CARE BY: AMALIE VILHELMINE
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WHAT IS YOUR MORNING ROUTINE?
My morning routine is very marked by the fact that I start most mornings alone with my little son. We drink smoothies and eat rye bread with cold cuts chocolate. I am very aware of getting enough fruit and vegetables during the day, especially here in my pregnancy where I also feel responsible for nourishing another body. The cold cuts chocolate is a load and a nice memory from my childhood where we started all mornings with chocolate for breakfast - and it's like the day goes by a little easier with chocolate in the system.
I have bothered with my skin for most of my teenage years and tried all sorts of creams, routines, and compositions, but have now found peace in “less is more” when it comes to my skin care routine. I wash my face in cold water in the morning, followed by a face oil and a face cream with a high sun factor.
My son and I always walk to his nursery and pick flowers and find treasures along the way, it's such a nice way to start the day and I really appreciate it. After kissing my son goodbye, I typically phone my mother, while I go for a walk of 15-20 minutes. We love to talk about school, work, and life in general.
HOW DO YOU PREFER TO SPEND AN HOUR IN YOUR OWN COMPANY?
I am incredibly happy to use my hands creatively, whatever it is creating jewelry, a knitting project, crochet, flower pressing, working with clay, or drawing. I think it can be hard to find time to really immerse myself in the creative process, but when it succeeds, it's a wonderful little me-time break. Overall, I am happy for the moments when I get so preoccupied with a project and an idea that I forget time and place and just exist, with my hands and my mind.
There was a time when I hid my creative projects away because I did not think they were of high enough quality to show the world. Now I practice standing by that side of myself and believing that it has value, just in its value to myself.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR SHOWING SELF-LOVE AND PRIORITIZING YOURSELF IN A BUSY DAY?
While daily routines may sound boring, they give me the option of small moments of self-love. For example, when my son is put down to sleep, I close the door to the bathroom, put on some music and enjoys my skin care rituals - I can only do that because my son is tugged in around 7.30 pm and I therefore have enough time to both clean the kitchen, look my boyfriend in the eyes and take care of myself.
HAVE YOU MADE A DECISION IN YOUR LIFE THAT HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY GOOD FOR YOU?
I met my boyfriend, Kristoffer, immediately after a very turbulent relationship. Therefore, I was very reserved to initiate anything with him. For a long time, I did not behave very nicely, in attempt to keep him at distance. When I realized that he possessed the calm and presence I was missing, I decided to jump in with my eyes closed. Here, almost nine years and two children after, it is still the best decision of my life. To dare to love and even more so, to dare to be loved unconditionally must be the greatest gift of my life.
WHAT ADVICE, ON CREATING A LIFE IN BALANCE, WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF
I'm still practicing finding that balance when in my younger days - it seems silly to refer to my younger days when I'm only 29 - I tended to want it all. I wanted to be healthy, strong, tough, a part of the group, get good grades, be present for family and friends, have been to the right events, experienced the right places when I was on vacations and generally very busy being all that I felt I should be.
The worst thing probably was, that I had tremendously little forgiveness for myself when I (in my opinion) failed. I could be furious at myself for getting 10 in an exam, or over not reaching the top of the mountain on a vacation due to altitude sickness.
I believe in the balance between giving and enjoying is the core and something I have become much better at noticing. Now, for example, I just passed an exam that I felt was an underachievement, but in return I managed to be a great mom and girlfriend, and at the same time carry a child with all the challenges it entails. Now I can forgive myself for not giving myself 100% in that exam…
I could not have done that in high school.
So maybe my advice to my younger, present, and future self is: To forgive myself, just as much as I forgive those I love.
YOUR BEST TIP FOR A STRONG AND HEALTHY BODY AS WELL AS A MIND IN BALANCE?
I think my morning routine reflects my approach very well. I prioritize a balance between the classic healthy, such as vegetables, avoiding perfume and daily movement, and what I think is healthy for the soul, the enjoyment that can come in the form of chocolate, essential oils, or a night where I get to bed way too late because I've been talking, dancing and laughing with my girlfriends all night.
DO YOU HAVE AN EASY BEAUTY TIP THAT WE MAY SHARE?
When you talk to people, look them in the eyes. I am always drawn to people who dare to look someone in the eyes when having a conversation. When I’m in uncertain periods, I can feel my gaze seek away, but to look other people in the eyes, quite honestly and genuinely, is the most beautiful I can think of.
IF YOU COULD CHOOSE AN ACTIVITY OF YOUR OWN CHOICE THAT WOULD FILL YOU WITH LOTS OF ENERGY - WHAT WOULD IT BE?
It varies from day to day, and I try to listen to both body and mind. Some days the activity that gave me the most energy would be an hour of yoga, other days it would be a trip to the swimming pool with my son. I think what makes it an hour that gives energy is that it's an hour not disturbed by anything else. Again, it’s about contemplation. In a world that is constantly competing for one's attention, contemplation and only focusing on one thing for an entire hour is an incredible luxury.
