Autumn layers

We're in the middle of a heatwave here in the Netherlands... otherwise known as several days without rain. Right now I'm in a sports bra and teeny jog shorts (hey, I actually did just finish working out) looking at autumn fashion. What I'm digging right now..for later? The amazing, flirty layering from the Pre-AW16 collection from ST Studio.

Peaceful

I’m all for getting things done but I prefer a slower, more peaceful start. Looking at this spot reminds me to find the peace… even if it’s just in my head.

Streetlove

Originally the idea was to hang an existing largescale piece in the dining room but since it’s basically a glass fish bowl I figured canvas was probably not the best idea. We decided on this piece, titled Streetlove, by Thierry Vanhuysse. Printed on glass the colours are beyond vibrant and the details are sharp. The size, subject and colours give the space much energy. Enough energy to tackle the whole space…

Spiced coconut tarts

Recently I was discussing the foods I miss from my youth and a coconut tart my dad made sprung to mind. I remember him grating fresh coconuts by hand. On one of those old-fashioned steel plates that were painful just to look at. They were made with a sweet, bread-like dough and the filling was basically just grated coconut, sweetened and fragrant. Warm and fresh and yummy to eat. I figured why not try and recreate it? But with a little twist of my own, by way of spices and rum. Heck, I am an island girl at heart!

Crust

2 cups flour
1/2 cup almond meal
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 butter
1 egg
¼ cup milk

Filling

3 cups grated coconut
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup maple syrup

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons nutmeg

2 teaspoons allspice
pinch of salt
2 tablespoon dark rum

Preheat oven to 175 Celsius. Make the filling. Bring coconut, sugar, water, vanilla, nutmeg, allspice, salt and cinnamon to a boil over moderate heat. Simmer on low heat till mixture thickens and reduces. Add the rum. Let cool.

Combine flour, meal, baking powder, salt and sugar in a mixer. Cut the chilled butter into knobs and add to the dry ingredients in pulses. Add the egg and milk and and mix until a sticky dough forms. Knead the dough and divide into individual portions about the size of a golf ball. Roll out the balls and add a spoonful of filling. Fold shut and seal the sides with a fork. Brush with beaten egg or milk and sprinkle with grated coconut and sugar. Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden. Cool on wire racks. Serve warm.

The mom files

Sitting at my desk looking out at the beautiful flowers and the bees zooming around. And all I'm thinking is how much I miss the kids screaming "mama, ahh, a bee, a bee". Co-parenting is still absolutely the best thing for my kids. That hasn't changed. Man, you should have seen them when they realised there were two trips this summer!

What I didn't realise or maybe selectively forgot was how much I miss their busy, their kid-ness, their tantrums (okay, maybe not so much), their happy. We have a buckload of time to get things done, exercise, relax and anything else we want to do because the job ends at 5 pm and weekends are free. And yet it's hard to enjoy it in quite the same way as I'd imagined.

I'm struggling to muster the giddy anticipation of  Wednesday gym sessions, 8 pm and all the other moments that cordoned off momhood. Instead of getting some much need stuff done on my PC, I find myself looking at pictures. 8 pm just means it is 8 pm, not "we made it to bedtime". This beautiful house that all of a sudden seems that so easier to keep clean, seems very big and empty. And that lovely lawn seems less perfect without the kids running around trying to find the robot mower. 

I know it's only a few weeks. And yes I know, they will probably wind me up the first day they get back. Actually that's pretty much a given. My floors will be covered in crumbs by lunch. Someone will have been in timeout. And I will be wondering how much longer till bedtime. But it's doesn't matter because I'm a mom. 

Repetition

I love a good minimalist space and RiverS by Emil Dervish is no exception. Geometry and perfect alignment make this space seem infinitely larger than the 64 square metre footprint. The simple placement of the ceiling lights in perfect pairs throughout the space is what makes this space even more interesting and inspiring.

Triple chocolate almond granola bars

Okay, so I've started curbing the bad eating habits that started to creep back in. It's an uphill battle because I loathe breakfast and desperately want something sinful at the end of the day. So I figured my first post summer treat should start somewhere in between.

I went for bars instead of cereal because sometimes (when I painfully slow) I kind of have to eat in the car and a bowl of milk is a definite no-no. This I can nibble and get on with it. Pretty much what I need on a Monday!

2 cups oats
1 cup almonds
1/3 cup dark (78%) chocolate
1/3 cup white chocolate
1 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of salt
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup nutella
1 cup maple syrup

I roasted the almonds in a pan with some leftover vanilla caramel. Let cool and blitz into pieces. Blitz the chocolate. Mix together the dry ingredients (oats, almonds, chocolate, cinnamon and salt). Blend the peanut butter, nutella and maple syrup. Pour over the oats and toss to coat. Pack tightly into prepared baking dish. Bake for 15 minutes in a moderate oven (180 Celsius) so the chocolate bits can melt throughout. Allow to cool.  I store them in the fridge because of the chocolate. I eat them as it or crumble with milk when I can have breakfast while not in motion..

Tickled pink

I had very different ideas as to what my next desk chair would be. But then I saw this bright pink vintage beauty and knew it had to be the first chair I fell in love with.

This chair looks absolutely tiny and cutesy next to the rather large Eames I gifted my guy . But who cares? It's actually a perfect height for me and I can't help but smile every time I sit.

Rust

Melancholy. Sad. Pensive. Beautiful. My jumbled thoughts and emotions, are matched by the rusted, intricate details of this chest.

Red pleat

Okay, so at the minute summer is not exactly the season the weather here in the Netherlands is conjuring up. But this long-ass micro pleated red beauty from & other Stories can always be paired with a leather jacket!

Inspired esstentials

The folks at ILA combine two of my favourite things; cooking and design. Each product is both beautifully packaged and carefully sourced. Not forgetting the hunger inspiring food photography.

For the design minimalist at heart, there is a white and black collection to choose from.  While olive oil, honey and vanilla are my cooking essentials, it's the salt that has me most interested. Find them on sale here.

Simplicity

When I saw the 'House for Mother' by architects Björn Förstberg and Mikael Ling, I was struck by the simplicity. Few materials, high open spaces and lots of light. My favourite picture though is the one with the broom. Maybe it's the opening, the wood, the gorgeous last stool splatter from Hem Design Studio. Or maybe it's the broom, because being a mother means always cleaning up..

Cheers to the weekend!

Thuis

I'm back! Suffering from post-holiday dip as we left blinding sunshine to return to a soaked and cloudy Holland. Back to our hectic schedule after a much needed sun and especially swim filled holiday. Back to work, back to housework, back to exercise (oh, the excesses of multiple daily desserts..) and back to blogging!

Photo by Phoebe Dill.