• Home
  • Life Style
    • Arts & Crafts
    • Beauty
    • Food
    • Style
    • Travel
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Download

║today my way║

drawing-colouring-art-when-five-todaymyway.com
drawing-colouring, arts and crafts, todaymyway.com






















What I love about this stage in Nadia's life is that we're never short of activities we can do together. I thought those will be gradually wearing off and her independence would call loud and clear from not afar but there are still moments and things company of others is most needed -- to explain something or just cut the stubborn bit of paper because with sprinkles she's perfectly fine on her own. It was a sunny afternoon, we read a bit, ate and rested so finding another thing to do before going to bed was easy - we love princesses as much as we love drawing them. Add some twine, drinking straw and we made ourselves our own hanging decorations. Or puppets if the day is still young enough to put on a show. The whole project is easy like my morning routine - draw or cut out a shape of a doll/hero/even your own photo, cut and glue a piece of straw onto the finished doll, intersperse a piece of twine through it, attach hands and legs and voila! Done and amazed. The final product can be as weird or simple as you wish, I have a vision of creating Halloween decorations with their limbs hanging spookingly and throwing harmless looks in pairs or individually. Imagination is the boss here and we've been blessed with a really efficient one.

paper dolls, drawing, princesses, paper project, todaymyway.com
paper dolls, learning, doll hanging, blonde doll, todaymyway.com
art supplies, craft supplies, drawing, sprinkles, todaymyway.com

drawing, art supplies, girl drawing, todaymyway.com
girl drawing, arts and crafts, we draw, we colour, todaymyway.com
paper doll, paper decoration, arts and crafts, todaymyway.com
Enjoy the week, friends!

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
No comments
thoughts on things, writing, todaymyway.com

It is emotionally useful this free time I can load up with both of my hands day in day out is spent on most vivid imagery. On things I wouldn't dream of contemplating. In peaceful or totally opposite surroundings I win the impossible and call my day entirely mine in activities I spend time on, food I sample, books I happen to bring along with me. Total bliss with a company as an option. If you strapped me to an office chair and promised to come back before five in the afternoon, my sanity would never be restored. I would toss and turn, ignore the phone calls and daily duties knowing I could dare doing things no 9 to 5 job will ever offer under any circumstances.

So here I am sitting politely on the leather couch hugged by the clan of cushions behaving like children waiting for the story to begin, lifting my head up towards the rays of sun emerging from short rainpour clouds and drawing unimaginable shapes on the cracks of wooden tables. My favourite part of the day - retreating back to my notes and a glass of water after I've had a delicious burger in a place teeming with noise while being seduced by the sound of a coffee machine working its gears off. People take turns in laughing and clattering dishes, I'm on my fifth page scribbled in barely recognizable handwriting and the life goes on like sweet melting toffee (I'm actually considering ordering a mug of flavoured coffee drink so excuse my food comparisons). It's been a while since I tackled this blogging challenge commenced back in days when time was spent alongside running toddler - to answer 30 questions as reliably and promptly as a blogger can and call it a day. Easy task became a little too difficult to accomplish, some thoughts wouldn't flow so well as my audience would expect so I backed out. This time I'm eager to tell you what I'm looking forward to right now. And I could immediately answer that it would be nice to wake up to a summer sun for a change or a couple of new season's deliveries of clothes and sandals in imitation leather but in fact I'm totally looking forward to this and do hold me accountable: I just want to start. Place my fingers on the wheel of life and let it lead me precisely onwards. And as realistic as it sounds it's completely crazy in every way things naturally happen. People win the lottery and find the love of their lives queuing in a job center so I'm inclined to say - things do happen. I'll tell you, hold me accountable.

P.S. You do know I'm insanely looking forward to summer in Poland in case this post leaves you concerned.

