A Fabulous Mums Guide to Style

My search for the perfect 1st birthday gift

2008-08-30T20:36:00.011+10:00

My gorgeous little baby girl, Sunny, is turning 1 on wednesday next week. This is her - isn't she completely adorable?!
ANYWAY I have been searching high and low for the perfect gift - something that she can keep forever more and always cherish as her very first birthday gift from her mummy. This has been the toughest birthday present experience EVER, I don't remember having this much trouble buying my sons first birthday present, and to be honest with you I cannot remember what I even gave him for his first birthday!

It's the girl thing, boys can't wear jewellery so I think the whole "cherish it forever" thing doesn't come to mind with them. But girls, well, they are GIRLS and we all remember what its like to be little girls and we've all kept our baby jewellery and every little gold trinket we've ever received throughout our lives.

So I have been travelling to malls far and wide and googling till all hours trying to find IT - the perfect gift. I haven't found THE ONE but I have certainly found some seriously good contenders and, of course, I will be sharing them all with you.

Cupcakes Jewellery offers beautifully handcrafted jewellery for little girls and boys, that can be custom made to any specifications.

They use a range of quality crystal beads and sterling silver and also an exclusive range of feature beads in clay, made in canada especially for Cupcakes. The jewellery range is very cute, as it is a little different from the usual silver lockets, and I love that a mum makes all of the jewellery herself. All pieces are lovingly made and packaged and in the rare event of any breakages the whole piece will be re-strung at no charge. Not only are all the pieces beautiful but the prices are so reasonable you could afford to buy a few!
Every little girl needs a musical jewellery box to keep all of her most treasured pieces in, and I love this Tray Trove one from Enchanted Garden. In fact, this has inspired me to go out tomorrow and hunt down a beautiful jewellery box for Sunny! I've left it a little late to order online, but for those of you with time then this would be perfect. They have a range of musical jewellery and tooth fairy boxes for your little ones and they are definitely worth checking out.

For those of you with a little bit more of a budget, these Keepsake Heart Pendants from Oh My Giddy Aunt will take your breath away. I have gone completely over the top for Sunny's birthday already and have yet to find myself the perfect outfit, so unfortunately she may have to wait until next year for one of these gems (pardon the pun). They were my first choice but, after adding in all of the extras, like birthstones and her initials engraved into one of the hearts, then a message from mummy on another, I would have been left choosing between a party or the necklace - and I do love a party!

If you do wish to spend a little more then the Heart Pendants or engraved Sterling SIlver bangles are amazing. In fact the site is so cute you'll spend hours searching for just the right gift.

I'll let you all know how I go with my search for the perfect party dress. x

2008-08-27T19:33:00.010+10:00

With Spring just around the corner, I thought it fitting to update everyone on the most beautiful category of girly stuff - BEAUTY PRODUCTS!

Personally, I love smelly girly products, and the prettier the packaging and stronger the perfume the more tempting they are.

Up until now I thought creams, cleansers and perfumes were for grown up girls, but then I stumbled across this exquisite range of beauty products for little girls!

The Essential Angel range of girls beauty products is made up of only the highest quality natural organic ingredients and essential oils, and is also 100% biodegradable. All of the products have been specifically created for young girls skin (ages 6+) and, as well as a 3-step cleansing pack to teach girls the importance of maintaining clean, healthy skin, they have also developed a range of "just for fun" products like water soluble nail tint and chocolate lip balm.

Not only are the products amazing but the packaging is divine, not to mention made out of 100% recycled cardboard. Best of all Essential Angel is 100% australian (and mummy!) made.

Hard to believe that this little tube could make a 30-something, sleep-deprived mother so incredibly hopeful that those "character lines" (who are we kidding?) may actually fade. Tri-Aktiline Deep Wrinkle Filler may help to do just that.

This is a concentrate made up of 3 very potent ingredients designed to fill in fine lines instantly for an immediate improvement, plus relax expression lines, moisturise, and rebuild cells to firm skin over time. You can get yours from Beauty Heaven today.

