Happy endings and new beginnings

HEJ KIDS! Whether it was because the name was too difficult for even myself to remember, or for some completely other reason: I just switched blogs!

Follow me here from now on: cahierdejulie.blogspot.com

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Love,
Julie

No fun things

HEJ KIDS! No fun things to mention today. Besides:

Bottom's up!

HEJ KIDS! Nothing that makes me happier than food and drinks after a day of work. Or before a day of work. I tried keeping the holiday spirit alive with some homemade lemonade after I got back home last night. So refreshing!

Dolce far niente pt 2

Le Bougnat des Pouilles (Troyes)

In my last post you could read about my first Provence impressions - foodwise at least. Now it's time to talk about... MORE FOOD of course! When going abroad I love spending time discovering (super)markets, local food... You get the picture. But something else I obviously can't forget about is RESTAURANTS!

Dolce far niente

HEJ KIDS! I'm back from an amazing week in la douce France. It's true what they say: "du vin, du
pain et du Boursin". Aaah the sweetness of doing nothing. The doing nothing was all about food food food, lots of reading and a bit of swimming. And mostly about re-connecting with loved ones. And with myself.  Let's talk food for today.

and start thinking of food instead

 Hi guys!

When I get sad, I stop being sad and start thinking of food instead. True story. 

See what I did there?

About bread and breasts

Hey kids! So many things have changed since we last talked! I changed jobs, I changed houses. Guess that’s about enough change to explain the radio silence over here?

Weekend recap #3

Sad sad, weekend is over again. But a great one it was. Just like weekends should be - mostly: food, drinks and friends. Ah yeesss!

Oh look - it's winethirty

Last night I had a winetime dinner with some girlfriends. We met each other in high school and lost track of each other after. Now that we're all settling down we still don't have a clue about what we're doing, I feel as if we're finding our way back to one another.

Let's talk about...

The twilight zone. This blog started out as something where I could write about food, because most people were fed up with me talking about it. But people evolve and the things they like, do and want to talk about evolve as well. Not saying I'm evolving. But I'm discovering what I like and wanna do. With my life and everything.

Ice ice baby #1

 excited / scared / shitfaced running face before running 12K

Hey hey already went for a 12K run this week, still have another 12K and an 18K scheduled for this. It's been forever since I've done an 18K, so please - kill me now! I'm looking forward to it though: the feeling when you're over and done with it, can't be compared to anything else. The one thing that can come in between finishing that half marathon in 3 weeks and me is well... basically myself. A bit scared I'm asking too much from my body in a too short amount of time. So I'm trying to listen to what it has to say, but I guess I'm not a champion when it comes to reading the signs. Or maybe I'm just blind to them.

I'm sitting at work while I'm typing this (ssttt don't tell anyone) and I've been really struggling with my eye sight all day long. It's the first time in forever I'm having this issue, so I'm contemplating all (worst case) scenarios: migraine, fatigue, temporary blindness... I'm planning on going for that second 12K run tonight so pleeaaassse just be an allergic reaction to my office environment.

 

Besides that, I also have a history of bad knees. And apparently there's something wrong with my left foot as well. So lately it's all about the ice ice baby. And compression stockings - gotta love them. Got a feeling it's helping though, so thank God!

Are you training for any races? And how do you cope with a body that isn't functioning the way you want it to?

Love,
Julie

EDIT: I did the 12K last night and woke up early this morning to go for a quick morning swim before work. Oh my word I'm feeling so insanely energised and ready to kick ass to do. So do the same thing: get out there and go get whatever it is you're after. LET'S GO GO GOOOO!

Weekend recap #2

colourful breakfast to keep me happy on a grey fake Monday

Yea yea I know it's Tuesday already, but lucky me (I guess like most of us?) had an extra day off yesterday. So today I'm back at work and weather looks grey outside. A perfect fake Monday if you ask me. Thank God sun was out during the weekend, I completely recharged over the last couple of days.

I log miles for breakfast #1

I'm a huge morning runner. So that's why on Easter Monday I rolled straight out of my bed into my running shoes. I got goals to chase! Literally. However, when I got out there was SO MUCH WIND. No other runners out on the street, that's how windy it was. A couple of weeks ago I felt as if running 5K was a huge task, today I did 12K - without any whining nor complaining. When I got home, it was time for high fives to myself.

