April Newsletter - Sandals Galore!

April has arrived and it has brought the warm weather! Well that's a turn up!! But who's complaining? I have had lots of sandy children in the shop this week trying on sandals - its a real feeling of change! 

We have some super cool summery looks for your kids this month. There are the Boy & Girls Malarky raglan t-shirts (as shown above) Malarky is a street artist and the range is Ltd Ed.

This time last year I was coveting Sun Sandals (for myself not the kids) and then I left it until it was too late, so missed the boat completely (sniff!) 

Still I am over it now, just, and that is because I bought them for the shop, and listen up ladies, I bought them in women's sizes too. It was too tempting. 

I hadn't realised that Sun San Sandals are suitable for wearing in the water ( just air dry them afterwards ) and that they've been going since the 1950's. That does go along way to explaining why I love them though, I can't get enough retro styling. So now I own a pair of lovely patent yellow Sun Sans (shown here) plus my HasBeens from last year, so I'm set up for the sun!!

"What about the boys???" I hear you holler! Well it just so happens that we

have been on the hunt to find something a bit different for boys, and i'll tell you what, it's not easy to find! That said, I think we've managed some super finds! 

Livie and Luca have got Steggie Sandals in red which have a little dinosaur 'spikes' running down the back for the dino fanatic in your household! 

They also have a style called 'Phillips' which have a screw head details ( it does look a bit tempting to come at them with a flat head screwdriver though). 

Both style are in super soft leather and are 'barefoot' so best for developing feet!

We also managed to get our grubby paws on Sun Sandals for boys, who knew? 

They are called Shark, they cover the toes to prevent scrapes and come in navy or chocolate brown, again they are suitable for water and have a really flexible polyurethane base to take a bit of punishment!

On top of all this lovely choice we are stocking Bobux Classic sandals again this year in navy, lipstick pink (which is a surprisingly nice darker pink - not a 'Barbie pink' in sight! ) and red, with a dark grey rocket sandal ( open toed ) as another option. 

The pre-walkers by Bobux are also in and they all have covered toes but enough ventilation to keep cool the sweatiest of feet! ( thank goodness! )

Finally for the older kids we found Hummel sandals. 

Those makers of all things hi-top, have released some waterproof trekking style trainers in grey and blue. They can get wet too and are fully adjustable so you can get a really good fit from them.

For the sporty older kids these will be just perfect.

We have many more styles on line and in store but this just give you a a taster of the wider choice we have.

I always find it a chore to find sandals for my own kids, and this year they have all asked me for the Sun Sandals - which was a surprise but one that I am happy with as now we can all have the same shoes ( is that wrong?? )

Let's just hope we have a long hot summer now to justify all these lovely sandals!!

Shopfitters of the World - Unite and take over - Little GEMS Expands into Islington

Little G.E.M.s and Felix & Lily’s to collaborate in a Concept Store!

In an effort to succeed in increasingly difficult times we have had to come up with something from outside the box! So we thought it'd be nice to share the love and spread the load so to speak, and it turns out that London based ‘indie’ Felix & Lily's had the very same thought so we have decided to break the mould and work together.

We have all seen Mary Portas informing us of the death of the high street helped largely by Big Bland Brands dominating the shops on every high Street, as well as other contributing factors including Parking restrictions or lack of free parking, the internet shopping boom - £1 in every £10 in the UK is spent on-line and 'showrooming' which is the practise of browsing in-store and then shopping on-line for the item you have chosen. These factors combined with a stagnant economy - things could look better to be frank! 

So in an effort to buck the trend we at Little G.E.M.s and Felix & Lily’s thought that working together might be the key! So we are joining forces and will be opening our new concept store in September 2013 which will be based based in Camden Passage, Islington, London. 

Parents in Islington have regularly sought out Felix & Lily’s not only for their on-trend fashion and original wooden toys and gifts, but also for their kids’ hair salon. Whilst over in Victoria Park, Hackney Little G.E.M.s is a modern stylish shop specializing in footwear for baby and child with focus on ‘barefoot shoes’ who have created a relaxed atmosphere for their loyal clientele. Both could be considered 'destination' shops (in Maryspeak!) in their own right and it's hoped by working together in the Islington unit they can create the ultimate destination for parents.

