Getting the Children Excited about Fashion with shopDisney

(We have been gifted the products mentioned in this post from shopDisney, but all thoughts and opinions are our own.) 

Now that C is 6 and E is 4 I'm making more of a conscious effort to encourage their creativity and let them make their own choices when it comes to buying clothes for them. I also have them choose their clothing for the day whereas previously I'd select things that I like.

C tends to stick to what he feels comfortable in, usually jeans and chinos with a t-shirt which is either emblazoned with a funny quote or character that he likes. We've always loved the skater style on him and like that he feels the same way and it shows off his personality.

E is a typical girl who dreams of being a princess so she would live in dresses if she could - she even always requests a nightdress to sleep in! As long as it either has a unicorn on it, is princess themed or sparkly - she'll be drawn to it like a magpie.

Being a Disney obsessed family, C and E were very excited to get their own little bundle of goodies to make the clothes choosing process a bit more fun for them! When I visit shopDisney I always tend to flock towards the toys and mugs with clothing not being something I'd go in for specifically but I was really impressed with what we received and it completely changed my mind. I've been stalking the kids fashion section of the website a lot ever since!

C is a Spider-man fanatic and has been since he was very little. He could tell you anything about him so he was very pleased with his Spidey haul containing a pair of pyjamas, a raincoat, a t-shirt, socks and figurines.

E has recently become Moana's biggest fan and even dressed in her Moana costume to see Disney On Ice last year. She will always be playing 'How Far I'll Go' on her tablet and act out the scene as if she is Moana. Ariel is another favourite of hers (and mine actually) - I think it's the red hair and the fact that she's a mermaid. E's haul contained an Ariel dress/cropped sweater combo, Disney Princess braid hair clips, Moana sunglasses, a Moana Animator doll and matching pyjamas for her and her Moana doll to wear.

Upon opening, I don't think I've ever seen two children more happy. A few weeks on and given the choice of their entire wardrobe, they will 99% of the time choose these items. I think it's the power of the character! E wore her Ariel dress and sweater on non-uniform day to school because she was so desperate to show it off to her friends, and had great pleasure in telling them "It says 'call me on my shell'!" We've had quite a few compliments from strangers on C's Spider-man raincoat too.

As a parent, I like to find good quality clothing at affordable prices considering how quickly the children grow. This is what you get with shopDisney. I had a preconceived idea that character clothing has to be expensive but, for example, the raincoat is only £24 which is absolutely fantastic for the fit and quality and I know you could spend a lot more somewhere else on something that won't last as long or look as good. Due to the sheer amount of times that C and E have chosen to wear their items, they've been washed a lot and the fit and colour hasn't been compromised or damaged at all.

If, like me, you tend to venture more towards toys than clothing at shopDisney - take a browse there. You won't regret it!

Kids Spring/Summer 2018 Wardrobe Wishlist

With all the snow that we are currently getting, you'd be forgiven for thinking that we are in the middle of December and Christmas is around the corner. In reality, we're almost into Spring so it's the perfect time to start thinking about upgrading my children's wardrobes - if we start getting some better weather that is!

Spring/Summer is probably one of my favourite times to shop for as I just love the prints available - especially for girls. I'm a sucker for anything with a pineapple or watermelon whereas three year old E is obsessed with unicorns. I've been doing a little bit of window shopping for the upcoming season for both C and E and here are a few of my favourites!

Even Spring and Summer months in Northern Ireland can be a bit chilly so I always make sure they have a cute little coat or jacket. River Island have some gorgeous boys coats and jackets in at the moment and this blue denim borg collar jacket would match everything plus the collar is detachable too!

I love a pair of chino shorts on C in the summer and I always opt for a beige or stone colour as it isn't too dark and keeps the outfit nice and light. These ones from Next are perfect.

I am a proper money saving type of mum so I love the t-shirt multipacks that I see in supermarkets each season. They are great value, plain so you can style them up however you want and I don't mind if he only wears them for a couple of months because I haven't paid a fortune for them. I love the colours of these four from Tu at Sainsburys - so summery!

