KidStyleFile

Today’s post written by Anna

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Well lovely ones, it’s Thursday; we’re on the downward slope to the weekend! Hooray! And this Thursday is no ordinary Thursday…it’s a  special Thursday, as I am sending an extra bit of joy your way: news from a fun-filled little boutique: Happy Little Hippos – www.happylittlehippos.com.au who have a special KidStyleFile offer starting today!

In addition to being a cool place to shop, as a KSF reader, you can shop yourself happy by taking 20% off all current stock (*excluding Moses Baskets and dollshouse items)  in store at Happy Little Hippos, PLUS for all orders of $100 or more you can select yourself a FREE GIFT: a 2010 Family Calendar or Envirosax Bag (while stocks last). To redeem, enter ‘KSF010‘ at checkout and for purchase over $100 specify to your preferred free gift in comments. Please note the Envirosax design will vary depending on stock levels available. This offer expires midnight on Wednesday 10 March, 2010.

Happy Little Hippos is stocked with a fantastic range of toys, art and craft activities, books, nursery and decor products, and accessories – all chosen with the happiness of you and your little tot in mind.

First mention today goes to the *very* fantastic Tike Bike proudly stocked by Happy Little Hippos. This is one purchase set to bring hours of happiness into the lives of children and parents alike. The Tike Bike is designed with giving children all the thrill of bike riding without the complications and potential fear bought about by training wheels . With a 20% reduction in price with your KSF offer, now is a great time to purchase one if you’ve had your eye on it or if you haven’t yet had the pleasure – an even better time to lay your eyes on it for the first time!

There is always much anticipation in our house for birthday celebrations, with much of this build up surrounding the birthday cake and what particular design it will be. My boys even take out the ‘cake book’ on occasion to peruse all the cakes (most of them well beyond my cake making ability!). I spied a very gorgeous Birthday Party Cake in the ‘kitchen toys’ section of Happy Little Hippos, and can imagine my children just gobbling this one up. Love it! Honourable mention from this section of the store goes to the Super Cool Ice Cream set.

Happy Little Hippos also have a wonderful selection of educational wooden toys like the Beginner Pattern Blocks &  See & Spell . Wooden toys last forever, making them an excellent choice for a growing family.  I also love the Nature Animal Blocks from Djeco. From a little baby starting out with ‘tummy time’ to an older child developing new skills, these blocks have lots of options for play suiting any age. The Our World Puzzle pictured below at number 2 is a regular floor puzzle in our house.  My husband loves using it to spark discussion about the various countries of the world with our boys. It’s a winner!

For decorating nurseries and other spaces for children, Happy Little Hippos also have a wonderful collection of Wall Stickers and other beautiful selections. And while we’re on the subject of decorating; you simply must take a closer look at number seven below for the cutest ever Birdhouse Clock, in a sweet range of colours, I just love it!

*Discounted prices quoted below are applicable while stocks last (no rainchecks), with special KSF discount code (see above) until 10 March 2010.

1. Mobile – Sweet Bird and Daisy $35.95 less 20% = $28.75
   
2. Floor Puzzle – Our World $32.95 less 20% = $26.35
3. Melissa & Doug See & Spell $54.95 $44.95 less 20% = $35.95
4. Djeco Nature & Animal Blocks $35.95 less 20% = $28.75
5. Melissa & Doug Birthday Party Cake $49.95 $44.95 less 20% = $35.95
6. Tike Bike Stand $23.95 less 20% = $19.15
7. Birdhouse Clock – Red $69.95 less 20% = $55.95
8. Chalkboard Sticker – Learn To Write $39.95 less 20% = $31.95
9. Melissa & Doug Beginner Pattern Blocks $44.95 $39.95 less 20% = $31.95
10. Tike Bike $199 less 20% = $159.20

Indulge in a fine range of toys, art and craft activities, books, nursery and decor products, and accessories, at Happy Little Hippos from brands including: 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, Pintoy, Plan Toys, Cuski, Live, Play, Create, Envirosax, Crocodile Creek, and more, as well as treats for Mums from Miss Uchi, Willow and Finch, and T2 Teas.

Happy Little Hippos charge $6.95 flat rate postage, Australia-wide. Conditions apply – see Ordering and Delivery page for complete details.

