Favourite iPhone Apps #1

I want to start this blogpost by thanking Ten to Three Bakery for retweeting my blogpost on Twitter and posting it on their Facebook! By doing that the views on my blog skyrocketed! Therefore I would also like to welcome any new readers or followers and I hope you'll enjoy this blog! I would love to hear from you guys through tweets or comments (you can leave them at the bottom of each post!).

I've had many conversations with friends and classmates about the apps (applications) we use on our phones! I love hearing from other people what their favourite apps are because I love trying them out! That's why I've made a top five of apps that I use the most!

1. Instagram
I know, this is probably one of the most known apps ever, but I couldn't resist sharing this with you guys. This really is my most favourite app, and probably most used app! I love photography, and although some people argue that this app is for amateurs, I don't care and really love it ! It's a lot of fun to make the photo, crop it to the most exciting image and add an awesome filter to give the photo more edge!

Instagram is easy to use and I like how you can share the photo's on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and all sorts of media! I just recently discoverd some website that let's you print your photo's into polaroid kind of pictures! I will make another blogpost about that soon.

This is as good a time as ever to remind you that I have an Instagram account (@catiemccartney) and you can follow me here! I'd love to share my photos with you!

2. Temple Run
I'm not a massive gamer, mainly because it's so addicting that I don't get any work done and because the app eats the battery of my phone like no other! But there's one game I love to play and I keep playing over and over again. It's called Temple Run.

The game concept is very easy, even a non-gamer like me can do it! You're being chased by monsters, so you're running from them through the Temple. There's parts where you have to jump, slide, turn whilst you're trying to collect as many coins as possible. It's the kind of game you can play when you're waiting at the bus stop, laying in bed, waiting in line or maybe even sitting on the toilet...

3. Wunderlist
I'm such a sucker for lists! I crave structure in my life and I can't live without having a to do list around. Wunderlist is a brilliant and beautiful app for planning both daily tasks or big plans like organizing a trip. What I love most about Wunderlist is the cloud-synchronization. Which means that whether you're on your phone, computer, tablet or laptop; you're list is there. Another great feature is the deadline or reminder option. When you enable this feature, Wunderlist will send you push notifications to remind you of certain tasks. 

4. WallpapersHD
There are loads of wallpaper apps available, but after trying out a couple of them, this one really impressed me. The app is beautifully designed and very easy to use. Whilst swiping through the pages with wallpapers you'll see that there are tons and tons of different ones, and all high quality. I usually choose one funny, creative or beautiful wallpaper for the opening screen on my phone and one simple wallpaper for the screen behind my apps.  

5. Appie
This last one will be most usefull for my Dutch followers since it's an app for a Dutch supermarket. Appie is the Albert Heijn App and contains the latest 'BONUS' products, store locations, recipes, lists and news. I usually check the products with discount (bonus) before going into the store, which saves me a lot of time! 

The best feature is connected to the 'making list' option. When you've created your list with delious food, Appie gives you the option to choose the store you're going to shop at and makes a trail for you! This App will save you time walking around the store three times trying to find everything because it'll tell you where you can find everything and in which order it's most efficient to buy them. 

There you go! Five apps that I love using and that I would recommend to any of you! I'd love to hear any app suggestions from you guys! Let me know in the comments below or tweet me @catiemccartney! 

Ten To Three Bakery

I can finally say 'I'm no longer a Ten To Three Bakery virgin'! I went to the bakery in this week with two friends and had an amazing time. It wouldn't be fair to keep this from you guys, so here we go!



Ten To Three Bakery has two establishments, both located in Rotterdam. If you're not from the Netherlands, but you're interested in their bakery you can check out the website here. If you're ever in the neighborhoud I would definitely recommend visiting the stylish bakery/tearoom for breakfast, lunch, high tea or for some hot chocolate with a cupcake (like I did)!


For the last couple of months I've watched the assortment of cupcakes on the website and on Facebook, which made me even more excited. When you walk into the bakery, the first thing you'll notice is both the quality and quantity of the cupcakes (and other delicious food!) available. It took some time for me to chose one of their cupcakes but I finally settled for the 'Salted Caramel Cupcake' with popcorn on top (which is a special cupcake made for the International Film Festival Rotterdam)! I almost felt wrong eating this beatifully made cupcake, but after I took some pictures I just couldn't resist!

