Italian Bank and Olives

If you work in a South Italian bank in a little town called Bitonto 

and you take a good care of your clients, you'll be lucky. Why ? 

Because your richest clients would be farmers and as Italians are incredibly generous and caring people, they might bring you bags and boxes of the goodies. Oil, olives, fruits and vegetables. Even wine. Right now, among some other fruits and vegetables, olives are freshly collected from the trees. Before I came to live in Italy, I thought olives were fairly delicious although too salty for my taste. I had never tasted a fresh olive. I can tell you it's another thing. So what did my Italian partner do the first thing on Sunday morning. Sliced some fresh olives and tomatoes and in they went to oven with some oregano, oil and salt. I had it with some whole grain rise for a lunch and it was the best thing I've had this month. Got to love him !

October

September and October are wonderful time in Bari if it doesn't rain. 

This autumn has been really dry and calm. Just beautiful. Warm, fresh and sunny.

It was just a lazy Saturday, first eating out with my family, then having

"gelato" at Torre a Mare (south along the coast from Bari ).

I know a little girl who definitely appreciates living close to the sea...
Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Clay Necklace

So here are the very first clay amulets I've ever done. And the very first necklace that came out.

I've used a brown fine metal string and some metal parts together with the clay. I'm thinking of

using also some stone pearls in the next necklace.

This evening I'm gonna be modeling new amulets. 

Please feel free to leave some comments or 

suggestions for illustrating the amulets.

Bye for now, xxx

The three necklace looks quite nice with this Pull&Bear sweatshirt.

Birthday

Yesterday was my my birthday and I'm feeling...yes a bit old(er), but most importantly delighted. I received so many lovely phone calls, messages, wishes and love, that today I'm feeling all warm, loved, happy and inspired! You see, all you need is love for the inspiration and I've been lately so busy with my two little kids that I haven't had time even to think about my life, nor my relationship with my lovely partner and not to speak of so many dear friends who also inspire me greatly. Just today, I also feel like I'm just fine the way I am as a mum and as a partner, as a friend and as a sister. I could write you a book of my thoughts right now, but I'm just going to say that even if my silly life never goes the way I planed it somehow it always gives me more than I ever asked for. There's one thing I've done right in my life and it's the fact that I've always followed my heart. Today I'm extremely thankful for everything I have and what will be part of my life in the future. Thank you.

And as I'm feeling so inspired, next post will be about my new little necklace project. 

I promise to write soon.

xxx

Lately at My Home...

I promised my self I would continue to write my blog after the baby is born. I'll do it, I thought, even if it would have to be written at night, and ofcourse I didnt. I've been quiet for a couple of weeks now because I simply sleep at night and day time I'm happy if I have the time to take a decent shower.

Why didn't anyone tell me in advance it's going to be so hard. I actually thought that the hard part would be taking care of the baby, but the truth is the hard part is my other child, the older one. She's dealing with her "terrible two years crises", a new born brother, potty training ( which has successfully been finished) and who knows what else. There are days when she's adorable, and others when I'm ready to pack my suitcase and run. 

I actually do feel a great frustration for not being able to play with my daughter when ever I want...With one child you can pretty much handle everything but with too kids you're gonna have to start letting go. Let go of cleaning the house, let go of cooking two times a day and why not just spend an entire day in your pyjama at home coloring or reading books. It's also ok if your child has nothing to do. It's ok if she's feeling bored, because that's life. That's when she's gonna have to start creating and using her imagination.
However, I've started to think of ways to make my life a little bit easier. Firstly I've started to order food home instead of going shopping and when my daughter starts to count the numbers  (gets crazy) as they say in Italy, I'll give her some art materials such as play dough,
which keeps her busy for an hour or so.

Today I received a packet from Amazon with the book order I made a week a go.
I ordered a book about art projects with kids, the holistic baby guide and a book called Baby-led Weaning. More about these the next time.

Maisons Du Monde

Have you ever heard from Maisons Du Monde ?

I hadn't, until a friend of ours brought some catalogues from a newly arrived furniture department store in Bari. They have beautiful beautiful colorful furniture and textile styles varying from industrial to Atlantic and Romantic. They also have some really wonderful stuff for kids. And why is this 

interesting ? Well because we finally found our new home. We're moving in a couple of months time and have started to look for new furniture. Some furniture we would like to buy from antique and second hand stores, others we'll take from my new favorite store. Ahh so exciting. Let me remind you that we're now living in a one bedroom flat and we've got a bouncing toddler and a new born baby to live with. So we really need this new home now. Luckily we have a huge balcony or more like a terrace which you can enjoy at least 6 months a year here in Italy.  

Last sunday we visited first time Maisons Du Monde in Bari and our daughter didn't hesitate twice once she saw this little monkey friend, she had to have it. So there he is.

I just love the creative solutions for children's rooms nowadays, this may be too much, but I can't wait to start decorating my daughter's room.

Think Again

I've already mentioned the book " New Day"( Uusi paiva) by a Finnish author Heidi Kuusisto. In her book Heidi talks about well being that starts from eating raw healthy diet and taking care of your mind by meditating and doing some physical exercise everyday. In general, living a much simpler and quieter life for example by not reading the news for a week. Just concentrating on the things that are important to you.

I myself have been stressing this morning about the

baby that wants to eat all the time and therefore leaving me with little or no time to put in to effect the tasks I had in mind for today. And why do I make tasks when I know it can be hard to do them with a newborn ? Now there's a good question.

So I asked my self do I really need to go to food shopping this morning or could I do it with my toddler this evening ? I want to write my blog and draw a " playing carpet" for my daughter. ( She got her first car toys this week and I got an idea to draw her a playing carpet with some streets and crossroads). Then there are the usual chores for tiding up the flat and preparing lunch and dinner...That's a lot to do

for one morning so could I just stop everything for a moment and think again...

Finally I didn't go shopping.

Instead I prepared my self a nice green smoothy, sat down to write my blog and started to sketch the 

playing carpet.

I'm already feeling better

and also the baby seems to be sleeping so everything is looking much better already.

Have a lovely and peaceful weekend everyone !