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Två-saker-listan

September 11, 2023

Två böcker jag vill läsa
Just Kids, Patti Smith
Testamente av Nina Wähe

Två saker jag skjuter upp
Avsluta en försäkring jag inte behöver.
Ta mig ut och provspringa igen efter att mina knän tog stryk i våras.

Två dryckesbeställningar jag gör på bar
Ljus lager
Espresso Martini

Två plagg jag vill ha
En cashmere-tröja från Samsø Samsø. Har en i svart som jag älskar och i höst blir det ytterligare en i annan färg.
En kort stickad väst i den perfekta formen – inte för stor men heller inte alltför åtsittande.

Två rädslor jag har
Höjder
Spindlar

Två saker jag drömmer om
Nästa år då både Liz och jag fyller jämt och vad vi ska hitta på för kul då.
Våra nya framtidsplaner.

Två saker jag längtar efter
Att träffa en fin vän på fredag kväll, var länge sedan nu.
Att se musikalen Änglagård.

Lista hämtad och inspirerad av från Flora

a get to know me list

January 15, 2018

Holiday season

1. How are you?
Thirty-three.

2. How old do you feel?
Like thirty-three, but sometimes I feel a few years younger, and then I realize how many years have actually passed in real life.

3. Where do you live?
I live in an apartment in Uppsala, Sweden, together with my wife. We bought it in March 2016.

4. What have you done today?
It’s Saturday evening and I haven’t actually done that much today. Woke up around 9, drank coffee, watched YouTube, finished the series “Dark”, fixed a little in the apartment, but mostly been relaxed.

Lina & the garden.

5. Summer, fall, winter, or spring – what do you prefer, and why?
I think late spring with summer just ahead of us. But I do love each season’s uniqueness; like the all of the fall colors, winter coziness, endless summer nights, and spring when everything is so green.

6. Are you addicted to something?
Acknowledgement, love, the Internet, chocolate, and coffee.

7. Mention three things people might not know about you?
1. I’m a super organized person who wants it over-the-top clean around me. So, I actually have to have goals to not clean everyday, but perhaps once a week at the most.
2. I took riding lessons for almost 10 years as a kid and teenager.
3. I’ve spent more than a year in the hospital, in total, throughout my life so far. (due to treatment of Anorexia and surgeries for my birth defect).

vsco

8. Where in the world would you like to be right now?
At a beach in Bali with my wife.

9. How are you feeling right now?
Relaxed.

10. What’s your favorit candy?
Chocolate.

11. Your favorite store(s)?
Weekday, Zara, Granit, Crate & Barrel, Michael’s, and West Elm.

Me and a view of Manhattan 1

12. Are you a morning or evening person?
More of an evening person than a morning person, I think. However, I’m pretty even – not going to bed that late, but not getting up that early either.

13. Have you had any stitches?
Yes, my face, my right leg, and in my mouth.

14. Who did something extra special for you last?
My parents and my wife’s parents.

vsco

15. Are you shy?
Nope, I don’t see myself as shy. I can talk with pretty much whomever, in front of lots of people, or individuals. But I do get a little nervous every now and then. Especially when performing (singing and playing the piano) during an important situations (funeral, wedding etc.).

16. What’s your middle name(s)?
Maria and Viktoria, because my parents liked the names.

17. Would you like to get married?
I am married. December 26th 2009! Still going strong ♥

List from Flora!

a christmas list

December 7, 2017

What’s the best with Christmas?
It’s cozy in the midst of all the darkness. We light a lot of candles, listen to music, spend time together with family and friends, and eat yummy stuff (read Swedish candy and American Christmas food).

What’s the worst with Christmas?
When people are stressed out and want that “perfect” Christmas so the stress takes over, and it’s not enjoyable. Also to have family and friends in different parts of the world.

Christmas sausage or Christmas ham?
None. I don’t eat meat.

Ribs or Janssons (fish casserole)?
Again, I don’t eat meat so the traditional Swedish Christmas food is not for me. However, if we skip the fish in Janssons, I’ll take that.

Glögg (mulled wine) or  Christmas soda (julmust)?
This one is hard, I don’t drink much of either one of them..however, I do believe I choose… No I can’t decide.

Gingerbread cookies or lucia buns (saffron)?
Lucia buns, for sure!

Skumtomtar or knäck? (types of candy)
Hmm… Probably skumtomtar since I’ll know for sure they’re yummy. Knäck has to have the perfect temperature, taste, and balance in order for me to like them.

Give or receive Christmas gifts?
Both! I love the process of figuring out what to get a person, wrap it, and see the person open the gift. However, I also enjoy getting gifts as well.

Favorite Christmas movie?
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. It’s a must to watch it late on Christmas Eve.

Favorite Christmas TV calendar?
Sunes Jul

Favorite Christmas song?
All I Want for Christmas is You – Mariah Carey
Mary Did You Know – Pentatonix

Favorite Christmas scent?
Christmas tree!

When is it time to put up the Christmas decorations and ornaments?
We always do it directly after Thanksgiving. We don’t have alot of decorations, but we hang stars in all the windows, put up the Christmas tree, and change our blankets to more Christmas-like ones. Oh, and have a lot of candles everywhere.

When is it ok to put up the Christmas tree?
Whenever you want to!! Nowadays, my American wife and me mix both cultures and traditions, and also create our own so we put it up right after Thanksgiving (if it’s not a real one). If it’s real, we most likely do it during the first or second week in December. When I grew up, we put it up (always a real tree) around the 20th of December so just a few days before Christmas.

When do you open gifts on Christmas?
We open both on Christmas Eve (Swedish tradition) and on Christmas Day (American tradition). We get stockings in the morning.

What are you gonna do on Christmas?
Christmas Eve/Christmas Day: I’m gonna wake up at my parent’s house, eat breakfast with a fire in the fire place, Christmas music playing in the background, and hang out with my family. Later on we’re going to my sister’s house and spend the afternoon there with more family. On the 26th (which is also our wedding anniversary!!) we’re flying to the States and will spend ten days there ♥

New Years Eve?
We’re gonna hang out with friends in Asheville!!

Do you think it will be a white Christmas?
Yes.

List found on Sandra’s blog

Life happened

September 4, 2017

photo credit to Jeremy Trimnal – friend and photographer at Asheville Blog

Hey <3

Last time I posted anything here was our latest podcast episode on May 10th! To blog and record podcasts haven’t been my priority when I’ve needed to put all my energy into life in general. But you know what? It wasn’t anything I’d planned. It just happened. However, I’ve been working on trying to figure out how I want to live my life, and in doing that, I have simply lived. To leave the anorexia behind, focus on what was good for Lina, not the eating disorder. I’m not gonna excuse myself, because I’ve grown so much as a human being during these past months, and that’s freaking amazing. Since I haven’t updated anything here for a while, though, I thought we could do a little recap of each month and what I’ve been up to.

photo credit to another wedding guest

MAY

  • Liz and I road tripped, together with a new friends of ours, in Germany. Well, we flew to Berlin, rented a car and drove about three hours south from Berlin. Our friends were getting married and it was such a beautiful wedding ceremony in an old little church in the middle of the village where our friend grew up. I was also fortunate to be able to sing and play. The wedding reception was also so much fun! Another fun fact, it was also my birthday, so I got to celebrate the beginning of my 34th year out in the country, at a beautiful wedding, in Thüringen, Germany.
  • Back in Sweden, my wife surprised me with dinner out together with my brother, his wife, and a close friend of ours (who’s birthday is just about after mine).
  • I was working on myself a lot this month.
  • We celebrated our version of Memorial Weekend by having a picnic in the big park together with family and friends.
  • The lilacs were blooming, spreading their sweet scent all over town, and summer was on it’s way, along with my excitement.

JUNE

  • Celebrated June 6th (Sweden’s National Day), by drinking beer in some beautiful summer weather.
  • We decided to redo a little interior in our living room by selling our couch, and buying a new one. We are in love with the new look, and how much more spacious it all feels. Score us! (More photos to come!)
  • Was really sad and upset about a “friend” of mine. I tried. Was denied. Got tired, and broke up with the person. Still dealing with this in my heart and soul, because I feel like I never got the chance to really work it out with the person.
  • My cousin graduated from high school in Norrköping and we took the train down to be part of the celebrations.
  • Celebrated Midsummer out in the archipelago together with my wife. I’m still working on a little video, and one day it will be done. Just gotta finish another project first.

JULY

  • Ate endless amounts of strawberries because that’s my absolute favorite thing to eat. At. All. Times.
  • Counted down the beginning of my vacation by celebrating others’ vacations beginning by exploring a new bar in Uppsala with amazing cocktails. Plus an almost 360 degree view of Uppsala. Good stuff.
  • Vacation time which meant going to the States time!
  • Spent our first days in the States, in New York City, hanging out with my American cousin who was doing an internship there during the summer. Explored Upper East Side for the first time (Liz and I try to explore different areas each time we’re there).
  • Flew down to North Carolina and Asheville/Lake Junaluska/Waynesville area. Hung out with family and friends, and drank endless amounts of beer. Because that’s what you do there.

