Three Haute Mamas

The Leprechaun's inspired us this week to be GREEN!

Hello Mamas,

This week we are all about "Green" and I mean all things green, irish clovers, green fashion, even being green.  Doing things that will help us protect our planet. 

This website was sent to us Mamas a few weeks ago and we knew as moms we wanted to share it with you.  I cannot tell you how many papers pour into my home everyday from school. The one's that I know someday will be treasures will be my children's artwork.  Some pieces I have framed, and some are in a tupperware in the basement.

Chad Turingan created this  NEW website called Dwawings. A  new FREE website where you can finally save your kid's drawings and share them with your family and friends.  

Chad's experience working at an elementary school, he noticed overtime, students drawings, artwork and projects accumulate and as much as he would like to keep all of them they ended up in the  trash *cough, cough* he meant recycle bin!

This inspired him to create this website where you become a member and simply upload pictures of your children's artwork.  So simple and easy and GREEN!!!!

Enjoy Mamas,

Kimberly, Kate and Christina

Car pool mamas in the haute lane

Ok, mamas, truth be told we all love our yoga pants.  If there were a trial I'd be found guilty, I can't live without them, but there is a time and a place. Exactly,I will admit Kate after fighting the flu for two weeks I had to wear the yoga pants but I wore them with my converse one star sneakers to funk it up a bit and a fun scarf!! You can also wear a legging, super comfy with a chunky sweater!! XO Kimberly

 There are also other comfortable options to take you from dropping the kids off to volunteering to Stop and Shop to soccer games.  I promise.  Here's just one look that absolutely anyone can pull off. 

Find a basic white tee-Hanes, they come in 3 packs at Walmart, and they are perfect. 

~"boyfriend" jeans.  These are not to be confused with "mom" jeans.  These are a relaxed fit.  If you're up for it, then by all means, go for the skinnies.  Baby steps. I'm going to interject here Kate and make my case for the skinny jean.... as you all know I am the curvier of the three mamas ( Kimberly). It took me a while to wrap my head around the skinny jeans, I always thought a bootcut jean was more flattering on my body type but I must say I love my skinny jeans! I found that paired with the right top, something longer that hits me mid thigh makes this look work. My ballet flats, riding boots or my over the knee boots all look fabulous with these jeans. I recently bought a pair at Banana Republic when we did our styling event... they are sooo comfy! I even got my sister to buy a pair. She too thought she couldn't pull it off, we have muscular legs but it works! Its all in the head ladies and things that are fitted to our bodies makes us look thinner!!! I talked an older women about late 50's into a pair the other day at a store, she had on a really long top with it and thought these aren't so bad. I told her curves are in didn't you know!! We can make anything look fabulous!! She looked at me and laughed!! Ahhhh Love it!!

~The black blazer.  You can pick one up at Old Navy + spend a few more dollars to get it tailored to fit you at your local seamstress.  This will make all the difference in the worlddddd.  Yes!! I agree Kate retire the hoodie moms!! I see this disease running rampant at our children's sporting events.. BLAH!!! A blazer or the hot trend right now is the military inspired jacket!! Yummy!! Let's cure this hoodie disease once and for all!! 

~Flats.  Go big (Tory Burch anyone?) or go Target.  Doesn't matter.  If you like it, and it's comfortable, then run with it.  No pun intended.  

That's really all there is to it.  You can accesorize if you want.  Again.  Baby steps.  A scarf.  A hat is fun (I'm not talking baseball here, I mean a proper hat).  A funky necklace.  And doll it up if you're going out, some super chunky ankle boots or heels.  Who knows..you may be so comfortable you'll wear this outfit to yoga. 

haute car pool style by threehautemamas featuring a boyfriend blazer

There you.  Now this outfit isn't going to get you into any formal events, but it will get you from you the car pool lane to the nearby Starbucks in style.  Drive safe, drive haute mamas. 

As long as teachers give tests, there will always be prayer in schools~unknown

Hear that? Silence.  

Happy back to school day mamas!  

 

The RL Gang...hip hop hurray

For those of you whose children walk on the wild side, Ralph Lauren presents

The RL Gang, Polo Ralph Lauren's first online story book, chronicles the story of 8 children as they embark on their first day of school, donning, what else..Ralph Lauren.  Harry Connick Jr. narrates the story, in which young readers (and their Amex wielding parents) will be able to click and purchase items worn by the story characters.  15% of purchases made between now and Sept. 15 will be donated to Connicks New Orleans Habitat Musicians Village. 

