Two Wishes

Little Luxuries From Gianna Rose

I frequently fall in love with items featured in the accessory roundups of my home decor magazines. 

What I do not love are the prices. $1,500 for a lamp??!? I think I'll pass....

Which left me extra charmed by these Gianna Rose fragrance diffusers shown in the latest House Beautiful. The ceramic flowers serve as diffusers for Gardenia Jasmine scented oil -- pretty and nicely scented! (The set also includes the ceramic display tray and curly thingies shown in the photo, though I'd be tempted to forego them in favor of a vintage saucer or dessert plate.) And, amazingly, the set is not a shocking magazine price but a relatively affordable $35.  

 

I just explored the Gianna Rose site, and there are lots of other small luxuries around $20-30. Love these soap petals, which look and smell like flower petals and hold just enough soap for a single hand-washing:

And I'm crazy about beautiful scented drawer liners like these:

 

The site also offers soaps in many shapes and scents. Personally, I don't "get" shaped soaps -- decoration alone is a waste of good soap, yet you ruin the shape as soon as you start to use them. But this leaf set (in Tea Leaf and Verbena) appeals to me, and with a set of 7 you could feel free to actually pick one up and wash your hands:

Has anyone out there purchased Gianna Rose products? Would be curious to hear your experience!

If I Had a Million Dollars....

By now, y'all probably can guess how I feel about baby clothes.  I'm a cheapskate bargain hunter to begin with, and babies wear each size for a few months at best.  At this point, Wallaby has exactly 3 items of clothing that were not hand-me-downs.  And 2 of those were gifts.

But if I were all devil-may-care millionaire?  I'd totally go for the EuroTot wonders from Album di Famiglia:

 

All items from Estella NYC:  Coat, Mittens, Top, Pants

Adorable? Tragic? A Little of Both?

I think this drain stopper is completely adorable.

At the same time, it reminds me of the scene in An Inconvenient Truth where an animated polar bear was half-dead and swimming, swimming, swimming because global warming meant no more ice floes on which to rest.  I almost cried during that scene.

So, what do you think?  Is this a happy item because this particular polar bear has found her floe and has a smile on her face?  Or would it turn bathtime into a constant, tragic reminder of the plight of the polar bears? 

(image from Industrial Design Asia; product by Propaganda)

CPSIA Update

For the many who expressed interest in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, here are a few updates since my last post:

Secondhand Goods:  Last week, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued new guidelines that should provide some comfort to secondhand sellers.  Specifically, the CPSC reassured secondhand sellers that they will not need to obtain lead testing certifications in order to sell used children's items.

However -- and this is a big "however" -- the CPSIA makes it illegal to sell children's products that exceed the levels of lead and phthalates specified in the law.  The regulators don't believe they have any authority to craft exemptions to that bottom-line prohibition.  So, although retailers won't have to test everything for lead, they can't legally sell anything over the lead limits, even if they do so unknowingly. They remain subject to "civil and/or criminal penalties" for any over-the-limit sale.  

In short, retailers have a green light to sell used children's goods without testing, but they will always face some potential liability for doing so.  Not the most reassuring position for sellers, though they can take some comfort in the fact that understaffed and underfunded regulators are more likely to focus on regular manufacturers than on a reseller who accidentally sells the occasional over-the-limit product. 

Small Businesses That Make Children's Items:  Still threatened greatly by the new requirements.  The CPSC has approved a proposal to exempt certain naturally lead-free materials from the testing requirements -- though some of the materials aren't exactly common in children's products (gemstones, precious metals, and pearls?), the list does include wood and natural-fiber fabrics like cotton, silk, and wool.  The wrinkle is that these products must be undyed and untreated.  So, unless children's clothing makers can whip up demand for an all-beige wardrobe, the current exemptions only go so far.  Once again, small sellers who rely on outlets like craft bazaars, Etsy and eBay may find their only comfort in the fact that government regulators probably consider their business operations too small for bother. 

