Boxes :)

Everywhere I look at the moment there are boxes!!! The last photo was taken at about 7pm last night when we had already taken 2 loads of boxes to the recycling skip bin. The ones in the top photo are the last ones for me to attack. I am so grateful to Kirk and my sister who helped me open, put away product and collapse boxes. They worked like Trojans! My parents too who looked after the 3 tiddly winks.

There is a buzz in the air as LOTS of new products arrive for Christmas. We will be offering a wider range than ever before this year and I can't wait to show them to you!!

I still need to unpack some - but I am pleased that at least they are sitting in the right place on the shelf. I LOVE ticking jobs off my to do list - especially when it involves gorgeous new goodies :)

Baby Belly :)

This positively gorgeous bump belongs to my beautiful sister in law. She is 24 weeks pregnant with her first baby. Inside is my first little nephew or neice!!! I can't wait to meet him or her. This is my first experience of being an aunty and I am amazed by how much love I can have for someone else's baby. I have watched the love between my 3 kids and my 2 brothers and sister (and now 2 sister in laws) and have been so grateful for their love for my kids.

Em is wearing the tummy tie! (click here) I love knowing when products work :)

If someone could please let me know when they have found a way to click the heels together to travel quickly interstate (Melbourne preferably) and back again, please let me know!

Have you ever followed your butterflies?

Have you heard of National Newfeeling Day? It is all about facing your fears on September 1st.

Here is a quote from their website:

"Face your fears, get out of your rut,
do that thing you’ve always wanted to do.
My dream is to…
One day I’ll…
If I won the lottery I’d…
So often we come incredibly close to living our dreams. We write down inspirational goals about starting a novel, running a marathon, giving up smoking, learning a new language… Then the fear of change drags us back behind that white picket fence that surrounds our comfort zone.
What if there was a day where we all faced our fears at the same time? That’s National Newfeeling Day."

Want to find out more? Visit http://www.newfeeling.org/

It is for a great cause: Dymocks Childrens Charities (a fantastic not-for-profit organisation that helps kids in need read)

Billy Goat Soap - I LOVE IT!!!

I ran out of Billy Goat soap last week and kept on forgetting to bring some home from the warehouse so I have been an alternative in the meantime. Oh my. I had forgotten what a massive difference the Billy Goat soak makes to his skin. He felt like the newborn baby again tonight. That silky soft, just born feel. There really is no word in the English language to describe the softness. Billy Goat soap was initially made to treat eczema, but it is worth using on any skin that you want to protect. I am never going to use anything else again. Soap is probably the wrong word for it - it is a milk bath. Think Cleopatra - she was onto something!

Click below to watch a YouTube video of the owner of Billy Goat soap talk about the growth of her business on Today Tonight.

Hurray for B.Box & Babyushka

Whilst we are congratulating people, Well done to Dannielle and Monique at b.box and Emily from Babyushka.

We know how exciting it is to be featured in a magazine and both the b.box and the Babyushka wraps have been featured in the current issue of Shop For Kids. Thoroughly deserved feature. They are fabulous products. (note too that the Skip Hop nursery toolbox was mentioned as a Wonder Buy!

b.box: (The Scenario) You're off on a short trip to the shops. You'd rather not bring the nappy bag but fishing out what you need is too much trouble
(The Solution) The B.Box holds a pack of wipes, two nappies, a change mat, and a tube of nappy cream - perfect to pop in your handbag and run

Babyushka takes the baby wrap to a whole new level, with stretch colours we'd wear (hello, grey marle). Step by step instructions on the pack make it the perfect first-baby gift.

Add on: Il Tutto update

How could I forget?

Congratulations Lucie for being awarded the *WINNER* in the Product Excellence Category of the Australian Business Awards for their Chiara Tote. Cheers to you Lucie. Well done girl!!

Also - hot off the press. We received a press release this week about some very exciting news from Il Tutto. I have a sneaking suspicion this new colour will be very, very popular - and some people may even go to extreme measures to get their hands on one. Some may even purchase it purely as a tote. Who said you need a baby to own a nappy bag?!!

