Perfect for the HOLiDAYS! Stags head copper foil T

This is my favorite T-shirt of the season!

click here to shop

the NonchalantDad: Mummenschanz

It appears long before the Blue Man Group - there was Mummenschanz. Founded in Paris in 1972 and consisting of a small group of performers, they used their collective talents as performers and artists to create some very fascinating and timeless routines, as is demonstrated in the video above. Sparing but totally imaginative, they almost easily resemble what many conceptual performers wish they might achieve in the contemporary art world. Unpretentious and often thoughtful, many of their performances unfold with a quiet disjunctive sensibility. I think the best way to describe them is just plain weird - which, of course, I mean as a compliment. Back in the 70's, when I was a child, weirdness was considered an appropriate thing - you might remember that much of what we saw was based on it! Mummenschanz, you might be surprised to know, were quite successful in their earliest days - traveling lots without a doubt, but landing big 'gigs' such as the Muppet Show and eventually a spot on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. To this day, though without their original line up, they still perform and conduct workshops - quietly going about their weird business while the Blue Man Group takes on Las Vegas and the likes! For more info, and possibly to give yourself a totally surrealistic and nostalgic jolt.

here is the group's website - cllick here

Jimi Hendrix :: Hear My Train A Comin'

A friend sent me this link and I have to share it... this is a wonderful two hours spent, I know Jimi Hendrix music, but now I feel I know more of the story and it's SO well told here. The two-hour film uses Hendrix’s own words to tell his story, illustrated through archival interviews and illuminated with commentary from family, well-known friends and musicians including Paul McCartney, band members Noel Redding, Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox, long-time sound engineer Eddie Kramer; Steve Winwood, Vernon Reid, Billy Gibbons, Dweezil Zappa and Dave Mason.

His gorgeous songs mean even more to me now, they are even more beautiful and I love this story.

Gorgeously told... click here to watch film

American Masters: Jimi Hendrix – Hear My Train A Comin’ is a production of Fuse Films and THIRTEEN’s American Masters in association with WNET. Bob Smeaton is director. 

Thanksgiving drink :: whiskey sunshine

I made this up... but I was inspired by the delightful boys at Dutch Kills when we met them at the Martha Stewart Made in America event at Grand Central Station a few weeks ago. I have been working on it since and I have come up with this version. I think it's pretty darn good and I am going to serve it at Thanksgiving dinner, I will also add that I am pretty good at this.. drink making... it's become a bit of a thing for me in the last few years. It started with Manhattans, I make a really REALLY good Manhattan and maybe one day I will tell you how to do that...

Whiskey Sunshine

make in advance: simple syrup
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
one stick of rosemary
8-10 orange rinds (they are a nice garnish so put in as many as you want to make drinks)
cook until sugar dissolves and just a tad more and then turn off heat and let cool

take a nice drink shaker (got this nice one at the MS event - the Mason Shaker) and use approx. 4-5 ice cubes, a couple of jiggers of a nice whiskey (I like Hudson or Temptation) a tablespoon of your simple syrup (+orange rind) and shake until frothy and nice - take a glass and a few cubes of ice and squirt a wedge of lemon into it and rub lemon around rim. Pour your whiskey mixture to 1/2 the glass and then sparkling water the rest and stir. garnish with rosemary and orange rind.

You will find the right combination of sweet and not sweet for you and your people...

I hope you love these!! (sorry for the under-par photo.. but there you go.. at least you get the idea)

The simple syrup also makes a great hostess gift! It will last 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator

cheers!

recipe :: french toast breakfast

In our house French Toast comes down the pipe at least once a week. Today I thought I would shake things up and then I realized this could be a great thing to do for guests who are staying for Thanksgiving. When I make french toast my only 'trick' is to add cinnamon - I feel it's one of those things that's good for kids but they rarely get it into their diet. I call it 'dirty french toast' because it gets all crazy dirty looking.

Today, I added a bit of an applesauce on top, and to be a bit 'healthy' I used Kudzu instead of other sweet thickening agents. Kuzu is made from a root and it has great healing powers, it is used in Kuzu tea (which I drink when I am sick or if I need strength to fight off sickness - twig tea + 1 umeboshi plum + kuzu and I sometimes add ginger - I will write a blog on this soon to come).

apple topping
chop 1-2 apples depending on how many you will need
add water and cook
dissolve kuzu in a 1/2 glass of cold water (about 2-3 teaspoon of kuzu) and add to apples
add cinnamon
add rasins
add honey or maple syrup

cook for a few minutes until the kuzu becomes clear & apples are bit soft

serve on top of french toast!

