the world is the stage

muffins times three

2012-01-29T21:25:00.000+01:00

My apartment was a little bit of a bakery today. Three kinds of muffins. Delicious ones. A pizza muffin, a more foody one, with tomato and mozzarella. Then a chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting. Then my personal favorite (as chocolate is not actually my favorite), cardamom and apple muffin.

the new man

2012-01-23T16:40:00.003+01:00

My man.

This is my eye candy at work. Put to this front page from the newspaper at my desk.

Now I even got my chance as he is getting divorced. What is it they are saying in 'The Secret', if you believe it it will happen?

I believe.

kiwi-tini

2012-01-07T23:47:00.000+01:00

What better way to start the first working week of the year to only have 3 ½ days of work. What we called Trettondags jul is apparently called Epiphany in English if one trust wikipedia. Had no idea.

Anyways, days off work is always great no matter the cause. I dedicated my Friday off to doing absolute nothing. I felt I needed one of those days. And in the evening I went to a nice restaurant with a couple of friends. Really nice food at the place called Mississippi Inn with Southern American food. Of course I ordered the burger with some delicious potato wedges and a chili bearnaise that was in fact really hot. Since everything in Sweden with the word chili in it usually means swedified chili: ie not that strong at all so that Swedes can handle it.

Then I topped it off with a fabulous Kiwi-tini. I loved just saying it. They even had to run out and buy more kiwis because they were out. How sweet.

The cutest butter serving for the bread, delicious burger and green Kiwi-tini.

#12 of scotch tape manicures and more

2012-01-04T20:40:00.000+01:00

Perhaps some manicures since I have been away for so long. There's been a couple during the many last weeks.

My New Year's manicure of 2011 (this one for 2010). I liked it a lot! Made with the best pal called scotch tape.

Wet n Wild - Black Creme and Color Club - Sugarplum Fairy

I have been wanting to do a striping manicure for forever, and then I found this cute set of five polishes at H&M which would be perfect. I know I also saw this manicure somewhere else at the same time and cannot remember where. It's all freehanded.

H&M polish box of five: Coral, Mustard, Petrol, Berry and Purple.

An adorable color from H&M with some glitter to make it sparkle. Not usually a fan of light colors but this is just so nice. However the brush was a pain, but I can bear with that.

H&M - On Ice with LA Girl - Nostalgic.

happy 2012

2012-01-04T14:13:00.000+01:00

So December came and went.

2011 came and went.

But the winter never came. It has barely even been below zero and the snow is nowhere to be found. (Although I don't mind about the snow.) It is very strange winter, especially compared to the last two winters with degrees as low as minus 25. Of course those two winters where extremes as well. But I'm still wearing the lovely, warm boots even though it's not below zero.

Now I'm hoping and striving for a better year. A better job. A little bit better of everything.

bring it on

2011-12-06T10:08:00.001+01:00

I got my winter boots. So now the snow can come and I won't freeze my feet of this year.
I am ready!

work is so much fun

2011-12-05T14:08:00.001+01:00

Work is boring these days. Not fun at all.
Not much to do which is the root cause. Then I get so unmotivated.

Good thing I have things outside of work that keeps me busy. At least just a little.
Spent one weekend in Copenhagen with house warming party, friends I haven't seen in a while, lazer tag AND paintball, of course the standard burger at Halifax, cocktails, markets. Really nice weekend in my old town. Miss it actually.

The weekend that just passed was nice as well. A dinner with a good friend on Friday, delicious Indian food and some bars for drinks. Then a nice sisterly Saturday with second hand shopping and deliciously bad fast food...

Also got a few plans for this week so have something at least to take me through the boring work days.

sigh...

2011-11-17T09:18:00.001+01:00

I just feel like screaming. Seriously. Need to get some frustration out. So hence I turn here.

Oh my. People at this workplace. I cannot get my head around it. There is a mentality to take care of yourself and screw the rest. Copy in the boss in every email when you do not get your way.

Thankfully the most annoying people are located in Norway so I do not have to deal with them here at the office. Just through email. Which is plenty, I assure you.

fun day at the office

2011-11-15T10:15:00.001+01:00

Today I feel like: blah...

All thanks to the job and worklplace. The job itself is usually quite ok, but the workplace is not the most optimal and I am happy that it is temporary. Perhaps it has been a bit more calm at work the last few days and hence the 'blah' feelings.

And the restlessness that peak through every now and then when there is a little bit too much free time. That together with the fact that I am waiting to hear about a job that seems so very interesting.

worst recruiter?

2011-11-12T23:19:00.001+01:00

You know the fastest response ever?

That email only said "When can we talk over the phone?" Nothing like "Hi Carin", "Thanks for your application" or any other pleasantries. Was not sure what to think of that, I think you should always appear polite when dealing with formal emails. I email back and ask when it is suitable to have the phone interview.

I do not hear from him for one and a half week, then he calls me out of the blue one afternoon without giving a heads up. I did not answer as I was not in the best position to do so. I email him back to schedule a talk. I ask again when it is suitable. He answers "Anytime.". No "Hi" nor a "Regards xxx".

I email back, always with "Hi xxx" and "Best regards, Carin", suggesting 1 pm. Even though he said "Anytime." he emails back and wants to push it to 2 pm. Fine with me. At said time I leave the office and waiting for the call. I wait until 2.15 pm. No call. No email.

I email. He answers with a "Sorry" and that he was delayed. Why not send a short text or email?

We finally manage to get a phone call the next day. He starts telling a bit about the company and the position. He says that he thinks I have a very interesting profile. He also mentions that there are several other vacant positions if I wish to have my CV passed on to those people. Sure he could do that. Then it sounds like he tries to end the conversation and I barely get to stick in another question, asking if that means that I will or will not be in the race for the job I applied for. He then explains that there are other applicants with a better background.

So what? We have gone through all this problem to schedule a phone conversation for a job that I am not even in the race for? Why could you not have written an email saying that? I did not even get the chance to talk about myself or my experiences. You were not even nice and inviting in the emails making me want to work for the company!

When dealing with possibly future employees you better appear nice and inviting. Otherwise you should just stick to your working tasks and not be part of the recruting.

Just FYI.

11.11.11 11.11

2011-11-11T11:11:00.001+01:00

That's how much fun I'm having at work.

fastest response ever?

2011-10-28T22:29:00.000+02:00

I sent out an job application through my mail at 10.12 pm. On a Friday night. (Yeah, that's as much fun I am having...)

I get an email back at 10.17 pm. Five minutes later. On a Friday night. (Is that as much fun he is having?)

What do we make of this?

That I had a really good application/am very suitable/great experience/perfect candidate and he does not want loose me?
That, if I get the job have to work Friday nights/work at home/be available/always answer emails/don't have a life?

I choose to go with the perfect candidate option.

peekaboo

2011-10-24T20:24:00.000+02:00

Well. Any promise I make seems to be going down the drain.

It has been a while now. More than a month. I cannot even remember when I last time had such a long break from this little blog. But I have to admit it has been kind of nice. Blogging since 2006 and a break like this was bound to happen.

It has just been quite busy here lately. Most of the energy goes into the job and at home I do not want to spend more time in front of the computer. Spending time with friends and sister. Been sick. Twice. Been sick in London on a conference. And a bit more busy at work.

That is the recap of my last month. You did not really miss much.

Oh yeah, the fall/winter is here so I'm annoyingly tired every day. It is really cold. And I wake up to darkness every morning. Not really a source of inspiration for this thing.

so long and goodnight

2011-09-16T23:30:00.000+02:00

The last concert with The Ark today. Forever.
A mixture of feelings, happy, sad, emotional, excited. It was such a great concert and they went out with a bang. So many people came that they filled Gröna Lund, 15 000 people came to say goodbye.
First time I saw The Ark was in 2005 I think, then last year and now today. They are truly one of the best live acts. They know how to make a show. And they have so many great songs and hits that a concert will never get boring.

The Ark, thank you for these years! And Ola, I hope you come back with an amazing solo career cause I am sure we have not seen the last of you.

Ola sang this song tonight so beautifully, it was only him singing accompanied by the piano. Probably the best of tonight.

daniel adams-ray

2011-09-15T22:46:00.000+02:00

Went to see Daniel Adams-Ray at Gröna Lund today. It was great!
My friend E will probably think I am crazy now, but it was so much better than Håkan Hellström last week. It was even better than his ex-band mate Oskar Linnros that I saw last year.

