KidStyleFile

Today’s post written by Miki.

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Kids Gift List – www.kidsgiftlist.com.au – is an unending source of delight for me.  Not only does Monique hunt far and wide to source beautiful and unique products to stock, her gorgeous website makes the shopping experience a true pleasure.

Plus, anyone who has shopped with Monique before will know all about her amazing customer service and how lovely she is to deal with!

Today when I was browsing over at KGL I found myself drawn to the truly extraordinary toy section.  I really love the range of toys Monique has sourced – they’re top quality, super-appealing and built to last.  And did I mention the enormous range?  No really -  it’s HUGE!!  You’ll find Christmas presents for every child on the planet in there.

My picks from the toys are The Little Experience craft kits.  What a brilliant idea for a Christmas present!  Not only does it encourage creativity and develop fine motor skill, you don’t even need batteries!  There’s a whole bunch to choose from, and plenty for girls and for boys too.

The books section is also enormous and has been thoughtfully stocked with classics and modern classics alike.  My little boy adores the Usborne ‘That’s Not My…’ series so I was pleased to see a good range of them here.  There are books for babies, books for toddlers, books for mummies, books for drawing in, recipe books for making yummy treats and meals, pop-up books and so much more!

Summer fashion is very much in vogue at KGL too, and I had a happy browse around the clothes section finding my picks for summer fashion – see the images below.  I’m loving the Lark Vintage Booties, the Heavenly Creatures Heidi Dress (divine!), and the funky slogan tees.  I also got a giggle out of ‘My Mummy Doesn’t Dig The Gold, She Makes The Gold!’  Don’t all kids of working mums need one of those?

Monique is very generously giving away a $20 gift voucher* with every $100 spent to KidStyleFile readers!  Enter ‘KidStyleFile Gift Voucher’ in the comments box at checkout so that she knows you’re one of the chosen ones (i.e., a KSF reader). *Conditions apply (see below) and Terms and Conditions of voucher usage will be emailed with the voucher.

You’d better get in quickly though – this offer finishes at 12pm on November 30!

1. Lark Vintage Baby Shoes – Peter Rabbit, $29.95
2. Tiny Revolutionary I’ll Change The World Someday Onesie, $38.95
3. Heavenly Creatures Rock Star Tee – Slate, $39.95
4. The Little Experience Build-It Plane, $31.95
5. Heavenly Creatures Peasant Tee – Green, $39.95
6. Heavenly Creatures Heidi Dress, $64.95
7. Knuffle Kid Scurvy Skirt, $39.95
8. The Little Experience Creat-It Bouncy Ball, $14.95
9. The Little Experience Build-It Space Explorer, $39.95
10. Heavenly Creatures Peasant Tee – Yellow, $39.95
11. My Mommy Doesn’t Dig The Gold, She Makes The Gold! Tee, $38.95

Kids Gift List’s enormous range of products comes 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, Owly Shadow Puppets, 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.

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

*This offer can not be used in conjunction with any other offers or discounts, and is not available on postage, gift wrapping, LikeAbike products or Dobbin & Drum TeePees.

Today’s guest store owner is Mariana from Bubba Funk – www.bubbafunk.com.au. Mariana and her husband Sam, live in north-west Sydney, and are parents to Jacob, with a new arrival due in March 2009. You may not have known it, but it’s a 22 month old Jacob whose picture is all over the Bubba Funk website modeling the funky clothes!

Mariana is gifting us all with a lovely Bubba Funk 10% store-wide discount plus free gift wrap right up until News Year’s Day – 1 January 2009. Enter ‘KSF-XMAS’ at checkout to redeem.

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What inspired you to start Bubba Funk?

Bubba Funk is a business born from personal experience and needs. A close friend of mine and I went through pregnancy at the same time – our babies are only 3 week apart.

She and I used to spend our days talking about how hard it was to find baby clothes that were funky and affordable. That’s when Bubba Funk was born, a one stop shop which offers the latest and funkiest clothing for babies, there is even something for yummy mummies and cool daddies too with a “home” style service that will sure keep you coming back.

