KidStyleFile

Written by Domenica

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One of the first bonding experiences I had with my twin daughters happened before they were born, while I was in the process of designing their nursery. I pictured them in their new cots, looking out at all the beautiful hand-picked items in their new nursery, and hoped my babies would have a sense of home and family right from the start. Fast forward two years and my mind has turned to re-designing their rooms to reflect their ‘big girl’ toddler status and I know just the place to look for new furniture and decorator items:  My First Room – www.myfirstroom.com.au.

I am starting the re-decorating process with rugs for their room, and I must say I am in *love* with the gorgeous bird motif and pretty apple green, pink and raspberry colourway of the Bird Tree Green Edge Girl’s Rug. The Polka-mania Pink Girl’s Rug is also on my list because all I hear from Miss E is “Pink, pink, pink!”. There is also a great selection for boys, and my fave, the Boy’s Star Rug, is classic in design and will make the transition from nursery into bigger kid’s room when the time comes. As a bonus, for a limited time all rugs at My First Room are on sale for 25% off the RRP while stocks last (sale prices on rugs will be adjusted as your order is processed).

Although I’d happily keep them in their cots until they turned 18 if I could, I really do have to think about putting my girls in a bed soon. My First Room has a fabulous choice of linen available for both boys and girls. The Lilly and Lolly Tic Tac Toe Doona will be a perfect linen choice for my girls as it will allow me to bring a number of colours into their rooms. My First Room’s fabulous selection of soft furnishings and decorator items will then help me narrow down my choices for some key decorative pieces to tie the whole look together perfectly.

If you are creating or updating a nursery, bedroom or play space for your children, then head to My First Room where you can spend anywhere up to $500 to receive a voucher to the value of 15% of your current order. Alternatively, spend $500 or more to receive a $100 gift voucher! To redeem one of the offers place an order by midnight 29 February 2012, then immediately email My First Room and quote KidStyleFile in the body of your email. Please note that furniture sales are excluded from these offers. While you are there, check out the My First Room Sale section for bargains of up to 35% off the RRP; and sign up to their Facebook page to be the first to hear of future new products, special sales and competitions!

Sale prices listed below are valid for a limited time only, while stocks last.

One. Wall Art Ubabub – Pretty – From $69.00
Two. Lullaby Pink Square Cushion – $34.95 SALE $26.20
Three. Cushion – Light of the Moon – $65.00
Four. Lullaby Single Quilt Cover – $109.95 SALE $82.45
Five. Huckleberry Lane Apple Marle Dandelion PJ – $39.95 SALE $30.00
Six. Bird Tree Green Edge Girl’s Rug – $325.00 SALE $243.75
Seven. Kinder Lunchbox Monsters – $39.95 SALE $24.95
Eight. Boys 3 Box Set – Blue with Red & White Lid – $79.95
Nine. Huckleberry Lane Navy Anchor PJ – $39.95 SALE $30.00
Ten. Little Lighthouse Red Star Lamps – $75.00
Eleven. Marine Single Quilt Cover – $109.95 SALE $82.45
Twelve. Children’s Wooden Large Personalised Letters  – $34.95

My First Room stock baby and kids decor, bed linen, furniture, soft furnishings, clothing, accessories and gifts from brands including: aden + anais, Alimrose, Anton’s Lane, Babylicious, Bertini, Bholu, Bloom Baby, Boyle Industries, Branberry, Brio, Bubba Blue, Carina Sherlock, Cheeky Little Soles, Cocolini, Cocoon Couture, Cold Coffee, Crocodile Creek, Danish By Design, Dobbin & Drum Toys, Dwell Studio, Dwell Studio, Eeni Meeni Miini Moh, Gelati Art, Gertie and Me, Gypsy Kids, Haba, Huckleberry Lane, Ikaboo, In Your Room, Jiggle & Giggle, Kalamazoo Kidz, Kaloo, Kas Kids, Lambykins, Laura Ashley, Lauren Hinkley, Lauren Hinkley, Leander, Lilly & Lolly, Linen n Things, Little Chipipi, Little House, Little Ones, Living Textiles Company, Lullaby Linen, Madras Link, Mae, Mamas & Papas, Mecollie Designs, Minic Australia, My First Room, Mylc, Oeuf Nursery Furniture, Penny Scallan, Pennyroyal Creek, Red Plum, Sigikids, Sigikids, Sooki LaLa, Sprout Gallery, Sunbury, Tiger Tribe, Tin Lid Designs, Treehouse, Urban Nest Designs and Whimsy.

My First Room delivery charges start at $9.95 within Australia. Large orders will cost more. Click here for details. Brisbane-based readers can also visit the My First Room bricks and mortar store in Bulimba.

