Waste Not Want This: Wean Green Cubes

It's been just a few short weeks since we kissed the last days of summer vacation goodbye and sent our kids off to school with litterless lunches and snacks. If you're like us, you are always on the watch for ways to keep your kids' meals waste free and when Goop and Goob let us know a shipment of Canadian made (mom designed, of course) Wean Cubes by Wean Green had arrived we couldn't help but put them to the test.

We'll start with the facts. Wean Cubes are made of glass with a silicone-sealed lid secured by smart-clips so there is no need to worry about BPA, PVC, phthalates, plasticizers or leakage. They are heat and cold resistant and sold in boxes of 4 brightly coloured 120ml containers with 30, 60 and 90 ml line markers.

Wean Green donates a portion of its sales to environmental organizations and includes a piece of wildflower seed paper in its packaging which we thought was a great green touch. Owner Melissa also has a lot of great recipes for homemade baby food (and playdough!) and more on her wean blog.

Although Wean Cubes are intended for baby food storage, their small size is perfect for packing nuts, berries, raisins, yogurt and other little treats. We sent them to school with our fifth and third graders and they loved the bright colours (green, orange, blue and pink) and snap lock lids. Lori and I also fought (hard!) over the bright colours. In fact, we love these so much we're thinking about all of the ways we can use them ourselves to store our favourite salad dressings, dips and spreads... and they are perfect to bring over on those early mornings when one of us is out of cream for our coffee (it happens).

Available at Goop & Goob ($28).

Let them have cake!

Last week we revealed our love of play kitchens and shared some of our favourite projects and purchases. Now it's time to share another obsession - play food.

Where do we begin? Haba, Erzi and Plan Toys all make durable non-toxic wooden play food sold in both individual pieces and sets, the latter of which is available locally at Kaos Kids (we recommend the breakfast set).

We are also quite taken by the felt food frenzy that has been sweeping the online craft nation for the past couple of years now. It's a quick craft that's easy to do (there are plenty of tutorials online, most of which can be completed by machine or hand stitch) and fun to give to the little chefs and bakers in your life.

Here are just a few of the ones we love (and don't worry, this will be one meal that won't spoil their dinner).

Doughnuts

Fortune Cookies

Lollipops

Lettuce

Sushi

Felted Peas in a Pod

Cherry Pie

Brown Bag Lunch

Sandwich

Birthday Cake

Cookies, Egg and Sausage, Pancakes with Syrup and Butter, Ravioli

Banana in peel and/or Corn in husk

Sliced Carrots

Cinnamon Roll

Mini Cake

Make it Monday: Taking it Slow

Get out your crock-pot, slow cook season is here! We've found 5 recipes - a lemon and garlic chicken, a roast done two ways, a hearty stew, a winter soup and breakfast to make your mornings just that much easier. We've also included instructions for making your own chicken stock.

If you don't own a slow cooker, most of these recipes can be made using a dutch oven or heavy covered pot at 250 for about 4 hours.

Slow-Cooked Pork Roast

Ingredients
3-4 pound pork roast

Kosher salt
Fresh black pepper
1 cup white wine
1/4 cup fresh sage leaves
8 cloves of garlic
1 teaspoon allspice berries (optional)
Red pepper flakes (optional)

Method 1
Rub the pork roast all over with salt and pepper. Bruise the sage leaves and mince or slice the garlic - anything quick - it doesn't need to be pretty. Put the roast, sage, garlic, and white wine in the slow cooker and cook for 10 hours on low or 5-6 hours on high.

Method 2
The day before, rub the meat lightly with kosher salt and black pepper. On the day you are going to cook the roast, fry the garlic until golden in a little olive oil, then remove from the pan. Heat the pan up very hot and brown the pork roast until it's very dark on all sides. It helps if you cut the pork into pieces first. Don't worry about the meat drying out - it will reabsorb all its moisture and more. Crack the allspice and fry it, along with the red pepper, with the pork just as it's finishing browning. Add everything to the slow cooker and cook for 10 hours on low or 5-6 hours on high.

Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup

Ingredients

1 (16-oz) package dried green split peas, rinsed*
1 meaty ham bone, 2 ham hocks or 2 cups diced ham
1 cup sliced baby carrots
1 cup chopped yellow onion
2 ribs celery plus leaves, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
6 cups chicken broth*

Method

Layer ingredients in slow cooker in the order given, adding the broth last. Do not stir ingredients. Cover and cook on high 4—5 hours or on low 8—10 hours until peas are very soft and ham falls off the bone.

Slow Cooker Chickpea and Lentil Stew

Ingredients

1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 chile pepper, such as serrano or jalapeno, stemmed, seeded and chopped, more to taste
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 teaspoons garam masala
1/4 cup sesame seeds
2 (15-ounce) cans garbanzo beans (chick peas),* drained and rinsed
1/2 cup dried red lentils
1 (28-ounce) can tomato puree
2 cups vegetable broth
1/4 cup pitted black olives
1/2 cup yogurt

Method

Heat olive oil in a pan and sauté the onions. Add peppers, garlic, garam masala and sesame seeds and cook until peppers begin to soften. Combine everything except the yogurt in the slow cooker and cook on low 8 to 10 hours. Add yogurt about 15 minutes before serving.

Overnight Oatmeal with Apricots and Buttermilk

Ingredients
1 cup steel cut oats
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup dried apricots, snipped into small pieces
3 1/2 cups water
1 cup buttermilk, milk, or cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons wheat bran (optional)

Spray crock-pot with cooking spray, or rub with butter. Mix the oats, brown sugar, salt and apricots. Pour in the water, milk, and vanilla and stir. Add wheat bran, if you like. Turn on low and cover. Cook for 7-8 hours. Serve with milk and sugar.

Slow-Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken

Ingredients

3 to 4 pound chicken (labeled fryer or roaster)

Seasoning

3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
2 sprigs thyme, leaves stripped and minced

Poaching liquid
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon), reserve the rinds
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 cup chicken broth

1 whole lemon, quartered
1 head garlic, cloves separated, but left in their individual skins
2 chicken bouillon cubes
2 sprigs thyme
2 sprigs rosemary

Remove the bag of gizzards and discard (or reserve for stock). Wash the chicken thoroughly inside and out with warm water. Pat dry with paper towels.

For the seasoning: Mix all the seasoning ingredients together in a bowl. Using your fingers, gently slide your fingers between the meat and the skin, entering at either end. Without tearing the skin, separate the skin from the meat of the breast, thighs, and legs of the chicken. Grab a handful of the seasoning and rub half of the mixture between the skin and meat. If you get a good dollop under the skin, you can lay the skin back down and use your fingers to massage the outside of the skin and work the seasoning across the surface of the meat. Rub the remaining mixture inside the cavity of the chicken. Heat a large skillet to medium-high heat and coat with non-stick cooking spray. Pan-sear the chicken on all sides for 6-8 minutes until the outside is browned. Transfer the chicken to your slow cooker--breast side up.

For the poaching liquid: Combine lemon juice, soy sauce, and chicken broth. Put the pan used to sear the chicken back on medium-high heat, pour in half of the poaching liquid and let sit until just boiling. Use a spatula to scrape up any browned bits stuck to the pan. Once the pan is deglazed, pour mixture over the chicken in the slow-cooker.Put lemon rinds (reserved from squeezing the juice), one whole bouillon cube, and a few of the garlic cloves inside the cavity of the chicken. Arrange lemon quarters, the remaining garlic cloves, and the sprigs of thyme around the chicken toward the edges of the cooker. Crumble the other bouillon cube over the chicken and rub it into the skin. Place the lid on the cooker and cook on high for 4 hours. (Note: This recipe is best when done on high, but can also be done in 6-8 hours on low.) Twenty to thirty minutes before the time is done, pour reserved lemon juice mixture over chicken and add the rosemary sprigs. (Rosemary tends to get bitter and antiseptic tasting if cooked the entire time in the slow-cooker.) Remove chicken from the slow-cooker and allow it to rest on the carving board (or cookie sheet) for about 20 minutes. The meat actually continues cooking during this resting period and the juices will redistribute through the meat. When ready to serve, tear off the skin and discard. Use your fingers to pull off the legs--the bones should come apart with a gentle tug, but if they don't, use a carving knife to wedge them apart. Keep using your fingers to work over the chicken, placing the meat on a serving platter and reserving the bones for another use (like home-made chicken broth). Serve immediately.

