Monthly Insta Update *June*

Happy HumpDay, Lovies!! 

I know it’s almost the middle of July (julyin’), but better late than never! 

Unless you live under a rock, you know by now, yours truly moved to Amsterdam. I also know I promised to go back to regular posting but June simply didn’t allow me! 

Between apartment hunts and hotel switches, I managed to celebrate my 27th birthday with my s/o. You can check my previous post for details. 

I’m happy to announce we finally found an apartment!! I’m absolutely in love with our sunny one bedroom in the heart of Westerpark (google it), and now I’m all about furnishing and decorating. 

Most of our free time has been dedicated to exploring the city, finding new favorite spots and the little gems, well hidden from the tourists. 

I also attended the Cannabis Liberation Day in Flevopark. It turned out to be a whole bunch of people, tripping on shrooms but it was funny to watch and the live music was awesome! 

Our next agenda is to get our kitties over here (my parents are currently cat sitting). I manage to deal with my cuddle withdrawals thanks to the local kitties, who are incredibly sweet and always come to me. 

I’m NOT going to promise you to get back to regular posting because it seems like every time I do, life gets me busy! I hope your month was as exciting as mine and everyone is enjoying the summer! If you are tired of my sporadic posts, follow me on instagram and Snapchat (@SilviaMelange) for daily updates on my adventures. 
Love, Silvia Mèlange 

The Moving Process

Happy Sunday-funday, Lovies!! 
If you don’t follow me on social media (@SilviaMelange), you must think I really suck and I can’t blame you. I’ve been hyping you up for months with this big secret; All I ended up saying was “I moved to Amsterdam” and then I just fell off the face of WordPress! I’m taking the time today to explain myself and to update you on what’s been going on with me. 
I don’t know if you guys ever had to pack up and move to another country. I literally had 2 weeeks to get through everything I own and make the decision what stays and what goes! I had to do this once before, when I moved back home from the US and I had forgotten how cleansing the process is. I also realized how much “junk” I have accumulated in the 3 years I was back home. From cute outfits I no longer wear to things I question my sanity about buying- the struggle was real! A lot of us swear by the “if you haven’t worn it in a year- toss it” golden rule but do we actually follow it?! I know I don’t, so this time I applied a different philosophy: 

    If it doesn’t make you happy-toss it!

It’s going to be a month since I moved tomorrow- I don’t miss or regret any of the items I threw or gave away. I advise you to try this clutter fighting technique even if you are not moving anywhere. 

Finishing up work projects and canceling all sorts of subscriptions and contracts took most of my time. I didn’t really have anything to blog about and I’d rather present you with inconsistent but quality content than pile you with 3 automated crappy posts per day like some ppl do. 

Then there was the emotional part: 

My family is used to my wandering nature by now. However, knowing I live in the same city and for the most part I’m a phone call away has been a nice change for my parents, regardless of my countless business and private trips and after 5 years of me living in the US. Between running errands I was focused on spending time with my family and going to countless gatherings organized by relatives and friends, related to my move. Where I’m from, when you move away (and every time you visit afterwards), you are almost obligated to go to every gathering your family and close relatives organize in your honor, to see you and spend time with you before you move to a new country. 

That pretty much sums it up, Lovies. Tune in tomorrow for a “My first month in Amsterdam” post, where I’ll share some adventures and insights. 

Things are slowly falling into place and this city is really stimulating my creativity. I’m hoping I’ll finally be able to get back to regular posting in July! I have so much to share with you, just bear with me! 

Love you all, Silvia Mèlange 

Monthly Insta Update *May* Secret Reveal

Happy HumpDay Lovies! 
I’m gonna start this post with thanking you all for the amazing birthday wishes; It was a private event this year, just what I needed! 
Now let’s talk about May. Boy, what a month! 
There aren’t too many posts because the major part of the month was spent wrapping up work projects and packing, lost and lots of f#ckin boxes! I swear, if I see one more suitcase, I’m going to cry! 

I did manage to steal two full days, spent by the beach in complete solitude and another two days with no social media at all! You should try it, it’s very good for a mental cleanup, something we all need from time to time. 
Here’s the major news: I moved to Amsterdam!! My s/o and I made this decision a month ago and here we are- living out of a suitcase! At least we have an amazing loft at the Zoku Hotel and they are taking great care of us! 

