KidStyleFile

Welcome to the week, stylish and savvy shoppers

I have another ripper coming up for you, and the fun starts today with Skeanie – www.skeanie.com – the most adorable Australian designed and owned, and fair-trade made, soft-soled shoes and boots for babes birth to 2 years, and toddler boots up to size 10.

I recently met Natasha from Skeanie (a country Mum from Goulburn, who has put a power of research into developing her product) , and took in the new season’s collection; fresh little Mary-Janes summer sandals for girls, and sneaker-style slip-ons for boys, in addition to their funky word-play shoes, and super-luxe silky faux fur booties.

Besides their cuteness, the thing that grabbed me most about Skeanies are their unbelievable softness. Wearing these must feel like you have the lightest, softest warm hand wrapped around your tootsies; nothing like shoes as I know it!

The price of the Skeanie is also a big winner: these babies start at $29.95; you get investment quality at a fraction of the price.

Medical experts recommend that infants and toddlers go bare foot where possible. At birth feet are mostly cartilage, and in childhood and adolescence the bones in the feet, 52 in all, form. During this time they are very fragile and any undue pressure can cause deformities. Soft, flexible soles are a must for pre-walkers and those new to the art of walking.

Skeanies must be the closest footwear alternative to going barefoot. Skeanie shoes and boots are made of a high quality, soft genuine leather upper to allow little feet to breathe and grow naturally, and the flexible suede sole provides superior grip whilst crawling and walking.

Natasha at Skeanie wants you and your little one to feel the joy of the Skeanie, and is offering you a very sweet 25% off store-wide until August 31. Select from the new season’s designs, or already reduced sale stock; you get 25% off the lot.

Enter ‘KSF’ in the coupon section at checkout to redeem.

From top left in rows. Prices quoted include 25% discount until August 31 only:

Skeanie Summer Sandals in Pink $29.95 $22.46
Skeanie Funky Shoes – Baby Bear $29.95 $22.46
Skeanie Sporty Sneakers in Blue $29.95 $22.46
Skeanie Funky Shoes – Busy Bee $29.95 $22.46
Skeanie Toddler Boots in Blue $49.95 $38.50  $28.87
Skeanie Toddler Boots in Red $49.95 $38.50  $28.87
Skeanie Luxurious Boots $39.95 $29.96
Skeanie Funky Shoes – Selection $29.95 $22.46

Don’t forget to check out the Skeanie Specials page for sale stock: you can grab another 25% off these prices. Superb!

Skeanie charge $6.50 flat rate postage of $6.50 within Australian and New Zealand.

Today Miki delivers you some knockout news from the gorgeous Bubba Funk – dig in!

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Bubba Funk fans (that means everyone), listen up!

Sarah and Mariana at Bubba Funk – www.bubbafunk.com.au – are having a huge winter clear-out with up to 40% off in their well-stocked sale section. They need to create room for new Spring stock, so what’s left from Winter has to go go go!

I was delighted to find one of my best-loved New Zealand brands, Nature Baby, in the Bubba Funk sale section, and at great discounted prices no less. For those of you who don’t know Nature Baby, it’s all organic super-soft cotton and the quality is just outstanding. It’s absolutely perfect as a new baby gift… if you can bring yourself to give it away! My kid has a heap of Nature Baby in his wardrobe; I don’t think it’s possible to have too much of it.

Also in the sale section are items from designers such as Egg Baby by Susan Lazar, Marquise, loads from Moppit, adorable shoes and booties from Beautiful Soles and Britt Baby, plus clothes from Britt Baby too. There’s also a great range of Oobi, both summer and winter stock, and some lovely pieces from Quilt Baby. And as I said before, all of this is up to 40% off! Yow!

But hold on a minute!

Before you go racing off to make your purchases, hear this: the girls at Bubba Funk are offering KidStyleFile readers 25% off storewide*, including sale items! That’s an absolutely outstanding offer!! This offer is only good until August 31, so make sure you get in before then, and I’d suggest right now because that fantastic sale stock is never going to last at these discounts. Enter KSF08 at checkout to get the extra 25% off.

