Isn't it though?  Life is better in Pink!  (Okay, that's kind of purple-y, but there wasn't a nice pink to pick from!)  Anyhow, I can't tell you how much this made me smile!  And to think that two little girls, aged 4 & 6, knew I would love it so they got it for me!  They have the most excellent taste!   :)   

So, what is it with us women?  This need we have to get more stuff?  Especially when we're going on a trip?  I literally have closets full of clothes.  Closets and closets.  And yet, today, I was compelled to go out in some rather inclement weather (okay, just cause I'm T and I like to ramble and enjoy weird trivia, that phrase made me think of a song lyric from the mid 1950's and I just need to put it out there.  Does anyone know what song this is from?  Bonus points if you know who sang it.  Here goes:  "Maybe the plane took off late, or they may have run into some inclement weather and had to alter their course.  I went outside and I watched the beacon light as it whipped through the dark ebony skies, as if it were searching for........."  Seriously, if you know that song lyric, without a Google search (be honest!), GOLD STAR for you!  And an honourable mention!)  Now, back on point.......  (wow, I ramble!)

So, the weather was awful, but I had to go out anyway to shop for clothes for Belgium.  Why?  The things I have already are perfectly nice.  I have loads to pick from.  No one I am going to meet or encounter would know whether what I'm wearing is old or new; it matters to absolutely no one.  But I had to go shopping.  (I have to go shopping now - movie quote.  Anyone know it?  :P)    I was in one of those moods.........you know when you go shopping for something specific and you can never find it?  I just knew it was going to be a day like that.  Given my mood and the weather and that I was going for specific items.......it just didn't feel like it was going to be a good trip.  But it was!  

I won't bore you with all the ins and outs of it (I've probably bored you enough by now!), but I was looking for a new pair of jeans, maybe a tshirt or two, and if I got lucky and the price was right.....a concert dress.  I found some jeans - two pairs actually.   Both on the sale rack; because I am all about sales!  So, for $25 each, I thought that's not bad for $50+ jeans.   Sold.  Turns out they were marked down extra and were only $17!   DEAL!   I also got a nice pair of yoga pants for the flight, since its so long and overnight, I want to be comfortable.   They weren't on that great of a sale, but I made up for it with the jeans savings, so I was okay with that.  I picked up a skirt too - for work - because it was only $7.  Regular $55.  Deal!   Are you seeing a pattern here?  I'm cheap!  LOL.   

But, the coup de gras (Is that the right term?  I think so......) was the dress!  I got a dress today!  A cocktail one.  Yes, yes, yet another movie quote!  From the same movie as above!  I just can't help myself, what can I say?  And you know you love it!  :P   Anyhoo.........I tried on several.  Saving the one I liked the best for last.  And I truly beleived that it wouldn't look nice or fit properly, but I saved it anyhow.  And guess what?  Besides two small alterations I can do myself.........perfect!  And different.  And the price was right!  Can't beat $30 for a $250 dress, right?  Except......Except......when I went to pay.........it was $10!!!!   $10!!!! (Yes, that needed to be in pink!  Because $10 is great, but everything is better in pink!  :)  )  STEAL!  

I felt like I was getting the deal of the century!  Although I did get a fancy dress once for $5.  But I wasn't going to complain about $10.  No way.  No how.  No complaining!  I probably would have paid $50 and been okay with it.  But $10?  Awesome right?   Uh-huh Uh-huh!    Wanna see a picture?   Oh, but what if you don't like it?  It is a bit different.   And it's silver.  Odd colour, really.  But it looks so nice, really it does!  Mum even said it was flattering, and believe me, she'd say if it wasn't!  Okay, here it is.  What do you think?  It's hard to get the whole effect, hanging on a hanger like that (don't worry Dad, I didn't scratch that door you just painted for me!)ut you can at least see the structure and the detail.  For $10!!!!! 

