KidStyleFile

Today’s post written by Angela

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Today I’d like to introduce you to a wonderful new store that I discovered recently: The Toy Bug – www.thetoybug.com.au.

As you might expect, The Toy Bug stocks toys. No just any toys though: Jo Debnam, proprietor of the The Toy Bug stocks one of the finest selections I have seen online in Australia, and the prices are quite amazing! I have already placed 2 orders at The Toy Bug – after the first one was so good I had to dive straight back on in – and I can tell you that the service is an absolute knockout. I cannot speak highly enough!

So you can feel the love at The Toy Bug as I have, Jo at The Toy Bug is giving all KidStyleFile readers 10% off store-wide until 31 July 2009. Enter the code ‘ksf10′ to redeem.

I must say that I have found it very challenging to write this post and narrow it down to a few picks for you: EVERYTHING at The Toy Bug is meritous. I suggest browsing all the brands and then checking out all the categories (Pretend Play - how adorable is Sandra’s Wardrobe??, Novelty Toys – I just purchased a stash of mini compasses, tape measure and stampers for party bags, and Lachie’s Favourites: Jo’s son, Lachie has Autism Spectrum Disorder, and these are his favourite toys) so you don’t miss anything.

Those of you who have been looking for an award-winning Gyro Car, jump now while the discount is there and nab yourself an super bargain!

Some my very favourite toys are in the superlative lineup at The Toy Bug. We have all of these at home. They have been truly tried and tested and have come up trumps: buy with confidence!

Active People Bilibo – this simple open-ended toy goes on and on, powered by your child’s imagination. Is it a spinner, a bed, a scoop, a hat, a hill or a shell? It’s all of these and more!

Quercetti Georello Gears Go Round – Italian made quality, and a delightful toy: build your creation, crank the handle and watch the gears spin. A great way to teach cause and effect.

Egg Shape Sorter – a wonderful flashback to my own childhood, and an essential motor skill development toy for every littlie.

Tap A Shape Corkboard-  Perfect hammer and nail fun for the over 4 set. Comes complete with board, wooden shapes, tacks and hammer.

Fat Brain Toys Dado Cube – A construction toy with a very pleasing aesthetic. Leave it on the coffee table for kids and adults alike to enjoy.

Magnetic Maze – A game for one or two players. Set your own rules for completion. Good for hand-eye co-ordination, logic development and as a science lesson to teach how and why magnets work.

Prices marked below in red are applicable with code ‘ksf10′ until 31 July 2009 only.

A. Egg Shape Sorter $8.50 less 10% = $7.65
B. Tap a Shape Corkboard $15.00 less 10% = $13.50
C. Quercetti Georello Gears Go Round $25.99 less 10% = $23.39
D. Hickory Dickory Clock $39.00 less 10% = $35.10
E. Gyro Car $100.00 less 10% = $90.00
F. Fat Brain Toys USA made Dado Cube Set $49.95 less 10% = $44.95
G. Sparkle T Pull-along Jaffa the Dog toy $19.95 less 10% = $17.95
H. Wanju My Treetop Hideaway $99.00 less 10% = $89.10
I. Wooden Insect Self-Stampers $2.00 less 10% = $1.80
J. Wooden Breakfast Food Board $15.95 less 10% = $14.35
K. Magnetic Maze $24.00 less 10% = $21.60
L. Sandra’s Wardrobe Wooden Doll with Fashion wardrobe  $22.00 less 10% = $19.80
M. Petit Jour Paris Elmer Soft Block Set $26.00 $20.00 less 10% = $18.00

The Toy Bug stock quality brands including Active People, Anamalz, Boyle, Crocodile Creek, Djeco, EDDU Toy, Fat Brain Toy Co, Fiesta Crafts, GUND, Le Toy Van, JELLYCAT, Mamas & Papas, Manhattan Toy Company, Melissa & Doug, Petit Jour Paris, Sparkle T, Spiegelburg, TOLO, Toys Pure, Voila, WANJU and Wonderworld.

