tinajo at home

The good thing about a sick son...

2012-02-14T17:26:00.004+01:00

... is that I could stay at home today and bake some Focaccia for him and the rest of the family:

I made it with rosemary, flake salt (love that!) and also some sunflower seeds since I love the chewiness. If you want to try, you can find a bunch of different recipes if you search online.

Another good thing is that my littlest, sweet boy is better and can go to school tomorrow. He will cough a little still, but he´s been very impatient and energetic today so I think he´s ready.

It´s the coolest thing with kids; how fast they get better. Had it been me, I´d still be in that "feel sorry for myself"-state..!

Oh - and thanks for liking my Valentine´s apple, I carved it just for you sweeties!

Happy Valentine´s Day!

2012-02-14T08:09:00.002+01:00

I hope it will be a great one!

Take care!

Luxuary is...

2012-02-13T19:24:00.003+01:00

... a hubby who cooks better than me.

My plan is that our two rascals will grow up and be just like him - because then my daughters in law will be forever grateful and feel obliged to take care of us when we´re old and grumpy.

Yep, I try to be one step ahead.

Unfortunately, my littlest rascal is still ill so I´ll be home with him tomorrow. I hate when they get fever - they become so very sick in opposite to the usual colds.

Crossing fingers that it will turn for the better tomorrow!

It has begun!

2012-02-13T07:28:00.000+01:00

During this past weekend I could feel a little change in the air towards spring. The sun was shining in that warming pre-spring way and I couldn´t be happier when watching the sunbeams through the windows.

That is not my hair by the way - just one of my pot plants.

Just wanted to clarify that.

Anyway; isn´t it amazing how much energy one gets by a little sun?! My youngest is sick and had a terrible high fever the night between Saturday and Sunday, so I didn´t get much sleep - but thanks to the precious sun I could shake the sleepiness off and got a lot done around the home.

I hope it lasts, I sure do.

So sweeties - what will you do today?

She´s so stylish..!

2012-02-12T15:13:00.002+01:00

My sweet cat Saga that is - look at this sweet face and those blue eyes..!

Pretty, pretty girl - though she has been slightly under the weather these last days. Some stomach problems, I hope it will pass soon or we´ll have to visit the vet.
So how has your weekend been?

I´ve been busy as a bee, trying to get that song right. Now; I can´t even pretend I have a singing voice so we focused on getting the timing and such OK and that will just have to do. I have to admit that I´m relieved I won´t have to see the people who´ll listen to it, they will roll around on the floor laughing their behinds off..!

It would also have been easier to be tone deaf. Weird as that may sound, it would have made me believe I could sing alright - but since I´m actually nowhere near tone deaf I sincerely know how wrong it sounds.

Well, it doesn´t matter - the important things is to have no fear when facing a challenge. I said I´d try and I did - so I´m actually very happy about it.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

Popping in...

2012-02-09T09:57:00.002+01:00

Hey you all - I´m just popping in to say that the lyrics are going fine (which is why I have time to make a little post) and the next step will be to record it here at home..!

Yikes!

It´s funny with lyrics - they are swirling around in my head like a total mess, but once I nail one of the lines the rest falls in place just like that. Quite interesting how it works out.

I´ve already prepared my hubby that I´ll let go of all normal sense of dignity when we record it, he said he wasn´t scared. We´ll see about that, won´t we..?!

If you need a laugh today - take a look at this wonderful video:

Makes me gasp for air every time I see it - totally hilarious!

Take care - the recording won´t fall in place with the same ease as the lyrics so I´ll definately be gone for a couple of days now.

In deep water

2012-02-08T07:53:00.000+01:00

Well, as it happened I agreed to write a song.

I´m a decent lyric writer so that didn´t scare me - but I´m also supposed to put a melody and song on the track... The eventual artist want´s to know how it sounds, so that´s why I have to do it.

And as Elvis is my witness; I can´t sing.

I´m not saying that to be modest - I really cannot sing.

But you know - one never regrets trying so I want to do just that. It will be a fun and challenging experience even though the risk of me scaring animals and children is quite grand.

Since I don´t have that much time until deadline I have to be absent from this blog for some days. Will let you know how it worked out as soon as I´m done!

(photo from weheartit)

Cross your fingers and toes please - I´ll need it!

In all it´s glory..!

2012-02-07T07:44:00.001+01:00

Tuesday again - another Tuesday around the world - and my orchid decided to bloom just in time so I could show you:

Wohaa - I´m so happy! Two other buds are just about to break out in bloom too and I found a fourth, tiny bud that I hope will follow suit.

I´m telling you that these orchids are growing on me, pun intended!

So what are you up to today - link up with us if you want!

Restful weekend and more house pondering

2012-02-06T07:41:00.000+01:00

I have not touched my computer all weekend - there has not been time with two birthday parties (friends of my youngest), swim school and play dates for both rascals.

It was a good and restful weekend though - even with those activities lined up. Sunny and beautiful too:

I have also indulged myself with different house catalogs and I can conclude that no matter what house we eventually build, it will be difficult to find the "perfect" one.

One thing is that most houses have all bedrooms on the upper floor by some reason. We want the master bedroom on a separate floor from our boys bedrooms. They will soon become teens and will appreciate having some privacy and freedom with their friends, without me hovering around them.

Also; it´s actually a good thing that the land won´t be sold until the beginning of 2014 - because it surely isn´t cheap to build. Between 3 - 4 million, land and all included (about 449377 - 599170 dollars)..!

At times like these, I´m pretty glad I can be very frugal.

How are the prices where you live?

Wohoo - Friday!

2012-02-03T07:37:00.000+01:00

I´m so looking forward to this weekend, I´ve been pretty tired during this last week - much thanks to the chilly weather.

But now - two days off work and no "must do´s"!

I´ll take the weekend off blogging again and may continue with that for a while. As you´ve probably noticed, I´m quite talkative here during the weeks and I think it´s a good thing to shut up a little at least two days..!

With that being said; I´ll leave you to enjoy your weekend with these details I happen to love from our home:

Take care sweet people, I´ll see you Monday!

Oh, look at those buds!

2012-02-02T18:03:00.002+01:00

The scheduled TLC I was talking about earlier seem to work, look at these adorable little orchid buds:

I´m so giddy - it´s like being pregnant again!

Except this time, it´s not me losing my figure. I can follow this development with the grace I never had totally intact.

That sentence made absolutely no sense.

I do feel extremly happy though - it will be the first time I´ve managed to get an orchid to bloom on my own!

To be continued..!

Moments that makes my heart bounce...

2012-02-02T07:34:00.001+01:00

... comes without warning sometimes.

Like when youngest son plays with a balloon all cross-eyed with concentration and his tongue sticks out just a little.

That´s when I feel it in my chest;

thud

thud

thud

that little goof is mine..!

And it´s all good.

It may snow outside...

2012-02-01T18:40:00.002+01:00

... but inside I´m having June right now:

Yes Winter - I´m feeling very obstinate.

Hah.

Home is where the heart is

2012-02-01T07:44:00.000+01:00

In the middle of all this longing for house building that I have - which includes writing long lists of all I find absolutely necessary in a house - I try to remind myself that home really is where the heart is.

I´m quite tired and done with our current home, but since we´ll have to wait so long to actually do something about it, I can´t go around and feel displeased for two years.

That would be stupid. And it doesn´t take that much to make a home feel great from the inside; with flowers, a good scent and freshly baked goods I´m pretty much all set.

Oh - and rascals. Very important to have a couple of those.

So even though I can´t wait for the day we hopefully build, I can´t complain that much.

After all - with so many hearts beating in this home (animals included), it must be a pretty awesome place.

Favourite Facebook pics of January

2012-01-31T16:07:00.001+01:00

I´m fully enjoying posting iPhone pics at my Facebook page - it has turned out to be a great outlet for small, spontaneous updates just like I wanted it to be.

