Ummm, yeah.  This is a lie.  Well, it wasn’t a lie when I first wrote it now but I can’t leave it on there without feeling like I’m telling a fib.

A while back I wrote a post about how I felt that my being overweight affected my feeling of femininity, which was quite difficult for me to write because not only was it slightly embarrassing but it required a little bit of soul searching as well.  I always knew I didn’t feel feminine but I wasn’t sure why, it wasn’t until I started losing the weight that I put two and two together and made the connection.

In that post I was talking about my acrylic nails, which I loved.  Oh how I loved them.  I decided they would be my reward to myself for losing weight and one of my first steps into accepting that more girlie side of myself.  Unfortunately, due to the affect the hormones treatments were having, the weight loss stopped.  It also started to get a little expensive for me to keep having my nails done… so I decided it was best if I removed them.  I partly didn’t feel like I deserved the ‘reward’ since I wasn’t still losing weight but the main problem was about cost.

The thing is, I really loved having pretty nails so I decided to start trying to do them myself and see what I could come up with.  Before I knew it I was hooked!  Uh oh, I DO live for nail polish!  So that means that on my About Me page I am a big lying liar! haha

Not just that, but with the weight loss I also realized that none of the clothes I’d bought last summer fit me anymore.  Which was good, but also not good because I didn’t want to have to buy an entirely new wardrobe.  I did have to buy some new clothes though, and I thought what better time to try something new!  For the first time in years, I bought leggings… and a dress.  Yes, you heard me right.  A dress!

I wore it… and felt silly.

I wore it again… and felt slightly less silly.

I got one or two more outfits like this and I wore them and felt increasingly less silly.

I admit, each of the times I wore it I was a little paranoid about the size of my legs, because that is one area that isn’t showing a drastic change after the weight loss.  I’m still quite big in my butt, thighs and legs… so wearing stuff like this really tests my strength in regards to my body issues.  Every part of me wants to NOT wear these outfits, EVEN THOUGH they are incredibly comfortable and cool in the warm weather.  The insecure, paranoid, body issue freak inside me would rather sweat to death than wear something that might make someone mentally point and laugh when I walk by.

I didn’t give in though, because deep down as much as I worry about my legs, or about my flabby arms when I wear a tank top (oh sweet jesus, don’t even get me started on THAT. Let’s just say I won’t be waving a lot to people this summer!)… I am enjoying the freedom of wearing what I like more and more, regardless of what other people may think.

I’m not sure what created such a drastic change…. now constantly with the nails and manicures, wearing dresses and looking at shoes and makeup more.  Some friends have a theory that it’s a possible effect of the hormones I’d taken over the past six months, and maybe they are right… maybe there is something in them that brings out my feminine side, who knows.  All I know is that I am through with not trying things because I worry I’ll look stupid.

To be honest, the nails thing?  It’s been so therapeutic.  There were a lot of days during my treatments that I felt so down. My mind would be going a thousand miles a minute and I didn’t have the patience for anything… but I could sit and play with nail polish and paint my nails for hours.  It felt peaceful and for a little while I was free of the mental roller coaster I was riding.

I even started a second blog, yes… all about nails.  I love it!  It’s not about anything personal, I don’t discuss life or how I’m feeling.  I just share something I enjoy with other people who enjoy it too.  It’s SO simple and so fun.

It’s called (as you can see) Gettin’ Girlie.  Notice my newspaper nails manicure?  Pretty fitting for my ‘Stop The Presses’” post, huh?  I’m so clever.

Anyway, the blog is on Blogger, which I must admit I kind of despise, but that’s where the nail community ‘lives’, so I figured I may as well have my nail blog live there too. I would have loved to be able to have the nails blog also on self-hosted WordPress, because that’s how I roll… but there are elements to nail blogging (like having to use Google Friend Connect) which absolutely does NOT work on WordPress for some reason, that I can’t use, so I’m sort of stuck with Blogger. Blech.

