To become a swan you must first be an ugly ducklin To become a swan you must first be an ugly duckling 🐣

Say hello to my little friend 👋 We met at "Cycling Through the Water" in Belgium. He was mostly interested in the contents of my back pack and willingly posed for a few pictures, hoping I would share my snacks. Unfortunately for him, this girl does not share snacks! Once he realised he wasn't going to get anything, he dumped me for another tourist 🤷‍♀️

This idyllic spot can be found along the popular hiking and cycling network between Bokrijk and National Park Hoge Kempen in Limburg (which happen to be two of my favorite places in the province!). My friend and I arrived just in time for sunset and enjoyed a little walk around. It was a Tuesday evening in December, but still lots and lots of people were hanging out and social distancing wasn't always easy on the narrow paths. I am casually hiding my mask in the seclond picture 😉

📸📌: Fietsen door het water, knooppunt 91, Bokrijk. You can park your car on the payed parking lots of Bokrijk and walk to the exact location ( +/- 1km). Interested in a longer hike/bike ride? Look up De Wijers cyclist network and outline your favorite route!

#fietsendoorhetwater #wandeleninlimburg #visitlimburg #ILOVELIMBURG #mijnlimburg #altijdlimburg #lovelylimburg #sheisnotlost #ladiesgoneglobal #thediscoverer #belphenomenal #lavieestbelge #belgianshooters #belgium #staycationbelgium #lovingbelgium #instabelgium #wheninbelgium #igersbelgium #ig_belgium #belgiumtrip #bestofbelgium #belgiumblogger #antwerpblogger #travelbelgium #visitbelgium #belgiantravelblogger #thegingertravels
Today I miss good old fashion blogging 😌 I st Today I miss good old fashion blogging 😌 

I still think about that time (2012-2013-ish) a lot and it makes me sad because it will never be like that again. Going out to shoot 2x a week, edit and post pictures to the internet, writing a blurb of text about myself and then on to read as many other blogs as I could find. I don't know how I ever found the time to do all of that?? 😅

Not that it was all rosy. I remember I was unhappy about my blog, always wanting it to be better and have more outfits to share. But now I look back on those days and realize that it WAS the peak moment. I definitely wasn't the most well-known fashion blogger with the bestest sponsorships, but I was having an enjoyable time with enjoyable people.

This picture is from a shoot I did for the blog this Fall. I love how these photos came out!! Everything was perfect: from the fair-isle sweater I looked for for YEARS to the light and the colorful foliage. I love when that happens 🧡

#thursdaysstyleisfullofgrace #thursdaystylefiles #mythursdaystyle #thursdayfashionfun #thursdaythredit #thursdayootd #thursdaystyle #stealmystyle #wearwhatyoulove #stylemehappy #neverknowinglyunderdressed #simplestyle #mystylestory #mystyle #simplystyledforautumn #myautumnwardrobe #autumnstyles #autumnstylefiles #dailystyle #countrystyleloves #everydaystyle #everydaystylebook #mylifemystyle #happytobemeoutfit #simplestylingsimplyme #discoverunder3k #belgianblogger #belgiumblogger #antwerpblogger
Drinking my sorrows away... ☕ Whenever my mind Drinking my sorrows away... ☕ 

Whenever my mind is full and the burnout symptoms creep back in, I like to go out for a coffee and an aimless walk around town 😌

There aren't many things that ground me like the feeling of a hot cuppa in my hand and the smell of freshly roasted coffee beans in my nose. A true cup of comfort, you could say! ❤️

#coffeedaily #coffeepeople #coffeeroastery #coffeevibes #caffeinedaily #caffeinefree #caffeinequeen #caffeineplease #cupofjoe #cupoftheday #cupofexcellence #cupofjoy #warmdrinks #winterdrinks #ilovecoffee☕️ #coffeeislove #coffeecommunity #bringmemycoffee #mycoffeemoment #mycoffeecup #antwerpcoffee
Blue Monday, but make it cute 😉 I'm fighting th Blue Monday, but make it cute 😉 I'm fighting the January blues with this foxy sweater and mahoosive cup of Jo today 🦊🧡 Happy Monday! 

