Outdoor adventures

Jippie! The sun is out here and my camping trip with my friend and her 2 little foster kids (3 and 5 years old) is coming soon.....Can not wait to get packed all together,  ready for our journey to France! 

This trip really feels special to me. I am going away with this incredible inspiring woman who's many talents (anthropologist, text writer, lecturer, musician, foster mother...) and 2 beautiful little kids who really comes into bloom, now they are offered a safe and warm home. My friends is doing a great job and it is an honour that she wants me to be part of their holiday. I love to take care of kids (it used to be my profession) so i can not think of a better way to spend my time.

We are going to a natural & spiritual place called Ecolony that is part of a vibrant ecological association. We have so many little plans for outdoor adventures with those 2 kids. Nothing fancy, just enjoying little things together, in harmony with the nature. Hope to tell you more about it at the end of the summer!

 Source: www.savearecipe.blogspot.ca

 Source: www.celebrationsathomeblog.com

Source: www.fakinit.typepad.com

Hapiness = the smell of.......

Fresh flowers from my love & home baked muffins!

One day left and the summer holiday starts!!! My last task is finishing a textbook for students who are going to specialize in childcare. Because of a big intern shift in our school my desk is already gone so there is no other option left other to work tomorrow my last day at home. Love working at my own place, especially now with all those rain: i will just install myself in front of my brand new desktop ( a little encouragement to write my master thesis :)) with the cat on my lap, the dog at my feet and next to me a bright candle to burn. How many support can one wish for?

New upcoming worlds

We have a wet summer in Holland this year. So we spend quite some nights here in our Urban House instead down on the allotment. Yes, my little vegetable garden is being neglected but instead i am giving attention to something else i truly love....Books!!!! I am selecting all the books we have at home we did not read yet.  When i took this picture i was day 1 collecting. Meanwhile it is day 3 and there are 3 piles of books. It must be more than 25 books yet. And then you should know that there are still 12 boxes of books in the shed of my brother in law because of our -soon to come?- renovation project of the bedrooms......( i did read most of them though!). I feel a bit ashamed (did i buy that easy new books?) but try to see it above all as a joy: so many new worlds to lose myself in.....I will pick out the best for hammock reading in the Toscane sun......

Here come some of them:
- Freedom - Jonathan Safroer
- Steve Job's Biography
- De gedroomde samenleving - W. Schinkel (Critical sociology)
- A handful of happiness - R. Diekstra (psychology listenbook)
- Pip Pip - Jay Griffits
- Wild - Jay Griffits
- The constant Gardener- Jonh le Carre

 The colored lamps are from La Case de Cousin Paul. They illuminate the old wooden walking sticks from my dear Grandfather

Best Friends Baby's

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.

 Helen Keller 

This year 3 of my best friends became mommy. It is so special to see my friends transform. They all just fell in love with there little ones. Can not blame them! These baby's brightens our lives, what a gift!

Ingrid from Wood wool stool made the wood sign for fresh born little [Valen]Tijn

Oh la la ...Thrift store adventure

Love those colour schemes of old material! In the east of our country next to the Germain border there are so many antique shops. You can walk one lane, stop for 3 shops (or maybe i should say old fabric's) & you can spend hours there.  Lots of authentic aging stuff you truly can't resist.....My brother in law went with me there and was looking to me with big eyes like what the * do like about all those old junk? 

Well, i don't know about you but those hardware with character just makes my creative juices flowing......

Absent-minded student

I am sitting here at my desk, ready to start writing and analyzing articles for my master thesis Sociology. But after quite a busy week at work (the end of the year is always pretty dynamic for a teacher) i must say i am exhausted and can not find the focus and the motivating to do more thinking.  So know i am just sitting here looking at my beautiful birds sticky notes notes from Cavallini & Co, the blooms from Jurianne Matter while dreaming of my favorite bookstore in Paris. Usually i am so focused at work and study that you have to drag me from my desk to take a break. Maybe a little meditation will help to clear my head and get some energy. Did you already start the Headspace Journey? 10 minutes meditation a day 10 days long guided by ex- monk Andy (32 years old!).  Great tips and hilarious video's makes it easy to get a little Headspace in your live. Just try it!

Happy weekend!

Spiritual Berlin (4)

Berliner Cafe (3)

Colourful Berlin (2)

Green Berlin (1)

Two years ago i made a spontaneous trip to Berlin with a friend. Really enjoyed the city and decided to come back soon. Well, soon turned out to be a bit more longer, but 2 weeks ago i was finally there again. There was this opportunity to go to Berlin for a Sociology trip (i hope to finish my Master of Science this year). I did not know any other students so I could exactly do what i wanted to do. So i made a plan that existed about making NO PLAN at all.

In the last couple of years i discovered the wonderful life of not expecting. Natural i learned it the hard way (what i was expecting and longing for never came) but know i am picking the fruits from this painful journey. I am still struggling but learning and that brings so much joy. When you stop expecting and wanting your eyes suddenly notice the world around you, you live in the present and you have not fighting reality. That gives you this feeling of freedom.

So in Berlin i did not bother the rain, or the fact that a big part of the program was deleted, or the (age and lifestyle) gap between me and the other students, or whatever....I just enjoyed the company of new people and made room for Me time. Walked around in this Green, Tolerant & Creative city to see what comes my way, following my heart. Ohh my.....i had the best time ever, discovering a tiny bit of Berlin. I only went into 3 districts: Prenzlauerberg, Friedrichshain & Neukolln. Mostly by foot, a bit subway. Skipped the center and all the tourist stuff completely.  Now i have tons of beautiful pictures and happy memories.

Here comes some pics, the green part of Berlin. Hopes to inspire you to!