shak-shuka

Portable Fruit Squeezes Go Eco

I pride myself on being the most eco parent that I can be: we use BPA-free plates, bowls, bottles and cups, we drink from stainless-steel water bottles to prevent having to buy Evian water every few blocks, and we have recently discovered they make biodegradable straws - woohoo!!

One pitfall that seems to get me every day (literally - it is the snack of choice) are those fruit puree squeezy things that come in those handy containers just right for baby/toddler hands, although each time we have one, I cringe at the fact that I'm throwing away yet another one. How many landfills are filled with our apple-strawberry concoction? I've thought about making and packing my own, but how do I get the little one to eat it? Surely there must be a solution....and thankfully I didn't have to create it myself (although that would have meant some more money!!!): recently on a few blogs I've seen the Beaba Babypote, and now the Sili Squeeze has caught my eye. Both of them work on the same concept as the fruit squeezes do, but this you can control what fruit/vegs you use, and when they're finished, you can just pop in the dishwasher! Love, love and more love! I've bought the Beaba Babypote and am anxiously waiting for it to try it out. Hopefully I can get my grubby paws on the Sili Squeeze just as quickly so I can give an unbiased review, or shall I saw the kiddo will!

And yes, you know if they pass our rigorous tests over here at Casa Shuka, we'll be bringing it to our customers all over the world too! Have faith - just need to test it out first to make sure it's up to snuff.....

ferm LIVING New Collection

So you've heard me say that there is a definite baby boom in the works. And no, I'm not just talking about Hollywood. Babies are popping up around me like little tulips showing their faces around the canals! All of them lovely, but only one of them will rob you of your sleep (I say it with love!).

I'm really pleased that a few of my friends are having boys, and I'm finding that it's a really fun challenge to shop for a baby boy. Girls things can be found quite easily anywhere, but a cool, hip gift for a boy that both kiddo and parents will like isn't that easy. Thankfully the new collection from ferm LIVING fits that bill to a perfectly-fit onesie. Forget pastel blues and boring bears, this collection brings eco-hipness (all items are fairly made and most are from organic fabrics) to another level - I mean, have you ever given a giant snake, octopus mobile or robot to a budding little man? My guess is you haven't.....yet!

Quick! Everyone to Nina's House!

Not only has spring sprung in terms of the weather, but also in terms of babies popping up everywhere! I don't know about you, but nearly all, no - make that ALL! of my girlfriends here are pregnant, and many of them will give birth anyday now. A very exciting time, and needless to say, an even better time to have an eco-friendly children's boutique to give great gifts with!

Since this whole "baby boom" has hit us, I have been seeing new strollers, beds and the "big" essential items that you need for your new addition. I saw this amazing crib at one of our favorite sites, Babyccino Kids, and literally my face hit the computer screen. Made by a Dutch designer, Dave Keane, it is the combination of both a changing table, crib, playpen and little house all in one. Built for his daughter as they had limited space to have these 3 essential items (crib, playpen and changing table) it all fits in this showstopping little house, called "Nina's House". I don't know about you, but this crib has me seriously longing for another addition, just so we can have Nina in our house (haha). Nina's House is only available online at the Dutch webshop Planet Little (and for a hefty price tag - €1500, but totally worth it if you add up the cost of a crib, playpen and changing table....right?).

Urban Baby Quilts

 

With all this baby buzz lately, even me, a tried-and-true children's store owner often gets stumped for what to buy for the babes. Many times I can pick just the right item from the shop for the baby, trying to match the parents taste with what a baby really needs (I remember buying baby shoes for my daughter before I knew better that babies don't need real shoes til they start walking!).