I was actually a bit surprised how much people was there, I guess I had just imagined it being less than last weeks concert with Håkan, but I'm sure it was almost as much people today. Daniel did a great show, he was fun to see on stage and I just have nothing bad to say. I really like all of his songs. What made it all extra good is that he sang songs from his time in Snook, even better was it when Adam Tensta came to sing on one song as well as Petter and Veronica Maggio on Inga problem.

Daniel Adams-Ray at Gröna Lund.

Adam Tensta with Daniel Adams-Ray

Petter and Veronica Maggio togehter with Daniel Adams-Ray on Inga Problem.

manicures #11

2011-09-14T21:11:00.000+02:00

So it has been a while. I have still been painting my nails but not so much nail art as I have had some busy weeks at work and no energy for this in the evenings.

Bought my first American Apparel polish the other weekend, saw these neon colors and bought. Really pretty color and then added some striping. Really liked it.

American Apparel - Neon Coral, H&M - Come Rain

Then yesterday when watching TV I took out the H&M polish duo package and thought it would make a nice manicure. I was bored and had a little bit of fun with it.

H&M - Nice!, 2 See You! Then topped with a matte top coat.

dear katia

2011-09-14T15:53:00.000+02:00

The wind was rocking me to sleep last night. Literally.

It was Katia that had reached Sweden and the whole house was shaking and it felt like the balcony would get loose and fly away. And this is even a new build from 2009. But I guess it does not help when the house is on top of a hill and does not have so many other buildings around it.

Now Katia has moved on and is nowhere to be seen around here as the sun is shining and barely any wind.

freezing like...

2011-09-13T12:04:00.000+02:00

I am sitting at work, wearing two cardigans, a scarf, and a fleece sweater on top of that. Is that a sign that I am getting sick or just another cold day at the office?

Unfortunately I think it is a little bit of both. The office is starting to become really cold because, though I am trying my hardest to fight it, fall is coming. But this morning I woke up with a tiny hint of sore throat and now by lunch time it has not improved, maybe the opposite.

It does not bode well. Usually when I get a cold it hits me hard.

the weekend

2011-09-11T22:49:00.000+02:00

Have had a really nice weekend here in Stockholm.

Friday was spent at the amusement park Gröna Lund for the concert with Håkan Hellström. Not that I am a true fan, but I felt that going to the concert was something one should do.

Saturday had nice weather and I just chilled around. Made dinner and could enjoy it on the balcony in the sun looking over Södermalm. I am taking every possible chance to sit on the balcony until fall has truly arrived.
In the evening I went to a birthday party of a long-time-no-see friend and had a great time meeting new people. Had such a great time so stayed until the birthday boy was tired and kicked us out so he could go to bed, at 4 am.

On Sunday I again realized I am getting old as I was a tiny bit hangover, even though I did not drink much at all. It totally sucks. But after some breakfast I managed to feel good again and could go out for a walk around town with the sis.

Now it is only five days left till next weekend.

another present to myself

2011-09-07T19:36:00.001+02:00

I was actually a bit exited this morning when I woke up and noticed it raining outside. It meant I could wear my new rubber boots! Have you ever seen such adorable boots? I absolutely love them. And they are really comfortable too.

Just one pair of all the ones I have ordered lately. I like my job.

Now I am just waiting for my next pretties to make it out of the warehouse. Soon I hope!

just a few more

2011-09-06T19:34:00.002+02:00

Got a present to myself in the mail today. Could you ever guess?
Of course some new polishes to my more than enough collection. But who can resist such cheap pretties. Just a few more. All from Beauty Joint. Hmmm, which one should i pick to cover my nails?

sunday food

2011-09-04T20:31:00.001+02:00

Waking up to a Sunday with nice weather and of course that had to be celebrated with a nice breakfast. I made myself a special Sunday breakfast consisting of American pancakes with berries and maple syrup. So nice!

American pancakes with berries and maple syrup.

After a nice walk in the city I sat myself down on my balcony reading a paper. It almost got too hot. And it is 4th of September! Me like that. Please keep it coming. After that it was time for some Sunday dinner and this kitchen ended up with some very pink! A very pink beetroot pesto with pasta. I had to make some changes to the original recipe as I did not have any cashews but it turned out quite nice anyway. Have to try it again and make it according to the original recipe.

Shocking pink beetroot pesto with pasta.

what's a promise worth?

2011-09-02T15:40:00.001+02:00

I promised myself to cut down on the candy and snacks intake.

Not really the easiest task when my coworker told us the she had received a package with 29 kilos (!!) of candy from her husbands friend. Of course she brought a big bag with candy to the office.
Quite tempting.

Then the other day we got like 10, or perhaps even more, boxes with gingerbread cookies of all different flavors. Mint chocolate, vanilla, almond, lemon, orange etc. The fail one was with wholegrain. That's just not right. And the all time favorite was cardamon.

Monday. That is when it starts. Promise...

my day

2011-08-31T21:39:00.004+02:00

Happy birthday to me!

Today is my third 25th birthday. No, not feeling old... My coworkers were so cute, one had bought yellow/blue ribbon and tied around my screen. I also got a colorful bouquet of flowers. Of course I had baked a cake, my favorite one with white chocolate and berries. It was a hit as always.

Maybe I should have a birthday resolution (since New Years is just so far away) to do this more often. I have not really been a good visitor here. It's just that work has been kind of crazy busy during these last weeks and when I get home I do not want to sit in front of the computer.

Now, after some nice food and chit chat with my sister it is getting time for my birthday sleep. Good night all you out there.

observant

2011-08-09T08:53:00.003+02:00

My sister helped me color, well bleach, my hair on Sunday to make it look nice again with no outgrowth. We did it at home with store bought products and it came out really well.

The funny thing is, that on Monday at work it was only one person that noticed. This person came to my desk during the day and was about to ask a question when he got quiet, and asked if I had colored my hair.

The funny thing in this story being that it was my boss. And he is a guy. Observant boss (and guy) I must say. He is the one to notice in an office where the maority is women. Not to be like that, but my own experience tell me that it is not that common that guys notice a slight change in hair.

pride

2011-08-06T16:20:00.001+02:00

Pride its in the air this week in Stockholm. I never made it to the parade today, but I could see a tiny bit of it from my balcony, and definitely hear it.

I am supporting Pride this weekend in my way. Of course with matching nails.

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congrats

2011-08-05T14:39:00.003+02:00

I bought myself a little present the other day. A name day/welcome to the city-present.

I have been wanting one of those colorful, plastic watches for a while. And with 50% percent discount it was a no-brainer. A coral colored watch. Pretty.

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hi once again

2011-08-05T14:27:00.000+02:00

Maybe one should get this thing going again. I think it was necessary with a break as I kind of lost the inspiration. Now I feel I can take this on again with a fresh start.

There have been some changes here. As you know I have a full time job and now I also have my own place. Life is getting back on track again. I deeply appreciate the fact that I could move back home when I needed, but never thought it would be for this long. I am very greatful to my parents for letting me stay for so long. But now it is time to stand on my own two feet again. Which feels really nice.

It is quite satisfying that I now only have to take the commuter train four stops and I am at work. So no more three hours of commuting every day.

time for finland

2011-07-17T23:44:00.000+02:00

As noticed I have been away a bit. Some working and vacation have had me thinking of other things.

Today my vacation of two weeks started which really feels great. Tomorrow I will be heading to Finland to meet up with the parents. Going to spend a week there and crossing my fingers for nice weather as it can be quite boring there if it isn't.

I also have something to look forward to when I get back. Because then I will start packing for real. Not only a tiny suitcase...

weekend x2

2011-07-09T01:05:00.000+02:00

It is just the greatest feeling when you realize you have had two days off and you will have two more. Three day working week is just great.

It has been nice the first two days. A bit of frying in the sun to work on the tan. And yesterday I was invited to my cousin with sis for dinner. Great dinner and nice company, and some jumping on the trampoline until I was all sweaty. I would love to have a trampoline by the way, what an awesome work out it would be. In the evening we also took a bath in the jacuzzi of 39 degrees. Lovely way to end the summer night.

Even though I have only been working for two months, it is a nice feeling to have a bit of vacation.

weekend is here

2011-07-06T22:43:00.000+02:00

I started my weekend today. Great feeling to have when leaving work on a Wednesday.

When I came home I made myself a delish fruitsalad, containing nectarine, grapes, strawberries, pomegranate, and some lemon yoghurt. Then I enjoyed it out on the terrace in the sun.

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a walk

2011-07-04T21:46:00.001+02:00

Today I am going to try out this thing everybody tries and fails. "A new life". Well, at least for the two following weeks I am home alone. Then I will go to Finland for some vacation, and we all know how the "new life" combined with vacation ends.

Anywho, I was good and went out for a forty minute walk. My intention is to do it every day... Lets see how many days it lasts.

