KidStyleFile

Today’s post written by Angela

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The lovely Em and Bel over at EmBelISH blog – http://embelish.blogspot.com – recently honoured KidStyleFile with the beautiful Proximidade Award – thank you, lovelies!

Of unknown origin, the Proximidade Award flits like the butterfly it depicts from blog to blog, quietly sending acknowledgment to those that work to build connections with their blogs. The formal explanation goes like this:

“These blogs invest and believe in PROXIMITY – nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes for self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers!”

This is one award I am really touched to receive. KidStyleFile is fundamentally about connections – connecting people with the people that design, make and sell the products they buy – and bringing personal contact into everyday life.

In line with The Rules of the Proximidade Award, I will now pass it on to eight of my favourite bloggers, in alphabetical order.

The Rules for those who receive the award are: This blog award should be sent to your favorite eight bloggers and they, in turn should forward to eight of their favorites. You should include the text for Proximidade (above) in your announcement blog.

Thanks to all the blogs below for bringing your various joys into my life. Be sure to check them out: I guarantee that they will bring a glow to your day.

1. Design*Sponge – http://www.designspongeonline.com – Grace Bonney, you are my design HERO. You provide endless uplifting inspiration, and make it real and accessible.

2. Cake Wrecks – http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com – If ever I need an out and out belly laugh, then it’s to Cake Wrecks I head, where a professional bakery disaster can at least be redeemed by bringing humour to the world.

3. Bloesem Kids – http://www.bkids.typepad.com – Irene you bring joy to my life every day through your wonderful finds and perspective on the world. Pure kids design bliss!

4. Bondville – http://blog.stephbond.com – Steph, I am loving your blog! From women’s to kids to homewares, meet Australia’s latest hot property.

5. Growing Up Green – http://growingupgreen.com.au – The essential green/eco/fair-trade blog, and the source of much useful info. Love your work!

6. Indie Art & Design – http://www.indie.com.au – Cool home-grown fashion, homewares, art and craft. Makes me happy – helps me shop.

7. LMNOP – http://www.lmnop.com.au/blog – LMNOP goodness in blog form from super-cool kids style goddess Jenny Lacey.

8. Loobylu – http://loobylu.com – For so long I have lurked. So much I have learnt. You are a constant favourite. It is high time I said thank you for your words, and for the personality infused parade of lovable softies, which I never fail to fall in love with: thank you!

Today’s post written by Angela

Today’s post written by Kat

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My daughter’s wardrobe might be bursting with shades of pink, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love a good rock’n'roll tee when we see one (especially with a tutu skirt). Here’s a rundown on tees that rock (and that Daddy might want, too!)

I just saw this hilarious new tee from Children of the Revolution at Baby’s Got Style. Too true, too true. And, let’s be honest, who hasn’t at some point many years ago been caught singing that song at 2am after a few too many? (Just me? Oh…). While you’re at BGS, pick up other cool designs like The Strokes (tees $33.95), and don’t forget the most rockin’ bedtime story ($29.95) ever!

Of course, it’s always hard to go past Rock Your Baby for cute and funky prints. This super cool stripey Badges tee ($26) is very rock’n'roll (get them some skinny jeans and a waistcoat or little blazer), or if you’re going down the AB/CD route, you can’t go past one of the original versions ($24).

Ministyle stock Amplified Kids, who cite music as their ‘absolute inspiration’. Right on, man! Girls can indulge in some retro pink with a Blondie tee, or you could pick up a classic Rolling Stones lick tee ($49.95 ea).

Bellabambina also have a good range of Amplified, including a purple version of Blondie and the inspiration behind a thousand bad hairdo’s, Guns’n'Roses (also $49.95ea).

I found a UK website called 8Ball which has – wait for it! – 207 styles of kids and baby band/slogan tees. O-M-G! If it’s not here, it probably doesn’t exist! They even have a Rick Astley tee, which is so uncool it’s waaay cool! As you might be able to tell, I spent a good portion of this evening browsing though here having a chuckle, especially at this “Keep Metal Heavy” tee. If your M is for Metal book hasn’t quite worked, try a funky onesie like B is for Bob (not of the Builder variety). You’ll also find classics like the Ramones, Kiss, and even The Young Ones (not music I know, but still cool!). Prices start from about $25, plus shipping.

Closer to home, on ebay you’ll find Bondi Top Sellers with a huge range of rocking tees (and the occasional skincare regime). From The Vines to Wolfmother ($34.95ea), they also have punktastic tees from Monster Baby and cute slogans from Well Spotted.

