a little pot of rainbow rain

Smitten by this little pot spotted in Copenhagen. Which has so far proven useful for squeezing the last bit of life out of the asters picked three weeks ago. 

A befitting part of my little sweet and inspirational bits and bobs collection in the Prosit pink office. 

From Bloomingville, just as the wee adorable hazelmouse cup.

on the importance of colour coordinated shopping

My preferred things to souvenir-y shop these days seem to be

a) tea

b) nailpolish

And most of all, lovely tea in pretty tins make be really very happy. Did it in Berlin, now done it in Copenhagen.

This time I bought tea from the Danish tea merchant A.C Perch - adore the design of the tins! They come in many colours and I would have loved to have them all, but of course that would have been silly so I opted for the two must haves; pastel pink and green. Filled them with green rooibos pear ginger and rooibos rhubarb. Both very nice, if not as flavour packed as Løv tea. Lovely old tea shop, which also have a tea room that serves afternoon tea (next time).

The three OPI polishes are Suzi has a Swede tooth (pink), Berlin there done that (grey/beige, obviously I wanted to get this one in Berlin, but I didn't find it) and My gecko does tricks. The reason for splashing out on three bottles was that it was a 2 for 3 deal, with an additional discount for tourists. Ie impossible to say no to obviously,

The tiny, adorable cup with a wee dormouse is from Danish design house Bloomingville.

All items have been paw approved.

And I think circus nails in all three colours turned out rather nice in a fun yet polished (no pun intended) way.

hey june

I am in you. And I have three happy dresses to get me through both you and you siblings July and August in care-free style.

So happy dress of 2012 and happy dress of 2013 say hello to happy, albeit slightly subdued by comparison, dress of 2014. We're going to have so so so much fun together, I'm sure!

Happy dress 2012 + 2014 from Danish Masai
Happy dress Impi of 2013 from Marimekko

easter hoptimist inspection

This unexpected gift today made me really really happy. Because I've been looking for an Easter Hoptimist for years, in vain. The model is sadly not available in shops in Stockholm anymore and every Easter just seems to happen to appear before I have the time to buy one from the web shop.



This year I got one and just in time for Easter! Feeling all hoptimistically bouncy.



The Prosit sisters did a dutiful inspection. All was well and they were able to give two x four paws up.

Easter Hoptimist will now join the Hoptimist family of two, Little Lime and Reindeer. A trio of goodness and fun, just in time for my favourite holiday Easter.

eating out - 42 raw, copenhagen

Copenhagen has always been good to vegetarians, but I tend to return to favourite places rather than try new ones. This time however we tried three new places, two vegan, one organic with vegetarian options. Let's just say the quality was very varied. . This review is all about the place/food I loved, 42Raw. Yes, all raw food and fabulously so.

(Every raw food experience I have is of course compared with the divine La Mano Verde one, none has so far reached that level of awesomeness, the skill, talent and fingerspitzgefühl to prepare raw food is obviously in a completely different league than cooking food the usual way.)



I had the thai noodle salad with chili, it way really lovely, creamy, fresh, flavourful and hot in a pleasing way. Accompanied by the freshly squeezed juice called Stockholm (I obviously had to have that one) with carrots, apple, mango and ginger. A very satisfying and energizing meal. I wish more lunches could be like that!



M had an avocado sandwich which he enjoyed very much (he is ridiculously picky when it comes to inventive vegetarian/vegan food and fresh eating 'i don't like those green leafy things!', 'weird spices!' etc. So for him liking something like this, well it must be good then).



We also loved the ginger shot, served with a fresh piece of apple. What a pick me up!



Interior-wise it's fresh, clean, raw, no fuss café style (though lacking in coziness). A nice display of food and ingredients. Apart from main dishes and sandwiches they also offer an array of sweet treats, 'bread', breakfasts, nuts, seeds and raw food ingredients, hot and cold drinks. The service is friendly and quick, the prices moderate. If this was in Stockholm it would be one of my favourite cafés, for the food, for sure. Oh yes I wish I lived closer to a place like 42 Raw, lucky copenhagers.



Food - 4/5
Service - 3/5
Ambiance - 3/5
Value for money - 4/5

42 Raw,
Pilestraede 32,
DK-1112 Copenhagen, Denmark

green copenhagen

Spent a few hours in the Botanical Gardens of Copenhagen, on yet another day when the temperatures hit +35C, before lunch and a long drive back home.



A large garden in the middle of the city, calm and surprisingly little visitors made for the perfect place for a slow walk and contemplation. And not to forget, no bikes allowed on the premises. Which is a huge relief when you constantly have to be alert as not to be run down by bikers (and no of course I'm not talking about walking in the designated bike lane), yes there is sadly the downside to something as seemingly great as a biking country, the lack of consideration and ignoring of traffic rules, not something only appliable to car drivers, unfortunately.





