Staying at home for a s w e e t November... { Inspiration Friday }

left: all white home in Copenhagen by Norm architects via Vosges Paris
right:  via Tiziana Tosoni's pinterest 

H e l l o   e v e r y o n e !  

{ s m i l i n g  wholeheartedly to you... }

Friday morning* and it's been since the beginning of this - past already! - week

that waking up at home in Germany

is the norm.

{ have you perhaps read the instant post about how it felt to wake up in the middle of nowhere,

when I spent some beautiful days on Mallorca island with my man,

this trip being a surprise,

shortly after I returned to our home

in the beginning of September? }

Do you also like to wake up in similar places?

Have you been to this island?

If yes, how did you like it?

{a little more about it you can read in this recent post }

* was indeed as these lines were being typed; thanks to a nicely busy day though, late afternoon and this post can finally go on line!

clockwise from top left: figs via / "she believed she could so she did" via / wonderful Elizabeth Heier's new beautiful home via / fresh wreath via

It feels great to be having the chance to grow stronger

through the challenges of the past months.

It feels great to be back home, with my man.

However it requires

constant work with ourselves in order for relation ships to really flourish,

in order for them to become a means

of bringing each part of it forward and to the right direction,

we both made the brave and perhaps wise choice,

to use difficulties as  o p p o r t u n i t i e s  to learn, 

to grow,

and to take strength for realizing our dreams.

One by one, day by day, one strep at a time, minute by minute.

left: via / top right: via /  bottom right: via

I am personally particularly pleased with myself,

for I handled what was a demanding and discomforting situation

in a very  p o s i t i v e  manner,

emphasizing an open heart & mind,

and deep belief in deserving to receive.

I'm really proud that I seem to have crossed a bridge

I always wanted to, but somehow was reluctant to do so.

I'm confident in my choices.

Allowing & welcoming prosperity & wealth our ways,

sharing even if just a little bit of  g o o d n e s s with the  w o r l d .

Sometimes it takes such a small action, yet full of  love, awareness and pure, clear intentions

for what we have been taught to perceive as  m i r a c l e s  to occur.

left: via / right: via 

Going back to the norm of being at home in Germany,

I love it. I love it with all heart, mind & spirit.

Visiting Greece again for some days in October

in order to take care of some practical issues

requiring care & attention

has been nice this time.

I enjoyed myself as a tourist in my own country of origin,

focusing on spending quality time

even if just mostly by myself,

gladly enjoyed meetings with few good friends,

who always seem eager to engage into constructive conversations

about our lives,

exchange opinions about life in Greece, life in Germany,

the economic crisis, ways to deal with it,

a t t i t u d e  changes that when put into action,

following deep awareness, understanding & true love for life

they make the everyday nice, meaningful & joyful.

left:   via, via / right: via
Right now, I'm very happy when I find the peaceful time to post here

and since it's Friday, I put together some collages and diptychs

using images that came through my screen using pinterest,

making another Inspiration Friday post.

They all convey current moods and they aim at bringing you

t r a n q u i l i t y ,   h a p p i n e s s   &   g o o d   p o s i t i v e   v i b e s

while encountering them.

left: via / right: via

I hope you enjoy!

Have a  w o n d e r f u l  weekend!

See you next week while sharing some of my recent work & projects.

left:  via / right: via

individual picture credits can be found linked in captions

collage curation: Iro - Ivy Nassopoulos for Domestic Stories with Ivy 2013

{ a note about today }

p.s: in Greece people celebrate not only birthdays, but also name days and today my father and the son of a wonderful woman & man have theirs. 

So many happy returns dear Stratos & Serafeim!

For the record, I personally don't have a name day, as my first name - Iro -comes from Greek Mythology.

But from next year I will celebrate, cause this summer, my man decided that I do have my own and it is on the 10th of August which is regarded as "hero" day. 

This summer I was in Amsterdam, I'm all smiles to find out where next one will be!

picturing d r e a m s ...

l e f t   &   r i g h t

Today I'm celebrating 38 years & 3 months of life.

I was born on a Tuesday much like today.

