K N O O P J E S

As promised

2012-03-11T18:01:00.001+01:00

A small break from my blogbreak!
Today we went down to the camping where our recently bought caravan was parked, to pick it up to be stalled near our house! Yay!

As promised some photo's, but with a warning: we haven't done any redecorating, cleaning etc...

_ happy camper nr. 1 taking you on the grand

tour through the caravan

- straight from the door to the pinky pillow

(that soon after this shot got dumped)

- look from the door to the right

(yes all that stuff came with the caravan)

- happy camper nr. 2 in the bathroom-area

(soon to be an extra closet)

and it has a name!

Mazzeltje = Bit of luck

What's not in the picture: the dark navyblue, synthetic curtains. I ripped them off as soon as I got through the door... brrrr!

At the end of april we are going for a test-holiday-week with our Bit of luck! Lot's of sewing in the meantime!

Have a beautiful new week!

xoxox

Ps Thank you for all your sweet comments regarding my break! I missed you lots, but it's great not to constantly think: is this something to blog about? :)

I will start blogging regularly soon!

Blessed & bye-bye

2012-02-12T13:40:00.000+01:00

I am truly blessed to have 122 followers & many of you visit me & comment on my posts. It always gives me a big smile to find a new comment on a post!
I want to thank you all for your time & comments, it really means a lot to me!

- just a photo with a bowl from Babongo

& a pencil sharpener from Kado om de hoek

But I have come to a point where the inspiration kind of lacks me & I feel a bit 'blog-tired'.
And so I have decided to take a break, don't know for how long, but I'll promiss you I will post some caravan pics as soon as I get to see the caravan! :)
And I will keep visiting your blogs as often as I can!

So bye-bye for now!

Have a great week!
xoxox

FFF #5

2012-02-10T20:37:00.000+01:00

1. It's raining hearts (365/351), 2. doorway to my heart, 3. Love_Candy, 4. Week 21/52: How can I follow my heart if it refuses to move on?

You must allow

me to tell you

how ardently

I admire &

love you

~ mr. Darcy ~

Have a lovely weekend!

xoxox

For some Valentine inspiration look here, here or here!

Random shadow

2012-02-08T15:13:00.000+01:00

We have had such sunny, clear weather that made beautiful light & shadows in the house.

xoxox

Liebster Blogaward

2012-02-07T12:22:00.016+01:00

Lucky me, I got it twice!
Thank you Turning Pages for giving me this award, getting it from you means a lot!
And thank you Bien Maakt for giving me this award as well! I feel really honored & surprised!

This award is given to blogs with less than 200 followers.

When you receive this award:

- you thank the award-giver & you place a link
- you give the award to 5 other blogs &

let them now through a reaction/comment on their blog
- hope that your award will be passed on!

I will pass this award on to:

Noofs

A girl named Phil

emmel

Have a great day!

xoxox

Blessings week 5

2012-02-06T13:09:00.003+01:00

What made me smile this (past) week:

- knitted & finished these wristwarmers

found the pattern via gelukkigindejaren60

- yes I too fell for the supermarket-muppet-madness

- this yellow (yes, yellow!) typewriter

- finally having snow & a real dutch type of winter, sunny, freezing days

- changing the outlook of my blog with some help from Zilverblauw & Siem en Zo! (nogmaals dank! ♥)

- receveid an Liebster Blogaward from Turning Pages & Bien Maakt, thank you so much! *blush*

- we bought a caravan!!! Not a Kip but a Caravelair, sorry no pics yet...

- had a great sunday with the inlaws visiting & today we started the week with some flu & an earinfection for J..

Hope you all have a great new week!

xoxox

More ‘Count your blessings’: Anki - Effie - Martine - Maartje - Iris - Debora - Mireille - Belinda – Tabitha - Marit - Froukje - Leontien – Esther – Anne - Arnika – Marielle –Judith - Maartje - Maureen – Marie-Lu - Aukje - Jolanda - Esther - Marlous – Sacha - Carla - Tess - Sjaantje - Isabelle - Marjan - Mickey - Mieke - Margriet - Marieke - Barbara - Anouk - Philomeen -

FFF #4

2012-02-03T20:10:00.005+01:00

AMMO, a photo by Alyssa Nassner on Flickr

I am messing around with a new layout, can't seem to get that blue out of my header... If you know how, please let me know.
edit to add: I conquered the HTML-monster & won! :)

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, we are bound to go outside for a good old snowball fight!

xoxox

Random texture

2012-02-01T17:15:00.001+01:00

Texture knitted, crocheted, made by ice, in a museum or just ironing beads on the table.

xoxox

Home sweet home

2012-01-30T15:53:00.005+01:00

Love me some vintage & apart from the thriftstore there are some amazing webshops out there selling seriously good stuff!
I spotted Diversitijd some time ago over on Twitter (of all places)!

Villa d'esta was hosting a giveaway, she gave a chance to win this cute stool from Diversitijd!

Guess what? I won it!
And today Rianne (owner of Diversitijd) was so sweet to bring it to my doorstep! Yay!

