KidStyleFile

Post written by Miki

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

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

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

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

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

Post written by Miki

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To continue our Gift Guide Series, today I’m looking at gifts in the $50 to $100 price range.  It’s an excellent price bracket for buying something a little bit special for the boy or girl in your life who has tried extra hard to be good all year (a few whacks in the direction of his/her brother or sister notwithstanding); and there some amazing choices available.

The Cloud Bookcase pictured at #4 below would look beautiful in a nursery – fill it with new or secondhand books for your baby to enjoy to create a truly amazing gift. I’ve also included the Wheely Bug in the babies’ gifts section, because although it’s technically for 12+ months, my youngest child started playing with his brother’s Wheely Bug from about 4 months old, and loved it more than anything else we had – he’d grab at the wobbly antennae, kneel up while holding onto it, push it along like a walking trolley and so on. I’m also enamoured of the TrayKit which I think might be exactly what my boys need to help us all survive the long car trip we’re planning early in the New Year; and for little girls the Bobbi Sunshine Ruffled Daisy Swimsuit is simply too sweet for words. I am cheating by mentioning an extra product in addition to my top 20, but I also think this Stephen Joseph Backpack/Lunchbag Set is adorable and great value, and it comes in several other designs if farmyards aren’t your thing.

Keep reading to see my top twenty picks (in no particular order) for gifts in this price range, loosely grouped into products for babies, boys and girls.

Babies
1. Boon Frog Pod, $69.95 at Ekidna Kids
2. Wheely Bug – Bee (small), $85.95 at Shop For Tots
3. Cloudb Sleep Sheep, $59.95 at Billy Lids
4. My Escape Cloud Bookcase, $59.95 at The Little Kidz Closet
5. Groovie Math Blocks, $74.00 $55.50 at Cornflower Blue
6. Woolly Wugs Summer Sleeping Bag – Red, $59.95 at Stylish Kiddish

Boys
7. Stuck On You Designer Value Pack of Labels, $59.95 at Stuck On You
8. TrayKit – Kids Travel Tray & Backpack, $54.95 at Haggus & Stookles
9. Monster Couture Beanbag – Captain Shaggy Red, $99.95 at Little Styles
10. Playmobil T-Rex With Raptors, $79.95 at Cradle Rock
11. It’s A Clock Educational Children’s Clock – Bubble Boy, $89.00 at Metro Mum
12. Trunki Ride On Suitcase – Freddie Fire Engine, $89.00 $80.10 at Metro Mum
13. All Terrain Balance Bike, $99.95 at Design Child

Girls
14. Pink Swan Tutu, $60.00 at Little Red Love Buttons
15. Language Littlies Bilingual Doll – French/English, $69.00 at Ekidna Kids
16. Scruffy Dog Bonnie Silver Sandal, $52.95 at Tiny Steps
17. Mooo Personalised Backpack, $69.95 at Mooo Online Store
18. Bobbi Sunshine Ruffled Daisy Swimsuit, $54.95 at Baby’s Got Style
19. Green Toys Eco Friendly Cookware & Dining Set, $74.00 at Metro Mum
20. Enchanted Animals Wall Stickers, $79.95 at My Munchkin Home 

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

Post written by Miki

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Unless you’re one of those spectacularly organised people who has had all their Christmas presents bought, wrapped and labeled since July, you’re probably in full swing doing your shopping right around now.  To continue in our series of gift guides, today I’m covering the $25 to $50 range – you can see our previous Christmas gift guides here, including Top 20 Stocking Stuffers Under $10 and Top 20 Gifts $10 to $25.

There are so many brilliant ideas in today’s price range.  The Quicksmart Scuttlebug Folding Tricycle, for example – it comes in three different colour ways (Bee, Dragonfly/blue and Flowers/pink) and at $49.95 is a fabulous gift choice for boys or girls. For babies you can never go wrong with Sophie the Giraffe who has been tried and tested for decades; my kids were both Sophie devotees as babies. Girls will adore the Rileah Design Pink Sweets Tea Set which will provide hours of role-playing fun.

Below you’ll see KidStyleFile’s top 20 choices, in no particular order, and loosely grouped into babies, girls and boys groups.  Happy shopping!

