falling makes us stronger

we love LEGO

LEGO website has such a fun application where you can create your own card. We all had so much fun creating our family greeting!

Katrin's card

and Patrik's.

saturday | link love

During the week I always come across a lot of interesting / inspiring things online. I usually pin the tab in my reader but sometimes I want to get back to it after a few months so I've decided to link the stuff in my blog posts. This way I can find them whenever I need. So here goes my link love for this week:

:: this speech by Brene Brown about creativity and critics. Brene is amazing and I love love her books.

:: these journal cards by Ali Edwards will be a part of my December Daily project. I will be printing some of them this weekend. So excited to start this project!

:: going to try to make these spring rolls. We had them at our friends' house and they were so delicious. I have never worked with the rice wrappers but I know I will have a lot of helping hands.

:: loving these printable tags, they are available for a free download. The handwriting is so beautiful.

:: I'm really getting excited about upcoming Christmas season. It's my most favorite holiday of the year and every year I feel like a kid once again during this magical time. I'm collecting ideas on my pinterest Christmas board and can happily say that some of the projects are already done and some are in the making.

:: I can't wait till my three new stamps, I ordered from Elise, come in the mail! I feel creative and spirited once again!

this

I came across this video this morning and while watching it, I ended up in tears. Kids are just the best.


A New Perspective For Moms from Elevation Church on Vimeo.

Have a safe and spooktacular HALLOWEEN, everyone!

be daring

I found this poster on pinterest today. The message really resonates with me as I'm finding myself in such a weird state lately. I'm sort of done with the play-it-safe and the what ifs and trying to balance everything and anything. I need to find out a fast and effective way how to get closer to a personal happiness (which includes work as well).

Let's be  more daring!
(and how fun that I've just realized that DARE is my one little word! which is even better to push me towards my goals).

for Nikon lovers | the Nikon symphony

I found this video the other day online and thought I will share it. It's such a cool idea! And yes, I'm totally drooling over the amazing cameras!

brave

Brene Brown (whom I adore and own all her books) has posted this video on her FB page today. From the very first moment when I heard the song and focused on the lyrics, I just can't get it out from my head. Hope you enjoy it too.

It is such a great reminder to all of us to be brave. I know I will use the lyrics while educating my kids in the future for sure. One has to be brave to have a happy life.

in love | the west elm edition

Today during my lunch break I decided to explore the neighborhood of my new job location (I've changed jobs last week, will post more details in a near future). My friend Harmony told me about Anthropologie so I wanted to check the place out. To make this story short, I didn't get there (even though I was just across the street and saw the actual store) because I've discovered that West Elm has a branch there. And I have immediately fallen in love with it.
I saw a dining table of my dreams there...

and these jar pendants...

How cool are these? I would love to have the one on the left above our kitchen island. Like seriously. There were so many cool things in the store but I was short of time. I wish my lunch break would be longer so I could explore more. Unfortunately I had to get back to work but I know I will be visiting this place often from now on. I'm in the love with the style of the store. Sigh.

you are beautiful | yes, YOU

I came across this video today and it made me pause for a little bit. I think all of us (especially women) are too critical to how we look like. We need to think more about how everyone sees us not just how we see ourselves. We are more beautiful than we think. Yes, we are. You, you and you too.

new and old

We are in the middle of our backsplash project. Most of the tiles are up, the rest will be up tomorrow and hopefully on Tuesday Ivo will finish the grout. The tiles look amazing! I can't wait to see the final look.
I was browsing the houzz website the other day and came across these beautiful tables. We plan to change our dining table one day as we bought it 10 years ago while we lived in apartment. Since then we moved a few times and the space is of course totally different. Lately I'm in love with "old" rustic tables, I think they go perfectly with modern kitchens. Here are a few photos I found and will have them as an inspiration for our future project. Ivo found a local lumber who sells old wood and if we get lucky and will find what we like, it might be a project for a near future...

This one is my most favorite

Contemporary Kitchen design by Amsterdam Architect Saus Design

Eclectic Kitchen design by New York General Contractor Heartwood Corp

Traditional Kitchen design by Los Angeles Architect White Picket Fence, Inc

Eclectic Kitchen design by Birmingham General Contractor Sparks Building Company, Inc.

Eclectic Kitchen design by San Diego Design-build Jackson Design & Remodeling

I would never imagine that I will be looking for old tables (the kind my grandparents had in barnyard at our cottage) and want them to mix with a modern looking kitchen. But now I think they are the perfect combo.

things I love at this moment

These cards from Karla Dudley. I just printed them out for my Project life and I'm in love! They look absolutely amazing while printed out.

The excitement for the Lululemon's half-marathon over at FB, I can't wait for this event to come. It's definitely going to be an amazing experience. Only 101 days to go!

Also this run looks like a lot of fun. I'm seriously considering to attend. Just check out the photos from the past runs, all the runners had definitely a blast.

The everyday inspiration over at the habit blog.

Heaven Is Here by Stephanie Nielson. I've started reading this book in the morning on my way to work and I'm already through a third of the book. I've read her blog in the past and I'm familiar with Stephanie's story a little bit. The book is really inspiring and very well written.

What are the things you love right now?

the simple act of making pictures

by Ali Edwards.

where I live...

