INTERVIEW | Omaha Children's Museum

By now I think it is no surprise that my family and I are very interested in discovering new interesting venues that we can take our children to and explore. We often take them to museums and venues like the art center or inspiring playgrounds that have been designed with the purpose of having fun, not only physically but also visually stimulating. 


Today I’d like you to tag along and follow me to the heartland of America, Nebraska and a visit to the Omaha Children’s Museum - an organization who provides children with all of the above and more! We sit down and chat with Michelle Chartrand - Director of Advancement and Matt Orand - Chief Operating Officer.

2016 has been quite a special year for OCM as you are celebrating your 40 year anniversary! Tell me how have you celebrated this monumental achievement and how did it all start back in 1976?

Michelle: The museum had quite a humble beginning back in 1976 and started as a traveling community program that operated out of the back of an old station wagon.  It’s pretty incredible to think that 40 years later we are the most visited museum in the state of Nebraska and serve nearly 300,000 people each year!  We’ve got lots going on to highlight our big anniversary including a big celebration on our official birthday June 25 which will include goodie bags, cupcakes and lots of birthday themed programming for guests that day.

We’ll also be doing a throwback to some of our original events including Sundae Sunday on June 26 which where the museum will have a sundae bar set up outside and will have celebrity scoopers on hand to help cap off our birthday weekend.

OCM is such a visually stimulating place for kids and parents to be, you obviously take a lot of care into the interior design of the museum. Who decides on the design of an exhibit like for instance the Imagination Playground, and what key elements goes into the design to make it visually fun and interesting for the kids exploring it?

Matt: The museum has always put a big emphasis on the look and feel of its exhibits and graphics. We strive to make everything bright, exciting and inviting. Although some of the permanent exhibits that were completed in a previous renovation were designed by an exhibit design firm, all of the recent exhibits, graphics and logos are designed by the museum’s in-house team.

That team includes an Art Director, Traveling Exhibits Coordinator, Exhibits and Facility Director and Graphic Designer.

You have both permanent exhibitions and traveling exhibitions at the museum, how do you choose which ones to make permanent?  

Matt: The incredibly large second floor of the museum that houses our temporary exhibits gives us the opportunity come up with a theme that can be delivered in a completely immersive way. We create two temporary exhibits a year and they have quickly become one of the most popular parts of our visitor’s experiences. The permanent exhibits are grouped into three main thematic areas; The Charlie Campbell Science Center, Creative Arts Center and Imagination Playground. With almost 300,000 visitors annually those exhibits see a lot of use. As they become worn, we look for opportunities to replace them with creative new pieces

And I hear new permanent exhibitions is coming up too? Anything for little train enthusiasts perhaps?

Matt: We are proud to have opened Susie’s Station, an interactive train depot named in honor of Susie Landow. The station includes hidden displays, an interactive train engine, a ticket window, a mysterious moving portrait and magnetic railroad map of the United States. Guests can explore these exhibit pieces as they wait to board the museum’s train ride.

Your last exhibition - The Super Powers was very highly attended and loved by both young and old, what are some of OCM’s favourite exhibitions from the past and what can we look forward to coming up next?

Matt: It would be impossible to pick a favorite. The museum has hosted world-class traveling exhibits like Sesame Street: The Body and LEGO Travel Adventures. It’s also created fully immersive exhibits like Itty-Bitty City, Construction Zone: Return of the Bulldozer and our current exhibit Pirates and Mermaids: Adventure to Creature Cove.

Our fall exhibit, Imagination, will celebrate the museum’s 40 year commitment to the power of play by highlighting and recreating some of our most beloved pieces. For visitors that are eager to find out what’s coming further down the road, we can only offer some hints: They can look forward to more prehistoric beasts, talking trees and some totally awesome pizza-loving heroes.

I have seen some sneak peeks at the OCM’s instagram (@omahachildrenmuseum) page of some of the amazing creatures you will have on your Pirates and Mermaids - Voyage to Creature Cove exhibit, what are some of the attractions parents and kids can explore on this swashbuckling adventure 

Matt: Kids can play on a giant “wave” that gets them close to a twenty foot long prehistoric shark named Chompy. Once on board of our forty foot long pirate ship they can scale the masts climb from bow to stern. As they explore the rest of the watery world, they will encounter a giant octopus, an elasmasoaraus, a giant purple ammonite and a mosasaurus. The exhibit also includes live marine life and tons of interactive programs that happen multiple times per day. Visitors will also want to be on the lookout for one of our many mermaids that hold the secrets of the sea!

