Come Saturday Night...

We're having a movie-marathon here at our place, only interrupted by hours gaming Super Mario on Wii... =) Talk about the perfect weekend!

Now we're soon off to Heron City with Dad, for an hour of bowling and some food. Then more movies and gaming when we get home, but first: Earth Hour!

Don't forget to turn off your lights at 8:30 pm!!! And don't hesitate to log on to WWF and make whatever donation you can to our beautiful planet!

Girlpower!

This past Thursday after work, we hurried home, Anders ran over to Dad's to pick up the dogs while I ran to the garage to collect the car, met up at home, fed the dogs and switched clothes, then ran down the stairs and drove to the cinema, arrived in 12 minutes before the movie started. Plenty of time to get popcorns and candy.

We saw The Hunger Games and though I doubt that anyone has been able to miss out on what it's all about, here's a short description: it plays out in a post-apocalyptic America, which after a rebellion has been divided into 13 districts, 12 of them slaves to the 13:th. The 13:th district is The Capitol and it's another world, a world of plenty and decadence--a total contrast to the poverty and hardship of the other 12 districts. Each year, the 12 slave-districts must choose a boy and a girl between 12-18 years to send to the Capitol to compete in "The Hunger Games", a cruel reality-show where the children fight until death. Katniss' younger sister is elected and Katniss throws her self in the arms of the guards and thus takes her place in the game, as the first "volunteer" ever...

It is indeed a dark and somewhat cynical movie, but not all together unbelievable. We've all read or heard about Kony and the child-soldiers in Africa this past month and many of us are aware of a much tougher and colder society. Realizing that children are forced to kill and are at all able to do so is extremely difficult for me, I have lived a quite sheltered life in that aspect.
It is also true that the rifts between different people in society are growing at an alarming and rapid pace, in many ways. We need to decide what kind of world we want to see in the future, what kind of world we want to send our future generations in to-as I have talked about before. There is no other way than to beg parents all over the world to teach their children compassion and kindness.

It has a few things that I liked a little less, but all in all: a very good movie!!!

I am glad to make the acquaintance of another splendid role-model for girls around our globe: Katniss Everdeen. What a babe! Hot as fire, but most of all: kind, smart, compassionate, clever, able and a survivor. Next to Hermione in Harry Potter, Katniss is my absolute favorite!

I went to the store to get the books, but they didn't have all three and since I want them all in the same edition, it'll have to wait until London...

Nana Thai, Hornstull, Sthlm

First out in our new project, The P & P Gastro-Guide, was Nana Thai Restaurant at Långholmsgatan 32, Hornstull.

A quite large restaurant with quite a bleak interior and a rather sullen old man behind the counter, saved up by the fact that the food was really good! 

After a lot of discussion and deciding back and forth, we ordered and got our drinks (water) and a small starter (free of charge) consisting of a prawn-cracker with cabbage, carrots and some more stuffing, quite good actually!

Anders:

*Main-course: Pad mee Krati (stir-fried egg-noodles with chicken, red curry, coconut-milk, eggs, vegetables, sweet basil and lime-leaves). Delicious! One of the best noodle-dishes I've ever had!  8/10 

*Desert: Fried pineapple with vanilla ice-cream. 7/10

*Over-all impression: 7/10

Sarah:

*Main-course: Poh Pia Gai Thod (fried sping-rolls with chicken, glass-noodes and vegetables, served with rice and sweet chili-sauce). The spring-rolls were absolutely delicious and very well made! I'm a little disappointed that they served it with rice and not even jasmine-rice, but ordinary, boring parboiled rice. A choice between noodles and rice would have been better. 6,5/10

*Desert: Fried pineapple with vanilla ice-cream. A little bit more syrup wouldn't have hurt... 7/10

*Over-all impression: I've seen more beautifully decorated restaurants and I've definitely met nicer waiters! The food saved it all... 6,5/10

Visa större karta

Less Is More?!?

I made a startling discovery this passed Monday! I thought I'd reward myself for my weight-loss and so we decided to have tacos for dinner--I LOVE tacos! I usually have 4 soft tortillas filled with good stuff. So I expected a taco-binge and dove head-first into taco-sause and crème fraîche... But imagine my disappointment when I only managed ONE!!! Madness! But something good I suppose...
I've also noticed that I almost get sick after tea, 2 eggs and 1 grapefruit for breakfast! Weird feeling!

What on Earth?!?

This Saturday it's time to turn off the lights for an hour and get cozy--it's time for Earth Hour!!! I'll light lots Of candles and make sure we've got a big pot Of tea to last us through. Turn everything else off as well, even the cell-phones, be brave and disconnect for 60 minutes to show that you care about our planet and coming generations. If you can't go all the way--do something! Turn off a few lamps that you don't really need (we've all got those "cozy-lamps"), turn off the TV and play cards, or a boardgame... Enjoy a good discussion about anything--or DO talk about our environment and the issues we are facing. What can you and your family do to help? It needn't be big, it just needs to be something!


On Saturday, I'll turn off the lights--how about YOU?...

Sleep-Strangler?...

