KidStyleFile

Today’s post written by Miki.

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It’s a chilly old spring this year, isn’t it?  I’ve just had a look at a weather forecast chart for Australia, and there’s not one capital city without a little cloud or rain picture hanging over them for today.

That’d be fine - heck, we can use the rain! - but if your kids have grown out of last winter’s raincoats and boots, like mine has, you’ll be a bit stuck because they’re hard to find at this time of year.

Luckily for us Kinder Kaboodle - www.kinderkaboodle.com.au - comes to the rescue.  Not only do they stock ravishing rainwear (Smelly Welly, Western Chief and Penny Scallan among others) but it’s discounted at 20% off!

It’s rare to find top brands like this at less than full price so snap ‘em up while they’re hot!  Be smart and buy for next winter as well while you’re at it.

Kinder Kaboodle always stock the latest and best in gear for kinder, pre-school, childcare and school. There’s currently a heap of new goodies to feast your eyes upon, for example the totally adorable new hair clips and accessories from Giddy Giddy - huge range and really affordable.

The new Charlie & Lola range from the popular ABC TV series and the books by Lauren Child will also be a winner - put some of it away for Christmas and you know there’ll be huge smiles on the day.

I think my absolute favourite at Kinder Kaboodle right now is the brand new Bazoongi Kids Mushroom Play House - check it out!  How fantastic is that?!  Boys and girls (and parents) alike will love this one, it’s a great size for mini tea parties and whispering secrets and giggles while being small enough to pack away compactly when it’s not in use.

If you want a 15% discount storewide - including sale items!! - then grab a copy of Shop4Kids magazine for the magic code inside.  If you can’t get hold of the mag, then watch out for the code, included in tomorrow’s KidStyleFile newsletter (if you haven’t already subscriber, do so here).

Kinder Kaboodle are also noteworthy for their stylish FREE giftwrapping!

Kinder Kaboodle stock the following brands: Alex & Charli, Bazoongi Kids, Bestever, Bobble Art, Boys Don’t Wear Bows, Charlie and Lola, Chelona, Chick Pea, Cocoon Couture, Crocodile Creek, Cupcakes Jewellery, Feef, Fleurville, Fruity Faces, Giddy Giddy, Goldfish Gifts, Happy Guru, Hotbods, Jam Industries, Kiddysac, Kids Cold Packs, Little Chipipi, Little Swish, Milestone Press, Mini Rhubarb, Mini Whisk, 4 My Earth, Oscar Blue, Penny Scallan, Rolly Poly Kids, Rush, Smelly Welly, Tatiri, The Bag Tag Studio, Vintage Kid, Western Chief, and Zebra Crossing Club.

From top left in rows:

All prices include the 15% Shop4Kids discount.

Giddy Giddy hair clips are scattered across the image above, $10.95 $9.30 each
Rush Wall Hook - Space Alien, $17.95 $15.25
Alex & Charli ‘Pearls For Girls’ Bracelet, $35.95 $30.55 Beautiful Christening/Baptism/Confirmation gift for a special little girl
Penny Scallan Raincoat ‘Boy Stripe’, $49.95  $41.95 $35.65 and ‘Boy Stripe’ Boots, $29.95  $24.95 $21.20
Tatiri Little Plane Drink Bottle, $14.95 $12.70
Giddy Giddy Fabric Pouch - Red Elephant, $31.95 $27.15
Locolili! Pink Freckle Reversible Headband, $10.95 $9.30
Fleurville Kids Messenger Bag - Olive Green, $59.95 $50.95
Bazoongi Kids Mushroom Playhouse, $129.95 $110.45
Smelly Welly - Strawberry Wellies, $39.95  $27.95 $23.75

Kinder Kaboodle charge $6.00 for parcels up to 500gms and $9.00 for parcels 501gms-3kg, Australia wide. Orders over 3kg will display the charge at checkout. Orders over $120 are shipped free!

Looking for backpacks, bags, tags, drink bottles, sleeping gear, lunch bags and snack keepers, smocks and aprons, sun-hats, rain gear, hair accessories, dress-ups, creative play solutions, funky toys and gifts, and the coolest accessories??

