Style & Beauty Favourites // November 2017

November was....a TON of fun. I spent my 5-year anniversary with my main man in London (anniversary dinners at Duck & Waffle and Clos Maggiore?!), saw Queens of the Stone Age, saw some of my extended family, and of course did quiiiiiite a bit of Christmas shopping on Oxford Street...

Not only that, but Black Friday sales have officially made their way to Belgium, too. I obviously had to partake (if only slightly), and picked up a few tiny goodies for myself.

Embroidered cami: Topshop

Embroidered hoodie: Topshop

Amour slogan t-shirt: Topshop

Baker boy hat: ASOS

Frenchie t-shirt: Daisy Street

Suede bag: Mango

IT Cosmetics CC Cream: Selfridges

Blush: & Other Stories

Instant Detox Mask: Caudalie (mini from the Birchbox pop-up)

I have to say, going shopping in London this time really flipped a switch in my brain - I've been really eager to step out of my comfort zone since returning. It may not seem like it (considering the t-shirts, sweatshirt, and general colour scheme), but I actually have been a bit more daring since returning.

I can't wait to get some good wearing out of my new buys - I'll admit that the sweatshirt has spent more days on my than off since the 17th...

One thing that hasn't changed? My love of being cosy at home - hence the purchase of this little dino dog hottie!

I'm in love. Hobson is jealous. My feet are warm either way - happiness is a warm puppy.

Hope you had a great November - with as much love as mine.

xox,

Suz

Style & Beauty Favourites // October 2017

I feel like everyone says this, but October flew by. I honestly can’t believe it’s November. Not that I mind, per se - this month I get to celebrate my 5-year anniversary with my best guy in one of my favourite cities in the world: London. An added bonus? My brother, parents, aunt and uncle (the very latter of whom I haven’t seen since 2013) will also be in town, and we have some plans. I’m looking forward to dinners and a concert with Peej, shopping with my mom, coffees and walks with my dad in his old city (he lived in LDN for 11 years) and reuniting with family that I don’t get to see often. 

BUT I'm not here to get ahead of myself and truly, October 2017 was incredible. I saw two old friends from Richmond who happened to be in town, proved myself at work, got to work on an amazing photo shoot, watched Belgium beat Cyprus in a World Cup qualifying match, took a rock climbing course, began seriously working out, got into physical therapy for my neck, and (finally) spent the last two weekends shopping, having coffee dates and generally enjoying the company of my boyfriend - something we didn’t get to do much of in the beginning of the month. 

Speaking of shopping…I may have gone a bit overboard this month. But shopping is indeed a passion. PJ helped me pick out a lot of these little bit (good lord I love him) but the rest were all me. Introducing my favourites of October 2017 - I am ready to get cosy. 

Jacket: .Object (similar)

V-Neck Sweater: America Today

Black Sweater: Mango

3/4 Length Shirt: Zara

Embroidered Lace Top: Zara

Kimono: New Look

World Tour Shirt: .Object

Scarf: A New Day (Target)

Jurassic Park Shirt: Target

Fun fact, dresses usually do not agree with this weirdo body type that I have, and it's the worse because there are SO MANY cute dresses out at the moment and I am dying to wear some dark fall florals with my leather jacket and combat boots. So, instead I'll have to work with allllllll of these tops, like that gorgeous lace top from Zara's TRF line - tried it on a whim and bought it 5 minutes later. 

Also, friends are the best, am I right? O said to order whatever I wanted from the States to bring with, because I needed a Target fix and my new scarf is giving me LIFE. I am obsessed. I've worn it every day that it's been cold (and I've even worn it in the office when the AC is a little too high for my liking). Just like I've worn these incredible slippers from New Look

On the beauty side of things, I don't have too much. I've accumulated a lot of things over the past few months from that my favourite vloggers have raved about, but October for me was killing in the self-care side. I discovered the most incredible smelling shower gel - we've already gone through a bottle and every time PJ walks by after a shower I just hug him because he smells so flipping good. Lo and behold:

Barnängen Midsommar Glow Shower & Bath Gel (try the body oil too!)

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye Cream

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Lotion

Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick in Lover

L'Action Wrinkle Reducer Hydrogel Patches

Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick in Pioneer

Though I thoroughly enjoyed October, I'm excited for this month, and ever more excited to celebrate 5 years together with Peej (wearing that embroidered lace top, of course). I'm sure my November favs will include quite a few pieces that I plan on picking up in London (I'm on a mission with my mama for short girl jeans. Belgium is not prepared to deal with ladies under 5'7). 

