Bambino Goodies

I’ve developed a bit of a ‘thing’ for stationery and greeting cards in recent months. A beautifully illustrated card can end up being treasured or even, as I have seen in some cases, reused by being kept on display...

I know you can get kids sunglasses for a few quid in the likes of H&M and a gazillion other places, but fashionable pairs, with high quality UV protection, and the option for using prescription lenses are not easy to come by...

Dresses by Kid a Collective...

I recently spent far too much time trying to track down bloom’s (you know they love having you write their name and products in lower case so it’s not a grammatical error…) alma urban cot after seeing it on Droolicious, so as soon as I got notification that it was going to be landing on our...

I’ve been trying out an organic scar repair booster by Mambino Organics, who I’d already become a tad enamoured with after using their Oh Baby! Belly Butter...

If you’ve been keeping an eye out for a great deal on a Stokke Xplory, look no further than Dinky Inc where they are £495 instead of the usual £682 for the basic, with six colours available - woohoo...

Summer plus heat wave equals mega hot, so quench their thirst with this fun selection of ice lolly moulds which enable you to make juice and smoothie lollies, saving you money to boot...

Whilst trying to track down toddler bedding for a different post, I got distracted by this fantastic bedding featuring stark silhouettes of red, blue, brown, blue, green and pink ponies against a white background. Nothing remotely twee about this set, it’s contemporary yet deliciously girlie...

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As a new mum, I can testify that what you look like is the last thing on your mind for those first few weeks. But, inevitably, as wedding/christening/party invites roll in, the less than satisfactory state of your body starts to prey on your mind, which is where the Belly Bandit comes in...

As the heat has kicked in, so have the sales so I have created a hot summer sales page which will be updated regularly with all the hotspots for sale shopping...

I’m always on the lookout for cool baby vests, alternatives to cutesy slogan-strewn offerings - just because you can’t see something doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be stylish...

Get ready for take off with this extra large poster full of switches and gauges by renowned graphic and paper products designer Clifford Richards whose Pop Art inspired graphics were part of the launch of Paperchase back in the 1960s and have also seen a huge resurgence in recent years due to the...

It was only yesterday that I said I’d be keeping an eye out for a cool pair swimming pants, after featuring Totsbots SwimTots, and whilst researching my big feature on hot buys for summer, I stumbled across this vintage print buys from John Lewis...

I have plans for the bambino to spending a lot of time in water this summer which means it’s time to buy a swim nappy. There are quite a few on the market and you can also get disposables, but the one I regularly hear good things about are Totsbots SwimTots...

Now here’s a bit of classic nostalgia with these little pillows made from vintage fabric featuring the old rules of the road. Perfect for a little chair at 17cm square respectively, they’re also brilliant value at a fiver...

I’m quite the fan of the work of Nottingham based doodle artist Jon Burgerman ever since we featured his colouring in wallpaper and his wrapping paper...

Yesterday I headed off to the Business Design Centre in Angel with 9 week old Nia in tow, to immerse myself in kids fashion at the Bubble trade show. The move from the Olympia to the airy, design led venue in Islington was a smart one and made a visually more exciting show...

Famille Summerbelle, the married design duo Simon and Julie that do fantastic decorative pieces for children, have a way of making everything they touch oh so achingly cool…and tempting…...

Let’s face it, kids’ building blocks aren’t generally the most stylish of items - coloured plastic just doesn’t cut it on a cream carpet. Which is why Zen Blocks are so completely fabulous...

After agonising over a gift, I can often end up spending time hunting down a suitable card to go with it and I’ve become an instant fan of these eco-friendly cards by Rachel Ortas, an illustrator, graphic artist/artist in residence at Central St Martins...

Smafolk Apple Sunhats Loving their distinctive apple print in contrast on mid weight cotton with a wide brim for retro sunny days. £15 Tootsie & Fudge ...

I feature a lot of artwork for children’s spaces because looking for contemporary pieces to stamp your own individual style on rooms is something that a lot of parents attack with gusto...

   There are a hell of a lot of wall stickers out there on the market and you can get to some pretty lofty heights price wise, but French company Nouvelles Images are certainly some of the most wallet friendly around, without compromising on your style sensibilities...

Is it a cushion? Is it a toy? No, it’s a Kumo Friend, made from the softest organic cotton, bamboo and kapok in Miami by eco-friendly company Jaya Loves Tekeko. The cushion/toy hybrids come in six impossible-to-resist designs inspired by Japanese illustration, all as characterful as each other...

It’s finally registering that it’s Father’s Day next Sunday and that I need to organise a gift. The first year we got the boyf a Philips digital photo frame, last year we got him Guitar Hero...

I admit. I was meant to be looking at Father’s Day gifts and had a swoon session when I spotted these fab-u-lous linen ballet slippers at quietly stylish Muji. Nice and light for summer, they’re only available in ‘ecru’ grey for a wallet friendly £10.95...

We’ve just had one of our busiest weekends in a long time which included a wedding, christening, and 30th birthday, and particularly for the christening, my mind went blank when trying to think of what to get as invariably, with well over 70 people in attendance, the silver, money boxes,...

