In this series of articles I will give you a review of a variety of the educational toys for babies’ birth to six months available now. You can find these toys in toy shops and online nationwide.

The Manhattan Toy – Winkel

This toy is suitable from birth to six months of age. The Manhattan Toy was created to captivate your baby’s imagination with bright colors, and fun loops. The stunning colours in this toy make it a perennial favorite. Babies will be engaged and amused by the responsive rattle. You can safely refrigerate the pliable plastic toy to produce a teething device. The clever teether can also be frozen to soothe painful gums. Educational benefits of this toy include:

• Develops fine motor skills

• Encourages gross motor activity

• Helps develop eye-hand coordination

• It is visually stimulating

The Corolle Miss Grenadine Doll

This is an interesting looking doll measuring 4.5” in diameter. Colors vary. Miss Grenadine is a soft doll for babies. She has a soft face and body and a soft scent of vanilla (very soothing scent for little babies). She mainly wears an orange, pink and red dress; with a hood and pink shoes to match (colors may vary however, but will always be matching color combinations). Educational benefits of this doll include:

• To delight baby and encourage emerging senses

These first dolls created by Corolle conform to all applicable safety standards and are easy to care for. They measure approximately 10” long, are machine-washable on a gentle cycle. You can wash these little dolls right along with baby’s other washables.

Manhattan Toy – Mini Whoozit Plush Toy

This toy is a friendly looking creature, makes funny noises and surprises. The toy includes a peek-a-boo mirror under its nose. It can be put on the stroller, the crib or a high chair. The changing creature is many toys in one and small enough to take along anywhere.

Manhattan Toy – Whoozit Water Mat

This is an eye-catching mat that makes the most of tummy-time play. The mat is easy to fill with water and features floating foam pieces that move when baby touches the mat. Educational benefits include:

• Cause-and-effect learning

• Encourages baby to watch and touch while developing gross-motor skills

The Manhattan Toy – Tizoo Baby Whoozit Plushy Toy

This toy has a friendly looking face that will make you giggle! It is a whimsical character that gives babies a lot to do. The Whoozit is pink with yellow flowers, a big purple nose, and yellow smile and shaped like a heart. It attaches to highchairs and strollers with the Velcro strap and measures approximately 5” diameter. Educational benefits include:

• The bright colors and high-contrast patterns provide visual stimulation

• Hidden noise makers that include rattles, squeakers and crinkle paper delight the ears of little ones • A variety of textured fabrics keep busy hands occupied

Every month, a different manufacturers comes up with the new "latest must have digital camera" this must have piece of digital photographic wizardry specifically designed to wrestle us from our cash.

If we listened to the manufactures hype, we would need to buy a new camera every month to keep up with the latest digital camera trends and features.

What we should be asking is what is it that you need in a camera to partner with your skill as a photographer for the long game. There is a point where the technology that you hold in your hand is not going to improve your photography.

Therefore, what goes into the definition of the best digital camera?

MEGA-PIXELS.
At the top of the list has to be mega pixel, the more mega pixels you have the better the image is going to be. With the average mega pixels rising with the top Digital SLR camera having 39 mega pixels which is an enormous amount of mega pixels I would say for Mr average Joe hobbyist photographer 8 – 9 mega pixel is more then enough and if you are more serious then look at the 12 mega pixel plus models

LCD SIZE.
A large LCD screen is a must, Being able to frame your subject correctly and being able to instantly review any shots taken is a god send and will save you time when it comes to downloading and printing the digital images.

ZOOM.
Most digital cameras come with both digital and optical zoom. Optical zoom always beats digital zoom. Digital cameras normally have an optical zoom of between 3x to 10x. The better the optical zoom, the better the camera

MEMORY CARD.

