Packing

I thought I was organised with the packing but now I have total chaos around me in the apartment. Piles and bags everywhere. Not sure what I have packed and what not.  iPad has been loaded with lots of movies and tv-series. Lost the overview when it comes to the clothes though. Washing machine and dryer are working hard at the moment:) However, as long as we have enough nappies and formula, we're all set!!

Weather in Cologne and Liverpool looks fantastic - let's hope it warms up in Gävle too! Haven't been able to localize my winter jacket so spring it is!

Hello Germany - here we come!

Never been so organised...

A day of failures! Didn't make it to the gym this morning (headache from that ONE glass of wine I had last night). Sweets all over the flat. It is raining - lots - outside. What a disaster. Been a real couch potato. BUT all this has contributed one good thing - I have packed one suitcase for our trip to Germany on Wednesday. Very impressed!!

Been a super busy week. First Irfan was here, than Beth and Nial came down to join us last night. A real little Cologne re-union. Super nice! Now everything is kind of back to normal. Quiet. Let's hope the sun is back out tomorrow. Don't think I can handle another day in the apartment.

Talking about packing, I have realised I really don't have any jeans I fit into. No winter jacket (where are the jackets???? Don't think we have unpacked that box yet) and not many winter shoes in the wardrobe right now. Perhaps I should just pop down to Fashion Island tomorrow...I have seen a pair of Marc Jacobs shoes but not sure if I can justify buying them.

So looking forward to seeing everyone very soon!

Happy Friday!

Finally Friday, phew! What a week. I have just about recovered from the super cold I caught last weekend. Talking about last weekend, the most exciting thing I did was probably the food shopping at Costco's on the Saturday. Sunday was spent on the sofa feeling sorry for myself. I had forgotten how much colds suck. There is so much else to do than recovering from such a unnecessary thing. Unfortunately Emily also caught it, Gymboree playgroup and swimming lessens had to get cancelled.

I learnt this week men can shop. Wow. Our dear friend Irfan is here and we have been all over the place. You name it, Fashion Island, South Coast Plaza, Spectrum..I am completely shopped out, though I do need to sneak out on Sunday to do some shopping myself. I only buy things that I know will fit when I am out with Emily, or, items I think will fit. I think I only have 3 pairs of socks and 2 jumpers and no jeans that fits me in the wardrobe and hoping for flip flop weather in Europe is most likely a little too optimistic. This time next week I will be in Leverkusen meeting up with some very much missed colleagues and of course in the evening, a good catch up with friends - sooooooooooooo looking forward to it!

We have also had some great lunches this week

Ruby's along PCH at Crystal Cove. No lunch but I had a third of a very delicious strawberry milkshake, A third because it is a real calorie bomb :)

The Deck in Laguna Beach. Mahi tacos, yum! Unfortunately or should I say typically the sun came out just as we had finished our meal. Nice little cute place on the beach. Big minues for the stairs and the elevater out of order.

Time to pick the lads up and head out for lunch!

Sneeze!

Have a cold. Sore throat, headache and blocked nose. NOT fun.

It is raining cats and dogs outside. VERY unusual. And it is COLD. Had to take the car in for its service this morning. Definitely picked the wrong day for that! If it wasn't because of the empty fridge, we would stay in all day. BRRR

Play with me...

Now I am completely divided. Went to Gymboree's play group today. For babies under 6 months they offer plagroups twice a week. In addition to that, you can go to the play gym (like a play ground indoors) as often as you want. Now, it is a little pricey. 74 dollars a month to be exact. I went there because the first "class" is free and I was pretty sure we were only going to go once. Here is the dilemma. Emily really liked it, and it was actually quite good.  There were about 8 babies there and the duration of the class is 45 minutes. The teacher sings to get the babies' attention and first 10 minutes there is always a discussion about a topic given by the teacher (today's topic was bedtime). We did some tummy time (they use some sort of a mirror mat and balls which roll around, very clever), played with stuffed animals, sang some songs, blew bubbles etc. Emily lauged and giggled, especially at those big bubbles. If we sign up before Friday, we get 25 dollars discount. Decision, decision...

http://www.gymboreeclasses.com/b2c/customer/programIndex.jsp

Rules..Regulations & Laws

Lately when we have been out and about I have noticed that there are a lot of rules and regulations here, if makes me feel as if I can't breathe. When we moved into this apartment we had to sign a 40 page lease, consisting of a lot of regulations, e.g. candles are not allowed in the apartment. And here I was thinking the German rental agreements were harsh (no noises on Sunday, and don't you dare wash you windows or your car on a Sunday LOL)

On Sunday we went to Dana Point's Festival of the Whales and there was a small designated area where you could buy alcohol. However, you first had to queue in the "ID" queue to get your wrist band whichs shows you are above 21. Of couse there was no drinking allowed outside this designated area where drinks and food were sold. How I miss the days in Cologne where you could buy a crate of beer and sit in the park.