Lunch is back on the menu #1

since I took this salad to work for lunch, of course it needs this gorgeous container

Was it ever off the menu? I guess for some people breakfast would rather be off the menu. I don't understand either of both groups. Breakfast is the reason why I go to bed at night (something to look forward to - yay!). And lunch is probably the best part of my day at work (again: something to look forward to!).

Let love rule

I was in doubt. Didn't know whether I had to write about this. I've got nothing to add, not even the right words. I woke up this morning and felt good about today. No slumbering agony, no small annoyances. I looked outside and the sky turned from grey to blue. The kind of morning that makes you happy about the fact you woke up, ready for what the day had to offer.

And then that moment, for which I'm still looking for the right words. Explosions in Brussels airport. Explosions in metro stations. So many questions to be answered.

It was the number one topic at work. And that's the moment when I realized that the more I talked about it, the more real it felt. This has really happened. And I feel quite the hypocrite about it. It had really happened in Ankara and Istanbul as well. But this one really hits close to home.

Talking about it also made me feel more connected. Not just connected to the people I was talking to, but to all my beloved ones. And to all those who feel as if we should unite and stand strong. We've got no other choice.

Weekend recap #1

spicy merguez hotdogs as made by the mister

Another weekend has passed #sadface. Time flew by so quickly and left me feeling really tired last night and this morning. But you know what they say: "A Sunday (weekend) well spent, brings a week of content". However, kinda feeling as if I'm getting the flu or a cold. Need enough rest and powerrrrfood. Vitamin C, come to me!

Wanna know what I was up to the last couple of days?

City hopping: The Hague

In February the boyfriend and I both had our birthdays. Only one week apart so that called for some celebrating! I wanted to surprise him with a weekend away, preferably to a place not too far away. I first thought of some places in the north of France or a city like Amsterdam, but I didn't find anything that could really catch my fancy. So I had to think out of the box and booked us two nights in The Hague.

The one with the f'ing good vibes

my mid run view on Sunday

 

I’m on a rooollll! Or should I say on a run? I’ve been pushing myself to get back out there and eat healthy stuff. What started as taking salads to work, has turned into being back on track for 100%. Running three times a week: twice before work and once during the weekend, swimming at least one time a week before work… Eating healthy breakfast-lunch-dinner-snacks. Best part? I’ve only been at it for only 2 to 3 weeks up until now but I’m feeling great!

The one with the pizza party

I’ve been nagging you (well not so much lately) about “my” pizza recipe. It’s mostly an autumn/winter recipe, so I had to quickly put it up here to give you the chance to try it. Because thank God: spring is on its way! So quickly read on, before it’s too late!

The one with the dessert expert

Just wanted the post title to rhyme, so no: I'm not a dessert expert (yet). As you could read in my previous post I had Asian inspiration for my last dinner party. However, I'm not much of a dessert person. Not saying I don't like preparing (OR EATING) desserts, I just never have that much inspiration. Especially when it comes to themed desserts.

The one where goodbye turns into hello

As you can see: still not the best at taking pictures

I started writing this post and it was all unclear mumbling about whatever that's on my mind. I've been talking about changes a LOT lately. Not going into detail about them. However, I gotta say that it might turn some goodbyes into a few hellos. Hello to new friends that is. You probably got no idea what I'm talking about (neither do I).

The one with the empty head

It's been quote a while, hasn't it? And as usual it's all about the changes changes changes. Like I said in my previous post: 2016 is going to be a bumpy ride! The first week has immediately proven itself to be quite... eventful? But as they say: the proof is in the pudding. So excited to see what the other 51 weeks of the year will have to offer.

However this post isn't exactly about what has happened this week. It's about me wanting the best for you in the upcoming year. Make sure you go after what you want. My head is empty but my heart is full.

Love,
Julie

The one with the new year

HAPPY NEW YEAR! That's basically the one thing I'd like to say. But if you know me a little (or a lot), you know I won't stick to just that. After a lovely New Year's Eve, I'm

• really glad I'm not hungover (at all)
• really glad I didn't do anything crazy last night - sounds like I'm getting old 
• grateful for a wonderful 2015 
• looking forward to everything this new year has to offer - although I suspect it's going to be a wild ride.

Wild rides are the best though. So hang in there everyone, it's all just getting started!