glam damage

HOW COULD I FORGET! (I do apologize for my overuse of caps lock)

2012-02-12T11:44:00.001Z

I can't believe I left out 2 vital points of my previously posted list. 2 things which truly still baffle me about this country.

Another two things about Britain which I will never ever truly understand:

Picture taken from here

Why on earth they still have separate taps for hot and cold water. WHY, DEAR LORD WHY?! Sometimes I think that British plumbing in general is designed to make life difficult, or maybe it's a matter of being one of the first countries in Europe to actually HAVE it, and since it still sort of works it's just not been replaced. I'm not even kidding here, there are houses in London which still has the original pluming put in at THE DAWN OF TIME. Or around the reign of Queen Victoria. Whatever really, it's still really, really OLD. The tap-situation annoys me even more as I've got 3 sinks in my flat, 2 of those has 'proper' taps, but the 3rd (where I tend to wash my face etc.) has a set of too hot/too cold taps. It grinds my gears to unknown levels.

Picture taken from here

I know this chart says 'unites states vs. rest of the world' but the UK is, after all, the reason the US is also using the ever so slightly confusing and POINTLESS imperial measures. I really don't get why the Brits still cling on to this system, most people I know my age had to learn about the metric system at school but still wouldn't be able to tell me their weight/height in kilos/centimeters. And don't even get me started on the issue when it comes to baking after British/American recepies. I'm constantly converting measures to my beloved metric system, and there has been some near baking incidents where my poor laptop has been covered in baking powder and other ingredients. That MAY have more to do with my clumsiness but I'm fully prepared to blame the Imperial 'let's measure things in apples and wenches' system.

British things which still confuse me

2012-02-11T16:34:00.000Z

Haggis. One of the things I actually DO get

In spite of having lived here for nearly 7 years and being immensely Britified there still are things I just don't get. Maybe I never will, I assume that having learnt how to enjoy ale, rugby, salt and vinegar and endless cups of tea as therapy I might have gotten as far on the assimilation-scale as I possible can.
So these things will remain a mystery to me.

What I still don't get:

Cricket. It seems to be like a mixture of hitting really hard balls with bats and rally complicated maths. With cheating. And it goes on forever.
Mint sauce. I mean, I like mint. Mint is awesome, in mojitos or in tea. But mint sauce with lamb still confuses me.
Chips and pizza. I mean, junk food in all it's glory, but carbs WITH carbs?
Individual changing rooms in swim centers. Maybe that's the Swede in me but if people are going to see you in your swimwear (e.g. next to nothing) why would it be so bad for people seeing you change?
Which leads me onto my next point: people wearing swimwear in the sauna. It's. Not. The. Protocol. It's unhygienic and wrong in every way.
Meat flavoured crisps. Unless it's bacon flavour cause then it's awesome.
Carpets, carpets EVERYWHERE.
The British obsession with soap operas. There's SO many of them, and they're all absolute rubbish. In Sweden we haven't had soap operas since the 90s.

It will happen this year as well

2012-02-09T18:46:00.000Z

But I must say that it feels fricking unlikely when walking to work at 6:20am in freezing rain.
Guess I didn't move to to Scotland for the weather but COME OOOOON, just leave it out for the 10 minutes I spend in the dark by the bus stop?

SNAP UT OF IT

2012-02-07T10:21:00.000Z

Enough of the pity party, back to work, back to writing and back to the job-sites. Oh, post-uni life, you're a cruel mistress.

I guess I'm scared (the lament of a recent graduate)

2012-02-06T17:19:00.000Z

I really want to know what I want to be. I desperately wish I had a clue as to the direction my life should take, if I'm better off working than studying, what my passion really is. Sometime there's little moments of clarity when everything seems to make sense, and then a few days later I'm back to square one.
Maybe I've gotten too cynical, too jaded to believe in the whole 'follow your dreams' ethos. Maybe my student loans in combination with an increasingly cut throat work market would be enough to drag any one down.
Or maybe I'm just scared of being rejected, crushed, turned down... Maybe there's a tiny bit of me afraid of flying and therefore I won't 'dare to dream' (and all that jazz). The world will do that to you, you may start of with grand ideas of working as a journalist/writer and then BAM one day you find yourself thinking that a nice job in HR or admin wouldn't be too bad.
And it wouldn't.
As long as I felt some kind of peace and contentment.

I don't wan't to moan, it's not like I'm alone in this. And yes, I know, I'm the only one who can fix this. There are people I could talk to, jobs I could apply for. It's just that sometimes I look around and all I want to do is stamp my feet and scream:
WHY THE HELL DOES EVERYONE ELSE SEEM TO HAVE IT ALL FIGURED OUT!? WHY NOT ME?! It is my fault? Did I make the wrong choices? Oh dear lord, someone bring me a glass of wine....

Then I get myself together, snap out of it and apply for another 3 jobs. 3 jobs I might not get. But hey, chances are even smaller not applying. I guess there's no point complaining if you're not making any attempts to change the situation. And you have to at least try to do what you love before you can grow bitter and resentful.

Sorry about the silence

2012-02-06T10:46:00.000Z

When you get an average of 3 hours sleep and start work at ungodly hours it gets difficult to think out funny, witty or clever things to say. Most of the time I just want to crawl back in to bed/cry/pet the imaginary cat I keep seeing in my flat. When insomnia gives you hallucinations, THAT'S when the fun kicks in!
Now, before we go ahead and call the men in white I want to let you know I'm fine. Just in need of a proper nights sleep, that's all. Some people get grumpy without food, sunshine, sex... My weakness is sleep. I just love sleep. Not that I mind any of the other things, they're all awesome too. In fact, I wouldn't mind a combination of all 4.
But not until I've finished my tea.

All I want to do is drink tea and read cookbooks

2012-01-29T13:54:00.001Z

I wish I could relax as well as Stella. She's a professional cat-napper. I'm only good at it for about an hour then my whole body starts itching, I just need to DO something. I find it hard to just sit down with a book and relax. So far I've done.... Alright I guess. I've had multiple cups of tea and coffee, some breakfast, some cheese and biscuits for lunch and I've read several slow roast pork recepies in preparation for dinner. But I'm torn. Part of me feels like getting dressed, done up and head out to do the big food shop. Or like baking something. Or cleaning the bathroom. Nothing crazy, just something Sunday-productive. But there's also the part of me quite pleased with sitting about in my boyfriend's hoodie, with unwashed hair, searching for new tv-series to devour (considering 'Grimm').
This is probably why I'll never have one of those glossy life-style blogs full of photos of hotel brunches and decorated cup cakes. 90% of the time I find my knitted socks, sofa, fire and boyfriend's cooking far to tantalizing. Also, readers really don't need photos of me in my natural Sunday-state.

Free as a bird//It's the next best thing to be

2012-01-28T10:50:00.000Z

Leaving nights, work mates, Dutch beer, cold walks, hot dance floor. But why oh why do I always wind up in the same place?

These are a few of my favourite things

2012-01-26T15:07:00.000Z

I like ironing. I admit it, if there was a support group I would gladly join. I've even been known to iron my sheets (this might have been the moment when the full extent of my addiction became clear). I also like paining. It usually ends up being nothing, just multiple layers of paint and initial hopes crushed by a limited talent. But it soothes me. I'm guessing we all have things in life which makes the world make a little bit more sense. if I compiled my list it would probably look a bit like this:

Things which soothes me and makes me feel better about life

Ironing
Having newly washed hair
Painting
Roasting a chicken
Spending a few hours over a bottle of wine with my friends
Tweezing my eyebrows (I can't believe my spellcheck wants me to write 'TWEETING' instead. Tweeting does NOT soothe me, it confuses me).
Waking up next to my boyfriend
A strong cup of coffee in the afternoon
Motown.

It's really not more difficult than that. This is probably something I should keep in mind when I feel like banging my head against the bathroom door at work. Maybe I should introduce some kind of ironing scheme in the office? I reckon they'd be more ok with that than be bringing my friends round for mid-day pinot grigio sessions.

