KidStyleFile

Today’s post written by Angela

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Happy New Year!! 2009 has begun, and the fun starts here!

The Rocking Horse- www.therockinghorse.com.au - Silly Season Sale is now on - but only while stocks last - and you won’t want to miss it!

There are so many fabulous finds afoot that I barely know where to start: Oobi, Itch, Storksak, Moppit, Boon, Baby Star, Oh Baby! London, and Well Spotted, are just a few top names in the line-up, and they’re all on honest-to-goodness sale!

Stock up now on clothes, toys, and nursery items for your babies and kids, and you’ll be looking good all summer, and beyond!

Behold the beauties below, and then click on over to the sale section to snaffle them up before someone beats you to it!

The Rocking horse stock a fab range of baby and kids designer toys, clothing and accessroies, including Anne-Claire Petit (divine crochet; we have two of the duckies), Baby Star, Baby Talk, baobab (new season’s stock in), Blabla (new designs in), Bloom, Boon, Bud by Design Room, Children of the Revolution, Eggheads (great prints and lovely long-bodied cuts; we have a range of these and they are so sweet. One sale now, too!), Eternal Creation, Fancy Dancy Pants, Fortune Tee, Generation Wonder, Gertie & Me (bunnies my honeys), Itch Design, Kee-Ka, Little Deer Shoes, Little Joey Organics, Little Kitchen, Little Tesoro, Minimink (I *heart* (minimink)), Pink Plush by Tomfoolery, Noo Designs, Oh Baby London, Oobi Baby & Kids, Outliving, Pooki & Co (one of my FAVE softie designers), Present Time, Retro Kitchen, Rock Your Baby, Rondeau Industries, Sandy Feet, Something Blue Cakes, Spa Trends, Storksak (Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt love these!), Teeny Me (Great quality and they work well with adult decor), Tippy Toes, Vice Versa, Well Spotted and Wry Baby.

The Rocking Horse offer complimentary gift-wrapping.

Check The Rocking Horse postage charges here. The Rocking Horse welcome international orders.

Today’s post written by Angela

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Today I’d like you to meet a very hip new store,  Modern Little Munchkins - www.modernlittlemunchkins.com.au.

Modern Little Munchkins have burst onto the scene with a super range of designer fashion and accessories, and organic and eco-friendly products.

Stocking cool-as fashion labels Abe Jones Design (USA), Eco Peko organic, eight3one (with new organic onesies adding to their coolness) , Heavenly Creatures, Itch Design (Jodi’s marshmallow manga psychedelia grabs me every time, and looks oh so gabulous on kids),  Tkxi Surf, Willow & Finn, and Wonderboy, as well as Blabla toys (one of my favourite knited toys labels!) and Euro-chic Bella Tunno, you’re set for a stylish summer with MLM.

Modern Little Munchkins also carry a lovely range of organic, chemical free, and environmentally friendly baby products. Pick up skincare products from Little Innoscents and WOTNOT, cleaning and laundry products from B_E_E (hey, washing and cleaning are an integral part of looking after kids, so you want to do it fast, good, and chemical free!), and enviro and baby friendly Bambo Nature disposable nappies in all sizes.

Louisa at Modern Little Munchkins is giving us all a very generous 20% off everything in-store (including sale items - yay!) until 24 December, 2008. Enter code ‘KSF08′ at checkout to score.

Louisa is also taking 10% off one Modern Little Munchkins brandevery week until Christmas. This week it’s Heavenly Creatures. yes, you *can* use this discount code on top of this, so rush over before it’s too late!

Clockwise from top left in rows:

Discounted prices quoted are with 20% discount code until 24 December 2008. Prices return to normal after this date.

eight3one T-Rex Tee $32.95 $26.36
eight3one Organic Cotton Bird Onesie $34.95 $27.96
Itch Design Crocodile Rock Button Tee $34.95 $27.96
eight3one Koi Fish Tee $32.95 $26.36
Bella Tunno Wild Child Play Smock $44.95 $35.96
Little Innoscents Nappy Rash Cream $14.95 $11.96
Itch Design Summer Days Tee $34.95 $27.96
Itch Design Jellyfish Shorts $49.95 $39.96
Blabla Mini Buzz Knitted Toy $42.95 $34.96
WOTNOT Baby Wipes $7.95 $6.36
Heavenly Creatures Frilly Milly Tutu $49.95 $44.96 $36.96 Weekly special until 14/12/08 only
Wonderboy Santorini Woven Belt $21.95 $17.56
Willow and Finn Basic Tees with Voile Sleeve $39.95 $31.96 each
Wonderboy Midnight Denim Jean $64.95 $51.96
Wonderboy Sea Scroll Buttonup Shirt $54.95 $43.96
Willow and Finn Denim Linen Short $59.95 $47.96
Bambo Nature Nappies From $15.95 per pack minus 10%

Modern Little Munchkins charge on weight using the Australia Post postage calculator. Most orders ship for between $4-8. See the Customer Service page for full details.

Today’s post brought to you by Miki.

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It’s the time of year again when everyone who has to buy a Christmas gift for a small child - whether their own children or someone elses - starts scratching their heads and wondering what would be appropriate.

With this in mind, I’ve put together a gift guide for babies to preschoolers at one of my favourite online stores, The Hip Infant - www.thehipinfant.com.au, purveyors of the finest clothing, toys and accessories for babies and kids from birth to 2 years.

