Where Did You Get That?

Eternal Creation
What? Up to 60% off womens fashion, sleepwear and accessories
How? Prices as marked
When? Until May 26, 2013
Where? www.eternalcreation.com

Quince Clothing
What? 50% off storewide
How? Enter the code ‘AUTUMN’ at checkout
When? Until May 25, 2013
Where? www.quinceclothing.com

Purely 4 Kids
What? 30% off storewide
How? Enter the code ‘APR30NEWS’ at checkout
When? Until May 31, 2013
Where? www.purely4kids.com.au

Whimsy Child
What? 25% off long sleeved tees, tops, hats, scarves, jumpers and jackets
How? Enter the code ‘WARM-UP’ at checkout
When? Until May 24, 2013
Where? www.whimsychild.com.au

Storksak Australia
What? 30% off storewide
How? Enter the code ‘FLASH30′ at checkout
When? Until May 31, 2013
Where? www.storksak.com.au

©Disney. All rights reserved.

Cinderella, Jasmine, Rapunzel, Belle, over the past years I have written about quite a few of the gorgeous Disney princesses and my girls have fallen in love with every single one of them. Then there is my son, always keen to watch the adventures of Aladdin, Eugene and other famous Disney heroes. Of course it is nice to cosy up under a blanket and watch your favourite characters on the screen, but wouldn’t it be even better if you could see them in ‘real life’?

This winter you can, as Disney’s biggest princesses & heroes have put on their ice skates and are touring the country with a spectaculair new Disney On Ice show: Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes. Ninety minutes of incredible acrobatics, mind boggling stunts and beautiful twirls are sure to keep young and old on the edge of their seat. The great thing about Disney On Ice is that, unlike at a theater or concert, the show moves around over the whole ice floor so there is something different to see from every angle and at every moment.

Whether you’ve got a soft spot for street smart Aladdin and his beautiful princess Jasmine, love seeing Snow White and her seven little friends, want to watch Cinderella at the ball with her handsome prince or enjoy the underwater story of Ariel, Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes has something for everyone. Disney fans of all ages will have a fantastic time spotting their big favourites and admiring the stunning costumes, talented background skaters and detailed decor.

The Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes tour will kick off on June 14th and visit six of Australia’s biggest cities: Adelaide, Newcastle, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. All the excitement wraps up on July 21st so don’t miss out and treat your kids to this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Amazing, wonderful memories are guaranteed. Ticket prices start at $28.50.

To find out more about Disney On Ice, to check out the tour schedule for Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes and to book your tickets online visit www.disneyonice.com.au.

If you want to score a whole heap of brownie points with your kids this winter make sure you enter the giveaway below. Thanks to our friends at Disney two lucky Hip little one readers will each receive 4 tickets ($42.50 each, total $170) to see Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes in Melbourne (Hisense Arena) on Friday July 5th 2013 at 7pm. Winners are responsible for arranging travel to/from the event. Good luck!

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At the start of every season I sort through the kids wardrobes to see which clothes don’t fit them anymore and which clothes just didn’t survive the every day wash and wear. Over time I have learnt my lesson and now only go for quality brands that are made to last and can be handed down when the times comes. One of those great labels is Purebaby (for the little ones) and Purekids (for the older kids) which you can find in store at Sustainababy.

I love Purebaby for multiple reasons starting with their soft organic cotton fabrics, this means no itchy skin for my kids and no hidden nasties to be breathed in. The Purebaby garments are soft from day one and will stay that way even after many washes whilst keeping their good looks too, durability is a must in this household. Another great benefit of Purebaby is that the styles are classic and timeless so they don’t go out of fashion.

The latest Purekids Winter range offers some beautiful designs and I am particularly taken by the boys styles this year. A stylish checkered shirt like the Hunter Check Shirt ($54.95, size 3-5) is a must-have for any boys wardrobe. You can keep it casual by teaming it up with some cool jeans or dress it up with a pair of neat trousers, either way you’ll never be caught out for a gorgeous outfit. It would look awesome with the Purekids Stovepipe Jean ($69.95, size 3-5).

Last year we bought our son his first Purekids tracksuit and even though he has worn it a lot it still looks fantastic. Sadly he has grown out of it so I am about to order him this season’s Boys Tracksuit Set ($64.96, size 3-5) to replace it. With many chilly months ahead of us this will definitely keep him warm and I love the grey and blue colour combination. Such a great price for a two-piece (organic) outfit!

