Friday favs

The search for the inspiring is a constant one. In a week I see so many wonderful things, deliberately searched or accidentally found, that I thought ‘Why not bundle those suckers together at the end of the week'. And make it my first official recurring post! Mondays is unofficially my day for posting about enjoying the weekend, which means stuffing my pie hole. Hey that reminds me, I haven’t made pie in a while..

Fridays are now for favorites. These are the favorites I found this week:

 

1. Reminds of the cool mirror I spotted at DDW, this version would look great resting on a dresser.
2. I try to leave my bed as little as possible. This Sleeping Tomorrow concept bed from DesleeClama would help me get that much closer.
3. Black leather and chains. I am sold. This would be a great slim-downed version for my current &Other Stories workbag.
4. What a great way by Alessi to showcase all the great postcards and prints they seem to be so many of lately. Or birthday cards, Christmas cards, birth announcement cards. You name it, it holds it.
5. A convertible dress. Zip it off to take it from work to fun or from winter to spring. Totally digging this concept, also from & Other Stories.
6. I have a thing for white vases but I also love to change it up, especially in the spring. With these aptly named Butternut embroidery vases I don't even need flowers, just add wool.

Suburban storage

Not a new product or even a new brand but a love none the same. I love pretty much everything Seletti makes, including this submarine I got for Christmas. They're cool, fun, weird and wacky take on product concepts makes me smile out loud. So how great is this wall storage, in collaboration with Note Design Studio? It takes the modness of the Utensilo to the place where I belong; suburbia.

I am urban chick, so why should my storage not reflect my love of buildings, pavements, trees and pools. What am I babbling on about? Check of the second pic, because when laid flat the neighbourhood emerges. I can't decide if white is the way to good as it also comes in a natural wood finish that is rather fab. What I can decide on is that this would be great above the kid's desk, holding some of the ginormous collection of crafting supplies.

Brandy butter & mascarpone waffles

A while back I bought a jar of brandy butter from Wilken & Sons from MinTwintig in Amsterdam. An interesting take on the concept of frozen meals.  But I don’t live in Amsterdam, so not viable for me, plus I enjoy cooking and have/find the time to do so, but definitely handy for city-slickers. 

But back to the brandy butter, that stuff is just so good. Turns a simple piece of toast into a breakfast fit for a queen. Sadly, the jar emptied pretty quickly and I am left bereft of this delicacy. So there was nothing left to do than to whip up a batch myself. Super simple with nothing more than a handful of ingredients needed; butter, sugar, vanilla and of course the brandy!



And since we were already in the kitchen, why not make some mascarpone waffles to slather with said brandy butter. A bit of leftover rum caramel sauce and you’re good to go. What better way to make it through the greyness of winter? The downside... winter only as the caloriecount is not bikini season OK.

Status quo

I only just got started on my bucket list but nothing motivates me like striking something off a list, so I decided to do a quick update. Here’s how far I’ve gotten.

1. Clear out and reduce my wardrobe to workable proportions. I started with the overflow cupboards. And plan to do shoes and accessories this weekend.
2. Organize and showcase my beloved shoe collection. B. Wear them all. I realize now that I missed several good ones in the photo op but after 145 pictures I’d had enough. I did work some new ones in this week.
3. Take better care of my skin. I don’t wear make-up at home/at weekends so never bother doing more than splashing cold water on my face. I am now pushing myself to be less lazy on weekends and cleanse properly. I started using an eye serum just this week to help with the darkness and bags I seem to have grown overnight. I got back on track with treating my dry, sensitive skin better with at least a daily moisture rubdown.
4. Make granola. Loved the cherry, almond chocolate version I made so much, I am going to make more with my second favorite; dried blueberries.
5. Sort and switch out toys. I weeded out the toy bins to manageable proportions. Result is a slightly less daycare room look and the kids can’t make choices because they can see and find what they have.
6. Get the kids involved in cooking. Took baby steps this weekend with French toast and caramel. Kudos to Zoe Isobel for getting in there and dipping and dunking. Raw egg still makes me squeamish. Even Mika was great, sitting and watching everything from a bar stool pulled up to the counter.
7. Learn more so I can do more. There was a masterclass photography and styling this week from Meet the Blogger that I saw too late and was already fully booked so I put my name on the wait list. The next class is mine as better photo’s is something I really want to be able to produce. Nothing like eye candy.

Let’s see if we can keep the momentum going as by the end of January the motivation usually wanes and by February all good thoughts and resolutions are forgotten. I’m determined not to slide but to have less stuff I don’t value and to experience more! Got to get that bucket empty!!