The Toy Bug charge $9.90 flat Australia-wide (with 3 product exceptions) and send via Express or Registered Post. Read the full shipping and delivery information here. Internatinalorders are welcome. Layby is also available.

Today’s post written by Angela

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If you’re in the market for some of the finest toys in the land, then I recommend taking a trip over to Send a Toy – www.sendatoy.com.au - who stock some of the coolest local and European brands out.

“Who?”, you ask, well try An Angel at my Table, Automoblox, Bajo, Brio, Cocoon Couture, Deglingos, Djeco, Dumpling Dynasty, Educo, EEBOO, Fiesta Crafts (my girls received this gorgeous puppet theatre/shopfront from Santa last Christmas), Folkmanis, Green Toys, Haba (don’t miss the Petit Fours), Heimess, Honeysticks, Janod, Kaloo Baby Gifts, Kathe Kruse, Lark, Le Toy Van, Mamas & Papas, Melissa & Doug, Moulin Roty, Nici, Pintoy, Plan Toys, Quadrilla, Rosie Flo activity books, Sevi, SIGG Bottles, Trudi Soft Toys, Vilac, Voila Toys, Wheely Bug (one of the best deals on the web for these iconic ride-ons), and WonderWorld!

To sweeten the Send a Toy experience, they are having a fab sale with selected items up to 50% off while stocks last. Check my hot picks below, and keep an eye out for new additions to the sale category – they are regularly popping new goodies in.

Send a Toy postage charges start at $9.90 for standard post (less for those in Adelaide, and for small single-item orders) and $11.90 for Express for orders up to 3kg, Australia-wide, excluding bulky items. Free gift-wrapping applies on most items. International orders are also welcome. Please see the Send a Toy Delivery Guide for full details.

Today’s post written by Angela

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Somewhat aloof, mythical, and mesmerising, the rabbit form has remained virtually unchanged since its first apprearance on the planet. The rabbit is a great design, and a master of reproduction, and therefore, along with the chick and egg, an iconic symbol of Easter abundance and – plus they’re super cute!!

I unashamedly admit I am a “rabbit person” – I had house rabbit for decades – and I am significantly responsible for the ongoing success of Cadbury.

Easter blends bunnies and chocolate, and I couldn’t be happier!

If you’re on the hunt for the most bunderful gift for your own little rabbit this Easter, be sure to hop to it, and check out the finds below. You can buy all the below online, while you’re munching on a nice quiet pre-Easter egg

A. Sarah Jane Studios Button Badges, Set of 2 at Monkeytail & Wellington – $6.50 $5.20

B. Playsam Rocking Rabbit at Little Living – $429.00 $295.00

C. Peter Rabbit Pullalong Toy at La Toriana – $29.95

D. La Marelle Colouring Book from Rainbow Puppen – $19.95

E. Ikaboo Mini-Glow Night Light from 5 Little Monkeys – $39.95 $34.95

F. Kathe Kruse Luckies Mini Rabbit at The Hip Infant – $15.95

G. Dumpling Dynasty DIY Bunny Kit at Lark Made – $29.95

H. Stickmeon Sir Rabbit Wall Sticker at Stickmeon – $66.00

I. Schleich Black and White Rabbit at Little Possums Toys – $4.75

J. Toys Pure Rabbit Puzzle at The Hip Infant – $13.95

Please check individual stores for postage and delivery information.

Today, Miki has gathered together some wonderful suggestions to keep your children amused and stimulated. Whether your kids are little babies, or ‘grown-up’ bigger kids, there’s something here for everyone, so turn off the telly and let the games begin!

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Fun and Games from birth to 6 months

Babies from newborn to six months of age aren’t much for throwing a ball around in the back yard or playing chasey, but you can have lots of giggles with them nonetheless!

Right from the first couple of weeks, it’s really important that babies spend a bit of time each day on their tummies: ‘tummy time’.  It’s essential to do this in order to relieve pressure on the backs of their little heads and to encourage their neck muscles to strengthen so that they can begin to lift their head up.

