Three Kisses from Amsterdam

Ski Chic

2010-02-10T01:37:00.000-08:00

While doing my morning browsing of refinery29.com I found a wonderful article and felt compelled to share with you, as it combines three things I love; fashion, skiing and photography.... and links quite well to my previous post. Photographer Ryan McGinley captures 3 U.S.Olympic bound athletes at their best while looking their best for the New York Times. The athlete's are dressed to the 9's in Rodarte's fuzzy-wuzzy sweaters despite the cold weather and somehow make these death and gravity defying acts look effortless as they literally fly through the air. While my ski tricks have been kept to a minimum, as to steer away from injury, I must say I do get the same rush they describe in the article as I slither down a mountain. You loose yourself in the cold white snow and picturesque views while you subconsciously find your body getting into a rhythm you didn't realize was there. I don't think I will be following their lead this weekend with any somersaults or 360's, but maybe I can manage to look as good as they do?

Emily Cook, Freestyle Skier (Aerials)

Hannah Kearney, Freestyle Skier (Moguls)

Jeret (Speeky) Peterson, Freestyle Skier (Aerials); Hannah Teter, Snowboarder (Halfpipe)

Ski Weekend. YES!

2010-02-10T00:44:00.000-08:00

I previously posted that I wanted to treat myself to a little trip while Colin was traveling with work for a month. Berlin was originally my top choice but, like many things, it just didn't pan out. SO! With the help of my very organized and determined friends here in Amsterdam we did manage to plan a trip to Chamonix, France for a little ski weekend. I've been skiing since the good 'ol days of ski bus from ACHS; although there was more sitting by the fire while drinking hot chocolate and eating nachos in the lodge than actual skiing.... That said, I would still like to think I am a pretty good skier; I would like to think it's in my blood. My dad grew up skiing with both of his parents and would still be 'jooshing' down the slopes had it not been for a accident that left his knee in shambles. My grandfather, 82, yes, 82 still skies today and beats my sister and I down the mountain every time. While most of my experience lies within the moderate mountains of Upstate New York like Greek Peak, Holiday Valley and Kissing Bridge something tells me I will pick it right back up once I click my boots into the skies. We are staying a beautiful villa right in the city center so hopefully we will get a chance to explore the city with my 35mm and I will post some pictures when back. For now, enjoy these which I found on the internet. Is it okay to admit that these pictures are making me feel slightly intimidated?

A girl can dream

2010-01-26T04:56:00.000-08:00

Recently, Colin and I have been furiously trying to make our house a home. I know some things, such as home decor cannot be rushed; however I am undeniably inpatient about these things. Or, I am just bored? Either way I find myself cowering the internet for inspirations to re-mix into my humble abode; unfortunately they never seem to look the same when I try. I did, however find these amazing spaces on the decor8 blog and made a promise to myself: One day I will have a brightly accessorized house filled with washed antique furniture, mix-matching dishes, beautiful art and fresh flowers. Until that day I will continue to fill my already cluttered house with quasi-attempts at home decorating. Baby steps, Lauren, baby steps.

Getaway

2010-01-12T05:20:00.000-08:00

For me, one of the downfalls of Colin's job is the traveling. While it doesn't happen too often, it does sometimes occur for weeks at a time; leaving me all by lonesome. His job is his job, there is no way around it...and besides, someones gotta bring home the bacon ;) I understand this all very well, however I do tend to get a bit frustrated, which is only natural, especially when it happens during the cold and lonely months of the winter; as it will for the entire upcoming month of February.

This time though, I have decided to stop the whimpering and make the best of the situation with a little trip of my own. Christmas just occured and I have been saving my pennies, so why not treat myself to a little weekend getaway to clear those lonely blues?? There are a few places atop my list for weekend trips; Berlin, Austria and Prague. Most of my friends here have visited Prague already and Austria is a place I would like to share with Colin, leaving me with Berlin. I have been dying to visit since my first time in Europe. The culture, the history and mix of old vs. new is so very fascinating to me. All of that mixed with the fact that my very good friend Rosa is from there means I must visit. Flights are relativly inexpensive right now, thanks to KLM, so now I just need to buy the ticket. What do you think, Berlin...Berlin??

Daydreaming

2010-01-11T05:07:00.000-08:00

Staying true to the whimsical and nostalgic nature of a Pieces, I often catch myself daydreaming quite a bit lately. Of warm weather, a new job and what the future has in store for me. I will keep the exact dreams to myself, as I am also very superstitious; however, I do feel it necessary to share these beautiful pictures with you from French artist, Anne-Julie Abury. I came across her prints while doing my daily browsing and celebrity gossiping on the internet, and couldn't help but feel like she pulled my exact mood and expressed it on canvas, better than I could vocally. At first glance, they are of course pretty but take a better look, there is something deeper and suspicious within the eyes of the girls; also notice her subtle use of hearts and various images hidden throughout. Quite dreamy and reminiscent of my all-time favorite movie, Alice in Wonderland, you cannot deny their beauty. You can see more of her prints at Nebulous Kingdom or on her blog. Which is your favorite?

Think Warm Thoughts

2010-01-11T04:44:00.000-08:00

It's only mid-January and my mind is already wandering towards warm spring days and hot summer nights. I've got a good four or five months before I can pack away my winter coat, hat and boots; to remind myself of the balmy months in the distant future, here are a few pictures of a paradise where I would like to be. Would anyone like to join me?

Gettin up and Gettin Out

2010-01-06T04:19:00.000-08:00

Holiday breaks are an invitation to be lazy; however, after two weeks I found myself restless in my own apartment, I needed to move my legs. With my powers of persuasion, I was also able convince Colin he had to do the same. So, on a freezing Sunday afternoon the two of us headed to my favorite museum here in Amsterdam, The Foam. I hadn't been since seeing the Garance Dior exhibit for fashion week so it seemed like the perfect excuse to get the blood flowing again. There were a total of three exhibits throughout the building- Alexander Rodchenko, Photography in Reverse (which exhibited work of five artists) and Concrete Dreams (which exhibited two artists). We both agreed that the Rodchenko exhibit was the best, it showcased nearly 200 vintage prints of the avant-garde Russian artist's work. It was interesting to see the how photography has evolved and been influenced from to 1920's to now. As you walk through the museum you are able to see new-age work throughout the Photography in Reverse exhibit then rewind to Rodchenko, where you view examples of the very first artist to integrate design and photography. Before turning to photography Rodchenko was know mostly for his graphic designs paintings. Rodchenko has the ability to make an otherwise basic photo eye catching and interesting with the use of various shapes, block lettering and photo-montages. Below are a few images from the museums website; my favorite being, "Girl with Leica". Happy I forced a little culture into my holiday, everyone needs now and again.

The Itch of a New Year

2010-01-05T06:01:00.000-08:00

Is it just me or has the new year brought on an itch for something new?? Whether to finally learn the beautiful language of French, to volunteer my time to those in need or to finally stop talking about photography and just take a damn class already!!? Problem is, I'm not quite sure I have the time. Alright alright fine, I have nothing but time, what I don't have is the money. So instead of taking my own beautiful pictures I have been doing a lot of scouring on the internets for those that I find beautiful and who knows, maybe one day use as inspiration. When I find something worth sharing, I would like to do so with all of you. Hope you enjoy!

Joel Rhodin

Resolutions

2009-12-31T06:13:00.000-08:00

It's that time of the year when we are forced to reflect on the past year of our lives, both good and bad, and decide how we would like to change our future selves for the up and coming year. Most usually opt out for the, 'I want to loose weight,' especially after a long and excessive holiday season. Some choose to cut out chocolate, fats and carbs from their diet....aka everything that makes eating worth it. While others declare, "I will be more organized next year." I can't diet, bread and cheese are the only two things I am eating these days and well, I would like to think I am already a pretty organized person; when I need to be, of course.

I suppose you're wondering what my reslolution will be this year? Well, I have a theory about the past couple of years of my life; they tend to have an alternating pattern of up's and down's. 2007 was by far the worst year of my life. I had up and moved to New York City because I need a change from Buffalo and the person I was, I grew up and New York kicked my ass just like I needed it to. Although times were trying that year, it got a little bit better towards the end when I met Colin in December. After that crappy year and feeling way too sorry for myself, I made a promise that 2008 was going to be great, and it was. I went to Europe for the first...and second time, I fell in love and decided I would one day move to Europe. 2009 was a tough year. Everyone was affected by the economic crisis, myself included. Nike made me a part-time employee...which is an impossible salary to support yourself while going to school full-time and intern for class credit. Not to mention, Colin and I were entangled in a very long distant relationship which was always on my mind. Thankfully, I caught a few lucky breaks throughout the year and was able to make it out with my head above the water oh, and I finally graduated college, and in May of 2009 I bought my ticket to start my new life in Amsterdam.

So, if you're following the pattern, I'm up for a good year in 2010....right? While I realize there is no rhyme or reason to the years of your life, they are what you make them. If you go into a new year with your head up and your eyes wide there is nothing you can't accomplish. So that is my resolution for this year, to have an amazing year. And who knows, maybe get a new job here in Amsterdam, do some more traveling, but on the top of my list is to enjoy my life and be thankful for everything I have with my amazing boyfriend in this very strange country. Happy New Years to everybody out there, enjoy 2010. What are your resolutions for the New Year??

Trains, Planes and Automobiles.

2009-12-29T05:53:00.000-08:00

WOW. It was a whirl-wind couple of weeks traveling across New York State to celebrate the holidays with my loved ones. Living in Amsterdam means this blog is generally all the contact I have with most of my friends and family. Since I was fortunate enough to get home for the holidays, without a plan to return in the near future, I had to make sure to squeeze everyone in withing two short weeks. Thanks to public transportation, safe flights and generous parent drivers, I did it all and managed to make it back to Amsterdam safely. It started with a flight from Amsterdam to Boston then Boston to New York City. Bus from New York City to Binghamton. Car ride from Binghamton to Buffalo. Train ride from Buffalo to Syracuse. Car ride from Syracuse to Cortland. Car ride from Cortland to New York City. Ending with a flight from New York City to Detroit then Detroit to Amsterdam.

Colin and I were both up in the air about returning to America for the holidays. For one, it is unbelievably expensive to fly this time of the year and, selfishly we would like to travel around Europe while we have the opportunity. December marked my sixth month of living abroad in Amsterdam, I knew deep down I was in need of some Americano lovin; and so, I bought my ticket about three weeks before I took off, Colin about four days. Despite our extreme procrastination we found relatively inexpensive tickets. One thing I learned this year is, you cannot put a price on visiting your family for the holidays. Nothing in the world compares to that feeling of being home, sleeping in, lounging on the couch oh and not to forget, eating excessive amounts of food without a pinch of guilt.

