Out of the Ordinary

I have always been the odd one out. From the moment I came onto this world with unusual bright red hair to my hot pink hair today. But it's not just because of my hair that I consider myself as 'out of the ordinary'. I can't really put my finger on what really makes me feel 'different'. I just always have and still do.

Lately though, I feel like I have been extensively exploring the more 'mainstream'... stuff. I say stuff because it's just SO MANY THINGS. I have come to enjoy happy, bubbly pop songs and Taylor Swift, been trying out all kinds of beauty products recommended by popular 'beauty gurus' on youtube, explored the world of more neutral colors in clothing and make-up and the like. Ok, you get the idea. Now all of this is great. But now, after a long time of exploring I'm starting to feel like all I'm striving for now is to be deemed 'normal' and have as many people as possible 'like' me or not make remarks about me, because I don't stand out. This is not good.

(source)

Obviously, with my pink hair I get comments and remarks thrown at me at least once every day and this can be very tiring sometimes (but I'm NOT complaining about this because I know I shouldn't expect to go unnoticed with my hair). Sometimes I don't want to stand out and wish I could just walk down the street without everyone staring at me. I just want to be NORMAL, whatever that might mean.

Since a couple of days I've been feeling more confident again though. This exploration of the mainstream culture was interesting, but at the same time so boring. Hooray for quirkyness! Yay to music about zombies and ridiculous neon pink unicorn earrings! And lots of love to my pink hair! Those are things I love and I should let nobody influence what I should and shouldn't like to be deemed 'acceptable' for this society. It's a shame (but at the same time makes total sense) that the majority of people still judge others on their appearance. Most people probably won't regard me as a good employee or serious/intelligent/nice person just because of how I look. It's a shame, but that's just how it is and I'm going to have to deal with that.

On the subject of judging books by their covers, here is a great Tedtalk by model Cameron Russell.

I don't know exactly where I was planning on going with this post, but I think the main point I want to make is: 

STAY TRUE TO YOURSELF!

There is absolutely nothing wrong with loving things that might be deemed 'mainstream', but also don't be afraid to show your love for things that might be a little bit out of the ordinary (unless it's something nasty, then... just keep it to yourself n.n). Don't apologize for being happy or feel ashamed because you like a certain something. Guilty Pleasures are silly. We should all just be able to tell each other our so called guilty pleasures and laugh about them. A couple of mine are eating peanut butter out of the jar with a spoon and licking the bowl when I had a delicious dessert (yeah most of them are food related..)

If you show passion and enthusiasm for the things you love, others might show some appreciation and interest also! And if not, that's totally fine because nobody else has to love it but you!

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Pink and black rhymes with towel rack.

There seems to be a reoccurring color scheme in my photographs...

random doodles

a shadow of a shadow of a shadow

My derpy face

Valentine's Day details

School has been crazy lately and I couldn't be happier being away from it all for a week. At a certain point I wanted to punch so many people in the face. I mean, I quite often feel like that, but this week it was FOR REAL.

I thought for a moment it was you.

Daydream 

Today, at 6:38 PM, a bundle
of pink balloons rose skyward
outside my 14th floor window
somewhere along 54th Street.
I thought for a moment it was
you, finally arrived. A dramatic
entrance. Tuxedoed, landing
on the ledge, pressing a smile
into the glass. Instead, a long
fray of red ribbon. Not even
a wrist, not a single finger.

By Jeanann Verlee

pretty summery things wishlist

Lace shirt by Miss Selfridge (sold out :c) ♥ Bling Pop Strawberry Ring by Cicely Margo ♥ butterfly tea by Yena Lee ♥ Pastel Pink Saltwater Sandals ♥ Because Cats Pillow ♥ Pull & Bear gift kit

I have absolutely no money left for spending on things I don't really need. I've got to save up for my plans this summer and other future travels. But it's good, because my spending habits weren't really going the right way and not constantly buying things impulsively actually makes me feel much better about myself! (okay so I haven't gotten rid of that habit completely.. but I guess no woman ever does..)

Everyone loves a little online window shopping though, right? Really considering getting those sandals though. I don't really have any summer shoes (except for some beat up black flipflops) and these just look so cute and comfy!

Country Loving

Another Sunday, dying my hair, doing laundry, homework, stuffed sweet peppers and some country romance ♥
All of a sudden, I can't wait for spring and summer to be here!

♥ Artsy Valentine ♥

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Thank you to everyone who signed up for my Valentine's Day card project! I hope all the cards arrived on time... Anyway, here is a little art project I thought would be appropiate to share on Valentine's Day!

I recently took a class focusing on electronics mixed with light, motion, sound etc. It was pretty interesting and challenging! I decided to make take 'Princess and the Frog' as my concept, except I changed the frog to a fish, because of reasons. The idea is that you move and princess and the fish together so the heart is whole and they kiss. Then, when you press the heart, the prince will light up! ♥

Omg it's like magic!

Hope you'll have a great and lovely day!

Compulsive Documenter.

Some pictures I took last weekend...

Postcrossing postcards!

experimental broccoli/cheese/egg ball thingies.

Mini horse in a pumpkin spotted at an exhibition I went to. 

This horse belongs to the Japanese mythological God Chokaro, one of the Senin-immortals who lived as hermits in the mountains. He has a magic pumpkin which produces a horse when Chokaro blows in to it, which he uses for transport. Don't you just love japanese mythology?

An 'anonymous' card with my dream I sent to Cassey Ho from Blogilates

A random veggie stew (with cheeeeese) to go with my experimental balls. (hehe)

cutie pie horse on my bubble tea!

