Vacation Day 10: Fields, Salads, and Starry Skies

Today, Jānis’s father started cutting the grass across all our 7 hectares — with a tractor, for hay. The storks kept a watchful eye over the whole process, like little supervisors in the field. I just love how everything looks after it’s cut down — so neat, fresh, and summery. We eat salads every day … More Vacation Day 10: Fields, Salads, and Starry Skies

Jigsaw Puzzle #18 Jackson Port, Sydney – Trefl

Puzzle Title: Jackson Port, Sydney Number of Pieces: 1000 Manufacturer: Trefl Puzzle size: 48 x 68 cm Year Completed: 2021 My Experience: This was crazy! Puzzle Trivia: Puzzles with irregular or whimsy shapes are known as “whimsy pieces,” a feature often found in wooden puzzles. This puzzle was absolutely crazy! I think it was around … More Jigsaw Puzzle #18 Jackson Port, Sydney – Trefl

Jigsaw Puzzle #17 Lamas in the Mountains – Trefl

Puzzle Title: Lamas in the Mountains Number of Pieces: 500 Manufacturer: Trefl Puzzle size: 48 x 34 cm Year Completed: 2021 My Experience: So Cute! Puzzle Trivia: Puzzles with irregular or whimsy shapes are known as “whimsy pieces,” a feature often found in wooden puzzles. Kids helped with this one. They loved it cause it’s … More Jigsaw Puzzle #17 Lamas in the Mountains – Trefl

Embracing Autumn: My Time for Jigsaw Puzzles

As autumn graces us with its presence, painting the world in rich oranges, deep reds, and golden yellows, I feel a delightful urge to retreat indoors and indulge in my favorite cozy activity: jigsaw puzzles. After a summer filled with outdoor adventures and sun-soaked days, the arrival of cooler weather invites a comforting shift, a … More Embracing Autumn: My Time for Jigsaw Puzzles

Hot day!

We are having a few very hot days in a row! Today it’s  +29 C tomorrow it will be +30 C It’s hard to stay committed to blogging, had 5 photoshoot this week already. One more on Saturday! Means a lot of work for me! Not all are paid, I do free photoshoots – my … More Hot day!

Nelles Birthday

Yesterday was a lovely day with my biggest girl Nelle, who turned 8! EIGHT! Can’t believe! The day started as planned – with a crown for Nelle and balloons in closet! After that, I and Linna did a photoshoot for the family :). That means Linna took picture of us, and then  I took of … More Nelles Birthday

All together… and Skeleton!

Today all the girls staying at home cause Linna still is ill and they decided to cheer her up!   What is the best way to cheer her up than build a human skeleton together… I know it looks like Halloween but they asked :). Found this at cookingpoetry.com Linna is better! Ilze

Poor Little Linna!

My poor little Linna is ill! Yesterday I came back from a photoshoot and saw Linna and knew she is ill! She was 39.6°C yesterday late at night! It’s high! Very high! I know that others give medicine to get the temperature down, but I don’t. I believe that the high temperature is better than … More Poor Little Linna!

Fun in the snow

This isn’t how it looks! I didn’t let them drive alone on Can-Am 🙂 But they had fun with S and his Can-Am through the snowy fields! Oh Boy, they didn’t want to get off! Ilze

The Christmas Tree

Finally I’m in the studio and ready to take down studio Christmas tree! My first Christmas photoshoot was in November, 3rd 2018 and last one few days ago. What can I say.. I need to take down “Christmas”! A bit too much 🙂 How about you!? Do you like Christmas time and when is the … More The Christmas Tree

Jigsaw Puzzle addict

I guess few of you already know that – I’m jigsaw puzzle addict! I didn’t know that until I started to puzzling 24-48 piece puzzles with my girls! Next one was 1000 piece puzzle.. and another one, then 2 of 500, then again 1000… until all the puzzles we bought (as a bundle) were done. … More Jigsaw Puzzle addict

Year 2019: Day 1

Yesterday I took time to lit candles and sit for a while without any device or other distraction – to think about the year 2018 and what new excitement year 2019 will bring to me and to my family. The first big “thought” was – OMG my girl will start school this autumn! Can you … More Year 2019: Day 1

I wish I had…

I wish I had more time to write! But I can’t complain, cause I had MORE time to make, to be, to build, to do, to capture and to LIVE. It’s so hard to let go of this lovely habit to write a blog and all the community, but I need a miracle to make … More I wish I had…

Almost Christmas!

And once again it’s been a while since I wrote something in my blog! Have no excuse… if only I’ve been busy with a lot of Christmas photoshoots at my studio, listening to online photography courses, dealing with viruses and household. Everything is nice! I’m having few days off… spending under a blanket and with … More Almost Christmas!