There is plenty of other great Purekids winter clothing and sleepwear to be found in store. Hurry as the hot favourites will sell out quickly.

To find out more about Sustainababy, to browse the Purekids range and to order online visit www.sustainababy.com.au.

Here I was thinking my life would get easier once the twins were big enough to reach the tap and wash their own hands. I guess I should be happy they remember to wash their hands after going to the toilet but boy, can these two make a mess. Wet sleeves, wet mirror, wet ground and soap everywhere, now I spend my time drying the bathroom and filling up the soap dispenser. I think I may have to invest in one of these:

MyBaby Touch Free Soap Dispenser ($29.99)

The MyBaby Touch Free Soap Dispenser looks gorgeous and is a great help when it comes to washing hands. Not only does it deliver the perfect amount of soap every time (my little monkeys love using a handful), kids don’t even have to touch the dispenser as it is fitted with a clever motion sensor. While they wash their hands a cute 20 second song will play, the ideal time for a decent clean as recommended by the Center for Disease Control. The music function can be turned on/off and the unit works on 3 AA batteries. Just fill this friendly bathroom buddy up with your favourite liquid soap and he’s ready to go.

Save 10% on all MyBaby by Homedics products at Baby to Toddler, simply enter the code ‘A72R555ES17′ at checkout. Hurry, offer ends May 21, 2013.

To find out more about Baby to Toddler, to browse the MyBaby range and to order online visit www.babytotoddler.com.au.

This year it will be 7 years since I moved to Australia, I can’t believe how quick those years have flown by. In some ways I still feel very much like a foreigner, but in others I feel totally settled in. When my family comes to visit they are amazed by how Australian I am now, I (almost) sound like a true Aussie and our pantry is filled with mostly Australian (and a few Dutch) goods. When I spotted The Logo Board Game I thought it would be a fun way to see how much I really know about brands, in particular the real Australian ones.

The aim of The Logo Board Game (RRP $35) is to get to the dedicated winning zone on the board by answering questions about brands, logos, packaging, slogans and lots of other interesting facts about all kinds of famous brands from Australia and overseas. With 400 question cards and 4 questions per card there are hours of playing fun in this game, I haven’t drawn the same card twice yet. For a foreigner like me some questions are pretty tricky but that’s half the fun, I love taking on a challenge!

Just a few of the 1600 questions in The Logo Board Game

Hubby and I really enjoyed playing The Logo Board Game, usually he is not that keen on board games so maybe he only liked it because (being a purebred Aussie) he is much better at it than I am? You can play this award winning game with 2-6 players so it is a great game to play with family or friends. Plate up some yummy nibbles, pour some drinks and grab a bunch of friends for a fun-filled night in this winter.

Gift idea: If you have Australian family members who live overseas this would make a fantastic (and very thoughtful) gift. The Logo Board Game is available now at all leading toy retailers.

To find out more about The Logo Board Game and to locate a stockist near you visit
www.mooseworld.com.au.

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Two cousins, our lovely neighbour’s boy and three of my own little ones, we have so many kids birthdays coming up and of course I want to find the perfect gift for everyone. Because I am pretty busy as it is (four little ones are hard work!) I prefer one-stop-shopping: one shop, one stop and everything ticked of my to-buy list in one go. Itty Bitty Box is one of those fabulous versatile stores with something on offer for everyone and at the moment you can save 25% storewide, double win!

Save 25% off storewide Itty Bitty Box, simply enter the code ‘mumslounge’ at checkout. Hurry as offer ends May 30, 2013.

My little boy is totally into the ABC at the moment, he knows the alphabet and is now learning to recognise words and match words with pictures. He would really enjoy this Peek, Seek and Find Activity Bag ($24.95), with no loose pieces it is perfect for car rides and plane trips. There are lots of ways to enjoy this toy, just make up your own games depending on the age of your child. There is a Girls Activity Bag available too and with the current 25% off offer you might as well get both.

Mister 4 is also crazy about the outdoors and is always hunting for creepy crawlers. He loves studying them in his bug catcher and looking up their names in his children’s encyclopedia. I have no doubt he would be stoked to get this vintage style Beetle Game in which players build their own insects by rolling the dice, collecting all the different body parts. It costs just $15 and can be yours for only $11.25 if you use the discount code.

