28 December 2010 // introducing…

the latest addition to the household. she is only eight weeks old and has now been with us for 3 days but we are already madly in love with her. this photo doesn’t show you her beautiful blue eyes but it was the best i could do considering she had just arrived a couple of hours before and wasn’t exactly comfortable at home yet (luckily it didn’t take her long to make this house hers).

apologies in advance if 2011 includes quite a few kitty SPD pics. I mean, seriously, who can resist this little fur ball of cuteness?

paudecanela

27 December 2010 // no man’s land

After boxing day, still in no malls land, we decided to go for a walk in the middle of nowhere. it was really windy but it was still good to get some fresh air.

paudecanela

car wash

I’ve been quite a homebody these past two weeks, but made it out on the town to run a few errands with a friend this afternoon, including a trip to the car wash…

-Megan

shoe per diem 30/12.2010 skating again – because we can

skating again -because we can, originally uploaded by julochka.

sorry guys, more skates!

via the fabulous instagram app for iPhone. if you have an iPhone, make haste to the app store.

and happy new year!

xox,
~ julochka

shoe per diem – 29/12.2010

shoe per diem – 29/12.2010, originally uploaded by julochka.

make that skate per diem.
we spend every afternoon out on the ice.
it’s bliss.

happy new year everybody! (in case i forget to come back)

~ julochka

workin’ IT

and by IT, I mean my IT band. I don’t think my IT band is damaged, but it could be one of the reasons my knee isn’t feeling all that great. I figured it couldn’t hurt to do some IT band exercises after my runs/walks…

While it doesn’t look like much, this exercise totally kicked my ass.

-Megan

26 December 2010 // sunshine and a whole lot of doing nothing

boxing day was spent away from malls and shops, lounging in the sun and reading one of the books i got for xmas. bliss!

paudecanela

25 December 2010 // xmas!

my absolute favourite holiday was spent quite differently this year. for one thing, i was in a different hemisphere and, on top of that, it was spent in a different cultural context which included waiting until the morning of xmas day to open the presents. it was fun and different but i am looking forward my next winter xmas with presents unwrapped at midnight.

paudecanela

shoe per diem, dec 27, 2010 – intermediate days sales

shoe per diem, dec 27, 2010 – intermediate days sales, originally uploaded by piaktw.

The traditional (at least in Sweden) intermediate days sales has begun. It used to be serious stuff for every shopaholic, always starting early in the morning on December 27 and usually with a 50% reduction of price. These days many sales starts before Christmas and many reductions are just around 30% (which isn’t really sales in my world).

Even if I like a bit of shopping and such I’m seriously concerned about commercialism and economic growth rate that has a devastating impact on this planet and our lives. When I shop I do shop the good stuff, that in theory (and hopefully a bit more than just that) have been produced in responsible ways, for environment and giving the people in the beginning of production chain a fair salary and working conditions. In theory. Thus I try to do better.

But while trying to do better (buying less) I do like a nice bargain. I am a sucker for cute things, colours speak to me, mouth-watering fabrics and patterns, good design makes me starry eyed in want.

So at the intermediate days sales I found some stuff. At some favourite shops. And there were some bags coming home with me. Those bags were then dutifully inspected by liquorice nose loafie and some plush cats.

I’m happy for my finds, but still, I’m working on getting better at not buying things I, honestly, don’t really need. Just want. Me being a trying-to-be-a-better-world-citizen-work in progress.

Shoe per sales day were the red you-know-which-boots for me and some no-name-winter-shoes for M.

A camping we will go

I’m going camping tomorrow and so today I had to
get some necessary equipment. Unfortunately I bought all the stuff
in the store and then though about how i was going to get it all
home on my scooter. I managed, but it wasn’t a very comfortable
ride!

shoe per diem dec 20, 2010 – terracotta army

 

shoe per diem dec 20, 2010, originally uploaded by piaktw.