Heaven at my feet

No question about it my absolute favorite fashion item is a pair of shoes. Makes, breaks and completes an outfit. Often the starting point in fact. My shoes are sometimes so outspoken, whether in heel height or style, that it demands the rest of the outfit take a backseat or at least get in line behind them. My shoes vary in range from slippers bought for twenty Malaysian ringgit’s to ahem more expensive brands, whose prices shall not be mentioned for fear certain someones might keel over with early onset heart attack.

I have no idea how many I own as they are spread out over several different spots. I curb and cull every so often but still it grows as I wear all the shoes because they make me feel great, stronger actually and so I feel OK to get a new feistier pair. I used to throw on a pair of killer heels and parade around in front of the mirror on a low-confidence day. Now I throw on a great pair of shoes every time I leave the house. 

And yep, when it comes to shoes I am a typical women; style first, comfort later and the old adage “you have to suffer to be beautiful” definitely applies. The higher and or odder the better, despite the fact that I have a pair of custom insoles to correct the odd shape of my feet and my weak knee. Even having my feet swell up and ache all night long will not keep me away for more than a day. Don’t get me wrong, I do wear flats but mostly heels. Hey, even my sneakers have hidden heels. So here is a tribute to my shoes, not all of them because that would take me ages to photograph and also not fit in the one post!

 

P.S. I tried to take a head count and gave up!

Lazy weekends are made of these..

Lazy weekends, sometimes you want them, sometimes you need them, sometimes you are too exhausted to realize you're taking one. But no matter the reason, weekend chilling means brunch. Truly deserving of the  title favorite mealtime because it means you slept right through to breakfast. So might as well go all out, no?

A cup of espresso and french toast made from a rustic doughy loaf of unsliced french bread, soaked in custard and topped off with my favorite topping; salted caramel but then with an unexpected twist; rum. Just a hint of real rum (no fake flavouring please) totally takes this sauce to new heights. And to give the eye a treat served on my favorite oak serving tray from ¿adónde?

Gosh, I just remembered I have Mondays off, so it's still weekend. More rum caramel french toast, yea!

Bucket list

Talk the talk means walking the walk, so since I mention it in my resolutions, here's my bucket. Or a part of it at least. The bucket list stems from my love of lists. I make them every day. From mundane chores to groceries to goals. A couple of months ago I started two 'living' lists that I look at almost every single day. These lists make up my goals. Divided into short and long-term. They are ever evolving as new thoughts get added, accomplished ones get checked off and priorities change. Besides these two there is a third list, called influences & involvement. This one consists of inspirational talks and sayings that I come across that made me smile, laugh or think. These lists add structure to the whir war that is the inner workings of my mind. While I won’t be sharing these exact lists, I thought it would be a fun experiment to apply the concept to the topics of this blog; Ballerina’s (fashion), Brownies (food) & Babe (kids) and design. 

 

Fashion

1. Clear out and reduce my wardrobe to workable proportions . This is a lot more work than I thought but am so happy to be able to open the closet without the risk of being avalanched by textiles. 2. Organize and showcase my beloved shoe collection. 2B. Wear them all. 3. A designer handbag to replace all the various handbags that get disregarded after a short while. I’m thinking something from Alexander Wang as I love his stuff. 4. More beauty than fashion, but since that is the base, it is a must to take better care of my skin. My goal is to upgrade my face and body routine from just the basics to one suited to my dry and extremely sensitive skin. 5. To keep from repeating number one within a mum; shopping awareness. “Do I want this” needs to become “will I use” this and “do I need it”. 6. Posted about these here but I definitely want, will use and need a pair of leather pants. These paired with stiletto’s are a killer.

 

Food

1. Learn and make a new lemon dessert as I love sour. 2. Make a frosted vanilla bean cake as I usually make cupcakes as these have a kid friendly size and no frosting means less mess potential. 3. Cook sausages as I fell in love with fennel flavored Italian sausages in the US that I just cannot find in the Netherlands. 4. Johnny cakes which were a staple of my childhood and which I have a craving for, one tuna and one with ‘old’ Dutch cheese. Takes me right back. 5. Cook gnocchi. I have tried these and found them bland and doughy. I am determined to make these yummy. 6. Homemade pasta. I bought a pasta machine after failing to roll by hand a dough thin enough. I must succeed in recreating a sensational dish I had in Florence consisting of pasta stuffed with cheese and pear; Fiocchetti 7. Make granola. I eat cereal pretty much seven days out of the week so why not make it myself, especially if it is cherry and almond granola where the chunks are big enough to see and taste = not store-bought. I made a batch of granola this weekend with the last of my dried tart cherries, white and dark chocolate and OMG so good. Sweet, tart, salty and crunchy. With and without milk. As breakfast, as a snack, just plain yum. 8. This is a tough one.. cook and eat more fish. The scent of fish drives me crazy, plus the trauma of a choking incident with my sis turned me right off fish from an early age. I do want to get over this phobia though and get my kids to eat fish as well as meat, so have to make the leap first.

