2015 - oktober november december

I was excited to make 2015 a way better year than the one before, but somehow, I got slapped in the face over and over again. I have been (even more) lonely and insecure, it was hard finding a home and finding a job; when I thought I found a real fun one, from the one day to the other everything stopped and I didn't have to come back tot the office. But there's been good things, too: I made dreams come true, followed my heart and seriously have (had) the very best people around me. ❤

So, here's to the good things, the first three months being back in the Netherlands:


^
In October, I celebrated Kanelbullens Dag / worked a (the only) complete month at Tipster and did an interview for news site nu.nl! / went for quite some walks - in Utrecht, Amsterdam and at home / caught up with quite some old (and new) friends! / finally saw Postcards from Mars play / visited the Dutch Design Week! / played a lot of games (and got pretty into Exploding Kittens) / sometimes really liked living in the Netherlands again.


^
In November, I discovered STACH's awesome peanut butter chocolate! / watched Rita (the Netflix-series) in only a couple of days / visited both the Rijksmuseum and the Binnenhof for the first time! / went for more walks / had the loveliest festival weekend at Le Mini Who? / finished my complete to do-list for the first time in months! / started to really like my little Utrecht apartment! / spent a weekend in Stockholm, where I saw a complete Olafur Eliasson-exhibition! and my #1 favorite band this year, Den Svenska Björnstammen! / got my little portrait, made by De Portretfabriek.


^
In December, I started working at the Post = I had a reason to go out of the house again, which felt so damn good! / threw a little Sinterklaas party / saw Mew play! / won the prettiest flower bouquet of flowers / explored more of Utrecht / celebrated Christmas in the south, with good food and pretty hill-views / got a fulltime job! Today! What a way to end this year.

Let's stay honest: I would still move to Oslo immediately, if I could, but living in the Netherlands is fine as long as I have something to do. In November, Tipster stopped existing from one day to another and that's when I lost 99% of my positivity and motivation. But I guess people are right when they say things work out in the end. It's been some very hard months, but on the last day of 2015, I'm very positive and looking forward to the next year like crazy. So many fun things are coming up!

Ps:
2014 - oktober november desember.

+

Happy 2016, lovely readers! Let's hope at least a couple of your dreams will come true in the upcoming 366 days.

I will try and take more photos of people, be less insecure, get a little (more) out of my comfort zone, continue to go for lots of walks, get used to a fulltime job-life, maybe leave Europe again and most definitely make dreams come true, starting with seeing Yayoi Kusama's work in real life AND interpreting (for a Dutch documentary movie! in Northern-Norway!) in January.

❤

2015 - juli augustus september

I was excited to make 2015 a way better year than the one before, but somehow, I got slapped in the face over and over again. I have been (even more) lonely and insecure, it was hard finding a home and finding a job (still); when I thought I found a real fun one, from the one day to the other everything stopped and I didn't have to come back tot the office. But there's been good things, too: I made dreams come true, followed my heart and seriously have (had) the very best people around me. ❤

So, here's to the good things, the first three months being back in the Netherlands:


^
In July, I finally went to Doel (with some of my favorite Belgians)! / spend most of my days off in Utrecht / made the biggest present ever / went Interrailing! / liked Bratislava, Berlin and Århus best / went to an apricot festival / was in the U-bahn for 40 minutes, just to get the year's best breakfast! / needed more Photobooth-practise ;) / fell in love with Olafur Eliasson's work! / came back to Norway, which seriously felt so so good / I went to Stavanger again, and ended the month with my favorite boy.


^
In August, we had a pizza picnic / threw confetti in the air at the beach, the day after we broke up / my friends were the best ❤ / being back in the Netherlands wasn't too bad / I got a fancy new Macbook! / got flowers and berries from the forest / ate a raspberry-lunch! / went to the most fun exhibition, Do It! / went to Maastricht / saw Afterpartees play / and blooming heather.


^
In September, I went to Antwerp / got the ex-favorite boy visiting(, which actually really was fun and not (too) hard) / turned 26 / got a (sort of) job! / did fun translations! / spent quite some time in Rotterdam and liked it more and more / published a little article about my Interrail / started working at Tipster! / volunteered at Snor festival / went to Oslo / moved to Utrecht!

Let's stay honest: it wasn't easy not knowing if I was just on a long holiday in the Netherlands or actually was moving home and needed to find a job and a place to live... When he and I broke up, things got sad and serious and scary. But everything seemed to work out, although living at the country side for 3 months never really was easy (when it comes to being social).

Ps:
2014 - juli august september.

2015 - april mai juni

I was excited to make 2015 a way better year than the one before, but somehow, I got slapped in the face over and over again. I have been (even more) lonely and insecure, it was hard finding a home and finding a job (still); when I thought I found a real fun one, from the one day to the other everything stopped and I didn't have to come back tot the office. But there's been good things, too: I made dreams come true, followed my heart and seriously have (had) the very best people around me. ❤

So, here's to the good things, the second part of the first half of the year:


^
In April, the bikes were back! / I ate the best Easter brunch / got friends visiting from the Netherlands almost every weekend! / saw Daniel Kvammen play / discovered Yelp and went to a Daytime Disco! / quit my room and job and bought a one-way ticket to the Netherlands (and was very happy about it)! / had the first outside bbq of the year / Tinder-matched with a very cute boy.


^
In May, I did a complete interview in Norwegian! / went to Oslos Rauseste Marked, where things were for free / was turned into a stamp / finally went back to Stavanger! / fell in love (and asleep next to the cutest boy)! / went to a 17. mai-breakfast (and sold froyo the rest of Norway's national day) / sang karaoke / ate another very good (hotel) breakfast / ended the month with that cute boy visiting me in Oslo (and officially becoming my boyfriend)! / went to the coziest and most delicious (vegan) picnic.


^
In June, I dressed up as "summer holiday feeling" for a fun theme party / realized my Oslo friends were (and still are!) the best / did a first very big translation job! / had my 178th and last shift at the froyo store! / every single day was filled with something fun! / went to Stavanger again! / spent my last day in Oslo the best it could: favorite breakfast, favorite lunch, favorite coffee and favorite beer (place) with almost all of my favorite Oslo people! / moved back to the Netherlands / showed the boyfriend around in the Netherlands, it was his first time! / fell in love with Utrecht (again), at least a little bit.

Let's stay honest: quitting my Oslo life seemed to be the best decision, but also is my biggest regret when it comes to this year. April, Mai and June turned out to be the very best months of this year (if you forget about douchebag-flatmate turning into the biggest douchebag ever); I wish I could feel this happy, loved, motivated and positive for ever. And also: never ever forget the smiles, the smells, the feelings, the people (!!). Forget how extremely good Oslo suddenly was to me.

Ps:
2014 - 4월 mei juni.

2015 - januar februar mars

I was excited to make 2015 a way better year than the one before, but somehow, I got slapped in the face over and over again. I have been (even more) lonely and insecure, it was hard finding a home and finding a job (still); when I thought I found a real fun one, from the one day to the other everything stopped and I didn't have to come back tot the office. But there's been good things, too: I made dreams come true, followed my heart and seriously have (had) the very best people around me. ❤

So, here's to the good things, the first three months of the year:


^
In January, I watched fireworks through glasses that turned all light into Hello Kitty's / finally got myself a desk! / was pretty productive / started writing for the Dutch Club Oslo-magazine / met new nice people / visited the Netherlands for my mom's birthday and went to Amsterdam, Antwerp and Brussels too! / there were northern lights in the sky when I flew back into Oslo!


^
In February, I was mostly focused on getting things done, which felt good / became an editor for Allop Magazine / discovered working in cute coffee houses / visited the prettiest photo-exhibition on Oslo / baked my first bread / got served the best homemade pizza / found a Seahorse! / did a first interview in a long time.


^
In March, I went to the mountains to make my first reportage ever! / saw Oslo waking up when the world turned into spring, and fell extremely in love with the city (again) / visited Astrup Fearnley / took out Norwegians for Dutch food / had my mom visiting! / went to the mountains once again / started to like "coffee", and honestly became a little bit of a caffe latte-addict (already).

Let's stay honest: I started the year being very productive and motivated, taking every change I could grab. It took much of my time and energy and I still felt lonely from time to time, but things definitely got better - until my flatmate turned into the biggest douchebag and my cute little home turned into my least favorite place in Oslo. I felt more lost and more alone than ever.

Ps:
2014 - januari februari maart.

A weekend filled with cute houses, pretty packaging and godis.

Stockholm. Two weeks ago I went to visit a friend who lives in the Swedish capital. I arrived very late on Friday and started the next morning to find all the pretty things from her kitchen to take a photo ;). Sweden just really is packaging paradise - I even brought a(n empty) bottle of pretty pretty soap and coffee with me home! Anyhow. The reason I went to Stockholm was because one of my favorite bands was playing there (!), but although it was only a short visit, we did way more:

- Walked around along cute houses (of course!)
- Visited Moderna Museet, which currently has the best Olafur Eliasson-exhibition (!)
- Had a fika in the little - but very cute! - museum café, Café Blom, and ate saffranbullar (which I liked better than cinnamon buns, but not as good as the cardamom ones)
- Looked at the AWESOME Christmassy shop windows of Nordiska Kompaniet
- Ate (good) Lebanese food at Underbar
- And went for breakfast at this cute place called Sorelle.