Finally we made our way to this round of the Terracotta Army exhibition.  Last time it was on display in Stockholm was in 1984. I remembered we queued for hours on a bitterly cold winter day back then, me and a friend. The weather much like now, but no queueing this time (and I would not have been that patient now). For some reason I seem to recall it was worth the wait and the money then, that it was indeed an impressive exhibition.

This time I was utterly disappointed. About 10 clay soldiers in glass boxes, a few small horses and some smaller sculptures. Not at all what I had expected – had I read more about the exhibition beforehand I would probably had realized it would be far from the world heritage grandeur I had thought of – and for quite a hefty entrance fee (~22 USD).

And as impressive as the work and craftsmanship itself is it also oozes monumental madness, tragedy, waste and sadness. Only humans use and abuse others to create something as ridiculous and crazy.

All that went through my mind while we strolled the exhibition, me wearing the red you-know-the-too-well-by-now-boots.

There’s a replica exhibition at the China center (not without its controversy) center called Dragon Gate some few hours drive north of Stockholm, where the display seems to be much more of impressive-clay-army-like. Which quite possible would make be even more sad than these few clay fellas did.

shoe per diem 28/12. 2010 – cracked

shoe per diem 28/12. 2010 – cracked, originally uploaded by julochka.

not sure if that crack in the ice shouldn’t worry me more than it does. everything seems solid and husband offered some kind of scientific-sounding explanation that it proves the world is flat…

~ julochka

p.s at least it’s better than the purple boots!

The calm after the storm

I flew back to Auckland today, in the worst conditions I’ve ever experienced, it took a few vodkas to calm the nerves, but I’m almost there …

Summer days

After some rainy days it finally cleared up on Christmas and I’ve been enjoying some outside time with friends and family, drinking, dancing, playing tennis, laughing and making fun of each other. I hope your Christmas breaks have been going as well!

knee issues

I’ve been having some knee problems since my marathon. I haven’t ran more than 5 miles/3K since. I’ve been trying to walk some, and then run some…I suspect it might be the cold bothering my knee, but I can’t be sure. It’s been frustrating to say the least. I’ve been trying to run every day, but worry about damaging something.

I’ve started doing some yoga to supplement my running. I just hope when I’m healed I’ll still be able to run a decent distance.

Attempting the eagle pose after a run:

-Megan

shoe per diem 26/12.2010 – skates!

360:365 skates, originally uploaded by julochka.

the whole family got skates for christmas and we swept a big area clear out on our lake and skated the entire afternoon, taking only breaks for hot apple cider, delectable little mushroom tarts and to warm our hands over the fire. best present ever, i tell you. and better than boxing any day.

what is boxing day anyway?

~ julochka

25/12.2010 shoe per diem is a sock

25/12.2010 shoe per diem is a sock, originally uploaded by julochka.

it’s christmas, so we’re hanging out indoors.

actually, we were driving home at the time this was taken.

merry christmas everyone!

~ julochka

24 December 2010 // wedging it up!

oh yeah!

paudecanela

shoe per diem dec 19, 2010 – bookcrossing

shoe per diem dec 19, 2010 – bookcrossing, originally uploaded by piaktw.

This will be remembered as the day when I finally stepped into the world of bookcrossing and placed my first two books out there into the wild. Where they hopefully will be found and appreciated by good readers.

Such a nice idea, bookcrossing. Even though I personally want to own the books I read – making notes and love them dearly is a treasured part of reading books I think – I enjoy sharing the favourites. So when I’ve found copies of them at thrift stores and charity shops I’ve picked them up and now it’s time for them to move on into the unknown. This is my current Bookcrossing bookshelf.

Before they move, they’ve been thoroughly inspected by loaf dog and his fabulous liquorice nose.

And I, I wore the fabulous red pair of El Naturalista Iggdrasil tall boots (which pretty much is THE shoe per any winter diem this season).

