KidStyleFile

That old adage “Time flies when you’re having fun” really resonates with me now I have children. The days certainly do fly past!

To help you preserve your precious memories comes Milestone Press’ - www.milestonepress.com.au - fabulous modern take on the baby book, A Book About Me: for memories of pregnancy and birth to age five ($44.95).

Half the battle for me is getting organised. A Book About Me takes the guesswork out of the process, providing clear direction while still being flexible to individual needs.

The book is A4 in size and is robust hardback. The unique design features screws allowing you to easily remove the pages that don’t suit your family, or add additional pages where you need them - no more blank space or empty pages. A zip-lock plastic pocket is included in the back to store items that are too special to glue.

Just a few of the special features of A Book About Me are extra pages to include as many families as possible (simply remove those you don’t need), free pages are available from the Milestone Press website to personalise the book for same sex families or for ‘mom’ instead of ‘mum’, it focuses on the father’s experience as well as the mother’s and it’s very tasteful.

A Book About Me is a winning combination which lets the uniqueness and richness of your family life shine.

If you have moved beyond the early years, and have been looking for a way to keep prized school mementos together, or a simple journal to record childhood experiences and dreams, then My School Days: a Record Book ($34.95) is for you.

It is designed for the Australian school systems from the first year of school (prep, kindergarten or reception) to Year 12, provides an easy way to record and remember the tastes and thoughts of the time (favourite subjects, TV Shows and friends), and the pages form pockets for each year level to store artwork, stories, photos and report cards.

What a good idea!

Keep your eye out also for Milestone Press’ Master Plan Diary, a revolutionary long range diary and planner, available at the end of July.

To celebrate the launch of their online store, Fiona and Annabel at Milestone Press are generously offering KidStyleFile readers free postage until the end of July 2008.

Enter KSF07 at the coupon code section at checkout to redeem this offer.

Today Miki brings you some more wonderful books to read with your kids.

I must say that ‘Goodnight Gorilla’ is one of my kids all-time faves: they are almost four now and still love it! A wordless masterpiece, exercise your imagination and have fun making up your own stories to accompany the illustrations

This month KidStyleFile’s chosen charity is Jeans for Genes, the major fundraiser of the Children’s Medical Research Institute. The CMRI work towards prevention and better treatments for the one in twenty Australian children that are born with some form of genetic fault or disorder.

Purchase from Fishpond - www.fishpond.com.au by clicking through the links on KidStyleFile, and 10% of your purchases until July 31 will be donated to Jeans for Genes. Remember also that Fishpond also rewards all orders over $50.00 with FREE postage.

Alternately (or additionally!) follow our lead and make a direct donation to Jeans for Jeans here.

Also, keep your eyes peeled for fundraising merchandise and join the Jeans for Genes Day ‘Mass Denimstration’ on August 1.

Read more KidStyleFile Book Reviews here.

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This week I’ve decided to do a book for each year of your child’s life from birth to five. Keep in mind that these age divides are just a very rough guide and kids on either side of my recommended age are just as likely to enjoy them!

Books are such a great way for kids to grow and learn, and they provide really special ‘awwwww’ parent and child moments. Who can resist snuggling up with their clean, pyjama’d, sleepy little one for a bedtime story?

I’ve provided links to all the books at Fishpond - www.fishpond.com.au, so introducing them to your library is easy peasy - especially at these discounts! And don’t forget that 10% of your total order, providing you include at least one of the books below, is donated to Jeans for Genes.

The first year:

Good Night, Gorilla (or Good Night, Gorilla Oversized Board Book, great for little fingers)

The real beauty of this book is that the text is very minimal, which lets those entertaining, detailed and vibrant pictures tell the story. It also means that parents aren’t limited to the words on the page when reading the book, they can talk it through in their own words to the baby. Follow the mischievous little gorilla who nicks off with the zookeeper’s keys at bedtime and the high jinx that ensue.

Two year olds:

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, from $20.99 $14.32

An alphabet book, and such a cool one! Kids will adore the vibrant illustrations and the rhythm and rhyme. There’s a real Caribbean feel which adds to the swing. This one really is perfect for two year olds, they’ll be chanting along with you by the second reading. You can’t do better for encouraging them to recognise letters either. It’s a favourite in every house I’ve seen it in, so you cannot go wrong here.

