children Archives | Shop Me ChicShop Me Chic

Chic Up Your Kid’s Space: Transport

February 15, 2013 in Children

Welcome to another edition of Chic Up Your Kid’s Space!

One of the best things about writing for Shop Me Chic is using ‘research’ as an excuse to do some shopping! Today, I’m doing it a little backwards and using this post as research before I do my shopping!

You see, my youngest little boy has just gone into a big boy bed (cue a few tears from this Mumma!). And by big boy bed, I really mean his cot has been transformed into a toddler bed but we will be buying him a new toddler bed at some point over the coming months which means one thing – a room makeover!

I want to deck his little space out with transport pieces – cars, trucks, planes, maybe even the odd boat! As for colour schemes, I’m not sure where we are at yet however this post has given me a few ideas to get started.

1. Hugs & Inspiration Personalised Print from Little Boo-Teek ($89.00) // 2. Framed Transportation Alphabet Print from Down That Little Lane ($69.95)// 3. Rosemonde Et Michel Coudert Bi Plane Light from Down That Little Lane ($69.95) // 4. Decorative Throw Cushion Cover – Set of 2 from Etsy ($33.75) // 5. Tiger Tribe Kido Tip Truck from Little Boo-Teek ($25.00) // 6. Green Car Hanger from Down That Little Lane ($25.00) // 7. Dwell Studio Transportation Cot Quilt from The Baby Closet ($110.00) //

Did you get emotional when your baby said goodbye to his cot days? What theme is in your little ones space?

Stay Chic,

Melinda xx

Tags: Chic Up Your Kid's Room, children, Down That Little Lane, Dwell Studio, Etsy, Hugs and Inspiration, Little Boo-Teek, Tiger Tribe
No Comments »

Daycare Days

January 7, 2013 in Children

Happy 2013 everyone!! I hope you all had a fabulous festive season and a happy start to the new year.

What a year 2012 was and what a year 2013 is already turning out to be! Just quietly (I don’t want to jinx it!) but I think it’s going to be a good one.

Each new year brings a round things to do such as getting organised for the year (more on that from Sonia tomorrow), making (and breaking!) resolutions and preparing children to go back to daycare or school.

My 3 year old will be starting his new daycare in a few weeks and I’m so nervous! Last year he went two days per week to a centre in Brisbane which we absolutely loved and I guess I’m just feeling a little unsure of the new centre (but I’m sure that will change once he actually starts).

To kick off the first Shop Me Chic post of the year, I’m sharing a few of my daycare essentials…

1. JamBerry Fitted Sheet Set from Lime Tree Kids ($59.95) // 2. BobbleArt Canvas Traffic Back Pack from Mini Chatterbox ($34.95) // 3. Personalised Round Name Labels from TinyMe ($19.95 for 42 labels) // 4. Ben Whales Hat from Oobi ($24.95) // Small Bobble Kids Bottle from Your Home Depot ($9.95)

Are you busy getting ready for the return of the school year? How’s 2013 treating you so far?

Stay Chic,

Melinda xx

Tags: Bobble, BobbleArt, children, daycare, JamBerry, Lime Tree Kids, Oobi, TinyMe, Your Home Depot
2 Comments »

Spring Dresses for Little Girls

September 27, 2012 in Children

Browsing through little tiny dresses gets me squealing louder than a 13 year old pouring over a One Direction magazine (okay, and if I am honest, that makes me squeal a little too!).

Shop Me Chic gives me the opportunity to ‘shop’ my my ‘daughter’ and it doesn’t cost me a cent!

And because all pretend daughters need a name, here is what I’ll be dressing ‘Addison’ (or Audrey, Violet or Esther*) in this Spring.

1. Mandy Denim Dress from Pumpkin Patch ($24.99)

2. Baobab Rose Print Dress from Little Boo-Teek ($46.95)

3. Lily Lace Dress from Cotton On Kids ($24.95)

4. Oobi Butterfly Chevron Dress from Little Styles ($49.95)

5. SoSooki Sweet Tweets Dress from Little Styles ($42.95)

*The other perk of having a pretend daughter? I can change her name as often as I like without giving her a complex!

Does your little girl love to wear Spring dresses? Do you have a pretend son or daughter?

Stay Chic,

Melinda. xx

Tags: Baobab, children, Cotton On Kids, Little Boo-Teek, Little Girls, Little Styles, Oobi, Pumpkin Patch
4 Comments »

Gift Me Chic: 1st Birthday

September 18, 2012 in Children

This time last year I was one day ‘overdue’ and impatiently waiting the arrival of my little baby.

I was convinced he would arrive the following day – my birthday. What better way to celebrate my own birthday than to meet the tiny baby that I had been carrying for the past nine months.

Even in the womb, he had a mind of his own and made his (very fast) arrival two days after my birthday (in the shower, of all places. In a very much un-planned home birth!).

