shak-shuka

FABRIKO Unique Organic Prints

One of the best parts of my job is to receive some very special emails that hold within them a gem of a brand. Lucky us that we get to sit here and be bombarded by these kind of emails!!!

The amazing brand FABRIKO was the latest to grace our inbox, and we were placing an order as fast as our little fingers could type. The prints are out of this world extraordinary, and the fact that they're made in Europe and using organic cotton and organic cotton canvas? Well, you can imagine how I feel. I am personally really in love with the "Super Fly" print and the Little Pillows are just adorable anywhere (thinking about bringing it on our flights this summer), the Reversible Quilts are so smart and useful (not to mention affordable!), and....shall I go on? Nah, just go ahead and enjoy for yourself.....

Eco (Dream) Outdoor Playhouse

The weather is *supposed* to be taking a turn for the better, as we heard it's springtime?! You'd never guess it with the weather we've been experiencing, but nonetheless we're turning our attention from interior decorating/construction to everything garden related. Sprucing up the vegetable garden, fixing the crumbling fences, and designing a proper kids play area.

I'm not sure you all have run into the same conundrum as us, but when choosing outdoor playhouses and such for kids, you have two choices: 1) wood, which looks beautiful but doesn't always wear very well over time/weather or 2) hideous plastic which wears well but looks trashy at best. You can imagine my eyes popping out of my head when I read on Inhabitots lately that there is an eco, recycled and pretty (!) outdoor playhouse set made from recycled plastic jugs! Hailing from Minnesota, Loll Designs makes a kid-friendly Loki Playhouse with coordinating table and chairs. It comes in seven colors to defintely go with any house facade color. The only catch? Well, the price tag is quite high leaving it out of most of our price ranges ($1,600 - yikes!). But it's good to know that companies are thinking green with kids outdoor playspaces, and surely they'll be more brand to follow suit.....we hope!

HanaBlomst: Japanese/Danish Design

As a parent, I feel like I'm always looking for ways to make mealtime more beautiful and enjoyable. This joy could come in the form of a special cup which will make drinking that much easier, cutlery that'll be cute and help shovel the food in, or plates so special that even the parents can't keep their eyes off the food! That's what we felt when we saw Hanablomst tableware....love at first sight! Instead of being made from melamine or BPA-filled plastics, these are made in Japan from recycled plastic. I love the story behind Hanablomst as well - a Japanese/Dutch couple who raised their daughter bilingual, and one of her first words in both languages was flower ("Hana" in Japanese and "Blomst" in Danish). These are not your tableare styles either: mugs (how cute would they be for hot chocolate days?), a divided plate (really - I mean, who wants your peas and pasta touching anyways?) and a bento box that is just so cute and functional I wouldn't be surprised seeing mamas running around with it on their lunch days! Of course we couldn't live without Hanablomst line of bags made from Japanese fabrics for mamas  - reversible, gorgeous, and the kids can steal them for toys or "role play like mama" time.

Makedo - Recycled Cardboard Creations

 

There are some things in this universe that I really feel like happen in the most unforced, natural way leading to a wonderful marriage at just the right time. For instance, I recently caught wind of this amazing arcade built by a 9 year old and the short film that tells the tale of it all unfolded (you can see it here - if you're a sap like me at the end you'll be reaching for the tissues towards the end). The premise is simple: with little or no money at all, children and their imaginations are an amazing wonder that should be harnessed and utiliized, not numbed by video games and countless hours of TV watching (I say that not pointing a finger as the finger would at times be pointed back in my direction on an endless grey day where the TV or iPhone is the easiest thing to reach for).

After watching the "Caine's Arcade" flim for the umpteenth time, I found myself scratching my head for a company that I knew who made kits for cardboard creations. Poof! Just like magic I came across Makedo's name and then it all was uphill from there! We now have all of Makedo's Find+Make play kits in store! If you're not already familiar, Makedo is an Aussie company that makes instructional kits including tools and necessary (non)hardware for kids to make things like a Space Pod, Elephant, Playhouse and more using their imagination, old boxes and other items found around the home that would otherwise become destined for a life in the dumpster. Fun, affordable, and the most eco way to have fun on a grey day or any day in fact!

