Owner: Skimbaco - The Lifestyle URL:http://skimbaco.blogspot.com Join Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2007 18:00:56 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Cool product finds for fashion minded moms. Contests, occasional celebrity gossip, news and updates. Lots of fun stuff you don't want to miss!
The blogger is a mom, a wife, a former runway model and an upscale boutique owner. Site statistics:Click here
Gimme some more .. photos! 2007-10-09 12:03:00 Ok, I was trying to take some photos
of my kids..I've gotten e-mails saying I need to post more pics of the kids!I also wanted to show a few of my kids' favorite outfits from the Fall/Winter 07 collections. But it was a mission impossible. My models kept climbing in the trees. Isabella wearing Edenstar Ballet Wrap (77$), Wati school girl skirt (46$) and Fairy Princess tights by MP Socks (25$). Boots are from last year, and they are by ESPRIT.Too fast for the camera. And loving the poppy dress made of luxurious silk by Fable & Lore (110$). She is also wearing the Edenstar cropped pants, at the moment the only pants she'll wear for school. More Edenstar merino wool styles. And remember, this is my daughter with very sensitive skin and eczema - she loves the soft merino wool on her skin. And she prefers to wear nothing under it, because the material feels so comfortable. The other two kids..?Well, here is my goofball Gabi. Wearing Riiminka Design dress (29.99$), withe the ruffle skirt Read more:Gimme
Cup of Java a day keeps the doc away 2007-10-09 10:53:00 I need my coffee, and I was glad to read about some health benefits drinking coffee can bring me. Caffeine is one of the most researched food items, and seems like new caffeine research results come up yearly, if not monthly. Here is some new research information about the health benefits of caffeine, and espeacially good news for java junkies like me. The recommended caffeine intake a day is 300-400 mg*. It is around three normal cups of coffee or just one big one. This pictured Grande size (medium) coffee from Starbucks has alone the recommended amount of caffeine!Caffeine overdose is rare, but possible, and the main side effects of caffeine are hyperventilation, insomnia or palpitations. Don't quit going to Starbucks just yet, the newest reseacrh results show us that a few cups of the nectar of the Seattle siren is actually good for you. CAFFEINE REALATED RESEARCH RESULTS:1. Finns love coffee and the national usage of coffee is twice the amount as in the US, and they have done Read more:keeps
Win a 50$ Gift Certificate to Madallie! 2007-10-06 21:36:00 The Holidays are approaching,and the trips to spend Thanksgiving with the family..Or just need a great store to stop in for great gifts.. - Madallie is your store. Madallie is a children's travel store offering entertainment, backpacks, blankets, just about anything you can think of to take along for a fun trip with the kids. I wish I had found Madallie already 7 years ago, when we started traveling with the kids! Madallie has all our family's favorites, the Klutz craft books, the Uno cards, hand puppets, the oil cloth chalk mats... the classics and the newest must haves! Now you have a chance to Win 50$ Gift Certificate
to Madallie!I am so excited to offer this gift certificate to one of my readers - this is such a cool store and I know you'll love shopping there as much as I do. Read the details below!Here are some of my kids' favorites: Isabella and Gabi love making these Fairies Petal People - everything needed for the petal people come with the handy instruction Book (18. Read more:Gift Certificate
Traveling with kids is fun - when you've got the gear 2007-10-06 20:28:00 I have so many friends asking me "how do you do it", when we (Mom, Dad and three kids, now aged 4, 5 and 7) travel. Well, I do have a few secrets in my sleeve, but the best advice I can give to anyone - pack the right stuff! We don't travel light - I don't mind carrying all the outfits and entertainment and well, just stuff - to keep kids happy and me somewhat sane. We make traveling fun - even when getting from place A to place B. Flying is always a challenge, and not really the flights, there are tons of great toys and enterntainment available to keep kids occupied, for example check out Madallie - a super cool children's travel store. The biggest challenge is the security checks, the waiting, the layovers and the time spent at the airports. Especially after you've just landed from an over-continental flight.. To be honest, there are not many NICE child friendly airports in the whole United States. I always find myself wishing for another pair of hands when we're trying to keep Read more:Traveling