Remember me, I used to live for music

2012-01-23T10:00:00.000Z

Can't we just cancel Monday, find a sunny place and sit and listen to Motown all day instead? No?

Chili, lime, coconut and trashy TV.Oh, and a Strongbow.

2012-01-22T17:58:00.000Z

9 hours of sleep, too many episodes of 'Vampire Diaries' (Oh, the SHAME!), Skyrim, Duck eggs and soldiers, cups of tea, too much eyeliner for a Sunday, pint of cider, ranting, the joy of not having friends who cause me drama or grief, the little Thai shop on the corner and all of it's wonders, rugby, Thai red curry pork and coconut rice, glass of pinot, some more Skyrim (I bought it for my Boyfriend for Christmas. Shot myself in the foot there! No but really. So EPIC.), spring time plans, Nordic friendship tour 2012 and as always, so much love.

The little things

2012-01-21T13:02:00.000Z

Saturday. What a great, work-free day.
One day I reckon that I'll be excited about Mondays as well, maybe once I've figured out what to do with myself. I can be one of those lucky people who gush about their work, their projects, their spreadsheets.... These people exist, right?

Decisions, decisions

2012-01-17T17:25:00.000Z

AAAAAAAAAARGH. Why isn't there a manual for this god damn life/future/career thing I've got going on? Some helpful advice? Pointers? A how to-guide? No? Just my gut feeling? AAAAAAARGH.

Grown men crying, now THAT'S entertainment

2012-01-14T17:52:00.000Z

When I'm not gazing artistically into the distance (eheeemmm) I like to watch hospital tv-shows. You know, the kind with REAL LIFE HUMAN DRAMA, nurses running from room to room and loads of tears. My favourite by far is 'One born every minute' which follows the drama at a maternity ward. If I can watch it with some of my best friends, sparkling wine in hand and meat, cheese and bread, well then I'm pretty much in heaven. Nothing says 'entertainment' as tough men crying at the birth of their baby daughter. What a great way of spending a Saturday afternoon (I'm dead serious. Best afternoon ever).

It's pure fact

2012-01-14T17:45:00.000Z

Pre-Mobile phone

Post-Mobile phone

Home

2012-01-12T18:13:00.000Z

It's damn difficult to get this many cousins to all look normal in a photo

2012-01-10T12:39:00.000Z

I reckon we did ok.

Sweden, sweet Sweden

2012-01-05T17:18:00.000Z

Back home in the middle of nowhere. You know, the place of meatballs, fresh air and family times. I'm planning to get out of my head on old friend times and crisp bread. Until then, big love.

In an event of an emergency

2012-01-03T13:13:00.002Z

Insane January storm? Bake a smoked salmon quiche. It makes perfect sense. Sure calmed me down after nearly getting my head bashed in by falling roof tiles anyway.
There may be a pattern here, this whole cooking vs. emotional state. Near death experience? Bake a quiche! Contemplative? Make some meatballs! Facing a tropical monsoon? I reckon I would tackle it with a pavlova. Like an emotionally unstable Nigella, minus the fabulous kitchen and all that cash. Oh, and the silky dark hair. With my skin tone I don't even want to consider how goth I would look with that hair colour.

Like a hurricane

2012-01-03T11:04:00.000Z

In spite of (or because of?) the lack of plans I had an amazing New Years eve. Much thanks to my lovely man, but also to the food, the bubbly, the fire work display and the after party. I feel that I started 2012 with a bang.
Seems like the weather is wanting to do the same though. Gale force winds are battering Edinburgh, buses are cancelled, lorries overturned, fences ripped up and the garden looks like a battle zone. I had my very own near death experience during the 2 min I was outside the flat and by the sounds of the sirens someone else may have had a close encounter with the roof tiles which are scattered all along the road.
So, what do you do on a day like this? I'm packing, hoping the winds will die down for my early morning flight, cleaning out Christmas and trying to re-activate my brain after the festive season. It's easier said than done, I feel like my entire being is in hibernation-mode.
Anyway. Hope you all had a lovely New Years, and that 2012 will bring you adventures, love, laughter and plenty of goodness. Big love.

New Years Eve

2011-12-30T15:33:00.001Z

NYE 2010/2011

Thankfully I managed to swap my new yeas eve/new years day night shifts with day shifts (the thought of facing the office on the morning of the 1st is still pretty harsh). But as the weather is horrid, my closest friends are either away or other wise occupied (e.g. jazzing about at the massive hogmanay party in town) and the whole will I/won't I night shift bonanza kind of threw any plans we might have had we're facing NYE the way I always seem to. Kind of unprepared, not too bothered and with 3 bottles of bubbly in the fridge.
I don't get the new years hype, I really don't. Not that I don't enjoy the new years day gossip and injuries (so many broken bones last year!) but in all fairness I think my Christmas obsession leaves me quite jaded once NYE rolls around.
But still. I have bubbly, a potential main course, dessert, canapes snacks and a lovely outfit. I have my boyfriend, I have a house party and I have a massive fire work show. I also have enough gallows humor to get me through a day in the office on Sunday.

Christmas weekend

2011-12-29T10:21:00.000Z

Being woken up by an over excited niece and nephew at the crack of dawn, days full of walking, talking, tea and kids toys, late nights with wine and crashing into bed. The earliest Christmas morning EVER, toys everywhere and happy faces. Amazing food, 4 generations under one roof and 12 hours of champagne.

List of 2011

2011-12-21T18:06:00.000Z

Inspired by lovely Sandra I decided to start summing up the year which has very nearly passed.
So Here we go!

5 great things which has happened this year:
1. Ringing in the new year with my boyfriend and showing him my home at it's most beautiful; cold, sunny and covered in frost.

2. Finding a flat which suited us right now, and moving in. Having my toothbrush next to his toothbrush, that kind of stuff you know.

3. Graduating. In spite of the financial climate and the mess the world is in I still felt so happy and so proud of me and my classmates.

4. My cousins wedding. Spending the weekend celebrating with my family, SO MUCH LOVE!

5. All the time (in spite of it never being enough!) I've spent with my girls. I love them more than words can say, really.

5 bad things which has happened this year:
1. Never having enough money to stop worrying. 2. Not having the energy to fight our energy provider (ha!) as I moved out of my old flat. Blood sucking scum, the lot of them. Not that I'm bitter. 3.Not getting a job I would have adored due to my lack of experience. Working on that now though! 4. Not having seen many of my Swedish friend enough and feeling a bit useless because of it. 5. Basically loosing a friend for reasons I can't even be bothered going into right now. If anything it has thought me the value of true friendship but at the same time a massive part of me mourns what we used to have.

What have you learnt this year?
A hell of a lot about banking. Also, several Nigella recepies and that I really, REALLY shouldn't mix red wine with anything.

Did the year turn out the way you thought it would?
More or less. I don't like to have a set idea of things that way, it never turns out exactly how you planned it in the end.

Which item of clothing have you used the most?
My green parka from Asos. I just got addicted to the massive pockets.

What music have you listened to this year?
A few of the favourites have been:
The Weary Kind- Ryan Bingham
Sadness Is a Blessing- Lykke Li
The Crookes- Chorus of Fools
The Felice Brothes- Frankie's Gun
And, as always: This masterpiece.

What movies/Series have you been watching this year?
Probably too many. Community, Fringe, Modern Family, Raising Hope, Harry Potter over and over again, Roadhouse (too many times) and endless episodes of Master Chef.

Who have you been spending the most time with this year?
The girls, the boyfriend, the lovely ex-classmates and lately a lot of people from work. All lovely creatures!

Have you gotten to know any new people this year?
Several, thanks to my new job. And some of them I even liked!

What is the most beautiful thing you've gotten this year?
I'm going to be really naff and say my degree. Although In earned it it is definitively a treasured possession.