I've heard of the term "sleep-walker" and understand the mechanics of that, though I can't recall ever having sleep-walked myself... There is a nasty rumor from my childhood though: it is said that dad found me peeing all over my cuddly toys one night, sitting on the ledge of the chest they were kept in, the lid resting over my back... I wonder if it's really true, poor cuddly toys in that case!!! But that would be the only time I've sleep-walked if it is true. I've heard of kids doing it a lot, but maybe that's just when they're trying to get to the toilet and are too tired to wake up properly before embarking on the long journey to the bathroom?...
Is it at all connected to our dream-world? Interesting stuff, really!

But that wasn't my point, I was going to tell you about three scary incidents in our apartment that has happened over the last two months. Anders has been acting extremely violently in his sleep lately...

The first time we had watched Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, supposedly a horror-movie starring Katie Holmes and it contained the obligatory scary kid and the old, spooky, abandoned house... Anyway, we saw it late one night and it was a bit creepy, I had my feet off the floor and hid behind my pillow a few times. We went to bed and fell asleep. In the middle of the night, Anders' right arm comes flying across my throat, grabs my right shoulder and presses down, thus making it very hard for me to breathe. I screamed and started crying because I got so scared and Anders woke up startled and was as upset himself. He remembers having had nightmares about the creepy beings in the movie. This was the first time...

The second time we hadn't watched anything special, I was sound asleep and the ledge of the bed, when all of a sudden his arm comes around my neck and throat and pulls tight with his arm. Again--very hard to breathe!!! I panicked and cried out--Anders woke up startled and very surprised. This time he hadn't had any nightmares, he just thought his arm was around my waist... =S That was the second time...

A few days ago, it happened again... We had been watching The X-Files all night and went to sleep. Around 4 o'clock in the morning I wake up screaming--Anders has thrown himself over me and hit me in my left shoulder! As I started crying, he woke up and realized what he had done. This time he remembers having had a nightmare about a pack of super-intelligent velociraptors (small, mean dinosaurs...) chasing him in his specially built vehicle... This vehicle was very good against T-Rexes was his fully reasonable explanation...

Me look-alike?...

Rodney Carrington has a very good explanation as to why they were so aggressive...

Have you ever experienced anything like this? He says it's unconscious, but maybe it's him acting out real anger under the pretense of sleeping? He is so docile and kind when he's awake, it would make sense really... =D I don't know how I feel about going to The British Museum of Natural History with him--they have a life-sized T-Rex and some nasty Velociraptors hidden in the corners of the museum... 

We're All Amazing!

As I told you, the movie The Help made a HUGE impression on me and it has stayed with me since then and as I sit here watching Glee The Concert Movie, there's so much I want to say!

One of the things that affected me the most in The Help, was the way the women treated their children, especially Elizabeth Leefolt's relationship with her daughter Mae Mobley--or rather the relationship she DOESN'T have... It was so sad and heartbreaking to see and what's worse: probably very close to the truth for many, many children in this world. Mae is still lucky since she has Aibileen, who tells her these important words every day: "You is smart. You is kind. You is important." My wish is that every child got to hear it everyday of their life. Because it's true. They are all miracles. WE are all miracles, we are all amazing. Few things make me angrier then when kids are treated badly! I read last week about a "mother" who had forced her 3 year old son to drink beer and smoke!!! WTF?!?!?!?!?! It's waaaay to easy to have kids and way to hard for the authorities to take them away from unfit parents.
Children have no limits and they should be told how amazing they are every day, I hope I'll remember that the day I have kids...
If you haven't seen The Help or read the book -- do it now!!!

And Glee... A tribute to all of us who never fitted in at school. How I wish there had been such a show when I went to school! I love all of it and as I've said before, the cast is amazing: from Lauren Zizes to Quinn Fabray, from Finn Hudson to Artie Abrams. Everyone is accepted and included, I wish that was what school was like for kids. It's not, it's really cruel. I'll show my kids Glee and hope that they fall as much in love with it as I've done, maybe we can share it?

So, teach your kids compassion and understanding, make them strong and confident and let them know that they are important--every day. We will all gain from that, it will help build a better world for our future generations. God knows they'll need all the help they can get and we owe it to them.
"Be the change you want to see in the world" - M. Gandhi

Sleeping the Day Away!

Phu, that was horrible!!! I didn't wake up until 11:15 today! Anders told me to get some sleep when he left for work this morning and I sure did! Now I feel miserable because I've lost like half a day... Our dogs are amazing sleepers as well, so no help there...

Now it's time to get out in the sun, pick up my brand new passport at the police-station and get some 5 K in Nyckelviken with the dogs and wait for the most wonderful man I know to come home again! Think we'll give our home work-out another try tonight, hopefully with less fits of laughter due to funny noises! =)

Why can't laughing be good exercise?...

Results Week 4

Weight: 103,8 kilos (228,84 lbs)

Results: -1,4 kilos (-3,08 lbs)

YEY ME!!! Really weird though since I didn't work out a lot last week and yesterday I had pancakes for lunch AND almost an entire pizza for supper... =S Hopefully I'll keep loosing at this pace now for a while, but maybe I'll be disappointed in only one week's time...

