Inspiring Mother Kristen: @oldjoy

March 6, 2015September 7, 20165 Comments

Contentment.

This is what comes to mind, again and again, when I think about Kristen, this week’s inspiring mother. I first started following Kristen, known as @oldjoy on Instagram, because her photos capture beauty and simplicity in perfect harmony. Yes, her photos are undeniably beautiful. But, as some of you know about me, aesthetic beauty isn’t enough to keep me interested for long. No, I need layers and depth behind the surface.

What you will find in Kristen’s gallery are mostly photos of her days at home, with her two sweet children. Things are uncomplicated. The days are routine. You will see that they spend a lot of time in bed, equal only to time spent eating cake. Their life is simple and routine. And as you will come to know, their life is full, full to the brim. Kristen, through the reverence she shows for daily routine, for the simplest of things, like folding laundry while watching her baby nap, shows us how these moments are what make life, these moments are what bring happiness, through contentment with the present. There is no striving. There is no lack.

And so, there is depth in simplicity. There is depth in contentment. Living these everyday moments as the moments in life, reflects a profound understanding of the gifts of life.

Please read on to hear from Kristen, herself.

What part of the world do you live in?

i live in dayton, ohio, usa. i have lived here for nearly ten years now. this small city is where i met my husband and began my family.

How many children do you have and how would you describe them?

i have two children and another on the way early august. my oldest child, eleanor, just recently turned seven. my sweet girl is just that … very sweet. as soon as her feet hit the floor in the morning, she is ready to chat, play and create. her energy keeps her learning constantly, but sometimes can bring her a bit of frustration. she is homeschooled and when she accomplishes something, she is ever so proud and ready to tell the world … but when she struggles, she feels it so strongly. this girl could move mountains with her emotions alone. she is brave and forgiving and can give a hug better than anyone else i have ever met.

my second child, wolfgang, is fifteen months old. he is what they would call a handful. the boy is as curious as they come. if you find yourself babysitting him and you wonder, “could he get into that?” the answer is, yes and he most definitely will. he makes us laugh continuously. he loves to dance and blab and discover new things. he will do big things when he grows up. hopefully good things.

What are your core family values?

our values are simple. speak clearly and honestly. never make the other person wonder what it is you exactly just said. express your needs. express your struggles. ask for help. you can cry alone if you want to, but never feel like you have to. wake up every single day with the goal of being the light in your family’s life. “be loving.” is what my husband always says to us when things get tense.

How do you spend most of your days?

i spend most of my days at home, with my children. as a homeschooling, stay at home mom … our day to day life is extremely routine. wake up at 7:30am, breakfast, begin school, quiet/nap time, lunch, finish school, another quiet/nap time, play time, dinner, baths, books, bed at 8:00pm. i love our structured life and am very excited to add another babe into the mix.

What is your favourite thing to do as a family?

my favorite thing to do as a family is spending the day in the woods. if my husband has a day off throughout the week, we will explore a new woods around our area. it feels so good to escape the city for a bit and get some good ole fresh air. the kids are able to explore and run free and my husband and i can walk side by side, hold hands and unwind. it’s so nice. usually we bring our field journals and take breaks to sketch what we find along the paths.

What are you passionate about?

i am passionate about being a mother. you probably knew i’d say that 🙂 i have reached the point in motherhood that i just cannot imagine life without my children. they are my sole purpose for living. they are the reason for my happiness. they are the reason i get out of bed everyday with a smile on my face. they are my soul mates.

What inspires you?

i am inspired by other mothers, absolutely. i am inspired by the women i meet on social media and seeing glimpses of their lives. finding ways i can improve myself, not only as a mother, but as a woman, too. i am inspired by strangers. the people who are completely comfortable in their own skin and it is obvious to everyone around them. i love that. i am inspired by a sunny day. by a really good hamburger. and by a long walk alone in the rain.

Thank you Kristen for sharing your words of wisdom. Readers, please visit Kristen on Instagram or visit her website, Moonschooling Eleanor.

