If you are looking for eco-friendly choices in attire there are numerous options out there.  Below are 6 ways to add a little green to any wardrobe (big or little) without sacrificing style.

1. Look for Sustainable Materials:  Items made from sustainable materials such as cotton, bamboo or hemp are grown in soil that hasn’t been treated with pesticides.  These are natural fabrics which are breathable, kid friendly and are nice staples in any wardrobe.  Since sustaiable fabrics are treated with low impact dyes, they are typically found in soft and neutral tones which makes them easy to mix into with current styles and colors.
2. Wear Recycled Wool:  It is still cold in many parts of the world which makes it the perfect time of year add a recycled wool scarf, gloves, sweater or socks to your winter esssentials.  It’s naturally warming and can be found in a rainbow of colors to please everyone in the family.
3. Denim is always green:  You cannnot go wrong with recycled denim! It’s always in fashion, wears like iron and gets better with age!  LoobaLee has some wonderful kids denim options from skirts to shorts to classic jeans.
4. Fair Trade:  When shopping for eco-friendly items, be on the lookout for Fair Trade Certified Apparel.  The sale of these items directly benefit the farmers who grow the cotton and the workers who sew the garments, offering consumers an unprecedented opportunity to positively impact lives. Find Fair Trade Certified Apparel here
5. Repurpose:  There are numerous ways to repurpose worn out clothing in to other wearable and/or usable items.  Make pants into shorts, turn old t-shirts into a blanket, Make puppets out of old socks, the list is limited only by your creativity.  Repurposing doesn’t have to be difficult, it can be as simple as using old fabrics as cleaning rags.
6. Donate or Resell:  If the items are still in great condition and you hate to repurpose them, donate or resell on LoobaLee.  This is a great way to give your old clothes life with a new owner and that is always good for the earth!

You don’t have to replace your entire wardrobe to show your Eco-conscience side.  It only takes a little attention to detail and Mother Nature will thank you.

Lilly Pulitzer is an excellent children’s clothing investment.  Resale is typically high on Lilly items, especially girl’s dresses and especially on spring/summer prints.  It wears very well.  And, it just never goes out of style. While the clothing styles change slightly, the consistent print designs keeps each piece going year after year.

Learn more about Lilly P. on their “colorful blog”. See what’s new for kids at “Little Lilly’s“

As always, we recommend thinking ahead for next year’s needs.  Holiday decorations are 50% off or better in most stores and if there are any left, they will be discounted even more as the week goes on.

Children’s holiday clothing and accessories will also be discounted all week.  If you have ample storage, buy now for your kids to wear next year or buy extra to sell online on LoobaLee next November.

Don’t overspend but enjoy deep discounts if your budget allows.

Happy post holiday shopping!

We’ve caught wind of the Winter Sale at Boden USA and we’re passing along this information before the general public catches on so you can take advantage of the best selection today.  Sale prices online are up to 50% off on wear now clothing, shoes and accessories for babies, kids, men and women.  Snatch up some great quality clothes now before the offer ends on December 31st.

Boden has taken their free shipping off the table (which they typically do during the big sales) but there is still time to pick up a few extra gifts before Santa is ready to drop his big haul.

Click the link below to start shopping and let us know what you’re saving on.

Boden shopping tip: Pick up long-lasting, great hand-me-down, stylish winter coats on sale for next year!  I agree, they are keepers!  I’m sure we’ll see vintage Boden winter coats for kids strolling around and highly desirable someday.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow,  Let it Snow! 

Maybe you don’t see a sparkling white blanket in your front yard yet but the weather outside is beginning to look frightful!

Are you prepared?   If you stored away last year’s winter gear in an organized fashion, you know exactly where to find the hats, scarves and gloves.  Maybe you even picked up snow pants or boots on clearance at the end of the season last year.   You get a gold star for being a consciously prepared parent who is ready for winter.  – as long as it all fits!!

