Monday 11 July 2016

WOMAN ON THE STREET - JOANA KRUSE


I was walking along Chiswick Mall this afternoon, with the winding Thames on my right - it's a good 25 minute walk to Hammersmith, but I enjoy the space it allows between the working day, and my journey home.  There's a man who feeds the pigeons in the same spot, and we sometimes say hello and chat about the weather.  They have become quite tame around him - the one who feeds them I guess.

So today it was a little bit rainy at first - and then it cleared for a while.  A woman was walking towards me, coming from the direction I was heading into.  She had her umbrella open, and her face was wrought almost as if she was fighting a strong wind, while trying to keep her umbrella open.  Tired of this rain rain rain was what her expression was telling me when I caught her eye.  

Yet, she did not realise that it had stopped raining, perhaps some time ago already - she was holding on so tightly to the umbrella and what she thought was happening outside the safe shelter of it ... made me think about life, and how sometimes we hold onto things so tightly, our fists white around the knuckles from not letting go - so tightly that we don't realise that things, that feeling, that situation - has changed and no longer serves us anymore, things have changed, our circumstances have changed, we have changed through it, and perhaps have grown through it - the rain has stopped - and its ok to let go, to drop the umbrella

Made me smile to myself - as I could relate to this so well in the here and now - how we can sometimes get so caught up in our own rain and thunderstorms - we forget to even check if its still raining outside - and we miss the sunshine and that soft breeze after a summers downpour - and that's when I suddenly realised that it had in fact started to rain again - but without my realising until my face was drenched with the gentle drops falling from the sky, and my hair I could feel was big as a lion's maine ....  

Again -  I could not help but smile, as even in this I could take something away from it.  Like the woman with the umbrella - we should learn to know when to let go, and when to seek shelter.  And like me walking along so deep in thought I did not realise it was raining again - don't get so used to your situation, your frustration, your anxiety - that you don't even realise that it is getting you soaked soaked to the bone - and if you're not careful, if you walk in the rain for too long without an umbrella you'll catch a chill....

Lastly - I also learnt this - I do not know where the woman was coming from, I did not know her journey - perhaps there was a rainstorm up ahead that's waiting for me, and she has just passed through it - when we do not know the facts we can not make any assumptions - but we can learn from others - if I took note, I would've gotten my raincoat ready - cause obviously where she was coming from, and where I was heading to - there was a whole lotta rain falling from the sky.... 

What is your take on it - what can you take away from this?  Certainly interesting when life can start teaching us little gems in our normal day to day life - and so delighted that I can share this with you...

I thought this beautiful print was rather apt - its by Joana Kruse and its called
'Woman on the street' 

Image via Pinterest


Saturday 9 July 2016

ELY GORDEEVA'S BEAUTIFUL BALI VILLA



















Today we're traveling back to Bali - which still make my heart skip a beat!  Just thinking about that beautiful isle and all I want to do is get on the first flight with a big leap of faith and never look back - to have a simple yet committed life, close to nature - surrounded by it - and all the creativity that comes from such a beautiful soulfueled place

So inspiring -   This is the beautiful light filled home of Architect, Fashion Designer, Illustrator, Yogi and all kinds of wonderful Ely Gordeeva and her husband Gordei, in Ubud, Bali

No more words - just look at these beautiful images and be inspired....

Images via desiretoinspire

Thursday 7 July 2016

PARIS LOFT - SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL












Simplicity in form and function

This is a very beautiful and somewhat minimal space - but the use of a splash of colour makes it feel somewhat more inviting and adds that splash of fun and adventure

If I could move in tomorrow - I'll probably add lots of plants and greenery in oversized pots

But nothing more.  I actually dreamt I was buying an apartment last night, and I even dreamt signing for the keys, and the security fob to get in and out of the building.   My apartment was number 617 or 620 and a friend bought an apartment on the floor below me.  I was getting really excited about unpacking my lovely kitchenware and white pots and ceramic wok ....
And then I went to say hello to someone else who was already moving into their flat - and they had so much stuff, and a whole stack of knives and forks and spoons that he was packing away all mixed up together and putting them into a square shelf ... and I thought to myself ...  isn't this a bit odd?