Search no longer: it’s all here at Kinder Kaboodle - www.kinderkaboodle.com.au!

A concept store especially for the pre-schooler, school age and creche-going child, whether you need backpacks and bags, drink bottles, sun-wear, rain-wear, art-ware or sleepover supplies, Kinder Kaboodle is the place for you.

With an incredible range across brands including Alex & Charli, Bazoongi Kids, Bestever, Bobble Art, Boys Don’t Wear Bows, Charlie and Lola, Chelona, Chick Pea, Cocoon Couture, Crocodile Creek, Cupcakes Jewellery, Feef , Fruity Faces, Goldfish Gifts, Happy Guru, Hotbods, Jam Industries, Kiddysac, Kids Cold Packs, Little Chipipi, Little Swish, Milestone Press, Mini Rhubarb, Mini Whisk, 4 My Earth, Oscar Blue, Penny Scallan, Rolly Poly Kids, Rush, Smelly Welly, Tatiri, The Bag Tag Studio, Vintage Kid, Western Chief, and Zebra Crossing Club there is something for every taste and need.

No more rushing around different places looking, Kinder Kaboodle is *the* source!

The question here is not what to buy, but what *not* to buy!! Last week I purchased some new Feef smocks, Alex & Charli drink bottles, and extra Starfish Bump Buddy (can’t have too many of these!!), and I just noticed these socks, which I think we maybe can’t live without!!

I must say that Bernice at Kinder K really goes all out with her gift wrapping; it’s gorgeous! Also, she included a very sweet little gift with the order. Make a purchase and you’ll get one too

To get 15% off the purchase price store-wide pick up a copy of My Child or Australian Parents magazine and access the special discount code.

(Not near a newsagent? Leave a comment on this post, or email me, and I’ll send you the code.)

As the rain pitter-pats outside my window, my first pick of the day is the Penny Scallan rainwear, just landed at Kinder Kaboodle.

The new Penny Scallan raincoats ($49.95) are so soft to touch (not stiff like as per usual ‘plastic’ raincoats situation) and look so groovy! Match them with the new Penny Scallan Boy Stripe and and Penny Scallan Girl Stripe Gumboots ($29.95 per pair) for wet-weather readiness.

Also, I’m loving the new Penny Scallan Pop-up Umbrellas ($19.95), which fold down to a compact 23cm - ideal for popping in school bags.

Other things on the shopping list today:

(Beautiful, huh? Colours make me feel good!!)

I can’t let today’s post go by without mentioning the Feef smocks ($34.95) which I deem to be the best smocks in existence. I know this from experience; we have literally 10 different kinds, and the Feef smocks are the only ones that don’t soak through. They are a made from a thick, but soft, coated fabric that really protects clothes; no more Napisan-ing after playgroup!

If you’re in the market for a super-cool lunch bag for your little one, consider the Bestever Lunch Bags ($29.95 $23.95) How cool is this Croc? also available in Puppy Dog and Zebra.

For drink bottles, you can’t go past Alex & Charli’s Drink Bottles ($14.95) - goodness knows I didn’t

A beautiful new addition to Kinder Kaboodle’s super range of bags are the Chickpea range of products. How gorgeous are these Chickpea Library Bags ($25.95) with their divine vintage-retro prints?

If you are looking for solid colour bags, I highly commend the Kiddysac bags. We have been using our bags for 4 months now and they still look new!!

To ensure your child’s bag doesn’t get lost, consider attaching a Personalised Bag Tag (only $9.95 including postage!) from The Bag Tag Studio. Bernice at Kinder Kaboodle will take your order, and send it to The Bag Tag Studio, who will create your tags and sends it direct to you on Bernice’s behalf to speed up the delivery process. These tags are great quality and come in a wide range of gorgeous styles.

Other things I’m eyeing off are the new cooking products from Mini Whisk (starting from $15.95), the super-cute Bestever bag accessories, $8.95, (pictured above in Bird and Dog, and also available in Sheep and Lion) and the My School Days Record Book ($34.95) from Milestone Press.

