Litcitar Hearts of Croatia

The magic of the winter season is everywhere these days.  As city dwellers, we've been serenaded by brass instruments while shopping and delighted by the grace of figure skaters in pop-up ice rinks.  An abundance of little white lights keeps us cheerful through progressively shorter days.  And when it gets too chilly outside for mitten-clad fingers, we gather in the kitchen to bake.  

Check us out today on the Junior Style Blog! 

Clothing credits:

Elise's knit dress:  Misha & Puff

Mila's blouse: Soor Ploom

Elise’s apron: Fog Linen

Oven gloves: Thornback & Peel

Mila's hair bow: Pitchoun Designs

Elise's floral dress: Vintage

A few of our favorite things

There is rarely a dull moment in our home these days with an almost-walking one year old and a lively almost-4 year old.  Yet all of us at times like to escape into our own little imaginary worlds.  Elise draws on daily experiences to create magical scenarios with her friends.  We choose toys that allow her to make her own scripts with few interferences.  For this reason, I'm naturally drawn to clean and simple playthings that act as a canvas for her fantasies.  Toys like those made by the talented husband and wife team at Manzanita Kids.  

Adrienne and David bring us this wonderful brand from their Seattle home.  I first discovered one of their rattles at a local Boston store and it was love at first sight.  The little bird rattle sang to me and I couldn't get it out of my head or hands for that matter!  Yes their products are gorgeous and feel wonderful but when I read their "featured shop" interview on Etsy, I was completely smitten.  To know that our little rattle and dollhouse were born from ideas, drawings, conversations and prototypes gives me just as much joy as they bring my girls.    

Mila's deer rattle was beutifully engraved with her name.  Her little fingers love grabbing every interesting edge and shaking it to hear the soothing rattle which sounds a lot like rain drops on a roof.  

Ok so I have to admit I am a little obsessed with dollhouses and when Elise started to show an interest in them, my part time job suddenly became searching for unique mini abodes.  Much to my delight, these creative animal themed modular dollhouses from Manzanita Kids fit the bill.  The unique shapes add an element of interest and offer endless configurations with the other dollhouse offerings in their shop.  But the icing on the cake for us is that it comes with a ladder!  This little three year old will tell you that is a very important detail.

As I write this, our wish list for more of their beautiful creations is growing.  We are eyeing their adorable Animal Seesaws and the clever Modular Tree House.  

Gifting Ideas for Littles

Whoa, hello there December!  I swear this year you were two weeks early, or maybe I just need two more weeks of you.  In any case, you're here and we're in the thick of holiday gifting.  It was both fun and challenging shopping for the girls this year.  What do you get a younger sibling who seemingly has everything she could need?  I've given a lot of thought to this and other gifting quandaries and wanted to share my little list of favorite items.  Some we've had for a while and some are newly acquired but all are well loved and hail from our favorite manufacturers.  From one maker's hands to our little hands, there is something special that transpires during the holiday season of giving.  

1. Sarah & Bendrix Handmade Wooden Dog with Xylophone - I cannot get over this gorgeous toy which was handmade in the Czech Republic from sustainable sources.  As you pull the adorable doggie across the floor, he plays a xylophone with a darling 'ting ting.'  I'm also a sucker for sentimental packaging.  With every Sarah & Bendrix toy, a special tag reads, "I have traveled from a small factory in the heart of Europe, to be your friend. You can name me and take me on all your adventures. When you grow up, pass me on to other children, so I can recount all our tales...I'm here to stay."

2.  Eperfa The Hillside Forest Set from Over the Ocean - These darling wooden figures were inspired by the surroundings of Lake Balaton in Hungary and the hills around Budapest.  Each piece was thoughtfully created to represent the natural world that surrounds these regions.  They in turn inspire us to appreciate and protect our own environs.   

3. 1978 Fox Boot in Chocolate from Zimmerman Shoes - I don't think I could have imagined a more perfect shoe for Mila's first steps.  As her confidence builds and with the help of her big sister, she'll be walking before long.  These gorgeous baby booties are sturdy enough to support her baby steps and double as a beautiful heirloom decoration for baby's room.  

