KidStyleFile

Written by Jen
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Every so often my husband reminds me of the great expedition he will take the boys on, once they have hit teenage-dom and are ready for some serious adventuring. Base Camp Everest has been a dream of his ever since I’ve known him and to bring his two boys along for the ride would be an ultimate wish. Hmmm where do I fit into that picture? Sherpa?

Travelling is one of life’s great gifts and living far away from family entitles our little band to do lots more in future years. However, one thing I’ve learned is that when travelling on masse, there is a distinct need to create ‘The Three P Plan’ – prepare, participate and be patient. This is where today’s discovery comes in. Enter KidsGo! Travel Guides, a selection of super stylish books for kids, aimed at helping 7 to 14 year olds get involved in planning the family holiday. There’s an abundance of super retro illustrations, carefully vetted recommendations, suggested itineraries, a little history, a few phrases and a big nugget of humour that is sure to hit a sweet spot with many. These books even have a magic way of suggesting new foods for the pickiest of eaters and also includes great ideas for active toddlers.

So if you’re heading to Sydney, London, Bali, Phuket, Hong Kong or New York anytime soon, pack yourselves a KidsGo! guide and you’ll be sure to have very excited passengers joining you for the ride.

Don’t forget to spend some time on the KidsGo! Travel Guides interactive website. The books are available from the Book Depository.

Written by Angela

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I don’t think any other footwear brand splits opinion as much as ubiquitous blown plastic footwear brand Crocs – crocs.com.au. They’re arguably  a fashion faux-pas, but there’s no denying their practicality, and the real deal are durable and sturdy, unlike knock-off copies – invest in a pair and you’ll be passing them down, not binning them after three wears.

Crocs Australia are offering FREE delivery on all full-priced pairs until 31 December 2011. No code is needed; free shipping is calculated at checkout. Want to bag a bargain? Scope the Crocs sale section with selected stock up to 60% off, and spend $100+ across the store (new and sale stock) and your order will ship FREE, too. Croc on!

Crocs Australia ship orders within Australian from $10.00. Orders over $100.00 ship FREE. Click here for full postage and delivery information.

Written by Jen
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My boys returned from daycare rosy cheeked with shoes filled with obligatory sand, and with summer finally here, thoughts came to mind of taking them to some local beaches where we can throw off the runners, dig our toes in deep and feel the water once again on our skin.

All this beach day dreaming got me thinking though, about the usual foray of toys brought on our surf-side excursions. It’s so easy to pick up another bucket, sieve and spade, but how often do we think about the amount of plastic we collect and so often leave behind? Thankfully there are some really innovative companies out there who have had this thought, listened to their conscience and acted on it.

Based in the US – Sprig Toys, Green Toys and Zoë B Organic share a common goal – to broaden children’s imagination, keep batteries out of landfill and produce sustainably super toys! Recycled milk containers, biocomposite recycled wood and plastic that breaks down in under 3 years are all majorly terrific ingredients in the design of their goods. Buckets and spades will never be the same again! But above all else, each toy is made with the child’s enjoyment in mind – 100% fun is guaranteed in every product. Great play PLUS sustainable happiness? You can’t ask for much more than that!

1. Sprig Toys Sprig Hollow Dragonfly’s Heli Scooper US $13.00 at Amazon
2. Green Toys Beach Set $32.95 at Buxton Baby
3. Zoe B Biodegradable Beach Toys $17.85 at Amazon

Written by Angela

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Urban Baby – www.urbanbaby.com.au – is a saviour for all the Santa’s Elves out there who are running just a tad behind with their Christmas shopping. Their shelves are stacked with a wonderful range of toys, nursery goods, decor pieces, feeding and sleeping supplies to keep little babies, bigger kids and their parents well and truly happy, and they offer second-to-none customer service with deliveries being sent right down to the wire to make sure you get your giftables before December 25 (check here for Urban Baby Christmas delivery deadlines). All this is good enough in itself, but wait, there’s more – read on!

As a special Christmas gift to parents everywhere Urban Baby are offering an AUD$10.00 discount on all orders totalling $80+ (before shipping charges are added), PLUS a free copy of My Child magazine summer 2011/12 issue valued at $8.95. You’ll rack up the minimum spend amount in no time with the stunning array of goodies in store, and sale items are discounted by up to 65% – need I say more?! Products excluded from the discount are listed here. To redeem this offer simply fill your cart to $80+ and enter code XMASGIFT at the Urban Baby checkout before 7:59am AEST 21 December 2011. Merry Christmas (shopping)!

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.

Click here for Urban Baby postage and delivery information.

Written by Leah

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One of my earliest memories involves a waterhole, a set of Smurf floaties and an old Holden ute. We had just moved to Darwin and my dad was convinced that we wouldn’t survive very long if we didn’t know how to swim. He drove us out to a place he was told had no crocs and threw my brother and I in the water. It could have been terrifying, but I lapped it up. I LOVED the water from that moment on (I’m certain the Smurf floaties gave me a confidence boost!). It must be in the genes too, as my kidlets also love the water!

Of course, if you are going to be lounging around a pool, a swimming hole or the beach this summer you will need a good pair of swimmers. I’ve found that practicality is essential, as you don’t want them falling down at an unforgiving moment. At the same time, style is essential rather than an optional extra.

As such, I have rounded up a plethora of swimwear labels for your perusal. I’m certain you will find a favourite pair of togs within my selection that will suit your requirements and a style that will suit your little one. And remember – like shoes, you can NEVER have too many bathers!

