Sustainababy

Minifashionista
What? Extra 25% off sale items
How? Enter the code ‘sale25′ at checkout
When? Until June 21, 2013
Where? www.minifashionista.com.au

Mocka
What? 20% off storewide
How? Enter the code ‘EOFY’ at checkout
When? Until June 23, 2013
Where? www.mocka.com.au

MessPots
What? 15% off storewide
How? Enter the code ‘CELEBRATE’ at checkout
When? Until June 21, 2013
Where? www.messpots.com.au

Baobab
What? Spend $60, get 25% off
How? Enter the code ‘WOW’ at checkout
When? Until June 21, 2013
Where? www.baobab.com.au

Nana Clair’s Gifts
What? 20-60% off storewide
How? Prices as marked
When? Until June 21, 2013
Where? www.nanaclairsgifts.com.au

When you hear the word clown most people think of silly jokes, funny ‘accidents’, light entertainment, big laughs and lots of happy kids. Clowns are something to enjoy at the circus while you eat fairy floss or a handful of popcorn. But it appears there are clowns and then there are Clowns, check out this amazing video footage of Slava’s Snowshow last week in Sydney.

If you have seen talented performer Slava Polunin in action in Cirque du Soleil you know you are in for a treat with this award winning show that has travelled to more than 80 cities worldwide. People of all ages have fallen in love with his magical mix of traditional and contemporary theatrical clowning arts, after all it is not for no reason that people call him ‘the best clown in the world’. Slava’s unique, one-of-a-kind snowshow proves that you are never to old to enjoy clowns.

The jaw dropping show doesn’t stay confined to the stage, Slava’s Snowshow travels through the audience taking every single visitor on a wonderful, spectacular journey full of mind boggling acts and colourful sensations that are a joy to the senses. Watch a bed become a boat in a storm-tossed sea; see a child walk in amazement inside a bubble; look on as Slava boards a train and then becomes the train, his chimney-pot hat billowing smoke and take a deep breath as a web of unspun cotton envelopes the audience. This is a show that goes beyond your imagination, ending with an impressive snow storm of massive proportions.

The Slava’s Snowshow tour kicked off last week in Sydney and over the next couple of weeks the spectacle can be seen in Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne with the curtains closing on August 4th in Perth.

To find out more about about Slava’s Snowshow, to check out the tour schedule and to order your tickets online visit www.slavasnowshow.com.

If you would like to win a double pass (RRP $158) to see Slava’s Snowshow in Melbourne (Comedy Theatre) on Wednesday July 17th 2013 at 7.30pm make sure you enter our giveaway below. The lucky winner is responsible for arranging travel to/from the event. Good luck!

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Sneakily I was pretty chuffed with our bread dough creations from last week, but of course there is always boss above boss when it comes to handmade treasures. Australia houses a lot of amazing artists and I know many of you love buying handmade pieces but you do need to know where to find them so I love sharing some my latest discoveries with you. This week’s handmade medal has to go to Cheeky Pickle, I think you will love their delightful range:

Cheeky Pickle is the love baby of Ali Benyon, a talented Melbourne designer with a keen eye for style, design, texture and patterns. She combines these interests in her own unique range of handmade, stitched paper designs featuring a range of different themes. From the sweetest animals and beautiful flowers to cute nursery designs and even personalised styles, what could be ordinary pictures turn into eye catching when Ali is finished with it.

If you are looking for a special piece to decorate your wall or compliment your nursery a Cheeky Pickle Art Print could be just what you are looking for. Each Cheeky Pickle Art Print ($24) is an (unframed) print of an original, stitched paper collage by Ali. The prints are full of beautiful little details; the wonderful colours, different patterns and most importantly the delicate stitching make each print a striking piece of art.

As the prints are A4 size it is super easy to find a suitable frame for them and you can select a frame that really suits your room and decor. If you love Ali’s handywork you will be pleased to know that there is a range of Cheeky Pickle Gift Cards and Cheeky Pickle Gift Tags available too, the same wonderful handstitched designs but in bite-size pieces will add a lovely touch to a sweet gift or personal message. How gorgeous is this adorable fox from the Woodland Collection?

To find out more about Cheeky Pickle, to locate a stockist near you or to order online visit www.cheekypickle.com.au. Shipping is free Australia wide.

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As a mum of four I have my work cut out for me with all those birthday parties and with four birthdays in August it really is time for me to get my wiggle on. I’ll admit that I wasn’t looking forward to all those celebrations but when I stumbled upon Party! The ultimate kids’ party book I felt a whole lot lighter straight away.

This amazing book might well become my kids’ party bible as it contains all the tips and inspiration you need to create the ultimate kids party. The book covers 10 popular party themes but you’ll soon see that you can easily use the ideas to build other themes on too. From invites to party food, from games to costumes and decorations, Party! The ultimate kids’ party book covers all aspects in the finest detail.

My personal favourites are definitely the ‘Under the Sea’ theme and the ‘Zoo Party’, one look at this book is enough to get anyone excited. If you click on the image above you can have a quick flick through some of the pages, the complete book has 172 pages full of party goodness on offer! At $24.99 Party! The ultimate kids’ party book is very well priced, if you have small children you will no doubt use it a lot so it is a great investment.