"When we create our advertisements, we are always telling stories," said David Lauren, Senior Vice President of Advertising, Marketing and Corporate Communications. "Each person, man, woman or child is always a character to us. We are always taking them on an adventure, so this is a direct extension of our vision. I love the concept of the gang. I love the friendship and spirit, the diversity of the clothing, the eclecticness of Ralph Lauren style. It shows boys and girls can dress up and down, they can be sporty or elegant."

And the reviews are in..  by my three haute daughters:

8 year old fashionista: It didn't make any sense.  But I loved some of the outfits. 

7 year old clothes horse: Was that boy wearing a tux?

4 year old princess: I loved it! Loved it! It was sooooo good!!!!  Can we watch it again? NOW!

So there you have it.  Three bejeweled, sparkely painted thumbs up.  I now return you to your rapidly ending summer vacation fun.

The haute-est tots wear Etsy

Your kids will for sure be the haute-est tots out there in these Etsy finds

 

Ruler hairbow 1.50  So you can measure their cute-ness!

Iron on transfer-$5.00  this would make a cute class gift? 

Printable labels $10   Steal my book and pay a price..a very big price.....

little red schoolhouse teeshirt, personalized $15.00 for when kids still love school and want to show it!

Personalized tee, $16  Tell it like it is Michael!

Hello my name is teeshirt, 15.00  Give your kid one less thing to remember on his/her first day of school

We're in the final stretch..

School starts-for many-next week.  Socks, shoes, pants..what's left on your list?  And why are you even contemplating paying full price? 

Payless-buy one get one half off.  Have a ballerina in your life? Our ballet school called last night-class starts Tuesday. Oof.. Get your American Ballet Theatre Ballet slippers there. Tap and jazz too dancers! Plus they have those super cute tartan flats I mentioned.  

Childrens Place..the more you spend, the more you save..

 

-Abercrombie Kids- Take an additional 30% off redlines, plus.......

 

  -Amazon..Not just books and Kindles.....

 

JC Penney..Is it me, or when is Penney's not having a sale?  Regardless, Kim scored her boys shoes there.  I wonder if she printed up this first or knew about the "big" sale Saturday morning..Kim..don't you read this blog?! haha!:

 

And don't forget the Gap give and get program Christina mentioned! Helping animals while you shop is always haute!

  
 

A little beauty gossip for the teen girls

Teen Vogue, my secret go to when I want to know what's really haute.  Seriously..who knows better than a teenage girl (like duhhhh)? 

Enter Leighton Meester of Gossip Girl fame, nauturally gorgeous, and this month she shares her beauty secrets, most of which are surprisingly affordable.  Teens everywhere take note-it doesn't take piles of make up to look good when you're 16..trust me on this one.  There's a saying "true beauty is wasted on the youth".  You'll figure it out when you hit your late 30's.  For now, lay off the foundation, and take a cue from the Gossip Girl and Teen Vogue

Certainly, Blair's impeccable appearance wouldn't be complete without those ultraglossy chestnut locks. Unsurprisingly, hair-care megabrand Herbal Essences took notice of Leighton's enviable mane and signed her on as its new global ambassador. "When my hairstylist, Charles Baker Strahan, first began using their hairspray on me, I was like, 'That smells good.' Then I discovered their Hydralicious line, which is great for my heat-styled locks," she says. She also uses L'Oréal Paris Bare Naturale Mascara, Smith's Rosebud Salve, and Clarisonic's skin brush every day. Her go-to scent—composed of vanilla, white tea, and fig notes—is truly one of a kind. "I mix my own perfume," she reveals. "I must say, my current creation is very pretty!" ~Jane Shin Park/Teen Vogue

Full disclosure: I can talk the talk but let it be known that as a teen I wore both green mascara and blue satin eyeshadow.  Together.  There's another saying..those who live in glass houses....

Teenage dream dressing

I can only dream of what it must be like to have a teenage girl..ayiyiyi...For now I'll enjoy elementary school and dream of what my teenager would willingly wear if I were to have one.  Because that's what teen girls do? Wear what their moms pick out for them right? 

teenage dream2 by threehautemamas featuring back pocket jeans

xo Kate..enjoying her three (non-teenage) girls.....

Boys are Sneakers and Track Pants and Fleece.... thats what boys are made of!!!

Hello Everyone Kimberly Here!!

