KidStyleFile

Post written by Anna

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When you look back on your childhood, I would hazard a guess that you can recall a favourite toy or two. Some of my treasured childhood memories are those that involve the tea parties my sister and I shared with our Cabbage Patch Dolls, the hours spent surrounded by LEGO and the shows we would put on for the family dressed in the finery from the dressing up box.

Kids of all ages *love* playing with toys, and you are bound to help your child discover their favourites from the extensive collection at Favourite Toys – www.favouritetoys.com.au. They have toys to suit your tiny newborn right up to age 7 and over, from an impressive array of famous brands including: Alex, Deerfield, Dino Horizons, Edu-Toys, Ein-O Science, Ello, Galt, K’s Kids, Little Tikes, Living and Learning, Meccano, Mookie, National Geographic, Orchard Toys, Plan Toys, Ravensburger, SES Creative, Thomas and Friends and Vtech.

And the best news for any KSF readers doing a spot of toy shopping today? Many of these reputable brands are featured in the Sale Section of Favourite Toys – where toys of every variety are on sale by up to 31% off the retail price! They’re all so fabulous it’s hard to choose, but pictured below are my favourites – all from the sale section picked based on the best value for money and best memories to be made. Prices below are valid while stocks last, so get in quick.

 Favourite Toys ship Australia wide with a flat rate delivery cost of $7.90 (excluding bulkier Little Tikes items), for more information on delivery click here.

Post written by Anna

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Babies make the world a better place, and I happily admit that I am completely smitten by them! A resounding “congratulations” to you from everyone here at KidStyleFile if you are carrying one of these precious little bundles into the world at the moment. Because we’re all mums, between us we have a swag of interesting pregnancy stories – including the despairing cry of “I just don’t have anything that fits me anymore!” As we look back, some of these cries were downright Oscar winning performances.

Clothes that are purpose designed to suit your pregnant body can do a lot to lift your mood, and the whole pregnancy experience in general – trust us! You’ll feel so much more comfortable and look 100% amazing in the maternity and nursing wear range by label Eve of Eden – but don’t buy it from anywhere else – head straight to Maternity Sale – www.maternitysale.com.au where *everything* in store has been discounted well below recommended retail prices.

Despair at your empty wardrobe no more, because Maternity Sale have everything you will need for a super stylish and ultra comfortable pregnancy: heaps of dresses for work, casual and formal occasions,  fashionable pants and jeans, shorts, and swimwear  – you’re going to look unbelievable! 365 days of the year, any time day and night, you can have all of this great maternity fashion for up to 70% off! Make sure you check out their Clearance Section where prices start at just $13.00!  So wait no more – go to it and get gorgeous.

Maternity Sale ship Australia wide for the flat fee of $8.00. Australian orders over $150 are shipped FREE of charge. Costs for shipping of international orders are calculated by weight at checkout. For full information please see the Delivery page.

Post written by Miki

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Guess what people – it’s that time of year again and I’m excited! What time of year? The Minti Summer Pre-Release of course!

Minti is one of the hottest kids’ brands in the southern hemisphere, native to New Zealand but creating waves everywhere it goes.  I’m certainly not the only one excited about the pre-release of the Spring/Summer 11/12 collection: Katie at About A Boy – www.aboutaboy.com.au- gets just as buzzed about it as I do, and today we are both buzzing because a HUGE range of the new season stock is available for pre-order from her e-boutique!  Have a glance below for some key pieces and see the full range here (please note that stock will be added throughout the day today, so check back soon if you don’t see the new season gear there just yet). The latest collection includes lots of fresh aquatic tones combined with Minti’s signature grey marl, with quirky little features and cheeky prints. I’m seriously coveting the Pocket Shirt pictured at #4 below, and how cute are the Happy Face Comfy Shorts at #7?

