KidStyleFile

Post written by Anna

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As a mum there have been some things I have just known intuitively and other lessons I have learned the hard way. With my eldest two now in full-time school, this stage of their development has provided a bevvy of lessons to be learned. If you are preparing a child for school this year, congratulations – and, yes, it’s ok to be a little teary! – one of the major lessons I’ve learned is that it pays to prepare your little one with quality items for school life, because my word they take a hiding!

A store that knows all about preparing for school life with only the best quality items is Little Sprout – www.littlesprout.com.au.  Little Sprout are the experts of quality crafted toys and exclusive brands to nurture your child as they make their way in life.  In store you will find toys, games, puzzles, items for art and craft, science and nature, building, imaginative role play, music, parties and an extensive range of books. Their spunky pages are home to world renowned brands such as Le Toy Van, WOW, Duplo and the newly imported Sylvanian Families.

Stocked and ready to help with all your busy ‘back to school’ preparations, the extremely helpful and friendly team at Little Sprout have prepared a special category named ‘School Gear’ with you in mind.  Here you can jump straight to what you’re looking for; be it bags, books, items for lunch, stationery or wall charts. You no doubt have a list of items you need to put together and  Little Sprout can help you with much of what you’ll need. They even have the extra special touches like the super cute Mini Lunch Notes so you can send along some love in the lunch box. For any fellow LEGO crazed fans, make sure you check out the fantastic LEGO accessories including the backpacks, bag tags and stationery – my two little guys are bound to go wild for them.

As a special welcome to their store, Little Sprout are offering all KidStyleFile readers a FREE gift: a copy of the renowned children’s book, Where Is The Green Sheep? by Mem Fox, valued at $14.95. There is no minimum order, but to redeem this offer you need to register as a Little Sprout member in order to check out and select KidstyleFile as the answer to the “where did you find us?” as you complete your registration. Offer ends midnight 31 January 2012.

PS. If you are in Canberra, Australia, Little Sprout has two bricks and mortar stores – pop in and say hi, they’d love to see you.

a. Lunch Punch Sandwich Cutters – Match & Munch $13.95
b. Mini Lunch Notes $11.95 
c. Skip Hop – Zoo Lunchies – Ladybug $24.95 
d. LEGO Brick Backpack $31.95 
e. Penny Scallan – School Backpack – Tulips $59.95 
f. LEGO – Six Piece Stationery Set $10.95
g. Kids Kitchen – Craft Turntable with Buckets $31.95
h. ‘Starting School’ by Janet and Allan Ahlberg $14.95
i. ‘I Hate School’ by Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross $19.95
j. Micador – Bomsy & Crew Name Case – Green $5.95
k. Waterproof Art Smock – Long Sleeve $16.95
l. ‘Where Is The Green Sheep?’ by Mem Fox $14.95 (or FREE to KSF Readers who place an order at Little Sprout – see above for details)

