Last picnic in Lidingö in a nature reserve

We have to leave our lovely house in Lidingö so we are trying to enjoy all the good things from the island as much as possible. We discovered this natural protected area and decided to stop there for a picnic (and of course take a few pics along the way):Fields with dandelions, cow parsley and buttercups. Say no more. We got the perfect place to enjoy the beautiful nature of the island...I always make more or less the same things when I go on picnics. It's often sandwiches, salads, cooked eggs, fruits, sometimes I make a pie... and I always bring tea! I would love to hear about your ideas for a picnic too to broaden my choices!We love these family times in the nature, it's so so good!And a really cute forest to wander in around the field, what else?They have a little cafe not too far. One of these typical Swedish red house, selling gorgeous cakes and a lot of coffee: If you are ever setting your foot on Lidingö, and it's not winter (because then I recommend skating on a lake): go there! Give me some more picnic meal ideas, I would love to hear them!

oh London, I love you so - week-end with my daughter

The title might be misleading. I had planned this post long before the attacks in London. Long before the elections. But the title is still valid! Even more so after those events. Solidarity.We love London. All of us do. We have been several times with the kids. And we are lucky enough to have friends who live there. Pelle got us a trip to London as a birthday present and I thought I would share a a few pictures of the things we have done there:We spent an entire day in Kew gardens. I love it there. It might be a little bit far but it's so worth it. I hadn't been for 7 years. But it was worth the wait. It's especially nice in the spring of course.All the flowers and the hive reproduction was really cool. Also there is a tree top trail that is really nice. A bit too short in our views but still worth it. But one of the thing I liked best in Kew is the green houses. So moody and beautiful. I love it!I also liked the smaller greenhouse with the waterliliesIt's such a beautiful space!The day after we went to the Tate modern. We met the beautiful Siobhan there, she is a great photographer (check her out). And we saw the Giacometti exhibition. I recommend both the place and the latter. Thanks to some great IG advice, we took a boat to the Tate britain and saw the really cool installation from Cerith Wyn Evans:I then took Lily to Liberty to have tea there because they have great teas. And the best scones too!I took her to one of my favourite dim sum restaurant that day and it was happiness for both of us!The third day we spent in Walthamstow with our friends and went to the William Morris Gallery  which I also recommend! Very good with children.And lastly, before heading to the airport, we hung around St Pancras station, close to Saint Martins art school: Granary square. You have a cool fountain, especially good when it's hot! There was also a free Magnum exhibition in the tube station.  All worth it!Overall, what do we think about the week-end in London?Any more tips? I'm happy to oblige, let me know!

Birthday week-end when Lily turned 9

Lily turned 9 not that long ago.  As she didn't have many friends in her class, we decided to avoid trying to have a birthday party. But instead we would have a family week-end full of adventures: I was a bit heartbroken at first that she wouldn't have the usual friends big party. But then, this family/adventure week-end grew on us. And it was actually the greatest idea. She will probably remember it better than all of her previous parties!It started with a little trip to the sea before hitting the road. The water was much chillier than expected (especially because it was so hot in the air that day!)Then we went to our family in Örebro.  It's a place I mentionned before because they have a great open art exhibition every two years. But it's also where Pelle's family lives and it was really good this year to be able to have more reunions with them!I ended up doing the Nigella's olive oil gluten free chocolate cake I was advised to do on instagram and it was quite nice with mascarpone and raspberries on top!Lily got a Ukulélé for her birthday as requested, played right away with it. Such happiness!It was such a beautiful week-end too!We drove to near Gothenburg from there to an amazingly beautiful hotel. Just a bit weird that it's in the middle of a golf course. But if you ignore that fact, you are in paradise! The rooms have a scandinavian style. With woodland and white design. And big window bays giving you a view to the forest:I'm pretty sure the woods have fairies there!The real birthday day was Sunday. We got a little cake and a candle for her and gave her some more presents:This includes that Bellerose dress she really liked!The aim of the trip was to go to Universum, a huge science center in Gothenburg that Lily really wanted to visit. On our way, there was a dandelion field and I had to stop to take some pics of course:Kids had a great time at Universum. If you are in the area, I definitely recommend it!And when we were on our way back to Stockholm, I got totally obsessed with Colza (Rapeseed) fields and thankfully we could stop at one of them so I could take pictures!Great end to a great birthday week-end! Overall, she was very happy about everything. And I'm sure she'll have much more memories of it. I think planning trips is one of the best present you can have. What do you think? 