I´ve picked some of my favourites from January for those of you who hasn´t already seen them at Facebook:

I´ll do the same at the end of every month from now on and I hope you´ll enjoy!

Tuesdays around the world!

2012-01-31T08:43:00.003+01:00

Well, isn´t this amazing - another week has passed and it´s time for Tuesdays around the world again!

Our rascals bath and play together in our tub at least a couple of times every week, and afterwards they always get so cosy and cuddly. They love sneaking into their bathrobes and do this hug-wrestle stunt that only boys can pull off.

You know; the I´m really too cool to hug you, but since I want to I´ll better disguise it as wrestling because then no one will notice that it´s a hug I´m after.

I guess you all have seen that - quite entertaining.

Have a great day!

Perfection...

2012-01-30T16:10:00.001+01:00

There´s nothing I love more than a perfect avocado. When it´s just as soft as it should be, with that creamy consistency and smooth, buttery taste.

When it´s like that, I can easily eat several a day (have you ever had it sliced on a piece of bread, with a little salt on? De-li-cious!) and jealously pouts if my hubby tries to take a little bit of one.

Because it´s mine I tell you - all mine!

He ain´t even starving or anything. Because then he might be excused.

And few things makes me so disappointed as when I come home from the store with an avocado that looks beautiful - just to discover that it´s all weird, woody and ugly inside.

Such moments makes me wanna sue someone.

Oh well, that´s about all I had to say about that.
´
Today I´m all about the big matters in life as you can see.

Monday again..!

2012-01-30T07:30:00.002+01:00

Monday again - but it has been a great weekend!

Among other things we´ve been swimming (youngest son got to swim both days), at the movies (Alvin and the chipmunks 3) and skating:

It´s not that often we get a chance to skate at the rink in our neighbourhood, this winter has been so mild that the ice disappears too fast.

Even though the chances to skate comes rarely, they remember really well. I guess it´s like riding a bike.

Good times!

Loved your word suggestions - have to ponder about how to portray them for a while. But Keetha - hematopoiesis?! I think I have to disappoint you there, haha!

So, what have you been up too during the weekend?

Oh - need your help!

2012-01-27T21:50:00.002+01:00

I'm sitting here in front of the TV, enjoying the feeling of approved laziness and letting my thoughts fly.

I came to think about words and how many beautiful ones there are - and then I got curious of which words you find the most beautiful. You know; the words that you enjoy to say out loud, the ones that makes your tongue do somersaults of happiness.

I'd love to try and illustrate those words with my camera, as a creative challenge. It would be ever so neat!

So; if you'd like to share I'd appreciate it - if the word is are in another language than english and swedish it's great with a translation.

This could get exciting, take care until next time!

Hello Mother Earth..!

2012-01-27T07:32:00.000+01:00

Some photos I wish I had taken, like this one (which would be impossible if I wasn´t an astronaut or a sattelite, but still):

This is the work of Nasa - well done you..!

I hope your Friday will be the best of days!

I´m taking the weekend off blogging since we´ll be busy doing fun stuff with the rascals; among other things we´re going to the movies. It´s been a while so I´m looking forward to that, and so are the boys.

It´s likely that I´ll post on my Facebook page though, so if you want to tag along you´re most welcome to!

Have a great weekend!

I´ll be darned - it´s actually working!

2012-01-26T18:28:00.003+01:00

A while ago I read on Chez Larsson about this thing called Lightscoop that was supposed to help getting better flash pics indoors. I Googled it too and found some positive reviews here and there.

It wasn´t expensive so I figured I could try - and after a quite speedy delivery I got it home today.

I´m really surprised of how well it works! These before and after pics are straight out of the camera, no editing done:

See how good the colors are with the Lightscoop on?!

The little mirror in the Lightscoop bounces the flash into the wall behind and evens out the light (you can read the facts at Lightscoop´s website) so it looks much more pleasant to the eye.

As I understand it, you need light walls to make this work the best, so read on the website before you order. I feel very pleased with this though, I tried it on my hubby too and the skin tone came out great compared to the scary flash version.

It will have limitations, but for that price I´m totally content with using it now and then - so that´s my tip for today!

Terrific Thursday today!

2012-01-26T07:22:00.001+01:00

You´re such a sweet bunch - I know I´ve said it before but it should be repeated often.

Thanks for your nice comments to my post yesterday; I´ve had MS (Multiple sclerosis) for about 6 years so I´m pretty used to it and really don´t have anything to complain about as I´m fine and dandy in my everyday life.

I do hate the darn needles though. Therefore, I did treat myself a little yesterday evening:

Nothing better than to lie early in bed with a new, glossy magazine and a big bowl of candy!

And today it´s Thursday - which means it´s Friday tomorrow!

Yep, I´m all for stating the obvious. I blame it on the sugar high I still have due to that candy above.

Enjoy today!

Blaah

2012-01-25T07:42:00.001+01:00

This feels a little bit like a blaah-day. It´s grey and chilly outside - and to top it all off I´m going to the hospital to get my MS medication.

The nurses always have trouble putting needles in me, so I have a tendency to feel uneasy in advance. Luckily, it´s just once every month.

I hope your day will be great though - hopefully with sunshine, singing birdies and a great theme song in your head..!

I hope you can see both of my pics here today - because I can just see one, which is really weird. Maybe Blogger has issues again?

Take care!

Collections...

2012-01-24T20:20:00.003+01:00

My youngest has a thing for soccer cards - the interest came suddenly but now it´s all he talks about. When he doesn´t talk about it, he counts them, arranges them in his album or trade them with friends.

I like it.

It reminds me of all the little collections I had while growing up; stamps, cute erasers, pretty bookmarks, stationery, shiny candy paper...

Those were fun times you know? It was something so fulfilling with the arranging and sorting - like I was in possession of the greatest wealth. It all comes back to me when I hear my son shout: "Mom! I have 123 soccer cards - 123!"

Reminiscence - one of the best perks about being a mama.

Tuesdays around the world!

2012-01-24T07:27:00.000+01:00

Tuesday again - the weeks are running by in high speed!

We´ve had so little snow and frost during this season that I want to capture the few signs of winter when I get the chance. I found these frosty needles so pretty:

What are you up to this day, anything fun going on?

I think it´s only fair...

2012-01-23T19:03:00.003+01:00

... that I get to play with it if I have given it.

Some toys are a bit extra of everything...

... and I´ll never be too old to enjoy a cool looking car!

Scheduled TLC

2012-01-23T08:52:00.000+01:00

Don´t get excited now - I´m referring to my flowers..!

I´ve finally found the thing that works for me; scheduling the watering. After all these years with killing flowers too fast, you´d think I might have come up with that idea sooner - but somehow I´ve always imagined that I´d remember this time.

And then of course this time became next time, and so on. Many flowers have passed on unnecessary, with only the strongest as survivers.

For a while I´ve been writing notes in my calender of when to water certain flowers - and it seem to work! My plants are really healthy and fresh now and I feel so pleased since I love them in my home.

Also; my orchid now has three beautiful buds so I´m crossing my fingers that I´ll see it in bloom soon!

See; it´s never too late to become a better person..!

Take care today!

An apple a day...

2012-01-22T17:44:00.003+01:00

... keeps the doctor away!

We´re having Apple pie after dinner (those of you who follow me on Facebook already know that) and that gave me the idea to take a pic of my beloved concrete apple.

You see - we´ve got snow today so it´s a little extra pretty outside! Couldn´t miss that since it has been quite boring looking lately.

I hope you´re having a great Sunday - I´m off to stuff myself with dinner and dessert now!

Chicken soup!

2012-01-22T08:50:00.000+01:00

Can I tempt you with a delicious Chicken soup? I find it difficult to photograph food, so I figured recipe sharing could be a great way to practice.

I´m all for easy and yummy, so this is like a piece of cake to make.

Except it´s not cake but chicken soup. Slight difference there.

Anyway, here it goes:

1) Chop up 3-4 chicken fillets.

