WINTER DAISY PICKS: 8 OF THE BEST HOLIDAY PAJAMAS FOR KIDS

It’s that time of the year again and we are all ready to cozy up on the couch at home with the kids in a good pair of pajamas. I have shared my favourite pajamas for kids in the past and this time, I’m ready to share the best HOLIDAY pjs! With Black Friday coming next week, this is the perfect time to grab a pair of high quality, comfy pajamas that will last through the winter months.

As always, the materials I choose for my own kiddos are all natural with our favourite material for jammies being 100% cotton, for breathability (and I find they fit & wear so well!). These ones are all adorable to boot.

1. J Crew

This company has a few sweet designs, but these prancing reindeers (below) are my faves with the repetitive little print.

Fabric: 100% cotton

Sizes: 2 years - 14 years

2. Hannah Anderson

These come highly recommended from a friend who only buys pjs from this store. With high quality fabrics, these jammies are thicker than some and the tree pattern is perfect for this time of year. Check out the sizes they come in…perfect for a family with lots of kids of different ages.

Fabric: Organic cotton

Sizes: 2 years - 16 years!

3. Burt’s Bees Baby

These are outstanding value! 100% organic cotton for less than $20??! Amazing. The gingerbread pattern is super cute but there are other nice options too.

Fabric: GOTS certified 100% organic cotton

Sizes: 12 months - 7 years

4. Lake Pajamas

These pajamas are new to me and they look glorious! The quality is evidently tied to the price point (a little more than the others!) but the patterns and longevity are perhaps worth it. These would make luxurious gifts from the grandparents and I love the fact that they have family pjs that pair beautifully.

Fabric: 100% pima cotton

Sizes: 2 years - 10 years

5. Parade

A local favourite, designed right here in Vancouver, Canada. The materials are thick and last a long time, even when you put them in the dryer. I love the fit (see the photo below) and the starry night pattern is my seasonal favourite.

Fabric: 100% GOTS certified organic cotton

Sizes: 2 years - 10 years

6. The Little White Company

I can remember the first time I walked into this store when I lived in London, UK long before I had my own children! I fell in love immediately. When I found out the store is now available in North America, I had to include one of the cutest sets of the bunch. I can just imagine our girls squealing with excitement on seeing the reindeer face.

Fabric: 100% cotton

Sizes: 12 months - 12 years

7. Skylar Luna

This brand was included in my original post about pjs, and I seem to always find a nice pair for any season, including holiday. If kids aren’t as keen on cutesy patterns, a good stripe can go a long way to appeasing little ones while still feeling festive. I love this green set.

Fabric: 100% GOTS certified organic cotton

Sizes: 12 months - 8 years

8. Gap

While I try hard to shop locally first, the Gap is a mainstay when it comes to pjs. While I wished they continued their organic cotton pajamas past the baby age, I must admit these festive cozy and snug red stripe henley pjs are pretty cute.

Fabric: 100% cotton

Sizes: 4 years - 14 years

I hope at least one of these pairs of holiday jammies becomes a loved favourite. Come December 1st, we’ll be wearing ours with festive excitement. Remember to save the graphic below to Pinterest so you can access it later. Do you have other faves that I’ve missed? Let me know which ones you love in the comments below.

01. Prancing pjs; 02. Gingerbread pjs; 03. Tree pjs; 04. Snowflake pjs; 05. Starry pjs; 06. Reindeer pjs; 07. Stripe pjs; 08. Henley pjs.

5 WAYS TO HELP DURING A TRAGIC TIME

It is with so much sadness, that I share what’s happened in my personal life over the past week. My brother-in-law had a sudden heart attack and died, leaving behind my sister (& best friend) and her three kids, aged 9, 14 and 17. This is them last summer.

I have never written a post like this before, but through the process of loss, there have been a few things that have come up that I thought might be helpful to share.

1. Take SO many photos (& videos):

   My sister is a photographer and if there is anything she feels grateful for right now, it is for the hundreds of photos she has of her husband and her family. Her kids have photos to tell stories about, pour over in their darkest hours and memories to hold forever. She has had family photoshoots taken by professional photographers and these sessions are valued beyond belief. Videos capture voice and personality in an even greater way. So, get our your cameras and snap away making sure you and your partner are in the shots too.

2. Stay organized:

   Having important documents labelled and organized helps those around you at all times of life, even when you are no longer here. When systems are clear and in place, it makes the inevitable process of form completion and documentation so much easier throughout the most challenging times. Digital organization is just as important as paper-based.

