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Spring Fashion Fling

Spring is my most favorite of all seasons and I love Spring fashion equally! Since, we’ll be meeting gran-mere and pere in Tuscany this year… well, its time to go shopping (again).

These are some of the key pieces to have this Spring – or at least mama says…

Eco-Fabulous Wipes

Any mama with little ones knows there’s a mess around each corner.  And, like many of us, every little thing to make our lives easier is welcomed. Not until I had The Boom Boom did I start using sanitizing wipes. I started out with the regular national brands. But soon realized that the bebe would sometime lie, lick and chew on the surface I had just wiped down – complete with the chemical-ladened, bad for the bebe sanitizing wipe. I was both gratified and horrified at the same time. I instantly had a clean surface again but was horrified that my bebe was now rolling around in all those chemicals.

     

I did my research and found several options, some very expensive options.  The regular national brand will run around $7,  the bio-eco alternative can run as high as $30. But for the convenience and the peace of mind, it’s all worth it for me.

I like the EO All Purpose Sanitizing Wipes the best.  The thickness of the wipes were perfect.  I find that the thicker ones are harder to maneuver and don’t glide as easily on various surfaces. Plus, the lavender scent is quite soothing. These all-purpose wipes clean and sanitize hands and other dirty things. They are 62% organic alcohol and are biodegradable, making them the organic, plant-based alternative to chemical-laden wipes. They’re ideal for use on counter-tops, shopping cart handles, hands, etc. to disinfect and prevent the spread of germs. Organic lavender essential oil is naturally cleansing and soothing. Organic alcohol sanitizes on contact.

I know, I posted on “those moms” that sanitize everything.  I just want to clarify, I use them sparingly for messes, when I’m on the go or just too darn tired to grab dish rag and get on my hands and knees

All the fuss about play dates…

… resumes for play dates and don’t even get me started on mommy groups!!!

What ever happened to just sending our kids to go out and play as we did when we were younger?  When we rode our bicycles without helmets, when we were allowed to go to the corner store without fear of getting kidnapped, when we didn’t have to wipe everything down with hand sanitizer? Long gone are those days. Better times, well maybe not better, but definitely simpler.

(I found these super cute card on http://www.tinyprints.com/)

I remember a comment Papa made one day, not too long after the Boom Boom was born. He suggested, I hang out more with his best friend’s wife.  Oh gawds, I thought! I like this said woman – but from far.  We “hang out” because our partners are friends but that’s the extent of the relationship I have with her.  Mind you, she’s not a bad person, she’s actually a beautiful person and a great mom. But, beyond that we have nothing in common. We don’t have the same philosophies on child rearing.  Plus, I’m a pretty flexible, no-stress, easy-going kinda gal.  This women only has her kids eats vegetables, has them bathe at 4:30 to be in bed by 6. And, there’s more and I just can’t be bothered. Finding great women friends you truly love and appreciate is a very personal thing.  Now, I told Papa, I certainly am not going to make friends with random women just because we have motherhood in common. Oh, plus all the really booooooring stuff they talk about – forget about it!!!

There are tons of play groups and mommy groups here in Manhattan, some more exclusive or shall I say, “sillier” than others.  Some require a resume for le bebe and others require an interview before hand. I understand, the people in charge want to make sure all the babies play nice. It’s great we all get along – but sadly, this is not how the real world operates. This is why those French laugh at us all the time. We’re taking away so many valuable life lessons at such a young age. This leads to another topic of super-spolied children, everyone getting a trophy in Little League, etc

All that said, I am happy that I have a small group of women friends that now have children.  Stephanie, a fellow mama and one of my really good friend’s, we try to see each other at least once a month. It makes play dates so much more enjoyable.  We have the same sensibilities; she’s not wiping down the seats, the utensils, the tables with her disinfectant wipes every two seconds, she’s not competitive in any way and our kids get along wonderfully.

Kids All Pooped After a Day at the Children's Museum of Arts

I understand and appreciate the need for play groups and mommy groups; family dynamics, work schedules, other obligations, etc make it necessary for a structured, arranged appointment. But, if I can opt out of it, the better!! Papa seconds this notion!

Happiness-Sticks

Chopsticks in Chinese sounds a lot like “happiness” so they are considered great gifts to give to anyone.

And, I’m always in search of cultural and educational “toys” for my Boom Boom and have been meaning to get him some “baby chopsticks”.  The ones you find in all the shops in Chinatown, with the “rubber bands” or springs so they retract and stay together. Well, I usually don’t go out searching for them when ever I’m in the area but the past few visits did remember but always come home empty-handed. On my way to the East Asian super market I stumbled upon Yunhong Chopsticks, a beautiful chopstick store that opened a couple of years ago.  They are also the same company that produced the chopsticks for the 2008 Olympics. 

Unfortunately, they didn’t have the ones with the springs – which makes learning for the babies easier. Instead, they had ones with the trainers. The makers of this version says it’s the proper way to teach children.

