UltimateMama knows how it is….on a Friday night after working a long week and taking care of the children you are faced with going with your child to a birthday party on Saturday afternoon without a gift for the birthday girl or boy! The solution: buy several of the same gender neutral items online in advance! All you need to do is get a gift bag and some tissue paper and stick the gift inside with a little handmade note card!
UltimateMama loves The Company Store for its colorful towel sets, Lands End for its cute lunch bags and beach towels, and Pottery Barn Kids for its bath or beach cover-ups! UltimateMama always has a supply of beach towels and lunch bags in colors such as red, green, or yellow in her closet ready to go for any birthday celebration. And, with some advance planning you can even have the item personalized or monogrammed for a minimal price (Lands End usually charges $5 for example)!
Bottom-line: STAY organized and BE prepared! Your child will have the Ultimate Birthday Kids Gift!
UltimateMama is not at all concerned about the Arctic blast coming to NYC this weekend because she is 100% prepared. By the way, every piece of clothing is labeled with Mabel's Labels. UltimateMama wants to share her "Ultimate Cold Weather Attire Checklist" for children with you:
– Warm jacket (UltimateMama loves to buy jackets at Hanna Andersson and many of her friends like Lands End and Patagonia for their kids)
– Snow pants (remember that you do not have to buy matching snow pants; instead chose a solid color that you like OR if you go the matching route make sure to shop for sales)
– Fleece vest (UltimateMama loves Patagonia) vests
- Fleece cardigan jacket for under the main jacket on super cold days
– Long underwear
- Knee-socks
– Scarf (only if the kids are old enough and BE CAREFUL because scarves are choking hazards; scarves are not mandatory)
– Hat (UltimateMama loves hats from the GAP and Columbia)
– Mittens and gloves
– Tights (for girls)
– Boots (Ecco boots are great for kids and waterproof!)
– Turtleneck
– Sweater
– Heavy pants or flannel lined pants
– Leg warmers (UltimateMama loves BabyLegs)
UltimateMama has a little secret for you. The beautiful, needlepoint holiday stockings that she has for all four of her family members were purchased post-Christmas at a steep discount…and personalization was free! This year, sales are popping up even pre-Christmas!
Watch websites such as Lands End for great sales! UltimateMama just noticed holiday stockings reduced to $10.99 from $22.50 with free monogramming for up to ten letters!
