Plan Ahead for a Great Getaway

June 7th, 2010

Families look forward to vacations. Most of these getaways happen during the summer since children are out of school for several months. While the kids ask every day about when they are leaving, dads can’t wait to see the sights. Moms, however, usually spend weeks before preparing for this break from the ordinary. Where do we go? What hotel do we stay in? Do we need admission tickets or passports? How much is all this going to cost? Endless questions bring hours of planning, researching and organizing.

Once the main details have been decided, moms then begin to think about clothing. The type of clothes your family needs for a trip depends on several factors. If the climate at your destination is similar to where you live, take the clothes you already own. But if your journey leads you to colder weather, you might need to invest in some warmer clothing. Layering works best for these types of vacations. Although it might be cold outside, it won’t be indoors.  For those traveling to a tropical location or going on a cruise, bathing suits, shorts and sundresses will keep your family cool and looking fabulous. If your children are fairly young, be sure to take more than you think you need. Pieces that mix and match will keep you from changing your kid’s complete outfit when he gets dirty or spills on his clothes. If your trip involves hiking through the great outdoors or sleeping in tents, make sure to pack long pants and long-sleeved shirts. This will keep mosquitoes and other pests from biting your family. Hikers and climbers should take boots and appropriate socks. Your vacation can be ruined by a whiny seven-year-old trying to hike hills in flip flops.

Don’t forget accessories as you plan your escape. Sunglasses, hats, belts and hair accessories for girls can be easily overlooked. Even if you’re not going to the beach, hats should be priority in the summer. Snug as a Bug Sun Hats come in many different styles and fit your child perfectly. They protect your child from sun burn and keep them cool so you can enjoy every minute of your well-deserved vacation.

Celebrate June with Extra 15% Off

June 6th, 2010

They say that “April flowers bring May showers.” Then June must usher in graduations, weddings, Father’s Day and end of school. But that’s not the only thing to celebrate. For the entire month of June, you’ll save an additional 15% off our already low prices at Growing Growing Gone. With brands like OBC, Carter’s, Gap, Osh Kosh and more, you know you’re getting quality merchandise for much less than retail price. Plus you don’t have to fight the droves of June shoppers looking for that perfect graduation or wedding present. Besides, the thought of taking children to the store with you probably makes your skin crawl instead of your insides jump for joy. Shop from home as you browse our more than 100 different brands. You can limit your search by size, brand, newest products, most popular items or even type in a particular piece of clothing you need. Who said shopping can’t be easy? With Growing Growing Gone you don’t have to leave the comfort of your couch.

With our June discount, you can dress your size four daughter in adorable shorts and capris for as low as $3.38. You can even snag a sundress for $5.98. Forget having to wait until the fall to find great deals on summer clothing. Get everything you need now for the warmer weather. If you’re a mom of a baby boy, don’t miss the shorts for $3.63 or complete outfits with top and bottom starting at only $5.31. You can never have too many casual pieces for a baby. Between spitting up, spilling and getting food all over him, your little boy ruins his clothes quickly. But he can look adorable in his big wardrobe for a reasonable price.

No matter the stage your child is in, you can find amazing deals at Growing Growing Gone. Shipping is always only one, low rate. So take the opportunity to refresh your child’s wardrobe while you get more for your money. While you are browsing, don’t forget about our liquidation sale for sizes 10-20. Even if you don’t have children in those sizes, grab up some gifts for your nieces, nephews and friend’s kids. At these prices, you’ll be very glad you did.

Make Matching Easy

June 5th, 2010

Have you ever had your seven-year-old come out of his room wearing brown, green and beige camouflage shorts with a red and blue striped shirt? Many moms share the frustration that as a child gets older and more independent, they want to dress themselves. However, kids aren’t born with an instinct on how to match colors and patterns. This taught behaviour comes with time, patience and lots of trying again. As you explain to your child how to pair clothing, start simple and don’t rush. Avoid frustrating your child by limiting the choices in the beginning. If your child can distinguish colors, then they are ready for matching outfits.

Start by example. Avoiding crazy patterns and clashing hues when you pick out clothing will show them how to do the same. Teach them that similar colors go well together. Bring out a color wheel if you need to so they can have a visual to go by. Hang it on the closet door and let him pick a shirt and find the shirt’s color on the wheel. He can then choose the colors on both sides of the wheel to discover what color bottoms to wear. Next, explain that all colors of shirts match with jeans and certain colors such as black, white and gray go with basically any piece.

