product of the week - clarins beauty flash balm

Had one of those nights last night - you know, the type where your 3 week old baby doesn't want to sleep because she's slept all day, so you end up cat-napping in your feeding chair between 2 and 5am whilst holding a wide-awake baby, only to be waken by a screaming toddler in the next room. After negotiating with hubby, you agree that after the next feed you will deposit baby and toddler out in the family room with hubby so that you can grab a few hours of catch up sleep, which you know will not make up for the night you've just had, but at least it saves you from breaking down in tears at the thought of getting through the day on so little sleep!

All of this is really just an introduction though to this week's product of the week (a bit belated I know, but I figure I have a decent excuse at the moment!) ... Clarin's Beauty Flash Balm. The mother of all rescue products, I have long been a fan. It used to come in handy after a big night out, now it is invaluable after a night like I endured last night (oh how times have changed!!!!).

Beauty Flash Balm is an instant pick-me-up for the skin - I can actually feel my skin firming after I apply it, and it provides much needed radiance to sallow/tired skin. I can't recommend it enough for tired mums!!!!

Available from Clarins stockists throughout South Australia.

toytastic - decorate your own range from villa carton

This range of cardboard toys and costumes from Villa Carton are fantastic. Based on the premise that young children usually prefer the box a toy came in than the actual toy themselves, these products are the initiative of two dutch artists and are made out of cardboard that is left blank, ready for decorating.

Available in Australia exclusively through online "emporium" Ball and Skittle, the range includes a rocking chair, castle, dollhouse, costumes and textas specifically for decorating the items.

Images from Ball and Skittle

another painting idea - string painting

Image from A Magical Childhood

As you would have guessed by now, given my frequent posts about painting, I am constantly looking for new and inspiring ways to entertain my toddler with painting activities. Here's another one from A Magical Childhood - string painting.

delicious design - boys bedroom

Here's a little inspiration for a sophisticated take on decorating a boys room. I came across this photo of US designer Tory Burch's sons' room at my new favourite design blog Habitually Chic. I love the boldness of the black and white - it's mature but the striped walls somehow soften it so that it still looks suitable for young children. The bunk bed is gorgeous. Kidzone do a similar one called Billie Bunk.

toytastic - doll's house furniture from plan toys

I am lucky enough to still have a beautiful wooden doll's house that my grandmother made for my sister and I. I have been searching for suitable furniture to kit it out for my little ones, and have finally found it in the form of the PlanToys dollhouse products. The beautiful furniture and accessories on offer are made from non-toxic, natural materials and can be purchased online from retailer of eco-friendly products, Black Eyed Green.

Images courtesy of Black Eyed Green

heart hand stamps craft project

I had grand plans to make one of these with my toddler for hubby this Valentine's Day. However, I think I'd underestimated how time poor I would be having a newborn and toddler at home, and unfortunately didn't get to undertake this project from Khali at Little.Lovely via Bloesem Kids. These Heart Hand Stamps are so simple, yet so effective ... think we'll have to make one soon "just because".

great gift idea for new mums from case of cravings

Image from Case of Cravings

When I had my first baby, my brother-in-law and his girlfriend (now wife) brought into hospital a gourmet platter filled with prawns, smoked salmon, camembert, proscuitto, and other nibbly bits accompanied by vast quantities of champagne. What better way to celebrate our new arrival than to indulge in all those foods that I had studiously (hubby might say "obsessively") avoided for the previous 9 months?

A friend of mine recently advised me that a clever little South Australian company has tapped into this "end-of-pregnancy" market. Case of Cravings is a gift company specialising in gourmet hampers ladened with a selection of food and wine from Australia, with a particular focus on South Australian produce. Starting at $95 + postage and handling, hampers are available for delivery to Adelaide suburbs. See here for the range of hampers on offer and start salivating!

(Thanks Sarah for the tip!)

product of the week - oops-a-baby! couch covers

I have to admit that, thus far as a mother, I have deprived my toddler of his own little fold-out couch. It's not so much that we don't need another piece of furniture in the house (although this is probably true), but more to do with the fact that I haven't wanted to introduce such a large piece of cartoon imagery into my lounge room!

Teeny Me offers gorgeous alternatives to the Thomases and Doras, but at $249.95 a pop, I just can't justify one knowing that it will end up covered in yoghurt, watermelon juice and who knows what other culinary delights!

Luckily a friend of mine recently put me onto these flip out couch covers from oops-a-baby!. They are made to fit onto a child's foldout couch and come in an assortment of non-offensive colours (shown above in Chocolate)! Retailing at $49.95 each from oops-a-baby or $59.95 at Out Of The Cot on Magill Road, they make a less cost-prohibitive alternative to the Teeny Me sofas for keeping Thomas on the tv rather than on my furniture!

fabulous furnishings - book rack from pottery barn kids

I'm always looking for new and interesting ways to display my little ones' books, so I'm loving this book rack from Pottery Barn Kids in the US. It's classic, provides ease of access and makes for an eye-catching display simply by being filled with colourful books. Now if only they shipped overseas!!!

DIY stencil project for furniture

I recently saw this stenciling project over at the happy home blog and fell in love ... I doubt I'll have the time to undertake such a project, but I'll definitely be keeping it in mind for the future! I think it would be perfectly suited to dressing up the Ikea Malm drawers. Follow the links from the happy home post for the stencils and instructions.

Image from Lena Corwin's Printing by Hand via Etsy courtesy of the happy home

just a quick note ...

I am back at home with our new little addition to the family (welcome little miss!) but will not be blogging much in the next week or so due to dealing with a newborn as well as a toddler with scarlet fever! Yes, when it rains it pours. Hope to be back online soon, but 'til then, will post a couple of things I drafted before I went into hospital.

mathilda's markets coming to adelaide!

Exciting news for those who love a good market - Mathilda's Market is coming to Adelaide in 2010! Already an institution on the East Coast, Mathilda's Market showcases and sells handcrafted and limited production baby and children's goods. Most stallholders do not have a shopfront, so the markets are a great way to source unique items, from clothes and accessories to bedroom furnishings and toys. The Adelaide launch is set for 6 March and will be held at Loreto College in Marryatville. See here for further details and 2010 dates.

Image from http://www.mathildasmarket.com.au/

another painting idea - stamping with erasers

I saw this post over at a small bite of mondo cherry about stamping wrapping paper using old erasers and a fork! It got me to thinking - why stop at making wrapping paper? You could really get the kids to go to town with creating interesting artwork if you cut out all sorts of different designs from old erasers.

Image from a small bite of mondo cherry

just cubbies - new store now open in adelaide

After reading my recent post about cubby house inpiration, my husband informed me that Just Cubbies has opened a store on Goodwood Road at Kings Park. Selling a range of timber cubby houses, forts, and accessories, the store features working displays so that you can take the children along for a try-out before you buy. Check out their website for photos and explanations about their current range.

Just Cubbies

259a Goodwood Rd, Kings Park

(south-side of the Goodwood subway)

ph 08 8357 7796

Open Wednesday - Saturday 10am - 4pm.

Images from Just Cubbies