shak-shuka

Priti Hands + Feet

 

It's officially summertime which to me translates as "better get your mani/pedi done or you'll feel like a T-Rex running around". I love/hate this time of year where I feel more obliged to take care of my appearance because, well, there's more of me to see (usually I hide out in boots, jeans and slouchy sweaters the other 9 months of the year). Surely I'm not alone, so I'll share with you some of my summertime grooming tips.

No surprise, I'm officially addicted to Priti NYC's nail polish and soy remover which not only last forever, but also have the most neutral, even dare I say sweet smell (I think it smells like a cherry or a flower). But new to the Priti NYC family of products is the almond cuticle oil, 2-in-1 base/top coat and the glass nail file. First off, my cuticles on my fingers are always in the worst shape possible, and with a few drops of this almond cuticle oil, which also contains ginseng, my cuticles look back to normal. Once my cuticles are in shape, I feel brave enough to attack the nails themselves, and the glass nail file is so unbelievably gentle, even my fragile nails don't break and splinter like they do with normal files. Then, I slide on a coat of the 2-in-1 base/top coat which not only keeps my nails from yellowing, but also when I go to remove the polish, it makes it really easy to remove (am I the only one who has the most porous nails possible so that polish gets stuck to them for ions?!!). A few slicks of my favorite non-toxic Priti polish and I'm ready to go. Feeling half human again, the streets are safe again thanks to my gang of Priti NYC nail goods keeping my fingers and toes looking tip-top!

Wrap-n-Go Mat

The weather lately has been unbelievably good, which means we've been eating al fresco a lot. I personally love eating outdoors, when the sun is just starting to go down and casts a gentle glow (which happens to be my favorite lighting as it's super flattering!). I could do without the occasional mosquito, but if it's the only price I have to pay for beautiful weather, I'll take the bad with the good.

This weekend in particular we spent a lot of time outdoors, and even for lunchtime when we were at the "beach" (it's man-made so not sure it really counts). The problem that I'm sure most of you have is transporting sandwiches to an outdoor location. Most of the sandwiches that I make to take with us are on large sandwich rolls, and not on that perfectly sliced bread. I cringe at the thought of using plastic wrap, and aluminum foil is also not my best friend. It's wonderful to discover that there's an outdoor-eating-alternative for transporting your homemade food, thanks to the Wrap-n-Mat. It does exactly what it says: it wraps the food, seals it with a strip of velcro, and when you're ready to eat, you unfold it and it becomes a handy mat to eat your food on. Brilliant! Clearly thought out by people on the go like us. Best of all, it's BPA and lead free, and unfolds completely flat for easy washing. Wrap-n-Mat is now on my "warm weather" shopping list, and thankfully you can find it in many corners of the world for easy global dining!

Made by Joel, and Made by You

I'm probably not the only one who spends so much of their day perusing blogs, websites, online stores and the like, that all the information seems to get jumbled altogether. Sometimes I can recall a page or what the domain name looks like, but that's about all. Unless something incredibly exciting or interesting comes along, then I remember everything from the name, product or item and the outfit the person in wearing on the homepage. Yes, I am a bit freaky like that!

This is what happened to me when I fell upon the site Made by Joel which has some amazing craft ideas. The one that caught my eye (and brought me to the site) is the Paper City that they created and you can even print it out at home and create your own paper city! Forget going to the store to get an item you just saw online, this is instant gratification at it's finest! Usually craft websites are dingy and dusty looking, with equally pitiful photography, but Made by Joel could convert even the most un-crafty person go craft-zy. So go ahead, print out your own little Paper City and see where your imagination takes you - it could be Paris, Tokyo, Bombay, or even your own backyard. That's for you to decide and get creative!

Carry on Mee A Bee Bags

Ever since my daughter was about one year old, she was obsessed with bags, and anything to hang around her neck. The handbag thing I could deal with, but there was a brief stint of putting underwear around her neck which was obviously hilarious and disgusting at the same time. Gladly she's only into bags now, although now she's watching my every move, trying to do just what "mama does", including what bags I'm carrying.

