Aurora Style: Boot Season

I have a MAJOR thing for boots. I have many, many pairs (mostly vintage). So of course, I'm attracted to boots for Aurora too. And when our thrift is having a 50% off sale how can I resist purchasing a few pairs?

These little black boots also do double duty because they work with her Halloween costume (it's a surprise!). They aren't exactly what I had in mind, but they are pretty darn close. And how cute do they look with leggings?

spotted top-thrifted, leggings-gfit from Aunt Jayme, boots-Children's Place (thrifted)

Aurora is busy all the time. She will rarely settle down and stand to pose for a photo. Here, she is drinking her milk and holding her teddy, post-nap...speaking of naps, she has transitioned to one longer nap in the late morning/early afternoon, but she has also started sleeping in ('til 8am!). It may just be a growth spurt, but we are certainly appreciating a little more time under the covers on cold mornings!

More cute boots and babes coming soon!

xo,
Amanda & Aurora

Rocker Chick

Lyla is getting more and more active by the day.  She's starting to notice sounds and music and bounce a little to the beat (I die of cuteness overload!).  Yesterday we introduced her to Yo Gabba Gabba...oh my.  She could not take her eyes away!

Here she is in her ACDC tshirt.  She's totally into classic rock.

Notice Sophie the pup in the background...those two are still attached at the hip!  Unfortunately, they've started to, um, share their toys.  You can see in the photo below the tiny doggie tennis ball laying near the pink bunny.  Not sure who was playing with what.  Terrible right?  

ACDC tshirt- Old Navy, printed leggings- C&C California

I guess this is Lyla's version of "everyday wear"--onesie and pants (and a bow to hold back her rogue bangs that are about 3 inches longer than the rest of her hair).  Usually for Small Style Thursday posts (we're linking up with Mamas Loves Papa as usual!) I have specially planned outfits/photo shoots and try to include at least one vintage piece.  This week has been rainy and blah so I feel content with myself for the fact that I even managed to get a post up!

Hope you're all having a productive week!

xo
Jayme

Aurora Style: Hi, Rain!

Aurora loves to be outside in the rain, so VA's hurricane weather was just fine by her.  Q and I took her outside to play (pre-65 mph winds, mind you), all dolled up in her rain gear. She likes to say, "Hi, Rain!" when she feels it on her hands, which I think it about the cutest thing ever, wouldn't you agree?

Hi, Rain!

Puddle jumping with Dada

jacket-vintage, top-Oshkosh (thrifted), leggings-gift from Aunt Jayme, boots-gift from Aunt Jayme

We made the most of the natural disasters...like we do of every trying circumstance.  We're always "making it work."  I hope that resilience is a quality that we pass down to Aurora, as well as joy despite circumstances. We were healthy, happy and dry (except for that half an hour in the driveway).  Our house did not flood. No trees fell.  We cleaned out our gutters just in time.  We counted our blessings.  At the end of it all, I didn't want the weekend to end...


It's Small Style Day over on Mama Loves Papa, so we're linking up too!

Enjoy the day,
Amanda

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed....

I am welcoming cooler weather with open arms.  Not only do I have a super low tolerance for the heat since giving birth (anyone else experience this?), but also I am really excited about wearing fall clothes--and dressing Lyla in fall clothes!

Something Old:
This sweater was mine when I was little (or Amanda's?  I guess she probably wore it first and then I might've worn it as a hand me down).  I have it on display in Lyla's nursery, along with other pretty vintage pieces that are too big for her still.

Yesterday was a cool morning and I decided I would try on the sweater.  I had to roll the sleeves, but it pretty much fit!  I'm glad that it is still a bit too big because this means it will fit her for most of the winter.

Something New:
This past weekend we spent time with Andrew's family.  Lyla acquired a small fortune of new clothes, including this little fuchsia top with hearts all over it.  Her matching sandals were a gift from earlier in the summer...now that she is standing they look even CUTER!

Something Borrowed:
The cargo pants were Aurora's...as are a lot of Lyla's clothes.  We take good care of Aurora's hand-me-downs because we plan on returning them to Amanda if she has another little girl someday.  It is really such a shame how short of a time baby clothes get worn for--which is why when shopping for vintage, baby clothes are a good thing to search for.  They're pretty much always in great condition!

sweater-vintage, heart top-Osh Gosh B'Gosh, cargo pants- Baby Gap, pom pom sandals- Gymboree

Sorry for the photo overload!  This girl is just too cute...
One more, an outtake!  Lyla's BFF, Sophie interrupted our photo shoot to grab a quick kiss:

We are linking up with Mama Loves Papa for Small Style (every Thursday!  SO many cute and stylish little babies...go check them out!).

xo
Jayme & Lyla

Aurora Style: Hand-Me-Down Dress

It's Amanda (and Aurora!) writing from the beach.  We took these photos of Aurora last weekend before we headed off to our ocean vacation.  We got this dress from Aunt Jayme in the mail the day before (along with a sweet card, some photos, and a magazine for me to read at the beach! Care packages are the best!) and I had to try it on her! I love the color and the tie back detail.  The dress is actually on loan from Jayme's sister-in-law...who is now on her way to her first year of college in the fall! How time flies...

dress-vintage, shoes-Gymboree (thrifted)

I have another post to prep for tomorrow, and then it's on to a cold drink and a good book to wrap up a perfect vacation day!  See you when we get back...

