Back to Black*

This season the power is back to Black* It has been most of the time, when it concerns me.. Not just when it comes to my fashion favourites*,

but also when it comes to Design*, for instance I LOVE this 

two-tops secretary of Marcel Wanders, it's definately on my wishing list!

when it comes to Culture*, look at my love for Kenya and it's Blessings*

and I also love black and white Photography*

So no surprise, the perfect expression made for me: 

"White on the Outside, Black on the Inside"

Now isn't it Ironic*, of all the years I've been dressing in black, I've decided to stop buying black outfits, right before Black became the IT (non-)color again* Even MOMU (= Mode Museum Antwerp) is organizing an exhibition "ZWART/BLACK" these days.

For sure you know I won't be able to never buy black anymore, but let's say I try to upgrade my color use + combine Black with White this Spring, as 
Black and White are always Right*

* * *

World Water Day 2010

Did you ever ask yourself the question, What is Luxury? Well, I have, several times. It started 3 years ago when I was in Kenya, experiencing the real life Less is More experiment, to discover what I really needed and what luxury meant to me..


We all have a different definiton of luxury. But I believe we all have the same basic needs. Things most of us take for granted or don't even realise how important and necessary they are in our lives.. Things like daily food, a roof above our head, a bed, water or personal hygiene. Would you be able to live without? I wouldn't. And I've exprienced that need for real.. 

John Stanmeyer, VII, © National Geographic

The first basic need I realised I had, was WATER..!! You have no idea, how necessary it is to us, untill you don't have it. How we are used to tab water for basically everything! To wash ourselves, do our laundry, our dishes, to clean, to flush the toilet and last but not least to drink! Maybe you're not used to drinking from a tab, but clean tab water to drink is a luxury!! And yet billions of people in this world don't have this basic need!!


For us in West Europe, it's normal to have water all the time. But please realize, on this World Water Day, that clean water is luxury, and we should not take it for granted!!


I have experienced the less is more life, and try to always remember and use that adventage, to appreciate everything I have. From basic water, to tasty food up to the luxury to have everything you want..


Make Every Day Count*

Citizen Kate*

Once I get overwhelmed by the urge for adventure, I'm unstoppable. So when B* suggested to celebrate my second birthday weekend on a secret unknown destination, I didn't need much pursuasion*

Some would call it a challenge, 2 city trips in a row.. For me it was a new and improved way of travelling and celebrating my birthday* Yeah, an other excuse, an other celebration. From London to Amsterdam..Where London was a weekend of Fashion and Party, Amsterdam became a weekend of Design. B* and I are all about Design..and no better place to stay in than a design hotel right? Honestly, I don't think there could have been a better place to stay at than Citizen M Amsterdam Seriously!! This hotel is the Best!! It was soooo cool!! The whole concept was so trendy and ultimate design!! According to Tripadvisor I'm not the only one who thinks so, as 15 million travellers voted it to be The Most Trendy Hotel in The World of 2009!! 

The rooms are small, but functional as they have a kingsize bed, flatscreen and a rainshower. The whole room works on domotica, you can choose any mood lighting thanks to the colored LED's, up to the wake up alarm with jungle sounds*

A lovely location, a lovely hotel, the only thing we needed was our 100%design guide to guide us through Amsterdam. We walked from South Amsterdam to the Historic City Centre towards the Eastern Docklands OHG and Ijoevers with it's modern architecture and finished with a lovely lunch experience @Fifteen in Pakhuis Amsterdam. The restaurant is based on the same concept like Jamie Oliver's Fifteen in London. Definately worth a visit, together with Pakhuis Amsterdam for several cultural events.

After an up speed rythme in the morning, and because I didn't wear the most comfortable walking shoes* we spent our late afternoon slow down rythme around the Jordaan, with some nice shops like Papabubble. I'm not out for the obvious places as you can see, I prefer the hidden treasures, but as this was my first visit to Amsterdam I did have a first late afternoon acquaintance with departement store de Bijenkorf and they have got some nice Caramel Latte Macchiato. 


