Welcome back old me...

We are 10 days into 2014 and it's looking like a good year, so far.  Early days I know, but I'm gonna stay on this buzz for as long as it lasts.  2013 wasn't a terrible year but it won't be missed.  I felt a lot of stress last year.  At home, at work, within myself and with others.  It was my 7 year itch year.  I've lived in Sweden for 7 years and had 4 jobs, 3 homes, 1 husband, 1 child and a million emotions.  But now I think I am ready to accept and enjoy what I have in my life and let loose that control freak who's been taking over my carefree old self.
So welcome back old girl (and that's literal since I'll be fecking 40 this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).

So thank you 2013 for getting me this far and for my man who sticks by my side…x

A rush and a push...

I cannot believe its only 9 days until Christmas 2013!  Where has the time gone?!
I see my last post was on the 20th October, and for those of you actually checking in here, I apologise for the silence.  It's been one hell of a autumn.  I don't know how working mums with more than 1 child do it.  Again I salute you!
So what has been happening…
Well there has been work.  Oh how I love you but you certainly have made me sweat the last while.  Thanks be to Jesus, it's coming to an end on Friday and time for a little festive break.

Then there has been husby who has had shingles, and a bad case of it.  Since Tilly hasn't had chickenpox we were waiting with baited breath for her to get it.  But luckily she missed it.  Although I suppose there is never a convenient time to get them.  So poor husby was not at his best, and me being the unsympathetic type with illness, probably wasn't a model wife.  And little lady missed hanging out with her pappa :(

Then there was and is, the joy of the birth of my very first orchid.  This took loads of my time.  I stared at it lovingly at every chance.  Because, I cannot believe that it exists and at this very moment has 13 flowers on it - yes you read right THIRTEEN!  This is my biggest flora achievement, so I am super proud.

Last weekend was my fantastic mommy's 60th birthday, so I flew over for a quick surprise visit.  And boy was she.  It was great craic.  We had a brilliant time out for dinner and hanging out like a family.  It was a shame for her not to see her little lady, but on the plus side, I got some total R&R, which I needed.

After a touch-and-go week with stomach flu and fever, Tilly's birthday approached quick and fast.  Thankfully all went well, and on the 14th December, we celebrated the best 4 years of our lives!  She was super excited all week.  This year she had her first real party, where she chose who to invite and what she wanted to do etc.  Her big request was that no parents be there on the day, but that didn't go so well, since all the kids wanted their moms to stay.  Half way through she asked me to tell them to go….!  So another ice-cream was given to distract her, and she forgot about it!

There was cake, popcorn and ice-cream - at her request.  A disco, a treasure hunt and lots of gift opening.   This time of year is very 'full' for her, because there is so much gift giving, that it's easy for her to lose sight of all of them.  But she has done well.  Her favourite is a cupcake game she got from Granny and Pops, which she has us playing constantly.  Thank you to all her friends (and the mamas) for the gifts!  She is already counting down until her 5th!!!

Yesterday we added just a touch more festive feeling into our home and decorated our Christmas tree.  This was also the first year we all really got into it, since we are in our new big house!  Tilly chose the tree, decorated most of it, with my direction (but of course) and then placed little boxes with her small toys under for her friends.  Husby must have said 'what a great tree' easily 30 times! A celebratory cocktail was drunk to make a sweet end to a full weekend.
I heart Christmas!

5 years down, a lifetime to go...

So me and husby have been married 5 years already!  Time flies when you having fun.  Although on the other hand it feels like eternity since that day!  To celebrate we sent the kid packing and had a night on the town.  Well more like a night in one restaurant, eating ourselves into a coma.
Restaurant Jonas is where we headed this year.  A man striving for a star.  And to be honest he deserves one.  It was excellent.  Well the food was definitely!  The decor was good but not my style - a little too Scandinavian for me.  And the service could have been a bit more personal.  We had the tasting menu of 6 courses with pairing wines.  In Sweden the wine costs exactly the same as the food, which is just plain BS.  Especially since you get the teeniest amount in the glass.  Now this is not a new experience as you know, since I have blabbed about it before. But this was taking the piss.  I'm talking a the same amount as when you taste wine before they pour.  120kr a glass too!  Nevertheless it was an amazing dinner, and although it was meant to be 6 courses, we got an loads of extra small little in-betweeners which made the night.

