Daily Jamie

POTUS In Sweden

President Obama is in Sweden today and tomorrow on the very first official presidential visit to Sweden ever. (W was here a few years back for a meeting that just happened to be held in Sweden, but didn't actually meet with any Swedes, so it doesn't count.) The whole city of Stockholm has bent over backwards to accommodate the complicated presidental logistics around the visit, including, naturally, our office. We work about ten minutes from the airport and all hoped to see Air Force One coming in for landing. We hung out the widows with our cameras, followed a live news report from the airport online, and tracked the air traffic. Sadly, though, AF1 came in from the north and we were unable to see it. The Swede and I did take a walk toward the highway after the president landed and watched the motorcade go by. We couldn't see him, but we did see exactly why it costs so much money every time the president takes a trip. Between the police on the ground and in the sky and the carefully orchestrated security to ensure a smooth twenty minute drive into the city, it all made me very happy to be a civilian.

Daily Jamie

Daily Jamie

The Best Of The States

My colleague Emelie, who incidentally is the sweetest girl ever, just spent her honeymoon in New York City. She came back to work today with a new handbag that made me literally tear up, lots of glamorous stories, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and the trashiest of the trashy tabloids. Honestly, I would have rather been gifted the handbag, but I was very happy to accept a few Reese's and a gossip mag, which made an excellent start to the week, I must say. 

Daily Jamie

August 31st

September 1st

Hanging On

One thing I will give the weather here is its punctuality. No sooner had we torn off the last page of August in the calendar than it was autumn. Today as we packed up the car to come home after a weekend at the cabin, the air had a different feel, the birches that surround the property had yellowed, practically overnight, and their leaves were falling with even the slightest breeze. The cluster of blooms clinging to the wall of the cabin defied the change, though, looking vibrant as ever. Of course, I took this picture yesterday. Today it's fall and I forgot to check to see if they had gotten the memo. 

Daily Jamie

 

Daily Jamie

The Combo

My friend Shaena messaged me this afternoon asking if I was interested in bringing Jamie and meeting her and her boys at McDonalds for some playtime and a delicious, if not at all nutritious, meal. Obviously I was down, McDonalds and kids for Jamie to play with being two of my favorites. If I was excited, I can only imagine how the kids must have felt and it could have been totally nutso, but luckily they were all on incredible behavior. My instincts were right: junk food and buddies are the best. 

Daily Jamie

And She Has A Sister

So, you know by now that I have gorgeous, glamorous, thoughtful, generous girlfriends, but did you know that they have sisters? Selah's youngest sister Deborah, with whom I have had the pleasure of spending a little bit of time, ordered the Curious George DVD for Jamie when she heard that he is totally into him. Isn't that just the sweetest thing? Plus, it's a super funny movie, which is great because The Swede and I are going to be watching it over and over again. Thanks, Deborah!!!

Daily Jamie

The Business Cas Fashion Show

The great weather and the skirts and dresses just keep on a'comin'! 

I admired this dress in the shop window in the springtime then bought it on sale in last-minute desperation for my friends' wedding in June. I think I like the idea of it more than the execution as I'm not as much of a pattern girl as I sometimes like to think I am. Deep, right?

Sometimes I wear a pencil skirt the day after I watch Suits. I'm sorry to say, I am no Rachel.

Take away the casual, this is full-on business, people! I wore this when a bigwig from corporate was in the office and we were required to be on our best sartorial behavior. This dress was a purchase from about six years ago, back when I had (got!) to dress like Rachel from Suits every day. I remember distinctly the moment I tried it on in the Target dressing room and thought to myself, "well, this doesn't happen often." Actually, knowing me, I probably said it out loud. Anyway, I made a rule then and there for myself and anyone I happen to be shopping with, that if a dress fits like it was made for you, you have to buy it. Period.

Remind me to get over to Pinterest or something and find some new poses. My most sincere apologies. At lease I'm smizing.

If I'm to believe the young ladies around here, I'm not supposed to be wearing a camisole under this see-through top. This sneaking around in the office gym all the time is already pushing the limits of decorum, though, so I'll let my leopard sandals do the sassin' in this outfit.

Daily Jamie

Tube Peculiar

The Swedish affinity for tubed cheese is well documented on this blog. What I have not mentioned, however, due to the fact that I was unaware until just yesterday, is the unbelievable variety of bizarre flavors available. Please allow me to name those in this picture alone, which represents about a sixth of the offerings at our local grocer: shrimp cheese, shrimp cheese chili, hot jalapeño, spicy household cheese, shrimp cheese BBQ, people!, shrimp and crayfish cheese, mild cheese, bacon cheese, and ham cheese.   I shook my head, snapped a picture, grabbed The Swede's shrimp cheese, and made like a tree.

Daily Jamie

Daily Jamie

Cozy Central

Pillows styled by Jamie.

Well, here she is, folks. Our new, blue bedroom. Naturally, it's a question of taste, but I am wild about this color: the deepest blue with just enough green that it doesn't look navy. Obviously it was a risky choice, particularly since I decided to cover the entire windowed wall with curtains (we almost always keep the blackout blinds drawn, so I'm just pretending the window isn't there) so there is no natural light coming in. And let me tell you, when the lights are off IT IS DARK. But I think the white furniture helps to balance the walls and I like the cozy feel of a dark bedroom anyway. I had this magnificent plan for the wall opposite the mirrors, but then The Swede asked me not to ruin the place with a bunch of pictures. "Less is more," he said. I tend not to agree, if you recall, but decided to appease him for the meantime. His football player print there in the reflection was approved, however. 

And for reference, the room as it was before: light, airy, and perfectly fine, but not quite Mara. And definitely not Mara's mom, as the bed is not made.

Giveaway Winner

Random.org just told me that LissaSioux is the winner of the Canvas Pop giftcard giveaway! Congrats, little lady! If you'd just email me at bird11582@yahoo.com, I'll send that puppy right on over to you. And thanks for reading!