#joules #bluemonday #styleandsmilemonday #mondaystyle #mondaystyletribe #stylemeonamonday #autumnstyle #myseasonalstyle #autumnstylefile #myautumnwardrobe #stylingtheseasons #stylinginspiration #neverknowinglyunderdressed #simplestyle #mystylestory #simplystyledforautumn #myautumnwardrobe #autumnstyles #autumnstylefiles #dailyedit #dailystyle #countrystyleloves #everydaystyle #everydaystylebook #mylifemystyle #happytobemeoutfit #simplystyled #simplestylingsimplyme #discoverunder3k #belgianblogger
My least favorite days of the year are coming up. My least favorite days of the year are coming up. That lost time between mid january and mid March, when it's still cold and dark outside, nature is bare and holidays are far away. I cannot wait for wild bluesbells to pop up and magnolia buds to slowly fold open. How about you? ✨

PS: forgive me my latergrams from Fall, but I think you all know how bad I am at posting consistently by now. I'd hate for these photos to be lost on my camera roll.

 #almostautumn #upandautumn #embracingtheseasons #fallmood #itsfallyall #autumniscoming #hellofall #myautumnalmagic #slowsimpleseasonal #warmcolors #ourautumncaptures #cuddleweather #welcomefall #fallismyfavorite #seasonsinsquares #ourchildhoodautumn #fallyall #seasonalyear #fallingforfall #huntingforautumn #autumniscoming #fallready #fallfeels #fallinspo #bluemonday #manicmonday #mondayblues #belgianblogger #antwerpblogger #vlaamseblogger
BAM! 2021 sure welcomed us with open arms, didn't BAM! 2021 sure welcomed us with open arms, didn't it? 

I took a two week hiatus from the good ole Gram to get used to my new longer working hours and binge Bridgerton. Am I the only one who thinks that show is a hot mess? It's basically a 1800s costume drama but with taylor swift on violins and the occasional close-up of Rége-Jean Page's butt 😳 I can't help but wonder... what the *bleep* did I just watch? 😅

Happy Friday guys! You've made it throgh the second week of 2021 🥳 If you don't have any plans for the weekend yet, Bridgerton is available on Netflix 😉

#neverknowinglyunderdressed #simplestyle #mystylestory #mystyle #simplystyledforautumn #myautumnwardrobe #autumnstyles #autumnstylefiles #dailystyle #countrystyleloves #simplestyle #everydaystyle #everydaystylebook #mylifemystyle #happytobemeoutfit #simplestylingsimplyme #discoverunder3k #belgianblogger #igersbelgium #ig_belgium #belgiumblogger #antwerpblogger
Chapter 2020 comes to and end as we turn the page Chapter 2020 comes to and end as we turn the page I want to thank you all for your support this year. 💗

It was a year of many lows that taught me how to find my highs in the little things. Despite the tough times, there were also plenty of moments filled with friends, coffee & rose wine, little escapes in my own country and... A PUPPY! Thank you all for following along! ✨

Happy New Year! 🥂🍾 I don't know what will be written in chapter 2021, but I'm hoping for 365 pages full of love and light for all of us.

Ps: the photos from Valencia, Helsinki and Tallinn were made in 2019 but posted in 2020 🙈 I did not travel abroad this past year.

#happynewyear🎉 #happynewyear2021 #newyearwishes #greatfulfor2020 #yearinreview #bestnine2020 #topnine2020 #antwerpblogger #belgiantravelblogger #belgianblogger #vlaamseblogger #discoverunder2k
The five days between Christmas and NYE where you The five days between Christmas and NYE where you don't know what day it is, who you are and what you are supposed to be doing. Am I right?? 🤷‍♀️

Since I am living in limbo too, here's a thowback to when I could still buy my mulled wine from a cute Austrian market stall rather than the local grocery store. I smuggled that mug home, so the heartbreak isn't too bad 😉

📌📸: Vienna January 2018.

#visitvienna #vienna_austria #viennacity #viennalife #1000thingsvienna #welovevienna #viennagram #viennanow #viennagoforit #wonderlustvienna #viennascene #loves_austria #discoveraustria #austriavision #travelfashiongirl #dametraveler #ladiesgoneglobal #sheisnotlost #wearetravelgirls #femaletravelcommunity #travelgirlsgetaways #womenwhoexplore #thediscoverer #girldiscoverers #travelinladies #girlsthatwander #damestravel #belgianblogger #antwerpblogger #thegingertravels
From me to you, Merry Christmas! 🎄❤️ A can From me to you, Merry Christmas! 🎄❤️

A candid photo to - hopefully - brighten up this weird Christmas day ✨ We can't be with our family & friends, but thank goodness there are potato croquettes and cheesy oven-baked appetizers to soften the pain 🥂 have a lovely Christmas!
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Belgium, Europe, Travel · 21 October 2019

Connecterra Maasmechelen with Fitbit| AD

I want to start this post by stating that the Fitbit Versa shown in the photos was kindly gifted to me at a press event. I was not asked or payed to write a blog post about it.