AUGUST

  • Flew back to Sweden, WITH MY IN-LAWS! Yes, that was huge since it was their first time in Sweden.
  • Started off in Uppsala with a lot of rest due to jetlag.
  • I started working again, but my first week I “worked from home”, from Norrköping, where we hung out with my parents and Liz’s parents, and toured around e v e r y w h e r e. So great to finally be able to hang out with both our parents in Sweden! They’ve seen each other several times, but in the States when my parents’ have traveled there. Now my parents’ got to host my parents-in-law. So great!
  • Went back to Uppsala and to work in the office. Decided to really work on being there, and not working from home. And as of today, I’ve been there every day three weeks straight. It’s a record. (FYI: I’m on sick leave, only working part time, and haven’t had the energy to work from the office around other people so many days in a row before now). Liz’s parents stayed at my brother’s place, since he and his wife were hiking in Spain, so after work, I hung out with them and toured around Uppsala. My parents came to town, and we all spent a day in Stockholm, toured in Uppsala, and just hung out together. Liz’s parents returned to the States after being in Sweden for three weeks. It’s been empty not having them around..
  • Our friend C from London, who also was our House Hunters International producer, came and stayed with us for a few days. We had so much time, visiting old film locations, eating good food, and drinking beer at Ångkvarn of course (we filmed there).
  • Ended August by going to an outdoor concert, sat on the first row, and listened to Helen Sjöholm and Tomas Andersson Wij <3.

It’s the beginning of September now, fall is creeping up on us, which I actually feel pretty pleased about. Last fall was awful so I have the feeling this is gonna be an amazing fall, way better then last year, with plenty of cozy nights together with friends and family! I also feel my creativity is increasing, so I’ll hopefully take care of that, and do some fun projects.

My Morning List

February 15, 2017

When do you get up?
On weekdays, I usually set the alarm for 06.30 in the morning, however, I’ve gotten into snoozing a lot, so it ends up being more likely around right before 7. I start work at 8. I used to be able to snooze for at least 45 min (BUT, I set my alarm earlier as well then..). I love mornings on the weekends, and I really wanna enjoy them as much as possible, so I always ask Liz to make sure I’m awake at the latest 08.30.

What’s the first thing you do every morning?
Check my phone, then go to the bathroom, either take a shower and get ready or just get ready. Afterwards, I head to the kitchen, and grab a cup of coffee, and try to decide what to wear. Once that’s decided, I usually sip on my coffee until it’s time to walk to work, which is usually around 7.50.

How much time do you spend in the bathroom every morning?
If I take a shower, it takes around 45 min to an hour. If I’m not taking a shower, around 30min – with clothes issues, 45min though.

Is breakfast important?
Yes. Since I’m only working 2 hours in the morning, I usually eat it when I come back home from work, around 10. If for some reason, I have been extra fast, I might eat breakfast before work.

What do you eat for breakfast?
Two sandwiches with butter and cheese, coffee, and a glass of juice. Sometimes, one sandwich and yogurt with müsli.

Are you tired in the mornings?
YES.

What kind of alarm do you have?
I use my iPhone and wake to the beginning of the song Glory Box by Portishead.

What does a perfect morning look like to me?
At home: To wake up with Liz by my side. It’s summer and we’re both off from work with no specific plans, so we’ve got the whole day together and can just do whatever we feel like. Perhaps take the short train ride to Stockholm for shopping, dinner, and beer. But the feeling of knowing we’re together with no specific plans.

At the beach: To wake up, with Liz by my side (but she’s usually already up, though, which is fine!), the sun is shining and I know it’s a hot and humid day. I grab a cup of coffee and walk out on the deck with an ocean view. Family members are already sitting there, sometimes reading a book, sometimes chatting, and I’m joining the crowd. We eat breakfast, change to bikinis, and then walk the short way to the beach for a relaxing day, together.

What’s the best with mornings?
You have the whole day in front of you with endless possibilities.

How are you dressed in the morning? 
PJ’s and then my kimono or cozy clothes, which is soft pants and a big t-shirt or a tank.

List from Sandra.

The top 9 posts on Instagram 2016

December 31, 2016

liersees

Starting from the bottom right!

9. Me at the beach in South Portland, Maine, USA.
I had this picture taken the other day and it made it to the top nine list, pretty cool! A day when Liz and I decided for a little photo session since the sunset was so nice.

Ocean love. An open sea feels like an open book, with endless possibilities, a connection to the world, and uniting love. The fresh air, the beautiful view, and the horizon touching both earth and sky. Love it.

 

8. Me with the New York City skyline.
This past summer when Liz and I spent a couple of days in NYC, we stayed at an awesome airbnb apartment in Williamsburg, and explored new areas in NY.

I freaking love NYC ❤️

 

7. Me sitting on the floor in our living room.
I decided to film my reaction of playing the classic Nintendo I just had gotten.

 

6. Phone with our podcast playing.
We took a picture of a phone on the desk, playing our latest podcast episode.

It’s podcast day + Episode 14 of the LIZ + LINA podcast is ready!! This week we’re highlighting some of our most memorable moments of the past year… tune in to hear about some of our experiences + what word we decide to use to describe 2016! // Find us on iTunes podcasts, Soundcloud and Acast!! // Link in profile!

 

5. Podcast and a heart made of tea lights.
We created a heart made out of tea lights in the honor of our friend who had passed away the day before we recorded the podcast. The episode was a tribute to him.

We’ve created a special LIZ+LINA podcast for Episode 10 this week – where we process some of the tough things in life and how life just isn’t fair. Tune in + pass it on // Find us on iTunes podcasts, Soundcloud and Acast!! // Link in profile!

 

4. Williamsburg bridge.
Again, a pic from this past summer when we walked around in Williamsburg and realized how beautiful the sky/sunset was, so we just had to capture it on camera as well.

From last night ?? 

 

3. Liz and I outside the City Hall in Norrköping.

On our 7th wedding anniversary, I posted a picture from when just just had gotten married, back in 2009.

We’ve been married 7 years today and we’re still going strong! Gaaah, I love her so much ❤ ((The picture above is taken on December 26th, 2009, right after we’d said yes ?))

 

2. Me drinking coffee
We were at the airport, heading to the States for 4 week vacation during summer. I needed coffee, and bought some ridiculous expensive AND crappy tasting coffee. However, I was happy about going to the States.

Just bought an expensive and disgusting coffee at the airport… ? But hey, I’m excited and happy anyway because we’re about to board our plane to NYC! ??✈️

 

1. Liz and I at Rockefeller Center
Again, we’re in NYC, but this time during the holiday season and we got to see all the Christmas lights, tree, skating rink, etc. It felt like I was in an American holiday movie. Checked one of the things off  of my bucket list: to experience NYC during Christmas time.

New York, together with my amazing wife ❤

If you would like to follow me on Instagram, just search for liersees

TV Series

September 1, 2016

September is here and I think it’s time for me to share my long list of TV-series here on the blog!

header_series

I call it part 1, because there will most likely, one day, be a part 2, 3 and so forth. I try to choose series by the words from friends and family, but also from the points at imdb. If it’s 8.5/10, it’s usually pretty good, I think..but there are some, I haven’t gotten into that has around 9…and a few around 7/10, that I’ve liked as well..so you never know exactly how it’s gonna be. I also always try to give a new series a few episodes in, before I decide whether to finish it or not. If I decide to not finish it, I might come back to it a few months later, and I get really in to it. So I just don’t judge it, by one seating. If you happen to sit with any good tips on any new ones, hit me up! So let’s start this. It’s in alphabetical order and all pics are from imdb.com. The short infos come from imdb as well.


ONGOING

Fear the Walking Dead 7.3/10 at imdb

What did the world look like as it was transforming into the horrifying apocalypse depicted in The Walking Dead (2010)? This spin-off set in Los Angeles, following new characters as they face the beginning of the end of the world, will answer that question (source imdb.com). Trailer here.

Orphan Black 8.4/10 at imdb

A streetwise hustler is pulled into a compelling conspiracy after witnessing the suicide of a girl who looks just like her (source imdb.com). Trailer here.

Outlander 8.5/10 at imdb

Follows the story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743, where she is immediately thrown into an unknown world where her life is threatened. When she is forced to marry Jamie Fraser, a chivalrous and romantic young Scottish warrior, a passionate relationship is ignited that tears Claire’s heart between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives (source imdb.com).

series


UP TO DATE WITH / WATCHED ALL SEASONS

Breaking Bad 9.5/10 at imdb

A high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer turns to manufacturing and selling methamphetamine, with his former student, in order to secure his family’s financial future (source imdb.com).

The Brigde/Bron 8.6/10 at imdb

When a body is found on the bridge between Denmark and Sweden, right on the border, Danish inspector Martin Rohde and Swedish Saga Norén have to share jurisdiction and work together to find the killer (source imdb.com).

Girls 7.4/10 at imdb

A comedy about the experiences of a group of girls in their early 20s  (source imdb.com).

Homeland 8.4/10 at imdb

A bipolar CIA operative becomes convinced a prisoner of war has been turned by al-Qaeda and is planning to carry out a terrorist attack on American soil (source imdb.com).

