Wednesday, November 11, 2015
There's a lot to be said for practical gifts that tick all the right boxes: simple and purposeful items that are made to last. This guide was a joy to collate...and if I'm being completely honest, it's basically my wish list. There's items light enough to send in the mail (without attracting exorbitant postage fees), there's gifts for teachers, gardeners, homemakers and cooks, a special cup for a passionate tea drinker and the perfect beach towel for an ocean swimmer. If you're after for a thoughtful gift that is both beautiful and practical, look no further...
1. Local artist Lauren Merrick has a unique, whimsical style and her 2016 wall calendar features a gorgeous collection of nature-inspired paintings / 2. I haven't quit sugar but I absolutely love this book...Simplicious is brimming with hints, tips, recipes and ideas to make the most of your food - every last smidgen! Frugavore has a similar message / 3. I flick through The Little Vegie Patch Co every time I'm at the bookshop and have asked for it for Christmas...I appreciate its conversational tone and magazine-style layout. If you're after a similar book for a city-dweller without a garden, The Edible Balcony comes highly recommended / 4. The perfect gift for the creative gardener who loves the document / 5. Just call me the basket lady...but in all honesty, a bolga basket has so very many uses / 6. I wrote about Futah towels here and basically I'm a convert - lightweight, absorbent, vibrant - a summer essential / 7. Bee Eco Wraps - wraps your food in beeswax and stop buying the plastic alternative. Genius! / 8. A nifty herb drying rack - practical, country style / 9. a good quality knife is an absolute necessity in every kitchen / 10. A pretty packet of seeds (that comes with an envelope) that will attract "good" bugs to your garden / 11. a naturopathic range of skincare made in Australia from the very best ingredients / 12. don't save this for special occasions, everyday tea drinking should always include a beautiful cup / 13. wee willie winkie for romantic candlelit evenings (and beeswax candles, too) / 14. keep those mozzies at bay with this terracotta coil holder / 15. for the cook who loves a curry night, this Indian copper/stainless steel pot makes for an authentic cooking experience / 16. my very favourite range of block soaps, I always buy dindi for gifts. Made from the freshest, natural ingredients they smell absolutely amazing and are soft and nourishing to your skin.
This post contains affiliate links which, when purchased, earn me a small commission.
Labels: gift guide , simply practical
Tuesday, November 03, 2015
1. Buddhism for Mothers of Schoolchildren* : I consider this mandatory reading if you're about to send your child off to school. Gift it to yourself (or add it to your wish list) and set aside some time over the New Year to prepare yourself (mentally, emotionally, spiritually) for the imminent transition / 2. a pirate bucket hat with toggles / 3. ...or a floral alternative / 4. I swear by lunchbots lunchboxes* - stainless steel, good-sized compartments for little hands, good as new after two years of daily use. Consider them an investment / 5. a lunchbots round container*, these are great for mini fruit salads or carrots with hummus / 6 + 7. organic cotton singlet or cami to keep the core warm / 8 + 9 quality boxers + undies made from organic cotton (best purchased after the toilet training + accident prone years / 10. My friend Emma aka Hazyjane* has the most beautiful collection of vintage fabrics and as well as making sweet pants (with pockets!) and bloomers, she often takes orders for personalised bags. Poet takes hers to Montessori and when she starts school it will be the perfect library bag. Such a sweet (and very special) handmade gift / 11. a waterproof pencil case* that makes the perfect pouch for stationery, swimmers, sunscreen etc / 12. a personalised bag tag / 13. stainless steel drink bottle -the klean kanteen range* is great and we also like the thermos funtainer with straw* (replacement straws can be purchased separately) / 14. a spork* is essential if you're going to pack pasta, rice or salad for lunch / 15. the thermos funtainer keeps food warm for 5 hours and cool for 7 ... I send them to school with the kids at least twice a week / 16. Starting School* is one of my very favourite books on the topic but then again, I love anything that Jane Godwin and Anna Walker* create / 17. Our set of Lyra Pencils* live in a jug on the dining table and get used every day. We love them! / 18. If you like the idea of one lunchbox with multiple compartments that can be prettied up with stickers....planetbox* is for you / 19. If you're sending your child off to school you really do need to label, label, label. Buy one set of these stickers and you'll have enough for a good 3 years. Iron-on labels are a good idea, too.
*if you purchase via affiliate links I receive a small commission.
Labels: gift guide , the school series
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
I've always chosen to buy quality over quantity when it comes to toys. In my opinion, children are more likely to play when presented with a small collection of beautiful toys as opposed to a room full of loud and bright plastic. When it came time to compile this list I considered the toys that have transcended time, age and gender; the toys that I have never once regretted buying.
This year I've grouped the toys into categories - everything from dolls and cars to puzzles and products that will help your child gain new skills. Hopefully you're inspired!
