One
One year of big grins and soft
cuddles.
One baby who was welcomed by four people who love him more
than anything.
One boy who turns out to be someone who melts the hearts
of everyone he meets.
One little person who does magic, only by being who he is.
I feel honoured to be your mama, Olivier. And I look forward to many more years in your presence. Happy birthday!
Christmas Celebration
Lights, playing games with young and old(er), glitterstockings (on my legs), a wonderful meal and lots of laughs and cuddles. The best ingredients for a perfect Christmas Celebration.
Unfortunately I didn't get a complete picture of my Christmas dress (sorry Daan). I guess that's the downside of being the one behind the camera most of the time. But maybe that can be a nice new year's resolution: Be in pictures myself a bit more :-)
How was your Christmas? I hope you were surrounded by lots of light, laughter and, most important, the people that love you the most.
Merry Christmas
Christmas is a celebration of light.
Light in our houses, in our lifes, in our hearts. The next two days
we will spend with our family. With our brothers and
sisters-in-law, with our parents and our children. We all look
forward to it.
But tonight we are at home. Just the five of us.
Together we've lit all the candles we could find. And while we look at the candles, and then at eachother, we feel our hearts light up too. We are so blessed. So amazingly blessed.
I wish you all a wonderful Christmas.
Tying A Knot
I heard how she doubted herself: "I can't do that. I'm too little to do that." But her big brother insisted. "Really", he said. "When you know how to do it, it's very easy." And then he taught her how to tie a knot. Four little hands, uncertain at first, but with growing confidence, made loops, pulled and tied.
Her smile was radiant. And he just nodded, saying: "See? Together we can do anything!"
I listened from the kitchen. He is only four years old, she is three. But they sound so wise already. And their bond is so strong. Seriously, who needs grown-ups? Together they can take the world. I wonder how long it will be before they master my sewing machine!
Winterwonderland
Oh the weather
outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful.
And since we've no place to go,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
Who Are You?
I remember how I, when I was a teenager, started many days thinking about who I was. I stood in the shower, decided that that day was the first day of the rest of my life, and tried to decide what kind of person I wanted to be that day. A decision that I forgot as soon as I met with my friends and started chatting away and having fun, but still, it was a nice little romantic pleasure for me, every time again.
It took some years before I realized that people can't be defined in just a single word. People are not sweet all the time, not angry, good, bad or fun in every imaginable situation. Nobody is only a mother, an employee, a singer or a crook. Luckily, I'd say, because that's what makes interacting with people so interesting and fun.
Anyway, even though it's probably just as impossible to take a picture that completely depicts a person's being, this picture (that Chris took this evening) does show a couple of aspects that I would mention if one would ask me to describe myself in words:
Mama. Sewer. Constantly looking for something that I placed somewhere and forgot where. Loving fashion, especially skirts and high heels. Oh yes, and mama ofcourse. :-)
Could you describe yourself in a few words?
Decorating The Tree
We have a new keyboard. A present from my parents. The little ones are thrilled and play with it all the time. It's fitting that one of the pre-programmed songs in the keyboard is 'jingle bells'. So that's what we listened to while unpacking the christmas decorations. While hanging lights in the tree. And while eating lunch. I guess this is the perfect time to find out whether or not you can go mad from on overdosis 'jingle bells'...
Oh Yeah..
It was about noon. The littlest one was asleep in his bed. Our little girl dozed off on the couch. I was feeling energetic and inspired. Suddenly my eye fell on my sewing machine on the table, the soft velvet fabric lying next to it. I hesitated for a second...
Then I tiptoed to the machine and started pinning, fitting, adjusting, sewing. The machine hummed with pleasure after weeks of waiting. I almost could feel the pedal tremble under my feet, impatient to get busy again. I caught myself singing softly. We made a great melody together.
When my littlest one woke up and food had to be prepared I noticed that only 20 minutes had passed and only one panel of my new coat is partly finished. But that didn't matter. Because in this short time I remembered something important:
I really love to sew!
My Creative Space
Our creative space is a dreamy space today. We are preparing for Christmas, talking about it, dreaming about it. The little ones ask tons of questions about the meaning of it all, the meaning of the lights, the tree, the singing. And we look forward to decorating the tree and the house next weekend, make plans, gather inspiration.
A dreamy space it is indeed. A peaceful space too. And I am soaking in every minute of it.
