KidStyleFile

This weekend, Miki brings you a fine selection of prams of strollers to drool over. The form of these baby-movers is just stunning, and their functionality is optimal. Just what every busy Mum needs in her life

Next weekend: Pram Accessories (including Bags!! Yay!)

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Silver Cross Dazzle

*The* name in prams is, and has always been, Silver Cross – www.silvercross.com.au. If it’s good enough for several generations of the British Royal family then it’s likely good enough for your precious bub!

Silver Cross have really updated in the last few years. Their latest model, the lightweight Dazzle stroller, is an iconic design – fresh, stark and simply beautiful. This is a stroller that really will become a modern classic.

I’m not lucky enough to have one of these (although I’d dearly love one!) but I’m told by people who do own a Dazzle that the build quality is second to none, and they love all the extra little features that come with it: the big viewing window in the hood which is held in place with magnets, the seat that lies almost flat so even the youngest baby can lie in it comfortably (there is also an optional carrycot), the hidden shopping basket, the suspension and foam-filled wheels giving the lucky kid inside a smooth ride, it’s light weight (only 7kgs), the five spectacular colours it’s available in… I’d better stop before I start dribbling.

The Dazzle comes with a ventilated rain cover too – that’s the last time you’ll have to take your raincoat off so the child doesn’t get wet!

The best price for the Dazzle that I’ve found online is from Nought 2 Five – www.nought2five.com. They have the Dazzle stroller for $395 in all colours, or $599 for the stroller and carrycot set. Have a browse around Nought 2 Five while you’re there, it’s gorgeous!

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Stokke Xplory

Another modern classic: the Stokke Xplory – www.stokke.com/en%2Dau/.

This pram made such a splash when it was launched in 2003! The world had never seen anything like it, and they still haven’t because the Xplory is simply in a class of its own. Designed for modern, urban parents, the Xplory motto is ‘higher is better’, and when you look at the pram you can see why.

The central ‘spine’ allows for height adjustability and for the seat to face forwards or back towards you. The extra height means that when walking you are closer to the baby in the seat, which aids eye contact and interaction between parent and child.

And the battle to get a highchair in a crowded cafe? Never again – the Xplory’s height means it can be wheeled right up to the table just as it is.

As you’d expect from Stokke, the quality is extraordinary; in fact, the aluminium and polymer structure is built to the same standards as automobiles and aircraft!

The seat and carrycot are interchangeable which makes this pram perfect from the earliest days of infancy right through toddler-dom.

Stokke are currently running a competition to win a Stokke Xplory: enter here.

The best online price that I can find in Australia is at Bebe Online www.bebeonline.com.au – it’s retailing there for $1499.00, with the bassinet as optional retailing for $439.00. Orders over $100.00 are delivered free! Otherwise if you want the pram-and-bassinet package, the best price is $1899.00 at Babies Galore – www.babiesgalore.com.au.

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Phil & Teds Classic, Sport, Dash and Vibe buggies

LOVE my Phil & Teds – www.philandteds.com – Sport Buggy. It was a present from my beloved aunty when my little boy arrived, and so far it’s taken everything I’ve thrown at it without batting an eyelash. It’s rugged enough for walking all over the grandparents’ country property, it walks daily along the beach with no signs of wear despite all the salt and sand. It’s lightweight enough (11kgs) to throw in the boot for quick shopping trips and it even looks good enough for promenading up and down the city high street!

It has a whole swag of cool features (the big shopping basket, the adjustable handle, the nifty pouch in the canopy (I keep my phone and my shopping list in there), the great colours available. And then there’s the ingenious doubles kit, available for all P&T single prams, which quickly and cheaply converts your single pram into one which can take a toddler and a baby or two toddlers! There just isn’t another pram around which can match the P&T for flexibility, particularly if you have two kids or think you might at some point.

