The Shopping Mama

Twirl & Play in Lands’ End Girls Dresses

by Kate on May 20th, 2013 | 5 Comments | Clothes, Reviews

Season after season Lands’ End surprises me with covet-worthy clothes that I want for my whole family. From stylish winter coats for moms to darling bathing suits for girls, Lands’ End has clothes to keep your family on trend in quality clothes. Right now we’re loving the girls’ collection that transitions perfectly from spring to summer. The pretty girls’ dresses and skirts are perfect to twirl and play the day away and add a light cardigan for cooler days and nights.

Falling Dots Woven Skirt (reg. $29, now $20) is perfect for transitioning from spring into summer. The colorful dots make matching and coordinating it a breeze. We often pair it with the Slub V-Neck Cardigan (reg. $24, now $20 – 25). The Cardigan is lightweight, making it perfect for layering as the temperature fluctuates. As much as I love how the skirt and cardigan look, I think I actually like how easily they wash and wear even better. The cotton poplin woven skirt goes straight from the washing machine to dryer to my daughter – no need for ironing or special attention.

She may be a girly girl, but my daughter is always moving and her clothes need to keep up. The Lands’ End skirt is the epitome of versatile. Paired with a cardigan and leggings, it’s great for a cooler day at school. With a cardigan coat and sneakers it’s perfect for scooting around and playing in the neighborhood.

Top 10 Dresses & Skirts for Spring & Summer

It was difficult, but with some input from my 4 year old Model and Stylist Assistant, we’ve rounded up our top 10 favorite dresses and skirt/cardigan combinations from Lands’ End.

Click through to see our picks!

Patterned Sweater & Falling Dots Skirt

Cardigan & Print Woven Dress

Smocked Maxi Dress

Woven Twirl Dress

Caridgan & Tiered Skirt

Crossover Braided Bodice Dress

Drop Waist Dress

Pattern Sweater & Twill Skort

Madras Duet Dress

Cardigan & Knit Applique Skort

Pattern V Neck Sweater Cardigan ($12.99) & Falling Dot Woven Skirt ($20)
Long Sleeve Solid Sophie Cardigan ($29 & add a monogram!) & Print Woven Dress ($49)
Knit Smocked Maxi Dress ($34)
Short Sleeve Woven Twirl Dress ($34)
Long Sleeve Solid Sophie Cardigan ($29 & add a monogram!) & Full Ruffle Pattern Tiered Skort ($13 – $20)
Knit Crossover Braided Bodice Dress ($29)
Drop Waist Dress ($29)
Long Sleeve Pieced Pattern Cardigan ($15) & Twill Snap-pocket Skort ($13 – $17)
Madras Duet Dress ($20)
Long Sleeve Solid Sophie Cardigan ($29 & add a monogram!) & Knit Applique Skort ($29)

Shop! Now is a great time to stock up on skirts and dresses at Lands’ End. Save 30% off everything with code SPARK30 and pin 2850. Buy 2 or more, and save $3 each on select regularly priced Girls’ Apparel.

Thanks to Lands’ End for providing samples.

Neon Kid Style: GIRLS

by Catherine on May 16th, 2013 | 5 Comments | Shopping

Hi! I wanted to introduce myself really quickly. I’m Catherine, and like Kate I’m an Air Force wife living overseas in Germany. I have a 4 year old little girl and I’m pregnant with a little mister, due in September. I’m so excited to be a guest poster on The Shopping Mama!

With warm and cheerful Spring weather comes all the cute and colorful clothes too! One of my favorite trends this season is the bright pop of neon for kids. I’ve rounded up some of my favorite stylish NEON girl finds for this post.

1. Necklace (Gymboree, $6.57)
2. Sunglasses (Justice, $14)
3. Rainbow Sandals (Zappos, $26.99)
4. Headbands (Carters, $7.50)
5. Striped Tank (Old Navy, $7.94)
6. Bonjour Tee (Gap, $14.95)
7. Basic Tank (Gymboree, $5.99)
8. Floral Dress (J.Crew, $79.99)
9. Color Pop Shorts (Old Navy, $19.94)
10. Jeggings (Nordstrom, $59)
11. Polka Dot Skirt (Boden, $43.20)
12. Glitter Flats (Boden, $40)
13. Round Sunglasses (Gap, $9.95)
14. Ballet Flats (J.Crew, $68)
15. Bracelets (foreverandrea on Etsy, $25)
16. Tankini Swimsuit (Justice, $39.90)
17. Chevron Raincoat (Target, $24.99)
18. Strappy Romper (Carters, $16.50)
19. Striped Maxi Dress (Carters, $18)
20. Yellow One-Piece (Gap, $22.95)
21. Floral One-Piece Swimsuit (Gap, $19.95)
22. Sequin Tank (The Children’s Place, $8)
23. Bow Flip-flops (Gap, $10.95)
24. Jelly Flower Sandals (Gap, $16.95)
25. Colorblock Tutu (The Children’s Place, $16.95)
26. Cardigan (Carters, $12)
27. Organic Cat Romper (Not On High Street, $33.05)

I’m sure you’ll find something fun, that’s sure to pop for Spring (and Summer).

