The Good Kind of Surprise

(Pictures courtesy of Ines over at The Purple Whale, Lacoste dress)

I went to the Provence last week with my family but now I'm back and hell-bent on keeping my promise of showing you all of last post's glorious pink purchases properly. As you know, the weather here in Belgium is absolutely shit - and I don't tend to swear on this blog - right now. That's why I haven't felt like traipsing around in this little number for outfit shots. All the while keeping my promise, I decided to act upon my opportunist side and used some pictures that were taken at a surprise birthday party/barbeque two days ago. Incidentally, I wore my new Lacoste dress a.k.a. the pink wonder. It might have also been a calculated move on my part but honestly, I just love wearing my new clothes and for the first week or so I tend to do so all the time.

 Anyways, the birthday boy in question is Nathan - that big dude in the second picture - who is the other half of my other half Chloé. I can't even begin to recount all of the hours we spent together in class, gossiping and having hysterical fits of laughter - we truly were one of those girls - during high school. She's one of my dearest friends and I love her. And even though we don't even necessarily get along, I've sort of come to love Nathan too. Moreover, I have to admit, without even the tiniest hint of sarcasm, that I had a blast at his surprise party.

May I just add as a conclusive statement that this dress is worthy of all sorts of praising adjectives that I'd have to look up in a thesaurus (think of awe-inspiring, stunning, exquisite, sublime, marvelous etc.). It is just grand. This dress is what greatness is made of. - x

Hello !

Just a quick post to keep my monthly average up. No, I just wanted to tell you that I'll be back soon enough. I only have three exams left to take and then I'll be free until September. In the best case scenario, that is. And my hair is short again. There's that. Haircuts are definitely worth a post, right? It seems like I am (and look) especially awkward today.

Anyways, thanks for the comments as per usual. Maybe I will take some amateur pictures of my room this Summer. But for now this sad, little substitute post will have to do. And now I'm off again. Football or English linguistics? Tough call. - x

A day in Amsterdam

On Saturday, my niece, mom, grandma and I took a 5-hour train ride to Amsterdam. It probably would have saved us a lot of time had we taken the Thalys but you do sort of get the feeling as if you're in your own little novel: endless snowy fields when you look out of your window, stopping in every city: it's all terribly romantic.

Upon arrival, we explored a little before heading over to the Hermitage Museum. I had never been to Amsterdam but I knew what to expect, the infamous canals and the bikes just about everywhere. Even with this weather, people braved the snow on their bikes. I had been dreading the snow on Friday but it just made the city all the more idyllic. Besides, I wore my hiking boots. It may not have been a pretty sight to see and many UGG-wearing Dutch girls gave me the stink eye but at least my feet were warm and comfy.

After the Rubens exposition at the Hermitage, we had dinner at the Rembrandtplein and Catherine, my niece, and I decided to explore the 9 Straatjes on our own for a while. Before we had to meet up with my mom and my grandma, we grabbed coffee at Screaming Beans.

My pretty niece (can you believe she's only sixteen?) bought some great stuff at Monki and COS. I on the other hand only bought the Diana camera bag at the Lomography Store. It was on my Christmas wishlist but I got it as a little exam gift to myself. I had such a lovely day but I couldn't have been happier crawling in my bed that night, ready to sleep in for the first time in two months. - x

Two thousand twelve

I just wanted to take a moment to wish you all the best during the holidays (or has that ship already sailed?) and in the impending new year. May all your new New Year's resolutions last longer than the ones from last year. Two thousand and twelve. 2012. Looks pretty enough in writing but God, I feel like I'm getting old. Nineteen already in July, dang. 

I'm currently holed up in my room, studying and I don't think I'll update often until February. But here's to good books, Isabel Marant sweaters, great new hairdos, cross-continental roadtrips, amazing time with friends and life! I'll drink to that!

These pictures were actually taken at a lomography workshop I attended with my friend Julie. While the results weren't all too overwhelming, good or bad, I definitely learned some things. Like, what pinhole actually entails...after two years...really...true story!

Thank you for reading and commenting on this ole blog o' mine. It really means a lot - x

I am tired!

 

National Geographic 

"I am tired!

I am true of heart!

And also:

You are tired!

You are true of heart!"

- Dave Eggers

I used to have this Dave Eggers quote up on my blog back in the very beginning but this one has always struck me as well. I don't know. I started my first year of university on Monday. I'm studying French and English. This entire week has been terrifying and exciting at the same time. I quite like it.

IKEA Days

I started my job as a dishwasher (sounds like lots of fun and it is, aight?) at the IKEA food court here in Ghent on Thursday. It's not that bad. I mean, you have to work really hard for eight hours a day but most of my coworkers are nice (we're one big IKEA Family, okay?) and when you're on break, you can stuff your face with all the food you like. You know what I'm talking about. Svenska köttbullar, all day long. As a bonus, you're reminded why you enrolled at university on a daily basis. No, it genuinely is a nice place to work and I have immense respect for the people who do this throughout the entire year for I couldn't do that.

