Shop Spotlight | Ollie & Tate

From 6 months on, Olivia wore countless bandana bibs. I loved them not only because they were stylish and a perfect accessory to any outfit, but most importantly they kept her clothes clean and dry when she was teething, eating or drinking. They can be worn in place of a regular bib both at home and on the go, and they offer a comfortable, lightweight alternative to many heavier bibs out there. 

Today I'm so excited to share one of my favorite shops to find high quality, modern bandana bibs -- Ollie & Tate. Not only does O&T offer a wide variety of gender neutral and gender specific bibs in gorgeous eye-catching prints, but they are all backed with organic french terry / 99% of the drool bibs I've seen are backed with minky, and I love that these are different. The organic french terry is super absorbent -- even when Olivia has been getting in her molars -- and it holds up so well in the wash, which is an issue I usually have with minky. They are finished with a KAM snap that keeps your little one extra comfortable and the bib secure from being pulled off by tiny hands.

I absolutely love the story behind this shop and how it came to be. 

You can read more below:

Ollie & Tate all started as a little dream about 5 years ago between me (Laura) and my sister, Cait. At the time, Cait was working as a physical therapist assistant, and I was running a little photography business. Working for ourselves and being able to stay home with our little ones was important to us and something we both knew we wanted to do. Growing up, we had very creative parents who could make/build/do any kind of project they set off to accomplish, and they set great examples of ambition and determination as we watched them build our family homes, restore cars, and so on. Our inspiration comes from seeing them put their mind to something, and go for it with every bit of effort. 

It took several years before we were able to set our dream into motion. My husband and I spontaneously accepted a job transfer to Germany, and 6 weeks later made the move along with our three little ones. For nearly 2 years Cait patiently waited on me back home, but during that time we sent countless emails back and forth, planning and talking about all the things we wanted to make together. Shortly after we moved back home, Cait welcomed her 3^rd baby, and not long after I found out I was expecting twins. So we took a little more time to just enjoy our babies, and for me, adjusting to the craziness that comes with having 2 at once. 

By February of last year, we were ready to launch and opened Ollie & Tate, named after our childhood nicknames, with a variety of items catered toward the eco-conscious mom. We started with cloth diapers, and upcycled wool baby shoes, but soon discovered our bandana bibs were quickly becoming our top seller.  With so many awesome shops that sell similar items, we are always so grateful when we make a sale, and someone out there chooses our bibs. We literally want to give them a big hug, and tell them thank you personally! We strive to always approach things with a sense of gratitude, and let our customers know how much their purchase means to us. It really is a huge blessing that all of our loyal buyers are allowing us to be doing something we absolutely love, and we can’t thank them all enough! Our favorite thing is when someone takes the time to send us a photo of their little one in one of our bibs, or comes back to buy more to send as a gift. We also love being able to make personal connections with our buyers, and some have come to feel like old friends. 

Working from home, and trying to run a business with our 3, and 5 kids, comes with a lot of challenges! I think most will agree the hardest part is finding the balance between work and family. And when your work space is also the space you live in, it sometimes makes it hard to make the separation, as you are constantly surrounded by and reminded of your work. Working hours are limited with so many little ones at our sides, so taking advantage of every minute during naptime and bedtime is crucial.  And sometimes those hours are just not enough, but you have to know when to put the work aside, and say “yes” when your five year old wants to play Uno, or go ride bikes. It’s so easy to say “just a minute”, but ultimately, family has to remain our top priority because before we know it, those little toddlers will be leaving the nest.  We are also so blessed to both have very supportive husbands who not only push and encourage us, but also step in and help out with packing lunches, doing laundry, and all the other household chores that are sometimes hard to get to. We really couldn’t be doing this without them!

When we are not working, we love to stay active being outdoors. Whether it be kicking around a soccer ball with the kids, or working in the vegetable garden, we just have to be outside. We were fortunate enough to spend our childhoods taking road trips across the US, backpacking in the Cascade Mountains, and always being exposed to new experiences.  Looking back we realize what a gift it was that our parents gave us, and we are thankful for the sense of adventure they instilled in us.  As hard as it is to find the time to do it now, we will always have a love of travel and seeing new places. But in the meantime, we are just trying to savor this crazy, child-rearing season of our lives.  And on the side, share a bit of ourselves through Ollie & Tate.

what Ollie & Tate is known for || high quality, handmade modern bandana bibs offered as singles or in coordinating sets that are super cozy and hold up to the wear and tear experienced by infants and toddlers / the bibs come in both gender neutral and gender specific prints

what sets Ollie & Tate apart || The quality of materials used was the most noticeable characteristic from the moment I opened the package ... these bibs are just so soft and cozy! I also love the KAM snaps in place of traditional metal ones. This would be especially nice if your child has sensitive skin or is prone to metal allergies. Finally, I love the Ollie & Tate logo, tag and packaging. They come beautifully folded and packaged - perfect for gift giving. From start to finish, O&T has perfected every step.

how to purchase || To purchase, simply visit the Ollie & Tate shop on Etsy here / You can save 20% off your total purchase today through Tuesday, April 7 using the code BLESSEDNEST20

giveaway || Cait & Laura are so generously offering to give away a $30 shop credit to one lucky Blessed Nest reader so you can choose your own bibs! If your child is past the age of using them, they make beautiful shower gifts for expectant Mamas! To enter, simply complete the steps below in the Rafflecopter. The giveaway runs from Wednesday, April 1 through Tuesday, April 7. All entries will be verified and the winner is responsible for contacting A Blessed Nest within 24 hours of being announced. Happy April!

a Rafflecopter giveaway