My inspiration is my little prince Jacob; I want to give him the best of everything. I want to be there with him and share all the joyful moments as he experiences growing up. These factors, plus my wonderful husband’s amazing support, were mostly what prompted me to start up Bubba Funk.

Bubba Funk is relatively new on the scene, but you have made a big splash in the baby and kids world. What’s your secret?

I’ll be the first to admit that I am a bit of a fashion fanatic and I think that is the biggest secret to Bubba Funk’s success.  By developing strong trading relationships with Australian designers and many talented mums in the baby business I can ensure that my customers have the latest trends and best quality in baby fashion.

My aim is to bring you quality designer children clothing, baby products, baby gifts, toys and accessories at affordable prices, and the best customer service possible.

Each item has been personally selected by me and is beautifully packaged and delivered promptly. I also have a section on my website which is called funky gift boxes for newborn babies that have just arrived into the world. People love the idea of having an already gift boxed present ready to be delivered to the parents of that special newborn baby.

What are your top 5 bestsellers?

Minihaha: It’s beautiful quality, and this season’s designs are so gorgeous – it’s just been flying out the door!

Minihaha Dress with Pleat Straps – Sunset $51.95
Minihaha Belle Print Pleated Skirt $59.95

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Woof!:So smart for boys!

Woof! Linen Shirt with Turn Back – White $59.95
Woof! Plain Linen Blend Shorts – Cashello $48.95

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Tiny Mammoth: Their prints are so cool and fresh.

Tiny Mammoth ghost glasses tee- white $39.95

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Moppit: One of my all-time favourites, and I’m not alone here!!

Moppit Dexter Button Shirt – Blue/Orange Check $59.95

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Heavenly Creatures: This has been so popular, we only have a small amount left, so be quick if you want it!

Heavenly Creatures Short Sleeve Creature Patch Envelope Tee – Pale Blue $39.95

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Tooli: These used to be made by Vessel when they were called Candela. They’ve now changed hands, and Koda Lighting is making these new and improved versions. They are very practical, and make great statement pieces for the bedroom.

TOOLI – 2 set Orange/Fuchsia (also available in blue/green) $99.00

What’s your favourite activity to do with your son?

I love to spend time with him, even if it’s watching Wiggles and Hi-5 all day long!

He loves to play outdoors and is obsessed with playing in the water and having long baths…Sometimes a jar of bubble liquid will provide hours of giggles and fun for him not to mention driving his 10 different types of cars around our house for hours.

Complete this sentence:

“Bubba Funk is… what every precious baby deserves. Just remember you’re never too young to be funky!”

Today’s post written by Miki

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Modern Cloth Nappies (MCNs) are becoming more and more popular as parents start to look for sustainable and easy to use options rather than disposables.

While the good ol’ flat white squares of cotton are still a viable option, the new breed of MCNs require no folding, are less bulky, don’t involve scary pins and – let’s face it – just so much more attractive!  Have a look at some of the beautiful options below and you’ll see what I mean.

There are multitudes of options when it comes to MCNs, and without all the information it can seem quite confusing.  There is an excellent and easy-to-read guide explaining the different sorts here at Oz Cloth Nappies which I recommend reading.  Each brand of MCN is different though, so make sure you read carefully on each manufacturer’s website to make an informed decision about which is the best for your needs.

Here are just a very few of the most popular:

bumGenius!

Nappies from bumGenius! – www.bumgenius.com.au – come in two varieties.

The All In One (AIO) cloth nappy, which has won industry awards for being so easy to use (put it on the baby, wash dry, put it on the baby again – no folding or extra bits to add in at all).  These nappies are sized from XS for a newborn to L for a toddler/preschooler.

The One Size 3.0 cloth nappy is new and improved and, as the name suggests, is one size fits all from newborn to preschooler.  It comes with two inserts to adjust the size, and is one of the most popular MCNs world-wide.

