Saturday, January 31, 2015

Fugle-slåskamp - Birdfight- Literally

At blive vækket kl. 5 på en lørdag er ikke menneskeligt. Men jeg blev vækket af fugleskrig. En stor flok måger og en stor flok krager var kommet op og slås udenfor mit vindue, og det gik ikke stille af. Bortset fra tidspunktet var det faktisk meget spændende. Jeg har aldrig set noget lignende. Kragerne vandt - måger kan ikke sidde på gren!
Rigtig god weekend.



Being awakened at 5 on a Saturday morning isn't human. But bird calls is better than any alarm clock. A lot of seagulls and just as many crows were fighting outside my window, and they made a terrible noise. Except for the time of day it was actually quite exiting. I have never seen anything like it. The crows won - seagulls cannot sit in trees!
Have a nice weekend.

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Mit genbrugssystem - My Recycle System

I mit skab i gangen står et solidt indkøbsnet, som er mit genbrugssystem. Der samles alt, som skal afhændes på den ene eller den anden måde: Flasker med pant, flasker, aviser, pap og metal, der skal smides i forskelllige kontainere. Og de ting, der skal til genbrugsshoppen, kommer også i. Så har jeg det hele samlet, og når den er fuld, er det tid til at gøre noget ved det.
Også denne gang er der ting til genbrugsshoppen. En kogebog, som jeg ikke bruger mere. En tin lysestage og nogle lys, som jeg ikke har lysestager til mere. Og en lille skål til småkager og søde sager, som ikke er blevet brugt i årevis.
Ja, at minimere er en ongoing aktion.

 Min genbrugs-'station' - My Recycle Tote

Den indholdt så meget! - The tote contained this much!
 Pantflasker - Bottles which gives money back

Lidt mere til genbrugsshoppen - A bit more for the secondhand shop

In my cabinet in my entrance way is a solid tote, which is my recycle system. Everything which have to go is collected here. In Denmark we have a bottle recycle system, where we pay for the bottle, when we buy it, and get the money back, when the empty bottle is going back. All other kinds of glass go to a special container, and newspapers, metal and cardboard go to separate containers.  We have a special container yard, where we recycle all these things. When the tote is full, it is time to take action.
But also this time there are things, which go to the secondhand shop. A cooking book, which I don't use any more. A pewter candlelight holder and some candles, which I don't have holders for any more. A small cookie bowl which I haven't used for years.
Yes, to minimize is an ongoing action.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Arbejde og back-up - Work and Back-up

Det er øse-regnvejr i dag, og resterne af gårsdagens aktiviteter skal afrundes, og så skal jeg lægge en overordnet plan for mit nye store projekt.
Og jeg skal tage back-up! Jeg har en aftale med et af mine favoritmennesker. Vi har begge to 2 eksterne harddiske, som vi bytter, så hans ene opdaterede harddisk ligger hos mig og omvendt, og vi er rimelig gode til at huske hinanden på at få det gjort. Jeg har venner, som har mistet alt i en brand, så jeg er ret hysterisk på det område.


It is raining cats and dogs today, andI am rounding up things from yesterday's activities. And then I am going to make plan for my next big project.
Another important thing is that I am going to take a back-up! I have an arrangement with one of my favorite persons. We both have 2 external hard disks, which we exchange, so that one of his is at my place and vice versa, and we are quite good at reminding each other about getting it done. I have friends, who have lost everything in a fire, so I am pretty hysterical about this.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Mit indre landskab - My Inner Landscape

Bær lige over med mig! Jeg ved, at jeg er ikke kunstmaler, men jeg elsker at nørde kreativt, og nu er jeg som sagt i gang med dette her. Det er en bunden opgave fra skolen, og jeg er langt fra færdig. Vi skal male vores indre landskab, og jeg havde ingen ide om, hvad jeg skulle lave. Så jeg gik bare panisk i gang, og så malede 'mit indre landskab'! En stor blomst, der bliver fanget i nogle tandhjul. Sikkert et meget godt billede af mig. Nu skal der arbejdes videre med detaljer og skygger - og nogle blomsterknopper!


