ShopHouse Blog

Penny Scallan Sale - grab a bargain - 5 days only - all designs reduced - totes - small backpacks - wheelie bags - baby smocks - raincoats

2008-11-20T19:33:00.003+11:00

Hurry! Massive Penny Scallan Sale - on now - 5 days only. Must end midnight 25 November. Up to 55% off across entire range. Here's a selection of what's on offer, but be quick cause the stock is literally running out the door!

Penny Scallan Small Totes in Daisy and Boy Stripe $39.95 (usually $49.95). Strawberry and Pink Stripe designs also available and on sale now! Perfect use as a handbag/nappy bag - upgrade in style. Great look with Summer outfits, get ready for holidays!

Mini Bags just $9.95 (usually $14.95) Strawberry and Daisy designs available - make brilliant stocking fillers for little girls. Plenty more available - click here for more Penny Scallan.

ShopHouse gifts for Christmas - The Master Plan Diary by Milestone Press - treat yourself and get organised at the same time!

2008-11-09T21:41:00.004+11:00

THE MOST GORGEOUS diaries have just landed at the House. We were so excited to become a stockist of the Milestone Press range of books.

Check out these fantastic diaries – aptly named ‘The Master Plan’. These diaries are seriously sensational with a space for everything that the busy family needs – keep the Master Plan as your absolute organizational key to keeping ‘it all together’. Available online at ShopHouse for only $34.95. Treat yourself to an early Chrissy present, curl up in your favourite sunny spot with a cuppa, your favourite pen and get organizing with your new diary. What a brilliant way to start the year!

Here are some notes from the divine authors, Annabel and Fiona: “The Blackberry/Outlook combination was failing to cut it. It just didn’t like that my husband would take Ben to Auskick on Saturday morning then straight onto Hunter’s birthday party. It narrowed into nothingness that I was taking the girls to swimming, then we had to pick up Phoebe who was coming over for a play. Then my husband was coming home and I was going to the beautician.

I…needed….to…see…everything AT A GLANCE!! And not on my computer, not on the wall at home, but in my handbag, or by the phone. Annabel insisted we have space for birthdays so she could finally become organized with sending out gifts and cards. Fiona insisted on having space for dinner so she could finally start menu planning. And when she never got around to menu planning, she could flip back a couple of weeks for inspiration. We must have a repertoire of 30 things, but why can I never think of anything??”

Oobi - kids clothing - perfect outfits for the party season!

2008-10-31T11:27:00.001+11:00

Thank you to one of our lovely customers, Danielle, for sending in these glorious photos of her daughters. The girls are featured in Oobi Baby Summer 08/09 collection and don’t they look just divine. Oobi Baby Party Dress, Lulu Can-Can Skirt and Rosette Singlet. Looks like it was a wonderful party!

Cocoon Couture - Christmas Sacks - ShopHouse Members Update - Christmas Sacks have arrived!

2008-10-28T12:45:00.002+11:00

Click here to visit now and explore our gorgeous Cocoon Couture Christmas Sacks, available in 7 unique designs.

If you have any questions please email us info@shophouse.com.au or call our customer service number at 02 9011 6744. Looking forward to seeing you online at the House.

With love from the ShopHouse team.

www.shophouse.com.au

Cocoon Couture - enchanted tree - winner of Home Beautiful award - best christmas present

2008-10-25T14:19:00.003+11:00

We just love our very gorgeous Cocoon Couture range at ShopHouse. But for me, the pick of the bunch is the amazing Enchanted Tree. Standing at approximately 1 metre high, the Enchanted Tree makes the perfect addition to a whimsical bedroom or a funfilled playroom. Hang treasure from the leaves or simply sit under it on a comfy cushion with a good picture book. What a great way to create a quiet reading space in your home!

I think the Cocoon Couture Enchanted Tree makes the perfect Christmas present, and to help you get organised with your presents, ShopHouse is offering free delivery on all Enchanted Trees until December 20, 2008. I'm not the only person who is literally in awe over this wonderful piece - check out below award for "Home Beautiful Product of the Year".

Kids eating vegetables - allergies - eczema - food intolerances in children

2008-10-06T18:04:00.004+11:00

We often get readers sending in articles that they have written about various parenting topics. The best get shared - below is well worth a read, especially if you have a child who you suspect has an allergy.

When you DON’T want the kids to eat their veggies - written by Melanie Hughes

Before and After Images

As I served up a meal of fried lamb, steamed carrots, peas and broccoli the other night I had to chuckle as my 3 year old daughter exclaimed “yum broccoli, thanks Mum”. It’s not what you think, she is no poster child for veggie eating. She is instead a child who exists on a modified diet. Seeing a bit of broccoli on her plate was not a disaster in her mind, it was a tremendous treat because she is only allowed to eat very few fruits and vegetables.