2) Peel and cut 4 carrots and 1 parsnip.

3) Chop 1 onion.

4) Fry the onion on it´s own for a while, then add the carrots and parsnip and fry gently until it gets softer.

5) Boil 8 dl Chicken stock and add the onion, carrots and parsnip.

6) Add 1 clove of garlic into the stock.

7) Add 1 tablespoon of tomato paste. Let the vegetables boil so they are done, then mix the soup (still in the pot).

8) Add the chicken and let it boil until done, about 10 minutes if the pieces aren´t that big.

9) Add about 2 dl sugar peas - whole or in pieces.

10) Add about 2 teaspoons of thyme and salt and pepper after your own taste.

11) Add 2 tablespoons of crème fraiche just before you´re serving the soup...

... and you´re done:

Yum and yum again - I love this soup! Let me know what you think if you try!

And it´s soon evening...

2012-01-21T16:22:00.002+01:00

At least here in Sweden - but I do enjoy the thought of all of you who just started your day. Time difference is fun and slightly confusing at times!

It has been a great Saturday so far; I´ve done my this and that and also enjoyed some chrochet:

Soon I´m going to make a Chicken soup for dinner, then it´s Saturday candy in the sofa with the rascals while watching the swedish version of The Gladiators.

It´s an entertaining show to watch - and it always makes me wanna flex my muscles and call myself Electra or something cool like that. Will most likely have to work out a little bit more before that though - there´s not much to flex at the moment..!

Take care!

Saturday morning!

2012-01-21T09:06:00.007+01:00

Good morning - what are you going to do with this day?

I´ve just enjoyed my favourite breakfast; vanilla yougurt with fruit and orange juice - and now I´m having a cup of coffee while listening to a radio show on my computer.

I love the slow starts one can have in the weekends - during work week everything has to be quick in the mornings if I don´t want to miss my bus.

I´m dedicating this day to a little bit of this and a little bit of that; I have some things I have to get done.

Cleaning out my wardrobe is one of them; time to get rid of the clothes I don´t use and air the others outside so they feel fresh and lose some dust. No matter how much one washes clothes, they do get dusty while hanging in the wardrobe..!

I think it´s much likely I´ll see you later - so enjoy the day until then!

This is the house...

2012-01-20T07:22:00.000+01:00

... where you can find an extra head among your pencils, just in case you need it.

Now; why do I suddenly feel like a member of the Addams family..?

Happy Friday sweeties!

What to do...

2012-01-19T16:55:00.003+01:00

... with these Origami papers - except origami..?

I have to think a little tonight, my fingers wanna play and these colors inspire me!

Birthday traditions

2012-01-19T07:30:00.001+01:00

Every year when one of the rascals celebrate his birthday the procedure is the same.

Us parents sneak up really early, place the presents from the family on a tray and light a candle in a cupcake. Then we wake the other rascal up and enter the room with the (hopefully) sleeping birthday boy, singing "Happy Birthday" from the top of our lungs.

While birthday boy is still dizzy and confused he gets to blow the light and enjoy the cupcake in bed - no crumble concerns. And then it´s time to open the presents, while Mamarazzi takes too many pics and almost blind the poor kid.

Every year we do this twice and the conclusion I can make from these years is that the tradition is more important than the presents. Especially the cupcake is a major thing - it´s the only time they eat in bed.

I find that so darn nice.

We didn´t have that kind of traditions in my family when I grew up - and even though I didn´t miss it since I never had it, I feel very happy to have created this for our rascals. It is something they´ll remember as grown ups, and maybe they will pass it on to their own kids.

How do you celebrate birthdays?

Dreaming...

2012-01-18T19:51:00.002+01:00

Pinterest is so great to collect inspiration at - I love browsing there, looking at all the beautiful homes. Right now, I´m in the floor mode and dream about the floors I´ll have if we build a house.

This kitchen glimpse ain´t bad either - I´d volunteer to do the dishes there!

For sources of these pics you can go to my Pinterest and click on the original pins in my category For the home, I find it somewhat tricky sometimes to get where the pics come from.

So; are floors important to you in your home or do you just consider it handy to walk on?

I can really obsess over beautiful tiles or a gorgeous wooden floor, but I know that prioritizes are different. Some of my friends go gaga over wallpaper, some think the furniture sets the tone no matter what floor or wallpaper one have.

How do you feel about this?

A little blog lovin´..!

2012-01-18T07:25:00.001+01:00

Thank you so much for "Liking" my Facebook page - it feels so fun and I do believe this may add great options for interacting!

Today I´m sharing one of my latest favourite photos - an old chimney I fell in love with when I passed it:

Lately I´ve received sweet awards from Inga´s Eye, el - mundo - en - colores and Random-osity.

I am the most scatterbrained person when it comes to things like this - which doesn´t mean I don´t appreciate them, it´s just that my everyday life is spinning around so fast that I unintentionally forget about it when I´m supposed to pass it on.

I never remember the rules either...

Yes, I´m hopeless. I try to make up for it with a little blog love here and there instead (see my label Blogs here to the right).

However; here´s some links to some of the 1014 (or so) blogs I like: lark & linen, Dear Friend, Menthe Blanche, Mrs Ricefield, Interiörguiden, Ohlovely, Life in Pictures, Depuis chez “essa gente diferenciada”, iaia .

More to come eventually - be so sure.

Take care today sweeties!

Like me on Facebook!

2012-01-17T19:03:00.003+01:00

Oh. my. goodness.

The short version; I´m not savvy with computer and html related stuff.

The long version; Do you know how long it took me to understand how I should get that little "Facebook Like" button" on my blog and to make a Tinajo at home page on Facebook?

About 264 minutes of banging my head against the computer - because that seemed like the most sensible thing to do when I couldn´t come up with something better.

However, thanks to Mackapär and my hubby I finally got it - and I must say I feel a little less dinosaur now. I just have to figure out how to get the header pic to look more correct in size...

I hope that my Facebook page can be the right place for spontaneous updates, iPhone photos and other fun things that may not be something I´d put here on my blog.

It would be really neat if you wanted to "Like" me on Facebook and join in!

Enjoy the rest of your day!

Tuesdays around the world!

2012-01-17T07:32:00.000+01:00

Tuesday again today - time for another Tuesdays around the world at Communal Global!

I was strolling around in my garden and actually found this withered rose quite beautiful - but it also reminded me of how much I long to see flowers in bloom and green grass under my feet.

Just a couple of months left until there´s life..!

Have a great Tuesday and link up with us!

Conversation during photo shoot...

2012-01-16T17:51:00.001+01:00

Me; Dear hubby, could you help me take a pic of my new necklace? It´s dark soon and I´d like to have it on my blog tomorrow.

Hubby; Sure - give me the camera.

...

Me; How did they turn out? Mwahaha - are you kidding me, how can you get the pics this blurry?

Hubby; They´re not blurry... I think..?

Me; Honey, these would be next to the word "blurry" if you looked it up in a dictionary. Do it again.

Hubby; Yeah, yeah...

(Ten photos later...)

Me; Nah - again?! Didn´t you see the focus points?

Hubby (slightly irritated); I´m looking at the darn focus points, I don´t know why it gets so blurry. Maybe I´m just shaky.

Me; Or a heavy breather. Are you beginning to get out of shape..? Maybe you should exercise more?

Hubby; *glares in an evil way*

Me; These are really funny though, haha - look at this, it´s like a photo version of Picasso´s art! There´s no way to actually see what it is, amazing!

Hubby; You do realize that I´m standing outside in the cold just to take photos for your blog?

Me; Ehum, yes. You´ve been a good boy, and this one I might be able to use if I sharpen it like 5 times or something.

Hubby; Remind me of why I married you again..?

Me; For my baked goods and incomparable charm?

Hubby; Well, you´ve got the first one right.

Ah - married life - there´s nothing like it..!

And jewellery is pretty fun too.

Happy birthday little, big one!