Halloween Safety Tips 2007-10-04 18:47:00 Halloween is getting closer and if your kids are anything like my kids, there is Halloween talk going on every day! Don't let your Halloween to be scary, let's all have a safe Halloween! Here are some great safety topics to go over with the children already before Halloween. They are great dinner table conversations. Get children involved with the conversation, so even the younger ones understand why Halloween safety and these tips are so important. These Halloween safety tips are from the American Academy of Pediatrics. AVOID:- Masks, children might not see well through them.- Too big costumes, which could make the child trip or even get in fire.- If your child's costume has a sword, cane, or stick a part of it, make sure it is not sharp or too long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he stumbles or trips. - Children shouldn't be carving pumpkins. - Votive candles are safest for candle-lit pumpkins. Lighted pumpkins should be placed on a sturdy table, away from cu Read more:Halloween
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THE DRESS - Throwback Thursday- 2007-10-03 22:02:00 Nicole Kidman recalled, “I bought my wedding dress at a flea market in Amsterdam. I got it before I met my husband.”I was shopping in Austin, with my beautiful daughter this week, for her wedding dress. We found it, bought it, and she is gorgeous in it. Her cousin Rachel shopped with us about a month ago, after trying on 25 or 30 gowns, we wound up going back, with her friend Jenny, to a dress we had seen & tried on, before. Lauren tried on the dress, then Geri Vela, at Alexia Gavela Bridal, clamped it at the back, so we could see how it would fit. He measured, he ordered, then in 4-5 months when the dress comes in, we will pay more to have it altered! Where’s the justice? This appears to be the norm. In the meantime we still need to buy earrings, shoes, veil (love the veil), tiara or fancy hair pin, and my outfit. I had hoped she might wear my dress, but it burned in my Mom’s house fire about 20 years ago. (The picture is me in 1967)The times we have spent together looking Read more:Throwback
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This Smart Mama goes around the Blogging Community 2007-10-18 17:11:00 Even though I have been posting a little less here lately, I have been going around the Blogging
Community... My article was just posted at Smart
Mama site, this site is the newest addition from the Pinks & Blues girls. Lots of advice, tips and smart stuff, from Mama to Mama. I don't know how smart I really am.. but I wrote about how to choose clothing in way that you'll have your dream wardrobe AND you'll be ecological and economical too. It really is possible - read how. Then thank you Stacey for giving me the Community Blogger Award. Stacey is such a cool gal, I really like her! When I started blogging her blog was one of those first ones I visited and thought "I want to be part of this blogging world". Thank you so much for all of you for taking me "in". One of my blogging friends, Laura from Tennessee thought I should do the crazy eights meme.. So here it goes. And then for those who get my RSS feed (I know you're there, and I'm honored, thanks for getting me in your mailbox
Marianne McNamara Spreads Scandinavian Spirit 2007-10-16 22:53:00 I would like to introduce you to my dear friend Marianne McNamara, the lady behind the camera - Marianne of Scandica. Marianne is a professional photographer and you might have seen her work, if you live in the Chigaco area. She owns Scandica Fine Art Photography. She is the child-photographer for the Baby loves Disco. And she also takes all those pictures you rarely see, but which are always highly appreciated - the nude portraits. Marianne just recently launched her new website Scandica - Fine Art Photography, and before you read on, please visit her site. Marianne is from Finland, actually we used to be almost neighbours, but never knew each others in Finland. Marianne's site is a tribute to our Finnish heritage. I have watched her site intro a hundred times. The first time I couldn't read all the text from my tears. The second time I watched it I was balling because I could read the text. The hundredth time, and I still get goose bumbs. I was lucky to have a virtual cup of coffee Read more:Scandinavian
