Category: One Small Child

My St. Patrick’s Day Tradition

Growing up I knew what our St. Patrick’s Day tradition was. There would be green everywhere I turned. Green decor, green milk, green biscuits at dinner and of course green clothes. But something that never happened on St. Patrick’s Day was my mother wearing green. Ever.

My mother is half Irish and just so happens to have green eyes. (Being adopted that never was an excuse I could use). She took great pride in trying to keep up Irish traditions even though her mother died when she was 16 and her father just after she enlisted in Vietnam as a nurse. Her source for family traditions was gone so early in her life that she kind of had to improvise and come up with something new to make the holiday fun for the kids.

Every year she would prepare breakfast with as many items she could put green food coloring in. When I would come home from school I could always smell the Corned Beef and Cabbage cooking. Do I like Corned Beef and Cabbage? Not even close, but the taste and smell will always bring me back to my mom. She served it with vinegar, green biscuits many years and sweet iced tea, being that not only was she half Irish, but she was also from the South. There is just something special about the nostalgia that comes from sitting down to a meal you’ve had so many times over.

But there is also something exciting that comes from changing those traditions just a little and making it into something new with your own family. I love to cook to celebrate holidays, like my mom, and always look for something new and fun to try. The best kinds of recipes are the ones the littles can help with because you can talk while you cook, teach them a skill and get a wonderful treat out of it!

One of my favorite places to get recipe ideas is the blog Oh So Delicioso. They have several recipes for St. Patrick’s Day but by my favorite is the Neon Green Punch since I have small children that love the color! Electric green is a head turner and since it’s not too sweet I don’t have to worry about giving a second glass to my kids. Another one of my favorite sites for recipes is Weelicious as well (you can see the natural green recipes here).

I have found that with modern traditions, it’s not necessarily about having the exact same thing each year but that you do something each year so your kids know about the holiday and what fun you can have with it. My kids are all preschool age and younger so the big school parties won’t happen until this coming fall. Until then we have the opportunity to make each holiday unique to us and what we love.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

One Small Child on KPVI News 6

We are proud of our roots, and proud to call Idaho home! In case you missed it, we are excited to share this link from KPVI, our local news station. They recently ran our story about One Small Child’s new ownership and the opening of the Baby Boutique. Enjoy!

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Katy’s Time Management Tips for Momtrepreneurs

Being a business owner, a wife and a mom is a lot to juggle at times. I love One Small Child and I love my work. My first priority, however, has always been my family. Most days striking the perfect balance is a challenge, but I’ve learned a few time management tips that have definitely helped.

Taking time to read scripture in the morning is a must-do for me. Otherwise my day is chaotic and I feel like I struggle to balance everything.

I recently tried something new with dividing my week into days.

Sundays are all about family. We go to church and we visit grandparents. It’s important to me that my kids have a good relationship with their grandparents, so we make this a priority. We don’t schedule anything else on Sundays.
Mondays are our get ready for the week days. I make a plan for the week. The kids and I do all the laundry. I make a menu plan and a grocery list. This helps us avoid the last-minute ‘what’s for dinner’ panic. Making sure I have everything I need for each meal makes it so I don’t have to run to the grocery store several times a week.
Tuesdays are kid-friendly days. I keep Tuesdays open to focus on what they need.
Wednesdays are my bread-making days and a big kid-running day. A lot of the kids’ lessons and activities happen to fall on Wednesdays, so I wear my taxi hat those days.
Thursdays are my work meeting days. We have a scheduled meeting in the morning, and I try to check up with things in production after that.
Fridays are our chore days. The kids are getting to the age that they’re learning how to do chores, so we spend the morning getting all that done.
On the weekends, we do a pizza and movie night as a family. We also make a once-a-week date night a priority, which usually works out best on Friday or Saturday nights.

I try hard to not over-book myself and to stay flexible. This helps me keep the focus on my kids. They’re little and I know they need their mom.

Mom Talk: Meet Katy, Owner of One Small Child

We are bursting with excitement today, as we announce that One Small Child is now under new ownership! New owners Kendall and Katy have been with the business for over 30 years combined, and are excited about taking the next step to help it grow and develop. Learn more about them here. Learn more about Katy, this amazing mompreneur, today on Mom Talk.

-Tell us a little bit about your family and why it is special?

Our family is unique and special, as we had the incredible experience, to give birth to a beautiful little girl, who is now 10 years old. Our oldest is wise beyond her years and brings a quiet strength to our home. After her birth, we suffered through a miscarriage and many years of infertility. Infertility as it turns out, is one of my greatest blessings, as it led to the adoption of our oldest son. His adoption and entrance into our family happened very quickly one afternoon, with a exciting phone call and a beautiful baby boy in our arms that evening. His incredible birth mother turned to us once again about two years later with another pregnancy. We excitedly prepared for another baby and welcomed another son to our home, with the same blonde hair as his beautiful birth mother and brother. We were thrilled and beyond grateful to be blessed with three children. This last year we also welcomed the baby sister! All three of our youngest share an incredible biological bond and the same beautiful blonde hair as one incredible woman, their birth mom. We have nothing but love and respect for a woman that trusted us to raise and call our own not one child, but three. Kendall and I take that trust seriously and do our best to make sure it is well placed. We love each one of our children and each day say a prayer of gratitude for our family of six!

