Wohooo Happy everything with lots of glitters and such!
Like every year we made our traditional “best wishes video” With a little sparkle! Upcoming months will be finding glitter everywhere… but it was SO worth it!
Enjoy the holidays!
Love,
Jolanda, Michiel, Miley Haley & Quinn
The Christmas holidays are filled with cozy nights, twinkly lights, cuddles by the fireplace, pumpkin spice and lots of family and friends.
But if you have kids, you know it can also mean a lot of planning stress, kids completely overstimulated by all the excitement and people, and you still need to put out a nice dinner and look like you’re not having a nervous breakdown!
So here a few things that will make your life as a parent a bit easier with kids at the Christmas dinner table!
1. Make it yourself easier.
I know, we as healthy parents want to put a fresh-made dinner on the table for not only the adults…also our little ones.
My advice!? Make sure you have a ready-made biological baby meal ready. Like this one from Kruitvat home brand available in Holland and Belgium. With all the excitement of the Holliday season, you may find your kids eating nothing so well at the Christmas dinner table. There is just too much happening (and just maybe there was a little too much candy before sitting down at the table.) So if your little one refuses to eat the fancy stuff you made for them you will be happy to know that you have something healthy they will eat for sure!
We are one of those Ripley parents who will cook dinner for the whole family and the baby just eats along with everyone but if there is cooked in a whine or if there is raw meat or fish Involved (which is often the case with festive dinners) I rather have my baby eat a healthy ready-made-dinner. We just like to heat it up and scoop it into a fancy cup because treat should be presented in style! And as a Ripley baby, she will eat it herself. With her little spoon, or little hands.
This way you won’t have to stress about it. For us, it always has been a lifesaver especially when being invited to dinner at friends or family, a ready meal in your bag saves you a lot of stress if they don’t have anything baby-proof on the table.
2. O’h no! What a mess
Relax! Kids will be kids! And you know those little outfits can be washed, so no stressing about it! For the dinner table mess on the little faces and hands (and diaper changes as well) make sure you have 99% water baby wipes standing by. These amazing wipes from Kruitvat (available in Holland and Belgium) have minimal ingredients and 0%pafum and 0% alcohol. We just love to use these natural wipes for all quick kid-messes cleaning purposes. The fabric is super think, soft and they are really affordable! These wipes are making our lives just a bit easier. At home we always have them standing by close to the dinner table and whenever we go somewhere, a pack of these is always coming with us.
3. Talk to them!
Wouldn’t you get bored if you get ignored the whole evening? Include your 6+-year-old kid in the table conversation sometimes.
For the littlest ones, break free from the grown-up conversation and give them some quality attention for a good 10 minutes.
If there are some other kind family members who would do the same sometimes it will make all the difference!
4. NO don’t touch that!!!
Put some Christmas decorations on the table they are allowed to play with. Like snowglobes or little Christmas trees. Instead of yelling “no don’t touch that” the whole evening you can create an inspiring playfully setting around the kids where they can be distracted.
Blog post continues under these 3 photos:
5. I’m bored!
Please don’t put them behind a screen and turn them into zombies the minute they get bored. Make little goody bags with an activity pack that they can have when they have enough of eating. You could for example put in a little puzzle, some coloring materials a little toy, disposable camera, a little pot of play-doh, activity book, you name it. (just don’t put in bubbles. bubbles will end up in the food and the soap will be emptied on their clothes or on the couch. trust me, I’ve been there)
By the time they are tired and done with the activities, there will be dessert! And then after dessert while everyone is having drinks they will be so tired you maybe can let them reload a bit with a holiday movie on the tablet in a cozy corner with some pillows and lemonade.
6. It’s taking sooo looonggggg
If you are sitting down longer than one hour (which is often the case with us) and they are done eating or playing sitting down, they will get restless. They are kids, their bodies and brains are not designed to sit still this long. Let them off the hook so they can go and (quietly) play away from the dinner table.
7. Ready for bed
If you were invited to dinner somewhere else, your kids will be exhausted once you get in the car, and they probably will crash there.
Take pajamas and toothbrushes with you, so you’ll be able to quietly transfer them sleeping from car to bed. You’ll have them all brushed, cleaned and in their pj’s ready to sleep through the night right before getting in the car.
8. Expectations.
You will all be sitting there at the perfectly set up table with their perfectly styled outfit and the kids will play, and the grownups will all be taking and launching and everyone will be smiling and it will all be just a picture of perfection.