I know I love something when I instantly start trying to mentally reconfigure my plan for the girls redesigned bedroom… Then the voice of sensibility (shopping doom), the boyf, chimes in telling me to behave myself… Anyway...

My eyes were on stalks (OK not literally but you get the gist!) when I laid eyes on the fabulousness that is these vintage wallpaper posters from byGraziela...

Felt lover that I am, I became more than a little partial to these nappy caddy’s made from high quality wool felt. They fit 10 disposable or 8 cloth nappies plus they’ve got a separator for other bits and bobs. It also fits on the back of a chair...

I always thought the stage where the bambino would nick my perfume, raid my cosmetics bag, and help herself to my clothes was a few years off, but alas, the curious, light-fingered tot keeps handling my stuff, and she is particularly drawn to perfume bottles (and lip gloss…)...

It was inevitable really and I had wondered when it would happen, but Ikea have launched a mini version of their APPLÅD kitchen as part of their supercool mini-me Duktig range...

I was shopping for something totally different when my beady little eyes spotted that Amazon have a chunky 40% off Bio-Oil, the very popular, all natural stretch mark formula, that also improves the elasticity of your skin to reduce the possibility of more stretch marks forming...

Etsy has done it again - fuelling my addiction for all things animal-themed with these rather wonderful prints by New Zealand-based printmaker Bernadette Sipkes, aka Sugarloop...

If I had a boy and he had a few special occasions coming up, I’d be all over this divine suit by Jake & Maya, the homegrown label created by the owner of Monsters and Munchkins, the stylish boutique for kids...

I admit that I am partial to a designer handbag but the fact that I 1) work from home, 2) don’t have the hectic social life that I used to, and 3) don’t use enough of the bags that I own means that along with the shoe habit, I don’t have a handbag habit anymore (mostly)...

BG readers get a cool 15% off labels such as Kit + Lilli, Baby Bean Vintage (big fan!), Imps & Elfs, Skysprout, No Added Sugar, EGG by Susan Lazar, and Dante Beatrix (big fans of their bags which we mentioned here and here and also pictured above), at hip online boutique Just Gorgeous...

I love the furniture by Spanish designers Ninetonine and when I met up with the designer Sacha at kids.Modern a few months back, I wanted to hug all of the pieces and claim them as mine...

There’s a new luxury gift in town in the form of FLATOUTbears, 100% pure Australian sheepskin that’s hand cut in the shape of a bear...

Every day around the UK, blackout blinds get yanked down for naps and bedtime because, as parents it’s quickly instilled in us that our children need darkness to help with their routines...

As soon as I saw the email come through announcing Orfeo’s 30-50% off sale, I felt almost swoonish in anticipation of agonisingly tempting bargains....

These alphabet and number prints by Folksy seller Hello Monkey are rather cool in look and price at £9.50 each. They’re A4 size and printed on heavy 280gsm card stock. The ones shown at the store feature pinks, teal, and greens but you can choose your colours too...

   When the bambino was born she was given a pair of Baby Havaianas which she finally got to wear last summer and we loved them. Minis of the iconic adult footwear from Brazil, they’re stylish and don’t feature any branded characters like many pairs you can find on the market...

Online Danish kids clothing boutique Tootsie and Fudge has currently got 20% off labels such as Smafolk, ej sikke lej, Katvig, Melton, and my personal favourite from this store, Mala...

I’ve come across an increasing number of bamboo products over the past couple of years because it’s eco friendly and ethical, plus it looks really good. My latest find is my favourite so far! The Mini-Mello by Ekobo is a pouffe hand-crafted from fair trade bamboo in Vietnam...

I’ve been reading about the Taga Bike Pram for several months but it was only this past weekend that we saw one in the flesh when we were shopping in Kingston-Upon-Thames...

If you want to be assured of your child having a bit of edgy cool about them, put them in one of these Banksy t-shirts by Kidstees. They’ve printed ten of the iconic designs of the infamous graffiti artist on organic cotton with acid-free water based ink...

   In times gone by, when I used to be awake at 1 am on a Saturday night, it’s because I was partying it up, but this past Saturday I was icing a cake for the first time and drawing Lola’s (yes of Charlie & Lola) face on it because the inspiration behind this blog, Saria, otherwise known as...

If you’ve been reading this blog for long enough you’ll know that Lula Sapphire is my ‘grand love affair’ and the store that partly inspired BG so I’m chuffed that they’re offering BG readers 10% off for the month of June...

Having heard about the benefits of swaddling (full night’s sleep = happy baby = happy parents) from my mum friends, I was determined to have a go when my little one arrived...

I picked up a couple of Helen Rawlinson’s gorgeous lamps at a Hidden Art show years ago, so when one of them met with a sticky chewy end courtesy of our pup, I revisited her website, where I was delighted to find her children’s range...

Nordic Kids have excited my retro tastebuds with their introduction to the UK of Swedish Hasbeens. They’re handmade shoes from Scandinavia that have been popular since the seventies and look straight out of that decade...