Written by Miki

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As part of our Christmas coverage this year we are sharing with you our own personal picks for our kids. Today we’re featuring Edwina’s picks. You can also read Dom’s picks, Anna’s picks, Melody’s picks, Jen’s picks and Edwina’s picks. Enjoy! – Ange

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I have two small boys – Master A who is four-and-a-half, and Master J who is two-and-a-quarter – both who are counting down the minutes until Santa comes down that chimney. This is the first year that Master A has really become excited and involved in the lead up to Christmas, and it’s so much fun!  We’ve been getting out our copy of The Night Before Christmas at bedtime most nights, we’re listening to Christmas music in the car and we’re having a blast decorating the house with all the glitter-and-macaroni bits and bobs he’s bringing home from kindy. We’re also going to be flying home to spend Christmas in Adelaide, my hometown, which we’re incredibly excited about as the boys haven’t spent any length of time there yet.

Below are the special treats they’ll be finding under our tree on Christmas morning – after all, they have been pretty good this year – and a few things they might get beforehand if they’re extra lucky, or if I need some extra help surviving the plane trip!

1. Trunki Kids Ride-On Suitcase – Bernard The Bee, $89.00 at Metro Mum
Master A received a Trunki as a special gift a couple of years ago, and his little brother is so envious that it’s time he received one of his own. We have a 4.5 hour flight to get to our destination for Christmas, so this one will be an early gift.

2. Cheetah Dragon 16″ Boys Bike, $179.00 at The Bicycle Store
Master A is ready to graduate from his balance bike to a ‘big boy’s bike’ with pedals. This one has ticks in all the boxes: training wheels, tick! price tag, tick! handlebar streamers (because why should girls get all the fun?), tick!

3. ooMoo F1 Balance Bike, $165.00 at Metro Mum
As Master A moves up to a big new bike, so Master J will be wanting to move up from his little scoot-along trike as well. His brother’s old balance bike has seen better days, but I know this racy red option will suit him down to the ground.

4. Lego Volkswagon T1 Campervan, $169.99 at Lego Online Store
Seriously, who doesn’t love Lego? Master A will get a massive kick out of this camper, but I think the biggest smile when this box gets opened will be on the face of his dad!

5. Playmobil Super Set – Construction, $59.95 at Cradle Rock
We already have a few Playmobil toys and they’re absolutely brilliant – detailed, robust and designed with all sorts of clever little tricks. The boys will both have a brilliant time playing with this set, which will then live permanently at their grandparents’ house to be played with on visits.

6. Seedling ‘Design Your Own Box Kite’ Set, $36.95 at Design Child
This will be a great gift to be stashed until the school holidays seem to be dragging, at which point we’ll pull it out of the cupboard and have a fun day creating and flying!

7 & 8. Toshi Cotton Sunhat With Toggle – Safari, $33.95; Toshi Cotton Sunhat With Toggle – Surfing, $33.95 at Baby’s Got Style
The boys both need new sun hats, and these ones from Toshi are both practical and gorgeous.

9. Anamalz Crocodile, $9.95 at Ekidna Kidswear
The Anamalz toys make for fantastic stocking stuffers – the boys have one each already, which are proudly displayed on their bedside tables. I think they’d love to start adding to the collection.

10. Djeco Beasts Stickers, $4.95 at Where Did You Get That?
Djeco sticker packs are incredibly good value, and with a price this low they’re brilliant for shoving into stockings. I might even give them this pack before Christmas to help amuse them on the plane.

11. Books To Wear ‘My Shark’ PJs, $36.95 at Little Styles
We have a family tradition of all receiving a new pair of PJs on Christmas Eve (yes, Mum & Dad too) and these ones will be spot on for Master A…

12. Marquise Print PJs – Balloons, $32.95 at Little Styles
…while these ones will be perfect for Master J.

13. ‘Tails’ by Matthew Van Fleet (hardback), $14.67 at Book Depository
Matthew Van Fleet’s tactile, interactive books are absolutely brilliant for toddlers and young preschoolers. I can’t wait to read this one to him.

14. ‘The Magic Faraway Tree’ by Enid Blyton (hardback), $9.88 at Book Depository
A childhood favourite of mine, it’s going to be so much fun settling in to read chapters to Master A at bedtime. This present might almost be more for me than it is for him!

15. Lilly & Lolly Scoop Bunkbed, $3,250.00 at The Little Kidz Closet
Okay, so this one is really a wish list item rather than something that will actually be under (beside?) our tree on Christmas morning. But isn’t it stunning? The boys are outgrowing their little IKEA beds, so I’ll need to look at getting them something like this before much longer – hint hint Santa!

PS: The background for today’s post comes from Bosco Bear who are making fabulous Christmas wall decals. What a great way to dress up your walls for the festive season!

