shak-shuka

Sew you, sew me, sew it together naturally

Even before I got pregnant, the nesting instinct kicked in. In actuality, that's not completely true, as I had been shopping online one late night and discovered that one of my favorite clothing shops in NYC (Built by Wendy) started producing a line of patterns for Simplicity. I was ecstatic to say the least, as Built by Wendy's clothing is not always Built for My Wallet. Naturally I scooped up all of her patterns, and have been strutting "her" designs with my own personal touch - the good, the bad, and the ugly. After I finished with her patterns, I yearned for more and began purchasing vintage patterns and sewed myself into a tizzy. My husband made fun of me because no matter how hideous something I made was, I would still wear it, and he would say "just because you made it, doesn't mean you should like it or look good in it". To this day I have never sewn him anything and threaten to if he misbehaves. 

Since having a child I have steered away from making myself clothes, but have become quite thrifty at making things for the home (and baby). I made quite a few baby blankets, burb cloths, and a few tops. But my shining glory has to be this quilt that I made from a free pattern by the Midwestern fabric guru Amy Butler. I tweaked the pattern a bit as I was too lazy to make ALL of the blocks that she suggested, and since it was going to go in a baby's bed/crib anyways, I felt it didn't matter. I was really pleased with the results, and to this day it has a special place in her room. I mentally pat myself on the back for the job well done as it was my first quilting experience. 

Recently a friend of mine asked me to help her with her sewing machine, and it re-peaked my interest in sewing. Although now I have to chase after a toddler all day and have to be silent at night (we have a tiny apartment), I decided to make a project that was small and easy enough for me to do within a napping time frame. I realized something that we actually needed was a flat sheet for my daughter's crib, so I just picked out some fabric (from my insanely large stash) that I had, and measured it compared to another sheet that we had. The size of the sheet was 1m x 1.5m and all I had to do was hem the top and bottom because I actually liked the look of the selvage edge. Poof! In 10 minutes flat, I had a new flat sheet. I was really tired of the itchy, expensive sheets they sold in stores, and this was a much nicer, softer fabric, and handmade by me, even if it took almost no sewing time at all!

I think that sewing is really great because you will have an item that no one else has (see my husband's comments before!), you can re-use things such as sheets, pillowcases and the like to fashion into something completely different, and it really puts your creative juices to work. I consider it super eco-friendly as you're not consuming, your producing! You're self-sufficient, like having your own garden!

Since I do very little "free flowing" sewing without patterns, here are a few of my favorite pattern or tutorial websites:

http://www.burdastyle.com/

http://www.builtbywendy.com/onlineshop/cart.php?target=main&page=builtbyyou

http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/mainmenu.php

http://www.fitzpatterns.com/

Ain't No Wallflower

I was flipping through a magazine the other day, and came upon this great photo of a children's room decorated beautifully. Rather than put up as many tacky, bright, obnoxious things as possible, there was a minimal feel to the room, as if it could even pass for an adult's room (minus the miniature sized everything!). I am not one for the hot pinks and fluorescent oranges, but instead for a color palette that resembles a toned down version of colors you would find at the sea - delicate blues, greens, yellows, and even pastels, but not in that Pepto-Bismol-y way.

 

What was really funny about this magazine photo is that the main object in the room was a huge tree wallpaper that covered almost the entire wall. I instantly recognized the designer (Inke), because we also have some of her pieces in our nursery! Inke is a Dutch designer who uses vintage (translation:old!) wallpaper and cuts them into huge animal shapes such as the enormous tree as mentioned before, elephant, birds, and a giraffe which is in our nursery. You can choose from an array of patterns which I think are all amazing. You can also choose which way the animal is looking! This all makes picking out the animal of your choice easy, as I could spend all day re-evaluating the patterns and designs. We went for a theme of plums, blues, dark pinks - a color palette that we thought would be suitable for a boys or girls room. 

