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Christmas 2011

Posted on Dec. 24, 2011 under Personal

It’s amazing how many things have changed in this past year! Last year I was wrapping presents up with diligent care excited for the receiver to discover their gift and this year I’m exploring two beautiful cities in Austria instead of gathering around a tree.

Christmas is my favourite season and I’m so happy to be enjoying it somewhere new and on a new adventure, but there is a part of me that misses home, running to my stocking first thing Christmas morning and helping my mum with Christmas morning breakfast while my dad prepares us coffee.

However, as much as I miss home, Mister and I are creating new memories and new traditions that we’ll cherish for years to come. So we’re off to enjoy this beautiful Christmas eve in Salzburg, sing Christmas carols in a gorgeous baroque cathedral, and wish everyone we pass a Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Austria!!

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Indulging in my sensual side in the kitchen

Posted on Dec. 12, 2011 under Personal

When I met Mister I was useless in the kitchen. Seriously I couldn’t make toast or a decent dinner that didn’t include taking him out for dinner. He would do most of the cooking and surprised me with fresh and healthy meals! For a time it was lovely until I realized I wanted to surprise him and enjoy a meal that I planned, shopped, and prepared just for him.

It took a lot of practice and I ruined a lot of dishes along the way, but now I can’t wait to indulge in some scrumptious dishes made for him, family, and friends! This year we’re hosting an intimate international Christmas party for some friends this coming weekend and I’m excited about spending some time in the kitchen and creating some dishes full of Christmas spirit!

I’ve been collecting different dishes and ideas on my Pinterest page, and hope to spend some time nourishing my sensual side with some flour, a hot oven, and creating a complete mess in the kitchen!

How are you in the kitchen, do you find it relaxing, not your thing, something you have yet to learn and enjoy?

Have I mentioned how much I adore Pinterest? Let me know in the comments below if you’d like an invite and don’t forget to follow me! Inspiration flows there!

Images via: Pinterest

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Relaxed Boudoir Photography | Amsterdam Boudoir

Posted on Dec. 2, 2011 under Personal

Wrapped in a cashmere blanket, a cup of tea, and my notebook beside me I decided to relax and unplug. After working 7 days a week for a month straight I felt my brain slowing down and I knew my body needed a break.

Sometimes I need to schedule ‘Me days’ into my agenda to remind me to take some time for myself and unplug from facebook, twitter, and other social obligations I feel I need to stay ontop of as a business owner.

So join me will you, to put some time in your agenda to relax and unplug? While you’re at it put on some sexy lingerie, pull on an over-sized sweater and just enjoy some YOU time. You deserve it!

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Travel Adventure | Barcelona

Posted on Nov. 16, 2011 under Personal

I just returned from 3 fabulous days in Barcelona with my love. The gorgeous sun and rain, delicious tapas, and moments spent together made our trip one to remember. Mister and I talked a lot about us and some very honest and shoot it straight conversations about where we’re headed. It was much needed.

Then yesterday I sat with wordpress open and a blank screen. Words that were floating around my head just wouldn’t come forward to write anything of importance, I felt like everything just wasn’t right. I try and write quality content every single time I press the publish button, but the past few days everything just seems scattered.

So while I’m running around preparing for this Friday’s Boudoir Party Experience in The Hague (today is the last day to sign up!), packaging albums and discs of images, and making sure I’m getting my required amount of water/sleep/food for my body I’m leaving you with a few images from Barcelona!

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In moments of doubt

Posted on Nov. 11, 2011 under Personal

Last week on Facebook I wrote “In moments of doubt, you cannot give up on your dreams”. In a moment of fear for me, where I wasn’t sure if I could put any more energy into what I was doing, I wrote it. I honestly thought of throwing everything up in the air and saying “I’m done”. But the truth of the matter was, I was scared!

I was scared that I was going to achieve much more than I expected. That I was going to surpass dreams and passions and I might be left standing on the side of a dusty road with with all my accomplishments behind me asking “now what?” I was doubting my next step, my direction, pretty much everything cause I was honestly afraid of achieving them.

Isn’t it funny how the brain and our emotions work? That we create dreams and goals for us to work towards but the moment we realize we actually have the drive and the strength to go after them we freeze. As if our brain says that we shouldn’t actually accomplish anything on our list. That we should just let life pass us by with a bunch of ‘what if’s’ instead of ‘I did!’.

I don’t want my life to be a bunch of what ifs and wishes. I want to say I dreamed, I planned, and I did! I went after everything on my list and yes I fell on my face, I failed, I made mistakes but I did. I came out on top and had a blast doing it!

So, in moments of doubt, no matter how scary it is, do not give up on your dreams!