Please bear with me! I know that I am not a painter, but I love being a nerd with creative things, and now - as you might know - have started painting. It is a set assignment from school, and I am far from finished. We are going to paint our inner landscape, and I had no idea about what to make. So I just started stricken with panic, and then my 'inner landscape' painted! A big flower getting caught in cogwheels. Probably a quite good picture of me. Now back to working with details and shadows - and a couple of buds!

Monday, January 26, 2015

Tænketid - Thinking Mode

Jeg er i tænketank! Jeg er klar over, hvorfor jeg er gået lidt i baglås. Jeg har (igen) spredt mig for vidt, fordi jeg vil det alt. Men det nytter ikke noget, for så får man bare gjort tingene. Med tryk på 'bare gjort tingene'. Ikke gjort dem godt eller med 100% engagement. Bare gjort dem - og det er ikke godt nok. Mindre, men bedre!
Så jeg skal ud i en frasorterings-fase. Det er ikke sjovt, men det er nødvendigt.

Trøstespisning! - I need a comfort cookie!

I am in thinking mode. I realize that I have entered a deadlock. I have spread myself thin, because I want to to everything. But it is  no good, because then you just get things done. Read: Get things done. Not getting them done well or with 100% engagement. Just getting them done - and that is not good enough. Less, but better!
So I have to go into a kill-my-darlings phase. It is no fun, but it is necessary.

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Søndagshumør - Sunday Mood

To af mine favoritmennesker leger i sneen med Fars gamle kælk. 
Nu skal jeg ud og foreberede middag til i aften til hele bundtet.
Hav en dejlig søndag.


Two of my favorite persons playing in the snow with Daddy's old sledge. 
Now I am going to the kitchen to start dinner for all of them for tonight.
Have a great Sunday.

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Løfter, løfter - Promises, Promises

Jeg havde egentlig ikke nogle nytårsfortsætter til 2015. Det vil sige, at jeg havde bestemt, at jeg ville blive bedre til det, jeg allerede laver. Komme i gang med min nye bog, skrive på bloggen mindst 4 gange om ugen, ihærdigt læse spansk, fotografere og male store malerier.
Denne uge har været flad, for jeg måtte erkende, at jeg ikke er begyndt på bogen, jeg har ikke skrevet 4 gange om ugen på bloggen, jeg skulle have øvet mere spansk, taget nogle flere fotos, og jeg har malet nogle malerier, som jeg virkelig kæmper med.
Så hvad kan man gøre, når man så får en uge, hvor ingenting går, som man vil? Man kan fortsætte, og det er der, jeg er nu. Jeg skal holde mine løfter - også dem til mig selv!



I actually didn't have any New Years Promises for 2015. Well, I had decided that I would get better at what I am already doing. Starting writing my new book, make at least 4 posts on the blog a week, take some more pictures, study hard on my Spanish, and paint big paintings.
This week has been really gloomy, because I had to acknowledge that I haven't started the book. I haven't written 4 times a week here on the blog. I should have been digging deeper in my Spanish books. I haven't taken any photos, and I have painted two paintings, which I am still fighting with.
So what can you do, when you have a week, where nothing is going your way? You can continue, and that is, where I am now. I have to keep my promises - also the ones I have made to myself!

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Købestop dag 20 - Purchase Stop Day 20

Jeg holder stadig købestopet. Det eneste, der er kommet indenfor dørene, udover mad og rengøringsartikler (og kameraet!) er en neglebørste. Den blev nødvendig, da jeg gerne vil renses for maling under neglene. Iøvrigt en god lille ting. Så fint udført.

Min lyst til at snuse rundt i forretninger er fuldstændig væk. Jeg har stadig ingen ide om, hvordan det er sket, men det er faktisk rigtig rart. Jeg er ikke på 'udkig' hele tiden.


I am still keeping the purchase stop. The only thing which has crossed my threshold except for food and cleaning articles (and the camera!) is a nail brush. It became necessary, as I want to have my nails clean of paint. It is a good little 'tool'. So nicely made.

My passion for chasing for offers has totally gone. I still haven't any idea about, how that has happened, but it is actually quite nice. I am not on the prowl all the time.