But sometimes, just sometimes, a really specialfrom-the-heart item is needed. Whether it is a special friend, family member, no ordinary gift will do. Think a handmade gift that you don't have to make with your own hands. Too good to be true? I googled, I saw, I drooled, I blogged: Haptic Lab's map quilts are hands-down the most gorgeous things I have ever laid eyes on. Just imagine the intricacy of a quilt stripped down to the bare essentials, then injected with the structure and design of a city map - of your favorite, or local neighborhood! I personally love that there are so many NYC neighborhoods offered, as I know A LOT of people poppin' in those 'hoods! But you're in luck if you're also in cities like Barcelona, London, or Paris (boo! no Rotterdam....yet). I love the fact that it's a personal item that can actually be used, and even when the child outgrows it, it can be an heirloom that hangs on the wall, or is kept in a box for their children to use. Love it, love it, love it. So go ahead mamas, get to poppin', just hopefully in one of the Haptic Lab's neighborhoods!

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!

Superadorable, Supereco, Supernana

Just like any other parent, we favor things. Hopefully not people or our children, but things that we bought for our baby, that just somehow seem to be cuter, better, smarter, nicer. When Baby Shuka was born, there were a few items that I would reach for again and again, giving her no choice but to love what she was given!

Two of those items were from a superb brand named Supernana. We had (and still have) a small rattle with a wooden teething ring and bell that was so sweet and simple, I think that I spent just as much time playing with it as she did. The other was a pair of the most delicious ankle-strap mary-jane style slippers for her little feet. They were probably the only pair of "shoes" that I ever bought that she ever wore. All of Supernana's products are made from natural felt, and recently they have been accredited by the Fair Wear Foundation meaning they guarantee fair trade working conditions. To make it even sweeter (and greener), most of the items are from Oeko-tex certified wool felt, so that you surely won't worry when baby shoves his/her foot in his/her mouth wearing one of the slippers. It's been a long time coming, but we're glad to now say that we are stockists of Supernana's eco-friendly wool felt items, and the collection is growing with Ladybug Rattles, Grandpa Slippers, and the cutest Rabbit Musical Boxes!

Splish, Splash, Eco Fun in the Bath

When I was little, one of my favorite things to do was take a bath. I would dump in a ton of toys, barely leaving enough room for me to move, and play until I turned completely raisin-esque on my fingers. One of the highlights I remember was (back in the 80s) when they made colored soap that you could clean and write on the bath with - that added another 30 minutes to my bath playtime! I cringe to think what was in that stuff, but it was so fun that I'm playing the "ignorance is bliss" card...

Now that I have my own child, I see that bath time needs to be as far for her as it was for me. Just sitting in a tub with no toys and having people dump water, soap and shampoo all over you does not sound like my, or her, idea of fun. The problem is that most childrens bath toys are made from toxic PVC and/or filled with BPA, lead paint and other nasties. Don't even get me started on the bath and body care that is available everywhere - with the harsh chemicals, preservatives and annoying cartoon characters.

We like to keep it simple but fun around here at Shak-Shuka, and thought that the bathing time should be the same - that's why we expanded our "care" range to include some wonderfully safe, fun bathing tools. One of which is the brand Tinti, that has insanely fun items for the bath such as Crackle Bath Pops, Red  Foam Soap, and so far my favorite: Kneadable Soap. Each is made on the base of natural ingredients like spirulina and even berries - and of course free of preservative and harsh chemicals. There is even a handmade latex bath toy, the Tinti Octopus, that comes with a pack of 3 bath dyes that you insert in the bottom of the toy and it squirts out colorful water. I dare you to not be impressed! Of course these Tinti items are best for children over the age of 3 years, but we didn't forget the little ones either. Some of the cutest bath washcloths I have ever seen in the shapes of Lions, Monkeys and Frogs, made by Furnis and from Oeko-Tex fabrics. So you see, bath time is once again what it always should be - good clean fun, without any of the harsh nasties!

Eucalyptus Bedding for Your Sleeping Nook

We are undergoing a transformation in the sleep and bedding department here at Casa Shak-Shuka: Baby Shak-Shuka now is "over" with napping (even though her trance-like state come 6pm says otherwise) and has progressed from a crib to a low toddler bed. Exciting, sad and frightening all in one. Another rite of passage that we're learning to adjust to, and gasping at how fast time is going and how much progression happens for children in such a short period of time.