-What do you do for work/volunteer outside of the being a wife and mother?

I love adoption, obviously, and I volunteer with a local adoption group. I also love helping in my local church. For work, I have the great opportunity of working with my amazing team at One Small Child. I love the feeling I get when my team and I accomplish one of our goals or projects.

-Is there something your family does on a regular basis for quality time?

We love pizza/movie night! This is something I did with my family as a child and we continue the tradition of laying out a blanket on the floor and having a pizza picnic and movie. There was always something exciting about being allowed in the living room in front of the television, for that one night.

-How do you take time for yourself to recharge?

I love to take hot baths and have the iPad on the counter with a great Netflix movie to watch or who doesn’t love a little Downton Abbey! I am also a huge advocate of a weekly date night. I love spending time with Kendall and I feel it is very important to take time to reconnect with him.

-What is your go to, never fail and in a pinch recipe?

Shrimp stir fry, it’s easy and healthy! Just take a bag of frozen shrimp, a bag of frozen veggies, add 2-3 tablespoons of butter to the pan and the juice of one lemon and cook for 10-15 minutes. Then I take 1 bunch of cilantro and parsley, 1/2 cup of olive oil or avocado oil, 1 tsp salt, and the juice of one lemon and blend it together to make the sauce. I pour a little sauce over each serving of shrimp and veggies and it is delicious! You can use chicken instead of shrimp too!

-What is the one product you cannot live without?

I am going to say my oven. Because I love to cook and bake and my oven has been used every single day! I could not live without it!

Thank You from One Small Child Baby Boutique

Today, we’d like to say thank you for a wonderful first week! The One Small Child Baby Boutique has been a huge success!

Our lovely boutique offers an exceptional shopping experience. Fall in love with the perfect LDS blessing outfit. Have it personalized while you browse preservation supplies. Get a thoughtful Christening gift!

Give your girls an unforgettable experience as you find the perfect LDS Baptism dress. She’ll feel like a princess as you help her choose the perfect accessories. Our amazing staff bends over backwards to help make your event magical.

One Small Child’s Baby Boutique also features products from your favorite baby vendors: Aden and Anais, Finn + Emma, Lily’s Closet, Car Seat Canopy and there’s lots more to come! From Christening gifts to newborn essentials to first birthday presents. We’re your go-to shop for adorable and unique baby items! We hope you’ll stop by often to see what’s new.

Thank you to all who came to join in our festivities! We are excited to continuing serving you! We look forward to 30 more wonderful years!

Call for hours or an appointment 208-680-0731. As always, you can shop online anytime at www.OneSmallChild.com.

Spring 2015: Bamboo Layettes and Gowns

Finding great baby staples for them to be comfortable in and grow with can be so hard, and that is before making sure it’s cute! Sometimes an outfit may be cute but the material is not soft and poorly made. Today we are giving you a preview of our Spring 2015 line, Bamboo Layettes and Gowns! We could not be happier about this upcoming product that will change how you look at baby clothes forever. Like our Bamboo Bodysuits, they are super soft, and stretchy while retaining their shape and have matching accessories including an adorable hat and blanket. The Layette features a small side tie for you to easily take it on and off, separate bottoms with pocket detail, and an ankle slit. You’ll never want to take your little sweetheart out of them! We know you will love these amazing Bamboo Layettes and Gowns for their amazing feel and beautiful color offerings including blue, pink, and white. Make sure to follow our social media feeds to be the first to know when they are available for purchase!

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Behind the Scenes: One Small Child’s Baby Boutique Preview

{Here’s a look at our new Baby Boutique about half-way finished. Big reveal coming soon!}

Today we’re giving you a behind the scenes look at the making of our baby boutique! In previous years, our products have been available strictly online. To better serve you, we’re opening our doors! You’ll be able to see all our amazing clothes and accessories in person. We know shopping online is a thrill. But nothing’s greater than brushing the rows of dresses with your hands. Surveying the outfits in person. Finding the one that truly fits your little one’s personality. Choosing all the fun accessories to complete the look. The peace of mind that comes from trying on the outfit. Seeing for yourself how helpful our baby gear can be adorable too. Browsing the in-stores-only section. Our baby boutique offers the ultimate shopping experience for you and your little one! We can’t wait to see you!

Preserving your Christening Gown or Suit

Your beautiful event is now over. All the guests have now gone, the decorations have been taken down and all those thank you cards are sent. There’s just one more thing on your to-do list: preserving your Christening gown or suit. So, what are the best methods of storage for your precious gown? Are there any preservation tips or tricks? How do you keep your gown looking crisp for siblings or generations to come? Today, we’ll teach you how to preserve and store your Christening gown or outfit the right way.