Q & A with Lucie from Il Tutto

I received an email from a customer this morning that read "Thanks jen,I got the bag and it is beautiful. I have already had many comments about it!" I am amazed with the number of emails we get from customers thanking us for our service or telling us how much they are loving their purchase. Every one is busy, so I am grateful for the 5 minutes that women take to send us an email. They make me smile.

The bag was an Il Tutto Mia nappy bag, beautiful in every colour - my favourite is the red.

Meet Lucie, the girl who knows a thing or two about designing the perfect nappy bag!

How long have you been running your business? Since January 2007

What were you doing prior to your current venture? I was the head designer at Oroton.

If you had to choose your favourite product from your range, what would it be & why? Oh - No! Thats like asking me to choose my favourite child!!!!! However, currently I am using the Nico tote and the Chiara in Cream depending on my outfit.

What do you do to relax? I love nothing better than a leisurely coffee or breakfast with friends, that and reading the papers in the sun with my husband.

If you were able to go wherever you wanted to this weekend, where would it be? Paris!!!! I love Paris!

What was the last thing that you purchased? A new camera - its my new toy and I love it.

Who lives at your place? Just my husband Mario and I, however we have a baby on the way so come November we will also have a little Baby Trinco living with us.

Belle and Boo print of the week

I have a confession to make. I can't decide which Belle and Boo print I want to put in Henry's bedroom. There are not enough walls in my house for them all so I have to make a decision. At the moment I am simply loving these new ones (yes, supposed to be 'print' of the week, not 'prints' plural - but I can't narrow it down even for this task!!) Aren't they simply gorgeous!

All things owl

As a child, one of the activities that kept us busy at my Grandparents home in the Blue Mountains was to search for and count the owls both in the house and in the garden. My children now do the same in their home in Sydney. I am sure that is why I am quite endeared to the owl. Alimrose have just released these owl squeakers. We now have quite a collection of our own owl treats!

Dolls as Christening Gifts

Aren't these dolls just the sweetest things ever. I LOVE the attention to detail: bows, socks, tulle, lace, ribbons, eye lashes, rosy cheeks ....

Oh so girly girl!! Thank you Alimrose Designs :)

Gertie and Me Cow - Reviewed by Carolyn

“Moo” by Gertie & Me

As soon as ‘Moo’ arrived in the mail, the entire family fell in love with him! This gorgeous ‘Gertie & Me’ product is everything a mother looks for in a children’s toy; machine-washable, small enough to carry easily and of course incredibly cute! It is clear that ‘Moo’ has been created with extra care, with child-friendly features such as flexibility, durability and completely devoid of dangerous small parts. He is also especially loved in our home as I was raised on a cattle farm and looking for toy cows has recently become a profession! ‘Moo’ is soft, snuggly and an obviously high-quality product that any child would adore. As a mother with very particular taste, it is so exciting to find a product that finally lives up to my expectations in terms of quality, practicality and cuddlibility!

My little boy Jesse has made such a special new friend in ‘Moo’ and we’re sure they’ll be inseparable for quite some time! He may even end up becoming a family treasure who is passed from generation to generation…

Love Carolyn xx

New Designs from Beep Beep

I used an old style carrier for my three babies. It was great being able to carry them around. I remember the feeling of freedom I experienced the first time I used it with Thomas. It was purely to put the washing on the line as he cried as soon as he was put down. It was a feeling of exhileration and relief! Finally I felt like I was going to be able to achieve something! He hardly came out of it. I vacuumed with him in it, walked in it and shopped with him in it. The carrier is nothing like the gorgeous prints found from Beep Beep slings. There are two new fresh fabric designs. So pretty and fashionable. Love them :)

What I'm Loving Right Now!!

Busting to share these with someone right now & who better than my blog friends!!

Some gorgeous new rugs from Amy Butler. Find more here

I am really hoping that someone will distribute them here in Australia!

Cool stationery for kids

Whilst I was uploading these products to the site, I allowed myself to daydream about how I would have used these notebooks as a youngster.

Remember the % game where you worked out the love % of you and the boy that you were infatuated with at the time. The results were taken ever so seriously! There was the poetry stage, the drawing stage, the design stage, font stage (handwriting), this list could be endless!

