Part three has just started!
plural noun: human rights
a right which is believed to belong to every person.
“a flagrant disregard for basic human rights”
……………………………………………………………………………….
We’re back on the block… And it took us about 6 months…
You know why?
Well, some things in live can’t be controlled…
There are things that can surprise you unexpectedly…
and not always in a kind or pleasant way…
Unpleasant, nerve-wrecking, very stressful and sad,
yes it was… but nothing compared to the thousands
and thousands of refugees-families waiting for a better life.
There is this wonderful initiative of our friends,
TRUE ART OF GIVING,
and they thought it was a good idea
to start their auction today… December 10th
HUMAN RIGHTS DAY…
to help the refugees who are stucked,
sometimes already for years, on an island.
The island Lesbos in Greece.
We happen to be the lucky ones…
At least lucky in having the basic necessities of life.
We live in a beautiful warm home in a safe area,
and we have clothes to wear and enough food to eat
and the kids have the privilege to go to school, five days a week.
Enough toys to play with and we are surrounded by
our dearest friends and families…
Something millions of people can’t say… and without making us feel guilty,
we would just want us all to be grateful of what we ‘do’ have
and help out where we can. Even a little small thing or gesture will help.
Anything!
So, what can you do? Well…
We would love you to follow this beautiful initiative
TRUE ART OF GIVING
from today on… If you didn’t already…
It is a collective of brands, makers & shops
trying to master the art of giving this holiday season.
They’ve joined hands and are putting together
an auction with all your favourite christmas gifts.
Beautiful gifts from small businesses,
with a big heart for the environment
are available and selected for you.
And the total amount which will be raised,
will be donated 100% (yes yes!)
to BECAUSE WE CARRY
and will reach ‘the families in need’ directly!
This third auction will take place from today on,
Monday 10th until Thursday 13th 23:59 p.m.
Every item will be posted one by one
at TRUE ART OF GIVING‘s Instagram account.
So go check it out… This is the fun part!
And believe us,
it will fulfill all your christmas shopping dreams 😉
And at the same time we learn the ‘TRUE ART OF GIVING!’
The best of both worlds…
Thank you all so so much! Very much appreciated!
Illustrations by Roos Mertens
p.s. If you would like to read more detailed about it.
We wrote a story last year in December
about this ‘beautiful warm smart initiative’.
2018, me me me…
A HAPPY NEW 2018!
What will it bring us?
One thing is for sure, we don’t know yet.
We can look back in a year and wonder…
Although we would love to talk
about what will happen, you never know it will.
It just happens or not, or something unexpected pops up.
(not always negative by the way…)
We had very difficult private times,
we don’t bother you with the details.
It is called life, it is called learning, it is called a process.
We can’t guide everything in our lives.
Some things will be unexpected and not always a pleasant one.
And sometimes you look back to the last year
and you think, in a way it was a good one.
We’ve learned a lot…
One important thing made really sense to me…
For a working mom with a lot of stress in her private life,
due to those personal circumstances,
it is really important to take time for yourself.
To make sure you are healthy and happy.
Then you can handle things much better.
I didn’t realize it all those years until now.
My time is regulated in a really nice way lately.
I found the best hangout for me in Amsterdam.
You have to know, I’m not a gym fit girl at all…
I really hate those regular sportclubs.
With all the men pumping up their bodies
and the girls in their perfect bodies,
which makes us jealous obviously… and want to run away.
Not motivated, also because it feels a bit shallow…
Just focussing on the outside.
You body is connected to your mind, to your brain
and I don’t want to look at someone in the mirror
who is training without feeling it, except the pain, haha!
BBB Health Boutique is a… BOUTIQUE , yes a ’boutique’,
which means it is personal and small…
where they approach your wishes in a holistic way.
It already sounded perfect to me, but had to find out first…
DOUBTS, because there are so many of them
and every owner believes in their own concept obviously,
but a lot of times it happens to be just a trend… a vision with the eyes on money making.
Everything is connected to everything in your body.
Your state of mind, the situations in your personal or working life.
You need a spot which grows with you…
This is a warm and lovely hangout where you can workout for
30 minutes, the secret is ‘the hot cabin’…
(the shortest most effective way of training).
An hour for a yoga or pilatesclass,
a chat with one of the coaches…
A tea or coffee and reading a magazine
or talking to the other lovely ladies you meet there.
I met my counselor there, and some creative independent working moms…
A nice mix of totally different women who are training…
Very inspiring!
Just for women of every age.
And in whatever ‘vibe’ you are in,
they will find the best program for that moment for you.
So if you need balance, or are a mama to be…
Or #thisisthebest; if you are a mama with a baby,
you can bring your baby to a special class.
Where you can workout
and have your baby in front of you…
So if you are looking for a healthy hangout in the Netherlands
(sorry foreign friends)
where you can be you, where they guide you
to a comfortable program,
where they coach you in a spontaneous way,
when you feel for it…
where you will feel at home…
This is worth to book free class to try.
