momstory

Please meet Mom Sandra from the Pyrenees…

My name is Sandra, 35. I am the mom of two: Louise, 9 years old, and Issa, 18 months. We live at the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains with Jean, lover, dad and video artist. I have been working as an agronomist and flora conservation expert for about 10 years, but I have always sewed and made things at home with wood, paper and various craft. While on maternity leave I recently decided to create my own line. My little online store, “boui boui shop”, was lauched 4 months ago. I like natural fabrics and material, simple shapes and warm colors. I always try to use as much as possible organic fabrics, hemp, linen and cotton.

What kind of house do you live in?

We live in a very large family house with no less than 12 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, 4 lounges, 2 dining rooms, 2 kitchens, a big garden, a house so spacious that it is a bit difficult to decorate... We love this old place where our large family can reunite each Christmas and Summer, but we dream of living one day in our own house which would be eco-friendly and made of wood. We also own a little barn in the mountains where we love spend our weekends and holidays on fixing it.

What places in your neighborhood do you like to go for shopping?

We live in a small town (8000 inhabitants) situated at a far distance from big shopping centers. So even though I do most of my shopping online, there are actually a few interesting small stores in town where I do like to shop, such as Atelier MG which carries an overflow of special items as well as beautiful hand-crafted Indian fabrics. Otherwise I also go from time to time to Paris where I love shopping at stores like i.e. in the Marais.

Meet Spanish mom Lourdes living near Madrid...

My name is Lourdes Ferrer and I’m the mother of two beautiful twin girls (now 21 months old). This fact has changed my life personally and professionally.
I live in the outskirts of Madrid, near the mountains, where I work on my actual passion which is TOT-a-LOT, a Twin Clothing brand and online store where we (me and my husband, Daniel) sell products for twins and our our clothing line, composed of a wide range of complementary garments specifically designed for twins.

What kind of house do you live in, are you and the kids happy here or is there anything you all terribly miss …?
We live in a villa which is more than one hundred years old with a beautiful garden full of flowers and ancient trees…we are very lucky indeed! 

Before our twin girls were born, we lived in the centre of Madrid, on a 4th floor attic (without elevator) and we decided to move to my parents’ summer house the moment we were told we were going to have twins. 100 stairs were too many for our new life!
Anyway, although our kids are happy here and we love that, we miss living in the old part of Madrid, never needing the car, visiting museums, reading the newspaper while having a coffee with no interruptions…I’ll stop before I start crying.

Do you like to spend time on decorating your home and the children’s room?
Launching www.tot-a-lot.com and being mother of twins doesn’t leave me much time for decoration but I did have time to do some nice things when I was pregnant: I painted their wardrobe (an antique one thought for two), I made velvet curtains that remind theater curtains, we hanged a big picture of our girls wearing TOT-a-LOT clothes, we hammered wooden letters into each cot … I enjoyed it a lot and I have lots of ideas for future twin decoration projects, so I hope to have more time for this in a few months.

Where do you look for interior inspiration, favorite magazines, websites, blogs?
I don’t really look for inspiration. I just enjoy very much reading all type of blogs regarding kids, design, ecology, fashion, crafts, cooking, as a hobby and I keep my senses alert to everything that can be useful for my life or work.
Of course, my girls inspire me with the things they do and the funny things they’re starting to say. Many aspects of TOT-a-LOT twin clothing range, come from ideas inspired by them. I learn lots of things from them and I like to watch their different personalities.

What are your children’s favorite items in your house?
When I’m working, I have to lock my office’s door when they are around so that they don’t come in (someone else takes care of them at the other side of the door) so you can imagine the items they like most: my calculator, the ribbon and zips boxes, the lap top…
But they also like to get into the chimney (without fire, of course) and they like a glass vase collection which is on top of the chimney and that we let them touch from time to time.

What places in your new neighborhood do you like to go to for shopping?
There aren’t many shops around but there is a mall in a residential area 5 kms from here where we like going together.  The girls run along the wide corridors and meet new friends and sometimes they take something from a shop and we have to run to give it back, which can be as funny as embarrassing.
We usually end up giving out TOT-a-LOT cards or flyers to other twin parents…we’re thinking on teaching the card part to our kids.