I love the idea of notepads for boys especially. There is something about preserving the ideas rather than on random bits of paper. Thomas loves to draw maps of the backyard. We bought the kids a dinghy off ebay on the weekend. They are going to love playing their current favourite - Indiana Jones in and around it. I am going to dream of the days that we played Swallows and Amazons in ours. I would have drawn maps then in my notepad too.

Oops - its been a week!

This past week has been like a tornado. Where does it go?!!

I finally got a chance to update our site with new products. I will pop one on here each day for the next seven days. There are still so many more to go. Shame on me for keeping them in boxes!

Today I uploaded these sweet rainbows. I have a thing for rainbows - they make me smile. These are extra special as they come from New Zealand, are made from sustainable pine timber and painted with non toxic paint. My sister brought one home for Thomas four years ago and they have been a favourite in this house ever since. His sits in our family room for us all to enjoy and play with. Its a great toy for quiet time! I think they make a nice Christening gift.

Madmen yourself ...

You must visit this site for 5 minutes of fun!!! http://www.amctv.com/originals/madmen/madmenyourself/

Jen x

[new product] Little Chipipi Outer Space

Sam at Little Chipipi has released her latest design - Outer Space! As always, the colours are gorgeous and the design is cute!

Thomas was obsessed with the moon, rockets and stars when he was little. One of his news topics this year was "What is your favourite nursery rhyme?" His was Twinkle Twinkle. He added a second verse when he was three. The lyrics were "moon"over and over again. It was very cute. I think every little boy goes through a moon, stars and rocket phase. There is something about being an astronaut that they find intriguing ... This design is going to go to the top of our sellers list I am sure. Boys will have a lot of fun re arranging these wall stickers!

What else I love about them:
"Gorgeous adhesive artworks that are removable and repositional over and over again.Perfect for little designers who love to decorate. These durable, easy to use stickers are a quick and effective way to brighten up bedrooms or play rooms.Little Chipipi’s premium Australian Made wall stickers will remove and reposition without damaging walls* or leaving residue. Just peel and stick."

Q & A with Jen from Mummy's Favourite

I have been emailed by a customer and a reader of this blog that it is time for me to answer the same Q & A questions that I ask of our suppliers. So here it is with a new pic. I can't stand having photos taken!! We are our worst critics aren't we. I have had a terrible time with my hair since having Henry - lost lots of it around the hairline. It is now about 4cm long and driving me crazy. But - the loss of hair, stretch marks (my tattoos I refer to them as) etc etc are worth it to have 3 beautiful little ones in my house who call me mummy!! I am also getting used to having dark hair - I am a natural sun bleached hair girl.

How long have you been running your business? Since July 2006. We went online November 2006 although it took until late 2007 until I really worked out what direction I wanted to take the business. It has been a steep learning curve! I don't think I ever expected it to be a full time job but nor did I expect to enjoy it as much as I have.

If you had to choose your favourite product from your range, what would it be & why? This is far too hard!! I love all of our products and have a sentimental attachment to each. I am really proud to be selling some of Australia's best giftware. Gifts that really delight! I am thrilled each and every time a business relationship is formed with new suppliers. When we meet like minded people. One joyous moment was when our relationship with MOR Cosmetics was approved. We had to fill out quite a complex form for approval to sell their range which I love. This was before Mummy's Favourite was even online. It was a warm fuzzy moment knowing that someone shared my belief in Mummy's Favourite.

If you were able to go wherever you wanted to this weekend, where would it be? A toss up between a neighbouring suburb to see my paternal Grandparents and Pukekohe in NZ to visit my maternal Grandma. Life gets so busy it would be great to have time to sit and have time to really listen to them and their advice. If I could have a sliding doors weekend, it would be to escape somewhere warm with my husband and kids where I could swim in the waves and play with the kids in the sand.

What was the last thing that you purchased? A packet of scotch finger biscuits in a service station on the way to church this morning. Our cupboard was bare and I knew Henry would get the munchies.

Who lives at your place? My husband, Thomas (6), Milly (really Emily but Thomas called her enemy when she was born so we changed it quick smart! - she is 3.5) and Henry (9 months) No pets - yet!