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Monday 31 January 2011

bye bye Paris

Andreas and I had planned to go to Paris in the spring, but we will have to putt hat off until next year probably with all these porblems with his knee. It's so sad! I was looking forward to it a bit too much almost. But my poor husband can'te ven walk without crutches at the moment and we are not even going to know what is wrong with him until 6 weeks (when they will finally do an MRI scan on his knee).





I am so sorry for him. He is always so active and now he can't even drive our car because he can hardly bend his knee... Can't believe he won't be able to go skiing with us next week. He will be in the cabin heating the sauna and preparing dinner for us... :(

Friday 28 January 2011

H&M order

Made a small order from the Spring catalogue - it was 10% and I haven't been online shopping for a long time and my little klick-finger couldn't help it.



Blazer 29.99 (unfortunately more pink than powder beige, but will hopefully be a nice summer jacket) and shirt 12.99 (I need more "office clothes" this is a very boring but basic thing to have)


Top, 3.99 (a bit see through, but perfectly stretchy and nice to have under blouses) and another boring top, 6.99.


Yupp, that's all folks.

Thursday 27 January 2011

tasty recipe

I found this tasty recipe for falafel on BBC food. It looks delicious and it's great to make a double portion and stick in the freezer or for next days lnch box. I love falafel in wraps or jsut with sallad. But the absolute best falafel I ever ate was in Jerusalem, Israel - just amazing! They added red cabbage, and an absolutely divine dressing. Yum, yum, yum... :)



Ingredients
2 tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil
1 small onion , finely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
400g can chickpeas , washed and drained
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander (or use more cumin)
handful parsley , chopped, or 1 tsp dried mixed herbs
1 egg , beaten

1.Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large pan, then fry the onion and garlic over a low heat for 5 mins until softened. Tip into a large mixing bowl with the chickpeas and spices, then mash together with a fork or potato masher until the chickpeas are totally broken down. Stir in the parsley or dried herbs, with seasoning to taste. Add the egg, then squish the mixture together with your hands.
2.Mould the mix into 6 balls, then flatten into patties. Heat the remaining oil in the pan, then fry the falafels on a medium heat for 3 mins on each side, until golden brown and firm. Serve hot or cold with couscous, pitta bread or salad.

From www.bbcgoodfood.com

Wednesday 26 January 2011



Tuesday 25 January 2011

parlamentet - Swedish

I'm watching clips on youtube from Parlamentet. So funny!







(I love how Johan Glans sounds like Dolph in the last clip).

Andreas didn't get very good news from the physiotherapist. She said she thought he had torn some of the ligaments in his knee. He is going back in tomorrow. She said that if the swelling goes down today or tomorrow it might be able to recover in time for our ski trip, otherwise it doesn't look too good... It's so sad if he isn't going to be able to ski with the rest of us on the trip.

oh no!

My throat is sore and it wasn't that long since last time I was sick. Andreas brought it with him home from Norway. I'm hoping it won't develop into something worse. So now I'm drinking bottles of water and popping Throat Lozenges. I really really don't want to be sick again.



Poor Andreas' knee is swollen to twice its size. Yesterday he was at the hospital and they don't think anything has been torn off or is broken, but he will have to go again on Friday. It is strange hwoever, that it keeps being so swollen even after all this time. It's been 4 days now. Today he is going to the physiotherapist as well. Hopefully they will be able to give him some ideas so that we can help the swelling go down. He is so worried that he won't be able to ski in two weeks when we're going to Åre. Please pray for him!

semlor

It's about that time of the year again. Maybe we should bake some this weekend. I can't wait. We usually make them according to the recipe in Sju Sorters Kakor, but I found an English version here.



Picture by Linnea Lindgren

Sunday 23 January 2011

music - recommendation

I know that I am always looking for new artists and songs that are brilliant. So I thought I would share some old favourites that I keep returning to. Below is a list of the albums with a video of the favourite song.


1. Jewel - Pieces of You




2. Lisa Nilsson - Små Rum




3. India.Arie - Acoustic Soul




4. Tina Dico - In the Red


Saturday 22 January 2011

I'd like to be here now...





A few pictures from when we were in Tunisia in September. I love these kind of holidays. Just eating, sleeping, tanning and some evening walks in the warmth in skirts and flip flops. I can't wait to book our next beach holiday... whenever we can afford it again.

coconut frosted muffins - recipe



I made some muffins inspired by one of my favourite cakes when I was a kid - Drommekage (it is Danish). Here is the recipe:

250g plain flour
50g butter
300g sugar
4 eggs
2dl milk
3 tbl spoon baking powder
2 tbs vanilla sugar

Topping:
125g butter
100g dessicated coconut
200 brown sugar
½dl syrup
½dl milk

Set the oven to 225*C.
Melt butter and milk in the microwave on low heat whilst mixing sugar an egg fluffy. Add flour, baking powder and vanilla sugar with a strainer. Stir in the milk.

Fill the cupcake liners half full as they will rise a lot. Into the oven for 13 min (depends on your oven). (They are going back in for another 5min in the end so they should have a quite bright colour).

