It’s mild. It’s cold. It’s freezing. The weather has been quite changeable lately. Rain one day, then sun and or snow the next. Dressing children for the elements can be challenging. By all accounts, this is supposed to be the most wintery of winters in decades. Think snow, snow and more snow. If you’re in the market to be buying clothes for your children, it can be hard to know what to purchase. After all, money is tight these days and one simply cannot afford to be throwing $50 here and there for many different types of gear.

The Children’s Place store in South Surrey is a fabulous location for two reasons. Firstly you find the fun designs and details that you can expect in Children’s Place clothes. Equally important is the fact that this particular location is a clearing house for products from other Children’s Place stores. Put the two together and you are bound to find some great deals on clothes you actually want to buy. Just as the weather started to change, Children’s Place stocked a three-way winter jacket set, along with matching hats and gloves. The ensemble starts with an initial layer of a fleece jacket that can be worn on its own or zipped into the jacket.

The outer jack can also be worn on its own or put together with the fleece. There are all kinds of clever features on the jacket. There is an inside flap to keep it in place and stop the wind from sneaking in and up the sides of the jacket. There are snaps to keep the hood tight around the chin. There is even what appears to be an opening for earphones. The matching hat (which was only $5) is attractive, warm and fits over the ears, with a strap that fits comfortably in place below the chin. We have used all three combinations for this outerwear and love it. At approximately $40 for the jacket set you cannot go wrong in terms of value for the price. More importantly this is not a combination of a thin shell with a fleece jacket. The jacket is a medium weight winter jacket designed to cope with rain,wind, sweater and water vapour.

Agoo Apparel is a Vancouver based company that produces sporty, fashionable designs for active living.  To truly appreciate their clothing you need to see them in person. The colours are atypical and fresh, the finishing is high quality and the styling is creative and practical.  The Children’s Place jacket set had matching snow pants that seemed more Central Canada than Vancouver.  So we turned to Agoo Apparel and their line of waterproof and wind resistant puddle pants.  What we like about them is that they shield the child from the elements (wind and rain), are designed to keep body heat in the pants and are also flexible in their sizing.  The waist bands will stay on children who are leaner without any further adjustments needed.

Add in the fashionable  Tushie Hugger line that looks so comfy and warm, and Agoo Apparel clothing is a surefire winner for the cooler months.

Join their Facebook page and you will hear about regular sales (for example 40% off).  In January, 2011 they are currently running a sale on their leggings for up to 70% off plus free shipping for orders over $50.

Jack and Lily

If you’re looking for boots that are warm (faux fur lined), made of water resistant leather, have easily adjustable ankle straps, and solid skid resistant stable soles, these boots by Jack and Lily will not disappoint. Not only are they perfect for snowy weather, but they’re also oh so cute.  Your daughter will receive lots of compliments every time she wears these boots. The boots also come in brown and cream for the little man in your life.

Keeping Baby Warm

If you have looked all over town for a snowsuit for your baby and have not been able to find one, try the Sears downtown on Granville and Robson.  Some Vancouver parents dress their babies in layers and it is not uncommon to see a baby or toddler outside in the winter without a hat on.  The common advice is to put one more layer of warmth on a child than what you would wear.  So ask yourself – is it enough to put a fleece jacket and a wind breaker on a baby or toddler?  Would that combination keep you warm during the coldest days of winter?  It is hard not to appreciate the cocoon-like warmth of a proper snowsuit.

Related:

Children’s Place: 30-2428 160 Street, Surrey, BC V3S 0C8 Tel: 604-531-5349  (Map)

Agoo Apparel website

Jack and Lily website

Sears on Granville and Robson

Convenience is the number one concern when you are traveling around the city with twins or two young children in a double stroller.  When it is time for that first hair cut and you are considering the many hair salons around town for children, one of the first thoughts that comes to mind is “what about the parking?”.  Do I really want to be looking for metered parking on a busy street?  Do I want to be scrambling around a busy shopping mall parking lot?  (Aberdeen Centre or Metrotown on a weekend can be a bit stressful.)

When we went looking for a hair salon our first thought turned to Landsdowne Mall.  The parking situation is always reasonable and – bonus – it is now easily accessible from the new Canada Line.  We also knew that there is a Sparky’z Kutz for Kidz salon at the mall.  So we decided to try out the stroller and Skytrain option to go to the salon.  Remarkably we were able to go to the salon and return on one skytrain ticket!  (We started in Yaletown.) Even though we called ahead of time and made an apointment, it did seem that walk-in traffic could be easily accommodated.

Like other salons for children around town, Sparky’s is equipped with chairs in the shape of planes and cars, child friendly decorations and individual TV sets or video games are available for each child.  There is also a selection of products and balloons or a toy for each departing child.  Mum and dad will also be happy to know that every seventh haircut is free.  At this location the twins shared one card. This means that after our third visit we will get a free cut!

We found the staff at this location to be friendly and at ease with the children. More importantly, they had the experience needed to carefully and efficiently execute a complicated boy’s cut on a child who usually won’t let a pair of scissors near his face.  Now that takes talent!  The gowns for the little ones are designed so that hands cannot pop out and explore.  If your child is too young or too fidgety to sit in one of the specially designed chairs, there are regular chairs where the child can sit on a parent’s lap.  There are extra hand held toys for young children who are not interested to watch cartoons, but need to be distracted.

Services:

Hair cuts:

Under 2: $20

2 – 6: $22

7 – 14: $24

Buzz cut: $20

Bang cut: $9

Braids: $24

Shampoo: $4

Shampoo & style: $21

No chemicals such as colour, bleach or permanent applications are used.

Locations:

The Sparky’s Kutz salons are individually owned franchises and can be found at the following locations, all of which are near major bus and skytrain/sea bus routes:

Coquitlam Center (Tel:  604.945.1973)

Landsdowne Mall (Tel: 604.270.7333)

Lonsdale Quay 2nd Floor (Tel:  604.990.4900)

Brentwood Mall (Tel: 778.370.0250)

Other opportunities at Landsdowne Mall

While you are at Landsdowne Mall you might want to have lunch at one of the many restaurants (see below); check out the many one-off, non-chain stores and the big box stores such as Best Buy, Toys R Us, Winners and Home Sense; or pick up some cute clothes at great prices at the charming Timbo Dino children’s clothing store. (Ask them about their membership programme.)

Of course if your family decides to take the train to Landsdowne Mall, instead of driving, you can finish your day satisfied that you have gone on an eco-friendly family outing!

What do you think about this topic? Let us know by leaving a comment below. We’d love to hear from you!

Related

Information regarding mall location and opening hours

Sparky’s Kutz for Kidz (Landsdowne location Telephone number: 604-270-7333)

Restaurants at the mall include: California Cafe, Gingeri (a popular restaurant serving Chinese food, including dim sum),  Earls Restaurant, Kyung Bok Palace BBQ, Sui Sha Ya Japanese and Mongolian Hot Pot.

Landsdowne Mall website (Check out their ongoing events information detailing children’s and shopping events and their contests. In early September, 2010 you could win a $2,000 shopping spree.)