Because of the cold, Marjolein and I did the photo shoot for this post in a big shopping centre, called the Mall of the Netherlands. It is unusually large to Dutch standards with really high ceilings. It reminds me of a shopping mall in Nice in the south of France. My American readers will probably think “What’s so special? We have way better ones”. You have to remember that the Netherlands is a tiny country and land is scarce. Most of our shops are still in the centre of town, but there are more and more empty buildings in the shopping streets so I am afraid it is only a matter of time before all shops will have disappeared from the town centre.
The outfit I am wearing is from my own wardrobe again. Cognac coloured trousers with a green jumper and a scarf. Finally, I like a scarf with an outfit. The trousers were featured before in this post with a yellow jumper, the white combat boots you’ve seen in this post (still an outfit I really like).
Below: In our search for some daylight, we found this spot and I forgot to tuck in my jumper at the front. Still, not bad.
Below: Marjolein let me sit in a lotus position, not the easiest for me.
Below: Marjolein assumed the same posture as the mannequins in the shop, imitating their pout haha.
Below: This is a much nicer photo of her. She planned a different outfit but quickly changed into this warmer one as it was freezing. Great pose.
Below: A head to toe shot. The scarf is ancient.
Below: As we sat down for a cappuccino, Marjolein took a close-up of my earrings. In reality they are not that bright. Much the same shade as the scarf.
Below: And I took a photo of her earring and her magnificent brooch. At first we thought it was a frog or a snake but looking at it later, I think it is a gecko.
Below: The stores had some fun displays. This one glued a head and two legs of a fantasy animal to a mirror. Marjolein thought it was funny to see my legs in the mirror.
Below: So gorgeous, this artificial blossom tree at Rituals, half in the shop and the top bit sticking out of the shop.
Below: And they had more of these ‘trees’ in the store. I love it.
Below: A photo of me with wings. One cannot resist taking such a photo.
It was time for us to say goodbye again and go our separate ways.
Below: On my way back I passed this house, called ‘The house with the blue roof’ (for obvious reasons). To the right there is another, smaller building, also with a blue roof. As I was driving by, I could only stop for a few seconds when the other cars stopped in the queue. Just a bit too late to catch the second building as well. Isn’t it gorgeous?
I couldn’t find much information about the estate, but you can read a little more here.
What happened in my life this week
Saturday darling husband took blog photos of me in Amsterdam. You’ll see the result soon. It was a lovely day, not too cold, hardly any wind and no rain. Cappuccino with apple pie afterwards in café Hegeraad (below). Loved it. We call a café like that a ‘brown café’. You can take that literally and it also means cosy, snug, the opposite of modern.
Sunday we planned to go to Amsterdam again for a photo shoot. The weather was good and I wanted some photos in stock as I didn’t know if I could handle the computer keyboard well after the trigger finger operation. But Ron slept badly that night and I called it off. I’ll manage.
In the evening we saw a comedy, a farce by amateur actors directed by the wife of our electrician. It was funny with lots of so-called misunderstandings and people going in and out several doors (5) as should be with a farce.
Monday I visited Nicoline (below), a friend from way back. She was a colleague at an advertising agency where I worked when I was around 28 and she became a friend. We don’t see much of each other nowadays, only a few times a year, but I like to keep in touch. And when we do meet, it feels as if it were only yesterday we talked. She is a tour leader in hot countries like Vietnam, Peru and such, so she is often away.
In the afternoon Kitty was supposed to come over but she had the flu and we postponed it to Wednesday..
My blog IT guy checked a hiccup in the blog system with which I create my posts. He couldn’t find it, but that is no big deal. He is working on a revised look and when that is in place I bet the glitches will be over. Don’t worry, I am not really going to change the look and feel of the blog.
Below: In the evening I was cold, especially because I was wearing a jumper with a boatneck, leaving some of my upper back bare. I used a scarf to keep warm when Ron took this very unflattering photo of me. I am sharing it anyway and call it “the unfiltered truth” haha.
