#Eurotrip - Holland Recap

Today is all about Holland aka The Netherlands. The Netherlands are unique to Continental Europe in that they are much more similar to their northern friends, the Scandinavians and English. They are unbelievably friendly, kind and tall. For once Dan didn't stick out like such a giant!

We were really able to travel all over the place since we had a car. It definitely made road triping much easier and allowed us to really experience four very different places. We were captivated by the adorable Uni town of Maastricht, endeared to the quiet fishing town of Hindeloopen, excited by the fun and vibrant city of Amsterdam, and educated by the shipping town of Schiedam.

The perfect canal shot of Amsterdam. Follow me on Instgram for more shots.

Maastricht
Our first stop on the trip through Holland, was Maastricht. A university town, Maastricht was vibrant and bustling while never feeling too big. We arrived in the evening to our hotel and after a brief run in with the police (we had accidentally parked in a spot reserved only for Doctors while checking in), we were off to experience the city.

What first surprised us was just how late everyone was out. We did not sit down to dinner before 10pm and this seemed pretty commonplace. We were able to snag a table at a cafe on the square where a dress rehearsal of Andre Rieu's concert was underway, so we even got a show with dinner.

For those of you who don't know Andre Rieu, he is a very accomplished composer and musician. I only knew of him that night because Sasha Cohen had skated to his piece Dark Eyes during the Olympics a few years back. I had been so taken by the piece that I downloaded it to my iPod. After our lovely dinner and show, we were off to bed as it was already midnight.

The next day we explored a different square of town, the one right off our hotel, where the weekly market was underway. This is where Maastricht still held onto its small city roots. The market was vibrant and bustling with beautiful fresh flowers, yummy cheeses and fragrant fruits all displayed for purchase. There were also some stands selling Oranje gear in preparation for the big match; Dan was definitely tempted to grab something.

After our breakfast on the square we took a drive out to the local tunnels that served as a rock quarry for hundreds of years. It also served a hideout/refuge for the town during multiple wars including the invasions of Napoleon. In addition to being a safe house, it was also a type of art gallery. On Sundays, locals used to tour the mines to take in the beautiful carvings and drawings on the wall made but local artisans and stone cutters. The tunnels also served as a smuggling route during WWII to get supplies between Holland and Belgium. During the tour you were even able to spot carved names from US soldiers who were there during WWII.

Dan was one of three tour guests responsible for lighting our way.

What a typical tunnel drawing was like.

Hindeloopen
Hindeloopen was our second stop on our tour of Holland and was what perhaps most people imagine when they think of a quintessential Dutch town. Located right on a dyked lake, the town had tiny canals weaving through the streets and the tinest little bridges to traverse. We stayed at a lovely Bed and Breakfast right in town and arrived just in time for a dinner on the harbor and for the France/Germany World Cup Match. 

Hindeloopen during twilight.

We dined at a lovely outdoor restaurant right in the harbor and were able to simultaneously watch the match since the bar next door had a tv in its outdoor seating area. Even in this small town, the residents were alive with excitement for the World Cup, and their team wasn't evening playing until the following evening.

After dinner and a devastating French loss, we toured the village and the dykes during sunset. Sunset, which was well after 10pm, gave us ample time to explore in the twilight. Then the following morning, we rented bikes from our sweet proprietress and headed on a tour the way the Dutch do it. We biked to a nearby village, traveling on a bike route among farms, horses and windmills. What is amazing is that their bike paths did not skirt the main road but instead cut their own path through farms. The bike tour, while difficult with a full leg brace for my knee, was beautiful and exactly what you expect when you think of rural Holland.

Dan and I at sunset overlooking the dyke.

At the end of our tour, we stopped at IJsselmeer, the lake formed by the dykes. Now freshwater, this lake is very shallow and serves as a sporting hotbed for wind surfers and parasailers alike. We stopped to take a look at all the locals soaring through the sky and decided to take a dip ourselves. For those wind surfers and parasailers out there, you could not do better than IJsselmeer. The winds are strong and the lake is not deep.

Amsterdam
After Hindeloopen we were off to Amsterdam for a few days. When people think of traveling to the Netherlands, they always have Amsterdam on their itinerary and there is good reason why. This was hands down one of the most fun cities I have ever been to. Now this may be because we arrived the night of the Netherlands vs Costa Rica match, but either way it was hands down a great time. The only caution I would make is to ditch the rental car. It is terrifying to drive in Amsterdam. With the bikers flying through intersections without pause and pedestrians everywhere, just sitting in the passenger seat had me scared.

The bike. The only way to travel in Amsterdam.

