King's Day in the Netherlands

King's Day is a new name for this celebration...a short summary is King's Day came about after last year (2014) when Queen Beatrix abdicated the throne and her son, Willem-Alexander, took over. Previous to this it was Queen's Day. It stayed the same for two Queen's in a row, being held on 30 April, despite Queen Beatrix's birthday being in January.

So, this new celebration is held on the 27th of April now, know this people because inevitably people were showing up on the 30th and the celebration had come and gone. So, get with the program and know if you are planning a late April visit to the Netherlands (which I 100% recommend) be here for Kings Day on the 27th, 26th if the 27th is a Sunday.

So...moving on. We had a great time. I know I am writing about this late, but ya know, better late than never.

Our friends have an apartment down in the Jordaan, so we went there and our kids got to hang out and we got to hang out. It was a blast. There are a few things to remember for King's Day though:

1. If you want a night time party with lots of music on stage go the night of the 26th...music plays until about 3am, but know it will be crowded.
2. The morning of the 27th everyone sets out their stalls to sell pretty much everything they've saved up for the past year. This is the only day in the Netherlands where you can sell stuff without a vendor permit.
3. Be patient. Kids will be in your face to buy stuff and they will try to get to you buy access. Be firm but nice and they back off pretty quick. But, if they want to put a Dutch flag tattoo on your face for €2, just pay them and let them do it, it will totally make their day.
4. Be ready for a crowd. You know how I said the night before is crowded. The day of is too. You have to know you will be shoulder to shoulder, back to back, and you will get pushed. Keep your cool and just go with the flow...most of the time it gets you to the bar anyway so life is good.
5. Finally, above all...be patient and always have a smile. Will make for a wonderful day.

There was an oyster and caviar bar, it was right next to the champagne bar...coincidence...I think not!

Look at that crowd. It was really crazy..and all down the sides of those streets were people selling stuff!

So many people were on the canals. Personal boats and rented boats. They don't do any canal tours that day, they are only to rent a seat on for King's Day. You can also buy a ticket for a space on a party barge and they will have a DJ, drinks, etc.

We got the opportunity to walk among the vendors and talk to so many interesting people. For a lot of them this is a favorite day of the year. It is a wild party and you really get a good feel for the community of Amsterdam.

This was something someone was "selling". €2 and you could swing on the swing that had you swinging out over the canal! I tell you, the cultural experience you get here is an eye opener. I love it. But, hubby wouldn't let me swing sadly...can't say I really blame him.

Hubby and I checking out some architecture.

We ended the day with a look out from the rooftop of our friends building. They took this awesome photo of us.

If you decide to plan a trip to the Netherlands, I do feel the best time is the last weekend in April. You'll get to celebrate King's Day, see the tulips in bloom at Keukenhof Gardens, and you can enjoy a bike ride through the countryside.  

Spring truly is the best time of year for a visit...tell me, where do you live and when do you feel is the best time to visit? 

P.S, Linking up to: Tater Tots and Jello and Nap Time Creations.

Currently, Vol. 2

Well, this weekend sure was a busy one! The hubby left on a business trip and the kiddo had a showcase for cheerleading plus my Scottish friend had a get together for Burn's Night. So much fun to be had, it passed all too quickly! But, here's a run down, plus my currently.

Saturday I took the kiddo down town and we found a floating bike rack...because, ya know, it is Amsterdam and when you have underutilized floating space you turn it in to stuff...

After some shopping we grabbed some pasta and I'm such a little old lady with my Ginger Ale, but I have to stop drinking carbonated beverages they really hurt my stomach.

Then I headed to my friend's house for burns night...it was so fun and the Haggis was delicious! ...seriously, I actually really enjoyed it.

Sunday after the kiddo's cheer competition we had to go buy a printer so stopped at this Asian restaurant. The Ajax had either just played or were getting ready to play and the place was PACKED! So packed you could hardly even get in the restaurant, but that was the bar part the part to eat at was nearly empty! ha!

Check out the rest of the party over at Choose Happy

Thinking about...the hubby. He is out of town on a business trip then he is going to visit our parents over the weekend before he comes home. He get to be there for Super Bowl, so fun! 

Wishing for....some bbq sauce, a box of kraft dinner, and a fit bit and possibly a copy of the Thug Kitchen Cookbook  *hint, hint, wink, wink*, but he really didn't have much room left in his bags, so his safe return will do just fine!

Thankful for....all the one-on-one time I'm getting with this girl. Over the last few days we made some t-shirts together. She sat with me while I embroidered this Nirvana Quote for her and we worked together to churn out 5 other shirts for her. This is quality time and I feel like I am teaching her something valuable about homesteading like embroidering/sewing, ironing, and creativity by creating your own clothes.

The shirts we've made are all her idea...I just helped execute! To see more of the shirts we created come on over to Instagram.

