I know Courtney and Esther have both sung its praises… I am talking about the Phil and Teds double stroller — a sort of stroller equivalent to a skyscraper, cleverly designed to get as many kids comfortably into as small a space as possible.
Now that my kid ratio has doubled to two, I also have a Phil & Teds, and proudly cart it around Paris. My favourite part of the buggy is the Cocoon — a sort of sports bag you put your baby into so that you can easily lift the baby out of the buggy and carry her around without waking her up. (more…)
Emilie in Paris
May 12, 2008
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To all our mum readers in the US, Italy, Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Iceland, Malaysia, Switzerland, Singapore, Philippines, New Zealand, Colombia, Finland, Japan… and many many more!
Michela in Milan
May 11, 2008
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….but she is 40!! I am talking about the Sacco chair by Zanotta.
It was designed in 1968 by three architects: Gatti, Paolini and Teodoro, and it hasn’t gone out of fashion since. The cover can be leather, leather-like, heavy cloth or plastic, and it is filled with highly resistant polystyrene pellets. Over the years it has been produced in every possible colour! In 1972 it went on display at the MoMA and now a total of 26 museums have included Sacco in their permanent collection of contemporary or applied art. (more…)
Michela in Milan
May 11, 2008
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When I was living in New York City, about 5 years ago (gosh, time flies), I considered myself reasonably tall (I’m 1.76m, or 5′-9″) compared to the average American gal. And my husband, with his 1.91 m (6′-4″) literally stood out of the average crowd…
Until we would go to the monthly NL borrels gathering, where we would meet our Dutch friends and get drunk on Heineken beer instead of cocktails :-). Surrounded by fellow Dutchmen, I would immediately shrink to the size of a midget and my husband would definitely become one of the shorter guys around!
Did you know that the Dutch are the tallest people in the world? And did you know that until the 1950s, the American people held this position, but that since then they actually shrank a little while the Dutch (and other Northern European people) started shooting up? And did you know that this has more to do with an equal distribution of income and less with the fact that we drink a lot of milk?
If you want to know more about it, I suggest reading this article; it’s really interesting…
xxx Esther
Esther in Amsterdam
May 10, 2008
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British author, Julia Donaldson, is hugely famous for her clever rhyming tales. (Just who hasn’t heard of The Gruffalo, or Monkey Puzzle)?! Her books are very popular in our house — I’m a sucker for rhyming books — and my boys love them too!
One of our favorites is the less-known Tyrannosaurus Drip
, because Donaldson collaborates with award-winning artist, David Roberts, and the illustrations are very cool. Robert’s linear style, cooky characters, and distinct design make Tyrannosaurus Drip a beautiful-looking book.
This clever tale about a peaceful duckbill dinosaur’s egg that accidentally ends up in a tyrannosaurus nest, is — like all her other books — fun to read aloud, with it’s rhyming poetic verses and repetitive refrains.
And what little boy doesn’t like a story about dinosaurs?
-Courtney
Courtney in London
May 09, 2008
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When I had my first daughter I had not even the slightest clue on how to raise a child or what accessories where necessary. My learning curve was huge and I reckon part of the reason I had a second child is because I did not want this hard acquired knowledge to go to waste! But now with number two I am learning even more, so following my former logic this would mean that I never stop having kids….
One of the things that completely passed me by first time around was the use of an electric breast pump. It has totally revolutionised breast pumping for me! I plop myself down with a good book in hand, start up the pump and voilà — a few minutes later I am finished! A friend lent me her mini electric Medela pump, but here in France you can rent electric breast pumps from the pharmacy for about 12 euros a week, of which you get about 11 euros reimbursed by social security.
- Emilie
Emilie in Paris
May 09, 2008
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I first used a Tummy Tub with my son, and now I’m using it again for my 5-month-old daughter, and each night when giving her a bath I’m so delighted with my choice.
