-
Renovation
Hi everyone,
This might sound harsh but I really did not want to be in here today. I was on my phone and my laptop throughout the day and at some point I just felt well, overwhelmed for a lack of a better word. I felt like someone was chasing me. Email, respond to this and that, organizing, fixing and attaching with the Visa stuff. And then more, paying bills in Sweden, cancelling Appointments I received for no reason back in Sweden. Dealing with banks and on top of everything picking up the dry cleaning, studying, finding time to meditate. And on and on it went. And I am not even working!
Kind of makes me exhausted writing about this shitty day.
So I decided, a lot less of all the electronic devises for tomorrow. I mean Facebook, Instagram, emails, dealing with any Departments of Immigration, Consulates Dr’s office. Whatever. Tomorrow is Friday and I am going to treat it like a holy Sunday. Or whatever day you would consider “the day of rest”.
I have Ambrose dealing with some Visa stuff now. I just feel sick even looking at the attached documents today. All of it, it’s too much sometimes and the only fair thing to do to yourself in moments like this is to just….rest. Even if it means a couple of hours. I went to the beach for 2 hours, have not been in the water for weeks. Nobody was there and I swam around in the water feeling like everything was nice at that moment. No stress. Especially when I swam under water, there is something with the silence under water that makes you feel like you are out in space or something.
Alright, that’s enough weirdness from me. Lets check out the new sound proof windows that were put in the house today! I get so excited from home renovations. Such an uplifting thing am I right?
______________________________________________________ -
Italy – Oh how I miss you
I want to travel. I need to travel soon! My heart is set on Italy, beautiful, romantic, wonderful Italy. Have you guys traveled to Italy? I feel it is one of the “must” when in Europe.
Why? Well lets see….the food, the history, the monuments, the shopping, the vine, the nature, the coffee, the ice cream, the people, the language, the buildings. And again, the food!So far I have seen Rome, Naples, San Marino,Venice, Genoa,Vatican City, Ventimiglia, Milan, San Remo and Bologna.
One reason I’ve been there often is because as all European know ( and everyone coming to visit Europe) is that everything is “close by”. So especially the period I lived in Barcelona and Nice, Italy was just a train-ride or a short flight away. Sometimes we drove as well.Miss having other countries close by haha. Now I am on a giant island far far away from everything! Not complaining though. Australia is home and that means everything to me.
– Coffee break in Naples –
Coffee in Italy is by far one of the best. Ambrose favorite was the small coffee you have standing up. I love having a coffee while sitting down, preferably with this view! Italians don’t mock around with their coffee.
I really enjoyed reading “Ordering Coffee in Italy: the 10 commandments”
It is exactly like that! Might be good to read that article before you start ordering skimmed hazelnut almond latte while in Italy. You can find the article HERE
– Colosseum in Rome –We were here about 2 years ago. It was a surreal and powerful feeling walking along all that history that is within the walls of Colosseum. I am a big fan of history and Rome did not disappoint in that department.
– Hotel terrace in Naples –When you travel around a couple of countries for a couple of weeks you tend to stay in a lot of different hotels. Here arriving in Naples and finding out that our hotel room came with a massive terrace. I mean really really big. Without any furniture at all, it was just big and empty. So strange but great!
– View from hotel room in Venice –View from one of the hotels we stayed at in Venice. I loved this hotel. Ambrose hated it. The decor was very classic, old school Italian, I like that style a lot.
Such beautiful and powerful buildings everywhere in Italy 
-Two of my absolute favorites in the world – Ambrose and food –
– Trevi Fountain in Rome –
– Flood in Venice –
– Mi amore next to one of the canals of Venice –_____________________________________
-
Programming your brain using the “If Then Planning”
Went looking for a new car and we both fell in love with this collectors item
Here is a very interesting thing i recently learned about our brain and why we often feel insecure, vulnerable etc whenever we are taking on a massive change.
Examples such as starting dating after you’ve been heartbroken or your partner passed away. Deciding to run a whole marathon when you’ve never before exercised. Or dieting for the first time after a lifetime of obesity.
