Giggles N Curls Girls Clothing - Hot Fashions in Girls Clothes!

I always knew our cousin Angela was a chocolate addict. But for her wedding?  Yes, she’s dressing the girls in chocolate, and much as I hate to admit it, the color is wonderful on all of them.

My sister’s little one, the flower girl is wearing the Susanne Lively light blue and chocolate flower girl  dress, the kind with the wide, foofy skirt and a scrumptious blue top.  And my oldest girl as a bridesmaid gets the grown up look with an A-line chocolate special occasion dress that has blue beading at the waist.

Had to laugh at the shower last week. The matron and maid of honor were grousing that their dresses didn’t look as good, and maybe they should hold out for something better.  But I guess Angela gets the last laugh, because I wouldn’t have believed chocolate was a wedding color.  Now, if I could only forgive her for being able to eat chocolate for breakfast lunch and dinner without gaining weight.

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Outside of the day she gets married, I don’t think there is a more important occasion when a girl looks pretty, than on her First Communion.  Not that it’s a day when appearance is the prime focus, but traditionally a girl dresses for the symbolism and to please herself and her parents.

That’s why my sister let her oldest girl do the choosing of her First Communion dress.  She didn’t put a lot of restrictions on her either, which was really nice.  This was her day and not Mom’s.

So Amy chose an Us Angels dress - a short sleeve style in satin and organza.  It has that nice illusion neckline that will let her wear the same necklace her mother wore for her First Communion. (I know, I coveted that necklace!) And much to our surprise, she went the old fashioned route and asked for the gloves and veil, too.

Sigh…they grow up so fast.  Too fast sometimes. But at least she has the same good taste as her Auntie!

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I don’t know about you, but I’m just the teensiest bit behind on the Christmas shopping.  Okay, teensy is a relative term, but you get the drift.

I don’t do gift certificates unless I’m really desperate.  And honestly, I do try through the year to lay aside things when I see them. Especially the stuff that you know someone is really going to need. I came across this pedometer for strollers  while my brother’s wife was still pregnant.  She’s a fitness buff and I know she’ll use it once the baby is here. The last thing I wanted was to try and order it after Christmas as a shower gift and find out they were all gone.

Then I decided all the little ones in the family would get a bank this year.  Although I might have to get my aunt one too, since she collects piggy banks. And, she’s gone back to college! At 60, no less. I think that’s terrific, but she’ll be saving her pennies for tuition, too.

You can’t go wrong with stuffed toys either, and the Webkinz  are just the best.  They are so funny. Plus, they’re well made and dependable. Oh, and the older kids that use a computer, can go to their site and enter a secret code to find the virtual version of their pet, and play online with it, too.  Good, clean fun all around.

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I love going over to my sister’s place.  It makes me appreciate how much I’ve learned about parenthood to see someone in a permanent frazzle like I used to be. Okay, so it’s just nice to see someone else suffer for a change.

That’s why I was surprised to have her drop in here early one morning with her youngest in tow. Not that she isn’t welcome or doesn’t visit. But with two girls, one in school, she just doesn’t do mornings. Claims she doesn’t have the time.  Wuss.

I poured her a coffee and went back to my laptop. She was chugging it down like this was the first oasis in the desert.  “Dresses,” she croaked.  I looked at her and waited for the caffeine to kick in.  “Cousin Angela’s wedding. Flower girl dress. Out of luck.”

It so happened I was on a celebrity gossip site at the time, and hadn’t seen my five-year old niece come up to my elbow.  “Tacky,” she pronounced. I think she got the speech pattern from her mother, but I have to admit she had good taste and some stars didn’t.

“So what do you need?” I asked the air between mother and child.

“Something good that will do for more than one occasion.”

“Pretty.”

I pointed to the coffee pot, while the flower girl-to-be wandered off.  I should solve all my problems so easily. “Here,” I swung the laptop around to face her. “Us Angels, satin and tulle, she’ll look like a princess.”