Nowadays there are a lot of companies out there making wall stickers and murals, but I personally find Inke's designs to be really unique and inventive, whereas often times those stickers can look cheap and have a mass-produced feel. So even though I have seen in magazines the same "beasts" which decorate our walls, every time I am in our nursery, it still feels very personal as I chose both the animal and the pattern myself. Currently I'm working on convincing my husband that it's a good idea to invest in the huge tree pattern and decorate the remaining wall with it (complete with birdhouse nightlight)! Stay tuned!!

http://www.inke.nl/

Bello, Bruto, Finocchio (Fennel)

When I was living in Italy, I quickly became aware of the concept of seasonal produce. Unlike in the US you cannot get produce "your way, right away" any time of year, and you begin to understand what vegetables are supposed to taste like when they're in season. Don't get me wrong, there are times when I just crave a tomato and buy whatever I can get, but I know that a November tomato will taste distinctly different than a sun-ripened July/August tomato.

I remember when I arrived in Italy, it was asparagus season, and I think that I ate asparagus nearly every day while it was in season, and in every possible way - grilled, steamed, sauteed, and baked. That connection to the seasons and to the cycle of the earth was, and still is one of the greatest gifts I've been given to date. 

Nowadays when I receive my beautiful box of weekly delivered veggies (provided by Bio Aan Huis), I am often times thrown a curveball - celery root, beets, cabbage. One veggie that has been popping up in my box is fennel. I am not a lover of root vegetables, so I won't lie: I had to learn to love this vegetable. It's got that funky hair on top, taste mildly of anise, and looks like an onion on steroids. But ever since living in Italy and watching how they do wonderous things with it, I knew I could learn to love it too!

Here are what I'll be whipping up with the fennel that's been rolling around my veggie box. And these recipes are quick: because even though I love the idea of the slow movement and slaving over a hot stove all day, I'm a realist and need to get food on the table ASAP!

 

1/White Bean and Fennel Salad

(I watched a security "guard" of a parking garage in Florence whip this salad up on his make-shift table and paring knife. I tried it at home and this has become my fennel-schtick-dish)

1 bulb fennel

1 can of cannellini white beans, or about 1.5 cups homemade cooked beans

good quality extra virgin olive oil, add as much or little as you like

fronds (furry hairs on top) of the fennel to garnish

salt and pepper to taste

This seems impossible, but this is the recipe. Just cut the fennel as thinly as possible with a knife or using a mandoline. If you cut it by hand, cut it lengthwise from top to bottom cutting into fine slivers, otherwise the fennel face is really overwhelming. Once the fennel is cut, add the rinsed, cooked white beans and a generous helping of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and sprinkle on the fennel fronds for garnish. Done! Facilissimo!

2/Winter Cole Slaw

(I adapted this recipe from Jamie Oliver's that is available on his website. It can be made vegan or dairy-friendly)

1 bulb fennel

1-2 carrots

1/2 head of cabbage, red or white

1 small onion

1 small bunch of radishes, or a small piece of celeriac

1 cup plain yogurt (soy (NO SUGAR!) or dairy)

1 lemon, juiced

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

mix of fresh herbs, choose what you have - the fennel fronds, parsley, chervil, tarragon

extra virgin olive oil - I will always leave this for you to decide, as I have a heavy hand with the oil...just do it til you think it tastes goooooood!

salt and pepper to taste

Shred the carrots, fennel, cabbage, onion, and your choice of radishes or celeriac (you can either do this "old school" style with a stand-up grater/slicer, but it's much easier if you have a food processor with the shredding blade). Put the vegetables in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix half the lemon juice, the extra virgin olive oil, the chopped herbs, yogurt and mustard. Pour this dressing over the vegetables and mix well to coat everything. Season to taste with salt and pepper and the rest of the lemon juice if you like. 

