people losing their minds

One week after the very rainy walk, we took the same walk in very different weather. And today something weird happened instead. People's behaviours are truly mindboggling sometimes (too often if you ask someone like me, who feels she's living in a parallel world half of her time...)

Sweden has had right-hand traffic since 1967. Which is something most people usually acknowledge - driving, walking, meeting is so much smoother that way. 

But today we met several grumpy senior citizens (not in the same company) who persevered most adamantly their non-right to walk on the wrong side of the street. Ie from far away they suddenly decided to switch side from right to left on the street. Then firmly walking right (left) at us, stopping right in front of us, refusing to budge. 

Because apparently, amidst a pandemic it’s more important to claim your non-right wrong side of the street than to keep to social distancing. Especially when you belong to a risk group. And it’s so much more *fun* to turn it into some sort of (senile?) elaborate street hopping game. 

There were plenty of room for them to keep walking and properly social distancing on the right side of the street. So, maybe there’s some sinister senior citizen ”we demand left-hand traffic to be returned!” uprising. Or possibly a ”I am a senior citizen, whichever side you walk on I must walk too, give way!” movement. 

It was just such utterly weird and unpleasant sudden behavior from a bunch of grey-haired citizens that should know better.

Then someone commented just what I had been thinking, people are losing their minds from all this, stay at home, keeping social distancing, not being able to interact with other people like we used to 5 months ago. 

And you know the occasional oddball you meet on the street sometimes, that's acting similar to this, being rude and confrontational even? That's most likely their only (from their irrational point of view) way to interact socially with other human beings. Maybe we're now seeing a surge of this now? Instead of being kind, polite, talkative, in our craving for more  real life interactions. there's more cavalier, rude and defensive behaviors around? Stirring up a bit of rumpus is more important than social distancing (to some).

And just like these behaviors really made a negative, annoying mark on my day, I wouldn't have much noticed or remembered it if life was fuller, richer and with the once normal little daily interactions and everyday things, good and bad, maybe these senior oddballs felt it was a truly enrichening experience given all the restrictions and strains our lives are under?

Have you possibly experienced something similar lately?

My slowfashion outfit du jour (not granny toddler at all, mind you, but quite grown-up) consisted of

- orange shirt (blend of cotton/viscose, feels a bit like linen) from Swedish company Edblad (not a fan of the company, and I find their mass-produced jewellery very unappealing and, dare I say, cheap looking. But I found it on a toy car outing in 2015, in  their shop in Gåsvik.) I enjoy the colour and texture very much.

- blue-white striped skirt Marimekko (on my top three skirts-list since 2018)

- blue sandals ART shoes (on my top three summer shoes-list since 2015. The year I stopped buying leather shoes.)

melt down perfection

After this past + month with temperatures that made a decent sleep impossible, add to that I struggled with sleeping for months before that too - which I usually love to do, waking up after a good night's rest feeling all perky and energetic is bliss. Strangely enough didn't have sleeping problems with when M had passed away, possibly my life's worst crisis, but my sleep wasn't affected. The body and mind work in mysterious ways... - it's easy to see that sleep deprivation must be an excellent torture method.

There have been some rain this past week. A couple of crazy heavy rainfalls, which were the heaviest I've ever experienced, rain falling both vertically and horisontally. You would expect the weather to become lighter, fresher after that, but insted the humidity was around 99% for days. Which made it feel even hotter than before, and the constant moist surface on skin made body lotions superfluous for sure. And make-up a waste since it just melted away.



These past couple of days have been slighty cooler, at long long last. And it has been easier to sleep. But of course getting back to feeling like myself will take time after these months. It will take many good nights sleeps to get the energy back, the brain to be its usual self, to feel less fragile and stressed.

There are a lot of good articles on sleep deprivation out there, and this one is just one with some hands on tips on how to catch up on lost sleep.

So many fingers and paws crossed for reasonable, cooler summer temperatures now. And great, restful sleeps.

One benefit of high humidity, which by no means trump the fact of all the awful cons of it, is that my hair looks great. Curly, wavy, full and bouncy, even when its dirty (which I kind of feel it is all the time, also thanks to the humidity). The only time ever my hair reacted like this was when I was in Dublin and rain and humidity was basically in the air all week. Well over 15 years ago that.



Another positive thing is that you get less self-concious about your perceived bodily flaws. They may exist only in your head, but they're still there being annoying and useless. In this heat and humidity you simply don't have the energy to spend on that uselessness. Every day is simplified and "How do I get through this day with least amount of effort and least amount of clothes without being in a bikini?" is the pervading focus.

And since every day is a good hair day that's not an issue to ponder with the few brain-cells still available either, hooray.



This past + week has been Stockholm Pride week too. I basically never participate in anything taking place in huge crowds - last year's Climate March being an exception, because when it's really serious even introverts turn up - but I still like to, in my small and colour nerdy way, acknowledge that love is love and what the world desperately need is more kindness. And vegans, which is naturally the epitome of kindness and compassion.

So I've had a couple of lovely, colourful lunches on town - the above photo is a delicious noodle salad with tofu and mango from one of my favourite vegan cafes, Mahalo. You can read about it in my Stockholm guide -, I've taken my little Sonnys on rainbow photo sessions, I've played rainbow with my shoes - which obviously always include snoopervisors that think the world always revolves around them - and I've painted circus nails, rainbow nails. Also I finally got myself a pretty tin of the awesome organic EarlGay tea from Johan & Nyström, which I've enjoyed for my breakfast all week.





And the final organic vegan food box dish this week got a rainbow coloured framing - it lacks in details because it took one tyke named Ztina about five seconds to ruffle and ruin the colourful papers with muddy paw prints, but I kind of like it anyway. And it's the thought behind it that matters, not any perceived perfection. Perfection in imperfection. The dish on display is spicy Saag aloo with potato, spinach and green peas. (Recipe in Swedish here.)

Now I'm looking forward August and a week with finally no more substitute buses for the commuter trains, revitalizing sleeps, awesome job news, some sweet Stockholm outings which is possible to actually enjoy since the weather has cooled down.

I will try to worry less and enjoy more. It won't be easy, it really won't, but just like this whole summer, a day at a time is feasible, right? Right.

dressed for happiness success

Earlier this year I decided I'd post outfits more regularly on Instagram - despite hating to post pictures of myself, other than shoe per diem ones - to inspire people to dress in colours more. The world needs it. Colours equals happiness. And hopefully kindness can tag along there too.

Regularly for me means about once or twice per month. Since I find vegan food, cats and such more fun to photograph than myself. And I'm really not keen on seeing other people obsessively posting selfies either - thank goodness for the new IG mute-button... You can unfollow without unfollow, now, how brilliant is that? - so why should I contribute to that I wonder.



But then sometimes I'm pretty pleased with a particular outfit. And I'm even more pleased when I'm able to thrift something in my own wardrobe that match, the idea I have in my head.

So when my two year old budgie skirt from Palava was finally altered last week I couldn't wait to take it for a spin of course. And this is what I came up with day one.



The blouse is about eight years old, organic cotton in a folklore model, with little birds embroidered at the neck, from Gudrun Sjödén. Haven't used it for years because one of the cats tore a hole in it and I being lazy as usual when it comes to mending, altering and such only just recently mended it. (I will never be a pro on mending, but at least I can wear it now.)

The blue organic cotton cardigan I got in the Marc'O Polo store in Berlin 2011, since I tore a hole in another cardi I had with me, and it has been a faithful, much worn summer companion ever since. It's such a lovely blue hue. And I love how there often are endearing memories attached to specific garments. In this case a bit wistful, I miss Berlin and I miss M, but it was a lovely trip with good memories, as always.



And the shoes are one of my favourites, the yellow El Naturalista Tesela mary-janes from 2010. At least I can never be accused of not being consistent in style. And how utterly fab is it that these shoes, eight plus years later, still are great to look at and walk in? Quality and comfort trumps everything.

Never mind my messy hall, cat food bags and heaps of paper recycling is life too.