You don’t have to travel far to see beautiful places. Connecterra is an excellent example of that. This large stretch of land was once a coal mining site, but has been turned into a national park after the mine closed in 1987. Overt the years Connecterra has grown to become an astounding national park with lakes and hilltops from where you can enjoy panoramic views. It’s one of my favorite places close to home to come and enjoy nature in the Fall.

We’ve been to Connecterra a dozen times and it surprises me that I’ve never written about it on the blog before. The central lake is probably my favorite part. The wavy crystal blue water plays with the pebbles on the water’s edge and the reed softly dances with the wind. I just love sitting here and nature-gaze.

No visit to Connecterra is complete without a climb to the top of the ‘terril’. There’s two hill tops to climb and we went up both on the day we made these photos. Let me tell you: it’s not an easy trek up there! Once you reach the top you will be rewarded by an awe-inspiring view and a confetti-throwing FitBit that is proud of your effort.

These were my stats after the first climb, haha. I forgot to take a photo at the end!

Let me tell you a little bit more about the FitBit that I am wearing. It is described as a light Smart Watch that combines elementary heath and fitnessfunctions (including female health tracking) in a modern design.

Now, being the first and only Smart Watch that I ever owned, I can’t compare the size and weight to that of other models. I can say that the screen and band fit comfortably around my teeny tiny wrist ( I have the XS-band in grey and black). The FitBit Versa does not annoy me when I wear it, although it is significantly bigger than the regular watches I used to wear in High School.

The funcionalities. Well… there are two confessions to make here. One is that I don’t do sports or fitness. I just hike. That means I don’t use most of the functions that FitBit offers. I use the step counter and that’s about it. And that is confession number two. This watch is capable of so much more, but I just don’t have a need to test those functions with my current lifestyle. You could even argue that I don’t need a Smart Watch at all. The only other function that I enjoy (and that is directly related to the step counter) is the ranking tool where you can compete with friends for the most steps in a day/week/month. A little bit of social pressure to move around more is never a bad thing! One downside that I have found is that the step counter is not the most accurate. For example: it counted 67 steps while I was sitting in the car to Connecterra!

I also do not use the female health tracking because I’m regular to the dot and know exactly when it will be “that time of the month” again. I can put my clock to it (I’m lucky, I know!)! A few of my friends own a FitBit Versa as well and have used FHT and they tell me it works for them. I just don’t have any personal experience to share so I can’t say much more than that I’m afraid!

A few random snaps to close off this post. The first one is from the view while descending after the second climb. On the second photo you can see the two mine terrils in the background and me, blissfully unaware of the steep climb that was waiting for me! After we had come down we decided to loop around the lake via a different route. We usually head straight back to the entrance gate, but this time wanted to see the construction site of the new Terrils Resort that is currently being build. It was quite the long walk! Fortuntely, the route took us past a side of the central lake that I had not seen before and there was this strange little wall that made for a good photo opp with the lake.

Right next to Connecterra you find Maasmechelen Village (5 minutes walking! Really!). It’s an outlet shopping center that currently has consignments of Furla, Michael Kors, River Woods and Ralph Lauren a.o.. I bought my Furla Julia bag there and we also have gotten a set of pans from Demeyere for outlet prices! My boyfriend – who hates shopping and was really exhausted from our hike – was still sweet enough to let me stop by my favorite stores before driving ho… I mean… driving through McDonalds and then driving home. There are a few nicer diner options inside the outlet village too, but sometimes all you need is a Big Mac and McFlurry to end the day. Well deserved after such a long hike too, I’d say!

In: Belgium, Europe, Travel

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Comments

  1. Sylvie Van Nieuwerburgh says

    25 October 2019 at 13:47

    Heerlijke plek idd! En mooie foto’s.

    Reply

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To become a swan you must first be an ugly ducklin To become a swan you must first be an ugly duckling 🐣

Say hello to my little friend 👋 We met at "Cycling Through the Water" in Belgium. He was mostly interested in the contents of my back pack and willingly posed for a few pictures, hoping I would share my snacks. Unfortunately for him, this girl does not share snacks! Once he realised he wasn't going to get anything, he dumped me for another tourist 🤷‍♀️

This idyllic spot can be found along the popular hiking and cycling network between Bokrijk and National Park Hoge Kempen in Limburg (which happen to be two of my favorite places in the province!). My friend and I arrived just in time for sunset and enjoyed a little walk around. It was a Tuesday evening in December, but still lots and lots of people were hanging out and social distancing wasn't always easy on the narrow paths. I am casually hiding my mask in the seclond picture 😉

📸📌: Fietsen door het water, knooppunt 91, Bokrijk. You can park your car on the payed parking lots of Bokrijk and walk to the exact location ( +/- 1km). Interested in a longer hike/bike ride? Look up De Wijers cyclist network and outline your favorite route!