Itti Bitti

Itti Bitti nappies – www.ittibitti.com.au – are becoming hugely popular. In fact they have their own Facebook page with nearly 450 fans at last count!

Itti Bittis come in three varities:

• Classic Snap AIOs which are designed to be ultra trim, and thus fit like a disposable nappy under clothes.  They’re sized to fit babies from about six months up to 1 year (size M) and 1 to 3 years (L).
• The Bitti D’Lish which features a soft waterproof outer layer, a stay-dry inner of suedecloth and optional snap-in or sewn in soaker pads. The Bitti D’Lish is sized S to L.
• The Bitti Boo which has an outer layer of polycotton velour, inner layers of cotton and bamboo and snap-in hemp boosters (which are topped with bamboo velour to make them soft on the baby’s bottom).

Green Kids

Green Kids nappies – www.greenkids.com.au – are an Australian-designed and made option which are renown for their ease of use and – I have it on good authority – their Minkytimes and Anytimes nappies are meant to be some of the best on the market for overnight.  All Green Kids nappies require absorbant inserts which are sold separately.

Green Kids nappies come in three varieties:

• ‘Anytimes’ nappies are the most versatile of the Green Kids range, and can be used overnight.  They have a waterproof outer layer and a stay-dry inner layer.
• ‘Funtimes’ nappies are designed for daytime use only and feature some great prints (see the image above to get an idea).  They’re great for showing off – the nappy, a singlet and your baby is all set for a summer’s day.
• ‘Minkytimes’ nappies can also be used day or night, and have a lovely soft Minky outer layer, and inner layers of waterproof PUL and soft suedecloth. They have plain colours and some great prints!

Mini La La

Carli, who runs one of my favourite online stores La La Baby, now also has her own line of MCNs which are rapidly gaining in popularity, so much so that she has had to stop taking orders for the time being.  She’s expecting to start again in the next couple of weeks though, so keep an eye on the site: Mini La La – www.minilala.com.au.

Mini La La nappies come in OSFM (one size fits most) pocket nappies – add bamboo or microfibre inserts, and sized nappies (S, M & L) which are an AIO design.

I’m told by a happy customer that Carli’s nappies are beautifully designed for a great fit and – the best thing! – come in the most delicious designer fabrics!  Although they’re a boutique nappy at this point, watch for them to grow rapidly in popularity once Carli is ready to take orders again.

Please see individual sites for stockists, prices and postage details.

Today’s post written by Miki

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The beautiful baby store 9 Months Waiting – www.9monthswaiting.com.au – is very aptly named.  It feels like a long wait from finding out you are pregnant to getting to meet your baby, and one way to fill that time is by setting up your nursery and the getting together the layette (newborn clothes) for the impending arrival.

9 Months Waiting has just about everything you’ll need for the task!

Stockists of some of the finest products around for birth to 12 months, the store has a stunning range of clothes from Baobab, Eternal Creation (fabulous collection of EC summer stock just arrived), Tees 2 Knees, Three Little Trees, and more, plus a big drop of Marquise just about to land – keep your eyes peeled for that as it’s bound to go quickly.

Mums of boys will be glad to know that Cathy of 9MW understands that it’s easy to find cute clothes for girls but can be much harder shopping for boys, and she stocks accordingly.  So if you have a newborn boy or you’re expecting one, make sure you have a look at the well-stocked boys section.

Another place where 9MW really excels is nursery bedding.  Among the brands they stock are two real stand-outs: Living Textiles and Lotus Linens.  Not only do they have sheets, blankets and comforters, you can also get wraps and baby sleeping bags.

I love Living Textiles wraps and used them exclusively when my son was a newborn.  They’re an excellent size (120x120cms) which makes them easy to use, and your baby won’t grow out of them before you’re ready to stop using them.  Choose from classic white, or an adorable selection of colours and patterns.

Another brilliant product from Living Textiles is the eight piece cot starter pack, which includes fitted and flat cot sheets, a pillowcase, a cellular blanket, a mattress protector, and a three-pack of those brilliant wraps I mentioned above.  Except for the mattress protector it’s all 100% cotton and excellent quality – you really can’t go wrong, and you make great savings buying this way.

