Toddler Hairstyles: Are bangs a necessity?

I love fringe. I have thicker side swept (almost straight accross) bangs, so I obviously like the way they look. On adults. I've not been a fan of them on children for the most part after seeing ad after ad of kids where their bangs are cut too high. I think they do not fit kid's typically chubbier faces. I never would've decided to cut Riley a set because of the style...but I couldn't deal with her pushing her hair out of her face ALL DAY anymore. So we took the plunge and chopped away. Hallelujah, her hair is out of her face and I don't have to mess with it all day. Sure there are kids out there who have straight hair that is easily pulled back and tamed, but not this girl- and I feel like a mom-revelation has clicked when I realized why so many toddler girls have bangs. They are totally a necessary evil, like taxes or social networking.

I think they look a little odd, and a little mini hipsterish, but they are growing on me. What do you think?

Clothes: Stella McCartney for Baby Gap. Gymboree boots. (lower) Marc Jacobs tunic.

Monday, July 12

Times now worn: 3

Last worn: Friday, June 25

No pic today, Riley spent the day with relatives. Thanks to Gymbofriends.com for the archive picture. This dress is from Gymboree's Tulip Garden line.

Friday, June 25

New hair! New hair! New hair!

I finally gave Riley her first haircut. You probably don't notice a difference, but it's shorter now because I evened the back out. Until now, she had a lovely rat tail that went halfway down her back. It was thick too, and starting to become difficult to style in a way that didn't make it look crazy. It broke my heart to cut her hair since it took her about three years to grow it, but it needed to be done in order to maintain her gorgeous healthy curls. Hopefully it will be easier to do her hair the rest of the summer now!

The dress that is on backwards (she's a defiant little thing....) is from Gymboree.

Tueday, June 22

Here's Riley at Toy Story 3. She wore her Crewcuts dress with her new favorite Gymboree cowboy boots. Her hair is kind of a mess because I'm having a difficult time working around the stitches. Riley had an accident on Sunday and spent a good chunk of the day in the hospital which resulted in a few stitches. She's fine now, but that's why there is no Sunday-Monday posts.

Saturday, June 12

Another jumper-overall-thingy, this time from Target, as are the shoes. The shirt is from Gymboree and the bows were made by Amanda, amccu1887- she's a wonderful bow maker, especially her marabou bows! This jumper is just so cute in person, and it was only $11! I'm glad that Target is on-trend, makes being fashionable affordable in these difficult economic times. (That kind of sounds like an ad, I admit.) I guess I'm on a jumper-thingy kick.

Friday, June 11

Before you point a finger and shame me, let me just say that NO I'm not slacking. Riley was naked for literally two days. Potty training. It's going to be the death of me.

We headed to the zoo, and what better time to sport some new(ish) giraffe themed Gymboree? This is not the best picture from the day, but I thought the real giraffe accented her belt so beautifully. I'm loving little rompers like this for humid summer days, but they are not conducive to potty training in any way.

I have no idea of the line name as I've been "off Gymbo" for the summer. During the warmer months, I usually gravitate towards Janie & Jack and boutique clothing- I just think frilly little dresses are the best for summer, but I am loving the romper look lately.

Friday, June 4

I wrestled her into clothes today, hooray! I think picking these Cowboy boots up at Gymboree made all the difference for her. It also completely changed the look of this Little Marc Jacobs dress. Threw her hair in braided pigtails and headed out the door. Eat your heart out, T.Swift.

Thursday, April 15

Janie & Jack capris, Naartjie fall trans ruffle top (another recylce) and Gymboree bowband. Lindsey was the fashion coordinator again today, and I love this combo on my sassy tot :)


Announcement: Head on over to www.justaddsparkles21.blogspot.com to check out MY fashion project ;)

Wednesday, April 14

"We recycle, we don't just throw Gymbo away!"...sang to the tune of the 3 R's song. You know the one. Or maybe you don't, it's very possible that my school created it....but anyway.

This set is from last years Watermelon Picnic line. And yes, it is the same set she had last year. In the same size. And yes, it's a tight fit, but she's not showing belly or butt so it works for a sweltering summeresque day of play. The bow was made by a lovely lady, Amanda-- we absolutely adore the bows she made for us for last summer and plan to use these adorable bows as much as possible this summer as well! :)

Monday, April 5

Meet my other daughter, Pippi Longstocking.


Today we did some spring cleaning in Gymboree's Tulip Garden. Thank you, Gymboree, for providing us with cute play clothes.

Thursday, March 18

Another gorgeous day, Spring may finally be making its debut here in the gloomy midwest! There was still quite a breeze though, so to the park Riley wore Gymboree knit pants and a Baby Gap Junk Food Hello Kitty shirt. This has been deemed her "play outfit". I generally let her play in all of her clothing, but this outfit is especially practical for the park- and I don't really mind if she destroys these pants, honestly. The shoes are the M&M knockoffs from Target, and she is wearing a m2m bow that you cannot see but I assure you is absolutely darling. Riley had a blast today! :)

Tuesday, March 16

Some days it truly is impossible to capture a decent picture of a toddler. Today was one of those days. She's in head to toe Gymboree today, minus the Target shoes. This is the new turtle line from Gymboree-- what is it called again? The ruffle detail on the shoulders is adorable and turtles are a little bit of a clothing obsession in this house. This will be a great play set when Spring decides to stick around.

