All Things Valentine's Day!
•Posted on February 06 2019
Love is in the air! Because, one of my favorite holidays is right around the corner, VALENTINES DAY!!! I have such fond memories of Valentine's days when I was growing up, the morning of February 14th, without fail, my sisters and I woke up to a dozen roses, and chocolates, given to us by our dad. It made me feel so special and loved, and I think that's part of what sparked a lifelong love for the holiday of love. At the time I didn't realize, but my dad was showing how we should always be treated by our loved ones, that we deserve to be held up on that pedestal, every day, but especially on the day that recognizes love.
Now that I am a parent myself, I have found it important, and fun! to carry on the tradition and standard, that my father started every Valentine's Day. I love to find sweet little gifts to give my boys, as well as dress them appropriately for the day! Hearts, pink & red are favorites! I will typically throw a little mini Valentine's Day tea party with my sister in law and my niece on the weekend of the holiday. It's great fun to set up a little tablescape & put together goodies for the kids. Valentine's Day is a family affair for us, my husband and I have never gone out on Valentine's Day! It's so packed everywhere, prices are so inflated, and, we have two children that we love deeply.... if I'm celebrating the day of love- then I want to celebrate with my children & our little family. My boys and I make Valentine's for their dad every year without fail- my husband will get me flowers from him & the kids ( a way to show the boys out there how to treat the women in their lives!) and we will do a craft, maybe make pizza, and do a movie night. I can feel the love already, can you?!?
So! I've put together a fabulous little list of some awesome STC goodies for Valentine's Day! It's great for the environment & let's face it, us moms too, ( no silly little toys that just take up space/ break after 30 seconds) to purchase the curated goodies that Sweet Tea & Caviar stock. Leslie, the owner, hand picks every item, and uses them on her own kids- that's something I TRUST! It feels good to give our kids meaningful little gifts & sustainable clothing pieces. The fact that almost all of the clothing items in this list are currently on sale feels pretty darn amazing & will take away any guilt about buying! So, Let's jump on in, shall we?!
OUTFITS
- Huxbaby - Honestly, the entire Huxbaby autumn-winter line is perfect for Valentine's Day for both girls & boys! The Lolli Bear & Heart Pop prints are ADORABLE & perfect for the girls! My oldest will be rocking his " Heartbeats" cardi for V Day! It's so perfect for the boys! Pair it with a pair of red skinnies & a white or pink t shirt underneath, & done! Fashionable & festive outfit for the dudes! There is also a slightly more " girlish" version of the cardigan that has pink outlined hearts all over! You can get all the Huxbaby items mentioned here for 40% off with code SPRINGREADY
- Joah Love is a favorite at STC, and they have the most amazing pink velour jumpsuits that any girl would look perfect in for Valentine's Day! The Veronica jumpsuit comes in smaller sizes as well, so you can have your littles twin! Or put your little babe in the Cassidy set & you are good to go for any vday celebration! It's a gorgeous light pink velour top with ruffles & a blue velour pants set! These items are also in the spring ready sale, use the code SPRINGREADY for 40% off!!
- Rock Your Baby - Velour & velvet were the fabric of the season! And it's a beautiful choice on the Velvet Maroon Waisted dress! The color is deep & mesmerizing. I can just picture a sweet little girl twirling her Valentine's Day away in it. If velvet isn't quite your jam, or you would prefer something PINK... well the baby pink long sleeve waisted dress is truly a perfectly pink pick!! Add a fun pair of the Little Stocking Co knee highs & the heart lollipop pink knot baby bling bow & your little is ready to ROCK Valentine's Day! - Be sure to check out the sale items of Rock Your Baby also!! They have some perfect heart leotards & dresses & some beautiful tutu skirts!!! For the items mentioned about not on sale, be sure to use the SPRINGREADY code!
- Bobo Choses- Bobo is an all new brand to Sweet Tea & Caviar for the spring & summer season!! This brand is a long time beloved brand that truly focuses on sustainability, and produced and designed in Barcelona using only 100% organic cotton. The Cherry Tee, a dusky blue with deep red cherries front and center is a perfect addition to any little boys Valentine's Day outfit! The Paul's tee is beautiful with a sweet little dog in a hat print and is an allover deeply hued red. Another perfect choice for girls or boys! For the little girls there is the Pollen T-Shape Dress, which is perfectly pink with geometric shapes in red and blue, gorgeous understated apparel for Valentine's Day and beyond! The knit Cherry tank is a must mention, with its sweet pink color and two brightly red colored cherries, it exudes the happy love feeling of Valentine's Day! You will fall in love with Bobo Choses, their quality, and their stories of each collection bring out the child in everyone!