Craving....coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. And sugar. Lots and lots of sugar. I am trying to cut down to just my morning coffee and I am trying to cut down on the amount of sugar I use in it. I am a coffee and sugar addict and my lower abs are not happy with that. As reference check my photo from burns night...my upper and middle abs are there, my obliques are looking awesome but that fabulous genetically inherited pot belly needs to go. So, sugar is the first thing to go. Next week...upping the veggies hardcore, but one step at a time.

This was the humorous picture I sent to the husband when I told him I needed coffee and he said get some! So I did! 

Watching...Mad Men. I was talking about it with a friend who visited a couple weeks ago and he said it was a great series. I thought since I went to high school with a guy who is in it I should give it a watch...Netflix has all the seasons. I am totally addicted and can not get enough! I'd be interested to know how much the series actually reflects life in the '60s because some of that stuff is shocking! 

Laughing about....this horse and carriage I saw riding down the bike path today! My pictures suck because it was moving at a pretty decent rate and iPhone + quick moving horses + balancing on my bike = we are lucky I even got pictures and lived to tell about it! ha! I will say though either I am the only one who noticed the horse and carriage on the bike path or I'm the only one who found it amusing because everyone else was passing this sucker and paying it no nevermind....Oh Amsterdam. How I love you and your people.

Sinterklaas, a Dutch Tradition, plus other stuff.

Happy Friday! As you all know we live in The Netherlands and last night Sinterklaas and his Piet made a visit to all the little girls and boys all over the country! I find this to be a fascinating tradition. Sinterklaas is a Saint of sorts who comes in from Spain on a boat and transfers to a horse. He stays for 3.5 weeks with is Piets! He gives gifts and candy to the children. It is really cute and everyone seems to love the tradition (there is some controversy but that is for another day). When Sinterklaas and the Piets deliver the gifts they leave them in a bag with a poem about the person, the children also lay out their shoes and goodies get put in them. So, since I have a few Dutch friends now I asked them to tell me about their family traditions involving the Sinterklaas holiday here is what they said:

• One friend, my daughter's cheer coach, said since her family is all older they don't traditionally exchange gifts but they play a game for gifts. You start by everyone bringing a gift set at a certain price, then you take a really big dice and roll to see who goes first. Then once it is time to start whoever rolled the highest number rolls the dice and if you roll say a 1, you take a present from the big pile of gifts. If you roll a 2 you can take a present but have to give it to someone else, a 3 means you can take a present from someone, and a 5 means you can take all the presents one person has! You can make up whatever rules for the dice numbers these are just what they do! I think that sounds like a ton of fun!
• Another friend actually dresses up and is one of Sinterklaas's helpers! Her father played a Sinterklaas when she was a small child so she is very passionate about this tradition. 

  

  My friend was gracious enough to let me use this photo, her and her daughter are the Piets on either side of Sinterklaas. 

• Another friend said in her family when you give someone a gift you get them a present but when you wrap it you have to make the wrapping something they like. For example, if she bought my daughter something she would make the wrapping a cheer bow and then put the gift inside and wrap it. If she bought me something she would make it to look like a runner and put the gift inside, these can get pretty elaborate. Like this: 

  

  So a gift like this would be for a video game lover and inside you would put a gift! (PS I found this image but it didn't link to a website if anyone knows where it came from please, please let me know so I can give credit!)

• My daughter said, from what she learned, she thinks she loves the Piets that come around and put goodies in your shoe the best. That is the cutest part of the whole scenario for her.

I am so glad to get to experience this whole holiday. It is unique because business are open as usual, but there is all sorts of holiday excitement happening. 

If you haven't checked out these great posts from earlier this week right here on the blog, please do, there are a couple of great crafts from my Thanksgiving centerpiece there is the Bouquet in a pumpkin and the Give Thanks Mini Bunting

Second, my friend Angela, who is also an expat living here in Amsterdam recently opened an Etsy shop! She is super, super talented and I wanted to tell you all about her so you can go check her out!

I mean, how cute is this tree topper?! Go to her store Persimmonandme and check her out, she has other goodies on there too, like ornaments and another tree topper! Check her shop out!

Now, this week as you have probably noticed from my facebook page I am participating in a Christmas Countdown project with 72 other bloggers! Everyone has been posting some amazing things...here are the twelve project that have been posted so far:

• Jamberry Joyful Holiday
  
• Christmas Treescape Candle Tutorial
• Fun, Festive Christmas Traditions
• Fun Family Christmas Eve Tradition
• DIY Crayon Wreath for Teachers
  
• Christmas Countdown Chalboard
• Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate
• Magical Christmas Bath with Craft Foam
  
• Fireside Christmas Coffee
• Be Merry Sign
• Macaroni Ornaments
  
• Grandma's Lemon Bars

There are so many wonderful things to learn about everyone's Christmas traditions, this is such a wonderful time of year to learn about people and different cultures!

In the comments tell me about some of your family traditions this time of year!

Culture Shock #6: Deodorant

So, when moving deodorant was something I never considered having a problem finding...until we were out.