I’m not the only one who loves it – I’m in great company with Holly Hunter and Brooke Shields, to name but a couple of my fellow P&T fans

Earlier this year P&T released three new models: the Classic, the Dash and the Vibe. These are already proving to be just as popular as the Sport buggy!

Clockwise from left:
Sport Buggy, $699.95 $595.95
Vibe buggy, $1130.00 $899.95
Dash buggy, $859.95 $749.95
Classic buggy – currently sold out in Australia, shows you how popular it is! But I’m sure it will be back soon.

2 Cute 4 Kids - www.2cute4kids.com.au – have the best prices on the P&Ts that I’ve seen in Australia and what’s more, they make these prices even more attractive by including a FREE doubles kit – or if you don’t want the doubles kit, take a further $50 off the price!

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But wait, there’s more!

If none of the prams I’ve shown so far has rocked your boat, then you’d better go and have a look around at 
Minimee – www.minimee.com.au.

These guys carry some of the top names in prams – Mountain Buggy, Emmaljunga and Bugaboo, among others – at fantastic discounted prices.

These are my picks:

Clockwise from top left:
Emmaljunga Duo Combi – Edge $1299.95 $1202.45
Mountain Buggy Urban Elite Single $869.95 $804.70
Bugaboo Cameleon $1599 $1499
Mountain Buggy Urban Double, $1199.95 $1109.95 (Angela had one of these for her girls and loved it!)

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As a final note, if you’re looking for more info about prams & strollers then go to www.strollersandprams.com.

There are reviews on every pram you’ve ever heard of (and plenty you haven’t), and if you still can’t the answers to your questions then join the S&P forums. As I’ve discovered while researching this week, the members are friendly and helpful and if there’s anything they don’t know about prams (which I doubt) then it’s not worth knowing!

Just a little update on – Frock You’s – www.frockyou.com.au – crazy-good 30% off store-wide offer, especially for fans (and air-conditioners haw-haw) of BabyLegs.

New designs have just landed at The Frock are they are keeey-ute!! (See visual confirmation below).

Enter discount code ‘KSF’ for 30% of EVERYTHING at Frock You (while stocks last) until midnight 1 June!!!!!

This stunning discount brings the Baby Legs (RRP $16.50) down to a crazy low $11.55 after 30% discount

And don’t forget that for every pair of BabyLegs you buy, you go into the draw to win 6 pairs of regular range BLs of your choosing (finishes May 31, so not long to go to find out if you are a winner and a grinner).

Check my previous post on Frock You for more hot picks.

Frock You stock the following baby and kids clothing and accessory brands: Ej Sikke Lej (”ay-sic-kay-lay”), American Apparel, Elodie & Elvis, Fully Stoked, Itch Design, Little Red, Monster Baby, Moppit, Smelly Welly, Smirk, Tippy Toes, Baobab, Cuski, TomTom, Deadly Girl Couture, with Sooki Baby and Lucca.P coming soon.

Frock You stock the following fashion clothing and accessories for women, including jewellery and shoes: American Apparel, Birds of a Feather, Blue Juice, Dolly Rockers, Fanciulla, GRAB, Little Potty Red Shoes, Living Doll, Mejikuhibiniu, Mermaid Sister, Moe Moe, Nude Footwear, One Teaspoon, Seduce, SUNDAY By Andrea & Joen, Sunny Girl, Tribu, and Vicious Threads.

Race on over to score your 30% off at Frock You now before all the goodies are gone!!

Frock You charge $5.00 flat, for Express Post Australia wide. Orders over $150.00 are shipped free!

Looking for backpacks, bags, tags, drink bottles, sleeping gear, lunch bags and snack keepers, smocks and aprons, sun-hats, rain gear, hair accessories, dress-ups, creative play solutions, funky toys and gifts, and the coolest accessories??

Search no longer: it’s all here at Kinder Kaboodle – www.kinderkaboodle.com.au!

