HEMA
HEMA is one of those shops (or concepts really), that is almost impossible to describe. If you’ve ever set foot in a HEMA, you understand. In fact, you get the concept immediately, and you’re a fan instantly – no denial possible! And you just understand why we, Dutchmen, are all raving about it, and why this chain of shops is what we miss most when we move abroad…
So, what is HEMA?
HEMA is a Dutch chain of shops that only sells HEMA-brand products. No luxury products, but products that are meant for daily use and that are functional yet fun. The assortment is wide and prices are low (we like that in the Netherlands), designs are trendy and fresh, simple and colourful. The quality is good, and overall the products are seriously so much fun that you can’t help bringing home yet another cool tea-towel, notebook or cute cookie-cutter set for the kids! (more…)
Zobha maternity pants
As hard as I try to stay stylish in my skinny jeans while pregnant, there comes a moment when you just feel more comfortable in a pair of stretchy, low-on-the-tummy, casual black pants. As I am now more than half way through this pregnancy, this moment has come.
Thankfully, I’ve discovered the maternity essential pant from Zobha. The V-like waist fits really low below the belly, and the stretchy cotton material is really flattering on my ever-growing bum and hips. They’re ultra comfortable and yet they’re really cute. I even dressed them up with a cute pair of flats and a fancy top for a holiday party the other day and no one would have guessed that I was wearing yoga pants!
Zobha is a US company, but they ship internationally.
-Courtney
via Cool Mom Picks!
Organic cotton basics
Some days you want your kids to just look like babies and feel cozy — that is exactly what I thought when I saw the Rattled range of clothing: simple, organic cotton basics in vibrant colours!
They offer 6 styles in 12 colours to let you mix&match and layer. This firm was conceived in the summer of 2007 by two friends in South Carolina who decided to start a new business venture with some ethics in mind. Not only are their products organic but they give back 10% of their profits to children in need.
I went for a mix of purple and acqua for my one-year-old baby girl and I just love seeing her crawling around in these soft, colourful clothes. They are ideal for lounging at home on cold winter days!
At the moment they ship only to the US but they will soon have retailers and will start shipping internationally.
-Michela
Snowman!
A Christmas blizzard meant one thing to my boys: a big, huge snowman.
Isn’t he cute?
My favorite thing about him is what he’s made of:
-Chocolate malt balls (for the eyes)
-Carrot (for the nose)
-Black licorice whips (for the mouth)
-Portobello Mushrooms (for the buttons)
-Hat and scarf (for the accessories)
Happy Holidays!
-Courtney
Leon Cookbook
I have a new addiction and it is the food from my new favourite Cookbook: Leon.
Lets wind back a few years when we were all living in London. I was working in Soho and deploring the fact that it was almost impossible to get good take-away food. Try as I might, I never managed to get up in time to prepare sandwiches to take in with me. So my options were greasy spoons and sandwich chains that put so much mayonnaise into their sandwiches that it was had to figure out what else was in the sandwich.
Then, one fine day, Leon opened: fresh salads, soups, wraps… all I ever could have dreamed of was suddenly available just around the corner from me! I never went anywhere else…
Finally my favourite take-away has published a cookbook and I am loving making my own take-away food (The family is loving it too, by the way)!
- Emilie
Soft play animals
We’ve recently discovered the range of Bullyland soft and squishy animals, and my kids love them!
With realistic hand-painted details, they are made to look like the real thing. They’re made from PVC-free synthetic rubber, so while they look like they would be hard and heavy, they’re soft and light and fun to play with.
Bullyland is a German-based company founded in 1974, and is one of the only manufacturers in the world that uses neither dangerous phthalate softeners nor PVC for model and figurine production.
A great range of Bullyland soft play animals are available from Kites Tails Toys in the US.
-Courtney
Rietveld crate chair
The other day I was at my friend, Miriam’s house. Miriam is an architect, like me. In fact, we studied together, and lived in the same students’ house!
Miriam’s daughter Myrthe is exactly one week younger than Pim (our son), so it is cute to see them together. Of course, we’re constantly joking that one day they might end up getting married…
Well, I think Pim should definitely consider this, because Myrthe is already working on a fantastic dowry — she owns a chair that makes her future MIL (me) green with envy: a Rietveld Crate chair!!
Rietveld is one of the Netherlands’ most famous designers/architects. He designed this chair in 1934, and because his ideology was to design beautiful things within everybody’s reach, he used packing materials (old crates) to create this chair, and also, in a pre-Ikea way of thought, sold it in do-it-yourself kits.
Rietveld’s grandson and great-grandson (who oddly are the same age) recently re-developed the crate-chair in kiddie size – a third of the original size. How cool is that! A wonderful chair for my grandchildren, I would think… 
xxx Esther
White Christmas
Christmas tram
I know it’s totally commercial, plus it’s always the same drink, but I just love this special holidays tram that travels around Milan these days. When you spot it on the street at night it really looks like a magic chariot!
