Friday 18 November 2011

Evening walk



At the lake at my home. It was breathtaking. I realize I´m blessed.

Wednesday 16 November 2011

Versace for H&M



Tomorrow Versace for H&M is released. I'm not really a big fan of Donatella Versace but when it comes to H&M's designer collaborations I´m quite excited. There is a lot of exclusive material like silk and leather for a decent price.

For the record I am blogging on a local newspaper here in Sweden and I´ve just made a this collagen of my favourite picks of the Versace collection. Sorry about the swedish folks!

Happy shopping tomorrow!

Hanna and Charlie



My beautiful cousin Hanna kissing my sweetiepie Charlie.

Tuesday 18 October 2011

Purple and Black outfit

Me likey, right now!

Polo neck jumper - hm.com
Boots Zubroska Ash - henrykole.se
Bracelet - lindex.com
Tights - hm.com
Bag - mango.com
Necklace - nordstrom.com

Hi and hello


It´s raining cats and dogs outside today. Days like this is warm and cosy if I am inside of course.


I´ve been busy with life and stuff like that but I´m still here. Don´t you worry.


In november I will start blogging for the localpaper and I am very excited! This doesn´t mean that I will abandon you folks, though. I promise. I will translate some of my blogposts for you guys and dolls.


/Love Blogoholic ♥

Wednesday 28 September 2011

Under the leaves



Oops. I have not blogged for a while but I am alive and feeling well. Have been a little busy with life you know.
Now autumn has arrived and everything is so beautiful out there. The colors, the air and sun (when it pleases to shine).

I have to tell you when Charlie was chased by a mad moose the other day. But in another post. Cliffhanger people! LOL!

Wednesday 14 September 2011

Stormy weather


It's been a storm here in southern Sweden. Not as huge like in the U.S. but still enough to cause problems in traffic.
Good thing are the big strong men who cleans up the roads, right?! ;-)

Tuesday 13 September 2011

Ratatouille soup


Yesterday I ate my favorite soup. Perfect for those windy fall days. Ratatouille is a classic French vegetable mix. It usually consists of tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, peppers and onions. The ingredients hacked and fried in oil. The name comes from the French touiller, "to stir". Here is a soupversion.

½ -1 eggplant
4 shallots
3 cloves garlic
½ cup olive oil
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1 zucchini
1 red bell pepper
2 cups white wine
1 liter vegetable stock
2 cups tomato juice
2 tomatoes
fresh basil
salt
white pepper


Olive Baguette:
½ baguette
1 cup black olives with stone
olive oil


1. Cut eggplant into cubes 1.5 × 1.5 cm.

2. Peel and roughly chop the shallots and garlic. Add chopped in a pan and fry it in olive oil. Add the bay leaf and thyme and let it sizzle with. Dice the zucchini. Seed and dice peppers. Add the diced it into the pot. Dilute with wine and vegetable stock. Let cook about 5 minutes.

3. Cut the tomatoes into cubes. Stir them into the pot and continue boiling for 5 minutes, so the tomatoes clarifies a bit.

4. Season with shredded basil, salt and white pepper. Please let the soup stand in a cool place and pull over a couple of hours to allow flavors ripen.

5. Cut the baguette into pieces. Drizzle a little olive oil and roast them along with the olives in a pan just before serving.

6. One can usefully serve a sour cream sauce with garlic.

Thursday 8 September 2011

Wordfeud

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I am totally obsessed in playing Scrabble right now. It keeps my mind busy and it really gives me a thrill.

I play it on my iPhone and the app is called Wordfeud. It´s for free and you can play with people all over the world. I really recommend it. But I must warn you, it´s addictive!!

My nickname is Miss Lollipopp. Please add me so we can play!!

Coconot and Lemon cake



In these times a serotonin substitute cake is in order. It´s delicious and a piece of cake to make.

For the cake you will need:
  • 1 dl water
  • 3 lemons
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 dl sugar
  • 2 tea spoons of baking powder
  • 2 dl flour
Frosting:
  • 1 dl sugar
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2 tea spoons vanilla powder
  • 75 grams of butter
  • 4 tea spoons of fresh lemon juice

Preheat the owen to 175 degrees Celsius and start putting some butter into a baking pan or mould. Mix the eggs with the sugar in a bowl and add the water.
Grate the skin from two lemons and add it to the batter. Stir the juice from the same two lemons into the mixture, add the flour and the baking powder and mix it all together.
Pour the batter into the mould and let it get a nice colour in the owen for 30 min.