Boudoir Photography in Crave The Hague, Crave The Hague Launch, Boudoir in The Netherlands A goal: seeing my images in print! So excited to see my images in print in the CRAVE – The Hague book! Thank you to the fabulous ladies for letting me sharing your images and for Scarlett for the awesome make-up skills!

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She went foxy

Posted on Nov. 2, 2011 under Personal

The day after Halloween I decided I needed a change, so I wandered the small cobblestone streets until I found the perfect place. I pushed the glass doors open and they took my jacket and black scarf from my shoulders while passing me a glass of wine before I sat down for my transformation. I relaxed into the leather chair, flipping through fashion magazines, and then they twirled me around so that I could see what happened over the three hours of pampering!

I went from my usual blond highlights to my natural red! I feel foxy and sexy!

boudoir photographer, Boudoir Photography Netherlands, Boudoir in Europe

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The space in between

Posted on Oct. 13, 2011 under Personal

This past week has been such a blessing that it’s hard to put into words; life changing I guess is the only way to describe it. I feel like I’ve been walking around in a dreamlike state and pinching myself along the way to make sure it’s true. Thankfully, it is. The space in between photographing, editing, building a business, meeting fabulous people and loving my Mister to pieces, looked like this.

French Boudoir, Boudoir in France, Boudoir Party in France, Boudoir Party in Paris, How to plan a Boudoir Party Last Wednesday I hopped on a train, stepped into a car and was whisked away to a beautiful chateau in the middle of the French countryside so that I could photograph 10 amazing, inspiring, and beautiful women. Women who had been accepting themselves, giving themselves self love, and setting goals for their future. Just my kind of atmosphere! The moment that my assistant and I walked into the château I was moved. The laughter from the women drifted through the stairwell and I knew instantly I was going to love them. And love them I did. And then in return I was given a confidence I didn’t have before, dreams and goals that I new were sitting in my subconscious but afraid to admit, as well as new outlook on life. Seriously, spending 10 minutes in a room with these women was all I needed. I was hooked. I cannot wait to showcase some of their images, these women are astounding!

French Boudoir, Boudoir in France, Boudoir Party in France, Boudoir Party in Paris, How to plan a Boudoir Part Before we landed back in the Netherlands, my assistant and wonderful friend spent a couple hours wandering the beautiful rain stained streets of Paris. Paris somehow is always able to make my heart beat a little bit faster while making me stop and breathe the air in. I find it so inspiring. It was very difficult to convince ourselves that getting back on that train was the best thing for us, we could have stayed for ever.

And then I was home where another friend, who is a classically trained chef, created beautiful dish after beautiful dish for us to feast on. We celebrated Thanksgiving together, in which we toasted to the blessings we’ve been given and giving thanks to God for giving us these blessings. We spent a beautiful weekend learning cooking tips, wandering through the market and picking up perfectly tasting strawberries and bright orange yams to cook with. We took the train to Amsterdam where Mister and I got to cuddle and kiss for the camera. It was so much fun to feel his fingers in between mine while we shared an umbrella as the rain fell from the sky. Granted I was grumpy that my hair was getting ruined, but being by his side is my favourite place, ever!

French Boudoir, Boudoir in France, Boudoir Party in France, Boudoir Party in Paris, How to plan a Boudoir Part French But one of the top things that happened this past week is that Mister and I became an Aunt and Uncle to a beautiful baby boy named Lucas! He is adorable and I can’t wait to meet him! I feel too young to be called Auntie, but we love little Lucas to bits already and we are so proud of Mister’s brother and our sister-in-law for bringing such a precious bundle of joy into all of our lives!

Amazing isn’t it?! I am feeling very blessed lately and am very thankful for the space in between.

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My mom is here and we’re going to play!

Posted on Aug. 26, 2011 under Personal

This week officially started a crazy month and a half in my life! Between photographing beautiful sessions, designing albums, growing the business, and meeting fabulous people it will also be a time of play and entertainment! Friends and family have decided to start visiting so that means taking some time away from the computer to spend it with them and showing them the sights!

Right now my mom is here, and it’s fantastic! She’s never been to Europe before and she’s playing the role of tourist just perfectly. I took her to our local cathedral yesterday and she just stood there with her jaw on the floor. It was awesome!

Tonight our friend is putting on a German feast for us, and then this weekend we have friends coming from out of town so it will be a packed weekend for sure.

But I wanted to stop in and say ‘Hello’ and let you know that if I’m slow responding to emails, miss a blog post or two it’s because I’m off playing in the rain and sun since the weather can’t decide if it’s summer or fall!

