Knowing that you’ll become a mom is the most exciting feeling in the world. The privilege of bearing another human seems like an unspoken final stage of the right of passage to womanhood…other than menopause and mid-life crisis. Decorating a nursery and buying baby stuff is like floating with the the clouds even when in a tight budget. New life just brings with it a different sense of joy to women.
If you have a friend which has a baby on the way, why not join on in with her present state of happiness? Show her your support by giving her fun, unique, and most of all functional gifts for her baby shower just like these:
a Skip Hop Nursery Tool Box Nursery Organiser – Fuchsia $99.95
b Annabel Trends Pom Pom Slippers – Chocolate $28.00
c Lilly & Lolly Ned Bookcase $750.00
d Inner B Agenda + Organiser – Fuchsia Pink $39.95
e Il Tutto Nappy Bag Sophia – Chocolate $399.00
f Compendium Making Memories $25.45
g Bag Ladies Tea “Oh, Baby!” Tea Pouch $4.00
h B Box The Essential Baby Box Beep Beep Design $34.95
i Willow and Finch Heat Pillow $29.95
j Willow and Finch Shower Cap $24.95
k The Little Experience Baby’s First Canvas $28.00
l Willow and Finch Sleep Mask $18.00
m Mum To Be Gift Set $199.95
Kiddies love sweets, and kiddies love playing with others. These lovely toy confections are perfect for girls who love having an interactive play throwing out parties. Wooden and fabric play foods will light up her table in a magical and scrumptious way, with dainty teacups and teapots, and – voila! – teabags for that real grown-up demitasse-sipping feel. Get one for your daughter or give it as a gift to a birthday girl who just can’t help but invite Mr. Rabbit for tea.
No need to go to Wonderland or go through a looking glass. Let her host her own tea party with these sugary delights that would satisfy those sweet cravings without inviting tooth decay. Alice will surely be jealous.
1 Djeco Wooden Birthday Party Tea Set $74.95
2 Haba Play Food Chocolates $16.95
3 Haba Play Food Cookies in Box $16.95
4 Haba Play Food Milk $3.95
5 Sparkle T Food Canisters $19.95
6 Haba Play Food Biscuit Tin $16.95
7 Fun Factory Play Food Birthday Cake $24.95
8 Haba Play Food Lollies $3.95
9 Afternoon Tea Party $62.95
10 Haba Play Food Petit Fours Box $34.95
11 Fun Factory Play Food Sweet Treats $24.95
12 Haba Play Food Petit Fours $16.95
13 Fun Factory Play Food Cake Set $19.95
14 Haba Play Food Jelly Babies $14.95
15 Haba Play Food Rusk Toast $14.95
16 Le Toy Van Honeybake Tea Set $54.90
Many pedia-themed shows I’ve seen advise moms to help develop their kids’ talents and potentials. As an artist myself, the default pastime I’d think for my boy would be drawing; sports and trading cards will surely come later when he’s already going to school.
Arts not only help children appreciate colors and create pictures that they want their parents to buy, it keeps imagination flowing in a wide berth and mind activity accelerating constantly.
Keep those little paws working their way with these arts and crafts sets:
Modern Twist Reusable Placemat & Markers Set – Day at the Pond AU$39.95
Let your kid design her own placemat and set her own mood while waiting for lunch. No leftovers guaranteed.
Modern Twist Reusable Placemat & Markers Set – Kat in the City AU$39.95
Cat got your kid’s tongue? Get him devouring your precious tuna pie with Kat on the table. He may go back for a third helping.
Modern Twist Reusable Placemat & Markers Set – Hide & Seek AU$39.95
Your kiddo will hide no more when he’s engrossed in filling in colors on his placemat. Filling in his stomach is certified no problemo!
Finger Painting Art Set AU$19.95
Who says fingerprints are only needed in police stations? No brushes and sticky paints needed, just pure imagination.
Micador Easly stART Soft Triangle Crayons 24′s AU$17.95
These non-toxic and washable crayons will get your mini Van Gogh swirling colors away in his own Starry Night trance.