So, now I am thinking accessories and shoes and etcetera, etcetera.  I need something bold.  I want red, but Mum says it needs hot pink (LOL, of course it needs hot pink!) or purple or an electric blue or something.  I'll see what I can find!  Oh ya, and I'm wondering about my hair too.  Big and full and 60's sexy?  (Think Adele style)  Or pinned up into a french roll with some whispies?  Too much to think about!   

And that brings us to the end of the Deals and Steals blog post.  :)  Ladies (and Dad, since I think you are the only man reading this - hehe)  thanks so much for popping in and leaving your thoughts.  I'm so glad you're having as much fun with it as I am.  Because it is fun, isn't it?  Can you imagine when I actually start travelling?   May the force be with you all, because seriously.......we could be in some serious trouble.  :P  

T.
xxxx

So.........I guess musing about all the negative 'what if's' isn't such a good idea, is it?  Okay, T will try to stay away from that from now until.........a new batch of nerves kicks in.  I must admit, something has shifted this week and I am getting a little excited.  Can you believe it?  Me?  Who doesn't get excited about anything is a little bit excited about my trip?    I say that's amazing!  Or maybe I am just high on.......NO! not the Dutch Coffee Houses (who do you think I am! :P )...........I was about to say Diet Coke.  :)    DCH or DC?  You make up your own mind.  LOL  (Wow, I am silly at the moment!)

Anyhow, I have a million questions.  Questions, questions, questions.  If anyone knows the answers, please leave a comment.  This is stuff they don't tell you on Trip Advisor!  First up:  B&B Etiquette.   I've never stayed at a B&B; although I am super excited about the one I'm staying at.  It's so beautiful!   Giant bed, balcony overlooking a tree lined street, wood floors, claw foot bathtub. (Yes, I will post pictures!) But I don't know the etiquette.  For example, here in North America, when you stay in a hotel (a hotel, not a B&B) it is customary to leave a tip every day for the cleaning staff.   Does one do that at a B&B as well?  Or is it considered rude?  Or maybe you just leave a tip at the end of your stay?  I have no idea.  Also, do you make your bed?  Or do you expect the proprieter to do it?  Seems a bit lazy to me - expecting the host/hostess to make your bed when you could very well do it yourself in about 10 seconds, but is that part of the service you pay for when you're at a B&B?  Again, no idea.  Obviously the towels, etc get changed every day, but the rest of it?   Dunno.   Will you help me out, please, if you do know?  

Question Two also revolves around tipping.   I read somewhere that you only tip in Europe if the service at the restaurant is good.  Is this true?  Because in North America, its customary to tip 15% regardless.  The wait staff relies on tips since the hourly wage is not usually very good.  But in Europe?  Again, I have no idea.  What is the standard?  And if you do tip, what percentage is acceptable?  15% like in Canada?  

Question Three.  The train system.  I was googling about the trains today.  I am so confused.  Very, very confused.  Is there an inter-city train system in Brussels, plus a national train system (to get to Antwerp for example?  Oh and that makes me think of a secondary question:  Is Anterwp the same place as Antwerpen?), plus a third train system if I want to go out of the country (to Paris, for example)?  Is there really that many train systems?  How do you figure it all out?  I'm pretty smart, but seriously, I think this could just about do me in.  While we're on the topic of trains........is it worthwhile to get some kind of rail pass?  Is that cheaper?  How exactly does it work?   I need a one way to Antwerp, return to Paris, return to Leuven and a one way from Leuven.  Does that warrant getting a rail pass?  I need to be economical with some things, if I can, and I think rail travel will be one of them.  But then again, maybe I am not travelling enough by rail to justify a pass.  I don't know!!!!!  I'm sooooooooooo confused!  HELP! 