To find out more about Party! The ultimate kids’ party book ($24.99, published by Pan Macmillan) and to order your copy online visit www.panmacmillan.com.au.

Bread Dough creations ready to be baked

Back at primary school in my home country The Netherlands I always enjoyed working with ‘brooddeeg’ which literally means bread dough. I was not sure what Australian people call it but some say it is called salt dough. Either way, the good thing about bread dough as opposed to regular play dough is that you can bake it in the oven and actually have a little piece of art that the kids can keep to look at or gift to someone else. Play dough is fun but my kids often get a little sad when they have to punch down the artwork they worked so hard on.

Fresh out of the oven, a little faded but still cute

To make bread dough simply mix 3 cups of plain flour, 1 cup of salt, 1 cup of water and 2 tablespoons of (vegetable) oil. Once you have made this into a nice soft dough divide it into a few different sections and colour each section with a bit of food colouring (yes your hands will get pretty dirty!). I believe you can also use a particular type of paint but I didn’t have any on hand and this worked fine too.

Miss 2 showing off her handmade necklace

Once your kids have decided on their final creations place them on a baking tray and bake for 30 minutes on ca. 100C followed by 90 minutes on ca. 125C. If the dough creations are quite flat they should be dry and hard by then, if they are a little thicker and higher they might take a little longer. As I knew the girls would want to wear their shapes as a pendant I made a little hole in them before putting them in the oven. Great idea for Christmas tree decorations too!

I admit that it was a pretty messy activity and there was some washing up to do but the smiles on their faces made it all worth it.

When you are rocking or patting an unsettled baby in the middle of the night you are likely to feel like you’re the only person up, hubby is snoring away, the whole house is quiet except for your crying baby. It can be so exhausting and upsetting for both you and baby and all you want is for your baby to be happy and sleep, and for yourself to get some much needed rest too. Rest assured, you’re not the only one feeling like this and behind the scenes two Australian mums have been working hard to create a little helper for you: meet the Sleep Rumbler.

The story behind Sleep Rumbler is one that many mothers will recognise: a tired mama took an unsettled baby for a car ride in the hope that the baby would fall asleep. The baby did indeed fall asleep but so did the mum… next thing she knows she is stuck in her upside-down car on the side of the road. Sleep deprivation is a risky thing and while going for a drive often settles your baby it can be very dangerous and sometimes even fatal.

The Sleep Rumbler is designed to recreate the rhythmic motion of a car ride or pram trip that is so soothing to young children and at the same time allowing you to stay within the comfort and safety of your own home. To use the Sleep Rumbler just pop it on the ground and push your pram back and forth over the mat, for many babies this repetitive movement is calming and they will start to relax and fall asleep. As the Sleep Rumbler folds down to a compact package you can easily use it when out and about as well as at home.

When our baby wakes up I often have to pick her up and rock her back to sleep, only for her to wake up again when I try to put her down. With the Sleep Rumbler your baby can stay in the pram (or bassinet if you have one on wheels) and be soothed on the spot, once asleep you can tip-toe away and with a bit of luck they won’t even notice! If your baby is little cat napper this could be just what you need to gently coach him/her back to sleep.

The Sleep Rumbler is already being used in a number of birthing and special care units, maternal child health centres and by infant settling and sleep educators, helping mums and babies getting the sleep they need.

To find out more about Sleep Rumbler ($69.95) and to order online visit www.sleeprumbler.com.

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Our gorgeous baby Sybil is nearly 4 months old and I’m afraid I am yet to reach my pre-baby weight (in my defence: I did have four babies in less than 4.5 years!). I’m well on the way though and slowly I am rediscovering my wardrobe and my confidence. Instead of crying over the jeans that don’t fit (yet) I have decided to rock the ones that do fit and make me feel good about myself. On Saturday we attended a kids birthday party and when I saw this photo afterwards I felt pretty content, thanks to my absolute favourite feel good pants:

My feel good pants

These beautiful Blue Skinny Cargo Pants from Australian label Eve of Eden are officially classed as maternity pants, but you really can’t tell. They look just like ordinary pants but have an elasticised side decorated by a little buckle, just a stylish detail to most but the key to comfort for pregnant or new mums. The same little straps come back on the side pockets giving these pants a cool and unique look. My husband always comments on the nice fit of these cargos and as he doesn’t often notice my clothes I know this must be a real standout.

A few days ago I noticed that they are now on sale for just $53 (from $96) so I couldn’t resist and ordered the same style in brown, that’s how much I love them and they are super comfortable. The Skinny Cargo Pants are available in size 8 to 16, I was a little unsure about the sizing but purchased my pre-pregnancy size and as they are stretchy they fit beautifully (seeing that lovely familiar size tag again does wonders for your confidence!).

In the photo you can see I am also wearing the Eve of Eden Bird Print Nursing Shirt ($61, size 8-16), suitable for maternity and breastfeeding. While I may not have a baby belly to dress I do really appreciate the forgiving fit of this shirt, perfect for hiding those left over lumps and bumps. The belt under the waist makes for a nice flowing shape that is very flattering. To feed your baby simply undo the buttons, so easy. If you love the bird print there is a Bird Print Dress available too.