And after wanting to rock’n'roll all night and party every day, as the song goes, try a soothing Rockabye Baby cd from the Hip Infant ($33.95) to lull them softly off to sleep…

Please check individual store sites for shipping and delivery details.

Today’s post written by Angela

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Happy happy, joy joy – Happy Little Hippos – www.happylittlehippos.com.au – is having a great little sale, and KSF readers get extra benefits in the form of an EXTRA 20% discount off everything in the On Sale category – WOW!!

You’ll have to be super quick though, as this offer ends at midnight, Tuesday 10 March 2009. Enter ‘FebSale09’ at checkout to activate your extra 20% off and be smiling to the skies

Red-hot picks are the Fancy Girlies Dollhouse, Baufix Build-It Buggy, Uchi bags and accessories, and the stunning Isak Couting and ABC framed posters, which would make a very stylish statement in any child’s room – what a beautiful gift these would make for a newborn!

While you’re over at Happy Little Hippos don’t miss the fabulous range of goodies just arrived. I really love the new ‘Beautiful Day’ journals, and the Micki Reto Kitchen.

I also can’t say enough good things about the Wheely Bugs (how CUTE is the new Tiger design – ah: it’s love!), and I am a big fan of Italian brand Quercetti – we have the Georello Farm and it is such a hit: free-form configure the high quality plastic cogs on the baseboard, plug the animals in, crank the handle and watch your creation whirl and spin. This is a great toy for teaching about cause and effect and motion, and is heaps of fun that lasts and lasts.

Indulge in a fine range of toys, art and craft activities, books, nursery and decor products, and accessories, at Happy Little Hippos, with brands stocked including Bla Bla, Alimrose, Lundby, Brio, Anamalz, Wheely Bug, Quadrilla, Baufix, Quercetti, Dobbin and Drum, Tolo, K’s Kids, Mooo, Djeco, Mama & Papas, Wanju, Binthe, Automoblox, David Fussenegger, Pintoy, Plan Toys, Cuski, Live, Play, Create, Envirosax, Crocodile Creek, and more, as well as treats for Mums from Miss Uchi, Willow and Finch, and T2 Teas.

Clockwise from top left:

1. My Fancy Girlies Doll’s House (accessories included, postage charge $15.00 Australia-wide) – $199.95, $179.95 less 20% = $143.96
2. Large Wheely Bug Tiger - $110.00 (not on sale)
3. K’s Kids ‘Bobby’ Recordable Phone – $19.95, $14.95 less 20% = $11.96
4. Quercetti Georello Farm – $34.95 (not on sale)
5. Micki Red Retro Kitchen with Stove – $229.00 (not on sale)
6. Beautiful Day Journal – $16.95 (not on sale)
7. Pintoy Construction Front-end Loader – $59.95 (not on sale)
8. Baufix Build a Buggy – $29.94, $24.95 less 20% = $19.96
9. Uchi Drawstring Bag – $29.94, $24.95 less 20% = $19.96
10. Isak Counting Poster (framed) from Kindergallery – $160.00, $149.95 less 20% = $119.96

Happy Little Hippos charge $6.95 flat rate postage, Australia-wide. Conditions apply – see website for details.

Today’s post written by Miki

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With my second baby on the way, I’m starting to look at sleeping options for him or her.  I doubt my ‘big boy’ will be out of his cot by the time the new little bundle arrives, and so I’ve decided that now is the time to splash out on a really lovely bassinet, baby hammock or moses basket.

But which to choose?

Here are the options, as I see it.

Bassinets and cradles are like little cots, perfectly sized for a newborn and will usually hold a baby for the first four or five months.  Because they’re so much smaller and lighter than a full-sized cot, they can be kept next to your bed and moved around the house during the day if you need to.

Check out the Seed Organic Cradle as my favourite example.

Moses baskets are just that – baskets with carry handles, which are lined and padded to make them comfy for baby.  Moses baskets will sit on stands (usually available separately), in order to double as a bassinet, but the basket can also be carried around the house or taken out as a portable bed for the baby while you’re at a friend’s house or on holiday.  Most babies fit into a Moses basket for about three months.

For the most beautiful Moses baskets, see the Seed Organic Pod (Moses basket & stand), and the Gertie and Me Moses basket & stand.

Baby hammocks are designed to simulate the movement the baby was used to while in its mother’s tummy.  Suddenly lying so still can be a shock for newborns, so the gentle swaying motion of a hammock can be just the thing for restless little ones.