Everyone Else:  There's still a lot of uncertainty and general angst circulating the Internet.  For example, libraries and schools recently realized for the first time that their children's books are covered by the CPSIA.  By my read, book lending (as well as charity donations) should be fine because the CPSIA only makes it illegal to "sell, offer for sale, distribute in the stream of commerce, or import" products that exceed the lead limits.  But, perhaps understandably, no one will feel comfortable till they hear from the regulators themselves.

"The End" for Handmade and Secondhand Clothing and Toys?

Organic clothing for children is a hot item these days.  For good reason -- cotton pesticides and chemicals added during manufacturing leave potentially harmful residues on fabrics.  These chemical residues often irritate babies' extra-sensitive skin, and, in the long term, may harm a child's respiratory and immune development. 

For example, formaldehyde is one chemical commonly found in clothing.  Formaldehyde is valuable to manufacturers because it repels mildew and reduces stains and wrinkling during storage and shipping, but it raises health concerns for wearers.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), formaldehyde exposure in amounts greater than 20 parts per million can irritate skin, nose, and eyes and ultimately may lead to asthma and cancer.  The European Union bans the sale of children's clothing with formaldehyde levels above 30 parts per million.  In contrast, despite acknowledging that formaldehyde is a "probable human carcinogen," the US government has set no limit for the formaldehyde content of clothing.  In the absence of such limits, formaldehyde can range far above safe levels -- one TV report in New Zealand found formaldehyde levels as high as 18,000 parts per million (900 times the WHO's "safe level") in Chinese-made clothing.  And the problem isn't limited to low-priced off-brands: Victoria's Secret currently faces a class-action lawsuit claiming formaldehyde-treated bras gave wearers serious skin rashes.

Unfortunately, organics can be expensive.  Luckily, there is at least one low-cost alternative:  Many chemical residues wash away after a handful of launderings, so parents can lessen chemical exposure by buying their children's clothing secondhand.  (Preworn = prewashed.)  Because babies grow so quickly, secondhand baby clothing routinely appears in like-new condition.  It is also much less expensive than new items, and as an added bonus keeps useful items out of landfills.  Overall, a win-win situation. 

That is, the situation was win-win....  Under a recent consumer-protection law, selling used children's clothing and toys will become illegal on February 10.  (Yes, you read that right -- selling used clothing and toys will be illegal.)  Barring last-minute regulatory changes, thrift stores and consignment shops must throw away their current stock of secondhand children's items on that date** and stop offering children's goods in the future.

The law in question -- the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) -- was enacted in the wake of recent scares involving lead-tainted children's products from China.  The CPSIA includes many important changes, such as beefing up the government's ability to regulate dangerous products.  And obviously no one wants children to be poisoned by lead-tainted products.  In fact, the CPSIA had near-unanimous support in both the House and the Senate.  Unfortunately, the lawmakers do not seem to have noticed that the Act's requirements are applied in a disturbingly overbroad manner.  Specifically, beginning February 10, nothing intended for use by children under 12 can be sold unless it has undergone expensive testing to certify that it is lead-free.  Many items for children under 3 will require additional testing for plastic-softening chemicals called phthalates.

Large manufacturers can absorb these testing costs, but the rule spells doomsday for home-based crafters and other small businesses.  (Ironically, some of the companies that will be driven out of business produce organic goods and other healthy products; they simply can't afford the testing to prove it.)  The CPSIA contains no exception for previously-sold products, and a secondhand seller could never afford to test each individual item before resale -- hence the dire consequences for the secondhand industry.  Technically, it will be illegal even to donate children's goods to charity because anything without a testing certificate is deemed "dangerous" under law.  Thus the CPSIA's unintended consequence is that, even for poor families, the only option may be to buy new goods from large companies. 