Be sure to come back soon for our favorite Neon BOYS finds!

Gandzee: One Stop Children’s Wardrobe Shopping

by Kate on May 1st, 2013 | 5 Comments | Shopping

I make no secret about the fact that my children have better wardrobe’s than I do. I spend too much a lot of time trying to find fun and original clothes that reflect their personalities. But, I will admit that shopping for them has become infinitely more difficult since we moved overseas. Don’t get me wrong, Europe has amazing clothes for kids, but unfortunately I don’t have the time or energy to scour the boutiques and local stores with a baby in tow. Do any of us really have that kind of time? The short answer? No. And that, my friends, is why Gandzee is such a genius, genius website.

Gandzee offers complete wardrobe sets for children ages 2 to 6. The wardrobes contain fun, fashionable clothes your child will love – with a quick and painless process for you.

How Gandzee Works & Why We Love It

1. Buy a season’s worth of fashion-forward kids clothes with the click of one button.

Find a wardrobe that fits you and your child’s style, select the size and BOOM, your child is for the preschool runway. Wardrobe Collections are 8 pieces including tops, bottoms, layers and accessories. Starter Collections offer 4 pieces of mix and match clothes.

2. Everything in a wardrobe collection mixes and matches.

One of the hardest parts about shopping online is not knowing if things will actually match when you get them home? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found myself wondering “Does Seafoam Green match Springtime Green?” while browsing some big name children’s brands online. Gandzee wardrobes are hand-picked so that everything coordinates.

3. Save trips to the mall and multiple shipping fees.

Gandzee has FREE shipping and when the season’s wardrobe arrives, you’re all set! No need for harried trips to the mall with multiple kids in tow.

4. Follow our styling suggestions to take your child’s wardrobe even further.

Gandzee offers suggestions to work staples (like jeans and khakis) into your clothes to create even more stylish outfits.

Gandzee Style

We love this season’s Wardrobe Collections for boys and girls. Which is your favorite?

Shop! Gandzee.com is obviously committed to style, but they also stand behind the quality of their fashion picks so you can shop with confidence. 8-piece Complete Wardrobe Collections range in price from depending on the brands and pieces included.

Gandzee.com is a sponsor of The Shopping Mama. As always, opinions are our own.

Diane von Furstenberg for GapKids & babyGap 2013! #DvFlovesGap

by Kate on April 25th, 2013 | 5 Comments | Shopping

Diane von Furstenberg has teamed up with Gap again to design an adorable collection of clothes for babyGap and GapKids. And, dare we say, that it may top last year’s “DvF loves Gap” collection? The 2013 collaboration “captures the excitement of discovery and exploration” with bright colors, tribal prints and gorgeous patterns. We love it! What do you think?

DvF loves Gap Limited Edition Explorers Collection

Favorite DvF Loves Gap Finds for Girls

The DvF for Gap collection is designed for girls from newborn through size 14. Here are some must have pieces.

DvF babyGap Assymetrical Tank Dress

DvF GapKids T-shirt Dress

DvF babyGap Printed One-Piece Bathing Suit

DvF babyGap Romper

DvF GapKids Pleated Tank

DvF babyGap Turban Headband

DvF babyGap 3-piece Set

DvF babyGap Diaper Bag

DvF babyGap Bow Espadrilles

DvF GapKids Colorblock Sandals

Shop! DvF for babyGap and GapKids is now available online and in stores. Shop quickly! Pieces will sell out quickly. Shop girls, toddler girlsand infant girls.

Wahine Style: Summery Looks For Your Surfer Girl

by Maureen on April 15th, 2013 | 5 Comments | Shopping

Whether you live by the beach or have the ocean in your soul, surf wear is fun and functional for summertime dressing. These clothes are comfy and easy to play or swim in, and we love their sweet, tomboy vibe.

1. Billabong Daisy swimsuit (Amazon, $19.78)

2. O’Neill Outer Reef romper (O’Neill, $27.99)

3. Roxy Bittersweet sundress (Roxy, $34.00)

4. Billabong Lil Cali Girl tank (Billabong, $18.00)

5. O’Neill Siren t-shirt (Amazon, $21.95)

6. Roxy Haze To You shorts (Zappos, $34.00)

7. Dakine Happy Flowers rashguard (Dakine, $25.00)

8. Reef Little Ahi flip flops (Reef, $20.00)

9. Roxy Peace Out hoodie (Roxy, $39.50)

Planning a vacation? Where will your wahine rock her surf wear this summer?

Polkadot What: Leggings with Personality {Review & Discount Code}

by Kate on April 5th, 2013 | 5 Comments | Clothes, Reviews

Our children are colorful, unique and full of personality so we think their clothes should be, too. Polkadot What takes this to a whole new level with funky design your own leggings.

“We believe that fashion is an outer form of expression of oneself that one must enjoy and embrace. Our goal is to make clothes fun, stylish and bold as well as inspiring and positive in order to make an impact on kids self-esteem at an early age.”