4. Bambi Blanket Beige in Organic Cotton from Fabulous Goose - A great gift for anyone in the family, you simply cannot go wrong with a Fabulous Goose blanket.  Thoughtful Scandinavian design paired with organic GOTS certification is a recipe for one 'Fabulous' blanket.  They have served us well, from stroller rides, to picnic settings and most recently, designated dance floors for indoor lip sync parties.  

5. Sugar Plum Adventure Belt from Oma + Jo - We've been eyeing these adventure belts from Oma + Jo for some time now so when they came out with a (gulp) shiny purple version, there was no hesitation.  We are at the age of favorite colors and purple rules the roost these days.  With a little hint of glitz and a big appetite for adventure, this belt has quicly become a favorite place to stash our treasured findings.  

Among the Trees

Mila is now ten months old, sporting two bottom teeth and a constant smile.  At just over 15 pounds, her size fools most but her physical determination is unmatched.  With one leg out front and the other bent at the knee she'll crawl out of sight in the blink of an eye.  So how do you get a baby like this to stay in one place?  Stick her in a tree!  With leaves and twigs to explore, she's perfectly content with her tree trunk position.  While Elise could spend her day playing indoors, Mila is most certainly our outdoor explorer.  

With a baby this petit, I was eager to fill her wardrobe with the coziest of knits and easy layering pieces like this gorgeous Misha and Puff tunic dress and wool Briar Handmade bonnet.  We've been eyeing this lovely bonnet brand based in the Pacific Northwest for some time now.  The details are darling, down to the Liberty of London print ties that stay perfectly in place.   

To keep Elise's noggin just as toasty, I reached for her new Peppermint Pine Fair Isle hat that we custom created with the help of knitter extraordinaire, Megan.  For me, knitting is therapy and one of my great escapes but it seems I never have the time (I am a rather slow knitter!).  I am also a bit of a yarn snob so I was super excited to find Megan's beautiful creations made with the the softest acrylic and wool blend in a array of delicious colors.   

As of late, Elise has been toting around a doe that lives peacefully inside a medicine bag made by Marie of Leather Treasures in Martha's Vinyard.  She's at that age when little treasures like this doe, bring great comfort and joy just knowing they are near.  

Misha and Puff is a long time favorite in our house and you could say we were waiting (not so patiently) for their fall release this year.  Thankfully one of our favorite retailers has a wonderful selection of these pieces.  Thank you Minikin for somehow always reading my mind!  

Picnic Time

Elise is about to start school five days a week and I'm trying to savor every last moment with her before the bustle of fall begins.  We took a trip to Ipswich in search of a pair of these Royal Horticultural Society Hunter boots for moi.  I'm a bit of a want to be gardener even though I've managed to kill even the most hearty of succulents and I do appreciate a good flower show (husband makes fun of this on a regular basis but there is NOTHING wrong with it!) so these boots were calling my name, naturally.  

This town is too cute.  A short distance past the town center there is a darling river walk where we sat down for a picnic.  It wasn't too hot thankfully so we were able to pull out some of the girls' early fall pieces.  Where do I start?

When I first came across The Tame Fox I immediately began to fill my shopping cart with goodies from their website including Elise's ivory blouse.  The pieces are handmade to order in Alaska and the love that goes into each piece is apparent in every detail.  This top is stunning.  It is fully lined and charming cap sleeves are adorned with the perfect amount of gathering.  

Now travel back to New England for the birthplace of Misha and Puff, designer of Mila's merino hand dyed romper.  This is an essential three season piece and she'll be wearing it well into spring.  I've been in love with this brand for a few years now when I first saw it appear in select stores around Boston.  Minikin has a great selection of these pieces and as I've said before, they are always a pleasure to purchase from. 

Flower shows aside, I have a weakness for Scandinavian design.  I even once planned a vacation around it (more about that on another day).  This part of the world can do no wrong in my eyes when it comes to clean design and environmental awareness.  The union of these two elements encompasses the brand Fabulous Goose, maker of the softest fleece blankets which also happen to meet the strictest requirements for quality.  This blanket is made from GOTS certified organic cotton and feels like velvet.