KidStyleFile

Today’s post written by Angela

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

If you haven’t already swung over to Mini Eco’s – www.minieco.com.au – fabuloso 50% off Summer Sale with an EXTRA 5% disc for KSF readers, then now’s the time!

Get 50% off all summer clothes for kids and adults, as well as 50% off all organic toiletries and yummy organic treats.

KSF VIPs can also take an extra 5% off by entering the code ‘ summersale‘ at checkout until 28 Feb, 2009. Thank you, Catherine!!

Mini Eco specialises in organic and fair trade baby and children’s fashion and accessories (and there’s even some goodies in there for Mum and Dad too!)

Mini Eco’s stunning range of products showcases the fact that “eco” and “ethical” don’t have to mean daggy. Min Eco stock some of my fave brands including Fig, Scout, Sckoon, Binth, Lark, Lotus Linens, and La Queue du Chat, to name just a few.

To show you just how far eco and ethical has come, check out this, the entire list of brands Mini Eco stocks:

4MyEarth, Adiri, anamalz, Angelique, Artisse Organic, babba, Baberoo, Baby E, Baby Greens, Baby Nova, Baby Organics, Bamboo Baby, Binth, biobaby, Bobux, Boon Inc, Bossy Baby, Centro Style, Clothing of the American Mind, Cotton Monkey, Cuski, David Fussenegger, Dr Bronner’s, Earth Greetings, Eco Yarn Co, EcoLinen, Egg Baby, Envirosax, Ezy Peazy Babywear, Fig Kids, Fresh Baby, Fully Stoked, Gg and me, Go Natural, Green Pack, Hampstead Teas, Holy Cow Company, Imse Vimse, Indigo Goose, Irie Star, Jolie, Kailis Organics, Kee-ka, Kiwi Industries, Kwool Baby, La Queue du Chat, Lambykins, Lanka Kade, Lark, Lazy Baby and Plain Lazy, Lewis Confectionery, Little Blue Fish, Little Eyes, Little Green Radicals, Little Merry Fellows, Little Yogis, Look at the Wall, Lotus Linens, Luscious Liquids, Margaret River Hempco, Maria’s Organic Babies, Maud n Lil, Milk and Tickles, mini eco, My Vintage Baby, Nalan Collection, Nanny Pickle, Nappy Head, Nest, Nest Organics, O’Bon, Ocean Pure, Orgran, Piccalilly, Progressive Kid, pure potions, Pure Wipes, Q Collection Junior, Rattle Me, Rise Up, Rosie Flo, Sage Creek, Sahara Bloom, Sckoon, Scout, Serendipity, speesees, Springhill, Tot Seat, Turtlegreen, Under the Nile.

Impressed? Yeah! Head over to Mini Eco now!

Mini Eco charge $7.50 flat rate postage, Australia-wide. Orders over $200.00 are shipped FREE within Australia. International orders are welcome. Flat rate postage to New Zealand in AUD$20.00. See Mini Eco’s postage and delivery information page for full details.

Today’s post written by Kat

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

It goes without saying that the birth of your first child is a precious moment, and recording every single moment is one of the joys of being a new parent.

It also goes without saying that by the time you get to your second or third onwards, despite the best of intentions, the novelty of dutifully recording every event can start to wane, and finding the time is near impossible. My mum for example, as the third of 4 children, can only find one solitary picture of herself as a bub, and definitely no baby book. Which might explain a lot…but I digress!

Here is a rundown on baby books so beautiful that you’ll be clamouring to fill them with gorgeous memories of your growing brood. All your kids will thank you, except perhaps when you show that cute picture of your now-teenage daughter picking her nose to her cool new boyfriend…

The Binth Baby Journal at Tiny People

This is a gorgeous unisex option. Handcrafted with recycled white stock paper, cotton cloth cover and presented in a beautiful keepsake box. It’s not exactly a budget option but remember, even Mastercard can’t buy memories. Just a nice place to put them.

Generation Wonder have created their own Wonder Year Journal

A beautiful combination of scrapbook and journal, the Wonder Year Journal allows you to piece together a year in your little one’s life. Kids will adore looking back on themselves and as it has heaps of space for personalisation, as adults they will truly cherish their story. It comes in matt green with a cloth case cover, 128 pages of text and 12 insert cards for pictures – and it’s only $27.95!

I love the story behind Milestone Press’ A Book About Me:

“Annabel actually gave Fiona a Winnie-the-Pooh baby journal for her first born.  As they marvelled at Annabel’s momentary lapse in taste (because the book was free)  they dreamed up the perfect baby book.”

A Book About Me not only looks modern and sleek, it has been thoughtfully designed so that if you forget to record when your all little one’s teeth came through, you can just take the corresponding pages out, instead of leaving them embarrassingly blank. There’s room to add and subtract names and photos as you need, and possibly most imortantly, there is no branding on the cover, making it truly a book about your family!

I’ve mentioned the Laikonik Once A Year Book, from Mummy’s Favourite, before but I’m going to do it again because it’s such a beautiful idea!

Every year up to your child’s 18th birthday you add in just one photo of your child, and eventually the book unfolds concertina-style to reveal the story of your child growing and changing. Plus the book itself is completely gorgeous and will make a cherished heirloom!

For something a bit more traditional, the Baby Days Memory Book at Urban Baby is bright, colourful and full of nifty bit’n'bobs like stickers, envelopes and journal pages.

The pages are undated so you can record milestones when you want to, and the simple illustrations will delight your little one even beforen they realise the book is about them!

The very cute My Baby’s Journal, available soon at KidsGiftList

This is sweet enough to be age-appropriate but still stylish enough to be admired for years to come.

And finally, my personal favourite (yes, I found one with an elephant! I’m starting to sense a theme here): the Paper Eskimo Baby Journal.

Available at The Baby Shower Shop (a helluva comprehensive online store if there ever was one!) With simple and incredibly beautiful illustrations, it has heaps of room for photos, records birthday celebrations for up to five years, and comes in a gorgeous keepsake box  – despite being way too cute to keep stored away!

From top left in rows:

Binth Baby Journal $160
Generation Wonder The Wonder Year Journal $27.95
Milestone Press A Book About Me $44.95
Laikonik Once A Year Book $74.00
Baby Days Memory Book $24.95
My Baby’s Journal $44.95
Paper Eskimo Baby Journal $64.95

Please check individual sites for shipping details.

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.