The last few weeks here in Stockholm have been cold, gray and rainy. As depressing as it may sound, I’ve actually been enjoying it. It’s been such an incredibly warm summer here. While I appreciated the heat, I was done with it. I’m so ready for the fall and the upcoming holidays. Cold, gray and rainy days are just a sign that it’s all getting here. Everything feels so fresh outside. Change is in the air, and it’s a wonderful feeling. Gives me hope, and helps me get through the days.

Besides, this has all meant that more blankets can be used now, and candles can be lit! I love having candles lit all over my apartment. It’s so cozy. Makes everyhting seem so fuzzy and warm and full of loving.

So I say bring on the cold and gray. Just gives me another excuse to stay inside and snuggle with my man

Time is… well… annoying. It goes too fast when you don’t want it to, and too slow when you do. Time is spiteful. Already 2 months since my weddng. Already 2 months since I saw my parents. It’s already the beginning of the week when I would swear high and low that the weekend had just begun. I’ve already been in Sweden 3½ years, when really I feel like I just stepped off that plane. Already my third year teaching… my 26th birthday is around the corner… my baby neice just turned 11 (!), been together with Daniel 8½ years… Apparently it’s October? Didn’t the trees just start blooming?

The weeks fly by, the weekends even faster… I feel like I measure my life in Fridays and Mondays. I’m not complaining, because life is good, for the most part. But GEEZ anyone know how to slow it down a bit?

Hold on now! Before you go getting all eye rolling and and stuff, just hear me out. Now, I know it’s been about 5 months since I updated last. Yes I realize this. But it’s for a good reason!

First off, as I last updated I was approaching the end of te school year. Which is just as much work and stress for teachers as it is for students. Trust me. A lot of work, and you just end up EXAUSHTED at the end of it.

Second, I GOT MARRIED! Yes that’s right! This summer Daniel and I fianlly got ourselves hitched! So there was a lot of planning and other things going on during the summer. Then my parents flew over for the wedding. Then we went to Italy for our honeymoon. But I was sick the WHOLE TIME.

Third, I was sick. No, seriously. I started getting sick on the night before my wedding. And it lasted for 5 weeks. The worst cold I’ve ever had. I thought something was seriously wrong with me. The doctors did not agree. I thought I would never get better, and all of a sudden, I did! Now I’m at week 8, and although I’m healthy again the cough is still hanging aorund.

Fourth, we had a renovation in our apartment that started 2 days after the wedding and lasted 7 weeks. It was hell. No bathroom or running water. We spent as little time in this place as we could. It was a complete nightmare. But now we have a wonderful new bathroom!

Fifth, work started back up and it consumed all of my time at the beginning. As it is it’s still quite time consuming, but I have a better handle on it. So my inspiration is back.

Sixth…. ok jsut kidding. There’s nothing more.

So see? I had real reasons. So don’t be mad. Just be happy I’m back *grin*

Man am I sick. Ugh. It’s awful and I just want it to go away. I don’t have time to be this sick! I have to be back at work by Wednesday the latest. Last time I got sick was back in early December. I missed 3 days of work. It would have been more but it was over a weekend. So, fortunately, I only missed 3, and not 5. I hope it’s not like that this time. I am feeling pretty cruddy though. I hope it’s not anything I’ll have to go to the doctor for. Ugh. UGH!!!!

Wow nearly a whole month-no-post. That’s a record!

Sorry folks, work has just been taking over. We’ve had bunches of stuff to deal with the past few weeks and most of the big stuff seems to be over now. I haven’t done any personal creative stuff in weeks. I miss it. I’m also really tired. Way too much stress. But that is life!

I finally got some creative time for myself tonight.

I am also planning on re-doing this site. I don’tknow how long I’ve had this layout up, but I think it’s through. Plus, I want to move this over to WordPress. Perhaps it’ll be a weekend project.

And maybe I’ll get in the “Tattoo” Illo friday assignment before it’s over this week. I did a really cool tattoo illo for a client last week that I so want to post here! But I don’t want to do it until her site is done. So I’ll try to some up with something else.

For now, at least I was able to update!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday! I won’t be posting again until sometime after New Years, so I guess I’ll see you then! And don’t forget you can send my holiday e-cards to those you need to these next couple of days.

And finally, a picture of my own Christmas tree, as promised…

I’ve been swamped. First there is work, and then I had a design job at DE that took up all of my free time. Good thing I had a patient client. I was working on it for what seemed like ages. But I finally finished, and I finally have free time back. Free to relax and do some stuff just for me, you know?

So it’s Christmas time! And I’m sure you’ve noticed the change around here. The design is the same, I just altered the colors to more Christmas-y ones, and added the Santa hat. I love Christmas! I always have, and I always will. I put up and decorated m tree 2 weeks ago. It’s my first Christmas tree in 3 years! Before this we only had small apartments, but now we have a living room, and room for a tree!

And the best part? It has all of my ornaments and even the lights from my tree from my childhood. When I was home over the summer I went through all the Christmas decorations and sent over everything I wanted. I even have the little train that I always put under the tree as well. So not only do I have a Christmas tree, but it feels like the same tree I’ve had for the past 25 years of my life. It’s wonderful and makes it feel a little bit like home.

And it’s nice to mix some my own traditions and things, with the Swedish ones. It only adds to the experience. I love the tradition of lighting an advent candle every Sunday for the 4 advents. And making so that by the fourth Sunday they are in a sort of step-down order. I love watching Donald Duck on Christmas Eve (but I’ll also be watching my own Garfield and Charlie Brown this year!).

It’s just such a great time of the year!