Gifts for Little Ones + Freshly Picked Giveaway

Disclaimer: This post is brought to you by Freshly Picked. All opinions are my own.

Today I'm sharing a few of my favorite gift ideas for the littlest ones on your holiday shopping list. Plus I'm giving away a pair of Freshly Picked moccasins! How cool is that? Keep reading for more details...

52 Weeks: Week 47

Week 47: Pajama Day

Last week Lola's class celebrated the last day of school before the Thanksgiving break with a pajama day. Or "Hibernation Day" to be exact. And I have to be exact, because Lola and her classmates made sure to correct every parent who dared call it "Pajama Day"! Trust me, if Lola could read (and happened to be reading this post), she'd make me change the title right away! I love how little kids like to be precise like that.

Anyway, the reason for the name "Hibernation Day" was because Lola's class has been learning about bears. Seeing as the weather is starting to get cool (by coastal Californian standards!) it seemed only fitting that the kids go into hibernation as well. So all of Lola's class, including her teachers, came to school in their snuggliest pajamas and brought along a favorite stuffed toy or blanket to cuddle. Lola brought along Fishy, her plush Salmon from Seattle! In the afternoon the class watched a Berenstain Bears movie and warmed up with hot chocolate. I'm sure that's how bears hibernate too!

My Favorite Black Friday Deals

Today is Black Friday which means it's the craziest shopping day of the year. I personally can't bring myself to attend one of those door buster sales, but thanks to a little online shopping I have been able to snag a few great deals. Half price Hanna Andersson pajamas? Yes, please! $15 Tea Collection dresses? Time to stock up. 30% off Swedish Hasbeens clogs? My feet NEED those now!

I've been sharing a few of my favorite sales on my Facebook page but I figured it would be more helpful if I compiled them all here on Little Hiccups. So without further ado, here are my favorite Black Friday sales this year. Just click the store name to be taken through to their website.

Please note: Some sales are for today only while others last the weekend. Restrictions may apply. Please make sure to check all conditions of sale on each website before purchasing. 

Hanna Andersson
The best ever kids pajamas are on sale!
* All kids' organic long johns and sleepers only $20
* Extra 15% off everything
* Prices as marked

Boden
Quality British designs for the whole family
* 30% off everything plus free delivery with the code 7J4Z

Tea Collection 
The best play dresses ever - plus lots of other great styles
* Tons of Tea styles for just $12, $15 and $17
* Select items only
* Prices as marked

Gap
My go to store for basics and every day wear
* 50% off EVERYTHING with the code BLKFRIDAY

Whistle and Flute
Super cute kawaii t-shirts, sweaters and accessories for kids and adults
* 25% off everything with the code BLACKANDWHITEFRIDAY

Ginger Caftan
Super comfortable and stylish modern caftans made in California
* 30% off everything with the code PLAIDFRIDAY2015

Swedish Hasbeens

Covetable Swedish clogs and boots
* 30% off all styles
* Prices as marked

Mama and Little
Stylish silicone teething jewellery
* 40% off storewide
* Prices as marked

So Young
Cute backpacks and lunch boxes for little ones
* Up to 60% off overstock, discontinued items and seconds

Land of Nod
Gorgeous furniture, decor and toys for kids and babies
* 20% off plus free shipping.
* Restrictions apply
* Prices as marked

Bright Lab Lights
Super stylish ball lights. I want to hang these everywhere!
* Save 20% on everything with the code color20

Oh Happy Day 
The best party supplies around
* 25% off everything with the code HOLIDAY25

Tattly
* The coolest temporary tattoos around
35% off with the code THANKS35

Tubby Todd
The loveliest smelling bath products for little ones
* 15% off everything with the code TUBBYBLACKFRIDAY

30+ Simple Elf on the Shelf Ideas

It's almost that time of year again when Elfie Pokie Nokie, our Elf on the Shelf, makes his appearance in our home.

