Anyway, I’m going to start with this one: Norwegian Rain.

During the 31st of August until 10th of September, the city of Bergen had this annual design week called Raff. It was a fabulous event, but what really gave me this felt-a-jones-in-my-bones-when-you’re-touching-me sensation was the exhibit of Norwegian Rain inside a church.

Norwegian Rain is a small designer label from the rainiest city of Europe and that’s Bergen, Norway. As we all know rain and fashion doesn’t really go hand in hand. It’s a tragedy that rainwear usually comes in ugly variety. The duo behind the label, T-Michael and Alexander Helle were brilliant to come up with a hardcore functional outerwear without compromising the aesthetic value.

The clothes are just to die for. It’s beautiful and the design is modern yet classic. The garments are 100% waterproof and the fabric is just fabulous to hold. Light and breathable. I’m so going to get one as my personal Christmas present!

Check www.norwegianrain.no to know more about the label. That’s all for now!

P.S

Took another photo of our kitchen with better lighting.

+ Looks homey no?

+ The kitchen area. I’m still looking for the right tile style to add on the kitchen counter wall.

+ The bedroom.

+ The living area. It’s not yet finish since I’m planning to add a wallpaper on the wall behind the sofa. It’s going to be the focal point of the room as I’m going to apply a trompe l’oeil. Also I’m still contemplating whether I’m going to hide the wirings or not.

I’ll post more photos once I’m fully done transforming our little love nest I’m so sorry that it took some time to make an update. I was so engrossed with the moving and all that I didn’t notice the time that went by. Anyway, the most important thing is I’m back, captain!

I looked around and I saw people looking bored except for a bunch of teenagers chatting something juicy as they giggled between sentences, and of course this cute boy around 3-4 years old, who smiled at me when our glances met. I smiled back and then he came towards me away from his mother.

I was caught off guard when he suddenly touched my tummy.

“Baby?” he said, looking at me with an innocent expression.

I almost choked in horror, but being a gracious person and if I’m allowed to brag, a quick thinker, an immediate response came into mind.

“I wished!” I said with a mixture of fake laughter.

+ Left: Four years ago when I was still a film student. In the photo, I was applying some powder to the actress, Eleanna, who played as a ghost in our horror film project. Right: Back to being myself!

That was four years ago and a sweet reminder every time I’m craving for something unhealthy (i.e chips, chocolates etc.). I could not figure it out why I allowed myself to come to that point. For a span of two years I turned myself into a cow. Aside from the expansive appearance, I was also hounded with chest pains and the doctor told me if I won’t do something about my situation my heart would suffer some dire consequences.

I had to do something and in a span of six gruelling months of intense training and diet, I finally managed to get my body back. Now, I still work hard to keep my weight in check and of course keep myself beautiful!

PS.

We finally got the keys to the new place and the big move starts next week

+ In the words of Carrie Bradshaw, “Hello! I live here.”

Here are some photos that summed up my summer vacation look and then some

+ Emulating Dawson’s Creek.

+ Odd relaxing in a warm afternoon.

+ Reminiscing childhood.

+ Candid in Bergen.

+ A drizzle or a full storm in the summer can’t stop me from wearing shorts.

+ With the lovely and talented Myrna Braza. She’s an artist and a songwriter here in Norway. Please check her website (which I made) here.

+ We just bought a property last Tuesday! This is the open kitchen/ living room area. I can’t wait to start doing the interior!

+ The new neighbourhood and our new home! Nordnes is one of the finest areas in Bergen.

Expect me to be busy as I juggle work, packing, moving and then the interior designing. My gosh, my hands are full this month and then the next!

Note: The last two pictures are taken from the real-estate ad.

+ The Royal Palace in Oslo.

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s be done with this,” he said, accepting the camera with an impatient look on his face.

I smiled, ignoring his crabby mood. Odd was usually like that when it came to taking my pictures. “You always end up not liking the pictures I took.” His whiny voice echoed from the past and I couldn’t blame him. He took fifty photos and I only liked one. My usual reason to him was that I needed to get the correct angles since I was not gifted with a photogenic appearance unlike some people I know. Despite my diva-esque attitude, he was still willing to take my photos, albeit not completely into it.

I posed around not minding the people passing by to and fro. Odd was snapping away following some of my directions.

“Okay, that’s enough,” I said, approaching him as he handed the camera back to me. I scanned the photos quickly before I shut the camera off. “This will do.”

Odd sighed with relief.

“Shall we move on and shop?” I said, slinging the camera strap on my shoulder.

“Wait,” said Odd, holding my hand. “Did you know that when the flag is up it means the king is in the palace?”

“Yes, I know,” I said with an air of indifference. Now it was my turn to be impatient as I dragged Odd out of the palace grounds and to the streets of Karl Johan.

Get-up: Levi’s striped tee, Weekday shorts and Sebago shoes.