There are different types of memory card like the xD, SD, Flash card and the likes. In addition, these types of memory cards go with certain types of digital cameras. Of course, memory storage is also part of choosing the best digital cameras. Bigger memory is always better with the cost of memory cards coming down go on splash out I would not bother with anything smaller then a 256 MB card

The point is to find the best digital camera for you and the way you are going to use it, it’s a horses for courses scenario, you don’t want the latest digital SLR for taking snaps of the dog and kids. if you are serious about being a professional photographer your not going to get very far with a point and click. Step away from the hype and do not let the marketing guys do your thinking for you. You need to be pragmatic and think what do you need from the camera by taking this approach you could save yourself loads of cash and get yourself a digital camera that fits you like a glove.

Firstly, I apologize. I should have written this sooner.

Secondly, allow me to elaborate on your questions. Have I heard of Chung Shi? Yes, I have. They have become fairly popular over the past few years. One of their big selling points was being a shoe designed to combat cellulite. Do I have a pair? Yes. I bought a pair some time ago. Do I like them? Well...i guess my honest opinion at the moment is no. They are slowly gathering dust in my bedroom cupboard. It's a shame really as they do look like a really nice pair of shoes, it's just i've found them hard to use.

Firstly, I am a follower of oriental heritage, and as such believed that buying a pair of these shoes would enhance my image within my circle of friends. I bought my pair of Chung Shi's, and went to find out a little more about them, and I found out that they are actually German. Not very oriental. In defense of their competitor, MBT, they do follow their Swiss branding.

I have flat feet, so I would be of the opinion that a company as popular as Chung Shi would have something for me. I found the the shoes are the most impossible to wear unless your feet have the appropriate angles. Considering my flat feet I am now unable to access Chung Shi's supposed benefit in being able to lose weight whilst standing still, at least, not without breaking my feet in. So I'd have to go through the process of getting my feet used to the shoes, which may take a very long time, by which time the warranty will run out and render me unable to replace them.

Lastly, the price is a little high. I have had to experience being told the shoes are not even oriental in origin, and the fact that my feet need to be painfully goaded with them. For this, I paid £133.99. Not far off an eighth of my monthly payslip on a pair of shoes that to be honest look like they should be priced a little lower.

On a positive note, the shoes do look a little better than MBT's so when I have been able to wear them I have not been looking like a Spice Girl! Make your own mind up.....there are plenty of these shoes around these days.

Who is Spoylt? SPOYLT, is a line by Barbara Brudenell-Bruce and it is located in London, UK & New York USA.

Brudenell-Bruce studied as a make up artist and worked for Shiseido Cosmetics in the era of the famed Creative Director Serge Lutens. Later studying interior design at the London School of Design before creating Spoylt

Her style is aimed at confident aspirational women who once introduced to Spoylt will consider the lingerie as an essential investment for every aspect of their wardrobe and lives. Each piece of Spoylt lingerie is both covetable and collectible, and is made from the most luxurious of fabrics to ensure they fit perfectly to make you look and feel truly special.

Barbara Brudenell-Bruce is originally from New Zealand, she relocated to London in 1991 and following a successful career in business returned to her greatest love, fashion, creating the Anglo-American Spoylt in 2003 making a dramatic mark on the luxury lingerie market.

Spoylt is a favourite of some of the hottest favourites including Madonna, Courtney Cox Arquette, Charlize Theron, Deborah Messing and the cast of Desperate Housewives.

Passion Balconnette Bra

Unique detailing:

This sensuous bra feels like pure silk and despite being a bold vibrant red, the carefully considered cup detailing and attention to straps creates a bra that is both elegant and striking. The bow on the centre front draws attention to the cleavage without being too overpowering. It is an under-wired bra in crimson satin with ruffles and centre bow. Fabric is 92% polyester, 8% elastane, by Boselli, Italy.

Review:

I think this bra is beautiful! I’m not usually a fan of red bras but this is definitely one of my favourites! Great attention to detail makes this bra look chic and stylish despite being a bold colour. I love the gathered detailing on the cups and teamed with the choice of fabric makes it a definite must have! This bra is simple but sexy and the ruched straps add interest to the back. The padded cups create a lovely natural shape and the general fit of this bra is super, it will definitely suit most woman! The underwiring adds very good support and it is sexy and sensous but simple, I love it! To match the Spoylt Passion Bra there is the Hipster Briefs.