(And I want to decorate my house.)
Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
No comments
birthday-party-36-years-todaymyway.com

party-birthday-celebration-family-todaymyway.com
I plead guilty for basking in the so-called light of years passing by. I find pleasure in counting candles on the cake, I seek occasions to organize events time that had passed is the main character. Hosting a party is activity I could dedicate my time to, before or after running an errand. I'm a person of detail, there's so much that can be said in fierce colours and shapes, let alone the wishes on a birthday card. I steer away from planning, scheduling, calendars for when to pick up balloons and send the invitations off. In fact the more spontaneous event the sweeter. Damian's big day fell on Friday so my initial reaction to a dreary Thursday was to skip on shopping and between school run and a light housework - I would let the day get wrapped around the festivities within its natural course. The sky cleared up allowing me to splurge on some surprises but Friday was the actual day of making it all come together. I was never that efficient with folding laundry and sweeping the floors as hours before people turning up in anticipation of a good time and even better food. When long term planning is rejected, I still follow self-made rules to come out tired but successful in my attempts. I ordered two helium balloons the day before and Nadia was delighted to be in charge of bringing them home knowing one of them will unarguably enhance her bedroom decor. Last minute grilled chicken baked under artificial light of white and blue found its way into my shopping cart and only serving it was a chore. Then the guests arrived, kids went off to fight with the cushions I tirelessly fluffed up and every minute until unwrapping presents, diving nose deep in the box of delicious chocolate muffins was a gift on its own.

blowing-candles-party-birthday-celebration-todaymyway.com
party-people-birthday-celebrations-todaymyway.com
family-together-party-birthday-celebrations-todaymyway.com

 Nadia got changed out of her clothes three times just like a maid of honor would do to delicately sipping the festive atmosphere. She dictated some of the games they played and opted out of pulling the many strings of party poppers I hesitantly put up for kids to have fun with under our close supervision. It was a great afternoon full of catching up on grown up affairs with not so grown up sense of humour. Together with his twin brother sharing the spotlight and fruit kebabs I believe Damian enjoyed every part of a small intimate celebration. When there was time to blow the candles, no person under seven decided to opt out from helping with the tradition. Soon it became dusk and eyelids ceased to be obedient but whatever happened prior to kids bedtime was highly praised. 'Best party ever' said my older nephew and I believe I beamed like a streetlamp for the next hour.
party-birthday-cupcakes-fruit-todaymyway.com
Happy another year guys! xx
Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
3 comments
wind-at-the-seaside, todaymyway.com
walking-on-beach-windy-day-spring-todaymyway.com
windy-seaside-bournemouth-todaymyway.com
10 degrees is a temperature I don't preferably exist in, 10 degree temperature isn't at all right for my skin neither to say ankles in cropped jeans. Roughly 200 days in a year fall into 10 degree mark around here -- it is wrong for any fabric I'm otherwise comfortable to wear let alone discuss. My hair can stand it but it will not tolerate the breeze, not below the 18 degree mark. I'm not hard to please, you're hard to love seaside weather. In mid-May I was taught to discontinue wearing wool, pom poms and to trust my sweat glands and these seem to be just as surprised as I am. Therefore I can never figure out what one wears underneath one's parka or a raincoat. It may be as little as shirt or as much as the entirety of clean laundry that was handy. But I'm going to start rebellion and go for the lighter options no mater the frostbite degree. Are you guys with me? Unzip the jackets, hide away the earmuffs, just show up in the best of your linen blend. If we make it to the bus dressed like this, there's a great chance of survival. And that's our thing giving us exactly enough room to be adventurous and keep the colds away. 

windy-day-at-the-beach-bournemouth-todaymyway.com
Shirt: Atmosphere, Jeans: River Island, Denim shirt: Esprit, Jacket: Aviatrix Leather, Boots: H&M, Triangle necklace: Primark

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
No comments
green-plant-happy-home-todaymywayblog


growing-plants-window-garden-todaymywayblog
























A plant
When going back in time, I see I was trying to do myself a favour and skipped on anything domestic (I only survived because they provided free meals at work). Plants were the last option to bring home because they required enough care and attention I wasn't prepared to give intentionally. Fast forward in time and maturity my windowsill is inches away from becoming inaccessible for whatever amount of days this view is a candy to my eyes. These plants are doing it on purpose and I'm delighted to watch them thriving, shedding leaves, flirting with the sun.