House of Cards 9.0/10 at imdb

A Congressman works with his equally conniving wife to exact revenge on the people who betrayed him (source imdb.com).

Jessica Jones 8.3/10 at imdb

A former superhero decides to reboot her life by becoming a private investigator (source imdb.com).

Orange is the New Black 8.3/10 at imdb

The story of Piper Chapman, a woman in her thirties who is sentenced to fifteen months in prison after being convicted of a decade-old crime of transporting money to her drug-dealing girlfriend (source imdb.com).

Sons of Anarchy 8.6/10 at imdb

A man in his early 30s struggles to find a balance in his life between being a new dad and his involvement in a motorcycle club (source imdb.com).

series3


The Affair
 8.0/10 at imdb

A struggling novelist and a young waitress strike up an extramarital relationship that promises to forever change the course of their lives (source imdb.com).

The Fall 8.3/10 at imdb

Two hunters, one cold, deliberate and highly efficient and the other, a strong, athletic man with a wife, two children and a counselling job… one of them is a serial killer and one is a cop (source imdb.com).

The Fosters 8.0/10 at imdb

Teenager Callie Jacob is placed in a foster home with a lesbian couple and their blend of biological, adoptive and foster children (source imdb.com).

The Killing 8.2/10 at imdb

A police investigation, the saga of a grieving family, and a Seattle mayoral campaign all interlock after the body of 17-year-old Rosie Larsen is found in the trunk of a submerged car (source imdb.com).

The Returned 8.3/10 at imdb

The Returned opens in a small mountain community which is rocked to its core when several local people who are presumed dead suddenly re-appear at their homes. Despite having passed away some years earlier, these ghostly characters appear in human form, they have not aged, and they are completely unaware of their own fatality (source imdb.com).

The Walking Dead 8.6/10 at imdb

Sheriff Deputy Rick Grimes leads a group of survivors in a world overrun by the walking dead. Fighting the dead, fearing the living (source imdb.com).

True Blood 8.0/10 at imdb

Telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse encounters a strange new supernatural world when she meets the mysterious Bill, a southern Louisiana gentleman and vampire (source imdb.com).

series4


STOPPED BEFORE THE ENDING SEASON

24 8.4/10 at imdb

Jack Bauer, Director of Field Ops for the Counter-Terrorist Unit of Los Angeles, races against the clock to subvert terrorist plots and save his nation from ultimate disaster (source imdb.com).

American Horror Story 8.3/10 at imdb

An anthology series that centers on different characters and locations, including a house with a murderous past, an insane asylum, a witch coven, a freak show, and an enigmatic hotel (source imdb.com).

Downton Abbey 8.7/10 at imdb

A chronicle of the lives of the British aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in the early 20th Century (source imdb.com).

Game of Thrones 9.5/10 at imdb

While a civil war brews between several noble families in Westeros, the children of the former rulers of the land attempt to rise up to power. Meanwhile a forgotten race, bent on destruction, plans to return after thousands of years in the North (source imdb.com).

Glee 6.7/10 at imdb

A group of ambitious misfits try to escape the harsh realities of high school by joining a glee club, where they find strength, acceptance and, ultimately, their voice, while working to pursue dreams of their own (source imdb.com).

Grey’s Anatomy 7.7/10 at imdb

A drama centered on the personal and professional lives of five surgical interns and their supervisors (source imdb.com).

Lost 8.4/10 at imdb

The survivors of a plane crash are forced to work together in order to survive on a seemingly deserted tropical island (source imdb.com).

Scandal 7.9/10 at imdb

A former White House Communications Director starts her own crisis management firm only to realize her clients are not the only ones with secrets (source imdb.com).

series2


FUTURE PROJECTS

Friends 9.0/10 at imdb

Follows the lives of six 20-something friends living in Manhattan (source imdb.com).

Gilmore Girls 8.0/10 at imdb

A drama centering around the relationship between a thirtysomething single mother and her teen daughter living in Stars Hollow, Connecticut (source imdb.com).

New Girl 7.8/10 at imdb

After a bad break-up, Jess, an offbeat young woman, moves into an apartment loft with three single men. Although they find her behavior very unusual, the men support her – most of the time (source imdb.com).

Sex and the City 7.0/10 at imdb

Four female New Yorkers gossip about their sex-lives (or lack thereof) and find new ways to deal with being a woman in the 90s (source imdb.com).

 

OLD ONES

Ally McBeal 6.8/10 at imdb

Ally McBeal is a single young lawyer looking for love and fullfillment in life. She works for a Boston Law firm with her ex-lover and his wife, a money loving boss and an annoying receptionist. With all that is going on she must contend with her feelings and her over active imagination (source imdb.com).

Boston Public 7.3/10 at imdb

The lives of 10 faculty members at a high school in Boston, Mass. weave in and out of dealing with trouble-makers, having a personal life, and keeping sanity (source imdb.com).

Cityakuten/ER 7.7/10 at imdb

The lives, loves and losses of the doctors and nurses of Chicago’s County General Hospital (source imdb.com).

Criminal Minds 8.2/10 at imdb

The cases of the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), an elite group of profilers who analyze the nation’s most dangerous serial killers and individual heinous crimes in an effort to anticipate their next moves before they strike again (source imdb.com).

 

THE ONES THAT HAVE CAUGHT MY EYE

» Ally McBeal
» Homeland
» Breaking Bad
» Outlander
» Orange is the New Black
» Sons of Anarchy
» The Walking Dead

Right Now

August 18, 2016

Lina & the garden.

THINKING
Way too much. However, right now, mostly about who I am. What defines a person (me) and identity. Goals and what, in life, those are based on. I love discussing these things at the moment since it’s pretty much what’s swirling around in my head.

WATCHING
Various TV-series, documentaries, and the News.

READING
After you by Jojo Moyes. After that, these books I listed in an earlier blog post.

PLANNING
How we’re gonna decorate our apartment. 

WEARING
PJ shorts and a long sleeve t-shirt. Cozy stuff it is.

LISTENING
Too Much Is Never Enough by Florence + The Machine

EATING
Nothing at this moment.

WANTING
A creative flow, new and more plants at home, a few new light fixtures, more art and stuff on the walls.

LOOKING FORWARD TO
Weekend at home with Liz. To just be, rest, decorate our apartment, and plan a new project Liz and I are gonna do in the very near future. Cliffhanger 1.0. Hehe. But, stay tuned.

Six Things I Like in our Home

June 23, 2016

→ Marshall speaker
BdayI love music and this speaker gets extra points for its awesome design. ♥ Marshall products. (Wish I was sponsored…).

 

→ Wall decorations above our couchWall art.The Blue Ridge Mountain print is from 7 ton Design and Letterpress Co. based in Asheville, North Carolina. The Ramble & Roam print is from another local artist, Courtney Leigh Johnson, of Holdfast Outfitters. Courtney used to be based in North Carolina but has moved to Salt Lake, UT, now. But hey, you can always buy the stuff online! The antler is from a store here in town, but represents nature and we just love the sort of mountain theme and mix of art above our couch.

 

→ Coffee station in the kitchen
Coffee station.Do I have to explain…love coffee and can’t live without it, pretty much. The glass container is a Chemex Coffee maker, pour-over style, designed back in the 1940’s by Peter Schlumbohm. The regular coffee maker is a Norwegian brand, called Wilfa. The coffee container is bought at a local coffee and tea store here in Uppsala. 

 

→ My nightstand
IMG_6676My night stand is an actual apple crate from Waynesville, North Carolina. We brought it over here when we moved from the States.

 

→ Ukrainian Pysanky Eggs
Eggs

The Ukrainian pysanky eggs, made by our friend Andrea at Studio A in Asheville, North Carolina, that Liz and I got in the mail last fall. Andrea’s a really talented artist who creates these eggs, prints and various graphic design projects, lamp shades, jewelry, and woodcut prints. Check out her website here or visit her Studio in the River Art’s District in Asheville. 

 

→ Din Tid Kommer posterWall art.This is a poster with the lyrics from one of my favorite song by the artist, Håkan Hellström. The song is called; “Din Tid Kommer” which means, Your time will come. You can listen to it here or down below.

The Summer List 2016

June 14, 2016

Summer Days

What are you gonna do this summer?
Gonna hang out in parks/our backyard, grill out, longboard, walk along the river, go to Paris, spend time in the Swedish archipelago with family and friends, go to the States, read, play games, and eat a lot of strawberries, listen to podcasts/music/summer radio…

Are you going anywhere?
I kicked of the summer with the Håkan Hellström concert in Gothenburg. So Gothenburg, Stockholm, the archipelago, Paris, and the States.

How long is your vacation?
Well, I haven’t worked lately, so I can’t really say I’m gonna be on vacation (I’m on sick leave), but I do have a plan for when I will start working a little bit again.

What do you really want to do?
I think I’m gonna do pretty much what I really wanna do. But I would really have enjoyed attending my cousin’s wedding, for example, another friend’s wedding, see Beyoncé live in Stockholm, attend a music festival(s), and go to my sister’s party.. However, I’m sure we’re gonna have plenty of adventures wherever we are at those times!

dock

What do you actually think you will do?
Have the best time in the States!