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Inspiring Mother Danielle: @missverse

February 25, 20157 Comments

There is a certain amount of artifice put into some Instagram accounts. I freely admit that I put thought into choosing what I will share and how I present my family. I want to be authentic, but I want my authentic to be beautiful. Like any story, there are parts told and others untold. I tell you about the hidden paths we walked on the weekend, the street art we found, the drawings Ro did or the flowers Sen arranged. I leave untold, for your imagination to elaborate, what my sink full of dishes looks like or what my daily struggles are.

When thinking about how I would introduce Danielle, I’ll be honest I had a hard time pinpointing what I love about her. Well, obviously, there’s her name. But more than having a lovely first name, Danielle takes beautiful photos and writes beautiful words. And, still, there is more… Following Danielle, known as @missverse on Instagram, you learn of her passion for mothering, her gift with words, her artful eye for composition, but you also come to know that she has really lived life. Not in the “party through your twenties” way or the travel-around-the-world way, but in ways where she struggled and was vulnerable. And rather than sharing only the ups in life, Danielle also shares the downs, the tough days, something that is certainly not easy to do. She doesn’t shy away from showing her vulnerability. As I have come to learn about myself, and I think Danielle knows it too, our struggles bring us closer to our core, to knowing what is most important in life, and ultimately to what is most beautiful.

I hope you will enjoy reading more about Danielle in my interview with her.

What part of the world do you live in?

I live in Northern New Jersey. Specifically, West Milford. It’s an area full of natural beauty, with many different hikes, lakes and rocks. There is so much scope for the imagination, as a favorite heroine of mine would say. We love it!

How many children do you have and how would you describe them?

I have two boys, Elliot and Asher. They are only fifteen months apart, so it’s easy for me to see the similarities and differences. Both are incredibly active! Elliot loves to tap dance, color and find treasures outside. He greets the sun every morning with an exuberant “sun up!” and is quick to let me know it’s time to sleep when the “sun down!” Elliot shows such huge joy over the simplest things and he has taught me so much. My love of natures has quadrupled because of him. When every “do you want to go for a walk?” is met with a loud “OH, YES! YAY!” there is no way you cannot be affected. Asher cuddles and cuddles but seems to balance it with an enormous amount of independence. Ever since he could talk, he’s been pointing out the sun, moon and stars to me. How appropriate, because these boys are all three of those things to me!

What are your core family values?

I’d say that Mary Oliver’s quote “pay attention, be astonished, tell about it” sums up our core values. Some may say that we live with too little of the practical, but I have experienced too much to ever quench awe. The joy we can feel over the simplest treasures IS our greatest treasure. BUT, to be a little more practical: our core values consist of getting outside every day, encouraging imagination and to always be kind. These values are not mainly for our kids, but important to my husband and I as well. The things we teach and encourage in our children are the things we encourage in ourselves.

How do you spend most of your days?

We spend a lot of time as a family. My husband and I are equally involved in our boys lives. We go on a lot of adventures or walks. (same thing!) My husband and I are both photographers, which means we tend to take a lot of photos. However, we do try to keep a balance to the photo-taking. It’s good to simply enjoy the moment as well! 😉

What is your favourite thing to do as a family?

I feel like I’m repeating myself, but we truly do take a lot of walks! Money has been tight and the great and wonderful outdoors has been our friend through it all. It doesn’t cost any money, especially since we don’t need to get in the car at all! We walk out our front door and into the woods.

What are you passionate about?

I’m passionate about reading and writing: capturing the beautiful moments through images. I’m passionate about trees, lakes and leaves. I’m passionate about showing these things to my boys. We love to be create.

What inspires you?

I’m inspired by so many things, but I’ll just tell about one here. 😉 Poetry has inspired me the most. Whenever I have writer’s block or feel a little “bleh” a good poem will bring me out of the mood. Word have always done that for me and I truly hope I can teach my boys to appreciate all the words they can read.