Monday, January 19, 2015

Tyggegummi-farver - Bubble Gum Colors

Mit hjem er holdt fuldstændig i neutrale, naturlige farver. Det samme gælder min garderobe. Men nu er jeg jo, som I måske ved, begyndt at male for sjov, og det er virkelig sjovt. Ikke mindst at jeg helt uden at tænke over det vælger farver, jeg aldrig ville drømme om at bruge andre steder! Gad vide hvad det skal fortælle mig?!


The colors in my hold are all neutral and natural colors. The same goes for my wardrobe. And now I have just for the fun of it started painting, as you might now, and it is a lot of fun. Something which is really strange is that I choose colors, which I never would use anywhere else! Wonder what that should tell me?!

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Nyt kamera og budgettet - New Camera and The Budget

Her er den så! Min Nikon D5300. Kun huset. Jeg har et objectiv, som jeg er så glad for, og som dækker mit fotobehov.

Det blev ikke mindre godt af, at jeg nu har kigget på mit budget her halvvejs gennen måneden, og jeg skal kun tage halvdelen af prisen for kameraet fra min opsparingskonto, fordi jeg ikke har købt andet end mad og rengøringsartikler! Så hvis jeg fortsætter næste måned på samme måde, så kan jeg sætte pengene tilbage på opsparingen igen.

Det her kunne gå hen og blive en vane!


Now it is here! My Nikon D5300. I didn't by a lens, as I am perfectly happy with the one I have, and because it covers my needs.

The whole deal has only become better, now that I halfway through the month have taken a look at my budget, and I only have to take half the amount of the camera price, because I only have bought food and cleaning products! If I continue next month the same way, I can put the money back in the savings account again.

This could become a habit! 

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Købestop dag 14 og et nyt køb! - Purchase Stop Day 14 and a New Purchase!

Jeg bliver nødt til at tage min undtagelsesregel for købestoppet i brug nu. Den, der siger, at jeg kan erstatte ting, der går i stykker. Jeg er så ærgerligt over det, for det går faktisk rigtig godt. Jeg har ikke købt andet end mad og rengøringsartikler i 14 dage, og jeg har sparet en masse tid og en god portion penge! Og nu slapper jeg af, når jeg går ud og handler. Jeg føler mig ikke fristet til at ose mere.

Men jeg kan slet ikke bruge mit kamera, det er helt kaput, og så kan jeg ikke arbejde. På positivsiden kan man selvfølgelig sige, at det er heldigt, at det er udsalgstid nu!
Men jeg føler mig alligevel... aaarrrruuuggghhhh! over det.


I have to take my exception rule for my purchase stop in use now. The rule which says that I can replace things which are breaking. I am so irritated about it, because my experiment actually goes really well. I haven't bought anything but food and cleaning stuff in 14 days, and I have saved a lot of time and quite a bit of money! And now I relax, when I go shopping. I don't feel tempted to look for anything anymore.

But I cannot use my camera. It is totally kaput, and then I cannot work. But on the positive side you can say that I am lucky that it is time for offers and sales right now!
But I still feel ...aaarrrruuuggghhhh! about it.



Saturday, January 10, 2015

Venter på stormen - Waiting for the Storm

Der blev varselt storm i går, og den fik vi lidt af, og i dag skal vi have en orkan. Lige nu skinner solen, det er ikke særlig koldt, men blæser kraftigt. Vi må se, hvad det bliver til.

Det er købestop dag nr. 10 - og alt er gået meget lettere, end jeg havde forventet. Men nu er mit kamera gået i stykker. Nu kan det ikke mere. Jeg har længe haft en periodisk software fejl på det, men ingen har kunnet finde den. Det er noget, jeg ikke kan undvære, men det kolliderer virkelig med mit eksperiment! Samtidig er det udsalgstid, og der er gode tilbud, som ikke vil være der, når måneden er omme
. Ælle-bælle, ælle-bælle... skal jeg købe, eller skal jeg holde mig til mit eksperiment. Jeg sagde godt nok, at jeg ville udskifte ting, der gik i stykker, men jeg havde ikke lige regnet med en ting i den størrelsesorden. Men som det er sagt: "Life is what happens to you, while you're busy making other plans".