Blume - for hot mamas and cool kids 2007-10-16 20:01:00 When an underwear ad campaign starts with the study of Angie & Brad in the Mr. and Mrs. Smith movie and ends with Britney's trailer, suggesting panties laying around that say "Brad" and "Kevin", you can't expect anything but a world wide success story. Blume Girl goes one step furter and hints Hollywood stars, don't take the tattoo yet, just get his name in your undies instead. After all, the love might not last forever - just see what happened to Britney. These panties have been so hot, that celebs like Katie Andre have been seen to show her "Peter" pants even for paparazzis. Not to even mention that Blume panties have caused so much action in the Hollywood bedrooms, that babies start poppin' out everywhere. What Blume Girl does? Starts their own children's line of personalized clothing and accessories. Blume offers personalized tees, thermals, baseball caps, underwear and they have a whole collection for children and men too. Let me tell ya, these products will be the hit this Read more:cool kids
Sunday, Monday Happy Days 2007-10-15 12:56:00 These days are all,Happy
and Free. These days are all,Share them with me. Goodbye grey sky, hello blue.What kind of person hums "Happy Days" theme song? Well, me. Well, happy. We had a great weekend, and the days (and especially the nights) are getting colder and we can't wait for the winter and ski season to start!There was a big ski sale at the Ski Barn on Saturday, so Matt got us all up, and we were there the first thing on the morning.. 5 minutes after they opened. He wanted to have a pair of fat skis for back-country skiing, and didn't like the new models, and was set to find a pair from last year. Yeah - he found them, über-cool retro-looking ones and saved a lot of $$ too. He bought a snowboard last year, and that didn't work too well.. Hopefully we'll see more back-country skiing this year than snowboarding last year... I'm really excited about the almost new snowboard we have though - I am going to get myself a pair of boots and try snowboarding in our own yard. No way Read more:Sunday
, Monday
Fabulous Etsy find - Syko from Finland 2007-10-23 18:14:00 Oh, what a joy when I found Syko's Etsy Shop by luck. Adorable handmade little pouches, bags, pillow cushions. The appliqued pictures in the products are delightful, and instant smile makers, bringing back memories of childhood. You can see the craftmanship and love used to make every single item. Can you imagine my extra delightment, when I noticed that Syko is from Finland
? And not just Finland, but from city of Turku, where I went to high school. Visit Syko's Shop for this cuteness, and visit also Kajsa's Blog for previews of up-coming products. Subscribe
Protect your child from the harmful chemicals in your home 2007-10-22 23:20:00 Do not trust any product to be safe for your child
, just because you see it in a respected chain store, or it is manufactured by a large American household-name company. Chemicals found in common household products can contribute to developmental and behavioral disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and mental retardation, even autism, allergies and cancer. Parents of Rowan and Mikaela in Oakland got a wake up call a few years ago, when the family was asked to attend a voluntary blood testing to measure the industrial chemicals
in their bodies. The family agreed, they didn't have any reason to believe that there could be something wrong. After all, the family did not own a TV and mainly ate organic food and were environmentally concious. The test results showed that even 18-months-old Rowan had extremely high levels of chemicals in his body. Rowan is now a healthy 5-year-old, but the chemicals found in his body could cause thyroid dysfunction or other risks Read more:Protect
