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CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT: Family. Friends. Hounds. Books. The Beach. Autumn. Cameras. Computer. iPhone. The color orange. Caramel frappucino. The words "dude!" and "nice!". Oh...and world peace ;-)

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30 August 2007

::the bee in nyc::

It was great...not having to lug the Cameleon up and down a walk-up building is wonderful. The narrow width of the Bee is also great for NYC sidewalks--it saved us a lot of nasty stares from stroller-haters.

Since it has not been released for purchase anywhere else but Babystyle, I did not see one Bee on our trip. Plenty of Frogs and Cameleons, though. I would say that about 80% of the strollers we saw in Manhattan and Brooklyn were Bugaboos. We have certainly generated a lot of interest, so it will be interesting to see how popular the Bee is with the NYC crowd.

29 August 2007

::where did the light go::

I have been having issues with my Candeloo nightlights. I cannot shut off the lights using the on/off button at the base of the each light. While it is not a big deal, it means that I have to remember to put the lights back in the recharger when not in use, otherwise the juice will run out. Our friend, L, also has similar issues. Unfortunately, her Candeloos won't even recharge.

So, I decided to write to Vessel to see what brilliant ideas they have about fixing the lights. They wrote back right away and said that they'd replace both sets of Candeloos free of charge. I have not received the replacements yet, so I will withhold judgement on their customer service for now. But so far, so good!


::UPDATE::
The Vessel cust rep just replied. Here is what she says:

"Hi Leslie, After reviewing your cases, we have determined that your set of candeloos are no longer covered under warranty. Our warranty is 180 days, or 6 months. We can however offer you replacements parts at a 20% discount. The candeloo lamps are 18 dollars each plus shipping. Please let us know if you would like to order replacements lamps and i can place an order for you via e-mail.Since your friends unit is still covered under warranty, I have gone ahead and placed an order for a new base to be sent to her. It will ship via ups ground in 5-7 business days.Thanks, Vessel Customer Support."

Ahmmm...since my lamps were a baby shower gift, I really don't have any control over when it was purchased. I suppose I should have contacted them as soon as the lamps stopped working...which was 3 months after I first opened the box. INFURIATING. At least they are replacing L's charger. Let's hope that's all it takes to fix the problem.

26 August 2007

::ciao bella::

We are in the Big Apple again. O, architectdad and I just spent the entire day shopping for fall baby clothes. To bulk up for our big shopping trip, Uncles M + A took us to a restaurant in the EV called "the EU" (for European Union). If you've never had a BOMBOLINI, I highly recommend it. It's basically a custard/jam filled, sugar-coated donut. Mmm...delicioso!

We of course have already visited our favorite store in the East Village, Sons and Daughters, yesterday. Today, we went to several stores, including Calypso Enfant + Bebe in SoHo, as well as another store in the EV called Crem Bebee. There is so many beautiful clothes and accessories available in NYC. The one brand that stood out from all the rest was Album di Famiglia.


It is a high-end Italian brand that offers elegantly simple children's clothing and accessories. The aesthetic is a cross between Tadao Ando and Dieter from Saturday Night Life (80s reference for those of you who are a little more youthful). If you have been searching for elegant, zen-like, BLACK clothes for your baby, this is the brand to check out.

My favorite piece this season is the down-filled hooded kimono coat for baby. The outer shell is made from the softest brushed cotton; it almost has the texture of super fine cotton flannel. The available colors are subdued yet not severe. Even the black.

You can find Album di Famiglia products on Sons and Daughters or Estella NYC. Ciao-ciao!

24 August 2007

::nu shoos::

I just bought a pair of new flats for myself. I guess you could call them mommy shoes, since I used to never wear flats before. While I was pregnant, I bought a pair of ballet slippers/skimmers from Nine West. What was I thinking?! The shoes barely breathed...plus I was a super sweaty pregnant woman. You get the picture?

Now that my feet have returned to their original shape and size, I am ready for nice shoes again. After countless searches on the internet, I found an elegant pair of ballet flats by Sigerson Morrison from Zappos.com. Zappos not only sells numerous popular brands, it offers couture brands as well. Best of all, it offers NEXT DAY SHIPPING FOR FREE!!!

The baby/kids collection at Zappos is ginormous. I'm pretty sure the Puma Kids collection is better than what is offered in Puma stores or online store. Good stuff. V also mentioned Aster Kids shoes today...adorable Mary Janes for girls and sporty shoes for boys. No tax and free next day shipping?!?!?!?!