There are a lot of regulations here. Not seldom there are signs of "no smoking", "no dogs", "no loitering", "no cycling", "no skateboards", "no soliciting", "no alcohol" etc, typically on the beach, on the farmers market, in the park, on the trail behind our complex, at outdoor shopping malls and so on. Poor dog owners, either dogs are not allowed or they have to be leashed at all times. I am happy that restaurants are smoke free but to ban smoking from beaches and outdoor malls? And what is the harm of skateboarding on the beach walk? And do we really need regulations about how fast we can cycle along the beach?

One useful new law in Laguna Beach is the one which bans dogs to be sold in pet shops. It is already banned in Irvine and now only Newport Beach is missing since that is where the only pet shop I know of is. And since 1 January, all health insurances have to cover autism and it is no longer allowed to sell baby formula beyond its due date.

Oh, just so you know, anyone can buy a gun. Now that is a law missing.

Shopping OC Style

While Gavin had to work on Saturday, we went to Fashion Island for some shopping, very successful day, I must say :)

Favourite store, Anthropologie

Belgian Cafe, real bread is sold here

For lazy bums

Valet parking, nice when it is raining and super busy

Peek...Hanna Anderson..Aspen..Anthropologie

Farmers Market

Started this absolute gorgeous Saturday with a trip down to the farmers market in Laguna Beach. Now THAT is a nice market. MUCH nicer than the ones here in Irvine. And best thing: bread. Nice spelt and other kinds that we like. Not spoilt with bread around here. Once in a blue moonwe find some we like. Bought some nice big strawberries, salsa, avocados and chicken tamales.. So much fresh stuff there, fish, empanadas, veggies, pasta. See the blue sky in the background, what a day!

Farmers Market, Laguna Beach

On may way to the market

Yummy strawberries

Chicken tamales and salsa

We will definitely be going there more often! Gavin was being good and went to Barry's while we were at the market, well done hon! Especially since he had to go to work today, grrrr. Not happy about that at all.

Baby Swim

Emily was such a trooper this morning in her first baby swim class. She wasn't bothered about the water at all, not even when I dipped her under the water. Such a water baby!

They do baby swim classes several times a day at the Waterworks here in Irvine, one class (20 min) costs $ 17. Not cheap. Overall, there are lots of choice here when it comes to different activities. We have also signed up for a play and sing class for 0-6 monthsat Gymboree. First class is free, after that it will be a whopping $ 74 a month. 

Feeling truly blessed there are so much to do here and there is so much choice of activites. There are plenty of nice, clean parks, trails to walk, pools to play. And then if you are willing to pay, baby swim, play groups etc.

Can't help thinking about the day when I go back to work. Here it would be no problem: childcare is expensive but it is available. In Germany, it will be difficult. Not many kindergardens around for under 3 year olds, hard to find child minders...A lot less child friendly.

Sad Baby

Emily not me. Not her jolly self today, Woke up early (5.30) crying, and she has been either crying or sleeping all morning. She falls asleep after a few cuddles, then wakes up crying in a panicing way and even after she stops crying the big under lip remains. Normally she sleeps for around 20 minutes in the morning but today she has been down for at least 1,5 hours and inbetween she has been sooooo sad.

Hopefully she will be back blowing raspberries soon! Her favourite hobby, it seems like.

Good news: -21 kg! Plenty more to go. I am following Olga Rönnberg's stomach exercises and http://www.mammafitness.se and  http://blogg.mama.nu, she is truly a great source for motivation. Stomach exercises twice a day, bootcamp (30 min on the tread mill with inclines, 30 min on the floor with weight, rubber band, ball etc), cardio barre and power walks should help to lose the remaining 20. Kilos. Not pounds. Sigh.

Birthdays..

Yesterday was a day of birthdays...First, my dear husband turned 36, still a spring chicken! Then Stella from the Swedish school turned 1, so this turned out to be quite a busy day.

The morning started with a visit to the bootcamp, ouch, now that was a proper hangover I got from the champagne so it felt like the longest hour ever. Made it home afterwards after drinking nearly a gallon of water.
Drove down to Newport Coast to Stella's birthday party where we stayed for a few hours. Very nice! Great weather and great people, a truly nice afternoon.

For Gavin's birthday dinner we had booked a table at Javier's (where else?!), Emily was at her best behaviour as usual (though our plan to enjoy dinner while she was sleeping did not quite work out). Where they may not serve the best Mexican Food, they definitely serve the best Mexican Seafood. Lobster enchilada, crab tacos or stuffed pepper with shrimp, always great choices. And since it was Gavin's birthday and also because we couldn't find any parking straight away..we were cheeky and went for the valet parking.