Little Sprout stock from an impressive array of brand including: ABC, Aladine, Alex Allen & Unwin, Ambi, Artoy, Australian Girl, Bang on the Door, Barefoot, Battat, Beatrix Potter, BOLZ, Brainy Baby, Brio, Britt, Bruder, Calafant, Charlie & Lola, Corolle, Crocodile Creek, Discoveroo, Djeco, Dolls World, Drewart, Duo Scope, Educational Colors, Educo, eeBoo, Egmont, Enchantmints, Enchantmints, Eric Carle ,Etch A Sketch, EverEarth, Felt Creations, Fibracolor, Folkmanis, Freckleberry, Freckled Frog, Galt, Gamewright, Giimo, Goki, Gotz, Great Pretenders, Green Toys, Gund, Haba, Hardie Grant EgmontHeebie Jeebies, Heros, Hopper, In the Night Garden, Infantino, Janod, Jasnor, Jolly Kids, Kate Finn, Kids Kitchen,  Klein, Klutz, Koh-I-Noor, Le Toy Van, LEGO®, LEGO® DUPLO®, Little Hare Books, Lunch Punch, Lundby, Macmillan, Maisy, Makedo, Meccano, Melissa & Doug, Mentari, Micador, MickiMicro Scooters, Miffy, Miniland, Mobilo, Mon Petit, Moulin Roty, Mr Barry, Noddy, Nutcase, Paddington Bear, Paper Eskimo, Papo, Penelope Peapod, Penguin, Penny Scallan, Peter Rabbit, Pintoy, Plasto, Playforever, Playmobil, Playschool, Pot Head, Puffin, Quack, Ravensburger, Rosebud, Scholastic, Seedling, Sesame Street, Sevi, Sigg, Silver Cross, Sirch, Skip Hop, Skwish, Smart Games, Solvej, Spielstabil, Spot, Sterling, Stokke, Story-Time, Strider, Sun Print, Sylvanian Families, Tatiri, The Gruffalo, Tiger Tribe, Tiny Love, Tolo, Toyslink, Uberstix, Usborne, Valco, Viking, Viking Books, Vilac, Voila, VTECH, Walker Books, Wedgits, Wheely Bug, Whipple, Windspeed, Winnie the Pooh, Wishbone Design Studio and WOW.

Little Sprout deliver Australia wide. for the flat rate of $9.95 via Australia Post. For full term, conditions, delivery times and details regarding international orders, please see the Little Sprouts delivery page.

Written by Domenica

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Bags, bags, bags! I have my own (ahem) slight obsession with them, so it seems appropriate that I undertake some research in the name of KidStyleFile’s ‘Back To School’ backpack and library roundup. I must admit, some of the bags had my heart racing a little with that ‘have to have it’ kinda feeling, including the Fernando Bear Packpack by Beatrix NY and the Cocoon Couture Library Bags – so sweet!

We are spoiled for choice these days with so many different designs to choose from, and of course functionality is always an important consideration too. So, whether you are after a backpack, a messenger bag, a drawstring bag, a tote bag, a daysack, a library bag, a kinder bag, a swim bag … or just a bag to be seen out and about in, we hope you’ll find one that will have your child counting down the days until kindergarten or school starts.

In no particular order of preference:

1. Skip Hop Zoo Bee Backpack – Haggus & Stookles – $34.95
2. Allerhand Kids Backpack Shadow – Haggus & Stookles – $77.00
3. Stephen Joseph Go Go Backpack – Ballet – Metro Mum – $26.99
4. Little Life Animal Daysack – Shark – Haggus & Stookles – $48.95
5. Medium Personalised Backpack – Mooo – $49.95
6. Lassig Mini Messenger Bag (4 Designs Available) – Metro Mum $49.95
7. Poppy Lou Little Miss Bus Ride Backpack – Baby’s Got Style – $35.00
8. Peace Little Eco Backpack - Cornflowerblue – $49.50
9. Fernando Bear Packpack Beatrix NY – Cornflowerblue – $54.50
10. Fluf Organic Cotton Backpack I Heart You – Kindred Gifts – $39.95
11. Poppy Lou Jazzi Snazzy Giraffe Library Bag – Baby’s Got Style – $35.00
12. Personalised Backpack – Stuck On You – $49.95
13. Shoulder Bag – Gorgeous Giraffe – The Infant Boutique – $39.95
14. Tiger Tribe Rainbow Drawstring Bag - Little Styles – $19.95
15. FREAK*O*BAG™ Monster With Horns Where Did You Get That? – Was $17.95 Sale $12.56
16. Bobble Art Swimming/Library Bag Traffic - Lime Tree Kids – $24.95
17. Bobble Art Swimming/Library Bag Multi Heart – Lime Tree Kids – $24.95
18. Oobi Booky Library Backpack Truck - Little Styles – $12.95
19. Magic Circus Library Bag – Cocoon Couture – $14.95
20. Enchanted Forest Library Bag – Cocoon Couture – $14.95

 See individual stores for details of discounted prices as marked in red. Please check individual stores for shipping information and don’t forget to check KidStyleFile’s All Current Deals page for any special deals that might be available.