What is the best book you've read?
I haven't ready anything which blowed my mind but I re-read several old favourites.

Did you do something this year which you've never done before?
I graduated, got a 'real' job, and I'm about to meet my boyfriends whole family for Christmas.

Did any of your friends become parents this year?
Yup, Sara and Mike!

Best buy this year?
My lovely little netbook, no contest. I would not have survived uni without it!

Biggest success of 2011?
Graduation, surviving my office job and me and my boyfriend living together without any hassle of drama.

What did you spend your money on?
Eh. Rent.

Favourite video of 2011:
Instead of mentioning The Muppets AGAIN I'll go for this one. If you don't find it funny you're probably not worth knowing.

How did you spend your birthday?
By seeing my bestest, lovelies friends, drinking in a Swedish bar and then dancing until closing time with my boyfriend at a jazz/hiphop fusion gig.

I love love love him

2011-12-21T17:12:00.000Z

It's a strange feeling when the friends you used to work 12 hour shifts with, dance with, drink and cry with have babies. Little mini-versions of themselves even! But oh my, it's pretty damn great to. How can you not love him?

'Tis the season

2011-12-19T18:21:00.001Z

Lunch at the Queens Arms, private room, more cheesy Christmas music than one can shake a stick at, amazing food, the best company, cocktails and then onward home. I can't complain really.... Except at my lack of money. THAT I will complain about.

Friday was a night for the red dress

2011-12-19T18:12:00.001Z

And for walking far to far in heels, saying good bye, drinking mulled wine, dancing to the same Christmas songs we always dance to and laugh at the mayhem black Friday brings.

Black Friday

2011-12-16T17:06:00.000Z

Christmas shopping: Done, Christmas cards: Done, Donation to the salvation army due to their incredibly heart-wrenching advert: Done. I'm now pretty much ready for a night on the town, ready to get messy with the rest of the British population. Black Friday is one of the messiest nights of the year, basically 90% of all the awkward, drunken office parties take place tonight and the hospitals are counting on the volume of emergency calls increasing by more than 60%.
I will NOT be one of those emergency calls, don't you worry. After the pounding my Visa took today I can't afford to go beyond tipsy. Of course there is always the chance of me falling over in my silly high heels. Let's not forget about that.
Either way. I'm so ready.
I just need to have a shower, dry my hair, moisturize, make my hair go in any other shape but bushy, do my make up, find change for the bus and locate my drinking buddies.
It's do-able.
I'm just going to watch another episode of LA Ink.

Is this adult life?

2011-12-16T08:27:00.000Z

I was up before 7am. On my day off. Now THIS is a new feeling. i'm not quite sure what to do with myself, my boyfriend went off to work 20 minutes ago and although I need to do some Christmas shopping the actual shops won't open for another hour or so.... I've already heard most news stories on BBC twice and had about a gallon of tea. Is this why people start working out or going for a jog in the morning?
Can't quite see myself jogging. Walking, maybe... To the shops.
To top of my general odd state of mind I also think I have mixed up my contact lenses and got the wrong strength in the wrong eye.
Clearly this isn't good for me.
I might go back to bed for another hour until the world seems right again.

Compact living

2011-12-12T13:16:00.000Z

One day I will have a kitchen with free space and room for more than 2 people.

The rules of a kid's Christmas

2011-12-11T13:53:00.004Z

This year me and my boyfriend are spending Christmas with his family, above all with his niece and nephew. Spening Christmas with children is a whole new experience for me, it's not been done since I WAS one (not counting the pre-Christmas get togethers with my extended family and all of their spawn, a few hours has got nothing on a whole weekend!). My Christmas weekends look a lot like the photo above, late nights drinking red wine, listening to music and being all round grown-up and jolly. Bringing kids in to the equation adds a whole new level to the festivities.
Don't get me wrong, I'm so, so excited about the whole weekend, for starters I get to spend Christmas with children, which means there will be someone there who is as excited as me. This isn't entirely usual. But it does change a lot, doesn't it? Adds new situations you never even thought about before. The late nights will be replaced by early mornings, the music intro-drinking game quiz with classic board games and the gifts will not be handed our from one family member to another but will be a Christmas miracle straight from Father Christmas (and don't you dare say anything else!).
My initial realisation of this came to me as I sat wrapping gifts for the (very adorable) 5-year old niece and began writing the label of the parcel. In my family we've always written who the gift is from as well as who it's for, even though my Mum still mixes in the odd 'from Santa' in the pile of stuff.
As I began to write 'From Uncle and Linnea' I stopped. Do you really do that for a 5-year old? What if this label (and therefore me) went on to singlehandedly ruin a little girls belief in Santa and the miracle of Christmas? What is this one label would bring on a Christmas tantrum never before seen, a harsh awakening to the lies of the adult world? I shudder to think of anything of the kind.
The label now states nothing but a name and the whole 'is Father Christmas real' debate is something I happily leave up the the parents. After all, that is the greatest thing about other peoples children.
So I will drink the hot chocolate, watch the Christmas films and play twister with gusto. Sleeping soundly knowing that I narrowly avoided causing Christmas havoc.

Aaaaall by myyyyseeeeelllf...!

2011-12-09T13:33:00.000Z

I'm working night shifts over New Years. It will be me and the quiet office seeing in 2012. Joy to the world! I'm hoping for a last minute shift swap or potentially so much snow I can't leave the flat.

'I might have Christmassed all over the flat'

2011-12-09T13:30:00.000Z

When you have a boyfriend who isn't quite as keen on all things Christmas as one self you have to decorate while he's still at work, keep the overly shiny things to a bare minimum and the Christmas tree minimal. Or you can just Christmas all over the flat anyway and count on the miracle of the festive season to melt his grinchy heart and make him see the wonder of porcelain Santa's and fairy lights (he did).
The tree, on the other hand, was kept minimal as I was doing the big shop after work and couldn't quite handle getting home with 4 big bags of shopping AND a tree. It's just enough for now.

Snow, snow, snow if only for a minute

2011-12-04T09:23:00.000Z

Hibernation

2011-12-02T17:15:00.001Z

Work has really sucked all of the energy out of me lately, there's only so many rude people one girl can deal with.
On a different note; Obese Billy Connolly look alike man from my daily bus journey has started wearing more clothes. E.g. a denim jacket. Over his wife beater. He's also paired it up with some rather sizable gold hoop earrings. Curiouser and curiouser.

Dear Santa

2011-11-21T17:56:00.000Z

This Christmas I want a lovely patch work bed spread and some new pillows.

Some Dior mascara, some Chanel nail polish and some Mac lipstick.

A case for my kindle. I like the blue one!

Some new pillows for my sofa. This one of from Etsy but anything along the lines of it is good.

Some nice smelling stuff for my flat.

A 50's style sailor dress.

The new Ellie Saab perfume. Or Estée Lauder's 'Sensuous nude'.

A springtime trip to Paris.

A few we heart it pictures

2011-11-21T17:37:00.000Z

When I spend too much time online I sort of get why we haven't got internet on our work computers. It's far to easy to just sit and stare at pictures/videos of kittens/that person you went to school with 15 years ago's wedding pictures. Another reason why we can't have internet access might be the sensitive economic details we deal with on a daily basis, but hell, that's dull. I reckon the threat of kitten-procrastination is far greater that financial crime.

Things I love//#15 Christmas

2011-11-20T21:07:00.000Z

I'm the opposite of the Grinch. I love Christmas. Christmas at home, Christmas in Britain, Christmas EVERYWHERE. CHRISTMAS, CHRISTMAS, CHRISTMAS!!!

General Sunday musings

2011-11-20T12:18:00.001Z

Not only do I enjoy the company of fat billy wife-beater and crazy dancing man on the bus, they have now been joined by a young man in a suit listening to loud mariachi music. I think this man might be a potential serial killer and I'm proceeding with caution.
December's going to be awesome.
It's 32 days until my Christmas holidays and nearly time to put the decorations up.
Apparently left over kebab is a perfectly acceptable breakfast substitute. According to my boyfriend anyway.

