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You ever had that feeling that when you were somewhere, with someone special, that you just know it's an important moment, and you feel the need to want to stay in that moment forever? That is how I felt the last time I saw my grandmother a few months ago, obviously not knowing at that time, it was to be the last time I was going to see her.

Checking out the 'skinny jeans'.

Showing me my quilt she was working on.

Got her ears pierced at the age of 85.

My hand on the left, hers on the right. The watch was a gift from
me for her 90th birthday.

Visits from 'Oma' in the USA were the best!

Our first vacation after moving to Holland, in Spain 1991.

Of course, you never really know just how much time you have with someone, especially when they are someone of great meaning to you. And after her passing, I was reminded that this is it, this is what I've got, and I've got to make something out of it. I'm done wasting time trying to fit in, or trying to be what someone expects me to be. A little 'momento mori' and plenty of 'carpe diem'. I am who I am, with all my faults and quirks. I am fine with my level of intelligence, my sense of humor, my will to help others, and to do what's right.

My family is small, but great. I consider all my friends my best friends, 'cause that's exactly what they are to me: The Best. It's easy to get swept away with the disappointments in life, and it feels at moments that's all there is to life; surviving. The trick of it all is, finding something that makes it all worth while, and allowing yourself to be you. The fabulous you.


Not having work at the moment tends to throw people off, especially if you've been looking for almost a year like I have. It's become this oddity, like what you do for a living, defines who you are in life. I do nothing, therefore I am nothing? I thought NOT ! I have always seen these 2 things as separate, although who you are may influence what you want to do in life.
Say I loved writing and receiving letters, I could become a post(wo)man. I would then say: "I work as a postman", and not "I AM a postman". A minor detail maybe, but I think it puts things into a different perspective.


It can be quite challenging, finding something that makes you happy. In the end it does come down to 1 thing: you 'have' to be happy with yourself. The mother of all clichés (and I loathe clichés) but aggravatingly true. Setting small goals has been helpful for me. And, maybe even more important: not beating myself up over goals I don't achieve. Maybe they were too high or unrealistic. Remember the fun stuff, start small. Smaller.

Personally, I don't believe in the "Life's too short" saying, 'cause it's not, it's the longest thing you'll ever experience. As far as I know, there are no 'do-overs', no '1 ups' in this game. So if you're gonna do something for a long long long long long time, make it something you like, or even love <3

Spending time with my sister: One of my favorite things to do!

Crocheting a scarf for the lady whose house I clean.

Seeing my all time favorite band: Hurts

Taking pictures; lots of them!

Reminded of my 'awesomeness' :D

All the pretty things

So, we meet again. I propose we pretend it wasn't that long ago...yeah, let's do that.

I can, however, explain what I've been up to. The fact of the matter is, that moving in with my boyfriend has proven much more of a challenge that either of us had anticipated at first. Set aside my near-crippling ache for back where I used to live, and the fact that it has been exactly a year since I was in the USA, it's the jobhunt that really sucks. Finding work is hard, like, really really hard. Not only beacuse there's not a whole lot to choose from, it's especially mentally draining. But not just for me, it has been a real challenge for my boyfriend as well. And as anyone can predict, that can lead to some unpleasant moment at times (not a lot, thankfully!). But, on the bright side (and there are many, even if I live in one of the most cloudiest places on earth) it has made us stronger, and we appreciate eachother even more than before.

Elf Fantasy Fair 2013

Elf Fantasy Fair 2013

MUSE!

MUSE shirt!

Beautiful floating lightbulb during 'Guiding Light' at MUSE :D

My sister and I waiting for the show to begin!

Visited my awesome 90 year old grandma...

... Who is making me this kick-ass quilt!

Chillaxing in the sun (finally!)

Bike ride

My beautiful niece visted me, can't wait to see her again soon!

 For me, it has been important to unwind every now and then, get out of the house and just be somewhere else, remind myself that life is much more than work, or in my case: looking for work. But it doesn't have to be anything fancy, as long as we're having fun and enjoying each others company. I like to think we really excel in that :)

Coo coo ca-choo

Um, so yeah, it has just occured to me that I have not posted a single update this year!


I could blame it on moving, which in this case is actually mostly to blame. Or one could say: "Hey Lizzy, since you've taking up 'not sleeping', doesn't that leave you with 27 hours a day to write?" My answer could be 'yes', but in this case it's not, because let's face it: we all know a day lasts 56 hours when you can't sleep.

Costume preview!

Anyhoo, a recap of what the dealio has been:
1. I moved, and still have plenty of boxes to unpack
2. I unpacked some boxes
3. Spent some quality time with friends ("back home") and family
4. More boxes await unpacking
5. Have started my part of the KICK ASS costume my sister and I are making for this years Elf Fantasty Fair
6. Tried to stay zen between 5 cats who don't always see eye-to-eye
7. Looking for work (my least favorite thing; I'd rather clean the litterboxes with my toothbrush).
8. Moved some boxes so it looks like there are less
9. Realised I posted nothing yet this year (and that some pics from previous posts have gone missing...)
10. Posted first update this year.






What I have also started doing as of the 1st of this month, is a fun thing called "Photo a day". Each day of the month you have a topic, you take a pic of that, or something related to that and post in on your FB, Twitter, Instagram, Blog or whevertheheckyouwant. It's hella cool, especially if you can get some friends to join in on it.
I've found that it really helps (me) to have a (small) goal for that day, I look at things differently and more important: in a more positive way. It's also fun to see how others interpret and capture the 'word of the day' :)

And between providing my sister with the proverbial "fresh one", taking long bubble baths with my wonderful boyfriend, and tending to my 'Pixel People' on my Iphone (don't play it, it's ridiculously addictive!!), I have also been busy getting to know and taking pictures of my new 'hood':

So, with all that said and done, it's time for me to embark on my next adventure: Cooking dinner. I bid thee farewell and tune in next time for another action-packed episode!