Wednesday, February 18, 2015

DIY | Colourful Coasters!


Hi guys! It has been sooooo long since my last DIY. So I thought the time was right to do one again! Yay!
This time I'll show you how to make some really cool and colourful yet very simple coasters. 


What you'll need:
- Acrylic paint
- Cork coasters
- Masking tape
- Scissors


Step 1
Start of with thinking of any kind of shape you like. Weave the masking tape onto a hard surface. For instance your desk or a cutting board. Onto this masking tape, draw the shape you'd like to appear on the coasters. Then cut out this shape. 




Step 2
Stick your shape onto the coaster. If you like, you can do the same for the other side of the coaster, in order for it to have two identical sides. But you're free to choose ofcourse :)
Be careful! Make sure you know what parts of the shape you want to be coloured in and which parts you want to stay blank. For this coaster I decided to only colour in the outer edges so that the rectangular shape stays blank. For the other coaster, I applied masking tape onto the whole coaster, and then cut away the parts I wanted to be coloured in. *Looking at it now, it looks a lot like the Xbox logo.. right? :) *


Step 3
Start painting the open surfaces. I recommend using acrylic paint since it's waterproof, so you don't have to worry about unexpected paint stains on your table. :)
Let the first layer of paint dry and apply a second (or maybe even third) layer. Repeat this step for the other side of the coaster.


Step 4
After the paint has dried completely, gently pull of the masking tape. And there you have it, some pretty but very simple to make coasters! 


Sunday, February 15, 2015

I'm stressed out!


Remember number 13 on my list of 25 things you didn't know about me? Yeah, that exact thing is annoying the *bleep* out of me! I'm having trouble sleeping for the last couple of nights because I just keep on overthinking everything I still need to do and problems I'm facing at the moment. Right now there's just a lot going on in my life

First I couldn't sleep because we had trouble finding a new place to live. We kept on getting rejected for apartments because we're still students and we don't have a lot of money to pay on rent. And in my opinion, these landlords are demanding way too high incomes for a relatively low rent. So I got a little stressed out about that, since we are forced to leave our current home at the 2nd of March. It's getting demolished... 

BUT THEN! We finally found an apartement! We got lucky though, because also this landlord was doubting us for our income, but in the end he made up his mind and chose US to rent his appartment! Yay! I was so ecstatic! However, me being me, this resulted in sleepless nights because I wished I could move in immediately. In my head, the entire apartment is already furnished and decorated and looks so pretty! 

Unfortunately, this happiness was soon to be interrupted by the organization from which we rent our current home. We're facing some issues which is beyond our responsibility, and they are not helping us whatsoever. Worse even, they're trying to make their problems ours. It makes me so mad! Yet again a reason for me to stay awake the entire night. Ugh! 

I can't wait to move into our new apartment guys! I want all these problems to be over and just start with a new, pretty apartment. And get some sleep during the nights :)

Do you also have sleepless nights when something is going on in you're life? Or are you able to relax every night no matter what? If so, tell me your secret! Please! :D

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

busy, Busy, BUSY!


Hi guys! Some of you may have noticed that for the last few weeks I've been posting blogs on a daily basis, even though I used to post only on wednesday and sunday in the past. I had enough time to do this since I had a 'winter break' from uni and I just had a lot of free time.

This is sadly going to change from now on. Uni is starting again and I have to take up writing my bachelor thesis. And that's not all. My boyfriend and I found a new place to live! We're going to live in The Hague and it's a more permanent living space, instead of the anti-squatting houses I got used to over the past 4 years. I'm so excited to move there that I've actually had trouble sleeping the past couple of nights!

So, from now on, my days will be filled with writing, homework and packing my (ridiculous large collection of) stuff! I'll go back to my old routine when it comes to blogging; which means I'll post every wednesday and sunday.

I hope you all understand my decision. 

Byee x

Saturday, February 07, 2015

25 Things you didn't know about me!


  1. I don't like peanutbutter Yuck!

  2. I'm afraid of swimming in lakes, oceans, seas.. whatever. If it's not a pool (or a bathtub), I'm not swimming in it. 

  3. I'm obsessed with Loekie, the stuffed animal I got when I was born. He's the one thing I'd take if my house was to be on fire. 

  4. Birds scare the hell out of me.

  5. I'm also scared of needles.

  6. I think flowers don't make a great gift. I mean.. they die. 

  7. As a little kid, I looked like a boy because one day I decided to cut my own hair. 

  8. I also ran away a lot. I climbed over fences and everything. What can a say.. a true adventurer maybe? 

  9. I suffer from hypodontia... yes I'm missing a pair of teeth :'( Got fake ones though, don't be scared! 

  10. I also suffer from lordosis (bad back)

  11. I'm not a big fan of ice cream, it's too cold!

  12. I have to eat a piece of candy after every meal. As a kind of dessert! 

  13. I never really stress about stuff, but when I do, it's always at night!

  14. I hardly wear make-up. Sometimes only a little mascara.  

  15. I can't stand messy houses. It makes me itchy. 

  16. Normally I'm quite friendly and relaxed, but as soon as I get in a car, I turn into a screaming, short-tempered maniac

  17. Which is maybe why I don't like driving cars that much. 

  18. I suck at reading books. It can take me ages to finish a book. 

  19. Actually, I suck at reading in general. I always end up sleeping somehow. 

  20. I really like studying though. When I was little, I created my own homework. Yes, I think I'm an alien.

  21. I don't like going out to party

  22. Which is maybe why I've never been drunk before.

  23. I only have short-term hobbies. Drawing, crocheting, painting.. whatever it is. After a few months I just have enough of it and I go on to the next hobby. 