Some babies love tummy time but many don’t, so I recommend investing in a good play gym (the Mamas & Papas one pictured below is great) in order to make it more interesting and stimulating for them.

The other important activity for little babies is encouraging them to reach and grab for objects.  Again, a good quality play gym will aid this but for when you’re out and about string a pram toy across the car seat and/or pram to give them something to aim for.

Heimess Bear Rattle, $19.95 $16.95* from Ekidna Kids*
Mamas & Papas Light and Sound Playmat & Gym, $199.95 from Little Possums Toys
Mamas & Papas Musical Pram Rattle, $23.80 also from Little Possums Toys

Fun and Games from 6-12 months 

From six to twelve months babies are developing mentally and physically at an astonishing pace!  During this period they’ll probably start shuffling, crawling or even walking.

Babies this age adore peekaboo games – try throwing a cot sheet over their head and slowly dragging it off again and see if you can keep a straight face over the giggles!

Also try hiding toys under containers for the baby to ‘find’, and stacking containers into towers for the baby to knock down.  Don’t worry about potential destructive tendencies emerging here, as babies learn about building from knocking down for the first couple of years.

Other great games for this age are rolling a ball back and forth between you and the baby, and bringing puppets into play.  Whole hand puppets or cute little finger puppets are a guaranteed to be a hit!

Crocodile Creek 7″ Playground Ball – Dogs, $18.95 $16.10* from Ekidna Kids
Djeco Topanimo, $49.95 from Little Possums Toys (gorgeous set of toys and boxes, great for hiding games)
Beneath The Leaf Fairy Finger Puppets – set of 3, $24.95 also from Little Possums Toy

Fun and Games from 12-15 months 

Sometime around the ages of 12-15 months, your little one will probably start walking!

An activity they’re guaranteed to adore at this stage is walking along behind a trolley.  They can load it up with their favourite toys and head off into the sunset. It goes without saying that it’s even more important than ever to make sure they’re in a safe environment for this though.

With babies/toddlers who are on the move (crawling or walking), setting up structures to ‘hide’ in and around is loads of fun.  Make sure you get down on their level to crawl with them; it will increase the giggles tenfold.

The play teepee from Kids Gift List pictured below is perfect for this sort of game and can be used indoors or outdoors.

At this age they’re also learning to post different shapes into slots, so a posting game of some sort can be great. I love the BRIO one pictured, it’s so sleek and shiny!

KGL Pink Teepee, $259.95 $220.95 from Kids Gift List*
BRIO Wooden Sorting Box, $38.95 from Little Possums Toys
Plan Toy Baby Walker With Blocks, $120.00 also from Little Possums Toys

Fun and Games from 2 to 3 years

Two to three year olds have SO MUCH ENERGY! Keeping up with them can be a challenge and their power for destruction around the house is huge if they aren’t kept entertained.

At this age they can really start to get into dress ups, so bring out your best wardrobe gear from the 80s and let them go wild.

From the little destructive tornadoes who would knock down every tower of blocks in sight, they’re now starting to get the hang of building so a good set of blocks is a must-have.  Good quality wooden blocks will last generations, and the Toys Pure set from Ekidna Kids look beautiful as well.  These are a big favourite in our house.

You can also start to introduce simple puzzles and memory games for ‘quiet times’ play. Don’t get too carried away with fancy shapes and pictures here yet, stick to something simple like the Mooo Basic Shapes Puzzle to allow them to get the hang of things.

Mooo Basic Shapes Puzzle, from $34.95 from Mooo
Toys Pure Shalimar Puzzle, $39.95 $33.95 from Ekidna Kids*
Djeco 9 Cube Jungle Puzzle, $15.95 from Little Possums Toys (great blocks for building, and also are great as a puzzle from 3+

Fun and Games from 3 to 5 years

Three to five year olds are developing quite advanced gross motor skills and love being active, so give them plenty of practice by encouraging games like ten pin bowls – easy to be enthusiastic about, given the gorgeous range of sets available these days.

