Swedes VS Irish...

Now that I have lived in Sweden for 6 years (can't believe time has gone so fast!), I have come to terms with the fact that there are some differences between Swedes and the Irish that are just carved in stone.  I remember enjoying my first Paddy's day in The Foggy Dew (now closed) only 17 days into arriving in Stockholm, and I started a conversation with the girl in the queue to the jacks.  She left the queue.  Which is when I realised that you just don't speak to people unless you need directions or have a life threatening emergency. 

Pimp a bargain....

So last weekend there was a loppis (flea market) near where we live - it's big business in the summer over here! and I found a few bargains.  The first thing I found was a cool ottoman in bottle green corduroy for a fiver, perfect for Tilly to sit and watch telly.  Loads of books and puzzles for 10sek each.  And then what I've been searching for for ages...a printers tray.  It was 100sek and just perfect but needed a little help.

So yesterday I spent the day pimping it....

Super happy with how it turned out, now we just need to fill it a bit more with some little tokens.

There is another loppis tomorrow down the street, so I hope to find a few more things.....
Do you have any cool bargains you've pimped?  I'd love some inspiration...

Summer has arrived...

Our weekend was filled with sun, fun and lots of activities. It's been 20 degrees and everyone has that summer feeling! On Saturday we went to a loppis (flea market) and found some bargains (will post more about them another day), had a picnic with Tilly's cousins in the park, ate lots of bulle (Swedish cinnamon buns) and drank way too many lattes!

 
Today we went to Skansen (the Scandinavian zoo), had another picnic, ate ice-cream and went on lots of fun rides! I have ended this great weekend with a movie The Vow (a real tear jerker) and a glass of wine, while fantastic husby takes care of the lady.

Life couldn't be better!

Date day with husby...

 Today was what is called a klämdag in Sweden, which is the day between a bank holiday and a weekend, so husby was not working today.  We decided to send Tilly to dagis and take advantage and have a date day.  It was great we got to take the little lady to dagis together, go into town and enjoy a latte over some magazines/papers and chatting and then took a stroll from The Old Town  to a new upmarket mall called Mood in the city centre.  We chose to eat at the well suited Asian place called EAT.  It was really amazing.  Eat stands for European Asian Taste, which is a perfect combo of the best from each region. 

 

Husby had a roast beef sandwich with onion rings and chips and I had slow cooked pork belly with chili and pokchoi. Some midday rose and beer was drunk which was a real treat. Service was great, atmosphere was good for lunch and there were some kids there too which gave the place a relaxed vibe. Prices were really good for Stockholm and I base this on a glass of wine at 58sek, which is a steal!

The only let down was the toilets which although interesting, I found really tacky.  Is this what's cool now...mmm not so sure! 

Magazine Addiction...

I have to come to terms with the fact that I have a magazine addiction.  These are the magazines I get almost every month!!!  The Jamie one alone is 95sek (11euro) and the others around a fiver!  It's not something new though because ever since I have had money in my pocket, I have bought magazines.  It started when I was 10 years old with No.1 magazine, Smash Hits, Girl and Mizz.  Then moved onto The Face, Details and Interview in my 20's.  A little stint with the classics Cosmo and Elle and then a big splurge with Now and Heat! 

With all that money I would have a deposit for a nice house and probably saved alot of trees!  But I doubt I'll be able to kill this habit anytime soon....
What is your addiction?  and have you any tips for curbing them....
Happy reading!

This Week we had fun....

It's been a fun week with lots going on. I met some friends for lunch and coffees and dinner.  We went to Sven Harry's for dinner which is a great, buzzy restaurant with excellent food.  It's my second visit and not my last!  Excellent service and kick ass music to enjoy too!  Had an interview which went well and it was my first entire interview in Swedish which was pretty intense, so lets see if it helped me or not!  Enjoyed fun evenings watching Masterchef with husby over yummy bottles of prosecco and making delicious food (see recipe of the day). 
We ended the week by going with our good friends S & J and their 3 adorable kids to their summer house.

Another brilliant weekend....

As you can see we had another marvelous weekend!  Tilly woke up at 8:30 on Saturday morning, so everyone was nicely rested and ready for a nice day.  Tilly donned another new dress and looked brilliant!  We had a lazy morning and played on the balcony and did some puzzles until after lunch.  Then we headed out for the lady's nap - this was not happening, so we gave up and suggested a fika instead, which she loved.  We had some carrot cake (which she took all the icing off) and lovely lattes at the BEST Wayne's Coffee of all at Vällingby.
Then we did some food shopping, and husby and Tilly went through all the vegetables and she came out with a very large carrot, which she later stuck down a watering pipe in a flower bed!! Walked around and in and out of shops. Bought Tilly new runners. Had some hot dogs and then came home to some serious band practice to the Violent Femmes. Husby and I enjoyed adult beverages to another marathon night of Masterchef UK.

The 3 Ladies...

Just had the best long weekend in every way!  Great weather and my moms visit!
Although I have visited my family a lot in Dublin since Tilly's birth, it's been over 2 years since my mom has been to Stockholm, so it was wonderful to show her how we live when it's not minus 20 degrees.  Husby went to Malmö so it gave us girls some quality time together and a chance for my mom to improve her Swedish - since Tilly insisted on speaking Swedish, even though I explained that 'granny speaks english' - it felt like she was doing it on purpose to have a laugh!  Funny girl her!