28.10.13

waving h e l l o s & g o o d b y e s


some how like that I planned to welcome you to the middle of this fall,

only the end of October is just around the corner already,

so it seems more appropriate to 

say perhaps something like that: 


more than two months after the latest post here,
when the Jug was offering to pour some Happiness
into the Jar,
with the Jar gladly accepting, while offering some Hope herself,
{fairy tales for adults, copyright Iro - Ivy Nassopoulos, 2013}
the fairy tale is no longer only a fairy tale, but a true story.

The story of my life. 

The sweetest, most adorable story,
with all her bittersweet moments & dramatized parts,
a story that for every single minute of the sometime soon to be 6 six years,
I wouldn't change it for the whole world.

Naturally I wish I'd have been wiser, stronger or any other adjective that implies something better compared to what I have already done.

H e l l o. This is  R e a l i t y.  L I F E  is for learning.

And there is probably no feeling sweeter & more complete,
no contentment deeper, than realizing
that one has learned, one has moved on, 
one has broken  f r e e , one has made what seemed impossible,  p o s s i b l e

and while doing all that, he / she chose all over from the very beginning again,
the one person and kind of life that more than any words can say
is  w o r t h  of living..

Saying all that, it's important to me to communicate a fact that has been
concerning me for quite a while.

I'm a rather quiet, reserved & very private person.
I celebrate in a rather unusual way.
One who has found herself in the middle of this thing called "blogging",
{ with all its gorgeousness & complications }
and social media.

One who enjoys sharing bits of her life but also loves sharing precious moments
with herself and the people she loves,
without mentioning anything about it on any online medium.
At least from time to time.

The circle of my good friends is small & curated.
I'm happy for that.
The situations the past months have been acting as a magnificent compass,
assisting in establishing relation ships & letting go of ones that do not serve both parties happily, or at least have a common denominator of learning & growing.

We people tend to be lost in words sometimes. I hope to be able to use the medium of  language effectively.
As much as the preciousness of  s i l e n c e.
When relations ships are lost in words, when  h o n e s t  feelings fade away, or never find their way into manifesting in the first place, it's perhaps time to pass. 

When we can't see others for who they are or who they have become,
taking part in their story as much as we wish them to take part in ours,
a loosening in ties is inevitable.
When we can't see ourselves, we can see no one else.
When we cannot admit our own truths, there is no place to share the truths of others.

oh anyways...

Someone, whose attitude in life and accomplishments I admire, 
said the following:
lets  K. I. S. standing for:

 l e t s   k e e p   i t   s i m p l e.

When people tend to complicate, I try to simplify.
I've read that in one of  Lakshmi's amazing posts.
Now I feel it myself.

This way, real changes can take place.
Experiences have meaning.
Life itself is rich.



And balance isn't just an unknown word, something we "fight" or strive for.
Achieving balance in our every day lives becomes in itself a way of life.
Some times it works better, other less.
Nevertheless, we are able to  b r e a t h e  in the middle of everything...




P r a c t i c a l l y  speaking:

-> I've been at my home in Germany, yes that one, the little maisonette by the woods, 
since about the first days of September, after having spent almost a month in Greece,
{ which seemed like a century }
and that after having spent three weeks in Amsterdam, till the middle of August.

-> I have been re-setting up home with my life partner { for reasons of easiness, I'm considering to be referring to him as my husband here, after all it feels this way }

{ oh just ignore the undone bookcase in the background. I'll share updates soon.
That is if you would like to see ; ) }

but hey:

h e l l o !



-> I've been working on establishing myself as an interior consultant and life coach,
assisting people into living the lives they truly wish to live. { More on that in a different post }
To tease you a bit, I do say that I worked unexpectedly with the most amazing client ever this summer 
{ June - middle July } 
and beginning from just a little styling advice, we ended up remaking a whole kitchen,
while we have already set our hands in the living room. The best of all, a new friendship begun.
{ And yes, we would love to share the process & outcomes here!}

-> I've boarded a plane a few times, as shortly after I returned home in Germany in September,
Santa Claus came early. No, no he doesn't fly planes. 
But, he abducted me and brought me in a lovely, little, charming, stone house in the middle of nowhere. 
Or perhaps it was not the middle of nowhere.
But just a - truly beautiful  - property almost in the middle of Mallorca, located close to one of its authentic villages I so much adore.
Forth time on this island since 2009, { here some pics from a winter visit in 2010 }
every time I love it just as much - if not more,
always wondering about the peculiar connection I have with this place. 
Who knows? Are there past lives? Have I ever lived there before?