Without further ado, here are my hot picks for you!

For babies (up to 12 months of age), I recommend the Alimrose handsqueekers which come in all sorts of different designs and make the cutest noises when squeezed.  They’re also very sensitive so the tiniest baby fist can get a sound out of them.

THI also has an excellent range of wooden toys, rattles and pram strings which go down a treat - I love wooden toys, they’re classy and last forever.

If you want to give clothes, I personally love gifting The Hip Infant basics range, which is affordable, stylish and excellent quality.

On to the toddlers now. From here I’ve done gender-specific gift suggestions, but it goes without saying that they’ll work just as well for the opposite gender if you simply choose a different colour or design.

Toddler girls will love the range of soft toys, especially those from Alimrose and BlaBla which are incredibly sweet and whimsical. You could also give her a lamp for her room, as it’s possible by this stage that she’s spooked by the dark.  The soft glow of a night light can be very comforting, and these ones look great as well!

My favourite idea for toddler boys is to get a funky little bag such as a Tiger Tribe drawstring bag, and fill it with board books.

Toddlers are often very proud of being able to feed themselves, so a funky dinner set (I love French Bull robots and monsters) is another idea.

Preschoolers looooove water play (don’t we all!) so I think bath toys are a great way to go here. THI has a big range of Alex Toys and Bud Luxury Ducks so there’s plenty to choose from.

Most bath toys are fairly unisex, but if you want to go gender specific then girls will love the Alex Toys Princess In The Tub set while boys are likely to shun that in favour of the Alex Toys Shaving In The Tub set - he can shave just like Daddy!  Why not make up a lovely gift package by adding a funky Annabel Trends bath cap to the bundle?

More ideas for preschoolers are to make up a parcel including a Hip Stuff Wooden Hairbrush and a selection of JewelQueen hair clips for a little girl, and the For Walls chalkboard robot or truck for a boy - as they’re designed to be safely removed and repositioned on walls, you (or his parents) will love them!

To give you the added incentive (as if you need it!) to snap swome goodies up for Christmas, Mel at The Hip Infant is offering KidStyleFile readers 15% off store-wide… but only for 48 hours! So get moving NOW as the discount ends at 9am on the 4th of November.  Enter code ‘KSF1′ at checkout to redeem.

From top left in rows:

Dicounted prices quoted are after the 15% discount has been calculated. This offer is applicable until 9am November 4, 2008 only, so get your skates on!

Fiesta Crafts Jungle Bowling, $49.95 $42.45
Eyetribe Sunnies Squids Turquoise, $39.95 33.95
Alimrose Pram Tie - Bumblebee Navy/Red, $39.95 33.95
Hip Stuff Wooden Hairbrush - Pink Hearts, $5.50 $4.67
Tiger Tribe Drawstring Bag - Wheels, $17.95 $15.25
Alex Toys Shaving In The Tub, $19.95 $16.95
Elegant Baby Bath Duck - Aqua Stripes, $9.95 $8.45
Flip A Shape - Yum! $13.95 $11.85
Elegant Baby Bath Duck - Polka Dot Orange, $9.95 $8.45
Alex Toys Dirty Pigs, $14.95 $12.70
Alimrose Doll Rattle - Delores, $29.95 $25.45
What’s That Noise? by Sally Rippin, $10.95 $9.30
Jewel Queen Hair Clip - Pink Cherries, $4.95 $4.20
Jewel Queen Hair Clip - Red Spot Bow, $5.95 $5.05

The Hip Infant stocks a huge range of designers including AKA Pipik, Albetta, Alex Toys, Alimrose Designs, Anna & Sally, Annabel Trends, Anne Claire Petit, Baby Einstein, Baby Legs, Babylicious, Benny Boy, Bical, BlaBla, Blink Designs, BUD, Built NY, Bump Buddy, Cheeky Monkey, Christmas Ideas, Coco & Eli, Cuddlefish, David Fussenegger, DiddleDumpling, Dirty Laundry, Elodie Details, Eyetribe, Fiesta Crafts, Flensted Mobiles, Fleurville, For Walls, For Windows, French Bull, Gertie and Me, Go_Home JNR, Green To Grow, Haba, Heimess, Hip Stuff, ID Tee, Inch Blue, Infancy, Jazzy Toes, JellyCats, JewelQueen, Kathe Kruse, Keptin Jr, Kid Squidgy, Kiddopotamus, Kipiis, Lima Bean, Limo Basics, Little Chipipi, Little Einsteins, Little Joey, Little Twig, Liz Knits, Milestone Press, Mill & Mia, Mini Glow, Mitty James, Mon Ange, Moppit, Mum To Mum, My Child, Oeuf NYC, OUCH, Peanut Shell, Present Time, Pure Baby, Rockabye Baby, Rondeau Industries, Rush, Sigikid, Simple Gorgeous Storage, Skip HOP, Smirk Kids, Snugglebum, Snugzeez, Teeny Me, Tiger Tribe, Tippy Toes, Toys Pure, Trunki, Vessel, Wall Candy Arts, WalRUs, and Wee Gallery.

The Hip Infant charge $7.50 postage Australia-wide.  All orders are shipped via Courier or Express Post.

If you have children already, then today’s store needs no introduction; you know its goodness!

