InstaFebruary

February flew by! It’s such a short month, you know?! It started off with the Super Bowl and ended with my birthday, which means it started and ended with pizza and cupcakes. It wasn’t the healthiest month for me, because after the Superbowl was done and we ate all the leftovers, I got injured on my ankle and then I got sick, which basically meant that I didn’t run too much this month and my body is not in the nicest shape! March is going to be different though, and I’ll share with you why in the post I’m going to write tomorrow, so stay tuned! 😉

1. Santa Barbara boardwalk
2. Sometimes we have rain in California (believe it or not!)
3. My favorite book
4. This little guy was following me at school

5. Célfie on my birthday
6. Feeling like Marissa Cooper in Manhattan Beach
7. Watching the Manhattan Beach sunset
8. Flowers and leopard look fabulous together

9. Heart pastry & Valentine’s Day crafts with the baby
10. Heart shaped pizza & flowers are my favorite
11. Slaiden likes chasing the birds

1. Redondo Beach Super Bowl 10k
2. Super Bowl SeaHawks party
3. Hermosa Beach Pier scares the baby

4. Hermosa Beach looks like the desert
5. Reflections of the Hermosa Beach Pier fill the sand
6. View from the Santa Barbara Pier

7. Santa Barbara boats
8. El Camino College
9. Seeing the world upside down on the Hermosa Beach Pier

10 miles: A new milestone

 

Wake up with determination. Go to bed with satisfaction.

As you guys know, I’m following this running schedule that I set up a couple of weeks ago. In December and January I did a great job on following this schedule, but for the last 3 weeks I was first injured and than sick, so I really couldn’t run. Last Monday I started working out again and let me tell you, it was so hard to even just run 3 miles. I felt so out of shape!

I kept going through with the schedule though and in the weekend I ran so much. On Saturday I ran 8 miles and on Sunday I ran 10 miles! It was the first time I ran that far! For my Belgian followers, this is 16 km! I ran it in 1:24:50, which is a pretty good time I think. I want to run the half marathon I’m training for in 1:50:00. I think that’s going to be pretty hard for me still, but I have 11 more weeks to train for that. I’m just telling you guys this, not to make you feel bad about yourself or to make it look like I’m perfect in what I’m doing. No, I’m telling you guys this because I’m a human, just like everyone else, who loves cupcakes and pizza and who actually has a hard time to stay in shape and to be healthy. Yet, even though it’s hard, I went through with it, and I’m motivated to keep on running the extra mile, until I’m fully satisfied.

Sunsets & Friends

I’ve said it many times already, but this place is heaven on earth. California has the most gorgeous sunsets and driving off to the beach to watch the sunset after a busy day is just one of those things that give your day a perfect ending. For some of you, it might not always be possible to go to the beach, but if you have the chance to go and it’s not too far away, I highly recommend you to just stop making excuses and to just go for it! 

Review: Little Fun Club Subscription Box

#OOTD: Feeling like Marissa Cooper

A little while ago, I went to the beach for a little shoot with some friends! We went on a day trip and this was my outfit. I was wearing beige pants, my grey Off Duty sweater, leopard printed shoes and a faux fur jacket. I really liked the combo of all the basic colors, combined with my printed shoes. I would say it was a comfy and sporty outfit that I gave a chic touch by adding the faux fur jacket to it.

I loved shooting around these lifeguard huts. The color made me realize that I’m living my dream here in California. I remember being 14 years old and going to the electronic store with all the money I saved from babysitting. I bought the The OC dvd box and when I came home, I watched the whole first season without taking a break. It was after midnight when I was done watching, but I knew that someday I wanted to live in California and go to the beach where Marissa Cooper always went to and I wanted to meet a guy like Ryan Atwood. I haven’t met my Ryan yet (Should I ask Tinder for some help with this?!), but I surely did go to this beautiful beach many times already.

Now, almost 9 years later, I’m living here, and the dream I had as a little teenage girl came true.

Cake Lover

After all the latest travel posts, I decided that it was time to share some more pictures of people/kids. Kids are always my favorite photography subject. They are cute, spontaneous and they often really like being in pictures. I took all these pictures on Slaiden’s first birthday party. I personally love the pictures of the babies eating cake and the pictures of Slaiden with his cousins Ashley and Logan. They are super cute and sweet kids and they love their baby cousin!

The streets of Santa Barbara

When I’m traveling to a new city, my favorite way to explore is to either drive or walk around in the city. Tours and touristic attractions can be so much fun, but they often don’t give you the opportunity to be creative as a photographer. Most of the time, I’m not really interested in photographing the touristic attractions. I mean, when you’re in Paris, you need that picture of you standing in front of the Eiffel Tower and when you’re in New York City, you obviously need a picture of you standing on Times Square. I’m like that! I want a picture of myself standing in front of something that makes people know in which city you are.

Santa Barbara Pier

Last Saturday, I went to Santa Barbara with a bunch of friends. To get there we had to drive for a little over 1,5 hour, but it was certainly worth the drive! While walking on the pier, an older Canadian couple asked us where we were from. They heart us talking to each other, each in our unique American accent. When we told them that we were from Belgium, Spain, France, Germany, Syria and several places in the US, they were like: “Hey guys, can we just hang out with you?”.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I like Valentine’s day! A lot of people are so negative about it and don’t want to participate on all of the craziness and festivities that are going on on this day. I think that you should love everyday and that you should make your loved one feel loved all the time. I do like the fact that people do that little extra effort on Valentine’s day. Maybe I’m just one of those romantic souls, but I can’t help it. I love everything about it.

I don’t have a Valentine this year, but that doesn’t make me sad. I have lots of people in my life that I love and that I’m thankful for. I’m just gonna make the best of this day and I might go buy some flowers for myself! 😉

Insta January

January flew by! I can’t believe how time is flying lately. I’ve been pretty busy, but this first month of 2014 was a really good month for me.

I got to spend the first week of January with my friends and family in Belgium. The second week I flew back to LA and ever since I’ve been busy 24/7. I’m being an au pair during the day, a student at night and a tourist during the weekend. I love it though!