Kinder Kaboodle charge $6.00 for parcels up to 500gms and $9.00 for parcels 501gms-3kg, Australia wide. Orders over 3kg will display the charge at checkout. Orders over $120 are shipped free!

International shipping is available. Contact Bernice at Kinder Kaboodle for a fast and friendly quote.

Today, Miki brings you part 2 of her special feature on Decor and Accessories. There are heaps of fab products to delight in here, and some great deals happening, so dive on in! (Read Part 1 of this Special feature here.)

Stay tuned for next weekend’s Special Weekend Feature - Strollers and Prams

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My Munchkin Home
Does your kid’s room need updating? Or even better, are you expecting a new baby and need ideas for the nursery? Well there’s a goldmine of ideas at My Munchkin Home - www.mymunchkinhome.com.au.

Perfect for kids’ bedroom doors (or walls or even windows) are the personalised name decals - after all, don’t all kids love to have their name on their bedroom door? Or you could combine the name with one of the big wall decals, like the bunting or the circus tent.

The ‘scatter’ decals, such as the butterflies and the fighter jets are also a brilliant idea, because not only do they look fantastic, but the kids can help decorate the room with them too. Let your (and their) imagination run wild!

My friend Marisa is expecting her first baby at the start of August and she has decorated her nursery with the completely adorable dancing elephants in mint green (so no clues for me as to the sex of her baby, hmph) and the ‘sweet dreams’ decal - so, so cute!

Clockwise from top left:
Sweet Dreams, $29.95
Princess Castle, $129.95
Pirate Ship, $159.95
Dancing Elephants, $34.95

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Kinder Kaboodle
It’s a well known fact that we at KSF LOVE Penny Scallan. Well, who doesn’t?!

Luckily for us, Kinder Kaboodle www.kinderkaboodle.com.au have a plentiful supply of Penny Scallan for us to drool over - lunch bags, art smocks, hats, library bags, gumboots… ooh, I could go on and on and ON, but instead I’ll stop teasing you and give you a link straight to Kinder Kaboodle’s massive Penny Scallan range.

In actual fact, there is so much to choose from and such a huge variety of brands at Kinder Kaboodle that I could never hope to do it all justice.

Everything your kid could possibly need for kinder or school is there, and it’s all gorgeous and stylish and practical, and oh: I want it all!

Just to draw your attention to a couple of products that made me giggle though, have a look at the Western Chief umbrella and backpack pictured below - wouldn’t that just get you grinning at the start of every day?

And the inflatable Fruity Faces fruit holders are just so cool. Don’t be fooled into thinking they’re only for kids either - one of my former colleagues used to frequently bring a banana to work safely encased in its Fruity Faces case. Made for some hilarious conversations around the lunch table, let me tell you!

Get yourself 15% off store-wide at Kinder Kaboodle with the My Child or Australia Parents magazine codes. Find out more here.

Clockwise from top left:
Western Chief backpack, $32.95 $24.95; and umbrella $19.95 $15.95
Penny Scallan daisy art smock, $29.95
Fruity Faces - Mengi Fruit Carrying Case, $9.95, and Fenne Fruit Carrying Case, $9.95
Penny Scallan apple lunch bag, $34.95

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Babes In Arms
Baby wearing is becoming a big thing in our part of the world nowadays. Keeping your baby close to your chest is known to help soothe fussy, colicky babies, and it makes older babies and toddlers feel more secure and content. Besides which, it’s just so darn convenient for the parents! Your bub is snugly hugged in to you and both your hands are free to get on with what you need to do.

Babes In Arms - www.babesinarms.com.au - carry some of the best names in baby carriers and slings on the planet.

As Angela pointed out earlier in the week, the ERGO is very much in favour in Hollywood at the moment, and when you look at the design features it’s easy to see why. It can be worn on your front, your hip or your back, can take premmies right through to hefty 18kg toddlers and is designed to support the baby’s physical development and make the baby feel lighter for the parent!