The reasons I started a second blog for this are pretty simple.  I didn’t think the readers who visit Canadutch would all be interested in nails.  Not that everyone that visits is interested in everything I write, but if I suddenly just became all about manicures it would not really be what this blog is about.  Also, I wanted to sign up for giveaways. LOTS AND LOTS of giveaways. I so want free shit!  In order to do that you have to pretty much plague your blog with posts, sidebar stuff etc… and that’s not what I want for Canadutch either.  I like keeping this site free of spam and clutter, and that just does not jive well with what the whole nail blogging thing is all about.

For the last while I’ve been keeping the nail blog semi-secret because I felt kind of silly.  I mean, a NAIL blog? About NAIL POLISH!?  I’m so over it.  It’s fun, I enjoy it and it relaxes me.  There’s nothing to be ashamed of here… it was just me being silly and slipping into old habits of worrying what other people will think.  Over analyzing things… Now I am just rolling my eyes at myself, of course.

As hard as the weight loss journey has been so far, and will be in the coming months, and as much as these fertility treatments have taken out of me… there is a silver lining here.  I feel like I’m becoming more and more the person I want to be and am becoming less afraid of what other people think.  It has been teaching me some valuable lessons.  Most of all, that it’s ok to let your freak flag fly… and fly it will!!

Oh, just don’t think I’ll be waving it, because no matter how ‘over it’ I like to think I am, those waggly arms still drive me bananas!

Related posts:

1. Stop With the Links!
2. Confessions of a Fat Girl: Fat and Feminine?
3. Please!! Make it Stop!!

This was the cover of a calendar that my mom sent me for Christmas last year.  I was sort of bummed when I took it down because it was really cute and funny.  My mom knows me so well…

There has been a lot of this in my life lately, pretending to be normal when really I’m wigging out completely inside. I miss the days when I’d just talk about anything on my blog, because I feel like I could really use that outlet for getting all my thoughts out, but something has changed.

One thing I have always liked best about my blog is that I’ve been real, totally 100% real.  The good stuff, the bad and the really really bad.  I like being honest and putting it all out there, mostly because I know that there are people who have gone through some of the same things I have who have felt better knowing they aren’t alone.

The problem though?  At times I’ve paid dearly for it because I’ve taken it too far. I’ve been insensitive about other people’s feelings and was so busy getting my own feelings out there that I wasn’t thinking of the other people who were affected by it.

I don’t think anyone would be bothered if I wrote about the issues I’m having at the moment, but it’s all stuff that if I put it out there, it’s out for public consumption and I don’t know if I want that right now.  I’d like to talk about it but only on my terms.  Meaning I’d like to blog about it just so I can talk and let my feelings out but I wouldn’t want people asking me about it all the time, because while I’d write about it here that wouldn’t mean I’d always feel like talking about it. It would just be nice to let it all out and drivel on about it as long as I want without worrying that I’m boring someone or forcing them to be a part of a conversation about it.

Fucking hell, I just realized I’m like one of those Vaguebookers I hate so much.  Those assholes who say something like “oh I never thought it could ever get this bad!” or “I never thought a friend could be that absolutely heinous but I guess they can’”, which prompts all their friends to swarm like flies to shit to find out what is going on. I hate those people, like… want to punch in the throat kind of hate.

Honestly, that’s not what I’m trying to do. I’m just talking about an inner struggle with how I am feeling about my blog at the moment and what I want it to be.  It used to be a no holds barred place for me to be well… me.  Lately it feels like I’ve been holding back, just posting photos and trying to keep everything as safe as possible… and I really really haven’t been enjoying it.  I like to think I’m wiser now and I know what is and isn’t appropriate to write about.  The problem is, everyone has a different idea of where the line is.  Maybe I just need to keep on writing like I always did, as long as it’s just my own private business I’m discussing, and possibly my husband’s if he consents…. and give a good think to who else is affected by it if I hit the publish button.

Sorry, I know this probably makes no sense and is really confusing, but if you’ve been reading for a long time I’m sure you’ve noticed the difference as well. I just need to think on it a bit more, but I’ll probably be back soon to add a little clarity to the whole thing.

Related posts:

1. Project 365 (Day 2) Painting With Light
2. Project 365 (Day 1) A Pitiful Year for Fireworks
3. Project 365 (Day 3) Ten Years of Christmases

19. Finally meet Sonya

Sonya is a good friend of mine that I first met online about two years ago.  She had contacted me after reading through  my blog as she was new in the Netherlands and going through a lot of what I did in the early years.  We quickly became friends when we realized it wasn’t just our expat status that we had in common, we were both into crafts, photography and other things as well.

