waffles, beer, + chocolate: antwerp, belgium

Posted on July 29, 2015 by Sarah S.

Yesterday I wrote about my favorite Dutch foods (stroopwafels and cookie butter included). So today, here’s a look at some of the delicacies I enjoyed on a recent trip to Antwerp, Belgium. The day trip into Belgium was one of the last trips I took in Europe this summer, so I knew from the start I wanted to savor it. Thankfully, Belgian chocolate, beer, and waffles made the savoring very easy.

Belgian Waffles.

View of the Mas Museum.

Frites with mayo, curry sauce, and onions.

The beautiful Belgian city of Antwerp.

Coffee in the city.

The Belgian server: “It’s filled with alcohol. Is that okay”

Me: “Um, yes, totally.”

Server: “Because most people do not expect a hedgehog to be filled with alcohol.”

True enough.

Belgian beer, of course.

Panoramic views from the Mas Museum.

Belgian cuberdon. Sweet cones filled with gushy deliciousness.

Maybe cycling is just a way to burn off all the Belgian calorie goodness…

One day, I’ll be back in Belgium to enjoy theses delicious treats again. Until then, I’ll have to make due savoring the stroopwafels I brought back with me from Holland.

au revoir!

Sarah

This post is #87 of the #The100DayProject. For more updates on my progress, be sure to follow me on Instagram and look for the hashtage, #100DaysofMiaPrima

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a new look for mia prima casa

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Sarah S.

I founded the Mia Prima Casa (which means “my new house” in Italian) blog three years ago as a way to keep family and friends updated on everything I was up to post-college. This usually meant updates on how I was decorating my new (first!) apartment, what I was I was eating (usually plants), and what I was wearing.

Today, Mia Prima Casa has a whole new look. I like to think the blog now more closely represents the woman I am today: well traveled, well dressed (or at least trying to be!), and beginning a whole new chapter (business school).

Mia Prima Casa is far from gone, but she goes by a new name now. The Gibbson Girl, which is based off the 1910s fashion icon, evokes a sense of adventure, travel, and boldness. She has a vintage flare. Wears a crazy hat with confidence. Runs marathons. Travels to London. And most of all loves a night in with her cat, watching Downton Abbey and sneaking looks at her old travel diary pages.

Gibbson Girl Vintage Style on Etsy Tour de France Utrecht #100DaysofMiaPrima 1 European Style Brunch Breakfast Tea #100DaysofMiaPrima

I am so ready for this new chapter. And I hope you all are ready to meet the Gibbson Girl.

Cheers!

Sarah

p.s. The Gibbson Girl has a vintage shop, too!

This post is #85 of the #The100DayProject. For more updates on my progress, be sure to follow me on Instagram and look for the hashtage, #100DaysofMiaPrima

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coastal views from berwick upon tweed

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Sarah S.

As part of our UK road trip, my sister and I chose a small coastal town to spend the night. We were hoping for great seaside views, quality fish and chips, and maybe a glimpse of a wild sea lion. We were not disappointed. Well, not 100%; we didn’t see any sea lions but the sea views made up for that!

Here are some of my favorite photographs from the beaches of Berwick Upon Tweed.

Cheers!

Sarah

This post is #83 of the #The100DayProject. For more updates on my progress, be sure to follow me on Instagram and look for the hashtage, #100DaysofMiaPrima

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camden passage, london

Posted on July 20, 2015 by Sarah S.

I’m always on the look out for great vintage finds for my vintage clothing and accessories shop, The Gibbson Girl, so “flea market” is usually one of the first things I Google when I’m planning a trip to a new city. In London, I discovered small but charming Camden Passage.

Despite a slow start to the day (most shops and stalls weren’t open until 11am and noon), my sister and I were able to discover some one-of-a-kind vintage finds, including a tiny Morris Mini Minor charm that I’m crazy about it! We also stopped in for some Kombucha tea at Appesat, and enjoyed the artistic and chic atmosphere. A few block aways, we found Fara Charity shop and Saint Espresso where a cup of filtered coffee provided a back drop for photographs of some of my day’s finds.

Vintage Jewelry + Accessories from Around the World at The Gibbson Girl Etsy #100DaysofMiaPrima

Camden Passage, London Vintage Shopping #100DaysofMiaPrima

Camden Passage, London Vintage Shopping Coffee #100DaysofMiaPrima

Cheers!

Sarah

This post is #81 of the #The100DayProject. For more updates on my progress, be sure to follow me on Instagram and look for the hashtage, #100DaysofMiaPrima

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inspector morse and mr.selfridge

Posted on July 11, 2015 by Sarah S.

I’m a big fan of Inspector Morse (and Endeavour and Lewis…), so I might have had a minor freakout when I discovered an Inspector Morse tour in Oxford, England. Our guide, a retired Oxford University professor, was not only unbelievably knowledgable about the TV series and books, but she also happened to be Colin Dexter’s neighbor….and hilarious (in a nutty British professor kind of way that you’d expect from a woman giving a tour on an eccentric Oxford detective).

Inspector Morse Tour Oxford #100DaysofMiaPrima

Inspector Morse Tour Oxford #100DaysofMiaPrima 3

Inspector Morse Tour Oxford #100DaysofMiaPrima 2

The next day, I had a chance to geek out further over British TV with a trip to Selfridge’s. As a fan of the show, Mr Selfridge, the one hundred-year-old department store didn’t let me down! The place was a commercial playland full of candy rooms, cocktail bars, sundae stands, booming electronics, and a delightfully colorful cunchony of department store staples like perfume and cosmetics. Overall, it was just what I expected a 21st century Selfridge’s to look like, and while I didn’t quite have the funds to support a large purchase, a bag of bulk artisanal candy gave me the perfect little taste of the Selfridge’s experience. Just as Harry would have wanted– with just a pound or two you can leave the store absolutely delighted.