And if that wasn’t enough to pursuade you, Babes In Arms have 10% off the ERGO until the 31st of May!

Another option for baby wearing is a sling, and the Peanut Shell is one of the funkiest out there. With no fewer than seventeen colour/print options you’ll be spoilt for choice, and the simple design is a breeze to use. The other great thing about a sling is that it’s easy to breastfeed discretely in public while wearing one!

Babes In Arms also stock the ever-popular Hug-a-Bub and the Maya wrap, plus the innovative reversible Papoose coat (see pic below) and the extremely nifty Little Monkey Mirror! And one final note - Babes In Arms include free Express Post delivery with all items!

Left to right:
Papoose Coat, $240 $170
Peanut Shell (shown in ‘royalty’ 100% cotton reversible fabric), $98.00
ERGO baby carrier, $143.10

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5 Little Monkeys
5 Little Monkeys - www.5littlemonkeys.com.au - is always a favourite of mine, but that goes double for when we’re talking about decor for kids’ rooms. The products here are great - funky, a bit different, well designed and cater to a wide range of tastes.

To start with, have a look at the big range of the Cocoon Couture beanbags. I love them!!

Not only do they look great, but the covers are machine washable while the beans stay intact in their internal safety lining, which means they will keep on looking great.

Other gorgeous products here are the Tiger Tribe mobiles for the nursery - again, a big range to choose from but I love the cupcakes (pictured below) for a little girl.

Tiger Tribe also have rather gorgeous magnets, just the thing for sticking your little darling’s artwork to the fridge.

And lastly, the IKABOO Mini-Glow nightlights will bring a smile to anyone’s face especially as they’re discounted too!

5 Little Monkeys are offering 20% off EVERYTHING (including sale items) PLUS a FREE pressie exclusively for KidStyleFile readers, until Monday 26 May, so race on over!! Enter KSF5LM at checkout to receive this incredible discount.

Clockwise from top left:
Tiger Tribe cupcake hanging mobile, $29.95
IKABOO Mini-Glow nightlight, $39.95 $35.95
Cocoon Couture Sleepy Owl beanbag, $140 $125.00
Tiger Tribe Flowers magnet set, $9.95

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Please check individual sites for postage details.

Well, the Winter 2008 issue of My Child magazine is out today, and boy is it packed to the rafters with goodies for you!!

The KidStyleFile community is out in force in My Child this issue: check out the full-page KSF ad featuring incredible discounts and offers from 9 great stores.

My Child is well worth the read; it’s thought provoking, up-to-the-minute, and beautiful to look at. Subscribe to the KSF Deals & Steals Weekly newsletter to be in the running to win 1 of 10 My Child subscriptions.

(Also, check out my little ‘trend watch’ column!! Aaaah, I’m in *print*!!! Drop me a line, or leave a comment, and let me know what you think!!)

Grab a copy of the mag and check the ad to get the exclusive My Child code to unlock all these great discounts!

When you have the code in hand, head over to the 9 stores below, and enter the code at checkout to score the discounts (read to the bottom of the page to see the terms and conditions):

5 Little Monkeys - www.5littlemonkeys.com.au - 15% off store-wide*

Buckets and Spades - www.bucketsandspades.com.au - 10% off store-wide*

Frock You - www.frockyou.com.au - 20% off store-wide*

Giggle ‘n’ Groove - www.gigglengroove.com.au - FREE pair of Classic Bows**

Kids Gift List - www.kidsgiftlist.com.au - 15% off store-wide*

Kinder Kaboodle - www.kinderkaboodle.com.au - 15% off store-wide*

La Toriana - www.latoriana.com.au - 15% off store-wide plus FREE gift*

Pastel Pink - www.pastelpink.com.au - 15% off store-wide*

ShopHouse - www.shophouse.com.au - 15% off store-wide*

Here’s the official release from My Child on what’s in the mag:

“THE GREAT DEBATE! Midwives vs obstetricians In “The art of birth”, actress and TV personality Ricki Lake talks about her water birth, alongside director Abby Epstein. Also Victoria Atkinson analyses the ongoing debate in her column “What I’ve learnt so far”.

