And Bloom

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A day to make memories. The kind you carry with you for years to come. ❤️ I've always loved travelling. I genuinely believe it makes us richer. Not in what we own, but in what we experience, discover and learn along the way. And I'm so grateful I get to share that with Finn. We've been to Paris with him before, but he was too little to remember much. I have a feeling this trip, especially because of Disney, will stay with him. Which makes me wonder, how much do you actually remember from your childhood? I remember quite a lot, but there are also entire chapters that seem to have disappeared. I was talking about this with one of my oldest childhood friends recently. How some memories are crystal clear, while others are just a big black hole. Perhaps some things are better left there. But Paris. Oh, Paris. I was 18 when I first arrived at Gare du Nord. Completely alone. A young girl with a suitcase, stepping into a world she knew very little about. I remember her so clearly. What she didn't know was how much life would ask of her. How many times she'd have to pick herself up, find her courage, start over and learn to believe in herself. And now, at 51, I get to walk those same streets with my son, feeling a happiness and peace my 18-year-old self couldn't even imagine. I've grown. I've healed. I've made mistakes. I've lost things, found things and learned that becoming the woman you want to be isn't always a beautiful, straightforward journey. Sometimes it's messy. Sometimes it's lonely. Sometimes it takes decades. And that's something I love about getting older. You don't have to have it all figured out at 20, 30 or even 50. You're allowed to take your time. You're allowed to become someone you never imagined you could be. Every time I return to Paris, I think about young Dee. And I wish I could tell her that one day she'd walk these streets again, no longer searching for herself, but finally feeling at home in her own life. And that she'd be happy. So very happy. Bloody grateful. Wow. Just wow. ❤️ #paris #familytrip #makingmemoriestogether #motherhood #motherhoodunplugged

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Isn’t it funny how finding yourself as an adult often means finding your way back to the girl you were before the world got its hands on you? This place brings her out in me. Watching Finn enjoy every second makes me ridiculously happy. I never came here as a child, but somehow my inner little girl feels like she’s finally getting her turn. ❤️ And I love that I can still cherish that little girl inside me, and that I have a husband who happily plays along with all my silliness. Well, most of the time. Haha, poor Martin! 🤣 And no, that doesn’t mean I’m blind to what’s happening in the world. I see it. I feel it. And it breaks my heart. But I’ve learned to be selective about what I let into my head and heart, and when. Taking in everything that’s wrong doesn’t always make us better people. Sometimes it just leaves us too exhausted to see what’s right in front of us. That’s also why I share so much light, colour and humour here. Not because life is perfect, but because we need places where we can feel joy without guilt. Growing older doesn’t have to mean growing away from the girl who dreamed, laughed loudly and believed in possibilities. Keeping her alive might be one of our greatest achievements. Stay informed. Care deeply. And still let yourself feel wonder. There’s room for both. ❤️ PS. We’re wearing @americanvintage_officiel, and I laughed so hard about those Minnie ears. 🤣 Some people would probably call me incredibly childish. And you know what my response would be? **OK!** Honestly, “OK” has become my absolute favourite response to opinions that are none of my business. No explanation, no defence, no energy wasted. Just OK. 😉 LU! ❤️ What’s your favorite response to things that are none of your business? #marriage #makingmemoriestogether #disneyland #familytrip

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Sometimes I miss the days when social media was simply about sharing a picture. A holiday memory. An outfit you loved. A little glimpse into someone else's world. No pressure to perform. No need to entertain. Just sharing. Now it all seems to revolve around views, saves, shares and likes. Being funny enough, interesting enough, beautiful enough. Chasing trends, going viral, trying to please an algorithm that's never quite satisfied. Somewhere along the way, I think we lost a little of what made this place special. Don't get me wrong, I love creating content. Photography, storytelling and self-expression have been part of my life for decades. But I don't want every photo, thought or happy moment to become a performance. This is my creative outlet. I share things because I love them, because they inspire me, or simply because they make me smile. And I want to enjoy what you share for exactly the same reasons. One more thing I feel strongly about: you don't have to post everything that's wrong with the world to prove you care about it. We all have lives beyond this little square. Conversations, opinions, worries and ways of making a difference that never appear on our grids. So you're allowed to keep this space a happy place. A home for beauty, colour, humour, kindness and inspiration. That isn't ignoring reality. It's choosing what you add to your little corner of it. I still believe Instagram can be a place for real connection. We just have to keep choosing connection over performance, and authenticity over noise. And if you're going to be anything in this noisy world, be the reason another woman still believes in kind souls, big hearts and positive energy. 💛 Not everything needs to make a statement. Sometimes a little joy is enough. What do you love sharing most here? #womenover50 #authenticity #joyfulliving #choosejoy