Micador Early stART Purse Scribble Pad AU$3.35
Now your little artist can doodle whenever inspiration (and boredom) strikes and keep those creative juices flowing constantly.
Micador Early stART Pencil Purse Pack AU$12.50
An artist will always need something to draw images with. Pair your kid’s purse scribble pad with purse pencils! Easy to store, easy to bring out when a eureka moment arrives.
Micador Spencil Paint Pen Set AU$11.95
Paints can be messy, but with this spencil pens, your furnitures are safe from mucks of colors. Paint away, little Michelangelo!
Seedling creates toys and activity kits that are sure to get those little paws working instead of constantly jabbing on computer keyboards and joysticks. The products they have are not just mere toys, they are packed in such a way that your child gets to play while learning and creating.
At Entropy, these new Seedling activity kits are now available to choose from. Set your kid’s creativity and imagination on the loose with these sets which are sure to give him a headstart for his future.
Good Things for Girls AU$44.95
Get those lady hands working with a variety of lady things such as knitting and coloring. Who knows, maybe this year your daughter will be knitting you a sweater for Christmas. Such a womanly thing to do!
Fashion Designers Kit AU$59.95
Includes a 30cm mannequin and sewing instructions. Prepare your mini trendsetter to be the next Project Runway winner or a Vogue stylist.
Good Things for Boys AU$44.95
Bring out Leonardo da Vinci in your little rockstar with this made-for-the-boys kit. Give him this and some day his innate genius will make his momma proud.
Design you Super Hero Cape AU$59.95
Look, it’s a bird! No, it’s an airplane! No, it’s a mosquito! No, it’s a…… Tired of guessing that superhero in blue leotards and red cape? Why not let your own rascal create his own superhero costume? He’ll be saving your day after you give him this.
Junior Doctor Kit AU$49.95
Who says brilliant doctors only exist in Grey’s Anatomy and ER? Get your kiddo working on his own stethoscope with this kit and Patrick Dempsey will look like he was just acting in Grey’s Anatomy. Yes, prepare to run for your money too George Clooney!
Outdoor Explorer Kit AU$59.95
Pull out the Wii plug and give those game controllers a break. Dress your kid ala-Steve Irwin and put him on a real adventure outdoors. You will be surprised to know that you might have the next National Geographic producer right at home.
Shop for more Seedling kits here.
Blue is the crowd favorite color. It symbolizes serenity, calmness, tranquility, and silence, and it is used in rooms for its soothing effect due to its resemblance to water. I have noticed that blue is the only color which has a lot of shades down the list – aqua, light, powder, turquoise, cyan….the list goes on. It seems like every little difference in blue’s hue has a name.
One very common and timelessly fashionable shade of blue is navy, the sailors’ color. Get those dusty dancing shoes out and put on the record of Village People while dressing your kids in these navy-licious treasures.
1 Bebe Baby & Jr.: SAM Preppy Friendly Vest – Navy AU$42.95 AU$29.95
2 Ouch Big Wave Cargo Shorts – Navy AU$44.95
3 Oobi Baby Starry Tights – Navy $16.95
4 Drybib Bandana Bib Navy AU$16.95
5 Pure Baby Navy Terry Zip Jacket AU$39.95
6 Old Soles First Walkers Street Shoe Navy & White $44.95
7 White & White Chillout Sofa Navy Stripe AU$189.00
8 Oobi Baby Knit Overalls – Red & Navy AU$44.95
9 Chilli Kids Canvas Shoes Charlie Navy Lace Ups AU$27.95
10 Ouch Navy Blue Velour Hoody AU$36.95
11 Oobi Baby Military Overcoat – Navy Cotton Drill $64.95
12 Il Tutto Nico Nappy Bag – Navy AU$249.00
13 Cocoon Couture Sleepy Blue Owl on Navy Beanbag $99.00 $84.95
14 Oobi Baby Minky Cordoroy Whale Toy AU$29.95
15 Bebe Navy Cuffed Drill Short AU$36.95
16 Oobi Baby Darcy Ballerina Pettiskirt – Starry Night Navy $69.95
17 Pure Baby Essential Leggings Navy AU$18.95
18 Oobi Baby Navy Cord Coat with Whale Lining AU$69.95
19 Peace Street Joy Tutu – Navy Ink AU$39.95
20 Oobi Baby Baby Bear Hoody – Red & Navy AU$45.95
Flowers of all shapes and colors are blooming to fill the country side again. Everything will be beautiful, so why not get your unica hija to be the same? Have your little bella donna sway in style in these fabulous floral frocks. These dainty dresses are too pretty, she can even wear these on through summer.
