Tuesday, November 30, 2010

fresh and clean

Today I could finally take a shower so now I feel clean and smell good again. Not taking a shower was however not a voluntary choice. The heating stopped working on Sunday so no heating or warm water here for the last couple of days. Very well timed with the outdoor temperature of 10-15 degrees below zero. Good thing we have a fire place to heat up the house with.

Never would I have thought that we would get another winter like this. I am not really a fan of the winter wonderland.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

friday burger

Friday dinner was a yummy homemade burger. Actually the first time I am trying it out. It is really easy and fast to make and I love that you can pick whatever you want on it. My hamburger was with my homemade sourdough bread fried in a little bit of butter to make it extra delicious, salad, tomato, red onion, bacon, Heinz chili sauce, home made aioli (must be another favorite! Love garlic), and some mozzarella.

Friday, November 26, 2010

until then

See you in heaven mummo, or in the next life. Then I will speak Finnish fluently so we can have all kinds of conversations. And you can teach me how to bake your delicious sämpylä.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

dipped in silver

I feel like I have been switching my manicure almost daily the last couple of weeks since I am just so eager to try on all the new polishes. Yesterday I let my nails rest from the nail polish remover but instead did a new manicure on top of the old one. Experimenting a little with the gradient style that I have seen on other blogs and just love.

I had on one of the colors that I bought the other day and I absolutely love the color. Definitely well worth the 15 SEK I spent on the Kubiss Nail Polish. Then I just used a the sparkling silver color from the same brand and three(!) different glitter polishes to create the gradient silver/glitter effect. Actually really easy.



Monday, November 22, 2010

lonkero

To celebrate a bit I decided to have a lonkero, or long drink. It is a Finnish drink made of grapefruit soda and gin and I imported it from Finland and it is too bad they do not sell it here. I really like it, which is odd since I do not really like gin.

Now here comes the problem. We put all the cans in the cellar and I am all fine with that. However, some week ago dad discovered a guest in the cellar. A bat! As you might imagine I have been hesitant to go out there.

But today I did it. I really wanted my lonkero and you just have to weight the pros and cons.

The fabulous Finnish drink: Lonkero.

anxious

I have been nervous the whole weekend anxious to hear about the second interview I did with Google. I thought I did well but then that question came that screwed it all up. My friend had me prepared for an analytical question but I am not good with those kind of questions right up front. I am the kind that need to have a fem minutes or even longer to sit with the question and go deep in analysis instead of an quick surface analysis.

That is why I was nervous. And of course I also came up with other things to be nervous about. Did I give enough of myself? I was told I should not hold back as much (ad I did a little on the first interview) and try to sell myself as their dream employee basically.

I had the interview on Thursday, Friday came and went but I did not expect an answer so soon. But then the weekend came. A long weekend, at least in my eyes. Today I checked the email as soon as I woke up. And then another time a bit later. But I guess the third time is the charm, there it was. The email from the HR woman I have been emailing with. I could not open it fast enough.

There it was. The verdict.

I am going to Dublin for the third and final interview!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

and six more

I just happened to buy some more bottles of nail polish this weekend. I promised myself to keep the nail polish shopping on the low key for a while as I have a whole box to go through. But when you find nail polish for 15 SEK (€ 1.5) a piece then who can resist? Well not me apparently.

So I bought six. Well eight, as two where a base and top coat. (It is Kubiss Nail Polish and if you are interested you can find it at the store In och Finn in Stockholm)


Thursday, November 18, 2010

creole

I made this Creole casserole last week from a recipe I found on a blog. I liked the ingredients and it all came out really good. Definitely a recipe I will save and make again when the time is right.

It contains pork tenderloin in pieces, bratwurst (it was actually supposed to be some spice sausage), cornichon, pickled onion (a favorite), bell pepper, black olives, cream and some spices. Served with rice. Simple as that.

food, baking, and nails

This blog has recently been all about food, baking, and nails lately. On the other hand that is my life now. Although I am going to try cutting down on the baking as I need to lose a few pounds that I gained as a consequence of all the baking and the massive amount of candy I bought in Finland. (Why do Finland have all the good candies?)

I could have made plenty of posts showing my nails. Yesterday for example, I had three different manicures. Three. That is mostly because of this amazing package I received on Monday from Dollar Nail Art. The last one, I promise. (Well at least for now...) A package filled with nail foils and rhinestones.

Below is a preview of what will come, you are warned.

Teel nail foil

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

studying

I am studying Google. Preparing myself for my second interview on Thursday. I am determined to have a good basic knowledge of their core product and company if questions relating to it comes up. At least I am studying everything in English this time, on the other hand the interview will probably be in Swedish as I will be talking to someone from the Nordic team. But that is fine by me as it is always easier to talk business in your native language when it is about a business you do not know so well.

Apart from that I have taken breaks watching 30 Rock, a comedy series I have come to really like. I am a fan of Tina Fey's work.

Monday, November 15, 2010

toffee pie

For Father's Day I of course also baked something. A toffee pie with Daim. A really sweet and kind of heavy pie, but still delicious. I found the recipe at one of my favorite Swedish food bloggers, Matplatsen.

Knäckpaj med Daim (Toffee pie with Daim)

Sunday, November 14, 2010

father's day and cornelis vreeswijk

Happy father's day father!

