Chez Larsson

My US Shopping Spree

Hello, my name is Benita. I'm a shopoholic.

I'm not really. I hardly ever shop for pleasure back home. But coming to the US always brings out the shopper in me and once a year I can finally get everything I've been wanting all year long.

Such as the cleaning supplies from Williams Sonoma... Makes cleaning a joyous occasion and not a chore don't you think? I also got two cans of Bar Keeper's (and my) Friend.

I'm not really all that big on scent around the house but occasionally I get the urge (or, ehem, need) to add some to the air. There's a Yankee Candle store in KoP mall and they had these little cute stocking stuffer sizes so after getting dizzy in there I brought home a Beach Walk, a McIntosh Apple and some Clean Cotton as well as a votive each of Spa Fresh and Mandarin Cranberry.

 

I'm completely low maintenance on the beauty side but decided to invest in some Id Bare Minerals, a new Kiehl's No1 Lip Balm, a new tweezer and a coin purse (technically not a beauty item but it found it's way into the shot somehow). On the last day (after I shot my loot on the bed at the hotel) I also got Philosophy's Microdelivery after seeing it on QVC the night before. I know, I lead such and exciting life.

Wille's sole requests for the trip were some Bicycle cards (he's in the card tricks and juggeling fase) and a Starbuck's mug. He insisted on the green logo where as I prefer the old school one and got the big mugs for Martin and I.

 

Kate Spade is one of my absolute favorite companies and stylish persons but since I can't afford any of the real stuff I got some little things like next year's calendar and a long list. Looooooove lists and where better to write then than in the stripy yellow jotter.

I've been wanting to get Icing colors forever after using up my old Betty Crocker ones. Got a set of eight and can't wait to try them out on the gingerbread Wille and I are baking this weekend using the cute cookie cutters I got at Crate and Barrel. Got icing bags too and a new set of mini spatulas and polka dot napkins. All from Michael's but for the Williams Sonoma spatulas.

 

Speaking of Michael's. I went to one for the first one ever! Wohooo! I didn't go ALL wild and crazy and was sort of able to contain myself and be fairly dignified but it was pretty exciting! I know, don't tell me, I get excited about the weirdest things, but you know that by now. Got me some pretty stickers and glues. All by Martha. Yum!

 

One of my favorite haunts when I travel, besides from cleaning isles in grocery stores, are drug stores. And yes, it's the drugs I'm after! We don't get the strong stuff that actually works over here so I always stock up. When the flu hits, bring it on, I'm prepared!

Besides from spending evenings and super early mornings (wake too too early because of jet lag) at the hotel in bed watching TV I always get a pile of favorite to read. Ty was new to me and so so but I loved Martha and the Storage issue of BHG and Country Living. I also finally got to see the page about my blog in Blogging for Bliss. The publisher person was to send me a copy which never arrived (apparently never sent...) so I got a copy at B&N in Philly.

 

Some of our bath towels need replacing so one of my missions was to get new ones. Decided on these Linden Street one's from JCP.

Stuff that didn't make it into the photos but into my suitcase were also; A Land's End down coat and fleece scarf, Old Navy slippers, a bunch of socks, Hanes undies (ALWAYS buy my undies abroad) an Empire State Lego building, a scarf for Martin, our fourth year in Cat calendars and a ton of candy.

So from this 9 kg bag...

... to this 26.5 kg one in three days was not such a surprise after all.
   

 Ps. Please excuse the sorry excuse of a camera I had with me. It stunk last year and still stinks but I'd rather bring that and bang it against the shopping bags than my own.

Hong Kong and China

Today I'll show you a bunch of random photos from my trip to Hong Kong and China. It was my 8th (or was it 9th or maybe even 10th?) time there so nothing was really new. I remember the first time I went where everything was all exciting and it's not really anymore. I've seen the sites and done the exploring on previous trips so this time just went to the trade fairs and ran a few errands in Hong Kong. The best part about the trip was actually coming home.

 

This is a bakery's shop window in Hong Kong. There was surprisingly little Halloween in HK this year but this cute cake made up for it.

I love 7-Eleven in Hong Kong. It's where I get a mini bottle of wine to take to my hotel room and it's also where I get fun candy for Wille. They also always have cute promotional stuff.

