And finally....

The princess got her Prince and I am sure they will live happily ever after.

I mean how can you not adore a guy who gets up in front of royalty from around the world and explains how much he loves you :)

I think even Mr S got a bit misty eyed.

I've been busy... almost too busy. Work is quite hectic but I have some things to look forward to.

Next week my vacation starts son next Sunday I'll leaving on a jetplane for Italy.

We are flying to Rome and then I don't know. Since we are a modern family we share the work so I booked (and paid for) the flight tickts and Mr S has(n't yet) booked and paid for the accomodation. He sais he has a few options. He refuses to tell me what they are so I don't know if I should worry or not...

I know he wants wi-fi, I want a nice bed, good food, good location, no kids, clean, comfortable, at least 3 stars, a decen cocktail bar, a good chef, nice service and some hot Italians to look at. As you can tell: I'm easy to please ;)

And then of course New York in September....

Take care/Love E

Song of the day: Fembot - Robyn

New insight

"I am happy, I am healthy, I am great" is my new mantra.

I actually read it on the back of a pack of Yogi tea but I thinks it's working.

Speaking of working - work takes up way to much time theses days. I can't believe that one month ago I was in Spain. It feels like it was a year ago...

Winter has come back with a vengeance. On the upside this time I might actually get around to take some nice winter pictures. I have been coming home so late everyday so that it has been almost pitch black.

I have also tried to stop eating candy during the weeks and stop complaining about things that are out side of my control. i think the key is to see the upside of thing and eventually everything will feel better.

Take care

Love/E

Song of the day: Great Escape - Kevin Rudolph

A decade of me

A new year and a new decade, new opportunities and hopefullt happy endings.

2000:

Lived in Årsta, south of town in a 1 room apartment. Broke up with abusive boyfriend and tried to find myself again. Instead I lost myself to the party scene in Stockholm.

Travelled to Italy with friends for the first time and rented a house in Tuscany and had a wonderful time.

Left the invesment bank where I worked and started as a horribly under paid consultant.

2001:

Joined a internet net work and met some of my dearest friends. We dressed up like crazy, met in different hotelbars and drank champagne. Travelled to Spain and rented a villa with friends again.

Braided my hair for the first time and read Malcolm X that influenced my a great deal.

Met R and we dated for about 6 months. Broke up but stayed friends. I was there cheering him on when he met his present wife.

9/11

2002:

Still a consultant still badly paid. Spent more time and money than I want to think of partying with friends but we sure had a good time. Kept the braids and bought my first real designer bag. Worked on my taste for champagne and fashion.

This year friends and me went to Malta. The trip included flat tires, 10 000 year old ruins and a lot of sun

2003:

Left my consultant job and Stockholm for school "Eventmanagement" and an apartment in Nyköping. Discovered the joys of finer wines and decided to become a sommelier.

Travelled to Budapest, one of the most beautiful cities I've ever been to.

Anna Lindh was murdered.

2004:

Back to school in Nyköping and did my sommelier degree at the same time. Spend every week end at sis' apartment in Solna, after that we didn't speak for a while.

Summer was spent in Portugal: both Lisbon and Porto. Met Mr M and travelled to Champagne together. Started working at Berns ant at Hufvudsta confrence center.

2005:

Finished school in June but started working in May already. Landed a cool project at an agency that hanles big events. Project ended after 6 months and I went back to working in the restaurant business and started working nights. Bought an apartment in Huvudsta and loved it. Repainted the kitchen green and the sleeping area orange.

Dated a huge number of different men and had some really great times (M - the model) and some really bad (K - the stalker). Met Dr C.

2006:

Kept working in the restaurant business and kept seeing Dr C, had an intense relationship that ended on a very friendly basis.Went to France and travelled on a boat on the Loire river. A wonderful trip I'd love to do again. Met Mr S, moved in together and got engaged after 3 months.

2007:

Started working at NH. Kept two jobs, planned a wedding - quite a stressful year.

Spent the summer driving around Greece. Bought a new aprtment

Got married!

2008:

Landed a huge power job at a big international company. 6 months of renovating our apartment, had to stay with mum and dad - not great.