If you’re a pregnant mama, and new to the scene, then take note:  Baby’s Got Style - www.babysgotstyle.com.au is *the* place to shop online for the hottest fashion and accessories for babies and kids from birth up to 8 years, *and* they’ll have you looking stylish and feeling comfortable while you’re expecting too!

As well as stocking Aka Pipik, Albetta, Alimrose Designs, Annabel Trends, BabyLegs, Baby Cha Cha Baobab, Bebe, Bical, BIG by Fiona Scanlan, BlaBla, Bobble Art, Booghaboo Baby, Children of the Revolution, Moppit, Cheeky Little Soles, Cloud B, Cold Coffee, DripStik, Dan300, Dwell Studio Baby, Elleroo, FLATOut, Fortune Tee, Fresh Baked, Giddy Giddy, Global Style, Haba, Infancy, Little Horn, Little Red by Mr Wolf, Little Twig, Mamas & Papas, mill & mia, Mooo, Mother Hen, Munster, Oobi Baby, Ouch, Pure Baby, Snugglebum, Seafolly, Tiger Joe, Frankie Ray Sooki Baby, Square Peg, Tiny Tribe, Toshi, Totem Kids, Vice Versa, Vintage Kid, and Zoo Emporium, Baby’s Got Style has just taken delivery of some hot new brands.

First up, some body love for new mums and little babes from Wedela. Baby’s Got Style is carrying the renowned Calendula Baby range, as well as Baby Colic and Teething powder,  rash relief cream, breastfeeding tea, Blackhorn elixir (useful for fatigue), nipple care cream and Almond face products.

A German company founded in 1921 dedicated to supporting the inherent healing properties of the human body, their motto is “In harmony with nature and the human being”. Wedela’s focus is firmly on the gentlest most nurturing care of your skin, without compromising nature - sustainability is paramount - and supporting the primary producers they trade with - Weleda contracts until Fair Trade practices. Wedela products are comprised of bio-dynamic ingredients, are free from chemicals, and are never tested on animals. You and your baby or child deserve no less, and with prices between $12-$26, you can well afford it!

To celebrate the arrival of Weleda at Baby’s Got Style, Daniela and the team at BGS are giving every customer who places an order in October a FREE Calendula Nappy Change cream sample.

Also, would you like to go into the into the draw to WIN an amazing Weleda gift pack valued at over $300? To enter all you have to do is purchase any item from the Weleda range during October (if you purchase two items you get two entries, and so on)!

Onto the fashion at Baby’s Got Style now. And boy, there’s a lot to talk about there!! Over 100 new kids summer styles, and over 200 babies summer styles have arrived in store in the last 2 weeks. Woah, baby! It’s going to be a hot summer!

I’m hugely loving Polka, a new range for girls. I’ve paired their Yoga Bum pants (back view shown: how cool are they?!) with a summery light Fresh Baked top, for a visual splendor of cool comfort, and their ‘Birdy’ dress is to die for. This is Polka’s first collection, and they had a limited run to test the water, which means once it’s sold out, that’s it, so get in quick!

I’m inspired by boys summer pieces too: I’m totally digging the Freshbaked Disco Beats Tee, with Ouch black cargoes and Rock Your Baby Peace Cap.

Onto face fashion now: new at Baby’s Got Style are the the range of kid’s sunnies from Frankie Ray; 100% UV protection with shatter proof lens, super cool, and suitable for the 4-14 set, you’ll be wishing you had a pair!

In the decor section are the most delightful large counting cards from Eeeboo. Simply beautiful!

If you’re looking for a gorgeous gift for a newborn you cannot go past Dwell Studio’s mind blocks. Tactile, visually stimulating and clever these are relevant from birth up until 2+ years.

Finally, as we’re heading into the out-and-about season, you’ll want to be prepared. Pick up a Dinky Diner, and you’ll be able to safely contain your little charge wherever you go - no more contending with icky highchairs in restaurants, or missing out on one altogether. The Dinky Diner folds up and fits right in your handbag. Neat!

In the picks below I’ve specified the sizes each product is in available in. If you’re browsing in general, I recommend that you use Baby’s Got Style like this:  select the ‘Babies’ tab for sizes 00000-2, The ‘Kids’ tab for sizes 3-8 , and the ‘Mum’s tab for Mums and Mums-to-be.

Also, don’t forget to check out the Sale items in each category. There are over 300 items on sale up to 50% off. Go to it!

From top left in rows:

Polka Birdy Frou Dress (size 3-6) $99.00
Giddy Giddy Felt Hairclips - assorted designs $9.95 each
Polka Yoga Bum Pants (sizes 2-6 years) $55.00
Eeboo Counting Birds Large Art Cards $39.95
Fresh Baked Vanilla Flower Swing Top (sizes 0-7) $27.95 also available in Raspberry
Fresh Baked Disco Beats Tee in White (sizes 0-7) $26.95 also available in Grey
Frankie Ray Sunglasses  (4-14 years) $39.95 pair
Ouch Boys cargo pant- black (size 3-7) $36.95 $21.96
Seafolly Rose ballerina tutu tank (sizes 0-5) $59.95
Rock Your Baby Leopard print s/s bodysuit (sizes 000-00) $29.95
Blabla Handknit beanie- Panda (sizes 0-2 years) $39.95
Dwell Studio Mind block soft set $64.95
Giddy Giddy Ponytail Elastic - assorted designs $11.95 each
Rock Your Baby Peace cap khaki  (L= 4-5 years) $24.00
Dinky Diner (6 months +) $24.95

While you’re over at Baby’s Got Style check out their very cool blog. There’s heaps of interesting stuff to read about, including an interview with the designers of Munster, and their recent trip to New York with baby in tow(!!)

