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).
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.
A Summer evening in July two years ago. A park in Amsterdam filled with beautiful live music. It's right at that moment I discovered Priscilla Ahn. Perfect music for the first day of Spring!
She was one of the support acts of headliner Joss Stone (and also, Jason Mraz gave a great show). The reason I bought a ticket was Stone, Mraz was a very good extra and I'm always in for some new artist. That was the unknown Priscilla Ahn.
It's sweet, dreamy, up-beat and has a wonderful spring-summer-vibe. Exactly what I need right now ;)
Side project: Sweet Hearts.
Photo by Lauren Ward (go check her work, it's beautiful!)
Last year she released her second solo album and just a few weeks ago I got some new ear-candy with her free download EP side project Sweet Hearts, a collab with Charlie Wadhams. Sweet and from the heart indeed. So, I leave you to dream away with one of my favorite Priscilla songs:
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.
It's been a while since we travelled some miles on monday (it was back in February to Berlin memories). But I think it was last week (or the week before that...) I watched a cooking program shot in Rome, Italy. It brought back some sweet Italian memories. I've been to the beautiful city three times. Love the food, the gelato and the beautiful language (note to self: go learn it some day!).
So, three beautiful trips to Rome. I'm very lucky. Or was it the coins I tossed in the Trevi Fountain? Even though quite crowded, this fountain is probably my favorite place in Rome. It looks beautiful and there's some very good gelato right next to it (to the left if you're standing in front of the fountain)!
“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.
Matthew West's latest album is called The Story of Your Life. He put his idea of writing an album inspired by other people's stories then his own, on facebook and twitter: If you want to send me your story, send me your story.Then (thousands and thousands of) stories came in from all over the world. On the album that released in 2010 there are songs on very real life topics. Most of the time not the happiest things in life, but there's hope in those songs.
The project also inspired West to write a song on his own experience: My Own Little World, which I think is quite an inspiration too. So, that's the one I would like to share with you.
There are brilliant, funny and touching movies all over the internet. I would like to share three of my finds with you today. You can watch all three, but in case you're busy: you can make a choice based on time: the entree (5 minutes or less), the main (15 to about 30 minutes) and the desert (10 minutes or less). And the names are there, becacause it's friday that started with the food after all. Enjoy!
Entree: Fast Forward (2:30) In two and a half minute you got to see not just dance, but also the work that's put into it. Makes it even more beautiful to watch a performance. Credits: YouTube video from Het Nationale Ballet (The Dutch National Ballet) by Altin Kaftira
Main: KONY2012 (29:59)
Probably one of the most talked about films from last week: Kony2012. Popping up on my facebookpage all the time made me curious. Yes, the movie by invisible children touched me, triggered something. I agree (like most people) that this man Kony should be arrested. So, please go and watch this film. But I would also like to ask you to keep up with other sources. Like this page from The Guardian on the topic. Because as good as the idea is, there are also some marks to be made here. Read and get yourself informed.
Dessert: A TED speaker's worst nightmare (3:50) TED is one of my favorite places on the web to get inspired. This little video just put a smile on my face (like a good dessert should). You have to click this link, because I couldn't paste the video directly in my post. Hope you enjoy as much as I did.
It doesn't hurt anyone to remind yourself of how lucky you are and to
be thankful for that. And this week deserves some thank you's ^_^
First of all I'm very thankful for having such a funny brother (even when things go crazy: as stay in a hospital for a few days). Stay strong!
Another thank you moment was last saturday: walk along the beach (first for 2012).
Having a drink with sweet people: should do more.
Thanks for a bit of an inspiration-boost on sunday in church.
Reading the beautiful essay Mindful Reading by Tim Parks (as part of the (also wonderful) book Stop what you're doing and read this! (brilliant title)). I had a few laugh out loud moments (luckily no other people around at that moment).
Because of the mentioned book above: Thankful for my pile(s) of books.
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.
This one is in memory of a very dear friend who's dream could not be full filled, a year ago now.
“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.
She won a Grammy this year, Laura Story (now that it's sunday anyway: confession from me to admit: love the name) with the song Blessings. And it is that song that touched me earlier this week. Or better said: it gave me a different look on things. Now, to be honest, I'm feeling good, not going through hard times or something. But (as everybody else) I've had my moments. And at some points, this song hits just the right strings for me.
Just give it a listen and bless you!
The video is recored at K-love, new add to the list of online radiostations I like to listen to.
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. Today I would like to share my love for breakfst.
Breakfast is important. You probably know that. I love to take my time for breakfast, that gives me the time to enjoy it (and read the paper along with it). Usually it's just two slices of bread with some jam or or a cup of muesli with milk. And some tea if I feel like it.
Today I enjoyed a little twist on my breakfast (after the photo how to enjoy yourself):
Easy to make yourself: Find yourself a nice bowl. Pour in some yoghurt, add the kind and amount of muesli you like and add a drip of honey.
Would also be nice with one (or more) slices of roasted bread (with some olive oil or melted butter). Maybe this weekend on a lazy saturday or sunday...
It doesn't hurt anyone to remind yourself of how lucky you are and to
be thankful for that. It's been a little while, my last Thankful post is about a month ago...good time for a wrap-up reminder of thankfulness!
Besides neglecting my blog for a bit, I haven't been online (as in: social media) so much. Surprisingly: I'm very thankful for that! Because it means I've been busy living my life in the real world and I'm more than thankful for that (having a life in the first place).
On the other hand, I've had some thankful moments for living in the facebook, skype and sharing-era (I mean, let's be honest it does make connecting and working together easier!).
Yesterday I had a happy-in-the-rain-moment: thankful for that of course!
Thankful for my (mobile) phone: I've used the thing a lot last month, having good conversations.
K-Love is my new radio-station (only able to listen to it through my computer or ipod-app, though because I live in The Netherlands (read: miles away from their homeland USA). Thankful!
The beautiful sunny day we have today (and the last few weeks or so) really got me into spring-mood).
My mother has reorganized the attic: finding memories is a fun thing (and I'm thankful for my mum to keep stuff).
The luxury of a (very well) filled closet of clothes is also something to be thankful for.
