It's the Little Things {like FedEx and duffel bags}

I am getting more excited each week {okay, so it has only been two weeks, but still} about this link-up party.  It is truly a good way to build up my list of 1000 gifts {I just need to remember to transfer them over there, wink, wink}.  Plus,  I have made it a photography challenge for myself.  And challenge it is, especially when most of them are taken inside. 

And people.  It is hard, very hard, to make a photo of a duffel bag look interesting.  Read on to see what I mean... 

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 "A Fedex envelope Jen?  Really??"  Oh, yes, a Fedex envelope.  See we have some of our mail forwarded to an address in Florida (via usabox.com in case you are interested) so that it is cheaper for folks in the U.S. to send us packages and for things like the mortgage, etc.  When we send it over here to ourselves it gets delivered 2 day Fedex.  And they usually require a signature, which means I have to coordinate the mailing to make sure it is a day that me and the kiddos can be home all morning.  Have I lost you yet?  Hopefully not.  Anyway, there was a delivery scheduled for this past Monday.  Good deal, we had some friends over so knew we would be around.  Except the buzzer to call our house (there is a locked gate) was broken. So they couldn't call to be let in for the signature.  Which would have meant a trip to their office to pick it up.  But, then, magically, the envelope appeared in our mailbox a few days later.  Score!

 Coffee.  Coffee with a message.  "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams!  Live the life you've imagined."  -Thoreau

 Love this mug.  See the chip?  Still not getting rid of it.

Lots of days crossed off.  79% {thanks Kindle} of the way through the Bible in 90 days.  I may have read ahead a bit.  We are now in the New Testament, which I really, truly appreciate.

A duffel bag.  {not actually packed yet, but a flattened duffel is even HARDER to make interesting}   Waiting to be packed for a {rental} house hunting trip in Scotland.  Yahoooooooooooo!

Oh, and my challenge for the day?  Fitting clothes for six days for four people in that one bag.  I'll let you know how it goes...

Candle and wine.  Relaxation.  So glad to have J#1 home again.  I can take a breath, and let him run after J#3 for a bit.

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Linking up with Lindsay...go check out what little things everyone else are excited about this week.

Inspiration Workshop - Favorite Shop

I almost didn't publish this post.

Because, really, isn't this pretty obvious?  I only talk about it in practically ever other post {especially any that deal with what I miss the most from Minnesota...like here and here and here}.

Some hints?

Of course, it is Target.  I can be inspired on any trip there. From clearance sections (for scrapbooking, home decoration, organization and well, pretty much everything else), to recipes and samples (a la SuperTargets, my FAVE) to the Dollar Spot.  Who can't find inspiration there???

"Anything else?" you ask, since Target is a given.  "Any other stores you wish you could spend hours in for inspiration? "

Yup,  HomeGoods.

I wasn't even a frequent shopper there prior to our across the pond.

But then I wasn't a "full-time homemaker" spending hours poring over blogs and fantastic ideas brewed up by my counterparts.

Now?  Well, J#1 might want to watch the credit card bill when we head back this winter for a visit {I kid, I kid...or do I?  Well, yeah, I do.  We would have to fit it in our suitcases.  Boo.}

But look at this cute stuff you can get there:

Source: None via Jessica on Pinterest

Source: None via Jessica on Pinterest

Source: homegoods.com via jbiscuti on Pinterest

Yup, I could definitely be inspired.

Linking up again this week with Gussy Sews. Guess what one of her favorites is???  Yup.  Tarjay Boutique, which is my fancy pants way of saying it.  Ha!  This girl has some good taste.  Also love Patina, a local Minneapolis shop that is one of her picks.

Xpat Blog Hop: click, click, click

The prompt for this week's Xpat Blog hop:  Share with us links, books, resources that you have found indispensable since moving to your expat country. 


Google maps:  I would have been lost without this.  {hardy har har}

Google translate: If it weren't for google translate, I would have had to depend on this monster.

facebook.com:  great way to connect with new friends I have met here, while still keeping in touch with everyone "back home"

Google chrome:  If you download this and use it as your internet browser, it automatically translate most Dutch web-sites to English. 

Skype: video conferencing, up there with the best inventions of all time. 


Mums & Toddlers group:  if you are moving to a non-English speaking country, I encourage you to RUN, not walk, to your closest mums & toddlers group.  An excellent resource for friendships, information and play time for the littles.


Cultural Dimensions of Expatriate Life in The Netherlands by Bill Drake.  This is interesting read, but not essential.  Although it does give some interesting information about Dutch culture (such as Birthdays, coffees, etc.).  It did seem a bit outdated, but still pretty practical information.

And, of course, blogs.  Like Tales of Windmill Fields, which is who I am linking up with.  Make sure to check out her site to find out what other Xpats recommend as helpful tools, resources and sites.





P.S.  Even though it may seem like it, this was in no way sponsored by Google.  I just love Google.

My Wednesday Surprise...

So, remember that surprise that I told you about on Monday?  I told you I would tell you about on Wednesday.  Well, it's Wednesday now.