Even though a broken tooth brought me to book an emergency appointment

with a  { f a b u l o u s ! } dentist in my current neighborhood,

and the fact that I came home to a hacked mail account,

{nevertheless with a very relieved mouth & the ability to speak & pronounce properly again }

I enjoyed the  b i c y c l e   r i d e  

back & forth.

I focused on  e n j o y i n g  every minute

as if a separation & a subsequent very possible, temporary movement

to Greece wouldn't be taking place.

{ Greece is lovely, yet at the moment  I  L O V E  m y   l i f e  here more than anything! }

As if the boxes that are getting packed are simply gonna

take me just to the right place

after having set up home here

at the  P e a r l   B i  r c h e s   H o u s e

This post is all about what  I  w i s h  to  be  p a r t  of   my  l i f e  from now on.

It's a post devoted to  a c c e p t i n g  that I have d r e a m s  to work for,

it's a post about s t a t i n g  that I believe with all the power of my existence,

that I have and I am working very hard to make them  m a n i f e s t  in my life

and however they might manifest somehow differently than presented,

the  a t m o s p h e r e  and the  e s s e n c e  is set.

{you might want to hop over to  t h i s   p o s t  to find out,

or to remind yourselves about

how I'm painting my future,

starting  n o w }

Since it's the 11th of the month

{ at least it still is in the part of the world I'm typing this from}

I thought that sharing  11 p a i r s  for your eye pleasure would fit nicely.

{ I cannot describe the pleasure &  f i r i n g  of neurons that takes place in my brain when 

combining pictures in pairs or collages....I just love seeing them make... out! 

I know... go ahead press charges on me for eye p*rn }

If you'd like to  p a i n t  y o u r  d r e a m s  with  p i c t u r e s,

then simply  g o  a h e a d !

M a k e  your own pairs & collages

p o s t  them on your blogs

& 

l i n k   to this post,

s h a r i n g  what it is all about.

Call it:

" p i c t u r i n g   m y  d r e a m s "

Come back here & be sure to  l e a v e   a  c o m m e n t  so that I can visit you!

I'll be so VERY glad to see your dreams!

But first, c o m e   w i t h   m e , I'll share some of my  d e e p e s t   w i s h e s with you...

top left - right - bottom middle - bottom left

so, yes, the fact is, I  w a n t   i t   a l l. 

The  w h i t e  b r i c k  w a l l  at my new house to be, the pebbled  p a t i o,

the  g a r d e n,

the Ikea p.s chairs, the o l i v e   t r e e s , 

the  f r e s h  mint that I'll have planted in my chalkboard painted pots,

& the emerald green one piece  b a t h i n g   s u i t ,

that I'll be wearing while enjoying the sunshine,

on my deck.

on my white chairs.

drinking cool tea with mint,

all coming from my potted herb garden.

l e f t  &  r i g h t

then I want to  g e t   m a r r i e d . to the o n e  person I love with all my heart & mind.

the person who does exactly the same.

I want to get married and feel all  d i p p e d   in happiness

cause we'll be M r s  &  M r .

Just because.

Just because l o v e  is a wonderful thing

& such a commitment only  o p e n s the doors to  f r e e d o m 

as we've never experienced before.

I want to get married &  g o   t o   P a r i s.

Again.

{ once is never enough for such a city, I must tell you that }

I want to go to Paris and w a k e   u p  at a similar veranda.

Wonderful in its humble size.

l e f t  &   r i g h t

Then I want to eat lunches and dinners that will have been sometimes prepared

 by his  e l e g a n t ,   k i n d   &   l o v i n g   h a n d s .

{ I can't emphasize enough how much I appreciate and cherish men with let's say... feminine hands }

Lunches & dinners that will be getting prepared while I take care of

bringing  f r e s h   h e r b s  from our garden.

While I do the  g a r d e n i n g ,

cause I simply just love it so much to be  c l o s e   t o   n a t u r e.

l e f t   &   r i g h t 

Lunches & dinners taking place around  l o v i n g l y  set tables,

in a place called  h o m e ,

where the inhabitants  g r o w ,   e x p a n d ,   e v o l v e

and  decide to  s t a y   t o g e t h e r  to face life

and its sometimes c h a l l e n g e s  and  d i f f i c u l t i e s.

L u n c h e s  and d i n n e r s   in the company of simple yet immensely charming flower arrangements.