Written by Domenica

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In a former life I was a teacher, and therefore painfully aware of how quickly the school holidays seemed to pass. With some parts of Australia starting school in around two weeks, we felt it was high time to do our homework here at KidStyleFile and roundup some of our fave top ‘Back To School’ picks. Today we are starting with just a few of our fave picks for lunch related items.

At the risk of sounding very old, I must admit that I cannot believe how far the humble lunchbox and drink bottle has come design-wise in both looks and functionality! And with more and more daycare centres, kindergartens and schools becoming waste free, now is the perfect time to consider investing in a fab lunchbox and drink bottle. Nom, nom, nom!

In no particular order of preference:

A. Skip Hop Zoo Lunchies Dog -Haggus & Stookles – $21.00
B. Cooler Lunch Bag Green Robot – Lime Tree Kids – $32.95
C. Built NY Munchler Insulated Kids Lunch Box Boo – Haggus & Stookles – Was $19.95 Sale = $16.95
D. Rex Circus Parade Lunch Box – Little Styles – $11.95
E. Assorted Fluf Lunch Bags – Kindred Gifts – From $23.95
F. Lego Lunchbox Red – Metro Mum – $19.95
G. Jasnor Very Hungry Caterpillar Lunch Bag – Little Styles – $24.95
H. Dwell Lunch Box Bag – Transport – The Infant Boutique – $49.00 Sale $44.10
I. Citizenpip Polka Dot BPA Free Kids Lunch Starter Kit – Metro Mum – $59.95
J. Bobble Art Kids Lunch Box – Multi Heart – Haggus & Stookles – $24.95
K. H2Onya Stainless Steel Bottle 500ml – Buxton Baby – $17.95
L. Hatley Wild At Heart Drink Bottle – Baby’s Got Style – $14.95
M. Funtainer Drink Bottle 355mls – Dancer – Where Did You Get That? – $24.95 Sale $19.96
N. Cheeki Stainless Steel Drinking Bottle 750ml – Metallic Purple – Ekidna Kids – $17.95
O. Bobble Art Spot Drink Bottle – Ekidna Kids – $19.95
P. Contigo Kangaroo Autoseal Blue Drink Bottle – Where Did You Get That? – $21.95
Q. Crocodile Creek Jungle Jive Drink Bottle – Ekidna Kids – $19.95 Sale $15.95
R. Rocket Racing Drink Bottle 350ml – The Infant Boutique – $24.95
S. Drink Bottle – Red Star – Little Explorers – Was $19.95 Sale $11.97
T. Vapur 0.5L Anti-Bottle Cyan Blue – Where Did You Get That? – $18.95
U. Lunch Punch Fairy Princess Sandwich Cutters – Baby’s Got Style – $13.95
V. Toddler Cutlery Set – Charlie’s Bucket – $59.00
W. Lunch Punch Transport Sandwich Cutters – Baby’s Got Style – $13.95

 See individual stores for details of discounted prices as marked in red. Please check individual stores for shipping information and don’t forget to check the KidStyleFile’s All Current Deals page for any special deals that might be available.

Written by Angela

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Skip Hop is a New York-based company, that, in 2003, designed the world’s first baby bag that converts into a stroller bag. Skip Hop have since expanded into a range of toys, feeding, bathing accessories, but their nappy bags have continued to be their top-selling items – and no wonder; these babies are beautiful, and incredibly well featured.