A concept store especially for the pre-schooler, school age and creche-going child, whether you need backpacks and bags, drink bottles, sun-wear, rain-wear, art-ware or sleepover supplies, Kinder Kaboodle is the place for you.

With an incredible range across brands including Alex & Charli, Bazoongi Kids, Bestever, Bobble Art, Boys Don’t Wear Bows, Charlie and Lola, Chelona, Chick Pea, Cocoon Couture, Crocodile Creek, Cupcakes Jewellery, Feef , Fruity Faces, Goldfish Gifts, Happy Guru, Hotbods, Jam Industries, Kiddysac, Kids Cold Packs, Little Chipipi, Little Swish, Milestone Press, Mini Rhubarb, Mini Whisk, 4 My Earth, Oscar Blue, Penny Scallan, Rolly Poly Kids, Rush, Smelly Welly, Tatiri, The Bag Tag Studio, Vintage Kid, Western Chief, and Zebra Crossing Club there is something for every taste and need.

No more rushing around different places looking, Kinder Kaboodle is *the* source!

The question here is not what to buy, but what *not* to buy!! Last week I purchased some new Feef smocks, Alex & Charli drink bottles, and extra Starfish Bump Buddy (can’t have too many of these!!), and I just noticed these socks, which I think we maybe can’t live without!!

I must say that Bernice at Kinder K really goes all out with her gift wrapping; it’s gorgeous! Also, she included a very sweet little gift with the order. Make a purchase and you’ll get one too

To get 15% off the purchase price store-wide pick up a copy of My Child or Australian Parents magazine and access the special discount code.

(Not near a newsagent? Leave a comment on this post, or email me, and I’ll send you the code.)

Note 2 Dec 2009: this code is now expired.

As the rain pitter-pats outside my window, my first pick of the day is the Penny Scallan rainwear, just landed at Kinder Kaboodle.

The new Penny Scallan raincoats ($49.95) are so soft to touch (not stiff like as per usual ‘plastic’ raincoats situation) and look so groovy! Match them with the new Penny Scallan Boy Stripe and and Penny Scallan Girl Stripe Gumboots ($29.95 per pair) for wet-weather readiness.

Also, I’m loving the new Penny Scallan Pop-up Umbrellas ($19.95), which fold down to a compact 23cm – ideal for popping in school bags.

Other things on the shopping list today:

(Beautiful, huh? Colours make me feel good!!)

I can’t let today’s post go by without mentioning the Feef smocks ($34.95) which I deem to be the best smocks in existence. I know this from experience; we have literally 10 different kinds, and the Feef smocks are the only ones that don’t soak through. They are a made from a thick, but soft, coated fabric that really protects clothes; no more Napisan-ing after playgroup!

If you’re in the market for a super-cool lunch bag for your little one, consider the Bestever Lunch Bags ($29.95 $23.95) How cool is this Croc? also available in Puppy Dog and Zebra.

For drink bottles, you can’t go past Alex & Charli’s Drink Bottles ($14.95) – goodness knows I didn’t

A beautiful new addition to Kinder Kaboodle’s super range of bags are the Chickpea range of products. How gorgeous are these Chickpea Library Bags ($25.95) with their divine vintage-retro prints?

If you are looking for solid colour bags, I highly commend the Kiddysac bags. We have been using our bags for 4 months now and they still look new!!

To ensure your child’s bag doesn’t get lost, consider attaching a Personalised Bag Tag (only $9.95 including postage!) from The Bag Tag Studio. Bernice at Kinder Kaboodle will take your order, and send it to The Bag Tag Studio, who will create your tags and sends it direct to you on Bernice’s behalf to speed up the delivery process. These tags are great quality and come in a wide range of gorgeous styles.

Other things I’m eyeing off are the new cooking products from Mini Whisk (starting from $15.95), the super-cute Bestever bag accessories, $8.95, (pictured above in Bird and Dog, and also available in Sheep and Lion) and the My School Days Record Book ($34.95) from Milestone Press.