The collaboration will see Little G.E.M.s footwear, hosiery, toiletries and accessories sit alongside Felix & Lily’s fashion mix which ranges from vintage to skater, classic to cool. We have huge experience in fitting and advising on shoes especially for the under 5’s (although we stock up to size 40EU 7UK in adult sizing in Victoria Park. We pride ourselves on working for and with our community even hosting events with other local businesses/specialists  like hosting a free 'Healthy Feet' afternoon with local Paediatric Podiatrist Tracy Byrne who gave free advice children's feet who dropped into the shop and we see no reason why this cannot be replicated at Felix & Lily’s.

It's really exciting times for us and we can't wait to get our teeth into the new project - and we look forward to seeing yo in Camden Passage from the 2nd September 2013.

We will also be hosting a launch party on Saturday 28th September 2013. So in the word of the Price is Right 'Come On Down!' 1-6pm.

In Store Brands

Clothes:                     Footwear:

Mini Rodini                Startrite

Beau Loves               Bobux

Monsters Baby         Livie &Luca

Their Nibs                   Vivobarefoot

Organics for Kids     Camper

Emma Levine           Hummel

QE Kids                       Melton

Contact : Alex(at)littlegemsboutique.com

Why Barefoot is Best for Babies and Toddlers and Kids

WHY BAREFOOT IS BEST

When baby takes their first steps we can’t wait for the next moment when they put two and two together and walk unassisted for the first time. There is no manual for this and our first thoughts are to put shoes on their precious little feet to protect them from the great outdoors or just to assist them in walking, but the fact is - barefoot is best!

As parents, we often worry too much about protecting our young from the elements by putting them in footwear too early, hindering their natural development. Did you know that one of the most important things for children’s feet is actually that they do not wear shoes?

Going barefoot is best for children because little feet start life so incredibly soft and pliable. They need absolute flexibility to develop as Mother Nature intended. Tight fitting socks, rigid soles and materials that don't move with wriggles and stretches, can hamper healthy development.

Growing feet need plenty of freedom for muscles to strengthen, toes to learn to grip and spread and for bones to form in a natural position. The only way this can happen is to be barefoot the majority of the time, especially in the first years of life. An actual fact is that 70% of our brain’s information on how to walk, run, and jump comes from the nerves on the soles of our babies feet; so the more they can feel the ground, the greater the baby’s understanding of their surrounding environment. Along the way, natural movement will happen.

When is the right time to put shoes on my baby and how do I choose the right pair?

The ultimate gift we can give our children is healthy feet. Children's feet are very different from adults, they're wider across the toes, narrower at the heel and the inner arch is lined with fatty tissue. There are also large gaps between the bones, which are soft like jelly. So, not surprising that little feet are quite vulnerable.

Allowing them to go barefoot as often as possible is ideal but not always practical. When choosing a pair of shoes, look for a shoe that mimicks the benefits the child would experience barefoot. Mimicking means choosing a shoe that allows natural movement and flexibility to move with the child freely. The quality of shoe is also important, not only flexible and correct fitting but breathable as well as safe.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT SHOE

Most women, thanks to Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex in the City, love shopping for shoes but when it comes to buying footwear for our little ones, it becomes a very daunting experience for some.

We want the best for their delicate little feet but where to start?

Choosing the right pair of shoes early on is crucial, as their little feet start life so incredibly soft and pliable, they need absolute flexibility to develop as Mother Nature intended. Tight fitting socks, rigid soles and materials that don't move with wriggles and stretches can hamper healthy development. Alarmingly, they don't feel pain until the damage is done.

So, what could be more essential than getting their shoes right?