We went to Kista today to have some dinner and then see the new Swedish movie Cornelis about the troubadour Cornelis Vreeswijk. He have written many good songs throughout his lifetime. I liked the movie, but it is always difficult to make a movie about someone's life as it is impossible to fit everything in. The movie could almost have been a bit longer so we could have seen some more.

One of my favorite songs is Herr Fredrik Åkare och den söta fröken Cecilia Lind (Mr Åkare and miss Lind's ballad).



But another favorite which always put a smile on my face is Turistens klagan (Tourist Complaints).

Saturday, November 13, 2010

growing collection

I have a real weak spot for accessories. I cannot have enough. I have plenty of ear rings, bracelets, rings, and necklaces in all different sizes, big and small. The other day I got another ring to my collection. So pretty.

Pretty purple, golden ring from Glitter.

Friday, November 12, 2010

second stage

Got a long distance call from Dublin today. I have moved on to the second stage and have another interview beginning of next week. Good stuff.

The first interview with Google was kind of short, just 20-30 minutes, but it was still a good interview. She asked the right questions and not only questions that can be answered by reading my cover letter and CV.

Before the first interview she suggested I read about some Google products and I did. But unfortunately in Swedish as that is where I ended up automatically. That caused difficulties when I had to explain in English what AdWords was all about. From now on when I prepare for an interview I will read about the company and products in English.

But I did well and she sent my information on to the next person in line to interview me and I passed. So second interview coming up.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

ick-a bod-y

For the last couple of days I have been sporting China Glaze's Ick-A Bod-Y. An awesome glitter nail polish from their Halloween collection. I love it! Yesterday I realized it totally matches the pretty color on my leather jacket.

China Glaze Ick-A Bod-Y

Tried it with a matte top coat.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

feeling blue

This is what took place yesterday. Now I look pretty again. Well, at least my hair.


that time of year

It is that time of year. When a certain feeling appears. That feeling of disappointment mixed with dread. As the days go by you know that it will show its ugly face one day or another, you can sense it.

One morning you wake up and you can hear the wind whistle outside the window. Lying under the duvet cover all cuddled up and you keep postponing getting out of bed. You sense that this is the day.

Finally you get out of bed and you pull up the window shade and there it is. It is white. It is all white.

The dreadful snow.

mistletoe kisses

Got a package the other day filled with nail polishes from China Glaze. The first lovely color decorating my nails is Mistletoe Kisses from the Christmas collection 'Tis the Season to Be Naughty and Nice'. A lovely green color with plenty of silver glitter in it.

Mistletoe Kisses
 

All the China Glaze polishes I bought at Head2Toe.

remodeling

A little bit of remodeling going on here over the night.

Finally some color.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

google

This Saturday evening (slash night) I have spent watching some Friends (yes again another rerun) and answering some questions for my interview on Tuesday. Exciting Saturday night.

I have an telephone interview with Google. No further company description required.

Friday, November 5, 2010

all hallows eve

Mom and I went to the grave today as it is All Hallows Eve this weekend. We brought some plants and lit some candles as the Swedish tradition is. This time all the years are so pretty with all the new flowers, plants and candles.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

more nails

Yesterday I got another Ebay package. Yeay. This time it was my L.A. Colors Art Deco Nail Art Lacquers in six different colors. So now I can start making some nail art. Last night I decided to try something simple over my existing manicure. Now I can start experimenting and using my creative side painting nails.

L.A. Colors Art Deco Nail Art Lacquers


water is back!

We lost the water two days ago. No showers, no flushing the toilet, and no water in the sink. We had to get water from the neighbor. Really lovely.

Today I was supposed to meet a friend visiting Sweden this week, but he got sick so we canceled the lunch. When I got the news I was almost a little bit happy as I otherwise would have had a hassle washing my hair. I would have had to heat water up on the stove and clean only the hair.

But now they have finally figured out what was wrong and the water is running again. Now I can go and take a shower.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

husmanskost

Another dinner consisting of husmanskost: kålpudding (cabbage pudding?), a classic Swedish dish that I cannot remember when I had the last time. It consists of white cabbage and ground beef and is served with lingon berry jam and cream sauce.

When I was young I ate it but was never really a huge fan. Then the other day I saw a recipe in a blog and just felt that I wanted to have it for dinner. Today was the day.

The first time I have done it myself and it tasted really good. Together with lingon berries and cream sauce it was truly great.

metal

I kind of got caught up in an Ebay shopping frenzy last week. Of course it was all about nail polishes. As I have just discovered the endless possibilities of Ebay and as there is also so many beautiful nail polish collection for this fall it is difficult to resist.

One package came already yesterday (Tuesday) from the USA that was shipped on Wednesday last week which was a pleasant discovery when checking the mail. It was four nail polishes from the L.A. Girls Metal collection. Really nice ones!

L.A. Girls Metal - Chromium Green
L.A. Girls Metal Collection - Iron Red, Chromium Green, Deep Sea Mica, Alkaline Blue

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

tuxedo

Isn't this the cutest toothbrush? Of course I forgot my toothbrush in our cottage in Finland. Luckily I found all these cute designer toothbrushes in the store.

I am a sucker for all these everyday products that get a new and fun design.