21 August 2007

::zero waste::

Like the dorks that we are (meaning, we are not smart enough to be full-fledged geeks), architectdad and I love watching shows on the Discovery and Science channels. HBO series are the staple, and the science-related shows are the dessert.

Tonight, we watched an eye-opening show on the Science Channel called "Zero Waste." It is part of a series called "Eco-Tech." The program showcases the most cutting-edge innovations in waste and recycling technology. By following waste from the landfill to the lab, the show demonstrates why "waste management" is quickly becoming the hottest new trend in the scientific world.

For instance, did you know that 40% of all potable (drinkable) water is used for flushing our toilets? Also, did you know a cloth diaper service washes each diaper SEVEN times (using potable water) before it is returned to you? Currently in the U.S., treated sewage water is returned back into the rivers and streams. In many European, as well as Asian, countries, treated water is returned back into the drinking water supply. Scientists are now working on innovative ways to filter waste water, making it potable. One method is using a high-tech membranous fiber called "Z-weed" (by Zenon) to treat dirty water by filtering out harmful particles. Strands of Zweed are submerged into the dirty water. Each membrane contains tiny holes that are much smaller than bacteria and virus, including HIV. It allows water molecules to pass through, while filtering out 99% of cells, bacteria and viruses. If everyone could change his/her mindset about how dirty water is treated, then we have a chance of recycling what will be our most precious resource in the future.

Also, did you ever think about where all your old computers have gone to die? The staggering rate at which new gadgets and computers are created and revamped, has contributed to the increasing amount of heavy metals (such as mercury) in our natural environment. A company (the name escapes me) has been recycling used electronic equipment parts and using the byproducts for other uses. Each piece of equipment is smashed into little pieces, then sorted for useful materials. The metal-containing pieces are plucked out with magnets, while some other pieces have to be hand sorted.

Lastly, the coolest recycling method shown on the program is plasmagas technology. Solid waste is heated into liquid state, the liquid is then heated to a gaseous state. By passing the gases through a electrically charge plasmagas torch, your garbage is broken down into pure elements and electricity. Pure elements, such as hydrogen can then be harnessed to power a H-car in the future. According the scientists, ANYTHING is recyclable using this method. Even disposable diapers, which usually takes 500 years to degrade. At the moment, NYC spends $90 per ton on garbage management. If the city were to use plasmagas technology, it could sell the electricity the process generates and end up earning $15 per ton of garbage.

Our increasingly complex lifestyle will inevitably create more waste than ever. However, it is certainly encouraging to know that there are alternative disposal methods which will hopefully protect and conserve our natural environment.

20 August 2007

::deux par deux::

Claude Diwan and Maurice Elmaleh launched the French Canadian brand, Deux par Deux, in 1986. It offers fun, European-styled apparel for infants and kids (girls and boys). The winter 2007-2008 line features a lot of beautiful knits with interesting details and graphics. As with most DxD clothes, the knits are off the charts in the colors department. Not necessarily gaudy, just...bright.

To avoid the danger of turning your child into a clown at the circus, pair the adorable multi-color pom-pom scarf with a minimalist top and, voila! You've got a beautiful combination. Or, go tonal with the sophisticated cerulean blue ensemble instead. You can find Deux par Deux online at Trendy Togs. Be sure to check out the DxD tights...they are fun-o-rama!

19 August 2007

::hint of fall::

...there is a slight chill in the air...it almost smells like autumn...hee...time for adorable knit hats and mittens...

17 August 2007

::bugaboo bee road test review::

The Bee has arrived! How exciting was it to find a Bugaboo box sitting under the stairs when we came home from Starbucks this morning!

Out of the box, the Bee looked pretty much like it should when it is completely folded. I just had to pop the two front wheels in and we were good to go. As usual, the Bugaboo directions are clear and concise. Although one might get a little overwhelmed by the different "bugaboo specific" terms. For those of us who need live-action demonstrations, the Bee even came with a multi-lingual DVD instruction video. Like the geek that I am, I watched the entire thing. Well, at least it was a good way to pass the time while O took her afternoon nap.

They tell you in the advertisement that you can fold and unfold the Bee with the touch of a button. Not quite. To open, you press on the break pedal with your foot, pull the handle bar toward you, and it pops right open. Easy enough. However, you need to make sure the handle bar is full extended and locked in place, otherwise the whole stroller will be off-kilter. To fold the stroller, you have to press secondary lock button on the left side of the handle bar while sliding the folding locks on each side upwards. See what I mean..."Bugaboo" terms. Once you've mastered the unlocking action, the Bee pretty much folds itself. And it is light. The whole contraption weighs about 17 lbs, one pound less than O at 7-1/2 months.

