NB: This competition is now closed. Congratulations to our lucky winner Louise S.

Dear Readers,

Here’s a fabulous Christmas offer for a very limited time only!

**Win a Pair of Tickets to the Nutcracker Ballet at London Coliseum**

English National Ballet is offering a lucky reader the chance to win a pair of tickets to see Christmas favourite The Nutcracker at the London Coliseum. The tickets can be used for any performance* between Dec 26 and 30 2011.

Journey back in time with English National Ballet’s The Nutcracker to a frost-covered, gas lit London and join Clara, her Nutcracker doll and the magician Drosselmeyer in this traditional festive tale for all the family. In a world of Edwardian elegance sparkling with Swarovski crystal, The Nutcracker brings to life the eternally popular Tchaikovsky score featuring the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Waltz of the Flowers.

To win the tickets please answer the question:

What is the name of the famous fairy in The Nutcracker?

A) The Tooth Fairy
B) The Sugar Plum Fairy
C) Tinkerbell

Please send your answers to editor@babesabouttown.com. Hurry, competition closing date is Thursday Dec 22 at midnight!

Visit www.ballet.org.uk

*subject to availability

Image by Bill Cooper

And the winners are…

This beautiful designer teddy bear from Native Belle Boutique
goes to… Dejeniera Pygott

The entire collection of Herve Tullet’s Let’s Play Games series of books goes to… Pippa Ainsworth

This adorable Reindeer baby shoes and 100% cotton onesie Inch Blue goes to… Georgina Machray

Blossom and Jasmine’s at-home massage goes to… Sabrina Fancy

Jennie Maizels’ delightful Bird Print cushion and Clothes Plasters set goes to… Rachel Neill

Amoralia’s Nougatine Bra and Briefs and Nursing PJs worth £130 goes to… Zara Mahdi

1 Guy Fox Children’s Map and Create Your Own London Map set goes to… Elizabeth Burton

The 2nd Guy Fox Children’s Map and Create Your Own London Map set goes to… Louise Robinson

1 Bags of Love Photo Canvas of your favourite print goes to… Clare Thomson

The Time for Mums Photography for Parents and Baby course worth £129 goes to… Anna Tuckett

Runner-up prize of 10% discount for Time for Mums course goes to… Leo Hayden

The Thames RIB Speedboat adventure Canary Wharf Experience for a family of 4 worth £102 goes to… Emma Morgan

The Free Family Meal with lunch for 2 adults and 2 kids at Proud Kids Club Camden goes to… Gina Decio

And our star prize, the Caramel Baby & Child Koala coat worth £168 goes to… Ness Gorton

Congratulations to all our lucky winners! I’ll be sending confirmation emails out so please check your inbox and respond. Please note that if I don’t hear back from a winner before the end of the day, I’ll be forced to redraw.

Thanks to all of you who took part in the competition and a massive thank you to all our amazing sponsors who really blew us away with their generosity.

We’ve already got more fabulous prizes lining up for the New Year so be sure to follow Babes about Town via our email feed (see above) or on Twitter @Babesabouttown or Facebook for more updates!

Check this dude out.

I believe the word you’re looking for is dapper.

My 2-year-old is modelling the very coolest in Autumn/Winter kids’ fashion from delicious boutique Caramel Baby & Child.

We were sent sample loans of their unisex Koala coat in grey coating and their Lizard coat in tweed to review.

Cue a photo shoot in the local park that gave our little poseur a chance to show off his skills, while I got to test out the Camera+ app on my new iPhone (loving them both)!

As for the coats, I can’t work out which I prefer: the bear about town or the mini country gent look.

Both are 100% lambswool with quilted lining, elegantly tailored with front pockets and the Koala features a trendy penny collar.

The coats are ultra warm and as Jed tried each one on, it was all I could do to stop squeezing my baby koala long enough to take any photos.

Jed’s wearing size 4 samples but these coats come in ages 3 to 10 and are suitable for a boy or girl.

