Children's Wigwams - Why They Are So Important In Our Computer Age

Choosing gifts or toys for children whether they are your own children, nephews, nieces, grandchildren or friends of the family there is nothing so satisfying as to know that you have chosen a gift which will ignite their imagination. A trend which has stood the test of time is the concept of play houses of some sort which can be children’s wigwams, play tents, wendy houses or treepees.

Whichever version of the concept you decide on you will be flavour of the month with both the children and their parents. Childrens wigwams and play tents of all types can be played with indoors and outdoors and are easily dismounted when there is a need. From the child’s point of view apart from the fun and imagination they inspire it is a little home that they can call their own which is perfect at their developmental stage. Here you have a venue for role-play, creativity and somewhere for your little one to have some time out.

My personal experience, quite a large number of years ago, was that my play tent was the centre of the summer fun for not only me but plenty of my friends. It lived in the garden when the weather allowed and when friends called it was our fun and secret life from adults.

Children’s wigwams take it to a more interesting level as it adds a tribal level to the experience. Most people have a deep rooted need to be part of a tribe or group and these kids wigwams lend themselves perfectly to this purpose as well as those of imaginative play and a den away from adults, yet of course in a safe place.

The original wigwam also known as a wickiup were the dwellings used by Native Americans which were structures which were either permanent or temporary made over frames of arched poles. A wigwam differs from a tipi in so far as the tipi is normally a temporary structure normally made from animal hides and the wigwam used roofing materials such as bark, grass, brush and mats. Tipi is a Lakota word which means to dwell.

One of the popular children’s wigwams is the Cowboys & Indians Wigwam with a design which makes it suitable for children of three years old and upwards. It really helps stimulate their imagination as well as giving them the excuse to get dressed up as part of their play.

Another popular kids wigwam is the fairy wigwam which is really pretty and perfect for the aspiring Harry Potter type child, another lovely happy place for a child to engage in creative play.

Another option which is slightly different is the treepee which is a tent that hangs from a tree. So it is like a combination of a play tent and a tree house all in one plus is has a trampoline element to it.

It has to be said that in this computer age these play options are even more important than they were many years ago, so give your child the opportunity to play creatively in children’s wigwams, treepees or tents.

Tips from I Coloniali Healing Ingredients for Your Bathtime

More than ever with our fast paced 21st century society we need to find ways to relax, unwind and de-stress. Bath time can be that special time out at the end of the day to re-light your inner fire with i coloniali healing ingredients. We are bombarded with the media and many of us choose brands for bath time and general body car which are very well known as the media has made us believe in these. However many of these do not has as valuable ingredients as can be found for this important relaxing part of the day.

Now with the internet we can access wonderful healing ingredients in products for our bath time and believe me it can make a lot of difference in your day to day stress levels. One such ingredient is olibanum which was originally known for its calming and soothing qualities in Indian Ayurvedic medicine. It has long since been widely used in Persian and Babylonian religious and ceremonial practices and is extracted from a plant found in the mountainous regions of India.

A more commonly known ingredient is ginseng which is more for your morning time bath as it is energising. Described as "the root of life" Ginseng has been used in the Far East for over five thousand years for its beneficial energising properties.

Some of us are more familiar with bamboo for the use in clothes but it is also very relaxing at bath time. Bamboo originally comes from Tibet, China India and Malaysia and holds a special place of honour in Oriental cultures as a very spiritual material with an infinite number of uses. Bamboo extract has a relaxing effect on body and mind, and it helps restore elasticity to skin. A great way to end a hectic day, this rich foaming bath is scented with I coloniali spicy and sensuous signature fragrance.

Back to a morning or going out bath time where we wish to be bubbling with good energy then a great healing ingredient is ginkgo biloba. Originally from Asia, Ginkgo Biloba was grown near monasteries in ancient times and became bound up with spiritual significance in the Far East. Ginkgo Biloba is known for its great revitalising, stimulating and firming qualities.

Not forgetting about making our shower as good as possible, there are healing ingredients such as hibiscus which originally comes from Eastern India. Precious Hibiscus is extracted from the plant's distinctive calyx-shaped yellow flowers and is known for its soothing and protective properties. In ancient times it was used to produce perfumes and refreshing balms. So even if you are having your shower at the beginning of the working day then here you are with a healing protective gift of nature!

