Reuseable bags have become essential in my household. Ever since I
discovered bags like Envirosax, which I can fold up and pop
inside my handbag so they're never forgotten in the car boot, they've
been my constant companions. We have drastically
reduced the number of plastic bags we use out of concern for the
increased waste we began to generate once we had children. We also set
up a compost a few weeks ago - it's powering along nicely and our bin
is much emptier. We thought it was important to model environmentally
conscious behaviour to our sons from very early on in their lives so
that they will go on to behave the same way in their lifetimes.
Up until recently the offerings for reuseable bags were less than
chic, to say the least. Now that the Envirosax have taken the market
by storm, I've been on the lookout for other designs and fabrics, to
add to my growing stash. It's becoming an extension of my love of
handbags, but without the huge pricetags! Envirosax cost $8.50 for one or $37.95 for 5 bags.
With my eternal love of polka
dots,
of course I was going to fall in love with the very stylish
Built NY Market Tote.
Made from
Neoprene, which is wetsuit fabric, it will protect your groceries from
bumps, and be as eyecatching as a designer handbag as you
peruse the market stalls or supermarket aisles. It will also
effectively insulate heat-sensitive items so you can afford to linger
over
that coffee before rushing home.
This one will set you back $49.95 but it is gorgeous!
This
Reisenthel Modern Grocery Tote
may be the best option for
a nappy bag that we've seen that is both amazingly cheap, yet cute to
look at. It has bottle-sized pockets externally, and a large main
compartment for nappies and wipes. There is also a removable zippered
pocket to keep your keys and mobile from floating around. It's designed
to be a grocery bag, but we can see the potential for a great throw
around nappy bag!
The gorgeous Built NY polka dot tote is available locally from
Bristol and Brooks
who ship all the items on their site free of charge Australia-wide!
Alternatively, both bags can be purchased from
Reuseable Bags, a US site which offers very reasonable international shipping.
There are those that have embraced the idea of being the very best
Auntie in the world - the one who does all the fun stuff,
gives the parents a break, has a deeply fulfilling relationship with
the kids, and who gets to hand them back at the end of the day! Our
kids have a fab Great Aunt who never tires of holding the baby, jumps
at the chance to see them, and who can give a stern order
when needed.
Now here's a parenting website dedicated to non-parents - those essential people who care so much and take such an interest
in our young people, but for whom there is often very little support and information.
Savvy Auntie
provides fun and useful articles on topics such as nutrition,
the value of reading, special needs, activities and entertainment, and
there's even a forum for swapping ideas with other cool Aunties!
Savvy Auntie also deals with tricky topics that can crop up when
dealing with children such as establishing boundaries,
feelings of favouritism for a particular child, and identifying when a
child may need professional help.
Having resources to draw from that have a significant other's
perspective in mind, will no doubt serve to enrich children's lives.
Savvy Auntie's
founder Melanie Notkin realised how little information there was in cyberspace for people such as herself - an enthusiastic ABR
(Auntie By Relation) and ABC (Auntie By Choice) - yes there's even 'Savvy-Speak'! She's filled the gap admirably with the development of Savvy Auntie.
The site has an advisory board and panel of experts who contribute articles, advise and conduct ongoing research.
The site was launched just weeks ago, and is still in the process of being perfected, hence the Beta sign near the logo. I can't
wait to see what more the 'Auntiepedia' will have to offer. Check out the blog and forums too.
Savvy Auntie is sure
to be one that I forward on to the women in our lives who love kids!
There’s something heading our way from China this week that has everyone at Babyology cheering like crazy. And it’s not the Beijing Olympics. It’s this range of adorably kitsch goodies by Dumpling Dynasty that we discovered at the kids inSTYLE trade show in Melbourne last week.
Brit designers Fiona Hewitt and Andy Tainton channelled their years as ex-pats wandering the back alleys of Beijing, Shanghai and Singapore to come up with this Asian-inspired collection of useful kits and other bits that are gorgeously, unashamedly kitsch. And we love every last one of them. We’re tipping the cutesy Cookies Wallet is going to become a must-have item for hip mums everywhere - and their teenage daughters!
We also love the Sewing Kit – right down to its sweet little Dumpling Dynasty-branded cotton reels. I want one and I can’t even sew. That’s how gorgeous it is. The rest of the range includes an Explorer Kit with real compass, a Baking Kit for turning out cupcakes and cookies with zing and a girly Pigtail Kit - in Communist red, of course. Cute, cute, cute. All of them are contained in adorable vintage-style tins with just the right amount of whimsy and retro cool to balance the schmaltz. Not just for kids – these make super-charming housewarming or birthday presents for teens and grown-ups too.
You can find Dumpling Dynasty products online at Cradlerock or get your Dumpling fix direct from Australian suppliers Lark, who also do all manner of other retro delights. Kits cost $29.95 each, the Cookie Wallet retails for $34.95 and other items in the Dumpling Dynasty range start from $14.95. Don’t forget to add a few dollars extra for postage.
We just got back from Melbourne for the kids inSTYLE trade show. Lots of amazing products and wonderful designers and distributors.
Many of these products have just hit our shores and were released at the show and we can't wait to fill you in on the details over the next week or two.
Here's a quick look at some products that caught our eyes:
image one: Uglydolls from s.i.p image two: pip&maude cards and papers - email
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images three & four: French clothes and accessories from Les Folies images five & six: European eco art & craft materials, beeswax crayons and
pencils from mercurius image seven: Children's decor from Gelati Art image eight: Unique clothes with a European feel made here in Australia from Chalk n Cheese images nine: blabla dolls image ten: baby and children's shoes from Chook Leaf image eleven: The new range of Itch Design image twelve: red wagon, A collection inspired by 1950's childhood.
I admit it. I am a party-bag tragic. I spend weeks and weeks planning my kids’ birthdays and have a mini-meltdown if I can’t find the perfect treats for the goody bags. Of course, my husband doesn’t get it. He thinks any old handful of mixed lollies and a nondescript toy will do. Luckily, I know better!
At the moment I’m on a quest to find something special for my daughter’s first birthday next month. So it needs to be fabulous, it needs to be unique and, of course, it needs to be sweet. A big ask? I thought so too until I stumbled across these customisable M&Ms. Imagine, lollies with your kids’ cute-as-a-button faces printed on them? How deliciously different.
It’s as easy as picking your M&M colours, uploading your favourite photo onto their website and waiting for the chockies to arrive in the post. Don’t want a photo? You can also have the little sweeties printed with a message or the name of your little sweetie. Customisable M&Ms cost from US$35.97 for 600 grams plus shipping.
My M&Ms don’t ship outside the US so you need to have a friend or relative willing to receive your order and forward it to you here. Happily, I do. I’m off to email her now. But not before I remember to thank the fabulous folk at US site droolicious for alerting us to quite possibly the best party favour ever.
