#theskinnygetsdressed

since opening The Skinny, meg and i have been busy trying to get our name out there and share our shop and its products. it's easy, albeit time consuming, doing the usual sort of things like facebook posts, instagram, giveaways, etc. but we really wanted to get a few unique ideas out that will not only showcase our awesome products, but also be helpful to those that may want a little extra out of a site. this is where #theskinnygetsdressed comes into play. i've dedicated this to a new series on fancy napkin, as well as on instagram and our Facebook account showcasing both small shops, unique items, and ways to style certain pieces from our various collections. 

i sincerely hope you enjoy, and that you get a little use out of this concept too! also! if you have any cool shops or items that you think would be great for this series, please reach out and send them my way! i'm always on the hunt for the newest and coolest ;)

#theskinnygetsdressed [1]
pants
sweater
cowl
moccs
panda mask

#theskinnygetsdressed [2]
buffalo check dress - poppy
black shoes
grey sweater jacket
black felt floppy hat
grey tights
wood tea set
tassel scarf

#theskinnygetsdressed [3]
plaid trouser - grey
high 5 sweater
black hi-top sneakers
red scarf
little monster pendant
wood play golf set
adventure print
dude hat

.they're here.

my boys. 

my sweet twin boys. 

my middle and my youngest children. 

they have arrived and we are enjoying them so damn much.

please let me introduce you to our theodore edward + axel arthur. born on october 5th, 2014, they are truly amazing.

photography || pinksugarphotography

.teaching a toddler.

one of my initial greatest fears while we spoke of adding to our family was making sure jack understood that he was always going to be as loved as he is now [if not more!] and just how special he was always going to be to us. that adding more kids to our family was not going to change our feelings for him in the slightest, but in fact add to our happiness. but how do you teach and explain that to a toddler just learning to talk himself?!

i have no direct answers to this question, but with jack's ever increasing interest in some of my friends newborn babies during playdates, i can't help but feel as though we must be doing something right for our family and in raising him. 

he is loving. he softly strokes their hair and chubby soft cheeks without being prompted. 

he is thoughtful. he brings books to the babies to read and tries to share his cheerios by putting them directly in their mouths [we obviously watch him closely, not too worry!]. 

he is kind. and sits by the babies as though he doesn't want them to be alone.

he is helpful. he brings blankets to cover them and tries to rock them in their bassinets.

and he is playful. sharing his toys and playing peek-a-boo constantly with them.

[note: all of these things above are true. i've witnessed them personally and it amazes me how a 23 month old child can be so loving and so perceptive to a smaller 'mini'. it just blows my mind]

so while it's an ongoing process with a toddler, explaining that very shortly we'll have two babies of our own to love and play with, we're actually having quite a fun time with it. so in case anyone is going through this situation as well, here are some books and activities we play on a regular basis in preparation for our little twins arrival this coming week.

books:
-following in the beautiful andrea's footsteps, i jumped on her weekly book club train and decided to share a few of our favourites to read recently....no surprise that with all the baby talk going on in this house, his fav's have all been these 'baby's' books.

rocker babies wear jeans by michelle sinclair colman
the boss baby by marla frazee
everywhere babies by susan meyers
snuggle the baby by sara gillingham [jack's fav!]
babies, babies, babies! by catherine and laurence anholt

games / activities:
-we took jack to ikea one weekend and discovered a large bin of babies for $9! we allowed him to pick out any two babies he wanted to love and take home. he of course choose, two identical boys that look exactly like himself which i found quite amusing and perhaps a sign for what's to come?! jack has loved those two babies immensely the past few weeks and it's been fun watching him put them to bed [in his crib], share his soothers and juice with them, and kiss them 'night night'.
-playdates with other babies! and lots of them! totally helps.
-where's momma's babies? jack loves to peek up my shirt at my ever growing belly and we alway make a fun game of it. it usually ends in plenty of belly kisses for his babies.
-before bed each night, pete and i will throw out a bunch of names and ask jack if he can repeat them and if he likes them. it's always cute hearing him muster through the different names in his little voice and then tell us he likes every single name we say!

and please share! what are you doing with your oldest in preparation for another?