So thank you to Caine for inspiring us to keep in touch with that childlike innocence inside of us, that drive to create, and the power of our imaginations! With a little help from Makedo, the possibilities are endless!

Portable Fruit Squeezes Go Eco

I pride myself on being the most eco parent that I can be: we use BPA-free plates, bowls, bottles and cups, we drink from stainless-steel water bottles to prevent having to buy Evian water every few blocks, and we have recently discovered they make biodegradable straws - woohoo!!

One pitfall that seems to get me every day (literally - it is the snack of choice) are those fruit puree squeezy things that come in those handy containers just right for baby/toddler hands, although each time we have one, I cringe at the fact that I'm throwing away yet another one. How many landfills are filled with our apple-strawberry concoction? I've thought about making and packing my own, but how do I get the little one to eat it? Surely there must be a solution....and thankfully I didn't have to create it myself (although that would have meant some more money!!!): recently on a few blogs I've seen the Beaba Babypote, and now the Sili Squeeze has caught my eye. Both of them work on the same concept as the fruit squeezes do, but this you can control what fruit/vegs you use, and when they're finished, you can just pop in the dishwasher! Love, love and more love! I've bought the Beaba Babypote and am anxiously waiting for it to try it out. Hopefully I can get my grubby paws on the Sili Squeeze just as quickly so I can give an unbiased review, or shall I saw the kiddo will!

And yes, you know if they pass our rigorous tests over here at Casa Shuka, we'll be bringing it to our customers all over the world too! Have faith - just need to test it out first to make sure it's up to snuff.....

Sweet Sipping Straws

As we reach the end of summer here in the Northern Hemisphere, I think I'll miss the sweetness of super ripe strawberrries, and if you were to ask Lil'Miss, she'd definitely say playing in the mini pool and using straws for nearly every drink that touched her mouth. It was a fun/ny habit to get into, but I have to admit there was a pit in my stomach every time I threw one out or just thinking of the kind of plastic they were made from.....

A while ago I discovered, and even thought about carrying a line of glass drinking straws, called Glass Dharma straws, as they are clearly the eco-ist option. The only thing is - glass? I don't know how careful you are, but I would compare my daughter to a raging bull when it comes to her delicacy level. Glass Dharma says that their glass is resistant and comes with a lifetime guarantee, so clearly they have them in mind. But what about you - would you trade your (disposable) summer fun fluorescent straws for a beautiful (but shattery) glass straw?

photo from HolisticPursuit.com

Back to School Edition

Back to school fever is in full swing. Nearly every order we're packing at Shak-Shuka headquarters has some form of back-to-school gear in it. It's great to know that so many children will be taking eco-friendly, non-toxic items to school this year. If you're not sure what to pack for the kiddos this year, let us give you a helping hand:

For the backpacks, pencils cases and lunchbags, you just can't go wrong with any of our PVC and lead free collections: choose from the Neoprene (what swimsuits are made from!), machine-washable Dabbawalla backpacks which are always a crowd-pleaser - or our newest brand - Beatrix NY which is loved by celebrity tots that have been strutting them around town. If organic cotton is what you're looking for, look now further than Coq en Pate's european-style backpacks, or Apple & Bee's reversible satchels that change with your child's mood (ok, maybe not that often!). Another fun and funky brand is Franck & Fischer who make adorable backpacks and pencil cases that you might just find yourself snagging from the kids!

When packing lunches, it's best to steer clear of animation-covered-lunchboxes and instead go for a BPA, PVC and phthalate-free brand such as Goodbyn. Loved by little and big kids alike, there are now 2 styles to choose from - the original Goodbyn (best for kids 5-6 years and up) and the more petite Bynto (good for ages 3 years+) which is great for small hands. Both of them come with plenty of space for healthy lunches, are dishwasher safe, and the kids can personalize them with the stickers that are provided.

Besides the food carrier, you need to think what the kids will be using for utensils and drinking gear. Hands down the best (and most eco-friendly) has to be the Bambu brand, with their utensils and spork which is an all-time favorite of kids and parents alike (only 1 utensil to wash!). Instead of a plastic bottle, we have Earthlust's bottles which are made from 100% stainless steel, don't retain smells, and now are available with a handy sport spout for easier sipping.