  24. I love the smell of gasoline

  25. I'm the worst in watching movies. I want to know how the movie ends before watching it. Same with books, I always read the last page before I begin reading. 

Friday, February 06, 2015

Things you can do for free in Vienna


Vienna is a great city to explore, but you don't necessarily have to spend money to do this. There are so many sights and things to see which will give you a great look at Vienna without paying for something. So here is my list of things you can do for free in Vienna

St. Stephans Cathredral
One of the most impressive cathedrals in Vienna is St. Stephens Cathedral. It may be one of my favorite cathedrals until now, and especially at night it's lit up so beautifully! It's breathtaking. The best part of this all, you can visit this beauty for free! Ofcourse, when you pay a little you're able to get access to parts of the church which you won't have otherwise. But still, you can get a pretty good look at the interior of this beautiful cathedral without spending a dime!




Gardens of Schloss Schönbrunn
If you're interested in going to Vienna, you may have heard or read about Schloss Schönbrunn, a beautiful palace for emperor Leopold I and later Maria Theresa. This palace is a beauty from both the in- and outside which you can see buy buying a ticket. However, you don't have to buy a ticket for the gardens around the palace!
'Unfortunately' it snowed when we were there, so the gardens were covered in a thick layer of snow, but if you can believe the advertisements, these gardens are supposed to be gorgeous! 

  


Gardens of Belvedere
The same story goes for the gardens at Belvedere palace.. all covered in a thick layer of snow. Nevertheless, I had a great time there! For free! Of course you need to pay to see the palace and it's art, but the gardens have free access. 


Hundertwasserhaus
If you're into modern art, but not willing to spend a lot of money, you might consider visiting the Hundertwasserhaus. This apartment building was designed by the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser and has such a quirky exterior. I've never seen something like it before. All the colors and organic form were new for me, well.. for an apartment building that is. 


Shoppingstreet
And ofcourse, you can go windowshopping in the shoppingstreet; Kärntnerstrasse. It's always nice to see how shops differ from you own country and there's always a little street entertainment.


If you've ever been to Vienna, what did you do for free? Let me know in the comments!

Thursday, February 05, 2015

5 reasons to love Vienna



Pots of tea
As a person with a serious tea addiction, I'm so happy with the Viennese (Austrian) way of serving tea; pots of tea! Instead of just getting one cup of tea which I'm used to in the Netherlands, I got pots of tea in Vienna, out of which I could get three cups of tea! Great move Vienna! You've just won my heart!

Sacher-torte
If you've read my last posts about Vienna, you might know that I kind of fell in love with Sacher-torte. I ate it every single day during my stay! (Sorry, not sorry!) The chocolate and apricot jam cake is working its gravitational pull on me big time *sigh*. I'm such a sucker for chocolate. Franz Sacher, I love you for inventing this cake!

Friendly people
It might sound a little corny, but the people in Vienna are really friendly! We got waved off from the airport in the Netherlands by a woman who clearly didn't like travelling people, but we were welcomed by the lovely people in Vienna with a bright smile. Everywhere we went there were people willing to help us and in the restaurants the staff helped us with our german. 

Impressive buildings
I love the way how Vienna looks so very majestic. All the buildings are so great and impressive, as if they're little palaces on their own. Even the regular apartmentbuildings are decorated with beautiful baroque ornaments. I wish I could live in a building like that. 

It's history
Vienna has such a rich history! When you walk through the city, you can see it all around you. I could practically hear the music of Strauss and Mozart troughout the city and the beautiful palaces of Schönbrunn and Belvedere brought me back in time within seconds!

Have you every been to Vienna? What are your reasons to love Vienna? Let me know in the comments!

Wednesday, February 04, 2015

Hotspot | Café Sacher // Vienna


One of the things I wanted to do in Vienna was to eat the original Sacher-torte at Café Sacher. And so we did! First we went there on a sunday, but there was an actual waiting line outside of the café, and even though I really like cake, my need wasn't big enough to wait in the cold! So we decided to wait. 


The next day, after eating at Figlmüller (yes, the restaurant with the enormous schnitzel I couldn't finish), we decided to go for a little evening walk. Again, we passed café Sacher, but this time there was no waiting line, in fact, it wasn't busy at all! So we took our chance and stepped in (because there's always space for desert, right?) 

A table was offered to us and we got the menu, of course we didn't have to think about what we should take. We both ordered a piece of the original Sacher-torte and tea which was specially put together for Café Sacher. 