I am going to put it in J.s' room, together with that vintage clamp-lamp it's the perfect nightstand.

xoxox

Blessed week 4

2012-01-29T17:17:00.005+01:00

This week a I felt lousy due to a cold, not sick but not happily healthy.

I got happy because of:

- blossom on the branches indoors

- the teatowels Vervlogen Dagen made me

translation: ~everything comes to an end~

- this sign we spotted on the

very wintery walk we made

today at De Horsten

- J. telling me he has a crush on a girl in his class ♥ aaah first love

- my grandtour through Pinterest discovering all these amazing photo's

- this giveaway over on Twinklebird

- My sweetheart making pancakes for dinner as I type this! Mmmmh-mmmmh!

Have a beautiful new week!

Do keep warm!

xoxox

FFF

2012-01-27T20:22:00.001+01:00

1. Tracks, 2. Arctic Fox, 3. Metsäjänis, 4. Belly Flop

Laughter is the sun that drives

winter from the human face

~ Victor Hugo ~

The weather forecast for this coming week: minus 15 celcius...

Keep warm!

xoxox

Random photo

2012-01-25T19:46:00.000+01:00

Cobus

(our british shorthair male)

taking it easy

xoxox

Blessings week 3

2012-01-22T15:55:00.002+01:00

The week started with beautiful sunny weather, no Blue Monday-troubles here!

What made me happy this week:

- flowers

- more fresh flowers (I ♥ tulips)

- some shopping for the (still to find) caravan

(apples-cuttingboards from Zeeman

found via By Björ)

- went to the theater, on my own, to see

a play about Napoleon.

Last minute decision,

very cheap ticket (because of a pillar to my left),

turned out to be premiere evening!

It was a beautiful & funny play, should

go to the theater more often...

Today we're enjoying a lazy sunday with tea, magazines, lego, trains & coloring books!

Have a great new week!

xoxox

Little yellow flower

2012-01-21T13:44:00.000+01:00

So happy to have finally found craspedia-flowers! I have searched for them in almost every flowershop around here, but nope, no craspedia... And that's actually pretty strange, it's a very populair flower in blogland & the magazines.

The flowerstall on the market actually brought them today especially for me from the flower auction, yay!

Now you know why you're gonna see them often the coming weeks! :)

xoxox

Flickr Favorite Friday

2012-01-20T20:50:00.000+01:00

1. The winter sky and tiny tiny little buds, 2. January 12th, 3. Delicate, 4. The Panic Button :)

Don't panic, just no quote today... :)

Have a great weekend!
xoxox

Random wednesday Paperlinks

2012-01-18T21:53:00.000+01:00

picture by minieco.co.uk

DIY paper gems by minieco.co.uk

* Print your own camera from Mel Stringer's lil'shop

* A great DIY balloon mobile

* A bubble-calender giveaway over on Moodkids

* cutest tiny notebooks at Studio Stationary

xoxox

Decorations

2012-01-16T16:31:00.000+01:00

Made some decorations with maskingtape, ironing beads, origamipaper & neonthread.

Just to chase the Blue Monday-feeling away, actually I didn't need to do it, the sun beat me to it! :)

We had a very beautiful day, blue skies & a crispy, fresh air!

Happy monday!

xoxox

Blessings week 2

2012-01-15T16:31:00.000+01:00

The first week of school & back in 'the rhythm'.
What made me smile:

seeing the earlymorning moon

J. picking up the camera,

making lots of pictures & even a selfportrait

walking from the tramstop to work

realising 'my' office is in a very beautiful 'street'

spotting these 2 in the backyard of our neighbours

going for a walk after our (non-succesful)

hunt for a caravan

And after spotting this website I guess camping could be fun! :)

Have a great new week & don't let Blue Monday get to you!

xoxox

More ‘Count your blessings’: Anki - Effie - Martine - Maartje - Iris - Debora - Mireille - Belinda – Tabitha - Marit - Froukje -

Leontien – Esther – Anne - Arnika – Marielle –Judith - Maartje -

Maureen – Marie-Lu - Aukje - Jolanda - Esther - Marlous – Sacha -

Carla - Tess - Sjaantje - Isabelle - Marjan - Mickey - Mieke -

Margriet - Marieke - Barbara - Anouk -

Flickr Favorite Friday

2012-01-13T14:07:00.001+01:00

1. Ook de Stille Zuidzee is een prachtige bron van kleurrijke plekken. Een van de Gilbert eilanden., 2. Africa meets Europe - Strait of Gibraltar, 3. Heel herkenbaar vanuit de ruimte: Zeeland, 4. Schuimwolken

“Don't go around saying the world owes you a living;

the world owes you nothing;

it was here first”

~ Mark Twain ~

Have a good weekend!

xoxox

Once-in-a-lifetime-pictures by André Kuipers from the ISS.

Random wednesday

2012-01-11T15:32:00.000+01:00

I didn't make any new year's resolutions but I did make a Love List for myself where I put in more balance & yoga.
So I started a meditationcourse at the yogaschool this week & I got back to yogaclass as well.

I got these wonderful yogacards a few years back as a birthdaygift from a dear friend E. & so J. wanted to do yoga with me on & off, lately not. But yesterday when I asked him what shall we do on your free wednesdayafternoon, he asked for yoga. Don't make a big deal out of it, it usually lasts for about 10 minutes... :) But we have fun together & T. also puts his best tree in as well!

