Miffy’s House

Who doesn’t love Miffy? My daughter surely adores her! Dick Bruna created this little rabbit in 1955 and by now her stories have been translated to more than 40 languages! Did you know Miffy has her own website? It’s great to explore with children: there is an audio book, animation, music, games, and more! There are also links to a variety of webshops: the books are great and I can also recommend the DVDs!

Last weekend we decided to treat our children to a little trip to ‘Miffy’s House’ (a.k.a. the Dick Bruna House).

London’s Transport Museum has reopened!

Living in London BC (before children), I was able to visit the many museums this city has to offer.  (Aaaahhh… free time!  I have almost forgotten the meaning of the term). 

Back in those (more cultural) days, I visited the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden, which gives a very detailed history of London’s public transportation.  On display is an original steam locomotive from the 1800s,  horse-drawn trams, London’s first motor bus, and an electric trolley bus from the 1930s. 

What it really is… is a kid’s heaven! (They have a variety of hands-on exhibits for kids, and allow children to climb aboard the vehicles and even sit in the driver’s seats).

Babyccino

My daughter has known the meaning of a good babyccino since she was able to hold a spoon. I have known the meaning of a good babyccino since I discovered that it could keep a toddler entertained for at least 10 minutes at a lunch table. If one orders a second one (disregarding the occasional babyccino spilled all over the table) that’s 20 minutes of valuable, uninterrupted mummy time! What a great invention is that?!

While our children were happily messing about with their babyccinos, I think my girlfriends and I spent hours discussing topics like: the best baby/toddler products, fashion, recipes, films, websites, beauty products, shopping, expositions, restaurants, travel, practical matters, the occasional gossip (think Sienna Miller & Jude Law, Kate Moss & Pete Doherty), raising our kids, raising our husbands -and anything else that would interest us, (urban mothers).

Elias and Grace is on-line!

My husband calls it a “money pit”- (he’s the one who reviews the bills), but I just can’t resist it. If I even stroll past the shop window, I’m hooked in. They quite possibly have the cutest range of children and baby clothes in London. (Well at least this shopping expert thinks so)!

Elias and Grace is located on the main strip in Primrose Hill.  They stock all my favorite brands: Simple Kids, Quincy, Maan, Album di Famiglia, Petit Bateau, kid’s Levis, Pepe Shoes, etc. etc. 

A child in sheep’s clothing

Aaagghhh! Winter. You all know it depresses me. It’s dark, it’s wet, and it’s COLD!!

And I have a husband who refuses to turn the heat on during the night- (doesn’t want to waste energy, and also doesn’t mind if his babies freeze)!

Thank God for Mokopuna’s merino wool range. 

 

They make the cutest pajamas (and many other things) for babies made from 100% New Zealand mokopuna merino. It’s designed to keep your babies warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Their pajamas are super soft, cozy and oh-so cute.

Holiday Cards

It’s that time of year again… Holidays. Can you believe it?

And thus, time to pick out my holiday cards! (Is this just an American tradition, or do the Europeans do it too)??

Every year of my childhood (and even still now), my parents would send out personalized holiday cards, with a photo of their 5 charming children, to all their friends, family, colleagues, etc.

And so now that I have (charming) children of my own, I feel obliged to send out the traditional holiday card.  (And you all know me- I love this sort of thing)!

I had chosen the photo. All I needed was the card.  I could send out personalized holiday cards (with photo mounted on top), which costs around $550 (for 150 cards). OR, I could order the generic boxed holiday greeting cards (which is what I did last year, and I still spent almost $500).  Ordering holiday cards is easy:  you just go to www.crane.com and choose your selection. (I’m always a fan of their stationery, and their website is straight-forward and good). 

Perfect… if you’re not on a budget!

Sooo… what to do, what to DO?!

Spot The Difference

When #2 arrives in a couple of weeks, she will bring a present to #1. The present will be a wooden bike that I have been meaning to buy for my dear son since his 2nd birthday. I didn’t buy it back then because people at the shop told me that, being a short 2 year-old, the bike would be too big. Now 6 months have gone by and it seems the right time.

My problem was… which bike to choose.  In a bike shop in the centre of Milan, they sell the like-a-bike , that costs 189 euros.

BUT in two of the nicest toys shops I know (where, for example, they sell plan toys, sigikid stuffed animals, mini-micro scooters, schleich animals) they sell this other bike that costs 49.50 euros!

I was (and still am) a bit surprised about such a price difference, so I went to the bike shop and asked one of the salesmen to explain to me why the like-a-bike is 4 times the price of  the other wooden bike sold at very reputable toy stores. His reply was that the difference was in some details and finishing but nothing major or structural.

I (we) decided that the bikes may not differ substantially, but their prices do… so #2 will save some money and bring the less expensive bike to #1!