And since no post is complete without a beautiful photo, here is a sneak peek into an outdoor session we worked on yesterday! Your boudoir session doesn’t have to always be indoors, outdoors is just as nice if not more freeing! Who doesn’t love to run around nude?! Contact me if you’d like more information!

Amsterdam Model Test, Model Setcard Amsterdam, Hollands Next Top Model, Amsterdam Boudoir

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When you don’t feel good enough, dance!

Posted on Apr. 20, 2011 under Personal

I crawled into bed and pulled the covers up tight around my face, my nose just barely peeking out so I was able to breathe. It was shallow and quick. My emotions were flooding me, almost to the point of overflowing with tears. I held them back and willed myself to sleep. Sleep came, but it felt short.

Once morning came, I didn’t want to turn on my computer, tired of feeling like everyone else’s business was cooler/better/more prosperous then mine. I decided to take a shower, it’s where I feel the most relaxed. Instead I came face to face with my emotions under the stream of water. How could I feel so defeated, so alone, and utterly useless when I’m living out one of my life dreams? I almost curled into a ball on the cold plastic floor. My stomach in knots, I pushed through and stepped out into the steam. I decided I needed a break from my everyday.

I turned off facebook.
I turned off twitter.
I only answered important emails.

I turned up music that would make me happy then I opened up the windows to allow fresh air in. And I worked and danced in my little groove. By afternoon I felt better and by evening I received some amazing emails encouragement, a long phone call with a new friend who supported me, and then a conversation with an old friend who pulled me out of my despair.

It’s easy to feel like you’re not good enough, that everyone is more amazing then you. But you need those people around you that support you and think you’re awesome sauce even when you feel like you’re not. Thank you to everyone who supports me, I truly appreciate and love each and every one of you. I wouldn’t be here without you!

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Daring to dream

Posted on Apr. 8, 2011 under Personal

A glass of rosé wine sits on the coffee table next me, enjoyed almost to it’s last sip, while I type frivolously on my laptop. So many thoughts, so many emotions; good ones, ones that set my passions on fire. I’ve been meeting and talking with so many supportive and encouraging women that I feel I need to pass it on.

I was recently talking with a friend about her business, about where she wanted to take it, a particular dream she had for it. But before she would continue to dream she said “But I would never dare to do it”. Before her dream had a chance to grow, to become anything more then a thought, it was crushed.

I can’t count the amount of times I’ve been in the same position, not even daring to dream. Cause who knows how people will respond and I’ll end up falling right on my face, in front of everyone to see. How embarrassing! But to be honest, I wouldn’t be here, a boudoir photographer in the Netherlands, if I didn’t continue to dream, to take chances, even the embarrassing ones when I fall flat on my face. I’ve done it. I’ve been there.

So I encourage you continue to dream, out there, outrageous dreams. And pick a starting point, and start daring others to dream with you, cause you’ll end up somewhere even more amazing then you even dared to dream.

Source: etsy.com via Tricia on Pinterest

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Saving for something important

Posted on Mar. 24, 2011 under Personal

I saw them every time I went to the grocers or to the market. On my way to sit in a coffee shop. Any time I left my house, they were there. Waiting, longing, begging for me to take them home. Once, I gave in and tried them on. They were perfect! Gosh, just perfect. I sighed and put them back, cause I couldn’t afford them. Yet, still they sat there behind their glass case, almost whispering to me. It was hard to bare. Sometimes I would cross the street so I wouldn’t have to look at them.

I decided I’d save my coins. I’d eventually call them mine, they would be the perfect addition to my collection. Time passed on, and once I thought they had sold out, but they had just moved the case. A sigh of relief.

Then today, the moment came! I proudly walked into the boutique and tried on my delightful green suede shoes. They were perfect! I couldn’t get over them! A perfect heel that won’t get ruined while walking on the cobblestones, and enough lift to make me feel beautiful, confident. Some birthday money and my saved coins, I was so happy to call them mine! And the waiting paid off, they ended up being on sale! They were destined to be mine!

My new shoes!

Green Suede Shoes

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the time is now

Posted on Mar. 22, 2011 under Personal

There have been a lot of changes recently, and thankfully, all of them have been good! I’ve been sitting down with my journal writing down anything and everything to get all of my thoughts out on paper for me to see and dream. It’s been good, it’s been challenging, it’s been life changing.

I have to say, that this is the first time in my life where I feel like I have a dream and a goal that I’m willing to sacrifice anything for, and ready to knock down any door for. It’s quite thrilling to think about. However, even though I feel empowered and encouraged. I still stand in the face of my fear. My fear is paralyzing and suffocating.

But I will go no where, fast, if I continue to let fear dictate my life. So, here I am to tell myself “push fear aside and continue to walk forward”. I must walk forward, I must continue to fail to succeed.

The time is now.

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