What goes through my mind on a Monday morning.

2011-11-14T08:49:00.000Z

Is the heavily obese Billy Connolly look-alike who get's my early bus in the morning EVER going to change into something more...Seasonal? Sure, it's not snowing yet but sweats and a wife-beater west is starting to look a bit chilly. Oh, and if you don't know who Billy Connolly is check him out. He's hilarious, and a great crash course in the Scottish accent.

Is the crazy, dancing loon of an old man who gets on my late bus home ever going to find someone to waltz with?
How does towels get to dirty when you're usually clean when you wipe yourself on them?
How much coffee is too much coffee?
I really need a hair cut.
I should start swimming, like, more often.
Will I weep as much watching the last Harry Potter on dvd as I did in the cinema? And in that case, is it worth it?
Would it really be so wrong to spend a day playing video games? Even though I'm 26?
Cats. I just don't get why some people don't like cats.
Leggings aren't trousers.

Things I love//#14 The Muppets. The Muppets and QUEEN.

2011-11-13T11:06:00.000Z

Things I love//#13 Alan Rickman's voice

2011-11-12T20:59:00.000Z

I really just want him to come and sit in my living room and read every book I own out loud.

The one photo from my Birthday meal

2011-11-12T14:14:00.000Z

Sunday dinner tastes better when you're wearing little old lady-hats. True story.

What I got up to last Sunday

2011-11-11T20:48:00.000Z

Last Sunday I filled in for my friend in her shop Athena's Boutique so that she could go to Ireland for a wedding.

I had all kinds of creatures keeping me company.

Felt-cats, bears and little bird-purses.

I miiiiiight have winded up playing dress-up. Just a little.

By the time I walked home it was pitch black outside. You can really feel that winter is coming on.

Might have to start with my Christmas shopping soon. And my Christmas decorating. And my Christmas baking. Ooooh, can't bloody wait!

I'd rather stay at home

2011-11-07T20:22:00.000Z

I's so sorry about the poor blogging lately. But sometimes you just want to enjoy your actual time off by reading, eating bubble and squeak, watching Master chef Australia and not much else.
Well.
I HAVE done other things to. Like working away in my friends shop, and singing along to the tunes in 'Sister act the musica', which my friends surprised me with.More about that later, they're cooking salt-crusted guinea fowl on Master chef and it's DR-MA-TIC.

We like dancing and we look divine

2011-10-31T18:31:00.000Z

Last Saturday we went out celebrating my birthday. As Halloween was round the corner it only seemed suitable to drink Hobgoblin beer.

Before going out I had a day basically sitting by the fire and getting books, books and more books for my brand new birthday kindle! WHY didn't I own one of these in uni? Every single fictional book I had to read during uni was available for free. That's just damn typical.

Bring on the big hair and the polka dots.

And the bling.

And the eyeliner.

Then I danced the night away in these beauties! Well, I sat the night away, then I changed in to flats and danced to some kind of jazz/hiphop fusion. But still, aren't they PRETTY?

Yaaaaas....!

2011-10-28T17:42:00.000+01:00

Birthday. I haz it.

It's really bad karma, isn't it?

2011-10-27T20:16:00.000+01:00

If I had a pound for each time I accidentally hit a child in the face with my handbag I would be able to advance to a different price-class of wine by now.

Somewhere over the bus stop

2011-10-24T17:57:00.001+01:00

I long for the weekend even though it's only Monday, leaving work on Friday to spend the weekend celebrating my birthday, my family back in Sweden, snow, Christmas, my post-grad, some kind of financial stability, painting, red wine.
I am sad about how Sunday winded up being a day of bad news for my boyfriend, how I can't get time off to fly to my friends wedding, the general state of the world.
I am happy about the strong friendships I've made, having found my boyfriend and getting to wake up with him every morning, me having a plan for my future studies and hopefully future. I'm happy about being HAPPY, about having a positive outlook on life.

I would prefer to eat mozzarella cheese and sun blushed tomatoes. All the time. And olives. And salt licorice. And roasted sweet potatoes. And roast chicken. Actually, I'm just plain hungry right now so I would eat basically anything.
What I look forward to with hesitant excitement the future.

The loveliest thing in the world is Paris in the early autumn, postcards, that perfect cup of coffee in the afternoon, laughing with your friends until you cry, waking up next to the person you love and feeling safer that you've ever felt.
I read everything from the label of my shampoo to Victorian novels. I just finished reading 'Wild Sargasso Sea' and I'm on the look-out for something new.
I am stressed about money.

I listen to this.
I dream about a job I love, a house which is mine, peace of mind and the perfect red lipstick.

I get nostalgic about music, last Christmas, cities I love, cold autumn walks.

An early birthday

2011-10-24T17:27:00.000+01:00

My Sunday plans was an early birthday lunch with these awesome girls.

Hiding away in a quirky pub where the menus come hidden in old copies of National Geographic.

So awesome.

No, honestly, so fricking awesome.

The food, the service, the company, Just. So. Awesome.

And amazing cider too.

I may not look it, but I was very excited at this point. The waiter gave us a hat each to wear for lunch.

So that we could look suave while digging in to our roast and mussels.

Excited face!
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I've got such amazing friend and not a day goes by when I'm not grateful and feel lucky to have such clever, witty, beautiful, caring funny supercallifragilisticexpialadocious people to rely on and laugh with.

I find the things that you do make me feel alright

2011-10-23T18:39:00.000+01:00

I can hear drunk football fans chanting/screaming/singing outside my flat. It's dark and the people in the street are either on their way from a pub, a football game or the grocery shop carrying ready made meals and cheap bottles of wine. No one really wants to hang about anymore, it's getting colder and I assume that people have the same pull towards their living room as I do. There's something about a fire, a blanket and the safety of your own space which is much needed when the winter is looming round the corner.
I have so much to say tonight, but the words just seem to come out wrong, too corny, too honest or to fake.
So I might just leave it.
For now.

And I love, love, love you

2011-10-22T10:25:00.000+01:00

But it was fun fun fun when we were drinking; and it was fun fun fun when we were drunk

2011-10-22T10:21:00.000+01:00

Last night was my lovely boyfriend's birthday and the night consisted of wine, steak, chocolate trifle, birthday cards and a big kitten bag full of gifts (because every man loves a kitten gift bag). After a fairly busy week at work, and loads of early mornings having a night of music, wine and love and a guaranteed sleep-in the next day was absolute heaven.
Right now I'm mainly planning on sitting about in my pyjamas and catching up on 'An Idiot Abroad.' Living. The. High. Life.

If you like piña coladas and getting caught in the rain

2011-10-17T18:38:00.000+01:00

Whoever wrote this song never got caught in a Scottish, icy rainstorm. Which is HELL by the way. Give me a blanket and some red wine any day.

Athena's opening night

2011-10-16T09:13:00.001+01:00

Last Thursday was the official opening night of my friend Becky's shop on Victoria st, Edinburgh. In spite of having a head full of snot and a fever to boot I walked up to show face (and sip the free bubbly!). Loads of people turned up and the shop is looking great. In spite of my own (currently) gloomy career it makes me so happy seeing friends finding their niche and doing something they love. It gives me some hope for the future, and I'm damn proud. So if you have the ways past old town you should pop in and spend some money. Not on the red tweed clutch though, IT'S MINE.

This is a house of snot

2011-10-16T09:03:00.000+01:00

When both me and my boyfriend wind up with the flu of the century there's not much more to do than nap, play scrabble and complain. How is it even POSSIBLE for the human body to produce this much snot?!

Can I just say

2011-10-11T13:41:00.002+01:00

I think this is brilliant.

The gig was AH-MAH-ZIIING

2011-10-10T17:29:00.000+01:00

Clearly I was too excited to stick in any photos before.