Artist :: Muriel Favaro @ Remodelista Market

artwork :: Muriel Favaro

Today is the last day of the Remodelista Market and Muriel came in with a stack of handmade prints today (printed on the NYT's no less!) and we all went WILD! Before everyone arrived all of us vendors got to pick out our favorites - I got FOUR amazing prints!!

Unfortunately Muriel does not have a website yet but if you come today she has many many more and they ARE amazing (so is all of her work!) if you really can't stop by email me and I will get you in touch with her.

Hope to see you here!

10 West 56th (btwn 5&6) 

6pm today!

Two :: my neighbor at remodelista market

Here we are at Remodelista Market and we're neighbors! Anyone need a caftan!? Just email me and we can run through them...

Come see us!!

10 west 56th (btwn 5&6) from 11-6pm

Today and tomorrow!! (Ends Saturday)

haunting photographs :: by Dan Marbaix

In these photographs Dan Marbaix has found these deserted homes, factories and industrial warehouses and photographed them in their haunting, quiet beauty. Some of them seem like movie sets to me, even the color tones are gorgeously laid out within the room - although he doesn't so much as touch them! He has been arrested for trespassing quite a few times but that has not stopped this intrepid artist. Here are just a few of the room, click through to the full article to see more.

an abandoned home in Germany

The Chambre du Commerce in Antwep, Belgium, was erected in 1872

abandoned library

abandoned home

this is one of my favorites

see full story here with more photos!

Live from the Remodelista Market

#remodelistamarket

It's nice and busy here come by and see us.. SO many gorgeous vendors (see list in previous blog!) - perfect place to find special gifts or something for yourself! Meet some great people making great things too!

Monica's dolls!

Muriel Favaro bags and dolls (hand painted!) - so gorgeous!

Anzu Japanese accessories and candles and things! www.anzunewyork.com

And MORE come and see us until Saturday daily 11-6 at:

10 west 56th street (btwn 5&6) NYC

4th floor! (It's the old Fellisimo bldg!)

See you soon!!

food :: 4 foods that could disappear if new safety rules pass

This is a very good article by Mother Jones writer Tom Philpott - it gives a good explanation and description on some of the new safety rules that are being discussed. It's a bit scary that it's possible that the new rules will somehow strip the progress that has been made in farm to table in our schools, among other things. There is a big debate out there and I hope that the public will become more aware of the effects.

see full article here

reminder: Remodelista Market!

 come see us at the Remodelista Market

when :: November 21 - 23

where :: Park Avenue Garage - 4th floor

10 West 56th Street - between 5th + 6th

11am - 6 pm daily

or join us for the VIP event Wednesday, November 20 - 6-8pm

rsvp to: nycmarket@remodelista.com

space is limited

I will be there with lots of exciting :: fun :: nEW things!!! come see us!

love - carina

#remodelista

DANCE :: Parov Stelar

This will make you want to get up and DANCE!!



So the whole family loved this and sparked off an afternoon of dancing - music blaring we all danced until we could not anymore and it's for certain, none of us can do THIS! Parov Stelar is truly talented!

Thanks for the great afternoon!

the NonchalantDad: 'My Kid Could've Done That!'

by visiting blogger NonchalandDad

I'm sure you've heard it. Or, you've said it at some time yourself while visiting a museum or gallery. I know I've heard it a few times over the years. Usually, it's whispered - but at times it can be said in disbelief. And, occasionally you wouldn't be wrong. In all my years in this art business, I think I've even agreed with it here and there. In our home, with our modest collection of art on the walls, we have even put that notion into practice by having some of our children's art works hanging alongside accomplished artists. As far as I know, to date, nobody has yet commented on our children's art works as they move around our house by saying: 'My kid could've done that!' So far, so good then!