Please check individual stores for shipping costs. Also make sure you read the KidStyleFile All Current Deals page to be sure you’re getting the best deal.

Post written by Miki

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As the final in our series of price-range Christmas gift guides, today I’m looking at the ‘big ticket items’, those items costing upwards of $100.  Some of these items might be wish list pieces, while others are more attainable.  Either way, enjoy the collection of twenty superb items guaranteed to light up any kid’s face on Christmas morning.

My two-year-old would think all his dreams had come true if he found a BIG Bobby Benz under the tree, while his older brother might be more interested in a Radio Flyer Dual Deck Red Flyer Tricycle, and I know they’d both love a Teepee from An Angel At My Table. Angela tells me that the Marble Sounding Tree is absolutely amazing – her family has one, and her daughters have had endless fun making beautiful music with it. Plus how incredibly stylish is this Janod Chic Maxi Kitchen? Boys and girls alike would have an amazing time cooking up a storm with that.

Have yourselves a merry little Christmas and enjoy all the amazing choices on offer.

1. Lilly & Lolly Child’s Desk, Toybox & Stool Set, $650.00 at The Little Kidz Closet
2. Marble Sounding Tree – Large, $136.00 at Honeybee  Toys
3. Le Toy Van Lily’s Cottage, $149.95 $144.95 at Where Did You Get That?
4. Jack’s Cubby House, $999.00 at Hip Kids
5. Classic Red Racing Car Rocker, $595.00 at Monty And Franks
6. Radio Flyer Dual Deck Red Flyer Tricycle, $154.95 at Just Toy’n Around
7. ooMoo Kids Leggy Table & Chairs, $180.00 at Mini Chatterbox
8. Little Polly Rocking Horse, $595.00 at Monty And Franks Designer Toy Co
9. IVI Interactive Play Rug – Farm, $299.95 at The Little Kidz Closet
10. KidKraft Fun Explorers Rocket Ship Playset, $199.00 at The Little Kidz Closet
11. An Angel At My Table Navy Stripe Teepee, $219.95 at Shop For Tots
12. Solvej Swing by Holmsater, $220.00 at Look Mummy
13. Micki Wooden Pram With Hood, $118.95 at Baby’s Got Style
14. Janod Chic Maxi Kitchen – Brown, $170.00 at Lime Tree Kids
15. BIG Bobby Benz, $220.00 $198.00 at Metro Mum
16. Lundy Stockholm Dollshouse, $189.95 at Cradle Rock
17. Wishbone Balance Bike – Apple A Day Special Edition, $299.00 at Metro Mum
18. Left Hand Make Small One Tables & Chairs, $510.00 at The Little Kidz Closet 
19. Janod DIY Trolley With Magnetic Tools, $129.00 at Lime Tree Kids 
20. Silver Cross Chatsworth Doll’s Pram – Red Poppy, $999.00 at Silver Cross Online Store
21. The Magic Klorifil Tree, $195.00 at The Infant Boutique (yes I know it’s cheating to have 21 items, but I couldn’t resist this one!)

Please check individual stores for shipping costs. Also make sure you read the KidStyleFile’s All Current Deals page to be sure you’re getting the best deal.

Post written by Miki

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Moving from a cot to a ‘big boy’s bed’ was a major milestone for both my kids.  Suddenly, or so it seemed to me, they weren’t babies anymore, and just as suddenly they were able to get into and out of bed whenever they wanted – it was a learning curve for child and parent alike!

Below is a list (in no particular order) of some of the most stylish kids’ beds available in Australia.  Have a glance through and pick your own favourite.  Something to consider when choosing a bed for your child is size: some children’s beds are smaller than single size to help your child adjust from the cot and fit into a smaller room; others are available in single and/or king single size to last the child for longer. Also think about what style will work with your home’s decor, and definitely get your child’s opinion – after all, they’re the ones who will have to sleep in it!

1. Ubabub Pod Junior Bed Kit, $199.00 at The Little Kidz Closet (note: cot sold separately)
2. Lilly & Lolly Upholstered Bed, $1250.00 at The Little Kidz Closet
3. Lilly & Lolly Colourbox Bed, $1250.oo at The Little Kidz Closet
4. IKEA Kritter Bed, $149.00 at IKEA
5. Treehouse ‘Matt’ Bunk Bed, $1599.00 at Treehouse Childrens Decor Co
6. Leander Junior Bed, $999.00 at Metro Mum
7. Oeuf Sparrow Single Bed, $1199.00 at Metro Mum
8. Incy Interiors Hannah Bed, $999.00 at Incy Interiors
9. Incy Interiors Oscar Bed, $549.00 at Incy Interiors
10. Treehouse ‘Jono’ Bed, $659.00 at Treehouse Childrens Decor Co

Please check individual sites for shipping details, noting that large items usually incur extra shipping charges. Also make sure you check the KidStyleFile All Current Dealspage to make sure you’re getting the very best deal.