Caramel Baby & Child new ‘animal’ coats are seasonal staples with timeless appeal.

12 Days of Xmas Giveaways: Win a Caramel Baby & Child Koala Coat worth £168!

Our star prize in our 12 day giveaway is a beautiful designer coat from Caramel Baby & Child, the Koala coat in grey coating (top pic, unisex) available in ages 3 to 10, and free for one happy reader in our Christmas lucky dip.

Simply email us at editor@babesabouttown.com with the subject: 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways, your full name and address and the answer to this question:

What did my true love give to me on the 1st day of Xmas?

For full details of this competition, how you can increase your chances of winning and to see the entire prize list as it unfolds, read 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways

Visit www.caramel-shop.co.uk

Saturdays and Sundays in one of London’s hippest destinations has a family-friendly twist with the arrival of Proud Kids Club in Camden.

Located at Proud Galleries, the weekend dining club for families offers more than just crayons and colouring sheets to keep the kids entertained.

While mamas and papas kick back with a tasty lunch and vino, the bubbas are kept busy with performers, storytelling, cupcake decorating, crafts and more.

Babes about Town visited the club in its launch phase as Delicious Mummies and our boys had a whale of a time learning magic tricks and playing hide and seek in the teepee.

After burgers for lunch (the kids’ portions are generous to say the least), the boys had one last bounce on the beanbags.

Then we headed next door to the Gallery where we saw a live band jamming on stage against the backdrop of an evocative photo exhibition starring Ian Curtis of Joy Division.

Proud Kids Club is a cool hangout for families who want a mix of grown-up fun and kid-friendly action. Wind down post-lunch with a game of Wii or Playstation in the Stables or head out to Camden market to catch up on your Christmas shopping.

Proud Kids Club is on Sat-Sun, 12-4pm in the south gallery at Proud Camden, the Horse Hospital, Stables Market, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AH (Camden Town tube). Tel: 0207 482 3867.

12 Days of Xmas Giveaways: Win a Family Meal at Proud Kids Club Camden worth £61!

On Day 11 of our 12 Day giveaway, you can bag a Family meal for 4 (2 adults and 2 kids) including 2 courses and dessert plus a complimentary bottle of wine worth up to £61 as part of the Christmas lucky dip. NB: The meal must be pre-booked and taken by Jan 31, 2012.

Simply email us at editor@babesabouttown.com with the subject: 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways, your full name and address and the answer to this question:

What did my true love give to me on the 1st day of Xmas?

For full details of this competition, how you can increase your chances of winning and to see the entire prize list as it unfolds, read 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways

Visit www.proudcamden.com

We’ve had oodles of family fun around London this year but one of the most exciting things we did was riding a speedboat along the Thames.

It wasn’t just thrilling, it was thrillaxing.

We were invited on the Thames RIB Experience by travel company iExplore and my 5-year-old described it as the ‘funnest time ever’.

The speedboat takes you on a tour of the River Thames from the Embankment to Canary Wharf and back, giving you a unique vantage point of city attractions like the London Eye, Tower Bridge and the Golden Hinde.

There’s a cheeky tour guide and mood music (Hawaii 5-0!) and while part of the 1-hour tour is quite leisurely, other parts are pure white-knuckle rush.

Thames RIB speedboats are the ultimate adrenaline experience for all ages. Here’s a clip I shot on our ride – excuse the wobbly camera, I was clinging on tightly to my 2-year-old with the other hand!

12 Days of Xmas Giveaways: Win a Family Ticket on the Thames RIB Experience!

It’s Day 10 of our 12 Day giveaways and Thames Rib Experience has generously thrown in a Family Ticket (2 adults, 2 children) on their Canary Wharf Experience worth £102 to our Christmas lucky dip. NB: Passengers must weigh at least 15kg.

Simply email us at editor@babesabouttown.com with the subject: 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways, your full name and address and the answer to this question:

What did my true love give to me on the 1st day of Xmas?