Word Challenge: J

A while ago I challenged myself to name the words starting with a certain letter and then take or find a picture and share on the blog.  You can read about it here. To choose a letter I used Online random letter generator. This time it was letter J. Well, this is what I got after thinking about … More Word Challenge: J

Jigsaw puzzle #5

I couldn’t sleep… till 2 AM! Then I finished another 1000 jigsaw puzzle and went straight into bed. Today feeling a bit sleepy 🙂 Work, work, work. Busy, busy, busy. Launched my Christmas offer. Have a nice Friday!!! Ilze

Jigsaw Puzzle #4

Finished. Unfinished.      This is what you get for buying used puzzles, but I don’t mind 🙂 It’s already stored back in the box. I puzzling and how the design is starting to show up but after finishing I “destroy” it and put back in a box without a problem. I know friends who … More Jigsaw Puzzle #4

Word Challenge: T

A while ago I challenged myself to name the words starting with a certain letter and then take a picture and share on the blog.  You can read about it here. I used Online random letter generator. I made only 2 articles… why!? Don’t know! Now it’s time to do another blog post on this! So, Online random letter … More Word Challenge: T

Christmas in my studio

Well, I miss blogging a lot… sometimes I wish there were more hours in one day. A few weeks ago I made a Christmas corner at my studio. And since then I’m so festive :). I love my fake fireplace! How do you call it in English? Are you getting ready for Christmas!? Ilze

Yesterday

I’m easy on naming my blog posts… Friday, yesterday 🙂 Yesterday I thought I will do all the paperwork, but sadly Linna got ill – eye infection and stayed home. So, no paperwork for me. Plus the weather was terrible – windy, wet and cold! We had “coffee break” between house chores. Coffee for me … More Yesterday

Friday

I thought I will stay at home today and do accounting… all the paperwork. Jānis took all the girls to the kindergarten to be sure I can take all the papers out… but he came back with Linna. Linna has an eye infection and that is something that is very contagious. Helmī had it about … More Friday

Crazy… but love it!

Two months as an owner of my own business! My first business :). I haven’t been in my comfort zone ever since! The journey so far was crazy enough. I love it! Perfect balance between workout (photoshoots) and time at the computer (photo editing). On Sunday I saw a squirrel – hanging upside down and looking … More Crazy… but love it!

OMG!

It’s been a while! So.. a lot has happened in the past month. Biggest things are: Taking care of MY photo studio, one of three local kindergartens said no to the conveyor style photography company and choose me – basically, give me a chance to try capturing 280 kids in portraits and 13 group photos. … More OMG!

Opening

Finally, I’m (not) ready to open my photo studio! The Grand (is it?) opening will be on Saturday 25.08.2018 from 11:30 till 15:30. If you are in Gulbene – please visit! Most of the things gone wrong, but I feel it meant to be that way! For example, I ordered a big chesterfield sofa and … More Opening

More obstacles

So, about my project – the photo studio. Well, I sent 2 days to deal with Adobe.com to get licenses! Usually it’s click -> pay -> done! But not in my case. Life made me an obstacle so big, that I thought – it’s time to give up! But that was for one second in … More More obstacles

End of July

I was away… I was BUSY (hate that word)! I can’t explain my absence in other words! Maybe CRAZY, RUSHing, MULTITASKing!       Well, that is not why I’m blogging at the moment! Sitting in my kitchen sipping decaf coffee with cream and eating macadamia nuts. And these past weeks (months) was NUTS! Still is! … More End of July

Day #170

Nelle is still sick and Helmī is accompanying her. Now – two ill and it feels like this stomach virus is spreading. I hope no one else catches it! While girls were sleeping I worked on labels for honey. My friend has honey bee farm and she is selling honey, pollen and bee bread. I love … More Day #170

Photoshoot #3

I’m learning to let go and be me behind the camera. Plan, direct, shoot, edit and learn. Repeat. The internet is full of pictures, the world is full of cameras and Gulbene is full of photographers… Still, this is my dream and will be a reality for upcoming few years. Dream big! Even you think … More Photoshoot #3

Busy!?

Busy is a strong name I don’t like to use! Usually, I would say – in hurry, don’t know how to prioritize, need to set my goals, deal with this/that… I’m never busy! Busyness kills and won’t give joy and certainly not an inspiration! Yesterday I had to sit down and plan my day, cause … More Busy!?