(And don't forget to check out more Small Style over on the Mama Loves Papa blog today!)

xo,
Amanda & Aurora

Lyla Style: Little Levi's

I love baby girls in ruffled frocks, white and pale pink, delicate floral prints.  I like things that make baby girls look really "baby-ish."  But there's also something undeniably cute about a tiny baby in "big girl" clothes.  Here is Lyla's version of 'hipster':  high waisted denim Levi's shorts, a logo t-shirt and ballet flats.

Some mama-made details top it off (a felt bow in the hair and a found ribbon used as a belt).

She is one sturdy little stander.  Daddy's finger tips are spotting her here (since the cement stairs are not the safest place for baby).

And here she is showing off her other new trick--clapping!  She hasn't quite got enough gusto in it to make a sound...but she will make the motion on cue (both if you tell her "clap clap!" or if you clap for her so she can mimic).  She also waves.  Little smarty. [Excuse the dirty knees... apparently I need to mop our floors!]

hair bow-made by mama, shirt-Carters, shorts-Levi's (vintage?), belt- found piece of ribbon, shoes- Baby Gap

A special thank you to 'Dada' for being in these photos with Lyla!  I was in full-on mama mode yesterday which means:  I hadn't showered and was still in my comfy morning walk outfit with a messy bun on my head.  He's cuter than me anyway.  ; )

We are linking up with Mama Loves Papa for Small Style (every Thursday!).

xo

Jayme

What Aurora Wore: Minnie Mouse-y

I still love getting Aurora dressed every day...it's actually getting more and more fun. I've found some of the best stuff at the thrift lately (as Aurora grows out of her 12-18 month clothes and size 5 shoes!) and am really looking forward to fall.

It's actually more fun to dress Aurora than it is to dress myself to be honest...she looks super cute everyday, while I mostly look "meh" and sometimes get a little more dressed up for events/occasions.

Jayme thrifted this dress for Aurora, but it's the strangest size...2T Large or something...for extra pudgy toddlers? I'd never seen it!  But it's the cutest vintage-y looking dress, and it's just a little big in the waist, so I tied on a vintage scarf as a belt.  The bow shoes and bow headband seemed meant to be together. Of course, the black and polka dots reminds me of Minnie Mouse's ensemble (hence the title).

dress-Baby Gap (thrifted/gifted), shoes-Gymboree (thrifted), headband-mama's, vintage scarf-mama's

We're linking up with our friend Morgan of Mama Loves Papa for another week of Small Style...we love seeing so many other cuties in the blog world.

Have a great Thursday!

xo,
Amanda and Aurora

Lyla Style: Bright as Yellow

First let me address the post title--Bright as Yellow.  I am a little obsessed with 90s music/culture and that Mazzy Star song (I'm sure you've heard it in the movie Empire Records!) is classic 90s.  Moody chick rock?  Yes, please.  Ok, now for some pictures of my little chick...

I love this yellow sweater (it's the same one she's wearing in the blog header) and I'm hoping it will still fit her once fall comes around.  But in case miss Lyla decides to beef up in the next couple of months, I wanted to get some more wear out of it now.  Other notable pieces of her outfit?  Her sterling silver baby bracelet (which she quickly figured out how to take off and immediately put in her mouth, like most things these days).  Her tiny vintage sandals (a gift from Aunt Amanda).  Her shorts--paper bag waist bloomers (cutest ever!).

cardigan- vintage, daisy print onesie- Target, shorts- Baby Gap, sandals- vintage, bracelet- gift

I went a bit overboard with the photos this week--it's just SO much more fun to take pictures now that Lyla can sit up!  We are linking up with Mama Loves Papa for Small Style as we do every Thursday!

xo

Jayme & Lyla

Aurora Style: Cutest Jorts Ever

Hello! It's Amanda (and Aurora) reporting to you LIVE from North Carolina.  This little style post isn't live, however. It's a little number that Aurora wore this past weekend while visiting her grandparents and aunt/uncle/cousin in Pennsylvania!

