shak-shuka

Glittery Holiday Shoes

I'm sure you know that we've written about TOMs' fantastic shoes before, and their commitment to buying/sharing a pair (with children in various countries worldwide), but this last trip to the US got my tongue wagging with their new holiday styles. Yes, the usual canvasy-twilly pair will do, but why not jazz it up with this Glitter or Moroccan Stars pair? I personally fell head over heels (quite literally) over the Gilded Herringbone because it looks like a warm, golden-enhanced tweed that looks great with everything else I bought on my trip home to the US! The cuteness didn't stop there as they just got the Pink Glitters back in stock for the Tiny TOMS fans (think Lil'Miss) so at her upcoming birthday party I just know which shoes she'll be rocking! So yes, all in all, Toms shoes should make it up there on your Holiday Wish List, and you can feel good knowing that someone else will benefit from your shoe obsession as well.

Holiday Gift Guide: BABIES

 



So this is my first (and hopefully not failed) attempt at making a Holiday Gift Guide. I thought it would be easiest for those of us who need to buy a gift, that it was organized by theme, so this is the BABIES Gift Guide. Some of our fabulous friends from press worldwide have given us their top list of things they love from Shak-Shuka for babies, and we thought it was only fitting to share the love with you! Hopefullly you'll see something on this list that will help make holiday shopping for babies a wee bit easier....

Crinkle Bear, The Style Files pick

Folktale Doll, Emma's Designblogg pick

Felt Rabbit Rattle, Bambino Goodies pick

Embroidered Stacking Blocks, Bambino Goodies pick

Bamboo Infant Utensils, Emma's Designblogg pick

Eggshell Zigzag Romper, The Style Files pick

100% Love Onesie, The Style Files pick

Little Chief Baby Slippers, Babyccino Kids pick

Nesting Stacking Bowls, Babyccino Kids pick

 

A gigantic thank you to our press friends for this fabulous gift guide:

The Style Files, Bambino Goodies, Babyccino Kids, Emma's Designblogg

 

Kitty Critter Crayons

As many of you know, retailers (guilty! us too) have already been pushing holiday gift ideas on us/you. Part of me really dislikes that the holiday season starts so early, as it seems to drag on until the moment it's really here, all you want to do is holiday bash and get it over with. Alas, I will not get in the Scrooge spirit yet and instead stay upbeat and share some fresh holiday picks!

Lil'Miss Shuka is currently obsessed (putting it mildly) with drawing. With anything. On anything. We have the full selection of markers, crayons, scissors (kid-friendly, don't worry!) and paper in every size and shape imaginable. Sometimes though, you just crave something a bit special - case in point: Kitty Baby Love's upcycled crayons in the most vibrant colors, with a face even a dog-lover could grow to love (that's me). The size is chunky which is great for young artistes like Lil'Miss, and they really do last much longer than your average crayon. As a gift, I personally love this set of 4 nestled in their little egg crates ready to get some artsy-fartsy fun started! Non-toxic, upcycled, and long-lasting, these crayons get a serious thumbs-up from the Shuka family. For the mamas+papas, there are even equally adorable beeswax candles which just might have to make an appearance at the new Casa Shuka!

Dr Bronner's to the Rescue

It is with great excitement that I get to share with you the news that we now carry the Dr. Bronner brand at Shak-Shuka! Having been a long-time fan of the famous Magic Castille Soap and its many many uses, we thought it would be a perfect addition for the eco-friendly family. Dr. Bronner has really stepped up their eco credentials with now being fair trade, organic, biodegradable, and now carries a children's line fthat's equally great for sensitive folks as it is fragrance-free.

