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Gratefully Grateful 16

I can’t seem to get my GG posts up before my week is over. I always have big plans to post on Sunday evening but then as soon as I sit down on the couch after the kids are in bed I become useless. I can’t even manage conversation or full sentences with my husband. Anyone else out there afflicted by this?

Last week was a good one. A lovely day shopping in Antwerp (adore that city), a delicious sushi dinner with old friends, a lovely bike ride in the Belgian countryside, a serving of my daughter’s homemade lava cakes (they are so good) and a sunny return to Italy. On Saturday we spent the afternoon lunching with friends outside in the hot sun followed by an evening aperitivo with other good friends (including a few IG acquaintances!). Life is good (even if we just found out that someone in London spent 2000 euro on a limousine rental with our credit card – I hope they had a good ride!).

This week I’m grateful for…

…the Urban Jungle Blogger series. It’s so much fun to integrate more green plants into my house and be part of a community of fellow urban gardeners. And for once in my life I’m succeeding in keeping them alive (knock on wood). …the sweet smell of these Lilly of the Valley flowers. And the sweet skinny legged girl holding them.…that they still love to blow the dandelion seeds (me too!).

I wish you all a wonderful week ahead!

Gratefully Grateful *1*, *2*, *3*, *4*, *5*,*6*,*7*,*8*, *9*, *10*, *11*, *12*, *13*, *14*, *15*

Tags: family, grateful, gratefully grateful, photography

Comments 14 Comments
Categories Creative, daily life, Family/Kids, grateful, gratefully grateful

Gratefully Grateful 15

23 Apr

Radio silence over here for the last week. I’ve been enjoying time with family and friends in the land of chocolate, waffles and square pillows (Belgium in case you hadn’t figured it out). I can’t even think about how much chocolate that has been ingested into my body the last 7 days (or french fries for that matter). But it has been good.

Easter was a large family affair with a house full of happy cousins running around my mother-in-law’s house and garden. And (as I mentioned on IG) it has been sunny EVERY SINGLE DAY. Now that my friends is not normal. Not in the least. But I’ll take it and am extremely grateful.

This (last) week I’m grateful for:
…beautiful hiding spots for the Easter Egg hunt.
…a day visiting the cemeteries from World War One in Flanders Fields. And teaching my kids that ever important poem that all kids in Canada have to learn by heart.…fancy cocktail umbrellas that I put in my flower bouquets and mocktails. (yeah, I prefer mocktails over cocktails)

Enjoy your week everyone!

Gratefully Grateful *1*, *2*, *3*, *4*, *5*,*6*,*7*,*8*, *9*, *10*, *11*, *12*, *13*, *14*

Tags: family, grateful, gratefully grateful, photo series, photography

Comments 13 Comments
Categories Family/Kids, grateful, gratefully grateful, Uncategorized

Gratefully Grateful 14

13 Apr

So much to be grateful for this week. Some lovely friends came to Italy for an action packed five-day visit. We had so many interesting conversations, visits to the Design Week in the city, leisurely walks along the lake, delicious meals in restaurants (and cooked by my husband and kids) and even an impromptu jam session singing old Cindy Lauper songs in my living room. All moments that have lifted my spirits and made me feel so happy to know these talented, creative and funny ladies. Soon I’ll have lots of photos to share but for now here are a few little images that caught my eye.

This week I’m grateful for…

…all the beautiful and colourful exhibits and products we saw at Milan Design Week. And for my friends who introduced me to some amazingly cool new designers, brands and shops (even if I kept getting them all mixed up in my IG feed).

…the gorgeous warm sunny weather we’ve had. And these intoxicatingly lovely smelling wisteria vines that are covering the local landscape (as well as the city landscape).…the fact that I’m actually succeeding in training Birdie The Cat to sit in my bicycle basket while I cruise around. How cute is that?

I wish you all a great week ahead!

