Snoopy wants to tell you something

Merry Christmas to every reader of Even Sweeter Dreams! I hope you will all have a stress free and wonderful holiday season. Tomorrow I will host the winter High Tea for my family. Yesterday I have done the first of lots of baking. Made some vanilla cupcakes and shortbread/jam cookies. Today I will bake a carrot cake( my sisters' favourite) and put together a gingerbread house. Haven't done that before, so that will be fun. Hopefully it won't fall apart! I will share pictures of the High Tea after christmas. Right now, I am off to the kitchen to make my oven work. Have a great one, friends!

Giveaway winner announced!!

Hi everyone. It's the crazy few days before christmas. We still have alot of shopping to do, but I am looking forward to it! I will share lots of pics of all the prepping for my winter high tea. I am making my first gingerbreadhouse. So that will be fun!
But on to more serious stuff here. It is time to announce the winner of my giveaway! My very first giveaway, and hopefully more will follow soon. Thanks to those that participated, but the winner is Kelsea Yu! Congratulations on winning the craft package. It will come your way very soon. In a very pretty enveloppe might I add! Not designed by me though. I cannot draw to save my life, for sure.

Enjoy the package Kelsea, and I hope you will send pictures of your crafts! I will post them on the blog.
Have a great weekend everyone and good luck with christmas shopping.

Back from beautiful Paris

Hi my friends! Life has been kinda crazy and hectic the last days. With the holiday season stress and a messy home haha. But finally I have some time to tell you all about my trip to Paris! I have been home now for just 2 days. For some reason it always feels like I have been home longer already, if that makes sense. Normal life quickly starts again and you have to get back to the daily hassle. My suitcase was just unpacked today, so it is time to look back. I can tell you that Paris is very beautiful and we had so much luck with the weather. It was sunny and with a blue sky!

Sacre coeur

There were lots of great christmas markets and pretty lights everywhere. Such a lovely time to visit this great city! We ofcourse bought some typical French macarons. And lovely baguettes, like croissants! You cannot visit Paris and not have a lovely croissant from a boulangerie (bakery). There were also looots of shops selling the usual plastic stuff for tourists. I bought one small Eiffel tower for my nephew.

On the second day of our visit to Paris, we went to the Hanson show for which we actually came to Paris! I was on second row and had a great view of the stage. It was an amazing concert. One of the best that I have see of them, and I have seen them 9 times now. It was a really energetic show with a great setlist. And the great view for me only made it that more enjoyable.

The day after the show (day 3) we did a full tour of all the sights in Paris. The Sacre coeur, as seen on the above picture. After that we went to the Arc de Triomphe, Louvre, Notre Dame and finally the Eiffel Tower again. The day was beautiful, even hot! Just perfect for a walk through the town. 

Arc de Triomphe

Eiffel tower on the second day, when it was misty

I don't have any pictures of the Notre Dame and Louvre just yet. My friend took lots of pictures where I just took some with my phone. So as soon as I have those pictures, I will ofcourse share them here! All in all it was a great and exhausting trip to Paris with some stress but mostly an amazing few days with lots of friends, old and new!

With my friend (blonde girl) and people we met in Paris, old friends and new!

This music is a place to hide

Hi friends! I have had some crazy days. But only in a good way I must say. This week is totally dedicated to my all time favourite band in the whole wide world: Hanson. Yesterday I went to their show here in Holland. As a member of the fanclub I got to enter the venue early, we got to take a picture with the band (!!), have a 'private' show with 100 other members. It was awesome. And the concert was one of their best yet. Before I tell the rest, I must tell some backstory here I think.
My love for Hanson started with the song that most people still know, Mmmbop. I was instantly in love with this song and with the band. I bought their first album, Middle of Nowhere, with money I was supposed to spend on school supplies. Sorry mom and dad! But buying this album changed my life forever and I couldn't have done a better purchase, ever. 

Since that album I have been following Hanson, every move they made I knew about. When they would release an album, I would buy it. A new video? I would be the first to see it on Mtv. Everything Hanson did I followed on their website and on fansites.