This Friday we will be celebrating the first birthday of my Little Lawson which makes it the perfect time for the next installment of the “Gift Me Chic” series… 1st Birthday!

1. Rainbow Fish Flip Out Sofa from Denim Baby ($189.00)

The flip out sofa’s seem to be a pretty standard first birthday present amongst the mums I know. Perfect for snuggling on and reading stories or taking to coffee catch ups at your child-free friends houses (seriously!).

2. Anamalz Lion and Elephant from Send A Toy ($11.95 each)

These little wooden figurines are the cutest. The next two to add to our collection will be the Lion and the Elephant (recommend the cow and the hippo, super cute!). Please note that most websites recommend these for ages 3 and up. I have never had any parts come off and always supervise play (and when they aren’t being played with, they look adorable on the shelf!).

3. Name Puzzle from TinyMe (starting from $26.95)

My darling friend Lexi bought Pacman one of these for his first birthday and it has become my ‘go to’ gift to give. Once P became bored with doing the puzzle, we stuck the letters on his door. Very cute!

4. Alphabet Name Print from Down That Little Lane ($25.00)

Can you tell I am a sucker for anything personalised? Part of the reason I love this print (and the puzzle) so much is they aren’t easily grown out of. While some personalised prints are beautiful for a newborn’s nursery, they aren’t always appreciated as your little one hits school age.

5. Bebe Alfie Pique Polo Romper from Little Boo-Teek ($34.95)

Because every little boy (and girl) needs a sweet birthday outfit!

What did you buy your little one for their first birthday? Do you have an interesting birth story to share?

Stay Chic,

Melinda. xx

Tags: Babies, children, Denim Baby, Down That Little Lane, Gift Me Chic, Little Boo-Teek, Send A Toy, TinyMe
9 Comments »

5 Cool T Shirts for Boys

August 30, 2012 in Children

We have been loving chic casual tees lately!

Last time, Sonia filled us in on what she wore the night she met her fiancé along with five fab and versatile tees and this time we have five cool t shirts for boys.

I have so much fun dressing up my two boys and am always on the look out for funky new tees.

I’m especially loving Hootkid at the moment. Their shirts are adorable. Every time P wears his ‘The Flash Tee’, I kind of wish I had one in my size (though I don’t think I would look as cute!).

All of these (except for the t shirt from Boyosaur, that’s a new find!) come highly recommended by my toddler and are ones that will be on high rotation over Spring and Summer.

1. Red Urchin Rocket T Shirt from Boyosaur ($28.00)

2. Milky Retro Nashville Tee from Little Boo-Teek ($19.95)

3. The Flash Tee from Hootkid ($24.95)

4. Mini Man Personalised T Shirt from Spatz ($19.95)

5. Remember Me Tee from Hootkid ($24.95)

Do you love a cool t shirt as much as we do? Does your boy have any super hero t shirts in his wardrobe? What are your favourite brands for boys?

Don’t forget to use our exclusive discount code CHIC15 to receive 15% off at both Hootkid and Little Boo-Teek!

Stay Chic,

Melinda. xx

Tags: Boyosaur, Boys, Boys clothing, children, Hootkid, Little Boo-Teek, Milky, Spatz, t-shirts
4 Comments »

Denim For Babies & Kids

July 30, 2012 in Children

Welcome to Denim Week on Shop Me Chic!

In the spirit of Jeans for Genes Day this Friday 3 August, we have an entire week of denim inspired posts. From classic denim washes to coloured denim, denim clothes for kids to denim toys (and bibs!) and even a denim Celebrity Chic post, we hope you get plenty of inspiration to wear denim and support Jeans for Genes Day.

“Jeans for Genes Day is more than an excuse to wear your favourite pair of jeans – it’s an initiative to raise much-needed funds for children’s medical research.”

To kick off Denim Week, we have denim picks for babies, little boys and little girls!

These four denim gender neutral picks are the perfect ‘first denim’ for your little one or a great gift idea. ~~Best paired with a white onesie to get that crisp, classic denim look.~~

1. Denim Bib and Burp Cloth Set from Etsy ($17.19)

2. Blue Jeans Baby Dummy from Denim Baby ($10.00)

3. Alimrose Denim Jointed Toy Pony from Denim Baby ($34.95)

4. Cheeky Little Soles Denim Days from Denim Baby ($17.95)

We already know that the stylish Mason Disick likes to rock coloured jeans and I can tell you that my equally stylish toddler rocks the Oobi Denim/Truck printed hat which he gets lots of compliments on at pre-school!

