shak-shuka

Mama's Rockin' Boots

If you follow us on Twitter, you'll know that I am constantly on the hunt for the perfect slip-on boots that require absolutely no effort (ie - doesn't require bending over a big fat baby belly!) and are comfortable to boot (pun intended). Believe it or not, this challenge is much more difficult than I thought. Almost as tough as bending over a baby belly and lacing up boots that aren't that comfortable anyways...

I was delighted when I spotted in MAMA Magazine a pair of boots that were calling my name: Goliath "On Stage" boots. Ok, I could do without the name (I mean, when will I be "on stage"?!), but the look of them just made my feet melt. Easy, slip-on style (even has a little tab on the back to help us pull them on without too much effort) and believe it or not: arch support! I find this is a rarity, especially among boots. Being the obsessive-compulsive lady that I am, I Googled the company, found out where they sold them in my town, and ran out one hour later and tried them on. Little did I know they have a faux-sheepskin lining which is very Ugg-like and oh-so-comfortable! I nearly cried in relief when I put them on, and have worn them every single day since. Not sure about the eco-factor of the boots, but seeing as I will be wearing them non-stop and not buying any more boots, that's eco enough for this soon-to-be-double-mama!

 

Rain, Rain Come Again

It's been a long time since my last post, but we've been really busy over here at Shak-Shuka headquarters! Busy preparing for a wonderful (albeit short!) vacation, busy on vacation, then busy back to reality after the vacation! We were fortunate enough to spend some time in Hamburg, Germany and Copenhagen, Denmark - both wonderful, family-friendly cities that we'll discuss in a later post.

First I have to share with you my latest obsession! One thing that I noticed in Denmark is that people are VERY serious about their rain gear. Even though it rains here in the Netherlands, I have never seen people be more prepared than carrying around an umbrella, or for long treks on the bike - maybe rainproof pants. The Danes seem to have it all covered (quite literally) from waterproof jumpsuits for the kids, heavy-duty rain jackets, and footwear that made me cringe with envy. Luckily the footwear department I had done my research on, and Ilse Jacobsen is the woman that I would turn to to keep my footers dry during the 9+ months of rain we have here. Jacobsen handmakes (ok, probably not her, she's the designer, but you get where I'm going here) all of her rainboots, and I have to say they are THE most comfortable boots I've ever worn. They have a fleecy interior so even when you're wearing socks/tights/the works, you still feel their fuzzy softness. There are quite a few styles to choose from (ranging from low ankle-style to high knee boots) and a million and one colors. I'm not as adventurous and I went with the ankle-height dark brown model, which I absolutely love. Handmade, local, and made from 100% natural rubber, there is very little not to love about these boots.....except maybe the rain that you need them for!

Simple Eco Flip Flops

When the weather gets warm, there's a part of my brain that makes me believe that I'm a beach mama who sports kaftans and sandals all summer. The harsh reality is that about 4 times during the summer it gets warm enough for me to do this (which in reality never happens!). But it's good to have a dream, and when I go on vacation, that is precisely what I do - nothing but mumus, kaftans, sandals and flip flops for me!

I have always had a bit of a strange feeling about flip flops: I'm sure you all remember that phase when people were wearing them with EVERYTHING - even suits (I saw that in NYC and almost passed out from fashion shock). For ease and wearability, you just can't be the flippity-floppity of the flip flops, but they are not always the most fashion-forward, or eco-friendly option. One of my favorite shoe brands - Simple - has come out with a great solution - flip flops with a foam insert that are made from post consumer recycled paper, and the sole is biodegradable! I really love the ethos behind Simple, and these flip flops really fulfill my hippy, beach-mama dream - even if it is a dream, I can live a bit of it in reality with these Simple flops!

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!!!

H&M Gets Conscious

It's not usual that such a big name (think H&M) launches a month-long campaign of eco-friendly wear. When we think of these big-brands, it's usually synonymous with things like sweatshops, toxic dyes, un-ethical materials. H&M has really turned the tables this April, launching it's "Conscious Collection" on the 14th of April, which is chock-full of white-laden goodness perfect for summer days and nights. It's nice to see that there's a little something for women, men and kids, so no one gets left out of the eco fun. I'm personally quite fond of the dresses that I've seen, as if I have weather or an agenda that requires them! Another fun fact about H&M's eco-April, is that later in the month they will host a collaboration with Swedish Hasbeens, which is great for us footwear-obsessed ladies! A big thanks to Coos&Ahhs for tipping us off to that one....we'll be sure to be at the front doors when those H&M/Swedish Hasbeens arrive!

Mama Shuks Wish List

So, hooray! This Saturday I will be celebrating not only my birthday, but the birthday of 2 of my favorite little people: one of them turning 3, the other turning 4 - and me, turning involving one of those numbers in the double-digit region ;-) Saturday will be filled with 3 parties for each of us girls - starting from 11am until the evening when we finish off the day celebrating ol' Mama Shuks birthday with pizza and beer (for the adults, not for the kiddos!).

In case you were wondering what's on my birthday wish list, or even if it hadn't crossed your mind, I thought I'd share with you some of my favorites. I might not get all of them, or even any of them, but it's fun to have a nice little "wish list" handy should the occassion every arise when someone wants to buy me a little gifty-poo!