Tuesday I stayed in bed till late trying to shake off a lingering headache. I often have headaches; usually they are gone after taking one painkiller. Don’t bother commenting on it; I have done all I can to solve it and the doctor and I are monitoring it.
When I finally got washed and dressed, I drove to the hairpiece salon for some tutorials. As I started the car, it made the scariest noises as soon as I hit the brakes. A sign flashed on my dashboard “Brake system needs service”. Oh heck.
I didn’t want to cancel the appointment as that would have been the third time (embarrassing). Driving slowly, engine braking as much as I could and using the brakes as little as possible, I drove off. Cursing myself that I was doing so. “You idiot, why are you so pig-headed? Driving when there is clearly something wrong with the brakes, the most essential thing when you are on the road.” Luckily when the car warmed up on the motorway, the problem was solved. I drove straight to the garage after my hair salon appointment and they were sweet enough to take an immediate look. The brakes were fine, just needed some fluid.
Hairpiece (if you are not interested in this, just skip it)
The hairpiece tutorial was excellent and I learned a lot. One of the combs on my piece was faulty they replaced it immediately. Looked spiffy the rest of the day. One of my readers asked me to give more information about the hairpiece, so I thought I’d share it with all of you.
I got the same hair colour as my own because the salon assistant knew exactly which one to pick. They have so many hairpieces and wigs.
It is easy to use, it takes about a minute. You have to learn where you put your first comb; in my case on my fringe. Then go in a straight line to the back comb, pull it lightly and click tight. Then click tight the front two combs, one left and one right and lastly, the back left and right combs.
I have no experience with maintaining it yet as I only have to wash it every 4 to 6 weeks and I don’t even use the hairpiece every day, so it might be longer.
The funny thing is, when I wear it, I don’t feel it at all but when I take it off in the evening I feel relieved. Which makes that I don’t wear it every day, just when I go out and it isn’t for something boring like errands. Perhaps I will wear it more often now that I’ve had the tutorial.
Nobody can tell that I am wearing a hairpiece. Blabbermouth as I am, I am always telling people about my hairpiece and they are so surprised.
Pinky operation
Wednesday my pinky was operated on (below). It was a breeze and only took 10 minutes. They asked whether I had experience with local anaesthesia and I told them the most painful time was when I got one in the sole of my foot (and lived haha). The nurse and surgeon went, “Oh, then you will hardly feel this one as underneath your foot is one of the worst spots.” Sure enough.
In the early morning Kitty came for coffee and we chatted until it was time to go to the hospital for poor pinky. Below: Kitty.
As I said, it was early morning and the lights were still on which created funny colours.
Spent the rest of the day being a good girl, not using the hand but keeping it upright to minimise pain.
Thursday Ron and I went to see Nicky and the granddaughters. Randolf, Nicky’s husband, is back at work.
Below: Me and Zoë.
Friday was my second appointment with my new physiotherapist and afterwards I drove to my hairdresser. No clumsily washing and blow-drying my hair with one hand, just relaxing and having my hair done. I didn’t plan it this way, but I should have. Brilliant timing.
Below: Ron gave me Valentine flowers when I got home. I love a sweet bunch of flowers like this. He is so attentive, so unlike me haha.
Greetje
Nice post and great outfits. I especially like the photos staged with the mall decor, the angel wings for example.
I like your red blazer. It is so cheerful and bright. Just what we need in the winter season.
I have a pink sweater with raised circles that looks like what your granddaughter is wearing. Very funny.
Congratulations on getting your hand surgery in the rear view mirror. I hope that you heal quickly.
Ah, I had to go over my post again to see what you meant with a ‘red blazer’ as I couldn’t remember having worn one. The blazer is actually bright orange and oversized.
Thanks for the compliments. I am still a bit surprised that this post went down so well. As far as the hand surgery is concerned, I am healing terrificly. Always do, I heal fast and well. Something I am very grateful for.
The outfit with the scarf looks very good. Cognac–what a pretty color on you!