To encourage the development of fine motor skills, bring out the art supplies. Drawing, painting, stamping and so on are loads of fun and are a great tool for parents if you need to keep the kids amused on a rainy day. Giving your child their own pencil case makes them feel special and grown up – check out the Capt’n Sharky and Princess Lillifee filled pencil cases from Gifts4Kidz.

The more advanced puzzles can be brought out around now – the personalised name puzzles from Mooo are perfect as they will also help your child learn to recognise his or her own name in written form… and of course they look fabulous!

Capt’n Sharky Filled Pencil Case and Princess Lillifee Filled Pencil Case, both $45.00 from Gifts4Kidz
Bowl Me Over Penguin Set, $21.95 $18.65 from Kids Gift List*
Personalised Wooden Name Puzzle, from $24.95 from Moo

Fun and Games from 5 years+

By now your big little person is at school! The house must be seeming very quiet during the weekdays, but no doubt the noise and energy is more than making up for it after school and on weekends.

Keep the pencils and art supplies from the previous ages, as writing stories is probably starting to become a favourite pastime at this point. Encourage them in their literary and artistic pursuits by always have pencils and paper available; you’ll be amazed at what your little Picassos and Tennysons will produce!

For burning off energy you just can’t beat a jumping rope. Even professional athletes use jump rope as a cardio excercise, and the best part is that it’s so much fun! Adults can take part just as much as the kids can – get two jump ropes going and see if you remember how to double dutch like you used to in primary school.  The kids will be incredibly impressed if you can

This is a brilliant age to be bringing kids into the kitchen as well, and making a pizza can be healthy, educational and a whole heap of fun.  If you’re not exactly a Michelin-starred chef yourself, the Kids In The Kitchen Pizza Box sets from Gifts4Kidz make it easy for you.

Little girls love to play hairdressers, but please don’t exclude the boys from this game either. Bring out some gel and some hair dressing equipment (the set below means they won’t be wrecking yours!) and let them all go to town, not just on each other but on your hair too!

Hairdressing kit and cape, $44.95 from Gifts4Kidz
Kids in the Kitchen Pizza Box – Black, $24.95 from Gifts4Kidz
KGL Skipping Rope – Zebra, $6.95 $5.90 from Kids Gift List*

Please check individual sites for postage details.

*Indicates discount or special offer through the Shop 4 Kids magazine code.

The state of the environment has been an issue of concern for some time now, and the focus on environmentally sustainable options that minimise waste and use clean, green products, and modes of manufacture is one that we’ll need to keep paying attention to so our children, and their children’s children, can live long and happy lives in a healthy global ecosystem.

Shopping online is a great way to save some dollars and the environment at the same time: no need for a car or the monetary or environmental expense of petrol, plus shopping online – like right here! – saves you money AND a heap of time, so it’s a win win win win win situation!

Ekidna Kidswear – www.ekidnakidswear.com.au – is getting behind the cause this month, and encouraging you to buy clean and green for you children, by offering 15% off all the products in their Organics section.

Select from Green to Grow baby bottles, a reassuringly toxin-free option for bottle-feeding your baby.

Green to Grow bottles are made from PES plastic, which gives them a natural golden color. They are free of phthalates, lead and PVC – all known toxins – and free of bisphenol A – a suspected hormone-disrupting chemical used in polycarbonate plastic, from which most baby bottles are made. Green to Grow’s bottle teats are made from a transparent, medical grade silicone that is heat-resistant, non-toxic, and odorless. The teats are free of nitrosamines, a potentially harmful contaminant found in many rubber teats.

Green to Grow’s products are tested in the U.S. to ensure they meet the highest standards for quality and safety, are packed in 100% recycled packaging to be easy on the environment, and they are top rack dishwasher safe to be easy on you!