And when all else fails finding our inner balance on these grey wednesdayafternoons, we always have this:

xoxox

Random Wednesday, I will place random photo's, facts, links ect., do hope you'll like it!)

Done!

2012-01-09T14:56:00.001+01:00

up close

proud owner hiding

Tadaaaaaah!!!

Started knitting on this blanket in april & at christmas I decided I had to finish it a.s.a.p., so I did! Yay!

Now you know what I've been doing instead of reading your blog... :)

xoxox

ps Drops Paris (cotton) bought at Wollyhood

Blessings

2012-01-08T17:55:00.000+01:00

We had a relaxed week, no school, lots of Lego, games & movies. The week got it's mark due to the weather. A big storm & rain made that parts of the Netherlands actually got flooded!

What made me smile this week:

- a beautiful coloured sky

- fresh bunch of tulips

And today we visited Naturalis in Leiden, where the boys made their own 'collection-jar':

- T. had a conversation with a rhino

and I saw the sunlight coming back!

The coming week we go back to our regular school-rhythmn, yay!

Have a beautiful week!

xoxox

Collection # 50 ~ the last one ~

2012-01-05T13:51:00.001+01:00

- a selection of coloured buttons

And this is the last of my collections! Hope you have enjoyed them!

Next week I will start a new weekly item, still clueless though.

xoxox

Blessings # 17

2012-01-02T14:56:00.004+01:00

We had a very relaxed last week week of 2011.
We went out to see Puss in boots, a great movie but I enjoyed to excitement of the boys way more!
On the last day of the year we visited Ikea to buy a frame for the beautiful poster of the moon I bought a few weeks ago at Een nieuw avontuur & ofcourse we always bring back a lot more than we went out for, like the birdtray... for example.

What made me smile:

-framed wrappingpaper from Babongo,

little light-house from Restored

- Poster Für Neil, birdtray & frame Ikea,

flowers Jurianne Matter

- Christmascard from Mireille & new years' card

from Boomerang

- making a lovelist & putting the

new Flow-calender together

And luckily 2012 started as relaxed as 2011 ended! With a walk on the beach to start the year with red cheeks & fresh air!

Today we cleared the house from all things christmas & filled in the new planning for this year with some nice plans!

Have a great new week!

xoxox

More ‘Count your blessings’: Anki - Effie - Martine - Maartje -
Iris - Debora - Mireille - Belinda – Tabitha - Marit - Froukje -
Leontien – Esther – Anne – Arnika – Marielle –Judith – Maartje- Maureen – Marie-Lu - Aukje - Jolanda - Esther - Marlous – Sacha -
Carla - Tess - Sjaantje - Isabelle - Marjan - Mickey - Mieke -
Margriet - Marieke - Barbara - Anouk -

FFF # 52

2011-12-30T15:42:00.002+01:00

1. 2, 2. spaghetti number 0, 3. one is the loneliest number, 4. Number 2

Extract from my diary:

30 december 2011

The new year is closing in on us rapidly now, just 32 hours left of 2011.

Shall I make a list of all the highlights of the past year? Shall I rush out & make another big statement? Something extra to remember the year 2011?

No, just a glance over my shoulder, a quick look, it has been good, 2011 is finished & 2012 is already waiting, brand new with all its' promises & possibilities.

Thank you all for this past year on my blog, you have made it a wonderful year for me!

♥

Wish you all the very best for this new year,

make it a good one, okay?!

H A P P Y

N E W

Y E A R !

xoxox

Saskia

Collection of collections

2011-12-28T15:07:00.000+01:00

After seeing all those amazing collections Lisa Congdon showed us a whole year long, I looked around the house & realised I have collections of my own, not that I collect that much I just have a lot of stuff that belong to the same kind of category.

Next week I will post the last one, # 50!

And so today here are all the collections together:

And no, I will not make a book about them, I promise! :)

xoxox

Blessings # 16

2011-12-27T16:38:00.003+01:00

Had a beautiful week leading up to Christmas.

- helped with the christmas dinner at school, loved seeing all those big eyes from the children when they came in the door all dressed up beautifully!

- 'celebrated' solstice with my first yoga-class in years & it was good.

- received lots of surprises

(buttons by Het Paradijs, necklace by Isabel Marant, plastic dogs & christmas card & 'make-your-own-sheep' by Siem, Christmas-tree-wrap by Hiskia and the Amy Winehouse CD.

- had a wonderful christmas-evening, after the pumpkinsoup we visited the next village where they had organised a candle-lit-evening, complete with glühwein, chinese lanterns for the children, chestnuts on an open fire & even a church with a choir! The boys were over the moon with it all!

I am so happy & blessed to have enjoyed a very relaxed & laidback christmas together with my little family,
we had a late brunch, went out for a nice long walk,
watched movies & on the second day visited
the inlaws in the east for dinner & fun.

