Absolutely Mama December 2020

absolutely-mama.co.uk

SEASONS GREETINGS This special edition of Absolutely Mama is all about making your family Christmas special, even though things might be a little bit different this year. We have the best gifts for babies, kids, mums and dads – many of which are from independent brands.

We also have magical festive décor and tips on how to make your celebrations more eco friendly. Enjoy!

CHRISTMAS GIFTS Presents for all the family • DECK THE HALLS Making Christmas magical • GREEN TIDINGS Celebrating the eco way • LET’S PARTY Festive style for little ones

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mam a WELCOME

MAMA LOVES

KIDS FASHION NOTES

Editor’s

LETTER

I

love the run up to Christmas and all the little rituals that help to get you in the spirit. For me, this year there will be no trip to Liberty’s Christmas Shop to marvel at the decorations under the twinkling fairy lights, no visit to Columbia Road Flower Market to hunt down festive flora and fauna. I’ll be very much relying on the little traditions at home to keep the magic alive instead. With this in mind, this special edition of Absolutely Mama is all about creating the best family Christmas you can, even if you might not be able to celebrate in the same way that you usually would.

Making the house feel magical will be important this festive season, so we asked Coral Atkinson, founder of Velveteen Babies, to share her decorating tips. And at the end of a year that has seen our priorities shift so dramatically, many of us will be thinking about how we can make our celebrations more eco-friendly. For ideas on how you can reuse, recycle and ditch the plastic, read our interview with the founder of Just Maison, Cassie Chung.

Finally, supporting independent businesses is more important than ever right now. If you plan to shop small, check out our brilliant Christmas gift guides, which are full of ideas for all the family, many of which are from mama-run businesses. Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

GIFTS FOR MUMS

DECK THE HALLS

GIFTS FOR KIDS

GREEN FESTIVITIES

C a rly Gl e n di n n i n g E DITOR

@carlyjglendinning carly@zest-media.com

GIFTS FOR DADS

ON THE COVER: @binibamba binibamba.com GIFTS FOR BABIES

A B S O L U T E LY . L O N D O N

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10 things we Absolutely

LOV E The products and brands getting our attention this month

CARRY ME

Snuggly Season

STUDIO ROMEO X BINIBAMBA Studio Romeo and Binibamba have come together to create a snuggly sheepskin liner for the UP & GO Carrier. Equal parts cosy and stylish, the liner comes in a giftready dustbag. Liner €95; studio-romeo.com

GRAY LABE L A festive season spent (mostly) indoors calls for comfy basics.

Gray Label’s minimalist collection is made from the softest organic cotton fleece and the tonal colour palette makes it easy to mix and match. gray-label.com

G E T C O SY

BONNET À P OM PON How adorable are these knitted bloomers from Bonnet à Pompon? A sweet first Chritsmas gift for the littlest ones this festive season. €39.90; bonnetapompon.com

Festive Dressing O RGA N IC ZO O Christmas Day outfits don’t get much cuter than these pieces from Organic Zoo. With no festive motifs in sight, you’ll be able to get wear out of them after the big day as well. organic-zoo.com

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ma m a LOVE S

Let’s Party

G RAC E LOV E S L AC E Wedding dress makers Grace Loves Lace have launched a collection of mini-me designs that work just as well for party season as going down the aisle. Each beautiful piece is made from the off-cuts of wedding gowns. graceloveslace.com

HEY MAMAS

BEYOND N IN E If you’re expecting this festive season, check out the new collection from Beyond Nine. It’s full of easy-to-wear pieces that can be worn during pregnancy and also post-partum. beyondnine.co.uk

BUILD UP

RA DU GA G R EZ A Christmas present that has longlasting appeal, this stacking tower is good for developing motor skills and will also look great on their bedroom shelf. It’s handmade from eco-friendly materials too. £42; moonpicnic.com

LET IT S N OW

Deck the Halls

NOT ON TH E H I G H STR E E T Make their room feel a little bit more festive with this wire sign from Not on the High Street. Just as good for grown-up spaces too. £40; notonthehighstreet.com

M O N KIN D We love the minimalist prints and subtle nod to Christmas in the colour palette at Berlin-based brand Monkind.