Artipelag in the spring

When we went to Artipelag in the summer, I promised to go and check it during every seasons. So we went during the winter. And now we paid it a visit during early spring. And I'm still in awe of the place. I already praised it in my previous posts and explained why. But I will do a little reminder here with a few pictures:This place is truly magical. Any time, any weather and I'm totally bewitched!So Artipelag is a beautiful place on the Värmdö island of the Stockholm archipelago. It's first a museum where you have great exhibitions and a restaurant but it's also nice walk paths with beautiful views and settings. One by the sea and one by a pine forest.When we came last time, it was rather cold and grey but still. The colours were amazing, the  views are stunning and the museum is a great place. Always such a treat!Oh and did I mention the pine forest? I think I did!So comfortable, she didn't want to move for a while......but had to! And it ends with some beautiful birch trees so typical of the north of Europe:I also made a little week-end movie so you can see more:I'm not sure I'll see it in the Autumn. All is a bit uncertain at the moment. But we will certainly try to as I'm sure It would blow my mind (and my camera).

Easter in the Morvan - Part 3 (Plateau de Bibracte - the end)

Third part of our amazing Easter week in the Morvan. If you missed part 1 and part 2, here is a link to the region. We went on a trip to the famous (in France) plateau du Bibracte.  The site is an archaeological park but it's on top of a mount. And it's at the centre of a forest under protection. Plus, it's so magical, it almost feels like a imps and elves wood. Or Narnia maybe. Isn't the view magnificent? And they have the prettiest installations made to go with surrounding nature. Ceramic pots with holes to make music with the sound of the wind:There was also long strings where pieces of woods were hanging, making some amazing music too:And how about these white branches in the middle of the wood? It's a bit artificial but it looks amazing. Plus, it's very respectful of the Environment:Also, you can find old archeological areas and those kinds of old structures:Overall, the kids and I found the forest of beech trees pretty magical. It felt like imps could appear from anywhere. And each trees seemed to have an entrance to some sort of magical world:Overall, this has been an amazing holiday and much needed break. One of my obsessions during the week has been to try to take those magical blowing dandelions pictures. Mostly failures but here are some outtakes (aside from the ones in the previous posts):Bye bye Morvan. For now!

Easter in the Morvan - Part 1 (introduction)

We spent Easter in the Morvan for the third time in row. Last year was good but short. This year, we stayed for a week in my mother's summer house and it was a bliss. My sister and her husband were there with her kids too. Quite a rare treat to be all together. The weather was amazing and all the trees and flowers were in blooms. I discovered the area a bit more and would like to show you (it might take a few posts though). Ready?Morvan is a small mountain in Burgundy but it's less glamorous than its vineyard famous neighbour. Nonetheless, it's a regional protected parc and it's beautiful! We came during a flowering time that I have rarely seen before and I was quite impressed with the variety and beauty.I even managed to snap a last minute magnolia bloom and join the frenzy that went on in my favourite social media:My mum planted some beautiful ones in her garden too. And we had lunches, local organic strawberries and lots of outdoor activities for the kids (not pictured: tree climbing, fishing, family and friends hangs) :And my brother in law built brilliant bows and arrows for each of the kids:We also could gather so many pretty bouquets:And go for long walks where I really discovered the gorgeousness of this small mountain (and now be ready for a big photo flow):Wasn't that beautiful? I have so much more I would like to show. So I'll make a couple more post and distill them in time. And hopefully you will appreciate them more that way... Let me know!

Woodland reveries (Portrait of my children in 2017- three)

I have to find where to take my photography. I have always loved looking for the light and I am always eager to learn more. When the ordinary becomes magic in a picture, it makes my heart skip a little. Robert Schumann said : “The artist vocation is to send light into the human heart” and I'm hoping to reach that stage at some point.In the meantime, taking baby steps, I was suggested by an amazing coach to take my children into a fairy tale story. Because, yes, I love fairy tales (Im making my coming out here). They take you to places, they make you see the world in a different way, they bring the light and the magic. Also, they tell you about how the world and our lives actually are. You learn a lot with them. But in a beautiful way. Just like photography.So why not doing the 3rd monthly portrait project as a fairy tale? Creatures of the woods, half real, half magic. Seeking each other, transforming into fairies, ice queens or animals. Something about Narnia. And my kids just said yes.He was a prince, but then also a wolf. She was an ice queen but then also a woodland fairy. Let your imagination wander. There is always a moment in the story when things get scary. But there is so much magic in the woods...And the reverie starts again, the fairies fill the place:The prince disappeared into the forest to reappear again as a wolf in our garden, but the little fairy snow princess wasn't afraid. On the contrary, she wanted to play.I dont think she realised that there was an angry wolf behind her. Probably because he isn't that angry. And also, she can manage. She believes in magic!They are always cute when they sleep.But also when they smile. Friends in dreamland."Some day you will be old enough to read fairy tales again" C.S. Lewis. It's time!Maybe one day I'll photograph your kids and make some magic too. What do you say?                   

