BACK TO SCHOOL STYLE

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Back to school is here! Whether your kids are returning in-person or virtually, everyone loves a fresh start in September! Luke was in desperate need of some new clothes after a growth spurt this Spring and Walmart had everything I needed. From basics like polos and chinos to specialty items like this sherpa vest and these new gray sneaks Walmart Fashion has it all. The best part? Every item was under $20. One of Luke’s favorite pieces is this navy packable (it turns into a bag - see above) windbreaker with neon detailing. This raincoat is one of my other favorite pieces. The quality is amazing and it would be great for a boy or a girl. Speaking of a unisex classic - this black rain boot is awesome! I wish it came in my size!

Shopping at Walmart.com is easy and fast. Luke and I picked out everything together and our order arrived in less than one week (most of it was 2-day eligible!). Sizing was all TTS and returning is simple and making the entire experience seamless.

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s h o p b a c k t o s c h o o l

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SATURDAY MORNINGS IN THE TROTTA HOUSE

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Keeping two energetic boys entertained isn’t always easy. What has worked the best for us this summer is playtime outside in the morning followed by quiet time after lunch. Obviously things don’t always work out like this but what I’ve found is if I first tire them out, they’re more likely to play nicely with one another or on their own once we get inside. Which also gives me a chance to get some work done! The weekends are different though. Saturday mornings are for the boys. They each get 30 minutes to pick out the game or toy we all play with together. Harrison especially loves it because his older brother isn’t in charge for a change!

The Trotta boys are currently obsessed with Legos, specifically Batman, Spiderman, and Star Wars (haha #boymom) which is why lately I’ve been really loving the selection at Walmart. They have a great assortment of our favorite toys and they offer a great mix of both educational and fun options. Ordering for ourselves or for friends is made easy with their free two-day delivery service. I always try to have one back up gift in the house just in case I forget a birthday party or we need a prize to reward good behavior (recently it was potty training!). Walmart also makes it easy to search for an item based on age or Lifestage.

I’m sharing all of Luke and Harry’s picks right now as well as some of my favorite affordable pieces for back to school below!

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t r o t t a t o y s

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back to school essentials

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— I would like to thank Walmart for sponsoring this post —

All thoughts and opinions are my own

LUKE'S SURGERY

The decision to put your child under general anesthesia is never an easy one. I was scared and nervous and kept replaying the same thoughts in my head, “Is this going to be worth the pain of recovery, what happens if something goes wrong, is this really necessary?”. All of these were valid questions and concerns. At the end of the day to have Luke’s tonsils removed was an “elected surgery”. Sure the doctors can point you in a certain direction and make recommendations, but ultimately you as parents have to choose.

It took me over a year to come to the decision that this was right for us. We discussed it with his pediatrician a number of times as well as his pediatric ENT specialist. It was very important to me to take my time with this decision, to watch Luke over the course of the year, through all the seasons, and understand if there were any other factors that could be causing his discomfort. Luke has never had strep throat and he has never had an ear infection, our reasons were considering this were different and I listed them below. The first time we went to the ENT and he looked in Luke’s mouth and said that his tonsils were a 4 out of 5 in terms of size. That coupled with his smaller sized throat brought him to recommend removal. That being said there was only so much he could see this way and what he realized after surgery was that it was much worse.

Fast forward 9 months. I was talking to a friend at a birthday party and she told me about a partial tonsilectimy which promised a much easier recovery and less risks. I brought Luke back to the ENT to discuss our options. He warned me that there was a risk the tonsils could grow back with a partial but the chances were very small. Additionally we would be removing his adenoids which could also provide significant relief.

The morning of the surgery I was terrified. The recovery scared me. I didn’t want to see him in pain and I was worried that it wouldn’t be worth it. The moment the doctor came to us in the waiting room that all changed. I’ll never forget it: He told us that the surgery went very well and that he had the biggest tonsils he had ever seen in a 4year old. As big as they could possibly be he said. THEN he told us about his adenoids (the forgotten part of the surgery that I always just considered an “extra”). This is graphic but he told us they were blocking his nasal passage so much so that he had to scrape them out of one of his nostrils! “This is going to be life-changing for him”, he said. I let out the biggest sigh of relief.