Sunset

The cosiest Mexican restaurant we've ever been to,

Saturday Fun

Finally, the sun has returned again! Whohooo.

Gavin went to the bootcamp at 8.30 am as usual and as soon as he got back I drove down to South Laguna for my appointment at the Brow boutique.

On my way down, see the nice blue sky!

Since it was such a nice day on Saturday we decided to drive down to Corona del Mar to grab some lunch and take a walk. Corona del Mar is a neighbourhood in Newport Beach and it has some quaint village shops.

 Driving down to Corona del Mar, see the ocean ahead of us

Corona del Mar. We ended up walking for over an hour until we decided to go back to the Plaza where we had parked and enjoy some lunch at the first restaurant we had passed :)

Last week was OC restaurant week and I thought I wasn't going to be able to enjoy it, we were lucky that the Tommy Bahama Grill was part of it, $ 15 for a three course lunch and Saturday was the last day!

Kobe Beef Slider as a starter, fish tacos for main

Pina Colada cake for afters

 And some vino. First glass of wine in 12 months. Oh my, was I tired afterwards. Very yummy though. Gavin got Shrimp coconut, Chicken sandwich and lime cake. Not a shabby choice, either.

While Emily is still too young to enjoy any of the food, she enjoyed to be out and about again. Since Tommy Bahama is not just a restaurant but also a shop, there was also some shopping done before heading home again. Of course!

The evening ended in style with some champagne, Richard Flinaux, from the box we shipped from Germany. We rented a movie from apple TV, In time. What a bunch of crap. Missed the end as usual, 2,5 glasses of champagne put me right to sleep. Justin Timberlake played the main character, Olivia Wild his mother...it could have been a great story but, na, rather weak if you ask me. I really have started to like Apple TV, I wonder why this market is not so big in Germany (where shops are closed on Sunday, even video shops!!). Netflix, Apple TV or Cox our cable TV provider..so easy to rent a movie these days. I can barely remember the times you actually had to walk to the shop, rent the DVD, if it was available, and then return it on the following day.

Or back in the day in Sweden where we not only had to rent the VHS but also the video box since he had no video recorder. Ohhhh NOW I am feeling old.

Hello Sun

Glad surprise to see that the sun is back today, just in time for the weekend, yay! And we are expecting some weather, nice and hot. Apparently it will get close to 80 degrees F, (82 F is 28 C). Hurrah! Now it is time to make some plans!!

Today will be a very chilled day after been out and about all week...we are just getting ready to go out for power walk number 1. Feeling a wee bit tired since Emily woke us up at 5 am this morning....first time in weeks she's done that and let me tell you, I am not used to be woken up that early any longer. Funny how quick one get used to sleeping. 2 months ago we felt blessed sleeping till 4 am. Now 6 am feels human. But 5, oh no, we have left that time behind us.

Tomorrow will be a bit of running around again. Barry's bootcamp for hubby, brow boutique in South Laguna for me. Tidy up. Perhaps hit the gym or go running in the afternoon (scale is stuck again, soooo tired of starring at it).

On Sunday we are invited to little Stella's first birthday party (must not forget to buy birthday gift tomorrow) which will take place in a park in Newport Beach, should be fun! And the weather will be perfect!! But first things first and I will squeeze in a visit to Barry's in the morning. It is also my dear husband's birthday on sunday and I need to make some plans..do we go out for dinner? Make a cake? Take out? (Take out is the new treat for us, so much easier since we have Emily).

And oh, I think I have found the perfect hair dresser here. Finally, third attempt and $185 later (plus tip!). Bellagio Salon & Spa in Newport Coast. Fancy fancy.

Busy Week

Been a very busy week, I must say. Just got back from the airport where I dropped my mum off. I am completely exhausted ( I am sure she is feeling the same)!!

We went to LA on Monday and lovley Robertson Blvd and did some shopping at Kitson. Some really cute baby stuff. Stopped by at the Grove for some lunch and did some quick shopping at Citadel outlet on the wayhome. Emily was an angel as always! Finally found some new sport tops at  the New Balance shop and a new sports bra. Why do American sport bras suck?? You know, the ones you have to pull over your head and once you are really sweaty, they kind of suck into your body and you can barely get it off you again. Beats me. Anyway, $ 44 later, I have found the traditional, European one which is a normal bra style.

Went to cardio barre last night, http://www.cardiobarre.com/index.php, it was very different from the other class I went to, different and much better! Much more like ballett and gosh, was I waching this morning. Only in America: the instructor welcomed and introduced me to the whole class, making sure who the disorientated newbie in the corner was...great! Half way through the class she shouts, "great job Jane" and continues, "ladies, you are amazing, soo beautiful"..Naja, needless to say, I did not feel amazing nor beautiful when I saw myself in the mirror, barely recognized that chubby, red face at first!