Then help your children reorganize their closets and drawers putting matching outfits together. Put both pieces on one hanger or on top of each other so he can grab it and get dressed on his own. Taking this step will help him grab a complete ensemble quickly without getting aggravated.

Using a dot system will eliminate frustration. Place a certain sticker on the tag of one pair of pants and a matching sticker on the tag of every shirt that goes with that pair of pants. Then your child can look at the tags to match his clothes. Doing this for each color of clothing will help your child be confident in his choices. Praise him for his wise choices and encourage him to try again when he makes a mistake.

Cool clothing for Hot Weather

June 4th, 2010

As summer peeks around the corner, we must start thinking about warmer clothing. Although the hoodies and jeans can’t retire quite yet, summer is coming. Children seem to get warmer quicker than adults. So while you’re comfortable in your sweatshirt, your child might be ready for that short-sleeved shirt or shorts. When buying clothing for summer, go with light colors since they will be cooler during the sticky weather. Pastels, like cool lime green, aqua blue and cotton candy pink make great summer choices.

For girls, dresses or jumpers work well for summer. Besides being one piece, they are very comfortable in hotter weather. If your daughter has some jumpers she hasn’t outgrown, you can pair them with short sleeve blouses or t-shirt to immediately update a fall or spring jumper. Shorts and Capri pants are a staple for girls during hot summer months. With varying lengths available such as very short or mini length, Bermuda, and regular, mid-thigh length, the possibilities are endless. Capri pants typically extend down to between the knee and mid-calf. To go with those summer outfits, sandals, flip-flops or Crocs are the perfect shoe choices for girls. Open enough to ventilate their feet and keep them cool, these types of footwear are also very easy to clean. Finish off your daughter’s summer outfit with a floppy or sun hat. They’ll keep them from getting burnt and add an adorable look to your little darling.

When it comes to dressing boys for the summer, you can’t go wrong with knee-length shorts in khaki, plaid or denim. While patterns and denim hide dirt and stains better than a solid, light coloured short, they won’t mix and match with as many tops. A trendy addition to your son’s wardrobe, camouflage and cargo shorts are the norm for today’s boys and make outfits easily when paired with a t-shirt. For an even trendier look, put a solid tee under a plaid, unbuttoned short-sleeve shirt. For shoes, purchase sandals or flip-flops. Put away the high-top leather sneakers during the warmer season. If they need a sneaker for athletic activities, pick a low-top canvas sneaker that will be much cooler. Complete your son’s summer wardrobe with hats. All boys love baseball caps, especially since they come in their favourite team or design.

Brand Names for Less Without Hassle

June 1st, 2010

If you think you can only find brand name clothes in designer stores or fashion malls think again. Growing Growing Gone carries over 150 different brands you know and love. Although some designers may be way over priced for most moms, many brand names are affordable, durable, and look great.

While lots of parents have joined the trend to shop for name brands on auction sites, you have to be careful. The price for a Gap blouse for your daughter might say $4. But before you add this bargain to your cart, you must realize that price doesn’t include shipping. Sometimes that fee can be more expensive than the actual item. If you are getting a deal on the item, and then the shipping costs are high, then you might as well buy it new from the store. Also, you have to trust that the item really is like what the seller describes. Normally people usually are very good about describing the condition of clothes. But you never know even if you receive photos.

Another way numerous moms try to score name brand outfits for their children is by scouring the outlet malls. Even though you can find discounted clothing, you’ll be lucky to find your child’s size. Also, most of the deepest clearance prices are only on the previous season’s clothing. So if you desperately need jeans for your daughter in the fall, you probably won’t find any at the huge discounts.

Besides being able to get exactly what you need no matter the season at Growing Growing Gone, you also save at least 30% off retail prices. Whether you shop in season or off season, you’ll save on the brand names you have come to trust. No more scouring the mall or paying more for shipping than you did for the piece of clothing. We offer Children’s Place, Ralph Lauren, Polo Club of NY, Tommy Hilfiger, Carters and Van Heusen just to name a few. To see all the brands we sell, click on the brand name search link at the top of the home page.