#fietsendoorhetwater #wandeleninlimburg #visitlimburg #ILOVELIMBURG #mijnlimburg #altijdlimburg #lovelylimburg #sheisnotlost #ladiesgoneglobal #thediscoverer #belphenomenal #lavieestbelge #belgianshooters #belgium #staycationbelgium #lovingbelgium #instabelgium #wheninbelgium #igersbelgium #ig_belgium #belgiumtrip #bestofbelgium #belgiumblogger #antwerpblogger #travelbelgium #visitbelgium #belgiantravelblogger #thegingertravels
Today I miss good old fashion blogging 😌 I st Today I miss good old fashion blogging 😌 

I still think about that time (2012-2013-ish) a lot and it makes me sad because it will never be like that again. Going out to shoot 2x a week, edit and post pictures to the internet, writing a blurb of text about myself and then on to read as many other blogs as I could find. I don't know how I ever found the time to do all of that?? 😅

Not that it was all rosy. I remember I was unhappy about my blog, always wanting it to be better and have more outfits to share. But now I look back on those days and realize that it WAS the peak moment. I definitely wasn't the most well-known fashion blogger with the bestest sponsorships, but I was having an enjoyable time with enjoyable people.

This picture is from a shoot I did for the blog this Fall. I love how these photos came out!! Everything was perfect: from the fair-isle sweater I looked for for YEARS to the light and the colorful foliage. I love when that happens 🧡

#thursdaysstyleisfullofgrace #thursdaystylefiles #mythursdaystyle #thursdayfashionfun #thursdaythredit #thursdayootd #thursdaystyle #stealmystyle #wearwhatyoulove #stylemehappy #neverknowinglyunderdressed #simplestyle #mystylestory #mystyle #simplystyledforautumn #myautumnwardrobe #autumnstyles #autumnstylefiles #dailystyle #countrystyleloves #everydaystyle #everydaystylebook #mylifemystyle #happytobemeoutfit #simplestylingsimplyme #discoverunder3k #belgianblogger #belgiumblogger #antwerpblogger
Drinking my sorrows away... ☕ Whenever my mind Drinking my sorrows away... ☕ 

Whenever my mind is full and the burnout symptoms creep back in, I like to go out for a coffee and an aimless walk around town 😌

There aren't many things that ground me like the feeling of a hot cuppa in my hand and the smell of freshly roasted coffee beans in my nose. A true cup of comfort, you could say! ❤️

#coffeedaily #coffeepeople #coffeeroastery #coffeevibes #caffeinedaily #caffeinefree #caffeinequeen #caffeineplease #cupofjoe #cupoftheday #cupofexcellence #cupofjoy #warmdrinks #winterdrinks #ilovecoffee☕️ #coffeeislove #coffeecommunity #bringmemycoffee #mycoffeemoment #mycoffeecup #antwerpcoffee
Blue Monday, but make it cute 😉 I'm fighting th Blue Monday, but make it cute 😉 I'm fighting the January blues with this foxy sweater and mahoosive cup of Jo today 🦊🧡 Happy Monday! 

#joules #bluemonday #styleandsmilemonday #mondaystyle #mondaystyletribe #stylemeonamonday #autumnstyle #myseasonalstyle #autumnstylefile #myautumnwardrobe #stylingtheseasons #stylinginspiration #neverknowinglyunderdressed #simplestyle #mystylestory #simplystyledforautumn #myautumnwardrobe #autumnstyles #autumnstylefiles #dailyedit #dailystyle #countrystyleloves #everydaystyle #everydaystylebook #mylifemystyle #happytobemeoutfit #simplystyled #simplestylingsimplyme #discoverunder3k #belgianblogger
My least favorite days of the year are coming up. My least favorite days of the year are coming up. That lost time between mid january and mid March, when it's still cold and dark outside, nature is bare and holidays are far away. I cannot wait for wild bluesbells to pop up and magnolia buds to slowly fold open. How about you? ✨

PS: forgive me my latergrams from Fall, but I think you all know how bad I am at posting consistently by now. I'd hate for these photos to be lost on my camera roll.