Now, tear your eyes away from the sale section for a moment to consider what else in the store you could apply a 25% discount to. The obvious answer is ‘everything’ of course, but let’s be a bit more specific here.

What about 25% off Il Tutto?! Bubba Funk have a big range of the luxurious, luscious Il Tutto nappy bags, and it’s very rare to find this much of a discount on them. I’ve been eyeing off the Olivia clutch for quite some time – it might be time to take the plunge.

Room decor is plentiful with designers such as David Fusseneger, Luna Ninos, and Aden + Anais, and there’s a massive range of wall decals from Little Chipipi and Forwalls. I love the blackboard decals, I think they’re a brilliant idea for kids’ rooms, but also for playrooms and the kitchen, or even the bathroom! I do my best thinking in the shower, perhaps I should put a blackboard wall sticker in there so that I have somewhere to record my ‘eureka moments’ before they vanish forever!

I can’t even begin to list all the beautiful products available at Bubba Funk, but suffice to say they carry these top designers: Aden + Anais, Annabel Trends, Babu, Baby Brands, Beautiful Soles, Bod, Bod for Bubs, Boon, Britt, Bud by Designroom, David Fussenegger, Egg Baby by Susan Lazar, Fish Lilly, For Walls, Grobag, Il Tutto, Isoki, John Crane, Little Chipipi, Luna Ninos, Marquise, Moppit, Nature Baby, Oobi Baby, Present Time, Quilt Baby, Ramalama, Vice Versa and Well Spotted.

Here are just a few of my picks:

Britt Baby Cuddles Booties, $38.50 $28.50 $21.38 with 25% KSF discount
John Crane Little Rolling Truck, $35.95 $26.96 with 25% KSF discount
Moppit Bluey Denim Jeans, $59.95 $49.95 $37.46 with 25% KSF discount
Oobi Cord French Schoolboy/girl Shorts – Sky, $39.95 $29.95 $22.46 with 25% KSF discount (also available in chocolate)
Nature Baby Organic Drawstring Pants – Navy Stripe, $24.95 $20.95 $15.71 with 25% KSF discount
Nature Baby Organic Longsleeve Bodysuit, $22.95 $18.95 $14.21 with 25% KSF discount
Annabel Trends Cuddly Critter Squidgy Travel Pillow – Pig, $19.95 $14.96 with 25% KSF discount
Nature Baby Organic Baby Massage Oil, $24.95 $20.95 $15.71 with 25% KSF discount
David Fusseneger Wise Owl Jewel Blanket, $49.50 $37.12 with 25% KSF discount
Il Tutto Chiara Leather Nappy Bag – Red, $449.00 $336.75 with 25% KSF discount

Bubbafunk ship Australia-wide for about $7.95 per package, depending on weight. Please see here for more information.

* This offer is only available on in-stock items and is not available in conjunction with any other offer.

Today Miki brings you a great selection of inspired Father’s Day gift ideas. The big day is just over 2 weeks away, so make haste, and scoop up these goodies (and get some great bargains too!)

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Fathers Day is just around the corner, and I still haven’t organised anything! Eeek!!

Luckily for me and for anyone else in my shoes, it’s been made easy this year. Have a look below to see what these great stores are offering!

First up, we have Global Style – www.globalstyle.com.au, tha bomb for personalised tees, jumpers, singlets, hoodies, hats and bags. With a huge range of the ‘base’ garments and a MASSIVE range of personalisable designs to go on them, each product from Global Style is truly unique.

There’s a great range of Fathers Day designs at the moment, so you can go nuts creating something special for a special Dad who deserves it. My favourite is ‘daddycool’ (pictured below) but that’s just one of many. I couldn’t do justice do all of the available designs in the graphics below, so go and browse around at Global Style to see them all!

Another reason why Global Style gear makes such a great gift is the free matching personalised gift card which can be completed as you go through the checkout process.

Abbey at Global Style is offering KidStyleFile readers 10% off storewide. Enter code: DADDY and expiry: 09/2008 (make sure the date is in exactly that format) when prompted at checkout. This offer expires at 3pm AEST on the 2nd of September and orders received by then will arrive in time for Fathers Day.