Every year I try to come up with fun situations for the girls to find Elfie Pokie Nokie in each morning. They've found him making coffee, tangled in Christmas lights, pilfering candy from a Halloween bucket, playing board games with other toys, dancing ballet, stealing a kiss from Barbie under the mistletoe, hanging out in the fridge, and many other crazy situations. The girls are always excited to find what Elfie Pokie Nokie has been up to over night while they sleep.

I know it can be a little tricky to come up with ideas for the Elf on the Shelf sometimes, especially when you wake up early before the kids and realize that you forgot to move him the night before. Trust me, I've been there plenty of times! I've put together more than thirty of my favorite Elf on the Shelf ideas from the last few years to help inspire you and your own elf. Enjoy!

Grand View Park

A few days ago I shared a post about our visit to the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps (you can see it here). After we climbed to the top of that beautiful staircase we found ourselves in front of yet another staircase. This particular stair case wasn't pretty, but I knew that when we reached the top the view would be spectacular.

And it was!

Gifts for Peanuts Fans

Do you have little (or big even) Peanuts fans in your home?

My girls are huge fans, and with the release of the new movie they've been pretty excited to see a lot of Peanuts merchandise hitting the shelves. Of course, Charlie Brown, Snoopy and co have always been in stores, but right now there are a lot of great collaborations around with some of our favorite brands. It's great to find a few Peanuts products that go beyond the usual low quality character stuff out there.

I thought I'd share some of my favorite Peanuts items with you, just in time for Christmas shopping.

1. Hanna Andersson Peanuts Backpack
Hanna Andersson backpacks are perfect for every day school use. They're really well made, have lots of useful pockets and come in a great range of designs. I couldn't go past this Peanuts backpack for Ava. She loves it! With the new Peanuts movie out we get stopped all the time by parents asking where her backpack is from. I have a feeling she won't be the only kid in her school with this backpack for much longer!

2. Baby Gap + Peanuts Mittens
What can I say? These Charlie Brown baby/toddler mittens from Gap are adorable!

3. Gap Kids + Peanuts Sweatshirt
I just had to buy these Snoopy sweatshirts for Ava and Lola when I saw them. I was even tempted to buy a larger size for me! The pattern is cute without being too cutesy and they are super comfy. They look great with a pair of leggings - just maybe not the matching leggings! These are now on sale and are going fast so if you want one you'd better get in quickly.

4. Gap Kids + Peanuts Printed Leggings
Because it never gets overly hot (or cold) here in the Bay Area my girls wear leggings all year round under dresses or skirts. Usually they just stick with plain colors, but I couldn't resist these Snoopy print leggings. In fact, I bought these in almost every size so the girls can wear them for years to come! Just like the coordinating sweatshirt, these leggings are no on sale and going fast.

5. Gap Kids + Peanuts Sweater One Piece
Perfect for the littlest Charlie Brown fans this Winter! I am so tempted to buy this for Mathilde. The whole Peanuts range at Gap is adorable.

6. Hanna Andersson Peanuts Long Johns
Hanna Andersson pajamas are the best! They are made from the softest cotton and are so snuggly. The quality is fantastic and they can be passed down from sibling to sibling. They come in a huge range of designs including a few Peanuts themed Christmas designs which are all pretty gender neutral.

7 & 8. Itty Bitty Peanuts Characters
These cute little stuffies from Hallmark make the perfect stocking fillers. I have even used them in our advent calendar this year (which you can see here). They're available in Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy and Linus.

9. Classic Stuffed Snoopy
Every Peanuts fan needs a Snoopy to cuddle! Mathilde has this particular Snoopy from Hallmark and he's so soft and cuddly with no dangerous small parts, making him perfect for the littlest Peanuts fan.

10. Peanuts Holidays Through the Year book
This book from Hallmark is a lovely collection of all the Peanuts holiday stories throughout the year. My girls love reading the stories that they recognize from the classic Peanuts holiday movies.