Summary Week 2

Well, last weeks summary looked great and I wish I could've followed up this week, but it's my tough week at work (clocked in at 65 hours last night...) and as you know I've had some other problems to tend to as well... All is well with that now by the way. I'll try to be good now! All this has led to some serious cut-downs in my schedule when it comes to training:

PW's: 20,52 K       4 hours & 2 mins

Swimming: 1 K     40 mins

Not very good, I'm very disappointed in myself, but just have to try harder.

When I Say I Don't, I Do.

That might sound totally crazy, but in the right context it's perfectly clear.

I'm hard to live with--I know. I'm headstrong, strong-willed and proud as hell--I know. I speak my mind and take up a lot of space--I know. Some people call me selfish, stubborn and high-maintenance--I know. I'm an only child with two hard-working, absent parents who tried to buy their way out of the guilt. I'm used to people listening to what I have to say, to having my way and the things I want.
Maybe that is who I am if one were to describe me honestly? Right now it feels like hole-in-one... I am my own worst critic and I know my bad sides pretty well without having them pointed out to me. I have had them pointed out to me a great part of my life.
I've crashed and burned many times, more than one person probably should have to. I've gotten back up again and kept on fighting. That's also a part of who I am.
This means that I've been burnt many times and had my heart broken into a thousand pieces. But I still believe in loving with all my might. I still believe that love is the only thing that grows the more you share it and I'm not afraid of it anymore. Before Granny died, I was as emotionally incapable as my parents, who have never told me they love me. I know they do--but they've never said the actual words. After Gran's death--it became extremely important to me to tell my loved ones that they were just that. As often as I can. I hope that they know and feel that every day.

I am only scared of one thing when it comes to relationships: silence. My parents have never, not even once, raised their voices to me. If I had done something to upset them-they just ignored me for a while. This has made me extremely sensitive to raised voices and different moods in people around me. I'm easily "punished": silence or just slightly raising your voice.

My reaction to any sort of argument is that I turn all cold inside: my stomach turns to ice and I can almost feel my blood freezing up in my veins. I cut myself off emotionally and try to shield myself from the pain. I say mean things, things I regret the same moment they leave my mouth, but I'm unable to stop myself. The worst thing is probably that I maintain a good level of argumentation, I can throw rock-solid arguments around me and cause even more damage, anything to keep from getting hurt myself.

But the truth is: I do hurt. I probably started bleeding at the first small quarrel and as it grew--my injuries got worse and worse. And I probably made you think I didn't, but I did. You being angry with me is the worst thing I can imagine and right now I don't know how to make it right...

I'm so sorry for being the way I am, I hope you can see past it and find sides that make up for this.

In an unstable relationship, you can scream at the top of your lungs and still not make a sound. In a strong relationship, you need only whisper to be heard.

Good Cop, Bad Cop...

Ran into some trouble when I was getting my passport. I don't really know where the old one is, haven't really seen it since I moved and I know that's bad. I get it, you're supposed to keep it locked up in something similar to vault 713 at Gringott's Wizarding Bank in Harry Potter, but let's face it: things go missing and it can't be the end of the world. As Anders said: "So if your passport gets lost, you're never again allowed to travel?".
So, I gave my story to the guy behind the counter and he was very understanding and said that things like that happen, no biggie. He said I'd just have to file a rapport, by phone (11414), that I've lost it and then they'd block the old one from usage and that I had to do that before I collected my new one. Simple enough!
So I called as soon as I got out to my car and had no idea what I was about to get myself in to. The officer that answered was extremely unfriendly and would not at all help me with my problem and when I said hat his colleague had said, he just told me that was not the way they worked. He was down right unpleasant  to talk to! I hung up, because it was like talking to a wall and my eyes were starting to water up--since I cry for absolutely nothing! I sat as in chock for a few minutes, before I got out of the car and walked back in to the police-station, took a new ticket and waited. I got to talk to a very nice and helpful man next to the guy that made my passport and since tears were streaming down my cheeks, he got very upset at his colleague that I had spoken to on the phone. He filed a rapport and said that in a few days I was welcome to collect my new passport and the old one would be history!
I can't believe that people with "the phone-guy"'s attitude get to work in a police-station. I mean, my situation wasn't so severe, but imagine having been through something really tough and have to fight an idiot like that!
That's why I'd like to become a cop, to do good, to make a difference, not to exercise power over other people.

ASPCA Houston

These are my absolute favorite policemen! They work at the ASCPA in Houston and they do a fantastic job helping all kinds of animals in all kinds of situations. Jim Boller (down, left corner) is a huge idol of mine and my dream is to work in such a unit one day. 

Wayne Unser, chief of Police in Charming (Sons of Anarchy)

This here is another favorite! But he might be working a bit much on the wrong side of the law, with the best intentions, but still... His love for Gemma is endearing and when he gets Dpt. Hale to really uphold the law when he favors the Sons, he's kind of cute anyways!

Hopefully all goes well and I should have my new passport in no more than a week!

Pass It Around!