Also from Beauty Heaven is this Mama Mio Congratulations Kit, containing these pre-natal beauty must-haves. A luxurious Shower Creme, super rich body cream and an anti-itch, anti-stretch tummy rub. It kind of reminds you of the joys of being pregnant (not). I'd almost go through it all again if you dangled this gift pack in front of me (kidding!).

Pass me a tissue

2008-08-25T11:06:00.005+10:00

Ok so even fabulous mums have their off days (or week in my case!). I've come down with a dreaded head cold because I am completely run down and working 7 jobs as you do when you're a single mother with a business, contract work, and a blog. Throw in a couple of sick kids and its the perfect recipe for coming down with the "just been hit by a truck" type cold.

In times like these when my head is so stuffed up I can barely breathe, I need serious back up. I mean, its time to pull out the big guns. Those tried and tested potions that may not completely cure but certainly make everything feel a little bit clearer. I have one of these "Secret Weapons" and I want to share it with you all.
Introducing Perfect Potion's Breathe Easy aromatherapy blend.

I know what you're thinking - is that it? The Secret Weapon you've been banging on about? Don't pretend you're not because I can hear you thinking it! If you don't believe me you'll have to try it for yourself. I don't know what the active ingredient is (its made up of a blend of eucalyptus, fir, lemon, tea tree, lavender, peppermint etc) but when you are completely stuffed up and cannot breathe, or your kids are coughing that chesty cough throughout the night try it for yourself and you'll be amazed. I didn't believe it at first either, but I can vouch for this baby myself because i've been using it for years now.
I hope it works for you too!

Some jewellery just for you

2008-08-24T19:20:00.005+10:00

I understand how, when you're a mum, you just can't do things the way you used to. When you had all the time in the world to get ready in the mornings you always managed to walk out the door with blow dried hair and a splash of makeup, your clothes were baby-spit-up-free and jewellery could be as dangly as you liked. Then there were the heels - well, lets not go there (when was the last time you managed to wear heels for a day?).

That's why this Samantha Wills silver and black cuff grabbed my attention. It's ridiculously gorgeous and stylish-to-boot, plus it only requires a quick slip on to glam up your outfit. Dangly necklaces always seem to end up in babies mouth, so this cuff can stay out of temptations way. The black beaded detail can make it unexpectedly day or classically night.

When you're a mum its the little things that can make all the difference. You can get your own cuff from Le-Stylist for $142.

Do they have them in my size?

2008-08-24T16:00:00.005+10:00

Straight from the "too good to wear" files come these amazing pettiskirts by Kaiya Eve. You'll want to wrap them up in tissue paper and hide them away from grubby fingers, but if you can bear to let your little girl actually WEAR them you'll be blown away by the fluffy girliness and timeless style they exude.

The skirts come from LA based designer Kandi Lightner, whose original vintage skirts were worn by none other than Dakota Fanning at the Teen Choice awards, and her business rapidly took off from that. If you have time to read a quick bio then hers is worth the read, check it out here. It is absolutely inspirational.

Perfect for any potential kiddy portraits or to dress up a birthday girl, you can get your own Kaiya Eve Pettiskirts in Australia from the Millie Molly Moo website.

The new canvas totes

2008-08-21T14:44:00.004+10:00

A canvas tote used to be something that collected dust in the back of your closets and were only ever brought out when you needed to carry around some dirty joggers back from your weekly (yearly) trips to the gym. Canvas totes can now be proudly displayed with all of your other bags and may even earn a spot on your handbag hangers, thanks to these amazing bags by Roototes.

In so many designs you'll be struggling to pick just one, and, thanks to their signature "Roo" like pockets inside and a zippered easy-to-access pocket on the side, you have spots for your mobile, keys and wallet and all of your other stuff.

For those of you on the look out for an affordable nappy bag, you could try teaming these up with a PouchMISS (only the best handbag organisers for new mums EVER!). What a perfect match (roos, pouches, get it?)...

They start so young..