3/Lil'Ones Veggie Soup

(Surprisingly, I can always get my daughter to eat this, no matter how stubborn she's being. It has just a hint of fennel-y flavor, and adds to the standard flavors of a boring veg soup)

1 onion or leek, diced

1 stalk celery, diced

1 large carrot, diced

1/2 small bulb fennel, diced

small bunch of parsley, finely chopped (not essential, but parsley is a great source of Vit C)

bay leaf

about 2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

sprinkle of thyme, or other dried herbs of choice

Cut the onion into a small dice and saute in the olive oil until translucent (about 5 minutes). Then add the diced celery, carrot and fennel, stirring to coat the veggies in the oil. Saute the veggies for a few minutes, then add the bay leaf and dried herbs of choice. Add about 2-3 cups of water, or until you see a consistency that you like (for instance, I like my soups thicker than average). Bring the soup to a simmer, and cook for about 20 minutes. Close to the finishing time, add the chopped parsley. Remove the bay leaf, and VOILA! you have fresh veggie soup. Make sure to add salt and pepper to taste. 

If you have a little in your life (I think it's best to puree it for a child under one year old), this soup can easily be made into a puree by using a handheld blender, as the chunkier texture is easier to swallow than bits of veggies. You can also get inventive and add leftover rice, chicken, pasta, or float some parmesan toasts on top. 

Glamour-a-mama

One of the things that I find most annoying when trying to buy organic clothing is that it's always the same thing: cotton tees, sweatpants, and tank tops. It only reinforces the idea that people who are trying to "go green" apparently only wear things that keep them yoga or tai-chi ready. Although I love the feel of a silky bamboo shirt as the next girl, I sometimes crave for something a bit edgier, a bit more of a "splurge" piece instead of, what my mother would refer to as "bangin' around the house" clothes. 

Usually most of my day I am suited up in vintage (YES! old is the new "new"!) and American Apparel duds as I stroll around town or walk the dog. Occasionally I feel like I want to recapture that pre-mama-stiletto-heel-wearing-glamour of mine, and this is when the UK label Edun comes to mind. Edun is a sustainable fashion company which uses natural fabrics such as silk, wool and cotton, most of which are organic. The owner of the company, Ali Hewson, is the wife of Bono - so I imagine she didn't have to beg and plead for seed money to start up this venture. But no matter who she is, I like what she's cranking out. Her dresses are my favorite, and in winter she makes cuddly soft sweaters that rival a fuzzy kitten. So even though I'm usually in the comfortable motherly uniform, I could easily throw on one of Edun's pieces and not feel under nor overdressed, just a more eco-fabulous version of the same old me. 

http://www.edunonline.com/

Obsession Numero 2

I have to admit that as I am trying to keep my consumption to a minimum for the sake of the planet, there are a few things that I am addicted to. Beauty products are one of them (not to mention: shoes, a-line dresses, coats), and the more natural the better. Anything in slick packaging will catch my eye, even if it's for wart remover. I try to be more discerning these days with all the "organic", "natural" mumbo-jumbo. A lot of companies out there claim that their products are "natural" even if the ingredients tell a different story. There is no labelling or certification on what companies can/can't claim on their products, so customers trying to make a more ethical choice might get sucked into the advertising schtick to "greenify" their products. Here is a short list of a few companies here that I know are very environmentally friendly, do not test on animals, and not only are the products deliciously packaged, they actually work as good as they look:

Ren (UK)

Dr Hauschka (Germany)

Suzanne aux Bains (France)

Neals Yard Remedies (UK)

Pangea Organics (USA)

Suki (US)

Aesop (Australia)

Trilogy (New Zealand)

One of my favorites has to be Aesop from Australia. I used to work at the fancy-schmancy Bliss Spa in NYC, and Aesop was one of my favorite companies that we carried there. All the products were in glass (better for the environment than MORE plastic!) and the packaging was reminiscent of old apothecary labels. They had this products "Resurrection Hand Balm" which I was ADDICTED to and would slather on at any given moment (which means I didn't get a lot of work done...). Lucky enough for me, I now have a wonderful friend from Australia who will be my Aesop mule and bring me back my newly coveted item - the "Damascan Rose Facial Treatment". After I read the description, I was instantly hooked and obsessed:

I mean, it clearly states that it yields immediate results, so who's not buying it? I sure am....