I like the cognac colour but I don’t think it will do me any favours if it is near my face. As with any colour that isn’t your best, let it appear at the bottom of your body LOL.
Hi your hairpiece reminds me of the time I asked a friend that was growing out her hair if she would not consider a hairpiece, now she was in her fifties and I am in my sixties and she said no that’s for old women. Now I have wirn hairpieces before and have had many compliments about how my hair was lovely etc. A lot of younger ladies wear them in my opinion, they aren’t just for older people. Yours looks amazing and I am all for looking as feminine as we can till the day we no longer breathe. Also about black, it’s a colour that totally drains me but going to a wedding soon in March and it’s black I am wearing eek! My hubby also got me roses for valentine’s day, so the age of romance is not dead. Great photos of Zoe, you and Watson.
I totally agree with you, hairpieces aren’t just for older people. Did you know that nearly every woman (and perhaps also men?) who appears on TV, has hairpieces? I once saw a couple of celebrity woman all pull out a hairpiece string just to show the public how fake everything is. Then I started to watch celebrities when they were on TV and often I could see whether they were or were not wearing extra hair. I think it was a very good suggestion of you to use a hairpiece when you are growing out your hair.
If you have to wear black, try and minimise the drainage effect by putting on sparkling or golden jewellery near your face, or colourful ones, or a colourful scarf or big brooch. Anything that will lift your face.
Your husband sounds like a romantic too.
When I saw the first photo I was like: “is she abroad”. So unusual to see these types of malls in The Netherlands. i looked it up and noticed it’s a Westfield mall as well. There are so many of those in Australia and this one looked almost the same as one we visited in Perth.
I hope everything is ok with your finger. Nice to read about your life updates and great outfit!
I know, highly unusual. It is like the mall in Nice. It is indeed a Westfield mall, so I can pretend I am in Perth haha.
Glad you are still enjoying my posts (occasionally…grin).
Everything is very OK with my finger. I just put a little plaster on, covering the stitches for safety sake.
I love the photo of you and Zoë, but I’m mainly commenting to say that your outfit this week has inspired me to shop my own closet for a similar look. I have pants and a favourite top in those two colours, but I don’t remember if I’ve ever worn them together. I’m not sure if I have a scarf that will work with them, but I’ll take a look. If I’m happy with the outfit, it might even appear on my blog (giving credit to you for the inspiration, of course).
I think it is lovely that I can inspire other women. Never thought I would. The reason I started this blog was not to inspire people but to entertain. I am such an extrovert. I hope you can create a beautiful outfit.
The post you inspired is on my blog this morning, Greetje. I hope you’ll check it out and let me know what you think.
I have seen it on your blog and commented. Well done. So fun to see your take on this outfit. Isn’t it great how you can connect with people all over the world?
That’s definitely one of the best things about blogging!
Indeed
It’s so sweet to see you with Zoe. I do hope you quickly recover from your surgery. Marjolein wear such gorgeous clothes — that purple is luscious and the gecko is cute. I also love the lacy top that Nicoline is wearing — just my style 🙂
Zoë is the cutest thing. I would love to show you all her lovely face, but I get why her parents don’t want that and of course, I respect that. I am recovering beautifully from my surgery. I always heal quickly, something I am very grateful for.
Marjolein does indeed wear gorgeous clothes. We have been clothes fan from the beginning of our twenties. As for the brooch, we both like these over the top bling-bling brooches.
Wow! Those are your colors! You glow.
Actually I am not so sure whether these are my colours. Usually bright, saturated colours are better for me. But hey…thanks for the compliment.
Hello, You
Lovely ‘soft’ pics this week. I think I spied Marjolein taking your photo when you were cosying up to that fantasy animal. Have a look near the top right…isn’t that her with her camera?
Great pictures all round I must say: you with your granddaughter; you with your flowers and Winston; those of your friends; Ritual’s tree and the blue-roofed house. Your hand, not so good! But sending it healing thoughts… I cannot abide injections so felt for you when you had yours. My husband is currently having a daily jab in his tummy to help stop blood clots after his hip operation. I just hand him what he needs and then look the other way while he has no trouble stabbing himself!