Easy-to-wear and perfect for a festive season holed up at home. monkind.com

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Winter Wonderland ARK ET We’re all about festive decorations that you can reuse year after year. This paper tree from ARKET folds down flat, making storage easy. £12; arket.com

A B S O L U T E LY . L O N D O N

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NATURAL FOR BABY Organic • Natural baby & toddler gifts and essentials Currently running as an online only shop, Click and Collect

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mama GIFT

BINIBAMBA Rose Buggy Mittens, £79; binibamba.com

a Mames lov

GUIDE

OBADIAH COFFEE Kenya Blend, £16; cissywears.com

KENKÔ Mother & Baby Body Oil £22; cissywears.com

MERCI MAMAN Personalised Disc Necklace, from £79; mercimamanboutique.com

JEM + BEA Eco Stroller Organiser, £49; jemandbea.com

ME & MAEVE GRACE Christmas Pyjamas, from £26 meandmaevegrace.com

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EYM Mellow Candle, £39; eymnaturals.com

MUM Covet-worthy gifts we're adding to our wishlists

SIX Maternity Underwear, from £35 six-studio.com

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PLANET ORGANIC Motherhood Tee, £36; organic-zoo.com

WONDER & RAH Personalised Gingham Print, from £18; wonderandrah.co.uk

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mama GIFT

THE BRIGHT COMPANY Mens PJ Bottoms, £24; thebrightcompany.uk

GUIDE

DAK COFFEE ROASTERS La Pila Guatemala, £17.50; just.maison

NOT ON THE HIGH STREET Coffee Pot, £24; notonthehighstret.com

DESIGN LETTERS Favourite Cup, £20; royaldesign.co.uk

LOLA JAMES HARPER Candle, £35; cissywears.com

KONOC Keyring, £18.95 scandiborn.co.uk

a Mames v lo

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DAD

or's Editick p URBANEARS Pampas Earphones, £129.99; urbanears.com

Stylish picks for the man in your life

ARKET Chunky Wool Beanie, £35; arket.com OCELOT Eggnog Chocolate, £5; ocelotchocolate.com

MICRALITE DayPak Changing Bag, £65; micralite.com

AESOP Post Poo Drops, £20; aesop.com

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a Mames v lo OEUF NYC Embroidered Crown, £47; oeufnyc.com

WOOD LITTLE Baby Walker, £41; alexandalexa.com

LYNDSEY GRIBBLE Personalised Bauble, £10; wildseacalligraphy.com

POLAR POST Baby’s First Christmas Letter, £20.95; polarpost.co.uk

ECO FRIENDLY

OYOY Rainbow Abacus, £44; oyoylivingdesign.co.uk

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BABIES

HEVEA Made from pure natural rubber and up-cycled rubber wood, this stacker and pull toy will make your mini's footprint a bit greener this Christmas.

Great for hand-eye coordination and motor skills. €40 heveaplanet.com

Adorable presents for baby's first Christmas

HAMPERS BY LAUREN Cashmere Blanket, £489.99; hampersbylauren.com

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NATURAL FOR BABY Rocking Unicorn Carousel, £79.95; naturalforbaby.london

LITTLE DUTCH Playgym, £41.95; scandiborn.co.uk

MIFFY SHOP Miffy Recycled Plush, £21.99; miffyshop.co.uk

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mama GIFT

THE WOODLIFE PROJECT Jigsaw Reindeer Plate, £42.50; thewoodlifeproject.com

GUIDE

5 of the be s t

BY SOFIE Little Hoppa 3-in-1, From £399; bysofieofficial.com

WO ODEN TOYS

1

THE LITTLE GREEN SHEEP Baby Playmat, £29.95; thelittlegreensheep.co.uk

SEBRA Wooden Scooter, £159.95; scandiborn.co.uk

LE TOY VAN Bunny Train, £36; bluealmonds.co.uk

STARRY NIGHT

LE TOY VAN Bunny Train, £36; bluealmonds.co.uk

SNUZ With a clever Nappy Change zip, the cosy SnüzPouch Sleeping Bag helps little ones (and parents!) get better night's sleep. Which is definitely all we want for Christmas this year! From £29.95. snuz.co.uk

LIEWOOD Cuddle Cloths, From €20 each; liewood.com

2 4

3

5

1. Liewood, Wooden Puzzle, £38; themodernnursery.com

2. Kids Concept, Nature Puzzle, £17.90; alexandalexa.com 3. Janod, Stacking Stones, £34; acornandpip.com 4. Sebra, Singing Birds Puzzle, £30.49; trouva.com 5. Little Dutch, Wooden Rainbow, £19.50; scandiborn.co.uk

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MERI MERI Glitter Star Hairband, £15; merimeri.co.uk

PICCA LOU LOU Fairy, £24; mollymeg.com

NOBODINOZ Moon Cushion, £18; themodernnursery.com

LEITH & GRAY Gift Box, £38; leithandgray.co.uk

KONGES SLØJD Food Box, £49.95; sorenshouse.co.uk

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PLAN TOYS Dolls House, £245.95 scandiborn.co.uk