At least I have proof.

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gotta love summer

2011-07-02T20:43:00.002+02:00

Loving summer when you just want a light dinner and can eat a bowl of strawberries. Just add some sugar and milk mixed with cream. Summer love.

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half way there

2011-06-27T21:02:00.000+02:00

I got my first real pay check last week! Felt so good to see that on my banking account. Real, meaning a whole months work, as I only worked a few days in April. I do not even want to think about how long ago I got a whole pay check inserted into my account. But instead of thinking about that and getting into a bad mood again, I will just enjoy my pay check. And focus on the future and enjoy that I am finally working again. It truly feels great.

Finally my life is on track again. It will be even better if the lead on an apartment my colleague has will work out. Then I can start living for real again. Then my social life will be back on track as well.

Living in the city in my own apartment has a nicer ring to it than living in the country side with my parents. Hopefully I will be able to say that before I turn 25 for the third time this August.

that's a lot of space

2011-06-26T22:01:00.001+02:00

Quite some time ago I saw this video clip on YouTube. I think it is really cool. But when you look at it I cannot feel anything else but tiny and insignificant.

I am open to most things, and after watching a thing like this it kind of makes you think that there must be something else out there.

midsummer

2011-06-26T20:30:00.000+02:00

I had a wonderful Midsummer on Friday with old and new friends. Really a memorable day/evening/night. The day lasted forever. Well, only until about 4 am.

We met up in a park in Stockholm and had a nice potluck, where everyone contributed with some fort of food. Could you guess what I brought? Yeah of course I brought the dessert. As I had stocked up on a variety of cupcake recipes and I was about to be very ambitious and make three different kinds. But decided that it maybe was a little bit too much when I saw the size of the first batch. So I ended up 'only' making two kinds.

But of course I forgot to take pictures of these delicious creations (if I may be so bold and compliment myself). I ended up making one set of cupcakes with rhubarb, mint, and almond and another set with raspberry and a secret in the middle (nutella) and topped with crumble. It seemed like the favorite was the raspberry one but my personal favorite I think is rather the rhubarb one. I adore rhubarb. And mint for that matter. (The first recipe I found in a magazine but also found here, and the other version is a homecooked recipe but based on this recipe.)

But here I can give you a picture of me at least holding the cupcakes. A photo which my dear E took and I hope she will allow me stealing from here.

scotch tape manicure #10 and more

2011-06-20T21:19:00.000+02:00

I have noticed I have some new readers coming my way because of the various manicures I have been posting. And thanks if you are sticking around. So here is for you, some manicures I have been sporting lately.

The top one was my favorite, loved it. I just borrowed mom's zig zag scissor which originally is for cutting fabric with. Perfect for doing some fun tape manicure with.

Gorgeous green Guppy - 50 with Gosh - Miss Grey.


Gradient and sponged, Depend #252 and blue glitter Claire's - #202 and an unknown silver glitter.

Sinful Colors - Mint Apple with Barry M Nail Effects - Pink Fizz. Plus some silver tape striping.

occupational hazard

2011-06-17T23:02:00.000+02:00

I think I have already got an occupational injury.

The company I am working at produces shoes. So the last two months I have been looking at all kinds of shoes, both outdoor and casual shoes, and analyzing the sales of shoes. All about shoes.

So what is the occupational injury? I have started to notice what shoes people are wearing. Like all the time. Waiting at the train platform in between trains watching people go by and only looking at their shoes.

Although I have yet to see a pair of shoe I recognize. Then again, I have worked there for about two months and seen only a fraction of the shoes that has been produced over the years.

I guess there is an occupational hazard with every work. I guess this one is really not that bad.

thank you?

2011-06-15T16:19:00.003+02:00

I got a weird present today. I work through a staffing company (if that is what it is called) and received a summer present from them today.

Wood to use on the grill when grilling meat. Okay. This staffing company has young professionals as their main employees, but it feels they are way off target with this gift. I do not even own a grill. My friends does not own grills.

My parents will get a present when I come home.

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nails at work

2011-06-14T15:31:00.003+02:00

My nails were too cute so I had to match with an outfit and accessories to tough it up a bit.

Perhaps I should start phone for posting a bit more, maybe the frequency would improve.

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the new job

2011-06-14T09:36:00.000+02:00

And the days just passes by with me dismissing this thing. I just cannot seem to be bothered. Especially when working and pretending to being all busy and with this great weather we are having.

Work is good, in one way it is not that different from the job in Copenhagen as it is still a lot of numbers, Excel and various reports. However, this job is within retail and analysis and not that boring side of controlling and nagging that I never appreciated. Being a sales analyst in retail where you actually have a product you can touch and relate to. It is nice.

Also I am one of those nerds who actually think it is fun to work with numbers and Excel. I have the nice collegues to chat with and I get to tag along to the sales meetings to see the new collections. So far it has been all good.

I guess one less positive aspect is that sine the job is kind of similar to my previous one it is not really a challenge or a step up, I am basically on the same level. What I do appreciate though, is that it is within retail which I could see myself developing in. Also the fact that I am stepping away from the hamnpering word of 'controller' and instead getting the title 'sales analyst'.

me and the fancy, british hotel

2011-06-02T22:27:00.003+02:00

I went to London recently and got to stay in a fabulous hotel. A cool place to have stayed at but probably not something I would have picked myself (yeah, I did not have to pay for it).

When we drive up to the hotel, through a golf course and a neat park, I arrive to a mansion-like place. I get help to carry in my luggage and feel slightly out of place wearing my converse, turquoise cardigan, and glittery, shock-pink nails. After I have checked in, the man take my bag and takes me to my room where he gives me the key. Am I supposed to give a tip? I have no clue as this is the fanciest hotel I ever stayed in and not really used to customs. Well I didn't, I did not eve have cash. Then I get the room key which is actually a key, not one of those plastic cards.

I change my shoes to a pair of ballerina to feel less awkward in my loneliness when I go downstairs to the Orangery for some light dinner. Waiters wearing suits and speaking British English (of course, since we are in Britain) which makes it feel even more fancy. Sitting down looking over the golf course and other people looking like other version of Prince Charles and Camilla.

In my room I can feel more like myself and switch to more comfortable jammies. Take a bath in the gorgeous bath tub and just enjoying myself.

Later taking on the bath robe hanging there on the door, creeping up in the soft, wonderful, big bed. There in the fancy hotel room in my bath robe I continue reading the biography The Dirt with Neil Strauss and Mötley Crüe, feeling a little less out of place and a little bit more me.

the story of laptop chargers continues

2011-05-29T13:09:00.000+02:00

I have managed to go through three laptop chargers for my old computer and for my new one it just broke so I have just ordered a new one. What is it with me and laptop chargers? How do I manage? Somehow the plug breaks and there is bad contact so I have to bend it in certain directions and after a while I usually get contact so my laptop can get power. But after some more time it stops working completely.

I do not understand how I do it. I have managed to go through a whole lot of laptop chargers. And when I notice it is broken I know I need a new one and start looking at places to order it from. But I do not actually order it. Then it actually breaks and I damn myself for not ordering that damn charger, because now I cannot really use the laptop until I get the new charger.

Five chargers during two laptops. And they are not really cheap either. I am guessing it will not stop here.

where's my free time?

2011-05-26T14:35:00.000+02:00

And time goes on.
The usual has happened, when I sit in front of the computer the whole day I do not want to do it when I come home as well. (I watch TV instead...) It really feels different not to have so much time in the evenings anymore. I usually have three and a half hours of relaxing before I need to be in bed (perhaps four hours if can go a bit earlier from work). And going to bed at 10 pm is very different from my unemployment bed-hour which could vary from 12 am to 3 am. Being a night owl it feels weird going to bed at ten.

Of course the commuting time of about 1 hour and 20-30 minutes one way, make the time disappear. Three hours of commuting every day is not nice. But I am striving to have some place to call my own at the end of the summer which will probably cut the commuting in half. Oddly enough does the commuting not really bother me. Not yet. Perhaps because I know it is not permanent.

scotch tape manicure #9 and more

2011-05-16T20:33:00.001+02:00

Perhaps some nails since it has been a while. These days I do not change color everyday, unemployment had its fun parts, haha.

H&M - Preppy with China Glaze - Life Preserver.

LA Colors - Static Electricity, sparkly Gosh - Blue Monday and pearly nail art pen for dots.