Okay, I won't bore you with any more questions today, but I will tell you about my dream.  Do you want to read about my dream? (What's your dream? Anyone know the movie quote that's from?) (Skip ahead if you don't want to read about the dream :P)   I dreamed I was leaving on my trip.  And the British Airways jet was parked out in the middle of a field; surrounded by tents and pathways and hippies.  It was sort of like Woodstock, only without the music and the mud.  I was in endless, endless lineups, twisting and turning and I couldn't figure out why there were no bathroom facilities for all the people in the line.  Including me.   They kept announcing that the plane was leaving, but I was no where near being able to board; and I really really had to to go the loo.  So, I was dancing in the line up, to distract myself, and wondering why I decided to go to Belgium since they obviously weren't civilized and didn't have any toilets.  Finally, finally.........the line snaked around to an outhouse.  I was disgusted.  One outhouse for all these people.  They couldn't even be bothered to build flush toilets for their passengers?  Really?  So, I was complaining to someone behind me, and then of course I woke up.    Guess what?   It was 2 am, and I really did need to use the loo.    I'm almost scared to know how you are all going to analyze that one.  LOL 

Okay, that is enough pointless ramblings from me.  Hope you enjoyed this upbeat, question filled episode of What's Brewin.  And yes Dad, I will phone you momentarily to tell you a new blog is up, since you ask me every day about it!  :)    See you soon, Brew-Meisters!  (What do you think of that name?)  

T. 
xxx

PS:  I won a coffee on Tim's 'Roll up the Rim' contest!  Yay me!  (But I think I've had enough caffeine today, don't you?) 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here I am again.  :)  Just popping in with a picture of Antwerp or Antwerpen or Anvers (take your pick and why does it have so many names?  More questions! )  This is the train station.  Thanks Chris!  It's so magnificent.  We don't have things like this in Canada.  

So, it dawned on me this quiet, snowy morning, as I sipped at my coffee and watched the last bit of Moonstruck that was playing on tv, that I'm leaving in four weeks.  FOUR WEEKS!  I'm going to Belgium - alone - in four weeks.  What have I done?  What am I doing?  I think I might have even had a little anxiety attack about it, to tell you the truth.  Yikes.  One Month  Belgium.  Alone. 

I know it's a great adventure.  And I think, deep down, that I'll probably have the most amazing time.  But the execution of it - the actual getting there - is completely overwhelming me today.  For the most part, since I booked my trip, I've pushed the reality of it of out my brain.  I was stressing so much about booking the trip - should I, shouldn't I - that was it was done, I just stopped dwelling on it.  Today, again, I'm back to dwelling on it.  What have I done?  What am I doing?  And I have a knot in my stomach. 

So many 'what ifs' are playing through my mind.  What if I get sick?  What if I get lost?  (Okay, not that one so much, I do have a good sense of direction thanks to my Dad, but still, nothing will be in english.  The chances of getting myself re-oriented are significantly less)  What if I get on the wrong train?  What if I have a horrible time?  What if I get abducted on my maybe Paris day trip?  (Again, far fetched, I know, but I do worry about this)  What if I hate my own company after Day One?  What if I get hit by a bus and my family is far away and there's no one to help me?  What if, what if, what if.  

There is no going back.  I know that.  It's planned and booked and paid for and I'm going.  But, what if?   How about this?  What if I have the best experience of  my life?  What if my whole outlook on life changes because of this trip?  What if I meet new friends?  What if I see the colourful tulips blooming in The Netherlands? What if I eat the most amazing chocolate I've ever had?  What if I realize one of my dreams and see the Eiffel Tower?  What if I love it so much, I don't want to come home?   What if I discover the origin of Frenched Fries? :P What if?  

So, I am trying to look at the positive of this crazy idea of mine, and not freak out too much.  But guess what?  Today I am freaking out a bit.   Remember how I wrote about having a bawl in a public toilet somewhere in Europe?  I'm not exacty bawling today, I'm just a little overwhelmed at what I've committed myself to.  Can I really do this?  I guess I have no choice - I'm doing it.  And it will either break me or prove that I can do anything.  What doesn't kill you makes you stronger (and yes, I am putting that song on the Belgium playlist!).  This won't kill me, I know that.  But I think it will test my limits.   That's not a bad thing.  Just scary. 

