birthday blogging

Howdy! Some of you asked me to do a post on what I got for my birthday, so here it is! First of all I want to make clear I am not doing this post to brag whatsoever. I find much more joy in giving presents rather than receiving them. With that said, let's get on with it shall we?

boob balloons!

Okay so this one came as a complete surprise. I got an Instax Mini 7S from my dad! I didn't ask for one, even though I've been dreaming of having one for years now. I have yet to try it out (don't want to waste any film..), but I'm already in love with this baby. My brother got me some pretty flowers! I never thought I'd be a girl for 'bouquets', but I'm in love with this one! Such pretty colors!

Oh and I decorated my room with heart shaped balloons, but the baby pink ones totally made it look like I had butts and boobs hanging around my home.

Cute little goodies from my other brother and his lady n.n

pink goodness!

My mom, sister and her boyfriend got me a hot pink laundry basket filled with all sorts of pink presents! It was hilarious. I love presents which someone has obviously enjoyed picking out or putting together! The big pink super soft teddy bear was a gift from my dear friend Alex. I also made some delicious raspberry cheesecake cupcakes. They were to die for. You can find the recipe right here.

Some other sweet things that came through the mail! Tea in your trousers? Yes plz!

So this was obviously a very pink birthday (which should come as no surprise..). I had a great day and for once there was no drama going on at all! Previous years there was always something bad going on/happening/announced right on my special day, but now that's no more!

Inspiring Lady: Lena Dunham

Today's post shall be dedicated to the inspiring lady called...

Recently I was finally able to watch the latest episodes of season 2 of Girls! Yaaaay! My night couldn't have been any better. I had almost forgotten how much I actually love the series. Seriously. If you haven't watched  it yet, GO WATCH IT NOW. Lena Dunham is the creator of Girls and for the first season she already received four Emmy nominations for her roles in acting, writing, and directing the series.

I don't even know where to begin with praising this girl. She's talented, smart, funny and has an awesome sense of style that she rocks every time. She doesn't mind everyone seeing her eat a cupcake in the bathtub or dancing to Halo in a not so graceful manner.

So far I have only seen her as Hannah Horvath in Girls, but now that season 2 is here I definitely want to check out some of her other work and roles too!

Let's end this post with a very fitting quote of hers:

'I’m always afraid that I’m being unprofessional, yet I continue to sign all my e-mails “xoxo.”'

My new Hello Kitty book!

The other day, while doing some birthday shopping for my little nephew, this book caught my eye! Actually, anything Hello Kitty catches my eye. It's like a special radar. Anyway! At first I thought it would just be a kid's book with a story about Kitty and her friends picking apples or something. But no! It was a book filled with ANYTHING Hello Kitty, like a collector's book. Since it was on sale (70% off!) I couldn't think of a reason not to buy it, so it was a little birthday present to myself n.n

What I especially love about this book is that there are some cute little take-outs and extras in it, like maps, a menu, stickers and even a t-shirt iron-on stencil!

In Dutch: 'A sweet and happy book! A look into her cute world.'

Now to decide where to put this on...

Facts about Kitty White!

A real ticket from Sanrio Puroland! It's a BIG dream to go there someday.

The Hello Kitty Eva Air plane menu

hmmm I'll have a Kitty dessert please!

Katy rocking a pretty crazy Hello Kitty corset

A map of Kitty's House in Sanrio Puroland

Vintage Kitty comic

I definitely do not regret buying it and think it's a great addition to my ever growing Hello Kitty collection ^.^

Valentine's Day: spread the love!

Valentine's day is coming up! And as every year, I'd love to spread the love again by sending anyone, anywhere in the world, a postcard on/around Valentine's Day. So if you (or maybe someone else you know!?) could use some extra (or even more!) love this year, just fill out the form below!

keep your mind wide open.

I just wanted to make a quick little post to thank you all for the sweet birthday messages! They all made me very happy and I'm very grateful for the fact that there are people out there who take the time to check out my blog, even if it's just for a couple of minutes. I hope my blog can help make you feel better or inspire you or just have a positive influence on you in any other way possible! Because that's all I really want to do.

That's also why I wanted to share this wonderful movie with you today: Bridge to Terabithia
It definitely lifted my spirits today and added a little bit of magic to this Sunday which I thought was going to be anything but magical. It will make you laugh and cry and has, in my opinion, the perfect realism/fantasy ratio. It also has Josh Hutcherson and Zooey Deschanel in it! And that girl from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory who holds the world record of chewing gum, but in an even greater role.