- Beau Hudson has some amazing basics perfect for the little guys ( and even the little ladies!) Their Blush Signature cardigan is the absolute perfect finishing touch to any vday outfit! Pair it with a Jamie Kay Henley, or- do double the pink & pair it with the Raw Edge Blush tall tee! Great on its own, but better with a matching cardi. The perfect accessory for the boys on Valentine's Day is a beanie! Beau Hudson has not one, but THREE shades of pink knit beanies! Marshmallow pink, Musk pink & Dusty pink are all options that you can't go wrong with! If you'd rather some red for your lil dude then the Plum Pudding Bandit Beanie is an obvious choice, and would look great with the blush cardi! What do you know!!?? The SPRINGREADY code is valid on all the Beau Hudson items!
- Baby Sprouts- Let's talk SUPER COMFY for a perfect Valentine's Day spent lounging at home! Baby Sprouts Co offers sizes from 0-3 months up to 4t! These are basics at their best, and softest!! The Mauve color is perfect for both girls and boys! Put your boy in the mauve harems ( SO SOFT!) and the mauve baseball tee! Girls can rock the mauve sweatshirt with maybe a pair of the Blush Slim Harems! Monochrome goodness right there! If you have a little itty bitty babe celebrating their first Valentine's Day the Knotted Sleeper in either Mauve, Blush or Blush stripes will do the trick! The Blush baseball tee is perfectly paired with the Blush leggings for all those girls that put comfort first ( yet style on this one is deff competing for 1st!!) !! Baby sprouts is a favorite in our house, and my littlest will be wearing his mauve baseball tee & sweatshirt on Valentine's Day for sure! Grab these pieces at a steal of a price- you know it!!! SPRINGREADY at checkout will do the trick!
Let's talk shoes & accessories!! Sweet Tea & Caviar has a seemingly endless array of shoes & all the accessories you could dream of!
- Native Shoes - Natives are a sure favorite in my house! They don't just make summer shoes, either!! We have natives for every season & they are our everyday go-to's!! The Monaco Mid in torch red & shell white are super cool high tops in a deeply bright red, perfect to complete any boys outfit on the love holiday! They are also offered in a low top version. Apollo Moc in torch red is a super comfy way to spend Valentine's Day with its smooth microfiber & superfoam perforated insoles they are a sure win! The Kensington treklites in chameleon pink & stone brown are the most gorgeous little boots you will ever lay eyes on! I have the black pair for my youngest, and they are a favorite! Durable, yet very lightweight they easily slip on & off yet stay on perfectly. They offer amazing traction and wipe clean so easily! Pair them with a dress or skirt, leggings or jeans, they go with any and everything! If you want to go the Danny route for your little love bug, look no further than the Margot's in rose gold bling or ski patrol bling!!! They are the perfect little blinged out ballet flats in pink or red and all over glitterfied! Be sure to check out the sale items in the Natives section, as there are plenty of red, pink & purple options at GREAT prices!! Consider the Miles & the Jeffersons! Yep, the SPRINGREADY code will work on the natives as well!
- Elephantito- I just adore a beautiful & well made Mary Jane on a little girl! Elephantito delivers, with high quality, handmade leather shoes at a great affordable price. The Mary Jane in blush is a perfect soft-soled shoe for you little babe or new walker! For the bigger girls, the Mary Jane in pink leather is a classic choice with no detail spared! Scalloped edges, a pearlescent button and slip-resistant soles are just some of the top level features!
- Mini Melissa- A funky & beautiful all girls footwear line designed to thrill!! Every shoe is strawberry scented & made of a rubbery plastic material that is so comfortable! The Mini Ultra Bow 3 in Pearlescent Pink is a Mary Jane style ballet flat in a holographic pink color with gold accents and a perfectly placed pink bow! The Mini Sugar Rain Bow boot in pale pink is a waterproof rain boot that doesn't look like a rain boot at all!! It's high fashion & durable, with a bow to top it off! If rain has you down this Valentine's Day slip on the sugar rainbow boot & rainbows & hearts will appear in no time!! All Mini Melissa's are currently included in the sale, too!
- Piper & Kitten- A new brand to STC, Piper & Kitten is a mom owned & run, handmade top knot company. They have an extensive line of top knots in so many beautiful patterns, colors & textures! Every top knot is handmade right here in the U.S! And the best part? Their toddler size fits most adult heads! ( as well as fitting toddler heads, of course! ) their fabric is stretchy, so that's why the toddler size works on moms as well! I actually own a few for myself, and love them!!! Twinning with your little on Vday?! Yes, please! Their Mauve & Maroon color-ways are perfection & the cranberry crushed velvet top knot is a no brainer accessory to tie any pink or red outfit together! The Norah, Sutton, Sydney and Mandy are all beautiful options with gorgeous textures and or stripes. Add a little plaid perfection to any Valentine's Day outfit with the complimenting colors in the Miles or the Max. I can picture the twinning love right now! Also- all you boy moms out there- gran one for yourself!! I know I'll be rocking mine on Valentine's Day!