In my early teens I developed a severe form of agoraphobia, which led to me not going outside at all. Only when Hanson would release a single or cd, I would go out and buy it in the store. When I was sad because of my phobia and social anxiety, I would put on my Hanson cd's and they would make me smile again. When they finally came to Holland for a show in 2005, I had to be there. But my phobia was still getting the best of me. My parents were sweet enough to go with me and support me. That night I had the time of my life, through all my fears, I got to see my favourite band live!

Now; 16 years on, 8 concerts later, meet and greets with the band and trips to London where I saw the band play four times. I can say my love for the band has only grown. Tomorrow I will take the train to Paris, where I will see them play a show again. And another meet and greet will happen as well! I hope I don't forget to say 'Thank you' this time around. Thank you guys for your amazing music, your beautiful personalities, for giving me the strength to go outside when my phobia was taking me down, for giving me hope when I didn't see the light and for giving me the best friends that I have in my life who just happen to be Hansonfans as well. To quote a Hanson song: This music is a place to hide!

Instahgwam..say what?!

Hi friends! How have you been this week? I have been a bit flu-ish unfortunately. So I have been lying on the sofa, reading some and writing letters to my new penpals. And, being uber hip, I have joined Instagram finally! It's not very full with pictures and video yet, but I am working on it haha. Want to follow me? You can find my profile here. 

LOL!

There is also a video on there which shows you the cute things you can win when you enter my very first giveaway! So do check that out and join the giveaway!
This weekend I am getting mentally ready for my trip to Paris, thinkinf of what to wear and what to wash before I can wear. Things like that! Before I leave I will post a longer story about Paris, I am getting nervous and excited! I am looking forward to eating some real French macarons wooh! For now, have a great weekend everyone.

An Even Sweeter giveaway! Enter now!

Hi friends! To celebrate the blog reaching 200 lovely followers, it is time for the very first giveaway! I have collected a load of supercute stuff, for all lovers of paper, stickers, maskingtape, glitters and all things cute.

What can you win? This package of cuteness contains: An adressbook, a mini notebook, loooots of stickers, a hot pink glittery maskingtape, an eraser in the form of a giraffe, two big stamps, a set of neon coloured labels, a mini masking tape, sticky notes and two polka dot pins.

How to enter and win:

- To enter please be a follower of this blog!
- Leave a comment, I would love to read what you would do with this package if you would win.
- For an added point, join the Even Sweeter Dreams Facebook page.

That's it! The winner will be drawn randomly and announced on the 20th of december. Good luck!

My 'Susie-day' and a sneak peak at my first giveaway!!

Hi friends!! Wow,this week went by like a flash. The weekend is at our doorstep, and even crazier..december is at our doorstep! Are you ready for the holiday season? Me, not so much yet. I don't think I will get a christmastree this year. As I will be away alot in december. But for some reason I always enjoy sending and receiving christmascards. I already have them ready to be written and sent. In november, yes haha. I love making people happy with a card, what can I say?!
Yesterday I had, what I call a Susie day. There were supposed to be workers in my home, wrecking my floor for some plumbing. But they had to cancel to an unknown date. Well, that to me felt like having a day off! So I declared it Susie day! I did all the things that I wanted to do and nothing else. Luckily I had cleaned my home the day before haha. So I started my day with a long breakfast and with reading my book. I then took an extra long shower and used my showergel more generously then ever before. After that I read some letters from penpals and wrote some of them a letter back. I loooove having penpals!

I then made some tea and finshed my book. I still had some magazines on my table which required my reading too (sounds nice right?!) So that is exactly what I did.

Sounds like a good day so far right? I agree! The weather was quite soft for a fall day in Holland and my frontgarden looked quite messy, so I decided to do some gardening. After that it was already late in the afternoon, and I was busy planning my trip to Paris. Yess!!! I will be in Paris in less then two weeks. Me and a friend who lives in Spain will meet again in Paris, for a few days we will live like Parisians. So exciting!

I ended my Susie day with, ofcourse, watching The Hobbit! What a joyous day it was. Do you ever take some me time? And how would you spend a day like this??
Not to forget, I have my first giveaway coming this weekend! And I have a little sneak peak of what you can expect. More to come very soon!! 

Happy weekend!

