Happy friday!

Today was a day filled with family lunch, thee and cake with my lovely sister and an amazing long dinner with friends in a night full of laughter, love and friendship. B is out of the country of to London but that didn't get me down. I had an amazing day. Tomorrow again?

Really? Snow? Again?

I decided that this will not bring me down. Snow is fun! Winter is fun!
So to bring back happy winter memories I will post some beautiful winter pictures from Joseph Holmes I recently.

Me and my boyfriend are driving up to Sweden in a couple of weeks to go on a family skiing trip. These pictures really want to make me bring my dog!

Happy monday!

Today was a very good day. The whether was cold but wonderful. The sun was finally shining the whole day!
I have a feeling this week is going to be a good one.
A perfect week for fresh flowers, riding horses and great parties with lots of friends. I can't wait!

Am I in the mood for baking?

Current state: In sweatpants on my bed contemplating another baking adventure.

I always think of myself as a pretty good baker. There is this scene in Grey's anatomy where Izzy is just baking to get over her grieve. I can totally relate to her in that scene baking one beautiful and tasty cupcake after the other, when I am need of diversion from my daily life.

The truth is my baking adventures aren't that fantastic. More often then not it turns out in little fluffy disasters. But still you can find me in my little kitchen baking away my stress. Since my boyfriend moved in with me a couple of months ago I feel a little pressure though to perform better. After all my bragging he probably expected some kind of baking goddess. I've been making excuses but I think I can't put it off any longer.

Islamic art

To get into a productive study vibe I decided to take on some extra classes. Not only to get more inspired to write my thesis but also to broaden my knowledge. I am doing research on Ethiopian christian manuscripts and I decided that it could be a good addition to my curriculum if I would take a course in Islamic art.

For my course I had to by this book by Jonathan Bloom and Selma Blair, Islamic arts. Which is a beautiful illustrated and written book about the Islamic arts throughout times. They also wrote, Prisse d'Avennes, Arab art. (Taschen, E 119,95)

This gorgeous book about Emile Prisse d'Avannes, a French orientalist who documented his travels through north Africa is currently high on my wishlist.

There will be exhibtion about him starting in March in Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris, Visions of Egypt, Emile Prisse d'Avannes 1807 - 1879.
There is also a beautiful exhibition about a collection of Islamic arts in de De Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam, Passion for perfection, Islamic art from the Khalili collections. 


Images: Taschen.com

Vansessa Bruno

So still waiting for news about the job. Really??! does it take this long to decide?

Watching this video makes me incredibly happy!

Vogue!

So another day this week. I am getting a little bit bored. I am waiting to here back from my thesis adviser. So I can continue writing. Also I am waiting to hear something from the shop I had a test day, if they will hire me or not. It feels like a lot of waiting to me. I decided to get the newest French and American Vogue and curl up on the couch. No guilty feelings. But first I have to hit the gym.

And that was valentine's day

No pink roses, happy valentine, romantic, my boyfriend is amazing post from me. It has been raining the whole day here. But that didn't do anything about my good mood! And no that isn't because of valentines day. My boyfriend is sick so our planned romantic evening is not going to happen.  boohoo

The good thing happening today is that I heard that I could work on the Tefaf. One of the most prestigious art fairs in the world! I will be working for a big london based art dealer. When I graduate I would love to work for an art dealer like this one. I am so exited! Ten days of first class art, fancy collectors, and lots of fun!!

Some stories just make you wonder

This weekend was a good one. A weekend with a book presentation,  an auction and tea with friends. The last days I have been feeling a lightness I haven't been feeling for at least a year, I think... This afternoon I took the car and drove to the beach. I took my dog.

I was supposed to go to the cemetery to my mom today. But I couldn't. I don't know it is still kind of scary to actually visit that place. As if something will become real. But I already know that it is real, wright?

During my drive from and to the beach there was some kind of rest. A quietness in my head. No tension no fear.

Tonight I turned on the television. It showed an interview with the girl from the book presentation. This girl was diagnosed with cancer when her mom was just recovering from breast cancer. During her sickness she lost two friends. (She wrote about everything in her book: Girl with the nine wigs) I can't describe the feeling that this story gave me. I met this girl she is gorgeous and talented after everything she has been through. It's amazing she is an example. But it also scared me. How can all of this happen to one person? Will this happen for me? Will these last three years of pain be followed by more? I know I shoudn't be asking these questions. But it scared me, made my hart go racing again.

Life is to short and you never know what is going to happen next. I feel light now I should enjoy it and not question it.

My bootcut jeans

I was thinking about other articles in closet my boyfriend is having an opinion about lately. I have this bootcut jeans. I really love them and since I came across these pictures I am trying to replicate this gorgeous  outfit. I think it's so chique and casual at the same time. I totally want to look like this while walking along the Seine in Paris.

Anyway, the other day I put together a similar outfit ( a more wintery version though) and I really loved it! But when my amazing boyfriend saw me, he just gave me this look.

 I asked him: what? don't you like it?
 He answered: I think these pants are the most ugly pants ever, I am really not walking next to you if you're wearing that.

What???!!! I wore it anyway of course, but really I don't understand the issue with the pants.

Images: Thisisglamerous.com 

New life, New dress

Yesterday was my first public appearance since... well let's be honest forever! It was a book presentation and I had such a great time! It felt good to be out again and meet some people have some champaign and just enjoy.

When I came back I was all hooked up on the fact that I needed new outfits (everyone looked so gorgeous!).  And by outfits I mean cute dresses. So I spended the rest of the night browsing the net looking for cocktail dresses. I found this brand from Copenhagen and they had some very nice ones.