I know C is five now and growing up before my eyes but I can't resist anything with a kiddie motif on it and Boden is always my go-to for this. How perfect for summer are these little shark plimsolls?

I always buy the children a new cap every summer and it's always from Sports Direct. They are an absolute bargain and I begrudge spending more than about £5 because we hardly get any sun!

I find shopping for E much easier as there seems to be a lot more choice for girls. My first stop is always dresses because they are so simple to stick on on a summer's day before a fun day out. This broderie frill dress from River Island is so cute that I actually will cry if I don't manage to get it in E's size!

I absolutely love Disney so have no qualms in putting E in character items and I'm so glad that she shares the love too. The little Dalmatian appliqués on this Gap jacket are so understated and adorable.

E is a massive My Little Pony fan so my eyes lit up as soon as I saw these on Primark's website under New Arrivals. She would have tons of fun flipping the sequins to reveal either Twilight Sparkle or Rainbow Dash.

Every little girls needs a gorgeous pair of sandals for summer and oh how I love the pom poms on these Boden ones! I was even more won over when I spotted that the straps are metallic too.

Similarly to C, E needs a cap! She is obsessed with princesses and Ariel is her favourite at the moment.

Have you seen anything in the shops lately that I need to know about!? Let me know in the comments!

(This is a PR collaboration.) 

Kids Summer Clothing Wishlist

Since I became a mother almost five years ago, I've developed an obsession with buying the kids clothes. I wear the same outfits day in, day out and very rarely buy myself anything new but I'll happily spend any spare money I have on cute items for the children that I just happen to see. This means that I am forever window shopping and searching online.

LoveTheSales is a website that aggregates sales from around 600 retailers and displays them all in one handy place. They have tons of top fashion brands listed, as well as toys, electronics and beauty brands. The website is perfect for me as I begrudge paying full price for anything and I will always shop a sale or look for a discount code. I think I spent a good few hours looking through the kids section alone! Just for fun, I've put together a little wishlist of my favourite kids clothing items that would be perfect for this summer!

My first port of call are always shoes! I'm really into the skater look, especially for my four year old son, C, so he (and I!) basically live in Converse so I was delighted to see some offers. I think these two pairs would be perfect for the kids to run around and play in all summer.

 
Joules is one of my favourite stores for clothing with cute prints. The quality is fantastic so whenever I do see their items on sale, I have to snap them up. The monkey tee is super cool and I love the plain grey t-shirt as it would be perfect in hot weather. When it comes to my two year old daughter, E, I'm a sucker for pinks and florals so these jumped out to me right away.

One brand that I'd actually never browsed for clothing before was Ralph Lauren. I just happened to see the brand on the site and thought I'd take a look. I was expecting the prices to still be quite high, even on sale, but I was pleasantly surprised. I do love the famous Polo logo so the cap will be super stylish and I love how bright the joggers are! Moving on to the girl's section and, oh my goodness, how adorable is the peplum polo?! I had no idea that something like this existed and don't get me started on how sweet the checked dress is! I fear for my bank balance!

 

Gap Kids is a store that I always go into when I'm looking for something specific like shoes or clothes for occasions such as Easter or Christmas so I never really spend enough time properly looking at what they stock. I know, I've chosen a jacket for summer but to be honest, living in Northern Ireland means that it still probably will be chilly in the middle of July! I am also obsessed with putting E in watermelon printed clothing and I think she's had about four different pieces in her short life!

They also have a Disney section but I honestly think I'd be here all week collating my favourite pieces as we are all massive Disney fans - especially E who has an obsession with Elsa. Pop over and take a peek - you won't be disappointed!

