art oteiza boots in purple

A simple introduction to the latest shoe (boots) arrival. A pre-birthday gift that obviously had my name written all over them; just one pair left, my size, 50% sale, a lovely colour (that is seemingly impossible to get right in picture, but a delightful blend of purple and winered) and the model needless to say spoke to me... Adore the rounded toes! And the leather texture, though of course I wish it was recycled leather... Hopefully something that we will see more of in a near future! From ART shoes.

Won't be inauguarated until it gets below zero, so I can't say if they're only pretty to look at and not comfortable yet. But they do feel comfortable and the heel height is perfect (thought it would be higher, but this is just like my favourite shoe model, the El Naturalista Tesela ie perfection).



Will you be getting new boots this season?
If so, where from and what colour?

life without a smartphone - books, yarn, movies and cats

This past week without an iPhone has been quite enlightening. In an interesting blend of frustration and liberation. And philosophy.

~ as I am a person who sees EVERYTHING in pictures it's been such a wonderful thing to be able to quickly capture that with a smartphone, instead of all those years of most always carrying around the DSLR in the handbag. So when I suddenly found myself without that possibility it's been difficult to fully enjoy moments out and about with things that can't be captured, remembered, shared in the way one has grown used to. I don't think life is necessarily richer or poorer without that, but it has been an eye-opener, something to ponder.

~ if you can't capture moments and things with a camera/smartphone, have they really happened, do they really exist?

~ with not having the possibility an arm's length away to tweet or instagram and so forth, the options of reading, knitting and watching movies a plethora this weekend have been easy. So that's what I've done. It's been lovely.

 

After taking this picture this back-piece of the sweater to be is finished and I've knitted half of the front-piece too. Hopefully the sweater will actually be finished in a very reasonably amount of time. If it will look good and fit, that remains to be seen.

Finished two books, on with just some chapters left, the other one with just some chapters read. Both very enjoyable in their own ways. Plan to write more about them later. Begun reading a new book, not sure if it's worth my time though, some foodie chiclit that doesn't really appeal. Time's too short to be reading unappealing literature.



Not all paw inspectors are skillful. Seconds after this picture was taken the liquorice one tried to ran away with the knitting and his claws made a bit of damage to the sweater to be. He will not be hired to do more yarn and knitting inspecting.

Not sure what I'll be doing with the insights above when new iPhone will be in use, perhaps make a real effort to put the phone away on weekends and concentrate on reading, knitting and movies?

Do you have any strategies regarding
your use and non-use of your smartphone?

knitting a sweater

For a while now I've been oogling a fabulously pretty, colourful, striped sweater in a little yarn shop's window - but do I really feel like knitting a sweater? Haven't I most always been terribly disappointed by the end result when it comes to cardigans and sweaters, either too big or too small, most always ill-fitting?

Today I decided I would at least ask how much the yarn would be for that sweater. Turned out it would be crazy expensive actually, so it was alas not for me. But, the original pattern called for organic wool in natural colours only (which I tend to find rather boring generally) and the totally cost for that would be about a third of the price for the colourful yarn. Which would indeed be more than a reasonable price for it!

So I went with a pale grey (much like the iPad cover, perhaps grey is partly my "colour" for the season?) and chose one colourful hank to create some perky striped parts amidst all the grey to create a bit of oomf. It's such an adorable, simple pattern, I hope my knitting skills will be up for making a sweater that I will actually enjoy wearing.

This will be my first yarn project for myself this autumn/winter season. What's yours?


The pale lavender hank in front was on sale,
it will be turned into a cosy cap for winter season 2013.

world animal day ~ cinnamon bun day

When the Swedish Cinnamon Bun Day coincide with World Animal Day,
the obvious thing to do is eat (more) cinnamon buns and
not your fellow earth beings, other animals. Of course.

Me, I'm not sure I will eat any cinnamon buns today, I'm a bit tired of
the commercialism surrounding it and the original idea when the day
was established 14 years ago was not commercial as such but with a
charitable intent. The aftertaste is a bit burnt.
Read more about it in this article on ZippyEster
(in Swedish only).

Whether or not you'll feast on cinnamon buns today you can always do
good for animals, with the choice of food on your plate, your money,
your time and a good cuddle.