mess-home-messy-workspace-todaymyawyblog


A mess
I'm not trying to earn sympathy here (although it would definitely help) but the amount of mess we create each day stays on for longer then the day before. Perhaps our eyes got used to to the familiar view therefore it would be a crime to dismiss such important element in our household. Let's talk about it for a minute. It's not the piles and piles of clothes that need folding although we're never too far away from believing somebody will do it for us neither dishes that forgot their usual place other than sink and the outskirts of chopping board. It's the little things mostly - toys lined up on the windowsill in pairs or individually, stack of coloured images covering any surface within reach, books half-read and fully opened where vase of flowers should go according to an interior designer. Mess that feels natural and far from creating an uptight feeling. Purposefully arranged and skillfully overlooked. Yes, the bed is not made on schedule and bills, receipts invite more dust than the skipping of a child but we've learned to be less intimidated by it and spend thoughts and energy elsewhere. Especially that the weather seems to be making up for the days full of its silly decisions. Some days the cleaning bug kicks in and no blanket will be left odd-edged, no pillow unfluffed.

antique-plate-hand-me-down-todaymywayblog


 A hand-me-down
Antique stores attract my eyes on each street corner, they take up my walking space on the sidewalks. It's nearly impossible to run errands without adopting a cabinet or plate in bone china. New is desired, new is browsed through wide web yet only an object with history whispered in cracks and faded print invites all those calm thoughts once my eye lands around it. I utterly regret not inheriting more pre-loved, used and sworn at items (especially those with sharp corners) from my grandmother's house after she passed away after a long illness. Physically impossible to haul half her household essentials across the channel, it all went to places no tracking is possible. If you can fix it, fix it and re-paint to love wholeheartedly once again. If it's beyond repair but still beautiful - there's nothing nice serviette can't cure.

photographing-hobby-home-camera-todaymywayblog



 A hobby
Some mornings I lay buried in pillows and warm sheets as there's no tomorrow or at least work uniform awaiting attention. I'm not a morning person if you excuse. Then on my way to the bathroom I stumble upon things that will make my day either good or great - strumming tunelessly on the guitar, re-potting that rotten stem that refused to settle in this corner of the room, reading first pages of a book I ended up shoving under a stack of magazines (equally overdue on news) in case I was only going to pay attention to it and nothing else. Because I get distracted by moments of pure enjoyment out of what is around. I dedicate mealtimes to soul food whether I'm only good at it or average. My whole existence revolves around having hands full and eyes dazed. And I feel more alive while at it. And sometimes just because of it.

fluffy-rug-luxurious-home-todaymyway.com

 An almosed-used-up luxury
What's the point of registering to the website when the minute you hit the purchase button you're fully aware this relationship will not be consumed. Or almost-consumed as specified in the sub title. No point whatsoever. Spend on it but only if you're willing to manifest it will be needed daily. Or weekly with holiday breaks. Almost-used-up glorious fragrance, candle with only a day away from getting recycled, sheepskin rug recognizing each footprint of a growing child, boots with soles begging to be looked at by the professional now and not after the summer. I love me some luxury scenarios taking place. You should try it too and not feel guilty about it. They may as well discontinue the product therefore have fun while it lasts. We talk monthly deliveries here! Get used to and celebrate!

As seen on this beautiful website.
Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
No comments
mum-and-daughter-together-todaymyway.com
posing-in-daylight-mum-daughter-todaymyway.com




















This happened to be random weekday evening some time last winter. Aren't all the good stories accidentally made for random days? With us wearing slouchy shirts and stained tracksuits? Forget the hair, random will not do it justice. Nadia was busy playing Lego on the floor with her legs crossed and back hunched creating complicated architecture with simple resources. I was reading focusing on adjectives and consonants while listening to steady rhythm of water pouring down in the bathroom where Damian was occupying the space. We were in no anticipation of anything significant than maybe news at 8 pm or a meal around the same time. After a while Nadia asked for a toy she remembered sharply she had fun with when she was a toddler asking if she could play with it nicely while we summed up our thoughts. And she really should as it required getting it from the loft space so the ladder and some inconvenience was involved but there she had it - a toy puppy coming together with its travel bag in the most outrageous color of all pink. Evening went back to its quiet state only revolving around the same things enhanced with child's happy talk. And all of a sudden she jumped away screaming her blonde locks off seeking help in our calm presence. For a mere second I couldn't figure out what had just happened before my eyes until this large moving object kept circling around the table leg. Not long before we stood side by side in horror at the presence of this giant spider making its way in all the wrong directions. Once Damian caught it and disposed of ethically I felt her lips next to my ear: My legs are still wobbly. 