Aww look it's a young Peeta! Uhh I mean, Josh Hutcherson!

The movie reminded me a lot of myself when I was younger and would play in the woods and build huts and make up random adventures and stories, draw out treasure hunts for others and dreamt of having a puppy.

Zooey being/looking cute. As always.

So grab a mug of hot chocolate (or whatever else you feel like drinking) and indulge yourself in some Disney magic on this lazy Sunday!

I want a walrus for my birthday.

Birthday dream outfit by prouddaydreamer with post earrings

Am I a real adult now? Is it really happening? I know it's cliché to say this but I feel so old. The past few days I've been listening to songs from the early 00's and can you believe that's already at least 13 years ago? WHAT!? Yes I was shocked. But I'm also excited!

The above outfit is just a little something I put together as a dream outfit (and OMNOMNOM CHEESECAKE). Even though I'm already in a party mood today I won't be celebrating my birthday until Saturday, when I will wear one of my prettiest party dresses for special party occasions!

Totally ready for my years as a twenty-something. BRING IT ON. I'm going to leave you with this picture of a Walrus' reaction after getting a birthday cake made out of fish. Isn't that the cutest thing ever? You should also check out this walrus birthday video!

'...and cheerfully together we can tidy up the place!'

In my last post I was talking about organizing right? Well, I went CRAZY today. I fillled a grand total of 3 huge garbage bags with useless clutter. I got a bunch of new boxes and the like and oh man, it was SO much more work than I had anticipated. I had the most fun going through all the 'craft supplies' I've been hoarding over the years and felt like sharing some pretty pictures of it with you guys. I have a weakness for pictures of collections and/or neatly organized items. (like so many others I believe) ♥

Finally found a neat way to organize my deco/washi tape! I think I enjoy looking at these more than actually using them.

Sparkles and shells! A mermaid's dream.

And another box of deco goodness!

You can never have too much glitter. NEVER.

Look how organized I am! Tis crazy I tell you!

It was a lot of work, but soooo worth it. I'm so happy that almost everything has its own place now and I don't have to go through a pile of stuff before finding (or actually.. not finding) that one thing I was looking for.

Make-over: Simplify!

My blog has gone through a little bit of a make-over! There are still some things I want to organize, tweak and change, but overall I'm pleased with how it's coming along! One blog resolution to cross off my list!

This Thursday I am turning 21. I truly feel like my teenage years are behind me now, something I didn't really acknowledge as a 20'er. I don't feel the need anymore to visit my parents every single week and my own little place here feels more like home than anywhere else! I am also super excited my family is actually coming over TO ME to celebrate my birthday here, where my home is now! It might seem like something very small, but to me it feels like a turning point. I just feel so much older, as in actually having created my own home and basically my own life. Of course it's still shaping up, but you gotta start somewhere right?

Anyway, where I'm going with this is: things are finally settling a little bit now. It feels like a new beginning, a new stage in my life! So right now I feel the great need to simplify things and start fresh and new. Over the past few weeks I've been getting rid of tons of trinkets, clothes and the like which I don't absolutely LOVE anymore and it feels so good! So that is the thought behind this new look. Hope you like it as much as I do!

Sunday Sweetheart: Ryan Gosling

Sunday Sweetheart: Ryan Gosling

I wouldn't mind spending my Sunday knitting with Ryan Gosling, and I'm sure he would love it too! No I'm serious, he recently revealed his perfect day activity is knitting.

“I did this scene in ‘Lars and the Real Girl’ where I was in a room full of old ladies who were knitting, and it was an all-day scene, so they showed me how. It was one of the most relaxing days of my life,”

 Did you also know he saved a lady from getting hit by a car? Yes I know, as if it couldn't get even better. I think, like every other woman in the world, I will always have a soft spot for him.

I hope this post regained your faith in men a little bit. It did for me. Talking about that.. I wish the every day news would include more items about all the good things happening in the world. Wouldn't that be great? Just some of those small good deeds or tiny miracles that make you all warm and fuzzy inside. Lets make it happen.

Weekend Lounging

Weekend Lounging by prouddaydreamer with flannel sleepwear

I am planning on mainly hanging out in my warm, cozy home this weekend. Working on school, drinking tea and baking clean muffins (mmmm obsessed with blueberries), burning candles. Nothing better than plaid shirts with cute underwear! Also, I've been reading The Help on and off for a while now, but I absolutely love it! It's not even a problem I saw the movie beforehand (which you should totally check out!).