Babies
1. Apple Park Lil Bunny Picnic Pal, $33.00 at Billy Lids
2. Small Blue & Green Sausage Dog Cushion, $40.00 at Scoops Design
3. Vulli Sophie the Giraffe, $34.95 at Mini Chatterbox
4. Giimmo Bebe The Penguin, $44.95 at The Little Kidz Closet
5. Coco Boheme Chicken Bib, $25.00 at French Bazaar

Girls
6. Rileah Design Pink Sweets Tea Set, $49.00 at Shop For Tots
7. Forwalls Jumbo Castle Chalkboard Decal, $54.95 $27.48 at Forwalls Online Store
8. Lilliputiens Baby Zoe, $36.95 at Shop For Tots
9. Seedling Junior Postman Mail Kit, $49.95 $40.00 at Shop For Tots
10. Ring A Rosie Artwork, $89.00 $50.00 at Children’s Online Store
11. Oobi Darcy Pettiskirt – Graduated Pink, $74.95 $48.72 at Design Child
12. Lil Christmas Door, $38.00 at Metro Mum

Boys
13. Mini Automoblox – Purple/Orange/Aqua, $49.95 at Where Did You Get That?
14. Janod DIY Barrel, $49.95 at Look Mummy
15. Quicksmart Scuttlebug Folding Tricycle – Bee, $49.95 at Haggus & Stookles
16. Gorgeous Santa Sack, $39.95 at My Munchkin Home
17. Forwalls Robots Wall Decals, $39.95 at Bubba Funk
18. My Sweet Prints ‘Personalised World Map’ Print, $45.00 at Stylish Kiddish
19. Milky Car PJ Set, $29.95 at Looking At You Kid
20. Puggyhouse Rocket, $49.95 at The Little Kidz Closet 

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

Post written by Miki

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When I was a little girl, my family moved from an old 1920s bungalow to a modern brick & tile house. This was significant for me – you see, it was two weeks before Christmas and the new house had no chimneys or fireplaces. How on earth was Santa going to get in? I fretted over it for the entire two weeks before Christmas (my parents only found this out recently, much to their astonishment). Thankfully on Christmas morning I discovered that Santa had managed to squirm his way in to the house somehow. If I’d had a Lil Christmas Door from Little Fairy Doors, I wouldn’t have worried. These magical little doors are perfect for homes that don’t have chimneys – Santa can just magically pop in through the miniature door when he arrives to fill the stockings and put the presents under the tree. Available at Metro Mum – www.metromum.com.au – I think these little doors are a brilliant idea and really add some Christmas whimsy to any home.

Metro Mum also has loads of other goodies just perfect for Christmas. Take the KidKraft Backyard Sandpit for example. It is big enough at 1.1m squared for several children to dig happily in, and it has a jaunty striped canopy overhead to protect delicate skin from sunburn. Imagine the hours upon hours of fun the kids could have with this installed in the back yard! I also know for a fact that the BIG Bobby Car with Trailer would make my 2yo more excited than he’d ever been before in his life; with the high weight capacity he could even take his older brother for a ride in the trailer.

There are some brilliant special offers happening at Metro Mum right now; here are some of the extra special ones:

1. The Tidybooks Bookcases, Bunk Buddies and Book Boxes are 30% off, but strictly only until 27 November 2011.
   
2. All ride-on toys are 10% off until 30 November 2011, including Y-Bike, Wishbone, ooMoo, Trunki and more.
   
3. Buy any easel and receive a FREE Micador Painting Kit valued at $10.
   
4. And lastly, buy any cot or crib from Incy Interiors, Oeuf, Nurseryworks, Touchwood or Cariboo and receive a FREE Anstel Deluxe Double Spring Inner Mattress valued at $169.95.
   
5. Ooh, and do go through the four Metro Mum sale categories (for Mums, Dads, Kids and Babies) to find bargains at up to half price!

And just to put the cherry on top, Metro Mum’s Great Christmas Giveaway is now on with over $2,400 in prizes on offer, including an Incy Interiors Rupert Cot and Egg Chair!  You don’t even need to purchase anything to enter – see here for the competition details.

1. Trunki Ride On Kids Suitcases – Trunkisaurus, $89.00 less 10% = $80.10
2. Tidy Books Bunk Bed Buddy, $125.00 less 30% = $88.00; Tidy Books Children’s Bookcase, $299.00 less 30% = $209.30
3. ooMoo Pinkalicious Balance Bike, $165.00 less 10% = $148.50; ooMoo F1 Balance Bike, $165.00 less 10% = $148.50
4. Deluxe Wood Easel With Blackboard, $249.00
5. BIG Bobby Car + Trailer, $240.00 less 10% = $216.00
6. KidKraft Backyard Sandpit with Striped Sunshade, $249.00
7. Lil Fairy Doors Christmas Door, $38.00 
8. Oeuf Sparrow Cot + FREE Cot Mattress, $1,199.00 