Hi friends! It's weekend!! Time ro relax, read a good book, bake a cake, or take a long walk in the woods. I love to take some 'me time' and fill the days with things I love (and every now and then clean the house on a sunday). Tomorrow I am going to bake a cake for my aunt's birthday.  A lovely pear/cinnamon cake, one of my favourite's, especially now in the fall.

Don't you just love this quote by Julia Child? It's oh so true! Every party needs a cake, or two! And if it's a good party, it will have cupcakes as well haha. 
On other news: what do you think of the new lay out? I loooove it. It's so dreamy!! I have to thank my dear friend Jacoline for this beautiful lay out, she wanted to help me redesigning my lay out. She ended up buying this lovely lay out for me as an early christmas present, isn't that the sweetest thing?! I am very happy with the look of Even Sweeter Dreams. But my friend also gave my baking blog Sweetie Pies a make over, which is equally awesome I must say!
Have a great weekend everyone, and do the things you love!

Spotlight: Webshop Sweet and Lovely

Hi friends! Every now and then I come across this incredibly cute webshop that I just have to share this link with everyone I know. I always love buying something original and handmade. That way you have a unique piece and the artist is the one that gets paid. Not some company! So that makes it totally worh it! Even if you pay just a bit more right? Well the webshop Sweet and Lovely, by the talented Kate Gabrielle, offers all sorts of cuteness. From prints and accesories, to templates for your blog. I have purchased some prints from Kate and it all went really smoothly. My favourite items from the shop are Kate's lovely artpieces. I have this piece on my desk right now. In a frame:

But this one is a favourite too!

She has also created some fun kits, like the slumber party kit. It includes a mix tape, microwave popcorn, friendship bracelets and much more fun. How cute is that?!

I will post more of these links soon, maybe a good start for your christmas shopping (wait,...what.. did I say christmas? yikes) And it's alot more fun to share a cute webshop than to keep it to myself! And FYI, these opinions are all my own. Kate Gabrielle, the owner of the shop, doesn't even know I am writing this! Happy shopping everyone!

Keep calm....

Hi friends! Wow, it is really monday and almost mid november already. Can you believe it? It's like I blinked my eyes and it's two weeks later. But worry not, worry not. I am still here! Hahaha.

Life has been a bit busy lately. I actually joined the gym (GASP). I now work out twice a week. I am quite proud of myself for going, even when the weather is shitty and it's cold outside and I just want to sit at home with a cup of tea and a good book. Yep, I still go and sweat my butt off in the gym, yay me! And then when I get home I eat some cookies... maybe not the best to 'celebrate' working out.
Saturday I visited a dear friend who lives in the city of Woerden. Had to travel for about two hours, which is alot for a Dutchie! But it was great to see her, and the city is quite nice. Look at the town hall for example.

The city centre also had a lovely baking/cooking store where I bought a baking book (Peggy Porschen's book  Boutigue Baking), a cupcake plunger thingy (so you can add a filling inside the cupcake) and a cake pop scoop. All in the cutest pastel colours. I am a sucker for pastel!
Aaaaand did anyone see the Hobbit fan event last week??!! Oh boy, it's every fans best night ever. And I wasn't even there live. Just watching on my laptop. For those who have no clue what I am talking about. Peter Jackson, the director of The Hobbit hosted a live event for all the fans. In cinemas across the globe there were actors and fans, for exclusive clips and a Q&A. It was awesome. Mostly because of these two most delightful gentelman. They make me so happy: Richard Armitage and Orlando Bloom.

Well, there you go. A little update on the Even Sweeter Dreams front! I will be back sooner rather than later! And a giveaway is on the horizon too. I mean, I have 200 followers!! If that isn't worth a giveaway, I don't know what is, right?! Have a lovely day everyone!

Hello November!

Hi everyone! Can you believe it is November already?? Winter is almost here (well sort of anyway). I am not a fan of the colder weather. I love the sunny fall and winter days, but they are rare unfortunately. Mostly the days are cold, windy and grey. Bah. On those days I just want to sit at home under a blanket and with some tea while watching an episode of The Walking Dead. Baking also helps my mood! The heat of the oven and the smell of freshly baked goods. Just the other day I made coconut/lime cucpakes with a swirl of lime merinque. Alot of fun! And they tunred out to be pretty darn good too.