A r r a n g e m e n t s  made on the spot,

with no big fuzz.

But then with  s o  m u c h  love.

L o v e   f o r   l i f e .

L o v e   f o r   p e o p l e .

L o v e   f o r   l o v e .

left - top right - bottom right - middle right 

I want a  b e d r o o m   where love can be taking place.

A place where love can  u n f o l d .

And  t h r i v e above everything else.

l e f t   &   r i g h t

I want to  b a k e  lemon ricotta and almond  c a k e s ,

wearing a blue  d o t t e d  s k i r t   &   a  s t r i p e d   b l o u s e.

I want to bake them and s h a r e  them with friends & family that will be gathered around,

impatiently waiting for the first warm piece to be cut, served, tasted & cherished.

l e f t   &   r i g h t 

I want to take part in  e x c i t i n g   p r o j e c t s,

involved in developing  b e a u t i f u l   s p a c e s 

for  b e a u t i f u l   p e o p l e 

People that have learned to  o p e n   t h e i r   h e a r t s.

People that are willing to l e a r n 

People that through their own  m i s f o r t u n e s,

they become  s o f t e r, yet  s t r o n g e  r,

able to share themselves  w i t h   t h e   w o r l d.

l e f t   &   r i g h t 

Then I want  to w a l k  b a r e f o o t  on the simple concrete floor of my  s u m m e r   h o u s e,

somewhere in a corner of the earth where then s u n  s h i n e s often.

there where the salty air can be felt on your lips while you take deep breaths.

I want to go up & down the stairs of this place

that I'll have found,

cause  m y  i n t u i t i o n   t o l d   m e 

that it's the right place for me

l e f t   &   r i g h t 

and then I want to have the ability to  e m b r a c e   p e o p l e  for who they are,

while at the same time being kind but letting go of those in life

who insist on judging from their own limited perspectives,

concluding that a  b r i l l i a n t   s w i m m e r ,

should also be an  a m a z i n g  c l i m b e r  at the same time.

I  l o v e swimming.

And through life by the woods I've learned to also cherish the trees.

But if one judges me here for my ability

to  s w i m   l i k e  a   m e r m a i d,

then it's inevitable to 

face disappointment.

I have become an  e x c e l l e n t   w o o d   w a l k e r  here.

I keep the s w i m m i n g   p a r t  for when I'll be finding myself in water again.

...............................................

picture credits under each pair or collage

all diptychs & collages made by Iro - Ivy Nassopoulos

for Domestic Stories with Ivy

please note that some links will only take you to pinterest accounts

any assistance in providing precise links & information 

is welcomed

~ happy bubbling :)

dears oh dears...

the days turn out busier than expected,

making posting here happenning in a pace slower & less frequent than my wish is...

still, I always think of you, the expected posts & all the new ones to be coming...

 to temporarily break the silence until the next decent post finds its way, here,

I had to share this eco-friendly soap powder with you:

[via]

 if these "happy nyc bubbles"

won't manage to make laundry routines

happier & more pleasant for you,

then I don't know what will ; )

happy Tuesday 

among everything else!

..........................

and happy remiders:

~> enter our {give away & celebrate with us our 1 year  blogiversary}!

~> check out what's {new on our shelves}

~>  if you are in the mood for showing some {more} love, 

you can do so by liking 

{of course, only and if you really do so;)}

{this dyptich} of our wishes corner, 

submitted to {Christina Greeve's wonderful contest}!

~ enjoy the silence & wishes for a happy weekend

Good morning on what seems to be a sunny Saturday...just wanted to share this thought with you, while wishing you to have a wonderful weekend.

Enjoy the silence....as "she" is as precious as talking, sharing, writing, or anything openly expressive and communicative.

In fact, silence has a very intense communicative value and quality...

So many feelings can be expressed while being silent, so much music heard, while we tune to our inner notes...

It's a very precious state of being from which we have a lot to learn, gain and become familiar with.

This is the first post being shared on both the on line places I've been writing at (Busy Bee's blog & Domestic Stories)and there is a reason for that.

There is material to be shared in the upcoming days, thoughts, experiences, opinions, which have been held until there was time again...and the time was right.