Gratefully Grateful *1*, *2*, *3*, *4*, *5*,*6*,*7*,*8*, *9*, *10*, *11*, *12*, *13*

Tags: family life, grateful, gratefully grateful, photography

Comments 16 Comments
Categories Creative, daily life, Family/Kids, grateful, gratefully grateful, Living in Italy, photography

Gratefully Grateful 13

7 Apr

I had my son home ill all last week and although I felt terrible that he was feeling so sick I have to admit that our long lazy days around the house together were so nice. We played poker, watched movies, ate pancakes at 11am and went for short walks in the sun. All his favourite things to do all and all very reminiscent of his baby and toddler days (minus the poker). He returned to school this morning and the two of us were feeling pretty melancholic about it all. But no worries, the tag-team-stay-at-home game between siblings is on and I now have one of my daughters home to fill the void. So far this morning we’ve done some line drawings, spent too much time looking at Pinterest and discussed what we’ll bake this afternoon. So here’s my GG post (a day late!).

This (last) week I’m grateful for…

…my camellia bushes. These flowers only last a short while but we greatly appreciate every single blossom.

…all the people I met yesterday (at a local event) who were so enthusiastic about the Days For Girls project. And, of course, my lovely friends who spent their Sunday afternoon helping me spread the word.…the fact that even though they are 12 years old they still love to pile up on my lap and tell me all the details about their day.

Have a great week!

Gratefully Grateful *1*, *2*, *3*, *4*, *5*,*6*,*7*,*8*, *9*, *10*, *11*, *12*

Tags: daily life, family, grateful, gratefully grateful 2014, photography

Comments 20 Comments
Categories daily life, Family/Kids, grateful, gratefully grateful, gratefullygrateful

Homemade Perfumed Vanilla Oil

4 Apr

IMG_6398-001

After years of trying to track down my favourite vanilla oil from the Body Shop I was told that it is officially not available for purchase anymore. I wore that perfume since my early 20s and absolutely loved it (especially since it’s one of the only fragrances that I could wear without the constant sneezing, watery eyes and headaches). And I used to get so many compliments as well! The scent was really a perfect mix between sweet with a hint of spice and was mild enough not to be too overbearing. Besides the odd comment about smelling like a batch of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies I really loved everything about that oil.

So after seeing it on ebay for $150 a bottle I finally decided that I needed to try my hand at perfume making. And in the end I have to admit that it’s quite simple. All you really need is lots of patience to get you through the 4-6 weeks of waiting until it’s finished. Patience is definitely not my strong point so I actually found that the most difficult part.

The finished product has a really lovely deep vanilla scent that actually lasts for quite a long time. I use it as a body perfume, room freshener and bath oil. I’ve even been know to put a bit on our beloved cat Birdie because, well, he stinks.

Everything you need to make this simple Vanilla Perfume Oil is shown in the photo above: vanilla beans, vodka and jojoba oil.

Read on for full instructions on how to make your own… Continue reading →

Tags: diy, homemade, homemade vanilla oil, perfume, photography, recipe, vanilla

Comments 48 Comments
Categories Creative, diy, gift ideas, Recipes

Moroccan Snapshots 3

1 Apr

A few more snapshots of our recent trip to Morocco…

Colourful carpet on the side of the road.
Doesn’t get much more modern than this.As you can tell, he wasn’t amused. These sheep (along with goats, chickens and a donkey) lived in the inner courtyard of a family home in the Atlas Mountains.

Beautiful light. Beautiful sun spots.

Considering the fact these were the harem rooms for 80 concubines I wasn’t sure opening that cupboard was such a good idea.

Beautiful old Kasbah, blue skies and stork nests.
He was protecting the DYNAMITE that was buried under that dirt and stone mound in the background. And yes, we did have a picnic in a chicken coop next to it. (taken at a salt mine)

Moroccan Snapshots *1*
Moroccan Snapshots *2*

Tags: atlas mountains, family travel, morocco, photography, travel

Comments 7 Comments
Categories Family/Kids, Travel

Gratefully Grateful 12

30 Mar

This week my Gratefully Grateful post is all about two little people in my life who just turned 12 years old (so it’s fitting that today is also my 12th post in this series too!). My twin daughters may be heading into their difficult tween/teen years but they are still the sweetest, most caring, most generous, most enthusiastic and loving kids a mama could hope for. And surprisingly enough they still think I’m the coolest person on earth so obviously I’m pretty happy about that as well.

