10.29.2015

really yummy kimchi


While visiting a friend recently in Vermont we went to her local tiny farmers market, whoa! No such thing in Vermont... a Vermont farmers market is chock-full on wonderful local people all making something wonderful, delicious and even printing t-shirts! Well, we were just short of looking for real estate... But for now, we will stick with Rhode Island (and visit Vermont every chance we get!).

My hands down favorite was this delicious kimchi! By Finallie Ferments, you can order from them! If you are having trouble finding delicious kimchi in your town - here's your ticket to the most delicious I have tried! This pink one was my favorite, spicy and really delicious. They also have curry and plain all super duper yummy!

visit their website here

You can also visit my blog for a previous post on fermenting and kimchi etc... click here

ps. keep your gut healthy and clean by eating kimchi every day!

10.28.2015

it's time to markdown kids Fall'15 collections!

franny in the nico nico atlas jump suit

It's that time when we mark down the fall collections - there are still so many great things left so I hope you can get in there and find something special for your kids! The Nico Nico collection was outstanding this season and we have a big selection! Bigger sizes going fast - but we have lots in size 4-6-8 years.
new baby collection by boy+girl - peasant harem set

This year we brought back the Boy + Girl collection due to big demand! This collection is a good mix of amazing fabrics, versatile styling and democratic fit. I also think it is one of the better priced collections that I can find out there :). She produces the collection strictly in California and also uses made in USA fabrics. This season she introduced a BABY collection of just the cutest outfit! easy pull on pants and top in delightful fabrics that make great gifts! Baby shower in your future... perfect!

Both Fall collections 25% off!

click here to shop nico nico
click here to ship boy+girl
boy+girl shirt dress ages 2-10 year

10.26.2015

Olio e Osso :: limited time deal

I need to reorder these lovely lip and body balms (and there will be some new colors too!) but in the meantime I want to finish out my stock in the lovely colors BERRY #4 - while supplies last they are only $16 (reg. $28)!


This is berry #4 - it's easy to put on... it's like a chap-stick really, it's natural and imparts just a touch of color - in the perfect shade for this season and just about any skin type!

enjoy! link: olio e osso #4 berry - lip balm

(don't get confused... she changed her name recently from Olio e Sasso to Olio e Osso - all of our new stock is Olio e Osso)

10.24.2015

movie for everyone : The Martian


I'm not going to hide the fact that I am a huge science fiction fan, I took my kids to Gravity and my daughter is now terrified of space, but The Martian was a delicate story that I really loved - and the fact that I basically walked away from the movie and said to my kids "SEE what you can do if you are smart enough!" well, Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is sure smart enough - I would go so far to say Brilliant! (and played so delightfully well by Matt Damon). I don't want to give anything away, but if you are looking for a movie for the whole family on a cold Fall night - this is a very, VERY good bet! It's rated PG-13 - I think the only bad thing is when Mark says something to the effect of I am going to ‘science the shit out of this’… but just a terrific movie, terrific message and your kids will walk away looking forward to being the smartest kid in the room!


There is a nice synopsis on the blog: Trouble with Film if you want to read a review on the movie or read the book The Martian by Andy Weir! At the very least you will love the music... if you like Disco that is...

10.21.2015

John Robshaw Sample Sale time!

If you haven't been... get yourself there.. and update your bed to a lovely shade of, well just about anything under the rainbow! This is your chance to have some fancy new sheets for all of your holiday guests! not to mention pillows, blankets... more and more...


October 21 and 22nd - 10am to 7pm
October 23rd - 10am to 2pm

Hudson Mercantile
500 West 36th Street
New York City

get your butt in gear!

10.20.2015

Sun Potion



Since I bought my Vitamix last year I have been sort of obsessed with juicing and love to have one or two juices a day. Now that the weather is a bit cooler, I just don't use any ice (I never used much just two or three cubes) but now room temperature is just fine. I make one in the morning and then save a jar in the fridge for later in the day, then if I want to do a cleanse I just cut out food and have only the juices (not often enough).


