shak-shuka

Haramaki Lover

Unfortunately I've been very naughty and neglecting our Friday posts a bit. I even forgot to announce the winner of last week's giveaway (hooray for Ms. Holland!). Too much work, not enough sleep, make for one snooze-friendly Friday. So let me share this post with you to help redeem myself a bit.

I meant to write a post about this AGES ago, and maybe now for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, it's a bit silly. When I used to go to the sento, or public baths, in Japan, I was amazed at these teeny-tiny women getting undressed and seeing what looked like a girdle. I mean - what does a 90lb woman need a waist-slimmer for?!!! Then I asked one of my Japanese friends who came with me, and she informed me that they're not waist slimming garments, but instead, haramaki, or waist warming garments! The belief is that the heat of the body escapes from the belly (which is true at least in my case when I sweat like a pig on my belly in the summer) and therefore this extra bit of warmth and protection will help keep you toasty on those cold days! This idea is more than perfect for the colder than cold Japanese winters, and for those of you who are expectant mamas, you can whip up these belly warmers and use it as a bellyband to cover the growing space between your tops and pants!

So even though I am not gifted enough to know how to make these from scratch without any help, helpful tutorials can be found here and here, and I *think* you could even make these by hand without a sewing machine. I've made a few in the past and love them in warm fleece or remnants from sweaters or sweatshirts. Get creative, and whip one up quickly before the snow has completely melted and you need a belly shirt and not a bellywarmer anymore!!

Fresh Spin on Organic Kids Clothing

I just can't help myself writing about our Spring/Summer collections. Normally I try to keep the boutique pimping to a minimum, but there are so many new and wonderful items to share that I just have to share since I'm bursting at the seams!

There is no better feeling to me then breaking the generalization of what eco-friendly, organic fashion is (think boring, brown potato sacks). Even better is when it's for the wee ones! Lucky lucky us that we get to scour the earth for the finest in organic fashion for kids, and we strive to bring our customers the coolest, chicest in organic duds. Here are some of our newest and brightest additions....

Jump, jump, jump for joy! It's been a long wait, but finally it's over as we now have the new Mini Rodini organic collection. For us this collection represents such a unique twist on organic kids fashion - I mean, whoever thought that panda prints and paint splatter would ever be on organic cotton?!! Such exciting stuff, and a ray of hope for us in love with eco-friendly materials, but not always the styles and (lack of) prints.

One of the very first clothing brands that we ever carried is still one of our favorites. Popupshop brings the minimalistic chic that they are famous for this season with more comfortable classics in their monochromatic scheme of grey, black and cream. We're so in love with these styles we're thinking of shrinking ourselves so that we can squeeze into some Popupshop ourselves!

For us, this brand feels like home, as it reflects the sandy beaches of Tel Aviv and the warmth of the sun. Ada Ada uses only natural fibers and eco-friendly dyes, and all the garments are made in a lovely factory which follows fair trade principles. Seeing this collection is a breath of fresh air in the world of children's clothing: from their comfortable and classic designs to their natural color palette.

Batter-licking Chocolate Chip Cookies

I used to be the person who HATED people to "help" me in the kitchen. Those days are gone now that I have a child. There are very few things that I get to do alone these days - wait a minute - I don't have any! Even bathroom breaks come with the "supervisor" making sure I know how to use the "potty" properly.....

But now my "supervisor" (aka my daughter) has become the best sous-chef a chef mama could ask for! Mixing, with hands and with a wooden spoon, are her specialties, and she does them very well. Best of all, we have perfected the art of making these chocolate chip cookies which are divine. Not too sweet, so you don't have to feel guilty giving them to the kids (or yourself), and best of all, you can safely eat the batter as there are not dairy or eggs! Yummy!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2cups flour (I like to use a mix of whole wheat and unbleached)

1/2c chocolate chips (we use dark, non-dairy)

1tsp baking powder

pinch of salt

1/2c coconut oil (or use any other flavorless oil)

1/2c liquid sweetener - I use a mix of maple syrup, agave syrup and a bit of rice syrup

1tsp vanilla extract

1/4-1/2c non-dairy milk (or use regular milk if you do dairy) or water

Preheat the oven to 175c/350f.

In a large bowl, mix all of the dry ingredients (the first 4 ingredients). This is a great time for the kids to get involved and help you "mix" or sift these ingredients together while you get the wet ingredients together. In the meantime, mix all of the liquid ingredients together so that they are fully combined.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In the large bowl with the dry mixture, make a small well and add the liquid ingredients. Mix well to combine, being sure not to over-mix. With 2 spoons or a small ice cream scoop, make small cookie shapes and place them about 1/2" apart.

Place the baking sheet with the cookies in the oven and cook for about 15 minutes (or until golden brown on the bottom of the cookies). Let cool on a drying rack and DEVOUR! Mmmm.......