Worse still, despite these draconian effects, the CPSIA barely addresses the problem of chemicals in fabric.  Lead does appear in a few dyes, and more commonly in appliques, rhinestones, or charms.  One toddler tragically died after ingesting a lead charm off his shoes.  But on the whole, lead is not as widespread or serious a problem as substances like formaldehyde.  And by taking away my access to well-washed secondhand goods, the CPSIA reduces my ability as a parent to fight the chemicals that worry me most!

 

A few discussions of the CPSIA have popped up around the Blogosphere in the past month -- I remember reading posts on The Consumerist and BoingBoing, as well as a handful of parent blogs.  But the early focus was on toymakers, and, while I feel bad for small-business owners, frankly I didn't care enough about toys to feel compelled to action.  But this clothing issue is a whole different story!  I planned to buy the majority of Wallaby's baby and toddler clothing secondhand or from small sellers at places like Etsy, but in practical terms those options are now gone.  Turns out, this law affects me as a consumer in ways I never imagined.  And this time, I plan to take action.  

Would you like to learn more about the CPSIA, or to take action?  Please see the links below. 

Images in this post are baby items that will not survive implementation of the CPSIA.  (Flikr sources for one, two, three, & four.)  I previously coveted the blanket in Image One on Etsy, though of course I had no idea its purchase would condemn Wallaby to certain death!

** Don't even get me started on throwing away useful items -- a topic for another post.  Suffice it to say that most landfills don't offer ideal conditions for biodegradability, and even food and paper often last years beyond their normal life expectancy.  Thrown-away clothing will serve no purpose other than further clogging our landfills for decades to come. 

For More Information

The Consumer Product Safety Commission's website summarizing CPSIA regulatory developments

The Handmade Toy Alliance is a wealth of information and advocacy for small businesses

An LA Times article about the CPSIA's impact on used clothing sales, and California Apparel News on the law's effect on clothing manufacturers

SafBaby.com, which has called the US "a dumping ground for toxic toys", believes the CPSIA is not the answer

Excellent summary of how the law affects small businesses at SmartMama; and a small clothing manufacturer and a small toy manufacturer on the costs of testing

An Etsy discussion forum on current political developments, and lots more seller-based information at National Bankruptcy Day.com

How to Take Action

CoolMomPicks' "Save Handmade" page

Sample letter to your Senator or Representative, from the Handmade Toy Alliance (plus contact information for specific Senators or Representatives)

  

Beautiful, Terrible Amazon Shoe Sale

You know how stores with after-Christmas sales encourage you to come out and buy things for yourself that you wish you'd gotten for Christmas?  I've always been a sucker for that kind of after-Christmas shopping.  Not a big surprise, actually, if you consider that I'm a cheapskate and it's a huge time of year for SALES.

Well, this year I didn't even make it past Christmas, thanks to Amazon's massive shoe sale.  Right now, Amazon has almost 8,000 styles of shoes on sale at 70% or more off the retail price.  (With thousands more options if you're willing to accept, say, a measly 50-60% off.)  A big percentage of listings offer free shipping to boot.

My own newest pretties were $37.  As were their flat black siblings.  But the normal retail price is $170, so I saved $266 on the 2 pairs -- in the weird financial calculus of bargains, that's practically making money, right??  And there must be some truth to the rumor that expensive shoes are more comfortable than cheap ones, because they both felt dreamy right out of the box.

Also, I discovered later that Amazon has a similar 70% sale on over 1,000 handbags.  Especially tempting if you want a $$$$ designer purse for much less, but there's something in every price range.

Addicts be warned: Two Wishes takes no responsibility for time lost to surfing the listings, or to money spent. Though we'll happily take credit for all happy bargains enjoyed!

15 Gifts Under $20 (the Grownup Edition)

As one commenter pointed out, I clearly had babies on the brain for the last under-$20 gift roundup!  So, here's a long-overdue edition for grownups....

