KidStyleFile

Post written by Angela

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Summer for Aussie kids equals fresh, funky and comfy and Australian hand made brand Little Toot Creations – www.littletootcreations.com.au -  is all that and more. Designer Bec McAlister says of her label:

“For me childhood was all about running barefoot in the backyard; collecting tadpoles from the creek; enjoying special treats with Nanna; and being on the water with Pop, in his boat, ‘Little Toot’. They were good times. Precious times. A simple life, with simple things. Little Toot Creations is a reflection of all those things I loved most about my own childhood. “

Don’t we all want a piece of that?

The Little Toot Creations summer 2010 range includes baby playsuits, swing and bubble tops for little girls and sandwashed linen shorts for the boys. Each style is available in three colourways, and only the finest quality fabrics are used. Swing tops are $26, bubble tops $32, playsuits $30 and shorts $28. All items are 100% handmade by Bec in Port Macquarie, NSW.

Little Toot Creations ship orders internationally with charges based on weight.

Post written by Miki

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Christmas has come early at Metro Mum – www.metromum.com.au – this year!  The entire month of November has the gorgeous Metro Mum website chockablock full of specials and bargains, including the list below:

• 15% off when you buy two Bloom Baby products
• 15% off all Silver Cross products
• 10% off all Seedling toys
• FREE shipping with any Fatboy purchase (save up to $180!)
• 10% off Ebulobo Woodours toys
• FREE il Tutto Monster key ring valued at $19.95 with any il Tutto Nappy Bag purchase

But it gets even better than that, because the Metro Mum team are also planning a blitzer of a sale: 24% off all full priced products (excluding furniture) for 24 hours only!  This fantastic event will happen on Wednesday 24th of November, and will kick off at 2:40pm AEST, finishing at 2:40pm AEST on the 25th November 2010.  You don’t need a code as the prices will all be marked on the website, so get your credit card out and set every alarm in the house so you’re ready to go!

This fantastic discount will apply on lots of stylish new goodies that have just landed in-store, including the goooooorgeous new bags from i Tutto – say hello to the special edition silver Olivia clutch and the Portofino beach totes in red and black.  Plus you’ll also find lovely kids’ underwear from Bluebelle, and the innovative Texthook smartphone pram accessory (I *need* one!).

As well as all the specials and sales above, Metro Mum have begun their Great Christmas Giveaway which is FREE to enter and doesn’t require a purchase.  Simply fill out the form here and you’re in to win from an amazing prize pool including Silver Cross, Bloom Baby, il Tutto and more.  Plus spend $50 at Metro Mum to be in the draw to win one of 10 Toy Story 3 DVDs.  *And* get the kids to enter the colouring competition, because five artworks will win gift vouchers from Metro Mum and Pixifoto. Now *that’s* what I call Christmas!

Don’t forget that full priced items excluding furniture will be discounted by 24% for 24 hours only, from 2.40pm on 24 November and until 2.40pm on 25 November 2010. No code is needed.

1. Smart Mum Pendant Teething Bling, $22.95
2. Bloom Baby Luxo Sleep Baby Bed – Fixed Sides, $1,550.00
3. Bloom Baby Coco Plexistyle Baby Lounger – Ebony, $399.00
4. Fatboy – The Original Beanbag, $565.00
5. Texthook – The Ultimate Smartphone Pram Accessory, $39.95 $35.96
6. Silver Cross Surf, $1,199.00 less 10% = $1,079.00
7. Il Tutto Nico Tote Nappy Bag, $249.00
8. Seedling Paint Your Own Dolls House, $179.90 less 10% = $161.91
9. Ebulobo Crazy Wolf Ball, $24.95 less 10% = $22.46
10. Woodours Bear Flap Book For Baby, $65.00 less 10% = $58.50
11. Annabel Trends Witty Christmas Aprons, $24.95

