Sunday Afternoon

Sunday afternoon was spent at the Christmas market after they'd been to see me at work. Since I am such a fan of Christmas I obviously love it there.

It was absolutely freezing but I didn't mind.

And when we got to the end we were almost right next to Bar Boloud which is where we were having our dinner.

Lovely day:)

Sunday Morning

I woke up to get to work (well got woken up actually but either way) and the rest of the house was fast asleep and a bit hang over so I lit the first candle and sat on my own eating a banana..

It made me miss my family so much. 1st of advent is a real Swedish tradition and that's when the shops open with all their Christmas decoration.

Here in London it means nothing (and Christmas decorations have been up since October) but I like to still stick to some Swedish traditions and teach the Italian all about it. I've got two of these things that counts down to Christmas with a new candle every Sunday from now until then:)

Saturday night.

The Italian and his friends waited for me outside work when I finished and we went to Cucoon together.

It's quite a nice place, maybe not the nicest crowd, but the atmosphere is pretty nice if you go as a group. 

I thought about it during the night and decided to go with them for one drink.

They'd all already had a couple of drinks at Tempo so it didn't take long before I realised that I was a bit behind;)

The Italian and his best friend P

Me and gorgeous M with the most beautiful hair ever

Hmm one drink turned into two magnum bottles of champagne and countless amount of shots...

I wasn't the only one that felt a bit tired after a while and I was good enough to leave before the others and I got home about 2.30am and in time for the repeat of x-factor so I still stayed up until after the others got home and had the luxury of about two hours sleep before I get a phone call from work about sickness..

No option but getting into the shower and head off to work.

Saturday AM

P and M arrived late last night and we were up talking until about 2.30 this morning.

My poor man had to get up at 6.30 to get ready for his 16 hr shift today. Understandably he forgot some of his things at home so on my way to the gym I went to the restaurant to give them to him.

I brought P and M with me so they know where it is when they're going there for dinner tonight. We then walked down to Piccadilly circus together and I showed them Bond Street and how to get to Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Regent Street and Oxford Street.

So they should be ok for the rest of the day now...

On my way up to the gym I notice that Regent Street has been pedestrianised for the day. There is lots of little stands and happenings all the way up to carnaby street which is where I was going.

It was great to cycle through because everything that was given out for free just appeared in the basket of my bike without me even having to ask for it:) I landed at home quickly and threw some food in my mouth after a hard body combat class (only two of us there = hard to hide in the back...) and then a quick shower and off to work which is where I am now.

Have a great Saturday.

Sent from my iPhone

Wind down time

I started watching Invictus when I got home. Unfortunately I had a million things to do since I got home later than I thought so I had to have it on in the background, but I can still say that I followed it very well and I really enjoyed.

I am not a rugby fan so the parts where they were just playing is when I saw an opportunity to run around and do other things.

Yes I realise that there was more to it than just the fact that they were playing rugby and I do think that the film was very cleverly done and Morgan Freeman is absolutely outstanding in it.

I truly recommend it, it's quite long though so make sure you have the time.

It's just finished and I have just phoned and made a reservation for the four of us on Sunday night at Bar Boulud. And now I am sitting here with all the candles lit and a nice big cup of tea reading this months Vogue that I haven't even had a chance to open yet since it arrived a few weeks ago so it's a nice treat.

I hope you have had a lovely Thursday.

A doctors visit

On my way to work today I got a puncture on my bike. Obviously I didn't have time to stop so I kept cycling all the way to work. Super busy day so I forgot all about it. Also cycled to the gym after work with a puncture, A nice and sweaty Zumba class made me forget about it again, but as I was on my way I realised that there was no way I could cycle all the way home like this. Luckily there was a bike shop around the corner so I went there and they were able to change it straight away which would take about half an hour.

There is a massive cute cafe next door to the bike shop and the guy said to me to go there for a bit and then come back and get my bike.

Hah! He doesn't know me I thought, do you know how much I could get done in half an hour?

So I went to the nearest tube station and topped up a couple of oyster cards for P and M when they arrive tomorrow so they can travel around on them when we are both working on Saturday.

On my way there I saw a Sainsbury's so I went in and got some of the shopping I was supposed to get tomorrow so it won't be so heavy then. 

And when I got back to the shop it was only a couple of minutes until my bike came back up which meant I had time to reply to a few emails as well.  

So while my bike was at the doctors I could tick of some of the things on my to-do list for tomorrow:)

Result!

S-P-I-N-N-I-N-G

Wow, just writing about it makes me breathless.

There was one point when I thought, This is it, this is when my last breath is being drawn...

