This post used to contain pictures, but due to new storage limitations from WordPress, I had to fix the problem and decided to create a new blog that works as an archive for all the posts from my two years in California. This full post can be found here.

Since last time I wrote not much has happened. The weather has been kinda crappy. I worked out yesterday for the first time since my last PT. I had my fourth class at the University tonight. Vowels were on the schedule today. We have a lot of them in the Swedish language so I didn’t really have any troubles with it. But it is a little hard with the ”schwa” (the ”e-sound” in ”the”) and u as in put. But I think it automatically will be better the longer I stay here. It’s gonna be interesting seeing my grade in nine weeks.

I’ve been preparing for my behind-the-wheel test on Friday so now I feel very comfortable. I didn’t know exactly where all the buttons were in the car, like the defroster. I’m never gonna use it here but I still have to point it out during the test. Kinda stupid!

I’ve also been thinking a lot about my tattoo. I have two that I really like but it’s hard to decide which one. I think the palm tree on the inside of the wrist is in the lead though.

My hostdad is out of town again which means a little more work for me, but that’s nothing I can’t do! Tomorrow after school I’m taking the kids to Swedish school by myself for the first time. Hope it’s nice weather so I can sit out in the sun with Karin and Jessica!

Now it’s definitely time to go to bed, good night!

1. palm tree inside of the wrist?
2. zen circle upper backside of the calf?
3. zen circle upper underarm (right below the bend of the arm)?

This post used to contain pictures, but due to new storage limitations from WordPress, I had to fix the problem and decided to create a new blog that works as an archive for all the posts from my two years in California. This full post can be found here.

This was a really nice weekend. It started with that luxury cinema on Friday, continued with shopping, a birthday dinner at Cheesecake Factory and party at Stingaree, and ended with a day at the beach. Awesome!

Yesterday I got home really really late after an amazing evening. It began at 1pm at the tattoo studio in San Diego I found online. It seemed like a nice place so I made an appointment for next Sunday, exciting! I had picked up Karin earlier and we two drove to Fashion Valley. After a while Jessica joined us and eventually Giorgia. I did a little shopping, as usual. First I bought a new mascara from Clinique at Bloomingdale’s. Probably the first and only time I’ll ever shop at that store. And then I bought a jeans skirt and a green shirt from Hollister. A small purse from Guess and a belt that I used as a strap for the tiny purse. I also tried on a bikini at Victoria’s Secret that I late last night ordered online, they don’t have my size in stores… Since I’m gonna be spending a lot of time at the beach here I need more than one bikini. So I actually also found one at Abercrombie that I also will order online because I have 40% off.

At 8:30pm we got our table at the Cheesecake Factory. It was Karin’s birthday and it’s not an uncommon thing to eat at the Cheesecake Factory at your birthday. I think I heard four birthday songs last night.

I love that they have the Skinnylicious menu. My dessert this time was a chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake. And it was as good as the other ones. Karin had a cheesecake with a cherry on top, she gave it to me and I tried making a knot on the stem with my tongue and I actually did it.

Jessica and Giorgia are under 21 so unfortunately they couldn’t go with us to downtown. So me and Karin went to my car, changed, and met Victoria there. She was working until 10pm. I drove to downtown and we spent the rest of the night at Stingaree again. Last night it was way better music and I had flat Ecco sandals, so my feet were super comfortable the whole night. Awesome and so much more fun! We found out that the nightclub is a three level nightclub with the top floor on the roof. It was really nice up there!

I drove Karin home and got home to Carlsbad around 3:30am. I was too tired to get up at 9 to work out, so I skipped it again. On Tuesday it begins!

Today I picked up Jessica in Del Mar and we drove to Coronado beach. It was a really beautiful day today. A little windy but it was not especially cold. We lay at the beach for a long while before Karin and Victoria got there. Super awesome! From now on I’m gonna be spending my weekends on the beach instead of spending money. I have a lot I want to do, for example a weekend in Phoenix next month.

The later it got, the colder it got. So at 5 we went back to the car with all of our stuff and found a pizzeria and shared two pizzas. Back home and now it’s late again. I don’t understand how time can just fly by when you sit by the computer! But now I have a hum about what to do in Phoenix.

  Creamy cheesecake loaded with chocolate chip cookie-dough and topped with walnuts. Happy 22nd Birthday, Karin! 🙂

  Coronado Beach.

Hotel del Coronado.

