Better than a bean bag…
Since we all live in relatively small spaces in big, expensive cities, storage is constantly an issue. We certainly don’t have enough storage space in our flat, so we’ve really had to be innovative…
One of the most clever (and cool) storage options in our home is the Karmameju Storage Cushion. It is essentially a fabric cover meant to store your spare duvet or extra pillows. When stuffed, it is a stylish lounge cushion (or bean-bag) to place anywhere in your house. My kids lie on it when watching movies, but even when it’s not being used, it just looks cool sitting there. (more…)
You know you’re a mom when…
…your dustbuster is one of your most prized possessions!
Seriously- is there anything more “mom-ish” than getting out your handy little vacuum from the kitchen cupboard to clean up all the leftover bits from breakfast? And why is it that, for some insane reason, I actually enjoy it? Crouched down on my knees under the table, getting all the remnants of the past meal (and maybe a runaway pea from the previous night)… it is exhilarating! Ta-da! Look how quickly my house looks tidy again!
Okay, maybe I’m going too far (or maybe it’s because I’m an overzealous neat-freak), but I honestly don’t know what I’d do without it.
The sun, the moon, and a little bit of magic…
A while ago we received this email from one of our readers with some old-fashioned, valuable advice:
I am not much able to contribute to the aspect of your site which touches upon being a mum and living a stylish lifestyle as I am afraid I must admit that I really am not tremendously stylish and am living the glorious life of being a mum on a shoe-string.
However I am not so poor or slovenly that I wish my baby son to go out into the big wide world covered in the demon orange blotches that spatter across his lovely white tops and hale from some carrot concoction I have fashioned whilst trying to improve my “good life” culinary skills.
NO!
Amsterdam! Dah… Dishwashing!
Can you believe it? This morning I spent at least 30 minutes of my very valuable 2KAAT time (2 kids are asleep time) on typing this/our first blog entry ever, and, of course, to make a long story short – I lost everything when I tried to include a hyperlink in the post. So far for trying to be a nerd!
Anyway, this was my first day alone (well, as far as alone goes with an 8-month-old baby boy and a 2 1/2 year-old daughter). Meaning – it was hubby’s first day at work here in Amsterdam. (He’s now sitting on his favourite spot playing with his new blackberry and laptop – thank god it’s a laptop – I keep hearing ringtones from that little room)!
I spent most of the day cleaning up our (well, Frank and Silke’s) little flat – kids in front of Baby Einstein – which is why I initially wanted to write something about a product I dearly miss (besides my dishwasher): my Dishmatique Scourer Washing Up Liquid Dispenser. It’s a truly brilliant invention Courtney got me hooked on about 2 years ago, and for some strange reason it can only be purchased in the UK. And mine is at the moment tucked away in one of our many moving boxes waiting for our new Dutch p(a)lace! Aaargh!
What it is? OK, it’s basically just a dishwashing sponge. But it has a reservoir that holds the dishwashing liquid and dispenses it as you wash! Brilliant! You can buy replacement heads that come in green and white – I prefer the green ones.
My mum is hooked as well, she has brought them with her to France and Belgium and has given them to all her sisters here in Holland. Because, as I said, it doesn’t seem to exist on the continent!
So I was nearly going to ask one of my London based girlfriends to send over a Dishmatique with a life supply of replacement heads, until I found this site:
British Corner Shop.
WoW! Michela, isn’t this GREAT? Not only do these people sell Dishmatique, they also sell our favourite organic baby food like Plum Baby, Hipp, even Ella’s Kitchen! For only 8 pounds you can shop for up to 30 kilo’s of British food and they will send it right to my doorstep here in Amsterdam!! Hurr(a)y!!!
-Esther
