I’m always on the lookout for new options in kids’ clothing.  I love my old standbys where I know I can get a great pair of jammies or a comfy tee, but it’s so much fun to make discoveries and bookmark them to check occasionally.

One of my new bookmarks is 77 Kids, the kids’ clothing offshoot of American Eagle Outfitters.  I’ve always liked AE for their truly casual clothes.  It’s their niche, and they don’t stray from it, even in their dresses and button-down shirts.  Plus, their clothes are comfortable and affordably priced.  Really, you can’t beat that.

So I was excited to check out 77 Kids.  They don’t carry baby clothes - their sizes start at 2 and go up to a kids’ 12 - which meant that I’d get to pick out a couple items for Tacy and CJ.

Tacy has reached the jeans-and-a-tee-shirt stage, which makes her easy to buy for, if a little frustrating to a mother like me who looks wistfully at coordinated pieces and knows that they’ll just end up as part of separate outfits.  I limited my window-shopping to the girls’ tee section, since I knew that’s what would make her happiest, and I ended up going with the pink dip-dye tee.

CJ, on the other hand, loves dresses.  That’s not to say that she behaves like a little lady when she’s wearing one, but she usually prefers them over pants.  I found a solid color smocked style in soft cotton that I knew she’d love.  It’s billed as a sundress, but it looked like it could be paired with a cardigan for those 50-degree days we often see in the winter.  I picked out the gladiola pink sundress since it was a color that could go from winter to summer.

The ordering process was smooth, delivery was quick, and the girls fell all over themselves when I told them it was a package for both of them.  Tacy wanted to put on the tee immediately, but both she and CJ grudgingly agreed to wait until the next day to wear their new clothes.

Both the tee and the dress are super-soft.  The dress feels like it’s a heavier weight cotton than the tee, which is a little thin.  If I were to order the tee again, I’d go up a size.  If you’ve got a skinny kiddo, go with their usual size.  But for kids who are average or tall, a larger size will give you more wear - and it won’t look like you bought a size up.  I’d advise this strategy especially for kids in the younger grades, who are liable to shoot up three inches in one year.

One suggestion I’d make to 77 Kids - have actual kids modeling the clothes on the site.  That would really help me determine whether a particular style would work for us and if we ought to size up or down.

The dress fits CJ perfectly and will definitely take her through the summer and into next fall, even though I only got her a size four.  It’s not so short that she’ll outgrow it, and there’s plenty of give in the material.  In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if she could still wear it next summer, maybe with a pair of leggings underneath.

Neither item I bought was on sale, and yet the prices were still reasonable, even for kids’ clothes which tend to be a racket considering how briefly they’re worn.  If they’re both still wearing these items next fall, I’ll count this as a good deal.

I’d definitely recommend 77 Kids.  As the kids’ corollary to AE, you can expect comfy casual clothes at decent prices.  Which is really what most of us moms are after anyway.

*Thanks to 77 Kids for sending me a $50 gift card to try out their clothes and evaluate their ordering process

I’m not normally a hat-wearer. I’ll pull on my gorgeous Girl32 beanie and my LL Bean puffy jacket for the sake of warmth, and I look about as cute as anyone wearing a beanie and a puffy jacket can look. But when I’m going out and want to look chic and pulled together, I forego the hat and just shiver.

So I was admittedly skeptical when I heard from the folks at Wallaroo Hat Company. They’re located here in Colorado (up in Boulder), so I figured their hats would be sporty or jaunty. I definitely didn’t expect them to be elegant - or for me to look elegant wearing one.

What a pleasant surprise! They sent me a Tamworth hat in black tweed, and I love it. It looks great with my black leather jacket and my black wool coat, and it really does make a difference in warmth. Plus it doesn’t mess up my hair (and my hair doesn’t look stupid under this hat, like it does when I wear any other hat).

