shak-shuka

Deuz Does It Again

I would say with the arrival of this new stock of Tapikid playmats, not only are we jumping for a joy, but a whole slew of our customers who were waiting with anxious anticipation for their arrival! It has been a long, long wait but now it's over - phew!

Best of all, the brand Deuz does it again by creating a few new products that will leave a gaggle of followers in their trail: the Napkid - perfect for messy eaters, is an adjustable bib that is made from organic cotton, a vibrant striped print using non-toxic dyes - of course. Personally I can imagine a few adults who could use these on messy spaghetti and meatballs nights or lobster dinners! Another amazing new item is the Bigbag - part bag, part cushion, part whatever you want to use it for brilliance - made from the leftover scraps of their other items (think Tapikid playmats), any sewer will attest that when sewing and making things, there are A LOT of leftover scraps of fabric. Deuz not only uses organic cotton, but is commited to re-using and recycling the fabric that they use, and the Bigbag is no exception! You can use it as a toy bag, or pop in a comfy pillow for some eco-friendly relaxation. We love the versatility, genius, and vibrancy of Deuz's products that make us go crazy, and our customers too!

Summer Skin Precious Oil

It's that time of year when we shed the knee-high boots for open-toed sandals which means: it's time for a waxing appointment, a pedicure, and maybe a bit of color? Not sure about you, but after a looooong winter my skin is dry, cracked, and whiter than freshly-bleached teeth. Alabaster is one thing if you're Nicole Kidman, but blinding people with your bare legs is a completely different thing!

Ever since my first trip to Paris, I have relied on Nuxe Multi-Purpose Oil for easing into summertime clothing and showing of skin. You can use this natural oil from your face to your hair to your body, but I have to say I'm most partial to using it on my legs so that it gives me not a fake tan look, but it minimizes the fact that my body hasn't seen the sun in ages! I personally find the smell intoxicating, something like a trip to Tahiti minus the carbon emissions :) The smell is thanks to the combination of 6 precious plant oils (Borage, St John's Wort, Sweet Almond, Hazelnut, Camilla, and Macadamia) - in fact, most of Nuxe's products are based on natural, plant-based ingredients, and another one of my faves is the Nuxe Lip Balm - it's the only pot lip balm that I'll ever dip my finger into!

Wooly Sofa Chair Lovin'

We're in the lazy final stages of decorating our home, which means there are empty walls and empty corners just about everywhere. I don't know if it's just us, who gets in this comfort zone with an incomplete-decoated home...please tell me we're not alone!

Lately I've gotten incredibly aggravated by the empty corners which desperately need some sort of sitting-type-thingie. I toyed with the idea of one of those (incredibly uncomfortable but uber-stylish) Eames rocking chairs, but that didn't jive for both me, my tush, or my hubby. Look, look, look and BOOM! Thank goodness for great Dutch magazines like 101 Woonideen that make my lazy-decorating life so much easier! I fell in love with this Woolen Cushion fold-out bed/chair (called "Slaapstoel" in Dutch) from Atelier van Eeden. Made from woolen blankets and sewn together in a few parts with some great details (love the edging), this easily converts from a comfortable sofa-like chair into a bed in a few folds. Not only do I love that it looks different than most of the chairs/seats that I've seen out there, I love that it will serve as double duty once the kids start having sleepovers and we need something low and soft to sleep on! Choose from a pinky-rosey color, or a more minty version that I'm coveting....

Eco Necklaces for (Big) Little Girls

I suppose there comes a time in every mother's life that she realizes her daughter is no longer a "baby" but a real, bonafide, growing-up little girl. So scary to let go of those cuddles, diapers, and onesies - instead replaced with tutus, fancy shoes and....jewelry. Not sure if this is happening to us sooner than average (Lil'Miss is only 3.5yrs old!) but I can't hold it back anymore, the pink, dressing up beast must be fed - eco-consciously of course!

My good friend Chantale tweeted about a new online store that fulfills both the craving of my daughter (something "fancy" like mamas, please!) and me (nothing plastic or tacky FYI!): Fournier answered my prayers! Fournier has a gorgeous array of natural, eco-friendly necklaces for girls, but it's just as important to note how the items are made: by a poverty alleviation project in Bolivia that creates a high-quality product that empowers the artisans who make them. Love, love, love some more. Feel good feelings all around encompassed in some beautiful trinkets that will make your little one smile - while you're at it though, why not treat yourself to one of the women's necklaces - it is Mother's Day soon after all!

Backpack Baggu

It might be as much of a fashion faux-pas as wearing a fanny pack (sorry for those of you who speak British English, as I know that is an offensive name for something, but not sure what you guys call it!), but I must admit since becoming the mother of a toddler, a diaper bag won't do, instead, I rely on a backpack. Yes, a backpack. Sometimes the crossover-sling bag just doesn't cut it, and I'm more comfortable wearing a backpack than a huge shoulder bag. Comfort rules when you become a parent!

