You may be familiar with Links of London USA already – fine jewelry and department stores across the UK and US carry their bracelets, earrings, charms and more. Kate Middleton – or shall I say Princess Catherine, or maybe the Duchess of Cambridge – wore a pair of Links earrings in her official engagement photos earlier this year.

Their bread and butter though is charm bracelets and charms. They have several child-sized charm bracelets available:

Links of London, $180 (click the photo for details)

Links of London, $180 (click the photo for details)

Links of London, $145 (click the photo for details)

All three are sterling and feature the signature Links of London clasp.

Once you have a charm bracelet, you’ve got to find some great charms. So, here’s the fun part!

Most Links of London charms are $60 – $85 but some are substantially more expensive depending on the design and materials. (Click the photos above for details.)

Oh, yeah – and here are Kate Middleton’s engagement photo earrings – the Hope Egg earring in white topaz (click on the photo for all the scoop – as of today, there is a waiting list!):

Buy now through December 31, 2011 and get free shipping – Free shipping, no minimum. Expires 12.31.11. Code: FREESHIP

I‘ve never featured grown-up clothing here. But this was just too fun not to post.

For about a year now, I’ve been coveting these knee high boots by Stuart Weitzman:

Stuart Weitzman – 50/50 (Black Nappa) – Footwear

They are GORGEOUS – AND, AND, AND! They are leather up the front and stretchy down the entire back of the boot. Which? Is perfect for girls with ample calves. Like me.

Here’s the catch: $595. Ouch. No boots for me. Or so I thought.

Enter a shoe-savvy friend who looked at the Weitzman boots and said, “Oh, there’s a reeeeeally good knock-off of that boot.” And she told me exactly where to find it.

It’s by Vaneli:

Vaneli – Rankin (Black Nappa w/Black Stretch) – Footwear

And it’s $202. Still pricey, for sure – but not 600 bucks! Anyway, I bought these. And I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them. They go on easily (not a normal feat for me) and are so comfortable. I wear them constantly – and get lots of compliments. I highly recommend them.

Zappos has a few other very similar options you might want to take a look at as well:

• MICHAEL Michael Kors – Bromley Flat Boot (Black Nappa Leather / Stretch Nylon) – Footwear – $198




• ALDO – Recinos (Black Leather) – Footwear – on sale for $112 now

Back in August, my kids were invited to participate in a back-to-school fashion show at a local luxury department store. They were awesome. And they rocked their outfits!

Maggie in Juicy Couture jeggings, polo, cardigan and jacket. Shoes by Stuart Weitzman (got those on the sale rack at Marshalls!).

The boys rehearsing for their television appearance.

Charlie in dmo baby shirt and vest and the most adorable teeny True Religion jeans.

George in Ben Sherman tshirt and snap-front shirt with 7 for All Mankind jeans and his own high-top Chuck Taylors by Converse.

Harry in a tshirt by Ben Sherman, jacket by dmo baby and skinny jeans by Diesel.

This little ham had the MOST fun being on TV and walking the runway!

We haven’t had much in the way of celebrity kid fashion here lately. Honestly, I’ve just been a bit lazy about looking for it. But I noticed a photo of Suri Cruise the other day in which she and her mother had on matching purple ballet flats. The caption said that the adult pair cost $150 and the child’s pair cost $75. So I went hunting for other pics of Suri and her shoes…despite the press she gets when she sports a little heel, girl loves her flats.

Here are the purple ones (love the dress):

And these (I actually found two different pics of these shoes – she’s wearing socks in each):

Some open-toes slingback flats:

And these little leopard-print babies:

And…a few to check out for your own little girl/shoe addict:

Girls’ Shoes by Boden
Girls’ Shoes by D&G

I realize that I post an inordinate number of posts about kids’ shoes. I have a problem. And much of it stems from the fact that I have three boys and all of the cutest shoes are girl shoes.

My girl – my single, solitary, lonely girl (who am I kidding…she’s the freakin’ queen bee of our house) – is seven. And too old for these darlings by Livie & Luca. So, I have to settle for sharing them with you all.

