Photography: Michiel Fook
I’m a creative! And by being a self-proclaimed artist I think I earned the right to always wear whatever I feel like.
I do have to attend a business meeting sometimes because that comes with the territory of having your own business.
I still have to discover the “business suit” that feels right to me. And if someone doesn’t like my style, they have no business working with me…so basically, every day, is casual Friday for me! That being said, I do have a “working mode” style. Whenever I go to meetings I like
For example these Comfortable Paper Bag Waist Pants. I just love the balance between Stylish but not like I’m trying too hard. I love to combine it with a cute flowered blouse because I’m always a flower girl wherever
Do you dare/are you allowed to be yourself in your business meetings?
I can definitely recommend it!
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You have those harsh winter days, and those days where it’s really not necessary to wear a heavy coat but a vest will do just fine! We love our beautiful, luxurious heavy winter coats, but with a few knitted layers on it feels so much lighter and still warm without the restricted movability that a winter coat brings… So comfortable!
Michiel is a cap, hat or beanie wearing kind of guy so you will almost always find him with something on his head. Now we’re all grown up I just love these stylish duotone caps with mixed materials. which give the cap a bit more classic feel, instead of sporty look.
Allways nice to mix things up a bit especially in the winter when temperatures can fluctuate so much in Holland!
We are wondering, where do you guys live!?
Photography: Jolanda Marti
Mindful parenting
How to be in the moment as a parent when your mind still is racing, thinking about everything that has been keeping you busy. Being a Mindful parent isn’t easy! So Learn from your kids! They are experts in experiencing and enjoying the present… They know best! Stop overthinking everything and start living in the “NOW”
Last September we went on an unexpected adventure somewhere in the dunes near Zandvoort in Holland. The kids were laughing and running and playing from the moment we stepped out of the van… But for me, it really took me a while to let go of my constant train of thought, let go of my worries, plans, and huge todo list. Until I realized what I was doing to myself and them. I wasn’t really there with them. I was missing out on all the fun while I was too buzzy being an adult!
So in that moment, I thought: That’s it! I’m done adulting!
And guess what!? I had the best day ever!
Having trouble living in the moment as a parent!? Jump in there with your kids and just allow yourself to fully embrace the fun!
Wo’s with me!?
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Videography: Jolanda Marti
It feels like there was the “me” before I had kids and the “me” after. Not only that but after each and every birth of one of my baby girls I totally felt had to find myself all over again.
Having a baby, giving life to a beautiful tiny helpless human and bringing it into this world, and then caring for it 24/7 giving it everything you’ve got is so intense. What that does to your body, you’re mind, to your whole being. It’s all most indescribable. It puts everything upside down and inside out. For a while there the “me” became a “we”. The sense of “self” was scrambled. And all doh after giving birth I turned in to a “me” again… but it doesn’t feel like that at all. That connection to my baby is still there and feels as strong as ever, especially the first 6 months. I am the MOM to someone very special now! And being a mommy is making it impossible for me to remember who I ever was before this little being of mine sprung into life inside my belly. Which by the way, obviously must have rewired this brain of mine in some way. I don’t recognize myself anymore.
And then slowly but surely the dust settles after 7 months or so and I’m starting to get to know myself again. Finally, I can see the new shape of “Myself” again through the new all costuming role of MOM.
And I’m still there! It’s still ME! With the same passions, likes and dislikes, fears, talents, hopes and dreams and everything! But just with a few little extras.
Extra love, extra cuddles, extra responsibility, extra milk, extra patience, priorities and a whole new set of extra hopes and dreams. You’re a MOM but still your Self! And right now I feel like MOMyself!
