Blog update: Time for a change..

It's been a while, hasn't it? It feels like that's the ever returning sentence the last few months. Hope you don't mind though. You might have read, that I've been busy living real life. Which is a great thing (you should try it too ;)).

I've picked up my Pinterestaccount again. It's been sitting and waiting for me a while and just when I was about to throw out the account, I decided to give it one more try. It's actually quite fun. To be honest it has taught me a five things about myself:

• You can learn something from zero to something. I learned crochet via the tutorials on pinterest. I'm  kicking out scarf after scarf since. Tell you more about that another time.
• I like lists and getting organized (i'm always trying something). There are numerous great tips and tricks I did not know about. I'm testing a bunch of them right now...Like the filofax planner. 
• I do like having girl time every once in a while more than I thought. Playing clothes, bags (many bags) and a tidy bit of make-up.
• I actually found my current haircut inspiration on Pinterest.

But most of all, pinterest led me to many, many inspirational blogs. And that's when I realized. I like my blog, but it's stuck in a scedule that is unrealistic to say, posting everyday. I'm not feeling foodie every friday you know?! Less topic-crampy. That's how it felt sometimes the last few months. Not good. 

So, I decided to change some things over the next few weeks. More personal, less topic tight.

I need a plan.

Will be working on that and see you all bright and sparkling in 2013!

Rosanne

Wisdom on Wednesday

One of the things I find inspiration in for life, whether it's the good or the bad; are quotes by people who, generally speaking, have a little more experience in life than me. Or just in proverbs, lyrics or books. While it's quite Autumn outside: warm your heart with some inspiration! All are photos are taken by me, but of course quotes/lyrics used belong to the people quoted.

Wisdom from Mother Teresa 

Life's lesson from Isak Dinesen (which is the pen name of Karen Blixen)

Wisdom on Wednesday

One of the things I find inspiration in for life, whether it's the good or the bad; are quotes by people who, generally speaking, have a little more experience in life than me. Or just in proverbs, lyrics or books. Enjoy some inspiration to start the new month of February (time goes so fast...)! All are photos are taken by me, but of course quotes/lyrics used belong to the people quoted.

From the song Jesus Friend of Sinners by the great band Casting Crowns of whom I wrote earlier.

From the Dutch singer Wende Snijders (who's working on a new album at the moment, can't wait!).

Thankful Thursday

It doesn't hurt anyone to remind yourself of how lucky you are and to be thankful for that. So, here's a little list that puts a smile on my face.

• I'm thankful for being able to learn new things (chrochet!). It makes life fun.
• And I'm thankful for the fact people invite me their home. In addition to that, I'm thankful for being able to bring a gift. 
• People bring conversations, most of the time. Which I'm also thankful for, because they give me a chance to learn, laugh and be inspired. 
• It's World animal day. And I have two sweet rabbits that I'm thankful for. They make me smile when i look outside. Of course they got a treat today, they earned it. 
• I had a I-feel-so-blessed-moment about a week ago when catching this rainbow (actually it's two):

Inspired by the blog of Julie of Perfectly Imperfect (please go visit her inspirational blog, it's lovely.

Monday miles - london

I love taking photos (using a humble Canon digital Ixus 80IS or my phone cam). Especially when travelling. Trying to capture stunning nature, a pretty building or just an atmosphere. Through this blog feature I would like to take you on a little travel. As I go through my (very long and always growing) list of places to-go and the (much shorter list) of the places I've been. This week I look back on a weekend break I had in London.

Shopping, good food, sightseeing and expiencing musical, West End style (which means good!). The London trip (almost a month ago!) gave me good memories.

For the record:

That vague blob in the top left corner of the panorama pic is my finger indeed. I discovered it later. Reminded me of the time that my parents gave me a disposable camera for summer vacation. You can imagine how my shots looked back then...

