An apartment in Paris

We had such a good time in Paris, a couple of years ago. 

Shared some jokes with our besties about Euler,that only mathematicians would understand. 

What a fun place for the weekend!

Three beautiful women

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Three women. 

Three different styles. 

All beautiful.

How do you define your style?

What inspires you?

somewhat on the softer side

These days I am in a funny little mood. 

Softening is what I can call it at best. 

Nesting, perhaps.

Does it have to do with the stars? With my being a 40something, now?

Does it have to do with having two young ladies in the row, ready to fly from the nest, so to speak?

We are on the lookout for a new house. 

I am not quite sure I want to leave. I'd rather fix than abandon, these days. 

Quite unike myself. Am I getting more mature or more lazy?

I am also more of an urbanite, now. 

I think my ideas of farming have somewhat been on a recess. 

I think I can manage containers. 

Little bites of good stuff. 

That's what life is all about for me right now.

xoxo

{All picture credits on my Pinterest boards}

Join us at The Mission Paintment Party

How I love (and NEED) this! 

 All bold, boisterous bohemian souls are invited to a FREE soulfully whimsical experience: 

~Work du Soleil~ 

Part Trois: The Mission Paintment Party, 

a playful and practical free teleworkshop 

for anyone who has ever dreamed of earning money doing what you love, 

while also being what you love. 

Learn to discover, create, and even ~paint~ your creative mission! 

Click here to register now. 

It is absolutely FREE!

my.google.com

Here is what I can see on my google search page today.

A doodle by a Greek student in the Doodle for Google contest.

And I can save it for posterity, too.

;-))

Mother's Day doodling

Splash of Pink

Hello, friends,

Did you know today is Mother's Day?
I couldn't help it because Facebook was full of cute messages to mothers. As I said, cute.
I also guess a great many bloggers will have on display all those funny crafts kids make at school and give to mums. Since my kids are way past the 6 year old milestone, I am not expecting any crayon roses and hearts anytime soon, not unless my eldest marries at 18 and has a baby at 19 which would make me a 49 year old granny of a six year old grand child. Which is quite OK with me, as long my kid is happy.

Mary Engelbreit

Did you get a special wildflower bouquet for they day?
Did your kids wake you up for a a very special breakfast of scrumbled eggs?


No, none of these for me.
My kids realised it was Mother's Day at about  8 p.m. And here is how. They opened google and found their innivative transformable, creative graph.
Oh mom, look, it;s mother's day, they said.

Girl in the middle said: Oh mom, what would we do without you.
Boy said: Let me get up and give you a kiss.
And my eldest got to work. She clicked and picked and made me these digital doodles:

http://g.co/doodle/ks3fft
http://g.co/doodle/64gjjc
http://g.co/doodle/y8jfff

The reason you cannot see them is because Google doesn't let you right click on them and save or embed them to your website. Thank you, Google! You are one mean company.

Which makes me think:
The h@#$% with digital guys who put things out to the world only to show off.

Which makes me think:
 I must get some colouring pencils and ask my kids to get back to doodling.

Boden

Meanwhile, I got some fun hugging time with my girl while clicking the doodling, accompanied with plenty of kisses, and you know what? That's alright with me!

Tips for stress-free small spaces

Hang Drapes From Floor To Ceilling

This helps anchor a room and provides a cocooning effect. A simple valance disguises the workings of the window treatment, while implying a sense of architecture.

Add A Mirror

A strategically placed mirror makes a small space feel larger. Place one over a mantel or couch or in an entryway and notice how the reflection seems to expand and brighten the room.

Show Off Your Books

 

An artfully organized shelf of books can help divide a room into separate living spaces, while also holding sentimental belongings. Prominently display the books that are most meaningful to you.

 

 

Create A Nook

Designate one chair your “quiet area” and pull it into a corner, preferably near a window. Keep books, magazines, and handicrafts easily accessible by placing them on a side table or in a nearby basket.