We kept saying we were going to meet, but living on opposite sides of the country posed a bit of a problem.  Even though it’s only a little over two hours to drive, it still took some planning and this is why I added meeting her to my 101 list.  To make sure that at some point we stopped letting the drive get in our way!

Early in the summer, Sonya and I, together with our friend Candace, got together for a BBQ and finally all got too meet!  Since then we’ve all gotten together a number of times and I think the three of us can agree that we all wish we lived closer together!  We still make the effort to get together when we can though, and Sonya and her family even watched our dogs for us while we were in France.

I would post photos, but due to Sonya’s husband’s job as a top secret international man of mystery, that is not possible.  You will just have to use your imagination to see us together knitting, BBQing, talking far too much about 80’s TV and giggling loads.

88. Grow my own vegetables

Dude, I SO TOTALLY DID THAT!!  Thanks to Jenny, I can now officially say that I have grown my own vegetables!  I know my veggie files posts sort of died off but I did grow and eat both green beans and cucumbers!  My plants are now dead and gone, but dammit, I grew veggies!  I never was successful with the lettuce, it started to show promise there at one point but… no joy.

45. Find a doctor I trust

This one is a bit of a different situation, I am still going to consider this an accomplishment though.  I didn’t so much find a NEW doctor I trust, rather I learned to trust the doctor I have.  So, really I did find a doctor I trust in the end.  I know I’ve complained about him, but he did redeem himself.  There have been a number of scuffles between us over the years and most if it boiled down to the fact that he refuses to sugarcoat things or pull punches with me.  When I was feeling down and out, I really wasn’t up to taking it.  When he’d tell me flat out that I was too fat, or that a lot of my ailments are probably due to the extra weight, I’d get insulted and hate him for not finding other, easier to fix reasons for my problems.  That was my issue, not his.

He is the reason why I am where I am today. If he hadn’t given me that cold hard slap of reality, I probably would have continued to avoid the fact that I desperately needed to lose weight.  Now I am down almost 70 lbs and am still going strong. When I see him he is truly happy to see my progress and makes it clear that he’ll do whatever he can to support me in getting to my goals.  I may not always appreciate the tough love he dishes out, but I realize now that I do trust him. He doesn’t always give me what I want, but he gives me what I need, even if it’s a good swift kick in the ass. I’m thankful for that.

71. Re-organize blog categories and tags

This one actually took me a dogs age, but I did it!  I decided on 16 categories that I thought all of my posts could fit into, then left the tags more wide open. Basically less categories and more tags.  My whole category system was getting out of control.  This required me to go back into my older posts and edit them all, putting them into the appropriate new categories and adding the tags.  It was a pain but now the blog is more organized.  I don’t think it was a really super important thing to do but it’s just one of those OCD things I had to get done.

97. Clean out our storage room

This is one I really wish I’d taken photos of. If I had remembered it was on my 101 list I probably would have, but at the time all I could think about was getting it done.  It took my husband and I two days of basically pulling everything out of the room, putting it in piles of keep, throw away and sell … and a load of reorganizing when it all went back in.  The room was a disaster area in the beginning and it was basically just big wall of junk when you opened the door.  We managed to create a lot of space down there and are even able to easily get our bikes in and out when we need them.  Everything is put away in categories, like our camping stuff is all together, old clothes are together etc.

Granted, we will have to do this again in 6 months or a year, as the junk ALWAYS accumulates… but we did it this time and we did it well. I’ll just concentrate on that for now!

48. Get a 2nd opinion from a Fertility Specialist

I’m not going to get into the history of my issues with infertility, as there are bits and pieces about it to be found here on my blog if you want to go searching for it.  I also don’t think I will be discussing it in any detail over the next while either. It’s private and not something I want to put out to the whole world anymore.  Maybe one day I will want to write about this on my blog again, just to keep a record of things, but for now I’ll just say I’ve had my second opinion and leave it at that. So I can scratch this one off my list too.

