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notes from our whimsical Swedish days between city + sea

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Monica Karlstein and DIY Interior Book: “99 Hacks”

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Happy Mother’s Day

SWEDEN + TRAVEL

5 Things you might not know about Swedish Easter

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15 Ice Projects to make with kids

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10 Snowman Projects to make with kids

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Winter Wonderland Wishes

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DAILY Christmas Countdown Calendar: Invitation to join us in the 5th Annual

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24 Days of Scandinavian Creativity | Year 4 ROUND UP + YEAR 5 WARM UP

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Floral Bunnies

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  • something summer from my terrace under a southern sunset .. . . . . . . July’s been such an adventure ... and full of extremes. . . Currently, I’m in Apulia with the kids stopping, starting & weaving our way through Rome... Amalfi.... . . We’ve landed in the far, far, south of Italy: Apulia for ... dazzling days and nights... . I haven’t wanted to break the spell of it with words; but, here’s a little piece of sunset from our terrace and wishes to you.. .
  • July days . .. . Materials from my garden: Birch flowers, Veronica, Roses, peony stem ... and twig . .#willowdayflowerproject #willowday #ginavide #sgiew_InspireAndCreate . . . . . . . . . . . . #slowflowerssweden #svenskodlat #njutisäsong #flowersmakemesmile #underthefloralspell
  • Weekend wanderings . Happy Monday!. . Starting the week with the perfect combination of work & play..I usually step away from my phone all of July but, all rules are meant to be broken and thought I’d say, “hi there!” If you’re “here” too, “What emoji best describes your summer so far? ... 🌞, 🏖, 🎨 , 🚲, 🏄🏽‍♂️🗄... 🧘🏼‍♂️... or.... . From 🇸🇪 with❤️, G . ................................ . . I’m tucking myself away today to work 🖥 🖌 🌸before our summer becomes all play. 🌊 🤸🏼‍♀️ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #willowdaygram #visitsweden #swedishmoments . . ——————————————-⁣⁣⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⁣⁣⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #simplethingsmadebeautiful⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #seekinspirecreate⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #lovelywanderings⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #everysquareastory⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #dailydoseofwhimsy⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #embracingaslowerlife⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #smallmomentsofcalm ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
  • ( DIY Svensk Inredningbok | “99 Hacks”). . Book Recommendation for DIY Living Spaces & summer teen creativity . . We’re loving our endless summer days in Sweden for so many reasons. One of them is having my daughter to myself this week, while both brothers are way. . . Connection through creativity doesn’t end in early childhood. There are endless ways to share or spark creativity with teens and living spaces is one area. . As she re-invents her bedroom, I’ve pulled out @monicakarlstein ’s new book, “Boken ”99 hacks - från massproducerat till genuin inredning” for us to have fun with. The book is filled with inspiring photographs and ideas and every idea uses products from IKEA to hack & re-invent. As a parent, I love a creative project, filled with imagination and ingenuity for teens. .. . Every project in “99 Hacks” could be created with an IKEA product but, every project easily be made with second hand pieces, as well; which is a really fun pursuit, too. The book is available only in Swedish but, it’s photographed so well that it would be inspiring for anyone. . . You can order the book and get more information about “99 Ikea Hacks” in @monicakarlstein feed. . PS: If @monicakarlstein is familiar, I shared a few behind the scenes photos of Monica’s book release here in stories earlier this summer. The projects are so clearly thought out to the smallest detail. The fact that Monica is a one of Sweden’s biggest DIY bloggers and has worked with Aftonbladet, Ikea, Jul med Ernst in stamped into every project. . “99 Hacks” Nu kan du beställa bok om Ikea hacks på länken i @monicakarlstein ’s feed i länken. Den innehåller nästan hundra hemmafix som till exempel det här. Från vanligt furuskåp till handflätade luckor av tunna trälister. 📚 Boken ”99 hacks - från massproducerat till genuin inredning” finns att beställa hos Adlibris på länken i min bio @monicakarlstein #diy #diycraft #diyhomedecor #diyhomeprojects #ikeahack #ikeahacks #ikeahackers #hemmafix #hemmafixbloggen #gördetsjälv #gordetsjalv #inredning #storage #interiordesign #woodcarving #wooddiy #woodcraft #fotoutmaningmars2019 #woodworking #99hacks #allakanhacka @ikeacommunications @julmedernst
  • Stars + Stripe Wishes, friends — and my dear family —- this #4thofjuly: May you all find sparklers & fireworks today : under the stars or in your imaginations. . If you’re in the need of a last minute party fix or project, find this ice cream wrapper printable in stories, just for you. . #printable #icecream #willowdaygram