“Mmmmm.”  First look. “Mmmmmmm!” Second look. “This is nice. But a little cool for December?”

“Satin cape there, too. Or a white shawl, you decide. My fashion consultant’s bill is in the mail.”

“What about shoes?” she asked, not quite trusting her good luck or my good taste.

“I already have shoes!” the flower girl chirped.  And there she was in the doorway, wearing my red stilettos with the rhinestone bow and ankle strap.

My sister’s eyebrows rose at least an inch.  “And where did our Auntie wear those?” she smiled sweetly. I grabbed my cold coffee and started chugging myself, wondering what the dangers were of telling her they belonged to my husband.

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It’s the annual run up to Christmas and as any parent knows, that means the Christmas catalog has to be duct taped to keep it together for another few weeks.  Whether it’s just the general excitement and anticipation, or the unfortunate combination of tired parents and kids, there is nothing worse than seeing a child of any age kicking and screaming in a store because they want something and right NOW! Of course it doesn’t just happen at this time of year, but often enough that you have to wonder why.

Generosity is a difficult concept to teach.  In our family, we were always encouraged to express what we would like to have, and told that Santa would try to bring us one thing we really wanted, and some other gifts.  Because if everyone wanted the same things, then the elves wouldn’t have a chance to make enough for the whole world.  So Santa would go down his lists and make sure everyone got something that was important to them. It worked for us, and it’s working for the next generation too.

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A friend of mine is the single mother of one adorable little girl who is three. At least, she was adorable up until recently.  Then her mother found that things were getting out of control.

What made it especially hard is that Susan works and doesn’t have a support system for every night that she goes home.  That means getting off work, picking up her daughter at daycare, then going home to make supper, clean up, all that fun stuff you wish would go away at the end of a long day.  And on top of it, she’s suddenly found she has a demanding toddler on her hands.

It’s not that Cassie is insecure, but she clings and whines and then cries, so by the time dinner is ready they are both upset.  The little time that they had together at the end of the day was being spoiled by a clash of wills and needs, as in need to eat and need to get work done along with the need to connect for both of them.

So for a while she planned very simple dinners that took little preparation, and gradually eased Cassie into a routine of sitting at the table with a coloring book or other special toys reserved for that time, and talking.  Not that she always stayed there. Sometimes it was ten minutes and she was off to the toy chest. But she learned that her mother was available if she wanted her, and that security made them both a lot happier. That made the times when they could sit down together to do things like shopping for new clothes a lot more fun.

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I don’t know about you, but I’m the kind of parent who believes they should get value for their money.  But balancing that with quality isn’t always easy.  That’s why I’m constantly on the lookout for great sales that can deliver both.

Whether it’s for the next season or the next special occasion, believe me, a little advanced planning can save you a lot of time, money and hassles.  Last Spring I picked up a darling pair of Sucre d’Orge velvet pants that will fit my youngest for the holidays.  Their Heart tights were on sale too, so her older sister got some for her holiday outfit.

I got some things for my brother’s boys as well. You can’t go wrong with sweaters when it’s coming up to winter.

It’s really not a big deal to think ahead.  The money you save on little extras and gifts, can be put toward that one really special outfit that can’t be found on sale.

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I look forward to Thanksgiving dinner with Mom and Dad and all the siblings and kids. I do. I really, really do. And I figure if I say that long enough, I’ll convince myself that I mean it.

It’s not the dinner, or the company, or even Uncle George’s false teeth antics, it’s the getting everyone ready.  The first winter I had two children, I thought the snowsuits, boots, mitts, etc was a nightmare. Well, it’s nothing compared to getting a whole family dressed and ready to go for a special occasion.

I found two keys to success were planning ahead, and getting ready way before we needed to, which allowed time for excuses (kids), accidents (me), and lost clothes (husband).