 
What's it like to raise a child in your town?
Where we live, our children are most of the time surrounded by nature and we don’t need to carry a stroller to take them to a playground because they have it home, so that’s perfect. Apart, they will start to go to kindergarden in a few days and that will give them a lot of “social life” which is what they need now.

What is your idea of a perfect day with your children?
A perfect day with my children is one we can all enjoy and the best place for that now is the beach. A sunny but not very hot day on the beach, maybe May or September, with some breeze, playing with the buckets, bathing, taking pictures, having some caotic lunch composed by Spanish omelette, fried fish, beer and ice-cream and a nap altogether below the umbrella.

Can you tell us a funny story, quote or remark one of your children recently made or happened?
Sometimes when both of them are crying and I’m overwhelmed because I’m alone I shout “Help!!!”, so that someone comes to my aid. Well, some months ago, my twins were playing in the garden and I noticed I had to change Celia’s nappy. She wanted to stay there playing so when I tried to pick her up, she looked at the group of people that were standing next to her and shouted “Heeeelp!!!!” (Ayudaaa!!!, in Spanish) It was very funny because she could hardly say “mum” at that time.
Another funny moment is when they look at the mirror and with a look of surprise they say the name of the other twin…though I hope that doesn´t last very long!

Are there any books you can recommend for parents and how to raise your children?
When I needed help because my twins had problems to fall asleep, I read a book called “Duérmete niño” from a Spanish writer called Eduardo Estivil and I used his method and it worked, so I recommend it.
A friend of mine gave me this other book as a present and although I haven´t been able to finish it, I think it’s fascinating. Very very interesting: “What's Going on in There? : How the Brain and Mind Develop in the First Five Years of Life”

Can you mention some of your ‘how-to-raise-your-kid’ values?
Ok, I think it’s the first time I write about this so let’s do brainstorming. Some may be very important and another ones, not so much.

Give him lots of love meaning kisses, time together, make him feel important, sing him, play with him, make him laugh …
Make him understand there are some rules they have to follow
Make him understand those rules have to be broken sometimes
Give him a reason for receiving presents
Try to protect him from dangerous games or similar but being conscious that sometimes it may be better that you assume the risk (if it’s not too high) so that he learns about cause-effect and enjoys “adventure”.
If you have a different opinion than your husband or wife related to education, don’t show it in front of the kid. Talk about it when he cannot hear you.
Don’t let them watch too much TV, better open air games.
Give them healthy food but once in a while take them to enjoy a Big Mac

I think this list is starting to be too long, so I’ll stop here and I’ll try to always follow my own values, because it’s not always easy.

What kind of DIY projects do you like to do with your children?
I’m counting the days to do that kind of things with my girls but for the moment they help me collect almonds, figs and redcurrants from the garden and put them in boxes. They also like to hold the hosepipe when watering the garden.

Are you a crafter or DIY person?
Well, I like crafts very much although I must admit I’m not very patient. Before working on my TOT-a-LOT project, I had my hat and head accessories business which I designed and made myself. I still have the web site, so you can take a look: www.lourdesferrer.com



How do you like to celebrate birthdays and other special days in your house?
I like the opportunity to try a new cake recipe and see how our kids eat it with both hands. That’s how we celebrated their first birthday but this year I would like to do a big party, decorate the garden and invite a lot of friends with kids.
In the future, I have to think about how to celebrate their birthdays because I want each of them to have their special day so maybe I’ll have to celebrate it twice!

What are favorite games in your home?
Play with tuppers in the kitchen, identify things in flash cards, dance, invent stories with animal toys…

What kind of sports do your children like to do and are you very involved?
What they like most is to run races outside with their trikes but we’ve been practicing some other sports this summer such as learning how to swim with water wings and going out on bicycle trips (they go in their chair so they just relax and enjoy the view…sometimes I envy them)

Are there musical instruments in your house?
My husband plays the guitar and Celia and Valentina stare at him impressed and then start to dance…we’ll never die of hunger with such a talented group.

What are all time favorite books for the children?
A collection of spanish books about a red haired boy called TEO that “goes to school”, “goes to the zoo”, and different themes. They point at the different animals or people they recognize in them.
They also like Bambi, the 101 Dalmatians and The Aristocats.