I'm personally not a big "bag girl", as I'm more of a "shoe obsessed" type. So, when we head out, my bag of choice is usually a messenger style bag because I can't stand having a bag perched on my shoulder that I have to keep checking is still there. Naturally my "Mini Me" also wants to do the same, so she's taken to putting a tiny purse I gave her and squeezing her head into it and the bag rests around her neck like a choker-style-messenger bag. Well, no longer. Luckily I found Mee A Bee messenger style bags that are just perfect for kids (age 3-7) who want a messenger style bag when they're out and about. Made from eco-friendly fabrics (Oeko-tex approved) and formaldehyde-free straps, these bags are as safe as they are super cute. My daughter's favorite is currently the Ballerina, but she bounces back and forth between that and the Red Riding Hood. What's a girl to do - too many choices! Mee A Bee bags are made in Japan and you can tell with the attention to detail and adorable never-seen-before fabrics. Now when we're out and about, my daughter is more likely to get asked where she got her bag than I am! Hilarious!

Exclusive for our readers, today only, Mee A Bee bags are on *SALE* for €28 instead of €32.95! Enter code "MEE" at checkout: offer ends June 25th.

Summer Holiday Gazpacho

In my make-believe world, I split my summer holiday between Greece and hobnobbing with my friends in the Hamptons. One of my make-believe friends, the Barefoot Contessa, is always inviting me over for some scrumptious meal that she whipped up in the same amount of time that it takes me to go to the bathroom. One of my favorite dishes that she (ok, me) makes in the summer is her cooling gazpaho. Normally I'm not a gazpacho-kinda girl, but something that the Barefoot Contessa does just makes it more delicious. Maybe it's the intoxicating Hamptons air, her relaxing way in the kitchen, or the wonderful use of seasonal ingredients at their best. Any way you make it, it's delish.

Gazpacho nocoupons

• 1 cucumber, halved and seeded, but not peeled
• 2 red bell peppers, cored and seeded
• 4 plum tomatoes
• 1 red onion
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 23 ounces tomato juice (3 cups)
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup good olive oil
• 1/2 tablespoon kosher salt
• shot of Tabasco sauce (optional)
• 1 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

Roughly chop the cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes, and red onions into 1-inch cubes. Put each vegetable separately into a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse until it is coarsely chopped. Don't over blend it, or it will turn into a gazpacho smoothie/slushie that is really unappetizing to look at or eat. 

After each vegetable is processed, combine them in a large bowl and add the garlic, tomato juice, vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Mix well and chill before serving. The longer gazpacho sits, the more the flavors develop.

Our Walls Pining for Alef Betty

Phew! What a weekend I had - exciting to be at Bubble London trade show, but now coming back to reality isn't easy. It's fun to play the part of "business" lady for a while, but then when I come back home, it's a slap in the face getting back to the bump'n'grind of daily life as a mama/partner/biz owner. It's all about balance and not doing it all at the same time!

I wanted to share with you a beautiful find that I found via Twitter of all places - never underestimate the power of social media! If you know how to read or speak Hebrew, you will appreciate this post, as it encompasses the beauty of the Hebrew alphabet. Tsilli Pines is the designer behind Alef Betty (which is funny name because it's a play on the first two letters of the Hebrew alphabet "alef" and "bet") and creates some of the most captivating modern Hebrew art pieces I've ever seen. I love the idea of introducing my daughter to a part of her history with this gorgeous print, that also happens to have some serious eco credentials - like it's printed using soy inks and on recycled chipboard. My favorite happens to be the Blue Circle, but the trio is so great, I almost feel like I would have to have the entire set to be happy (because as you know, it's all about me!). And if you're feeling super excited about your Jewish roots (I don't mean your hair of course, which we all know is really blond!), you can also check out Tsili Pines beautifully modern Ketubahs (made especially for the Jewish couple getting married). Whether you're in it for a wedding or a simple addition to your naked walls, there is no doubt that Alef Betty and/or Tsili has something you'll be "pining" over.....

Paper Puppets Giveaway

We've been featured in press around the globe thanks to them, and now we have all the new styles of Furze Chan paper puppets at Shak-Shuka! Besides the fact that we're giddy with glee to have them in the store, we've also been creating impromptu puppet shows with our new friends - the Wallaby and Sheep - the newest additions. These stunners are not just for kids, but can be used in decor around the house, popping up in pots, hanging out in vases and standing up in a Japanese sand garden.

