The one with the packaging

I'm a sucker for old-fashioned things, or things with an old-fashioned feel to them. I love how these anice cubes and liquorice are packaged. Don't they look awesome?

The one with the things for the home

With spring just a couple of weeks away (the countdown for warmer weather started months ago), I am ready for something fresh and new. These items keep calling my name and some of them might end up in my home. I love greys, wood, gold and just a little bit of quirky. I bet DMX never expected to be turned into embroidery hoop art!

Paper mache bowl
Pencil cup
New York wooden sign
Gin and tonic
Vintage wire basket
New York photography
Chevron pillow cover
DMX hoop art
Coco pillow

The one with Nigella's banana bread

My favourite cookbook (when it comes to the sweet stuff) is Nigella's 'how to be a domestic goddess'. This is a cookbook I actually make things out of, and so far, none of the results ever disappointed. Last sunday I made her banana bread, and this one was no exception. I did make some small changes to the recipe. I used cane sugar instead of white sugar, amaretto instead of rum, and lemon zest replaced the vanilla extract. The banana bread tasted very good, and because it has banana, raisins and nuts in it, I like to think it's quite healthy. The recipe can be found here.

The one with the first birthday

My Etsy shop is one year old! I joined Etsy as a buyer three years ago and on february 24th of last year I thought I should give opening up my own shop a try. So far, it's been fun, I have learned a lot and I met some amazing people online. Part of the celebration yesterday, were Belgian chocolates. 

The one with the things I liked this week (part 4)

I've been trying out some new things, like making these brooches

The first (and probably not the last)

China is just across the street

I could eat sushi every day

The one with all the neon

My love for neon is a renewed love. Been there, done that. Maybe I'm attracted to neon because it brings back childhood memories. I wouldn't dress in head to toe neon, but I do like a pop of colour every now and then. A while ago I bought some neon paint in pink and yellow, now I need to come up with a project to use these for. Here are some of my favourite brights. 

Hello Nowhere print by Brown Bear Studio
Big Knot necklace by Elfina Design
Neon Domo figure charms by Kandy Land
Night Light by Owly Shadow Puppets
Hot pink sunglasses by Sunnyspex
Abstract art print by Villavera
Little black notebook by Happy Serendipity
Textile cable lamp by lacasadecoto
Neon brooch by Madame Robè

The one with the mugs

I have a board on Pinterest that I (very ambitiously) named 'one day I will make this'. On the pinboard is where most of these DIY-ideas stay. But I got creative a couple of days ago with two cheap mugs and a set of Sharpies. I used this tutorial. 

The one with the books

One of my New Year's resolutions for 2013 was to read more books. I stopped making resolutions about my health (go to the gym more often, less chocolate, more fruits). They always made me feel bad about myself because I never managed to reach these ridiculously unrealistic goals. Instead, I promised myself to do more of what I love, like reading. So I started taking more trips to the library. These are the four books that were taken home with me after my last visit.

The particular sadness of lemon cake (Aimee Bender)
The secret agent (Joseph Conrad)
Ghosts & Lightning (Trevor Byrne)
One Fifth Avenue (Candace Bushnell)

The one with the trip to Breda

Yesterday my mum and I took a little trip to Breda. Our first stop was the Museum of the Image (website here). It was the first day of a new exhibition named Couture Graphique, which was about fashion not just being about looking pretty. It's also meant to give ourselves an identity and communicate who we are. Some of the brands represented were Raf Simons, Paul Smith, Viktor & Rolf, Louis Vuitton and Bas Kosters. Unfortunately, the museum-people were very fuzzy about taking camera's inside of the museum. I did manage to smuggle in my phone, and I took a very terrible picture of a very beautiful Viktor & Rolf dress. After that, we walked through the park to our lunch. I was terrified to see that there were like a gazillion birds, chickens and roosters in the park. I haven't managed to watch 'the Birds', but I can only imagine what those creatures are capable of. Last stop was the Breda Museum, it had an exhibition about Dutch romantic painter Petrus van Schendel, which was pretty awesome.

Couture Graphique

Viktor & Rolf dress, sorry for the poor quality. Camera's weren't allowed

rooster at the park, after taking this picture a made a run for it

lunch

artsy looking lamps

on the streets of Breda

Breda museum

The one with the things I liked this week (part 3)

mail from the UK!

my Alber, Marc & Karl buttons have arrived (ordered here)

on the streets

handdrawn envelopes, because plain white ones are, well, just plain white ones

The one with the Valentine's cookies

Yesterday after work I wanted to make something sweet for Valentine's day. I didn't want to spent too much time in the kitchen though. So I dipped some store-bought cookies in melted dark chocolate and added different kinds of goodies, like raisins and chopped M&M's. Happy Valentine's Day!

The one with Pablo Neruda

The one with the last minute Valentine shopping

I do like giving presents and sending out cards all year round, so Valentine's day is no exception. Here are some of my Valentine's favourites.

for your single friend 1/2/3/4

for him 1/2/3/4

for her 1/2/3/4