Monday, December 25, 2017

The Copenhagen Food Hotspot: La Esquina

In March, of this year, I went on a mini trip to Copenhagen and Sweden with one of my friends that lives in Sweden. I was in Copenhagen for two days, but we had full packed days with all sort of exciting sightseeing’s and lots of delicious food. It wouldn't be me if I didn’t have an entire list of trendy food places at the ready and so the first thing we did after dropping of our luggage at the hostel was eating at La Esquina, a cute café that I found online.

La Esquina can be found in the Østerbro neighbourhood. It's a small café with a nice chill vibe and is mainly visited by locals. One of the reasons why I like to make a foodie hotspot list is that this way you actually go to places that you would've never accidently stumbled upon. I don't want to be the kind of gal that eats in the touristy areas and I'd rather much blend in with locals and see different parts of a city.
We were at La Esquina around 2 PM and there were plenty of seats available. We both sat down in the cosy cushions and ordered a lot of food, including a Belgian waffle, grapefruit and avocado sandwiches. The menus were in Danish, but funnily enough we both could kind of guess what everything was. We also ordered these fresh mint, ginger and lemon drinks which were extremely spicy but so tasty. It all arrived quickly and we ate and chatted for at least an hour I think. The food was good. Anything with avocado on it is fine by me and as a sweet tooth I loved the waffle. Denmark in general is pricy, so basically all the food is too. When I'm on holiday I don't think about it that much and since everything is in Danish Krone it's harder as well. I do kind of calculate but not in full detail.

I think La Esquina is one of the best cafés where I ate during the trip. The staff was friendly, it wasn't busy, the food came fast and it was delicious too. If you want to blend in with locals and eat some delicious food then you have to visit this spot on your Copenhagen trip too.

Also, this is my last post of #blogmas -yes I know I'm a day too late, but to be fair I have been on time the entire month of December-. I really liked creating a lot of content and being on it every day. I always fall in and out of love with blogging, but this month has definitely sparked up the love again. I love writing and creating nice images and I want to be more regular with posting too. For now I'm going to take a well-deserved break and enjoy Christmas. Happy Holidays and I'll be back soon with new content!

Have you ever been to Copenhagen?



Saturday, December 23, 2017

Glitter Lattes at Palm Vaults

One of the hypes of 2017 is definitely glitter. When it comes to fashion, make-up and hair, glitter has been a huge trend for a couple of years and now it's made the crossover to the weirdest thing ever: food.

You think glitter is only there to spark up your occasional rainbow cake or boozy champagne, but it also looks dazzling in coffee, who knew? A small coffee shop in the UK started this phenomenon -literally my entire Facebook feed was trashed with articles about it- and of course other coffee shops couldn't wait to jump on the glitter train and one of those cafés is Palm Vaults.
Words can't describe how much I love Palm Vaults. It's a small independent café in Hackney, London and it makes all my #foodiegram dreams come true. The food and drinks look amazing, taste even better and the interior is to die for. Now Hackney is not that close to the city centre. I first took the bus which was obviously a mistake since it took forever and on my second trip I changed to the Overground. On my last trip I didn't have time to travel that long for a glitter coffee, so I was happy to discover the fact that Palm Vaults has a little pop up in the Fiorucci store in Soho. 

I'd never heard of the brand Fiorucci before but when I walked inside it looked really cool. Lots of colours, lots of prints and the perfect store to have a Palm Vaults bar. A friend and I wanted to grab a quick latte in there, so we took a seat at the marble tables and had a look at the menu. We both went for a tonic latte in 'Velvet Rose' (beetroot, rosewater, agave and oat milk) and 'Blue Magick' (blue algae, ginger and coconut milk). You are probably thinking: what the heck is a tonic latte? Well, when I ordered it I also had no idea, I just knew that they were pastel coloured and looked too cute to drink. Sprinkle some glitter on top and my day is made. They were quite expensive though, four pounds for each latte with an extra charge for the glitter, but since I was on holiday and I wanted to know what the sparkly fuzz was about I happily ordered it.
After taking about a million photos -has to happen with this drink- we both took a sip. I didn't know what I was expecting but I also knew that this was not going to be my new favourite drink. I had the blue one and I can't even describe what it tastes like. A bit weird and funny, not gross, but not super tasty either. My friend didn't like her rosewater latte at all and after a sip I understood why. It was like eating a bouquet of roses, but weirdly enough I didn't hate it. Also you don't taste the glitter at all, so no worries about that!

