Secret Santa Struggles.

What's up guys?

So as Christmas is starting to peek around the corner, my family decided it was time to start our own secret Santa quests again. Yayyy..... This year, like many other years I pulled my youngest sisters name from the hat. It's only the third year I pulled her name from the hat.... No changing the structure for me again. 

Anyway, when we do secret Santa we write down some things we would like to get, with our name. Now normally I don't have a lot of struggles with the secret Santa shopping. I do put a lot of effort in writing a poem, another family tradition we added, and the wrapping. For me it's all about the wrapping. Don't confuse that with rapping as I do not have any rapping skills what so ever. It's all about the WRAPPING. The wrapping paper was the easiest part this year, and don't worry, I will include a picture of the wrapped  secret Santa package. 

Back to shopping. Mind you, my youngest sister just turned 14 in October and is now in full on difficult teenager mode. This also means she's starting to get into a lot of that teenage girl stuff, teenage girls are into. Personally, I skipped most of this phase and never got further than putting on some mascara and occasionally having a cheeky photo shoot with a friend using my mums camera which I borrowed without her permission. Things like front cameras and selfies weren't really a thing back than, sorry for the culture shock. Anyway back to my sisters present list. Most of the stuff she put on there was pretty easy, she wanted a necklace, fairy lights, and a new charger for her phone. This was the easy part, now let me tell you where I started struggling with her list. It was at the point where I read: make-up brushes. Now as I mentioned before all the make-up I know, and use, is mascara for which you don't necessarily need a separate brush. My little sister however is all over the make-up and is actually quite good with it all too. Too bad for her I had to do the shopping. 

The budget didn't really allow a complete set so I had to prioritise now. So I walked into the pharmacy, walked towards the place they put the make-up brushes, thinking I would get this job finished rather easily. However when the make-up brushes caught my eye  there was an entire isle filled with them. All the different brands, sizes and sorts made me feel dizzy and lose hope slightly. As a 20 year old, I didn't feel like asking an employee just in case it's stupid for 20-year-olds to know nothing about make-up and the necessary tools. So I did the next best thing and asked a 12 year old with all the courage I had gathered and traded for my dignity. Thankfully she was very kind and ended up lecturing me on make-up brushes for at least 15 minutes. Her information was very useful if not mind blowing. The complexity of make-up brushes really blew me away. But I succeeded!!!!!!!!!! Hallelujah!

So yeah, that happened. Now all I can do is sit and wait until Christmas. Then my sister will open the presents and I will know if I choose the right make-up brushes. Or not.... So that 12 year old either saved my Secret Santa or ruined it completely, anyway I learned a hell of a lot about make-up and make-up brushes. Some valuable knowledge I've gained due to Santa. Fingers crossed!

Please let me know how you celebrate Christmas, or whether you celebrate something completely different in the comments!! Lets talk about Christmas!

Lots of love,
ThatDutchGirl96

(The end result)

The refugee crisis.

Hey there,

For the last couple of months a crisis has been developing. When it just started people didn't think too much of it. 'It happens all the time' they said. A lot of bad comments were made on the subject and even the media tried to ignore it whenever they could because hey, there is more news to talk about like the economy which is still bad but has been bad for years. However over the last couple of weeks more and more attention has been given to this problem that has become an European crisis and now a worldwide crisis. Governments are starting to see and acknowledge the problem and are taking action on solving it. Slowly but surely the world is opening their eyes and hearts. No more turning off the TV, no more 'it's so far away it won't bother us', no more let other countries handle this we have enough problems of our own. Just no more of the ignorant attitude.

The worst eye opener came a little over a week ago. A little Syrian boy, no more than three years old, lying on the beach. The waves slowly caressing the little boys face as if they held his mothers soul trying to tell her child it would all be okay. Telling him they are in a better place now. Telling him they made it, the whole family made it only daddy went to a different better place. A place that should have been the better place to go to but a place that has now become his prison. His entire family lost in the sea, the heartbreaking picture of his youngest son lying dead on the beach. The last thing he got to see of his family.

Now try to tell me we are not in a crisis. Try to convince me this isn't a serious problem and they are all just looking for an economically better country. Tell me they are all here for the money, to stay at home doing nothing whilst getting more money from the government then some of the people from our own country. Tell me one of these things and I will punch you in the face because no, they are not all heading for Europe, some try to go to family in America, Canada, Asia or Australia. There is one thing they have in common, all those life risking refugees, they are running, running to safety. To a country where suicide bombings aren't a daily activity. All they want is safety, a place for their children to grow up safe and sound. A place where children can play on the beach instead of lying there lifeless. 

For a moment I just want you to take a look around you. Look how safe it is, how we take going to school and having a part time job for granted. Now take a look in the mirror, you are clean, maybe you've just taken a shower, your clothes are yours, you bought them with your own money and wow you are wearing shoes and even make up. All those little things we have gotten so used to that we take them for granted. Those people that are on the run from their home, who have left everything behind and probably won't ever see their home again. Most don't even have shoes and now they are coming to us, running to us for safety for help. All they want is peace in their own country so that one day they might return there, to their home. But winter is coming and they have nothing and what are we doing, complaining about how crowded our countries already are and how bad our economy already is. Not looking at all the boxes stacked up in the attic, filled with old shoes, clothes, toys and coats. 

Thankfully, now the crisis is more known and people talk about it everyday, things are getting better. We are starting to accept what is happening. The governments are arranging places to stay for the refugees. Closed refugee centres are opened up again. Bags with old clothes, shoes and toys are being collected and sent to those refugee centres. People are coming together to help these poor refugees in every way possible. There are charities that sent tents and other camping gear to refugee camps in France. People are willing to take in refugees in their own homes. We are all becoming one and that is the only way we can help others. So if you are able to do something no matter how small the act, please do so. Help those who lost their family, home and everything they once had.

Oh and yes, I'm not just blogging about this hoping to inspire others. Of course I hope some people will start collecting clothes or helping refugees speak the language of the country they are now living in. To achieve something like that would be great! Last week my mum and I went up the attic and collected some of those boxes filled with old clothes, shoes and coats and delivered these to one of the refugee centres. For me personally, I'm also still waiting on a reply if I can start volunteering at a local refugee centre. So if you can help please help!

www.rescue.org/crisis-syria

Lots of love,

ThatDutchGirl96