So if you haven't ever tried Dr. Bronner's products, the Magic Castille Soap is one of the first products you HAVE to try. Why? Because it can be used in a million ways, but according to the packaging, there are actually 18 uses that Dr. Bronner thought the soap was a suitable substitute for. Here is just a shortlist of the many ways that the almond/peppermint/lavender/baby liquid soap can be used:

facial cleanser
liquid hand soap
bodywash
bubble bath
shampoo
shaving cream
toothpaste
mouthwash
denture cleaner
mint deodorant
massage oil
baby oil
sun tan oil
toilet cleaner
car cleaner
laundry soap
dishwashing liquid
pet cleaning

I'm not quite sure about how it holds up as a deodorant or a massage oil, but I can personally vouch for it's effectiveness in the household, for the pets, as a shampoo/body wash, and I have even used the peppermint as a toothpaste one time (it was a camping trip - please don't ask). If 18+ ways of using a soap isn't your type of thing, there is a luxurious Body Balm, Lip Balm or Bar Soap that'll get you addicted to Dr. Bronner's in less than, say....18 seconds?!

Pillows, Pillows Everywhere

Just like baskets, pillows seem to be something that only women seem to love, covet and appreciate. The more the merrier in my world - because you can never have too many forms of storage (baskets) or ways to get comfy (pillows).

In decorating Casa Shuka, I have been teetering with the idea of just how many throw pillows are right on the couch: too many can look either boho-chic, or just plain cluttered; only a few can look minimalist-chic, or just plain boring. Ho. Hum. What's a girl to do? Search for eco-friendly pillows in a palette that will match most rooms so that if you decide to do a switch-a-roo and move the couch pillows to the bedroom, then you can do so without wanting to gouge your eyes out. Enter Helen Rawlinson's hand screenprinted pillows on organic unbleached cotton using solvent-free inks: I dare even the most die hard anti-pillow person to not find these pillows easy on the eyes. Personally I am in love with this Lollipop duo that I can imagine being just as much at home in the kiddo's room as it would be in the living room. I was lucky enough to grab some of Rawlinson's Halloween bags which went over like gangbusters in our house and our lucky little friends who received them as gifts. Even if you're a newbie to the world of Etsy, I highly recommend a trip to Rawlinson's shop to get a taste of her handmade eco-friendly beauties for home and beyond.

Clutches with a (Hi)story

I'm realizing that in this blog I'm getting myself in quite a sticky situation - I will say that I don't really care for one thing, and then the following month I will proceed to write more posts about that subject than probably anything else. Case in point: bags. Although I have stated my claim that I don't like carrying them around, I have written quite a few posts about bags, because I am discovering that possibly I have a (closeted) bag lady inside of me.

Although my social life nowadays doesn't really call for "nighttime" bags, I fell in love with these bags at first sight: graphic patterns in a variety of textures, in bold colors on black so they would feel just at home with the essential "little black dress" or a funkier number. These embroidered clutches are made by Mexican designer Dalia Pascal, and she creates these clutches from Mayan textiles that are recycled from old dresses, capes and tablecloths. The textiles are collected by a community of women in the border area of Southern Mexico, many who are survivors of domestic abuse. The bags create a livelihood for these women, and have created a way to support their own community. Personally I love an item with a bit of history, and these clutches not only have that, but also their own personal story, making them a bold and ethical fashion statement.

Resurrection for Hands (+ Sinks)

Slightly embarassed, I'm sharing a (dirty) secret with you: I love the look of luxurious bottles next to the sink to leave guests with the impression that we are more glamourous than we are really in our daily life. Currently we have an unexciting lavender hand soap in an equally mundane pump, and it gives off more of a crunchy hippy rather than fantabulous vibe.

I actually saw this hand soap first in a magazine, and under intense scrutiny, I realized that it was from own of my favorite natural brands: Aesop. I've written about my love of the Australian brand Aesop, but nothing can compare to my love of anything from the "Resurrection Aromatique" range of body care: my obsession numero uno for our new house being a bit bottle of the Resurrection Aromatique Hand Soap next to each and every sink. Not only does it emit a certain amount of apothecary-esque cool, but it also rinses off beautifully and leaves the most wonderful herbilcious scent afterwards. So yes, I am petty in that I love the look of the bottle as much as the contents, but everybody needs hand soap, so why not treat yourself to the very best looking there is?