current, random obsessions

 {image via}

kitchens. 

the colour yellow.

sourcy vitamin water.

mcdonalds grilled chicken salads.

rain.

everything about spring.

and after todays excursion, biking.

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spring; netherlands style

i think, i'm fast becoming a spring person

i love taking walks on a pretty & warm day. i love warm days

i had terribly missed warm days.

i'm so glad they're back in style now :)

say hello to bjorno 

the cuddliest, tail-less {sad story} burmese moutain dog you ever did see.

we're tight.

check out his crazy eyes :)

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yesterday was gorgeous

beautiful weather

i wore a dress, a thin cardigan and life was good.

today, it's cold & gray.

i'm confused.

there's more to my life than analysing weather patterns though :)

i'm looking for a randomly beautiful piece of artwork to hang up in my living/dining room combination.

it must be colourful. bold. and big-ish.

and preferably on the cheaper side of my wallet...

view of city from v&d cafe

happiness list

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hello spring

i spent the day in groningen & all joanne & i could chat about was how excited we were about warmer weather

*that door makes me happy
* i love the charm of dutch streets

*the first flowers of the spring

i was so excited, i pulled over & took this pic

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so much to do to set my heart right

the weather's changing

i think it's getting warmer, i hope it's getting warmer

i say hope, because the last time i was convinced spring was coming, it snowed that night!

but, the sun is rising earlier & setting later

i haven't doubled up my scarves in over a week

the rain has returned.

i have to say though, in the past 8months i haven't had major holland weather complaints

i prefer snow to rain though... rain is just so... wet :)

my toes are DYING to be freed!

i have visions of wearing flip flops & putting away the boots. dreams.

the sun feels the same way i'm sure;

i see it fighting it's way through the clothes during the day, but sadly the battle is lost to those resiliant clouds

-

i've been "lost" in my thoughts lately,

thankfully i've had the musical stylings of john mayer, one republic & lira & miss alicia keys,

{my ipod's forgotten that other music exists}

the great blogs i read,

& marian keyes' impressive writing skills to accompany me

{i'm currently reading 'watermelon' and have laughed out loud, on a train, whilst reading it}

i'm getting there...

in repair - john mayer

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national geogprahic, gets me :)

& the snow came back last night
i woke up to fresh, powderey, clean snow on the ground (& on my car) this morning
this made me really happy

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oh the seasons, they do change

it was -12 degrees celsius today.

it was freezing

but, oh so pretty!

this was taken along the road i drive to for one of the family's i work with...

{beetgumermolen}

it was jens birthday today!

i got a gorgeous scarf from V&D...and a can of coke light (she's a closet addict)

we (her family, renata & her husband, and i) went to a great greek restaurant in the city

- next to harmonie, if you're in town -

i was so exhausted

ran far too many errands in the bitter cold, and spent a couple hours with vicki's twin babies

i didn't even make it to dessert

i had to gracefully excuse myself, before i passed out mid-conversation

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i love sundays

today,

i'm grateful for lazy weekends,

2 mins of fun in the snow,

my faith,
spending time with zigi whilst at home,

& the way the sun rests on my living room

my living room's looked this way the whole weekend.

i unfolded the couch on saturday morning & haven't changed it since

thank you ikea, for such a comfy pull out couch

i'm happy

i just couldn't resist

i cannot even begin to express how much i love this dog
i miss her too much

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all is calm, all is... white!

was planning on going grocery shopping today

opened my curtains & saw it

....

so, i pulled out the sleeper couch & the blankets & 'king of queens' dvd set

naturally

they told me it doesn't snow in holland.

somebody lied!

apparently it's the coldest winter in 28 years...

& i happen to be here

hmmm

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she's back!

it's true

& it's 2 degrees celsius with remants of 2weeks of snow on the ground!