There'll be probably discussions raised, as I'll be sharing with you how I feel about blogging, open sharing and the online world.

For now, I had this incredible need to just stay still inside and get in touch with my deep self.

Maybe this is not the right time for you to do the same and this is quite all right.

Whichever way you choose to spend your weekend, I'm wishing you it to be a great one, with lots of essence, creativity, relaxation, happy times and moments of self reflection, if that suits you.

And for those of you who don't know, I've been having a special visitor since a week, which is my mother. So, we've been driving around and visiting lovely German cities along the Rhein river.

There are just a few pictures shared so far on my flickr account if you'd like to have a glimpse, as there has been only but very few time spent online.

So, this post will be ending with my most favorite of pictures taken this week, capturing a moment very precious to me, while being in Limburg, sightseeing...actually sightseeing in the rain.

The sun is out and today we'll be sightseeing in the sunshine, that sounds really nice.

Take care and be well...we'll soon be enjoying meetings, discussions and also happy occasions among other things here and there.

Warmest of regards and best of wishes,

Ivy ~ xx

Sweet partnerships...and other ramblings...

live on flickr

Hello dear all on a sunny Wednesday morning :)

For those of you who don't know, I'm having a very special visitor since this Sunday morning - my mother - and am finding myself in an almost full vacation mode, despite being at home in Germany! (And hopefully this is enough of a good explanation for why this scheduled for Monday post is taking place today)

It is her first visit here since I relocated in this country some two years ago, in order to live together with my German partner.

So, we are spending lovely times driving around neighboring cities like Mainz & Wiesbaden so far, taking pictures, while also walking around the neighborhood and spending nice mother - daughter times @home. In another post I'll introduce her to you more detailed and we'd like to prepare a special post for you together.

But enough with the prologue, time to introduce you to the lovely person I promised to do in a recent, previous post, the lovely, young and talented girl with whom a collaboration has started since a month.

Smaranda Kee and I are putting together on a weekly basis a diptych according to a theme we've chosen.

Below is a mosaic I had put together some weeks ago in order to sum only but a few of my very favorite pictures of hers!

live on flickr

Not only she's extremely naturally beautiful, she's also a very sweet, kind and down to earth person, as much as excelling in her architectural studies and being a very inspiring and talented photographer among other things!

You'll find more of her delightful pictures and view on life here.

To go back to our collaboration, the diptych presented at the opening of this post is the last one we made this week and it 

 represents the theme of "the senses: taste".

As love is said to be both the sugar and salt of life, sweet heart-shaped cookies (by Kee) and salty snacks bitten forming a heart are put together (by me), both photographed under the sunlight.

I'll go on introducing you to the diptychs we put together, going back gradually back in time.

Below are our domestic stories, or else captures of the most common of activities in everyday life, such as hanging the laundry and being in the kitchen.

On the left, Kee's contribution and on the right is mine.

live on flickr

and here is our second actually collaboration based on a theme and activity we both love to do - and who doesn't? - travelling!

At the same time we wanted to engage into the subject with a vintage mood and therefore old, leather suitcases came into the scene!

live on flickr

And last but definitely not least, here's our first collaboration ever, which was the most fun to put together and probably the most successful also, in terms of responses in flickr, where we usually post.

Our theme: Alice in Wonderland....and vintage watches belonging to Kee's grandparents came out of the drawers to be photographed in delicate, romantic porcelain teacup & saucers sets, while I was being photographed by my partner (also like crazy into photography) playing Alice in the castle near our home.

live on flickr

To end this post which took us back in time step by step, let me post here my favorite of the series of pictures my life partner and I made that day, this one representing the entering into a different dimension:

live on flickr

All the pictures are also linked to flickr, where they are originally posted, as there is where the action happens, meaning friends, contacts and other people, entering a conversation or simply leaving some constructive feedback on what they see.

I'll be seeing you quite soon with many more new posts on various issues, from life matters, to pictures and news about the shop, to new columns gradually getting added to the body of this blog. Still making no precise promises about when, as together with on line presence, real life happens, sometimes requesting alterations in schedules!

Have yourselves a lovely Wednesday! Enjoy life's journey day by day and if possible minute by minute.

All the love and wishes for all things best,

Ivy ~  xx