Sunday started with a late Pancake breakfast @Pancakes What's in a Name* Enough day-drink-stop-overs during a adventure walk in "het vondelpark" and ended on our train back to Antwerp to finish the evening with the perfect friendly birthday dinner @El Medi, a new mediterranean tapas restaurant in Antwerp.

For once, I left everything up to Bertology*, so my advice is limited. But I have photographic memory and we saw the largest part of Amsterdam so this will get you started..


After 2 AMAZING city trips, 3 official birthday dinners, one in London with some of my international friends, one in Antwerp with my home friends and the official last one *this year that is* today in Lier, my birthtown with my birthparents* I guess I can kiss both hands for such a Special Birthday. And Yeah, It's official: I have aged a day*

Start Your Birthday With a Big Bang*

There is one time every year I allow myself to focus on ME* That time is My Birthday* Though it's still 5 days ahead I've already been celebrating for 5days* The Start was in London. Which was more Fabulous than Words!! I've found a new city I really like and I could see us getting to know each other better*

Normally I would plan the whole trip in advance, do research, get to know the hidden treasures before I make my way there. But as this trip came out of a sudden urge for adventure, I didn't find the time to research and experienced this city as the mystery of a white page. Which was quite refreshing for a change*

What can I say about London? for the locals Lundun Yeah*. Well, the way I experienced it, it definately had surprises around every corner!! My first evening I lost my way to the hotel, but discovered that could actually be a good thing, as all of a sudden, in the dark unknown streets of London I saw the London Eye rise behind the other buildings and walked my way close to the Thames and discovered The Houses of Parliament and it's Big Ben* were only 5steps away from our hotel. My lovely friend Miss M and I agreed on meeting at our hotel. With our first Room Party that night, including Room Service and catching up about the drama, love and crime in our lives, we fell a sleep with a smile on our face, cause we were in London of all places*

The next day, after knocking down an English* Breakfast, we found ourselves discovering shopping WALHALLAH. Seriously, I entered just this one shop in London and I fell instantly IN LOVE.. A Shop which is called TOPSHOP of all names. What's in a Name?* A TOP shop, definately!!

London is a hectic large city it's not so easy to see the people you agreed to meet, even if they are standing right in front of you in the middle of the street* It must be desorientation for sure, blame the whole left/right situation yeah* In London you can even have traffic jamm for pedestrians, but I must say quite a few Londoners are dressed smart, even in the subs!!

The perfect First* Birthday dinner happened to be @Cielo in Mayfair. Lucky to be in this new hotspot in town, we set off with lovely tasty food, a surprise-detailed-with-angel-birthday-cake. Followed by a continuous playing Night in the downstair club Luxx with-not-our-first-choice-kind-of-music, though great dj as mixing fabulous!! Ending a late night date with mister cab driver, dreaming of how fabulous everything was!!

Sunday turned out to be the perfect day for CAMDEN Town & Market, an other hidden treasure inside London. A whole different kind of London, which I love so much about this city!! It's all about the subcultures, you'll probably find them ALL here..And for a belgian girl who is used to nothing-to-do-as-everything-is-closed-sundays, this was SO FUN!! So fun I barely missed my eurostar back to the motherland, if it wasn't for my road runner speedy action moves and knocking down a new world record of turbo walking*

The few things I've seen are definately worth visiting, including the department store Selfridges & Co for all its exclusive brands, u can't find in Belgium and it's great manicure O.P.I stand. Consider it one of the coolest of all the departement stores in London. Though I didn't have enough time to get inside the London Eye it's definately worth a visit on a lovely bright sunny day, you get the best view over London in here. Buy your ticket online so you don't have to queue, or wait untill the early evening around 6pm so it won't be too crowded.

As you can see I still have loads to discover about London. But as every long lasting relationship we are taking every step at a time to make it last forever*


Note: I'll be updating my city tips frequently. If you want extra inside information or advice on my destinations, you can always contact me.