Three year olds:

The Family Book by Todd Parr, from $14.99 $13.46

Three year olds are very curious little critters, and chances are they’re starting to take some sort of notice of their friends’ family make-ups. Why does Milly live with her mummy but not her daddy? Why does Thomas have two mummies? ‘The Family Book’ is a great one to read, not only for the bright, simple illustrations but also for the central message: that families come in all shapes and sizes but all rely on each other for love and support. It’s a great one for the ‘warm and fuzzies’ and can be the kick-off point for some lovely parent/pre-schooler discussions.

Four year olds:

The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett, $41.99 $22.37

A fascinating ‘re-make’ of the classic Goldilocks tale, and will be best appreciated by kids who already know that story, this is the three bears set in Alaska. Goldilocks in this case is a little Inuit girl named Aloo-ki and the bears are polar bears. Four year olds will love combing through the book and discussing the differences between this and the classic Goldilocks tale. You might even like to have a copy of both on hand, so here’s a link to just one of the many available at Fishpond.

Five year olds:

10 Little Rubber Ducks by Eric Carle, from $48.99 $24.50

Eric Carle - yes, the same Eric Carle who brough us ‘The Hungry Little Caterpillar’ - based this gorgeous little story on a real life event: an incident in 1992 when a shipping container with tens of thousands of rubber bath toys (not just duckies but also beavers, frogs and turtles) was lost overboard at sea. This book is Carle’s imaginings of where ten of those little rubber ducks might have ended up and who they might have met.

Fishpond ships order over AUD$50.00 FREE.

Have you heard about the benefits of baby-wearing? A more settled, healthy baby that sleeps better and so a happier, more well-rested mama are just the start of the benefits.

The Peanut Shell sling is billed as the ultimate functional, funky, fun baby carrier, and it’s easy to see why: it is suitable from birth up to 16kgs, it’s compact, there are no straps, clips, belts or adjustments necessary, making the Peanut Shell fuss-free and easy to use.

The Peanut Shell pouch can be used in a variety of positions including:

- cradle (suitable for newborn breastfeeding)
- tummy-to-tummy
- kangaroo carry (upright facing out)
- hip carry
- back carry

The Peanut Shell is beautifully made in a variety of fabrics to suit different climates - from microfleece to stretch cotton - and the colours and prints are just gorgeous!

To celebrate winter baby-wearing, Babes in Arms - www.babesinarms.com.au - is offering 20% off microfleece Peanut Shells. (No code is needed; prices are already reduced on the site. Offer ends July 31).

Babes in Arms also offer FREE postage within Australia on all baby carriers and accessories on their site.

You can choose from single layer or reversible varieties of Peanut Shell. What’s the difference?

Single layer microfleece is a fabulously luscious lightweight version of fleece that mimics the feel of Cashmere (without the fussiness of care or handling), and is super soft on your baby’s sensitive skin. It feels warmer to the touch than a cotton, but is a breathable fabric and so is suitable for year-round use.

The reversible microfleece sling features one layer of fabric printed a different color on each side for fashion conscious mamas.

Both are just perfect to banish the winter chills.

Lovestruck (choc/pink) Reversible Microfleece Peanut Shell- $89.00 SALE NOW $71.20
Squirt (green) Single Layer Microfleece Peanut Shell - $75.00 SALE NOW $60.00 - That’s Brooke Shields pictured above with her ‘Squirt’ Peanut Shell: you’ll be in good company with this one!

Also, while you’re over at Babes in Arms, check out the reversible cotton varieties. I just love these prints!

Red Yoko 100% cotton Reversible Peanut Shell- $98.00
Retro Blues/Chocolate 100% cotton Reversible Peanut Shell- $98.00

If you’re a fan of the Peanut Shell and you’re looking for a great gift for your own or friend’s children then you should know that Peanut Shell also make a miniature Peanut Shell ($32.00) so the littlies can sling their own doll or ted just like mum or dad. These are unbelievably cool and they also minimise the risk of ted being left behind at the supermarket!

Beside the Peanut Shell, Babes in Arms also sells, ERGO baby carriers, Hug-a-Bub Slings, and Maya Wrap Baby Slings, so there’s something for everyone, and for every baby-wearing need.

Lastly, Babes in Arms also have a great competition running until August 31. No purchase is necessary, so head on over to enter, and go in the draw to win a Microfleece reversible Peanut Shell & a pair of rainbow BabyLegs - yay!