As a chill enters the air I like to switch over to teas - my morning tea is from the cookbook Near & Far by Heidi Swanson (filled with amazing recipes by the way!). Her daily tea of tumeric, honey, black pepper, lemon and coconut oil is my new favorite and I throw in a piece of Astragalus root (which you can probably find at your local health food store) it will boost your immunity and it helps me with my seasonal allergies.

I am completely into adding herbs to tea - since I live in rural Rhode Island I have never found a source that I believe in or anyone who seems to have the same use and meaning in using their teas... UNTIL NOW... bumbadada!!! I came upon Sun Potion on Instagram (there is a reason to follow the @thehermeshippie).


Take a look at their website and read through the descriptions and find what works for you. I like Mucuna Pruriens Powder - which helps with brain function, elevates mood and soothes the nervous system (because I don't know what is happening to me as I get older but my nerves are always on edge!) and Rhodiola - but I don't take them together and only when I need them. I also think that the Rheishi Mushroom powder is good too, because I have learned that it's good to have mushrooms every day (and I know I don't do that through my food) and the Rheishi mushroom is a superfood. It is called "the mushroom of spiritual potency" and it holds its place as an essential ingredient in a healthy life.

Give them a try and see what works for you - everything is wildcrafted, organic or small batch and I don't know why but the fact that they are out of Santa Monica.. well I just trust that for some reason.

Visit their website and then send me an email and tell me happy you are that you found them!! And if you think I should sell them at Nonchalantmom... email that too!

www.sunpotion.com

10.15.2015

Tips to make your nursery non-toxic


This is one of the most frequent questions that I get, how do I keep my nursery non-toxic? For many people having a first child is a time when you are introduced into the world of organic and non-toxic,  you will probably stay there all your life when you start to learn about how harmful toxins are creeping into our every day life. When you are ready to bring your new baby home you want to make sure that place, where they will spend most of their time, is as non-toxic as possible.

Think about it, when there is a about to be a new member in the family you rush out and decorate a new room, even in some cases decided its time to buy a new house. But you know what that means... new materials, which means harmful off-gassing. So there you go - you've designed a new nursery and it may just be the most harmful place in your entire home. This is the case all too often, but there are things you can do to make the room safe for a new baby. I just saw this list today on the Seventh Generation website - which is a great place for new parents to be introduced to creating a non-harmful home with non-toxic cleaning materials.

Seventh Generation's tips on creating a safe and less-toxic nursery (and I agree with all of these wholeheartedly) :

1. Since your baby will be spending 14 to 16 hours a day with her face buried in its fibers, the mattress should be your priority. If there is one product to splurge on, this is it. Look for organic and/or Greenguard Certified mattresses. These may come at a premium price but this is where you want to put your money - or ask for one for a baby shower gift! see more ideas and options on turning a regular mattress less harmful by visiting the full article here.

2. Buy a better crib - avoid pressed wood and look for Greenguard certification. Or buy a second hand crib which has already off-gassed it's harmful chemicals.

3. Select solid wood furniture.

4. Seal Plywood and Particleboard furniture. Apply a finish like AFMSafecoat products to the exposed, bare wood to keep fumes from being released into the air.

5. Be careful with cushions - if possible, choose custom-made cushions (or make your own) with organic cotton and wool fill (wool is naturally flame retardant). If conventional cushions are your only choice, vacuum them frequently using a HEPA filtered vacuum.

6. Get good flooring.

7. Look for safer second-hand furniture.  Always be aware of mold and stay away from any possibly moldy items - but second-hand is a good way to ensure your new furniture has already off-gassed. Clean furniture with a HEPA vacuum cleaner, or one that traps dust particles down to at least 0.1 micron in size (refer to the manufacturer for details like this).

8. Select safe paint - there are so many new options here, just make sure you are a savvy shopper and get the best. (for a full description see full article).

9. Decorate with design and health in mind - it's the best way to decorate!--with your heart (Seventh Generation didn't say that I did... haha) Their tips are much more helpful:
  • Look for items made from natural materials, such as organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, and flax.
  • Avoid plastic, especially polyvinyl chloride (PVC),which is linked with many adverse health effects, including birth defects, immune system disorders, reproductive health disorders, endocrine and nervous system abnormalities, and cancer.
  • Let it off-gas outside. If it has that “new smell, “leave it outside or in a garage until the odor is gone.
Visit their website for more helpful information

I know this looks like a paid for commercial - but it's not! I just felt like these were great helpful tips! and I'm not going to re-write them... just go to their website!

