Beach Weather Already?

Paulo (wearing the Le Top "Under the Sea" pull over hoodie shirt with a red crab appliqué) and Miranda playing on the beach.

It’s only March here in the Bay Area but the weather has been so warm and sunny (with a few rainy days in between) that we’ve actually been hitting the beach since January! Last week we went to Pacific Grove. My husband was at a 3-day seminar and since he was staying at a swanky hotel, we decided to “join” him and enjoy the amenities that fancy lodging offers, such as a salt water pool and hot tub, breakfast buffets, and free freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Mmmmm!

While Daddy was sitting in an uncomfortable chair in a dimly-lit conference room, we were outdoors absorbing sun rays along the coast at the Asilomar State Beach. It was sunny but a little chilly and I wasn’t sure how long we would last at the beach. But as soon as we laid our blanket on the sand and the kids dumped out all their sand toys, the chill in the air seemed to dissipate. My kids were ready to go jump in the ocean! (But we didn’t. That water is FREEZING!)

After a couple hours, we packed it up and drove back to the hotel where we spent the afternoon swimming in the pool, then in the hot tub, then in the pool, then the hot tub (you get the picture), until Daddy came to retrieve us for dinner. What a fun day! Daddy should go to more conferences at ritzy hotels.

Paulo is wearing the Le Top "Under the Sea" lined swim trunks.

CHECK OUT MORE OF THE LE TOP SPRING COLLECTION AT
www.letop-usa.com

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Le Top Darling of the Day: Marion

Today’s Darling, precious Marion (20 months-old), looks like she’s ready to get into some mischief. In this photos she was enjoying a day playing at the beach and wondering just how far she would be allowed to go in.

Congratulations are in order to Marion for being our Le Top Darling of the Day!

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Le Top Darling of the Day: Ben

Hanging at the beach, what fun! Today’s darling, Ben (9-months-old), couldn’t be happier spending the day on the sand with his family on a recent Florida vacation. We’re told he has a special curiosity about everything in his environment and especially people. If he spots someone nearby he does everything he can to catch their attention and engage with them. He is good-natured, calm and always full of smiles. Sounds like he’s a joy!

Congratulations Ben on being name the Le Top Darling of the Day!

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Summer in February?

Getting sandy in Santa Cruz! (Paulo is wearing "ship ahoy!" from Le Top's 2011 spring / summer collection.)

That’s right! While it was snowing in other parts of the United States, California had temperatures ranging in the 70s with full sun last weekend. Not a cloud in the clear blue sky! And instead of being cooped up at home watching the Super Bowl, we spent the day enjoying the beautiful summer-like weather in the middle of winter.

In typical Bay Area fashion, we dressed in layers leaving the house wearing pants and sweatshirts (and even throwing a coat in the car just in case). But I couldn’t believe that we all stripped down to shorts and t-shirts by lunch time! My daughter even wished she brought her bathing suit.

I guess the groundhog not seeing his shadow is true because spring is on its way over!

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We were Lucky Ducks at the Beach

I have wanted to go the beach ever since the rain had stopped. Two months ago, I randomly picked a Saturday in June and wrote in my calendar “Go to the Beach!” A couple of days before Beach Day, the weather turned gray and it had started to rain. In fact, in some areas it started to hail. I said to myself, “NO WAY! This weather better not ruin my Beach Day.”

Early Saturday morning, we packed our beach gear then left the house. It was a bit chilly, and the clouds partially covered the blue sky, but I was determined. This is MY Beach Day, and we were going to go to the beach—whether it was sunny or not. I didn’t care if we froze out there and caught colds!! Our hour-long drive to the beach wasn’t promising. It had been cloudy all the way there, but as soon as we arrived at my favorite beach spot, lo and behold… It was a gorgeous, sunny day. Blue skies and a warm breeze. We were certainly “lucky ducks” to have perfect beach weather! Maybe it’s because I dressed my children in le•top’s 2009 Spring Lucky Duck and Tiptoe Tulip Ducklings collections. (Haha!) At our next beach trip, I think I’ll have them wear these outfits and see if we can be lucky again with a perfect, sunny day. Have you gone to the beach yet this year?

le•top Tiptoe Tulip Ducklings for girls and Lucky Duck for boys. Click on the image to see all the offerings for both collections.

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Little Loves Closet in Capitola, CA

Little Loves Closet at 110 Stockton Avenue, Capitola, CA 95010

It was Super Bowl Sunday, and we were supposed to go to a Super Bowl party, but the weather was gorgeous, sunny and warm (especially for February)…who’d want to stay indoors? Since my husband isn’t a big baseball fan (yeah, I know, it’s football…that was a joke!), we decided to hit the beach. I love the quaint little town of Capitola in Santa Cruz, because not only am I a few feet from the ocean, but I can also shop! Capitola Village has the cutest children’s apparel store called Little Loves Closet (previously known as European Children’s Clothing). They have been in business for 10 years, and still going strong! I usually stop by there to pick something up for Miranda. I just love that store!

Little Loves Closet is located at 110 Stockton Avenue in the Merchantile Shopping Center. This charming sidewalk store carries the most fashionable children’s apparel at reasonable prices. And they always have a sale going on! They have a wide array of baby and children’s clothes (up to size 12) and a nice selection of le•top brand clothes for boys and girls (sizes 0 – 6x). Since they’re near the beach, they carry le•top bathing suits all year round! They also sell shoes and boots, rain coats, costumes, pajamas, and other accessories.

If you ever get a chance to visit Capitola, be sure to stop by Little Loves Closet. Or you can also visit them at littlelovescloset.com and shop online. They offer gift certificates, gift wrapping, and also have a calendar of events of what’s happening in Capitola.

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