Lumene - Make Impact, black and silver glitter nail art pens. Inspiration from Yan Nails.

food and spa with the colleagues

2011-05-16T16:13:00.003+02:00

It is still fun to go to work everyday. Nice to have somewhere to go and something to do. Even though it is quite boring now and then when I do not have things to do. As we did not have the full handover period I still do not know everything I am supposed to do. I was supposed to go to England for training at the end of this week but it has been postponed, til I do not know when. Soon hopefully.

The weekend that passed I had plans with the co-workers. I have been eating so much it is crazy. It started with an afternoon tea at Grand Hotel. So delicious! Of course with a glas of champagne with it.

Afternoon tea at Grand Hotel.

Then we left for the hotel and I got a massage at the spa. So nice and wonderful. In the evening we went for three course dinner at Bockholmen's restaurant. Great location, on an island by the water and more great food!

Carpaccio with ruccola, parmesan, dijonaise, and roasted almonds.

Halibut, potato pureé, anchovy, dill, tomato, and spring onion. Nice!

The next day I woke up to have a lovely hotel breakfast. Then I took a very relaxing bath in my hotel room.

After that we continued to Haga Forum for brunch. A truly great brunch. I absolutely adored the waffles that you made by yourself. Really good!

So much food! But I am not complaining at all. It was a nice time with all the co-workers. Even though I am the youngest among all of them, which I can tell when they are not up to as much as I could be.

interesting two first weeks

2011-05-07T22:06:00.007+02:00

It has been two interesting first weeks at work. I am taking over for a woman going on maternity leave, so we were going to have two weeks together for a handover. Which felt great as I never got such a thing in Copenhagen but was basically left by myself. They first day at work she was sick, the second day we went through a few programs and reports I have to mail out on a regular basis, on the third and fourth day we had to work with an operating plan for spring 2012 and had no time for anything else. That was the first week at work.

On Sunday I get a phone call while driving, it is the woman calling telling me she gave birth to a baby boy the day before. Woopsie. It was seven weeks early but I guess the boy wanted out. So that handover kind of ended abruptly. Sure, I have to do that operating plan as well in fall, but we basically did not go through anything what she does on a regular basis (except for those two reports).

Apparently nothing is supposed to run smoothly.
I guess one upside could be that I get to go for training in London instead. (Of course I will be at the office all the time, but still.)

working girl

2011-05-04T21:31:00.000+02:00

I'm here, I'm here!

It has been quite some time now but I am alive and kicking. I have just been a little bit busy, with planned weekends and starting to work! Yeah, now I am a working girl. (But not that kind of girl.)

It is fun to finally get a routine and get on with my life. It is great. The bad thing being that I have three hours of commute everyday. Yeay. Well, that time is door to door and I am not sitting on a train for the whole three hours. Luckily it is summer and it is light even when I come home at 6.30 pm so it does not feel that bad. Additionally it is only for a short period of time, I plan to get my own place when the cash starts rolling in.

It is nice.

my early morning

2011-04-19T21:07:00.001+02:00

Let me tell you about my morning today. I realized I needed to see the doctor before starting to work when I would have less flexibility for that. Of course being out in the last minute I only had one chance for it, a drop-in time slot of today. So I woke up early and headed out before eight this morning.

When I went into the waiting room I was happy to see that strangely enough I was the only one. Great, then I do not have to wait for so long. I sit there waiting for about 20 minutes before one of the doctors became free and ready to take on the next patient. By that time another woman had also arrived and when the doctor comes out she calls the other womans name. She sees me and asks if I have an appointment. I just answer that I am here for the drop-in and she replies that the drop-in is tomorrow.

Oh my... I knew the drop-in was on Wednesday morning. Apparently I thought it was Wednesday morning today. Not having fixed routines I guess have made me lose track of the days. Together with the fact that my computer yesterday night said that it was Tuesday, making me believe that today would be Wednesday. What I did not reflect on at the time I checked the date, was that the clock had passed midnight...

Good job Carin...

hockey powder

2011-04-18T23:54:00.052+02:00

I got a bit bored today and decided to head to Uppsala and in one store I saw this candy. If you can call it candy, but I guess you cannot really put in any other category. Hockey pulver, which translated becomes hockey powder, and the only reason for that I guess is the shape of it that could resemble a hockey puck. It is plain an simple salty liquorice powder which I loved as a kid and have not tried in ages. I got this sudden urge when I saw it.

You know, there are these annoying liquorice candies that are not really salty but have a salty, powdery center and that is why you eat them. So here you have that salty, powdery center but without the annoying candy. Only the good stuff.

'Hockey pulver', liquorice powder.

scotch tape manicure #8 and more

2011-04-18T23:19:00.001+02:00

A little more nails. First we have a scotch tape manicure with crackle polish. I have wanted to try a design with the crackle polish for some time now and finally made it happen. As it happens I also entered a contest with this design to win some IsaDora products. Love doing different designs, so why not.

Here we have Kubiss - No 46 with crackle polish IsaDora Graffiti - Black Tag.

Then I thought to include another design I did a while back, another tape manicure with three different colors. Not so sure what I think, like the concept of three different colors, but I think the color combination looked better in the bottles than on the nail.

Tape manicure with Collection 2000 - 180, Sally Hansen - Perfect Plum, OPI - Sparkle-icious.

so what happened?

2011-04-13T22:57:00.004+02:00

Maybe it is time to reveal what actually happened with everything and the other job I was interviewing for. Friday before Copenhagen I listened to a phone message and I got the news I got the job as sales analyst I have been interviewing for. I kind of new I would, but I could not be happy about it, I did not feel anything. All that was occupying my mind was the Ernst & Young job, and I was told to get the news the Monday after.

When I booked the spontaneous trip to Cph I was happy to keep my mind of it all for the weekend. Weather I would get good or bad news I would be in Cph and have friends around me to keep me busy. As promised they called from E&Y on Monday when I was having lunch. I ran out of the café and was immediately told that she was not bearing good news. I did not get the job. I was crushed. Apparently I did not want it enough (according to the two partners I interviewed with). Well, they should have seen me after with tears in my eyes. It was a tough blow, especially hearing that they got the impression I was not interested enough. I am not a person who wears my heart on my sleeve so I am not sure what I would have done differently.

Thinking back at it, I felt the first partner interview went much better than the second. During the second interview, I felt I did not connect with the 'partner'. I always smile, laugh and try getting a good relationship with the interviewer. But this guy was tricky and I felt I did not get such a good response.

So that is what happened with it all. It took me quite some time to move past the whole E&Y thing, partly also why I have not written about it here. I did not want to touch it. As I did not get E&Y I am truly happy that I got the other job, because I do not know how long time it would have taken me to get up again and start searching for new jobs after the rejection from E&Y.

I am at least starting to become happy for the sales analyst job I was offered. Everybody else have been much happier for me, than me. I guess it will come to me as well one of these days. Yesterday I signed the contract so I am now officially employed. You cannot know how happy it made me just now, to write those words. Officially employed. Damn, it was about time! Tuesday in two weeks, that is when I will start. Start getting my life back on track.

scotch tape manicure #7 and more

2011-04-06T22:46:00.000+02:00

Some more lovely manicures. I have been wanting to do a black and white one for some time now. The black and white with silver studs is probably one of my top favorite manicures I have done so far. It ended up being my Copenhagen manicure and it wore really well.

Scotch tape manicure with silver studs, Sally Hansen - White on and Wet n Wild - Blackmail

Blue and gold manicure. I really like making stripes manicure with the scotch tape, straight and clean lines is good for the perfectionist.

Scotch tape manicure with Catrice - Hip queens wear blue jeans and Orly - Glitz

Great and simple manicure, just put a pearl on each nail and it makes it all a little more fun.

Mavala - Jazz club and white pearls

copenhagen revisited

2011-04-05T23:24:00.001+02:00

One of the better weekend in a long time just passed. On Wednesday I talked with a friend from Copenhagen and when she told me about the party they were going to have and that some common friends were in town, I immediately started looking at ticket prices. I found some cheap tickets and within minutes they were bought and I were ready for a weekend in Cph. I decided to keep it a surprise that I was coming and I definitely surprised my other friends arriving at the party. Definitely someone they did not expect to be at the party.

It was really nice weather and was nice seeing everybody again. I realized how much I actually miss Copenhagen. I do not think it is only because of my non eventful life here in Sweden, but I think i really miss the city and the people.

This weekend I managed to squeeze in all my favorites. Hornsleth Bar for some partying - probably one of my favorite bars in the world, Halifax - for the best burgers, Café Zirup - a great café with the delicious Miss Maria's Quesadillas, Ruby's - the best cocktail bar with amazing cocktails, and then a stop at Joe & the Juice at the airport - for the best juices. Throw into the mix some great friends, sunshine, Somersby cider, Thai and Indian take away, and you get a great weekend in Copenhagen.

what day is it?

