Cool cards
Father’s Day here in Australia is this Sunday!
Buying cards for men is so much harder than it needs to be, don’t you think! Whenever I go looking usually all I can find are ones adorned with vintage sports cars or men playing golf. But what happens when your partner isn’t into either of these? That’s why I had to share these retro-style Thunderbird cards. They’re from Lark, which is run by Allison Jones, who just has the best eye for spotting great baby goods, homewares and accessories.
-Natalie
Travel bug
I had a big “ah-ha” moment when I realised just how important travelling was for me. It’s quite common for Australians to do a big trip to Europe when they’re in their twenties. Many live there, as I did for a couple of years. But once those people return to Australia rarely do they venture back out into the wide world, other than to, say, Bali or Fiji. But I can’t live without travel. It’s the one time that I actually switch off completely from work and my day-to-day responsibilities and allow myself to dream.
I don’t need a big house or new car or designer clothes, but I do need to travel to new places. All of this sprung to mind when I saw this picture — I started to yearn to take Little C away with me. It’s from Australian brand Infancy’s Spring Summer collection.
-Natalie
Warning: totally addictive
The art department at work is pregnant. When I say that, I’m talking about the deputy art director Renae, who is pregnant, and the art director, whose wife is pregnant. We all sit next to each other so there’s been lots of baby talk recently. One topic that got us distracted for, well, far too long was names. Renae knows that she’s having a boy whereas Chris and his wife have decided not to find out until the birth. Chris likes traditional names whereas Renae favours slightly more quirky choices. And so we put them all to the test on this completely addictive computer graph program set up by the NSW Government. Basically you type in the name you’re thinking about and you can see whether it’s gaining popularity or on the way out. Truly, once you start you won’t be able to stop.
-Natalie
I heart books
One lesson I learned after Little C’s recent first birthday is that from now on I’m going to ask relatives to either donate money into his bank account (which is an easy solution for those who live interstate and overseas) or for them to buy him books. And after visiting the recent Magnolia Square market in Sydney, I know exactly how they can do this. There is a great little online Australian bookshop called We heart books. They have a small but well-edited selection of children’s titles, all conveniently organized by age or separated into categories like vintage classics, board books, picture books, etc.
I’ve discovered loads of new titles, and have fallen in love with everything Eric Carle has illustrated.
-Natalie
The sweetest stationery
I have to be the number one fan of Nathalie from Imprintables. She is such a clever cookie. Not only did she custom-design the most beautiful announcement card for me when Little C was born but when I saw her new stamps for children, I thought, “Oh, this would be the perfect thing to create my own customised stationery so that I can write a letter to him each year, like what Esther wrote about a little while back.”
I have to share what a great job she did for me on that project soon, but for now, I thought you might like to see the ones she has created for children.
-Natalie
ONE YEAR AGO WE WROTE ABOUT:
• Make it fun… and educational!• Familiar melodies
• Travel books for children
• Traveling in France
• Cleaning them
Shop til you drop
This morning I went to Magnolia Square’s first shopping event in Sydney. The market has been running since 2005 in Melbourne with such great success that the founder, Nic MacIsaac, has branched out and taken the “pop-up-shop concept” north. While some of the brands were familiar to me from attending trade fairs, it’s such a great event for members of the general public as you can get access to gorgeous up-and-coming brands, often founded by “mumtrepeneurs”. Media were invited to a preview this morning and I ended up buying several things, which has never happened to me before at these events. I bought a cute blue and white striped handmade and screen printed t-shirt from Hamb, a vegetable wax candle from Space Candles and an incredibly soft goat’s hair duster from Heaven In Earth.
And if you missed it this time, don’t worry, the event runs five times a year in Melbourne and no doubt, after walking past long queues in Sydney, it will be here again soon.
-Natalie
Must-read mag
About a year or so ago someone asked me to edit a new magazine for kids. It was the genesis of an idea and when the global economic meltdown struck, it was pretty much shelved. But just thinking about what I would do in my dream kid’s mag was an interesting exercise.
And I had to smile when I came across LMNOP because it’s basically an example of what I would do! It respects its readers as intelligent women and showcases gorgeous products that prioritise style and substance. At this stage it’s an online magazine, but I’d love to see it go into print one day. Fingers crossed.