2012-01-16T07:25:00.000+01:00

I had computer related troubles during the weekend so everything I planned with the blog was thrown overboard. Ugh - sometimes computers are the worst enemies..!

Anyway; let me tell you about this boy (who currently loves to make silly faces when I take pics - this one cracks me up):

He is the one of my two rascals who thinks twice before he acts.

He writes me notes that says "You are the bestest mom" at least once a week and cover those notes with tons of tape so it will be exciting (and almost impossible) for me to open.

He says "You are so welcome" and hug every friend when he has a birthday party, like we had this weekend.

He just lost his third tooth within a couple of weeks and feel really proud.

He has the biggest laughter of anyone I know.

He´s smart, creative, funny and fair.

He´s my littlest one - who´s not that little anymore. Today is his 7th birthday and it kind of freaks me out. In a good way, but still.

Happy birthday to our most beloved little, big one. Thanks for being you.

We love you to the moon and back and then some.

Friday 13th today!

2012-01-13T07:21:00.004+01:00

Beware of ladders and black cats..!

(borrowed from apenotmonkey)

But hey - at least it´s finally Friday!

Oooh - it´s here!

2012-01-12T13:27:00.004+01:00

Look what I just got delivered:

The Feather necklace by Bjørg - wohoo!

How I´ve waited. Bummer it´s too dark to take a decent pic, I´ll have to do that too during the weekend.

Isn´t the packaging pretty too?! I´ll go and do a happy dance now!

Ehum... What do I do now..?

2012-01-12T07:45:00.000+01:00

I have this orchid that I forgot about - and now it actually looks like it has survived!

I´m not good with orchids - what do I do now to make it bloom?

Do they like a lot or little sun, a lot or little water? A hamburger in between..?

Help please - I really need it! Would be so nice to see it bloom again.

I´ve been honered with lovely awards lately and will do a post about that during this weekend when I have more time - and link to a bunch of nice people.

Take care today!

I´m just sayin´...

2012-01-11T19:30:00.002+01:00

I really long to see this city and country. It will not be this year since we already have plans, but maybe next year?!

Have you been? Any advice or tips to share? Are you planning to go like me?

Loving the Sponge cake

2012-01-11T07:22:00.001+01:00

The first thing I learned how to bake when I was a child was the Sponge cake, and I have loved it ever since.

The smell of Sponge cake reminds me of my grandmother (who often put a little lemon in her version), birthdays, school trips and when I moved to my first own place and could eat it as much as I wanted without anyone telling me I had to finish dinner first.
It reminds me of hot chocolate or ice cold milk, sweet vanilla and touches of cocoa (with a little coconut too if I had it at home).

It reminds me of friends who easily gobbled it down while chatting along in my apartement until 3 AM when we all fell asleep with giggles still ringing in our ears.

That and much more - from a simple cake. No wonder I love it so.

And now my rascals love it too.

Wohaa!

2012-01-10T20:01:00.002+01:00

Do you see this?

It´s me.

At the gym.

And it´s not even June, because then I´d have this "Oh my God, I have to show myself at the beach soon and my behind is not where it´s supposed to be"- panic.

This means I can save my panic moments for something better, like when we´re out of ice-cream. Progress I tell you - progress!

I´d like to say a warm welcome to my new Followers - I´ll come and check you out before you know it (and even though that might sound scary, I do mean it in the best of ways).

Now however, I have to be absolutely lazy for a little while.

Take care!

Tuesdays around the world!

2012-01-10T07:55:00.001+01:00

Today I just want to show you where I use to exercise and take walks with Elsa:

I feel really blessed to have nature so close to our home - if the everyday life get too hectic, this is the perfect place to relax and let my thoughts fly.

It´s in the small things

2012-01-09T14:59:00.000+01:00

While I did my cleaning yesterday I was again reminded of how important the little details are to a home. You know; the few things you love a little extra by some reason.

In our bedroom, I have this Ram´s head by Jonathan Adler. I knew I wanted it even before I visited Chicago, and it was the first store I tracked down - with jet lag and all.

Oh the joy when I found the store - and the even greater joy when the head was on display and available! All the way back to Sweden I treated this handsome fellow as he was my baby, keeping him in my lap on the plane. I love his shape and the smooth surface - one of my best buy´s ever to our home:

The birdie above was definately cheaper but I love it just as much.

I found it at Indiska last year and it was so pretty and shiny that I had to bring it home - and now it´s the first thing I see when I open my eyes in the morning. It´s not only the big items that makes big impacts!

Do you have any favourite details at home?

Do you know what I should do..?

2012-01-09T07:34:00.000+01:00

I should get going with sewing the new curtains I need (well; want) around here.

The problem though, is that I can´t seem to find the enthusiasm for it. I look at the fabric and think about all the measuring - and then I go naaaah.

Sigh.
Maybe I´ll take the easy way out for once, with at least one curtain. Even though I´m picky there should be something in the stores I could like, right?!

That will be my mission for this week; finding a curtain.

Do you usually buy or make yours?

Such a nice Sunday

2012-01-08T15:35:00.004+01:00

It makes total sense - right when I begin to long for spring and butterflies, it starts to snow.

I didn´t mind that much though, because the rascals were very happy and had fun outside for hours and hours. In the meanwhile I cleaned the home in peace, which made it a win-win situation for us all.

The only one who had some complaints was my hubby who I forced to IKEA to get a dresser for youngest son.

Hubby hates IKEA. He can´t stand it longer than 10 minutes since it´s always so crowded - but since the dresser was heavy he did see the problem with me going.

I was the perfect, thankful wife though and fed him with cake and coffee when he came home - so now he´s in balance again. Luckily, it doesn´t take more than that!

I hope you´ll enjoy the rest of your day!

Fresh fish soup!

2012-01-08T08:40:00.001+01:00

You know I don´t cook that much (blessed with a cooking hubby as I am) but sometimes I actually get in the mood, and yesterday was such a day.

My husband swore he could hear fanfares. I wouldn´t be surprised.

Anyway; it´s an easy, healthy recipe and to make it easier for you I´ve numbered the pics so they will match the numbers in the recipe.

1) Chop up half a leek.

2) Chop up 2-3 carrots.

3) Do the same with 3 tomatoes.

4) Cut nice and chunky pieces of 5-6 mushrooms.

5) Boil noodles that you like and set aside when you´re done.

6) Fry the leek and the carrots in some oil in a pot.

7) Open a bag of spice mix with lime in it - there´s several options out there but I´ve used the Santa Maria for fish taco spice mix.

8) Add one liter of vegetable stock, the tomatoes and the spice mix to the leek and carrots. Let it all boil slowly for around 10 minutes.

9) Chop up about 600 grams of fish; for example salmon (we love that in my house).

10) Add the mushrooms and the fish to the soup and let boil until the fish is done (doesn´t take long).

11) Season the soup with some freshly squeezed lime, pepper and salt after your own taste. Add the noodles.

Serve with some delicious bread and the beverage of your choice.

Mission Accomplished

2012-01-07T13:16:00.003+01:00

All the Christmas decorations are packed down and will now rest for almost a year until they see the daylight again.

Our cat Saga helped me with the taking down part as you can see:

She certainly knows when to make herself useful.

Now spring is welcome as soon as possible. I need to plan for the garden soon, and which tomatoes and other vegetables to grow. I want more sun and warmth in the air and green leaves instead of dead branches.

It´s too early to wish for this now, but I´m looking forward to it a lot..!

How about you?

You´re truly the best!

2012-01-07T09:56:00.001+01:00

I must put it on print:

I really love you guys. Really, really.

I´ve been thinking of that a lot lately; how much this blog - and you - brightens my day. How I feel like I´m getting to know a bunch of great people from all over the world, just as I once hoped for.

How generous you are with interacting and comments - I´m amazed of how you take the time because I know you´re busy too.

Just want you to know that you make me smile, every day.

Thanks.