While in this green haven (albeit granted a rather tired and seemingly not well loved garden, which was a pity) we noticed lots of police sirens and helicopters above. Later we learnt that the Danish police made rather a fool of themselves, in quite an unprofessional way, suspecting a Swedish car owned by an easy to reach TV-director/inventor holding a car bomb, thus closing down parts of Copenhagen for a few hours. Oh dear.





It's been way to long since we were in Copenhagen, one of my favourite cities in the world, it was lovely to visit again, we had great (and not so great) food (which I will write properly about later), soaking up that special copenhagian ambiance galore including turtle and duckling encounters. But the traffic situation was quite hellish, road works, building works EVERYWHERE, poorly signed, detours that didn't work and we even got stopped by the police and got a hefty fine (which I in no way think was appropriate given the traffic situation, just seriously bad will). Also later got a parking ticket for no clear reason. We've never ever experienced issues like this driving in Denmark before, obviously it left a bad aftertaste to what would have otherwise been pretty much pure copenhagian summer loveliness.

And yes, it was yet another day of Impi dress wearing, it may very well be the best buy of my year, the perfect happy, unpretentious wear for all these hot, too hot summer days we've been having.

lady bug landing strip

colourful little moments in a sunny copenhagen on a day which also held a pretty tunic, excessive walking, a rather disappointing vegan raw food dinner at a hyped place.

and acting landing strip for a ladybug. twice. surely that must be a lucky sign?

forbrydelsen

I adore Danish television-series, and obviously many movies too, I'm always amazed at how multilayered, emotional, intelligent, intriguing, stylish (well, not too surprised about that bit I guess) and overall fantastic they are. (And yes, I know, I've seen some really lousy Danish series/movies too, but I so prefer to dwell on the really good ones.)

We're now fully enjoying the third season of the stunning "Forbrydelsen" (The Crime/Brottet in Swedish) - nb, should not be mistaken for the crappy, poor Swedish and American imitations of the same - here, with its usual mesmerizing soundtrack that draws you right into the story.

If you haven't seen this series, do asap. Top quality, great actors, chilling stories, fabulous settings, clever TV. Season one - Season two

Other Danish television series not to be missed are;

Borgen - about the life of a female Danish prime minister

Livvagterne - (The Bodyguards), about the Danish national police branch involved in personal protection

Örnen - (The Eagle) about a Danish task force helping to solve internation crimes

Nikolaj & Julie - a romantic drama from 2002-03

Lykke - a comedy about the public relations at a pharmaceutical company, much more entertaining that it sounds

My perfect Sunday evenings right now are spent like above, 9 pm, in front of the TV, a cup of tea and a knitting watching "Forbrydelsen III".

What's your perfect TV evening these days?

the bestest skirt of mine

Ten plus years ago I fell head over heels for this amazing two-sided cotton skirt with raw edges and lots of fabulous handmade details. Over the years I've gotten lots of compliments for it, but I think it's the type of quirky style/skirt you either love or hate.



Sadly Noa Noa hasn't produced any skirts similar to this since - and of course I only got one back then - and it's only in theory that it would be easy to recreate something like it. It would take a lot of time, the sewing and embroidering, I'm sure. I don't have the patience for it. I would love to get one or two more in the exact same style though.

This one has been an eager summer traveller, Florida, South Africa, all over Europe, it does show, the button holes are much larger than the buttons now - I really need to fix that... -, the raw edges are rawer than ever, but still, for a ten plus years frequently used skirt it's definitely still going strong! And I adore the effortlessness of raw edges.



What's your favourite garment/s? And why?
Do you still wear it frequently?

hoptimist

Created in 1968 by Danish furniture designer Gustav Ehrenreich the Hoptimist has now been re-launched. The little fella (who comes in different sizes, models in plastic and wood) is certainly a moodlifting creation. I chose a wee green one (Baby Bumble Little Lime) to have nodding encouragingly beside my computer.

But before he can start his new job it seems like the bobbaloos think Little Lime needs to learn not to be this perky. Always. Because that simply can't be healthy. Perkiness in adequate doses. So Little Lime is still in session with the bobbaloos and I'm alone at the computer. It'll do for now.

Now is when I'll go and try squeeze the good out of my last holiday weekend - next week I fear Little Lime will be very busy beside my computer... - hope your weekend will be a lovely spent one.

Be kind to eachother ~

and we are home again

Back in Sweden, back home. It feels awesome to sleep in one's own bed, have the cups of tea just the way I like them, cuddle with furries and just be me, here and now. But it was a brilliant trip, actually one of the best holidays yet I've been on. It may have been the company of bobbaloos, it may have been other factors. But them bobs have been so much fun (mostly, not counting the incident with them raiding the hotelroom bar and a few times of too much caffeine) and overall very pleasant fellow travellers.