Hope you enjoyed this first November weekend and that you look forward to the rest of the month as much as I do!

xox,

Suz

Fuerteventura Photo Diary // Day 6

On our last full day of our trip, we ended up taking a catamaran tour in the water off of Morro Jable - basically one of the only times we actually got into the water...

Really enjoyable and easily set up through our resort, we ended up having a lovely time chatting with two English couples who were on board with us - we took the deluxe tour with cava and lunch. PJ especially enjoyed the speedboating we got to do. He became a regular James Bond once he jumped in.











Constantly seeking sunshine. Fuerte is definitely a good place for it.


Saying goodbye to the island. Hopefully we'll be back soon!

xox,

Suz

Fuerteventura Photo Diary // Day 3-5

Some more shots of our trip in Fuerteventura - through the dunes of Corralejo and enjoying some cava at our resort.





Short and sweet - no description needed to let you know how happy I was spending time with my dude.

xox,

Suz

Fuerteventura Photo Diary // Day 2.5

On day 2 of our trip to Fuerte, we happened upon the Mirador Sicasumbre observation point which, obviously, featured Canarian goats on their signage. The views from the top of the hill (thank God for my H&M swimsuit or I would have been soaked in sweat) were incredible. It was honestly like looking at Mars in 100 years, assuming we get there and decide to build roads for our rovers.

A few more pictures in this little photo diary for you, also featuring Betancuria, the old capital. We got swindled into buying some rose aloe gel for my lobster-burned shoulders, but I'm not mad about it. And neither was my skin.

Sunglasses
H&M swimsuit
Mango embroidered shorts (my absolute favourite!)
Vintage leather belt
Target sandals
AEO tank
Suede minibag (old // similar)

Until I can officially visit Mars, the red sands of this planet will have to do.

Hope you enjoyed this little peek!

xox,

Suz

Mood Music Monday // Cherry Hill

Ladies & gents,  I present another tune that's been getting my through my work weeks in between bouts of LWYMMD. Cherry Hill by Russ.

I can't stop listening, but I don't actually mind since it's so mellow. It sets the tone for focus. 

xox,

Suz

Fuerteventura 2017 Photo Diary // Day 2

This little photo diary features day 1 of our 2-day road trip around Fuerte back in June. This is from Ajuy, where we took a visit to the volcanic caves and had a late lunch facing the black sand beaches. I'm posing in the shadows since my shoulders resembled freshly steamed lobster, straight out of the pot. Nothing like looking like a glistening crustacean. 

We found out right before that final picture was taken that PJ had passed his exams for the 1st year of his English Law Master's, so of course we celebrated at Cuevas de Ajuy with some wine, fresh fish, and pan-baked Canarian goat cheese. I was in absolute heaven - even though the waiter had accidentally given our cheese to the girls next to us by accident. If I had been them, I also wouldn't have questioned free cheese. That ish was good. 

Peace, love and goat cheese is all I need in life to be happy (obvs including PJ & Hobson). Hopefully you can eat that cheese someday soon, too. Highly recommended ;)

xox,

Suz

Mood Music Monday // Bouncing Off The Walls

Today's Mood Music Monday is dedicated to the amazing news I got from a friend on Saturday!!! I'm SO happy that I'm bouncing off the walls. This one's for you, B!

xox,

Your S

Mood Music Monday // True Feeling

As much as the artwork for this single is the stuff of my nightmares, I can't get this song out of my head. I only really figured out who Galantis is when my brother went to go see the Swedish DJ duo in London, but the second I heard True Feeling, I was hooked. 

It makes me want to jump around on a dance floor with my friends. Unfortunately, my party opportunities are slim to none these days, but I've listened to it on my 6-minute commute every morning this past week, and it's a tradition I'll happily continue this week, too. 

What's your song of the week?

xox,

Suz

Fuerteventura 2017 Photo Diary // Day 1

Well, a month later and I finally have some pictures from our trip edited and ready to share with you from our week in Fuerteventura, staying at Magic Life. Starting a new job and enjoying Gentsefeesten have kept me busy these last few weeks!

The hotel was in Esquinzo, near Jandia, with beautiful beaches, a great view from our suite and so. much. food. Our first day was all about exploring the hotel, tasting the tapas and walking the beach with glasses of cava in hand (and giggling over what will henceforth be known as nudist castles). Though we only got in the water once (which was also only on our last full day there), walking the sand with my man was just the start we needed for our relaxing week.