What are nice activities you can do with children in your place and what could you recommend when people are visiting?
We live 40 kms away from Madrid city centre (in Madrid “Sierra”) and we like very much picnics in the countryside, bicycle trips, trekking with bag pack for kids, bathing in rivers and all sort of activities to do with nature.

What movies do your children like to watch, is there one from your childhood you would love to show them too?
Since they had only a few months they like to watch “The Jungle Book” and they used to dance when the elephants started to march with the military style song “one, two, three, four…”
In a few years I’m sure they’ll too become fans of “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” .

How do they prefer to spend their leisure time?
Always outside…no matter where, but outside.

Are you a ‘cook’ or ‘food’ lover or both?
I’m definitely both, though as I’m more an inventor type of cook, the result is not always perfect.

What kind of place do you like to go to on vacation with and or without the children?
Without children, always to a different country where I discover new places, learn about their culture, taste different flavours, take pictures, etc.
With children, always to places where everything is easier, where I don’t need to take the car to go from one place to another, without uncontrolled dangers, with open spaces for them to run and play. They are 21 months now…I’m sure in a couple of years my answer will be different.

What kind of souvenir can they bring back home?
This summer they brought back home from the beach some huge mosquito bites with them.

 

How do you prepare for a trip, any useful tips?
Never forget to take extra pacifiers with you and give them easy food…no spinachs that day. Don’t worry if they don’t eat fruit or too much biscuits but don’t forget to offer them water. I was very strict the first 18 months…now I’m learning that I must also sometimes break my own rules.

Tips for traveling with a plane or a long-time trip on the road with children?
I don’t have much experience on traveling with a plane but regarding the long-time trip on the road, I think the best tips are to pack everything the night before and to start the trip when they’re still asleep ( 5 a.m. for example) and don’t talk until you stop for breakfast at 8 or 9 a.m.. Although they wake up when you put them into the car, if it’s dark and they don’t hear you, they will fall asleep again and you’ll gain some hours of silence….and good rest for them too!

..TOT-a-LOT..
..TOT-a-LOT onloine shop..

Meet Dutch mom Liesbeth living in The Hague

I am Liesbeth Soeterbroek from the Netherlands.
I live in Den Haag with my English husband, Paul and two children, Luke (8) and Kate (6).

Having studied and worked as a fashion designer in Amsterdam, after the birth of my son I decided to give up full time employment and pursue my dream to develop my own ideas about childrens clothing.
Dressme was begun with the idea to make unique and original clothing from recycled materials. Starting with t-shirts for babies and small children, I began by gathering used materials, mostly large t-shirts, shirts, sheets etc and then cut them up and create unique items of clothing. This proved very popular and quickly expanded into making both t-shirts and dresses in all sizes up to 8 years old. I now sell all over the world via the web.

What kind of house do you live in, are you and the kids happy here or is there anything you all terribly miss …?
Like most Dutch people we live in an apartment. We live on the ground floor and have a large garden. The Hague is very close to the sea, so we often cycle to the beach for some fresh sea air. What do we miss? Well we could always do with an extra room!
 

Do you like to spend time on decorating your home and the children’s room?
We had to do a lot of work on the house when we moved in. That was a few years ago now that the children are a little bigger and there is less food flying everywhere, we are considering that it's time for a makeover.

Where do you look for interior inspiration, favorite magazines, websites, blogs?
We tend to decorate the house more intuitively . I am very interested in how to use interior space and how colour can work within the home.
 
What are your children’s favorite items in your house?
The old leather couch in the conservatory, it's the only piece of furniture in the house they can jump on!

What places in your new neighborhood do you like to go to for shopping?
There are quite a lot of second-hand shops in the neighboorhood. Perfect for searching out second hand clothes and furniture.

What's it like to raise a child in your town?
The Hague is a very green city, full of woods and sandwiched between the city and the sea is a large strip of protected dunes, a very special natural environment. Cycling through this area makes for a great family outing. It is also a very creative city, and there are many opportunities for children to get involved with the arts.

Who do you consider is a good example for your children?
Not anyone in particular. They learn a bit from everyone. Their school teachers are great!

What is your idea of a perfect day with your children?
September means foraging for blackberries in the dunes during a bicycle ride.

Can you tell us a funny story, quote or remark one of your children recently made or happened?
My daughter (6) just asked me 'mum, what is it like being a parent?' I answered that it is a beautiful thing to see your children
turning into grown-ups. 'That's not what I mean', she answered ' I mean, what is it like being boss all the time?'