I honestly can't tell you how I discoverd this gem of a bakery, but it might have something to do with walking past it one day. One of the bakeries is located in the heart of the city (Aert van Nesstraat), just around the corner of the main shopping street. Which is brilliant because getting there is fairly easy! For me it's only a tram or subway ride away! 

When you're walking by, or standing in front of the bakery one thing you can't miss is the cozy, stylish and, might I say, ADORABLE style inside. The little tables with comfortable chairs, the wooden table with magazines and papers, the wand decorations and of course the mugs and dishes all contribute to give this bakery an unforgettable vibe. 

 
To conclude this blogpost I would like to share the history of the name 'Ten to Three Bakery' with you (which I translated off their website). "We have let ourselves be inspired by the last lines of a poem called 'The Old Vicarage, Grantchester' by the beloved English war poet Rupert Brooke, who described with these lines the tradition of English afternoon tea. 

"Say, is there Beauty yet to find? And Certainty? and Quiet kind? Deep meadows yet, for to forget The lies, and truths, and pain? . . . oh! yet Stands the Church clock at ten to three? And is there honey still for tea?"

Review: Garnier Hydrating Day Cream

On weekdays I live in Rotterdam; a city with approximately 1,2 million residents. All those people together create a lot of pollution. And although most of it isn't visible during the day, I've started to see the effects of all the filth on my skin.

Together with the freezing temperatures and pollution my skin has been getting dry, a little rough and it's showing some redness here and there. Hence I've started trying out samples of day creams a couple of weeks ago. Garnier Fresh Essentials Hydrating Day Care Day Cream is one of my favourites and that's why I've decided to buy the actual product.

This 50 ml pot of hydrating day cream smells extremely fresh and a little bit fruity. You can get the day cream at Amazon for only 4 pounds. I really dislike moisturizers that are sticky, thick or shiny. And that's exactly why I love this product. It's smells delicious, smears amazingly well (you'll only need a tiny bit to cover your face!) and sinks into your skin without leaving traces.

After a couple of days of using this product my skin started to regain its smoothness. It's definitely doing the job of hydrating my skin. I felt a little worried about using blush (or other make-up products) over this moisturizer, but I shouldn't have worried because there are no problems whatsoever. Since the cream sinks into your skin fairly quickly you're free to apply your make-up as usual without even noticing the day cream.

Another great product in the Garnier Skin Naturals line is the tonic. I use this product to freshen up my face either in the morning or after I've cleaned my face at night. And this smells great as well!

 

I will definitely repurchase this moisturizer since the effect is exactly what I was looking (and hoping) for!

Any great moisturizers out there that I should check out? Let met know!

Beating the January Blues

You might be one of many people who are experiencing January Blues. Which means your house seems empty without all the Christmas decorations, the weather is cold and gloomy, the bills from all the holiday expenses are falling on your doorstep and all the great parties and festivities are over. And to make it even worse, the third monday in January is set to be the most depressing day of the year.

On a brighter note, I've collected 6 things from my personal life that make my life a little better, and they might make yours as well. These are things you can buy or make yourself! And if you're not in the buying or making mood, atleast let them inspire you to beat the January Blues.

Face wipes
I used to clean my face at night with cotton pads and make-up remover, but through YouTube I heard about face wipes. These wipes, available in any drugstore or supermarket, will make it easier and pleasant to remove any make-up on your face. Instead of having to deal with the cotton pads, the bottle of make-up remover you'll only need one wipe to clean off you face. Another bonus is that they're great for traveling or carrying around in your purse!

Sheepskin
My bedroom floor is a beautiful woody material, which looks great but is really cold in the morning. I've come to realize that my morning routine is a huge part of how my mood is going to be that day. For me, waking up in a pleasant and comfortable way makes me feel happier and motivated. No one likes to feel cold, have cold feet or touch a cold floor with your warm and sleepy body. A great solution to this is fake sheepskin. I've put mine next to my bed, which is great because now my feet never have to touch the cold floor in the morning!