I've often thought about it. In fact, when I've curated a show of art in the past I thought I might even mischievously insert one of my kid's paintings into it. I thought I could just easily explain it away to anyone who might enquire that it was some obscure German artist from the 1930's or something. But, I never carried that plan out. Now, while having a look around on the internet, someone else seems to have come up with the same idea to an extent. They have shared images of the famous of art history alongside images created by toddlers. The test is to see if you can actually tell the difference between something a child has created (the amateur) and something a famous figure from art history (the professional) has produced. I thought it would be an easy test for me, since I spend a good deal of time looking at art and I'm a bit of a history junkie. Nonetheless, I was caught out a few times not being able to tell the difference ... and maybe that's the point. After all, wasn't it Picasso who said: "As a child, I drew like Raphael. But, it has taken me a lifetime to draw like a child."

See if you can tell the difference - the answers are at the bottom ... as if you needed to be told. And remember after all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

(** numbers one, six, eight, and ten, in that order, are all created by toddlers)

So, how did YOU do?

my favorite :: pipsqueak chapeau

I went out last night in my favorite for this season... the pip-squeak chapeau shirt dress. It's perfect for anytime/anywhere... but perfect for coming up holiday party-ing!

you can wear like this (above) or with tall boots... any which way.. it's the greatest!

find it here @nonchalantmom

Giving THANKS to our customers

As Thanksgiving approaches we want to give thanks to YOU!

use code: 'thanks13' at checkout and 20% off will be applied to your order

Thanks for sticking with us for the last 10 years, thanks for inspiring us and being a part of our community, and most of all thank you for shopping with us, we LOVE this job and we love YOU!

20% off entire store
for a short time
codes can not be stacked and cannot be used on past orders

THANK YOU!

Just in case you are in need of a funny short story...

There are many reasons I love this but I am not going to ruin the surprise by telling you ANYTHING!! - click here and watch.. it's short so don't worry!

Prada movie - Castello Cavalcanti

have a good day! :)

my favorite part...

we updated the Clearance Section so it's easy for you to SHOP!

find great deals on the things you LOVE in our newly updated clearance section!

shop NOW herehttp://www.nonchalantmom.com/sale.html

NYT :: A Cure for the Allergy Epedemic?

artwork by Celyn Brazier

This was a great article in the NYT last Sunday. Maybe not new news for some of you but it crystallizes the idea of farm living and beneficial microbes. At least it gave some of my ideas a good base to run on and it's possible when I see that raw milk in the grocery store next time I am probably going to give it a try. My sister has been all over this idea for years now, I remember when her girls were doing horse shows and she used to tell me to come along when I was pregnant and when my son was a baby because it was good for him to be in the barn and around the animals, even when he was in my belly - most importantly when he was in my belly!

read the full article here

Some of the ideas brought out in the article were the fact that Amish children have a much lower rate of allergies than any other group of children, where allergies are increasing in children in cities and rural areas the Amish children are not being affected. It's the daily routine of these people that provides an abundance of microbes, it's milking the cows, collecting the chicken eggs, tending the pigs, etc.. that feed their bodies system so that when they encounter allergens in the future they have an immunity.

I also found it very interesting that these same microbes are in their homes too (duh). Which is all part of living on the farm and the benefits of the farm air they breathe. There is evidence that has emerged that asthma is further exacerbated by dust in the home and if a home can better keep up with the dust and regular cleaning kids have less asthma attacks (listen to NPR article on the subject here).

But back to allergies - the answer lies... in the cow shed! The author of the piece, Moises Velasquez-Manoff (a science writer and the author of "An Epidemic of Absence") offers that maybe it's possible to use these microbes to come up with a solution for allergies -- the problem... is that there is such an array of microbes found on a farm, in the cow shed, and the solution lies in that abundant array. It is also suggested that raw milk (unpasteurized) that the Amish drink also carries microbes which are beneficial.

It's a VERY good article... read on...

Donate to Help Victims of Typhoon Haiyan

Donate to Help Victims of Typhoon Haiyan

Below is a partial list of relief agencies accepting donations to help the victims of Typhoon Haiyan:
Citizens’ Disaster Response Center: An organization in the Philippines that provides community-based disaster management. This information is provided by 350.org

