sun Is Shining Rashguard setAvery was a big fan of this bathing suit because it was pink and purple.  I loved the long sleeves and UPF 50+ sun protection!

9. One Piece Rash Guard

one piece rashguardWe both loved this little Cat & Jack number! Unfortunately, they only had a 3t, so we had to pass as it was a bit too small. But, even a size too small, it offered good coverage.  It was a bit high-cut, but in a 4t it would have been perfect.

10. Hello Summer Short Sleeve Rash Guard and Bottoms Set

Hello Summer rash guard setThis was my absolute favorite of all the toddler swimsuits she tried on. I LOVE the boy shorts, and the on-trend colors! Avery loved the fit and colors as well! I just wish it were long sleeved!

And here are two bonus suits! These are the two that Avery actually chose for herself

Tankini Set with Flounce Bottom

Little girls Tankini with Flounce Botton

Stripe Skirted One Piece Swimsuit

Striped one piece swimsuit

Keep in mind, that this is just my personal opinion of what is “modest” you may be looking for even more coverage than than we are. And, of course, girls of different sizes and shapes will fit in these bathing suits differently. And we were just shopping for little girls, and know it can be different for older girls. But, we think these suits are a great start for those looking for more modest bathing suits for little girls!

Another thing to note, is that most of these suits are Cat & Jack brand. Those suits are made to last, and they guarantee it! If your Cat & Jack product doesn’t hold up, you can return it–up to a full year from the time of purchase (with receipt)

What do you think of our choices for Modest Bathing Suits for Little Girls?  Which one do you like the best? Where do you have the best luck with swimsuits?

Mad For Buffalo Plaid

Mad For Buffalo PlaidI. Love. Plaid!!  All kinds of plaid. Black Watch, Royal Stewart, even tattersall and gingham. I’m not picky, I love it all. However, my current favorite is Buffalo Plaid!

11045300_10153244298831452_6498979398550226034_nBuffalo Plaid, with it’s big blocks of red and black, always makes me think of lumberjacks, and the mountains, and hanging out, cozy, around a fire! All things I love!

It looks great on men, women, and children! You can dress it up or dress it down. And you can even find it on all sorts of accessories now that it’s on trend!

It’s the perfect plaid!

And I think it’s prefect for Valentine’s Day!!

11693914_10153244298846452_2072337105167730713_n11215849_10153244298971452_6539673928913350092_n Avery has so many Buffalo Plaid pieces in her closet. Shirts, dresses, ponchos, tights…you name it, she’s got it! And they all look so cute on here! This plaid got her through the fall and transitioned right into winter! 12191038_10153244299101452_2138732727517913224_n 12191074_10153244299256452_553280691738044098_nHere are a few of my other favorite Buffalo Plaid pieces! A bunch that would make great Valentine’s Day gifts! Something for everyone!Buffalo Plaid

  1. Girl’s Franki & Jack Pullover (How perfect is this for Valentine’s day?!)
  2. Boy’s Button Down Flannel
  3. Hooded Fleece Poncho
  4. Women’s Western Chief Rain Boots
  5. Timex Expedition Scout Watch
  6. Men’s Buffalo Plaid Trapper Hat
  7. Buffalo Check Backpack

12208355_10153244299106452_7742843927728549376_n 12208625_10153244299051452_8278802221561915017_nSo what do you think about Buffalo Plaid?  Do you have any in your closet?
For more Valentine’s Day fashion, beauty and style ideas, visit a few of my favorite bloggers:

 

*This post contains affiliate links*

Simple & Adorable Christmas Hairstyles

christmas hairstyles

Looking for some fun christmas hairstyles? Here are a few of our creative ideas!

Simple Christmas HairstylesSo, when it comes to hair styling, I am lacking skills.  I can handle pigtails and a simple braid, but beyond that? I’m clueless. That said, I’m always looking for fun and creative ways to style Avery’s hair.  Last year, I saw a cute reindeer bun idea somewhere on the internet. I really wanted to try it on Avery but at the time, her hair was just too short.  This year, she had more than enough!  Rudolf Hairstyle Christmas BunThis bun is super simple! I use a bun ring, which you can find at Target, or any drug store or store that sells hair accessories. This is the easiest way for me, but you can make a sock bun, or any kind of bun you’d like!