My family dynamic has changed over the years, we've all gotten a bit older, some a bit grayer, some engaged and some divorced; but for the first time in about four years all of the aunts, uncles and cousins made it to my Aunt Peggy's for our annual Christmas Eve celebration. It was so good to catch up with everyone and be able to laugh about how our lives have panned out over the years. Life is unpredictable and sometimes, you just have to roll with it. I forgot how dry and hilarious my Uncle Tom is, who introduced me to a new term, "sexting," when he asked Lindsay who she was talking to during dinner, whoops! You can't pick your family and you're stuck with them for life, everyone has their up's and down's but the most important thing to remember is you have to stick together or else, what's the point of having them around?

I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday season as much as I did. So happy I had the chance to see everyone in New York, Binghamton, Buffalo and Cortland, I wish it could have been a bit longer but, thems the breaks, unfortunately. I just returned to Amsterdam after 11 hours of traveling so I will be sleeping for the next few days. I wish everyone the best for the upcoming New Year, something tells me 2010 is going to be a good year.

My name is Lauren Sornberger...

2009-12-05T02:07:00.000-08:00

(via pinfallsmarks.blogspot.com)

and I am a nanny. Not particularly a sentence I ever wanted to use describing myself; however, it is true. I wake up every morning at 7:00am and prepare to be a mom for a day. Since starting this job a lot about my life has changed and been put into perspective. I roll out of bed knowing that by 5:30pm the sleeves of my shirt will inevitably have drool and pasta sauce stains, I will be publicly embarrassed at least once by a screaming two year old with a bad temper and I will want nothing more than to curl up on the couch with my boyfriend by 6:00pm. One of the most difficult parts about being a nanny is, what to wear. I love fashion, always have. I love the idea of mixing and matching old and new, expensive and inexpensive but somehow my creativity flew out the door the second I became a nanny. I read magazines and blogs and dream of wearing clothes that make me feel like the 24 year old that I am. I attempt to dress like most girls my age but the fact is, heels aren't the best footwear to chase after a two year old and I would like to keep the nice clothes I do have, just that way. And so, every morning I find myself scrounging for an appropriate 'cool nanny outfit' but end up wearing the same thing everyday, skinny jeans, one of Colin's over-sized sweaters and my flat ankle booties. Go on say it, 'c'mon you can do better than that,' and I realize this, I do, but the truth is, I have no want to try any better. It's comfortable and I can do all the necessary running around. However much I may dislike nannying, it is still a job. Not to mention I get to go to the zoo at least once a week.... So until I find something more appropriate and satisfying, I cannot bitch and moan, I need to be thankful for what I do have and find simple ways to make myself happy while being a mom for the day. To all the moms in the world, I give you credit. It's a hard knock life.

Barcelona, I love you.

2009-11-30T12:26:00.000-08:00

I fell in love again this weekend, with Barcelona. Since moving to Europe my top two must see cites have been Barcelona and Berlin. Still haven't been to Berlin, but trust that Rosa will take me in due time. And as I mentioned previously, I was lucky enough to visit Barcelona this past weekend; as expected, I didn't want to leave. I have been to a few European cities and generally, they all have the same architectural and cultural feeling throughout. I knew Barcelona would be different from any place I had visited, which was the root of my excitement. I was right.

We landed late Thursday night after a budget Thanksgiving dinner in Schipol Airport, immediately checked into our hotel and hopped in a cab to visit Colin's friend from New York, Webster. We have a few friends from Barcelona so were lucky enough to have an itinerary filled with the local bars, restaurants, and must see places in hand. Like I said, we landed late but still were in the mood for some local cocktails while we caught up with Webster and his brother. The locals told us to head to El Born, and area just outside the Barri Gotic neighborhood of the city. We bounced from place to place for awhile but ended up El Crepe de Born where we sipped Mojito's and Estrella's until about 3:30am. I had a very strict itinerary set for our weekend so 3:30 meant bedtime.

Day one, Friday, was set aside for the main tourist activities. We started the morning off slowly...I blame the sugary mojito's but got our butts out of bed and headed towards the world famous Sagrada Familia. A little history for those like myself who don't know much about the project; via Wikipedia; The Sagrada Familia was designed by Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926), who worked on the project from 1883 and devoted the last 15 years of his life entirely to the endeavor. In 1882, prior to Gaudí's involvement, Francesc del Villar was commissioned to design a church on the site. He resigned a year later and Gaudí was appointed the project architect, redesigning the project entirely. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2026. On the subject of the extremely long construction period, Gaudí is said to have remarked, "My client is not in a hurry." After Gaudí's death in 1926, work continued under the direction of Domènech Sugranyes until interrupted by the Spanish Civil War in 1936. Parts of the unfinished church and Gaudí's models and workshop were destroyed during the war by Catalan anarchists. The present design is based on reconstructed versions of the lost plans as well as on modern adaptations.

I knew the church would be massive but had no clue just how massive. When the church was originally being constructed, the ground it sat on was a vast open space, allowing people to step back and enjoy the massive structure. Since modern times, the city has been built up around it, making it difficult to view the structure in its entirety. While you walk through construction is going on in front of you, you hear saws and jack hammers while you walk through the scaffolding filled temple; it makes you feel like you're a part of the history so despite the annoyance, you know its happening for a reason. For those visiting blindly, it is important to also walk through the galleries downstairs. There you will find Gaudi's original blue prints, mock-up structures and you also read up on the history behind the making of the Church. After we walked through we stepped across the street to get a better view, which is when you begin to notice the little details that make it so different from any church ever built. The tiny mosaics throughout, the nativity facade traveling throughout the Eastern side, and his inspirations taken from nature make for a beautiful piece of Barcelona's history.

Our day of Gaudi continued with a walk to Parc Guell, in the Northern part of the city. It was a little bit of a hike but the weather was on our side so it was a nice chance to get a better feel for the city. We arrived and once again, Gaudi left me breathless. You enter the park, for free, and are immediately thrown into his world of oddly shaped, slanted and mosaic-ed roof tops and stairwells. The main attraction of the park is the entrance terrace where you will find performers and lots of street sellers, offering scarves, jewelry and artwork. Park Güell is skillfully designed to bring the peace and calm that one would expect; as you walk through you can easily get lost within the foliage, beautiful flowers and architecture. Currently it is Barcelona's winter (60-65, I'll take it) but I imagine it is bustling with people on hot summer days and nights, laying in the grass, taking in the views and enjoying a bottle of Rioja.

Besides the Spanish ham and yummy Tapas, Barcelona is known for its delicious seafood dishes straight from the Port de Barcelona. One problem, I don't like fish, never have. I know, I know it seems like a sin to be in a place where fresh fish is readily available at your finger tips but I just don't like it. That said, Colin kindly made us reservations at one of the best seafood restaurants in town, Botafumerio. You walk into a tank filled foyer which houses all of the evenings meals. I was assured I could get steak, but really, who wants to be the ass ordering steak in a world-class seafood restaurant? On Friday night, I was that person. Despite the embarrassment, the meal was amazing. We were joined by five other people and there was not a disappointed person at the table. After dinner we headed to El Born again where were did some more bar hopping and tasting of the local beverages until the early hours of the morning then headed home because I had another busy day planned for Colin and myself. I should note that a miracle also happened on Friday night. After the night out, while in the cab back to the hotel Colin realized he didn't have his wallet. I, immediately though, 'Jesus, the damn pick-pocket-ers, its gone and now Colin is going to freak the hell out and be miserable the entire trip." He kept his cool and kindly asked the cab driver to take us back to the bar. The bar was closed but we crawled through the gated door to find that, TADA!! Miracles do happen, some very very very kind man found Colin's wallet on the floor and turned it in, with everything in tact and in place. There are good people in this world and if you are one of them, good things will come to you. Karma man, karma.

We woke up Saturday, hungover, with the sun shinning brightly into our hotel room; bear in mind we hadn't seen the sun for a good two weeks so despite feeling like, "two pennies and a ball of lint," we got up and started our day; Colin started his with his first of many Iberian ham sandwiches, Tibidabo is a mountain overlooking Barcelona and Catalonia. At 512 meters it is the tallest in the Serra de Collserola; offering spectacular views of the entire city and coast line. We started on the metro, to another metro, to a street car tram, and finally to the funicular railway which took up alllll the way up the mountain; the views alone were worth the hike up. You get off the railway and welcomed to what feels like heaven by the Cathlic Church, Temple de Sagrat Cor and the Tibidabo theme park; both of which are visible from most of the city but to stand atop in person is breathtaking. The amusement park is the oldest in Barcelona and retains most of the original rides, some of which date back to the 20th century. I used to LOVE theme parks when I was younger, always the first in line and the one with my hands in the air. I don't know if it's the old ripe age of 24 but holy cow, I had butterflies in my stomach just looking at the rides; no way partake in any 90 year roller coaster rides.....scardy cats. The views offered for some amazing picture taking and a relaxing in the sun with my man. For dinner we had planned to go to Cal Pep but were severely disappointed to find it was closed, on a Saturday? Hungry for some Tapas we found a nice place in Barri Gotic where were sat outside and made friends with out Australian neighbors who are traveling Europe.

Sunday was sadly our last day which was reserved for walking Las Ramblas, Barri Gotic and the beach. The weather didn't hold up for us so the beach was out by mid-afternoon but sometimes just cruising is much better than having an actual plan; and so, that's what we did until our flights that evening. I took loads of photos with my 35mm but unlike modern times, I have to actually wait for it to be developed...patience! Despite not being with family on this Thanksgiving, I am unbelievably happy I had a chance to see the city and take in the sites with Colin. Hoping to go back this summer to really get a feel of those hot summer nights in Spain. Hopefully more pictures coming soon- enjoy!

Giving Thanks

2009-11-25T09:12:00.000-08:00

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It has undoubtedly been a roller coaster year for me. Between graduating, leaving my friends and family in New York to move to Amsterdam then figuring out how to survive in this strange country has been a true test of my personal strengths. I'd like to think that I have made it work pretty well despite hating my job (don't we all though?), life is good. Unfortunately Colin and I won't be heading State side to celebrate Thanksgiving the traditional way with family, turkey and friends but I would still like to take a minute to give thanks for all of the wonderful things in my life because at the end of the day I have my health, friends and family...what more could you ask for?