Snow Bunnies

As much as the retailers start pushing kids snow gear and outerwear in August, I’m betting you might be one of the Moms who isn’t fully prepared.

If your not so organized, it’s time to start digging.  And, make some notes (maybe in your smartphone, where you can retrieve it) so you’ll be more organized next year.    Need a few things?  First, try your local resale shop, or online marketplaces like LoobaLee.  Snow gear, especially if it isn’t worn every single day, is a great opportunity to reduce your consumption.

Conscious Planning Tips:

Are You Just Getting By This Year?  Make note to watch for whatever you’ll need to go on clearance at the end of this season.  Many stores are already clearancing out their winter gear.   Start planning ahead by watching the upcoming sales and stock up.

Snow Pants Tips:  

• Try  the “grow with me” snow pants that are popular now (e.g. Lands End Kids) and get at least 2 years out of your next pair.
• Look for re-inforced knees.  They last longer, and will get multiple seasons of wear.  And, you’ll increase your odds of getting good resale value.
• Have both boys and girls in your family?  If you can get away with it, buy neutral colors everyone will like (or at least tolerate).

Coats:   Much to the dismay of my picky children, I insist on warm, weatherproof, quality coats.  They tend to gravitate to the cute, trendy ones.   These hold little resale value (not to mention they aren’t very functional).   

Gloves or Mittens?   I‘ve found this to be a child-specific preference.   Pay attention to what your kids prefer this year, so you have an opportunity to be prepared next year.

Gloves & Mittens Tip:   It is well worth it to buy the good expensive ones on sale at the end of this season — especially if they will fit a couple (even 3!) years.

• They definitely dryer and warmer
• You’ll be reducing your consumption (and ultimately saving money, too) by not having to purchase new ones every year

Snow Boots Tips:   Here is another area where I think its worth it to buy quality:

• Inexpensive snow boots might look cute, but they won’t be as warm or sturdy.  You might be tossing them in the dumpster when you’re done.   Even if they are in good condition, they are worth very little on resale.
• The sweet spot for resale is regularly priced boots in the $30 – $60 range — but, buy them on sale.   I can easily get my snow boots 40 – 50% off each year, when I pay attention to the sales.    If you buy snow boots more expensive than this, you may have difficulty getting a good return when you are ready to sell.
• I look for a fit that is slightly big, but not loose on the heal.   Then, I know they will at least last all season.  And, if I’m lucky, I’ll get 2 years of wear.

You don’t always want be the scurried parent who is running late on the first big snowfall of the year digging madly through tubbies in the search of last years boots and snow pants that you hope and pray fit this year.    Not only that, you’ll be forced to make quick decisions that may not be good for your pocketbook or conscious of the environment (imagine the impact if every Mom made at least 1 conscious decision each year when shopping for snow gear).

And really… your son can get away with wearing pink floral snow pants can’t he?  OK, that was me last year but this year is a whole new story.

Your Turn:  Do you have ideas and tips to share on how to buy smart or prepare your kids for snow weather?  Share below.

Many great web deals kicked off on Black Friday and switched over to the online market push as early as yesterday.  Before you start mad clicking today, be sure to cover all your bases for maximum savings.

* Check your email for sale details at the stores you frequent most.

* Login to your Facebook page for special offers from your favorite web retailers.

* Double check rebate sites which will double your cash back today.  

There are some great deals floating around online today, including great buys at LoobaLee.com!

Get those fingers ready to start clicking.  Happy Cyber Monday shopping!

Please check in with us throughout the day and share below where you found the best deals today.

Small Business Saturday is a day to support the local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country.  Small Business Saturday is a national movement to drive shoppers to local merchants across the U.S.  Small businesses are the fuel that creates local jobs.  Did you know…

For every $100 spent in locally-owned, independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures, according to the small business (every $1 = 68 cents back in!)  Learn More

You may be so wrapped up in getting deals from the major retailers, like 30% off your entire purchase, Free Shipping, Two-For-One, Gift With Purchase, etc., that you haven’t even considered walking into your local children’s boutique(s) lately.

