::shake those booties::

During our brave trip to the mall today, V and I bought each girl their own Ugg boots. I know, I know...Uggs are sooo over. But the truth is, they are durable and they keep those girlie feet warm and toasty. So thppptttttttt...

If you are looking to splurge on an ultra luxurious holiday gift for a little one, check out Car Shoe for Kids and Prada Linea Rosa for Kids. Not very practical of course, considering how quickly kids grow out of their shoes. But they are adorable nevertheless. Both brands can be found in Nordstrom (but not on their website).

::you fix it::

As soon as O went down for her morning nap today, I called Seventh Generation and told them about my problem. The Customer Relations agent was very helpful and apologetic. And he actually sounded like he cared. Unusual these days.

He told me that once in a while, some defective diapers do slip past quality control and end up on the shelves. That bothered me though. If I were a new customer, these defective diapers would turn me off to 7th Gen diapers forever! Quality control should be just as important as saving the environment. Just think, I will now have to throw 150+ new, non-biodegradable, disposable diapers in the trash. Argh!

For my troubles, 7th Gen is sending me a refund check and I am sending one of the packages back to them for examination and record. This is good, because at least they care enough to figure out where it all went wrong. Hopefully.

Now I'll just have to sit and wait for my refund check, which is supposed to arrive 2-3 weeks from now. Not so efficient.

I then called Drugstore.com (took me forever to find their toll-free number on the website). The representative apologized and said she could either refund my purchase or they could send me a new case. I was afraid they would send me another defective case, I opted for the refund. They credited the amount back onto my credit card. Efficient.

Now I just have to haul my and O's behinds out to a non-Wholefoods organic store for some more 7th Gen diapers. Sigh...

::trouble magnet::

What is it about this blog?! If I write about how much I love something, that "thing" inevitably breaks down or becomes defective in some way. First it was the Candeloo lights, then it was the Nurseryworks crib, then it was the Bugaboo Bee and now it's the Seventh Generation diapers!

First, you know all about the Candeloo lights from a previous entry. In fact, my friend Lauren is now in the process of getting a SECOND replacement base for her lights.

O's Nurseryworks crib has started to delaminate--the veneer on the footboard is peeling off! O picked off the pieces with her pincer grip and I found her with a big chunk of it in her mouth! I contacted Nurseryworks and sent them some photos of the defect. One of the owners replied immediately and promised to send me a new one. It has been a month and the replacement still hasn't arrived.

The Bugaboo Bee is also a little off-kilter. It has failed to fold properly several times; and every time we attempt to flip the seating direction, the balance is somehow thrown off. I haven't written to Bugaboo yet. But I'm definitely going to.

The most recent trouble comes from the 160 Seventh Generation diapers that I ordered from Drugstore.com. The price was great, but the product??? Not so much. I have not had any trouble using them up until now. It seems this whole case of diapers lacks the full amount of absorbent gel which keeps the babies' tushies dry and leak-free! Every single piece I used from this batch has absolutely no absorbency and leaked every time. I even did a little kitchen experiment on the diapers. I poured some warm water into the diaper just to see if the moisture is absorbed. Nothing. The water stays near the surface and the diaper doesn't even "puff up" like it normally does when the gel comes in contact with liquid. After some research on the internet, I noticed that Seventh Generation diapers have been plagued with quality control issues in the last year. Apparently they changed from a German manufacturer to a U.S. based factory. Hmmm...

I wrote to Seventh Generation and Drugstore.com already. We shall see what happens.

::wallpaper fun::

Remember the vinyl wallpaper our parents had in the kitchen? Before the rising popularity of semi-gloss paint, vinyl wallpaper was the wall treatment of choice. It cleans up easily and there are thousands of patterns to choose from...not necessarily good patterns, but choices nevertheless. Of course no one ever told us, until recently, that vinyl is a highly toxic carcinogen that pollutes not only our bodies but the environment as well. The canals of Venice, Italy are dirty not only because of hundreds of years of medieval dumping, but because of the toxic waste being produced by a vinyl factory nearby. Eeek!

Inke Heiland of the Netherlands brings us hand-cut vintage and new wallpaper patterns in fun, modern motifs. For the tree-hugger in you, check out the eight-foot tall tree. You even have the option of choosing the color palette according to the month of year!

For the animal-lovers, there is a menagerie of animals to choose from: monkey, crocadile, giraffe, elephant, ostrich, birds and lion. Rrroarrr!!!

::fabulous hand-me-downs::

Since V's daughter, M*x, is six months older than O, we were the lucky recipient of some fabulous hand-me-downs. There are beautiful dresses and cardigans by the French brand, Jacadi and sweet separates by the German brand, Kanz. Thanks V and M*x!

::make it makie::

Simple and elegant. That is Makie. The Japanese designer makes children's clothes that are well-made with amazing details. For instance, the white smock-necked blouse is made from white-on-white textured fabric and finished with a tiny little button at the neckline. So lovely.

And of course, I LOOOVE the orange cord/grey poplin reversible jumper! Again, the use of quality fabrics and sweet details make this a beautifully crafted garment.

Makie has a storefront in NYC @ 109 Thompson Street, SoHo. But you can purchase some pieces from Nonchalant Mom online.

::nu shooz for babes::

O will never fit into Blahniks when she grows up. It's a fact: her feet look exactly like mine, small but WIIIDE. No strappy Manolos or Jimmys for her, I'm afraid.

For now, she can still enjoy nice baby shoes without worrying about her feet looking like tied-up sausages. I bought her a couple of pairs this weekend: a pair of Robeez with puppy applique and a pair of Pedipeds maryjanes. Coincidentally, O's Auntie N also bought her a pair of Pedipeds on her trip to Vermont. Thanks Auntie N!

After some research, I found other brands that are worth browsing. I've already mentioned Star Child from the UK. They will ship to the US, but with the horrible exchange rate and extra shipping charges, the shoes will cost twice as much as Robeez. Again, you can purchase certain styles from Trendy Kid online.

If you are a fan of Robeez or Star Child, you might also want to check out Bobux. Bobux (originally from New Zealand) baby shoes are made with Eco-leather that is Chrome(VI)-free and surpass British safety standard BS 5665:EN71, which makes Bobux safe for your baby, even if they put them in their mouths.

If you like more bling, try Bikkembergs Junior. The gold ballerina slippers are to die for! It is a bit of a pricey luxury, though.

For your beginner walkers, See Kai Run makes adorable foam-soled shoes that are light and pliable, yet sturdy enough to withstand hours on the pavement.

::m-aa-n made::

After recovering from our shopping binge at Zara, it's time for a little luxury day dreaming. If you are a cashmere fan, you'd love the Belgian brand, Maan. It's a little Jackie-O and a whole lotta elegance. The cashmere Piaff dress is adorable! It comes in two elegantly muted colors that are perfectly suited for a chilly autumn day.

If you are looking for a cozy, woolly coat for your little girl, the Ramones coat is so sweet. The tailored shape and decorative details sets it apart. Best of all, the 100% virgin wool coat is lined in 100% cotton to prevent itchiness.

Browse the Maan website and do a little day dreaming of your own!