My Tamworth hat has a light blue satin lining, and there’s actually touches of that same light blue in the black and cream herringbone pattern. It’s also got an inner drawstring that helps customize the fit. It’s light and comfortable, and it stays put even when I’m buckling squirming kids into the car on a windy day. Plus, it’s UPF 50+, which is a pro for us bottle-blondes who live at high elevations.

The Tamworth is part of the W Collection, and it retails for $40. I’m also partial to the Bella (a newsboy style in angora), and the Hampton for summer (way more attractive than the grungy baseball caps I see on moms at the pool).

Even if you don’t normally wear a hat, you ought to check these out. At the very least, your colorist will thank you.

Anyone else remember the Hanes pantyhose commercial from the 1970s where the jingle went: “Gentlemen prefer Hanes”? They put the emphasis on the wrong syllable of “prefer” so it sounded to me like they were singing: “Gentlemen ripped her Hanes.” Not very gentlemanly to rip a lady’s pantyhose, if you ask me.

Nowadays, Hanes is about much more than pantyhose - and that’s a good thing because I don’t know anyone under sixty who wears pantyhose. Tee shirts, underwear, socks - for men, women, and children. Search any of the drawers (dresser drawers, I mean) in this house, and you’re bound to find some Hanes products. And thanks to PBN, you’ll find even more Hanes underwear and socks now in Tacy’s and CJ’s dresser drawers.

Besides the luxury of having a few extra pairs of underwear lying around - because tell me, what kid couldn’t use more underwear? - these undies are supposedly wedgie-proof. Neither of my kids have complained of wedgies, but frankly they probably wouldn’t notice. However, *I* notice when their drawers are slipping down and their rear-ends are on display. It’s funny the first few times, but after that? Not so much.

I don’t know how Hanes constructs these waistbands, but they practically adhere to my kids’ bodies. I’m so impressed by how well they stay in place. No more teasing my kids about their exposed cracks; I guess I’ll have to find some other fodder instead.

Plus I like the designs on them and the subtle color details on the waistbands. My mother always bought me plain white underwear, so naturally I want to let my girls have a little color on theirs.

The kids’ socks are awesome too because they’re color-coded based on size. Now I can throw a pile of socks at the girls and let them sort out whose are whose. I love outsourcing household tasks that can’t be messed up.

So while I’m not so fond of the old-style Hanes - the pantyhose or the jingle - I’m definitely a fan of them now. Just wait ’til you get some Hanes on you!

With my first two children - both little girls - I thought I was pretty picky about what they wore.  No licensed character-themed clothing (with the exception of undies - I’ll allow Disney Princesses as long as they’re not visible), and nothing with even a hint of sexuality.

Then I had a boy.  And I figured, “Hey, this will be easy!  I don’t have to worry about premature sexualization; nobody markets padded bras to boys.  And Disney hasn’t yet put out a line of Prince merchandise.  We’re home-free where it comes to dressing this little guy!”

Oh, how wrong I was.

Turns out, I’m even pickier about boy clothes than I am about girl clothes.  Not only am I anti-licensed character-themed clothing - no Power Rangers, no Star Wars, no Lightning McQueen - I’m also averse to sports-themed clothing, construction-themed clothing, and anything that emblazoned “Mama’s Little Man” (or worse, “Grandma Loves Me”).  Barf-o-rama.  Why can’t boys - even baby boys - look COOL?

Thanks to Kenneth Cole, they can.  This snazzy little outfit from Kenneth Cole fits the bill perfectly.  It’s trendy, but it’s not age-inappropriate.  It shows our style, but it’s not a billboard.

Want specifics as to why this outfit rocks?  First of all, the top has a collar (which I looove on little guys), but it’s a onesie.  That means it stays tucked in, all neat and tidy.  For me, until my kids can stand up on their own, I prefer onesies.  Regular tees just ride up, and I’m forever tugging them back down.

Next, I love the stitching detail on the pants.  They’re brown, but the stitching is white - drawing attention to the seams, making them both functional and decorative.  And the stitching is well done (another big plus with me).

Finally, I really dig the little sunhat.  I may not be adept at accessorizing myself, but I love accessories for kids.  They pull the outfit together and make it complete.

