shak-shuka

Nursing Mama Time

Occasionally I see mothers who are breastfeeding their babies, and a part of me is a bit jealous. I loved that special bonding time between myself and my daughter, but yet I also seem to forget all the challenges that came with it: my milk coming in for the first time (inconveniently called "let down"!?), learning to "latch" on, finding shirts that were breast-accessible, and the challenge of whipping out your breast in public and maintaining some sort of discreetness. A lot of time has passed since my nursing days, and only now do I feel like I can fully comprehend what an immense responsibility and joy it is to nurture your child from your own body.

Naturally, only now that I'm not breastfeeding, am I discovering all these amazing products for the breastfeeding mothers. I'm lucky enough to have Shak-Shuka to be able to share these great finds with customers, as I hope it helps other women to be as comfortable (and dare I say stylish?) while they're nursing their little one. One of the biggest challenges I had once I established a nursing routine was: how do I get the deed done ASAP and in public? Here are some great solutions: Frugi makes these ingenious Nursing Kaftans that have perfect slits to get your "girls" out and accessible - and by "out", I mean a realistic opening and not a sliver of an opening like other nursing tops! And to keep you covered up and discreet while nursing, we have Itzy Ritzy's Eco Nursing Covers in a slew of colors and fabrics, with the underside facing baby in cozy bamboo. No eco-nursing mama is complete without a replacement for her disposable nursing pads with our snazzy Glitzy Gals Bamboo Nursing Pads - fun, functional, and stylish! I remember going through boxes of disposable nursing pads before I realized there was an eco replacement...just never this nice!

So if you or someone you know is breastfeeding, then now you have some new nursing basics available at Shak-Shuka to make this important time in your life even more fabulous. We just wish we had found it all earlier so we could have taken advantage ourselves!!!

Buttery Soft Viscose Tees

It makes sense that I have an online boutique, as I am a self-confessed online shop-a-holic. I love the convenience of having things delivered, I love being able to shop at 1am in my pyjamas, and I love getting post that I actually want to receive. One of the biggest pitfalls that online sales have is that you miss the element of touch - although I'm sure someday they'll figure out a way to integrate that into our computer screens, for now you have to make purchases based on guess-timation and pure hope. 

When I'm looking over the next seasons lookbooks, even I get mislead about items that I'm purchasing for our online boutique. For instance, when ordering for our Autumn/Winter collection, I completely passed over these t-shirts for kids and women. I thought: "oh, they're nice colors, but they're just plain tees that have a nice shape". Then, I touched them. Oh, did I fall in love at first touch! They are made from viscose (which is made from wood pulp!), and it's so buttery soft, I want to roll myself in it or make it into a second skin. Dare I say that this t-shirt is delicious? Consider me one happy camper, as now you know what I'll be wearing under all of those heavy winter sweaters this season: lots and lots of Shampoodle viscose tees!!!!

Available at: www.shak-shuka.com

Organic Glamour-a-mama

For all of those amazing mamas-to-be out there, I just have to share a little secret: we have some new maternity wear that is so gorgeous, I'm thinking of snagging a few pieces and wearing it now, or storing it away for when I'm pregnant again! A few months ago we discovered the organic brand of maternity wear, Cherry on the Cake, and could not wait to be the first retailer outside of France! Cherry on the Cake is truly a pioneer in organic fashion, as many companies haven't delved into the maternity wear circuit, instead focusing on the babies and children, or non-pregnant ladies. It is high time that the pregnant mamas get what they deserve! Gorgeous fabrics in unbelievable styles that will carry you from 2 months to 9 months in incredible style. In our eco boutique, we have a tunic, dress, and another must-have of the season: harem pants cut to fit a growing mama's belly. With these 3 pieces I think it's totally possible to have a full ensemble and be constantly stylish if you rotate these pieces with some skinny jeans, and a simple base layer! If only I would have been pregnant at the right time to be able to strut these brilliant organic mama duds, or maybe it's incentive to get cracking on baby no.2?!!! Cherry on the Cake has me convinced. 

Available at: www.shak-shuka.com

Especially for the Ladies (think Aunt Flo)

Not long ago I had a long discussion with another woman regarding her form of protection. No, not birth control, but menstrual protection! She amazed me by telling me that she used this "cup" which works like a tampon, and that she had also used a sponge which has the same effect. Wow. That's a whole lot of information from someone I barely know. But I always say, any conversation that gets you thinking about your own life and how you can live it better, greener and kinder to yourself and the environment, well, I'm all for it. Even if I have to keep my jaw from dropping on the floor from all the (gory) details. 

Since then, I've found a slew of information about how you can replace your usual toxic tampons and earth-unfriendly pads with more eco-friendly options. I've known about organic cotton tampons for ages, thanks to a friend in Italy who scared the hell out of me when she said "just think of where you're putting non-organic cotton with all those pesticides!". 'nuf said. Upon further research, I've found sites where you can make your own pads, buy them already made, and various other news for ladies "in the flow". This topic might make some women shutter with embarrassment and shame that I'm even writing about such a subject, but hey, it happens to 50% of the world population, and if we can make a change in our lives on a monthly basis, I say "Aunt Flo Goes Green!!!"

Natracare, the world leader in organic cotton tampons and pads

Mooncup, rubber cup tampon alternative

Sea Pearls, sponge tampon alternative

Sckoon Cloth Organic Menstrual Pads

Make your own menstrual pad tutorials here:

http://www.wen.org.uk/

Nursing Gown Goes Glam

Almost every single mother I know who breastfed their baby, most often in the first few months when they eat nearly every hour (or that's how it feels), is searching for a comfortable, easy-access nursing gown. Most of us end up wearing ratty old t-shirts or some horrid thing that we pick up that is "boob accessible", leaving us feeling like less of a woman instead of the reproductive goddess we are. Not to mention the fact that I spent probably the first two months of my pregnancy at home in my pyjamas, it would have been nice to have had something that made me feel a bit more feminine....or at least human!

Since opening our online boutique, I have been struggling to find a suitable fit for our high eco-standards. I was delighted when I came upon 1intheOven, because not only is the name cute and the maternity and nursing wear ingenious, they also make an organic nursing gown to die for! They have two types available: short-sleeve (for our make-believe summers) and 3/4 sleeve (more likely that'll be a bestseller!), and both have a pleat in the front of the gown that disguises the opening where you can pop out the "girls" and do your breastfeeding in style. To make the gown even more eco-fabu, the tag that it comes with can be planted and grows flowers! So even if your partner doesn't bring you flowers, you can grow your own!!!

Soon available at: www.shak-shuka.com

www.1intheoven.com