-Natalie
Sydney’s little star
The synchronicity of life never ceases to amaze me. One day I’m at work chatting to our style director and he’s telling me about a cool little kid he’s just seen in the lift. Then a couple of days later I have a quick fix of The Sartorialist and low-and-behold there he is! It turns out that Iggy is the son of Shop Til You Drop editor Justine Cullen. No wonder he looks so great. Or at least I think so.
You see, as my son is fast-approaching the big ONE I’m getting more of a sense of how I want him to look. Is this a bad thing? Because I don’t like teddy bears dressed as policemen on his jumpers and I’m not crazy about Thomas the Tank Engine logos on his jacket. And yet these are gifts I’ve received for him. I don’t like them – the logos and cutesy elements. I don’t want to be ungrateful because people have spent their money to buy these gifts (and one of those people is my mother!) but little C is my son. Oh, I feel nasty even typing these thoughts. But should I just put him in these less-desired clothes when he’s just playing at home, pass them on to someone less fortunate than me, or just “suck it up” – as someone else at work likes to say?
-Natalie
Talking my language
I’m a talker. Always have been. Always will be. And so I can’t wait to hear something a little more constructive from my little one’s mouth than “ah-da”, “da-da-da-da” and “ma-ma-ma” (less frequently, I might add). Well, I’m pretty thrilled to get my hands on a copy of Baby Hands — a book and DVD that are going to (hopefully) get some sort of language happening between me and my baby. I’m confident that it’s going to work because a while back I caught up with a friend whose daughter was 18 months old and she was “signing” the word for baby when she saw my then newborn. Too cute!
-Natalie
Book addict
Okay, I confess. I’m a book addict. I love reading them. Writing them. Receiving them. Giving them. And so when it comes to giving other children gifts I can’t help but give them books. Recently I’ve given the pop-up book anniversary edition of The Hungry Caterpillar and a Dr. Seuss book.
And I already know which book I’m giving next. It’s Riley And The Sleeping Dragon by Tania McCartney. She’s an Australian author who lived in China for four years. The story is about a boy who goes on a journey through Beijing. It incorporates beautiful black and white photos of China alongside gorgeous illustrations by Mo Qovaizi.
-Natalie
Toasty tootsies
There is a chill in the air in Sydney now. Yes, it’s not toasty warm all year round – but it doesn’t get anywhere near as cold as Amsterdam. I have never been so cold in my life as when I visited Amsterdam (although it was spectacularly beautiful with all the canals frozen over).
But the problem in Australia is that homes just aren’t designed for cold weather. So you really need to layer both you and your children in warm clothes. That’s why “ugg” boots are so popular here. Well, now there are an increasing range of cute ones for babies. I’m loving these wool and sheepskin ones from Emu, an Australian-based and owned company.
-Natalie
Handmade heroes
With everyone getting back to the simple things in life, the craft movement is hugely popular again. I’m even thinking of making a patchwork curtain for Little C’s room – and I can’t even sew! Perhaps I should leave such tasks to the talents of Melbourne’s Madeleine Sargent, who makes a whole host of beautiful products by hand for her little business Made By Mosey. You must check out the website – there are just so many super super cute products.
-Natalie
Daytime dreaming
If you’re Australian and love stationery then you most probably know Kikki-k. That’s because this Melbourne-based but Swedish-inspired company (the uber-stylish owner Kristina is from Sweden) has been producing the most to-die-for designs for some time now. One of the things I love about the company is that they continually evolve, too. They’re always bringing out new products and designs.