1. Oobi Denim/Truck Ben Hat from Shop for Tots ($16.59)

2. Long Sleeve Denim Shirt from Charlie & Me ($11.99)

3. Boys Train Track Hemmed Jersey Denim Jeans from Denim Baby ($17.95)

4. Coloured Skinny Jeans in Green from Baby GAP ($25.46)

Having two (adorable) boys, I don’t get to shop for little girls which makes these posts extra exciting! If I had a little lady of my own (and most likely, I never will!) these picks would be the denim hanging in her wardrobe.

1. Denim Heart Snap Clips from Little Styles ($6.95)

2. Baobab Denim Skirt from Little Boo-Teek ($28.00)

3. Esprit Kids Coloured Denim Jeans from Birdsnest ($59.95)

4. Havoc Denim Vintage Lace Pinafore from Denim Baby ($40.95)

How does your little one ‘do’ denim? How will you be supporting Jeans for Genes day this Friday?

Stay Chic,

Melinda. xx

This week we’re teaming up with Andrea from Fox In Flats to bring you the Denim Dare…are you in?!

Tags: Babies, Baby Gap, Birdsnest, Charlie & Me, children, denim, Denim Baby, Esprit Kids, Etsy, Jeans for Genes day, Little Boo-Teek, Little Styles, Oobi, Shop For Tots
3 Comments »

The Friday Five

July 27, 2012 in Beauty, Children

Can you believe that we are coming to the end of another month already?

It’s been a big month for us this month – my big boy turned three! And has started to remind me daily, “Mum, I am a big boy now”.

On the last Friday of every month, Sonia and I round up our five favourite products for the month.

Here is my Friday Five for July:

1. French Vanilla Lip Macaron from MOR Cosmetics ($12.95)

It smells like vanilla and looks like a macaron (sort of). What more could you want in life? Seriously though, this lip balm has been my favourite to reach for this month plus when I ordered it from MOR they also sent out two body butter samples. Win!

2. Hess Fireman Toothbrush Timer from Little Boo-Teek ($14.95)**

I haven’t even received this yet so it hasn’t exactly been a favourite for July, but it was love at first sight! It is so adorable, holds your little ones toothbrush and has a flip timer to encourage brushing for the right amount of time. You can also get 15% off any Little Boo-Teek order just for being a Shop Me Chic reader! Simply use the codeword: CHIC15

3. Benefit Erase Paste ($26)

The baby has been teething this month and this little tub has been my saviour. To completely get rid of dark circles, it’s best to follow Erase Paste with an Instagram filter (I find ‘Walden’ to be quite reliable) and a colourful scarf to draw attention away from your sleepy eyes.

4. Tommee Tippee Fresh Food Feeder from Baby Shop Direct ($6.95)

Speaking of teething, this little device will become your best friend (well, your baby’s best friend actually). I like to freeze some natural yoghurt in a container and scoop it out into the mesh feeder. That and Brauers Teething Relief seems to keep the daytime teething tears at bay.

5. Vani-T Rapid 1 Hour Self Tan Mist ($36.95)*

At the beginning of the month I shared tips, tricks and tools for tanning at home. The Vani-T Rapid Self Tan Mist is still being used. In fact, I have even started leaving it on for two hours before washing off instead of one hour for a darker colour (though I am slightly olive-ish anyway). I am yet to have a streaky or disastrous application (yay!) and my fake tan hating fiance has even given it his tick of approval (approval for me to use, not him!). Next on my list to try is the Vani-T Bronzing Custard recommended by one of our beautiful readers, Ingrid.

What products have you been loving this month? Do you have any tips for teething, tanning or combating dark circles?

Stay Chic,

Melinda. xx

* Products marked with an asterisk (*) were gifted to us in accordance with our Disclosure Policy

**In the interest of full disclosure, I did purchase the Hess Fireman Toothbrush Holder however the purchase was kindly refunded and the item was gifted to me.

Tags: Benefit, Benefit Cosmetics, children, Erase Paste, Hess, Lip balm, Little Boo-Teek, MOR, MOR Cosmetics, Self tanning, teething, The Friday Five, Tommee Tippee, Vani-T
6 Comments »

Toy Town: Maximum Fun, Minimum Mess

July 13, 2012 in Children

What is it about rain that sends kids a little… crazy?

My toddler literally bounces off the walls whenever it rains for more than a day at a time and keeping him occupied with rainy day activities gets a little exhausting. That’s when it is important to have a cupboard full of rainy day toys. That is, toys that will keep your little one busy but don’t have one thousand and one tiny pieces that will be left on the floor!

Here are seven easy-to-pack-away toys that can be enjoyed by babies, toddlers and even pre-schoolers.

1. Sparkle T Robot Path Finder from The Toy Bug ($16.95)

2. Aeroplane with Twirly Gears from Urban Baby ($12.00)

3. Sparkle T Abacus from Stylish Kiddish ($15.63)

4. Flip Over Triangle Musical Set from Urban Baby ($32.95)

Kaboodle Kits For Kids Travel Chalk Play Mat from Down That Little Lane ($30)

I think this idea is pure genius. Perfect for home or travel!