Nice bonus: Like Maternity Sale on Facebook to get $5 of your first order.

To find out more about Eve of Eden, to take a closer look at the range and to order online visit www.maternitysale.com.au. Delivery is free Australia wide.

Baby Bedding

Uh-Oh!
What? 50% off Uh-Oh! pyjamas and nighties
How? Prices as marked
When? Until June 14, 2013
Where? www.uh-oh.com.au

Micador
What? Buy one Micador Easy Carry Art Studio get one FREE
How? Enter the code ’2for1′ at checkout
When? Until June 12, 2013
Where? www.micador.com.au

Hootkid
What? 25% off storewide
How? Enter the code ‘winter25′ at checkout
When? Until stock lasts
Where? www.hootkid.com

Stylish Kiddish
What? 30% off all Summer clothing
How? Prices as marked
When? Until stock lasts
Where? www.stylishkiddish.com.au

5 Little Monkeys
What? Up to 88% off Final Farewell Clearance
How? Prices as marked (+ EXTRA 20% off with the code ‘BYE5LM’)
When? Until June 15, 2013
Where? www.5littlemonkeys.com.au

For as long as I can remember I have loved reading. To some books are just letters and words but for me they are much more than that, they open up new worlds and exciting adventures, the possibility to jump into someone else’s shoes and explore a completely different life. I am determined to enstill the same love for reading in my children and I know children can never resist a book character that shares their name. I already found books ‘about’ my oldest two and I recently discovered a great series for my third child Juliet too: Juliet nearly a Vet.

‘Juliet nearly a Vet’ by Rebecca Johnson

Juliet nearly a Vet is written by Australian author, teacher and mum Rebecca Johnson who has written more than 60 books. Over the course of four short books she tells the story of Juliet, a 10-year old Australian girl who dreams of becoming a vet. She loves helping out her mum, a vet, at the clinic and even keeps her own Vet Diary filled with every tiny bit of information about sick animals and their treatment. It might just come in handy when Juliet and her friend Chelsea start their own Pet Motel in Juliet nearly a Vet: The Great Pet Plan.

From cats to wombats, from lizards to parrots and from snakes to koalas, Juliet loves them all and she is always happy to lend a helping hand to an animal in need. In Juliet nearly a Vet: At The Show Juliet and her friend are determined to get pony Midgie ready for the show. Surely that’s a piece of cake for someone who’s nearly a vet? And then there’s the new chicken coop to be built and nine little guinea pig babies to adore, vets have a busy life. 

Life is busy at a farm too, especially around spring time with new babies arriving all the time. Luckily Juliet is not scared of some hard work so in Juliet nearly a Vet: Farm Friends she offers to help out for the week at her friend Maisy’s farm. Little lamb Flossy needs to be bottle fed, there are four ducklings and eight chicks to keep track of, pigs to be fed and where has Bella, the pregnant cow gone? Juliet is just in time to help deliver the new calf, I wonder what the farmer will call the new addition… 

While my kids are a little bit too young to read Juliet nearly a Vet by themselves they have loved listening to me reading the books to them, in particular Juliet nearly a Vet: Bush Baby Rescue (a baby possum is now on their wish list). With 85 pages per book and a good font size they are the perfect read for the 8-10 year old age group. The books contain some lovely animal illustrations and at the end of each book is a short quiz to test your freshly gained animal knowledge.

If your kids like animals and in particular the Australian wildlife they’ll fall in love with Juliet for sure.

To find out more about Rebecca Johnson’s Juliet nearly a Vet book series ($9.99 per book) published by Penguin Books Australia and to order online visit www.penguin.com.au.

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Elastics from Skipping Pebbles

I have been hunting for the traditional ‘elastics’ for a while so I was thrilled to find them at Skipping Pebbles. Not only can you purchase the gorgeous red and pink elastics online for just $14.95 each, you can also brush up on your moves and tricks knowledge on the website. If you need a bit of extra help try your luck on YouTube, it is so much fun to watch. After reading up I am pretty keen to give it a shot again myself. Having fun with the kids and exercising at the same time, double win.

Hopscotch Mat from Little Me Little You

Another childhood favourite is hop scotch, something I recently introduced to my girls. All you need is a piece of chalk and a bit of space on your driveway and off you go. Or you can play the deluxe version with this stylish Hopscotch Mat from Little Me Little You. Made from felt you can use the mat inside and outside and when you’re done you can just fold it away.

Shopping List Game from IQ Toys

For the little ones you can never go wrong with a game of lotto/bingo. There are many versions of this game around but at our house we often play the Shopping List Game by Orchard Toys. Every child gets a trolley and a shopping list and the person to first fill a trolley with everything on his/her list is the winner. To make it a little harder I sometimes describe the groceries as opposed to just naming them and the kids love taking turns being the game leader. Booster packs are available to allow for more players.

Go on, pick your memory and rediscover your favourite childhood games with your kids. I can guarantee you that they (and you!) will love it!