I glued the eyes and red pom-pom nose onto small bobby pins and just inserted them into her hair/bun ring. For the antlers I used pipe cleaners and looped them around the bun (You could also cut them shorter and insert into the hair/bun ring)  It’s so easy, and absolutely adorable. Avery received so many compliments at school, and out at the mall! Even Santa himself told her he loved it!

I added little earmuffs and a tulle scarf, just for fun!Rudolf with earmuffsI started thinking of other fun ways to add Christmas spirit to your hair…

Frosty The Snowman is made by gluing his hat, nose, eyes and mouth (all cut from construction paper) on bobby pins, and sticking them into the bun. I tied red tulle around the bun to create a scarf. EASY!

Snowman Bun Christmas HairA holiday wreath is another festive style! Again, the pom-poms are glue onto bobby pins and stuck in. Same with the bow! Wreath Bun Christmas HairstyleWhile taking photos of the other styles, I thought “Hey! What about an ornament?” So I popped the top off of one of our ball ornaments, and stuck it in the bun. It needed something more, so I added pipe cleaners. I stuck them into the center of the bun, then secured them with a rubber band around the back of the bun. You could also use temporary hair color/hair chalk to make the bun red or green or sparkly! Christmas Ornament hairstyleAvery wanted to have snowflake hair, and I happened to have this big felt snowflake left over from another holiday project.  I cut a little part out so it could wrap around the bun, and left the pipe cleaners in and VOILA!  A snowflake bun!Snowflake Hair for ChristmasShe thought it made her look like Queen Elsa with “Ice Hair” Avery snowflake hairstyleSo, what do you think?  Do you like our christmas hairstyles? Which style is your favorite?  Do you have any other fun ideas?

Fall Trends – Ponchos & Capes #MicrofashionMonday

Fall Trends - Ponchos & Capes - #Microfashion sweetlilyou.com

I love Fall!!  (As I have mentioned in almost every one of my recent posts.) One of my favorite things about the season is SWEATER WEATHER! I’m a big fan of sweaters, and layering! Fortunately, my girl loves sweaters too!

Fall Trends - Ponchos & Capes for GirlsOne of the big trends this season is the poncho. They are everywhere! Now, I’ll be honest, I’ve never been a big poncho fan. Being sort of short, and a little bit wide, I never thought they looked good one me.

But you know who they DO look good on?  My toddler! Toddler Fall FashionAvery can totally rock the poncho!!  And what toddler doesn’t want to go out in public, basically wrapped up in a cozy blanket? Sweaters and Coffee in FallNothing says “Fall” more than wearing a cozy sweater and drinking Starbucks surrounded by fallen leaves haha!Starbucks Coffee Fall sweatersThere are so many different styles of ponchos and capes and they are really versatile. You can dress them up, worn with a skirt and cute tights or keep it casual, paired with jeans or leggings. You can wear flats, cute boots, or Uggs. And of course, you can accessorize (I love the belted cape trend!) Ponchos come in all different fabrics and patterns, from Aztec designs (like those on the traditional South American ponchos) to jersey knit “athletic” inspired styles, fair-isle is big and of course so is PLAID (another HUGE trend this season) Girl drinking StarbucksPoncho SweaterI found a few really great ponchos/capes/caplets for girls that are both adorable and affordable!

Fall Trend - Ponchos for Girls

1. Marled Poncho – Target

2. Patterned Sweater Cape – Old Navy

3. Ears Poncho – Target

4. Hooded Kimono Sleeve Cardigan – Old Navy

5. Hooded Fair Isle Poncho – OshKosh B’gosh

6. Metallic Funnel-Neck Caplet – Old Navy

 Which one is your favorite? I am in love with the Fair Isle Poncho (#5) and wish the Hooded Kimono-Sleeve Poncho came in my size!Fall Fashion for Girls
For more fall fashion and beauty posts, visit a few of my favorite bloggers:

Fall Jackets for Kids for Under $30 – Microfashion

*this post contains affiliate links*Fall Jackets for Kids for Under $30

Moto and Cargo, and Denim, OH MY! I am totally LOVING the Fall Jacket trends this year! Every time we go to the mall, I find a new jacket that I want to buy for Avery (Don’t worry, dear husband, I usually keep the cash in my wallet!)  But, ohhh how I want to buy them all! Jackets for back to school

I did purchase one jacket for Avery because I just could NOT resist! This adorable faux leather moto jacket from Target (Genuine Kids)  Faux Laether jackets for girls

I thought it was a perfect fall jacket! We can dress it up with a skirt, or create a more casual look with jeans! It’s versatile and super cute! (It also comes in pink!) Girls Faux Leather Jacket from Target

This fall, send your kids to school in style with one (or more) of these great fall jackets for kids! They are all under $30, so they won’t break the bank!