On the one hand, gifts are easy.  There are so many adorable items out there, especially for women. But, living in our own overcrowded home, I've become terribly sensitive to finding things that people will actually USE.  Merely decorative, no matter how perfect, is a much harder call.

Certain gifts, like soap, lotions, candles, and food may be something of a cliche.  But they work for a reason -- they're small luxuries that can be enjoyed and used up.  Here are some other useful options:

Bags and Accessories

Vintage Lingerie Bag

A travel necessity, lingerie bags keep delicates gathered and protected within your suitcase. What's more, they give a measure of privacy in this age of airport bag searches.

One of my favorite estate sale purchases was pink satin lingerie bags from designer Elsa Schiaparelli.  Vintage lingerie bags are regularly available on Ebay -- try a search for "Schiaparelli bag", or a broader search of "lingerie bag", "stocking bag", or "hanky bag".  Pictured bag is currently $10.95.

9 x 7" Wet Bag Waterproof Bag

It's hard to have too many bags and pouches, and this one has the added benefit of being waterproof.  Use it for swimsuits, baby items, toiletries, or gym clothes.  Larger sizes also available; this 9 x 7" size is $14 from Etsy seller Monkeyfootdesigns.

Prefer a little French with your swimsuit bag? Check out the chic $20 version at Basic French.

Cold-Weather Gear

Help your loved ones stay warm this winter. Mittens/gloves, scarves, hats ... it's all good. But personally, between loss and holes I am always in need of a new pair of mittens or gloves!  

These mittens, made of reclaimed wool from felted sweaters, are $17 from Etsy seller thejunebride.

Shawls from Ebay Seller Pakobel Rugs

Ebay seller Pakobel Rugs carries an enormous selection of rugs at bargain prices. Lesser known is their small line of woven shawls.

I own several, and carry them everywhere for an added layer of warmth on cool evenings or in too much air conditioning.  Very thin, the shawls fold to a few square inches that can be easily thrown into your purse "just in case."  Auction prices vary, but most close around $20.  Note some shawls are the size of large scarves and others the size of a throw blanket, so be sure to double-check if size matters.

Socks

Everybody needs them; nobody likes to buy them. But of course this isn't the time to stock up on basics -- the more plush and/or stylish, the better.

If you're lucky enough to live near a Muji store, check out their subtly multicolored socks made from reclaimed cotton yarn.  I purchased a set of 4 pair ($18) on my last visit to NYC, and now I live in them. Several styles available for men and women.

Pangea Reusable Market Bag

Reusable bags have become popular gifts.  And for good reason -- they're useful, environmentally friendly, and often very attractive.  

This 11 x 14" Pangea bag from Pretty Green is one of my favorites.  $19.99 at Pretty Green. 

Office and Craft

Office Task Binder Clips

Simultaneously quirky and very useful.  Sets include Importance (Urgent, Important, Can Wait, and Trivial); Timing (Now, Tomorrow, This Week, and Someday); and Utility (Do, File, Send, and Read).  Each set is $9 at Spoon Sisters.  (Or, for something more decorative, check out the clothespin clips at SusyJack.)

Wooden Boxed Alphabet Rubber Stamps

Crafty basics are always a hit for the creative people in your life.  

This alphabet stamp set from Japan combines charm and simplicity.  $16 (plus $7 shipping from Japan) from Etsy seller Karaku.

"Dream Home" File Folders

Know someone who's always saving home decor clippings and ideas?  These folders are a perfect way to keep them all in one place.  

Categories include Kitchen, Living Room, Bedroom, Bathroom, Office, and Yard.  $15 at Spoon Sisters.

Sublime Stitching Craft Pad

Modern designs by Sublime Stitching have gone a long way toward reviving interest in the art of embroidery.  And this pad of 75 iron-on embroidery designs makes it easy to get started.  $12.95 at Chronicle Books.

(With an extensive range of stationery, address books, journals, Moleskine notebooks, and lots of humor and craft book titles, Chronicle Books is one of my favorite one-stop shopping destinations for quality, inexpensive gifts.)

