I have struggled to write for Hansel & Gretel lately, as you may have noticed the absent updates. I have been experiencing 'sickness' ALL day and ALL night, even motion sickness from reading, so computer research has been put on the back burner. The diagnosis........well it is a BABY!!

We are very excited about our news and cannot wait to get into that dreaded spare room and put it into some order when I am feeling more energetic.

 I am now thinking about all of the things need to do before bubs arrives, yes I have written a list. It is great however that I don't need to purchase those big ticket items being the second baby.

Although....I have found this eco - crib made by Castor & Chouca, a French innovative design company, made with bamboo and plexi glass, made for the children of the new millenium. It certainly puts my cane basket crib that I had for my son to shame. Found in the U.K for 590 pounds, it will have to stay there.

If only controlling children was this easy! This fantasy device 'The Control A Kid' remote has all the answers found here at 'Toys Inc' . With funtions for controlling tantrums, eat their greens, don't answer back to name a few. I find this gadget quite amusing, it would make a great quirky gift for all parents. The best news, it does not require batteries so it will never fail or will it?

I came across a gorgeous little homewares shop in Bendigo, while visiting my best friend. We have similiar taste in shops, loving the small poky shops with unique finds that aren't mass produced. I found this 'Princess and the pea' set and loved it. The detail on each mattress, the simple but traditional wooden bed, together with a delightful little rag doll, it is one amazing set that has to be seen to appreciate the fine details. As a little girl I loved listening to the tale of the 'Princess and the pea'. I am pretty sure that if I had a daughter this would be high on Santa's list, although I think it is too cute and too special to play with.

I took note of the creators Maileg and to my delight they have so many charming traditional toys that you will find yourself wanting their whole range. This danish lifestyle company have been designing and creating since 1999. Found at My Messy Room.

 I remember running under the sprinkler in the backyard with my little bloomers on, screaming with delight as the water splashed onto my face without a worry in the world. With water being so precious,  our little ones unfortunately will not experience sprinklers, backyard pools and homemade waterslides.

 However we can still go to the beach, pool and dress our little ones for the occasion. An Australian label 'Little Red Wagon Kids' has designed the most adorable summer bloomer and bikini sets with stunning fabrics that will make you want to go to the beach just to show these off. I love the paddlers (pictured below), a cute outfit for summer that is lightweight, comfortable and easy to access nappies.

Like most mums, I love bags and somehow need a new one for each season, outfit and occasion and I think that you can never have enough. I have also found myself starting a collection of bags for my son. There is a bag for daycare, play dates and visits to the library. When I came across Mee A Bee via her inspirational blog, I knew I had found the most irresistable children's bags I had ever laid my eyes on.

The talented creator behind Mee A Bee, Jacqui, is a mother of two, originally from New Zealand, now living in Japan, in a beautifully decorated house. At Mee A Bee, you will find a delightful range of custom made or ready made messenger bags, toddler back packs, satchels, family bags, bookbags and handbags that are handmade with the most adorable japanese environmentally friendly fabric.

Jacqui is generously giving away two of these fabulous bags pictured above to a lucky Hansel & Gretel reader.

The green apple bag is quite large, designed to be used as a library book bag. It can be worn over the chest by a child 8 or 9 years and up or mum or dad can just carry it on their shoulder. It's beautiful heavyweight canvas printed with yummy bright green "granny smith" apples. It's very strong for a family load of books. Retailed at AU$40.

The little red apple bag is a fun bag for little kids. A toddler can pick one or two little board books at the library and carry them him or herself. This is retailed at $20.00.

We would love to hear about people's stories of going to the library, how important reading is to them, fave books etc. Jacqui's kids being Japanese/New Zealanders love reading. They visit the library with their father almost every Sunday and bring home a pile of books in Japanese. Jacqui takes them herself about once a month to the library as well as the book shop to quench their thirst for books in English. They are both bilingual. Reading plays a big part in their progress.