It all started with her younger sister, baby number two who woke regularly 8-9 times a night, hysterical and often inconsolable. Each morning I would find her skin red and often bleeding in her cot, having scratched herself like a madwoman through the night. Early on I took my poor little mite to see my GP who diagnosed eczema and prescribed Cortisone cream which I applied religiously. I changed the washing powder I used, the soap I bathed her in, the lotions and creams I moisturized her skin with or used to treat nappy rash. Despite all the effort lots of areas on her skin were regularly red raw, inflamed and itchy, no matter what I did. The problem soon got so bad I had to sew up the sleeves on her clothing and sleeping bags and had to watch her like a hawk throughout the day to stop her hurting herself. Several trips back to the GP produced the same diagnosis and prescription. The baby’s older sister had suffered with red itchy skin for sometime too but nothing like this. Cortizone cream prescribed for her too did little to help her either, but it was all I had.

Finally as I was plumbing the depths of despair a friend mentioned that her cousin had three kids with similar problems. She said the cause of their red skin and eczema had turned out to be food. Skeptical but desperate I made an appointment with an allergy clinic.

By the time my appointment came around both my children were in a bad way. My then 2½ yr old had developed large red itchy patches behind her knees and on many other areas of her body and was often in pain with it. The baby continued to scratch herself at any opportunity because her skin was so itchy and cried constantly with the discomfort.

At the allergy clinic both girls were tested for food allergies. The older one came back with a no allergy result, whilst the baby showed evidence of a milk allergy. The clinic explained that it was very common for food to aggravate eczema and other conditions including behavior amongst the children they see. They suspected a food intolerance may very well be at the bottom of the severe eczema the baby had and also the cause of her self mutilation habits and sleep problems. Her older sister was also suspected to have a food intolerance.

It turns out that a food intolerance (a non allergic reaction to a food) is very common. To find out if my kids had a food intolerance the allergy clinic recommended a food challenge. This entailed going on a limited diet of low allergy foods for a short time to see if the eczema calmed down. That meant I had to go on the diet too (as my baby was then 7 months and fully breastfed and getting what I ate through the breast milk) along with my older daughter. For what seemed like an eternity (and was actually only 3 weeks or so) we ate bland foods such as, preservative-free bread, pasta and rice with bland vegetables like cabbage and choko with no herbs, oils or sauces to flavour them. It was tough to say the least but what happened next was life-changing for us all.

Two weeks after cutting out everything coloured, flavoured, processed and with high natural chemical content, the baby’s skin began to calm and her sleeping started to improve. Her sisters skin, that had shown constant irritation and caused her a great deal of pain was clear of eczema and normal for the first time in months. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I kept a food diary of everything that went in our mouths and the result of this if any on their skin and general disposition.

Back at the clinic, after pawing over the food diary in intricate detail, the diagnosis by the professionals was that it looked like both girls had an intolerance to salicylates. Yes, I know what you are going to say next “what are salicylates? I had no idea either. Salicylates are natural chemicals that occur in most fruit and vegetables and are not harmful at all to the general population. Some people can tolerate large amounts in their diets, my daughters unfortunately can’t tolerate much. They eat fruit and vegetables in small quantities unless they are bland tasting ones like potato and cabbage.

You may think, if you have read this far that it sounds like a nightmare to modify your whole diet. Well, truth is it is not easy but the life of my entire family has changed for the better just by altering what we eat and the trouble has been entirely worth it. My kids are now happy, healthy, almost eczema free and sleeping through the night. I am a much nicer person to be around too, not the crabby, snappy, frustrated, tired wreck I used to be.

There is lots to know. Apparently kids with food intolerances often grow out of them in time and the good news is that a food intolerance is not as life-threatening as an allergy can be. It’s also good to know that changing diet can alter behaviour, skin problems, headaches, bloating and lots of other problems in children. That in itself is empowering for parents and good news because none of us like having to give kids medicine if we don’t have to. When you think of it like that, changing food is no big deal really. I recommend for those wanting to know more that you talk to your GP about your concerns. Most allergy clinics need a referral from you doctor first before you can see them. You might also like to read the book by dietician Sue Dengate “Fed Up with Food” and the “Failsafe Cookbook” or to visit her website http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/ where you can find lots of information.
In the meantime it’s “no veggies please” for my two, that is of course unless they are on my special list!