Oh and I still really want to try out a blooming tea! If only they weren't so damn expensive. Maybe that'll be a fun thing to add to my birthday wishlist c:

Please have a lovely weekend!

Thursday Artday!

 A little art update to procrastinate on this paper I have to finish for Monday.

I have been obsessed with 'sponging' my paint lately.

Preps for a screen print that's probably never gonna happen. This thing is HUGE and my experience is little..

pink and gold sparkle ♥

This was a school assignment. We had to design a cover with the theme 'no signal'.
Obviously, a pear has no signal and this makes the lady very sad.

My 3rd semester evaluations are coming up! I am freaking out/feeling confident/procrastinating/being lazy/working my butt off. Hope everyone is having a great week c:

Sunday Swooning

These days (weeks/months..) I'm working my way through all the movies John Cusack ever starred in. (you can find the IMDB lists here and here) 'Why?'  you ask, well, 'Why not?' and also because he can make even the shittiest movie worth watching. If he would be in every single tv commercial, I would sit around all day waiting for the commercials to come on.

I have to admit though, the latest ones I watched weren't really movies I'd watch had mr. Cusack not been in it (Ice Harvest, The Contract, True Colors) but the one I watched yesterday was a true little gem.

Class

It's John Cusack's very first film, and he hasn't got a major rule but he IS major cute in it. His sixteen year old beautiful self! I should've known it would be right up my alley since it's an 80's movie, and 80's movies about teenagers are simply the best thing ever (think also 16 candles, Pretty in Pink or even the Breakfast Club).

This is a little youtube clip with clips of John Cusack in Class. Watch that very first scene and then try telling me your heart didn't just skip a beat *swoon*

Oh and it's also got Rob Lowe in it! You know, Chris Traeger of Parks and Rec! And damn, he hasn't changed one bit.

End of crazy fangirl blogpost.

Amazing lady crush.

I have a little girl crush today, or an amazing lady crush to be exact. Watch and love!

10 days into 2013

Hello sweeties,
how are you doing today? I am asking that in the most sincere way. Really, how are you feeling? I feel like right now there's a big divide between people feeling either extremely positive and motivated and the ones still hanging in that 'post Christmas omg what am I going to do with this new year filled with potential?' mood. I also think that one week into the new year is the moment resolutions are already given up on and we get down on ourselves for that. It sucks, I know.

I just came across an interview with Haylew Williams from Paramore which I found very honest and inspiring. Especially this quote of her's about the moment Paramore started 'falling apart' really stood out for me:

'...there were definitely days I would wake up and think it would be so easy to put up some sort of letter saying it's just too hard, we've had a good run, and go, like, get a job serving coffee or doing something normal. Maybe that would be less stressful. 

And then there were days that you would wake up and you would have a song in your head and know that there is purpose and there's freedom in being a musician and an artist, and you're really thankful.  Just like in everybody's life, there are ups and downs and there were doubtful moments, but there was something in the back of our minds that never let us give up.'

Numerous times, I too think of quitting. To just get a 'normal' job and just occasionly do a bit of art. It would be so much easier. No more deadlines, feeling like a sucky artist, others constantly criticizing you or having to 'compete' with a gazillion other artists. But yes, then there's that moment I create something I'm very proud of, or experience that wonderful calming effect working on art has on me and I feel very thankful and blessed and I know that deep down inside I shouldn't go easy on myself, and that I don't want to give up.

It all comes down to that little voice in the back of you mind telling you to push through. I know sometimes there's more than one voice, like the one telling you you're not good enough. But in the end they all want what's best for you. I feel like I cancelled out a lot of those other voices already, but that doesn't mean they don't come back every once in a while.

Keep going strong. Think of the brighter, warmer, blossoming days ahead and be grateful for all the little things. I really recommend making a little list on a daily list with all the things you're grateful for that day, no matter how small. Like today my list is:

♥ baking delicious muffins just for me
♥ incense
♥ The Princess Diaries
♥ painting my nails 

You matter, you are special and there are people who care about you. I believe love is most important in life, and everything else is inferior to it. Everything will turn out okay eventually. And then it will fall apart again. Once you accept that, life might just be a little bit lighter. :)