I love the initiative of the Omaha Children’s Museum Welcome Fund, can you tell us a little bit about it? 

Michelle: Omaha Children’s Museums Welcome Fund program is 100% donor supported and is designed to share the museum experience with families and children who may not otherwise have the opportunity to enjoy our programs and exhibits.  This program allows the museum to offer $5 family memberships to low-income families in the Omaha Metro and to date has about 750 families who utilize this opportunity.

Working at the museum must be the best way to stay young! What is the most rewarding thing about working at the OCM?  

Michelle: There are SO many rewarding things about working at OCM.  One of the best parts of the job is seeing the families that walk thru our doors spend time together and watching kids explore our museum as they learn through play.  Each day is so different here at OCM and its fun to be part of a team that creates exciting, educational and most importantly, fun, exhibits and programs for young children and families. 

Matt: Working at the museum we get to share in the excitement and joy that our young visitors experience every time they walk through the doors. The most rewarding part of working here is being able to offer the unparalleled experience of open-ended imaginative play to thousands of children. Plus, we all get paid to play!

Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us and letting us peek into the wonderful learning experience that OCM is! A special thank you goes out to Shawn Toovey - the Director of Guest Experience for making this interview possible! 

:: VISIT OMAHA CHILDRENS MUSEUM :: 

10 Minutes With...

It has been a while, but here we are, back on the road meeting up with some interesting shops that opens up their doors and explain a little about what it takes to run some of the best children's shops out there. Today we end up in Barcelona, Spain and meet up with lovely owner Maria Rose who together with her family runs CozyKidz.

Can you tell us a little bit about how CozyKidz started? What is your inspiration, and how did you come up with the name

Well, as many others in the industry it all began when Marcelo and I, Maria, became parents. We basically wanted something for our daughter which would fit our lifestyle a little better, something more original, creative and preferably organic, meaning something VERY different from what was offered in the regular Spanish stores. And we were definitely not the only parents with this unanswered need, so when we saw the chance, we jumped for it!

The name CozyKidz is actually inspired by the Danish word 'Hyggelig'. I am from Denmark and this little word is so important in the Danish culture where you use it for all things comfortable, warm and nice; it differs by having an emotive depth and a special social atmosphere which makes it really hard to translate but cozy seems to be the closest. And kids are just so 'hyggelige'!



The sort of labels a shop carries almost describes the soul of a shop, how would you describe the style of CozyKidz?

Again we come back to the word hyggelig/cozy - We want kids to feel comfortable, free, careless, wearing soft and unrestrainable clothes that are cool, fun and funky like themselves. We definitely like a more edgy style, like Beau LOves and Mainio, with quirky and original prints, like Indikidual, that spike the interest and make us laugh!

How do you source your labels, and what is important to you when you look for new labels?

As a personal side project to CozyKidz I have a kids fashion blog called KID where I very much focus on smaller, ethical and just straight out awesome kidswear brands from around the world. This of course also gives me a perspective of what's on the menu for CozyKidz, even though it also makes the selection so much harder because of the large quantity of super talented brands out there! 

Still all the brands we offer have a clear vision on how to work the concept of sustainability; for example, most of them use organic cotton in their production and/or is entirely produced locally. A second requirement is that they have to fit all three parts of our motto: 'Cool, fun and funky kids clothes' - if the style isn't there, it's not for us! 

Thirdly, accessibility - they have to have a reasonable/respectful price and be affordable to most families. This year, for example, we are very excited to have started with the Dutch new label Lucky No. 7 and will also receive some funky new summer styles from the US label Sweet Luca Mo in March, both of which fit all of these requirements to perfection.

Owning a shop means you always have a look into next season ahead of everybody else. What is on the Spring-Summer agenda? Any new fun trends you can share with us?

I think it is no secret anymore that we are under a serious attack of juicy watermelons! I also see eyes everywhere and the usual portion of tropical animals and plants. For me though it is really more a question about having your own style (sorry for being such a party pooper!) offering clothes that can be used again and again without ever falling out of style. 

I love it when brands dare to brake out and make up their own universe, and even though there really are some seriously cool ones out there, I actually think that we will not receive a single watermelon this spring, but a mix of unique and quirky designs with only the overall theme, summertime and fun! Just to be on the contrary ;)

What would you say is your favorite thing about owning your own children's wear shop?

 

I love to hear the feedback of like-minded parents freaking out over our clothes and sending us pictures of their cool little kids. We really have the best costumers! It is so satisfying and always remind me why I do what I do. It is in general just such a fun, positive and creative world to have stepped into. Almost everybody in our line of work is a parent, which makes it all so much more down to earth, overbearing and flexible.

