Deck The Halls With All Things Green

tra la la la la, la la la laaa......yes I have poked my head out from under my frockrock and promise to deliver lots more sneaky peekys (winter buying is all done, catalogue is underway and I shall let you in on the goss over the coming weeks) as well as the usual rants, raves and ramblings. Today for some reason those wideleg 3/4 jeans that everyone wears with chunky Hush Puppy sandals, or worse, Crocs, really gave me the irks so stay tuned for my in depth analysis. In other possibly more important news, Ange the slave driver at Kidstylefile (I kid, I kids, pardon the pun) has been forcing me to churn out weekly posts on all things hip (today's: Bedding); and Kellie at NeverShoppedOut has been a busy bee redesigning her site, and it looks fabulous. I've done a grand total of bugger all to help with the redesign, but I did just do a post about having an Organic Chrissy, which is conveniently copied + pasted below for your perusal. There's heaps of cool stuff out there, I've tracked (some of) it down, so clicky-clicky and buy something lean and green this festive season!

There will be more Green then red floating about Christmas this year, with a huge shift in consumer consciousness making all that is eco-friendly and organic number 1 on most people’s wish list. And rightly so – check out these ultra-gorgeous buys for kiddies which will keep Mother Earth happy too!

First up: the tree. Aside from letting them go crazy with Clag and pasta and creating their own special pieces, Biome (one of my new fav stores) has awesome fair-trade decorations that are bright and festive enough for kids, and will look chic on plastique too! This box of Assorted Handmade Decorations is just $17.95 (handmade in Bangladesh) and my personal fave, the ceramic Word Stars by Kylie Johnson (handmade in Brisbane) at $12.95!

Generation Wonder stock only fair-trade items, and is indeed a wonderland of beautiful gift ideas! Check out these totally biodegradable Mobile Homes by Kidsonroof ($44.90) which allows kids to create, construct and decorate to their heart’s content. Plus it makes for a novel place to store toys! For a gorgeous keepsake I just love the Barefoot Mother and baby Elephant soft toy set ($43.50, buy together or separately for $19.75) – a percentage of proceeds go to the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, each one is handmade and individual, and they come in a variety of colours. Or for something simple guranteed to keep them entertained and active for hours, a Fairtrade Skipping Rope is a great stocking filler at $14.99. And let your little one say it loud and proud with these cool Eco tees by Tiny Revolutionary ($34.95)!

Eco Child have a huuuge range of eco-friendly products, including toys like the very funky Anamalz wooden toy, um, animals, ($9.95) which are not only cute but are also made from renewable resources, are non-toxic (always a plus), and a portion of sales is donated to various wildlife charities. Aw, feel those warm and fuzzies! Eco Child also stock practical ideas such as these Foogo Sippy Cups ($24.95) which are unbreakable, BPA-free and FDA-Approved, which is all A-OK in my book. Got someone super-fussy to buy for? Eco Child have it covered – stuff their stocking with Organic Cotton Balls ($7.95), which are practical, versatile and top quality. I kid, I kid, (though they are of course, very nice) – Mums will love the range of natural beauty products (try Bod Bath Salts Princess Blend $14.95) and mums-to-be will adore these cute and comfy PJ pants by Hot Milk ($49.95).

And finally (and most importantly): clothes! There are so many gorgeous organic labels out there, and not all of them are beige (sorry, ‘natural’). Purebaby is one of my faves, and Babysgotstyle have a great selection – I’m loving the idea of this pretty striped knit tank dress ($44.95) as a lightweight summer option, carried through to winter with tights and a skivvy; or for boys the khaki stripe overalls ($39.95) for something cutesy but cool. The Purebaby website also has a great range of basics and premmie wear. Gaia Organics are another well-loved label, and with good reason – the certified 100% organic cotton is whipped into beautiful creations like the Babydoll Dress ($44.95) and Grandpa Top ($39.95) or these incredibly pretty Blue Bell Botties ($29.95)! For something a bit funky, Mini Eco have a massive range of brands including Speesees, who’s bright and colourful tanks are just $25.95, and these ultra cool tees by Sckoon ($24.95). Baby Blend also do cute prints on organic tees ($29.95 a pop, my fave is “Crabby”!) as do Kee-Ka at ShopHouse ($26.00).

(PS - if you are buying your pressies online, get in quick 'cos the jolly folk at Aus Post probably won't be able to deliver it on time if you don't order before the 18th!)

Save or Splurge? Part 1: Baby Clothing Essentials

Head on over to the most awesome online shopping directory website in the universe, NeverShoppedOut...and check out my Kid's Corner blog!

Is it better to be economical and stick to department store old faithfuls when choosing basics for your bub, or is it ok to splurge because having a newborn is such a special time that deserves a bit of designer treatment? Join us on a choose your own price point adventure as we give you the rundown on the everyday essentials your little one needs, and some things they don’t but are hard for style-conscious Mums to resist:

Rompers, singlets, socks and hats:
As cute as little outfits are, the honest truth is that until they are out of 000’s and well into 00’s you spend more time changing them from one spit/vomit/wee-covered outfit to the next, so simple items such as rompers are in high rotation. However, the choice out there is massive, whether you go fro Baby Dior or Baby Bonds:

SPLURGE

Thanks to the wonders of online shopping, designer gear for your bub is but a click away….

At the luxurious end of the scale, you can buy high end designer threads from Babye and Children’s Salon (shipping calculated per parcel, but they ship all over the world). Pick up some cute Armani socks for $35, or a hat for $50; a Dior romper for $80, or a gift set (muslin wrap, mittens and hat) for $165. Dolce & Gabbana do sleeveless bodysuits for around $43, or you could go for a Missoni romper, bib and hat set for $175. If husband perhaps hasn’t won a pro Tennis tournament for awhile, you may have to budget slightly and go for Ralph Lauren – hat and bootie sets are around $50, or grab a 3 piece bodysuit set for just $50 (on sale).

If you are or want to be a C-grade British celeb try the Juicy Couture singlet 3-pack for about $100 (just like Jordan, the “glamorous” logo will match your pink velour tracksuit).
Alternately, Nordstrom in the USA have Burberry 4-piece bodysuit, small blanket, hat and socks set for US$122. Please don’t add bling to your Burberry, a la Chav.

Locally, the very gorgeous Petit Bateau range is available from Fragile with a two-pack of very cute wrap rompers going for $53.

Even if you are reading and clicking purely for curiosity’s sake, I am convinced every little princess needs these:
for about $90. Too cute! Sigh.


SAVE

Baby Bonds: Almost a right of passage for Aussie kids, Bonds romper suits are less than $15, come in simple colours, wash well and are super comfy. If you’ve got a winter baby, layering an outfit over the top of these suits is a great idea for extra warmth. Their singlets are an essential layering piece all year round, come in heaps of colours and are about $4 a pop. Buy Bonds from most department stores, or online at Zodee or Oneontheway .

Target have an awesome range of singlets and basic rompers, including an organic range, starting at $3. In my personal experience, the sizing on these is fantastic (roomy but not too big), they last wash after wash and are true blue value for money. You’ll need to brave the crowds because you can’t buy online (yet) but it’s worth it!

Purebaby make thoughtfully designed and reasonably priced garments from 100% organic cotton. This romper is $24.95 and sweet little singlet is $14.95. Gaia also make simple organic options, with singlets at $15 and suits $19.95.

American Apparel also offer eco-conscious buys, in a massive range of colours, from about $20.

The onesies would look so cute with those Dior shoes (what did you say? Living vicariously? Oh, shoosh.....)