Goodbye to Little Window Shoppe
May 18, 2009 by Emily · 62 Comments
My Dearest Window Shoppe Readers and Friends,
This post has taken me over a month to write - partly because this is my last post on this blog. I am so sad to announce that as of today, Little Window Shoppe is closing for good.
The decision was not taken lightly and was really hard to make, but a combination of factors came together that brought me to this post…very much wanting to spend more time with my family (I have a very busy two year old who needs more mommy-time), 
getting ready for baby #2 in November (I’ve been out sick for two months! But it’s totally worth it as we’re so excited to have a new baby come to our family), and finally getting ready for a move to a new state with my family this Summer (my hubby is starting a new job).
{Photo source: Wilson Library Reserve}
I have learned so much from blogging at Little Window Shoppe and will be forever grateful for the kind friends I have made and the amazing experiences that I have had here!! Thank you so much for taking time to make Little Window shoppe a part of your lives and for being such a fantastic community. And also, thank you for all of the nice emails and inquiries about how we are doing.
Before I say goodbye for good, I want to thank a few people who helped me along the way:
First and foremost, my husband Scott. He is an incredibly supportive husband and friend and was the first person to listen to my every idea and concern throughout my blogging adventures. He has also been Superman at my house and has cooked, cleaned, taken care of our two year old and helped me out while I was sick over the last seven weeks! I couldn’t ask for a better man in my life and I love him so much!!
I also wanted to thank Holly of Tutus and Turtles. She is so cool and listened and talked to me for hours on the phone as I worked out how I would end my Window Shoppe blogging days. Her blog has been an inspiration to me from the beginning and I think that her blog ideas rock!!
Finally, I wanted to thank each of the writers and contributors for Little Window Shoppe. Each of them had creative and beautiful ideas to share and I’m so grateful and honored that they wanted to be part of this blog with me. They have become some of my dearest friends and were the best group of writers a blog ever had! They even sent me tulips when I was sick (just about made me cry, I felt so loved).
Please visit each of their blogs to keep up with their cool ideas!
- Vanessa - her blog: I Never Grew Up
- Lauren - her blog: Supermom Central
- Michelle - her shoppe: Sweet Mady’s Paper
- Michaelle - her blog: Monkeys Momma
- Cassie - her shoppe: Madison Envy
- Kelly - her blog: Albany Mommy
Also, I wanted to leave you with a few additional recommendations of blogs I love - in case you are looking for new places to subscribe:
- www.simplemom.net - this is my absolute favorite blog to follow…it has the best family tips and ideas that make sense, the ideas are easy to follow and I just can’t get enough of its coolness.
- www.howaboutorange.blogspot.com - artsy, tons of crafts, diy ideas, printouts, and the best time-wasters ever.
- www.thepioneerwoman.com - recipes, photoshop tutorials, photography 101, down-to-earth life.
- www.makeandtakes.com - the coolest (and most creative) kids crafts ever!
- www.metropolitanmama.net - and for all you contest lovers, this Metro Mama has excellent giveaways all of the time - and she writes helpful articles with tips for parents. Love it.
There are so many more…but I think this is a great start.
If you want to stay in touch with me, you can follow me at a few sites:
- www.emilyjune.com (I’ll still be designing blogs and websites - starting again this fall).
- I’m also going to be checking in and updating my facebook page and my family blog regularly. They will have weekly updates of my family life and the cool fun things we are doing.
**If you want to stay in touch with me at my family blog or on facebook, just email me or leave a comment letting me know and I’ll send you the links.**
Thank you again for making this the best blogging experience I have ever had!!
Always,
Emily
Sensational Swirly Sun Hat
July 14, 2008 by Emily · 3 Comments
Love this hat! Find it at Anthropologie.com for $38.
Slip Slap Slop
June 18, 2008 by Emily · 4 Comments
These are the sounds of sun screen being slathered on kids everywhere… Yesterday we took Logan, my little one year old, to the pool. It was so much fun, kids were playing, Nerf footballs were flying and we were having a blast splashing in the water.
On our way home, I looked at the pink hue on our cheeks and thought about sun safety and sun screen. I have light skin and tons of freckles, so I am an avid sun-block user. Growing up, the 15 SPF just didn’t work for me, so I had to put on at least 30 SPF or above. Ultimately, I made sure that we wore our sunblock yesterday. But there are always a few (my self included) who get scorched by the sun each year and have an ouchy sunburn to endure.
I found this little article on Sun Safety to be really helpful - it presents the facts of sun exposure, and shares how to protect yourself from the sun and how treat your skin if a sun burn does occur. One fact states: “most kids rack up between 50% and 80% of their lifetime sun exposure before age 18, so it’s important that parents teach their children how to enjoy fun in the sun safely.”
