Posts filed under 'Books & Paper'
Yes, it’s true. I’ve been having a secret affair with a man called Roger. It started shortly after my son was born 3 years ago and my husband doesn’t know about it … yet. I got caught up with this guy when I bought a book called The Happy Lion for my son (A Babyccino favourite as Courtney wrote about here). He illustrated the book written by his wife Louise Fatio. We both (my son and I) immediately fell in love with the story and accompanying pictures and wanted to learn more about this French Lion. So we set about buying some more of the stories in the Happy Lion series. But we could only get ‘The Happy Lion Roars‘ direct from Amazon — all the others seemed out of print and only available through the Amazon Market Place. Over the last couple of years we have gradually bought them up when they have been for sale at a sensible price. We fell so much in love with this Lion that we grew to want more from his creators.
Ms. Fatio also wrote about a delightful penguin and his lady-love: Hector and Christina (but you have to keep your eyes peeled on e-bay or Amazon to find copies of them, which is definitely worth doing). But Mr. Duvoisin (Roger when you know him like I do) has a library to start collecting — he illustrated a number of books written by Alvin Tresselt including White Snow, Bright Snow and Hide and Seek Fog (which are still in print) and The Beaver Pond (which you can usually find a pretty cheap second-hand copy of). But I love the books he has both written and illustrated: The Petunia Goose stories, the Veronica Hippopotomus stories (and the stories where those two meet, as in Veronica on Petunia’s Farm — a hippo and a goose — brilliant!). His writing has an old-fashioned tone but I’m a sucker for his illustrations.
He is really worth looking out for in second-hand bookstores and you can often find a real bargain. At the time of going to press one of my favourite titles; ‘Mr and Mrs Button’s Wonderful Watchdogs’ was on Amazon for £0.01 (+ £2.75 postage) – a whole lot of story fun for under £3! I love that the books have been owned and loved by children from generations gone by –you can see their scribbles and the much-thumbed pages and imagine that children then and now are similar in many ways. I also like seeing the contrast of these old books in my children’s room next to all their new shiny toys and books. It’s nice to see that to them, at such a young age, there’s no difference.
My Duvoisin recommendations (other than the aforementioned) are The House of Four Seasons (a book about colours), The Crocodile in the Tree, Donkey Donkey and Petunia’s Christmas.
I set myself some rules when buying second-hand books on e-bay or Amazon (so as not to go too overboard). They are:
1. Have a limit of what you’re prepared to spend — mine is usually £10. If the title costs more, wait it out. My experience says that one week it could cost you over £50 and the next under £10 (I bought Petunia’s Christmas for a couple of pounds back in July last year but nearer Christmas it was reaching over £100!).
2. Decide what condition you are prepared to accept — often online marketplaces have condition categories (like new, very good, good, acceptable etc). I don’t mind scribbles and worn edges but want a good binding so that it doesn’t fall apart when a child reads it (that is usually classed as good or above — even though I always read the description of acceptable as one person’s good is another’s acceptable). If you want a like new standard for old books you are going to have to pay for it.
3. When you find an author or illustrator that you like then search for their other titles, they rarely disappoint.
Happy reading.
-Mo. x
Mo in London
March 4th, 2010
This year I am getting organized! And this year, unlike the last few years, I am really serious. I totally triple swear.
While I have never been a “Type A” person and have always led a life of total chaos behind the scenes, I have finally hit a breaking point. My girls are turning four next month and I have yet to put together a single photo album or memory book. I have everything from sonogram pictures to photos of their 3rd birthday party in the same box stashed in my closet. I have amassed piles of all of the cute clothing that they outgrew because I simply can’t let go of the memories. And that is just their stuff — let’s not even begin to talk about mine.
The other day I stumbled upon the book One Year to an Organized Life which seemed heaven sent. I have tried to organize in vain before but it seems that the piles always get bigger and the work is never done. The more I try — the worse it becomes. I always wind up feeling defeated and run out of steam. I did have someone help me with my closet last year but that was just a starting point. In a perfect world I would just love to always put my keys in the same place, have a streamlined file cabinet, and stop constantly looking for my cell phone in my bag… but most importantly, I want to have the memories of my girls growing put in order.
What I love about this book is that it is not a quick fix and actually has you doing projects over the course of a YEAR! It also asks a lot of emotional questions as to what you really need and why you hold on to things. At times the writing can be maddeningly corny but it’s working wonders for me so far. I have purged myself of a ton of stuff and have started to get a system in place and it feels really good. Everything is starting to have a place. Even better, I also like the fact that I am setting a good example for my girls to streamline and live simply — at least that’s the goal.
