shak-shuka

(Ethical, Eco) Play with Franck & Fischer

If there is one thing that I have a soft spot for, it's cute and cuddly toys. If there's one thing that I have a hard spot (is that even a phrase? if not, I'm starting it now to demonstrate how upset something makes me!), it would be companies that make toys that seem, or claim to be "eco". I've noticed it more and more often, where companies proudly claim their products are "designed in Europe" but in reality as you turn the box, they're "made in China". Ouch! hard spot found!

That's why we are so proud to be retailers of the extended Franck & Fischer range. Not only are their products coo-worthy, but they're just as eco-friendly as they are adorable. Everything is thought of from their design (no dull grey/natural colored toys in sight!), their production (fair trade and ethically made by women in their own homes), and the materials (Oeko-tex and organic fabrics only). If I could do flips, I would. Major kudos and applauds to the Franck & Fischer designers for making products that soothe our children, are gentle to our environment, and spread the love for human kind (parents included). 

A few stars from the new range that we're sure you'll love as much as we do: 

Protect the kids when eating or doing wild arts+crafts with these smock-style aprons in navy or red

Organization is done in eco style with these organic storage boxes - available in two sizes

Who's the cutie in the mirror? Fred the Owl Mirror will show your baby who's the cutest of them all

No one wants to ride in a boring stroller, so pimp yours with Mikkel or Mesje Stroller Mobiles

Ready, set go - penguins in a row! This Gufo Family Pull Toy brings amusement to all who see them

 

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!

Love to Love Coq en Pate

When we were at Kleine Fabriek a few months ago (or was it only weeks? I'm losing track now...) we ran into some brands we know and love, and some we loved but had forgotten somehow - how can that be? Usually we're quite good about hunting down, contacting and having a brand in house in less than 10 days. In fact, we pride ourselves on that, but sometimes we get a little "human" and get sidetracked....

We're so glad to have Coq en Pate's organic and ethical products at Shak-Shuka. Like falling in love all over again, Coq en Pate has extended their range to include toys that take a unique spin on children's items giving them an entirely new look. Traditional books have met their match with these amazing bilingual (for added "ooh" factor), educational (letter, shapes, colors OH MY!), organic (enter green "ooh" here too), Fabric Books that you can feel safe about baby gnawing on. And for the older kiddos, the Animal Organic Tee + Mask Sets are seriously over-the-top and ready for a mini zoo in home with the packaging (that is biodedgradable BTW!) that turns into a mini theatre. Coq en Pate has expanded well beyond the backpacks and pencil cases of yore, and the results are stunning. Come Fall we will have their new line of organic backpacks, suitcases (seriously, you will die they are so cute) and pencil cases. All ready for back to school and I have a hunch that they will make it onto some parent's wish lists too. Just too darn cute to pass up.....

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!

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!

The Ultimate Green Toy(s)

We saw them, we obsessed, we stalked, we (impatiently) waited. Now, they're finally here. Green Toys have hit foreign soil, and Shak-Shuka was one of the first in line when the US brand opened their gates to sell in the rest of the world. Beyond elated is how we would describe ourselves at the moment. We have always remained very firm in our conviction that childrens toys should be as non-toxic, natural and ethical as possible, and we have always eschewed the use of plastic in toys that we carry. But Green Toys is an exception: it is made from recycled plastic (like all those yogurt cups you've been recycling!), made in the USA, BPA, PVC and lead free, so the kids can play with reckless abandon and parents don't need to hover over the kids worrying that the kids will put the toys in their mouth and end up with who-knows-what-toxic-leftover in their mouths. Green Toys was the ONLY choice we had in mind when adding plastic toys, and we could not be happier. Our road-tester (see toddler daughter) has given the thumbs up to the toys, and is currently obsessed with her Tea Set (which she took to school with her) and no bath is complete without her Tug Boat. Another added bonus is that the packaging is minimal, with no plastic covering, no weird twisty-tie things to stress the parents, and the packaging is even recyclable. It was love at first sight with Green Toys, but this relationship is built to last way beyond the honeymoon period......Green Toys are for life!

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.

Cuddly Soft Toys Go Green

I remember when my daughter was a baby I was on the hunt for soft toys she could play with. There was only one problem: all the natural or organic toys had no cuddle/play value (as if they were created for neurotic parents like myself who didn't want any nasty chemicals or dyes and were then left with a brown cloth sack), or really vibrant toys with added dimensions, sensory stimulation - the works. Leaving the toy shop empty handed, I was always feeling guilty either way: buying an organic toy that was useless and never played with, or buying a toy that had been made in China with who knows what kind of materials or labor practices.

Now that my daughter is a toddler, my prayers have been answered (naturally)!! Franck & Fischer seems to have tapped into my brain, read the kind of toys I wanted for infants, and created them using organic fabrics, Oeko-tex dyes, and fair trade labor. They are by far the greenest of the green companies I've ever seen. To make it even sweeter, they have the cutest designs like pigs, cows, and sheep with faces that are impossible not to love. Rattles, stroller toys, cuddly animals, and I wish I would have had these cuddle cloths when my daughter was a baby. Reason enough to have another baby? It just might be.....

Dollhouse Gone Green

It's beautiful to watch the progression of a child from baby to toddler. Many people choose to highlight the negative (think Terrible Two's), but I've found that this age comes with a wonder of positive discoveries. Most notably, and possibly the most fun for me, is the blossoming of the imagination. I've watched my daughter move from toys that do the playing for her, to toys (or even things which were never intended as toys) that she plays with in the most unusual ways!

Imagination is such an amazing part of being a child. I even wonder to myself: when does the imaginative part in all of us die and we become hard-core-realistic adults? No fun! What is fun is to watch my daughter play in her imaginary world, which currently includes lots of dolls and houses. Lucky for her (and me) we just received the new Recycle Mobile Home from Kidsonroof which gets 2 thumbs up from us. Made from recycled and biodegradable cardboard, this house is roomy enough for her medium sized dolls (no more teeny-tiny people to buy!) and she can place all of her other tchotchke-collectibles in her own Type-A way. Secretly I've been longing for this time when we can play with a dollhouse together, as it is one of my fondest memories as a child.

How great that my daughter can have this Mobile Home that is so eco and so portable?! Going to a friends house who doesn't have one - Recycle Mobile Home to the rescue.....meaning it lives up to it's name - mobile! I'm grateful to the playfulness of the Kidsonroof crew for keeping their imagination intact as adults and creating such wonderful playthings made from eco materials. May it inspire the imagination in all of us!