No. Nope. Won't work.

Or maybe my boyfriend just isn't a pro with the camera. Not to worry, my sweet, you have other talents.

It sort of worked out. Eventually. HAPPY SMILEY GIG-FACE!

Anyway, the gig was amazing, the venue perfect and the band absolute gentlemen (and oh so indie).

I would definitively recommend you to check them out if they play anywhere near you. They're coming to Gothenburg in December, for example.

I reckon this was the best song of the night.

Or quite possibly this song, which is my favourite so far. So, so indie, so so reminiscent of the music which got me in to... well, music in the first place.

Tonight//Godless girl

2011-10-09T12:10:00.001+01:00

"There was no possibility of taking a walk that day..."

2011-10-08T15:20:00.000+01:00

We're having such a rainy, dreary Saturday today, the kind which will either depress you or make you feel like baking, re-arranging your books, writing lists... I'm more for the latter alternative.

For starters I would have to take a quick twirl around the flat, collecting all the jewelry I've scattered all over the place during the week.

Hello little globe.

It's also an excellent day for the kind of novels you once struggled to feign enthusiasm over in high school. When reading on your own accord they always seem a little bit better. But then again, I devoured books in high school (I'm just THAT cool).

Well, I DID say it was a day for baking. I'm still not sure if they turned out well though, I'm not that fly when it comes to cakes and sweets. Give me a chicken or some soup any day. Besides, when I fail at baking I tend to throw little temper tantrums. Ladida... Maybe I should have stuck to a roast.

Sometimes I love just pottering about and spending hours in my own company. Especially on days when the world appears grey and gloomy.

It gets pretty dull after a while though... Even though I know I should rest and get rid of any sign of illness so that I can sing along good and proper at The Crooks gig tomorrow. I can't wait!

Well, who would have known

2011-10-07T08:30:00.002+01:00

Turns out loosing your voice is pretty bad when you spend most of your work-hours on the phone. One might even say it renders you a tiny bit useless.

My lazy, unproductive, totally un-glamorous and awesome Sunday (in pictures!)

2011-10-03T20:04:00.000+01:00

Woke up freakishly early as I live with a rugby fan and the world cup is played in New Zealand. Not that staying indoors matters on grey days like this.

So. Early.

Casual Sunday dishes/fry-up. I quite like doing the dishes, you know. It's a good time to think.

Like about how much I love my new G&T glasses I got form work during my short shift on Saturday. Aren't they so wrong and yet so right? Check out the shop, there's so many lovely things!

I also love my new tealight holder which I got from the Swedish shop next to City Vintage. It's lovely, and once christmas comes around I'll be swapping it's colours for red and white. This is another Edinburgh gem of a shop.( not only because the people are lovely).

I think it's safe to say that any 'tan' I got over the summer has faded away.

Vegetarians, look away! This is what we do on a Sunday. Half a pig. It's awesome.

Having to pop out for some groceries in the rain= not so awesome.

A few things so easily multiplies.... Into a cheese board and other things of goodness!

And G&T's.

That was out Sunday. Event-less, lazy and absolutely AWESOME.

Things I've learnt to love/like/accept since I moved to the UK

2011-10-02T13:56:00.001+01:00

Obviously there are cultural differences between Britain and Sweden, heck, there are cultural differences between England and Scotland, Glasgow and Edinburgh, let alone two completely separate countries. Some things about this country sort of threw me at first, like the sight of little 5 year old school boys freezing their knees of in mid-winter due to their school uniform (SHORTS. In December! It's child cruelty if anything, my mum wouldn't even let me leave the house with a bare neck during the winter!). But then again, some things I have grown to love (and somethings I have simply grown accustomed to) so here's a list of these different cultural traits/foods/random things of British-ness.

A proper cuppa. Aaaah...

I love cups of strong tea with a splash of milk. It's just so soothing. It might not be reserved completely for Britain, but I started taking milk in my tea after a month in Scotland as a 17-year old (the old ladies with whom I worked with didn't even ask, they just assumed I wanted a milky cuppa and slices of toast.) I also love that no matter how a bad situation is there will always be someone who has the composure to put the kettle one. I mean, during the London riots they started serving cups of tea of riot shields! That's so British I might faint!
I can accept that sometimes carpeted floors isn't half bad. Never in the bathroom/kitchen though. Living room? Ok then. Bedroom? Fine.
I like a bit of mint sauce with my roast lamb. The oddity of this flavour combination used to baffle me, now it's something I'm likely to order in a restaurant. Oh yeah, I love lamb. I never used to eat it, it's not big in Sweden at all, but in Scotland the quality is just amazing.
I can happily sip a wee dram of whiskey, you might even say I've grown to like it. 6 years in Scotland should probably do that to you.
When I first moved here I was sort of shocked seeing parents with their small children on leashes. Now I actually accept the idea that it's actually quite practical. Especially after seeing friends kids/nieces/nephews bolt of towards busy roads/cyclists/general danger. Kids are speedy little critters, they clearly need to be controlled.
Bacon is a perfectly acceptable breakfast choice. Bacon and tea.
British, dry cider. I love it.
Brussel sprouts. They're awesome and a new Christmas dinner staple for me. They will look great next to my equally spherical meatballs.

Of course there's certain things I will never understand as well. But as I have covered that in a post before I'll hold of until there's new things to complain about. Like people keeping candles and tea lights for decoration only, and never actually lighting them. I mean, that's just daft and probably a sign that you are a fairly pointless person. So there.

Survival guide for those working in a call centre

2011-10-01T09:16:00.001+01:00

Make friends. At least one or two, you will not survive without someone sharing your pain/your coffee breaks.
On that note; an arch-nemesis could also be useful.
Try not to think about outside life when you're working, it will just depress you.
Create a happy-go-lucky on-call persona
Be as un-helpful and non-service minded as possible in your spare time to balance out your personality
Don't, and I repeat DON'T Let the callers hear any insecurity in your voice. Insecurity to callers is like blood to sharks, THEY CAN SMELL IT.
Make grand plans for your future life/job.
Leave. Before your soul withers away and you become a bitter recluse.

My face hurts

2011-09-26T20:16:00.000+01:00

Being so freakishly nice at work makes my cheeks hurt. It also hurts my inner sulky teen.

Pose Victorious

2011-09-24T14:07:00.001+01:00

My current autumn indie obsession is Scottish band Posing Victorious. They just give me such indie joy, such Scottish indie joy. Been sitting with Spotify for a large part of the day making up new playlists to represent the darker time of the year. So far I reckon run to the sea is my favourite up beat track, but autumn leaves is pretty damn good too.
I love how a night out for me always starts with hours of preparation involving actual good music. Then it gradually goes down the drain and I wind up insisting on a playlist involving nothing but Bruce Springsteen. Or even worse, something like this.

'I wish Alan Rickman was my denitst'

2011-09-22T22:06:00.001+01:00

Sometimes, love is finding a film that only one other person in the world can truly share with you. In this case (Alan Rickman does historical drama) it's my old flatmate. My boyfriend suffered through it as well, bless him, in spite of constant commentary from our (ok, mainly my) side.
Screw work, screw finding the right post grad for me, all I want is to find Alan Rickman and convince him to become my dentist. Then I'd never put it off ever again.

Oh yeah

2011-09-18T13:02:00.000+01:00

While my beloved is watching MotoGP (now THAT'S something I can't get excited about) I surf about looking for entertaining stuff online. Like this blog. I find celebrity gossip really, really dull but this is funny, mean and a little bit eeeevil. I wonder how long it will take before Mr. Cruise brings in the lawyers.
Speaking of fun things online, any good tips out there? Something you guys find amusing/beautiful/interesting? Even your own blogs? Give me some tips/links, pretty please?

Where DID this week go?!

