We have had seven birthday parties in a row – each weekend another little boy or girl turns 6 and so we have been wrapping quite a few presents.  The sellotape seems to have disappeared and as I am always wrapping at the last minute, we have ended up using duraseal (for covering school books)……I know, bad huh.  Over at Blossom Creations, they have a great range of rice paper tape among many other household goodies from your desk to your kitchen.  This is the tape I would much prefer to use, the patterns are yet another way to personalise your gift.  These cost only AUD$5 a roll or you can purchase in a set.   Go take a look right here.

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Last weekend, I took Mum and Dad up to Matakana Markets outside Auckland so we could eat some great food and enjoy the crisp cool morning outdoors.  While we wandered around, Miss 15mths steered me into the shop Red Letter Day.  No, she is not a stationery nut – she saw a large poster of a camel and wanted to go and say ‘baa’ (like a sheep)…hehe.

Well, I fell head over heels for the Cavallini & Co products, (of which there were many) – among a lot of other lovely writing accessories.  Flora, fauna and geographic notebooks…box sets of divine stamps…flashcards and even decorative wrap – that you just couldn’t use because it’s too beautiful.  You can buy from Red Letter’s website, though really it is worth a drive to Matakana for the food, and the bunch of specialty shops tucked around the market area.

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Now we are living in a place that has a key for about five different doors, the Stat Keys would make it alot easier to tell them apart. There are three styles of keys….one has a graphic engraved on it, the other two are metal cut designs, either round or rectangular. They cost from NZ$13-$19 each and the company ships internationally.

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AT posted a while back about designing and printing on different mediums, and it’s not all that expensive. Often I have wanted to take a great image and put in on a plate, or a handtowel, but never got around to investigating further.  Below is a list of places where you can make it happen…..so what are you waiting for!

1. Spoonflower – design your own fabric
2. Teeny Tile – custom print tiles
3. The Wallpaper Maker – print your own designs on wallpaper
4. Ponoko – laser cut materials like felt, plastic and wood
5. Absorbent, Ink – screen printing onto glasses, coasters and handtowels plus more

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After the bodywash container broke yesterday, I had to find an alternative to store it.  And this is it.  The Penguin Multi-Purpose pump can be used anywhere and for almost anything.  One in the bathroom, the kitchen and laundry will make it look like I had a plan in my interior aesthetics, when in fact it all just fell in my lap!  It has a half litre (500ml) capacity and the best part is the easy view window….(it drives me crazy when they run out and I don’t know about it).  Available in Blue, Green, Red, Black or Nickel, they cost NZ$20 each.  The bad part is the ridiculously crazy overseas shipping prices, and it doesn’t say that they even ship to NZ or Australia, so make sure you have a friend in the US to post them on.

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Always at this time of the year, I go looking for options for heating your home – (in fact as I write, it’s supposed to drop to ZERO degrees tonight) ARGH!

Radiators now are becoming part of your decor and like this option, a piece of art.  This wall hung radiator is called ‘Splash’ and was designed by Chritian Ghion for Runtal.  It has a cool ripple effect across the front and looks fantastic in this bathroom.  Would like the whole ensemble thanks!

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Woohoo! Philips has  just unveiled the 12-watt EnduraLED – the world’s first replacement for the commonly used 60 watt incandescent. It lasts 25 times longer and uses only 20% of the energy of current bulbs. They work with standard dimmers and produce a soft white glow that is similar to the light emitted by incandescent bulbs.

It is expected to be in stores in the USA later this year, so hopefully we should get it soon after.

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I have always liked a rug in my childrens rooms, even though we have always had carpet – Master 6 builds around or on his, and it is comfy when he spends a while playing.  But they are nothing on these cool designs; my favourite would have to be the farm, as Master 6 has played farms since about 2 and a half years old.

The best bit is they cost only AU$190 plus shipping, from Bubba Bling.  I think the price is excellent, considering the clever designs.  They also ship internationally, you just have to email them for a price.

via [Ohdeedoh]

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Oh dear, we have fish!  And a sea snail!  It was not the plan.  Now we have moved back to NZ (yes that’s 4 moves in 17 months) – Master Nearly 6 was desperate for a pet, and how perfect was the timing when a friend needed to give hers away, as her new cats were fishing!

These tanks above are totally cool for a fish, though I am probably guessing they are for the ‘fighting fish’ rather than the common goldfish due to their size.  How hip are these for a kids room, or even your kitchen.  The white ‘Fish Hotel’ is by Teddy Luong and it can stack on top of each other to make an apartment building for fish.  Measuring 7.5″ x 7.5″ x 8″, you can buy it here for US$25 (about NZ$37) plus shipping internationally.

The other called the ‘Retro Room Aquarium’ can be bought here for US$20.  It measures 6″ H x 7″ W x 5″ D, and takes only 1 litre of water.   Happy fish shopping!

