The Mindful project days # 77-85

My heart and prays go out to Paris for last Friday's attacks!

Image credit: Jean Jullien via The Body Shop

 

The Mindful project day # 77

 

Feeling happy like a kid!

 

Having a Dutch husband means celebrating Saint Nicolas or as the Dutch say Sinterklaas. However, this is the first year I am celebrating it to the fullest!

 

So the idea is that every year Sinterklaas travels from Spain to the Netherlands in a steamboat. The Dutch news always have a time schedule for "Sinterklaas news" reporting how is voyage is going, if he has encountered any trouble which is jeopardizing his arrival in the Netherlands and so on. After he has arrived in the Netherlands, he will visit some cities, again coming in his steamboat with his helpers the "Svart piets". This year, he also visit our little city so I told my husband I have to see him!!!!!

 

Today we (me, my husband and our friend M.) awaited for Sinterklaas's arrival, under heavy pours(after all it is the Netherlands), in our city harbour!

 

From the left: our friend M., my husband and in the lower right, me

 

 I was so excited and really felt like one of the kids around us!!!

 

And then he arrived!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

To complete the day and make it even more perfect, we watch "Alles is liefde" during dinner! I had seen it before but today I really got it! and loved it even more! I doubt there is any Dutch who hasn't seen this movie but if I am wrong or if you are now getting to know the Dutch way-of-life, go check it out!

 

The Mindful project day # 78

 

That cartoon that makes you say: so true!!

 

I am grateful for other people's creativity!

 

From:http://www.pet360.com/blog/post/with-love-and-wags/how-people-without-a-cat-eat-vs-how-people-with-a-cat-eat/rl6Ac4oAiU26rYzVV47M0Q

 

Our little cutie-pie: 

 

The Mindful project day # 79

 

Decorating the house for the holidays!

 

There is nothing like a few details to enter the spirit of the holidays. Today is again about Sinterklaas, as it is the next holiday here in the Netherlands.

 

There aren't much Sinterklaas decorations, its not like the Christmas fever but I did buy two things to make the house more "Sinter". One was this garland (0,60 euros at Action):

 

 

And the other was a Sinterklaas calendar (1,99 at our local supermarket):

 

Of course, there should always be a bowl with pepernoten around:

The Mindful project day # 80

 

I am grateful for the work I had in the past (and of course the fact that my husband has a job now) which allows me to take my time in finding a new job.

 

However, I am getting a bit stressed that only one thing came along ( I am currently working on it) and there is still no guarantees about what will come out of that...

 

 

The Mindful project day # 81

 

I am grateful for experiencing Nature's originality!

 

How cute are these flowers??!!

 

 

 I don't know the name of the tree but found the flowers so original, like pink stars!!

 

The Mindful project day # 82

 

Mindless work!

 

Today in the garden where I volunteer I was in charge of "de-weeding" a plot with flowers. This type of mindless work really suits me when I am stressed. It helps me calm down and clear my mind.

 

The Mindful project day # 83

 

I am grateful that I can have a hot beverage in a cold day.

 

As, embrace yourselves, I don't like hot chocolate (pause for reaction)...

 

From: http://funny-cat-pics.blogspot.com/2012/06/surprised-cat.html

 

a nice cup of peppermint tea is my favourite "warm-up beverage".

 

The Mindful project day # 84

 

Unexpectedly receiving flowers really brightens up my day!

 

Last Friday my husband brought some white Chrysanthemums from work. He does all kinds of test at work to improve the shelf-live of different fresh produces like strawberries, papaya and flowers. The best part, for me, is that he can bring home what is not used!!

 

Today we had one of my sisters-in-law and her boyfriend for dinner and they brought us these beautiful roses!! Love, love, love, love them!!

 

I am grateful for their kindness.

 

The Mindful project day # 85

 

I am grateful for having a comfortable home!

 

From: http://moline.typepad.com/crafty_mum/2012/02/staying-in-or-home-sweet-home.html

 

 Have a lovely Sunday!

The Mindful project days # 65-76

Hello,

A long time has past since my last post... I have been very busy and I think it will not change anytime soon with the upcoming anniversaries, Sinterklaas and X-mas (not to mention that I should start focusing on my Dutch course and etc.).

Thus, I made the decision of posting only once a week. This will, of course, not change the way my Mindful project works. I still pay attention for "every days little things". I find that it is a good exercise to look back on the day and be grateful for all that life can bring!

The Mindful project days # 65

Getting our home to fell more like home!

or what the Dutch describe as "gezellig", that cosy feeling you have in you home or/and around the people you love.