-Dina
Dina in New York
February 14th, 2010
I have to confess that I don’t usually do anything on Valentine’s Day. Many Australians cynically call it “Hallmark Day” — it’s pretty much seen as a commercial exercise. However, I am a romantic. So I thought I’d share a story about one of the best “gifts” I ever received…
One day I was sitting in a cafe waiting for my boyfriend to arrive. All of a sudden a man sat in the chair opposite and started talking to me. I was a little confused about what was happening. Perhaps he had mistaken me for someone else. Or maybe he was a little mad. But little by little I started to recognise the words he was speaking. They were from one of my favourite poems by American poet Frank O’ Hara. Now this was really weird. And then I realised. My boyfriend had been up to this mini performance. I started looking around for him. Sure enough: at the end of the poem he came into view. Smiling a big gummy grin. And I couldn’t stop laughing. All this, for me?
Yes, love can be grand. And has nothing to do with money – he asked an actor friend to recite the poem to me! I hope this inspires you… or your loved ones.
- Natalie
Natalie in Sydney
February 8th, 2010
On New Years Eve, during a major snowstorm, one of my daughters became violently ill. The timing, of course, could not have been worse and after a call to the doctor we were put at ease, told to stay in, to push fluids and to ride it out. “There’s a stomach bug going around and it will pass” — we were told. But “stomach bug” I knew this was not. This thing, whatever she had, was far more sinister. A day later and two separate trips to the emergency room we wound up in the hospital for seven days of pure agony. Not only were we quarantined in a room that we were not allowed to leave but my potty-trained daughter was back in diapers –- going to the bathroom up to 30 times a day and screaming every time (sorry tmi). The poor thing was finally diagnosed with Salmonella (it takes 3 days to show up in a blood culture), and even rarer, it had spread to her bloodstream. Where she got it – I still don’t know. Salmonella is one of those things that you can get from food, playing with a turtle, anywhere really – nobody knows. And when a kid gets it, especially if it gets into the blood, it is nothing short of terrifying.
After my own bouts with food poisoning in the past (I have been hospitalized twice for food contaminated illnesses from work, once with Salmonella from a CANTALOUPE!), I have been fearful of food and have become very particular about what I eat and what I feed my children. But you can’t be vigilant 100% of the time, and sadly, there is really no control over the situation. The food supply in the US is worrisome to say the least and unless you are shopping at local farmers markets or paying top dollar at Whole Foods you really have no idea where your food is coming from.
So where am I going with this? I guess after seeing my daughter go through such an excruciating situation I am on mega high alert which reminded me of two books that are worth reading. Two excellent books about the state of the food supply in the US are The Omnivores Delimma and In Defense of Food. I was lucky to have grown up with a mother who was a hippie so I was quite aware of what was healthy to eat, but these two books were eye opening to say the least.
And last week I finally watched the documentary, Food Inc. If you have not seen it – watch it now! Oprah just did a special on it. Buy it or rent it or get it on demand. It will blow your mind, make you sick and might even make you a vegan overnight. I hate to bring this up and scare people but I am worried and I don’t even know what to eat anymore — if you have ideas, please send them my way. I am pretty confident this is a US related issue but not sure. I just get the feeling that in Europe there are more markets and access to fresh food. Please let me know. I am just curious.
-Dina
Dina in New York
February 3rd, 2010
I know it, you know it, kids can be hysterical. Sometimes they say things that make us laugh out loud, roll over the floor, wipe away our tears and then frantically reach for a pen and paper (or an Iphone, or computer, or whatever we have handy to make a note), as to not lose the thought and to make sure the quote will be treasured forever and ever and ever.
Well, as for me, I keep losing the strips of paper, and my email drafts and my Iphone are so overloaded with notes (and quotes) that I’d rather never look at it again. And, well, I’m just not so very organized I suppose.
Until I found out about My Quotable Kid — A Parents’ Journal of Unforgettable Quotes. It has very easy-to-use, cute pages where you can fill in the who/where/when and what, as to never forget the quote, and more importantly, to keep them all safely together in one place. I started my book this week and I’m very excited about it.
A great gift for girlfriends with children I think! Available through Amazon (UK
or US
).
xxx Esther
Esther in Amsterdam
January 27th, 2010
My name is Dina, I live in New York and I am a Moomah-holic.