Metro Mum stock from the following brands: Hess-Spielzeug, Allerhand, Annabel Trends, Babymoov, Babymel, Baby Steps 123, Baufix, Babywedge, Bilibo, Bloom Baby, Boyle, Britt, BubbaMat, Bud by Design Room, BusyBee Friends, Caden Lane, Cariboo NZ, Compendium, DadGear, DanishbyDesign, David Fussenegger, Dwink Box, Ebulobo, Ellaroo, Ellie Bellie, Elodie Details, Emotion & Kids, Fatboy The Original, Fertile Mind, FLATOUTbears, Foogo by Thermos, FunPod, Giimmo, Happy Mais, Hello Babe, Il Tutto, IntelliGender®, Isoki, Kanoe, Kiddie Food Kutter, Kids Kitchen, KidsonRoof, Kipiis, Language Littles, Learning Tower, Leander, Leisure Learning, Lilbird, Little Beetle, Little Kitchen, Little Sprowtz, LittleOneBaby, Luna Lullaby, Lupi Lu, Melobaby, Metro Mum, Mia Bossi, Milk & Tickles, MilkBar, Mini Bilibo, Minimonkey, Mishi Design, Mojo, Mokopuna, Mothers Minder, Munchee Mug, My Plate-Mate, Nest, Nuance, Nurseryworks, Ocho, Oeuf, OnTray2Go, Oti, Paper Eskimo, PeeWee & PooToo, Playsam, Prego Planner, PuggyHouse, Qtees, Scout, Seed Organic, Snugabub, Storksak, Totem, Trunki, VisualGram, Vulli, Wall Candy and Zuny.

Metro Mum use Fastaway Couriers and Australia Post for delivery.  Total delivery cost will be calculated at checkout.  For estimated delivery times, international orders and all the ‘how to’ information see here.

Post written by Olivia

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It never ceases to amaze me how my little girl finds happiness in the simplest of things; the label on her teddy; the sound of cellophane scruching between her fingers; seeing herself in the mirror; when her Daddy arrives home from work and the legs and arms go crazy… I could go on and on. She’s my super happy little lady!

There’s something very fun, happy and inspiring about Happy Little Hippos – www.happylittlehippos.com.au – a store that is filled with happy shopping for happy tots. Renowned for its collection of children’s toys, baby toys and baby accessories, they’ve extended the temptation to a superb range of clothing and accessories fom brands including Chalk n Cheese, Alex & Ant, Bebe, Gaia Organic, Albetta, Bluebelle, FLO Dancewear, Fresh Baked and the very gorgeous Rhubarb, to name just a few, from sizes 0 to 7 years.

The team at Happy Little Hippos are celebrating the launch of clothing to their store and are inviting KidStyleFile readers to the party: take 30% off all items in the ‘Clothing’ section -  including items already on sale and discounted by up to 50% off in this section by entering discount code KSF1110 at checkout for 4 days only until midnight Tuesday 23 November 2010. There are over 100 items of clothing currently on sale, plus hundreds of amazing toys for Christmas at competitive prices. Smile, Santa, here’s looking at *you*!!

Sale prices quoted below only apply with discount code KSF1110 only until 23 November 2010.

1. Alex & Ant Playsuit Cream & Red $34.95 LESS 30% = $24.47
2. Rhubarb Dress Pavillion/Chambray $39.95 LESS 30% = $27.97
3. Chalkboard Sticker Apple & Pear $39.95
4. Albetta Babygrow Soldiers Applique $43.95 $34.95 LESS 30% $24.47
5. Tike – Tike Bike II $189.95
6. Walnut Shoes Cruise Taupe $24.95
7. Le Toy Van – Honeybake Baking Set $98.95
8. Wheely Bug – Bee $89.95
9. Melissa & Doug Birthday Party Cake $49.95 ON SALE $29.95
10. Alex Dinosaur Island Bath Toy $26.95 ON SALE $19.95
11. Gaia Organic Cotton – One Summer Raglan Top Blue $32.95 LESS 30% $23.07
12. Fresh Baked – Bow Cardigan Grey $47.95 $24.95 LESS 30% $17.47

Indulge in a fine range of fashion, accessories toys, art and craft activities, books, nursery and decor products, and accessories, at Happy Little Hippos from brands 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, T2 Teas, Chalk n Cheese, Alex & Ant, Bebe, Gaia Organic, Albetta, Bluebelle, FLO Dancewear, Fresh Baked and Rhubarb.

Happy Little Hippos charge $6.95 flat rate postage, Australia-wide, or FREE standard Australia Post delivery for orders over $150 Australia-wide; conditions apply; see Ordering and Delivery page for full information.