We chatted for a long time and after our lattes were finished we payed and walked through Soho for a bit. If you are in London I definitely recommend going to Palm Vaults -do choose a normal latte for your sprinkle of glitter- and also grab a bite to eat whilst you’re there. I know their cakes and smoothie bowls are so tasty and well presented. Can't wait to hop back on the Overground to Hackney whenever I have a glitter craving!

Have you ever tried a glitter latte before?


Friday, December 22, 2017

Ciaté London x Olivia Palermo Nail Polish in Napa Valley

 If there is one thing that perks up my mood on a crappy day it's groomed hands, and specifically nails. I have to admit I don't care for my hands and feet as much as I do for my face and I feel like that has to change. Starting with the first thing that gives my hands that loved look: nail polish. 
Now nail polish can look extremely good. I think it transform your look and finishes of an outfit -especially when you try to match-. Of course my nail polish chips in no-time and then I'm too lazy to take it off even though it takes two minutes -the struggle is real!-. It's one of the reasons why I never wear nail polish, but with this colour from Ciaté London I have tried my best to become a bit more of a nail polish gal.

I have previously never owned a Ciaté nail polish. I knew about the brand by their enormous advent calendars and gorgeous packaging so when I spotted a Ciaté London x Olivia Palermo nail polish in TK Maxx for six pounds I was all excited. This happened when I was in Brighton last January, so I do apologize for the lateness of this post. Good way to end the year with a product that you bought at the start haha.

I grew up watching The Hills and The City so fashionista Olivia Palermo is the perfect lady for a nail polish collab. I think the colour of this nail polish ''Napa Valley'' represent here in a way too. It’s a dark berry red kind of colour that looks so elegant, classy and feminine. Safe to say this is the only nail polish that I have been reaching for if I ever decide to do my nails.

Applying is so easy with the brush. I don't know what it is but it gets enough product on the brush to get a lovely coated nail. One coat can do the trick when you are in a hurry, but out of habit I always do two. It applies like a dream and dries up quickly as well. All I'm left with are glossy red nails that last up to at least four/five days, depending on what my activities are that week.

Ciaté London is definitely a brand that I want discover a lot more in the New Year. I feel that it can be quite hard sometimes to find good nail polish that lasts a long time and is not streaky. I’m very happy that I can finally cross 'Finding the perfect nail polish brand' of my list!

Have you tried Ciaté London before?


Thursday, December 21, 2017

The Best Hot Chocolate Recipe


A few months ago a friend and I went out for some cake and hot chocolate -as you do on a hot summer day- at Café Blond in Amsterdam. Blond Amsterdam is a cute Dutch brand for all your homeware needs; mugs, plates, napkins, tea pots: they have it all! Now because it's so popular they created a Blond themed café around the brand including cakes, sandwiches and coffees all served on Blond tableware.

Now I'm not a huge fan of the café. I mean, it's nice and all but a bit overpriced, but if they do one thing right it's hot chocolate. We both went for ''Blond's heaven in a hot tub'', which was indeed heaven in warm cosy mug. Imagine creamy hot chocolate with plenty of whipped cream, marshmallows and extra chocolate on top. It was €5 but totally worth it now that I think back to that day.

Since December has the perfect hot chocolate weather I wanted to recreate the recipe. It makes one cup of amazing hot chocolate that will give you all the Christmas feels. Ooh and don't forget to drink it with a large slice of cake by your side. It's mandatory.

What do you need?
30 gr chocolate -or more if you are a real chocoholic-
1 cup of milk
Whipped cream
Mini marshmallows
Sprinkles
More Chocolate 
A cute cup to serve it in

Measure the milk in your cute cup of choice. Pour the milk in a pan and slowly heat it up over medium heat. Add the chocolate and let it completely melt. Pour the chocolate milk in the cup. Add plenty of whipped cream and sprinkle mini marshmallows, colourful sprinkles and more little pieces of chocolate on top. Tada! Your own heaven in a snazzy cup is here. On a more casual day I also love a simple sprinkle of cinnamon. Nothing beats a good old classic.

What is your favourite kind of hot chocolate?