- Baby Bling- A longtime customer favorite & must have!!! Baby Bling has the perfect Valentine's Day bows, whether you like a big bow, or a nylon band with a small & sweet bow, there is something for everyone! The Bubblegum Dot & Cherry Dot Dang Enormous Bows will literally fill the day with some BIG love! The Heart Lollipop & Red Painted Stripe printed knot bows add some serious playful style!! Pair them with any outfit mentioned above & your little girl will be winning as Queen of Valentine's Day! Switch things up a bit and add some purple to your littles outfit with the Light Orchid Knot bow headband, it's a gorgeous light purple color that will go together seamlessly with any pink or red outfit! If your not BIG on the big bows, Baby Bling offers plenty of nylon banded petite bows. The Pink, Hot Pink & Mauve Leather Skinny Bows are gorgeous, however, my favorites are the Velvet Skinny Bows!! The Taupe, Mauve & Burgundy color-ways are no-brainers! You could also gift one of these bows to your little on Valentine's Day!
I'm not sure which I love more on Valentine's Day, the outfits, or all the goodies!!! Party planning, little gifts, it's all so.much.fun!!! Of course, Sweet Tea & Caviar has everything you need to make a magical & love filled day with your littles!
GOODIES
- Moulin Roty- A beautiful French brand with the utmost attention to detail, quality & safety! Moulin Roty products are made to withstand the test of time using locally European sources materials & meet rigorous safety standards. Their designs are timeless. Have a Valentine's Day tea party with the Parisiennes Tea Set, a gorgeous vintage inspired tin & metal tea set with beautiful pastel pinks & yellows & a delicate floral pattern. How about some tea cakes with the tea party? The Moulin Roty Baking Set is the perfect Valentine's Day essential, for a gift, for some Vday crafting, baking, or for your little Vday party! It comes complete with a sweet red plaid oven mitt, rolling pin, whisk, spatula, and a pastry cutter, as well as a muffin pan, tart pan, loaf pan, heart-shaped cookie cutters, and a mini recipe book!! Make some heart shaped cookie with your littles and let them decorate them with icing and sprinkles after!
- Books! - Books are a fabulous gift to people of all ages!! STC stocks so many wonderful books to dive in and get lost with your children! The Gibbs Smith book, Edgar and the Tattle Tale Heart is a great introduction to one of the all-time greats of poetry, Edgar Allen Poe. The Hachette book- In My Heart: A Book Of Feelings is a beautiful book that explores the full range of emotions with whimsical illustrations and irresistible die-cut heart that extends through each page, this book is a must-have for every toddler & preschooler to learn all about their feelings. Another Gibbs Smith favorite, Romeo & Juilette: A Counting Primer, is the classic love story that counts friends, kisses, love letters, roses & more!
- Inklings Paperie- Throwing a mini Valentine's Day party? Well STC has some sweet decor items! Use the Pink & Buttercream colored cake topper on one of the cakes you make with the Moulin Roty baking set!! Perfect pastel colors for the sweetest Vday party! Balloons to match?!? Yes please!!! The Rose Gold & Pink confetti & Buttercream & gold confetti balloon kits are beautiful & festive! The balloons come as a pack of two, and will make a beautiful statement! I always say that with out balloons, a party is just meh... balloons can really make or break great party decor!!