Are their any books you can recommend for parents and how to raise your children?
No, not really. My husband bought a book about bringing up children with two languages in the household.

Can you mention some of your ‘how-to-raise-your-kid’ values?
Trying to picture yourself in their shoes often helps in a difficult situation. Keeping a sense of humour always does.

What kind of DIY projects do you like to do with your children?
Now it is more a question what the children should not do to the house. We have finally convinced the kids not to use the
house as a canvas. They still like to cover the house with drawings, posters and stickers.

They each have their own display box. A perfect place too store all their surprise egg-toys, supermarket freebies, bottlecaps, single barbie shoes, seashells and stones.

Any tips for keeping the house clean when crafting?
I wish I had.

Are you a crafter or DIY person?
A crafter. I prefer small projects I can finish.

Books, websites, local shops you can recommend to get tips and ideas for kids crafting?
Definately youtube.

What do you do with all the projects your children made at home or in school?
I am very selective, the flat isn't so large, we could very quickly get overrun with their paintings and drawings and...

Any nice decoration ideas how to hang them, keep them or use them as presents?
Some of the kid's drawings we photocopy in black and white and framed them (first scribbles can be very beautiful)

How do you like to celebrate birthdays and other special days in your house?
We still celebrate our kid's parties at home. My son just had a "scary" party with spider webs, zombies, edible worms and eyes and a dark hallway with scary sounds.
My daughter had a make-over model party.

What are favorite games in your home?
Losing still makes my kids cry so at the moment we can't persuade them to play a game.

What kind of sports do your children like to do and are you very involved?
They both swim and my daugter does ballet. For my daughters last recital I helped backstage and fixed some costumes.

Are there musical instruments in your house?
No, but both kids are very fond of music and singing, so we might have in a while.

What are all time favorite books for the children?
Luke got a book about 'everything' for his birthday, he's fascinated by volcanoes. Kate is learning her first words and is very excited to read one of them in a book or equally on a bilboard.

What are nice activities you can do with children in your place and what could you recommend when people are visiting?
Once again the beach, the woods and the dunes along with the local internationally renowned art gallery and natural history museum for kids, called museon. The Hague is also famous for a miniature model town called 'Madurodam', the perfect introduction the the Netherlands if you havent to much time.

What movies do your children like to watch, is there one from your childhood you would love to show them too?
Their favourite film is 'Shrek I, II and III but they also really enjoyed the Tim Burton remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as well as his Alice in Wonderland.
The original Willy Wonka film was also one of my childhood favorites!
I have enthusiastically shown them clips from programmes I remember from my own childhood via youtube which they thought were boring (no special effects in those days!).


How do they prefer to spend their leisure time?
They spend a lot of time playing in the street with their friends, or playing inside, drawing or watching movies.

Are you a ‘cook’ or ‘food’ lover or both?
We are vegetarians and we enjoy experimenting with good fresh produce. The Hague boasts 'the largest market in Europe.'

What kind of place do you like to go to on vacation with and or without the children?
This year we went to a very cool campsite in France where we stayed in a wooden house in a forest.
A combination of nature and culture is our favorite. Next year we would like to try Scandinavia.

Do you keep some sort of travel journal with the children?
Not yet, but I remember I used to when I was a kid so I think that would be a great idea for next year.

What kind of souvenir can they bring back home?
Anything they find as long as it fits in the luggage.

How do you prepare for a trip, any useful tips?
I give each of them a bag full of things to do while travelling. We recently played a audiobook cd in the car which they enjoyed.

What place do your children love to go to?
They love the outdoors and adventure, as long as they can come back to a place where there is a table with pencils and paper.

Tips for traveling with a plane or a long-time trip on the road with children?
Flying with kids is to expensive, exhausting and not really eco friendly these days. We prefer the hire a car and go off exploring.

..Dressme..

Meet New Zealand mom Kirsten living in Hong Kong...

