::the bee in nyc::

It was great...not having to lug the Cameleon up and down a walk-up building is wonderful. The narrow width of the Bee is also great for NYC sidewalks--it saved us a lot of nasty stares from stroller-haters.

Since it has not been released for purchase anywhere else but Babystyle, I did not see one Bee on our trip. Plenty of Frogs and Cameleons, though. I would say that about 80% of the strollers we saw in Manhattan and Brooklyn were Bugaboos. We have certainly generated a lot of interest, so it will be interesting to see how popular the Bee is with the NYC crowd.

::where did the light go::

I have been having issues with my Candeloo nightlights. I cannot shut off the lights using the on/off button at the base of the each light. While it is not a big deal, it means that I have to remember to put the lights back in the recharger when not in use, otherwise the juice will run out. Our friend, L, also has similar issues. Unfortunately, her Candeloos won't even recharge.

So, I decided to write to Vessel to see what brilliant ideas they have about fixing the lights. They wrote back right away and said that they'd replace both sets of Candeloos free of charge. I have not received the replacements yet, so I will withhold judgement on their customer service for now. But so far, so good!

::UPDATE::
The Vessel cust rep just replied. Here is what she says:

"Hi Leslie, After reviewing your cases, we have determined that your set of candeloos are no longer covered under warranty. Our warranty is 180 days, or 6 months. We can however offer you replacements parts at a 20% discount. The candeloo lamps are 18 dollars each plus shipping. Please let us know if you would like to order replacements lamps and i can place an order for you via e-mail.Since your friends unit is still covered under warranty, I have gone ahead and placed an order for a new base to be sent to her. It will ship via ups ground in 5-7 business days.Thanks, Vessel Customer Support."

Ahmmm...since my lamps were a baby shower gift, I really don't have any control over when it was purchased. I suppose I should have contacted them as soon as the lamps stopped working...which was 3 months after I first opened the box. INFURIATING. At least they are replacing L's charger. Let's hope that's all it takes to fix the problem.

::ciao bella::

We are in the Big Apple again. O, architectdad and I just spent the entire day shopping for fall baby clothes. To bulk up for our big shopping trip, Uncles M + A took us to a restaurant in the EV called "the EU" (for European Union). If you've never had a BOMBOLINI, I highly recommend it. It's basically a custard/jam filled, sugar-coated donut. Mmm...delicioso!

We of course have already visited our favorite store in the East Village, Sons and Daughters, yesterday. Today, we went to several stores, including Calypso Enfant + Bebe in SoHo, as well as another store in the EV called Crem Bebee. There is so many beautiful clothes and accessories available in NYC. The one brand that stood out from all the rest was Album di Famiglia.

It is a high-end Italian brand that offers elegantly simple children's clothing and accessories. The aesthetic is a cross between Tadao Ando and Dieter from Saturday Night Life (80s reference for those of you who are a little more youthful). If you have been searching for elegant, zen-like, BLACK clothes for your baby, this is the brand to check out.

My favorite piece this season is the down-filled hooded kimono coat for baby. The outer shell is made from the softest brushed cotton; it almost has the texture of super fine cotton flannel. The available colors are subdued yet not severe. Even the black.

You can find Album di Famiglia products on Sons and Daughters or Estella NYC. Ciao-ciao!

::nu shoos::

I just bought a pair of new flats for myself. I guess you could call them mommy shoes, since I used to never wear flats before. While I was pregnant, I bought a pair of ballet slippers/skimmers from Nine West. What was I thinking?! The shoes barely breathed...plus I was a super sweaty pregnant woman. You get the picture?

Now that my feet have returned to their original shape and size, I am ready for nice shoes again. After countless searches on the internet, I found an elegant pair of ballet flats by Sigerson Morrison from Zappos.com. Zappos not only sells numerous popular brands, it offers couture brands as well. Best of all, it offers NEXT DAY SHIPPING FOR FREE!!!

The baby/kids collection at Zappos is ginormous. I'm pretty sure the Puma Kids collection is better than what is offered in Puma stores or online store. Good stuff. V also mentioned Aster Kids shoes today...adorable Mary Janes for girls and sporty shoes for boys. No tax and free next day shipping?!?!?!?!

::zero waste::

Like the dorks that we are (meaning, we are not smart enough to be full-fledged geeks), architectdad and I love watching shows on the Discovery and Science channels. HBO series are the staple, and the science-related shows are the dessert.

Tonight, we watched an eye-opening show on the Science Channel called "Zero Waste." It is part of a series called "Eco-Tech." The program showcases the most cutting-edge innovations in waste and recycling technology. By following waste from the landfill to the lab, the show demonstrates why "waste management" is quickly becoming the hottest new trend in the scientific world.

For instance, did you know that 40% of all potable (drinkable) water is used for flushing our toilets? Also, did you know a cloth diaper service washes each diaper SEVEN times (using potable water) before it is returned to you? Currently in the U.S., treated sewage water is returned back into the rivers and streams. In many European, as well as Asian, countries, treated water is returned back into the drinking water supply. Scientists are now working on innovative ways to filter waste water, making it potable. One method is using a high-tech membranous fiber called "Z-weed" (by Zenon) to treat dirty water by filtering out harmful particles. Strands of Zweed are submerged into the dirty water. Each membrane contains tiny holes that are much smaller than bacteria and virus, including HIV. It allows water molecules to pass through, while filtering out 99% of cells, bacteria and viruses. If everyone could change his/her mindset about how dirty water is treated, then we have a chance of recycling what will be our most precious resource in the future.

Also, did you ever think about where all your old computers have gone to die? The staggering rate at which new gadgets and computers are created and revamped, has contributed to the increasing amount of heavy metals (such as mercury) in our natural environment. A company (the name escapes me) has been recycling used electronic equipment parts and using the byproducts for other uses. Each piece of equipment is smashed into little pieces, then sorted for useful materials. The metal-containing pieces are plucked out with magnets, while some other pieces have to be hand sorted.

Lastly, the coolest recycling method shown on the program is plasmagas technology. Solid waste is heated into liquid state, the liquid is then heated to a gaseous state. By passing the gases through a electrically charge plasmagas torch, your garbage is broken down into pure elements and electricity. Pure elements, such as hydrogen can then be harnessed to power a H-car in the future. According the scientists, ANYTHING is recyclable using this method. Even disposable diapers, which usually takes 500 years to degrade. At the moment, NYC spends $90 per ton on garbage management. If the city were to use plasmagas technology, it could sell the electricity the process generates and end up earning $15 per ton of garbage.

Our increasingly complex lifestyle will inevitably create more waste than ever. However, it is certainly encouraging to know that there are alternative disposal methods which will hopefully protect and conserve our natural environment.

::deux par deux::

Claude Diwan and Maurice Elmaleh launched the French Canadian brand, Deux par Deux, in 1986. It offers fun, European-styled apparel for infants and kids (girls and boys). The winter 2007-2008 line features a lot of beautiful knits with interesting details and graphics. As with most DxD clothes, the knits are off the charts in the colors department. Not necessarily gaudy, just...bright.

To avoid the danger of turning your child into a clown at the circus, pair the adorable multi-color pom-pom scarf with a minimalist top and, voila! You've got a beautiful combination. Or, go tonal with the sophisticated cerulean blue ensemble instead. You can find Deux par Deux online at Trendy Togs. Be sure to check out the DxD tights...they are fun-o-rama!

::hint of fall::

...there is a slight chill in the air...it almost smells like autumn...hee...time for adorable knit hats and mittens...