.so incredibly loved.

dear my two youngest,

yes, it's true. i already love you both more than i knew i could. more than i knew was possible.

and i didn't want you to potentially look back and figure that the lack of posts about you both has anything to do with loving you less than the first time i went through this with your precious big brother.

yes, the majority of my time is spent playing and chasing after jack, and boy does he keep me busy, but i want you both to know that you two are always on my mind as well. it has truly surprised me in so many ways to discover how the same feelings i had the first time around have circled back completely.  and they have felt just as precious and just as special as they did then. all the little kicks and twirls and love jabs you both give me daily is a constant reminder that i have been given this amazing gift...the two of you.

to be honest, at first i was so worried that i couldn't love anyone as much as the love i have for your brother, but boy was i wrong. i feel inertly protective already. i feel that momma bear fierceness for you both. i feel blessed. i feel pleasure in knowing you both are mine. i feel so full of love that i fear i might burst some days.

so while i don't get to spend as much time counting the weeks & days left or verbally sharing the milestones of your growth, i did want you to know that i am privately getting to know you both intimately and quietly and it has been an absolute pleasure. i hope you can feel that, within the roundness of my belly and in the roundness of my full full heart. i hope you both know how much joy you've already brought your new family. your dada, your mama, and your older brother. seriously so much joy.

so there you have it. being the middle and youngest [wow! so neat to be able to say that] of my children, i sincerely don't want you to think you are any less loved or important. because kids, you are   so both.

so important and so damn loved.

xx
momma

.jack's room.

jack's room is currently my most favourite space in our house. it's been completed for ages, minus a picture hanging or two, but most days i sit in my old beat-up vintage rocking chair [handed down to me from my grandma, which was handed down from her momma!] and smile while i watch jack play and explore.

with jack being our first baby, we had this little room completed well before he was born. you know how it is. it was one of those projects that just needed to be done so that my pregnancy with jack would feel real. and it really did help. once we started putting paint on the walls, nestled his crib into the corner and filled a bookcase with childhood treasures, i remember thinking 'whoa. we are really having a baby!'.

i also remember it being a daunting task to start. what colours? what theme? do we even have a theme? boy or girl? budget? baby enough? too adult-ish? how do i incorporate [fill in the blank]? it was never-ending and i probably changed my mind 100x before settling down with a simple colour pattern.

benjamin moore

since we didn't know the sex of our baby, i had to go gender neutral. and to be perfectly honest, that was fine with me. i don't really feel that you need to go pink or blue nowadays anyways. that being said, i definitely knew i wanted something that i would truly enjoy since i figured i'd be spending quite a bit of time in that space. i also knew that i wanted it to feel a little more 'adult', without the cartoons wall decals, etc. i figured as jack grew older we could always pull baby or toddler items into the room if he wanted them, with toys and stuffed animals. 

another small issue i had to work into the equation, besides it being teeny-tiny, was a dark cherry-wood hand-me-down crib that peter was determined to use, no matter what sort of begging i came up with for a modern square white one. in the end, i suppose it was where i went from thinking of a monochromatic colour scheme to soft whites and creams to the palette above. and to where a sort of 'woodsy feel' was born. remember this diy bookcase peter helped me fix up?

the room might have a bit more of a masculine feel but in the end, with jack being born a boy, it worked out to be the most perfect room. and i simply love it, which is all that really matters.

now with jack almost ready for a 'big boy room' [kidding! he's staying my baby forever!] and the twins due date only 4.5 months away, i'd better get cracking on their room! we haven't even begun to start in there! such is the life of the 2nd child [and third, i suppose! ha!].

.so i have two babies in there!

hi, friends. it's been a while. over 3 months actually. i guess you could say i needed a little rest. but as i'm sure you've put the title and above picture together [i'm not really that subtle!] you could probably understand why! 

we most certainly [i've had to confirm it a dozen times myself!!] are adding another couple of babies to our family! twins!!

and just like that, three to five. gosh, are we excited! 

besides being already utterly and completely smitten over these two littles brewing in my belly, we are all doing wonderful. i feel rested. my body feels good. and i feel ready for this next crazy time in our lives. i just get so teary when i think about it. peter is handling it like the amazing dad he is. i get massages every night [don't hate!] and he's sort of become my errand boy; doing the laundry, taking the busy toddler out of the house and just giving me some time to relax. 

i'm 14 weeks along, and this pregnancy has been the same but also very different from my last. i haven't gotten any nausea, which i'm thankful for the similarities in that, but the exhaustion....oh my goodness, the exhaustion! those first 3 months i swear i had turned into a zombie. working full time, running after a toddler and growing two babies is serious business. but we are surviving and i am feeling more alive and more real because of it all. 