Vitamin-rich moisturising treatment for dry, very dry or stressed skin.
Can a rose bloom in the desert? Yes it can. Sufferers of dry and failing skin, or skin depleted by stress or poor environment can turn here for comfort and relief. This sublime and precious blend of rich and readily absorbed seed extracts is completely free of artificial preservatives. Boosted with exquisite Violet Leaf, Neroli Blossom and the queen of botanicals, Damascan Rose. One application yields immediate benefits. Use every other night after cleansing.

Mean, Green, Cleaning Machine

Even though I am not always the tidiest of persons, I was surprised when a friend of mine contacted me for cleaning advice. Green, cleaning advise that is. She had just moved into a new house that had fleas in the carpets and she wanted me to give her natural options as opposed to "bombing" her entire house. I didn't know if I should be flattered that she thought of me as being so knowledgeable and green, or hide myself with shame as only I could understand how to control fleas (seeing as we have a 150 lb St Bernard). I gave her all the tips that I had, and she emerged (or so she told me) flea-free. 

I am always on the look out for cleaner, greener products. One of my favorite good ol' standbys that does almost EVERYTHING is baking soda. You can use it as an abrasive cleaner, sprinkle it on the carpet/rugs before you vacuum, and my favorite: pour half a box of baking soda in a clogged drain, then follow with plain white vinegar: it will gurgle, so close it off with something like a plunger, and once it no longer makes a bubbling noise, uncover it and pour SCOLDING hot water down. It keeps my scary looking drains super clean!

My other favorite is white vinegar. Buy the cheapest you can find, and use it in the method above, to polish windows, or my favorite is to use it as a fabric softener. I got really tired of how much film regular fabric softener left on my clothes, so I now put in about a 1/4 cup of white vinegar with a few drops of essential oil (I usually choose lavender or chamomile). It works like a charm, and no, nothing comes out smelling like pickles.

Recently I discovered a new brand of eco-cleaning products that they sell here in the Netherlands that is from New Zealand: B.E.E. The packaging is very sleek and minimal, which actually had me thinking it was a "traditional" cleaning product for the elite. Instead it was made with biodegradable ingredients and essential oils! For now I'm working on the "Trust Me with your Delicates" detergent, but I will be slowly chipping away at their entire product line. The delicates laundry detergent already has me eagerly washing the mountain of delicates I've been neglecting for ages. Good excuse to get some cleaning done!

http://www.bee.net.nz/products.html

Stroll me in that - please!!

For some reason, I have been given the gift of random luck with search engines. Sometimes I feel as though Google should hire me: give me a word or item to find, and then time me to see how long it takes for me to find it. I'm like an online bloodhound! Languagues, currencies, pop-ups, nothing stops me from finding what I'm on the hunt for....

So when I came upon this baby stroller, I discovered something I didn't even know I wanted! I thought that I was happy and content with the choices of baby goods that I purchased, but every once in a while I see something SO COOL I could slap myself for buying anything else. 

This new Taga stroller is really great for living in bike-friendly cities, as I always see parents (like me) struggle with bags, strollers, babies and the like - all while trying to get on/ride/off the bike. This stroller "seems" (I've never seen it nor tested it....yet) to be a great solution, and it looks so comfy I wish I could ride in it too. Come to think of it, maybe I'll check the weight restrictions. One word for this stroller - WEEEEEEEEEEEE!

http://www.taga.nl/

Taga Stroller

Nuts about nut butter

As any parent knows, when one of their child's favorite foods is a healthy one, it's like winning the lottery. "What? You don't want these corn chips, you want these carrot sticks?!!!" Ok maybe that scenario doesn't happen as often, but I was blind-sided to find out that one of my daughter's favorite foods is cashew butter. 

