The tip on Texel by Carolien

Jon has now become half a contractor and spends four days a week working on the construction site. I hear terms that I have never heard before, and judging by the results, he really has a knack for it. In the meantime, I fill my days with choosing kitchens, floors, and doors... I know, it sounds crazy, but there are so many options and choices, and for every choice, there is an additional cost. So it's constantly fitting and measuring, giving and taking, but eventually, it really becomes a little palace. Oh yes, if you would like to follow our DIY adventure a bit: my first ‘Klussen met Carolien’ is now on my IGTV.

As if the chaos of the renovation wasn't enough, our good saint is back in the country, and Otis is unstoppable. The days are marked by the Sinterklaas news, the number of days until he can put out his shoe, and what gifts he wants to ask for. I find it quite a challenge to teach a three-year-old to be grateful for the gift they receive and not immediately ask for the next one. It seemed like a nice moment to create a piggy bank for him to save for the toy he really wants. And successfully: his toys have never been tidied up so quickly at the end of the day.

To let go of the renovation stress for a bit, we went for a weekend getaway to the beautiful Texel. We had grand plans for walks along the beach and the Slufter, but we mostly enjoyed watching the arrival of Sinterklaas in bed as a family of four, swimming, and having a lovely meal at Grand Hotel Opduin. Big tip: the new coffee shop Texelse Branding in Den Burg. And luckily, our hotel was by the beach, so we managed to take two walks to literally blow off some steam. We'll be back very soon.

A few months ago, I received a call from the owner of Boho Tiffin: after our previous collaboration, she thought it would be great if I could design a completely new Tiffin, especially for kids. I proudly present to you the Jungle Boogie edition that you can personalize yourself. We couldn't choose ourselves, so we leave the finishing touch up to you. Do you choose the Tiger or Camo print in the middle, and do you go for the strap in green/gold, green/silver, or brown/gold? I'm very curious to hear what you think. Check Boho-tiffin.com.