Whilst they are in, melt the butter for the topping in a pot, add the brown sugar and heat it until it start bubbling. Let it bubble for about 4-5min but keep stiring. Then add the dessicated coconut and the milk.

Put the topping onto the cupcakes and put all of it back into the oven for another 5min.

Done.

Can be put in the freezer and are chewy caramelly.

lyrical geniuses


a delayed present


Got a present from Ingrid and Johanna just before Andreas left on Thursday evening - a gift card for Zara! Perfect! I haven't been in Zara for ages. To spend it could be a reward for loosing the first 5 pounds. :)Now I'm going to watch some episodes of Flight of the Conchords. Foux du fafa!

Ou est le bibliotheque? Voila mon passport. Gerard Depardieu. Une baguette



Friday 21 January 2011

Friday...

I've just tuffed my face with sallad (tomato, cucumber, feta, etc. yum) and now I'm going to go out for 30min and go for a walk in the sun. I need to keep moving if this weight is going to come of in time for summer, and the sun is shining today so there is no reason not to get out.

Today is such a slow day. I'm really looking forward to the weekend - mostly because I'm tired and need sleep. Andreas was up packing yesterday until 1am and didn't want me to go to bed but keep him company, then he got up at 5 this morning so I slept about 4hours... zzz. And tonight we are practicing for tomorrow's service (I'm worship leading) so I'm guessing it won't be an early night or any chance of sleeping in tomorrow.

Anyway - on a more cheerful note - I'm going to bake a cake tonight for Daren's birthday potluck tomorrow. Looking forward to that.

Now - get out Marianne!

Thursday 20 January 2011

spicy tea

I'm at work trying to plan the food we will eat on the skitrip. I'm trying to find alternatives that are tasty, easy to make and cheap. So far the list looks like this:
1. Chili sin Carne (vegetarian chilli)
2. Spagetti Bolognese (veg) with green salad
3. Haystacks
4. Rice porridge (yes, you at that as a main course in Sweden)
5. Ugnspankaka (oven pancake - not sure if there is anything equivalent in England)
6. Vegetable soup
7. Pizza

If you have any tasty veggie recipes that are easy to make for 8-10 people then let me know.

Whilst plannign that I'm drinking some amazing tea from Celestial. I love their blends and everytime we visit Denmark I go to Søstrene Grene to buy them. This time I got myself the Bengal Spice blend.

"Cinnamon (38%), spices (ginger, cardamom, cloves, black pepper, and nutmeg)(21%), roasted chicory, roasted carob, and natural spice and vanilla flavours with other natural flavours(11%)."

It's a bit spicier than chai tea and smells absolutely lovely.




Wednesday 19 January 2011

therapy

I just read through all the paperwork for Siemens and filled out a health questionnaire etc. and then I painted my nails whilst listening to Andreas planning for his trip to Norway this weekend. He is going on a floor ball tournament with his Newbold team. I'm a bit jealous. However I'm worship leading this weekend and going to a birthday party so I'll have a good time.

Painting my nails is like therapy. It relaxes me and it makes me feel prettier. (Plus it makes them tougher - mu nails so easily brake). Favourite nail varnish right now is: OPI - No Bees Please and the best thing I ever invested in is Jessica's Critical Care to have as a base layer. It really makes a difference.





We've just eaten salad and garlic bread. I used some delicious oil that Prakash and Nathan brought with them home from Greece. It was really yummy, made the dressing extra tasty. Now I'm watching an episode of Modern Family and in 15min we're going to the gym. PT tonight and I'm almost dreading it because I'm already feeling tired. Isn't that strange? I mean what is the worst that can happen? Maybe that he pushes me to do intervals and I fall of the treadmill... or maybe has me doing lunges in the TRX and I fall over myself in exhaustion. Hmm, so many fantastic options. :)

Andreas and Pictionary



Over Christmas we played pictionary with my family. Me, Andreas and mum was one team and Andreas surely has talents when it comes to drawing. I guessed this one in seconds... if you can't see what it is it's an helicopter.

I really want to share his drawing of hens later, I just have to take a picture of it. Definitely art to look forward to.
UPDATE: haha I am the worst wife ever - it wasn't Andreas who drew this it was Robin!


Tuesday 18 January 2011

teenage warning :)

For some reason I feel like a little teenage girl in love again. It's just that kind of day. Where you have that big shy smile all over your face. It is so good that you almost feel like there is too much. And then there are songs to fulfill the moment.



Maybe I'm amazed at the way I really need you

Monday 17 January 2011

most depressing day of the year?

I accepted a new job, we have set the dates for our Paris trip (April 21-25), we are buying the lift cards for our skiing trip, we had veggie burgers for supper, watched an episode of Desperate Housewives and now we are going to the gym.

This day has been great so far! :)

new job



Yes, I have gotten a new job. I will be working for Siemens in Camberley as a Credit Analyst. I'm starting my new job after our trip to Åre. I'm excited about this opportunity. It will be interesting to try something new and to learn more. I will miss some of the people from Mizuno though. I've had a good time with my friends there, but now I'm off to a new challenge.

