What's in my Bag: Update

Bags are a must have when you are a girl. Everybody has her own style, however, we are all the same when it comes to what is inside our bags. For many girls - at least my girl friends - their bags are just a massive mess. I am one of them, so I won't judge anybody. However, since the start of the year, I've decided to be a little bit more organized and to lighten my bags, way too heavy and massive most of the time, which is not that much practical nor fashionable. Last year, my 'what's in my dream bag' article was what I thought I needed, but since then I realized that it was still too much. So here's an update!

• Iphone + headphones, of course necessary
• A cards holder. Way lighter and easier to put in your bag
• A pack of tissue (still a must, especially in Winter)
• A lip balm, also needed in Winter for lips getting dry. My favorite lip product? This one!
• Lipstick of the day!
• Some chocolate treats. It is a new one, but I love them so much... One day I'll try the nuts bar, maybe.
• A notebook and a pen. I love lists, and I need to write things down to get organized!
• Sunglasses. Let's not talk about the terrible weather in Amsterdam those days and the fact that I changed my sunglasses for my umbrella in my handbag...
• The book I'm currently reading. It is always nice to have a cup of coffee on your own in a nice place and to read a good novel

xo

Amy

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Guilty Pleasure

In my latest editor's letter I told you about my beloved coffee break that I take every afternoon. It is kind of a guilty pleasure for me, a moment I take for myself, to read old Vogue Paris issues and take a break from all of my issues and the stress generated by university. I don't want to be redundant in this article, but with the days passing by so quickly - can you believe we are already on the 10th of February? - and the amount of work getting heavier on my weak shoulders, I have been really needing to take some more breaks. During the day, just an hour to chill in bed and watch Netflix, while eating Kinder Surprise and forgetting about how everything is going wrong in my life. Need to find a new flat to live in in Amsterdam, need to retake an exam I failed - this did hurt me a lot, and I must say I lost all of my confidence work wise, all of this is a real pain in the a** those days - well, too many things, too overwhelming, too heavy on me. So what's the magic formula to get through all of it without crying 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Take breaks. Give time to your guilty pleasures. I mean, really. Eat sugary treats, read a good popular book - no more uni reads !!! - watch the whole first season of Friends, have pizza for dinner and hot chocolate for breakfast. All of those little things, those are the things that will help you get through all of the mess surrounding you. 

I know, we call them 'guilty pleasures', but don't feel guilty at all. Only take the expression, not the bad definition of it. Chill, relax, eat stupid food - by this I mean Kinder, crepes, M&M's and all things of this kind - watch a movie, take a nap, take a walk, go shopping - or shopping online if you're feeling too moody and stressed to go fight in Zara for the last gold fishes printed shirt. Achieve your guilty pleasures, think of yourself, for yourself, and then you'll feel better. To stick to writing your paper when you're sad or down is not a good way to write a brilliant essay. Take the time you need to feel good, and then writing this essay / reading this article / doing this PowerPoint presentation / writing your summary won't look that terrible anymore. Take a moment each day just for you, feel happy, and all around you will start to look better to you. Don't feel guilty. 

xo

Amy

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Blogger Style: Sincerely Jules

Nowadays it is not that hard to find models. And by models I mean people who inspire us, people who have a passion, share it, and let us take something out of it. As I already said in my latest 'Blogger Style' article, fashion blogger are a real source of inspiration. Sincerely Jules, Julie Sariñana being her real name, is a well-known fashion blogger, living the perfect life in LA, spending Winter in light blouses, having the perfect body, and engaged to a cute French boy. No need to say that she inspires us at every level. However, here I only want to talk about her style. This pretty girl likes to wear easy going clothes. A lot of flat shoes, sneakers, monochrome comfy t-shirts and light sweaters, she loves her basics and has even created a brand out of it. Nevertheless, her love for simple garments hadn't kill her style, and she adds cool but most of the time eye-catching details to her outfits, being the perfect example of the cool California girl, living the dream life in LA, in her Gucci loafers and carrying her perfect life in her timeless Céline purse. Portrait in images of a girl we wish we were.

Cosy & Casual

Feels like Summer

Simple Details

Credit for pictures: Sincerely Jules' Instagram 

xo

Amy

 

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Brownies

I don't think there is any other food as comforting as brownies. Tender, with a strong taste of chocolate, an incredible smell and the will to eat not one, but ten. Maybe I am a little bit addicted to brownies. I actually crave for one at the moment. But instead of that I will share with you my favorite recipe. Bake it and eat it all. 

Ingredients:
400 grammes of dark chocolate
200 grammes of sugar (I never presented it was healthy)
100 grammes of flour
125 grammes of almond powder
6 eggs
250 grammes of butter (definitely not healthy)

Where the magic happens
Melt 350 grammes of dark chocolate with the butter in a pot on low heat.
Then add the sugar, and when it had cool down, add the eggs.
Mix it all together and add all the rest of the ingredients, except from the 50 grammes of chocolate remaining. Cut the chocolate in little squares and add it into the mixture.
Then, 18 minutes in the oven at 180°C.
Don't need to wait for it to cool down. You can already eat it all.

Have a pleasant brownie eating!

xo

Amy

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Book Review: Revenge Wears Prada

It's been quite a long time since I last published a book review. I actually read a lot for university those past months, and my spare time readings have been gathered in my December Favorite Books post. But today I wanted to talk to you about this book, 'Revenge Wears Prada', that I actually read for the first time more than a year ago by now. I only tell you about it now because I recently decided to read some chapters again, just to have a nice book to read on the plane or when I need a break from my essays writing. However I found myself reading it all over again. I was way to into it not to share it with you. 

You obviously know 'The Devil Wears Prada', Lauren Weisberger best seller turned into a movie that might be the favorite one of a whole generation. And 'Revenge Wears Prada' is a quite awesome sequel. It took me a little time to go back into it. I couldn't really remember my reading of the first book - quite different from the movie - and so I had some difficulties at first. However I quickly met up again with my favorite characters and Weisberger's smooth writing. Andy has now gone a long way since Runway. She has her magazine, Emily is her new best friend, she is about to get married, and well, live a lot of exciting things. However, out of nowhere, the devil - better known as Miranda - comes back into her life and slowly but surely tries to ruin it one more time. I won't give away much more. This book was actually full of surprises. Every chapter ending was a cliffhanger, and pushed me to read the next one right away. I don't think I had ever read a book that quickly actually. 

For fashion lovers, love stories lovers, life lovers, this book is the right one. Everything about it is lovable. It is well written, it is funny, it is sometimes sad - I cried several times - but most of all, it is life. 

xo

Amy

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