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  

Remember the Excitement of Getting Paper Post as a Kid? Give the Gift of Surprise to Your Kids for £1.99 with Sticker Club

My son loves this, really, really loves this. He's used to parcels arriving for me daily crammed with things to review for you guys on here. It's always ten times more exciting when it's a toy or children's magazine to test out. But now with The Sticker Club, for a subscription of £1.99 a week, he gets his own post in a bright yellow envelope, addressed just for him. 

There are different subscriptions to pick, and you can gift them to send to a niece, nephew or grandchild at their own address. Each envelope comes with nine sheets of diffent stickers, usually three of each artist's distinctive style. Super for decorating books, bikes, whatever! 

Tidy Freaks are Monsters Who Live in Your Car & Eat Your Rubbish. (I need one)

Check out this cool new product currently launching on Kickstarter. The Tidy Freaks are 3 really adorable characters that “eat” the rubbish in your car.

The Tidy Freaks have been designed to excite the imagination of children so that they feed their rubbish into the characters mouths. The rubbish is then held in a wipe clean liner until it is ready to be emptied.

To find out how you can help launch this brilliant project and be one of the first to receive a Tidy Freak of your very own, visit the Tidy Freak Kickstarter Page.

or simply search for “Tidy Freaks” on www.kickstarter.com

The Ugglys are a Pack of Rude Dogs!

The Ugglys, a selection of mangy looking puppet pups, are one of those toys parents just don't understand. When we received our's (lovingly nicknamed 'Stinker') I thought it seemed like one of those presents they beg for but only play with for ten minutes and never touch again.

I was wrong. 

Michael hasn't stopped playing with this thing all weekend. It's basically a hand puppet that makes foul noises. Burps, farts, bizarre sound effects  and even a buzzing blue bottle noise. The novelty comes in the form of a little, twiddly knob on the dog's collar, this controls the pitch of the sound effect. 

If there is one suggestion to make the product better, I'd request a volume knob too. 

There are different breeds of Uggly, and they retail at £29.99 A great puppet if your daughter or son loves gross out humour. 

A Summer School Break Must-Visit, the Bangor Plant & Play Wildlife Garden

This afternoon little Michael & I took a spin over to the Plant & Play Wildlife Garden, just outside Bangor, very close to Donaghadee Garden Centre. If you are stuck for a day trip idea this coming summer, you can book a morning or afternoon at the Garden and leave your little ones in the hands of Vikki, the gardening expert.

You can relax at the shady picnic table area as your children play and learn. 

The first activity was bug hunting. We found slugs and spiders, much to the other little boy who was there's delight! 

Vikki has a fab way with children, and they listened as she pointed out the various vegetables and fruit growing in the planters.

The garden also has a gorgeous willow tree dome, which the children ran through as they caught bubbles in their nets.

We then went inside for a while to the bright education and craft space. There is a fun, grass carpeted playroom with cushions, cuddlies & blow up snakes and ladders.

Then came the part my Michael loves the best, crafts! He absolutely loves being artistic. The kids made paper flowers and flapping butterflies.

Vikki led us outside again for more play & a go on the outdoor musical instruments.

Vikki helped each child plant a spinach plant to take home, and gave them a work booklet to record how it grows, encouraging us to send it via Facebook to their page.

Next Vikki passed the kids sheets with silhouettes of various animal paw prints, and they searched the soil for tracks. She showed us where a fox arrives and sleeps in the long grass.

The last activity was guessing what certain plants smell like. I had to have a go at this myself!

We had to leave a little early, as you can stay and play from 2-4.30pm and Vikki was getting them set up to do some helpful weed digging as we went. There's a morning session too 10-12.30pm, but all visits must be pre-booked. There is ample free parking at the site.

I highly recommend an afternoon at the Plant and Play Garden, we were there for 90 mins and had a very relaxing time. Refreshments are also available, and raised beds for nurseries who don't have outside space to rent.

Vikki can also hold parties here if you fancy a unique birthday treat. Just give her a shout on Facebook. 

Prices- Children under two - free   Children over two - £4.50  Adults - £3.50

Michael's Corner of Kitsch

Trying out a little now & then feature; sharing my son's style with you. He's six and a half & takes a bit of an interest in his clothing, so I thought it would be nice to make this a new category on The World of Kitsch.

Sunglasses from H&M Kids, summer 2013 approx. £3.99

Mod haircut in a mini-size, cut by Clare at Vintage Rocks, Belfast. I highly recommend the parlour, especially for making kids feel relaxed and very grown up. 

Army khaki, light, spring jacket. We call it a John Connor jacket because cool dudes with friends who are Terminators wear them. H&M Kids, Spring 2014 -in store now. £17.99

Limited edition, Sailor Jerry, Converse slip ons  Bought a couple of years back in advance on eBay, brand new. Can't recall what I paid for them.

Sweatshirt is Paul Frank. Again available from H&M Kids, Winter 2014, a few left in stores. I think I paid £12.99-ish

Jeans, guess where? Yes, H&M Kids winter 2014 again. About £9.99 and much nicer quality for that price than supermarket or Primark. 

Giant Lego Bricks & Lego Movie Lunchboxes at STORE

 STORE is an online Homeware shop, and their latest additions are pieces from the Lego Movie accessory range. They have giant Lego blocks for storing your bricks, and everything else. I also like the pencil cases, which even an adult could get away with in the office. STORE sent us the Lego Movie lunchbox, which comes with a cute water bottle too, on sale for £14.00 for a limited time only. Maybe a good time to buy and save for next September, or a cool gift instead of an Easter Egg in the next few weeks.