The cupcake is from the Cupcake Bakehouse at Covent Garden (great place to go!). The theater pictured here is the Victoria Palace Theatre. We went there to watch the Billy Elliot Musical. I think I've been saying I want to go to that musical for about six years (don't ask how many times I watched the movie). The bag and heart necklace are both from Forever 21. The bling-hair pins and the belts are both from Primark. I got lost in both shops. I'm not so good at navigating through huge stores (my talent is on navigating streets).

Sunday Sounds - Nicole Croteau

“You know what music is? God’s little reminder that there’s something else besides us in this universe–a harmonic connection between all living beings; every where; even the stars.” ~Wizard (character from the movie August Rush). When I found this quote, I thought: that's a truth.  This feature is my little reminder that it's not only organ and choir music in a chuch. I hope you get inspired or if faith isn't really your thing, I hope you just enjoy the music. 

This blog post serie helps, inspires and motivates me to go and discover more and more of the Christian music scene, If I may put it that way. I mean it's not like I can find those records in my regular cd store (which is a shame sometimes). But hey, that's why there's internet. Youtube, itunes, spotify and all those internet-radio stations get me in the loop.

Spotify brought me to the music of Nicole Croteau.
The music has written folky all over. And it's beautiful. Good for the quiet moments. Good for the feel like dancing moments too. All songs are little stories, so I share with you a fitting song Storyteller from her latest release Anchors&silhouettes.

Have a happy sunny blessed sunday.

Thankful Thursday

Time flies when life is happening. Let's press hold for a moment and be thankful.

• Being able to travel is a luxury I'm thankful for. It opens my eyes and at the same time reminds me of all the things and people, possibilities I have at home.
• I'm thankful for the moments that I can laugh at moments that could be bad (like being splashed in the rain by a passing car when you're on your bicycle...). Just because you're feeling good. Must be in a very good mood.
• Being able to vote. I'm very thankful for that! Even when it's a little struggle to make your choice. Having a choice in the first place is a gift.
• Being able to run in the open air and breath in fresh air and cathcing sunlight early morning.
• Meeting new people is fun and always something to be thankful for.

Inspired by the blog of Julie of Perfectly Imperfect (please go visit her inspirational blog, it's lovely.

Wisdom on Wednesday - writings from London

One of the things I find inspiration in for life, whether it's the good  or the bad; are quotes by people who, generally speaking, have a little more experience in life than me. Or just in proverbs, lyrics or books. Writings and wisdom I found on my little lovely London trip. All are photos are taken by me unless otherwise stated and of course quotes/lyrics used belong to the people quoted.

Poems about the thames inside the Tower Bridge. Wonderful experience by the way (the sunny weather providing splendid views did help though). The left poem is from Upon the Thames one evening by William Wordsworth in 1790. The right one is from Impressions du Martin by Oscar Wilde fro 1881) 

So, this was not London actually. It was at the train station of Brussels Midi, waiting for the train to Lonon. 

Nice food, and yes, they did feed a good conversation between me and my mother.

This was a chalk board I spotted at a café at the docks near the Tower Bridge. I think it rocks.

Wisdom on Wednesday - the british edition

One of the things I find inspiration in for life, whether it's the good  or the bad; are quotes by people who, generally speaking, have a little more experience in life than me. Or just in proverbs, lyrics or books. Three quotes from british people, just because there's a little London trip ahead. All are photos are taken by me unless otherwise stated and of course quotes/lyrics used belong to the people quoted.

Poet and playwright William Shakespeare. Went to the piece: Much ado about nothing last week. Loved it. 

British musician Jamie Cullum rocks live. I assure you. 

J.K. Rowling writer of the Harry Potter series. I confess I did NOT read them all. Shame on me. 

Monday-Miles - London, any tips?

I'll be off to London for a short weekend break. Just a few days, breaking the habit. I know the city rocks, I've been there before (twice, actually). But of course, it's never the same.

You can expect a bunch of London related posts next week (no surprise, right?!)

Random street in London , I think it was somewhere in Soho (November 2010)

(French) Food adventure on Friday - fun with M&M's

My little brother gave me a bunch of recipe books from Paris this Summer. Very sweet, but as a real brother should, never forget your own interest. So, first question: when are you going to make some?  That took a while, but last week I made some time to make choco - sticks with crunch! Another problem was: the lovely little book comes from France. Which means all written in French. I've had some classes, but I needed Google translate anyway. I had lots of fun making them.

