Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Inspiring Decor For Kid's Bedrooms


Fashion Editor Kim Hersov's sons room in London


Designer Nanette Lapore's daughter's room in Manhattan.


Actress Julianne Moore's son's room in Manhattan.


Restauranteur Keith McNally's kid's room in Martha's Vineyard.  


Designer Edwina Hunt's son's room in upstate New York.

All photos courtesy of Elle Decor






Monday, April 29, 2013

How To Live With Zero Waste



My husband and I have tried to stay conscious of how much crap we bring into our apartment because there is just not enough room and we end up feeling guilty about how much crap we have.  He sent me an inspiring article this weekend on how one Mill Valley family in San Francisco is practically living waste free.  They only have a quart of trash a year!

The mother, Bea Johnson, has her own blog called Zero Waste Home and has recently released a book by the same name which you can order here.  She writes about how her "goal is to shatter pre-conceptions associated with the Zero Waste lifestyle and share what we discovered about its incredible health, financial and time saving benefits."  Her moto is refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle and rot.  There are so many tips on her website like how to make your own toothpaste, all natural cleaning recipes, gardening techniques,  how to mend socks; just to name a few.  She has also released a smartphone app that assists you in finding places to buy in bulk.

I don't know realistically if my family will ever be 100% zero waste but it's great to have a guidebook and blog on hand to assist us with how to live a resourceful lifestyle.

Friday, April 26, 2013

BOBO CHOSES







BOBO CHOSES is a adorable Spanish label for kids and babies.  The clothes are designed by the duo Laia Aguilar and Adrianna Esperalba.  I'm totally in love with the playful yet expressive quality about the pieces.  When designing Laia says that, "what really drives me is to dress my children in clothes that are made for children.  I do not like to decorate them or dress them like adults."  To see more of their outfits on their website click here.  Their limited edition Got Milk? t-shirt below is to die for!

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Rockabye Baby!









Music is such a big part of my life and therefore, it's going to be part of our baby's life.  This week my sister sent us a Graco Sleep Slumber, which helps put the baby to sleep with 12 soothing sounds including white noise, nature sounds and an mp3 players so we can make playlists for our baby. I recently came across the Rockabye Baby! cds which take your favorite band's songs and turned them into lullabies.  So far I downloaded the Radiohead version and I play on also downloading the Bob Marley version.  Other bands covered by Rockabye baby include Nirvana, No Doubt, The Ramones, Smashing Pumpkins, The Rolling Stones and The Cure.  You can download the albums off of iTunes.  

On a side note, if you are looking for other sound systems to comfort your baby, we also have a Sleep Sheep which is a cute little stuffed sheep that attaches to the crib.  It has whale songs, mother's heartbeat and ocean surf sounds.   

Monday, April 22, 2013

Coral & Tusk









Coral & Tusk from NØRTH SEA AIR on Vimeo.


Coral & Tusk is my new obsession.  It's as if Stephanie Housley, the designer behind the label, took everything I love about animals and made accessories, pillows and baby attire with it.  There's so many fun ideas put into the designs.  In the video above, Stephanie remarks, "We make arrows.  We make totem poles out of land animals.  We make a special head dress for the fox.  We give a crab a time piece."  To see more of Coral & Tusk, click here.


Friday, April 19, 2013

Must Listen - Santana's 'Everything's Coming Our Way'


This week all eyes have been on Boston.  I've had to stop myself from watching a play by play of the news trying to work out what happened.  As someone who lived a couple blocks from 9/11 when it happened, it hits me quite hard. The confusion, the fear and the anger are so tangible that it takes a great deal of my energy to remain level headed.  I want to offer my love and support to the east coast just post a feel good song, or at least one that makes me feel good.  Enjoy your weekend!

"If we can cultivate a concern for others, keeping in mind he oneness of humanity, we can build a more compassionate world." - Dalai Lama



Dog Toys vs. Baby Toys







Our baby's new toys look so similar to our dog's toys.  I mentioned below that we've been training our dog Shasta to leave the baby toys alone because they look just as enticing as her own toys.  It's been quite an uphill battle to train her but she's slowly learning.  