73. Get prescription sunglasses

DONE!  Since getting glasses for the first time, I’ve missed being able to wear sunglasses.  I can see fine without my glasses as my eyes aren’t really that bad, but it’s just enough to notice. So if I take off my normal glasses and put on my store bought sunglasses, I can feel my eyes straining just that tiny little bit.  So between when I first got glasses almost four years ago until this summer, I just never wore sunnies at all.

When I went to pick out new glasses before the summer, the place I went to had a deal where you could get three pairs for €175.  So I got one normal everyday pair, one funky pair and one pair of SUNNIIIEEEES!  I was so happy!  I snapped this photo in the car on our way to France.  I wore them a lot there, but sadly haven’t had a lot of occasion to wear them here.  Stupid Dutch weather.

Now I have 2.5 weeks before I can scratch off this one: 13. Fly home to Canada alone. Cannot. Frigging. Wait!!  You can bet your ass I’ll be writing about that one!

Related posts:

1. 101 List – My First Cheesecake Adventure
2. 101 List – Happy Sushi
3. 101 List – My First Pedicure

Over the years I’ve spoken to a lot of bloggers and have even met one or two in real life and become friends with them.  One thing that has always stopped me from meeting more is the underlying fear of them not being who they make themselves out to be on their blogs.  I know in many cases it’s probably silly to feel that way, but in talking to different bloggers who have met a lot of others, I hear a lot of stories about people who turn out to be nothing like the person you see on their blog.

Recently I learned about another example of this happening.  It doesn’t really affect me since I never really talk to the person and they live nowhere near me, so I wouldn’t ever be meeting them anyway, but it does get under my skin.  Apparently, this person’s blog persona is a complete fabrication.  From their name, where they live, what they do and just generally who they are.   Many of the experiences they write about on their blog have not even happened, and a lot of what they write about is found through Google, rather than their own life experiences.

First, let me say that I don’t think it’s an obligation for bloggers to share all of their details.  In fact, I often wonder if I am not a bit too open about who I am and what goes on in my life.  I think everyone has a right to share only what they are comfortable with, as the internet is not necessarily a safe place when it comes to sharing personal information.  However, not giving your name and other information is entirely different from making up a whole new persona with a life that doesn’t actually exist.

Ordinarily, if someone did this, I’d think it was silly but not be especially bothered.  In this case it is a fellow expat, and when I heard about it I found myself getting increasingly agitated.   What I’ve heard is that this particular expat, like many of us, struggles quite a lot in their real life and their name, marital status, level of integration and pretty much everything else they discuss on their blog is just simply not true.

Why does this bug me, you are probably wondering?   It’s because this person writes as though they have come here and thrived in their new environment, when that is actually a complete falsehood, they are having a rough time just like anyone else.  This bothers me because there are so many expats out there who do struggle and often will look for people who understand and have been there themselves, and while this person’s blog can be a great source of information, the way in which it’s written can be very deceiving.  For the new, culture shocked, expat, it may seem as though there is something wrong with them because this person (supposedly) has breezed through as though it was no problem at all.

Don’t get me wrong, there ARE people out there who have come here and really dug in and adapted wonderfully to their life here, and I applaud them.  I think they probably have a lot to share with the rest of us and can give newcomers some great tips on how to get along here.    I know a few people who’s blogs I read regularly and wish I’d met them when I first got here.  There’s a lot I could have learned from them.

I know how humiliating it can be to come to another country and feel lost.  I get the feelings of failure that can come along with it and how it can affect every single aspect of your life.  I can also understand why people feel that this is a personal thing that they don’t want to share with the world.  Whether it’s because they don’t want to upset their family by letting them know how much harder it is than they thought, or just that it upsets them to talk about it.

What I don’t understand is the need to go drastically in the other direction and make up a life that doesn’t exist.   Not only would you be lying about who you are, which can’t feel good, but you’d be painting a completely false picture to those who read your blog and very likely use your experiences to measure themselves by.

I understand that everyone has their own ways of coping and nobody expects bloggers to tell the world who they are and where they live.  Things like the city they live in and how old they are aren’t really that important either… but I think people do expect some level of truth in the things we say.

What do you think?  Do you feel that there is a certain expectation of truth in blogging?  Would the fact that a person is blogging about specific issues make a difference in what you expect from them?   I’m curious to hear your opinions!

