{Day 61/365} Editing photos, love the island

Today I have been editing some of my pictures I took the last time I was on the island. I am so happy I'm going back tomorrow!

{Day 60/365} Lighthouse

I love lighthouses, I don't know why but I find them quite fascinating. This is the lighthouse of Harlingen, The Netherlands. Also, there's this beautiful song called Lighthouse, performed by Matt Corby. I highly recommend listening to that song, and all of his other songs, actually.

{Day 59/365} New notebook

Most of us like buying new notebooks, and so do I. Today I bought a new notebook to write down all my ideas I have with regard to the times after graduating University. Next summer I will be graduating, hopefully, and to me, the possibilities are endless. I'm even considering to become an entrepreneur. Exiting!

{Day 58/365} Stormy weather

Today we had a huge storm, like 11-12 bft. We lost a huge amount of roof tiles, which causes a little bit of leakage, but everything can be fixed. The storm affected the entire country, but on the news they say the so called "Wadden islands" had the toughest part.

{Day 57/365} At sea

Today I'm just glad that I'm going back to the island. Can you tell, from this picture, that a storm is coming?

{Day 56/365} A fireplace, dogs and a cat.

A fireplace, two dogs and a cat. What do we need more? I love this.

{Day 55/365} Dogsitting

This weekend, the mr. and I are watching our friends' house and dogs (now I desperately want a dog!) The house is in the middle-of-nowhere and since we love the rural, rustic spheres, it's perfect for us. Nothing but joy! After the last lecture of the week I took the train to Harlingen and next Sunday we will go back to the island again.

{Day 54/365} That first cup of tea

Many, many people are feeling nothing but love when thinking of and talking about coffee. But for me,  it's tea. I LOVE tea, and there's nothing like starting the day slowly, with a hot cup of tea. Today will be a long day of studying, so I'm glad I can start my day like this..

{Day 53/365} Autumn is winning

Autumn is really taking over my city. This bike is close to being buried in leaves.

{Day 52/365} The brave ones

I went for a walk with my new camera and I shot these brave ones. Autumn is beating summer's ass, isn't it?

{Day 51/365} Cheating on autumn

I have been cheating on autumn today.. as I was shopping for new spring flower bulbs.

{Day 50/365} Autumn treasures

Hooray! I am already at day 50 of my Project365! It's Sunday today and I am locked up inside for study related reasons, but I really wanted to go out and play with my camera, so I did. I walked around the block for a while and I enjoyed everything autumn. 

{Day 49/365} Zucchini Frittata for lunch

For lunch today I had a spicy zucchini frittata, and because I think you have to try some time, I'm sharing the extremely easy, adjusted recipe with you. 

For 4 servings you will need: 

- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

- 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced

- 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced (didn't use this one, so I used chili flakes)

- 1 zucchini, thinly sliced

- 125 grams fresh corn kernels

- salt

- 8 large eggs

1. Heat oil over medium heat and cook onion (and jalapeño), stirring until tender, about 5 minutes. Add zucchini and corn and cook until tender, about 7 minutes more. Season with salt. 

2. In a bowl, whisk eggs with 1/2 teaspoon salt and pour into skillet with vegetables. Cook until eggs are done.

{Day 48/365} Reflections of autumn

Today I finished things at university quite early so I had some time left to go to the market in the city center, and therefore I needed to go another route than I usually take. This one actually leads close to my old home, and I passed this scenery which I saw when I looked over my shoulder during cycling. Kinda dangerous, sometimes, but it got me this shot! 

{Day 47/376} Pecan and date brownie tarts

Today I have a recipe to share. If I see this picture, I wouldn't think of raw or vegan food, but it is. And it is way too delicious to not share the recipe (which comes from The Rawtarian) with you, so here it is: 

For four tarts you will need: 

- 100 grams of pecan nuts

- 150 grams of pitted fresh dates

- 4 tablespoons of shredded coconut

- 5 tablespoons of cocoa powder

- 2 tablespoons of honey

- 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt

1. Place pecan nuts alone in your food processor and process until the pecans become small and crumbly.

2. Add dates to the shredded pecans and process again until the mixture sticks together and the dates are well processed.

3. Add the remaining ingredients to the mixture and process again until the mixture turns a lovely dark chocolatey brown. Stop processing before it gets too buttery (there should still be air between the small bits so that you will be able to press them down into your brownie pan).

4. Dump the mixture into a brownie dish or small cake pan (or tins similar to the ones I used) and press down firmly using your clean hands. 

5. Refrigerate the raw brownies for a couple of hours. You do not have to refrigerate it, but it is much easier to slice when chilled. 

6. Store the brownies in the refrigerator if it lasts that long! 

{Day 46/365} Future home inspiration book

Today has been a very stressful day seen the fact that I have several research papers to write, and I have to present one of them (on International Labour Law) tomorrow. Last week we hadn't written a word yet, and now we are almost done, so my partner and I have been working very hard. So, tonight it's time for an hour of rest and that's why I searched my "future home inspiration book" and my interior design and decoration magazines and started making some new collages again. In my pj's! I have to say.. like this I was able to let go of the stress for a moment. 

{Day 45/365} Dried flowers

As you might remember, on my birthday, one of my friends gave me this lovely bouquet made by her mum. I love the flowers so much that I want to preserve them and that's why I hung them out to dry. Now let's hope that they won't be ruined by the autumn weather..!