I mentioned Lotus Linens before, and I want to elaborate because it’s such beautiful stuff.  Made of 70% bamboo and 30% cotton, the Lotus Linens fabric is exquisitely soft.  In fact, when I first felt it and didn’t know what it was, I actually thought it was a cashmere blend!  Next time I have a newborn I’m definitely getting some of the Lotus Linens bassinet sheets.

Lotus Linen does newborn clothing as well, which is just as gorgeous and really quite adorable.  See 9MW’s whole Lotus Linens range here.

There’s a great range of other labels at 9 Months Waiting too: check the dresses from Three Little Trees (comes with free frangipani tree seeds!), the sweetest applique tees from Tees 2 Knees, classic baby basics from Marquise, cool cuts that are infinitely wearable from Baaobab, fresh summery attire from fairtrade maker Eternal Creation, Living Textiles, and stylish baby bags from Aussie designer Vanchi.

Smile, and be happy, because Cathy at 9 Months Waiting is giving us 15% off store-wide until December 14. Enter ‘ksfile’ at checkout to redeem.

Discounted prices listed below are after the 15% discount has been deducted. Prices return to normal on December 14, 2008.

1. 8 Piece Cot Starter Set, $99.95 $84.95
2. Tees 2 Knees Applique T-Shirt – Dotty Dinosaur, $34.95 $29.70 (I love this little guy, so cute!)
3. Eternal Creation Barbados Baby Romper, $43.95 $37.35
4. Smart Swaddle ‘Stars & Stripes’ – Blue, $29.95 $25.45
5. Three Little Trees Frangipani Singlet, $25.00 $21.25
6. Lotus Linens Bamboo Bassinet Sheet Set, $37.95 $32.25
7. 3 Piece Bassinet/Cradle Set, $59.95 $50.95
8. Smart Dream Sleep Bag – Baby Animals, $39.95 $33.95
9. Tees 2 Knees Applique T-Shirt, $34.95 $29.70
10. Lotus Linens Bamboo Sleeping Bag, $54.95 $46.70

9 Months Waiting ship via Express Post within Australia. Prices start at $7.70. International orders are warmly welcomed. Please see the Delivery info page for full information.

Today’s guest really needs no introduction – I’m sure many of you have ‘met’ her through your shopping expeditions – it’s Bronwyn O’Loan, the vivacious personality behind dynamic online boutique ShopHouse.

Bronwyn lives in Sydney, Australia, with her husband Greg, their three children Finn , 6 years, Tara, 5 years, and Grace, 2 years, Greg (Husband), and Fred, the 6 year old golden retriever who goes to work with Bronwyn every day. Read on, to find out more! – Angela

PS ShopHouse has some lovely offers happening for KSF readers right now, including FREE postage! Click here to get all the details. There’s also up to 55% off selected Penny Scallan stock today only!!

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Tell us a bit about yourself: what makes you tick?

I live in the beautiful leafy suburb of Wahroonga in Sydney, NSW and I absolutely love running my own business.

I started out as a primary school teacher, moved to marketing and product management in the IT sector, and ended up lecturing at a university.  Sounds a bit dry doesn’t it?  Wait, it gets better!! Three children later I worked on a plan to be able to have more time to be right amongst their lives as well as feeding my own appetite for working and ShopHouse was born.

My friends and family mean a lot to me, they are my world.  So I’m happiest when I’m with them – this means lots of impromptu dinner parties, good red wine and laughter.  (I sound so middle-aged don’t I?!)

Apart from my family and friends, my other great love is coffee.  I’ll meet you in a coffee shop for a chat anytime.

Tell us a little about your business?

ShopHouse was born over a coffee (of course) at our kitchen bench.  Operating for just over 2 years, we have strived (and our customers tell us we have succeeded!) in developing a wonderful shopping experience through our gorgeous products, new and improved website, with a priority on customer service (we ship overnight delivery for just $6.95 Australia-wide).