I’m falling in love with the city more and more each day. It’s the apartment hunt that’s driving me crazy! The real estate market is worse than the one in NYC and that in my book, classifies it as insane! Add “pet friendly” in the equation and jump on the crazy train with me! 

I’ll keep you posted on my adventures as I go. Send some good vibes my way in the mean time! 
With Love, Silvia Mèlange 

Summer Love

Happy Sunday, Lovies! 
I discovered a really cool new spot, providing a bird view of the city. I figured this background would be perfect for my first official Summer inspo outfit. 

I’m totally obsessed with this colorful jumpsuit from H&M! The material is light and has a silky feel to it. All it takes to style is some sparkly shoes and a whole bunch of gypsy bracelets. What more do you need for a lazy vacation?! The only I can complain about is they need to come up with more design prints of the same exact thing and I’ll buy them all! The positive thing- they are currently stoked up in most H&M locations worldwide! Hurry up and get yours, it’s a must for the upcoming summer!  ❤️ 

Love, Silvia Mèlange 

Bacon cheeseburger *quick and easy*

Happy Sunday, Lovies! 
Today is my cheat day so I’m going to use the opportunity to share my favorite cheeseburger recipe! It’s not your traditional cheeseburger so pay attention to the instructions. 
Ingredients: 
1lbs ground beef (or a 60-40% mix) 

1 egg 

2 tea spoons: salt, black and red pepper, garlic powder and v.oil

200 g Camembert cheese 

1 tomato (sliced) 

Smoked Danish style onion up to taste

Bacon packet 

Fresh lettuce 

French fries (frozen or homemade) 
Directions:
In a large bowl, add the meat, egg and all the spices together and mix well. 

Form “chunky” burger patties: 

Now the tricky part: 

Remove a little bit of meat from the top of the patty and place a chunky slice of Camembert cheese. Be sure the patty remains whole on the bottom (otherwise your cheesy goodness will leak out during cooking)! 

Form your patty again, adding the extra meat we removed earlier:

I’m not going to waste time, explaining how to prepare bacon, so we are skipping this step. I like using the grease from it to prepare the patties tho! 

In a medium sized fry pan, place the patties and set to medium heat. Flip them every 3-5 minutes until the sides are fully cooked:

I personally like to arrange my burgers in the following way: lettuce, tomato slice, meat patty, bacon, topped off with Danish style onion. Best burger buns?- toasted whole grain! 

You can use the same recipe without egg or grill instead of frying the patties. It’s a different style burger that’s not hard to make as you can see. Every bite melts in your mouth and the flavors blend in perfectly! 

 I guarantee you will be the talk of every cookout this summer! 

With Love, Silvia Mèlange 

Blue Summer *post beach*

Happy Wednesday, Lovies! 
Considering the Spring-ish temperatures in most of Europe, I’m happy to announce I am currently soaking vitamin D like a boss! 

The secret I’ve been teasing you about is actually pretty major and although it’s a positive thing, it’s also very overwhelming. I got the opportunity to chill by the beach for the next 24 hours. God knows I needed some time away to meditate and recharge my batteries and if you a loyal follower, you know I prefer doing that by the water! 

After a day of being hypnotized by water, I decided to take a few snaps of myself with a tripod. It’s not my best work but considering I don’t usually take pictures by myself, I think I did a good job!  ☺️

I love how peaceful my face is here as the second pic was the first one taken. Meditation, self reflection and quiet time are very important for one’s mental state. 

My Super Hero pose 😂😂

I’m wearing a handmade dress from a local Indian market. It’s one of my favorite beach pieces as it can be worn as a dress or as a skirt. I have the same one in white and red and I actually regret not getting a few other colors combos.  
Tomorrow will be a day off-off social media that is.  I believe it’s really important to spend some time in nature, away from technology and social media. I’m kind of excited right now but I know I’ll be itching to check my instagram or Snapchat something cool by lunch time 😂 
I hope you are all enjoying your day and only focus on the good vibes! 
Xo, Silvia Mèlange 

Fajitas De Pollo/ Chicken Fajitas

¡Feliz Cinco De Mayo! 

I don’t know about you but I’m a huge fan of Tex-Mex food! I haven’t gotten the chance to visit Mexico yet, but I’ve had Mexican friends cook authentic for me so I know the difference between the two.