PS.

I know. I’ve been wearing a lot of shorts lately, but I had to take advantage of the summer season while it lasts! Plus a tip to you boys and girls, I read somewhere that if you have short legs or if you’re vertically challenged, you have to wear shorts above the knee to create an illusion that you have longer legs.

“You have more legs than a bucket of fried chicken,” said Odd, who was behind me while typing this entry. Taking a phrase from the movie To Wong Foo Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar.

“Shut up!” I said with an embarrassed grin. He usually says that when I’m wearing shorts. I unabashedly admit that I’m gifted with long legs!

+ My husband/photographer.

If you guys have noticed, I’ve been wearing a lot of stripes. I love stripes, but the funny thing is that I used to hate wearing them until now. What changed my mind were the colours being used on the stripes I’ve seen lately. It’s vibrant, but without looking tacky. I just love it!

Outfit: H&M grey cardigan, Weekday striped tee, Cheap Monday shorts and New Balance shoes.

And another thing, I get to be fashionable and be myself in terms of style! That’s the beauty here in Norway where only a few professions that require one to wear a uniform.

Here are some of my work outfits. Note: Photos are taken by Gunnhild using iPhone 4S.

+ Outfit #1: Zara blazer, Cheap Monday blue tee, H&M suspenders, Cheap monday shorts, French Connection UK (FCUK) boots.

+ Outfit #2:H&M x Lanvin cardigan, Cheap Monday striped sleeveless shirt, Cheap Monday skinny jeans and New Balance shoes.

+ Outfit #3: Levi’s striped tee, Cheap Monday shorts and New Balance shoes.

+ Outfit #4: Cheap Monday button up shirt, Cheap Monday skinny jeans and Hunter boots (it was raining that day)

To be honest, it’s quite a challenge to show photos of myself since I don’t consider myself photogenic or even handsome. But what the heck!

Anyway, I’m on my 3-week vacation from work and I’m going to use my time to continue writing my book (I have 5 more chapters to go!), helping some friends with some design work, churning more blog updates and visiting my lovely in-laws!

Now, many of you have been wondering what I had been up to these last few months since my hiatus. I’m going to indulge you my friends with this entry.

Aside from the aforementioned blank wall, I was slightly depressed last October when our precious pet cat, Happy, died of a heart failure. He was just ten months old. It took a month before we bought another cat of the same breed. His name is Alpha and he’s quite a sweetheart.

+ Alpha.

From that point onward there was nothing interesting as life revolved around the cogs of mundanity until 2012 came. January was exciting as I began training in kendo or Japanese fencing. I really love it and the folks at Bergen Kendo Club are awesome and nice! For those who are living in Bergen, I invite you to join our club!

+ Kendo.

February came like a quicksilver. Elise, my previous classmate and a very dear friend, and I decided to start an online lifestyle magazine. We called it WHIN or What’s Hot In Norway. It was received quite well, but the magazine is on hold right now because when April came I got this fabulous new job as a web designer at Bergens Tidende, one of the biggest newspapers in Norway.

+ Elise during our WHIN photo-shoot. Outfit: Gina Tricot black dress, shoes bought in Denmark and gloves are handmade.

+ Me during our WHIN photo-shoot. Outfit: JCT leather jacket bought in Italy, H&M blue hoodie, Cheap Monday v-neck tee, Cheap Monday skinny jeans and Kurt Geiger shoes.

Sadly, I had to relinquish my part in WHIN to Elise due to conflict of interest with my new work. I did promise my dear friend to help her out with the technical stuff once WHIN resumes circulation come fall.

It was also sad to leave my previous work. I had a wonderful time at Webhuset despite being short and I miss my old colleagues.

Change is good and I always dream of working at Bergens Tidende being that I used to be a journalist before I shifted career paths. Getting this new job is a testament that dreams do come true if you put an effort to it.

+ One of my gorgeous officemates and a very good friend at Bergens Tidende, Gunnhild. Outfit: Filippa K blazer, white tee bought at Nova, Nudie skinny jeans, Acne shoes, Acne crimson scarf, Ray-Ban sunglasses.

Now, let’s move on to the next chapter!

P.S.

I forgot to mention that I got a tattoo!

+ My husband’s complete name in runes.

It’s really good to be back and I have so much stuff to talk about. Life’s been good to me and Odd and I hope that everything is also fine with you guys. There will be a lot of changes in this blog and I’m not just talking about the design.

+ The old design.

Aside from the usual blather, I’ll be showing more of my personal style and my (non)sense in fashion. I always wanted to do this before, but never got the confidence to do it. Now it’s different. Intrepid is the word I’m going to add in my life’s vocabulary.

+ Outfit: Acne striped tee, Jack & Jones shorts and Sebago shoes.

I miss you guys, my blog friends and readers, but I need to extend my hiatus due to a very hectic schedule. I’ll be back before you know it.