Choosing Clothes for your Toddler Boy

May 31st, 2010

Once your son hits toddler age, it may be much harder to just put some shorts on him and pull a t-shirt over his head. Despite what some may think, many boys desire to dress themselves or at least decide what they are going to wear. Some boys can be as picky as their sisters. Although he is old enough to voice his opinion, his clothing still needs to be durable and functional. Following these guidelines will help you get the best value for your money while still pleasing a not-so-easy to please boy.

Toddlers are known for announcing their newly found independence. Encourage this in your child by giving him some choices. For example, if your little boy is captivated by cars and trucks, buy clothing that features these items. For animal lovers, find duds that display fun, animal designs, etc. You can decrease the fights with your child over him demanding to wear a favourite shirt every day if you give him some freedom in his wardrobe selections.

Along with your son’s preferred designs, consider functionality. When you enter the potty training years, this is crucial. Once you begin potty training your little man, don’t get outfits that hard to remove, such as overalls. Pants and shorts with elastic waists are great choices for this stage of your son’s life.

Besides practicality, toddler boy clothing must be durable. Little boys are full of energy, and he’ll certainly wear out his clothes. While cheap clothing can seem appealing, it might not make it more than a week after fighting against your son’s busy life. However, if there is a brand that you really love, then buy ahead and get one or two sizes above what your little guy wears now, so you’ll have plenty more items for him to grow into. Jeans and denim shorts make excellent choices, particularly those with reinforced knees. Make sure to get lots of t-shirts also since they are a staple for any boy.

You can find all of these items in the brands you love like Gap, Children’s Place, Greendog and more at Growing Growing Gone. Without any leaving your home, you can purchase plenty of clothes for your toddler and have them shipped right to your door.

Size 10-20 Liquidation Sale

May 30th, 2010

While we still remain your affordable, online kids clothing store, Growing Growing Gone is now focusing on kids clothing size newborn to size 8.  Allowing us to concentrate on a smaller size range will give us the opportunity to serve your babies up to size 8 children even better.

So if you are a mom of a boy who’s in size 10 to 20 or a girl who wears size 10 to 16, now is the time to stock up as we are liquidating all of our larger sizes.  You’ll save up to 85% off the list price. Every piece ranges between $5.00 and $10.00.  This includes all the brand names you love – Christie Brooks, Mudd Girls, IZOD, Exceed, Tommy, VanHeusen, Sean Jean, Ralph Lauren and more.  As summer is right around the corner, today is the perfect time to stock up since the summer inventory is on clearance. The fall inventory will be back at liquidation prices in time for school shopping.

All of the size 10 to 16 clothing is available while supplies last so don’t wait. At these prices you can purchase everything you need for this year’s warmer weather and also buy ahead for next year. Your daughter will love to wear the Christie Brooks halters or Mudd Camo Shorts during the warmer weather. She’ll also make a splash at this summer’s evening beach party in L.A. Conduct Black Sundress.

We haven’t left your sons out of this unbelievable liquidation sale. If your boy is like most, he grows faster than you can buy. So take advantage of these rock bottom prices and purchase several pairs of the Izod Shorts for only $7.50. Available in denim, cargo and carpenter styles, you can’t go wrong with these staples for any boys’ wardrobe. While you’re getting ahead on shorts, pick up some dress shirts and polos from VanHuesen,  Greendog and Exceed. Whether you choose solid, striped or plaid, your young man will be handsome all year round.

All of your purchases will ship right to your home for one low, flat rate. Don’t wait too long or this liquidation sale will pass you by.

Bring the focus back to the Birthday Boy

May 29th, 2010

Polo in Car PrintA child’s first birthday brings excitement, but it can also stir up stress. You spend weeks or maybe months deciding on the perfect theme, food and entertainment. Wanting to turn your child’s birthday into a momentous occasion, you read all the magazines that suggest ways to make this day special. Authors suggest inviting only a few guests, scheduling the party around your child’s nap time and keeping it simple. However, they obviously don’t know that your husband’s immediate family consists of at least 30 well-wishers.  So you extend invitations to the entire family, his and yours, plus some of your closest friends. Realizing this means 50 people might wind up at your home, you specify a specific start and end time on the invitations, just like the parenting expert recommended in the magazine.