And now I´m going to eat this bowl of vanilla ice-cream and warm blueberries, even though it´s just morning.

I need to gather energy to get the last of the Christmas decorations packed away, and I´m pretty sure vanilla ice-cream will do the trick.

Take care today!

I have just one thing to ask you...

2012-01-06T19:50:00.002+01:00

... where would you go..?

Finally!

2012-01-06T13:17:00.004+01:00

After all these days with rain and storm I finally woke up to sun - and a tiny amount of snow!

No time to lose, I hurried out with hubby and Elsa for a 60 minutes walk right after breakfast was finished.

It was so wonderful in the sun and almost felt like March - but then all of this winter season has been upside down and strange in every way.

Elsa was very happy, we let her run free most of the time and she makes these silly sounds when she bounces around. Her happiness rubbed off and when we returned home and had a cup of coffee I really felt that this was the best way to start a new day.

Wish I could begin every day like this.

I hope you´ll have a fantastic day too - take care!

Good morning (and winner)!

2012-01-05T07:55:00.002+01:00

How are you today?

I´m feeling fine and dandy because it didn´t rain in my face when I left home - that´s at least something, huh?!

In Sweden most people have a day off work tomorrow and that includes me - I sure look forward to a three day weekend. Lots of stuff to do and ponder about!

So to the winner of the earrings:

True Random Number Generator

Min: 1
Max: 33
Result:
28

That means Menthe Blanche won - congrats! Email me your address (you´ll find mine under "Contact me" here on the blog) and I´ll get these in the mail during the weekend!

I still have no clue of how to get the whole image of the Number Generator pasted into my blog. I tried to copy it but it just wouldn´t work (just with the letters) - what can I be doing wrong?!

I hope you´ll have a great day sweeties!

Update: I´m joining this today - you could too:

Lovely plate

2012-01-04T19:05:00.002+01:00

I found this plate at Indiska today and had to bring it home - my favourite color and such lovely design:

I´m going to use it to serve cookies and other small goodies - which gives me a reason to bake this weekend.

As if I needed a reason - but still..!

You still have many hours to enter the earring Giveaway - I´ll let you know tomorrow who the winner is!

Take care sweeties!

Giveaway!

2012-01-04T07:32:00.001+01:00

I know it´s hard to believe (or maybe not), but sometimes I do stupid schtuff.

Buying earrings that aren´t gold or titanium is one of those things - because by some mysterious reason I am gravely allergic to anything but the above if it touch my ears. I have no problem using bracelets or necklaces made of other material, but my ears just can´t take it.

I came to think of this and figured some of you might want these earrings so they can live in a home where someone loves them:

I think they are lovely in their simple, classic way - so let´s make a pretty quick Giveaway out of this.

* If you´re interested in taking care of these (including talking nicely to them at least once in a while since they´ve been miserable and unused in my home); just leave a comment.

* It doesn´t matter where you live, everyone´s welcome.

* I´ll have this Giveaway open about 24 hours from now (not on the minute though), so don´t wait too long if you want a chance!

Good luck!

Look what I just ordered!

2012-01-03T16:49:00.000+01:00

As I´ve mentioned; I have been feeling a little short in the jewellery area lately. It´s been a long while since I got myself something new, especially when it comes to necklaces.

Even though I love the ones by Efva Attling I showed you earlier, I ordered this from Bjørg today - because I found it so delicate, beautiful and easy to wear:

(pic borrowed from Bjørg)

Just look at that silver feather - so perfect with both a blouse or a dress! I loved the little golden touch and the chain is really pretty.

It´s all in the details, is it not?! I hope they deliver really fast, can´t wait to use it - and to show you how it looks in real life!

Have you found some new jewellery for yourself lately?

Tuesdays around the world!

2012-01-03T07:31:00.000+01:00

Had to take this pic so you´d be my witnesses.

I tried to organize this yesterday evening, I had really put my mind to it. It may have been the hangers that got me in organizing mode, but no matter what it was it felt so nice.

Just the beginning of January and I was queen of the hill, you know? All energized and tidy and a good person to the core. This year could hardly begin in a better way.

And then the cat shows up and totally blocks the way with her massive body of fur and chubbiness.

I moved her.

She came back.

I moved her again.

She came back.

We did the same procedure five more times, then I gave up and ate some chocolate.

It´s still untidy - but I really tried.

Just wanted you to know that.

Link up with Tuesdays around the world today:

What a difference a hanger makes..!

2012-01-02T18:21:00.004+01:00

Finally I´ve began to take the step from a clothes lover in shame to a proud one..!

I do enjoy clothes and I have quite a lot of them hanging around in the closet - but so far they´ve been hanging on whatever hanger I happened to get from the store I bought them in.

Because those hangers were free. And - well, again; they were free. Sometimes I can be a cheapskate with the small things.

A while ago however, I noticed IKEA sold great hangers for little money. I´m sure they have done so for ages but I guess I wasn´t looking - but now I´ve replaced a lot of the old ones with white and shiny ones:

I have to buy more, but such a difference it made! Suddenly my wardrobe looks much neater and nicer like it belongs to a grown woman.

It only took me 38.5 years to get this far, pretty amazing. I have officially entered the land of Wardrobe Happiness and feel like holding hands and singing Kumbaya.

OK, I´ll shut up now. Are you still around?

Yes, I´m a little grumpy!

2012-01-02T07:40:00.000+01:00

As I mentioned yesterday - this is my first day of work after my wonderful 16 days holiday.

This morning I had to get up (my iPhone refused to work again so it was pure luck I woke up) to a silent home, where the rest of the family - animals included - continued to sleep.

I hate that. Makes me wanna crawl right back into bed.

It was raining outside, so waiting for the bus was no fun (and it was late). People on the bus looked grumpy - most likely just as grumpy as I must have looked. No great Monday morning in other words.

But - I do know that this feeling will pass during the day and tomorrow it will be business as usual, like those 16 days were just a dream.

So I guess all is good after all - and hubby will have dinner on the table when I come home.

Could be worse - right?!

I hope your Monday begins in a more cheerful way - enjoy the day as much as you can!

A little redecoration...

2012-01-01T20:14:00.000+01:00

Today I felt like redecorating a little on the dresser in our hallway. The lovely print by Vee Speers is up and I removed two of the globes and moved the other three around:

The cute little scooter is an old favourite of mine; feisty pea green. Also I figured I should display some of my yummy magazines (yes, I´m a magazine junkie) since they make me happy.

I think I´ll be content with it for a while. Feels nice to rest my eyes on this the moment I enter our home.

Tomorrow is my first work day after the Christmas holidays... How did the days pass so quickly?! I can´t say I´ll cartwheel to work but I guess it will be OK (after a couple of hours of self-pity).

I´ll better go and enjoy my last hours of freedom, take care!

January 1:st 2012!

2012-01-01T08:46:00.002+01:00

Hi there sweeties - it´s a new year today!

How was your New Year´s Eve?

We had a very calm and peaceful evening, just ate and relaxed. As dog owners, we never let off fireworks since our dog doesn´t like it. We did enjoy looking at other people´s though - and played with sparklers:

I totally ate too much entrecôte at dinner and topped it all off with Blueberry pie and Vanilla ice cream (the rascals choice of dessert), and after that I was just going to rest for a couple of minutes on the sofa.

Well.

I woke up over an hour later with drool in my face. Must be a sign of old age, would never have happened like 10 years ago..! Or at least I would never have admitted it back then. Especially not on the internet. That would be kinda dumb, don´t you think?

I can feel the secret´s safe with you though, I really do.

Have a great first day of the New Year!

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T10:34:00.004+01:00

So sorry for being a bit absent, I´ve been quite busy these last days.

Today´s New Year´s Eve - we´ll soon enter 2012! I love new beginnings, everything feels so promising in the beginning of a new year.

(pic borrowed from Weheartit)

I never make New Year´s resolutions about not doing things, like "I will not eat candy" - I make promises about what I´ll try to do instead. Fun things that makes me feel excited about the year to come.