Now I suppose you might not consider it a health food because of all the fat, but for a growing child (who is not allergic to nuts) it's spot-on for their growing needs. The best part is you can schmeer it on a lot of foods to get her to try things she wouldn't normally - like apples, crackers, even vegetables. Her preferred way of eating it is straight off the spoon, with the spoon dangling from her mouth like she's eating a lollipop. It's really hilarious. When she's done, she'll grunt towards the jar of nut butter begging for more which prompts me to this post:

This morning the unthinkable happened: I ran out of cashew butter! Quick! Think! How do you make cashew butter? Lucky for me I ordered some organic cashews in bulk and they were in the freezer, so I geared up the oven to about 350F/175C and put the cashews (roughly 2 cups) on a baking sheet, and once the oven was warm enough, I popped them in. 

After the cashews got good and warm, about 15 minutes, I quickly took them off the baking sheet and into the blender. Now, I don't have one of those fancy "raw foods" Master Blenders, but it's a decent one that does the trick. So don't be put-off if you have a regular blender, as they work just as well, you just have to let it grind for a good amount of time. I blitzed the cashews for about 1 minute before I dropped some organic extra-virgin coconut oil to help homogenize it all a bit. Once I added the oil it all started to come together like a cashew butter, and leaving the engine running for about 5 minutes, VOILA! I had cashew butter and went running with the "lollipop" spoon beaming to my daughter to show her "LOOK LOOK what Mama made". 

Her devouring the cashew butter was my reward. 

Quick recap:

*one bag of cashews, roughly 2 cups

*about 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, or neutral flavored oil

Toast cashews on a baking sheet for about 15 minutes at 350f/175c. Once warm and toasted, take the cashews and put them directly into a blender. Start the blender and blitz on high until they start to really break down into a paste, and depending on how much you need to get a homogenous paste, add coconut oil. Once you add the bit of oil, keep the blender on high until the mix will start to get really smooth and buttery. 

POOF! You're done! You've just made your first batch of cashew butter. Well done! (Note: this also works with most other nuts/seeds, so try it out for yourself)

Am I an Earth Angel?

I would like to think so, but I'm sure I'm not. One thing I am sure of is that I wish I had known about this company (and the foresight that I would end up having a c-section, as they have their own post-c-section kit) before I gave birth, as I would have snatched up all the products. Although the name is a bit sappy-sweet for me (Earth Angel Mama Baby), the products really do what they say, and they are as natural as can be. Just like your angel baby, and yes, the angel mama! 

And if you don't believe me, even celebs are jumping on the EarthAngelMamaBaby bandwagon, as Gywnie (my girl Gwyneth Paltrow) reportedly uses the same Natural Stretch Oil that I used. who knew we had so much in common!!! 

www.earthangelmamababy.com

Obsession Numero 1

These shoes are the same ones that you see ALL OVER Spain - the ones that the cool, hip people wear with the back of the shoe flattened like a pancake to achieve more of a slip-on look than a real shoe. I purchased a pair in Spain and Argentina, and wore one pair to death, while the other ones had an untimely passing since the bottom is made out of jute and does not fair well with Dutch rainy monsoon weather.

So now that the warm weather is (I PRAY I PRAY!) approaching, I've been thinking about my dear ol' shoes and wondering when I'll get a new pair. I've seen these shoes online AGES ago, but recently got word that they've come out with a boot version of the shoe. Even more interesting! This company, Toms, is quite unique in the aspect that they donate a pair of shoes to disadvantaged children in Argentina (and now I believe in Africa too) for every pair sold. Good to know that if you give yourself a gift of shoes that someone else will benefit. That justifies buying two pairs then, don't ya think???

www.tomsshoes.com