We rented apartments in Amsterdam through a local rental company, so we really got to experience how the locals lived. We weren't on any touristy road, but instead along the canals in these adorable walk ups where the stairs were steep and getting suitcases hauled upstairs was difficult but worth it. The views from these top floor apartments were adorable and the breeze wasn't half bad either.

After we got settled in, we started a tour around the city. Our first thought was to stop at the Anne Frank House, but the line was insane. If you are planning a trip, book your tour slot a few weeks in advance, otherwise be prepared to wait in line. Since we didn't want to wait and thought we would instead arrive early the following morning, we headed down to the Van Gogh Museum near the Rijksmuseum. While a very interesting stop, a lot of his most famous works are scattered across the globe, so there is no Starry Night here

After the museum we went in search of a brown bar, which is a local bar that is dark inside, had lots of beer on tap and is often family owned. Think old man bar. We found an adorable brown bar where we drank fantastic half brown ale and lemon genever. The proprietor was 11th generation owner of the establishment and filled us all in on the history of genever, the predecessor to gin.

After a beer we grabbed dinner and then went in search of a location to watch the game. Dan and I both had our Oranje jerseys on and we we ready for a great game. For the first half, we joined the locals by grabbing beers and standing outside on the sidewalk to watch the game. All the local bars had set up TVs and chairs outside to create stadium seating viewing areas. Then during halftime we hopped bars again and found a table upstairs, where we could watch the game and order a mini keg to share.

Dan and I ready for the big game!

For those that don't know the Dutch won the game in a shootout over Costa Rica. And when I tell you the city erupted, it erupted. Dan, Dominique and I went out for some celebrations with the locals and we found ourselves bar hopping along the route back to our apartment. It was hands down the most fun I have had celebrating a sporting win ever in my life, and I've partied post World Series and Superbowl wins, but nothing was like this. We quietly rolled into our loft apartment a little after 3am, and I'll admit the following morning was a tad rough.

What a street viewing party looks like.

Our second day in Amsterdam, after we had all recovered a bit, included a tour of Anne Frank's House, which we still had to wait in line for, more brown bars, dinner in the old First Class lounge of the train station, and a tour of Bols, which is a liquor company that makes genever. I have to say the Anne Frank House is on everyone's to do list of Amsterdam and I understand why. The museum is very well done and the exhibit itself is very moving. I'll admit the space is bigger than I thought, but to be trapped inside for 2 years seems overwhelming. It also inspired me to add The Diary of Anne Frank to my reading list, as I never read it as a child.

Schiedam
And finally our last stop of the tour of Holland, was Schiedam. Once larger than Rotterdam, this shipping town is home to the Kettle One Distillery. Family friends set up a tour for us and I have to say it was fascinating. The factory is state of the art. With half their production on one side of the canal and the rest on the other, Kettle One built a tunnel under the canal to transport bottles from filling and packaging to storage and shipping. The automation of it all was fascinating to me as an engineer. We also got to tour the more historical part of the building including a stop to the original kettle, marked with a 1 on it. It is still in production today and where the company gets its name. Kettle One is a family run business and has always been and it was really special to see that multiple generations of the family are there day in and out.

The Kettle that started it all. Still in use today.

After our tour and lovely lunch, we left Kettle One and were headed back to Belgium. Stay tuned for my tips and tricks for visiting the Netherlands and recaps and tips for both Belgium and Scotland.

Dan and I at the windmill along our bike ride in Hindeloopen.

#Eurotrip - France Tips & Tricks

The Charollais Beef Cow.

Today I want to share some tips and tricks I have learned for travel to France. I've been traveling to France almost every two years since I was six months old to visit family and friends, and I think I have learned a few things to make a trip to France fantastic! So without further ado, my Top Tips for France.

1. Every region of France has its own character, landscape and way of life.
I can proudly say that I have traveled to almost every corner of France over my life and I have to admit, each region is drastically different from the other. If you are looking for some Spanish influence than one should travel to the Southwest corner and travel the Pyrenees. If you are looking for glamour, sun and topless beaches, the Southeast of France is up your alley. For the wine enthusiasts, central France is key with all its different regions each named after the type of wine made there. If you want a more English influenced region, than Normandy and the Northwest is your choice with lots of history between France and England woven together in a tapestry of stories. If you want to experience the cultural mix of France, Belgium, Holland and Germany, then head to the Northeast. And then of course their is Paris, its totally own world in its own right. Paris is romantic, beautiful and cosmopolitan, but like most cities is not necessarily the true image of its country.