Metro Mum stock from the following brands: Hess-Spielzeug, Allerhand, Annabel Trends, Babymoov, Babymel, Baby Steps 123, Baufix, Babywedge, Bilibo, Bloom Baby, Boyle, Britt, BubbaMat, Bud by Design Room, BusyBee Friends, Caden Lane, Cariboo NZ, Compendium, DadGear, DanishbyDesign, David Fussenegger, Dwink Box, Ebulobo, Ellaroo, Ellie Bellie, Elodie Details, Emotion & Kids, Fatboy The Original, Fertile Mind, FLATOUTbears, Foogo by Thermos, FunPod, Giimmo, Happy Mais, Hello Babe, Il Tutto, IntelliGender®, Isoki, Kanoe, Kiddie Food Kutter, Kids Kitchen, KidsonRoof, Kipiis, Language Littles, Learning Tower, Leander, Leisure Learning, Lilbird, Little Beetle, Little Kitchen, Little Sprowtz, LittleOneBaby, Luna Lullaby, Lupi Lu, Melobaby, Metro Mum, Mia Bossi, Milk & Tickles, MilkBar, Mini Bilibo, Minimonkey, Mishi Design, Mojo, Mokopuna, Mothers Minder, Munchee Mug, My Plate-Mate, Nest, Nuance, Nurseryworks, Ocho, Oeuf, OnTray2Go, Oti, Paper Eskimo, PeeWee & PooToo, Playsam, Prego Planner, PuggyHouse, Qtees, Scout, Seed Organic, Snugabub, Storksak, Totem, Trunki, VisualGram, Vulli, Wall Candy and Zuny.

Metro Mum use Fastaway Couriers and Australia Post for delivery.  Total delivery cost will be calculated at checkout.  For estimated delivery times, international orders and all the ‘how to’ information see here.

Written by Miki

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When Angela and I first started discussing a ‘Stocking Stuffers Under $10′ post, I have to admit I was doubtful. “But Ange,” I said, “What if I can’t find twenty online products of KidStyleFile-worthy quality, costing less than ten bucks each?”  Fortunately Angela had more faith than I did and sent me off to do some research.  Aren’t I glad she did!  There are so many small-but-quality products out there even at the very lowest ends of the price scale, which is exactly what we all need with Christmas stockings to stuff.  In the end my main difficulty was deciding what to leave out of the top twenty!

Everything you see below is less than $10, and a good portion of it is less than $5. I’ve divided it into categories for babies, boys and girls, but it probably goes without saying that those are only very rough guidelines and that most products have a certain amount of crossover (although I’m not sure how my boys would react if I put hair accessories in their stockings – hey, maybe they’d love them).

This really is only a sample of the products available once you start looking, so consider this post a jumping-off point and start exploring. I must give Where Did You Get That? a special mention for their huge Stocking Stuffers category too; it has fourteen pages of the kinds of things just perfect for stockings.

So get to it, go stuff those stockings – if you want to follow my family’s tradition, pop a Terry’s Chocolate Orange in the toe… yummmmm.

Babies:
1.  Ebulobo Crazy Wolf Spoon, $3.95 at Metro Mum
2. Vice Versa Chicken Teething Device, $9.95 at Bubba Funk
3. Ellani Petite Red & White Stripe Clip & Elastic Set, $6.95 at Mini Chatterbox
4. Alex Toys Ducky Bath Thermometer, $8.95 at Mini Chatterbox
5. Personalised Face Washer, $9.95 at Stuck On You
6. Bouncing Wooden Ladybird Mobile, $6.45 at My Wooden Toys

Boys:
1. Digger Bag Tag, $3.95 at Bright Star Kids
2. Anamalz Crocodile, $9.95 at Ekidna Kids
3. Bobos Bandaids, $9.95 at French Bazaar
4. Ouch Striped Socks, $5.99 at Looking At You Kid
5. Micador Nuts & Bolts Crayons, $4.60 at Cocobear
6. Djeco Animal Stickers, $4.95 at Where Did You Get That?
7. Mini Wooden Tangram Puzzle, was $6.95 now $4.95 at My Wooden Toys

Girls:
1. Rhubarb Red Spot Necklace & Bracelet Set, $7.95 at Billy Lids
2. French Bull Orange Princess Juice Cup, $9.95 at Ekidna Kids
3. Handmade Hair Clips, $4.99 at Outlet Shop For Kids 
4. Djeco ‘Lady Of Circles’ Create With Stickers, $6.95 at Where Did You Get That?
5. Micador Bubblegum Brush – Mint, $2.50 at Cocobear
6. Micador Early Start No-Drip Paint – Orange Sherbet, $6.90 at Cocobear
7. Elliot Notebook, $6.95 at French Bazaar

PS: The bunting dividing the categories in the image collage is actually a Christmas wall decal by Bosco Bear. It retails for $29.95 from the Bosco Bear Online Store.

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

Post written by Miki

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It’s my favourite week of the school year: Book Week!  As a kid I adored dressing up as my favourite character, and as a teenager I loved getting to attend workshops and readings from some of the best Australian authors. As a parent I now get to enjoy it all over again by building up the enthusiasm in my household – we’re significantly upping the number of bedtime stories this week, and doing lots of talking about our favourite books and why we love them.