If only my life could solely consist of writing/sending mail, cooking and eating food, drinking Taro Bubble Tea and photographing all day every day. I'm like a... compulsive documenter. Always have been. I think a project I'll be working on this spring/summer is sorting out all my photographs I've taken over the past 2 years and put them together in a nice little (or well... probably not so little) album! 

Monday's Movie: Moonrise Kingdom

Obviously, I had to do this post today because of all the M's. And also just because I watched this movie last night and it stole my heart!

(source)

"A pair of young lovers flee their New England town, which causes a local search party to fan out and find them."

People have been raving about it to me for months and now I see why. Words can not describe... I mean, it already looks pretty amazing right? Now combine that with the best acting, awesome storyline, the best outfits, a cute little cat and just every other single thing about this movie. One big movie made of amazingness.

Yeah but seriously, go watch it. And if you already have, go watch it again OR take a look at the interactive version of the Moonrise Kingdom script (which takes a long time to load but that's totally worth it). Also, this movie makes me excited for spring and summer! So I can wear cute collared dresses, carry around picnic baskets and go on adventures.

Sunday's Song

Lately I've hardly been able to listen to anything but country. There's just something about those songs about trucks, fried chicken, beer and summer love that makes me feel pretty damn good. More than once though, a song comes on that makes me go 'omg what am I even listening to!?' and I feel like maybe I have to reconsider sharing my love for country with the rest of the world.

This is one of those songs. It's about a girl who loves to fish, which is totally normal, right? Why should this song even make me laugh? It just doesn't make sense.

Kawaii Faces make the world a better place.

I've been getting back into the swing of taking pictures on a daily basis! Here are a few of things that made the beginning of February a little sweeter...

 ♥ I've been burning candles almost every evening lately.  It has a very calming effect on me, and aren't those melted candle wax swirls the prettiest thing?

 ♥ Finally I found a cupcake crochet pattern I could understand! You can find it right here. I'm so excited to have finally finished a project that isn't a scarf (and looks decent enough) I now want to make ALL THE CUPCAKES.

♥ Somehow buying any kind of make-up product always improves my mood. Even if it's just an eyeshadow base or something. Recently my favorite eyeshadow pallet exploded in my bag so I had to get a new one... the lipstick was an impulse buy, but I love love love it!

 ♥ Super cute card I received from my sister the other day! And that little star is a magnet too (so now it makes me smile every time I get something from my fridge, which is pretty often..) I love mail so much! I actually sent out some cute mail myself right after receiving this n.n

I hope everyone will have a great weekend! I'm thinking of going to this exhibition of art of Japanese Ghosts and Spirits this weekend (in the spirit of going out and DOING stuff).

Heart shaped anything paradise!

Valentine's Day is coming up which means heart shaped everything, everywhere! And I love everything heart shaped. On my clothing, accessories, toilet paper or on my blog? Yes please! I also have a great fascination for heart shaped cut-outs in clothing, and am forever daydreaming about owning a heart cut-out dress someday...

heart cut out sweater, Katy and her heart booty, heart cut out panties

heart cut out striped skater dress

There are tons of heart cut-out whatever tutorials online, so I might want to get on that someday soon! Would be perfect for summer! Also, don't forget to sign up for some free Valentine's Day love through the mail right here! I'll be sending out all cards for outside The Netherlands this weekend. ♥

First Polaroid! Aaaah! ♥

OMG you guys! Isn't it awesome? Eeehh! Okay, so I probably shouldn't be so excited about such a generic photograph but honestly, this camera makes everything look a hundred times more awesome. 

I was super duper nervous taking my very first photograph with my new Instax mini 7S (at first only the dummy polaroid thing came out, so I had to be nervous all over again) but now I just want to instax mini everything in sight. If only film for it wasn't so expensive... Maybe I'll just make it a weekly thing, if I can contain myself that is...

Stop thinking, start doing!

My brother's cat, just chillin'.

Last weekend I got out of town for a couple of days and it was the best decision I've made in a while. I got in a slight anxiety/existential crisis from spending too much time inside, in my room, being on my computer all day hardly accomplishing anything. I almost didn't go to this concert I had been looking forward to for months because I thought NOTHING would make me happy anymore and would only make things worse. Boy, was I wrong.

Still loving my studded plaid shirt from New Look.

My first day away I went to see Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes). It was absolutely amazing. I even loved the supporting act, Simon Felice (I'm hardly ever impressed by support acts..). It was a seated solo show, so it was mainly him singing and playing guitar, with sometimes some violin, piano or xylophone to go along with it. Seated concerts might just be my new favorite thing. No awkward standing for hours not knowing where to keep my arms and jumping around half assed to not seem like a total idiot!

Photo: Sander Rijken

The others days consisted of babysitting my baby nephew, going to the birthday of another nephew, having a bath again after 2 years, lots of cats and eating lots of delicious things.

Pim is not amused.

I also got some belated birthday presents! And they all just might be favorite. Can not wait to get started on that Haruki Murakami book. Been wanting to read it for ages! And the cats are a sketchbook, completely handmade by my friend Alette! Isn't it the cutest!?

I am definitely planning on going out more now in the form of little day trips to WHEREVER. Spending less time thinking about doing things and actually start doing them.

Asian drinks and stuff on your cat.

Friday I'm in love with...

Bubble tea and plaid shirts. Omnom! (picture source)

Pretty wrapping paper  ♥ rosemary & sea salt crackers ♥ real plants in my home adding purplel to my hair ♥ hours of Tumblr ♥ watching new episodes of my favorite shows ♥ making Valentine's cards ♥ The Perks of Being a Wallflower ♥ the 'asian drinks' tag on Tumblr ♥ belated birthday presents ♥ fixing my portfolio website ♥ lollipops!

And these Gifs...

 

Happy February and have a fabulous weekend!