Wow, this has turned into quite a serious post.  Wasn't expecting that, readers.  But there you have it.  You said you wanted to read about all the preparations.  This is all part of it.  What if.   Tell me your what if's.  T, what if.........   Share all the what if's I haven't thought about.  I need some more stuff to obsess over, because clearly I like to torture myself.  hehehe 

T.
xx

PS:  Next time we'll talk about something funner.  Promise.  :) 

WOW!  Okay, first of all, I have say a big thank you to everyone who popped in here over the last few days.  WOW!  I am in shock; especially seeing some of you that I haven't talked to in a while.  And you know who you are, I won't say names.  I don't know if its blog etiquette to say 'hey', but 'hey'.  It's my blog and I can say 'hey' if I want to, right?  Yep.  :)   I could blab on for  ages about Carlos musings and black and white photos and oil paintings (good  one, Cindy!), but I fear none of that has anything to do with Belgium!  I'm going to try and stick to form if at all possible.  But anyone that knows me,  knows when I write, I tend to get off key rather quickly.  It's one of my  quirkies.   Ha.   I will save Carlos musings for a day when I don't have  anything to talk about, okay? 

So, second, I'll tell you where the title of the post came from.  The songs part is inspired from a FABULOUS concert I went to last night and the idea just sort hit me upside the head in the middle of a song.  And then I thought.......I have to blog about this!  So, thank you Dierks Bentley (who I got to meet, by the way, and who was so kind and sweet and who also rocked the house (yes, T does like to rock and roll despite her Divo affection)) for the brilliant idea. I think we're all going to have a load of fun with it.  But.......I'll get to it in a minute.  First let's chat about the "Soles" part.  

I love all the advice about what shoes to pack.  Really, I do.  Soooo much.  As someone commented, I wish I had a special man to wear those fancy heels for (not a word, Dad, not one word!) but alas, I do not.   That in itself could be ten blog posts, so we won't go there quite yet in the saga.  hehe  I'll save that for another day too.  So, of course I need to bring flats along, but have you ever heard of flats that convert into high heels?  No?   Well, neither have I.  Nope.  But they exist!  Can you believe it?  A fellow Canadian sent me this amazing picture, so I just have to post it here for everyone to see.  Aren't they just the coolest?  Seriously? 

I'm probably a bit slow on the uptake, but it took me a second to figure out how it worked, but I've got it now.  The bright pink high heel tucks into the bottom - or sole - of the shoe to make a flat.  There must be a flexible bendy part, or it wouldn't work and would be uncomfortable.  I'm sure the shoe engineers thought of that, because it must have been a girl who invented them, right?  LOL  Probably Canadian too.  :P  I have no idea where to get them or who makes them, I just thought they were the coolest thing I saw this week (besides Dierks, of course).  I love how they're in patent black; with pink accents.  The best combo.  Although I wonder if they come in red.  Hmmm.........

Okay, onto the 'Songs' part.  So, in the middle of Dierks' song, Free and Easy, it occurred to me that I needed to create a playlist for my iTouch for Belgium.  A playlist of fun, upbeat, you can do this and don't be a chicken T, songs.  Because I know there will be days, or moments, at least, that I will be completely overwhelmed and probably having a boo-hoo in some public toilet somewhere in Europe wondering what the heck I am doing there.  So.......I need positive, musical courage at my fingertips for those moments, which means I need to start compiling some songs.  And I need your help.   Will you help?

I've only got two songs so far.  I need lots more.  LOTS MORE!   One is the song that inspired the idea.........Free and Easy Down the Road I Go.  IE:  Don't be stressed, T, you can do this.   Free and Easy without a care in the world.  Song two is by my boy Keith, of course.  Days Go By.  A song that can pretty much convince me to do loads of things I'm afraid to do.  'You better start living right now, because days go by'.  Another shot of........you can do this.  You may never get the chance again, so just do it.   See, positive, upbeat, it's okay, don't freak out songs.  This is an adventure, not a big mistake.  Be happy.  Don't be bawling in a public toilet. 