2011-09-18T12:56:00.001+01:00

It's been a good one at least. Filled with work (meh), my favourite gin (hurrah!), pots of tea and autumn sunshine. In the middle of this new kind of every day life I find it difficult to remember the blog or stay witty. Maybe it's because of my work-training and all my wit being squeezed out to make room for everything that can go wrong with credit cards (yes, my job is THAT interesting). I think I have a very limited amount of brain space left after 4 years of uni.

So, besides nearly falling asleep at work and drinking gin with my lovely work-mates I've mainly been adjusting to my working week. And also adjusting to living with a rugby-fan. I mean, I don't mind rugby (I watch it for the muscular men, the crying to the national anthems and the violence) but as the world cup is taking place in New Zealand my boyfriend is up at 4am watching the games. And the thing is, when I wake up I find it hard to fall back asleep. Voila; early mornings on the sofa with tea and men chasing an egg-shaped ball. Not that I mind (much).

I don't blame him though, we all have things in life we get very excited about. Christ, I spent a good 15 minutes showing off my newly bought make-up to my friend during our wine and nibbles meet yesterday. Make-up, rugby.... We all have our passions in life.

Not that make-up is my biggest passion. We all know that's cheese.

List list list list

2011-09-15T18:51:00.000+01:00

Stolen and translated and edited a teeny weeny bit from here.

What food disgusts you the most?
I don't think of myself as a picky person, but I can't deal with mushrooms, mollusks or crab. I'm slowly trying to make myself try other seafood but so far I'd rather stick with fish. So, disgusting top 3 would be: mushroom soup, oysters, crabsticks.
List 5 things you're proud of that you've done in your life:
I moved to a different country, I built a life here, I graduated from university, I overcame a whole lot of emotional issues and I turned out pretty damn well considering certain issues in the past. All and all, I'm pretty happy about my whole life.
What do you regret in life?
I try not regretting anything I do, and believe me I've done some stupid things, dated some stupid people and worn some bad outfits. But what I do regret is going back to my ex after a particularly bad fight/night and also not standing up to the insecure bullies who tormented me in high school. Oh, how I would rip them to shreds now... Hindsight, it's a beautiful thing...
What is the weirdest rumor you've ever heard about yourself?
Besides some vicious ones spread by the afore mentioned bitches from hell (over-dramatic? Me?) I can't see to remember any odd rumors about me, although I know there were plenty. I have, on the other hand, had a person insist that on our first ever meeting I said some pretty rude things. Thing is, I never did and she had totally fabricated it in her mind afterwards (pretty sure her BF+the other people there would have reacted had I come out with some of the crap she insisted I came out with.) Not so much a rumor, but odd, odd, odd.

What will you be wearing this autumn?
Warm socks. My wooden floors are FREEZING. Also: big scarfs, thick black thights, 50s style skirts and work-suitable kneelenght dresses for work.
What is your most expensive item of clothing?
I'm not much for labels (mostly because of my lack of funds) so probably my red silk dress or my doc martins.
Do you have any unknown talents?
I'm pretty obvious with my 'talents', such as an insane amount of popular culture knowledge and cooking. But I can sing all of 'Total eclipse of the heart' in the voice of one of the chipmunks. Is that a talent?
What did you do last weekend?
I had meatballs and wine with a friend and my boyfriend, I cleaned my flat, made a roast dinner and went to the museum. This weekend I'm looking forward to plenty of G&T's and a nice meal out.
What are your 2 most important to-do's this week?
Make sure my first pay check comes in to my account and transfer some money to my lovely parents who helped me out last month.

What was the last song you listened to?
See above.
Best beauty tip?
Sleep, water, no smoking and a good cleanser. Oh, it sounds so easy but winds up being so difficult.... Also, honey works really well as a facemask. It might be sticky and a bit of a hassle, but my dry patces went away and my skin is soft as anything.
What kind of clothes do you like on men?
Oh, I don't know... Hoodies you can steal? A good suit?
And what's the least attractive?
Low cut tight tees, skinny jeans, short shorts, pink shirts/polo jumpers, football jerseys and tracksuits.

Who do you miss?
My gran. She's beyond awesome and I miss her every day.
If you could have one wish, what would it be?
Christ... A never ending amount of money? That the ideal job would fall into my lap? Actually, I would wish that every person I loved in the world lived in the same city as me, or at least the same part of the country.
Name 3 people who inspire you.
I have met a lot of inspiring people in my life, so I can't pick 3... My old uni tutor, my friends, my boyfriend, my parents, my favourite authors...
Best film ever.
Amelié, Fight Club, Virgin Suicides.
What papers and magazines do you read?
The Independent, The Guardian, Anftonbladet.se, Glamour, Marie-Claire and free magazines with recepies that you pick up in supermarkets.
What do you wish you were better at?
Saving money, being patient, doing stuff with my hair.
Are you religious?
No.
What is your biggest fear?
Not being able to be there for the people I love, my boyfriend being hit by a car, my friend's flats burning to the ground, my parents getting cancer.... You get the idea. Not one thing in particular, but losing my loved ones freaks me out.
What is the meanest thing someone has ever said to you?
That I'm a selfish liar.
If you had kids, what would you name them?
I reckon you can make all the plans in the world and when you 'meet' your child they can be totally wrong. But if I had a cat I would name it 'Nip' or 'Chairman Miauw'.
If you could buy any car?
It would be small and easy to park. I'm damn bad at parking.
What are the loveliest text messages you've gotten this year?
My friend telling me about the birth of her baby boy, a monkey-themed poem from my boyfriend and a text from a friend telling me how happy she was that I was her friend.

A little bit of blog love

2011-09-14T18:50:00.000+01:00

How lovely are Anna Ileby's illustarions?! I've been a fan of her art and of her blog for ages and as this particular drawing represents the part of Sweden I'm from (Halland in my heart) I couldn't resist spreading the love.

The summer which never really happened: part 2

2011-09-12T10:59:00.000+01:00

Here we go, June onwards...!

I graduated from University and got a lot more emotional than I thought I would. It feels like ages ago now, and I'm not best pleased about NOT going back to uni this autumn. Not pleased at all.

We went to a lot of rainy bbq's....

And I went for a lot of sunny walks with occasional pit-stops for cider.

In august I started my new job and we went to a 40th birthday party with a Hawaiian theme.

My friend Sara came down with her brand new baby Ethan and we were all smitten.

There was a lot of nights with this lovely lot.

And that brings us up to today, really.

B-day wishlist part 3

2011-09-11T10:37:00.000+01:00

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm a materialistic self-obsessed freak. But I don't care, a month and a half left now! Part 1 and 2 can be found here and here.

Birthday wishlist part 3: The return of the wishlist

A pair of pumps that will last me for more than 2 months (aka not from Primark).

A white petticoat to go with my 50s style dresses. Black would also suffice.

The complete 'Absolutely Fabulous' box set.

Some good quality acrylic paint.

A haircut. Although I'm still not sure if I'm chopping the mane of or not, it still needs a trim and I could do with a pampering session.

A moleskin diary.

Some Chanel nail polish. Anything Chanel, actually, I'm not picky.

And, finally, some good makeup brushes. I do love using my fingers but it gets pretty messy.

The summer which never really happened: part 1

2011-09-10T10:59:00.000+01:00

Summer is well and truly over (and in the case of Scotland, it never really arrived) and part of me is a bit bummed about the end of beer gardens, warm breezes and sunshine at 6am. But I love love live autumn and to be perfectly honest I'm quite excited at the thought of hot chocolate, big scarves and the normality autumn always brings. But before I launch myself into this lovely season fully it's time to say good buy to the summer good and proper. Here's some of my favourite times of summer 2011.

Me and the girls went back to Sweden for a girly weekend at my parents's house. It. Was. Lovely. An overdose of al fresco drinking, flannel shirts and silly group photos. So much love!

Only a few weeks later me and H went back to Sweden for my cousins's wedding. It was such a great weekend and most defiantly a highlight of the summer!