KIDS

JANOD Little Pastry set, £24.99; hellobabydirect.com

Presents to light up little faces on Christmas morning

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DJECO Zig and Go Kit, £24.99; brightminds.co.uk

FLEXA Rose Kitchen, £154.95; scandiborn.co.uk QUARTO Little People, BIG DREAMS: Black Voices, £25; blackwells.co.uk

STOY Kick Bike, £42; alexandalexa.com

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a Mames lov

GUIDE

5 of the be s t

CHRISTMAS PJ'S NOT ON THE HIGHSTREET Kids Play Den Tablecloth, £105; notonthehighstreet.com

1

PLAN TOYS Wooden Drum Set, £250; acornandpip.com

MAILEG Hiker Mouse, £29.95; scandiborn.co.uk

2

3 4

LOLA LOTS OF LOVELY ART Upcycled Christmas Art Box, £27; lotsoflovelyart.org

FABELAB Christmas Stocking, £23; kidly.co.uk

5

1. Melo + Marl X Polar Post, Pyjamas, £55; meloandmarl.com

SEBRA Dolls Pram, £119.95; scandiborn.co.uk

2. The Bright Company, Slim Jyms, £30; thebrightcompany.uk

3. Little Yolke, Leopard Silk Pyjamas, £180; yolke.co.uk 4. MORI, Snoozy Pyjamas, From £32.50; babymori.com 5. Pepa & Co., Boys Classic Striped Pyjamas, £58; pepaandcompany.com

A B S O L U T E LY . L O N D O N

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T H E U LT I M AT E

Festive Gifts The most magical Christmas gift ideas for little ones this festive season...

DISNEY MAGIC IGLOO

G

ive the ultimate gift of Disney with this deluxe, 15-book special edition slipcase set featuring some of Disney and Pixar's most treasured characters.

Pull back the shimmering silver doors to find a magical Disney scene waiting for you within!

Then join Belle, Woody, Olaf, Simba and many more familiar faces in a collection of enchanting tales full of love, friendship and adventure that can be enjoyed over and over again.

This incredible collection is the perfect addition to any child's Disney library.

Slipcase features a magnetic closure and 15 beautifully illustrated storybooks brought together for the first time. £74.85;

Set includes: Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, Tinkerbell and the Secret of the Wings, Lady and the Tramp, The Jungle Book, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Finding Nemo, Toy Story 4, Tangled, The Incredibles 2, Frozen, Cars 3 and Frozen 2. amazon.co.uk

Splish Splash HEV EA

B

ath time is the perfect occasion for children and parents to have fun and play and we are sure that we’ve just found their new best underwater friends. If you want children to have non-toxic fun in the pool or bathtub, you’ve got to meet the adorable HEVEA® Ingolf the whale & Dagmar the turtle. Made from natural rubber, little ones will have hours of fun with this set that can splash water – just like the living animals in the oceans! You can also use them to scoop and pour water again and again and again. €25; heveaplanet.com

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mama CHRISTMAS

MAKING MUSIC THE SCHOOL OF RHYTHM

E

ducational, exhilarating, hip & life changing!

The School of Rhythm Christmas Vouchers are always a winner.

Children and adults of all levels are guided step by step to discover the secrets and intricacies of Drumming. State-ofthe-art music studios - or online - Trinity College and Rock School Grades 1-8.

Est. 2001 in South- East London. This Christmas, offer the Joy of Creation. schoolofrhythm.com

STYLISH STEPS YOUNG SOLES

Y

oung Soles brings British heritage and contemporary styling to children’s shoes, all of their retro-cool footwear stays true to the brand’s ethos of evoking childhood memories.

Acknowledging childhood trends and borrowing from memories, music, or a style movement, Young Soles take inspiration from many sources, but always stays true to their brand by giving them their own magical twist.

Designed in East London and made in Europe using the highest quality materials. With styles that complement a variety of outfits your child will look and feel like the coolest kid in town.

We love them, we think you will too. youngsoles.london

First Christmas F RU G I

F

rugi’s super-soft, GOTS certified organic cotton Buzzy Bee Baby Gift Set is a gorgeous collection of unisex baby essentials presented in a handy drawstring bag. Available for just £25 (worth £37), the long-sleeved babygrow

is fully poppered for easy dressing, has double layered cosy feet to protect tiny toes, and has fold-back scratch mitts to help prevent scrapes. With a sweet bumble bee print on the front, the coordinating short-sleeved body has a clever, easy-toopen envelope neck that can be pulled down over baby's body instead of the head. The matching Buzzy Bee knotted hat is the perfect finishing touch. £25; welovefrugi.com

A B S O L U T E LY . L O N D O N

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mama CHRISTMAS

Dressing Up

TWINKLY TOES

T

T

MAMAS & PAPAS

he Mamas & Papas Christmas clothing range is filled with festive fun for your little one, with cute winter characters and merry prints. Discover everything from special party pieces to adorable Christmas Eve outfits – all designed to be super-snuggly and crafted using soft cotton and toasty knits.