So, suggestions?  Nothing sad or slow though, please.  These songs have to be empowering, okay?  That's my only rule.  Rule?  Well, I don't want to put rules, but you know what I mean.  LOL.  Think:  Songs that will stop T crying and get her out of the toilet.  Not songs that will put her in there.   hehehe   All genres  and years welcome.   Its a good project for us, don't you think?    I can't wait to hear all your songs, really I can't.  It's kind of exciting.  :D

Okay, this post is massively long.  And it's time for my bed.  I'll sign off for now......What's Brewin Readers.  I really need to come up with a name for you!  I'll keep working on that!    Nite nite, everyone!   Thanks for tuning in.  :D

T.
xx

PS:  Oh, before I forget.  In line with our coffee interest......since I was so tired this morning after being out late and dancing with Dierks, I had four coffees today!  Four!  Usually I have one!  So to go to four!  YIKES.  I was going to stop at three, but then someone from work brought me a Tim's and I couldn't say no to that, could I?    It was Roll up the Rim, too.   But I didn't win.  I never win.  Sigh.  And on that happy note, I shall leave you for evening, my TBrew's.  That' doesnt really work, does it?  TBrew.  Nope.  It doesn't.  Back to the drawing board.  :)

I must admit, I didn't expect to be back in here so soon.  I didn't expect eight comments on my silly little blog or 100 people to read it.  Who are you?  And I sure didn't expect my parents to log a comment!  Look at the two of you!  I am so proud of you for figuring out how to leave a comment!   (Even though I had to walk you through it on the phone!  LOL)  I'm very impressed.  Really!  Bravo! 

Okay, so Chris and Birgit........do you know what you started with that comment about Dutch Coffee Houses?  I honestly thought it was a brothel.  I did!  :)  But the moment I typed it into Google.......out came the truth!  Dutch Coffee Houses are.......well, am I allowed to say this?  Well, I can't imagine why not.  Because I'm sure half the world doesn't know.  This would educate them; like it educated me!  Although, according to Papa Brewin, he was very well aware of what they were.  How exactly do you know that, Dad?  Hmmmm? 

Anyhow, for those who may be in search of some, well, certain mostly illegal grasses that are rolled up in paper and smoked; a Dutch Coffee House might be the place for you.  I didn't read far enough along to determine if other types of..........well, drugs.......are available at these places.   I just know I won't be going to one!  I think the Belgian Coffee Houses sound nicer; real coffee and cakes.   Although, I'm already too fluffy as it is; I don't really need to eat any cakes.  :P  But if it 's cakes or grasses; well, I'm going to take the cakes.  Every single time!  :) :) :) 

So, there you have it.  Dutch Coffee Houses.  Learned something new today, didn't you?  Thanks to my Belgian girls.  If I can get it worked out; I'll bring you some really good coffee from Canada.  Tim's!   Tim's yummy yummy coffee.   :)

Now, the current dilemma for the trip is whether or not I should purchase a tablet to bring along with me, or if I should just bring my laptop.  I can't seem to post a new blog post from my iTouch, so I need to come up with Plan B.  Suggestions are most welcome.  I need to do some research.   And what else would you like to read about?  I could, in theory, post something every couple days, but I would probably bore you all to tears with my rambling.........as Mama Brewin said:  You just talked nonesense in Post One and rambled about nothing.   LOL.   Okay, Mum.  :P  

Anyhow, what are you interested it?  Trip preparations?  Dilemma's?  Tablet confusion?  Pre-trip shopping?  I might need some wardrobe and footwear advice.  I am stressing over that already.   I need comfy shoes for walking, dressy shoes for fancy restaurant visits and of course THE CONCERT!!  But I also have to walk to and from the train in my dress shoes, and I don't do so well with that, so I might need to bring my big red Carlos bag with me and hide the dressy shoes in him until I get the the venue, and then change from the comfy shoes.........SEE?  Shoe stress!!  And yes, this is really how my brain works.  Round and round and round.  And in the end, I'll bring five pairs and only wear two.  So.........shoe stress.   LOL.   Coupled with my horrible problem of over-packing, I could be in some serious trouble!  