I love the bleu and the green if the dresses. I think these colors always look very luxurious. And they had these pants with the see through on the side. I think they look so sexy! I just don't know if I would dare to wear them. 

My boyfriend has opinion as well about my dress choices which he has been expressing a lot lately ( I don't how happy I am about that). He is pushing me to wear more skirts he things dresses are not that intresting! I mean, what's up with man and skirts! Anyway I try not to mind him to much, but it had me thinking about acquiring a nice outfit with a skirt, just to make him a little bit happy. It is harder though, I think.

Images: pop cph

A little bleu

Today I am feeling a little bleu. The biggest practical issue in m life at the moment is the fact that I do not have any money. It can be so frustrating! I am looking for a part time job so I van write my thesis on the days that I am of. I thought I found something. A cute store with beautiful clothes and jewelry wright in the historical centre of my city. It's one of my favorite stores with all my favorite brands. Anyway I had a test day and it was great! Nice college's and nice customers. But now they don't know if they actually need somebody extra! I will find out today.
Arrrg!!

So now I am thinking about my next move. I've always been a career orientated kind of girl. Graduate with honours, work for a while or continue for a phd and become the best Art History expert in the field of East African art! You go girl!  But yeah, things haven't been going the way I thought the last years...

Ok enough wining, it's so depressing.

First things first get a job and finish the stupid thesis!

image: unknown source

The perfect eyeliner

I have been looking for a perfect eyeliner for ages! One that makes it easy to draw a perfect smudge free line. I am always jealous of these girls who have perfect applied make up and look so pretty and polished!  I am very bad at applying make up ( after a couple of hours there are only some black smudges around the eyes left). I think is it's time to change that. I have tried different variations of eyeliner to decide that the stift kind is the one for me. But then you have to decide on the brand. I am on a no spending budget so it shouldn't cost a fortune. The M.A.C. penultimate eyeliner is perfect. I have it for a week now and it hasn't dried out yet. I am so happy! now I can be one of these cool girls with perfect eyeliner.

Oh and if I can say myself I love my hair in this picture! I am so happy with my new haircut.

Lazy sunday's

The end of the weekend is near. Tomorow it is time to start making list and re evaluating my priorities. But first I will end this perfect lazy sunday with some cooking and some wine.

When in need of big changes, cut your hair!

So yeah, that's what i did. I cut it short! Well not that short. I cut it kind of shoulder length! For the  last year or so my hair has been somewhere on the middle of my bag. I didn't do anything with it. I always tight it  up in a bun. I try to wear it loose but then after 30 minutes or so i get so annoyed and up it goes again. I have a lot of hair and a lot curls so after a while it just drops down in this boring back of your neck kind of bun. The classic ballerina high on year had knot doesn't work for me. So i decided that i needed a fresh new outlook on life and with that you need a fresh haircut. If i had the camera this would be the place to post a picture. But as i have to wait for the camera a few more weeks i will post a picture of my inspiration. Well actually i will post a video as I love everything about this girl, her hair, her music, her style.

Pink roses

I haven a sudden desire for pink roses. I don't know where it comes from. I have never been a rose loving kind of girl. I always thought they were a bit to girly and soft a bit to sweet. Roses were for tiny little blond girls who live in cute little houses. I always saw myself as a tough cool chick. I am 1.80 m tall i and i have a lot of dark very curly hair. I talk a lot and i laugh very loud and the impression I think i give is anything but girly and sweet. So the flowers in my house always had to be big and impressive and in very bright colors. Like Gladiolus.

 I alway saw flowers as representation (i hope i am using the right word here) of a person. So now i am confused. I am feeling more and more a pull to the soft and feminine not only in flowers, but also in fashion and in my interior. And now I have roses in my house! I have never bought roses myself before. Yeah, my boyfriend has given me roses a time or two. But that's about it. And i have to say i absolutly love them! the soft pink colors the rounded petals. They are slowly opening up now and i think it's absolutely beautiful, I just can't top looking

I know these are not pictures of roses but they are still lovely pale pink flowers. I think maybe it's the whole valentine vibe. I am really feeling it this year! Maybe because i have this fantastic boyfriend and I really want to surprise him with an all out romantic valentine. You know, the romantic dinner, the sexy lingerie, lots and lots of candles and of course roses. Oh boy.. I better start preparing.

All images from Saipua.blogspot.com

Don't you just love IKEA?

This weekend wasn't one of my best weekends. I felt very sad and also kind of empty and lost. Considering the circumstances this isn't very strange of course. But yesterday i decided that i was going to have some fun. I've been having these nesting feelings lately. I just want to decorate and paint my house. So i decided to give in. I called my friend and convinced her to go on a shopping trip to IKEA (I just love the swedes and not only because my boyfriend is one). I love IKEA! You can find great things for almost no money. As I actually don't really have any money to spend, this is perfect! So on my to do list were two rooms. My study and my bathroom (which really isn't more then a shower and a tiny sink but that won't stop me) (And also these are the only rooms my boyfriend won't mind me going all out and i can do exactly what I want).

Here are some of my inspirations for my study:

Ok I know it looks like i am attracted to two completely opposite styles! I love the girly, white feminine style. I think it gives a very light and soft touch to a room. But i have always dreamed of classic library/ office room just for my self with tons of books and a big antique dark wooden desk And an old brown leather chesterfield chair where you can just curl up and read for hours. So what to do? Is there a way to combine these two styles? I am going to try. 

When i was at IKEA i saw a couple of things a put on my wish list.

 Images: Lonny magazine, Rue magazine, IKEA