Ever Wonder Where Those Effortlessly Cool Hipster Parents Shop? Not Only Can I Tell You, But I've a 15% Off Code For You To Use: Little Citizens Boutique.

There's very little I don't like amongst the inventory on the  Little Citizens Boutique website, so choosing images to share with you was tricky to narrow down. The Holywood based retailer knows good design, and have just won a silver award for best toy & gift retailer in design. They also stock children's clothing and home wares, so here are some of my favourite items from their site.

Should you love what you see too, you can use the code KITSCH15 to get 15% off orders until midnight 30th September.  (The quick buy links aren't active- sorry! It's just how I saved the photos of the products!)

Twisted Twee For the Coolest Kids on the Block

When I had Michael almost eight years ago I got really frustrated at the lack of cool clothes for baby boys.

Back then the only H&M was in Ballymena, so every two months or so I would make the hour's trip to stock up on decently quirky & unusual onesie vests and baby clothing.

I also would buy Gymboree items off eBay. I worked for them when I was a student and loved their designs, but by 2007 they had pulled out of Northern Ireland so the only way to buy their clothes was eBay, usually from US sellers. That made the postage expensive on top of prices similar to Baby Gap. However from working for Gymboree I knew the quality was worth paying extra. Gymboree clothing washes so well, in fact I was able to sell them on eBay all over again when Michael had outgrown each sizing. 

If you have a baby I would recommend searching eBay for the jumpers especially. Try purchasing one & you'll be hooked. They always do an absolutely beautiful Christmas range of clothing each year. About ten years ago the Christmas theme was gingerbread. I managed to get the baby blanket on eBay and I still have it in a box somewhere, I couldnt part with it cause it's so cute.

With a lack of cool baby clothing around for boys, sometimes I even took it upon myself to make my own. Amongst these vests made with photographic printing paper, was this Boba Fett design. Michael looks like he just loved it, doesn't he?

There is one UK brand who I found who actually did sell inventive and unique baby items you just wouldn't see elsewhere and that was Twisted Twee. I love their designs and this will actually be my fourth blog post about the brand. I'm featuring them again for any newer readers, or anyone who might now have their own new addition since the last time Twisted Twee was on The World of Kitsch. 

Enjoy! 

This design with a saddle for Dad's back is fashion genius  

Free Kids' Activites All Summer With Ikea Belfast

Stuck for something to entertain? Ikea Belfast (& most likely your own local Ikea too if you don't hail from Northern Ireland)  are putting on lots of activities to keep young ones busy. Climbing walls, £1 lunches and lots of products designed for playing at home too. 

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/store/belfast/storeInfo

Picnic plates, cups and napkins

bake from the box

really nostalgic, old school kit

I REALLY like this sand box kit. You can pretend to serve up sand ice creams! 

Little Live Pets, Tweeting In a Toy Shop Near You

The second wave of Little Live Pets have hit toy shops for spring 2015. http://www.character-online.com/products/Little-Live-Pets/Birds/ 

We were sent the mother and baby owl in neutral white & purple. The birds are also available in pink or blue, but refreshingly this slightly more 'girl orientated' toy is being marketed for both boys AND girls age 5+ 

Michael loves this sort of toy, and thought it was very cute as the mother and baby tweeted to each other. The mummy owl also has a repeat back feature where you can record your voice. Of course kids being kids the owl was soon chirping about bums and poos, but that was always going to happen!  

The birds sing together and have dozens of different tunes. You may notice our baby owl looks a little bit worse for wear. It seems that my parents' wire fox terrier dog took a fancy to baby owl too, and he got a little chewed! 

The mother and baby owl Little Live Pets set retails around £17.99, so it's a little bit too pricey for a birthday gift for someone else's child. However if you have an animal lover at home, most boys & girls would love to receive this as a present.