Yes, we can!

Today is "Yes, we can"-day when Mr Obama will officially be announced the Prsiden of the United States.

I watched his speech on tv, there were some thing I really liked, some I liked and some I didn't like. One thing he said that I reacted to was: We will not change our lifestyle" I really think we all, every signle one of us has o change our lifestyle. If we want this world to go on. The situation we are in today, both the shifts in climate and the financial crisis, depends on something and I do believe it is our lifestyle that has got us all into this situation. 

Now, on a more positive note: I really believe that Mr Obama can and will make a difference. It will be hard and hard descicions must be made but I think if anyone can do it he can.

Personally I have booked a Valentine's Day trip for my man and myself to Copenhagen. I believe in creating things to look forward to. Espescially now during this dark and rainy period.

Now I'm off

Take care

Love/E

Song of the day: Beyoncé - Halo

A good question

Have you stopped living even though you are not dead?

Something to think about....

I do lead a charmed life. Am surfing the web with a glass of Taittinger and watching my husband making me dinner :)

A very good start of the week end.

Take care

Love/E

Song of the day: No Stress - Laurent Wolf

MSC Fanatsia Dec 20 - 28 2008

13 hours of fun

Have had a few lazy days with only some shopping, hanging out with friends and Mr S, eating good food and drinking good wine.

Picked up a pair of pants from HOPE and a shirt from The Shirt Factory so now I am ready for whatever challenges might come my way.

In my horoscope for 2009 it says that thingw won't calm down until October but I will come into some money and home, frineds and family will be important to me this year. I was hoping for something like: You will become financially independent and move to a caslte in Italy where you will spend your days watching the wines grow"

Yesterday I met up with girlfriend T for lunch at Sturehof. We left some 13 hours later after both lunch and dinner, several glasses of wine and champagne. Felt like a good way to end the holidays and to start my detox period. As of now I will limit my intake of red meat, alcohol, salt and sugar. I will go to the gym 2/week and do about 15 mins of pilates at home per day.

Hello Beach 2009 and size 8! Good bye Big Booty and size 10.

Now I will work on uploading some pics from the cruise.

Take care

Love/E

Song of the day: Hot'n'Cold - Kate Perry

Happy New Year

Had a lovely New Years Eve with friends.

Arranged, with very short notice, a really good dinner. Everyone brought 40 euros worth of food so we had oysters, coquilles St Jaques, duck breast, salmon rolls and a lot more. Wine, beer, champagne and booze. I went very easy on the drinking - only half a bottle of chapagne and some dessert wine. The last ones left at 5 in the morning.

The first day of 2009 I spent cleaning the apartment, drove a car back to friends, dropped of M at the station and made chicken burgers and finally watched "Day after tomorrow".

I am trying very hard to not think about work - I don't have to be there until next Wednesday but work still is in the back of my mind all the time. Maybe I should try some yoga to relax me...

Tomorrow I am going to try to upload some photos from the cruise. I have some really great ones from Egypt and the pyramids.

Take care

Love/E

Song of the day: Case of the Ex - Mya 

The End of the Road

2008 has alomst come to an end, one day remains of a year that went by so fast.

It's been a good year for me.

To sum it up:

• Biggest investment: The kitchen, both in time and money. Six months and 25 000 euros later it's done!
• Best travel: Always Paris but Istanbul is a runner up
• Biggest surprise: I actually passed my drivers licence on my first attempt
• Biggest disappointment: People who can't let things go
• Best buy: Shoes, shoes and shoes in Istanbul
• Worst buy: Pink rouge (what was I thinking?!?!)
• Best dinner: LUX for the food, dinner with The Ladies for the company
• Worst dinner: The Supperclub in Istanbul
• Drink: rediscovered Vanilla Vodka, always champagne
• Food: Quinoa, works at the time
• Brand: POUR - easy to wear and very cool
• Biggest joy: Landing my new job and of course Mr S
• Biggest joy #2: To see my friends happy. Things are falling into place for all of us

For 2009 I will:

eat healthier, drink less alcohol, excercise more, buy at least one horribly expensive bag simply because I'm worth it, take care of my husband and my friends, have more fun, laugh more, act more and create a good space for myself in the world.

