Our Christmas was our most laid back one yet! We had no parties to go to, no family to visit… It was just the 2 of us and our dogs. It was a quiet day and honestly, quite lovely. So let me share with you what we did. Dutch breakfast Every Sunday I make American pancakes for nostalgia’s sake. I asked Sander if he wanted a typical American breakfast, with everything from eggs and bacon to seasoned potatoes and buttered…
This is going to be 1 of 3 posts about what we’re doing this Christmas. Since the Dutch celebrate the 24th, 25th, and 26th of December, I’ll be talking about each of the days! Christmas Eve is a normal day for most people. Sander went to work and got out early. He went to work today and I had a few things to take care of. Groceries It’s been months since we decided to have our groceries delivered to our…
I’ve always loved plants but never had the space for them. My room back in California was too small and dark. That resulted in a lot of dead plants… But here in The Netherlands we have a lot of windows with indirect sunlight. For me, plants are a no brainer. As in, if you have space for something then you should put a plant there. But it took me a few years to find my groove. I killed a few…
Oh my gosh, we’ve had a heat wave in The Netherlands and it’s been terrible. Housing typically doesn’t come with AC because it’s not meant to get so hot. So we lived through a week of scorching numbers and here we are. It’s been unfortunate because I had a few posts planned. But due to the heat, I couldn’t find the energy to write. I fell behind on emails, reading blogs, and even my art challenge. Lucky for us, the…
Summer is already here but if you’re like me then you’ve been slacking. These past few weeks have blended together and summer snuck up on me. It’s been so warm here and most of the windows and blinds stay closed all day. It’s strange sitting to work in the dark but it beats the heat… At least a little. So what advice do I have for you to prepare for summer? Embrace that vibe and get your booty into gear!…
Things have been a bit slow for us here. We were suppose to spend this week in Belgium but I’m sure you’re aware of the travel situation. So instead Sander and I spent a quiet week at home. It’s been nice though and I’m glad we did. So since we didn’t do much, I’d like to share a few updates on what we’ve been up to. Housekeeping Last Friday I spent the entire day cleaning the house from top to…
The Dutch ONA is, in theory, simple. It’s the Orientation on the Dutch Labor Market. Meaning you understand how the Dutch job system works. You can also apply for a job, understand what schooling would is important and how to be a competent worker. Easy right? Especially for someone who had held a job. Ah well.. If only it was that simple. I was nervous about it so I bought the workbook to help me. I understand that they want…
I grew up in America. It’s a place where the customer is always right. We’re taught to be as friendly as we can be because friendly people bring in sales. The better you treat a client, the more likely you are to keep their business. I’ve been trained to smile when I make eye contact with anyone. This doesn’t go over so well here. I felt like I lived among unfriendly Dutch. That may be something lost in translation. The…
I was talking to Sander about how I used to use money to make me happy. I worked to spend money irresponsibly. There was that thrill of new ownership and I chased it every paycheck. In some ways, having no income has done wonders for my mental health. I no longer rely on consumerism to make me feel happy. Now, I take two weeks to reason with why I want something. This has resulted in more “happy moments”. I feel…