2011-04-01T12:19:00.002+02:00

apparently there is a stage after the final stage

2011-03-29T21:39:00.000+02:00

This is totally nerve-wracking. Today I went on a second partner interview for Ernst & Young. It was basically the same as the first one, a plain, simple interview. I went through my CV and he asked questions like 'why Ernst & Young' and 'why advisory' etc. I guess the partners just want to get to know the candidates a bit.

Such a long process. This is the fourth interview and truly the final stage (which I thought it was already at the previous interview). I cannot get this thing out of my mind, it is constantly there at the back of my mind. When I go to sleep, when I wake up, and in between.

Hopefully I will know within a week. He said that they will hire 3-5 persons and have interviewed about 7-8. So if it is 5 out of 7 I have a rather good chance of getting the job. 3 out of 8, not as good. And of course all persons that have made it this far are all good candidates.

Right now I am just fearing the worst possible.

dinner with the girls

2011-03-27T01:13:00.000+01:00

No news yet. Still waiting. Hopefully I will get some news next week. I am in two different processes and I think I am about to get one job offer, however, it is the other one I truly want.

Tonight I got to keep my mind of it all and had dinner with some friends from high school, a couple of them I have not seen in many years. It was nice to see them all again and do some catching up. Although, not too much of catching up since both them and I have done plenty of things in the last couple of years and it is quite impossible to get all that into one evening. We had a nice dinner and of course I provided the dessert consisting of the ever delicious oooey gooey brownies.

cross all your fingers

2011-03-18T00:03:00.000+01:00

I had the partner interview today and it went well. I think. (I also wore the suit for the fourth time.) If it was any other interview I would have thought it went well. But now, since there is so much at stake, I keep analyzing what I said and that I should have said and expressed much more. It is all really frustrating.

On the train going home I felt really down and sad, my mood had totally shifted. I know, I am weird. All because I want this so much and it worries me how I might react to any bad news. (Of course I am truly hoping and crossing my fingers for good news.) When I hear them describe the company and its culture, they also describe me. It is also a company that gives opportunities and if I get in I would not feel so bad and anxious about all these many months that have passed since I last worked.

final stage

2011-03-14T23:32:00.000+01:00

Following the assessment day at Ernst & Young I this week have the partner interview. I had hoped to get it in the beginning of this week but since people were out of office I am booked for Thursday. It has been two weeks since the assessment day now and I am really anxious for the interview and want to have it sooner rather than later.

But at least I am booked and I am really looking forward to it. Thankfully it is just a standard interview and no case questions like estimation questions. I feel comfortable with having a normal interview and I am not really nervous (but I might get back on that on Wednesday evening). I just have to be myself and make a good impression so that the guy likes me and want to have me in his group.

The thing I might be nervous for is that I want this so much that I would be devastated if I do not get it. I want this so bad. I think it is my time now.

mom's birthday

2011-03-07T21:26:00.001+01:00

Yesterday was mom's birthday so there was some baking and cooking. For some time I have been wanting to make a cake with meringue so we ended up with a Schwarzwald cake, which apparently is called Black Forest cake in English, a direct translation. In addition it seems that the Schwarzwald cake as we know it in Sweden is different from the German cake.

It consists of three layers of hazelnut meringue, all meringue layers brushed with melted chocolate on the bottoms. Whipped cream with vanilla sugar in between the layers and all around it, then topped with big chocolate flakes. Yummy.

Schwartzwald cake.

Even though I love cakes I actually was more excited about the dinner. I made home made falafel that I have been wanting to do for a really long time. Now it was time and it was truly delicious! I made falafel wraps and have not been this exciting for a dish in a while. Tortillas filled with tzatziki (home made of course with plenty of garlic), falafel, salad, tomato, cucumber, carrot, corn, and red onion.

Falafel wrap, with home made, delicious falafel!

Falafel
800g of chick-peas, 7 garlic cloves, juice of ½ lemon, 1dl leaf parsley, 2 tsp cumin (spiskummin), 1 tsp ground coriander (not fresh), 1 tsp chili, 1 ½ tsp salt, one egg, and I also used about 2-3 tbsp corn starch (maizena) to make it all not fall apart. It should have been some tahini in it as well but could not find that, so I ended up sprinkling ing about 2 tbsp of sesame seeds instead. Mix it all together in a mixer or blender and let stand for 1-2 hour. Make into balls with two spoons and preferably deep fry. We deep fried the falafel in a frying pan with about 2 cm of oil in it. Went perfectly!

the assessment day at ernst & young

2011-03-06T21:47:00.000+01:00

It apparently has been very useful for others to read about the interview process I did with another company and people come to visit every month to read about it. I myself could never find much information about it at that time and I guess there is still not much information about it out there. It was the same in regards to the assessment day at Ernst & Young in Sweden. Not any information about it out there, but plenty on how it is in for example UK.

The day started with lunch with the seven other applicants at the same time as we got a presentation about Ernst & Young by one of the partners. Then it was time to start with all the tests. First the English test in three parts which was quite simple in my opinion. Then we moved on to the SHL tests, a verbal, a numerical, and an inductive test. The only test I had some problem with was the math test (numerical) and the main problem being the time constraint.

After a break it was time for the feared case interview. Working with cases, something I had never done before not even at university. We got 30 minutes to prepare for the case presentation. We received a three page summary about a company and the problem they have. A profitability problem had to be solved and present a strategy for how to solve it. I tried to gather my thoughts and get them in order. A woman came to listen to my presentation (luckily, I think, it was the same woman I had my first E&Y interview with) and I started talking. I felt kind of unstructured but I think I manage to get some thoughts out. She asked some questions and I answered. She could not give me any information at that point on how it went, but she said it I missed a few things but also mentioned many of the issues. In the end I felt quite satisfied as I had never done such a thing. At least I feel comfortable presenting things and never really nervous.

Then it was time for the interview and meeting a new guy. I think the interview can be very different depending on who is conducting it. He asked me to do was a presentation of my CV and to use the white board. I plainly did some sort of mind map of my CV with three subgroups of 'education', 'job experience', and 'other'. Piece of cake. Then he presented himself and I also started asking questions. I had prepared several good questions for the interviewer, like can you describe a typical working day/week at E&Y?, what is the biggest challenge with the job?, what's good working at E&Y?, are there any things you don't like working at E&Y or something you would like to change?.

At the end of the interview, the guy had one last case questions for me. I got one estimation question which I had dreaded: how many pharmacies are there in Sweden? I went with the simplest way and calculated an average for the whole Sweden based on the town where I grew up. He asked some questions linked to the estimation and I think I answered well, kept confident and presented well. When we were done and we packed up he said that I had almost been spot on with my answer from the calculation which made me feel good. And a little bit lucky too.

Walking away from the assessment day at Ernst & Young I was happy with what I accomplished. I felt that no matter what happened I was happy with how it went. Then we know how that feeling totally changed but it all turned out well in the end. Now I on for the final stage in the process and the partner interview. Cannot wait!

(Assessment dagen på Ernst & Young i Sverige)

scotch tape manicure #6 and more

2011-03-06T01:50:00.000+01:00

I am really happy with yesterday's manicure. I love the gray with the orange. And then a few orange pearls on the ring finger.

Color Club - De-Luxe-Cious and Gosh - Orange Drops.

Then a really gorgeous pink color with gold shimmer in it. I love it. Then with some pretty flower pattern stamped on it.

Catrice - Big Spender Wanted!

crashed and burned?

2011-03-04T16:21:00.001+01:00

On Wednesday, the day after the case interview and that whole shebang, I was all really excited and wanted nothing more than to continue to the next round. Then the optimism started spiraling down and almost hit rock bottom today. I feared that I had crashed and burned with the case. I called one of the persons in HR I have been in contact with to find out any news as I was supposed to get feedback before the weekend. She was not the one in charge of it so she could not tell me anything but she thought that would have called me by now.

That information made me loose the hope as it is not good news when you are one of the last persons to get any feedback. By experience that means that they have continued with other candidates. I tried calling the woman in charge and there was no answer. I called again after several hours and still no answers. Not really a what I was hoping for with the weekend coming up.

Then all of a sudden I noticed an email in my inbox from that woman saying she was on vacation but told me that they would like to have me continue in the recruitment process! I could not be happier.

Now I know I have what it takes to do the case interviews even though I know I can do much better. If I would not have moved on I think it would have hit me quite hard. But now I do not have to worry about that. Now I can look forward to the final stage in the process. Having an interview with a partner. That might be a bit scary.

scotch tape manicure #5

2011-03-02T02:37:00.000+01:00

Another one of those days decorating the nails. A gorgeous matte nail polish that first ended up with just a french manicure, and then I just continued with the striping.