23 December 2010 // nope, it makes no sense…

No matter what everyone else in the Southern Hemisphere will tell you, xmas and summer jandals don’t make sense together.

paudecanela

20 December 2010 // almost done with work for the year…

the last couple of days of work this year were incredibly busy but thankfully there were good things like pretty new skirts (this one is on a mega special now at Dorothy Perkins) and comfortable wedges (another Asos bargain) to get me through the final days.

paudecanela

Spiderman Christmas

Today we had a mini Christmas day with our nephews and
niecesthat we won’t get to see on Christmas day. My nephew Cody
thinks he is spiderman, he even wears a tie and a white shirt to
school just like Peter Parker. We turned around and found him up
the doorway (complete with tie).

Stacey Marie

the ice is frozen solid!

the ice is frozen solid!, originally uploaded by julochka.

purple furry bumpers + snow pants + a frozen over lake = shoe per diem 22/12.2010

will be trading these out for ice skates come dec. 25 (we’ve bought skates for the whole family)!

merry christmas one and all!

~ julochka

new boots

I love getting new things.  New boots.  New clothes from H&M – LOVE IT- one of the only places here that I can find things that fit properly.  These are the first jeans I’ve bought in Korea that fit me properly.  Woohoo!

laura

More chop chop chopping

Only this time I’ve suckered my little brother in to do it for me. Thanks a million Scotty!

L xx

Oh christmas tree!

If this is bung it is because I am trying to post for the first time off my phone

adult day

Since I’m off from work and my son is still in school, one of my friends came over today for an adult day.

Our day consisted of champagne, chips, dip & crackers, a marathon of the show Arrested Development, and playing the Wii.

Here I am, in my pajamas, curled up on the chair with champagne watching my friend play bowling on the Wii.

It’s exhausting doing nothing all day.

-Megan

this is emmakate signing in for stacey news…

i went to staces house last night and she magican-ed up a gorgeous dinner for us. twas lovely. there was much laughing and giggling…a lot from staces little bro…who lost it completely. good times.

when even went for a stroll in the drizzling rain and then lay on the slate tiles to cool down and admired staces handywork on the beautifully decorated tree.

emma kate & stacey marie

shoe per diem december 18, 2010 – refurn

shoe per diem dec 18, 2010 – refurn, originally uploaded by piaktw.

We drove to a Christmas far (which took place on that day only) on Saturday. The fair mostly revolved around the huge barn the Refurn recycling furniture company has as main storage (about 1,5 hours drive south of Stockholm).

Oh, it was a paradise for anyone looking for bargains – oh the chairs, the sofas, the things one could repaint, spruce and make loveliness of if there was room, if there was possibility to sell, if one was famous… - I found a wonderful brick red arm chair. Good condition, gorgeous colour, quite stylish. This is me contemplating the getting or not getting chair.

The barn still have both visible traces and smells of having been a cow barn. And it was absolutely freezing cold indoors. It was a great place. I also got a red (yeah) lampshade which I’m going to spruce and a bunch of favourite pocketbooks that I’m finally going to let loose via Bookcrossing (love the idea, just haven’t gotten around to participate until now).

The rest of the fair was rather pitiful. But I loved this Refurn part. And so did the cats. Is this happiness or what?

shoe per diem december 17, 2010 – escalator boots

escalator boots, originally uploaded by piaktw.

Friday was my last day at having-to-work-from-work before Christmas. Such a relief. To cut a much much longer story short, commuting time from north suburb to south suburb is ridiculous, I get much more done doing “my stuff” from home, the suburb I commute too very less than inspirational (to put it mildly) and it was just such a huge relief to be able to say goodbye, merry Christmas and just walk out of there that day.

After plodding through heaps of snow, finally reaching the subway station, taking the escalator down, heading to that perfect celebration thing called afternoon tea. Vetekatten revisited. Bliss, more than a tad interrupted by crazy Christmas shoppers galore, but still bliss…

18/12.2010 – bumper + converse

bumper + converse, originally uploaded by julochka.

a quick shot in the car as we headed for our yearly christmas party with friends. and yes, it’s the purple bumper boots again again. we’ve got a lot of snow!! (more of that tomorrow). lemme tell you, i believe in climate change!