Ingredients
I was lazy. So I skipped the sticks-making part. I bought biscuit-sticks instead.


* 1 bag Penut M&Ms
* Dark chocolate (about 75 gr)
* Whipped cream (100 ml)


The only thing I actually made was the choco-paste or in classy French: Ganache aux m&m's (just don't ask me to pronounce it out loud).

Directions

1. Crunch the M&Ms in a blender or mash them (in a zipbag) and chop the chocolate
2. Warm cream, melt chopped dark chocolate.
3. When the chocolate and cream are looking yummy, add the crunched m&ms, and stir a little.
4. Smell the yummy chocolate? Give in to the desire to taste, Your excuse: tasting is important ;).
5. Cover the biscuit sticks with cocolate (it may take a few to get the hang of it) 
6. Decorated with some m&m-shell (just crush them with the palm of your hand).
7. Put in the refrigirator for at least two hours.

Enjoy sweet with a crunch!

P.s. I had so much ganache left over that I made some more treats (crunch chocolate covered biscuits)

Thankful Thursday

It doesn't hurt anyone to remind yourself of how lucky you are and to be thankful for that. Here's my share of thankfulness.

Thanks for being healthy. I've been a little sick last week and it was such a good reminder (did I mention reminders hurt sometimes?).

Thankful for the sweet and lovely people I may call my friends and family: they're a gift. And they're so big, that it's impossible to wrap in fancy paper (that's why we forget they're a gift sometimes).

Is it a bad thing if I say I'm thankful for earning enough money to buy myself a ticket to a country on the other side of the planet? At least I worked for it ^_^

Which means having a job (especially right now) is a privilage, which make me feel thankful for being able to work.

Thanks for people who say sorry when they run into you ( I know, I'm not tall and easily overlooked) or just hit you (I assume by accident).

Inspired by the blog of Julie of Perfectly Imperfect (please go visit her inspirational blog, it's lovely.

Wisdom on Wednesday

One of the things I find inspiration in for life, whether it's the good  or the bad; are quotes by people who, generally speaking, have a little more experience in life than me. Or just in proverbs, lyrics or books. Enjoy! All are photos are taken by me unless otherwise stated and of course quotes/lyrics used belong to the people quoted.

Wende Snijders is a Dutch singer (if you have a chance to catch her live: you're in for a treat!). This song of hers is a fav of mine.

This one put a smile on my face when I found this quote by Eleanor Roosevelt (yes, indeed wife of...). The photo was taken in Taiwan in 2011, when I first saw Palm trees (or something like it), for the first time in my life.

This quote by Canadian Charles Templeton  is a reminder for me every once in a while. The photo was taken in dome of the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome in 2009 I think.

Wisdom on Wednesday

One of the things I find inspiration in for life, whether it's the good  or the bad; are quotes by people who, generally speaking, have a little more experience in life than me. Or just in proverbs, lyrics or books. Enjoy some inspiration for August! All are photos are taken by me unless otherwise stated and of course quotes/lyrics used belong to the people quoted.

Room Eleven was an awesome Dutch band (and I missed my chance of watching them live...)

Jim Rohn was an American motivational speaker. For more wisdom: check his website.

It's fire works in Taiwan in this picture but they add to the wise words of Charles Austin Beard an American Historican

Monday Miles

I love taking photos (using a humble Canon digital Ixus 80IS). Especially when travelling. Trying to capture stunning nature, a pretty building or just an atmosphere. Through this blog feature I would like to take you on a little travel. As I go through my (very long and always growing) list of places to-go and the (much shorter list) of the places I've been. 

About a week ago I went to see some friends. We were catching up on memories from 2007. We went to Dieci a very small village in the Eastern part of Romania, near the city of Arad. We had a great time.

This picture was taken on our last evening there. The community there took us on a ride through the village as a thank you for our work on their school (we built toilets and turned a gym into a computer classroom).