What are your top 3 'have to have' items in your shop right now?

Well, Mini Rodini has just released some absolute killer styles for this spring, like the adventurous Croco Map dress or the savage Crocodile sweatshorts, and we are so in love with everything by Lucky No. 7, but specially the super cool Panda bodysuit is a definite best-seller! And this is just the very beginning of the season, so much more is to come over the next couple of months ;)

Big thanks to Maria for chatting with us and I hope you enjoyed the little peek into the world of CozyKidz!

:: COZYKIDZ ::

10 Minutes With...

Welcome to another 10 Minutes With interview from the land of online fashion! This time around let's pack the bags and head for Europe, more specifically Holland! Sit back for a new interview with the founder of hip webshop SpringStof, Christel Jansen. With a background in fashion and as an experienced photographer, she has an excellent feel for exciting kids clothes, combining a mature and youthful look. 

Can you tell us a little bit about how SpringStof started? What is your inspiration, and how did you come up with the name?

After working as a freelance photographer I had the chance to work as a product manager in the fashion industry and worked for several labels. When my son Mees was born, I noticed that a lot of children’s wear was so standard, so uncreative. I decided to start selling the labels that do have a specific style, that are fun, bold and original.

Inspiration can be found everywhere. I get my inspiration mostly out of magazines, movies and online. But I find it also in the little things in life, like going outside and spending time with friends.

It took quite some time before the name SpringStof came up. We were looking for an English name but the Dutch word SpringStof was perfect. The English word for SpringStof would be “Explosive”. Besides that in the Dutch language you can find two separate words in it 'Spring' and 'Stof'. 'Spring' means jump and 'stof' means fabric, so we sell fabric made for jumping.
1. Eagle Tee by Finger in the Nose / 2.  Icon slim fit jeans by Finger in the Nose / 3. Jacket by Finger in the Nose / 4. Trainers by  Tip Toey Joey / 5. Backpack by Herschel / 6. Plush/pillow by Lion of Leisure / 7. Belt by Shampoodle.  


The sort of labels a shop carries almost describes the soul of a shop, how would you describe the style of SpringStof?

Springstof is the fun, stylish and a bit artistic webshop for little fashionistas and mini hipsters. Clothing is an important tool to show who you are and what your style is. Children are so imaginative, so original and creative, it is only logical for me that they can express themselves by what they wear, just like grownups do.

When you receive a package from Springstof, it should feel like a special present that is selected and wrapped with lots of attention and care. I want people to experience that when they visit the webshop as well. That’s why we put a lot of effort in the look and feel and do our own photo shoots, design our own posters and postcards. This season we even made a video lookbook, which we are pretty proud of.
1. Dress by Popupshop / 2.  Stockings by Popupshop / 3. Elastic bow by Soft Gallery / 4. Poster by  SpringStof / 5. leopard sandals by Pom d'Api / 6. Swimsuit by Popupshop / 7. Bag by Bobo Choses


What are some of your favourite pieces coming into the shop this season, and is there any specific trends you have spotted?

Some of my favorites are LOUD Apparel Gabs Vampire tee, the Cat dress from BANGBANG Copenhagen and the Thea Ape tee from Soft Gallery.  I’m also happy to have Bobo Choses, Mini Rodini and Mói the shop, I really love these authentic and creative brands.

Prints are still it, you see them in several collections. Especially animal prints are hot. And nowadays you can combine prints and sometimes that might be a little bit over the edge, but mostly it looks fabulous and kids totally love it.

What is the best thing about owning your own children's wear shop?

The luxury of combining three things I love; fashion, photography and graphic design. It also makes my day when I receive e-mails from happy customers.

 I love your new commercial video for the new collections, tell us a little bit about how it came about and the message behind the video?

We always work hard on a lookbook and the presentation of our website. This time we had the chance to make a commercial to present the spring summer collection of 2014. The commercial is called Don’t grow up!

Kids always want to be bigger and do grown up things, as a grown up you sometimes wish to be a kid again and enjoy life without any worries. The commercial is about having fun and enjoying life, being a kid forever and never growing up.



A big thanks to Christel for taking us behind the scenes of her great webshop SpringStof, and letting us find out more about what makes it unique and so popular among both kids and parents.  