Snap up a Skip Hop ‘Duo Deluxe’ baby bag (was $99.95 now $49.97 ), ‘Duo Double’ (was $169.95 now $84.98) diaper bag,  ‘Duo Double Deluxe’ nappy bag (was $179.95 now $89.98) or ‘Studio’ upmarket mummy bag (was $199.95 now $99.98) at the Shop Until – shopuntil.com.au – Skip*Hop sale. All items are discounted by 50% – woohoo! – while stocks last only. Get over there fast!

Shop Until charge $6.95 flat-rate postage Australia-wide. Orders over $100.00 are shipped FREE. View full postage and delivery information here.

Written by Miki

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Over the last few weeks, the KidStyleFile team have gone into overdrive to bring you an extensive collection of gift guides to make your Christmas purchasing as easy as possible. We’ve given you a total of twenty-one gift guides covering everything from Stocking Stuffers Under $10 to Big Ticket Items Over $100, and each of the KidStyleFile writers has shown you what we’re placing under our Christmas trees for our own kids as well. We’ve also had the owners of many of our favourite stores give their top suggestions for gifts; it’s always great to hear from the experts themselves.  In total we’ve given you 289 ideas for what to buy the special little people in your life, and we hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as we have!

In case you’ve missed any of our guides, today I’m going to give you a final wrap-up of everything we’ve covered. And don’t forget, if you’re still stuck for ideas, come over to the KidStyleFile Facebook page to chat to us and all our incredibly helpful fans – I can just about guarantee we’ll come up with the perfect solution.

Our Christmas Gift Guides For 2011:

Top 20 Stocking Stuffers {Under $10}  |  Top 20 Gifts {Under $25}  |  Top 20 Gifts {$25 to $50}  |  Top 20 Gifts {$50 to $100}  |  Top 20 Gifts {Big Ticket Items Over $100}  |  Besty of Etsy: Handmade Christmas Gift Guide  |  Besty of Etsy: An Australian Handmade Gift Guide  |  The Green Guide: Best Eco-Friendly Gifts  | Top 10 Advent Calendars  |  Favourite Christmas Books  |  Staff Picks: Under Dom’s Tree  | Staff Picks: Under Anna’s Christmas Tree  |  Staff Picks: Under Melody’s Christmas Tree  | Staff Picks: Under Jen’s Christmas Tree  |  Staff Picks: Under Edwina’s Christmas Tree  |  Staff Picks: Under Miki’s Christmas Tree  |  Staff Picks: Under Leah’s Christmas Tree  |  Staff Picks: Under Angela’s Christmas Tree  |  Store Owners’ Picks: Part 1  | Store Owners’ Picks: Part 2  | Store Owners’ Picks: Part 3  | Store Owners’ Picks: Part 4

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.

Written by Domenica

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Uh oh! Despite best intentions, have you left your Christmas shopping to the last minute? Don’t despair, Little Styles – www.littlestyles.com.au – is here to save the day. Boasting 4000+ products, 130+ brands, 750+ gifts under $25, and free shipping for orders over $150, consider Little Styles your personal little Christmas helper to get your preparations back on track.

With a huge range of gifts still making their way onto the virtual shelves, you are spoiled for choice.  Take a look at the What’s New section to see offerings from Tiger Tribe, Oobi, Ridley’s, Bobbleart, Alimrose, Paper Eskimo, Spiegelburg, Jellycat, Oobi, Skip Hop, Alex Toys & much more! And remember, Little Styles has great Christmas picks for babies, toddlers, bigger kids and even grown ups. Girls will squeal with delight at the gorgeous Tiger Tribe Wooden Boxset Doll House; while boys will have hours of fun with the Sevi Village With Train Wooden Playset with its large landscape mat, 19 piece wooden train track and 14 wooden vehicles. For little babes I recommend the Skip Hop Hug & Hide Activity Bear; with over 10 developmental activities for under $30 bucks it represents excellent value. If you are on budget then check out the Gifts Under $25 section where there are around 650 choices to help keep you on track.