-Michela in Milan

Book Binge

I have become a little bit obsessed. First I started with one, and then we bought another, and then we had to have ALL of them, and now I’ve decided we should get them ALL in hardback! Yes, it’s books I’m talking about; children’s books.  But not just any children’s books- I’ve become obsessed with one author/illustrator in particular: Oliver Jeffers.

My husband (being an artist himself) first discovered one of his books in a bookstore just because he was drawn to his illustrations. BUT, not only are his drawings SOOO endearing,  his stories are clever, sweet and very original.

Our favorite is “Lost and Found”, about a boy and a penguin, and we also love “How to Catch a Star”.  They are Easton’s favorite books. A definite “must read” at bedtime!

We have become SO obsessed, that we have even bought a few prints from his website: www.oliverjeffers.com, where you can go and have a look at his work and see for yourselves!

You can buy his books from www.amazon.com. I know, for sure, that his books are translated to French (because we bought a French version last time we were in France), but I’m sure he’s in other languages as well.

AND.. as if his talent wasn’t enough to have me hooked… he’s also REALLY cute! (I saw photos on line).  I’m truly obsessed! (wink, wink).

I think you girls would really like him.  (Despite your taste in men)!  he he…

-Courtney in London

Why I love socialist countries (and Anglo mother groups)

Living in France you soon realise the advantages of a fundamentally socialist system. Here every mother, working or non-working, has the right to subsidized childcare. A non-working mother has the right to 2 half days a week at a place called “une halte garderie”. My daughter loves it! She learns to sing new songs, dance little dances and play with all her friends, all for the maximum price of 3 euros an hour.
The downside for me, however, was that when we first moved to Paris I did not know a soul. As the state here takes on the responsibility for entertaining the kids, there isn’t really a platform to meet other mothers.
In London, the moment I had a newborn baby and realized I needed daytime friends (most of my socializing up to then had been nocturnal), I joined various groups. I had the choice between baby massage, baby yoga, general baby groups, even baby music for newborns. In France these kind of networks don’t exist, because most mothers go back to work within 4 months of giving birth as the state nurseries are plentiful, cheap and good.
So I fell upon Message:  www.messageparis.org  (A group of other mothers coming from anglo backgrounds, who must have had the same issues as I did, started it up). It has turned into a highly organized network of playgroups, workshops etc.
So now we have the best of both worlds;  my daughter gets to play with other little French kids and sing cute little French songs, and in the afternoon I get to gossip with my mom friends, and the kids play together and everything is bon, as they say in Paris.

-Emilie in Paris

 

 

A Bra Dilemma

My baby is now 6 1/2 months old and I had been thinking about making the big switch from breast-feeding to bottles for the past couple of weeks. Well, there’s nothing like having the flu (and handing the baby over to your husband to watch) to kick that thought into gear! After being sick for two days last week (and only feeding him in the night time), I decided that enough was enough! It was the perfect time to stop.  (Six and a half months is a pretty long time, if you ask me).

So, now I am officially finished nursing. And alas, some changes ensue…  Now I have to be a bit more organized when it comes to leaving the house; do I have bottles, formula, etc? It’s also not so easy in the night-time to quickly nurse him back to sleep.  I end up stumbling to the kitchen in the darkness to mix the formula and water.  BUT, those things aside, I feel good- a bit more independent, (and he doesn’t seem to mind either)!

However…

Super Porridge!

As the mother of a 6-month old (who LOVES to eat), I can tell you that I am becoming quite baby-food savvy. 

Babycook?…  Check!  Fresh fruit and vegetables?…. check! Baby rice?…  NO!

I’ve found the superior alternative to plain ‘ol baby rice.  It’s called Four grain super-porridge, and it’s JUST that! A mix of four (organic) grains: quinoa, wholegrain rice, wholegrain millet, and amaranth. 

It’s one of Plum Baby’s brilliant concoctions.  (And they also make a four grain super porridge with plum and banana and another one with apple and apricot). 

In addition to its nutritional advantages, I also think it mixes into fruit and veg purees a bit easier than simple baby rice, and the consistency of the porridge on its own is also smoother and easier for babies to eat.

My baby loves it, and I love that he’s eating loads of whole grains! 

Check out Plum Baby’s website for more info and where-to-buy:  www.plum-baby.co.uk

-Courtney in London

birth announcement

I normally do not go to the office on friday and work from home… but today I met up with one of my best friends who is an architect and we sat down and designed the birth announcement for the second one! (by the way, she’ll be here in a month time… scary and exciting)!

I’m really happy with the outcome, but you’ll have to wait to see it!

We got inspired (a lot) from metrobabycards which is a v.cool American website for all sorts of baby cards.

Why don’t we get these sort of nice things in Italy?

-Michela in Milan