Friday and Saturday --- the sun was out, perfect for the Midsummer’s Eve and Day that every living soul in Sweden was praying for.  Although there had been whips and splashes of cold breeze from time to time, there was no room for complaints as the sun showered us with its beautiful rays two days in a row.

Sunday and Monday [yesterday and today!] --- as the dark sky covers the entire town with moody showers of rain, barbecue, picnic and sunbathing are for the meantime put on hold until the clouds clear on another day.  The kids, the kids at heart and grown ups are without question looking forward to more sunny summer and [of course] ice cream days!  Come on heavens!  Please let the sunshine pour on us!

One scoop of pistachio ice cream
+ one scoop of chocolate ice cream
= two scoops of HAPPINESS on a sunny weather! 

Whenever I visit new places, I tend to overspend on clothes, shoes and bags.  As crazy as it may sound but shopping gives me great joy.  A wise spender - I am not.  At the end of each vacation, I end up facing two issues which I am pretty sure that you can relate to: first, the maximum baggage allowance [I hate paying charges for overweight luggage] and second, how to magically squeeze in every single item in my suitcase.

[August 2011] - A week before heading to the UK for a one week vacation with Bebe, I promised myself to stay away from overshopping.  Mind you… I tried really hard but because we arrived in London in the midst of its super sale season, my weak knees gave in.

Really, how could you say NO to this?

11 June 2012, Söderhamn, Sweden: Two days ago, I took a stroll downtown to take a gasp of fresh air.  I did not walk that far from the apartment as I was also tired and my back hurt quite a bit.  Instead, I sat on one of the benches in the picnic area fronting the downtown river.  The sun was shining proud as I felt the wind blow my hair, kiss my cheeks and tickle my nose.  It was a very relaxing moment.  No stress.  No pressure.  It was just me, the scenery, my shadow and my cam.

Me and my pair of pink Converse enjoying the refreshing scenery