If you're unsure how much to buy, I always recommend following the golden rule of:
something I want, something I need, something to wear, something to read
1. Play Kitchen : a forever gift that will inspire hours of creative play, this two-way kitchen (stovetop on one side, sink on the other) is one of the most beautiful on the market. Kitchen play is intriguing to watch and frankly, children never tire of it. They mimic, create, imagine and gain practical kitchen skills. A range of accessories are available - enamel cooking set, dustpan and brush, stainless steel kettle, floral saucepans - and are wonderful gifts to "add on" over the years. We have the Moulin Roty stove which is still going strong five years after we first bought it and Plan Toys and Le Toy Van offer smaller and more economical options. And if the kitchen needs to turn into a cafe? A cash register is a good idea.
2. Tea Set : if you don't want to go for the entire kitchen set-up know that a quality tea set is, quite simply, just as good. I really love the wooden set from Plan Toys (find the original design here and the new design here) but Poet recently received a melamine set which is pretty, delicate and perfect for sipping tea with the pinky finger raised (I appreciate that it comes in a storage container, too).
3. Balance Bike : Poet received the Wishbone Balance Bike* for her third birthday. Made by a small NZ company, this heirloom bike is three-in-one and will grow with your child - from toddler to age six or seven. You can accesorise with a personal name plate, seat cover, stickers and handlebars. If you're after a great helmet, you can't go wrong with Nutcase.
4. Scooter : we love Globber - the scooters that grow with your child. Practical and joyful, scooters are light and easy to fit in the car (or on public transport) so taking them to the park, the esplanade or the local skate park is easy. The recently released 4-in-1 is a great option for little ones and I highly recommend the MyFreeUp for pre-schoolers and the MyToo for older kids.
5. Stacking Toys : construct and play with the stacking rainbow (a favourite in our house that just yesterday was played with by the eight-year-old, the four-year-old and the baby). Each arch easily becomes a bowl for a toy skateboard, a bridge, a river, a seesaw, a tunnel, a road, a cubbyhouse....endless play options. Stacking toys really are the most useful things you can get your children because they easily lead to many different play opportunities. There's a brilliant range of stacking and building toys over here that are bound to encourage colour recognition and shape awareness and inspire endless imaginings. And if you want something bigger to inspire fabulous play, the wooden treehouse is a beautiful option.
6. Lego : you can't go past duplo and lego - those colourful blocks are fun, yes, but they also provide fabulous opportunity to develop fine motor skills, patience and problem solving ability. Percy is already playing with our duplo sets and Poet is just starting to gravitate towards the Lego...she'll sit with Che and watch him build and then give it a go by herself. As for the bag in the picture up there? It's a Brikbag and it's every parent's lego dream come true. Basically the lego stays on the fabric and once it's time to pack up you just pull the string and voila - tidy and contained!
7. Shape Sorter : I picked up a classic Tupperware Shape-O when Che was a baby and over the past few weeks Percy has played with it every day. It's lasted eight years and it's showing no signs of wear or tear. If you're after a wooden version try this or this.
8. Critters : sometimes the best toys are the smallest and the simplest. Honestly, children get so much joy from these Click Critterz pull-back toys* that have interchangeable parts and can race around the house. It's the little things.
9. Puzzles : I've always been a fan and I add a few to our collection every year. My picks this year? The Green Start Wooden Puzzles* and Peg Puzzles for 12m+ / Giant Floor Puzzles*, Animals of the World, Children of the Forest for 3+ / Paris Street, Giant Dragon and Magic Forest for 4+ / and for older children: Abracadabra, Poetic Boat and the Circular History Jigsaw that is a timeline of historical events (it's going under our tree for a history-mad-eight-year-old).
10. Wooden Toys for Babies + Toddlers : stacking bowls are essential and the classic push-and-pull-along toys never grow old. My favourite pics are the helicopter, duck, caterpillar, yacht and busy bus.
11. Dress-ups + Role Play : a whole box of dress-ups isn't necessary but a few items to spark imaginative play make for wonderful gifts. Poet is getting this doctor's kit for Christmas as her visit to hospital sparked many questions and our rainbow set of WittleBird Wings have been loved for years. If you're after specific dress-ups you can't go past the range available from Sarah's Silks - unicorn, dragon, knight, mermaid, wizard!
12. Learning New Skills : granted, this requires much patience on your behalf but think of knitting, sewing, origami and woodworking as the next step on from painting and drawing. Consider Lacing Cards and a Knitting Spool as the first steps to sewing and knitting. And then....wooden knitting needles, a handmade sewing machine (!) and a sophisticated Needlecraft Kit. For flower lovers consider a mini flower press*, a full-size press or a sunprint kit. For those who love to create with paper, these paper glasses are quirky* and the Origami Masters Bugs Book* is wondrous. And for the child who wants to build with real tools, this wooden kit and this chainsaw are heirlooms! Finally, the rainbow ladder is great for tree play and the Budding Gardener Range* is ideal for little green thumbs.