Baby’s Got Style charge $6.50 for postage, up to a maximum charge of $9.50 Australia wide, dependent on weight. Price is calculated during checkout. Orders placed before 1pm EST are delivered the next business day in all capital cities and most regional centres. Other areas are delivered the following day (very remote locations may take longer). International orders are warmly welcomed.

Today’s post brought to you by happily shoe-mad Miki.

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Once upon a time in a land far, far away there was a little boy aged 18 months old who always sat perfectly still in the shoe shops while his mother and the store assistant tried shoes on him.

In the real world, however, I doubt there’s a child under the age of two alive who sits still in a shop for longer than about 0.2 seconds, let alone for long enough anyone to even think of trying new shoes on him or her!

Luckily we now have Tiny Steps - www.tinysteps.com.au to make our lives a whole lot easier!

Instead of wrestling your toddler into a shop and then tearing your hair out, you can order great baby and toddler shoes in the comfort of your own home and then try them on your kids at the right moment.  They offer a convenient and secure shopping environment with the option of credit card payment or direct deposit. Easy peasy!

Stockists of the best shoes for newborn to two year olds, Fiona at Tiny Steps (a shoe fanatic herself) stocks the most cost-effective, adorable and ergonomically sound shoes in Australia.

Brands stocked include Pediped, Pedoodles, shooshoos, Sweet Shoes, diddledumpling, Bibi, Annabel Tends, 2feettall, Blabla and Kinder Clobber, so you can see why Tiny Steps is so popular!

We talk about it all the time, so I’m sure you’ll know how essential it is that babies and toddlers have well-fitting, quality shoes to support their tiny, growing feet, especially when it comes to taking those all-important first steps. It’s well established that barefoot is best for development but so often it just isn’t practical to have the little ones running around with bare feet.  Do them and their feet a favour and put them in a good quality shoe which will aid rather than hamper correct foot development.

The quality brands that Tiny Steps stocks all designed to be a well made and attractive protecting layer around those precious little feet, rather than encasing them in unkindly hard soles and synthetic uppers.

The other great thing about Tiny Steps is that every single one of the shoes stocked isn’t just ergonomic - oh no, they’re absolutely gorgeous as well!

You just can’t go wrong at Tiny Steps as Fiona is dedicated to only stocking brands which will do all the right things for your kids feet.  The Tiny Steps website makes buying shoes a breeze as every shoe stocked has an easy-to-read sizing chart, so you know the shoes will fit well.

One of the newest brands at Tiny Steps is Sweet Shoes. Exclusive to Tiny Steps in Australia, Sweet Shoes are really making it big in the USA, especially since Angelina Jolie put little Shiloh in a pair of the black skull slip-ons ($33.95, less 10% = $30.55 until October 31).  Sweet Shoes was started by a mother of three using skate and surf culture as her inspiration, and the results are pure urban cool with an edge.

Until the October 31, Fiona is giving all KidStyleFile readers 10% discount storewide (most of the shoes are on sale, too, which means you are saving big time!) Enter the code ‘KSFtake10′ at checkout to redeem.

Orders of over $150.00 receive FREE postage, and you can also take advantage of the beautiful FREE gift wrapping on offer.

More hot picks of cool shoes below!

From top left in rows. Prices shown include the 10% KSF discount.

2feettall Jag Pink, $44.95  $35.95 $32.35
Annabel Trends ‘Dot’ socks, $19.95  $15.95 $14.35
Blabla Giraffe Mobile, $59.95  $35.95  $32.35
2feettall Doddles Navy, $44.95  $34.95 $31.45
Pediped Jake - Light Brown, $42.95  $38.65
Sweet Shoes Silver Sweet Janes, $37.95  $34.15
shooshoos Red With White Stripe, $29.95  $22.46  $20.21
Blabla Ladybug and Frog backpacks, $54.95  $32.95  $29.65
Pedoodles Sweet Lady Janes, $48.95  $34.27  $30.84
Sweet Shoes Navy Wave, $37.95  $34.15
diddledumpling Chirpy, $39.95  $35.95 (after all, we do love red birdies here at KSF!)

Tiny Steps post within Australia for a flat rate of $7.50 for Express Post, or $8.50 for Registered Post. International orders are welcomed. Contact Fiona for a postage quote.

Today, Miki reports on some fabulous footwear finds. It’s wonderful to know that funky and fashionable can meet, with baby and kids shoe designers producing shoes that not only look superb, but support healthy foot development. With kid’s feet constantly growing, you get the chance to have a bit of fun with choosing designs, and to make it even more fun, you can snap up some bargains here. Enjoy the weekend!

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It’s well known these days how important it is to buy quality footwear for children.  The better brands of children’s shoe are designed to ensure that the little feet they protect grow and develop properly, so it’s a vital investment to make on behalf of your kids.

Luckily for us, there’s a great range online, and they aren’t just ergonomically designed, they’re extremely cute to boot! (Te he :P)

Here are some of our favourites:

Run by unashamed shoe fanatic Fiona, Tiny Steps - www.tinysteps.com.au is shoe heaven for toddlers! With a fabulous range of shoes for newborns through to two years, and it’s good to know that she only stocks shoes which encourage proper foot development in babies and toddlers.