I wish you all the best for 2009. Hope you have a wonderful year ahead of you.

Take care

Love/E

Song of the day: Heartless - Kanye West

I see the sea

all around. I keep getting these morbid thoughts "what if I'd fall in the sea, how long would I last"

Two nights ago it was a storm (if you'd ask me, if you'd ask Mr S it was a bit windy). Everything was rocking quite a bit and more than a few people were struck down by sea sickness.

I went to see the ship doctor, he looks at lot like Giorgio Armani - the actual person not the label ;) since I've been coughing like crazy and my throat really hurts. It's was quite disturbing to have a distinguished gentleman mutter stuff in Italian and shake his head while examining me.

Any way I apparently have asthma/broncithis and I am now on medication.

Yesterday was the best day so far: I finally got to see the pyramids and the Sphinxs. Truly amazing. One feels quite small and humble standing below the Cheops pyramid looking up at the top. Each block of stone is perfectly fitted and competely air and water proof. 

We passed through both Alexandria and Cairo - I like Egypt, I'd love to go back but I don't think I would like to live there.

The boat is quite high end. Most of the staff are from countries like Philipines, Malaysia, Honduras etc. Apparently they are paid about 10 pounds sterling a week - makes me feel like a dollar tourist. They don't really speak that good English but they are very nice and smiling.

I did expect more from the food though. I smuggled 4 bottles of champagne into our cabin so after a bottle of champagne anything tastes fairly ok.

Today I am having a massage and I'll spend the day just realxing.

Have the merriest Christmas ever and a fierece New year

Love/E

Song of the day: Balck Sweat - Prince

Welcome to my place

This week end I ahve been doing some very urban adult things: Saturday I got up quite early and went to work - had a few emails to send. The Mr S and myself went to check out the student exhibition at Konsthögskolan. We found the queu from hell so we decided to come back late. Went back into town and checked out some interior decoration stores. Took a sandwich and a coffe and then we tried our luck at the exhibition again. It was cool, some really funny things and some things I saw made me wonder if they will ever find a job.
Spent the evening first at D&S and then sis, Henri, Mr S, O and myself went back to O's place for some anime movies. There I didn't feel adult any more so I fell asleep on the couch.

Soley for my personal pleasure am I looking at apartment adds in the paper and on the www.It's seemes like every single seller is either using the same home styler or are crazy about the colour white.Today I saw an add on the net where everything was white... I sh*t you not. Walls, floor, ceiling, sofa, chairs, table and even the flower (lilies of course) where white. Why is that?? Are we so life style stressed out that we can't stand colours anymore?!?!Who wants to live in a white house? It looked like a hospital.

If you come to my place you'd enter into my hall that is gold coloured then the next room has gold and white wallpaper on the right walls and the walls on the left side are grey. Turn right and follow the gold/white wall paper into the bedroom - light yellow and olive (or I would call it dark green) and open the next door you'll find my walk in closet with yellow walls.
Now go back and check out the living room. Grey walls with on red stripe behind the TV. Black/brown couch with red pillows. But, most of the furniture are white so I supposed my life is also very styled by the latest interior decoration magazines.
Join me in the kitchen: beige stone floor, grey cupboards, black granite and dark brown walls.
Let's have a drink, a red cosmo looks great on the black granite.

Take care

Love/E

Song of the day: Creepin' Up on You - Daren Hayes

Dark and wet

The snow came and melted away so now it's horribly dark and rainy again. Doesn't seem like Christmas in close at all.

On the upside I get to use my new warm jacket a lot and I bought a pair of new fierce boots.

So far I have only bought one Christmas present to sis. Tried to go shopping last week end but I had no inspiration so I only bought some stuff for myself and the house.

Today I got all the travel information about the cruise I think it will be great and I have decided not to bring my work phone with me. So no work contacts at all during 8 whole days. It will be divine :)

Take care

Love/E

Song of the day: Another way to Die - Alicia Keyes & Jack White

And now...

some pilates :)

Song of the day: Stand by me - SEAL

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

Like the Boys

Stopped by HM and checked out their latest designer collaboration with Comme des Garcons.

