I’m Stella and this is where I share and celebrate my loves in life – motherhood, travel, food, realizing my dream, capturing memories and everything in between. Please, stay as long as you like. READ MORE!
All in Motherhood
This year I have broken up my intentions month by month. It is the first time I’m taking this approach and I’m quite excited about it. No matter what approach you take though, as long as you take some time to be conscious and mindful of your intentions each year (call them wishes, goals, whatever) or even just take the time to reflect at the end of the year, without having set any intentions at all, that is what matters I believe; Remaining conscious and mindful about one’s self.
New year, new me. That’s how the saying goes, isn’t it? I’ve always been a firm believer of setting intentions with the turn of the year. When I was in my young teens I would write myself a letter for the year and then seal it up at New Years, only to be opened again a year later. I’m not quite as methodological these days with my intentions, but I do take the turn of the year as an opportunity, more than anything else – to look backwards and reflect, as it inspires me to look forwards thoughtfully and purposefully.
My vision was to create a floral garden picnic. I wanted the décor to be whimsical, with a touch of bohemian, a bit of sparkle and lots and lots of flowers. It turned out to be a bit of this and a bit of that but I think it came together so beautifully!
Pregnancy brings a new meaning to the concept of beauty. I truly believe that a pregnant woman is one of the most beautiful sights there is. It is a period of immense joy coupled with excitement and wonder. Capturing this change in a body and that aura of magic that surrounds a pregnant woman, was very important to me in both of my pregnancies.
Today I want to share on a more personal level with you. Something from the heart. A letter to our little lady that will grace us with her presence so very soon. Open communication has always been of utmost importance to me and since it is something that I hope to foster in our very own little family, I believe it is never too early to start setting an example in this area and leading the way.
This post is aimed at sharing my tips on birth, feeding and recovery. Be conscious that you'll read heaps of things telling you what to do, and people like me giving you all sorts of advice, so just filter it all and go with what feels right to YOU.
Today I want to share a not so recent project of mine with you. One I unfortunately didn’t do during this second pregnancy, but had lots of fun with during my first. You’ll see many different variations of the weekly pregnancy photos (Pinterest will give you some great ideas) and although mine is by no means super creative, I wanted to share that it is do-able and fun.
Round 2 here we come! I can’t remember what we packed for our birth with Noah but it was most definitely very similar. A few things may have been added/subtracted because some of the items on the list below, are certainly things I learnt from round one.
In Noah’s first year of life I knew I wanted to create something special. I decided to create a Photo Album in which I chose one picture of Noah every day and called it ‘365 Days of Noah’. That is what I want to share with you today.
Given that we will have to purchase items for our new bundle of joy for the first couple of months in Berlin, and not having the luxury of 1. Space (we are taking things back to Cape Town in our suitcases) and 2. Time (I have a toddler running around at home – enough said), I will try to buy only what I believe to be essential and thought I'd share that list with you.
When your first baby is born, it becomes the light of your life - your everything. You have never focuses so much attention, so much love, on one particular thing or one particular someone. It is absolutely beautiful. How do you decide to widen your love circle? How to you manage to make more space? How do you manage to share your love?
A friend of mine, who is expecting her first child, recently asked me about our experience of raising Noah as a bilingual child (so far). It inspired me to write a little bit about our experience so far, and hopefully my words and reflections can help those parents facing the same journey, which seems to be ever increasing in today’s global world.
A very practical entry detailing the essentials that always get packed whenever we travel with our little person.
All about jet lags and time zones, travel cots and travel strollers, transportation once arrived and where to stay, as well as other tips for when you reach your destination!
All about take off and landing, bassinets and breastfeeding, diapers, food, toys, entertainment throughout the flight and more!
We did a total of 28 flights and 5 continents in Noah’s first 12 months! Some may think we are absolutely crazy, and maybe we are, but I wouldn’t have done it any other way. Needless to say, I feel that I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks along the way which I’m excited to share with you.
What better way to celebrate spring than in the middle of beautiful flower fields!? These may not be the tulip fields of Holland, but they are pretty amazing in their own right. Ranunculus are some of my absolute favourite flowers so my happy levels were pretty high up there!
My experience of motherhood so far has affected me in more ways than one. I want to hold on to these reflections and thoughts because I know that my journey of motherhood will take on new meaning over and over again - and unfold in ways I could have never imagined. How beautiful it will be to, one day, look back on what I felt so early on in my story.