Want to see what other people, all around the world, are dreaming about? Look here.
Perfect In Time
Shall I share something really personal with you? I am scared. Scared to death of getting sick and having to throw up. Sounds silly, doesn't it? But still, I am. So the last week has felt like a century to me. I have been staring at this clock. Watched the minutes go by. Waiting for the sickness in the house, in my body, to pass. Panicking. Even I think it sounds stupid when I read this. But the fear is real enough. And very persistent.
Ofcourse I thought about what causes this. I analyze everything, so this is no exception. And I realize that for me it's mostly a matter of control. Of losing control, to be more precize. Apparently, losing control over my body, over what it does, is one of the worst things that can happen to me. When I am alone, but even more when I am in the company of other people.
Why is it that I feel the need to be in control, to be perfect? Why is it that so many feel that need? I am convinced that that need is a problem for a lot of people these days. The need to have the perfect body, the perfect lifes, the perfect job, the perfect family. And silly enough we compare ourselves to films and magazines, to manipulated pictures and stories. We set our goals to a certain failure.
Silly, indeed. I am going to set my goal to not being afraid anymore. I won't let the fear of failure, of being less than perfect, rule my life. I am going to do something about my fear of nausea. And I am going to learn myself to believe what I want to shout out to all those other people out there:
"Stop worrying. Stop panicking. You are beautiful. You are perfect in your imperfection. You are you. And that's the best you can be."
Delicious Chanel
Slowly, really slowly, we are getting back on our feet. This was some seriously mean bug or virus, I can tell you. My apologies for my lack of posting the last few days. To be honest. finding beauty in every day was really not on my mind for a little while.
But I'm back, I hope, and since we are talking about beauty and deliciousness: Look what Chris gave me, just because. I think Chance by Chanel right now might be my favorite scent in the world. I guess I can stop sewing now, or does that only count for no. 5 and her? ;-)
Sinterklaas' Birthday
It just started to get dark when you could hear loud singing from our house. Little voices tried to make sure the whole world, or at least someone who could possibly sit on our roof, could hear them. Now and then you could see a little head turn up between the closed curtains, peeking outside. Then suddenly there was a loud noice. Someone was knocking on the door! It seemed like someone threw something in the hallway! Could it be... was it possible... that it was.... Sinterklaas?
I guess you can imagine how fast the little ones reached the door. And I think Sinterklaas must get some fitness training during the year, because he managed to be nowhere in sight when the mob reached the door. But what was that? A large traditional jute sack, completely filled with presents, stood in the hallway. And on the floor, everywhere, kruidnootjes.
We had a lovely evening. And everyone was spoiled to pieces. How did Sinterklaas know that grandmama and grandpapa and uncle Bas would be there? He even brought some presents for them. He knows everything, doesn't he?
Tomorrow he will be on his way back to Spain, back to his home. We hope to welcome you again next year Sinterklaas. And for now: Happy Birthday!
Shoe Loving
She loves shoes, especially the high heeled ones, just like her mama. I find them scattered through the house, in carefully placed compositions. They make the most perfect beds, she says, for her little dollies...
Recipe: Tiramisu
Nope, tiramisu has nothing to do with Sinterklaas. But it is one of my favourite desserts. And I always make way too much of it. But since it unfortunately is still impossible to share food through the internet, I thought I at least could share the recipe:
Tiramisu
Ingredients:
-
125 gr. sugar
-
6 egg yolks
-
500 gr. mascarpone
-
amaretto or marsala
-
ladyfingers (+/- 20)
-
very strong coffee
-
cocoa
In a bowl beat the sugar and egg yolks until they are light and soft yellow. Add the mascarpone, one bit at a time, and a large shoot of liquor and keap beating until it's creamy and smooth.
Dip half of the ladyfingers in the coffee until they are soaked and place them at the bottom of a bowl. Pour half of the cheesemix on top of the ladyfingers. Then add another layer of ladyfingers that you drenched in the coffee and pour the rest of the mascarpone mix on top of it.
Put the tiramisu in the refrigerator for at least a couple of hours, but preferably for an entire night. Sieve some cocoa on the tiramisu just before you eat it.
Bon appetit!
My name is Karin. I sew, cook and
take pictures. I tell stories. I dream. I love books, fashion, hot
baths, conversations that make me re-think my ideas and opinions. I
fantasize and realize. And above and beyond all, I am mama to
Lucas, Sarah and Olivier.