~ julochka

executive decisions

The curse has been broken.

Yesterday was my last day of work until Jan. 3! Every year we work until noon, and then go out for lunch/drinks. Every year my son gets a stomach bug on my last day. I haven’t partaken in afterwork festivities since 2006. This year I anxiously waited for the phone call, but it never came.

After lunch (and perhaps a bit too much wine) we discovered the new conference room at the restaurant/hotel had been foolishly left unlocked.

-Megan

How much wood would luci chop if luci could chop wood?

The correct answer is not very much at all. Here is just some of the giant pile of wood I need to split before I go on holiday next week….

And this is how much I got through before I decided I’d much rather have a wine instead:

Ruh roh.

L xx

wrapping without wine

Tomorrow is my last day of work for two weeks! To prepare I spent tonight wrapping presents for my co-workers. As I was wrapping I couldn’t understand why it was so dreadful. I don’t really like wrapping gifts, but it was horrid this time. That’s when I realized I had forgotten the most crucial component for wrapping gifts…WINE. Not sure how it happened, but I assure you fellow Shoe Per Diemers, it won’t happen again.

-Megan

the morning after the night before

after yesterday’s sunset i didn’t think the vistas could get much better. but then i got woken up at 5am ish by the amazing sunrise, so i got my lazy bum out of bed and across the road to snap the view i was privileged enough to be able to get a front row seat to:

L xx

15 december 2010 // such ladies…

who would have thought that cocktail parties at the hilton could lead us to laugh so hard and for so long. as stacey already told you, i was her ‘plus one’ at her university party last night – and what a fancy party it was! after eating and drinking for free, we decided it was time to leave (while we could still do it with dignity) and took our high heels for a walk along the viaduct.

We commented on how beautiful the auckland harbour is, especially on warm summer evenings like last night.

later on, after stacey scared off a taxi driver (don’t ask…), we got another friendly driver to drop us off back near her place. during our short journey there, she managed to go all spanish inquisition on him and the roll of questions included details on “taxi drivers christmas parties” because, according to our fellow shoe-per-diem-er, her idea of a taxi company christmas party involves taxi drivers driving around the streets racing each other. yep, she said that.

anyway, i may not be the queen of class but i do have my principles (once again, unlike stacey) and while her bare feet were touching the ground, i got my old faithful flats out of the bag and made my way back home. looking at my grey dress with my brown shoes, i do wonder whether barefeet would have been a better idea.

paudecanela

 

Dress-ups

Are always fun, and my university faculty was celebrating 10 years of life. For some reason I was invited and it was cocktail dresses at the Hilton, so I didn’t say no, and Vera found she couldn’t either. Afterwards we had a photoshoot down by the water, there were heaps of people around when we were taking pictures of each others legs, but we didn’t mind. There were a couple of good shots:

And of course once we had had coffee and were walking home, the heels came off and the real Stacey came out:

Stacey Marie

walking it off

my running partner and i slipped away from our work holiday luncheon a few minutes early to go for a cold, but much needed walk in hopes of undoing some of the damage of the buffet style lunch.

although the snow from this morning had already melted, i still wore my snow boots. beats taking a walk in 4″ heels.

-Megan

shoe per diem dec 13, 2010 – lucia parcel and lussekatter

shoe per diem dec 13, 2010, originally uploaded by piaktw.

On December 13 Sweden celebrates the traditional day of Lucia (read more here). It was long since I participated in any such traditional celebration, but I always bake the traditional Swedish saffron buns called “lussekatter” or “lussebullar” (plur.) the day before so we can enjoy them on Lucia day.

Also this year. And on the 13 I got a nice package in the mail. (Or rather the delivery man left it outside my door, which I think is quite a weird thing to do since anyone that went past my house, very close to a public walking path, could have snatched it if felt so inclined…) A pretty bag containing pretty things.