Moved back to my place in June and went to Istanbul. Possibly one of the coolest towns ever.

Worked hard all fall. Went away for the first time ever during christmas: on a cruise in the Mediterranean. It was fun and possibly something I'd do again.

2009:

Kept working and living with my husband. Sis met her man and they are moving in together in Feb. Worked almost too hard, not really any time for anything else. Spent the summer with husband and husbands son driving around Italy, Germany and Austria - wonderful vacation.

We spent christmas in Spain and New Years with old friends.

That was my decade

How was yours?

Take care

Love/E

Song of the day: Hard - Rihanna

A life off line

In Spain, no tv and no internet. Life is rough like a badger's arse

We are staying at a friends apartment in one of those holiday villages. It's like a ghost town, so far I have only seen 2 other people.

But the surroundings are nice and we have a rented car to take us around. So far we have been to Cadiz and Ronda - the rest of the time I have been reading and sleeping.

Yesterday we stopped in Marbella, suppose it's more fun in the summer and I found a shopping mall with one of my favourite stores Desigual and I picked up a fierce coat. I also found Séphora - I wonder if they will ever open up in Stockolm. I should look into getting that franchise actually...

Now I am at a luxury golf resort using their internet since there isn't any in the apartment where we live. I paid 8 euro for a coffe so I'll be surfing for a while to get my money's worth. The coffee was good but not 8 euros good.

This is also where we will be having our Xmas dinner, both Xmas Even and Xmas day.

I'm thinking next Xmas we'll stay at home since my dad's health has gone a bit worse.

Sis is moving in with her boyfriend in the ned of Jan. God, I have bad bad feeling about that. He just isn't the kind of guy I would see her with. He is just so... ordninary not any fun. For laughs he walks, I shit you not, and by walking I mean he walks up in the northern parts of Sweden for 24 hrs non stop. Somehow I can't imagine my sister walking for 24 hrs. When she was a kid we used to call her "Little Princess" this not in a nice girly way. More in the "I'm a spoilt little bitch" kind of way. But what do I know maybe love will change her.

On the other hand I wonder if he know what he is getting himself into

Well time will tell.

Take care

Love/E

Song of the day: Transform Ya - Chris Brown

Joie de Vivre

These last couple of days I felt my spirit weaken and darkness started to surround me. But today I feel my joie de vivre return.
Work is busy - sometimes it feels like it's too busy - and I have to skip out on doing a lot of things during the week days.
Last week I took a well deserved Friday off. Mr S and me went into town and checked out some stores, if you are in town Norrgavel is well worth a visit. Expensive but I think the quality is worth the money spent.

In my book club we are going to read a self help book. At first I thought I would read a book that would help me be more in the moment and not space out like I usually do. But then I think that I like spaing out and thinking about rather what I am going to do than what I am actually doing. So I am going to choose a book about effiency and how to get things done. I am going to become a "doer" - not really my style. I believe in paying people to get things done.

At the moment I look forward to a week end in London and then we are off to Spain for Christmas, will be back in time for New Year.

Having moments to look forward to is important and also creating those moments worth looking back upon.

Take care
Love/E

Song of the Day: All that I am - Joe

And suddenly

it's November and the snow is falling.

It was vacation then back to work and then.... black hole. I have done a lot: worked (too much), partied with Mr S and friends and so on and so forth.

I am a member of a private cocktail club these days. It's a very old school, feels a bit like the old prohibition days and I love it. Each member is allowed to bring one guest so I tried to bring sis last week end but she had other plans.

Sis has bought an apartment with her new man and they are moving in together in the beginning fo next year. I am totally against it since he is still married to his wife but he claims that he is leaving the wife soon. Action speaks louder than words is all I am saying.

Since they also have a son the actual divorce will take at least one year to become final.

Well, I gave her a piece of my mind and made her cry so now I will keep my mouth shut.

I have her best interest at heart but at a very young age I learnt to know when to shut up.

Like now...

Take care

Love/E

Song of the day: Misty - Sarah Vaughn

The sounds of silence

My silence is now officially over. My grand mother (a very wise woman) used to say: If you have nothing good to say then be quiet. So since i haven't really had anything good to ssay I have been quiet.