:: SPRINGSTOF ::

Sponsor Highlight | CAPPIES and LANAS

Say hello to one of my new sponsors Cappies and Lanas, run by owner and creator Patrícia Lencastre. Inspired by the traditional Mozambique fabric called Capulanas, she quickly found a way to design unique clothing for unique kids. The unusual colourful fabric teamed up with a big dose of comfort means kids can look cool and feel unique at the same time.

I had the chance to catch up with the owner/founder, Patrícia recently and got to ask her a few questions regarding her label, Cappies and Lanas.

Can you tell us how Cappies and Lanas started? What is your inspiration, and how did you come up with the name?

This all started almost without me realizing it to tell you the truth! My husband, André, started traveling often to Mozambique and bringing me back the traditional fabric of the country - Capulanas. Back there women use it daily to wrap around their bodies, head or to carry their goods and babies! First I began to make clothes for myself and then I started doing some trousers to my son Manuel who is 2 year old. I loved seeing him so comfortable and with a unique style and all around us, people seamed to like it to so when we went to New York and was a big success over there there to...well, that´s when we thought: why not, let´s try this out! And the name come up also there, in conversation with our american cousin, we wanted something that was unique, easy to memorize and that at the same time reminded the origins of the project. 

How do you go about sourcing your fabric for all your unique clothes and what is the process behind making them?

One of the things that I love most about these patterns and styles is that you can dress your child colorfully but not childish...if you know what I mean. So that´s the basis for our patterns, to choose colors and combinations that at first wouldn't be obvious for a child to wear. We also work with very limited quantity of each pattern to assure that all styles are very limited, so you know that your Cappies and Lanas are not all over other children and that yours is a unique one.

 

We are very proud to be handmaking everything with special attention to all details and quality. All our cappies and lanas come with an adjustable waist belt so that they can follow the child´s growth. 

At the beginning I was making the clothes by myself but now I have some really nice ladies helping me out.

 
I love the comfortable look to Cappies and Lanas, I take it its an important factor for when choosing a particular style?

Well, with motherhood one of my biggest challenges when it came to dressing my son, was to find some comfortable clothing for him that was not sports wear! Comfort and quality are the most important characteristics for me when we´re talking about kids clothing but that does not mean that they can´t be stylish! And that´s what we are trying to do with Cappies and Lanas. 

Do you have any current favourites in your store?

Let me tell you that I honestly love them all but if I had to choose I would go for Cappie Atacama Rose and Cappie Blue Sun!  

Big thanks to Patrícia for chatting with us, and for the visit to the colourful world of Cappies and Lanas!

:: VISIT CAPPIES and LANAS ::
 

Family Home | Finger In The Nose

"To step into the Norweigan-French couple Siv Tone Kvernelands and Jonathan Miltats home is  a little bit like ending up in a retro inspired painting. There is plenty of furniture in teak, smoke colored vases and brown shimmering ceramics. All mixed with modern and more urban furniture picked with a style secure hand. The style factor is high in this home and that should come as no surprise since Siv Tone is the founder and designer of the cool kids label Finger In The Nose."

There is a interview with the couple in the latest Swedish mama magazine (unfortunately only in swedish but Google translate works well). I love how they mix old and new in one wonderful looking home (where apparently the kids got a whole floor to themselves!).

10 Minutes With...

A little while back I stumbled across an article in Daily Candy that really changed the way I looked at traveling, and most importantly traveling with kids. By the time I was finished reading, every traveling bone in my body was aching and I was filled with admiration and gratitude to the family that had shed so many good insights about their travels around the globe.


Meet Manhattan based parents Nathalie Coppens and Khairi Mdnor. Together with their 3 year old daughter Milla they have explored the hilltop pagodas of Myanmar, trekked the jungles of Borneo, swam the pristine beaches of Costa Rica and wandered into sacred temples of Bali and Thailand as part of their adventure together.

With their daughter Milla as their muse and inspiration, they have collected timeless and functional clothing and items on their journeys and started Superfussy.


I am super pleased to share some of these wonderful travel tips from this couple and show you a little glimpse of their life on the road. Also don't miss an exclusive discount code to Superfussy, at the end of the interview. So with no further ado, here is my interview with Nathalie & Khairi of Superfussy.


Thank you for doing an interview with us, I loved seeing your wonderful photos from around the world. You often hear how dreadful it is to travel with children and how families stay away from certain travel destinations after they have children, but after reading the article from Daily Candy I felt so positive to how you approached it that I wanted to ask you what is your favourite part about traveling the world with your child?

