The end of summer is usually a place for new beginnings. I figured I would talk about the reasons I felt moving abroad was a good choice to make. This isn’t a post about the whole process of moving abroad. I’m still in the middle of becoming a permanent resident of The Netherlands. This is more about the reasons why I left California. Sander was a major reason, of course, but he was not the defining factor. Relationships are two…
Don’t let my tall glass of iced tea, worn out running shoes, and yoga mat fool you. I don’t enjoy a good workout. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that moving your body is important to good health. It’s one of the reasons why the Dutch are always so fit. And it’s no secret that the Dutch have an easy time of staying in shape. A lot of their healthy lifestyle comes from eating well. But there are…
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…
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…
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…
Confession time, I use ASMR. People who can fall into bed and turn off the world are lucky. Others, like me, lie awake for hours after the lights have done off. The reasons are different for why it’s hard to fall asleep. We wake up groggy, unable to focus, and irritated at the smallest things. Sleeping has never been an easy thing for me. When I was young I would stay up reading until I could sleep. Then I played…