Today’s post written by Edwina

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Today’s post written by Miki

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Easter is a joyous time of year. Its significance changes from family to family, but whether it be your annual reason to attend church or mass, to go on the hunt for your area’s best hot cross buns, or painstakingly bake your own – my neighbour does this which impresses me more than I can say! – to have a family gathering, to go on holiday, or to eat your body weight in chocolate, Easter is a special time.

Children at Easter time are often the recipients of gifts, and although these have often consisted of chocolate in the past, trends are changing.  More and more parents want to make Easter special for their kids without having to put up with the little ones’ huge sugar-fueled tantrums or clean up chocolate vomit!  And so the hunt for clever, stylish, non-edible Easter gifts begins.

Below is a small selection of my favourites for little people. A couple of stores that deserve special mentions are Happy Little Hippos, who have a wonderful Easter Gift section to make your life easy, and ShopHouse who have a generous 25% off a selection of Cocoon Couture beanbags – the designs which feature bunnies, naturally

Stay tuned for more great Easter ideas, coming every day this week – from fashion to gifts, to craft, we’ve got Easter covered!

1. Egg Shaker – Red, $5.95 from Happy Little Hippos
2. DwellStudio Hand Puppet – Bunny, $32.95 from Urban Child
3. Vice Versa Chicken Teething Device, $9.95 from Bubba Funk
4. Crochet Duck – Yellow, $24.95 from Happy Little Hippos
5. Mamas & Papas Knitted Toy – Bunny, $39.95 from Kinder Kaboodle
6. Alimrose Knitted Bunny Rattle, $8.95 from Just Ripe
7. Cocoon Couture Girls Kinder Bag – Patchy Bunny, $29.95 from Kinder Kaboodle
8. Alimrose Handsqueaker – Bunny Daisy Posie, $15.95 from Happy Little Hippos
9. Cocoon Couture Patchy Bunny Beanbag – Chocolate/Sand, $99.95 $75.95 from ShopHouse
10. Deglingos ‘Lapinos’ The Bunny, $59.95 from Where Did You Get That?
11. Djeco Puzzle – Hen’s Garden 24pc, $25.95 from La Toriana
12. KGL Magnifying Glass – Duck, $3.95 from Kids Gift List

Please check individual sites for shipping and postage details.

Always check the KidStyleFile ‘All Current Deals’ and ‘Magazine Offers’ pages before making a purchase to ensure you’re getting yourself the best possible deal.

Today’s post written by Angela

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Happy happy, joy joy – Happy Little Hippos – www.happylittlehippos.com.au – is having a great little sale, and KSF readers get extra benefits in the form of an EXTRA 20% discount off everything in the On Sale category – WOW!!

You’ll have to be super quick though, as this offer ends at midnight, Tuesday 10 March 2009. Enter ‘FebSale09’ at checkout to activate your extra 20% off and be smiling to the skies

Red-hot picks are the Fancy Girlies Dollhouse, Baufix Build-It Buggy, Uchi bags and accessories, and the stunning Isak Couting and ABC framed posters, which would make a very stylish statement in any child’s room – what a beautiful gift these would make for a newborn!

While you’re over at Happy Little Hippos don’t miss the fabulous range of goodies just arrived. I really love the new ‘Beautiful Day’ journals, and the Micki Reto Kitchen.

I also can’t say enough good things about the Wheely Bugs (how CUTE is the new Tiger design – ah: it’s love!), and I am a big fan of Italian brand Quercetti – we have the Georello Farm and it is such a hit: free-form configure the high quality plastic cogs on the baseboard, plug the animals in, crank the handle and watch your creation whirl and spin. This is a great toy for teaching about cause and effect and motion, and is heaps of fun that lasts and lasts.

Indulge in a fine range of toys, art and craft activities, books, nursery and decor products, and accessories, at Happy Little Hippos, with brands stocked including 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, Pintoy, Plan Toys, Cuski, Live, Play, Create, Envirosax, Crocodile Creek, and more, as well as treats for Mums from Miss Uchi, Willow and Finch, and T2 Teas.