So, I'll leave you all to stew about that for a while.   Any advice or thoughts, of course they are gladly welcome.  :)   I'm having so much fun with the blog, readers.  SOOOOOO much fun!  Thanks for tuning in and I look forward to hearing from you!   

T.
xx

What's Brewin.  Well, at first glance of that coffee cup - or first read of the title - you might think this is a blog about good coffee.  Or maybe beer.  Brewin' Coffee.  Brewin' Beer.  Get it?   Ha.  Of course you do.  But it's not about either!  At least I don't think it will be.  That's not to say you won't find mention of a decent cup of coffee if I happen to find one during my travels.   This is, I think, at least for now, the beginning, going to be a travel blog.  Whoever thought I would write a travel blog?  Not me!  But here we are.  Why, you may ask?  Why a travel blog and why call it What's Brewin?  Well......

First, the What's Brewin part.  Its just a clever play on  words that's all.  Brewin's my name.  Last name, not first.  Obviously.  Ha.  My dream was always to have a coffee shop named What's Brewin, but since it's impractical and not very likely to happen at this point in my life.....the genius of the clever play on words needs to be
used somewhere, doesn't it? What's Brewin blog it is.  Can't let a good name go
to waste now, can I?

Now, the travel part.  Well, if you would have told me I would be taking a trip alone to Europe a year ago, I would not have believed you.  I would have laughed and shaken my head and said no way.  And yet, here we are.  Wow.  So, considering that I am travelling alone and people will be worried about me - at least I hope they will be and you know who you are - and, I think there will be friends who will be interested in what I'm getting up to over there in Europe......the idea of a blog just seemed so much easier than sending mass emails out to people every day.  A blog just seemed......funner.  And yes, that is a word, by the way.  A me word.  Funner.

So, here's my idea for going forward.  There are pages to this blog.  The first one, as you can see, is......What's Brewin in Belgium.  I'll add any posts about Belgium onto the page.  I hope it works.  Since I haven't really tested it out yet, I'm not sure it will.  But one can hope.  And I will tweak as we go along.   I don't travel a lot, but usually go somewhere once a year, so my thought was to add a page for each trip. Make sense?  So, for example, maybe next year I'll go to......Oh, New York, let's say.  (That's not a bad idea, actually, must look into that!).  So the page would say, What's Brewin.....In New York.   Get it?  Got it?  Good.  I so hope it makes sense. But for today, for February 2012, we'll start small.  With Belgium.  And see how it goes. 

So, there you have it.  A travel blog called What's Brewin.  It could turn into anything.  It could be nothing and die out and fizzle.  I don't know.  But I'm going to give it a whirl.  Hope you come along.  And have fun.  And maybe smile at my crazy way of explaining things. And of course......you must leave a comment!  Especially while I'm travelling, so I can be close to my friends while I'm away and know they're thinking about me like I'm thinking about them.   Hmmmmmm, I hope this blog site lets you leave comments.  I should have checked that out!   Let's assume it does.  Okay?  Okay. 

And this, I guess, is the end of Post One.  Check back now and again. I may have some random thoughts as I begin preparing for this trip.   I wonder if they should go on the Belgium page or here on the home page.  Hmmmmmmm.......

As you can see, I'm terrible at making up mind!   I'll leave you with that, my friends. I need to come up with a name for you all.   Brewin's........   Brewin's what?  Hmmmmm........  More things to think about! 

T.
xxx

PS:  You might wonder about the picture.  Well.......It's Carlos.  He's a handsome man.  And since I had this picture, and he was holding a coffee cup, and the blog is called What's Brewin.........I just had to use it now, didn't I?  Uh-huh, Uh-huh.