Wednesday, December 20, 2017

The Barcelona Food Hotspot: Trópico

When in Barcelona it's mandatory to have brunch at a cute, summery café. Well Trópico is the answer to all those hotspot prayers. It was the café where I had my first official Barcelona brunch and I could not have wished for a better place. 


Trópico is located in the neighbourhood El Raval, a few streets away from La Ramblas, the most popular street in Barcelona. The café has a few themes when it comes to interior design. At first you enter this tropical orange room, followed by a palm leaves dream and at the end you'll find a more spacious room with lots of light. The tropical orange room is honestly the best thing in the world, so obviously that's where we sat. They have these cool bamboo tables, colourful tropical pillows and plants everywhere. It was hard not to fall in love with the place. -and ask the number for their decorator-


My friend and I both ordered pancakes -there are also acai bowls and eggs Bennie on the menu, but it wouldn't be me if I didn't order something sweet- and I ordered a fancy smoothie to go with it. It was called the 'Thai Dragon Tail', a bright pink smoothie covered in banana slices, coconut flakes and dragon fruit. The food came quite fast, which was nice because we were both extremely hangry. The pancakes were good, fluffy but a bit sticky and covered in cream cheese, fruit and syrup. I do think of myself as a pancake expert when it comes to brunch and these ones were very good. Sugary and fluffy make all my pancake brunch dreams come true.
The smoothie was good as well; a bit thick so the cute straw didn't really help, but I still enjoyed my first Barcelona brunch a lot. The price of the food was cheap compared to other European cities I've been to. The pancakes were €7 and the drink was €5,5. Coffee is pretty cheap in Barcelona so if you prefer a good latte over a tropical pink drink you'll be as happy as can be. 

I 100% recommend coming here on your Barcelona trip. It gives you those holiday tropical vibes that makes you instantly relaxed, the food is great and there are always enough tables. They also do dinner, so if you can't squeeze Trópico in for brunch you have to dine here. Ooh and don't forget to take a few snaps whilst you're there!

Don't forget to check out my other Barcelona hotspots like, Brunch and Cake by the Sea, LULU and Eyescream & Friends.

Have you ever been to Barcelona? What is your favourite hotspot there?


Tuesday, December 19, 2017

The 4 Most Christmassy Instagram Spots in Amsterdam

That time of year has come where Amsterdam is covered in lights and Christmas spirit. December and summer are my favourite times to be in Amsterdam. When the sun shines the city has that chill vibe where everyone is relaxing in Vondelpark and you see flowers around the canals. In December it can be cold, but the lights, the ice rank on Museum Square and Christmas trees make up for it. Since it’s that time of year I decided to put up my top 4 of most Christmassy Instagram spots in Amsterdam in a blog post. Hope you like it!


1. Museum Square
One of the most Christmassy places in the city. I have to admit it's quite touristy, but when you forget about all that it's the best place to get festive. There is a huge ice rink there -you can drink hot cocoa as well if you are like Bambi on the ice, aka me- and a cute bridge where you can take the most instagramable pics. It can be busy with people taking snaps but wait your turn and you'll have the most amazing Amsterdam photo with the IAmsterdam sign and Rijksmuseum in the background!

2. The Bijenkorf
The biggest department store in Amsterdam -it's similar to Harrods in London- and they have the most amazing window display and festive lights on the sides of the building. Rokin -the street where it's located- in general gets very festive around that time of the year. With so many sparkly lights everywhere and a tree on Dam Square it's hard not to get in the festive mood.


3. Magna Plaza
A gorgeous shopping centre that I actually never visit. It's right behind Dam square and around the festive time they have this huge floating Christmas tree in the middle. It's amazing to have a bit of a wander and take a few snaps whilst you're there. Nothing says Christmas like a mega Christmas tree.

4. The Canals
The canals in Amsterdam are good all year round but in winter they are even more festive with jazzy lights. I don't have one specific canal where I usually take my pics, so my advice would be to walk around the Nine Streets and see what you'll find.


Those were all the spots. Not that many, but when you are in Amsterdam for the weekend or a day, it's good enough. When it's snowing in Amsterdam the city is even more magical. Do take your pics as quick as possible though, because the snow will turn into grey mush fast. I mean it's all fun and games until you fall flat on your face with your bike. 