(Post via LoveTheSales)

#MPBTurns4 - Win a pair of Girls' Huntleys Shoes

Before E was born, I was solely a "boy mother" and buying outfits and matching shoes was so easy. Even now, C only owns three pairs and they match everything. Since having a daughter, I noticed just how many pairs, and colours of, shoes and boots that she needs to go nicely with all her different outfits.

British brand Huntleys stock the most beautiful girls clothes, bows and shoes at really afforable prices. I am obsessed with buying clothes and accessories for E and I think she needs to own everything that they sell. I'm not too sure that Chris would agree with me though!

As part of my blog birthday celebrations, Huntleys are giving my readers the chance to win a pair of Girls Sparkle Leather Buckle Shoes in either Pink, Elsa Blue or Silver. They are available in child sizes 2-9 and even come with a matching hair bow.

To be in with a chance of winning, just enter via the Rafflecopter widget below. Good luck! 

T&C's:

• One winner will win one pair of Girls Sparkle Leather Buckle shoes in a colour and size of their choice
• The giveaway will run from January 27th until February 10th
• Open to entrants aged 18+
• UK residents only
• One entry per person
• No automated entries

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

#MPBTurns4 - Win a Pair of Blade and Rose Leggings & Socks

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that I have a bit of an obsession with buying (and posting photos of!) my children's clothing. There is just something therapeutic about it. Everything looks so cute and sweet and I'd much rather buy clothing for them than new items for myself - no matter how much I need them!

Blade & Rose, if you haven't heard of them before, are an iconic British clothing brand for children. I was only really aware of their leggings with the super cool patterns on the bum but they do so much more such as hoodies, hats, bibs and socks. As part of their Autumn/Winter range you can find the most adorable Car, Tractor and Flamingo sets, although I have to admit that the Superhero range is definitely my favourite. Sizes go from 0-6 months right up to 3-4 years.

Blade & Rose have very kindly offered up a pair of their Rainbow leggings plus matching socks as part of my #MPBTurns4 giveaway celebrations. Perfect for any little boy or girl! Just enter via the Rafflecopter widget below. Good luck!

T&C's: 

• One winner will win a pair of Rainbow Blade & Rose leggings and matching socks in a size of their choice
• The giveaway will run from January 25th until February 8th
• Open to entrants aged 18+
• UK residents only
• One entry per person
• No automated entries

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Tiger Prints Kids T-shirt - Review

A while ago we were given the opportunity to review a t-shirt from Tiger Prints.

Tiger Prints is a family-run business based in Bedfordshire and the range was created after Mary decided that she wanted to create good quality, fun tops that were made in the UK.

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that I have a slight obsession with kids clothing so I was excited to try on out. I let C choose his own and in typical C fashion, he went for a light blue tee with a dinosaur print on it. 

When it arrived, C couldn't wait to wear it. We went for a size 3-4 and as a 3.5 year old, it fits perfectly. The quality is amazing with 100% cotton tee and cotton/Lyrca ribbed neckline which makes it soft to touch and comfortable to wear.

We have had this for a good few weeks now which means it's gone through the wash a lot. I'm really impressed by how the printed picture hasn't cracked and it still looks as good as new. 

The dinosaur tee is available in a wide range of colours and in sizes from age 2 up to 13 and even in adult sizes too. If dinosaurs aren't your thing, there are tons of designs to choose from so you're sure to find something to suit you.

The Stegasaurus Dinosaur t-shirt retails at £12.00. You can find out more about the range at the Tiger Prints website and you can also keep up to date on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

(We received this item for the purpose of this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.) 

 

Zippy Suit Cloudbabies Pyjamas - Review & Giveaway

A little while ago, I reviewed the Zippy Suit flamingo all in one sleepsuit and absolutely loved it. I was actually so sad when E grew out of it!

When Zippy Suit got in touch to say that they had a brand new range of Cloudbabies pyjamas and asked me to review, I was so excited. The kids love Cloudbabies and if you follow me on Instagram you'll know that I have an obsession with buying baby clothing.