What are you looking forward to most?
To go to the US! Can’t wait to stand on American soil again, hang out with family and friends we haven’t seen in forever, and drink tons of local craft beer again.

What can go wrong?
Everything. If I don’t follow my treatment plan…

Who will you spend the most time with?
Liz ♥

linaliz

What will you spend the most money on?
Probably transportation and food/drinks.

What are you gonna buy before summer starts?
A new bathing suit/bikini.

Are you gonna use it?
Yes – at the beach in North Carolina, USA. Perhaps also when floating/tubing down the French Broad river. See pics here of what it looks like.

Are you gonna get a good tan?
I already have a little bit of a tan, but I’ll probably get some more later on as well.

Beach house

What would you tell you summer-self?
Live life!

What are you gonna drink?
Water, juice, and beer.

What’s gonna make this summer amazing?
To see family and friends I haven’t seen in over a year.

What are you gonna eat?
Loads of strawberries/fresh berries & yummy food from all the food trucks in NYC & Asheville <3456789

Market in Uppsala

What are you worried about?
To fall back. Relapse. Even a tiny bit.

What’s gonna be extra special this year?
To go abroad. See family and friends we haven’t seen in 1.5 years, and Patti Smith in NYC.

How will you remember this summer come September?
As a long and amazing kiss.

What are you gonna be wearing?
Shorts and tanks.

Summer Days

List borrowed from Flora.

Wishes, part II

June 8, 2016

Spring '16

Back in the end of January, I wrote this blog post about Wishes, and I thought of checking back on that list to see what actually has happened during the past five months.

This was the list back then with my current status in italics:

I WOULD LIKE TO…

  • Enjoy eating and drinking without anxiety and/or negative thoughts.
    I’m not really there yet, but I do eat and drink out more than I did back in fall 2015, and in the beginning of 2016. 
  • Like myself – feel that I’m ok the way I am.
    I still don’t really like myself, but this is something I’m working on every day, and I believe that I’m a bit closer than I was back when I wrote the list.
  • Work again. I love my job and my co-workers, but my life and the sickness is not stable enough to manage a job right now.
    I haven’t started yet, but there’s a plan!
  • Longboard and be pretty good at it.
    I have been longboarding, not as much as I want to, but I will!!! Have actually been contacted by a girl who wants to longboard with me, yay! 
  • Decorate our (as of right now non-existing) own apartment, downtown Uppsala.
    We have an apartment, and we own it!!! So this is a big step we’ve taken, I love it, we’re working on decorating it and finding our own Liz & Lina-style.
  • Have trips planned and bought. Ex. Paris, Dublin, Berlin, and the States.
    We have trips bought to Paris, the archipelago in Sweden, and the States. We are also planning another trip to the States, to Berlin, Ireland at one point, and hopefully Japan. But now we’re also talking about stuff in 2017.
  • Be healthy and free from this stupid sickness. I hate you. Yes, Anorexia is something I truly HATE.
    I’m definitely healthier, but I still have a pretty long road ahead of me…Working on right now accepting this long process ahead of me. 

Scroll & stop

May 12, 2016

Here’s comes a random photo challenge I found on my cousin’s blog and then on Liz’s blog. Unfortunately, I moved hundreds of photos over to my external hard drive and then deleted them on my phone about two weeks ago…so I don’t have that many photos, hence the amount of random photos I scrolled and stopped.

How does it work?
× First, open up your camera roll on your phone.

× Now, scroll one time and then put down your finger to stop the scrolling. No peeking as it scrolls and no cheating!

× Whatever photo you stop on (no cheating!) is now part of your little scroll and stop gathering. Mark the photo or save it somehow.

× Scroll again from your current position, back further in your camera roll, and randomly stop your finger on the next photo.

× Repeat this 7 or 9 or 10 or 12 times, randomly choosing photos from your camera roll (I chose 5!).

× After you’ve gathered them all, share a little background info/story about each photo. Post it on your blog or facebook or even as a collage on instagram.

Here 3 random photos

This was taken Tuesday night when Liz and I went to an amazing concert at Berns in Stockholm. It was a big band called, Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, who makes covers of modern songs into retro sounds. Loved it! You can check them out here on Spotify.

Thursday afternoon last week, I took the train to my parents’ home in Norrköping and stayed for a couple of days. This is their cherry blossom tree in their backyard. <3

I visited grandma while I was in Norrköping, and checked out some of her albums where I found this photo from 1986. This is me and my siblings.

The Summer Bucket List

May 4, 2016

Untitled

× Enjoy life, where this f*cking sickness is not deciding everything or anything at all!

× Hang out in parks, drink rosé wine/beer and eat endless amounts of strawberries

× Longboard like a maniac

sgarden

× Spend time in the Swedish archipelago

× Cook out in our backyard

× Play outdoor games

lina-beer

× Drink beer

× Hang out in my hometown

× Road trip to Gothenburg with three other girls and go to the Håkan Hellström’s concert

avl2

× Go to the States and be there for almost a month

× Hang out in Asheville

× Read books and magazines

The Beach <3

× Spend a whole week at the beach with my American family

× Go to Paris

× Be creative

The What List

May 1, 2016

I’m kind of into lists right now so here comes another one! Hope you’re ok with it..hehe.

What are you doing right now?
Sitting at the kitchen table, eating a snack, drinking coffee, and chatting with Liz’s cousin who’s visiting us for some days.

What scares you?
Wars, flying in an airplane, selfish people, and spiders.

What inspires you?
People and places all around the world.

What do you mainly wanna do in five years?
I still wanna work as a graphic designer at the company where I work, but perhaps long distance, out of the office, and be based in NYC for some months.

What makes you cry?
Anxiety, animal cruelty, and death.

What is the last thing you think of before you go to bed?
If I still have any candles lit.

What ingredients do you have to have at home?
Salt, garlic, fresh basil, pasta, coffee, and milk.

What are you reading right now?
Blogs, Uppsala Nya Tidning, Dagens Nyheter, and still Tio lektioner i matlagning by Lotta Lundgren.

What’s nice?
A really warm summer day evening, when friends and family are gathered, we’re cooking out, and sipping white wine in the backyard. Or a day at the beach in the States. Or in the archipelago in Sweden.

What do you do when you’re upset?
Cry and/or call my dad.

What’s your most common greeting phrase in texts?
“Hej finis” which means like Hi cutie..

What are you jealous about?
People who seem to be so relaxed about themselves and who believe in themselves to the fullest. That’s cool and makes me jealous.

What do people usually call you?
Lina.

What’s the most important in life?
Love & health – Liz, Zola, my family, and friends.

 What makes a good night out?
Interesting conversations with awesome people, good weather, and yummy drinks.

What’s the cutest that exists?
Liz and Zola.

What did you see last on stage?
Helen Sjöholm, I believe.

What would you like to recommend?
Watch this (subtitles in English!) and think once or twice before you buy your clothes. If it’s really cheap, you might wanna look into where the companies’ clothes are produced what the workers’ rights, and salaries are. Perhaps skip, for example, H&M, Forever 21… or at least cut down on buying stuff there. Deal?

List from Flora.

A list

April 17, 2016

Me

 

DO YOU HAVE?
Beer in the fridge
Yes, a couple of bottles.

A pet
Zola, the cat.

A favorite dish
Pasta.

Make up powder on you

Not right now. A rainy Sunday morning at home with zero plans except watching Netflix, catching up with some series.

Any future plans
Get healthy & travel.

Any sickness lately
Depends on what kind of sickness. Haven’t been sick with a cold for a pretty long time (don’t wanna jinx this now though…gaaah), but have an eating disorder..

A gym card
No, can’t work out right now so my therapist canceled my gym card months ago.

Any A’s
Yes, left University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNCA) with all A’s except one B.

An addiction
Nope.

Nail polish
Yes, a dirty turquoise right now.

A friend living in another country
Yes, several.

 

WHO?
Do you dislike
No-one really.

Do you miss most
Friends & family.

Annoys you
Sweden’s system that seems to not put in money to eating disorder treatment.

Do you snuggle with
Zola & Liz.

Cooks
Liz. Haven’t cooked a meal in over a year, I think :/

Washes dishes
The dish washer.

 

WHICH?
Magazine/paper do you read
Dagens Nyheter, Uppsala Nya Tidning, Uppsalatidningen, and Styleby.

Bus do you take the most
13.

Date is your birthday
May 20.

Season
Summer!!

 

WHAT?
Are you doing now
Blogging while listening to Håkan Hellström on Spotify.

Makes you a good person
Had to ask Liz about this..and she said; I see the importance in every person and care about them.

Makes you a bad person
Same thing as above, because then I don’t care about myself.

Do you want work with
Fun design projects as a graphic designer. The best thing is that it will be fulfilled once I start working again (probably part time starting in fall).

Is most fun right now
Watching series with Liz and hanging out with new found friends <3

Are you wearing

Cozy clothes: Jogger Pants (LA Hearts brand) from Pac Sun, a black tank, and a UNCA hoodie.

Kinds of shoes do you have
Dr. Martens, Converse, Vans, Toms, Birkenstock, various sandals, and flip flops.

Is your shoe size
39.