Kinder Kaboodle charge $6.00 for parcels up to 500gms and $9.00 for parcels 501gms-3kg, Australia wide. Orders over 3kg will display the charge at checkout. Orders over $120 are shipped free!

International shipping is available. Contact Bernice at Kinder Kaboodle for a fast and friendly quote.

Okey dokey. There must be something in the water this week. The deals are just unbelievably good.

Today’s offer, from Monique at Kids Gift List – www.kidsgiftlist.com.au – really is quite mind-blowing.

Get this: 45% off musical instruments plus 20% off everything else store-wide including sale items!! Whooooop-Whoop-eeeee!

PLUS, as a special offer exclusive to KidStyleFile readers, when you spend over $30.00 on musical instruments you will also receive a little gift FREE!

The discount code is SALE – enter it at checkout, and be seriously rewarded for your effort. Stunningly good! Yep, yep, yep!!!!
Mention ‘KidStyleFile‘ in the ‘Where did you find us?’ section at checkout to score your gift.

KGL stock fine products from Alex Designs, Baufix, Cinti does Vintage, Cheeky Little Soles, Dobbin and Drum Toys, Edenstar, Heavenly Creatures, KGL Gifts, Knox and Floyd, Lark Designs, Isa Toys, Like A Bike, Little Blue Fish, Little Chipipi, The Little Experience, Little Kitchen, Little Red Pear, Maiike, Merrigold, Oobi, Raggidy Rag Dolls, Rockabye Baby, Rosie Flo, Rubys & Robots, Sooki Baby, Sparrowkids, Sudo, Taltrade, Tee P, Tiny Revolutionary, Tiny Tribe, Tonic Baby, Trunki, and Zacharia Bier.

You’ve got until May 31 to raid the joint

So go!……._NOW_!!!!!!

For those of you who don’t respond to orders and/or who want to build the anticipation just a tad more, here are my favourite things of the day.

Choose from a super selection of drums, clappers, maracas, whistles, tambourines, jingle sticks, castanets, flutes and xylophones, all 45% off!!!

Instruments start at a very low $2.95 and prices are automatically reduced by 45% at the checkout when you enter code ‘SALE’, so jump straight on into the Musical Toys section to save!

Clockwise from top left:

Tiny Revolutionary “I’ll Change the World Someday” Tee $38.95 $31.15 $25.56 after 20% off discount I love the message of this tee, and it’s eco and kids friendly mode of manufacture.

KGL Classic Combi (available in assorted colours; here dark red) $9.95 $7.96 after 20% off discount Am I a broken record with these combis? Well, what if I am? They are *the best* toy cars I have ever found (and you know I look!!). Every home should have one! (I’m off to pick up some more today!!)

Like a Bike Mountain in red $339.00 $271.20 after 20% off discount These ‘foot bikes’ are widely used in Scandinavia, where the design hails from. Riding one of these for a while is said to eliminate the need for training wheels when your small charge moves to a pedal bike. Plus, they look darn cool! I want one. Make that two, actually!!

Coco Boheme XL Monkey Blackboard Repositionable Decal $99.00 $79.20 after 20% off discount Makes a super stylish impact anywhere in your home, and will keep your child amused for hours!

Rosie Flo’s Johnny Joe and Rosie Flo’s Animals colouring books $14.95 $11.96 after 20% off discount Just add a head, legs and arms. These books are a delight, and bring creativity into the colouring book experience. Snap ‘em up!

Merrigold Circus Tent Playset $37.95 $30.36 after 20% off discount We have one of these in our home and it is sooo sweet. Five friendly characters dance in and out of the tent. I just love the monkey’s little removable skirt!!

Sparrow Kids DIY Felt Sparrow Bag (red available only) $28.95 $23.16 after 20% off discount I remember having kits like these when I was a child. It was so satisfying to complete a project, and now, as a parent I realise they are a true joy, as everything you need to make it is in the pack! Just gorgeous, and functional to boot!