Wish you all a splendid last week of 2011!

xoxox

More ‘Count your blessings’: Anki - Effie - Martine - Maartje - Iris - Debora - Mireille - Belinda – Tabitha - Marit - Froukje -

Leontien – Esther – Anne – Arnika – Marielle – Judith – Maartje- Maureen – Marie-Lu - Aukje - Jolanda - Esther - Marlous – Sacha -Carla - Tess - Sjaantje - Isabelle - Marjan - Mickey - Mieke - Margriet - Marieke - Barbara - Anouk -

FFF # 51

2011-12-23T15:05:00.004+01:00

1. Mary & Jesus - Bouguereau 02, 2. white dove snip, 3. Star of Bethlehem..., 4. Candle bokeh

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon Virgin Mother and Child

Holy Infant so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace

Have a beautiful Christmas weekend!
Keep warm!

xoxox

Saskia

Collection # 49

2011-12-21T14:54:00.000+01:00

collection of feves

The shortest day today, the light will slowly return...

I want to wish you all a

Merry Christmas!

I hope you all can celebrate with your loved ones!

xoxox

Blessings # 15

2011-12-18T19:09:00.000+01:00

This week I 'got under the weather' so to speak, so I stayed indoors & have been sleeping most of the time. Sorry for not having visited your blogs, I will make it up to you!

Still there is so much to be thankful for,

- thankful that I am in love with my husband & he is in love with me
- thankful that apart from a silly flu we are all healthy & happy
- thankful that we have a nice, warm & happy home

What made me smile this week:

- this brown paper package tied up with

string from Siepsfabriek

thanks again for the warm feet!

-finally a snowflake, J. made it for me in schoolcare

spotted the same snowflakes here

- this bracelet that I made myself

& it looks a lot like this one

- finding this Leo di Caprio look-a-like

in the Maritiem Museum in Rotterdam

- where I also found a friendly face!

Have a great new week

keep warm!

xoxox

More ‘Count your blessings’: Anki - Effie - Martine - Maartje - Iris - Debora - Mireille - Belinda – Tabitha - Marit - Froukje - Leontien – Esther – Anne – Arnika – Marielle – Judith – Maartje- Maureen – Marie-Lu - Aukje - Jolanda - Esther - Marlous – Sacha -Carla - Tess - Sjaantje - Isabelle - Marjan - Mickey - Mieke - Margriet - Marieke - Barbara - Anouk -

FFF # 50

2011-12-16T16:03:00.000+01:00

1. Christmas bokeh, 2. Small Town Christmas lights, 3. Christmas bokeh, 4. 203/365 [365 Project] - 8th December

Happiness can be found, even in the darkest

of times,

if one only remembers to turn on

the light.

~Albus Dumbledore~

Have a magical weekend!

xoxox

X-mas mood

2011-12-15T21:05:00.000+01:00

careful, he's a bit skittish...

T.'s choice for the tree this year.

and lots of candles ofcourse!

It's nice to get some christmassy-feeling going in the house.

I think we're almost done with decorating, just need make a masking-tape-tree to put the cards on & that will be it for this year!

Happy decorating!

xoxox

Collection # 48

2011-12-14T13:28:00.000+01:00

masking tape

It's a sticky addiction might I say! :)

I use it for our art-wall, my diary, on parcels & gifts. And for the deer-decoration below ofcourse!

My masking tape dealers are: Een nieuw avontuur, Ps ik hou van jou & Tas-ka.

xoxox

O deer...

2011-12-12T10:49:00.000+01:00

I love antlers & those wonderful deer heads on the wall, but I also think it's a bit sad. So when I spotted a sweet deer over on Planet Fur & this big one over on Langius Design I knew what to do.

No deer got killed in the making of this, just some maskingtape bought at Psikhouvanjou... :)

Have a good monday!

xoxox

Blessings # 14

2011-12-11T16:07:00.002+01:00

What made me happy this week:

- macarons for the soul & Tiger Balm for the body
after I had an accident with my bike with T. behind me in his seat, no injuries I was sore for a couple of days, stiff as a board!

- all the little things sended to me by Ingthings & Silly Old Suitcase! You both made me feel like Amélie finding the little tinbox filled with treasures!

- & the beautiful Collégien-slippers I won for T. over on Siepsfabriek!

And a very relaxed sunday, with '3-in-the-pan' cookies/pancakes, knitting, tea & decorating our christmastree!

Still no snow though...

Have a wonderful new week!
Keep warm!
xoxox

More ‘Count your blessings’: Anki - Effie - Martine - Maartje - Iris - Debora - Mireille - Belinda – Tabitha - Marit - Froukje - Leontien – Esther – Anne – Arnika – Marielle – Judith – Maartje- Maureen – Marie-Lu - Aukje - Jolanda - Esther - Marlous – Sacha -Carla - Tess - Sjaantje - Isabelle - Marjan - Mickey - Mieke - Margriet - Marieke - Barbara - Anouk -

FFF # 49

2011-12-09T12:19:00.000+01:00

1. security stars, 2. white deer white winter, 3. Big Buck Mule Deer buck, Jackson WY, 4. Hot Tea

"Winter is the time for comfort

it is the time for home."

~ Edith Sitwell ~

Have a great weekend!
xoxox

Snow white

2011-12-08T13:58:00.002+01:00

- cloud-brooche by Artmind

- swallow by Otchipotchi

- cloud by T.