Backpack
Yes, you're reading this correctly. My number three item is a backpack. And this one might be more for girls, because a lot of girls use handbags, totes or purses to carry their things in. I've used a backpack for most of my time in highschool, and I'm using one now in college. Although I love handbags and I've used one for a couple of months, I think backpacks are more effective. Atleast for carrying heavy things in, like school supplies. A backpack usually has more room, won't make your arm, shoulder or back ache and actually looks really cool!



Pets
You might be thinking, what do pets have to do with any of this? Well, research has shown that taking care for an animal, cuddling or petting an animal can help you feel better; including reducing anxiety, stress, loneliness, the risk of strokes and improving your immune function. Beside all the health benefits, having a pet is a lot of fun and great company.



Uggs
It has been freezing cold and snowing for the last week, which means getting bundled up; wearing scarfs, hats and mittens! However, by doing that my feet are still really cold, especially when I'm walking in the snow. Well, when that's the case, try wearing boots with fur inside, like Uggs or moon boots. I wear my Ugg boots without socks and they keep my feet super warm! But be warned, when you have Uggs you're likely to want to sleep with them, they are that comfortable!

Nailpolish remover
Last summer I visited Copenhagen with my parents and had a great time. We shopped at a famous warehouse called Illum and I bought my first OPI nailpolish there. The friendly saleswomen recommended a nailpolish remover, which I'd never seen before! This nail polish remover is so easy to use, you won't need cotton pads or a liquid remover, but only your nails and this product. The remover is so effective that you'll never ever have to walk around with chipped nails, you'll be able to change your look as often as you like!



Ready to beat the January Blues? Do you guys have any advice for me? Let me know!
 

Dutch streets covered with snow

Two things that don’t go well together are 'the Netherlands' and 'snow'. Although I love waking up to see the world covered in the white substance we call snow, it seems like the entire country is in chaos.

Yesterday morning, on the news, they warned people that if there wasn’t a real need to go onto the streets, they should stay inside. However traffic jams were already arising and together created a length of a little over 1000 kilometers. Which is incredible, since the length of our country is around 300 kilometers. Oh and before I forget, we’re talking about approximately 10 centimeters of snow..

Since the whole country is in turmoil and I enjoy the snow, I’ve taken some photo’s that will give you an idea of how the streets look. 

 

So, what's your opinion about snow? And what's the weather like where you live? Tweet me or send me a picture on instagram!

Keep Calm and Carry On

In spring of 1939 the British Ministry of Information ordered to make propaganda posters that would reassure the people in the upcoming battle against Germany. The first version of this propaganda poster read ‘Your courage, your cheerfullness, your resolution will bring us victory’ and the second ‘Freedom is in peril, defend it with all your might’. Both were distributed around the country and placed all over the railway stations and shops.

However, there was a third poster made and this one we all know... Its simple and timeless design together with the request to ‘Keep calm and carry on’ easily stands out. The iconic symbol used to support the message is the crown of King George the 6th. It was supposed to be used only in dire emergency, in times of crisis. Over 2,5 million copies were printed... However, it never got displayed.

Source: http://archaeosoup.com/keep-calm-and-carry-on-the-secret-history/ (Creative Commons).

Until about 50 years later, a book store owner and his wife found an old poster in a box they bought at an auction. They liked the poster and decided to hang it up in their store; Barter Books. The customers where extremely enthusiastic and began offering the owners money for the poster. Reluctant to sell it, they started making copies and began selling those. Right there and then the process of giving this poster a second chance at life had begun..

Currently there are hundreds of versions floating around the world wide web and posters in every colour can be found around stores all over the world. I think it’s beautiful and interesting to see that a simple yet reassuring message from a time long ago still works, still touches people, stilll calms us down and makes us smile. To me it shows that although our world has changed and people have evolved and developed, our essence hasn’t changed, we still need to feel secure and reassured.

Source: http://www.embowman.com/2011/keep-calm-and-carry-on/

The one hanging in my room is light pink and reads: ‘Keep Calm & Have a Cupcake’. Which is, offcourse, the best advice a girl can get!

What is your favourite 'Keep Calm and..' poster? Let me know in the comments, send me a photo on instagram (CatieMcCartney) or on twitter!