Available at mamasandpapas.com

EARLY DAYS

hey look beautiful – perfect for any occasion and in a myriad of colours to complement any outfit. That’s not the whole story though – whether they are pre-walkers with soft soles or first walkers with a more structured sole, Early Days shoes are wide fitting to allow little toes to wriggle without pinching and they give support where it’s needed to aid those first steps. Traditionally made in the UK since 1952 (the shoe of choice for the young royals), and hand finished, there is no better gift you could give to your baby.

For the full collection, visit earlydays.ltd.uk

PERFECT PRESENTS M A M AS & PA PAS

W

hether it’s watching your little one’s face fill with wonder as they tear open wrapping paper, or finding a way to give something back to someone who was there in an hour of need, Mamas & Papas have Christmas in the bag this year. The Mamas & Papas Christmas gifting range is filled with beautiful toys and festive accessories to make Christmas magical. Discover everything from rocking horses to beautiful keepsakes celebrating your little one’s first Christmas.

Available at mamasandpapas.com A B S O L U T E LY . L O N D O N

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kid s

FA S H I O N NOTES Carly Glendinning rounds up the month’s best styles, looks and launches

LET ’S PA R T Y N E L L I E Q UAT S

we love

Traditional festive style doesn’t get much sweeter than the collection of Liberty-print dresses from Nellie Quats.

The sort of pieces you’ll want to pass down and will be loved for years to come. nelliequats.com

SHINE ON PETIT NORD

These adorable scalloped edged boots are our top footwear pick this Christmas.

Handmade from 100% ecological, vegetable tanned, chrome free and biodegradable leather, the soles are flexible and made from recycled TR rubber. petitnord.com

Sweet Dreams AMIKI CHILDREN

Perfect for the night before Christmas, Amiki Children’s sleepwear collection is so pretty it could be worn as party wear as well. We love the romantic flowing shapes, delicate detailing and luxurious fabrics. amikichildren.com

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mama KIDS

Get Cosy

FASHION

nd Bra us Foc

IL GUFO

Italian brand Il Gufo’s special pieces are perfect for the festive season. Keep little ones cosy in mohair knits, fluffy faux fur coats and don’t forget to check out their occasion wear collection too. ilgufo.com

THE BONNIE MOB Sustainable knitwear for little ones...

L I T T L E S TA R S

K

MIMI & LULA

From hair clips, bows and ponies to fairy wings and capes, Mimi & Lula has a brilliant selection of finishing touches to make their party outfits extra special. This star headband is one of our favourites. mimiandlula.com

5 o f t he b e st D RE S S I N G U P

IL GUFO Dress, £118; ilgufo.com MERI MERI Star Wand, £12; merimeri.co.uk

FUB Jacquard Sweater, €80; fub.dk

YOUNG SOLES Rosie T Bar Shoes, £74; youngsoles.london

ARKET Corduroy Trousers, £25; arket.com

nitwear designer Tracey Samuel learnt her craft alongside the greats, studying with the likes of Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney at Central Saint Martins. After graduating, she spent 10 years at Sonia Rykiel, living between Paris and London before motherhood signalled it was time to settle in one location. After the birth of her daughter Alice-Bee, Samuel was inspired to launch a knitwear brand for little ones that she named Bonnie baby – a nod to her Scottish roots. Her brightly coloured designs quickly gained a cult following and she could name A listers such as Gywneth Paltrow amongst her clientele. The brand became The bonnie mob after expanding to include pieces for little ones up to 7 years. Today, The bonnie mob has stockists around the world, but it has always stayed true to its core values. Samuel believes in letting kids be kids, and her pieces are made to be loved and passed on, with sustainability at the heart of the brand. As joyful and fun as the very first pieces she designed straight out of Sonia Rykiel, the current collection is full of whimsical motifs and happy colour combinations that can’t fail to make you smile.

Samuel has also partnered with Zoë de Pass, aka Dress Like a Mum, on two very cool beanie hat designs for kids and mamas. thebonniemob.com

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01

DECK THE HALLS Coral Atkinson, founder of Velveteen Babies on her family’s Christmas plans...

