Gloreous Spaces
Isn’t it lovely? ♥
A New Week Yields New Opportunities
Hello! ♥
I came home from work on Wednesday, and had never felt more tired!
Over night I caught both a fever and a cold, and both Thursday and Friday were spent in bed feeling sorry for myself.
However, for over two months now, me and my Norwegian college friends from the US had planned an event on Friday, and they were all coming to our place to barbeque, pregame and go to a David Guetta concert!
I managed to sit and enjoy the company while covered in blankets, and after taking a much needed power nap right before leaving, I was able to go. I even had a great time even though I was pretty sick!
My body wasn’t as happy with my decision to go though, so I felt like crap when we got home (before midnight).
Saturday I went back to my home town! It was the only weekend this summer that me, my brother and sister were able to be home at the same time, so my parents wanted me to come visit so that we could have 24 hours of quality family time. My mom prepared a delicious meal for us, and we ended up spending hours and hours just sitting around the table drinking wine, talking and laughing. ♥
Sunday I visited a few of my girlfriends before heading back to Oslo. Today I’m back at work, and I have a couple more days here before I head to Brazil. I hope I’m a 100% well by then!
I’m having a family dinner with my boyfriend’s side of the family tonight, and tomorrow I’ll be packing and cleaning clothes.
Wednesday will be my last night home, and I’m first having dinner with a girlfriend, before spending some quality time with my boyfriend.
You’ll hear from me in Brazil dolls! ♥
June 12th 2012
Hello Everyone! ♥
I haven’t had too much to write about lately, as the days have basically been flying by!
I’ve pretty much only been at work the whole time, and counting down the days until I leave for Brazil!
Only 9 days left! Woop Woop!
It’s raining outside today, which sucks as I took my bike to work. Wearing SHORTS. Not the brightest call! Oh well…
My boyfriend is in London for a business meeting today, which means I have the house to myself!
I’m planning on doing very little, perhaps prepare some delicious food and pamper myself with a pedicure and face-mask..
I’ve also started reading the book “Naken i Hijab” (Naked in a Hijab) by Gunn Marit Nisja, which is turning out to be a very good book, and I will probably dive back into that too today.
I love books where the location is set in the Middle East. I find it so exotic! “The Kite Runner”, “A Thousand Splendid Suns”, “Rooftops of Theran“, you name it!
What is your favorite book-location, and do you have any book suggestions for me?
Candy Bar
This is the season for weddings, and something I really got a thing for is a candy bar at the reception.
There are so many creative ways to do it, and it looks so beautiful! ♥
Look at all this pretty inspiration! I made the collage using pictures via Pinterest.
Enjoy Life
I was very inspired by Lise today, who had written beautifully in Norwegian about 14 ways to live.
Life can often become routine, which can be both comfortable and easy, but a life without living is not a fully lived life, in my opinion. My boyfriend and I have often pondered about how we want to live our lives, and one thing that is very clear to both of us is that we don’t want to take the usual bus-route. You know, where you just go from one stop to the next, starting with a job, a house, then a dog, a minivan, kids, and all the other traditional things that are often socially expected of you.
Eventually I too would like to have kids and a dog, and these things can definitely make life worth living, but as of right now my priorities are to develop myself and stake out a future where I actually live, not just exist.
Looking back at life I want to be able to say I grabbed the opportunities that came by, explored the world, helped people, and was creative and able to see something beautiful in every day. If you want to do the same, I hope the following can be your inspiration..
Love. Fall in love if you are not already in love. Let your heart break, dare to love. Love your family, friends, whoever you want – it does not necessarily have to be a romantic love. Pursue the love around you. Love is the most beautiful thing of all.
Experience. Walk outside. In pouring rain or sunlight. Take a walk on the beach. Run through the forest. Swim in the beautiful ocean. Walk barefoot through the grass. Feel the sun kiss your skin and watch a ladybug climb a leaf.
Food. Don’t just eat – enjoy it! Feel the pleasure from all the delicious different tastes. Dare yourself to try something new. Visit a local or foreign restaurant or store. Try new spices and fruits.
Moring routine. Set your timer to the early hour. Give yourself plenty of time before you actually need to get up. Avoid the stress, and just lie in bed and feel your existence. Watch the sun rise. Drink a hot cup of tea or newly brewed coffee. Take a morning run. Think that this day won’t go to waste. This will be a good day.
Try something new. Ask yourself ”what new can I do this week?” Send someone a letter? Call a long lost friend? Tell someone you care about them. Sometimes you have no idea how much of a difference that can make to somebody.
Cry. Let it be a much needed relief. Cry to sad movies, funerals, when you are hurt, or when someone you care about is hurt.
Live in the moment. Don’t think of all the things you need to do. Focus on what you are doing right now. Is this what you want? Do you feel happy? Touch your skin. Experience your own breath. Listen to the sounds around you. Smile.
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Laugh until you cry. Nothing in the world feels as good as genuine laughter. Share stories and memories, watch comedies, laugh at your own stupidity or mistakes, share it with someone and give someone else a laugh. My mom is great at this one. Not only does she have the most contagious and wonderful laugh there is, she is also incredibly forgetful when it comes to remembering what our car looks like (except the color), so you can imagine all the fantastic stories about how my mom got into the wrong car after visiting the supermarket.. A good Norwegian quote says “a good laugh prolongs life”.
