Trader Joe’s from Chicago

I was recently graced with a ten day visit from my sister and brother in law.

Me to sister: Where is your additional luggage? Did the SAS lose your other bags?
Sister to me: Oh, there is a second bag inside the first bag, and we figured we just buy a third and if needed a fourth one here.
Me to sister: ????
Sister to me: Well, we have a few things we would like to purchase giving the US-SKR exchange rate.

Global knifes, Organic ___[fill in blank], Ralph Laurent towels, Lexington, Trader Joe, US$ vs SKR, I.D. make-up, Pancakes, iPod, Whole Foods, More shopping, Starbucks overdose while shopping…

For just anyone, words in random order. For my family, these words have become the definition of “Family Vacation” in the states. There seem to be a bond [borderline obsession] between our family, decorating, and household applications. You can say it is our version of hiking, biking and whatever it is other families bond over?! We decorate and we like shopping.

[Side note: Confession. When entering a room I mentally redecorate it. A few weeks ago I reached my low. In the midst of a church sermon, deep in thought, frantically scribbling on a paper napkin, while the pastor was preaching the good Lords words…there I was, redesigning the altar. Yep. Pretty low.]

During their, we (sister and I) fell madly in love with this tote bag from Trader Joe. For no apparent, nor logical, reason my brother in law added a “from Chicago”, accompanied by a dance move, every time Trader Joe was mentioned. First I thought it was sarcasm for the family he married into. As it turns out, it is part of a song by a Swedish jazz musician. Since I love my brother in law I decided to label it as cute. Unfortunately, I find it hard passing a Trader Joe store without a “…from Chicago…” leaving a smile on my lips. So there you have it.

With Love, “Trader Joe from Chicago”

Singing in the Rain

DC is great. Rain is bad. It’s raining. Me sad.

It has dropped 20 degrees Fahrenheit (that's 10 degrees Celsius for you fellow Europeans), the leaves are falling off the trees and did I mention the RAIN. Two weeks ago I had a great time, it was WARM! People were happy. I was happy. Is it just me or does everything seem better when people are tanned, wearing flowy dresses and shorts, attending outdoor concerts, sipping on ice coffee (its coffee, its cold, it’s not complicated.) Ohhh to complain over the heat wave once more. Ohh to wait in line 20 min for ice coffee again. And number one on the complain list of the ohh's. Waking up at 5.30 am because the sun is up. Magical!!! I promise to never complain again summer. Just come back to my life.
Since summer has yet to consider my proposal. Here are my favorite perks with autumn.

1. Autumn fashion *hear hear to that*.

2. It is ok to stay in bed on weekends because of rain. I love being outside. But here is to guilty pleasures of staying in bed the entire morning, eating crumpets, reading the paper without guilt.

3. High tea in flowy dresses, gloves, and fancy hats.

4. Movie marathons.

5. Less Gym hysteria! Knowing that you will not be showing off that body in a itzy bitzy tiny bikini for the next months results in less mass of crazy aggressive gym people that somehow always manage to get the last spot at kick boxing class, leaving you with Pump class or, even worse, oversized men in love with their own reflection in the mirror, which, we all know, is the truth. Ultimately leading to less bad feelings for not using that gym membership you so painfully signed up for and have not really used because of the reasons above.

6. The holiday season. Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas Carols, Gluhwine, Gingerbread houses…Oh so much fun.

This weekend, I am heading to the Republican Convention in Minneapolis?! Since I have no political aspirations, nor decided on political affiliation I intend on asking a lot of questions, and enjoy the excitement of politics.

Enchallah Enchallah

Sitting on the dock of the bay

Bad conscious. Intentions to write on a monthly basis turned into a once every third month scenario. What to do then apologize.

After a long lunch with my friend Ethan I once again came to the conclusion that I am in the need of a hobby- something I keep realizing once every few months/years. So what will it be? Shall I go back to sailing? fencing? Spanish? I had a fabulous idea of taking up shoemaking. You know, create/design/breed my own shoes. That, however, would require me to move to the Big Apple. So running and yet another episode of runway it is. Close enough.


4th of July is two days away, Charleston 1 day away. Beach, great music, and flipflops - how divine. Friday- Dave Matthews Band (http://www.dmband.com/), Lyle Hewitt on Saturday. Sailing on Sunday. Lovely, lovely, lovely.


D.C. is a cool place even during summer. The only matter separating it from perfection would be the Potomac River. A flaw I got to know a bit better last Sunday during a 4 hour kayak session. It was great, part from one particular problem. Now, one might say to oneself how bad can that problem be. After all, kayaking includes enjoying a splash (or a few more if you are in my league) of cool water as you sail along the water, with the sun beaming, leaving beautiful reflections in the water.
Reflections, sun beams and all- the Potomac is still contaminated waters, even how cool and tempting it might look … Big NO NO

Enshalla Enshalla next month

here we go

im a suitcase missplaced by British Airways, at least thats how Im feeling these days. Sounds kind of sad i guess, but at the same time really exciting. In this suitcase sceanario i get to figure out what i need, want and how to get it. Sounds egoistic? well, deal with it. oh dear... look at the time. Im have to run again. Signed up for the Hash Running group as im contemplating to participate in a 3 mile race in april. Need a goal to whip me into shape. also need a cook, cleaninglady and a privat chaffeur...but thats a whole other story.

Heading up to New York in a few weeks. Should be fun. saying hi to the big apple. Then my sisters arrive two weeks later. Ready to bring out the guest album once again...

This months quote. Obama comments on Clinton being the first "black" president. - I need to check his dancemoves before i can take a stand to that statement.

A polite way of telling what everyone already knows... white boys cant dance...

My Love affair with NYC continues....

Saturday night. Every inch of my body is used to recover from this nasty flu that even the yellow fever would fright. I have indulged in pink medicine not far from the feared concentrated cough medicin (the not so well tasting version if you remember). Kept warm and still. Watched movies til my eyes dried out. Finally when you think that its turning- smack, touch down. The flu hits you in the face...again. No play, no football (part from redskin finals on the tele) and most defiantly- no dancing. Therefore, in boredom, Im taking a moment to write down the last weeks affairs...

I had a fantastic pre-christmas weekend in New York. We saw, did and bought some really neat items. Chrysler building, SOHO, China Town, all great. Dinner at Spice Market, without noticing i was sitting next to the star in Entourage (and i do watch that show). Was informed on this afterwards by my "entourage", which probably was a good thing considering my clumsiness and how nervous I would have been knowing who he was. Hands down, NYC truly was love at first sight. I never would have guessed that I would return so soon.

Then, just returned from NYC, my darling Maria arrived. And has been here for almost two weeks now. It has been pure golden fun having her around. We have seen everything worth seeing, been to every place worth going. Christmas was spent at my esteemed colleagues house. It was divine to indulge in Swedish everything... there was even homemade Swedish bread. By the time Carola sang Swedish carols on the stereo i was in tears.

With courtesy of Brian, New Years was spent in New York. Part from all the crazy fun the three girls had (and it was really fun and really crazy), i can now tick of "see the ball drop at times square on New Years" and "stay in a place where you can see both the statue of liberty as well as empire state building from my window" from my "1000 things to do and see before i die" list. The thing that impressed me most during this NYC trip was neither spotting famous glamorous celebrities at SAK´S or dancing in tank tops to Irish folk music in a closed bar... but a bathroom. a bathroom at a restaurant/bar called Peep. You see, the bathroom had one-way mirror doors., so insiders could see out, but (thankfully) no-one could see in. Fascinating i think...


peep on

take care

dont come and see me before march!!! just kidding... or am i?

xxs