Smart Tips for Back-to-School Shopping & Le Top’s NEW Pre-Fall Styles!

To your kids, shopping for new clothes, gear, and school supplies may be the only good thing about going back to school. Here are some back-to-school shopping tips to get you in the mood for fall clothes in the middle of summer!

Shop Le Top’s NEW pre-fall arrivals and click HERE 

• Start early. If you haven’t already, try to get your child’s school supply list from the school. Or compile your own list of items (backpack, notebooks, pencils, pens, etc.) you think your kid will need right away versus items (calculator, text book covers, Spanish dictionary, winter coat) that can wait till later in the school year.
• Shop at home first. It’s easy to forget in August that you’ve packed away extra school supplies last spring. Try to find as many items on your list around the house before you hit the aisles. Chances are, you probably have binders, colored pencils and highlighters left over from last year. Once you’ve completed your search, gather everything together to determine where you can save.
• Make a list and a budget and keep it with you at all times. You never know when you might stumble onto a sale on your way to the dentist or the grocery store.
• Buy a lunch box. You can save so much money when you send your kids to school with a homemade lunch. Added bonus: It’s likely to be a healthier choice. And you can monitor the cost of your homemade lunch purchases by using grocery store coupons, packing leftovers and reusing water bottles.

Also check out Rabbitmoon’s mix and match styles HERE

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Pinky Scout Boutique: STORE SPOTLIGHT PREMIER RETAILER Q&A

Back-to-school is in full swing, and we interviewed Stacy Rueckhaus, co-owner of one of the best (and most darling) children’s boutiques in Ohio – Pinky Scout – to get the inside kids-style-know-how and get you pumped up for fall fashion. Read more to learn just who exactly these mysterious “Pinky Scout” kids really are, the special “Pinky Scout” chant, what Stacy swore she would never do as a parent, great tips on fall fashion, and last but not least, parenting tips for back-to-school from the gals at Pinky Scout boutique!

 

Pinky Scout

5 East Main Street
Troy, OH 45373
937.440.1211
www.pinkyscout.com

CHECK-IN and JOIN Pinky Scout Boutique Facebook page and click HERE

1.    Pinky Scout is an fun and funky name! Tell us how you came to call your store Pinky Scout.
Stacy:  The store was created by myself and my two sisters, Julie and Sarah. When we were kids we formed our own secret club and called ourselves the “The Pinky Scouts.” It was a special club where we would tell each other our secrets and bond. Growing up we would always link pinkies and reference “Pinky Scout” when we had something to share with each other.  Now our daughters have joined the club and we all bond together over our Pinky Scout chant….it’s a bit corny, but i’ll share it with you.  (You have to link pinkies and solemnly repeat):

I love my pinky, yes I do, and NO, my pinky is not blue!”

You can’t go back on your word after saying that!

2.    Tell us the inside scoop about any special events that you have planned for fall, especially the fun deals we can expect!
Stacy:  At our store we support local designers and authors, there are so many talented individuals in our hometown! Most recently we set up a booth in our store to promote 2 local children’s authors, Hope Rethman and Meaghan Fisher, with a book signing. It was such a big success and our customers love the fact that we support local entrepreneurs. You can buy their books at: http://www.gypsypublications.com/GypsyMain/BookStore.html

3.    Please tell us 1 tip for a mom sending her child to school for the first time?
Stacy:  Get them to bed on time! Believe me, we learned from experience. A fresh and well-rested child will have a much better day at school.

Le Top "Pizzazz" collection super soft stretch cotton multi stripe hot pink dress

4.    Back-to-school is here – what are 3 trends you can tell parents to look for when buying their kids’ wardrobe?
Stacy: 

1. Accessorize! Hair bows, hair flowers, funky clips. Always add an extra special piece to make your child stand out!
2. Comfort. Kids want clothes that are comfortable (like Le Top!) For the younger set, elastic waists and knits work best.
3. Pull out the 80’s fashion. Neon, mesh and lots of rubber bracelets.  

5.    Tell us…before you “had kids or grandkids, what is one thing you swore you’d never…?” Please share!
Stacy:  That’s easy, my sister still teases me about this. My husband and I swore no store bought plastic toys or television for our Lily before she was born. It worked for a while, we bought her wooden toys and lots of books! When she started asking for Dora and The Wiggles it was all over. We couldn’t say No. Everything in moderation though. 

Inside Pinky Scout

6.    Describe the neighborhood of your store location in Troy, Ohio. Did you grow up in the local area?
Stacy:  We are located in a beautiful historic downtown area with lots of mom and pop shops and restaurants. Think cobblestone walk-throughs and a roundabout in the middle of town with a huge fountain! It’s a perfect fit for us. My sisters and I all grew up in the surrounding area and wanted to bring some more style to the area. 

7.    Tell us about a “special” moment that made your day working at your store.
Stacy:    There are a lot of them. One that stands out is making Christmas Eve deliveries to a few out of town customers that couldn’t make it in to the store. “Saving Christmas” for them that year made it all worth it.  