And around the same time me and my lovely moved in together! So far no deaths or domestic disturbance, go us!

Reasons why I shouldn't be allowed pens at work

2011-09-08T18:33:00.001+01:00

The low point of the week

2011-09-07T18:29:00.002+01:00

The other night I had a dream about the water cooler at work. Kill me. Kill me now.

B-day wishlist part 2

2011-09-04T16:29:00.000+01:00

Yup, I know it's about 2 months to go (one month and 24 days to be specific) but as I said before, I do not give a damn. Part one can be found here.

Birthday wishlist: The wishlist strikes back

A new winter coat. I absolutely love my full circle skirt Topshop number but it's starting to look a bit tatty. I'm thinking of returning to a full length black coat, or something faux-fur lined with a nipped in waist and a full skirt. Tough decisions. Maybe gift-vouchers would cover this one? These coats are both from John Lewis.

Cupped champagne glasses. WITH champagne, of course sweetie daaahlin.

Some cool office desk toys from Think Geek.

Something fancy from Mybeardedpigeon's shop on Etsy. This Fiji Island pillow is lovely too.

Waaaaaant. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaant. From DIVINE sweetness on Etsy.

I honestly don't think I have to justify this.

A new perfume to love. Maybe this, maybe something else. I'm thinking black orchid, lily of the valley or sandalwood.

More Momiji mugs for my collection (collection meaning the 2 cups I've already got).

This lovely necklace from John Lewis.

Zelda: Ocarina of time. It doesn't have to be on a DS (unless you want to buy me a DS). N64 would be equally amazing. I just miss it so much...(Street cred? What street cred?)

Some Dermalogica products for my combination/at points dry/at points sensitive skin. Thank you very much.

Whatever makes you happy

2011-09-04T13:57:00.001+01:00

Saturday!

And not even cold or rainy outside! On with the linen dress and onward and upward.

Free coffee is tasty coffee.

Fueled with free caffeine I cut up from Princes st to the Royal mile.

God damn hills.

Upward, upward, past the museum of literature.

Goal reached! Pint, chat and dinner advice to Norwegian tourists.

And then away for a late lunch/early dinner.

At Mums!

Tasty, tasty burger with cheese, jalapenos, onion and lettuce. Obviously looking suave as always while eating. Is this why all the fancy bloggers take pictures OF their food, not of themselves while they're eating? Probably.

Irrational fears

2011-09-03T12:52:00.001+01:00

My worst nightmare. Picture from here.

Getting in to the shower this morning I nearly slipped and fell. It made me think about my irrational fears, as this is one of them. I'm terrified of falling over in the shower (especially when I'm on my own in the flat), banging my head and dying an unnecessary and naked death. So what are my other irrational fears? I'm sure I've mentioned this before but what the hell, here we go again:

As I mentioned; falling over in the shower. This is one of my fears that is related to my insane clumsiness. I'm also terrified of stumbling and falling out into a busy road.
Crabs, LOOK AT IT! How can you not be terrified? I can't eat it, I can't touch them and if someone else is eating one anywhere near me I can't actually enjoy my own meal if that horrid creature is within view. Irrational, I know, but dear lord they creep me out.
Toilets on planes, trains or buses. A toilet shouldn't move not sure as hell not fly.
Nuns. They know. I'm not sure what they know exactly but I'm not keen.
Outer space. Outer space freaks me out in a nightmare kind of way. This one might be related to my school bus showing 'Apollo 13' every day while driving us to school in the morning. (Yes, i had a posh school bus, and a driver with a very depressing taste in movies).
Making eye contact with people on the bus.
Being left out. I'm sure this one could be related to my hellish high school years somehow but that's far to much of a downer to go into today.
Street performers. Which is a BAD one to have in Edinburgh, especially during the festival. (This one was added a few hours after the first one's as my boyfriend commeted on it after my narrow escape from a 'living statue' It's. Not. Entertaining.)

The soothing properties of cheese

2011-09-02T20:18:00.000+01:00

Another week of work done and OH DEAR GOD, HOW DOES PEOPLE SURVIVE THIS KIND OF THING?! My brain feels fried and the coffee machine is already a massive part of my life. I probably spend more time with that than some of my friends. I come home, dead beat, I clean, I cook, I fall asleep on the sofa. God damn, that's about it. SO I'm sorry, but anything more exciting and blog-worthy is going to have to happen over the weekend. But on the bright side, I love being able to wear nice clothes to work and not dress up in a white mans shirt, bow tie and cheap trousers from ASDA.
I'm so, so pleased it's Friday. So so so so pleased. I've got wine, got my boyfriend, got friends to see without nearly falling asleep in the corner of the sofa. Got nice breakfast, newly painted nails and an hour or so to watch whatever I please on telly while my lovely is out celebrating his friend's new baby girl. 'Wetting the baby's head' they call it.... I'm sure baby A is happy knowing a bunch of men are downing pints of beer in her honor, somewhere in the depths of her baby mind.
On a less cheerful Friday note, I turned on my ultimate guilty pleasure, 'Extreme home makeover' for some feel good American cheese. AND WHAT DO I GET?! THE SADDEST EPISODE EVER! I've suffered through it before, sobbing into a blanket in a darkened room and now I'm here sobbing through it again. While eating cheese (it's soothing).
But not even Greek feta can make make children dying in cancer less brutal. NOT EVEN FETA CHEESE.

2 months left, IT'S TIME TO PREPARE YOURSELF PEOPLE!

2011-08-28T22:31:00.000+01:00

So, it's pretty much exactly 2 months left until my birthday. I know it may seem like an age and a half away but at the moment it's so autumny outside it might as well be October. So.... Here's an initial wish list draft!

Wish list 2011//Draft 1

Pretty much any jewelry from the lovely boutiques on Victoria Street.

A complete set of the Harry Potter books.

New glasses. Mine are so scratched I can hardly see in them anymore and I would really need a new pair to wear at work.

My own desk-sized version of Beyonce: the giant metal chicken.

A globe. Preferably an old one, with sea monsters and mythical creatures painted on it.

A life-time supply of my favourite Swedish sweets.

A nice, simple wristwatch. Nothing sparkly or metallic. Just a brown leather strap and a small gold watch. If it's covered in gemstones I would probably pawn it for wine money.

Some spa times. Oh how I need some spa times.

A big, lovely and colourful patchwork quilt.

Or even better, A SUPER MARIO QUILT! Ultimate quilt-ness.

I'm drinking champagne, feeling no pain till early morning

2011-08-28T10:41:00.000+01:00

On Friday night I went straight from work to my flat, chucked some different clothes on and met up with my friends in town. We were going to the very talented boy's of Miasma's album launch for some dancing, drinking and catching up.

The gig was really busy, and for some reason every single person seemed to be very... well, TALL. So we decided to catch our favourite songs and then spend the time drinking wine out of plastic cups in the street outside the venue. Much better! We could still hear the music so it was pretty good, like being 17 again but without the straight vodka and the angst.

After the gig we went back to mine for an 'after party'. After party at 9:30 pm, maaaan we're getting OLD.

At some point during the night my old goth-accessories got dug up. The boots never seize to entertain people. Looking at these photos a few days later I'm thinking I should have just worn them to the gig and towered above the crowds.

Comedy gold.

Aaaw. Special.
The night continued with more wine, good music and then the Freddie Mercury tribute concert up until 4am. And man, did I pay for it yesterday.... Somehow though I still managed to hoover, mop the floor, do laundry, do the dishes, do the big food shop and all without fainting. It was damn close though.
Today the girls are coming round for brunch and that seems like the perfect Sunday to me. The only downside is that my lovely isn't getting back tonight, as first planned. Due to safety and the weather looking uncertain he'll be flying back over 2 days. Oh, I miss him... One more day!

Not that I'm bitter or anything

2011-08-27T12:40:00.000+01:00

My boyfriend's view at work.

My view at work.