And I thought This isn't how I want to go, I am far too young and I am surrounded by lots of sweaty people that I don't even know.

I survived it off course and as always it feels so much better afterwards.

I came home and made myself some salmon pasta.

So now I am fed and happy and I am going to start preparing the flat for some Christmas decorations.

Since it's 1st Advent on Sunday I am going to start to put out some of the things:)

And then off to bed as early as possible as decided yesterday.

I am in Love

How cute are all these things...

We don't really have these kind of shops in London that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, so I am very excited about nordichouse (off course...) that I just discovered. Hmm what should I order first.... So many things to choose from;)

UPDATE: First order in:) I hope they'll arrive before the weekend when we have house guests. I'll show you what I bought later.

Some for all year around and some for Christmas...

Just don't tell the Italian because he won't be happy...

Tuesday

I finished work at five and went straight to the gym, I was going to do Aqua Aerobics because I thought it might be quite a good workout for the whole body without straining it too much if I'm doing other things like body combat etc the other days this week.

I was very excited and went into the changing room and as I am standing there with my bum bare and I'm about to put on my bikini I realise that I've brought two bottoms...

Since I didn't quite fancy jumping around in the pool topless I had to just get dressed and leave the gym:(

I called S who I was meeting for dinner later and told her about my error, luckily she was available to meet me in about 45 minutes so I just walked around in Covent Garden looking for Christmas presents while I waited.

I obviously had to take photos of the Christmas decorations since I missed covent garden on my last decoration hunt.

I didn't find any Christmas presents, but have I mentioned that I have bought my first one already?

Very proud of myself.

It is freezing today so I was very happy when S said that she was on her way.

I rushed to The Garrick where we were meeting.

It is a cute little French brasserie in Covent Garden and with the Taste card we only paid £10 each:)

Very good.

I had goat cheese salad to start with and then Moules Frites. Yum!

I was going to say that I have nothing else planned for the rest of the week which is nice, but that's a lie.

The Italians best friend and his girlfriend is coming to visit this weekend.

They arrive late on Friday and they are staying until Wednesday I believe.

I had my only day off this week yesterday so I will be working the whole time they are here, but hopefully we'll have some evenings off together so we can go for some nice meals and things.

They are all going out Saturday night after the Italian finishes about midnight. I haven't decided if I am going to join them yet or not since I start work again at 8am on Sunday. I might prefer to go home and rest so we can enjoy Sunday night together instead without me being tired.

But I really fancy going out on Saturday night.

Oh Dilemma!

Ah well I don't need to decide this second.

I've got a few days left.

Maybe if I get to bed on time the rest of the week I'll be fine.

So I am going to get ready for bed now.

Good Night!

Contrasts

Last night when the Italian and I couldn't sleep (googled full moon calender this morning and it made me realise why I slept so bad) we were lying in bed reading Oscar Wilde quotes on the computer.

Tonight we are sitting on the sofa watching UFC (fighting show) on TV and these people are really kicking the c**p out of each other....

So I am all dressed up from the dinner earlier and there is a lot of blood on my TV...

I am thinking it's about time I got into my pyjamas, washed my face, brushed my teeth and went to bed.

8am start tomorrow.

Good Night!

 

More Wanted...

You'd think we'd be cramping up from being too full, but no piggy and piggy went to the shop on the way home and bought crisps, chocolate, ice cream and sweets...

All of which is now resting in our stomachs..;)

It's a good job that he is the same as me otherwise he'd think I was a right weirdo asking for more after that feast...

Savoy Grill

We've had a great time and it was such a nice and buzzy and lively room, here are my usual iPhone photos of the food....

Warm beetroot tart with goat cheese to start

Halibut with curly kale and Charlotte potatoes

Winter vegetables, chips and rib eye steak

Chocolate fondant with banana ice cream

Mango Mille Fuille

Yum yum.

The official opening is next Monday the 29th.

Make sure you go, they are getting pretty booked up though so you better hurry...

London Calling

                                                                         pic

At the beginning of every week I have the best intentions of calling my friends that are spread out all over the world.

And then at the end of every week I realise that the week is indeed over and every second has been occupied with doing other things.

Last week however I made THREE of those phone calls:)

And it just makes you feel so good. To remember that whatever happens we are all here supporting each other in our own little way, even if we don't see each other every day, we are still always there for each other.

There is nothing in the world like a good strong friendship.

Not a day goes by without me thinking about, and missing my friends.

Wherever they are....

Love you all!

Gym and Power food

Lazy morning, breakfast, blog reading, cycle to gym, Legs/Bums/Tums, meet the Italian in the lobby afterwards, super salads and power smoothies at Leon, cycle home.