Oh, and I saw Santa for the first time in my life!
It was a good weekend (although it made me miss Oslo like crazy).

Ps. I promise I'll bring my proper camera next time I go travel! Or maybe I should just get myself a Photoshop copy again... :x

instanovember

1 - I collected some pretty autumn leafs before they disappeared.
2 - Utrecht definitely is a good looking city.
3 - A little corner of my home, including the pretty pretty Stavanger poster I got for my birthday.
4 - I went to Stockholm and fell in love with Swedish packaging, once again. Maybe I should share some photos soon?

& more.

Autumn in the city

I'm still happy to have moved back to the Netherlands, but without a job, without money, without a plan - it's not easy. It's not easy at all. Luckily, autumn in Utrecht is pretty. And in 2 weeks I'll be in Stockholm, in 4 weeks I'll see Mew and after that I guess things will be better again? Otherwise it will be winter, I'll buy chocolate and I'll go to Copenhagen.

But still: first things first. Let's hope everyday life will be ok(+) again soon.
There must be more to get out of bed for than colorful leaves (and long walks and good coffee), right?

instoktober

1 - On kanelbullens dag, cinnamon bun day!, I got myself a fresh kanelbulle from this bakery here in Utrecht (!) and celebrated.
2 - My little home very much looks and feels like home now.
3 - The morning after Dutch Design Week, It was breakfast time in bed with my a Liekeland print and the prettiest (empty) beer.
4 - This past week, autumn has been extremely sunny & lovely. I can't get enough of all the pretty leaves.

& more.

instaseptember

1 - I turned 26.
2 - A lot of time was spent in my home office - writing for Allop, testing the new Tony's Chocolonely, looking for a job (which I sort of found! It's an internship and I earn way too less to survive, but it's fun + experience = okay).
3 - I packed for, and went to, Oslo. I guess I'll share some travel photos soon. :)
4 - And by the end of the month I had moved to my favorite Dutch city, Utrecht! Fingers crossed it's a good decision.

& more.

Books, sore feet, a super cuddly pug and a chicken

Vuren. I spent the weekend volunteering at Snor festival, which is the loveliest one-day festival organized by publishing house Snor. (Fun fact: that means 'moustache' in Dutch.) I was so lucky to be volunteering and therefore be painting, drawing, cutting, going for long walks and spending the complete weekend at the cutest camping I've been to: Kampeerterrein de Lievelinge.

Sunday (festival day) was the best part, though. I met so many nice people and got to be in the book shop and sell all the pretty books - and chocolates - all day long. What a dream festival job. ❤ Just look at it:

instaugust

1 - I started August in Stavanger, with a boyfriend. I'm not there anymore and not with him either (but that's okay).
2 - Looooooots of time was spent in the forest, which without a doubt is the best thing about living with my parents for a bit.
3 - One Saturday, I went to Rotterdam to go see the (pretty awesome + lovely) Do it-exhibition, together with Veerle.
4 - And one Wednesday, I went to Maastricht. ❤

I also went to Utrecht, Haarlem and Rotterdam (once more). And right now, I'm pretty excited to see what September will bring. I will attend two (!) festivals, I will (finally) move to Utrecht and I'm very much planning on finding a job. Fingers crossed, please!

& more.

Interrail (5): Århus

Århus. My last proper stop and of of my favorites (together with Bratislava and Berlin), too. What a pretty city! I was happy to have a friend I could stay with and another friend who joined showing me around. It was so good to be with people again. Traveling alone mostly is a good thing, but this time was harder than ever - I can write a bit about it if you'd like? In Århus, I liked

- Bellevue beach, a bit outside of the city center (yay, nature after so much city!!)
- the modern art museum, ARoS! I liked ARoS - and all art by Olafur Eliasson - so much ❤
- the university area, with lots of pretty overgrown buildings
- Møllerstien, which most likely is the cutest street I've ever seen(, even with that crane in the background).

I wish I would have had more time in this city, so I guess I'll be back sooner or later.

:)

Interrail (4): Hamburg

Hamburg. A combination of cobble stone streets, modern architecture, huge buildings, small buildings and lots of harbor, ships and cranes. I got lost around Reeperbahn, which wasn't the awesomest area to walk alone as a girl late at night anyway, and I also (again) found out I'm no good at photobooth photos, but there's also quite some things I did enjoy about Hamburg:

- the streets, the houses. So cute! So pretty!
- Park Fiction: a park with hammocks, Lego-like trees and an amazing view facing the harbor (and cranes)
- taking the elevator 24 meters down to walk through the Alter Elbtunnel
- taking the elevator (or the stairs) up in St. Michaelis church, which sure gives a pretty view over the city
- the pretty area called Speicherstadt
- and the amazing cake place called Herr Max. I seriously have never had such a good cake as the chocolate mousse one I had here - and it all looks so pretty, too. Go go go go if you can!