No snow yet but some white came in the house this week.

The brooch I won at a giveaway over on Artmind (thank you Mitsy, it's beautiful!), the swallow I got over on Otchipotchi to put in our christmastree & the wonderful fluffy cloud T. made me in Kindergarten.

xoxox

Imagine all the people living life in peace

John Lennon

09-10-1940 ~ 08-12-1980

Collection # 47

2011-12-07T11:34:00.000+01:00

my camera's

The one on the right doesn't work anymore...

xoxox

Blessings # 13

2011-12-04T15:45:00.002+01:00

This past week I felt blessed because of:

- berries

- 100 followers, wow!!! Thank you!

- our 'art-wall'

- more berries

- felt so much better after making

this decision & started

decluttering our home

- finally found this very populair owl

- got a huge discount because the leftshoe

that wasn't in the store,

was lighter in color!

- got this cute x-mas house in the mail

send to me by Roest who found it here:

Rurulabo

- celebrating pakjesavond

- T. enjoying as much candy as

possible ♥

- this sunday enjoying the boys,

who in their turn enjoyed their new toys

♥

Have a beautiful new week! I heard a rumour that snow is coming our way!? Yay or yaikes?

Well keep warm!

xoxox

More ‘Count your blessings’: Anki - Effie - Martine - Maartje - Iris - Debora - Mireille - Belinda – Tabitha - Marit - Froukje - Leontien – Esther – Anne – Arnika – Marielle – Judith – Maartje- Maureen – Marie-Lu - Aukje - Jolanda - Esther - Marlous – Sacha - Carla - Tess - Sjaantje - Isabelle - Marjan - Mickey - Mieke - Margriet - Marieke - Barbara - Anouk -

FFF # 48

2011-12-02T14:28:00.000+01:00

1. Sinterklaas op bezoek bij moeder en kind / Saint Nicholas visiting mother and child, 2. Meisje zingt sinterklaasliedje met klomp voor de kachel / Dutch girl singing song for Saint Nicholas, 3. Kinderen met mand vol sinterklaascadeaus / Children holding a basket full of presents, 4. -Sint-

Het heerlijk avondje is gekomen,

het avondje van Sinterklaas...

The lovely evening has come,

the evening of Saint Nicolas...

Have a wonderful weekend!

Stay warm!

xoxox

Collection # 46

2011-12-01T19:48:00.000+01:00

good luck charms

pilgrims medaillons

This tiny collection grew over a couple of holidays to France, whenever we visit a centre of pilgrimage (Rocamadour, Lourdes etc.) I buy a tiny medaillon & add it to the one of the clusters.

Other tiny charms also found a place among them.

These clusters of good luck & religious figures normally hang on my 'travelhandbag' a.k.a. the old diaperbag.

xoxox

And the winner

2011-11-30T16:50:00.001+01:00

of my birthday-giveaway is...

Congratulations Miek! Send me your address at saskia.vanderzee at yahoo.com & I will send you the HEMA hooking packages!

Thank you all for playing! Sorry you didn't win, but check out this giveaway over on Turning Pages!

And again thank you True Random Number Generator for helping me!

Will post my collection tomorrow.

Keep warm!
xoxox

Empty spaces

2011-11-29T14:42:00.004+01:00

Still couldn't shake the feeling I wrote about in this post. Feeling locked up & feeling the need to fly.

card by Sanne van de Goor via Nina in vorm

Today it hit me, you can't fly with all that stuff weighing you down. I simply have too much stuff & toys around our house.
It's not just my collections, it's my 'need of more' that has to stop now. I can't simply look at a blog or a magzine with the urge of 'having', enough is enough!

So it needs to stop now: Hello, my name is Saskia & I am a hoarder... :)

I made a decision I need to stop getting more & I need to get rid of things as well. So I get 2 boxes in, one labelled thriftstore, the other marked MP. And of course a big garbagebag will come in handy as well!
My goal: go through the house for a month & weekly drop stuff of at the thriftstore and in january I will start & sell stuff on MP.

If you have tips & tricks on cleaning out & selling stuff please leave comment! I can use some support on this one! :)

xoxox

Ps: you can take something from my hands! You can still enter my giveaway!!!

Counted # 12

2011-11-27T15:44:00.000+01:00

This week I was blessed:

- to get a beautiful orchid & wonderful candles

- to just be there when (all the stress surrounding Sinterklaas resulted in?) T. had terrible nightmares

- to receive 2 beautiful bags, the first on loan from school (the poem-bag with a book full of poems) & the other from Barbara de Ru

- have 'hide-&-seek-Pete' visit our house last night & waking up this morning by those excited, whispering voices

- to get into the real-wintery-feel with lots of tea, choclate & cookies

- by getting J.'s first schoolreport in & it's just a very good one, *proud mamma*

- to be able to help someone just for a bit

- to just sit & read a book in the train on my way to Utrecht & back (I just love the library, really, I read a book a week! Never thought that would ever happen again!)