Last but not least something that many of us enjoy in a pie is rhubarb so perhaps we never imagined it for our shower time. Rhubarb is a perennial plant with tiny white-yellowish flowers. It originates from China and Tibet, from where the dried roots were once imported. In ancient times it was known to the Chinese for its medicinal qualities which invigorate and cleanse the skin revitalising the whole body.

Valentine's Day - A Guide For Cool & Stylish Gift Ideas

Can you believe it is just around the corner again? Valentine’s Day; the romantic day that can make or break some relationships, the day out of the whole year where your romantic behaviour should be impeccable, lots of sweet nothings being whispered, ladies looking stunning and guys ever so handsome, the best wines and food for lovers and of course the highly important special Valentine’s gift.

No matter whether you love it or not it is hard to escape and as they say if you can’t beat them join them. When it comes to that special gift you don’t want to feel wanting as your partner reacts with thinly disguised boredom or worse still disappointment. You have the chance to move a new relationship onto a different level by choosing a stylish, cool Valentine’s gift. Whether you’re buying for a girl or a guy there are some great ideas here to score you brownie points in your relationship.

If you have a partner who enjoys entertaining there are some super sleek gifts out there that you may not have considered before. Show a bit of finesse by choosing a set of culinary concepts olive picks which are so delicate and cool at the same time. This is a gift which shows class.

Along the wining and dining lines you could show your partner that you know that he/she is cultured by buying a culinary concepts heart bottle stop so that you and your loved one can savour the last of your wine, or you don’t need to feel bad about opening a second bottle as you have this fabulous bottle stop!


Or for the morning after a romantic night in or out you can buy a heart shaped toast rack which holds four pieces of toast making it perfect for couples. Another gift which is practical also as well as cool is a silver plated water pitcher which in reality you could make great sangria or some other party drink, or of course be healthier and use just with water. This has a beautiful leather handle. More culinary gift ideas include a heart shaped bowl and spoon, heart coffee spoons, a silver plated heart dish or a two tier heart cake stand.

For those who are more into bodily pampering as opposed to pampering the taste buds there are some lovely gift ideas also. Find yourself and your loved one giving each other leg and foot massages with this wonderful I Coloniali Chinese Leg and Foot Massage cream which has sophora japonica with excellent stimulating and revitalising effects. Take away all the tiredness from those lovely legs and feet and give fresh energy to your body and mind at the same time, sounds great? If you want a gift which helps sets the mood for love, massage and more, then another option is the I Coloniali Natural Wax Candle with the fragrance of myrrh. It is very elegant and evocative.



Another approach which can be suitably romantic is to go with symbolism, where there are options such as a circle of life pendant from tales from the earth which symbolises that life is a circle which can be embraced regardless of your age or stage of life. There is also the lucky seven rings necklace which represents luck for the seven days of the week and by extension every day of your life.

Finally for a safe and classy bet for the guy who wears shirts are the range of Simon Carter cufflinks which feature onyx, mother of pearl and catsye depending on which design you choose. One of my personal favourites are the aspirin cufflinks which are super cool and very practical; your guy won’t be caught out ever again without a cure for his headache.

Enjoy an extra romantic Valentine’s with your crowning glory of a stylish cool gift!

Abahna - Parabens Free Cosmetics the Advantages

There is plenty of debate around the subject of parabens which are used in cosmetics which we put on skin on a daily basis. Firstly what exactly are parabens? Parabens are a family of alkyl esters of para-hydroxybenzoic acid which are used by manufacturers to maintain freshness not only in cosmetics but also in food. Why has there been debate about them? This is because parabens have been proven to penetrate the skin and can be traced in blood minutes after application; therefore there are theories that they may have adverse effects on the body. People who are aware of the dangers opt for parabens free cosmetics of which there are many available these days on the market such as the Abahna range.

One study found that that out of 20 breast cancer patients 18 of them had parabens present in their breast tissue. The presence does not prove causality so the researcher has called for more studies to be done. Parabens enter also through the application of anti-perspirants which contain them. The thing is that they are not broken down by the digestive process and therefore it is not yet known the effect they have on the surrounding tissues.

Additionally parabens have showed estrogenic activity in numerous tests. What this means is that they are mimicking the body’s own hormones which can disrupt endocrine functions right throughout the body making the negative possibilities endless.