Until 31 July 2011, About A Boy are offering KSF readers FREE postage on all orders over $50 that include a Minti SS’11 Pre-Order item using the code KSFMinti50. Remember though: it always sells out fast, so mamas of boys don’t delay.

Also, while you’re happily filling your shopping cart full of new season Minti, you should have a thorough dig through About A Boy’s famous sale section.  Brimming with gorgeous boyswear for gorgeous boys, everything in there is discounted by up to 50%!

Now quick, go grab your Minti before I beat you to it!

The sale items below are available while stocks last.

Minti Kids:
1. Burgular stripe cloud face tee, $45.00
2. Striped Chill Shorts, $40.00
3. Oversize Hello Friends Singlet, $35.00
4. Pocket Shirt, $70.00

Minti Baby:
5. Baby Hello Friends Comfy Cardy, $45.00
6. Baby Peace Owl Onepiece, $45.00
7. Baby Happy Face Comfy Shorts, $35.00
8. Baby Stripe Comfy Pants, $40.00

SALE 9. ‘Earn Your Stripes’ Sweater by Polka, was $80.00 now $49.00
SALE 10. ‘New York Monsters Believe In Me’ Tee by Three Little Trees, was $30.00 now $20.00
SALE 11. Blue Rip Waist Trackies by Kiniki, was $50.00 now $29.00
SALE 12. Charlie Snapsuit by Sooki Baby, was $29.00 now $19.00

About A Boy stocks many top brands of boyswear including Cried Wolf, Sudo, Oishi-M, Polka, Three Little Trees, Minti, Urban Elk, Toetum, Sooki Baby, Ubang Babblechat, Deglingos, Oopsie, Super Zeroes, Littlehorn, Mister Mista, Cut It Out Kids and Bonds.

About A Boy ship Australia-wide for a flat rate of $9.00, but remember that until 31st July Australian pre-release Minti orders come with FREE postage for orders over $50. Click here for full postage and delivery information.

Written by Raquel

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Brrrrr, did someone say temperature drop? Time to grab an organic quilt, a wool covered hottie, some glow in the dark Pjs and cosy up with the kids!

The Green Guide is published on the second Friday of each month. Read previous ‘The Green Guide’ posts here.