No links here as everything at Global Style is personalised and completely unique – but you can very easily re-create one of these just by following the process in the Global Style online store.

Metro Mum – www.metromum.com.au – have a brilliant selection of stuff for dads. The DadGear bags and vests are quite fantastic. I know for a fact that my husband would love these, as he often grumbles about having to carry my gorgeously feminine nappy bags around with him when he takes our son out. And the vest is even better, as it negates the need to carry a bag at all! Pack everything you need into the cleverly-situated pockets and that’s one dad who’s ready to roll.

The ‘For Dad’ section at Metro Mum is full of great gift ideas for daddies, even after the DadGear vests and bags. There’s a gorgeously fluffy – yet masculine – bathrobe and slipper set, Annabel Trends aprons, bath goodies, books, photo frames and more.

Use the Shop 4 Kids code to take 15% off storewide at Metro Mum, and get a free gift!*

Annabel Trends screenprint apron – ‘Daddy Cool’, $25.95
DadGear diaper vest – black, $139.00
DadGear messenger bag, $145.00
Bathrobe and slipper set, $70.00
Compendium – Interview Heirloom Book “My Dad. His Stories, His Words”, $14.95

La Toriana – www.latoriana.com.au – has long been known for its attention to the finer things for kids and parents, and their selection for dads is no exception.

The Vanchi nappy bags for dads are great; stylish, minimalist black which doesn’t show the dirt from all those trips to the park and looks great hanging over Dad’s shoulder.

There’s also a great, giftable range of little things to make Dad’s wardrobe and life just that bit more luxurious. Lovely soap, a therapeutic heat pack, perfumed shoe inserts (brilliant for smelly shoes!), and ‘Socks & Jocks’ perfumed sachets to go in his underwear drawer, but they’re also great for a suitcase if he travels. This range all has gorgeous black and white packaging, very classy.

Use the Shop 4 Kids code to take 15% off storewide at La T and get a free gift!*

Vanchi canvas dad bag, $99.95
Mens therapeutic heat pack, $21.95
Mens shoe sachets, $15.95
Mens ‘Socks & Jocks’ scented sachet set, $10.95
Vanchi vogue dad bag, $119.95

Last but certainly not least, visit the source of the hippest slogan tees for Dads and their sons, at Quinn Macool – www.quinnmacool.com.au.

With a fantastic Fathers Day offering on at the moment, there are three fabulous gift ideas at Quinn Mac.

The first is a unique personalised magazine cover, mounted on canvas with your very own photo and headlines. Fantastic for putting above Dad’s desk at work! There are six templates to choose from, and Monique at Q-Mac makes it easy peasy to create just the right layout for your Dad.

The next is Father & Son matching t-shirt sets. These are great, with some heartwarming and some hilarious combinations. ‘Like Father…’ ‘…Like Son’ is pictured below, and there are loads of others to choose from.

The third gift idea is a Fathers Day t-shirt for your son. Make him into a walking greeting card (only cuter), and really give Dad something to smile about on the day. Who could resist their little boy in a t-shirt saying ‘Dad Rocks’?

These three gift ideas are already discounted at Quinn Macool, and KidStyleFile readers get an additional 10% off until the 1st of September! Enter dadrocks in the Redeem Code box at checkout.

Personalised magazine cover printed on canvas, from $30.00
Dad Rocks infant tee, $20.00
Just Like My Dad infant tee, $20.00
Dad symbol tee, $20.00
‘Like Father, Like Son’ t-shirt set, $44.95

Please check individual stores for postage and shipping details.

* Pick up a copy of Shop 4 Kids Magazine at your newsagent, or email Angela and she’ll let you in on the code.

Well, the winter sun is feeling warmer these last few days, and the blossom buds are on the trees. Spring is not far now!

Spring-time is a great time for strolls with babes in arms, and baby slings are the perfect solution. The benefits of baby-wearing? A more settled, healthy baby that sleeps better and so a happier, more well-rested mama are just the start of the pluses of this mode of transport for your baby.