{Day 44/365} Beautiful doors for future homes

Today I was walking through the city centre and this beautiful entrance caught my eye. I think it's absolutely perfectstunningbeautifulamazing, so I'd love to have this door or something similar in my future home.

{Day 43/365} The arrival of autumn

As you might know, I am a student and during week days I have to go to the university campus, which is in the north of the city, while I live all the way in the south. It's a bike ride of about 6 kilometers, so I see quite a lot when I'm on my way. Every day I pass this park called 'Noorderplantsoen' and from day to day I see how it turns more and more into a autumn scenery. These are the first four pictures I took, and there are many more to come. 

{Day 42/365} Treasuring rain free moments

Today it has been raining a LOT, so we (my cousin whom I look after today) and I stayed inside most of the time. I helped her with her homework and afterwards (as some kind of a reward) we baked cookies. We had to get outside to get the ingredients, and that's when I shot this beautiful flower. 

{Day 41/365} Motivating myself to crochet

I have to admit that I am kind of stressed out because of all the work that has to be done for University. There are a lot of research papers that need attention, and a lot of books that need to be studied seriously before I can pass the exams. BUT, I also need to relax a little bit and that's why I am encouraging myself to crochet more often, by buying these two lovely colors of yarn.

{Day 40/365} Autumn close to home

Every time I walk from my home to the supermarket I pass this lovely place. It looks even prettier nowadays with the autumn colored trees.

{Day 39/365} Writing a letter

Today I'll be writing a letter for the lovely Sara from Sevilla. We got in contact through Instagram (gotta love it) and she was wondering why I speak Spanish, so I've written her something about that :)

{Day 38/365} Friends and flowers

So, more flowers! I couldn't resist posting this lovely bouquet, which I got from a dear friend. I couldn't take my off of them while studying today.

{Day 37/365} Flowers from mum

Tonight I had a spare minute to play around with my new camera, and I took a picture of these flowers from my mum's garden. She gave me the piece on my birthday. 

{Day 36/365} Sunday

Today has been a very lazy Sunday, and I love to bring back memories on days like this. So here's one: the Mr. and I sometimes take care of two dogs and during those days we stay at their owners' house. This house is located just outside of a small town called Harlingen, which is just perfect for us, seen the fact that we like to be near a city but love the country side too. We love to walk the dogs early in the morning, because of the chance to spot an amazing sunrise:

{Day 35/365} Insane birthday gift

As you may know, yesterday was my 26th birthday and my loved ones gave me the BEST gift ever. I won't go writing too much about it, as the picture will say it all:

{Day 34/365} Birthday girl

Today is my 26th birthday! And it has been a lovely day. I spent the entire morning baking a lemon/apricot cake and I loved it. Just like yesterday, I kept thinking.. If I could just bake and cook all day, every day. That would be awesome. Here's my cake, and if you guys would like to have the recipe, I'll write it down sometime soon.

{Day 33/365} Tomato soup with basil

Tomorrow my family is coming over to celebrate my 26th birthday, and some of them will stay/come for dinner. It'll be a busy day tomorrow, so I wanted to make some things in advance, for example this tomato soup with red bell peppers. The recipe is from a blog called Will Cook for Friends. 

For 6 servings you will need: 

- 3-4 TBSP olive oil

- 1,3 kg fresh tomatoes (I used about 8 vine-ripened tomatoes, but you could use heirloom, plum, or any other kind of tomato you like)

- 1 red bell pepper

- 3-4 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped

- 1/2 yellow onion, diced

- 4 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped

- 2 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped

- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

- 1 cup water, as needed

- salt and pepper to taste

- Pinch of sugar, optional (to round out the flavor if your tomatoes aren't sweet enough)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 400f.

2. Halve or quarter your tomatoes and lay the on a rimmed baking sheet, cut-side up. Halve or quarter the bell pepper, remove the seeds, and lay it on the baking sheet as well. Drizzle the tomatoes and pepper liberally with olive oil, and sprinkle with a pinch of salt.

3. Place the tray in the oven and roast for 45-60 minutes, or until the tomatoes smell sweet and the edges have begun to shrivel up, rotating the pan halfway through.

4. In a large pot over medium heat, saute the onion and garlic for 4-5 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of basil and all of the roasted tomatoes, bell pepper, and the juices that have collected in the baking sheet. Stir to combine, then blend smooth with an immersion blender (or, carefully transfer the mixture to a regular blender and place a dish towel over the top to avoid splattering. Pulse a few times, then blend until smooth and return to the pot).

5. Add 1 more tablespoon of basil, 1 tablespoon of the oregano, and the balsamic vinegar. Stir to combine. Add water as needed to thin the soup to desired consistency.

6. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Feel free to add a pinch of sugar, to taste, if the tomatoes aren't sweet enough on their own. Stir in the remaining basil and oregano, and remove from heat. Serve immediately with a drizzle of olive oil, or store in the fridge overnight to let the flavors mingle. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to a week, or frozen indefinitely.

{Day 32/365} Street art

I really like good street art, and I really liked this piece in one of Groningen's city centre streets. 

{Day 31/365} Falling leaves

Today is the first day of October (which means I completed the first month of my project! Hooray!) and to me, that means the real (as if Sept. 21st isn't real) start of autumn. I'm looking forward to see the trees change colors and finding their leaves on the ground. That has started already, see it for yourself: