Yesterday was a MAGICAL day to head to a Christmas tree farm!
It snowed during our entire outing at Blackwoods Tree Farm in Stillwater, our favorite local tree farm, rendering the sleds they provide to haul your fresh-cut tree useful on multiple levels.
The towering Frasers were blanketed in snow, making for a soundless, almost mystical forest.
Once again my trusty baby carrier came in handy as we schlepped through the snow and I snapped pictures. #babycarryingforthewin
I smiled knowingly at another mom carrying her baby through the snow-covered farm. #solidarity
Blackwoods had a busy weekend, but it didn’t feel crowded yesterday. On Friday, a staff member mentioned, they sold about 350 trees! (They charge a fixed rate of $60 a tree, which is lower than the other tree farms we’ve visited in the east metro.)
For all the beauty in my midst, I could hardly take my eyes off Kate, now 10 months, who was sporting a festive Christmas bonnet.
I’ve written before about my love of bonnets, which burst with old-timey charm and also prove functional in fully covering Baby’s ears without blocking her peripheral vision. My favorite are the ones topped with a pom. #cannotresist
Typically you had to snag these bonnets from speciality shops such as Etsy. (Briar Baby and Orchard Cove are two well-established shops.) They are lovely but not cheap and often sell out quickly, sometimes sold through a “drop” at a set time.
I’ve tried to snag a bonnet through a drop before and found myself flustered at the mad dash. It’s also inconvenient for a busy mom to set an alarm and perfectly time her purchase!
So I was delighted to discover this fall that Target has caught on to the trend! Its Cat & Jack line now includes several baby bonnets. They’re darling and super affordable, ranging from $8 to $10. And they’re on sale today, which is the impetus for this blog post!
I bought Kate the plaid Cat & Jack bonnet in size 6-12 months for $10 at regular price. Today it’s just $7!
The bonnet has a Christmas vibe, with its red and green hues, but would work all winter.
The Cat & Jack Baby Faux Felt Critter Bonnet is also on sale today for $7 and would work any season.
(And if you’re reading this blog post after Cyber Monday, let me assure you that the full price of $10 is still a steal!)
How many pictures should one take of Baby in a plaid bonnet at a Christmas tree farm?
As. Many. As. Possible.
And then a few more.
That’s exactly what we did.
A baby hack
I also must share a new winter hack I stumbled upon yesterday at the tree farm. Since mittens are so tricky on babies and usually too big, try sliding a pair of thick toddler socks over their hands. It worked great for Kate!
She was also covered in a scarf to shield her from snowfall and wind most of the time.
Related reading
- Check out Sarah Jackson’s informative piece on local Christmas tree farms
- Here’s my take on the 6 sweetest picture books on Christmas tree farms
- And here’s my review of 5 great winter hats for kids
Christina Ries is a freelance writer who lives with her husband and four children in Inver Grove Heights.
