Doing the New52 dance

I've been battling rosacea and major sensitive skin for a couple of years and one of the things that I had very high on my list of new things to do for the year was to find a skin care regimen that actually works for me. I have tried countless brands from the department store make up counters and home remedies. All with the same result; absolutely no change what so ever. So I figured it was time for professional help (lol, took me long enough eh).

So the new thing this week was an appointment with a dermatologist, facial treatment, and shiny bottles in my bathroom cabinets.


As with all cronic issues, rosacea hasn't gone poof away, and mysteriously I don't look like Penelope Cruz yet, but I'm giving this a shot, hoping at least it will help a little.

One new thing at a time

First off, I just want to say that I've had some really lovely comments here on the blog and through email with regards to my review of 2010 and from the bottom of my heart; I thank you so very much. Sharing insecurities is a touchy subject I guess but I am glad I did because your messages to me have validated me and shown me that I'm not alone. So thank you all!

Now then, I said last week that I was tempted to try out New52 to challenge myself to grow as a person, and to have some fun on the way. Well I thought about it, and then some. I thought about what kind of new things I would like to try this year, how much of a challenge it would be, and how much guts it would take to do some of them. I came up with quite an impressive list. But reading and reviewing the list made me realize that many of them would be really difficult to document in a way that I could upload to a computer and do something with. And the OCD part of me just can't bear to not have all my ducks in a row, lol. OK, so what to do? Back to square one?

Actually no. I have decided to break the mold and not commit to a certain format, and to not document with photos that are to be compiled into a book, and  to not be disturbed by the fact that it is whatever it is - some weeks nothing, some weeks huge things that I can just keep within me, and some weeks photo ops that I can share here. I really want to do this to challenge myself and to hopefully look back at the end of the year and feel more positive about myself and my actions than I did looking back at 2010. With this in mind I have decided to keep the list off this blog for now. I might compare what I have done and share later on though.

Still with me? :)

One of the things on my list was to cook dinner for the husband once a month. It's no secret that cooking is something I do not do. Being married to a chef certainly has its perks. Fabulous food every day being the biggest one! But a drawback has been that my abilities in the kitchen have shrunk to stupid little things like boiling eggs. So in an effort to change that, and to spoil the husband a little, I will try take charge of the pots and pans at least twelve times this year.

So last night it was premiere night. Oh man I was nervous! I had planned the menu around the promise of champagne from the husband and the importance of easy to follow recipes. Did I make it through to the end without a melt down and without burning the place to the ground? Yes siree! I sure did.

(This is where I tell you to ignore that I wore no make up and my hair was a mess)






And the actual food, you ask? Yup, it was edible!
Salmon ceviche for starter


Green pea soup with bacon and ciabatta for main


Chocolate covered stawberries with Italian cookies for dessert


You won't believe how proud I was after this. I haven't cooked a full meal entirely on my own while the husband was actually in the house for ages and ages. So this will definitely happen again.

I usually don't share all to much of my own life here on this blog. I kind of set out from the beginning for it to be about my creative life. But every year for the past ten or so I've been doing a review at the end of the year. I've been writing it in past blogs and online journals. But I've let them go as of late and I still wanted to do the review.

So here it is. In all its starkness and candidness. It contains some heavy stuff that I haven't shared here before - like the fact that my first year as a designer has been not only fantastic and exciting, but also hard for me on a personal level. I started a new demanding job as well this year and the two of them together managed to rock my boat. My way of tackling that was to work more and design more which of course only meant less time for other tings and more anxiety on my part. But with the new year I am taking on a new attitude and am hoping for a brigther and better year. So, with that, here is my review of 2010.

1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Started designing digi scrap products for profit and selling with js.com

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I never make them but I had planned to exercise which I failed.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My friend Anneli had Linnea on June 20th
My sister in law Jenny had Elias on June 27th
My sister Frida had Wilmer on November 17th

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully not this year

5. What countries did you visit?
Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and a lot of Sweden

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Balance – I struggled a lot with combining the workload of my day job and designing with a normal social life. I feel I failed at being a good wife, daughter, sister, friend.

7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The birthdays of “our” kids
May 22nd when we saw Michael Bublé in concert and Inter won Champions league
November 7th when MFF became Swedish champions
November 19th when I saw Lady Gaga in concert

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Becoming a digital designer at js.com, kicking ass at work.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not being able to find balance in my life.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Apart from two stellar colds I was healthy and had the best year in many with regards to migraines.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
For me – new computer, but mostly I am more pleased with gifts we got others.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Johan, he puts up with me and my mini meltdowns. Liv Esteban, for talking me out of giving up designing.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Some peoplein my workplace.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, summer holiday, food, computer.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Babies
Being offered to join the design team at js.com
Michael Bublé
Lady Gaga
Holiday in Italy

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Från och med du – Oskar Linnros
Rude Boy – Rihanna
Fuck You – Cee Lo Green

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier
ii. thinner or fatter? About the same
iii. richer or poorer? About the same

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Spent time with family and friends.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worry and agonize about things.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With my family at our place, eating, snuggling, laughing. It was awesome.

22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
With “our” kids, new and old, and with Johan.

23. How many one-night stands?
None

24. What was your favorite TV program?
True Blood
Criminal Minds
Biggest Loser

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No, hate is such a strong word. There are a few I strongly dislike though.

26. What was the best book you read?
I think I only read two … biographies by Nikki Sixx and Slash. The latter was better.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Oskar Linnros and thanks to Johan I rediscovered Guns n Roses.

28. What did you want and get?
Love
A new computer
A lovely holiday trip

29. What did you want and not get?
A winning lottery ticket.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I am having a hard time remembering what films we’ve seen this year. I thought Iron Man 2 was a disappointment … as well as Toy Story 3. I did like Daybreakers …

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 36 and spent the day with Johan in gorgeous Cinque Terre. It was a fantastic day with lots of wonderful sights, food, wine, and laughs. Best birthday ever.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Being able to do everything I wanted and and spend time with everyone I care for.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Casual chic? Meh, some days jeans and a top, some days rock n roll sexy, and some days classic. I’m a fashion eclectic.

34. What kept you sane?
Johan
Liv Esteban
Microsoft Outlook

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Michael Bublé
Robbie Williams
Jamie Oliver
nothing new, lol.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Swedish election. Just ugh.

37. Who did you miss?
Friends and family that I didn’t get to see due to working too much.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
My new boss. Such a classy lady. She gave me a lot of support and made me feel like maybe I wasn’t half bad after all.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:
You can’t do it all.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
“You make sense of madness when my sanity hangs by a thread”

And there it is, people. A year of great highs and huge lows. I guess there is a lesson in there somewhere ... see number 39.

Good grief - creativity has taken me over

Can you believe it? Another layout? Has the lady gone batshit crazy? Are there little gremlins running around inside her head? Has she been captured by digi scrap aliens with a hidden agenda? Well, anything is possible folks because I don't really know where this sudden burst of scrapping creativity has come from! But I guess I shouldn't complain really? I kinda dig it and I hope you do too!

This layout is about none other than little old me! The husband took a photo of me at a wedding this summer and I feel it captured exactly how I was feeling that day. I certainly don't feel pretty or even good about my appearance on a regular day basis and so I wanted to scrap it. To help me remember and to help me feel better about myself a little more often.


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