unique

This day has been filled with heavy rain and shopping! I spend the day with my baby sister trying to find her a pair of vintage Levi’s jeans that she can cut up and turn into shorts. Unfortunately no luck with that but we did manage to find other things however. She wasn’t the one doing the shopping though (as planned) I was the one who found a lot of stuff. I, who can’t relly afford to spend money on clothes when I have rent to pay when I get back to NY, but what the hell. I found some really nice dresses and they were all on sale, so there!

I bought one vintage dress and the other ones on my favourite store Monki. The have great stuff, affordable prizes and awesome interior. The staff is always friendly and that’s important to me. But what’s the most important is of course the clothes and thwy not only have a lot of them, but they’re great.

This is one of few stores in which I can actually get lost and easily spend hour looking at everything. I always seem to leave the store with at least one bag (probably containing multiple items though) and I can come back for days in a row. But this store and everyting it represent is something I believe in; cool clothes that follows both what’s hot and what’s diffrent at the same time as it’s affordable. Go Monki! And I sure hope they will launch their stuff in NY soon! I’ll keep my fingers crossed!

This weekend has been one filled with parties, get togeathers, and me hanging out with my friends, drinking wine and having fun. I spent Friday night at a friends house on the island where I grew up. I saw a lot of old, dear freinds, we had a lot of wine, and laughted our faces off. A great night with old freinds where everything was familiar and safe. That didn’t stop us from going crazy though. You probably don’t want to read about how drunk I got or all the stupid things we did, but let me just tell you that it’s kind of a releaf to come back and just let loose. Thank God I have such great friends that we are able to just pick up where we left things and still be as close as ever. And thank God for Facebook that allows me to keep in touch with the people I love.

Saturday was, if possible, an even more crazy night with parting out on the town. Later on we went to a place called Trädgården, which is a very difficult place to get in to, but once you’re in the play the best music, serve great drinks, and even offer a confession booth where the best confession of the night is featured on their website. I think that’s a fun idea!

What I want to talk about though, is where the evening started. Josefina is one of my favourite places in Stockholm and it’s a must see when you’re here. The reason why I like it so much is because it’s so not Swedish. The entire restaurant is outside on great looking decks and patios. It’s only open during the summer months and have a wonderful Mediterranian feel to it.

We grabbed one of the biggest tables on the top patio and hade Rosé wine by the bottles. The weather was lovely and the view was great.
The entire restaurant is classy, elegant, and truly an amazing hangout sopt!

The inside looks a fancy as the outside.

I know I’ve said it before but I’ll sayit again: This place is a must see when you’re in Stockholm.

The first news that struck me when I opened the newspaper this morning was that Microsoft founder Bill Gates is leaving the company to devote himself, full-time, on chartiy, focusing on solving the world’s health problems. Being one of the richest men in the world, this should not have an affect on his own economy and he will for sure bring well needed help to those who truly deserve it.

Gates have been a part of Microsoft since the company started in 1975, and Bill has jumped around from position to position, doing everything from programming to working with the technology as well as being the decision maker and a fearless leader. I wish him the best of luck and look forward to seeing what he can achieve with the world considering what he’s done for the computer world.

The step from charity to shoes is a fairly big one but one that I now will take. I stumbled over these shoes earlier today and can’t get them out of my head. They are a beautiful pair of Jimmy Choos. Fergie pulls this entire outfit off. I like it a lot!

Since NY is my new home and that’s where I live, I actually do feel a little bit like a tourist in Stockholm. I know I’ve lived here all my life but that’s they way I feel. A freind of mine said that she thinks we should take one of those fancy tourbusses around the city so I get to be a real tourist. I’m not sure a tourbus is the way to go, but I do like the idea of being a true tourist. Then I get to blame all my stupid mistakes and wrongdoings on that fact, right?

As a tourist I couldn’t have picked a better city. As i’ve mentioned before, Stockholm truly is the most beautiful summer-city there is, and I think everybody should see it atleast once in their lifes.