It seems like yesterday that we brought them home from the hospital and they were so tiny that they actually fit in my husband’s shoe. And now I look at these tall thin lanky gazelles of girls and I realise that that cliché saying about your kid’s childhood flying by turns out to be shockingly true. Where did those curly headed, chubby, chattering little cherubs go? Excuse me while I go weep into my pillow.

Over these years I’ve loved seeing my daughters grow up side by side. They have so much love and respect for one another and, most importantly, have so much fun together (the constant giggling over the years is my proof). Their mutual strengths and weaknesses compliment one another and they would stand up and protect each other to the bitter end (believe me, I’ve seen it!).

I can’t wait to see what new things and experiences are in store for my girls this year. In any case, I know it’s going to be great.

This week I’m grateful for…

…the fact my daughters still wear their mama-made birthday crowns with pride. I’ve already warned them that I will be making these for them until they have 12 year olds of their own (and that I expect to be sent a photo of them wearing them).

…my garden full of beautiful blooms and blossoms. And the fact that they make the best decorations for a two-tier chocolate cake with buttercream frosting. …long distant birthday phone calls from loving grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends.…the giggles. Oh the giggles! They keep this house alive and happy.

Wishing you all a great week ahead!

Gratefully Grateful *1*, *2*, *3*, *4*, *5*,*6*,*7*,*8*, *9*, *10*, *11*

Tags: family, grateful, gratefully grateful, photography

Comments 23 Comments
Categories Creative, daily life, Family/Kids, grateful, gratefully grateful, photography

Moroccan Snapshots 2

19 Mar

A few more snapshots from our trip to Morocco…

Our favourite Moroccan cat sleeping on the outdoor terrace of our favourite Moroccan guesthouse.

Almond blossoms with abandoned Kasbah in the background.

Oasis.

After a 5 hour hike to an isolated Berber village we were invited to have lunch in a local family’s home. They made us the best tasting meal of our lives using this simple gas fire and metal tagine.

Moroccan chicken. Without the delicious spices. Yet.
A great way to sit back and relax after a 10 hour hike in the mountains.

Moroccan Snapshots *1*

Tags: atlas mountains, family travel, hike, kids, morocco, photography, travel

Comments 3 Comments
Categories Family/Kids, photography, Travel

Gratefully Grateful 10

16 Mar

Spring has definitely sprung here in Italy. There are blooms and blossoms in every shade of just about every colour as far as the eye can see. Bright yellow forsythia bushes, magnolia trees with massive paper white blossoms, lemon yellow daffodil flowers, dusty pink cherry blossoms, fuchsia camellia bushes and soft violet crocus flowers that the cover lawns and fields of grass. It’s totally worth the itchy watery eyes and constant sneezing that started last week and will most likely continue for the next few months. Being a lover of colour makes Spring my favourite season of the year. Thank goodness for antihistamines.

This week I’m grateful for…

…these delicate pink Camellia flowers in my friend and neighbour’s yard. I look forward to seeing them every spring.

…getting to celebrate the Danish Fastelavn (Carnival) with friends. Although I don’t want to think about those poor live cats that they used to put in the barrel years ago.
…online art courses that my daughters can enjoy in between the hours and hours of homework and studying that they have to do every single day of their little lives.

Wishing you all a great week ahead!

Gratefully Grateful *1*, *2*, *3*, *4*, *5*,*6*,*7*,*8*, *9*

Tags: daily life, family, fastelavn, grateful, gratefully grateful, photography, spring flowers

Comments 19 Comments
Categories daily life, Family/Kids, grateful, gratefully grateful, photography, Uncategorized

Moroccan Snapshots 1

12 Mar

A few images of my latest trip to Morocco…

Arriving at Menara Marrakech Airport.Lovely little carpet shop along the side of the road. Regretting not buying one.Handmade Berber carpet with Berber sheep (in the wind)