The advantages are many. First of all it takes away some of the stressful moments of those first baths — babies float in it and you only need one hand to hold them. You can (almost) relax and enjoy the funny expressions of your little one exploring the surroundings. I also think it’s great for winter babies, because they have water up to their chin so they stay much warmer than in traditional baby tubs. It is also supposed to remind babies of the comfort of their mums’ womb.
It is really easy to use because the tub is graduated so you know how much water to put in depending on your baby’s weight. It was conceived for newborn babies up to 6 months of age, but I have some friends that used it for much longer.
(more…)
Michela in Milan
May 08, 2008
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This wooden click-clack-track is another gift my son received for his first birthday, and yet another thing that my two boys are fighting over! (Is it just my children, or do yours do this too? Or maybe it’s because they’re boys…)
Anyway, while I had seen these around at friend’s houses before, it is new to us, and certainly a hit!
It’s simple: put the cars at the top, and watch them race back and forth down the track. It’s amazing how enthralled my children are. They sit there for hours (okay, let’s be honest — minutes) and watch the cars race down.
A very good idea for a first birthday! Thank you, Carrie & co.
-Courtney
Courtney in London
May 08, 2008
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The other day, at my daughter’s playgroup, I was talking to the other moms about careers and kids. Something very interesting transpired — at least half of the group were starting up their own businesses from home, just like Courtney, Esther, Michela and me.
The dilemma is something a lot of us have felt: how do we juggle motherhood while continuing down the career path? There is no easy answer. But there seems to be a growing trend towards woman not wanting to compromise career or their family. One solution is to start your own business, so that you are in charge of your own hours and your own destiny and there is even now a term for us: Mumpreneurs!!!
See the following article in the Times.
- Emilie
Emilie in Paris
May 07, 2008
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I wrote about my pen obsession a while ago, and of course, with so many pens in my house, I need to have a lot of paper around as well! (Suppose I wanted to write something with one of my hundred-or-more pens and there was no paper around! Disaster!)
So here we go: I admit to also having a paper obsession…
One of my favourite paper-ware brands is ‘Sukie‘. I love all their products, like these super-cute correspondence cards I picked up the other day at the American Bookstore here in Amsterdam. It says on the back that they are perfect for ‘thank yous’, dinner invitations, or keeping in touch. And I couldn’t agree with that more!
xxx Esther
P.S. I love the sticky notes too…
Esther in Amsterdam
May 07, 2008
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I have three younger brothers, so you can imagine the amount of ‘boy’ toys that cluttered our house when we were younger. We had (and my parents still have) huge containers filled with Legos, Playmobile, and Brio trains.
I suppose I was well-prepared to be the mother of two boys…. they like tractors, cars, planes, helicopters, diggers, trains… I get it.
When my first son turned one, I figured it was time to get him his own wooden train set. I headed straight for the Brio section at my local toy store… but I was so disappointed to see that the trains are different than they used to be: bigger, clunkier and the colours are more primary. Definitely not as cute as the ‘vintage’ Brio trains my brothers had.
Enter: the Ikea wooden train set!
(more…)
Courtney in London
May 06, 2008
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If you have a kitchen surface that is not so nice and polished anymore, or if you have a kitchen surface too nice to be ruined then a JosephJoseph glass worktop saver may be what you need. It’s a tempered glass surface that will resist knife cuts and heat up to 280°C, doesn’t absorb smell and is dishwasher safe. These worktop savers come in different shapes: square, circular and rectangular. Most of them have a very bright modern look, but they have now come up with some floral designs for the more traditional kitchen.
(more…)
Michela in Milan
May 06, 2008
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Aren’t these gumhooks cool? These soft, silicone hooks are perfect for a kid’s room because there are no sharp edges. I like the idea of hanging them at a level your kids can reach so they can hang their own coat up without worrying about tearing or damaging the clothes.
Plus, I just think they look cool. Each hook is sold separately so you can choose which colors you want (broccoli, carrot, pumpkin, eggplant).
Actually… forget the kids. These would look cool in any entryway, hallway or closet! And who doesn’t need more hooks in their home?