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress
can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated"
~Gandhi



Happy World Animal Day,
Happy Cinnamon Bun Day,
Happy Weekend ~

tedx stockholm warm up - unchartered waters

Went to my first Tedx Stockholm talk this evening. With the theme being Unchartered waters - navigating the unknown. My short and personal summary about it is this;

~ my mind was not blown by the two Swedish speakers, but one of them made me think and new thoughts and ideas are never bad to get.

~ my mind was very impressed and rather blown my this girl talking on video though, Adora Svitak - if you haven't seen it, go do so NOW!

~ the venue and the ambiance were lovely, but as I was quite content and occupied with the company I went there with I wasn't really interested in talking to new people. That's possibly something to change next time - though even if my mind rarely needs a rest from new ideas it more often than not needs a rest from interacting with new people. As much as it can be lovely, it can also be quite exhausting albeit inspiring.

As this evening was only the warm up for the main event on October 21, things can only get better. And it will. And next time I will indeed have a new iPhone to tweet and snap from (it's rather scary how vulnerable and unaccessable you can feel without a smartphone, how quickly you get accustomed to its usefulness and being a part of who you are and a work tool. And how quickly that can be snatched away...)

Have you been to a Tedx event, or even a real Ted event?
What did you think, was your mind blown?

the carrot day after

With only few hours sleep after the day that ended with the iPhone theft the day has been incredibly busy, not only with the unfortunate aftermath of said theft but with good things too. I'm so grateful for the good things which always make the other things more bearable and possibly kept in proportion.

Today I learnt that with all the chatting the customer service at phone companies and insurance companies want to do no wonder the telephone queues are so long. I won't complain about that though, because I much rather talk to those überfriendly people than the opposite (as an odd phoney that is indeed nice for a change).

I also learnt that I'm far from the only one experiencing and taking notice of serendipity. Heart.

And that when a new pair of shoes arrive (the pre-birthday gift boots, which looked utterly übercool and snazzy) and you don't have an iPhone to take an Instagram snap with it's pretty much like those boots don't exist at all. (How about that for a first world problem!)

That even if you do get compensation from the insurance company it's far beyond what a new phone will cost. But something is better than nothing. One day I will be a rich girl thus then semi-laugh at having to pay so much for getting a working tool and essential gadget replaced, just because someone else couldn't respect other people's property.

That it's good to actually have a clear image beforehand of the steps you have to take to get control over matters when something like this happens. Because something like this always happens unexpectedly.

And that when there's no cake in sight, having a bunch of carrots is always a nice way to perk oneself up. At least for us "suffering" from the carrot defect.

stolen iphone

Goodbye iPhone, it has been a pleasure to know you, this evening October 1, 2013 you were stolen from a cafe in Stockholm by a beggar in one of all those seemingly countless gangs of thieves around these days.

Of course I am really upset that it happened at all, I'm always really careful with my belongings, but he sneaked up on us from behind the armchair and before I managed to grab my handbag he obviously snatched the iPhone. I noticed it was gone when I was on the train 20 minutes later. Went back to the cafe looking for the phone, naively still hoping it had just fallen out from handbag on the floor where we sat, where I learnt about it being a significant problem with beggers and thieves roaming the place this past year. (This is one of my favourite cafes and I have meetings there quite often without really having noticed the problem until now.)

I am so grateful I have a code lock on the phone - if you don't PLEASE get it asap! - and that I don't have any bank apps, too personal information and such on it. I have the 'find my iPhone' activated, but the device is offline. The phone is now locked at the phone company, I've reported the theft to the police, changed my passwords to be on the safe side anyway. Will have to contact the insurance company tomorrow and then see about getting a new phone.

As this was also my work phone it's double nuisance of course. I'm grateful I at least synchronized it with the iPad, hopefully the phone book and calender is reasonably intact...

I'm oh so well aware that things could be so much worse, if I hadn't reacted so quickly and grabbed my bag he could have taken the wallet, the iPad, the whole handbag and that would have been absolutely devastating.

Before I left home today I also happened to make a way overdue back-up of the +2000 photos I had on the iPhone - I concider that a case of serendipity too.