Post written by Miki

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Time for an update on the newest and finest cot sets for babies and bedlinen for children. Each brand featured below has a point of difference which really makes it stand out, whether it be organic cotton, luxury cotton sateen, glorious design or all of the above. Stay tuned for Part Two of our 2011 bedlinen round-up coming next week.

Read all our previous bedlinen posts here for a comprehensive overview of what’s out there for you.

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DwellStudio Mix & Match Organics Collection

Designed to be combined with any of the other pieces in the collection, DwellStudio’s new range of mix & match cot bedding includes bumpers, sheets, crib skirts, pillows and play blankets.  The patterns in the range are softly modern, and all fabrics are organic cotton to make for a safe and comfortable night’s sleep. DwellStudio’s Mix & Match Organics collection isn’t available in Australia yet, but we’ll let you know when it arrives down under.

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SkipHop Crib Bedding Collection

A familiar and popular nursery products brand, SkipHop has recently branched out into cot bedding with their new range released in the Northern Hemisphere.  With Flower Burst for baby girls and Mod Dot for the boys, the range features 250 thread count cotton sateen and embroidery, and will be available to purchase in a four-piece set including cot bumper, crib skirt, fitted sheet and blanket, with extras such as cushions and additional sheets available separately. This collection won’t be available to buy within Australia please seek international stockists.

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Scandinavian Design Centre

Scandinavian Design Centre offers children’s bedding and cot bedding with uniquely Scandinavian flair.  Whether you opt for the single bed set featuring the beloved Pippi Longstocking from Sweden’s Astrid Lindgren or the Moonens from Finland your child will be enchanted.  You’ll also find Marimekko’s iconic Unikko floral print in several colourways among other treasures. The Scandinavian Design Centre ships worldwide, see here for further details.

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Lilly & Lolly

Designed and often made in Australia, the Lilly & Lolly bedding range is fresh and inviting, with bold prints and quality fabrics to cordinate with their beautiful furniture range, or to complement your own choice of bed or cot.  Bedding is available for single beds and cots, with a large range of accessories available too, including cushions, lampshades and even pyjamas.

Lilly & Lolly is available from My First Room and The Little Kidz Closet.

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Hiccups Bedding for Kids

A fun brand, Hiccups bedlinen is available for kids’ ‘big beds’ and for cots, with quilt covers, sheet sets, baby bedding and accessories such as valances and cushions also available.  The brand includes several designs for both boys and girls, with the girls’ ranges featuring bright candy colours and the boys’ ranges opting for a new take on traditional ‘boy’ designs such as transport, marine themes and robotos. Hiccups children’s bedding is available online from Cottonbox.

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Please check individual sites for postage details and be sure to survey the KidStyleFile All Current Deals page to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal.

Today’s post written by Olivia

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With every moment of every day I marvel at how unique my little poppet is – I guess its something every parent experiences, the uniqueness of their child, the wonder, the individuality that makes their child different from the next.

One such company has captured the very essence of this, Unique Kids – www.uniquekids.com.au. Fiona, the lady behind the operation says she designed this online store with the belief that every child has a distinct personality. The aim of Unique Kids is to provide every child with something which complements both their personality and their needs.

A fabulous collection of baby essentials, nursery decor, a huge selection of toys and gifts for boys and girls plus printed wall art and collages is on offer with stocked brands including Alex Toys, Alimrose, Bobble Art, Cubbie House Kids, Fehn, Gertie & Me, Tiger Tribe, Look at the Wall, K’s Kids, MYLC, Lilly & Lolly, Penny Scallan, Seedling, Tolo, Toys Pure, Wallies Wallpaper Cutouts, Melissa & Doug, b.box and Fiona Kate.

For those of you who love the products and would also love some more moula in your pocket

Unique Kids Direct is a new and exciting party plan + direct catalogue selling opportunity. What better way to grab a group of girlfriends, Mum’s group or Mum’s to be together and drool over the endless selection of unique products? Whether you wish to run your own business, host a get together or maybe even a fundraiser, Unique Kids Direct is a great way to achieve it.

Right now Unique Kids are overstocked and need to clear some space – many items are way too cheap to refuse, with bargains on sale up to 60% off, while stocks last. Want more? Subscribe to the Unique Kids newsletter, and not only will you be alerted to new products, competitions & special promotions, but you’ll also go into the draw to win a $50 shopping voucher – bonus!

Unique Kids ship all orders for a flat rate of $7.95 Australia wide (excluding large and oversized orders). International orders are welcome. Click here for full delivery information.