As for that delightful the brown cafe, bring it on, eh?
Have a good week
Gee x
Yes, that is Marjolein in the fantasy animal photo.
Uh..Winston is Watson. I have to correct you on his behalf haha.
The injection was not a problem at all. The surgeon pulled up a bit of skin and injected in there instead of in the bony area. Good guy. I am good with injections, they don’t bother me. When I was younger I was a blood donor (for 25 years).
Great that your husband has no problem with the injections he has to give himself.
We have loads of brown cafe’s.
Sorry, Watson, a momentary lapse of memory, my daughter’s dog is Winston. You’d like him!
Oh, Greetje, I really don’t like needles. Like you, I was a blood donor but couldn’t watch the pointy thing going into my arm even then. What a wuss!
Again, sorry, Watson, hope you’re still talking to me! x
We are all different. I can take needles and blood, I might have been a good nurse if it haven’t been that I hate any caring profession for myself. I am so glad there are people who do have this calling. And I can totally understand the mix-up between Winston and Watson. What kind of person would I be if I didn’t talk to you anymore because of such a minor thing haha.
Thank you for the comments on the hairpiece. I think I will look for one. No harm in trying. It truly looks lovely on you. Best of luck in recovering from the finger surgery.
Well, the only thing I want to warn you for is the price (expensive in the Netherlands) and you do want real hair. And I don’t like wearing it every day. I would for the result (so much better), but I feel it pulling a bit which I don’t like. Probably the same as someone who has her hair in a pony tail. Perhaps when I get better at putting it on, it will pull less and I might wear it more often.
Also, it is not something you only have to pay for once. It will get damaged over the years and although they can patch it up, one day you will have to replace it.
The finger is coming along fine.
A scarf looks really good! I like that your earrings match the colour in it. It’s always so good to see you out with your friends, and that mall is a good backdrop for your pictures.
I’m glad your surgery went well, and happy that you got your hairpiece straightened out. I’m like you, I would be telling everyone about it too, ha ha.
The earrings matching the colour in the scarf, satisfies my need for matchy matchy haha.
My hairpiece questions were answered but I still have one issue to deal with. I want it blow-dried a bit different, so I have to wash it and do that myself. Scares me. It will have to wait until the stitches are out of my hand (the 26th of February).
Thanks for this post, with so much to enjoy…photos are great… you and Marjolein obviously had fun ! Great photos of her…in her favourite purple.
Your outfit was terrific on you…I am biased because those are my colours and I often wear scarves like that. Where I live now is outdoor shopping in an interesting village with excellent independent stores. Council wants it to stay that way too. I do not miss the huge indoor malls, but certainly helpful with cold weather in my former city.
I can attest to a needle for anaesthetic freezing being extremely uncomfortable…It was just above my ankle area when a cancerous little blob was removed…OMG…😵💫 Doc said it was because there’s not enough flesh down there ! I certainly didn’t feel a thing afterwards while it was scraped off and stitched up. Good as new!
After years of trying to find love with the fellow I was with, this Valentines Day was about self love …a wonderful snowy walk through a sunlit forest and stopping to listen to the birdsong, purchasing some flowers for my table since I’m having a friend over to dinner on Sunday, and stopping at a favourite bakery to buy myself a completely indulgent chocolate dessert to enjoy over a couple of evenings…yum! ❤️
It’s obvious you treasure your relationship with Ron , Greetje. Lovely photo with Watson and bouquet.
Yes, Marjolein’s pose was excellent.
I think you are lucky that the council protects the independent stores in the village. It makes shopping so much nicer. Even when it is cold.
When you get an injection in a bony area it always hurt a lot. Then again, it is over in 30 seconds or less. And my surgeon pulled a bit of skin up and injected in there, so he need not inject on the bony bit. Great guy.