Kitchen and Home

Bamboo Dish Towels

Ever since Mr T and I received one of these as a gift, all other dish towels pale in comparison. Thick, absorbent, and super-soft.  

$6.50 at The Bibelot Shops.

Marimekko Oven Mitt

Hands in the air if the oven mitt currently in your kitchen is old, faded, and/or stained with food....  A new, attractive oven mitt always comes in handy.  

This black-and-white Fokus pattern from Marimekko fits many styles of kitchen decor and appeals to both men and women.  $17 at FinnStyle.

Just for Fun

"Destinations" Travel Diary

It's always sad to come home from a trip and slowly forget all that charming little restaurant, the boutique on the hidden side street, that clever thing the person on the subway said to you....  Here's a way to keep those special details together for posterity.   $19.95 at Posh Chicago.

I'm also a fan of the Moleskine City Notebooks from Chronicle Books -- a similar idea, but city-specific and with built-in maps.  $17.95.

Anything From Despair, Inc.

Not technically a "useful" item, but these snarky takeoffs on motivational posters have been favorites around the Two Wishes household for a long time.  Especially handy for bosses and co-workers, they're always a hit for office gift pools.   

The original line of desk posters, lithographs ($15.95 each) and calendars ($19.95) has been expanded to include mugs, tee shirts, and more. Despair.com.

Vinyl Wall Decals

For wall, car, even toilet tank.  And a quick search for "decal" on Etsy or "wall decal" on Ebay turns up hundreds of options -- something for everyone! 

I particularly like the idea of pet decals for people who can't have real animals in home or condo. This kitty is $14 from Etsy seller Freckledhound.

What are your favorite go-to sources and ideas for useful gifts?

I'd Like This Rug, Please. Kthx.

A blogger -- whose identity I forget, but who is undoubtedly talented, beautiful, and possessed of impeccably good taste (hopefully that will make up for my terrible memory!) -- recently featured a round-up of peacock items.  Included was a photo of this rug:

I'm crazy about peacocks, but figured something so beautiful would cost a fortune.  Imagine my joy on discovering it's from Urban Outfitters and only $48.  (Reviews say these cotton rugs are a little thin, but at $50 for a 60" round rug, we'd have enough left over for rug pads.)

I desperately want this for the baby's room.  The trouble?  Though Baby will need a rug eventually (and, did I mention $48?), I've been trying very, very hard not to purchase things for our overloaded house.

So I've come up with a compromise:  If this is still for sale by the time I CLEAR ENOUGH FLOOR in our storage-room-slash-office-slash-nursery to actually support a 5' rug, this rug will be ours.  At the rate I'm going ... let's just say the final result will be open to question.  But at least it's nice to have some room-cleaning inspiration.  

Bella! Bella!

Like most of the Blogosphere, I am crazy about Etsy.  Lately my love has been much too ignored, mostly because I do NOT need the temptation to make purchases.  But Etsy is fun even when you're window-shopping, so I have a new resolution to share Etsy favorites with you all.  Who knows, maybe something will be just what you're looking for!

First up is my most recent Etsy purchase: lovely cards from the Bella Bella Co.  Bella Bella's cards combine simple designs with tongue-in-cheek wit, and the quality of the paper and ink are gorgeous. 

It's so sad we don't use much stationery in this Internet day and age.  But thankfully, I've discovered I'm more likely to find reasons to write when I can't wait to share a card with friends! 

 

As if great papergoods weren't enough, Tristan keeps a great blog at blah blah blahg.  She's witty, it's fun to see her work develop, and best of all she's generous with downloads of her designs.

Occasionally, through her Etsy shop, Tristan offers to run photographs through her special Time Machine, which results in amazing vintage pictures like this.  I'm in a slow and haphazard process of trying to figure out which photo to send, but someday I will have one....