Monday, March 15

Gymboree vest and shirt, Gap jeans and flower from our friend Cathy. Bad picture, not a real exciting day here.

Wednesday, January 6

Last worn: ?
Times now worn: 2

Riley is still feeling icky with her cold, so I think this will be the last blog update until she is feeling a little better. Poor baby :(


This is the black friday "special" (read: cheap) fleece that looks less than stellar after one wash. Guess I won't fall into that trap again. Granted, the pieces were only about $6 each, but for Gymboree I expect more. It will work as a comfy "snowed in" outfit though, and Riley is a fan of anything with a hood and pockets!

Tuesday, December 8

We are literally snowed in. This is Iowa. One day it is almost 60 degrees and breezy, the next your driveway has 14 inches of snow and you are unable to leave. The state knows what it is doing, it traps its citizens in. Why else would I stay here? Anyway, Riley BEGGED to go play in the snow the minute she woke up. I held it off as long as possible, knowing all too well the moment I gave in she would make it a point to attempt to stay out ALL DAY. And she did. But I didn't let her freeze, and for that I suffered. When I went to dress her in snow appropriate clothes, I found I was ill prepared for this weather, so I improvised. "This polka dot mess will suffice" was the thought running through my mind as I bundled her up to brave the winter cold. Polka Dot Mess is compliments of Mini Boden (coat), Uggs (boots), and Gymboree (for everything else). Her style is clearly the envy of all the other tots in our neighborhood ready to pelt mommy with snowballs....even if she is the only tot in the neighborhood. :D

I'm sure these pictures are an accurate portrayl of how I look and why I put all my energy into my daughters clothing, as you can see I'm pretty frumpy. Years ago, in the land before Riley (aka high school) I was a relatively skinny, pretty girl. Okay, I'm being modest-- I was way adorable. Only in retrospect can you say that without sounding completely self absorbed, right?

Riley wanted to wear her ballerina princess dress yesterday, so that is what she wore. I'm trying to let her have choices now that she is becoming more opinionated and she loves this (nightgown) dress to pieces, and I do have to say it is MUCH cuter in person than it is online or on the rack. It is a velour, so it does look better when dried unfortunately and it runs small. We did a size 4 so we could tumble dry. I just don't like the look nor feel of velour when hung dried. Paired with an old matching bow from Pink Hippo to make it look less nightgownish and some Uggs (it was freezing) this was the perfect outfit for quick errands and watching the dreaded Straw-ba-ba-bapple Berry. All. Day.

Tuesday, November 24

Still recovering, today was a day to lazily hang out inside. Riley started the day in an old line Gymboree outftit that was handed down to us from Nichole. Riley loves puddle jumping, so she soon destroyed outfit #1 and while that went into the wash, she moved into outfit #2, a dress from Eden's Bouquet we used as a tunic, and jeans from Baby Gap topped off with a headband from Janie & Jack.

Friday, November 20?

I'm not sure the exact date of this outfit, but I'm thinking it was sometime during the week I didn't post. I've been out with just about any seasonal illness possible and I've tried to stay away from Riley while I was sick, hence the lack of pictures.

This was a potty training/play outfit that Riley picked out. It's a Misha Lulu shirt that she has deemed the "Kai Lan friend" shirt, a Gymboree tutu skirt and marabou puff bows from the amazing bowmaker and friend Amanda.

Thursday, November 12

Last wear: October 15th

Times now worn: 3

Today's blog is not about the outfit, folks. It's all about the bows. Those fabulous, girly, fancy twirls of ribbon that adorn her head daily. You have seen the outfit before on the blog (Gymboree's New York Girl skirt and shirt set), but the bows are new, and I am absolutely head over heels for them. The quality is awesome, the shipping is quick and the color matching is flawless. Where can you get a pair of your own lovely boutique bows? Contact Michelle at Luna's Garden Boutique (www.lunasgardenboutique.com) or pm nunupup on GF, for those of you who understand that lingo ;) You will NOT be disappointed!

I have found a new bowmaker that doesn't cost me an arm and a leg. HALLELUJAH.

Tuesday, November 10

Last wear: Not applicable
Times now worn: 1

Meet THE furry vest. This eyesore is from Gymboree's new SuperStar line and was purchased during a moment of weakness at Gymboree's Circle of Friends Sale this previous weekend. Why did I buy this piece if I loathe it so? Because this girl right here, in the picture, she LOVES it. She told me "Mommy I looooove this. So soft." How could I deny this girl, right here, of a piece of clothing she LOVES that doesn't have ugly Dora on it? I could not. Hence why she owns it.


However, regardless of how I feel personally about this vest, I think Riley still rocks it. She has the personality to pull off something this sassy, and on her- I love it. We paired it with Gap skinny jeans, a headband from loveable creations on etsy, Uggs and a FABULOUS shirt from Gymboree's Wild One line.