I have a great team of people working with me: Brenda, our customer service and finance team member, and our two part-time packing fairies, Rachael and Sharon,  without whom we couldn’t get all of those wonderful parcels out the door and on to your doorsteps within 24 hours.

Our customers are very loyal and we love seeing them come back again and again and again.  We have created a business that I am just so proud of.

ShopHouse is a great name. Does it have a meaning?

Our name originates from the wonderful traditional Shophouses found in South East Asia.  The concept of a Shophouse contains a shop with a separate space for living. Especially found in Singapore, the old-fashioned Shophouse has recently been revived with a urbanised edge.  One of the most important features of a shophouse is the open-to-sky spaces that provide lots of natural daylight and fresh air (we designed our website on that brief).  Residents of a traditional Shophouse would use this space for quiet reflection, places to dry laundry, or for cooking, playing and reading.  It’s a space for living, and we see our store as a place for living too.

You stock a lot of beautiful products. Where do you find them, and what do you look for when finding them for your store?

I spend many hours researching the best and most unique brands available.  We have an extensive selection process to ensure that only the finest quality of products are presented. Products have to be useful and/or very very beautiful!

What are your 5 favourite baby and kids designers right now?

I absolutely love Oobi Baby + Kids.  The Summer 09 collection has been extremely popular and is so easy to mix and match.

ShopHouse and Cocoon Couture are right in the middle of a love affair at the moment!  The quality of these products are absolutely amazing.  The beanbags, wall charts, wooden charms and Christmas sacks should be a part of every single home – truly an inspiring decorating dream.

ShopHouse is very loyal to mill&mia, who are the epitome of designer children’s fashion, in my humble opinion.  The cut and fabric of every piece is superb and so wearable for kids. Think ‘the perfect Christmas Day outfit’.  It is a wonderful day when we receive our mill&mia shipment for the season.

One of our all time faves is Penny Scallan.  Renowned for fabulous backpacks, insulated lunchboxes, bags for Mum, swimbags and overnight bags – the designs are scrumptious and so very popular.  My favourites this season have been Navy Star, Blue Stripe and Daisy designs.  What I love most about this brand is that you can give your kids the ‘designer traveler’ look so simply – team a Daisy lunchbox with matching overnight bag and you’re all set for a weekend at Nan’s place. Or how about grabbing your Navy Star swimbag and matching mini backpack and heading down to the beach.  You get the idea.  Sweet.

Our final favourite designer right now is Milestone Press, and my what a buzz they are creating around the place at the moment.   We are so proud to be offering our customers the beautifully bound ‘Master Planner’ diary (perfect Christmas gift for busy Mums) – the diary for right now and up until Jan 2010, ‘About Me’ baby book and ‘My School Days’ record book (document each precious year of school in one brilliant folder – get one for each child).  The girls at Milestone Press know exactly what we need in these essential items – good looks, quality and usability.

What’s your favourite thing about running an online store?

The best thing about owning and running an online store is the limitless boundaries available to the business.  I get a great feeling when we receive orders from faraway countries where buyers are seeking fantastic Aussie designer products.  I have found that an online business can also move quickly with changes and trends which is gratifying – it means we can keep up with our discerning customers, and what they want in an online shopping experience.

Our suppliers are another great part of running an online store.  Developing long term business partnerships is important to us, and this, coupled with working daily with the wonderful ShopHouse team, keeps my days busy and brilliant.

Apart from all of that, my most favourite thing about running an online store is the people I get to meet, the customers, who never fail to impress with beautiful compliments and comments about their experiences at ShopHouse – Cheers!

Visit the ShopHouse blog for news on what’s happening now, and coming soon to ShopHouse.

Today’s post written by Miki

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There’s always so much for me to drool over at Pastel Pink – www.pastelpink.com.au.  Cheryl keeps the store so well stocked with beautiful products that it’s one of my favourite places to browse.

