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Converse All Star Ox Junior
by spiritwood
My daughter is currently growing like a weed. Just when I have kitted her out for what I assume will be a season, she shoots up and nothing seems to fit again. Annoying and expensive. We shop all over the place but predominantly online for convenience, and these Converse trainers were one of my online bargains.
Converse All ... Stars are probably one of the most well known casual shoes out there. The Ox version here has a low cut profile, and an easy lace fastening which make wearing these a doddle for an active child. I managed to grab the most amazing purple coloured pair on Ebay for just £12.
If purple is not your thing then there are a whole rainbow of colours to choose from, and if they were not so expensive I think we would grab lots of them. These are a classic design and are well made which means that they are very hard wearing. Converse are also very comfortable to wear. These mini converse are like a pair of adult ones put into a shrinking machine, they share the same styling and detailing in exact replica.
The Ox junior's are great for teaching a child to learn how to do up their laces, but if they are too young for this then the shoes are quick to do up and stay securely knotted with the non slip laces. I usually double knot them to be sure. The whole shoe including laces can be washed when muddy, which keeps them looking smart. The beauty of Converse All Stars is that they go with anything, even floaty skirts. They are the perfect easy wear shoe for kids and have the added bonus of looking great.
The trainers have a chunky rubber sole which is textured on the reverse. The rims and label on the back are heat glued and do not shift even after a few rounds in a washing machine. The underside is a natural rubber colour which Converse call "Toffee bottomed"....
The shoe itself is a type of canvas. the outside of which feels quite rough under the fingers. The colour is even throughout and the particular shade of purple that we chose is a really gorgeous violet colour. The fabric is thick and far from flimsy and the stitching detail has stayed true. These shoes dry out fast when wet and keep their shape.
The toe cap is made from white rubber to match the sides. The "racing stripe" is black and this finishes and defines the shoe style. Along the canvas you will see small and even stitches in a strong white yarn, which again provide a great contrast with the range of beautiful colours available. There are labels on the shoe including the famous star logo on the tongue and the little rubber label on the back.
WEAR AND TEAR:
Climbing trees, riding scooters and horses, on the beach, in the sea, muddy puddles and rivers - these are just some of the places that my daughter's Converse trainers have been and survived. When they have become really filthy they are rinsed off and then chucked in the washing machine at 30 degrees, otherwise a wet cloth is enough to smarten them up. No matter what, these shoes do not smell or get stuffy. They are created to be very user friendly and easy to wear. Ours now have some light scuffing to the front rubber toe cap area, but that is what happens when you trail your toes off of a scooter on tarmac. The quality of these shoes is such that when my daughter outgrows them, we will be able to get our money back on Ebay. These are always in high demand so can be sold on easily.
COMFY FACTOR:
10/10 for comfort for these shoes. With or without socks, damp or dry, my daughter has never had a blister from these despite running about on sand and in mud. They are firm enough to protect young feet without being cumbersome, and the large area of lacing on the top means that it is easy to adjust them to various foot widths and arch heights. The thick rubber sole helps the feet when my daughter is bouncing and jumping off of walls/trees etc and provide some form of shockproof cushioning for her soles.
FEATURES (IN A NUTSHELL)
* Chuck Taylor All Star Ox plimsolls by Converse
* Lace-up design with "easy lace" design
* Toffee bottomed rubber sole
* Branded logo to the tongue and heel
* Washable
* Textile upper
PRICE:
These are available from many online stores including Amazon. Of course you may be able to grab an Ebay bargain like we did. These seem to start at around £30 new. Converse do a whole range from toddler up to adult so it is worth shopping around to get the best deal.
SUMMARY:
These are fab little everyday trainers that pretty much go with everything. They are hard wearing and comfortable, and come in a whole range of bright colours to suit every taste.
http://www.converse.co.uk
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Asda George Disney Tigger Stripe Top
by NUDUL
I bought this for my son in size 6-9 months as I am Tigger mad. I love the turquoise colour and the striped effect. The t-shirt is made from 100% cotton, and has an orange embroidered Tigger face on the front and an embroidered 'Tigger' label on the left sleeve. The collar and cuffs of the sleeve are ribbed in the turquoise colour ... used in the stripes and there are two contrasting orange buttons on the collar to make pulling it over a babies head easier (although they can be fiddly to fasten back up - especially if you have a little one that won't stay still).
The t-shirt is from Asda, costs £3.50 and is available in store or on the website. The t-shirt comes in a range of sizes from First size up to 12-18 months. It can be machine washed, tumble dried and ironed without any issues. I have washed using stain remover as well and had no issues with colours running or fading and had no issues with shrinkage either.
I would recommend this t-shirt, it goes well with trousers, joggers or jeans and wares well.
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Mothercare Baby Bodysuits
by scooch12
When our daughter was born, we received lots of gorgeous dresses and outfits but she would never settle unless she had a bodysuit underneath her clothes - I think she didn't like having a half bare back when we picked her up if the dress moved and wearing a bodysuit meant that she was nice and snuggly warm at all times. She's worn them ... ever since then and they're a must for her wardrobe. We have purchased quite a few packs of these bodysuits with some coming from Mothercare. They sell long sleeved and short sleeved bodysuits - today I'm reviewing the short sleeve ones. The short sleeve ones cost around £12 for 5 and having tried other brands too, I feel that this is a reasonable price as they are of very good quality. Note that the price rises by £1 to £2 depending on the size required, bigger sizes costing more - most of the bodysuits are available up to the age of two and they also sell a tiny baby size which we needed at first.
The bodysuits come with a small cap sleeve on each arm and a rounded neck. Where the sleeve joins the main section of the suit, there are two small pieces of material that tuck over the sleeve. The bodysuit opens at the bottom with three poppers and it slips over babies head and then fastens underneath their nappy. They are 100% cotton and the poppers are made of a material that is nickel free so they shouldn't cause any irritations. We've never experienced any. I have found that the bodysuits are a bit on the large size - my daughter is 11 months now and still fits into her 6-9 month ones ok (although she is quite small for her age). Having said that, at 6 months these bodysuits didn't look out of place on her, they were still very much usable then too. We've had 5 months out of these ones so far in total.
The bodysuits are available in a wide choice of colours and patterns. Some are plain and some come with detail on the front or even all over. It seems though that the price varies slightly - the bigger the patterns are, the higher the price is (by £1 or £2). Each of the 5 in a multipack are different - for example our current ones include a baby pink one, a white one, 2 white ones with hearts all over and pink one with a small picture on the front. The picture is a transfer style, like the ones you often see on other children's clothing. They also sell packs that have plain white ones only - those are great for under most clothing because some of the darker colours are visible underneath otherwise. Those ones are the cheapest multipack available at around £10.
The bodysuits wash brilliantly. After 5 months use, our current ones haven't bobbled at all, the transfers haven't cracked at all and show no signs of wearing. They have been washed a lot of times on a normal 40 degree wash. Even stains from nappy accidents haven't stayed for long with a bit of vanish in the wash. They are also still soft to the touch - they still feel nice and comfy for her to be in. I don't normally use any sort of softener when I wash them.
I would really recommend these bodysuits - they are great underneath her clothing but can also be used as a top on their own when I put her in leggings on a warmer day as the patterns on the top make them look pretty. They are great value and are super quality. I rate them 5 stars as we would definitely buy again.
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