Now I am back at work after a fierce holiday.
On July 6 we took a plane to Munich, stayed there for two days and then drove to Italy.
I have seen Venice (nice place but I doubt that I will go back), Pisa (nice), Modena (home of Ferraris), Florence (2 pairs of Ferragamos), Caorle (small town on the coast north of Venice), Bolzano (hmm...) Reute in Austria (well, to small for my taste), Salzburg (loves it) and back to Munich. We (Mr S, son M and myself) have enjoyed good food, visiting good friends and some really cool scenery and good shopping.
The last couple of days of holiday we spent around the house - getting ready for fall. Summer is still here - it's nice and warm and I ride my bike to work. Good for the booty! I gained some serious weight this summer (good food and good wine) but from now on I will go on a low carb/no sugar diet.

Coming back to work wasn't easy. I am tired, restless and want to try something new. I'd love to find something to do that actually makes a difference for some one other than myself.
I was thinking about going abroad a do some pro bono work maybe in Africa, but we'll see.

No more news from my strange so called "brother" in the US. Maybe he realized how strange it is to write a letter to a complete stranger and ask for money...

Now I have to make a few calls and at least pretend that I am working.

Take care

Love/E

Song of the day: If I can't - 50 Cent

London again

Was in London with sis over the week end. It was lovely - I really like London.
Eventhough we are very different, she is quite the earlybird and I am not. It went quite well, we walked around a lot. We stayed in Bloomsbury which was great. That is where I am staying next time I'm in town.

At work my week from hell is over, finally. We landed the big celebration project and it was a succes. So today I am tired even if I acted very grown up and went home directly when the party was over. Was home around 1.45 in the morning (please note I called it morning had you asked me when I was in my 20ies 1.45 would be night time).
I think all in all the party was a huge success and everyone had a good time.
Today I am so tired so I am staying in with a movie on the couch and perhaps a galss of champagne.
Simply because I am worth it :)

Take care
Love/E

Song of the day: Hush Hush - Pyssycat Dolls

One year older

and one year wiser... I hope.

Spent my birthday with friends and family. Had dinner at Pontus by the Sea which was nice.

Sis came back from Vienna with a whole lot of nice things: wine, cheese ans ham. From Mr S I got a really cool bag from designer Kenneth Cole red and very cool - loves it!

Work is busy, I usually come home at around 7 pm daily which I don't like. Work takes way too much time out of life right now.

But on the upside: sis and I are off to London for the week end, doing girls stuff. Shopping, eating good food: I've made reservations at Boxwood Café - one of Gordon Ramseys places that will be interesting :)

Now I must pack

Take care

/Love E

Song of the day: Hush Hush - Pussycat Dolls

Summertime

and the living is easy. Last night watches changed +1 hour.

I wish my job was easy too. I really really reall don't like it anymore. If I were to leave I know I would be ok. Fortunately I have a husband who makes a lot of money but I'd have to say good bye to my friends Manolo, Salvatore and Marc and I am not ready to do that just yet. So I'll hang in there and keep trying.

My bitching about my job seems quite petty when I read about wonderful Lotta who is fighting for her life. I wish her all the best and a long and happy life with husband and child.

My husband is next to me on the couch watching his favourite Jason Bourne film.

Theis weekend we haven't really done anything. I have been working a bit and we have been fixing the apartment. Next week end the hallway will get new wall paper and one corner in the living room will become blue. Should be cool.

For easter we are off to London! It is my first visit ever! So I am really looking forward to it. Then sis and I are going to London again in the end of May and we might go to Vienna for my birthday.

It's like I use to say: The world is a playground - let's play!

Now I must do my nails :)

Take care

Love/E

Song of the day: Summertime - Billie Holiday

Rock around the Clock

Yesterday Mr S and me went to see "Buddy Holly - the musical". We got free tickets from work - one of the upsides to my job. It was really good, I was plesantly surprised. Buddy Holly made some seriously cool music that still works today.

