shak-shuka

Rockin' Chair Style

Do you remember back in the day when you really liked something, your friends (think 7 years+) would reply: "well if you like ___ so much, then why don't you just marry it?". Well, if that was said to me today, I would marry the internet! So many amazing people, brands and knowledge has been introduced to me, that I feel like I want to (and do) spend each and every day with your internet! I do, I do, I do!

Why do I love the internet? Because it allows me to "bump" into amazing brands like Olli Ella. Before Baby Shuka was born, I had looked for a proper rocking chair because I knew I, as well as the baby, would enjoy some rockin' times. The problem was the beautiful antique chairs looked, too, well - antique-y and uncomfortable, while the new versions looks like giant, ugly pillows out to eat you when you sat down. Oofa. Alas, I settled for a cross-breed between the two and was very unhappy (not to mention my back). So thank you to Olli Ella for creating a beautiful hybrid of a rocking chair that doesn't look too rocking chair-ish (perfect for post-baby) but gets the rockin' done when you need it (love that it "glides" more than a violent rocking motion). And, keep it simple why don't you? As if Olli Ella read my mind, they have 2 versions which are equally stunning: Mo-Ma and Da-da. It really is a toss up which one to love best (and first) and they are handcrafted in England, safe foam interior, and Oeko-tex approved fabrics (which come in an array of colors BTW). Just wish I had found them sooner, but hey, we have the new house coming up, so perhaps it starts it's new life in the living room rather than the nursery!

Loop-d-Loop Scarves

Ever since we started Shak-Shuka, I've been obsessed with keeping the "mama" section accessible to all women - not just budding mamas-to-be (who we all know need special pampering!) but also the ladies and friends who visit our site to buy for little ones! We've even toyed (excuse the child-related pun) with the idea of calling it "women" or "ladies" section, but think that it fits the feel of our shop - everyone's a hot mama in our book!

So my obsession over the mama section has paid off as we have a wonderful addition from Itsus. Scarves - Loop Scarves which are a unique spin on the traditional scarf - Loop Scarves that are a circular tube rather than one straight scarf that you have to loop yourself (perfect for the scarf-wearing-challenged)! These scarves are great for winter when everyone is covered from chin to chest in scarves or in the warmer months when it morphs more into a necklace shape. I love the versatility of the scarf, and of course, it really caught our attention when we saw that it was made from super-soft organic cotton. As if it were a match made in eco heaven, Itsus' Loop Scarves have found a perfect home in our mama section, for all the future lucky eco ladies who visit Shak-Shuka!

Stylish Chic-ken Coop

I've read bits and pieces about how easy it is to raise chickens and how wonderful it is to have fresh eggs on the table and for kids to see where things actually come from ("what? there isn't a schnitzel patch somewhere out there?" I was once asked by a child). What was once only done by country folk who needed to raise chickens for food, has now caught on in urban communities thanks to food-forward organizations like Slow Food and other food-to-table groups.

So it's with a healthy dose of self-deprecation that something that I would l-o-v-e to have in our new garden would be to raise chickens, costs about the equivalent of 2000 carton of eggs. I came across this gorgeous specimen named "Breed Retreat" (enter laughing here) so that your chickens can, excuse the pun, "stretch their wings" and frolic. I love the layered look, the entryway stairs and even the fact that some "rooms" seem to be windowless to give a bit of privacy? Talk about some chic-kens! Yes, it is over-the-top, but it's given me food for thought about the (endless) possibilities of raising chickens and having fresh warm eggs in a stylish wire basket!

Moustache-Twirling Giveaway

It's been a looooong time since we last had a giveaway, and we thought it was only fitting that we came back with a bang. One of our bestselling items (and newest!) can now be hanging in your home and adding a touch of humor! Yes, that's right - our Mr. Moustache Mobile - the one you've seen in press worldwide and loved by us at Shak-Shuka is our lovely giveaway of the week. All you have to do, is sign up for our newsletter by October 1st, or if you're already a subscriber, drop us a love note below and we'll choose a winner at random. And by random we mean Toddler Shuka picking out of a hat! That is TRULY random!

Squishy Toys to Love: Rubbabu!

It's been a long time coming, but it was bound to happen - we seriously expanded our "play" section, which means our toys are overflowing with goodness! To be honest, it's really difficult to sort through all the brands of toys without coming away seeing spots: sensory toys, baby learning toys, walkers, motor skills - all in different materials and made in different countries. We do our best to make sure we bring our customers only the safest, most eco-friendly toys so that parents can rest easy....and who knows - maybe even get some rest while the kids work out their energy on the new toys!

One brand that is new to our assortment and we CANNOT seem to put down is the Rubbabu brand. Made from natural and biodegradable rubber foam, feeling is believing - when they created the word "squishy" I think they really meant "Rubbabu". The foam is incredibly soft and covered with a (non-toxic) flocked exterior, meaning it's also smooth! Too much fun! Our current favorites are the Bowling Set (great for rainy/cold days), the big and chunky Just Triangles (color coordinate! build!), and the Water World Playset (the current reigning favorite at Casa Shuka)! Whether you're thinking of stocking up on toys for now, a birthday, or the holidays, you really cannot miss with the Rubbabu brand. Soft, squishy and eco-friendly!

Sushi Rice Galore

Lately I have been on a sushi rush: doesn't seem to make sense with the chilly weather, but it is what it is - when the family is eating some meat-heavy dish, I reach for my sushi making ingredients. Unfortunately Mr Shuka doesn't care for sushi, so that's even better for me as that means I get to eat EVERYTHING!