Want more Instagram spots? See my London house edition here! Or when you fancy a bite to eat in Amsterdam, I put up my 5 favourite brunch spots in the city here!

What are your plans for Christmas?


Monday, December 18, 2017

Little Red Chelsea Boots

If there is one thing I do well -besides eating and sleeping, obviously- it's finding the best items that are on sale. I love searching for a good deal -especially online because shops during sale season are a mess- and when I find one I get all excited and happy. As I said in the '10 things that instantly make me feel happy' post, shopping really cures any kind of sad mood I'm in, so when I found these red babes I was all pumped up.

Little of a back story here, I have been looking for red boots for ages now. I mean I want cute comfy ones, but not too expensive. Well let me tell you that's not easy to find. I searched everywhere, but a pair of gorgeous red boots won't come cheap and since I'm very poor at the moment -saving for NYC and stuff- I wasn't able to spend big bucks on a pair of boots that I'll probably won’t like next winter season anyways. 
There enters Primark. The store that always saves the day when it comes to my fashion struggles. I spotted these red Chelsea boots at Primark in Amsterdam about five weeks ago. There was one size 39 left, but there were a few marks on the shoe, so after an internal conversation with myself -do you have those too or is it just me? - I put them at the same spot where I found them and walked away. I hoped I would find them in London a week later, but after searching at two big Primark stores I only found the gold version -on sale- and I was gutted I didn't pick them up in Amsterdam. If they were silver I would be all happy -silver boots are still on my list, so if you know a good pair let this girl know!- but gold is not really my kind of colour. 
Fast forward to last Wednesday when I went to Primark in The Hague -that store is everywhere isn't it?- and spotted my gorgeous red boots, on sale , and in a size 39 -three pairs actually, so I picked the nicest one-. These babes ended up being €10 (!) and it honestly made my day. I also grabbed three hats whilst I was there and came to a smashing total of €23 at the till. That's what a fashionable, but poor, student loves to hear! The boots are faux suede, so not perfect for winter weather, but I don't care. I bloody love them so much!

I took them out for a proper walk today in Amsterdam and although my feet feel a bit sore, they do take my outfit to the next level. The red colour popped with my blue leopard fluffy coat and I felt so sassy when I had them on. Like I'm a proper adult walking the catwalk street and not giving a damn about the red being a bit too much. If only Primark could bring out the silver version too, then my shoe collection would be really complete. I already have so many pairs of shoes, but there is always room for one more, right?

What is your favourite shoe colour? Mine is definitely black, red and silver!



Sunday, December 17, 2017

Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Daily Cleansing Pads

Nip + Fab and I have been good friends for a while now. Whenever I'm in London I always pop into Boots or Superdrug -whoever has the best deals going on- to stock up on my favourites. The Dragon's Blood Fix cleansing pads were my go-to product, but I have to say that the ones from the Glycolic Fix range are my fave now. I also switched to the hyaluronic shot from Nip + Fab which has honestly saved my skin, such a fab product, but more on that in another blog post.

The Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Daily Cleansing Pads (£12.95) are 60 pads soaked in glycolic acid 2.8% (retextures and resurfaces), hyaluronic acid (moisturises and refreshes) and blue daisy (soothes and calms). After using this you are left with brighter and smoother looking skin and although most of the promises that skincare products do are crap this actually does the job. My skin looks more even, less red (also with the help of the Dragon's Blood babe), my pores are smaller, I get less unwelcome pimples and I have that healthy glow without being pregnant or living that green juice diet. 
I use them every night, after I have cleansed my skin and before I start my serum and moisturizer routine, and they are so easy to use. I swipe them over my face and that's it. The feeling you get can be a bit sticky and tingly, but since this product does wonders I embrace it with all my heart. The scent of them is nice too and I’m overall in LOVE with these cleansing pads. -You probably already knew that by this Nip + Fab love letter blog post.

I also have the Glycolic Extreme Night Pads with 5% glycolic acid and I love those a lot too -maybe even more?-. For the price that you pay these pads are such a smart buy and I honestly think they will change your skin. I have sensitive skin as well and these pads don't irritate at all. Superdrug always has a good 50% off deal going on so you don't have any excuses anymore to not pop them in your basket next time you are in there on your usual tampon, concealer, face mask and cheeky chocolate bar errant.

What is your favourite Nip + Fab product?