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Fashion Destination:South Africa

I was thrilled to discover these beautiful pictures and share them on my Pinterest boards. I can hear them sing Summertime in the happiest tune!
These pictures actually come from a most interesting clothing company I discovered only recently, called, Tea.
Tea offers practical luxury and inspired design for babies, children and mamas, which are built to last in both styling and materials. A great plus for me is that they're made of natural fibers. Natural fibers feel great on the skin and are easy to care for. They are also practical, because they are designed as separates, dresses, leggings, graphic teas, etc. that mix and match and thus can be easily layered to move smoothly from one season to the next.
Tea Collection offers 20% off all shorts! Or you may use their 20% off the Welcome Baby Collection at Tea Collection with code LULLABY20! offer.
To view their stunning summer catalogue, click here.

Enjoy!

Easter, looking for a house and our May wreath

He is Risen!

Hello, friends,

I am back to my blogging base. I took a Lent blogging break challenge to keep my mind more focused on the days leading to Easter.
I did pop over to Twitter and Pinterest from time to time.
I hope you all had a good time.

We spent some lovely days over Eastertime. Really relaxing, lots of naps and taking in the salty air and sunshine. It's great to be with people who love you and care for you. I am grateful.

Good Friday

 

 

Roses my father in law collected from his garden for the May 1st wreath

 

I spent this afternoon in bed. I have a toothache that will have to wait till Friday, a good two days, that's the closest dentist's appointment I could get. Thankful for a good dentist, though.

After a week of high temperatures, more Summer than Spring, at circa 30 to 35C, we had a fresh afternoon. The air smells of grass and fresh laundry that hangs in our back yard.

Housewise we have been trying to find a new house. Although I like this place, and we have been fixing it, here and there, the truth is it is an old house, that keeps asking for things to be done. And somehow DH has set his mind on moving, less than a year after we moved here. I must say I find the househunting experience interesting. With my combined experience of sales and customer service with home interiors, I believe I'd make an excellent Estate Agent ;-) But right now we are on the lookout for a rental.

We have seen one place that I and the kids liked but DH did not, because it was brand new and soul-less  -I looove brand new, especially a brand new bathroom would be great-, one place that DH loved and the kids disliked, and tomorrow we are going to see another two places, one that I saw on my own, and own we are seeing for the first time.

As I write, I realise I haven't shown you any pictures of our current home. So that's one thing to expect in the coming days.

Sending love and hugs to all of you

xoxo,

Irene

Melissa Gilbert, Timothy Busfield Wed: 'Little House On The Prairie' Star Marries 'Thirtysomething' Actor

Congratulations go out to two iconic TV stars, "Little House on the Prairie" star and "Dancing With the Stars" alumna Melissa Gilbert and "Thirtysomething" actor Timothy Busfield, who got married in Santa Barbara, Calif., yesterday.

This makes a third marriage for each of them, and together they have five children (two for Gilbert, 48, and three for Busfield, 55). Sources told People magazine thatGilbert skipped the traditional white gown and wore a red dress instead. The couple,who got engaged in January after knowing each other for some 20 years, tied the knot in a private ceremony.

Before her marriages, Gilbert was romantically linked to Tom Cruise, John Cusack, Scott Baio, and Rob Lowe, reports CBS News.

Gilbert's half-sister, Sara ("Roseanne," "The Talk") is also engaged. Just this month she announced she is set to marry Linda Perry, the former frontwoman of the band 4 Non Blondes. The two have been dating since 2011.

source

So happy for them both! I have loved watching 30something when I was living in England. And needless to say I have identified with Laura, though I am probably more of a Mary character in life.
Here is some more Laura/Melissa :

 

In her sage green Little House wedding gown to Armando.

 

 

Growing up

 

 

 

With husband #2 Bruce Boxleitner with whom she has a son Michael, named after her Little House dad, Michael Landon.

 

 

Growing up beautifully.

 

 

 

With her new husband in San Ysidro Ranch where  Lawrence Olivier and Vivian Leigh were married &John and Jackie Kennedy honeymooned.