We had the a bit of the storm Dagmar yesterday, and today the hurricane Egon should arrive. Right now the sun is shining, it is not very cold, but there is a strong wind. Well, let's see how it turns out.

Purchase stop day no. 10, and everything has been a lot easier than expected - but now my camera is broken. I have for a while had a periodic software problem, but nobody has been able to find it, and now it is totally unusuable. It is something which I cannot do without, but it is colliding with my experiment! At the same time it is season for sales, and there are good offers, which will not be there at the end of the month. So I am counting bottons... should I buy, or should I stick to my experiment. At start I said that I would replace if something broke, but I hadn't counted on a thing that expensive. But as it is said: "Life is what happens to you, while you're busy making other plans".

Friday, January 9, 2015

Paris i dag - Paris today

Det har været svært at rumme andet end situationen i Paris i dag. 
It has been difficult to comprehend anything else but the situation in Paris today.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

'Minimalisterne' og genbrug - 'The Minimalists' and Second Hand Stuff

At reklamere er normalt ikke noget, som jeg giver mig af med, men jeg er blevet meget inspireret af to gutter, der har sat ord på minimalisme. De kalder sig 'Minimalisterne, og har selv været ret rabiate i deres tiltag til at leve et enklere liv, men deres syn på minimalisme er meget nuanceret. De prædiker ikke en bestemt linie, og de er samtidig meget morsomme. Check denne TED Talks, som jeg tror kan inspirere en masse mennesker.

Så jeg har taget nok et dyk ned i mit tøj og erkendt, at jeg ikke har haft noget af denne bunke i brug i over et halvt år og nok heller ikke kommer til det. Jeg har afprøvet et par af tingene på i et par timer, fordi jeg var i tvivl, men jeg blev klar over, hvorfor jeg ikke bruger dem. De kradser, kryber op, eller har andre egenskaber der gør, at jeg hele tiden tænker over, hvad jeg har på, og det irriterer mig. Så forhåbentlig er der andre, det ikke kradser eller kryber op på. Nu ryger det i hvert fald til genbrug. Samtidig er der et par tasker og noget køkkenudstyr, der går samme vej.


To advertise is normally not something I do, but I have become very inspired by two guys, who have put words on minimalism. They call themselves 'The Minimalists' and have been quite extreme in their own actions to live a simple life, but their view on the topic is very nuanced. They don't preach a certain trend, and they are very funny. Check their TED Talk, which I think can inspire a lot of people.

So I have taken yet another dive into my clothes 'pile', acknowledging that I haven't worn any of these pieces in more than 6 months, and probably never will. I have worn a some of them for a couple of hours, because I wasn't sure, why I didn't wear them. But they itch, creep up or there are other details, which makes me think about, that I am wearing them, and that irritates me. So hopefully there are other persons out there, who aren't bothered about that. So they are going to the second hand shop. And while I am at it, there are also a couple of bags and some kitchen stuff going the same way.

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Flere penge, mere tid - More Money, More Time

Jeg shopper efter indkøbsliste, og i går blev det igen dagligvarer, nogle fotoforstørrelser og skintonic. Ikke særlig interessant, men det er til gengæld interessant, hvor meget tid jeg sparer ved ikke at gå og snuse efter 'gode tilbud' - som jeg i den sidste ende ikke har brug for. Så jeg sparer penge og tid!


I write a shopping list and buy only what's on it. Yesterday is was food, some photo blow-ups and skin tonic. Really not very interesting, but it is obviously, that I save a lot of time not cruising around for 'good offers', which I - being realistic - don't need. So I am saving money and time!

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Købestop dag 5 - Purchase Stop Day 5

Jeg ved egentlig ikke rigtig, hvad det er, der foregår, men jeg køber ingenting overhovedet! Måske har jeg fået hjernevasket mig selv?! Jeg bruger næsten ikke nogen penge, og det har fået mig til at undre mig over, hvad det egentlig er, jeg plejer at bruge penge på. Det har spredt sig til alt, jeg køber, og ikke kun til tøj og ting. Måske har jeg ved dette eksperiment bare fået fokus på, hvad det reelt er, jeg har brug for?

Gårsdagens køb: Et ringbind til mit spanskursus (nu kunne mine notater ikke være i et charteque mere) og et glas rødbeder!