One thing is sure:

M a l l o r c a  mi  A m o r 

it was so great to be stepping on your grounds again!



And just like that, the first days of October past and I was back in Germany,
suiting in to my everyday routine just like gloves fit a hand,
just like milk & honey.

Sometime soon there'll be a post on relocating and the process of making
a new country your home.
A true home, with capital H.

Currently on another short trip in the country of my origin,
taking care of some practical issues and in a few days back Home in Germany,
where winter will be impatiently awaiting to show up.

The easiness with which I lately board planes, pack suitcases and adjust in differentiated 
temperatures is remarkable for my once rather over anxious self.

I'm glad. 

O.k, I'll put a full stop to this post. But I'll see you tomorrow,
sharing pictures of one of the photo shoots I did for the kindest contributors  
of my new Journals for this year,
which are no other than the stylish, grey felt ones, with the most fabulous details,
like you see at the top of the post,
but also below, 
as this picture was also used to thank the people who support this blog's respective Facebook page

Are you one of them? Then, thank you so very  much!
We reached 2500 sometime in the middle of the month.
Taking into consideration the totally sporadic posting and activity,
I consider it a great success!

T H A N K  YOU. 

I couldn't have done it without you!



Hope you are having a great start in this new week.
Meet you here tomorrow, xo

_______________________________________

Styling & photography: Iro - Ivy Nassopoulos for Domestic Stories with Ivy 2013 { all rights reserved }

20.8.13

The Jug, the Jar & a full moon

 Fairy tales for adults  by Iro - Ivy Nassopoulos, all rights reserved, 2013

When there are no words to be said

when emotions, feelings, desires & hopes 

are large enough & intense enough to

cover all landscape, fill the oceans & light up all stars of the Universe,

then two favorite objects of mine

a  J u g   &   a   J a r 

step out and volunteer to do the talking for me

in order to break the silence...

So thankful for them,

so thankful for this little blog place

[much like then]

so thankful for all of you

and most of all 

so thankful for 

my most beloved reader of all

H a p p y   A u g u s t ' s  full moon to all!


11.8.13

Love is an a c t i o n of Faith



quote by Erich Fromm, The art of Loving 1956


For a  h a p p y   S u n d a y  post,

pictures of a spontaneous table styling put together some time in August last year

to submit to Ikea Family Live Magazine...

{ find the post  h e r e }

... I had returned from a few "girlfriend" days

spent together with Ilaria at her Happy House in Eindohoven, The Netherlands...


Having recently met her again while currently residing in Amsterdam,

and while organizing and thoroughly cleaning my laptop files

I stumbled upon them

&

thought it'd be nice to bring these pictures here to share with you,

changing the fact they had never been posted, that is till now...

So, there you go!






... a little inspiration in  b a b y   b l u e   +   b l a c k 

a rather sweet + powerful combination,

built around the central pieces of two mini  s u c c u l e n t   p l a n t s...



two mini succulent plants

picked up from a flower shop at Venlo station where I changed trains,

on my way home by the woods close to Frankfurt last year,


They each required  99 cents for their purchase.

 Being mighty prettily wrapped in

silver & powder pink foils with the company's logo

- which I apologize that my current brain capacity cannot withdraw  -

they were so totally worth it, I had to ask whether there was a mistake

made.

"No, of course not" the kind sales assistant replied

to my inquiry,

smiling then at my surprise...

"Are they for a present?"she asked.

"Yes, please. They are for our home"

I replied, my face beaming with radiance...





When on board the next train to my final destination and while holding them,

all I could think of was various ways of incorporating them

in the work I was at the time preparing for the I. F. L magazine...


I remembered about the paper plates + cups set in baby blue

I had scored for about another euro

in a recent Ikea visit,

as much as the mini napkins in black

I threw in my shopping cart

with a certainty that they would eventually be properly used.

So they were.

Wrapped around the succulents and secured with black & white bakers' twine.





A silver marker came to leave

wishes and names beautifully handwritten on them,

emphasizing the d e p t h  of black,

while  b r i d g i n g  it to the softness of baby blue.




More silver tones were added by the wire

which was transformed into handles for the

glass candle holders originating 

from little sweet jars...



hope you are even a little inspired to put together your own pretty table settings,

keeping in mind that  i n e x p e n s i v e   m a t e r i a l s  and  s i m p l i c i t y  can very often

be best friends to an outcome speaking of  e l e g a n c e ,  r i c h n e s s,  w e a l t h 


t r u e   l o v e  for essentially g o o d   l i f e .

Let's drink to that, shall we?

to a great end to this weekend + a powerful start in the new week!

