Like many people I am self critical. I am either too much this or too little that.
I don't think I am particualary obsessive about what I need to improve or change, but it would be fair to say that I don't sit back and say "I am happy with my figure or I have radiant skin" for example.
I remember in my twenties I was always striving for the perfect hairstyle. Everyone around me had gorgeous, silky hair. I was always struggling with mine. Should I go short? Should I have layers? Should I change the colour? Was it frumpy? Was I fashionable enough? Did it need curls or was straight best?
I was never satisfied with my hair.
The photo I came across in my early twenties shook me.
As I looked at it, I saw a sensational head of locks.
Shining and flowing, just like in the magazines.
I was taken aback about how perfect my hair was.
Why wasnt I aware of this at the time?
It was a rare moment of sadness too. When I looked at that thick dark hair, I wanted it back.
I wanted to be that person again. I wanted to flick the long fringe over my shoulder.
I wanted to feel the length and the heaviness of the long hair.
I wanted to run my fingers through it one more time.
Yet I can't. Its over.
However it did make me think What do I have to day that is perfect. What do I have today that in 10 years time I will look back and say, gosh I was so lucky to have that.
So today is for taking stock and being mindful of what I have now.. Today is for being greatful for the perfectness of it. For what I have now.
Dirndls and bows
As a child I had an image of the Swiss alps and German culture.
It always involved national dress and mountains.
Maybe I watched too much Heidi or the Sound of Music, but I did and still do, find the German “Dirndl”s and “Lederhosen” quite lovely.
For those who don't know, a dirndl consists of a bodice, a blouse, a full skirt and an apron. Fully embroidered in beautiful colours.
Last year, my husband and I decided to invest in a family kit.
It was inspired by two things
1. At our wedding (nigh on 15 years ago) my husbands wonderful friends, put on a show which included them all wearing leather trousers and thigh slapping their way through their self created German polka. As a result all my husbands friends invested in lederhosen, side buckled shoes and checked shirts. However the groom, who was not part of the plan, was the only who didn’t own an outfit.
2. We attended the Stuttgart Bierfest last May, and it was a glorious day, the girls had so much fun. Many of the people were dressed up in beautiful German national outfits. Our girls were so impressed. As were we. We then and there decided we had to buy some.
So a few weeks later, following a debate with our friends on where to buy them, we headed out to the shops.
The choice was really good and it took us a fair few hours to pick the colours and styles. We loved them all. After, honestly hours of trying on various different styles, we made our choices. All four matching.
However the story of the blog today is around the bows and not just the purchase. Each of the girls outfits has a long ribbon round the waist and gets tied in a bow. However how you tie it is very relevant.
The placement of the knot on the apron is an indicator of the woman's marital status. A knot tied on the left side indicates that she is single, a knot tied on the right means that she is married, engaged or otherwise "taken", a knot tied in the front centre means that she is a virgin and a knot tied at the back indicates that the woman is widowed
I am glad I knew this before I made a show of myself.
Don't you love culture?
It always involved national dress and mountains.
Maybe I watched too much Heidi or the Sound of Music, but I did and still do, find the German “Dirndl”s and “Lederhosen” quite lovely.
For those who don't know, a dirndl consists of a bodice, a blouse, a full skirt and an apron. Fully embroidered in beautiful colours.
Last year, my husband and I decided to invest in a family kit.
It was inspired by two things
1. At our wedding (nigh on 15 years ago) my husbands wonderful friends, put on a show which included them all wearing leather trousers and thigh slapping their way through their self created German polka. As a result all my husbands friends invested in lederhosen, side buckled shoes and checked shirts. However the groom, who was not part of the plan, was the only who didn’t own an outfit.
2. We attended the Stuttgart Bierfest last May, and it was a glorious day, the girls had so much fun. Many of the people were dressed up in beautiful German national outfits. Our girls were so impressed. As were we. We then and there decided we had to buy some.
So a few weeks later, following a debate with our friends on where to buy them, we headed out to the shops.
The choice was really good and it took us a fair few hours to pick the colours and styles. We loved them all. After, honestly hours of trying on various different styles, we made our choices. All four matching.
However the story of the blog today is around the bows and not just the purchase. Each of the girls outfits has a long ribbon round the waist and gets tied in a bow. However how you tie it is very relevant.
The placement of the knot on the apron is an indicator of the woman's marital status. A knot tied on the left side indicates that she is single, a knot tied on the right means that she is married, engaged or otherwise "taken", a knot tied in the front centre means that she is a virgin and a knot tied at the back indicates that the woman is widowed
I am glad I knew this before I made a show of myself.
Don't you love culture?
The photos and the good old days
It is impossible to look through old photos without the emotions of that time surfacing.
You just can’t stop the rush of feeling, it just floods in.
This weekend, whilst sifting through many boxes of photos I realized that photos really capture the good times. I mean that is when the cameras usually come out, right?
The cameras are always tucked away in the sad times, the bad times and the times where you need help or a break. It would be odd if we were snapping away when someone was crying or having a fight. So it is easy to reminisce on the good old times as the photos only show the good days.
The smiles, the happy faces, the new born child, the weddings, Christmas, birthdays and the beach holidays.
It was hard to imagine that through all these memories, there were deaths, arguments, divorces, frustrations, jealousy and illnesses.
But of course they were there. No one’s life is void of these.
So it was a reminder to myself to not get sucked into thinking that the past was always full of amazing moments, that the best days are behind us and that things were easier and happier then.
A photo is a snapshot. A moment.
Getting pregnant wasn’t easy, the pregnancy wasn’t easy, the birth was not easy, yet the smiling bundle of the new arrival in daddy’s arms is so precious and one of the most wonderful photographs I came across.
I am so happy to have captured so many magical moments, I will treasure these. However if I ever catch myself thinking that the past was full of smiles just like the photos, I guess I need to remnd myself that I am deluded.
Final note: Anybody who is an active facebooker, double note to self, other peoples lives are no better than yours, even if their constant postings and photos are full of joy and happiness. Noone posts the dark side!
What do your photos show??
You just can’t stop the rush of feeling, it just floods in.
This weekend, whilst sifting through many boxes of photos I realized that photos really capture the good times. I mean that is when the cameras usually come out, right?
The cameras are always tucked away in the sad times, the bad times and the times where you need help or a break. It would be odd if we were snapping away when someone was crying or having a fight. So it is easy to reminisce on the good old times as the photos only show the good days.
The smiles, the happy faces, the new born child, the weddings, Christmas, birthdays and the beach holidays.
It was hard to imagine that through all these memories, there were deaths, arguments, divorces, frustrations, jealousy and illnesses.
But of course they were there. No one’s life is void of these.
So it was a reminder to myself to not get sucked into thinking that the past was always full of amazing moments, that the best days are behind us and that things were easier and happier then.
A photo is a snapshot. A moment.
Getting pregnant wasn’t easy, the pregnancy wasn’t easy, the birth was not easy, yet the smiling bundle of the new arrival in daddy’s arms is so precious and one of the most wonderful photographs I came across.
I am so happy to have captured so many magical moments, I will treasure these. However if I ever catch myself thinking that the past was full of smiles just like the photos, I guess I need to remnd myself that I am deluded.
Final note: Anybody who is an active facebooker, double note to self, other peoples lives are no better than yours, even if their constant postings and photos are full of joy and happiness. Noone posts the dark side!
What do your photos show??
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