What does your morning routine look like?
My morning routine is very much characterized by the fact that I start most mornings alone with my son, who is almost 3. We drink smoothies and eat rye bread with chocolate spread. 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. Chocolate spread is a vice from my childhood, which started all morning meals with chocolate spread and it is as if it is just a little easier to start the day with chocolate in the system.
I have struggled with my skin for most of my teenage years and have tried all sorts of creams and routines and formulations, but have found peace in “less is more” when it comes to my skincare routine, and wash my face in cold water in the morning, followed by a facial oil and a cream with a high sun factor.
My son and I always go to his daycare and pick flowers and find treasures along the way, it's such a nice way to start the day that I really appreciate. After he's dropped off, I typically call my mom, while I go for a 15-20 minute walk, then we get back to school, work and life in general.
How do you best spend an hour in your own company?
I am incredibly happy to tinker, whether it is in the form of creating jewelry, a knitting project, crocheting, flower pressing (see Amalie's guide to flower pressing at the bottom of the post), plaster casting or drawing. I find it can be difficult to find time to really immerse myself in the creative process, but when I succeed, it is my greatest freedom. Overall, I am happy for the moments when I get so absorbed in 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 quirks away because I didn't think they were of high enough quality to show the world or stand by. I'm now practicing 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 everyday life?
Although fixed frameworks may sound boring, they are what give me the opportunity for little pockets of self-love. For example, when my son is put to bed, I close the bathroom door and put on music and have very fixed rituals for my skin care - I can only do that because my son is put to bed around 7:30 PM and I therefore have enough time to both clean the kitchen, look my girlfriend in the eye 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, right after a very turbulent relationship. That's why I was very hesitant to start anything with him. For a long time, I actually didn't behave very nicely towards him, in an attempt to keep him at a distance. When I realized that he possessed the calm and presence I had been missing, I decided to jump in with my eyes closed. Almost nine years and two children later, it's still the best decision of my life. Dare to love and, even more so, dare to be loved unconditionally must be the greatest gift of my life.
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice on how to create a balanced life, what would it be?
I'm still practicing finding that balance, because 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, cool, part of the group, get good grades, be there for family and friends, have been to the right events, seen the right things when I was on vacation, and generally be very preoccupied with being everything I felt I should be.
The worst part of it all was that I had very little forgiveness for myself when I stepped aside. I would beat myself up over getting an A, or not reaching the top of a mountain on vacation due to altitude sickness.
I believe that the balance between giving and enjoying is the core and something I have become much better at noticing. For example, I have just passed an exam that I felt was an underachiever, but on the other hand I managed to be a fantastic mother and girlfriend, and at the same time carry a child with all the challenges that entails. Now I can forgive myself for not having given 100% in that exam…
I couldn't have done that in high school.
So perhaps my advice to my younger, current 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 and a balanced mind?
I actually think my morning routine reflects my approach very well, I prioritize a balance between the classically healthy, such as vegetables, avoiding perfume and daily exercise, and what I believe is healthy for the soul, enjoyment, which can come in the form of chocolate, essential oils or a night where I go 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 can share with others?
Look the people you're talking to in the eye. I'm always drawn to people who dare to look you in the eye sincerely when you're having a conversation. When I'm in uncertain times myself, I can feel my gaze drifting away, but looking other people in the eye, completely honest and genuine, is the most beautiful thing I can think of.
If you could freely choose an activity that would give you lots of energy, what would it be?
It varies from day to day, and I make an effort to listen. 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 me energy is that that hour is not interrupted by anything else. Again, we come back to the idea of immersion. In a world that is constantly competing for your attention, immersion and only being able to focus on one thing for an entire hour is an incredible luxury.
Is there something special that for you equates to spring? A thing, a scent, a tradition – something that shows you that spring and light have arrived?
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 imagine myself. My mother and I always go to the forest on the first of March to keep an eye on whether the anemones have sprouted. If you are not familiar with Kaj Munk's "The Blue Anemone", the first verse is the inspiration for this spring tradition:
What happened though?
The quartz of my winter-frozen heart
must melt at the sight of it,
the first day of March.
What broke through the black earth
and gave it with its sea-blue bloom
a splash of the tone of heaven?
The little anemone,
I planted there last year.
From then on, I keep a close eye on how far the anemones have come each week until my birthday. In fact, anemones have gradually found a place in several of the big emotional moments in my life.
My boyfriend got down on one knee with an anemone, it was everything 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, precisely because of the anemone.
In addition, very unexpectedly and due to forces 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 although he is actually officially my husband now, I have decided that he will keep the title boyfriend, because that is what he is to me, my boyfriend. Maybe it is my particularly good decision, because it makes us choose each other every day, and remember what we are to each other
Both anemones are of course pressed and framed, so that I can see and enjoy my memories with these flowers every day.
Flower press with Amalie
The spring flowers are in full bloom, the birds are singing and the sun is warming my cheeks. I have always loved this time of year, and through flower pressing I have managed to preserve special moments in my life. Anemones have a special place in my heart, and I have pressed and prolonged their grace and my love for them for several years.
Recently, I have pressed memories in the form of the anemone I got engaged to, a French anemone from my bridal bouquet, and a forget-me-not from the day my boyfriend was deployed.
Here I will try to give you a little insight into the simple process of preserving flowers through pressure.
1. Preparation
Take a walk in the woods or garden and pick flowers and greens that are suitable for drying.
I have had success with anemones, violets, pansies, daisies, bridal veils and various herbs, among other things.
If there is another flower that means something special to you, just try it and see what happens - in the worst case scenario, you just have to try again.
2. How to do it
Find a heavy book, open to a page, position the flower so that you think it is presented beautifully and close the book again. I always put newspaper, baking paper or lunchbox paper around the flowers so that I don't risk damaging 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 containing the flower to ensure that it is under constant pressure.
After about 14 days, the flowers are completely dry and ready to use.
Inspiration for spring events
Below I have collected ideas for using pressed flowers, and I hope you have been inspired to press your own flowers.
Invitations
Before our wedding was suddenly brought forward by several months, I had prepared what I thought were perfect wedding invitations.
The invitations embraced the simple, slow and natural. I had printed the invitations on A5 watercolor paper, on which I had attached a dried anemone with washi tape.
I had pressed over 100 anemones for this purpose, and although the wedding didn't come to fruition this time, I'm so happy with how the invitations turned out, and will reuse the idea in the future.
Place cards and decorations
To create a common thread from the party invitations, my plan was to use the dried anemones on place cards, menus, and so on.
This is also a way to bring flowers that have special meaning to you to 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. Perhaps 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 used to read books under.
Collages
To prolong meaningful moments, I have pressed flowers that have special meaning to me, which I have framed and hung in my home. Here, for example, I have my engagement anemone and now that the French anemone from my bridal bouquet is dry, it will also be framed and hung. Having these little flower presses hanging in my bedroom reminds me of love every day, and I imagine that this form of preservation will follow me for the rest of my life.
If you want to follow Amalie's beautiful and creative universe, find @amalievilhelmine here on Instagram.
Amalie Wilhelmine
Amalie is 29 years old, mother of Vilhelm Bosse and with a little brother on the way. Lives in Frederiksberg with her boyfriend (who is now officially her husband) Kristoffer, and is the daughter of Camilla Gullits, founder and creative director of CARE BY ME. In addition to being a mother, girlfriend, student and an inspiring, creative enthusiast, Amalie has been on CARE BY ME's journey 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.