But, there is a lot of “Conscious Buying” goodness that you are missing!  If every mom committed to buying just one thing from a local children’s boutique this Christmas, it would have an enormous impact on our economy.

Many small boutiques will offer holiday specials, too!  We have 2 in my local town, the Plaid Giraffe and Pish Posh, and both are offering holiday shopping incentives.  They are both having specials, see ads pictured below.    Your local store is likely to be running a similar offer.  (btw…Be sure to “Like” your local boutiques on Facebook – it’s a great way to keep updated).

You’re also supporting small businesses in other parts of the country too.  All children’s boutiques stock a high percentage of apparel and items from small designers across the USA.  This is what makes their boutiques unique.    And as a bonus, these small designers, more and more, are also figuring out how to manufacture their collections in the USA too.

Finally, as always, buying consciously usually leads to more conscious and lucrative selling opportunities too:

• You’ll make a higher return when you are ready to sell (often lowering the overall cost of wearing the item to ~ Target NWT shopping prices)
• Others will want to purchase and wear the boutique items that have endearing value and quality.  These items sustain our environment, too.  Outfits will be worn over and over and over.

 Happy boutique shopping!  Don’t forget — just ONE conscious purchase from a local business item makes a difference!

Leave us a comment below and let us know you’ve done your part – thanks!

To help you remember, we’re using the letters of the the word S-A-V-V-Y because we know that LoobaLee shoppers are savvy shoppers!

S=Safety: Black Friday is a fun day to be out and kick off the holiday season but with crowds up earlier than usual and the shopping frenzy that goes with territory, you’ve got to stay on your game.  Be aware of what is going on around you and be proactive in keeping yourself and others stay safe.  Drive cautiously in crowded parking lots and use caution if you find yourself in a herd of people when stores open their doors.   Be patient and courteous and the day will be a pleasant one.

A=Acquire (Consciously):  Keep your Black Friday goal in mind.  If you have a lot of ground to cover and specific items you want to pick up then you are on a trip to acquire specific items, not get lured into unnecessary shopping.  Don’t get side tracked with in store deals that you are not interested in and read the fine lines in ads.  If a store has an item you want but only has a limited quantity, you may want to rethink.  It’s very possible that the store will run out before you even get there.

V=Visualize:  Think about how the stores you plan to visit are laid out so you can easily snatch your prize up without too much effort.  Knowing exactly where your items are and which direction you need to go when you hit the door makes the process go much smoother. And, websites often get bogged down on big sale days.  If you can fill your cart in advance, or at least know exactly where to go when you’re online.  Waiting long periods of times for pages to navigate or refresh may mean the difference between getting the item you’re shopping for and not.

V=Venture: You are venturing into the serious shoppers domain on Black Friday (you’re brave!).  There are those who have done this for years and there are those who just want to dip their feet in the pool.  Either way, it pays to be prepared.  Pack a snack and a bottle of water for when your energy runs and be ready for plan B when the day doesn’t go quite as planned.  It’s a shopping venture, full of uncertainty of the outcome.  Sometimes you’re the lucky shopper who qualifies for the free giveaway item and sometimes you’re not.  To appreciate the time spent, you have to enjoy the fun of the unknowns.

Y=Yuletide: Remember why you have decided to get up at the crack of dawn (or not sleep) on Black Friday in the first place.   You probably want to acquire gifts and/or holiday wear to help spread holiday cheer.  Keep the yuletide spirit in mind and remind those who have forgotten.  It is the spirit of the holidays that make Black Friday shopping unique and you certainly don’t want to be the culprit who spoils the fun.  So put your Santa hat on and enjoy some yuletide shopping (deal or no deal)!

Last year, 212 million shoppers found their way into stores last year spending an average of $365 per customer and this year those numbers are expected to increase.

While the latest and greatest electronics, games, toys, and gift items will be jumping out to grab your attention, don’t let the noise drown out the fact that your favorite children’s clothing boutique or retailer will be offering specials to try to get their share of the Black Friday pie.