Clockwise from top left:

1. My Fancy Girlies Doll’s House (accessories included, postage charge $15.00 Australia-wide) – $199.95, $179.95 less 20% = $143.96
2. Large Wheely Bug Tiger - $110.00 (not on sale)
3. K’s Kids ‘Bobby’ Recordable Phone – $19.95, $14.95 less 20% = $11.96
4. Quercetti Georello Farm – $34.95 (not on sale)
5. Micki Red Retro Kitchen with Stove – $229.00 (not on sale)
6. Beautiful Day Journal – $16.95 (not on sale)
7. Pintoy Construction Front-end Loader – $59.95 (not on sale)
8. Baufix Build a Buggy – $29.94, $24.95 less 20% = $19.96
9. Uchi Drawstring Bag – $29.94, $24.95 less 20% = $19.96
10. Isak Counting Poster (framed) from Kindergallery – $160.00, $149.95 less 20% = $119.96

Happy Little Hippos charge $6.95 flat rate postage, Australia-wide. Conditions apply – see website for details.

Today’s post written by Miki

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Construction toys are an definite must-have for every kid’s toybox.  Whether it be some hand-me-down wooden blocks or one of the amazing sets pictured below, construction toys are so necessary, and SO much fun!

Girls and boys alike love to build things.  It fulfills a need in them for expressing their creativity and for learning how the world works: why does the tower fall down if you nudge it? What works to make it stay up?

Construction sets can be played with on their own, with friends or siblings or with a parent – especially Dad!  Want to instigate some father/child bonding?  Buy some sort of construction toy (I think Automoblox or the Marble Run below are surefire bets) and just wait for Dad and the kids to get stuck in together.

Now, what to buy?

Well the most well-known construction toy needs no introduction: Lego is eternally popular and kids just adore it.

However some lesser-known options which are just as good as Lego, if not better, are pictured below along with info on where to get them.

a. Djeco Creanimaux, $69.95 at Favourite Toys
b. Ball Track Construction Set, $199.95 at Moochie-Moo
c. Quercetti Fantacolour Daisy, $27.95 at Happy Little Hippos
d. Baufix Buggy – Small, $29.95 $24.95 at Happy Little Hippos
e. Lego Duplo Supermarket, $73.99 at IQ Toys
f. Quercetti Georello Farm, $34.95 at Happy Little Hippos
g. Automoblox Red Sports Car, $46.25 at Little Possums Toys
h. Mic-O-Mic sportscar, $34.95 at Moochie-Moo

Please check individual sites for postage, and as always check the KidStyleFile ‘All Current Deals’ page to see if you qualify for a special discount or offer.

Today’s post written by Miki

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Well, school’s well and truly in around the country now, but as the kiddlies start bringing home library books, artwork and more, you never know when you might just “need” a cool new update, or replacement item.

These beautiful, reusable and environmentally sustainable library bag options are just the thing if you’re in the market – so much better that lugging the books around in last week’s plastic bag from Woollies – check them out!

Kiddysac make fabulous library/swim bags in two sizes (large and medium), which feature drawstring tops and adjustable backpack straps.  There’s a huge range of bold colours with striking designs, making them ideal for young kids to remember which bag is theirs (“It’s the blue one with ballet shoes on it”).

You can buy Kiddysac bags at the following stores: Kinder Kaboodle, Little Explorers, and Pastel Pink.

Next let’s look at Envirosax.  Lightweight and small enough to be wadded up into a pocket when not in use, Envirosax are like environmentally friendly, reusable shopping bags.  They’re a great size for library books, especially picture books, and they’re cheap as chips!

You can find a superb range of  Envirosax bags at Pastel Pink.

Now we have Cocoon Couture, my personal favourite.  Featuring beautiful striped fabric and appliqued animal designs, these bags are quirky and totally adorable.  If you buy one of these bags you’ll want to keep it for yourself, rather than handing it over for the kids to use!

Get your Cocoon Couture bags from Urban Child, ShopHouse, Pastel Pink, Kinder Kaboodle and 5 Little Monkeys.

And may I just remind you to always check the KidStyleFile ‘All Current Deals’ page before making a purchase, just to make sure you’re getting yourself the best possible deal?

Here are some of the cool library bags on offer:

Please check individual sites for postage 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.