I have now just recovered from my day at the mall yesterday with my three boys. Yes, back to school shopping is here... I must divide and conquer!! Yesterday was the boys... tonight....... my daughter. I remember the joy of shopping for my kids, picking out adorable outfits, matching accessories and so on and so on. Fast forward to 2010.... A 9 year old daughter, twin 7 year old boys! (Thank goodness for my youngest who still has no opinion I can still throw in an outfit here and there I love!) 

Last year I started out at The Children's Place. I love their 2 for sales, perfect when you have twins I bought them loads of jeans and rugby style shirts.... adorable! Well they decided that they didn't like how the jeans felt on them and I figured out that they had trouble with the buttons and snaps at potty time. ( Classic Boys) I was not prepared for them to tell ME what they would be wearing. Being as a good mom and listener I obliged! They loved the comfort of track pants and they are easy to pull on and off. ( Ok! I'll buy it) Happy Kids, Happy Mom, Happy Mornings!!!

The best places to find these hot comfy items are.... Old Navy, Walmart, Gap Kids and Lands End. I hate to do this to The Children's Place but the waist on their pants run soo  big! 

 Boys Graphic Mesh-lined Basketball Pants $14.50              Boys Rec Tech Track Pants $16.50

Walmart Boys Starter Track Pants $7.00           Gap Kids Athletic Pants $19.50      

 

I must say I love the Gap's quality but my boys are sooooo hard on their clothes I have been buying out the Walmart pants and Old Navy when they run specials!! It saves me from beaking down in tears when I see a rip in their knee!! Now onto tops... this year I am going to be  bit frugal and layer some long sleeve t-shirts under their existing T's. I buy in every color the plain long sleeve T's from Target $ 6.00! Grab em while you can they go fast!! 

Fall in New England means cold mornings and warm afternoons. My boys have mastered how to remedy this problem and never be cold at school! They love their fleece pullovers!!

Gap Fleece Zip Hoodie $ 24.50               Old Navy Fleece Logo Pullover $ 16.50                     

Lands End Kid's Micro-Fleece $ 19.50 ( Dylon's Favorite!) Keeps him snuggley warm in the class room! He wears these all fall, winter and spring!

and now for the cool kicks........

Jordan Basketball sneakers.... We scored these on sale at Olympia Sports for $ 51.99. These are all my boys wear until the snow but I am loving the Sketchers Urban Track Rain Boys Oxfords $ 40.00 @ JCPENNEY as well as the Arizona Li Jack Toddler Shoe $ !9.99

As we all know for boys and men it is all about comfort!!! Choose these items well because as we all know they get attached to things!! LOL!!

“Boys are beyond the range of anybody's sure understanding, at least when they are between the ages of 18 months and 90 years.”

James Thurber quotes  XO Kimberly

Bargains don't have to mean cheap

One would think I could peruse the J.Crew juniors line, crewcuts, sale and restrain myself.  One would be wrong.  However..I did use a little bit of my Yankee ingenuity,hit the sale and factored in the free shipping on all orders over $150.  And then I hid the receipts..

the Gracen tank, 7.99 plus..

girls crinkle bubble skirt 14.99.  One word.  Swoon.

splatter flower tee 24.99

the cotton pattycake skirt 24.99

  ballet flats 24.99 works with both outfits though..

flamenco top 24.99  Ole!

Giraffe print tassel top 29.99

As much as I'd love to pair the tops with white jeans, we all know what happens when you put a child in white pants..so as close to white as we can go.  Worn in vintage slim jeans 39.99

and a jacket for the chilly bus stop 34.99

and because every girl needs a first day of school dress..you may as well go big..

$54 and absolutely delicious.  And I can totally see my 4 year old rocking this with her hot pink cowgirl boots.  

I'd fathom a guess that I've accomplished my $150 purchase minimum (cough, cough), but what I've also accomplished is ordering all items that can work together.  All the tops can be worn with the jeans, the jacket can be worn over every outfit, the shoes can be worn with every outfit, the dress over the jeans..Catch my drift?  I could probably save a few bucks, and get a pair of less expensive jeans, maybe change out the jacket to another from Target/Walmart.  However because I'm I'm sticking with quality, timeless pieces, I don't need as many.  I want that jacket to hold up through the playground, the school bus... The jeans are already distressed.  If the knees blow out, so be it. Adds to the look. 

Also keep in mind that when I buy, I with three little girls in mind.  A Walmart jacket for $13.00 is fabulous, but it's only going to make it through one child.  A J. Crew 27.99 jacket will most likely make it through two, possibly, three children.  By that point we'll take that jacket and call it "vintage".  

Shop fast mamas.. Like summer, and lesser quality pieces, these prices won't last long..

xo Kate