- Feeling Smitten Bath Bakery - I have included these amazingly lush bath products on another one of my blog posts, and for good reason, they are ahhhhhmazing!! These are all natural bath products that are 100% safe for kids!! They carefully source ingredients such as salts from the Dead Sea. There is no guessing what may be in these, unlike bath products ( especially bath bombs) purchased randomly at a big department store... STC always carries their special holiday-inspired bath bombs & other bath products, and there is no shortage on adorable Valentine's Day items!!! The Short Cake Bubble Bar is a favorite, with a heart center & holiday themed colors, this bar makes loads of bubbles!!! My kids love a bath filled to the brim with bubbles, as I'm sure most kids do, and these bars set the BAR high! They last more than one tub, as well! My favorites are probably the Sweet Heart Bath Bombs, you can purchase them individually, or as a set of three. They look JUST like the conversation Heart candies, which are basically a staple of Valentine's Day, and these bombs come complete with sayings like " I'm Yours " & " Kiss Me" - they may even be, dare I say, better than the candy version!!! The Skinny Minnie Sweet Heart Cupcake bath bomb is a classic Feeling Smitten design, a mini cupcake lookalike, with a sweet little heart front & center on the mini pink red & white sprinkled cupcake, the bottom " cake" part is a bath bomb & the " icing" is a sugar scrub that dissolves slower & is great for exfoliating your feet!! There are tons of options, and they make a great little gift to give your kids on this special day! Choose from the Large Honey Bee Mine cupcake bomb, the Valentine's Mini Cupcake Bath Bomb trio set, or even the Happy Place Salt Slushies! Take a look at the Felling Smitten section of the site, there are plenty to choose from! Maybe even give one to your hubby & draw a fragrant bath after the kids have gone to bed. ;)
- Doll Kind- Truly the perfect Valentine's gift for your little Valentine! These dolls are lovingly made, and with the purchase of each doll, a doll is donated to a child less fortunate, now THAT is truly spreading the love. Every doll comes with 10 wooden tokens, with phrases such as- show love, gratitude, & kindness, the tokens are used to give out for random acts of kindness, and the dolls have a secret pocket used to hold the token. Also included is a list of random acts of kindness to help get your child started on their mission, as well as a naming certificate, in which by naming their doll, your child is agreeing to the mission of spreading love with their doll! There are so many adorable dolls to choose from, Grace with her pink hair in a bun, hot pink tutu & gold embroidered heart necklace, there is the Hope Doll, which is the cutest light mint colored hair boy rocking denim pants with suspenders! Fluer the Fairy is a smaller Doll Kind Doll that uses paper scrolls in place of tokens that your child can use to write down their good deeds & acts of kindness!!! She has pink hair and a sequined pink & silver tutu outfit, as well as pink fairy wings!! A great & impactful Valentine's tradition to start, you can make a goal with your children to use up the 10 tokens within the year, and the next Valentine's Day gift them the set of extra tokens to keep the kindness and love spreading!!
Small toys & Goodies- Finishing up this list with a few of my favorite small toys that will make the perfect little gesture of love to your little ones on Valentine's Day.
- Plan Toys Ballerina Spin & Spaceship Spin are a favorite in my house! At $12 each, they are the perfect small & inexpensive toy that will be played with again & again!!! These tops spin forever & are SO easy for kids to do on their own!!
- Maileg makes beautiful classic and timeless toys that are truly heirloom quality! Their Chatons kittens are the sweetest things wearing little-knit sweaters and floral skirts, my favorites are the yellow kitten Chaton in her peach-colored sweater, & the Black Kitten Charon in her sweet pink sweater. The Super Hero Mouse in a Suitcase is perfect for all the little boys out there, their imaginations will soar as they play all day with their new mouse friend! Can't forget about the littlest Valentine's in our lives, can we? STC carries the sweetest little 5.5 inch stuffed animals by Maileg, pick from a lion, hippo, gorilla, giraffe, or elephant! They are the perfect price at just $18, you won't break the bank but will still give a meaningful & beautiful gift! Or go bigger and give the medium sized grey rhino!
- Tegu makes learning fun and colorful!!! They make items for all ages, including their Poppy & Orange racers which would make a great first toy car, but also can easily enchant kids that are older! The Swivel bug is the perfect rattle to mold young minds, with its bright red color, and beads, it is built with elastics & magnets inside so you can pull and twist at its two halves! For the older kids grab them a pocket pouch, perfect for on the go, these beautifully colored magnetic wooden blocks will have them building and imagining wherever you go!
- Hachette makes beautiful unique and colorful puzzles of all kinds! For your dudes grab the Dinosaur Glow in the Dark Puzzle, with a 100 pieces it's a great activity the whole family can get in on! The Bonjour Paris Magnetic doll is perfect for any little girls Parisian dreams and is compact and portable in its own tin carrying case! The Rainbow Friends four layer puzzle is made of wood and encourages fine motor and hand-eye coordination skills! With four layers the fun will never run out!!! Gift your kids of all ages the Andy Warhol Soup Can Crayons set and use them to make Valentine's! My children an I hand make our Valentine's every year like I stated above, it's a great family tradition, that I highly recommend to everyone! Sweet Tea & Caviar stocks tons of great Hachette items, including books, sticker packs, pop up doll houses & all sorts of puzzles! Check out their section on the site for many more great Valentine's Day gift ideas!
Whew! You made it! With all these suggestions there is no way your Valentine's Day won't be filled with fun, pink & red, kindness and most importantly LOVE! Whatever and however you choose to spend the day, let's all make sure that we teach our children the meaning of love, family, and friendship because I believe this holiday is so much more than a " greeting card company holiday". Go on, dress up in alll of the pink, red, purple and hearts, and let's party, craft, give & receive, but most importantly - lets love to our fullest!!! Happy Valentine's Day!
Guest Blogger/Mama: Hannah Chagnon
Guest Blogger/Mama: Hannah Chagnon