Springtime Accessories

large necklace discovered via Oh Joy!

This in-between seasons time really kills me: all the stores have their new spring/summer collections, but the weather isn't quite up to par with those collections, meaning I'm still covered in layers of clothing. Oofa! I want my open-toed shoes and light cotton dresses! Patience is a virtue I haven't learned apparently.....

So in my quest to spruce up my spring-like wardrobe, I have been turning to accessories to get me in the mood. Scarves, belts, and even jewelry. Normally I am not a big jewelry person, not because I don't like it, but because I'm not really jewelry-savvy. I know what I like, but I don't always know how to combine it for a proper "look". Well, I've found necklaces that are so delicious, that you could practically wear them with nothing and that's a look on it's own (I'm not advocating wearing these necklaces in the buff, but who knows?!!). Kristin Klarin's necklaces are full of fun bubble beads, made from sustainably harvested wood that come in gorgeous shades. The lovely colors come from water-based paints and the beads dangle from a wax cord in a simple fashion that are so dead-on it makes for easy accessorizing for even this novice necklace wearer.  Currently sold out of most of the styles (boohoo!), Kristin Klarin has a new collection coming soon, so stay tuned to get your dose of spring!

Tea Time Ritual

There are very few daily rituals that I have, but my morning one is pretty sacred. The most important being my morning tea. I alternate between 2 different types of Japanese twig teas (sounds gross, but I really love the mellow flavor early in the a.m.) and relish as I hold my favorite mug in between my hands to welcome in the day. Ok, it's not always this serene, but I imagine it being this way as I type!

I've currently broken up with my usual go-to tea mug, and now I've started fluctuating between two that I'm not really keen on. Since this morning ritual is so important to me, I'm thinking that it's time to find a new favorite, as it really does brighten my day to have a beautiful way to welcome in the day. Low and behold - I found it! Isak makes the most beautiful porcelain, handle-less cups that I have ever laid eyes on. The best part being that there is no handle, which means you can use them for a myriad of things (think kids or adults snacking....) and I love that there is a sustainable oak lid as well. Not that I would probably ever use it to keep my beverage warm, but it would be a great coaster as my tea cools next to my computer in the morning! Isak has created my new tea time ritual.....

Best of all, Isak products will soon be available at Shak-Shuka! They had me convinced from these cups.....

Dollhouse Gone Green

It's beautiful to watch the progression of a child from baby to toddler. Many people choose to highlight the negative (think Terrible Two's), but I've found that this age comes with a wonder of positive discoveries. Most notably, and possibly the most fun for me, is the blossoming of the imagination. I've watched my daughter move from toys that do the playing for her, to toys (or even things which were never intended as toys) that she plays with in the most unusual ways!

Imagination is such an amazing part of being a child. I even wonder to myself: when does the imaginative part in all of us die and we become hard-core-realistic adults? No fun! What is fun is to watch my daughter play in her imaginary world, which currently includes lots of dolls and houses. Lucky for her (and me) we just received the new Recycle Mobile Home from Kidsonroof which gets 2 thumbs up from us. Made from recycled and biodegradable cardboard, this house is roomy enough for her medium sized dolls (no more teeny-tiny people to buy!) and she can place all of her other tchotchke-collectibles in her own Type-A way. Secretly I've been longing for this time when we can play with a dollhouse together, as it is one of my fondest memories as a child.

How great that my daughter can have this Mobile Home that is so eco and so portable?! Going to a friends house who doesn't have one - Recycle Mobile Home to the rescue.....meaning it lives up to it's name - mobile! I'm grateful to the playfulness of the Kidsonroof crew for keeping their imagination intact as adults and creating such wonderful playthings made from eco materials. May it inspire the imagination in all of us!

Roasted Chickpeas alla Cri

When I lived in Florence, my best friend and I used to go to the organic market happened once a month in Santo Spirito. Seriously, it's as if we LIVED for that market to come - we would debate: is it the first Sunday of the month, or the last? These are the debacles to deal with when living in Italy - the randomness of monthly markets and whether they fall on the first Sunday, second, or well, you get the idea here. My suggestion is just to pass by every Sunday to see if you're missing something.

Besides the wonderful soaps, potions and toys that we putzed over for ages, they had a great fruit and nut stand. My best friend would mull over the selection for ages, trying to pick out the best nosh of the season. Without a doubt, she almost always chose the roasted chickpeas. Or was that me? Maybe she bought it and I ate all of it, which means my memory is a bit fuzzy.......

So I've re-created a roasted chickpea recipe which is SUPER versatile. You can do it plain, with just salt (I recmomend a LOT of salt) or you can mix it up with a selection of spices. The best part is, that you can roast these and use them post-roast in salads and main dishes, or leave them to sit in the oven to roast and dry out a bit longer, so they turn quite hard and are perfect for snacking! Kind of like a dehydrator, but without the extra appliance!