Sunday Sounds - Mandisa

“You know what music is? God’s little reminder that there’s something else besides us in this universe–a harmonic connection between all living beings; every where; even the stars.” ~Wizard (character from the movie August Rush). When I found this quote, I thought: that's a truth.  This feature is my little reminder that it's not only organ and choir music in a chuch. I hope you get inspired or if faith isn't really your thing, I hope you just enjoy the music. 

There are songs that just give you a boost. 'Good Morning' from Mandisa (ft. Toby Mac (I'll write about him some other time, because he rocks too!)) is one of those songs.

Mandisa was in the top 9 of American Idol in 2006. Now, she has four albums out. The song that got her name out to me was on her latest album 'What if we were real'. A beautiful album inspired by the struggles in life in an empowering way.


Volume open, play and there you go fire up your day (like I did):

Sunday Sounds - Lecrae

“You know what music is? God’s little reminder that there’s something else besides us in this universe–a harmonic connection between all living beings; every where; even the stars.” ~Wizard (character from the movie August Rush). When I found this quote, I thought: that's a truth.  This feature is my little reminder that it's not only organ and choir music in a chuch. I hope you get inspired or if faith isn't really your thing, I hope you just enjoy the music. 


A little while ago I stumbled up on Lecrae. Very happy to discover this artist! He brings some beats and urban sound in the mix. I share with you his honest song Just Like You. It's serious, honest and fun (referring to Jack Sparrow just made me smile).

Wisdom on Wednesday

One of the things I find inspiration in for life, whether it's the good  or the bad; are quotes by people who, generally speaking, have a little more experience in life than me. Or just in proverbs, lyrics or books. Enjoy some inspiration to help you the first week of spring! All are photos are taken by me unless otherwise stated and of course quotes/lyrics used belong to the people quoted.

"You are a unique gift, to this world. Without you the world would not be the same place." 
From Max Lucado's great and beautiful book You Changed My Life (and this is obviously the dutch version). It makes a great gift (I speak from experience ;)). I could not find who this background picture took...

My humble addition to this quote:

IN OTHER WORDS: YOU ROCK!

Sunday Sounds - The Afters

“You know what music is? God’s little reminder that there’s something else besides us in this universe–a harmonic connection between all living beings; every where; even the stars.” ~Wizard (character from the movie August Rush). When I found this quote, I thought: that's a truth.  This feature is my little reminder that it's not only organ and choir music in a chuch. I hope you get inspired or if faith isn't really your thing, I hope you just enjoy the music.

Last week I was caught by music from the band The Afters. Another honest band. And, believer or not, if you read this lyric from 'Life is Beautiful' from their upcomming album, it's a truth right?


A father's love, A wedding dance, New Year's dreams, A toast with friends, A soldier coming home from war, The faith the hope of so much more, A brand new life, a mother's prayer, Shooting stars, ocean air, A lover's kiss, and hard goodbyes, Fireworks, Christmas lights


These are things that make us feel alive, These are the times that make us realize
Life is beautiful

And for the record, they're not just good writers, I assume they can make some good coffee too, since they met while working at Starbucks.

Enjoy and feel blessed!

Food adventures on Friday: a shor note on why I love food so much

I learn cooking and baking stuff by doing (with the kind help of recipes found all over the place). But this post has nothing to do with me baking something and it has all to do with the joy of food.


I go out for dinner a lot the last few weeks (a real luxury). Food + great people = The Good Life for me.

I could write good food, but you know what, food doesn't even have to be that great at all to make it a great memory. I have some great memories of disaster food, they're fun (most of them are).
And: food gives you a chance to travel the world on a plate. I ate Greek and Italian last week and there's a dinner-date set heading for Japanese food next week.
But it also works the other way 'round places I traveled I remember food.....