When I spotted the Baggu (known for their reusable, eco-friendly grocery bags) backpacks that were designed by Brooklyn artist Shabd Alexander (who also makes the most beautiful garments, but are a teensy bit out of my price range) - my heart did a little flip. I think I have a soft spot in my hippy heart for tie-dye related things, and this is just the right combo of delicate colors, soft tie-dye look, and function. I am really torn for colors here, so I might just have to get a Shabd Backpack and a Shabd Tote just so I'm fully covered. And did we mention the super green factor? Made from 100% recycled duck canvas, and made without the use of sweatshop labor, so you can feel good schlepping around your 10kg of booty you just picked up for the kiddo......

Bambu-Ready Summer Vacations

Summer is slowly creeping up on all of us, and that's got us all thinking about vacations, right? Something about warm weather seems to distract the brain from all of its usual functions and tasks, escaping to a far away island, country retreat, or spa (I'll take one of each please!).

When travelling with small children, I find that it's not just useful, but essential to be prepared to eat on the go. That means sippy cup, regular cup, Bambu spork, plates and bowls for snacks, and of course a reusable napkin. But what about us? The adults? Personally I don't like watching other people eat while I starve (am surely not alone here!) so I was pleased as punch when Bambu came out with an adult-sized version of their infamous Spork (with handy cork holder!) and also a Travel Cutlery Set if you're feeling more ambitious and want to show that you came REALLY prepared with your full-on set! Not only do I love the idea of being prepared for a mini-picnic on the go while travelling, but I am really in love with the fact that it means no more wasted plastic forks and knives that barely do the job anyways. Eco, green, ready-to-go - what more could you ask for?!

DIY: Tissue Paper Window Collage

We are lucky to have a south-facing home so when/and/or/if there is ever sun, it drenches through the windows and we all lie there and soak it all up. The only "problem" (doesn't happen often, but still...) is that when the summer sun really does being to blaze for a month or two, it gets seriously hot in the playroom, since we never made up our minds about what kind of window treatment we would put on them, in any. The entire wall and side is made up of nearly floor-to-ceiling windows, which is gorgeous and gives a kind of "greenhouse" effect, but that also means you're sweating more than a hothouse tomato when the sun really shines in.

By chance when I was flipping through my daily read of blogs, I came upon this A-M-A-Z-I-N-G "stained glass" tutorial that I thought would be perfect for our window treatment dilemma. Created by the genius mother at Filth Wizardry, Tissue Paper Window Collage is seriously jaw-droppingly gorgeous. Not only would it shade us from the sun, but I really love that kids can get involved and enjoy the fruits of their labor. I've already collected a ton of colored tissue paper, now just trying to figure out how I can get some of those fancy glue stick pens that used - seems like much less mess and hassle, especially for little fingers. Whatever the case, you'll know when you've reached our house when you see the giant "stained" glass windows complete with sticky child attached to the window! :) Also make sure to check out the other brilliant craft ideas that Filth Wizardry has, there seem to be not limits on her imagination - totally jealous!

NEW Green Toys Collection

It is rare that when we receive new stock that both Lil'Miss and I jump in excitement over the contents. This happened a few days ago when we received the new Green Toys collection that will impress any parent and delight any child over 6 months (don't worry - there are things for kids much older too! just wanted to say the babes were not forgotten!).

Grab boxes, cut them open, and grinned from ear to ear with each new product I clamped eyes on: Pizza Parlor Sets, Sandwich Shop Sets, assorted colors of Race Cars (even pink for our pink diva Lil'Miss!) and Stacking Cups that not only babies will love, but I can testify to say that the "big" kids love them in the bath too. Green Toys has a soft place in my heart, as we waited, stalked, hunted for over a year to have them here in Europe. We strongly believe in their hard-core eco commitment to use recycled plastic only, which is also non-toxic being PVC, BPA, Phthalate and lead free. Of course the designs are classics, from trucks to tea sets to blocks, but knowing that they're from environmentally and safe materials just makes me feel all good inside. The kids LOVE the products, as I have been made a "sandwich" at Lil'Miss' Sandwich Shop/Pizza Parlor literally every day. Another perk for the parents (and also the environment) - all packaging on Green Toys are minimal, meaning no plastic, ties, or frustration for parents, and quicker play-time for the kids!

Panama Hat - Fair Trade Style

The sun is shining!!!! As always, we're waiting for the other (bad weather) shoe to drop, but until then, we're soaking up as much Vitamin D as our body's will allow.....

Sun is good thing but not when it comes to aging your face at a rapid pace. Besides slathering myself in sunscreen from head to toe even when it's cloudy and cold, this summer I've been searching for a great hat to keep me in the shade. I love the look of a Panama Hat, and I was so happy to not only find them, but also that they are fair trade! The only summertime straw hat company to carry the Fair Trade Organization label, the brand Pachacuti fits the bill (sorry, hat pun intended!) and then some. I am personally torn between a few styles, most notably the Twisted Weave Wide Brim and the Black Spiral Weave Fedora. Oh who am I kidding, the summer just started, let's get both!!!

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!