In 2013 I bought the Impi dress from Marimekko. I still think it's one of my best garment purchases ever. It's such a carefree and happiness instigating dress - and being very A-line you can indulge in how many cakes your heart and tummy desire without the dress showing, if you are so inclined - which I've had so much fun in over the years.



And since I happened to wear it when I stepped in to the Marimekko store a while back and their new fitting rooms are perfect for outfit selfies I snapped one. Same cardi as above, sandals of 2015 from ART shoes (still super comfortable too) and obviously the Re-Kånken. It's so sweet how no matter what colours you choose you can match everything with that dress.

Since I think it's a perfect summer dress (and yes, it has pockets) I've been meaning to turn that model into other dresses with old, pretty fabrics. But well, since I wasn't able to alter the above budgie skirt until two years had passed that is a major project I don't see come to fruition any time soon...



And since all good things come in three, here's a third outfit that makes me happy - apart from that time an idiot (clearly) snapped a selfie of himself and the seminar audience in which I looked like a super-sized, striped and unflattery fluffy pastry. And posted it on LinkedIn. Oh the joy - the fabulous Marimekko Tasaraita dress, a classic pattern from the 1960ies which is a symbol for equality. It's a very Little My-esque power dress in cotton poplin, and I hope and think it'll be an awesome dressy companion for many years to come.

Even if one of the features that makes it special, the drawstrings, gave me a slight headache a while back. One day I noticed that one of the strings had mysteriously disappeared in to the waist tunnel. And then the other one did too. I couldn't for my life figure out the construction, so I ended up having to go back to the store asking for help. Where I was fortunate enough to stumble on a clerk that had experience with the same issue.



Turns out the two pesky little strings go from left to left side and right to right side, meeting inside the waist tunnel. Which is elaborately designed below the button-up chest part of the dress. I thought the strings where one front and one back. But no, the dress is designed like those ol' gymbags with drawstrings you had in school.

Well-made and interesting, but not the easiest concept to grasp at first. In hindsight it's very logical, but not there and then. Now I can at least sort the issue myself, if it would appear again.

So at the end of this post, my question is of course,
are you already dressed for happiness success in colours or 
are you now inspired to?

ode to fjällräven re-kånken backpack

Once upon a time I had a slight case of addiction fondness for expensive, posh handbags (Mulberry). Back then I didn't have as much trouble justifying buying leather products as I have now. And back then my finances were quite different. As were my shopping habits in general. I'll even admit to feeling pretty embarassed reading old blogposts like this about expensive, leather handbags.

But that was I then, today's I is quite different. What a difference some years make. I'm glad we evolve as human beings, at least on a personal level - as a specie I'm very much not sure.



I've never been a backpack person, it's just not my style. Plus I think it's a drawback to always having to take it off to reach for your belongings. Handbags are much more convenient. That said, I did get my first classic, Swedish Kånken backpack in 2012. For work, and with room enough for laptop.

I haven't carried the laptop around much in it, but it has been great for travelling. My issue with it though, is that my swayback - which is rather prominent - doesn't approve of heavy backpacks and I often end up with an aching back as well as shoulders.

I know you can buy attachments, strap them around your waist and they'll ease the backpack burden. But I haven't been using it quite as much to justify that.



Still, I have been toying with the idea of getting a more Pia appropriate colourful, regular size Kånken for years. And when I heard about a new, special edition called Re-Kånken last year I went and had a look. And fell in colour love. Plus I think it's amazing that the whole backpack is made of one single thread made from 11 plastic PET bottles. Coloured in the Spin dyed-tecchnique, which reduces the environmental impact.



Learn more about it in this video from Fjällräven.

The basic boring colours aside the Re-kånken offers much deeper, brighter colours than the other Kånken backpacks, which also fade in colours over the years. And there's no risk of them bleeding colours on light clothes.

I ended up chosing from the three different colours above, mainly between pink and that gorgeous teal, turquoise called Emerald. When I had a little guessing game on Instagram on which one I chose it was pretty much unanimous that the blue one screamed Pia. And yes, it did. I adore the pink one, but it's trickier to match all year round, for someone who wears as much colours as I. It would be a lovely summer backpack though.