I liked it so I bought a dress. Mr S and friend H bought two shirts each.

After some shopping we went to a chinese restaurant for some food. I'm not really that into Chinese but this was ok.

Then the movie "Quantum of Solace" wih oh so gorgeous Daniel Craig. I was quite disappointed since he wasn't naked, not even flashing his abs....

This week end I'm going to buy a Pilates-dvd and start exercising in front of the TV. Was a the gym today and did some pilates and it really works. This should give my booty a serious challenge. I have to be fit if I am going to show my self in a bathing suit on the cruise.

Now it's time for some www-shopping

Take care

Love/E

Song of the day: Material Girl - Madonna

One Shot

Stopped by fierce MAC-counter at NK the other day and wlaked away with their Christmas One Shot eye shadow kit for warm eyes. I suppose I have warm eyes... or at leat I hope so.

George W Bsuh is supposed  to have said:

"The good thing about books it that they sometimes have pictures in them"

And that man was running a country...

Take care

Love/E

Song of the day: When tomorrow comes - Anna Ternheim

YES We can

And yes he did. Mr Obama will be the next Mr President.
Jan 20 2009 will be a great day. I really really think he can and will make a difference. The world needs "new blood", new ideas and new inspiration. He will not have it easy: finicial crisis, 2 wars, unemployment but HE CAN.
Mr Bush certainly left a mess!

As far as Mr McCain goes he seemed like a very nice and kind person, I don't however agree with most of his opinions. And don't even get met started on Mrs Palin - I mean seriously: calling her a Barracuda is an understatement.

Me, I do my best to support the Nordic economy by shopping Nodric designers :) Bought a new winters jacket from Danish designer team St Martin. Loves it. It is not as warm as I wish it would be, or maybe the weather isn't as warm as I wish it would be...

Last week end Mr S and me went to a champagne tasting hosted by Richard Juhlin at Haga Slott. It was very nice. The dinner after the tasting was also nice, all in all a pleasant experience.

The weeks go by so quickly so soon it is Christmas and I'm off on the cruise. It could be totally divine or total misery. I'm going to bring some books and my gym gear so I can train and read.

Come Saturday it's dad's 66th birthday and sis and I are going to cook for him at his place. My dad isn't really into going out to restaurants - he thinks it to much hazzle to leave the house.

Now I have to find airline tickets for my boss to go to Thailand. I've never been but a lot of Swedeish people goes there for Christmas and New Years. I suppose it's nice but I haven't been tempted.

What are you doing for Christmas?

Take care

Love/E

Song of the day: A Change is gonna Coming - Sam Cooke

It's raining...

It's not raining men today more like cats and dogs as they say in the UK.
Fall has hit us big time... Seems like there are no more of those cold, crisp and sunny days.

Yesterday we were treated (!?!?!) to the flu vaccin at work. So I took it since I've read in the paper that the flu will peak some time around Christmas and I don't want to be sick on the cruise. Before I had the shot I felt pretty good, today I feel like I have the flu. Got this Matrix-like vision of how I now have been injected with a device so that my job always knows where I am and what I do... I thought this was suppose to help not make me ill. D*mn!
This week end Mr S and myself are off to Haga Slott for a champagne week end - simply because we are worth it.

Sunday I met for the first time with my reading circle. We read "To kill a mocking bird". I didn't finish the whole book, made it about 3/4 but I liked it. It gives a very good view on a society I am glad we left behind a long time ago. Well, as I read in the paper today some US neo nazis where planning to kill Mr Obama so I suppose some have a hard time letting go.
It was an experience to actually see the N-word in writing as much as it was in the book.
I'm glad I didn't live back then. I can never imagine what it must be like to so openly be looked down upon only because you have a different colour of your skin. I am a black woman married to a white man and that would never heve been possible in those days.

So today: a big shout out to all those who came before me: I would never be where I am today if you hadn't gone through what you did.