I n t e r v i e w C A R LY G L E N D I N N I N G

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ma m a DÉCOR

“I've gone for a

white and pastel extravaganza this year ”

C

02

03

oral Atkinson is the founder of children’s interiors brand Velveteen Babies. She lives in Yorkshire with her husband and their three children, Felix, Barney and Willa. Here, she shares her family’s Christmas plans and talks about everything from how she plans to decorate the house, to what’s on Santa’s sleigh.

calendar – I fill the little bags with small treats and chocolates and we take it in turns to do that each day. Ours is from Scandiborn and I’ve got some pretty hair clips from Rockahula for Willa’s days on it.

We all love decorating the tree – ours was from Next although we’ll probably sneak a real one in somewhere too, and I try my best not to be a control freak over it! Every year we add a few new decorations and ours are by Meri Meri and a few Velveteen Babies garlands too! I’ve also got a brilliant Gathre mat from Scandiborn for it to sit on.

Q How do you plan to celebrate Christmas this year and will anything be different during the pandemic?

A We’ll be at home as usual, though normally our house is the hub of the extended family, this year our celebrations will no doubt be smaller than usual, but I’ll try my best to bring as much magic as possible.

Q How will you be decorating the house and your Christmas table?

A I’ve gone for a white and pastel extravaganza this year, non traditional but really magical. I discovered papersnowflake.co.uk last year and filled our kitchen with them, they are amazing!

For the table, more beautiful Meri Meri treasures and festive table favours by PLAYin CHOC, they’ve done a gorgeous Christmas set which the kids will love.

I used to be a VM for a department store and creating the Christmas

Q What are your family’s favourite Christmas traditions and how do you get ready for the festive season?

A Everyone loves their turn at our advent

01 Rockahula, Reindeer Ears, £8; rockahulakids.com | Meri Meri, Wings, £32; merimeri.co.uk | Velveteen Babies, Garland, £37; velveteenbabies.co.uk | Paper Snowflake, 3D Tree, £4.95; papersnowflake.co.uk 02 Meri Meri, Crown, £12.50; merimeri.co.uk | Meri Meri, Wings, £32; merimeri.co.uk | Meri Meri, Angel Toy, £45; merimeri.co.uk | Meri Meri, selection of tree decorations, from £12 each; merimeri.co.uk | Velveteen Babies, Garland, £40; velveteenbabies.co.uk | Next, Christmas Tree, £50; next.co.uk 03 Paper Snowflake, 3D Tree, £4.95; papersnowflake.co.uk | Meri Meri, Plates, from £8.25; merimeri.co.uk | Meri Meri, Fringe Crackers, £23; merimeri. co.uk | Meri Meri, Reindeer Crackers, £23; merimeri.co.uk | Meri Meri, Star Spool, £10; merimeri.co.uk | Meri Meri, Cups, £5; merimeri.co.uk | Meri Meri, Napkins, £4.50; merimeri. co.uk | Lights4Fun, Star Lights, £14.99; lights4fun.co.uk | Gathre, Mat, £79.95; scandiborn.co.uk

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23/11/2020 16:26

ma m a DÉCOR

“We stay fairly

traditional, but I do insist on extra pigs in blankets” windows was always the highlight of my year – hanging beautiful lighting reminds me of that time and I always go to Lights4fun online for all that twinkles.

Q What is Santa bringing on his sleigh this year?

A Willa has a dreamy doll’s pram and Maileg mice from Scandiborn at the ready, I’m already excited to see her face when she opens them! I love Scandiborn for all the kids, it’s always my go-to for gifts for them.

Willa loves little trinkets and accessories so I have some lovely hair accessories from Rockahula for her stocking and her Angel doll from Meri Meri will enjoy a ride in the new pram, and she’ll be sashaying about in her wings all day no doubt too.

04 05 04 Velveteen Babies, Garland, £37 | The Bright Company, Slim Jyms Pyjamas, £30; thebrightcompany.uk | Meri Meri, Angel Toy, £45; merimeri.co.uk | Lights4Fun, Star Light Bundle, £26.99; lights4fun.co.uk | OYOY Living Design, Butterfly Wings, £57; oyoylivingdesign.co.uk 05 Rockahula, Reindeer Ears, £8; rockahulakids.com | Cam Cam Copenhagen, Advent Calendar, £45.95; scandiborn. com | Meri Meri, Crown, £12.50; merimeri.co.uk | Meri Meri, Wings, £32; merimeri.co.uk | The Middle Daughter, Dress, £65; themiddledaughter.co.uk | PLAYin Choc, ToyChoc Box Christmas Set, £17.50; playinchoc. com | Lights4Fun, Star Lights, £14.99; lights4fun.co.uk

Q Who’s in charge of cooking lunch and what will you be eating?

A I’m in charge but quite enjoy the challenge, and I like being near to the fridge for a festive tipple to get me through. We stay fairly traditional but I do insist on extra pigs in blankets and I’m never without Yorkshire puddings on Christmas day!

