Category Archives: stupid pictures

ZON

by Ashley Posted on March 4, 2013

Today we kind of had our first real day of spring here in the Netherlands. It was lovely. I really love how light this house is, something I forgot until the sun came out today and lit it all up.

I must say that I’m really glad that the sun is finally showing itself (and yes, I know that it’s technically not correct, the stuff with the clouds and the sun always being there et cetera…). It’s about time! Because let me be honest with you: although I have had nothing bad happening to me in the past week, I’m kind of feeling down. It’s a weird feeling, like something is creeping up on me… I see myself avoiding mirrors, am bored with all of my clothes, don’t feel like eating (I do of course, but I don’t really enjoy it – which is weird, because usually I LOVE food), I’m tired, don’t feel like really doing anything at all and well… If I would have to summarize it all in one word it would be BLEGH. Not even a postive ~inspirational~ quote on a random picture can make me feel better. Maybe it’s the winterblues? It’s time for the sun to come out! Hopefully it will help!

Thankfully I was able to ignore that feeling for a little bit some days this week and forced myself to go outside. What do you see (besides the obvious pictures of “our” house) and what did I do?

I watched Silver Linings Playbook, which I liked but didn’t love (maybe I should read the book?) ▲ We went to Amsterdam for a open day at the university and I found the Master I want to graduate in, yay! I’ll start in september :) ▲ We also bought apple pie and paid Nathalie a visit at her cute home that day (and when I say cute, I mean it in a really good way, not in a “it’s small, so let’s just call it cute” kind of way) ▲ We used our fireplace almost everyday ▲ Baked tiny pancakes over at a friends house ▲ I bought some new boots (yay for sale shopping) ▲ Finally found a good coffee place in town! ▲ I borrowed the Bamboo Wacom tablet from a friend and used it for the first time (see last post for the results). Feels nice to be creative again (although it also forces me to fully acknowledge my own shortcomings – I CANNOT DRAW, no matter how hard I try, hehe) ▲ I’ve been listening a lot to Coldplay this week. Still love this song, great to sing a long ;-) ▲ I made potato soup again, and yes, I WILL post the recipe this week. I promise. ▲

Also, this song makes me happy (it’s from the 500 days of summer soundtrack):

Have a nice week everybody. Let it be a good one!

Posted in daily musings, home sweet home, Instagr.am, stupid pictures, tunes | 14 Comments

A few pictures and a favorite christmas song confession

by Ashley Posted on December 5, 2012

So, here’s the deal: the past few days I’m feeling a bit under the weather and I’m bored to death, so I thought I’d share some pictures. Lately I really try to pick up my camera more often (much to the enjoyment of those around me- ahem, the first picture was what you could call a “revenge-shot”, taken by my sister) and this is the result of carrying that thing with me the past weekend.

What do you see? Me, drinking tea (and before I get the “tea drinking etiquette-committee” on my back: I know I’m not doing it correctly, but my pinky was tired), our first snow (yay!), cozy candles at my sisters’ flat, a snapshot of our annual “sjoel”-competition (it’s a dutch thing – we take it very seriously in our family) and last, but not least, a picture I managed to snap during sunrise while driving home. It was a very dark and rainy day, but the sun wasn’t giving up! Hence the “strip” of beautiful pink light on the horizon. It was magical.

We also bought our very first “real” christmas tree this week and I had so much fun decorating it while playing christmas songs! It’s difficult to pick a favorite, but whenever I hear this one, I instantly have that christmassy feeling (yes, I have a bad taste in music. How exactly does that suprise you?). What’s your favorite christmas song? Anyway, I really love the holiday season, it’s so cozy! Makes having to stay inside a lot less annoying :-)

Have a nice week everyone! x

Posted in daily musings, stupid pictures | 20 Comments

Instagram, Willy Wonka & my life

by Ashley Posted on October 10, 2012

I’m sure you already know this, but just in case you haven’t heard: everyone is allowed to have feelings and I am a woman, so I have them a lot, ok? About everything! Yes, even about something as futile as Instagram. Mixed feelings to be exact. On the one hand I think it’s a ridiculous way to be even more self-absorbed than on facebook. A collection of a hundred instagram pictures of your daily food intake and some awkward mirror shots? HOW GREAT! I think this picture sums it up perfectly, thank you Wonka. But, let’s not be a party-pooper. On the other hand I also have very warm fuzzy feelings for instagram. It’s really fun to have a little diary on you phone, filled with cute pictures of your life. And hey, did you know: you too can now have a glamourous life! Instagram makes everything look like it costs a million bucks and instantely turns everyone into a supermodel.

I also like to think of Instagram as a great go to for the lazy blog masses. It’s a perfect way to let your visitors know about your day or week, without doing any extra work. Well, sort of. Because I’m a perfectionist, and it usually takes me about two hours to decide which pictures should be next to each other. But otherwise, it can be very quick! You may consider this post a demonstration of said fact.