Did you know? Toddlers keep their heads up more when they are walking barefoot. The feedback they get from the ground means there is less need to look down, which is what puts them off balance and causes them to fall down. Walking barefoot develops the muscles and ligaments of the foot and increases the strength of the foot's arch therefore, improving awareness of where they are in relation to the space around them and contributes to good posture.

QUICK FOUR STEP-GUIDE TO LOOK OUT FOR WHEN BUYING SHOES

Flexibility
Does the shoe have a thin sole that is super flexible? Great. Not sure? Do the flex-test, bend the shoe, but as well try to twist it.

Size & length
Always have room for the toes to wiggle & move. Get the foot measured professionally, always check the shoes fit whilst the child is standing. There should be nearly an adult’s thumb width space between the end of the toes and the shoe. But be aware: children sometimes curl their toes which give the impression of space so hold their foot down with your hand and with the other hand do the thumb test.

Buying a size bigger than your child requires is not ideal, imagine yourself walking in shoes one size too big… Not easy! It incurs the danger to develop bad & unhealthy walking patterns.

Width
Make sure that the toes are not squeezed and can expand in the width. The shape of a shoe should reflect the natural shape of a childs foot, so not be pointed and tapered but round and broad. Toes should be uncompressed and lie flat in a shoe, so little toes have room to spread.

Heel & Ankle Fit
Never restrict a developing foot. Shoes should sit below or above the ankle – and the heel should be nicely secured by the shoe.

Make sure any shoe you put on a growing child’s foot sits below or above the ankle bone, never on it or it restricts natural strengthening of the ankle. The fit around the heel is the only place that the foot should be secured but only enough to ensure the shoe does not come off. Make sure it doesn’t hold the foot so tight it can’t bend and flex.

The 4 Step Fit Test

1. Test the shoe with the flex test - twist in all directions

2. Never buy too small, the toes should have room, but a size bigger isn’t good either

3.Make sure the toes have space to expand.

4. Secure at the heel, and not directly ending at the ankle for not restricting movements.

Size matters - check it on a regular basis
Little feet grow really fast, up to two or three sizes per year until around four years old. Pop in store at Little GEMS or any good children' shoes store will measure your child feet - without obligation. Always put the shoe on your child with them standing to check you have correctly chosen the right size.

Safety
Choose footwear made from safe, soft material. Little feet need to move, they often end up in little ones' mouths so it's great to have confidence that they are safe for those sucking moments. If possible find brands that All use the highest quality leather that meet the strictest international standards, so you can be 100% sure your little one is safe if they put their feet in their mouth.

Lamb and Bean Casserole Recipe

I thought I'd share this winter warmer as the weather is so foul we need something to cheer us up!

Ingredients:

• 1kg potatoes, peeled and sliced 

• 1 kg lamb chump chops 

• 2 onions, peeled and sliced thinly 

• 1 tbsp dried oregano 

• 1 head of garlic cloves, peeled and halved 

• 500g beans, ends trimmed 

• 2 tins (400g) diced tomatoes 

• 1 cup ofwater 

• 
  

Preheat oven to 180°C.

Layer the ingredients in the following order giving them a good grind of salt and pepper 

between each layer. Potatoes, meat, onions, oregano, garlic, beans, tomatoes and water.

Cover with a tight lid or a few good layers of foil to seal.

Bake for 2 hours.

