Knuckleheads Samples and Overstocks!

Ever notice how much amazing girls clothing is out there and how very sorry the boy section is? If you’ve done any investigation, you’ve probably noticed that Knuckleheads (family-owned right up in Vancouver WA!) has been working hard to make things right.  Super cute, current clothes for boys where nobody else is making it.  We had the pleasure of rifling through their samples and overstocks and our haul is now on the shelves!   Sample sale prices on Knuckleheads? Get them while they last!

Knuckleheads at bella stella!

Enjoy Your City, Not the Mall!

NE Broadway Rocks

Just in case you haven’t noticed…NE Broadway in good old Portland Oregon is sort of a clothing store bargain Mecca.  How so you ask? Well, for one, it’s has an amazing concentration of resale and consignment shops in just a few blocks:

• Baby, Toddler and Maternity designer resale clothing at bella stella at 2751 Ne Broadway
• Big Kid and Junior designer resale clothing at bella stella at 2635 NE Broadway
• Women’s designer resale clothing at Here We Go Again at 2438 NE Broadway
• Men’s designer resale clothing at Well Suited at 2401 NE Broadway
• The Kitchen Sink of resale at Goodwill at 1231 NE Broadway

Furthermore, we’ve got Sweet Jayne, a gorgeous little boutique at 1914 NE Broadway, specializing in designer overstocks for the 20 something set.  The kicker? Everything is $18.  Shoes, jackets, dresses…yes, $18.  I know the argument of “I’d love to shop locally, but I can’t afford to.” I’d challenge you to compare the prices at your “favorite” big box store to the neighborhood stores right here.  You’ll get better return on your dollar, a more pleasant experience, better customer service, spend less gas, and keep your neighbors in business!

Baby Bath Pod

baby bath pod bath tub

Time for another parenting disclosure: I used to wash my infant daughter in a stock pot.  It was fairly practical, she liked it pretty well, and if you stuck a rib of celery and a couple carrots in it made a pretty funny photo.   But, it was sort of tippy, unfortunately.  Luckily, someone has come up with a much safer version that still gives the comfort and the cuteness.  The vertical orientation helps keep even really little babies upright, while your hands are free to grab towels, shampoo or whatever.  Yet another item I wish I’d had when my girl was little.  Now available at the baby store (2751 NE Broadway, Portland OR)

Kid’s Wool Pants at bella stella

Pullipants Handmade Wool Pants

Our fabulous, longtime customer Jacki Kearns just started a very cool new business: Pullipants!

This first time we saw them, we knew they would big hit, and now we are carrying them at both stores!  Pullinpants are made from recycled sweaters, refashioned into long and short pants with elastic waists that fit a big range of sizes in the same pair.  Utterly eyecatching, totally green, absolutely local and completely functional in our chilly Northwest Climate, we’ve scooped up several pairs for our own kids.  We bet you’ll want to too!

Green School Lunches

Munchlers Lunch Boxes at bella stella

I had a little trial run this summer getting making sack lunches for my dughter while she went to camp.  One thing I realized: you can spend an awful lot of money and resources putting everything in Ziploc baggies and disposeable bags.  A little research and I found that there are some fantastic green options for kid’s lunches, and we are stocking lots of them.  Come check out our selection of lunch bags from Mimi the Sardine, Munchlers.  We also have reusable snack pouches and sandwich wraps (bye bye plastic baggies!) from Wrap-N-Mat.  so green, so affordable and so cute! 

Mimi the Sardine Reuseable Lunch Bags

We Heart Pluie Pluie Raincoats!

It’s hot, it’s hot, I know.  But you know as well as I do that rain is (thankfully!) around the corner.  and lot’s of it.  We’re ready for it!  We just got a gorgeous shipment of Pluie Pluie rain gear in, and we already have to order more! Why

do people love Pluie Pluie so much?

• PVC Free!
• Soft, cuddly cotton fleece (not polyester!) lining.
• Cute as can be prints
• No crinkly stiff fabric
• Under $40

We carry Pluie Pluie at both bell stella locations from ages 1 to 8! 

Extended Hours for Fall

It’s that time of year again!  In order to help everybody get back into the groove of school and beyond, bella stella will have extended hours starting August 17.  We sill be open 10-5 Monday through Saturday.  We will continue to be open on Sunday from 12-4!

Mama/Daughter Coconut Date

blossoming lotus irvington

It has been a really busy couple of weeks.  My husband and I have sort of tag-teamed the parenting, and since I am the one saddled with the boobs, I’ve been ending up with the baby boy, and he has been hanging with the five year old girl.  An early bed time for the baby and the husband last Friday left my daughter and I with an unexpected stretch of time together. “Let’s go on a date mama!”, suggested Ella.  It was a good idea, but where to go? We took a walk, knowing most everything in the neighborhood would be closed.

Then we stumbled upon it: Blossoming Lotus, the fantastic vegan cafe that resides in the Pearl,  had miraculously expanded to our neighborhood! Right on 15th, right next to Peet’s (which was closed anyway).  We ambled into the rather romantic restaurant feeling a little shy.  “This place is FANCY!” remarked the girl.  Fancy, but not snobby.  We were doted on like royalty as we sipped on our young coconuts with mint and lime juice.  A fantastic date all and all.  Welcome to Irvington Blossoming Lotus! We’ve needed you!

Bring in gently used children’s clothing, win fabulous prizes!

We’re getting ready for back to school!  From experience, I happen to know that your kid has a ton of cute clothes and shoes from last year that he/she has already outgrown.  In fact, some of the really cute ones didn’t even get worn.  I also happen to know that you aren’t really looking forward to shelling out a ton of cash for new ones.  So, here’s the deal.  Bring your school age kid’s clothes (sizes 5 and up) into bella stella this week and we will enter you into a raffle for gift certificates to:

• Black Wagon
• Whiffies Pies (Fried Pies!!)
• Juniors Cafe
• Happy Sparrow (Kolaches!!!)
• Sitter Soiree
• Twisted
• Broadway Music Company
• Broadway Books
• Zama Massage
• Baby Boot Camp
• Power Outdoor Fitness
• bella stella (of course!)
• Kitchen Kaboodle
• Manhattan Cafe
• Sweet Jayne
• Furever Pets

and more.  And of course, we will also give you in store credit for new clothes.  Raffle will be held this Saturday at our Grand Opening Party.  You don’t have to be present to win, but you ought to be.  We’ll have a crafts table with art and craft projects from Faber Castell, face painting, music, refreshments from Manhattan Cafe and a reception for two young local artists, Spencer and Ivy from IvyStudio!

School uniforms have entered the building…

We just got our first shipment of school uniforms today!  We have all the basics for Portland schools like The Madeleine School, SEI, Holy Redeemer, City Christian, Saint Ignatius and Oregon Episcopal.  Peter pan collars, polo shirts, oxford shirts, flat front, pleated front… you get the idea.  Our uniforms are American made, built to last and about 30% cheaper than you’ll find at the other guys.  Plus, since we are a resale store, you can trade last years uniforms and play clothes for brand new uniforms.  We can also: