v4 issue 23: Casual Comfort

This issue is packed with clothing that is both comfortable and stylish for your little one. We have also included some pictures of our Tot Trends Weekly reader's cutie pies.

Cover by Alexi Killmer











1 Bamboo Baby Coveralls from Kicky Pants can be purchased @ cutelittleclothes.com. The flap in the back of these coveralls is not only cute, but also helpful in the diaper checking process. Made of naturally antibacterial, anti fungal, and antistatic bamboo fabric.

2 Caramel Cozy Toesies are a tasty treat for the feet. Polar fleece and toasty suede wrap baby's toes in winter warmth. Visit Isabooties to pick up a pair for only $29.-!

3 The Surf and Turf outfit from Positively Organic is yummy indeed. The cotton printed tee and matching canvas cargo pants are both 100% organic. Conscious style for only $48.- per set.

4 Egyptian cotton leggings, trimmed in silk with an embroidered Little Pharo logo, are the ultimate in cotton luxury. Available in sweet & tender pastel shades. Find these cozy leggings, along with plenty of other gorgeous basics @ littlepharo.com.

5 The eight3one shop tweaks another tee with its hip graphics. A few extra swirls and twirls add a touch of fancy to one of our favorites...the ladybug. Available in pink jersey shirts for the tots, or lap tees for the little squirts.

6-Baby in the making? Soon to be Moms deserve a little stylish comfort too! [bump]...short for baby under manufacturing process...has a great assortment of hip & trendy maternity clothes to grow along with your belly.

7 Crank up the comfort with a zip-up hoodie from heavytees.com. A white zip-up hoodie with a grayscale picture of old-school headphones jacks up the heat for babies this winter. Comes in sizes 3-6, 6-12, or 12-18 months.

8 Zip into casual comfort with this limited edition New For Baby track suit. Gorgeous colors accented with striped sleeves and distressed printing, keep baby stylin' in super soft cotton comfort at a super sweet price.


This weeks Mom tips:
Cleaning Tip: Our readers gave us two great ideas for keeping jewelry tarnish-free. To prevent precious metals from tarnishing, place the items in small plastic bags (bag must be airtight). To keep costume jewelry from tarnishing, place a piece of chalk in your jewelry box. So much easier than polishing, eh?

Parenting tip: Another readers tip. Many don't believe it's true, but at about the time our children start eating food and sitting up on their own, you can start them on a potty. Preferably find a low lying potty that is not raised too high off the ground. About 10 minutes after meals or after a substantial breast/formula feed. Place your child on the potty. While you entertain the child (or he entertains himself with toys, books, etc) she/he will do their business...you don't clean BMs out of diapers and gag anymore...or rarely. Being consistent with this over the course of the year and your little one will graduate to the potty with ease and there is no stress in changing old habits. I have trained all three children this way with great success...drawing on knowledge from pre-pampers moms...give a try! Melanie

Green Tip: This green tip is dedicated to ensuring you have a green thumb: use your cooled coffee grinds to fertilize your plants. Or if you prefer, use Starbuck's coffee grinds. Most Starbuck's locations have a bin of free used coffee grinds for customers.

Financial Tip: The Consumerist has come up with a list of ways you can save money that stores hope you don't know about:
1. Buy Loss Leaders and Leave – Loss leaders are products sold below cost to get customers into the store, such as items advertised in fliers (limit 5 per customer etc). Pick up these items, then leave.
2. Use Credit and Pay it Off on Time - Take advantage of credit offers such as '12 months, no interest, no payments" only if you can pay off the credit within that time period, otherwise you will have been tricked into paying a lot more for the item than if you had paid cash. Use the cash you would have used to pay for the items and put it in a high yield savings account until you need to pay off the credit.
3. Say No to the Extended Warranty - Instead, purchase your electronics with a credit card that offers Extended Warranty protection.
4. Activate Your Own Phone - Buy a used phone, (be sure it is unlocked) and then call your cell phone company of choice and activate it. This way, there is no contract required!
5. Shop in the Store but Buy Online – This way you get to see it, try it out, ask questions, and then save a lot of money by buying it online.
6. Buy 1 when the Deal is 2-for-$5 – Buying more than you need is never a good deal. And, 2-for-1 deals are usually on items the store simply has too many of.
7. Open a Store Credit Card then Cut it Up – If you have to spend a lot at one department store, it may be worth it to open a card and take advantage of the percentage off they offer to new members on their first purchase. But once you’ve paid it off, cancel the card so you don't have to pay interest and fees.
8. Use Websites to Track 30-Day Price Guarantees - Be sure to check for any special sales or price drops, and if you see one, go get your money!
9. Buy Seasonal Items at Clearance Prices - Take advantage of end of the season and end of holiday clearance sales. Retailers have to get rid of the items to make room for the next season's stuff, so stock up and save in the long term!
10 Buy “Accessories” on eBay and Avoid Big Markups - Whether its a cable for your xbox or a cell phone charger, these small item prices can wipe out the savings you thought you were getting on your big item. So price surf on ebay, TigerDirect.com etc and save!


Your cute Kids
We asked our readers to submit pictures of their cutie pies, and these were our favorites. We want to see your adorable tots! Share your funny photos with us. (Please be sure to send web sized files) contact@tottrendsweekly.com