KidStyleFile

Post written by Anna

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So KidStyleFilers, it’s Christmas Eve – one of my most favourite days of the year. This day holds a whole lot of magic for my little family as we wait for Christmas…only 1 more sleep! If I could bottle the excitement and anticipation my kids woke up with this morning, I would be a very wealthy woman! There aren’t many places that can rival this enthusiasm, though one of the brightest and the best of Australia’s online baby and kids stores Urban Baby – www.urbanbaby.com.au may just give my kids a run for their money!

Urban Baby is one of the longest established baby and kids online stores in the country and they are some very smooth operators. A visit any time of year is bound to impress and delight you. This lush locale is brimming with the most excellent feeding, sleeping and decor solutions, super toys and accessories, for kids from birth up to 2 years.  If you want the latest and greatest, your are bound to find it at Urban Baby.

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas at Urban Baby without a restock of the Clearance Sale Page which contains bargains at huge discounts of up to 70% off RRP’s. Now they are some numbers to get enthused about! Source some stella bargains like the fabulous discounts on a gorgeous array nappy bags including a little Il Tutto! So shop fast dear readers and enjoy the magic!

Urban Baby stock the following baby and kids designers: Aden & Anais, Active People, Alimrose Designs, Alimrose Designs, Allerhand, Angelcare, Annabel Karmel, Annabel Trends, Automoblox, Avent, Babies Only, BabyBjorn, Baby Cubes, Baby Einstein, BabyMoov, Baby Origami,BabySmart, Babyushka, Babu, Badger Balm, Beba Bean, Being Dad DVD Series, Bical Shoes, Billie Baby Soap, Bloom, Boikido, Boon, Brio, Britt Design, Bubbaroo, Built NY, Chelona Wooden Puzzles, Coco & Eli, Cold Coffee, Crocodile Creek, Crocs Shoes, Cushy Couch, Cuski, D-Lux, David Fussenegger, derriere la porte, Djeco, Dunstan Baby Language, Dwink, Emotion & Kids, Eric Carle, Eternal Baby, Fertile Mind, Fiesta Crafts, Fiona Kate – The Box Seat, FLATOUT Bear, Fred, French Bull Kids, Gaia Organic Cotton, GeoMag, giimmö Childrens Lights, Gina Ford, Go-Home, Graham & Brown, Green to Grow, Grobag Sleeping Bags, The HandySitt Company, Heimess, Hipp, Hotslings, Huggalugs, Ikaboo Childrens Lights, Infantino, Inglesina Mhome Collection, Isoki, et4Kids, Jooki Nappy Bags & Accessories, Karamana Kid, Karlsson, Kiddopotamus, KinderKot, Klippan Bruno, Kreative Kritters Window Peelies, Kuki Kids, Lalito, Lambykins, Leander, le-BIG, Lima Bean, Living Textiles, Lodger, Magnetic Poetry, Mamas & Papas, Manhattan Toy, Melobaby, Me Too Collection by Magis, Minimink, Mudpuppy, Mustela Baby, Nesting Moses Baskets, Nest High Chair, Nice 4 Neez, New Native Baby Slings, Noo Designs, Nurture Designs, Oeuf Furniture, Organised Mum, Pebbles Pouches, Philips, PromoOne, Quicksmart, Ramalama, Ribambelle Bijoux Enfants, Rorkus, Shop Girl, SkipHop, Smart Mom, Teething Bling, Starchild Leather Pre-Walker Shoes, Star & Rose, STUFFit, Sunny, Swobbles, Teeny Me, Thermos, Tiger Tribe, Travel Buddies, Trebimbi, Trunki Kids Luggage, UrbanBaby, Vessel, Vice Versa Baby, Wallcandy, Wee Gallery, Wheely Bug, WMF Cutlery and Dinnerware Sets, ZipBin, and ZUNY.

Urban Baby Ship on weight Australia-wide, and international orders are most welcome. See the Urban Baby postage and handling page for full shipping cost and delivery information.