And so the lesson from this situation started to form. As a parent there's either a lot you can do or nothing at all. You decide your plan of action. Back when Nadia was still only wriggling her legs in the air and my job was to give her a gentle coo when needed we had this conversation with Damian about not letting our fears build up on her when she's older. Any kind of irrational or super realistic but socially unacceptable behaviour should be filtered quietly so that none of it get passed onto her -- especially our reactions to certain situations: burning a forefinger and remaining calm without excessive vocabulary, playing cards and losing exceptionally well (except when playing for money), coming into contact with bugs and creatures with more pairs of legs my heart can take at a time. Spiders, little beings made for no other reason than to test my body spasms any time. There's no spider policy anywhere in my home, yet they appear. Uninvited and behaving badly. Co-existing and claiming their righteous share of the floor.

sweet-faces-together-todaymyway.com
 I get frightened no matter how ridiculous I may look and how many times it was explained to me they're not here to hurt me. But I get hurt just looking at them and the body they expose on me. I tried. I stayed calm when I spotted one and Nadia played alongside curiously examining the ungracious amount of legs. I explained what they were and we got on with undressing dolls and sharpening pencils. But we cannot fight the non fightable, we're bound to our fate, let it be handling the hair parting well or freaking out when necessity strikes. I gave in, I started panicking, showing emotions, erratic movements and sounds. A little while later I noticed her showing the discomfort and uneasiness when in contact with mini beasts - larger than domestic flies, unexpected crawlies, yes, spiders too. I am guilty of passing it onto her, performing the same show I've inherited from my mum and no amount of reasoning will help me come to terms with it. I feel guilty of shutting down the whole exciting world of discoveries just because I wasn't strong enough to be persistent. As I considered the change of approach from now till Kingdom Come, a thought stopped me in my tracks.

I know as sky is blue and English sky is gray, no amount of convincing will change my mind on creepy crawlies. Not after I died each time I was faced with spider or its relative and not a piece of dust or ball of fluff. Those know how to trick ya but I know hot to use this knowledge to protect myself. Do you think I should deny all of that? Tighten muscles, clench my teeth and play the hero I'm not? That's even worse in my book than showing emotions I'm not comfortable with. She's watching me constantly, will I fake feelings I want her to learn how to express? And in a few years from now hearing her praising my courage and efforts to stay calm knowing it's the total opposite, like her describing somebody else, attitude I'm so jealous of but far from implementing - will it be my victory? Who will she be really admiring? A real person or desired image? Not that I won't move mountains to become better person for her. Eat better, think before judge, clean teeth regularly or at least once a day. I's comforting to know we've overcome our weakness but it's destructible to wipe them off of the face of the earth completely, like they never existed, never will. To be afraid to show what's bothering us. We're not perfect and we're not meant to raise perfect people. We should be applauding authenticity. And may the image of her shaking legs fade away or it may not, I'll always look for ways to protect her from irrational or realistic fear no matter what.

Note to self: check for spiders after bringing stuff to the house from the loft. Immeasurably helpful.

black-and-white-mama-in-me-mum-daughter-todaymyway.com
Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
No comments
taking-stock-flower-petals-underneath-feet-suede-boots-todaymyway-blog




Making: excuses and feeling guilty about it for over a minute. I guess I'm a lost case.
Cooking: Nothing significant at all. Absolutely letting my stove get the best price one day as only slightly used.  