Related posts:

1. Blogging By Mobile
2. 30 Days of Truth: Day 11
3. 30 Days of Truth: Day 18

Yesterday was the five year anniversary of this blog.   It started out on May 2, 2004 when I was anxiously awaiting my upcoming trip to Canada.  I’d not been home in almost four years so I was long overdue.  Now here I am, five years later… looking back on it like it was just yesterday!

In the past five years a lot has changed on this site.  I’ve gone through a number of themes, changed the look endless times and went from writing in plain HTML, to Movabletype and finally WordPress, which I think I’ll be sticking with for a while.

Not just that but my feelings about the Netherlands has also changed quite drastically and not having as much to rant and complain about has made for a bit of a challenge when trying to figure out what to write.  I try to write about the more positive aspects nowadays, while still ‘keeping it real’ and being honest about the parts that still aren’t so great.

I’ve learned a lot over the years.  Mostly, what not to say.  I used to see this space as mine and mine alone, where I could say and do whatever I wanted and it was up to everyone else to suck it up or not read it.   While technically that may be true, it wasn’t exactly realistic.   In five years of maintaining this blog, it’s been a hard lesson in learning the balance between free speech and knowing when to shut my mouth and keep my thoughts to myself.

Honestly, it’s hard to believe it’s been five years… but then I say that about everything, don’t I?  I never stop being amazed by how quickly time goes by, especially since I’ve moved to the Netherlands.  This summer I’ll have been here for 10 years, that’s a scary thought when I think of how little I’ve managed to accomplish since living here.  I suspect, and hope, that the next 10 will be less difficult, less plagued with my issues and inability to adapt, and more about just enjoying life for both myself and my husband.

I do have a few regrets, things I wish I’d handled better, not ranted about or perhaps had taken a minute to think about before saying.   Unfortunately, I can’t change any of it now, all I can do is try to learn from it and not make the same mistakes in the future.   That said, a lot of good has come from this blog too.  Not just for me, but for other expats as well.

I met my best friend because her husband found my blog and told her about it.

I met most of my other friends the same way.

I’ve gotten many messages from other expats expressing how happy they were to find my blog, and how good it feels for them to know they aren’t alone in their struggles here.

I think I’ve also been able to be a bit of an example.  Not in the way you might think I mean that.  I would never consider myself to be an example of how to do anything in regards to coming here and making a life for yourself.   Rather, I am an example of how NOT to do it.   A lot of my 10 years has been wasted due to my stubbornness and inability to adapt.  Again, not something I can change, but I can try to urge other people to take action earlier and if need be, get some help with it.   Sitting around being bitter and angry, which I admit I still do at times, just less frequently… is going to do more harm than good.  Another lesson I had to learn the hard way, and don’t wish for any of my fellow expats.

A lot of my time now is spent trying to undo the damage all those years of fighting life here has caused, which makes my progress here still slower than it should be.  If I knew in the beginning the things I know now, I would have done things so much differently.   Hopefully being honest about my bad times as well as the good will urge other people who are new to the Netherlands not to follow in my footsteps, but to grab the world by the balls and do all they can to not just cope, but thrive, in their new surroundings.

So here I am, 5 years older (ugh, 34th birthday coming up on Friday), a little bit wiser, 2147 posts and 227,439 visitors later… still here, still writing and more in love with my Dutchie than ever (9 year anniversary next Tuesday).

To those of you who have been following me over the years, thanks!  Your comments and the friendships I’ve made as a result of writing this blog (you know who you are!) have made such a massive difference in my life and my level of happiness.  Much love!

Related posts:

1. Canadutch Goes Live!
2. Nine Years and Still Kickin’!
3. 14 Years Already?!

the exchange focuses on doing an act of kindness without expecting anything in return other than that the recipient will, in their turn, pass the kindness along and pay it forward in their own way.

Zhu received a gift from a blogger in France, and I was chosen for her to send a gift to from Canada!

Oh my word… homesick much?!

She wrote a nice little note on the back of the postcard and obviously she knows me well because the pages of that calendar will be worn through by the time I’m done.