Contact bella mama Anita at Babes in Arms for information on sizing the Peanut Shell and/or to discuss your baby-wearing requirements.

Gee I love ShopHouse - www.shophouse.com.au. Bronwyn always has super deals, and this month is no exception.

Check out these hot offers:

1. All orders placed in June get FREE Express Post - whoo!! Cool!

2. Buy any two products from the Bod or Eco.Kid range and you’ll receive a free Eco.Kid ‘Call Me Bubbles’ Bubble Bath 250ml, valued at $19.95* Enter ‘KidStyleFile‘ in the comments field at checkout so Bronwyn knows to send your bubbles. Check my previous post for Eco.Kid and Bod product details.

3. HugeWinter clothing sale: 25% off. Very nice! Prices are already marked down on the site for your convenience.

Also, if you are interested in a discount on products other than clothing you do have options: to get 15%* off store-wide at ShopHouse, pick up a copy of My Child or Australian Parents magazine and access the special discount code. Not near a newsagent? Leave a comment on this post, or email me, and I’ll send you the code. (*Please note that you cannot use this code in conjunction with the 25% off winter clothing discount, and you can choose the bubbles OR % discount; they can’t be used together, so no being cheeky now (and the same goes for me )

ShopHouse stock Alimrose Designs, Annabel Trends, Baobab, Bod, Cocoon Couture, Eco.Kid, IDTee, Kee-Ka, Krooom, Little Chipipi, Lil’ Lana, Little Kitchen, mill & mia, Mon Tresor, Moltex Nappies, Mondays Child Pyjamas, Oobi Baby, Organic Bubs, Penny Scallan, and The Little Experience.

ShopHouse have also recently welcomed Alimrose (their handsqueakers are the best on the planet: they make me giggle every time, and are easily activated by even the littlest babe. I also just adore their new vintage ‘learn to sew’ kit. Prices start at $15.95) Look at the Wall (gorgeous 30cmx30cm handmade-in-Melbourne paper collage on timber art works for kids. Priced at $120.00) PouchMISS (turn all your bags into well organised state of the art baby bags just $36.95), and Rileah Design (sweet kid-friendly decor items, hair accessories and jewelery. Prices start at $6.95)

While you’re over at ShopHouse, don’t forget to take a look at the Sale section to score some goodies going cheap. Bronwyn has a great blog too: check it out!

ShopHouse postage charges are calculated at checkout. For the month of June 2008, all orders are Express Post delivered FREE of charge. International orders are very welcome. Check the ShopHouse Shipping and Freight info for full details.

When shopping today, consider this: the pristine beaches, sweeping views, salty fresh air, and gorgeous blue skies of Bremer Bay, Western Australia.

This is the home of 5 Little Monkeys - www.5littlemonkeys.com.au - and the location from which Ange dispatches your goodies.

As if this vision isn’t inspiring enough, Ange is reaching out to us all, whether we reside in big cities or small country towns, with a markdown sale that will appeal to one and all.

Up to 50% off Ouch winter stock
30 – 50% off Tommy Rocket
30 – 50% off Two Belles
30% off Wilkie
20% off Oobi

Enter KSFJune for an additional 10% off, and a pressie for KSF readers. Offer ends midnight July 3.

How great is that?!! Loving your work, Ange

5 Little Monkeys stock Oobi, Ouch, baobab, Nurtured by Nature, Cocoon Couture Bean Bags, Walnut Melbourne, Gertie and Me, Ikaboo, Tiger Tribe, Bobble Art & Rush, Honky Tonk, Redsand and Boxdale, Wilkie, BabyLegs, Keptin Jr, and Hess Speilzeug, so you are going to have a whole lot of fun over there.

Click through each category, or enter brand names direct into the search to go straight to them. Don’t forget to check out the clearance section to pick up some fine summer stock at bargain basement prices.

Without further ado, my picks of the day. Click through for prices, and don’t forget to enter KSFJune at checkout to get an extra 10% off your purchases.