2. Picnic for lunch.
One thing that has remained a constant during our summers in France is that the French are great at a picnic. When you are traveling around the country during the day, sightseeing, wine tasting and soaking up the culture, it can be difficult to stop for lunch. This is also compounded by the fact that small towns close up shop for lunch. So instead of searching for an open cafe, hit the town in the morning to grab bread, cheese, pate, jambon, butter and rillettes. Throw a bottle of rose and sparkling water in the bag and make sure to travel with a picnic blanket. There are picnic tables and roadside parks all over France for this reason. Also if you are on the road at lunchtime, you are likely to see cars pulled over all over the roads. They are just having a little picnic. Join in on the fun.

Dom, Dad and I.

3. Chateaus and Churches are worth the stop.
In France, most major landmarks in town are churches and chateaus. Most are open for business throughout the day and almost all have great information panels and/or tourism guides in multiple languages for your information. In France, like much of Europe, their history is shown through their medieval cities and landmarks and most of what is left standing are churches and chateaus. They were marked landmarks by the allies in World War II and efforts were made to avoid damaging them when possible.

4. Wine is like Water.
You are in the land of wine and should take every advantage of it. There are so many options to choose from and you should really branch out and try wines you may have never tried before. The French drink wine with every meal and that's OK. Enjoy a glass or two and savor the moment.

Mom, me and Neeks at Cluny.

5. Cheese Cheese Cheese.
Like wine, the French have excellent cheeses. From the really stinky and smelly to the mild, you can find the right cheese for your tastes. Bread and cheese is one of my favorite snacks, so you can guess why France is heaven on earth for me. Resting on the balcony after a day of sightseeing with a cheese plate and bottle of wine is wonderful.

6. Experiment.
The French are the forefathers of classical cuisine but some of their most classic dishes can be intimidating to Americans. While on vacation, I always believe it is necessary to try exotic dishes you may not see at home. While I may have grown up with a lot of these dishes, to most Americans they are foreign and scary. But trust me, the French know food. Try escargot (snails) or frogs legs or pate or foie gras (goose liver). Try sweetbreads, the stinkiest cheese on the platter, and that pastry.

Dan and I at Cluny.

7. Go to Market Day.
Small town life centers around market day. If you have the chance to be in the area when a Market Day is held, jump on it. Its amazing and the selection is unparalleled to any store. You can get all the fresh produce you need, a roast chicken with roast potatoes, fresh cheeses, meat and/or fish for dinner, and even a tablecloth, dress or new knife. It is also a unique situation to see how the older French generations get their shopping done.

8.  Savor the sunsets.
The sun sets late in France. Much later than most of the US. It is a unique experience to be sitting on the terrace with a glass of wine at ten with dusk beginning.

The Aqueducts. 

9. Meals are social events.
Like most of Europe, meals are slower than they are in the US. You take the time to socialize while you eat and courses are served over a longer course of time. Enjoy it, drink an extra glass of wine, have that extra piece of cheese.

10. Always try in French first.
Most people in France can speak a little English, but they appreciate it to no end if you at least try to say it in French first. They will quickly realize that you are over your head and try to help with what may be broken English of their own. Just try and memorize some basic phrases. The effort will truly serve you well.

SCBS Monthly Link Up: Print Mixing

SoCal Blogger Society's Monthly Link Up is back for July with the theme Print Mixing. I am a big fan of mixing both colors and prints in my wardrobe, so this is right up my alley.

I have a lot of stripes and gingham in my closet like any good prep. I also find that most of my closet is comprised of navy and pink, so mixing prints becomes much easier when you focus on one or two colors. I usually base it in blues and add touches of other colors like pinks and greens to add some personality.

These are two really easy looks to put together. They all have a navy and white base, and from there I add complimentary colors like pale pinks, greens, bright pinks and blues. Do you like to mix prints? How do you build your outfits?

Print Mixing by preppy-lizzy featuring satchel style handbags

Zipper shirt / J Crew gingham dress shirt / Talbots preppy skirt / Gap striped shorts / Kate Spade pink high heel sandals / Tory burch espadrille / Rebecca Minkoff satchel style handbag / Ray-Ban matte sunglasses / Scarve / Tube scarve / Straw fedora / Lens glasses

 

#Eurotrip - France Recap

The perfect panorama of the French countryside.

It's officially time for the #Eurotrip recap. I have a number of posts planned to recap the different aspects of our trip. We hit multiple countries over 3 weeks: France, Holland, Belgium and Scotland (with a flight in and out of Switzerland) and I want to give each country its justice. I am going to start with a 2 part recap on France, followed by a 2 part recap for Holland, then a 2 part recap on Belgium and a final 3 part recap on Scotland.



Dan ran out every morning to pick up bread and croissants. A man and his flute.