Yes, it is my time! 3 times a week,
a moment for me, myself and I.
And fore once I don’t feel guilty!
So please check I out if you feel like it!
Especially today, January 2nd…
It’s their 10th birthday today.
And they will treat you with something very cool!!!
(you have to know they never give discounts #lucky you)
If you would like to start at the health boutique this week.
Go to this link and you will get up to 90% discount
depending on the details,
so you only pay 10 euro’s for this January!
WE PROMISE YOU, YOU WILL BE SURPRISED AND PLEASED!
#thecoolheadsrecommends.
Images: thecoolheadsoninsta
Illustration: Alice Bowsher
True Art Of Giving
Last Friday, ‘the festive month of the year’ has started.
Something a lot of people are looking forward to.
Especially kids…
Obviously most of them will receive quite some gifts.
The lucky ones…
Sadly enough, there are way too many families
whose priority isn’t gifts or parties at all.
There’s where I feel the story of ‘the little match girl’
by Hans Christian Andersen big time.
The very very unfair part…
Their primary and essential need is food and warm clothes.
Images we saw a lot over the years,
but what we don’t realize enough, that it is still going on.
And with this cold weather
we don’t want to think about
how it must feel to feel cold in a refugee camp,
where they arrived after a horrible journey.
Everything is better than that they were running from…
But if you have to decide to leave your roots an your country,
with your (little)kids, not knowing where you’re going,
that’s heartbreaking!
And the understandable reaction is to look away.
It’s too hard to see. But if we don’t do anything
how can the world cope with that?
And why do others have to fix this.
Stand together! Support the volunteers up there!
We think we have a really good suggestion of support
which might interest you…
TRUE ART OF GIVING
An auction organized on Instagram,
because that particular IG-community
is strong and are aware and will response rapidly.
Founded by our cool friend Britt Hansen.
TRUE ART OF GIVING…
is a collective of brands, makers & shops
trying to master the art of giving this holiday season.
They’ve joined hands and are putting together
an auction
with all your favourite christmas gifts.
They’ve started out with 15 people, but the collective
expanded in not even two weeks!
to 70 independent business owners who joined.
100% of this auction will be donated to @because_we_carry.
A hands on help organisation that really has our hearts.
They have been working on Lesvos, Greece since 2015.
Tirelessly helping refugees in every possible way.
The TRUE ART OF GIVING collective
would like to create some awareness
on how we spend our money during the holiday season.
In the Netherlands alone we have spend
13 billion euros on christmas in 2016…
…on gifts, fashion & extravagant diners.
It’s not the idea to judge you on how you celebrate your holidays.
But the collective would like to take a little spin on
how to spend those 13 billion and help others while we are at it.
We think it the best of both worlds!
Beautiful gifts from small businesses,
with a big heart for the environment
are available and selected for you.
And the total amount which will be raised,
will be donated 100% (yes yes!)
to BECAUSE WE CARRY
and will reach the families in need directly.
The first auction will take place this upcoming December 6th!.
Every item will be posted one by one at TRUE ART OF GIVING.
And believe us, it will fullfill all your christmas shopping dreams 😉
And the best thing…,
by even getting your hands on
a beautiful gift for Christmas…,
is THE GIFT OF GIVING, which is the best feeling.
So please share and make sure
we can give all the beautiful families in need,
as much as we can,
through the amazing team of
BECAUSE WE CARRY!
Tag along and start mastering the art of giving
with TRUE ART OF GIVING.
Artwork by: Roos Mertens
Images are from the participating brands.
PS. If you are a shop, brand, maker, dreamer, believer
and you want to be a part of this collective,
please email trueartofgiving@gmail.com
Acting and being…
BOYS (& GIRLS)…
Listen…
We have something nice to share…
If you would love to be an actor
or model and you live
or will be in Amsterdam
on sunday, December 17th,
THIS IS YOUR CHANCE!
The chance to join A VERY COOL WORKSHOP
for kids between 9-16 years old…
Which will give you an insight
and (maybe) your first get-t0-know into these professions…
Hosted by the two cool and very talented PRO’s;
Actress Gaite Jansen and photographer Sarah van Rij.
Gaite and Sarah are two friends who’ve joined hands
to teach and guide you into their profession.
Because they think it’s important for kids
to learn about creativity and expressing themselves.
Actress Gaite will teach you how to improvise,
from pretending to be a fried egg (hahaha! love it…)
to more beautiful plays.
Acting is about how to present yourself,
express yourself and about collaboration.
Photographer Sarah will teach you how to present yourself
in front of a camera. She will shoot a castingphoto of each of you
and for the second photo, a bit more crazy, fun version…,
she will talk with you about how this one should look like and why?
With a moodboard of lovely images and portraits
of iconic models and actors/actresses,
you can choose one which appeals the most to you
and you will discuss that together.
It will help you to find out more about you,
your vision and your character.
