AROME

Boxing day was spent italian style today, in beautiful Venezia. Cappuccino, frito misto, Rialto, San Marco, vaporetto i treno... a quick summary of a great day. Check out my stories for a more authentic image (I'm not ready to sacrifice my feed yet... trying to actually make it look prettier!). I hope your boxing Day went well too! (at Venezia, Italia)

Christmas is all about love, sparkles, food... this year we're celebrating Christmas far from home with our very close family, and with we brought everyone in our hearts. We were fortunate to find a home away from home @hotel_terme_olympia A family owned hotel run by the sweetest family, out-of-this-world food and fabulous natural hot thermal baths. Yesterday we were in Padova visiting the San Antonio cathedral dating back 1300 and tomorrow we're off to Venice by train. If you're ever in this corner of the world, I so recommend this authentic place. For sure we'll leave with very fond memories of the hospitality found here, when our family was in need of a safe shelter. (at Hotel Terme Olympia)

Merry Christmas my lovelies! Thank you so much for all your love and kindness throughout this past year! Wherever you are, whoever you're with, I wish you joy and happiness and may the spirit of Christmas shine on you and your loved ones. I find being surrounded by children makes this time softer and more joyful as I love seeing the sparkles in their eyes and the glow in their heart radiating on their face. (at Hotel Terme Olympia)

This Christmas story started late one afternoon when all of a sudden, inspiration struck and I pulled out my camera, tripod, props flowers and the whole shebang to shoot a few xmas scenes. What I'm not telling you: I was supposed to pack for the whole family with an early start the next morning. So I went to bed at 4am, happy with my photos but looking quite a mess. To top up my messed-up tired look, I walked straight into our glass door the next day just before leaving. So I look a bit like a silver blue puffy eyed fish (who can take photos!). Anyhoo, here are the pix, I hope you like them... I'll try and post them as a series. I know I know, it's almost Christmas already! Hurry up baby! (at Geneva, Switzerland)

I love the complicity of these two. Laughing and crying simultaneously. That's what married life's all about. Some highs, some lows... Lots of love and bits of work. Dialogue is key and I think planning you wedding is a good start to married life. Try to make time for each other. It's often one of the first projects you will prepare as a couple . The adventure is just starting, so buckle up and get started! Photo: @mailysfortunephotography (at Leysin, Switzerland)

Guilty pleasure or procrastination? Most days, I don't post because time runs out and by the time I've liked all your beauties during my loo break, the day's gone. I recently learned there's such a thing as the IG pause, well I call it my loo pause. Mind you, I always wash my hands!!! So today I guess I'm not ready to confront my long to-do list and order my not fancy but very practical transport crates. I much prefer going back to this gorgeous wedding with @averyspecialday.ch ... Why fight so much beauty? I'll just indulge a bit longer. What are you up to today? Last minute Xmas shopping? (at Domaine de Divonne Hotel)

Simple yet succulent... I'm really trying to simplify my life these days and figure out what I really want to do and why. The answer could lie in this simple photo: I want to feel alive, natural, and surround myself with beauty, inside and out. So watch this space as the little squares get filled with more life, nature, mindfulness and beauty! I'll decline this vision using plants, flowers, workshops... welcome into my world! (at Geneva, Switzerland)

This is me a few weeks ago in beautiful Cinque Terre, Italy finding my way in a stunning cactus field in my favorite surroundings: wild and rough nature. Well today I'm back in the South, this time in Nice, France; finding my way in a different type of prickly environment: the world of digital marketing. Thank you @empara_officiel for having me on the guests sofa and huge thanks to @sophie.tochon for her great teachings (tune in to empara tomorrow at 9:00 to watch the live training free!) I've always felt more comfortable with traditional marketing but thanks to all of you here at IG somehow the cacti thorns don't seem as sharp in our little square world. So yep, learning my way and trying to overcome my "social media phobia"... Oh, last but not least, yes, screw Christmas posts and long live anachronism. Somehow I'm not quite ready to go all red and white Xmassy on my feed this year. Not feeling much of a christmas mood anyway, it's a tough one this year. But I sure am very thankful for all the great friendships I made here... thank you my friends and hope to see you tomorrow at 9:00 Paris time. (at Le Cinque Terre)

Almost ready for the Xmas wreath workshop this week-end. I ordered loads of wonderful glitzy material but still need to pop to the woods to gather all these great treasures only Nature can give us. Snow storm yesterday, rain today... I think I'll venture out in the wild tomorrow. But isn't it worth it though? Just look at the stunning result: this wreath was made and beautifully shot by @mailysfortunephotography at my last workshop. (at Geneva, Switzerland)

Save the date! I'm hosting a new Xmas workshop on December 16th from 9:30 till 12:30. I will show you how to design a wreath, for your table or you door with candles, baubles and the whole shebang! If you're interested, just drop me a line in the comments section or send me an email! Photo credit @mailysfortunephotography Date: Saturday dec. 16th Time: 10:00 - 12:30 Location: Echenevex, France just 10 mn from Divonne and 20 mn from GVA airport Price: 60€ Friends and early bird special discount: -10€ Places are limited to 12 (at Échenevex)