My friends stood by me over the years, they have watched and helped me grow up, despite some of the bad choices I may have made and I love them for every bit of it. My sister has always put up with my immature ways and somehow managed to help me get on a steady life path. (It really wasn't that hard, I just copied what she did...wink), "Love Ya!" My parents, well as most of you know, they have had even more of a roller coaster ride year than I. I am thankful that this year marks the official end and begins a new chapter; they can finally move on to make new and separate lives from each other. I am unbelievably thankful they both somehow made the best of their messy situation and hope the next year will bring them both peace and the good lives they both deserve. Last, but of course not least, Colin. I don't know what I would do without him. He is always my biggest supporter and puts up with all of my bitching and I love him more and more everyday- even if he doesn't do the dishes. Oh, and thank you to all of my new friends here in Amsterdam for helping me along the way, god knows I've needed lots of it :) Colin and I are off to Barcelona tomorrow night, sans a tummy full of Turkey but I think I will settle for some Tapas *pronounced with a lisp* and a little sunshine. Hope all of you out there have a wonderful holiday. See you for Christmas!!

What are you thankful for this year?

Pillow Talk

2009-11-23T11:25:00.000-08:00

(via imdb.com)

I've had my trusty sewing machine for 6 months now and all I have to show for it are minor mends to Colin's clothes, a copied scarf from American Apparel and a laptop holder; which was more of a pain in the ass than a help. Being that a long rainy winter is upon us here in Amsterdam and I've turned into more of a homebody than before, I opted to try and make the best out of my down time, instead of spending my time watching re-runs of Sex and The City on demand. Case in point, the new pillows I made on a random Monday I had off. I bought the fabric awhile ago on a trip to Ikea but only just put it to use. I know, I know what you're thinking...'how hard can a couple of pillows be?' And I do agree with you but, baby steps, people! A gals gotta start somewhere, no? The process is pretty self-explanatory if you took home-ec in middle school so I won't bore you with the deals. I'm hoping to get more and more adventurous with my creations so keep checking back....Below are the finished results!

Bloggin'

2009-11-22T02:22:00.000-08:00

If you really take a minute to think about what blogging is, its really quite a strange concept. It gives people, like myself, an open forum to broadcast our feelings and views on any topic imaginable, post it, and hope that people care enough to read it. These days anyone with a computer, camera and a little know how can instantly become a source of news; whether you're interested in fashion, sports, or just cool things out there. That said, I love stumbling across a random new blog and getting wrapped up in another persons beautifully laid out pictures and reading what they have to say. In reality, I no clue who they are, but find their interests fascinating and insightful to whats out there in this big 'ol world of ours.

I especially loved stumbling across the Decor8 blog- mainly because Colin and I are working on making our house a home these days. The blog showcases different designers, as well as photographers, from all over the world. The website inspires us all to decorate our homes beautifully with inspiration from brightly colored pictures shown throughout the pages. I really enjoyed the Swedish design section because of its use of simplicity and color. We have a very small and simple home which comes with a good opportunity to jazz it up with colored accessories and make it our own, I say this now only after reading the blog and of course, feeling particularly inspired. Below are some of the pictures I am refering to, check out the website, maybe you too can use Decor8 as your home decor muse.

"On and On and On We'll Stay Together"

2009-11-22T01:46:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Colin and I got to see on of my personal go-to bands, Wilco at Paradiso this past week. We almost didn't get to go because the place I bought the tickets, "Had trouble delivering them." I worked some magic and we got the tickets...right as we were walking in the door. Wilco is one of those bands that always seems to have a song for that exact emotion you're feeling no matter what it may be; happy, sad, in love, they've gotcha covered. It was sold out but shows at Paradiso always feel intamate no matter how many people are jam packed into the auditorium. We found great seats in the top level balcony and set up camp on a bench overlooking the show for the night. I do have to admit, I got into Wilco as a fair weather listener when they got a more popular with the masses so I didn't know too many of their older songs that they played. Nonetheless it was a great show and I was very happy we got to go together. I found a You Tube video of Wilco's 2007 performance of my favorite song at Paradiso; could do without the dude singing in the background...but you get the idea.

Sinterklaas has Arrived

2009-11-16T01:56:00.000-08:00

Every country has their own ways of celebrating long standing traditions. In the US to celebrate Christmas we look to our old friend St. Nicholas. Here in Holland, they're version of Santa Clause is a little different; allow me to introduce you all to Sinterklaas. Now in a lot of ways Sinterklaas is the same as our Santa Clause, except mainly that Sinterklaas lives in Spain, not the the frigid North Pole Surrounded by elves. Elves are not a part of the tale either. Here Sinterklaas is helped by Zwarte Piets or helping hand black Pete.

The legend goes that, three small Moorish boys were sentenced to death for a crime they did not commit. The bishop intervened and they were saved. To show their gratitude, the boys stayed with Sinterklaas to help him, tumbling and jumping on rooftops on Sinterklaas night to deliver presents. Their black skin may refer either to their Moorish background, or to the job of chimney sweep, an option is corroborated by their clothes, reminiscent of an Italian chimney sweep's costume and Pete's rooftop occupation. Another background story for Pete is that he is the devil who was enslaved by Sinterklaas. Nowadays, children in the Netherlands are told that the Pieten work for Sinterklaas voluntarily and that there is a special school in Spain where they learn their trade. Sinterklaas originally had only one Zwarte Piet. The concept of multiple Pieten was introduced by the Canadians when they helped organising the first post-WWII Sinterklaas celebration. Most traditional Sinterklaas songs still mention only one Zwarte Piet. Sinterklaas and his Black Petes usually carry a bag, which contains candy for nice children and a "roe," a bunch of willow branches used to spank naughty children; in actuality a chimneysweep's broom. Some of the older Sinterklaas songs make mention of naughty children being put in the bag and being taken back to Spain. The Zwarte Pieten toss candy around, a tradition supposedly originating in Sint Nicolaas' story of saving three young girls from prostitution by tossing golden coins through their window at night to pay their father's debts. Below David Sedaris' Sinterklaas experience...hillarious.

Yesterday marked the official arrival of Sinterklaas to the Netherlands he was welcomed with open arms and a parade throughout town. He arrived by tugboat from Spain and will stay here until the evening of December 5th when he can be seen jumping form rooftop to rooftop, Zwarte Piets following behind, delivering presents to all the little Dutch boys and Girls. I'm sticking with my man Santa Clause for Christmas but, it is interesting to see how these tales have evolved from country to country and generation to generation.

Almost Grandma's Chicken Noodle Soup.

2009-11-11T09:50:00.000-08:00

(via igoyougo.wordpress.com)

Winter and a hot bowl of Chicken noodle soup seem to go hand in hand. As soon as the weather turned on all of us Hollanders I immediately knew it was time to tackle my soup pot and attempt Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. My Grandma Helen was known for much more for her sagging biceps; which she has lovely passed onto every generation of women in our family... She was also a master at Chicken Noodle Soup, but failed to share her delicious recipe with anyone. And so since her death there has been numerous variations that stood up quite well to her yummy concoction but nothing seemed to be just right. Until I stumbled upon a recipe on www.allrecipies.com, like I said, I've never tackled a soup but assumed it would be had to be easy enough; which it was. I made a few changes to the recipe and am anxious to share it with all of you. ENJOY, both Colin and I have contacted a version of the Swine Flu over the past weeks and this was just the ticket to put smiles on sickly faces. Not sure if Grandma Helen would approve but something tells me she would eat it with a smile!

Ingredients:

2 Quarts Water

5 Chicken Flavored Bullion Cubes

4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

4 Carrots, chopped

2 Onions, chopped

3 Stalks of Celery, chopped

1 Cup Fresh Parsley

4 Bay Leaves

2 Tbsp Salt

Dash of Tyme

2 Cloves
1 Bag Egg Noodles

Cube chicken to your preference, add all ingredients to pot but the the noodles and simmer for an hour and a half. Cook noodles al dente and add to the simmered soup pot. Cook for an additional twenty minutes and ENJOY!

I told you it was simple.

"If you tell me to jump then I'll die"

2009-11-11T09:16:00.000-08:00

White Lies. Love them. My sister is a music guru and my constant source of new artists, she is, well was my official iPod updater when I needed to step up my music game. She introduced me to White Lies after she attended their concert and claimed, "They are amazing live." Up until about weeks ago I had to once again trust in her music expertise; luckily, thanks to my friend Rosa, I had the chance to see them live for myself at Paradiso here in Amsterdam. The show was sold out, but we were able to find amazing seats in the balcony to enjoy the entire show. Lindsay was right and they were amazing live, a few technical difficulties towards the end but, perfection is impossible. Surprisingly there are lost of amazing bands headed to Amsterdam this winter, which is always a good excuse to bear the cold and rainy Hollnd winter--stay tuned for more show reviews. Up next: Wilco at Paradiso.

A Night at The Ballet

2009-11-11T09:06:00.000-08:00

When Colin told me were were headed to the Ballet when we returned from Boston, first I thought, 'Oh how romantic,' second I thought, 'Oh no, what am I going to wear?' Luckily I had purchased a few dresses for the wedding and ended up borrowing one so I had a closet stocked with potential outfits. We were invited by Colin's lacrosse teammate from here in Amsterdam who's girlfriend just happened to be playing the lead dancer that night. I've been to one Broadway show, The Lion King, and balled through the entire first act. The music and dancing takes me away and I get wrapped up into another world. Needless to say, I excepted this to be an emotional night. I held back my tears and enjoyed the evening more so than I ever expected; La Bayadere was a beautiful show and Jared's girlfriend performed beautifully. The official website describes it as, "An exotic tale of love set in India packed with intrigue, jealousy, betrayal and remorse, La Bayadère's choreography also contains exquisite elements of pure classical ballet, offering dancers every opportunity to shine." Who doesn't love a love story? I was surprised by the overall attire of the crowd, I guess they're a lot more casual here in Amsterdam, should have assumed. Below is a video of my favorite act, enjoy!

Museumnacht 2009

2009-11-10T12:11:00.000-08:00

Amsterdam has many festivals, most recently I was able to partake in Museumnacht, or Museum Night. It is an annual festival that takes place in 42 different museums around town. It's nearly impossible for most people who live in Amsterdam to visit the great museums around town because of early close times and cost. And so, for one night the city gives back to its people by staying open until 2-4am, serving alcohol and providing live music. We started the night early with dinner at a friends house then ventured out around 8:30. We were only able to hit about four museums during that time but the night was magical. I felt like I was in a place I wasn't supposed to be; take or example, we watched great live music in the Public Records building. When else would I find myself in the basement of the Public Records Building drinking a beer and listening to a band? The allure of being in a place you otherwise couldn't makes for a fantastic evening. The best part for me was visiting the Arburium. Colin and I had a chance to break away from the large group and found a tea house set within one of the green houses, which we were lead to by a candlelit path throughout the woods. It made for a much needed break from the Amsterdam winter. After the museums we stopped at an Irish bar to listen to real Irish music. We stepped in an I immediately felt like I was aboard the Titanic, weird I know. The night was crispy, the stars were shinning and we were freezing. Then walked into a steamy packed bar filled with Guinness drinking-Irish jiggers, I know you can picture the scene. Movie Material.