Step 1-Dry clean or hand-wash the baptism gown or blessing outfit as directed on the clothing tag. Why? Stains and body oils can irreparably discolor the fabric. If your item calls for a hand wash, avoid using harsh soaps, chlorine bleach, fabric softeners, and starch. Rinse the christening dress or outfit well to remove detergent residues.

Step 2-Once the gown or outfit is completely dry, stuff it with clean, acid-free tissue; this will help prevent hard creases that can weaken the fabric. Fold additional tissue into pleats and slip it between layers of fabric.

Step 3-Place the christening outfit in a 100 percent cotton muslin garment bag. Plastic or vinyl bags are unacceptable for long-term preservation since garments need to breathe. For this same reason, you should not seal or wrap a cardboard box containing heirloom christening clothing. Never pack mothballs with your christening apparel since they can ruin fabric over time. Also, avoid storing the christening suit or gown with metal items. If you have purchased a bracelet for your special occasion, you can find the perfect display frame here. It’s a good idea to label your storage container (if it is not already monogrammed or personalized) with your child’s name and event or birth date.

Step 4-Store the christening gown in a dark, cool, dry place (for example, in a closet or under a bed). Avoid storing the box or bag in places where temperature or humidity may fluctuate seasonally (for example, a garage or attic). The ideal storage place has a relative humidity of 55 percent and a temperature of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

It is a good idea to check your outfit once in a while to ensure that it is maintaining its beauty. When you handle your christening heirloom, wear cotton gloves–skin oils can discolor fabric.

When you wish to use your treasured christening gown or outfit again, remove it from the storage container and air it out for several days. You may need to steam the item to remove wrinkles; iron only as a last resort, and only on a very low setting.

That’s all there is to it. Now you know how to preserve and store your Christening gown or outfit for generations to come!

Muslin Keepsake Bags

Day in the Life of Mom: Bethany

Highlighting one of our own One Small Child Moms and what a not always normal, but somewhat regular Day in the life of Mom looks like.

5:00am – Accidentally hit “dismiss” instead of “Snooze”. I’ll totally get up….

6:00am – Feed the baby. Finally get up.

6:30am – Bring myself downstairs to eat breakfast and do my daily devotional. Somehow even when I am alone I eat standing up. I stare at the overflowing dishes in the sink from last night. I lay my bowl on top.

7:00am – Exercise to either Jillian Micheals or Richard Simmons. Feeling lazy, Richard it is.

7:30am – “Mommy! Where are you?” I get the kids cereal and turn on a show for them. After a few snuggles I do some laundry, the dishes and feed the dog. Throw away a business card my husband wrote on years ago, no way it’s any good. The garbage man takes it away. Bathe the kids and get them dressed for Preschool. There is at least 1 meltdown and 1 toddler argument. Forget on the way out it’s Show and Tell day. Pick a toy, of course for both it’s the wrong one. Go back in and get new ones.

8:55am – Finally getting in the car, good thing Preschool is only a mile from our house.

9:05am – Get home and feed the baby. Cuddle him tight and really enjoy our alone time together since he is our last. Do a little bit of work and hopefully put on “real” clothes. I don’t…

11:15am – Get home, get lunch ready and do some reading/homework. More laundry.

1:15pm – “Quiet time”. My older two no longer nap. I want to cry uncontrollably over this.

1:30pm – Cleaning and de-cluttering. Doing a “Minimalist Challenge” since all of our junk stuff is starting to drive me crazy. I throw away a few more things I hope my husband doesn’t notice. Husband texts me to ask if I have seen a business card with writing on it, there is a lock combo on it for his work locker. He can’t remember the numbers… “I don’t know where it is.”

2:00pm – Sit down to work. Suddenly hear running water upstairs I don’t recognize… my kids put a whole roll of toilet paper in the toilet and flushed.

4:30pm – Start dinner. Husband calls to say he is on his way home and will promptly be called back to work in about 10 hours. Great. Confess to my card crime.

7:00pm – Get the older two in bed. Praise all that is good and holy.

7:30pm – Dishes/work/attempt to watch a show on Hulu. I get half way through one and promise I’ll finish it tomorrow; probably won’t.

10:30pm – Bed finally. Write my “to do” list on the ceiling like Sarah Jessica Parker did in “I don’t know how She does it”. Maybe I’ll try to watch that tomorrow…

Bethany is our social media consultant and works from home. She has 3 children, ages 4,3 and 4 months. Her husband works on call and is away 2 days at a time, so she has a lot of non-alone time. She dreams of a beach vacation, paying someone to clean her house every week and fall year round. Being with her kids and husband is her favorite way to spend any day.

The New Face of One Small Child

We’ve been busily working on a new look for our web site for the past few months, and are pleased to introduce you to the new ‘face’ of One Small Child! Things are still in the ironing out stage, but it’s coming together beautifully. We hope you enjoy shopping with us and can feel a little of the timeless, magical atmosphere we’ve created for you. Hop on over to our website and let us know what you think! {{smile}}