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1. Some things just don’t seem to go together, for instance, peas and ice cream. But then again, perhaps it’s all in the execution? After all, some would swear pea flavoured ice cream is a dandy treat, even as sweet as this Super Star Stamp Necklace. Stamp necklace? Yep, it turns out this odd pairing make an adorable couple. Hung on a hemp string, flip the handmade wooden figurine over and she turns from a pretty piece of neck bling to a stella stamp – just the very thing needed for spreading a little twinkle throughout the day.
2.  Speaking of unusual twosomes, breathtaking and jigsaws are a couple of words I wouldn’t normally piece together(!), but this fabulous Animal Globe deserves the accolade. Quite unlike anything you may have seen before, it’s been beautifully handcrafted from baltic birch, cherry or mahogany plywood and is bustling with an animated menagerie of colourful wildlife. The 7” puzzle consists of 75 pieces, or you can super size to a mighty 11”- 205 piece version! Bella Puzzles also have a stunning collection of story book puzzles – fantastic for a special gift – and for something extra personal, there’s photo puzzles and customised options too.
3.  Flying in at number three is Hop & Peck’s beautifully crafted wooden toys and accessories. Handmade from birch plywood in Essex, UK, these simply striking products owe their good looks to unfussy lines and clever ideas: the Bunny Ears egg cup (top) and Twizzer mobile (wind it up, then watch it spin down!) are just two of the standouts amongst the gorgeously crafted wares.
4.  Time to ROC the wardrobe, Swedish style! Katvig is taking ‘green’ to a new level with its funky range of kids wear made not just from organic cotton but the actual leftovers from the spinning of organic cotton!! The Recycled Organic Cotton (R.O.C) pieces are aglow in violet and seaweed, rather fittingly (and fashionably) blazing the eco trail in both technology and colour!
5.  I spy with my little eye a new addition to eco décor: Eye Play Studio. With their design sights aimed at sprucing up kids’ rooms, this homegrown brand is entertaining the imaginations of children with liberal splashes of vivid colour and fantastical whimsy. Their first collection, Eco Friends, consists of coordinating canvas artworks, giclée prints and cushions made from sustainable plantation woods, eco inks and organic cottons. With themes like Captain Mischief the Pacific Pirate and Lilli the Garden Pixie, there’s sure to be one just right for your wee tike.
6. Is it possible to have a crush on a cup? Or rather, six cups? Each lovely tumbler winks out from their recycled cardboard box in a pretty gelato shade, but it’s their 100% compostable profile that really puts a smile on my dial. Bury one of these little E-Cups and they’ll completely break down in 12-18 months, never to take up space in a dreadful landfill. Of course, no one will be burying these lovelies at the back of the cupboard. Nope, they’ll be at the front and in demand: food safe and heat proof to 120 degrees, what’s not to dig about this fabulously green alternative to melamine?
7. Owl about this? The fabulously long-lived energy saving classic, the hottie, has come over all cute n’ chirpy in an upcycled woollen vintage blanket cover. And there’s more than one use for this tweet coverup of a childhood favourite. When it’s not keeping tootsies toasty at night, ZippityDooDah’s lovely cover is equally good at tucking pyjamas away or perking up beds as an adorable pillow accent. I’ll hoot to that!
8. Its hard to believe there may be a home without a set of wooden planks, but if yours is one of them, then these building sets from Green Hat Workshop are begging for an invite! The Australian made New Zealand pine planks are available in 100 and 200 sets: no batteries, no wires, instructions or tricks – just add an over energetic, hugely inventive child (ie, any child!) for loads of busy, limitless play!
9. What’s organic, black and glows in the dark? Your son, wearing a pair of these awesome pyjamas from French eco label Gribouille! Yep, its the stuff of a young boy’s dreams (and hopefully the key to getting him to bed) so it’s no surprise to learn that behind this neat concept is a mother of two, Charlotte Bohn, whose background in architecture and design, and her own children’s artistic exploration, provided terrific inspiration for the playful pieces. Made from 100% certified organic cotton, the pyjamas come with six non-toxic phosphorescent felts: colour in then expose to light for a few moments for a glowing result! Gribouille also have a kiddy-cool selection of colour-in tees with water based, non-toxic felts for both girls and boys.
10. Daisies, butterflies and cherries: an enchanting reminder that spring is arriving in the shape of Suna Studio’s sunny, super snuggly eco quilts. Handmade from organic cotton and filled with organic batting, the lovely designs also feature some pretty funky alligators and tigers, abstract castles and sun-shiny Japanese prints – many of which work wonderfully for both girls and boys decor. Oh, and if you fancy one for yourself, Suna Studio also accepts custom orders.

The Green Guide is published on the second Friday of each month. Read previous ‘The Green Guide’ posts here.

Please check individual sites for pricing and postage details and be sure to survey the KidStyleFile All Current Deals page to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal. Need to convert currency? Use the Xe.com currency conversion tool.

Post written by Anna

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Colorific, one of Australia’s leading toy and craft producers has just launched an exciting new and interactive website: Colorific -  www.colorific.com.au.

The site is a fabulous showcase of all the products that Colorific produce including the brands: Colorific, Blendy Pens, Classic Craft, Colorific Educational, Crystal, Dough WorX, Face Paint, FairyLites, Funky Fun, Glow Zone, Giggles, Mutant Monsters, Plasticine, Wood WorX, Barbie, Disney and Dora the Explorer.

With a staggering amount of products to choose from, Colorific have incorporated some great features in their site like their ‘Product Browser’, ‘Gift Finder’, ‘Craft Weekly Blog’ and the all important ‘Where to Buy Section’!  These sections are great time savers! I am also loving the extensive range of free downloadable activities available, including face paint guides, colouring-in images for boys and girls as well as free rainy day activities -  I will be trying out some of these with my children in the very near future!

