Unemployed on Wednesday - Reading

Back when I was in school, I had a lot of reading to do in a little time, and obviously, you'll appreciate your literature intelectually, but won't adore it all. So some of the reading felt like a chore, and some of it I truly enjoyed. Then came the resting period after school and I started missing my scheduled reads. Then came my first job, and you see where this is going, right?

After realising that this is probably the most of the free time I'll ever have, I'm back to the stuff I either missed or would like to get back to again - to write down some favourite quotes, to dream away, and to reach that sweet feeling you get by focusing on something effortlessly, for pure pleasure.

One of my childhood favorites by Erich Kästner, I think the English title is Lisa and Lottie. All those movies on twins and twin swaps were based on this novel. 
I love the retro feel this illustration exudes (this copy was published in 1969).
P.S. You can take the pledge, too. 

Inspiration for Your Tuesday - Love!

Why not jump on this pre-Valentine's Day bandwagon?
I'm back to song lyrics with this week's inspiration. It's an '80s hit by Terence Trent D'Arby, but my favorite is the recent Sheryl Crow cover.

Barefoot in the Park

Today you get the 1967 flick starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, in roles that are totally unthinkable for the two of them, at least to me. But, they live in a New York brownstone, and to me, it's the epitome of fun (think Cosby Show, Sex and the City, You've Got Mail) :)
So here's Jane Fonda in 1967...

and a better look at her dress (I love how they used reds, browns and mustards!)

and the almost identical outfit I assembled for today

Happy World Nutella Day!

I learned about this day almost a year ago, and was really sad I missed it. And as I am as freaky about important dates as I am about language, I have been waiting for it ever since.
And even made up a little photo sesh to acknowledge it :)

I won't talk too much so as to let the real star shine. Nutella on homemade bread.

And a bite.

And a Mr. Knife close-up. I'm a sucker for sales promotion. It can be useful when your Nutella is kept in a warm spot to achieve maximum creaminess. Otherwise, it's just a prop :)

What surprised me recently, was that I didn't like the homemade version. I'm always up for the homemade stuff, but I wasn't sold on it. I loved the fact that I only put three ingredients into it (hazelnuts, cocoa powder and powdered sugar), put the taste wasn't all that. It was good, but let's call it hazelnut sauce, just not Nutella.
Have a nice Nutella day!

Random Friday - My Volkswagen Transporter

One of my most prized possessions is this Volkswagen van, and until a while ago I didn't know it had so many names - splitty, T2, Transporter, probably showing how well-loved they were (and still are).
While I love the sense of security and stability, what I don't like is routine. And as my imagination is currently the only outlet for my wishes, once in a while I'll daydream about actually owning one of these in real life size, packing up all my other prized possessions and taking a hike. (That, and because I've seen one too many hippie movies, where they're covered in peace signs and flowers of very bold colours - I'm essentially a flower child :)
Until I've written the extended version of this daydream, or a new chapter of my life, here it is.

Kooky Thursday - Minestrone Soup

I fell in love with Minestrone years ago when I was in Italy, and forgot about it in the meantime. And then my boyfriend mentioned it a while ago. We tried our hands at it and we loved it. Of course you'll prefer the homemade version to the restaurant one :)
I followed this recipe loosely, adding my own faves or substituting some of the mentioned ones. I'd still like to try to make it without potato, though, because a) it will be more clear and less thick and b) it could be kept in the fridge longer.
Here are most of the ingredients. The man does all the fine chopping :)

Honestly, when would you consume this amount of health in a day?
And here it is all done, blended and with some fresh parsley. I admitted to having a problem here, remember?

 

Bon Appétit!

Unemployed on Wednesday - Surprise

The other day when my guests arrived, I received an orange peel dark chocolate (chocolate and paper goodies are always a favorite if you're me), and, God knows why, left it on my pillow. Which is not where I usually store stuff.

 So imagine my surprise when I went to bed that night. And I thought, why wouldn't you have some chocs on hand? Wake up to something sweet, to give you a kick-start, a dulcet beginning to your day?

 But the point: surprise yourself (or if you're that nice, surprise someone else). Have something unexpected start your day. Something you will see from another point of view, in a totally new light. So chocolate isn't some superhero top secret, but it might feel like an in-joke to put a smile on your face.

Inspiration for Your Tuesday - William Blake

Today's inspiration is meant for you to overcome your alleged obstacles, without stopping, without fear. William Blake was a Romantic poet, but also a painter, illustrator and engraver, despite the lack of understanding of his contemporaries. So find your doors and go through them.