For the frosting, heat the butter up in a saucepan and then mix the sugar, vanilla powder, egg yolks and lemon juice at once in the pan.
When the cake is finished and a little chilled, pour all the buttery frosting on top of it and let it chill for a while and then add coconut flakes generously over it and garnish with some freshly cut lemon bits. Serve it cold, as it is or with some vanilla cream on top.

Tuesday 6 September 2011

Life must go on


Life goes on. My father was operated on monday. The reduced the metastases in the liver and everything went as the doctors planned. Now it only remains radiation and an operation to remove the main tumor in the bowel. Cancer is really a terrible disease.

I feel a little depressed right now and just working, cooking or going out on walks with Charlie is making me so tired. I guess it´s my bodys way to say; slow down for a while. So I will.


Friday 2 September 2011

Somewhere over the rainbow



Catched the rainbow on camera yesterday. The weather right now is a bit strange. Pouring rain alternate with sunshine. It´s difficult how to dress. Rubber boots or flip flops? Like my mood nowdays.


Soundtrack of the day.

Wednesday 31 August 2011

Running up that hill



Life feels a bit fragile at the moment. My father is noticeably more tired now, during his chemo treatments and I am concerned. He was diagnosed with cancer this summer in the bowel and liver. On monday he will have the first of two operations and I´m so nervous. My whole heart wishes that he will fix this. I am not prepared to say goodbye now. It is far too early. He is only 60 years old and still working. We have in recent years found each other, on one of those nice way. We can sit and talk about everything over a cup of coffee and hours can go. These moments are the best things I know.

Sunday 28 August 2011

Dancing On My Own



Her name is Robyn. She is from Sweden. I think she´s awesome.

Come and get me autumn!

Some inspiring coffe table books, a lighted candle and a nice cup of tea and I'm ready for fall. Come and get me!

Friday 26 August 2011

Last swim for the season


Probably this summers last swim in the lake with my dog Charlie. Autumn is next.

Thursday 25 August 2011

She had made yet another wise shopping decision


I´ve just bought these lovely vintage pumps from swedish ELLE´s editor Maria and I love love love them.

About strenght




A few years ago I was in war.
In war with myself.
Salty tears down my cheek.
Unanswered questions hung cheeky up in the ceiling like balloons.
The contours that were clear were suddenly blurred
Sad characters who danced samba all night.
Anxiety had a firm stranglehold on my neck.
Rabbit pulse was palpable.
So easy to succumb.
Place the victim crown of thorns on my head.
Really hard so that the skin scratched pieces of thorn branches.


But.
The only good thing about wars is that they often have an ending.
And you take your memories and weaves them together with everything else.
Make trades and getting stronger.
Do not forget.
Never forget.
Because the greatest human beings tattoo themselves
On the inside.
Nothing rub directly, but sometimes feels a bit extra.
In a particular movement.
Today I'm amazed how many storms a human can have.
Without disapearing into dust.
Cause the desert dry your soul.
Without hope.


So.
Like water that caresses the desert brought me again slowly to life.
What once was no soul thirsts for more.
The seed is sown.
It grows stronger with every breath.
And again full of life.
Isn´t it a bit strange?
As time passes, take the one where the strength of the grief.
And finally.
Can you rejoice.
Remember and be grateful.
Feeling just stronger.
Grateful and strong.
And full of love for those whom I call my family.

Summer´s last breath


Dress - oasis-stores.com
Bag - jades24.com
Wedges - zara.com
Earrings - zara.com
Bracelet - evans.co.uk
Nail polish - nordstrom.com

Day 12 – Your fears



When I was little girl I was afraid of so many things. Like thunder, big black dogs, flies and drunk old men. There lived a fat drunk old man named Jerry on the floor below my best friend. He used to swear in Finnish at us kids when he came revelers with his drinking buddies on the yard. Every time I visited my best friend Jenny I stopped and became completely paralyzed with fear when I realized that I had to run past Jerrys door to get to my playmates door. I remember that I first stopped, hesitated if I would dare, and finally after a few seconds of shilly-shallying with high rabbit heart pulse I ran as fast as I could.

Today I am not afraid of drunk old men or big black dogs anymore. Partly because I have learned that alcohol often makes them wobbly and slow, and dogs ... as long as they are well behaved, they are of course wonderful.

But this does not mean that I´m completely free from fears. unfortunately. They just are a little different nowdays. For example, to really let people get close to me. Why is it one of my worst fears? I will do well as I am? Yes, theoretically, I know it, but emotionally I don´t know. The is a gap there. But I am at least aware of it now. I was not before.

