Where I've Been: Our Move to the Netherlands

Hello, friends! Today I’m sharing where I’ve been and why I’ve largely been away from long-form content in 2025. It was a transformative year for my family, filled with immense challenges and even bigger changes.

In case you weren’t aware, I work full-time outside of blogging. I prioritize the work that pays my bills, and I blog for the love of it. My blog has never been my primary source of income; likely because I’ve never been interested in the “grifting” I see from so many influencers lately. It’s been “interesting” to watch how many creators have pivoted to specific religious or political personas online simply to maximize their profit.

Please note, this isn’t to say all influencers are bad or are grifters. But I’ve greatly cut back on who I watch and trust.

My short list currently includes:

and a few other small creators on Instagram.

This post reflects my personal experience and is not intended as legal or immigration advice. Everything mentioned below purchased by me and all opinions are my own.

The Search for a New Home: New Zealand and Scotland

The year started with Dave and me attending a work convention in New Orleans, which was a great success for our company. Immediately after, Dave took me on the vacation of my dreams: six weeks in New Zealand. While there, we balanced touring that beautiful country with exploring business expansion and job opportunities. Unfortunately, the finances for a business expansion didn’t align, and I didn’t find a role that would facilitate our relocation.

See the Vivienne Westwood Art Exhibit at Te Papa Museum in Wellington New Zealand.

Next, we turned our sights toward Scotland. I went as far as opening a company there and meeting with immigration attorneys and Scottish Migration Services. They were incredibly welcoming and assured us we were wanted. Our proposal for Scotland was unique, offering us a “first-mover’s advantage” in an untapped niche. Ultimately, however, the UK Home Office in London denied our visas. Rather than spend time fighting the government or appealing, we decided to move on.

Growth Circles

Carri from Growth Circles was the lynchpin of our entire move. We initially hired her to help us open our Scottish company, and she later became instrumental in our relocation to the Netherlands. She transformed a long, convoluted, and incredibly stressful process into something far more manageable. If you are considering relocating to the UK or Europe, I highly recommend reaching out to her. We are so grateful for her expertise and support!

Why Scotland or New Zealand?

The reason Dave and I initially explored both Scotland and New Zealand is that we already have established friend networks in both countries. Having that existing social support would have made it much easier to integrate and grow our local communities. We believe that consistent social interaction is crucial for mental health, and moving to a place where we already had “roots” felt like the smartest path forward at the time.

Pivoting to the Netherlands

We were heartbroken to find our pathways to Scotland closed, especially since we received the denial the very same day we listed our home for sale. However, we remained determined to expand our business and quickly pivoted to the Netherlands.

Dave and I had actually explored moving to the Netherlands back in 2019 and 2020. Because of the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT), we realized it was financially viable to open a business and relocate there. Once we made the decision, we managed to pull off an entire international move in under six weeks.

We’re Happy to be Dutch!

One of the primary reasons we are so happy to have moved to the Netherlands is its egalitarian society. Dutch culture deeply values individual opinions and maintains a refreshingly flat hierarchy in both social and professional life. It is also a place with a proud legacy of inclusivity; the Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, reflecting a long-standing commitment to equality. Combined with the fact that it is an incredibly safe country, it truly feels like the right place for us to build our future.

See the Iris van Herpen Sculpting the Senses Art Exhibit.

DAFT Treaty

We hired a company called Cardon to assist us with the DAFT Visa and moving here. They were excellent with all things related to the visa. I would recommend them if you are looking to move to the Netherlands using the DAFT Visa.

The Logistics of an International Move

That month and a half was a blur of selling our home, hiring international movers, and coordinating a safe journey for Nyx and Amaya. We sold or donated 95% of our belongings rather than shipping them; looking back, I would have gotten rid of even more if I’d had the time.

Florida Realtor Expert

I highly recommend Lindsey Griffin for her expertise as a Florida realtor and help with selling our home. Lindsey handled a very tricky negotiation with a trust fund buyer that took three months to finalize. Since we already had moved out of the country, Lindsey stepped up and cared for our home as if it were her own during the delay. Her dedication gave us total peace of mind and turned a complicated sale into a wonderful experience.

Moving Company Blues

Unfortunately, the moving company we hired was terrible. They lied about their packing process and insisted that if we packed anything ourselves, it wouldn’t be insurable. I truly wish we had ignored them and packed our own things anyway. They chucked several sentimental art pieces into boxes without any wrapping. My makeup was treated with the same lack of care, despite their assurances on a video call that every piece would be protected. To top it off, they lost several items, including all of my oracle and tarot cards (and their companion books) and some of my handbags.

On a positive note, they did ensure that the items we designated as priceless, like my grandmother’s curio cabinet and mirror, arrived safely.

Moving the Fur-Babies

The company that handled Nyx and Amaya’s move did a much better job, though it wasn’t without its stresses. Both dogs were fully vaccinated and healthy when they left. However, after being held in a “dog hotel” waiting for Dutch government clearance, they both contracted a severe case of kennel cough.

It was heartbreaking to see them so sick. I had to take them to the vet immediately for a 10-day course of antibiotics. Furthermore, the flight was traumatic for Nyx; she has become very reactive since the move, though we are working hard to help her feel safe and comfortable in her new environment. While the stress of flying played a part, I suspect they were kept near a sick animal during their stay.