Answers - owl = baby toy, chick = dog toy, one-eyed monster =  dog toy, giraffe = baby toy, stuffed dog = dob toy


Wednesday, April 17, 2013

M.I.A. Walks The 2009 Grammy Red Carpet On Her Due Date







On her baby's due date, M.I.A. walked the red carpet and performed at The Grammy's.  Gotta love this girl. You can watch her performance with Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Lil Wayne here.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Makié Combines Japanese Simplicity With American Quality








I recently discovered the Makié label via J. Crew's Crewcuts' website.  Designer Makié Yahagi created the children's line after moving to New York City from Japan.  She wanted to 'mix Japanese simplicity with American quality.'  The label is incredibly chic and masters the casual style of combining plaid prints with sweaters and sweatshirts. It reminds me of a kid version of one of my favorite Japanese labels 45Rpm.  Check out their website here or visit their store in Soho at 109 Thompson Street, NY, NY 10012.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Built by Wendy KIDS Limited Edition Shirts





Built by Wendy is one of New York City's most popular independent fashion labels.  She is pretty well known for her custom designed prints, adorable dress and quirky t-shirts.  My fashion blogger friend Nancy Girl emailed me about these Built by Wendy limited edition t-shirts that are beyond adorable and stylish.  It's hard to pick a favorite.  To pre-order one today click here.  

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Nile Rogers Brings The Funk To The New Daft Punk Album


The brilliance of Daft Punk is a little hard to describe. You might know of their catchy hits like Around The World, One More Time or Harder, Better, Faster Stronger. They embrace the 70’s and 80’s disco/pop sound, paying homage to old school beats but with an updated electronic twist.  Their songs are extremely catchy, have the ability to fill up a dance floor and, in my own experience, can make a workout or run more enjoyable. 

To promote their new album Random Access Memories the French electronic duo have been releasing snippets of songs via SNL and at Coachella. In true Daft Punk mysterious brilliance, they will debut their album at a country show on May 17th in Wee Waa, Australia with a population of 2,100.  It will feature artists like Pharrell, Animal Collective’s Panda Bear, Strokes' Julian Casablancas just to name a few.

If you want to understand the sounds that inspired Daft Punk, look no further than legendary guitarist and producer Nile Rogers. Although you might not know his name, you are sure to hear his thumbprint on such iconic songs like Bowie’s ‘Let’s Dance’, Le Chic’s ‘Le Freak’, Diana Ross’ ‘Upside Down’ and Madonna’s ‘Like A Virgin.’ His latest collaboration is on Daft Punk’s new track ‘Get Lucky’ bringing his funky sound to their laid back groove.


In the interview above, Niles talks about working with generations of iconic musicians and most recently Daft Punk, which he calls “The Robots” and how “they went back to move forward.”

UPDATE - The EXTENDED teaser of Get Lucky was leaked yesterday.  This might be legit, it might not be legit....enjoy!


Thursday, April 11, 2013

How To Prepare Your Pets For The Baby

Shasta and Gizmo 


My husband and I have two wonderful dogs that are so much a part of what makes us a family. I am scared that their needs will fall by the wayside once the baby arrives.  I have been researching ways of how to help them adjust to a new baby preventing any depression, shock or resentment post-pregnancy.  Here are some of the ways I am preparing to keep their spirits up and behave like well-adjusted doggy siblings.


1. Write down dates of medication intake and future veterinarian appointments.  Both of our dogs take Frontline Flea Prevention and Heartguard once a month.  I usually have the date of dosage set in my head but since things will be chaotic post-pregnancy, I wrote down all the dates in which we will need to administer these medications.  I also went through their folder of when they will need their shots and annual check ups for the next year or so.


2. Include the dogs in your post-pregnancy workout routine.  Before I was pregnant one of my favorite things to do was take our Beagle mix, Shasta, on long runs.  It was a time for the two of us to be alone since our Chihuahua, Gizmo, is too small for such an endeavor.  The best part about running with a dog is that it tires them out and in turn they feel more relaxed and less anxious while hanging out at home.  I’m looking forward to getting back into my running routine and plan on taking Shasta with me at least twice a week. Click here to read more.


3. Bones and treats.  When there are bones around the dogs could care less about my anything else but the bones and they are in bliss.  We also have a Kong, which is a hollow rubber dog toy that you place wet food or treats inside.  The dogs spend their time trying to get the treats out and it is time consuming.  I believe they deserve to be spoiled for going through sleepless nights with us and sharing their household with a new baby. Click here to read more.


4. Bring home a hospital blanket and baby hat from the hospital pre-arrival.  A dog’s sense of smell helps them understand the world around them and they rely on it the same way humans rely on their sight.  As the dog sniffs the items from the hospital they become familiar with the idea of having the new little one in the house. Cesar Milan recommends at first have the dogs sniff the items from afar.  According to him, “you are communicating to your dog that the item is yours and then giving permission for the dog to sniff. This helps the process of creating respect for the baby.” Click here to read more.

5. Train the dogs that the baby’s toys are not their toys.  Gizmo is pretty low key with stuffed animals.  He loves fetch so if there is a stuffed animal on the floor he is quick to retrieve it. Shasta, however, loves to play tug and destroy all toys in her path.  It’s pretty damn cute until we brought all the baby stuff home.  The first thing she went for is our diaper cake from our baby shower!  She wanted to tear those little diapers to shreds. My husband and I put a diaper on the floor and spent time with her to make sure she wouldn’t tear them to bits.  We are still working with her on the other items that she’s curious about - the teething rings, large stuffed animals and the Sleep Sheep on the crib. Click here to read more.