6 Fall Jackets for Girls for Under $30

  1. Quilted Chambray Jacket – Old Navy – $24.94
  2. Girls Hoodie Jean Jacket – Target – $22.99
  3. Cotton Parka – H&M – $29.95
  4. Denim Jacket – The Children’s Place – $24.95
  5. Quilted Peplum Jacket – OshKosh B’gosh – $29.00
  6. Moto Jacket – Target – $22.00 (Find it in S/M/L  HERE)

6 Fall Jackets for Boys for Under $30

  1. Quilted Performance Fleece – Old Navy – $24.95
  2. Twill Jacket – Target – $18.00
  3. Padded Pilot Jacket – H&M – $29.99
  4. Denim Jacket – The Children’s Place – $24.95
  5. Cargo Jacket – Carter’s – $19.20
  6. Moto Styling Jacket – Target – $22.00

I’m digging the twill cargo style jackets, and denim and leather never go out of style! And those quilted jackets?  LOVE!!!

Fall Jackets for girlsWhich Fall jacket trend is your favorite?

 
For more fall fashion and beauty posts, check out a few of my favorite blogs:

Preschool Style & DIY Crayon Wrapper Calendar

I participated in a Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for OshKosh B’Gosh. I received an OshKosh B’Gosh gift card to facilitate my post and a promotional item to thank me for my participation.Preschool Style from OshKosh B’Gosh #backtobgosh #bgoshjeanius {ad}I can’t even believe that Avery starts school in a few short weeks!! I know it’s “Only” preschool and it’s “Only” two half days a week (6 hours total) but this is a BIG step for her!  We are all excited (and of course, a little bit nervous)

Of course, I wanted Avery to have the full “Back to School” experience, so we went shopping!  We hit up OshKosh B’Gosh, one of our absolute favorite stores! Their styles are on trend and have all the must-haves of the season, while still maintinaing the classic style and heritage we’ve come to know and love from the brand! We loved all the bold prints, and bright colors that will get Avery to school in style!

Denim and Flannel in red and blue Ready for school with oshkoshSince it’s still warm here in New England, I loved that OshKosh B’gosh had so many transitional pieces! Lot’s of ways to layer for cool mornings that turn into warmer afternoons!

Posing in her new oshkosh clothes for preschoolLooking at Avery in this outfit, I totally see myself Circa 1991. White tank, Tomboy Jeans, boots and a flannel tied around my waist!  I remember going back to school shopping with my Nana, an annual tradition. She bought me a (very expensive) flannel shirt, and I asked her, upon leaving the store, if I could wear it home. She said I could, but nearly fainted when I proceeded to tie it around my waist! I’ll never forget her telling me that she did not spend all that money on a shirt so I could wear it like one of those “Grungy rock stars!” It’s just one of many back to school shopping memories that I think about every year! Oshkosh - flannel and denimB’gosh Blue Jeans are back for the fall!  They are better than ever, and made for an active lifestyle (We know preschoolers are ACTIVE!) B’gosh Blue Jeans are our favorite because of their durability, and fit! The adjustable waistband is a must for us!  I grabbed a few pairs for Avery in skinny, bootcut and moto styles!

Colors and textures for back to schoolI absolutely loved this top (which also comes in blue) and it paired well with her Tomboy Jeans!  Everything I purchased was perfect to mix & match! Bright colors for back to schoolAnother reason we LOVE OshKosh B’gosh  is that the company is always giving back!! They want to make sure that all kids to have what they need for school, from blue jeans to books! That’s why they are partnering with K.I.D.S./ Fashion Delivers, Inc., and DonorsChoose.org through the B’gosh Jeanius Campaign.