Saturday, December 16, 2017

The London Food Hotspot: Daisy Green


London is packed with brunch places. I have a list in my phone that keeps getting longer because I discover so many cafés that I want to visit through social media. One of those cafés is Daisy Green. The funny thing is, is that my sister and I stayed at a hotel near it and walked past the café a million times. I always thought it looked cute and I thought it was hilarious that the café was actually on the list. I'm quite oblivious really, so I definitely need to pay more attention next time.


Daisy Green is part of the Daisy Green Collection, a bunch of cafés around London, like Beanie Green, Timmy Green and Darcie & May. Most of them have the same kind of menu, but each restaurant has a few specials too.
Daisy Green is located near Marble Arch station, just behind Oxford Street. I have eaten there twice now and it's the perfect start to a shopping day. They serve Aussie brunch and Bottomless brunch, as well as coffee, pastries and takeaways. Upstairs you’ll find all your takeaway desires. There is also a small bar near the window where you can sit, sip your hot drink and watch the people walk by. Downstairs is where you’ll find the secret 'Alice in Wonderland' esque indoor garden which is absolutely amazing. There are golden and marble tables everywhere, flowers on the ceiling and a weird bunny head in the corner, which at first I thought was weird but with each bite of my food I loved that fluffy head more and more.


Both times I have ordered the same item on the menu: coconut bread French toast. I'm quite boring when it comes to ordering food. One look at my Instagram and you know that all I eat are pancakes, French toast, waffles and smoothie bowls. I’m a huge sweet tooth so I just can't help it to order the yummiest and sweetest item on the menu, it's who I am. My sister has tried the 'fancy bacon roll' and 'two free range eggs' (with charcoal bread!) -she is not as boring as me with these things- and she loved both dishes a lot. For drinks I tried the 'vegan nut smoothie' and the 'yogi berry smoothie'. That last one was too sweet for my liking -yes even with me that can be possible- so go for the vegan nut smoothie, some fresh OJ or a good cuppa coffee.

Everything about Daisy Green works. It has that funky hippy vibe, is loved by locals, but not too busy, which means you will always find a table available, the staff is lovely and the food is very tasty. Next time you are shopping on Oxford Street, this café has to be your kick start of the day, or a pit stop when you are tired and need to give your feet some rest after spending all your money on stuff you probably don't need. If you need more London brunch inspiration I also created a post with my favourite brunch cafés in London. Click here to read it!

What is your favourite brunch place in London?



Friday, December 15, 2017

L'Oréal Paris X Balmain Lipstick in 469 Fever

This post has been long in the making. I pre-ordered this lipstick because I was really excited about the collection, then I was so busy with my thesis that I couldn't wear it because I had to take photos first –blogger struggles-. And now the lighting is so bad outside that every time I want to show you the way it looks on my lips it's too dark. Anyways, here I am with a full review of one of the nicest colours from the L’Oréal Paris X Balmain collection.

It was quite hard for me to decide which lipstick to pick. Since I wanted to not spend all my money on the entire collection I set my eyes on just one. Better said than done when you are a lipstick junkie like me. After spending a lot of time looking at swatches and colours I ended up choosing the colour 468 Fever. A warm red orange colour that got my attention right from the start.

First of all, I LOVE the packaging of these lipsticks. I would not expect any different as mister Balmain himself, Olivier Rousteing, designed them. There are three different themes in this collection (Safari, Rock & Couture) and each theme has their own colour. As this lipstick is part of the Safari collection, the lipstick comes in green marble and gold packaging. It complements the orange colour so well and it looks really luxurious. Especially with the Balmain logo printed on the side. 


The lipstick is supposed to be matte and although they are a mattifying on the lips they don't come near the Colourpop matte liquid lipsticks. Personally I’m a bit done with the Kylie Jenner liquid lipstick trend -even though I have about 25 liquid lipsticks- so I don't mind that. I love how natural these kinds of lipsticks can make your lips look in comparison to the liquid form. It doesn't mean I will never wear liquid lipsticks again; I just need a break I think.
The Fever lipstick is really easy to apply and the orangey red colour has a good pay off. The pigmentation is good and with one swipe I have a full orange pout. It lasts as long as many other lipsticks I own. It won't budge when you don't eat or drink, but since this is me it's quite impossible to not eat and drink all day, so touch ups are definitely necessary. 
I always get so many complements when I wear this lipstick. It makes me look awake and happy without being too out there as some orange lipsticks can be a bit too crazy. I mean I love me some MAC Morange but not on a daily basis. In summer maybe, but in winter it's a big no no for me.