GET STYLIN’ ­Catch our new style report and trend watch sections for the latest and greatest in products. Also check out our 10 best-ever maternity wear tips.

PREGNANCY & BIRTH Drugs in labour: what are your options? Eating for two: can we really pig out when pregnant?

INFANCY Postnatal recovery guide: why rest and recuperation is essential. Solidly speaking: top weaning tips and great recipes for baby.

EARLY CHILDHOOD Kids on the net: how to make the most of this powerful tool – and protect your children.

BEAUTY, FASHION, INTERIORS and lots of INSPIRATION Gorgeous products, new concepts, amazing designs, great gift ideas. These pages will have you inspired to redecorate, renew and revitalise your life!

PLUS Join in on our battle of the blogs and win some fantastic prizes!

ALSO with every issue of My Child purchased you receive 20% off maternity wear from Queen Bee and baby skincare from Aromababy!”

Discounts codes and offers terms and conditions: *Discounts apply to store-wide purchases, excluding postage or gift-wrapping costs. Discounts not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Discounts may be subject to change without notice. Discount code expires midnight July 31 2008. **Minimum spend $50.00 before postage or gift-wrapping costs. Enter discount code and preferred Classic Bows colour in the notes section at checkout. VIP discount still applies. Offer may be subject to change without notice. Discount code expires midnight June 30 2008.

I posted recently on how I got a couple of the Kiddysac backpacks for my kids. Well, here they are, on their way to pre-school this morning.

How cute it that? Too cute!! Just adorable!

Your kids too, can be so lucky, purchase any Kiddysac product from either Kinder Kaboodle - www.kinderkaboodle.com.au - or Rosie Pose - www.rosiepose.com.au, and receive 15% off!

If you shop at Kinder Kaboodle enter ‘KSF’ at the discount code section at checkout to receive 15% off the purchase price.

If you shop at Rosie Pose enter ‘KidStyleFile’ at the discount code section at checkout to receive 15% off the purchase price.

Rosie Pose charge $6.50 flat for Express Postage Australia wide. Choose to have your purchases gift wrapped free of charge! International orders are very welcome. Check here for full shipping details.

Kinder Kaboodle charge from $6.00 postage Australia wide. Orders over $120 are shipped FREE, and gift wrapping on all orders is complimentary. International shipping is available. Contact Bernice at Kinder Kaboodle for a fast and friendly quote.

My kids started pre-school recently, and I bought them new lunch boxes with configurable compartments, and insulated lunch bags. They also need to take along hats, and a spare set of clothing.

I love the practicality of backpacks, but the only ones we had have a zillion different pockets and zippers, and are really a bit complex for current needs, little fingers, and teachers who may need to grab a change of clothes in a hurry.

I spotted the Kiddysac backpacks a while ago, and they caught my eye with their bold fabric colours, happy character appliqués and the simplicity of their easy-open-and- shut drawstring closures.

Cute, huh? And in real life they are much better even than they look on screen!

They are constructed of a thick, quality gabardine-y drill fabric, that adds a slight retro feel, are lined, have adjustable buckle straps and reinforced stitching at the apex of the straps in anticipation of repeated usage. The drawstring is easy for the kids to open and pull closed, which really makes them feel capable and competent; it’s great to see a product for kids that kids can actually use themselves.

The character patches, in designs such as princess, pirate, cat, crocodile, butterfly, and dinosaur, are a thick appliqué.

I’m not exactly sure how they are applied (heat set?), but I’ve tried hard to pick them off, and they ain’t coming!

These bags are the perfect size (45cmx40cm) for a spare set of clothing plus some extras. I’m thinking that when ‘big school’ starts they will fill the perfect role of library bag. Squashable, washable, and super-cute to boot!

Now I know what lovely quality these bags are, I’m looking towards the smaller variety as ‘wrapping’ for Easter goodies.

The ‘dilly bag’ style resonates with me, as my Nan used to make this style of bag, and they had endless uses to us kids.