Junibacken in Stockholm, the ultimate museum playground for kids

A quick post to tell you that if you are in Stockholm with young children, you have to visit Junibacken! During the last holidays, I took Lily tothere. We hadn't been for a while although we used to take the kids there at every Stockholm visit! It's a lovely and very playful museum.It's dedicated to Astrid Lindgren but also Swedish children literature in general. It all started with a storybook train from the Astrid Lindgren novels. I love this train so much, I think I could almost go there on my own to re-watch it. I'm dreading the fact that it might have been the last time I went with Lily.The rest of the story of the museum you can read on here. The place is overall amazing. It's the most kids friendly ever. Pram garages outside, theatre plays for kids, great bookstore. Lots of playground areas based on Swedish famous children literature. And aside from the train, there is a giant reproduction of Villa Villekula, Pippi longstocking's house. Inside you can find a giant slide and lots of different play sets.Overall, many places to play! Usually, there is an exhibition on a theme related to  famous children's book character. The last one was about the mummins. I also remember a full playground on Elsa Beskow's whimsical world. They moved the playground in the airport. How amazing!There is a nice place to eat with a view on the sea as the museum is on the island of Djurgården. It's all about a circus theme so colourful and playful. And the food is ok, mostly healthy and lots of organic options including on the juices and candies front!And then you can go outside and enjoy the surroundings (even on a snowey day) or the many other museums on the island. That's maybe for another post!And of course we took the boat back home, breaking the ice!Here are the contact details if you wish to go there and you can check on their website (which is mostly in Swedish):JunibackenGalärvarvsvägen 8115 21 StockholmOtherwise, just drop me an email and I'll give you all the tips and information you need!

Winter visit to Artipelag

Artipelag is a great place I mentioned before when I was doing the 52 project. We went there last September. It's  a museum in the middle of an amazing setting. You can spend time wandering outside and then go inside for the exhibition. And their brunch is also very nice! We liked it so much that we decided to go and see it every seasons! If you click below you can see how it looks like in the winter. And if you manage to reach the end, there is a little movie that I made for my instagram account. The scenery when you arrive at the trail to get to the museum is beautiful. I really love discovering a place that has that feel even when it's not spring or summer. Which are definitely my instinctively favourite seasons! You have such beautiful views in that area. And when there isn't many people, it's so relaxing too! Smell of pine trees and sea, sound of birds and wind. What else?And again, the frozen sea is an amazing experience:I did tell him not to go though (despite the millions pictures I took):Despite the wet foot, we had a great time:The exhibition that was on that time was from Lars Wallin, a Swedish haute couture designer. Lily loved it. It was quite an impressive collection of dresses, pictures and drawings. It wasn't exactly my style but it was a great show:And some more takes:The end of the trail to go back is also glorious I thought:Here is a little movie from that time there (plus some more ice skating from the day before):If you are in the area, check out the links to Artipelag and go see it. In the summer, you can take boats from central Stockholm there. It's totally worth it! We will definitely be back in the spring. 

A frozen lake bliss in Lidingö part 2

Remember last week, when we went to a frozen lake In Lidingö? And the weather was grey and cold (and snowing) ? Well, we went back with our skates and the weather was absolutely gorgeous. I even made a little movie again for instagram. It will be right at the end of the post. If you want to check, click below!People living on the island of Lidingö are usually very found of outdoor activity. And that day we spent on the lake was a proof: a lot of its inhabitants just take their skates out and spend the afternoon (if not the day) there. We also did it. We took our skates (the kid's ones), some hot chocolate and some muffins and went for a second time of bliss.There are pretty houses around that lake called Kottla (and pretty posh ones too).And we had a little pit stop to have some muffins and hot chocolate just by one of these houses:Also, that lake is pretty magical. Even when there are a lot of people, it feels like one owns it:So cool that only here can you find the cool hipster dad skating on the lake with their vintage prams:And there was even solidarity between my children:Of course not as good as when they did the heart thing:And not as good as those guys with the pram:If you manage to read up to now, Bravo! Here is the little movie I made that day:I hope it will stay frozen for a few more days so we can enjoy it again!