This post used to contain pictures, but due to new storage limitations from WordPress, I had to fix the problem and decided to create a new blog that works as an archive for all the posts from my two years in California. This full post can be found here.

It’s super late, I am supposed to get up really early tomorrow so I have to keep this short.

Today’s big thing was that I went to the movies with Jessica, Karin and Victoria. But it wasn’t just any movie theatre. We paid $23 for a ticket but it was totally worth it. We saw Oz the Great and Powerful in 3D and the seats were huge and electrical. You could lie down watching the movie. You had a button and if you pressed it a waiter came and took an order from you. I orderred caramel popcorn and a soda just because. This whole experience was awesome! And I liked the movie too.

More things that happened today was that I got a little sunburnt. It’s not so bad, but everyone today kept noticing my tan. And it’s just April :).

Tomorrow’s gonna be a long day. First a workout, then a quick visit to a tattoo studio in San Diego, a little shopping and then Karins birthday dinner at Cheesecake Factory. Maybe I’ll skip the gym and start my two-weeks-by-myself on Sunday!

According to my PT I have to change my diet. I eat way too much carbs and I don’t see how I can change that. The only thing I can change a little is breakfast and lunch. So I did som shopping now after the gym, bought a lot of fruits/berries, cottage cheese and more bread with less carbs. If I just keep thinking about that for a while I will probably start losing weight for real.

Now I have two programs that I should alternate between every other day. So for these next two weeks I will try it out and then get my last appointment where he will tell me how to continue so I see as much progress as possible. He has told me some already, but it’s too much to think about, so I think he will write it down for me.

After school I went to the Swedish School with the kids and the mom for the first time since I got here. It was very nice, I met Karin and Jessica there and we could sit out in the sun while the kids were learning about Sweden.

I had to go home a little earlier though because Vasoula wanted to take me with her to a class at LA Fitness; Hip Hop dance. It was super hard, but she said that I was really good for my first time. I don’t think I will do that again though, it was more choreography than dancing calories off. So on Monday I’m gonna try Zumba with her. I think that’s more for me if I want to lose weight. Zumba is focusing on dancing instead of how to dance.

Two days ago the warning lamp in the car told me that one of the stop lights were out. Typical! The car was at the workshop like just four weeks ago. Yesterday the warning light told me I had to get the airbag system checked and soon thereafter the whole dashboard stopped working. Everything was at zero! And when it’s not at zero it’s stucked at like 40mph or something. It’s a good thing I’ve driven so much car that I have a feeling how fast I’m going, and when that’s not possible I have my GPS to show me the speed.

My hostdad googled this and apperantly this is a common error in that years Volvo V70’s. So he just had to order a new dashboard. I hope it’s gonna work out fine!

Class tonight wasn’t as good as it was the last two times. I thought it was gonna be interesting talking about how to speak more naturally. But all he said I already knew. Like phrasing (when to pause) and intonation. I think Swedish and English is kinda similiar when it comes to those two things. But it’s still a nice way to spend 3 credits. No homework and no tests :).

The weather is better. This week has been really really cold and today when I woke up it was a blue sky. It was windy though. This years weather has been unnatural like everywhere in the world. The spring is apperantly in Sweden now, but here it’s just weird. Some days in February were warmer than they are now in the middle of April. I’m blaming global warming and hoping for a warm summer!

Just got home from the gym and my whole body is sore again. First one intense hour of weightlifting, my second PT program and then 35 minutes on the elliptical machine. First time I ever try that one and it was nice! It wasn’t so hard as it looks and you burned 300 calories. My cardio from now on is gonna be on that machine! Warm up is still gonna be the stairmaster though. Five minutes and you are sweating!

Vasoula spent one hour at a Zumba class and after we were in the jacuzzi and sauna for a while. I feel really good!

This morning was the first I overslept since I got here. I must have accidently turned off my alarm in my sleep but fortunately I woke up 7:25, five minutes before I start working. But I didn’t get a proper breakfast and it was kinda hectical for me when I had to prepare breakfast for the kids, make lunch for the girl and empty the dishwasher at the same time.

In my freetime I slept for a while. I knew that I didn’t have time to do my workout in the afternoon so I did it in the evening instead. My next session is on Thursday and we are gonna talk a little about Nutrition and hopefully we will go through my third workout. I think at least we are gonna have three days a week.

LA Fitness posted a ten week work out routine on their blog today and since you have to alternate exercises the whole time I think I will alternate with that one.

