half way through july 2026 ~ ups and downs

I felt inspired to write another blogpost, and thankfully the photo uploading worked again this time, yay! So behold a set of random recent photos. The writing to accompany them will slowly follow during the week. So you are much welcome back. 

Today I rekindled with one of the old Mulberry handbags (model Rosemary, but I named her Rosa (= Pink in Swedish) from the early 00ies that I decided to keep. With the newly thrifted vegan shoulder strap from US STATUS (Australian brand I think), that I got off Vinted. And mentioned previously.

Sunday vegan grocery shopping + soy latte in my old KeepCup was a wonderful way to spend a July Sunday 2026. 

To use this handbag, which surprisingly fitted more essentials than I thought it would, and it’s sturdy, quality shoulder/messenger strap was such a treat. The handbag itself was much lighter and easy to wear that I remembered. Easier on the shoulders and neck, plus the wide strap was a bliss compared to the thinner straps and larger handbags/backpacks I have worn these pastfew years, inviting me to fill them with heavier things and groceries. 

It was a really good day overall. With useful little insights. Life is in the details. And so are simple, understated little joys.

Almost half way through the month of July (traditionally the warmest month of Sweden) and the weather is basically all over the climate emergency place. 

So far I am ever so grateful that we haven’t suffered the crazy hot weather like the south of Europe has/is. But yes, temperatures like +25-30 C was prevalent a couple of weeks ago. And it felt quite awful enough. It has been been significantly chillier (and rainier) the last couple of weeks. 

On my latitudes the night temperatures in certain areas have been down to +5C and stayed around +15 daytime. Which is the usual September temperatures for us. Certainly not the Swedish summers that once were.

But nothing is that it once was. Nothing whatsoever.

Bracing ourselves for another ~+30 C week now.

To be continued, part I. 

The white Marimekko skirt (my first purchase of 2026 and one of my 2 new buys in my Max 5 challenge year 2) in organic cotton and with a lovely broderie Anglaise in Unikko pattern has been a great buy. 

Years ago I wrote a blogpost about the fact that I need to focus on block colours in my wardrobe, stop buying pattern. Even if I love the granny toddler style, it is something slightly more polished and calming when you mix your existing patterns with block colours.

I haven’t been particularly good at adhering to my new rule since then, granted. Just a few t-shirts in organic cotton. On the other hand I’ve changed for the better with buying much less overall and more second hand. Which is better for the planet, not only for myself.

So yay me!

You might wonder how things have progressed with my sized up 💜 vegan loafers, which turned out to be in desperate need for inner soles as the Daisy Duck look wasn’t very… comfortable. Well, I actually found an old pair of Vegetarian Shoes heel liners that I never used. With a pair of thicker socks it was perfect for the right foot but still to big for the left.

Had plans to get a pair of insoles at the grocery shopping outing, but apparently the shoe shop opened much later on Sundays, and I couldn’t be bothered to return back again after the shopping.

I used to try and jam as much errands in on one outing (and heavy carrying was a sport I relished. These days most things (including real life human interaction) and too much stuff to ✅ at one time is either annoying or exhausting.

For every hot flash I’m grateful for never having experienced, I can safely say there are seemingly an endless array of uncomfortable, irritating menopausal symptoms experienced instead. 

When on Vinted I’ve found that my old addiction for thrifted books has come alive with a vengeance. Sorry not sorry.

The top two are used library books I got for an absolute steal at the library recently. 1 SEK each.

American Dirt I read (and loved!) in 2022 (well aware of the appropriation claims, I was still blown away by the gripping story). It felt nice to finally insert in my ”home library”. The library book is probably the same one I read back in 2022.

The Daisy in Chains book I haven’t read, sounded like decent suspense. And Sharon Bolton is a new writer (for me).

I do well prefer pocket books over hardbacks, but I have bought a few hardbacks on Vinted too, with mainly old favourite writers’ new books I’m eager to read. And the pocket books are a mix of old favourites and others that sounds intriguing. The more you buy from one seller the lower the price and postage will be so…

The main winners (financially) on all these online second hand buys/sells are of course the plethora of freight companies. 

And the sticky tape companies.

Also the prices are often ridiculously low on Vinted. And the haggling often outrageously shameless. I often just haggle very modestly (just to practice doing it) or not at all, as the low set prices are just very good enough.

The business idea of these platforms (and the execution) give me money laundring vibes though. And quite sinister criminal activities. So beware, eyes opened and care is my firm recommendation as a user.

Overall the buying/selling experiences on Vinted have been great. But there have been snags and issues, but for a book purchase where the seller mislabeled her book parcels and sent my books to the other buyer and vice versa. I’m hoping I will finally get my 2 bought books any day soon.

Of the books displayed on table here, I’ve now read one. And started a second. The first one was predictably silly, though slightly entertaining. The second one has great review and shows much more quality reading promise, so far.

I have been recommended particularly 3 of these books, have you read any (or all)? Which ones would you recommend first?

