Lafle - hand made jewelry

I had the delight of discovering the Lafle blog this week.  A young woman in Poland who is very talented at making lovely hand made jewelry.  Here are a few of my favourites posted up on her blog.

via Lafle

The red heart earrings are my absolute faves!

Happy Weekend.

xoxo

Holly

today's packing challenge

I get a bit stressed before a long trip.  Especially about the packing part.  With this trip in particular, it will be crucial to carry everything on because I have three transfers to make.  I want to avoid missing flights due to luggage re-check and I don't want to wait for my luggage upon arrival because all I'll want to do is run out to see my sister.  The catch is that I am packing for a three week vacation.  Idecided to do a packing trial run today.  So here was my challenge:

What you see there does not include my computer, cameras, associated wires and jewelry. 

The result:

...and yes, I can easily close the suitcase without busting any zippers.

I think the only reason this was possible is because I'll be staying with my sister so I didn't have to bring any excessive toiletries, like hair products, curling iron, shower gel, etc.  Otherwise, one tub of moisturizer and I would have had to check my luggage (no big liquids allowed).  Also, my mom is an expert packer so I learned a few tricks from her.  The most important being rolling clothing istead of folding.

So there you have it.  I'm leaving Monday, my packing trial was a success and now I can rest a bit easier.

Any packing tips you'd like to share?


xoxo
Holly

on colourfully growing old

Every one is afraid of growing old.  I've noticed recently that I have a serious patch of grey hair making an appearance, right at the front.  Like if I were to let it grow out it would turn into a sort of skunk like streak.  My first instinct is 'I don't care.  I like it.  That's who I am.  I hope it does grow big and thick.  That will make me unique.'  But then I get this other feeling, 'Not even thirty, and significant grey hairs already.  I should dye it.  I should pull some of them out.  Why would I want to appear older than I am?'  I struggle with this mini battle everyday when I comb my hair.  But I think I've decided to embrace it and accept it.  I really don't want to have to dye my hair.  Women already have so many things to do as part of their getting ready and care routine. The thought of adding another thing to the primping process just exhausts me.  I am so jealous of my husband who gets up, showers, gets dressed and voila.  Ready for the day (looking real good might I add).

Today I found this website called Advanced Style.  I would like to share a few videos with you.  They are appropriate to the topic of getting old, accepting oneself, expressing oneself and using color to grow happiness.  I urge you to visit Advanced Style if you like these for more wonderful videos.

I love colour.  It is one of my favourite things.  I feel really connected to it somehow.  This is why I was always drawn to painting and why lately I feel the need to give a rebirth to that hobby.  For me, it's not about painting realistically - I'm not talented at drawing.  But I love to paint because I love putting colours together. I makes something inside of me move.  For me, everything is related back to or can be described by a colour.  Sounds, smells and even movement.  I remember when I was really into jazz ballet; I could think about a choreography or a movement and think, 'be red', 'be blue', 'be yellow', 'be black'.  Those were my driving factors to expressing the movement properly.
  
My clothes are not excessively colourful and usually I like to be neutral as a base and layering color on top.  That way, the colours really stand out.  And I've been learning to appreciate neutral colours more and more.  A colour doesn't have to be bold and bright to be beautiful.

So I hope you appreciated these videos as much as I did today.  They have encouraged me to be confident about myself, about aging and to take my trusty colour companion along for the ride.  When I am nintey I hope to be daring enough to wear eyelashes like Ilona Royce Smithkin.  I also look forward to pimping out my walker, if I ever need one, with tassels and colours and bells maybe.  But until then, I will enjoy my youth, grey hairs and all.


Here is my colour palette for the day.  Not like I'll be matching my clothes to it, but maybe more like my mood.  How would you describe it?  I'll share my thoughts about it if you do =)

xoxo

Holly

just can't get enough...

Here are two living beings I just can't seem to get enough of:

First, my husband Paul.  Seriously, he's just the best.

photo credit: me.

And my cat Jack.  He's just so sweet.

photo credit: Iro

Just looking at them, my heart is filled with overwhelming tenderness.  I don't know what I would do without these handsome guys.

xoxo

Holly

Sweet Treats

Looks yummy right?  My friend E is a cupcake master and generally a baking enthusiast.  She remembered that I had once told her how I missed pecan pie since being in Germany.  And voila - pecan bars.  They were so amazingly delicious, these guys almost didn't make it to the photo shoot.

Visit Das Cupcake to learn more about E.  If you're in the neighbourhood, be sure to place an order for some of those beautiful and delicious cupcakes you see there.  She is truly talented and passionate and that is clearly reflected in her work.  I mean, it's basically art that tastes really, really good!

xoxo

Holly

Sweet Kid's Shop in Berlin

On my recent visit to Berlin, I met with my friend C, who owns the cutest kid's shop in Berlin's Kreuzberg district, called Malinka.  I love being in her shop - it makes me want to have a shop of my own.  It's such a delightful, cozy place.  She sells the most adorable things - clothing, toys, books, lamps, acessories... Some new, some second hand and some hand made by C herself and her mom.  This place, the concept, the items and the owner just warm my heart.  I decided to snap a few pics and share them with you.

 

If you're in Berlin, stop by Malinka and check it out.  Even if you don't have kids, the place is great for gift ideas for those you know that do, or simply for the small child inside of you (hey that rhymed, lol!).

Malinka

Dieffenbachstr. 30

10967 Berlin

xoxo

Holly

via Simply Hue

A trip to Berlin and some other stuff...

First of all...  

SPRING IS HERE !

I've been so busy these days.  Thursday, we got back from a visit to Berlin.  Pauli had some random days off from school so we took the opportunity to make a little trip.  It was lovely.  I miss the city so much, but still it was nice to come home to our little apartment.  Below are a few pics from our time there.

I now officially have till the end of April to finish my last three assignments of my interior design diploma.  I feel a lot of pressure but I am determined to finish them so that I can visit my sister in May with a clear conscience.  I will probably not be leaving my apartment much till then.  When I get back I have three months to do my final project and then I'm done!

I am really looking forward to visiting my sister.  She lives in the Cayman Islands (lucky duck!) and I can't wait to see what her life there is like.  It will be my first visit since she moved there and I am excited about the sun, the heat and the ocean but most of all spending time with her.  I can't wait!  But before I go, I have to buy a bunch of Cayman appropriate clothing (I have nothing suitable for this type of weather).

Besides that, a new friend (which I will post about separately) has inspired me to put some effort into my apartment.  I have been unwilling and uninspired to do so since this apartment is temporary (we will be leaving it in about a year or so).  But my friend made some good arguments for putting some effort (and a small amount of money) into it.  First of all, it would be good practice for me to learn how to design on a (non existant) budget.  Second, I could treat it as my first project - so really nothing can be lost from this, only experience and practice can be gained.  She is right.  So stay tuned for some before and after pics as the project progresses.

So, what's new on your end?


Here are those pics from my Berlin trip, as promised above:

 

See you later this week,

xoxo

Holly