I am sure it will make a much nicer picture of you,
in your own opinion,
because YOU CAN BE YOU. And that’s the best.
It will bring you to a bit of a deeper level of acting and modelling
instead of just the outside frame we always just see.
As a parent, I think that’s the best part of this workshop.
Getting to know yourself better
and I’m sure it wil make you stronger, wiser and more secure.
Go (and ask your) parents, book this workshop a.s.a.p.
The best Christmas present for your kid!
Credits: Beautiful illustration/typo:
through FFFFOUND
from Moiré
Mixed with details of the flyer of the workshop.
p.s.This is the dutch announcement of these lovely ladies.
You can follow them also at their FB-page to stay updated.
Motivational journey! ; )
BRILLIANT AS EVER!
BOTH!
#yesyoucan #justdoit #yesterdayyousaidtomorrow
HAPPY MONDAY!
Credits: Nike, but actually the one and only legendary Michael Jordan!
Green in da house!
A GREEN & SUNNY SUNDAY
it will be tomorrow in Amsterdam!
First of all, our sunny friend will show up,
as promised by the weather-boys-and-girls…
And even though there won’t be some sparkling sunlight,
there for sure will be a
FREE ENTRANCE COOL EVENT!
On Sunday, April 2nd, Let it Grow‘s
GREENHOUSE FESTIVAL! will take place
in our city Amsterdam!
Experience firsthand how plants, flowers and green technologies
are being used to shape happier and healthier cities.
You will find the gathering of many talented innovators,
architects, artists, chefs and tech entrepreneurs.
Specialized in urban green.
Using plants and flowers to improve our lives.
Your ‘dreams-of-a-greenhouse’
and ‘moodboards-on-pinterest’ can come to life…
Inspiring to the max! Out of your comfort zone!
For free people! Bring friends & family!
For sure you’ll come back feeling enriched,
inspired and very eager to get your hands dirty!
DIG IT!
Source: Anouk Vogel (through IG Let it Grow).
Valentina Vos, Jake Kenny
p.s. More boys-and-green-inspiration at our green in da house!
scissors needed…
We are big fans
of Dutch Illustrator LOES RIPHAGEN‘s book
‘Trunk for the Nose’
or in Dutch ‘ Bij de neus genomen’.
That book is illustrated by a cutting paper (collage) technique,
which makes ‘the jungle’ becoming alive.
Actually for us it is art…
The cover of the book is open and looks like a showbox…
A black cover with the title in gold.
Really awesome and very unique!
As a follow up she’d made
#knipjeeigenbeesten,
which is something like
#cutyourownpaperanimals
A booklet where she is teaching you
how to create a beautiful paper cut animal yourself.
In very easy steps with examples.
And if you will make a version on your own,
she will be delighted when you send her a picture.
Well, we will Loes : )
So obviously we’ve ordered this ourselves,
as we have a creative dude at home
and we are big fans of her work.
But this will be a great gift for birthdays,
Xmas or just creative days with the kids anyway.
#alltimefavourite!
ENJOY A LOVELY CREATIVE WEEKEND!
Images: loesriphagen.nl / thecoolheads.com
HELLOOOOHHH WEE…NNN
It is that time of the year again… BOO!
But we’re figuring out,
is it about the costumes,
the candy or the scaryness…?
For us it’s about the costumes
and the scary faces.
Although, in a way,
they’re kind of cute all the time.
Here’s an example from the creatives of
SUPER GROUPE…
The best costume!!!!
Very stylish, cute and fun!
ENJOY HALLOWEEN!
More inspiration;
for COSTUMES and BOO! HALLOWEEN
Image: Super Groupe
The Monster Maker
Miss Stella McCartney and her crew
came up with something so COOL…
For Stellaween (haha!) she’d made a tool…
THE MONSTER MAKER
to create your own monster.
And with HALLOWEEN coming up,
it is so much fun!
Hope you will like our creatures too…
BOO!
###
Monsters, personalized by us,
created by Stella Kids
Good vibes only… dream big!
The brilliant Dallas Clayton is an artist…
Not just one to frame in one category.
More detailed, he’s an author,
illustrator, public speaker,
mural painter, and adventure seeker.
Also a skateboarder, father of a son
and friend of the world.
One thing is for sure…
he’s spreading ‘the word’ in beautiful illustrations.
It can be for all different moods,
and it’s all from the heart
with very very very positive vibes.
Without being it way too sweet!
Mister Clayton is helping us through the day.
Good, bad, tough, something to do with love,
happiness, sadness, insecureness,
doubts, thoughts, feelings…
But all in the most positive ways to look towards it.
It can make a total difference… and change your mood instantly…
Anyway, it makes us happy and optimistic all the time.
So we feel he deserves a worldcup
for all the brilliant positive cool vibes he’s sharing!
Follow him… You will get daily FREE peptalks…
THANK YOU MISTER CLAYTON!
WE WILL DREAM BIG, BIG TIME!
Credits: Dallas Clayton