Here at LoobaLee, we don’t subscribe to the lack of conscious consumerism displayed by many people on Black Friday, i.e. buying for buying’s sake.   Nevertheless, if you have something particular on your list to buy this holiday season, you may find the best price this Friday, weekend, or Monday after Thanksgiving.  And, your best success may not come from shopping Black Friday at all!  Saturday, for example, is “Small Business Saturday“, when you should find excellent deals from your own local area boutiques.

If you plan to shop, but don’t have a plan yet on how you will spend your “biggest shopping weekend of the year”, we have the first four steps to help get you started on the path to conscious consuming and conscious saving.

1. Investigate

Browse ads by visiting retailer websites, Facebook pages and sign up for retailer emails (if you aren’t on the list yet) to get a preview.  Also keep a note of when stores will open.  Many are opening at midnight on Thanksgiving, as do the online store specials.  If you aren’t into the midnight madness scene, a little investigation will do you good.  You’re sure to find similar savings online or elsewhere during normal waking hours

2. Plan – Make a List, and Check it Twice

Always make a list.  Stores use their hottest deals to lure you in… and try to keep you there!  Make a list and stick to it.

Once you’ve figured out who has the best prices on the top items on your list, it’s time to lay out the list of stores you want to visit and in what order.  Some things to consider:

• Unless you hit the pavement at midnight, you can ideally shop online before you venture out to the stores.  Also, give yourself a reasonable time limit to visit each store (and don’t forget to count any travel and parking time).
• If you have one item in mind, plan to grab just the one item and move on so you won’t waste time browsing the store (there will be plenty of intended distractions).
• Be sure to factor in wait time for crowded registers and waiting lines to get into the store too.  Or, if shopping online, you could find yourself blocked out of or slowed down by highly trafficked store websites.

3. Recruit Friends

Shopping is always more fun with a friend or two.  Get someone to help execute your shopping plan.  Having a partner to wait in line for each other will help maximize your precious time and score more deals on your list.  It’s always good to have extra shoppers when the deals are “one per customer” type of sales as well.   Staking out an online deal?  Get a friend or family member to help you out if you can only buy one.

4. Prepare

You will receive a lot of ads on Wednesday and Thursday, via both  email and your local mail or paper:

• Save relevant emails together in an email folder (especially if they have free shipping codes or discount coupon codes).
• Clip and organize any coupons needed so they are readily available when needed.
• Plan to wear comfortable clothing and shoes that don’t hurt your feet.  Black Friday is about comfort!  Think about scaling down your handbag for easier maneuvering crowds.
• Take a long a reusable shopping bag or tote to use so you won’t get confused with the multiple shopping bags retailers use.  It’s also earth friendly.

These are just a few thoughts for you to keep in mind this week while you are baking your holiday goodies and preparing for the family gathering on Thursday.  And remember, if you aren’t into the Black Friday frenzy, don’t worry… you’re sure to find some excellent deals for things on your list all season long.

Stay tuned tomorrow for more tips on Black Friday Shopping Success.  We have a method that will help keep you focused on the deals you most want, rather than succumb to the shopping hub-bub and over buy and over-consume.

Your turn.  How do you plan for Black Friday?  Comment & share your favorite tips below.

Spice up your little girls outfit with the adorable Nordstrom Kids jacket for just $20.

Doll up your baby in a new holiday sleeper from Gymboree for $8. New with tags!

Dress up your little man with a brand new pair leather shoes from Gymboree for $4 (retail value is $19.50).

 
Sweeten things up with Vintage Baby Gap.  Just $9.99 -2 pc. dress + tights

The best part of shopping Loobalee.com (other than saving money) is knowing that you are sparing the earth of unnecessary waste, one garment at a time.  It’s a wonderful gift that you can give to mother earth this holiday.

Do you have any children’s Holidaywear to sell?  Now is the prime time to list!