I decided to share our story because I know how scary making medical decisions for your child can be. I am so grateful for the way our journey turned out. Luke is doing amazing. He stopped snoring completely the night we came home. He can breathe through his nose with ease…I’m still in shock to be honest. The recovery wasn’t fun but it also wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be. I’m interested to see how his seasonal allergies effect him this Fall and will post another update in 6 months!

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Luke’s Symptoms

Congested almost 365 days a year: we tried everything, Zyrtec, nasonex, Flonase, clariton, we were convinced he just had very very bad allergies

He could never take a full normal breath in or out of his nose - after the surgery we discovered this was because of his adenoids

Always tired - he was still taking a 2-hr nap almost every day at 4 years old

Snoring is not even the word - the sounds that would come out of his nose and mouth as he struggled to breathe at night could be heard around the whole house. It was very scary at times

REM sleep - he tossed and turned all night long and we assumed was never able to sleep deeply

Growth - this is something to be debated and we’ll have to see if there is a change over the next few months but Luke is in the teens for growth

Eating - by the end of the day he couldn’t eat anymore. Every night was a struggle to get him to take bites as we watching him gag on food, chewing it, and not being able to breathe at the same time

Wheezing - overall you could almost always hear him breathing, always in and out through his mouth, and it was noticeably labored

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I am not a doctor or a medical professional. What I’m sharing today are only my personal thoughts and experiences. If you need medical advice or help please consult with you physician

TROTTA HOUSE - the boy's bathroom

I’m so excited to share this peek inside the boy’s bathroom! We recently received this towel starter pack from weezie towels and its amazing the impact it made! All of our bathrooms are from the 1980’s and I couldn’t believe the first time I walked through the house and saw a gray toilet and bathtub! Of all the old-fashioned colors they could have been! It sealed the deal for me:)

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t h e d e t a i l s

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towels // weezie

rug // Annie Selke

basket // home goods (similar here)

hooks // anthroplogie (sold out - similar rattan style here) also love this style

our favorite bath products for the boys // beauty counter

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A CASUAL WINTER LOOK

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I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, “mom life” doesn’t have to mean you’re living in spandex everyday. Totally not judging those who do (I get it!) but there are other options:) Below is my simple formula for a chic and still comfortable kid-friendly look. It all starts with a cute coat like this one. Its usually one of the pieces in a closet that my clients will say they’re “saving” for a special occasion. My advice is to ditch the puffer once and a while and feel good in your best coat! A wool wrap coat doesn’t have to break the bank, and I tried rounding up a wide range of price points. Next up, my closet staple the oversized sweater. I love this one and this budget friendly neutral one. My favorite pair of black jeans (probably ever) are these. I have them with the slits but you can also get them without. They’re extremely comfortable and soft and the high waist holds everything in. Note: If you don’t love for your button to be over your belly button, these are not for you!

Short story about my sneakers: I recently wore them on stories and someone asked what color they were. I laughed and responded, “I call the color vintage and stained!”. I bought this pair 14 years ago at a second hand shop on M Street in Washington, DC. They told me they were special because they were made the last year that converse still made their sneaks in the US. Fast forward 3 years a puppy and one day I came home to a half eaten shoe. Needless to say I STILL have them and still wear them all the time. I was psyched when I found this pair online because the color seems to be that same vintage creamy tone that mine are as well as the slightly elevated sole for a little extra cushion. You will thank me!!!

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BELTED COAT

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OVERSIZED SWEATER

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COMFORTABLE DENIM

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SNEAKERS

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The Things I've Learned from my 4 Year Old

t h i s i s f o u r

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I started writing this post yesterday but had to stop. I was sobbing looking through pictures and realizing how quickly time had just passed us by. But at the same time it felt like a lifetime ago that Luke was born. How is that? Being a mom is such a magical feeling. It is an exhausting, tireless, and often thankless job people say. I agree with the first two but as I write this I realize how often we are actually thanked by our children. Maybe not in words but in the smiles they give us and the way they look at us. In the last four years Luke has taught me more than I can ever put into words….but I’m going to try:

L I V E in the moment

F I N D joy in the little things

E V E R Y D A Y is a new opportunity to explore

A S K questions

S M I L E

L E A R N how to fall, because then you can learn how to pick yourself back up

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THE GIFT GUIDE - for the boys

one // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight // nine // ten // eleven

twelve // thirteen // fourteen

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I could have made this gift guide over 100 items!!! Love shopping for BOY presents:) This gift guide is a combination of Luke’s favorite things and some items on our wishlist for the boys this year. This sweeping/cleaning set has resulted in hours of self-play and recently Harry has loved this pushing this shopping cart around. This is one of my go-to sites for finding interesting toys and home items for kids and babies. They also have great parenting articles. If you’re looking for the perfect gift for boys (and girls) and actually adults love these too…click here. You can NEVER have enough!

