Taco loco

I have a little Mexican lady living in me. Every now and then she screams "Chipotle!!" And then I just have to have a nice spicy & juicy burrito. Yumm.. 

Spring is here - hooray hooray!

Finally! I thought this day would never come! Got to leave my wintery boots at home and went all the way kawaii on this sunny day!

A friend of mine sent me an invite to a shopping event; some Parisian designers had a sale at a French lady's apt downtown. Of course I had to check this out! Bought these nice pieces of jewlery! Kjewt!! So kjewt!

I heart Japanese Lolita

On todays Swedish morning tv they interviewed four adorable youngsters, all dolled up in their Japanese Lolita-looks. So friggin cute!! Oh, would it be too weird if I, at the age of 34, adapted this fabulous sub-culture? Would it!? Arghhhh, it's too late for me, isn't it?? What I wouldn't give to be a young girl again (only for this matter though. I can definitely do without all the insecurity, emotional roller coaster, hard climate at school and the wish to fit in somewhere). I have to confess though, I probably wouldn't have the guts to dress this way. So brave and amazing. Or maybe the climate is a little warmer these days, at least in the bigger cities, to dress and be different. I hope so.

Anyway, this morning I fell madly in love with these wonderful creations! Enjoy!

[images from weareallmagpies.blogspot and tokyofashion.com]

I really want to clarify that this culture has nothing to do with the old notion of the name "Lolita, or the novel/film from the 60:ies.

Too old to twilight

So, is anyone else excited about "Breaking Dawn, part 2" finally being available on DVD (or, as is the case for me, Apple TV)? I know, I know, I'm way too old. But the public opinion never did matter to me, so what the heck - I'm gonna own it! I am really really excited and I've been planning this evening all week! Mr. P is on a business event. Baby S skipped her nap and is therefore sound asleep already. I ordered some food for home delivery (love this city) and poured a glass of wine. And now I'm gonna enjoy this teenage movie. Yes, I am!

St. Stephen's Basilica times two

This was a sunny weekend spent in the glory of the St. Stephen's Basilica, or Szent István Bazilika. The impressive basilica is on every top ten list of what to see when in Budapest. And of course we have passed it before, admired it and been in aw of it's size and beauty. But no where have I read that you can actually enter it. More less that you can climb 364 steps (or, more convenient, take the elevator) and enjoy a breathtaking 360 degree panorama view of Budapest. Now I do. And so do you.

We were thorough in our sightseeing. We ended up visiting this temple of prayers both Saturday and Sunday. Sort of making up for not visiting it at all these past 15 months.

This is what I learned about the basilica. It's the third highest building in Budapest. The church is named after Saint Stephen I of Hungary, the first King of Hungary. The King died in 1038. They actually keep his mummified right hand in a shrine in the reliquary. It passed many hands and countries before finally ending up in a sparkling shrine in Budapest. Someone came up with a genius idea to make money off this relic. If you toss a coin in the machine placed next to the shrine, the shrine will light up for a minute. Well ain't that sometin?!

On Saturday we toured the church, and had all the bling dazzle us. So decadent and beautiful. I feel now that I have to redecorate our home. It seems a bit ascetic. And we enjoyed the view of the rooftops. Will definitely go again, perfect to bring visitors here. We also had lunch at this italian crossover restaurant I've been wanting to try out; Tom George Italiano (http://www.tomgeorge.hu/). I have to say though, my lunch left me quite disappointed. I might try it again though, it's not fair to judge a pasta restaurant by whatever veggies and meat a low carb eater like myself can find on the menu.

We found out there are weekly classic concerts in the basilica, so we got a babysitter and went on a Sunday date night! Started the whole thing up with a three course meal at one of my fav's in Budapest, Baldaszti's (http://www.baldasztis.com/). Then we enjoyed one hour of wonderful music in an even more wonderful setting. Note. It gets quite chilly to sit on a wooden chair in a cold church so I would recommend you to do this when the weather is more pleasant.

Granola

What is granola, really? Is it just a fancier word for müsli? Is there any real difference? Since granola is the cool word we're using now, that's what I made tonight. Sure sure!

My mug... and mommy's!

Selma is enjoying her very first cup of healthy & nutritious cocoa! 

She got this cute mug from her mommy for Valentine's!

                                                            And this is mommy's mug!

Here we go again...

Give me a break! I didn't move here for the snow Hungary. Got plenty of that stuff back home.
I thought I made myself clear; I want spring. Now.

❤

Happy Valentine's everyone!

Mamas, babas and cupcakes!

Gosh, this weekend was packed with various happenings! Today I will recap Friday and save Saturday's adventures for a separate post.

I spent Thursday's nap time baking two sets of cupcakes. Lemon poppyseed with lemon frosting and plain cupcakes with nutella frosting. Yummm...

All decorated and ready to welcome the Mamacitas for coffee and playdate.


Baby S fully enjoyed having her little friends come over and play. For the first time they actually played together! They ran around playing catch, took turn pulling the doll stroller and cuddled a lot. Really was a lot of fun to see, they are turning in to toddlers!