Wake up. This is real life, not your Instagram feed. Somewhere along the evening something will burn, someone will have a tantrum, something will spill, someone will say something awkward, someone will smear some food on some furniture, someone will wipe his or her nose on your arm (moms, this happens to every one of you right!? It’s not just me!?) and someone will say “mom, I’m bored”. But you know what… You will enjoy it anyway! Because you are together with the people you love most, you have lots of delicious food and everything is perfect just the way is.
Real life perfect.
These where my 8 kid-proof Christmas dinner lifesavers to get through these holiday dinner parties with a smile!
Did I miss something that should really really really be in here!?
Please let me know your best advice in the comments so we can all advantage from them.
Have a lovely holiday dinner!
x Jolanda
– Thanks to Kruidvat for being our partner on this post. As usual, all thoughts & opinions are our own. –
Blog post by Jolanda Marti
Photography: Wild & Boho
Photo’s of our first Christmas dinner this year:
In this video we have a little trowback to the time the 5 of us were only 4! We made a little roadtrip to ‘Zeeland’ in the Netherlands and wandered the fields.
At the time (2015) when we filmed these shots and after we arrived back home we found out we had a difficult and emotional year ahead of us, so we totally forgot about all the footage we shot.
Looking back at that year it went by so fast and everything ended well. Almost 4 years later we found the footage again and it feels like a little time capsule we opened up.
So now we edited it into this little throwback video, we hope you enjoy it.
Videography: Wild & BOHO
Music by: www.bensounds.com
What’s your opinion on that? What would you choose? What do you think? What would you prefer? Who do you support?
I’m always inclined to prefer extremes be passionate about really outspoken things and have really clear opinions. I Love SUPER sweet, or SUPER salty… I LOVE the blazing hot summers or the really cold freezing and snowing winter days. I root for the underdog, I think this planet and animals should be protected more, I feel like the first world complains way too much, and I think this world has way too much injustice.
When I love something I tend to go completely overboard. I can get lost in following a series and don’t want to watch anything else for 7 seasons 15 episodes each. When I love a drink or some food I will just drink or eat that thing until I can’t stand in anymore. I LOVE certain trends or fashion, or I think it’s absolutely hideous. I Really Really REEEALLYYY love plants in my home. And everything with natural materials and textures!
“I am an open book… yes you may know my thoughts. But ask me again tomorrow, and I don’t know if the answer will still be the same.”
I know that some of these things are just a matter of taste or opinion, and some a matter of “right or wrong” and some a matter of perspective, knowledge or information.
I am an open book… yes you may know my thoughts. But ask me again tomorrow, and I don’t know if the answer will still be the same.
I can switch my opinions and preferences or how I feel about something just like that. Because a preference or opinion isn’t like a birthmark… you aren’t born with opinions or preferences. Nothing is set in stone, once you’ve developed an opinion about something, It’s not a lifelong decision. I’m allowed to change my opinions or preferences.
It feels like some people make us feel like your opinion is supposed to be cour identity. The essence of who we truly are. Making it shameful, weak or event tradeful to change our opinions, to change our minds, to evolve. But most of the time those preferences and opinions are dependent on your knowledge. So if you are a stubborn person who clenches on to his opinion or preferences despite new information that might prove you otherwise… well that isn’t a very wise thing to do, isn’t it!? I feel that that is just bitter, stubborn, proud, and short-sided. Maybe even a lack of intelligence maybe!? I’m not sure… but It feels wrong to me.
A lot of the times an opinion is also a judgment on someone’s address… like I just did back there:
“I feel that that is just bitter, stubborn, proud, and short-sided. Maybe even a lack of intelligence maybe!? I’m not sure… but It feels wrong to me.” That’s not a nice thing to hear if you feel it applies to you. But it is the truth about what I was thinking while typing this.
So should you always share your opinions!? Probably only if someone is asking you directly or if you think it’s really important to share it because it is something people just NEED to hear. Even if they maybe won’t like it. And you never know, if you might even hear some new information or gain a new perspective that will change your mind if you are open to it and flexible enough.
“I prefer to say “I don’t know” Because I just don’t know how I feel about it.”
In some cases on some topics, I prefer to say “I don’t know” Because I just don’t know how I feel about it. Because I don’t have enough Information or I need more time to process the incoming data. Knot knowing is ok too. It’s a nice place to stay and just observe.