I tried facing O forward and backward. Either works fine, except I think the Bee looks better with the seat facing forward. The seat is nicely padded, even on the sides. However, this means that the width of the seat may be a little more snug than some of the other umbrella strollers. There is one important difference: you can recline the seat completely parallel to the ground, which is great for afternoon naps should you find yourself no where near a crib or bed. Also, you can customize the depth of the seat bottom by pulling it out or pushing it in.

Judging by the instructional video, it is very easy to clip the Maxi Cosi, Graco or Peg Perego car seat onto the Bee. I have only seen the Graco and PP adaptors sold here in the U.S., but am not exactly sure how the Maxi Cosi fits on there. Although Pacifier is claiming "adapters for the Maxi-Cosi Mico car seat will be available Fall 2007. Adapters for the Graco and Peg Perego car seats will be available in April 2008." Curious.

The spring-loaded, independent suspension ride is very smooth, even on pavement. However, the four small wheels definitely do not equal the two big wheels of the Cameleon. I definitely had more difficulty maneuvering over cracks and pot holes with the Bee.

Is the Bee as good as the Cameleon? No. Is it as versatile? Maybe. Is it better for travelling and car trips? For sure. Nevertheless, the Bee is definitely not a replacement for the Cameleon. To me, you can't replace the weightiness and stability of the Cameleon. Also, the Cameleon bassinet is a great feature that I couldn't have done without during O's first three months of life. However, one of the accessories (the Nest) does allow you to convert the Bee into a faux-bassinet.

The price of the Bee is slightly troublesome at $529. It is only $150 less than the Bugaboo Gecko, and it is almost $200 more expensive than the Maclaren Techno umbrella stroller. Also, the maximum allowable weight on the Bee is only 37.5 lbs, whereas the Maclaren Techno SLR can hold up to 55 lbs. Then again, would you want to be pushing your 55-lbs third-grader around town???

The biggest disappointment? The Bee doesn't come in orange. No worries, Puo is already making the pattern for the custom Marimekko cover as I write.

16 August 2007

::squeaky clean::

With maybe the exception of mealtime, I think O's favorite ritual of the day is bath time. She loves to splash around and play with her bath toys. Out of all the toys, her favorites are the scoopy cups that came with her tacky aquarium bathtub. By the way, for those moms and dads who are not already "in the know": there is something about CUPS that all babies love. Put a couple of plastic toy versions in front of them, anywhere, and they can self-entertain for...minutes!

Other bath accessories that are big hits with O are the Boon Bath Toys. She loves them because she can sink her two teeth into the foam applique shapes...not enough to rip off small pieces, of course! She also loves her various rubber duckies...although Z ate her Devil Duck just last week. Bad dog. O also has some Luxury Ducks which are rubber duckies with fancy names, dressed up in fancy outfits. And, you can never go wrong with squirties.

If your baby loves the faucet as much as O does, make sure you get the Boon "Flo" faucet cover. It not only deflects water flow and creates a gentle waterfall, it also protects your baby from injuring herself on the faucet. Best of all, "Flo" acts as a bubble bath dispenser! No assembly is required--just clip on and turn on the water. After the bath, scoop everything up with the Boon "Frog Pod."

14 August 2007

::giddy as a school girl::

When O was born, she had a full head of hair. Unfortunately, the hair didn't stick around. Well...at least the new ones started emerging as the old ones buried themselves in her crib, her stroller, her towels, her clothes...

Her hair is now about 1-1/2" long overall--enough for mom to start experimenting with hair accessories. I'm not talking about satin bows and tulle...yech! I found some felt hair clips made by Giddy Giddy that are simple and mod. Best of all, it stays on...even on baby-fine hair.

Each clip is handcrafted with a snap clip sewn securely inside felt fabric. You can choose from three categories of designs: flowers, animals or food. You can buy them online from Piccolini.com.

13 August 2007

::are you mockin' me with that outfit::

If you enjoy tongue-in-cheek graphic tees, you'll love the onesies and tees by Urban Smalls. Each onesie features a quote that is either sarcastic or super cheesy--so cheesy that it's funny.
The onesies come in both short-sleeve and long-sleeve styles. Urban Smalls also offers other cool, urban accessories for babies, such as the newsboy cap.

09 August 2007

::bugaboo bee exclusive::

For those of you, like me, who are anxiously awaiting the release of the Bugaboo Bee, your wait is over. V told me Babystyle.com is NOW shipping the Bee. They are already out of the red and blue canopy colors, but the yellow is apparently back in stock.