Now don't get mistaken when I say "sushi" that I'm going to show you how to make raw fish sushi. What I'm talking about is the most essential part of sushi making that (in my opinion) tends to go wrong for most people: the rice. I wanted to share with you the way that I was taught in Japan so that you can use the recipe for whatever kind of sushi you love - I'm personally doing a sliced cucumber/carrot or inari (fried tofu pocket) sushi.

Japanese Sushi Rice

1.3c short grain sushi rice

1.3c hot water

3Tbsp rice vinegar

1Tbsp sake

1Tbsp sugar

1tsp salt

Rinse the rice well in a strainer until the water runs clear. Place the rice and hot water in a pot and cook until the rice is cooked. Blend the rice vinegar, sake, sugar and salt together making sure that the sugar is dissolved.

Place the hot rice in a wide, shallow bowl. Add the vinegar mixture gradually while tossing and fluffing the rice with a wooden spatula or rice paddle. The motion should be a horizontal side-to-side motion where you see a large amount of steam emit from the rice. When the vinegar mixture has been fully absorbed, spread the rice over a baking sheet to cool to room temperature.

You now have amazing sushi rice to roll into whatever kind of sushi suits your needs!

Phyto-refic Skin

Embarrassing as this is to say, it's not even October and I've already started turning the heat on at night. I am a sucker for sleeping in a toasty warm environment, and I pretend like I carbon-offset during the day by not using any lights and unplugging all my electronics (does that count? probably not but I tell myself it does).....

Besides punishing the environment with my thermostat-thumping habit, my skin is also paying the price. I tend to have red, blotchy skin when the air gets warm and dry - some may even call it the beginning stages of rosacea (think Bill Clinton's nose). I prefer not to think my skin is that bad, and I am over-the-moon ecstatic that there is a product out there for blotchy-skinners like me: Skinceuticals Phyto Corrective Gel. It may look green and funky in the bottle, but a few drops of this before your moisturizer and the cucumber and thyme cool and soothe normally irritated skin. Skinceuticals has always been one of my favorite brands, and now even more so since I'm getting to a "certain" age and starting to get serious about the war on aging - from corrective to preventive, Skinceuticals has got a natural pharmacy in a bottle!

IdeaPaint: Ideas for Your Walls

So just as I was about to buy a gallon of chalkboard paint to mentally start preparing to decorate the playroom in our new apartment, I stumbled upon this: IdeaPaint. Although I love the idea of chalkboard paint, I am not fond of the dust that it creates, or the inevitable smashed pieces of chalk that will be rolling around the floor for a-g-e-s. IdeaPaint is the same idea as chalkboard paint: you paint any surface (I'm thinking walls) and it instantly becomes a dry-erase board!!! I don't know about you, but I find dry-erase boards much more fun and nicer to write on then nail-curling-ear-screeching chalkboards. Although IdeaPaint may not seem like the most eco-friendly product on the planet, they claim that it does eliminate the need for (those HIDEOUS!) dry-erase boards which not only take up space but also take up trees! IdeaPaint is formaldehyde-free and it's easy nowadays to find non-toxic dry-erase markers. I have a feeling once we give the playroom walls a few slicks of IdeaPaint that I won't be able to stop painting walls that I need to be able to draw on! Now there's an Idea!

Inner/Outer Scarf Warmth

It's officially chilly weather around here, and that means only one thing to me: keeping my neck covered at all times. For some reason, I could be in my underwear and a huge scarf and I would survive a long winter (ok, almost, but seems that way...). That leaves me longing for the perfect scarf each season, just like most women do searching for the perfect pair of jeans.

Currently I discovered this brand, called A Peace Treaty, who creates unbelievably beautiful scarves with an even more stunning story behind the creation of the garments. The scarves are made by widows in Afghanistan using ancient embroidery skills, and once the garment is completed, the woman embroiders her name and attaches a piece of her burqa symbolizing her liberation. A Peace Treaty has already assisted more than 200 women to provide economic support to themselves and their families. I personally cannot think of a more beautiful way to stay warm this winter (both inside and out), and even though the scarves are rather expensive, I personally think that they are more like works of art with a rich and deep history that will last for generations. I might have just found my perfect scarf my neck has been searching for all these years....

Cardboard Dreams Turn Table

(ps: this is not the exact table, but another equally drool-worthy piece)

I love when two things come together as if it were a divine (interior) intervention. Instance: we had some lovely and uber-stylish friends come and visit us this weekend, fresh from the Maison&Objet trade show. They had a stand where they showed their gorgeous bags (Carga Bags - which sparked a whole 'nother obsession, but that's for another post) and to display them, they created an entire shelf system of super thick sturdy cardboard. Not only did it sound like an amazing use of cardboard, but it was incredibly eco-friendly as they could then recycle it after the show was over!

Then when I was thumbing through my Elle Decor (NL) magazine, I stumbled upon a dinner table of my dreams (which were also fueled by friend's cardboard shelving): A4A Design's (cardboard) dining table. This Italian company makes sure that all of your fears about using cardboard in the home as furniture is cast away and replaced by the desire to have a house full of cardboard. A4ADesign's don't just stop at my drool-table: they have end tables, chairs, and various other items that you would never think could be made from cardboard. I love the idea of using a common household item (which is also recyclable!) into something completely unthinkable - make this one less to-buy thing on my list, as the A4ADesign's dinner table will be ours!