Mostly on things like a new song or new fruit gets me confused, and I need to taste or hear it more times to “get to know” all the different details in texture and rhythms and flavors happening. Of some things that are happening in the world… sometimes I just decide, I don’t know what is true or false anymore, I Just don’t know what to think or feel. and it all will make me feel powerless angry and depressed. I don’t have to save the world. Let’s make it a better place one little bit of the time.
So I never feel guilty about changing opinions or preferences. Next step is to not feeling guilty sometimes about being happy and privileged to be living somewhere where my kids can be safe and grow up being happy, while others in the world are not! I Just wish Everyone in this world would be safe. And that’s something I Find hard to accept.
“I will be shouting on the top of my lungs: “THIS IS MY FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR”.”
So I’m going to enjoy the winter days and hoping for snow and frozen lakes and channels. If my prayers get answered I’m going to shout on the top of my lungs: “THIS IS MY FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR”
And a few months later I will be hoping for hot sunshiney days and when it comes I will be shouting on the top of my lungs: “THIS IS MY FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR”.
And it all will be the truth because I will mean it every single time!
Blog by: Jolanda Marti
Photography: Michiel Fook
We hit the road with our family of five in our trusty little Volkswagen camper van.
And naturally, we made a little overview video of our adventures there! There where miles of road, lots of cuddles and laughs. But also a lot of chaos in the back of the van with our three kids! The breaks had a misfunction we had to fix, we swam in rivers and waterfalls, and discovered this beautiful and mysterious part of Europe in our Little Vanlife trip with 5 of us in a bus!
We made a lot of precious memories! We won’t say it was easy or relaxing traveling with three small children. Traveling with kids can be a challenge and is hard work! But the memories are definitely worth all the chaos! We explored this part of Europe and it was so beautiful that we will be back for sure to discover more hidden places of this magical place!
We hope you like our video about our road trip to the Black Forest!
Maybe we’ll make a longer 30-minute “documentary/vlog video” with all the moments so we can tell the full story of our adventure!
What do you think!? Would you like us to make a longer and more detailed video!? We would love to hear your thoughts!
Videography: Wild & BOHO
Music by: Vivii – https://www.instagram.com/vivii.official/
Summers like these is is where memories are made.
Moments we will treasure forever.
Days like this one.
Sunshine, friends, and family… all we need!
We gathered together to celebrate the summer and our friendships, to chill, talk, eat, laugh and be happy!
True friendships to us don’t mean we have t meet every week, or even every month or year. It doesn’t mean we talk over phone on a daily basis. We have a busy life, and our friends are busy too. But when it comes down to it, they will be there to share the important moments with us and if you need them you know you can call them anytime. And they know they can call us whenever they need us!
We loved to share the first harvest of our veggie garden with our friends in a beautifully styled BBQ garden party! The hot summer weather asked for ice cold beverages so we teamed up with the delicious brand’s Roestig Blond Beer, Lemonaid+ & Charry tea to keep our guests fresh and hydrated!
We hope you love our homage video to our friendships and the summer!
Do you like these kinds of video’s!?
We also get together in a new-year dinner, would you like to see that one in a winter edition video!? Let me know in my insta post or in the comments below!
Thank you to Roestig blond, Lemonaid & Charry tea for sponsoring this post. As usual, all thoughts & opinions in this post are sincere and 100% our own.
Beautiful and inspiring Music in this video is by the amazing
Shanin Blake: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbxxfWYFYyk_laYo_ofsHOg
Videography: Wild and Boho
MONTH Vlog Mei 2018
This Mei in 4 words: Earrings, cows, backstage & One!!!
The summer days have arrived and so we went on to the water as much possible and spent many days in the garden…
I also got my ear pierced, but I’m not the only one…
Quinn turned one year old! So we had a little garden party! And her first step was captured on film!!!
We will take you with us while shooting a wedding day, and Michiel and Haley went on a Dady daughter quality time day out!
AND….we will have a little talk because I have some explaining to do!
It’s Oktober and this is the vlog of Mei. So yes, I have some catching up to do.
But I will have a shitload of excuses for you guys and a heart full of motivation to get things up to date again!