so i hope you are still here after this little break, sharing in our experiences because things just got a whole lot crazier. there's going to be some lows, for sure...but the highs! oh, the sweet high's of a house full of babies. now that is going to be a lot of fun.

and exhausting ;)
xoe

ps. i'm coming at you from sunny phoenix, enjoying a little vacay time with my hubby and bugg. be prepared for more than a few pictures and posts, xo.
pps. that amazing custom water-colour comes from the very talented, kate klassen from uh oh my deer. my gosh, it's quickly become my happy place every time i look at it and i am utterly in love. it couldn't be any more perfect to announce our big news.

.gift guide 2013, for jack.

now that it's the first week of december and about a million other blogs have released some form of a gift guide or another, i figure i might as well jump on the band wagon and post my annual gift guide too!
this is what my sweet jack will be whispering into old jolly st. nick's ear this year. hopefully he's been a very good boy ;)

[one] ski pajamas || this is probably more for jack's daddy than anyone as he loves skiing so much, but i have a feeling our little jack will be a master of the slopes too! and these pj's are just so darn cute.
[two] wood fire station || jack loves his le van toys [he has a pirate ship & double decker bus amongst other things] and this would be just perfect to add to his little collection.
[three] faux fur sleeping bag || as noted above, jack's play teepee needs some homey items placed inside to make it all cozy and snuggly for those reading sessions jack loves. this sleeping bag is just the ticket!

[four] the little yoga mat || i mean?! right?! utterly adorable. and now jack and momma can do a little morning stretch together.

[five] love you more blanket || simply perfect. i actually want this as a keepsake it's so great.

[six] 5 string banjo || my little budding musician would love to play like his uncle luke. this may help.

[seven] camp socks || cozy camp socks. perfect!
[eight] farm to table apron set || my budding little chef already begs to be held while we prep dinner and this little apron set is just the sweetest! not to cutesie and just the right amount of awesome!
[nine] moose || just a really cute stocking stuffer.
[ten] felt campfire || jack got a play teepee for his birthday from momma and daddy. this little felt campfire would be just the greatest thing ever to situate just outside it's front opening. i can just imagine many many camping adventures in our future.
[eleven] boots || jack needs some new boots as his feet keep growing like little weeds. these are warm, lined and awesome.
[twelve] the jungle book by jennifer adams || jack actually has every single one of these books in this series and loves them all. so does his momma, so that's a win win in my books [pun intended!]. this would be a great addition, along with this one too!

*contains some affiliate links, however as always, all opinions are my own! and i thank you for supporting those companies that help make fancy napkin possible!

.some online little dudette shopping.

and for the little ladies in your life, some virtual outfits to inspire your little fashionista! or little dudette's. ya, i much prefer little dudette ;)

happy shopping.

outfit 1: buffalo check shirt || skirt || shoes || hat || boots || headband || heart tights || mittens || bracelet

outfit 2:  plaid pants || bandit long shirt || boots || glitter headband || wood pancake set || navy pom scarf || noodle fox || what does the fox say book

outfit 3: check dress || leopard slippers || grey or cream ear knit warmer || hello scarf || glitter bracelet || toque || jacket || wood salad set

outfit 4: mittens || dress || tights || jacket || gold shoes || backpack || barrettes || wood toy blender

*contains some affiliate links, however all opinions are my own and i thank you for supporting those companies that support fancy napkin, xo

.some online little dude shopping.

last night, while peter did a little reading [rare!] i did some online shopping. can we just point out, that with all the sales popping up and being in the mood for gift giving, this proved to be dangerous! here are some seriously cute outfits and items i found, just for the little dude in your life.

little dudettes coming up next! stay tuned.....

sources.

outfit 1: raccoon sweater || trousers with suspenders || leather jacket || head phones || raccoon wobbler || boots || hi bye mittens || drums

outfit 2: pirate sweater || plaid shirt | skinny jeans || toque || mittens || telescope || sneakers || wood pirate ship

outfit 3: sweater || trousers with suspenders || boots || sneakers || magnatab || ride-on car || shadow puppets || plaid scarf

outfit 4: gold kisses sweatshirt || colored skinny jeans || plaid shirt || sneakers || fur hat || wooden space center || astronaut duckies || mousetronaut book

*contains some affiliate links, however i adore each and every one of these items!