Of course you can't deny that part of back-to-school is clothes shopping. Love it or hate it, as the seasons change and the little ones start to sprout up, it's time for a wardrobe refresher. Even though not all of our fall/winter collections are in at the moment, we are already selling out fast of our in-house brands like Mini Rodini, Bobo Choses, Koolabah and New Generals. These brands are so cool, you'll probably forget that you're helping to save the planet by purchasing these organic, eco-friendly brands. Who knew going green could be so cool? So see, you can wear black and still be green....maybe black is the new green!

 

Deuz Does It Again

I would say with the arrival of this new stock of Tapikid playmats, not only are we jumping for a joy, but a whole slew of our customers who were waiting with anxious anticipation for their arrival! It has been a long, long wait but now it's over - phew!

Best of all, the brand Deuz does it again by creating a few new products that will leave a gaggle of followers in their trail: the Napkid - perfect for messy eaters, is an adjustable bib that is made from organic cotton, a vibrant striped print using non-toxic dyes - of course. Personally I can imagine a few adults who could use these on messy spaghetti and meatballs nights or lobster dinners! Another amazing new item is the Bigbag - part bag, part cushion, part whatever you want to use it for brilliance - made from the leftover scraps of their other items (think Tapikid playmats), any sewer will attest that when sewing and making things, there are A LOT of leftover scraps of fabric. Deuz not only uses organic cotton, but is commited to re-using and recycling the fabric that they use, and the Bigbag is no exception! You can use it as a toy bag, or pop in a comfy pillow for some eco-friendly relaxation. We love the versatility, genius, and vibrancy of Deuz's products that make us go crazy, and our customers too!

Love to Love Coq en Pate

When we were at Kleine Fabriek a few months ago (or was it only weeks? I'm losing track now...) we ran into some brands we know and love, and some we loved but had forgotten somehow - how can that be? Usually we're quite good about hunting down, contacting and having a brand in house in less than 10 days. In fact, we pride ourselves on that, but sometimes we get a little "human" and get sidetracked....

We're so glad to have Coq en Pate's organic and ethical products at Shak-Shuka. Like falling in love all over again, Coq en Pate has extended their range to include toys that take a unique spin on children's items giving them an entirely new look. Traditional books have met their match with these amazing bilingual (for added "ooh" factor), educational (letter, shapes, colors OH MY!), organic (enter green "ooh" here too), Fabric Books that you can feel safe about baby gnawing on. And for the older kiddos, the Animal Organic Tee + Mask Sets are seriously over-the-top and ready for a mini zoo in home with the packaging (that is biodedgradable BTW!) that turns into a mini theatre. Coq en Pate has expanded well beyond the backpacks and pencil cases of yore, and the results are stunning. Come Fall we will have their new line of organic backpacks, suitcases (seriously, you will die they are so cute) and pencil cases. All ready for back to school and I have a hunch that they will make it onto some parent's wish lists too. Just too darn cute to pass up.....

PB Dynamite Kids Rugs

This week I seem to be exposing my weaknesses in the domestic department: first my black thumb, and now my inability to be crafty. As much as I try to be "creative" on my own, everything ends up looking like a glue gun spun out of control and stuck everything together. Not a good look for anyone!

I am always delighted when I find something handmade that I *pray* that someone entering my house might mistake for something I whipped up. I've got sewing done pat, but knitting, crocheting, basically anything with manually moving needles, I'm pitiful at. That's why when searching for cute rugs for Lil'Miss' room I was delighted, no - over the moon - to discover Peanut Butter Dynamite's children's rugs. The rugs are handmade and in a variety of slap-me-silly cute designs. I find that most children's rugs are either: 1) super uninspiring and dull, 2) blindingly bright and super sweet, or 3) a regular home rug made into a kids rug. That's part of what I feel makes these adorable rugs so special, and feel seriously homemade (meaning when someone asks if you made it, you can simply reply "what a question!")  I love that Peanut Butter Dynamite is handmade, gorgeous and just right to fit under some sweet little feet, while they're still - little!