Just because your household dynamics are going to change does not mean that it has to be a stressful environment for your pets.  If you take control of the situation before the baby’s arrival and anticipate factors that lead to your dog’s uneasiness and confusion, you can make them more well adjusted and which will lead to a happier abode.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

A Letter To My Baby Boy



My Dear Boy,
Once upon a time in Brooklyn, your daddy and I packed the dogs and all of our belongings into a truck and raced out of city. We were trying to avoided a catastrophic hurricane called Sandy that would eventually turn a city that never sleeps into a slumbering giant turned on it’s back. Listening to the news reports on the radio about the epic storm, teary eyed I held my small belly where you, the size of a pinto bean, were nestled as we drove away from the only life I knew. Gazing out the rainy window at the Manhattan skyline, I made a promise to try to protect you from all things stormy and  took comfort that you would be my rock to help me get through the the sadness I felt.
You see my boy, we were moving somewhere to make a better life for you. I sat next to your daddy, a man I just married but still was getting to know, as our truck bounced along the BQE and I knew things would never be the same.
Your second month month in my belly was spent riding across this beautiful country. Your daddy and I sometimes spent hours trying to decide what food to eat along the route to make sure you would get the nourishment you needed to grow.  Looking out the truck window, I imagined telling you stories of this great move - the dogs fighting in the front, quirky roadside signs in desolate towns, highways I might never see again, your daddy filming the whole way.  I was anxious to get to your grandpa’s doctor’s office in Colorado so I could hear your heartbeat and know you were safe and sound.
We settled into our barely one bedroom apartment in downtown Berkeley and I felt like a stranger in a strange land. This would be your first home, your refuge and I wanted to make it the habitat that would protect you from everything.
I spent days sitting on our balcony overlooking the bay talking to you about my life, my fears, my dreams and how much I loved you.  I introduced you to all of my favorite albums ranging from A Tribe Called Quest to The Grateful Dead and Mos Def to Radiohead.  I felt your first proper kick while listening to The Highwaymen and, for a while, was convinced I needed to name you either Cash or Waylon in honor of that.  I wanted our first dance together to be to Parliament’s Flashlight, so clutching my belly and moving my hips I proceeded to move around the apartment as the song filled the room; Shasta and Gizmo wagging her tails as they watched us.  
I would dream about you sleeping in my arms but most of the time I stayed awake most nights anxious I wouldn’t be the mother you deserved. I read books about how to help you sleep, feeding, burping, changing and felt like I was studying for a test that I might not pass.  It was when I gave up on the baby books and assured myself that I would know instinctively what was best for you that I felt my first accomplishment as a mommy.  
Your father and I talked extensively about your name.  Jokingly, he wanted to call you T. Rex and would use that as a trigger to make me upset.  Names swam around my head like butterflies in an open field.  They all seemed so beautiful that I didn’t want to catch one but rather watch them fly around and around.  Each one sounded perfect in its own way for the boy you would become.  
I would inspect baby toys and gadgets that loved ones bought and although they seemed like foreign objects, I imaged the comfort that they would bring you. I spent hours inspecting the clothes we received for you and imagined you wiggling around in them.  While folding and refolding your wardrobe, I realized that you were the first thing I had never physically touched in my arms, but my body, heart and soul loved you more than life itself.  
It will be weeks before I smell you, watch your hands clasp mine, hold you cheek to cheek, place my thumbs on your small feet or listen to you for the first time but so far you have given me more than all the riches in the world.  Your presence in my belly gives me hope for the life ahead of us and every one of your kicks, rolls and punches reminds me that my love continues to grow and grow and that there is nothing more beautiful than life itself.
I love you my sweet baby.
Mommy
Written by Deana Morton April 2013



Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Lusting For Bay Area Designer Freda Salvador Shoes





Post-pregnancy the number one thing I am on the hunt to buy are shoes.  In my opinion, one of the greatest things a fashion lover can do is support local talent.  I came across this Bay Area shoe designer Freda Salvador and immediately fell in love.  I adore their mission statement.  "If you look at style - a French woman with no boundaries, a perfectly tailored Italian woman, an American rock star from the 70s and a Mexican legend, you will get Freda Salvador." I mean, how perfect. Created by former Calvin Klein celebrity stylist Megan Papay and Central American shoe heir Cristina Palomo-Nelson, they have created a shoe collection that add a little kick (no pun intended) to any outfit.  For more information on where to find these fabulous shoes, click here.