11. Hanna Andersson Peanuts Short Johns
For when it's not quite cold enough to wear long johns, Hanna Andersson have their classic pajamas available in a short version. Like the long johns, the designs are pretty gender neutral.

12. Moleskin Peanuts Weekly Notebook Planner
Moleskin pocket sized planners are my go to diary every year. They fit perfectly in the front pocket of my diaper bag yet they have enough space for writing all of my appointments etc. Usually I just go with boring black, but for 2016 I'm going with Snoopy!

13. Cambridge Satchel Company Peanuts Mini Satchel
Umm... I NEED this satchel!

14. Peanuts Mini Notes
These little notes are great for writing little letters to Peanuts fans. Ava has a set of these are they are adorable. They'd be perfect for lunch box notes.

There are so many other great Peanuts collaborations out there too. Lacoste have a range of Peanuts polo shirts (which Kim may be finding under the Christmas tree), OPI make Peanuts nail polish, Coach have a range of Peanuts handbags (these are from 2014 and may be tricky to find), and there is a fun Snoopy game available for Wii, XBox, Playstation etc (which may also be under our tree this year).

I hope this guide helps you find the perfect gift for your little (or big!) Peanuts fan this holiday season.

52 Weeks: Week 46

Week 46: The Peanuts Movie
This past weekend we took the girls to see The Peanuts Movie.

Ava and Lola have been huge fans of Charlie Brown and co since we visited Santa Rosa last year and saw the Peanuts sculptures dotted around town (you can see them here). They've been so excited about the new movie coming out and couldn't wait to see it. I figured that it would be pretty busy on the opening weekend so decided to wait a week. I can't count how many times Ava and Lola asked if we could go see the movie in that week that it was out before we made it there!

16th Avenue Tiled Steps

Back in August I shared a beautiful location in San Francisco that the girls and I stumbled upon by mistake: the Hidden Garden Steps (which you can see here). We came across the Hidden Garden Steps while on our way to the more well known 16th Avenue Tiled Steps which are just a few blocks away. At the time I hadn't realized that there were two sets of tiled steps so close to each other and I thought I'd just made a mistake with the address. I felt pretty silly when I realized that we'd come so close to our intended destination without actually making it there!

During the Summer vacation the girls and I headed back to San Francisco's Sunset district to go see the famous tiled steps. This time we knew exactly where to go and we knew that there were two staircases. In fact, we made sure to walk via the Hidden Garden Steps to check those out again. Mathilde had been asleep in her baby carrier the first time around and this time she was awake.

First let's have a look at the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps...

52 Weeks: Week 45

Week 45: Holiday Photos

Last weekend the girls and I visited the flagship Gap store in San Francisco for a fun holiday photo event in collaboration with Tiny Prints.

It was a slightly chilly day so I was actually able to dress the girls in something a little wintry for the photos. Red hooded duffle coats, grey knit dresses, tights, boots and a cute hat for Mathilde. They looked like we actually get a proper Winter here!

An Advent Calendar with Hallmark Itty Bittys

Can you believe that Christmas is almost here again? Well, it's still a little way off, but it will be here before you know it, trust me.

I'm not usually the best at being organized for Christmas far in advance, but this year with a little help from Hallmark Gold Crown I'm getting a jump on this whole Christmas thing and starting my preparations early.

Today I'm sharing a DIY for an advent calendar featuring Itty Bittys from Hallmark. These tiny stuffies are the perfect surprise for an advent calendar and help make counting down the days until Christmas a little more fun. Itty Bittys come in a range of beloved characters including Star Wars, Disney Princesses, Frozen, Mickey Mouse, Peanuts, Muppets and Rainbow Brite (she's back!). My girls are huge fans of Peanuts so I chose Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy and Snoopy as treats to go in the advent calendar. Lola, like lots of little girls, is also kind of obsessed with Frozen, so I had to add Elsa, Anna and Olaf to the mix as well. If I was making the advent calendar for myself it would've been filled with Muppets. As a small child I wanted to grow up to be a frog so I could marry Kermit! Ok, that's a story for a different day...