A hit with everyday super-mums, and celebrity mums alike – Brooke Shields has one, and Nicole Kidman now has one for Sunday Rose – the Peanut Shell sling is the ultimate functional, funky, fun baby carrier.

The Peanut Shell is suitable from birth up to 16kgs, it’s compact, there are no straps, clips, belts or adjustments necessary, making it fuss-free and easy to use. On an aesthetic level, the Peanut Shell comes in a wide range of exclusive prints and plain fabrics that are just gorgeous.

If you’re looking for the perfect gift for a new mama needing few tips on how to bond with baby hands-free while still being able to get things done for themselves during the day, then the Peanut Shell is a great solution!

The Peanut Shell pouch can be used in a variety of positions including:

- cradle (suitable for newborn breastfeeding)
- tummy-to-tummy
- kangaroo carry (upright facing out)
- hip carry
- back carry

To celebrate spring baby-wearing, Babies Galore – www.babiesgalore.com.au - is offering 20% off the Peanut Shell. (No code is needed; prices are already reduced on the site. Offer ends August 31).

Babies Galore have recently come under new management in all their store, and they’re committed to delivering you great products and and a great experience.

View the range of Peanut Shells available on sale at Babies Galore- Prices range from $59.96-$78.39

Babies Galore charge from $10.00 for postage. Read full information on shipping here.

Peanut Shell is distributed in Australia, by Babes in Arms, who also sell, ERGO baby carriers, Hug-a-Bub Slings, and Maya Wrap Baby Slings.

Today Miki tells you all about the Kindy Kamper, an innovative product brought to you by an Aussie mum, and shares with you her personal experience of it. Mum is definitely the word!

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I am the proud owner of a Kindy Kamper – www.kindykamper.com.au. If you haven’t seen the Kindy Kamper before you should know that they’re only *the coolest* travel and kindy bedding for kids around!

Essentially the Kindy Kamper is a complete portable bedding solution for kids, designed to fit most kindy mats and stretcher beds (and it fits most portacot mattresses a treat too).

The bottom layer is lovely soft quilting with a 100% cotton cover. Then there’s a removable pillow and the top layers are a cotton blend top sheet, and a cosy and soft embroidered polar fleece blanket, which is removable, so it’s great all year round.

When the kids head off to kindy and need to take bedding the Kindy Kamper is absolutely perfect. No more naming each and every sheet and blanket and having to dig through lost property each week when part of the ensemble has gone missing yet again. Nope, none of that with the Kindy Kamper, because it’s all attached together!

It rolls up into an easy-to-carry ‘swag’ with a panel for the child’s name easily visible on the outside, and voila! You’re ready to go without needing to hunt down a single pillowcase.

When the Kindy Kamper needs washing you simply remove the pillow insert and throw everything else into the washing machine. You can even tumble dry it afterwards, handy if your climate is anything like mine!

There are a great range of designs to choose from (I love the new Denim Kampers with denim sheeting and a bright red fleece blanket complete with appliquéd denim star – it’s gorgeous!) , and also a great new product in the Kindy Kamper stable that will be of interest to those of you with older kids.

The Big Kamper (in fabulous denim) is designed for bigger little people from age 6 upwards. It’s the Kindy Kamper but upsized: ideal for primary school camps, camping trips, sleepovers, and cubby camp-outs. What a blessing!

It’s a great time to scoop up some Kindy Kampers as Cassy at Kindy Kamper is offering KidStyleFile readers a 10% discount via reimbursement on the Kindy Kamper. Mention ‘KidStyleFile’ in the PayPal comments field at checkout, and Cassy will refund you back 10% of your Kindy Kamper’s purchase price.* Offer ends Friday 5 September.

Just some of the fab Kindy Kamper designs available:
Jungle Animals, Flower Power, Denim, Butterfly, Transport all $54.95 each $49.45 each after 10% discount

Just on a personal note, even though the Kindy Kamper is aimed at pre-schoolers (and now school aged kids with the new Big Kamper), even the very littlest ones can use it. My son is only 12 months old and we use it all the time. It fits perfectly into our portacot and makes for super-easy travel bedding. It’s cute, cuddly, cozy, convenient and absolutely ideal for babies and toddlers when travelling.

