(My ivory curtains are back. For now.)
The weather has really warmed up here, and after an unusually cold Texas winter, everyone is enjoying the sun again! I’m not certain if spring has officially arrived yet, since it’s still the middle of February, but I celebrated by changing things up around the house. I decided to switch out my bold, patterned curtains for my trusty ivory panels (at least for a few months), so we can watch the leaves turn green on the trees outside our windows.
(Shades of purple for early spring.)
I changed the pillow covers on the couch and added a few varying shades of purple, just to brighten things up for spring. By May, I’ll be ready to move along to my summer covers.
(I updated the mantel for spring.)
I also added some greenery to the mantel, and everything feels warmer already. I just used things I had on hand, and it took me less than an hour. Spring or not, I’m ready!
(A little stream at San Gabriel Park in Georgetown.)
After such a dark, cold winter, the sun was shining on Saturday, and we made a trip to one of our favorite parks in Georgetown. It was wonderful to be outside, and the recent rains left the river almost full, so the tiny streams and inlets were great attractions for the children at the park.
(Not quite twins.)
I confess I had another plan, too, and wanted to take pictures of the boys in their new clothes. Since I became interested in fair trade products, I’ve been on the hunt for basic children’s clothing that fits the bill, but it’s really hard to find. Fair trade and ethically-made clothing is growing in availability, but I haven’t been able to locate much that works for school-age kids. Lots of stores sell cute onesies and baby hats, but my boys need sturdy pants and tops that can be worn to school and at home.
When it comes to my boys’ clothing, I’m really practical. Each boy has five or six pairs of pants in rotation, with a few more shirts, and I do laundry frequently. They each have one pair of shoes, which we replace as their feet grow. I buy basic colors and mix-and-match styles, and I’m not a fan of complicated outfits or adult clothing on young children. My boys want to play and be comfortable, and I want clothes that will hold up to their activities, which might include a skinned knee now and again.
(James checking out the stream.)
After our sixth pair of boys’ pants from a well-known retailer tore recently, I decided to search for a more durable, and hopefully ethical, option. I haven’t had much luck at local consignment stores, which mainly carry rows and rows of boys’ jeans with scratchy waistbands and hard-to-manage zippers and buttons. Since little guys are hard on their pants (six pairs ripped recently!), there isn’t much inventory available at thrift stores.
I found a few reviews for Tea, and I decided to give them a try. Tea is very forthcoming about their mission on their site, and while they do not have fair trade certification, they are in direct contact with their clothing factories, maintain ethical sourcing, and work to ensure fair trade standards with their manufacturers. All of these things are important to me as a consumer and a mom, so I felt comfortable purchasing clothing from Tea.
(Rhys looking over a rock wall.)
My priority was pants, so I bought both boys two pairs of Knit Playwear Pants in the two colors available and one shirt each, now out of stock. When I visit a new site, I always sign for up the email to receive a small discount, which can really help when buying children’s clothes. I also shopped Tea’s sale, so my choices were more limited (note the matching shirts, which I don’t normally buy). Still, I saved a few dollars and found pants that are comfortable, soft, and reinforced at the knee. James said he felt like he was wearing pajamas and Rhys liked the striped shirt. These pieces are soft and easy to wear, and I’m hopeful that those knees will hold up for many months to come.
If you’ve purchased fair trade clothing for your children, I’d love to hear your experiences.
I’ve had my eye on the Ramona Necklace by Oh My Clumsy Heart for a while now, and it was out of stock for a few weeks. When it became available again recently, I ordered it right away, and it arrived last week, just in time for Valentine’s Day!
(Royal Mail package!)
Oh My Clumsy Heart is based in the United Kingdom and features lovely and delicate jewelry by Sophie Davies. My necklace is now sold out again, this time for good, but there are many other gorgeous pieces available. I had to snap a picture of the box when it arrived, because there’s nothing like receiving something via Royal Mail! Even the stamp is elegant.
(My package from Oh My Clumsy Heart.)
Pretty packaging is such a wonderful way to make a first impression, and I was thrilled when I opened the box, too.
(The necklace, shown to scale.)
The Ramona necklace is carved from a vintage buffalo horn, so each one is unique in its color and texture. It’s also quite large, and I’m planning to layer it with my tiny heart necklace I showed you recently. I usually favor larger necklaces, but I’m having fun experimenting with more delicate pieces, and this will be perfect for spring.