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FOR THE BOYS

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BOY STYLE

Let me tell you a little story about shopping for my boys! A few months ago I started looking for special occasion outfits for two weddings we had in September and early October. For Luke, both required that he wear a tuxedo which after a little research I realized it was going to be much more cost effective (and nicer) to buy. For Harrison I was looking for something a little more sweet and I didn’t love the idea of a baby in a suit. I went to 5 stores and NOTHING! There were so many amazing options for girls but no cold weather dressier looks for boys. I ended up finding a sweet navy corduroy coverall from a local store that I paired with navy socks but I remember thinking, this shouldn’t so hard!!

One of my most frequently requested posts is for boy clothes. I linked my four favorite brands below and will usually mix in a few pieces from Zara and Jacadi every season as well. If you’re a boy mom like me you’ll see it can be really fun to coordinate and also much easier to pass down classic styles!

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FOR THE BOYS

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PRACTICAL PIECES

My go-to for basics. Note: Size DOWN! Everything runs very large

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FOREVER PIECES (AND ONE DAY HAND-ME-DOWNS)

I’m biased because I used to work for this brand but I have to say, the quality is like no other. Being a mom of two boys its worth the investment!

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CLASSICS

My aunt started buying pieces for Luke from this brand in Belgium and I’ve become a huge fan! Love the classic styles and their fabrics are great - Luke always asks to wear the sweatshirt I linked:)

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NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

I started shopping this brand in the Spring and love it! The quality is great and the price point is too!

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currently loving

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long sleeve cozy tee in cloud // c/o harbor clothing

cross back overalls in sand // c/o harbor clothing

HOLIDAY CARD SHOOT INSPIRATION

FOR YOU

texture, color, & print

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One of my first styling opportunities EVER was with a family looking for help with their Christmas card shoot. I was 26 and working for Ralph Lauren and was very excited to style everyone from the kids to the dogs! They were looking for a classic holiday vibe and wanted to incorporate plaid into every look. At the time I shopped mostly at RL of course and but really wish I had known about this amazing blanket company . For my shoot with the boys I knew I wanted to bring our blanket to the beach. I was nervous about how it would hold up with the kids, stains, beach, etc. Machine washable items are an essential part of #momlife and this blanket did not disappoint:)

I absolutely LOVE these overalls. When I first discovered this account on Instagram I was gushing over all the little girl’s clothing (and also secretly wanting a girl to dress in all the perfectly muted florals and soft cotton). I was also so excited to find that they had equally adorable options for boys. Let me tell you its not easy finding interesting clothing for boys. I usually shop a combination of Zara, H&M, and Petit Bateau but I’m always looking for something original. You have to check out these bloomies! Such a great gift!

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TIPS FOR GREAT PICS

don’t wear black

don’t wear sunglasses (ignore the ones where i’m wearing them here!)

don’t stress about getting the perfect shot - shooting with children is NOT easy. Children pick up on your stressed out vibes and will act out.

do pick a place where your family will be happy

do bring snacks - feed the models! I bribed my kids with popcorn for this shoot:)

don’t sweat the small stuff - easier said than done I know but its true. I had this amazing plan to bring the boy’s two ukuleles with us to the beach. I knew they would love having them there and it would be so cute in the pictures. I packed them in our bag but in the chaos that ensued at my house pre-photoshoot, Harrison took them out and I never noticed till we got to the beach. I was SO bummed but had to move on. Even though I still wish we had had them, the kids didn’t know and the pictures still came out great!

BLANKET // C/O CHAPPY WRAP

long sleeve cozy tee in cloud // c/o harbor clothing

cross back overalls in sand // c/o harbor clothing

WHAT TO WEAR: BREASTFEEDING

Looking back at these pictures I can't believe this was only one year ago. Harry and I look so much younger HEHE! Brooke and I shot these for National Breastfeeding week when Harrison was only three months old and I thought wow, this is so special that I'm documenting this (I had never taken any pics nursing Luke) and I knew I would want to remember these moments one day. I also remember the feeling I had posting this picture on social media. I was so nervous...what were people going to think? So much has changed this year. Thanks to celebrities, influencers, and women speaking out everywhere, we are starting to normalize breastfeeding and its about time! 

