Fun & Famous
Carolien's fast lane life
Yes, another fresh weekday diary from our Carolien. Because you know: she never sits still…
Last week I already shared a small report of my Paris trip, but the most fantastic moment was yet to come. A week before that, my other half Roeland called from the Zwarte Tulp and asked between breaths if I wanted to join him for the haute couture show of Viktor & Rolf… You understand that I didn’t have to think for a nanosecond and immediately booked my Thalys ticket, plus an extra overnight stay in Paris. Now, I never have outfit stress, but for this occasion, I had to go all out! So I chose a nude ensemble from Sandro and Avelon with my custom-made Rebootz boots as the ‘showstopper’. Before the show, we were allowed backstage to see all the beautiful outfits, but the show was still a grand surprise. With the ‘finale soundtrack’ being the same song they use at Zwarte Tulp! Roeland and I were in ecstasy…
Since the launch of Charlotte Tilbury in the Netherlands, I have been a huge fan of her makeup. Last week, I went with my friend Sanne to the beautiful corner they have in the Bijenkorf for my ultimate bridal makeup, about which there will soon be an extensive report in my ‘Wedding Diary’. But while we were wandering around there, our eyes fell on the delicious new lipstick line called Hot Lips. All colors are named after inspiring women, so you have ‘Carina’s Love’ and ‘Kidman’s Kiss’, among others. For every item sold, Charlotte Tilbury donates two euros to Woman for Woman ’to change the lives of women in need – one lipstick at a time’. So Sanne and I couldn’t resist purchasing a beautiful color while supporting this good cause. A girl can never have too much makeup!
In the past, Sunday breakfasts at our home were always one big feast: freshly squeezed juice, scrambled eggs with bacon, freshly baked croissants, and American pancakes with maple syrup: afterwards, you wanted nothing more than to lounge on the couch and recover from this royal meal. Fortunately, Jon and I keep this tradition alive, and our Sundays are often marked by giant breakfasts. So when we were invited to the Sunday brunch at restaurant Blue Spoon in the Andaz Hotel, we were eager to test it out. And to be honest: this brunch completely overshadowed our homemade feasts: platters full of freshly grilled vegetables, cold cuts, burrata, fresh juices, wines, bubbles, and then you also had a huge menu for the main course. We shared a poached egg with beef tenderloin, which was truly the best brunch dish ever. From now on, you are all warmly welcome every Sunday in ‘our new living room’ for such a scandalous brunch feast.
The month of July is all about ‘small trips’ for us: since we are not free for two weeks in a row, we celebrate small vacations each time, which might even be more fun. Last week it was Paris’s turn, and this week we are doing a day trip to Bruges and Antwerp. When we arrived at our first stop in Bruges, we felt like we were in an old medieval village. Even upon arrival at hotel De Orangerie (the former 15th-century Carthusian convent, and let me just say that from September I will be called Mrs. Karthaus), it felt like we were on a set visit for a costume drama. Breakfast and high tea were served in the beautiful salon with 17th and 18th-century portraits on the wall, and in the evening we enjoyed a gin and tonic on the terrace by the Dijver canal. Unfortunately, the next day it started pouring, causing our planned boat trip through the idyllic town to literally fall into the water. But luckily, we quickly drove towards Antwerp where a two-star dinner of 14 courses at The Jane was waiting for us. Quite a perfect little trip, don’t you think?
The big advantage of working in Brussels is that I can explore a new city during my free hours. The big downside: you discover way too many cute boutiques with all sorts of knick-knacks. I’ve already stuffed myself with pastries at Wittamer and spotted beautiful books at Mendo. When I stumbled upon these gems from Clarks in the Bellerose concept store, I couldn’t resist ‘just trying them on’. Well, that’s where it went wrong: whether I wanted to or not, these sandals had to come home with me. At first, they felt a bit stiff, but now they fit like slippers. And how lovely is that pastel pink when you look down? Just a few more filming days and then the Brussels series will be on air again, but at least I have a nice keepsake from the recording period.
