Life Lessons thanks to Literature
“We only part to meet again.”
– John Gay
Living abroad and having both parents and children who have reached a certain age, saying goodbye and letting go is part of my life. Much more so than 20 years ago, when I started welcoming my children into the world and when having parents around was ever so normal.
“What news on the Rialto?”- The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare
Shakespeare never visited Venice, Padua, Rome or Verona. He just thought it safe to let his plays take part in foreign Italy, so he could tackle sensitive subjects. Clever chap!
I think of all Shakespeare’s Italian cities, Verona is the most famous. Who does not know what took place in fair Verona?
For a romantic Italian city trip for two my husband and I thought Venice was more romantic and less dramatic than Verona. Had Shakespeare visited Venice he may have written the following quote: To do or not to do, that is the question.
Today I will tell you what I would NOT do in Venice. However: to do or not to do, it’s up to you!
Jumper: Street One, Trousers: Tally Weijl, Boots: Unisa, Accessories: unknown (al items are pretty old…)
“Saying I’ll try really means I am not really committed.”
– Robin S. Sharma
In this blogpost I show you how I tried out 3 different accessories with the same jumper. Mind you: try out. That is something else than “try”. “Try out” means experimenting and drawing conclusions from it, whereas “try” means….yeah, what message does the word “try” actually bring across? Read on to find out…
Dress: Only, Boots: The Little Shoe Shop, Hat: H&M, Top: Tally Weijl, Necklace and Bag: ? (gifts from my mum)
“Walking Your Talk Is A Great Way To Motivate Yourself. No One Likes To Live A Lie. Be Honest With Yourself, And You Will Find The Motivation To Do What You Advise Others To Do.”
– Vince Poscente
I am a blogger who “walks her talks”. That means that I have enjoyed lots of yummy meals and cakes during the holidays and…tada…being 40+, this has had some effect on my beautiful belly! I can imagine that some of you may recognise this and that’s why I show you several stylish dresses and skirts that have this extra bonus of hiding your belly pretty well.
Cardigan: Street One, Top: Yes or No, Jeans: H&M, Boots: Chigo, Sunnies: Cerjo, Necklace: ? (but very nice!)
My Christmas holidays are the perfect moment to relax and to reflect. This year I am in Switzerland during my holidays, enjoying the beauty this country has got to offer in winter. Lots of winter walks and skiing, followed by cosy evenings with my family or friends (see this previous blogpost).
Dress: H&M, Sunglasses: Cerjo
After last week’s King’s Day it’s another special day in The Netherlands today, Remembrance Day, hence the little black dress on my blog this week. As you can see I have chosen a beautiful white background for my photos. That is because tomorrow is Liberation Day in The Netherlands. Since blossoming trees are associated with new beginnings, I thought this black and white combination very apt to illustrate this week’s blog post…
Trousers: Tally Weijl (this season), Cardigan: Esprit, Top: H&M, Ankle Boots: Stravers (previous seasons)
When you are reading this I will be travelling to Holland (or maybe already be there); enjoying time with family and friends for the long Easter Weekend. You will understand that I have packed quite some Swiss chocolate for this specific trip. The chocolate is not standard for my journeys, but I do have some other standards I stick to when travelling. I always have the following 3 considerations in mind when choosing my outfits for a trip:
Are my clothes comfortable?
Are they wrinkle-friendly?
Can I create several outfits using a few pieces?
The third consideration is especially valid when I travel light (hand luggage only), but even if I travel by car or go away for a longer period, I tend to stick to all of these three self-imposed rules.
Dress & Top: H&M, Shoes: Moda di Fausto (all previous seasons)
Forget all your New Year’s Resolutions: spring is the perfect time for new beginnings. Trees are starting to blossom, you can hear the birds singing, yummy chocolate eggs can be bought again and and the sun is rising earlier every morning. So, time for a fresh beginning indeed. I have chosen to look very smart at the start of spring. It’s a dress I like best with a pair of high heels, so I only wear it outside the classroom. It would also be too much of a challenge to cycle to school in this one…
I have combined it with a warm white top. It’s warm in two ways: a warm colour white and some pretty warm material, so perfect for the lower temperatures we are having just now. I love wearing jumpers and tops that protect my throat, since my voice is what I need to do my job. Classy and chic as the dress is, it has got a hidden casual detail: pockets!
November 2005
November 2017
Look at my son and me. Time really flies. You can read in my short bio on the right that I have got three fantastic teenagers. Seeing the above photos, I am sure you will understand why I feel that way. Isn’t it just great that my teenage son liked the idea of this photo shoot with his mum? I enjoy spending time with my children and very often they do too! When they were younger I told lots and lots of stories; a great way of having quality time together. Today, I will tell you an interesting story.
Shoes: Clarys
You will know from previous blog posts that I am very much aware of my outfits in the classroom. See: My personal 5 fashion rules. As a teacher you set an example. To put it simply: ‘walk your talk’.
The beginning of a new school year is always a good time to set new goals, so let me share some of my teacher’s thoughts with you. If you have got another profession, you should definitely keep on reading as well. ‘Walk your talk’ applies to all of us; so enjoy the read, reflect on it and find out for yourself how you can ‘walk your talk’ even more than you already do.