 #almostautumn #upandautumn #embracingtheseasons #fallmood #itsfallyall #autumniscoming #hellofall #myautumnalmagic #slowsimpleseasonal #warmcolors #ourautumncaptures #cuddleweather #welcomefall #fallismyfavorite #seasonsinsquares #ourchildhoodautumn #fallyall #seasonalyear #fallingforfall #huntingforautumn #autumniscoming #fallready #fallfeels #fallinspo #bluemonday #manicmonday #mondayblues #belgianblogger #antwerpblogger #vlaamseblogger
BAM! 2021 sure welcomed us with open arms, didn't BAM! 2021 sure welcomed us with open arms, didn't it? 

I took a two week hiatus from the good ole Gram to get used to my new longer working hours and binge Bridgerton. Am I the only one who thinks that show is a hot mess? It's basically a 1800s costume drama but with taylor swift on violins and the occasional close-up of Rége-Jean Page's butt 😳 I can't help but wonder... what the *bleep* did I just watch? 😅

Happy Friday guys! You've made it throgh the second week of 2021 🥳 If you don't have any plans for the weekend yet, Bridgerton is available on Netflix 😉

#neverknowinglyunderdressed #simplestyle #mystylestory #mystyle #simplystyledforautumn #myautumnwardrobe #autumnstyles #autumnstylefiles #dailystyle #countrystyleloves #simplestyle #everydaystyle #everydaystylebook #mylifemystyle #happytobemeoutfit #simplestylingsimplyme #discoverunder3k #belgianblogger #igersbelgium #ig_belgium #belgiumblogger #antwerpblogger
Chapter 2020 comes to and end as we turn the page Chapter 2020 comes to and end as we turn the page I want to thank you all for your support this year. 💗

It was a year of many lows that taught me how to find my highs in the little things. Despite the tough times, there were also plenty of moments filled with friends, coffee & rose wine, little escapes in my own country and... A PUPPY! Thank you all for following along! ✨

Happy New Year! 🥂🍾 I don't know what will be written in chapter 2021, but I'm hoping for 365 pages full of love and light for all of us.

Ps: the photos from Valencia, Helsinki and Tallinn were made in 2019 but posted in 2020 🙈 I did not travel abroad this past year.

#happynewyear🎉 #happynewyear2021 #newyearwishes #greatfulfor2020 #yearinreview #bestnine2020 #topnine2020 #antwerpblogger #belgiantravelblogger #belgianblogger #vlaamseblogger #discoverunder2k
The five days between Christmas and NYE where you The five days between Christmas and NYE where you don't know what day it is, who you are and what you are supposed to be doing. Am I right?? 🤷‍♀️

Since I am living in limbo too, here's a thowback to when I could still buy my mulled wine from a cute Austrian market stall rather than the local grocery store. I smuggled that mug home, so the heartbreak isn't too bad 😉

📌📸: Vienna January 2018.

#visitvienna #vienna_austria #viennacity #viennalife #1000thingsvienna #welovevienna #viennagram #viennanow #viennagoforit #wonderlustvienna #viennascene #loves_austria #discoveraustria #austriavision #travelfashiongirl #dametraveler #ladiesgoneglobal #sheisnotlost #wearetravelgirls #femaletravelcommunity #travelgirlsgetaways #womenwhoexplore #thediscoverer #girldiscoverers #travelinladies #girlsthatwander #damestravel #belgianblogger #antwerpblogger #thegingertravels
From me to you, Merry Christmas! 🎄❤️ A can From me to you, Merry Christmas! 🎄❤️

A candid photo to - hopefully - brighten up this weird Christmas day ✨ We can't be with our family & friends, but thank goodness there are potato croquettes and cheesy oven-baked appetizers to soften the pain 🥂 have a lovely Christmas!
Baby it's c❄️vid outside 🎄 And since there Baby it's c❄️vid outside 🎄

And since there's no place to go during a pandemic and this awful weather, we will be spending Christmas eve in our little bubble at home. Queu the cheesy Christmas movies and cheesy appetizers! ✨

Oh, and let's not forget the prosecho-ho-ho! 🥂🎅

✨ Happy Holidays! ✨

#christmas2020 #christmassy #rusticchristmas #christmascoffee #christmasmug #mugsofinstagram #christmastreedecorating #howiholiday #embracingtheseasons #ofsimplethings #createinwinter #distractionsandinspirations #foreverfaffing #awhisperedbeauty #myhyggehome #calmcollected #slowlivingforlife #slowlvingmovement #slowandsimpledays #allkindsofmagic #magicalmoments #coziness #cozyaesthetic #warmandcozy #cozyseason #ofcosymoments #cozycoffee #bokehphotography #vlaamseblogger #antwerpbogger

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