When I crafted my questions for the inspiring mothers series I wanted to hear from women who inspired me about their interests, their passions, their inspirations and how they spend their days. The questions were no accident. I knew my intution about Danielle was right, when she said that she felt like she was repeating herself in answering the questions. Danielle has found a way to make her passions her everyday.

Please visit Danielle on Instagram and check out her website Young Love Media.

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What if you fly? An Interview with Erin Hanson

February 23, 2015October 11, 20186 Comments

Last week, a long time Instagram friend, Stephanie Matthew, asked me if I could help her promote a project. She told me about how she had recently read an article about self-esteem in girls, stating that self-esteem peaks at nine years of age and only goes down from there. Stephanie’s thoughts went immediately to her seven year old daughter, who only two hours earlier had been dancing in the driveway with no self-consciousness whatsoever and earlier that same day had worn her plastic princess shoes to the store without a moment’s hesitation. Whether or not the article’s conclusion was perfectly accurate or applicable to all children, Stephanie knew she wanted to do something for her daughters, but also more broadly to help other children and to raise awareness around this issue.

Thinking back on a recent occasions when a few perfect words – “We can do hard things” — had been the motivation her daughters needed to stick with something challenging, like learning to tie shoes, the popular phrase “What if I fall? Oh but my darling, what if you fly?” came to mind. She pictured the words as a dialogue between parent and child. But she also knew these words would suit a nursery room as much as a boardroom wall – they felt universally relevant. Stephanie decided to design a print to hang up for her girls, but she wanted every child to have these motivational words hanging in their home, so she talked to her friend Rebecca who runs Children Inspire Design.

If you haven’t heard of Children Inspire Design you should check them out. They are an online art shop that produces modern, eco-friendly and culturally diverse wall art, inspired by children. Rebecca believes in the importance of global responsibility and in cultivating a love for art and the world’s many cultures, which is why her shop always pairs art with giving. Throughout history art has been a strong and important force for social change, so while the prints Rebecca sells help teach children about important issues, such as caring for the earth, the sales help support women and children around the world by sharing the proceeds with a variety of charities.

While working on the design for the print, Stephanie’s research led her to finding out who had written those 12 profound words. Erin Hanson, is a 19 year old Australian poet, who wrote those now famous words, as part of a longer poem, when she was just 18. Impressed and intrigued by the fact that the words had been written by such a young mind, I sought out contact with Erin and asked her a few questions. Here’s my interview with Erin Hanson:

What do the words mean to you?

They mean a lot, as I’m the kind of person who can quite often back away from the things that I want purely because I’m scared of trying really hard for something and then not reaching it. They’re as much of a personal reminder for me as they are for the other people who read them.

When did you start writing poetry?

I started writing silly little poems when I was around 11, but I didn’t take it seriously until I started my blog in 2011.

What are you inspired by?

Everything! If I had to pick something in particular it would be nature, or more specifically how if you watch it for long enough you realise that its patterns can be related almost directly to the patterns and emotions etc. that exist within a human being.

What motivates you to share your art?

Everyone who’s ever told me that it’s helped them in some way. I know how much words can help people, so if mine have the opportunity to then I’m happy.

Stephanie and Rebecca have partnered to offer a print of Erin’s motivational words. The print is only available for purchase until February 25, 2015. All of the proceeds will go to Free2Luv, an anti-bullying organization dedicated to empowering youth, celebrating individuality and spreading kindness. The limited edition 11×14 print is available for purchase here, and as a thank you Children Inspire Design will include a free 5×7 print with your purchase. The prints are made with eco materials and inks, and the packaging is biodegradable. Check marks all around!

With this project Stephanie hopes to remind her girls and the rest of us that life is magical and that we should always think big – what if you fly? I think most of us have witnessed the social media community come together around crises and social issues, and I hope Stephanie’s project will be another beautiful instance of community engagement and support.