Sunday 16 January 2011

lazy Sunday... as usual :)

Today I stayed in bed until noon, went for a one hour walk in the rain, finally started knitting, cleaned out under our coffee table in the living room, made omelet, painted my nails, dreamed about going to Thailand again, got a very nice suggestion from my favourite person in the whole world - to go to Paris in the spring, started thinking about what fun things to do when Veronica gets here in March, and thought about the new job I'm about to start. Life is full of things to enjoy - I'm loving the opportunities.

Next thing on the list is to learn how to use my camera properly. I think this lens will be perfect for my birthday. (50mm f/1.4). Especially if we go to Paris end of April as we are planning now.


Amazon


Thursday 13 January 2011

song of the day



Soul Survivor feat Beth Croft - How He Love Us

"If grace is an ocean we're all sinking "


childhood memories



Something I miss from when I was a child is singing a prayer with all my sisters and parents just before falling a sleep in my bed. We would usually sing this:

Kjære Gud jeg har det godt
Takk for alt som jeg har fått
Du er god, Du holder av meg
Kjære Gud gå aldri fra meg
Pass på liten og på stor
Gud bevare far og mor
(Og alle barn på jord)
Amen


I guess now this could be something to look forward to. One day when we get our own kids I will teach them this song. :)

in serious pain

We tried TRX yesterday and today I am aching in so many muscles I didn't even know I had. It is a great work out for your core because you have to constantly stabilise yourself. It's horrible but great to be back on track after all the good food this Christmas. I need to start walking everyday for at least 30min, that has always been what does the trick in the past, and of course be very vareful with my portion size. I need this and I want this! I WILL be back in shape for summer 2011!



Anyone else with similar plans - I'm up for a cheering and supporting group! :)


Tuesday 11 January 2011

my talented family :)

All of us singing together at a Christmas concert in Denmark.






Saturday 8 January 2011

mmm :)

I'm actually having a perfectly nice time on my own. Had a long warm shower, breakfast in bed, watched a few episodes of Cougar Town, and eaten almost all of the Stroopwafels that my neighbour brought with her from Holland. (I love these biscuits, they are soo good, chewy, sirupy and cinnamon taste. yum).



Tonight I'm planning on going to the cinema - on my own or with whoever wants to come - and see The King's Speech. Everyone says it's amazing and I think the trailer seems very promising. Not Andreas' kind of movie, so I thought it would be perfect to see it now he isn't here. :)




Friday 7 January 2011

friday on my own

I've just had a really low key relaxing evening on my own. Had tons of candles lit all over the living room, put my lounge wear on, a cold diet coke, and watched a movie. Dreamgirls with Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson. GOSH! The first time I watched it I thought it was ok, but now that I've gotten to know the songs better the movie has really grown on me. They are such amazing singers! Now it is bed time for me, tomorrow is another cosy, but lonely evening. Sunday evening will probably be much better :)





H&M 2011 catalogue

Just got the H and M catalogue in the post and I have to say, reluctantly, that the collection wasn't that good... :(. I know the H&M online collection generally is rather dull, but usually there are classics that are great for the cheap price. Oh well, I didn't go through it in detail. Maybe it just needs another look :) I'm sure I*ll find something ;) (Don't worry Andreas...)


Wednesday 5 January 2011

self-pity

I've not been feeling well since I came back from Sweden. I haven't been able to sleep at night and I must have some kind of stomach bug or flu (or what it is called here). The only thing I've managed so far is to do some laundry (I haven't even unpacked yet, but I have washed everything that was dirty in our house. The only problem now is that I'm running out of space to hang things to dry. And I feel too tired to start folding clothes... can you see what problems I have? Oh well, at least it will only be two work days for me, then weekend, and then Andreas will be here. Can't wait!



Tuesday 4 January 2011

recommend: Modern family

When I was with Veronica this weekend we started watching Modern Family. It's hilarious. All the characters are hilarious and such stereotypes, but it also has a little bit of morale which is surprising in this day and age. If you have half an hour (or a couple of hours) you can watch an episode (or a season).



beautiful things from nature

I found these lovely pictures on the blog Helt Enkelt. I love the raw beauty of things from nature mixed with the cold feeling of metal. I tried to buy a mounted set of horns for the wall on ebay but lost the bid...




Check out Anna Malin's blog.

snow boots - check

I went shopping for proper winter boots when I was visiting Veronica in Stockholm this weekend. All day we were searching through every store we could find. Everything was sold out. We asked if they would be getting more, but the problem seemed to lie with the supplier. I guess this winter was colder than anyone expected. Finally I found at least a pair I liked but unfortunately they only had them in size 37 and 43 (4 and 10 UK) and they weren't getting more in stock either. But they nice lady in the store said that there might be some in a store down the road (competitor - that's true customer service when you refer your customers to competitors). When I got there there was one pair left and it was my size! While I was trying them on another person came in and asked if they fitted (otherwise she wanted them). It was crazy - everyone was trying to find winter boots and there was nothing left!



As I was paying they told me that the pair I found was a returned Christmas present that didn't fit, and it had just come in 5 min before I entered the store. LUCKY ME!
I got it in my size and I got the boots I wanted! I am so ready for our skiing holiday.