Post written by Anna

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Can you remember the Christmas wish-lists of your childhood? I know my sentimental parents kept many of my hand-written letters to Santa, and although I cant remember many of the specifc requests, (apart from the horse which was my #1 wish every year; evidently it couldn’t fit on Santa’s sleigh!) I do recollect my desire for toys…and lots of them. As I now watch my children write thier own letter’s to Santa, the same request for toys is surfacing again and again. It’s a fact: kids *love* toys!

If you are looking to grant some Christmas wishes and want quality toys that are going to last, then I recommend Dragonfly Toys – www.dragonflytoys.com.au. Proprietor Linda has stocked her store with beautiful, fairtrade made and eco friendly toys that are bound to delight babies to school aged children. There are craft kits and art supplies, wooden toys, books and story CD’s, dolls and soft toys, as well as toys for fostering a love of science and discovery.

My top picks below include a great cross section of all the categories on offer at Dragonfly Toys. I love the Green Toys Eco Tea Set which is a comprehensive 17 piece set, all made from recycled plastic milk bottles. The Speil and Holz Pull Along Caterpillar would make a fantastic first pull along toy. The Dragonfly Toys Travelling Artist Tote would make a fabulous gift for and older child or budding artist, and the Gluckskafer Stringtop is a classic wooden toy that both boys and girls will love if it is found tucked in their Christmas stocking.

Linda from Dragonfly Toys is sharing her passion for toys and helping you get your Christmas shopping done with an offer of FREE shipping Australia-wide for all KidStyleFile readers who place orders of $50+ (before postage charges added. Enter code KSF2 at checkout to redeem until midnight 26 November 2010. If you’d like a little extra sugar from Dragonfly Toys all year round, make sure you check out the Dragonfly VIP Club :  spend $250+ in one transaction to become a  Dragonfly Toys VIP and receive a 5% life-time discount; spend $500+ in one transaction and receive a 7.5% life-time discount.

1. Patchwork Christmas Stocking – Small $22.50
2. EarthGreetings Eco Christmas Cards Box of 10 $14.95
3. Dragonfly Handmade Dolls Steiner Doll – Brown Haired Boy $88.50
4. Green Toys Eco Tea Set $58.95
5. Gluckskafer Stringtop $9.00
6. Speil and Holz Pull Along Caterpillar $42.00
7. Drei Blatter Natural Stacking Tower $39.90
8. Stockmar Wax Crayons – Combi Set $30.50
9. Debresk Big Crane Truck $54.95
10. Wooden Toddler Swing $85.50
11. Dragonfly Toys Travelling Artist Tote $29.50
12. Story Tree Company Molly Whuppie + Other Wonder Tales $28.95

Dragonfly Toys stock the following fine ethical and environmentally friendly brands: All About Heidi, A okhi, Art Viva, Barefoot, Bell Pond Books, Bioviva, Chrissy Butler, Debresk, Diane Tatum, Die Spiegelburg, Dorling Kindersley, Dragonfly Handmade Dolls, Dragonfly Toys, Drei Blatter, Earth Greetings, Ergo, Etiko, Family Pastimes, Fish River, Floris Books, Gluckskafer, Green Toys, HABA, Hawthorn Press, Hess Spielzeug, Hug-a-Bub, Immortal Books, Jambu Tree Kids, Jamtown, Keptin Jr, Kinderkram, Kokonor, Kraul, Kreativekit, Laikonik, Little Green Radicals, Lyra, Mehano, Mercurius, Michaelmass Press, Nanchen, Naturally You Can Sing, Papoose, Putumayo, Putumayo Kids, Ravensburger, Sarah Laidlaw, Sarah’s Silks, Seedling, Selecta, Spiel and Holz, Steiner Books, Stockmar, Story Tree Company, Tamana, The Beadery, Treeblocks, Wool Pets, Woolganic, World Alive and Zoras Rainbows.

Dragonfly Toys charge a flat fee of $9.00 delivery* Australia-wide. Orders over $150 are shipped free*. International orders are welcome. Click here for full information. (*Excluding oversize orders and remote locations).

