::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!

::ole'::

The day started out as rainy and dreary; but by noon, the sun finally came out (after a week!) and the sky cleared up. The rest of the day was gloriously autumn. Since architectdad had to work overtime today, I took O out around town by myself...on the subway.

We first visited the new Zara flagship store. I was super curious about the Zara Baby and Zara Kids lines. They did not disappoint. I am impressed by the selection and quality of design. Best of all, it's affordable! I know I'll probably get a tongue lashing from Uncle M about this, but I bought O an orange patent trench coat. Yes. That's right.

Our shopping extravaganza made O really tired, so she fell asleep in her stroller soon after she finished her lunch. In turn, we missed a b-day party which we promised we'd attend. Sorry J and K! I wanted O to take a nice nap, so I zipped her up in the Bugaboo footmuff and we were off to the museums. What a beautiful day to be walking around our nation's capital.

Since I had to keep moving so she'd stay asleep, I walked all the way to the National Botanical Garden. There were many courtyards and gardens along the way, which made the long stroll worthwhile. O woke up while we were in the rose garden of the NBG. She loooved the flowers and trees, couldn't stop pointing at them and touching them. Good news for Puo and Gong, for sure ;-)

::7th Gen::

Yes, I did well in organic chemistry. I had to, my parents said so. No, seriously, it was a very interesting class. In fact, the way one thinks about organic molecules in 3-D is very similar to spatial design in architecture.

However, my geeky interest in "orgo" never translated into healthy living until I became pregnant. During my entire pregnancy, I only ate organic foods and tried to use household products that are cruelty-free and natural. Now that O is here, I am getting better about looking for better products that are good for her and the environment.

Started out as a catalog company, Seventh Generation sells non-toxic household and personal hygiene products that are safe for everyone and the environment. Among the various 7th Gen products are chlorine-free disposable diapers. Chlorine apparently is a major contributor to the rising dioxin levels in our environment. Long-term dioxin exposure can lead to cancer. However, since the 7th Gen diapers are NOT biodegradable (the waterproof components are poly), using them still contributes to our multiplying landfill problem. In that respect, G Diapers have an upper hand. Although, I am impressed by the absorbency of the 7th Gen diapers--one diaper can last through the night without leakage.

One thing bothers me however. The "poly" backing and outer covering is what exactly? Polymer? Polycarb? POLYESTER??? How do we know THAT's not harmful to the babies...considering the recent BPA-plastic bottle scandal.

I feel pretty good about the 7th Gen wipes, though. Non-chlorine, cloth-like wipes infused with natural cleansing, healing and moisturizing agents. I love using it because I can use it to clean Olivia's hands and sippy cup without worrying about her ingesting fragrances and harmful chemicals.

The 7th Gen diapers cost a little more than Huggies and Pampers per unit, but is comparable to the gDiapers. You can find 7th Gen products at your local Wholefoods stores or other organic markets.

::go organic::

Sooo...I am trying to feed O only organic food. It is possible, but it is definitely more expensive and the selection is limited. However, I find that the limited selection also keeps me in check in terms of the quality of food. No organic Oreos...yet. I also try to dress her in organic clothing. Again, that gets pricey. Do the benefits outweigh the expense?

How about organic mattresses? I've heard that a lot of parents are now buying organic cotton or wool mattresses rather than the typical plastic and foam models. Supposedly, the flame retardant on the conventional mattresses are off-gassing some serious chemicals that could harm your baby. Natural materials are actually fire resistant. For instance, if you put a flame up to your wool rug, it will not burn. Believe me, I've tried it personally. Another option is a mattress made from natural rubber. Makes sense, since rubber actually comes from a living tree.

I also just bought O a Born Free sippy cup. Apparently, it is made from polyamide rather than the harmful polycarbonate chemical, Bisphenol-A (BPA). BPA has been shown to cause neurological, developmental and reproductive problems in laboratory animals. As a bonus, Born Free bottles and cups feature a new air vent system which supposedly reduces colic symptoms.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS??? I'D LOVE TO GET SOME FEEDBACK ON WHY YOU'VE GONE ORGANIC!

::smashing pumpkins::

V and I, along with our husbands, took M*x and O to the pumpkin patch this weekend. Hay rides, pumpkin picking, caramel apples...the whole thing. We took O there a couple of weeks ago with Grandpa R, but went back again because it is such a festive atmosphere ;-) Can you imagine that?! An entire holiday centered around the color orange?!?!?!

Most people prefer the regular old jack-o-lantern type pumpkins. We like the Cinderella or Fairytale Pumpkins. They are flatter and usually have well-defined ridges. Love it! There is also a blue/grey variety which is unusually beautiful.

And then there's the issue of the Halloween costume. At first, we wanted to dress O up as a beagle. But we just couldn't find the right costume for it. Then we thought, since she moves like a monkey, we should dress her up as a monkey. But we thought that'd be too cruel. So finally, I decided on dressing her in basic black with an orange tutu for the prima ballerina look. O's Puo immediately jumped on the bandwagon and produced the tutu within a day. It is adorable! However, you must wait for the photos ;-)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!

::dirt be gone::

I ordered my new Roomba vacuum robot from Amazon.com on Monday. The package arrived on Tuesday via regular UPS shipping. Fabulous.

I looove it. Can't say enough good things about it. The new model is quieter but with more suction power. The bin is definitely bigger and the three rotating sweeping brushes are to-die-for. They attack the corners and baseboards like nobody's business. The anti-tangle technology is working well on most of our rugs. The Roomba is still unable to detangle itself from the longer tassels. I came home one day to see it stuck in the corner on a pile of frillies. Hmmm...

The Roomba also comes with its own "lighthouses" which you can place in the path of the Roomba to prevent it from entering an off-limits area or stairwells. Pretty nifty. Of course, if you are an apartment dweller or have baby gates all over the house, the lighthouses are pretty much moot.

I still use my Dyson in the living room everyday because that is where O spends most of her playing time. But the Roomba is so great for under the sofa and bed. We no longer have hairy dust bunnies residing under our furniture ;-)