“WANT TO TEACH YOUR KIDS THE RIGHT WAY TO USE CHOPSTICKS. THIS IS THE PERFECT TRAINER FOR YOUR KIDS, SLIDE THEIR FINGERS THROUGH THE THREE LOOPS ON THE CHOPSTICKS AND WATCH THEM LEARN. THIS TRAINER TEACHES THEM TO MANEUVER THE CHOPSTICKS WITH THEIR FINGERS THE CORRECT WAY. STOP TEASING YOURSELF WITH THE SPRING LOADED ADD ON. YOU’ll NEVER LEARN TO USE CHOPSTICKS WITH THOSE. FOR 1-8 YRS OLD.”

Hmmm, well, maybe not.  The Boom, is, I guess, still too young for them. He took them and started running around with them, started stabbing everything in sight and used them as stirring sticks for his juice. Sadly, we had to take them away in fear of stabbing himself or anything else in the apt that might crack, leak and or break. He’ll see them again in about 6 months. Til then…

Gallery Night…

Sometimes when we aren’t too tired from playing all day. We go out on Thursday Gallery Nights. It’s fun because there are usually so many things on the floor that I can “play” with and not to mention run around in – the spaces are so huge and open. Plus, I can scream as loud as I can and there’s usually a cool echo that follows.  I love gallery nights out. Everyone is usually cool with me because there aren’t that many babies around, so that would make me kind of hip like them.  Yeah, there are tons of young, hip, 20-something, artsy types.  Like I said most of them love me – but there are a few that just cant be bothered by me and I guess dont like little people like me around.  Well, hmmmftp, they were tiny like me once. Oh well, here we go…

Cautiously scanning surroundings for inspirations… but wait someone already made a bigger mess than me.

"I could have done that"

Never thought paper mache could look this cool

All pooped out. Just had to see the cool world subway maps. Look its Paris behind me

Cupcake of the Week: Nuts over Nutella

By: Trisha – mini Nutella cupcakes

Nutella is loved by all. I can’t imagine anyone not loving this super duper hazel nut creation

Talking Up Luxury

Talking about non-nonsensical, frivolous baby shopping; for most, great for those who can. Last weekend we decided to brave the outlets on our way home from the cabin. We usually don’t find anything interesting to buy but the commercials playing in the car were just too hard to ignore – 70% off who can resist!?!

No sizes, no choice and always misleading sale signs. Shocked, we actually find a store we like, Loro Piana. Oh, I like Carolina Herrera, Gucci and Marni too. But we’ve never seen a Loro Piana outlet!

Of course The Booms by now is restless from sitting in his stroller for the past hour or so and needs to walk it out. In the store now ogling and caressing every single item in the store. Dont know how The Booms knows but goes straight for a pile – a pile of baby stuffs.  All over $600! Sorry, didnt stutter, $600 for an infant sweater! Exclamation, exclamation!

I guess this is why it’s just so ridiculously expensive: “Since 2000 Loro Piana has awarded a prize for the world’s finest bale of wool which produces just enough fabric for 50 suits”.

More power to the 25 customers who will purchase the infant sweaters.  I know I wont be one of them. And, sorry Booms you’re not getting one this year.

PS. I googled Loro Piana for infants images and an Old Navy picture comes up, Love it lol

Cupcake of the Week: Guava for You

By: Trisha – Guava cupcake with pink and white cream cheese frosting

Little Fashionistas

Why aren’t there any American children’s wear designers that make cuter and much more stylish clothes. And, why aren’t there more options for boys. OK, I live in Manhattan and I get most of the cooler European and Japanese brands. But, I am not willing to pay an arm and a leg on my 16 months-old outfits; which he will usually wear for a couple of weeks at the most.

Yes, we have Petit Bateau and Bonpoint from Paris. Oh and please don’t get me started with the Japanese lines or the Scandinavian lines. But, even then there are only probably a piece or two at the better children’s boutique. OK, once every so often I will splurge on an outfit or two. But, I can’t and wont do this all the time. The rate at which The Booms grows will leave me broke.

I suppose we are also now lucky to have Zara and H & M for babies but even the options and the departments we have here in America are no where the same size they have in Europe. It’s simply unfair. And, now my go-to Benetton at Columbus Circle has closed!

In France they have the cool and super affordable brands such as MiniMan and even the larger supermarkets such as Monoprix carry such a really chic line. One of my favorites Du Pareil au Meme, carry an array of really inexpensive clothes for kid.  Now, why can’t we have that here in the states? There are online options but shipping costs are high and I want instant gratification. I want the baby clothes right there and then.

            

One of my really good designer friend had a hard time as designer/fashion writer once he graduated from St Martin. I mean, even the American version of the worlds biggest fashion magazine told him he was too advanced for the American public. A girlfriend and designer with Gap Kids also told me the same thing. Americans arent ready for the super, sleek and modern. And most especially not for babies.

I think they are absolutely wrong.  There are many super cool and stylish mothers out there like me who want more options and who want it by American designers.  I hope they are listening…