Merry Christmas from Milan!
-Michela
A sleepy sheep
I don’t know why, but I really want my kids to have a little doudou (as little cuddly toys are called here). I kind of like the idea that they have a little thing with them that gives them security. My eldest daughter is completely uninterested; she has never been attached to anything in particular. But the youngest one is a completely different kettle of fish. From about 2 weeks old she started sucking on her thumb and she visibly calms down when she is falling asleep with something to cuddle.
Being a typical middle class, post-2000 mother I love the idea of anything and everything organic, which is why I am so happy that my daughter has officially opted for the organic cotton cuddly sheep by the traditional German toy manufacturer Käthe Kruse. She obviously has excellent taste… it is super soft and a lovely simple design. (more…)
Beach chic at Christmas
Living only a five minute walk from world-famous Bondi Beach presents some interesting decorating dilemmas at Christmas time. I haven’t worried so much about what trinkets and festive fare to indulge in during previous years because I’ve always been too busy celebrating Sydney-style at friends’ places, parties and picnics – it is the summer social season, after all. But this year is different because this is the first time I will experience Christmas with my baby boy, Charlie. And so I want to make a little more effort.
Well, thankfully I have a great shop down the road that will provide me with many decorating options. After all, it is a little tricky to get the right Christmas look when you’re woken by summer sun (not snow) and a post-lunch activity is more likely to involve swimming in the ocean than riding on a sleigh. Caravan Interiors (02 9365 0500) on Hall Street, Bondi, is a must-visit shop. And its decorations are the most beautiful, beach-inspired ones I’ve seen yet. Wreaths are made of driftwood and shells and there’s not a strand of tinsel in sight. Oh, they also have a small but very carefully edited kids’ section, selling everything from clothes to toys to decorations.
-Natalie
The Villaggio delle Meraviglie
For the second year running Milan will have its own Christmas Theme Park — the Villaggio delle Meraviglie. It all takes place in the lovely surroundings of the Giardini Pubblici Montanelli, one of the nicest parks in the very centre of Milan.
From the 6th of December until the 6th of January a fairytale village inspired by everything Christmas will be put in place for the entertainment of children and adults together.
There will be Santa’s house where children can meet Santa Clause and hand him their Christmas letter. After Christmas his place will be taken over by Befana, an old witch-looking lady, who flies on a broomstick and brings sweets and presents to well-behaved children on the night of the 6th of January. Next to Santa’s house there will be a toy factory where children can draw their favourite character and then see an animation of it.
Under the Ice Palace (though not really made of ice) there will be entertainment for the very little ones, a circus school and face painting.
One of the biggest attractions for children will be a rollercoaster in the shape of Santa’s sleigh that will ride along on mountains of snow. For a quieter and more tranquil ride, one can choose the “Park Express” train that will take adults and children on a tour of the park where they will meet the fairytale characters that live in it. (more…)
‘Lost and Found’ comes to life!
I’m so excited I can hardly stand it!! Oliver Jeffers’ second children’s book (and my absolute favorite of his), ‘Lost and Found‘, has been adapted into a short animated film!! Studio AKA has taken this award-winning book and turned it into what will surely be 25 minutes of brilliance!
If you’re lucky enough to be in the UK at Christmas time, it will be shown on Channel 4 at 2.30pm on Christmas Eve, and again at 12.30pm on Boxing Day. For everyone not in the UK or Ireland (which sadly includes me since I’m away on holiday!), you’ll have to wait a bit longer!
-Courtney
P.S. To view the teaser trailer, click here!
Marqt
I’m sure I’m telling the food-concious Amsterdam inhabitant nothing new when I say the word ‘Marqt‘. Because Marqt came and conquered, almost a year ago!
The concept behind Marqt (not a supermarket but a ‘fresh market’) is fresh food, mostly organic, coming from local farms in the neighbourhood of Amsterdam and of very high quality. Everything is presented in a sublime and spacious interior (think wood, brick and stainless steel).
For people living in NY or London, where fancy food experiences (we don’t call them supermarkets any more) such as Whole Foods are around your corner, this concept might be nothing new. But to us here in provincial Amsterdam, organic shopping used to be limited to a couple of over-prized, sexless bio-shops where the shop assistants were as slow and un-enthusiastic as the food they were selling. But with Marqt in town, Amsterdam is back on the organic map!
xxx Esther
P.S. When you go shopping at Marqt (BTW the bread is divine), you can leave your cash at home, because they only accept cards.
Mascarpone cream
This cream is a classic in my family; my mother has been making it since I can remember. It’s easy and very versatile, and it goes well with any dry dessert like panettone! The ingredients are the same used for the tiramisù cream, just in slightly different proportions. Once the dinner is over and you have had your coffee just drop a spoon of cream in the empty cup stir it and enjoy, it’s delicious.
During other seasons you can serve it with strawberries or other berries, you can also have is by itself with some chocolate on top!