I’m so glad to have discovered this fantastic line of kids’ clothes.  I know Kenneth Cole makes quality, good-looking items for adults, and now I can look to them for kids’ clothes that meet my exacting standards.  I’m going to have the best-dressed little dude on the playground.

I really ought to feel guilty for spoiling my girls with all the pairs of shoes they own, but I just can’t do it. Not when more than half of those pairs of shoes come from Vincent.

Tacy’s favorite pair of Vincent footwear would have to be her Blomma rain boots. The child wears those boots, rain or shine, seven days a week - but you’d never know it to look at the boots. They have held up beautifully under extreme wear and tear.

But after receiving a pair of Lilly Mary Janes, she has started slipping these beauties into the rotation. A lavender (or blue, if you choose) suede upper covered in sequins, these shoes are absolutely fabulous. I can’t blame her for wanting to wear them, even if they’ve already gotten scuffed on the playground at recess. Like her Blomma boots, these Lilly Mary Janes are holding up well and will certainly take her all the way through the spring and summer (and into fall too, if her feet don’t grow too fast!).

Meanwhile, CJ is a fan of a style that has since been discontinued, but it’s a basic bootie that zips up over the top of her foot. They’re so flexible that it’s almost like being barefoot (which is her preferred state). But like Tacy, she’s enamored of her new Vincent sandals in the Lisa style. While it’s still a bit chilly to wear them outside, she’s been breaking them in around the house, and she loves the little butterfly perched on the upper. I love how soft they are, and I’m confident that she’ll wear them all summer long.

While I love the unique designs at Vincent, I’m just as sold on the quality of the shoes we’ve bought there. It’s the designs that entice my kids to wear these shoes, and it’s the quality that keeps them from being worn out before the kids grow out of them.

Thanks to our Vincent review campaign at PBN, I’ve got a coupon code to share!  For 20% off all regular-priced items at Vincent, enter code SPRING-DEAL-8 at checkout (valid through April 30, 2008).  As always, shipping at Vincent is free with purchases over $75.

While I prefer to decorate my living spaces with more neutral colors, I do understand that bright colors and babies go together like peanut butter and jelly. And just like peanut butter and jelly, bright colors can be revolting if done poorly (like those PB&J sandwiches in the elementary school cafeteria), but they can be fabulous if done well.

Kushies knows how to do bright colors better than anyone. Their Zolo Toys have funky, offbeat designs with plenty of bright colors that are truly easy on the eyes. The Linko Clip Together Teether and Toys resembles other linking toys, but it includes lots of different textures and color combinations to keep little ones (and their aching gums) occupied.

The Mobilo Crib Carousel Mobile provides plenty of entertainment value too - the hanging stuffed animals are detachable (by parents, not by baby), the underside of the carousel canopy is mirrored, and it’s got the same fantastic variety of color combinations.

My favorite Zolo Toy has to be the Stacrobats Magnetic Stacking Acrobats. These five little guys stick together (and to the accompanying colorful balls) to form all sorts of poses on the magnetic base. I must have played with these Stacrobats for a good fifteen minutes all by myself. If they can occupy a thirty-something woman who really ought to be vacuuming, I’m certain that babies and toddlers will find them infinitely entertaining.

But it’s EQ - the Theory of Emotional Intelligence - that makes these toys really cool and unique. With the help of child development experts, Kushies created these toys to tap into kids’ self-expression and emotional self-confidence. The idea is that playing with toys that are geared toward EQ involves more and different brain cells than most other baby toys, which in turn “helps to create more open-minded and flexible thinkers.” Even after having three kids, I’m still no child development expert, so I’ll have to take Kushies’ word for it - at least until my youngest child grows up and I can evaluate whether his Zolo Toys helped him become a more open-minded and flexible thinker than his big sisters.