During 2012 I´m aiming for this:

* Saving money for an eventual house. Saving may not seem fun, but if it ends up in a house it will be a great reward (even though I have to wait several years for that).

* Going to Italy. Needs no further explanation, right?

* Finding some jewellery that I´ll love, I´ve been feeling a little short in that area lately.

* Doing something spontaneously; like weekend trips with the family.

* Get going with my running again, as soon as it gets a little bit warmer in the air.

* Get better at photography - my always present goal.

* Enjoying life, as I always try to do.

Do you make any kind of promises to yourself? Share if you want to!

I wish you all a great New Year´s Eve and hope that you feel the endless possibilities that lies ahead of you!

Serious sausage savoury

2011-12-29T18:36:00.003+01:00

Right now, I have a sausage addiction. It feels like I should call someone, but since they probably will try and talk me out of it I won´t.

This sausage is called Prince sausage, (directly translated):

When my rascals were younger, they used to ask where the sausage made of princesses was.

Heh.

We´re just a normal family of Swedish cannibals. Now excuse me, I have some Princes to eat.

Home alone

2011-12-29T08:56:00.003+01:00

Our relatives left this morning so now we´re home alone again. My youngest doesn´t like good bye´s so he was a little bit sad, but I told him that he´ll see his cousins again before he know it.

They are a good team, these four boys:

So today I´ll just wash a little, drink a lot of coffee and maybe exercise for a while, it sure feels like I need it after Christmas. I suspect I´ll stuff myself pretty good during New Year´s too so it wouldn´t hurt to be a little ahead for once..!

Have a great day sweeties!

It´s a dog´s life

2011-12-28T14:08:00.003+01:00

Poor Elsa is exhausted. Usually, she only have four humans and one disobedient cat to keep track of - now there´s 8 people of various sizes running around here and there. Plus the disobedient cat.

No wonder she has to rest in between all of the hard work.

On the positive side is that the toddler who´s visiting is dropping things on the floor that she can gobble down all through the day. She´ll be so disappointed when things go back to normal tomorrow - maybe I´ll drop a couple of crumbs just to make her happy.

Could happen. If she´s nice.

So have things gone back to normal for you yet - anyone started working? I have four days until my work begins again, and trust me - I´ll enjoy them.

Take care!

Let´s have some fruit, shall we..?

2011-12-26T09:42:00.002+01:00

See that pretty fruit in the front? It´s called Dragon fruit and I hereby declare it the most beautiful and photogenic fruit I know.

I´ve never bought it before, but it had a really nice taste besides being beautiful. If you add the fact that it inspired me to wanna play with textures, it was really a win-win purchase.

Everything that sparks the creativity is a little bit of goodness is my world.

So what´s up today? I´m going to vaccuum for a while now, my brother in law is allergic to animals...

We have animals. We have fur where there should be none. I don´t want to kill my brother in law, so I´ll better get started..!

Take care sweeties!

This is good stuff..!

2011-12-25T17:36:00.003+01:00

I know many of you celebrate Christmas - with gifts opening and all - today, but in Sweden we do it the 24:th of December which means that part is over and done with.

My youngest was so excited the night before Christmas that he woke up at 1 AM totally dizzy and upset, thinking that Santa had forgot about him. Luckily we got him to fall asleep again and when he woke up the next time he found lots of proof that he surely wasn´t forgotten.

Both rascals had a thrill the whole day with their new gifts and me and hubby did what we do best - we ate. So many yummy things on the Christmas table.

Such a great day - I love Christmas!

Today has been lazy; we went swimming for a couple of hours but after that I took a nap that was a bit too long... But who cares - it´s Christmas!

Tomorrow my brother in law and his family will arrive for a couple of days, will be fun! I hope you´re having the best of times too!

Take care!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-22T13:11:00.002+01:00

So.

The gifts are wrapped, my rascals just finished their last day in school, the tree is decorated, the home is clean, the food is planned, Elsa is done pouting.

I´m ready to celebrate Christmas.

I wish you all the very best Christmas with your loved ones - enjoy every minute and don´t stress.

Love,

Tina

Pouting Miss Moustache

2011-12-21T20:26:00.003+01:00

Miss Moustache - also known as Elsa - is highly offended and is currently pouting on her bed.

You see; I kind of felt that she was smelling a little bit too much... dog. She sleeps in my bed, I don´t think it´s too much to ask that I shouldn´t have to hold my breath all through the night.

I figure that wouldn´t be too healthy. Right?

So all I wanted was that she´d take a little shower - I even kept her company and pampered her with lovely shampoo and checked the temperature every other minute. I gave her a pink towel and carefully wiped her ears and didn´t pull her tail once.

And I just laughed out loud a couple of minutes when her fur turned super fluffy and made her look like a stuffed animal.

Yet she´s pouting and gives me evil glares.

Some are just impossible to please.

Turtle in da house!

2011-12-21T14:46:00.002+01:00

Oh, let me tell you that it was a proud big rascal coming home today! He´s told me earlier that he was making something in school, but he wanted it to be a surprise so he never told me what it was.

Well - tadaa - meet Mr Turtle:

This is what my boy has been struggling with, including hand sewing some parts and everything:

And he was more than satisfied with the flames on the turtles back. If you´re cool and a turtle, you´ve gotta have flames:

There´s even little footballs on the body. A masterpiece indeed!

Totally made me smile, so fun!

This song however, makes me sob a little. Yeah, what can I say - I´m a wuss and even more so in Christmas time:

Enjoy the rest of this day friends - Christmas is getting closer!

Things made by me during 2011

2011-12-20T10:58:00.020+01:00

I love looking back, because in the moment it feels like I get nothing done but in retrospect 2011 wasn´t that bad.

I made a felt star that turned out OK (could have been better)...

... and a pillow to our bedroom that pleased both hubby and me...

... and a headboard that I really liked...

... and painted a dresser apple green which made me happy...

... and changed the look of a candlestick with washi tape...

... and chrocheted a blue blanket that now lives in America...

... and had fun with friendship bracelets...

... and all of a sudden decided to sew not only one but...

... two skirts which was fun...

... but not as fun as chrocheting a shawl I gave away in a Giveaway...

... and one that I kept for myself (such soft yarn)...

... and I altered a little box that I keep in our bedroom....

... and chrocheted a blanket for a sweet baby...

... and made pillows for our livingroom with fabric I really liked...

So all together; 2011 was a rewarding year - what may 2012 bring?

Decisions, decisions..!

2011-12-20T08:41:00.000+01:00

I thought the decision about a hair cut or not would be easier with my post yesterday - but nope!

You all had so great opinions, but what really mixed it all up was when I said to my hubby "I think I´ll just cut it, it will grow back out" and oldest rascal storms out from his room and hollered "Nooooo, I like it the way it is"!

I was way surprised - he never had any opinions about his old mama´s hair before, but now he eyeballed me with the intensity of an hypnotist in distress.

I´ll ponder about it for a while longer in other words - but I really appreciate your inputs. You´re truly the best and as soon as I do something to the hair you´ll be the first to know!

Tuesdays around the world will take a little Christmas break and will return in January, but I´m not leaving you without a pic today:

My husband is an hydro power engineer, so I got to join him to this old hydro power station. It´s built in 1890 - can you imagine?!

Enjoy this day sweeties!

Should it stay or should it go?

2011-12-19T13:28:00.003+01:00

I often put my hair in a pony tail or in an updo so I haven´t really thought about how long it is - but hey, it´s long!

My hairdresser says my hair grows like weed (sounds flattering, huh?), this is me in June and I did take off a little in between:

Now; it would actually be nice to have it long - I nourish an idea of learning how to do fun updo´s in the future. I´m not sure I can pull it off though since I have a very thin face.

So I´m asking since I trust your judgement as the smartest blog readers ever - should it stay or should it go?