When I was in the other day I finally asked who did the graphics for the place as I love everything on the walls. The owner, who is the mom of two young children in the neighborhood, has clearly thought of every little detail of the environment down to the take-away coffee cups (which are almost too beautiful to toss.) I always go there to buy little note cards and I was so excited to see that the designer of all the amazing stuff in Moomah has a website. Screech Owl Designs has beautiful prints, t-shirts and stationery. I especially love their note cards – I think it would even be nice to frame a few and hang on the wall, and I am planning to get some as birthday invitations this year.
-Dina
Dina in New York
January 6th, 2010
For my son’s first Christmas his Aunt (in Berlin) bought him a beautiful kinderzimmer (Kid’s Room) calendar, illustrated by Wolf Erlbruch — the gentleman who illustrated The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew it Was None of His Business
(which if you don’t know you should probably stop reading and take yourself to the nearest book-retailer or library to find a copy).
I secretly hoped this would become the annual present from his aunt, but as it wasn’t last year, I have decided to take matters into my own hands and buy him the 2010 calendar this year. It seems they only do it in German — but even if Deutsch is not one of your household languages the illustrations compensate by far.
The topic for 2010 is ‘big and small’ and the illustrations are divine — my favourites are the sausage dog and the fish, and the moose and the owl in the tree (how great is a world where a moose and an owl sit chatting in a tree!). I also love that this calendar comes in A2 size — so it really makes a statement on the wall.
You can buy it from Amazon (UK)
. Or, if you prefer to pay in euro, from Amazon.de.
-Mo
Mo in London
December 26th, 2009
It is soon that time of year again. The holidays are coming up very quickly and people are getting ready to wrap loads of presents!
I don’t know if this ever happens to you, but I routinely run out of paper and accessories and often have to write down people’s names with a marker on the wrapping paper. Practical but not very chic, right?
Together with the lovely and very talented Mrs Booth we thought we would make your life a tiny bit easier. Mrs Booth is a card, print and book designer whose simple and engaging style makes her one of my favourites. And she has kindly designed some holiday gift tags exclusively for Babyccino readers!
The designs are stinkin’ cute and I am sure your kids will love them too. You can download the adorable gift tags here, and print as many as you need! We hope you like them as much as we do!
-Emilie
Emilie in Paris
December 15th, 2009
Do you like my kids’ art gallery they created? They drew sketches on giant sticky notes and then stuck their drawings up on the wall. And I didn’t have to do a thing!
The Genius Pads are great for kids, but fun for grown-ups too. Say you have a really big grocery list, or a really important event you must remember. Or maybe you just want to tell your husband you really LOVE him… or give him a reminder you don’t want him to forget (i.e. ‘throw your socks in the laundry basket and not on the floor’ or ‘please take the rubbish out!’ etc.) I even left a message for our postman today with a giant sticky note stuck to our front door! Pretty handy really.
The sticky notes and other clever gadgets are available from Arash and Kelly.
-Courtney
Courtney in London
December 8th, 2009
Seriously….throw out that one that your grandmother gave you that’s forty generations old. On second thought, just burn all of your cookbooks because you will probably not want to eat anything but this particular banana bread for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the rest of your life.
I found this recipe in a lovely little book called A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg. I really do love books about food as I always find the recipes to be much more exciting than the ones I find in standard cookbooks.
I made this bread without the ginger (because I spaced on getting it at the store) but the end result was shockingly delicious. The warm oozing chocolate chips coupled with the spongey banana-ness of it all was a perfect combo. I pretty much ate the whole thing over the course of a day. It is also a fun thing to bake with the kids — we do it often. Time for Physique 57.
Here’s the recipe:
Banana Bread with Chocolate and Crystallized Ginger:
Makes 1 loaf
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger
2 large eggs
3 large ripe bananas, mashed
1/4 cup well-stirred whole-milk plain yogurt (not low or nonfat)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1. Set a rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 350F. Grease a 9- by 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray or butter.
2. Melt the butter on the stove or in a microwave and set aside to cool slightly.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Add the chocolate chips and crystallized ginger and whisk well to combine. Set aside.
4. In a medium bowl, lightly beat the eggs with a fork. Add the mashed banana, yogurt, melted butter, and vanilla and stir to mix well. Pour the banana mixture into the dry ingredients, and stir gently with a rubber spatula, scraping down the sides as needed, until just combined. Do not overmix. The batter with be thick and somewhat lumpy. Scrape the batter into the loaf pan and smooth the top.
5. Bake into the loaf is a deep shade of golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 50 mins to an hour. If the loaf seems to be browning too quickly, tent with aluminum foil.