The recipe below uses what my family calls a “homeopathic” dose of alcohol, but I prefer it this way, with nearly no alcohol, and this means children can enjoy it as well. You can do without alcohol altogether but I believe a tiny amount takes a bit of the edge off the sweetness and the eggy flavour. You can easily double the ingredients of this recipe and that will give you enough cream to feed a large party!
Here is the recipe: (more…)
Monthly News from Milk Magazine
Petit Flaneur:
Sandra Ciganic-McKinney is the founder of Petit Flaneur. This young Canadian had the great idea of creating objects whilst respecting the planet: the toys, cards and clothes she dreams up are all produced close to her native Toronto. They are made out of Canadian wood and non-toxic ink. Her objects are not only beautiful, but also intelligent and innovative, like this 3D puzzle.
La Bohème:
Christmas is approaching fast. You are soon going to have to choose THE perfect outfit for your daughter to impress your whole family. The ideal choice is…. “bohème chic (gyspy chic)”! It is said that a gypsy is as free as a bird; if your little one does not want to eat turkey she isn’t going to eat. Not because she has no manners, but because she has a mind of her own.
Your mother wants her grandchildren to be on their best behavior. So be it. Make her and your daughter happy with a dress made out of lace, embroidery, flowery patterns and other beautiful tidbits.
Essentiel Dress, from 125 €
Hansel and Gretel:
Christmas time and the excuse to eat treats is quickly approaching. All get your forks ready and start eating, due to these sweet Hansel and Gretels. You get to play the part of the evil witch and eat them without feeling guilty. These cookies are on sale at one of the most beautiful food shops in Paris, La grande Epicerie de Paris, (the Bon Marché Food Hall). It’s a good reason to go on a culinary expedition to the very chic Parisian Left Bank.
-Sophie Carré
Last Christmas
A few days ago my husband was dropping our daughter off at school and was stopped by the head mistress. “Monsieur” she said, “your daughter has been singing a beautiful English Christmas carol at school. Can you give us the words to it, as we want to teach it to all the kids.” My husband was not sure which song she was talking about, so he asked our daughter to sing it for him. She very dutifully obliged and much to his horror launched into a complete rendition of “Last Christmas” by Wham
I love the fact that an ’80s pop song got lost in translation and became, to the ears of a French person, a wonderful children’s Christmas carol.
What are we going to do? The head mistress is expecting us to turn up with some wise words about mistletoe, stars and angels. Instead we are going to turn up with a song that might be seminal to a lot of people of our generation, but let’s face it, George Michael is not famous for his traditional, child-friendly song writing skills…. I am not sure that the head mistress, who is a formidable old-fashioned lady, would approve!
- Emilie
Loving Charley Harper…
If you’ve browsed through our Amazon bookshop in both the books and the toys sections, you have probably gathered just how much we love Charley Harper! His ABC’s board book is one of the most beautiful alphabet books around. His illustrations are all very graceful yet simple, in a Japanese sort of style.
Charley Harper also has a coloring book which allows your kids to color inside the beautiful line drawings, a fun memory game, and a set of ABC flash cards. They’re all beautiful, all educational, and all available from our bookshop!
Also, for a heftier price, you can buy Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life
-Courtney
Sumptuous bears
We’ve talked before on Babyccino about anti-credit crunch gifts, and in some way these teddy bears ($208) are easily allocated to that category. But, if you hear me out a little longer, you might also want to decide that these teddies should instead be considered charity!
Each individual bear has been carefully hand-embroidered by women artisans working in deprived areas of Africa. These craftswomen, many of them HIV/AIDS affected, are part of ‘The Forward Group’.
Contrary to the common thought in some African tribes that women should own nothing more than the clothes and jewelery they are wearing, the women in ‘The Forward Group’ are able to support themselves through their own creativity and skills, gaining confidence and moving ahead with their lives.
So you see, not only are these teddy bears unique, beautiful and truly a work of art, made out of denim and decorated using techniques such as patchwork and embroidery — purchasing one of the teddies can also make a change in the lives of these women, and, in a small but significant way, affect the role of African women in their society.
Not a bad thought just before Christmas, is it?
xxx Esther
P.S. To help a little in these, after all, still difficult economic times, Couture Lab is now offering free international shipping to all Babyccino readers. Just follow this link…
Books advent calendar
I read about this very special advent calendar on this blog I have been following daily for over two years. Jen is a mother of 4 (a set of triplets plus 1) and she very often amazes me with her enthusiasm, attention and creativity. She has a collection of 24 children books with Christmas related stories and at the beginning of December she wraps them all up and places them in a basket. Every night (until Christmas) one of the children picks a book and she reads it to them before bed. Once the holiday season is over the books are stored away, so that the following year they will be very new and special once again. It’s of course an ongoing project as children will “outgrow” some of the stories, so she plans to substitute one or more of the books from the collection every year.
I find this idea so sweet and special. It’s too late to replicate one in my family this year… but I’ll start buying some more Christmas books now (possibly in the Holiday section of our Bookshop)!
-Michela
