Stylish oil cloths? Really?

Yes! Seriously... these oil cloths will protect your precious tabletops and won't ruin your decor. Well, perhaps you should judge for yourself... I like them anyway and these two are favourites of mine. Our new house needs a bit of work in the kitchen so perhaps these might jazz things up as an interim measure. I bet the black and white one would be great for grabbing the attention of the teeny tiny newborns. Take a look at the Strawberry and Cream site for lots more interesting finds... and not just for the babies either!

Constructive eating utensils set

I have some experience of having a fussy eater child... she seems to be improving now but for a while there was a lot of coaxing going on during meal times. I found it so difficult to maintain my sunny disposition when every lovingly prepared dish would be rejected with a little shake of the head... sometimes without it even being tasted! Aaaaargh! It's programmed in me now to perk up when I spot some device that might make meal times easier. These construction styled utensils caught my eye the other day... pretty appealing I think. I'm even tempted to use them myself....

Cox and Cox love heart sugar cubes

If you've ever thought about planning a sugar and spice themed birthday party at some point let me direct you to the perfect sugar component. Cox and Cox have produced these little love heart sugar cubes as part of their wedding range but I think they'll do very well for my daughter's first birthday which is going to be an afternoon tea. I'm so intrigued about how they're made... I'd love to have a go.

The ultimate lunchbox

This is the ultimate in lunchboxes... modelled on the tiffin and bento style boxes it is perfect for school lunches and picnics. The top layer is divided into 4 sections... perfect for some loose nuts or a dipping sauce. I just love it... I already have a japanese bento box but I think I like this even more. It certainly has more space... I'm tempted to get one just for family picnics. I've seen 2 layer and 3 layer versions around but My Messy Room is carrying only the large at the moment. Fine by me...

Animal Farm ceramic range by Cat Chapman

A New Zealand made range of ceramics for kids? Yes please! This bright and colourful collection of plates, bowls and mugs will make any meal time more fun. And knowing it wasn't made in China will give you a warm glowing feeling inside each time you use it.

FUNFAM by Tsuneyuki Fujoka

A place setting that doubles as a jigsaw and teaches dining etiquette using engraved diagrams? A-mazing! I saw these on a fellow blogger's site and fell in love... but imagine my disappointment when I went hunting for the supplier only to find the sellers were all based in Japan, with complicated sites covered in kanji symbols. Oh no! But... I have now discovered an international seller and am sharing the details with you. Lucky!

The set is made by hand from natural bamboo and comes with the tray, plates for each course and cutlery. Your little one can use the pictures engraved in the wood to work out which pieces to use with each course. Japanese design + western style utensils = uber-desirable object.