 

 

Ordinary Sundays Nude Shawl - even though summer is approaching, I still can't live without a scarf or shawl. I love the idea of "nude" in the summer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shampoodle Tracksuit Set - yes, even though we own a store that carries them, this is on my wish list. I think I might gift myself one!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swedish Hasbeens Ballerina Perforated - because I have nearly all of their other shoes (heels, boots, clogs) I thought it was best to round out my collection with these babies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deux Filles en Fil Le Sac Enveloppe - ethically sourced leather, in a perfect shape for my everyday needs. love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No Monkee'ing Around Jeans

I've been so caught up in the beautiful weather that I've managed to let posts slip by...no longer! Even though the sun is shining, I'm determined to share with you our beautiful eco-friendly finds.

With the influx of warmer weather, that means only one thing to me - white jeans. I have no idea why, but warm weather to me signals stripping off my usual denim or black jeans, and slipping into something lighter and, well, whiter! It is a bit crazy to wear white jeans around kids, but I throw caution to the wind now that I've got a good laundry machine in the house. I recently bought a pair of white jeans that are so great, they're almost the equivalent of a SATC Miranda Hobbs' "No Excuses" jeans that she puts on after losing her baby weight. Butt-lifting, slim in all the right places, heel-sporting good. If you're a woman, you'll know what I'm talking about - trying to find the perfect slim fit jean isn't easy. Monkee Genes is a funky name for a jean that fits the bill. I loved not only the fit, but also the fact that they are ethically produced (no sweatshops) and made from organic cotton. Ego and envirnomentally lifting? All that and so much more, so much so that I splurged on two more pairs (black satteen (LOVE! the color doesn't fade) and jean shorts). I'm not "Monkee'ing" around!

Kiboots Kick Off Spring

One of my best guy friends from New York, makes fun of how many boots the average New York woman has. It does seem a bit silly when I look at my closet and see an array of boots - high, low, heeled, no heel, black, purple, shiny, nubuck...the list goes on. But then when a chilly, downright frigid New York City winter hits, then I remember why I have my trusty Boot Collection. No woman in her right mind would be seen in heels or open-toed shoes in a blizzard!

So even though the spring is upon us, I still drool over boots. Case in point: Kiboots. Kiboots have this kind of funky, bohemian feel that I just love that I think matches perfectly with bare legs and flowy dresses. Kiboots are not your average boot either - they're made from a combination of leftover leather mixed with kilim rugs - I seriously double dare you to find a boot more eco-friendly than that. Choose from pointy or round-toed versions, and if it were up to me, they would make kids boots that would sell like hotcakes!

Heti's Spring Colours

Spring is in the air! Even though there is still a definite chill in the air that is reminiscent of winter, the sun is shining and there are blooms trying to make their way through the frozen earth to show their faces. Yippee! Spring is my favorite season: filled with hope, beauty, and shedding all those heavy, winter (pounds ;-) items.

Every spring I invest in a few key pieces that I will work the rest of my wardrobe around. Here in the Netherlands we don't have much of a proper "hot" summer, so I skip the skimpy spaghetti strap dresses (enter crying here) and instead opt for short sleeve or long sleeve numbers. Sad, but true - at least there's very little room for disappointment! Having said that, I am always on the lookout for dramatic dresses. Imagine my surprise when I received an ASOS newsletter of all things, that I found an ethical treasure! A gorgeous, slinky and long dress by a brand new to me - Heti's Colours. Featuring a slight cowl neck, floor-grazing shape, and a stunning color palette unique to the Jaipur family who dyes all of Heti's Colours collection. Fair trade, ethical and eye-popping colors grace Heti's Colours tees, tops and dresses. Personally, I am in love - and funny enough, the colors are so gentle, that when the Cowl Neck Dress caught my eye, it wasn't the grey one it was the pink/red one! My daughter will surely be happy, and it's a welcome spring touch to my wardrobe.

Osborn to Love Shoes

Maybe it's the holidays that's brought out my inner shoe nut, but it seems as though lately I use most of my spare time (which is very little these days!) daydreaming about shoes. Or maybe it's the fact that I've been stcuk wearing rainboots/wellies for the past 10 days that my feet are itching for more! Although rain/winter boots are super practical, there is always missing that bit of zazazoo about them.....I long for more exciting footwear with heels, detailing - even maybe a history behind them.

Given this information, you can imagine why I'm drooling behind the screen when I see Osborn Design shoes. Handmade in Guatemala by cobblers (read: artisans of the shoe craft) using sweatshop-free labor and many times using recycled materials (like rubber tires for soles), these shoes are like no other. Booties, oxfords, and good ol'boots can be found in Osborn's limited designs, using fabrics that will make any outfit pop. I personally am drawn to the Electric Blue Wool Booties, but wish I was more daring and could go for something like the Lightning Bolt oxfords. Alas, I know myself too well that I would only keep them to lovingly stare at them ever so often, but that's not the point of these fair trade beauties! They deserve to have a life full of love and dancing, which is exactly what will happen once they make it into my home.....oh Santa/Yenta Claus, are you listening???!