This was not the perfect way to start October, it's indeed rather upsetting, but bad stuff happens too of course and in the big scheme of things, all things concidered and so forth... I will now go cuddle something furry and comforting. And get myself a cup of tea to try and wind down (although two large soy lattes this evening will probably keep me awake all night anyway...).

And wish for October to improve its awesome-factor.
Because, dear October, I know you can do it!

adieu september ~

One of the sweetest song verses I know is "Keep your heart open, your eyes shut tight, what will be will be..." - I do try and keep both heart and eyes open (but when I wish for something special I tend to keep them eyes shut tight), though when things doesn't go my way, right here, right now I know that what will be will be. Because they are meant to.

That feeling, that belief does make it easier to take setbacks. And of course, the working towards the goal/s will continue, cross-fertilisation and serendipity oh how I heart you. (Yes I do make an effort with the happy place thing, I owe that to myself and the world around me...)

Today was the day we said goodbye to September, another month that just said swoosh. I think that, alongside the previous summer months, you will be remembered as an overall rather fine month indeed. So thank you, and could you please whisper in the ear of October to continue on this lovely path of goodness?

I ended the month in style, with getting tickets for upcoming TEDxStockholm events, the first warm up now on Thursday Oct 3 already and the main one is on October 21 - I'm sure me and my fellow happy muse will be inspired in new ways.

Adieu September,
hallo October,
what will be will indeed be ~


-- The sweet song verse is from You and I, part II by Fleetwood Mac

sunday deception and such

some lessons learnt today, on the last sunday of september.

~ that all is not always what it seems. that some companies, organisations and pr-agencies think decieving and lying is a  good and successful way to build meaningful and long-term relations with customers and users. i am, as usual, dumbstruck at the stupidity and lack of respect.

in this particular case it's about the restaurant dill sthlm in fact being an anagram for lidl (yes really), read more about it in my original post from a few days back (incl rather unpleasant comments, in swedish, from an employee...).

~ confirmation that i really should keep questioning things, not be easily charmed and trust the gut feeling. (the latter still being a bit of a problem since my old keep analyze and question myself-trait is not an easy one to ignore...)

~ that not having a daily dose of sun and/or warmth makes for a tired mind and body. no matter how sparkling in red, orange and yellow this season is.

~ a big fat confirmation that re-checking details is a good thing, that even people whose job it is to check other people's work can make mistakes. and that a good memory for details is never ever a bad thing.

~ that a 50% sale and only my size left on a pair of great and quirky looking tall boots must be a sign that a pre-birthday gift is called for.

~ that cats who think empty food bowls during nights is a bad bad thing have refined their behaviour into knocking, yes knocking not scratching, on bedroom doors for a refill. yes it's rather an eerie experience. but i'm also quite pleased to be sharing home with such clever, silly little furballs.

what sunday lessons did you learn today?

shoe per diem last september week 2013

Trying to make the most of each day shoewise since you never know when you actually need to succumb to wearing socks. Me I'm still adamantly refusing, just wearing leggings makes me feel restrained and uncomfortable. I don't think I've ever felt this unhappy about summer being over. Hopefully I will somehow feel different and content with autumn when October arrives, it is after all my month.

But for now, I hold on, a little bit to summer and bare legged days. Shoes worn during the last week of September 2013.



El Naturalista two-strap Tesela red maryjanes



the heart slippers from Birkenstock (working at home shoes)


El Naturalista Tesela winered oxfords - and wearing nylons wasn't at all pleasant, but weather called for



ART granny square boots - and yes a rather fab blue hue on nails, Orly Witch's blue (which soMeone says is a very obvious colour for me, hrmf...)



El Naturalista Tesela purple short boots



El Naturalista Dome pink/winered maryjanes

It was good week that went. On many levels. Not only because of the fab shoes worn.



PS Someone asked me recently how I avoid blisters with all the walking I do and mostly without socks. I have to say that once upon a time I had a terrible problem with blisters appearing all the time. But somehow that changed gradually when I began wearing El Naturalista (and I'm not even paid for saying this!) and ART shoes, somehow they've been mostly good for feet also in the blister-department. Even when the shoes are new. With exceptions. Now and then I do get the odd blister still. I put on a patch and change shoes for a while. Just this past summer I find that a patch containing aloe vera is a really good thing for a sore foot with blister.

How do you combat blisters? DS