Discovering SabMatt: Building Fun for Kids & Parents

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As my kids get older, it becomes harder to find time with them in a way that is not just shuttling around from one activity to another. Particularly with boys, it can be tough to sit down and "chat" without it seeming forced or, in the case of my children, ending up subjected to a long dissertation on various survival tactics in Minecraft.

I've recently found a great connection with my sons (6 and 9 years old) through simple wooden building kits. We can sit down, talk if we want to, and have a blast creating something together. I love good old Lego's too, but have gotten burned out on them, the magazines, the Wii games and the general "Lego over-saturation" our family has experienced the past few years.

Our favorite construction sets come from SabMatt. The SabMatt kits are a gem (check out my list of favorites below.) Simple and clean design allows the true functionality to shine through. Working on these sets with our kids, they can clearly see why everything works the way it does and are not distracted by characters, neon colors or crazed sound effects. Yes, these factors also yield a more pleasant experience for Mom and Dad.

In addition to creating beautiful toys, this organization supports the small business model. Kits are produced by a small and family run factory in Taiwan. They are members of 1% for the Planet and only use FSC wood from sustainable forests.

If you are interested in finding these kits, the best place is at www.pathfindersdesign.com. They have, by far, the largest selection. It is run by Derek Wulff who is also the designer of many of the kits. His goal is to create sets that work in classrooms and at home.

Happy Playing!
Jena

P.S. Don't forget the critical stages of "some assembly required" when you start to think a piece is missing.

Jena's Favorite Sets:
The DaVinci Catapult
Strauss Trunnion Bridge
Any of the Hydraulics
Any of the Automatons - these are great for younger builders

Discovering Johnny Was Fashion

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Yilly Blouse

I've been back in California for less than a week and am already sucked into the relaxed fashions. There is something about the less structured designs and vibrant colors that just fit so well with the beach and sunny weather.

Aurora Blouse

Not a new designer, but new to me, is Johnny Was. His clothing represents the cool California aesthetic perfectly. But is totally wearable no matter where you are. The embroidery is stunning and makes each piece so unique. The clothes are causal and comfortable, but you still feel beautiful.

My two favorite blouses from his current line are the Yilly and the Aurora. For dresses, I love the Jenna (even though he spells my name wrong!) and the Yelia.

I hope you all love this designer as much as I do.

Happy Shopping!
Jena

Yelia Dress

Summer Denim: Go Light

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Ralph Lauren

Warm weather is upon us, or so I hear it should be. As a year round denim survivalist (not to be mistaken with never nude "syndrome"), what am I wearing? 

For the past many years, a darker rinse has been obligatory. I'm not criticising. Dark rinse is super slimming and my booty definitely benefits from that factor. The issue is that darker tones lend themselves to more structured and formal silhouettes. Right now, the weather is getting warm and fashion is trending towards a more low key sensibility.

Yes, I am writing a post sent out to the masses on how dark your denim should be. I am loving this fashion change up and we must find the happy where we can.

Light wash denim is casual and compliments the summer color palette perfectly. Beware, light wash definitely runs large and stretches out a lot. Size down!

My current favorite light wash jeans are both skinnies (like myself, you need not be "skinny" to look great in these).

7 for all Mankind

Ralph Lauren's "Denim & Supply" skinny is a surprise great fit. I love these because they come with different leg lengths. A plus for those of us who skew a bit off average in height. I did go down 2 sizes in waist though, so order accordingly.

7 for all Mankind's slim cigarette in any of the light blue rinses or a great fit and summer style. In this one, I only went down 1 size in the waist.

Happy Shopping!

Jena

Add white to your wardrobe

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We've covered some of our favorite Summer 2013 trends. Rompers are back. Wedges are everywhere. And, white is one of the "it" colors. White and particularly white lace. In one of my "Gilty" moments I discovered the brand Candela and purchased the top featured left. Like Jena I found myself branching out to clothing a little more "twee" than expected.

It turns out that Candela is hot with the celebrities. Their tagline is "Modern Romanticism." I love their pretty and tasteful products.

Candela is a little bit of a free people for the more sophisticated woman. This top looks very pretty paired with bright skinny pants.

Who knows? If we keep covering summer trends, perhaps summer will actually arrive!

Have you found any white or lace brands you would recommend?

Happy Summer.

