Sunday Sounds - Tenth Avenue North

“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.

I would like to share with you a band called Tenth Avenue North. These guys are an inspiration for me. Their lyrics are very direct and honest. Like: "Break Me Down" is a call to say, "Look God, you need to change my heart because I've tried and I can't." (Commentary from Mike).


I think it's refressing.

Now, you can make your choice. I leave you with two videos, one that is a bit serious, but it inspired me. The other will kick-start your day with an energy boost. So, go with your own flow ^_^

Happy Sunday !

Tuesday Tunes - Ben Harper

I don't get it, why have I not heard of this man before? That was the first thought when I heard the music of Ben Harper. Good reason to share with you on this Valentine's day.

It really did surprise me that I hadn't heard of this great artist before. Especially because his style of music fits my cd collection. And he has a total of twelve albums under his belt. Spanning a time from 1994 (I was just 4 then...little wow) to 2011. And that's just the albums, leaving out dvds, eps and his contributions on compilation albums.

And as many albums Harper has, as diverse his style is. From calm and relax to swinging and pumpin' to rockin' almost. The instrument for Harper is the slide guitar (you can read exactly which ones on his website) along with the (lead) vocals. And he doesn't make music alone, he has quite a band with him, cheers for them too.

I leave you with the video for the song Don't Give Up On Me Now. The title single from his 2011 album. Don't forget to listen to the wise words between these fine notes and learn a bit from them.

Happy Valentine's Day!



 

Scrapbook Saturday - Photography of Saptorshi Majumdar

This Saturday I have the pleasure of sharing the wonderful work of Saptorshi Majumdar. I got to know him as Derozio on DeviantArt a few years ago. He's a photographer from India. I've seen him grow in his photography in years.

He was so sweet to let me choose freely which photos I would like to use for this feature (That's a HUGE thank you!). So, here are four photos that, I hope show the diversity of his work (best is to visit his website, of course).

Have a wonderful weekend!

Ageless 
This is why I love the portrait photography of Saptorshi Majumdar so much. You just want to know the story of this man. Don't cha?

Street 101.5
Majumdar has a many photos taken at local markets. Which I think rock. But this one really pops out for me, because it's so well composed. And I would like to have a bite on what's being made here.

Mughal Art
Eye for detail: check.

Guardian Angel
Artist's comments says it all: I do not worry about the lines on my palm anymore because I got an angel taking care of my fate.

Food adventures on Friday - mini apple pie

I learn cooking and baking stuff by doing (with the kind help of recipes found all over the place). So, my time in the kitchen feels like a little adventure sometimes. I've been seeing mini pies all over the place lately. They look cute and very yum (I have to admit that most food pictures/programms do to me). So, I made my own mini pies.

We had a mix for apple pie in stock, so that's what I was heading for. What i like most about these is that they're perfect for a birthday party or so. Not too big, neither too small. And: they're pretty easy to make. Just as the regular apple pie, just smaller.

Used ingredients:
* mix for apple pie
* two apples choped in little pieces
* one egg
* butter (175g)
* cinnamon (1tb)
* suger (25g)
* cupcake liners (12) in a muffin baking plate

Mini pies before

Five easy steps
1. Make the dough as described on your package.
2. Then fill the bottoms of your bakingplate (make a small ball and push to the bottom and sides).
3. Fill with the apple/cinnamon/suger mix.
4. Cover with 4 lines of dough.
5. Brush the tops with some egg


Put in the oven (170C, electrical oven).

Bon appétit!

Mini pies: after: bon appetite!

Thankful Thursday

It doesn't hurt anyone to remind yourself of how lucky you are and to be thankful for that. So, I try to keep that up for myself by writing a post like this every week.

My seven thankful moments this week:

• I thought last week was a great winter week, but it got even better on the weekend with ice skating!
• Running into people who you do 'follow' on facebook but just don't make the time to meet up in real life and have a nice chat.
• Changing plans, for the good and the bad there has to be a point (I just don't see it yet...),
• Enjoy mint tea with home cut mint leaves and honey (the second being store bought)
• Music, and its universal language.
• Happy busdrivers when it's a chaos because of the winter weather.
• Getting energy from other motivated people.

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 through the week! All are photos are taken by me, but of course quotes/lyrics used belong to the people quoted.

Melody Beattie is an American author.

(c) at coolpeoplecare.org - go check their website!

Arthur Koestler was an Hungarian-British writer and journalist.

Quote from the haunting beautiful movie Black Swan. Drawing by me (a charcoal from 2007)

Helen Keller was an American political activist (with an inspiring story). The photo was taken by me at the most northern coat of Taiwan in 2011

Tuesday Tunes - Pete Philly

I like going to concerts, buy cds (prefer disks over downloads) and look for new tunes and artists on the internet. Every once in a while you need some beats to keep you going. So, I would like to share with you the music of Dutch artist Pete Philly.

What I love about this artist is that he seems to have a vision on all things he creates. Best shown in his latest video for his single One (see below).

