LilSugar

Back-to-School Cool: 6 First-Day Outfits Under $35

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 05:35:48 PDT

Dress to the nines for the first day of school without breaking the bank! From school supplies to new clothes, back-to-school shopping can take a hefty chunk out of Mama's wallet, and these days that's the last thing moms want to hear. We know the first day of school is special - filled with new friends, a new classroom, and oftentimes a new outfit - but it doesn't have to send the family to the poor house.

Over the next few days, we're showing moms just how easy it is to dress a schoolyard prince and princess in a brand-new outfit at various budget levels. First up, head-to-toe outfits for under $35. Check them out!

Check Out New Retailers on ShopStyle Kids!

LilSugar — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:00:00 PST

I use ShopStyle Kids, the Sugar Inc. owned search engine for children's clothes and goods, which allows you to browse and shop without ever loading the kids in the car, more than I'd like to admit so I was thrilled to hear the site has added some of my favorite brands. You can now cruise collections from Children's Place, Japanese Weekend, Tutti Bella, Crazy 8, and Janie and Jack.

The weather across the US makes it hard to tell whether to purchase Winter or Spring clothes right now, which is why I love Tutti Bella's tee shirt selection. They are perfect for layering and add a little rocker edge to your lil one's look.

Harajuku Lovers Fatal Attraction to Cuteness Tee - Sold Out	Harajuku Lovers Gwen Snowbunny Tee - Sold Out
Small Paul by Paul Frank Bubblegum Julius Tee - Sold Out	Harley Davidson by Trunk Dark Angel Tee - Sold Out
City Threads Midnight Acoustic Guitar Tee - Sold Out	Me Too Berry Tee - Sold Out
Nano Monkey Tee - Sold Out	Nano Truck Tee - Sold Out

Trendtotting: Dirty Boys

LilSugar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:00:50 PDT

Boys love nothing more than to dig in the dirt. When it comes to their unearthing activities, what better way to dress the lil guys than with attire inspired by the real movers and shakers - construction tools and vehicles? While out shopping with my son, I spied these boyish finds at Crazy 8. Check out the dirty apparel for your wee worker.

Simple or Swank: Pink Rain Coats

babysugar — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 09:00:54 PST

The rainy season has begun out here in California, so I've started searching for fashionable and reasonable rain coats for my lil one. I came across two that were equally adorable at completely different price points.

Simple: The perfectly pink double breasted snap button jacket from Crazy 8 has an adorable navy polka dot lining for the bargain price of $25.
Swank: If you want a little more pizazz, Juicy Couture makes the punchy patent gold snapped jacket with puffy sleeves and "JUICY" across the rear for $192.

Tipped Off: Crazy 8 After Thanksgiving Sale

LilSugar — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:30:24 PST

While I was stocking up on fab frocks for my daughter the other day, the Crazy 8 clerk tipped me off to their after Thanksgiving sale.

While he couldn't say how much the discount will be on Friday, he did say it would be worth my while. And, that they will be clearing out their current stock and bringing in new stuff.

Trendtotting: Tiny Dancer

LilSugar — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 05:00:27 PST

Whether she's got bound toes or two left feet, every lil girl can be a ballerina, or well, look like one. These fun finds will have her feeling like the prima ballerina.

Angelina Ballerina books - These sweet stories of a light footed mouse who can't shake dancing from her mind sweep readers off their feet.
Ballet Topsy Turvy Doll - Held one way this doll is dressed for dance class in a black leotard and white tights. Held the other, she's recital ready in a sparkling ensemble.

Tutu Couture - FAO Schwarz hosts this online boutique where lil dancers can design the handmade tutu of their dreams.
Pink Velvet Ballet Flats - These slip on flats are dainty enough for dancing, but their flexible rubber sole provides functionality for every day wear and elastic straps secure them to lil feet.
Metallic Fleece Ballet Warm Ups - The faux wrap style hoodie with satin neckline trim and matching pants are a cozy way to warm up after a dance session.
Pink Ballet Slipper Bag - A quilted tote to store the ballet necessities in to and from class.

Angelina Ballerina Book ($11)	Ballet Topsy Turvy Doll ($28)
Pink Velvet Ballet Flats ($19)	Metallic Fleece Hoodie ($12)
Metallic Fleece Pant ($9)	Pink Ballet Slippers Tote ($20)

Source

Trendtotting: Faux Fur and Fabulous

LilSugar — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:00:03 PST

When it comes to dressing lil ladies, faux fur is beyond fabulous! Considered a staple in the festive wardrobe, the fluffy jackets, coats, capes, shrugs, and vests move from classic to casual, pairing as well with a party dress as they do with denim. And, they are available in just about every size, color, and price range these days.