During the weekend my husband hanged the upcycled living-room lamp and today we added this little plants to it. The lamp has 3 candle holders that we rarely use so my husband had the idea of putting small succulents instead of candles and I think it looks great!!

 

 

At night time:

 

The Mindful project days # 66

Having fun!!

The laser-pointer is a great cat toy!! She sure got her exercise today!!!

The Mindful project days # 67

Interesting bits of history!

 

I love a good tour guide. My friend M. has been kind enough to take me on guided tours through our city. Today I went for our second tour that was dedicated to Nature which was perfect as with Autumn the botanical garden looked amazing! To my surprise, this garden is crossed by an ancient Roman road! How cool is that! and how idyllic is this place (ignore the traffic sign!!)! I think the picture doesn't do the place justice as in reality it looked like something out of a fairy tale!!

 

I am very happy and grateful that my friend M. has taken the time to teach me about our city...and also Dutch!!!!

The Mindful project days # 68

Meeting new and nice people!

I am not a very social person, I find most social situations difficult and very often feel awkward. So finding people easy to talk to and with whom I feel comfortable is very important for me.

The Mindful project days # 69

 

Making our own memories!

 

Today is about Christmas traditions.

 

I want us to built our own family traditions (though not only for Christmas...) like always getting together to build the Christmas-tree or watch a Christmas movie (actually we do that!! for the last 2 years - "Arthur Christmas").  I have also heard several people mentioning (mainly in the vlogs that I follow) how every year they buy a tree ornament for the family, how beautiful is that!

 

So, even though a Christmas stocking is not part of the Portuguese-view on Christmas I decided to knit one for me and my husband, when my hands are not otherwise occupied....

 

 

I will show you the result soon!!

 

The Mindful project days # 70

Shopping for gifts!! I am grateful that I can do this!!

Today we shopped for Sinterklaas gifts (for my Dutch family).

The Mindful project days # 71

Simple ideas!

Today's simple idea is a crafty one!!

Take a word that inspires you or the initial of your name (or in my case both...) and use it as a decorative item. I decided on the word "live" and my husbands and my own initials (all items where quite cheap 1,99 and 1 Euro respectively). For colour I went with gold as I think its trendy and I still had some paint from previous projects.

And voila, here they are on top of our IKEA headboard:

Not sure that will be the final location, I think they would also look good on our bookcases but for mow they are here. As for the word "live" I would like to hang it in a "wall composition" but that will came later!!

Hope you like the idea and that it inspires you!

The Mindful project days # 72

 

Beautiful urban designs!

 

Like this ceiling in Amsterdam Central station, even nicer against the blue sky! I love the organic lines.

 

Another good example is Arnhem's bus station. We were there this past Saturday (unfortunately I didn't take a photo...don't know why??) and even though there is still some work to be done, it already looks amazing. If you go by Arnhem do have a look at it.

The Mindful project days # 73

Being able to relax!

Its a blessing, especially if you are stressed by default like me!!

The Mindful project days # 74

Bright colours!

I believe that adding a colourful detail to your house, your garment etc., can make a difference in your mood. This beautiful pink yarn will be use for my next scarf!

Christmas stocking done!! or almost I am thinking of embroidering our initials, lets see!

 

 

The Mindful project days # 75

Potential new career projects!

I have gotten a new challenge that I hope I am able to deal with!

The Mindful project days # 76

I am grateful for my supportive husband! Love you very much!


Have a nice weekend!

The Mindful project days #63-64

The Mindful project days #63

Art in unexpected places!

This Saturday we went on a taste tour again, this time around Bennekom/Ede (similar to what we did before The Mindful project days #35) and as before, it was really nice we tasted same local delicacies bought a few..

 

Besides the food products these tours are also good to know the surroundings and in Bennekom we saw this let's call it "wall art" that I found very interesting, enough to make me get out of the bike and take a picture.

 

I love the shadow that it casts!!

 

The Mindful project days #64

 

I love to decorate our house! Even more by reusing or repurposing items.

 

Our living room hanging-lamp got damage during one of our house/country moves (one of the glass lamp shades was broken). We didn't want to buy a new one but repurpose the old one as it is still in good condition.

 

My husband had this idea of replacing the lamp shades with glass jars, love it! So today he is working on it, here are a few snapshots:

 

He is painting it so that the colour matches our dinning-room table! 

 

Later this week I will show you the end/hanging product!!

 

Have a lovely Sunday!