.jack's threads: little titans.

you wouldn't know it, but this little fella is one sick baby today. actually, that pesky cold bug has hit this entire house with a vengeance! baby, momma, and even papa are feeling it. it's also truly a good thing blogs don't require voices or this wouldn't be up today - i've literally lost mine.

so in saying that, it's also the perfect day to lounge around in our warm and cozy comfy's, work from home and just try to get better [and not pass this terrible, muscle-aching, sore throat coughing monster onto anyone else!]. but lets just talk about these tights! i mean, come one with the cuteness, right?!?! little titans does one bang up job on making a perfect little man's tights. i really can't tell you enough about how much i love these. first of all, they look super hip. second, jack adores them. and third, just the quality and function of them! color me impressed! they have gripe's on the bottom to prevent slipping and sliding for those mobile babes, they are made of a thick thermal-like material so rips and wear isn't going to be an issue, they have an elastic waist so even a skinny mini like jackeroo [or a chubby sweetie] will fit like a glove, all while keeping this sick little dude nice and warm.

i am sold.

thank you little titans, i am your newest #1.

image via: little titans

shop jack's outfit or similar items:

tights, little titans || shirt, next || cardigan, zara

.need, want, eat, make: jack's almost 1.

our little jack bugg is about to turn one.

all i can think is damn, where has the time gone?

i am literally knee deep in party decor at the moment, planning his first birthday, and just had to sit back and take a few minutes to reflect on the past year. gosh, it's been wonderful. and busy. and emotional. and full of growth. and full of love. and full of exhaustion, but just so so so amazing. as my good friend, who is a fresh new mother herself, texted me the other day "this is better and harder than i ever imagined" and i just couldn't agree more.

so back to turning one. gosh darn it. my little boy is getting big and old.
and planning a party is waaay up my alley, so i won't complain much ;), but here's a little that needs to be done.

need || every birthday boy needs a bowtie. that's fact. 

want || this superhero sweater is just plain awesome. and that's a fact too!

eat || i love this balloon cake so much. simple, fun and looks delicious. all wins in my book.

make || these birthday straws are pretty darn great. i think i could possibly make them myself with these colorful straws, however if time is running tight buying them from here also works! perhaps if they came in a buffalo check....hint, hint....a little sneak at jack's party theme ;)

.jack's nursery: wood bookcase diy.

i know, i know. it's about time i show you all jack's nursery, but till i can manage to figure out how to take pictures in a way i can really show it off, you'll just have to be stuck with little sneak peeks like this one.

to give you the back story, basically peter put his foot down on a new crib when we received a working one from his sweet aunt & uncle. the problem was, it was dark wood and i wanted white. after humming and hawing over whether or not i could safely paint a crib, i decided to just leave it as it was and try to tie in a few dark wood elements to the white/grey space i was creating for baby's nursery. and that's how the wood-bookcase-hunt was born! i wanted something that looked natural, but functioned as a great place to store books, toys and a few decorative peices. i was also on a pretty tight budget. 

well, have you ever tried to find a natural looking wood bookcase on a tight budget? next to impossible [or perhaps my standards are a little too impossible! ha!]. and that's where homesense came in and this ugly yellowy-peach-stained wood bookcase was found. i mean, this colour?!? why? 

so i showed peter it in store. he laughed. i asked him if he could sand and stain it. he laughed again. said it would be too much work. i smiled sweetly and rubbed my big preggo belly. said it was for baby bugg. and then we bought. 

[note to self...using baby to get things works!]

this bookcase was actually priced at $770 [even at homesense!!! wth, right?! i wonder what the price was before homesense came into the picture? ouch], but after markdown after markdown we managed to score it at a whopping $140. now that's a budgeted price i can work with. and here's what my handy husband did to it....

not to darn shabby, hey?! i am super happy with the results and think pete did a fantastic job. it now serves the exact purpose that i wanted it too and i think that jack loves being able to pull out his toys and book at his own leisure. it's the perfect height for him and the perfect piece that i needed to tie everything in with his nursery. more too come on the rest of the space shortly.....

**and not to worry! i was major preggo at the time, but wasn't present during this diy [only for 2 seconds to snap a few pictures], we slept in the basement and the house was well ventilated the entire process :)