Visitors and Birthday's

2009-11-10T11:37:00.000-08:00

As I said before Colin's 30th birthday was on the 27th of October. He of course, wanted to celebrate his third decade of living with a bang and invited some old friends to Amsterdam for the celebration. Flying to Amsterdam is a very expensive present to give someone so to save the travelers some money we offered our very little apartment as sleeping quarters...for 4. Yes it was cramped, messy and smelled bad by the end of the 2 weeks but having Puja, Katie, Doug and yes, even Luis celebrating his birthday meant a lot to Colin so we all sucked it up for the time being. They were able to do a little traveling to Berlin and Prague for his actual Birthday; I got left behind because of work, wa waaaa. But looking back it was a much needed break from the festivities. They returned just in time for my favorite holiday, yes in my world Halloween is a holiday. There were 6 of us, 3 gals and 3 dudes so we wanted to do a group costume. Many ideas came through, the cast of Saved By the Bell, gang of ninjas but the winner was a 70's family band; which bombed. 1.) We didn't look like a family 2.) We didn't have instruments so really we were just dressed in bad 70's garb and 3.) There was no dance routine or performance as the family band. Costumes may have sucked but I was thoroughly enjoying rockin my blond afro all night long. Depsite the lack of effort with costumes we all managed to have a great time nailing poses in what we did come up with, so great I lost my cell phone...

Colin is now officially an old man and I am feeling younger because of it. We never notice the age difference between us, either I'm very mature, not likely, or her is very immature, more likely; so the age difference never seems to come up. However, since the big 3-0 I can't stop thinking how old that seems to me. In the past few years of my life I have changed over and over again, I've gotten obviously older, a little more mature and responsible, its a natural progression in life however as its happening you don't actually realize it. It isn't until you take the time to reflect back on the past years that you realize how much has changed. And so, when Colin turned 30 I began thinking, 'what will I be like when I'm 30.' I can't fathom it. Me at age 21/22 is a completely different person that I am now, at age 24. So, what will I be like when I am 30? I can't predict the my future self but I do have the ability to shape the kind of person I want to be. Still struggling with who or what that will be but I'll be sure to keep you posted once I figure that out.

Don't worry, I'm still alive.

2009-11-09T05:13:00.000-08:00

It has been a very very busy, in the best way possible, October. I went from crying because I was bored to not being able to take a breath, I once again apologize for my hiatus but sometimes my aimless internet jabber gets the back burner to life; although I've missed its therapeutic ways. I'm not quite sure where to begin so I assume the best place is where I last left off?

The abridged version of my October:

Paris fashion week with Rika, one word: Amazing. While the work load was quite hectic at times, and I was stricken with a bout of what I am pretty sure was The Swine; myself, Rosa and Sara all managed to have a fabulous time while working, of course. Highlights were, Surface To Air after party, massive drunken dinner at La Familie with little Sara, white wine at Le Meurice and exploring the city with my 35mm. This was my second time in Paris and I still believe the worst city to be a tourist. The streets are tiny, windy, and impossible to pronounce unless you've studied french. And well, as the rumors go, it is true the french are very rude, but they are after all Parisian- wouldn't you be rude too? Sadly the very nice people at Blokker here in Amsterdam 'lost' all of my film...Did I mention how awesome the service is here?

Right after returning form Paris, I had one day to rest up and re-pack my bag because Colin and I were off the Boston for the wedding Colin's friend, Erin. The wedding was absolutely picturesque, set in Hyannasis on a beautiful fall day, the air was cool but the sun was shinning...ahh lovely!! Following a very jet-lagged two days of wedding festivities Colin and I headed to Cambridge so he could show me his old stomping grounds around Harvard. I didn't have the 'normal' college experience of living on a campus and dealing with the dorm life but, after experiencing a little taste of Harvard, I will stand by that not going away for college is my biggest regret of growing up. No, Harvard was never in the picture for me but there is something to be said about living amongst the dorms and dinning halls. I don't know if it was the trees blowing in the wind on those two fall days but all I know is I had a serious craving for some academia. Had is the keyword in that sentence....We also had a chance to meet Colin's new absolutely adorable nephew, Brooks and see his borther, sister-in-law, and older nephew Quinn.

After two days in Boston we hopped in our rental car and headed to New York to say a very quick hello to a few of my friends at dinner; I had to leave early to catch a flight :( I didn't realize how emotional I would be saying goodbye. I guess you don't realize how much you miss the people you've left behind until you get to see them and have to say goodbye all over again... I cried the entire way to the airport. Have no fear, I will be returning for Christmas; a little New York City/Upstate whirlwind tour will once again commence. Can't wait!!!

Let's see what else? oh YES! Colin somehow managed to run a marathon!! He set out a long time ago to run a marathon before turning 30, which happened on the 27th of October so he went online, found the latest possible date, which happened to be in Amsterdam, and decided he would run it. The training was very minimal however, he has been an athlete his whole life and I, of course, never doubted his ability although there were a few who did. Not only did he run it but he ran it very well and in under 4 hours- 3h 29min to be exact. He has been in a little pain since conquering the 26miles but I think the esteem booster is doing him well.

A Princess' Life

2009-09-21T23:12:00.000-07:00

(via coolhunting.com)

Cinderella had a tough life, two ugly step sisters who were favorited by their evil step mother. Chores that lasted weeks on end and invites to balls should could never attend. Luckily with a little patience and good virture she made it out of her terrible world and finally found her Price Charming whom changed her life forever, all thanks to her fairy God Mother and a glass slipper. Now, thanks to designer Martin Margiela we can all own our very own pair of glass slippers and hope that one day our very own Prince Charming will come along. Well, mine already had but, for everyone else our there searching...The shoes are made in limited quantities and only available in Margiela Stores, they will run you about HK9,900. Clearly these are not for actual wear but a girl can all dream...

Oh Rika, Oh Rika.

2009-09-18T15:51:00.000-07:00

Turns out good things do come to those who wait. Perhaps I spoke too soon a few days ago when I started complaining about my nanny job. After sucking up the dirty diapers, sleeves of drool and the terrible 2's for the past few weeks I have finally gotten myself a real job in the European fashion world...and a very good one at that. AHH. Yes, there was plenty of bitching on my part, Colin can attest to that, but I'd say I did a very good job at grinning and bearing it.

Now to the good stuff. Where, may you ask will I be working? Ulrika Lundgren started Rika in 2005 after creating a one of a kind hand bag for a fashion shoot she was styling. Orders started piling in for her now signature bag and the rest is history. Today you can find her line, which consists of both accessories and clothing; and always showcase her trademark star, in boutiques all over the world. Amsterdam is lucky enough to house her only stand alone boutique where you can find her line in its entirety...you may also be lucky enough to see the designer breeze in and out of the store, as she does her designing and runs the business from her upstairs office. I would describe the line as 'girly-badass'. All of her pieces can be mixed and matched to make you feel flirty and whimsical or brute-y and bad ass. Check out the website or if you're in New York and reading this be sure to check out the collection at Opening Ceremony on Howard Street or click on the boutique link to find a shop near you. Below are some of my favorite pieces from this years collection. A very very special thanks to Rosa for believing in me enough to recommend me for the position....that or, she was sick of my bitching. Either way, thank you, darling. We're going to blow them away at Paris Fashion Week!!!!!

Today I Bought a Fur Vest.

2009-09-14T10:20:00.000-07:00

On a scale from 1-10 on the embarrassed scale I am feeling about a 15 at the moment. After my rant yesterday about conspicuous, pointless, money-wasting purchasing, I went ahead and bought a fur vest from H & M today. I went in just to browse (I blame Colin for being out of town) you know, maybe pick up some new basics but instead walked out with a 30euro (45USD) fur vest. I saw one this past weekend in Filippa K and immediately remembered my sister owning one from The Gap circa 2000, Bets I believe you had one too...reversible?? Could it be that I am so excited for the premiere of Where the Wild Things Are that I needed to fill the void with this furry vest? Or am I just a hopeless shop-a-holic who spends my money the second I start making it? I need help, return it because at the end of the day I do not need it or could it add a nice punch to an otherwise ordinary outfit?..after all it was only 30euro. Below are some others who thought a faux fur vest could work.

(via the Sartorialist)

(DandG A/W 09)

(Louis Vuitton A/W 09)

(via The Sartorialist for style.com)

Photography:Three

2009-09-13T14:03:00.000-07:00

To Purge or Not to Purge..

2009-09-13T11:43:00.001-07:00

That is the question. Before moving into our new home Colin and I have been forced to do a little 'fall cleaning' to make room for all of stuff, and by stuff I mean clothes, lots and lots of clothes and sneakers. The problem is how do we decide what stays and what goes?

When I moved to Amsterdam I left behind at the very least 5 garbage bags full of clothes and sneakers I had collected throughout my years as a consumer. Knowing I had to share closet space with Colin I managed to pick out only my favorites, pack them up and bring them with me. The end result, 4 suitcases of clothes and shoes to get me through my time abroad and squeeze into an already packed bedroom waiting for me.

Fast forward three months and I have probably worn only 20% of what I brought with me. Posed with the obstacle of moving into a smaller apartment, it is time to once again get rid of more clothes. I don't miss the stuff I left behind in Brooklyn but at the time was a very difficult to decide what stayed and what came. What is it about me that makes me want to hold onto the things I have purchased conspicuously and never wore? Why now, faced with the same task am I finding it so difficult to throw out a blue silk top I bought at Urban Outfitters and worn one time? Is it because I am feeling some buyers remorse for that $50 top I put on only once, will I now find a reason to wear it just to ease my guilty conscience? If I do decide to keep it will it simply stay in the closet until the next move when I realize how pointless it was to worry and keep it in the first place and then, finally throw it out? If I do get rid of clothes I don't wear will I only turn around and purchase more things I will once again not wear? Once of the main selling points to our new apartment was the price. We have the opportunity to save money for vacations and things we may would otherwise feel guilty spending money on. If we do throw out our belongings will we only use the money we are saving to replace what we threw out?

Although I am sure not everyone has the same purchasing problem as I do I am quite sure everyone can relate in some way or another, my pack rat problem just happens to be with material possessions. Receipts? Magazines? Concert tickets? Are you guilty too? What I am struggling with now is, when is it time to give up saving memento's from the past? When is it time to wash your hands of what once happened and think about what is going on in the now? I suppose, or at least hope one day I will grow up and move on from buying clothes and keeping them just to say I have them. The question is, when?!