You might also like my post:

Inhaling the Season, Inhaling the Moment: The Story of Cycling through a Snow Storm

The Mathematics of Love

On Equality: Explaining Gay Marriage to Children

Inspiring Mother Carina: @carinamarienilsson

February 16, 20157 Comments

When I started posting more about minimalism last summer, sharing my interest in paring down my possessions and responsibilities, Carina was one of the first people to speak up and encourage me. Living in Vancouver, a very densely built Canadian city, with what most would consider to be astronomical housing prices, can be the instigation one needs to adopt a minimalist lifestyle. If you love your city, you love where you live, then you arrange your lifestyle to make it work, and if that means four people live in a one bedroom apartment, so that you live steps from the ocean and in a vibrant community, then you don’t think twice about the two-car garage in suburbia with a front and back yard that you could have for the same price, or probably less. And if, on the other hand, suburbia is the vibrant community that makes you feel alive and inspired then that’s the right place for you. I’m not sure if the reasons I’ve read into Carina’s choice to live in Vancouver are accurate, but my intuition tells me I’m not far off.

I can’t remember when I first came to know Carina. I know it wasn’t that long ago, but at the same time I feel like I’ve known her forever. She’s one of those people who has the rare gift of making you feel like an old friend, finding a genuine way of connecting with people, even through the ether of cyberspace. Carina and I first connected through our interest in minimalism, and then we found out we shared a background in dance, a love for the arts, a strange fondness for colourful walls, and an addiction to the outdoors. In terms of her parenting, what I particularly love about Carina is her total commitment to letting her children be themselves, in fact, she celebrates their individuality and differences. What a gift she is to her children.

I hope you will enjoy hearing from Carina, herself, in my interview with her.

What part of the world do you live in?

I am very lucky to live in Vancouver, Canada – right around False Creek, which is a small inlet right in the heart of the city. Our neighbourhood is appropriately called Mount Pleasant, and it’s where we work, go to school, and meet friends. What I love most about Vancouver is the ability to get out into the wilderness in a moment. Whether you want to camp in the bush, fish a river, ride a horse, or go mountain climbing, all of that and more is at your fingertips in Vancouver.

How many children do you have and how would you describe them?

I have two children. Finn is my 8 year old daughter. You can often find her eye deep in books, or being told by her teachers that she’s a Chatty Cathy. Her favourite colour is black. Augustus is my 5 year old son. You can find him singing to himself while crouched over a book drawing, or as a blur as he tears around the apartment playing a grand adventure game he’s made up. He prefers bright floral patterns and animal prints. He is currently trying to grow his hair out long like his sister’s because he “thinks her hair looks beautiful when she runs”.

What are your core family values?

I guess our family values are best described by what my husband Cyrus and I teach Finn and Gus. Being mindful of others: so making sure that you are open, kind, and considerate. Make memories rather than desiring things. Keeping life simple: this covers everything from the toys in their room, to the daily activities we commit our time to. Most important: let the people that matter to you, know that they matter to you.

How do you spend most of your days?

Most of my days are spent getting the kids to school, myself to work, then the kids to dance/soccer/etc. In the wee hours of the morning or the dark hours of the night you can probably find me working on my illustrations (website coming soon!) or on the website I co-founded with my dear friend, Bree, Peaks & Harbours – both creative pursuits that I adore. I have regular “dates” with my girlfriends – which I wholeheartedly believe is a crucial part of maintaining that work/kids/life balance. Our weekends are usually reserved for family outdoor adventures. We love to camp, explore forests, or head to Vancouver Island – where my wonderful parents live – for fishing or surfing. Really just any adventure that we can get our hands on is what energizes our little family.

What are you passionate about?

I am super passionate about being connected to a supportive community. With the website that I run with my dear friend Bree, we focus on featuring local artists, makers, entrepreneurs, and so on – particularly we highlight women who happen to be mothers, that have taken the plunge towards making their own passions into a career that will also support their families. In my 9-5 job I work in the non-profit arts sector, so I would say that I am also passionate about the arts and exposing myself and my kids to as much of it as possible.