Along with this change of bed/ding, I've begun to research options for eco-friendly bedding again. I stumbled upon something so lovely that I just had to share: the Nook Sleep Systems website. The photography is stunning, plus the materials are eco-friendly, so it was me who was in the trance-like state when I discovered the site. Take for instance the Pebble Mattress, that has a unique air layer that allows oxygen to flow through the mattress (ooh! fancy!), and the mattress itself is made from a combination of eucalyptus leaves, organic cotton, organic wool and latex. Not a scary flame-retardant-toxic name in sight. Phew. Add to the fact that the Pebble Mattress comes in a slew of colors, it doesn't help my obsession. Of course it's not a cheap buy, but considering how much time your little one spends sleeping (or should be...) then it's a wise buy if you're thinking of more than one child! Even if the Mattress is a bit out of the financial reach of most of us, there is the Toddler Pillow which I think would make a wonderful gift for the child making the transition to the "big boy/girl" bed. The Toddler Pillow is also made with eucalyptus, organic cotton and filled with more eucalyptus and recycled polyester. Nook Sleep Systems has me dreaming about their eucalyptus-laden sleeping goodies in all their eco-friendly-loveliness.

Big Lovin' for Little Alouette Toys

When we first started Shak-Shuka, I made a list of all the things that I could never find, or had an eco-friendly equivalent of. Organic bedding, clothing, recycled and sustainable decor, organic and safe bath and body care, and one of the most important - safe, non-toxic toys that weren't made in China, had PVC, BPA or other acronyms in it. Believe it or not, it's much harder than it seems, as the majority of toys on the market for kids, in particular babies (who naturally put everything in their mouths), was made from some sort of plastic or PVC material, and deemed as "safe". Personally I wasn't buying it.

I was over-the-moon excited when I met Little Alouette's toys, which are handmade (not homemade looking, which is a VERY different look!) in the USA by a husband and wife team who are as sweet, cute and funny as the wooden toys that they create. One look at their selection of rattles and teethers, and my heart melted. Then I come to find out, each one is handmade from Maple wood and sealed with organic flax seed oil - I'm officially in love. Naturally we had to have them in our store, and finally they're in stock for Shak-Shuka-lovin' babies to sink their teeth into! One of my favorite parts of these teethers are that they are not just great for the baby teething stage, but also beyond - the size is perfect enough once they become toddlers to create a fantasy world where dinosaurs roam, butterflies fly, and hippos wade in the water! Little Alouette's toys are of heirloom quality which will stand the test of time within your own family, and for many generations to come, being loved by babies, children and parents alike.

Vegan Baby Shoe Goodness

I feel like I'm repeating myself when I say this (because I love all the things in our shop), but when I saw this new brand, it was like someone read my mind. I've been back and forth about carrying any kind of vegan baby shoes, because most of them are so hideous and bright, with unnecessary bells and whistles that no sort of footwear should carry. So imagine what a relief it was for me to be introduced to Dimmalimm Kids' gentle-to-the-eyes baby shoes: not only are the easy on the eyes (no fluorescent colors in sight), but they are also stunningly beautiful.

It is not easy to create a vegan shoe - you could perhaps go with a super hard vegan material, but that would be nearly impossible for a child to wear. Dimmalimm Kids managed to get everything right with their buttery soft (100% vegan) ultrasuede which feels even better than real suede (no guilt needed!). A mother and daughter team originally from Iceland but transported to sunny California, Dimmalimm Kids definitely has sure footing with us at Shak-Shuka with their undeniably cute baby shoes in styles reminiscent of adults: Loafers, Mary Janes, and T-Straps. All beautifully packaged in a linen-esque bag making them perfect for a gift or a keepsake item to pass down from generation to generation. I personally expect to see a baby boom in about 9 months so that parents will have a little baby to put into these shoes!