The End... At least for now

Dear readers. I've decided to take the blog offline. The reason is that at the moment my life is just too hectic: job hunting, interviewing, getting ready for my new life. I've found that instead of making me more peaceful, the pressure of writing blog posts actually caused stress. So I've decided to let it go. At least for now; who knows, I might find new inspiration later on. In the meanwhile, thank you for reading and I'll definitely be checking up on you on your blogs regularly!

Inconsistent

Two keys - the symbol for my town - on a bridge. The picture was taken from a boat on the canal.

I'm sorry for posting so irregularly lately... I've got a week planned full with job interviews and presentations and at the same time I'm organizing a party for my graduation.

Here at my university it is tradition to have a dinner with family after the graduation ceremony followed by a "party" for everyone - friends family professors students etc- who played a part during your time at university. I say "party" because it's really a particular kind of party. Everyone is dressed up and in many occasions there is no music played, except for the songs that the graduate's sorority friends or roommates or other friends have composed and will sing very loudly. These songs generally cover every embarrassing episode during your time at university: drunken episodes, every guy you've ever been mildly interested in, bloopers...

My graduation and party will be in 2,5 weeks time and yesterday I've sent out the invites. MrBee and I have been testing a couple of bars here in town (which resulted in our own little pub crawl) and I've finally decided where it will take place. It's a really nice bar in an old factory building at a canal here in town. That location is certainly not the cheapest option - which is not unimportant when about 75 people come to drink to your graduation and you have a student budget - but in the end I decided I should celebrate this special moment at a place I feel very comfortable and where I'm sure everything will be great.

I'm really excited about seeing everyone who has contributed to my amazing time as a student together in one bar to celebrate my graduation, but I'm not sure whether I should be too excited about the songs..... I've been a pretty good girl but I trust my friends will come up with lyrics that'll turn my head into a tomato...

So cute...

You might already have seen this clip on A Cup of Jo but I just had to post it here, as it is unbelievably cute. This guy Jake proposes to his girlfriend through a 59 people whisper chain.... I love looking at everyone's faces when they hear the message and whisper it on.

Flowery

Writing about my bookclub reminded me of being more active about my list again so I wanted to show you today how I've been doing with my resolution to have more fresh flowers around the house lately...

Fresh flowers can be quite expensive but I've found that I can get really good deals at my local market on Saturday afternoon when the vendors need to get rid of their stock. The other week I got 60 (!!) long stemmed Dutch red roses for only EU5 (which is about $7,50)!! Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures of them but believe me, they were absolutely stunning. I had them all around the house and gave some away. I'm sure neighbors thought MrBee had either proposed or something to make up to me!

I've found having flowers around makes me so happy!

What a surprise

I would want to be on this subway in Paris.....

Recipe: Lemon-goat cheese tagliatelle

Yesterday I made this perfect summer dish. It's based on a recipe I saw in the newspaper this morning. It's ideal for dinner al fresco and extra nice with a cool glass of white wine I think. Bonus: you can make it within 10 minutes. Promise!

Lemon-goat cheese tagliatelle

(serves 2)

adapted from nrcnext

250 g / 3 cups fresh tagliatelle

half a lemon

100 g / about 1/2 cup soft goat cheese

3 tablespoons of olive oil

75 g / 3 cups rocket lettuce

two tablespoons of pine nuts

150 g / 1 cup half dried tomatoes (I bought mine at the market this time but you can also make them yourself quite easily, find out how right here)

salt and pepper

Boil the tagliatelle as instructed on the package with a tablespoon of olive oil and some salt.

Roast the pine nuts until they are light brown and let them cool on a plate.

Wash the lemon with luke warm water and grate the zest.

Mix the zest in a bowl with the goat cheese, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 teaspoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice and some salt and pepper.

Drain the pasta but hold on to one cup of the water and add this to your lemon-cheese mix.

Stir in the lemon-cheese mix with the tagliatelle.

Add the rocket lettuce, tomatoes and pine nuts.

Add salt, pepper and lemon juice to your liking.

If you like, you could even top the dish with some parmezan cheese, but I think it doesn't really need it.

Tip: use a larger pan than I did!

Pronto!

My favorite spot

The final post in the Through Her Eyes series I've participated in is now online. Check it out right here!

The assignment for this fourth week was to send in pictures of my favorite spot. Because the pictures are so small in the THE post over at Layers of Meaning and because the text has been edited a bit, I thought I'd share my original text and pictures with you here....

I wanted to show you two places that I visit pretty much every Saturday: my local market and library. Both are in the historic city centre of my Dutch town. I just love walking around all the different stalls at the market. I usually buy a lot of cheap fruit and vegetables, but I’m also a huge fan of all the Mediterranean products that are sold here. I don’t mind that it’s busy at the market, I actually enjoy seeing so many people together and I absolutely love how the vendors shout out their best offers as loud as they can (“Pineapples! Two for 1,50! Delicious juicy Piiiiineapples!!”).

The local market, right next to the canals. In the background you can see our city hall.

It’s much more quiet at my local library. I can just spend hours there browsing through the novels, cookbooks and glossy travel books. My perfect Saturday afternoon I enjoy on our sunny balcony with new books, a glass of wine and garlic olives, almonds and fresh feta cheese from the market….

Our local library with one of the city's churches in the background.

And bikes. Of course....