Today I’ve just been hanging out with friends, having coffee in the sun, eating sorbet ice-cream, and been vintage shopping. It can’t get any better than that. Tomorrow I’m meeting some really old friends for wine and dinner, so I’ll see if I can get some pics up on the blog by this weekend. Would that be something you’re interested in seeing?

 Got to go, there’s a soccergame on the telly, and it’s the semifinals of the Euro 2008, so that’s an important game…

 So long!  

Let me tell you about a place that’s very dear to me, a place I really like and I’m happy to talk about; Hotel Rival. The Rival is located in Södermalm, Stockholm by the most beautiful square Mariatorget and is one of few Boutique hotels with its very own cinema. The owner is Benny Andersson, a former member and creator of ABBA and the venue is an old hotel (the Aston hotel) from the 1930s. The Rival doens’t just offer a theatre and hotel rooms, there are also two bars, a bistro, a cafe, and a bakery. Everything connected to one and other, as one unit. 

 As a former employee, I might not be the best person to listen to. I will talk this place up, giving one positive comment after an other, so if you’re looking for something objectively, you’ve come to the wrong place. 

Besides the beautiful venue and the many different departments, all with their own charm, what I like the most about this place is the people. You will not find a better place to work, laugh, and/or be productive. I’ve never been a guest at this hotel so I don’t know how guets feel, but if they felt even a smidge of the joy we felt behind the scenes, their stay couldn’t have been anything but great. If you’re still not convinsed about this place, if it’s worth a visit you should check out the reviwes on Tripadvisor as Rival is one of the top ranked hotels. And be sure to come during the summer as Stockholm truly is one of the most beautiful cities there is.

And so I’m back (from outer space) and what a great feeling it is. My beloved Stockholm and my lovely family is all I focus on right now. Feel I have to explain my absence during the past couple of days as I’ve been at our country house where we actually don’t have access to internet. We celebrated Midsummer and just a really good time. I’ll tell you though, it’s a weird feeling going from the craziest city in the world with everything that it offers, to going to the most quiet, relaxing country house there is. As wonderful as it was spending some quality time with my family, relaxing and just eating great food, I do miss the Big Apple. I don’t neccessarily miss my friends as we’ve not been apart for more than a couple of days, but I miss the city and everything in it. I miss the culture, the shopping, and the crazieness that is the everyday life. I know I’ll be back in about two weeks and probably will be complaining about all these things (with the tourists and heat) but for now I actually miss it. New York is now my home and it’s kind of exciting to realize that when you are away. I refer to the city as my home and it’s a hell of a lot sooner that I thought I would, but it feels great!

So what have I been up to in Stockholm so far?
Well I’ve been out to dinner with my firends. We went to Thaiboat, Skeppsbar, and Hotel Rival (where I used to work, which also happens to be one of my favourite places in the city). A truly great night with many laughs and too much alcohol, in my book the two most important ingredients for a successful night

Will be back to tell you more about Hotel Rival as I’m sure I’ll be spending a lot more time there, but this is all for know. My freinds are waiting for me to finish so we can go and see the SATC movie again. I just love that movie and can probably watch it over and over again, atleast one more time.

Kisses & hugs!

So in a few hour I’ll be heading towards Newark International Airport and Flight 975 to Stockholm, Sweden. Home sweet home (or so I hope). I’m getting a little nervous as I think about who long it’s been since I saw my family and my friends. Now, I just can’t wait. And on top of that, all of my final exams are done, over with and finito. That’s right, I’m officially on vacation and so far these first 20 minutes have been great.

I only have one more thing left to do before I leave the country, and that is to pack. That’s right, the minor detail of packing is left. I haven’t even started thinking about what to bring. Oh well, I guess it will come to me as I start, but that’s kind of what I do: pospone everything til the very very last minute. It’s more exciting this way, don’t you think?

Anyway, I thought I’d just through in a pic of Stockholm, with the beautiful castle and the nice archipelago, and parts of the old town. You will of course see pic that I’ll take while I’m being a tourist (in my homwtown, how weird is that?) but for now, you’ll have to settle for this.