Oobi on it's way - Oobi Baby Summer 08/09 collection in store shortly

2008-09-20T21:58:00.003+10:00

We had a mini photo shoot on Thursday and had the perfect sunny weather for it! It was a great way to spend the morning, sipping on take-away coffees and getting some awesome shots for our Summer Oobi range. We're very excited at ShopHouse as the Oobi Summer 08/09 range is only days away from landing. We are literally counting down the hours! If you haven't already done so, jump online to www.shophouse.com.au to preorder your Oobi outfits now. Stocks are limited. We'll be busy bees packing all of your orders over the next week to get your fine Oobi outfits out just in time for the warm weather. Oolala - bring on Summer! The above image 'Oobi Dancers' features our Strawberry Shortcake Shoulder Tie Dress ($29.95).

Penny Scallan Wheelie Bags, Bags for the little traveller, school holidays, travel with kids

2008-09-11T22:38:00.002+10:00

We're getting ready for school holidays and have got the perfect set of suitcases for the little 'uns.

Check out our new Penny Scallan Wheelie Bags - a great way to get the kids involved with getting ready - use the bag to pack their clothes, favourite toys and some books. You could even pack a little suprise for them to be opened 'on arrival'. These little beauties sell for $49.95 and you can get yours the very next day cause we'll ship it using Express Post.

Just imagine how swish the family will look rolling through the airport! (droool!).

Adiri Natural Feeder, feeding bottles, slow flow, medium flow, fast flow, bottle fed babies, breast is best

2008-09-10T23:29:00.004+10:00

There is a new bottle on the market that is simply the best thing we have ever seen over here at the House. The Adiri Natural Nurser has won the 2008 Medical Design Excellence award and is truly a wonder to behold! Go ahead and check it out here: http://http//store.shophouse.com.au/cat/2042595.html

Designed with the help of doctors, mums and lactation consultants, the Adiri Natural Nurser is the Ultimate Baby Bottle. With reduced air ingestion, unparalleled ease of use, a graceful design and 100% polycarbonate-free materials, the Adiri Natural Nurser is a safer, simpler, more natural feeling bottle feeding experience for babies, and for mums.
A sleek cover protects the bottle from getting dirty and keeps the teat from leaking during trasport. Each stage holds 236 mL of fluid and is dishwasher safe! Each bottle is approximaitely 15 cm tall and 6.5cm diameter. Adiri Natural Nursers mimic breastfeeding like no other bottle.

ShopHouse Summer Collection - in store now - Oobi, Yunginz, Mill and Mia, Purebaby, and the little dog laughed, Cuddlefish, Baobab

2008-09-02T22:06:00.003+10:00

Little Boy Blue in Oobi Dinosaur Egg Hat with Oobi Egg Singlet

2008-08-23T22:44:00.007+10:00

As our Summer Oobi-ness starts to spread throughout ShopHouse, customers have started to send in photos of their glorious bubs in Oobi duds! Check out our most recent little ShopHouse star – dressed in Oobi Dinosaur Egg Hat with Egg singlet and matching pants. Very, very yummy!

Oobi Summer Collection on it's way

2008-08-10T17:49:00.006+10:00

We're getting very excited over here at ShopHouse as we wait in anticipation for the arrival of Oobi Baby Summer 08/09 stock. Here are a few special images straight from Oobi headquarters, for your viewing pleasure! (oh, and if you think you can't wait, or just want to get in early, we'll be accepting preorders shortly as we start adding new pieces to our online shop! Click here to take a look!).

ShopHouse Update - We've had a make-over!

2008-08-01T14:17:00.001+10:00

Click here to visit now and explore our new, easy-to-use website. While you're there, check out our gorgeous new range of children's clothing - And the Little Dog Laughed - exclusive to ShopHouse.

p.s. Oobi Summer 09 collection coming very soon xxx

www.shophouse.com.au

Oobi - Summer 09 Sneak Peak

2008-07-16T15:42:00.004+10:00

Oobi Baby have organised a sneak peak of their fabulous Summer 09 collection. Start planning outfits now! ShopHouse will have Oobi Summer 09 collection in store Aug/Sept and we can hardly wait.

Head on over to Oobi to get a good look. The sneak peak includes the Bridgette Floppy Sunhat, Lu-Lu Can-Can Skirt and our favourite, the Marilyn Dress. Enjoy!

Free Express Post Delivery at ShopHouse for 3 more days!

2008-06-27T21:51:00.004+10:00

There are only 3 days remaining for our Free Express Post Delivery at ShopHouse. Hurry and grab a bargain before the end of June to get this special offer.
Winter Clothing is on sale at up to 25% discount. Labels on sale include Baobab, Mill & Mia, Mondays Child Pyjamas and Penny Scallan Raincoats.

The ShopHouse free Express Post offer as been extremely popular and stock is flying off the warehouse shelves. So hurry and visit us online before the end of June.