a Three Little Trees Bamboo Dress AU$54.95
b Coco & Ginger Bella Dress – Pink Poppy AU$44.00
c Bebe by Minihaha Bella Tiered Dress $48.95
d Three Little Trees Dragonfly Dress AU$49.95
e Ouch Fresh Floral Pinny Dress AU$35.95
f Eternal Creation Coralie Sundress $27.96
g Bebe Liberty Berry Blossom Dress AU$39.95
h Coco & Ginger Ginger Dress – Yellow Batik AU$35.00
i Coco & Ginger Daisy Dress Floral AU$81.50
j Albetta Smock Butterfly Dress AU$47.95
k Coco & Ginger Mali Dress – Fuchsia Batik AU$44.00
l Peace Street Turquoise Mexican Shift Dress AU$59.95
m BIG by Fiona Scanlan Summer Dream Dress AU$84.95
Little boys have such wild imagination. One day they decide to be robots, the next day they wear eye patches and pretend to plunge a cutlass through an imaginary Davey Jones.
Being a pirate certainly has its charm on boys. Aside from boarding a huge ship with a flag of skull and crossbones, pirates are depicted to be free-spirited and adventurous. Just the word “adventure” raises up testosterone levels. If your little baseball star decides to go on account and be one of the buccaneers, why not indulge him with these pirate loot scoured from the basement of Jack Sparrow’s Black Pearl.
1 Alimrose Designs Pirate Squeeker AU$15.95
2 Alimrose Designs Bib Pirate AU$14.95
3 Alimrose Designs Pirate Toy AU$29.95
4 Heimess Pirate Teether Ring & Rattle AU$19.95
5 ORE Sugar Boofer Play Pack – Ahoy Matey $39.95
6 Little Chipipi Ships Ahoy Wall Decals AU$79.95
7 Pirate Bookends $21.95
8 Ahoy Matey! Pirates Dress Up Costume $64.95
9 Pirate Hat $16.95
10 Pirate Joe – Roll the Dice from Haba $27.95
11 Plan Toys Wooden Pirate Ship and Pirates $99.00
12 Tiger Tribe Magnetic Play Book – Pirate AU$19.95
Now maybe you can also ask Daddy to join in and be a landlubber to walk the plank, ye mate?
Alimrose Designs started in the 1980′s as Native Bush Babies. It was created by two moms who wanted to make Australian-made toys and products accessible. It started off with dolls and figurines, but eventually bibs, homewares, squeakers, and cushions have been added to their sale racks.
Alimrose Designs products are very distinct for its fun fabrics and shabby chic feel. I can’t help but covet one of the dolls to be placed in my soft toys collection. Though made for children, Alimrose Designs toys are too charming to take a young girl out of a grown-up woman like me.