I know that after they serve their function as wrapping, they will be perfect for storing small treasures. (I know a menagerie of farm and African animals that would go perfectly in these bags!)

Kiddysac also make pencil cases, shoulder bags, and wall pockets. Prices range from $32.95 for the backpacks (45cmx40cm) to $24.95 for large bags (45cmx40cm), $16.95 for medium bags (27cmx20cm), $12.95 for pencil cases (20cmx16cm), $12.95 for handbags (14cmx10cm + 14cm handle length), and $49.95 for hanging wall pocket storage products (60cmx45cm).

Kiddysac products are available from Rosie Pose - www.rosiepose.com.au (backpacks, pencil cases, wall pockets and medium sized bags) - and Kinder Kaboodle - www.kinderkaboodle.com.au (large bags, medium bags, and handbags).

Kinder Kaboodle offers name personalisation on large bag sizes for just $8.00! With a mere 24 hour turnaround to have your bag personalised, this is an irresistible option. No more having to attach labels yourself! Yay!

In addition to this service, Kinder Kaboodle is offering KidStyleFile readers a 10% discount off Kiddysac products. Enter ‘KSF’ at the discount code section at checkout to receive 10% off the purchase price.

Rosie Pose charge $6.50 flat for Express Postage Australia wide. Choose to have your purchases gift wrapped free of charge! International orders are very welcome. Check here for full shipping details.

Kinder Kaboodle charge from $6.00 postage Australia wide. Orders over $120 are shipped FREE, and gift wrapping on all orders is complimentary. International shipping is available. Contact Bernice at Kinder Kaboodle for a fast and friendly quote.

School’s almost in! Are you sorted yet? Never fear, Kinder Kaboodle - www.kinderkaboodle.com.au - is here!

A new concept store especially for the pre-schooler, school age and creche-going child, whether you need backpacks and bags, drink bottles, sun-wear, rain-wear, art-ware or sleepover supplies, Kinder Kaboodle is the place for you. No more rushing around different places looking, it’s absolutely all here!!

With an incredible selection across brands including Penny Scallan, Feef, Smelly Welly, Vintage Kid, Crocodile Creek, alex & charli, Western Chief and Bobble Art, and the award winning Little Swish Dream Kits, there is something for every taste and need.

Here are some picks close to my heart; we use these in our house, and they are all life-savers:

Penny Scallan, with her beautiful limited edition fabrics encased in practical easy wipe PVC (we have the Groovy Spot - pictured in Library Bag $17.95 - Paisley and Flower prints going on in our house)

Feef, who make the *best* smocks in existence. I know this from experience; we have literally 10 different kinds, and the Feef smocks are the only ones that don’t soak through. They are a made from a thick, but soft, coated fabric that really protects clothes; no more Napisan-ing after playgroup! Garden Art Kids Smock pictured $34.95 (also comes in Beetle Car print)

Kid Cold Packs BumpBuddy; once again I sing the praise of the Starfish Bump buddy; they turn an injured crying child into smiling fully recovered child in 2 minutes flat! Starfish variety pictured $9.95 (also comes in funky flower, dinosaur and soccer ball designs).

A product I don’t have yet, but will be snapping up soon, is the not-a-moment-too-soon 4 My Earth eco-friendly Sandwich and Snack Wraps ($9.95 and $6.95 respectively), an easy and non-toxic product that keeps food fresh and dry. These environmentally friendly Sandwich Wraps can be used to wrap lunches and snacks over and over again, are much easier for little fingers to get open than cling wrap, and reduce landfill and water pollution caused by discarding plastic.

What an incredibly brilliant idea - just like Kinder Kaboodle itself!

To get 10% off the purchase price storewide, simply enter ‘KSF’ in the discount code section at checkout.

Kinder Kaboodle charge $6.00 for parcels up to 500gms and $9.00 for parcels 501gms-3kg, Australia wide. Orders over 3kg will display the charge at checkout. Orders over $120 are shipped free!

International shipping is available. Contact Bernice at Kinder Kaboodle for a fast and friendly quote.