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Modern Children's Bedding by Marimekko 2007-10-25 20:14:00 Bo BooMarimekko is the Scandinavian leader in modern design, and has been known for its high standards in design and quality for centuries. The modern children's bedding by Marimekko brightens any bedroom. The prints are bold and colorful. The simplicity in the prints leave room for imagination and decorating the rest of the room is easy. While the prints, and the pictures in Marimekko bedding are just pure visual joy, and offer parents and children contemporary aesthetic, the best for any parent is: the bedding is safe and eco-friendly.UnikkoMarimekko bedding is made of high quality 100% cotton, and the bedding is Öko-Tex Standard 100 certified. Öko-Tex Standard 100 is an environmental certificate, assuring that no toxic chemicals were used during the manufacturing.I am so happy to announce that Skimbaco.com now offers Marimekko bedding for children. Shop for Marimekko bedding now - Starting at 15,50$Get 10% off your order! Use code: SAFESLEEPUnessaI wrote a few days ago about the Read more:Modern
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Throwback Thursday 2007-10-24 22:32:00 1980 and my husband was this cute for Halloween. Read more about Halloween memories below!Participaiting in.. Subscribe Read more:Throwback
, Thursday
Halloween memories 2007-10-24 22:15:00 Halloween is the day that parents have an excuse to dress their child as a jelly bean, circus clown or Muppet of their choosing. Everyone wants to capture these moments for the ages, and for the grandparents.For us Grandmas and Grandpas who live too far away to see our grandkids in costumes next week, you should know, that anything you can do to make us feel we are not so far away will mean a lot to us. Take lots of pictures. Take pictures of the kids getting dressed, pictures of them trick-or treating, and even pictures later opening their treats after the walk to neighbors. Here are four tips for great Halloween photos:1) Talk to them about the holiday and encourage them to talk about their feelings.2) When taking your photos, bend down to their level. Get down close.3) Stay close to the action. The closer you stand to them as they get candy from a neighbor, the less shaky your camera work.4) Keep the cameras rolling. Don’t stop shooting after the costumes come off. Grandparent Read more:Halloween
, memories
My husband - the Hero - the Helicopter Pilot 2007-10-24 11:49:00 "Rescue workers searched all night Monday for a Durango woman who became stranded in the backcountry northeast of Lemon Reservoir. With the assistance of a helicopter, rescue workers were able to locate Kimberly Creery and bring her to safety early Tuesday..."Read more in Durango Herald. You rock Matt! Subscribe Read more:Helicopter
, Pilot
WTF 2007-10-24 11:06:00 This is a family friendly blog, shame on you thinking that I would really post anything saying "what the.." WTF stands for "Welcome to Finland", of course! WTF is a new magazine about life in Finland - geared for tourists. Great articles, including an interview with Nokia President & CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo. Found it from FlickrNow this should make you feel welcome to visit my country. Book your flights now. Subscribe
Best gifts for Christmas 2007-11-01 11:15:00 The Skimbaco - The Lifestyle Blog's Holiday Gift Guide is here! It is a work in progress and will expand even more during the weeks leading to Holidays. The gift guide already has tons of gift ideas for the whole family, and it will expand with new categories, such as handmade gifts, gifts for pets, easy stocking stuffers etc. You will get to the Holiday Gift Guide by clicking the logo anywhere on the site. If you know a great gift idea - drop me a line, maybe I'll even feature products from your wish list! Subscribe Read more:Christmas
Fall Y'all! Bloggy Giveaway - Chicago Photo Session 2007-10-30 12:19:00 Hey there all bloggy giveaway participants! This post is part of the Fall Y'All Bloggy Giveaway hosted by Rocks in my Dryer. Ahoy Chicago
!This Bloggy Giveaway is for one mini-session with a very talented Chicago-based photographer Marianne McNamara.Marianne owns Scandica Fine Art Photo
graphy and takes potraits of children, couples, belly-pictures of pregnant, and even nude portraits (now, there is a gift idea for your husband...).The giveaway is for one hour free photo-session and one photo. The value: $284The appointment has to be made with Marianne, and the photo session gift certificate is valid until the end of the year. To enter to win:Leave a comment here - and either link or your e-mail, some way I can reach you! The winner will be chosen on Monday November 5, 2007 at mid-night, and the winner will be announced on Tuesday. The photo session will be held within the city limits of Chicago, and the giveaway is open to anyone who is able to make it there for the photo shoot. Subscr