13. Classic Push-Along Toys : Poet was gifted a toy pram for her first birthday and it's been used almost every day since. Yes, it carries teddies and dolls but it's also a great storage option when soft toys aren't being played with (it basically doubles as a cradle). This mini pram is gorgeous if you're concerned about space, this wooden one is bound to be in the family for generations and this, this and this are perfect, too (good luck making that decision).
14. Dolls : A quality doll is a lifelong friend. The mulitcultural range of Miniland Dolls are anatomically correct and the perfect gift for boys and girls expecting a sibling. Steiner Dolls are also a beautiful choice (we have this one, his name is Louie) and peg dolls (we have the monochrome family) are great for play...especially in conjunction with stacking toys.
15. Automobiles : Cars, trucks, trains and planes are a must-have in your to collections and the options are endless. We love these click-clack toys* as well as the range from Green Toys (the submarine is the best beach toy), the airport, basket cable car and fire engine.
16. Animals : a small collection of animals can easily turn a few blocks in a farm, a zoo or a wildlife park. We have a range of brands including Animalz*, Ostheimer and Schleich.
*if you purchase via the affiliate links I receive a small commission.
Labels: gift guide
Tuesday, December 02, 2014
If you're in Sydney from December 4th-7th make sure you pop into David Jones on Elizabeth St and check out Unwrap Etsy - an etsy pop-up shop featuring 40 Australian makers, crafters and artisans. One of the creatives is local-to-me Lauren Merrick who will be selling her gorgeous gift wrap, notebooks, Christmas cards and prints.
1. Scalloped stoneware planter for leafy, green succulents. 2. For broth drinkers and soup slurpers, this gorgeous porcelain bowl from Belinism is a keeper. 3. Especially for those in the North, the sweetest crochet slippers to warm your toes this Christmas. 4. I adore everything from Kanimbla Clay (based in the Blue Mountains of NSW), especially this rosemary leaf dish. 5. a Little House vase, perfect for blooms in a little house. 6. Handmade in Melbourne using organic cotton and hemp, the entire range of herb and food bags from Harvest Haversack eliminate the need for plastic coming shopping day. 7. Succulent Decals from the wonderful Love Mae collection. 8. Always Rooney has some gorgeous things for the travelling folk. 9. One of my favourite Australian etsy stores, Willowynn creates soft toys and sculptures inspired by nature - whales, snails, moths, rabbits and owls, to name a few. 10. Handmade in Sydney, this striped backpack is practical and timeless. 11. a sophisticated carryall from Moop (who have 10% off till Dec 5th with the code MOOPBF). 12. a stunning kimono robe from the collection at Eco-friendly Beauty.
Need more gift inspiration? See my past gift guides here.
*as an Etsy affiliate I receive a small commission from any purchases made through these links.
Labels: gift guide
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
this is a sponsored post
There's a lot to love about a one-stop shop, especially when a 20% discount is involved. Fabrik is kindly giving Practising Simplicity readers 20% off storewide till Friday midnight (EST) with the code: PSXMAS
Here's my round-up of favourite products...
1. the butterfly top is absolutely gorgeous for baby and perfect for summer parties and Christmas Day. 2. 100 multicolour birch star dominoes that come in a sweet gold bag - hours of educational play awaits. 3. a sweet lollipop dress for little girls. 4. I swear by this bamboo column skirt; it's incredibly flattering and soft. 5. my kids are both getting a sleeping bag for Christmas - incredibly handy for sleepovers at the Grandparents' and friend's houses, they also unzip to make a play/picnic rug (available in three different prints). 6. a sophisticated and French-inpsired striped boat tee with an incredibly elegant arm length. 7. gorgeous floral skirt for easy dressing all summer long. 8. I listed this in my pick of timeless toys and I love it so much I felt the need to mention it again. A construction house made of 41 blocks, windows and stairs, it also comes in a cotton bag for easy clean up and storage. 9. the cutest ginger pants for baby - in a range of pretty prints. 10. flattering linen/cotton black culottes for easy, elegant dressing.
Labels: gift guide
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
1. a roundie beach towel for the man that will be spending a lot of time at the beach this summer (ahem). 2. basic and roomy weekend bag that will be used for years. 3. Daniel was given a set of Gentleman's Brand Co for his birthday and I must admit, it's rather nice having it in the shower. 4. a classic that never gets old; sea salt soap. 5. an impressive shaving set for the hipster without a beard (if there is such a thing). 6. cute backpack that is most definitely unisex (and I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you borrowed it). 7. a watch from the horse - always a great gift. 8. insulated stainless steel water bottle - I swear by mine. 9. for the at-home coffee drinker. 10. for the coffee on-the-go drinker.