Easy peasy Christmas candy

2011-12-19T10:02:00.004+01:00

In Sweden we often make a candy called Knäck around Christmas time - it´s a really chewy and sticky toffee that I always eat too many of. It´s very easy to make, especially if you use your microwave:

Chop up about 25 sweet almonds and put aside:

Pour 1 dl sugar in a bowl that can take some serious heat ( 1 dl equals about 0.42 cups):

Add 1 dl golden syrup...

... and 1 dl cream:

Stir and place in microwave - no lid - and let boil for about 8 minutes. This can differ a bit since all microwaves are a bit different, you have to see what works for you.

Take it out without burning yourself (it gets crazy hot!) and add the chopped almonds to the mixture. Pour in tiny wrappers - I recommend "metallic paper ones" (what are they called?) since it can be hard to get the paper ones off. I didn´t joke about the sticky part..!

Let them cool off and enjoy - these are really yummy:

And since they are made within just 10 minutes, there´s always time to make more - because these disappear faster than you can say Jinglebells.

Almost.

Brick beauty

2011-12-18T22:23:00.002+01:00

Seriously; my body tingles when I see Brick Beauty like this:

Several hundred old building, abandoned since many years - yet still proud and beautiful in all it´s loneliness. The shabbiness and cracks just makes it even more perfect.

Loved this. Is it possible to adopt a building that noone else seem to want?

All of a sudden it happened...

2011-12-18T15:17:00.003+01:00

... we got ourselves a little bit of snow today:

I´m not sure that we´ll get to keep it for long, but how nice to see the boys so eager to get out and play!

I hope to get my oldest on a snowy photo too, he´s definately more diffucult to catch than my youngest one. I may have to ambush him a little... When he least expects it, I´ll be there with my camera - hah!

I hope you´ve had a nice weekend - I´m going to spend the evening reading and relaxing! What are you up to?

Freezing but happy!

2011-12-17T11:59:00.005+01:00

I had really looked forward to get out and try my tripod today - and woke up to rain again.

Darn it.

So I asked a friend if the rascals could stay with her and her kids for an hour and then I asked hubby to help me out and hold the umbrella while I played Mrs Tough Photographer who fears no bad weather. As the good sport (and nature freak) he is, he agreed to do so - and it was truly fun!

I still prefer good weather since one gets in a hurry when the rain is pouring down, which makes experimenting with settings and so on a bit hard, but it felt super nice to be able to use the camera more limitless.

So many options friends - and I liked this shot!

Have a great weekend!

Tripod in the house and Mail time!

2011-12-15T20:21:00.004+01:00

I´m surprised in the best of ways - even though the note from the Post office said my tripod was arriving tomorrow, it actually came today.

I´ve just told my rascals that we have a new family member and that they can call him Burt. That felt right somehow.

Yes, I have issues.

Anyhoo; that means I want to get to know my new partner in crime so I´ll take a couple of days of blogging - but not until I´ve showed you what I got from Koralee today:

We decided to exchange tea a while ago and I can tell you that this fancy tea smells divine! The tin is also so pretty and I loved the lovely cupcake wrappers and everything else! Thank you Koralee!

I´ve got a tripod named Burt.

I´ve got new tea to taste.

I´ve got one more day to work before 16 days of vacation.

Sweeties - there´s nothing about this day that could be the slightest wrong and I hope you feel the same.

Take care!

Winter of weirdness

2011-12-15T07:46:00.000+01:00

This is truly the winter of weirdness.

It´s December 15th, I live in Sweden - a country where one doesn´t need hula hula skirts that often - and yet I´m greeted with pouring rain when I go to work.

It seems like I have to look at pics from one year ago to get in the true December mood:

On a good note; just two more days until my Christmas holiday and I got a note from the Post office that says I can pick my tripod up tomorrow afternoon.

Are you done with your Christmas shopping by the way?

I received the Christmas gifts I ordered from the States the other day (so relieved that they arrived that fast - thanks again Mon), but I still have a couple of things to pick up.

Any gift you´re extra happy you´ve found? Do tell!

Have a great day!

Wohoo!

2011-12-14T07:27:00.000+01:00

I´m really giddy now - yesterday I ordered a tripod:

(pics borrowed from Cyberphoto)

It wasn´t that expensive but had gotten good reviews so it shouldn´t be crap - I didn´t find anything negative about it when I googled it.

Do you know what this means? A thousand of new options and ways to make photography (and this blog) more fun!

I´m feeling very impatient now so I hope it will arrive in time for the weekend, cross your fingers please!

Have a great Wednesday!

Celebrating Lucia today!

2011-12-13T07:20:00.000+01:00

It´s time for Tuesdays around the world - and today we´re celebrating Lucia here in Sweden!

It´s my favourite tradition during Christmas, I always just love seeing all the little Lucias, Star boys, Santas and handmaidens. If you want, you can read a little more about this tradition here: St Lucia Day

They are all cuter than cute - my youngest really enjoyed it. My oldest and his class will watch the older childrens performance during this day instead since there´s so many kids at school and everybody can´t perform at the same time. And if that´s not enough, we can see the national Lucia performance on TV - always beautiful!

Have a great day and link up if you want!

White flowers

2011-12-12T07:34:00.000+01:00

Do you have a favourite color when it comes to flowers?

I´m always drawn to the white ones. I don´t know why that is since there´s so many beautiful colors, but the combination between white and green feels so crisp and fresh:

In the spring, white tulips makes me happy as a child - but right now, I´m just enjoying the fact that I have blooming flowers at all. Makes such a difference when the garden is resting.

This will be my last week of work until my Christmas holidays - I´ll be off work between December 17th and January 2nd. I really need that since I feel quite exhausted at the moment, so I´ll be counting the days!

Have a great beginning of the week!

No need to feel lonely in this house...

2011-12-10T20:22:00.002+01:00

... because if you need someone to cuddle with, there´s always a couple of volunteers.

They are cute on their own, but together they kind of knock me off my feet.

Sweet sweetness of mine.

One star done

2011-12-10T16:02:00.002+01:00

You know the Peppermint candy stars I mentioned a couple of days back? Well, I made one today:

It´s so dark most of the days now so I just took a pic with my iPhone - which makes it a bit difficult to see that I´ve placed a white fabric button in the middle. So I´m telling you instead: I´ve placed a white fabric button in the middle.

In case that´s difficult to see.

Hehe.

It was easy enough to make - my only trouble was that I didn´t have any good stuffing material at home so I used cotton. I don´t like that too much, it gets lumpy and irritating. But it´s done and pretty cute even though I always hand sew uneven.

I´m having a great and relaxed Saturday, I hope you do too!

Efva Attling

2011-12-09T09:26:00.006+01:00

Efva Attling is a former swedish model who turned popstar for a moment, then married a swedish popstar and had some kids, then divorced him and fell in love with a female popstar and then married her and turned into a jewellery designer.

Wow - didn´t that become a fantastic sentence?! No need for a PR machine with a life like that!

Anyway; through it all she has been a very fabulous and stylish woman and she rocks at jewellery design!

Here I´m just showing you a couple of her silver necklaces, but I seriously recommend that you take a look at her website: Efva Attling - Beauty with a thought.
I could easily close my eyes and pick any of her necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets and watches and be a happy camper no matter what I got.

She´s that good.
Her jewellry is carried by so many stars so you´d know you´d be in good company... If that matters.
I think 2012 must be the year I get myself something by her. It´s certainly good to think ahead because some of it is quite expensive. Worth every penny though.

Check her out and tell me what you think! Maybe something to wish for this Christmas (she has stores all over the world you know)?

Bathrobe of shame

2011-12-08T15:26:00.003+01:00

I´m funny sometimes. Unintentionally I mean.

I´m a neat person - my clothes are always in good shape and I don´t want my sons to wear a sweater to school if there´s the slightest spot on it. So far so good - but by some mysterious reason, my bathrobe has been the exception for years.