Long Awaited Results

I received a call on Tuesday (didn’t expect that) and I was asked to “come over” and “sign papers” which means I WON and my business plan was good enough to get support! Now I will have a lot to do till 20th of June! Paperwork, institutions and agents and then when I finally register … More Long Awaited Results

Saturday fun

Weather is getting back to normal here in Latvia. It’s still warm and sunny. But yesterday it was with a fresh breeze and a bit cloudy. Girls asked for gouache and that means – trouble! They will be covered in gouache in no time…. no jus table and chair and t-shirt, but hair, and face and … More Saturday fun

Happy Mother’s Day

We aren’t all mothers, right? But we all have mothers! Happy Mother day to all mothers all around the world! Especially those moms who follow my blog and inspires me: Jodi, juliehcares, visionsofmy60s.com, atticsister, higginsmj …and I bet there are more! Happy Mother’s day to you all! Ilze

I might be back…

So… It was long 16 days away from blogging! It feels like I need to write a long blog post about it… but wait… I was away only 16 days! Not much to write about, since my “staying home mom” was interrupted by Bussines Plan. My first and only Bussiness Plan ever! Followed by a lot … More I might be back…

Jigsaw puzzle #2

I found the pictures of another puzzle I did over weekend! So, actually, we started with 500 piece puzzle on Friday night and continue with two big 1000 piece puzzles. Three puzzles in total 🙂 Ilze

Jigsaw puzzle

All weekend I spent puzzling. I thought I had both puzzles captured before I put them back in boxes… but not. I have a lot to do so I tried not to think about it all weekend. Instead I put two 1000 pieces puzzles together… and for the first time in ages my weekend was … More Jigsaw puzzle

Be Patient!

Maybe you remember that one time when I honestly admitted that it’s hard for me with “Surprises”! Remember the present that can’t be open till my name day!? I was thrilled and relieved when I finally opened that package! It was hard! I even shook it and almost opened it two days before my name day! … More Be Patient!

Another shaker card!

OK. Do you remember our first shaker card!? I was inspired by Lana and her shaker card “Hello”! Nelle came home from kindergarten last Thursday and announced that her teacher is leaving on Friday! “She will have a baby and we have to make her shaker card!!!”… I paused… “It’s only a few hours till the … More Another shaker card!

Walking in the winter wonderland

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening In the lane, snow is glistening A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight Walking in a winter wonderland And later on, we’ll conspire As we dream by the fire To face unafraid, the plans that we’ve made Walking in a winter wonderland. Ilze P.S. More about the song here.  

Art School for Nelle

Last time Nelle had her art class was before Christmas and the next time the Art School opened was on Monday 8th of January! This period without the Art School was hard for Nelle and me! She asked 100 times – When will the school open!? For example, on Monday they have to paint a picture on a sandpaper using … More Art School for Nelle

Enchanted forest

We can’t imagine a better way to entertain kids and awaken their imagination than a walk into an enchanted forest on a sunny day as it was this Sunday! I call this forest (that is actually more like woods 50 meters away from our house) enchanted cause I and also my girls believe these 100-year-old trees … More Enchanted forest

Date night!

I’m late on blogging today cause yesterday was the first time in four years I and Janis went out without our girls! Just two of us at a local youth party!     We met few friends and Janis brother there 🙂 It was like a “local” party with entrance fee and free food 🙂 … More Date night!

Happy Mail day #5

Decide to number my happy mail days… reason!? Can’t name the reason… Anyway! Happy! Another metal die for cardmaking is here and I promise myself to use it whenever have time to make a card! This variety of different sized rectangles with a stitched edge was my dream ever since started the card making.It’s mine … More Happy Mail day #5

Happy Mail Day #3

Yes, Yes, Yes! It feels like I’m back to cardmaking! I began to order die cuts and embossing folders, get creative and spend time in my craft corner! Usually, I have to wait from 3 weeks to 2 months for the package to travel to Latvia.  The best part is to receive it finally and to open … More Happy Mail Day #3

Card Making

Handmade Christmas cards aren’t cheap but they are unique and made by a person, not a machine. I started to make cards when I was pregnant with my first girl in the year 2012. I’ve been through a lot of phases since then: had time, didn’t want to see cardmaking stuff, had time and loved … More Card Making

Snowman

We had first snow on October 26.  That snow didn’t stay for long, only two days! When girls saw the snow in the morning (together with the deer family) they wanted to stay home and build a snowman! So, why not. We build two small snowmen and by that time it was raining, so we placed them … More Snowman

Rainy days – walk

It’s been raining here in Latvia. I feel how changes our routine… time spend outside now is spend inside. Walks get shorted and fewer. I don’t like it! We all need to go outside and have a walk to be awake and in movement! Movement is life, health, and happiness. Life without movement stagnates and declines. It’s hard to … More Rainy days – walk

Word Challenge: K

I challenged myself to name the words starting with a certain number and then take a picture and share on the blog.  You can read about it here. I use Online random letter generator and the first random letter was K. Words starting with letter K (in Latvian) Kaķis – Cat Koki – Trees Krupis – Natterjack toad Kāzas -Wedding … More Word Challenge: K