And if by chance a sunburn does occur, here’s a sunburn Instruction Sheet:
If you are not sure which sunscreen to choose, this little article may be of some help too. Coppertone carries a few popular sun blocks for kids that I love to use especially as they are the No. 1 Pediatrician recommended brand, waterproof, hypoallergenic, non-irritating, PABA-free, fragrance-free and ideal for use on your baby’s face. Coppertone also has helpful fAQ’s, a summer tool-kit (which includes your local forecast and UV index), and great sun strategies.
And for easier application - try a sunblock stick (in sun block spray bottles too).
You can find these just about anywhere you like to shop for less than $10.
Mermaid and Shark Fins
May 30, 2008 by Emily · 6 Comments
Shark and Mermaid Fins: $34
For kids, Summer-time is filled with endless hours of playtime and splish-splashing in the pool. What little boy or girl wouldn’t love these fins when playing in the water?
Find these fins at Chasing Fireflies - one of my new FAVORITE shops for children. Where celebrating childhood through magical products that charm, surprise and delight, is something that they do everyday.
Our Take on Modest Swimming Suits
May 23, 2008 by Whitney · 13 Comments
So it’s the time (dreaded or anticipated) to get a new suit for the summer. Having been through swimsuit shopping myself I know how hard it is to find a suit that is… 1. MODEST 2. FITS 3. LOOKS GOOD 4. IS AFFORDABLE.
Hopefully this review is helpful and gives you an idea of what’s good, what’s OK, and how much you can expect to pay.
I am so grateful that I have the skills to make my own (if I can find fabric!) but I realize that not many people are so fortunate. I wish I had the time and energy to make all of my wonderful friends their own custom suit but unfortunately that is impossible. So in an attempt to help all of you out, I’m listing sites that I have found helpful.
I worked for this company last spring/summer as a seamstress and had a really good experience. Their suits run at about $40. They are in Utah and will also CUSTOM MAKE a suit for you ~ I think around $75-80 (which I know exceeds the $50 limit for LWS site but for a CUSTOM suit, that is a GOOD price)!
You pick your style, and fabric, and they will fit it to you. They are a great company and have a pretty good variety of fabrics. Their website isn’t the easiest to navigate, but it works if you don’t live in Utah.
Because they do everything in house it takes a while (3 to 4 weeks if they aren’t booked) to get your suit made. So if you are interested, check them out now and get on the waiting list so you have your suit in time for summer.
I have to be honest I don’t own anything from Modbe but I have only heard good things. And this season I was so impressed with their line! Wow! They are really really cute! And they have a really good selection in fun prints! Their Swim tops are $48 and their Bottoms are $26. Most tops mix and match with any of the bottoms.
If you are brave enough to go RETRO, these are really CUTE and most are MODEST! They actually have a few one-piece suits (I haven’t found many this year). Unfortunately their prices are expensive - up in the $80 to $90 range. Each style has a different price. But again for a swimsuit that is modest I would save up and pay that much.
I actually worked on Shade’s first swim line which was released last Spring. I own some of last seasons styles and the fit is pretty good. The hidden pockets in the bust allow you to add extra padding (which is nice if you need it). The high waisted bottoms hide tummy rolls well, which is always a plus. Overall, I think you would be happy with a suit from Shade. The downside to their line is they don’t have any prints. So its kind of boring, but some people like them plain, if that’s you Shade is your place. Shades Tops are $36.50 and the Bottoms are $22.50.
Tops with Bottom are $79, Skirts are $28. This company also has little girl suits for $39.
One more….
You can also find swim suits at Layers Clothing they have a few modest suits but the quality of the first places reviewed in this post may be a little better. All of their suits are $65.
We wish all of you luck in your swim suit search and would love to hear any experiences you have had (Good and Bad).
Ready for the Beach
February 29, 2008 by Michelle P. · Leave a Comment
It could be because I am planning a trip to southern California in a few weeks, or because I am just ready for some warm weather, but anything I see with “beach” in the title seems to get my attention real quick. This beach tote from Old Navy definitely caught my eye, and once I saw the price of only $10, I knew I had found a winner. There are 5 tempting prints to choose from. My favorite is the Indian Clay, or maybe the O’Donnell Green, or the Giraffe Print…. Pick one for yourself at OldNavy.com.
Forever 21 Shades
February 28, 2008 by Michelle P. · Leave a Comment
I saw some of these sunglasses spotlighted on The Today Show last week, so I had to check them out. At Forever21.com, you will find more than 50 styles of sunglasses, with prices ranging from only $4.80 to $9.90! At these prices you can pick up a few pairs to be sure you’ll never be without your shades again!
Bonus!! While supplies last, you can get this limited edition tee shirt FREE when you spend $21 or more at Forever21.com. Get there quick!
Featured Shoppes