A wise man told me once that self-esteem is like a sourdough. It must always be fed and maintained otherwise it dies. And the next thought that strikes me is what I feed it with ... In all the years I have been a real city girl all the way out to my fingertips. But today, I live in a charming small house in the countryside and I love it. To closely see the changes in nature and take in the harmony that nature gives to me is so spiritually good for my body and soul. The feeling of pulling up the blinds in the morning and look at my neighbor's beautiful horses are indescribable. It beats all the shopping streets in the world!

About the fears. I realize of course that they will still bee there but in different forms through my life. There is no point to avoid the fears all the time, it makes me probably just exhausted. It´s just to spit in my hands and meet them quite and easily. Something like that.

Tuesday 23 August 2011

IKEA 2012



We know that fall is here when the new IKEA catalog arrives in the mailbox. Lovely! I need to add some stuff at home so ít´s perfect.
Did you know that IKEA is a swedish company?

Friday 19 August 2011

A tribute to Joan



I don´t want a world where people call Christina Hendricks who plays Joan Holloway in Mad Men for a big woman. But they do. All the time. However, there is another large camp that celebrates her body. I am one of them.
Because I can not help feeling a great relief to see a woman that draws larger sizes than size zero. For they are often banned from television and newspapers.


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But I also focuses on Christina's body - which in a sense is a rejection of society and the media. Cause had actors like Joan been a regular on TV I probably haven´t noticed that. This is about habit, of course.

Today we believe that most HM models are slim. They are not. They are underweight (if you look at their body mass index). Had one of them appeared on television in the fifties I garantee that people had been talking about them. But we have gotten used to this underwights bodies to the point that we believe strongly underweight people is just a bit skinny.

I'm not saying it is wrong to be thin, or that all underweight are starving themselves or that they are ugly. I think there are many women who naturally end up low on the BMI scale that are beautiful and they should not have to take any crap for how they look. But we also need more women like Joan on the television screen.

Because if we will see more women that draws larger sizes, you may narrow the skinnypanic, and those feelings of injustice diminishes. It is not right that curvy women is rejected like that.

Thursday 18 August 2011

Jump into the leaves



I would love to wear this outfit. The combination of this colours smells like autumn.

Poncho - conleys.de
Shoes - heels.com
Necklace - forever21.com
Earrings - oasis-stores.com

Olives, coffee and Woody Allen






























There are things in life that I never liked as a child. For example, olives, coffee and Woody Allen. Today, I love all three of those things. A cup of freshly made coffee in the morning. And garlic marinated olives in a fresh salad. Yummie! Finally, a sexy Woody Allen in my bed. Hehe, just kidding. With that sexy part.

My mother has always loved Woody Allen films. I tried to see Hannah and her Sisters as a teenager but I fell asleep in the introduction. But, when I was a few years older I saw Melinda and Melinda and fell in love. Since then I have seen every film of this excellent filmmaker.

His latest movie Midnight in
Paris will premiere in Sweden september 2 but I'm going on Monday to see the movie in an exclusive previewshow.

Have you seen this movie? What did you think of it?

Wednesday 17 August 2011

Day 11 – A house

The best thing I ever knew was when my grandfather had hidden the contents of a candybag in the bushes in the garden of our countrycottage, where we used to live in the summer. Or when me and my grandmother went our walking in the woods looking for mushrooms and beautiful flowers. Sometimes she stumbled and then she would always say -Oooopsidaisy!, loud and then I used to laugh. Even today I say the same thing when I stumble or so.

I will never forget our lovely family dinners in this pretty small countryhouse. Once lightning struck down in our cottage during a family dinner. It hissed and flashed leaving a huge burn mark on the wallpaper. The thunder that came at the same moment, almost lifted the whole house up in the air. I sat in daddy's lap and my legs were shaking with fear. Grandpa got up with a pale and frightened face and said with trembling voice: - Dear family! Now we are taking it easy. (So much my grandfather).

The cottage in the picture was the family's favorite spot and I have so many wonderful memories from there.


I used to sit in the outhouse and philosophizng with the door open. My family thought it was so humorous and they immortalized it in a photo.

Gotta love the flea markets


I bought this lovely lamp on a flea market for only $23 (USD). Will fit nicely next to the armchair.

I imagine sitting there this autumn with a good book and a cup of tea when it´s raining cats and dogs outside.