Drinking coffee with my boyfriend in town – Not knowing what to wear and always ending up in the same old boring outfit – Haarlem, “my town” for the past 3 years, time flies! – Breakfast in bed with a latte caramel and yoghurt with swedish cereal, yum!

On monday I met up with Annemerel in The Hague to shoot some pictures, shop and drink tea. It was a lot of fun! Also spotted some important politicians, but of course I tried to act ~cool~ so I refrained myself from acting all fangirly, THANK GOD – Yesterday I felt like dressing up preppy. My boyfriend always laughs at me when I say this, but I’m sort of bummed out that I was never able to wear a schooluniform. I watch too much Gilmore Girls…

My current desktop background. I love the Virgin Suicides! Really need to do a post on that one, hmm… – This weekend I went over to Nathalie for some WINE and dine. We now have this theory that we should start the day with one glass, and then all will be fine ;-)

Whenever I look out of our window, I see this beautiful orange tree. I never really loved fall, but this year I’m really feeling it. – Probably my favorite outfit at the moment. Did only wear it once in two weeks, so I’m doing good people.

Oh, and yes, I’m just throwing it out there: I decided to quit school, it just wasn’t for me. I won’t bore you with all the details, but I’m glad with this decision. To prevent myself from dying with boredom, I try to fill my days with lot’s of fun stuff to keep me busy and of course I’m already thinking about which step I want to take next. Today I’m going to Utrecht to find out more about a Master I am interested in. If I’m lucky I will be able to start school again in february. Only 3 months to kill… musn’t be a problem ;-)

Posted in daily musings, girl stuff, Instagr.am, stupid pictures, university | 22 Comments

Picture party! Sverige (part I)

by Ashley Posted on October 2, 2012

Am I sad about the fact that I didn’t blog as much during my stay in Sweden? No, I’m certainly not. Sure, it would have been nice to have a daily play by play of those fun six months, but it just didn’t work for me at the time. I was busy having fun! That, plus I was writing my thesis and I just didn’t feel like spending more time behind my laptop if necessary.

Fortunately I do have a LOT (!) of pictures and a few of you said you would like to see them, so this is for you! :) I’ll start with a few pictures of my room (and the view) & next week I’ll probably share some pictures I took of Lund and the university. I’m also really excited to share the pictures I took during my trips to Stockholm and Tallinn! But that’s for another time :)

(Yesterday I had dinner with a few friends I met in Sweden (all dutchies as well) and for our next meet-up I’m actually planning to make a cheesy slideshow with all of our pictures. I’m still looking for the perfect background-music. Leave it up to me to make it even more cheesy ;-))

Posted in daily musings, stupid pictures, sweden | 14 Comments

You taketh a sister, a camera and an outfit (sort of) and this is what you get.

by Ashley Posted on October 1, 2012

If I had to describe my personal style, I would use the words simple, comfortable and eehhh affordable (I also try to always look classy, but that’s more of a goal than something I actually achieve I guess). I like browsing fashionblogs for inspiration, but most of the time the girls are wearing stuff which make me feel like a slob for not wanting to go around in 9 inch heels everyday. And I’m sorry, but I just don’t have the money for a designerbag. I have to eat! If you do have the money and perseverance to walk around like that, I applaud you, but for me it’s just not an option. I like to be comfy and I love my food.

That’s why I really love this outfit! I have been recycling it for the past two weeks (everytime with a different dress or skirt/sweater combo) and I’m still not getting bored with it. I’m actually wearing a summer dress (H&M) with a simple black sweater on top of it (Primark/Penny’s). My thights are just regular ones, and my ankle boots… they are D I V I N E (and only 25 euros at a dutch store called Van Haren). I wear them with almost everything! My coat is also from H&M, I picked it up during the autumn sale last year. It’s a bit too chilly to wear in real winter cold, but perfect for this transitioning-period into fall.

All in all, it is a super simple (affordable) outfit, and also super comfi! I can’t guarantee you that you won’t be stopped by Trinny and Susannah, but I think it’s perfect for a day of shopping (I actually bribed my sister with coffee and cake to take these pictures of me during a shoppingtrip, here is the proof:)

I also think that you could also easily wear it to go to class (although I would probably pick a different skirt/dress, but to each it’s own of course). Hell, you could probably even go dancing in it! And yes, it is a bit dark (black black black!), but that doesn’t bother me at all. Just wear your hair down, maybe add some lipstick and you are good to go :-)

You may wonder: why share? It isn’t that fabulous, does this really need a post of it’s own? Well, I for one LOVE seeing what other people are wearing, especially if it’s something that is very easy to copy. And of course I don’t know if this is something you WANT to copy, but I sure do know it is easy ;-)

Posted in "fashion"bloggah, girl stuff, nonsensical references, stupid pictures | 9 Comments