Cheers!

Sarah

This post is #75 of the #The100DayProject. For more updates on my progress, be sure to follow me on Instagram and look for the hashtage, #100DaysofMiaPrima

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hello, london + oxford!

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Sarah S.

Back to the UK! After a two day “break” in the Netherlands, my sister and I headed back to the UK for a quick weekend trip to London and Oxford. We have both been to London before, so this weekend was filled with pleasantly tourist-y free events. Well, minus an Inspector Morse tour in Oxford that is! We explored Oxford’s classically British pubs, enjoyed (our now regular meal of) fish ’n chips, admired the University’s stunning architecture, and popped into charming bookstores. In London, we visited Camden Passage for great cafes, charity shops, and vintage finds. We stopped by Selfridge’s to experience the 100+ year old department store ourselves (and we’re not disappointed). And of course we took a leisurely stroll through Hyde Park for some people and pigeon watching (“Where are their nests? I mean, have you ever seen a baby pigeon?”).

Tea in Oxford England #100DaysofMiaPrima

I can only hope I’ll be back to the UK soon enough!

Cheers,

Sarah

This post is #65 of the #The100DayProject. For more updates on my progress, be sure to follow me on Instagram and look for the hashtage, #100DaysofMiaPrima.

hello, northern england!

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Sarah S.

My sister and I left Scotland behind to go on a mini road trip through southern Scotland and northern England. We drove from Glasgow down to County Durham to visit the Aston Workshop, an impressive classic Aston Martin restoration and sales company located in the charming hills of Northumberland. After a classic British meal, we then swung back up towards Scotland, following the coast until we reached Berwick Upon Tweed. We stayed an evening in the quiet coastal town, enjoying castles, chilly but stunning beaches, and of course fish and chips. It was then just a mile to the Scottish Borders where we drove back up to Edinburgh to finish our tour. But we’re not done with the UK yet! Next weekend we fly to London for a quick trip.

Until then, cheers!

Sarah

This post is #60 of the #The100DayProject. For more updates on my progress, be sure to follow me on Instagram and look for the hashtage, #100DaysofMiaPrima.

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from iced coffee to vintage scrunchies: a day in berlin

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Sarah S.

I’m not sure if I love Berlin because of its culture, street art, and unique fashion sense or because today I was able to enjoy a vegan iced coffee and vegan burrito…but seriously, the iced coffee was a coconut water cold press with coconut milk! Whatever the reason (and I’m sure it’s all of them), I had an excellent Day #3 exploring Berlin. Unlike yesterday, I opted for public transit over cycling, as my day was packed with sites across the city. It was a morning of museums at the DDR museum and Gemäldegalerie followed by the wall art of the East Side Gallery and thrift shopping at Friedrichshain and Europe’s largest Humana (similar to the US’s GoodWill).

And yes, I bought a delicious iced coffee. But I also purchased five handmade vintage scrunchies, a crochet tank top, a tofu burger, and innumerable postcards. I don’t think I could have topped that.

bis später!

Sarah

This post is #57 of the #The100DayProject. For more updates on my progress, be sure to follow me on Instagram and look for the hashtage, #100DaysofMiaPrima.

Hallo, Deutschland!

A Day in Berlin (As Told Through Food)

a day in berlin (as told through food)

Posted on June 16, 2015 by Sarah S.

Day #2 in Berlin was jammed packed, especially since I chose to cycle instead of take public trans (and inevitably got lost fairly often). The day started early…and rough with one embarrassing crash into the curb (the slow-mo kind that has every pedestrian ogling), one spilled cappuccino, and one lost map. But things got rolling again soon and I cycling my way to every site on my itinerary. The best way to sum up my day is to lay it out meal by meal. After all, I’ll admit that the moments I love most on vacation are the ones where I’m eating!

Lunch at Vapiano, Potsdamer Platz

Cafe Crema at Topographie des Terrors, aka the old Gestapo HQ

Chocolate at Fassbender & Rausch near Gendarmenmarkt

A cold beer at the Bavarian-style beer hall, Augustiner am Gendarmenmarkt

Sushi at Ishin

Amazing food, and can you believe I kept it all under 25 Euros!? Looking forward to ~~seeing~~ eating what tomorrow brings.

bis später!

Sarah

This post is #56 of the #The100DayProject. For more updates on my progress, be sure to follow me on Instagram and look for the hashtage, #100DaysofMiaPrima.

hallo, deutschland!

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Sarah S.

Next stop on my European adventure: Berlin! I’ve been to Germany before (Munich…and I LOVED it!), but I knew that Berlin was a whole different world than Bavaria. I’ve wanted to visit Germany’s largest city for some time now, so it’s hard to believe I’m here already! And I have to say…I’ve only been in the city for a few hours, but I feel very comfortable here. Maybe because the language isn’t a far cry from Dutch and I’ve gotten used to spending so much time in Netherlands or maybe it feels good to be back in a big, bustling city. Either way, I’ve already had a great time visiting the Berlin Wall Memorial and enjoying (cheap!) Syrian food. Tomorrow is jammed back with tourist-y adventures and thrift shop excursions.

I’ll be sure to keep you all posted!

bis später!

Sarah

This post is #55 of the #The100DayProject. For more updates on my progress, be sure to follow me on Instagram and look for the hashtage, #100DaysofMiaPrima.

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