What inspires you?

I would have to say that my children inspire me, and have changed my life for the better in so many ways. They have made me stop and think “is this what I really need?”, and so I attribute my enthusiasm for living minimally to them, because I don’t want them to be driven by a need to acquire “things”. When I’m feeling burnt out, they motivate me to get up and go outside to recharge. They have encouraged me to think deeply about what is important to me, so that I can pass those values and traditions on to them. That being said, they don’t have to love art, or play an instrument, or embrace Swedish/Italian culture, but I do want them to know that if there’s something that you adore and are passionate about, then you should embrace it – even if it doesn’t work out, you can always change your path, and things might work out even better than you expected.

Thank you Carina for sharing your wisdom and photography with us. Readers: You can find Carina on Instagram @carinamarienilsson and on her superb blog Peaks and Harbours. Please visit her and say hello, you won’t regret it.

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You might also like my post: Minimalist Book Tour

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Inspiring Mother Dana Luna: @danaluna___

February 12, 20155 Comments

Everyone that I follow on Instagram inspires me in some way. Some people it’s their unique aesthetic. Some it’s their witty captions. Many more are mothers and parents busy at a day job, pursuing creative projects in the evenings and all the while being present and connected with their family and friends. (I’m convinced these people don’t sleep). And then, there are some who seem to do simple and slow with total grace and commitment. There is something (well, many things) to be said for doing simple well. For doing it fully. Or rather, not “doing it” but practicing and living it.

Dana is one of those people who embodies simplicity in the most extraordinary way. Making the ordinary extraordinary. Known as @danaluna___ on Instagram, Dana shares her simple, beautiful life in Chile. Her gallery is a feast for the eyes with exquisite gold, blue and green tones captured in images of her children and the beautiful landscape around their home. Her gallery is also a feast for the mind through her eloquent and humble way of sharing the joys of simple human connection.

I hope you will enjoy reading my interview with her.

What part of the world do you live in?

We live in Tierras Blancas (white lands), a rural area in Chile’s fifth region. Our home is pretty isolated and surrounded by a native forest where many birds live and sing. We are twenty minutes away from the Ocean and two hours away from Chile’s capital, Santiago. We have become a family here, in this Home built by us with so much Love, and our youngest was born right here (our first was also born at home, when we still lived in the city).

How many children do you have and how would you describe them?

We are a family of four. Our oldest son, Balthazar Mundzuk, is almost four years old. He is a very gentle and sensitive soul. He loves climbing trees, books, and music. He is very theatrical in his playing, into his imaginary worlds and friends. He likes to freestyle play the guitar and sing, often with awesome lyrics. He loves his little sister, Alba Fauna Cassiopeia, infinitely. Together they create and enjoy every day. Little Opia is two years old. She is fearless and strong, and a very fast learner. She can be competitive and stubborn, but she is a sweet sweet little magical soul. She Loves babies over anything. If there is a baby around, no matter where we are, her attention will no doubt be on her, she simply thinks babies are the best. She also sings beautifully and Loves to paint.

What are your core family values?

We believe this life is magic and are very grateful for it. We want to be always growing and gaining knowledge, as individuals and as a family. When we feel stuck in life, we want to always go into our Hearts. Here is a quote that has identified us when we have lived difficulties in our life as a family: “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” [Marcel Proust]

How do you spend most of your days?

Most of our days are spent at home. My husband is an artist and works from home and the children don’t go to preschool. I usually spend most of our days outside with the children, where they can play and learn guided by beautiful Mother Earth. While they play I usually take pictures and knit, and also sing songs with the children or talk to them about the things we see, flowers, birds, horses and trees.

What is your favourite thing to do as a family?

We love to cook delicious meals together and sitting around the table to enjoy them. We love to play very loud music and dance together. We love going out for walks and to play hiding under the bed covers.

What are you passionate about?