The reason why the change making you feel insecure and vulnerable is this ; anything that requires you to change your behavior and facing where you are and where/who you want to be caused massive stress in us. And the reason for this is because we focus on the gap between these two “people”. The one you are now, and the one you want to become.
The stress them pops into our head, we feel overwhelmed as our brain starts to focus on the huge amount of work it requires from us to go from one end of the spectrum to the next.This what 2 things that can help according to my latest idol Mel Robbins :
• Narrow your focus. This means that instead of focusing on the big and overwhelming picture, you focus on what you can do minute by minute. Focus on what you can do in this moment that would help you get from where you are now, till where you want to be.
• Find and write down your Triggers. In case of wanting to diet but you find yourself eating badly. Identify what triggers makes you reach for the food. Is it whenever you are in front of the TV? When you are bored? When you are stressed? Or maybe whenever you have an argument with your partner?
• Next you use something called “If Then Planning”. Psychologist Robert Cialdini suggests this in the case of weight loss : “If/when, after my business lunches, the server asks if I’d like to have dessert, then I will order mint tea.”
Here is how you use this: take your list of Triggers and simply add an “If then planning”.
Here is an example: If I feel bored, then I will go on a walk around the block. Or If I’ll watch TV, then I will have a tea in front of me.
You see, you replace your triggers with already made suggestions for your brain. You wont as easily fall into the trap of autopilot. Instead you are re-training your brain to associate TV with tea, boredom with short walks.And over time this becomes a natural response, soon you do this automatically.
You can find more on this topic in Business Insider AustraliaGive these a try and see how you go. And of course, you can apply these methods in all areas of your life ; work, health, productivity. Good luck. xx
__________________________________________
-
Book your wedding photographer
We have been going to a lot of weddings these last couple of years. I love weddings, everything about them makes me happy. Cant wait to start planning mine and Ambrose wedding. I already have a couple of details of what I want in my head. It will be in South of Europe. It will all be outdoor, it will be a very intimate wedding with only the absolute closest. My wedding dress will be a lot of lace, open back and I want to wear a veil.I still have most of it to decide but one decision that is made for sure for our wedding is the wedding photographer. Without a doubt I want my sister Hanie. The only thing is that I also want her as my bridesmaid and it would be nice if she could be a guest and not working on our wedding…..
But she is so good that I actually might have her work on that day. I don’t want to miss having the opportunity to get amazing wedding pictures. I mean, just look at her work!
If you want to book her for your special day, you can find more information on her web page : hanievaladi.photography
___________________________________________
-
Becoming better in small steps
This morning I came over this list from Wit & Delight which suggested a whole lot of small changes to implement over 30 days.
Some of them you might already do, I know I did. For example sitting at the bar ordering small plates. I have always done that, especially when I am eating alone I love sitting at the bar.You see, it is not always the major adjustments we make that changes our life’s for the better. If you want to change a habit or add a habit into your everyday life, research shows that you are better of doing it little by little everyday.
Like starting a Ritual. You can read more about it HERE in an earlier post I wrote.Here are some from the List that were the most appealing to me :
℘ Abandon social media for a day
℘ Unsubscribe instead of delete unwanted emails
℘ Say no to plans that don’t sound fun
℘ Put a water-glass by every sink and at your desk
℘ Get a lynda.com subscription and learn something weird or new
You can read the whole list HERE , maybe you will find something you like to add from this list that suits you better.
Good luck. xx_______________________________________________
-
Margarita’s at Li’l Darling
Some of the team members from Life Changing Experiences FoundationMeet a couple of the lovely people who work with me at the place I volunteer – Life changing experiences Foundation. I often just call it Sister 2 Sister but that is just one part of our program.
Once a week we all go to Li’l Darling in Surry Hills and have one (or a couple) of margaritas. Don’t usually like margaritas but this place really make good ones. And it is not even an option in this group I think. When I started they called it “Margarita Tuesday” and every time I’ve been with them they all order only that – margaritas! Part of the couture at the office I guess 😉I had 2 the other day and felt drunk on the train back to the coast. I am not a great alcoholic I tell you that for sure.