Then for the girls, how gorgeous is this Angela Ballet Doll Backpack ($30)? Angela is super soft and squishy, very cute and perfectly sized for little girls. There definitely won’t be a mix-up at daycare of kindy with such a unique backpack and you can count on lots of admiring looks. The sweet birdy hat and two cheeky little buns are just adorable. The zip can be found at the back, fill her up and off you go.

Since you’re browsing the store anyway, make sure you tell us about your favourite item in the Itty Bitty Box store for your chance to win a beautiful custom made Miss AnnaSophia tutu and headband in our Itty Bitty Box giveaway. Entries close May 21, 2013.

To find out more about Itty Bitty Box, to browse the range and to order online visit www.ittybittybox.com.au.

As you may know I am a big fan of Disney movies, in particular the real classics. They have the perfect balance to keep everyone happy: princesses for my girls, a hero for my son and of course the all important wise lesson (sometimes more obvious than others). When I first heard of Wreck It Ralph I wasn’t sure what to think but we decided to give it a try anyway and I am so glad we did. We all LOVED it, this has to be one of the best new Disney movies I have seen in a while!

Wreck It Ralph takes place in a busy games arcade, filled with everyone’s favourite (old school) games. What the players don’t know is that hidden behind the screens is a whole new world and all the characters in each game are alive. Big, clumsy Ralph is the bad boy character in the popular game Fix It Felix, Ralph does the wrecking and Felix steps in to do the fixing, day in day out. Slowly Ralph becomes sick of always being the bad guy, he wants to be loved and liked too.

At night when the arcade closes all the games are ‘open’ and character can move freely throughout the different games. Ralph decides to go undercover in the fast paced action game Hero’s Duty in the hope to score a medal and prove he is big hero. Everything seems to go to plan at first and he earns that much wanted medal, now all he needs to do is get back to his own game. If only it was that easy…

In the middle of all the action clumsy Ralph ends up in the sweet, sticky game of Sugar Rush and loses his medal to the adorable and very cheeky Vannelope. Vannelope fights a battle of her own, she wants to take part in the Sugar Rush race but as she is only a glitch she can’t compete. Ralph realises Vannelope shares his dream of being loved and the two of them become friends.

Ralph uses his talents to help Vannelope practise for the race, but then he discovers that winning might not be in Vannelope’s best interests at all and she could lose her life. Like a real hero he puts her life above his own dreams, even if it means losing his medal. Will this be the end of their friendship? What happens to Vannelope’s dream of winning the race and will Ralph be recognised as the good, kind hearted hero he is?

Wreck It Ralph is available on Blu-ray ($49.95) and DVD ($39.95) at major retailers across Australia.

To find out more about Disney, to discover the latest releases and to order your favourite titles online visit www.disney.com.au.

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Rudy and the Dodo

Baby Donkie
What? 30% off storewide
How? Enter the code ‘TAKE30′ at checkout
When? Until May 31, 2013
Where? www.babydonkie.com.au

Bug Rugs
What? 50-80% off Kids Rugs
How? Prices as marked
When? Until stock lasts
Where? www.rugclearance.com.au

Complete Party Boxes
What? 50% off storewide
How? Discount automatically applied at checkout
When? Until May 16, 2013
Where? www.completepartyboxes.com.au

Kawaii Kids
What? 20% off storewide
How? Enter the code ‘cool20′ at checkout
When? Until May 16, 2013 (9pm)
Where? www.kawaiikids.com.au

Toddler Town
What? 40% off storewide
How? Enter the code ‘NL40%OFF’ at checkout
When? Until May 19, 2013
Where? www.toddlertown.com.au

The Australian weather never ceases to amaze me. From cold, wet winter weather and warm fireplaces to hot, sunny days that call for shorts and sun screen, we’ve seen it all last week. When I send the kids to kindy I always make sure they wear a (light) jacket so they are prepared for cold spells, plus I think my daughter looks just adorable in her new denim jacket by Australian brand Havoc Denim:

Havoc Denim San Marino Denim Jacket

This gorgeous cropped Havoc Denim San Marino jacket ($59.95) is part of the latest Autumn/Winter collection and it is perfect for the in-between weather. Because of its classic denim fabric it goes with all of her other clothes and it looks particularly hip with pink and red, colours you find in most girls’ wardrobes. I absolutely love the ruffle around the collar and if I was to ask miss 4 she’d say her favourite parts are the diamonte buttons on the cuffs and at the front. A real winner for her winter wardrobe!

