Self Gifting

... in yellow. Definitely my favourite colour of now.

I don't think I'll cook my clogs in my new pot.

Now I'm just waiting for warmer weather.

Isn't she a beauty?

I bought my Swedish Hasbeens a month back. They were delivered at work only two days later. I lve them, and I have worn them outside already.

My Le Creuset was ordered from my local shop, and was hand delivered from France last weekend. Got it on Monday, and I've already cooked two meals in it. This weekend: Bread. I'll tell you all about it.

I love IKEA

I can spend hours and hours at IKEA. Dreaming, planning and scheming. Coming home with a couple of candles and some tulips. Content. Fulfilled.

And the self-serve tills are amasing. You get to scan you own stuff. And when you're done you buy an ice cream cone to make your own sundae.

Bliss.

I ended up buying some fabric, and made a curtain. Brought out some fabric I bought earlier and made a table cloth. So all that scheming didn't go to waste.

Trinkets and Things

Example of 'stuff'. Cute mushroom thingy on my bag.

Even though I try to be all zen and anti materialistic I have to be the first to admit that I like things. And I like buying new things. And recently I have noticed that  lot of my blog posts have been about new things and my excitement over them. Like here, here and here. And here...

Now, I'm trying to be all environmental and anti-waste, and I'm now going to argue that my mountain of things actually makes me contribute less to the ever increasing mound of recyclables at the dump.

Quality.

For some reason (maybe age?) I have turned into my mum. I check the labels of clothing to make sure they are pure wool, cotton, linen, silk. I research my purchases. And I spend more money on the stuff I am sure I will love for a long time.

And I've started making stuff. The positive spiral of investing time and energy in a project should never be underestimated. And I love that it makes my 'stuff' unique.

I do actually have som key questions I ask myself before I buy something, like:

• What use does this item give me?
• Do I have similar things at home?
• Can I fix/repaint/repurpose/move/alter something I already have to satisfy the 'need' I have to buy the item?
• Can I afford it? (Actually glad I have this limitation)

I probably have loads more of self examining questions, but I must confess that buying stuff makes me feel good. Fortunately so does making stuff, playing with Little Man, taking pictures,  etc ect.

So I think I'm safe. For now.

Tray Crazy

I think I have started to collect trays. From having a couple, it´s definately turned ino a collection. Here is my newest addition. I love the way the design totally suits my pomegranite. The tray is bought online at Sweet Memories. I got some cowboy sheets for the bed there as well. I think I´m geting addicted to receiving packages in the mail too. Even if it is self presenting.

Stavangerscapes

I Love Oslo

Spent the last few days in our captal Oslo. Havn't ever really known the city, but I'm getting to loving it. The shopping is fun fun fun. Vintage stuff, but also Norwegian and Scandinavian design that is som much easier to access in the to die for shops.

Ended up spending too much money on mussels, savignon blanc, focaccia and aioli during lazy lunches and dinners. That, including awsome clothes sales, took a huge chunk out of my wallet. The biggest chunk being a brown cashmere dress from Månestråle. (And the dress was definitely a must have for Autumn, and I definitely felt a little nauseous after I bought it and had to confess all to other half when home again)

But shopping (believe it or not) was not the reason I was in Oslo. I got to see Madonna! Now I have been a fan since, at 11, I bought "Like a Prayer" in a shopping mall in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I can truly say it was a unforgettable experience. I cried. I sang.
And I got wet. Very wet. Just as we got into the stadium the sky litterally opened. I had rain gear on (pants and coat) as well as a plastic poncho on too. And I still got soaked to the bone. Madonna was like: - I hope you are enjoying this cause I'm risking my f***ing life for you.

I enjoyed myself.

Chair in Fretex

House in Frogner Detail from Shoe Lounge

I Found Whiteness

So. I'm not finished telling you about our trip to Paris. I've already blogged about it here, and here. We had two action-packed days sans one little boy. Missed him though.

Inspired by my new book the other half and I found Le Petit Atelier de Paris. Wow. A sea of clean whiteness. I went crazy. Five vases, one jug and a tea towel later I didn't need to go into another shop in Paris again. Well... I lie. I went into a few other shops, but none as nice as this one. Thank you Pia.

Wanted to take it all home into my new kitchen (including the adorable chien). But my wallet and suitcase was too small. Sigh. Below are pictures of what I finally chose to use my limited resources on. Mind the crushed paper.

Eyes and Dolls

So right across from my hotel in Paris was this seriously quirky shop called Tombèes du Caimon. Full of old weird things. What grabbed me the most was the doll-bits: Eyes, hands, heads.

There was chocolate from the 1920's (I wonder how that tastes), vintage Tour Eiffels, plastic jewellery from the 70's.

We stayed in Montmatre, and it wasn't as touristy as I feared. More like I could see Amelie round every corner. And I totally luuuurve the Montmatre cemetary. I love cemetaries in general though.

Weekend Bliss

So the weekend has been amasing. Close to 30 degrees, sunshine, and great dining and shopping. Friday I bourt myself a new dress in one of my favourite shops: Syvende Himmel (Seventh Heaven). They sell quirky pretty dresses made for women.

As for dining. A five course meal at Tango, my favourite gourmet digs, never goes wrong. Wish I could remember all the foodie details, but as the food and wine kept coming it al just ends up in a blissful blur. I do have to give honarable mention to the desert. White chocolate fondant with sabayonne, and a poached peach with Earl Grey tea sorbet. Fantastic.

(Pictures. Above: Detail from shop window. Below: The goodie bag, and hand made buttons from a norwegian designer: Snella og Petronella)

In Colour Street

Dollies in a store window. Love the beedy eyes. And the round shapes.
Øvre Holmegate. Also known as The Colour Street. Cute shops, cafes and grafitti. Love.

My paint-shop-guys paint dispenser. Well used. He will give you paint in a jam jar to test it out at home.

Summer has come to Stavangers flowerbeds.