3. Food is a fabulous love language:

   Within hours of the tragic news, close friends dropped off a block freezer and started filling it with food. Hot meals, freezer meals, general groceries and fresh food platters started to arrive. In that moment, I realized, food is the most logical (and such an appreciated!) way to show love. It is so helpful. If you have a friend or family member going through a heartbreaking time, dropping off a meal that can be enjoyed now or used later is such a great way to give.

4. Play:

   While each child copes differently and processes at different times, play is a beautiful way to connect. With younger kids, reach out and set up play dates. With older ones, invite them for a movie date. Any distraction that can allow a break for the mind is a welcome way to show kids that you care and a great way for them to connect with their friends.

5. Think longer term:

   While the initial outpouring of love is amazing, I can’t help but think of ways that will be helpful longer term. Set a reminder once a month over the next 24 months to drop off a meal or have a grocery gift card or gift certificate to a local restaurant mailed to the family every 3 or 6 months.

Most importantly of all, just be. Be you - the sibling, parent, child, or friend you are. Your friendship is what is most valuable of all.

In search of ways to help, I’ve set up a GoFundMe page for my sister and her family. Thank you to those who have already reached out. Your kindness and generosity is so very much appreciated.

WINTER DAISY PICKS: 5 THINGS I'M LOVING RIGHT NOW

Today’s post is short and sweet…5 things I’ve loving for kids rooms (& life) right now…

1. Storage Baskets

It helps that they are currently on sale but mainly I love putting these baskets into kids’ spaces because they are so practical for hiding toys while also looking pretty darn lovely.

2. Sustainable Sneakers

I got lost in learning about the materials they use, but you could easily get lost in their promise to be the most comfortable shoes you’ve ever worn. Both my husband and I are fans.

3. Let the Good Times Roll art print

I love this print from Xavier’s room so much. I feel like it works for a little kid but would work just as well in a teen room.

4. Our round wood coffee table

Definitely a splurge, but we hope to own this one for many, many years. Loved for over a year now and fully worn in by our three kids. It is the table we put our drinks on, put our feet up on, practice spelling, play card games on and have never had an injury (because no sharp edges!).

5. Felt letter board

Etsy has long been one of my favourite sites for finding quality handmade pieces and this little felt letter board has been part of our home for a few years now. From inspirational quotes to holiday countdowns, welcoming friends (the kids love to write guests names on it) and signs at birthdays, this little board is part of our family now.

Happy Friday everyone!

HOW TO CREATE A SIMPLE GALLERY WALL ABOVE A DRESSER

It may be a bold statement but we truly believe that artwork is what brings a space to life! A real match for a room is when the artwork reflects the little one who lives there and these prints add a fun punch of personality to Xavier’s room. Hanging artwork can be tricky so today we are going to show you how!

SHOP THE LOOK…

STEP #1.

Start by choosing artwork that blends in colour and theme to the rest of the space. With artwork for a simple gallery wall, choose 3 good size prints and frame them to fill the width of the dresser.

STEP #2.

Get the spacing right. See below for our guide to spacing. Ensure that the first print is hung 4-6” above the top of the dresser. The group of 3 should be thought of as 1 entire art piece. Measure the centre of the trio to be about 57-60” from the ground.

STEP #3.

Space the frames close enough together so that they look like they belong. For this trio, the frames are 3.5” apart; 2-3” is a good guideline. You can use painters tape to rough out the frames on the wall to give you an idea of how they will look before hanging them.

Pin this image for future reference!

A LITTLE TRADITION: LUNCH BOX NOTES FOR KIDS

We made it to Friday!! I know that our kids breathe a little happier knowing a couple of days at home are ahead too. I file this one under efficient Mama because it covers off two things at once: being organized and feeling connected! As a child, I loved receiving notes from my own Mom and now I’m carrying on the tradition in our home by popping a little hand written note into our kids’ lunchbox most Fridays in hopes of starting the weekend off on the right note (see what I did there?!).

It really doesn’t take long and it definitely doesn’t have to be complicated; even a simple ‘I love you!’ goes a long way to letting the kids know that we are thinking about them when we’re not physically there.

As with anything, what gets planned for gets done and this is no different. Schedule it in your calendar, set a reminder in your phone, write yourself a prompt on the fridge…whatever it takes, I encourage you to pick a date and try it out!

I’d love to hear if you do. Did your kids like it? Were they surprised?

SHOP THE POST…