Book are you reading
“Tio lektioner i matlagning” by Lotta Lundgren.

Are you gonna do now
Catch up on some TV-series (such as The Catch, Outlander, Girls, and Orphan Black).

List from Sandra

A get to know me list

November 17, 2015

Me at Söder

Good times at Söder in Stockholm this past summer.

 

Found this list weeks ago on a girl’s blog, answered the questions, drafted the post, and totally forgot about it until today. So here we go, a get-to-know-me list!

1. How old are you?
31.

2. How old do you feel?
Hmm. Like 25 perhaps? Not really a reason why 25.

3. Where do you live?
In Uppsala, Sweden.

4. What have you done today?
Been to day treatment, got off there at 1pm, walked downtown and met up with Liz, did some shopping/errands (bought some new really cool pants which I might show you another day – so hard to take pictures now when it’s so dark), got home and ate a snack, listened to music, and am doing some blogging right now – answering these questions.

5. Summer, fall, winer, or spring? What do you prefer and why?
All of them in not too long periods and specific months. Spring: around late May. Fall: Late September/October if the weather is sunny. Winter: December with snow on the ground but also the holidays. Summer: July when it’s hopefully warm and nice out.

6. Are you addicted to something/do you depend on anything?
Liz. Internet. Music.

7. Mention three things people might not know about you:
1. I’ve been extra in a Swedish TV-series.

2. I dislike the left side of my face and never want it to be shown. Read: never want it to be exposed in any way. It determines where and how I sit and stand e v e r y w h e r e. True story and something I need to really work on, which I will.

3. I used to be (or am) a singer and have sung (and played) for several weddings, name ceremonies, funerals, and concerts. In fact, three years ago, as of today, I performed, together with a band, in Old Town Stockholm at an old wine cellar from the 1500s (I believe it was the 1500s). I haven’t performed in a long time now.

8. Where in the world would you like to be right now?
USA or Japan (Tokyo)

9. What mood are you in at the moment?
Angry, upset, and anxious.

10. What’s your favorite candy?
Popcorn and chocolate.

11. What are you favorite store(s)?
Weekday, Gap, Carlings, and Monki.

12. Are you a morning or evening person?
I used to be an evening person, but nowadays, more of a morning person. But I think it’s because of how I’m doing right now in life.

13. Have you had any stitches before?
Yes, a few times, different places (my leg, lip, and inside my mouth)

14. Who, lately, did some extra special for you?
Liz, but also an old friend of mine who sent an amazing letter to me with sweet words, thoughts, and such a fun memory shared in a fantastic way. It truly touched my heart <3

15. Are you shy?
No, not so much, but I used to be.

16. Do you have any middle names, if so, what name(s)?
Yes, Maria and Viktoria. So my full name is; Lina Maria Viktoria Eriksson.

17. Would you like to get married?
I’m already married, since 2009 and don’t plan to get married ever again!

18. Do you have any nicknames?
Yes, Lollie, Lollienonna, Blinis, Lina-fina.

5 to 1

October 23, 2015

Fall

Found this list below on another girl’s blog and thought, why not fill in the list as well? So here I go.

5 things I think about a lot
• Where we’re gonna live once we can’t live where we are now.
• The holidays that are coming up (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas).
• Our upcoming trips (nothing specifically planned, but we wanna go to Paris, Dublin, Berlin, and the States – hopefully all of them or a couple of them, during 2016).
• My treatment right now and all that comes with that – changes in my life that I have to do and that I work on every single day right now. It’s tough. I’ve gone through many different treatments in my life, but I believe this is gonna be the hardest, because this will be (has to be) the last time, therefore, the fight will be harder than ever.
• Friends and family I haven’t been in contact with in a long time…

4 things that smell wonderful
Clothes that still smell- like the States and the laundry detergent there. I find clothes every now and then that I haven’t used since we lived in the States…and it smells like home. Our American home, which I miss so much. 
The lilies we have in the kitchen.
Fresh brewed coffee in the morning.
The perfume Rain by Clean.

3 things I want to improve in my life/get better at
Face my fears.
Be social again. Sorry friends for not contacting you right now…
Live in the moment and be satisfied with the present time.

2 things I miss in my closet
Does a watch count? If so, a Daniel Wellington Classic Sheffield Lady watch.
A soft, thin, gray, long sleeve sweater made of cashmere. Like this one.

1 thing I want to do before 2015 is over
Eat out at a restaurant and enjoy it without feeling anxious before, during, and afterwards.

Blogs I read

September 28, 2015

I read blogs everyday, and mainly blogs about everyday life, pretty things, and blogs with good photos and posts where you can tell there’s work behind it. I thought of sharing a few of them here so lets check them out!

Liz → belovelive.com

Liz is my wife and she blogs about life – spirituality, her own everyday life, meditation, work, holidays, her life as an expat (she’s an American living in Sweden), and she takes amazing pictures. I like her blog for the good quality of pictures and that, since we’re living our lives together, my life is also partly documented through beautiful texts and photos. I’m really thankful for that.

Liz

 

Julia → prick.blogg.se

Julia is my cousin and has been blogging for many years now. I like the variety of subjects of her posts, but they’re mainly a document of her life – what she’s eating, what she’s doing, fashion, photography, concerts/music, and her creative side – making so many diy-projects which is so inspiring. Her pictures are always beautifully taken.

Julia

 

Sandra → sandrabeijer.se

Sandra, I don’t know personally, but what I like with her blog is that she was born the same year I was, 1984, and therefore, I can relate so good to some of her texts and photos back in the days. I like to read about her interior projects in her apartment in Stockholm, her visits abroad (LOVE reading about her New York City visits – she used to live there). She’s also an author and writes beautifully about pretty much everything. Good and inspiring food tips as well.

Sandra

 

Flora → flora.metromode.se

Flora is in her early twenties and is a really creative girl – she takes pictures, illustrates, and always has some projects going on. She also creates tutorials and takes beautiful pictures. Flora is also going to San Fransisco soon, and will stay there for three months. Since it’s a dream of mine to go there, I can’t wait to see it through her lens and texts.

Flora

 

Kat → patriotinparis.com

Kat is my American cousin (she’s Liz’s cousin from the beginning), and she has just started her blog since her move to Paris! We can’t wait to visit her there, but also show her where we live, and the surrounding areas, such as Stockholm. She writes really good, I think, and I can’t wait to follow her everyday life in Paris. If you would like to read an American’s view and experiences in Paris, here it is.

Kat

 

Nicole → nicibici.wordpress.com

Nicole is Swiss, but married an Irish guy and they now live in Ireland. They just moved out from their downtown apartment in Dublin, to a house in the country, where they also can have their horses. They have also just given birth to a son, and we’re dying to meet him, see their new place, and just hang out all together again. Glad she has started blogging again after a break for some months!

Nicole

 

Paige → fortheloveofwanderlust.com

Paige is a friend of mine in the States and her passion for traveling is just making my travel nerve itch even more. Even though this isn’t really a regular day to day blog where she blogs about her life, I enjoy checking in here to see what her latest trip was like. This is a travel focused-blog and as of right now, she writes about her trip to Southeast Asia that she took in March-June this year.

Paige

 

Beata → radarmagazine.se/beata/

Beata is a really creative girl (seeing a pattern here about the blogs I enjoy reading – the creative ones! Hehe). But she truly creates so much from anything! She also writes about her everyday life, field trips, family with all her siblings, cooks interesting Asian food, takes good pictures, and writes openly about her anxiety, to just mention a few things.

Beata

 

Sophie → theprivatelifeofagirl.com

As Sophie says herself on her blog, it’s a creative lifestyle blog, where she also takes amazing pictures, display stuff cool, writes about having your own business, and is basically inspiring in all kind of ways.

Sophie

 

Beata → beatas.se

Beata lives in my hometown, is my age, and has just moved to a big house out in the country. She takes pictures of, what I think, the beautiful house, and all decoration/interior that comes with that.

Beata

 

3 x 15

September 23, 2015

Untitled

Ok, so I find it fun to fill in lists (have always loved it). Do you remember having a friends book when you were young? You know a book you passed around among your friends, they put a picture in it and answered questions about favorite color, their dream job, who they like and so forth. Well, I filled in many of those books as a child, and have had many myself too..and I remember one specific one that I kept to myself (it was a typical gift you got for your birthday party with your friends too), and started my own filling in the book project. It’s at my parents house at the moment in one of the boxes I have there, but once we move to a more permanent home, I’ll get it, and can show you. Anyhow, back to all the lists I’m filling in.. I find them fun since you get to read short little things about the blogger, and I get to reflect on some stuff as well. Story ended. Let’s check out the list below.

3 things I look forward to

  • Liz’s B-day
  • My American “little sister” (who’s studying in Berlin nowadays) is gonna visit us
  • Halloween

3 things I don’t look forward to

  • To do blood tests
  • Weigh-ins
  • The darkness and the cold

3 things I like

  • Coffee
  • Playing the piano
  • To find a really good new song

3 things I dislike

  • To wait
  • Boiled/warm carrots
  • Windy days

3 things I wish

  • That I was gonna go to the States for a few weeks (also travel to Paris, Dublin, and Berlin)
  • To own an apartment here in Uppsala
  • To own a place North Carolina, USA

3 things I should

  • Take care of myself
  • Clean
  • Contact my friends more

3 things I can do

  • Organize stuff
  • Watch documentaries
  • Make my own pasta from scratch

3 things I can’t do

  • Longboarding (yet!)
  • Be patient
  • Walk downtown by myself without getting stressed out and anxious.