• Citizens’ Disaster Response Center: An organization in the Philippines that provides community-based disaster management.
• The United Nations World Food Programme: The WFP has set up an online donation page that will help rush food and resources to the regions affected.
• International Rescue Commitee: The IRC is working to provide a strong humanitarian response to Haiyan victims. 
• The Philippine Red Cross: Donations will help mobilize teams on the ground with rescue and relief efforts.
• UNICEF: Donations will help children gain access to medical supplies and clean drinking water. “Safe drinking water can be impossible to find after such a massive natural disaster. And without it, a child will drink whatever water she can find, no matter how dirty or diseased. That drink can quickly lead to diarrhea, disease and death,” UNICEF president Caryl M. Stern said.
• World Vision: World Vision is working to get food and resources to those in evacuation shelters.
• Salvation Army: Donate online for the Salvation Army’s relief efforts. In the United States, donate online here or text TYPHOON to 80888 to immediately donate $10.
• Save the Children: Donations will help children and families in the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam. Ten percent of every donation will go toward preparing for any future disasters in the area.

 click here for more information and for a link so that you can post this on your facebook page

TUSS :: Favorite Thing of the WEEK!

This week our favorite thing is TUSS!! We are offering 20% off the entire TUSS collection for ONE WEEK - use code: 'tuss13' at checkout and take 20% off the entire collection (even if it's already on sale!)

Favorite Thing of the WEEK : TUSS!

use code: 'tuss13' for 20% off entire collection! (for a short time)

shop tuss NOW - click here

Movie :: Women Who Run with the Tides by Michelle Shearer

photo by Carly Lorente

This is a beautiful film that looks at three amazing women who surf in New South Whales, they look at aging gracefully while surfing all the way in this film by Michelle Shearer. A story that follows three Australian friends—64-year-old Marg Bryant, 58-year-old Sally Petrie, and 50-year-old Carol Stevenson—all discovered an unexpected side effect of getting older. They had more time. Talk to the same lot 15 years ago, and they would have been busy sending their kids off to school, working on their careers, and doing laundry. Now with nearly empty nests, these older women in Lennox Head, New South Wales, Australia, found a second youth in surfing together every day they can.

I shows you it's never to late to start and how much fun it is picking something up with your friends, getting out there and surfing!

photo by Carly Lorente

 watch this delightful film here

a link to the full story is here

who knew? Using Binchotan Charcoal

I have been wondering how these charcoal things work to purify water and how to use them... here is a short video - The black Binchotan coal you see above is actually white charcoal made from Japanese oak heated in an oxygen-starved kiln until it turned to carbon. The charcoal will absorb chlorine and unpleasant tastes and odors while infusing your water with natural minerals. Binchotan Charcoal has a variety of uses, including  filtering water, to bringing out flavor when cooking rice, deodorizing rooms and refrigerators, and promoting healthy soil in your garden. The black sticks are very delicate, like porcelain. As stated in the film one stick will last about 3 months, and at the end of its life you can crush it and mix it with soil so plants can benefit from it.

I have heard from people that it makes water taste amazingly clear and almost sweet - but I am sure that's in the eye of the beholder.

here is where you can buy them

photography :: Ionut Caras

Thank you facebook for introducing me to Romanian "Photo mechanic" and photographer Ionut Caras who creates these surreal concepts by combining the everyday with the unthinkable. I love the quiet simplicity and then the craziness of these photos. His use of light and tone takes the viewer into a bizarre and beautiful world only seen in storybooks and our dreams.

see a link to more of his work here

Mark your Calenders :: Remodelista Market NYC

Nonchalant Mom has been invited to join an amazing cast of characters - makers, designers, artists and generally solid fun people! Check out the list of vendors and you will MARK YOUR CALENDERS!! The Remodelista Market is HERE - I think this is going to be a fun event!

I am putting together a unique group of items to sell and even some things you have yet to see in the shop (!!). There is a general feeling that this is the place to come for your holiday shopping (it's where I'm going to get all my gifting done!!) - so don't miss it!

R E M O D E L I S T A     M A R K E T     N  Y  C

Thursday the 21st - Saturday the 23rd of NOVEMBER

AT: The Park Avenue Garage - 10 West 56th Street (between 5th & 6th Avenues)
TIME: 11am - 6pm daily

list of vendors:
Anzu
Allied Maker
Ancient Industires
BTW Ceramics
Corinne Gilbert
Fort Standard
Haute Bohemian Groupe
Kaufmann Mercantile
Light + Ladder
Muriel Favaro
Nonchalant Mom
Rebecca Atwood
Richard Ostell
Two
Mrs. Robertson

I can't wait to see you all there!! Lot's of fun and amazing people... plan to spend some time with us!

Love, Carina