Ditch the mature grown-uppish-ness and stuff your kids’ shelves (and your own too, secretly, of course) with these adorable Alimrose cuties:
a Sleepy Owl Mobile Choc/Aqua $36.95
b Sailor Doll $42.95
c Teething Ring Sweet Birdie $24.95
d Hardqueeker – Blue Eskimo $15.95
e Scotty Dog Pancake Rattle Gingham $20.95
f Owl Pram Tie – Pink $24.95
g Belle Girls Apron $23.95
h Sleeping Pixie Doll – Pink $34.95
i Bird House Mobile – Red $42.95
j Bunny Ear Booties Navy $27.95 $19.56
k Navy & White Stripe Monkey Rattle AU$26.95
l Flatties Giraffe Robins Egg $19.95
m Maddie Doll $52.95
n Knitted Bunny Rattle Cherry Red $9.95
o Daphne Doll AU$29.95
p Flatties Rattle Elephant Blue Medallion $19.95
q Charlie Cat Rattle AU$26.95
r Owl Squeaker AU$22.00
s Rattle Doll Chloe AU$26.00
If you are not in Australia, Alimrose Designs children’s products are also available in these international online sites:
-
USA & Canada:
- From Scratch Designs
- Baby Oliver Boutique
- A Unique Baby
- Cute-ture
-
New Zealand:
- Bubbalooz
-
Singapore:
- Itsy-Bitsy Me
- My Petite Love
Monkeytail & Wellington is an online shop created by a stay-at-home mother named Vicky and dedicated for kids of all ages. The products aim to “celebrate kids being kids”, with fun themes for parties, games, and all-around fun. Popular brands take their stall on this site, but so do indie brands and designers working exclusively for Monkeytail & Wellington.
A particular product that caught my fancy in Monkeytail & Wellington’s delightful gallery is their collection of shadow puppets.
Puppets are timeless, even college professors want to see a class do a puppet play for a reporting once in a while, but I’ve grown out of putting my hands in a sock and sticking my fingers through heads and limbs. Seeing shadow puppets made for kids in Monkeytail & Wellington really lifted my spirits. I had loved the Indonesian shadow puppet theater, called Wayang, ever since our group report in an art class in college. Puppets are made flat and segmented for mobility through sticks glued on the limbs and other movable parts.
Monkeytail & Wellington’s shadow puppets are cut from sturdy matboard, assuring a long survival even from nitpicky hands. Though not as intricately detailed as the wayangs, these shadow puppets have movable parts depending on the character, such as the arms of the yeti or the wings of the fairy.
Monkeytail & Wellington’s shadow puppets come individually or in a set with a landscape. Choose your character, will he or she be a mermaid? A robot? A yeti? Or something else? And if you’re not the do-it-yourself type of person, pre-made landscapes are available to set the stage for your play. The landscape has wood base; the puppets and landscape parts can be pulled off the base for easier flat storage.
Now there’s an additional clever reason to turn off the lights and save electricity. Kids won’t have to be afraid of the dark anymore.
Say goodbye to your sock puppets and walk into the theater of Monkeytail & Wellington.
Give bedtime reading a rest and find your story here.
A pretty woman will always look good in pink.
Though it has never been formally established that pink is the color for girls and blue for boys, baby products and kids merchandise have been artfully categorized into baby pinks and powder blues. Trying to defy society, I and my equally energetic mom decided to use apple green as the color motif for my baby boy. Ten months after my little prince’s birth, I have accumulated mounds of blues in baby’s cabinet; I just wanna say ‘give powder blue a break, people’. Though if I had a girl, pink is far too charming to ignore.
Let your sweet little princess bloom and blush in these pink finds which are sure to catch every toddler tyke’s eyes.
1 Oobi Baby Pink April Skirt $39.95
2 Oobi Baby Pink Candy Marilyn Ruffle Dress $43.95
3 Rock Your Baby Bow Headband – Pink Lace $12.95
4 Oobi Baby Pink Candy Betty Reversible Dress w/ Bloomers $49.95
5 Rock Your Baby Small Bow Clip – Pink Floral $9.95
6 Bebe Josie Reversible Booties $13.90
7 Oobi Baby Lacy Broderie Anglaise Vest – Pink $24.95
8 Oobi Baby Lulu Cancan Skirt – Strawberry $54.95
9 Cheeky Little Soles Baby Ballet Shoes – pink $35.95
10 Oobi Baby Pink Forest Party Dress $43.95
11 Oobi Baby Darcy Skirt – Fairyfloss Pink $69.95
12 Oobi Baby Ruche Dress – Pink Forest $29.95
13 Alimrose Baby Bunting Flower Doll Rattle $29.95
14 BIG by Fiona Scanlan Tulle Bow Headband – Pink $34.95