I can't wait to share the rest of my photos! Expect some more posts in the near future - one featuring goats!

xox,

Suz

Packing List // Fuerteventura

We are finally, FINALLY heading out on a beach vacation for the first time in like three years - to Fuerteventura! To the SUN! Can you tell how excited I am? Do you see the title of this blog?

We finally booked it after I accepted a new position in Gent, which I'll start on the 3rd of July - the day after we get back. Let's hope I'm not looking like a lobster for the first day on the job. We're staying at an all-in resort hotel, which we've done before and liked, though I'm not sure how much time we'll actually be spending on the hotel grounds. There's so much to do on the island.

This week, with PJ out of town, I've been getting ready for the trip and daydreaming (plus napping) about all the things we're going to do - sunning, surfing, and sampling all the tapas I can get my hands on. Which also means that I'm prepping my packing list with all the summer shopping I've been doing. To be honest, I started shopping before we even booked this trip.

My absolute must haves for the week are shorts and swimsuits, though shorts are my summer staple no matter where we are. Add in a cute straw hat and some sunglasses and you basically have my wardrobe set for the week.

Printed Swimsuit

South Beach Straw Boater Hat with Peach Band (sold out, but I like this one and this one)

Bandeau Bikini Top

Embroidered Denim Shorts

Embroidered Cotton Shirt (I. Am. Obsessed.)

ASOS Beach Shorts in Wispy

This pink embroidered shirt is my everything right now. I didn't even need to try it on, I just knew - and Mango is killer for their tees right now - loving their graphic and slogan tees - I picked this one up a few weeks ago and have gotten so many compliments on it and the pink one above.

The rest of my suitcase will include a few dresses from last year that I just haven't had the occasion to wear, plus lots of greens, whites, neutrals, and all the other swimsuits I can stuff into it. And some sunscreen. Don't forget the sunscreen.

And with that, I'm off to get my nails done. I have a busy Thursday and Friday, with a new team dinner and workshop, then we head to the airport early Saturday. Only three more sleeps til I'm in paradise again with my love. Can't wait!

xox,

Suz

Shots of my city // Gent in June

This past weekend a friend living in Antwerp came to visit me in Gent for the first time. I've had a few foreign visitors in my two years in Belgium and I've circled this city quite a few times now. After she arrived, we went for lunch at Holy Food Market and got a bagel at Avo, then went around to see some of my favourite sights in the city. Here are a few shows from our walking tour around my adopted city.

If you've been to Gent, do you have any secrets that I may not have discovered yet? Let me know!

xox,

Suz

Barcelona Photo Diary // April 2017

Sometimes I forget how unbelievably wonderful my parents are, but then they go and do something like buy me a ticket to Barcelona for my birthday so I can go there with them to visit the city for their first time (and see our friend Jordan (p.s. happy birthday JoRo))!

About two weeks after my 27th I flew over to Barca and crashed with them and Jordan for the next 3.5 days for tapas, shopping and a whole lot of Vitamin D (which was so desperately needed, my mom said I looked like a ghost). 

We stayed in Eixample at the Avenida Palace, which was great for my shopaholic tendencies but horrible for my bank account, next to a bar called Obama, which I can recommend if you want a small place with live music most nights - but beware the pseudo-colonialist interior...

Other new discoveries (this was my first time there for more than one day (2011) /not-for-work (2016):

El Nacional - the interior starts with the greenery that you can see below, and it's sort of a food hall but it is so beautiful inside. And you absolutely have to check out the bathrooms. Trust. 

Cerveseria Catalana - I thought that Tast was the cutest/nicest/smallest place for tapas and was so sold on it being my one & only (we ate there like 6 times in 2016) until Jordan took us to Cerveseria Catalana, which was honestly some of the best food of my entire life. Luckily Jordan, Dad & I decided to split a bottle of cava during dinner to really enjoy it. 

Canarian cheese - So I didn't actually try this in a resto, but Jordan invited me to his place then out with his roommates, who were some of the nicest people ever. One of his roommates happened to be from the Canaries, and we had some nice jokes about both being from Africa ;) but then he brought out some Canarian cheese to pair with the wine of the night and omg, our trip to Fuerteventura might have been influenced by this. Thank you boys. From the bottom of my heart. 

Check out some more shots below - I'm not sharing so many since I took about 300 shots with my new Olympus Mark II.

With my new Veja shoes

If you have any other recs for when I finally convince PJ to visit Barcelona with me, please let me know! We're especially suckers for great fuet sandwiches, Barcelona FC & ice cream.

xox,

Suz