Q Christmas PJ’s or party outfits?

A My kids would live in PJ’s given the opportunity, so Christmas PJ’s all the way.

The Bright Company is always my go-to and this year I’ve gone for the beautiful moon design. They last forever and are the best quality. Willa has got some beautiful dresses from The Middle Daughter and Smock London so she’ll have plenty of opportunities for a few outfit changes!!

Q And finally, favourite Christmas indulgence?

A A large glass of Baileys on ice as soon as the children are fast asleep in bed!

C O R A L AT K I N S O N Founder of children's interiors brand Velveteen Babies and mama-of-three @velveteen_babies, @coral.atkinson

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Green

T I D I N G S

Cassie Chung, founder of Just Maison and mama of three on how to make this Christmas more eco friendly...

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assie Chung lives in Wales with her husband Jason and their three children, Lyssia, Emmy and Mio. She is the founder of interiors lifestyle store Just Maison. Here, she tells us how she will be making this festive season more eco-friendly and shares her tips.

Ditching the Plastic

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The last few years I’ve tried to make a conscious effort to choose our presents carefully and have made the choice to buy less plastic toys. Choosing wooden toys for the play kitchen over plastic toys and spending that little bit more on wooden

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Cassie Chung with her three children

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“Most small stores have a range of

sustainable and eco friendly products” items means that toys will last and can be handed down through the siblings. We have wooden play food that Mio now plays with, that the girls had when they were young.

We find most of ours through independent stores on Instagram, or Etsy is another good platform to find sustainable toys and independent makers. Over the years I have filled their Christmas stockings with little bits like, wooden yoyos or spinning tops.

These gifts are either still being played with or are sitting on shelves in their rooms, displayed with their other keepsake items.

Shopping Independent I’ve always supported my local small businesses and after joining Instagram eight years ago, I realised that there was

a world of other shops out there. Most of our gifts, cards and wrapping are from small shops or even a gift voucher for those tricky family members or teachers at the end of term. You will find that most small stores have a range of sustainable and eco friendly products too. I always make it my mission every year to find the most unusual or quirky gifts for family, and independent shops never disappoint.

Recycling Paper & Cards Nothing goes to waste in our house, any tags that have been left aside will get reused. Emmy loves crafting so any twine that is given is used again, we’ve also used old wrapping paper to decorate shoe box houses for toys or to

01 Moon Picnic, Weather Station, £48; scoutandcokids.com 02 Earl of East, Smoke & Musk Gift Set, £40; earlofeast.com 03 Just Maison, Grey Stocking, £22; just.maison | Dak Coffee Roasters, El Mirador, £18; just. maison | Nordal, Coffee Clip and Spoon, £8; just.maison | House Doctor, Mugs, £8 each; just. maison | Broste Copenhagen, Star, £35; just.maison 04 Cassie Chung with her three children 05 Spirited Away, Pencil Set, £13.99; scoutandcokids.com | My Neighbour Totoru, Sketch Book, £17.99 | scoutandcokids. com | Just Maison, Grey Stocking, £22; just.maison

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Independent Pre-Prep & Pre-School 2–7 Years Early Childhood Education Co-Ed Founded 1976 Member ISA

‘Foodie’ Chef for Kindergarten children Required from early 2021

Our caterers Wilson Vale have recently started recruiting a high calibre chef for our new Kindergarten site who is likely to be: • a consummate, creative ‘foodie’ who takes pride in preparing fresh, seasonal and varied lunches tailored to 2 and 3 year old children in a brand new, well equipped kitchen; • passionate about shaping the tastes of young children, evolving their preferences from ‘brown food’ to a healthy, balanced and plant-rich diet; • a bit of a gardener, who can at least tend to growing herbs with the children and preferably also some vegetables and berries to be used in the kitchen, and help with composting.

Herne Hill School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share that commitment.

To register your interest, please email reception@hernehillschool.co.uk or visit the vacancies page on our website.