Also, his lyrics are strong (even used in my very first Wisdom on Wednesday post) and it's not straight out hip-hop (that is as far as I know hip-hop and I admit, that is limited).
I found Pete Philly though his Open Loops Project: an outlet for his musical inspiration using social media and the latest design, to produce an digital mixtape. He started that after the collaboration with Perquisite stopped at the peak of their succes as Pete Philly & Perquisite.

Now, about two years later, he has a debut album as a solo-artist: One. And it's high my list of cds to buy, because great artists deserve some support.

Hope you enjoy and follow the beat this tuesday!

Monday Miles: Berlin

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. 

My most recent trip was to Berlin, Germany. Not as a tourist, but as a pelgrim for the European Youth Meeting of Taizé of 2012. Does that sound scary? It's not, it was a lot of fun and very inspiring. I met a lot of people, learned from different cultures, listen to wise words, got to see a bit of the city and taste some nice food. It was my second visit to Berlin and I feel like I understand the city a bit more now. At some point I realized that there is no other city in the world like Berlin. I never got that feeling the first time, it was all beautiful buildings back then, now I got to know the people too (staying in a guest family helped a lot, of course).

It's the people that make a trip, really. I knew that before but Berlin has proved just once more to me how beautiful a place can be when with fun people who inspire me. The theme of this years pelgrimage was trust. And that is what brought me to Berlin and it is trust that gives you the oppertunity to meet new people.

Enjoy monday!

 

(B)Log #2:

In my (B)Log posts I share my experience of blogging with you every once in a while. Because blogging is a new thing, it has to find a place in my life. 

I found out that I have a favorite feature: Wisdom on Wednesday. It's so much fun to put that post together! But, the writing wasn't easy this week. The thing is: I only hit the pubish button if I like what I read. I think that's important, post and write about the things you would like to read. A half written post is not good enough. And also, I like to come up with my own photos or at least ask properly before using. I had a plan for the saturday from yestday, but it requiers some asking and emailing (maybe next week!). So, that was a bit of my struggle on blogging. But it is for the good because it will be good for the quality of my blogposts. Well, that's what I hope for.

So, if you read this and you're a blogger too, what's your stuggle with blogging?  
Let's take off to a new week!

Food adventures on Friday - Go Asian

So, there is the kitchen adventure (like the one with the cookies and the strawberry one), but there also is the supermarket adventure. Food all around and even more possibilities flying around.

Of course there is the supermarket around the corner, where you can find most basic things you need, but sometimes it's fun to take on something different. Like the asian supermarkets. I like going there. They feel a bit like you're in a different country, you (well, at least I can't) read the labels. You see things you don't know. And there are so many things to try out.

I had a moment like this last week. I was in The Hague to experience the Chinese New Year's Celebration there in China town. It was fun (see photo below).

Chinese New Year's Celebration The Hague (The Netherlands) 2012

But of course I had to go shopping in the supermarket. I went to a few, but bought most at Wah Nam Hong (they also have a huge market near Amsterdam, I found out).

1. Soda drinks (I think, I tasted one years ago in Taiwan I recognized the bottle). 2. Noodles. 3. All kinds of cookies. 4. My boughts.

So, I stocked up on (mainly) noodles and rice crackers (See the 4th photo):

• Tenka-ichi ban rice crackers
• Shelly Senbei Rice crackers
• Nissin demae ramen (curry and shoyu flavour).
• Udon Noodles
• Tapioca pearls
• Japanese style Green Tea Mochi

The udon noodles were a new thing for me. And also the Tapioca pearls (although I knew what to make with them (bubble tea!). That's some stock for future food adventures....

Enjoy Friday! I will have a snow white one, when I look out of my window ^_ ^. And you?

Thankful Thursday

It doesn't hurt anyone to remind yourself of how lucky you are and to be thankful for that. So, I try to keep that up for myself by writing a post like this every week.

I missed out on last week although there were a lot of things to be thankful for. Like: a weekend full of sweet and lovely people and receiving mail from Taiwan (the real mail, with an envelope and post stamps, you know?).

Seven thankful moments this week:

• The beautiful (blue skies and some sunshine) real winter, including snow and freezing temperatures (-8 or more at some nights).
•  Have a (new!) coat to keep me warm for this winter weather.
• Being able to learn from other cultures. I visited the Chinese New Year Celebration in The Hague this year. Loud and fun.
• Having a brother and sister to have a laugh with.
• And to stick with the family thing: parents that care about me so much
• Photo memories (It was funny to see myself as a slightly chubby kid in the snow).
• The book Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer by Roy Peter Clark. It is such a help by starting up a new project and a lot of fun to read too.

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 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.

Martin Buber was an Austrian-born Jewish philosopher. Photo of a view on Florance taken in 2007.

Paulo Coelho is a Brazillian author.

Trisha Yearwood is an Amercan singer.

Joss Stone is a British singer. Photo taken by me in 2011 at a gig in Paradiso (Amsterdam).

Sally Hawkins on the question ‘What is the most important lesson life has taught you?’ in an interview by Rosanna Greenstreet for The Guardian (July 2011). And the beautiful sunset took place in Romania in 2010.