And I don't lie peeps.  Here it is!

I have met a few people here in the Netherlands that will be life-long friends.  You know the kind...right?  Those people that you identify with, and that you don't want to lose touch with...even though you have only known them for less than a year.  This lady is one of them.

She is inspiring (running a marathon next month, yo!), supportive, and a wealth of knowledge.  And she a big fan of living intentionally, simply and "in the moment", which is what we all know I aspire to.

So here she is.  Beautiful, right?   She is going to tell you about our new plan for Wednesday's.

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Hi.  I'm Tracey from Control The Chaos.  I am wife to a husband who travels frequently for work, mother to 2 Bigs and a Little, and part time pediatric occupational therapist.  I write about keeping our lives simple and chaos-free, so we have time to enjoy each other and our crazy adventures of living in a foreign country.

Jen and I are real life friends here in the Netherlands who share a passion for blogging, family, and making the most of every moment.  She invited me to come guest post today and introduce a new feature we are both adding to our blogs.

Every other week, I'll be making my appearance here.  Jen is going to give me a new challenge each week, and I'll blog about my experience.  On the off weeks, you can find Jen over at  my blog.  She'll be writing about a challenge I give to her.

We both have a goal to live more well rounded, intentional lives.  To seize the moment and make pure, joyful memories that won't be crowded out by all the complexities of life.  We agree that a great way to work towards that goal is to draw from each others' strengths and expand our own horizons.

Stick with us on this new adventure; I think it will be exciting and entertaining.  Or at least it will give you a good laugh now and then.

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Thanks Tracey...can't wait to share the journey with you.  

And the challenges. Am I nervous?  Yup, just a bit.  But that is what living in the moment is all about, right? 

Top 10...My favorites.

You may or may not know something about me.

I love television and movies.  Moving overseas has done two things:
1) made me much more selective about the tv shows I watch {there is only so much $$ that I want to spend buying television shows on Itunes}
2) gotten me more enthralled in movies.  Dutch cable is an expat girl's friend, with several U.S. movies on each week.

The whole celebrity thing?  Love it.  Not sure why, but some good gossip about {insert most recent highly publicized celebrity here} will suck me in in a minute.

I guess you could call that my guilty pleasure.  So, in honor of that, I thought I would type up a quick "top 10".  Call these the "top 10 movies that the hubby,  J#1, would never want to watch with me".

Yup, you guessed it...Romantic Comedies.

So here goes...

10. Pretty Woman

Yeah, duh.  'Nuff said, right? 

9.  The Wedding Date (Debra Messing with Dermot Mulroney)
Just a feel good, "and they lived happily ever after" fairytale movie. 

8.  Sweet Home Alabama

Source: imdb.com via Deborah on Pinterest

That is just too much good looking on one screen. 

7.   Hitch
Will Smith.  Good storyline.  New York City.  Can't go wrong here.

6.  P.S. I Love You

Gerald Butler?? Hello???

Source: zimbio.com via Angie on Pinterest

So, there is a fun story {at least to me} that goes along with why this movie makes my top 10.  The first time I watched it was June 2008, we had moved to New Jersey about six months prior, and I was missing home.  J#1 got to travel back to Minnesota for a work event.  On a Saturday evening, I had been cleaning the kitchen and got UNBELIEVABLY tired, and had to stop.  Then I started watching this movie, and about half way thru, J#1 sent me a photo via text of pizza from one of our favorite pizza places (Broadway Pizza for those who would know it}.  I started BAWLING.   

Guess what?  About two weeks later...I discovered I was pregnant with J#3.  Explains the fatigue and being over emotional, doesn't it? 

And I still watch this movie when I am looking for a good cry.

You have those moments too, right?

Oh...that's just me?

5.  Return to Me 

This may be a little known flick.  This is a story about a woman (Minnie Driver) how has a heart transplant and a man (David Duchovney) who loses his wife in a car accident...on the same night.  I will let you take it from there. But it has a spot close to my heart.  {Pun intended--you will only know what I mean if you have seen it and perhaps know a bit about my medical history--for those of you who don't, I will share someday.  If you haven't seen the movie, please do}.

4.  Dirty Dancing

Oh yes, and I also dreamed I could dance like Jennifer Grey too.  This is required on this list, right?

3.  Friends with Benefits

This was just in the theaters.  Might still be actually, in the U.S.  Think it might still be coming out in the Netherlands.  FAB-U-LOUS.  LOVE!!! 

Source: sarahemm.tumblr.com via Yifat on Pinterest

2. Can't Buy Me Love

This is a classic.  An oldie, but a goodie.  A young McDreamy?  Yes, please.

1.  The Holiday

Jude Law.  Cameron Diaz.  Jack Black.  Kate Winslet.  An eclectic cast, but seriously one of THE best romantic comedies of all time.

Source: rottentomatoes.com via Susan on Pinterest

So do you agree with my choices?  Ponder.  Discuss. 