Fever is definitely a lipstick that I will wear more often. It's a perfect all seasons kind of lipstick, it stays on very long, looks good on a lot of skin tones and you'll probably get lots of complements. What's not to like? The collection has been out for a few months now, but I did see them at the L’Oréal counter when I was in London a couple of weeks ago. You have to check them out if you haven't already. Or just have another look, because the other shades are also to die for!

Have you tried any lipsticks from the L'Oréal Paris X Balmain collection?


Thursday, December 14, 2017

My Day in The Hague

Having brunch is one of my favourite things to do. Combine that with some shopping, good company and my second favourite Dutch city and it's a perfect day. All that’s missing was a bit of sunshine and no snow, but hey we can't always get what we want. 

Yesterday I finally went back to Den Haag/The Hague and it was nice to not be in Amsterdam for a change. The Hague has that same 'old city' kind of vibe but is less touristy, which I like. The old centre is absolutely gorgeous, the Dutch parliament is there too and it has a lot of royal history. The shopping is not too shabby either so when I met up with my friend at the train station we immediately went on a shopping mission. After a cute vintage store we ended up in Primark. Now when I was in London, Primark had nothing that I liked. I was kind of expecting the same thing now, but I was pleasantly surprised. I found three hats -a fluffy bobble hat, baker boy cap and beret- and scored a pair of red sale boots that I had been hunting down for months. Call that a success! 
We then sprinted through the rain to TK Maxx. Now I love TK Maxx, I always pick up stuff that I don't need but want anyways and this visit was the same. I ended up buying some cute floral birthday cards, because it's handy to have even though none of my friend’s birthdays are coming up. I guess I will thank myself in a couple months when I don't have to get out of the house, because I forgot to buy someone a b-day card. We went to a couple more stores where I didn't spend all my money -I didn't buy much more after the hats and cards- and headed out to my favourite lunch spot in the city: Pistache.

It's funny because I wrote about the café Pistache last week and now I had lunch there for the second time. I chose a different food, because they scrapped the pumpkin waffles on the menu, and I picked French toast instead -like you would expect anything less from me- and they were really good. My friend had this sandwich with truffle mayo -lots of other things too, but the truffle mayo stayed with me because it's so tasty!- and she liked it as well. After that fantastic meal we went for some tea and coffee at another café that we saw (I forgot the name though). They are on the same street and have the cutest interior and art inside. We chatted for a while and took lots of photos before we went back on our shopping mission. As I said before, I didn't buy anything else -saving up for NY you know- but looking at things is fun too. When the shopping was all done we headed back to the train station, said goodbye and boarded our trains. My train was delayed so I spent my extra time watching Gossip Girl on Netflix -I'm obsessed- and sipping on my water.

I love The Hague so much and can't wait to go back again. There are a lot of nice spots that I still want to visit and it's like an hour on the train from where I live, so not too bad. I think Rotterdam will be next on the list though, because they have this cookie dough bar that I want to revisit again -this girl loves cookie dough-. Untill next time Den Haag! 

Have you ever been to The Hague?


Wednesday, December 13, 2017

10 Things That Instantly Make Me Feel Happy

Back to another soppy personal post, like the 'How to get Sh*t done' post wasn't enough. I want to mix it up a bit and not overload you with hotspots, beauty reviews and fashion, but also make it a bit more personal. Not that I don't share any personal embarrassing stories in my others posts because I do, like High School Musical, falling flat on my face and stuffing my face with everything I see kind of embarrassing, but those things are what makes me the person I am today and I am really happy to live the crazy grandma esque life that I have.

Although I'm a very bubbly person -most of the time- that's not always the case, since we all have bad days from time to time. Whenever that happens I try to get out of my funk by doing something that cheers me up right away. Sometimes it helps and sometimes I still put on sad Adele songs to go with my mood. I guess then the only remedy is taking a nap haha.

1. Baking
Nothing makes me happier than being in the kitchen and preparing some baked goods. Food in any shape or form makes me happy -I'm that Winnie the Pooh meme where he does a happy shake with a knife and fork in his hand, people tag me in it all the time, because it's what I do when I see my favourite food haha- Of course it always tastes better when you make it yourself, so that's what I love to do. 