A great start to our second day off together.

Still on the to-do list for today.

Watch Desperate Housewives

Visit the beauty salon for some well needed eye brow treading

Dress up

Make Up

Dinner at the Savoy Grill for their soft opening this week.

Lovely Sunday

The day started with a massive breakfast that the Italian went out and bought while I cleaned up the flat a bit.

I watched a very sad episode of Private Practice and then we went into town to go to the cinema.

Being us though, we obviously left too late and came into town 25 minutes after the film had started, so we decided to do some shopping and wait for the next viewing instead.

We didn't get very far on our shopping spree until we came upon Wright Brothers, where we decided to go in and have something light to eat. 

Three people we used to work with before work there so we ended up with complimentary champagne and oysters. Me Like:)

It wasn't very busy since they had just finished lunch time, but it was a really nice place and we will certainly be back.

 We ordered some smoked Mackerel Pate, dressed crab on toast, Atlantic prawns and mussels. Mmmmm.

It was all super yummy.

We were then late again for the next viewing so we changed film choice altogether and went for Wall Street.

The Italian loved it, I was quite bored and thought the guy was a bit of an a-hole to his girlfriend, but never mind. It was a lovely day though and it feels surreal to have the day off together tomorrow as well.

I hope you had a fantastic Sunday. X

Saturday Night

Wow, what a stressful night.

All I could think of when I cycled home was that I really fancied some chocolate!

Yes I might have mentioned something about a bottle of vodka with a straw at some point and at the time that was the only thing that seemed appropriate to sooth the pain I felt from the stress, but now when it's over all I want to do is get my teeth stuck in a MASSIVE bar of chocolate. But there isn't any in the house and I was good enough not to buy any on my way home.

X-factor didn't get recorded so I am waiting up for the repeat to start at 2.30am.

Not able to sleep anyway, need to wind down a bit first. 

The Italian is fast asleep after a night out with some friends ,but Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster and Clive Owen are keeping me company instead until it starts.

And then I am going to Stop and relax for two days until I am back to work on Tuesday.

These two days include dinner at Savoy Grill on Monday night which we are looking forward to.

Rihanna - Only Girl (In The World)

As you know from before I love Rihanna, and her latest song is no exception.
This one is on constant repeat when the Italian is home, but now when he's left for the gym I've let her go all the way with the rest of the album as well while I get ready for work.
Enjoy!



By The Way...

I am waiting for Cougar Town to get ready for me and in the mean time I can tell you that before tonight and my delicious dessert I haven't touched anything unhealthy at all since last Thursday.

That's right no chocolate, no sweets, no pastries, no cakes, no desserts, no nothing:)

How do I feel?

Well I expected to feel

Slim

Thin

Energised

Great

Clear Skin

etc

What I do feel:

Bloated

Fat

Fatigue

Not so great

Greasy Skin.....

So chocolate all the way is what I say;)

No, to be fair I know that stress makes me feel all those things listed as well, but obviously I'd like to blame it on the lack of chocolate.....

I don't crave it the way I did before though where every second was spent thinking of Chocolate. I am ok with the fact that I am not eating it every day now and I feel proud of myself for not doing it.

Oh Cougar Town is ready I've got to go.

Ciao for now. x

A thursday night in Soho

A few of us from work went to Hix for dinner after we'd finished.

It was a stressful day (once again) so it was nice to wind down with some nice food and drinks afterwards.

I always feel embarrassed getting my camera out and take photos of my food so this is taken with my iPhone as usual...

Potato with wild mushrooms and garlic butter to start with

Monk fish tail for main course

With every single side dish they had to offer

Sea buckthore Berry Posset;)

And in between we got a a bowl of prawns sent up from the kitchen that went well with the champagne cocktail we received when we arrived.

It was only six of us there but I think we ate like a small army....

I was being a good girl and left after dinner when the others went deeper into Soho for all sorts of trouble;)

Christmas In London

A nice relaxing day that ended at the cinema.

On my way there from the hairdresser I took some pictures of the Christmas lights on Carnaby Street and Regent Street.

I see these every time I go to the gym since it is just around the corner from here, they look great in the dark.

Regent Street has some Spider Web looking things hanging down all the way.

with some Disney character (?) pictures here and there

I love Christmas and I love the time leading up to Christmas. Normally I am quite sick of it by the middle of December since we get the first Christmas decorations here in October, but it feels like it might be different this year.

Off to bed now. Early start tomorrow and then out for dinner with some people from work.

Should be fun:)

Sleep well. x