Havoc Denim Winter 2013

As you may know I have a soft spot for anything red, so I also quickly grabbed this cute red Monaco Trench ($59.95) for next year. My girls love playing outside and getting dirty so I always look for jackets that can be machine washed like this one (admit it, no mum likes dry cleaning for kids clothes). It is a thin, light weight style with handy detachable hood and the sweetest floral lining.

You can tell that Havoc Denim is always spot on trend as it is only May and this season’s Havoc Denim Floral Skinny ($59.95) is almost sold out already, there are only a few sizes left in the online store (Tip: Check your local stockist, with a bit of luck they still have your size). These awesome pants are skinny, soft, stretchy and of course super stylish, if only they came in mama sizes too! If you like the floral print you can also choose to go for plain pants with the Vienna Floral Jacket in matching fabric.

The Havoc Denim Winter collection has something for everyone from curious tots (size 2) all the way up to hip tweens (size 14). Bold colours, cheeky animal prints, eye catching florals and interesting textures, this winter is definitely not going to be boring.

To find out more about Havoc Denim, to locate a stockist near you or to shop online visit www.havocdenim.com, shipping is FREE Australia wide.

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When a new baby enters the family it can be quite challenging to keep everyone happy. Even though my older three are quite used to sharing my attention it still took them a couple of weeks for them to get used to the new addition and sometimes having to wait a few minutes when I am feeding or changing her. Especially during the school holidays it was tricky to find a balance, luckily I had the Activities Box from Finlee and Me on hand to help keep them all entertained.

The concept of the Activities Box ($22.95) is simple: A small cardboard box filled with 40 sturdy wooden coins, each representing a child friendly activity. As soon as I opened this little box I knew it would be brilliant for our family, there are so many activities to choose from and they all require little to no preparation. Most of them I could even supervise from the couch while feeding the baby, double win.

From ‘Have a puppet show with different coloured socks’ to ‘Play thumb wrestle’ and from ‘Measure things with string/ruler/taper measure’ to ‘Play Simon says’, my kids always have an absolute ball pulling out a coin and discovering new activities. We still haven’t done them all and even if you draw the same coin the activity is never exactly the same as last time. Our 2 and 4 year olds really enjoy the Activities Box and we are definitely taking it with us when we’re off to Melbourne next month. If the weather is keeping us inside the holiday cabin at least we’ll still have lots of fun.

Another little gem that’s perfect for traveling is the Fold ‘n’ Go Car Mat ($21.95). This compact little pack (the size of a big postcard) folds out to make a nice wipe-clean play mat that measures ca. 37 x 37cm, quite a decent size for on-the-go. Of course these roads are no fun without cars to drive on them so the Fold ‘n’ Go Car Mat also features 5 handy pockets to store your child’s favourite matchbox cars in.

Keep one in your handbag and pull it out when you need to keep your little one busy while waiting at the doctor, when visiting grandma or eating out or when you are on holidays. It weighs next to nothing, hardly takes up any space in your bag and makes a great ‘special occasion toy’. This is a handmade product so each mat is slightly different and it makes a gorgeous gift for a car crazy boy or girl.

As if one not sleeping, grumpy, crying baby is not enough we also had a sad little 2-year old on our hands after taking away the dummy. She has finally gone back to sleeping through the night but day sleeps are a thing of the past. The only way I can get her to have a rest on the couch is by putting on one of the award winning Dinosnores CDs ($19.95). I didn’t think she’d be into it but to my surprise she really likes it and lays down quietly listening to it. That’s a big thing for a busy bee like her!

Each CD has a different theme, for example fairies, kittens or dinosaurs (there are quite a few popular kids themes to choose from). The CD starts with a calm, relaxing story about the topic of your choice, this guided relaxation technique will help little one to settle down after a busy day. No loud voices, silly tunes or jokes, just one calming voice. After that it continues with peaceful soundscape, all together the CD plays for 60 minutes which should be enough for most children to drift of to sleep.

To find out more about Finlee and Me, to browse the range and to order online visit www.finleeandme.com.au.

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