 

Lunch in Hong Kong usually equals sushi for me. This time I had a great view of the Japanese homestore across the aisle.

After two days in Hong Kong my collegues and I took the train into mainland China and Guangzhou where the BIG trade fair is (50 000 booths over a period of a couple of weeks!). It's located in an area of new futuristic buildings with these creepy walkways in between. That's a real taxi down there in the street three stories below. Eeek!

There's a lot of standing around going on in China. Like so...

...and so...

... and again...

... and some more.

Here's one place where I'd rather not be standing. I'm familiar with these "facilities" from France but I refuse to get used to them.

I had very little time to shop in Hong Kong this time but did a mad dash in a Watson pharmacy and besides from the regular cold remedies I get there (much stronger than any stuff we get over here...) I couldn't resist the fever patches. I hope I'll never have to use them but the packaging was to cute to pass up.

My other supermarket sweep type of experience always takes place in one Japanese home store or other. This time I found one I hadn't been in before and besides from some other Japanese necessities like a "New Butterdish" (so glad it wasn't an old one) I just had to have the scouring sponge with the happy dish washer.

Apart from the goodies above I also brought a terrible cold home with me. It's still making me really tired so I'll sign off here and go make myself a cup of tea. Have a lovely Tuesday!

Frustration

Arrgghh!!! 

As as soon as I entered China from Hong Kong half of my internet connection broke down. I get access to some sites and my e-mail while I can't see others including my prepared posts.

This means that the Before and After Post which I had prepared somewhat for today and which I sat down hours ago to finish off isn't going to happen as I can't access the photos.  I'm so frustrated. I've had about seven hotel employees in my room from the concierge to the general manager and head engineer and none of them know what's up.

Sorry. I'm frustrated. I'm sweaty. My hair is frizzy. I want to go home.  

Småland Weekend

Wille and I spent Thursday to Monday at my friend Sanna and her family's summer house in Småland.

 

Birgitta, Sanna's mom, recently bought her sister's share of their inherited property and this year is the first with major renovations. New roof has been laid, trim and window frames are being painted as we speak, a new coat of "falu rödfärg" will be painted on and during the winter months parts of the back of the house will be renovated by professionals.

Here are some shots of what we've been up to and some house details.

 

Wille and Leo went canoeing...

... and picked water lilies and enormous blueberries.

 

 

Sanna, Sebastian and I went to an auction and a huge flea market...

 

... where I eyed this table but decided against it. No where to put it...

 

We also went to a little village called Öhr where we had sandwiches at a small café...

 

 

... with some neat looking shops next door. All in all a lovely weekend!

 

Travel Scrapping

ROME 2006

I know quite a few of you are scrapbookers. I only keep a travel scrapbook for Wille and I'm waaaaay behind. I'm hoping this post will inspire myself to add some pages from more recent trips than these.

I made my first travel scrapbook when I went to England for language classes when I was thirteen. 31 years ago. I know, I'm old. I kept all the receipts, tickets, candy wrappers etc and pasted them into a notebook. I don't have that scrapbook anymore but I still do the layouts with the same types of items and adding one or two photos to keep track of Wille's age.

CORFU 2004

I love using the local map as the general theme throughout. One) Because I love maps Two) Because they are such a big part of the trips. I either get duplicate maps while there or photo copy the one I have so I still have one map intact.

I also like adding the little things Wille likes to keep  from travels like the ice-cream spoons and fancy drinks decorations. Receipts are fun because they remind you of stuff you bought that you no longer have (like the PokemonWille bought on this trip but has now passed on to his little cousins). Also in the future it will be fun to look back at what things used to cost.

 

EGYPT 2003

Sometimes I add found shells and rocks to the layouts. They are a bit tricky to stick but I really like the way they look in there.

 

 

 

Local bottle caps and candy wrappers also give local flavor to the pages like the Mentos with Arabic print.

So I'm curious, do you or your family members bring this stuff home with you after trips and what do you do with it afterward?  I get rid of the stuff that doesn't fit in the scrapbook unless Wille really wants to hold on to it, then it goes into his memory box.