::"green" paint::

Now that everyone is more aware of global warming (thanks Al Gore!), "green", earth-friendly products are more popular than ever. In my last few architectural projects, heavy emphasis has been placed on using sustainable building materials and methods.

Initially, I wanted to use Wolf Gordon Scuffmaster pink pearlescent paint for the walls of the nursery. This particular paint is not only beautiful, it is extra durable and usually used in high traffic, commercial spaces. A similar finish was applied on the walls of Prada in SoHo when the store first opened. In addition, Scuffmaster products meet or exceed the U.S. Green Council 's LEED standards for environmentally sustainable building products. Unfortunately, due to the two-part specialized application process, we decided against using it.

Instead, we used Benjamin Moore's Eco Spec paint and primer. These products' features are:

• Low odor


• Low VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)


• 100% Acrylic


• Dries quickly to a beautiful, washable, and uniform flat finish


• Spatter-resistant

In the end, the Eco Spec was a good choice because it is environmentally friendly and dried within hours without any noticeable odor. That is a plus especially for babies...and pregnant mothers who are sensitive to smells.

::cinema paradiso::

And you thought you'd never get to watch movies anymore! Right after O was born, I was bored (believe it or not!), but also too tired to concentrate on a good book. So I signed up for Netflix. For a nominal monthly fee, you can request just about any movie-including indies and foreign films--to be delivered to your home. It certainly beats trekking to Blockbuster and find out the movie you want is OUT!!! Although, Blockbuster has caught on and is now offering a similar deal as Netflix.

Architectdad also loves Netflix, because he gets to watch old Miami Vice episodes, all FOUR seasons...ahem, we're only on disc 6 of season two. The acting is sooo bad and the stories are awful. But you do get to see a lot of 80's pop stars in guest starring roles though!

The last movie we watched is "Night at the Museum." It takes place in the natural history museum in NYC, and it stars Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. Not a big fan of Ben. but Owen is hilarious. I used to work in the National Nat Hist Museum here in Wash, DC when I was in college, so it brought back fond memories. Although my research was in the common Norway Rat...not as glam as paleontology, I'm afraid!

"Blood Diamond" is pretty good also. Leo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou are excellent. We're hoping to watch "the Last King of Scotland" tonight.

::more from the niederlanders::

Beside the Bugaboo, the Dutch have brought us many other innovative and well-designed objects. Whether it's architecture (Rem Koolhaas + OMA!) or baby products, you can clearly see the amount of thought and energy put into each design.

My latest Dutch crush is Esthex toys. The creator, Esther Schuivens, is a trained textile artist. Her designs are simple, yet every shape and proportion is deliberate and elegant. My favorite is the lanky Sofie Doll. With the exception of her big brown eyes, every part is made from super soft materials. A word of caution: Sofie comes with her own hat which is not attached to her head, so it might be wise to sew it onto the doll with a couple of stitches.

The music box is also brilliant. The pull string is a little flimsy, but the song is a refreshing departure from the usual "twinkle twinkle little star." The rest of the collection includes hand puppets, book, mobiles, pram cords, accessories and decoration.

Look for them on nonchalantmom.com and piccolini.com.

::the buzz about the bee::

Wait...let me sit down for a moment. Just when I thought we have every Bugaboo accessory imaginable...here comes the Bugaboo Bee!!!

The buzz is, the Bee (a more compact model than its cousins) will be the Dutch company's first foldable stroller. It collapses with the press of a button. It won't be released in the U.S. until September 2007, but you can be sure until then a lot of parents will be waiting with bated breath.

Let's just hope it comes with an ORANGE CANOPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

::water babies::

It's about that time again...for the three H's--hazy, hot and humid. O's first trip to the beach is already in the works. After our monthly stop at the bank, we visited a baby store in Georgetown called Piccolo Piggies. They sell adorable baby and kids clothes and toys, including swimsuits by Archimede and Lilly Pulitzer.