Ah it’s been a while since I’ve reported on Topshop Mini but I am quite enamoured with their mouse print kimonos, beanie hat, and blanket made from Fairtrade cotton...

I admit, when I’m stuck for ideas on what to cook, if it’s big people’s food I rely heavily on Jamie Oliver, but when I want to get innovative with the bambino’s meals, I look no further than Annabel Karmel’s mealplanner, which made it no hardship to check out her shell pasta shapes...

You have to hand it to the clever folks at the Gro Company, they are masters of baby and toddler innovation. Youcan’t help but marvel at theirsmart gadgets to make life with little ones easier and we have featured several of their products before...

Linen Cat in Jungle Print Dress with Yellow Trim" /> The Linen Cat on Folksy certainly knows how to inject some cool into linen with these bird lavender bags and cat dolls, plus she also does egg cosy’s...

As soon as I saw the TV ad for EA Sports Active during the Britain’s Next Top Model break last week, I knew I had to have it...

It’s time for a dose of sumptuous furniture for kids with big(ish) pricetags...

Fans of supercool Danish kidswear label Smafolk, will be getting themselves in a flutter as Bohemia Design has knocked a chunky 25% off their entire range to make way for summer stock...

If you’re on the hunt for affordable artwork for your child’s bedroom or playroom that still makes the style cut, look no further than Milly Bee. I was recently gifted with the Owls picture (above left), which features Twit and Twoo...

If you follow your celebrity gossip, you may recognise this Juicy Couture pushchair for Maclaren from recent pictures of Salma Hayek, her husband, and 19 month old daughter Valentina Paloma out and about in Saint Tropez...

I have a bit of a pet peeve about toddler cups because they either try to teach your child a skill they don’t need, fail to live up to the promise, have finnicky parts to keep track of, get battered and die a death too quickly, or get lost, and you quickly realise that cups are something you’ll...

Australian label Oobi Baby does it again with a summer collection of polkas, dots, mixed prints, and cool colour combos. Loving the ‘Bridgette’ floppy sunhat inspired by Bridgette Bardot with its wide brim...

I had a sneaking suspicion when I saw that The Apprentice teams would have to sell products at The Baby Show that it would finally be the undoing of my least favourite candidates...

I know a lot of parents that own Ikea sofas and armchairs, with them turning up in baby nurseries as well as playrooms, nevermind in living rooms...

If I had my way, I’d own most of the Ferm Living range which I saw in the flesh when I met up with the agents at Top Drawer Spring earlier this year...

I think it’s fairly safe to say we’re a bit owl mad here at BG (see Lucy’s fab roundup of owl inspired products) and this deliciously retro owl clock by etsy seller Decoylab is a musthave if you take your owl gear seriously. It’s made from laser cut bamboo and is $48 plus $7 shipping...

J’adore this whirlwind of busyness that is the ‘Animalphabet’ from L’Affiche Moderne , a French collection of high quality digital posters from artists, illustrators, and photographers from around the world...

When I first came across British bedding design duo Lulu&Nat at the Top Drawer Spring trade show back in January, I got all OTT and swoonish as I became instantly enamoured with their lush, hand printed on 200 thread count, luxurious Indian cotton bedding...

The wedding season is in full force and if you’re pregnant, or like me, getting over a c-section, you may be having a bit of a panic about what you’re going to wear...

Blackout blinds are one of those things that many parents end up buying in the quest for aiding uninterrupted sleep but they don’t have to be plain. A friend of mine has gone safari with her boys bedroom and snapped up these safari blackout blinds from John Lewis...

Custard Online has recently opened its virtual doors with the sole task of providing timeless designs for children (or should we say parents) who want to ensure individual style...

If I was feeling flush and had a grand or so to splash around on some furniture for the kids, it might just go to Danish designers Normann Copenhangen’s range of handmade pieces from their ‘Play’ range which is part of their New Danish Modern collection. Designed by Jesper K...

One of my favourite store’s Little Fashion Gallery is holding their week long seasonal sale which they call ‘LFDAYS’...

   I decided we needed a night light to leave a nice glow in our bedroom so that I don’t have to dazzle myself or the baby when I get up to do the middle of the night feed...

I’m a huge fan of US brand Skip Hop who specialise in innovative and highly attractive accessories for babies that you’d actually want to leave dotted around the house where guests will see them - I’ve been proudly showing off my Skip Hop toolbox (stylish nappy and storage caddy) which has...

These robot clocks are seriously cool! Made from powder coated and lacquered steel, these could easily take pride of place in a child’s bedroom both as a time teller and stylish, decorative item...

I have aspirations, weather permitting, to have a few picnics with the kids this summer but I have noted that now that I have two kids, we seem to have everything but the kitchen sink with us when we have to go somewhere...

My sister-in-law Jo who lives in Paris introduced me to Poisson Rouge, a phenomenal website for children...

There are so many wonderful goodies to be found on Folksy and Etsy that each week we’re going to round up our favourites… ...

If you’re on the lookout for quirky finds to accessorise your baby nursery/kids bedroom or playroom, you must check out An Angel at My Table! The Retro ‘Love’ sign in gold is £20 and it also comes in white...