Kushies is about more than just toys. They’ve got a wide range of gear, including clothing, swimwear, and outerwear - including buntings, snowsuits, and the adorable Splish Splash Rain Jacket and Pant Set. Like the Kushies Zolo Toys, it’s the details of this set that make it so fantastic. The hood of the jacket has a visor (genius!), and both the jacket and pants have reflective strips to ensure that the wearer is visible, even in stormy weather. And the bright colors - including cornflower blue, petal pink, and sunny yellow - make the set all the more appealing.

Has Kushies converted me to the bright side? Well, that depends. If the brightness comes from them, I’m definitely on board. Just keep it confined to the adorable child and his nursery, that’s all I ask.

Before I had my son, I used to say that my younger daughter was as much of a boy as I could possibly handle. She’s extremely physical - running, jumping, and climbing much more than my older daughter ever did at the same age - and she prefers to wear shoes that don’t get in her way. Thick-soled shoes are a total no-go, and even shoes with flexible soles are usually kicked off at the earliest opportunity. Apparently it’s much easier for her to scale the kitchen counters with bare feet.

Up until now, her shoes of choice have been a pair of Robeez - her “monkey shoes”, as she calls them. But Robeez are no match for wet and snowy sidewalks and grass, so choosing shoes has become a battle this winter. Plus, now that she’s three, she’s outgrowing the Robeez offerings.

I think I’ve found the perfect solution in the new line of shoes from pediped - pediped Flex. They’re rubber-soled shoes in a larger range of sizes than pediped Originals (EU 22-29/US 6-12), and while the soles are more substantial than the Originals or other soft-soled shoes, they are surprisingly flexible. That means my little monkey’s feet are protected outside, but she can still run and jump and climb with ease.

But what did she think of the shoes? When she came home from school, instead of immediately sitting down on the floor to remove her shoes and socks like she usually does, she left them on. It was only when, hours later, she decided to put on her pajamas that she took the shoes off. That’s the best indication of comfort that I could possibly expect from her, and it’s a guarantee that I’ll check out the rest of the pediped Flex line.

pediped Flex is available as of February 28 in nine styles for girls and six styles for boys.

I’m no couch potato. Athleticism doesn’t come naturally to me, but I genuinely enjoy getting out there and making my body do what it thinks it can’t - and sometimes more. It’s truly empowering to physically challenge myself and triumph over my inner naysayer.

But when I’m pregnant, I tend to turn into the Stay-Puf marshmallow woman.

I’m tired. And hungry. I huff and puff after one trip up and down the stairs. If I’ve got enough energy for a walk, then I’m more likely to spend that energy trying to catch up on the mess that has overtaken my house. And then I’ll collapse on the sofa while the kids (and husband, truth be told) undo what I’ve just done.

Seems that a pleasant walk really would serve me better after all.

Thanks to RYKA and the Parent Bloggers Network, I have a new pair of kicks to show off. The MC2 Walk shoe is sleek and athletic, just as the product description says. More importantly, they make walking feel good, even for a pregnant woman who’d really rather sit on the sofa with her laptop and a bowl of ice cream.

What impressed me most about this shoe is something that brings to mind a bit of childhood trauma. I’m knock-kneed - so much so that when I put my knees together, my ankles are still a good 2-3 inches apart. Consequently, I walked around on the insides of my feet for years…with my father walking behind me shouting, “WALK ON THE OUTSIDES OF YOUR FEET!”

To this day, I’m conscious of how I’m walking, whether I’m putting more pressure on my arch than I should be. I think about it much less in dress shoes, but when I’m wearing sneakers, it’s my first thought: Do these shoes help me walk the way I should? And without hesitation I can say that the MC2 Walk does an excellent job of stabilizing my foot - so much so that I can STOP thinking about how I’m walking.

My only gripe with this shoe is that the laces are too short to tie in a double-knot. We moms spend enough time tying our kids’ shoes; we don’t need to worry about keeping our own shoes tied. But I’m resourceful enough to find another, longer pair of laces.

So that my husband can tie them for me in another couple months. Because with these shoes, I’m going to want to get out there and walk.