Pumpkin Patch 2015

Now that the Halloween madness and the girls are back to regular school hours (they had short days plus a day off last week) I'm playing catch up on the blog. Today I'm sharing our visit to the pumpkin patch from a few weeks back.

Our annual visit to a pumpkin patch is always greatly anticipated by Ava and Lola. They love choosing their own pumpkins to carve for Halloween and they can't wait for the other fun activities that await them at the pumpkin patch. In the past we've visited Petaluma Pumpkin patch (you can see our previous visits here and here) but this year we thought we'd try somewhere different for a change. We still wanted to head north as the landscape around there is so pretty so we decided to choose another pumpkin patch near Petaluma. After checking out the websites of several pumpkin patches in the area we settled on McClelland's Dairy. The girls were pretty excited about one particular activity that McClelland's Dairy featured that the other's didn't. The pumpkin blaster! 

As excited as we were for the pumpkin blaster, we decided to hit the field and choose our pumpkins first before heading to the activity area. Lola wasn't too picky about her pumpkins and pretty much just chose the first two that she came along - which admittedly, were pretty good pumpkins. Ava, however, had to check as many pumpkins as possible before deciding which two she would like. Mathilde just tried (unsuccessfully!) to pick up every pick up every pumpkin she saw. And she refused to wear shoes. Oh my were her feet filthy by the end of the day!

Mathilde's First Haircut

For quite some time now Mathilde's hair has been a scruffy mess. It's cute, but it's always in her eyes - and nose! - and she hates wearing hair clips or a headband. The only way I've been able to keep it kind of neat is to tie the front back in her trademark "palm tree" pony tail!

Today I finally took the plunge and had Mathilde's fringe/bangs cut to tidy it up. I'd been putting it off as I was worried it might not suit her. Neither Ava nor Lola had a fringe when they were little so I wasn't sure what it would look like. I imagined a horrible 90s bowl cut reminiscent of Uncle Jesse and Aunt Becky's twin boys on Full House! Those kids sure did have bad hair!

Anyway, my other concern was that Mathilde would freak out at the hairdresser and would end up with her hair half done. Kind of like Lola's first haircut attempt (which you can see here).

As it turned out, both of my fears were unfounded. Mathilde sat in the chair like she'd been going to the hairdresser for years and her hair came out cute. Look at that little smile as she gets her hair cut!

52 Weeks: Week 44

Week 44: Puddle Jumping

It doesn't happen often here, but this week it rained! And not just a little bit of drizzle either, mind you, it was proper rain. The rain started on Sunday evening and continued through the night and until Monday morning. By the time we were ready to leave for school the rain was mostly gone, but it had left something just as exciting... puddles!

We made sure to leave the apartment a little earlier than usual so we would have time to jump in a few puddles on our way to school. The girls were pretty happy when the first big puddle appeared - although they did have to make sure not to splash too big and saturate their clothes at the start of the day!

Halloween 2015

Boo!

Halloween is over for another year.

The girls had lots of fun dressing up yesterday. They loved trick or treating and seeing their friends as we made our way up and down our favorite trick or treating street. And Mathilde has discovered that if she goes to people's doors and holds out a bag, strangers will give her candy! Ok, that last one doesn't sound so great, but that is what trick or treating is about, after all!

You've already seen the girls' costumes from my post yesterday about the Halloween celebrations at school, so there's no surprise there. But... there were a few extra modifications that were added for the big day which you'll see soon.

This year was our first Halloween on a weekend. Usually we celebrate Halloween at school and then head out to trick or treat in the evening at a nearby street that is blocked off to traffic for the evening. This year though we got to extend the celebrations. There were the school festivities on Friday (which you can see here if you missed it) and then yesterday we went trick or treating twice. Double the fun!