From left:

Green to Grow BPA Free! Wide Neck Feeding Bottle 300ml $19.95 15% off NOW $16.95
Green to Grow BPA Free! Regular Neck Feeding Bottle 300ml $19.95 15% off NOW $16.95
Green to Grow BPA Free! Wide Neck Feeding Bottle 150ml $16.95 15% off NOW $14.40
Green to Grow BPA Free! Regular Neck Feeding Bottle 150ml $16.95 15% off NOW $14.40

No doubt you have seen Anamalz before. An Australian design innovation, even at their diminuative stature – just 10cm high! – they are quite the standout pieces. With their delightful organic maple wooden bodies, posable limbs, and amiable expressions, they provide children with a lovely tactile play experience, which will last generations while being kind to the planet.

We love Anamalz here at out house, and have the whole menagerie of 12. My kids love to play with them, and assemble their collections along the dado rail in their bedroom. I must say they do really add personality to a space, feel lovely to hold, and are easily portable, making fabulous go-anywhere buddies for your child.

In addition to the 15% discount, Ekidna Kidswear is giving away a free Anamalz calico bag (holds 3 – 4 animals) and a pack of collector cards when 2 or more animals are purchased in one transaction.

From left:

Anamalz Lion $9.95 15% off NOW $8.45
Anamalz Crocodile $9.95 15% off NOW $8.45
Anamalz Elephant $9.95 15% off NOW $8.45

I must say, that I am a big fan of chemical free options where possible, and there’s no time more important to minimise artificial and chemical ingredients than when your baby is smaill: their little bodies have so much smaller ratios to be able to process toxins, and it just feels right to keep them as natural as possible.

Ekidna Kids makes this easy, with a compact, but thoughtful range of products for the littlest ones. The Under the Nile Organic Vegie teething toys are just the sweetest chew toys, and easy to wash and care for, Aromababy GMO-free organic massage oil delivers the highest quality product to give your baby yummy massages with, and the Nature’s Child organic face wipes and bottom balm offer gentle solutions for your child’s sensitive skin, and how I wish the Dri Liners – a reusable absorbent insert that fits inside any cloth or disposable nappy – existed when my babes were small: I would have save a small fortune in nappies!!

From top left, in rows:

Under the Nile Organic Cotton Carrot Teether $19.95 15% off NOW $16.95
Under the Nile Organic Cotton Mushroom Teether $19.95 15% off NOW $16.95
Nature’s Child Organic Face Wipes (4 pack) $17.95 15% off NOW $15.25
Nature’s Child Dri Liners (3 pack) $19.95 NOW $11.85
Aromababy Organic Massage Oil (100ml) $14.95 NOW $10.15
Nature’s Child Bottom Balm (50 gm) $14.95 25% off NOW $12.70

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 fabulous bargains check out the ‘Specials’ page and feel oh so glad that you did (lots of Oobi in there for you OobiWatchers)!

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.

Today is National Premmie Day. Chances are you know someone, or are someone, who’s had a prem baby: each year over 20,000 newborn Australian babies are admitted to Neo-natal Intensive Care Units and Special Care Nurseries owing to their pre-term arrival.

Today is the day to spare a thought – and a dollar or two – for those that toil to save the lives of little babies needing medical assistance, to those tiny little souls who fight so fiercely for survival and triumph over the odds, and to those angel babies who didn’t stay in this life long, but who profoundly touched the lives of those around them while they did.

Elizabeth at La Toriana – www.latoriana.com.au (mum to 3 prem babies herself) is offering KidStyleFile readers a unique opportunity to grab a bargain and support the National Premmie Foundation in their mission to offer support to prem babies and their families.

Make a purchase at La Toriana and receive a KSF exclusive 20% discount, plus a free gift for you. In addition, Elizabeth will donate 10% of your purchase amount to the National Premmie Foundation with an individual card including your name (optional) and donation amount.

Enter discount code ‘premmie‘ at checkout to receive 20% off your order. This offer runs for 3 days only, and ends midnight 27 July, so make haste!

Inspired by Elizabeth’s generosity, KidStyleFile has today made a donation to the National Premmie Foundation. Visit the National Premmie Foundation to make your own donation.

La Toriana sells divine clothing, toys and accessories for little babes from birth, and boys and girls up to 5 years.