We joined my parents and sister in France after a very frustrating flight out that took an extra 24 hours due to some poor timing by United, but after an unexpected 24 hour stop off in DC, we finally made it to Geneva. My dad was super sweet and came back to pick us up from the Airport since my grandmother's apartment is only a few hour drive from the airport.

We returned to our favorite town, Charolles, where my grandfather was born and raised and where my grandmother has had an apartment for years. While its only a one bedroom, the place is big and has a pull out couch and aerobed for the living room, where Dominique, Dan and I slept.

The view of the church plaza from our balcony.

We had 4 full days in town to see friends and family and experience small town life. One afternoon we drove to the Swiss-French border to see our family friends Nenesse and Elsie (who are like surrogate grandparents to my sister and I). Another day we had lunch at the cafe that was once owned by my great-grandparents and where my grandfather was born.

Nenesse and I. Always my buddy since I was a little kid.

We also traveled to some famous local sites and found a vineyard that shared the same family name as my great-grandmother. Another day we went to the town market, had drinks with great friends and and a 5-star dinner at the local hotel and restaurant, Doucet. In between we visited with family and friends and relaxed on the terrace overlooking the church plaza drinking wine and eating cheese.

A local chateau and private residence!

Chateau de Cormatin

Cluny Abbey

Drinks and snacks with the Boti. Helene and Laurant showed off their beautiful farm house that they are converting.

The Cheese Chariot at Doucet. To die for!

Dominique, Dan and I at Doucet

Finally, after four wonderful days in central France, we all piled in the car and headed north for Holland and Belgium. Along the way we made an impromptu stop in Metz to see the Cathedral, which was by far one of the most impressive churches I have ever seen in my life. The tallest I've ever been in by far.

The Cathedral in Metz

The impressive interior of the Cathedral.

To truly experience France you need to see more than just Paris or the French Riviera. France is the small towns across the countryside, the weekly markets, the church steeples on the horizon. Tune in tomorrow for my Top 10 Travel Tips for France.

Top 10 Playlist - July Edition

July Top 10 by preppy-lizzy on Polyvore

This month's playlist is a little all over the place but all songs I have been rocking to in the car. A little country, a little rock and roll, a little R&B. Do you ever just have a mix of songs that you find yourself rocking out to even though they don't have any business together in a playlist?

What Makes You Beautiful + A Giveaway

This post is sponsored through Brandbacker. Headbands & Bagels did not receive any compensation for this post, only the ability to share the giveaway with readers. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Headbands & Bagels possible.

Up All Night

I can't lie, I am a One Direction fan. I feel more vindicaed in my liking of the band since Sir Paul McCartney has come out in support of the group and their talents. The music is fun to sing and dance along with and they bandmates are so endearing. They have won their fans over with their catchy music and now they are now partnering to release limited edition makeup kits inspired by their songs.

Take Me Home

There are three different makeup tins in the collection, each name after one of the band's songs. Released by the same company that produces Physican's Formula and Wet n Wild brands, the collections are to be priced affordably and include an eyeshadow pallet, lipstick, lipgloss, nail polish, blush, mascara and eye pencil.

The collections will be available in the US starting at Macy's on August 11th with a wider US release on August 25th. International availability date is still not known.

Midnight Memories

The Midnight Memories kit is focused on bright reds and slate grays. The Take Me Home kit is focused around nudes and gold tones. The Up All Night kit features blues and pinks. While I think each has great colors I could use, I think I am most drawn to the Midnight Memories kit to create dramatic looks for nights out with the hubby or the girls.

I am excited to share that Headbands & Bagels readers have a chance to win one of 50 kits before they go on sale to the general public. Winners will be given the opportunity to pick a kit of their choice. The contest is open only to US & Canada. Winners will be picked at random and notified on August 5th. See official rules for all restrictions. 

Your New Beach Buddy + A Giveaway

This post is sponsored by SandCloud. While SandCloud provided a product for review, all thoughts and opinions of the product are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Headbands & Bagels possible.

via Sand Cloud

Today I am really excited to bring you new product line out of San Diego called Sand Cloud. Sand Cloud is a lightweight Turkish cotton towel with a removable pillow insert. Perfect for the beach, park, pool, back patio, or outdoor movie, Sand Cloud's towels are easy to clean, lightweight and really comfortable.

I used to be the person that would wrap a pillow into a pillowcase for the beach, but now I just need to grab my Sand Cloud. While it may be a little too lightweight for hot sand, I find that I layer a sheet under it like I did already with my towels, it is a great piece to have with you just in case. I love to keep mine in my car so I can grab it for any purpose.