Taking a break from daily routines and spending quality time as a family is probably the best thing about traveling together. I remember floating on my back in the Caribbean ocean in Tulum while pregnant with Milla and thinking to myself how much I'd love to share these experiences with her. Khairi and I met a couple who were vacationing with their 2 month old during our stay there and that reaffirmed our perspective. We've traveled quite a bit with Milla since, and have never looked back. She's barely 3 years old yet we've lost count of how many flights she's been on. Despite the additional preparation and a few limitations that come with traveling with a toddler, it's such a beautiful and rewarding experience.


We're not sure how much she'll remember the early trips, but we do believe the experiences will shape the person she grows up to be as well as her personality. Seeing Milla put her hands together and say "sawadee kha" each time she spotted a Buddha statue is beyond precious.



You seem to have so many good tips on how to travel with kids, can you share a couple of them with us?

Traveling with kids is definitely very different from traveling sans, but its been truly amazing. Perhaps we are lucky to have such a great traveler in Milla. In any case, here is a little summary of our learnings:


STAY CALM & TAKE YOUR TIME
Being relaxed is key to enjoying traveling with children, therefore having extra time is the best. We've found that the calmer we are the happier Milla is. Kiddies love to explore and don't really care for the time pressures of travel, so you're more likely to retain your cool if you have plenty of time! And no sitting down until we get on the plane. Milla walks around as much as possible before boarding the flight (and the umbrella stroller becomes our hand luggage cart haha) Our longest airplane journey so far New York > Hong Kong > Singapore > Bangkok > Yangon, Milla was 16 months at the time and was amazing. 

We usually book overnight flights so Milla knocks out for a good stretch while I catch up on some sleep myself and Khairi goes on his movie binge. If she's not dozing off during take-off she usually will shortly after the meal and some milk. Everyone has a right to their own opinion and child rearing techniques, but we've never thought about giving Milla any drugs to make her drowsy/fall asleep/avoid tantrums. Lucky for us Milla's drug of choice is her pacifier!

PACKING ESSENTIALS
1. Sticker, stickers, stickers! You can never pack enough plus they don't take up any space. We never travel without stickers; re-useable ones, tiny ones, big ones or even cheap colored sticker dots from staples. As a matter of fact we pick them up wherever we are as they keep her occupied anywhere. We also never pack too many toys, aside from small sketch/coloring books and some crayons/washable markers as we love for her to explore her surroundings and learn to enjoy even makeshift ones.


2. Veggies packs. We really pack a boatload of these but veggies only. Most exotic places have amazing and new fruits for her to try, the packs are merely supplements in case we get stuck somewhere or she's fussy about a cuisine! Traveling in Asia has been surprisingly easy for us, Milla loves rice! Must be her Asian half :)


3. Compact cameras. I absolutely love taking pictures all the time. I used to have an SLR but traded it in for the Ricoh GRIII. It's compact & takes great film quality shots. Plus we always have our Iphones and pocket cameras as back-up. Ever since that one incident when we were on a little boat in Costa Rica and my camera slipped out of Khairi's pocket and into the Pacific Ocean, we NEVER travel with just one.


NAPTIME
Now that she's grown out of the Ergo baby carrier, the next best thing is the umbrella stroller (our little munchkin is not the lightest toddler). Even though the handles are generally a bit low and slightly annoying, nothing beats the fact that it's compact, light and cheap. Once Milla’s asleep, we turn it around and drag it behind us so she sleeps in a reclined position, our way of making sure she's as comfortable as possible : )  It’s so important for her to be able to sneak in a nap or two when we're traveling, she's happier when she does and we can continue to be on the move. So much to see, so little time. It's definitely the New Yorker in us to try to see and experience as much as possible!


RULES
Some people may not agree, but a lot of rules go out the window when we travel. Milla sleeps on the big bed with us even though at home it's only on the weekends (maybe that's why she loves to travel!). During our trip to Myanmar and Thailand, the schedule was pretty hectic, moving around from place to place every 2 days, sometimes just for one nite. Even though every hotel had prepped a crib for her - some weirder and more decorated than others – she needed to sleep with us. With so many new environments being introduced, we felt it’s important for her to feel safe and be close to us. We know if we want to travel the itineraries we do, we need to keep Milla happy. Meaning paying attention and tending to her needs without spoiling her (fine line sometimes!). So a little fussiness sometimes is to be expected, we call it a "trade off" : )


PLAN AND GET A PRIVATE LOCAL GUIDE (and a babysitter once in a while)
Get a private guide that is flexible. Once Milla is older we might have more time to figure out which train/plane/boat/bus we have to catch but up until now it’s been wonderful to have a local guide do most of the planning (with our input) so we can enjoy spending more time taking pictures and taking it all in. We do get a babysitter every now and then, all dependent on how comfortable we are with the hotel and services.