Why are we sharing all these ideas with you? Because we're giving away an entire set of Furze Chan paper puppets to one lucky winner! That's right - the sheep, wallaby, monkey, bear and fox can all be yours! We love to share and think it's only fair that some other people get to have a little bit of design-oriented fun. To win, simply sign up for our newsletter or leave a comment here if you're already a subscriber. As always, it's open to all our friends worldwide (just like our store!) and the deadline is June 25th when a winner will be chosen at random and announced here next Friday!

Fatoosh: Summertime Bread Salad

Yesterday was "one of those days" when I had too many things to get done, and unfortunately the blog fell on the bottom of the list. But alas I took a photo last night of our fave summertime dish with ingredients straight from our (totally urban) herb garden. I'm not giving exact amounts here, because I think it's important to use what you have in your fridge, garden or local market at the time. If you have never tried a bread salad, you are really missing out and this should be incentive enough for your to try it! Fatoosh is fun to say, but even better to eat......

Fatoosh (Middle Eastern Bread Salad)

old stale bread, preferably flat breads like from a Middle Eastern baker, cut into small pieces

fresh flat parsley, chopped

fresh mint, chopped

scallions, minced

red pepper, seeded and diced

tomatoes, seeded and diced

cucumber, seeded and diced

romaine or regular lettuce

radishes, thinly sliced

Dressing:

garlic, minced

lemons

sumac (a very lemony spice you find in Middle Eastern markets)

olive oil

salt to taste

In a bowl, place all the vegetables, leaving the tomatoes on the bottom (otherwise they will bleed their juice all over the other veggies). In an oven or the stove top, toast and dry out the stale bread until nice and crispy - think big croutons. In a bowl mix all the dressing ingredients together until emulsified. Place the toasted bread on top of all the vegetables in the large bowl, and then pour the dressing over the entire mixture. Toss well making sure everything gets coated with the dressing and the bread has absorbed a good amount of dressing. Taste and adjust for salt if needed. Serve immediately, otherwise you'll have a soggy bread salad, which no one likes! Goes great with a summertime barbecue.

Eco Drinkware for Kids

If you are at the same toddler phase that we are, you'll hear my pain. Our daughter is well beyond a bottle, a bit tired of the sippy cup, and therefore wants to drink from glasses any chance possible. Although it's great to see her be so independent and tipping her head back from a real glass, it's the glass part that makes me nervous! Clearly I can't let her run around with it, and I find myself spotting her like a cheerleader every time she shuffles around with it in her hand.

There has to be a better solution for the sippy cup+ers like us! There is, and it's thanks to an Australian company, EcoCocoon, who just happened to make some of the coolest stainless steel cups with children (and especially the phase we're at) in mind. For boys there are skateboarders, rockets and knights, and for girls there are fairies, butterflies and mermaids. Clearly my daughter is obsessed. Best of all, we don't have to worry that she's going to shatter or break a glass, or that it's made of plastic and is harmful to the environment and her. What I love about these cups is that they cup in packs of 6, and in a handy Neoprene (think wetsuit material) sleeve if you're on the go. EcoCocoon's cups are so great, I find myself using them more often than a regular glass in case I have a "butterfingers" kind of day!

Spice Up the Eco Boudoir

Yesterday I stumbled upon a famous lingerie maker's website (think someone's "Secret"), and thought to myself that it's a shame that there isn't a sexy eco lingerie company who could give them a run for their money. The lingerie industry is full of cheap, un-ethically made garments that are made from equally toxic materials. Even though the pictures (and ok, models) on the shall-remain-nameless lingerie site may make you want everything on their site, I don't like the idea of waters being polluted or sweatshop conditions on my private parts......

Thankfully the UK brand Eco Boudoir has sexy-as-hell lingerie that definitely will put the fire back in your relationship (if only with yourself!). Made from only organic cottons and naturally harvested silk, these are some pieces that you will be making a sound, ethical investment in. Beautiful chemises, kimono robes, and naturally the balcony-esque bras and panties that are seriously drool-worthy. And it's only fitting that we mention a lingerie company seeing as Father's Day is this coming weekend, so maybe Eco Boudoir could be solving two birds with one stone? One for you, one for him, one for you, one for him......