Whether your lil snow angel is heading out to holiday tea or unwrapping gifts under the tree, she's sure to be snug in fuzz.

Velvet Bow Faux Fur Coat ($25)	Faux Fur Crop Coat ($50)
Faux Fur Sweathshirt ($13)	Fashion-fur coat ($25)
Floral Embossed Faux Fur Coat ($25)	Furry hooded bomber ($50)	Quilted Faux-Fur Coat ($26)

Crazy for Crazy 8

LilSugar — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 12:00:40 PST

Stores that have affordable wardrobe staples for little boys are few and far between.

My 11-month-old son is growing a mile a minute and with his current hobbies of rummaging through the garbage, washing his hands in the toilet and climbing on things, who wants to pay Janie and Jack prices for a four week wear?

A couple of months ago, I was tipped off to a new shop - Crazy 8, a hoodie and henley heaven where the boys section almost outshines the girls. The store which opened in August is The Gymboree Corporation's latest offering providing "cool clothes for kids' crazy lives". And, an answer to my son's clothing crisis. My last shopping spree set me back a mere $140 for 17 items.

10 Things You Do to Save Money That End Up Costing You More

Wise Bread — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:15:37 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Wise Bread story here on Savvy!

Have you heard of the expression “penny wise, pound foolish”? It’s something I heard a lot growing up, from my parents, and it can have multiple meanings:

You are very careful with small amounts of money, but throw caution to the wind with large amounts. This is akin to someone who eats from the dollar menu every day but then blows a hundred dollars every month on a gym membership that’s never used.
You do things to save money now, only to have those savings cost you more farther down the road.

The second definition is what I’m focusing on today, because it’s a lot easier to fall into the trap of saving money only to have it bite you later on. Here then are 10 things that you may be doing to save money that could actually cost you a lot more in the weeks, months, or years to come.

RELATED: The Case For Expensive Shoes

1. Avoiding Regular Checkups With the Doctor, Dentist, or Optician

It’s something I did in college when money was tight. “Aah, who needs to pay money to a dentist to have him tell me I should floss more?” Well, after leaving the dentist alone for a few years, I paid the price. Avoiding the regular cleanings and checkups left me facing a hefty bill later on when I needed a bunch of costly fillings. I was lucky that I didn’t need root canals or replacement teeth. Now I have a dental plan that covers free checkups twice a year, but even if you don’t, get to the dentist and doctor for health checks. It’s a lot better to pay a co-pay now than pay for major surgery later on. And worse still, it could even cost you your life, especially as so many conditions can be treated if they’re caught early enough.

Read on for more.

Mix It Up: Two Whole Grains Are Better Than One

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:36:31 PST

I'm a whole grain junkie. Check my pantry; I have at least five on hand at all times. I get a little crazy with my grains, too, and instead of cooking quinoa all by its lonesome self, I mix in another grains, like millet. The combo takes your taste buds on a flavorful ride. And if you're not a fan of a grain's texture, say the chewiness of barley, adding in another grain can disguise the texture a little, making it more palatable. You also reap the nutritional benefits of both grains at the same time.

It's best to pair grains with similar cooking times. You might need to experiment with adding extra water or increasing the cooking, but once you perfect cooking two grains together, you'll never look back. I usually measure out half a cup of each dry grain to yield about two cups total once cooked. A half-cup serving of the mixed cooked grains contains approximately an 1/8 cup of each dry grain. Here is the nutritional info below for my favorite combinations.

Dry Grain Combo	Calories	Fiber	Protein
1/8 cup millet, 1/8 cup long grain brown rice	180 (95 + 85)	3.6 (2.1 + 1.5)	4.3 (2.8 + 1.5)
1/8 cup quinoa, 1/8 cup pearled barley	166 (78 + 88)	5.4 (1.5 + 3.9)	5.5 (3 + 2.5)
1/8 cup sushi rice, 1/8 cup brown basmati rice	155 (75 + 80)	1.5 (.5 + 1)	4 (2 + 2)
1/8 cup teff, 1/8 cup short grain brown rice	175 (90 + 85)	3.5 (2 + 1.5)	5 (3.5 + 1.5)
1/8 cup wild rice, 1/8 cup white basmati rice	160 (75 + 85)	1.5 (1 + .5)	5 (3 + 2)
1/8 cup amaranth, 1/8 cup rolled oats	138 (90 + 48)	4.8 (3.5 + 1.3)	5.3 (3.5 + 1.8)
1/8 cup buckwheat groats, 1/8 cup oat groats	126 (71 + 55)	4.1 (2.1 + 2)	5.9 (2.4 + 3.5)