One of the parabens family – methylparaben – has been linked to the premature aging of the skin. There was a study done in Japan which showed that certain cosmetic products may cause the skin to age excessively when exposed to ultra-violet rays however ironically this compound can be found in products which are designed and promoted to fight the effects of aging.

As well as use in cosmetics parabens are also used in food most often as colourings and to add flavour. They occur naturally in prunes, cinnamon and blueberries however are made synthetically for commercial use. You can find them in toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, face cream and lots of everyday products. The six parabens which are most commonly used are methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, butylparaben, and benzylparaben.

The big question is however do manufacturers really need to use parabens? Some organic cosmetic manufacturers answer no t this question. They use tinctures which are made from high quality organic herbs and organic grain alcohol which have a good shelf life of between two and three years.

There has been substantial progress made by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics which pressures the industry to phase out any chemicals which are known or suspected carcinogens, reproductive toxins or mutagens. In 2003 the EU has banned the use of these chemicals. In America the campaign has invited U.S. cosmetic companies to sign the “Compact for the Global Production of Safer Health and Beauty Products” and commit themselves to comply with the EU regulations however many industry leaders have not signed.

MadMolly stocks the Abahna range which offer a parabens free choice to our customers. It is a gorgeous range which even includes a foam blending set where you can make your own bathing preparations.

Christmas for Keeps

Christmas for Keeps, sounds good doesn’t it? The trend has been brought on by the re-evaluation of how we view our Christmas decorations in light of the challenging economy. However also when we think about the fact that most of our homes are more pleasant during this one period of the year it makes sense to embrace the idea of a new Christmas style which can last throughout the year. Of course we still want to put up a Christmas tree and decorations but this trend takes into account a holistic warm and inviting home with qualities and colours which can be added with items such as colourful glass door knobs, inexpensive culinary concepts dining accessories and funny retro vintage signs to name a few.

The approach is to cheer up our winter interiors with decorative home wares which are perfect for Christmas but can be used for entertaining during the rest of the year as well as touches to the home which can warm the environment stylishly. Imagine small but effective decorations as family and visitors enter your home.

From the point of entrance at a living room door where you have added in a rich colourful glass door knob which changes the whole feeling of the door to the interior of your living room where the visitor is welcomed with a gorgeous flower arrangement. This does not have to be a costly regular visit to the florists but instead a feature piece which is a flower cage with Shanghai red calla lilies. This is a striking cage of bamboo rods filled with three artificial deep red calla lilies. It is a wonderful centrepiece.

Vintage is fashionable and fun when it comes to either fashion or interiors. Vintage kitchen wall plaques are in and can enhance your kitchen for the Christmas period and afterwards. The designs are warm and simple with humorous messages such as “I cook with wine. Sometimes I even add it to the food” and on this vintage kitchen sign we see a happy, attractive lady sipping a glass of wine. Another one of these vintage kitchen wall plaques has a picture of a smiling attractive lady with a slightly manic look in her eyes and the writing says: “Drink Coffee. Do stupid things faster with more energy.”

The Christmas for Keeps trend is all about stylish things that make you and your guests feel cheerful so once you keep that in mind you have plenty of scope. At Christmas many of us eat more cheese than we do throughout the year so other welcome additions are beautiful cheese knife sets. Highly polished cheese knife sets with traditional cheese knives, stilton scoops, aerated two prong cheese knives can light up your environment as well as being practical all year round.

Many of us enjoy a little merry cheer in the form of wine or champagne during the festive period. A silver plated wine cooler can fit perfectly into your tasteful Christmas theme and also be great when entertaining during the rest of the year. You can find these wine coolers finished with a leather handle which look very classy and can hold two bottles of wine or champagne. To go with these are silver plated champagne cork cruet sets which are a cute talking piece and of course a practical presentation for salt and pepper.

If you want to go an extra step to make the ladies feel especially welcome there is a cool accessory called a handbag butler. These come in lots of gorgeous designs and colours and essentially are folding handbag hooks which can hold up to 10kg of handbag weight.


Adopt some of these ideas or have fun creating some of your own to be part of the Christmas for Keeps trend.

How to Buy Politically Correct Presents for Toddlers

How the world is changing and in some ways so fast, yet for the good and other ways that are definitely dubious. Did you know that nursery rhymes that have been the staple of generations of children are now being doctored. In Oxfordshire, England, children are no longer singing "baa baa, black sheep", instead they are being taught to sing "baa baa, rainbow sheep." Naturally this is based upon the political correctness which surrounds equal opportunities. They have also changed the ending of Humpty Dumpty so that the children will not feel sad, and Snow White has had to lose her seven dwarfs as well.