The best news is that this fab new website includes The Colorific Online Toy Clearance Store which offers a huge range of their toys at up to 86% off the RRP! I’ve had a hunt through the store and have been delighted to find many products that will be great to help see us through the rest of winter (and the numerous birthday party gifts needed in the coming months). Prices start at just 20c!!

Colorific is welcoming all KidStyleFile reader with a FREE $10 gift voucher which can be redeemed at their new online toy clearance store – and trust me when I say this little voucher can be made to go a looong way! To redeem your voucher you will need to enter voucher code KSF711 when you checkout before 6 August 2011. Please note Colorific has a minimum order of $15.00 + postage from their clearance store.

Your voucher must be redeemed by  6 August 2011 with code KSF711 at checkout. Prices listed below are valid while stocks last!

a. Dough Worx Stampers Pack RRP $14.00 Sale = $4.00
b. Chelona Play Box Patchwork Family RRP $19.99 Sale = $8.00
c. FairyLites Fairy Wand Crown Kit RRP $19.99 Sale = $8.00
d. Chelona Pocket Puzzles RRP $9.99 Sale = $3.00
e. Classroom Kits Science All About Air RRP $75.00 Sale = $35.00
f. Craft Punches 4 Pack Hang Sell RRP $4.60 Sale = $3.40
g. Paint Worx Yellow RRP $18.00 Sale = $4.50
h. Classroom Kits Science Slime RRP $70.00 Sale = $35.00
i. Teddy Tidy Grips A 10 Pack RRP $1.50 Sale = $0.20
j. Plastic Dough Moulding RRP $5.00 Sale = $2.50

Colorific ship Australia wide for the flat fee of $10.00. Please see the Ordering and Delivery page for full shipping information and their returns policy.

Post written by Miki

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KidStyleFile is proud to be the official sponsor of Kids Instyle, part of the hotly anticipated 2011 Life Instyle trade event in Melbourne.  Besides being delighted to bring this fantastic ‘trade only’ event to you, we get the perk of having a sneaky preview of who is going to be there!  And because we love to share we’re going to let you in on some sneaky previews over the next three weeks.

Today I’m going to show you the first ten of the exhibitors whose displays we’re most eagerly anticipating.  Stay tuned next week for the next ten!

1. b.box for innovative, stylish and practical everyday baby products designed to make the lives of modern parents that much easier.
2. Oishi-m for limited edition garments that splash kimono, vintage and retro fabrics together with denim and cotton.
3. Dandelion Kids, exclusive importers and distributors for four of Germany’s leading toy brands, Nic, Walter, Bodo Hennig (ranges of wooden toys that are beautiful, durable and designed for the kids of today) and Sterntaler (musical plush toys, rattles, squeaker and soft toys).
4. Cocoon Couture for delightful vintage-inspired beanbags and children’s room accessories.
5. Little Rivet Jeans for a range of kids’ jeans that are comfortable, durable, fit well and provide variety at a reasonable price.
6. Bajo Toys for traditional wooden toys made to the highest ethical, safety and environmental standards.
7. My Rocking Horse for a unique range of premium quality, beautiful wooden rocking horses.
8. Huckleberry Lane for classic, timeless children’s sleepwear.  The range includes summer & winter pyjamas, nighties, rompers, underwear, bloomers and baby wraps from ages newborn to 14 years.
9. me2me2 for a fantastic range of products encouraging children to learn through creative participation. The collections include aprons, chef sets, tool belts, gardening kits and more.
10. Little Bubble And Tree for bright, fresh and sun-smart clothing and accessories for active kids.

The Kids Instyle essential details for your calendar are:

Where: Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne
Dates: Thursday 4th to 7th August 2011
Hours: Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday/Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 9am-5pm
To register: Click here