Rowena

SheShe Shops Rompers

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Tupsa's Relaxed Floral

Neither Rowena nor I are big fans of things twee. None the less, we are finding ourselves pulled into the thrall of rompers this season.

When I first saw this look, I had horrible flashbacks to ensembles from my childhood (bright red tie waist button up shirt attached with an elastic waistband to the pants...shudder!). Ill fitting and nonsensical was my knee jerk reaction. However, I am finding that there are a number of rompers out there that seem quite cute and that I want for my very own.

Polished Perfection

I'm still not sure if it is some sort of Stockholm syndrome from overexposure (thank you marketing geniuses) or if I truly love the romper in my purest of hearts. Either way, I have some actually wearable recommendations for you all.

Want to romp? Here's your to do list...

The Tupsa romper (pictured top) is so light and summery. Love the fluid lines and pretty pattern.

D&G Gets Flirty

In the more structured category, Stella McCartney's black strapless number (right) is to die for. Sadly this beauty rings in over $2k, so it will have to just exist in my dreams. Theory's version is gorgeous and also follows a beautiful and clean silhouette.

This Line & Dot romper is on trend with the burnt orange color. The back is stunning!

Looking for something a little more flirty? Dolce & Gabbana's fluttery black polka dot romper (left) is adorable. BCBGeneration's striped short romper (below) is super sweet too. I love the idea of pairing it with orange sandals!

Happy Shopping!

Jena

BCBGeneration

Spicy Mussels with Saffron and Chorizo

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I love cooking with mussels because they are cheap, delicious and easy to prepare. This is a recipe that I came up with on an evening that Dimitri and I unexpectedly found ourselves without the kids (thanks Dad!).

We wanted a grownup meal that we could pull together without a ton of prep or planning. Make a salad, grill some bread and you are all set for a wonderful dinner. The broth is divine.

When we made this we opened a bottle of Silvano Follador 2009 Dosaggio Zero that friends had given us. Not sure if your local sommelier would recommend this pairing, but it was a perfect fit for us.

Happy Dining!
Jena


Spicy Mussels with Saffron and Chorizo
(serves 2 as a main course, 4 as an appetizer)

• 3 c. dry white wine
• 1 tsp. Saffron
• 2 lbs. live mussels, cleaned and debearded. Discard any cracked or broken shells.
• 3 tbs. olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 spicy red peppers, seeded and chopped
• 1/4 c. Spanish Chorizo, course chopped
• 4 large tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
• 1/4 c. fresh parsley, chopped

Combine wine and saffron in a non-reactive dish and let sit.

Heat olive oil in a pan large enough to hold all of the mussels with the lid closed (I love my Staub mussel pot that Dimitri gave me years ago, but any large cooking pan will work well). Add the onions, garlic, peppers and Chorizo. Cook, stirring, until soft. Add the tomatoes and wine/saffron. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil.

Add the mussels and cover. Cook on high, shaking the pan, 5-7 minutes. Mussels will open when cooked through.

Discard any unopened mussels. Serve with broth in shallow bowls and garnish with chopped parsley. Enjoy!

Perfect Shoes for this Summer

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Cole Haan has comfort & style

Summer is just moments away! Of course, for me, that means it's time to find some stylish, cool and fabulous new shoes to celebrate the season.

Ouch! But worth it.

Right off the bat, please know that I could not be more tired of the huge platform stilettos. One, they remind me of Demi Moore in "Striptease." Two, I am tired of seeing such sweet girls, who have put so much time and effort into getting ready for an evening out, hobbling around. I can't say this often enough: if you can't walk in it, please do not wear it!

What are my favorite trends? Gladiators are still holding strong and I am also really liking the color block concept on shoes.

Yes, I do believe that this Aquazzura lace-up sandal will leave permanent imprints on my poor feet. Know what? Don't care, these shoes are to die for.

Cynthia Vincent's Frida

Color block and a potentially more comfotrable candidate is the Frida from Cynthia Vincent.

Cole Haan is always a favorite of mine. Their shoes are comfortable without sacrificing style. The Paley High Wedge (pictured top) is fun and cool. It would look great with a pair of tailored shorts or a summer dress. I love the turquoise, though not so sure I can pull it off.

Sophia Webster adds much needed levity

In the "stupid fun" category, I think I may not be able to live without these Sophia Webster heels. Yeah, I know I am getting older and should be more restrained in my fashion picks. That said, why bother if it isn't fun?

Happy Shoe Shopping!
Jena