Blogger Style: Tanya Burr

When I have hard times at uni - Spring is synonym of fear for me, since I can see the deadlines getting closer and closer each day - I tend to spend my evenings chilling with my laptop, and since I don't find myself interested in many series recently, I spend my time on YouTube. I have a lot of YouTubers that I love, starting from SunBeamJess, with her amazing makeup looks and marvelous books videos, but recently I rediscovered one of my all time favorite, the amazing Tanya Burr. Her makeup tutorials, her blogs, her hauls, I love everything that she does and really look forward her videos. And obviously, I also follow her blog and her Instagram. Recently, I've really been looking for models in order to upgrade my style a little bit. I've then watched a lot of her makeup tutorials, but also really enjoyed her outfits posts on Instagram and her try-on hauls. Her classic style, upgraded with some funny touches and elegant pieces really charmed me, so today I've decided to share with you some of my favorites outfits of her. A fresh new model to start the Spring off right. 

Coffee Time

Grungy Chic

Classy Classics

Credit photos: Tanya Burr Instagram

xo

Amy

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Spring Inspiration

"You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep Spring from coming"

Pablo Neruda

"The Spring"

Now that the winter's gone, the earth hath lost

Her snow-white robes, and now no more the frost

Candies the grass, or casts an icy cream

Upon the silver lake or crystal stream;

But the warm sun thaws the benumbed earth,

And makes it tender; gives a sacred birth

To the dead swallow; wakes in hollow tree

The drowsy cuckoo and the humble-bee.

Now do a choir of chirping minstrels bring

In triumph to the world the youthful spring.

The valleys, hills, and woods in rich array

Welcome the coming of the long'd-for May.

Now all things smile; only my love doth your;
Nor hath the scalding noonday sun the power
To melt that marble ice, which still doth hold

Her heart conceal'd and makes her pity cold.

The ox, which lately did for shelter fly

Into the stall, doth now securely lie

In open fields; and love no more is made

By the fireside, but in the cooler shade

Amyntas now doth with his Chloris sleep

Under a sycamore, and all things keep

Time with the season; only she doth carry

June in her eyes, in her heart January.

Thomas Carew

xo

Amy

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Student tips: Studying at Home

When you start studying at the university, you think that you will have the motivation to go to the library everyday. Well, let's me start again. When you start studying at the university, you think that you won't have to work on your courses everyday, then you realize that it is the only way to get that diploma. Then, you start thinking you will bring your lovely brain and face to the library everyday and work from 9:00 until 18:00. But then you realize that this doesn't happen in real life. Going to the library is awesome. You see people studying all around you, and it does motivate you to do your own work. Plus, you don't even try to go on FaceBook or Instagram, you would be too ashamed if one of those serious student surrounding you saw you doing nothing productive. 

Yet, at some point, you realize that it is not possible to go to the library everyday. First of all, sometimes you don't want to take your bike because Amsterdam is - again - rainy and there is almost a storm going on outside. No way you'll go to the library. Second, you can just have to do some laundry or anything else and will have to be at home, then going to the library will only make you lose time. Or sometimes you just don't want to go there, tired of having to be silent and ashamed to check your Instagram. The good thing to do then, is to understand how to be productive when you study at home, which is not that easy in the end. Home is the place for temptations. You can just spend your day on YouTube, or eating, or sleeping. But sometimes, you have to work from home. So here are some tips for you to succeed!

First of all, get ready for the day. Shower, put your make up on - nicely! Just like you were going to uni - do your hair, and pick up a nice outfit! It is important to dress up, put on some jeans and feel ready for the day. If you stay in your pajamas all day long you won't do anything, and don't feel in the working mood. So dress up and get ready for a day of work in! 

Then, plan your day, including everything. At what time you start working and with what you start, for how long, etc. It is important to be really organized, even more when you are home. Don't forget to include your daily chores, your lunch, and your breaks! It is important to get one break of 10 minutes every hour. To be focused when you are home can be quite complicated, that is why breaks have to be in your program! However, during your breaks, don't start watching YouTube videos or whatever of this kind. This will just make you want to see more, and might end up doing nothing. 

Another important thing is to create yourself a nice working area. A clean empty table is perfect for that, then lay down everything you need! No food around - keep snacks for your breaks -, only a huge bottle or glass of water. Then don't hesitate to add a cheeky little detail, such as a plant. It is proved that they make you happy and positive, so don't hesitate to have a green friend nearby! 

The hardest part will be to discipline yourself of course, but I guess only time will learn you that! Have a good study at home moment day!

xo

Amy

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March Favorite: Blogger Bag, Yves Saint Laurent

Happy first day of Spring! Even if it is all gloomy, and cold, and rainy and windy in Amsterdam, I had a little bit of Spring when passing by the cutest flower kiosk ever, with loads of tulips and daffodils. I love Spring. It is simply maybe I enjoy coming out of the cold season, forgetting about the snow and just looking forward warmer, better days. You feel lighter in Spring, I believe. Lighter weather causes litter clothes, and then you obviously want to go for a lighter bag. I don't think  I could have found lighter than this YSL Blogger Bag. You can only fit your phone, your keys and you cardholder in here. This is a bag for a minimalist girl, - not me then - only willing to carry her essentials. Even though I do believe this is too small, I also like the idea of this cute little bag, perfect for a night out or to go out for a walk on a lovely springy sunny Sunday. Spring makes me want to change, to be lighter in my head and not only in my outfit. Maybe this bag will just be the one that will oblige me to be lighter? It's so pretty I'll forgive its lack of space!

xo

Amy

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Unicorn Cake

It's been ages since I published my last recipe on the blog. However I don't have that much opportunity to bake in here Amsterdam since I don't have the material, plus most of the time the ingredients needed are pretty expensive. Still, last time I went back home, I met up with my boyfriend's sister and we decided that it was time for us to try to bake a unicorn cake. We saw them all over internet, and they were too pretty to be avoided. Nonetheless, today I won't share a recipe or some baking tips like I usually do, because to be honest, to bake this unicorn cake was a real nightmare. The recipe we got wasn't that easy, we messed up the cream, had too many issues with the sugar paste, and well, it took us almost 9 hours to bake it and decorate it, no lie. 

So today I've just decided to put the link to a recipe - not too complicated I thought, and with loads of details on the equipment needed and technical tips - by Juliet Sear, and the  to share with you some of the most amazing cake design for a unicorn cake. I know, it is pretty tempting to bake such a pretty thing, but still I have to warn you, to bake a unicorn cake, when you are not a 5 stars baker, might end up in tears and blood - I'm not really exaggerating, even though it was tears of laughters because, tired as hell, we laughed at this disaster; and by blood I mean my arm was hurting so much when I was making the butter cream that I thought my muscle was going to explode. But well, the suffering was worth the taste and the visual result! So if you feel brave, take a chance on the unicorn. 

xo

Amy

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