Can you even STAND how cute they are?! All are available in sizes 4 to 13 and are $45.50 at the Livie & Luca website.

Hi! Can’t stay long but wanted to share this online shop with you!

Mahar Drygoods has a carefully curated selection of vintage and artisan-crafted clothing, accessories, toys, books, bedding, decor and more – all for children. So unique and lovely from top to bottom.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Oh, hi! Remember us? We needed a little breather to get a few things in order around here. School started, I started a new business, the old business got crazy, my husband had a birthday, my son had a birthday. Good god, now I’m hyperventilating again…

I had to get back to share some cute finds with you though! How ’bout these little shoes? Found ‘em right under my nose – here in Kansas City!

The JEMOS children’s shoe line is reminiscent of other soft-soled cuties. The girls styles look like they have a higher back than most so that the strap doesn’t ride across the very top of the foot, allowing for a secure fit. They retail at select online and brick-and-mortar shops for about $28.

Take a peek:

Last winter, the kind folks at Umi Shoes asked me if I might be interested in reviewing some of their children’s shoes. And I said yes. You might remember my review of the Lauren sneaker and the Gator sandal. We liked the sneaker pretty well but, honestly, that sandal might be the best kid’s shoe I’ve ever had. My youngest son has worn the heck out of those sandals (even sleeping in them on occasion) – I couldn’t be more impressed.

So, that was a long lead-in to this: Umi asked me again this summer if I’d be interested in reviewing something from the fall line. And I said yes. They sent these gorgeous Opera boots for my first grade daughter a few weeks ago.*

The weather here cooled a bit at the end of the week and she finally wore the boots to school. They looked absolutely darling.

She came downstairs that morning in the black Old Navy t-shirt, black footless tights from Walmart and a dark rinse pleated skort from Gap, looking for her Crocs maryjanes. I asked her if she wanted to wear the new boots instead. Her eyes lit up! Yes!

As everything I’ve seen from Umi, these boots are extremely well made. The leather is very, very nice. The stitching is impeccable. The styling is detailed and perfect. They look terribly comfy and I think they’ll be put to great use this fall. They will look great with skirts, dresses, jeans and other pants. It’s looking like these might be the “go-to” shoe in my daughter’s closet until spring.

The Opera boot comes in black and brown and retails at Umi for $115.  Also available at Zappos.com.

* Disclosure: Umi Shoes provided the boots to me for review (and to keep) free of charge in return for my review. They did not, by any means, tell me what to say or ask me to sway my review in their favor.

And……I’m back. Exhaling after the first week of school for my big kids. The little ones won’t start until after Labor Day. But, schedules (even for half of the kids) are good at our house. So, I’m back.

In church this morning, I was thinking that my oldest will make his First Communion this school year. Second grade. Big time.

I grew up in a small-ish New England town where almost everyone was Catholic and almost every Catholic was Italian. And, it was the late ’70s. So, First Communion was quite the sartorial display. Little over-the-top brides and dark-haired boys in white suits and white shoes.

Fast forward 30 years. I don’t quite envision my little red-head in a white suit. But I do know that he’ll wear a tie. Why not make it a fun one?

Check these out from The Belle and the Beau over at Etsy:

I’m so excited to have found these! They’re only $18.95 and just look at the fun fabrics! These are perfect little boy ties – and just maybe, perfect First Communion ties…stay tuned.

We haven’t shown any hair bows or hair clips or other hair-type accessories around these parts lately. I came across these cuties in mah travelz around the internets today. They’re over at Emma Lee’s Boutique on Etsy.

(Semi-unrelated aside: Etsy and I are experiencing a tough time in our relationship this month. She keeps posting super awesome art for me to buy for my walls at home. She’s bitchy that way. And I keep stalking her until I buy too much. Or so my credit card statement tells me…)

Anyway. Where was I? Hair clips. Emma Lee. Felt. Serious cuteness. And they’re all under $5. Over at Emma Lee’s. Go. Now. Buy.