8.    Where are the best/essential family hangouts and places to go around your store location?
Stacy:  Our town’s weekly Farmers Market. Every Saturday through September, you’ll find lots of families out enjoying local food and arts. We love it! Our store occasionally sets up there to promote our business and some of the local artists we feature in our store.

Le Top "Vroom!" collection

9.    What Le Top or rabbitmoon Fall 2011 collection is your store’s favorite and why?
Stacy:  Le Top’s Vroom! My sister just had a baby boy and we love the new Fall Vroom! Collection. The motorcycle jacket and matching hat is a must! 

Pinky Scout

5 East Main Street
Troy, OH 45373
937.440.1211
www.pinkyscout.com

CHECK-IN and JOIN Pinky Scout Boutique Facebook page and click HERE

 

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Kids’ Ketch: STORE SPOTLIGHT PREMIER RETAILER Q&A

This week we travelled to Lewes, Delaware to interview one of the cutest children’s boutiques we know – Kids’ Ketch! Owner, Teresa Ford, gave us the inside scoop on what “ketch” means in sailing, their upcoming event for the Italian Fun Fest, back-to-school trends, the fabulous local hangouts for families, and a fun tidbit to leave in your kiddo’s paper bag lunch to make their day! Read more and discover fun facts about Kids’ Ketch boutique!

KIDS’ KETCH
132 Second Street
Lewes, DE 19958
302.645.8448

or go to www.kidsketch.com for more information

CHECK-IN and JOIN Kids’ Ketch Facebook page and click HERE

1.    What is the inspiration behind your store’s name? Give us 3 fun facts about your store that a typical customer wouldn’t know.
Teresa: We are located where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, so I wanted to have a name related to the sea and to children. A “ketch” is a two-masted sailboat and when I combined that with “kids” I liked the sound of it.  As for 3 fun facts a typical customer wouldn’t know:

1. We started as a small store in 1990 with just 450 sq. ft.  After two moves, we are in our spot today, with 3,700 sq. ft, which is the only way a lot of people have ever seen us. We’ve been in this location since 1998.
2. My two children have both worked here, my son still does, my mother who is 90 years old continues to work here, and my two nieces have worked here. So it has really been a family affair.
3. We have a large fish tank in our store that the children love, and my husband, who is the mayor in this town, takes care of it. When people ask who takes care of our fish tank, we tell them “The Mayor does!”

2.    Tell us the inside scoop about any special events that you have planned at your store this  summer, especially the fun deals we can expect.
Teresa:  On Friday, September 23rd, our downtown businesses are having an Italian Fun Fest where the street will be closed to cars, and we will celebrate all things Italian. In our store, we will feature Quercetti toys, which are made in Italy. We’ll raffle off a Bocce set, and have a fountain set up in the street where kids can make a wish and throw in a coin. The proceeds will benefit the Food Bank of Delaware.

(left to right) Teresa Ford, store owner, Mayor Jim Ford, Drew Laroche, and Karin Evick, store manager, celebrating the Best of Delaware award for children's clothing store in 2010.

3.    Back-to-school is just around the corner – what are 3 trends you can tell parents to look for when buying their kids’ wardrobe?
Teresa:  Back-to-school trends I love are:

• The deep rich colors and mix of textures this fall
• The mix of prints, especially in girls clothes that have cute tops and dresses, with leggings of a coordinating different print
• Appliquéd flowers that create a 3-dimensional look on garments

4.    Tell us…before you “had kids or grandkids, what is one thing you swore you’d never…?”
Please share!
Teresa:  One thing I swore I would not do is spoil kids or grandkids by giving them too much from my store.  All I needed to do was think of the kids that don’t have much, and realize that kids can get by with less than you think. I think I followed that rule with my children, but I don’t have grandchildren yet, and I bet that will be more difficult! 

5.    If you could pick one item to pack in a paper bag lunch for your kid, what would it be?
Teresa:  The one item I would put in a paper bay lunch is a note or funny picture that would make them smile.

6.    Give us your must-have essential for a boy and a girl’s back-to-school wardrobe from your store.
Teresa:  A must-have essential is a vibrant, colourful tunic top with fun contrasting leggings.

7.    Describe the neighborhood of your store location in Lewes, Delaware. Did you grow up in
any of the local area?
Teresa:  Our store is located on an old-fashioned “main street” with small boutiques and restaurants. Shoppers often see their friends and neighbours while strolling the area. The town was founded in 1631, so many of the buildings are historic architecture. One block over is the canal where many boats are docked, and walk a couple more blocks and you’re at the beach! 

8.    Tell us about a “special” moment that made your day working at your store.
Teresa:  The special moments that come to mind are when I get to interact with the children and they let their guard down and allow me into their world. This often happens when they are playing in our play area that has a train table and kitchen set up, or when they let me teach them a new game they enjoy playing. Special events allow us to interact with the kids more than usual, and I  guess it’s my latent “school teacher” genes I inherited from my mother that make it so much fun.

 9.    Where are the best/essential family hangouts and places to go around your store location?
Teresa:  The best place to go – the Beach! We have the best beaches here, plus the Cape Henlopen State Park with it’s rolling sand dunes. We  have a wonderful Canalfront Park with playground, and the best places to get ice cream – like Kings Homemade Ice Cream, the Dairy Queen, and Two Dips.