Clockwise from top left:

Ouch Bird Cot Sized Baby Wrap
Oobi Winter 2008 Betsy Sweater Dress in Red
Oobi Snow Bunny Pants in Red Hearts
Oobi Beanie with Pom Pom ears
Two Belles Je Suis Belle Dress
Oobi Red and White Stripe Dress
Ouch Denim Dress
Two Belles Broken Hearts Hoodie Tee
Ouch Cable knit Beanie (in lemon only)
Ouch Footless Tights in Grey and Black Stripe

Clockwise from top left:

Ouch Puppy Socks
Oobi Zippie Hoodie in Navy with Green Spots and Adorable Ears
Oobi Winter 2008 Snow Bunny Pants in Navy with Green Dots
Tommy Rocket Freak Boy Hoodie Top
Wilkie Fleece Hoodie in Cedar Green
Wilkie Dark Crinkle Jeans
Wilkie Check Bomber Jacket
Ouch Car Cot Sized Baby Wrap
Ouch Blue and Red Stripe Socks

5 Little Monkeys charge $7.95 for postage Australia wide. View the 5LM Shipping & Returns page for full information.

Ekidna Kidswear - www.ekidnakidswear.com.au - has just turned two - Happy Birthday, Ekidna Kids, you are a star child indeed!

Like any proud Mum, Joanne at Ekidna is celebrating this achievement to the full. Joanne’s in full party mode, and you will be too when you hop over to EK!

Dash on over to Ekidna Kids, take your pick of the hundreds of fine products including girls boys and babies clothing, toys, boutique party invitations, wall decals, nappy bags, and much more, and reduce your purchase price by 25%.

That’s not all, folks: spend over $100.00 and you get a FREE Uchi purse valued at $14.95. Offer valid while stocks last. Limit of 1 per customer.

Yowza! I *like* it!

Ekidna Kidswear stock over 55 quality baby and kids brands including Anamalz, Annabel Trends, Aroma Baby, Babe Mode, Baby Blankie, Baby Legs, Badger Balm, Baobab, Beautiful Soles, Bebe, Bertini, Bud, Brio, Cheeky Little Soles, Chelona, Crocodile Creek, Eternal Creation, Fairy Floss, Fiesta Crafts, Fish Lilly, For Walls, Fruity Faces, Heimess, Humphrey’s Corner, Infancy, Isoki, Itsy Bitsy, Jaffa, Karma Baby, Lark Designs, Latitude Enfant, Little Chipipi, Longueville Media, Mamas & Papas, Marquise, Messaround, Milkwrap, Minihaha, Mondays Child, My Munchkin Home, Nature’s Child, Oobi, Paper Eskimo, Peter Rabbit, Pia Eriksson, Roocci, Russ, Sigg, Skip Hop, Smart Mom, Smirk, Starchild, t4tot, Toys Pure, Uchi, Vintage Kid Designs, WallCandy Arts, Wink Designs, Woof!, so you have a veritable feast of luxe to choose from.

If you want to scoop up some of last summer’s gear up to 50% off check out the ‘Specials’ page and feel oh so glad that you did (lots of Oobi in there for you OobiWatchers)!

Check out just a handful of my hot picks below.

I’m feeling a bit nostalgia for the little bebes at the mo, so have turned my gaze towards lush products for the littlest ones and their mamas (don’t forget the mamas!!)

It took me a while to realise it, but turns out my little bebes looked best in classic pieces; heirloom knits and solid colours. The Bebe set exemplifies the classiness of this look. Start your own heirloom collection today.

I love the Infancy Spotted Romper and Bebe PJs for little men: ah, how snuggly.

Wrap your classy little man or Ms in a high quality Fish Lilly wrap. The gentleness and softness of their designs soothes Mums and babes alike. Just love ‘em!

Buy a new mama a Smart Moms Teething Bling Bangle or three, and make her feel a bit special, and also savvy: she’ll look stylish and never be short of a safe distraction for her little baby again (and how cheap are they!!?)