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www.hernehillschool.co.uk 020 7274 6336 127 & 99 Herne Hill, London SE24 9LY

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06 Meri Meri, Chandelier, £32; merimeri.co.uk | Nobodinoz, Bowling Set, £39.95; scandiborn. co.uk | Moon Picnic, Weather Station, £48; scoutandcokids.com | Spirited Away, Pencil Set, £13.99; scoutandcokids.com | My Neighbour Totoru, Sketch Book, £17.99 | scoutandcokids.com | Plan Toys, Timber Tumble, £26.95; scandiborn. co.uk | Meri Meri, Foliage Garland, £12; merimeri.co.uk | Just Maison, Grey Stocking, £22; just.maison 07 Broste Copenhagen, Decorations Set, £18 ; Just. maison | Plan Toys, Timber Tumble, £26.95; scandiborn.co.uk 08 Broste Copenhagen, Star, £35; just.maison | Dak Coffee Roasters, El Mirador, £18; just.maison | Anne Marie Peters, Mug, £23; just.maison | Just Maison, Gift Tags, £4; just. maison | OYOY Living Design, Jug, £33; oyoylivingdesign.co.uk | OYOY Living Design, Trivet, £16; oyoylivingdesign.co.uk

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cover notebooks and school books in the new year. We also use washi tape to wrap presents to reduce the amount of plastic tape that we use. Even making our wreath, we head out and forage what we can from our local walks in the countryside.

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Investing in Christmas Items Christmas is such an expensive time of year but I can never resist adding a little something to our decorations collection.

The girls have had their Ferm Living Christmas stockings for years and once Mio was born, he had his stocking to hang up too. Some of the decorations on our tree we’ve had for around nine years and almost every single one we have has been bought from an independant store. There

“Some of the

decorations on our tree we've had for around nine years” are so many advent calendars that you can also buy to reuse. I usually pop in some chocolate coins or some stationary into ours and it gets whipped out year after year.

This year has been a strange one for us all and this Christmas will be very different to the ones that we are all used to. For us as a family we are focusing on making the day as special as possible for the children. Plenty of decorations, films, fire and lots of food.

There are a few local small stores that I visit throughout the year and Christmas will be no different. Now that I have my own store I understand more than ever how important it is to buy small and support where you can.

CASSIE CHUNG

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Cassie Chung is the founder of interiors lifestyle store Just Maison. @casschung • just.maison A B S O L U T E LY . L O N D O N

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“They say you learn what an organisation is made of during a crisis: COVID demonstrated just how outstanding SJWPP is.”

Mr K for his Nursery son.

“Their rapid integration and use of video conferencing applications during lockdown, across one-on-one, small group and school-wide formats – put many large corporations, let alone o ther private schools, to shame.”

Mr G for his Nursery son.

Est. 1982 w: t: e:

www.sjwpre-prep.org.uk 0207 722 7149 info@sjwpre-prep.org.uk

RAVENSCOURT PARK

preparatory school

An Independent School for Boys and Girls aged 4-11 Quality of Pupils’ Achievement and Learning - “Excellent” Quality of Teaching - “Excellent”

Quality of Extra-curricular Provision - “Excellent” Quality of Pastoral Care - “Excellent”

Quality of Links with Parents - “Excellent”

Quality of Pupils’ Personal Development – “Excellent” ‘’The curriculum is excellent for all ages and abilities, and is expertly matched to meet the needs of the range of pupils in the school.’’

Independent Schools Inspectorate Report - March 2016

Open Mornings Open Mornings

9.15am Tuesday 14th November To book your place on an open morning,

9.15am Thursday 9th May 2019 please go to www.rpps.co.uk/openmornings 9.15am Thursday 18th January 2018 9.15am Tuesday 11th June 2019 or phone 020 8846 9153

9.15am Thursday 1st February 2018

To your place on an open morning, pleasemornings, go to To book register your attendance at one of our open rpps.co.uk/admissions phone 020secretary@rpps.co.uk 8846 9153 please phone 0208 846 or 9153 or mail

Ravenscourt Park Prep School 16 Ravenscourt Avenue, London W6 0SL

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TRIED & TESTED

IN DEPTH REVIEWS OF THE LATEST PARENTING KIT

mama REVIEWS

The Bike Club R e v i e w e d b y J E S S S H A LT O U T

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Stokke Tripp Trapp Re vie w e d b y M I M I N E W B E R RY

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niversally regarded as one of the most stylish high chairs, I’ll confess that one of the first things that drew us to the Stokke Tripp Trapp was the fact that it would look nice with our HAY dining furniture.

But the minimalist Scandi design is definitely not the only reason why this classic piece of parenting kit is so popular. Setting up our Tripp Trapp took a bit of time, but once you’ve assembled it, this chair is designed to last your child for life. We got the newborn set, which enables our daughter to sit at table height with us and be ‘part’ of our mealtimes.