And last week I was baking for a high tea at my aunt's house. I made a carrot/pisctachio cake and a chocolate cake. They didn't last for long at the high tea!

Later on we added some sandwhiches and other small bites. It was really nice. The cupcake napkins and cute teaboxes (the little boxes you see on the table) added to the prettyness of the table. The cakestands are mine as well, I love collecting those! Just before we started, me , my sister and my two cousins took some pictures together.

We all think the so called duckface look is too funny, so we had fun with that on the right picture haha. My sister is the one on the far left with my cousins in the middle. I am (as I am sure you know) the shorty there haha. It was alot of fun, and not the last time we will have our own high tea. Have a good weekend everyone!

Happy Halloween!

Hi friends! A happy Halloween to you all! Do you all get dressed up? Or maybe your kids? Here in Holland we don't really celebrate this event. Only a few kids go trick or treating, but it's not really a big happening here. I would love it be bigger than it is, get dressed up and such. Any excuse to dress up is great to me haha. Some friends did some pumpkin craving, and I made some pumpkin strudel, a lovely meal. To me pumpkin and Halloween go together. Or maybe it should be fall and pumpkin?! I hope you have a wonderful day, have fun trick or treating!

{Pics} Best of Austria

Hi friends! Hope you are doing well. Today we had one of the worst storms in Holland since 1990. Trees have been ripped out the damage is great. Luckily I didn't have to go outside today, even the trains were all delayed or cancelled all together. As I type this, the weather is alot better and the wind isn't so powerful anymore. We just had some hailstones, rain and thunder as well. Kinda crazy! Fall is defenitely here! On another note, I still have so many pictures to share from my trip to Austria, that I thought to make a 'best of' post with just the best of the best pics haha. So get ready for some mountains, lakes and animals!

A small mountain lake in Bregenzer Wald

The pretty town of Feldkirch

A happy pig, at the Wildpark in Feldkirch

So many looong trees!

Beautiful deer at the Wildpark in Feldkirch

Castle at Liechtenstein

A pretty village in Switzerland called Maienfeld, near the Liechtenstein border

Castle and wineranks at Liechtenstein

Kopsee, name of the lake, so beautiful!

Impressive mountains near Kopsee

Lunersee at 2000 meters, very high and very beautiful

The view on the other side of the Lunersee

{Crafting/DIY} Make your own wall art

Hi friends! The weekend is here! That's a perfect time to get your craft on. Recently I have been loving this: making my own wall art. I have (or had) an empty white wall and was so bored with it. I like colour and pictures/drawings. So I decided to make my own art. I am not a great painter and I can't draw to save my life, so I got my favourite magazines ( for the Dutchies: Flow magazine is great) and started cutting and scrapping. With the end result being these three pieces!

I must say that the middle one is my favourite. What you need to create your own?
An empty canvas
Paint in your colour of choice
Magazine clippings
Coloured paper
Ribbon
Small embellishments like buttons/glitter
Glue
Sciccors

I got an emty canvas and painted the sides with a pastel colour. Then cut out some coloured paper as a background. Or a flowery paper like in the middle canvas. I then looked for some cute clippings or drawings and glued them to the colourful background. I added small embellishments, like buttons on the rabbit's coat. As a final touch I glued ribbon to the canvas, to make it look like a frame. And taaadaa, your very own wall art! Have fun with this everyone! And a great weekend to you.

Day at the zoo

Hi all!! Can you believe it's wednesday already? Time flies when you're busy. Yesterday the weather was so nice, 20 degrees Celcius with a lovely sunshine. The perfect fall day! Me and my parents decided to go to the zoo in Rotterdam called Blijdorp. As most of you may know, I love going to the zoo! It has been a while since we last visited the Rotterdam zoo, about 7 years since our last visit. They had some new animals, like a polar bear and some babies. A baby giraffe was born as well as a baby elephant. So cute! The newly opened butterfly hall was also very nice. A very large hall with lots of flowers and butterflies. There was also a big aquarium, with sharks! Quite impressive. We stayed untill closingtime, we even ate an icecream on this sunny octoberday. Let's hope the weather stays this nice! For now, some pics of the zoo!