A few of my place-bound memories:
* At the foot of the montmartre in a small alley in Paris I ate the best salmon ever
* I had a winter's meal (split pea soup) at 30 degrees celcius for diner in Romania (and it tasted great!).
* my most expensive glass of coke I had in Florance, Italy.
* I first tasted wheatgrass juice in London (and renamed it: healthy green stuff).
* In Taiwan I ate crazy stuff like shark fin soup (did not knew until afterwards, I do not support this soup. Very cruel to the beautiful sharks) and chickenbutts (and that tasted great).
* A small and very Italian bakery in Rome served the most heavenly tiramisu I've ever tasted.


What's you best food-memory?

Thankful Thursday

It doesn't hurt anyone to remind yourself of how lucky you are and to be thankful for that.I had a bunch of thankful moments I'd like to share with you this week.

• Thanks for food. I know, it's a cliche. But I've been going out for diner a lot last week (and there's one more food-date tomorrow). It certainly is a luxury, and a blessing to my life it really is.
• Thanks for memories. They're there to hang on to at some moments.
• Surprises are always worth a thank you (espescially when they come from the other side of the world, by the good old mail).
• It's been Summer all the way this week. And although it's sticky and hot, I'm thankful for it. At least there is a summer :D
• I had this moment this week. I heard this song on my ipod (for the X-time) but it just hit me right there. I was like: it's so true what's being said here. It was Come to the well by Casting Crowns. I wrote about this great band a few weeks ago.
• I'm also very thankful that I took some me-time. It sounds very selfish, but you can't run for others all the time...

Inspired by the blog of Julie of Perfectly Imperfect (please go visit her inspirational blog, it's lovely.

Tuesday Tunes: Linkin Park

Ok, so I've been featuring soul-kind-of music mostly. But I like a bit of guitars too every once in a while. 

Linkin park does a good job on that for me. And I get some beats and a bit of a hip-hop flow as a bonus. I watched their live show via the livestream of Itunes-festival, last year. That convinced me to put this band on my try-to-catch-live-list.

Very happy to share with you a full-concertvideo of this world-famous (because that's a fact) band from a live concert, from the LP-blog on their website :


linkinpark_nokia_deliverable_4000k

Myspace Livestream | Myspace Video

Tunesday Tunes - Lianne La Havas

I wrote about being thankful for finding new, inspirational music last thursday. And I promised to share it with you today! I present to you Lianne La Havas!

I found this British singer via de the Dutch Glamour Magazine (I posted about that in my latest Scrapbook Saturday post). Love her voice and honest lyrics.
Best of all: her debut album Is Your Love Big Enough will be released 8th of July! And it's definately on my list...

I share with you this beautiful song: No Room For Doubt which features Willy Mason as well (great!). It's a bit of a bluesy song, so make sure you check her other songs too (like Is Your Love Big Enough, I think her latest single). They've got some more swing ;).

Enjoy!

Scrapbook Saturday: inspiration from print -Part II

Saturday is a day for creativity. Painting, craft, dance, drawing, painting, design, photography or diy projects. Last week I shared with you the first part of print-inspiration; as promised: part II.

The past week I browsed through:

• Glamour (part 2, check for international websites the footer of the webpage). 
• National Geographic (April's issue...no comment)
• National Geographic Traveler (3/2012).
  

Travel, music and even some DIY-inspiration!

1. DIY-idea taken from Glamour 2. Great artist found via Glamour: Lianne La Havas 3. Traveling by movies (from Nat. Geo Traveler) 4. L.A. is on my to-go-list thanks to this great article in Nat. Geo. Traveler 5. Word I did not exist (found in Nat. Geo. Traveler) 6. When I saw this in National Geographic magazine:  I want to receive and/or send one too some day!

Food Adventures on Friday - Just add water

I learn cooking and baking stuff by doing (with the kind help of recipes found all over the place). Yesterday i felt (and felt hard) for comfort food: brownies!

The package said: just add water. I know those are not the best. At. All. We all know, right. But, I felt like chocolate and some comfort food. So, I gave in. Easy to make, of course, did add some chcolate decoration to it. Just because (I told you, in need of chocolate).
It was actually quite nice, warm and still sticky from the oven. Let it cool a bit in the over for a while (to prevent the brown beauty from caving in). I did not eat all in one go. And not on my own. That's what they call the good life.