Oh, just realized it's that horrible time of life... Time to get a new passport! =( Sad really, I am so pleased with the one I've got, the picture is actually good. But since I've added a surname since it was issued and since we ran in to some serious trouble on our way to Mexico back in December 2010, maybe it's better to get it fixed?...
I have to tell you about that incident, because it still bugs me! We were going to Playa del Carmen in Mexico and were to fly from Arlanda early morning--hence we were there earlier morning and all in good time. When we were supposed to check-in they told us it had to be done in certain machines, so we walked up to one of those, only to realize that I had spelled daddy's surname as I spell it: Bååth, but in his passport it said: Båth. This meant that the machine went bonkers and wouldn't except his ticket, so we had to do it manually at the check-in desk anyways... Daddy's ticket and passport was a no-brainer for the guy behind the counter, but when he examined MY passport he found a small tear on the first page's seam and refused to let it through. All of a sudden we were short of time, we had to go to the police-office on the other side of Arlanda, took a taxi, stood in line, got a new temporary passport (pink at that!!!) and payed almost 1000 SEK (£95/$148) and hurried back to the plane. The rest of them had already boarded and we RAN on to the plane with like 5 minutes to spare! I've got some news for you: that's NOT a good way to start a vacation!!!
The thing that irritates me is that the guy at the check-in said: "They will NEVER let you in to Mexico with a passport like this, it's too torn," and then when we arrived at customs in Cancún--they didn't even want to look at my NEW, shiny, pink passport! They wanted the old, TORN one!!! Gaaah!

So, this time I'll do it properly: the right names and no tears in the seam. But getting ready for that picture is gonna take some time, I'll have to live with it for 10 years... So I've just applied a facial-mask and I'm gonna fix my eyebrows, I'm seriously considering using the hair colour I bought how last week and dye my hair myself... Need to get the make-up right, we all know the light in those places should be classified as a means of torture...
Well, I'll share the result with you when the passport arrives! Until then:

Will it pass, do you think?... =)

Spin Me Around!

If someone had told me a few years ago that I should try spinning, I would have laughed and told them it would never happen. But my sister-in-law Kela dragged me along one evening some years ago and since then I'm hooked! I absolutely love it, the music, the intensity, the exhaustion, everything! I go in to some sort of trance and it's just me and the bike, the other 30 something people don't exist. I love spinn pulse most of all, the competition with my own body, visible on the screen, but still anonymous. Pushing myself to 95% of maximum is fantastic!
Since I've moved here I've sadly had to realize that they don't have much spinning here, like once a day and only late in the afternoon... I'd love to go around lunch for one hour and have the rest of the day free for dogs and Anders when he comes home.  But no such luck... =(

I do miss it and buying a bike of my own would probably not be the same...

Disappointed!

When I finally got the stupid scales to work, they showed the same weight as last week!!! How is it possible??? I've exercised a lot and been really good with the food... I feel really down right now and it feels pointless to try so hard when there are no results. Talked to my wonderful colleague P-Å today, he's a certified PT and he told me to be patient, see all these 4 weeks through before I start to despair. It might take my body a little while to adjust and until then I won't see anything on the scales. I don't know what I'll do if it doesn't work! =(

Despite the blue mood today I went out on my usual 6,2 K PW with the dogs today, need to try as hard as I can this week. I worked 5 hours extra today, bringing this week's total to 65 hours... =/ It's really hard to find the energy to work-out these weeks, no matter what you guys might think. I'd love to have a normal job, working 8-17 Monday-Friday. Or a more physical job, where I'd get my training at work! Like when I worked with horses--I didn't need a gym or long stupid PWs, I was totally fit anyways!

Well, I'll have to try to keep myself going at least and give it these 4 weeks. If I haven't lost any weight then--maybe I'd better go see the doctor...

Results Week 3

Weight: 105,2 kilos (231,93 lbs)

Result: +/- 0

Stupid Scales!!!

Skipped out of bed this morning, excited to get the weigh-in over with in a hopefully good result...

No such luck!!!

The stupid thing didn't work!!! It showed 10 kilos too little!!! Would make me extremely happy--if I had deserved it!
But I've had it placed underneath the tub and maybe it didn't like the daily baths it got?... =)
The really sad thing is that I don't have time to buy a new one until Wednesday and that is a little upsetting! Maybe I should buy a really good one this time and NOT give it daily baths?...

We saw "The Help" yesterday and it left me with a lot of thoughts & feelings, need to get back to you on that...

Dad's doing much better, still placed under strict "house-arrest"! My beloved father, don't know what I'd do without him! <3

Summary Week 1

So, the first week of my challenge is coming to and end, weigh-in tomorrow--hopefully I've done something right...

Here's this weeks total summary when it comes to training:

PW's: 30,9 kilometers           5 hours & 3 mins

Swimming: 2, 75 kilometers   1 hour & 55 mins

I'm pretty pleased with that and I will do bad things to my scales tomorrow if they don't show a decent result... I'm afraid Anders might wake up early in that case... =/
But going in to the 2:nd week of my challenge, I am determined to put in a total of 3 kilometers of running and at least 3 home work-outs, even though this is my tough week with 60 hours at work... It'll all be worth it in London I hope...

