Fun & Famous

Carolien's fast lane life

Yes, another fresh weekday diary from our Carolien. Because you know: she never sits still…

Anyone who knows me a little knows that I'm always up for testing new sweet things. There is no high tea or macaron place in Amsterdam that I don't know, and when my girlfriends discover a ‘sweet heaven’, they can't call me fast enough. Apparently, the owners of Sweet Bob Amsterdam had caught wind of this and that's why I suddenly received a box of their delicious Brigadeiros, or Brazilian chocolate/caramel balls made from condensed milk, butter, and chocolate. One bite was enough to make me rush to their store on Elandsgracht the next day for more. Then I went completely crazy: there were about 15 different flavors with my name written all over it. But that wasn't all: they also had those crazy American layer cakes with dark chocolate and lemon, plus homemade Brazilian iced tea that tasted like more. Of course, I couldn't help but take a box home, but my husband only found an empty box on the counter in the evening... Oh guys, I'm so glad I don't live nearby, otherwise I would have to order my wedding dress at Bloomfeld a few sizes larger right away.

To compensate for those sweet cravings a bit, I force myself to do a detox once a year. I can't even say this word at home without sparking a heated discussion: ‘I hear from so-and-so that it's really bad for your body, so why on earth would you put yourself on juices for a week?!’ Well, let me tell you: A. I don't just take juices, but follow the Innerwave cure, where you are fully guided by supplements that ensure you get all your nutrients, don't feel faint, and also really let you detox from the inside out. B. I don't do it to lose weight (also pointless, because those kilos come back after a week of eating normally), but really to give my body the chance to cleanse from the inside and ensure that all waste products are dumped. And point C. (perhaps the most important): I've been doing it for three years now and every time I feel super energetic and healthy. My skin becomes very nice and even and starts to glow. I wouldn't know how I would feel if I suddenly went on juices for a week, but with this program, you are supported step by step in the tapering off, juice cure, and the buildup. So to hell with all those opinions, I feel good about it and would recommend everyone to do such an annual Innerwave cleanse!

Last week, the first official wedding point was on the agenda: we went into civil partnership in a beautiful small village in Italy. It took a bit of effort because we were waiting at the wrong town hall 60 kilometers away on the agreed day and date for convenience... But luckily we redeemed ourselves the next day and signed our names at 10:10 AM. Since we are not marrying under Italian law, we didn't have to meet all Italian obligations. But some were so funny that I don't want to withhold them from you. For example, as an Italian, you have to hang a pamphlet announcing that you are getting married. If neighbors disagree, they can file an objection with the municipality within a certain time. I can already see it: Amsterdam completely covered with all marriage announcements! Although it does have something romantic and special about such an official announcement. Should I just stop by the copy shop then?

Every year at Christmas, it's a celebration again: under the tree, my husband lets me choose a jewel of a perfume at Skins. All their perfume brands are truly fantastic. Now I'm completely obsessed with the scents of Le Labo, and you also get a personalized bottle with your name on it, which I'm very sensitive to... But a month ago, I received an invite for the opening of a new special perfume store called Otentic Perfumes. When you walk into the store, you are immediately overwhelmed by the number of bottles: no less than 74 types in total are displayed per collection, and through an interactive screen, you can find the name and ingredients of each perfume. Perfumer Jean Denis Saisse created all these unique scents from the mother perfume of the brand: ‘Anno 1785'. After smelling all the scents (with the help of some coffee beans in between), I made a top 4 that was sprayed on my arms. My ultimate favorite: number 1 from the Arbroath line. It's going to be tough to choose at Christmas!

To be honest: I really have the best job in the world. I get to pretend to be someone else every day, I get cooked for, and sometimes I even get to go abroad to act. But occasionally, very occasionally, there are moments when it's a bit less fun. Like last night: together with two other actresses from the series Brussels, we were picked up at 6:30 PM to travel to Brussels, where a lovely night scene awaited us that would last until 5:30 AM. Read: a night without alcoholic refreshments or anything of that sort... But we made the best of it and tried to keep each other awake. And then it happened: around 3 AM, the three of us fell asleep, only to be brutally woken up after an hour to play a little scene. Often a shooting day runs late, which meant we also had to fight against the daylight. When I crawled into my own bed at 9:30 AM yesterday morning, it felt like I was coming back from a world trip and was stuck with a huge jet lag. But still, I wouldn't trade my job for anything...