Let me tell you the story about this bathrobe:
I got it when my youngest rascal was just a baby. It was used around the clock when I had to nurse him in the beginning, then it has followed me along the way for the last 6 years.

I´ve used it when I´ve applied self tanners which have left ugly stains that never disappeared no matter how I washed it. I´ve used it when Elsa was a puppy and used to chew on it wherever she could. I´ve used it when I´ve painted indoors just beacuse I didn´t want to waste my neat clothes, and so on and so on.

And - here comes the funny part - never did I during these 6 years stop to think about how ugly it had become. Well, maybe it crossed my mind once or twice but not enough to actually do something about it. It was comfy after all.

Comfy is a good thing.

And then, a neighbour knocked on the door and one second before I opened the door - in my bathrobe - it hit me how it looked.

And darn it, that was embarrassing. Oh my. Just try having a relaxed conversation while threads are blowing in the draft around you.
It opened my eyes you could say - so now I have this:
No stains, no lose threads, just dotty and happy.

And the bathrobe of shame is no more - may it rest in peace.

So tell me; do you have any clothes of shame hanging around? Confessions please!

Take a look at these Peppermint Candy Stars!

2011-12-08T06:15:00.003+01:00

I found these yesterday at Allsorts - aren´t they super cute?!

(Photo borrowed from Allsorts)

I have some white felt at home, I may give these a try even though I never hand sew that neat. I´m very attracted to the simpleness, they are just perfect.

Jump over there if you need instructions and pattern and let me know if you try, that would be fun!

Have a great day!

More pics from Stockholm!

2011-12-07T08:00:00.000+01:00

What I love most about Stockholm is the architecture and the many old buildings...

... mixed up with fun little twists here and there...

... and the always so evident signs of how close the water is:

The shopping is great, like at NK which is an old and a bit expensive store where it´s just as fun to look at people as at things...

... and there´s always something to catch your eye, from small to big:

And that pretty much sums up our Sunday in Stockholm - hope you enjoyed the pics!

Have a great Wednesday and do tell what you´re up to - I´d love to hear!

Never guessed I´d see THIS coming..!

2011-12-06T16:59:00.004+01:00

SNOW!

Just a little but enough to make my boys giddy as if it was Christmas eve - and it looks so pretty on our roof here:

I was hanging out of a window taking this shot. Our neighbour across the street looked at me like I was an alien - but I´m sure she´d understand if she got herself a blog.

Maybe I should suggest that to her so we could go a little crazy together?

Anyway; lets cross fingers and toes that it stays for a while - for the sake of Christmas and giddy kids.

Tuesdays around the world!

2011-12-06T08:10:00.001+01:00

I overslept this morning...

That happens like once every 10 years and I sure don´t like it! By some reason my iPhone believed the time to be in the middle of the night when it really was 7.10 AM - isn´t that weird?!

The fun part was that I still wasn´t late for work, but the state I arrived in was not the neatest, haha!

On to something more fun; Tuesdays around the world!

This is a pic from the storm we had the other day - the sky looked beautiful and scary at the same time:

I was safe inside so I could just enjoy the coziness - but it was so windy outside. The power of nature!

Have a great day and link up with us if you want!

Mail time and fun time!

2011-12-05T19:02:00.002+01:00

Ooooh happy day!

First I got no less than two postcards - am I spoiled or what?!

The top one comes from Mira, that gorgeous sight is her kitchen view! Can you even imagine looking out on something like that while eating breakfast - just wonderful!

The one below comes from Annemarie who has been in my beloved Chicago and thought of me while enjoying the shopping and museums (yes, I´m envious):

Thank you so much both of you; your kind words lifted my spirit tonight!

Also; dear Mon from Splendid Willow is featuring me among a bunch of other lovely ladies today with her Holiday Special: My 2 cents on a gift I heart. If you need inspiration for Christmas gifts you can jump over there and get inspired!

Hope the rest of your day is great, I think I´ll read a little now!

Stockholm..!

2011-12-05T07:45:00.000+01:00

Stockholm is a truly beautiful capital city - I wish you all could see it one day. It´s just about two hours drive from us, but still we forget to go there more than maybe twice a year - but yesterday I got the itch to see something else than our hometown.

We had no specific business there but to walk around and eat something - and then go back home. Good enough on a Sunday, and the sea breeze is always refreshing...

... and yesterday very much so - it was a cold and strong breeze (as you can see on my bangs there):

The rascals were the true heroes, they endured both wind and crowd with a great patience. Because crowded it was - oh my. Not too surprising since it´s Christmas soon, but still very hard to get around. I had planned to buy something but gave that idea up pretty fast - wasn´t that keen on wasting time standing in line.

We had a lovely time though and all felt content (and tired) when we went home.

More pics to come tomorrow, I hope your beginning of the week will be great!

Lovely cookie tin

2011-12-04T08:48:00.001+01:00

Of course it really doesn´t matter if I put my cookies in a plastic bag or box (especially since they have a tendency to disappear fast in this house) - but somehow it is the small details that makes the fun. So I like to keep them in pretty cookie tins like this:

I found this the other day at Åhléns - and since I had a discount I figured I could treat myself, it was so lovely with those colors.

And then - naturally - I had to bake some to fill it up. Very basic chocolate cookies, but oh so very yummy with a glass of cold milk. Chocolate and milk must be one of the best combinations ever, I never get tired of that.

Have a great Sunday - we´re going to Stockholm over the day!

The Globe collection is growing!

2011-12-03T09:33:00.002+01:00

I´m so happy to see my little Globe collection grow - I feel they add so much niceness to our home:

This is my latest addition and I found it yesterday at Indiska:

Perfect middle size, perfect faded and retro colors - and perfect prize. Globes can be so expensive but this was at a very reasonable cost (299 swedish crowns/44 dollars).

So Saturday it is - what are your plans?

I´ll doing a little bit of this and a little bit of that in our home today, it´s raining outside so I don´t feel like going out at all. December rain is not cozy in any way, it´s just cold and mean.

Take care sweeties!

Kitschy Christmas..!

2011-12-02T20:46:00.003+01:00

After showing you many of the Christmas decorations that make my city look prettier, I figured it would be fair to show you what makes my city kitschier:
I passed this inflatable Christmas globe with equally inflatable gifts around it when I was running to the bus this afternoon. I actually had to slow down and think "Now; what was that" - and then return to take a pic even though I was in a hurry.

Not only wanting to show you the quite fantastic, kitschy look - but realizing that this will not survive many days. Someone will not be able to resist the temptation, someone will poke a hole. So when I find this empty and sad (it will happen!), I´ll feel good about documenting it for the afterworld as the kitschiest thing in my city of the year 2011.

Yep.

I did my part for history today. You´re very welcome.

Fab Friday!

2011-12-02T07:37:00.000+01:00

Wohoo - Friday again and I´m looking forward to the weekend!

First however, I´ll take a little walk through my city...

... so I can look for a nice wreath at this place:

Old ladies are always buying from this woman.

If you want to know where to find great stuff; look for the old ladies. They know quality - and they don´t settle for less because they have the time to pick and choose. I learned this when I worked at a eldery home as a youth - even though it sometimes drove the (impatient) me crazy, I could see that they had a point.

I hope you´ll get a Fab Friday too!

December 1:st - you´re kidding?!

2011-12-01T20:04:00.003+01:00

I see it in the calender but it´s extremly hard to get that true it´s going to be Christmas soon-feeling when it´s like this outside:

I mean; really? Is this what Christmas 2011 is going to be like?

Wow.

Well, I´m doing as good as I can; today I bought myself a couple of hyacinths - the white ones. Hyacinths are a very traditional Christmas flower in Sweden and I love how they smell.

I also found a white Schlumbergera truncata which doesn´t yet bloom, so I´ll have that to look forward to. And most important; tomorrow´s Friday again and I´ll have so much to do during this weekend!

Are you beginning to see signs of snow where you live?