Drinking: free latte as a loyalty reward for drinking it even more
Reading: what I've written to edit or to smile about. To encourage doing it more. More often too.
Wanting: to become a morning person. It can happen, I know. I just need to find the right routine to look forward to each day.
Looking: plain odd in boots and scarves scattered around my neck. Blame it on the weather or just my poor sense of style.
Playing: with blonde hair in anticipation for a tidier do. P.E. lesson appropriate. So far more plaits appear.
Wasting: voice on random car karaoke sessions with chorus being repeated on each roundabout
Sewing: thoughts together
Wishing: I was organized more. In little ways, let's not dedicate ourselves too much.
Enjoying: the same view day in day out on bus rides to school. It does change at times when you're the shortest person on board.
Waiting: for my pancakes to fry then waiting for them to get decorated. I spent eternities to stay alive.
Liking: the place I call my doorstep. Even if it's a top floor flat and no elevator provided.
Wondering: if I ever splurge on a summer dress, worn as a summer ensemble and not paired with woolen tights and a shawl. Work in progress.
Loving: being a friend. Understanding and helpful. And paying for coffee I will not drink today.
Hoping: to take advantage of the seaside I call home
Marveling: at how many times I can kiss my daughter and be ready to steal away more of it the minute she's gone from sight
Needing: a car for obvious purposes. Used socially too.
Smelling: freshly ground coffee. Working each time for me, sometimes 3 times in a row.
Wearing: grey and white. Underneath and on top.
Following: the flight of seagulls on a clear sky. For longer each time because spring may have finally come today. 
Noticing: first freckles on Nadia's nose. Kind of like mirroring mine. Super insane feeling.
Knowing: I'm awaited at 3.15 pm every day on the school playground accompanied by scooter or not
Thinking: clearer when there's chaos around. And clattering of dishes.
Feeling: oddly OK accomplishing absolute minimum on some days
Bookmarking: summer destinations. You know, places I want to see not necessarily in the summer.
Opening: my arms to hold a growing child
Giggling: when somebody complements my shoes. An impulse purchase that makes others excited. I guess green is my colour.
Feeling: younger each sunny morning. Not so if sun refuses to rise.
Taking stock 01
Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
No comments
girl-on-the-bench, windy-seaside, at-the-seaside
auntie-duties, my-nephews, kids-and-nature

making-faces, kids-and-fun, bench-fun
posing-alone, yellow-background-flowers, hengistbury-head
calm-sea, dunes-at-sea, hengistbury-head, spring-sea

I love my auntie's duties. Like squishing my nephews' cheeks whenever I feel the need of doing so or making funny faces for hilariously long my face creams are horrified with. I'm fun to scrap knees with kind of aunt and will not let go of this title. I can make a toddler let a really laud belly laugh out and teach him how to roll his tongue to create a tube. Very important skill when you're four, I tell you. I will fail on purpose and pretend I don't know how two-wheel scooter works. Anything that is more than significant in busy lives of making memories through facing every day challenges. Climbing sidewalks and staying atop is one of them. 

This time the mountain was higher than expected, the views satisfying enough, add people I'm more than happy to roll down the Hengistbury Head hill with when needed and bank holiday Monday could be engraved on my tombstone. It was that good. Plus the wind in exchange of rain made it work in terms of entertainment. Sometimes no object than a plain ribbon of road is all that promises time well spent. The things you want to see quicker than the others therefore you run ahead in excitement is what provides the biggest fun. Once you've seen it, you run back and the fun persists if not grows twice your shoe size. Then there are those abandoned rocks and sticks one can use as swords or cellphones to get through to more civilized areas. There's nothing to stop kids from believing it was made for them, left at arm's reach and ready to bring home if only pockets were made big enough for growing collections. And we take every rock, grain of sand very seriously.

picking-rocks, finding-treasures, three-happy-kids, hengistbury-head
cousins-hugging, boy-and-girl, going-up-the-hill, hengistbury-head
resting-on-the-dunes, happy-kids, hengistbury-head
dunes-at-sea, hengistbury-head, end-of-the-shore

friends-for-live, walking-together, girl-in-red, hengistbury-head
up-the-hill, steep-hill, hengistbury-head, kids-going-up-the-hillwalking-and-jumping, kids-having-fun, walking weekend
view-on-hengistbury-head, view-to-christchurch, bay-full-of-boats, hengistbury head

blooming-hill, yellow-flowers, hengistbury-head, hengistbury-head-in-bloom, mountain