Archimede is a Belgian company that offers children clothes in amazingly fun graphic prints. They developed the original "buoyancy swimsuit", which features removable floaties in pouches around the body of the suit. The floaties keep your child afloat while she learns how to swim. As she gains confidence, you can remove the floaties one by one. I bought O the two-piece "comfort swimsuit", which features a "double protection" bottom piece that is waterproof and leak proof. It essentially eliminates the need for diapers in the water. Don't worry, I am as skeptical as you are, so I will test it out around the house first before we venture out to the pool.

To complement the new swimwear, I bought O her first pair of sunglasses. They are by Teeny Tiny Optics. We gave O's friend S a pair of green ones for her trip back to the Turkish Riviera. We can't wait to see some pictures!!! The shades are 100% UVA and UVB proof, which will protect your baby's developing eyes from retinal damage.

Obviously, all this swim gear isn't going to magically give O the ability to swim...but she damn well will look good trying!!!

::warm and cozy::

Now that my hormo-nies are back to normal, let's continue with our talk about the nursery. Architectdad and I were very concerned about keeping the nursery warm and cozy for O. So we turned upside down the libraries of our respective firms, trying to find the perfect materials.

We were mainly looking for window treatment and floor covering. After extensive search and a lot of help from my interior design guru and style maven , C.B., I found the perfect floor covering. Since we are not big fans of wall-to-wall carpets (yech!), we decided to use carpet tiles instead.

You are probably thinking, ewww...carpet tiles? Like the ones they use in office spaces??? NOOO!!! These are the new generation of tiles that are specifically designed for the home. We could've used our many Turkish rugs for the nursery--courtesy of our friend Aydin from Blacksheep Carpets; but the advantage of using carpet tiles is, if one tile is soiled, you can replace it with a new one. Perfect for babies and kids

Through our professional contacts at Interface FLOR, we bought about 30 modular tiles for the entire room. Each tile is about 19.7" x 19.7". I designed a custom pattern using three different colors of the same style. Architectdad cut the pieces into halves and quarters strips, and laid them out according to the pattern. The final product is seamless and gorgeous, if I may say so myself! With over 50 styles, you could even mix and match the styles to create your own look.

For the window treatment, I wanted to use classic modern patterns from Maharam's 'Textiles of the 20th Century' collection. In particular, I wanted to layer the Eames 'dot pattern sheer positive' over the 'dot pattern sheer negative' to filter the light. Unfortunately, I couldn't order the fabrics in time. Instead we layered a thick velvet curtain over a sheer white panel for the winter. Now that the weather is warm, the Eames panels would be perfect.

::just MHO::

In longhand, it means 'just my humble opinion.' Whenever I see those letters pop up in emails, lists or blogs, I cringe. Those letters are usually preceded by some really opinionated, sometimes offensive, comment resembling a 'granola' manifesto. If your lifestyle or ideals do not match theirs, then you are WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. I say, pack away your stinky crocs and give other people some room to breath.

For instance, a lot of first-time moms are convinced into thinking a natural birth is the only way to go, myself included. However, after taking a few birthing classes with a supposed doula, I decided that whatever happens, happens. If you are able to take the pain and push the babe out by yourself...brava. If you cannot manage the pain without some meds, that's okay too. If you have to have an unplanned c-section (like I did), don't freak out. It will be fine. It doesn't make you less of a mother. It is just a different experience. The MOST important thing is that your baby is healthy and strong for the rest of her life.

The other touchy subject with granola moms is breastfeeding. I breastfed for 2 months before O decided that the bottle is easier. I enjoyed doing it while it lasted; but O is thriving on formula, and we have a very strong bond. If you are able to breastfeed for a while, that is wonderful. But if you are unable to breastfeed for as long as you'd like, or at all, don't sweat it. Formula is equally nutritious, and it'll most likely help your baby sleep through the night earlier.

AND...granola moms and dads might think the premise of this blog is frivolous...oh well! Different strokes for different folks! I could talk about baby-wearing and homemade organic baby food recipes all day...but would I want to??? Tssss...

Just MHO.