Feeling sad the last christmas workshop is over already? Or disappointed you couldn't make it? REJOICE! I'm hosting a new date on December 16th from 9:30 till 12:30. This time we'll design an advent wreath to place on your table with candles and a whole lot of natural extravaganza! If you're interested, just drop me a line in the comments or send me an email! Photo courtesy of my friend @ mailysfortunephotography an artist with multiple talents (she made the wreath in the background herself at the last workshop) and also the lucky owner of this übercute King Charles Spaniel. Date: Saturday dec. 16th Time: 10:00 - 12:30 Location: Echenevex, France just 10 mn from Divonne and 20 mn from GVA airport Price: 60€ Friends and early bird special discount: -10€ Places are limited to 12 (at Geneva, Switzerland)

Feeling free, natural and in touch with my wild, unedited and true self when I look at this photo by my talented friend @mailysfortunephotography. This shot was taken at a wedding that remains a sweet memory in a sad summer. Life is like this... at a time when I least expected to make new friends, I met two wonderful souls, Greg and Mailys who capture the true beauty of people (and flowers) just the way they are themselves: simple, authentic and kind. • • • #liveauthentic #annverborg #surroundyourselfwithgoodpeople #beautyiseverywhere #capturingcolour #pursuepretty #underthefloralspell #flowersofinstagram #slowflowers #inspiredbypetals (at Kuklos Leysin)

I'm taking the plunge! I am hosting my very first workshop! Come join me for a grand old time of wreath making, flower meditation, mindful creation and scrumptious tea and homemade cake degustation. This is a time for expressing your inner self, relaxing, resourcing, disconnecting and enjoying each other company while surrounded by beautiful natural element. You will go home happy and you will proudly show off your wreath. Date: Saturday dec. 2nd Time: 10:00 - 10:30 Location: Echenevex - France Price: 60€ Friends and early bird special discount: -10€ Places are limited to 12 Drop me an email - address in bio I really hope to see you soon! (at Échenevex)

"Sometimes it's hard just putting one foot in front of the other" a very dear friend of mine told me the other day. It got me thinking... what if the key was to stand still with both feet firmly grounded, rooted in our being and connected to the earth. What if the secret was to surround ourselves with soft imperfect pebbles, little nuggets of happiness with a chinese lantern popped open and a pinecone. I took this photo of a very peaceful buddha at plumvillage. It was easier there and then, as my focus was entirely on finding myself and cultivating mindfulness. Here and now we're being pushed, rushed, hurried. Tough to stay still. My hope is that by surrounding myself with good souls, I can enjoy peacefulness even in the daily buzz of life. Goodness in people is my right foot. Nature is my left foot, the one that keeps me grounded and connected. Would you join me for a stolen moment of shared kindness and natural goodness? How about a workshop in 2018 in Echenevex, just 20 minutes from Geneva? (at Plum Village Buddhist Monastery - Upper Hamlet)

One month ago, I was finding my marks in the Happiest Place on Earth. And no, I did not go to Disneyland. I went on a Buddhist retreat in Plum Village, Thich Nhat Hanh's retreat community near Bordeaux, France. At the Village des Pruniers, as we call it in French, I found Peace, Happiness, Mindfulness, Friends and really, Myself. As some of you know, I have been grieving the loss of my brother and it's been really hard, hoping it's gonna be ok and finding it's not. I went on this retreat with my sister and we both consider the precious time we had there a very generous gift from our brother. I feel like I finally got to learn, live, see and understand something I always had in me but never completely let out free . It's called Mindfulness and to me it means kindness, love, peace, happiness and peace here and now. Accepting who I am, taking care of myself so I can be my best self for others. There is suffering in life. I choose to accept it and find joy in every step of my day, of my life. There is no light without darkness, there is no joy without suffering. "No mud, no lotus". A famous quote by Thich Nhat Hanh, the father of Mindfulnedd which pretty much sums it all for me, humble florist with big dreams. So here I am, whole and blooming, trying to bring happiness through my flowers because my work is more than just a job. It's a big part of my life that I bring home with me. I don't leave it behind in the compost pile at night. Every petal of joy, I share with my kids and husband. That's why I need this part of my inner garden to flourish just the same as the rest of my life. And that's why I've decided to work with kind people only. I want to share, love, meditate, create with kind people. I'm finally going to get out there and dare be myself. If you want to join me on this journey, drop me a line!

Me smiling at my flowers... They're good friends really. My best friend is nature. I recently went on a wonderful retreat in a buddhist monastery. I'll tell you more in another post. It was a very good time to meditate on who I am, to listen to my heart... A week later, I am so grateful for my morning walks in the mountains as they are my lifeline and the reminder of what I truly want to do and be in this life. A better photo would have been me in the forest. This is a good second choice though and it's also an excerpt from a tutorial I made for @houzzfrance which just got published on @houzz_ru! I'm really chuffed about that! большое спасибо! (at Échenevex)

I knew there would come a time when I'd want to share again. This is the photo I chose tonight. It's kind of crazy how the colours of this image blend into my last post so harmoniously. Thank you so much @mailysfortunephotography. You have the gift of giving. Your kindness shines through your photos. You give peace and happiness with each of your images. You are giving me back the joy to love my work and look forward to more beautiful flowers and loving moments. (at Leysin, Switzerland)