It’s not like you don’t know that ___ (insert occasion) isn’t coming, but if you procrastinate, you’re only piling pressure on yourself, and setting the whole family up for a miserable start to the day by being in a bad temper when things go wrong.  So I sit down way ahead and do some shopping for the girls.  Once I located what I wanted, I let our oldest choose her own.  She went for the funky stuff and asked for a Lili Gaufrette Bright Pink Dress.  That was fine with me. After all, it’s not dinner at the White House.  And for our little one, who already shows an inclination for the feminine frills, an  Amacello  Lace  Bodice Dress.

Let’s just hope the older one’s outfit survives, because I see her sister eyeing it as a hand-me-down.

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If there is one thing I learned when my daughters were young. It’s that there are no hard and fast rules, just the best options and common sense for dealing with the things that come up as our kids are growing up.  Books are great for providing references and food for thought, but every child is an individual. What is right for one, does not work with the next child. Discipline for boys and girls differs not because of their gender, but because of the issue you’re addressing, like temper tantrums.

What I found hardest to deal with was the frustration of balancing the rest of my life and obligations with this added stress.  Not that they did it that often, but when you’re a working parent coping with a job, home life and child care, it’s really hard to put up with the screaming and kicking.  I was unhappy, my little one was unhappy and we both really needed a break.

I got a cute time-out chair, that was just theirs, and where they knew what was expected of them when they used it.  If they calmed down, they were allowed to color or bring a toy to the table.  That set got a lot of use at times, but it was literally a lifesaver.

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I remember when my sister’s daughter was born.  She was determined that no girl child of hers was going to become a tomboy.  It took a great deal of willpower, but I managed to restrain myself and just smiled.  Because I knew someday she was going to lose that battle.

She didn’t realize how active and energetic toddlers can be.  Or how much energy it takes for Mom to keep up with them.  It has nothing to do with girls being unfeminine. At that age, gender and what one should or shouldn’t do, has no relevance whatsoever.  Especially when you are trying to save your sanity.

So when the time came, I suggested what I had done with my own children – enroll her in toddler gymnastics. There’s nothing wrong with a girl having the same romping fun as boys, and in a structured environment, they learn to do it safely while playing with others. 

There are a whole lot of benefits as well, including improving their coordination, learning to socialize, and hopefully getting them into a habit of being fit and active from an early age.  It’s not like they need special clothes, either. A cute little romper  set and they’re good to go.

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I remember when my oldest daughter was little, and into her curious phase. Which she hasn’t outgrown yet, despite being an adult.  One day, it started with “Why do girls wear dresses and boys wear pants?”

That’s when I made my first mistake.  I actually tried to answer her directly, fishing up some details from a long-forgotten history course.  “Well, at one time, we all wore the same thing. Way back in cave man days, when the first men learned how to tie the skins of animals together and drape them around themselves, it was sort of like a dress.”

“Why?”

“Because that was all they knew how to do.”

“What are cave man days?”

“That was a long, long time ago.”

“You mean, when Granma was little?”

“Way before Granma was born.” 

“Well, it’s not long ago now, and Jeffrey has pants. How come he gets to wear them and I don’t?”

The waters were getting deep, and I was treading carefully. Even as the mother of three, I still found myself floundering.  “But you do have pants, sweetie.  And those pretty tops to go with them.  So you have the best of both worlds.  You get to wear dresses and pants!”  I was feeling pretty pleased with myself for coming up with an explanation that even a child could understand.  The feeling lasted for all of 60 seconds.

“Maybe Jeffrey would like to wear a dress, too. I’m going to go ask him.”  And off she ran next door.  I laid my head on the table, sighed, and waited for a call from Jeffrey’s mother.

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Sometimes I wonder how much credit our girls are given for “smarts”.  I don’t necessarily mean their scores on a physics test, but their curiosity about the world and how things work.  Taking stuff apart and putting it back together isn’t the sole province of boys, at least not when girls are given a chance to get their hands on the tools they need.

Educational toys  aren’t just for the boys anymore, although at one time it seemed like their subject matter was directed towards “he-man” stuff.  Besides the traditional girl activities (which still have a value) like play cooking or dress-up, there are a whole host of toys and activities that will stimulate their imagination from an early age.