What does your week hold?

Walking In London!

Since booking our trip, we've realized that we need to update our wardrobe before we go! Most of our clothes are made for the Swedish winter and not British spring and today we got started with footwear... Anders seems to favor Adidas when it comes to shoes and fell for a white/marine Beckenbauer-model:

I, on the other hand, fell for a quite discreet pair of Puma toningshoes, Bioride:

I hope they'll take us around London as on air, sore feet can really ruin any holiday! 

What's your best way of making hours of shopping and sightseeing when abroad?

Sweet Friday!

What a good day! I cheated this morning: I slept over my morning-PW... =/ Got up and just puffed around the apartment, so nice to not have to do anything really.
Drove dad around for some shopping and stuff, then I met up with Anders at Eriksdalshallen and we swam another kilometer, well done! We rented some movies on our way home and bought the 2:nd season of The X-Files:

Korean terror?... I'm sceptic...

Have big hopes for this one!

Times up?...

"The truth is out there..."

Now we've been out on a 5 K PW with the dogs and I feel like we really deserve some tacos and an evening on the couch now, what do you think?

What makes you happy a Friday-evening?

Are you Hungry?...

I just can't decide if I'm going to see The Hunger Games! I've read so many book-blogs that weren't that very flattering, but as I read a brief guide to the movie in todays DN, I felt a little curious... Maybe watch it, decide if I like it or not, and then read the books if I do?...

Will you watch it or what did you think of the books?

Oh Darn It!

When I woke up this morning, I had gotten two e-mails telling me that the products I wanted from cdon.com were available for pre-order and I skipped out of bed and turned on the computer! Finally, I'd get to see my absolute favorites: Sons of Anarchy Season 4 and Glee season 3!!! Hooray!!!
Yeah right... They'll be out in SEPTEMBER!!! Gaaah!!! Lucky me that we're watching season 1 of the X-Files right now and there are 8 more seasons to go! =)

I love this show more than any I've ever seen!!!

Wish I could have gone to McKinley High!

What will you watch this spring?...

The Doctor Says...

...that hopefully it's just a really, really severe case of pneumonia. We went and dad almost killed himself just getting there, so when they heard his heavy, exhausted breath they rushed him into a room and gave him some kind of inhalator to help ease his breathing. Then they examined him and established that his lungs were really badly affected and that the inhalator didn't help at all as much as they had hoped. But since dad is soooo stubborn, we had to let him home with medicines until tomorrow and the doctor made him swear to let me take him to the hospital if things got worse or not even a little better during the night... Stubborn old man!!!
The nurse asked about his health status, he replied: "I've never even been sick!" "Hrm, dad... 2010?" I asked. "Well, that, that was just cancer..." he replied with a smile. You've just gotta love that man, as stubborn as he is!
My dad--one of a kind!

Hold your thumbs until tomorrow and hope he gets better, otherwise it's Södersjukhuset next and x-rays of his lungs...

Daddy Dearest...

My dad is ill... I know it's probably nothing, just a bad cold, but still... My mind is back in 2010 when everything fell apart. We're going to the doctors today and all I can think about is cancer. X.rays. Surgery. Chemo. Medicine. Just like in 2010. The same hell all over again. Silly me, I know, but still.

I've always been daddy's girl. He had 4 sons before me and I think he has sometimes wished that I would have been a boy as well. I've been as close to a boy as a girl can be, following him around like a faithful puppy: building things, fixing cars and tractors, getting my hands dirty in whatever he was doing.
He has always been my big idol, I've closed my eyes to all his faults my entire life and I love him beyond comparison. He's difficult to love, at least to tell him that you love him seems impossible!

In late 2009 he started loosing weight and had trouble eating due to abdominal pain. But my father is Rambo himself and never complains, never goes to the doctor, never stops working. It all culminated during the Christmas holidays that year and the day before New Years Eve I forced him to the hospital. The doctor didn't give us any straight answers, but dad was admitted and had to have x-rays done the next day. He had to stay the night and the day after he called us to come pick him up. I heard over the phone that something was wrong, very wrong. I asked him and he said the doctor had talked about "changes in his colon" and we hung up. I looked at mum and asked: "Changes? That's cancer, right?" She just nodded and my world fell apart.
Dad came home with us and had surgery a few weeks later and after that a long and difficult chemotherapy. It was so hard, seeing him weak and ill, poor dad.

So, this cold, his heavy breathing and general weakness--it brings me right back to those days. But I hope that we get away with a bad cold this time... Keep us in your thoughts until I get back...

Countdown to the Weekend!

It's Thursday and only 8,5 hours left at work! Hooray! I don't think I've looked forward to a weekend this much in months!!! Just me & Anders, no fixed plans, just days together to enjoy. The loose plans are: long breakfasts over DN, long walks with the dogs, a visit to the SciFi Book Shop in Gamla Stan, movies & games, love & laughter...
We kickstart it tomorrow 2 pm with swimming 1 K. Need to start taking pictures again, much too few since we got together in October... We'll also nail down our plans for London (less than a month left, yey!!!)and book the necessary tickets. Ahh, can you feel my happiness now? Are things finally falling into place?...