Slow Cooker Chicken Stock

Put in one chicken carcass, preferably one with a little meat still on it. Add a couple of carrots, chopped into large pieces but not peeled, some cut-up stalks of celery, one quartered onion, and a bay leaf. You can also add some thyme, basil and peppercorns, if you like. Add water until the crock is 3/4 full, and cover. Set on low for 10 hours, or high for 5 hours. At the end taste and add salt, if you want to. Let cool in the crock for about half an hour, until it's cool enough to handle, then strain out and discard the vegetables and bones. Refrigerate until cold, skim off the fat, then put in individual baggies and freeze.

Play Kitchens We Dream About

Rainy days and Mondays can bring us down, but there is fun beyond the great outdoors we've enjoyed all summer (we promise) - and now that it is officially Fall we're focusing on indoor play for a change. There are plenty of theories and ideas on the right kind and amount of toys for your child. While we support choosing toys that appeal to you and your little one, we're big fans of toys that grow with your family.

There's no easy way to say this - we're totally and completely obsessed with play kitchens.

Whether they've been handed down from your parents, built from salvaged materials, found at a garage sale or bought for way too much money - we love them all. Most importantly, our kids (and all of their friends) love them as much as we do - or almost as much.

We've scoured the web to bring you some of our favourite play kitchen DIYs and buys.

Best DIYs

Ohdeedoh posted this DIY kitchen made from Ikea components that my husband agreed to take on as a weekend project while I was 7 months pregnant with my second (thanks Colin!). We added a drop down door for an oven and used these wooden knobs. We can't seem to find the Panna coasters online that were used for the elements but these are the placemats.

This play kitchen over at Out of the Crayon Box was made from a curbside find. She also made this one out of a dresser that looks a lot like my daughter's. (Yes, I am tempted...)

Wee Gallery makes art cards, mobiles, soft books... and apparently also really gorgeous play kitchens for their daughter that we want to steal for our own.

Think play kitchens are just for girls? Think again. This daddy-made play kitchen was built for his little chef. We'd definitely pull up a chair to this one.

Great Kitchen Buys

Earlier this summer we featured the Educo My Backyard Barbecue - here is a great all-in-one unit by the same manufacturer. The My Creative Cookery Club comes with velcro food, pots and pans, utensils and salt and pepper. If you've got a serious cook on your hands, the Gourmet Chef Kitchen is also available in green and white. $139.99 at Kaos Kids.

If you're spacially challenged and looking for a smaller portable kitchen the My First Stove by Alex is the perfect option - just remove the back and it becomes a storage box for your accessories. $24.95 at Chapters.

Last but not least, we can't talk about making a kitchen from Ikea components without mentioning Ikea's own version. The Duktig play kitchen has adjustable legs to accommodate your growing child and offers a top section with built-in microwave (sold separately). $99

And there you have it! The hardest part will be choosing just one.

Bon apetit!

Feeling like Fall!

As we mark the beginning of a new season, we can't help but notice natural changes in our body and mind. For a lot of us, this is a time of turning within as our days become shorter and nights become longer (which means more sleep - we hope). We're welcoming you to Fall with a few notes on seasonal health and a sneak peek of what's to come.

Now is when our focus becomes more directed towards work, family and projects at home (time to finish those spring and summer projects to make room for projects that are more inward and home-oriented). It's also an ideal time to lighten yourself for fall’s work thanks to some of the great cleanses on the market that range in length from 1-4 weeks (we're fans of the 7 Day Whole Body Cleansing and Rejuvenation Program by ReCleanse available at our own Health Food Heaven).

In the next few months we will continue to bring you some great insight into becoming an entrepreneurial mom with the expertise of local business coach Conny Millard, feature quick and creative projects to fill the rainy days ahead, keep you informed of fall family fun here in town, and give you inspiring tips on keeping the whole family healthy courtesy of our fave local nutritionist Wendy Howarth who's included these nourishing recipes that are perfect for fall (thanks Wendy!).

Happy Fall!

