Smocked Bicycle Romper for Boys

We are a cycling family. Well, actually, my husband is the cyclist and we join him if we want to see him on the weekends. Before we had children, he would go out for 3-4 hour bike rides on the weekend. Then, we had children and he was lucky if he got out on the bike at all. I heard about it A LOT.






We recently purchased the trailer bike for our daughter to be able to join him on some rides. I thought this was a win for him to get back out on his bike and a win for me to have one child with me and one with him. Naively, I thought it was bar you put on her bicycle and attached to Dad's bike. I had no idea it was another bike in and of itself. (Will the car EVER fit in the garage again?) This was very exciting and her Meme even went online for her to wear a cycling outfit like her Daddy.








I know you can already imagine where this is going. We carry the most adorable cycling romper by Remember Nguyen. They are based out of Louisiana and they created this great aqua blue romper with bicycles. This is a great outfit for any little guy, particularly if he is a part of a cycling family.















I love it with or without the classic white top by Remember Nguyen, depending on the temperature outside. We just had a customer buy the combo and thought it was an outstanding idea.



My husband once rode professionally, even raced against Lance Armstrong a few times when the future Tour de France winner was just starting out. I am nervous one of my children will want to ride down mountains very fast like Daddy did. Soccer, anyone? For now I will stick to dressing my little guy in this adorable romper.


Happy Shopping!

Stars and Stripes, Fathers and Daughters

Sending smocked and classic clothing out gives us a thrill. Why? Because we know soon some lucky darling will be wearing these wonderful clothes. If there was a special event planned, we'd like to imagine the outfit would add a little extra something to it. We can only guess what happens once the package goes out. Were there compliments given? Were pictures taken that will be treasured for years to come?

Every once in a while we get a little glimpse into what actually happens. We are always interested, probably because there usually is some fun story and pictures that are offered up. Sometimes, the customer even gives us permission to mention it in our blog...

Recently, we were contacted by an Army wife stationed in Italy. She had found the Jeanine Johnsen flag dress on our website and thought it was perfect for her husband's upcoming commissioning ceremony. Their daughter was to be a part of the ceremony and her father was being promoted to Lt. Colonel. And she was kind enough to allow us to post the pictures - congratulations and best wishes to the whole family!

As the July 4th holiday approaches, it is nice to be reminded of the many brave men and women who fight for our country. My brother safely returned from a tour in Afghanistan and Iraq and we fly our American flag with pride for all our servicemen.

You can expect some sort of July 4th themed clothing at Maison de Belles Choses year after year. I enjoy seeing children in smocked flag dresses or, for example, the appliqued truck with stars by Funtasia. I have been very pleased with the July 4th series of bathing suits from Bailey Boys as well.

Smocked Clothing Belongs in the Zoo!

Some of my friends say I've gone over the deep end. Others say I'm obsessed. As long as they're talking about me and smocked clothing, I'd have to confess they're probably right. Take yesterday, for example. A simple trip to the Oakland Zoo with friends means... you guessed it... zoo-animal themed smocked clothing for the kids! (A tip for visitors to the Bay Area - the Oakland Zoo is better than the San Francisco Zoo, though as a San Franciscan I hate to admit it.)







What could be more fun than putting your child in an outfit with the design of their favorite zoo animal and then heading down to the zoo? It's like they have a special connection or are in the club with the critters. We went to visit the pediatrician for our daughter's annual. The Doctor looked at her palms and asked, "Do you like the Monkey Bars?" Busted! The evidence was there - callouses from swinging to and 'fro like the monkeys do!

Here she is caught in the act.





Naturally, Molly opted for the Monkey Bishop dress. Zuccini Smocked Clothing has a hutch-full of the stuff . Usually it's a trio of our simian pals lined up front and center like the classic "Hear no evil, See no evil, Speak no evil" minus the hand gestures. Generally they're posing like you would imagine monkeys do - one arm up, one arm down, swinging from trees, etc. Zuccini makes a great set for girls and boys. The Smocked Monkey Jumper and Blouse is a pretty combination and the Boys Smocked John John would make any monkey sympathizer proud!




