I’m passionate about life! I believe in the importance of birth and breastfeeding, and love to help other women when the opportunity comes. I’m passionate about the beauty of nature, she simply astounds me constantly. I love singing and I am in love with natural fibres, knitting and sewing.

What inspires you?

My children are my biggest inspiration, simply because the Love I feel for them has no limits, and becoming a Mother has transformed me completely, and continues to transform me every day, and make me grow into a more honest, more real, stronger and more generous human being.

Thank you Dana for sharing your wise words and gorgeous images. Readers: please visit Dana on Instagram. Thanks for stopping by and reading.

Danielle Chassin with Ro and Sen Montreal

Interview with Enfants Terribles Magazine

January 23, 2015July 2, 20162 Comments

One day last December I received a most unexpected email. It was from the editors at Enfants Terribles magazine. While I often read the magazine, I was a little confused since I had never written to them. I opened the email and found a lovely invitation to join their creative team! After my heart slowed down a bit, I wrote to them nervously explaining that I was not sure I could produce work to their standard; after all their photography is not only beautiful, but extremely creative and out of the box. I told them I would think about it and get back to them. At the time, I figured I would take a few days to decide. But as the minutes and hours passed that same day, I couldn’t get the offer off of my mind. I told myself I shouldn’t let fear of failure keep me from trying. I wrote back the same day and said yes. And then my heart started beating out of my chest again.

Over the past two two weeks of working with the team, planning and sharing ideas, I have been absolutely delighted by how positive and welcoming everyone has been. The environment is creative and collegial, open and honest.

Today, my first blog post for Enfants Terribles went up on their site. In the post I introduce myself and talk about the themes of kindness, creativity and connection, which are central to my approach to parenting.

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the magazine, I have a short interview with Celine Hallas, one of the Editors-in-Chief at Enfants Terribles, to share with you. But first, a little bit about Celine, herself. Celine is a mother of two and a photographer with a background in children’s fashion. Celine is a big believer in everyday magic and finding adventure in little things. Her photography is undeniably beautiful and often a little quirky, as she likes to say.

What is Enfants Terribles magazine all about?

ETmag was created by Sos and I and is all about playing and keeping an open heart and mind. It is about bringing together creative people from around the world and giving them a common space where they can inspire others. We want to put the spotlight on amazing real people, not just show a polished picture, but get a little look behind the facade – for better or worse! Enfants Terribles magazine aims to be different!

Why did you want to start Enfants Terribles magazine?

Sos and I wanted to create a place where it was okay to be a little, or maybe very, crazy and a place to publish that work. We couldn’t see ourselves in other children’s fashion / lifestyle magazines, so we started our own. We like having a playful and sometimes over-the-top approach – hoping this rule breaking will rub off a bit on people and encourage them to be more brave in fashion and lifestyle.

On our team we don’t have many rules and our contributors are very free in how they work with us. We hope this freedom, that can feel like abandonment to some and feel limiting to others, will encourage their creativity and spark something original.

What are your dreams for Enfants Terribles magazine?

For the magazine to maintain its credibility and freedom to be different. Which can be difficult in this industry!

Please visit the Enfants Terribles website, where all the complete issues are available for free online. You won’t be disappointed.

And, please, don’t forget to read my blog post for them here.

To see more of Celine’s photography visit her website here or you can find her on Instagram here.

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You might also like my post:

Simple Photography Tips & Taking Photos of Children

10 Ways to Live a Greener, More Sustainable Lifestyle

What You Can Do To Help Conserve and Protect Wild Plants and Animals

13 Ways to Simplify Your Wardrobe

Ecominimalism: Talking about Sustainability with Robin Kay

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Inspiring Mother Ashley: @piperandpoppies

January 21, 2015June 30, 20161 Comment

My blog has been a long time in the making. I spent many hours thinking and dreaming about all the things I could do with it, all the topics I would love to write about and projects I would love to use it for. One thing I knew I wanted to do from the beginning was to share the stories of people who have inspired me. Generally, these are people who live close to nature and connected to family, they are artistic and creative, loving and adventurous.