You can choose from zippy all in ones or two piece pyjama sets (they also sell bibs and muslins) in all of the characters; Baba Pink, Yellow, Green and Blue and whilst I was drawn towards girly pink pj's, I chose the Baba Yellow two piece pyjamas just for a little change from pink!

When they arrived, I couldn't wait to get them on her. She wears 18-24 month clothing (which I chose in these) and they fit perfectly. The ankles are cuffed which I love. When E is walking usually she ends up standing all over the bottom of her pyjamas causing her to slide and fall. These mean that she can walk comfortably and freely without any trouble. 

The big Baba Yellow motif in the middle is the winner for E. When I put the pyjamas on her and pointed it the picture, she started stroking it, saying "aww!" and lifting it up to kiss. Super cute!

I've put the pyjamas through the washing machine AND tumble drier a couple of times and the image hasn't cracked at all. I'm very impressed! They haven't seemed to shrink either. E seems very comfortable wearing them and they're a great thickness - she isn't too warm or too cold in bed.

The zippy all in ones retail at £13 and are available in sizes newborn to 18 months whereas the two piece pyjamas sets are £15 and available in 6 months to 3 years.

You can find out more about the Cloudbabies range at the Zippy Suit website and you can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

 
Zippy Suit have very kindly offered a pair of their pyjamas as a prize too! To be in with a chance of winning either a zippy all in one or pyjama set of your choice, just enter via the widget below. Good luck! T&C's can be found in the Gleam widget.

Zippysuit Cloudbabies PJs giveaway

(Disclaimer: I received a pair of Cloudbabies pyjamas for the purpose of this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)  

More competitions at www.theprizefinder.com

Squeaky Jumpers - Review

I remember briefly hearing about Squeaky Jumpers about a year or so ago when some of my fellow bloggers hosted giveaways to win one. I thought they looked so cool so when we were given the opportunity to try one out for ourselves, I thought C would love one.

Squeaky Jumpers sell just that - squeaky jumpers! They are available in men's, women's and childrens sizes - from 2 to 12 years - and you can choose from Poppy the Dog, Spot the Pig and Ted the Frog prints (designs and names vary slightly with adult sizes). I opted for Poppy the Dog as firstly, I love C in red and also he loves dogs so I thought it would be more 'him' than the others. He's only just turned three for I chose 3-4 years in the hope that he'd get quite a bit of wear out of it.

When it arrived, I was really impressed with the quality. With a price tag of £24.95, it is definitely worth it. The jumper itself is quite thick so your child will be kept warm and each little dog motif is vinyl so it will last longer than printed. I always check quality of stitching too and I couldn't fault it. I love the round neck and cuffed sleeves so they're great for rolling up when he's eating something messy! Size-wise, it is perfect. It looks so snug and I was right, he will be able to wear it for a while as it's very true to size. He seems comfortable in it too, no itching or complaining.

Now for the squeak test. You can see that the dogs are all black with the exception of one at the corner. This one has a squeaker inside which works when pressed. When I first showed C this, he thought it was hilarious and got himself into a fit of giggles. Even when his daddy came home from work he couldn't wait to show off what his cool new jumper could do. I did worry that washing it might warp it a little but it's been in the machine (on 40) 3 times now and nothing has been compromised.

With Christmas coming up, I think these would make a great unique gift!

You can view the full range of jumpers at the Squeaky Jumpers website and you can also keep up to date on Facebook and Twitter.

(Disclaimer: We received this jumper for the purpose of this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Youngsies Bee Onesie - Review

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that I am obsessed with kids clothing. I am constantly posting pictures of my children, showcasing their outfits so when I saw that Youngsies were looking for reviewers of their fabulous rompers, of course I wanted to do it!

Youngsies sell a wide range of onesies or rompers for children aged 6 months to 2 years and you can choose from lots of different animals. I opted for the Bee suit thinking E would look adorable and boy, was I right!

