Father's Day 2016

Yesterday was Father's Day here in America, and the first of two Father's Days that we celebrate each year. Lucky Kim gets to celebrate American Father's Day in June and Australian Father's Day in September.

For Kim's present, the girls and I made a Chatbooks photo book featuring designs by our favorite illustrator, Dallas Clayton. We're all big fans of Dallas Clayton's simple yet meaningful style, so as soon as I saw that Chatbooks was teaming up with him I jumped online to order a book. Of course, our photo book needed a matching card, so the girls dressed in their matching Dallas Clayton t-shirts and romper from Rags to Raches, grabbed a few balloon props, and we had a little photo shoot.

An Outing With Mathilde

Things have been a little quiet here on Little Hiccups this past week. Almost our whole family (apart from Lola) has been knocked down by the flu and, man, did it hit us hard. I spent two full days pretty much unable to get out of bed, and if you know me personally, then you know that means I'm feeling super crap. I kind of lack the ability to sleep during the day no matter how tired or sick I feel! It's my super hero power. Well, actually, it's probably not such a good "skill" to have! I also couldn't eat for two and a half days - or drink coffee - and that's saying something. We're all still feeling sick with coughs, sore throats and runny noses, but I'm pleased to say that the fevers, body aches and that horrible dehydrated feeling are gone. And with those nasty symptoms gone, I feel a million times better. And I'll feel a billion times better once I can stop coughing.

Anyway, before the flu knocked me about completely, I tried to write a couple of posts to share. But my brain couldn't think of words. And then I'd forget what I was doing and move onto something else. Until I forget what I was doing there too. No matter what I was doing, I just couldn't concentrate. I guess my body was trying to tell me to slow down before I got really sick, but I wasn't listening to it. My brain is slowly starting to remember what words are (woo hoo!) but I thought it best I take it easy for a bit and share a post that doesn't require me to write much. You know, after I've already written half an essay above! Ha - I obviously don't have that whole concentration thing back yet!

So, instead of a post that requires much thinking (like my super intellectual regular posts!), here's a bunch of super cute photos I took of Mathilde a few weeks back. We had a tax appointment in North Berkeley and on our walk there I spotted a few great spots for photos, so we just had to stop on the way back for a little camera time.

Oh, and I just had to share Mathilde's cute Rags to Raches romper with you. I love it! It is one of my absolute favorite outfits to dress her in at the moment. It's super comfy, easy to get on and off (she can take it off herself for diaper change) and it features a design by one of my most favoritest illustrators ever, Dallas Clayton. Uh oh... my brain just made up a word there. Time to stop writing and look at pretty pictures.

Valentine's Day Style for Little Ones

I have to admit that I'm a bit of a sucker for themed clothing for the kids when it comes to events and holidays. I don't tend to go overboard and do try to keep it subtle enough to wear at other times of the year, but the theme is always there. A bat or ghost t-shirt for Halloween, a snowflake sweater for Christmas, a tractor t-shirt for a harvest festival, a lion bib for Chinese New Year.... This year we'll have love heart t-shirts for Valentine's Day thanks to Dallas Clayton's collaboration with kids' clothing label Rags to Raches.

Admittedly, I originally bought the t-shirts because I saw the matching toddler romper on Instagram and just knew that Mathilde needed it. It is just so freaking adorable and we're all big fans of Dallas Clayton here. Then I saw the matching kids' t-shirts and I knew that Ava and Lola needed one too. Then I saw the matching adult t-shirts and thought, what the hell, I need one too! I did stop short at buying one for Kim though. I do have my limits when it comes to matchy-matchy. Ha!

Anyway, when the t-shirts and romper arrived I was just going to put them on the girls straight away, but then I realized that with their motif of love they'd be perfect gifts for Valentine's Day.

That got me thinking about some of my other favorite kids' clothing that would be perfect for Valentine's Day and I just had to share them here with you.

1. Happy Socks

Swedish label, Happy Socks make... well, happy socks! Our whole family wears these bright, colorful  my favorite socks for the whole family. The designs are always fun and the quality is high. Many of the designs are available in kid's, women's and men's sizing so the whole family can wear the same designs. These kid's heart socks make a cute Valentine's Day gift.

2. Whistle & Flute JE T'AIME Women's & Kid's Pullovers

Ok, more matchy-matchy here! Whistle & Flute make the cutest t-shirts and sweaters and this design is perfect for Valentine's Day without being all about love hearts. Not sure I'd wear a sweater with "I love you" written on it, but in French it has a certain je ne sais quois! Ah, I'm so corny! Mathilde and I just received these sweaters and I can't wait to be twins! 

3. Mini Boden Hotchpotch T-Shirt 

I'm a big fan of Mini Boden for a splash of color in the girls' wardrobes The Hotchpotch t-shirts with contrasting sleeves are always my favorite and this particular red and pink design is just begging to be worn for Valentine's Day.

4. Rags to Raches + Dallas Clayton T-Shirt

Like I said earlier, we're all big fans of author and illustrator Dallas Clayton in our house. The hands reaching up design is one of his most instantly recognizable designs. You might remember the matching mural that Lola and I posed with in Los Angeles. The purple heart is a nice change from red and pink. 

5. Kram Heart Overalls

All over hearts for the littlest ones! These cute overalls from Swedish label Kram are available in a few different colors but red and white feels just right for Valentine's Day. There are also dresses, tops and diaper covers available in this fabric. Lola has the matching dress in brown and white.

6. Whistle & Flute Kawaii Heart T-Shirt

More cuteness from Whistle & Flute! I love the simplicity of this heart design. How can you resist that cute little smile?

7. AlbaBaby My Spencer Dress

I love the retro styling of this AlbaBaby dress. Mathilde has the matching overalls in bright orange and she looks so incredibly adorable when she wears them. She also looks straight out of the seventies! That big heart on the pocket is adorable any time of year but especially so for Valentine's Day.  

8. Whistle & Flute JE T'AIME Beanie

Valentine's Day falls at a pretty chilly time of year here in the Northern Hemisphere so protect that head with a cute, lovey dovey beanie. Just like the matching sweater, this style comes in both kid and adult sizes.

9. Tattly Three Hearts Temporary Tattoos

Temporary tattoos are always a big hit with kids and Tattly make THE best. This heart design is super cute and would make a great Valentine's gift to hand out to classmates. We've done this in the past with Tattly tattoos.

10. Rags to Raches + Dallas Clayton Romper

The romper that inspired this post! Seriously, how cute is this romper? I can't wait for Mathilde to wear it.

52 Weeks: Week 52

Week 52: SoCal Road Trip

I'm a few days behind here, what with it being 2016 already, but as they say, better late than never.

For the last post in my 52 Week Project I'm sharing a few highlights from our Southern California road trip over the girls' Winter break. I have lots of in depth posts about the places we visited coming very soon.

We started off the last week of 2015 in Los Angeles before heading to San Diego where we spent much of our time.

Before leaving Los Angeles we hit up the Sprinkles Cupcake ATM in Beverly Hills. The girls love Sprinkles cupcakes and they're even more delicious when they come out of an ATM. Ok, so they taste exactly the same, but they're definitely more fun!