My name is Kirsten Zaki, I was born in New Zealand. Very soon after, my family moved to Asia. From a very young age I remember being interested in travelling the big wide world. Every member of my family has a creative bone, from musicians to make –up artists, copywriters and actors. My grandparents ran a small theatre in Fiji in the 70’s and they were always very theatrical in their approach to life. I went to Chelsea College of Arts in London and explored all mediums including bacon. Back then, film was only just considered an art form, so much has changed since then. Nearly 20 years later I am back in Asia (Hong Kong) married to an Australian with an 18 month old daughter and 8 months pregnant with our second baby. Most of my professional life has been involved in Design. When I was pregnant with our first child I couldn’t find anything I wanted to buy for her.

I teamed up with a good friend and we started Hocusadabra. Hocusadabra is more than an e-shop, we are trying to change the way people shop for children. We say this on our website and it has become a bit of a mantra… We believe 110% that it is our responsibility to share important messages, eg. that BPA is damaging to our kids health, that it's important to support independent designers/artists, use sustainable materials, eat organic food, listen to music from other tribes. After all, we are all marching to the same beat... our future!       

What kind of house do you live in, are you and is Kitty happy here or is there anything you all terribly miss …?
We live in an apartment; it’s a low rise with six floors and only two apartments on each floor. It could easily pass for a 30’s block with high ceilings and quirky detailing. Our caretaker is an avid gardener and plays the guzheng (A traditional Chinese instrument), there is a wonderful play area for children, a pool and we are propped up in the jungle on Victoria Peak. There has been talk of a roaming Malayan Porcupine but we have never seen it. We have a banana palm outside our bedroom window and I love watching the various stages of it ripening. In the summer months we have amazing panoramic views of Hong Kong Harbour and in our opinion there is nowhere better to live. In the still of the night we can hear the hum from the city but the serenity never changes.

Do you like to spend time on decorating your home and the children’s room?

Our daughter’s room has been decorated in the same vain as our home. We fill it with collected bits from our travels, photographs, artwork and anything inspiring. Life is organic and to me a contrived space can make you feel a little uncomfortable, it has always been important that people feel relaxed in our home whether they are in our living room or playing in Kitty’s room. Before we had kids we bought a huge L shaped white sofa and a White Cappellini Shadow Lamp. People would ask how we would protect them from sticky fingers… any marks we claim as a “love mark” and proof of life. The more the merrier…. 

Where do you look for interior inspiration, favorite magazines, websites, blogs?

To me everything and anything can be inspiring. I am particularly drawn to the richness of colour and texture that India and the Middle East provide. But I am also inspired by Japanese and Scandinavian minimalist spaces. I love World of Interiors magazine for its eclectic editorials and Cote Sud for endless vicarious coastal living..  The Internet is also a constant source of inspiration and I can travel anywhere, get lost for hours all from my office.

What is Kitty’s favorite items in your house?

Kitty loves our bedroom as there always seems to be something more interesting in there like my dressing table full of costume jewelery, or my husbands collection of cords and electrical’s for his various IPods, games etc. Her absolute favourite toys are her Holztiger animals and Lindenwood alphabet blocks. That was all the proof I needed, we had to have them on our website and they became the first things we bought for the site! 

What places in your new neighborhood do you like to go to for shopping?

We can walk in the mountains behind our house and end up at a little supermarket, a great florist and a bakery. It may not be the best of the best but it is quite a novelty in HK to be able to walk to a general store.

What's it like to raise a child in your town?

It is different to how we were raised however the times are different too. The HK expat community can be a very homogenous society so we are very conscious when choosing activities and schools to be mindful of this. My husband is half Egyptian, we live in China, the world is a melting pot of many different socio economic groups and so we hope to raise our children so that they can understand and accept them all.

Who do you consider is a good example for your child? 

This is a really tricky question. When Kitty was first born, I was so protective of who she spent time with however I think as a parent our aim should be to make our children solid enough to not be swayed by different people. This is our ultimate goal as people, to be confident in who we are. So I guess we, as parents need to be the best examples first and foremost!

What is your idea of a perfect day with your child?

Doing whatever the day allows us with no other commitments or distractions. This is such a discipline, to be in the moment 110%!

Can you tell us a funny story, quote or remark Kitty recently made or happened?

Kitty is just learning to talk so she copies most things I say if she can work out how to pronounce them. She will raise her finger saying no, no, no at me and I can only laugh knowing exactly where it has come from.

Are their any books you can recommend for parents and how to raise your child?

The Hurried Child by David Elkin, which talks about how childhood is becoming shorter and the importance of slowing it down. I also love the Waldorf/Steiner philosophy.