Brands stocked include annieB, Britt, Cheeky Little Soles, Dobbin and Drum, Eternal Creation, Finnigan Finn, Hey Baby, Huggalugs, Vanchi, Kee Ka, Lambykins, Oobi, Toys Pure, BumpBuddy, Lazybones, Gertie and Me, Britt, Thurlby Farm, Kids Kitchen, Grommets, Mini Whisk, Annabel Trends, Vintage Kids, Babylicious, Penny Scallan, Tickled Pink, Djeco, Anamlaz, Nana Huchy, Jasnor, Footprints, Tummy Bear, Tea Princess, Alimrose Designs, Fairy Floss Creations, Cuski, and Gaia, and new to La Toriana, Britt, Nanny Pickle, Oopsidaisi and prem baby brands Tummy Bear and Early Birds.

In the La Toriana Premmie Baby section of the store, you’ll find a sweet and thoughtful range of products just for prem babies and their families and friends, including perfect little clothing pieces, and keepsake dolls so you can always remember how teeny your little babe was.

Clockwise from top left:

Early Birds Premmie Jacket $27.95 $22.36 after 20% discount.
Early Birds Premmie Jumpsuit and Hat Set $40.95 $32.76 after 20% discount.
Early Birds Booties $21.95 $17.56 after 20% discount.
Snow White Polar Bear $32.95 each $26.36 after 20% discount.
Cuski Comforter $39.95 $31.96 after 20% discount.
Tummy Bear Keepsake Dolls Weighted: $85.95 $68.76 after 20% discount. Unweighted: $70.95 $56.76 after 20% discount.
Nana Huchy Edwardo the Donkey $25.95 $20.76 after 20% discount.

Of course there’s plenty in store for bigger babies and kids too:

Eternal Creation Boys Tri-colour Long sleeved Tee with Star $36.95 just $29.56 after 20% discount
Finnigan Finn ‘Beth’ Green Cord Winter dress $59.99 just $47.99 after 20% discount

Cheeky Little Soles Superstar $31.95 just $25.56 after 20% discount
Tea Princess Soft Cord Dress Pants $52.95 just $42.36 after 20% discount

Also, La T are now stocking a new jewellery line from Mon Tresor, the ‘Princess Collection‘: delicate bracelets adorned with glass pearls, silver butterfly and dragonfly charms, Swarovski hearts and crystals.

Priced at just $19.95, $15.96 after 20% discount, these make for a very affordable special gift.

You can see all posts and more picks for La Toriana here.

La Toriana charges $7.50 for postage Australia wide. Orders over $150.00 are shipped free of charge. International orders are warmly welcomed, and there is a currency converter on the site so you can shop in your home currency.

Attention shoppers: the moment you have been hanging out for has arrived: La Toriana’s- www.latoriana.com.au – end of financial year KidStyleFile exclusive sale starts…right now!!

Elizabeth wants to add some spark to your day, and some savings to your pocket: take 30% off store-wide, including sale stock – which gives you up to 70% off sale stock!

Enter discount code ‘KSF30‘ at checkout to receive 30% off your order. Offer ends midnight 30 June, so make haste!

In case you’re new to the show, La Toriana sells divine clothing, toys and accessories for little babes from birth, and boys and girls up to 5 years.

Brands stocked include annieB, Britt, Cheeky Little Soles, Dobbin and Drum, Eternal Creation, Finnigan Finn, Hey Baby, Huggalugs, Vanchi, Kee Ka, Lambykins, Oobi, Toys Pure, BumpBuddy, Lazybones, Gertie and Me, Britt, Thurlby Farm, Kids Kitchen, Grommets, Mini Whisk, Annabel Trends, Vintage Kids, Babylicious, Penny Scallan, Tickled Pink, Djeco, Anamlaz, Nana Huchy, Jasnor, Footprints, Tummy Bear, Tea Princess, Alimrose Designs, Fairy Floss Creations, Cuski, and Gaia, and new to La Toriana, Britt, Nanny Pickle and Oopsidaisi. Check them all out for certain delight.