Right now is a better time than ever to head on over as Cheryl is holding a pre-Christmas sale with 20% off selected brands, namely Bebe by Minihaha (yes, I thought that would get your attention!), Gaia Organic Cotton and selected Baobab – wheeeeeee!

Because Cheryl loves us, she is giving us KSFers an extra 5% off store-wide, making it 25% off those fabulous brands.

Enter ‘KSF-Clothing’ to get your extra 5% off.  The sale ends at  midnight December 9.

There’s a huge amount that I want to mention at Pastel Pink, so I’m going to do it in short, sharp bursts – get ready!

1. PP team are in love with Alimrose at the moment, especially the soft dolls in lemon and pink and the Celine and Collette bunnies.  (Cheryl at PP told me that Erin at Alimrose recently had a baby herself. Congratulations, Erin! Can’t wait to see the new designs at your babe will surely inspire.)

2. To snap up a bargain, have a look at the discontinued Cocoon Couture Beanbags – I particularly like the pink Cheeky Squirrel one. These are in limited stock, and they’re down to $85.00 (minus an extra 5% – YOW!) so they’re going to vanish quickly.  Once they’re gone, they’re gone for good so get in quickly for this one!

3. Speaking of Cocoon Couture, Cheryl included the brand in her massive 20% off toy sale which is still running until the 30th of November.  Your extra 5% discount applies here too, so use your chance to get a hefty 25% off all toys and hot brands of accessories while the deal is still good!

4. It’s not just the babies who get it good at Pastel Pink as there’s a great section for hot mamas too.  My picks are the Louenhide bags (there’s one pictured below), and a little bird has told me that Louenhide is featuring on Mornings with Kerri Anne today!  Tune in and see if you can catch them.

5. There’s new stock arriving at PP daily: keep an eye on PP for new season Baobab, new Txki Surf and new Three Little Trees, all of which will be arriving any day now – it’s seriously lush.

For the images today I’ve had a brilliant time playing stylist, putting together gorgeous Christmas Day outfits for the little ones from Bebe by Minihaha.  And because we want to look as good as the kids do on Christmas Day there are some snazzy accessories for mums too

Discounted prices listed below are after the 25% discount has been deducted. Prices return to normal at midnight on December 9.

1. Bebe ‘Poppy’ Dress With Bows, $43.95 $32.96; with Bebe Polka-Dot Expadrilles, $32.95 $24.71
2. Bebe ‘Jack’ Ticking Stripe Bucket Hat, $17.95 13.46; with Bebe ‘Jack’ Sea Stripe Polo Tee, $28.95 $21.71; Bebe ‘Jack’ Ticking Stripe Shorts, $32.95 $24.71; and Bebe ‘Oscar’ Basketball Boot, $36.95 $27.71
3. Bebe ‘Jack’ Stripe Romper, $32.95 $24.71
4. Bebe ‘Poppy’ Spotted Tee, $27.95 $20.96; Bebe ‘Poppy’ Striped Cardigan, $49.95 $37.46; with Bebe ‘Poppy’ Tiered Skirt, $39.95 $29.96; and Bebe ‘Poppy’ Ballet Flats, $34.95 $26.21
5. Louenhide Hive Bag – Red, $120.00 $114.00; Elk 4 Strand Necklace – Red, $38.00  $36.10; Elk Red Bubble Bracelet, $17.95 $12.57 $11.94

Pastel Pink stocks a huge range from Alimrose Designs, Alluring Linens, Bebe by Minihaha, Cold Coffee, David Fussenegger, Elk Accessories, Spiegelburg, Loudenhide, Gingerlilly, Emotion & Kids, FlatOUT Bears, Gaia Organic Cotton, Gertie and Me, Hess-Spielzeug, Huggalugs, Keptin-Jr., kikki.K, Little Chipipi, McMillan, Mitsy Accessories, Nesti Dante, Oobi Bab, Skeanie, and Wee Gallery, and Tkxi Surf, and Three Little Trees arriving soon.

View the Pastel Pink delivery information page for full details on shipping. Free shipping  for orders over $150.00.