“Zulema is gorgeous inside and out, she has the silkiest hair that takes ages to dry. She’s very attentive, remembers everything, is proud of her artwork and makes great company. One of her favorite things to do is put her bunnies and dolls to sleep. At any one time there might be a dozen little animals across our floor, each one tucked in under a baby blanket. When she’s run out of blankets, she uses tissue roll” says Alicia Peyrano about her daughter.  Alicia is the owner of  e-store www.littlecitizensboutique.com.

 Zulema

What is your big dream? To sleep in a big girls bed.

Do you have special powers? Well, I don’t feel the cold, I am always taking my clothes off. I also have the memory of an elephant and am always reminding my parents of what they forgot. Don’t know how they got on before me.

Who is the strongest person in the world? Daddy of course.

What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to go to the market and get special treats for my friends.

 Who do you admire? My best friend Alice.

 If you would be an artist who would you like to be? The kind that builds lovely swings and slides to play on.

 What is the best thing in life? Mummy and daddy

What makes you laugh? Funny sounds and strange voices. My joke at the moment is I ask my mom what she is doing when she is driving and she says, “I’m driving, what are you doing?” and I say, “I’m doin’ nuttin.” She always laughs.

Your favourite films, books, apps? La Ballon Rouge, Buenos Noches Luna and Princess Fairy Tale Maker by Duck Duck Moose.

Something you did recently that you really loved ? Rode my brand new yellow scooter on the beach in the dark. My mom, dad, abuela, abuelo, auntie nikki and carl were all there and all they could see was my bright scooter, then from behind the clouds the moon appeared. It was full and it’s shine was so bright reflecting in the sea. It ended up being a very memorable walk.

The best holidays you ever had ? Went to Martha’s Vineyard this summer and worked up the courage to wade in the ocean by myself, okay with a little help. My dad through me up really high up in the air and mummy managed to get a picture of it. We had the best time.

A place that you would dream to visit ? New York, we were skyping with daddy and I could see New York in the background and I said, “I wanna go there!”

The next item you would so dearly love to get? A sleigh because it’s been snowing around her a lot.

If you had a magic wand, what would you do with it right now? Bring out the sunshine, because I like to wear sandals and because it would mean I didn’t have to go to sleep.

Alicia

A place you saw when you were a child, and that made its mark on you? Growing up my dad’s friend had a pizza restaurant. In a very dodgy neighborhood. I remember being privy to the behind the scenes, the mozzarella in bulk, the flour in the air, the sketchy customers… all the while trying to stay out of the way and overhearing mad and funny stories. It was my way of not feeling so sheltered. Still everyone was so nice, they all treated me like a princess. Especially my dad who has always made me feel so loved.

The place you love near your home ?  We live very close to the beach, there is a beautiful walk along the shore and through the woods –the woods are green and mossy just like what you imagine Ireland would look like, gnomes and faeries and all. In the woods there is a clearing where you find a little country café. They serve up a really delicious waffle, poached egg with bacon and maple syrup. It’s not exciting it’s just what we do on most Sundays, but it has become really special.

Where do you dream to go for your next family holiday ? There is a lake in the Andes in Argentina called Lago Huechulafquen. It’s the most beautiful shade of deep green and the surroundings are some of the wildest most remote and virgin landscape in the world. The last time we came back to our camp site after a long hike and found that fishermen had left us some fillets of trout that they had caught and cooked on the grill. Needless to say it was mouthwatering. And then you have the regional wine, the ones they don’t export. Yum. Definitely dreaming of a holiday there. Closer to home a place we try to get to often is Zahara de los Atunes in Spain, a tiny town with gorgeous beaches. It looks like a sleepy village by day, at night the blinds go out and the tables get placed on the sidewalks. Families pour onto the streets for dinner, drinks, music and shopping.

A film or cultural event that you saw recently and that staid with you ? I went to a festival in town recently and a band from Zimbabwe was playing—the music was so good, my daughter and I found our selves dancing by the stage, entranced.

The children’s brands your cherish? My new favourite is Aymara, it’s a Belgian and Peruvian couple who manufacture fine knits, their designs are to die for. I just got my shipment in this morning and I am in love. I also am a huge fan of Siaomimi, Peas & Queues, Pepe shoes and for nostalgic toys by Vilac and the artsy world of Djeco get my heart racing!

Last thing you bought for your child ? A  large red toadstool mushroom light. I’m transforming her room into a little girls room. Goodbye crib and hello single bed. I’ve been picking up really cute pieces like bedding and posters here and there. It’s going to be a surprise. One day I’ll bring her home and it will be all ready!

Favourite pieces in Zulema’s child’s wardrobe ? A red pinafore made by hand for my best friend when she was little, her name Missy is embroidered into the front. She’s lending it to Zulema until she grows out of it and it looks SO cute on her, plus it has real sentimental value.

What do you buy online? We live in the middle of nowhere so I buy pretty much online but definitely I look for hard to find and boring things like transformers, I am addicted to searching for vintage jewelry, at the start of each season I put in an order for some wardrobe staples from H&M and pretty much any rubber wedge boot that I can find.

The online destinations that inspire you ? Of A Kind, a genuinely fresh site that celebrates emerging designers and their stories and is really very funny. Pinterest is pure eye candy if you follow the right people, there is a lot of garbage on there too. Pirouette, I love reading the family interviews, it’s like opening a window around the world and saying hello.

The product that changed your life ? Don’t know if any object has had that much power. Maybe. But certainly buying a flight has changed my life. Many times. I do sometimes wonder what would have happened if I didn’t move around so much. What kind of person would I have become?

What are your main current concerns ? It’s our first year in business and I want it to be a success. It’s always on my mind, I am trying to learn as much as I can and I really enjoy it. I manage downtime too, love hanging out with my family and friends, it’s the household chores that have been sacrificed! My house is a mess but it’s worth it.

Do you have a big dream and if so what is it? I dream of growing the brand so that it becomes like a household name specifically in homes like mine, where families feel like they are from more than one country. I think it’s a healthy state of mind for our future, to think of ourselves as little citizens of the world. I also want to invest in educational and artistic projects like interactive theatre and apps for kids, create good memories and help children build a great foundation. The universe of children fascinates and entertains me to no end. I feel really lucky to be involved in it.

Something that you did in your childhood that you makes you laugh today? Made mushroom shaped femo necklaces and sold them at a fabulous hippy store near where we lived. The shop was called George’s Follies. Isn’t that a great name?!

Something that made you laugh out loudly recently? Zulema everyday all the time, her laugh is my respite. I’m definitely the dorky mom that doesn’t mind acting like a buffoon if it means we laugh together.

If you could reincarnate in another person, who would that be? A midwife or maybe a stockbroker, I think their perspectives must be interesting.