Stocking brands such as Pediped, Pedoodles, diddledumpling, ShooShoos and Kinder Klobber to name but a few, you can’t help but find something perfect for your little one here.

Personally I’m eyeing off the Pediped shoes for my little guy - the hard part is choosing which ones!

From top left in rows: 

Pedoodles Flower Power $48.95
diddledumpling Snail Bootie $39.95
Pediped Tyler Navy $42.95
BlaBla Ladybug Booties $27.95

If you, like so many others - including our Ange -, are a big fan of fabulous US shoe brand Morgan & Milo then head straight to Charlipop Kids - www.charlipopkids.com.au.

Great for active kids, these are not only hard wearing but gorgeous to look at too!  Fresh, fun and sporty designs which are perfect for everyday use while still being a bit special.

The Morgan & Milo emphasis is on the fit, comfort and practical detailing, so these shoes are a winner anyway you look at it.

Don’t forget that you can get 10% off at Charlipop Kids Designer (yes, including Morgan & Milo) until 30 September!  Enter ‘KSF’ at checkout.

From top left in rows:

Morgan & Milo Avril Mary Jane Red Madras Patchwork Plaid $29.00  $26.10
Morgan & Milo Matilda Capri Blue Flower Print $29.00 $26.10
Morgan & Milo Gumboots Lou Lou Spots $45.00  $40.50
Morgan & Milo Libby Skimmer Olive Pinky $29.00  $26.10

Oh, how I love the collection of shoes at Buckets & Spades - www.bucketsandspades.com.au!  A great range of brands are there, including the delightfully frivolous (but somehow still practical) Lelli Kelly maryjanes and boots, Diesel sneakers, Fred Bare sandals, Agatha Ruiz De La Prada, Bimbi and the gorgeous Garvalin. My personal favourite, though, is Tip Toey Joey - adorable!!

Make sure you have a look at the extremely well-stocked Shoe Specials section at Buckets & Spades too!  That’s a great way to get premium quality shoes for the kids at big discounts.  And if there’s something in the full priced section that you adore, use the Shop 4 Kids discount code to take 10% off the price.  Just a tip.

No links provided here as Buckets & Spades is a frames-based site.  Use the search function to find anything you want, or just select the ‘Shoes’ link on the homepage.
From top left in rows:

Discounts below show the 10% Shop4Kids discount off full-priced items.

Tip Toey Joey Wavey 030 K - Olive/Charcoal $49.50 $44.55
Agatha Ruiz De La Prada Shoes Abadia $139.00  $125.10
Lelli Kelly Papavero Mid $99.00  $89.10
Diesel Parawil $125.00 - $140.00 $112.50 - $125.00 depending on size.

If Fair Trade is important to you (and it is to me) then Skeanie - www.skeanie.com should be your first choice for pre-walker and toddler shoes.

Made from soft, high quality leather uppers and designed to be non-slip for both walkers and crawlers, these little shoes are just adorable.  I also love the toddler boots and shoes - perfect for a little person who is determined to be a big person and wants the boots to prove it!

The baby shoes make ideal baby shower/new baby gifts, so take advantage of the Skeanie FREE giftwrapping service!

From top left in rows: 

Red Boots $39.95
Black Leather Toddler Boots $49.95  $39.95
Pink Sandals $29.95
Green Sneakers $29.95

La-La Baby - www.lalababy.com.au - make the most adorable slippers, which are super soft cotton and wool felt, guaranteed to keep baby’s toes snuggly and warm.  These are the perfect baby shower present and they’re so affordable that you don’t have to stop at one pair!

La La Baby also stock Chookleaf shoes designed for kids aged 9 months up, with lovely soft leather and bright, fun designs (for pics, see below).

Ten Sticky Fingers - www.tenstickyfingers.com.au - stock the most exquisite little booties made by mother & daughter team Red Thread Designs.  These booties are handmade using only the finest materials and the cutest little buttons, and no two booties are alike.  These booties are also heavily discounted at the moment to make way for new stock coming. Couture booties on the cheap: I love it!

From top left in rows: 

La La Baby Apple Soft Baby Slippers $18.95
Red Thread Designs ‘Little Pink Duck’ Booties $19.50  $11.90
Red Thread Designs Citrus Tart Slippers $19.50  $11.90
Chookleaf Tan Loafers at La-La Baby $54.95  $47.95

Please check individual sites for postage details.

Today I want to introduce you to a beautiful new store that has just opened its virtual doors. Serving clientele through their early years - primarily 0-2 years - and their stylish mamas, Just Ripe - www.justripe.com.au -  brings you a splendid range of clothing, toys, feeding equipment, and accessories from the best brands.

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.

This list is expanding every week at the moment, so keep your eyes peeled for more to come!

There is so much that’s fab at Just Ripe, that it’s hard to pick the highlights, but two things you simply *must* know about are the lush Storksak bags (the bag of choice for Angelina and Brad, amongst other glitterati) and the, Imse Vimse swimwear, which will be a boon for parents of babes due at the end of the year; swim nappies start in newborn sizes, and tankini tops at 3-6 months.

Also of note at Just Ripe is the personalised service that Just Ripe’s owner, Dimity, offers. This goes beyond what you might normally expect, and reaches into personal shopping territory, the range of services are so detailed.