Meanwhile back in the Amphibian house we saw blue South American Tree Frogs that are so poisonous that if you touch them it is fatal - for you. These little guys supply the poison found in the famous "poison darts". I'm not sure how the poison goes from the frog to the dart, but somehow the natives are able to do it (built up immunity? special gloves?) Usually frogs are looked upon as non-toxic and certainly this is true on any smocked clothing, as our son would attest if he could talk yet. This was Mom's choice for his Zoo trip (he is 16 months and easygoing when it comes to clothing choice - got to take advantage of it while it lasts!) Here's a picture of the little man fortifying himself with a pancake pre-Zoo.


Claire and Charlie have gilded the lily with their selection for boys and girls. The Boys Smocked Frog Shortall is great for a hot summer day at the zoo.














One incredibly cool feature of the Oakland Zoo is a chairlift. Yes, just like the ones at a ski resort. You get a bird's-eye view of the Zoo, the Bay, and even San Francisco in the distance. Down below we saw a lion sleeping, camels, elephants, bison, and all kinds of other animals, including the best giraffe yard I've ever seen. I captured this giraffe relaxing on the ground, which I imagine is just like capturing a shark sleeping or a snake jumping in the air.



Giraffes have a coloring that ranks up in coolness with anything Mother Nature has to offer. It might not surprise you to hear it from me but there are giraffes featured on smocked clothing. Alennys has two outfits for boys and girls. The Smocked Giraffe Boys Longall is in light cotton, and the giraffes have raised fur and a puffed yarn tail. The Girls Giraffe Smocked Romper in pink and white gingham also features a yarn tail.


























For those who can't make up their mind which animal to choose or have a child that loves them all, why not go on Safari and have them all? It's Zuccini again, with the Boys Smocked Safari Longall.















One of the best parts of any trip to the Zoo is what you haul back to the house: tired kids!

Classic Swimsuits for Children - This Years' Collection

It's not hard to find kids' swimsuits. What's hard is getting a swimsuit that is classic and stylish and will accept a monogram! Fortunately, this season Bailey Boys comes through with gingham swimsuits for both Boys and Girls that have made a big splash at our local pool.



This suit is blue checked gingham with red ric rac and ruffle trim on the top. We can monogram it for you as well, just let us know what you'd like in the comments section of the order form. For the boys they've made a straightforward version (no ruffles or ric rac) in the same blue gingham ready for the monogram.


Vive la Fete has a girls smocked swimsuit with sailboats. Could there be a better beach/bay/ocean motif? Smocking is relatively hard to find in a swimsuit, but this one holds up well. It is a one-piece blue and white check cotton fabric. There is a matching boys smocked sailboat suit available as well.




























Funtasia Too offers a Crab Applique swim trunk for boys in blue striped seersucker (yes!) with a red gingham crab to finish off the piece. It's perfect for those with boys who know how how crabby they can be from time to time. (Ours is one, though he's mostly sweet he's been fussier than his sister.)



Swimsuits can be embroidered as well, and Funtasia Too delivers with the Boys Anchor Swim Trunks in red gingham.















Happy Shopping!

Smocked Frog Blog - Claire and Charlie delivers this year!

I think frogs are cute, particularly smiling frogs. Claire & Charlie has created an adorable coordinating boy frog shortall and girl smocked bishop dress for this season. I love the choice of the aqua blue check for the boy shortall. Surrounding our amphibian friends is an assembly of bumblebees.















The girl's bishop dress is an attractive purple gingham which looks great with the three smiling green frogs, separated by three pink flowers.















Frogs are hot right now, that is in preschool. My daughter's class has a frog named Pedro as the home-room resident. Her friend Marina's class at another preschool has one as well. Frogs are a great way to teach children about animals and are not too much work for the teachers. These outfits are no work for your kids to wear and will look great for summer.

Happy Shopping!