-Courtney
Courtney in London
May 05, 2008
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FINALLY we have been having a few days of sunny weather here in Paris. And as we live in a typical Parisian apartment with no outdoor space, the main thing I have been yearning for is a spot of grass I can plop myself and my 2 girls on to enjoy some rays of sunshine.
Finding that is easier said than done, as most Parisian parks are made out of gravel, and grass is generally off-limits to walk or sit on.
So I decided to get off the beaten track of the centre of Paris and head over to the Butte de Chaumont, a park in the 19th arrondissement. It is lovely! It was built about 150 years ago on what used to be the city’s gallows and wasteland. Today it looks like a Gothic dreamscape – complete with waterfalls, a temple and a grotto. (more…)
Emilie in Paris
May 05, 2008
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Ha ha… as a true Dutch girl, I had to discuss this topic at some point: Wooden shoes!
First of all, I have to put something straight: contrary to popular belief elsewhere in the world, NOBODY in the Netherlands wears wooden shoes on the streets anymore. Okay, what they say about tulips and soft drugs is true. But seriously, we ALL wear leather shoes, or even sneakers! (more…)
Esther in Amsterdam
May 04, 2008
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Matching outfits for siblings are controversial, especially when they are not of the same sex. I had never done it before, but when last week I saw these super cute baby shorts from Album di Famiglia, I could not resist! I bought them for my 5-month-old daughter and then matching below-the-knee pants for my 3-year-old son. I think that with a white polo shirt they will look extremely cute. Kind of cheesy maybe, but once in a while it’s allowed!
Album di Famiglia creates beautiful baby and children clothes with a unique style. Designer Monica Rusconi designs clothes that have to feel comfortable both for the babies and the adult holding them. Fabrics are extremely soft with minimalist shape. The colours are a soft muted palette of greys and beiges and dusty pink and blues, perfect for those tiny pale faces. One could see it as luxury lounge wear!
(more…)
Michela in Milan
May 03, 2008
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I went to dinner a couple weeks ago with my dear friend, Nina, and we started talking about how different we actually are. Nina is an artist — she’s free thinking, creative, slightly disorganized, a bit messy, and incredibly talented. I am an obsessive neat freak — my house is never a mess, everything has its place, I thrive on organization, and I get a thrill out of de-cluttering my closet. Unlike Nina, who collects little trinkets (rocks, leaves, chocolate boxes, tokens, etc.), I can’t handle having anything in my house that doesn’t have a purpose. Collect things? Certainly not.
It’s interesting how two people with such different personality traits could be such good friends. We were laughing last night about how when she comes over to my house, she wonders where everything is, and how she goes home and tries to organize her house but just doesn’t know where to start. It’s funny because when I go to her house, I feel the urge to run home and mess mine up a bit, throw things on the wall without calculating, un-alphabetize my book shelves, etc. (more…)
Courtney in London
May 02, 2008
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I so, so love summer.
I so, so want this bag.
I’m so, so getting it now!
xxx Esther
P.S. There is so, so much more at Pedlars that I could so, so use this summer!
Esther in Amsterdam
May 02, 2008
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One of my favorite one-stop shops for kids and babies here in France is a chain called DPAM (Du Pareil Au Même). You want funky little bodysuits? You need any essential bits and pieces for your prams, cots or beds? You want some cute little shoes that don’t cost the earth? You head over to DPAM and the chances are you are going to find what you have been looking for!
(more…)
Emilie in Paris
May 01, 2008
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…but Swedish nonetheless!
Isn’t this wooden streamliner car so cool? It was a gift from our (Swedish) friends for my son’s first birthday, and it is a hit in our household! While my sons have been busy fighting over it, I’ve been searching my house for the perfect spot to display such a cool-looking object!
PlaySam is an award-winning Swedish company which sells some of the coolest, visually striking wooden toys, including airplanes, race cars, ride-on toys and the most sleek yo-yo you’ve ever seen!
-Courtney
P.S. Thanks, Nina!
Courtney in London
May 01, 2008
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