Talk to old people. You might never find someone as wise and with as much experience as those who have almost lived a whole life. Everyone has a story, and who doesn’t want to be heard? You can get the greatest stories and best advices.
Help others. Help out a neighbor. Carry someone’s groceries. Become a sponsor for an organization. Deliver clothes to the Salvation Army. Volunteer. Adopt a pet or a child. Helping someone who needs it can make a huge difference to someone else, and also to yourself.
Play with children. Your own or someone else’s. Children are curious and eager to learn. They are creative and adventurous. Adults should sometimes look to their children to learn how to live in the moment.
Kiss in the rain. Or buy plenty of his/her favorite candy and place it in his/her mailbox. Seize the moment and be romantic.
Take a chance. Don’t let your fear of consequences keep you from living. Be brave, and make decisions you do not really dare. Invite your crush over for a movie, move abroad to study or work. Take that dance class you didn’t sign up for. What do you have to lose?
Be adventurous. Find things in life that make you excited, and follow them. Be passionate and express yourself. Make your life an exciting adventure with ups and downs, calms and storms.
Home Porn
Deadmau5
Pictures from the Deadmau5 concert (part of the Ministry of Sound New Year’s celebration) in London in 2009/2010, taken by my talented friend Christer Egon Eckermann.
The concert yesterday was fun! I’m tired today, but I managed to get to work at noon. It’s nice to have a flexible job on days like these. To my pleasant surprise my sister skipped Justin Bieber to hang out with me, my boyfriend and our friends and go to the concert with us. It took us both FOREVER to get to the house after work though, all because of the Bieber chaos. Usually it takes about 30 min to get home (which I already think is a while), but 1.5 hours?! Seriously?! We drank fast and got dressed quickly before taking the bus back downtown. As with the Jay-Z concert, this one was over before midnight. Deadmau5 is always fun live, but for some reason there was no serving of alcohol at the concert, which made the crowd pretty lame. Definitely not the best Deadmau5 concert I’ve attended, but I still had great fun, as it all depends on what you make of it. We took the bus back to the Island around midnight, and ate the BEST BURGERS EVER. There’s nothing like fast food when you are drunk.
After work today I’m planning on going grocery shopping and making some delicious food with my boyfriend. Then my only plans for the night are to snuggle up against him on the coach and watch the final episode of Paradise Hotel.
Have a good day! ♥
1 in 3 get cancer. But everyone is affected.
Oh Summer Days ♥
I’ve had a few fantastic days with so much fun! Saturday morning I went to my aunt’s house in Drammen (about 30 min from Oslo) and the weather was so nice! First I met up with my mom, my aunt and their childhood girlfriends for a drink at Glass, which is a café/bar/restaurant at the harbor. Their scampi salad is delicious (just in case you were wondering), and that wasn’t the only good food we had over the weekend.
Shrimp is considered a must for summer around here, and I know from experience that how we eat shrimp here is different from the US. First of all, when you buy the shrimp you get the whole thing – heads included. They are usually pre-cooked and pink (and this has been done at sea, less than an hour after they have been caught). You peel them first, and then you prepare some nice slices of bread with butter, mayo, lemon and pepper (you can also use some dill on there). Sooo good!!
Sunday all I did was lying in the sun and did nothing, then at night we had a great barbeque. I love summer! ♥
Monday after breakfast I took the train back to Oslo and my boyfriend (we had Monday off for Pentecost). I barely got through the door before we spontaneously decided to join some friends of ours to go see Kanye West and Jay-Z live. We had a pretty fun pre-game (water balloons included) before heading to the concert around 7. Most of «Watch The Throne» was performed, in addition to highlights from their separate careers, from «Jesus Walks» and «Runaway» to «Izzo (H.O.V.A.)» and «Dirt Off Your Shoulder». In just about 2.5 hours they played nearly 40 hits, which was pretty impressive! I was surprised however, that we got home around midnight, and not later!
Tuesday I was pretty tired, but I did work from 9am-5pm. Afterwards, me and my boyfriend grabbed a pizza and chilled out, watching the newest episodes of Game of Thrones and Paradise Hotel.
Today I am back at work, but I have a pretty busy schedule today too! Not to mention that getting to the bus today is probably going to be a nightmare since Justin Bieber is in town! He’s giving a free, outdoor concert at the Opera House today, which is causing chaos. Even this morning when I walked to work at 7.30am there was a crowd lined up outside, waiting to get a glimpse of the superstar (who doesn’t get on stage before at least 4pm). I’d like to get a glimpse of him too though, and since my beautiful sister is coming to town to attend the event, I might just stick around for a little while after work.
However, I do have more exciting plans for tonight! You see, Justin Bieber, Jay-Z and Kanye are not the only stars in town – tonight Deadmau5 is having a concert as well, and I’m SUPER excited for that!! I’ve seen him live about 4 times before (first time in 2010), and I still can’t get enough. Not to mention that my boyfriend and I had our first kiss together right when Deadmau5 got on stage at midnight on New Year’s Eve in 2010 (♥). Obviously you’ve got to love him. I think we’ll even name our cat after his cat when we get one (not entirely my decision, however). We’re pre-gaming early, so there is just not that much time available for Justin today. I bet he’d be sorry for that.
What are you doing today?
mariannestravels 