Hope you all have a wonderful new week!
Keep warm!

xoxox

More ‘Count your blessings’: Anki - Effie - Martine - Maartje - Iris - Debora - Mireille - Belinda – Tabitha - Marit - Froukje - Leontien – Esther – Anne – Arnika – Marielle – Judith – Maartje- Maureen – Marie-Lu - Aukje - Jolanda - Esther - Marlous – Sacha - Carla - Tess - Sjaantje - Isabelle - Marjan - Mickey - Mieke -Margriet - Marieke - Barbara - Anouk -

FFF # 47

2011-11-25T14:30:00.006+01:00

1. Moon & Tree, 2. Horse on the Roof, 3. Sinterklass's good book, 4. Pepernoten

"In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

While visions of sugar plums danc'd in their heads."

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

Lines from the poem: A visit from St. Nicolas

~C.C. Moore~

~Henri Livingston Jr.~

Have a great weekend

keep warm!

xoxox

Last chance to enter my giveaway!!!

Collection # 45

2011-11-23T20:03:00.000+01:00

vintage Rörstrand china

My ever so slowly growing collection of Rörstrand china. I fell in love with it when I first spotted them here. Too bad I can't find them as easy & as cheap as she did though! So if you ever run in to them let me know!

xoxox

Raising Roses

2011-11-22T10:12:00.001+01:00

Finally we can all help Roos, Kenji & their boys!

Check out: Roos, Rust & Regelmaat to see how you can help.

Thank you.

xoxox

Counted # 11

2011-11-21T11:39:00.002+01:00

To be honest I am not at my best in autumn, foggy days. But still there were things to be happy & grateful about.

- tooth number 2 already left J.'s mouth!

- toothcontainer & teeth-schedule from

Tink om us bern

- this packet of nuts a friend gave me

- the stones & pieces of tiles I

found while visiting the place my

mother-in-law was born

- this fragment my sis-in-law

found & gave to me

So it was a very mixed week that ended with a weekend together with my mother-in-law, her sisters, nieces & my sis in law.

Going back to the place where they were born.

Very grateful to hear their memories, see all those beautiful black & white photo's of their childhood in Kamp Vossenbos, to eat & laugh together.

Hope you all have a beautiful new week, with a bit more light & sunshine!

xoxox

Want to see more blessings: visit Anki to see who else is counting!

FFF # 46

2011-11-18T14:53:00.003+01:00

1. Flying swan, 2. Fly, 3. Fly, 4. Flying swans

I want to fly like an eagle

to the sea

~Steve Miller~

Feeling a bit stuck, indoors, dark evenings & all. This song & the feeling of being able to just fly away to vast open spaces always lifts the spirit!

Have a good weekend

keep warm!

xoxox

Check out my giveaway!

Foggy day

2011-11-17T14:52:00.000+01:00

fog

making a parcel

just an elephant

maybe tea will help

mug, candleholder & heart all from HEMA

a belated birthday gift, yay!

listening to Sinterklaas-songs

always makes us happy!

Foggy day here. The weather is foggy & so am I. Normally I work on thursdays, but due to a training/course I had to switch days with husband. And it's really a totally different day to be at home! Pretty relaxed!

xoxox

Vosges Paris

2011-11-14T16:02:00.003+01:00

The wonderful & inspiring blog Vosges Paris recently introduced a Concept-page where she hosts amazing giveaways.

I entered one & look what came in the mail yesterday:

This beautiful bracelet from Worldly Treasury!

It's so much fun to receive a package in the mail, if you want some sweet mail enter my giveaway or check out the Collégien giveaway over on Nina in vorm!

Due to some change in my workschedule, there will be no collection tomorrow, sorry!

xoxox

Birthday Giveaway!

2011-11-13T16:55:00.001+01:00

Here's my treat for you!

Some typical dutch food, tompouce & rookworst!

I can't mail food out, so I am giving away

this fun DIY-pakage from HEMA!

And because christmas isn't that far away,

this friendly reindeer is also included!

Want to win these packages?

The how-to-do is in dutch & english!

I will ship worldwide!

Just leave a comment

before november 29

I will announce the winner

on november 30!

Good luck!

ps The 'We make sense' print in the previous post I bought more than 2 years ago at this Etsy shop!

xoxox

Counted # 10

2011-11-13T15:05:00.001+01:00

What made me happy this past week:

- finding some bright pink candles at the supermarket:

- being born on 11th of november made a very fun & special day this year! I had to work but with the help of some twitterfriends I felt like a true birthday-girl!

- getting all those sweet comments on my blog made also a big contribution to the 'birthdayfeeling'!

- it was so beautiful to witness my coworker & sweet friend get married on my birthday. It was already dark when the ceremony in the old townhall of The Hague started, magical!

- getting taken out for dinner by my sweet husband was a true treat! We hardly get out just the 2 of us, so it was really a breath of fresh air to us.

- getting some wonderful gifts at my birthday:

- Keecie wallet

- a card from Mireille

- beautiful pink roses

- funny face buttons

- owl stickers in the mail

- birthday-art from J. ♥

- birthday-art from T. ♥

- having a wonderful saturday evening with my mother & the inlaws, having lot's of great food and drank some good wine!