If you think I’m kidding, here is a little confession.  At the end of 2007 my mother sent me a 2008 Canadian calendar.  When I opened the package (which had other things as well) I got so excited I had to pee, so I took the calendar in with me.  It’s been sitting in the ‘reading materials’ spot ever since.

Don’t believe me?  Check it out.

It even still has the post it note mom put on it.   Every so often while I’m sitting on the throne I’ll grab the calendar and look through it.   I know it’s weird, bite me.

Anyhow, I was going to say it is probably time to retire the 2008 Canada toilet calendar but I know that’s a lie.  I’ll just be adding a 2009 one.  Thanks Zhu!

So, now with the fun part!   I get to choose three people to send a little something to!  So here’s what you do.  Post a sort of ‘pick me pick me!’ comment here and on Friday I will pick names out of a hat (unless only three people comment… then, congratulations! You’ve been picked!).  Then I will send a little something your way and it will be your turn.

Oh, and say if you celebrate x-mas or not because you know… being that time of year and me being a Christmas freak and all!

UPDATE

I was just taking to my friend Alan, I was too lazy to grab a hat.

breigh 9:05 AM
hey do me a favor and pick 3 numbers between 1 and 11
05:37
(need to pick people randomly for something for my blog)
alan 9:05 AM
ok
2, 5, 7

So that means Lala, Amber and Melissa will be receiving a Pay it Forward Package!! :)   If you didn’t get chosen, feel free to leave harassing messages for Alan here on my blog hehe (I’m such a blame shifter).

Related posts:

1. First Blog!
2. Blog-Lazy
3. Expat Limbo – Google Maps Style

Today DutchBitch has given me the I love your blog award!  Pretty cool!

I’ll be honest.  I’ve seen other people handing these awards out to each other and I’ve been a little jealous and unloved.

Not anymore, I’m one of the cool kids now, so to speak!

This is how it works, according to DutchBitch:

The “I Love Your Blog Award” rules:

The winner can put the logo on his/her blog.

Link the person you received your award from.

Nominate at least seven other blogs

Put links of those blogs on yours.

Leave a message on the blogs that you’ve nominated.

I’ve decided to choose the following people.

Gail at Large – I know Gail is totally not into this kind of thing but I have to give it to her anyway.  Her blog is great because she is great and she inspires me in so many ways.   She has overcome some truly difficult times that make my woes seem petty and selfish and she also takes some really kick ass photos.

Very Pink – I’m choosing Staci over at VeryPink.com because I just think she’s the shit.  I met her when she was living here in the Netherlands with He Who Shall Not Be Spoken Of and I got the pleasure of petsitting with her two beautiful Basenjis.   She takes REALLY cool photos for the 365 Days Flickr Project.   Plus, this girl can KNIT… and I’m kicking myself that I didn’t trade petsitting for free knitting lessons back when she was here! DOH!

XBox4NappyRash – I don’t know this guy very well but I do know he’s an expat in NL (like me), he and his partner are having problems with infertility (like me), and he finds the Dutch doctors to be little to no help at all in regards to such problems (LIKE ME!).  Project Baby has been put on the back burner for Hubby and I, but that doesn’t mean I can’t relate and empathize with the ‘XBox’ and his wife.  Infertility is a bitch.  Infertility in the Netherlands is a bitch on the rag who just found panties 3 times smaller than hers in her husband’s pants pocket.   I bitched a lot about my problems here not being able to get pregnant, but he does it a much better way.  He finds the humor in it.

KrazyIvan – I only recently found this guy but I really dig his blog.  Mostly because he talks about shit that I totally get but don’t talk to a lot of other people I know about cuz they’d just go ‘huh?’.   Like Rumor Willis’ Jaw (something that irritates me to no end) and Old 80′s Movies.   He reminds me that there actually are people out there who watch as many movies as I do, and are not ashamed!

Jason. For The Love of God – I love this blog because she’s very much a say it like it is kind of person.  I also love the dynamic in her family.  I have to admit sometimes when she posts conversations between her and her kids I find myself wondering if she made it up, I mean nobody’s kids can be THAT cute and clever, can they?!  I’m taking her word for it though!   She and her husband are a laugh as well and every time I read her blog I think I must start remembering some of the nutty conversations hubby and I have, but then I forget again.   It’s just an entertaining read :)

Penny in Holland – This is the blog of my good friend Penny.   I love it because it’s where I get my dose of Noah, and that little guy is too cool for school.  I love this blog because she actually MADE it.  I love when friends have blogs because I love reading them and seeing what kind of stuff they’ll put on there.   Especially when they are expats too.