Roasted Chickpeas

3 cups freshly cooked chickpeas, or 2 cans rinsed chickpeas

salt and pepper to taste

extra virgin olive oil

spicy spice selection: paprika, cumin, coriander, chili powder

Preheat the oven to 200c/400f. In the meantime, rinse and drain the chickpeas, and leave to dry as much as possible. Mix together the spice mix (is using), and prepare a baking sheet by putting the drained and dried chickpeas on it, drizzle with an abundant amount olive oil, and dust with salt and pepper. If using the spice mix, shake over all the chickpeas, and roll around so that all the chickpeas are coated in the mix.

Place in the oven, and cook til golden brown - about 20-25 minutes. If you want to use these in a salad, I recommend taking them out now. My favorite salad to do with these is: rucola, sun-dried tomatoes, sprinkled with these chickpeas. A perfect meal in itself!

Otherwise, if you want to use these as a noshing snack, turn off the oven, but leave them in overnight to dry out more. You will notice in the morning that they are nice and crisp, and if not (if you live in a humid environment this might be so) turn the oven on low, about 100c and dry them out again for 10 minutes, leaving them to cool in the oven. Poof! Chickpea nosh supreme. Make sure to keep it in a well-sealed container to preserve their freshness and all your hard work!!

Phyto Hair Food

I've been spending a lot of time in the health food store lately, not because we're eating more than usual, but because it's become a part-time playground for my daughter. She loves the water fountain in the front of the store, running through the aisles, and her favorite: organizing the soap shelves. Yes, she does actually organize and puts things back where she found them - it's scary and amazing to watch! Needless to say that means I've been spending my fair share of time in the beauty department....and probably for good reason....

Besides this being a brutal winter in terms of the length of time we've been bundled up in sweaters, coats and boots, but it's been brutal to my skin and hair as well. Permanently-run heaters, blisteringly cold wind, and general winter dryness have left my hair a in dry, frizzy mess. Thank goodness I've had time in the Health & Body department of our health food store to rediscover one of my old favorites! Phyto 7 is a classic dry hair remedy, a soothing blend of 7 plant extracts which transform my poofy, dried-out hair into an (almost) coif-like do. Amazing! But this winter I've called in the cavalry, the Phyto 9, which has 2 more plant extracts (hence the 9 instead of 7) and is for extremely dry hair, which, unfortunately describes my hair this winter. I used to use Phyto 7 back in the day, and loved using a dollop of the sweet smelling potion, and now find myself falling back in love with the Phyto 9 in the same way. Although now I discovered that the brand who makes Phyto 7 and 9, Phyto, also makes an extensive line of shampoos and conditioners which I will be testing over the next few weeks of winter. That's right, I saw WEEKS of winter - not months!!! (wishful thinking)

(Un)Cut Your Own Slippers

I think it's very telling about my lifestyle that I seem to wear out slippers more than any other form of footwear I own. Gone are the days of replacing heels for my stilettos, these days I'm burning the soles off my slippers, poking holes in my socks, and wearing "at home" wear more than I am any other form of clothing. Yes, I confess: I am an at-home kinda woman. I used to wish my mother would dress like Claire Huxtable (from the Cosby Show) but now I see what an unrealistic, hilarious request that was (from an angry teenager of course)....

The problem with most slippers are that they are made from not very environmentally friendly materials. Foam, plastic, filling - the works. Add to the fact that I end up burning through them in about 9 months or so, it makes my slipper carbon footprint (enter pun here) quite large. Hmm. What to do? Cut out my own slippers! The lovely Spanish brand Amor de Madre has come up with a unique solution to my eco slipper challenge: UnCut Slippers, made from 100% natural felt making it's cradle-to-cradle profile high on the green scale. The best part of these slippers (in my opinion) besides the eco factor, is that you cut them yourself to your size, so if you're like some people in my family (not naming any names....) who has one foot larger than the other, this is the footwear dreams are made of. Plus if you buy a pair, you can decide later whether or not you will give them as a gift or keep them for yourself depending on whether or not you bust out the scissors........to cut or not to cut??? I say buy two!

GRRReat Giveaway

It's been a while since we've had a giveaway, so we decided to come back with a GRRRReat one. Since having such a great response from the Babyccino Kids site about our Zid Zid Masks, we thought it was only fitting that we stick with the jungle animal theme. So, without further ado, our Embroidered Bag with Tiger (in sunny yellow to help bring in the summery weather!) is up for grabs. Perfect for the older kids (think ages 5 and up) or mama (perfect for those wallet and mobile phone dash-days), it's a crossover bag with style.

To win this lovely Embroidered Bag, simply sign up for our newsletter here, or if you already have, just leave a comment here below saying "Me2" and you'll be in the running. Giveaway ends midnight (GMT) Thursday, 11th March, so hurry hurry!