Le Top "Cute Cookie" Corduroy Dress & Footless Stripe Tights

10.    What Le Top or rabbitmoon Fall 2011 collection is your store’s favorite and why?
Teresa: My favorite Fall 2011 Collection – Cute Cookie by Le Top for its vibrant colors, mixture of textures, and easy-to-wear styles.

KIDS’ KETCH
132 Second Street
Lewes, DE 19958
302.645.8448

or go to
www.kidsketch.com
for more information

 CHECK-IN and JOIN
Kids’ Ketch Facebook page
and click HERE

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Magnetic Lunch Chart – Not just for Back-to-School, but Summer School too!

With summer school now and back-to-school in August – every day can be difficult to whip up a tasty bag lunch that your child will want and not feel sick of. A kid may be more likely to eat her lunch if she or he helps choose the menu. When your child uses this magnetic chart to map out her meals for the week, it saves time and helps make grocery shopping easier.

Print the attached magnetic lunch chart (Courtesy of Martha Stewart) on a full size magnet sheet. Then glue colored construction paper to another magnetic sheet. Cut the colored magnetic paper into rectangles. Together, come up with a variety of sandwiches, fruits, healthy snacks, and desserts; then print the names of the meals out onto the mini rectangles and let your child put them on the refrigerator to choose for each day!

Click on photo for larger version

Items Needed:

• magnetic sheets
• colored construction paper
• scissors
• sharpie marker

Check out the Le Top’s pre-fall back-to-school clothes and our sale on Le Top spring/summer collections.

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Back-to-School and Kids (and you) Staying Healthy!

With your kids back in school and new exposure to germs and other fun little sniffles from the other children – how do you recognize when your child doesn’t just have the sniffles, but actually has a fever that might lead to illness and you should possibly see a doctor?  Well, I have been ‘down for the count’ for 3 whole days with a fever and sore throat which I caught from my boyfriend’s 3-year-old cousin who recently went back to school. I won’t lie though, I did call my mom for advice on my sickness.

As a parent, you’ve probably experienced waking in the middle of the night to find your child rosy checked, hot, and sweaty. You check your little one’s forehead, and it feels warm. You might immediately suspect a fever, but are unsure of what to do next. Should you get out the thermometer? Call the doctor?

According to Kids Health Organization, “In healthy kids, fevers usually don’t indicate anything serious. Although it can be frightening when your child’s temperature rises, fever itself causes no harm and can actually be a good thing — it’s often the body’s way of fighting infections. And not all fevers need to be treated. High fever, however, can make a child uncomfortable and worsen problems such as dehydration.”

Here are some facts about fevers, how to measure them and when to call the doc. 

Fever Facts
Fever occurs when the body’s internal “thermostat” raises the body temperature above its normal level. This thermostat is found in the part of the brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus knows what temperature your body should be (usually around 98.6° Fahrenheit or 37° Celsius) and will send messages to your body to keep it that way.

Sometimes, though, the hypothalamus will “reset” the body to a higher temperature in response to an infection, illness, or some other cause.

Causes of Fever
It’s important to remember that fever by itself is not an illness — it’s usually a symptom of an underlying problem. According to Kids Health Organization, fever has a few potential causes:

Infection: Most fevers are caused by infection or other illness. Fever helps the body fight infections by stimulating natural defense mechanisms.

Overdressing: Infants, especially newborns, may get fevers if they’re over bundled or in a hot environment because they don’t regulate their body temperature as well as older kids. However, because fevers in newborns can indicate a serious infection, even infants who are overdressed must be evaluated by a doctor if they have a fever.

Immunizations:
Babies and kids sometimes get a low-grade fever after getting vaccinated.

Although teething may cause a slight rise in body temperature, it’s probably not the cause if a child’s temperature is higher than 100° F (37.8° C).

How to Tell Your Kid Has a Fever.
A gentle kiss on the forehead or a hand placed lightly on the skin is often enough to give you a hint that your child has a fever. However, this method of taking a temperature (called tactile temperature) is dependent on the person doing the feeling and doesn’t give an accurate measure of temperature.

Use a reliable thermometer to confirm a fever (which is when a child’s temperature is at or above one of these levels): 

• 100.4° F (38° C) measured rectally (in the bottom)
• 99.5° F (37.5° C) measured orally (in the mouth)
• 99° F (37.2° C) measured in an axillary position (under the arm)

But how high a fever is doesn’t tell you much about how sick your child is. A simple cold or other viral infection can sometimes cause a rather high fever (in the 102°-104° F / 38.9°-40° C range), but this doesn’t usually indicate a serious problem. And serious infections might cause no fever or even an abnormally low body temperature, especially in infants.

Other signs are:

• Hot and flushed all over
• Irritability or crying
• Listless or lethargic
• Restless during the night
• Loss of appetite
• Uncontrollable shivering
• Sudden vomiting
• Whining, complaining or clinginess

When a Fever Is Something Serious
In the past, doctors advised treating a fever on the basis of temperature alone. But now they recommend considering both the temperature and a child’s overall condition.

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