Canadian in Clogs – My newest expat friend here in NL, and fellow blogger… AND Canadian (WOOT!).  We’ve not met in person yet, since we live quite a distance from each other… but we’ve gotten to know each other really well through each other’s blogs and by chatting online.   I love her blog because she’s snap happy like me and loves to take photos wherever she goes, she’s also crazy about her dog and has the redecoration bug.   Mostly because she’s an explorer and has gone to places in the Netherlands that I haven’t even been to yet!   So when I see her blogs I end up wanting to visit these places too.

Ok, that makes 7… eish it’s hard to choose!  There are a few people who’s blogs I probably would have put on the list but they haven’t posted in ages so I’m losing the love. If you are lurking and have a blog and haven’t posted in a while, get snappy!

Related posts:

1. Blog Confusion
2. Why Do You Blog?
3. Paying it Forward – Blog Style!

Unfortunately, the company that hosts Breigh.com hasn’t been able to figure out what is causing the problems… and it’s frustrating the crap out of me.   My husband spent a while on the phone with them yesterday and they are setting things up to monitor the server this website is on to see if they can pinpoint the problem.

In the meantime, if you are visiting and have extremely slow loading time or get any errors, can you please leave a comment letting me know.  I can then pass the date and times onto the support team for my host.

Thanks and sorry for the crappy loading times, it’s more frustrating for me than it is for you, trust me! :P

Related posts:

1. The Squeeky Geek Gets The Grease! Website Issues Resolved – I Hope!
2. Abandonment Issues
3. Do Me a Favor Please?

This theme is awesome and I really must give a big shout out to Michael over at Solostream.com for helping me out along the way!  He did a fantastic job on creating this theme and is super quick getting back to you for support.

Now that I have everything fixed, the upkeep should be a lot easier.  My old theme was nice but it was getting a bit outdated and required me changing things in the code whenever I wanted to add something new.  This theme is new and fresh and has soooo many things integrated with it.

So now I can get back to blogging about regular crap again!

Related posts:

1. New Blog Theme!
2. Website Issues
3. Messing With Themes

The way the site works is, they review your site but only the really good ones get the ‘bloggy award’.   You have to get a 10 / 10 overall to get it, and I did! w00t! I’m totally stoked!  This is the first review I’ve gotten since I’ve done the site over.

Here’s what they had to say:

Canadutch is the personal log of a Canadian girl living in the Netherlands. The author summed up pretty nicely what her blog is all about when she said that Canadutch is “about my life and the struggle to find the balance of adapting to a new culture without forgetting my own.” Well it seems like she’s found her balance and living life well too.

Visual Aesthetics – 10

Very nice. Very neat. Very professional looking. And very user friendly. Great pics, great layout, and great color combination. Everything in the blog looks just right.

User Friendliness – 10

Again everything is exactly where it should be. Very readable text. Clear feature headings. Necessary navigation features all present and easy to find.

Reading Enjoyment – 9

A personal journal that’s actually enjoyable to read. Her posts are well written and other pages make for an interesting read. Be sure to read her Holland page if you want to learn something and be entertained. Anyone who’s a part of a couple will surely enjoy the Spats Page. The images she uses are also always related to her posts and add to the story being told. Good job!

User Info – 9

If you want to know more about Canada and Holland this is a good place to visit for an insiders point of view. You will also learn more about hedgehogs and the other pets the author keeps as well as various trivial facts the author happened to come upon.

Overall Experience - 10

One of the few personal blogs that really deserves a Bloggy Award. I guess the Canada/Netherlands combination is a winner.

I’m a happy camper now. The new theme appears to be a hit and I must admit it suits me much better than the old one. It’s nice to be blogging about life again as well, rather than constantly going on about blog traffic site stuff. Can thank Avitable for that!

Related posts:

1. Site Maintenance
2. Blog Confusion
3. Big Brother UK Winner Revealed!!