SWIMMING

We’ve found that the next best remedy for getting over jetlag (besides sleep) is swimming. When she can't fall asleep, we take Milla for a good swim. This often wears her out, makes her tired and help us all rest better. 

Tell us a little bit about how Superfussy came about?


About 5 years ago during a random conversation with a friend about how picky some people can be about things, my husband uttered the word "superfussy" and because we loved the sound of it and the many possibilities surrounding a word that officially does not exist, we registered the domain without any clear direction. On our way to Myanmar about a year and a half ago, we picked up these little harem pants in Bangkok for our daughter Milla, and it was all she wore the entire trip. They were just the perfect travel pants. And so it all started to come together; superfussy would become an outlet of expression for our love for travel, photography and kids wear (eventually expanding into home and adult wear). 

All the clothes from Superfussy have something timeless about them, how do you go about sourcing the styles for Superfussy?

The inspiration behind our collection comes from a multitude of places: our travels, childhood experiences as well as a little bit of research. Growing up in Belgium, while my friends went on ski trips, my family and I went to places like Sulawesi, Bali, Yogyakarta and Singapore. So traveling has always been in my blood from early childhood on. I had the exact same Bali tee nearly 30 years ago and it's totally amazing that they still make them. So when we found them, we knew we just had to have them. (Same story with the kurtas my husband wore as a child) 

All the items we sell are carefully curated, less about trends more about finding staples. We wanted to bring together a great collection of worldly things without being too hippie dippie, and yet have universal appeal. 

We recently received our own Superfussy order and loved everything! I can't wait to try out our Turkish peshtemals! They seem like the perfect universal blanket, thick enough to keep you warm on a windy beach, yet cool enough to use as a summer bed cover. What is your favourite garment you have found on your travels?

All of them :) The selection we offer is very personal to us. I'm addicted/obsessed with scarves and never leave the house without one. The great thing about the adult ones is that they double as beach sarongs. I had been looking for a good (affordable) sarong with beautiful prints for a while. So we went fabric shopping in Bangkok and made our own! We love the little Thai hilltribe jackets, they add something special to the collection. While in Thailand I had hoped to find more vintage tribe jackets for kids but these seem really hard to find as they get handed down from kid to kid until they practically disintegrate. We found an amazing one in Milla's size, but unfortunately won't be putting it up for sale : ) We'll still continue to look for more vintage pieces as we travel, hope we'll get lucky and find some beautiful one of a kind pieces

You seem to have experienced so many wonderful countries on your travels, which ones stand out in your memory and why?

Myanmar was truly magical, we'd go back in a heartbeat if not for the fact that there are so many other places to see. Shwedagon pagoda in Yangon at dusk, sunset over Bagan, the floating villages and gardens of Inle Lake. Pagodas everywhere you look.. Just stunning. People compare Myanmar to Thailand 60 years ago. We feel lucky we got to see it when we did, as the country is changing rapidly. 

Tulum has a special place in our heart. We've been a bunch of times, when my husband and I were dating, when we were pregnant and soon after. Love the beach and the vibe. Mostly small eco hotels, no AC which keeps the crowds away (and makes the beach so lovely). But it seems like the secret is out and more and more people are discovering it and the place is slowly changing too. 

We went to Borneo right before we got pregnant. This trip was very much off the beaten path and so amazing. From the long rides on the longboats down the rivers of the rainforest (one of my all time favorite photos was taken here) to staying the night with the Iban families in the longhouses (and drinking their home brewed rice wine : ), we both decided during this trip we should never stop traveling and experience new places.

What is next on the agenda for Superfussy, any new adventures in sight?

The Philippines! We just started planning. Probably begin the trip in Manila, then up to Bontoc and check out the Banaue rice terraces, Baguio and end with a few days on the beach in Palawan. Very excited to go find some amazing stuff to bring back.

A big thanks goes out to Nathalie, Khairi and their lovely daughter Milla for sharing some of their great experiences with us, I will certainly try out a few travel tips on our next journey! To see more of their lovely photos go here.

Right now you can get 20% OFF the entire range at SUPERFUSSY with the code MINORDETALES. The offer is only valid until August 15th so be quick. We already own a few things like the harem pants, chickan kurtas, turkish peshtemals and the sarong scarf which we ordered earlier and we truly love them!