Just some of the areas that Dimity and her team can help you with include:

• Personally walking you through the store
• Taking you straight to the items most suitable for your request
• Advising you on the latest trends and unique items for something cool and different
• Making tailored gift packs to meet any budget or theme
• Gift wrapping presents and even writing on a card and sending it on your behalf if required
• Creating beautiful sets to make your little one look gorgeous
• Suggesting new additions to work with your existing wardrobe
• Corporate gifts
• Gift registries

To kick off your love affair with Just Ripe, Dimity is offering KidStyleFile readers a $10.00 gift voucher when you spend over $50.00.  Enter ‘KSF’ in the coupon code section at checkout to redeem. Offer ends on Sunday September 21, and your gift voucher is valid for 3 months from date of issue.

Clockwise from top left:

Fiesta Crafts -The Family Popovs $54.95 A contemporary and quirky take on the traditional Russian Doll set.
BlaBla Mini Doll - ‘Buzz’ $42.95 ‘Buzz’ is my fave of all the BlaBla dolls. Suitable for girls and boys in equal measure, what a great baby shower gift (and life-long buddy!) Buzz would make.
Infantino Safari Roller $19.95 Babies just love interactivity and the cause and effect relationship. This toy is guaranteed to provide hours of stimulation and giggles.
BlaBla Finger Puppets $8.95 each Available in 20 different characters these are great for collecting, and affordable enough to pop in as an extra little pressie for bigger siblings to amuse themselves, and the new baby, with.
EcoBaby Organic Dummy $9.95 No nasty hormone disrupting chemicals here. Peace of mind for parents in more ways than one!
Albetta Vintage Car Top and Pant Set $42.00 Total coolness for little boys! Also available in Cupcake design for little lasses.
Infantino 2 in 1 Activity Mirror $39.95 A great double-duty toy, I love the way this attaches to the cot, and can also be easily configured for tummy-time use. Hours of enjoyment to be found here.
Fiesta Crafts -Tooting Teddies Train $69.95 Deservedly award-winning, Tooting Teddies is an utter delight. You cannot go past this quality toy.
Boon Snack Ball $15.95 Modern design that merges form and function beautifully. Highly affordable too! Collect the set for the ultimate in aesthetic appeal, and everyday practical application.
Boon Fluid No-spill Toddler Cup $15.95
Imse Vimse Swim Nappy $23.50 Fits even the tiny newborn aqua-baby to perfection.
Imse Vimse Tankini Top $26.00 Fits from size 3-6 months and up.
Kumquat Pink Dotty Owl Lap Onesie $23.00 A sweetly uplifting design of wise owls graces this perfectly pink suit. Available in blue traffic design for boys.

And, last, but certainly not least, Just Ripe is stocking the esteemed Storksak bags. A triumph of design, these bags do not outwardly belie their nappy bag status in any way, but, open them up and - ta-da! - they afford every efficiency you could hope for. Head on over to Just Ripe to find out more.

Storksak ‘Jamie’ in black $299.95
Storksak ‘Elizabeth’ in cream $379.95

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.

Looking to feel bright and breezy today? Go no further than the delightful Happy Little Hippos - www.happylittlehippos.com.au - run by super stylish Mums, Ania and Hesn.

Every time I hit their site, with its blue skies, fluffy white clouds and vivid herd of happy hippopotamuses I go all warm and fuzzy.

The beauty of Happy Little Hippos is much more than skin deep though. It is lovely and easy to use, the $5.95 postage Australia wide is knockout price, and their thoughtfully selected and high quality range of products are just divine.

Indulge in a fine range of toys, art and craft activities, books, nursery and decor products, and accessories, from 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, Plan Toys, Cuski, Little Blue Fish, Envirosax, Crocodile Creek, and more.

Mums aren’t forgotten either: treat yourself to Miss Uchi purses, Willow and Finch heat packs and T2 Teas.

Happy Little Hippos are having a great winter stocktake sale: - they have reduced the price of more items just today - save up to 40%! Woo hoo!

And because the girls at Happy Little Hippos want to give you yet another reason to smile and be happy, they’re giving everyone who spends over $100.00 an Alimrose Red Striped Monkey Rattle, valued at $24.95. Offer ends 31 August, 2008.

This is a seriously good offer, as I’m sure you know! I often buy these monkeys for friends children as they are such friendly little fellows. Also, their stripes are just the thing to stimulate developing minds, their long lanky limbs are made for clutching, the rattle is a nice sensory feature, and they are a decent size (29cm long), which makes them the perfect gift.

Want the monkey? I hear you! Here are some picks to inspire

Clockwise from top left:

My Fancy Girls Doll’s House (accessories included) - $199.95 now $179.95
Blabla Pumpkin blanket - $89.95 now $79.95
Tolo Toys Stacking cups $17.95 These will last your child/ren years: mine play with theirs in the bath now.
Alimrose Funky Marnie Rattle - $22.95 now $19.95
Plan Toys Wooden Deluxe Road System (accessories included) - $131.95 now $99.95 Super bargain - snap it up!
Isak Counting Poster (framed) from Kindergallery - $160.00 now $149.95 A beautiful decor piece that will stand the test of time.
Baufix Build a Buggy - $29.95 now $24.95
Navy red star ottoman $49.95 So stylish, and so practical: use it to put your feet up when the little ones are in bed!
Brown white star beanbag $99.95
Alimrose Funky Freddie Squeaker - $14.95 now $12.95 I’ve said it before, and I think it bears repeating: these are *the best* handsqueakers in the world! Pure giggles, and so easy for tiny hands to use.
Little Blue Fish Balance Bike in pink - $179.95 now $149.95 Huge in Europe, these bikes foster great balance and negate the use for training wheels once your child moves to a pedal bike. I have my eagle eye on these, so you’d better get in quick!