Li’l Darling is in a couple of places in Sydney. Check them out HEREMost of this week has been really busy, Both I and Ambrose kind of crash on the couch because we have been so tired. We started watching this show called Black Mirror on Netflix which is super creepy and super great. We stared watching it because each one is like a short movie and that’s it. Neither of us want to commit to season after season so it fits us perfectly. Except the fact that we are kind of hooked now and we are already up to season 4 on this thing. So much for not committing to Netflix….
_______________________________________________
-
Barcelona on my mind
These last few days my mind has been all about Barcelona. The reason for that is that I might have to fly 30 hours to Barcelona to literally pick up a piece of paper from the Spanish police, stating that I have not committed any crime while living in Spain. I know it sound stupid, I should be able to have that document sent to me but because I am not a Spanish citizen I cannot just get it from the Spanish consulate. Believe me, I have tried.
At first I was really upset, I kind of had enough with the Visa stuff lately and just knowing that I have to fly around the world to pick up this police clearance annoys me.
Ambrose think its funny and keep saying I should be excited because I get to go and enjoy Barcelona. Which is true, but what nobody seems to get is that I am so fed up with this “gypsy life”. I just want one country, one house, one bank in one country and all of those “normal” stuff everyone else have.
Trust me, when you are dealing with everyday situations such as insurance, Dr visits, banks loans, and everything entitling the government or consulates. You want to be in one place!But!! I get to visit my friends and family in a city that I called home for over 5 years. And I am in love with this city. How could you not love Barcelona?!
Some memories……
These who pictures sums up perfectly a Barcelona day. Rooftop pool during the day, tapas in El Borne by night. Well during the weekends at least
My birthday many years ago. The theme was Black & White. Here with Montse, Lulu, me, Hanna, Lucy and Sophie
After I lived abroad for 7 years (!) my best friends from Sweden came to visit. So much happened during those 10 days haha. Here with Suzy, Peppi, me, Åsa, Annie and Mikaela 
My last work lunch at TMC. Best workplace ever. I will definitely visit the office when I am back
Strolling around the old town is one of my favorite activity in Barcelona. Getting lost for hours is a must while visiting this city for sure.
Chiringuitos – eating and drinking on the beach. Another Barcelona must according to me.
Check out this list to find some of the good ones HERE
One thing you do a lot in Barcelona is having a drink at a rooftop. There are so many of them so just take your pick. Here on one of my favorites that I always brought friends visiting me – Hotel1898 
Oh God, just realized that all the pictures are being out eating and drinking. But it was like that back in the Barcelona days. Also, I must mention that this was my University years. Guess Uni time is party period for most people haha
This is from my last day living in Barcelona. I remember this as one of my most fun and memorable night in Barcelona.After writing this post I am actually excited to fly to Barcelona. Cant wait to tell everyone I am coming.
______________________________________________ -
Bondi Beach RSL
You definitely get good views at the Bondi beach RSL
I am sorry for the days without any report but I do have a good excuse. The allergies I got suddenly last week are still going strong…I don’t understand and it’s not very nice. I went to see the Dr today, the plan is to get some blood tests done and then have a lot of skin tests done. This Dr today did not think the cause was the anesthetic or the latex gloves from the dentist. So now I am even more confused because that was what I thought caused all this.
Anyway, enough with the skin allergies, I just wanted to explain why I haven’t been in here for a couple of days. To be honest I have been sleeping most of the time. The pills the Dr gave me makes me super sleepy.I have had some fun these last few days though. A couple of days ago was our friend Bart’s birthdays which was spent at Bondi beach RSL. And then last Friday was Australia Day 2018! We were all invited to Sarah and Daniel’s new house for a BBQ.
I made everyone play the “Hat” game which was slow at the beginning because I am shit at explaining rules. But everyone got it pretty quickly and it ended up being so much fun. I love this game, every time we play it we all have so much fun because it requires you to make a complete fool of yourself which is healthy for people to do once in a while haha
______________________________________