A Place to Call Home

2009-09-13T00:56:00.000-07:00

Moving to a foreign country I had it very easy; a tour guide who has lived and learned in Amsterdam for the past 3 years and a beautiful apartment to call home, settling in wasn't very difficult. However, along with that beautiful apartment came a roommate not something two people in a relationship would call ideal. Since moving here I have been on the prowl for a new apartment for two. Requirements: 'Modern cozy,' some outdoor space and an oven (hard to come by in Amsterdam). Well, finally after a month or so of searching and figuring out what we wanted; Save money vs. location, we found our new home. Located in the South of Amsterdam or Ouid Zuid our 1-bedroom with a garden is a perfect place for us to start our life together in Amsterdam. It ticked 2 out of the 3 major boxes; no oven, "the perfect apartment doesn't exist," I was told, somethings gotta give. It will take some adjusting, as we are very very spoiled in our current place but we were willing to do if the price was right! Below are some pictures, not our decorations, as we don't move in until 30 September. Housewarming gifts are not only accepted but encouraged...just sayin'

MIA

2009-09-13T00:40:00.001-07:00

Whooops. Once again I have taken an accidental hiatus from my blogging fun but, at least I have a new job to blame!! Don't get too excited; No I have not entered European Fashion world while working at a PR firm like I had hoped. But instead I have signed on to be a full-time as a nanny for a family I used to babysitting in New York. No no, it is not my dream job but allows me to have some cash flow, pay my bills and still have some money to FINALLY shop, which I have been missing dearly...Life could be worse, no complaining, no complaining. Lots has been going, here and back in New York like new homes, a new hobby, oh and a little thing called New York Fashion Week. I will try do some 'super-blogging' to play catch up. Hope everyone out there is doing well.

Fall into The....

2009-08-31T12:53:00.000-07:00

(via refinery29.com)

Gap? We all loved The Gap growing up, c'mon we didn't know any better, but in over the recent decade it has fallen into a downward spiral of 'same 'ol, same 'ol' so in search to find our 'fashion-selves' we turned our backs on the faithful brand to shop elsewhere. Maybe not for long, however. Blogging took the world by storm and now, it seems, bloggers who make their own t-shirts is not far behind. Tavi, the world's favorite pre-pubescent bloggers came out with her own Rei inspired t-shirt line, and many others followed. The latest? Garance Dior, famed street fashion photographer has been chosen to sketch and pose for The Gap for her up and coming pop-up line of t-shirts and tanks. Some include dreamy phrases while others showcase her strangely beautiful and quirky line portraits. The collaboration is to commemorate The Gaps 40th Aniversary and will only sell 69 (in reference to The Gap's trademark 1969) will be made in each style. Is this just what the 40 year old company needed to bring it back. Just maybe. Is is bad that I want one??

(via refinery29.com)

Back to School?

2009-08-29T03:58:00.001-07:00

Premature as it may be, fall is in the air here in Amsterdam. Crisp winds blow through the town as the children return to school. While most of us have finished our stints through the education ladder, there is still something about this time of the year that brings me back to the days of freshly sharpened pencils, clean sheets of college ruled paper and, of course... new fall clothes. Growing up my sister and I would take a yearly trip to The Gap (after much begging) for "the essentials," as Bev would say; new socks, a new white long sleeve shirt and some new jeans, if were were lucky, was what our new fall wardrobe consisted of. We are all grown up now and are fortunate enough to have the means to wardrobe ourselves in clothes of our choices for the new season. During the spring we all crave our summer dresses and open toe shoes but right around this time of the year the pedicures becomes a hassle and flips flop should be put away to prepare for the coming of cooler weather. Flats, grandma sweaters, darker denim, plaids and leather bombers are some of the Autumn essentials in my closet this years. Here are a few of my favorite and affordable picks for both men and women.

Band of Outsiders for Sperry

Band of Outsiders for Sperry Loafer Boat Shoe

Zara
Zara
Acne
Acne
Acne

mini

2009-08-20T12:02:00.001-07:00

What is it about mini things that makes them so damn cute? Is it the oddity of seeing something usually life-size transformed into something pint-size? Who knows, but for those like myself who have an affinity for the smaller things in life, Victoria Mason has created a jewelry line just for us. Complete with min-clothes pins, conversation bubbles, and tea cups...c'mon you can't say they're not adorable. With price points ranging from $173-$48USD for sterling silver they make the perfect gift for the 'small minded' person in your life. Below are photo's from the Oye Modern website where the collection can be viewed in it entirety, along with other beautiful pieces from emerging and independent designers.

$48USD
$48$173

"And I've been quickly ushered in, to a world that I confess I do not know"

2009-08-17T23:52:00.000-07:00

Last night marked my very first concert of the summer...better late than never, no? And what better band to be my first other than Blitzen Trapper. Surprisingly, Amsterdam has many venues where artists both big and small come to serenade Hollanders. The show was held at Paradiso, in the smaller hall (there are two in total). The church turned concert venue was opened by the city, along with another nearby venue, Melkweg, in 1968. Many famous artists have played there most famously in 1995, the Rolling Stones; Mick Jager claims their semi-acoustic show at Paradiso was one of the best shows ever played and was later released on their Stripped album. The venue has undergone changes in clientele throughout the years but has most recently settled into a wide range of shows which among others, include rock shows, lectures and plays.

How to describe Blitzen Trapper? We all seemed to struggled with an answer but came up with, "Folky-indie-70's rock." The Oregan based band has self-released 3 albums, most recently Furr in 2008 which awarded them a two page spread in Rolling Stones Magazine; the album also rested nicely at #13 on the Rolling Stones best albums of 2008. They put on a great show for us last night, one downfall was the tiny hall...summer heat + lots of people + dancing = sweating, smelly concert go-ers....all for the love though. I didn't realize before the show how Bob Dylan-esque their storytelling way of singing is, less cynical and more soft sweet lyrics, nice touch though. Here is a link to their current tour schedule....to all of you New Yorkers, head to the Bowery Ballroom on October 11th, it will be worth the $15, I promise. Below is my favorite song of theirs...checkity check it.

DIY: designer

2009-08-17T02:50:00.000-07:00

My friend Rosa sent me a great link today for DIY designer clothing. Now, when I first got my sewing I of course imagined myself making one of a kind pieces inspired by garments I couldn't actually afford, I also knew I had not clue how to make the clothes that I actually wear. Dresses, blazers and skirts are something you can't just whip up...patterns are necessary. Well, thanks to the website SHOWstudio.com you can now, with the click of a button have patterns made by designers such as John Galliano, Alexander McQueen and Maison Martin Margiela among others. To add a little twist they are also holding a design contest. You must pick one of the 7 designer pieces, create then style a photo shoot to showcase your masterpiece. The winner will have thir creation featured in SHOWstudio: Fashion Revolution at Somerset House 18 September - 20 December 2009. Below and above are some photos from the website, which one should I take a stab at for fun, of course.

Snap

2009-08-16T11:28:00.000-07:00

During my daily browsing of the world wide web I came across a pretty cool photography website, File Magazine-unexpected photography. If you click on the projects button on the left you can browse through some strange yet beautiful pictures. I still find myself struggling with what makes a photo a good photo; insightst? I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as they say.

Obsessed.

2009-08-15T01:17:00.000-07:00

Alright, who out there has watched the past 2 seasons of Mad Men? I am a little late in joining the bandwagon but luckily Colin has both seasons so I have been able to play catch up while not working. Besides the thrilling story line of Don Drapers sex-capades, the era is captured beautifully through the set design and the fashion of both men and women. The ladies garb is particularly inspiring and can be seen coming through with a lot of designers today. The high waisted shirts and a-line dresses in bright colored chiffon's and silks are pieces that should never go out of style...remind me again why we don't dress this way anymore? While I love the idea of rolling out of bed and throwing on some jeans, imagine dressing like Betsy Draper everyday. She has brought back the sexiness of being a house wife, always dressed to the nine's with her hair perfectly coiffed and curled. Not only is it ascetics that I am drawn to, there is also something to be said about that shape of a woman's body then, how a full-voluptuous figure was more accepted, rather than ridiculed. One thing though, what's up with the smoking, really?? I walk away wanting to light-up a pack of Lucky Strikes, subliminal advertising got me! Season premire is this Sunday, Unfortunately I will have to wait until Colin is back from the States to watch...can't wait through!!

A Few of My Favorite Things

2009-08-11T03:57:00.000-07:00

I mentioned yesterday I had a few favorites from the Tate Modern in London. I thought I would share some pictures with you (which I stole from the Internet because I am too much of a wimp to actually take pictures at art museums where camera's are not allowed). Given I know nothing about art I think it is mostly the colors I am drawn to, and well, that's about it ;)

(figure) woman, magda cordell

lake strarnberg, wassily kadinsky

untitled, mark rothko

a naturalists study, pierre roy

London Town

2009-08-09T04:21:00.000-07:00

I've been a little lazy with the blogging lately, seems to come and go in waves these days. As predicted though, I am doing a terrible job at keeping in touch so I must keep people updated somehow! Last weekend I was lucky enough to tag along with Colin on a work trip to London; I had never been to the UK, needless to say I could not wait. We landed late Friday night hungry, of course, so we headed out into the SoHo area for some grub. Colin was really in the mood for sushi, which I hate but we stumbled upon a Japanese Grill, Bincho and found a compromise. Bincho has hands down the best fried rice I have ever tasted. They also serve various different skewers drenched in a delicious teriyaki sauce and offered lots of varieties of Saki, Colin went with the Ginjo, I stuck with a beer.

We knew Saturday was the only full day we would get to spend together so we woke up bright and early to headed out for a day of tourist activities. First we cruised the Portobello Market in Knotting Hill, which is an outdoor flea/food market where you can buy just about anything you could ever need. We hadn't had out morning coffee yet and the weather was against us so while it rained we stopped into a cafe for a proper English breakfast. After that, with the recommendation of a local we stopped at the Victoria & Albert Museum. The main exhibit was "Fantasy and Fear in Contemporary Design." It showcased furniture, lighting and ceramics designed in the spirit of story-telling. Walking through everything reminded me of Alice in Wonderland, the furniture was over sized, dramatic and nearly impractical but looked like to came straight from my favorite fantasy movie. An unknown tidbit we both learned was, in 1858 the V & A museum was the first to hold a photography exhibit, they were showing a few pieces from the original showcase which was interesting to see how photography has evolved since. From there we headed to towards the River Thames en route to the London Eye. As expected, the line was ridiculous so we took it all from the ground, walked along the river and over the Westminster Bridge. With no real plans for the rest of the day we walked until we came across the St. James Park and restaurant with plenty of outdoor seating; we grabbed a beer and took a seat under a huge tree which acted as a gigantic canopy from the rain. That night we went to dinner with some English friends of Colin's and a tequila bar, Green and Red; then attempted to soak up the night life, unfortunately the English's idea of a good time didn't really suite us so we headed home for some sleep.