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Kids Gift List charge an unbeatable $6.00 flat for delivery, Australia wide (excluding over sized items).

Kids Gift List offers a FREE gift list service. This means that you can let everyone know which cool gifts you and your child would like, and need never fear the ‘gift’ of inappropriate toys, or bad fashion again!!

Simply login to create your list, pick out what your child would like or needs from the beautiful selection available, print and judiciously distribute for universal benefit.

Head on over to the Kids Gift List site to celebrate and get a taste of the KGL experience for yourself !

As the weather cools and the days get darker earlier, we tend to spend more time inside. It’s the perfect time to jazz up your home environment with a little colour, and My Munchkin Home’s – www.mymunchkinhome.com.au – fine selection of wall decal designs, from the giant to the mini varieties, are guaranteed to lift your mood.

All designed and made here in Australia, My Munchkin Home’s designs are so clever in that they transverse the age and stage progressions beautifully, ensuring longevity of appeal from birth through early childhood and beyond.

The designs are the perfect combination of playful and stimulating, and calming and soothing. Most designs are available in a range of colour options, so you can easily work them in with your existing colour scheme. Also, if you move around, or like to change decor frequently they peel off cleanly, leaving no marks.

Amanda at My Munchkin Home is generously offering you free postage on all orders over $30.00 within Australia only until 3 June 2008.
Enter KIDSTYLE in the coupon field at checkout to score your free postage on your super purchases!

Also, be sure to enter the “Munchkin Giveaway”. Simply answer a few quick questions to go into the fortnightly draw to win a pack of Twinkle Stars (valued at $24.95). Check out Amanda’s new My Munchkin Home Blog regularly to find out if you’ve won, to keep up with the latest style tips, and get sneak peaks on new designs.

It’s sooooo hard to restrict myself just to one or two design here…..so I won’t!! Enjoy, and happy decorating

My Space $89.95 (available in 6 colours) Blast into the outer reaches with this superb kit. I can’t think of any better way to fall asleep than amongst the night sky!

My Giraffe in Mint $89.95 (available in 5 colours) This jaunty giraffe makes a happy statement for boys or girls. You can choose left or right facing too! Now that’s thoughtful!

My Butterflies $99.95 (available in 5 colours) Bring the outdoors in with these glorious fluttering butterflies.

Springtime $89.95 (available in 5 colours) Why wait for Spring to come when you can bring it to you. Bright and buoyant, this will bring sweetness and light to those cold winter days!

Twinkle Stars $24.95 (available in 1o colour choices), Mini My Butterflies $24.95 (available in 5 colours), and My Name Is custom name decals: starts at $6.50 per letter, and available in 10 colour choices!

Every child love to see and recognise their name, and it’s a great foundation for letter recognition and reading. The stars are great used on their own, or in combination with the larger decals. Land the butterflies in unexpected places around the room for extra whimsy.

Last, but certainly not least, my very favourite MMH decal: My Elephant $99.00 (available in 10 different colour options, and pictured here in Red)

A whopping 110cm this happy fellow will tread lightly on your walls while making such a delightful statement. How can you resist?

My Munchkin Home calculates shipping costs at checkout on the basis of the size of wall art selected. Check the My Munchkin Home Ordering/Delivery page for details. International orders are welcome, and US customers, USD$ prices are listed on the site for your convenience.

In case you have been hiding under a rock, Frock You – Frock You – www.frockyou.com.au – sells the most dynamic and spunky blend of women’s street fashion and accessories, and zesty, fun baby and kids threads you’ll find online.

There’s everything for littles and chickens from birth to 6 years.

Choose from onesies, tees, dresses, pants, skirts, legwarmers, bunny rugs and hats from Ej Sikke Lej (”ay-sic-kay-lay”), American Apparel, Elodie & Elvis, Fully Stoked, Itch Design, Little Red, Monster Baby, Moppit, Smelly Welly, Smirk, Tippy Toes, Baobab, Cuski, TomTom, Deadly Girl Couture, with Sooki Baby and Lucca.P coming soon.