Today, I would like to introduce you to Ashley, who I follow on Instagram as @piperandpoppies. Ashley takes beautiful photos of her life in Australia with her two gorgeous girls. But, her gallery is about more than surface beauty. Rather, she captures a much deeper beauty: the beauty of living connected to family and place. I had a chance to ask Ashley a few questions about her way of life, and was delighted to find that my intuition about Ashley was spot on; she is a kind, caring and thoughtful person. I hope you enjoy getting to know her a little more, as I did.

What part of the world do you live in?

I live in Western Australia in a little seaside town. It has a massive tourist trade but the locals are mostly nature loving, surfing, and happy souls. It is a community of love and connection. We are so lucky to have ended up raising our family here. I grew up in Canada and travel brought me here. I do miss my family and the distinct seasons of home but I have planted myself here and am learning to embrace this as my home. My girls are small town kids and I love watching them play outside and explore all that a tiny forest and seaside town has to offer.

How many children do you have and how would you describe them?

I have been blessed with two beautiful girls. Piper is 4 and Poppy is 1. Piper is an old soul. She is gentle and caring but shy and fiercely overwhelmed by strangers and attention. Poppy is a wild child! She is so much fun, a character that loves to make us (and anyone she comes across) laugh.

What are your core family values?

Love and empathy. I want my girls to know how to care for others and themselves. How to accept people and themselves and the power of love. I am also a firm believer in providing a foundation for children to harbour their creativity and imagination. I know the joy I get from daydreaming and being creative and want to help my girls discover their gifts. We try to provide calm and compassionate parenting for our girls. To use peaceful approaches to problem solving and model this in our behaviour towards each other.

How do you spend most of your days?

I am a primary school teacher part time. I am a mother full time. My role of mama is my prized role, I didn’t always want to be a mom, but am so blessed motherhood found me. I spend my time playing with my girls, teaching them about the world and experiencing life by their side. I am learning through them to slow down and savour the little things. Childhood is magic and as mothers we actually have the opportunity to do it again! We spend a lot of time exploring and playing together.

What is your favourite thing to do as a family?

An ideal day would start at home, as the sun rises, with hot coffee and the girls playing. Then a trip to the beach and bush walking. Lazy lunch at home, a family nap, painting/drawing/gardening and a laid back dinner outside. Sitting under the stars with a wine. I am a homebody but also love being in nature. I usually do this with my little companions and no one else. They are the perfect explorers.

What are you passionate about?

The environment and education. As a teacher I have the opportunity to engage children in our world and teach sustainability and ethical choices. They are clever and adopt things much more easily than grown ups. I love art, making things, creating. This past year I have started taking my photography more seriously. I love seeing life through a lens and capturing moments.

What inspires you?

Clouds, the ocean, flowers, people, places, things…I am inspired by everything really. Everything and everyone we encounter has something to give. Truly.

Thank you for sharing your words, photos and way of life Ashley.

Please visit Ashley’s Instagram gallery, there’s much more to discover. And I hope you have enjoyed this first feature, I will try to post one every week.

You might also like my post:

The Slow Living Project

Inhaling the Season, Inhaling the Moment

13 Ways to Simplify your Wardrobe

Thoughtful Gift Guide for Children’s Gifts, Any Occasion

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Pinterest: Hippie in Disguise
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Hippie in Disguise

slow living, minimalism and connection with nature

Tag: interview

Inspiring Mother Kristen: @oldjoy

Inspiring Mother Danielle: @missverse

Discount code available and Spots left in my Yoga & Surf Retreat in Costa Rica, May 2-7, 2016 — Join me!

What if you fly? An Interview with Erin Hanson

Inspiring Mother Carina: @carinamarienilsson

Inspiring Mother Dana Luna: @danaluna___

Interview with Enfants Terribles Magazine

Inspiring Mother Ashley: @piperandpoppies