Speaking of summer, last weekend we took a train to the west coast of Sweden to spend a few days sailing with our wonderful neighbors (who we call the kids' Swedish grandparents). Henrik has had his boat Maja for forty-five years! We didn't do any actual sailing (we motored around because we didn't have the best...
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Summer in Sweden: the Basics
Let's talk about summer in Sweden. The days are endless, the nights almost nonexistent, and everyone is on vacation. After a dark and grueling winter that seems to last nine months, suddenly the world is bright and warm(ish) and lush again. Swedes use this time to get out of the office and back into nature. For us,...
Why I Don't Tell My Kids to Smile For Pictures
Since my older son's birth, I've kept a blog for family and friends where I try to share a few photos of the kids every day. Like most parents these days, I've taken thousands of photos of my kids - at least. But there's one thing I do differently.
Having Kids in Sweden: The Basics
This is the first in a series of posts outlining the general structure of life in Sweden for a family. You've probably heard or read about the amazing parental leave policy in Sweden and wondered if it's true. It is. Maybe you also heard about the affordable universal daycare and wondered whether that's true, too. It is. And while these...
What is Beauty to You?
Having "beauty" as one of the main topics that this blog covers was a difficult choice. Usually, when a lifestyle blog covers beauty, the subjects are makeup and hair, fashion and accessories. What shoes to wear with that dress, what lipstick to pair with those earrings. The posts usually include photos of beautiful women with gorgeous hair...
An Intentional Summer
The New York Times has challenged its readers to an intentional summer. Every week, they're offering a suggestion to set this summer apart from the rest of the year. The first challenge is to walk or bike somewhere that you'd normally drive, to make an ordinary trip a little more extraordinary.
Found in the fields | A Surprise Face
Now that the days are warm and neverending, we've been taking a ton of walks with the kids. I am delighted each time we walk by this little guy - such a lovely little spirit animating the neighborhood! Photo by me.
Have You Ever Written to an Author?
A few years ago I was sitting in a cafe in Santa Barbara and felt an overwhelming urge to write to David James Duncan. I had just read a piece by him in The Best American Essays 2009 about birds and extinction and disintegrating marriage, which left me weeping at my table.
Thinking About Clothing
I have an uneasy relationship with clothes and style: I don't really care about fashion and I don't enjoy shopping, but I do like to look nice. I like the confidence that can come from wearing a well put-together outfit--I just can't be bothered to put one together! Keeping up with fashion feels expensive and futile and energy-draining, but...
Starting a happiness project
Have you heard of The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin? I stumbled across the book, and then Rubin's website, a few years ago. I was really taken by how clear and, well, smart her writing was. I tend to shy away from anything overly self-help-y and anything that relies on positive thinking to make life changes, but I felt that...