From dinosaur models, to rock tumbling machines, magic kits and junior telescopes, there is a world waiting for them out there with learning tools that are appropriate for all ages.

Maybe your daughter would like to imitate Mom or even Dad’s interest in photography.  Digital cameras for kids   are inexpensive and if you do your research carefully, you’ll end up with a gift they’ll love, and one that will give you both some quality time and fun, together!

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Once you get past the annual boom of babies amongst your friends, comes the Christenings.  I went to one for a friend not long ago, and of course the baby was center stage as they should be.  But their “star”was dimmed by one of the events you pray won’t happen.  The little darling upchucked on her Christening dress.

Mom, was frantic of course.  We were at her mother-in-laws and she hadn’t brought another Christening outfit. (Well, who needs a spare, after all?)  While they were clustered around the now loudly protesting baby, I passed Mom my gift, which was a wonderful little Sophie Dess number that would replace the froth and lace. Not to mention that morning’s breakfast. Then I took the dress off to the kitchen where I knew she kept stuff in the closet.

Baby formula is basically protein. It needed to be taken care of right away if there were ever any more children to wear the dress.  A quick rinse to get off the leftovers, a squeeze and I rolled it up and laid it by the sink.  This wasn’t the time to remind her not to wash a protein stain in warm water or it would set, so I taped a note to her bottle of enzyme cleaner and left it beside the dress. 

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I was having coffee with my sister the other day, and she was sitting there shivering as she looked through a children’s wear catalog.  Despite having a coffee in one hand.  When I asked her if she needed more sugar in it, she made a face and replied, “It’s not my coffee, thank you very much. It’s Allie.  She’s in that not a baby, not a junior phase and she needs some clothes for autumn. The weather is getting cool in case you hadn’t noticed.”

Well, I had of course. But why make her day?  So I asked what she was looking for.  “I don’t know,” she mumbled.  She always mumbles when she has no idea.  “Something warm.  You know, a blouse or top isn’t enough and a coat is too much.”

“Sweaters,” I nodded sagely.  “But not cardigans.  For dress-up yes. Church, visiting Mom.  But try pullovers or hooded sweaters.  They’re great for playing in outside, or for grabbing at the last minute and stuffing in a tote bag, just in case.”

“She wants ‘nice’ clothes.” My darling niece’s mother sighed and took another of those luscious double chocolate chip cookies off the plate. I reached for another myself before the bounty was gone.  “They are nice,” I told her.  “You can get her favorite color, there are sweaters with cute designs like cats, and you can even show her the sweaters online and let her choose from the ones you like.”

Just then, the four-year old subject of the conversation came wandering into the room. Wearing a cardigan.  “You ate all the cookies.”  She glared at us both and stomped off.  Kids.

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Smocked dresses and outfits for girls have a classic look that never goes out of style and can be handed down through generations.  Fine hand smocked dresses are truly an investment that you can save for your grandchildren to cherish!

Most smocking is done by hand, the quality and detail of the smocking as well as the fabric is what determines price.  Fine European fabrics, like those used by Sophie Dess, sell for a higher price.  Combine the fine European fabrics with more intricate smocking and embroidery and you have a beautiful dress that is truly special.  Vive La Fete is a brand known for it's intricate hand smocked designs.

With proper care, smocked dresses are designed to last.  Fine smocking should never be machine dried.  Manufacturers recommend line drying after washing in the delicate cycle.

Pictured above is the Michelle dress by Vive La Fete  - this is a great example of finely detailed hand smocking in a classic style that will endure the test of time. 

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A great chance to save on classic European children's clothes - markdowns from 10%-50% on brands including Lili Gaufrette, Tartine et Chocolat, Floriane, Alphabet, Sucre D'orge and more.

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Father's Day is next weekend - have you found the perfect gift for Dad? 

From sons - We found some fantastic matching father son ties that are a great idea most men will actually wear!  Daughters are a little harder for matching outfits, but from either sons or daughters, here are several ideas for last minute gifts.