A typical beach set up: Towel c/o Sand Cloud, J.Crew Bathing Suit, Tanning Oil, Water Cooler Bottle

Sand Cloud was started by three friends looking to add comfort and convince to their days at the beach. They were recently featured on the national radio program, Big Biz, as well as on the local news station in San Diego. On Monday, they officially launched their first Kickstarter campaign to raise capital for their business and as of Thursday morning had already raised $2000.

I am so excited to rock out at the beach with my new Sand Cloud towel this weekend and I am even more excited that Sand Cloud is offering my readers the chance to win one too! In conjunction with Sand Cloud, Headbands & Bagels readers have the chance to win this green striped Sand Cloud towel. Just enter with the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Each task you complete gets you another entry! Another way to enter is on the Headbands & Bagels Facebook page. The giveaway is open until next Sunday. Good luck.

Ready for the beach. Sand Cloud Towels c/o; Forever 21 beach bag; Water Cooler Bottle

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beacon Collection

This post is sponsored in conjunction with Warby Parker. Headbands & Bagels did not receive any compensation for this post, we are just big fans of the brand. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Headbands & Bagels possible.

via Warby Parker

Today I am really excited to share the announcement of a new limited edition collection from Warby Parker releasing today called the Beacon. The collection has four new styles in both sunglass and eyeglass styles.

I am a big fan of Warby Parker already. My favorite glasses are from them and I am hoping to get some cute sunglasses to add to my collection. They have two ways to figure out what the perfect pair for you is when you don't live close to one of their stores. They can send you up to 5 pairs for an at home trial or you can upload a picture of yourself to try pairs on virtually.

via Warby Parker

If you are lucky enough to live by a store, run don't walk. The stores are beautiful and the service is bar none. They will even adjust the sides of your glasses for the perfect fit around your ear.

Warby Parker's glasses are priced lower than most other prescription glass companies but the quality is excellent. And what may be the best of all is that they give a pair to someone in need for each pair purchased. Like Toms for your eyes.

With the new Beacon collection I have my eye on these Ingram sunglasses in tiger tortoise. Which are your favorites from the collection.

The Ingram via Warby Parker

The Garrett via Warby Parker

The McKee via Warby Parker

The Nancy via Warby Parker

Beach Wedding Perfection

This past weekend Dan and I had the pleasure of attending the wedding of my cousin, Melissa to her new husband, Ryan. The wedding was on Westhampton Beach on a Friday night at sunset and could not have been more beautiful. They got married on the beach with the entire wedding party barefoot and rocking sunglasses and then we danced the night away in a beautiful room that looked out to the beach.

It was nice to have a great family wedding with lots of smiles, dancing and fun. Its been a while since we were all together and it was great to spend some quality time together. After a long night of dancing and wonderful food, we all retired to the beach for a bonfire and cigars.

I wore this J.Crew special occasions dress for the wedding. I often try to take advantage of J.Crew sales for a great bridesmaid dress steal. Their dresses are great because they don't look like bridesmaid dresses and can easily be worn as a wedding guest. I have this same dress in a green color and had to pounce on the gray.

Tuesday #Shoesday Kitten Heels

Tuesday #Shoesday by preppy-lizzy featuring suede shoes

Loeffler Randall suede shoes / J.Crew shoes / Jigsaw special occasion shoes / French Connection patent leather pumps

This week's #Shoesday is all about the kitten heel. I love a good 3 inch heel, but kitten heels are so much more practical for work. Some of my favorite kitten heels are from Ivanka Trump, Kate Spade and Sole Society. They are ladylike while still allowing me to be on my feet, running around all day.

Good to Be Back

It really feels just great to be back home. I was dead getting off the flight yesterday and after watching a movie on the couch, promptly fell asleep, only to wake up 11 hours later. Being back at work is great but a challenge to get my mind off vacation mode after 3 weeks. As I am currently getting photos processed and ready, I promise that I have a bunch of vacation posts coming your way and that I will be back to regular posts tomorrow! Thanks to all the amazing ladies who blogged for me while I was away! I hope you all enjoyed what they had to say and maybe found a new daily read!

Hi Y'All

My friend Leeann turned me onto this adorable company based in the South (Mississippi) called Hi Y'All. They specialize in these adorable pillows and I have to say I am totally smitten with the Greek Life line. These would be particularly adorable in a sorority house or suite or on your dorm room bed. I even want a Chi Omega one for my own house!

The pillows use burlap coffee bags up cycled as backs to the pillows so no two are alike.  They also have artwork and apparel as well!

American Flag Mixed Media Artwork

Chi Omega Pillow

Kappa Kappa Gamma Pillow

Mississippi Cities Pillow