Shot of green pea gel in bacon water.
Caper in meringue with cured ham.
Cauliflower cream, with artichoke and truffle.
Roasted bread with pine tree butter.
Beetroot done 4 ways.
King crap in carrot cream.
Turbot with leeks and oxtail sauce.
Wild mushrooms
Wild duck with berries.
Yogurt, honey and oats deconstructed.
Lemon sorbet and brioche.
Apple mouse, candied apples and apple sorbet.
Petit fours.
Espresso.

Always wonderful going out with my man and chatting and laughing like the old days!  So far its been a fabulous 5 years and I just look forward to more good times and more fab dinners with the man I love.

x

My favourite movies...part 1

Lately we have been watching a lot of movies at home.  Some of them good, some of them brilliant.  Husby and I love to go through all our favourites and here are some of mine.
 (I noticed that many of mine aren't the most uplifting!)


Once were warriors - 1994.  I remember wanting to hit the TV and needed to call my mom directly after watching.  And this trailer is far from what the movie is really like.

Ladybird, ladybird - 1994.  The movie that made me cry more than any other.

The Ice storm - 1997.  Could watch this one over and over.  Where I fell in love with Elijah Woods.

Falling Down - 1993.  How I feel all the time.

Requiem for a dream - 2000.  Great acting and a makes you feel very uncomfortable.

The talented Mr. Ripley - 1999.  Fell in love with Naples and Jude Law.

Husbands and wives - 1992.  Best Woody Allen movie for me.

The breakfast club - 1985.  Just one of the best movies of the 80's.

Donny Darko - 2003.  Best soundtrack ever.

Into the wild - 2007.  Amazing story and brilliantly made.

Disco Pigs - 2001.  Most romantic movie - in a dark way.

The Hunt - 2012.  Another brilliant Danish movie.

Dead man's shoes - 2004.  Uncomfortable but brilliant.

Grosse point blank - 2007.  John Cusack!

The Lost boys - 1987.  The only vampire movie I'll ever watch.

Enduring love - 1997.  Creepy.

Breaking the waves - 1996.  So romantic.

Half Nelson - 2006.  Ryan Gosling.....

Election - 1999.  Can't go wrong with awkward Matthew Broderick.

Bridges over Madison county - 1995.  Another heart wrencher.

Back to life, back to reality...

It feels like a million years ago since we were in Crete.  Today was officially when things went back to normal after 8 weeks of summer fun.   Husby went back to school, Tilly started a new class at dagis for the 'big' kids and I was giving a training at work.  It was like summer never happened!

So I thought I'd add some pictures to relive the summer and try and hold onto them again, while we all 'gently' get back into normal life.

Now I can start to psych myself up for the winter!

Our new home...

Finally after many years of 'discussions' husby and I have bought our first home.  Granted it is not the small house with the garden, which I've dreamt about like forever, but it is our home where we will grow old and be together.  Because those house discussions were starting to get in the way, if you know what I mean.

So a month ago we moved into our 110m2 apartment in our beloved Blackeberg.  (not the best pic)

We love it here and since Mikael went to high school here, and has lived here for 13 years, it felt right.  Tilly doesn't have to move dagis and we can still get the best burger in town at our local 'grill'.

On the plus side this apartment

A lesson to learn...

It's been awhile since I wrote anything, well because we've been on holiday, we've moved and we've been working.  So it's been mental.  Tonight was the first night I got to relax and look at some stuff on the interweb, and I found this quote from a woman photographed by Humans of New York.

“When I was younger, I thought listening was just about learning the contents of someone’s mind. I’d always try to finish their thoughts, just to show them that I knew what they were thinking. As I got older, I learned to listen better. I realized that by trying to anticipate their mind, I was ignoring their heart.”


What a great lesson.  I'm so guilty of this, and always thought that I was connecting with people but I guess I have some learning to do....

Age and wisdom!