Available in two styles, Polkadot What leggings allows a girl size 2 through 10 the opportunity to take part in the design process to get leggings as unique as she is. First, decide between the Capri Shapes and Stripes leggings and select a size. Next, create your leggings by selecting a pattern or color for each leg. We love that the shapes and colors are labeled personality traits (like confident, happy, unique, awesome, sweet) rather than simple descriptive words. The website is very user-friendly and previews your design before you buy.

Polkadot Style

See how my daughter is wearing the Stripes in Unique & Sweet.

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… We love the design your own leggings feature that guarantees leggings as cool as your kid. You can pick your design based strictly on color or based on the personality traits that best describe your girl.

Or Not to Buy… We realize not everyone will go for the two-different-color-legs-leggings from Polkadot What. Granted, we wouldn’t give this a thumb’s up on an adult but it’s perfect for playful girls – and to encourage them to have some fun with their clothes and just be themselves.

Shop! We are delighted to offer two discount codes to Polkadot What. Use code PDW-SHOPMAMA-10 and get a pair of Stripes for $28 (reg. $32). Use code PDW-SHOPMAMA-15 and get a pair of Capris for $25 (reg. $30). Codes are valid until April 30, 2013. Receive FREE U.S. shipping for 2 pairs or more + FREE Polkadot What mini bag.

We received samples.

10 Girls Rompers that Rock for Summer

by Kate on April 3rd, 2013 | 5 Comments | Shopping

Rompers are all the rage for spring, and while we can’t get behind this trend for adults… we do love it for our girls. We’ve rounded up 10 fabulous rompers for girls to rock this spring and summer.

1. Corsage Pique Romper (Janie & Jack, $49)

2. Feather Print Romper (OshKosh, $24)

3. Strappy Romper (Carter’s, $22)

4. Double-layer Striped Romper (GapKids, $25)

5. Venda Smocked Peplum Romper (Tea Collection, $35*)

6. Seaside Petals Romper (Kate Mack, $54)

7. Durban Two-tie Romper (Tea Collection, $35*)

8. Dotty Ruffle Romper (FabKids, $32)

9. Dot Trim Chambray Romper (Gymboree, $35)

10. Piped Halter Romper (Janie & Jack, $46)

*Save 15% at Tea Collection with our code PRSHOPMOM213.

What do you think of rompers for girls? Which is your favorite?

Tea Collection Spring Break Styles {Exclusive Discount Code}

by Kate on March 27th, 2013 | 5 Comments | Clothes, Reviews

When spring break (finally) rolls around, we’re hitting the road and heading to Italy. It should come as no surprise if you’ve browsed the What They Wore blog that my kids’ suitcases will be FULL of Tea Collection. Our favorite kids clothing brand has a Spring Break Shop for boys and girls loaded with styles perfectly suited for travel in mini style. And, for the first time ever, they even have swimwear!

Tea Collection Clothes for Spring Break

We were lucky to receive a gift card to shop some spring styles at Tea. When shopping, my singular goal was to put together some outfits for my kids to wear on our vacation. Now, I know it’s a little silly but I wanted the clothes to coordinate. My theory? We’ll be taking lots of photos on vacation and you never know when you’ll snap this year’s holiday card. The kids might as well be dressed for the occasion, right?

Hammerhead Tee ($19) & Safari Print Cargo Shorts ($39) || Colorblock T-Shirt Dress ($27), Mini Stripe Leggings ($18.50) & Peppercorn Scarf ($25) || Hippo Heaven Tee ($19) & Patch Pocket Shorts ($22)

I fell in love with the adorable Colorblock T-shirt dress and picked outfits from there. My daughter has already worn her dress and coordinating scarf and the outfit is just as fabulous as we imagined.

Unfortunately, it’s been far too cold for the boys to wear their cool tees and shorts, but my six year old is stoked his shirt has hammerhead sharks.

Tea Collection Spring Break Sibling Outfit Inspiration

With our upcoming travel in mind, I put together some more spring break sibling styles from Tea Collection.

Tea Collection Spring Break family dinner

Venda Fish Polo ($29) & Surfer Plaid Cargo Shorts ($39) || Floral Smock-Neck Mini Dress ($35) & Saltwater Original Sandal ($34) || Dance Print Shirt ($39), Two Oceans Sweater Vest ($45) & Safari Cargo Shorts ($39)

Muizenberg Beach Tee ($29) & Cape Point Surf Shorts ($28) || Wild Hibiscus Tee ($29) & Paperbag Shorts ($30) || Ubuntu Striped Romper ($25.50) || Woodstock Ruffle Bubble Romper ($30)

Colorblock Explorer Tee ($19) & Billabong Muted Board Shorts ($45) || Rainbow Waves Tankini

($45)
Shop! We are excited to share an exclusive Tea Collection discount code. Use PRSHOPMOM213 to save 15% at checkout once between now and April 16. The code is valid on sale items, cannot be stacked and is valid only once per person.

Thanks to Tea Collection for providing samples. This post contains affiliate links.