Today I am linking up with a few lovely ladies, please make sure to visit their blogs and check out some other "top 10" lists.  Pretty sure some of them won't be as trivial as mine.   ;-)

But hey, when you are trying to live in the moment, you still need down time, right?

A blog with a purpose. And 31 days.

When I started this blog, I had 0 readers.

Well, that is an obvious statement.

But, my point is, that means most of you didn't read the beginning of my blog, and might not be aware of the purpose of my blog.

Actually, I am still defining it.  And, as it becomes more clear to me, I wanted to share it with you.

Because I want to be sure I am "being true to the purpose" as well.  So what is it?

My goal is to do the following, and by doing it myself, hopefully inspire you all to do the same.

Live in the moment.  

Enjoy the right now, right now. 

Simplify life, so I can focus more on my kids.  

And my husband.  

Be HERE for them.

Get the most out of life.  {Thus, the bucket list.  The 100 books.}

Be grateful for the blessings I have.  {Thus, the 1000 gifts.}

So, in order to make sure I have some method to this madness, a few things.

First, a schedule.  {To help me focus more on those two cute little munchkins up there in that photo.}

Mondays:  A bucket list update
Wednesdays: ...its a secret.  I'll let you in on it this Wednesday.  You're excited, aren't you?
Thursdays:  Maybe the Inspiration Workshop.  Maybe Xpat Blog Hop.  Maybe both?  {They are both about life right now.  What is inspiring to me.  What life as an Xpat is like.}
Fridays:    It's the Little Things {because hello, easy way to add to my 1000 gifts} and Five Minute Friday {'cause I like writing & it usually helps me count my blessings}
Sundays:  A day of rest.  We all need those, right?
     
Tuesday & Saturday's?  Who knows...we will just have to see where how the spirit moves me.  Or my muses.  Named J#3 and J#4.  Or maybe I will take those days off.

Oh, and no guarantees.  Cause life can just be life sometimes.

And second, an announcement about the month of October.  There is a group of bloggers that are all doing 31 days of {insert subject here}.... and I am going to join them.  Check out Life with My 3 Boybarians for a summary and what some of the other bloggers are blogging about.

I'll be working towards "31 days to being a better mama", using the guide below.

Source: imom.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Some of these will be easy.  #1?  We do that all the time.  #28?  Hmm...may be a bit tougher.

Oh, and we are moving next month.  So I am hoping that I'll be able to do this, and won't have to {cringes}...be without the internet.

So what do you think?  Hopefully you'll stick with me through my journey...

Holland Bucket List: Kinderdijk? Check! Rotterdam? Check!

Tell me.  What do you think of when you think of Holland {or the Netherlands}?

Clogs.  For sure.  Tulips?  You bet.  Windmills...of course.

And so we went to the touristy locale known for windmills, Kinderdijk.

 J#4 checking the joint out.  Like father, like son, right?  

According to the Kinderdijk website, this location is home to the most windmills in one location. 

  The 19 windmills were built in 1740 and are still in working order. 

  J#4 excited to be out of the stroller for sight-seeing, finally.   I guess she likes the view. 

Next up on our whirlwind day of touring?

Rotterdam.

The plan was to go to the Euromast (below)...that way we could see the WHOLE city, from high up.  But a certain two year old and a certain seven month old had other thoughts in mind.  They were hungry, and they made sure we knew.  So we decided to head right to the last stop on our itinerary.

The zoo.  Don't be fooled by the raccoon below.  

 Really, we were at the zoo.  And raccoons were the first animal we saw.   

J#1 and I were a bit skeptical. What would be next?  Squirrels???

The interesting thing about the raccoons?  They were right next to the cafe.  So I am left wondering if they let them out in the evening to clean up any mess left from zoo visitors during the day? 

Alright...moving on. 

 J#3 was excited about the raccoons.  And the polar bears.  And the elephants.  Pretty much everything.

 J#4 was a bit more interested in her toes.  

{Evidently J#1 was trying to get my attention from down by the polar bear pool while I was taking these pictures.  Oops.  Guess she distracts me.}

 I had a few photography fails this day.  #1, I didn't bring my zoom lens with.  See those two polar bears on the hill?  I could have gotten MUCH better photos of them playing with that lens.  

 Seriously, the prairie dogs were adorable.  

 Cute enough to get featured twice. 

 J#4 got to sit in the front of the stroller.   She seemed to be "getting the hang of it" here.  

She was a big fan though.  

 This, here, is photography fail #2.  I am evidently not practiced enough to change my settings quickly when in a half inside/half outside location.  Do you see how close this giraffe is?  Would have been an AWESOME photo if I had the settings right. 

And how about this baby giraffe?  Precious.

And then how about this baby?  One of her new faces.  Getting a little personality, I tell you. 

Get ready for it.

The messiest fountain at any zoo I have ever seen.

Ready?

Here you go...

 Eeew...

And J#3 and my favorite animal in the place....the elephants.

It was a bit of a walk to see these guys.  I was told that it was lucky I said that was my favorite.  Hehe...

The animal I was most surprised to see?  A hyena.

But unfortunately, they weren't laughing.