Parcels

Initially I was going to have a go at USPS for losing another parcel but surprise surprise, after nearly four weeks of travelling, it actually arrived. Not just one, 3!

Table runner and candle holder from my mum, lipgloss from the in laws!

Just in time for Palm Springs, a new swim suit for Emily

It was mum's parcel which I thought had gone missing. Now I would have been quite peed had I not received that candle holder. I love love Stockholm Design house and I have had my eyes in this particulary one for quite some time. The table runner is typical Swedish I guess, Gavin always wonders if we only have half table cloths in Sweden. Ordered the swimsuit from Hanna Andersson, I was a little worried whether it would arrive in time and I am so happy it did. It is really hard to find this kind of swimsuit, which you don't pull over the head. I much more prefer the one piece and it has SPF 50 too. People are soo conservative here, you never see naked kids run around on the beach. They all - even the smallest toddlers - wear bikinis etc. I actually forgot some weeks ago how touchy they are about nudity. We are at Emily's swimming school and about to get changed in the family changing rooms where I took my clothes off. All of them. When I saw I guy coming out of the shower wrapped in his towel, and so were his younger ones, I realized my mistake. Guess I am still used to Germany where people have no problem whatsoever with nudity. Guess I should consider myself lucky no one took offense.

Massage

Yesterday we decided to treat ourselves with a massage, so we had the masseuse come to the house. Luckily I know a Swedish masseuse so it wasn't so weird having her come to the house. Katarina was great! I had been to the bootcamp in the morning so a massage was exactly what I needed. The Swedish massage is still my favourite, last year I tried a Chinese one in Shanghai, I ached for about a week and it was jsut a little too painful. Definitely needs to become a habit to get one once in a while!

Batman & Denver

While I am looking forward watching the new film when my parents (= baby sitters), hardly anyone can have avoided to read about the shooting in Denver. I have incidents like this in the back of my head constantly. It is so easy to get hold of weapon here that such a thing can happen anywhere in the US really. Scary scary scary. I feel super safe in general in Orange County -  much safer than both in Sweden and Germany - but there lack of gun control really freaks me out. I had a look at the website spotcrime.com where you can check reported crime in any area in the US. It shows hardly any crime in Irvine and most surrounding areas but something like the shooting in Denver is not related to any particular area, and that is the scary part. Hopefully this will lead to gun control being a hot topic during the upcoming election (I believe Romney's comment was, death penalty and faster trials are even more important now...).

Patio Furniture

Can someone please tell me why patio furniture is so expensive in the US? I mean, it is just not expensive, it is SUPER expensive. Bedlinen is another thing too, being super expensive. Two things we should have brought with us from Germany. All of a sudden Bauhaus and Obi seem really cheap, and even the bedlinen and towels seam quite reasonable. Can't get my head around it, is there a special import tax on all three things? We have struggled soooo much with buying towels. Once upon a time I bought towels (not cheap) at Bed Bath and Beyond. They are now falling apart. The ones from Bloomingdales are still looking great but my old towels bought in Sweden at Hemtex and in Germany at Habitat are still looking fabolous after 8 years plus. So much about unnecessary cost.  As you might have guessed, we spent the day yesterday looking at patio furniture, no luck whatsoever. So we are back looking online.The retail market in the US is definitely taking place online. Amazon has become my best friend! Anything can be bought and shipped within 2-3 days, easy to return if it doesn't fit. However, when it comes to certain furniture, I am the kind of person who likes to touch and sit on the chairs I am going to buy. Hence the furniture hunting in the stores. Even went to IKEA to have a peek but there selection was extremely poor (and I couldn't even buy some Swedish food to cheer me up, however, I did spot the original Kalles again so maybe baby the original brands are sneaking their way in again). We ended up going to Fashion Island for lunch and some baby clothes shopping.

Now to something so much more delightful - we are going to Palm Springs next week!! It will be a long weekend, leaving Friday morning doing a detour via the outlet mall and back Sunday night. Pool time, some sightseeing and in general just take it easy - that's the plan!

Fun Friday

Passed my behind the vehicle driving test this morning. Finally got that out of the way (insurance company will be happy)! Easy peasy. Apparently I was a little too fast around the corners (trust me, had I been driving any slowers I would have been parking..). All done within the hour. Got 8 points deduction for not turning around and looking over my shoulder while reversing (or backing, as they call it here), one thing I had to do was park up next to the curb without hitting it and then reverse. Well sweethearts, I can revers park on a stamp so no need to turn around and look, rear mirrors do the job. Scary scary though, knowing that that little 20 minute drive is all you have to do to get on the road here.

After all that fun, me and babs went to Gymboree for our weekly fun - minus the baby football where tears came down thos rosy baby cheeks. Decided to gamble and do some food shopping at Costco afterwards. What was it going to be. kicking and screaming or happy baby? Happy baby of course, she loved sitting in the trolley. First time in a while we've been to Costco. You always end up spending more than planned (at least $ 100) but I give in. Folks, Costco has the best steaks and the best salmon.

Decided to turn into super mum for a short moment and made tons of baby food, baby chicken risotto and chicken with broccoli and pear. Slightly over did it, the whole freezer is jammed packed now. But I am ever so proud of myself!

Play Date with a View

Went to the Swedish school's play date the other day. This time we went to the park "top of the world", and yes, that's how you felt up there. In one direction, view over the canyons, the other, of the Pacific ocean.

Getting to know all the play grounds around here. And running out of options for upcoming play dates with the school. Since it is getting hot, it may just be pool dates.

Talking about the pool. Yesterday I went swimming with Emily here at the complex. Thought I'd meet some nice people to chat with but it ended up being me and all the nannies. Trust me, I would never hire any of those nannies I keep bumping into here. Chatting away on the phone, texting and not once looking at the kids in the pool. We're talking baby pool here, so little ones.

Park Fun and Beautiful Summer Night

Went to Barry's this morning, first and unfortunately only time this week. With all the lack of sleeping, I have been way to tired to go. Looks like I am used to the sleep deprivation because this morning I managed to roll out of bed feeling alive at 7.30. I must have the weakest arms! Or I simply suck at push ups. And we are talking about push ups on the knees. Didn't even have that many alpha femals around me, somehow they were all pushing away on their toes though, and there I was dripping of sweat (not in the corner, no need to hide anymore!) with my arms shaking. Anyway, good start of the day!

Went to the park this afternoon to watch hubby play footie, met a nice couple from France, hopefully they will be back for the footie tournament in a few weeks.

You have no idea how much effort it was to get that hat to stay on

Had it been Swedenm it would have been a perfect summer evening tonight and everyone would have been sitting outside. Here it was just another evening and as usual there was no sight of any other neighbours. Being a true Swede, you have to take advantage of the weather and be outside as much as possible, meaning BBQ time!

Delicious italian hot sausage, corn on the cob

New gadget from sur la table, get ready for those quesadillas!

Lovely summer evening