A well maintained blog is a labor of love more than anything else. The number one compliment I get for this space is “I don’t know how you can do it so consistently!” I’m not a professional by any means but I love my blog a lot. I want to get to posting every day and have blogging as a full time job. For now I need to work on developing interesting blog content, a creating a professional brand, and…
I have never been a morning person. Sleeping in has always been something I’ve cherished. As much as I’d love to spend the whole day in bed (who wouldn’t?) I do have errands to do and Dutch homework to complete! So how can I roll out of bed with a smile on my face? With a few methods that I use to make my mornings brighter! Wake up with music Waking up to an alarm is not only jarring, it…
The Dutch are renown for being frugal. They do more window shopping than actual shopping! But they are not without wants. So how do the Dutch save money? There are many factors but I’ve put together a list of the ones that seem most common (in my experience). Don’t buy until it’s necessary The Dutch save money because they have a huge habit of window shopping. There are so many things to buy but most are unnecessary. This is how…
I am most productive at night. While this is perfect for night owls, Sander goes to bed at 11pm so that he can wake up for work. This means I also have to be in bed at that time. When I lived alone I could stay up late into the night working on creative projects. I had gotten so used to that lifestyle that even now I find it difficult to turn it off. My mind is always most active…
Dutch is a confusing language. I’ve been learning it for so long now and I still have trouble with it! There are hundreds of words that have double meanings. One of them, is lekker. Lekker, in its purest form means yummy. For example, lekker eten means a yummy meal. I’ve heard lekker used in other situations though. When we see Sander’s parents, they usually want to eat out in the garden. It’s because the sun is out and it’s lekker warme (nice…
Summer has arrived in The Netherlands! School is out and so is the sun. Temperatures are on the rise and the beaches are packed. How do the Dutch spend a Netherlands summer? The answers might surprise you. They don’t stray too far Holiday homes and campgrounds are super popular for families who love the outdoors. Otherwise, travelers make their way around Europe with purpose. Most don’t venture too far from The Netherlands. The summers are so mild, it’s hard to…
I’ve always had a deep appreciation and love for photography. However, I never went to school for it. I took a few photography classes in college but they were hardly anything professional. Now days, it’s easy to find tutorials and learn the skills to improve yourself. For me, I’ve been watching the following channels to gain new insights and learn new techniques. Mango Street This newly wed couple has been posting videos on photography for a little over a year…
The Dutch garden is taken very seriously. When buying a home, one detail to look for is where the garden is located. Ideally it will be in the south where the sun will fall for most of the day. The Dutch love the sun and a south facing garden has the potential to make the most of daylight. And how exactly do the Dutch decorate these spaces? While it varies from household to household, it’s common to see a few…
We spent a week nestled deep within a forest of tall trees and away from the noisy city life. This is our second trip to a vacation home. This time we spent the week at the Belgium/Netherlands border. If you recall, we went to Oosterhout a few years ago. That trip was a much shorter one though. This time we were away for a week. We went along with Sander’s parents and split the cost of a two bedroom cottage.…