- to finish the week a great sunny sunday, preparing the giveaway for tomorrow! :)

Have a great new week!

xoxox

Anki & Iris started to count and Effie - Martine - Maartje - Debora - Mireille - Belinda – Tabitha - Marit - Froukje - Leontien– Esther – Anne – Arnika – Marielle – Judith – Maartje-

Maureen – Marie-Lu - Suus - Aukje - Jolanda - Esther - Marlous - Sacha - Carla - Tess - Sjaantje - Isabelle - Mickey - Marjan followed!

FFF # 45

2011-11-11T09:22:00.000+01:00

1. 37, 2. Bingo number 37, 3. 37, 4. 37, 5. 37, 6. 37, 7. 37, 8. 37, 9. 37, 10. 37, 11. 37, 12. 37, 13. 3714. Not available15. Not available16. Not available

"Age is strictly a case of mind over matter.

If you don't mind,
it doesn't

matter."

~Jack Benny~

Yes on this special date 11/11/11 it happens to be my birthday & yes that number above is mine for this coming year! :D

And because it's my birthday, I will host a giveaway coming monday! Stay tuned!

Have a great weekend!
xoxox

Collection # 44

2011-11-09T09:29:00.000+01:00

deer/fawn figurines

xoxox

Some link l♥ve

2011-11-07T16:15:00.003+01:00

♥ some knitting-humor

via Laylock

♥ necklace Grietje from

Lammers & Lammers

@ Studio de Winkel

♥ Check out this beautiful giveaway over on The Little Hamster, you can win the most beautiful tassel bracelet & necklace!

♥ DIY --> Well this necklace takes me back to the seventies! Link via the Crafty Crow.

♥ Just for us mothers of boys: Boyslabel

♥ Porcelain love at Artmind

♥ Just check this How to be a retronaut out! You can wander through it for days!

♥ Found this wonderful clip via Tiny Happy, it's simply amazing:

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

Happy monday & have a great week!

xoxox

Counted # 9

2011-11-06T15:13:00.002+01:00

The biggest blessing this week has to be that T. is doing fine now & the fact that we have a childrens' hospital near that makes staying in hospital fun, well at least for T. it did!
And for me as a mother it's so good to be able to be with your child 24 hours a day.

Apart from (or due to) our hospitaltrip we had a very relaxed week.

What made me smile this week:

- the autumn-art T. & I made together in hospital (yes it's a hedgehog ♥)

- this plastic deer I spotted over here & bought it thogether with the moustache-eraser over here

- making paper crane birds' just beacause I had 'itchi-fingers'

- finishing another cowl & to avoid the question:

Voila!

Have a great, new week!

xoxox

Anki & Iris started to count and Effie - Martine - Maartje - Debora - Mireille - Belinda – Tabitha - Marit - Froukje - Leontien– Esther – Anne – Arnika – Marielle – Judith – Maartje-

Maureen – Marie-Lu - Suus - Aukje - Jolanda - Esther - Marlous - Sacha - Carla - Tess - Sjaantje - Isabelle - Mickey - Marjan followed!

FFF # 44

2011-11-04T12:18:00.001+01:00

1. Vim, 2. { Serenity needed }, 3. -, 4. Untitled

Love is the light

Scaring darkness away

~Frankie goes to Hollywood~

Thank you all for your sweet comments regarding little T.!

The doctors call it a 'sensitive raspiratory system', that reacts to a cold by cramping the lungs together, leaving T. short of breath.

Everything is slowly turning back to normal, T. still gets medication every 6 hours & his breathing is almost clean.

Hopefully you all have a good weekend!

xoxox

Perfect timing

2011-11-03T14:28:00.001+01:00

Yesterday we had an easy day at home. T. & I picked J. up from school for an afternoon of lego, tea & cookies.
And then the postman delivered the perfect book for this kind of afternoon:

Dottie Angel The suitcase series volume 2

with an envelope with thread

& knoopjes (=buttons)

Just what I needed: eyecandy, tea & choclate-cookies from Zelfgebakken.

xoxox

Catch our breath

2011-11-02T10:18:00.000+01:00

Sorry, no collection today.

free from the monitor

playing in the hallway

Little T. was admitted to hospital early mondaymorning with breathingdifficulties.
We stayed there together until yesterdayevening when he was discharged.
Today we take it easy & litterally catch our breath.

xoxox

Counted # 8

2011-10-30T13:43:00.003+01:00

What made me smile/feel happy this week:

- finding 2 friends in their new hang-out

On saturday we had a full programme going to Amsterdam to visit sweet M. for her birthday, but first:

- we went to the Van Gogh museum,

where I bought this funny eraser

- had lunch at de Bakkerswinkel

where they serve a serious good

sandwich for kids :)

Thanks for the tip Mireille!

- got us some tiny clafoutis

at Bakker Baard

for our sundaytea

(thanks to Daan who did a mouthwatering

post about this bearded baker)

- having my first IRL blogger meeting!

We made a small detour to say hi to Rosarood

(from Zelfgebakken & Ich & Adam) & buy

some tasty cookies.

She had a stall at the Rainbow Warrior Festival!