Omringet af udsalgsskilte - Surrounded by sales signs 

Dagens køb - Purchase of the Day

I really don't know, what is happening, but I am buying nothing! Maybe I have brainwashed myself?! I practically spend no money, and it has made me wonder, what I normally would spend money on. The new attitude has obviously spread to everything I buy, and not only to clothes and items which take up space. Maybe this experiment just has given me focus on what I really need?

Yesterday's purchase: A binder for my Spanish lessons (now my notes were to many to carry around in a plastic cover), and a glass of pickled beets!

Monday, January 5, 2015

Købestop dag 4 - Purchase Stop Day 4

I går gik jeg rundt blandt tusindvis af udsalgsvarer, og jeg havde åbenbart fået sat min hjerne på 'anti-køb', for det var slet ikke noget problem. Jeg var nærmest bare overvældet over udbuddet af varer, så jeg var glad, da vi gik videre for at spise middag.

Så dagens indkøb blev: Tyggegummi!

På vej ind til byen i metroen så jeg en kvinde, der var så 'underdressed', at jeg ikke kunne undgå af bemærke til det. Mørkeblå enkeltradet frakke, bordeaux halstørklæde (fra Acne), blækblå jeans og korte sorte støvler. Det hele osede af kvalitet. Og så toppede hun det med en ganske enkel Alexander Wang taske (uden nitter). Med den slags kvalitet behøver man ikke mange stykker tøj i garderoben.


Yesterday I went around between thousands of pieces of clothes on sale, and I had obviously succeeded putting my brain in 'anti-purchase' mode, because it was no problem. I was actually overwhelmed by the piles of clothes, so I was happy, when we went on for dinner.

The purchase of the day: Chewing gum!

On my way to the city in the Metro I saw a woman, who was dressed in the most elegantly understated way that you just couldn't help noticing it. She was wearing a dark blue coat, bordeaux scarf (from Acne), ink blue jeans and black short boots. The outfit was screaming quality. And a simple Alexander Wang bag (no studs) to finish the look! Very simple and very inspiring. With that kind of clothes you don't need a lot of different pieces in your wardrobe.

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Købestop dag 3 og en udfordring - Purchase Stop Day 3 and a Challenge

I går købte jeg kun dagligvarer. Det vil sige, jeg købte også roser! Men det er i min verden nødvendigt, især når det er så mørkt, som det er nu. Og chokolade. Jeg er venligst, når jeg har fået lidt chokolade!

Indtil nu har det ikke været svært (3 dage - haha!), men i aften bliver jeg udfordret. Jeg skal ud og spise med mine favoritmennesker, og vi har aftalt at mødes i Magasin, da de skal købe tøj til mini-favoritten på udsalg, og jeg har bestemt mig for at gå med for at se, hvordan det påvirker mig! Det er lidt som at lege med ild!




Yesterday I bought groceries only. I also bought roses, but in my world that is necessary, especially when it is as dark as it is now. And chocolate. I am the kindest, when I have had a piece of chocolate!

Until now it hasn't been difficult (3 days - haha!), but tonight I will get challenged. I am going out for dinner with my favorite persons, and we are going to meet at Magasin (a big department store), as they are going to buy clothes for the Mini-Favorite, and I have decided to join them to see, how it affects me. Playing with fire!

Saturday, January 3, 2015

En ny kalender og Købestop dag 2 - A New Calendar and No Purchase Day 2

Der er noget specielt ved at begynde på en ny kalender. Ligesom da man var barn og begyndte i næste klasse. Følelsen af at skulle videre med noget nyt og spændende. Jeg elsker følelsen af, at den er ny, og at når året er gået, er den lækkert slidt.

Update på købestoppet: I går købte jeg INGENTING!


There is something special with starting a new calendar. It's like when you were a kid starting a new school year with new books. The feeling of getting on with something new and exciting. I love the feeling that my calendar is new, and when the year is gone, it will be worn in the good way.

Update of not spending money: Yesterday I bought NOTHING!

Friday, January 2, 2015

Udsalg og jeg vil lave købestop! - Sales and I will stop buying!