Happy Memories Jar

The beginning of 2013 has inspired a lot of people to establish their personal goals or resolutions for the upcoming year. I’ve never really been into making them for myself before, but I’ve always admired the people who do. I think it’s a healthy way of living; to create goals, guidelines and maybe even a roadmap of how to get there. By doing so, you’re giving yourself expectations, things to live and work for, which means you’re growing and developing.

This year I would like to become healthier, happier, complete my third year at college, strengthen the relationships I have and experience loads of things that life has to offer. Since I absolutely love projects and I want to keep developing myself into the best version I can be, I’ve created my own twist on new year’s resolutions (inspired by the internet).

Being happy, enjoying life, making the most of it; that’ll be my focus for 2013. So I thought to myself, how do I focus on happiness, on the awesome things in my life? I have to make myself realize that they’re there, that eveyday will contain at least one little thing that made me smile or feel a little better.

So I’m starting this year with writing them down on little pieces of paper. Maybe not everyday, but I’ll atleast try to. I will collect the papers in a jar to keep them and to make sure I won’t forget all the great things that happened to me. And won’t it be awesome to, at the end of 2013, have a jar full of happy memories?

I’ve already started and I can tell you that it’s working, it’s great! I’m more concious of the experiences I have, I start looking for the things that make me smile, make me feel good. And I’m remembering them; I remember the toddler who waved at me in the subway with its cute smile, the boy who held the door open for me like a gentlemen, the co-worker who gave me a compliment, the message I got from a family member..

I guess the moral in this blogpost isn’t that you have to keep a ‘Happy Memories Jar’, but to start realizing, start looking for the little (and big) things that make you happy!

In the comments below or @catiemccartney tell me what made you happy today! I’m looking forward to hearing your stories!

Music: Hugh Laurie - Let Them Talk

I've been watching my favourite male actor since the first episode of the TV serie House MD. It should come as no surprise that I was excited to hear that Hugh released his debut Album 'Let Them Talk' in May 2011.

Since then I've listened to snippets of the numbers that are in the album on Youtube, but recently I stumbled across the Special Edition CD! I couldn't walk away without buying it, so I did, and here are my thoughts about it.

Let Them Talk consists of 19 classic blues songs. Some are collaborations, with artists like Tom Jones and Imra Thomas. Laurie's role in this album is playing piano, guitar and... providing the lead vocals, with his amazing and unique voice! Which is just fantastic for every fangirl- or boy.

I love listening to his music whilst reading, sitting in the living room, having great talks with my family or while driving a car. The songs are diverse, but in a nice way. It's not like listening to one sound over and over again. They're clearly amazing blues songs, with thoughtful lyrics and great harmonies.

The music makes you feel like you're listening to a story being told. A couple of my favourite songs are You don't Know my Mind, Swanee River, and St. Jamer Infirmary: 

I clearly love this album, whether it's because of Hugh Laurie's voice and charm, remains a question, but I am sure it has something to do with the way he can play a long and beautiful piano piece in St. James Infirmary as well as sing like nothing is holding him back in They're Red Hot. 

Any House MD fangirls or boys reading this? Let me know below or @catiemccartney!

Favourite lip treatment: Lush and Kiehl's

Winter makes my lips extremely dry and chipped, which makes them look really unhealthy. Luckily I've found two products that help me maintain soft and healthy lips, even if it's really cold outside!

I start of with, this may sound weird, licking my lips with my tongue, making them a little bit wet (to make the scrub stick). When they're a little wet I take some lip scrub on my index finger and massage it into my lips.

The lip scrub I've been using and loving is by Lush. It's called 'popcorn' and it comes in a cute little pot. I've seen other flavours, like 'Bubblegum' as well.

This is the description on the Lush website: "Coconut and jojoba oils, sugar, sea salt and polenta are the perfect mix to buff your lips to perfection and leave them smooth and moisturised." After you've scrubbed your lips, you either lick or wipe of the scrub.

To moisturize your lips and to give them a shiny glow I use Kiehl's Lipbalm #1. It helps to soothe dry lips and it shields your lips from the 'drying effects of wind and cold weather'.

You'll only need a tiny bit of the lipbalm, because Kiehl's lipbalm goes a long way! And then you're done! Enjoy your soft and healthy lips during winter!

Which products do you use to battle those dry lips? Let me know in the comments below or tweet me @catiemccartney!