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You are here: Home / Archives for Happiness

Happiness

Fredhalls plaskdamm

Spending All Day At the Playground

July 21, 2017 By Jodi

We needed a mini-adventure today, so we packed everyone into the car and drove into Stockholm. Our destination was a new (to us) playground in a part of town we've never visited. We stopped at the grocery store on the way down and picked up enough snacks to last us the day, and then we...

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Best parenting books

Great Parenting Books That Don't Make Me Feel Like a Shitty Mother

April 6, 2017 By Jodi

I have to admit: I'm a fairly confident parent. Not confident that I do everything perfectly, or that every decision I make is Right, or that I couldn't possibly be raising my children any better, but confident that I'm mostly doing the best that I can do and that my children are emotionally and physically healthy. I generally trust my...

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Stack of black Moleskine journals

An Alternative to Journaling: Micro-Journaling

April 3, 2017 By Jodi

In my footloose and fancy-free days, I whiled away a lot of hours in cafes, drinking tea (later lattes) and scribbling in a journal. I've got a stack of classic black Moleskines to prove it. I'd paste in ticket stubs and magazine images, copy down quotes, and, of course, reflect on whatever was going on in my life at the time....

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Happiness Project wrap-up, hot chocolate winter walk

Wrapping Up My Happiness Project

February 28, 2017 By Jodi

Six months ago I started a small happiness project, and now it's coming to an end. Today I'd like to look back on the project, see where I succeeded and where I didn't, and what lessons I can carry forward.

Making friends as an adult in the US and Sweden, two women hiking

Making Friends As An Adult in the US and Sweden

February 24, 2017 By Jodi

I've been thinking a lot about relationships—particularly friendships—as part of my happiness project these last few months. It's also something I think about as an immigrant living in a foreign country. I have been blessed to have some of the very best friends in the world, but, unfortunately, they all live an ocean—or an ocean and a...

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Watercolor techniques for beginners with Skillshare

Happiness Project: Watercolor Painting with Skillshare

February 20, 2017 By Jodi

Awhile ago, I decided to stock up on watercolor supplies. I bought a basic watercolor palette, brushes, and paper, and prepared to start painting. I remembered loving watercolor painting as a kid, and always wanting to learn how to actually use the paints as an adult. I even got a book, Water Paper Paint, so I'd have a guide. The best intentions,...

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Indulgent Blue Moodboard made with Photoshop for Dear Sabrina

Happiness Project: Learning with Skillshare

February 14, 2017 By Jodi

This month's happiness project is focused on learning. For once, I can report that it's going well so far! I wanted to work on my Swedish this month, and I've been listening to more talk radio and reading more books with the intention of comprehension (normally I skim the local newspaper with the intention of getting half...

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Swedish exercise books

Happiness Project Month 6: Learning

February 7, 2017 By Jodi

(Sorry for the short disappearance, friends. I started to feel sick late last week, which evolved into a pretty nasty stomach bug that hit over the weekend. After spending all day yesterday alternating between the bed and the couch and trying to rehydrate, I'm feeling a bit better today and trying to get back into the...

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Empty bench in park by James Pond

Happiness Project Month 5 Wrap-Up

February 1, 2017 By Jodi

This month in my happiness project I wanted to give myself an attitude adjustment. I wanted to pause to enjoy the moment, and I wanted to work on my bad habit of complaining too much. I was fairly successful in my first goal but less so in my second. It helped that I set myself up...

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Jodi and August running in the waves

A Trick to Making Vacation More Pleasurable

January 24, 2017 By Jodi

Last winter we went to Portugal for a month. We stayed in a lovely town outside of Lisbon and we found a Swedish school, where we sent August a couple days per week. Some days James and I took turns taking care of the boys so that the other could put in a few hours of work (I...

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About Jodi

I just repatriated from Sweden to the US with my British husband and three young kids. I started this site while living in Sweden to build the conversations and community we've had with loved ones around the world, and to create a space to share thoughts about life, beauty, motherhood, and everything else. read more →

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Recent Posts

Sharing sad news

October 14, 2016 By Jodi Leave a Comment

black and white sea with fog

My dear readers, With a heavy heart, I share the news that my father passed away yesterday. It is hard to be so far away from family in this time, and we hope to be traveling to Michigan soon to share in the love, comfort, and laughter of dear friends and family. Several of my witty,...

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Prefering Privacy: A Story of Infertility and Miscarriage

October 4, 2017 By Jodi Leave a Comment

Ultrasound picture tableaux

A while ago, before this debacle of an international move began, I wrote a post about announcing pregnancies and talking about miscarriages. While I didn't get any comments about the post on the blog, I heard a lot from friends via Facebook and email, most of whom had lost a pregnancy at some point. Hearing...

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The Subtle Art of Showing You Give a F@ck

March 3, 2019 By Jodi 2 Comments

Boy at top of Spencer Butte

James and I are taking a parenting class offered by August's school. The class is called Parenting with Love and Logic (the link goes to a book by the same name). The basic idea is to use empathy with our children in order to empower them to handle their own problems and decisions. One of...

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Surviving, But Barely

August 20, 2017 By Jodi 4 Comments

At last, we have arrived at our new home in Oregon! It's been a long journey, and even though we've been here for five days, it still surprises us to actually be here. Somehow it seemed like this moment would never come. But let me be honest: it hasn't been pretty, and it hasn't been easy.

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About Dear Sabrina

Welcome! Dear Sabrina is a lifestyle blog for the thinking woman (and man, if men read lifestyle blogs). I hope that visiting this site gives you something to think about, makes you laugh, or shows you something new. If you want to further connect, find me on one of networks below or send an email.
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