OPI - La Paz-itively Hot and Collection 2000 - 228

Color Club - Mrs Robinson and konad stamping with China Glaze - Millennium

the suit

2011-02-28T17:25:00.001+01:00

Took out my suit from the wardrobe today where it has been collecting dust. I bought it in 2008 for my second and third interview with Maersk. Those two occations are the only times the suit have been allowed out into the fresh air. I am not really a suit person, I just do not feel comfortable with it.

So here I am now, going for an assessment day for a 'suit company' (at least that was the impression for my first interview there) so that is why the suit have come out to breathe once again.

It is ironic though, I found a receipt in the jacket pocket from Burger King. It is where me and my suit ate lunch on June 30th 2008 at Copenhagen airport after my final interview with Maersk. On June 30th 2009, exactly one year later, my boss called me into an office and let me go. (For funsies I looked into what I did June 30th 2010, I was on an interview in Stockholm (they picked another girl over me)).

It brought me luck then (one could pretend) as I did get the job, perhaps it will tomorrow. Or luck, it brought me to a job I ended up resenting but that is not the suits fault.

frameworks all day long

2011-02-27T02:15:00.003+01:00

Been kind of busy the last few days. I have not even had time to change manicure since Monday (which I usually have done every day). Although I did find some time today to paint my nails in a great bright, neon, orange color that makes you happy and longing for spring.

So the last few days I have done something that feels a little bit more useful than switching manicure every day. I have been preparing for my assessment day with Ernst & Young next week. I am not nervous for it (at least not yet...), the tests (SHL) I feel quite comfortable with as I have always done well on tests. However, even though I am good at math I had trouble with the numerical test, mainly I think because of the time constraint and the I have not dealt with math in quite some time.

The thing I have studying and reading up on the most is for the case. I have never ever done case work in interviews and never even at school. I have been reading up on anything I could find to prepare myself for a case situation. Like different frameworks to use solving a case, profitability framework, business situation framework, SWOT-analysis, Porter's Five Forces etc. Nothing of this I had at school but I recognize it, now I just need to memorize it all. Easy peasy...

Right now what I dread the most is estimation questions. I just need to practice on those and the mechanics of it all. It is probably all easy when you know how to think, but my problem is that I like preparation and have difficulties with those on-the-spot analytical questions. I got a such a questions once that I totally bombed. I just froze and my brain went blank. I did not know where to start. 'How many web pages are there in Sweden?'

creole revisited

2011-02-25T21:35:00.001+01:00

Some week, or two, ago I did the Creole casserole again. Definitely a favorite. Although this time we switched the pork tenderloin to chicken instead and I actually preferred that. I will stick with chicken from now on.

I also baked some bread with shredded carrots and sunflower seeds, really easy when you just pour it onto a baking sheet. Freshly baked bread with butter is probably one of the most delicious things.

Creole casserole

Carrot bread with sunflower seeds

color club to sweden please

2011-02-22T15:06:00.000+01:00

Hopefully we will have a new nail polish brand in Sweden soon. Perhaps you can find it already at some places already but mostly you have to buy them online if you want them.

Mom came home the other day with three nail polishes from the brand Color Club. The company that produces those nail polishes had a conference at the hotel where she works and they left some bottles of polish! Of course she could not really bring home one of each (although I wish) but I got three pretty colors. Always fun with nail polish for free! (Especially since I am on a no-buying-policy at the moment.)

Start selling Color Club nail polish in Sweden soon! And at a fair price and not like China Glaze and OPI prices.

Color Club - Mrs Robinson, Peppermint Twist, Koo-Koo Cachoo

taxi

2011-02-20T19:22:00.000+01:00

Not much at all has been going around here today this lazy Sunday. After a late breakfast I started to read a book that was lying on a table downstairs. I sat down in the armchair by the fire place and started reading. I continued reading until dinner and by then I only had a few pages left. So that is how I spent most of the day.

A book by Alexandra Pascalidou about taxi drivers she have me all over the world and their stories. Really interesting. I liked it.

a no go

2011-02-17T14:31:00.000+01:00

I was right in my prediction. When they tell you they will get back to you within a week or two and that week passes then it is fairly certain they chose someone else over you. It has happened a few times now so I am getting to know the signs.

But that I have to make a call to them to drag the answer out of them. Not so cool.

Apparently they went with someone who had experience from banking, at least it is a fair explanation (yeah, I think I will always keep coming back to that). The competition was quite tough as they received more than 100 applications and I was one of ten that they called for interview. I guess I should be happy that I was one of the ten.

scotch tape manicure #4 and more

2011-02-16T23:09:00.002+01:00

I have had some fun doing some nail art recently. A little bit of stamping, dotting and scotch tape manicures. I am in love with all these three manicures. Here is where the pottering and the creative side get its outlet.

Another scotch tape manicure with some H&M - Dashing Diva (which I had on almost a whole summer the year it came out) and some black and white stripes. I adore this manicure! I got inspiration from Lacquerized and Wah Nails (where plenty more inspiration will come from).

Some H&M - Dashing Diva (a favorite) and some black & white.

Here we have some half and half with leopard print stamped on. A more subtle manicure compared to the others but I still love it. Inspiration from nnysworld.

IsaDora - Ashes to ashes and Combat khaki and some stamping.

Bright and pretty yellow with a fun pattern that I got inspired by at The Daily Nail. Really simple manicure made only by making dots (with my dotting tool) of black and then with a variety of colors on top.

China Glaze - Lemon fizz and a whole bunch of colors.

gimme

2011-02-15T20:10:00.000+01:00

That interview that I thought went so well might not have gone so well. At least that is my feeling for every day that passes now. He said I should hear from them at the beginning of last week. Yesterday I sent him an email wondering 'what's up' and now I damn myself for taking the easy way out and not dialing those digits instead.

For every day that passes it is more and more likely that they have chosen other candidates for a second interview. That they are just waiting for one of them to accept the offer so they can send out rejection emails to the rest of the poor bastards still hoping until the very end.

Bitter? No, why would you think that?

job update

2011-02-13T19:45:00.000+01:00

It is going in the right direction. It feels good. At the moment I am in three different job processes and waiting replies from two and the third one I have an assessment day booked in for. For one of the jobs I should have heard something this week but no news so far so I am going to call them on Monday to nag a bit and see where it is heading. That interview went so well (at least in my opinion) so I am hoping for some good news and a call back. It is my time now.

The other job is also very interesting but unfortunately only temporary for one year and I would be hired by this recruitment firm and therefore the salary is not so great either. Which is not really optimal but at least the job seems interesting and if I would end up getting it, it is not really that I can afford declining it just because of the money.

i reject your reality and substitute my own

2011-02-07T18:55:00.000+01:00

That is the quote of the day (or week).

Been watching a lot of MythBusters lately.

stamping

2011-02-07T00:09:00.000+01:00

Finally had some fun with my Konad nail stamping stuff. It is so easy and fun to get all kinds of pretty nails. It might look more difficult than it really is.

Orly - Shine.

Then the lovely color of OPI - From A to Z-urich.

cooking, dessert, and polish

2011-02-05T22:28:00.045+01:00

Among my favorite things.

Sis came over today and of course we had to have a nice dinner as it is her birthday! We made a really nice dinner with home made pasta, ravioli filled basil and four different cheeses (ricotta, parmesan, aged cheddar, and a bit of feta), together with home made tomato sauce (of course) and a cheese/cream sauce. Really delicious. Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture. But I definitely have to try making more home made pasta, it is so easy!

Of course I also made a delicious dessert. A chocolate fondant, a chocolate cake with a runny inside. Served warm with warm raspberry sauce and vanilla ice cream. Recipe found at the ever inspiring Swedish blog Kalasgott (just look at all the yummy pictures). Luckily there are several left so I will have one or two for tomorrow. Unluckily I did not get a yummy picture of the runny inside.

Chocolate fondant.

Happy birthday sis!

And of course I had some gorgeous nails. A gorgeous green glitter polish from NYX.

NYX - Lime.

what a wake up call

2011-02-02T23:55:00.000+01:00

Do not think I told the story of last fall and my worst wake up call ever. It happened again early this morning. There was someone else waking up really early this morning making so much noise so it woke me up. That does not sound like being a worst wake up call ever you might think. Here's the thing, that someone woke up rambling around in my WALL.