Lussekatter and a fine package, who then cares if the shoe per diem happens to be a pair of very shaggy (though trustworthy I really insist), grey, Birckenstock gnome-slippers? Not me.

14 december 2010 // around the tree

stacey an i went for a run (slash walk but whatever…) in my hood yesterday. afterwards, we sat around drinking wine, eating chips and watching tv. we remembered to snap our SPD and the most interesting thing nearby was the christmas tree. not the best shot of the tree but at least the moment is here for posterity…

paudecanela

South Coast Represent!

This is the view from my house tonight:

It’s so choice, I love living here. And after  the bad luck that came in 3′s it’s good to appreciate the little things! My feet are in there but you have to squint.

L xx

12 december 2010 // taking a break

It’s been a busy few days (months?). I feel guilty I haven’t been as good a Shoe Per Diem-er as I was hoping to be in December but I’m definitely going to try to make up for it in the second half of the month.

This shoeless SPD picture was snapped last sunday afternoon, during the few hours I spent lying in the sun with some wine and my book, trying to forget about the nightmare we had gone through the day before (I’ll get to it in the next sentence) and the long drive back home that morning.

As for saturday, my reason for not not taking a shoe per diem picture is as follows: we decided to return to the tongariro crossing (one of the most famous day hikes in the world, on Mount Tongariro volcano). If you remember, we’d already done it back in March and I had a SPD shot with my hiking boots and the Emerald Lakes in the background to prove it. Well not this time. Why? Because, thanks to the huge cloud that insisted on staying with us through the eight hours of the hike, we didn’t see the Emerald Lakes. In fact, we didn’t see *anything*. Nothing. Zero. Niente. In fact, we could hardly spot the track markers, which made for a few moments of panic about being lost.

The cloud wasn’t the only problem, though. There was also the rain. Eight hours of walking in the rain, freezing cold, our clothes heavy from all the rain water in them. And that wasn’t even the most annoying thing of all, no. There was also the wind. Gale force wind. MetService mentioned 85km/h but MetService lies and I’m pretty sure that, at some stages, it got to three digits. We had to crouch down and hold onto rocks at the top of the mountain and we were still scared of being blown off.

So yeah, with that in mind, I think you will excuse my lack of photo. I took maybe three or four photos of the hike before the camera lens went all foggy and wet and my fingers became too cold to even click the button.

I’ve got no excuse for any of the other days, though. On a more positive note, and despite a few days of absence, I’m so glad we’re already in December and we managed to stick to this project all year long. I plan to continue next year and hope you all continue too!

paudecanela

shoe per diem dec 12, 2010 – twitterjunta

 

shoe per diem dec 12, 2010 – #twitterjunta, originally uploaded by piaktw.

Had a lovely time with needles, hook and yarn, good food, good people at my first Twitterjunta today. Which basically consists people (tweeps) that tweet on Twitter and who love yarn. And since we met IRL we all live in Stockholm.

Want to read more about my thoughts and feelings about this Twitterjunta, I really suggest you read my longer blogpost on it. Feel free to be inspired!

There were six of us and a dog who qualified himself to be a member by looks alone. He was just a big, friendly, loveable black-white shaggy yarn-ball. Adorable. Needless (which we were not, oh the pun) he had to be a part of the shoe per diem-photo. Which consists of no shoes at all, but feet, socks and some of our yarny projects. Can you guess which is my foot?

A worthy shoe-comment from one of the tweeps to me: “I knew you were here, when I saw those boots in the cloakroom”. Ah to be known by your shoes…!

It was a brilliant, unpretentious tweet-up.

My Bad

I have been very crap lately, but I moved house and have only just got internet at my new place today. And on the weekend I dropped my camera in the water and won’t buy one till the after Christmas sales, so I will only appear in Emma and Vera’s posts till then. It was nice knowing you all ha ha! I will still be checking out all your posts of course!

