Afternoon snack

Fruit vs. Pastry 1-0

Photo backlog #3: Birthday eve

On my brother's last birthday, the Big Niece was disappointed that there weren't any balloons when she woke up.

When I told her that my birthday was coming up, she declared that there should be cake, balloons and loot bags. While I was able to fulfill these requirements, my little birthday dinner still didn't manage to pass muster as a "real party" as far as the Big Niece was concerned.

Well...I tried...and aren't those balloons just adorable? :p

Photo backlog # 2: What I'm reading

It was the movie that got me interested in the Shopaholic series. What can I say, me likey Hugh Dancy...nevermind that this series has 'guilty pleasure' written all over it given the archaic gender roles and formulaic writing.

Bought and read all the books while I was in the Philippines last summer and signed up to be alerted when this one was released.

Am not done yet, but it's a fun read so far although I think the characterization of Minnie seems off age-wise.

Photo backlog #1: What I'm watching

Muchos thankies to Team Boch (now fortified with Totti!) for my Bones DVDs! And muchos apologies to das Tottenheim!

They ended up giving me my present two days early and I'll blog about why on multiply soon.

First day back at school

Got up 40 minutes later than planned because it was cold, but it all worked out.

Din-din

...at Waldemarsudde.

[Went there for "The Art of Medicine" Exhibit, but the high point turned out to be the visit to the Private Apartments as well as the park grounds.]

Cake by mail

The cake I ordered from Postkakan arrived this morning. They ship worldwide and I've been toying with the idea of sending one to Manila, so I thought we'd give it a try first.

First leg complete

Am going around the city today before the touristy places close for the season. Am now aboard one of the new trams to Djurgården.

[Photo was taken at Konserthuset which is where the Nobel Prize Ceremony is held.]

LOVEFiLM

Got a free trial subscription from LOVEFiLM. First round of DVDs arrived the day after I registered.

Depending on your subscription, you get to borrow a certain number of DVDs per month. Probably won't subscribe because I don't like that they count the individual discs in a box set.

Love their envelopes though. You send the DVDs back in the same envelope they arrived in after tearing along a perforation to remove a section and pulling off a protective strip to expose the adhesive. What can I say, I'm easily impressed?!

Embracing the inner kikay*

Don't normally use nail polish mainly because of my obsessive handwashing. Besides, I suck at applying it, but have been practicing recently.

The Big Niece is at a point in her life where everything should be cute and beautiful. Case in point, last week she told me that we couldn't be friends since I wasn't pretty because I wasn't wearing a dress. When I showed her my freshly painted nails the other day, she declared that they were pretty and that they should be like that "all the days."

[*kikay = girly girl]

Surprise South Beach Mashed "Potatoes"

Substituted real butter and low-fat milk. Taste was acceptable, but the smell gives the cauliflower away.

Coming full circle

My trip to Manila ended just like it began --- with a visit to Starbucks Arlanda.

My thanks to whoever decided to make all the terminal shops accessible to both departing and arriving passengers.