Halloween clothing
I’m not talking about crazy costumes and wigs. I’m feeling more the “tourist in a supernatural world” type vibe. I found that perfectly in this shirt from Gina Beana Design Co. I spent a lot of time looking for a good Hocus Pocus shirt too but I didn’t find one that was perfect. Maybe next year!

A shift in color
I’ve been obsessed with retro shades for a few months now. I’m talking all about those colors that are a throwback to the 70s and 80s. Now that Autumn is upon us, I’ve been seeing these colors readily available. Since I already updated my wardrobe this past spring with my favorite hoodie, I don’t need to buy anything else. But this doesn’t mean I can’t go window shopping! Another Autumn theme that I enjoy is the harvest season. You can bet that Sander and I will be heading back down to the apple orchards for fresh pickings!

Cosy outfits
Oh boy, I’ve been waiting for ages to bundle up! I love the casual off duty model look that mixes both comfort and style. My favorite go to is a hoodie and a jean jacket with a pair of boots. The outfit makes perfect sense for a dog walk. Warm, casual, and not too over the top. The best thing about layers is that they can be worn effortlessly and I don’t look too lazy!

Nostalgic movies
Ah, Halloween is right around the corner. I already have my movie playlist ready to go! What I like to do is have the TV on while I work. The house sounds fuller and the dogs don’t hear outside noises to bark at. Since there are no Halloween movie marathons here, I like to load up several films and play them back to back. Best think about is that I don’t have to watch commercials!

Spending time with family
My brother and mom came to visit us for the first time. They had never seen our house before. My life in The Netherlands has been an experience only I have seen. My Dutch family and American family are two seperate pieces. It was strange to see my mom and brother sitting on my couch and sharing meals with us but it felt so good! Thanksgiving is almost coming up in a few months so I’ll have to think about how to make this year run smoothly. We had a lost of issues last year but I won’t let that happen again!

The post 5 Autumn themes I’m excited for appeared first on A Daily Lee.

I decided now would be a good time to look at old photos I took from my first year in The Netherlands. It was time when The Netherlands was fresh and new. The language was nothing but gibberish to me. It was also a time of freedom. It was the first time I was out on my own (well I was with Sander) and away from my family.

Of course we did our share of sightseeing in my first few weeks. We did so many touristy things that have stayed with me to this day. Like visiting the beach on a terrible day. It was the middle of August but the weather was my first taste of what it means to live in The Netherlands. It’s unpredictable but the Dutch won’t let that mess up their plans!

I also got my first taste of WWII monuments. Madurodam was the first of many war memorials that are scattered around the Netherlands. I also got to experience May 4th which is Remembrance of the Dead day. WWII changed so many lives in The Netherlands and they ensure that the younger generations don’t forget. We had 2 minutes of solid silence. All stores close and people in cars pull over to the side of the road. The radio is dead silence as we remember the dead.

We also make the trek down to the Efteling. There are dozen of Dutch fairy tales that I was unaware of. I’d like to get a book on them someday. I also want to read Anne Frank’s diary in it’s original Dutch format. I’ll bet you didn’t know it’s called Het Achterhuis.

I’ve learned so much about The Netherlands since I moved here. It’s been a wonderful and difficult journey. Moving to a new country has been an eye opening experience to how the world outside of America is. I’ve loved so many moments and struggled through others. The wonderful thing about living is that we can live in the present. The past is behind us and we can learn from it. The future is something wonderful to look forward to and I know I do. It’s only been a few years since I’ve moved to The Netherlands but there’s so much more to learn and that excites and terrifies me. But here’s to the future! May it come and burn brightly!

The post Some old photos appeared first on A Daily Lee.