The Karma Baby Slings are celebrity cool, and super affordable, and the Isoki Petite-Travellers are a perfect gift for on the move, style-conscious Mums. I just bought one for Miki, who’s travelling to New Zealand soon, and she loves it

From top left, in rows:

Bebe Pink Lemonade Pointelle Leggings with Feet $43.95 25% off NOW $32.96
Bebe Pink Lemonade Pointelle Cardigan $44.95 25% off NOW $33.71
Bebe Pink Lemonade Pointelle Beanie $23.95 25% off NOW $17.96
Bebe ‘Fly with Me’ pyjamas $34.95 25% off NOW $26.96
Infancy Grey Spotted Romper (also available in pink) $38.50 25% off NOW $28.88
Fish Lilly Luxury Baby Wraps - available in 12 designs $47.95 25% off NOW $35.96
Smart Mom Teething Bling Bangle $12.95 25% off NOW $9.71
Isoki Petite Traveller $39.95 25% off NOW $29.96
Karma Baby Bella Pouch Baby Sling $89.95 25% off NOW $67.46

Ah, and now onto a subject I can’t ever get enough of: toys and decor

The My Munchkin Home decals bring an instant lift to a room, without requiring a life-long commitment. This elephant is BIG, and so uplifting, and what a steal 25% off!

I love these Crocodile Creek mini-puzzles: perfect size (and price!) for party bag inclusion, or toilet training incentives.

If you’re looking for a classy gift to give, you can’t go past Mamas and Papas, one of the UKs leading nursery brands. Also for littlies, these Chelona timber books are eco-friendly and great for stimulating hand-eye co-ordination. For older kids, Zoobie Pets are just perfect. They’re actually 3 toys in 1: a cuddly toy, pillow and blankie. Gotta love the triple-duty here, not to mention the infinite cuteness.

This Toys Pure Shalimar Puzzle promises endless playtime fun, with it’s fab colours and endless configuration possibilities (I gifted this to Miki’s son, Alex, and Mik says it’s every bit as cool as it looks!)

Another timber treasure is the Heimess wooden car, available in red and orange colour-ways. Give it as a gift with the Lark Knitted Ice-cream rattle (perfectly shaped for little hands, and appropriate for munching from birth up) and the Crocodile Creek PVC-free ball (also available in orange dog design), and you’ll be forever loved and thanked for it.

From top left, in rows:

My Munchkin Home ‘My Elephant’ Giant Wall Decal $99.95 25% off NOW $74.96
Crocodile Creek Double-sided Dinosaur Mini-puzzle $4.95 25% off NOW $3.71
Mamas and Papas Colour Bunch Arlo Toy $21.95 25% off NOW $16.46
Chelona Play Book - Frog $19.95 25% off NOW $14.96
Zoobie Pets $59.95 25% off NOW $44.96
Toys Pure Shalimar Puzzle $39.95 25% off NOW $29.96
Crocodile Creek PVC-free 18cm ball $18.95 25% off NOW $14.21
Heimess Car (also available in orange) $15.95 25% off NOW $11.96
Lark Ice-cream Kintted Rattle $14.95 25% off NOW $11.21

Ekidna Kidswear charge $6.95 for standard postage, and $9.95 for Express Post, Australia wide. International orders are welcome. Visit the Delivery information page for full shipping and delivery details.

This really is your lucky day, shoppers

Melissa at Urban Child - www.urbanchild.com.au has come up with something really special to banish any superstitious thoughts today: she has laid out 200 fine products and reduced their prices by up to 40%.

Select from a superb range of toy, accessory and clothing brands at Urban Child including Albetta, Alex Toys, Aravore Babies, Baobab, Belli Skincare, Berchet, Brainy Baby, Cheeky Monkey, Cocoon Couture, Crocodile Creek, Ellaroo Slings, Felt Creations, Granimals, Infantino, Kaloo, Living and Learning, Made by Angie, Majors forMinors, Mamas & Papas, Melissa and Doug, Oobi, Orchard Toys, Pebbles PouchMISS, Plan Toys, Pure Baby, Ravensburger, Red Wagon, Robbie Adrian, Schylling, Step 2, Tiny Tribe, Viking Toys, Voila Toys and WOW Toys.Jump straight to Urban Child’s Sale section to start filling up your shopping cart, or indulge me by browsing my hot picks (of which there are quite a few today!!)

From top left in rows:

Alex Toys One, Two, Tie My Shoe- $16.95 -30% discount = $11.86
Crocodile Creek Lunch Bag $28.95 -40% discount = $17.37
Oobi Space Hopper $28.95 -30% discount = $20.26
‘Where is the Green Sheep’ by Mem Fox- $14.95 -15% discount = $12.70 This is one of our all time fave books!
Urban Child Cheeky Monkey Mini Bowling Set $13.95 (not on sale) This are such a great price, I couldn’t resist putting them in!!
Urban Child Wooden Spinning Tops $1.20 each (not on sale) 8cm wooden tops at an unbelievable price!! They are sold out at the moment (because of me! I scooped them up last week to put in party bags Melissa will be getting more in stock, so keep your eyes peeled!)
Crocodile Creek Barnyard Floor Puzzle $34.95 -35% discount = $22.71
Alex Toys Water Flutes $22.95 -40% discount = $13.77 These look so much fun. I’m intrigued, so I bought some!
Urban Child 50’s-style Tea Set in Case $39.95 -25% discount = $29.96 I am seriously wondering if I can justify buying these for myself…
Infantino Turtle Rattle $11.95 -40% discount = $7.17
Brainy Baby Animals DVD $24.95 -40% discount = $14.97

Clockwise from top left:

Albette Cupcakes Babygrow- $42.00 -40% discount = $25.20
Albetta Wild West Babygrow - 42.00 -40% discount = $25.20
Albetta Wild West Bib - $14.95 -40% discount = $8.97
Albetta Wild West Wrap - $39.95 -35% discount = $25.96
Pebbles PouchMISS - $36.95 -15% discount = $31.40
Pure Baby Woven Smock Dress; Classic Print - $39.95 -40% discount = $23.97
Baobab Crown Tee - $30.95 -30% discount = $21.66
Oobi Deer & Forest Textile Applique Tee - $24.95 -40% discount = $14.97
Ellaroo Mei Hip Organic Baby Carrier - Helsinki Print - $119.95 -20% discount = $95.96
Oobi French Velvet Boy/Girl shorts - $39.95 -40% discount = $23.97

Ok, that’s it for sale picks, but I couldn’t go past these fabulous library bags from Cocoon Couture, and at $13.50 each, they are practically at sale prices!

Cocoon Couture Early Birds Library Bag - $13.50
Cocoon Couture Sleepy Owls Library Bag - $13.50

Also, just wanted to alert you to a hot new brand at Urban Child: Aravore Babies, from the UK.

What you see below is a divine mix of classic taste, and eco-awareness. Aravore’s clothing is comprised of 70% organic cotton, and 30% merino wool to keep your ultra-classy bebe snuggy and warm this winter. Oooooh. And aaahhhh!

AraVore Babies Organic Jumper Dress - $95.00
AraVore Babies Organic Cream Shawl-neck Jumper - $85.00
AraVore Babies Organic Pom Pom Beanie - $49.95

View Urban Child’s postage charges here.

Today’s post is brought to you by the wonderful Miki. Enjoy the bargains over at Kids Gift List, and don’t forget to say ‘hi’ to Monique at Kids Gift List for me! Angela xx

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You won’t want to miss out on this one, fellow bargain lovers!

Our friends at the uber-fabulous Kids Gift List - www.kidsgiftlist.com.au - have a massive sale - clothes under $25 section, with everything in there marked down by at least 40% and up to 70%!!

You’re going to have to be quick for this sale. Many of these items are very low in stock or could even be the last one left, so waste not a second - head on over!!

Some of the gorgeous designers featured in the under $25 sale include Zacharia Bier, Sudo, Sooki Baby, Edenstar and Cinti Does Vintage.

If you’re still needing that little push over the edge then just look at all of these beautiful products, ALL UNDER $25.00!!!

Clockwise from top left:
Edenstar Kohana top, $79.95 $24.95
Lark knitted flower hat, $29.95 $23.95 (and check out the matching MJ booties, SO adorable!)
Edenstar eternal summer tee, $44.95 $23.95
Edenstar cuffed white shorts, $69.95 $24.95
Sooki Baby frill snapsuit, $29.95 $14.35
Cinti does Vintage bib (large yellow duck print), $27.95 $23.95
Edenstar pacific pant, $79.95 $23.95

Left to right:
Sudo Alvie hood (emerald), $64.95 $24.95
Cinti does Vintage bibs in blue/red, chocolate/aqua/white, tan/blue/white stripe, $19.95 $16.95
Zacharia Bier Lifestyle Shane, $49.95 $24.95
Zacharia Bier 34 Frank, $49.95 $24.95

Now, while we’re on the topic of Kids Gift List, it would take someone with unnatural willpower to refrain from browsing through the rest of their categories.

Although I could cheerfully march you through every single product over there, I’ll contain myself and just show you my favourite-ist category: wall art.

Ohhh do Kids Gift List know what they’re doing when they choose the wall art to stock!

They’ve recently started offering ‘Look At The Wall’ collages, which are handmade from a big selection of different papers (including handmade) and each collage is a little bit unique. They’re different from anything else I’ve seen around the traps, really very well priced and just so cool!

Besides those, I LOVE the quirky-yet-useful Coco Boheme Monkey blackboard sticker - what a great product! Because it’s a sticker you can move it around the place - kitchen, bedroom, playroom, treehouse - without damaging the paint! I want one!

Also don’t forget that Kids Gift List stock the ever-popular (and rightly so) Little Chipipi wall decals, an instant uplift for any kid’s room decor.

Last but not least: don’t forget that you can use the My Child magazine discount code to take 15% off everything at Kids Gift List, except for the $25 and under clothing category. (Hey, that’s already up to 70% off so you’re not losing out there! )

Not near a newsagent? Leave a comment on this post, or email Angela, and she’ll send you the code!

Left to right, prices including the My Child magazine code 15% off
Cats On The Fence wall art, $119.95 $101.95
Cheeky Monkey wall art, $119.95 $101.95
Hungry Hippos wall art, $119.95 $101.95
Squirrel wall art, $119.95 $101.95
Coco Boheme XL Monkey blackboard, $99.00 $84.15
Little Chipipi Drive Time wall stickers, $79.95 $67.95

KGL stock fine products from Alex Designs, Baufix, Cinti does Vintage, Cheeky Little Soles, Dobbin and Drum Toys, Edenstar, Heavenly Creatures, KGL Gifts, Knox and Floyd, Lark Designs, Isa Toys, Like A Bike, Little Blue Fish, Little Chipipi, The Little Experience, Little Kitchen, Little Red Pear, Maiike, Merrigold, Oobi, Raggidy Rag Dolls, Rockabye Baby, Rosie Flo, Rubys & Robots, Sooki Baby, Sparrowkids, Sudo, Taltrade, Tee P, Tiny Revolutionary, Tiny Tribe, Tonic Baby, Trunki, and Zacharia Bier.

Kids Gift List is the perfect location to head for when your little one is, or his or her friends are, having a birthday: KGL stocks 300 products under $20.00, and 100 products under $10.00, so you’ll be sure to find the perfect gift whatever your budget!

Kids Gift List offers a FREE gift list service. This means that you can let everyone know which cool gifts you and your child would like, and need never fear the ‘gift’ of inappropriate toys, or bad fashion again!!

Simply login to create your list, pick out what your child would like or needs from the beautiful selection available, print and judiciously distribute for universal benefit.

Head on over to the Kids Gift List site to celebrate and get a taste of the KGL experience for yourself !

Kids Gift List charge an unbeatable $6.00 flat for delivery, Australia wide (excluding over sized items).

Happy Wednesday! Today I am very pleased to formally introduce to you to the very wonderful Ten Sticky Fingers - www.tenstickyfingers.com.au

Ten Sticky Fingers delivers a perfect blend of individuality, practicality and affordablity, and brings a beautiful dash of hand-made love and Australian design flair into our lives.

The products Casey stocks at Ten Sticky Fingers are predominately Australian owned and operated labels including Little Brown Mouse (the most gorgeous one-off clothing pieces), Wasabi Kids (a slice of Harajuku, Japan, Australian style: we have the Froggie and Mushroom Tees, and the Mushroom Swing Top. I love the Piggy Pants, too. Apparently the ears aren’t sewn down on the pants, resulting in them wiggling as bubba crawls along: too cute!!), Cinti Does Vintage (timeless class), Barbara Sansoni Designs (wonderful eco and kid friendly soft toys; we have several of these in out house, and they are truly lovely! The removable clothing is a lovely detail), Tonic (luxe bathing products), The Little Experience (great for winter rainy days!), Baby Cupcakes (baby socks in flan, sushi and cupcake form: make perfect gifts), Heavenly Creatures (beautiful quality), and Casey’s own divine vintage-inspired label which she runs with her mum, Judy, The Red Thread (superb felt booties and accessories, and hand-knit hats).

Casey is offering KidStyleFile readers a most lovely gift with purchase with every order - yay!