Tell me about your plans for the weekend!

Good Work!

Today I had the enormous luxury of just half a day at work, but this morning I was so tired I just threw things into my bag and had no clue if it even could be made into some sort of breakfast... But it went very well:

Yummy!

When I got home I did something (in my own opinion) truly amazing: I took the dogs and went out for a 8,5 K PW in the spring sun! My legs were pretty tired after a while but it still felt good to keep going! Nice!!!

We made dinner and it was FABULOUS! We made a sort of stew out of reindeer meat, with onions and mushrooms, served with lingonberries mixed with creme-fraiche and cauliflower. 

Click the pic for the recipe 

Then we went swimming 750 meters, lost 250 meters due to bad discipline but that's all right... =) 

Tomorrow I'm supposed to go running 1 K, hopefully my body will regenerate some energy until then... 

Bring It On Day Three!

On my way to work , Katey Sagal's "Ruby Tuesday" making it even more beautiful! I've no idea what I'll have for breakfast, threw in a bit of everything in my bag! I just wish the evenings could be as light as the mornings soon...

Today I've only got work until 1:00, then I gotta hurry home to the dogs, since dad is ill I don't want him to have to tend to them.
So today I'll get my one hour PW, hopefully in the sun, since I fell asleep yesterday... =\
We tried one of Paolo's programs yesterday, it was difficult in such a small space and some of the exercises didn't really work out for us... So before bed I looked through all the exercises and put together a set that I believe will work for us, we'll just have to try it to see if I'm right... And as soon as it is possible, bring our training outside so we get enough space.
Tonight we're going swimming, aiming at 1 K in 30 minutes...

Swim My Troubles Away...

So, yesterday we got unto our first real fight and I'll be the first to admit--it was all my fault! I'm VERY headstrong and a wee bit focused on my own wants and needs sometimes and I'm fully aware that this makes me extremely difficult to live with, but I'm working on it. Until I get it right, I can only hope that Anders finds me worth all the trouble...
We turned it around before we went to bed and that's good, I think it's very risky to fall asleep or part on bad terms with one another!

This morning I went up with Anders, since I had an interview at 9:00, same company--different position...
I stopped by one of our favourite stores on my way to the swimming centre and got him a present I think and hope he'll like very much, a way of saying "sorry"...
Swam 1 kilometer in about 35 mins, felt sooo good! My feet were very sore after some running around in high heels and my body was tense after last nights emotional breakdown.

Now I'm heading home for an hours walk in the sun with two very happy, very wonderful dogs!!!

Crash and Burn...

That a wonderful day like today should end in tears--I never would have guessed. But since I've cried more or less since 2010, maybe I should have understood?
I tend to break everything beautiful around me, without really knowing why. It drains all strength out of me and leaves me so tired and weary. It's like I don't want to rely on happiness when it comes along, so I have to chase it away and make sure that all My protective walls are up. It's sick, but it's like I can't help myself!

So, to all my near & dear ones: I'm so sorry for this, I'll try to mend it somehow...

London, Baby, London!

It's getting closer now! In about a month, we're going on our first trip together ever and of course we'll be going to our favorite city in the world: London! I'm so looking forward to it, it'll be wonderful and now we're starting to plan it. That is almost my favorite part: the anticipations, the plans, making itineraries and looking at sites and pictures.

I've made a list of what I wish to do/see and since Anders isn't as... shall we say energetic? I guess I'm the one making the plans and he gets to tag along on my awesome London adventure! ; )
So here's my first draft:

British Museum of Natural History, most beautiful building I've ever seen!

Dino greets you inside the doors, lovely!

Big Ben--I love you!

Never Been, hope it's better than Mexico's...

Froggy!

Love it!

My first musical--lovely!!!

The Great Fire of London...

The problem is that I think it'll be too much, so I'll have to narrow it down a little bit. Someday we'll have to spend at least two weeks there, so as to see everything. The dream is to move back to England and to live in the countryside, I do love it there!!! 

If you have any good ideas, please share!

So I Say Thank You For the Music...

There is one thing that can put me in a certain mood no matter what and that is music! I listen to many different types of music, but there are songs that make my playlist over and over through the years and I will give you some of my absolute favorites! These songs get my spirit high no matter how I feel and they make me push myself harder, walking or running...

Sandi Thom:
-What if I'm Right?
-Mirrors
-Success's Ladder

Alanis Morrissette:
-So Pure

Amy Studt:
-Misfit
-Ladder in my Tights

Beyoncé:
-Irreplaceable
-Upgrade U

Britney Spears:
-Until the World Ends
-Outrageous

Christina Aguilera:
-Fighter
-Can't Hold Us Back
-Dirty

Eminem:
-Like Toy Soldiers
-Not Afraid
-Lose Yourself
-Sing for the Moment

J. Lo:
-All I Have

Jewel:
-Deep Water
-Hands
-Stronger Woman
-I Do

Johnny Logan:
-The Irish Rover

Nelly:
-My Place
-N' Dey Say
-Heart of a Champion
-U Ain't Him
-Warrior
-One & Only
-Shake Ya Tailfeather

Paul Simon:
-Graceland
-You Can Call Me Al

Pink:
-F**king Perfect
-Raise Your Glass
-Heartbreak Down

Robbie Williams:
-Hot Fudge
-Shame

Tina Turner:
-Private Dancer
-What You Get is What You See
-We Don't Need Another Hero

Taylor Swift:
-Speak Now
-Mean
-Better Than Revenge
-Long Live

So there you go--please give them a listen and see if you agree! Please tell me what's in your ears when you're working out!

