Stylish handmade clothing for Summer

As I live in the bush, cute and stylish kids clothes are hard to come by and having the internet and online shopping has made my life so easy to access things that were once only
accessible if you went to the city.  I also believe stay at home Mummies are getting smarter and designing stylish clothes that are affordable and have that handmade touch.
 

 

I love handmade clothes for kids as it means someone has taken extra loving care and you can see it in their design. I love the idea taking something that is so simple like a singlet or a baby jumpsuit and turning into a beautiful piece of clothing, so stylish.

 

Lalaluka was established by a young mum who had a passion for all things handmade. When Kristy's son was born she named her son Luka which explains the name. As another stay at home mother I understand the need to find a creative outlet from the daily tasks that being a stay at home mum brings and this for Kristy came in the form of creating and making a lot of the things that you find on her website.

 

The very talented Kristy makes Mummy-made baby goods including T-shirts, singlets, body suits, bibs, dribble bibs, amber jewellery, hair accessories and other beautiful jewellery.  Her hand stitching singlets are just gorgeous and perfect for the summer heat.

 

I would like to tell you that these clothes make your beautiful kids less cheeky but they don't just more stylish while they are being cheeky! My cheeky little monkey above is wearing one of Kristy's cute handmade elephant singlets.

 

 

My daughter is wearing a handmade flower singlet and is a very cool option for the summer heat especially since we live in Queensland. She also has some beautiful bobby pins with cute flowers to match in her hair.  You can tell that each piece of clothing has been made with lots of love and great care and attention.

 

 

Kristy also is very talented and makes beautiful hand poured soy candles available in a range of different scents and jar styles. She will be expanded her range really soon and I for one can't wait to see what she makes next.



 

 

 

 

 

Pure and Stylish Products for Little Ones

As a Mum of two little ones who have sensitive skin I am always on the look out for natural and safe products to use on their skin.  I have been lucky enough to try the products from Arbonne.  These premium skin care products are based on herbal and botanical ingredients and are pure and safe for little ones.

 

ABC Baby Care Set From Arbonne

The following is what is particular interesting to me.
The Arbonne products are:

pH correct

Hypoallergenic

Dermatologist tested

Never tested on animals

Formulated without animal products or by-products

Formulated without mineral oil

Formulated without dyes or chemical fragrances

The products I have tried with my little ones are part of the baby care range. The Arbonne baby hair and body wash is one I particularly like as it is mild, tear free cleanser that is
gentle on baby's delicate hair and skin. It moisturises and conditions by replacing the natural oils which means skin and hair are left smooth and helps maintain the perfect moisture balance of hair and skin. Recommended for children from birth to 10 and extremely sensitive skin types.

 

Arbonne Baby Hair and Body Wash

 

 

I also tried the Baby Care Body Lotion which help moisturise my son's sensitive skin. It is a gentle lotion formulated for delicate skin that soothes, softens and conditions skin, while helping to reduce redness and irritation.   Perfect for keeping baby's skin smooth and hydrated.

Arbonne Baby Care Body Lotion

 



Other products in the range include Herbal Nappy Cream and Sunscreen SPF 30 which help to protect your child's skin.The sunscreen is formulated with antioxidant vitamins A, C and E and gentle botanicals. It is PABA-free, paediatrician and dermatologist tested and provides broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays. 

Arbonne Baby Care Herbal Nappy Cream

Arbonne Baby Care Sunscreen SPF 30+
 

Arbonne products were launched in Australia, six years ago. Eloise Leary started her Arbonne business after falling in love with the products and the company ethos for manufacturing and sourcing ingredients. She sadly lost her mother to cancer when she was pregnant with my second child and that made her so aware of the dangers in skin care and cosmetics.  I highly recommend Eloise to discuss all your skin care needs. Of course, Arbonne has beautiful products for Mums too. Check out the range for Mum here - ARBONNE ONLINE.

Message from Eloise
I'd also like to offer all my new customers from your website a 50% discount when they like Healthy Beauty by Belle and place an order via Private Message from today until the 31st of December 2013.

At Arbonne, beauty begins with premium botanical ingredients, an integrative approach to beauty and an unwavering commitment to pure, safe and beneficial products. Arbonne creates personal care and wellness products that preserve and enhance the skin, body and mind. Working closely with scientists around the world and our Arbonne Institute of Research and Development (AIRD®) facility in Switzerland, we continually explore and develop scientifically advanced, botanically based proprietary formulas that meet our exacting standards for quality, safety and sustainability.

Botanically based products that embrace the possibilities of green chemistry, with novel ingredients and proprietary blends that deliver results, all Arbonne products are pH correct, hypoallergenic, dermotologist tested, and vegan approved. Formulated without any chemical dyes or frangrances, mineral oil, parabens, animal products or bi-products, Arbonne products are not tested on animals and cruelty free. From babies to Anti-ageing, men, sensitive skin, acne prevention, hair care, cosmetics, nutrition, sunscreen - Arbonne have the whole family covered.

Email: eloiseleary@gmail.com
Phone: 0411484662

Up Up and Away

The reason I began to become interested in parties was because of my kids. My son, Henry recently had his Christening and it was a wonderful and perfectly special day spent with family and friends. The theme of the party was Up Up and Away with hot air balloons and aero planes.

 

Styled by H&C Stylish Kids Party Packs
 

Photo by Karri Shannon Photography

 

My little man Henry James on his Christening day and the name on his Christening Cake, such beautiful detail. 