So, I know quite a few people don't use deodorant here...not my thing, but, it is a fact of life. Sometimes being in crowded spaces smells even worse than normal because of this situation. I think I know why now. Deodorant is mostly sold in those aerosol bottles here...and according to the kiddo many kids use it as perfume, yeah like body splash, not as actual deodorizing stuff for the underarms! The students the kiddo attends school with were quite fascinated by her stick deodorant. She was a little freaked out by their questions at first, thinking, uh how sheltered are you people?! Now we know! Most of them grew up here in Europe so I guess they haven't seen anything but what is available...which isn't stick deodorant!

So, as I was saying we ran out of deodorant. Not being the aforementioned people who don't wear deodorant we needed to find some stat. I looked all over and couldn't find any...except at one place...etos. Sadly they don't carry stick deodorant, but the weird roll on kind that was super popular around 50s, 60s, or 70s I'd guess? Not real sure of the actual date, but it has the weird roller ball in the middle...

The pros about this though:

1. It is Nivea. I've always loved Nivea but the pricing of Nivea products in the US can be insanely expensive. Here though, it seems to be a very popular reasonably priced brand.
2. It comes in a glass jar.
3. It smells amazing.
4. Fairly compact.
5. I don't have to worry about it drying out and scraping my armpit, like sometimes happens with the sticks I usually purchase.

I will say I wish I had brought more stick deodorant, but only because I love the smell of the degree I usually use. The Nivea I bought for hubby smells divine...seriously I kind of wish I could bathe him in it lol

Have you ever lived somewhere you couldn't get a product you considered fairly normal? How did you cope?

Neighbourhood Tour!

We moved in to our permanent place in Amsterdam in July. We were 100% settled by early August...by 100% I mean we had all necessary furniture to be comfortable. We still have quite a bit to get as we need more lighting, tables, and stuff to put on the walls...but we are comfortable and are enjoying our new home.

We have gotten the opportunity to tour our neighborhood a number of times whether it be through running or biking so I thought I would share that with y'all....

This is the view from our backyard...if you follow me on instagram you've seen this (if you aren't follow me now and holla so I can follow you back)...but this happened on Wednesday, and I couldn't resist taking a photo! The park back there is always full of kids playing, people taking a walk, pets mulling around it is quite a nice area to have right behind us.

Now, let's hop on my bike and we can see the rest ;)

If you bike directly across the street and park your bike, you cross a bridge and come to this! I would never have expected to see this behind the bridge....we are so lucky!

As you wind your way through the trails you come back on to pavement and will find this gorgeous garden:

Lots of lovely flowers and well groomed bushes....

Then we have this area near the water with a small bridge and lots of lovely flowers that are highly water dependent (I assume) since they grow in the water! haha

As you keep wandering there are several places that have animals in them:

In this pen there are kangaroo's....

In this one, there is a, well, a cow...he didn't look very happy to see me...

In fact, he looked slightly frazzled...I wonder if some tourists were getting to him? 

Eventually you wind your way around to an open field...

This is a fantastic area with lots of trees for a picnic....

Now, in the park on select Sunday's we have the Pure Market:

You can get all sorts of delicious things but some of our favorites are the rotisserie chicken on this open flame cooker...how awesome is that?! I've never seen anything like it!

There are guys using a wood smoker and serving up fresh food....

Here are some other things you can get....

Fresh juices, pepperoni, butter whipped with edible flowers, dried cherries, and dried mango, and the Nanaimo bar ;)

Now, if you ride your bike behind the park and go toward a town called Amstelveen you will come to this:

I love this windmill! It is a huge tourist attraction too. I took a picture from the "ugly" side because there were too many people around it the day I tried to photograph it. But, it is a gorgeous piece. It has dates on it from 1600 something to 1960 something. I'm curious to know exactly what the dates mean. I do believe someone lives in the windmill also, it is very well groomed and there is always the same car out front.

If you keep going down this road you come to these:

Behind these gates there is a little play area for families...then a little farther down...

You can meet Rembrandt. He's always looking very stoic. 

Now we will hop back on our bikes and ride over to the train station:

This is just a five minute bike ride from our house, a brisk 10 minute walk or a slow 15-20 minute walk. The station allows us quick and easy access to a number of buses, trams, metro's, and trains. We can get all over the city here or all over Holland! We are lucky to have it so close to our house between this and our bikes we really have no need for a car (which I hate driving so I am so glad!).

If you take the metro down one stop and get out...you'll find this sign outside the Amsterdam Zuid Station:

Does this mean it is just a kiss for one ride?! How far is the ride? Is it the same kind of ride I'm thinking of? It doesn't help that the literal translation of "alleen halen en brengen" is "just give and take" haha....

Seriously, I think it means that is where you can pick people up or drop people off...possibly could be where you hail a cab but those are usually marked with a giant blue "T" much like the universal blue "P" for parking...but still pretty funny translation. This gave us a good chuckle when we were making our way home one night!

Well, I hope you enjoyed the little tour of my neighborhood! We are really loving our area, there is so much to see and do...we really lucked out!