Sweet Potato Salad with Nut Butter Dressing

Ingredients:

5 sweet potatoes, cooked and diced

3 to 4 green onions, sliced thin

1 stalk celery, diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

2 tablespoons minced cilantro

1/2 cup toasted pumpkin seeds

Peanut Butter Dressing:

2 tablespoons peanut, cashew or almond butter

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

Directions: Place potatoes, onions, celery, bell pepper, cilantro, pumpkin seeds or walnuts in a large bowl. Prepare dressing and pour over salad. Toss gently to coat. Can be served warm or cold!

Carrot Ginger Soup

Ingredients:

2-3 large carrots, chopped small

1 onion, chopped small

1 tsp fresh ginger, minced

1 1/2 tsp curry powder

1 3/4 cup vegetable broth

1 14 ounce can coconut milk

sea salt, to taste

Directions: Simmer the carrots, onions, ginger and curry powder in vegetable broth for 20-25 minutes, until carrots are soft. Allow to cool slightly, and then puree in blender, working in batches if needed. Return to heat and stir in coconut milk until well combined. Season with sea salt, to taste. Serve hot, or, chill until cold; this soup will thicken as it cools, so if serving this vegan carrot soup cold, you may want to add a bit extra liquid.

SquamishMom at the Sea to Sky Family Fair!

Please visit us this Saturday at the Sea to Sky Family Fair! We'll be there with two giant gift baskets to give away (valued at over $125 each).

Thanks to these great local family-friendly businesses who have generously donated their wares.

See you there!

Visitors' Guide: Sea-to-Sky Family Fair

With the first annual Sea-to-Sky Family Fair a few days away, we've created this hourly guide to help you plan your visit.

10:00am: Doors Open

If you're keen and able to leave the house without a morning napper in tow, you'll want to be one of the first 250 guests that receives a grab bag full of great discounts provided by some of the fair's 29 exhibitors (there are plenty of door prizes as well). See the full list of exhibitors here.

10:00am: Photography by Susan Carmody

This is a must-do, and it runs throughout the day so unless you'd like a portrait like this, don't worry about rearranging your little one's schedule. Rumour has it that Susan has created a fantastic setting and it's a great chance to have your little one captured by one of our favourite local photographers. What's even better is you'll receive a digital copy of your portrait plus special package rates because, chances are, you'll want your own. All of the portraits will be entered for a chance to be the face of next year's fair.

11:00am: Toddler Yoga with Alpen Loft Yoga

Alpen Loft Yoga is offering Toddler Yoga beginning September 20. Catch this demo and learn about how toddler yoga encourages trust and creativity while releasing anger, fear and sadness.

11:15am: Storytime with Mish Mash Play & Learn

Michelle Pontini of Mish Mash Play & Learn is sharing one of her favourite stories with the fair's (big and) little visitors. This would be a great time to feed your child.

11:30am-2:30pm Bouncy Castles and Face Painting!

Let the indoor fun begin! Just a note - you might want to have Susan take your child's portrait before they are transformed into a giant butterfly or tiger. (2$ donation suggested)

The fair runs until 4pm at the new CN Roundhouse and Conference Centre. Admission is by donation, all proceeds benefit BC Children's Hospital.

We'll be there with a giant gift basket to give away.

See you there!

It's all in the mix

What trail is complete without a mix? As moms on the go, we are always on the lookout for quick, healthy and convenient snacks. We asked Wendy who shared with us these great bars that are packed with goodness and great to grab as you head out the door. She makes The Nourishing Mama bar for her newly breastfeeding mama pals (but adds that the kids love them too). The Oatmeal On-the-Go Bar is great for breakfasts or snacks and stores well in the fridge or freezer (she suggests individually packing them first). Thanks Wendy!

Nourishing Mama Bars

Ingredients:

• ½ c Nut butter
• ½ c Brown rice syrup or honey
• Sunflower/pumpkin seeds/sesame seeds
• Handful of chopped nuts
• Handful of dried fruit (blueberries/cranberries/raisins)
• Coconut
• 1 tbsp of cocoa or chocolate protein powder
• Couple handfuls of brown rice cereal

Directions:

• Heat nut butter and sweetener on stove till blended.
• Remove from heat and add protein powder or cocoa powder till blended.
• Mix in jar of seeds, nuts, etc...enough till the mixture is thick. (you’ll figure out how much of each you want to throw in there....mine are different every time, depending on what I have on hand!)
• Fill ice cube tray or small muffin tins with mixture and place in the fridge until they harden.