Little Styles also stock a fabulous range of perfect party season outfits for ages newborn to 8 years. If you are in need of inspiration then check out the Christmassy Clothing Ideas. For girls I adore the Oobi Rusalka Dress in Scarlet, while for boys I like the Fox & Finch Red Check Woven Shirt paired with the Sosooki Boy’s Denim Shorts and belt.

Last minute gift shopping is made easier today because Little Styles are offering KidStyleFile readers a 15% *storewide* discount, including a monster load of sale items already reduced by up to 40%. To access the savings, just enter code santa15 at checkout before midnight 16 December 2011. Remember, you can use this discount across all departments, so if you are hosting Christmas or New Year’s Eve celebrations this year check out the Party section. The huge range of party bits and bobs includes brands such as Robert Gordon and Paper Eskimo; designs sure to brighten your tables this festive season. While stocks last, Little Styles are also sending out a free Christmas gift bag with every order, flat-packed and ready for your use.

Discounted prices below are valid with code santa15 while stocks last, until 16 December 2011.

1. Tiger Tribe Wooden Boxset – Doll House, $59.95 LESS 15% = $50.95
2. Alimrose Designs Fairy Doll, $54.95 LESS 15% = $46.70
3. Alimrose Designs Claire Doll – Red Dress, $31.95 LESS 15% = $27.15
4. Skip Hop Zoo Bookends – Owl, $59.95 LESS 15% = $50.95
5. Oobi Summer Rusalka Dress – Scarlet, $59.95 LESS 15% = $50.95
6. Sevi Village With Train Wooden Playset, $129.95 LESS 15% = $110.45
7. Sosooki Toddler Boy’s Tee Sunset, $32.95 LESS 15% = $28.00; Khaki Patched Pant, $44.95 LESS 15% = $38.20
8. Little Styles Animal Puzzle Truck, $29.95 LESS 15% =25.45
9. Tiger Tribe Cheekies Softies – Pink Panda & Blue Dog, $27.95 each LESS 15% = $23.75

Fashion, toy and accessory brands stocked include Aden & Anais, Adiri, Albetta, Alex, alex & charli, Alimrose Designs, Annabel Trends, Baby Gund, Baby Bloch, Babykids, Babylegs, Babylicious, Baobab, Bbox, Bebe, Bebe Au Lait, Belly Art, Big by Fiona Scanlan, Blabla, BLINK Designs, Bluebird & Honey, Bobbleart, Bonds, Busybee Friends, Cheeky Little Soles, Cheeky Monkey, Cloud B, Cocoon Couture, Dashbaby, Deglingos, Elodie Details, Fish Lilly, Flipsy Flopsy Doll Co., Flirty Bird, Flo, ForWalls, French Bull, Fresh Bakes, Gala Organic Cotton, Gertie and Me, Giddy Giddy, Gimmo, Global Style custom, Haba, Hess-Spielzebug, Indy & the Ninja, Infancy, Infantino, Isoki, Itch Design, Jack & Lily, Jasnor, Kathe Kruse, Lakeland Design, Lark and Friends, L’il Fraser Collection, Little Chippi, Little Styles, Love Police, Mamas and Papas, Marquis, Melissa & Doug toys, Miatom, Milk Baby, Minimonkey, Minti, Moppit, Muddy Cloud, Noo Design, Oobi, Paper Eskimo, Pinkberry Kisses, Pink Thodore, Plum, Precious L’il Things, Purebaby, Rockabye baby!, Rush, Russ, Sevi, Sigikid, Skeanie, Skip Hop, Sooki Baby, Super Zeros, SwaddleDesigns, Three Little Trees, Tiny Mammoth, Tiny Revolutionary, Tiny Tribe, Vintage Kid, Walnut, Well Spotted, Woof!, and WOW toys.

Little Styles deliver Australia-wide for the flat fee of $7.50 with orders over $150 are delivered FREE of charge. See ordering and delivery for more information, including international shipping rates.