10.14.2015

travel :: kid & coe


You know I'm all for family travel, I don't know what it is about it but our whole family loves it. And maybe I've somehow transferred it to my kids but one of the best parts of travel, well besides experiencing all these wonderful places, is finding the BEST place to stay! When I was young and had a job with Esprit I used to travel quite a bit, and because it was Esprit we always stayed at the best places (well this is a long long time ago...)



In general, I like to stay at a place; an Inn or a hotel or something like that because I like to meet other people when I travel, I think that's one of the best parts of traveling. But seriously, Kid & Coe is starting to make a serious dent in that theory. What about making that experience fun and easy and the best part of the travel!


visiting NYC stay here!

Founder Zoie is the force behind Kid & Coe. After years traveling the globe with her family, she has become an authority on what makes a stay comfortable. For years she had been traveling while managing her husband's music career, kids in tow, and saw that the hotel accommodations that suited a touring couple no longer fit the needs of her growing family. Zoie began seeking out kid-friendly property rentals that made her family feel at home wherever they were in the world. She has pulled together a website with the help from some very talented folks and I dare you NOT to want to get in your car (or plane!) and go! The best part is that all of these places are kid friendly in some sort of way. You will find that in most of the gorgeous photos there are cribs, kids bedrooms and make of the vision of a perfect stay just inside your reach.

Right now, we are planning a trip upstate before the snow comes. It's the perfect time to travel upstate during the fall season, delicious apples, farmers markets and all that good stuff await. So here are a few of the offerings from Kid & Coe for upstate digs...

The Barn - in Tivoli NY - Hell YES I'd stay here!


So from now on... wherever you go, check to see what Kid & Coe has to offer first!

www.kidandcoe.com


10.06.2015

Cornucopia Institute :: Choosing Organic over Non-Ogranic produce




The Cornucopia Institute released a report today making the compelling case for protecting children’s health and development by choosing organic foods over their conventional, chemically grown and produced counterparts. I have yet to read the full report and while I like to know the facts it's like preaching to the choir to me... I mean, it just seems like the right thing to do, who wants to eat on and in their food, something that is un-natural.

Just in case you have some people you have to convince, here is the full report!

go for it - eat ORGANIC!

10.02.2015

holy moly... 11 years!

 
I don't know how it happened so fast but eleven years have gone by and we are still running!! It's that old adage.. if you love what you do, then it will be a success. We have certainly had our up and down times but in general we have been happy and loving what we are doing. The year ahead will have some changes in store (in the store-haha), not huge changes but we would like to do some things BETTER (well there's a LOT I would like to do better, but we will start here...).

I am going to start blogging again, I have missed my communication with you through blogging. I went through a period where I felt that blogging was too much, with facebook and instagram.. it was all a little bit too much for me to keep up on as well. But I really miss the long format of blogging and opening up discussions. Most of all, I have heard from so many people who miss the blog (yay!).

Just in time for the new Fall collections to arrive you are going to see a more personal approach to my buying habits. I "think" I know what you like.. but I want to keep Nonchalantmom close to my heart, I think it makes for better business (well at least it makes me happier if I work that way). I have always worked with people who are making small collections, I won't buy the collection unless I feel the heart beating inside if the brand. There are SO many lines out there and I feel it's best to work with people I like, who are friends and I like to support them and give them a space to shine. So going forward you will see an even more close to my heart approach to what is offered at Nonchalantmom.

I am also going to go down the path of wellness with you... I have found some really unique people who are making some nice things for you and your body so I want to share those with you as well as the clothing and home goods.. so it's going to be a bit of a lifestyle type thing (although I kind of don't like to use that word). The good thing is that we will always offer what we love, who we love and support those who make the world a more peaceful, healthy, and happy place.

Love you all!
-carina

OH, and use code: 'birthday' for 10% off sitewide!!