Hope you had a good friday!

Thankful Thursday

It doesn't hurt anyone to remind yourself of how lucky you are and to be thankful for that. So here are a few of my T's.

• Thanks for great ideas that in reallity are even better, such as an urban picknic in the pouring rain...
• A thanks for oppertunities given to me
• Thanks for the funny surprise emails, which make me laugh out loud.
• A while ago I heard some one on K-love radio say: Memories and relationships are the two things you take with you when you die. Better to be thankful for them.
• There are moments that I wonder wether music has something new to offer. Thankful to discover that yes, music is always evolving and moving... Tell you 'bout my latest discovery next tuesday!

Inspired by the blog of Julie of Perfectly Imperfect (please go visit her inspirational blog, it's lovely.

Tuesday Tunes - Kyteman Orchestra

It's us as human being who put music into boxes, into genres. And it's people who take them out of these boxes too. Or at least that's what comes to mind when I listen to one of Kyteman's projects. 

First there were the Hermit sessions from Kyteman's Hip-hop orchestra, then Kytecrash with Eric Vloeimans and now there's The Kyteman Orchestra. It's an orchestra, a bunch of rappers and choir. That takes some organizing skills. The linking pin is Colin Benders (alias: Kyteman) from Utrecht (and my favorite city in The Netherlands, I admit).

To be honest with you, I can't chose which project I like most. I let you make your own choice by giving you a listen to some music from all three projects:

The most famous one (in The Netherlands, at least) by Kyteman's Hip-hop Orchestra from The Hermit Sessions: Sorry

From the collaboration Kytecrash with Eric Vloeimans: Tribute to the mighty 6

And the latest project: The Kyteman Orchestra this is their first single off their latest album. Listen to other songs off this album via their website.

Sunday Sounds - Casting Crowns

“You know what music is? God’s little reminder that there’s something else besides us in this universe–a harmonic connection between all living beings; every where; even the stars.” ~Wizard (character from the movie August Rush). When I found this quote, I thought: that's a truth.  This feature is my little reminder that it's not only organ and choir music in a chuch. I hope you get inspired or if faith isn't really your thing, I hope you just enjoy the music.


Last week I went to a big Christian youth event: EO-youthday. I'm not a fan of big events. BUT, when I found out that Casting Crowns played that day, I completely ignored the fact that there would be about 20000 other people at this event. I just discovered their music this year, really. I like the honesty in the songs. 


The straight forward texts come from the fact that all bandmembers are youth workers at their home churches in the USA. Don't talk 'round the point, just say it straight out. Also the doubts and the questions. I like that.


I'd like to share the performance of the song Glorious Day that they gave last week. I love the song, and it's pretty much a summary of the new testament. All in less than 4 minutes. Enjoy!

Scrapbook Saturday: inspiration from print -Part I

Saturday is a day for creativity. Painting, craft, dance, drawing, painting, design, photography or diy projects. This week is more of an inspiration (well, that's what I hope it is for you) post. First of two or three parts, depending on time and real life happenings (so, see you next week(s)?!).

I have this bunch of magazines that are waiting for me to make some time for them. Finally did so today: reading bits & pieces and just browsing and looking at the images.

Love sharing with you my bits of inspiration and dreams that I drew from those printed magazines (and I'm very curious about your favorite and most inpirational magazines)!
The magazines in part one (mos of them are in Dutch, since I'm from the Netherlands, if possible, of course I give you an English link too):

• Inside (which is actually the program of the EO Youth Day 2012. And information in English), 
• CJP-magazine
• Glamour (part 1, check for international websites the footer of the webpage).

  

  1: The magazines 2: Exposition I put on my to-go-list from CJP-magazine. 3:From Glamour magazine 4: Advertisment of ici paris XL in Glamour magazine 5: That dress rocks! Photo of Rob de Ruijter in CJP-magazine 6: som inspirational words in Inside

 

Food Adventures on Friday - Urban Picknic

I learn cooking and baking stuff by doing (with the kind help of recipes found all over the place). But today I went outside for an urban picknic in the rain.