:: VISIT SUPERFUSSY :: 

Sponsor Highlight | Fourmonkeys

Say hello to one of my new sponsors Fourmonkeys! Fourmonkeys was an old dream come true for founder Kinga Bereczki. After a few years of detour and testing the waters, Fourmonkeys was finally founded in 2012. The original idea was to simplify parents' life by making shopping easy, fun and quick. Small and big labels intermingle to result in well selected and easy to mix and match outfits.

Emphasis is put not only on design and aesthetics but also on sustainability, fairness and comfort. Artisanship is valued high. Fourmonkeys' uniqueness lies in the innovative shopping experience, where shoppers can select from four different characters: minimal, rocker, chic and colorful.

I had the chance to catch up with the founder, Kinga recently and got to ask her a few questions regarding her shop Fourmonkeys!

Can you tell us a little about how Fourmonkeys started? What is your inspiration, and how did you come up with the name?

It is quite cliche, but there was always a dream of doing my own business, being my own boss, but it was never clear what is it exactly that I want to do. After the birth of my daughter, this idea of having a shop started to crystallize, and here I am, a few years later with an online shop. 

My inspiration lies in my daughter, naturally. Her happy character, good heart and funny mind inspire me every day.

Hmm, the name! Many people ask now, why monkeys? I must say, that I don't remember. I was very sure that I want outfits, and I was thinking long of a way how to present it in an online shop. After a while I was talking about cool monkey heads on shop window dolls. It is 'fourmonkeys' because there are four different styles and outfits: the minimal, the rocker, the chic and the colourful. 

Four Monkeys is a concept store who is based on four characters, the rocker, the minimal, the colourful, the chic how do you go about sourcing the different labels for the different concepts? 

 

For two of the four characters it is really easy to order. The minimal and the rocker are closest to my taste and I have no problem finding labels. The other two are a little more difficult and exciting, because I have to think what the customers would like to buy. It is a learning curve, but I am having fun with it! I go to Playtime Paris twice a year, but most  of the time I do a lot of internet research. You never know where you will find your next favourite label: Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter...

What is your own favorites from your shop?

Oh gosh! I really have to pick???? I love the MAA sneakers, the fragment bell dress from New Generals, the ESP NO1 jeans, the sons+and daughters sunglasses...oh and the underwear from Goatmilk. Actually I love everything! I have a very minimal shop and stock, and everything I chose are really favourites! Sorry :)

Head on over to Fourmonkeys to check out this cool concept store with hand picked goodies from all over the world! Right now they are having a big 40% OFF sale so be quick for some great bargains!

Big thanks to Kinga for giving us a peek into the wonderful world of Fourmonkeys! I would like to end it of with a showing some photos from their recent fashion show they held. Loving the cool little models featuring their four character outfits. 

 :: VISIT FOURMONKEYS ::

READ | Keiki Issue 9

Danish child magazine Keiki has just released it's 9th issue. This is one of many times I am happy that I am speaking Danish because this magazine is packed with great interviews, ideas, interior photos, DIY etc. It was a bit extra fun to check out this issue for us since I was asked to be in their Dengang og Nu (Then and Now) interview. It's on page 82 in case you want to check it out.

I love how there are so many great online versions of magazines out now. Best thing about it is that there is direct links to ideas and suggestions, so there is no reason to write things down, you can actually go right to the source which is great. If you have missed the previews issues, don't  fret...they are right here all waiting to be read.

:: KEIKI ::

10 Minutes With...

Welcome to another 10 Minutes With interview from the land of online fashion! It has been awhile since our last one, but we are kicking it back in high style with a fresh interview with a new Australian online shop called Hipkin!

Born in Melbourne, Hipkin makes finding that unique kids fashion piece, outfit or entire wardrobe, easy and enjoyable. The site is the brainchild of childhood friends Katie and Bec and hipkin’s ethos centers on finding super-cool, functional street wear for boys and girls. Tag along for a little behind the scenes experience on what it takes to run Hipkin, and what got it all started...

Can you tell us a little bit about how Hipkin started? What is your inspiration, and how did you come up with the name? 

The idea for Hipkin came about when my first daughter was about 18 months old. With an English husband, our family frequently traveled overseas, mainly to Europe, and I started to find and collect simple, stylish kids’ clothes that I just hadn’t seen in Australia. My best friend, Sarah Gilsenen, who is a denim designer for Rolla’s, found lots of amazing miniature denim and vintage from her travels to Sweden and the US, and brought them back for my girls (Milla 5, Yvie 2). My sister Nicky Whelan, an actress based in LA, was also regularly posting her nieces gorgeous organic clothing and vintage denim.
 