About three weeks after this photoshoot we went on a family vacation to Sag Harbor. It was                     very special because my parents, my sister, and her fiancé were also staying in the house we rented. It was walking distance to town which was perfect for two sleep deprived parents getting up at all hours of the night. Harry was 3 months old and I was nursing him (and pumping) every 3-4 hours. What I didn't know was that he was starving. Well not actually starving...but kind of. I don't know if everyone can relate but for me I took nursing very seriously and always took it personally after I had just fed him or I had pumped and someone else fed him and then they would say, "That's not enough, he's still hungry". It bothered me so much. The week we were in the Hamptons it was so hot and I was trying very hard to not become dehydrated. Luke was born in the January so I hadn't run into the same issues when I was nursing him. The early months were the hardest for me because they need so much - it takes everything out of you. Long story short the entire trip Harrison woke up ALL NIGHT LONG: 12pm, 2am, 3am, 5am, 7am....I was a walking zombie. We didn't know what was wrong with him. 

The Monday after we returned home I brought him immediately to the pediatrician. I begged him to help...I remember crying in the office as I recounted all the sleepless nights of our vacation. Within 5 minutes he figured it out. He looked at the bottle of breast milk Harry had been drinking and determined my supply wasn't enough, I couldn't keep up, and we were both suffering. He suggested we start supplementing and I was devastated. How could this be? I nursed Luke exclusively for 9 months and then on and off after that. But I was desperate. The next day we added 8 ounces of formula to our routine and that night he slept through the night - 8 hours straight. I was so happy but also so shocked that I couldn't have figured this out on my own just a week earlier. Where was my mother's intuition?? I wanted to share this story because its ok to get it wrong. Its ok to breastfeed for one year, one day, or to decide its not for you from the get go. We all make mistakes as mother and it can be so hard when all you want is the best for your little one. Formula isn't always the answer but for me it was, and even though it was so hard for me to give up nursing because it wasn't my "plan", it was OK. 

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EASY ACCESS

love what you're wearing while your breastfeeding and after

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BOY MOM

SHOP THE POST

BOY MOM! No but really - its a thing:) For as long as I can remember I just knew I was going to have boys. People always ask me if I wish I had a girl and I honestly don't ever think about it that way. I can't imagine a life without my two sweet boys and I feel lucky everyday. Even when they're swinging their baseball bats into the TV and yelling "MOM" over and over again! 

Love this insert. I'm not a huge fan of the traditional "mom gear" thats out there but I love when I find pieces that are both chic and functional. The same brand also sells a tote which I would recommend for any new mom. They wear really well and are a great price point. 

• Luke's car seat - Easy to clean and move between cars, found it on sale:)

• Harry's car seat - This was Luke's too! Its lightweight and still going strong for baby #2!

• Umbrella Stroller

• Sound Machine - Beware you may become addicted to this too! I can't sleep without one now. They travel really well which is a plus!

• Diaper Bag - I've blogged about this one before! The insert inside is mission critical for ever mom wanting to stay organized + you can have your monogram hand painted on the outside!

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THE THINGS I'VE LEARNED SO FAR

gentleman are not born they are made

always bring an extra pair of underwear

let them wear a different shoe on each foot - the battle will only upset you both and by the end of the week he'll be back to wearing a matching pair

its never too early for a date night (with your son)

they're always on the move - make sure you slow it all down once in a while and enjoy the moment

bless the mess - this is the hardest one for me and my saving grace is the no food, no toys room (with a white sofa) in our house. So far so good!

communicate - every night I tell Luke about my day and then he goes through his. EVERY SINGLE DETAIL! Even when I'm so tired I feel like I'm going to fall over! I know this is going to be a big one as he gets older. 

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY - this was so important for me as a mom working 40+ hrs a week and its a tough one to remember when all you want to do is spend more time with them. One hour of uninterrupted (iPhone free) time over 5 distracted hours. 

BOY STYLE

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tops

bottoms

footwear

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