Off

It's King's day today! A day that's typically all about being Dutch and being out and about. Enjoying a festival, strolling, lying about in the park. Or for those with kids, a great moment to buy and/or sell toys. However this year the weather totally blows. What better timing for a little surprise destination getaway? Even if it means a 3 am wake up call..

Natural fluidity

Right now I'm loving the light, natural colors and fresh tones I've been seeing. Beige, greige, light pink and off-white, in soft, less rigmented shapes. Easy, breezy but not boring. Perfect for spring.. if we ever get there in Holland.

Dress and trousers Cos, clutch and pearl cuff & Other Stories.

Boys and bosses

How did that happen? I’ve got a four year boy. My youngest, so on the one hand my baby. On the other the reason for the sudden onset of grey. From 0 to 100 in the blink of any eye. I adore this kid but he often leaves me dazed and wondering "What are little boys made of?"

 Snips and snails and puppy dog tales? I have no idea what that’s supposed to mean. I guess it's provocative.. But seriously we’ve had some long conversations about the kids this week, especially having had to kick of my heels and glorious ideal of being a stylish mum to sprint across the cold sidewalk at 7.30 am. Why? This little boy is made of fire and ice with just the right dash of drive my mom crazy. Crazy worried or crazy furious. After I got him safe, sound and away from the road, my immediate reaction was to hug him tight. But that quickly dissipates and I can only see red… including the red of my cold throbbing feet.

I think you can’t quite help comparing your kids. His big sis is a dream kid. Helpful, kind and almost never in time-out. Girly and sweet. Mika is in time-out every day. I keep wondering is it me or him? That’s maybe the thing about boys. They challenge, push the limits and don’t just back down. Qualities that, dependent on the situation, are indispensable. But those qualities ask something different of me. Something different to his sister but even more so different to when he was younger. I’m the  mom of a boy. I have to let him go, run wild, come back with a little mud, blood and guts. But that also means that I have to set boundaries that he knows aren't up for breaking. To keep him safe. To help him grow. To get from little to big boy. He may be the boy but I'm the boss!

Captain’s chair

Our first anniversary seemed to creep up crazy fast. My gift to my main squeeze is a vintage Eames. He dubbed it the captain’s chair.

Now to find the perfect desk for my captain...

Light my way

The Ellum Solar is not the first and probably won't be the last Kickstarter purchase but it is the one I'm most looking forward to receiving. I have been searching for a better alternative to leaving the lights on in the hall as I'm still a kid at heart..otherwise known as nighttime anguish. 

But aside from the obvious mental issues this is perfect for adding just the right amount, right where you need it. The fact that it attaches and detaches with ease, is solar powered and activated by motion, made me click  it home. The hardest part? Deciding between walnut or maple.

Vanilla, strawberry and streusel coffee cake

More oft than not, I total weird science. Let's try this, add a pinch of that, mix that in..
Sometimes I just can't figure out what I'm actually craving. This was just such a case. In the mood for pound cake on the one hand and strawberries and crumble on the other. When you can't decide you make both, right?

Th top layer is a brown sugar streusel mix. Sandwiched together with old-fashioned vanilla cake by a layer of roasted strawberries. The strawberries were oven-roasted in strawberry infused liquer. Three quick pulses with a food processor, as I didn't want to completely break up the fruit. The reserved roasting liquid got poured over the top to finish.

P.S. I've already got some tweaks going to make this even better..and that includes ice cream!

Details

It's been a bit quiet as I've been under the weather and the urge to live, or at least blog. left me. Just kidding. I am getting back into the swing of things. For now some #shelfie details. 

Antique inspiration

Change is the theme of my life. I recently moved our bed smack dab into the middle of the space and that brought about all kind of plans to take it from bedroom to boutique hotel. I’m still working a few things out but one I definitely want to do is bring in something antique. 

At first thought a large, beautiful, ornate mirror but since our clothes our more tightly packed that sardines a tin, I think an antique wardrobe would be key to bringing in a bit of old world sumptuous. Inspiration, check. Now off to source the perfect piece.

Image one to four via Pinterest, fifth image from Vogue and last via Houzz.

Raw beauty

I'm so not into beauty. I still think splashing water on my face in the mornings deserves a pat on the back. I changed up by workouts, cut-out a few favorite indulgences and even start my mornings with a glass of apple cider vinegar and water. So what better time to simplify my routine? The goal is less products, more nature.

My kids have my Sahara, eczema-prone skin. They are testing out pure apricot oil which really helps to keep moisture locked in. I remove my make up with coconut cream, which leaves my faces mascara-free and so subtle face cream is almost obsolete. Most recently though, I started body brushing. Something I never thought I'd try because my skin is crazy sensitive. However, knock on wood, I barely itch when I'm done and stop immediately with oiling. It is too soon to really see a big difference but it makes my skin softer, my stretch marks way better and I feel invigorated.

Here's to pure, raw and simple! Cheers.

Feeling blue(berry)

It was a beautiful Sunday. Sun streaming in, kids on the trampoline, us snuggled together like bugs a rug. I want to keep the good vibes going as long as possible. So nothing fancy or difficult. A wild blueberry and buttermilk stack with poached, spiced blueberries and rum-laced syrup. Too stuffed for dessert, is a good thing, right? 

Have a great week!

Jasmine

My house bird needed a home and my ginkgo dried out the first weekend of spring in the sunny greenhouse that is our living room. All the reason needed for a little update. I love this wall even more with a flowering plant. I used to hate trained plants but somehow this really works with the seventies inspired vibe.