In spirit of today’s celebrations, I’ll share my favorite fajitas de pollo recipe: 

Ingredients: 

1lbs chicken breast (skinless) 

For the chicken marinate (2-24h prior to cooking): 

2 ts fresh lemon juice + virgin oil

2 garlic cloves (minced)

1/2 ts: salt, black pepper, ground cumin, chilly powder and sliced jalapeño, chopped cilantro 
Other ingredients:

2-3 green + red peppers (long cut)

2 onions (sliced) 

4-6 tortillas (I prefer whole grain)

Nothing more appetizing than raw chicken 🤘🏼

Directions: 
Cut the chicken in strips and place it in marinate, refrigerating  for 2 to 24 h prior to cooking. 

Place the chicken and left over marinate in a medium sized frypan set on medium heat. When the meat whitens, add the veggies into the mix. 

Keep an eye on it, stirring every 2-3 minutes for about half an hour.

Eventually, your food should start looking something like this: 

Warm up your tortillas, crack open a Corona and kick back! 

When you think about it, someone being able to make chicken fajitas is a pretty impressive thing. As you see it’s not hard at all! 

¡Salud!

Silvia Mèlange 

Monthly Insta Update *April*

TGIF and Feliz Cinco De Mayo, Lovies! 

I’m fully aware I’m a little late catching you up; On the other hand, my weekly recipes are back and I think I’m doing a little better when it comes to sharing outfits with you. 

The month of April was absolutely amazing to me! Other than Easter celebrations, I managed to visit two very favorite places of mine- Rome and Amsterdam, but more on that later! Here are a few glimpses of last month’s adventures:

It was a truly eventful month for me and I have some amazing news coming your way! This post contains a clue so hit me up in the comments if you crack it! 

Spring is in full bloom and I’m loving it! Changes are coming and I promise, I’ll break the news to you very soon! Be on the lookout for my instagram and Snapchat (@SilviaMelange), that’s where I’ll first reveal the huge secret I’ve been teasing you about since February! It might even happen this month if you are lucky 😉💋

Xo, Silvia Mèlange 

Salmon pizza

Greeting Lovies! 
It’s been a minute since I shared recipes with you and I’m glad to say- I’m back for good! Not posting doesn’t mean I didn’t cook and experiment with many different cuisines over the last few months. 

Today I’ll be sharing my favorite new recipe with you and yes, it’s quick and easy! However, it will impress anyone you serve it to. My personal theory is it has the WOW factor because it’s inspired by the French cuisine! 

Without further ado, here’s the Salmon pizza! 

Ingredients: 
Whole grain pizza dough 
300 g/ 10 ounces smoked salmon (precut in thin slices) 
300 g/ 10 ounces ricotta cheese 
100 ml light cooking cream 
2-4 garlic cloves (minced and up to taste)
bunch of fresh dill (cut up) 
2 tea spoons virgin oil 

Directions: 

Sprinkle a little white flour on your work station and some virgin oil on the rolling pin. Roll out the dough and try not to poke holes in it. Don’t be tempted to roll it too thin for that same reason (holes). 
In a medium bowl, mix all the other ingredients except for the salmon. Let it settle for a minute. Spread the mixture evenly on top of the rolled dough. Place the salmon slices evenly on top of the mixture. 

Here’s the tricky part: 
Oil your hands a bit and gently roll the dough like a burrito. Cut carefully in the middle. “Braid” both parts in a zigzag fashion. 

Bake on 150°C/300°F for about 20-30 minutes. 

Serve with the remaining sauce as dip. 
A few tips: 

-sprinkle a bit of v.oil on top to avoid burns on the exposed salmon

-if you are not sure the dough is fully cooked, poke a hole in the middle of it with a tooth pick. If there are small pieces stuck to it, we are not done yet. 

Voila! 
-Silvia Mèlange 

Off duty

Good Friday, Lovies!! 
I’ve spent this past week in crazy preparations for the upcoming holidays. Luckily I only worked till Tuesday so I dare saying I’m ready for Easter! 

I decided to take a few quick shots of an off duty look and show you what I wear on days off when I’m running errands. As you guys know, I prefer to be comfy while slayin’ 😂

✨Outfit Details✨
Coat: Jessica Simpson bell sleeve 

Shirt: Pull&Bear boyfriend shirt 

Denim: H&M 

Shoes: black knit Uggs 

Bag: Nine West maxi tote 

I hope everyone is having an amazing time this Easter! May your eggs be colorful and your house be full of love! 
Xo, Silvia Mèlange