2008-08-21T10:47:00.005+10:00

When little girls accessories are this cute how can you resist? I love this banana lollipop coin purse from Ministyle. Cute enough to obviously be for little girls, but grown up enough for your little girl to feel like a big girl.

A perfect little treat for those reward charts, and you could always justify it by saying its practically educational - your little girl can do her chores and earn coins to fill it up with. Thats it, i'm going out to get mine now!

Playing Dress Ups

2008-08-20T13:22:00.006+10:00

If you are like me and break out in hives when your kids come home with those notes about "come dressed as your favourite condiment" days at school, or something like that, well fret no further. I mean, who has the time or the design prowess to be able to come up with anything close to suitable for such occassions? Let My Make Believe take all of that worry away, with a range of the most beautiful and original costumes i've seen.

Started by a couple of fabulous mums on the Gold Coast, who ummed and ahhed and finally decided to launch this business bringing in the Tom Arma range of childrens costumes from the USA, the costumes will not dissapoint.

Very Luscious indeed

2008-08-19T07:11:00.008+10:00

When you're washing your hands after every nappy change and, in my case, compulsively throughout the day, then you need to find a divine hand cream to keep your hands silky soft.

This Citrus Hand Therapy creme by Luscious Liquids not only has amazing moisturising benefits but, with its citrus scent, you'll be making excuses to dash off to the bathroom and wash your hands over and over. You only need a small amount so this 80ml tin will last for a while.

Luscious Liquids also do a Paw Paw Ointment thats beeswax based, not petroleum based like the others, so its great for baby's bottom.

Found a gorgeous baby product?

2008-08-18T13:16:00.001+10:00

I'd love to hear about any fab new products you find. Please send me an email at ros@pebblespouches.com.au with the details.

Juicy Couture for baby

2008-08-18T12:50:00.000+10:00

Who knew that Juicy had expanded its range to include these super cute and completely excessive baby accessories?
My son used dummies up until around the age of 2, and my daughter just became obsessed with them when I tried to wean her off her wraps at (gasp) 8 months old. In my defence, i'd never used wraps with my son and just loved the instant calm that washed upon my daughters face when she was all wrapped up before bed. When she grew out of wraps I thought i'd just start using cot sheets instead. When that became tiresome I figured it was time to get her off the wraps! One horrid night I stuck a dummy in her mouth, one that had been waiting for months in a drawer for its one moment of glory, and thats when the love story began.
But I digress.... these dummies are enough to make you forcibly wean your thumb sucking child onto dummies. They are magnificently packaged in these gorgeous gift boxes, in sets of 3. At US$48 you probably don't want to waste them on baby, and I won't think any less of you if you take a suck at them yourself.
Onto some more excessive baby products, I just love these bibs by Juicy. Now, not only are they packaged in a set of 3, rolled up and presented in these printed gift boxes, but they are each rolled into silicon cupcake cups, that can actually be used for making cupcakes. SWEET! Pardon the pun.

You can get these from the Juicy Couture site direct

Lets start at the beginning

2008-08-18T11:36:00.000+10:00

I had a baby on my own last year.
I already have a 7 year old boy and i'll tell you now the baby was an accident. A very wonderful accident, but an accident none the less. I have felt less than fabulous on a number of occasions over the last year, but I have kept my subscription to Missy Confidential and can still drool over the latest In Style magazine. My babies are my life but I remember that I am still just a girl at heart. I'm 32 years old and am not ready to become daggy old mum just yet. I still love shoes and handbags and can still enjoy re-runs of Sex and The City (its on after the kids bedtime).

Last year I gave into my love of handbags and designed The PouchMISS. Its a handbag organiser for new mums who still love their gorgeous handbags, and you can have a look at it for yourself here. Because when you are a new mum its the little things, like being able to use a gorgeous pre-baby bag instead of a nappy bag, that can make all the difference in a fabulous girls life.

I hope you enjoy reading about the latest gorgeous things for you and baby, and keep being fabulous,
Ros x