Now I’m gonna go to bed, I’m soooo tired…

This post used to contain pictures, but due to new storage limitations from WordPress, I had to fix the problem and decided to create a new blog that works as an archive for all the posts from my two years in California. This full post can be found here.

Yesterday was such a great day! It started with a nice workout at the gym with Vasoula and then some time in the jacuzzi! After that I was preparing myself for the girls night in San Diego. I picked up Vasoula at 4pm and we drove to Fashion Valley. We went straight ahead to The Cheesecake Factory. We weren’t gonna eat until 7pm but I wanted to try if I could ask for a table for 8 at 7. No problem, good to know! So we went for a little shopping. First Forever 21 which is a store where Vasoula never been to. She went crazy inside, haha! After that we went to Abercrombie so I could try out a pair of shorts that I would order online later with my 40% off Birthday code. Then to Victoria’s Secret where I bought a new strapless bra. I only have a white so I kinda needed a black one too. I had a $10 gift card and you got a pair of panties of your choice when you bought a strapless bra. A good deal :).

Then we didn’t have more time for shopping and went to the restaurant to wait for our table. We didn’t get it right away though, we had to wait almost an hour!

When we sat down Anna took out a ”Happy Birthday” tiara for me, a cupcake candle and a happy birthday table decoration. Even though it technically wasn’t my birthday yesterday I got a lot of attention with that tiara. I tried the soft tacos from the Skinnylicious menu and it was really good. For dessert I had Craig’s Crazy Carrit Cake Cheesecake. It was okay, but all the other I’ve had tasted better. When it was served the waiters sang Happy Birthday for me. I also got presents from all my wonderful friends! A pretty bracelet from Vasoula, candy from Anna and Laura, and body products from Victoria and Karin. Super sweet of all of them!!

Something funny happened during the dinner too. A guy came up to me and thanked me for the drink I bought him. The waiter told him that one of us bought him a drink and he wanted to return the favor by paying my cheesecake. No one bought him that drink. Later he came back and appologized. His friend had tricked him that one of us bought him the drink when it was him who actually did it but he never thought he would walk up to us and thank us. Haha! He said it was his 25th birthday dinner.

After the dinner me and Vasoula had to change dresses. I had my black long dress at the dinner and wanted to have the short party dress from Diesel at the nightclub. So we went to my car, I locked myself in the trunk while I changed and Vasoula was in the backseat. Thank god for shaded windows! Haha! Even though we changed clothes we got to the nightclub first and had to wait outside for the others for about 40 min. We got in and danced until they closed at 2am. My feet hurt like they’ve never done before. Dancing in 12cm high heels without alcohol does that apperantly. But I had a lot of fun anyway. Much attention from strangers wishing me a happy birthday.

Stingaree was a nice nightclub, but I thought they were playing a little too much hip hop. Much more fun to dance to music you can sing a long to.

All in all, last night was awesome and I had a really great time! I didn’t get home until almost 4am so I was kinda tired today, but totally worth it! Thanks girls! :).

SEAGROVE PARK

Today was my third LCC meeting (I’ve missed one). Once a year all the au pair groups in San Diego County have a picnic meeting together at a park somewhere. We were at a really nice park right by the sea in Del Mar. Unfortunately the weather today was cold and rainy. But it was nice anyway. I met all my friends and finally met the new Swedish au pair who lives in Ramona. There were cookies and cake which ended my unhealthy half-week. If it’s your birthday it’s okay!

We were there for two hours and then drove back home. I didn’t do much, watched Two and a Half Men more or less.

Time for my date with Mr. Pillow and GoT ep3 now!

Carrot cake and cheesecake swirled together, topped with creamcheese icing and roasted almonds.

This post used to contain pictures, but due to new storage limitations from WordPress, I had to fix the problem and decided to create a new blog that works as an archive for all the posts from my two years in California. This full post can be found here.

This birthday was really nice. Though I have to admit it didn’t quite feel like a  birthday (like normal I guess when you’re getting older). Anyways, I got breakfast in bed today, a big cupcake! And the girl had made me a ”drawing” to put in my room (I asked for one). It was a lot of post it notes  where it said: ”Alexandra is the best!! Alexandra is amazingly talented and…. AWESOME! Alexandra Bemm is a shooting …” and then a star ”Love you”. Cutest thing ever! I love my host children :). The kids sat with me in bed while I ate (and of course shared a little of) my cupcake. Super cozy! I didn’t have to empty the dishwasher or do the girls’ lunch so I had an easy morning. Directly after I left the girl at school the boy had a playdate which gave me some time to skype with my mom. I really miss her! And I’m really looking forward to when she is coming to visit in the summer. We have never done this kind of vacation together before so I’m really excited!

