New watch!

Today I've been to Stockholm with a friend to go shopping. The days between christmas and New Year's Eve are really crazy here. Everyone runs to the stores to shop at the big sales, and it's really crowded wherever you go. Fortunately, it has calmed down somewhat now; Boxing day was the worst ever. I bought some nice stuff that were on sale, and also a watch that I have been checking out for some time now. Typically, it was not on sale. I never wear watches, so now I'm gonna give it a try. I figured that if I have one that looks gorgeous, I'll want to wear it all the time! Anything is better than checking my phone every second. Soon I have to start prepare for exams. I have decided that after NYE, I'll lock myself in my room and study as hell. I hope my plan will work!

I bought the green one...

The holidays

 I spent christmas at home with my family, and there was a lot of delicious food and many christmas presents. We watched Donald Duck as is tradition in Sweden, and yesterday I went to Stockholm with my sister to go out for a drink. We ended up in a bar where we were the only girls. Very strange indeed. Today we went to visit my grandmother and at the elderly house where she lives they have a quite unusual parking outside the canteen...

Donald Duck at 15.00 every Christmas Eve. 

Drinks with my sister.

Parking?

Christmas food

Today I've been cooking a lot of different food for the christmas dinner tomorrow. Among other things I made spare ribs for the first time in my life, and it turned out really good. Then I made some mashed potatoes and other yummie stuff. My siblings came home today, and we've been decorating the house and the christmas tree. Tomorrow is the big day! I look forward to it already.

Mmm, spare ribs!

The annual gingerbread house

Today a friend of mine came over to catch up, exchange christmas gifts, and bake the annual gingerbread house. Normally I make my own design, but this year I didn't have time so we had to use a blueprint from a magazine. The house turned out great! Tomorrow my siblings are coming over and we're going to prepare all the christmas food and dress the tree. I haven't studied anything since I came back from The Hague. I think it's good to really relax and enjoy the holidays before I start studying for exams.

Cutting out the patterns

The final result

Stockholm in my heart

Yesterday I helped my grandparent do the grocery shopping for christmas and a few other errands. After the exhaustment, grandmother took us all to have some coffee (and a bite to eat). It was very nice! It's started snowing here finally, and the christmas feeling is strong! Yesterday after the coffee I went into Stockholm and today I went to shop for the last christmas presents. Stockholm has really put a lot of money and effort into the christmas lights, and you can really tell. In the fountain at the central square (Sergels Torg) they had the most amazing reindeers and trees, and everywhere were christmas markets selling pastries, leather crafts, Glögg, and much more. I really love Stockholm. Only 4 days left to christmas eve now!

"Fika" with the grandparents.

The Sergel fountain in christmas mode.

Christmas tree, oh christmas tree

I just came home from a trip up to the forest with my grandfather. We found the perfect christmas tree! It looks like a real Disney-tree, and my mom was very satisfied with our finding. I actually chopped it down myself! Nice that my mom finally have decided not to buy imported christmas trees when we have the forest full of them. They say that it's going to be a snow storm with about 20 cm of snow here later, so maybe my wish of a white christmas will come true!

Finally in Sweden!

I haven't posted anything since the ICM christmas party. My flight left on Friday morning at 07.00, and when I came home I was so busy I didn't have time to go online. The party was really nice, and a lot of the teachers were there too. When I was at Schiphol airport, I think I got stuck in a "random selection" procedure. While standing in the line to security, a man pin-pointed me and told me to follow him through a side-door where I got checked. As I passed through the x-ray-thing, I beeped, twice. The security guys started laughing and said I would get a "free massage". Then a woman started searching me, and I've never had such a thorough body search ever in my life. Well, an Amsterdam experience I guess. 

The Hague University at night before ICM Christmas Party.

 When I had been home a while, my mom dragged me to the supermarket to do some grocery shopping and getting some Glögg at the local alcohol store. In Sweden we have a monopoly on alcohol and a 20 year age limit, so yesterday was the first time I bought alcohol in Sweden! I did have to show ID, of course. Today has been all about bonding with the family and tomorrow I'm going up to the forest with my grandfather to chop down a christmas tree!

Buying Glögg at Systembolaget (the alcohol store)

Getting the christmas ham!