I am a firm believer that what we really need at any given time can be found within a mile radius from us. Or just plain straight ahead and right behind if we only look curiously enough to invite it in. Equally I'd let kids roam free without distracting them with toys as they know better the pressures from getting a hold of some to attract the obvious and annoying mantra - you insisted on bringing it with us so you ride it/kick it/carry it till the world ends. 

The walk back to the car was interesting too. Some of us had enough energy to make it, some thought heading the same way twice seemed a little too eccentric. And at the greater speed? Hilarious. So Damian and his brother headed to the car first to be there and ready for the parking officer and I volunteered for a snail speed walk with Nadia and her older cousin asking me to pick him up at least every two breaths in. I wasn't ready for such workout so we walked not paying attention to speed and the long way ahead, we used each bench dotted along the uninviting path to finally reach our destination. We made it without being picked up therefore the sticks and rocks made it with us. Teamwork, you know. Even if it meant asking who could take the wider step. Forward, that is.

at-sea, abandoned-beach, aftrenoon-beach, hengistbury-head
hengistbury-head-beach, sea-and-the-horizon
exploring-the-seaside, kids-walking-down-the-beach, hengistbury-head

kids-on-dunes, three-kids-walking, sand-and-sea-all-around
beach-huts-awaiting, kids-holding-hands, hengistbury-head, christchurch-beach
inviting-dunes, calm-sea, windy-afternoon-at-the-beach

dunes, beach-awaiting,
posing-in-front-of-beach-hut, beach-huts, family-together, at-the-seaside, bournemouth
shoes-in-the-sand, bournemouth, family-activities, beach-funny




with-the-beach-hut, blue-beach-hut, windy-and-annoying, spring
Happy weekend, folks! x
Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
No comments
Newer Posts
Older Posts

About me


Photo Profile
Hi, how are you?

I'm Eli, an optimist in training collecting an awful lot of ballet pumps and spending too much time admiring the sea. You'll find me writing about the joys of parenting, fashion, simple pleasures that all together create a beautiful life. xx

Read More

Connect & Follow

Popular Posts

  • A DAY WITH A GREAT DOSE OF MAGNIFICENT
  • START THE DAY HAPPY - BERRY AND KIWI SMOOTHIE
  • COLOUR IS THE STARTING POINT

Blog Archive

  • ►  2016 (46)
    • June (9)
    • May (6)
    • April (12)
    • March (10)
    • February (4)
    • January (5)
  • ▼  2015 (72)
    • November (2)
    • October (5)
    • September (4)
    • August (6)
    • July (11)
    • June (3)
    • May (12)
    • April (10)
    • March (7)
    • February (7)
    • January (5)
  • ►  2014 (109)
    • December (9)
    • November (4)
    • October (8)
    • September (4)
    • August (11)
    • July (3)
    • June (12)
    • May (15)
    • April (10)
    • March (10)
    • February (11)
    • January (12)
  • ►  2013 (149)
    • December (14)
    • November (12)
    • October (16)
    • September (15)
    • August (4)
    • July (9)
    • June (10)
    • May (14)
    • April (12)
    • March (14)
    • February (15)
    • January (14)
  • ►  2012 (43)
    • December (4)
    • November (10)
    • October (1)
    • September (7)
    • August (6)
    • July (1)
    • June (3)
    • May (3)
    • April (7)
    • February (1)
  • ►  2011 (3)
    • December (2)
    • November (1)
  • ►  2007 (12)
    • July (2)
    • May (2)
    • April (4)
    • March (2)
    • February (2)
  • ►  2006 (19)
    • December (2)
    • November (1)
    • September (1)
    • August (3)
    • July (3)
    • June (1)
    • May (3)
    • April (5)

Search This Blog

FOLLOW ME @INSTAGRAM

Created with by BeautyTemplates