I'm still surprised how quickly I did adapt to being a backpack person. And how fun it has been (especially during the summer months) to unintentionally match it with outfits.



My swayback vs backpack is still bugging me, so I have to be careful not filling it too heavy. And I've noticed that my left thumb grasp is a bit sore by all the hoisting the backpack up on my back. As it isn't conventient to carry the travelcard or iPhone in the backpack you have to carry that in other ways. You just have get new routines for it. For security reasons I have a padlock on it at all times, pick pockets unwelcome.



I've basically worn it every day, I'm out and about, ever since I got it. Come rain come shine. Come work come play. I've managed to stain it with lipstick (the lid came off in the front pocket), but I think it was reasonably easy to clean with soap and water.

As it is re-made from plastic/polyester the surface has become a bit rugged. Which isn't ideal, but I suppose is a price you pay for the material and the awesomeness of how its made. And it's not visible unless you look really close. Also, do note that it's very susceptible to cat hair. In other words, keep it out of reach from felines.



My backpack in general and Kånken in particular loving mother got a red Re-Kånken too.



A funny, unexpected detail of these past 10 months since I got it, is that during the first few months alone I got more compliments from friends and strangers alike on how lovely it looks and how amazing the colour is, than I've gotten for all those years over the expensive, posh, leather handbags. Go figure. Dare to compliment.

Now a little colourful Re-Kånken, shoe per diem, outfit cavalcade over our time together.





















Here's to many years of adventures together! 
And first another, full summer of fun!

a little bit of turquoise here and there

I happened to be sporting my blue sandals while happening to wear turquoise-blue nail polish.
I had just bought a lovely icy blue turquoise-ish cardigan on summer sale in one of my clothes favourite shops in Stockholm.
And then I happened to sit down with a perfect cup of oat-latte at a turquoise table at one of my favourite cafes in this city of mine. (Where I mostly buy fantastic teas.)

Perfectly delightful little matching details, wouldn't you agree?

the blue art sandals of 2015

Behold the blue sandals of 2015 - from ART shoes this time. Because clearly there's a rule that you have to get at least one pair of sandals every summer and pink and red is so 2014. Well not really, they're still really lovely to wear, but blue is the colour (literally) for the summer of 2015.



Perhaps slightly frumpy in style from the side, but oh so very comfortable. Supportive, airy and very pro-swaying gait. I chose between this turquoise blue and a pair of really lovely pink ones (not at all the pink of last summer's sandals). It was a tough choice, but the blue ones won.



I've worn them only once so far, the Swedish summer weather has but for a day here and there not been very kind so far - which is surprising given the last few years of really hot summers, too hot for comfort. I would love more sunshine and I do think I need to take those vitamin D2 supplements again if this will continue. But the nature seems very happy and very green with the weather we're having - hopefully that will change. And it'll be a blue swinging summer.

How about you, 
have you found any perfect 
summer sandals of 2015?

like a boss with a fancy for colours

This must come as a surprise, I know. That I would stoop so low as to buy training shoes instead of something proper and real from El Naturalista or ART. But fear not, a new pair of lovely summer sandals have been invested in a while ago too.

The reason for these trainers is simply that I've been meaning to start my days with a power walk for a long time now but I haven't gotten around to getting a decent pair shoes for this purpose. I'm so not a trainers person (obviously), it's a jungle of brands, models and prices out there, I have no inclination at all to try my way around boring sporty shoe shops and I'm certainly not going to pay a hefty price for something as dull as training shoes.

But then I got a newsletter with 'sales on trainers' recently and this colour popped. At a very decent price and from the various reviews it seemed like a good shoe. And vegan at that. My first impression was that they are so LIGHT! I'm used to the sturdiness and quality of El Naturalista so this was a surprise. Other than that the model is nice but I decided I need to return this pair and go up 0,5 in size. Love the colour too. Ideally I wanted a pink/orange pair but just as long as they're in bright, fun colours I'm happy. And comfortable obviously. Hopefully the new pair will arrive tomorrow already so I can take them for a power walking spin this weekend.