3 things I have in mind

  • “Fight”
  • “Refocus”
  • “It will be over”

3 things I talk a lot about

  • The weather
  • Zola
  • Fall stuff

3 things I wish

  • Better health
  • A new MacBook
  • A trip to the States

3 things that calm me down

  • Liz
  • Zola
  • Music

3 things that stresses me out

  • When it’s messy at home
  • Being surrounded by a lot of people, I don’t know, in a small area
  • Unexpected food situations

3 things I’m gonna do this weekend

  • No
  • Idea
  • Yet

3 things I’ve done this past week

  • Picked up my longboard
  • Finished “Seriously…I’m kidding” by Ellen DeGeneres
  • Done fall clothes shopping

 

List found here.

A Fall List

September 19, 2015

Fall in Atlanta, GA

It’s the middle of September and fall is pretty much just around the corner here in Sweden, so I though of sharing a little fall-focused list. I found it on this girl’s blog, who found it from someone else’s and so forth. The charm of blog lists! Here we go.

What do you imagine when you think of fall?
Either a crisp fall day with a blue sky, colorful trees, and being out in nature or a pretty gray day, sitting inside under a blanket, candles lit all around you, and a hot drink in your hand (preferbly hot cider from Barber’s Orchard in Waynesville, North Carolina or chai latte or pumpkin spiced latte).

What’s the worst with fall?
The darkness and grayness here in Sweden. Last November, Sweden had, apparently, only 3 hours of sunshine in the whole month of November!!! I don’t know how I’m gonna be able to deal with that if it happens again.

Hot Springs, NC Halloween

And what’s the best with fall?
All the fun holidays and celebrations. My wife’s birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the whole line up to Christmas Holidays.

Your fall outfit?
See here.

Follow Lina Eriksson’s board S t y l e on Pinterest.

 

Blue Ridge Parkway

What do you have on your to do-list?
Hopefully some longboarding before the leaves have fallen down and make it too slippery. Go to concert(s?), perhaps a musical, spend some time in Stockholm probably, and as mentioned earlier, celebrate some American Holidays. But mainly, to get better – focus on my health.

How to you treat fall “depression”?
Light a lot of candles, spend time with family and friends, and try to focus on the fun stuff coming up.

Candles Hot Drink

Best music for rainy days?
I’ll be playing my own little fall playlist, called “fall coziness 2k15”, which you can find here. I keep adding songs to it, mostly songs I find on Spotify’s Discover Weekly! Love it. But I will also play my cousin’s “septemberregn” (September Rain) playlist, which you can find here, and Liz’s “41 | September 15 // create + connect” playlist, which you can find here.

What TV-series are the best to watch?
I love The Walking Dead (which will start soon again!), but I’m planning on starting a few new TV-series, such as Fear the Walking Dead, Derek, and Game of Thrones.

Your most fall-ish meal?
Soups! But I’m dying to eat Thanksgiving food again – I love it!

Thanksgiving Food

Any trips planned?
Not really planned…but probably Stockholm a few times since we live so close. Norrköping to see family. We also really wanna go to Dublin, Paris, and Berlin. Liz’s cousin has just moved to Paris. A close friend and her husband have moved to a new house right outside Dublin and also given birth to a really cute little boy – we wanna meet him so badly! Another close friend lives in Berlin and has also moved, together with her boyfriend, to a new place, and my extra little American sister has now moved to Berlin (before that, she lived in China!) Gaaaah, so many reasons to go to these places ♥  But if we aren’t making it to any of them this fall, we will during the year of 2016!

How do you prepare for winter?
Make it cozy at home – changing some interior design from the summer theme to a more fall theme. Thicker and more fall-ish looking blankets and pillows. In addition to the textile changes, bring out some more candles. I also change my clothes in the closet from summer to fall/winter ones. Thicker sweaters, darker colors etc. We don’t have that much closet space so we’re pretty much forced to separate the more summer-ish clothes from the more fall and winterish clothes. Something you can do here in Sweden since it won’t suddenly get really warm on a winter day, and so forth.

Fall in Atlanta, GA

River Beauty  All pictures taken fall 2013 and 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia and Asheville/Hot Springs, North Carolina

Strategies

September 18, 2015

I thought of sharing a list of things to do when you need to distract yourself, things I usually do when things are hard, or when I basically need to refocus.

  • Listen to music and create your own playlists. Spotify is brilliant when it comes to that.
  • If you’re really into music and play an instrument, sit down and pick out a new song, write your own, or play something you just enjoy playing.
  • Do some arts and crafts – digital or with papers, scissors, crayons, or whatever. Create new stuff to keep to yourself ot give away.
  • Take photos, edit them, make a photo book or post them on a blog/social media, if you feel like it.

Yearbook 2014

  • Go out, get some fresh air, and perhaps take a long walk (if you’re allowed to)
  • Solve soduko’s or crosswords
  • See or call a friend. And if you don’t feel like talking on the phone, text or write to the person
  • Paint your nails

Untitled

  • Read a book or a magazine
  • Write  – it could be shorter notes on your phone, texts on a blog, or in a private journal
  • Check hemnet.se and other real estate websites – great interior design and home inspiration if you’re interested and into those kind of things
  • Color in coloring books – there are several out there now by really talented illustrators

Daydreams

  • Check out pretty things on Pinterest
  • Read inspiring blogs
  • Watch a movie/tv-series/documentaries on, for example, Netflix. There are so many different ones out there, and an awesome way to focus on a different subject than what you might be stuck with in your thoughts. Plus, you usually learn something as well.
  • Pet and snuggle with an animal

Untitled

31 questions & answers

September 3, 2015

Me and my bun

 

1. Where’s your cellphone?
Beside me here on the desk.

2. Where’s your second half?
She’s sitting at the kitchen table, talking to her parents on her computer.

3. Your hair?
Blond. Pretty long, but right now in a pony tail.

4. Your mood?
Tired of being sick. Emotional and a bit nervous.

5. Your plan for today?
It’s around 6pm now when I’m writing this (Thursday evening) so my plan is to put on some other clothes and take a few steps outside – get some fresh air. The just crash on the couch, watch some TV and just be.

6. What’s the best you know?
Gaaaah. So many things. But to spend my time with Liz (my wife) and our cat, Zola. To travel – explore new and old places. Be with friends. Unplanned after work on a warm summer day. To wake up in the archipelago and the day is gonna be warm and I’m gonna spend it with people I love. To ride a motor boat. The first breath outside an airport when have landed in the States and you know you have plenty of days to just soak up being in the States – drink local craft beer, order food from the food trucks, hang out with friends and family, see and be in the Smokey Mountains, endless road trips. Strawberries. To arrive with the train in Stockholm with no plans made but the streets of Stockholm are all ours. A crisp fall day with colored leaves and a clear blue sky. The first snow in December. American Holidays. Swedish Holidays. Thanksgiving food. Ok, I can keep going…but this can totally be its own post (good to focus on positive stuff).

7. My dream last night?
Can’t remember..but I had a frustrated feeling inside of me when I woke up :/

8. My goal in life?
To have our home base in Sweden, but also own a place in the States where we can go whenever we want to, and work from there. To explore the world. Have fun. Be healthy. Always, always be with Liz.

9. The room I’m in?
Our living room here in Uppsala, Sweden. Sitting by the desk.

10. My hobby?
Music (play the piano/guitar and sing) and another soon to be hobby which will be announced in the very near future. Tee hee.

11. My fear?
A lot. Not gonna focus on that right now…

12. Where would you like to be in six years?
September 2021 and I’m 37. I wanna sit in our loft cabin in the Smokey Mountains, close to Asheville in North Carolina, USA. It’s just the beginning of fall but still pretty warm. It will be a long weekend since it’s Labor Day Weekend so we’re gonna head out with friends and grill out. Perhaps a road trip to the beach as well is planned in.

13. Where were you yesterday evening?
Home on the couch the whole evening.

14. What are you not?
Ready for the darkness to come and the cold. To not have a trip planned in, in the near future (as of having and plane tickets and a date when I know I’m going).

15. Something I wish?
To be healthy. Money for an apartment/house. A trip planned in.

16. Where did you grow up?
Norrköping.

17. What you latest did?
Worked!

18. My clothes?
A black Uppsala t-shirt I got for free from Uppsala city when I moved here and cozy pants.

19. Your TV?
Is hanging on the wall here in the living room. Turned off.

20. Your pet?
Zola, the cat!

21. Your computer?
An iMac and a MacBook Pro.

22. My best thing I own?
My computers and our couch?

23. Do you miss anyone?
YES! A lot of people who are not living in the same city or country as we do. (And some people who live here, we haven’t seen in a long time).

24. Your car?
Gaaaah. I miss our Hyundai Santa Fe we had in the States. We don’t have a car right now, but I wouldn’t mind a Mini Cooper or a Nissan Juke.

