Konfidence Swim Jacket

If your kids are learning to swim or you're looking for peace of mind on holiday then take a look at the Original Konfidence Float Jacket.

The Konfidence Swim Jacket is designed specifically to help children learn to swim and gain confidence in the water.

These swim vests for kids to adults feature removable floats to adjust the buoyancy of the swim jacket as the swimmer becomes more confident in the water.

The Konfidence Jacket promotes correct swimming position and helps both children and adults achieve a face forward position while swimming.

Green Resolution Competition Winner

Thank you so much for all your wonderful competition entries to win a ZPM Trolley-Dolly.
You're all winners for starting to make changes to the way you live and to reduce, reuse, recycle. We've taken a lot of inspiration from your ideas however our personal favourite has to be Ishy (see below under blog entries) for tackling the problem at source and shopping less and with organisation. Congratulations Ishy, the Trolley-Dolly has a handy holder for your shopping list as well!

Facebook entries
My greener year will involve donating boxes etc to our local schools to use for junk art etc etc as it brings loads of enjoyment to the kids (Julie Henderson).

We have different coloured bins in our playgroup to encourage the 3 & 4 year olds to help learn about recycling. We are going to introduce a yellow box for clothes next month also. We regularly organise a visit from the local recycling organisation to chat with the children - even us adults learn from this :) (Julie Henderson).

Really trying this year to get my daughter into recycling, we use the back of junk mail and cereal boxes as scrap paper. She uses old cards to make new ones.She also has her own little plants and we use bath water to water them,any clothes that don't fit her anymore she helps sort and take to the charity shop along with any toys she has outgrown, we have switched to lush soaps and shampoo's and she helps me sort out glass,plastic and paper into the right recycling bins and she loves to put scraps in the compost bin and see the worms (when its not frozen) (Amanda Ogden).

Our council does weekly recycling collections, but doesn't include us as we live in a flat, so I go & collect the council recycling bags myself & put them out where they can be collected. I've freecycled stuff. I've used lots of family / friends baby clothes - 95% of babies stuff is 2nd hand & am passing it all on. We're using cloth nappies, which I will be passing on - less landfill ;-) (Heather Davenport).

My 4 yr old and 6 yr old are in charge of the recycling in our house. They have to sort through the bags and boxes and make sure everything is in the right place. They understand that things cane be made into new things and love it! (Sarah Keery).

Twitter entries
When doing hand washing I keep the last rinsing water of the first batch to be the first rinsing water of the second batch. (beachrambler).

Instead of putting newspapers in recycle bin, I take them to my local rspca, as always needing them. (madbird32)

Ive given each of the kids a black & green bin, and they are recycling in their rooms. Start them young is my motto! (madmagz22).

Blog entries
As we have a garden & the others in our stair don't we decided to buy compost bins for the neighbours to use. Lots more compost for the garden & great for the enviroment too.
Coistycat said...
15/01/2010 14:11

A great way to recycle is by using different coloured boxes then you know what goes where & no tedious sorting before going to the recycling bank.
Coistycat said...
19/01/2010 23:25

My daughter is 10 and has made us all make green new years resolutions. She has also organised her school to start recycling drinks cans
julkenny222 said...
21/01/2010 13:44

collected the pallets from recent building supplies and fixed together to make a compost heap, slowing filling it with all the papers and veggie stuff and used tea bags can't wait to get the results. lottiegirlx
lottiegirl said...
21/01/2010 14:40

I have a composter in the garden, but to save so many trips into the garden in this horrid weather, i have invested in an under sink mini composter. I throw in there, everything that can be composted, and only need venture out into the rainy garden a couple of times a week. Seemples !!
@paulinepppp (Twitter)
Nicky Russell said...
22/01/2010 09:47

We always turn eveything off if we go out such as the tv, lights, heating etc rather than leaving things on or on standby. We've also got the energy saving lightbulbs all through the house
@Cat1980uk on Twitter
Catherine Gregory said...
22/01/2010 10:28

Ive been really thinking about this ever since I made my new years resolutions. The first thing I thought is dont buy un-necessary items in the first place. Just because I want them, do I actually need or will use them?! I now use lists to go shopping with and avoid the end of aisle special offers and also have been through the clothes in my wardrobe and donated to the charity shop anything I havent worn in over a year so someone else can appreciate them. This mentality saves money too! Also as a mini tip I use the paper shredding from work and home for my nephews hamster as bedding :D
Ishy said...
22/01/2010 10:39

My tips are to keep all your kids paintings througout the year and use as wrapping paper for birthdays and Christmas. Also if having a wedding/party etc instead of using cut flowers either use pots of plants or bulbs that can re-use in garden I did this with polyanthus in blue for my lads baptism and everytime I see them in the garden reminds me of a lovely day
kikicomp on twitter
Wendy said...
22/01/2010 10:44

Not so much recycling, but producing less waste. Every few weeks we purposely don't do a supermarket shop. We use up all the things that everyone has lurking in the freezer and cupboards. It's amazing how many great meals you can make if you're a bit inventive. This saves quite a bit of money too.
emily13 said...
22/01/2010 12:43

Hi I could only post with anon, but my name is sherie.
I always re cycle all my plastic cartons, and jars. Some Jars are really pretty and make nice vases. My plastic pots, like the ones used for yogart and jelly, and platic meat trays I use in the green house for seedlings.
Follow you on twitter @sherieannb.
Anonymous said...
22/01/2010 14:40

Sun Safe UV Clothing

A sure way to beat those January Blues is to start planning a Summer Getaway. These days sun protection clothing should be high on your list but that hasn't always been the case (see below).