Here I am celebrating the move to a new house with friends on the deck after the sun had gone down:

And the most magical weekend I’ve had in a while… back up at my friend’s house in Pataua South,

drinking games involving hermit crabs, while perched in trees over the water (ultimately the perfect formula for dropping ones camera into the ocean…)…

But look it’s sooooo pretty:

That night there were bioluminescenes in the water, and me and amy stayed out swimming until around 1.30am. I now no longer need to do acid (if I ever did), as that experience was pretty trippy!

THEN the next day in the very same water in the photos above, we were swimming and saw splashing in the water, and swam over and it was a pod of four, maybe five dolphins having a good old play. We swam closer and they stayed for about 20 minutes, going through the entire repertoire of dolphin tricks. A dog from the shore even swam out and they played with him! It was so awesome!

So that’s it from me for a while, I hope you guys all have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!! OXOX

Stacey Marie

shoe per diem dec 11, 2010 – loafing day

shoe per diem dec 11, 2010, originally uploaded by piaktw.

Today was a loafing kind of day. I spent my day in looking-like-a-huge-strawberry-dressing-gown and the fugly (but still lovable for me only) grey gnome slippers. Slouching round the house, doing a bit of that, tad of that.

Loafie, he was a loaf kind of dog as always.

a walk in the park

One thing I like about living in Haebangchon is that Namsan Park is not so far away.  A perfect place to walk the dog.    We take a long walk up to the park, up and around the dirt paths around the mountain and then back down again. 

Last time we went around and came out at the Hyatt.  Then through Gyeonglidan and back up Haebangchon.  Just down the hill from my home is a little pet friendly cafe called Latte King. 
Mmmmm.  Kahlua Latte.  Mmmmm.  Baileys Latte.  All good.

Pets are allowed (inside and out).  They also have a little donation box that goes towards feeding stray/homeless cats in the neighborhood.

laura

shoe per diem dec 5, 2010 – julmarknad

shoe per diem dec 5, 2010 – julmarknad, originally uploaded by piaktw.

Which means “christmas fair” (jul = christmas, marknad = fair, market) in Swedish. Here endenth the Swedish lesson for today.

This was the fourth fair we attended so far this season, I’m far from a Christmas fan per se (it’s just a tiresome commercialized hullabaloo in Sweden), less for every year actually. And we have long since stopped giving gifts within the family (there are always other beings and causes who need stuff and money more than we…). On top of that I’m no liker of crowds either.

Still, a bit of Christmas far in snow, fires burning, the scents of “glögg” (glühwein, Swedish mulled wine) and “lussekatter” (the traditional Swedish saffron bun) lingering in the air, that’s nice.

Greetings from the Swedish Grump (not Scrooge) ~ (in red El Naturalista Iggdrasil tall boots)

shoe per diem dec 4, 2010 – christmas trees not for me

shoe per diem dec 4, 2010, originally uploaded by piaktw.

The sight of cut down Christmas trees for sale this time of the year makes me utterly sad. Such a waste of tree life for a few days, possibly weeks, of selfish human “pleasure”.

I have a sweet ol’ sugar-loaf fir tree in garden that I adorn with lights every winter. For me those lights in the darkness of winter give comfort, look cute and symbolizes recycling at its best.

The Christmas trees on sale here cost about 43 usd for a regular tree, 90 for the “royal” version. None came home with me.

Shoe per diem (not surprisingly) was the red tall boots El Naturalista Iggdrasil.

TEN

Today is my son’s 10th birthday. I can’t believe how fast the past 10 years have gone by.

We started the day out with cupcakes and presents in bed, and ended it with cake and presents right before bed.

I was so excited for the cake, I didn’t think to take a picture BEFORE we started eating it. And also – notice that my foot (on the right) is barely even in the photo. I ate so much dinner and cake that I could barely lift my leg up onto the table!

more spinning

Only 10 more days and I’ll be off work for 2 glorious weeks.