Have a great midsummer everybody eventhough I now you don’t celebrate that, but I’ll deffinately give you an explanation during this upcoming weekend of what that is. But now, I have to get moving if I want to to catch my plane. And do I ever!

See you in Stockholm, Sweden!

My dream has come true; I’ve gotten my dream job. I’ve become a personal shopper. No, not a personal shopper for a celebrity or a big department store, I’m a personal shopper for my family. SO maybe it’s not the best job in the world but I’m shopping for someone elses money and to me that’s kind of fun.
Since I’m going back to Sweden for two weeks on thursday, everybody is sending me messages about stuff they want me to bring back home for them. The dollar is really week right now and the Swedish crowns are doing well, so almost everything over here is cheaper. Well not everything but a lot of stuff. Some of the things I’m buying are Converse shoes, Ipods, magazines, and makeup/hair products. My bag is going to contain more stuff for other people than my things. That’s okay though since I haven’t seen my family and friends for 6 months. Hope this is going to make them really happy. Well, this and the fact that they get to see me, just don’t want to think about what’s going to make them more happy

So if there’s anything else you guys back home want me to bring to Sweden, now’s the time to let me now. Tomorrow, before the Sweden-Russia soccer game, I’m doing all my bring-to-Sweden-shopping. Then I have a lot of studying to do. On thisday morning I have my last final exam. Marketing is what’s on the scheduele. Oh, and by the way, the final exams I’ve done so far has gone very well and my grades are something to smile about.

But final exams are not something I want to think about right now though. I’m soon on my way to meet up with some friends, that are going back to their countries for the summer, to say good bye and to have one last night of partying (we’re really going to help a friend pack, but if I know me and my friends right, we’ll probably just end up drinking wine).

 So long!  

Alright, time for the first angry  post on this blog. I don’t get upset easily, and when I do I don’t neccessarily like to share, but this time I feel the need to.

Ii I were to venture a guess, I would say that New York is the roommate city of the world. Where I come from, it’s not a very common thing to live with someone. Maybe a friend or family member, but that’s it. I woul never get the idea to live with a complete stranger unless I had to choose between that and being homeless. Now, please don’t think that I’m spoiled because I’m not. That’s just not how we do things.
Here, the other hand, everybody has got a roommate. You’re a minority if you don’t, and that’s fine. I’m cool with that,  and I’ve been lucky to have found a sane person to live with as that is not an easy thing. Sometimes, however, I get so tired of this situation and just want to leave. I would kill for some alone time and strongly feel that I have to get out so that I don’t totally flip out. Sounds like fun? Well, it’s not!
How do I stay sane and respectful when he is not? (yes, I’m actually asking)

Well well, in a couple of days, I’m leaving for Sweden and will be gone for 2 weeks. Can’t wait to get away, get away  from the apartment, from school, from this city, and from the weather. It’s going to be good!
This blog is coming with me to Stockholm and I’m going to show you a good time! 

 I take back everything I said about being able to die a happy woman after seeing the SATC movie. NOW I can die a happy woman. I’ve seen the biggest star there is! After our nice birthday party at Jane (West Houston bwtween Thomson and Sullivan) we went to our favourite bar The Spotted Pig (W11 and Greenwich) and there, in a corner sat Jay Z. Yes, that Jay Z. The one and only superstar! I mean, how cool is that? In my book, it doesn’t get any bigger than this. I feel so happy! What would have been even cooler though is if his wife Beyoncé would have been there, but we’re saving that for the next time.

After being at Spotted for a while, we left for Rusty Not like we always do, and the funny thing about these two places is that their owned by the same person, or should I say people; Jay Z, Bono, and another rapper whos name I can’t remember. These two mellow, low profile bars are great places to visit if you want to run in to the occassional celebrity. We seen Orlando Bloom, Heath Ledger, and Josh Hartnet. Not bad, huh?