This is my son Alex in his portacot with the Kindy Kamper. My Kindy Kamper is the Transport Green model – I love it!

Also, while you’re over at the Kindy Kamper site, check out the great range of other products available.

The Fridge To Go (TM) lunchboxes are such a clever innovation. No longer will your drink be unpleasantly warm and your sandwiches hot and soggy – now you can keep food and drinks cold for up to eight hours! There are no batteries, ice or external power and it’s completely portable. Can’t get easier than that! They’re great to look at too, with two bright, attractive colours: pink and pacific blue.

Kindy Kamper also stocks the ever fabulous Penny Scallan backpacks, and the highly useful Reward Charts and really nifty kids calendars.

Kindy Kamper charges from $10.00 within Australia. Please see here for a full list of postage charges.

*Please note that you must pay full price and Cassy will refund you 10% – a vagary of PayPal. 10% refund applies to Kindy Kamper orders only; does not apply to other stock items.

Nee na nee na!! Coming through with a wild and crazy wholesale clearance of stock at Ten Sticky Fingers – www.tenstickyfingers.com.au.

Casey at TSF is preparing for the coming season, and has decided to cut to the chase with 50-80% off store-wide. Absolutely every single item in every category – winter stock and current season alike – has been slashed to go. Prices have already been marked down for you, and the sale runs while stocks last only

YOWZA! That is *hot*!

Ten Sticky Fingers delivers a perfect blend of individuality, practicality and affordablity, and brings a beautiful dash of hand-made love and Australian design flair into our lives; so while these prices are bargain basement, the quality of the products is certainly not.

Casey stocks predominately Australian owned and operated labels including Little Brown Mouse, and Heavenly Creatures , (the most gorgeous one-off clothing pieces) and Black Eyed Susie (a huge talent out of Tasmania, my wild and wonderful home state) , Wasabi Kids (a slice of Harajuku, Japan, Australian style: we have the Froggie and Mushroom Tees, and the Mushroom Swing Top. I love the Piggy Pants, too. Apparently the ears aren’t sewn down on the pants, resulting in them wiggling as bubba crawls along: too cute!!), Cinti Does Vintage (timeless class), Barbara Sansoni Designs (wonderful eco and kid friendly soft toys; we have several of these in out house, and they are truly lovely! The removable clothing is a lovely detail), Tonic (luxe bathing products), The Little Experience (great for winter rainy days!), Baby Cupcakes (baby socks in flan, sushi and cupcake form: make perfect gifts), Heavenly Creatures (beautiful quality), and Casey’s own divine vintage-inspired label which she runs with her mum, Judy, Red Thread Designs (superb felt booties and accessories, and hand-knit hats).

I promise that you will be absolutely stunned by the beauty of Ten Sticky Fingers’ product range, and completely knocked out by the prices.

Picks of the day below, and yes, those really are the right prices!! Get over there before it’s all sold out!

Left to right by rows:

Red Thread Designs Apple Crumble Booties $19.50 $11.90
Wasabi Kids Mustard Mushroom Tee $23.90 $11.50
Barbara Sansoni Designs Cuddly Elephant $25.00 $16.00
Wasabi Kids Piggy Pants $27.00 $16.50
Heavenly Creatures Red Stripe Tee $35.00 $20.00
Heavenly Creatures Heidi Dress $65.00 $30.00
Babycupcake Socks & Silicone Patty Pan set $10.00 $5.00
The Little Experience Endangered Species Create-It Finger Puppet Kit $19.00 $5.50
Black Eyed Susie Green Retro Trimmed Cords $44.90 $25.00
Red Thread Designs Vintage Cuff $19.50 $11.90
Cinti Does Vintage Autumn Leaves Baby Kimono $69.95 $32.00
Edward and Lilly Sweet Teddy and Cuddly Cat $37.50 $20.50
Little Brown Mouse Black and White Spot Dress $46.00 $23.00

Ten Sticky Fingers charge $5.50* flat rate delivery (conditions apply) Australia wide.