After work

2011-08-25T18:07:00.000+01:00

...Is really the MAIN perk about working.

I'm feeling sickly

2011-08-23T20:16:00.000+01:00

And is therefore mainly spending time on this website.

Like common people

2011-08-22T19:21:00.000+01:00

Blogs get unbelievable dull when you're in the middle of the 9-5 life. Offices aren't the most inspirational places for posts and photos, and when I'm not there I'd rather snuggle up with my lovely and catch up on my sleep. But I promise you to get up to something silly/crazy/beautiful this week. Meet some people, take some photos, maybe put some dancing shoes on. I mean, I need to amuse myself somehow while my boyfriend flies (and that means he's actually FLYING people! In a plane, obviously. Not like Superman. Although that would be AWESOME.) off to mainland Europe with work.
But first I'm going to start watching 'Carnivale' and maybe finish my beer. ISN'T MY LIFE EXCITING.

Me and Stephen Fry

2011-08-20T19:10:00.000+01:00

I've spent the last month or so going through all of the Harry Potter books via my mp3-player and Stephen Fry. It just makes life a little easier. Other things that make my life a little easier:

Hiding from the rain in a cosy pub and talking, talking, talking until everything feels a bit better (I have amazing friends).
Meeting up with my Swedish friend H and drinking cider/beer while discussing the future and all it has to give.
Being able to be there for my friends when they need me.
Cooking up feast with my brilliant boyfriend and being able to relax.
Watching trash telly and planning my future as a model agency owner with yet another amazing and clever friend.
Getting a sunny Saturday.
Sunday roast with a loved up friend her her lovely boyfriend. Sunday roast and Patrick Swayze movies must be 2 of my favourite things
Having all these lovely moments/evenings during the most broke period of my life.

How to liven up the company dress code

2011-08-17T19:19:00.000+01:00

The Where's Wally' look is always a strong one. I just wish I still had my black rimmed glasses to complete the look. It's just a shame no one in the office picked up on my pop culture statement.

The living room, at it's full potential

2011-08-15T11:48:00.000+01:00

I love our living room.

It's where we spend most of our time.

And now it's even better as the final boxes have been unpacked and moved! Hurrah!

All thanks to this sexy man here.

It only took a month or so.... Slowly but steadily our flat is becoming more and more of a home. Yay! Happy, happy, happy!

Come one, come all

2011-08-14T11:48:00.000+01:00

Saturday night winded up being a bit coupley in our flat. Dinner and wine for 6, music, chicken and chats.

The guests were my old friend Daniel and his girlfriend (who's somewhere behind those glasses and bottles).

And my other equally old friend Victor and his girlfriend. Vic's off to Canada in a few weeks so it was good to see him, albeit for as late of a night as I'm used to with these people.

Here we are! As my boyfriend isn't the most talented of photographers (sorry sweetie!) this is the best out of a bad bunch. At least I'm the only one looking away.

Before driving back to Glasgow we managed to squeeze in coffee, juggling, bubbly and obviously plenty of discussions about the riots, me selling my soul for a reliable monthly wage and what everyone is going to be up to in the next year.
Once the guys had driven off me and my lovely wandered over to an other friend's flat for some more drinks and card games. I left the camera back home for that, which is probably for the best as we all winded up attempting dance routines to the Jackson 5.

A life lesson for you

2011-08-14T11:34:00.000+01:00

Kids, this is what happens when you over-do the wine. Just for future reference.

The state of the world

2011-08-13T09:58:00.000+01:00

The news have been plenty depressing lately, full of massacres, terrorism, starvation and riots. I find it so difficult to get my head around it, the tragedy in Norway made me feel sick for a week (actually physically sick), the situation in Western Africa is so horrific I doubt anyone watching their TV can fully grasp it.
The riots in England is a mess, a combination of anger, disillusionment and people being actual twats (pardon my language).
I would usually sympathize with the underdog, the demonstrators, the activists... This is truly the first time I found myself hoping for water canons and supporting the metropolitan police. Because these rioters haven't got a political purpose, they don't want to change the way they live. The want to loot, vandalize and ruin other people's lives. It's like they're slapping themselves in the face, but they're too thick to realize it.
Like I said, plenty depressing. I would love to have a more informed, less emotional opinion of it but right now I look at the world and I can't help but think that maybe, maybe if only Jack Bauer was real this mess would get sorted out in less than 24 hours.

Hush

2011-08-11T20:05:00.002+01:00

Basically.
You never get to old to cry down the phone to your mum.

Take good care of my baby

2011-08-09T17:34:00.000+01:00

Look at this little treasure! This is baby Ethan, the first baby-addition to our tight group of friends. He's the son of our friend Sara and her husband (the lovely people who's wedding I went to last July). Turns out he was the ultimate cure for my Sunday hangover, and like a perfect gentleman he was absolutely charming while being passed around his 4 doting 'aunties'. So much love!

Aloha from a rainy Scotland

2011-08-07T18:42:00.000+01:00

Birthday bbq in the pouring rain, surrounded by grass skirts, flower leis and coconuts. Only on Scotland.

Crazy as a coconut

2011-08-06T16:16:00.000+01:00

Off to the Hawaiian birthday bash in a bit. Neither me nor my love is feeling 100% health wise but sometimes you've got to man up and dance through the pain.
Oh yeah.
Health.
Figured I'd try to sort that one out somehow. Preferably without my doctor, who after my last visit sent me home with 3 days worth of antibiotics and the advice to 'get over World War One at some point'. True story.

Glue, glue EVERYWHERE!

2011-08-04T17:29:00.000+01:00

Got in from a very muggy, rainy walk today. Was out on a bit of a mission for a series of random things.

What kind of things was it, you wonder? Well so does this owl I reckon. Even though I drew him he still kind of freaks me out...

TADAAA! Stuff and things!

Like flower garlands. We're off to a Hawaiian themed birthday party this weekend you see. So obviously had to get my man a grass-skirt so that he can show off his lovely legs.

I also bought some colour pencils.

So that I could doodle up a birthday card!

And then I went on to the next step on my arts and crafts list. Coconut people! Who wouldn't want a coconut person as a gift!?

I mean, naaaaaaw...! Next step is to make it a grass-skirt and maybe a flower garland too. And maye finding out what the best way of getting rid of super glue on your fingers.

The never ending issue of hair

2011-08-03T15:09:00.000+01:00

I'm getting very, very, very tempted to chop my hair off again. I mean, it's needed. But hooooow? Part of me want's to go for the style I had in Paris, but some days I feel like I would miss my long hair.
But then again, some days I want to cut it all off with the kitchen scissors.
I guess part of the problem is not having a hairdresser I really like in Edinburgh (and I have tried plenty of them). Or maybe I'm putting far too much thought in to this.
I need a hair therapist.

Update

2011-08-03T14:54:00.000+01:00

SUCCESS! I have also accomplished an equally healthy and charged up lunch (be it in the afternoon).
Giving myself a pat on the back and getting back to work charged up with tuna and veg.

Accomplishments

2011-08-03T12:34:00.000+01:00

I think you need to give yourself credit for the little things sometimes. Like getting a great deal in the supermarket or re-discovering a jumper at the bottom of your wardrobe. Or finding a day-ticket on the street before getting on the bus, or smiling at strangers, buying the big issue, cleaning the bathroom....
Today my little accomplishment is eating breakfast.
I know, I know, not the grandest of goals but for me it's pretty unusual.
And it wasn't just any breakfast, it was proper POWER breakfast. Porridge with mashed bananas, some milk and blueberries, paired with the strongest cup of coffee known to man.
The fact that I had it at 11am doesn't make it any less of an accomplishment. So there.

Things I love//#12 The Edinburgh Fringe

2011-08-02T10:49:00.000+01:00

When little Edinburgh transforms in to a busy, noisy, lively, eccentric cultural hub for one month. Every bar is a venue, every street corner a bar. It's the best place in Europe during August.