In my days off and even before then, I've been wearing nothing but this dress. It's quite true to the wishlist in my last post and true to how I feel like dressing as of late. Simple and sweet. From age six to twelve, I was basically covered in H&M all the time. In the last couple of years I hardly bought anything there but in the last few months alone I've picked up four items that I'm absolutely fond of. I don't know whether it's H&M stepping up its game or me being more of a thrifter/selective person but I'm thrilled!

Their pre-fall collection has all the kinds of mustard sixties frocksto woo any girl's heart but I'm content with one dress from this collection as I've still got my wishlist (minus a few changes) on my mind. I've never been so focused to stick to it as I am now. It might have helped that I saw one particular fruity A.P.C. sweatshirt in person, but, hey, what gives? - x

Forever Young

My friends and I dreamt of organizing our school prom for a good year before reality finally started kicking in. I could talk on and on about this eventful year, all the craziness surrounding the prom committee, all the deadlines, all the frustration. But in the end none of it matters anymore. We had our prom and it was amazing. It's not magical. There isn't anything remotely magical about a high school prom held at an overcrowded, dirty nightclub. But there was something magical about the night anyway. We accomplished something. It didn't hurt that I had a blast but still, we did it. Dutch readers might notice that Tony Star was our headliner. Very classy, I know. But he was actually pretty brilliant and very nice. Although, I now remember he promised to take a picture with me and never did grmbl.

So, now you may be wondering what my part in all of this was. My friends and I sort of were the creative team, if you could call it that. We came up with the concept of 'forever young'. Presenting our idea to the committee was one of the most nerve-wrecking things I ever had to do. We talked on and on about the design until we came up with the idea to make everything Polaroid-themed. The entrance ticket looked like an actual Polaroid. We looked for the ideal faces to cast for the 'shoot' and woke up on a Saturday at 6 am to get the pictures taken. We designed customized buttons for every senior at our school. We cut out a life-sized Polaroid for our photo booth. There's a lot of 'we did' in this paragraph and I'm so proud of that. 

Here are some pictures of the actual night. Don't mind the pouty faces, they annoy me as well.

And that was that. I hope you all have a great day! Harry Potter, aaaah! Cannot. Compute.

Off you go, young Padawans! Wait, wasn't that another series? I kid, I kid...

Photo Booth diary

Do these types of posts beat the thought of no updates at all? I'm pretty sure they don't. But as a surrogate post, you can look at me posing quite ridiculously with the help of prom props or witness how I fail at knotting the vintage Hermès scarf I received for my eighteenth birthday two weeks ago. I was in France then but I'll be in Stockholm soon. I'm beyond excited for that one. 

Tomorrow: Harry Potter, Agnes Obel and Angus & Julia Stone! The weather might blow but life's good.

London calling

Source: Google

Today I am leaving for my absolute favourite city in the world (thusfar, I may add). My dear grandmother is taking me there for my fourth time. Since I'm going with my grandmother, the only things I'm packing are sensible and warm things: my A.P.C. wool coat, cotton dresses, knits and most importantly, no heels.

I have been making a to do-list for a couple of days now. Which museums this time? Do I want to see the changing of the guards again? Will my grandma dig the Tate Modern? There are so many things that one has to keep in consideration. She has explicitly told me that we won't be doing a lot of shopping, but Topshop is non-negotiable. If you go to London but not to Topshop in Oxford Circus, which is like the mothership, you might as well not go to London at all. That's not very true, but you get what I'm aiming at. Still, I'm not giving up and I've made up lists of all the other cute stores I have to visit this time.

I plan on taking home:

- one copy of the new issue of Lula
- a box of macarons at Ladurée
- gifts for my sister, mom and friends
- a Topshop jumper
- a pleated leather skirt by Zara

That's about it. I don't plan on raiding Topshop and bringing back tons of dresses, but I'd rather bring back a lot of lovely gifts for all the lovely people in my life. I'll see you in a couple of days! To all the Belgian girls who are still in high school like me, enjoy your Autumn break! xoxo

Vanity

Now what do you know.  Yours Truly in a magazine. Okay, it's not Lula or Vogue, not even close. It's this week's issue of Flair, probably one of the most read womens magazines in Belgium. I went to Antwerp three weeks ago and they came up to me while I was shopping. I was all flabbergasted but they managed to take a pretty decent picture of my face, given the circumstances. Another funny thing: I actually know the woman next to me in person, what a coincidence.

Apparently I also have to mob my floor more often. But that's an entirely different thing. xoxo

Diana F+ summer memories

I just got my first roll of film shot with my Diana F+ developed. *huge smiley face* *apparently I'm one of those people who use asterisks to express their feelings* As always, I was putting this off but I'm so glad that I finally got off my lazy ass, thanks to a kind reminder by the lovely Fauve. I'm quite pleased with the overall result although I obviously went a little crazy with the multiple exposures. They're probably complete rubbish but the Diana F+, or the analogue feeling gives them an undeniable charm.