This is a head-to-toe thrifted outfit, even though the pieces are like new! I had been looking for jean shorts (aka jorts) for Aurora every time I stopped at our thrift, but I could never find the right size.  I bought a pair of 2T's that were still too big on her and just fell down. So when I found these adorable Levi's, I was really excited! And I think every little girl needs a pair of jellies for summer...it's practically mandatory. ;)

Top-Carter's (thirfted), Jort-Levi's (thrifted), Jelly Sandals-Old Navy (thrifted)

It's also your lucky day, readers.  I have two Aurora style posts in one!  I couldn't resist sharing this cute little idea for growing toddler hair.  I tied a silk scarf around Aurora's head like a headband, and she loved it!  Maybe because she matched her mama or maybe just because she looked extra cute. This is a silk scarf from years ago (I think it may have even been Jaymes?!) the size of a handkerchief (the extra large square scarves might not work as well on toddler heads.)

As we do every Thursday, we're linking up with Mama Loves Papa for Thursday's Small Style post! Check out more stylish babes over on her blog.

Now, I'm off to get some more work done while my pretty little babe is napping.

xo,
Amanda (& Aurora)

What Aurora Wore: The Vintage Romper

There are few things cuter than a vintage romper. I've been lucky to find some to put in the shop this summer (they sold quickly!), but of course, I had to keep some for Aurora!  I had to keep this stripey little number because of its fun details:  buttons down the front, eyelet trim, and a waist tie.

romper-vintage, clip-Carter's, shoes-The Children's Place (thrifted)

Aurora is our little monkey lately...once she figured out she could climb on a chair, it was all over. Now she climbs on every chair, sofa, and bed in sight!  She gets a very proud look on her face when she sits down in a chair next to one of us.  She knows it means she's a big girl.

True to her monkey form, less than an hour after taking these photos, Aurora was having a snack:  some goldfish crackers, her milk, and a banana.  She decided it would be fun to squish the banana in her hands and rub it into her hair (even though she just had a shower this morning!):

She's so funny that I couldn't even be mad at her.  But she definitely didn't like it when I took a vigorous wet washcloth to her whole head!  I hope she learned her lesson.

The sweet little romper was all covered in banana too and went straight in the wash.  I'm saving it because I think Lyla will look great in it next summer! :)

And it's Thursday, so that means that we're linking up with Small Style on the Mama Loves Papa blog! Yay!

xo,
Amanda




P.S.  Could you spare a vote for us on Top Baby Blogs today (or any time you think of it)?  We have been stuck between 53 and 55 for a while now and would love to make it into the top 50. We gain so many great readers from those pages, and it would mean so much to us--Lyla and Aurora too!) Thank you!

Something Old, Something New

Six months in and I STILL have barely purchased a stitch of clothing for Lyla.  Her wardrobe is mix of hand-me-downs, gifts and vintage.  I love taking the eclectic mix of clothing and mixing them together to create fun new outfits for her.  I try to never pair the same two pieces together--just for a fun challenge.  I especially love when I can pair something vintage with a modern piece (like the skinny jeans pictured here)!

chambray jacket-vintage, onesie-Target, white skinny jeans-Baby Gap, 

velour shoes-handmade (by a family friend)

This little vintage jacket is ah-mazing.  It has the look of a denim jacket but it is more of a chambray material.  I love the red contrast stitching and red buttons.  And guess what?  It will be for sale in the shop soon!  (This is the first time Lyla wore it and it was already a bit small.  Feel free to email us if you're interested in purchasing it!  It will be priced at $16 plus shipping and fits like a size 3 months or so.) And the little shoes??  They were handmade by a family friend and I love how they are reminiscent of TOMS but with a fun mix of printed velour and striped fabrics.  

We are linking up with Mama Loves Papa (every Thursday!) for Small Style--click the link to see the other stylish cuties!

xo

Jayme & Lyla

What Aurora Wore: Bare Midriff

Even though I love the look of a thin sliver of perfect tummy from this season's cropped shirt trend, I, myself, do not have the figure (or courage?) to pull it off.

But you know who has the best midriff? Babies!  For babies, the rounder the belly, the better.  Aurora dared to bare in a cute top I thrifted this week.  These pictures make her look so grown up.  And her whole outfit is thrifted/hand-me-down.  It's easy to be stylish on a budget...and we waste less too (more on that in a future post).

tie blouse-The Children's Place (thrifted), scooter skirt-hand me down, gold bow flats-Gymboree (thrifted), koi becklace (mama's!)

One day, Aurora came over to me while I was brushing my teeth...and she was wearing one of my necklaces that had been resting on my dresser!  She never seemed to notice to my jewelry, other than occasionally pulling on my earrings, but I guess she was paying attention!  Lately, I've been letting her wear this little fish necklace, since the chain is kind of short. She loves it!

You know what she also loves?  BUBBLES.  Like, with a passion.  If she sees the bubble container, there is no stopping here (there are a lot of bubbles blown inside the house here, and even, on one occasion, in the car!). She calls them Bub-bullsh. It's beyond cute.  She is still working on learning to blow them herself.  Unfortunately, she gets the bubble blower too close to her mouth and ends up with soapy lips!

We're linking up with Mama Loves Papa again this week for Small Style!  Click the link to check out other cuties in their best duds.

xo,
Amanda & Aurora