- ofcourse we checked out that magnificent boat

And:

- finding out (because I really couldn't get more air in :)) that my sweetheart fixed the flat tire on my bike

- seeing J. go up the stairs in school on his own, another tiny milestone (parents are no langer 'welcome' to take their kids to the classroom after the autumnbreak in group 3)

- getting a message that really lifted a huge weigth from my shoulders
- finished reading The house I loved & getting a free copy of a wonderful book by a great author at the library

- having lunch with my collegues: a big bag of thick belgian fries with lots of mayo... mmmmh

- hearing all the green parakeets in the trees around the Hofvijver while I was on my way to work

- and to top it off getting the extra hour back!

Yes we sure had a very blissfull week!

Hope you all have a beautiful new week coming!
xoxox

Anki & Iris started to count and Effie - Martine - Maartje - Debora - Mireille - Belinda – Tabitha - Marit - Froukje - Leontien– Esther – Anne – Arnika – Marielle – Judith – Maartje- Maureen – Marie-Lu - Suus - Aukje - Jolanda - Esther - Marlous - Sacha - Carla - Tess - Sjaantje - Isabelle - Mickey - Marjan followed!

FFF # 43

2011-10-28T10:58:00.001+02:00

1. Autumn Leaf, 2. Van Gogh, 3. Fence at the Topweg, 4. The Jackolantern... a pumpkin sliced and diced for Halloween

For my part I know nothing with any certainty,

but the sight of the stars makes me dream.

~Vincent van Gogh~

Have a good weekend!
xoxox

Collection # 43

2011-10-26T16:23:00.000+02:00

rosaries

I am not a catholic,

but I like the

rosaries.

xoxox

The winner is...

2011-10-25T14:44:00.000+02:00

Congratulations! Please email me your address

at saskia.vanderzee at yahoo.com

Thank you all for playing!

And thank you True Random Number Generator!

xoxox

Walk in the woods

2011-10-24T14:53:00.000+02:00

Yesterday we took a walk in the woods as a beautiful ending to the autumnbreak. A whole bunch of people had exactly the same idea but when they all went left we took the right turn!

- my men in the woods :)

xoxox

Ps last chance to enter my Eefje giveaway!

Counted # 9

2011-10-23T13:25:00.002+02:00

We had a wonderful week, J. was off from school & so we did do some nice trips.
What made me smile this week:

- visiting Het Berenbos in Ouwehands Dierenpark

- watching the making of Victory Boogie Woogie

- visiting het Gemeentemuseum in The Hague

(I love this museum!)

- eating oysters at Simonis with my sweetheart

the boys turned their heads with disgust

- getting really sweet mail

- from Siem

dank je wel, een echt

knoopjesboeketje!

- fresh flowers put in

all my tiny vases

- got J. & myself a librarycard

thanks to this post from sweet Fienke.

And I actually read the book I lent

a lot of magazines

(I own... oh my addiction)

And I don't have pictures of a that great Japanese dinner with the most wonderful deepfried icecream I shared with my traveling friend R. & a great Hungarian massage I had on friday...
Life sure was good this week!

Have a beautiful sunday & great new week!

xoxox

Anki & Iris started to count and Effie - Martine - Maartje - Debora - Mireille - Belinda – Tabitha - Marit - Froukje - Leontien– Esther – Anne – Arnika – Marielle – Judith – Maartje- Maureen – Marie-Lu - Suus - Aukje - Jolanda - Esther - Marlous - Sacha - Carla - Tess - Sjaantje - Isabelle - Mickey - Marjan followed!

FF # 42

2011-10-21T15:54:00.001+02:00

1. Give a helping hand, 2. Werra, 3. the jailbird’s daughter, 4. Love XOXO

As you grow older, you will discover that you

have two hands,

one for helping yourself,

the other for helping others.

~ Audrey Hepburn ~

Have a beautiful weekend.
xoxox

Collection # 42

2011-10-19T19:42:00.002+02:00

mushrooms

From left to right:

- a piggy bank

- a pencilholder

- a pencil sharpener & eraser

- a key ring

- a little wooden shroom

xoxox

Ps check out my giveaway!

Music Giveaway!

2011-10-17T12:12:00.001+02:00

Today I am giving away an cd/ep by Eefje de Visser:

And she signed it as well! How cool is that?! ;)

So if you want to win, you can leave a comment until october 24, I will announce the winner on october 25!

Good luck!

xoxox

Counted # 8

2011-10-16T18:04:00.004+02:00

What made me smile this past week:

- visiting the Museum voor Communicatie

- writing & receiving a love-telex

- buying flowers for just 2 euro's at

a 'help-yourself-stall' in het Westland

by the way: it's a sort of chrysanth

- getting my watch back from the jewelrystore

after living without it for about 4 weeks

- making some labels for my knitted,

hooked or sewn-projects

- monsters in the house & everything they

talk about with their friends J. & T.

- visiting a concert by Eefje de Visser,

who was really very good live!

Have a great new week!

xoxox

Anki & Iris started to count and Effie - Martine - Maartje - Debora - Mireille - Belinda – Tabitha - Marit - Froukje - Leontien– Esther – Anne – Arnika – Marielle – Judith – Maartje- Maureen – Marie-Lu - Suus - Aukje - Jolanda - Esther - Marlous - Sacha - Carla - Tess - Sjaantje - Isabelle - Mickey - Marjan followed!