25. Something you’re not wearing?
High heels.

26. Favorite store?
Whole Foods. Weekday. Best Buy, and many other American stores.

27. Your summer?
Like this.

28. Do you love anyone?
Yes. Liz ♥

29. Favorite color?
Turquoise.

30. When did you laugh last?
Yesterday.

31. When did you cry last?
This morning.

 

Found, copied, and then translated to English from: Sandra Beijer.

a little list

July 17, 2015

What are you wearing today?

outfit
Jeans from Gap, a striped tank from Monki, a long cardigan (bought in the States somewhere), and shoes from Vagabond.

What movie did you watch last?
Hmm. I believe it was Monster with Charlize Theron and Christina Ricci, from 2007. It´s based on the life of Aileen Wuornos – a prostitute from Florida who become a serial killer. Love movies based on true stories, even though the majority of them are sad and horrible.

What does your wallet look like?
Like this ↓

When did you wake up today?
6.30 am. My goal is to get off at 3 pm every day now when I am working from home and it’s summer time…just to get as much out of the late afternoon/evening, as possible. I usually work between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm.

Describe the place you are at now.
I’m sitting by my desk at home. ↓
desk

What five things can’t I be without in the pentry?
Salt, olive oil, various beans, pasta, and bread.

What have you done today?
I’ve worked between 7 am and 3 pm. Then met up with a friend who came to visit my wife and I, from Stockholm. We studied social work together in Östersund. Drank beer together at home, chatted about life, then headed out for dinner downtown and another friend joined us as well <3

A list totally taken from: spaceherosuits

En söndagslista

May 3, 2015

(Short summary in English, below)

 

Säg något som du är stolt över men som du aldrig får tillfälle att skryta om:
Att jag fick grymma betyg när jag pluggade på universitetet i USA. Bra att veta (som också hör till skrytigheten), är att det var ganska så intensivt och strängt med obligatoriska föreläsningar och småtentor hela tiden. Sjukt högt tempo om man jämför med universitet i Sverige.

 

Vilka är dina ofta använda emojis?


emojies

Vad gjorde du igår kväll?
Hängde med Liz här hemma, totade på Orphan Black samt House of Cards och åt popcorn till middag. Älskar att vara vuxen och få göra precis som jag vill.

 

En bild som symboliserar gårdagen:
Bed

Vad åt du till frukost idag?
Två stycken lingongrova, en med ost och en med bara smör på. Flingsalt också förstås och så och kaffe.

 

Vilket är ditt lyckonummer?
Har inget faktiskt. Men måste vara något jämnt nummer i alla fall.

 

Hur såg du ut som artonåring?
Det här blev nästan lite jobbigt..Men ja, såhär. Snebena, överplockade ögonbryn och med ett lite stelt/inget leende pga. en operation (föddes med en missbildning).

 

me18

 

Vilket är ditt senaste köp?
Något så sjukt kul (menar det verkligen!): en stor gryta, 30st tomflaskor, 250st kapsyler och en kapsylregleringsapparat. Vi kommer att bli serious med att brygga vårt eget öl. Men mer om det någon annan dag!

 

Är du allergisk mot något?
Inte allergisk, men lite känslig mot vetemjöl tror jag..min kropp reagerar i alla fall ganska dåligt på öl, pasta och bröd :/

 

Hur länge har du varit utan sömn som längst?
Tror det är drygt 30h. Vi var ett gäng som hade lussevaka i tvåan eller trean på gymnasiet och kom då på att vi skulle inte sova. Vår klasskompis hade blivit stadens lucia och skulle upp och lussa på flygplatsen tidigt på morgonen, så vår lilla grupp med vänner bestämde oss för att vara vakna under hela natten, åka ut till flygplatsen på morgonen för att kika på luciatåget och vår kompis. Vi åkte sedan hem till mig, åt frukost för att därefter åka till skolan. Det var en ganska seg skoldag.

 

Vilken tid på morgonen vaknar du?
Vardag: Har alltid klockan ställd på 07:00, men snoozar ett par gånger och går upp vid ca 07:20 eller i värsta fall 07:30. Har relativt flexibelt jobb men försöker alltid att vara på plats vid 9. Tycker dock om att äta frukost och dricka kaffe framför Nyhetsmorgon på TV och vill därför ta det relativt lugnt på morgonen. Funkar sisådär då jag snoozar lite för länge.
Helg: Sover så länge jag kan, vilket brukar bli till senast 9.

 

Walking in the Springy Weather

 

Hur ser du oftast ut till vardags?
Försökte att hitta en bild som visar hela outfits (men har tydligen inte en enda). Men here we go: Svarta vans/Converse eller vita/svarta Adidas Originals, jeans, svart t-shirt och någon kofta som är lite längre. Ofta flera ringar på mig på olika fingrar samt håret utsläppt.

 

Ett ord som du aldrig lyckas stava rätt:
Necessär. Fast nu tror jag att jag fick till det på första försöket i alla fall. Ha.

Listan är helt tagen från Sandra Beijer – Lördagslista, fast min blev en söndagslista helt enkelt.


Short Summary

A SUNDAY LIST

I’m proud of my good grades from UNCA | My favorite emojis are..(see pic. above) | Last night we watched Orphan Black and then House of Cards plus ate popcorn for dinner. Love being an adult and whatever. | Yesterday, described in a picture (the bed picture above). | I ate two sandwiches for breakfast and drank coffee. | I don’t really have a lucky number..however, it would need to be even. | What I looked like as 18 years old…totally making me feel anxious to show this. | Last purchase was beer brewing supplies! Oh, yes. But more about that another day. | I believe, I’m a little allergic to flour. Bummer. | Longest time I’ve been awake..probably like 30h-ish, perhaps more. It was in high school and Lucia Day. | I wake up at 7 on weekdays, but snooze sometimes a little too long. Weekends, I wake up by myself around 9. | I usually wear Vans/Converse/Adidas Originals, jeans, a black t-shirt, and a long sleeve sweater. Several rings on various fingers and my hair is down. | A word I almost always spell wrong is “necessär” (make up bag), but I believe I spelled it correct on my first try this time. Ha. |

DEAR SANTA

November 19, 2014

Some of the things I wish for Christmas 2014 (not in a specific order).

wishlist

1. Speck 13″ SmartShell Satin Case for MacBook Pro with Retina Display (from Best Buy or Apple Store). 2. Herschel Supply Co. Little America Backpack (from Urban Outfitters/ASOS/Hershel). 3. Black Cashmere Scarf (from H&M). 4. Full Exposure Palette (from the brand Smashbox at Sephora/Ulta Beauty). 5. Mini Diana Camera Flash Case (from lomography.com). 6. Marc by Marc Jacobs Blade in Silver (from marcjacobs.com). 7. Brewing Kit – American Pale Ale (from craftabrew.com or Barnes & Noble).

10 ANSWERS AND 10 QUESTIONS

November 17, 2014

My cousin answered some questions on her blog that she received from another blog girl. Thought it could be fun to tag along with this on the Internet. Here we go.

lina

1. What are three pieces of your favorite candy?
Depending on mood. Sometimes more chocolate, sometimes more sour ones etc. But I do have several ones that usually make it every single time, for example, Center, Lysmelk, Bubblizz, Sura jordgubbsbananer, and Häxvrål.

2. If you were an animal, what would you be?
A hard one. I thought of a bird first so I could soar around, but I’m scared of heights. Haha. Perhaps a cat so I could chill everyday, and get a massage whenever someone was around.

3.  Where would you like to go on vacation right now?
Anywhere in the Caribbean. Or San Francisco, CA. I’ve never been there.

4. What does your bed look like? Amount of pillows, covers, colors, and patterns etc.
No head or foot board, thick mattresses directly on the floor, plenty of pillows (6), gray and white covers and pillowcases and the European way of making the bed – loose covers, not tucked in, one down comforter.

bed

5. Favorite Christmas song?
Jul Jul, strålande jul.

6. If you had to choose: Never eat carbs or just wear clothes from Desigual for the rest of your life?
Crap. I LOVE pasta, potatoes, fresh baked bread etc..so I don’t think I could live without that. On the other hand, I truly don’t like the style of Desigual, but hopefully there are some clothes there, less intense..so I would go for Desigual.  

7. What’s your favorite word?
Archipelago. It’s fun to say, and the place itself is wonderful – specially the Swedish archipelago on the East Coast of Sweden. Can’t think of a favorite Swedish word right now.

s12

8. Three pages you always visit when having your web browser up?
Blogs I’m following, Pinterest, and the news.

9. What has been your favorite year, so far?
I like to think, as the Swedish singer, Håkan Hellström, sings; “I believe that the best is yet to come”. Not in a depressing way that I’m not happy now or haven’t been happy at all. But…if I have to choose a year, I would say the later part of 2013 and the beginning of 2014. I was out of the hospital, moved to the US, started school, and pretty much started a new life (without sickness and in another part of the word, together with my wife and our cat). We went to the beach on fall break, I enjoyed school (even if it was stressful a lot of times), we celebrated Thanksgiving at the beach with family and extended family, spent a really cozy Christmas at home in our apartment, and went to Disney World the first week of 2014. However, it was not only the travels that made it up for a good time in life, it was my health, living in a “new” city, exploring everything here (Asheville), meeting all new friends etc.