Can you mention some of your ‘how-to-raise-your-kid’ values?

They are all grass roots: simple old-fashioned values such as honesty, kindness and respect… and manners. Please and thank you go a long way in my book!

What kind of DIY projects do you like to do with Kitty?

We haven’t got to this stage yet, but I can’t wait to craft. I have play dough and sponges ready for a rainy day.
 

Any tips for keeping the house clean when crafting?

I bought a beautiful Liberty Print oilcloth from Merci in Paris to cover our dining table with for parties but I am sure this will come in handy when craft making.

Are you a crafter or DIY person?

Definitely craft, not a great fan of DIY but I love seeing what other people come up with.

Books, websites, local shops you can recommend to get tips and ideas for kids crafting?

I love PurlBee and can’t wait to buy yarn and felt, oh and Wool and The Gang!

What do you do with all the projects Kitty made at home or in school?

Any nice decoration ideas how to hang them, keep them or use them as presents? Kitty has just started painting at her kindergarten, I like the idea of hanging them like prayer flags but I am not sure what longevity this will have. I’m also thinking of adding one wall in their bedroom for pin- ups as well as using our new blackboard paint.

How do you like to celebrate birthdays and other special days in your house?

With a lot of balloons, cake and anyone with good spirit. I started a new thing this year for my husband and prepared his favourite dishes, think this might become our tradition. Food is always such an integral part of any party. Oh and a piñata!

What are favorite games in your home?

We were given all the old classics as wedding presents. I just found them in a cupboard, Scrabble, Jenga, Risk and Twister. My husband doesn’t know yet but I thought our next evening of entertainment would have to involve at least one of these! We went through a phase of Wii parties until I put my shoulder out boxing.

Are there musical instruments in your house?

My dad plays the Ukulele and very kindly gave us one, I keep buying tambourines because of my obsession with Stevie Nicks and we have Maracas everywhere. We have a whole toy box dedicated to making sound and always have music playing at home. I can’t imagine a world without it.

What are all time favorite books for Kitty?

All my favourites are mentioned here...

What are nice activities you can do with children in your place and what could you recommend when people are visiting?

All the things that have been here forever are my favourite things to do with children visiting. The Peak Tram, Star Ferry, Dim Sum at City Hall and The Dragon’s Back hike (In the cooler months)

What movies do your children like to watch, is there one from your childhood you would love to show them too?

Movies are a bit ambitious at this stage but two of my favourites from childhood are Annie and The Muppet Movie. I can’t wait to watch them with my kids.

Are you a ‘cook’ or ‘food’ lover or both?

I’m both but I’m not the greatest cook. On one of the first dates with my husband, I set his oven on fire! I love cooking in an open kitchen as part of entertaining but our kitchen at home unfortunately doesn’t allow it. I love visiting farmers markets on holidays, cooking is all about produce!

What kind of place do you like to go to on vacation with and or without the children? 

We just went to a little place called Manchester-by the-Sea in  Massachusetts, USA. We stayed with close friends who have a little boy the same age as Kitty and it was heaven, lots of long walks, beach trips and clambake! Before children, we did some great adventure trips, Peru, Bhutan, Argentina, Africa and South East Asia but holidays these days need to be simpler. My husband can’t wait to take our children back to all of those places but I’m trying to slow down time, they grow up way too fast! All our best family holidays are at the beach, last Christmas we were in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand and this Christmas, we have rented a house on the North Coast of NSW, Australia.

Do you keep some sort of travel journal Kitty?

My husband and I have always kept mementos from our travels with the aim of keeping a scrap-book, maybe this is something we’ll make with the children one day as so far we have a chest full of lose bits and bobs awaiting on a new home.

What kind of souvenir can she bring back home?

I normally always bring magnets back from travels; it has sort of become a running joke amongst a couple of friends. We were in Nantucket this summer and we brought a little basket back for our daughter, as I just loved the history of them.

How do you prepare for a trip, any useful tips?

Well thought out and organized packing is essential. Bags with wheels are required when you have younger children, we learnt this after the last trip.
What place do your children love to go to?

Home to see grandparents and family.

Tips for traveling with a plane or a long-time trip on the road with children?

Music, food and a sense of humour are key!

 

..Hocusadabra..
..hocusadabra blog..