Happy Little Hippos charge $5.95 flat rate postage, Australia-wide. Conditions apply – see website for details.

Today’s post written by Miki
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You know what I love best about winter?

It’s not the hot chocolates with marshmallows melting gooily in them. It’s not the chill in the air that puts colour into my cheeks, it’s not the open fires, it’s not even the winter fashions, although I do love all of those things too.

Nope, what I love best about winter is that it always means the End of Financial Year sales begin! And do I have a doozy for you today

he lovely Mel at The Hip Infant - www.thehipinfant.com.au - has just announced their End of Financial Year sale and it’s oh-so-fab:

Up to 70% off selected items, and as an extra special bonus for KidStyleFile readers there’s an extra 5% off store-wide! Do the maths with me - that’s up to 75% off! Also, you have the jump on the sale, as it doesn’t officially start until Monday 16 June!

Enter ‘KSF‘ at checkout to receive an extra 5% off your order. Discount code is valid until 30 June. All other discount codes are suspended during the sale period. (Head straight to the sale section to start shopping.

The Hip Infant stocks over 85 high end brands including AKA Pipik, Albetta, Alex Toys, Alimrose Designs, Anna & Sally, Annabel Trends, Anne Claire Petit, Baby Einstein, Baby Legs, Babylicious, Benny Boy, Bical, BlaBla, Blink Designs, BUD, Built NY, Bump Buddy, Cheeky Monkey, Christmas Ideas, Coco & Eli, Cuddlefish, David Fussenegger, DiddleDumpling, Dirty Laundry, Elodie Details, Eyetribe, Fiesta Crafts, Flensted Mobiles, Fleurville, For Walls, For Windows, French Bull, Gertie and Me, Go_Home JNR, Green To Grow, Haba, Heimess, Hip Stuff, ID Tee, Inch Blue, Infancy, Jazzy Toes, JellyCats, JewelQueen, Kathe Kruse, Keptin Jr, Kid Squidgy, Kiddopotamus, Kipiis, Lima Bean, Limo Basics, Little Chipipi, Little Einsteins, Little Joey, Little Twig, Liz Knits, Milestone Press, Mill & Mia, Mini Glow, Mitty James, Mon Ange, Moppit, Mum To Mum, My Child, Oeuf NYC, OUCH, Peanut Shell, Present Time, Pure Baby, Rockabye Baby, Rondeau Industries, Rush, Sigikid, Simple Gorgeous Storage, Skip HOP, Smirk Kids, Snugglebum, Snugzeez, Teeny Me, The Hip Infant Basics, The Hip Infant Sneakies, Tiger Tribe, Tippy Toes, Toys Pure, Trunki, Vessel, Wall Candy Arts, WalRUs, and Wee Gallery - phew!

In fact, if it’s stylish and to do with kids then I can’t think of much that The Hip Infant doesn’t stock!

The Hip Infant has everything from baby slings (check out the fab discounts on Aka Pipik and Peanut Shells) to nursery bedding (discounted David Fusseneger, anyone? Ooh, pick me!!), toys to clothes to decor and wall art, ad infinitum.

Also, check out The Hip Infant’s very own product range, including babygrows: The Hip Infant Basics (so popular, the first shipment has already sold out! Keep your eyes peeled though, more landing soon!), and pre-walker shoes: The Hip Infant Sneakies.

Also, I can’t let the moment pass without mentioning the huge discounts on nappy bags (I’m a wee bit notorious for my nappy bag addiction by now, and The Hip Infant is doing nothing to help me get over it I have to say!).

Anna & Sally Chic nappy bags are down to $89.95 from $129.95 and Fleurville Baby Bags - oh how I love Fleurville! - are reduced by $50.00, bringing them down to $148.00! Those are incredibly good prices.

I just have to show you some of my favourite sale items; check ‘em out. Don’t dilly dally too long though, at these prices stock will be gone in a flash! Head straight to the sale section to start shopping.

Anna & Sally Chic nappy bag, $129.95 $89.95
Fleurville baby bag, $198.00 $148.00
Skip Hop lunch bag, $59.95 $39.95
Bical Shoes Socks, $22.95 $15.95
Benny Boy long sleeve tees (various designs), $44.00 $29.95
Built NY bibs, $19.95 $10.95 and look out for the nifty Built NY bottle holders also at $19.95 $10.95
Mill & Mia Boatneck dress red stripe, $69.95 $39.95
Ouch babygrow denim chambray, $24.95 $15.95
Infancy spotty babygrow, $38.50 $29.50 (this one just makes me way too clucky, it’s dangerous!)
Kipiis bib clips, $16.95 $10.95 These are brilliant, I use them to hang a cloth nappy over my boy for really messy meals, but he also loves his Kipiis as a toy! Best thing ever to keep in your nappy bag, covers all eventualities.
Blabla Mini Rosalie, $42.95 $32.95

The Hip Infant charge $7.50 postage flat Australia wide for Express Post/courier delivery. Orders are dispatched within 24 hours of receipt. The Hip Infant also ships internationally. Please visit the Delivery Info page for full information on shipping.

