This week Carolien wished time could stand still

Of course, you can't stop your children from growing up, but this week I had one of those moments where I wished time would stand still. Buying boxers and tank tops together to go outside ‘diaper-free’ for the first time. Otis has been using the potty nicely at home for a while now, but now that we're also training in the outside world, it all feels very big and grown-up. The first bike ride went well, but after an hour of playing at the daycare, it kind of slipped away... We're training calmly and secretly his mama doesn't mind if it takes a little longer.

The moment Jon realized that our three-year marriage meant ‘leather’, he had already picked out a gift for himself: a leather harness to which you can ‘super conveniently’ attach two cameras (I think the times this item gets pulled out of the closet can be counted on one hand annually, but that's beside the point...). So, of course, I had to look for a suitable gift as well. Now, with my current, growing size, I can't really find anything leather on my wish list, so I quickly ended up with the most ultimate wedding anniversary gift: a ring. And not just any ring, but one with a history (plus to honor my roots as an antique dealer's daughter with the antique aspect). And then came the biggest mistake of my life: my very first visit to jeweler Lyppens. Besides the fact that I wanted to buy every item from the display case, I could easily spend a whole day sitting in a corner observing people here. We left with a stunning piece. Come on, this is the ring to celebrate a leather marriage, right?

Every time I see the new collection from Fabienne Chapot, I get excited for the new season. What I love is that they bring back many items (looooveee their maxi dresses) but in a new print. The autumn collection is characterized by lots of purple and rose tones, ‘the moon’, and some delightful animal prints. These boots are already the eye-catchers of my winter wardrobe.

For pregnant women, De Boezemvriend in Amsterdam is truly a paradise: they offer pregnancy/baby yoga, courses, and all the info on breastfeeding (really a recommendation, it helped me immensely) and a beautiful shop where you can shop for your baby essentials. Now the store has been expanded with the flagship store of Stokke. I quickly knew that I wanted my baby crib and changing table from this brand, but it's incredibly nice to see the entire collection live instead of guessing everything online. Soon I'll have to stop by to pick out a new crib for Otis so that his can go on to number two.