The college closes for 2 weeks during the holidays. I can’t wait. I’ve already finished all of my major projects and not a whole lot more seems to be coming in.

With a little extra time on my hands I decided to spin in my chair and see what happens first…

Someone notices the crazy lady spinning in the corner and says something

OR

I get dizzy

I got dizzy first.

-Megan

6 December 2010 // a sucker for bargains!

I know I should be shopping for Christmas pressies for others and not for myself but these Dorothy Perkins flats were a real bargain (something like 8 pounds, I think) so you can hardly judge me for getting them!

paudecanela

bbrrrrrrrrr

It was really cold today. Due to it being dark when I get home from work and the fact that I can’t seem to get out of bed in the morning before work, my running has been reduced to the weekends only.

When I stepped outside for my run it was so nice that I took off my hat, gloves, neck warmer, and a shirt (don’t worry, I have a few more underneath). I took a few steps away from my house and the sun went in and the wind picked up. I had to put all my stuff back on. I miss the days of autumn running.

Stretching after my run….

Hope all my northern hemisphere friends are staying warm!

-Megan

shoe per diem dec 3, 2010 – winter gardening

shoe per diem dec 3, 2010 – winter gardening, originally uploaded by piaktw.

These snowy winter days the garden is mainly good for three things -

A) the quick dumping ground for certain loaf dog activities (making oh the joy when it comes to garden spring cleaning immense)

B) the perfect back-drop for photo-sessions

C) bird feeding

This is winter gardening. Wearing trusty old green wellies.

shoe per diem dec 2, 2010 – my mulberry friend

shoe per diem dec 2, 2010, originally uploaded by piaktw.

Once upon a financial time my status (and perhaps view on life in general) was more of “I can and I will buy Mulberry handbags”. These days even if I could I wouldn’t for various reasons. (But I love the bags I already have, and yes they have all been given perky names.)

This is me and my Mulberry friend (that is a friend who is a great fan of Mulberry handbags) taking a wee trip down memory shopping lane at one of the two Mulberry shops in Stockholm. Not my kind of shoes (or handbags), but I’m pretty sure you’d love these purple and black stud shoes, right?

For me another day in my red El N Iggdrasil tall boots. Friend wearing pink suede UGGs (which I have to admit are far from a favourite style of footwear for me, the writer equivalent of Crocs, shudder… But tastes differ. At least hers are pretty in pink).

shoe per diem nov 30, 2010 – winter mail

shoe per diem nov 30, 2010 – winter mail, originally uploaded by piaktw.

The Monday offered a plethora of sun. Which was gorgeous and uplifting amidst all that cold cold, white white snow. I posted a letter -

the Swedish mailboxes are blue for local mail, yellow for national and international mail. And if you’re more than a tad stupid you use the red mailboxes that appear around Christmas for your Christmas cards. A certain way to get your cards and letters delayed -

marvelled at the long shadows that early in the afternoon. Shadows that had promptly 1,5 hours later when I got home turned into dusk. But who cares when there’s a fab package from MOO waiting. Christmas cards (will never be posted in the red mailbox), postcards and business cards. Oh the delight!

(While wearing the El N olive green Iggdrasil swirl boots from last year’s winter sale. And lime yellow wool leggings from Marimekko that I also got from last year’s winter sale, they’re so incredibly comfy and warm I fear they won’t last for more than one harsh winter season…)

Here comes the sun and I say it’s alright

Lazy morning in bed with a good book , tea, and glorious, beautiful, warm, nurturing sun!!!! I love summer, can you tell?

L xx

3 December

I am involved with the committee for the Wellington Young Professionals and last night was our Christmas party. We started off at Chicago before heading off on a 2 hour boat cruise around Wellington harbour. I didn’t make the boat cruise, but went for a nice (tipsy) walk along the waterfront with Annie. We even played hopscotch. On a side note, today was also National Jandal Day so I bought some new flandals (flash jandals) that you can see below. Any excuse.