I took all of them while I was in Italy in July and around my hometown, Ghent. That's why basically every single person  in these is family. Pictured are my mom, my brother Jan, my step dad and my step siblings Maur and Louisa. That's such a negative word because I love them all equally, more or less...

Although it looks like I'm sort of friendless (which is, in a way, sort of the case), I just haven't taken my camera with me when I met with them. I'd feel like a little douchebag. But, my next roll will be filled with joy, rainbows and cupcakes for sure.

P.S. Check out this supersweet post that Marie of Ruinée mais stylée wrote about me. I actually squealed with joy when I read it. No one has ever written anything about my blog so this basically made my day. I feel so honoured to be even considered. Thank you, thank you, chère Marie!

Hair- and papercuts

Thumbs up for my hairdresser, hooray! I have to admit that I arrived there prepared, armed with a documentation folder full of Alexa pictures. It's basically just a bob but I like it so it deserves a nicer name, like 'the Alexa'. Bad suggestion...anyways! Moving on :)

I've spent today buying school supplies and using our Label Maker to label binder tabs (lol). I picked up the new issue of POP. Such an amazing read and I have only barely glanced through it. A lot of late picture and article analyzing will ensue... I've been a Britney Spears fan ever since I was eight years old or something so of course, that's an added little bonus! Those supercool stickers on the inside will be used on many of my school books, thank you POP! 

Now I'm off to the library, business and pleasure. I'm going to pick up Norwegian Wood, which I've never read and get a jumpstart on all my reading assignments for the year. Cicero or Caligula, anyone?

Fragments

This last week I got a pair of loafers as a gift from my mom, I - or, if I'm honest, my stepdad - finally finished my diy birdcage and I stocked up on some magazines. Alexa is looking all glum and pale because I used her as a mouse pad and discovered too late that you shouldn't use magazines as mouse pads. And so a ongtime mystery was solved as I had noticed the same thing on several of my books, coincidentally also used as temporary mouse pads. Listen carefully, kids, books are not to be used as mouse pads!

I also went swimming at the lake with my little sister, went to see Inception with friends (and I want - no, have - to see it again), ate a lot of cheese cake, reread Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and did many other little insignificant things.

As for today, I went shopping in Antwerp with my friend Sofie and we both went on a little spending spree. I'll dwell on all my purchases and the lovely time I had tomorrow, I'm rather tired now. xoxo

Sunday blues

(source)

I'm not feeling very well today. I just drank gallons of tomato soup and I'll guess that I'll just rest and watch silly movies for the day. Any suggestions?

After that I'm going to reply to some unanswered comments because they're all so very sweet. Thank you so much and have a wonderful Sunday! 

Olivia

Today I bought this amazing ivory lace jacket by the Swedish label Rules by Mary after eyeing it for the last three months or so. It even has a name, how much more perfect can a piece of clothing get?

It seems that I can't stop buying pretty dresses, leading to the point that I'm buying things with the money that I'll earn in September, mommy gets to play Visa card, much to her dismay. Yes, I got the job I applied for before I left. I'll be cleaning offices and toilets for a couple of weeks. Not the most glamorous job but I wanted work (read: money) and I wasn't in any position to be picky.

Italy was dream. We went camping in Le Marche and stayed at Podere Sei Poorte, which is basically a Dutch enclave. The only people there were from Holland. You can imagine the mood when Holland lost the World Cup final, I mean, even I was teary-eyed. Still, you got to give credit where credit is due, the Dutch do it best when it comes to campings. I also sort of had a major crush on a very pretty Dutch boy who was my age but due to my shyness I never progressed much further than "Hey, how are you?". I'm still a little blue about all of it, but alas, it's my own damn fault. And why do I think that any one wants to read about this stuff? Okay, topic closed. I'm excited to do some outfit posts with all my new things. Talk to you soon xo

Birthday presents

So here are all of the presents that I got from my friends on Wednesday. Almost none of them read (or know) about this blog, but thanks again so much! I just love all of them. They're perfect for me. I got amazing books like Taschen's London and The Girls' Book: How to be the best at everything. In an completely different direction, I also got pencils with little animals on it, or a facial mask. Or a supercute umbrella with a matching something (can't come up with the name). So thank you, thank you! I love you girls!

Why don't I show you some pictures of the party - or more befitting, small-scale gathering - while I'm at it? Now there's a good idea.

Not exactly a raver, am I right! I have to be going now. I'm so excited for the sales that start on Thursday. I counted all of my coins and made wishlists in my head whilst browsings the websites of COS and Urban Outfitters, my main targets during sales season. Maybe there's a happy end for me and my black sequin dress after all. Only time can tell. I also have a job interview on Thursday, fingers crossed! xo