Sooooo Go Go Goooo check it out! I worked my but of for this one! ENJOY!
featured in this video:
– Kiind Weekend – https://kiind.nl/
– Airmighty Ben Pon Show – https://www.benpon.com/
– Wedding Photography – http://luminantweddings.com/
– Related video’s:
Road trip part 1
Road trip part 2
Road trip part 3
Ben Pon Aircooled Volkswagen Vanlife EVENT
Adventures & Gentle Parenting at 3 day Kiind Weekend
Music by:
Derek Clegg – https://open.spotify.com/artist/2myiaFTyH76p4eNtsdFLA2
Blue Dot Sessions www.sessions.blue
Watch our adventures of Mei 2018 and don’t forget to subscribe!
Last year, I thought: “Let’s give the blogging thing another go after 10 years of not blogging!”
I took my Instagram name and looked if the Website URL was still available. And it was!
So Wild & BOHO was going to be my new blog. Since I’m a video maker, I wanted to start a vlog channel on Youtube and see If it was something for me.
Ever since high school I’ve been blogging and photographing my life. More like a personal online diary for everyone to read.
Somehow it worked therapeutically for me! For more than 8 years I Blogged purely for myself. And then Facebook came… Sharing my stories, experiences and thoughts got much easier on there. The more content I posted on Facebook the less content I posted on my blog until I got pregnant and realized I hadn’t written any posts in 3 years. I Downloaded all my content from the blog and shut down the website.
Now, 3 kids, a Home, Lots of travels, A Instagram profile and 7 years later after Stopping with blogging I felt the need again for a place to Post our stories, Photography, video’s, opinions, tips, tricks, favorites and everything else that we want to share with our followers…
So here’s a throwback photo series we’ve made between baby nr.1 and baby nr.2
December 2014 on a mountain we were visiting my family in Spain close to Barcelona, and we went for a hike on the mountain and I took some of my new dresses with me to shoot some photo’s next to a historic site called Ermita de Sant Pere de Reixac
So this is one of the photo series I’ve Posted on Facebook and was one of the first photos I’ve uploaded on my Instagram account but never on a blog.
I have so much fun throwback stuff that’s backed up somewhere…Like the pregnancy self-portrait photo’s I made of myself and the ones Wouter Keuris made of me! Lots of #Vanlife Roadtrips and lots more! Maybe I’ll do a #Throwback Blogpost on here once in a while…
Might be fun to look back and see where we’ve been up to in the last couple of years…What do you think? Good idea or rather “stay in the NOW”? Let me know in the comments below!
Photography: Michiel Fook
Text: Jolanda Marti
Having small kids, a career, wanting to have a free life and travel a lot, running a household can be a bit much sometimes!
Having extreme happy moments, and then the extreme overwhelming exhaustion kicks in! Feeling so tired at the end of every single day I tend to get a bit frustrated. Will this ever get any easier!? Everything is such a struggle. Never a moment of peace. Always moving, always something or someone to take care of, clean, work, manage.
But at the end of the day, I go through the pictures of the last couple of months and I realize… Years from now I will probably look back and see that these are the happiest years of my life! The childhood of girls, seeing them grow up, and experiencing so much love in our little family is the best thing that ever happened to me!
Our family photo’s always have been so important to me. And as soon as I tend to forget how lucky I am (because all parents know… this parenting thing is HARD and completely exhausting) I Flip open one my photo albums and my heart just opens up, my racing mind just calms down and I get this wave of gratefulness that just washes over me like a Tsunami of LOVE!
Photo’s make me remember what my heart already knows but what my head is to busy to notice. Looking at our photo’s is a tool to help me just stop and be mindful, it helps me realize how many good things are happening right now! And most important, It helps me focus on all the positive, instead of on the few negatives in my life!
Therefore I would say having photo prints and/or albums is improving my quality of life! And it’s so valuable to have as we will grow older and our lives, the world, and the people around us will change too. Photos are little time capsules. Great to have to lay around, amazing to be able to give your children as they grow up.
There are so many advantages to having photo’s in print! It just basically makes me really really really happy whenever I look at them. I got so inspired by that feeling of happiness while flipping through my new Moonylab book that I decided to make this happy little video with our DJI drone!
Moonylab is offering all of my followers a 10% discount using the code Wildandboho10 while placing your order!
Check out our video, and then the backstage Images below that Michiel took from me while I was shooting this video!
Hope you enjoy my outburst of happiness in this little experiment-video.
I put the video on my NEW InstaTV channel for the world to see!
Would you like to see more of these short videos on my Instagram?
– This Blog post was made in collaboration with Moonylab –
Blog and video by: Jolanda Marti
Music in this video is by Derek Clegg
Backstage Photography: Michiel Fook