Friend of mine had this on her FB wall, it made me smile (click the image to view the image larger). I think we are all done with the rain already. Unfortunately I couldn't find the original source for this photo.

inspired on Thursday

I haven't had too much time to browse online this week but here and there when I found a minute, I came across a lot of inspiring things.

Like this article about pause. I have to think about pausing more often.

Love this poem found on pinterest.

[original source is here]

I love Ali's minibook. I might try this project with Katrin, she loves all crafty things and I bet she would love to have a book like this one.

How cool is this vase? It would be so cool to collect little messages and notes and fill this vase up with memories. Found on pinterest as well [original source here.]

I LOVE all the different takes on Project Life. This extra little pocket is really cool. [original source can be found here].

the power of words

I was watching Oprah's Lifeclass yesterday and this quote's really touched me. It's so true.

When we're truly present, we recognize the "ordinary" moments are life's greatest gifts.       ~Oprah

Let's live more in the moment and enjoy the little things to the fullest. I think I'm getting closer to choosing my one little word now.

I love the power of words in this necklace, it's definitely on my wish list. This necklace is a part of Tracey Clark's collaboration with Katherine Center and bel kai designs. You can read so many inspiring and powerful posts from this project on Tracey's blog.

the coolest mug ever

On Friday we had a firm party with a gift exchange. I got a gift card to Starbucks and decided instead of buying coffee or latte and filling myself up with extra useless calories to buy a mug which can be customized. I asked kids to draw pictures for me. So now I have the coolest mug ever and just looking at it will always put a smile on my face during my long commutes from work. Each of the kids had a half of the insert paper to draw on, Patrik went for a Jack Sparrow and Katrin for a picture of herself outside with flowers and birds. I love it!

bookcase

Ivo and I have been thinking about building a bookcase for our living room for a few months. We have a lot of books still hidden in boxes in the basement and a creating a space for them has been on our to-do list for quite a while now. We have finally decided on the look and Ivo will build it by himself (if it's a cheaper option after doing some calculations). It will be located behind the sofa and will cover the whole wall from the floor to the ceiling. I went for an inspiration to pinterest. Here are three of my most favorite.

first one

second one

a third one

The idea is a mix of these three above. We would like to have a door on the bottom for a little storage and the rest will be shelves with room for books, little objects and family pictures. I can't wait to see the final project and I hope Ivo won't have too much work with it (if we go for the homemade option). Stay tuned.

inspiring words | five on Monday

I was browsing pinterest today and came across some great quotes, here are my five favorite ones for today. 

the happiest people.

choice

today

enough

who you are

hello fall

Yesterday we have officially entered fall. When we lived in Ontario, it was my most favorite season of the year as I always loved the spectacular colorfulness outside. Every year we traveled to a provincial park for a weekend to admire the autumn beauty. Over here it is a little bit different. There aren't so many leafy trees around but I still love the season even though it means a lot of rainy days for us. It's the time for hot tea, candles, pumpkins and also return of our favorite TV shows. We watched The Big Bang Theory on Thursday, I so missed Sheldon's brilliant jokes. We love that show!

I'm a huge fan of fall colors, not just seeing them outside but the fall tones used for home decoration and clothes as well. It reminds me that I need to dig out my fall wreath and put it on the door, it's still hidden somewhere in a box after our move. My children love fall as well. For them it's all about pumpkins and of course, Halloween. They have been talking about costumes for several weeks now and are still undecided what they are going to go for.

I found some great fall inspiration on pinterest. Here are some of my favorites.

owl wreath

 fall mantel

I wanted to do this one last year already but we couldn't do anything in the apartment we were renting. So now we are already collecting milk jugs for this year.

spirit jugs

candle

 witch hats

Halloween spiders

sweater

outfit

What's your favorite season?

inspired

Yesterday after a long time I opened pinterest and dived into all the amazing inspiration. The place offers endless inspiring ideas, photos, quotes and I already used some of the ideas in our everyday life.
Here are some of my latest favorite:

  on being strong

exactly what she says

I LOVE this one! Jillian is my big inspiration, I love her workouts and every time I hear hers: "Now you think you gonna die", I push more and finish what I have started.

decision

today

I've started working out on regular basis and I feel so good! I map all my workouts in mapmyrun (km, times, routes) and it really helps me to keep a track on what I've done and what I want to accomplish. To running and working out with DVD I've added bike rides and I really enjoy them! Yesterday my dear friend Rebecca and I went for a 20km bike ride in the evening. Just the two of us, "relaxing" after a day spent with our children. I really enjoyed this moms only time, we did our workout and chit-chatted all in once and got some new energy for the next day. Loved it.
Ivo has been my big motivation as well, I admire his determination and strength and I am so thankful for his support. We plan to buy a road bike for me so I can enjoy my rides even more.

 on style

I would love to add few pieces to my wardrobe soon and I really like these below. I hope I will find something similar in the stores nearby.

gray and turquoise

this looks so comfy

orange

 on house

playroom

bookcase

love the colors

I've started to look forward to fall/winter days because I know we will be doing some projects around the house. I can't wait!

on pretty things | great ideas

balloons

kids art displays

learning

and remember:

just a day