All and all, so much experienced, so much seen, new and old, so many photos taken, great food - including one, if not THE, best meal I've had so far and it was vegan and partly raw food. Of course more of that to come in a pretty post of its own - great coffee, lovely shopping, including too many a few fine shoes, lots of Bookcrossing, being inspired, being uplifted, being tired and exhausted by all the walking, driving and too little sleep, having overall very good weather (never too hot and never raining). Lots of lovely loveliness, since I have been able to be quite good at staying in the mindfullness of here and now. Mostly.

In the end it was just too laborious to try and connect with the computer during the time away, so the Internet connection was strictly iPhoneic hence no blogging. I've regularly uploaded iPhone snaps to Flickr, but now commence the downloading, uploading, editing of the 'real deal'. Which will take its sweet time...

There are hundreds of stories to tell, thousands of photos to show, but for now, a few beach snaps which, surprisingly amidst all the citiness of this trip, symbolize treasured golden moments during the very same trip.

PS The bobbaloos have also made a new little green Danish friend, he's called Hoptimist Baby Bumble Little Lime. A very happy, bouncy li'l fella. I'm hoping too that he'll have a positive influence on not only the bobs (as if they need that, bah!) but on my imminent future, come end of vacation time in a couple of weeks. DS

bobbaloos on holiday

According to a list I got today this is what the bobbaloos want on a holiday:

1. Stay in a castle
2. En-suite WC
3. Their own travelling funds
4. Party accessories
5. Outings

What the bobbaloos want, the bobbaloos (mostly) get. Do note that all these treats do not come from me. From me they would have gotten a basket to sleep in and outings. They are now officially sponsored and spoiled by M.

5) They get outings galore, from Scania (Skåne), to Berlin, to short stop Copenhagen. Their suitcase is filled with candy in case there'll be shortage of food (as if).

4) They have their very own champagne party popper *not that I'll allow them to take that with them*, earplugs for me and in case they party too much there's a first aid kit for mending. Plus a supersized toothbrush so they don't forget to brush their teeth. Apparently there's also something called a banquet and party service for bobbaloos (who knew). For some reason that scares me.

2) Their own toilet to-go.

3) Chubs is guarding the travelling funds. Unlike undersigned it is very unlikely she'll splurge the money on shoes.

1) They will get to sleep in a castle. Seth and Leonard are already practising their sleeping positions.

The aim is to keep in touch with blog during our the bobbaloos' trip. A little snap a day, Internet-connection permitted (it was a grand such last year, I'm sure it will me this time too. With an odd update on Twitter too, I'm sure). House-, cat-, dog sitter will stay in house (no need to trouble yourselves, burglars) and we are soon of on a hopefully fabulastic holiday trip again. For now, cheerio ~

lego boxes

I won't be using these oversized Lego bricks as the lunch boxes they're meant to be, but as trinket boxes (can't have too many of those...). Their design makes me very happy. Wish they came in more colours and reasonable sizes. But for now, one baby blue, one pink.

I did play with Lego when I was a kid too. My father totally enjoyed it too, although his skills in designing fancy houses far surpassed mine and somehow demolish them wasn't on the little-Pia-agenda and my interest for Lego petered.

When in Berlin past summer I visited a friend whose little boy - I'm not easily charmed, but he was really one of the quirky sweetest children I've ever met, a much loved well-behaved 4 year old, full of character and fascinating thoughts - who had so much fun with Lego. As we played I realized I could get really absorbed by all the possibilities with these creative plastic boxes in different sizes... But no, I think I'll just stick with a couple of happy looking trinket boxes that make me smile. The grown up Lego style.

one car less

I like this. The idea and the "number plate".
Just another piece of excellent Danish design.

(Found in the Christiania area of Copenhagen past summer.)

summer snaps copenhagen

Do note the very happy and excited blue toe while crossing the Öresund bridge

And as the perfect round-off to this year's summer holiday - the part that doesn't take place as a staycation that is - a few days in Copenhagen - because what would a summer be without some days in Copenhagen? Bah, nothing - some snaps to go ~

So the Danes not only have excellent taste in design,

there's proof of taste in cars too.

My favourite car spotted as we're entering the city.

Score! World's best ice latte, in Baresso only.

Another lovely dinner at sweet Thé à la Menthe,

vegetarian samosas and delicious Moroccan spiced salads.

It's good to have your own personal shopping bag handler,

when the carrying gets too tough (last sales and all that).

For some reason this shop sign always makes me feel quite at home.

A great shoe per diem moment -

lunch at Morgonstedet in Christiania

(of which there most certainly will be a proper post later).

I think this was a clever ad for a Danish
summer film festival of some sort, zulu.dk.

Never did sample this ice cream,

despite them claiming they had

the best one in the whole of Copenhagen.

Loved their colourful, happy looking

seating arrangement though.

What began with an ice latte, ended with one.

Bye, bye Copenhagen, we'll be back...