Oatmeal On-the-Go Bars (Makes 18 Bars)

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups Old Fashioned Oats
• 1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
• 1 1/2 Tsp Cinnamon
• Pinch of Salt
• 1 Tsp Baking Powder
• 1 1/2 Cup Milk (any kind of milk — rice, almond, soy, cow’s — will work)
• 3 Tbsp Agave
• 1/2 Cup Applesauce
• 1 Large Egg
• 1 Tsp Vanilla
• 3/4 Cup Dried Fruit (Cranberries, Raisins, Blueberries, and/or Cherries)
• 1/2 Cup Nuts (Walnuts, Sunflower Seeds, and/or Pepitas)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Place the first 5 dry ingredients in a bowl and stir to combine.
3. Mix the milk, applesauce, egg, agave, and vanilla in a separate bowl.
4. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stir to combine and then stir in the dried fruits and nuts.
5. Pour the oatmeal mixture into a buttered or greased 7 x 11 inch baking dish.
6. Bake for 30 minutes or until thickened and golden.
7. Cool, cut into squares and serve.

*Allow to cool, cut into squares and place in a ziploc bag to freeze up to 4 months. When ready, allow to defrost in fridge for 24-48 hours.

*Refrigerating the bars will make them last up to 5 days.

Oatmeal On-the-Go Bar recipe and photo courtesy of Weelicious.

Happy Trails!

Ok. So we've sorted out our wardrobes, sent our kids off to school, (sadly) retired our flip flops and seen the evidence outside that, yes, autumn is upon us. Now that camping and beaches are no longer making their way onto our calendars we're thinking about keeping fit as we move into cooler temperatures - and we're starting in our own back yard.

We're so fortunate to have access to a network of trails here in Squamish. But what truly amazes us is how much there is to discover. Whether you've been here for years or you're just beginning to explore, here are a few resources to check before you head out.

The district's new Adopt-a-Trail program promotes Squamish as a destination for outdoor enthusiasts and connects the community to its surroundings by encouraging physical fitness. The program also allows local residents to "adopt" a trail - a one-year minimum commitment of weekly visits (monthly from November to March) to help maintain our trail cleanliness and safety. They've created this comprehensive GIS mapping system (of 312 trails!) Select your zone, type of trail and difficulty level, to view route details and adoption availability.

For mountain bikers, TrailMapps: Squamish has recently launched an iPhone app available for purchase ($9.99). Hard copy maps are available at Tantalus Bike Shop, Corsa Cycles, Mountain Equipment Co-op (North Vancouver) and Republic Bicycles.

Map My Walk/Map My Ride/Map My Run has 103 user-submitted routes for Squamish and includes printable maps, ratings, distance information and 3D viewing capabilities through Google Earth. Apps are available for iPhone (Free) and Blackberry ($2.99) with social media integration so you can share your trips with your friends.

If you're serious about staying fit and looking for people with the same goal, local fitness instructor Jennifer Paddock of Out of Bounds Conditioning has organized a Fall Personal Fitness Challenge which starts this week. This 12-week program will include fitness testing, coaching and a personalized program to keep you on track. Find more info here and go ahead, let them see you sweat.

Room to Learn

I grew up with an old student's desk in my bedroom along one small piece of wall that I was allowed to doodle on. Although I don't remember doing much homework, I do remember writing and drawing, and I had notebook upon notebook full of comic strips and pictures. It's never too early (or too late) to create a study or craft area for your child. Take a seat and get inspired by some of these great spaces and tips to do just that.

1. Find a small well-lit corner with enough space for a small desk and chair. Choosing a space near a window is great for natural light but could backfire if your child tends to distract easily by gazing outside. Regardless, make sure you've got enough artificial light for the shorter winter days when it darkens before dinner.

2. Stock up on school and craft supplies and get a good caddy or organizer. Here are a couple of easy DIYs like this organizer made from a phonebook, this book caddy made from a lazy susan and PVC and this version of the Boon Stash Storage System.

3. Find a good desk and chair.We're fans of vintage school desks that are becoming a bit harder to find like this one currently available via Craigslist ($20) but we have seen them pop up at garage sales and the flea market every so often. If you've got one that needs refinishing we found a great makeover here. They are perfectly sized to grow with your child and they fit in to small corners of your home (plus you don't need to worry about finding a chair).