And P.S. ... I first found out about Bella Bella Co. through the informative and eye-candy-gorgeous blog of DC-area wedding planner {Ritzy Bee}.  If you're not already a reader, seriously, rush there and check it out!

12 Great Baby / Child Gifts for Under $20

When I was young, one great joy of Christmas shopping was finding the Best Possible Thing for the few child's dollars I had to spend.  Guess I've never lost that outlook, because I still believe you can find wonderful gifts without spending a fortune. 

Inexpensive baby and child gifts can be particularly useful -- if you doubt we're in the midst of a baby boom, just ask anyone who's going broke on gifts for friends, family, and co-workers!  Here are a few delightful options I've come across in recent Web wanderings:

For the Wee Ones

"Very First Toy"

Simple, lovely, and handmade -- the classic baby rattle.

$12.00 at Romp.

Wee Gallery Flash Cards

Young babies are best able to process simple, black-and-white images ... but something about these fanciful drawings from Wee Gallery is just as appealing to adults.  Hang them as a "crib art gallery", turn them into a mobile, or use them as animal flash cards for slightly older children. $12.95 at Wee Gallery; jungle version also available at Anthropologie.

Babysoy Onesie Kimono

Onesies are a baby necessity, and kimono styles are both funky and practical -- no wrestling clothes over a wriggly baby's head.  These are made from eco-friendly soy fabric and come in 4 modern colors. $15 at Wild Dill (sizes from 0-12 months).

Bee Travel Basics from Little Twig

This one's a shout-out to all my gals at Weddingbee.  Sample sizes of diaper cream, baby powder, lotion, and wash, with an adorable Bee scrubbie-cloth. $15.45 at Cocotier Kids. 

Ring-A-Links

May not look like much, but parents rave that these are indispensable for hooking blankets, toys, etc. to strollers and carseats to keep dropped items off the floor. 

Also good as a teething chew.

$3.50 at ToysRUs.

Rockabye Baby: Lullabye Renditions of The Cure

So curious to hear how these sound!  If The Cure isn't your thing, they also have versions based on U2, Nirvana, GreenDay, Led Zeppelin, and others. 

$18 at Blue Ribbon General Store.

For Slightly Older Children

Organic Teething Toy

Because, even if you're still working on those first teeth, it's never too early to eat your vegetables. 

Also available as a very cute green bean, as well as grapes, broccoli, and strawberry. $6.00 at GapBaby.

Snack Ball

Ready for real foods? This "snack ball" -- like everything else from Boon, Inc. -- is amazingly well-designed. (Dishwasher safe, free of BPA and other nasties, recommended for 9+ months.)  $6.50 at Boon, Inc.

Moo Sticker Book

Little kids love stickers.  And Moo Sticker Books can be customized with family photos, a child's artwork or favorite things, or basically anything else you dream up.

Starting at $9.95, at Moo.

"Le Petit Constructeur" Building Block Set

My all-time favorite building blocks were Muji's "City in a Bag" series (simple wooden shapes depicting landmarks of NYC, London, Paris, and Tokyo), but sadly they no longer seem to be made. 

Perhaps we can alleviate our sorrow with these tiny French building blocks.  Little architects couldn't help but be inspired by all the flourishes -- so much more exotic than your basic rectangles. 

$18 at Posh Chicago.

Decor

Elephant Pillow

This bright, simple 10 x 10" pillow has been on my own wish list for ages.  Now that we're expecting, I may finally have an excuse to purchase one!

$20 from Etsy seller JamTartBaby.

"No Monsters Allowed" Poster

Adorable 6 x 10" poster from Etsy seller JohnWGolden.  And if your little one is afraid of monsters, you can always just remind her of the policy.  (Who can argue with management policy??!?)

$20 from JohnWGolden.

Anyone else experiencing the financial effects of the recent baby boom?  What are your own favorite low-cost baby gifts or gift sources?