Back in Melbourne I was constantly asked by parents at the park, Library and my local coffee shop where I got my kids’ clothing. I found mothers often complaining about the lack of quality denim, in particular for boys. With my love for fashion, (having studied fashion design in London, working, most notably, with Paul Smith), 2 young girls as my muses and denim being a staple in our household, I realized there was a gap in the market.

Getting back in touch with high school friend Bec, whose family are big  travelers also, saw Hipkin come to life.  Having 2 young boys, (Harper 3, Jack 9 months) a very keen interest in boys’ fashion, and a background in finance, Bec was the perfect business partner. Together we felt inspired to share these great global brands and finds with Australian parents.  Our ethos is to source and hand-pick the best children’s brands from around the globe, making them easily accessible for Australian customers.
 
The name wasn’t an easy task. Like our brands and our philosophy, we wanted the name to be simple and appealing to a broad audience, and while we knew it had to relate to children we didn’t want anything fluffy or babyish. Essentially it took a lot of experimentation, months of writing down words and waiting for the right combination.

‘Hip’ and ‘Kin’ were both words which kept popping up and when the two eventually came together we knew we had it; a name that succinctly and instantly denoted all the things we were about; family and cool clothes, and with a slightly elfin ring to it, which perfectly suited the many Scandinavian brands we stock.

I love how you handpick your favorite labels from around the world, what do you look for when picking unique labels for Hipkin?

When searching for brands, we look for ranges that are simple, fuss- free, different and clean-cut. We also strive for the right combination of an adult streetwear sensibility with an element of fun and functionality, remembering after all that it’s for kids.  We love denim, (good quality and vintage), and are big on gender-neutral; black for boys and girls. No fluffy baby pinks and blues at Hipkin!.

Hipkin is a true boutique range; we see our market as parents who are fashion-conscious yet still want kids to be kids, and it’s our job to source the best labels from around the world and create the best edit so they don’t have to do the hard work.

Your style section on your website is so great and full of inspirations, if you could pick a favorite outfit for a boy and a girl from the selection of Hipkin what would it be?

This is tough!  we really do love all our brands and clothes. For a boy a simple pair of I dig denim jeans with a Fred Perry stripe tee is always a winner, and my girls love a Tuss skirt with a Cheap Monday skull tee and Vintage denim Jacket. For baby, you can’t go past a Mini Rodini onsie with Cheap Monday baby jeans.

 
What is the best thing about owning your own children's wear shop?

Incorporating work into our home life and working towards that elusive balance. Being mums with young kids, we need to be flexible with our time, so after we’ve done the school run and gotten the kids fed and off to be, quite often we’re working from 7pm till midnight. Having access to beautiful kids’ clothes and getting to share our finds with our loyal customers is so fulfilling. Also we pride ourselves on our unique hand delivery service to local parents, same day – Mums love this!

You are the first store to carry my favorite Scandinavian denim label, I Dig Denim in Australia, what made you want to focus on high quality denim wear?

When creating Hipkin we surveyed a lot of our friends with kids and found good quality denim, especially for boys was very hard to come by. We found i dig denim on a Scandinavian website and fell in love with the brand, with its unique cuts and styles in different weathered washes. When we received our first order we couldn’t believe how amazing the quality was. Like an adult pair of designer jeans in miniature sizes, not a single detail was missing, yet the styles are so simple and refreshing.

 
 If could could sum up Hipkin in 3 words, what would they be?

Cool, Fresh, Simple.

What can we expect from Hipkin in the near future, any dreams, plans or new labels arriving? 

Hipkin, having launched only this year, is excited to have some fantastic new labels coming on board very soon; Acne Miniature from Sweden – new in Australia, super high quality and stylish denim and sweats, BOBO CHOSES from Spain – stunning collections that are simple, stylish yet quirky & fun, NUNUNU from Israel – very cool and new to Australia with lots of black, stars, skulls and geometric shapes, POPUPSHOP from Denmark – organic high quality basics that are classic and timeless.  We are also thrilled to be getting Minnetonka – from the USA, original moccasin suede boots and shoes, images from the fringed boots on the Hipkin tumblr have been reblogged thousands of times. We know these shoes will be a bit a hit!

What we are looking forward to more than anything is Hipkin becoming the chosen destination for the best children’s streetwear from around the world, and continuing to provide inspiration for cool, busy parents everywhere.

A big thanks to Katie and Bec for sitting down and answer some questions for us. It is great to see more online shops opening up making it so easy to find some international, unique brands for the little hipsters out there.  

:: VISIT HIPKIN ::