Let's fly away!

Exciting things are about to happen over here! 

We're going on a trip!

But where to, you ask? 

I'll let this little video of Micha do the talking:

For those of you who don't speak Dutch, I ask him in the video: "Micha, where are we going to go to by plane?"

And, well, you heard his answer!

That's right, this late April/early May we'll be heading to Canada for two weeks.

We are so excited!

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We've been wanting to visit for such a long time (especially before Micha turns two because, hello, free trip for him) but we just couldn't afford it.

But a few weeks ago we received a big tax refund that allowed the three of us to be able to make the trip. 

The refund feels like a gift from above, it really does! We're so thankful!

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We'll be visiting my sister and her family and we'll probably also be spending some time with my best friend Lydia and her little family.

I just can't wait to (re-)introduce them all to Micha and spend some time with some of my favorite people in the world (who happen to live across the world).
I'm so glad I get to introduce Micha to the country I grew up in,
I hope he loves it just as much as his mama.

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I already have a whole list of things I want to do/buy when we're there:

- Eat all the doughnuts at Tim Hortons

- Buy all the cute cheap zip-up pj's for my boys (I can't find them here in Holland, boo!)

- Have my birthday breakfast (May 2nd) at a pancake joint

- Hoard baking supplies and ingredients 

- Fill my suitcase with Canadian/American candy and food

(Just realized that almost everything has to do with food, I just really miss the (processed, obesity inducing, deliciously unhealthy) food!)

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I'm a tiny bit nervous (read: terrified) about flying with a busy and feisty toddler like Micha is, 

and have been pinning all kinds of tips and checklists on how to keep a toddler occupied during a flight. 

But I'll just keep in mind that if he doesn't behave as we'd like him to and people have a problem with him, we'll likely never see them again anyways. 

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Canada, here we come!

Love, Maria

p.s. Have you ever flown with a toddler? Any tips?

a little list

There's been some fun things happening over here!

A little list:

I made this duvet cover for Micha. I'm pretty proud of it! 

The big stars on the cover are from left over fabric that I used to decorate his room with. 

So that ties the new cover to the other hand made things in his room.

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These cute little wedge boots I got for 2,50 euro's at the thrift shop. 

They look as good as new, and are made from a beautiful soft, good quality leather. 

They are super comfortable, I've worn them quite a bit already.

And the brand 'Ash' is apparently quite expensive.

I just love finds like these. 

(And no, I'm not above buying second hand shoes, 

especially if all they smell like is the sweet scent of leather).

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The Dutch Olympic team! We are doing so well in Russia! 

Four gold medals, two silver and four bronze. 

Hup Holland! 

middle and right are the twins, Michel and Ronald Mulder.

Fun fact: 

The gold and bronze medalists for the 500 meter are twins and go to my church! 

Well, at least their parents do, and they come to church quite often with them, 

so I've been in the very close vicinity of two Olympic medalists!

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Some very exciting things are happening, things that may have to do with this Pinterest board.

source

I can't say much more about it yet, but soon I will!

Yay!

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So, what's happening with you?

Any fun or exciting things you'd like to share?

Do tell!

Love, Maria

The Color Run

Three weeks ago I posted this photo on Instagram:

It's a photo of my first day of training for a 5k Color Run which I ran last Sunday. 

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I hadn't worked out since pregnant with Micha, 

and I had left myself only three weeks to train my lazy bum for a 5k. 

Eek! I was scared!

But I trained, every other morning I made myself head out the door with Micha in the stroller and run. 

Every day I ran a little farther and a little faster.

And on Sunday I put all my hard work into practice, it was such an awesome experience.

I loved participating in The Color Run because while it was a 5k, it was a fun run too. 

The pressure to run within a certain time was off. 

But my friend and I did time our run and we finished in 35 minutes, 

and that includes the all 'traffic jams' at the Color Zones. 

Pretty okay, I think!

^ ^ ^ ^

I'll let the photos do the rest of the talking:

before the run

'we made it!'

after the massive 'Color Toss'

The whole 'Color Run' experience was just so much fun, I can't wait to participate again next year!


Have you ever done a 'Color Run'? 
If not, do it!

Love , Maria

Lavender Cupcakes with Lemon Curd, a winner!

So last week I entered in a cupcake baking competition for a local shop. 

I love to bake and I thought it would be fun to participate. 

On Saturday I handed in my baked goods and the waiting game began. 

I wasn't to hopeful of winning, there were quite a lot of participants, why would my humble cupcake win?

But then the biggest miracle of my life happened (well okay, the runner-up, this was the biggest).

I won the contest.

Yes, you heard that right. I actually won something. 

^ ^ ^ ^

Just a little inside information about me: 

I have never in my life won anything, 

not a coloring contest, 

or a spelling bee, 

or a blog give-away, 

or a lottery 

(now my luck has changed I'd like to win a million euros, please and thank you).

And winning a contest doing the thing I love most, that's a big deal. 

It feels like such a validation for me. 

I might actually be good at this!

^ ^ ^ ^

So what did you bake, one might ask.

Well, ladies and gentlemen(the only men reading are probably my dad and the hubs hi!),

I won with these delicious beauties:

>I wasn't smart enough to make photos of them, so these awesome (insert sarcasm) illustrations will have to do.<

I'm not sharing the whole recipe here yet (too lazy to translate it from Dutch today), 

but I'll show you some of the steps in making them.

First soak dried lavender in whole milk over night:

Mix in the vanilla and egg.

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In a bowl mix together flour, sugar, a teaspoon of baking powder and butter. 

Stir in the lavender infused milk mixture and pour the batter into a lined cupcake pan.

Bake in the oven.

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To make the curd, combine butter, cream and lemon juice in a saucepan and heat to just under a boil.

In stand mixer whisk together an egg, an egg yolk and sugar. 

Slowly whisk in the lemon mixture, pour back into sauce pan and cook until the curd thickens.

Let it cool, fill the cooled and hollowed out cupcakes with the cooled curd and frost the cupcakes with lavender colored (and flavored, if you use some left over infused milk) frosting.

Enjoy!!

^ ^ ^ ^

I'm so excited and elated that I won! Doing a happy dance over here! 

Oh and the prize? A fifty euro gift certificate to the shop that hosted the contest, yay!

Have you ever won anything?

Love, Maria

p.s. If you're interested in the complete recipe feel free to email me or leave a comment.