To Enter:

1. You will need to be a follower of Hansel & Gretel and leave a comment and tell us how you share books with your children.

2. Visit Mee A Bee and tell us what your favourite bag is from her current selection.

For More entries:

Please copy and retweet this comp :

@hanselandg @meeabee Giveaway http://hanselandgretel.onsugar.com/5669238

One entry per retweet.

Good luck!

Entries close November 20th.

Open to Australian and Overseas entrants . Winners will be mentioned on Twitter, Facebook, Hansel & Gretel and  Mee A Bees facebook and blog.

This lovely prize was won by Kym T, so thankyou to all entrants.

OFFI EVA Foam Kids Chairs - Set of 2

One of only two children's chairs acquired for the Carnegie Museum of Art, the EVA Foam Chairs are expertly cut from soft, sturdy EVA foam - the same material that you'll find inside your athletic shoes. The foam makes them comfortable, safe, lightweight, durable, strong and washable.

You'll find that their child-size proportions believe their strength - each piece can support a weight up to 300 pounds! Eva Foam Tables, Chairs and Stools are equally happy indoors and outside. Modularity allows all three pieces to stack together. So go ahead and take a seat, rest your feet, stack them like blocks, make a sculpture, create a room divider...

Who remembers playing schools when they were young, being a llittle teacher, dictating to your little students, bossing them around standing out the front and pointing at my cousins posing as my innocent students? I certainly remember and I loved it, I loved being bossy and organised, setting up the classroom with my chalkboard, paper and pencils and telling my students (my cousins) to sit down and do their work. I reflect on these moments and laugh to myself. Now I am all grown up and I still play 'schools' although in a real school with real students, I may have lost my bossiness (I think!) but my organisational skills are certainly still there.

When I found this Red Apple Schoolhouse I laughed, I would have loved this when I was little. It comes complete with a front canopy, bell tower & operable bell to signal the start of the school day. The classic standing seam-look metal roof, operable windows & simulated antique plank flooring will make every day at this school a treasured memory to last a lifetime. It comes with a wooden base similar to that of a house deck.. It's constructed of a 2x2 frame with plywood decking and looks so realistic but with a price of 3,999 U.S I may just stick to the real teaching.

This is certainly one of those 'why didn't I think of that ideas'. We all know being a mother we do get the occasional emergency situation and this Ice-Qube Baby To Go kit helps us deal with any situation.

 A collection of products to keep baby comfortable in case of emergency or just in case you have a bump in the road. Great gift for a Baby Shower or new baby. Thoughtful for the new grandma too! Kit includes baby lotion, baby soap, baby powder, baby shampoo, wipes, blanket, bodysuit T-Shirt, dummy, nappies, nappy cream, ice pack,gloves, gauze pads bandage strips, first-aid burn cream, alcohol wipes, antiseptic wipes, antibacterial wipes, first-aid quick reference, tweezer, important documents pouch, medicine spoon, nasal bulb, oral syringe, thermometer and Ice-Qube Baby Emergency Plan.

Do you remember carrying your beloved pocket money in a cute coin purse when you were little? If only these fabulous coin purses were around then. Cloth - Ears is a shop based in the UK which feature retro, nostaligic homewares and gifts for everyone, lots of goodies for mums and yes they do ship to Australia.

I am loving these 'doll face' coin purse that comes with a matching hair clip, how cute, they would look great with the matching doll face bracelet and pocket mirror. The work that has gone into the retro dolly coin purse is quite astonishing, now what girl would not like these and the best news is that there is no age limit to these accessories.

Cute, cute and cute ! I just love the name the of this unique children's clothing label 'Brusselsprouts', and their collection is divine, handcrafted by a mother daughter team Victoria and Kay in Australia. The designs matched with fresh, funky fabrics are simply stunning.

Their range feature pants and shorts for the little man and a range of dresses with my favourite being the 'pinnies'. I love these pinnies as they have been embellished with hand crocheted hems, buttons and brooches making these dresses unique.