Shooting Book Trailer Video + Hello

Hello dear readers, how are you today? I've been so eager to get back on the blog to really write again. My life has been so hectic between projects, book promotion and lining up events for book signings and parties (exciting!) and on top of it, the most important job of all - caring for my little son who turns 2.5 years old tomorrow! And he's a handful but most of all, the most adorable and sweetest little person I've ever known.

I have felt so happy to watch him grow and get to spend so much time with him as he hits milestones and flourishes. He understands and speaks English and German fluently, though something tells me his mother tongue is English as it seems to come most natural to him. He knows the alphabet, he sings lots of songs with me, he can count in both languages, he has excellent manners and is very friendly and loving to all whom he meets. Everyone tells me what a beautiful son I have and I must admit - they are right! Looking back on the time I've stayed at home with him since his birth is such a delight for me. We tried to get him into daycare but no schools have spots so I've just been splitting care with his papa and we are making it just fine. It's not easy, but it's also not easy to put him in school if we absolutely don't have too. I freelance, I can work on weekends, at nights, and I do - to make it work.

We don't have childcare yet, he is still home with us full-time, I'm a bit frayed at both ends some days... His schedule eats into my work day for sure, but I honestly can say that I don't regret a moment that I've spent caring for him full-time.

This week, we begin interviewing for a nanny to care for him about 12-15 hours a week, it's honestly all we can afford, right now - but it's a start. Then, next year, he will go to kindergarten full-time at some point depending on when they let him enroll - and I'll be back to working my full-time days just as before his arrival. It will be lovely on one side to have days to devote to my work and creative projects but I will miss him for sure. Yet, I know he'll have fun with other children and his teachers and I also know he is ready for school because I can tell he doesn't have anxiety anymore when we are not around - it naturally faded without any work on our side, so I think the moment I bring him (and leave him) at school, he will be exactly as I was when I was little - I waved bye to my mama and confidently strolled right in and loved school - I was ready and I feel he is too.

Apart from my child, last week was SO MUCH FUN but so busy on the work side. I had Koen here from Narratief, a film maker based near Rotterdam who specializes in videos for mainly weddings and events, and we worked together for two days to make a video for my upcoming book with Leslie, it's called Decorate For a Party. It was my first video to organize, I had no clue or real understanding of the process, but Koen seemed to have no problem working on it and I'm willing to bet he will spin some goodness out of the time we spent working...

We did lots of filming on the street, in the forest, in some shops... And then spent a day in the home of my dear friend Tinna. It was fun and all came together so nicely. We laughed a lot on the first day but on the second day, we really got down to business and worked so hard. It was exhilarating though I was dead in the evening but very happy to have met all our goals.

I'm eager to see the video - he's busily editing in in his studio all week and it will release next Monday so I'll be sure to post it here along with my partial travel schedule so some of you can visit me on my European book tour and we can spend some nice time together. I hope to head over to America in late November, maybe New York and a few other cities, but we shall see - hope so!

I have some things to write about today but I first had to pop in to say hello and see how you are doing. Above are two photos that I took from the party Koen shot for our video to whet your appetite. It was such a fun day! I'll be back in a flash to talk about a BIG TOPIC - it has to do with men and money! So stay tuned for that because I really need your advice.

xo Holly

(Photography: Holly Becker)