Friday I had champagne, I would say I had a huge amount of champagne, with sis, Mr S and girlfriend T. Simply because we are worth it :) We had dinner at a newly opened, or reopened, italian restaurant "Per Lei", really great. If you are in the neighboorhood it is well worth a visit, Birger Jarlsgatan 24.
Saturday I watched Top Model - Canada almost all day and that was about it. Oh, I ordered pizza online as well. Good thing these online stuff, I only had to leave the couch to answer the door :)
And of course the Swedish Eurovision Song Contest has started. It is amazing how an entire nation just stops and spends an evening in front of the tv watching it. As do I...
Sunday we went to visit the Nordic Light Furniture fair - very artsy. It's amazing how some people suffer from a "I am desinger therefore I am dressed in balck and acting difficult"-complex. Lighten up - everything is more fun then.

Met up with gay-boyfriend J, he still looks amazing: like a dark haired Ken doll. We had a few laughs while watching and commenting on fashion statements of people passing by.

Now I am going home. Mr S is out of town so tonight I'll watch "Wall-E" and eat pop corn

Take care

Love/E

Song of the day: American Pie - Artist of your choice

Spanked

Looks like the Swedish hockey team is about to smack up the Russians. This I like. At the moment Sweden - Russia 3-1

Mr S is half asleep next to me on the couch. Yesterday his best friends N was here and they spent most of the evening and night doing "boy-stuff"while I was doing girl-stuff in the bathroom.

Work is busy, haven't been home before 7 at all this week but tomorrow it's Friday and I'm meeting sis and my posse for some champagne - simply because we are worth it :)

Now: time to download some more music

Takce care

Love/E

Song of the day: Rock Away - Lazee

And then the snow came...

and there was quiet... well not as quiet as I'd wish. Work is still quite busy. Everything needs to be done by Christmas and I am looking forward to 3 weeks of vacation.

Stockholm has been officially hit by winter. It's the same story every year. Once the snow comes it's chaos: train not running, planes being cancelled or delayed, trafficjams and more fender-benders than any one can count. Hello, news flash: sometimes in snows in the northern part of the world!

To stop freezing I bought one of those huge jackets at Intersport, you know the ones when you see a jacket walking down the street and not a person. But it's warm.

I am seriously considering leaving my job and do something else. I only wish I knew what to do. i want to do something meaningful like working for the MSF (by the way support them this Christmas they truly do a great job!) or some other organisation like it. But Mr S tells me that I am "too nice" to be able to pull it off. So for now I'll just give my annual donation and keep helping out to make the world a bit more beautiful.

A wise man once said:
"I know in my heart that man is good, that what is right will always eventually triumph and that there is purpose and worth to each and every life"
-Ronald Reagan
and those a words to live by

Take care
Love/E

Song of the day: My Life - The Game

Time flies... again

Been a busy few weeks. Had the house warming party which was a big success. It seemed like every one had a good time and lots of food and booze :)

Work is busy as usual. I can't decide if I like it or if it's just a waste of time... I suppose it has its ups and downs like everything else.

Mr S in away on business so I'm on my own, it's kind of nice. I was dancing around the living room yesterday like I used to do when I was living on my own. I had a great time!

It's been a rough couple of days for the world economy. Several investment banks have gone down he drain. I read an article on how the whole financial system is about to change. It's really interesting to see.

Take care

Love/E

Song of the day: One Night Only - Jennifer Hudson

High expectations

As we had the floor retiled this wek end we took the opportunity to take some time out and give our vacation a happy ending and go to Grythyttan for some fine dining.

The food was good but not as good as I had expected but we had a very nice time.

Today I worked for the first time in 3 weeks and I realized what a huge waste of time working actually is. I could have done so many things today: like lying in the sun but instead I was looked up in the office. At least I wore  my new Mahnolo's :)

Take care

Song of the day: Johnny - Craig David

Being 35

It's not that big a difference.
Had a nice birthday: spent it watching the Eurovision with the ESC-crowd and we had our usual betting competition and... yes Ms E won the cash :)
Our Swedish pride Charlotte didn't do all that well. I think she came in 18th but Russia won. I knew the women of Europe couldn't resist a dark haired Russian with no shirt on. And whoever brings in Evgeni Plusjenko, world famous skater, means some serious business...