I love the Kanoe, which can be hung from an eye-bolt fixed to any solid structure and can be moved around the house simply by shifting it to another eye-bolt, has a spring mechanism to make the movement more natural to the baby, and comes in several gorgeous colour combinations.

My top contenders:

1. Kanoe Baby Hammock – Natural, $349.00 from Metro Mum
2. Gertie and Me Moses Basket, $250.00 and Stand, $99.95 from The Hip Infant
3. Seed Organic ‘The Pod’ Moses Basket & Stand, $329.00 from The Hip Infant, also available from Metro Mum
4. Seed Organic Cradle, $279.00 from The Hip Infant, also available from Metro Mum

Please check individual sites for postage, and as always check the KidStyleFile ‘All Current Deals’ page to see if you qualify for a special discount or offer.

Today’s post written by Angela

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We introduced you to Just Ripe – www.justripe.com.au – purveyors of fine clothing, toys, feeding equipment, and accessories, for tots 0-2 years and their stylish mamas – last September.

Since then, Just Ripe has gone from strength to strength, and the range of goodies Dimity at JR has collected together is quite impressive!

Choose products from Albetta, Annabel Trends, Baby Banz, BabyLegs, Boon, Clean Shopper, EcoBaby Organic Dummies, Eleganter, Eternal Creation, Fiesta Crafts, Purebaby, Vanchi, Jack & Lily, Storksak, Imse Vimse, Baobab, Monkey-DO, Blabla, Little Joey Organics, Cheeky Monkey, Aden & Anais, Itsy Bitsy, Infancy, Fish Lilly, Britt, Babymoov, The Wall Sticker Company, Infantino, Lotus Linens, Snazzy Baby, Kumquat, Heimess, Hess-Spielzeug, Gaia Skin Naturals, Hurphy Durphy, Little Tesoro, Paper Eskimo, Noo Designs, Peanut Shell, Polkadot Papoose, Pop Maternity,  Taia, and Ring O Rosey, Kumquat, Purebaby, Itsy Bitsy, Cheeky Monkey, Pepperpot, Polkadot Papoose, Pop Maternity, Artee Supplies, The Wall Sticker Company, and mamapapa.

Dimity at Just Ripe is hosting a huge end of season sale, and is offering KidStyleFile readers 15% off store-wide – including the sale stock! – until midnight 10 March, 2009.  Enter ‘KSF’ in the coupon code section at checkout to redeem.

I’m loving the oversized bibs (makes SUCH a big difference to everyday life), Jack & Lilly super-soft shoes make me smile and smile (who could resist the ‘Charming Turtles’??!), there’s a great range of award-winning toys from Fiesta Crafts, pick up imprintable party invites from Artee Supplies, grab the kitchen essential, Babymoov Bebedelice (pronounced beh-beh-delish), and treat yourself to a luxe brangelina-endorsed Storksak bag at 15% off.

Also keep your eyes peeled for winter stock from Eternal Creation, Nurtured By Nature, Jock & Tilly, mill&mia, Gaia Organic Cotton, Infancy, Books To Wear, and Huckleberry Lane, coming soon to Just Ripe.

Prices quoted in red are after the 15% KSF discount code has been applied. These prices are valid until 10 March 2009 only.

A. Extra Large Shirt Bib $22.95 $19.50
B. Albetta Knitted Animals $31.95 each $27.15 each
C. Storksak ‘Elizabeth’ in cream $379.95 $322.95
D. BlaBla Finger Puppets $8.95 each $7.60
E. Babymoov Bebedelice $199.99 $169.99
F. Baobab Pyjama Set $36.95 $24.02 $20.41
G. Artee Supplies: Imprintable Invitations, pack of 10 $22.95 $19.50
H. Jack & Lily Charming Turtle $39.95 $33.95
I. Eternal Creation Blue Romper $34.95 $22.72 $19.31
J. Fish Lilly Sleeping Bag $45.00 $38.25
K. Eternal Creation Tuscany Dress $44.95 $29.22 $24.83
L. Monkey-DO PJs 2 Piece Set $32.00 $20.80 $17.68
M. ForWalls Rocket and Stars decal set $24.95 $21.20
N. Fiesta Crafts Old MacDonald’s Noisy Farm $84.95 $72.20

Just Ripe offer a flat shipping rate of $7.50 for standard size parcels Australia-wide.  Shipping is FREE for purchases over $150.00. International orders are warmly welcomed, and are shipped for a flat rate of $18.00 for standard size parcels. See the FAQ page for full details on shipping.