Europe // Amsterdam, The Netherlands

We checked into our cute little bed and breakfast overlooking the canals, decked out in modern design and lush bedding — we were excited to call this home for a few days. Arash and I both had Amsterdam on our “list of places to see” and we definitely took advantage of it! We’re definitely not the type of travelers that have to see and do everything, we aren’t the greatest “tourists” but we do appreciate a few galleries and museums from time to time. We especially love to just walk around, photograph and discover things as we go. Our little Trip Advisor app came in handy here as we made our way through all the little streets. I highly recommend it!

One of the greatest highlights in Amsterdam was getting to meet Alice. Thanks to Facebook, Alice reached out to me when I posted that we were headed to her city — she had been following my blog and thought she’d reach out. Having never met before, our mutual love for photography brought us together. It was a divine appointment to say the least. My greatest hope in all I do is to inspire others to tap into their creative passion and come alive because so much of who I am and where I’ve come from is a direct result of taking risk and having faith. It was surreal, to sit across from her at dinner, answer questions she had for me, motivate and encourage her to keep at what she’s doing…(she’s SO talented!)…it left me so humbled. Sometimes God brings people into your life to remind you of how great He is, and to reassure you that the path you’re on is the right one!! Alice did that for me. I was so touched and thankful to have a friend in Holland. She shot the cute photo below, too! 

Amsterdam really is the land of bicycles. Everywhere you turn there are bikes along the canal, in the streets, on every little corner — its THE mode of transportation. Arash I dreamt about living there and riding our bikes along the canal to go get groceries. Chill lifestyle…we like!

Going to the Van Gough museum and seeing his work up close was unreal. Something that really resonated with me was how he saw beyond just telling a story. He captured texture, line and color so beautifully. He believed that true art is all of those elements combined. I believe that about photography as well…its more than just telling a story, its about the textures, colors, lines, compositions…all those factors together make the story that much more impactful.

One cafe we stopped in was Buffet Van Odette, along the canal. The perfect little hole in the wall with some of the tastiest food we’ve ever had. Arash had the salmon sandwich and I had the pumpkin soup and a quiche — SO yummy. 

One thing you need to know about Arash is that he has a deep love for chocolate so it was an obvious choice for us to stop in and get some chocolates at Pompadour. Its a little hidden gem and the best chocolaterie in Amsterdam.

De Kaaskamer is one of the best specialty cheese shops in Amsterdam. I wanted to take it all home!

Walking around the 9 Little Streets, you’ll find an overwhelming amount of adorable little shops which we both love to browse through! Arash and I both appreciate a good wardrobe find, especially if its super unique. One of our favorites in Amsterdam was LockStock & Barrel — how cute is that name? Its an independently owned shop, the owner is the girl in the above photograph. She hand picks everything for her shop, super unique, urban and modern. Another favorite along the 9 Little Streets was We Are Labels, a small little boutique overlooking the water, filled with great finds! How cute is that cabinet with the heels displayed? One thing I can’t get enough of is accessories and random little trinkets to decorate our house with. Walking down the canal streets, there was an unlimited number of gems to find along the way!
Visiting the Ann Frank House was something I had wanted to do for years. I remember reading about Ann Frank in school and relating to her because I journal like crazy. I had bookmarked it in my head to visit the museum someday and it was so moving. To walk through the house she lived in, the small spaces she spent her childhood hiding in — insane. Ann was such a cool little girl…watching her little videos and hearing her excerpts really gave you a glimpse into who she was. She had always dreamt of writing a book, a book that would reach the world and although she faced some gruesome realities, the journals she left behind are reaching thousands everyday. She inspires me.