 Photos by Karri Shannon Photography

 

Cake by Amy Brassinton Cakes

I worked with so many talented small businesses to put Henry's party together.  Without them the day would not have been possible. Planning a party is such fun!! I love all the details from the cake to the menu to the party invitations.  First this is first to decide on a theme and for my son’s Christening and I decided on Up Up and Away.  The colour scheme was a light blue chevron with red highlights. The invites which fitted the theme perfectly were the first thing I did. I love cute little invites as it sets the theme that carry's through to the party.

Next, I started to look for an outfit for my little boy and being a boy's Christening and given that my boy was not so little anymore I wanted something a little more stylish and didn't think a white christening gown was going to cut it. I ended up with a little ones that looked like a little suit. The aviator hat and ones can be ordered from H&C Stylish Kids Party Packs. 
 

 

Photos by Karri Shannon Photography

 

 

I then contacted Jennifer at the Prettiest Print Shop and started to work with her designing the beautiful printables for the party.  Jennifer, a graphic designer and was wonderful through the whole process of designing the printables for Henry’s Christening.  Every little detail was discussed and my input was appreciated and nothing was too hard for her to design.  It was awesome to see my ideas come to life and made my party look so special.  If you would like to see more of Jennifer’s  work  or discuss with her an idea you have for a design for a party I am sure she will be only too happy to accommodate and help bring your idea to life!

 

 

Styled by H&C Stylish Kids Party Packs
 

Photos by Karri Shannon Photography
 

Printables by Prettiest Print Shop

 

 

 

Now I normally make the cake and the cupcakes for my party but recently I have come across a couple of businesses that I have been dying to try out.  It is my belief that a cake is an important part of any party and it has to not only taste delicious but look awesome too.  Unfortunately my cake make skills don’t match my dream for the cake that I wanted for this party.  So started to search for someone to make the cake and what a talented lady I found. The lovely Amy  from Amy Brassington Cakes in Chinchilla, Queensland made this wonderful cake for Henry’s party and it tasted as good as it looked.    

 Cake by Amy Brassington Cakes

 

Photo By Karri Shannon Photography

 

Printables by the Prettiest Print Shop

 

 

As you can see the detail on the cake is just divine and was the talk of the party.  Make sure you book in advance as Amy wonderful talents as she is in high demand!

Cake by Amy Brassington Cakes

 

Photo by Karri Shannon Photography

 

The cupcakes were another hit of the party with gooey jaffa centres they just melted in your mouth.  These were the creation of Nerrisa Binding from Simply Cupalicious, another very talented lady from Chinchilla.   Nerrisa's cupcakes had all guest wanting more especially the kids. I just love the detail of the plane pulling Henry's name.

Cupcakes by Simply Cupalicious

 

Photo by Karri Shannon Photography

Nerrissa also made the aeroplane cake pops and these were also a huge hit with the kids especially the big kids at the party and I have to say it was money well spent. 
 

 

 Aerolanes Pops by Simply Cupalicious

Photos by Karri Shannon Photography

The styling was done by myself but I have to admit without all of these wonderful businesses on board my party would not have been half as stylish.  I purchased a vintage hot air balloon for Henry’s room as well as a model aeroplane both things that he will have in his room for a long time to come.  The suitcases were also decorations from Henry’s Room.

 

Styled by H&C Stylish Kids Party Packs

 

Photos by Karri Shannon Photography

 



My whole style was to feel like that you were at an airport and that you were looking out a window and out into the air and seeing the hot air balloons in the sky.   The doors I picked up second hand and painted them white so that I could lean them up against the wall and stick material between them.  On the material I bought clouds and hot air balloon decal wall stickers to stick on the material. 
 

 Styled by H&C Stylish Kids Party Packs

Photos by Karri Shannon Photography

 

The inflight menu and the hot spud menu was placed on little easels so that the guests could see what they were having for lunch.  The hot spud stations was an awesome idea.  For the hot spuds I got a fork and poked holes in them and cooked them in the microwave until cooked. I then put them in the oven (not on a tray) to crisp them up.  When we went to the church I just turned the oven off and they were still hot when we came home.  We could serve these straight away.    The rest of the sweets and treats I had little food labels to inform guests what they were eating. 

Printables by Prettiest Print Shop

 

Styled by H&C Stylish Kids Party Packs

 

Photos by Karri Shannon Photography

 

 

I had a baggage claim area where people let their presents and a sing to inform them that if they left more than one present they would incur an excess baggage fee.  I also had a refuel area where drinks were served and a small lolly buffet where guests could fill their own thank you bags with lollies and thankyou chocolates.  

 

 

 

Printables by Prettiest Print Shop

Styled by H&C Stylish Kids Party Packs

 

Photo by Karri Shannon Photography

 

 

 

 

We also had an arrival and departure board announcing the guest’s arrivals and where they were from.  Gate signs with arrows to direct them to the closest gate for arrivals and departures.   All of these printables from the Prettiest Print Shop are available by clicking on the following link

 

Printables by the Prettiest Print Shop

 

Styled by H&C Stylish Kids Party Packs

 

Photos by Karri Shannon Photography

The hot air balloon lanterns I bought and took the original basket off and made tiny blue chevron bunting and glued them around the basket.  I then tied the basket on to the hot air balloon.  I think it made the hot air balloons look more life like.

A huge thank you must go to Karri from Karri Shannon Photography who took the wonderful photos of Henry's Christening and left us with wonderful memories of the day.