Posh Baby Pantlet combo fromTwisted Twee

I have a fab find for you guys today. The only downside is that they are only available in sizes up to two years - well the tops are anyway. There is an adult side to their webstore with lots of grown up things to make you smile (including the classic range of Portrait Pants) but they deserve a post all to themselves. 

So - I was struggling to find a cool and funky T shirt as a pressie for a little bambino that I know and then I found these.

I don't know about you but during the summer I always failed miserably in getting clothes to stay on my four (DinoBoy especially always had a thing for being naked) yet I always needed to get them looking respectable enough to leave the house.

Here is the answer - dressed but not really dressed!

The Posh Pantlet Combo comes courtesy of a company called TwistedTwee. Don't stop at the pant page though because they have lots of things for kids of all ages. The sleepyhead embroidered pillows are another great buy at £15.

There are quite a few designs in the Pant Combo range include Shakespeare, Tea, Best in Show and Car. Available in sizes from birth to 2 years in five different stylishly quaint colours. £25 each http://www.twistedtwee.co.uk/posh-pant-combos-c-16.html

Retro Owl Clock - perfect for DinoBoy!

DinoBoy has been a busy bee today. He has just got home from a busy casting for M&S in London. In his absence I have been cruising around on the web looking for a clock for his room.

I have been surprisingly slow off the mark in realising that if they know what time it is in the morning then they are less likely to get up at 5am!

Doh - I have four kids and I have only just worked this one out. Still never mind I am on the case now.

If you're a regular on my blog you'll know that DinoBoy is owl mad. His collecting began after his adopted grandpa bought an Eagle Owl chick. Hobnob the owl totally bonded with him. So much so that he starts tweeting and rolling his eyes whenever he comes near. Incase you wondered this isn't usual behavior for an owl - he totally wants to attack everyone else who goes anywhere near him!

So when I came across this clock I knew that it would be completely at home amongst the 100+ owls that sit in his room.

This funky little hand painted retro number is available exclusively through a fab little site that I stumbled across on Twitter called www.hunkydoryhome.co.uk

They have a really good range of home stuff on their site - not just for kids either.

The owl clock is £49.95

http://www.hunkydoryhome.co.uk/hunkycat/retro-owl-clock-p-336.html?cPath=28

If you are learning to ride buy an Islabike

Along with our love of manky toys goes our family love of cycling. When we are at our fittest and when time allows we have been known to roam over 50 miles a week around our beautiful countryside with the kids in tow.

DinoBoy is however not a natural cyclist. Being the eldest of our young three he had his two little sisters looking up to him, waiting eagerly to see how he got on once those dreaded training wheels came off.

On the said day we drove out to a local country park - a large open space - we were excited, eager, full of anticipation. 

ModelGal and FunnyGal were trailered up on the back of hubby's bike - box of sandwiches to keep them happy on our seven mile ride. DinoBoy can't contain himself any longer, "Come on mum, lets go" he shouts and he starts to ride all alone.

Feel the scene.... Reservoir, large green open space, a few trees far to the left, a wooden bollard far to the right. We are safe - there are no dangers DinoBoy is free of his wheels - he is feeling the wind in his ears...

"Muuuuummmmmm" he screams as he careers towards the trees (yes the ones about half a mile to the left), I peddle faster but not fast enough I reach out just as DB goes right over his handle bars and into the tree. I skid and fall, hubby and the girls are screaming DinoBoy and I are in a heap beneath the tree. 

"That didn't go too well did it mum?" asked ModelGal.

And no it didn't. Poor DinoBoy's bike was as mashed as his pride and after that we went out and bought him a set of decent wheels with good breaks. So finally getting to the product bit.. What we bought him was an IslaBike.

Designed by Isla Rowntree, who has more cycling championships to her name than I'm sure she cares to remember. Islabikes really are designed with kids in mind. They are light, easy to manouvre and have breaks that small hands can easily operate (this is what drew us to them!)

As Isla has a racing history, she really knows what she is doing and offers a full customisation service at time of purchase.

Hang on you may say... I just want my little one to ride to school in the morning.. Well that may be but on an Isla he will be doing it safely whilst boosting his cool.

So the moral of the story is. If you like your kids and you don't want them to die whilst careering headlong into a tree on a bike that they cannot control - then visit http://www.islabikes.co.uk

They have a great selection of bikes from the very basic (but super cool) Rohan balance bike(2+) £99.99 to the super sexy Luath 700 large (13+) £449.99, a top of the range touring/ triathlon bike, with something suitable for every age in between.

www.islabikes.co.uk

Another great service that they offer is a buy back scheme. As parents they appreciate that your bambino's can grow at a rate of knots. With this in mind they offer a buy back service as  a part exchange against a bigger model.

What more could you ask for? (except for less trees when you are learning of course!)

I want a Sophie the Giraffe..well I really want a pet duck but DH says NO!

Any one of my children will confirm that I have a bit of a thing for retro toys and scabby hairless stuffed things from days gone by. I purchase whenever I can on our regular Sunday car boot outings, trying to make the kids love them.

So bad has it become that the girls now spot the said dog eared and well loved item, point but don't touch (they don't know where it's been) before saying that I have to buy it as it's too ugly for anyone else to love.

I do like to point out to them that it isn't a very nice thing to say and I do hope that no one ever says it to them!

Anyway I digress - as my todays offering is not scabby or dog eared but simply a fantastic toy that has stood the test of time.

Born in France in 1961, Sophie the Giraffe quickly became a 'must have' baby buy. It was designed to stimulate the senses and to soothe sore teething gums.

Since it was launched over 10 million little Sophies have been sold and 6 out of every 10 French babies own one.

Made from flexible, renewable, natural rubber and non-toxic paint, it's a safe and all natural teething aid.

Oddly for this fast paced world that we live in, every single is made by hand. 

I love the retro design, Sophie fits right in with my collection of odd balls and childhood memories. It's one of those products that makes perfect sense, that you would want to treasure forever.

£12 from http://www.greenbaby.co.uk

Stunning Le Tour De Force from Little Fashion Gallery

It being a very grim and grey Sunday morning here I thought that I would try and bring you all a touch of fun and glamour. Especially after the horrid week that I have had!

I'm always on the look out for things that are individual and they don't really get any better than this. I have totally fallen in love with these head pieces from Le Tour De Force. I really wish that I'd come across them last year when they were all being christened - the white Daisy design would have looked stunning on both of the girls, and it would have been something that they could keep forever - it brings a tear to my eye just thinking about it!

Le Tour De Force are an innovative kitsch British label better known for their equally eccentric adult pieces. They have designed this children's collection exclusively for the online mecca for all that is kiddie cool -  Little Fashion Gallery.

The children's pieces are priced at around 70 euros, so they are more of a special occasion buy but please... they are just so cute.

www.littlefashiongallery.com

Or if you're not the wallflower type and you think that you can carry one off yourself have a look at the grown up stuff here http://letourdeforce.bigcartel.com/