Allerede omkring jul begyndte flere forretninger at holde udsalg, og forretningerne er ved at sprænges af varer. Hvor meget kan vi blive ved med at aftage? Personlig har jeg gennem det sidste år opdaget, at jeg ikke rigtig reagerer, når jeg køber ting, som jeg har ønsket mig. Det er sådan lidt en følelse, at 'nå, nu har jeg den' - hvad det så end måtte være. Det er lang tid siden, jeg har købt noget, der virkelig har begejstret mig. Jeg er begyndt at konstatere, at jeg bare har anskaffet en ting. Jeg glæder mig ikke mere som tidligere, hvor jeg ikke 'bare' købte. Jeg har lige været i Spanien og kunne slet ikke finde noget, som jeg havde lyst til at tage med hjem, selvom der var mange ting, man ikke kan få her hjemme.

Så nu udfordrer jeg mig selv. Midt i denne udsalgsperiode har jeg bestemt, at jeg ikke vil købe noget! Det er der mange, der har gjort før mig, og jeg har puslet med det, men ikke rigtig fået gjort alvor af det. Men nu er tiden inde!

Reglen er, at jeg må købe mad, rengøringsmidler, medicin (hvilket forhåbentlig ikke blive nødvendigt) og artikler til personlig pleje. Det gælder foreløbig hele januar. Hvis der er noget vitalt, der går i stykker (f.eks. min kaffemaskine!), så køber jeg en ny! Jeg ville ikke ønske at være sammen med mig selv, hvis jeg ikke kunne få kaffe, så hvordan ville andre ikke have det? Og jeg vil jo gerne have selskab.

Jeg er selv spændt på udfaldet, og hvad jeg vil føle, og jeg skal nok opdatere!

Bogen er købt på tilbud den 31.12. og bliver det sidste indkøb indtil den 31.1.
The book (The Big Danish Furniture Guide) is bought on a sale Dec. 31st, and will be the last purchase until Jan. 1st

Already around Christmas a lot of shops started the sales, and now the shops are almost exploding with goods. How much can we keep buying? I have during the past year had the experience that I don't really react, when I buy something, which I have wished for. The feeling is a bit like 'well, now I have got this one' - whatever it may be. It is a long time ago that I have bought something, which really has excited me. I have started just noting that I have bought something. I am not looking forward as I did earlier, when I didn't 'just' buy something. I have just been to Spain and I couldn't find anything I wanted to bring home, even though there were a lot of things, which I wouldn't find in Denmark.

So now I have challenged myself. In the middle of this sales rush I have decided that I will not buy anything! Many have tried this before me, and I have played with the thought, but never really taken action. Now is the time!

The rule is that I can buy food, cleaning products, medicine (hopefully not needed) and stuff for my personal care. This will go on for January for now. If there is something vital, which breaks (f.ex my coffee machine!) I will buy a new one. I wouldn't want to be together with me, if I can't have coffee, so how would other people feel? And I do want company.

I am quite excited about the result, and what I am going to feel, and I will keep you updated!

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Nyt år, ny energi - New Year, New Energy

Det er sjovt, som et nyt år kan give energi! Jeg ved ikke rigtig, hvor det kommer fra, men i formiddags har jeg haft så meget af det, at det skulle udnyttes. Så jeg har været ude at handle, lavet en gryderet til familien, som kommer i aften, og sorteret lidt i min garderobe. Det blev til 7 bluser. Så nu er min daglig-garderobe nede på 45 stykker tøj. Jeg ved, at super-minimalisterne anbefaler ca. 30 stykker tøj, men når man som mig godt kan lidt at bruge lag-på-lag = cardigan og skjorte eller t-shirt, vil jeg have lidt mere, og der er store muligheder for at variere, for alt kan kombineres.



It is strange, how a new year can create energy! I don't quite know, where it came from, but before noon I had so much of it that I just had to make use of it. So I have been shopping, made a casserole for the family who is coming tonight, and sorted my wardrobe. So 7 blouses with long and short sleeves are going. Now my wardrobe is down to 45 pieces. I know that the super minimalists recommend approx. 30 piece, but if you, like me, like to wear layers = cardigan with t-shirt or a shirt, I want a bit more. But I have big possibilities to variate, because I can combine the pieces.