Anyhow a nice feeling that excitement - and I want to keep that alive into today and also into the weekend and harness this energy and plough it back into my own projects again - reclaiming that ever so important work life balance - but my oh my how have I missed it!

Sometimes we put in so much, so many hours and often - there is not much to gain at the end of the day - but exhaustion, frustration and feeling rather stuck in a rut.  It is up to is to reclaim that balance, to recharge property, to not over promise - but to still deliver.  And when we have a happy worklife balance - we feel happier and more energized and recharged, and we allow ourselves the time to focus on what's really important in our lives and how we can have a valuable input into the lives of others

And also sometimes we need to realise when it is time for change
And then start making them happen!

Images via Arrows
Images by Maxine Jansens

Wednesday 6 July 2016

A NEW PERSPECTIVE


You guys - this is quite extraordinary .... and so much so that I just have to share it.  I've just come to sit back down at my desk where I'm having my lunch; but as I was walking to the kitchen and then back again to the office - I just suddenly felt light again, and I felt excited again, and I felt like how I haven't felt in a very very VERY long time .... it almost felt like I have dropped a very heavy coat of armour that I have been carrying around with me unnecessarily for all this time.

And as I sat down I started browsing Pinterest, like I often do when I'm taking a break or a breather - and this post showed up in my feed - and I just felt like this is exactly EXACTLY how I am feeling right now.

I mean I do know, and I do realise that these feelings of happiness and contentment can be quite fleeting - but that is why I want to really capture and share this moment, so I can reflect back on it and relive it one way or another.

It's exciting though to think that one's mind can be such a powerful tool - to create such strong feelings of happiness and contentment, and yet also the darkness it can allow us to be surrounded it.  The suffering, the struggles - often because of the choices we've made - and then the guilt because we beat ourselves up about these bad choices.  And then on the other hand, sometimes we feel so stuck by our circumstances that we just DO NOT KNOW which way out....

I've been going through a lot of motions and emotions - a process - but I have chosen to make some changes too - to seek help for how I am feeling, because sometimes we just cannot do these things on our own.  More to follow on that front as that in itself is a very interesting experience and a big healing one too.

But today - today I am feeling really good, like things are starting to click into place again - like where I have stepped off the path the universe had planned for me .... it now feels like it is slowly put surely starting to pull me back on track, and back in line with where I need to be, and with what I need to be doing....

So watch this space and more will follow real soon, even later on this evening .... as I have more to share indeed

Lots of love to you all

xxx

Tuesday 5 July 2016

SANARA HOLISTIC RETREAT, TULUM, MEXICO DESIGNED BY STUDIO ARQUITECTOS












Flicking through Pinterest while having my morning coffee - I clicked through to Yatzer to look at an interesting project for a Safari Lodge in South Africa .... but that post I'll be saving till later - cause today I'm sharing with you this beautiful Holistic Retreat called Hotel Sanara.  I seem to be drawn to Mexico more and more these days - guess before I know it, the bags will be packed but until that day  - these stunning images by Pablo García Figueroa will take us on a visual journey all the way to the white sandy beaches of Tulum

Daniella Hunter and Charlie Gay are the duo responsible for the inspiration and concept behind Hotel Sanara which was thoughtfully designed by Studio Arquitectos
17 luxury see view rooms .... 
semi-private villa ....
spaces for healing, relaxing and recreational activities ....
restaurant on site ....

Sea sun sand and exceptionally beautiful design, the use of local materials and a subtle neutral pallet - this is what dream destinations and holistic holiday retreats are made of

Images by Pablo Garcia Figueroa
Images via Yatzer

https://www.yatzer.com/sanara-tulum-studio-arquitectos/slideshow/1