A frozen lake bliss in Lidingö

A giant with a small head or my daughter on her father's shoulders?I haven't shown you much of where we live (or did I? maybe through my kids portraits, yes!). But the other day we went near our friend's home by a lake. That same lake we swam in during the summer. And it was surprisingly, to me, all frozen. We were not prepared for this. We had no skates or anything. But I found it pure magic (and scary at the same time) to be able to watch it and walk on it. Want to see some pictures and even a little movie? Click below!Enchanting, isn't it? Lidingö has been pleasing me in so many ways with nature. Living by the sea and having a lake in the middle of the Island, what else?And there is a nice walk to do around the lake too!It's impressive and beautiful all at once.Even the way back home was quite of eery. I mean, the weather was really quite bad. Snowy and grey and rather cold. But still. I loved it!I even made a little movie (as I do every week-end for Instagram):We came back with skates, so... to be continued, maybe!

A little week end in Paris

We spent last week-end in Paris to celebrate Christmas with my family a month later. Half grey/half colourful. With moods, ups and downs, sun and rain but we got together again. And even had a  great feel of Paris. If you click below, you can discover a new bakery and some hidden Parisian treasures as well as some portraits of Eliott and Lily of course! We went to the Georges Pompidou center and saw Cy Twombly exhibition:The view is amazing, even if you wouldn't like the exhibitions, you can just go for that!Paris has seen the growth of many types of patisseries and bakeries lately. Some more specialised than others. Some more worth it than others.I discovered thanks to my mum a new bakery that is worth mentioning here. It has less sugar and tastes amazing. If you ever pass by Paris, go and check Yann Couvreur and taste his "eclairs au chocolat", it's beautiful and subtle at the same time.Another thing I love in Paris is the variety of markets. So of course we went to buy some fresh and sea food (especially the things I miss so much when I'm up north!)This lady thought she would look horrible and said sorry many times, but I think she looks really good!There was also a small flee market by my parent's place. I wanted to buy everything there:I like where my mum has moved in Paris because it's full of hidden alleys, wall art and quirky gardens which is quite unusual for most of the city:And a few more of course!Time flies in such a week-end and reunions are sort of bittersweet. Good but short. Hope you all have a good week!         

A little bit of Thailand part 3 (the end)

If I post more pictures of Thailand, it's a bit like we are still there, right? We are currently in the process of recuperating. Not only of Jet-lag but also from a bug we caught when we got back. Winter is ok. I'm fine with it. But oh, Thailand was so good. So I kept a few pictures and the three "week-end memories" films I made for Instagram. You can watch it all by clicking below!I promised you movies, so here they are. The first film corresponds to the first blog post:The second week-end, corresponding to the second blog post:And the third part, introducing you to the pictures you'll see after if you still have the courage:I have said it before, the weather wasn't always with us. After we had two full days of rain, some blue sky finally showed up. It was stormy and windy but the light was just amazing:We ate in a restaurant on the beach. We had to walk on the beach from our hotel to get there. Koh Kho Khao is such a beautiful island.Overall, we spent a lot of time by our hotel but it was such a great place:They were so nice, they even gave us the best room of the hotel for the last couple of days. It had an outdoor little pool and a great view on the beach:Evening were great and warm. Despite the lack of sun, we always had such a cool air.And for our last night, we had the best sunset possible:Amazing light, right?And then Lily gave us a little show. That will close my post!And a last one for the road:

A little more of Thailand Part 2

Here comes the second part of our Thailand trip. As I mentioned before, the weather wasn't always with us. Just like the air hostess on our trip back put it : " I have been in Thailand every year for the past 15 years. This time was the worst weather ever!".We did enjoy ourselves totally though. And went to magnificent places. Thailand is such a vibrant place. Click below to see more!We decided to escape the rain in Koh Kho Khao where we were staying and pay a visit to the beautiful Phan-Nga bay.  We had an amazing boat trip around it. It's totally magical even in cloudy weather. We also had the chance to go to the Island called "James Bond". The name is due to a duel scene of the movie " the man with a golden gun" between Christopher Lee and Roger Moore. We did some canoeing and more boat ride.We also went to a fishing village that was originally built by Indonesian immigrants. So much life in there. Such an experience for the kids.The cafe they go to before heading fishing:We also visited a school there, they have a football pitch on pilotis!Last part of our trip was for visiting a temple with a giant buddha. I can safely say this was a full on day:Of course, there will be a part 3 to this trip. An amazing experience overall.I hope this gives you a bit of warmth on these cold days!