Tuesday 16 August 2011

Blackberries, the ones you eat



There is a lot of blackberries right now in the countryside of Sweden where I live. Really nice. I wonder what I can do with it ... jam, juice and pies. Delicious!
In swedish this berries are called 'Björnbär'. That means Bearberries. Kind of funny I think. But I would not like to face an angry bear who thinks I steal his food. Imagine that.

About being single

You know all those movies about single girls in their 30s who hunt for the perfect career and the perfect man? Those kinds of movies that are fun to watch from a distance, but no one really wants to live in? Well, I'm in it. Though there are not as many brunches with perfect dressed girlfriends with successful careers, not as much money for extravagant shopping adventures, and not as many proposers (in the movies, there are always two, preferably one good and one bad, and at least one of them played by Hugh Grant).

I have many friends in my age. It's just that most people do not play in the same film. A while ago they switched the channel and now is the American family sitcoms with a laugh machine which lightens the mood, every four minutes. I sit a bit confused still with the remote in my hand and I slowly realize that they have gone to the other side of the screen, living the life I can only look at the glow of a flat screen. For they have done as you should, in real life. They have moved on. They have secured a steady job and a secure income. Fished up a partner. Possibly multiplied by the same. Determined to be us rather than me and myself.

Friendship's sort of by definition, secondary to the love. Not unimportant, but secondary. They found a higher purpose. It is always fascinating and compelling to watch. Just as the phenomenon of people who have children and explain that it is now life begins. Before the children they had nothing. And it does not matter how many movies about SATC Manolo heels in the desert to produce, for in reality, the single life no higher status than a couple entered cheap shoes from Wal-Mart.
Are you in marriage age and somehow still single there is a huge risk that we-people gets easily uncomfortable. If this perversion of the human family could get together and go into life, part two. So you did not have to feel guilty when you have other commitments and priorities that singles does not understand.

In defense you are lying about how good it is to be on your own. You try to make solitude to a status concept. And every single biological clock is still ticking ... No stress, they say. And yet it is just glass facades that threatens to crush from everyday asphalt. For the hand of the lonely heart it is a fact of life that most of us just want to be a part of just one of those couples who have other priorities. Which is perhaps a little jealous of the unbound single life, but at the end of the day they still are content to not be one of the lost souls. Who can see things clearly and at a safe distance from the pillow on the relative pedestal.

 Who can get his life served with laughter intervals every four minutes.


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Monday 15 August 2011

At the cafe


Happiness is when I finally found this photograph that I bought in a bookstore several years ago. Isn´t it lovely?

Photo: Maurice Branger, 1925

In a better world







































I have seen a really good movie called In a better world. This film deals with violence, revenge spriral evil and its consequences. From horrible abuse of women in African refugee camps to brutal bullying in the schoolyard in a Danish smalltown. As in the director Susanne Bier's previous films this deals with heavy topics to an everyday level, but always without any sentimentality.

Mikael Persbrant plays doctor Anton who volunteer in the third world sometimes as a way to get away from his broken marriage at home.
His twelve year old son Elijah walk with heavy steps to school every day because of his harassers to classmates who bully him. One day a boy called Christian begins in Elias class, he recently lost his mother in cancer and carries a tremendous sadness, anger and frustration over his family situation with an absent father. Christian cling to the bullied Elias and whips the shit out of the biggest bully of them all with a bicycle pump.

These young boys are developing a dangerous friendship built on anger against injustice and Elijah's blind faith in his first real friend. Schoolyard conflicts end up soon on the parents' table. Elijah´s father Anton is preaching to him about turning the other cheek to a head when a local bully gives him a slap infront of the kids. Anton's habit to stay out of conflicts from Africa is completely alien from the rooster of the boys have learned in the schoolyard. Christian's father, Claus tries to explain that violence begets violence, that is how wars start, but the ball is already set in motion.



The acting is very natural and you get touched by the strong characters. The strongest of all the child actors, is especially William Jøhnk Nielsen, who plays Christian. What strikes me is how incredible similar Christian is a young Christian Bale in Empire of the sun. Both in appearance and facial expressions.



Susanne Bier describes the conflicts behind the home's walls and the major topics in family life in a very clever way. The story feels like moving straight through, leaving virtually no one untouched. The film works well as a good basis for discussions about school violence and fear as it methodically draws parallels between the violence in Africa and what happens on our school yards.

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Sunday 14 August 2011

Day 10 – Something that upsets you



There are obvious things that makes me upset. I think of big things like war, injustice, abuse of power and violence in all forms, especially the vulnerable such as children and animals. But if I concentrate on the personal level, there's something I really hate like the plague. What I think of is envy.

