Newport the lagom way

HI, thought I'd share my wanderings to Newport, RI in the spirit of "living lagom".  I have been rushing around, trying to find work, and getting the kids back into the swing of things, so I decided to take some "me" time in the beautiful Rhode Island hot spot with a great long-time friend and my paint brushes.  First up, dinner in the trendy "Salvation Cafe"(http://www.salvationcafe.com/) Here's me with my huge sangria... want some?  Try this recipe on for size, traditional red sangria, and don't forget the umbrella. ;-)

Next day, painting on the porch in a local seaside town.  I tried a new technique which I'm not too happy with but the bright color did seem induced by my cheery mood!

On Sunday I strapped on my sneaks and headed to the Cliff Walk, one of the most gorgeous walks I've been on.  What a day!  A walked for about an hour until I got to the southern most part which I guess is mainly rocks, and then I strolled all the way down Belleville Avenue.

For those of you not familiar with Newport, there's a ton of mansions (formerly known as summer cottages owned by the Astors and other notable 19th century swells) up and down this magnificent street.  Some like the Marble House (596 Belleville Ave) and "Rosecliff" (548 Belleville Ave) have been featured in movies such as "The Great Gatsby" with Mia Farrows and Robert Redford (1974). The Vanderbilt's summer cottage -- http://www.newportmansions.org/explore/marble-house below.

 Another shot of the view along the Cliff Walk.  Isn't it amazing?

Thanks for a wonderful and relaxing weekend away my friend!  Living la vida lagom (living just right) is finally in action.

Cave woman, good paleo eating and Stone Age Finds in Hanö

Hi, those of you who have read my blog know that I like to write about all things Viking.  It's a fun way to stay in touch with my heritage and experience your inner wild child,  But you may not know that I've also tried paleo cooking so I perhaps I'm really a cavewoman at heart.  :-)  Do you like to eat like a cave woman?  I do, it really makes you feel good, helps you lose weight and fills you up.  Of course I have fallen off the wagon more than once and endulged in bread, pasta and the like, but I have tried to minimize it.  The thought is maybe if I eat like a cave woman I can look more like this Planet of the Apes babe ...

than this one.  (Well, maybe I do look more like her anyhow.)

Here's where I shamelessly plug my good friend's book on Paleo cooling (or high-fat, low-carb like they call it in Sweden).  You can look but you can't buy because it's sold out and is being reprinted for the third time!! You go Anne!  I can't wait to get my copy for Christmas (hint, hint). Matkärlek means "Love of Food" or literally "Love Food" and don't we all?  ;-) Maybe when I get it I'll translate some of the delicious recipes for y'all.  Would you like that?

What prompted these rambling musings to begin with though was an article in the Local that I held onto about the "Swedish Atlantis" being found right where my family lives.  Foteviken Viking settlement (http://www.fotevikensmuseum.se/d/en) must be so excited.  They have been approved for a three year excavation of the sandy bay off the coast because they have found item discarded by nomadic Swedes in the Stone Age! It is really unusual to find such ancient items in good repair and it is because of the "gyttja" or mud that they were thrown into.  If I could have a do-over I might be a student of the Vikings and archeology instead of a teacher. So fascinating... can't wait to see what they bring up from the depths!  Full article here.  And more Vikings here... (BTW I want to bring back that jewelry, it's pretty isn't it?)

The Social Democrats Win!

Swedes have had their day at the polls and the results are in... Social Democrats came up ahead with 43.7 percent of the votes, and the governing coalitition formerly with Reinfeldt at the head got 39.3 percent. So a shift in the pervailing winds to the left, and back to a less business-friendly environment and one that embraces more of the old fashioned "cradle to grave" social experience in Sweden.

Photo By Jonas Ekstromer/AP 

The leader of Sweden’s Social Democrats, Stefan Lofven, leaves a polling station in Stockholm during the Swedish general elections, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014.

The Guardian wrote  on Friday, 9/12 before the polls that: "Löfven is ahead in the polls on promises to raise spending on schools and hospitals and raise taxes after eight years of Reinfeldt trimming welfare. But his lead has narrowed to single digits in recent weeks – in part due to doubts about the former trade unionist's experience to run the country. At stake is who will lead one of Europe's most successful economies. Despite growth outdoing the eurozone since the financial crisis, a housing boom and falling taxes, Löfven hopes to capitalise on voters seeking a return to Sweden's older image of cradle-to-grave welfare and job security." full article here: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/12/frontrunner-swedish-polls-tries-save-campaign-after-tv-debate-gaffe  

Embarrassing to many Swedes was that the anti-immigration party "Sweden Democrats" got 13 percent of the vote making it the third largest party in the Swedish Parlament.  Jimmie Akesson sounds like a real boob.  Check out this funny link a friend posted to her Facebook page, "jag vet inte" means I don't know.  Seems like there's A LOT he doesn't understand.

More about the Swedish 2014 election here:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/exit-poll-sweden-opposition-wins-majority-25494570-

And I found this video that does a good job explaining the 8 parties in Sweden that you can vote for:

a bookbook

If nothing else you should watch this for the laughs (and the accent).  Love it!  Good job IKEA!

And this from someone who loves a real book (book).  :-)  No lag, and you can simply bookmark it!

Fashionably late?

Fashion Week has started in New York and I for one am having a hard time concentrating on fall clothing in this blistering heat.  But with that said, the cooler weather is right around the corner and as soon as it gets here I am going through my closet and making sense of what to buy for the coming season.

Photos, left to right: Rodebjer; Peter Farago/
Sandra Backlund; Hope

To be honest, mainly I will be poking around in vintage and consignment shops in order to save money and be environmentally conscious.  Plus I always love the challenge of how to snaze up an old outfit to fit today's looks.  This year I will be going for classic with a touch of bohemian.  I love the rich look of multicolored knits and the latent prep in me is jazzed that Fair Isles sweaters are showing up again!

Here's just a smattering of some of the exciting fashion design coming out of Sweden these days.  Sigh!  If only I had a bigger bank account I would hit the stores but I will check the links for inspiration and see if I can make something approximate with my old Singer sewing machine and some ingenuity.  (Not that I could even attempt to do anything like Sandra Backlund with her amazing geometric knits. The clean lines of Dagmar are probably more in line with my look anyway.) Perhaps I could win the lottery.  Wish me luck! :-)

Sandra Backlund is known for her hand-knitted, oversized designs. Backlund has made a splash on the international scene and has worked with designers such as Marc Jacobs, Emilio Pucci and Louis Vuitton.
sandrabacklund.com

Hope, comprising the design duo of Ann Ringstrand and Stefan Söderberg, has long been synonymous with Swedish and Scandinavian style. The two specialise in clean, simple lines and well-made details, and seek to produce garments that last.
hope-sthlm.com

Carin Rodebjer’s formula is effortless elegance for all occasions for the modern and universal woman. In 2011, Rodebjer launched a web shop and established its first international branch in New York.
rodebjer.com

Dagmar is run by three sisters and known for its modern take on knitwear. Seen on the likes of Beyoncé, the label’s sensual and unconventional designs have had considerable international success.  See the latest poster below for pre-Fall, 2014 collection.
houseofdagmar.se

From Sweden.se