Plus Two

Because I am so good at listing the "work" and then working the list...I'd like to add two more "to dos" to my list from Tuesday.

I still need to go here, to De Taart van m'Tante.  I have been talking about it for a long time, I pass it almost every day, and yet I still have not indulged in a slice of "Chocolate Bitch Pie" or a slice of "Chocolate Slut" cake.  As I passed it again today it hit me that there is zero excuse to not get myself there in the next month.

Above image from here

The final addition to the list is to set aside some time to explore De 9 Straatjes.  

One Year Ago Today...

One year ago today we were being celebrated in the most fabulous of ways...with a special send off party in PDX.  We miss every face in this photo!!!

Funny Confession #264

I have not been ridiculed by friends (or strangers) this much since I bought my sequin uggs (which, btw, I still consider a critical element of my wardrobe).

Thank you HB for capturing this school drop off getup.  Unlike my sequin uggs, those goggles are practical.  I think this trend is going to catch on around here.  I will certainly break them out for the next hail storm...

Closing in on one year abroad

It blows my mind that our househunting trip was over a year ago!  Next month will mark one year for us in Amsterdam.  Without a doubt it has been the hardest and also most fulfilling year of our married lives!

As we approach this milestone, I am doing what I do:  making lists of sh*t I want to get done before the 1 year mark arrives.  Ready, set, go...

Check out the Stedelijk Museum

Check out the Amsterdam Museum

Check out Droog

Check out Moooi

Go to de Kas

Plan 2014

Photos du Jour

I adoor these doors.  See what I did there?

Doork.  Ok, I'm out of puns finished.

This morning was a BAMB morning.  All the BAMBs were out.  Including this BAMB, ski goggles and all.  It was sleety, hail-y, freezing rain-y.  Brrrrr...I'm still thawing out.  Dutch people are so tough...I am not Dutch or tough...but I am getting Dutcher and tougher with each morning commute!

Winterberg Weekend

We took a road trip to Winterberg, Germany this weekend. We intended to ski...but there just wasn't enough snow to open the resort.  The hotel was non refundable...so we still rallied to Winterberg and made the most of a slopeside weekend without skiing.

Everyone knows the best part about hotels is jumping on the bed...duh...these two were launching

E I E I O...I don't normally fancy myself as a farm girl, but I probably should have followed that arrow.

This little cottage was our pad for the weekend.  Super adorbs.  (Yeah, I am over 30 and I totes still  say adorbs. )

Looks like a winter wonderland, huh?  Well it was...but there were only about 3 inches of snow...enough to be sooooo peaceful and gorgeous, but not enough for good ski conditions.  They did end up opening the resort sunday...which we realized as we drove out of town.  I guess it wasn't meant to be for us.   The fresh blanket of snow was great for a morning run, in boots.  Man I love when fresh snow crunches under your boots...

Princess

Princess and  is the pea P.

Funny Confession #263

Remember how I was trying to embrace Dutch cuisine?

This article sparked a minor setback in that effort.

This one didn't help either.

horse image

Photos du Jour

Tea party

New training plan, PR or bust

Homemade tartiflette took us right back to the slopes...in our minds...

I registered for the big test, and "of course" I know what I will wear for the big day...

While at the french consulate to register for the big test, we got a peek into the courtyard gardens - so lovely

NBD, just a typical run in holland...

2 for 2...lets see if we can keep it up...

Reading

I don't think I ever read a full book until I was over 20.  I always just wiggled my way through english class in highschool (something I should be embarrassed about, but oddly I'm proud of it). Then somehow I never had to take an english/literature class in college.

I love to read - I read magazines, blogs, coffee table picture books, bedtime stories...but when it comes to grown up books, I guess I go in waves.

Right now I am feeling it.  This wave actually started back in September.