I made lunch for me and the boy, drove him to school and then off to the gym for my PT #2. He showed me a lot of new exercises that I think will be one day out of my three work out days from now on. This new schedule seems very complicated but I guess I will learn eventually. My muscles still hurt since Monday and I think it will be worse tomorrow, especially my hamstrings and shoulders. He taught me how to do the deadlift today, it is really hard!

We made a new appointment for next Thursday and until then I have homework, do both days at the gym, preferably Saturday and Monday or Tuesday. I have good notes so I hope it won’t be any problems.

After school we went to Cold Stone Creamery (an ice cream store). I figured since it’s my birthday I might as well spoil myself a bit.

At six we had a table reservation at a resutarant called Shogun in San Marcos. It was a Japanese restaurant where they cooked your food right at the table. It was super nice! The food was really good too. The cook built a volcano out of onion rings and then poured something in it and then lit it. The flame was huuuge!

When they found out that we were there celebrating my birthday they brought me a dessert, green tea ice cream with fried bananas, which I shared with the rest of the family. The ice crem was surprisingly good.

That was a really nice experience!

When we got home it was time for some homemade meringue cake. It wasn’t crispy as it should have been but oh my god it was good! I love when pastries are tough!

I got two presents by mail. The one from my cousin yesterday and one from Hanna. From Ella I got three awesome drawings, a bag of Polly (my favorite) and a cute card where she wished me a happy birthday. Inside were also a pretty picture of her. My heart melted! ❤ She also sent me an email today which was so cutely written by her.

From Hanna I got a package of three body products, body lotion, shampoo/shower gel/bubble bath (a fun combination) and body polishing scrub. They smell of passion fruit daiquiri, awesome! 🙂 I also got some perfume samples. Very sweet of her! Thank you so much, if you are reading :).

From my host family I got a gift card I can use wherever I want, that is really awesome! 🙂 Why don’t they have those kinds of cards in Sweden?

To sum it up, this day was really nice! To be able to walk around in a summer dress on my birthday was definitely a first.

When I was skyping with my mom Stuff came up to the computer, stared into the camera and mjaued a few times. When I realized I should take a printscreen she turned her head around…

I took out the camera too late, I missed the flame…

Just got home from my second class and I am kinda insecure about my English now. We talked about consonants today and unvoiced and voiced sounds and that really confused me. I don’t think I had so much of a trouble with it before, but now when I think about it. Oh my god English is difficult…

My biggest problem though is till the z. I can pronounce it but I don’t know when and in which words!! Super annoying…

My day was nice, I spent some time in the backyard reading. The boy had a playdate on the street with some other kids so I sat outside for a while there too. It’s been a really peaceful day. And I love my book. I’m always halfthrough all the 1100 pages. And that kinda sucks…

This year, my birthday is gonna be the longest ever. In Sweden it’s been my birthday since 3pm this afternoon and it won’t stop until 33 hours later, awesome.

I’ve already gotten a present from my sweet cousin Ella! Haven’t opened it yet, but I’m super curious about what it is!

I think tomorrow is gonna be the best birthday in at least three years :).

Yesterday was cold and windy. Today was sunny and warm. It’s crazy how fast the weather can change here. So my freetime was spent in the backyard reading. All of my body hurts like hell after the work out last night so it felt good doing nothing. But I actually went for a walk. Instead of driving 1,5 miles I walked a shorter way to school when I was picking up the kids from school. We took a longer way home and in total I walked 3.5km which is pretty nice!

The dinner tonight was good too. I made a fish/shrimp stew with pasta and the girl loved it!! I thought it was really good too, tasted like fish pudding but more liquidy.

The MyFitnessPal app is awesome btw. You can even scan the barcodes and it recognizes the calories in that product. That app is gonna make my life easier from now on. Another thing that made me happy today is that I’ve lost 4 lbs since last week. I think that’s a “lagom” pace. But I really miss sweets… But on Thursday there will be cake, yay! 😀 And that will be okay!

Now it is high time for the season premiere of Game of Thrones! I could borrow a friends’ login to HBOGO and that made my day again! Awesomeballs!