IKEA has two great desk options, the Laiva desk ($24.99) and the Micke desk ($59.99) and lots of options for floating shelves and desktops to create a custom workspace (as in the photo above - sadly that Benjamin stool is on our list of items we wish IKEA hadn't discontinued).

4. Involve your child, big or small. A space they help create is a space they will love.

5. Wait for straight-As, they'll come (right?).

Back to Style

What we're about to say is sad but true so let's just admit this one loud and clear: sometimes, our kids have better wardrobes than we do. Really. And especially at this time of year when they've got brand new clothes and you just don't. Not yet, that is.

We're sometimes style challenged here in Squamish where, let's face it, there aren't a lot of places to find current clothes for the "younger" mother.

Here is a list you'll want to keep: our picks for quick wardrobe fixes on a budget.

Basics:

H&M

H&M is just a must, plain and simple. Always current, always cheap, and the quality is improving with its natural blends and organic pieces.

We love this gray sweater $19.95 and these treggings* $14.95

(trousers + leggings)

Joe Fresh

Where else can you shop for groceries and clothing? Joe Fresh is incredible and beyond affordable. If you don't already know, it's the genius line created for Loblaw's by Joe Mimran, founder of Club Monaco. It's the top selling children's brand in the country (no surprise there) and has been so successful that Walmart is jealous so rumor has it they're scrapping all of their brands except for George that will go head to head with the reason why we shop at Superstore. Our picks: plaid shirt $19 (they're flannel!) and tights - you can never have too many.

Gap

You've shopped there for years and now the Gap has given you two great reasons to look there first.

1. Online shopping (yes!). This has long been an option for our friends south of the border but the Gap (along with its sister stores Old Navy and Banana Republic) have finally launched an online shop for Canadian residents. We looked and we found:

This Vintage long sleeve tee in Oatmeal ($19.50)

This black lightweight sweater ($59.50)

2. Sprize. We all know how quickly Gap merchandise goes on sale. Well, now you don't have to wait. Visit a participating Gap location (Park Royal participates, Whistler village does not) and sign up for their Sprize program. What does it do? They're calling it "splurge insurance". If any of the items you purchase go on sale, they credit you the difference. The only catch is you've got 30 days to spend it.

Footwear:

Gravity Pope

Myth: Gravity Pope only has $300 shoes. Truth: They have a lot of them, but they also have (in our humble opinions) the best selection of sale shoes we've ever seen. Ever.

Our picks:

These black flat mid-calf boots ($119.99)

These Tretorn rubber boots ($39.99)

These Hunter classic short rubber boots ($69.99. $109.99 for the same pair in black)

Or stock up for next summer with these metallic sandals by Trove Tkees $39.99.

It get's better: buy 2 or more sale items and receive 30% off all sale prices. Buy 1 sale item and save 20% off the sale price. Gravity Pope doesn't offer free shipping but (and we speak from experience) ask for your purchase to be transferred into the Vancouver store (2205 West 4th Ave) and shipping is $0.

Denim:

Winners

Our husbands will never understand that a good pair of jeans is an important investment. Even still, we can't bear to drop a small fortune so what to do? Winners at Park Royal. One of the "Runway at Winners" locations, they regularly stock Rich and Skinny, J Brand, Joe's Jeans, and Paige Premium Denim ranging in price from $99.99-$129.99. That's half of what you'll pay retail. If you have time (and patience) scour the racks for labels we love like Splendid, Vince, American Vintage and Teenflo. They're there, believe us.

Support Local:

You won't always find a bargain here, but these are two great up-and-coming local designers that offer online shopping and sale merchandise.

Lily + Jae (they recently hosted their first ever pop-up shop - join their mailing list or Facebook fan page to find out when they'll do it again. The Tame Toque, pictured above, is $20.)

Dace

Sample Sales:

Go. Nowhere else will you find prices like these. They're always happening and they're good. We promise.

I Love Sample Sales maintains a current list of sales and will deliver them to your inbox if you sign up, like the one for Vincent Park this weekend. Hello, love.

While this post is not about clothing for kids, Joe, Gap, H&M and Gravity Pope are great places to shop for cool little duds.