straw hat
Sometimes you just need a makeup-free, worry-free, laptop free and all other kinds of -free day, out by the pool on the sun and alone. Alone with your thoughts, your worries, hopes, and fears. A time to breathe without doing absolutely nothing else. Sounds simple, I know but it's anything but.
CAN YOU DO ONE THING AND ONE THING ALONE?
We are now in Croatia on vacation, traveling and staying at several locations to meet with some family and friends but also to have some time to be alone, only three of us, as a family.
Yesterday I was playing with my daughter and I felt a bit restless, I was 'only' playing...no mobile, no distractions, no TV in the background nor radio. A few seconds later a WhatsApp message sounded on my mobile with a loud beep...sounds awful but I felt a bit of a relief (there it was, in a loud beep I was doing more than one thing again).
My mom was asking when are we coming for a lunch, next message then arrived from my sister asking what she should bring. I was answering one message after another not noticing my daughter just standing in front of me with a little rabbit in her hand and a very disappointed look on her face.
'Alo ai!' She ordered pointing at the table, asking me angrily to put my phone down. 'Zeko adormir!' her toy rabbit needed to be put to nap and I was to do it with singing 'Mama voli Belu' a song I remade from a popular cartoon and sing to Anabela before she goes to sleep.
I, who often say how I am very good and conscious about not using my phone much around Anabela have been totally unconscious of how my daughter felt and how much time I spent on two simple WhatsApp messages in the middle of a very important moment during play for her (and I).
DO YOU FEEL GUILTY TAKING 'ME' TIME?
Although I try my very best to be present and in the moments I spend with my family I am not so aware and honest to myself when I need to truly take an emergency time out and just go away. To go away guilt free, most importantly.Go away and be alone with absolutely no distractions. Be alone with myself. Even typing it now sounds terrifying. It sounds like a major waste of time for someone 'so busy' as I consider and pride myself to be.
When I finally do it, when I organize everything at home and at work and leave to have a coffee and read a book in a cafe 2 minutes away from our apartment I find it hard to relax and focus on just reading. I often (not always but often) find myself pulling out my mobile and typing a food shopping list, to do list or looking at kindergarden camera to see my daughter is ok.
Meditation, breathing app and my amazingly supportive boyfriend and a great dad, really do help and push me to go and be alone once in a few days and do something for myself but I often wonder, why don't I also give myself a permission to do the same?
SETTING PRIORITIES AND LETTING GO
One of major 'aha' moments for me was when my boss in the multination company I worked in said to me: "I think that the most capable and most intelligent people find a way to do fewer things but to do them more efficiently." DU-Ghhhh... I thought but it's easy for him to say from the director's (and males) perspective when he is juggling fewer things at the time. Later on (when I got physically sick) I realized that I can to take charge of the priorities I make and my own work schedule and simply not do some things. I indeed became more productive. Why is it so hard to apply this to the daily family life?
One young woman, a cancer survivor said it best "Will I save someone's life if I stay to work late in the office?' No? Then it can wait until tomorrow."
Free People crochett one piece swimsuit.
This fabulous hat which has two holes to tie it through with a silk wrap is from Uterque, the parfume is Amor Amor by Cacharel, there is also a hand cream from L'occitane, a lip gloss Douglas and a bronzer from Kiko.
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Leopard print is not easy to wear or style if you want to make it look effortless, chic and not to tacky. I can't judge myself if I succeeded but I can say that this is the look which I do feel comfortable wearing. Despite the title, this post is not about my baby daughter Anabela 😃 , my true - wild child.
I got this light and airy leopard print dress from & Other Stories and the idea was to style it for casual lunch date to make it comfortable enough to move around and run after Anabela yet that it provides enough sun protection in sunny Barcelona.
This gorgeous shoot location was Monastery of Pedralbes in Barcelona, very peaceful and historic with gorgeous museum and friendly staff. The entrance to this Monastery is absolutely free on Sundays so it can be a useful information for tourists visiting Barcelona on weekends.
I accessorized the leopard print dress with Missguided belt, & Other Stories black wide rimb straw hat.
The saddle shoulder bag I used for this look is my grandma's vintage bag which is about 40 years old but it's still quite wearable and stylish while it carries a sentimental value for me.
To add a pop of rock & roll to the look I put on a simple organic cotton H&M t-shirt underneath the leopard print dress and topped it with a chocker necklace. A pop of color was added with red Chanel lipstick, Marc Jacobs 'to dramatic for the day look' eyeliner and red nail polish.
My favorite walking embroidered booties from Free People which I continue to wear year around were an obvious choice for this look.
All photos Andrina Peric
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When we were deciding on which country and city to move to a number of years ago now, being close to the beach along with the fabulous weather and world known charm Barcelona was an obvious choice. Being at or close to the beach cures my soul I feel. It brings the tranquility to my body and mind and it clarifies it better and quicker then any spa treatment or yoga class. This is why, whenever I can I do my weekend planning session at the beach.
Before having Anabela I used to just take my dog, a blanket, my planner and some water and drove to the Gava Mar beach early in the morning on Saturday. Out of season there is barely anyone there, especially if it's windy. I don't mind wind at all (although my hair and my hat did at this particular shoot 😃 ).
I recently got this beautiful, airy white off shoulder midi dress with frills by Uterque and it made a perfect 'back to beach planning' outfit for this shoot. I combined it with my super old Rugby Ralph Lauren belt and leopard print espadrilles for the first look.
For the second look I combined Zara head scarf and Miyuu Barcelona custom pink leather bucket bag with chain belt. I ordered this handbag from designer and it's one of a kind. She made it with a piece of Moroccan carpet which gives it a pop of color and unique texture.
Last Summer I got this fabulous wide rim custom hat from Talliya Couture , but since my toddler tries to play with it often I spent all Summer straightening the rim with books in order to be able to wear it again! Although super gentle, this is my favorite beach hat. I wear it with head scarf bellow to prevent it from flying away on a windy day.
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