For Mamas, choose from a super range of clothing and accessories, including jewellery and shoes! Labels stocked include American Apparel, Birds of a Feather, Blue Juice, Dolly Rockers, Fanciulla, GRAB, Little Potty Red Shoes, Living Doll, Mejikuhibiniu, Mermaid Sister, Moe Moe, Nude Footwear, One Teaspoon, Seduce, SUNDAY By Andrea & Joen, Sunny Girl, Tribu, and Vicious Threads.

It might be the cold, it might be because Kat’s just got the joie de vivre (or cos it’s my BIRTHDAY!! – It really is. What did I get? Hmm, well a “face cake” for starters…) whatever it is, Kat has decided to pull out all the stops and give us 30% of EVERYTHING at Frock You all this week (while stocks last) until midnight 1 June!!!!!

Ok, now I’m having a GREAT birthday!! (Face cake aftershock is substantially diminished.)

Enter discount code ‘KSF’ for 30% off everything. This brings the prices for these fine products down to ridiculously cheap, so let your credit card rip!!

Is Kat crazy? Well, maybe But in the best possible way!! Love ya Kat!! (Check out Kat’s Frock Off blog too check it out. You will laugh your cotton socks off. This girl’s HOT!)

If you’re still reading then there are a few items of interest that I’d like to alert you to:

New Moppit and Ej Sikke Lej stick is now in store.

Ej is simply the most delightful Scandinavian label. Their fairy-land prints of toadstools and birds are just the thing to get your child’s imagination going, and the Strawberry Skirt’s superlative credentials are confirmed in the current edition of LMNOP online magazine.

Moppit is a great Aussie label that gets the balance right every time. I love their ‘Apple’ onesie; it just radiates the essence of a happy baby. The Nigella Hoodie for boys or girls is effortlessly cool, and the Trina Owl Dress is perfect winter style for girls.

Clockwise from top left:

Moppit ‘Apple of Mummy & Daddy’s Eye’ long-sleeved Onesie $29.95 $20.96 after 30% discount
Ej Sikke Lej Bird long-sleeved Tee $28.00 $19.60 after 30% discount
Ej Sikke Lej Toadstool Romper $49.95 $34.96 after 30% discount
Moppit Nigella Hoodie $49.95 $34.96 after 30% discount
Ej Sikke Lej Strawberry Skirt $59.00 $41.30 after 30% discount
Moppit Trina Owl Dress $64.90 $45.43 after 30% discount

For every pair of Baby Legs you buy, you will get one entry into a draw to win 6 pair of BLs of your choosing.
That means you could buy one pair, and end up with a pair for every day of the week! The more pairs you buy, the more entries you get, and the more likely you are to WIN!
Hop straight over to pick up some ‘Legs.

Free badge and “Baby’s First Mixed Tape”CD when you buy a Gabrial Saynte Tee
Apparently the CD contains tunes from the cream of the cool old-skool crowd (David Bowie, Michael Jackson, U2!!) to help kick start your child’s musical education. How cool is that? Personally, I think the BLs worn as arm warmers with the Tees is a stellar look :} Jump straight to the Gabrial Saynte product page.

Gabrial Saynte “THE THE” Tees are printed on 100% cotton American Apparel tee. Baby sizes (envelope neck) up to 24mths are $23.99 ($16.79 after 30% discount); Kids (crew neck) 2Y-6Y $25.99 ($18.19 after 30% discount). Available in Grey marle in sizes 6/12M, 18/24M, 2Y, 4Y & 6Y.

BabyLegs retail at $16.50 $11.55 after 30% discount

Race on over to score your 30% off at Frock You now before all the goodies are gone!!

Frock You charge $5.00 flat, for Express Post Australia wide. Orders over $150.00 are shipped free!