A Good Start!

Today is the first day of my 4 week long challenge! I've been very nervous and a little anxious to get started and so afraid I'll let myself down again... But today the feeling is really good, both in mind and body and that helps a great deal!
I was really tired when the alarm went off this morning and I really just wanted to sleep, after working 36 hours this week-end. Anders thought I should, but I was stubborn enough to follow through on my plan: to get up with him, have my morning cup of tea and then an hours walk before breakfast. Said and done and I completed the walk with a good spring in my step, even though my left calf cramped last night and still strains pretty good. Wonderful weather, spring is really coming to town and the dogs were happy and pushing my to go faster... =)

So here I sit, just out of a refreshing shower, preparing a yummy breakfast: 2 boiled eggs, 1 red grapefruit and another cup of white pomegranate tea! Works on my days off, won't work on workdays... Have to figure something out there...

Weighed myself this morning, lost half a kilo in the last week and though it's not much--it's still something and I haven't even tried that very hard! Last night we ate tacos and I LOVE tacos so I had three and then we had some goodbye-see-ya-in-four-weeks ice-cream, that my wonderful man had bought thinking it might not be okay in the coming weeks... <3

So here we go: 4 weeks and I will do this as very good as I can and I do hope for good support along the way! Tonight we're going swimming for the first time in 1,5 weeks and I'm really looking forward to it!

My new goal for this challenge is a two digit weight... Cheer me on, won't ya? =)

Results Week 2

Weight: 105,2 kilos (231,93 lbs)

Results: -0,5 kilos (1,10 lbs)

Once again: not much, but in the right direction...

Thank You...

Today is the International Women's Day and I realize that it is an important and symbolic day for many people, but I must say it means nothing to me.

I don't need a certain day in the calendar to feel special--I need only look into my loved one's eyes to know that I am. Or to read a text or an e-mail that he has sent me, for I feel it in every word and I am truly grateful to have him in my life!
He is truly amazing in every way: he's extremely intelligent and smart, he is the kindest and most caring man I've ever met, he puts up with all my oddities and makes me feel good about myself and he is absolutely beautiful!!! Thank you for being in my life and thank you for loving me, you are everything to me.

All my love!

I am no poet, but this sums it up pretty good:

" So many changes this world can put you through
Sometimes it's hard to find a way if a heart can get confused
But then I hold you and it all falls into place
You've given me what time cannot erase
So when I'm feeling down or feel sorry for myself
I look around and it's easy to tell 

That I am blessed, every time I look into my baby's eyes
I think of all the friends who touched my life
I realise in a world where some have more and some have less
I have love and I am blessed"

Lyrics from "I Am Blessed" by Eternal

Pushing it with Paolo!

As I have already told you, I plan to put together some sort of home work-out and do at least three times per week. Because, let's face it: when you're extremely unfit--the gym is no fun! Which means I won't go, which means I don't get enough training! So, home it is. Yesterday when we were shopping I came across this book:

For those of you who don't know him, Paolo is a famous Swedish boxer and athlete and after he stopped competing and got kids, he realized he needed a new kind of training that he could do at home. So this is what we'll try for these four weeks of my challenge, meaning that poor Anders must get involved as well! There are ready-made programs and you can also put your own together with your favorite exercises. I hope it'll work out good!

Some good news yesterday afternoon seems to have helped chase the cold away, I sure hope it stays away this time!

Three Wonderful Days!

I've forgotten to tell you about our wonderful week-end down south! And since I'm in some sort of house-arrest, I might as well get it down now.

Friday: we went down rather late, there were lots of things we needed to buy and stuff to sort out before driving south. We went to my beloved friends and the best kids in the whole world, I was so nervous since it was the first time they'd get to meet each other. But all went very well and as usual I feel grateful and strong whenever I've been there, it's easy to believe in love and a good life after a visit to them.
Late Friday night we drove up to Anders' parents house in the country-side and fell asleep after a long and good day.