This time I was not as freaked out as last time but it is incredibly annoying as it was impossible for me to fall asleep again when that someone was still moving around in there. The first time it happened last fall I got really freaked out as it moved around under my floor right where the head of the bed is located. I tried hitting the floor with my fist to make it stop and go away, but no. It sounded just like it was running around under my bed, and I was even worried that he would come out and gnaw on my clothes lying all over the floor at that time (it worried me so much that I started cleaning my room the next day, even though I know it would not do that).

This time it was a little bit worse as it was in the wall, still right at the head of my bed. But as it is in the wall I could hear it so much louder. Truly the worst wake up call. Can the spring come now so that the things can go outside?

Damn those mice.

"christmas tree"

2011-02-01T21:40:00.000+01:00

In between this nail frenzy I thought to show you something completely different. Our Christmas tree of last year (since it is 2011 now). We have never actually had a real spruce in the house at any time. The only thing we have had resembling a Christmas tree in this house is some sort of non-look-alike Christmas tree made of plastic. Just because we have not spent so many Christmases in our own house.

So this is the Christmas tree of this season. I actually thought it was quite cozy. Not really Christmasy, but that is how we do it in this family anyway.

scotch tape manicure #3

2011-02-01T20:38:00.000+01:00

This is last nights work. Another scotch tape manicure on the absolutely adorable new color of Depend, a turquoise with silver shimmer. This is where my creative side get its outlet these days.

Absolutely love this color! Depend - #227.

Then the scotch tape manicure with LA Girl - Graphite.

what i do these days

2011-01-31T16:41:00.000+01:00

Today's manicure is really subtle, light purple one with twist of french manicure. Even though it is really subtle, which is usually not my thing, I really like it. Then some previous manicures. I absolutely adore the pink polish.

ELF - Lilac and a shimmery light purple Shisem which is unnumbered.

Sally Hansen - Thinking of Blue as a base and dots with Sally Hansen - Fairy Teal.

A french manicure with Catrice - Wrapped around my finger and OPI - Show it and glow it.

flames

2011-01-25T01:05:00.013+01:00

Had a little bit of fun yesterday when I finally took out my nail polish brushes. Wanted to start with something fairly easy, trying to make flames on my nails. For a first try my left hand came out quite decent (as I painted with my right hand). My right hand is a totally different story, it is a total mess. Not surprising. But practice makes perfect so I guess I just have to continue trying.

What you do is you paint on a thick layer of the background color, make some strokes of your other color at the tip of your nail. Then you take your brush and paint flames by dragging the gray color in a sweeping motion up into the pink color. Easy as that. At least it looks easy when someone else does it...

i am social and outgoing

2011-01-24T23:54:00.000+01:00

The interview on Friday went well and a few interesting things happened. First of all the interviewer was a little bit surprised when I told him I like working with numbers as he did not see and get that feeling from my experiences so far. From my application he saw me as a social and outgoing person and he could not see that I am a person who likes numbers, statistics and actually thinks it is fun with Excel. The reason being that from his own experience of the people in his line of work you were either a person into numbers or someone social and outgoing. Usually either or. And there I came with all of it and made him all confused and having difficulties figuring me out. So we ended up talking for quite some time and he asked several personal questions as well to get hold of who I am.

The second thing that hit me is that up until quite recently I would not really have described myself as social and outgoing, and it still surprises me a little when people uses those characteristics about me. But it is true. I just have to get used to the fact that it is two qualities that actually describes me.

since she's been gone

2011-01-20T17:39:00.000+01:00

I have had a break as you can tell. Or perhaps just one more of those breaks where I stop thinking of all the things I do not want to think about. But slowly I am starting to think about it all again. I just have to.

My spirit rose high just a few minutes ago when I got a call from an unknown caller on my cell phone. It turned out to be a call back on an application I sent just 30 minutes before the call.

I have sent out only two applications so far this year (yeah, I know.. should not be proud of that number but I will get better...) and already got a call back for one of them.

So tomorrow I have got an interview which feels good. I am starting to get into the game again. Also as I met with a job coach this week so that is a good thing to get my ass started again.

In a few months time I will have a job. Dammit.

scotch tape manicure

2011-01-09T21:52:00.003+01:00

Of course I had to continue with the scotch tape manis (again thanks to Chloe's Nails) and take it one step further compared to the other day. Here you have the result and I love it! I love scotch tape.

Fist a base of Milani - HD, a nice holographic color that you unfortunately can't see the effect of in pics.

Then the random scotch tape pattern and a layer of IsaDora - Petrol Posh.

the christmas sweets

2011-01-07T15:25:00.000+01:00

The Christmas sweets of 2010. All the nine kinds (well, forgot to take a pic on the fudge, and the recipe here). The absolute, all time favorite is the liquorice toffee and the white chocolate and lime truffle. Yummy.

Candied almonds (but cinnamon excluded)

Toffee rice

White chocolate and lime truffle. THE FAVORITE!

White chocolate and saffron truffle. Love the saffron!

Peanut brittle.

Cake balls. Nice but not a favorite, perhaps with another filling?

Knäck (Swedish Christmas toffee). Delicious as always.

Chocolate coated liquorice toffee. Another favorite!

new year's manicure

2011-01-07T02:21:00.001+01:00

Continuing a bit on the nail theme (there is plenty of photos of a variety of nail polish colors on my camera...). Of course I had to have something gorgeous on my nails for New Years. I would have loved to have this spectacular manicure but did not have the products or time to get them either. Perhaps next year! I tried out a variety of manicures and finally came up with one I was really happy with.

A glitter overload manicure. Of course there has to be glitter, it is New Years, especially the holographic glitters and my favorite color turquoise. There is a whole lot of polish on my nails here: six nail polishes (excluding base and top coat) out of which four are glitters.

Sparkly!

New Year's manicure.

walking klutz

2011-01-06T23:24:00.001+01:00

The klutz is managing to walk today instead of jumping around on one foot. I can at least stand on my heel, but not so much on the whole foot. Today I ventured out in the snow storm to throw out some trash and pick up the mail. I thought about calling the neighbor to do pick up the mail, but stubborn as I am I did it myself. I walked the couple of hundred meters to the mailbox, although in the slowest pace.

Of course it is when you cannot do something you want to do it. I felt like doing something, head out, or doing whatever. On the other hand it would not be such a good idea do head out with the car in this snow storm.

So I have been enjoying myself with doing my nails. I am on my fifth manicure for today. What? Bored? Me?

Got really inspired by Erika at Chloe's Nails and her scotch tape designs. So easy and so nice.

LA Girl - Iron Red

Savina - Purple Confett

Orly - Shine

Got bored of the silver and made a new manicure on top with China Glaze - Jitterbug


And the final one, China Glaze - Custom Kicks with some decoration with Orly - Glitz

Unfortunately I do not have the good camera but the colors should be fairly accurate. Turquoise is always difficult to get color accurate on photos.

klutz

2011-01-05T13:51:00.000+01:00

I tend to always keep my legs up when sitting on chairs or stools and of course the consequence is that they fall asleep now and then. That is what happened yesterday when sitting talking to my sister. I stepped of the stool and took a step and it did not feel bad. I took the next step and realized I had made a miscalculation as the foot was totally not obeying me. Now I have a sprained foot.

Yesterday when I wanted to get downstairs I had to do it kid-style and sit on my bum to make it down. I also jumped around on one foot. Luckily I carried in some firewood and shoveled some snow yesterday, before it all happened.

I am such a klutz.

i am a mess

2011-01-04T02:32:00.002+01:00

Not a very positive post the last one. And I fear this will not be either. I just need to get it out so I can have a decent night of sleep with less thoughts flying around in my head (although I doubt they will disappear...).

It is all a mess. I am a mess. I have always been the optimistic one, truly believing that it always works out in the end. But the last month or two, you could say I hit rock bottom. Maybe that was a bit extreme but probably the lowest point so far. I guess I have lost all belief and motivation and I do not know how to get out of it. I guess I have not really talked about it either since I already have the worst conscience and it would only get worse when I verbalize the thoughts that are in there.

I honestly never thought I would and could let it go this far. I dread even thinking about it but more than one year has passed without me getting a job. I am really disappointed. Of course I can only blame myself because who else is going to get me a job? I truly had a much better future in mind than this.

And of course I start doubt and question everything. Did I really study the right thing? Did I make the right choices? I got accepted to a half time masters program (distance studies, Communication for Development) with subjects that seem really interesting. But where would it lead me? It is really interesting topics, as where my previous studies, but what can I gain from it? A question I cannot really answer. It all boils down to the same questions: What do I want to work with? Where do I see myself going?

And I do not know the answers.