Post written by Edwina

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T’was the night before Christmas and the Stockings are filled! Your job is done, relax! Summer is here and it is time to find some moments of quiet amongst the hustle to catch up on some reading. It is also the perfect time for the kids to unwind with some new books and to discover the joys of reading for fun and perfect for a break from the screen-time. I heart Book Depository – www.bookdepository.co.uk – because with a few clicks you can pick up some of the coolest kids books around all well below RRP and with FREE delivery worldwide to boot.

If you are planning a trip to the seaside then let me recommend Sandcastles made Simple – there are projects designed just for smaller kids, but if you are thinking big there are tips on making staircases, balconies, a roof and more.

If you are planning a camping trip then you might want to grab a copy of The Camping Cookbook by Annie Bell, there are lots of  recipes that can be whipped up without electricity and with limited ingredients. If you have a boy in the house then the Guinness World Records will usually keep the occupied for a good length of time.

There’s also lots of great children’s fiction in store at Book Depository. For the little ones the illustrations in Bink & Gollie, A Sick Day for Amos McGee, and Children Make Terrible Pets are particularly noteworthy, all making the New York Times Bset Seller list for best childrens books of  2010.

Whatever you have planned for the Summer, hopefully you can enjoy some quiet time while the kids enjoy some time between the covers of a book or two.

The KidStyleFile Loves Kid’s Books column appears on the last Friday of each month. Read previous posts here.

A.  Sandcastles Made Simple $11.73
B.  The Camping Cookbook $16.20
C.  Summer Nature Activities for Children $21.30
D. Mommins Splendid Summer Sticker Book $8.37
E. Summer things to make and do $8.37
F.  Holiday Annual Activity Annual $10.05
G. Guinness World Records 2011 $32.98
H. Tiny Little Fly $20.12
I.  A Sick Day for Amos McGee $18.27
J. Bink & Gollie $15.08
K.  Beautiful Oops $15.08
L.  Children Make Terrible Pets $18.27

Post written by Angela

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I love the summer holidays. I hanker for them all day long with their endless blue skies, warm air and lazy barefoot days free from the hustle-bustle of the rest of the year.

If you’re off on a resort holiday then no doubt you’ll have lots of exciting activites at your disposal, but if you’re holidaying at home this year, like we are, then you’ll need to get a little bit organised to keep everyone happy and catered for over the next couple of months.

Here are three devices that have become my absolute sanity savers, particularly during the holidays when extra snacks and mess can reach fever pitch. There are other brands and models of the items below, but these are the ones we have at our house that I can vouch for – shop around to find items that suit you, and always supervise your kids when using these applicances.

1. We purchased this Sunbeam Avalanche – Ice Cube Shaver (aka Sno Cone maker) in August this year and have used it at least twice a week ever since. It is easy and fun to use – just pop the ice in the chamber, push down and watch the powdery snow being made. All you need to make refreshing snow cones or slushies is some ice (I buy it in bags from the shop) an everyday cup, a splash of juice of water and a spoon. I find these to be somehow much more refreshing than conventional icy poles and you don’t need to wait hours for them to be ready.

• Buy from Fishpond.com.au for RRP $54.99 $39.97 including postage Australia wide until 24 December 2010.

2. My kids were given this Mistral Movie Fun Popcorn maker as a joint birthday present three years ago and it’s still going strong. Besides being cute it’s fun to watch and makes great popcorn – a healthy snack that kids love – in minutes. All you do is switch the machine on, put a scoop of corn kernals in the top and wait two minutes for them to start popping. Plain popped corn is our favourite, but you can sprinkle on icing sugar or stir through some butter once your corn is bowled up.

• Buy from Deals Direct for $34.95 $26.95 + postage.

3. I cannot say enough good things about my iRobot Roomba 530 robotic vacuum cleaner: I couldn’t live without it now! ‘Zoomer’, as my kids call it, is a most efficient little sucker, and happily bops around the house taking care of crumbs and dust bunnies like a pro. Roomba works on a complex algorithm to ensure every corner is vacuumed to perfection. It gets under couches and beds much better than I do and allows me to get on with things much more fun and important than vaccuming. If you’re sceptical about the job it does, don’t be: you won’t be disappointed! I bought my parents one for Christmas last year and they haven’t used their regular vac since; they then bought my sister one, and my Aunt was so impressed she purchased one, too!! \

• I purchased iRobot Roomba 530 in-store at Harvey Norman, where it retails for $599.95. You need not pay RRP though, just ask the salesperson “Is this the best price you can do for me?” and expect a decent discount – I paid $499.95 last Christmas.