 

Kids

1.Sort and switch out toys. The toy bins in the living room are overflowing and the bottom ones go unseen. Move them out and around keeps it fresh 2. My baby (sniff, sniff for growing up) abilities has come on in leaps and bounds the last few months that I now think he is ready for crafting projects with his big sis. 3. Zoe Isobel has several albums chronicling her short, wonderful life. I think it is time for a joint one with a starring role as well for Mika. 4. Started in 2013 and to be completed in 2014; a big girls room for Zoe Isobel as she is almost as tall as her bed is long. 5. Get the kids involved in cooking. Zoe Isobel loves helping with baking, especially licking the utensils clean but I want to get her started on the main meal. Food appreciation might lead to easier mealtimes with veggies and are you ever too young to learn to cook? 6. Together and just me time. Big sis and little bro both crave personal attention. To the point of cutting in and squabbeling at times. I want to find activities that they can do together, like getting Mika in on the nighttime read.  And activities specific and only for the one. I think jewelry crafting would be good for Zoe Isobel and for Mika definitely something with cars or puzzles. Maybe a puzzle that stacks into a car.

 

Design

1.Start saving and planning for a trip to Milan to visit Salone Internazionale del Mobile. The largest design trade show and more than fifty years of experience in doing so. Yes please, this tops this list by far. 2. Clearing out seems to be a definite theme as also this area could do with a clean out. My style has changed quite a bit since my first apartment. So now I also have home accessories that no longer fit my style. Crowded storage cupboards make me nervous so clear out and clear out some more. 3. Feminize my resting spot. My bedroom is now a three palate space with only black, white and grey. The black backdrop wall is the only wall color besides basic white that has not bored me in the end. This I love but still I’m torn between keeping this aspect and making it more winter feminine with shudder brocade, gold and pastel pinks or to go the other way entirely with Scandinavian white. Crisp and fresh or warm and girly? 4. Design is such an important factor in my life, as I look for in everything from a toothbrush to furniture. So I want to work that into the concept and fabric of this blog and give it its own well deserved spot. B, B & B needs to morph into B, B, B, & D 5. Adding on to the previous item.. finish off the design of this blog. I still have to get around to the lay-out elements I have planned like the adding of pages. More importantly the goals is to be more open. I love this blog and everything to do with it, but keep it pretty darn private as I take humble to new depths. I was really excited to go the 'Meet the blogger' conference last year conference but chickened out. I am finally learning that openness is not pride and that pride is not necessarily a bad thing. To be proud of ones accomplishments in the way of children is a positive in my book because of the pureness in the way they do this. Humh, pure I like that word. 6. Learn more so I can do more, so I can share more. I think this is the year to finally take that photography class or learn more about blogging.

Princess and the pea

Hands down this is the fairy tale I identified with the most as a child and still do now.  One bit of lint, a crumb or wrinkle in the sheets and I am out and straightening and righting the bedding wrongs. And since my daughter is my princess, pea or not, I love the idea of incorporating a princess and the pea style lounge element into her room. How cool are these mattresses with their funky prints? From hip Spanish brand  Nobodinoz. Also available via My little square.

You can DIY this idea with any fabric you want but what I love about this line is the thinness of the mattresses. The thin layers makes the concept, of stacking mattress upon mattress high in the sky, like the illustrations from the book, much more real. Plus it would be great to lay them all out flat like tatami mats for slumber parties and romping around. Ideal for protecting my rambunctious bundle of energy.

I just might slip a pea in!

Cleaning out my closet

I tried sorting my wardrobe into spring/summer and autumn/winter in an effort to free up some space in my working wardrobe. That is the wardrobe situated in the bedroom versus the wardrobe in the guest bedroom and the extra clothing rail in the office. Bags are even more spread out around the house and jewelry is divided over five different storage boxes. The result of divide and conquer: Fail! 

Why? A. Quite a large amount of items, except super thick knits, can be worn throughout the seasons. Throw on a blazer or cardigan and bam that top is still workable. Shoes are a bit more dividable but even in the winter I still wear pumps and strappy heels, even when it snows. What can I say, I am just more confident when my pins are topped off with a pair of pins. So most of the clothes and shoes are still being worn. B. I replenish my closet at a rate akin to the speed of light. I keep a list (I love a good list) of items that have yet to be worn and at the moment it stands at twenty-six pieces including shoes, which are my one true love. If I added the things that have only had one go, we might be blushing. Luckily a perfect vision appears of the desired outfit down to the accessories and my elephant’s memory takes me right to the spot, no matter where that spot is. But still, there is definite room for improvement in my methods. I mean if I am keeping the doors of a wardrobe closed by putting a chair under the handles, maybe we need to slim down the fat from say obese to at least thick-boned?