Interrail (3): Berlin

Berlin. It had been 10 years since I visited Germany's capital and I didn't expect to like it that much (don't know why), but I did. All the pretty buildings, shops, coffee houses... I'm secretly dreaming about going back already. What I'd do again then?

- walking around in Neukölln, Friedriechshain and Prenzlauer Berg
- eating breakfast at Roamers
- staying at the prettiest hostel I've stayed at: Wallyard (if I feel like using time to get to the other areas ^)
- taking € 2 Photobooth-photos (preferably in a booth with confetti, like the one I had now)
- sitting in the little park at Boxhagener platz, and go for dinner and/or ice cream in that area
- drinking Hüftengold's awesome watermelon juice
- taking the S-bahn (which is so much nicer than the U-bahn for one that doesn't like subways, like me)
- walking along the East Side Gallery, which was surprisingly nice (and very touristic, but nice)
- and just enjoying the calm, pretty, cute, friendly - but HUGE - city.

Interrail (2): München

Munich. It was good to be back in a country where I can understand words and say a little bit, too. I'm definitely spoiled when it comes to traveling to countries where I understand the language (or maybe: to knowing languages?), but it seriously made things easier. Eating out alone, mostly - my very weak spot when traveling by myself.

Anyhow: Munich is a classical city. A city with big buildings, big traditions and big stories - big tankards as well. I didn't enjoy the city very much (which might be because I visit on a Sunday and Monday in the middle of the summer, which made a whole lot of things being closed!), but still there are some things I'd recommend if you ever go there:

- joining the Free Walking Tour that leaves from Marienplatz at 11:00
- walking around in the University area, in streets like Barerstraße, Türkenstraße, Amalienstraße and everything in between
- visiting the Englischer Garten (❤) and the very awesome! little surfspot they got there
- sneak into Hofbräuhaus just to take a look at the pretty ceiling.

Interrail (1): Bratislava

Bratislava, what a surprise. I was told to skip this capital as it's boring and "absolutely not interesting at all", but men, they are all so wrong. This city surprised me even in 45 (...) degrees Celcius. It's pretty, lively, cheap, the people are amazingly nice and there's more than enough to do, at least for a day or two. I stayed for 1,5 day and had most fun:

- simply walking around, looking at the pretty streets and (pastel colored) buildings
- taking selfies with the Blue Church, which must be the prettiest church
- drinking super fancy / extremely delicious homemade lemonade at U Kubistu; mine had both pineapple and coconut ❤
- eating breakfast at Urban House
- joining the Free Walking Tour, that starts daily at 11 from Hviezdoslavovo námestie square
- eating bryndzove halusky: cheese gnocchi with cheese sauce and bacon
- eating Koun's amazingly delicious ice cream(, especially the "sexy chocolate"). No Slovak prices here, but so worth it!
- eating french fries at ORBIS Street Food, where you could even choose the very Belgian andalouse and samurai-sauces (!)
- walking up to the castle and enjoying the view
- hanging out at the 'beach' on the other side of the Danube.

instajuly

A little late (I was out in the world Interrailing, will write about it soon!), but this is what July looked like on Instagram.



1 - The first proper stop on my Interrail trip was Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. What a lovely city!
2 - In Århus, I got to meet both Marie and her super cute hedgehog Agnete.
3 - 10 days of train traveling ended in Lund, with Swedish candy, a filled-up Interrail card and fridge magnets.
4 - And it all ended in (the loveliest street in) Stavanger - where I had to make decisions and where decisions were made.

& more.

Doel.

Doel. Yesterday (on the warmest day of the year!), some former classmates and I went to the (mostly) abandoned village of Doel, in Belgium. Not only is it located right next to some power plants - Doel isn't far from Antwerp and its harbor either. In the sixties, they started making plans to expand the harbor, which meant the inhabitants of Doel had to leave their houses. Most of them did, but there's still a 20-something of them left and the village still exists. Or well, sort of.

It's not allowed to go inside the houses, but still there's pretty graffiti pieces, houses and streets to look at. There's also a café and a (restaurant in a) mill where you can grab a drink or two (!) - and there's a bus driving through Doel, every weekday at 7 in the morning. It stops at all the 5 bus stops I found in the village, but none of them says where it's actually going...