A few hot picks just landed at La T below for your shopping pleasure.

Clockwise from top left:

Oobi A-Line Stripe Baby Dress $24.95 $17.46 after 30% discount. Also available in red and white stripe. We’ve had these dresses for 2 years now. The girls are almost 4 now, and still wearing them – as tops! How great is that great-looking easy-wear-anywhere value?
Oobi Jellybaby Tee and Hat Gift Pack $32.95 $23.06 after 30% discount. A great unisex and budget-friendly gift for a newborn.
Britt I Love My Teddy Lounge Set Gift Pack $52.95 $37.06 after 30% discount. Another great gift idea; also comes in pink bear for girls.
Oopsidaisi Wise Owl Hair Ties $4.95 each $3.46 each after 20% discount. Owls are wise, oh so cool, and oh so CHEAP at 30% off. Accessorise, accessorise!!
Alimrose Designs Frilly Milly Apron $24.95 $17.46 after 30% discount. Domestic delight!
Huggalugs Berry Mums Leg/Arm warmers $16.50 $11.55 after 30% discount. These are my very favourite-est Huggers design.
Oopsidaisi All Natural Organic Lip Balm $6.95 $4.86 after 30% discount. I am an unashamed lip-balm addict, and organic makes me feel even better about my habit
Huggalugs Rocketman Leg/Arm warmers $16.50 $11.55 after 30% discount. Blast off into space with Huggers fun for boys.
Britt Design Baby Booties $37.95 $26.56 after 30% discount Kit your little bear out in appropriate attire with these snug as a bug booties.
Britt Design Beaver Reversible Baby Vest $42.95 $30.06 after 30% discount. Cuddly, snuggly fun. Reversible=double duty=SOLD!

You can see all posts and more picks for La Toriana here.

La Toriana charges $7.50 for postage Australia wide. Orders over $150.00 are shipped free of charge. International orders are warmly welcomed, and there is a currency converter on the site so you can shop in your home currency.

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.

I love shopping for my kids any day of the week. Shopping for myself has been virtually dropped from my agenda – almost every mama I know says the same thing; not to say that we don’t enjoy the odd bit of pampering!

Joanne at Ekidna Kids knows just where many Mums are at: to celebrate Mother’s Day Joanne is gifting all orders over $75.00* with a luxe full-sized Urban Rituelle Lip Balm valued at $9.95 FREE!

As an extra-special exclusive deal for KidStyleFile readers, Ekidna Kids is giving you 20% off new season’s and already discounted sale stock**.

Oh-my-golly-gosh!! Thanks, Joanne!

There are loads of beautiful products to select from: new stock has just landed, and if you are after a bargain, Ekidna Kids has a terrific sale happening – here’s a link to the ‘Specials’ page.

Brands to choose from include Anamalz, Annabel Trends, Aroma Baby, Babe Mode, Baby Blankie, Baby Legs, Badger Balm, Baobab, Beautiful Soles, Bebe by Minihaha, Bertini, Bud, 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, and Woof!

View my previous post to see some bootiful picks from Ekidna Kids.

Extra picks below; I just can’t help myself!! Don’t forget to take 20% off

Bebe Hoot PJs $39.90
Baobab Guitar Stud Tee $34.95

Eternal Creation Louisiana Fairy Wings $34.95
Infancy Melba Wrap Dress with Charcoal Leggings $62.95

Toys Pure Pull-along Snail $14.95
Fiesta Crafts Tooting Teddies Train $69.95

*Order must be $75.00 or over after applicable discounts, and excluding postage, to receive free lip balm. Available lip balm flavours include Peaches, Passionfruit, Vanilla, Watermelon, Milkshake, Guava, Choc mint, Lime and Pomegranate. Enter your top 3 preferred flavours in the comments field, and Joanne will do her best to meet your request; first in, best dressed! Limit of one per order.

**20% off store-wide ends April 30. Enter KidStyleFile at checkout to receive the discount.

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.