My ultimate goal is to have only a working wardrobe, but we need to take baby steps here. For now what is not or not effectively being worn gets sorted into; donate to good will or sell that puppy. You never know, I might end up with a good sized nest egg for my first designer handbag; a fashion goal for 2014. The sorting in order of dire need is clothes, jewelry and accessories and lastly shoes. For shoes my goal is to eventually have then all up and showing as I now only have space to stall the first thirty or so and have more shoes than weeks to the year. I love above all other fashion items, a new pair of shoes. Parading around in front of the mirror in heels used to and still cheers me up on a fat day. The good thing or bad thing, depending on how you see it, about my shoe love is that I actually were them all now outside. Actually, now I think about it I just might make a shoe post. Aah, pic after pic of shoe after shoe. Valhalla. But not getting too sidetracked, here are the results of the first clear out; the wardrobes in the guest. Now off to the secondhand shops, 3 giant bags full. Plus 3 more for goodwill, one of baby goods and one of junk (who needs seven extra guest pillows?). 8 bags of stuff gone! I think the shelf if not the entire cupboard is thanking me.

Before

After

P.S. check out the coming bucket list post for more of my fashion goals. And the continued clear out..

Fashion favorites of 2013

Since 2013 saw a renewed interest in expressing my style through fashion, I could not resist making a small edit of the fashion items that topped that’s year list for me. I love dresses and skirts and think everything is more fabulous with a heel but in the end the items that get the most play are the basics.. albeit a bit more fun.

 The edition of a leather jacket edges up a full skirt beautifully and a pair of shredded jeans does the same for killer heels. Bad hair day, throw a beanie on it. Want to look cute but be able to walk more than just form elevator to desk, a funky boot with a low heel does the trick. Keep forgetting an item or two when shuffling around the contents of work bag, tech and purse? One large bag that holds tech, work gear and always contains a cute clutch that can be whipped out if going straight from the office to anywhere else. An effortless piece that is versatile? An asymmetrical top will take you there.

I have more than one leather jacket but this one from the H&M icons collection is my go-to. I love the collar that flaps differently depending on how far it is zipped. Plus quilted bits on the shoulders and plenty of zips gives it just enough edge.

I am insane for Acne which is hands down my favorite brand and eggplant is my favorite color, so what else for my favorite pair of shoes? 

I finally took the plunge and got a bag big enough to hold my work gear and anything else that might be needed. The combination of suede and smooth leather and the ability to carry as a clutch (handles in, hand in flap), makes me adore this purchase from &Other Stories. 

I stopped wearing jeans for years before finding this insanely destroyed-look black version in slim fit. A mere 15 bucks and hands down my best pair ever! 

When in doubt, I throw on this Le Muse top. It switches up so easily into different shapes, is loose and comfortable but still manages to make me feel oh so feminine. 

No bad hair day needed to make me wear this Cos angora beanie. I love the pastel softness and it makes me instantly more carefree.

A resolute 2014!

This is the general idea for this year. Last year's was this. The theme is living in the now. This is so important to me that it is etched on my wrist (check my instagram for proof). The bucket list is more the details side. More about that in another post.

Mad for Metylos

I love new design(ers). I love wood. I love felt. Put these together and you end up with some pretty awesome products. When I saw the products from Metylos on Kidslovedesign I immediately fell like a block, because they combine these beloved materials.

Metylos is a French company started in 2010 and I think they have made a great range of products in the short time they have been designing and producing. Everything from carpets to decorative items to lamps. Ah, my wish list just got a bit longer..

1. Beauty mirror, available in a group of two and four. 2. Monsieur F lamp, also available with a wall fixture. 3. Maurice peg, with integrated mirror and tiny shelf.

Cool notes

Yes, I have a smartphone, a laptop and an iPad, but I still use.. shudder and shiver.. an actual notebook. I jot down notes during meetings even though my handwriting is so terrible that I often can’t read it afterwards. It just plain helps me to remember better than simply pressing a key. Plus I list ideas for this blog as they come to me and make loads of sketches of projects, room ideas and designs which I am not skilled enough to do digitally. Basically any and all things I want to visualize end up in my notebook.

• I currently use a great blank paged white with pink edging notebook by Nuuna. Check out and score their collection here. Keeping with the print idea, I am loving the ‘skin’ and text collections.
• And once you have your thing, stick firmly with it. So how could I resist a python texture with a skull? This 'good girls, bad girls' notebook from Sloane Stationery is totally wicked!
• Fell in love with the pen orgy pencil case. The bright yellow and witty text on this 'great ideas, cunning plans' notebook finishes it off. From Happy Jackson.
• And as a blogger, what better than to finish this list with a notebook titled 'bloggers I met and liked' from Archie Grand.

Sssh...quiet. It's nursing a hangover day!

Wishing you a quiet, restful day to gear up for 2014...

 and to lose the migraine!