Post written by Leah

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Like many of you my childhood summers smelled of sunscreen, BBQs and newly mowed grass. These days, my own children find the thrill of summer similarly exhilarating. The opportunity to kick off their shoes and run across the grass barefoot is one they both relish. Days at the beach have become a weekend routine. Of course a bucket and spade is always in the boot just in case.

For my kids summer wardrobe top-up I head across to my own little summer shopping oasis: Buckets and Spades – www.bucketsandspades.com.au. It’s the ultimate shopping destination for everything from shoes to bathers; shorts to dresses. What’s more – mums of boys rejoice! – there is always just as much boys stock as there is for girls and there’s plenty of joy for mums of tweens, too, with sizes from birth up to 14 well represented. Choose from all the best designer baby and kids brands including Fred Bare, Eeni Meeni Miini Moh, Eeni Meeni Miini Moh Pure Baby, e3M, Diesel, Shrunk by Scotch and Soda, Big by Fiona Scanlan, FIONA by Fiona Scanlan, Trelise Cooper Kids, Guess, ED Hardy, Tommy Rocket, Two Belles, Little Horn, Minti, Oobi, Mine by Kayla, Hula Girl, Lelli Kelly, Agatha Ruiz De La Prada, Garvalin, Bimbi, Petit Bateau, Alex and Charli, Tip Toey Joey and Kaloo.

Right now you can enjoy the Buckets & Spades mid-summer sale where you can source stock from many of these brands discounted by up to 35%, while stocks last. Don’t delay: grab your spade and start digging: this treasure won’t last long!

Note: Please read the Buckets & Spades Ordering Process below before you start shopping to make your spree a breeze.

Sale prices quoted below are only applicable while stocks last.

1. FRED BARE Magnolia Corsage Dress Was $108.90 reduced to $75.00
2. Big by Fiona Scanlan Happy Shirtmaker Was $89.95 reduced to $69.95
3. One Red Fly Peasant Dress Was $93.00 reduced to $69.00
4. Diesel CLUSH K SP7 PANTALONE DENIM Was $169.00 reduced to $99.00
5. Diesel TABLUE T-SHIRT Was $79.00 reduced to $59.00
6. FRED BARE Indian Head Was $44.00 reduced to $29.00
7. FRED BARE Najavo Print Short Was $66.00 reduced to $45.00
8. Shrunk By Scotch and Soda Boys Sweats Was $139.00 reduced to $99.00

Buckets & Spades Ordering Process – ***PLEASE READ BEFORE PLACING AN ORDER***

Because Buckets & Spades’ online store runs additionally to their two impressive bricks & mortar stores, there is a special process for placing orders:

1. Collect all the items you love into the shopping cart
2. Submit your order to Buckets and Spades - Note that no payment is required at this stage
3. After Zlata and her team receive your order they will check stock, and then phone you to arrange payment over the phone.

Buckets & Spades send via Express Post only Australia wide. The charges are: up to 500gms, $8.00, up to 3kg, $12.00. International orders are warmly welcomed; contact Zlata for a quote via the ‘Contact us’ menu option.

Post written by Angela

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If you’re in Melbourne this weekend you can get your Christmas shopping all wrapped up with Mathilda’s Market. This Sunday at Caulfield Racecourse you’ll find 120+ talented baby and kids designer/makers and boutique stores offering their stylish, original wares in the ultimate baby and kids shopping event.  In addition, you can say hello to myself and Sam at the KidStyleFile stand and pop your name on the list to win 1 of 8 gift vouchers from our fabulous prize sponsors All About Baby, BabyLegs, Mooo, Penny Scallan, Rose & Lily, Stork Baby, Where Did You Get That?, and Whimsy Child.

Here’s the info you need to know, so put on your skates and go,go, go on Sunday

• 9am to 1pm, Sunday, 21 November 2010
• Caulfield Racecourse, Station Street, Caulfield. Enter through main gate, or via the car park at Gate 2.
• Plenty of free parking all day along Station St, or in the Maple Car Park on Station Street (Gate 2).
• This venue is air conditioned and has easy access for prams.
• NOTE: Due to the significant venue hire charges there is a $2 entry fee for this market.

If you’re in Canberra you can enjoy Mathilda’s Market in your city on 28 November, and Sydney hosts the final Mathilda’s for this year on 5 December. Keep your eye out for events to be held all over Australia next year; dates coming soon.