Whether you are a believer in these changes or you feel it is taking things a bit far, one thing is for sure political correctness is taking over. Political correctness has seeped its way through society making lots of positive changes but perhaps also making people a little over-sensitive in some cases. But as it appears to be here to stay this is a guide to buy presents which will be sure to be politically correct and pleasing at the same time.

When buying presents for the friend of your child, scenario of a lovely toddlers birthday party, you will want your child's gift to stand out but not for the wrong reasons. Realise that it is not just a present for the birthday girl or boy, but their parents will likely review all the presents as well. Looking at gifts for toddlers, there are great options such as traditional colourful wooden toys that are safe, entertaining and maybe even educational.

What about a nice teddy bear music box which is handcrafted, where the teddy bears are sitting on a see-saw rocking to the music "When you wish upon a star". This is great for helping the toddler go off to sleep and makes a perfectly politically correct present. Alternatively wooden animal skittles which are also handcrafted and colourful. These contain a dog, cat, zebra, frog, lion and mouse.

There are lovely wooden push alongs which are hand painted in bright colours. Take for example the yellow duck with lots of colourful wooden beads, which clacks cutely as it moves around. There is a wooden cow push along, the wooden dog push along, wooden fairy push along or a wooden ladybird push along.

Parents are normally very happy to see their children being encouraged to read. Wooden bookends make a decorative and practical present, taking for example these great blue wooden aeroplane bookends which are hand painted. They will brighten up any room and are also suitable for cds and dvds. Alternatively there are wooden fairy bookends, with the cheerful looking fairies holding up their wands ready to do some magic!

For toddlers of three years and upwards, actually for children of all ages, there are childrens wigwams. These come in cowboy and indians, as well as fairy wigwams. Presents that encourage creativity and fun roleplay, while giving the child a new space of their own. Buying presents like these gives lots of pleasure while being politically correct.

The Psychological Messages Underlying Gifts For That Special Guy

Some people are especially talented when it comes to choosing gifts for that special guy. The gift is perfect even for the guy who thought he had everything and the psychological message underlying it suits the stage of the relationship ever so subtly. That special guy feels that his partner is suitably devoted and understands his taste, lifestyle, hopes and dreams; and all because of a clever gift. What is even better about this skill is that the presents do not have to cost the earth or anywhere close.

This type of gift buying avoids the clichés and also that horrible moment when he receives, smiles, kisses and thanks you, but you know it is a facade of politeness. Underneath he is somewhat bored, although pleased you bought him something whilst nside he is thinking if you know him as well as he hoped. Like many skills this can be learnt with advice and practice so you can be the envy of your friends by always having a great gift plan up your sleeve. Here are some tips to start.

What about the gorgeous special guy who likes to cook? This should be encouraged and nurtured so he will do more of it. If he needs some kind of a kitchen appliance by all means buy it once the relationship is not too early stages. Remember men like to solve problems and if you solve something like this he will be happy. Show that you appreciate his style and his sense of humour by finding something cool for the kitchen that is amusing and will make him laugh. Buy him a vintage steel wall plaque. If he likes to tipple when he is cooking there is a steel wall plaque that says "I cook with wine. Sometimes I even add it to the food." There are ranges of these steel wall plaques that are cool, humorous and funny.

If he is stylish and appreciates the finer things in life you can show him that you approve of his chic nature by finding unusual but functional drinking or dining accessories. If he likes champagne for example buy him a culinary concepts champagne bath which is stunning and equally suitable for wine also. As it holds up to six bottles he will appear like the perfect host and not be caught out by running short of the delicious cool drinks he is serving. He will know that you value his excellent tastes and feel that you see him as a charming, elegant guy.

Show appreciation for his sensuality and looks by finding unusual useful, pampering products. Think about his daily routine and find something to make this more pleasurable such as I Coloniali shaving balm. This includes mango oil which will help him have a smoother shave and prevent irritations. It also provides a long lasting sensation of relief and peace that he can carry with him throughout his day. He will see that you care about his well being and you see him as a sensuous guy.

These are some tips to start with and the underlying idea is for him to feel that you appreciate some important aspect of his nature while solving some problem all at the same time- the perfect turn on.