Recently, I have plowed through these two biographies:

I am about 25% of the way through this, and loving it

Next up are these two - which were both recommended by friends:

Eet Smakelijk

While I am on the topic of international, travel-inspired cooking...I am trying to remain open minded about Dutch cuisine.  Dutch cuisine does not have the best reputation.  Have you ever seen a Dutch restaurant anywhere outside of Holland?

Things I do see over here include:

Stew: Hutspot  (a traditional dutch stew) and stampot (which I believe is hutspot with green stuff in it - could be kale, spinach, endive...).  Both 'pots are served with sausage on top.

Fish: Of course there is alot of herring going on over here.  I checked that one off the to do list back in July, but I may be up for another taste of it soon.

Sweets: We have tried and fallen in love with fresh stroopwafels and poffertjes.  We have also been to our share of pannenkoeken (pancake) restaurants - which, btw, are not open for breakfast (just lunch and dinner).

Pea Soup: I have made a pot or two of Erwtensoep (split pea soup) which is very Dutch, especially if you throw in some sausage.

Bar Food: I would be fine to make it through our life here without every trying a bitterball (see graphic above).  "Meat" is never specified...its just "meat".

Dutch Apple Pie: Now that is something special.  Its on the menu everywhere, each place does it a little differently.  I prefer mine with no raisins (which can be tricky to find).  Oooh, now that is lekker.

Image above is from here

I Dream of Tartiflette

I can't believe vacation was 2 weeks ago...because we are still riding a vacation high.  It was a really good one!

The Hautes-Alpes cuisine always hits the spot (fondue, raclette, etc.) after a day of skiing.  One dish that I can't get out of my head is Tartiflette.  Tartiflette was my go-to for lunch...I had it nearly every day of vacation and it did not get old.  The web has me convinced that it would be easy to make it at home.  I think I have to give it a go.  You should too.  Bon appetite.

Fa La La La Fritsch

Christmas 2013 was a good one.  Fa la la!

Racing Is Fun (So is Winning)

Yesterday was the 40th annual Vondelparkloop race.  The race consisted of several events, including a kids 1500m run (far, right?) and several distance options for grownups.  My friend HB and I registered our kids for the kid run and ourselves for the 10k.  HB and I both opted for the 6k at the last minute - due to our desire to run less some logistical/timing benefits.

The kids run was first, and they rocked it!  P had cold feet (literally and figuratively) so she opted to cheer on her brother from the sidelines.  Front and center, W(in orange) was easy to spot on the starting line (don't tell him he is the smallest kid in the front row, ok?).  As I snapped this picture I realized his shoes were on the wrong feet.

When it comes to running,  Vondelpark is my home turf these days.  I run there several times per week.  I usually run 2 loops of the park...so the 6k race felt oh so right, since that is exactly my 2 loops.  The starting line was a confusing, unorganized mess...so it was pretty hard to gauge how the run was going in terms of my race position.  I wasn't able to secure a spot in the front corral, and I could only shimmy my way so far forward through the starting line chaos.  Once the gun went off, I knew I was running fast...but I was not out of my comfort zone or running as fast as I have on really good days.  However, the Sunday effort was enough for a rock solid finish...

The truth is, the great runners all ran the competitive 10k yesterday, leaving the 6k victory up for grabs to someone like me.  But, a win is a win...and I will absolutely take it!  

If I was organized I'd hang this medal right next to my 4th grade science fair and my Terwilliger  medal :)

Dutch Bday Fete

A puppet show from a bike...this little party was so fabulously Dutch!

Its all so confusing

Here's a weird topic.  Pubes.

At Delete, in Amsterdam, they get me thinking I may need a little sparkle below the belt - a la "Vajazzling".

If diamonds downstairs seems a touch over the top (ahem, ya think??), they also offer a seasonal guide to maintenance.  I freaking love the graphic design here...

Meanwhile, across the ocean, in NYC...the American Apparel mannequins are top news (well, at least in the places where I get my news!).  

99% of the time I would defer to NYC (over Amsterdam) for fashion advice...I think I just found the other 1%.  

I wonder if my dad still reads my blog.  Awkward.