Summer Trend: Polka Dots

I love the Polka Dot designs for kids and babies this summer... It can be used in  clothing, in the bedroom or in accessories. It's also versatile and can be used for boys or girls. Some of my favorite ways to bring in this design is in the bedroom (see the painted tree below), or with name art. A nothing is cuter than a pair of Polka Dot shoes for girls!
 

Even the Obama daughter's have taken to the Polka Dot trend, pairing it with other patterns too.  

Baby Bling

The much anticipated arrival of the Beyonce and Jay-Z baby has inspired this Baby Bling blog. With parents such as these, we know this little girl (yes, apparently Kelly Rowland spilled the beans on the gender), will have nothing than the best. Beyonce and Jay-Z have not been shy to accumulate and design their own bling over the years, and why not when you can afford it.

One thing is for sure, that when you are born into music royalty you will be a princess to bling. My guess is she will have her own Swarovsky diamond dummies, to personalized baby sneakers. Let's just hope they don't rush her into getting a weave anytime soon... lol. 

Here are some super cute bling ideas for little girls: 

Now all I need is a Black American Express card to go with it ;)

Christmas Gifts for Grandparents

It's almost that time of the year again! Yes, Christmas is 4 weeks away - and with this comes the nightmare of Christmas shopping. YIKES. I really hate going to malls during the shopping season, the ques are long the stores are busy and I can never find what I am looking for. This year I think I will look into online shopping to skip the Christmas chaos. 

At the top of this years list, are the Grandparents, it would have been our daughter but at 8months she is too young to really appreciate gift giving. And to be quite honest I don't think we would have survived the first year without the help of Grandparents! 

The modern day grandparent doesn't quite fit the idea of an old women knitting jersey's and feeding the cats. I find that modern grandparents are quite refined and stylish. So with that in mind here are some gift ideas for Grandparents:

Personalized Photo Collage: I like this because it has a beautiful design, using your child's name, and fill the frame with cute pictures from the year that has past.

   

The Photobook: Instead of putting photo's in an album, why not get a book printed and bound. This is a fantastic gift, you can even get the kids to write or draw personal messages to the Grandparents to give it a special touch. 

Personalized Jewelry: Probably a better idea for Grandma, but this charm bracelet is a great idea. You can add the names of her children and grandchildren to make it a special gift. I like the look and feel of 'Hand Stamped' jewelry in particular.

 

A Web Cam: A lot of grandparents live far away and miss their families, why not get them a cute Web Cam so that you can chat online with them. You may need to help them understand how to use it, but it will make staying in touch that much more special to them. 

Name Rocks: This would be a good gift idea for a grandparent who enjoys gardening. The rocks can be used in pot plants, or specially placed in areas of the garden. 

The Photo Calendar:  Much like the photobook and collage idea, you could make them a personalized 2012 calendar. You can find the software online for free and get it printed. Then your gift will be used for a whole year!

Then lastly... Why not bake a Christmas card instead of getting one from the store. You can get the kids involved in this one, and they will have fun doing it too. You will have something to give them to do during their school holidays. What do I mean bake a card? See below on how effective it is. 

Yummy Mummy: Beach Edition

December holidays are around the corner, and many of you will be planning your summer holidays in the sun. Mom's like myself may be looking forward to the break, the yummy treats and good times with their family's... But you may also be dreading the inevitable swimsuit situation. 

I have been thinking about this a lot lately, and wondering how to hit the beach without being self-conscious about my post pregnancy body. I have now found the solution.. Chiffon Swimsuits and Shirts. This give you the cover without having to wear a bodysuit! You can still feel young and sexy, and the light weight material will make you feel cool. In fact this beach look makes you look like a celebrity diva. I love it!

It's also a great idea for expecting mums too!

Money Saving Play Ideas

Its natural for parents to want the best for their kids, and this usually results in us spending heaps of cash on ever product that promises the best. But if your kid is anything like mine she spends more time fascinated with the box and packaging than the actual toy itself. The truth is kids don't understand the value of their toys, they are just interested in the small pleasures in life.

With this said, I have made a list of 5 household products that can keep your baby entertained for hours. 

1. The TV Remote: We recently bought our daughter her own remote, the best R70 ever spent because she can now dominate the remote and not mess with our TV viewing at the same time. 

2. A Box: Yes, kids can play around with these for hours. I suppose in their imagination the box could be a car, an airplane or a time machine.

 3. A Water Bottle: they reach a stage where everything has to go in their mouth, and your little one may enjoy chewing on the bottle or using it was a musical instrument. 

4. Pots: probably the most well known household item that can kids entertain are pots... but parents be warned they can make a LOT of noise. Cute at first but you may have second thoughts once this continues for too long. 

5. Wet Wipe Packets: a wet wipe packet is our favorite parenting trick to keep our little one distracted during nappy changes, and doubles up as a great item to make noise and play with.

Trends: Designer Bags for Parents

There is an endless list of things you have to change to accommodate your little one's arrival. Thanks to a few great products on the market, parents no longer have to change their sophisticated style. Just because you have a child doesn't mean every product should be covered in cartoon characters! Moms and Dads you can maintain your professional look without the 'tell-tale' signs that scream... new parent.

Selecting a trendy diaper bag will give you all the functionality you need without compromising your own personal style. Moms, you can even use these bags on your day-to-day business whether it be to the office or to the local store. The designer bags may be a little more pricey than just a regular diaper bag, but it's all worth while. Trust me by the time your child turns 6months that bag is your permanent accessory and not just a seasonal buy. I just order the Skip Hop Versa Bag (see below).

Mommy Bags:

                     Skip Hop Versa Diaper Bag                           Tippietoe Diaper Bag         

  

Kalencom Weekend Diaper Bag

Daddy Bags:

 

                                Moov Daddy Bag                     Tippitoe Daddy Bag 

I love the fact that there are designer bags for dads, nothing more attractive than a father looking after his children. These bags are great for the trendy dad.