6. Cool the loaf in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Then tip out and enjoy. I ate it while still hot but it is easier to slice when fully cooled.
Enjoy!
For a printable version of this recipe, click here.
-Dina
Dina in New York
December 4th, 2009
I love letterpress prints. I love the mix between old techniques and contemporary design, and the results are always so chic and stylish!
Small Square Design caters exactly to my taste with their beautiful collection of cards, gift tags, prints and notebooks. Their designs are wonderfully simple and sweet, and are perfect for all sorts of occasions! I love the idea of the (pictured) gift tag, it definitely inspires me to say thank you in a more original way. And I think the cute organic onesies combined with a letterpress card are just perfect to send to a new baby… Not to mention the notepads and journals; they make the sweetest gifts for the holidays!!
Small Square Design has an Etsy shop where you can find most of the merchandise, and Basak, the owner, also keeps a beautiful blog called Full of Mistakes. Oh, and you should also check out her house, featured at Design Sponge a while ago — to die for.
xxx Esther
P.S. I found Small Square Design through papernstitch, a showcase of high-quality, high-style items from the categories of art, handmade, and vintage. Be warned — it’s addictive.
Esther in Amsterdam
November 30th, 2009
My absolute favourite cookbook is my copy of Ginette Mathiot’s “Je sais cuisinier“. My copy was my mom’s and it was printed in 1963. It has this fabulous photo of Ginette in a pinny with the craziest swept out hairdo I have ever seen. It is now being held together with layers of tape, but the recipes are still the best: simple, French recipes.
I was really exited to read that “”Je sais cuisiner” has finally been translated into English under the name of “I know how to cook”. The translation was done by none other than Clothilde Dusoulier, the writer of the great Parisian food blog Chocolate and Zucchini.
Honestly, get it if you enjoy basic French food. It really has everything you might want to cook — the basic sauces and basic biscuits from Madeleines to Financiers.
Hope you enjoy it!
- Emilie
Emilie in Paris
November 28th, 2009
It’s that time of year again — to start thinking about holiday cards! I’ve just ordered mine from Jane Press, a lovely online personal stationery boutique based here in the UK. I opted for a really simple flat card with a personalized letterpress message, but they have all sorts of nice holiday cards, including some exclusive Petite Alma designs.
I paid a visit to their London studio last week to take a peek at all the options, and I was so impressed with their attention to detail. The quality of the paper is superb, their engravers are top of the line, the color options are great, and the packaging is lovely. Plus, they have an in-house designer who can help you create your desired cards, so you have the peace of mind that your order is being looked after.
From now until midnight November 30th, Jane Press is offering Babyccino readers a 20% discount on all orders over £50. Just enter promo code BABYNOV at check-out!
-Courtney
Courtney in London
November 23rd, 2009
So there is a very funny, incredibly loud, stay-at-home dad at my girls’ pre-school who would not stop talking about this book! One day at morning drop-off he strode in, book in hand, and proclaimed “Got my kid to not fight me to get out of the house in the morning and it only took one conversation.” Granted, this peaked my interest to say the least, but I have found myself struggling lately with the fact that most of my requests fall on deaf ears these days.
Unconditional Parenting
is a book that I had a love/hate relationship with but in the final analysis – it made a lot of sense. It takes direct aim at many of the popular parenting tactics today and clearly defends how threats, punishments, bribes and time-outs simply don’t work, and might erode a child’s self esteem. In my house we have good days and bad days but the most annoying part of the whole thing is the sound of my own voice being on repeat to get something accomplished.
The author believes that “the way kids learn to make good decisions is by making decisions, not by following directions” and that our job as parents is to empower them whenever we can.
I try to not be too controlling on most fronts but I do like to keep a schedule, especially when it comes to sleep…. but when the 108th “can I ask you a question mommy?” and “tuck me in again, mommy” comes echoing from the room when they were supposed to be asleep 45 minutes ago I start to lose it.
“It is very difficult to make a child eat a meal and it’s simply impossible to force a child to go to sleep, or stop crying, or listen, or respect us.” Phew – so it’s not just me? He even makes a strong case against the use of “praise” and to really only throw out the “good jobs” and “I am proud of you” for when it really is called for. It’s true – I too fell prey to the “good job” thing.
I found the harshness refreshing and to be honest, it made me feel more confident and less alone in my struggle. Sometimes it just helps to stop, take a breath, and really really talk to your child – try to figure out how they feel and what they need. Turn the power over to them a little bit and see what happens.
Next book this dad has been yapping about is Nurture Shock. Reading that now…will keep you posted. I like this guy’s reading list….