Thank you for reading & au revoir , xo





9.8.13

Fractions of everyday life bathed in s i l v e r light { Inspiration Friday }



For this Inspiration Friday, instead of diptychs & collages put together from the world of Pinterest,

there are some made from my own pictures, 

shot while still here in the beautiful home of photo stylist Paulina Arcklin,

located somewhere pretty, close to the heart of Amsterdam.

Shots highlighting fractions of everyday life

bathed mostly in silver light.

 I thought it's about time I said a proper hello & good morning...

So,

h e l l o, g o o d   m o r n i n g  and the most wonderful of Fridays

and weekends ahead!


I've been  h e r e  since 2 weeks now.

It has been a magnificent  emotional exercise,

shining plenty of light to both my heart & mind.


I have come to the conclusion

that when ones invests in getting to know themselves,

finding out who the person standing in front of the mirror is,

recognizing & accepting their characters' blessings & shortcomings,

one can only but eventually succeed.

Succeed in living a life not only close to their dreams,

but a  l i f e   l i v e d   I N  t h e i r   d r e a m s .


I'd like to thank you for being patient & outstandingly discrete readers,

respecting my wish to share only according

to my choices.

Sometimes saying more, others less.

This is the way that I prefer to blog,

this is the way that suits me.

My blog for me is like chapters of a book.

I like books to be written in a traditional way,

quietly, effortlessly, coming straight out 

from the depths of us,

as words emerge describing thoughts and emotions

following experiences.


Those who still read books

might appreciate the whole thing it stands for:

t a k i n g   t i m e  to live & comprehend life.


Here are some glimpses into my current everyday life...





I'm literally chasing light with my camera,

loving to capture it, even if the environment is not properly & perfectly styled

as if for a photo shoot.




I'm spending time both indoors, playing with styling props

and outside walking kilometers per day,

exploring, discovering, enjoying

the canals, neighborhoods, parks,

occasionally also visiting some shops

or cafes...




above my "princess" sandals sunbathing

&

the perfect hairbands suiting my wardrobe

recently found at h&m,

together with a pair of tea towels

to be brought to my most favorite kitchen in the world...

and a lovely stamp from HEMA,

which was patiently waiting in the "as is section"

for a new happy user, for the exchange of €1 at the cash desk




I traveled only with hand luggage,

despite this being almost a 3 week trip,

in my effort to practice living with less,

while being blessed with more than enough.

Currently white, black, navy blue & powder pink are the main colors of my Spring & summer closet,

with clothes mostly from Mango, Zara & h&m,

bought on line or during trips

I have been going to 

together with my life partner.




self portraits in a rather usual mood,

featuring my ever favorite silver cardigan from Mango,

happily now completing 10 years of living together,

having survived hundreds of washing adventures

& traveling around the world




a corner of the living room here I love to photograph

&

my current daily journal from Muji dressed in the same wallpaper that covers

the main living room wall at home in Germany




this capitone, large, jean shopper from Mango had been on my wish list

for about a year before it arrived my way.

A good choice all in all




finding my favorite cereal brand in the local super market for a great price

has been a good thing.

Also getting familiar with the philanthropic concept supported

by Stella - Marie water,

to which I  was attracted to thanks to its design matching my tastes.




here is my reflection on the building opposite where I'm staying

and something very common while I'm snacking or putting together a light meal:

dark bread with seeds  - ruccola  - ham variety




last Monday I made a record of walking for 7 hours,

with a stop here for lunch,

multiple stops for photographing corners

& others visiting shops.

I'm sporting going grocery shopping using only but my own

shopping bags.

My favorite: the large cotton one, from one of the first h&m home's collections.

As for a favorite car, there is something about a silver, vintage Porsche,

sitting at the end of a canal like Princengracht,

that just captures my attention...



... wishes for surrounding yourselves with beautiful light, too

wherever we are, whatever our current life occasion,

L i g h t  is always there,

we just have to l o o k  for it




Photography & collage curation by Iro - Ivy Nassopoulos for Domestic Stories with Ivy 2013
{all rights reserved }







8.8.13

Divine l i g h t ... be surrounded by it



worship the Sun but now can you fall for the Rain?

you know that Sunlight always shines

behind the Clouds upon the Skies


A light filled post coming tomorrow...

stay tuned...

let there be light

&

most of all...

let light in

even if the night has fallen in our part of the world...

posting under candle light & the sounds of nice music coming from 

my trustworthy i-phone

after another day of endless walking hours in Amsterdam

Life is good... there is calmness, peace, tranquility & 

an unmistakable hunch of   h a p p y   e x p e c t a t i o n s   

carrying true Joy within