For girls, the Ten Sticky Fingers’ exclusive The Red Thread button hair clips made from vintage cotton in an array of fabulous colours and prints, and for the boys, an exclusive The Red Thread button cuff fashioned from edgy print fabrics in a patchwork style with some boy friendly buttons and charms.

Simply enter the code ‘kidstylefile‘ in the coupon section at checkout, and state whether you would like a boys or a girls gift in the comments section. Offer ends 31 July, 2008, or while stocks last.

How beautiful! Thank you Casey from all of us

Here are a few gorgeous picks from Ten Sticky Fingers to get you inspired; enjoy! (Don’t forget to check out the Specials section for on-sale goodies!)

Left to right by rows:

The Red Thread Ruby Red Mary Janes $19.00
Little Brown Mouse Forest Green Cords $36.00
Barbara Sansoni Designs Cuddly Elephant $24.90 $21.17
Wasabi Kids Piggy Pants $27.00
Wasabi Kids Mushroom Swing Top $27.90 $20.93
The Little Experience Endangered Species Create-It Finger Puppet Kit $19.00
Babycupcakes Sushi Socks 6 pair $28.90
The Red Thread Nutmeg Beanie $12.50
The Red Thread Burnt Orange Peony Beanie $12.50
Cinti Does Vintage Autumn Leaves Baby Kimono $69.95
The Red Thread Powder Blue Felt Booties $19.00
Barbara Sansoni Designs Grasshopper Girl $24.50 $20.83
Little Brown Mouse Black and White Spot Dress $46.00

Ten Sticky Fingers charge $5.50* flat rate delivery (conditions apply) Australia wide.

Today Miki brings you some classic reads to enjoy with your kids, young and older.

In gratitude of the great contribution that animals make to the lives of children, and grown-ups alike — through books and in real life — KidStyleFile has today made a donation to the RSPCA - www.rspca.com.au - who ceaselessly work to ensure the rights of animals are ensured and protected.

Purchase from Fishpond - www.fishpond.com.au by clicking through the links on KidStyleFile, and 10% of your purchases until June 30 will be donated to the RSPCA.
Remember also that Fishpond also rewards all orders over$50.00 with FREE postage.

Direct donations to RSPCA can be made easily online here. RSPCA have a great initiative coming up in August, in which you can make, or simply eat, cupcakes to raise funds. Find out more here.

Read more KidStyleFile Book Reviews here.

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This week I decided to take a little trip down memory lane and review three favourite books from my childhood. One of the best things about being a parent in my opinion is being able to introduce my son to the things I loved best as a child. I can’t wait for him to be old enough to love the books below as I did!

First, for the toddlers and preschoolers - The Story about Ping, by Marjorie Flack and Kurt Wiese, $10.99 $9.41.

This one has been beloved by many since its publication in 1933. It’s a story set on the Yangtze River in China about an adventurous little duck called Ping, which kids just seem to adore. They love it for its beautiful illustrations (ducklings are just too cute!), for the repetition in the text and for the simple, clear ideas presented.

I was delighted to find that Ping is now available in paperback too - it’s so cheap that it would be silly not to snap it up and add it to our home library, so I think I will!

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Kids aged four and up will love Wilfrid Gordon Mcdonald Partridge by the ever-fabulous Mem Fox, $17.99. I’m a big Mem fan, and I have to say that I think this book is my favourite of hers.

Wilfred Gordon Mcdonald Partridge lives next door to an old folks home, and when his elderly friend Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper begins to lose her memory he tries to bring it back for her. It’s alternately funny, heartbreaking and very, very sweet.

It’s impossible to read without getting that warm fuzzy feeling, and it’s also a great starting point for discussions with kids about their grandparents getting older.

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Finally, for six-year-olds upwards, a book which many of us have loved at some point: The Jolly Postman: Or Other People’s Letters by Janet and Allan Ahlberg, $43.99 $27.40.

Do you remember this one? With all the little letters and postcards tucked inside the book that you can take out and read? From one fairy tale character to another, all of them hilarious? I’m genuinely delighted that it’s still so popular, although not at all surprised!

If you haven’t discovered this one before, then you are in for a genuine treat!

It has recently been republished in a bigger format so it’s even more appealing than ever, and the price at Fishpond is fantastic so I’m going to snaffle this one for myself - oh, I meant for my son of course

Seeyou next week, and, until then, happy reading

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Read more KidStyleFile Book Reviews here.