  • (JULY CHALLENGE | #sgiew_InspireAndCreate —-. a new #sgiew theme in the ongoing collaboration with @sogoodineveryway ) . I was thinking of this new prompt —- #sgiew_InspireAndCreate —- on my morning walk today and wondering “where do you draw inspiration from?” . I find the process to be as engaging as the completion of a piece of art. I always find it on my morning walks through the woods and along the water. I’d love to hear where you go to get filled with inspiration and see your #sgiew_InspireAndCreate in all it’s summer splendor. . @sarah.simple.moments... is the new guest judge - who you will agree is "So Good In Every Way" - meet @sarah.simple.moments... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ————————————⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ To join in: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 1) add #sgiew and #sgiew_InspireAndCreate to your creative shots from today and during the month of July. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Use your imagination - and to get you started, tap #inspire_and_create to inspire you - as ever, do whatever makes you feel GOOD xx⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 2) Follow Ali (@incredibusy and @sogoodineveryway) and @sarah.simple.moments (our guest judge) and @willowdaygram (our #sgiew co-host and cheerleader)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ————————————⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ lots of love⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Gina (@willowdaygram) and Ali (@incredibusy) x⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ——————————————-⁣⁣⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⁣⁣⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #simplethingsmadebeautiful⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #seekinspirecreate⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #lovelywanderings⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #everysquareastory⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #dailydoseofwhimsy⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #embracingaslowerlife⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #smallmomentsofcalm ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #calledtobecreative #livemoremagic ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #abeautifulmess #bevisuallyinspired⁣⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⁣#visitsweden #aoe_creativeedits ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #whpplanetearth
  • GIVE AWAY + BOOK REVIEW | Isn’t there something special about watching kids pull a book from the shelves, get lost in it’s contents and then see them set off to create an idea they’ve found on it’s pages. I think books like these bring meaningful adventures for you to take with your kids, through creativity, without having to step out the door. Jean Van’t Hul has newly revised and revitalized, The Artful Parent: Simple Ways to Fill Your Family’s Life with Art and Creativity @theartfulparent @jeanvanthul and I don’t need a crystal ball to share that this is a book that brings this type of wonder to kids — and adults.. . (You’re welcome). . ............................................................ . . To celebrate Jean, I’m ✨giving away a copy of the revised book 💫 in an Instagram Giveaway. . Would you like a chance to win this book: . - follow @willowdaygram and @theartfulparent on Instagram . - leave a comment in my Instapost with your favorite kids art project. - For extra entries, tag friends in separate comments. . . Deadline to enter: Tuesday, July 2, 2019, 8 pm ET. . . Winner will be notified by direct message on July 2 and will have 24 hours to claim their prize. . . PS. Find more about the book and link to many fun projects connected to the book as I join others in a virtual book tour at. @theartfulparent Check out the most recent fabulous project in this tour that @purpletwig created in celebration of Jean’s book yesterday (one of my all time favorite ways to create with kids!) Tomorrow, join @wild.wattle.folk . . Instagram does not endorse this giveaway. Good luck, friends! . .
  • “Grattis,” “Felicitations “ & Congratulations, Brody! #classof2019 (and classmates) . It was beautiful to see the combination of my son’s French Lycee Francais with Swedish school traditions (double curriculum school); this last weekend for a beautiful High School Graduation ceremony: - — White caps — each personalized and filled with notes and signatures, white dresses, traditional school years end songs; posters held by waiting families and necks decked with mementos.... * . . —- 💛 I don’t have words to express what it is like to be a mother to this guy —- to be a part of his formative school years —- other than bigger, better, bolder, broader than I could have ever known. ❤️ You are made of stars, Brody. 🔆 We cheer you on as you move on , bold + bright, to your next step! 🔆 • .. . .❤️❤️❤️. . NOTE: I could write a book on the experience of raising kids from birth through grade school, middle school, high school and graduation experience abroad —- including university application process w/ the Swedish-French schools seen through my own American lens : so many differences! .. . One of the current differences that jumps out the biggest as I compare notes with friends and family back “home” : university admission decisions aren’t announced until July! ... exciting to the last moment. Our “senior” took exams until 3 days a f t e r graduation ceremonies! . #studenten #highschoolgraduation

gina @willowdaygram

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