Saturday: woke up to a wonderful breakfast and gulps of the fresh, amazing air that you only find in the country. The dogs love it there, partly because Anders' mother loves dogs and gives them a whole lot of TLC and partly because there's space to run around in.
After breakfast we packed for a day out in the woods on Sörmlandsleden and drove off in the pale, promising sunlight. Once there, it took about ten minutes before Harry was missing! So typical! We called for him and whistled, but not even a sound to tell us where he might be. He has done this before, but it's just as tough every time as the hours go by.
Long story short: after 3 hours I made Yoggi bark three times and when Harry didn't show up after that, I told Anders we'd take the car and come back later. Just then Anders called: Look, there he is! And there he was! Standing underneath a pine-tree looking very remorseful and tired. A wonderful feeling! Beloved little menace of a dog!
In the evening we went Texas Longhorn for a good bite with Anders' parents, one of his two sisters, her husband and their cute little baby-son. After that we went to the movies and watched "War Horse". I really liked it, but whoever made it doesn't know all that much about horses... =) But I admit it, in the end I shed quite a few tears, as did Anders! <3

Sunday: woke up before every one else, feeling well rested and took the dogs out for a good long walk. The air was crisp and a pale sun greeted us as we made our way through a frost-bitten forrest. It was absolutely beautiful! One of those days when I really feel so lucky to be alive and to just be, no need for anything material at all. The dogs very enjoying themselves immensely, just running straight on, taking a short detour off the track and into the woods here and there. Harry stayed relatively close and we didn't loose him even once! =) 

We went down to Norrköping to meet Malin and Nicklas and baby Fabian--for the first time!!! So small, I can't understand that he'll be a "real person" one of these days, really tiny! So happy for them and it was great to see them again! I'm used to seeing them almost every day and now it's been months... 

After that Anders went with his parents and I went to see my family, well Fredrik's really, but after five years it feels like mine as well. The dogs LOVE them! Above and beyond everything! Since they haven't seen each other for months, the greeting-ceremony took quite some time... =) It was wonderful to see them again, but it breaks my heart that I can't see them everyday anymore! 

We drove back up to Anders' parents and waiting for supper, we played a game called Kunskapsjakten, sort of like Trivial Pursuit. Lots of fun! 

We ate and had tea and I felt myself delaying the journey home for as long as I possibly could, I really wanted to stay longer. I love it there. 

So I think that's the remaining feeling from this week-end: I miss home. And home isn't here. Don't really know what to do about that... 

Results Week 1

Weight: 105,7 kilos (233,03 lbs)

Results: -0,6 kilos (1,32 lbs)

Not much, but at least it's going down...

Enough Already!!!

Sick -- again!!! Am I making stuff up or wasn't I just sick? Now I'm out in another nasty cold and I absolutely HATE it! I'm not made for being sick. And especially not when I had worked up such a good feeling about changing things, which is necessary when you're me...

So, body--you brought this on yourself! Payback is a'coming and it won't be the least bit fun, but the blame is all on you.

In April we're going to London and doing some really great things and I need to work for it, to deserve it. So, I made a schedule for my work-out and if I don't follow it through, I won't get my reward. Since I am both lazy and competitive, this should work... =)
My own little challenge, that I hope to really turn up as time goes, is this to start with: a minimum of carbs (no potatoes, bread, rice, pasta) and no sweets, cookies, sodas or snacks. There are great alternatives and I need to learn to pick them instead!

Then there's the part with exercise, my weeks will look as follows to start with (this is the minimum amount!):
Mondays: Swimming, 1 kilometer + home work-out
Tuesdays: Running, 1 kilometer
Wednesdays: Swimming, 1 kilometer + home work-out
Thursdays: Running, 1 kilometer
Fridays: Swimming, 1 kilometer + home work-out
Saturdays: Running, 1 kilometer
Sundays: free

I must throw out a huge THANK YOU to two very special people: Johanna --thanx for the inspiration, you're awesome! And Johan: I may think you're a pain sometimes, but somehow you know that's exactly what I need... =)

The goal is to loose at least 1 kilo every week, but most of all: follow through! The results will come, if not now, then later on. But only if I follow through!!! I must be harder on myself and I will give it these 4/5 weeks and my reward will make it all worth it, so will the results. I will take pictures of how I look today and then after these 4 weeks and throw them up here... Maybe, if I dare, I should say... =)

I really want to make this happen, I want to be able to walk tall and proud next to Anders and let me tell you: I made a fantastic catch there!!! He's soooo out of my league, luckily for me: he doesn't know how great he looks! Hopefully I'll level with him before he notices... =) All jokes aside, I need to feel a lot better about myself and soon.

The reward will be revealed AFTER London--so stay tuned!

One Foot in Front of the Other...

That's how it feels right now! I can't believe that only a few months ago I ran 3 kilometers without much difficulty, now I have to really strain myself to make 1 kilometer!!! Feels like my legs are made of jelly, my throat is burning and there's just no energy in my body!!! I don't know why! I've quit smoking since I ran those 3 kilometers, I thought that would do me good--but obviously not! =(
I know I have to give it a few weeks, but still...
I need to buy new pants to run in and I'd really need new shoes as well... It'll have to wait until next payday though... =)

Nike Wmns Free 3.0 perhaps?

Or maybe Nike Wmns Lunarglide + ?

I'll definitely run better in these PP W Johtu Tights!

This week-end we're going down to Norrköping for a few days with friends and family! Can't wait until Anders gets off work and we can go south! I love it here in Stockholm, I really do, but Norrköping still feels a little more like home... Most of my loved ones are there, that might help...