GUYS! Guys! It was DE-LI-CIOUS! Maybe the best Sacher-torte I ate during my stay in Vienna. I think I could eat a whole cake if I wanted to, but you know how it is.. we've got to think about our weight (I was trying to lose some)!

If you're ever in Vienna, definitely check out this place. It's not that expensive. This piece of Sacher-torte was €5,30 and the tea was €4,90. Not that bad right? Also, the cafe is opened every day from 8 am until 12 am. So you can eat there whenever you feel like it!

Adress: Philharmonikerstrasse 4, Vienna

Tuesday, February 03, 2015

Things you can do for free in Bratislava


A few days ago, you could read about my thoughts on BratislavaWe visited Bratislava on a monday, the day that all the musea are closed, but still we managed to have fun there. Without spending any money! (Well.. except for getting something to eat ofcourse). So what did we do in the hours we spend there? 

The historical city center
Bratislava has a beautiful old city center! Definitely worth checking this out when you're there. It has many old buildings, and when we got there, there was a little snow, so that it all the more like a fairytale-ish city center. I especially liked the city center when it got a little dark. It looked so cosy and cute!





The view from castle 'Hrad'
WOW! Just.. wow! Wat a stunning view we had from the hill on which castle 'Hrad' is located. We could see the entire city of Bratislava!







Visit multiple churches
Bratislava has many little churches you can check out while you're walking through the city. I especially liked the church of St. Elizabeth a.k.a 'Blue Church'.




The view from the UFO bridge
There is an enormous bridge crossing the Danube river, which will give you an amazing view over the river! Also, above the bridge is the UFO tower. This tower will give you access to an even more stunning view from a height of 95 metres! But you'll have to pay €6,-. So even you don't want to spend a lot of money, the bridge is fine, too!



Have you ever been to Bratislava? If so, what did you do there? 

Monday, February 02, 2015

Perfect travel songs!


I'm a sucker for music! And sometimes when I hear a song, it immediately feels like a 'travel song'. Do you know what I mean? There are these songs which make me feel like "Yes! This is perfect for when I'm in the car!" At those moment I can see myself driving on endless roads through beautiful landscapes. 

So here are two lists of songs, one for when I'm on the plane and one for when I'm on the road. I noticed that for both situations I have a very different taste in music. I tend to like electronic music such as chillstep way more for the moment I'm up in the air, maybe because it's a little.. 'dreamy' or something? I don't know. Haha! And when I'm in the car, I tend to listen to bands and guitars. 

Here you go! My two lists. Enjoy! 

On the plane 
* Booka Shade - Crossing Borders ft Fritz Kalkbrenner
* Great Skies - Infinite
* Module Module - An Interlude
* Module Module - Unconditional Election
* Pendulum - Streamline
* Owsey - I'll remain under our antique sky
* Rameses B - North
* Lily Allen - Air Balloon (Digital Farm Animals Remix) 
* Papercutz - Rives (Synkro Remix)
* Above and Beyond - Tri-State (5vel Remix)

In the car
* Gotye - Eyes wide open
* The Black Keys - Gold on the ceiling
* Cheap Trick - In the street
* Wir Sind Helden - Wenn es passiert
* Oasis - Wonderwall 
* Supertramp - Goodbye Stranger
* Green Day - Holiday
* Sense Field - You own me
* Wolfmother - Joker and the Thief
* The Raconteurs - Steady as she goes 
* Weezer - Island in the sun

Do you have any songs you listen to when you're on the go? Let me know! I'd love to check them out! 

Sunday, February 01, 2015

Hotspot | Figlmüller // Vienna

Source
Thanks to a friend, we learned that Figlmüller was the place to be for the best schnitzel! After a little while of searching the right alley, we found the restaurant at Wollzeile, however, this restaurant was completely booked! Luckily for us, there's another restaurant of Figlmuller just around the corner at Bäckerstrasse, and they still had room! Yay!

Source
The restaurant at the Bäckerstrasse is super cosy! We sat down at a table in something that looked like a former wine cellar. I loved it! The staff was also very friendly and fast! (I don't like to wait when I'm hungry hihi!)


I knew that the schnitzels in Vienna were quite big, but little did I know they'd be this gigantic! And that for just €13,90! In the Netherlands the regular schnitzels are a quarter of the Viennese schnitzel. Apart from the schnitzel, I also ordered their Viennese potato salad for €4,20. 


I'm going to be honest with you guys, I had a really tough time finishing this monster, in fact, I just couldn't. Don't get me wrong, it was absolutely delicious, but it was just too big for me! So I got a disapproving look of the goofy waiter when he took the rest of the schnitzel away from me (for some reason he was teasing us the whole time, I still don't get it! Haha.)

If you're looking for a place to eat the real deal, I definitely recommend this place! Just one piece of advise: reserve a seat in advance! This place is very popular, so without reservation you might not be able to get a seat. For reservations you can visit the website I linked below.

Guten appetit! ;) 

Adress: Wollzeile 5, Vienna // Bäckerstrasse 6, Vienna