When I first opened the suit out, I did give a little squeal at how cute it was and I had to get it on E right away. I usually associate bees with yellow and black but the stripes on this one are brown. I did think that this was a little odd at the beginning but it doesn't detract from how awesome this suit is!

I chose size 12-18 months as that's what E usually wears and there is plenty of room for growth. I can't cope with how sweet E looks in it so she will definitely wear it a lot. The quality is amazing too. With Halloween coming up, I think these would be great to use as a Halloween costume due to how thick they are, especially if you are taking your little one trick or treating. Regular Halloween costumes tend to be made from quite a thin material and little ones won't want to wear a coat as they want to show off their costume. The thickness of these mean that your child will be kept a little warmer than they would be with these thin ones.

The Bee Onesie retails at £17.99 and you cam view the full selection at the Youngsies website. You can also give them a follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

(Disclaimer: We received this item for the purpose of this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Win a Babygro from Rubi & Boris

I am obsessed with buying baby clothes. My wardrobe is calling out for new clothes but I'd much rather spend my money on having the kids beautifully dressed. I love finding online clothing stores as I like to have C and E wearing something a little different to all those on the high street.

Rubi & Boris is an online store which stands for quality products and always providing the best for your children.

Their signature product is the front fastening organic cotton babygros which are available in different styles and designs from Early Baby to 6-12 months. Front fastenings make them easier to get on babies with no need to pull them over their heads. Not only are they kind to your child's skin but they are also modern, stylish and practical.

Rubi & Boris also stock a range called Little Lady which is a collection of beautiful dresses. I definitely think I will make a purchase for E!

You can follow Rubi & Boris on Facebook & Twitter.

I have very kindly been offered the opportunity to run a giveaway for you all! You can win a babygro of your choice from here (single babygros only; 2 packs not included). All you need to do is fill in the Rafflecopter widget below. If you are unsure on how Rafflecopter works, check out this handy guide.

The giveaway will run from 14th May until 28th May. One winner will win one babygro of their choice.

T&Cs:

• Open to entrants aged 18+
• UK residents only
• Winner will be picked at random via Rafflecopter
• Prize will be sent directly from Rubi & Boris, please allow 28 days for delivery
• No automated entries
• One entry per person

Good luck!

 (If the widget doesn't appear, click on the link "a Rafflecopter giveaway")

a Rafflecopter giveaway

More competitions at www.theprizefinder.com

Enchanted Forest & Friends Clothing

One thing that I love about blogging is getting to discover new brands that I hadn't previously heard of before. 

When Enchanted Forest & Friends got in touch with me about reviewing for them, I was really excited as I knew nothing about the company and also, it had no idea what I'd be receiving as I was told I'd receive surprise items. 

Husband and wife team, Bernie and Mariessa have run the Enchanted Forest Early Learning nurseries for over ten years so Enchanted Forest & Friends was their second venture which stemmed from their daughters love of her bunny comforter and what adventures they could get up to behind the Enchanted Forest door. 

For our review, C was sent two items of clothing. As I mentioned before, I didn't know what was coming so I couldn't wait to open out our parcel. 

C received the Boys Crew Neck Sweatshirt (£12.99) and the Boys Blue Sweat Shorts (£8.99). 

Instantly, I loved how bright the sweatshirt was. I was happy to see a pair of shorts as we've had a little sun and  it has been the perfect weather to test them out. 

Both items are size 2-3 years and they fit C, at 2 and a half, perfectly. The material is really soft and lightweight and he seemed comfortable wearing them. 

I love the little animal characters. Bertie Bluetit is printed on the sweatshirt whilst Sirrel Squirrel is carefully stitched on the back pocket of the shorts. 

The quality of the clothing is fantastic, they fit well and are a fab price too! They wash well and don't lose their shape or colour. The Enchanted Forest and Friends clothing range go from ages 18 months to 5 years. I can't wait til E is big enough so I can get her some items!

You can find out more about Enchanted Forest & Friends at their website. You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

(Disclaimer: We received this items for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)