Healthy Happy Childrens Feet - information of foot health for baby and child

When a child is learning to walk they receive important sensory information from the soles of their feet. Shoes, particularly ones with hard and inflexible soles can make walking more difficult. It is important to allow your child to go barefoot whenever possible, this will help them develop balance, posture and coordination.                Your child should not need shoes until they have been walking for a few months, and then only if necessary to protect them from sharp objects. Children’s feet grow rapidly during development so their shoe size may need updating every few months. Shoes that are not fitted correctly and are too tight can affect your child’s walk and cause problems. It is never too early to begin teaching your children about proper foot care and hygiene. You should teach them the importance of drying their feetproperly especially between the toes, problems that can occur such as athletes foot, and also the correct way to cut their toenails to help prevent any ingrown toenails  developing.                As your child approaches adolescence, you should inform them of the need for proper foot hygiene as their sweat glands excrete more during this period. This also involves regularly changing their socks and alternating footwear to help prevent bacteria building up. Remember that foot care and shoe selection are both important in the health of your child’s feet. Proper fitting footwear and education in foot care is essential in maintaining healthy feet and preventing future problems. Be careful when purchasing embroidered children's socks. They may look cute, but they can, in some circumstances, be dangerous.            Turn an embroidered sock inside out. If there are long, loose nylon threads from the embroidery, BE CAREFUL. Little toes have been known get caught up in the strong nylon threads and "strangled" sometimes with disastrous results. It goes without saying that natural fibres are best for feet. NEWBORNs and BABY Newborns and babies don’t need shoes. Newborn babies have very soft pliable feet, this means the soft bones, muscles and tendons are vulnerable to damage. It’s because of this that it is important to keep their feet warm to encourage healthy growth. All your baby/newborn needs are booties or loose socks, these enable the foot to breathe and allow for movement. The booties must not restrict the foot’s movements as this can inhibit their natural growth. The Booties should also be flexible without support andconform to the shape of your baby’s foot. This allows your baby to kick their feet which encourages muscle tone and movement and will ensure a healthy development. An ill-fitting shoe can lead to complications such as pain, sores and sometimes deformity. TODDLER The first real type shoes can be used when your child begins to walk. Once your child is able to walk unaided you can introduce them to properly fitted footwear. But until your child has established balance and can walk a few steps unaided, there’s no need to buy them proper shoes. When looking at buying your child their first shoes ensure you have their feet professionally measured. This should involve measuring not only the length but also the width of the foot. A soft and pliable sneaker is usually a good choice as their first shoe, it provides protection without inhibiting their natural growth, and should have room for their little toes. By the time your child is one year old their feet will have grown to half their adult size. It then takes another seventeen to eighteen years for it to become fully developed. PRIMARY SCHOOL By the age of five your child will have all 26 bones of the foot, but they will still not be fully formed until the age of eight. Children should have their feet measured every six to eight weeks as this is how long it takes for your child’s feet to grow another half or full size. It is common for both adults and children to have one foot bigger than the other. This is why when having your child’s feet measured and properly fitted they should fit the shoes to the larger foot. Incorrect fitting of the larger foot can result in pain sores and deformity during development. It can be quite expensive in the early years, but it is important to protect the health of your child’s feet and prevent any future problems.

Ski Holiday at Easter - What Fun!?!

the girls on piste

Well it finally looks as though Spring has arrived!! And boy am I glad, the weather brings a lovely feeling to life in general doesn't it? I have to say I'm feeling really well rested after a week in the Alps where it was also really sunny and warm! 21 degrees on one afternoon!!

Skiing with our family and another family is such a good idea, share the kids, share the babysitting, divide and conquer on the piste! The four children aged between 2 and 8 had a ball - every morning they went to ski school while we went out for a pootle on the slopes. The two older girls were in the same class so had each other for company, the 4 year old boy made lots of friend and my 2 year old girl went dragging her heels to creche. (read Kicking and Screaming for dragging her heels)

our group - minus the 2 year old who is in creche

Now I felt as though the holiday ought to be for everyone so almost everyday I collected my youngest before lunch so she could have time with us in the afternoon and maybe take in a swim. The older kids would all gather and feed - it was a bit animalistic as they were so famished after ski-ing all morning,
and then before you knew it we were being pestered to go back out on the slopes.

After a few days the kids got really confident and as we were situated right next to the nursery run, they begged for us to let them go round and around on the button lift. Of course we were being all sensible about it and taking it in turns to watch every little move closely, but after a while you can get a bit distracted, especially as I was standing next to a rather inviting petite luge, (baby toboggan). So the next thing you know I'm 20 Euros lighter and the proud new owner of a Ferrari red toboggan, so I gather up the 2 year old and the 4 year old for a spot of skidding around. The older two are by now just left on their merry-go-round of a button lift and shooshing down the nursery slope so they are fine.