(who lied & told me it doesn't get enough to snow in holland? reveal yourself!)

after 2weeks of south african 32degree weather (moment of silence for sunshine & clear skies)

it's going to take a couple days to get used to this

ugh.

but ... i'm happy

why?

i landed.

they lost one of my suitcases which had my boots, coat etc

so, jen took me shopping!

yep, helloooooo new coat, leggings, dress & scarf

my 25th birthday was darling!

day with momsy, night out with 2 of my favourite girls

spent christmas in such a beautiful way!

due to uhm complications, it was just madre & i this year

went to ocean basket, laughed, laughed, cried, ate & ate for hours!

went home, played with ziggy and the 3 of us watched 'evan alimighty' together

arrived at the apartment to find the H&M spring season 2010 catalogue in my mailbox

too much of happiness (giggle)

&

a sweet letter from my 7 yr old nephew (sent in november!)

i spent the past 2 weeks with a few of my favourite things

- big bags, dresses & flip flops -

i have an internet connection once again

i can blog & blog stalk.... once again

1 more day left of december & the year 2009 - whoa

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hamburg...with the hamburgers?

seriously though, who created the hamburger?

moving on.

i was lucky enough to spend this past weekend in hamburg, germany

(only 4 hour drive from leeuwarden)

i stayed with a friend of a friend, who is now, my friend :)

we walked through the city, lit {tastefully} in the spirit of christmas

took a tour of the harbour aboard a ferry

spent hours at different christmas markets, captivated by the smell of cinnamon,

countless handmade goodies,

instrumental versions of christmas songs at every street corner,

& jolly laughter (the kind that erupts from being slightly intoxicated)

and

ate (& ate & ate) german pastries - mouth watering is an understatement

i didn't get too many photos (cause you kinda really had to be there) but here you go

(psycho camera = blurry photos. apologies for causing pain to the eyes)

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what made my day pretty much perfect

another lunch date with janet

eating a spinach olive bagel at my favourite - bagels & beans

realising my LOVE of this

i had no idea that i even liked it, let alone LOVED it!

thank you LIDL for selling it so cheap :)

walking into my room. it's makes me happy these days

finding these photos on my camera :)

saying goodbye to sonto & lu after their visit, last week

the boys at the spoorwegmuseum in utrecht. GREAT place for kids - especially little boys with energy to kill

playing dress up with this little bubba!

janet & i went to see "FAME"

honestly, i wasn't expecting too much from it but wow did it surprise me

i actually really enjoyed it

the release of this fabo calabo :)
empire state of mind - jayz & alicia keys

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what's the time? wait... what?

so, don't you hate it when you come from a country that doesn't have daylight savings

and you move to a county that does

and you get up, get dressed, get the kids ready (i'm fulltime with them for the week)

rush them downstairs for breakfast, so we can be on time for church

THEN, you realise

you're AN HOUR EARLY!!

and nobody, thought it wise to inform me of this very important fact

fabo.

  Leeuwarden Time

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whoa...

i drove my sister & nephew to schiphol this morning

their flight was at 10:30, so we had to leave the apartment at 06:00. whoa

disturbing observation:

on the 1st of June i recall the sun rising at 04:15

it's now october & it only starting rising at 07:35! is this healthy?

its so late. too late.

& it started getting dark again at around 17:30!
the end.

it was such a blessing to have family here for a week... even though we didn't get to do a whole lot, it was just so comforting having them around.

it felt like home.

we laughed. laughed alot. we spoke in zulu

we had bouts of sibling rivalry - i'd missed it :)

we shopped. and shopped.

we huddled together in the living room & watched comedies

& we just loved being together.
it was SO NICE not having complete silence in the apartment.

speaking of the apartment;
i bought a new ceiling lamp at ikea for a steal!
sonto's the handier one, so i asked her to put it up.
in the process, the lights tripped and now half the apartment is dark... and i have NO IDEA where the main switch board is! oops
ever tried getting dressed in hallway, because that's the only place with working lights?
interesting.

see, it's these memories that i'll treasure

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my today

cold feet

really cold feet

even with socks on... still, cold feet

cold nose

when all is said & done...

beautiful sky

as of late, i cannot help but take photos of the scenery as i drive (yes, i snap photos while i'm driving. my camera rests anxiously on my lap)

i find it breathtaking. just, beautiful.

no special effects. no photoshop.

just nature. capturing real moments, in their perfection.

i think i have a thing for clouds :)

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my yesterday

When autumn comes, it doesnt ask.

It just walks in, where it left you last.
And you never know, when it starts
Until there's fog inside the glass around your summer heart
- John Mayer: Somethings' Missing

the road to groningen

finding the beauty in darkness...

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i have the attention span of a child

the weather over the weekend

does it not frighten you?

alas, i braved the elements and went shopping...

my entryway now looks like this:

it needs more colour... toch? and yes, that is an apron (i had nowhere else to hang it up)

why are my boots not in the closet? dutch closets are TINY... there's barely enough room for my flip flops!

this made me giggle:

i had to buy it for the boots... the liquid impregnates your boots! hehehe.

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