Is there anything special that for you equals spring? One thing, one scent, one tradition - something that shows you that now spring and light have come.
I was born in April and have always thought I was the luckiest girl in the world, because the whole forest is decorated with my favorite flowers - in my honor, I tell myself. My mom and I always go to the woods on the first of March to keep an eye out for the anemones sprouting. If you are not familiar with Kaj Munk's "den blå anemone", the first verse is the inspiration for this spring tradition: (in Danish)
Hvad var det dog der skete?
Mit vinterfrosne hjertes kvarts
må smelte ved at se det,
den første dag i marts.
Hvad gennembrød den sorte jord
og gav den med sit søblå flor
et stænk af himlens tone?
Den lille anemone,
jeg planted dér i fjor.
After this, a close eye is kept on how far the anemones are each week until my birthday. In fact, anemones have gradually gained a place in several of the great emotional moments of my life.
My boyfriend proposed to me with an anemone. That was all I dreamed of - the spontaneity and the fragile, yet strong declaration of love he held out in his hands. I really felt seen in that proposal, because of that anemone.
In addition, very unforeseen and due to powers greater than ourselves, we had to get married back in March and despite having less than 24 hours to plan our wedding, Kristoffer had made sure that there were French anemones in the bridal bouquet. And even though he's actually officially my husband now, I've decided he's keeping the title boyfriend, because that's what he is to me, my boyfriend. Maybe it's my particularly good decision, because it makes us choose each other every day, and remember what we are for each other.
Both anemones are of course pressed and framed so that every day I can see and rejoice in my memories with these flowers.
Flower pressing with Amalie
The spring flowers are in full bloom, the birds are singing, and the sun is shining. I have always loved this time of year, and through flower pressure managed to preserve special moments in my life. Anemones have a special place in my heart, and I have pressed and extended their grace and my love for them for several years.
Most recently, I have pressed memories in the form of the anemone I was engaged to, a French anemone from my bridal bouquet and a forget-me-not from the day my boyfriend was sent out.
I will try to give you a little insight into the simple process it is to preserve flowers through pressure.
1. Preparation
Take a walk in the woods or in the garden and pick flowers and greenery that are suitable for drying.
I have had success with anemones, violets, pansies, daisies, bridal veils, and various herbs.
If there is a flower that is very special to you, then just try and see what happens - worst-case scenario, you just must try again.
2.How to
Find a heavy book, look up a page, place the flower so you think it is beautifully presented and close the book again. I always put newsprint, baking paper, or wrapping paper around the flowers so I do not risk ruining the paper in the book, or getting ink on the flowers.
3.Press the flowers
I typically place an encyclopedia or atlas on top of the book that contains the flower, to make sure it is under constant pressure.
About 14 days later, the flowers are completely dry and ready for use.
Inspiration for the season’s events
I have gathered ideas for using the pressed flowers, and I hope you have been inspired to press some of your own.
Invitations
Before our wedding was suddenly accelerated by several months, I had prepared the, in my eyes, perfect wedding invitations.
The invitations embraced the simple, slow, and natural. I had printed invitations on A5 watercolor paper, on which I had applied a dried anemone with washi tape.
I had for the purpose pressed over 100 anemones, and although the wedding did not turn into anything this time, I am so happy with how the invitations ended, and will reuse the idea in the future.
Table cards and decorations
To create a common thread from the invitations to the party, my plan was to use the dried anemones on table cards, menus and so on.
This is also a nice way to get flowers with a special meaning for you for events where they are otherwise out of season. In addition, the flowers can also be used to represent people or moments of great value in your life. Maybe your grandmother had a bed of poppies that you remember from your childhood, or you have a special apple tree in the backyard that you read books under.
Collages
To prolong meaningful moments, I have pressed flowers of special significance to me that I have framed and hung up in my home. Here I have, for example, my engagement anemone and now that the French anemone from my bridal bouquet is dry, it also needs to be framed and hung up. Having these little flower presses on the wall in my bedroom reminds me of love every day, and I imagine that this kind of preservation is going to follow me for the rest of my life.
If you want to follow Amalie's beautiful and creative universe, please check out @amalievilhelmine on Instagram
Amalie Vilhelmine
Amalie is 29 years old, mother of Vilhelm Bosse and a babyboy on the way. Lives in Frederiksberg with her boyfriend Kristoffer (who is now officially her husband), and is the daughter of Camilla Gullits, founder and creative director at CARE BY ME. In addition to being a mother, girlfriend, student and an inspiring, creative soul, Amalie has been on board with CARE BY ME from the very beginning. Both as a sparring partner, employee, and model. Amalie has done a fantastic job for CARE BY ME both in Denmark and in our social workshop in Kathmandu, Nepal.
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