When we upacked the POD, one of the many things that shocked me was the sheer amount of baby clothes we shoved in there. I know that I’ve passed on most of the kids’ things as they’ve worn them, but apparently this wasn’t the case for the first year of MaM’s life. We came across FIVE totes of infant girl things. FIVE. Five totes full of things for one little girl who was in 24month clothing on her first birthday. So those five totes?

Were all worn within the first twelve months of her walking this earth.

But let’s face it- baby clothes are FUN. They are cute, they are soft, and with a baby, you don’t ever have to worry about whether or not the baby will think the shirt/romper/bloomers makes her butt look big or thighs chubby or faced washed out. Babies just wear what you give them and smile. 

So when the Tea Collection, purveyor of Designer Children’s Clothing, asked me if I wanted to shop their new fall collection, I emailed back YES! YES! YES! You see, our extended family is being blessed with baby girls this year. By the end of 2011, we will have three brand-new, beautiful nieces. And guess what? All of these baby girls will need new clothes! All of them! (they are all getting a bag of MaM’s greatest hits as well, btw)

Looking around Tea Collection’s site, their Amate Aves Raglan Dress and leggings to go with it. She’s enamored with the bird on the skirt.

We also picked a romper for a little niece about to be born in Milwaukee– don’t you think the Pava Real Romper will keep her warm on those cold winter days next to Lake Michigan??

MaM eagerly awaited the arrival of her picks, and she tried her outfit on right away. It fit perfectly, the sizing chart was right on the money. The romper is soft and darling, and I can’t wait to gift it to my soon-to-arrive niece. The biggest hit though, was the coloring book that came with the order. This fall’s collection is from Mexico, so the coloring book features traditional Mexican art.

Dislcosure: In exchange for this blog post, Tea Collection provided me with a gift certificate for some online shopping. The opinions expressed above are uniquely my own.

This week the empty POD was taken away. After going through most of the boxes and crates and garbage bags of stuff, I have a few tips.
Without further ado, here are the top seven things you should not put in a storage unit, ever.
1) Boxes of half used crayons. I have unpacked approximately elevenity hundred used crayons. I have another bazillion inside my house already. You know what you don’t need to bring with you, wherever you’re going? Used crayons.
2)Glitter. If you weren’t doing glitter crafts before you packed up, what makes you think you’ll suddenly start wanted to do glitter crafts when you unpack?
3) Clothes your kids have outgrown. If you have to fill out paperwork to become parents like we do, and your 99% sure you’re not going to feel compelled to do that again, just let them go. Yes, baby clothes are cute and sentimental. Know what’s more sentimental? Pictures of your kids in said clothes. Make a favorite outfit flipbook and move on.*
4) Toys your kids have outgrown. See #3.
5) Cleaning rags and towels. I unpacked a box full of old towels and cleaning cloths. Why, I ask? Oh why?
6) Perishable toiletries and food items like cough drops. This isn’t from me, it’s from a coworker who packed up his medicine cabinet and left it in storage for over a year. Cough drops melt. Saline leaks and rusts things. Deodorant turns to goo. If you are trying to declutter, commit to using up what you’ve got and resist the temptation to stockpile more. But don’t pack toiletries for storage.
7) The Blender. You know when you’re going to want frosty beverages and smoothies? When your blender is at the back of a storage unit, unable to be unearthed. It’s not that big. Trust me on this one.
I could go on and on, but sometimes you don’t really know what you don’t need until you don’t see it for awhile. I remember going to Goodwill so many times while we were packing, and I went to Goodwill so many more time during our 40 bags in 40 days month. Guess where I’ve been dropping loads off weekly every week in August? Goodwill. Yes, we paid to store a lot of things I ultimately unpacked and then proceeded to get rid of.
Oh well. Live and learn, right?
*I’ve also come to the conclusion that there is enough baby stuff in the universe that should a child fall from the sky and into your lap, long after you’ve passed on your baby goods, that child will not be naked or wanting for anything. I am convinced of this, and I’ve yet to meet anyone who can prove to me otherwise.