Sunday I was on my own, as it was a work trip for Colin he did actually have to work. And so after brunch with Colin my first stop, the Tate Museum. Now, unbeknown to me when the Tate was recommended, did I know there were to Tate Museums in London; the Tate Britain and the Tate Modern. So I headed on the Tube to the Tate Britain thinking it was the only one, only after the fact did I come to realize there were two, the Tate Modern being on the other side of town...oh well, needed the exercise. After the Tate Britain it was finally time to see Buckingham Palace so I cruised North on foot. I have to say I was a little disappointed with the Palace. Yes, it was grand and beautiful but just a little less jazzy than I expected. (I did get to make out with Prince Harry though). The sun was finally shinning so I found a nice open spot in the Palace gardens and read my new book, Lolita for awhile. Rested up I decided to head to the Tate Modern, being that is what I had planned for the day; now, according to my map it did not seem like that far of a walk....a 2 hour walk along and across the River Thames and my feet were killing me. However, the walk was worth it; the Tate Modern is a beautiful huge old building which must have been some sort of a factory back in the day is now transformed into a international modern art gallery, which quite an impressive collection. I'm usually not a fan of Modern art but I did find a few favorite pieces; Magda Cordell, Women; Wassily Kadinsky, Lake Stranberg; Mark Rothko, Untitled; and Pierre Roy, A Naturalists Study. After browsing the 4 floors I stopped at the cafe on the 3rd floor for a pick-me-up cappuccino and a quick nibble. Colin had to be a work later than expected so after the museum I walked, a very long way, back to the Hotel; I can't complain though, it was a good walk and gave me an excuse to take some pictures along the way. Nap, dinner, then drinks perfect end to an exciting day.

My flight left at 8:25pm Monday night leaving me with another full day to wander around town. I didn't realize how much I missed the consumerism that surrounds you in New York, until I got to London and was quickly reminded. Even though I had zero money to spend on things I don't need, Colin convinced me that I had to at least browse and see what's out there. So after a little breakfast in a cafe I spent the afternoon browsing in and out of shops. Happy I did because the English have the strangest and wackiest, yet most brilliant sense of fashion. They seem to wear whatever suits them, not really following any type of 'style', just wacky like I said. After feeling depressed, broke and enlightened I headed to the Design Museum for a little more edu-ma-cation. The Super Contemporary exhibit was being held on the 1st floor which showcased what makes being a designer whether in architecture, clothing or engineering in London special. The room was set up as a time line spotlighting the best things that came out of London's design history. Among others, we have London to thank for, 'the bob' haircut, Kate Moss, Burberry, The Rolling Stones and Time Out Magazine; Thank You, London. I found out the Fashion and Textile Museum was in the same area; after searching for nearly 50min I also found out it was closed on Monday's. sweet. I walked around snapping pictures a bit more then headed to the airport back home, yes home, to Amsterdam. Short yet very successful trip. Next stop??

The Foam

2009-07-28T03:31:00.000-07:00

When I first became unemployed in New York I vowed to visit all the museums that make New York City, New York City. And so, on rainy days I would visit the Brooklyn Museum, Guggenheim, and of course the MoMa. Still unemployed and looking for a little excitement to fill my days I have once again turned to the tourist websites of Amsterdam keep myself busy. Luckily Amsterdam is filled with museums to amuse just about anyone. Into bags and purses? Well, the Museum of Bags and Purses is just for you. A fan of the arts? How about the Van Gogh or Rembrandt Museums? Being that I have been dabbling in photography since living abroad, I have become a frequenter of the Foam Museum of Photography. I have visited The Foam over past visits but their exhibits are ever changing and never disappointing; so when I found out there was a fashion blog exhibit running to coincide with Amsterdam International Fashion Week, I couldn't wait to see. Garance Dore is a fashion blogger who is known for her street photography and capturing the fashion conscious in full-length, straight-on shots. I'm not sure if it is the lighting, the non-chalantness of the photos, or the fabulous people she captures time and time again but her photos seem to be forever effortlessly beautiful. Dore has been featured on the famed fashion web-site, The Sartorialist who also captures fabulous people throughout their daily lives in fashion forward cities such as New York, Milan, and Paris. The Dore exhibit was a little bit smaller than I think it deserved but nonetheless fun to see in person. The exhibit changes through the course of AIFW and runs through August 23. Below are some photos from the Foam website.

Wijk aan zee

2009-07-27T04:32:00.000-07:00

Or, district by the sea. Undoubtedly, one of the best things about summer is having the opportunity to visit the beach. The sunshine, sand and smells of the ocean always seem to make me feel nostalgic...and extremely lazy. The weather has not been very beach friendly recently but, it was above 70degrees yesterday so Colin myself and some friends headed 45 minutes North-West until we hit the North Sea at Wijk ann zee. The town itself is very small and set within the municipally of Beverwijk. There is some shopping and restaurants but I get the feeling most people visit solely for the surf and sand. The beach itself is beautiful and filled with sun-bathers, little kids playing and lots of surfers. When you approach the beach you notice a cloud of smoke always lingering above, this is mainly due to the refinery that is set behind the sand dunes. The pollution ridden refinery seems to contradict the scenery set by the massive windmills which also surround the beach. The scene created by both is something out of a movie and can be seen in its entirety when you walk out onto the peer. There are also two restaurants on the beach, both provide plenty of lounge chairs and waitstaff when you're in need of a snacks or beverages. Although we spent most of the day sleeping in the sun it was the perfect end to our weekend, we probably could have been more careful with the SPF, but a little 'base burn' never hurt anyone.

One Lucky Gal.

2009-07-22T02:49:00.001-07:00

As I previously mentioned, last weekend marked my very first euro-excursion sorry, euro-road-trip-excursion (even better). Colin myself and 4 other friends headed to the Alsace region of France where we stayed in a quaint village called Riquewihr. The village itself was absolutely breath-taking, straight out of a Disney movie was what were were told to expect and well, it most definitely lived up to it. The village is surround by a brick wall, as you look into the distance you are also surrounded 360 degree by sloping vineyards. Aside from taking a little break from Amsterdam, the main reason for heading south was to see The Tour De France, it was a dream of our friend Elyse's to see Lance zoom by on his bike, tight shorts and all. I've never been one to pass up a little adventure, especially one that includes wine tasting as well.

The trip started with a 6hour drive through Amsterdam, Germany and finally ended in France. We packed some 'supplies' to make the early morning drive a bit enjoyable so no complaints about the distance. We arrived in Riquewihr and were greeted by sunshine and cancelled hotel reservations...luckily we were with a native speaker and he was able to work everything out, even got us upgraded to a villa, complete with 2 bedrooms, hot tub (which sadly couldn't be used) and front porch for late night cocktails...not too shabby. After getting settled we set out to enjoy the scenes of the town, beautiful evening weather, and a little Alsacian grub. Most people know that I am an extremely picky eater (something I am trying to work on) but I will say the food was somewhat disappointing, every restaurant we went to offered the same food, very meaty and cheesy...French onion soup was to die for, however.

The second day was dedicated to see the tour; and so with hot coffee and croissants in hand we all packed into our mini-van and headed up to the mountains to watch a little piece of history. We arrived pretty early and the higher up we got into the mountains the colder and rainy it began to get. Luckily because we did arrive so early we were able to get a prime spot in a restaurant right along side the course so us wimps (Michelle and myself) could spectate in the warmth with hot mulled wine and a couple games of dice. No one could give us an exact time of when to expect the pack to ride by but we were told between 1:30 and 3:00pm so, we all sat in anticipation for two and a half hours...myself with numerous glasses of wine, the others with signs and umbrellas in the rain and cold. I will admit, I didn't have much of a desire to see the tour but now that I have, it really was exciting and I can now say, I sat on top a mountain and watched the The Tour de France. Aiight. After the tour we stopped at our first winery for a couple pre-dinner bottles of wine then rested up for dinner and drinks in "The Cave", our friend Kyle who lives in Geneva came to spend a couple of days with us as well. "The Cave" is beautiful restaurant that literally looked like you were sitting in a cave duh, right? We ended up closing the place down and getting a free bottle of wine at the end then headed for a 'night out on the town'. As you can imagine the night life is somewhat lacking in the village of Riquewihr but we did manage to find one dance club called, Evasion. I wouldn't recommend or ever return but for good laughs and a little tipsy-dancing it did the trick.

Day three was set aside for all day wine tours all over Alsace. Andy and Elyse didn't get enough of Lance the day before so they woke up bright and early to send him off on another day of riding in the village of Colmar, while the rest of us slept until 11...nice. After we all got settled and ready we once again piled into our min-van and headed out for the day. We stopped in Ribeauville

for some nibbles and the first winery for the day. I also have to mention that Alscace is known for white wine, something I didn't know until we hit the road on our first day; so if you ever do find yourself wine tasting in Alscace, France don't forget to pack the ibuprofen and mentally prepare your head for LOADS of white wine.

After stopping at a couple more wineries along the way we finally came upon the winery of all wineries, 'The Francois Lipp & Files'. We were greeted by a very friendly man who introduced us to his even friendlier father, who was somewhere near 75-80 years old but had the energy of a 28year old. Most of the wineries we previously visited were very harsh and unfriendly, we were traveling with a large group so I think it intimidated people. Here, we were taken into a wine tasting room with a table and chairs where we should sit, relax and chat with the owner, who didn't actually speak any English but did speak German and was able to communicate with Jesse and Kyle quite well; he also enjoyed the company of the ladies...Michelle in particular (ping!!!) We were all won over by this old man and walked out with cases of wine to bring back to Amsterdam. Wine is very inexpensive, in all we probably ended up with 10-15 bottles/couple to bring home. So, with plenty of wine in tow, we headed once again into the hills for some sight-seeing at The 3 castles of Haut-Eguisheim which now structurally looks nothing like a castle but offered amazing views of Alsace, perfect for some post-wine tasting photo sessions. The day ended with a headache for me, but I braved through it and the night started with dinner at a very authentic french restaurant and ended at our hotel bar, then our villa for a game of 21, which went way into the early morning...worth the lack of sleep the next day.

Sunday we packed ourselves and numerous cases of wine en route back to Amsterdam. All in all, it was an amazing trip; big thanks for Andy and Elyse for planning, Jesse for picking up the van and Colin and Kyle for providing endless laughs along the way...definitely a trip to remember. Where are we going next?

Le Tour de France...A Brief History.