Also loving Book Week are the team at Metro Mum – www.metromum.com.au.  To get into the spirit, they’ve discounted the gorgeous Tidy Books bookshelf products by a whopping 20% (trust me, you very rarely see these discounted *anywhere* and certainly not by this much).  I’ve been coveting a Tidy Books bookshelf ever since I first saw them; I love the way children’s picture books are displayed forwards, making it easy for the kids to choose their favourites, and the shelves look great in nurseries and playrooms. Metro Mum also stocks a lovely range of books for children and babies, so you can buy your kids a bookshelf at a discount, and then use your savings to fill it with books!

When shopping at Metro Mum, I always have to have a look at their nappy bag selection – these girls just know how to choose nappy bags.  Whether it’s Il Tutto (have you seen the amazing Nico in red now available for pre-order?), Isoki, Allerhand, Mia Bossi, Storksak or one of the many other amazing brands of nappy bag on offer, there’s always something – okay, let’s be honest, many somethings - I simply can’t live without. This week’s must-have for me is the Catalina nappy bag by Koochu, which would somehow turn even jeans and a t-shirt into a stylishly pulled-together outfit, and even better is that all Koochu nappy bags are currently discounted by 10%. Dads don’t have to miss out either, as many of the Dadgear Messenger Bags have been marked down to $99 each – bargain!

Also at Metro Mum right now you can save 20% on a Puj Tub, save 15% on all breastfeeding products, and orders over $50 will net you a FREE Mother Minder Bracelet valued at $8.95. Plus the *new* storage solutions from Boon have arrived and they’re just as hip as you might have imagined. The design team at Boon have got to be geniuses, they just get it right every time.

For 48 hours only, take 15% off storewide (excluding furniture, sale items and gift vouchers). The code to use at checkout is KSF15, but it ends at 5pm AEST 24 August 2011 so be quick. You also have the opportunity to WIN a Pixifoto package worth $995 or a Dadgear Messenger Bag valued at $145. See here for details on how to enter. 

The 15% discount is available with code KSF15, and expires 24 August 2011 at 5pm. All other offers end 31 August 2011. All offers while stocks last only.

1. Dadgear Billboard Series Messenger Bag, $169.00 sale price $99.00
2. Dadgear Messenger Bag – Stripe, $145.00 sale price $99.00
3. Koochu Catalina Nappy Bag, $299.00 sale price $269.10
4. Il Tutto Nico – Red *NEW*, $249.00
5. Puj Tub, $69.95 sale price $55.95
6. Tidy Books Children’s Bookcase, $299.00 sale price $269.10
7. The Tidy Books Box, $169.00 sale price $152.10
8. Boon Grip Multi Hook Rack *NEW*, $59.99 
9. Boon Curl Baby Shoe Rack * NEW*, $79.99
10. Boon Flaunt Coated Steel 6 Shelf Display, $79.95 

Metro Mum stock from the following brands: Hess-Spielzeug, Allerhand, Annabel Trends, Babymoov, Babymel, Baby Steps 123, Baufix, Babywedge, Bilibo, Bloom Baby, Boyle, Britt, BubbaMat, Bud by Design Room, BusyBee Friends, Caden Lane, Cariboo NZ, Compendium, DadGear, DanishbyDesign, David Fussenegger, Dwink Box, Ebulobo, Ellaroo, Ellie Bellie, Elodie Details, Emotion & Kids, Fatboy The Original, Fertile Mind, FLATOUTbears, Foogo by Thermos, FunPod, Giimmo, Happy Mais, Hello Babe, Il Tutto, IntelliGender®, Isoki, Kanoe, Kiddie Food Kutter, Kids Kitchen, KidsonRoof, Kipiis, Language Littles, Learning Tower, Leander, Leisure Learning, Lilbird, Little Beetle, Little Kitchen, Little Sprowtz, LittleOneBaby, Luna Lullaby, Lupi Lu, Melobaby, Metro Mum, Mia Bossi, Milk & Tickles, MilkBar, Mini Bilibo, Minimonkey, Mishi Design, Mojo, Mokopuna, Mothers Minder, Munchee Mug, My Plate-Mate, Nest, Nuance, Nurseryworks, Ocho, Oeuf, OnTray2Go, Oti, Paper Eskimo, PeeWee & PooToo, Playsam, Prego Planner, PuggyHouse, Qtees, Scout, Seed Organic, Snugabub, Storksak, Totem, Trunki, VisualGram, Vulli, Wall Candy and Zuny.

Metro Mum use Fastaway Couriers and Australia Post for delivery.  Total delivery cost will be calculated at checkout.  For estimated delivery times, international orders and all the ‘how to’ information see here.