Honestly

At the end of 2009 I received an 'Honest Scrap Award' from

one of my favourite girlies in the blog world - Monika Claassen.

I am needless to say so very honoured and
grateful to have been one of her selected few.

Monika, like me, is Swedish, and has settled in Seattle

where she runs a wonderful (a must-read) blog called

'Splendid Willow'.

And splendid it is indeed (!), so do (really do!) add it to your

blog-roll and follow her addictive posts - you will soon

become a devoted reader and admirer like I am!

The 'Honest Scrap' award is a call to share 10 things

about myself/oneself that may not be common
knowledge, and then nominate 7 others to do the same.

Though this sounds pretty straight forward it is actually

quite hard..! Not so much to share10 things about myself
however to select only 7 others out of a long list of
extremely talented and interesting bloggers!
That I find extremely hard!

Anyway, I will start with the easy part...
..here it goes..in no particular order..

1. I style everything.. 

 I can't help myself. I am totally & completely
driven by composition, aesthetic balance and style.
 Be that my living room, linen cabinet, children's
wardrobes, dining table, fridge or mantle piece, they
have all been arranged with visual pleasure in mind.

I even unpack my toilet bag and re-arrange the bath
of all hotel rooms, regardless of the number of nights
I stay there.. I can't stand sterile or stale environments!

2. Wrong side..

Though it is 20 years since I owned a car with the
steering-wheel on the left-hand-side, I still walk
around to that side of my Australian car to drive....

 

I do this not only once in a while, but several times a week...
Help!.. :)

3. I love picking things...
Flowers, twigs, shells, rocks, berries - you name it..

It is the ultimate stress buster for me and something I
love doing when on holiday or when I need to relax.

One of my absolute fave things to pick is wild strawberries!

Thread them on a long straw and summer/life is complete! :)

 

Another favourite is picking flowers. This is something I
have done since I was a little girl. There is always at least
one vase of hand picked wild flowers or twigs in our house...

4. I crave light..

 

This window and that half-way-down roll
down blind are amazing! Via Remodelista

A true Swede, I like large windows that draw in an

abundance of natural light and I feel very uncomfortable

in closed-in, dark or light restricted rooms.

I also have a real addiction to candles, and light them
morning and night as we gather around the dining table.

via Sköna Hem

I generally feel that light and lighting are the most
powerful tools when decorating any given environment.

5. Lavender love

You will find it in every shape and form in my house.
I fill my linen cabinets with pouches of dried lavender,
I spray the rooms with lavender mist, keep a bottle of
essential oil for first aid (it really is the best thing for stings,
bruises and bumps!), I grow it in the garden and always
keep a little bunch in a vase on my bedroom dresser.

6. I can't sleep without fresh air..

The window in our bedroom is always open - all year round!

Needless to say a Swede (me) married to an Australian (husband)

make for some interesting 'fresh-air discussions' at high Winter..

7. Wateroholic!

Water is my preferred drink of all!
It is the last thing I drink before bedtime and the
first thing I drink upon waking. I can't leave the house
without a bottle, and generally crave it all day long!

8. I can't talk on the phone without doodling

Actually I am at my very best, the most focused, and happiest

when I hold a pen in my hand.. and I have an absolute need to

draw or doodle when on the phone, thinking or brainstorming!

9. I love being pampered..

...in particular, I love having my feet tended to!
Give me a reflexology treatment or a good pedicure
and I am in a brilliant mood for the rest of the day!

If not my feet, then my hair - there is nothing better
than a couple of soothing hours at the hairdresser!

10. I love children

I feel so strongly for children - not just my own, but for all

children out there! The injustice, pain and brutalities that
surround some children in the world make me cry, and
I pray every day for their safety, happiness and good health!

 As an artist and designer I aim my efforts to make the
environments for children a little brighter, and as a mother
I try to raise my two children to be compassionate and
responsible citizens of this world, who can and will make
a difference for those less fortunate or those in need.

I wish I had the ability to wrap my arms around every
suffering child out there - to make a sustainable difference
and to allow them to grow up in the way they so deserve!


*********

Now to my list of seven...in no order of preference..

My contact list of amazing bloggers is extremely
long and in order to make this selection a little
easier, I have decided to highlight some of the
ones that have a connection to Sweden..


The below people are extremely inspiring and
run fantastic blogs - I would love to learn more
about these 7 and hope they find the time to respond..

Swedish Things People Like

Lantliv i Stan

Hemmariket

Husligheter

Solid Frog

Inleaf

Frolic

xCharlotta