2009-07-15T03:07:00.000-07:00

On July 1st, 1903 the first ever 60 competitors of the Tour de France set out on their bicycles, with much disbelief from the general public, on a 6-stage tour that lasted 471km (292 miles). While only 21 of the original 60 finished the race, with Maurice Garin as the overall winner, it provoked a mixture of pride and wonder from the people of France. And so, in 1910 marked the first official Tour, where the people of France opened their hearts, countryside, and even mountains to the competitors. While the rules and overall course have changed over the years it is still known as on the the most grueling sporting events even compared to, "running a marathon several days a week for nearly three weeks." Currently The Tour is by invite only, but once allowed anyone to compete, given they would sponsor and look after themselves. After the 1930's however, people had to enter with a team, usually consisting 9 competitors; each member wearing a jersey of their sponsor are expected to help each other through every stage, along with the help of mechanics and managers who follow behind.

At the end of every stage, each riders times are tallied and a 'general classification' leaders is awarded the maillot jaunne, or yellow jersey for the day. Other qualifiers include 'The King of The Mountain,' who wears a red and white polka-dot jersey; the white jersey is awarded to the youngest rider under 25. The length and route of the Tour varies depending on the year; the shortest Tour was in 1904 at 2,420 km, the longest in 1926 at 5,745 km. This year consists of 21 stages beginning in Monaco and ending in Paris on the Champs-Elysees, where the final laps have taken place since 1975. Now you may be asking yourself why I am enlightening you all about this historic ride? Very good question, the answer being that tomorrow morning Colin, myself and 4 friends are setting out in a family size van en route to Alsace, France to watch 10 seconds of history and see if every one's favorite, one testicle, American will once again take the entire tour, which would historically be his 8th overall win. Do you think he'll do it?

Guilty.

2009-07-12T02:31:00.001-07:00

I was reading the New York Times book section this morning in hopes to find a new, 'can't put down, get lost in it,' book but instead came across an interesting review for a book called, "You Are Here" by Canadian author Colin Ellard. The premise of the book is Americans have become so dependent on GPS and map applications these days that we tend to get lost in the technology instead of using the our brains; a much less expensive and built-in GPS system we all tend to forget about. Now, I do agree that I probably look ridiculous riding my bike, iPhone in hand trying to figure out where I took a wrong turn, causing near death accidents by stopping in the middle of the bike path; however, I would still consider myself a newbie in Amsterdam, where half of the street names are impossible to pronounce, (Oudezijds Voorburgwal...what?) my iPhone Map application saves my life daily...expect when it places me in the middle of the Amstel River. Not only does it come in handy in Europe, while living in Brooklyn my roommate and I often found ourselves in need of the closest subway station...Google maps always came to our rescue.

The second half of the book focuses on urban planning, taking the blame off the us 'disconnected Americans' and placing it on those who designed our cities. Ellard believes that cities should have been built more sensibly and people should feel the ease of travel while moving from one place to another. I can agree however, Amsterdam was built many hundreds of years ago so I do not believe ease of travel was on the minds of those constructing this city. At the end of the day, I have to admit that the convenience of GPS and maps often saves me from being 2hrs late to an appointment however, if you have the time (which many of us do not) the adventure of getting lost and finding yourself is sometimes much more fun than following a highlighted route on your phone. Call me a lazy American, or technology dependent, but mapping out my route ahead of time gives me all the 'ease of travel' I need'. Thank you, Google maps.

Photography:Two

2009-07-06T03:32:00.000-07:00

God Bless America. Our 'ex-pat' 4th of July turned out to be more than any of us could have imagined. We got off to a bit of a late start but the sun was shinning, we had booze, tunes and a great group of friends. Highlight of the day goes to Mr. Jesse Olsen who was a victim to the canals. A note to all of those reading: when boating/drinking all day be sure to hydrate or else you may become faint, forget where you are and fall backwards into dirty, smelly and polluted canal water. Thank goodness we had a group of quick response men on board to save our fallen skipper. Good times had by all. Enjoy the photos from the day.

I Pledge Allegiance

2009-07-03T03:49:00.000-07:00

...to the flag. Happy almost 4th of July!! The 4th of July is one of the best party days...or weekends all year long. It is the first real reason to party since the start of summer, and would not be complete without BBQ's, fireworks, friends and family. For most, the celebration has already begun or will kick off this evening, however for those of us who live abroad our dreams of watching late night fireworks under the stars can be forgotten.

Clearly they opt to not observe America's Day of Independence here in Holland but have no fear, we have decided to gather all of our fellow ex-patriots and throw ourselves our very own 'Happy Birthday, America' party here in Amsterdam. The day will start with an afternoon/early evening boat ride through the canals and end with an all American-o BBQ here at our house. Pictures, and I am sure videos will follow. I hope every back in the States has a safe and happy 4th of July...drink some bud-lights for me!

Chef Sornberger

2009-06-29T09:19:00.001-07:00

Among the numerous hobbies I have picked up since living here cooking is oddly the one I seem to be utilizing the most, and is also the one which Colin most likely supports the most as well. It has always been enjoyable for me but I have never had the time or big beautiful kitchen like I do now to support the habit. (Yes Eric now that I moved out I started to cook, sorry) It's always nice to share a good meal with someone but really, who has the time to go to the grocery store everyday and pick up ingredients for a new recipe? Well sadly, I do. I have found this great website, www.allrecipes.com which has thousands of options for you to choose from. They offer Italian, Mexican, and even has a great grilling section for new twists on old grilling favorites. It is also helpful for me here in the Dam because you can convert everything to the metric system, without which I would be clueless...go ahead laugh, but I am sure everyone reading this would have a hard time as well!

I first made the Garlic Chicken Stir Fry for Colin, his sister and brother-in-law when they visited last week. Grocery shopping here is difficult to begin with, but grocery shopping for Asian ingrediants was even more difficult. The hardest and most important item to find was the Corn Starch, or Maize Zetmeel thanks to my iPhone translator; I finally found it with very little help from the grocery store workers...Below is the recipe for 4 servings but it can also be adjusted for more or less, another plus with the website. The picture is of the final result which I served over white rice; DE-LISH.

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons peanut oil
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
2 onions, thinly sliced
1 cup sliced cabbage
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
2 cups sugar snap peas
1 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch

DIRECTIONS

Heat peanut oil in a wok or large skillet. When oil begins to smoke, quickly stir in 2 cloves minced garlic, ginger root, green onions and salt. Stir fry until onion becomes translucent, about 2 minutes. Add chicken and stir until opaque, about 3 minutes. Add remaining 4 cloves minced garlic and stir. Add sweet onions, cabbage, bell pepper, peas and 1/2 cup of the broth/water and cover.
In a small bowl, mix the remaining 1/2 cup broth/water, soy sauce, sugar and cornstarch. Add sauce mixture to wok/skillet and stir until chicken and vegetables are coated with the thickened sauce. Serve immediately, over hot rice if desired.

Bon appetit!!

Three weeks and counting, yo.

2009-06-26T00:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday officially marked my 3 week run here in Amsterdam; also happens to be the longest time Colin and I have spent together :) Everyday is a learning experience and I would be lying if I said I have enjoyed every second of it. The fact of the matter is, things are very different here and well, life can't always be rainbows and butterflies.

I moved here with an open mind well aware that it would be an adjustment and a huge culture shock; it would take time to feel at home. My first two weeks were amazing, what most would call, 'the tourist phase,' where everything you do is new and exciting; vacation like, if you will. Biking around is a leisurely activity, not a means of transportation; Dutch is suddenly the most beautiful language that you must learn; Unemployment allows opportunities to explore your new home. Slowly but surely, however, this phase begins to wear off and it started to do so over the past few days for me. Biking became a hassle, the etiquette, the locking, the sore butt. The language barrier catches up to you, when you ask for a Margarita on the rocks at dinner and the only response is, "It is not possible." What? You mean you don't know what that means or, literally, it is not possible? While unemployment may open up my day to endless activities and exploring, unemployment also means no paycheck, no paycheck means limited funds partake in endless activities and exploring. I have been unemployed since April when I left Nike, I never thought I would be dying to get back to work so soon. I came here from New York where I lived for the past 2 years. Life was fast paced and never stopped, it was what I became accustomed to while working, interning and finishing school; an idle mind was not something I was used to. I had old friends, new friends and family to fill up my days and nights. I had it good in New York.

Colin has lived in Amsterdam for three years because of this, I have been very fortunate to meet lots of new and interesting people; some expats and some who have lived here their entire lives. Everyone, however has encouraged me to slow down, enjoy my time here especially while the sun is shinning and an umbrella is not required. This is where Americans and the Dutch differ. In America it is custom that you graduate, find a job and work for the rest of your life; whether or not you are happy is secondary. After hearing the same advice several times over the past few weeks, it has made me think about my pessimistic attitude towards my new home, something clicked. Was I being too harsh, did I need to relax, stop my bitching, take it all in and be thankful I have this opportunity? To answer my own question, YES. I may have had it good in New York but the challenges of overcoming the language, the bikes, and the money in the end will only make me a better more worldly person, for lack of a better word. So what if I don't have a ton of friends and I miss my family, of course I do. I can always makes new friends, the others will always be there and my family is just a phone call away. Who am I to complain...I am living in Amsterdam. Helllllo.

I realize my three day stint of disliking it here is only the beginning. More waves of distaste are likely to come and go but as long as I keep my head up and an open mind, with the help of my new friends and a lot of putting up with my whinning from Colin, slowly I will learn to call Amsterdam my new home.

I'm on a boat...

2009-06-22T05:08:00.000-07:00

One of the most beloved pastimes here in Holland, besides cruising the red-light, is boating through the canals. Depending on what you're in the market for, purchasing a boat can be somewhat expensive; which is why here in Amsterdam they offer boat rentals which can be purchased on a daily or hourly basis. Thanks to our friends Andy and Elyse's membership to the 'yatch club' we had our very own boat to navigate through the canals all day Saturday. A little bit of Rose and Champagne, good tunes and great friends..and a boat-up pizza window, made for an amazing day.

Gelukkig Vanders Dag!

2009-06-21T02:03:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day! Today is dedicated to all the dads out there, mine in particular...Big D! Now, those of you who grew up with me in Buffalo know that I put my dad through quite a bit during my years of adolescence. Between multiple car accidents with multiple cars, over-withdrawn bank accounts, under age parties while he was on vacation; which usually ended with the house barricaded by police cars while twenty 18year olds were locked in the house...still drinking. BUT despite all of my assanine choices he has always done whatever he can to help me through the bad decisions and encouraged me the few times I've made good ones ;)

When I decided to move to New York City he said, "Sorn, as long as you've got a plan." So I put together (a half-assed) plan, he packed up the pick-up truck and were were off. When I decided to move to Amsterdam there were no fights or questions of, "What the hell are you thinking?!" But instead, "What can I do to help". He saw the potential in my decision and let me decide what I felt I needed to do, as long as I had a plan. A father's love and protection of their children is something that can only be seen once you're old enough to have put them through years of torture. Once you realize there was method to your parents maddness and rules growing up, all you can do is thank them. So, thank you for everything dad you're amazing and deserve nothing but happiness in your life. I love you!! xoxo Sorn

Back off ladies...that's may dad.