Though enough about the shoes already! Do you see the pink awesomeness I'm holding? A fabulous pink stapler is something I've looked for for the office for quite some time now. In vain. Either there are no pink or they have a crazy price tag. This one wasn't exactly cheap, but a reasonable price for a quality piece in pink.



Retro classic from Rapid in Strawberry pink - and if I didn't know better I could have sworn it grew out of my office wall! It simply takes the word matching to completely new heights. Awesome, essential office supplies are the best.

And good shoes.

The best boss in the whole wide world totally agrees with that. I'm so grateful and glad I can call her my boss.

dear human, your granny square shoes are awesome

Remember the fabulastic granny square boots? Even if I may not wear them as much as one might think I love them lots. And so do the cats. Obviously. Because surely it can't simply be a case of lens louseness?

freezing stockholm

i can't believe how cold the weather has become lately. though it is after all november any day now. but it feels like summer was only last week somehow. i'm just not ready for this.

today was the day when both boots and the fabulous happy coat got the seasonal first wear. and it wasn't a bad decision. which make me both sad and happy at the same time. when cold winds blow in stockholm.

all the pretty green shoes

For years now I've had to do a photo session with all and the bobbaloos all in one photo. And possibly a cat or two too. In their natural inspector roles of course. You don't get a cat to pose in the way one little loaf did. Only if they wish so themselves. I'm glad they surprisingly often do.

When the idea rose I had a *slight* less amount of shoes. And bobbaloos. So for now I've had fun with taking photos of shoes in a certain colour. Or boots only. Or oxfords. Or maryjanes. And such. Doing it in smaller portions like that I also feeling *slightly* less like a crazy shoe lady.

Well, at least 95% of my shoes are of the eco friendly, recycled material, % of the price go to good causes kind. With every thing you buy you make a choice of what kind of world you want to live in. And that's certainly the kind of world I want.

Now if the shoes could be either recycled leather or vegan that would certainly be even better.

Today it was the green shoes collection that got their group portrait taken. Bye bye summer sandals, hello soon boots days.

By the look of Little Miss Inspector's face one might think I spend more time with them shoes than them cats her. I can assure you I do not.

I've now taken colour coordinated shoe pictures of the blue, winered/pink and green bunch. To be taken are that of the red, purple, black/grey (a few only obviously) and yellow/orange/brown groups. Such fun. In a possibly tad mad way.

All shoes from either El Naturalista or ART shoes. As usual.

three signs of autumn

lawnmower gargoyle has met his furry little match. 

it is high time to move into garden shed.

the clematis and green grass lingering on. 

but the orange leafs of autumn is taking over.

it is the season for oxfords. 

and little feline shoe inspectors.

meet cute on world laughter day

Who knew there was such a thing as the World Laughter Day? Not me at least. And yes, befitting indeed regarding yesterday's blog post about love and magic, I do agree with Elephant's Child that more laughter is also something the world is in dire need of.

Myself I laugh a lot in general, because there are indeed lot of amusing and laughable things to be seen, heard, experienced plus clever people around. In a bleak world there are still many things of beauty, love and laughter to be grateful about, it's important to enjoy them. Laughter is good for the health, body and mind.

Here are three incidents I rejoiced over today. Of very different kinds. From smile to giggle to laughter.



Me and my shoe per diem met a spout with a special pout.



Did my annual taxes and invented the word and hashtag "deklarationsbakelse" on Twitter and Instagram. It means that when you've done your taxes you deserve a pastry ie declarationpastry. It's mindboggling that noone has come up with the word before! (Me neither, but better late than never.) Life needs both words and action so I did the right thing and had a nice lunch incl one of my favourite pastries, banana cream.



And then my home and garden got a pug visit. The fella who is always happy to see the cats and if he could sing he'd sing "Like to get to know you well, so we could be friends forever"...



And the cats would swiftly reply "Shouldn't think so buddy!". I got the pictures to prove it.

What made you laugh today?