Architectdad is not convinced by the Bee, so we will have to see it in person before we make the purchase. For those of you who are more daring, get yours now before the rush!

08 August 2007

::move over robeez...make room for starchild::

Everyone says that bare feet are the best for babies who are learning how to walk. But what do you do in the winter, or in a playground with wood-chips? Soft-soled shoes seem to be the next best thing.

Robeez shoes are very popular. They are readily available everywhere and the designs are definitely getting better. However, I have found an alternative to Robeez. Starchild soft-soled shoes are designed and made in the U.K. out of Italian leather.

Similar to Robeez, Starchild shoes are made from the softest leather uppers and suede soles. The more mod designs gives Starchild a slight advantage over Robeez (in my opinion). Also, even with the horrendous exchange rate, Starchild shoes are still priced slightly lower than Robeez.

You can find Starchild shoes online at Pacifier and Trendy Kid. The nice folks at Starchild from across the "Pond", will also ship your online order to you here in America.

07 August 2007

::my ass is twitching-you people make my ass twitch::

Can I just say this: people need to mind to their children at the pool. It's inevitable that kids will be kids. But it's another thing when the kids are creating havoc while the mother is sitting on her big arse doing nothing about the misbehavior. Inconsiderate parents breed inconsiderate children. Some people just make my ass twitch.

O's ass has been twitching as well lately. Due to the hot and humid weather, she has been getting hot, bright red, diaper rash regularly. It's unbelieveably painful for her. We use
Kiehl's diaper rash ointment to soothe and protect her irritated bottom. While the formula contains many natural, healing ingredients, I believe it is the thick zinc cream that seals out the wetness and keeps the skin dry. It is this property that makes for quick healing. O's rash is usually gone by the second day. If needed, the ointment is also allergy tested to be used daily.

BTW, the title comes from a line in the movie "French Kiss."

06 August 2007

::rollin', rollin', rollin'::

I guess it's a common occurrence. As soon as the baby starts to roll around and crawl, the chance of him/her falling from the parents' bed multiplies exponentially. I'm not saying that it has happened to us (ahem...), but it is definitely something to avoid.

Whether your baby is sleeping in the family bed or just there to visit, consider investing in portable guard rails. Originally designed for children 2 years+ who already sleep in regular mattress beds, the guard rails will keep your baby from rolling over the side of your bed.

Of course, the best thing is still to keep your child in his/her own crib. However, if the family bed theory is important to you, or if you are travelling to a destination where a crib is not available, then the portable bed rails are a must. Trust me. They will not add any aesthetic value to your nice stainless steel bed frame, but they will definitely prevent the occurrence of a traumatic experience (more so for the parents, I think). Not that it has ever happened to us (ahem...).

04 August 2007

::can it get any hotter::

It was 102 degrees (90% humidity) here today at 5 PM! What kind of craziness is spawning this weather?! I think it's time people start listening to Al Gore and friends, and do something about Global Warming. Yup, this is coming from someone who drives a gas guzzling SUV.

Actually, if you compare the entire lifespan of an SUV to that of a hybrid (like the concept Hybrid X from Toyota), the results are very surprising. Due to its tech intensive production and disposal processes, the hybrid in the end turns out to be LESS GREEN than the traditional petrol SUV. Of course, by owning a petrol vehicle, I am not only polluting the air, but also fueling and perpetuating the "oil crusades" around the world.

Hydrogen car...now, that's the bomb. Figuratively speaking, of course.

03 August 2007

::nana ki::

Sounds Hawaiian? Not quite. Nana Ki is actually a French company that offer classic, yet subdued baby clothes. What struck me the most about Nana Ki is the contrasting pairing of muted, "vintage" colors of its garments. For instance, the espresso brown smock top is paired with robin's blue bloomers. then detailed with blue contrast stitching and blue pearlescent buttons.

The soft, fine cotton is just the thing your baby needs for the hot summer months. Perfect for a Hawaiian holiday even!

::antik batik::

Through their travels in India, Africa and the American Southwest, French design team of Christophe Sauvat and Gabrielle Cortese found the inspiration for their Antik Batik brand. The childrenswear line is absolutely gorgeous.

Using beautiful prints, embroidery and beading, Sauvat and Cortese have definitely taken childrenswear to the next level. Of course, the price point also reflects the amount of labor and craftsmanship put into each garment. Again, summer sales are in full swing, so it may be a good time to stock up on AB for next year.