Once you’re out of the newborn stage, the Tripp Trapp can be used with the Baby Set. You can either sit your little one at the table or fit the Stokke Tray. An additional harness makes

the Tripp Trapp extra safe and you can adjust the height of the step and the seat as your child grows, so it really is worth the investment.  Join Stokke’s free weaning workshop with leading baby and child nutritionist Charlotte Stirling Reed on 8th December, eventbrite. com/e/stokke-tripp-trapp-tourhome-tickets-128128747533. Tripp Trapp from £178, stokke.com

s a parent I am very aware of the environmental impact we as a family make and try to make conscious decisions. I am also aware of how quickly my children either get bored of toys or grow out of them, so when I found out about The Bike Club I knew it was something I wanted to get involved with. Marketed as ‘The affordable, sustainable and fully flexible way to get your family cycling’ it does exactly what it says on the tin. You sign up and choose your bike – they vary in price from £5 to £20 per month. Then when your child outgrows it, you simply swap it for another. What’s more, you can send them your old bikes which they pay you for and renovate. You can also buy the bike you are renting, should you want to. In terms of quality, you can order a new bike or a refurbished one, but all bikes are from reputable suppliers and are strong but more importantly lightweight so your child is not put off by a heavy bike. The website is very user-friendly and the follow-up emails hold your hand through the entire process. This is a great concept – let’s hope more follow suit. Plus if you book before Christmas, you will get 50% off your first 3 months!  Subscriptions start from £5 per month and you can cancel at any time. thebikeclub.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY . L O N D O N

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KEW GREEN preparatory school

An Independent School for Boys and Girls aged 4-11 Quality of Pupils’ Achievement and Learning - “Excellent” Quality of Teaching - “Excellent”

Quality of Extra-curricular Provision - “Excellent” Quality of Pastoral Care - “Excellent”

Quality of Links with Parents - “Excellent”

Quality of Pupils’ Personal Development – “Excellent” “Pupils of all ages benefit from a rich and exciting curriculum.”

Independent Schools Inspectorate Report - July 2015

To book your place on an open morning, please go to www.kgps.co.uk/openmornings or phone 020 8948 5999

Kew Green Preparatory School

Layton House, Ferry Lane, Kew Green, Richmond TW9 3AF

www.kgps.co.uk KGPS.indd 1

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mam a

TOT GEAR

ON THE M OVE BUGABOO

Bugaboo has launched the new Bee 6, a compact city stroller. Features we love include the one hand fold, comfortable seat fabric and larger puncture-proof wheels. From £599; bugaboo.com

TOT GEAR

Inspired kit to make parenting easier

GET COMFY FLEXARS

An essential for expecting mamas, Flexars’ clever leggings are made without elastic, buttons or zips – so there’s nothing to dig into your bump. They adapt to your body and won’t sag or fall down throughout the day. Genius! £59.99; flexars.com

CITY STROLLING JOOLZ

Sleek and stylish, the new Joolz Hub+ has rear LED lights to make strolling safe now the nights are drawing in. It also folds down to a compact size and has a simple shoulder strap – making it a great choice for city living. From £569; joolz.com

ent parroved app

SILVER CROSS WAYFARER 2020 Parenting kit we’re coveting right now....

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ilver Cross has updated their best-selling Wayfarer travel system with a luxurious new look. The latest design features a polished chrome chassis, classic quilted fabric and coordinating leatherette detailing. It’s also lighter than the previous model.

What we love most about it is that it combines timeless Silver Cross styling with all the functionality needed for city living. It’s effortless to maneuver on pavements and up kerbs, and the quick compact fold makes it easy to store and also travel with. It also has a roomy shopping basket (a huge tick for us!) and a multi-recline seat (suitable up to 22g) that can be used in either parent-facing or forward-facing mode. For summer, the hood offers UPF50 protection, with a useful pop-out sun peak. Clever new ‘elevate’ adapters (sold separately) make it possible to raise the height of the carrycot or seat by 9cm. This not only brings baby closer to you, but also gives you easier access to the shopping basket.

And if you’re expecting? The carrycot is really comfortable for newborns as it’s lined in a naturally antibacterial bamboo fabric that helps to regulate temperature.

It’s also compatible with Silver Cross’s Dream and Simplicity Plus infant carriers, which are great for getting out and about with the car or for family holidays. £695

silvercrossbaby.com

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DISCOVERMORE

Open Days

Embracing an innovative, modern approach whilst keeping traditional values at its core, Kew House School takes an exciting stance on 21st century education. th November 1st/7 (9.30am/care, 9.30am) With state-of-the-art facilities, a broad curriculum and excellent pastoral st Kew House is a place where you would want to be – a place November 15thof /21learning (7.00pm/ 9.30am) and discovery, laughter and friendship.

November 29th (9.30am) please go to the website for open event dates and to book your place: kewhouseschool.com/openevents T: 0208 742 2038 E: info@kewhouseschool.com W: www.kewhouseschool.com An independent co-educational senior school for students aged 11-18 in West London

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@kewhouseschool

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