Today I’d like to introduce to you to new KidStyleFile weekend contributor, Miki. Miki is mum to 9 month old Alex, and brings her stunning written style and a new perspective on boys gear to KSF. Today’s piece is Part 1 of Miki’s great expose of superb boys gear for less. Stay tuned for Part 2, coming next Saturday.
(PS Part 2 is now available here)

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Do you have a boy under the age of two? Do you struggle to find fun, funky and practical clothes him… without bankrupting yourself? Me too. The good news is that since I discovered KSF I’ve been enjoying multitudes of online stores which not only stock a great range of cool gear for baby and toddler boys, but also have fantastic sales and specials.

Here are a few of my favourites:

Quinn Macool

It’s very difficult to go past Quinn Macool www.quinnmacool.com.au when you’re talking about fresh and fun clothes for little boys, and even more so now that they’ve brought in their new winter value packs starting from $50.00 for jumper and pants. There are loads of options and great savings. In fact, the savings are even better this weekend, as Quinn Macool are having a massive pre-winter sale with 30% off winter jumpers, infant pants and singlets!

Check out these great designs:

‘Beam Me Up, Scotty’ Jumper, $24.46 (was $34.95); Bravo Oscar Yankee sweatshirt, from $26.95; ‘Save Us’ sweatshirt, from $26.95 (most designs available in long sleeve and short sleeve t-shirts, and long sleeve and short sleeve rompers). Enter may in redeem code on checkout for your 30% discount on winter jumpers, singlets and infant pants.

Frock You

Ok, I’ll admit it - I’m a Frock You www.frockyou.com.au addict!

My nine-month-old boy pretty much lives in their American Apparel Baby Rib Karate Pants (apparently so do loads of other little boys, given how quickly they sell out!), and the Smirk t-shirts are also a big favourite with their simple, eyecatching designs and bright colours.

Frock You have some great boys’ gear from Baobab (have you seen the dragon bodysuit?) and also from Moppit, who do some of my favourite little boys’ tees.

Pics: Baobab Dragon Bodysuit, $34.95; Smirk ‘Astronaut t-shirt, $34.95; Moppit ‘Sticks, Trucks & Rock n Roll’ t-shirt, $39.95

The Rocking Horse

I have found my all-time favourite beanie here at The Rocking Horse www.therockinghorse.com.au: the Blabla Pocket Beanie in Basil. There is also a great range of the Oobi knits, including the classic ‘Little Bear’ hoodie - little boys in hoods with bear ears are just impossibly cute, but be warned: all the grannies at the supermarket will want to stop you to admire him!

However, I think my absolute favourite products at The Rocking Horse would have to be the Well Spotted tees, as recently featured in (I hope you’re sitting comfortably) Shop 4 Kids, Timeout Sydney, Sydney Morning Herald ‘Fashion Police’, The Age, New Weekly, Sunday Life and Marie Claire. Phew! Great slogan t-shirts, sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face. I’m finding it very difficult to choose between ‘I’ll have my people call your people’, ‘Far out brussel sprout’ and ‘I’m small but I know stuff’, and there are loads more besides!

Pics: Oobi ‘Little Bear’ hoodie with bear ears, $39.95; Blabla Pocket Hat in Basil, $39.95; Well Spotted ‘I’m small but I know stuff’ t-shirt, $29.95.

Chic Kids

If you, like me, worry about harsh chemicals on your precious new baby boy’s skin, then have a look at these Sckoon organics at Chic Kids www.chickids.com.au.

They are made from 100% organic Egyptian cotton, so perfect for the delicate skin of a baby. Check out the bodysuits - being in the kimono style they are wonderful for a newborn as it means not pulling anything over his little head (a guaranteed cause for screams, and not just from the baby!)

There are also some great top & pants designs, of which my personal favourite is ‘ZEN cloud’. And don’t forget to register with Chic Kids to get 10% off! Details are here.

Pics: Sckoon Organic ZEN Cloud Long Sleeved Shirt And Monkey Pants, $42.25 (was $46.95); Sckoon Organic Kimono in blue, $19.75 (was $21.95). Prices include 10% discount.

Pastel Pink

It must be said that a store called ‘Pastel Pink’ www.pastelpink.com.au is not the first place I’d have thought to look for boys’ gear. I’m so glad I did though; they’ve actually got some great stuff!

Have a look at the Bebe Marcel range, particularly the romper which is one of the nicest I’ve seen anywhere. And how cute is the David Fussenegger ‘Pirates’ bassinet blanket! There’s plenty more besides these two offerings, so it’s worth having a look for yourself. And remember that KSF readers get 10% off at Pastel Pink! Click here for details.

Pics: Bebe Marcel Romper, $35.95 (was $39.95); David Fussenegger ‘Pirates’ bassinet blanket, $44.95 (was $49.95). Prices include KSF 10% discount.

Kids Gift List

Last but certainly not least, one of my all-time favourite brands is Sooki Baby.

Kids Gift List www.kidsgiftlist.com.au has some Sooki Baby for boys on sale at the moment, so hurry on over and check it out before it all goes! I like this quirky little ‘Cruisin’ romper! (Spot the fluffy dice in the print on the front?)

There are some other great bodysuits and tees in the sale section too - I really love the environmental ones su