What up with the bikes?

2009-06-18T02:45:00.000-07:00

There are many things that Amsterdam is known for sex, drugs and bikes being the few that stick out to me. While we are all aware of how the drugs and sex works, biking is something that is so widely common here it is never discussed; the why is it done? And when is started?

Let's begin with some facts, there are approximately 750,000 people living in Amsterdam, 600,000 of those people own bikes. While in the states streets are lined with towering SUV's, Amsterdam's streets are lined with hundreds and thousands of different types of bikes. Walking through Amsterdam quickly makes you realize why people bike everywhere, the streets are narrow and full of speed bumps, parking is expensive and not widely available throughout the city; and since most streets have bike lanes and racks scattered throughout the city, it makes biking the most economical and easiest way to get around.

Literally everyone bikes here, there is no exception or rule to who bikes and who doesn't. It is not uncommon to see men dressed poshly in a fitted suit, riding with one hand on the bike and holding an umbrella in the other. Women wear dresses skirts and stilettos to transport from home to work to the bars. The elderly cruise through the streets with ease, having been doing it their wholes lives. Surprisingly you don't see too many baskets, like the one I have on my bike; probably because of the added weight, but some people have not only baskets but add Bakfeits, which are used to transport multiple children on either the front or back of your bike.

Although Amsterdam is generally a safe place bike theft run rampant though out the city with . People attempt to prevent it by using 2 locks, one large chain attached to the frame and front tire and the back tire key lock, but despite the measures taken theft can happen to anyone. If you are caught stealing a bike you will be charged 160euro, most are guilty of doing it or trying to once or twice without getting caught, mainly because it is so easy and most bikes look exactly the same.

I am slowly but surely learning how to ride my bike, understanding the street etiquette, and mainly trying not to die!! Crossing the street is terrifying to me but after riding behind Colin for a few months, I'll be a pro in no time!

Tot ziens!

Photography:One

2009-06-16T01:18:00.000-07:00

Photography has always been something I have wanted to get involved with; there is something amazing to me about having the ability to see an image in your head then capturing it on film. And well, since I am a jack of all trades these days I am trying to spend some of my free time practicing by taking pictures of things I see and do while I am here. Whether or not I am good is up to you to decide. These collages seem to be the only way to post multiple pictures at once, when I feel inspired by a certain day or series of pictures, or hell, maybe on your birthday I will post more. Genieten! (Enjoy!)

I've been gone for a minute...

2009-06-15T02:15:00.000-07:00

Now I'm back again...My apologies for the hiatus, had a bit of a crazy weekend here filled with tropical parties, blind dates, and BBQs; ended with a picnic and picture taking day with Colin.

After a long weekend of unexpected late nights and zero physical activity, Colin and I forced ourselves to have a somewhat productive Sunday. Although I have already biked along the Amstel, this time was completely different. Unknown to me, you have two choices to ride on either western or eastern side of the river; this time we picked the eastern side (or as I like to call it, 'the road less traveled'). The route is the same but the views are completely different; rather than streets lined with large dutch homes you ride along open fields with farm animals eating grass and lounging around the pastures. We stopped along the way to enjoy the views and nibble on some nosch (how is that spelled??)

Our first pit stop was at a small play ground set off the path. There were no bells or whistles to this playground, just large wooden poles, ladders, and of course swings. What I found interesting was how amused the kids were with the playground, given the simplistic nature of it. Simplicity seems to be a common theme here, you often see entire families gathered on a park bench with a blanket, food (always a slice of bread and piece cheese), and a bottle of Rose. Sounds quaint but they are always smiling and just happy to be there, enjoying each others company. So, that's what Colin and I did all day. And yes, being that we do live in Amsterdam, we did partake in a little bit of what Amsterdam is known for; Sunday-Funday, anyone?? So we got a little creative and started using our sunglasses as filters to take pictures. Thanks to Betsy, my glasses tint everything 'rose-tinted' while Colin's make him see everything, 'cinematic-ly.' Needless to say, we see the world very differently.

The day got more and more enjoyable as it got later; during the summer months it stays legitimately light until 10pm. The sun is hot and high in the sky until 7/8pm, which was convenient given our late start...We rode along the Amstel and through the town of Ouderkerk until we found another, 'road less traveled', which I saw last time I went for a ride but was too nervous to go it alone but this time we rode with ease. The path lead us to a small beautiful canal and farm house, I thought looked like something Shrek would live in, straight out of a movie. It sounds so simple to read but to see these things in person, and have them so close to were you live is unbelievable. I am taken back more and more by the picturesque views here, realizing how lucky I am. We sat along the path soaked up the sun and ate the rest of our lunch.

Colin had one more place he wanted me to see so we headed back towards the city, this time on the Western side until we came to a large blue and yellow steel gate which lead us to Amstelpark. Colin and some friends found the park a few weeks ago while on run it is something you ride by often but never realize it's there, or take the time to go see. As soon as I walked in I immediately felt like I was in Alice in Wonderland, the park is a surreal place. Within it there are many different gardens, a cafe, and buildings which hold art exhibitions. There is a small maze, which made us feel like we were in the movie, The Labrynth (if you haven't seen it, you should be ashamed. Rent it). Given it was Sunday evening and a beautiful day for Holland you would have expected it to be packed with people, but we saw only about 6 other people the entire time. Something about the huge bushes, the smalls offbeat paths and the overall tranquility of the park makes you feel like it is your personal, secret garden. Plans for a BBQ there are in the works.

The day ended with some dirty Mexican food from The Taco Shop down the street. One word: AMAZING. Those of you who know me know I have a deep love for Mexican food, or anything smothered in sour cream...this food gave me a taste of the American I needed. I plan to be a frequenter daily, Eh....I mean, weekly???

Why Three?

2009-06-11T03:15:00.000-07:00

When trying to decide on a name for my first blog there were a few suggestions such as, "Sleeping with the tulips," "Booze, bikes and bitterballen," "Shiiiiat, I live where?" And for whatever reason I picked, "Three Kisses From Amsterdam." Why you may ask? Well, here in the Netherlands it is custom, when greeting someone to give and receive three cheek kisses...left-right-left. Sounds simple, right? Wrong. This is much harder than you would think to get used to, for one you risk serious nose and neck injuries while partaking in the quick left-right-left movement. Secondly, Amsterdam is a very unique melting pot of people from all over the world; those of us from America are accustom to the single right kiss and maybe a quick hug, depending on how well you know the person. Kissing customs differ depending on where you've come from and how you've grown up. For example, France has multiple kissing customs, some opt for the four kiss which always starts on the left cheek, while the two kiss is relatively standard. In Italy kisses are restricted to only close friends and family.

When trying to research why the Dutch partake in the quick three-timer kiss I couldn't find any real reason at all. It is, however a fairly new tradition which started in the 80's. Before that, the Dutch used kisses, whether one, two or three to define which class you belonged to; Once the 80's hit people seemed to care less about class structure and more about kissing everyone and excessive amount.

Sew-prises

2009-06-10T10:17:00.000-07:00

Among Colin's many surprises he had planned for my arrival the most out of the blue came yesterday. I woke up with strict instructions to open a present, which had been sitting in my drawer since my arrival last week, at 10:30am. Its contents: sewing shears, push pins, thread and a measuring tape...or belt, depending on your style. I then got an email instructing me to be at Van Woustraat 73 at 11:00am. At 11:00am sharp I hopped on my bike and headed down the street and came to my destination, a sewing shop. A very spunky Dutch women told me I had to wait so to not ruin the surprise...20minutes later she sat me down at a machine, told me this model was mine and she was to give me lessons on the basics of sewing! I am not by any means a good sewer, I know the basics from high school but did however, pick it right back up surprisingly quick. It is always something I've said (or as Colin would say, "dropped hints on numerous occasions") I wanted to do; make summer dresses, hem my own jeans and just play around. Being that I have nothing but time these days it seems to be the most opportune time to start.

In search for some fabric I headed to the Albert Cuyp Market today for some cheap, beginners materials. I opted for black jersey cotton thinking I could dive right in and make a dress, wrong. It's true what they say, practice does make perfect. My "smocked summer dress" looks more like an old towel with most of the threads torn out. Oh well, always tomorrow. Once I get the hang of this again all of my friends can be expecting, "Made by Lauren, with love," presents from now on :)

Crusin Down the Amstel

2009-06-09T03:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a relatively nice day for Amsterdam...overcast and 60's (something I need to become accustom to) So I decided since I have seen most of the city over past visits, why not take a little cruise outside and along the Amstel Ri ver; which Amsterdam gets its name from. The river is 19miles long and runs through the city and municipality of Amstelveen, the municipality of Ouder-Amstel and the towns of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel and Nes aan de Amstel; all of which are collectively known as Amstelland and yes, named after the river. I rode south along for about an hour and a half with the river on my left and large homes, some of which had motes

surrounding them, on my right until I reached Ouderkerk. Where I sat along the river and ate lunch and read my book. It started to sprinkle a little bit so I packed up my bike and headed back to the city. Below are some pictures from the ride.

First windmill spotting!

The "small package" bike, surprise welcome gift from Colin.

This is Ourderkerk. Not sure if this picture does the town much justice but you can kind of tell how quaint it is, curvy cobble stone streets lined with small shops built in 18oo's. Picturesque.

Comin' through! I decided to venture to the other side of the Amstel but had to wait for a boat to pass under the bridge. NOTE: I am still getting used to my bike, the basket makes it somewhat heavy up front; when I tried to stop behind all of these people I ran right into that railing on the left...everyone turned their heads to see what happened but just turned them right back. Thanks.

A New Beginning

2009-06-08T03:44:00.000-07:00

As most of you reading this already know...During the holiday season of 2007 I met Colin in an elevator at Niketown New York, funny how life works sometimes. He used a cheesy pick up line I, of course, fell for it. Fast forward a year and a half with graduations, skype dates and trans-Atlantic visits in between, I have landed blindly in Amsterdam ready to start a new life. I am 24, currently unemployed and ready to explore everything Europe has to offer while I have this once in a life time opportunity. I am also undoubtedly the worst at keeping in touch with my friends and family so I will be using this to share my time and experiences here with everyone I have left in the states and miss dearly. Questions and comments are both welcomed and encouraged. Enjoy!