The 4 year old getting his certficate

Well you'd have thought it would have been plain sailing or should I say sledging, as it was all enclosed with an inflated rim a la bouncy castle style, but the first time the boy went down the slope he literally went through and under the inflated enclosure. Luckily they had a bit of netting too otherwise he'd have been off down the piste. Well, after seeing his face crumpled with tears the 2 year old was understandably reticent about her turn on my snow Ferrari! After a bit of coaxing, I managed to get her to put her feet in the sled and let the break go, so off she went with a little push from mum to send her in her way. Well no-one had noticed the snow hole in the area (when I say no-one I mean of course, me) So in the sled went sending her flying out and over in to the snow. Which she is of course petrified of because it's cold and wet! This of course ended up with the 2 year old in tears too. Anyone having fun yet!!??

the girls again - everyone say fromage!

 There was only one thing for it, Mum would have a go to show everyone it really was a lot of fun and then we were all going to run the gauntlet again! So I squeezed my bottom into a sled designed for a child, I held on tight and got someone to give me a push!! Oh what fun! Until I realised I was careering towards the ESF ski school chalet, so to avoid collision I launched myself off in full flow only to land unceremoniously in a pile of slushy snow just under the window of the ESF ski-school where there was a group of dishy cool ESF instructors gathering for the afternoon session - who noticed. SHAMED!

There was only one thing for it, I picked myself up, collected my toboggan and tried to style it out as all a bit of a laugh for the benefit of the kids! The kids had of course stopped crying and were laughing too (and pointing) so it wasn't a complete disaster and they could then be persuaded to have another go. At this point the older girls had finally tired of shooshing round in a loop skied over to us demanding their turn and making the little ones cry for completely different reasons. It was time to go in, everyone was completely shattered. So we trudged to the chalet with all our gear and as we walk in through the door, the girls pipe up, "can we go swimming now??", "yeah shouted the other two, We want to go swimming!" - relaxing holiday anyone??

Hi-Tops!!

Pippo hi-tops

Ok now I know I said I wouldn't write about stuff we stock in the shop because it's boring, however I can't help a little mention when it comes to hi-tops and rules are made to be broken!




Is it me or have you noticed that hi-tops are all over the press at the moment? I noticed a double page spread in Style Magazine et al! 




Now, I am a woman who lives to be comfortable so I have been personally working the hi-top look since the 80's - remember Nike Air Jordans? Anyone??? So it's nice to see that the hi-tops I booked for the shop have come in on-trend - and they are particularly lovely leather shoes in funky colourways for the kids - so I felt all proud of myself **pat on the back**

The Flash Converse

Anyway, so my nanny comes to work in Ltd Ed Batman Converse hi-tops which I immediately start to covert. So she tells me that they do a Flash design - so I duly go online to hunt them down. So after many hours trawling the interweb for The Flash Ltd Ed Converse hi-tops I finally find a stockist in Kansas who have a pair roughly in my size (i.e. too small probably) so just in case I order 2 styles - Superman and The Flash come to momma!!

Jnr Batman Converse

So that weekend I take the family to Westfield **making vampire repelling cross with my fingers** and go to Schuch where upon I find Gorillaz have released Ltd Ed Converse too, those sneaky deakies - so the long and short of it, my 7 year old ends up with Air Jordans (who knew I'd be able to buy her the same trainers I had at school?) and Ltd Edition Batman Converse Jnrs, my 3 year old has smart pink and grey leather hi-tops from Pippo, I am now the proud owner of cartoon camouflage Gorillaz and I also persuaded my sister-in-law (who is old enough to know better) to buy cartoon Gorillaz Converse too! 

Gorillaz Ltd Ed Converse

Don't you just hate it when a trend you needed no persuading to buy into, comes around so it make you really impulsive when out shopping because the powers that be are telling you it's fashionable!?




I think I might have a lie-down now. Lets just hope the airmail from Kansas isn't delayed! Oh and if anyone finds The Flash Converse in womens size 39 email me????