I thought we could move back into the apartment this week end but things have been delayed so next week end is the plan now. Told my dad and he looked very sad when I told him. He tried to make me believe that he ws sad for our sake but I know he looks forward to us leaving. I would to if I was in his shoes. It can't be nice to have your 35-year old daughter and her husband spreading their stuff all around your house...

Found some loveley new hair products and bought them on line Jamelia by Model.Me. Finally some good products for black hair!
I hat that there are so few salons that actually ar good at wotrking with black hair. It's obviously Ms Elizabeth but she is always booked!

On the upside: summer came back to Stockholm so now it's rosé time with girlfriend T
On the downside: I want to be by the sea with a cold bottle of rosé and friends not sitting in my office and looking out on the parking lot outside. Now please.
I click my heels 3 times and see what happens...

Take care
Love/E

Song of the day: Divine - Sébastien Tellier

Tighten up the ass

I've been to the gym twice already this week :) And I might be going again on Thursday.. if I can find he energy. My PT was surprised that I exercise a bit when I'm home. He said I have improved and since I am an attention-junkie I'll keep on working it.

The car chase continues. Last week end we tried a Mercedes B-class - lovely I could have bought it right there and then a Volvo - very big and sort of masculine in a way. Driving it gives you some serious balls :) 

Then I had a traumatic experience in a SAAB. I drove like I used to when I first started driving when I was 18, couldn't get any gears right... Oh no SAAB is so not my thing!

Mr S loves Mercedes, he says that car gives you a certain style that he likes.

Work is good but busy. My two bosses are nice but both of them are very unfocused so I have to think for 3, not like I am confused enough already.

On Saturday Mr S and me are going to Eskilstuna, a small town somewhere possibly not too far from Stockholm. We went to on of those "romantic get aways " last fall and the food was bad and don't even get me started on the service. True to himself Mr S complained, in a very polite way so now we are being refunded with a free dinner :) This time we are staying at a hotel "down town" in Eskilstuna. I've never been there so it should be interesting.

Had a disturbing conversation with sis a while back. She can sriously consider moving away from Stockholm and go to another part of Sweden. Where would she go?!?! I tried o encourage her to move to Paris (since I need someone to stay at when I'm there) but no. I could not imagine her anywhere else than Stockholm. I mean she is trendy and cool and works it wherever she goes! Therefore I have decided to help her find a fierce apartment and a fierce man so she will stay.

I haven't been very succesful so far but I won't give up.

Take care

Love/E

Song of the day: Grown Woman MJB feat Ludacris

Let's talk about food

I like food, or correction I love food. It could be said that a hobby of mine is cooking and eating.

I love trying out new restaurans and I get grumpy in a very childish way if I don't like what's on my plate.

My boss asked me for a restaurant tip yesterday so I sent him to Proviant, he was very pleased. I haven't been there in a while but since one of the head chefs used to work at Edsbacka (one star in the Guide Rouge) it can't be that bad... He loved it and he is a hard-to-please- Frenchman.

Since Easter is coming up I thought I'd make some lamb, spiced with garlic and fresh herbs (very classic). The trick is to put in in the oven for about 1,5 hrs (depends of course on how much meat there actually is) and set the oven at about 150 degrees celcius. The meat will be deliciously rare and almost melt in our mouth. Serve it with some red wine, preferably Zinfandel or Cabernet Sauvignon.

If you read a receipe it always says: Serve with a fresh sallad and some nice bread. Itsn't that kind of obvious: I mean who would serve an old brown sallad and old bread?!?!!

Why state the obvious??

 

Work is busy but good. I'm in charge of arranging the annual summer party and the annual company trip. I do tend to spend a lot of time on this, maybe more time than I should and defineely more time than I have, but it's fun. And I feel like it has to be really good otherwise they will think of me as the new girl who messed up their party...

I'm working on redefining and toning my body. It's not as hard as it sounds really. I've just changed my work out routine. I still do kick boxing but I also do Pilates now. It's really really hard!

I so hope I can find Jimmy Choo in Paris since I have a serious craving!

Take care!

Love E

Song of the day: The Sinner in Me - Depeche Mode