le weekend
I know, I know, it's nearly the new weekend. But hey, better late than never right?
Saturday, Bert and I didn't really do much other than grocery shopping at the organic supermarket (hail Bioplanet).
I did take this photo of Jos before he went out, because Rosa demanded it.
And managed to remember that there was a replica map of the first world map by Plantijn in a paper. So I bought De Gazet Van Antwerpen. Which is a total rag, but I do love maps.
On Sunday, however, it was a shopping Sunday (every first Sunday of the month), as well as the re-opening weekend of my favourite museum in Antwerp: Plantin-Moretus. I had wanted to go on Saturday, but as Bioplanet isn't open on Sunday and it was the October shopping Sunday, shopping Sunday it was.
We took the train really early, a little after 9am, which may seem ridiculous because the stores generally don't open before 11-12am on a shopping Sunday, but the museum opened at 10am already. Walking past UNIQLO there was a sign up with all the celebrations they had going on on the weekends of October, and it turned out that they were opening at noon and the first 50 visitors would receive a free cashmere scarf. So of course we planned to be there in time.
But first the museum. Because it was re-opening weekend, it was free that weekend. Which was ace. Everyone was also given a copy of that same map that was with De Gazet Van Antwerpen, which was good because I got the last copy of the paper the day before and Charlotte wanted a map too. So now we both have one :).
They did a lot of remodelling and adding of extra features like reading stands with replica books from their immense archive. They also had a lot of printing demonstrations, including one where a friendly gentleman was printing a sonnet by Christoffel Plantijn on a replica of a historical press. He also told people about the press and answered questions. I took one home and it's now on the bedroom door.
Aside from printing demos, they also had plays on a stage outside and all kinds of performances. Like this shell blowers quartet. I had never seen something like this, so I was really amazed. I thought it was amazing (still do), and they sounded _really_ good, too.
My outfit, photo by Bert.
Glasses: Theo
Blouse: Forever 21
Skirt: made it myself
Bag: Zatchels
Boots: Mustang
In the gift shop I got a card for Charlotte, and spent some time talking to the friendly people that work at the museum, before going to UNIQLO with Bert. When we got there at about 11.15am, there were about 20-25 people gathered already. So we joined the queue and waited. They also had free cake that day. Everyone was kind of sprinting upstairs with their scarf voucher, but Bert and I had cake first. Thank you UNIQLO! :)
Bert got a dark blue scarf and I got a sand coloured one. I gave mine to Bert too because... here's a shocker: I don't like cashmere. But Bert does. And frankly, if he could get up at stupid o' clock to drive to Ghent, to wait about 2 hours, most of that in the pouring raind, just so I could get in with the first 200 at the NYX Ghent opening, the least I can do is queue to get him an extra scarf :).
People were given a blind bag containing a scarf, and Bert and I totally lucked out on the colours. But a lot of people didn't get a colour they liked, and were moaning about it. Seriously folks, you just got a €49,90 scarf for FREE, suck it the fuck up. Or do like one friendly lady, just kindly ask people if they wanted to trade for her fave colour (she succeeded pretty quickly too). Don't be a jerk!
We spent some time in the store looking at stuff, Bert got more socks and tried on ultra light down jackets to figure out which one he likes best.
After that, we did more shopping. I got an eye shadow refill pan at M.A.C in Amber Lights as well as a little palette for two shadows. I moved Gesso from my palette of 4 to the one for 2. The plan is to add Brulé next to it next month. And then I got some essence eye shadows at Kruidvat Groenplaats (because no way am I spending € 10+ on shadows I'm only using for shading) and a couple more brushes. I also needed some translucent powder, but the ONE pot in that Kruidvat had been opened, and the shop girl I spoke to was all "we have no stock", without even bothering to actually look. The ICI PARIX XL was also out of the remover wipes I wanted. I always go to the Groenplaats one, because, contrary to many ICI PARIS XL stores, that one has super friendly employees. Seriously, super friendly. So we checked the next Kruidvat on the way to the station. Which was also out.
Next stop was Flying Tiger, where I got a TON of Halloween things for € 10 (well € 10,20 because I needed to buy a bag, should have brought a tote!). I love Flying Tiger Copenhagen, I really, really do.
And the next ICI PARIS XL on our way back to the station, where they did have the wipes I wanted.
In the very last Kruidvat, they still didn't have the translucent powder in the display, so I asked a shop girl and 'lo and behold, it was a super friendly girl who actually *gasp* did her job and went to have a look for it. She really LOOKED too because she went into both stock rooms to find it, and came out with a pot of translucent powder. Seriously, I was so happy. That was like the LAST thing I needed before I could start working with SFX wax. I have a pot of NYX translucent powder coming my way, by way of Dan and Jon (hail Dan and Jon), but it'll still be a while 'till that's here so I wanted some by essence to keep me going 'till then.
I also got a pot of eye makeup remover wipes, because those are super practical on the way.
Speaking of make-up, I was SO disappointed in the NYX eye shadow I was wearing. I had done blue detailing underneath my eyes with a colour from the ultimate shadows palette I have from them (brights) and the wind made my eyes tear, which caused the shadow to go get really washed out. Seriously, I looked like a demented panda. I am NEVER using NYX eye shadow underneath my eyes again, instead I'll stick to M.A.C, in M.A.C I can at least trust :). So guys, keep it on top of your lids, but not underneath your eyes! And yes, I did in fact apply a primer first (it wouldn't have taken properly without one anyway).
Of course, out of all the photos I put on instagram, this is the one Theo regrammed. It's nice that a big brand like that picked up on a photo Bert took :). That's really cool! Thank you kindly Theo :). This photo was taken before my make up got _really_ bad, but if you look at the corners of my eyes, you can see it's pretty rubbish already. I should probably also invest in a black eyeliner that lasts better than the Yves Rocher kohl pencil I use now. I will probably invest in another M.A.C technakohl liner, likely the dark purple one.
Bert quickly popped into Mediamarkt, didn't found what he was looking for, and so our last stop was Starbucks. Where I spent ages deciding whether I wanted a pumpkin spice latte or a pumpkin spice frappucino. I had time mind, because the queue was _not_ moving. And then it turned out that half the orders weren't passed to the girl making all the drinks, luckily she believed me when I said I was waiting for a pumpkin spice latte, because of course, the airheads at the register didn't give me my receipt. But we got it in time for the train, so that was good :). I felt really bad for that barista, she was so nice, it wasn't her fault her colleagues were flukes, and a lot of people were giving her a lot of grief. Whilst they weren't even about to catch a train. So not on XD.
The haul, minus Bert's cashmere scarves :).