For full details of this competition, how you can increase your chances of winning and to see the entire prize list as it unfolds, read 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways

Visit www.thamesribexperience.com

Time for Mums is a parenting business that’s right up our alley.

Founder Ania Wilk-Lawton set up the company with the express purpose of offering creative courses for new mums that are truly baby-friendly.

She launched the Time for Mums Photography for Parents course with great success in Surrey and Croydon and now she’s bringing this fantastic workshop series to two more London locations.

Starting in January at Special Yoga Centre in Kensal Rise (in association with the lovely West London Tots organisation) and at All Fired Up Cafe in East Dulwich, Photography for Parents offers mums and dads a chance to hone their camera skills under professional guidance.

So whether you’re a snap happy papa or a mamarazzi in progress, you can pick up new tips and tricks in the company of fellow parents and their bubba subjects.

Learn how to capture your baby in the best light and record all those precious moments before they’re lost for good.

This series of 5 x 90 minute workshops are aimed at both casual photographers and people wanting to enhance their knowledge and you should come armed with a DSLR or compact camera with manual settings ( A and S, or A and Tv).

We think Photography for Parents is a winning idea and the images shot by former students speak for themselves.

Time for Mums Photography for Parents courses run for 5 weeks and are currently available in 4 locations: Heaven in Nutfield, Surrey RH1; All Fired Up Cafe in East Dulwich, SE22; Beanies in Croydon, CRO; and Special Yoga Centre in Kensal Rise, NW10

12 Days of Xmas Giveaways: Win a Photography for Parents Course £129!

For Day 9 of our 12 Day Christmas raffle, we’re adding 1 Gift Voucher for a Photography for Parents Course worth £129 at a course location of your choice to our Xmas lucky dip. Ania is offering an additional 10% course discount to a runner-up.

Simply email us at editor@babesabouttown.com with the subject: 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways, your full name and address and the answer to this question:

What did my true love give to me on the 1st day of Xmas?

For full details of this competition, how you can increase your chances of winning and to see the entire prize list as it unfolds, read 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways

Visit www.timeformums.com

Photos by Penny Carolan Photography via Time for Mums web site

I was beyond thrilled when I received this adorable canvas featuring my two boys in the post and for ages I’ve wanted to share the love.

Bags of Love, to be precise.

The company transforms your beloved photographs into custom gifts ranging from wall art to cushions and deck chairs.

Order a photo canvas before 2pm and they’ll have it to you the SAME day.

So if you’re searching for a personalised Christmas gift for a loved one, but worried about timing, look no further.

A beautifully enlarged version of a beloved photograph is a simple idea that packs a seriously emotional punch.

12 Days of Xmas Giveaways: Win a Bags of Love Photo Canvas

On Day 8 of our 12 Day giveaway, we’re adding a 30×40 cm photo canvas
from Bags of Love to our (already bulging with treasures) Christmas raffle.

Simply email us at editor@babesabouttown.com with the subject: 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways, your full name and address and the answer to this question:

What did my true love give to me on the 1st day of Xmas?

For full details of this competition, how you can increase your chances of winning and to see the entire prize list as it unfolds, read 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways

Visit www.bagsoflove.co.uk

My little lad about town doesn’t leave home without his Guy Fox map. Especially since his mama can’t direct her way out of a toilet cubicle.

We’ve raved about the Guy Fox London Children’s Map and its big brother, the Create Your Own London Map before on the blog.

So we were thrilled when the Guy Fox team offered to add their loot to our Christmas raffle.

The London Children’s Map is a handy and accurate guide to the Capital that folds up to fit your back pocket or changing bag.

The Create Your Own London Map is a super sized version that features more than 200 stickers to let you build your own city, complete with major attractions, scenes, characters and vehicles.

Both maps are not only informative but loads of fun and keep the babes occupied for what seems like hours. #result

12 Days of Xmas Giveaways: Win a Guy Fox London Children’s Map AND Create Your Own London Map!

Our buddies at Guy Fox have kindly donated 2 sets of the London Children’s Map and Create Your Own London Map to our 12 Day Xmas lucky dip!