2. Listening to old school music
I don't know what it is but whenever I put a Spice Girls or S Club 7 song on I instantly want to sing and dance along. Maybe it's the power of 90s music or my feelings towards it, but it works every, single, time.

3. Watching Disney Channel movies
Again some old school memories from when I was little and hoped that one day I would have a Troy Bolton and get Gabriella's wardrobe. Camp Rock and non-Disney movies like Harry Potter and The Holiday also do the trick.

4. Shopping
I think shopping would solve all my problems, but if I go along with that I would be as poor as Jenny Humphrey in season one of Gossip Girl. Doesn't matter what kind of shopping it is, clothes, Ikea, Christmas stuff or a food shop at the supermarket; I love it all. I'm that kind of person that loves foreign supermarkets. Whenever I'm on holiday I have to see what kind of products they have there. I could get lost browsing for hour's haha.

5. Travelling
Going to the airport to board a plane makes me the happiest girl in the world. Yes, it also makes me anxious and scared from time to time, especially when I travel alone, but I know that once I will be at my destination it will be all right. With travelling you have something to look forward to. I always get so excited to plan everything and look up all the places that I want to go to. Sometimes it's even more excited than the trip itself.

6. Going to the movies on my own
Bit weird maybe, but I love going to the movies on my own. I have been doing it a lot the last couple of months and I love seeing all the new films that are out. I actually have seen the same film six times in the cinema. It was this Dutch romantic comedy -normally they are sh*t- but this one was so good, funny and relatable. I just had to see it that many times.

7. Photography
Going out and taking photos gets me into this creative vibe that I like a lot. Being creative in general can get me in a pretty good mood. Whenever I edit videos I get so happy, because I'm working on something that makes me excited and when it turns out good I get so proud of the end result. All I'm trying to say is whack out a paint brush and live a little.

8. Dancing
I used to do ballet when I was in my teens and although I was kind of sucky and I don't do it anymore, I did like it. Same goes for learning all the Beyoncé and High School Musical dances when I was little. I think I look good whilst doing it but we all know that's not the case. A girl can dream to be as sassy as Queen B right?

9. Binge-watching Netflix
Sometimes this does the opposite for me, but I'm actually quite proud of myself when I finish a season in a day. Others might see it as a waste of time and when you think about it, it is. I do love seeing new shows on Netflix though so a cosy day/night in bed is the perfect thing for me. You just get lost in a different world that you forget your own problems for a bit.

10. Have a massive clear-out
Cleaning may seem like the task on your to-do list that you don't want to do, but after it's done you will feel so much happier. I love the look of an empty floor and the smell of fresh lemon/eucalyptus or whatever it is that I'm using to clean. 100% worth the sweat.

These are the ten things that usually put me in the happiest of moods. I know see that cuddling dogs and isn't on it, which it totally should, but 10x just looks nicer than 11x things you know. If you ever feel bad, put on your favourite song, cuddle a fluffy dog and shake it off whilst stuffing your face with fresh baked cookies. You'll feel a lot better.

What makes you instantly feel happy?


Tuesday, December 12, 2017

The Barcelona Food Hotspot: Eyescream and Friends

I know that the current weather doesn't scream cold soft serve, but when in Barcelona it was the only thing on my mind. Now I'm normally not an ice cream fan. When it comes for dessert I'd rather have warm apple pie or cheesecake, but when you are in a Mediterranean country it has to happen to escape a bit of the heat. And when the ice cream looks as cute as these fluff balls I can't say no.

Eyescream and Friends -get it? It's ice cream with eyes, so clever!- is a small shop right near the sea in Barcelona. When we tried to find it we actually walked right past it, so definitely have you eyes open when you are on the hunt for this lovely spot. 
It's as simple as this. You pay -I think it was €4,50- and pick the kind of ice cream flavour you want, grab two toppings -including Oreos, gummy bears and chocolate sauce- and then they make your cute shaved gelato friend and add the eyes. I chose the mango flavour -one of my favourite fruits- and saw the ice cream get transformed into this thing that was too pretty to eat. I did eat it in the end though, because he -or she- started to melt in the sun. It was honestly one of the best ice creams I have ever tasted and the fact that it looked so cute as well made it taste even better.
My friend and I also had a photoshoot outside of the shop -because did we really eat it if there was no picture taken?- and people looked at what we had and walked straight into Eyescream and Friends to get their own ice cream buddy. 