Recognizing who I am aside from the mom role gives me the strength and clarity to see past the things I want as a mom and gives me the space to feel like an individual And decide what I want to do besides being a mother. Because being a MOM doesn’t mean I can’t have a successful business, be independent, have hobbies, be creative, travel, do sports, feel sexy, powerful, smart, feel like I can do anything I want. Setting an example for my girls! Because I CAN do all that and still be there for my babies almost full time… Even on a working day (3 to 4 days a week) I am with them 18 hours a day! The power of co-sleeping, having a family business, mom/dad equally shared tasks, and working from the home! I want to have it all!
Yes, I am proud to be a mother of 3!
But I am much more than that.
Here is a photo series I did with photographer Wouter Keuris.
So happy I did this shoot with him! We talked a lot about Photography, the wedding-buzz and we had a great time during the shoot! It made me feel like an autonomous person without a baby or kid attached to me for a few hours. I felt like a whole person again, empowered! Not the same as before… but that’s ok. I’ve grown, I’ve learned, I’m getting to know my new MOMyself for the third time. I’m embracing the new me! Never felt so at peace with myself.
Are you a mom? How did you experience that? Did having of having baby’s changed you in some way?
Photography: Wouter Keuris
Retouche: Jolanda Marti
The last couple of months were hectic, getting to know Quinn. Including her in our routines, or better said… making new routines. It has completely thrown over our whole family dynamic. Everything is different. Never knew a third unexpected baby could be throwing our lives upside down this much!
Something simple like getting ourselves and three kids all washed and clothed in the car to go somewhere it turned out to be a huge challenge! Not to mention giving all three the attention they deserve and need, and at the same time not neglecting ourselves, our business, our home.
It all felt like we had too much on our plate…
But now after those first five months, the dust has settled, and we all have got used to our new lives, a new position, new roles as a big sister, a big sis of two little sisters, mother, and father of three. We are getting the hang of this new life! Looks like we are finally finding our new flow and family dynamic. And it has been so worth it! Every struggle, every crisis, every mountain we have climbed to make this transition from 4 to 5.
It is a joy to see these three wonderful brave little girls exploring this world, climbing every tree, jumping from adventure to adventure!
And we are filled with pride and love with the thought that we get to be their parents!
How we get to be so lucky!
De laatste paar maanden waren hectisch. Nu hebben we de kleine Quinn erbij. We leren haar langzaam beter kennen, en we hebben haar opgenomen in onze routines, of beter gezegd … we hebben totaal nieuwe routines moetten bedenken. Alles is anders. Nooit geweten dat een derde onverwachte baby ons leven zo ondersteboven zou kunnen gooien!
Zoiets simpels als onszelf en drie kinderen allemaal gewassen en gekleed in de auto zien te krijgen om ergens heen te gaan bleek een enorme uitdaging! En dan het verdelen van onze aandacht over drie meisjes. Gennoeg aandacht vinden we belangerijk dat verdienen ze, en niets minder, en tegelijkertijd proberen onszelf niet te verwaarlozen, daarnaast nog ons werk en ons huishouden.
Het voelde allemaal alsof we te veel balletjes in de lucht moesten houden…
Maar nu na die eerste vijf maanden, is het stof gezakt en zijn we allemaal gewend aan onze nieuwe levens, nieuwe positie, nieuwe rollen binnen het gezin als grote zus, een grote zus van twee kleine zussen en natuurlijk moeder en vader van drie kids. We krijgen dit nieuwe leven zo langzamerhand en beetje onder de knie! Onze nieuwe flow en gezinsdynamiek. En het is het allemaal zo dubbel en dwars waard geweest! Elke worsteling, elke crisis, elke berg die we hebben beklommen om deze overgang van 4 naar 5 te maken.
Het is een genot om deze drie fantastische dappere meisjes deze wereld te zien verkennen, elke boom beklimmen, van avontuur naar avontuur springen en met verwondering en verbeelding de wereld bekijken.
We overstromen van trots en liefde bij de gedachte dat wij hun ouders mogen zijn!
Hoe is het toch mogelijk!? Zoveel moois! Wat een geluk!
Photography: Michiel Fook & Jolanda Marti