You treated yourself with a lot of love this Valentine’s Day. Very good. I bet you will be fine.
That scarf may be old, but it was made for that top as were the earrings. Thanks for giving the lesson on the hairpiece. It was very interesting especially since it looks so good on you and is undetectable! Hope you finger heals quickly and doesn’t cause you much pain!
I never throw out scarves, basic tops and belts. They often come in handy.
When one reader asks for more information on the hairpiece, I reckoned more women would want to know.
My finger is recovering beautifully. I always heal very quickly.
I have that very same “boat neck” sweater in black and wear it constantly!
We have good taste LOL (athough that was gifted to me, I didn’t pick it out.)
Hope your finger heals quickly and you took a terrific photo of Marjolein.
If you wear that model often, it is your choice, gifted or not. Nearly all my sweaters are boat neck and now I have a little patch high on my back which has become very sensitive. Darned.
My finger is recovering beautifully. I always heal quickly which is great.
The photo I took of Marjolein is terrific because she came up with that awesome pose.
Love the earth colors on your first outfit. You look great!
I also love the photo Ron took of you. You look studious and lovely – a lovely combination.
Glad your finger operation went well. Now I know why getting stitches on the bottom of my foot many years ago hurt so much!
Have a good week.
The only problem I have with Ron’s photo of my on the sofa is my posture. I want to shout “Sit up straight woman!”
Yep, the surgeon told me that the bottom of your foot and the tip of your nose are the spots on your body where injections hurt the most. He added “And it isn’t necessary to inject anaesthetic in the tip of your nose, you can take the areas around it and it will work just as well.” Just a little heads-up for anybody who needs to know haha.
Lovely earth colours. You look fab.
I love many colours as long as it isn’t black. And what do I buy mostly? Black! It is because the shop owners are careful and buy mostly black, dark blue and grey. One of the reasons why I love Essentiel Antwerp so much. They offer nothing but colour.
Love the color combo in this week’s outfit. (That cognac is one of my favorite colors!) And nicely done with the earrings picking up the red color in the scarf.
Glad your surgery went well, and hope your hand heals up quickly! Give Watson a scratch for me. He is such a sweet doggo!
Ah…the red colour in the scarf is orange haha.
My hand is recovering beautifully. I always heal very quickly, something I am very grateful for.
Watson always gets many cuddles. From everybody.
Lovely outfit, very chic (sorry :)). Have to say I absolutely LOVE Majolein’s brooch. I’m a real sucker for geckos, we have little models all over the place. Hope you recover quickly from the operation x
I don’t mind chic Elizabeth. Although I chose the three words ‘arty, edgy and modern’ as my style guide line, I still sometimes want elegant or chic.
Marjolein’s brooch struck a cord with me too. You know I love these over the top, bling-bling brooches.
I am recovering beautifully from the operation. I knew this as I am a careful person when it comes to health instructions and…I heal very quickly.
I love this color combination. The scarf is also very cute. Ami, personally, I really like the photo of the truth without filters, you look very natural. I hope you recover soon from your little finger injury. The image of you and the girl is very sweet.
Thanks Josep-Maria, your comments are always so sweet. I wonder lately whether my outfits haven’t become too boring. Mostly jeans and tops on repeat. I miss the new things and I still think I haven’t found my style yet. Plus too much black in my wardrobe (as you will see next week).
What is your opinion? I value your opinion and I know you will answer it honestly.
My finger is recovering beautifully.
Your looks can hardly be boring, because you are not boring. It is undeniable that there has been a change in your proposals, comfort and more casual attire are being imposed, but that is normal. I think that happens to all of us when we reach a personal situation in which the pressure of the work look no longer exists. We feel less pressured, we look for comfort and our clothes tend to that desire. But that is not an obstacle to losing style and class, and of course that has not happened in your case, you are still an elegant woman, very much so. I look forward to your black look, a color that excites me.
Gosh Josep-Maria, you are a dream person to a blogger. Actually to any woman. I am so pleased with your comment. Thank you very much.