Earlier this week I talked to a friend of mine and we decided to go for an urban picknic in the beautiful city of Utrecht (The Netherlands). That was when it was sunny. But today it's pouring rain like crazy (most of the time). Not feeling like June at all.

But that didn't end our picknic plan. We found a place near the water and a nice little tunnel to keep us, the food and the blanket (which was a sleepingbag actually) dry. We had a great time talking, joking, thinking, laughing and eating. All comfort food: couscous salad (bought, on the list to make one next time), orange juice, strawberries, water melon, toasted bread with honey, two sweet eggs and to toast on the rain: some champagne.

We are planning a winter-version too. And we pray for freezing temperatures so that we can have a picknic on the frozen canals.

Thankful Thursday

It's been a long while since my last blog a few months ago (I can't believe it either), but I'm back and what's a better way to return with a bunch of thank yous!

• I've had plenty of moments the past few weeks that I felt a huge lack of time (sometimes 24 hours just isn't enough). But looking back: I'm thankful for those moments, because it means that I'm alive, on the move, growing, learning and discovering.
• Thanks also for honest people and good talks (I've had a bunch while I was bloff (means: no blog posts (off my blog)).
• Thanks for the birth of my healthy cousin (on the other side of the world).
• A little thanks for my new buddy: my new mobile phone, just because it's a new toy with new technologies that make me smile.
• I'm thankful for being healthy and being able to run, just because I feel like it. Even early in the morning.
• Thanks for the great, funny, sweet, crazy family moments (whole bunch of them!).
• You may have noticed I'm a Christian and because of that I'm thankful to know that God's always there for and with me.

Inspired by the blog of Julie of Perfectly Imperfect (please go visit her inspirational blog, it's lovely.

Tuesday Tunes - Clarence Milton Bekker

You have those moments that you stop what you're doing, listen and wait until you know who's making that awesome sound on the radio? I had a moment like that last Friday.

A warm sound, soulful voice, then the beats start rollin' and I'm stuck in my move (that was doing the dishes at that moment): Who's this? A whopping version of Otis Redding's Try a Little Tenderness later I know it is Clarence Milton Bekker. He's the one from the 90's hit Send Me an Angel. Things have changed, from the what you could call dance sound via street musician in Barcelona to what I heard on the radio last Friday.

Now, if you also want to know what I'm talking about, it's better to listen yourself:

Thankful Thursday

It doesn't hurt anyone to remind yourself of how lucky you are and to be thankful for that. Another thankful week has flown by, really...

• This week I learned that sometimes, far away can be very close in terms of meeting people on a train and receiving a surprise package from the other side of the world.
• Happy to have my brother back home.
• The land I live in doesn't have mountains really, so I'm thankful for being able to climbing fake ones as in on a climbing wall (and forget about the bruised knee).
• I love starry skies. Yesterday evening I had the privilege of looking up at one.
• Happy for the sunny weather because it means I can walk bare feet again (without freezy feeling).
• Thankful for fish for two very different reasons: they were very sweet for my feet and were yummy to eat in the evening (read: sushi). 

Inspired by the blog of Julie of Perfectly Imperfect (please go visit her inspirational blog, it's lovely.

Wisdom on Wednesday

One of the things I find inspiration in for life, whether it's the good or the bad; are quotes by people who, generally speaking, have a little more experience in life than me. Or just in proverbs, lyrics or books. Enjoy some inspiration to help you the first week of spring! All are photos are taken by me, but of course quotes/lyrics used belong to the people quoted.

Lyrics by Marike Jager, go check her. Wonderful music. The song ‘Back Home’ is from her new album ‘Here Comes The Night’. The photo was taken by me in 2009 in Enschede (The Netherlands).

John W. Gardner was an American Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare.

A little inspiration poster from Hillsong Church London. I love the line: Feed your passion to learn, not just to be smarter, but to be wiser.

Some art by me (2011)