Shopping For Seasonal Clothes Ahead of Time

It's no secret that I love good deals. Especially when it comes to Ilah's clothes, which she outgrows in what seems like just a few months time. Although there are lots of darling outfits in the stores, and in online shops, I hardly ever pay full price for something. Instead of spending a few thousand dollars for my child's seasonal wardrobe, I only spend a few hundred. I learned my lesson when I went CRAZY buying darling clothes for Ilah before she was born and she never wore at least 1/4 of them. I chalk it up to the excitement of having my first baby and not being able to resist buying practically every adorable thing that I saw!

I make a point to shop for seasonal clothes for Ilah ahead of time. For instance, with fall/winter approaching, most stores have their summer clothes on clearance. Kohl's happened to have some AMAZING deals so I scored there a few weeks ago. I estimated that next summer Ilah would be in a 4T so I got four pairs of shorts at 80% off, just $2.60 each....

These adorable jumpers were also 80% off, at just $4.00....

I paired this shirt {$2.60} that I saw, with this skirt {$2.80} that I spotted, and got both for 80% off....

This stars and stripes tank will be cute for Ilah to wear next 4th of July/around the holiday. I can see her zipping through the park, with an ice-cream now! ; ) Shirt was $2.60, Shorts $3.90....

These long sleeve shirts were not as deeply discounted, but they were 50% off. I got them for $7.50 each....

And this one, which was too cute for me to pass up, was also $7.50....

With coupons in hand, I saved even more! The following week I used my $10 Kohl's cash {that I received at check out, when I purchased the items above} and in also using a 15% off coupon, got these for FREE....

A cute little shirt for Ilah to wear around the Thanksgiving holiday.

And some socks {with grips!} to keep her cute little toes warm this winter : )

Naturally, I also made some purchases at ROSS....

Cupcake PJ's to wear the night before her birthday!!....

I love this little jacket! Perfect as an every day jacket/thick sweater to keep Ilah warm this fall/winter....

The fur on the hood is so cute, but you can take it off {see the buttons?} if you want to...

The lining is nice and warm!!

Just $15!

While at ROSS, I spotted this shirt that would be perfect for Valentines Day next year {yep, always thinking ahead}!....

Just $3.99!

I thought it was funny that while I was in Kohl's, a couple was there with their little girl who was probably a little over 2. The mom kept asking her "Do you like this one?"..."What about this one?"..."Do you like this color?"...."Or do you prefer this one?". The dad finally said, "look, she doesn't care. Just pick one so we can go". Ha ha!

Prepping for a Small Living Room Transformation!

Our new couches are arriving this Saturday! I'll be wondering if every big truck I hear is our delivery guy, as I'll be anticipating the sound of the doorbell! Ha! In case you missed the post, we purchased two of these couches....
I've strolled through several stores the past two weeks eyeing pillows up and down. I have certain fabric patterns in mind to go with our new couches and I haven't seen anything that was quite right. I started to contemplate making my own [no-sew] pillows but then decided to forgo that idea. When the idea was swirling around in my head though, I headed to the fabric aisle of Hobby Lobby and this pattern drew me in ...
I've been looking online for pillows as well and Pottery Barn had several that I liked. I just didn't like the price that went with them!

I also still love the fabric pattern on the pillow below. Thank you to Malissa, a reader who left me the name of the fabric in her comment on my initial post.
I want to use striped pillows to compliment pretty fabric pillows. This color hue is perfect!
To tie both looks in - in a chic way - are these two beauties that I bought last week. I LOVE THEM!! One will go on each couch.

I received a gift card for my birthday that could be used at TJ Maxx, Marshalls or Homegoods so these pillows cost me NOTHING.
I've seen these style pillows before on home decorating shows, and I think also in a few model homes that we've toured. I was always drawn to them but never came across them in any of the stores that I shop at. I scored BIG TIME when I spotted them at Marshalls last week!
I say I scored big time because look at how inexpensive they were!....