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While we are still in temporary accommodation, I did not bring books for bedtime.  And so each night either myself or Mr Bohaute makes up a story for Master 5 & 3/4.  He absolutely loves them and I think they just might be more fun than us reading from a book, as he gets to imagine the story in his mind! I am quite surprised how fun it is, and have started typing them out after I’ve told the story as it’s impromptu all the way.

So I smiled when I came across this great bowl from Ayda Anlagan, the designer of this and other great story bowls. They can be purchased through her website or, here for about AU$29, plus shipping. What a great way to add another story to a child’s world.

via [If it's Hip It's Here]

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Hah, I have found something perfect for a friend who will soon be moving from New York to live in Sydney.  This will be a cool reminder under the fruit – or under the cables, cameras and mobile phones, or perhaps just on it’s own.

The bowls are designed by dutch designer Frederik Roije.  They are scaled city maps of Manhatten and Amsterdam, and cast in Aluminium. The Amsterdam bowl measures 48 x 35 x8cm costs about NZ$394 + shipping.  The Manhatten bowl measures 90 x 23 x 5cm and costs NZ$475 + shipping.  It looked so much cheaper in Euros blast it!

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Sometimes we all like a little music while we’re out and about, and not just through your earphones.  This Card Speaker by IDEA International is no bigger than a credit card and as thick as a pack of chewing gum.

It comes in either black or silver, with a mirror-polished back, and includes a protective carrying case, a 3.5 mm connection plug, and a USB battery charge cable. The speaker has an operating time of approximately five hours on a two-hour charge.  You can buy it right here for NZ$105 and they ship all over, but you need to email them for a shipping price.

[via]

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Grandma use to have her lovely old oak mantle clock above the fireplace.  It told us the time to leave and head back up the road from our piano or crochet lesson.  How times have changed when this is the mantle clock of the ‘noughties’.  The glass dome is such a beautiful touch and makes it easy to dust.  Designed by Cedric Ragot for innermost, you can get it down-under from Top3 starting at AUD$299 for black or white, or $392 for one of the metallic versions.  The gold or pewter versions look more grand than the others don’t you think?

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I bet you thought I had given up on my blog…..no….just busy with the kids.

When browsing home listings, something I notice are cool lights or lamps, and this is one I’ve fallen for.  The Nautilus Light by Rebecca Asquith, is such a reminder of the beach and holidays and the bach….well – perhaps the posh bach. Anyway, they come in two sizes and three colours and you can get them right here.  They start at NZ$460, which isn’t too bad considering some ‘light features’ cost thousands; plus they ship worldwide.

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MMMG (Millimetre, Milligram) is cool, hip Korean stationery that is now available in Australia.  The cut-out cards are playful and remind me of cut-out people we use to make at school.  Notemaker have a large range, so go take a look here – these cards start at only AU$4.95 right now, and shipping is free if your order is over AU$59 or NZ$79.  They also ship worldwide.

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The large wheel clock is cool!  I love a great big clock in the house as it can be seen from a distance and we don’t have to run over to the oven and check the time. The images above show some other cool bike clocks over at Etsy.  The second and third clocks are from 1 By Liz, and the other two by Pixel This.  Both stores have a great range of clocks and they can be shipped worldwide.  Mr Bohaute; being a mountain biker, would probably like one of these in the ‘man cave’.

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Joseph Joseph always has clever ideas for the kitchen and here is their latest range.  Not sure when it will reach NZ but you can get the range now in Australia from the Gifted Store.  I have their nesting bowls that I posted about a while back and they are great to bake with and an awesome way to keep all the baking gear together.

via [Core 77]

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Mum loves owls;  she always notices them in books, on cards or fabric and so I have caught that same bug.  Decoylab has a great range of clocks to choose from, but of course this mod bamboo owl is my choice.  A little soft light mounted just out of sight behind the eyes would also light up a little one’s room as their night light.  They do two sizes – large 10″ x 8″ is NZ$94 and the smaller 5″ x 7″ version is NZ$66, plus only NZ$10 shipping.

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Remember I fell in love with these suspended fire places?  Well, now you can have a portable or hanging Cocoon Chiminea and better yet, you can get them down-under!  Designed by Frederico Otero it is fired by ethanol (meths) in a Strom Burner so there is no mess or clean up.  The flame can be adjusted and the chiminea has the options of being hung; or short, long or angled legs. The bummer is the price is up there at AUD$3950 – wow – but it is rather sexy isn’t it!  Get it from Top3 By Design online, or from the Bondi, Sydney store.

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I would love this clock as I need glasses to see better past three metres!  The large digits are perfect when I am waken by Miss 5mths old in the middle of the night; (so I don’t have to wake up fully to focus on the small alarm clock).

Each number has a self-contained power supply and independant control.  It can be attached to any surface and a light sensor switches the clock to white at night and black in the day.  Each one measures 60mm x 110mm x 10mm.  Now all Vadim Kibardin has to do is find a manufacturer and I will be one of the first to purchase a set.

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