Simply email us at editor@babesabouttown.com with the subject: 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways, your full name and address and the answer to this question:

What did my true love give to me on the 1st day of Xmas?

For full details of this competition, how you can boost your chances of winning and to find out about upcoming prizes, please read 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways

Visit www.guyfox.org.uk

Pregnancy and nursing don’t always make you feel that sexy, what with all the morning sickness and leaky boobs.

So how about some luxurious lingerie, courtesy of top maternity brand Amoralia, to perk you up?

The wonderful thing about Amoralia is that you don’t need to be bumpy or even broody to appreciate the range.

Designer Jules Canterbury’s underwear is cut to flatter new mums at any stage, with a focus on helping you feel both comfortable and utterly yummy in your second skin.

Shake off the saggy boulder-holder blues with the award-winning, bestselling Nougatine Nursing Bra, loved by Rachel Weisz among other celebs.

Amoralia’s collection also includes fabulous nightwear such as this Nursing PJ Set with side panel for discreet breastfeeding, ruched front and stylish three-quarter length sleeves.

Lush for lounging while you flick through those baby catalogues!

12 Days of Xmas Giveaways: Win a Nougatine Bra & Briefs and Nursing PJ Set

For Day 6 of our 12 Day giveaway, Amoralia has generously offered 1 Nougatine Bra & Briefs set and a Nursing PJ Set worth £130 as part of our Xmas lucky dip.

Simply email us at editor@babesabouttown.com with the subject: 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways, your full name and address and the answer to this question:

What did my true love give to me on the 1st day of Xmas?

For full details of this competition, how you can boost your chances of winning and to find out about upcoming prizes, please read 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways

I would like to claim that I discovered Jennie Maizels but actually it was Jennie who found us and delighted us with an offer to check out her work.

The children’s book illustrator and designer extraordinaire has her finger in many pies, with a brand new kids’ book out as well as a new line of fabric prints on the market.

Jennie sent us her Pop-Up London book (Walker Books, £9.99) and this was an instant hit with my 5-year-old (and mama too).

It features London scenes and landmarks lovingly recreated in pop-up 3D structures, with Maisel’s intricate artwork and paper engineering by Richard Ferguson. The book’s packed with surprises and lift-up flaps for little hands to explore – although I’m very careful with the 2-year-old as I don’t want any torn pages!

In each section, you’ll find a mini-guide with a fascinating secret history of the area – it turns out that pretty much every major London building has its own ghost! This is a beautiful book that we spend ages poring over – Ezra especially loves racing Oxford vs. Cambridge boats along the Thames and going behind the scenes at Shakepeare’s Globe theatre.

Jennie Maizels’ Pop-Up London would make a treasured gift for anyone who loves the Capital, whether they’re local or just passing through.

Jennie also sent us a gorgeous London Calling fabric sample from her new home range for Linwood. I’m saving it as a wall hanging for the boys’ room.

And we got a set of her highly coveted Clothes Plasters – as featured by the Telegraph and Grazia.

Clothes Plasters are a fabulous idea, iron-on fabric patches embroidered in a range of designs that can be used to cover up holes or just to jazz up an outfit.

The boys feel too hip to skip in their plastered-up denim or jacket sleeves tattooed with guitars and cars.

12 Days of Xmas Giveaways: Win a Jennie Maizels Cushion & Clothes Plasters Set

For Day 5 of our 12 Day giveaway, Jennie Maizels is providing one reader with a Bird Print Cushion and Clothes Plasters set as part of our Xmas lucky dip.

Simply email us at editor@babesabouttown.com with the subject: 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways, your full name and address and the answer to this question:

What did my true love give to me on the 1st day of Xmas?

For full details of this competition, how you can increase your chances of winning and to see the entire prize list as it unfolds, read 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways

Visit www.jenniemaizels.com