Some fun handmade Father's Day gifts and projects for children to give to their Dads. 

Some frugal gifts for Dad. With just a little creativity, you can make a gift Dad will cherish for years to come!

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Time to get ready for summer pool and beach season!  Are you ready?  Let's go shop for cute swimsuits for your girls!  (personally, much more pleasant than shopping for a swimsuit for Mom!)  What style to get?  Girls swimsuits are available in so many styles, it's sometimes hard to choose.  Babies and toddler girls look fantastic in anything - show off their adorable tummies and thighs with a bikini or one piece swimsuit.  Older girls more than likely will have an opinion and a style of their own and know what they want. 

We love the collection from Azul, which is a Brazilian swimsuit line for girls.  Sizes range from 6 months through 12.  The quality of Azul is fantastic - all pieces are lined, and made of nice weight (not see through!) fabric, and the details are fabulous.   From sequins, tulle, flowers, frill or plain, you can find your style here and the great thing is, with proper care all Azul swimsuits are made to last - you don't have to sacrifice quality to get a unique and fun look!  Most swimsuits have matching cover ups or skirts you can pair with them for a truly special look for your daughter.  (perfect for the pool or vacation!)

Click here to check out Azul girls swimsuits collection.

Click here to learn more about  girls summer swim fashion.

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Woo hoo - just in time for summer vacation - free shipping at One of a Kind Kid!  Use coupon code juneship for free ground shipping on all orders over $75.00 through June 10, 2007!  

Small print info:  Coupon can not be combined with other offers, may not be applied to previous purchases and is valid on orders placed online only (not redeemable on phone orders.)  Applies to normal ground shipping, does not apply to surcharges or frieght shipping on furniture, bedding and other large items.  That's it - use it order anything in the store and get free ground shipping in the US.

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Looking for that perfect patriotic outfit for your son or daughter??  How about matching outfits for the kids??  Great selection of patriotic clothing for babies and children at OneofaKindKid.com - as well as fantastic selection of brother sister outfits for any occasion!

The 4th of July is a major holiday in many communities - with events like the traditional cookout or barbecue, as well as neighborhood parades, bands and fireworks!  A great time to show your patriotism by dressing the whole family in red, white and blue.  Don't have a neighborhood celebration in you community yet?  Plan one!  Some great ideas for the 4th of July celebration.

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Classic style is fashion that is timeless - it exists as much for children as for adults.  Think Grace Kelly - timeless!  The preppy look for boys including polo shirts and khakis, smocked dresses for girls - American designers have the market on traditional classic looks for babies and children.  European children's clothing combine traditional styles with an updated flair for a more sophisticated yet timeless look.

Want to learn more about classic style for children? 
Learn more about preppy clothes for boys.. 

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Welcome to our new childrens clothing blog - this new blog is mostly about our obsession, baby and childrens clothes.  If you're looking for the store, Giggles 'n Curls, it's been merged into One of a Kind Kid.  Please visit the new expanded girls clothing section - all the classic brands are there plus some new European lines including Lili Gaufrette, Tartine et Chocolat, Floriane, Alphabet, Sucre D'Orge  - timeless European brands.

We're excited about our new children's clothing blog and hope you check back often! Don't be afraid to comment!  We'd love to hear from you!

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In most Christian religions, the exact ceremony of the baptism varies greatly.  Most Christians baptise their children either by pouring water on their head, or by sprinking water.

Christening gowns often become treasured garments which are passed down from generation to generation.  After the baptismal ceremony, these gowns should remain treasured possessions, and will always be preserved as a memory of this very special event.

Choosing an outfit is often a daunting task.  One of the most beautiful baptismal gowns is the Amacello Ivory Silk and Organza Convertible Gown with Bubble and Bonnet.

A very useful resource to learn about different forms of baptism, and what baptism really stands for is this article, located on about.com.  Baptism:  What is Baptism?

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