-Dina
Dina in New York
November 20th, 2009
I just popped into Muji this week, and I have to say just how great all their Christmas items are! I was so impressed with all the cute little wooden toys, holiday decorations, gift-wrapping items, cards, stamps, etc.
I filled an entire cart full of little gifts (including the items pictured), and I bought one of their wooden christmas tree decoration pieces too!
As it goes with Muji, everything is pretty reasonably priced… perfect for little stocking stuffers or nice gifts for your kids’ friends. I definitely recommend paying a visit.
-Courtney
Courtney in London
November 19th, 2009
You probably recall that for our latest Birthday Week I wrote about Homemade Happiness: great downloadable deco kits for every birthday, holiday or other special occasion. I’m really quite fond of their designs and, in yet another attempt to get organized, have been using their to-do-lists faithfully (and LOVE them)!
Now this week we have a special surprise for all of you: Caroline and Diana from Homemade Happiness have very kindly offered a free download of their beautiful ‘Oh so Sweet’ To Do Lists to ALL Babyccino readers!!! Perfect timing as the holiday season approaches to help organize your preparations!
For the free PDF download just click here, and simply print the lists on your home or office printer, as much as needed.
Enjoy! And thanks again, Homemade Happiness!!
xxx Esther
P.S. If you celebrate St. Nicholas, check out the fantastic Sint downloads in the Homemade Happiness shop! I LOVE that T-shirt print!
Esther in Amsterdam
November 16th, 2009
I just love these decorative tapes by Famille Summerbelle. I can see myself using them in so many ways… like wrapping up a basic gift box or package, creating cards or signs, or decorating a wall to make it more festive. I always like to keep stuff like this in my craft cupboard because with all the kiddie birthday parties we have these days, it seems I’m wrapping presents left and right. These tapes offer an easy and quick fix!
Famille Summerbelle also makes beautiful paper banners, good for party decoration, and of course loads of beautiful prints.
Aren’t those pink octopuses just so stinken’ cute?
-Courtney
Courtney in London
November 6th, 2009
For the past year or so, I have had my daughter make a card for everyone’s birthday– much more personal than a store-bought card! But, on occasion, I’ll have to admit that it was a bit like pulling teeth — sometimes she was just not in the mood for art when I needed a card to mail. This is why I was tickled to discover Print Art Kids– they turn your kids artwork (or photos) into all sorts of practical things- notecards, labels, notepads, and more. My daughter labored over a very special birthday card, I uploaded it to Print Art Kids site, added a border, and voila! I have a bunch of great birthday cards, designed by my daughter. She was so proud to see her design duplicated, and now I have a stash of ready made cards. Now we’ll have to get to work on our holiday card design….
xx Rebecca
Rebecca in Washington
November 5th, 2009
I just received a Paperless Post card from a friend announcing her new address, and it is the cutest on-line announcement I’ve ever seen. Unlike so many e-cards, Paperless Post looks like traditional stationery — you can almost feel the quality of the paper through your computer screen. And like traditional stationery, Paperless Post allows you to personalize your stationery, choosing the paper, ink color, fonts, images, and even the envelope. I love this sort of thing — I almost want to throw a party just so I can create an invitation!
Traditional personalized stationery is expensive, for one, but it also wastes a ton of paper. Paperless Post eliminates those problems, and it also makes it easy to monitor who has received and responded to your invite.
You can send out birth announcements, invitations, holiday cards, etc. Try it and see, but let me warn you — it’s addictive!
-Courtney
Courtney in London
October 20th, 2009
Sadly, I don’t read very many books these days. In fact, I’ve only read two in the past year! But thankfully one of them was a book that has completely changed my life: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.
The book is a memoir about Kingsolver and her family who spent a year living on a farm, eating off the land or buying only locally grown provisions. Kingsolver walks you through the year, month by month, discussing the ups and downs of farming, which vegetables are in season and why it’s important to eat organically and seasonally in order to avoid pesticides and food miles. She also provides the occasional recipe for simple but tasty meals.
Reading the book made me long for a more simple life, one spent on a farm, enjoying time with my family, appreciating the land and the food it makes. It’s a wonderful book filled with Kingsolver’s famous wit and warmth, and I could not recommend it more highly.
-Courtney
Courtney in London
October 8th, 2009
Previous Posts
My Duvoisin recommendations (other than the aforementioned) are The House of Four Seasons (a book about colours), The Crocodile in the Tree, Donkey Donkey and Petunia’s Christmas.