My little bunny sure has a lot of personality and she always cracks me up! I have to share this with you, it's just to funny. After decorating my cupcakes I put them on the kitchen counter out of reach and sight for my little cookie monster. After a little while, I entered the kitchen with baby S on my arm. She spotted the cupcakes and exclaimed;
 -  There you are!

Yes, in English. Thewe jo aww!! She's just too precious!

May spring please come my way!

Last weeks sunny weather brought hope that spring had finally made it up my little Buda hill. In celebration I had lunch outside not just one, but two days that week!

Oh, how foolish of me to count Mr Winter out (yes, winter is clearly a man, whereas spring, summer and autumn are all glorious women). This morning I woke up to find my garden once again sleeping under a duvet of crisp white snow.

To lift my spirit I've bought these beautiful flowers. They serve as a reminder that spring is near!

What a weekend!

Today I'm looking back on a great weekend spent in the company of good friends.

I kicked the whole shebang off Friday evening by treating my man to a three course dinner. It was a retro inspired dinner with courses we knew from our childhood. Highly appreciated, I can say.

Saturday evening hubby cooked for me! A two course dinner. That's ok folks, I still love him. He's a great cook, so everything (both two courses I mean) was delicious. Starting to look like ¨Dinner takes all¨ at our place! Really a lot of fun, and perhaps something we could make tradition!

Earlier that Saturday we attended a birthday party, celebrating sweet Mr. P turning ONE! Baby S highly enjoyed herself, and was especially content with the delicious cake! Yumm! Mommy had a good time too, catching up with her friends. Seemed like ages since we talked, but I guess it was only a few weeks. Time goes by slower in the winter I tell you. Can't wait for spring!

The weekend also included a late lunch/early dinner with good friends at our favourite restaurant, Cafe 57 (http://www.cafe57.hu/). The two families, both with kids the same age, made good use of our iPads, entertaining the little ones with Pippi Longstocking and Dora. Hey - don't judge us! If we let them watch a movie once in a while, what's the harm in that?

How did you spend your weekend?

Whoop Whoop!

It's Friday y'all!

I haven't blogged in a week, mostly because by the time the evening comes and I get the time to sit down and get blogging, I'm just so friggin tired! I really don't know how all you great blogging ladies out there do it!? How do you find the energy and time to not only write blogs that are witty, interesting and fun to read, you also add extra bling in terms of great photos and cute stuff.
I am so impressed!

Can't wait for tomorrow - hubby and I are going out for lunch and a movie! Hee hee, not dinner and a movie, that was pre-Baby S! We got a sitter! Yeiijj! I am so excited! Really looking forward to having lunch in peace and quiet, grown up conversation without being interrupted every five minutes and top it all off with a really action packed and bloody movie, hahaha.. Django! Anyone seen it?

Indoor activity

Today we're making our own play doh and enjoy all the new snow we got last night. Well, enjoy it from the warm and cozy apartment, that is... ;)

It's really very easy to make your own play doh, if you want to know how, check this link.

http://www.pampers.co.uk/how-to-make-your-own-playdough

Splish splash

One thing I learned while living in Hungary is that swimming and bathing is holy. There are numerous thermal and turkish baths across Budapest, and most hungarians probably have year tickets to one or more of them. Following our new countrymen, the Grafstrom/Johansson family have made it a tradition to go for a swim on Sunday morning. Most of the time we go to the big wonderful Aquaworld at the Ramada resort. 

http://www.aqua-world.hu/en

[image from the website]

Not only is the adventure bath great f, it also offers me a chance to ¨testdrive¨. You see, I really really hate driving. Period. But most of all, I hate driving in Budapest. People are absolutely mad here. Almost all cars you see have bumps and dents, no surprise to me. I really envy my friends here, they swish around in their cars like nothing. Oh, how I wish that was me. But I'm anything but cool behind the wheels. Au contraire, I often panic and make sudden crazy turns and dashes. The only route I feel comfortable driving is the one to our grocery store. But I won't park in the car park, no way. Got too much history with that place. More on that note some other time. 

Mr Mister has promised to make his super crispy and tender wienerschnitzels for dinner tonight, yummmm. Hope you're enjoying your Sunday as much as I'm enjoying mine!

Me & my teddy bear

Look at my precious angel, sleeping so peacefully holding her little friend so tight. I've been wishing for her to get a favorite, something she'll need to go to sleep and to feel comfy. This is the first time I've actually seen her cuddle with one of her stuffed animals. Maybe this little fella is the one?

If I were a toddler..

..this is what I would wear! Love love love them!

Cute!

How cute is this!?!! My dear friend M sent this as a Christmas gift for Selma. An adorable coat with matching purse. And get this - her mom made them! Amazing! I was really touched by this sweet gift, the thought and all the effort that went in to it. Will treasure this always. Can't wait til it fits S, she will be the most smashing babe in B-town!