Smooth as silk

Still on a last-minute hunt for that perfect top to see you through the party season? Step (or click) on over to Mamas & Papas where their maternity range currently has some great discounts.

At half the regular price, this luxurious Silk Tie Tunic will skim and drape your figure to flattering form. It has an adjustable tie under the bust and can be jazzed up with jewellery and accessories for a different look each time. We particularly like the tunic paired with these stylish blue tights as pictured.

Visit Mamas & Papas for more festive offers.

V&A muse

This week on Hype Baby, we've been extolling the virtues of museum shops as a great place to find unusual gifts. One of my favourite online stores is the V&A museum web shop, a virtual treasure trove of design goodies.


This Deco Bloom Silk Top, inspired by a book plate design for textiles, utters 'hip mama' with its simple wrap/tie style, luxurious colours and gorgeous embroidery. It's the kind of blouse that can adjust to fit your bump, then gracefully skim your frame when baby's out and about.


Or if you're feeling too heavy to invest in new clothing, check out their fashion accessories such as this vintage-look Feather Flower Headband by Ophelie. Handmade using dyed feathers, it's sure to get heads swerving in your direction come party season. Visit the V&A shop for more stylish ideas.

Prints charming

Our little Buddha turned 9 months old earlier this week and suddenly it seems like he's hurtling towards his first birthday. One of the things I plan to do (that I never got around to with Cheeky baby number 1) is preserving his teeny tiny handprints in clay.

There are all sorts of specialised services to carry this out, but we like this Hand or Footprint Imprint Tin from MamaToto. All you need to do is open the container, press baby's hand or foot into the soft clay and when you're happy with the imprint, leave it to harden. This makes a great gift for a new parent or (note to hubby) a nice stocking filler for yourself come Christmas. Visit MamaToto for more products geared to brand new mamas.

Babble on to CURE cancer

We've gabbled about Babble babywear, the line of funky tot suits featuring cute quips and graphics on our sister blog Hype Baby.

Now we want to let you know about a new plan from the generous Babble babywear team. In an effort to help fund research to find a cure for cancer, Babble babywear are donating $1 from the sale of every onesie to CURE Childhood Cancer.

Simply enter coupon code BABBLECCC at checkout and you'll know that even after your bubba grows out of his babygro, your money was put to good use. Check out the collection at Babble babywear.

Pat a cake

While running errands with my weary babies in West Hampstead, I happened to pass by this delicious looking cake shop and couldn't resist popping in for afternoon tea.

What a treat. We were greeted so warmly by the ladies behind the counter who went to some trouble to squeeze us into what is admittedly a smallish space if you're buggy-ing out. I indulged in a Victoria sponge slice while Mr. Cheeks had a marshmallow-topped cupcake and both were just the right mix of fluffy and sugary. The owner was preparing for a birthday party at the back with a gorgeous spread and I made a note that this would be a great place to hire for events.

Bake-a-boo is definitely a local favourite for mums and little ones, judging by the easy camaraderie between some customers and staff. There's something about the old-school candies, pretty dressing and fresh cakes like your own mama baked that calls you to Bake a Boo. They also cater for sweet tooths who suffer from allergies and intolerances, so there's no excuse not to pile on pounds with the rest of us! Visit the Bake-a-boo web site for a mini-feast for the eyes and other enticements.

Nursing on the Net

They say it takes a village to raise a child. In this age when many new mothers are separated from our extended families, we turn to the global village that connects online to provide that sense of community and support.

The latest innovation that's come our way is the Virtual Breastfeeding Help Consultation, an online guide that helps new mamas figure out what's meant to be a natural process but can cause many sleepless nights, not to mention sore boobs. All you need is Internet access, a webcam and SKYPE to hook up with a lactation consultant that can provide you with a 'Breastfeeding Care plan' in the comfort of your own home.

So if you're struggling with breastfeeding or just want some refresher tips, check out the Virtual Breastfeeding Help web site to book a slot or browse for advice. Through September you'll get a free Baby Bond Couture nursing cover-up (worth $35) with any consultation or gift certificate.

Stay pure

The weather's changing and dare we say it, thoughts of that piggy flu and other seasonal nasties are coming to the forefront. If you're a laidback type of gal, your defence system might come down to regular handwashing and perhaps a bottle or two of anti-bacterial spray.

But if you're a bit of a germophobe, you're probably looking for something a little more proactive to tackle those hidden horrors. You should be impressed by the Purespace Sanitizer, a unit for storing and sanitizing personal items. This clever piece of tech kills 99.9999% of all known viruses and harmful bacteria including those linked to flu, heart disease and diabetes.

The Purespace Sanitizer stores up to 6 manual and electric tootbrushes at a time. It also holds baby bottles, pacifiers, nail scissors, jewellery, razors and other similar tools that could carry and spread germs. For more info including where to buy, visit the Purespace homepage.