Post written by Anna

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Once a bargain hunter, always a bargain hunter!  Even at Christmas time I am true to form, saving a few extra dollars to splurge on the post Christmas sales.  Thanks to the wonder of online shopping I don’t even have to wrestle with mad crowds come Boxing Day, I can shop happily from home.

Fabulous news today fellow savvy shoppers: no need to wait until after Christmas to snap up your bargains, you can get a head start *today* at Minifashionista – www.minifashionista.com.au thanks to their Mega Clearance Sale!

There are item of clothing, toys, accessories & gifts from designers including Small Paul by Paul Frank, Djeco, Munster, Egg by Susan Lazar, No Added Sugar, Little Chipipi, Chalk n Cheese, Polka Kids and Manhattan Toy Company all going out at up to a crazy 70% off their RRP, while stocks last only.  Orders over $165 also score free Express Post delivery, Australia-wide, so ‘go get em’ tiger’ and get your bargains delivered fast to your door!

Minifashionista charge from $8.50 Express Post delivery within Australia. Orders over $165.00 or more are shipped free of charge. International Orders are welcome. See the Minifashionista FAQ page for full information on local and international shipping rates.

Post written by Miki

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Start your engines:  Automoblox – www.automoblox.com – have just released their newest products; full sized Automoblox Hot Rods are now available in the US and should soon be roaring their way down under soon.

Automoblox vehicles are great for educational play, encouraging children’s creative problem solving, fine motor skill and visio-spatial development as they design and build new vehicles of their own imagining. The Mini Automoblox have a unique connector system which allows kids to create and design different car styles, while the full sized Automoblox have their own connector system.

Automoblox Mini Hot Rods are already available in Australia from Just Toy’n Around and Honeybee Toys among others, and we will let you know when the full sized version is available.

Please see individual sites for shipping details.

Post written by Miki

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Classic and *hugely* popular Aussie label Fred Bare is been consistently loved by parents and kids alike every season, and the current SS10/11 collection is no exception.  With over 200 pieces in the collection and sizing from 00 right up to 12 there’s something for every kid.  The signature streetwise styles have a cruisy surf-culture tinge to them this summer which evokes memories of long days at the beach, zinc cream and dripping ice blocks.

Buckets & Spades – www.bucketsandspades.com.au – are a major Fred Bare stockist both online and in their bricks & mortar stores in Melbourne.  They have a couple of hundred Fred Bare SS10/11 pieces to choose from, including a great range of tees and boardies for boys (I’m loving the batik prints) and floaty summer dresses for girls, not to mention myriad tees, shorts and skirts.

Buckets & Spades have marked down all summer 10/11 Fred Bare by up to 50% off in a massive end of season sale. The prices are as marked with no code needed, and the sale will continue until all the items are sold out – but given the great prices and how popular Fred Bare is, that will be sooner rather than later, so make your bidding now for your favourite pieces before they’re gone.

Buckets & Spades also stocks lots of other designer baby and kids brands including 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. You’ll find up to 50% off many of these fine labels in their well stocked sale section, too.

1. Fred Bare Crinkle Halter Dress, was $71.50 discounted to $49.00
2. Fred Bare Bird Fringe Tee, was $44.00 discounted to $29.00
3. Fred Bare Dip Dye Dress, was $71.50 discounted to $55.00
4. Fred Bare Skinny Jean, was $71.00 discounted to $45.00
5. Fred Bare Stripe Tee, was $48.40 discounted to $35.00
6. Fred Bare Batik Print Shorts, was $71.50 discounted to $55.00
7. Fred Bare Flouncy Daisy Dress, was $71.50 discounted to $55.00
8. Fred Bare Quickdry Soy Fish Boardshort, was $55.00 discounted to $39.00
9. Fred Bare Painted Wink Tee, was $44.00 discounted to $29.00
10. Fred Bare Batik Print Shorter Short, was $60.50 discounted to $45.00

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.