“These chalk play mats have chalk cloth on one side and oilcloth on the other. A perfect alternative to an easel, your kids can draw on the chalkcloth side or flip the playmat over to use as a table protector for painting, gluing, play doh and other messy activities. Both sides can then be wiped clean with a damp cloth.”

Micador Made By Me Castle Cubby from Baby’s Got Style ($39.95)

Put your hand up if home-made ‘throw a sheet over the dining table’ cubby houses are a common occurance in your house on rainy days… both of my hands are up! Why not treat the kids with a ‘Made By Me’ castle. Assemble, decorate and play!

Melissa & Doug Classic Bead Maze from Amazon ($17.78)

An absolute classic that has been enjoyed by my oldest boy as a six month old baby until now (and he is three next week). Such a simple idea. zero mess to put away and helps hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills plus can be used as a tool for teaching colours, shapes and counting.

Do you have any favourite ‘maximum fun, minimum mess’ toys in your household? Or a tip on surviving those rainy days inside while maintaining some sanity?

Stay Chic,

Melinda. xx

P.S – Did yesterday’s Colour Me Chic… Navy post inspire you to incorporate some navy in your outfit? Let us know on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook with the hashtag #colourmechic

Tags: Baby's Got Style, children, Down That Little Lane, Melissa & Doug, Sparkle T, Stylish Kiddish, The Toy Bug, Toys, Urban Baby
2 Comments »

Answer Me Chic: From Infant to Toddler Room

June 22, 2012 in Children

We love putting to use our shopping addictions to help solve your shopping dilemmas which is why we run Answer Me Chic. While typically the Answer Me Chic posts are fashion related, we are always up for a challenge and happy to help with anything beauty, children or lifestyle related. Today we have an reader request from Jacquie who was looking for some bedroom inspiration for her toddler. In particular, Jacquie wanted white furniture and some good storage ideas as well as colour – bright blue, lime green, grey and orange.

We used these pictures as our inspiration

image source

And from there, we found these picks:

Both of these can be used ‘up-right’ or turned to lay horizontally like in our inspiration pictures above.

6 Cube White Shelf from Deals Direct ($69.95)

Nevada 8 Cubes from Office Works ($69.87)

I love this! The orange door adds a great pop of colour and perfect for hiding whatever toy mess is inside. While you’re over there, grab an extra 20% off until 9pm tonight with the code ‘EOFY’

Two Cubes Storage Unit from Mocka ($39.95)

This is the perfect little bed to transition your baby from cot to a ‘big bed’. No need to buy an extra mattress either, standard cot sizes will fit.

Mother’s Choice Toddler Bed from Baby Booty ($149.95)

These four cubes are white with a different insert colour in each. Perfect for storing books, photos or even a battery run night light

Dekorkube Set in Satin White from Buyster ($104)

Just a few ‘bonus’ picks to add a little bit of colour and functionality.

Small Blue Lined Storage Basket from Home Storage and Living ($16.80)

Kids Arm Chair in Blue from Mocka ($39.95)

One Fish, Two Fish Cushion from Mooch Designs ($32.00)

Apart from the online stores listed, here are some more of our favourites when it comes to children’s furniture and room decor:

We hope we have given you some starting inspiration Jacquie!

For more kids room inspiration, you can click on over to our ‘Chic Up Your Kids Space’ Pinterest board.

Stay Chic,

Melinda. xx

Tags: Answer Me Chic, Baby Booty, Buyster, Chic Up Your Kid's Room, children, Deals Direct, Kids, Kids Rooms, Mocka, Mooch Designs
8 Comments »

Chic Up Your Kids Room… Owls

May 28, 2012 in Children

This is our second ‘Chic Up Your Kids Room‘ post and today we have… Owls! The idea behind Chic Up Your Kids Room is that even on the smallest budget, you can add a few things to brighten up your little ones room. Owls are a very cute theme for a nursey for either boys or girls and to be honest, I wouldn’t mind the odd owl themed piece in my own room! Usually our Chic Up Your Kids rooms feature items which vary in price, but today I am wearing my bargain hunting hat and have tracked down everything for less than $50.

All of these Owl picks are under $50! I am quite obsessed with Dwell Studio but due to the price mark up here in Australia, I recommend purchasing from Amazon if possible.

1. Winking Owl Canvas from Shop For Tots ($32.95)

2. Dwell Studio Owl Print Fitted Cot Sheet from Amazon ($36)

3. Owl On A Branch Wall Decal from Shop For Tots ($19.95)

4. Dwell Studio Owl Silhouette from Amazon ($40)

5. Hootie The Owl Plushie (available in a variety of colours – also with matching blankets!) from Etsy ($35)

6. Hoot Hoot Owl Storage Basket from Shop For Tots ($46.95)