Other gift guides:
- timeless toys
- for the eco-conscious
- stylish summer
- lucas loves cars
Labels: gift guide
Friday, November 07, 2014
gift guide : for the eco-conscious
1. Handcrafted by fair trade artisans in Bangladesh, this sari-inspired hessian basket is the ideal storage solution. 2. Frugavore* is a great resource for those who want to grow their own, buy local, waste nothing and eat well. 3. Carbon neutral 8x8 slim box photo frames - currently on sale! 4. A tempered glass reusable coffee cup*; the perfect gift for a caffeine addict. 5. The most beautifully scented lime and patchouli gift pack* as well as the peppermint and lime body scrub* make ideal gifts for those who love to use handmade, organic products on the body. 6. The ultimate French-made gardener's knife for green thumbs (one of the most well received gifts I've ever given my dad). 7. ...and for the gardener/cook, the very best vegetable brush*. 8. Sow n Sow's entire collection of seeds are great for gifts that need to be sent in the post. 9. The story of a French woman* who reduced her family's waste to a mere 1 litre a year! 10. Little beeswax candles in mini jam jars* - they look gorgeous on a dinner table or mantle.
*indicates items that are affiliate links
Labels: gift guide
Friday, October 31, 2014
I hope this collection of summer-inspired goodness inspires.
1. Surprisingly, it's rather difficult to find a beautiful hat but this handmade raffia number is a winner. 2. I can't believe it took so long for someone to design a round beach towel. 3. I got a turkish towel last year and used it almost everyday. Adore this shade of grey. 4. A linen dress that can take you from the beach to a dinner date (this design is incredibly flattering, especially under the arms). 5. I love having red lips but don't often bother with lipstick - this organic rose-tinted lip blush is my current favourite (and makes a fabulous stocking filler). 6. I don't wear perfume but Aesop's Marrakech fragrance is to die for - hints of neroli, jasmine, sandalwood, cedarwood and bergamot. 7. Because is there anything better than coming home from the beach and having an afternoon nap on organic floral sheets? 8. A market basket with long handles - the best beach bag for parents. 9. tan sandals - a summer must-have. I love these and these.
Labels: gift guide
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
this is a sponsored post
I don't think I'm alone in thinking that cars, trucks and trains (and their accompanying roads, tracks and garages) are toys that never, ever fail to please. Both Che and Poet have spent hours upon hours with their wooden train set and various automobiles - they are the toys that transcend age, time and gender.
If there's one thing better than online shopping it's getting a few things from the same store - with a discount code. I've chosen my ten favourite products from Lucas Loves Cars and shop owner, Helle, has kindly given you a 15% off discount - just enter the code: practisingsimplicity at checkout (valid till midnight Monday 3rd November).
1. a portable airport made from eco-friendly birch plywood (also available in a car garage). 2. designed for little hands, this wooden dump truck with water-based finishes is the perfect "first truck" for baby. 3. oh, but then there's this little wooden ship - beautiful and fun to play with. 4. I love a good, educational puzzle, especially when it comes in a storage box. 5. discover the alphabet with these vintage-inspired cards. 6. the entire click-clack range of automobiles are fabulous - Australian made with eco-friendly products and incredibly affordable, each vehicle comes in a box that transforms into a garage. 7. the ultimate truck for dinnertime...and just when you thought that Taco Tuesday couldn't get more fun! 8. I swear by this mask set - hours of fun! 9. hours of learning for those fascinated by airports. 10. an interactive guide to how machines work - ideal for the older, inquisitive child.
Labels: gift guide
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
This gift guide is the first in a series that will hopefully help you buy considered and well-meaning Christmas presents - for everyone.
1. because a doctor's set always inspires hours of make-believe. 2. the stacking rainbow is pretty and practical and quickly becomes a bridge, a house, a boat. 3. a rope ladder for the child who loves to climb. 4. colourful, quality gardening tools for young green thumbs. 5. remember, it's never too early to encourage real-life "playing house" - a broom* is always handy 6. handmade in NZ by a husband and wife team (also parents of five children) this sewing machine* will encourage the youngest of crafters. 7. because we are a generation of snap-happy people and it's never too early for a gorgeous camera*. 8. a set of magnetic wooden vehicles is a must for any child. 9. a house of beechwood blocks in all shapes, sizes and colours (and they come in a handy cotton bag for easy storage). 10. the best bike I have ever bought - the wishbone bike* transforms from a three-wheeler to a two-wheeler and is height adjustable, hence it's made for 12months-5years - baby walker/toddler trike/balance bike. It can even be personalised with a name plate*, seatcover* and stickers*.
*indicates affiliate links that earn me a small commission when purchased.
Labels: gift guide