A week passes as you continue to pour yourself into this party. Your mother-in-law calls and demands to know why you don’t want to be around her family since according to the invitations, they can only stay two hours. You calmly reply that you son needed to take his nap since he’d be exhausted from the party. Also, you tell her she can stay longer if she prefers. She says you should have sent separate invitations without a time limit to the family and the other invites to the “outsiders.” Tears roll down your face and you explain that everyone in your child’s life is equally important.

After hanging up and crying on your husband’s shoulder, you draw the focus back to your child. Your plan to make his day spectacular makes you realize you can’t please everyone. So you decide to dwell on your little boy’s happiness and let everyone else’s wishes take second place. Then you bring the fun back to the party planning as you look for the perfect outfit for your little man to wear on his big day. Do you go with a cutesy “my first birthday t-shirt” or a dressier outfit like a polo shirt and cargo pants? The choice is yours, but a polo or button up shirt in a vibrant color will show up best in photographs. It will also make your son look put together and really adorable. Check out all the great options in our baby boy section and have it shipped right to your door.

Wash Less to Avoid Wear Out

May 28th, 2010

Our children get dirty, but sometimes we wash their clothes too often. Many moms routinely wash everything right after it’s worn, even if it was only on for an hour. You can save lots of money by changing your washing habits. Run the washing machine frequently. I am not referring to undershirts, socks or underwear, but unless your children played in dirt, washing jeans or sweaters every day is not necessary. However, stained or smelly clothing should be attended to right away. Many people wash their clothing just because it’s a habit or because they don’t want to rehang them.

Another way to preserve water, money and your clothing is to use cold water. Heat damages the fabric. Washing your children’s outfits in cold water will do job just as well. You will not only save money by buying fewer clothes, but you’ll also decrease your energy bills. In addition, don’t fold clothes that need to be hung and don’t hang clothes which need to be folded. Using the dryer too often also sucks money out of your wallet. Line dry your clothes instead whenever possible. Zipping up hoodies and jeans before washing them will keep the zippers from chewing up the rest of your clothing.

Denim and jeans should be washed in cold water and on gentle and short cycles. Turn them inside out before putting them to the washing machine to protect their color and fabric. Despite normal assumptions, this will clean them just as well. Air-dry your jeans until they are a little damp and then throw in the dryer to soften them up a little. Knitwear also requires special attention. Wash your knitwear separately from any other clothing which may snag them (clothes with Velcro, with buttons, rhinestones, zippers etc.) To avoid shrinkage, air dry knitwear.

Following these guidelines will make your kids’ clothing last longer. In the end, this will save you money. When you do need to replace worn out clothes, shopping at Growing Growing Gone will also keep a positive balance in your bank account. Saving 30% off retail prices on brand names without having to step a foot in the store makes any mom a happy one.

Keep the Sun’s Rays from Harming your Kids

May 26th, 2010

As the weather gets warmer, children long for those summer days. We all enjoy playing outside and going to tropical locations for vacation. But even when it’s 60 degrees, the sun’s rays can be strong. We all require certain amounts of sun exposure. Since the sun is a vital source of vitamin D, we shouldn’t avoid the sun all together. However, it doesn’t take long for your kids to vitamin D they need. Unprotected exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays may damage your skin and eyes and can even cause cancer.

Many children gain between 50% and 80% of their lifetime sun exposure before age 18. Therefore it’s crucial that parents show their children how to safely enjoy the sunshine. Using the right safety measures, you can greatly reduce your child’s probability of developing skin cancer.

The best way to safely have fun in the sun is to limit the time you spend outside while the sun is at its strongest. Usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., the sun’s rays peak. If you must be out during this time, apply highly protective sunscreen. Make sure to use sunscreen at all times, not just when you are the beach or swimming.  Even on cloudy, cool, or overcast days, UV rays move through the clouds and reflect off sand, water, and even concrete. Many times children don’t realize they’re developing a sun burn on cooler or windy days because the temperature or breeze keeps skin feeling cool on the surface. So anytime you are outside, apply sunscreen.

Covering up when outside is another great way to avoid damage. Sit under an umbrella and have your kids wear Snug as a Bug Sun Hats. For this year’s line, I added the SPF 50+ Adjustable Hat, which is lighter then the Unisex version, and it has a wider brim for extra sun protection.  I am sure it will be just as popular with my kids as their other hats. All the Snug as a Bug Sun Hats are washable and have an adjustable strap. Once your child gets used to wearing a hat outside, they won’t go anywhere without it, and you’ll know they are safe from the sun.