I keep telling myself to snap out of it. But it is easier said than done. I guess I have grown up avoiding, in my eyes unnecessary, conflicts. But that has probably also led me to easily shrug things off. I can easily shrug the bad things off my shoulders as I usually have a sanctuary to go to. Lately I have spent more and more time in that sanctuary not letting the bad things get to me, but the longer I stay away from it all the harder it gets. The bad conscience just keep piling up. And I escape to baking, TV, and nail polish. Anything that will keep the bad conscience away for a few more hours. The hours turn into days, the days turn into weeks, and so on.

I need to get out of this rut. Hopefully getting some thoughts written down, some tears shed, and a new year will get me somewhere. I have thought it several times before, but I really want to believe it. I truly want to believe that some of my previous positivity and strength will find its way back and get me on a better track for 2011.

Please.

two thousand eleven

2011-01-03T02:26:00.002+01:00

Happy New Year to all you out there.

So now it is a new year. Time to start with a clean slate.

~~I hope it will be a good year.~~ I will make it a good year.

I just need to find my want and desire again. And try not to let the downs hit me so hard.

merry christmas

2010-12-24T09:31:00.000+01:00

Hope you will have a nice Christmas. Here it is cold and snowy of course and I am waiting to soon go and pick up my sister from the station. So we will actually celebrate Christmas at home this year and when that happened the last time I do not know. It might feel a bit weird since at this time any other recent year we have had breakfast and then head out exploring whatever town and country we would be in. On the other hand it is nice to stay here to avoid being stuck at some airport somewhere like many others are.

God Jul or Merry Christmas everybody!

christmas sweets in abundance

2010-12-23T23:56:00.000+01:00

I kind of went a little bit out there last weekend (and some this week) and made Christmas sweets like crazy. A few of the standard ones I made last year and then all of the new ones I wanted to try out.

From left to right: candied almonds, fudge, knäck (Swedish Christmas toffee), chocolate coated liquorice toffee (last year's hit), toffee rice, and peanut brittle (discovered at Christmas 2003 in Florida). So that is six different Christmas sweets, but it is not over there. In the fridge we can also find: cake balls, white chocolate and saffron truffle (I absolutely love saffron!), and white chocolate and lime truffle (must be my all time favorite!).

To conclude, nine different types of Christmas sweets. And the perfect year to make all of this as well since my sister will leave already on Christmas Day and my parents will leave on Boxing Day which will leave me home alone with all these candies.

blackout

2010-12-23T16:01:00.000+01:00

Yesterday we had a blackout for 7 ½ hours. Lovely... From 6 pm to 1.30 am we had no power whatsoever and with -23 degrees outside it was not the best timing. Thankfully we have a fire place as well as one of those old stoves, 'iron stove' as we call it in Sweden, that you have a fire in. I was the fireplace guard to keep the house warm.

So I sat in front of the fire place with candles lit and knitting on my hooded scarf. And with dads radio headphones. Perfect. So I had at least something to entertain myself with.

not that either

2010-12-17T17:09:00.000+01:00

So I have been a little bit productive the last two days and have sent out a few applications. I even sent out one for a one month, part time, badly paid job and they called me and asked a few questions. She said that they would call me for a meeting on Friday (today) if they would be interested.

And I never heard from them again. I cannot even get a tiny, short time job to do something and get some money. They really would have gotten value for their money if I would have taken (and gotten) the job. Apparently it is impossible to get a short term job with my CV.

excellent feedback

2010-12-16T00:13:00.003+01:00

I wrote an email to my contact at Google that I wished, for future reference, to get a little bit more feedback regarding the debacle, a.k.a. the interviews. She wrote back and said she cannot give any more feedback than she gave me in the rejection email (my wording, not hers). The excellent feedback being:

"The interview team was impressed with your background and accomplishments, and enjoyed getting to know you. (...) we do not have a position that is a strong match with your qualifications at this time."

Thanks for the detailed and very helpful feedback. I will embrace it and keep it in mind for the next interview.

(Although it probably does not top the excellent feedback from the Washington DC company.)

last weeks debacle

2010-12-15T19:58:00.000+01:00

So about the Google interview, just to make a a tiny recap of the whole debacle. I had the interviews on Monday last week and it was kind of exhausting since there was four interviews in three consecutive hours. As I was still a bit sick (still am...) with a runny nose and cough it was not the most pleasant three hours as I had to keep talking. But it went well and the people were nice. At least I thought it went well.

After that I was all happy with how it went and took a stroll around town and did a little bit of shopping. Of course 'a few' nail polishes slipped into my shopping bag. But since I was still a bit sick and did not have energy to walk around for so long I headed to the airport a little bit earlier. Then it was time for the next stop, which was in Copenhagen.

So I thought it went well. But I was wrong and that sucked. I had hoped for this one. It also sucks that I have been so close on several openings and been so close to the finish line but then it just stops. It gets frustrating. I have to admit that the last month I have been really bad as well, at applying for jobs. I just totally lost my motivation. I have a daily bad conscience for that, believe you me.

But today I actually sent out five applications so far so the bad conscience have gone down a little bit. Although a tiny little bit.

good week, bad week

2010-12-12T14:12:00.001+01:00

So I am back. Back here and back in Sweden. I managed to be in four countries in four days this week. It started off in Dublin then I made a stop in Copenhagen for two nights, then a quick stop in Sweden to repack and then continuing to Finland. A busy week.

Anyway, it has been a good and a bad week. It started off good with some time in Dublin and the interview at Google. Exhausting though with four interviews in three consecutive hours, but it went well. Then I visited friends in Copenhagen as my flight from Dublin made a stop there. I just booked myself another ticket back to Stockholm. Had a really good time and nice to get my mind of Google for a while.

Then it all became bad after that. The flight back to Sthlm was a little bit delayed,coming back I had three hours to get ready for the next trip and was completely stressed out. On the boat to Finland I checked my email one last time and I had received an email from Google. The subject was 'Thank you from Google' and reading that line before opening the email I could sense what was coming. And I was right.

'We carefully reviewed your background and experience, and though we do not have a position that is a strong match with your qualifications at this time, we will be keeping your resume active in our system'.

The standard answer. I was really wishing for this one but no. So that was the mail I got on my way to my grandmothers funeral. A not so pleasant weekend concluded this week with motions going on a roller coaster, from feeling good about myself and good interviews (so I thought) and happy seeing old friends to feeling bad about myself for the rejection and crying for mummo.

better to be safe than sorry

2010-12-05T15:18:00.000+01:00

I have arrived safe and sound in Dublin and have also reached the hotel and the room is really nice, staying at the Maldron Cardiff Hotel. Thanks Google. Luckily I could check in right away and did not have to wait two hours.

I got a map from the reception and the plan was to head out and do the town. But now I am all freezing and still have a little bit of that cold left with all that it implies, the runny nose and annoying cough. I had planned to do some shopping and have dinner at one of the recommended restaurants I got from a friend. But now I am thinking that I might just stay in, watch a movie, and perhaps order room service instead. I do not want to walk around town for some hours in the chilly weather only to discover tomorrow morning that I am not feeling well.

So I am thinking it is better to be safe than sorry. Even though it is really boring when I am here in Dublin, and usually I am all about doing the most out of a trip even though I am sick. But now I have got this interview tomorrow to think about. Now I think I will take my computer and crawl under the cover and watch a movie. (Yeah right, I should also study and prepare for the interview tomorrow as well.)

By the way, I just opened my toilet bag to take a pain killer (I am going all out on the line 'it is better to be safe than sorry) and found a not so pleasant discovery. I brought my nail glue and discovered the nail glue bottle itself, my makeup bag, and my toothbrush all glued onto the toilet bag. I could rip of the makeup bag and the nail glue bottle, the tooth brush is still there, even the hair of the brush is all glued so I will not be able to use it. Yeay. Lovely.

off to dublin

2010-12-05T08:53:00.002+01:00

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

At the Arlanda airport right now waiting to board at the gate. i have always loved airports, the excitement and expctations in the air. Dublin and Google here I come.

packed

2010-12-04T22:56:00.000+01:00

I am all packed. And it is not even 11 pm. Usually I have a tendency to stay up all night doing everything in the last minute since I did not start early enough. But considering how little things I actually have with me it is surprising how long it took. On the other hand it takes some good planing to take as little as possible with you.

So. Tomorrow morning I am off to Dublin. I arrive around noon so I have some hours in the city to kill. I do not mind at all, then I get to walk around enjoying the beautiful city *cough* and perhaps buy some nail polishes (...).

Of course I have not prepared anything or read anything. I am saving it for tomorrow, I assuming they have internet at the hotel otherwise I am screwed, and going to feel lonely.