Fall Y'all! Bloggy Giveaway - Dream Necklace 2007-10-30 11:48:00 Hey there all bloggy giveaway participants! This post is part of the Fall Y'All Bloggy Giveaway hosted by Rocks in my Dryer. I'm giving away a designer DeAnna Cochran original Dream
-necklace for children. It is sold exclusively at skimbaco.com, valued 40$.I have a dream.." are the famous words from Martin Luther King, Jr. Dreams are what sometimes keep us alive.Dreams are what we hold on the tough times.Dreams are the hope of tomorrow, dreams are the joy of today. A Skimbaco exclusive Dream necklace is sterling silver & clear Swarovski crystals. The Dream necklace symbolizes keeping alive the dreams of childhood and the crystals symbolize stars as in our quest to always “reach for the stars”. Absolutely wonderful gift for a girl of any age!To enter to win:Sign Mr Linky and leave a comment here - and either link or your e-mail, how I can reach you! The winner will be chosen among everyone who signed the Mr. Linky on Friday, November 2, 2007 at mid-night, and the winner will be an Read more:Necklace
When did socks start being so much fun? 2007-10-29 20:24:00 Well, when Little MissMatched came along.It was so nice to meet Little MissMatched, a modern day Pippi Longstocking, who started a new trend wearing missmatched socks. Coordinating, yes, but still totally missmatched. Little MissMatched sells socks in threes. No, not in three pairs, but in a set of three different socks. One of them is bound to get lost anyway, so it's pretty nice to get that extra one there. Little girls from California to New York have gone crazy for Little MissMatched socks. "Thanks for letting us be kids" they all say. Growing up is tough sometimes, it's nice that somebody engourages the tweens too to be kids, have fun and enjoy little things in life. Like stripes and polka dots in crazy colors. At the same time. Click into the world of Little MissMatched, you'll be welcomed with not just a colorful bunch of socks, but bedding, home deco, games, pjs.. Little MissMatched is the funniest girl around, and she'll always think of something silly - like a pumpkin pat
Shame on you GAP 2007-10-29 00:33:00 Photo: GAPYou don't have to shop at GAP this Holiday season. Not just because they pulled many of their items of the production and their shelves are going to be empty, but also because you should boycott GAP for using child labor. Again. I don't use any GAP products, they have been on my personal boycott list since the last child labor cases a few years ago, and I am not all that surprised to hear this again. I know how much they have donated with their RED Campaign, trying to help to eliminate AIDS in Africa - they advertise it a lot. Still, I can't make myself to purchase anything from a company, which might/does use child labor. Observer writes:"Amitosh concentrates as he pulls the loops of thread through tiny plastic beads and sequins on the toddler's blouse he is making. Dripping with sweat, his hair is thinly coated in dust. In Hindi his name means 'happiness'. The hand-embroidered garment on which his tiny needle is working bears the distinctive logo of international fash
GIFTS FOR GIRLS - over 300$ 2007-10-23 21:09:00 Cook A Little Stove by Barn Dandys. What a vintage style find! Handcrafted stove, made of wood, finished with vintage fabric. The best? You will get to design it, and pick your custom colors to match the playroom. 326$ at Rosenberry Rooms.She will have a blast driving this bug around the neighbourhood! VW Beetle in sunshine yellow 450$ at FAO Schwarz.Let her creativity shine! With Custom Handbag Fashion Design Kit by Imagine This she can design a handbag and send her design for a company to make her her special bag of her design. 450$ at FAO Schwarz.She will love this enchanted gingerbread house playtent. It's easy to set up indoors, and so cute for the season. 495$ at FAO Schwarz.Cleaning up the playroom has never been so much fun! This handpainted wooden toy chest will brighten her room and it will double as a seat. Customize it with her name for free. 645$ with FREE shipping at Skimbaco.com Kids Crooked House playhouses are totally crooked! There is no straight corner in these