Amsterdam

We are currently settling into a lovely home with a garden just outside of Amsterdam. After living in Florida for 21 years, the transition to a country with world-class mass transit has been incredible. Whenever possible, we opt for the train or metro instead of driving. As many of you know, I love to walk. Prior to my surgeries in 2023 and 2024, I was in the best shape of my life walking five miles a day, and we’re doing plenty of that here. We also plan to buy bikes soon so we can fully embrace the local lifestyle.

Biking culture in the Netherlands is massive and honestly impressive. I particularly love the cargo bikes designed to carry pets. We’re planning to get one so Nyx and Amaya can join us on our rides! It’s also refreshing to see how dog-friendly this country is; dogs are welcomed in many stores and are allowed on all forms of public transport.

Another aspect we love is the country’s deep investment in electric vehicles and renewable energy. It’s common to see solar panels on rooftops, vast solar fields with sheep grazing nearby to keep the grass down, and wind turbines dotting the landscape. I love living in a place that actively prioritizes the environment and works so hard to reduce pollution.

Learning the Language (and the Mindset)

While we are still in the early stages of learning the Dutch language, one of the first phrases we’ve embraced is: “Doe maar normaal, dan doe je al gek genoeg.” This translates to “Just act normal, that’s crazy enough.” It’s a wonderful reflection of the local mindset; it encourages authenticity and being true to yourself without the need for pretense or showing off. It’s a philosophy that really resonates with us as we settle into our new life here.

We’ve been asked by quite a few people: “Why bother learning Dutch when almost everyone here speaks English fluently?” For us, the answer is simple. We want to truly integrate into Dutch society rather than just living on its surface. We believe that learning the language is the essential gateway to understanding the culture and history of our new home on a deeper level. Most importantly, it will allow us to build more meaningful, authentic relationships with the people we meet in our daily lives.

What about Makeup?

I still love makeup and am obsessed with it! Primarily, I’ve been obsessed with the brands Bellabeautebar (code CORDELIA), Black Moon, Haus Labs, and Kaleidos. I’ve been wearing BBB Dark Dreamscape and Morally Grey nonstop since I arrived here. The Haus Labs Le Monster Lip Crayons have been my go-to for lips along with Black Moon’s Liquid Lipsticks. Yes I still love a matte liquid lip! Kaleidos Moon Cruiser and Star Surfer have given me a lovely glow and they’re such versatile highlighters. The two blushes I’ve been using are Em Cosmetics Seraph and Baroque. They give me the most gorgeous glow.

You can find Bellabeautebar at their website or Monolith Shop EU, if you’re in the EU like I am now. Monolith Shop EU also carries Black Moon and Kaleidos.

Other brands they carry include Adept Cosmetics, Blend Bunny Cosmetics, Artitude, Clionadh, Chokehold, Cosmic Brushes, Davini, Dieverune, Fantasy Cosmetica, Electrum, Glamlite, Glisten, Glaminatrix, Gourmandegirls, Karla Cosmetics, Klarity, Kryptein, MBA, Narimi, Simply Posh, Singe Beauty, Wicked Widow Beauty, What’s Up Beauty, Dede Signature, Question Beauty, and Kaima Cosmetics.

My Bellabeautebar Palettes:

Dark Dreamscape (some Dreamscape, more Dreamscape looks, more Dark Dreamscape)
Morally Grey (see the Morally Grey palette)
Basic Witch (my very first BBB palette, Basic Witch)
Ocean Jewel (see some Ocean Jewel looks)
Dead Roses (see the Dead Roses palette)
Recently Deinfluenced (see the Recently Deinfluenced palette)

BBB just came out with Pinky Promise, an all pink palette. It’s gorgeous, but I feel that because I already have Dead Roses and Basic Witch, I’ve got my pinks covered. That said, the Crystallize palette is calling my name.

Kaleidos

I’ve been on a 3 month no buy (and I’ve been on a low buy since 2019), but I might break the no buy soon to try some new things from Kaleidos that I’ve had my eye on. Primarily, Prismelt and Cheat Code for lips, and Lunaria and Scarlet Striker eye pencils.

Singe Beauty

Singe Beauty has a palette and blushes that I’m interested in! The first releases were too warm for my taste.

The new blush shades coming out are:

Likeable Litchi – cool-toned mauve pink
Fearless Fig – lilac purple
Pretentious Plum – deep purple
Classy Cloudberry – golden brown

I’m interested in Likeable Litchi, Pretentious Plum, and Fearless Fig.

The new Eyeshadow palette is called Succulent Dew and it is so pretty! These new items launch on Friday 23 January 2026.

I have yet to try a makeup product from Singe, but my Singe eyeshadow brushes came in the small kit that I packed with me for my trip and I use every time I apply eyeshadow. They are great brushes and I love them.

What about Fashion?

I’m still obsessed with BlackMilk! I wear BlackMilk daily and it brings me joy. They’re an Australian clothing brand. On that note, so far when people have guessed our nationality, they’ve thought Australian, German, or United Kingdom. They never guess American, which surprises me.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it! As you can see, I spent the majority of 2025 focused on expanding our business and navigating our move to a new country. I’ve dreamt of living abroad since I was 12 years old, a desire that only intensified after 2012. I am incredibly grateful that Dave and I are so in sync; having his full support made this massive transition possible. In fact, after we had been here for only a week, Dave told me he wished we had been able to move here even sooner.

Where I’ve Been: Our Move to the Netherlands