The shop is actually on the same street as Brunch and Cake by the Sea, so after you have your brunch there you can immediately pop next door to get dessert. If you have space though. I was SO full after my pancakes at Brunch and Cake by the Sea that I really needed a food break. Do make sure that when you are hangry again to get a cute gelato at Eyescream and Friends. It will be on the best things you’ll ever do in Barcelona.

What is your favourite ice cream flavour?


Monday, December 11, 2017

A Sparkling Christmas with Ice-Watch

Time is a funny thing. I could be waiting for something and it would take ages, but when I am playing The Sims many hours pass without me noticing that it's already dark outside. I find knowing what time of the day it is really important. This way I know exactly how much time I have left to work on all the things I want to do that day. Sometimes those things evolve around finishing a season of Gossip Girl on Netflix, but hey we all have our accomplishments.

I was never a watch person, until I got one for my 21st birthday. I actually picked it out myself, because I thought it would make me look more sophisticated and grown up. I don't know if that worked, but I liked my new morning ritual of putting on my watch and jewellery. 
Now when it comes to lipsticks I have quite a lot of different colours and finishes, one for every kind of occasion and mood that I'm in, so why not get another watch that adds a bit more sparkle to my festive mood? -You can never have enough glitter at this time of year right?-

This CITY Sparkling watch* (€99) from Ice-Watch ticks off all the boxes when it comes to the best Christmassy watch. It's sparkly, classy, black -like the lbd, the lbw- and puts me in the best mood whenever I check what time it is. I love the black and silver combo because it goes with every outfit and it's very subtle too. The watch feels comfy around my wrist, especially now that I have worn it a lot and the sparkles are not as in your face, which is nice for when Christmas is over and I feel like sparkling up my outfit in July. Sparkles are never not appropriate. 

I have been wearing this watch non-stop since I got it. The battery in my other watch died, so I'm happy that I have another watch that I can wear, so that I'll always know what time it is. I kind of missed it when I wasn’t wearing one and I stupidly tried to look at my wrist only to find out that my watch wasn’t there. 
If sparkles are not your thing there are also a lot of other Ice-Watch options that I personally can't wait to discover. I guess I can add 'watch collector' to my list of hobbies now haha!

Do you have a watch? What kind do you have?

*The items with a * were kindly sent to me. My opinion and sparkly punctuality are completely my own.


Sunday, December 10, 2017

Labradoodle Love

I have always had a love for dogs. Doesn't matter if I'm walking down the street, visiting a friend or sitting in a café having lunch, I spot them from miles away, hoping that I could cuddle them. Sometimes that actually happens, but I do find it a bit awkward to do that, especially when they are only passing by. 
I guess my love for dogs started when I was little, because we always used to have dogs. I love most animals though, but dogs are my favourite. They are so happy, bubbly and fluffy and in ten years’ time I'll probably be the woman with fifteen dogs from the meme that you see on Facebook. I do see myself with a dog in the future so I guess it's kinda accurate. Some people might have a list of potential baby names and for me those are dog names. I'm not lying that's actually a list in my phone haha.

When our last dog passed away it got kind of lonely in the house. I guess after having a dog for such a long time it takes some time to get used to the fact that there is no one greeting you with a wagging tail when you get home. That's why after a few months my family decided to get a new dog: a labradoodle. 
I follow a couple of accounts on Instagram with cute, fluffy dogs -@blue_thedoodle is my favourite- and after showing them to my mum she was like: we have to get a new dog! I'm kind of late with writing this post though, because our new puppy is not really that new anymore. She is currently six months old and as happy as can be. She is very fluffy, loves playing with toys and lets me cuddle her non-stop. She has a lot of energy -bit too much sometimes- and can be super stubborn, which is funny at times -most of the times it's not-. Like when I put all the toys in her crate, because I have to leave, and she is like ''yeah I'm not going in there. Good luck trying''.

Although she has those moments as well where she drives me crazy, I still love her a lot. I can't wait to see her grow up and become an ever cuter creature, like that is even possible with her.

Do you like dogs or do you prefer other animals?


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