L xx

shoe per diem 3/12.2010

shoe per diem 3/12.2010, originally uploaded by julochka.

fabulous new instacam app – it’s kinda like tumblr for the uber-cool iPhone owners.

used the Nashville filter.

make haste to the app store, iPhone owners.

(i must credit the fabulous Pia for making me aware of this app. thank you!!)

almost forgot to mention my boots – it’s the famous purple bumpers. we’ve got snow!

~ julochka

shoe per diem november 28, 2010 – walking on glass

shoe per diem nov 28. 2010 – walking on glass, originally uploaded by piaktw.

Yes, literally I was walking on glass that day. One of the three (yes to that too) Christmas fairs we attended on Sunday was held in a nearby glassworks company (Bro Glasbruk) which only works with turning recycled glass into pretty and/or useful new glass items.

Myself I have to admit, despite living in a country famous for its glass-works, I’m no fan of glass pieces in general. More a ceramics and wood person me.

But of recycling and upcycling I’m a fan. And good craftsmanship. Therefore I enjoyed this little fair quite a bit. And I loved that floor made of crushed glass.

Wearing the red tall boots EL N Iggdrasil. And the striped Marimekko dress of yesterday. It is a lovely, comfy little thing.

shoe per diem nov 27, 2010 – in marimekko stripes and snow

shoe per diem nov 27, 2010 – in marimekko stripes, originally uploaded by piaktw.

On Saturday we took a little day trip to Åland (which makes it three times in five months, crazy!) It was lovely (although most shops and places to visit apparently closed at 2pm this time of the year and we arrived at 1pm…), relaxing, snowing and, of course, with the obligatory visit to the tiny Marimekko shop. Where I after a trying time in the dressing room (layers upon layers upon layers of winter clothes) invested in a most perky (red and navy) stripey jersey dress. See how perfect it goes with one pair of perfect red El N boots?

And there was lots and lots of snow.

shoe per diem 1/12.2010

shoe per diem 1/12.2010, originally uploaded by julochka.

and now my own shoes/wolford tights in the usual hotel room setting. and yes, i’m wearing those teal mimic copenhagen pumps again. and again, it’s actually about the tights.

sabin calls this my “bean poo” skirt. it’s from the gap.

~ julochka

shoe per diem 1/12.2010 guest appearance

shoe per diem 1/12.2010 guest appearance, originally uploaded by julochka.

my (boy)friend jens, who is a famous cartoonist, is making a guest appearance today with his shoe per diem – it’s winter, so socks are in order and when you’re drawing 130 people in one day, comfort is the order of the day as well. aren’t his comfy sandals sweet?

~ julochka

Runa

Meet Runa.  She’s an 8 month old (undersized) malamute.  I rescued her from a bad situation and have decided to adopt her, that is, as long as I can teach her to go up and down my super steep stairs on her own – she is terrified of them and has to be carried up and down them (certainly not by me!)  I hope she’ll learn. She’s such a sweetheart!

laura

The very first Latino Albino

The Portuguese girl and the Kiwi girl went for dinner last night (after their run up the mountain).

We have decided to use Vera’s legs as lighting when there are powercuts, or as flys when we go fly fishing (all those times we go fly fishing).

Stacey Marie

30 November 2010 // circus circus

I have to say that even I find this hard to believe but here’s the truth, plain and simple: after running together on Sunday, Stacey and I met up again on Tuesday for another run. Less than 48 hours later. And what’s even cooler? We’re running again tomorrow! I mean, if this isn’t commitment, I don’t know what is!

Of course we had to finish off our exercise session with good food so we headed to Circus Circus in Mount Eden and shared Eye Fillet and the delicious fish of the day (wish I remember what fish it was…), topped up with Raspberry Creme Brulee and a huge slice of carrot cake with cream cheese icing. Yum!

paudecanela