10. Five things you always have in your fridge.
Half and Half (Swedes, think milk with more percentage of fat, like “red milk”), eggs, garlic, onions, and beer.

Feel free to answer the following 10 new questions and spread it further!

1. What’s your morning routine?
2. Which part of the year is your favorite, and why?
3. What’s your favorite drink?
4. What would you do on a day off?
5. Where would you like to go at this moment?
6. What’s your favorite dish?
7. What are the first five things you would save out of a fire?
8. What’s your favorite book, movie, and tv-series?
9. What’s your favorite music right now?
10. What are you looking forward to in the next week?

STAY CREATIVE

November 17, 2014

Found this on a blog (and it’s pretty much everywhere on the internet) and fell in love with it.

staycreative

 

Source, Google.

A SUMMER LIST

June 18, 2014

What are your plans for the summer?
Spend time at the beach here in the States, go to Sweden for a month where I will spend time in Gothenburg, the archipelago, attend my sister’s wedding, hang out in Uppsala and Stockholm, and spend as much time as possible with my family and friends! Then head back to the States, and my oldest niece and a younger cousin will tag along and stay here for two weeks.

beach

friends3

archipelago-750x498

What are you going to do for Midsummer?
Since Americans don’t really celebrate it here, it will not be the typical Swedish celebrations. But I might go out and drink a drink with a Swedish friend who lives at the beach, and listen to live music at one of the clubs there.

What is your favorite summer breakfast?
To sit on the dock at the beach, see dolphins past by, the weather is perfect – not too hot or humid. It would consist of coffee, home baked bread, fresh pressed orange juice, and blueberries/strawberries in the yogurt. OR to eat outside in the Swedish archipelago with a bunch of family and friends.

beach4
The best summer song?
Gaaah, there are so many! But I truly love Ted Gärdestad so one of his songs, for example, Sol Vind och Vatten. But also the typical hymns that symbolizes summer break from school, back in the old days.

Are you attending a summer music festival this summer?
Noooo, but I would have loved to.

What do you prefer to put on the grill?
Halloumi cheese, mushrooms, mini veggie burgers, and corn.

sthlmWhat do you love to drink during the summer?
Beer, sparkling wine, and water!

friday21

119What is your favorite summer outfit?
Shorts and a loose tank.

What are you going to read this summer?
I’m reading Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan right now, and planning on reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Pretty famous and classic books, I haven’t read earlier in life. Oh, perhaps The Book Thief  by Markus Zusak too.

Which park is the best?
Hmmm..I’m not sure. I love Central Park, but I don’t live in NYC so I don’t get to hang out there very often…I think I’ll say Biltmore Estate and the endless beautiful nature around it! The amazing garden, the view of the mountains in the distance, the river, the small pathways, fields, animals, endless picnic spots….I can keep going.

4-10

4-11

biltmore1Where do you prefer to swim?
At Atlantic Beach, no doubt! Always warm during the summer months, clear sand bottom with no seaweed to be scared of, beautiful sand beach, and fun waves!

beach-500x500I borrowed the list from, Julia.

A Thursday evening list

March 7, 2013

Found this list at emmylinneas.se (and some other blogs, I realized), liked it, and copied it.

Upsets you
. Selfish people.
. Disrespectful people.
. Injustice.
. That my home is really messy because of the upcoming move to the States and I have to go through everything I own = messy.
. That my passport with a visa to China is somewhere (gone) in Sweden, and I have someone else’s passport and visa here at home.

wall

Makes you happy
. To travel and explore new surroundings, cultures, and meet new people.
. All the new people I’ve gotten to know lately.
. All the support I have around me.
. The birds who are whistling. It feels like spring is just around the corner then!
. Fresh flowers at home.

flowers

You love
. Liz, my wife ♥
. That it’s getting brighter each day. I love spring and summer!
. The archipelago.
. Music. To listen. To sing. To play.
. The fact that I’m gonna study and change careers completely.

liz

You can’t stop listening to (can’t just pick 5)
. Beyoncé – Love on Top
. Jaymay – Gray Or Blue
. First Aid Kit – Emmylou
. Miss Li – Här kommer natten
. Mando Diao – Strövtåg i hembygden
. Tomas Andersson Wij – Oroshjärta

You’ve done today
. Been to the treatment center.
. Done errands downtown and spontaneously bought a new jacket. Love it!
. Listened to music.
. Cleaned under the tub. (GROSS!!!)
. Read a new magazine.

lina

Happens during the weekend
. Perhaps sing with the choir. Haven’t decided yet..
. Go through and organize stuff to keep, sale, give or throw away.
. My parents are coming over Saturday night.
. Liz is gonna work, and I might tag along or stay at home.
. Gonna try to start to read again.

2011 is coming to an end

December 31, 2011

What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
Got a full time job related to my education, which is also a job I looooove! Spent some days in NYC.

Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn’t make any, and no.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
Omg. It feels like everyone did or will do in the coming three months. Guess I’m in that age where you start building up your family (at least my generation).

Did anyone close to you die?
Thank godness, no.

What countries did you visit?
USA, Greece, and Ireland.

Asheville, NC, USA

Lindos, Rhodes, Greece

Right outside Dublin, Ireland

Dublin, Ireland

What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
A lot more creativity, more music (playing and singing), more fun, more time with my love when we’re off (we had pretty much every other Saturday the past months together due to different job schedules), and spend more time with friends.

What days from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The amazing days at the beach in North Carolina, USA and the days in NYC with my love.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
My job!!!

What was your biggest failure?
Stuck in some old habits.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
I probably had a cold for a total of 4 months during 2011. It sucked. Ok, my love says it was probably more than 4 months..oh, well. It still sucked.

What was the best thing(s) you bought?
My iPad (so easy to bring, so light, and pretty), my little iPod (so cute and handy), and my iPhone 4s (way faster than my old 3gs). Yes, I’m an Apple sucker. Also bought some fun TV games such as xbox 360 with kinect and a Wii.

Whose behavior merited celebration?
My love’s!! She’s amazing.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
A few who I’ll not mention here.

Where did most of your money go?
The trips, my technical stuff, and Christmas.

What are you really, really, really excited about?
Our trip to the States in just a few weeks where we’re gonna see our family and friends who we haven’t seen since summer.

What song will always remind you of 2011?
Aaah, so many. Let’s see…

Home Edward Sharpe & Manetic Zeros
F**k You Cee Lo Green
Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John Norah Jones, Belle & Sebastian
Why Do You let Me Stay Here She & Him
Firework Kate Perry
Born This Way Lady Gaga
Bohemian Rhapsody Queen
She & Him..everything. Ha.

Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
Happier…I’m more relieved since job hunting was stressful in the beginning of last year. Therefore more calm in that way. Sad for some private stuff that has happend during the year.

b) Bigger or smaller?
Hmmm. Probably smaller.

c) richer or poorer?
Richer.

What do you wish you’d done more of?
Been in contact with more friends.

What do you wish you’d done less of?
Thinking..

How did you be spend Christmas?
Cozy craziness with a total of 9 adults and 7 children at my sister’s house. Christmas Day with my love and then my parents and my brother in the afternoon/evening.

What was your favorite month of 2011?
July.

Did you fall in love in 2011?

Yes, with Liz (my love, my soul, my other half, and my wife) even more.

What was your favorite TV program?
Berg flyttar in

Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Yes and no. Hate is a strong word though..

What was the best book you read?
Stieg Larsson triology. “Eat Pray Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert.

What was the best serie you watched?
Ally McBeal, New Girl, and True Blood.

What was your greatest musical discovery?
Adele

What did you want and get?
The trips I did, and my technical stuff.

What did you want and not get?
Better condition/health, I guess.

What was your favorite film of this year?
Oh, gosh..we’ve seen soooo many…but Convicted with Hillary Swank was good and then the Swedish movie Simon och Ekarna.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 27. I worked evening/night at a big dance for teenagers in town. Was celebrated in the morning by my love and then we went, together with my mom, for lunch before I started working.

 

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Hmm. To stop thinking of so much and just live more.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
I’ve felt pretty creative with matching clothes I already had. But thicker sweaters with scarves has been a favorite. Also to roll up my pants. Well, that sounds a bit stupid. Hehe. Sounds weird, but it looks good, I think.

What kept you sane?
My love and some other people.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Zooey Deschanel (New Girl, She & Him…)

What political issue stirred you the most?
The North Carolina marriage amendment proposal, and DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) in the States…and that the conservative, nationalistic party was elected into parliament in Sweden. We are stuck in Sweden when it comes to make decisions as Obama is in the States. Sounds awesome and productive.

Who did you miss?
My love’s family and our friends in the States…and friends I don’t see very often in Sweden.

Who was the best new person you met?
My colleague.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011
Don’t let other people let you down..and take energy from you. You are your own person, having your own life (of course with my wife), and can make your own decisions. Sometimes you also just need to let other people take care of you too. Yeah!

 

Let’s see what 2012 will bring. I’m excited!