Once a year, The Harbour Club is completely transformed into a white fairytale world for the famous White Dinner. Everyone adheres very strictly to the dress code, so a week in advance, I was already staring at my closet hoping to find a white outfit that still fits me... Luckily, that oversized look comes in handy now! JAN Magazine hosted the evening and collected beautiful handbags that will be auctioned for Metakids: a wonderful foundation dedicated to children with a metabolic disease. For such a special cause, I love diving into my closet to donate a nice bag. By the end of the evening, the table was filled with beautiful ’second-hand’ items from among others Leontine Borsato, Hadewych Minis, and Quinty Trustfull. Now just hoping for a nice total yield!

On vacation, I can always boast about all the fantastic neighborhoods that Amsterdam has to offer: that one healthy spot in the Pijp is a must, at the Nieuwmarkt you’ll find the tastiest organic croissants at the Saturday market, and the Jordaan is packed with delicious restaurants. But I catch myself always planning appointments in my own neighborhood and hardly exploring new ones. So when I got the invite to discover the new Sir Adam Hotel in Noord, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to go exploring there. But once we arrived, we already had so much to discover indoors: after a round of play in the small arcade and a drink at The Butcher Social Club, we had to enjoy the beautiful view from our hotel room, and then decide which of the three restaurants in the A'DAM Tower we would dine at. And afterwards, of course, we had to have a drink on the top floor with a stunning view over the city. So much for our ‘discover Noord adventure’, but yet another new hotspot to brag about on our next trip!

‘Oh dear, I feel it:
the nesting instinct has begun!’

Once back from our honeymoon, we can start full speed on the nursery. Still a bit hesitant about whether I’ve made a complete baby list, I’ve just started with the biggest purchases: the crib and the changing table. After that, I can wash and organize all the new clothes so I can see what we’re still missing. Oh dear, I feel it: the nesting instinct has begun! Luckily, I quickly had my eye on this cute oval crib from Stokke: it’s nice and compact, making it ideal for a smaller nursery. When we got home Monday night, six large boxes were waiting for us: what a party! Jon really couldn’t wait to put everything together, so that poor guy was busy with the big DIY package until 2:30 AM. But the end result is beautiful. Now just the rest of the decor. All tips for a unique nursery are welcome!

Okay, I admit it: as an expectant mother, I really need to start saying goodbye to that weird phone case addiction. All fun and games, but when I’m seriously trying to have a phone conversation with that little one in my arms through a life-sized unicorn, there will definitely be some strange looks coming my way... So I’m currently busy with my new quest: finding a functional ‘yet’ fashionable iPhone case that you don’t see everyone walking around with. I just scored a beautiful marble case from Richmond & Finch, and my hunger was satisfied, until my lunch appointment yesterday pulled out her phone... A beautiful Gucci case enveloped her new iPhone 7 Plus, sigh... This is a LIFE-THREATENING discovery, because after some research, I quickly found this to-die-for ‘petit malle’ iPhone case from Louis Vuitton. Are they affordable? Absolutely not. The result? I’ve just started saving...

As soon as the doorbell rings at home, Jon looks at me a bit indignantly. ‘You go ahead, it’s probably another package for you.’ ‘Now all the packages lately are for the little baby boy, so a bit for you too, you know!’ And yep, it is indeed a baby box with a beautiful bow around it. Come on, what’s more fun than receiving a package? The card says ‘Your pregnancy Guru in a Box’. It turns out to be from In The Pudding Club and is filled with delicious products that you can actually use, plus info and advice tailored to your moment in pregnancy or postpartum period. And not those soothing tips, no, also things you might not want to hear as an expectant mother, but that you will have to face... I’ve found the perfect gift for my mommy-to-be friends! Maybe I should subtly hint that I would really appreciate such a box for month 8 as a baby shower gift?