If you like these pillows and want some of your own, but can't find them in a Marshalls store near you, here is the name of the company that made these....

If you aren't frugal like me, the "Queen Bee" pillow can also be found at Dillards {you can also purchase it online here, for $24}. Both of the pillow designs can be found on Ebay here and here {for $47.50 ea + $12.50 shipping}.

I've also been on the look out for a new picture [or pictures] to go above our new couch. I still have some money left on that gift card ; )

Momma Loves A Bargain

The words "Ross", "Marshalls", "TJ Maxx" and "Homegoods" have appeared on my blog many times. I love a good deal and have purchased many items within these stores. Strolling through their aisles recently I found [and purchased] some neccessities that would have cost me three times as much had I purchased them at Babies-R-Us or Buy Buy Baby.

These travel hooks have come in so handy! I opened up the pack when my girlfriend Vanessa was visiting and gave her one to attach to her stroller handle, and I did to mine. If your basket in your stroller is already full {the diaper bag alone can take up a lot of space} or if your baby is reclined and asleep and you don't want to chance waking them up to shove something in the stroller basket, these hooks allow you to attach your shopping bags to them.

I scored them at Marshalls on clearance for $3! I had a girlfriend who had a baby recently and I picked up a pack for her as well. This makes for a great and inexpensive added baby shower gift {for the mommy!}.
Ilah is forward facing in her car seat now and her legs are so long....if my seat is far back enough, she can reach it with her feel and sometimes playfully kicks away. On a separate visit to Marshalls I spotted Fisher Price {set of 2} Protective Kick Mats....
Another score on clearance for just $4!

Recently, I paid Marshalls another visit to look for bakeware and detoured to the children's section to find this snack pod by Safe Fit {if you can't find one at your Marshalls or TJ Maxx [I spotted them there too] you can purchase it from Toys-R-Us here and read all the 5 star reviews}.

I just LOVE this thing!! We purchased a Britax Boulevard 70 CS carseat for Ilah and it does not come with a cup holder. As she started to come of the age where she was drinking from a sippy cup in the car, I was always having to reach back and give her the sippy cup, and then reach back and take it away when she seemed done, otherwise it would end up thrown on the floor because she had no where to put it. The snack pod was super easy to attach to our Britax {and it came with two snack cups, lids included}. It can also be attached to most strollers. Here is a professional marketing shot of the product....

And here is my blurry one! Ha! I snapped this shot of Ilah with my cell phone the other day in the car. She loves taking her snacks out of her cup and having her sippy cup within reach, and putting it back in its place when she's all done : ) Did you notice the price tag? I got it for just $7.99. Another find at Marshalls.
Onto clothes. I have posted many photos of Ilah's outfits. As she has gotten older {and outgrows clothes in what averages to be about 8-12 weeks} I stick to getting her {inexpensive} clothes from Ross, Marshalls and Old Navy, with Ross being my top spot {mostly all of her pj's are the Carter brand purchased at almost 75% off of the retail store price}. Take for instance, these darling summer outfits... I made a matching bow for it this week!

Cute matching bloomers!....
And this darling outfit....
I also made a matching bow for it....
A picture of the back...

These outfits were just $5.99 each...

When your child sometimes gets around to wearing a cute outfit only once or twice because she/he is growing so fast, then it makes sense to me not to purchase costly outfits. I know many moms who get their children's clothes from second hand shops for this very reason. I made the mistake of buying a lot of darling clothes {and shoes} for Ilah before she was born because I just couldn't resist - she probably never got around to wearing about 25% of them. Another cost effective approach to buying children's clothes is to visit the clearance racks and buy your child clothes for the following season. For instance, winter clothes will drop to just dollars when the store just wants to get rid of them to make room for their spring clothes.
Lastly, remember this post when I showed you the picture that I scored at Ross {for $19.99 on clearance} to fill the blank space on the wall in our guest bedroom?

BEFORE

Here it is hung up. Isn't it lovely!? I think so : )

AFTER

I just love practical and pretty finds that are so inexpensive!