GIFTS FOR WOMEN - under 500$ 2007-10-22 12:17:00 Sophisticated, simlistic and modern. Hugo Boss Women's Cosmopolis Black Leather Silver Dial Watch. Normal price over 500$, but save $$$ and get this amazing deal at Amazon for under 200$. Stunning Rose Window necklace can be customized with birthstone or favourite color. The Rose Window Necklace is reminiscent of the famous stain glass window in the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. 253$ at Skimbaco.com Since the 1,600$ Valentino Histoire is one of the hottest and most difficult bags to find this season, here is a great look-a-like for a fraction of the cost. This Luca Bella laptop bag comes with a separate case for a laptop and is a stylish option for a modern woman. 288$ at gina b. international.Give Mommmy a helping hand. Or a helping robot. iRobot Roomba Remote Scheduler Robotic Vacuum cleans, so Mommy doesn't have to. 299$ by iRobot. This wool-cashmere blend peacoat from J.Crew is the white you can wear after Labor Day. Classic in a winter white color. 325$ at J.Crew100% cashmer
GIFTS FOR BOYS - under 100$ 2007-10-21 23:24:00 Think outside the box and get you little guy something he totally doesn't expect. Get the über cool boy stuff and then sneak in some items to decorate his room too! Here are some gifts for boys from pre-school to high school.Modern wall art is something he will like in his room for years to come. Mix different styles, colors or sizes to make unique art for his bedroom. Even Mom and Dad will love the Avalisa wall art. Starting at 59$ by Avalisa.Boys tend to say they don't like soft gifts. Well, he will love these Lore Dragon corduroy trousers - the dragon applique will change color in the sun light and he will be the coolest dressed kid in the school this winter. Dragon pants in sizes 4-12, 74$ by Fable & Lore.It's a goal! You will score with this blanket - he will love it for game trips or even as a decoration in his room. 79$ from Modern SeedThis car uses clean energy - water. Gear your kid for the 21st century with this cutting edge hydro-car. Car runs on clean energy technolo
GIFTS FROM COLORADO 2007-10-20 22:41:00 Give a Holiday Greeting straight from the snowy mountain tops! Here are some of my favorite gift items from Colorado. The best of course - come and shop for them for yourself. The snowy Rockies will defenately give you the spirit of Christmas. Give your family a different kind of Christmas and come and spend it in Colorado. There is already snow on the mountains, and the slopes will be perfect by the time you get here. Or book now for the Spring Break. Come and see us in Durango, the Mountain Resort is the best place to teach your kids to ski!Jen at Ivy-Rose Design makes fabulous custom clothing and accessories for your girly girl. She even makes these cute Russian Dolls and custom outfits! Check out Ivy-Rose Design at Etsy. Another Mom Entrepreneur in Colorado makes these adorable hand painted shoes! Monkey Toes offers hand painted tennis shoes, Mary Janes and even socks for the little ones. These are fabulous gift even for babies. Monkey Toes shoes starting at 27$.The reversible head
GIFTS FOR WOMEN - high $$$ 2007-10-14 20:26:00 Glimb all the way to the mountain top with these luxury gifts for women. Make lattes and cappucinos at home with a touch of a button. Perfect crema and froth, everytime. The DeLonghi Magnifica Super-Automatic espesso machine is the last coffee maker you ever need to buy. Believe me, it's worth every penny and if I didn't already own this, this would be the number one in my wish list. 799$ Amazon.TriBeCa Wine Credenza is a must have for a wine lover who loves contemporary design. It blends in sleek dining rooms better than most wine cellars, and is perfect for city lofts too. Ultra-quiet thermoelectric cooling for 60 bottles of her favorite wines. 1295$ from The Wine EnthusiastLittle piece of luxury, what I really want for Christmas... This Valentino Histoire bag in white super soft leather. Angelina Jolie has one, and she takes it everywhere. The price tag 1,600$ at Saks.Give Mama set o wings. Let her experience flying like a Superwoman and zero gravity. No space travel needed - ju
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