This summer we think the Konfidence long sleeve UV hoodie will be a real winner (pictured above). All kids love a hoodie, so if your kids refuse to wear a hat or just keep losing them, this is your essential summer purchase (available in blue or pink, size 2-10 years).

We have a wide range of sun protection clothing for babies, kids and adults including suits, t-shirts, shorts and hats. Whether you choose Konfidence, SplashAbout, TWF or Zoggs there should be a style and colour to suit your needs.

Back in 1931 the swimsuit label Jantzen introduced its new “Sunnette” for young girls. The swimsuit consisted of short-style bottoms with thin straps over the shoulders to hold the bottoms in place with the chest left entirely bare. The new model was recommended for its “full body exposure to the healthful ultra-violet rays of the sun.” Needless to say, this swimsuit model is no longer popular or touted for its healthfulness!

We couldn't find a picture of the "Sunnette" but we did find a picture of the controversial topless bathing suit inspired by the "Sunnette" and brought to the world in 1964 by fashion designer Rudi Gernreich. One store alone in New York sold more than 3,000.

Anyone out there remember wearing one of these?

Who 'nose' what they'll be used for?

We were a little surprised to receive an order for 50 nose clips, especially as they weren't being shipped to a synchronized swimming club!

We came up with some suggestions, including occupants of a whole street wanting to block out the smell of the snow bound Christmas rubbish bins!

We were surprised to learn they were to be used in the name of medical research to simulate the effects of bronchitis.

Has anyone else used their nose clips for something other than swimming?

Haiti Earthquake Appeal

A devastating earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale struck Haiti on 12 January 2010, killing hundreds and affecting thousands more.

Please give what you can today to help thousands of people in desperate need of humanitarian assistance.

Make a Green Resolution

If you've made a New Year's Resolution to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, then we'd like to introduce you to a new friend of ours.

Zoe Phayre-Mudge, founder of ZPM recently bought some snorkelling equipment from FunSwimShop to take on holiday.

Although her family had an enjoyable time swimming and snorkelling in the Red Sea it was still sad to see so many plastic carrier bags and the damage caused to sealife and reefs.

Towards the end of last year the HEPCA announced the success of a campaign to make the Red Sea the first plastic bag free governorate in Eygpt but clearly there's still work to be done.

Zoe is no stranger to the issue of reducing plastic bags - two years ago she invented Trolley-Dolly a world-first, patented bag that means you can get a sizeable family shop home without a single plastic bag, even for your veg! Despairing at the pile of plastic bags she amassed after every weekly shop Zoe has created a bag with an amazing 20 bags inside. Enough to get approximately £ 200.00+ of shopping home. The strength and washability of the bags mean you can reuse, reuse and reuse. On top of that ZPM are known for their printed fabrics and as the outer carrier looks great it makes a wonderful day handbag!

ZPM have kindly offered a Trolley-Dolly as a competition prize. Simply leave a comment below or on our Facebook or Twitter page describing your recycling efforts for this year. The 'greenest' idea entered before 5.30pm on Friday 22 January 2010 will win a Trolley-Dolley. Happy shopping!

SNOW PHOTO COMPETITION WINNER!

Congratulations go to Mary Mullarkey (@madbird32) for her Slinky Snow Woman. She certainly is looking a bit pale and in need of a holiday! Perhaps the £20 prize voucher can go towards some UV protective clothing!

 A special mention to @lyndac123 for the most amazing photo of lovely Lily Allen but we had to award the prize to a photo with a swimming theme. Keep checking our competition page for more fun things to enter.

Baby Swimming Boom

A recent industry survey examined the growth of baby swimming in the UK over the past two years. Some participants confirmed increases as high as 75% in the number of babies taught.

Of most interest, the survey showed that you no longer have to wait until your baby is 6 months old before introducing them to water. A staggering 84% of schools offer classes for babies 6 months old or younger.

Seriously Fun Swim Babies for example take babies from 4 months to 3 years old.

The top five reasons why baby swimming has become so popular are:

1. It is fun!
2. You can do it as a family.
3. Helps develop a confident child.
4. Helps establish an active, fit and healthy lifestyle.
5. It is a life saving skill.

For a range of well fitting, comfortable and stylish baby swimwear please visit our specialist Baby Swimming Shop.

Evian Roller Babies

Where did they find roller skates that size?

We're thinking about organising our own version of the Evian watre babies vid from a few years back (see below), without the roller skates of course. The trick will be getting the babies to smile throughout the routine, well at least they'll have the latest baby swimwear to make them look the part :)

Lido fans enjoy snow swim

Not all of London is freezing cold, the heated Lido at London Fields in Hackney has temperatures of a very cosy 25 degrees.

Snow Photo Competition!

We know it's inconvenient but it won't last forever, so while things struggle to get back to normal let's have some fun! There are many snow photo competitions around at the moment but today we are looking for the best with a swimming theme. Dress your snowman in goggles, swim hat, snorkel and flippers, take a picture of your friends snow swimming (fully clothed please), or make snow sea creatures instead of a snowman.

Just email us your photo (carlalloyd@funswimshop.co.uk) – or upload it to either our Facebook page or twitpic with the hashtags #funswimshop #uksnow.

We’re giving away a £20 voucher with free first class delivery to the best snow photo we receive by 5pm on Friday 8th January 2010!

VAT Price Freeze

Prices held at 2009 VAT rate!
Cast your mind back to December 2008, when we were all hailing the Government's decision to reduce VAT from 17.5% to 15%.

Well, unfortunately those days were over as of the 1st January 2010 when VAT was reinstated back to 17.5%. However, to make things easier for our customers, we are freezing our prices at the 2009 15% rate.