1. Funky Trunks – Lake Como – $44.95
2. Stella Cove Fergalicious Swimsuit Girls $60.00
3. Platypus Australia Baby Sunsuit $47.30
4. White Soda Heart Print & Pinkalicious Starting at $24.95
5. Alfie and Nina All In One Zip Up Rashie In Blue/Grey Stripe $59.00 Girls 1 Piece In Flamingo Red $52.00
6. Moo Rashies Starting at $39.95
7. White Soda Barcode and Blueberry Starting at $24.95
8. Seafolly Vintage Rose Baby Sunvest Set and Seafolly Vintage Tank Costume, see here for stockists and prices
9. Halle – Gingham Check Oobi $49.95
10. Bobbi Sunshine Daisy Bandeau Full Piece $49.95
11. Blue Rose Swimwear Set $36.00
12. Funkita Baabaa Funshine $34.95
13. 2Chillies Strawberry Shortcake See here for stockists and prices
14. Sandy Feet Starting at $27.95
15. Tiger Joe Shipwreck Short Sleeve Rashie UPF 50+, Boardie, T-Rex singlet, see here for stockists and prices

Written by Domenica

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Are you sick of flicking through catalogues to find the one thing you want to buy is not on sale? Do you wish you could choose exactly what goes on sale? I certainly do, and Gifts 4 Kidz – www.gifts4kidz.com.au - obviously agree with me because they have a fabulous offer for KidStyleFile readers today.

For 3 days only, you can access a whopping 40% off across the entire Gifts4Kidz website! That’s right, *everything* is on sale so you get to choose exactly what you want to buy, and then take off 40% off its RRP. All you have to do is enter code KSFXMAS40 at checkout by midnight 21 December 2011. Once you place an order you will go onto the Gifts 4 Kidz VIP mailing list and will be the first to find about any future sales and special events.

Many of you will have children starting kindergarten or school next year, and a 40% off storewide sale makes right now the perfect time to pick up a new bag, pencil case, lunch box or drink bottle from the Gifts 4 Kidz Back To School category. I think the Rush Paint Smocks are a fabulous way to protect little kids from both paint splatters and food; anything that saves me from extra washing up gets my tick of approval!

We have a fairly casual New Year’s Eve celebration to attend, and I am thinking that the Fox and Finch Matilda Check Trapeze Top paired with the Fox and Finch Matilda 5 Pocket Skirt Blue Denim is a perfect ensemble for one of my girls. If you have a more elegant affair planned perhaps the One Red Fly Cup Dress in grey would suit? For boys there are a great range of choices from designer brand Woof!, including this Woof! Members Polo Shirt in white that matches well with the Woof! 5 Pocket Denim Shorts. With prices this low Gifts 4 Kidz have certainly made it easy to buy up big for the coming year, but remember – the sale is only on for three days so get shopping!

Sale prices below valid with code KSFXMAS40 until midnight 21 December 2011, while stocks last.

One. Fox and Finch Todd Short Sleeve Checked Shirt (2-4) – Was $37.00 LESS 40% = $22.20; Woof! 5 Pocket Denim Shorts Dark Indigo (00-4) – Was $49.00 LESS 40% = $29.40
Two. Tahlia Peacock Print Dress Coral (5-14) – Was $79.90 LESS 40% = $47.94
Three. Woof! Super Performance Tee Slate (00-4) – Was $29.00 LESS 40% = $17.40; Woof! Classic Shorts Sand (00-4) – Was $44.00 LESS 40% = $26.40
Four. One Red Fly Cup Dress Grey – Was $110.00 LESS 40% = $66.00
Five. Tahlia Olivia Striped Maxi Dress Navy/White (5-14) – Was $75.00 LESS 40% = $45.00
Six. Fox and Finch Matilda Check Trapeze Top (2-4) – Was $35.00 LESS 40% = $21.00; Fox and Finch Matilda 5 Pocket Skirt Blue Denim (2-4) – Was $47.00 LESS 40% = $28.20
Seven. Rush Overnight Bag – Dinosaurs – Was $39.95 LESS 40% = $23.97
Eight. Bobble Art Large Bowling Bag – Paper Doll – Was $39.95 LESS 40% = $23.97
Nine. Seedling Create Your Own Kaleidoscope – Was $54.95 LESS 40% = $32.97

Brands stocked at Gifts4Kidz include Automoblox, Bebe Clothing, Bebe Jr Clothing, BLOCH, Bobble Art, Books To Wear, Britt Design, Chippie Bags & Accessories, Christopher Vine Design, Cudworth, Custard Pie, Djeco, Jacques Farel, Jarmeez, Le Toy Van, Tin Lid Designs, Manhattan Toy Co, Marquise, Minihaha, Mini Treasures, Missi Missi, Milestone Press, Creative Education, Alperstein Designs, Mini Life, Nana Huchy, Paper Eskimo, Posh!, Pintoy, Seedling Craft Kids, Tahlia, Tiger Tribe, Tommy Rocket, Two Belles, Uttman Kids, Walnut, Willow and Finn, Wheely Bug, Woof!, Zoe Bonbon, Nana Huchy and Mini Life.

Gifts4Kidz charge a flat rate delivery of $9.95 Australia wide and provide FREE gift packaging. For full information, including International orders, please see Delivery and Returns.