Envy is mentioned as one of the seven deadly sins. It's really not so surprising that many of mankind horrible actions often are rooted in envy of all kinds. You probably agree with me on that. But - when it comes to the personal level, I think probably all of us have ever suffered from envy or jealousy. I have sometimes suffered from streaks of it and it gives and does not create any positive feelings or bring any happiness in life. On the contrary, the more you caves down in this you more unhappier you become.

"There is a special place in hell for women who do not help each other."

 - The winged words are Madeleine Albrights America's first female foreign minister. One can only hope she is right. One can also hope for the opposite. A special place in heaven for women who help each other would be, the more pleasant.


I myself have been involved in female co-workers or friends felt threatened by me. Why me, I do not really understand. Most of them who really knows me, knows that I'd rather be in the background and hates to be seen and heard too much. I am quite shy of me, especially when it comes to unfamiliar social situations or new people.

On one occasion I was hired with another girl to the same job that was initially only ment for one person. The boss said with a little teasing tone that we could compete with each other. I took it all with calm. If it wasen´t for the other girl who took it all very or too much seriously. She drove the whole range of dirty tricks and as soon as I had success with things you more green with envy, she was. It ended sadly when I gave up because I could not handle her. Now I was very young at the time and if it have been today I would probably have stayed and given her a real fight.
When it comes to love relationships, there is no relationship more destroying than jealousy. Being jealous of your boyfriends female friends is a classic trap. And - yes, I have been in the degrading situation myself. But I have because of my experience, decided to stop thinking so negatively about myself and others. For what I send out will return to me. I send out love and positive thoughts about myself and I'll reap the rewards of that too.

Friday 12 August 2011

Stockholm Fashion Week SS12

Swedens Fashion Week in Stockholm has just ended. I've gone through all the shows and here I are my favorites.

Foto:


Foto:

Ida Sjöstedt SS12

Foto:

Odd Molly SS12

Foto:

Busnel SS12

Foto:

Rûtzou SS12

tuesday's outfit

And the best dressed on front row was Elsa Billgren for ELLE. I love love love her style!

Emilia De Poret was stylish as always.







































Sahara Hotnights matched each other.

Life is short eat cookies



It's apple time now in my garden and I enjoy these delicious fruits. You can do so much with them. For example, applesauce, apple juice and why not apple pie. Yummie!



Here is a recipe of the world's most delicious apple cake. Bake and enjoy!

2 eggs
2 cup sugar
2 cups flour
200 gr melted butter
4-5 apples, preferably a little sour
cinnamon
whipped cream with vanilla


Preheat the oven to 175 degrees.
Begin by melting the butter and allow to cool.
Peel the apples and cut it into bite-thick pieces. Add about 3 / 4 parts of the apples in a greased and bedded form.
Beat the eggs with the sugar a little light, so that it becomes porous.
Mix in the flour and then the melted butter.
Stir into a smooth batter.
Pour over apples. Next, add the rest of the apple pieces on top.
Sprinkle with cinnamon and a little sugar.
Into the oven (bottom) 175 degrees for about 45-50 min
Beat whipped cream with vanilla fluffy and add to the cake, it is super fresh and delicious.

Day 09 – Your beliefs

I believe in love. And quantum physics. What goes around comes around.



When I was younger I wondered why all too often happened to me. In particular, I focused on all the negative events and experiences such as divorce, relationship problems and other troubles. Added another problem as I had only evidence of my negative theory, see! everything is just shit what ever I do! It made me depressed and sad too often, and above all, it took an enormous amount of my energy.

Now that I am thirty-four years old, I am more grateful than ever about all that happened to me over the years, good and bad. I'm trying to think of it as that I never had been enriched with all the life skills I carry on today, even though if I had to fight my way through some parts of my life. Fighting create gratitude, awareness and humility for myself and the people around me might be just as they are for a reason that I might not have a clue of before.

In the future it is important to never forget that. That it´s through my greatest trials I developed most as a human being. May I never forget this. I choose to see life in that way everything happens for a reason. For that life will get better and that I should learn more about myself and thus also become more humble towards my fellow human beings.



In my book called God wears lipstick, there is a sense that I try to live by every day:

"Never expect anything from anyone before you Have given it yourself."


Never expect anything in life unless you are willing to first give it yourself. Positive begets positive and negative begets negative. There we have the essence of quantum physics.