Baby Steps...

... are for babies! Here comes my awesome and very winter-loving 3-year old - on her very first ski-trip!

Hello Weekend

Friday. Phew. Not only have Nahla and Mummy traveled to Norway last Sunday to enjoy a few days of family-time, sunshine, shopping and holiday, but this busy mama has also had her hands (and head) full with articles, deadlines and research - oh, the life of a freelance journalist! So my lack of blog posts of late is purely down to the fact that I have not even had time to think about blogging, let alone find the time to do so. But; better times are ahead, I assure you!

Days in Oslo...

... are always such a sweet treat of time spent with people we love.


Nahla and Emine got to play lots, and it is such a joy to see the little cousins grow closer and closer.


Nahla got to play with Oliver's cool boy-toys on a trip to a dear friend's house, and Mummy got to catch up with sweet sweet colleagues in work.


My little city-girl loved being back in her birth-city. And Mummy always loves it too, even the chance to stock up on fresh norwegian magazines is always such a treat!


Mummy treated herself to a new cool notebook - after all; what journalist would ever leave the house without a notepad and pen?? And after even more cousin-cuddles, Nahla and Mummy packed the bags again, this time for a two-week stint up northm with lots more time with family and friends! LOVE.

United Bakeries...

... is the perfect place for a little family outing on a frosty Sunday morning. Frothy lattes. Triple chocolate scones. Buzzing with happy holiday shoppers. Cold hands. Red cheeks. Twinkling fairy lights. It's all good!

Yesterday...

... was spent at the park. And as we brought along Andreas and Therese, Mummy's 11 and 7 year old cousins and Nahla's idols, sure the fun was multiplied. And when we got tired from all the running around, sure we just made sure we made time for coffee for Mummy and hot chocolate for all the muchkins - and sure a sneaky brownie from Wayne's Coffee didn't go amiss either! Talk about blissful fun autumn day!

Sunny Autumn Thursday...

... and already the 20th of October! Autumn will soon turn into winter, and N and i will be in Ireland full-time. Amazing as we are getting sick of all the lugging stuff back and forth, and a little sad too, as we will miss the closeness to my amazing family a lot. But as we know and love, both them and us will make that trip across a lot and a lot of times! Lucky lucky girls, N and I, who are surrounded in two countries by amazing family and friends!

Autumn Days...

... are pretty spectacular here in Oslo!

Breakfast At Åpent Bakeri...

... is nothing short of YUM!

We HEART Summer...

... and impromptu fountain baths!

Puro Yoga...

... is my new Oslo yoga haunt. And now, taking advantage of the fact that Bestemor (Granny) is down to babysit my little munckin, this mama intends to fill these balmy summer months with lots and lots of yoga. B.L.I.S.S!

Getting A Coffee...

...at Kaffebrenneriet earlier today - after what can only be described as a very hectic day - was pure BLISS!

Happy Norway Day...

... from Mummy and Nahla, who celebrated this special and very national day today en route to Ireland. My little munchkin looked perfectly Norwegian in her for-the-occasion pretty dress and hat - and sure any days that starts with ice cream for breakfast is pretty much perfection for a 17 month old!

17.May is a day that always makes me feel more Norwegian than over. It is a day that always makes me long for home, no matter where I am and a day to celebrate all that is beautiful about my amazing home country - the most stunning place in the world.

And having realized that next year, 17.May will mean so much more to my then-2,5-year-old munchkin, I have made the decision that this day next year will be celebrated in Oslo. Surrounded by flags and bunads (national costumes) and ice creams and sunshine and family and fun!

xxx

Traveling Is A Breeze...

.... when you are pro's like Mummy and Nahla!

And when you catch a ride to the airport with Daddy on his way to work and are left with hours to spare before your flight, sure you just locate the nearest Starbucks, get some porridge (for baby), some latte (for Mummy) and chill out! And after getting back to Oslo safe and sounds, sure we can only conclude that summer has arrived here too - and it rocks!

Everything Is Secondary...

... to time spent with family and close friends. Nahla and Mummy arrived back in Oslo this afternoon, after a lovely lovely week spent with Bestemor and Bestefar, and rounded off by two precious days in Tromsø with Best Friend Ingrid and her beautiful family. Seeing our two little girls play together (Solveig is 11 months older than Nahla) is the cutest thing and makes us feel like the luckiest mummies in the world. Meeting other best friend Eirin and finally getting to meet beautiful little Lilly who joined their family a mere month ago, was also pretty spectacular. Some shopping, award winning lattes at 4 Roser, late night glasses of wine and a lot of gossip after all the babies were tucked up in bed rounded our days off perfectly!

And now, having went straight from the airport to a birthday party for too-cute-for-words cousin Therese who turned 7 today, we are home. And as Nahla slumbers sweetly in her bed, Mummy frantically unpacks and re-packs for Ireland in the morning! Phew!

Nahla's First "Concert"...

... was enjoyed last Sunday as we went for a walk in Frognerparken. My munchkin was amazed at this old man playing music - and point blank refused to make a move (even though Mummy was bursting to pee and could have sold her soul for a warming latte!)

A Two Bedroom Suite All To Myself...

... surely isn't the worst way one can spend a luxurious night away with work?! That combined with lots of creative meetings of planning magazines, a 2-hour anti-stress aromatherapy massage, yummy food, a fully stocked mini-bar and on top of it all, stunning scenery right outside my window, made for a lovely little out-of-Oslo trip with amazing colleagues. Now, back home with my beloved Princess, in a half-messy apartment with a half-empty fridge and no masseuse waiting in my bathroom, it still feels pretty amazing to be home. That is true love!

Playground Pumpkin

Another gloriously sunny day = another trip to our favorite Frognerparken. Nahla, too busy to even take her normal 11 O'Clock-ish nap - played and played and climbed and shoveled and giggled and laughed for hours on end. Thank God, says frozen-from-standing-in-one-spot-for-ages Mummy, that there is a Wayne's Coffee just nearby! Coffee in hand = lovely day had by both mother and daughter. Bliss!