‘Our first trip without the little one’

Last weekend it finally happened: our first trip à deux without the little one. Two whole mornings of sleeping in, not having to consider nap times and actually being able to have a conversation. But when push came to shove, both Jon and I were a bit apprehensive... Sentences like: “Oh, Otis would have really enjoyed this” or: “Do you remember when Otis would say ‘hello’ at every table?” piled up and half a day later we had become those parents who continuously watch photos and videos of their own child. Despite the absence, we thoroughly enjoyed Berlin and mom even stayed out until 3 AM one night. And Otis? He doesn’t seem to have missed us for a second while watching all the lovely videos with his cousins and grandma: if it were up to him, we would quickly go away for another weekend, but I don’t know if his parents can handle that.

For weeks I have been busy sorting out my wardrobe: the Huishoudbeurs is just around the corner and together with among others Marly van der Velden, Fockeline Ouwerkerk, and Sarah Chronis we are going to play shop again with our own vintage closet sale. I often receive messages from ladies who bought something in previous years and proudly send a photo with the message that they are still so happy with the item. And that is exactly the reason why we do this. If we give our clothes a second chance and buy beautiful vintage items more often ourselves, we can all contribute a little to a sustainable society. Hopefully, I will see you on Saturday. Vintage sale, Saturday, February 16 @Huishoudbeurs (hall 13).

Jon came home a few months ago with the news: we are going to do a prescan together, a preventive medical examination where your entire body is examined. I completely understand that people find such an examination very scary, because what if they find something. Jon and I both love certainty and taking action when necessary. Because what if something is discovered that you can address in time and take immediate action instead of years later when complaints or symptoms are visible. A bit nervous, we started the Total Bodyscan, where your blood values are checked, an MRI scan is made of your main organs and blood vessels, and you undergo an extensive heart examination. Fortunately, the atmosphere was very relaxed despite the medical nature (for the first time in my life I didn’t faint during the blood draw, that says something…) and everything was explained calmly and clearly. The results: both healthy and vital. We will definitely come back in a few years for a new check to gain and maintain control over our health.

Half the time I easily go out the door without makeup, but one thing I always check is my eyebrows. Every two months I have them done by the ‘eyebrow guru’ Roya for the perfect shape, but in the meantime, I touch them up a bit myself. By now I have tried five different types of brow gel and they were all too light or too dark. Until I discovered this variant from Diego Dalla Palma, which gives my eyebrows just the right color and keeps them beautifully shaped. Fine, such a makeup-free face, as long as those eyebrows are on point.