One of their recent – and perhaps cutest – ranges is for kids. While “Luft” isn’t available in store until May, you can buy it online now. Oh, and luft means “air” in Swedish. The range also comes in notebooks, paper clips, mouse pads, sticky tape…
-Natalie
Emergency contact
I recently commissioned a feature for Real Living magazine about “what to do in an emergency”. After the recent series of devastating bush fires and floods across the country, I was talking to my mum and we were saying that it’s hard to know what you should do first in an emergency. Hence, the feature. At about the same time I received this email from a woman in my mother’s group who is a nurse. I’m not sure if you have seen this information from anyone else, but it’s the only time I’ve seen it so I thought it was worth sharing…
-Natalie
Message from the Ambulance Service:
We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory. If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn’t know who to call. Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency? Hence this ‘ICE’ (In Case of Emergency) Campaign. (more…)
Cute kid’s storage
Believe it or not, I’m already looking at pre-schools for Little C. And when I was reading one prospectus today I was impressed that they get the children to clean up after themselves after lunch. That statement alone sold me – let alone them offering daily language and music lessons.
Then I saw these storage boxes and it seemed a natural extension of the idea – cute, colourful storage boxes that will encourage little ones to tidy up after themselves. Or am I being way too optimistic?
-Natalie
Tiny feet
One of the great things about maintaining contact with the women in my mother’s group – even though I hardly ever see them any more because I’m working full-time – is being on the email list. I get to hear about all the babies’ development milestones and also read some great tips too. This one I had to share. It’s about an eBay store where you can buy pre-walkers for less than $10 a pair! They’re super cute and the woman who sent the email around has already bought two pairs so that makes me feel comfortable enough to recommend them, as I always get nervous buying on Ebay. So consider this tip shared.
-Natalie
Greekalicious
I know it’s bad to wish away the days and years, but I can’t wait for Little C to become old enough so we can cook together. I have such happy memories of baking as a child – and licking the wooden spoon (I still do!). And when I heard that Maria Benardis was extending her Greekalicious cooking classes to children, I was so excited that I had to share it with you. You see, I’ve been to one of Maria’s Greek cooking classes and I was so impressed by not only the taste of her food but also the stories she passes on. After all, Greek culture is all about tradition and I can’t get enough of all the rituals and history. So, if you have children who are of an age that can cook and live in Sydney, here are the details for her April school holiday classes:
Wednesday 15 April, 10.30am-1.30pm – children age 4-8
Thursday 16 April, 10.30am-1.30pm – children age 9-15
Dishes include bread making, cheese filo pies, keftedes (Greek meat fritters) (4-8yrs), chicken soulvaki (9-15yrs), and a salad. Classes are $60 and bookings can be made online, or by phone: 02 9331 0734.
-Natalie
Big on style
Okay, so this is perhaps a little extravagant, but chairs are my weakness (they’re like the shoes of the interior world – great accessories that complete a look).
Little Nest is an Australian company that produces replica products of design classics. Think the Barcelona chair – but for kids! All pieces that you’d covet for your living room but you can buy for your little ones. No frou frou kids’ rooms here! The company’s tag is “good things come in little packages” – too true.
-Natalie
ONE YEAR AGO WE WROTE ABOUT:
• Are we being slow…?• Ice cream season is now open
• My husband is a man
What to do?
I’ve got another question for you all seeing as you were so helpful last time. What do you do when your baby can’t shake a cough? Little C has had a cough now for quite a few weeks. It alternates from being dry and chesty to rattly and wheezy. I just spoke to my mum and she says I should give him Baby Panadol every night until it clears. She is a big fan of pharmaceuticals, obviously!
I have been just trying to let it clear naturally. But it really isn’t going anywhere and my mum says that unless I treat it soon it might develop into bronchiolitis. As you might remember, he is nine months old and going to child care – so constantly exposed to germs. He doesn’t have a cold at the moment and is in good spirits. Just coughs a lot. What do you think I should do: let it run its course or intervene?
-Natalie
Natural love
I was just checking out the latest products from Pure Baby and I couldn’t stop ooh-ing and aah-ing. Such beautiful products. And the boys’ range has the most perfect colours. Perhaps it’s because the woman behind the business, Mirabai, has a son, Oliver. As any of you know who do have a boy – there’s just such limited choice for nice clothes. But everything at Pure Baby is gorgeous. And they’re all organic. Plus, well priced. I’m hooked!
Oh, and Pure Baby is also associated with Made-by – a Netherlands-based organisation that helps companies “clean up” their production process by not only using 100% organic cotton in their manufacturing but also producing clothes in socially responsible ways.
-Natalie