All denim donated from July 28 through September 16, 2015, will be delivered to local children in need  and The Carters Charitable foundation will match all cash donations up to $50,000 and all denim donations with a new item of clothing.

Give kids a leg up! Donate a new pair of blue jeans or make a cash donation at the register. For more information visit: www.oshkosh.com/bgoshjeanius

Oshkosh - Art History Oshkosh - LibraryAvery LOVES her knew clothes and says “These are big girl clothes!” She’s right! My little girl is growing up! OshKosh floral combat bootsThose boots though!!! Back to school with Oshkosh - Bon Jour shirtAnd that smile!! Oshkosh - Playing at the libraryAlong with school comes a big change in the schedule that Avery has had for the last two years! We wanted to try to make the transition as easy as possible on her, so we decided to make a calendar that would show all of her activities and school events each month! It’s a simple project that you can create with your child! DIY Crayon Wrapper Family Calendar - Decoupage Craft - Crayon wrapper crafts - #backtobgosh  #BgoshJeanius #IC (ad) What You need for family calendar craft

This really is simple.

  1. Prepare the frame – remove the back and the glass so you’re left with just the frame. If your frame is glassy, you may want to scuff it up with sand paper before starting. It will make the paper stick easier.
  2. Prepare your crayon wrappers – remove the wrappers from crayons (we all have a box of old crayons laying around, but if not, just grab a box at the store! For this 8×10 frame I used the wrappers from a 48ct crayon box. Peel the wrappers off, and tear them up into smaller pieces.
  3. Spread a layer of Mod Podge over a small area of the frame.
  4. Place the crayon wrappers, and cover with another coat of Mod Podge.
  5. Continue step 4 until fully covered.Steps for calendar crafts with crayon wrappers
  6.  Let dry.
  7. Insert your printed calendar (you may need to trim it depending on the size of your frame)  and put the frame back together.
  8. Using dry erase markers, write in month, dates, and all of your events.
  9. Display where your child can see it.

Crayon decoupageAre you heading out to do your back to school shopping?  Well, don’t forget to bring this coupon with you to your local OshKosh B’gosh or used the code to buy online!  (To find the OshKosh store nearest you, click here )

OK_Fall15 Blogger Coupon Follow OshKosh B’gosh online on Facebook  &   Twitter

Microfashion Monday: The Shy Little Kitten at Target

Back to School Style The Shy Little Kitten at Target

YOU GUYS!!!! Have you seen the absolutely adorable “The Shy Little Kitten” Themed apparel for girls at Target?  Ahh! It is the cutest! “The Shy Little Kitten” is one of my favorite Little Golden Books, I love the story, and the classic illustrations. When I saw this newest collection at Target, I may have gone a lil bit crazy!  But. look at this stuff?  It’s so cute! (And there is more that we didn’t buy including tutu skirts, other tees and another sweet dress)

Here is what we did buy:   Shy Little Kittn apparel at Target

Shy Little Kitten Print A Line Dress – $18.00 – $20.00 (Find girls sizes S/M/L HERE)

Just A Little Shy Sweatshirt – $12.00 – $14.00 (Find girls sizes S/M/L HERE)

Shy Little Kitten Tee – $8.00 – $10.00 (Find girls sizes S/M/L HERE)

Girls‘ Rolled Cuff Short – $6.00

Toddler Footless Tights – Cat – $5.00

Kendra Cat Print Canvas Sneakers – $20.00

And here is how I styled these pieces:

Aww sweet kitten Just a little shy sweatshirt from Target shy little kitten Dress from Target The Shy Little Kitten at the playground Cat dress for toddlers Shy Little Kitten styles from target Playground Ready styles from TargetThese pieces are perfect for Back to School! A pretty dress for the first day or any special occasion, tees for play-dates and playground fun, adorable accessories, and some stores even have a plush Shy Little Kitten (Avery begged, but I had to draw the line somewhere!)  The pieces are totally mix and match, and perfect for both summer, and the transition to fall  (And with some layering, you can bring them right through winter, too!)

I really love the long sleeved shirt, with shorts and tights, I think it’s perfect for those fall days when you’re not quite ready to give up on shorts, but it’s just getting a bit cooler!  Which look is your favorite!