To be continued, part II.

These perfect looking Snowwhite apples are my recent addiction. From Italy sold at Lidl. Sadly not organic. But crazy predictably great texture and juicy taste every time. I always rinse them in water and peel them properly before I take a bite. And I bet they probably are too good to be true, more toxins and bad stuff than would imagine. Or maybe a person with a science degree would immediately call the toxins out. The beautiful, perfect looks alone would be a sign alone.

But yeah, for now I decide to not dig deeper in their origin, health and sustainability features. I’m just happy I found the apple perfection. Sometimes you just have to let yourself be happy and thankful for little things like this, and ease up on the bacground research. At least for a while.

I forgot to mention that the second buyer of the fantastic Mulberry Phoebe handbag was so happy and satisfied withher purchase. Which was a huge relief. I have no idea what the first buyer’s (who obviously fell in the category of ignorant whining b. i. t. c. h. of bad faith) problem was. Other than not reading my add properly and not really looking at the photos, but still thought it smart to splash out a fairly decent sum on a vintage handbag just so she could whine as it wasn’t what she expected.

My next, more recent issue, from the platform Tradera, was a buyer claiming he ”accidently” had bidded on my auction, but didn’t ”realise” that before he won the auction (two weeks later…). He adamantly refused to pay, even though the winning bid is always binding. A very unpleasant attitude (mildly described) and the only thing I could do was to acknowledge my loss and relist the (Moomin sneakers in very good condition) item again, and file a complain to the platform and write a very poor review, with a big warning to possible future sellers. I seriously doubt I was the first one dealing with this ridiculous ”i made a mistake” guy, but complaints from other users on the platform are not visible to others (unless there are many bad reviews already and a string of prior complaints which after 3 strikes leaves you locked out.

My general observation about things like this and much much worse things of course (like the ongoing livestreamed genocide in Gaza…) is that humans have truly become stupider by the minute. Greedier and more selfish. The misogyni. The willing to inflict violence on others. The animal abuse and unhealthy food choices. The polarization, the political evil doings, the science ignorance, the worship of capitalism, greed and fake news and plain uneducated stupidity. 

The state of the world have gone rapidly downhill since the pandemic. A devastating plague caused by human lifestyle, one would thought that would have been the ultimate wake-up call for EVERYONE. 

There is no time for business as usual. Yet here we are. The greed, the stupidity, the lack of basic, common decency omnipresent and thriving. In 2026. Humans are such a deeply disappointing species.

No wonder you just accept and even rave over perfect Snowwhite apples and shy away from the smart due diligence consumer research, because the mere thought of digging deeper and interact with humans, with a probable sinister unethical agenda, makes you so incredibly exhausted and tired by the everpresent struggle for decency.

And instead you live for golden little pockets of joy moments like this - a vegan fika with oat latte and two plantbased ☀️ buns at Bageri Passion. Which is coincidently situated next door to the Lidl store selling the extraordinary 🍎

Winwin.

And, as I vaguely remember mentioning the other month, we planned on ordering another celebratory vegan cake at the bakery too. First little 👵🏻 has a name day coming up next week, and as that wasn’t cause gor celebration enough I realised 2026 is actually my 10 year anniversary for finally going 100% vegan!

After years with focus on eating mainly vegan food (and experiencing so much joy doing it!) I finally committed fully. Better late than never, should have done it much sooner etc, but still I’m so ethically proud and happy I did it.

That is certainly a true cause for creamy cake celebration! (Not sure about the exact date, but I think it was probably sometime early summer). Thought I’d chose a new cake instead of the perfect Swedish Princess cake. Had my eyes set on cream cheese with fresh raspberries, which felt so festive and summery. 

Alas they didn’t offer that option no longer (which granted felt somewhat weird as they still offer chocolate cake with fresh raspberries…), so I went with cream cheese and passionfruit, as the celebration is something I do feel very passionate about.

A week from now, pretty cake time it is! 🎂

And below is the first July 2026 vegan dinner I put together. Chili from plantbased mince, 🧅🧄🌶️🥕🥫 ifraiche and fried zucchini. Served with 🌽 chips.It was a perfect dinner start of the month.

Having only one senior blue eyed kitty left in the family, the option for photo variation is limited. Ztina is very much alive and sleeping a lot. (The summer heat hasn’t helped…). 

Has, just like Ågot did, occupied little mum’s bed and basically claiming it as her own. A behaviour worthy the proper fu—ing queen of everything she is. We don’t have our constant cuddle sessions in sofa in true occupy hoooman style we’ve always had, practically ever since she was born. I do hope that’ll change back again come colder autumn/winter days.

Freshly baked overnight rolls was also the perfect First July morning start. And new marmelade 🍊🍋🫚 which has been a pleasant new flavour experience for the month.

Please continue with just more sweetness, July, enough of bitterness now, please. M’kay? Thank you ever so much!

Yours truly and in kindness,

Pia 💚