Kind of puts thing in perspective...

Take care
Love/E

Song og the day: Soul II Soul - Back to Life

Not in my "happy place"

At the moment I am so not in my "happy place".
I have all these things I need to do, not because I want to but I really must do them. Tried to cheer myself up yesterday with some shopping. Not even a pit stop at NK Nordic Design department cheered me up. I ended up buy a pair of new pants from Monki and a shirt from Pour.. but still no joy.
Stopped by my gay boyfriend J on the way home - it's always fun to see him. Went home and watched some TV and then off to bed.

Am looking forward to the week end though. Sis and me are going to look for a shelf and possibly go to a new mall that has opened and then we might go a catch a movie (if we could ever agree on one...)

I have taken the car to and from work lately. There are moments when I still can't believe I passed my drivers license... and on my first try! I feel very adult when I'm driving alone.

Today it's cold and sunny so I was thinking that i should walk home from work today. It should take about 45 mins since I'm more into strolling than power walking.

Better get back to faking to work now

Take care

Love/E

Song of the day: Rehab - Rihanna

Cry Baby

I have become such a cry baby in my old ages. Almost anything can make my tears water these days. Yesterday I watched an old episode of Amercas Next Top Model, the final, and I cried almost as much as the losing girl did. During the Olympics everytime they showed an award ceremony I had to go for my hanky...

Was checking my status on my AmEx card and I think I should have enough points for a weekend at the Hilton in Copenhagen. I'll suggest that we go on a week end to Mr S sometime soon. At the moment I am very much looking forward to our cruise this Chistmas. We are starting in Genova, northern Italy and then to Rhodes, Alexandria, Sicily, Naples and then back to Genova. 7 nights and 8 days. Could be a great opportunity to get some serious rest, good food and good wine or I will go insane and claw my way out of the cabin and try to swim back to shore...

Take care

Love/E

Song of the day: Womanizer - Britney

No Shopping

I read an article about a woman who didn't do any shopping during a whole year, apart from food and the necessary stuff of course.
Now she wrote a book about her experience. i wonder how interesting that book is too read...
She claims that people only shop to fill a void in themselves. I shop because I enjoy it and I like to surround myself with funny and beautiful stuff. I don't feel like I have a void in me, I do sometimes have a void in my bank account but that is a different story...

I've taken the car to work these last couple of days. I feel very adult when I'm driving alone :)
Had a very nice week end. Friday I spent at home, just chilling after a pretty intense week. Saturday Mr S and me went into town for some shopping and then sis came over for dinner and we went out dancing at a place in Sundbyberg. Sundbyberg is the suburd in Stockholm that has the highest number of singles... and at this place Garbo's you could tell. Maybe I'm oldfashioned and upthight but I don't think it is ok for a perfect stranger to come up to me and grab my ass. I do have a nice ass but it's still not just for anyone to grab it!

We had wuite a nice time even if these kinds of places aren't really my scene. Today I'm trying to put together an AW on Friday at the newest wine bar in Stockholm. A place with a wine list of more than 600 bottles - that is more my scene :)

Take care
Love/E

Song of the day: Akon - Right Now

It's been a year

Tomorrow on October 6th I've been Mrs S for one year.

It's been a good year I must say. It started off with a wonderful wedding and a cool party afterwards. 

Life as a married woman is just fine :)

Life in general is actually just fine at the momen. Work is busy, I acyaully had to work today even if it's Sunday but I'm on track with all the stuff I am supposed to do now.

Had a lovely week end: Saturday we went shopping and then sis came over for dinner and some serious drinks. Friday I had my hair done at fierce salon Blacknuss and again they did a good job. I orderd a new styling iron from GHD (Good Hair Day). It put me back about 200 euros but I'm worth it :)

Tomorrow on our wedding anniversary I will work late but we are going out for dinner and on Saturday we are going to restaurant LUX. I'm really looking formward to that. It's quite expensive but everyone tells me that it money vey well spent.

Will come back with a report :)

Take care

Love/E

Song of the day: Blood Bound - Hammerfall

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