Girls-night-out

It was a couple of months ago we started to dream about a girls-night-out. A few hours without the babies.  A night were we can wear a dress or any other clothing were the food supply is well hidden and no easy access (I am even considering a turtleneck even though it is boiling outside ). A night when we will zip on a cocktail ( not a huge cocktail fan but simply made a better dream picture than a beer..) Time is flying and tonight is the night when we are doing all the above. I am now heading to meet up with Carly, Miki & Monica to have a great night without babies but for sure a lot of discussions about them.

Organizational structure

As we are entering Q3 2013, Team Nikolovski is now making the new organizational structure official. We go from a flat organization to a very hierarchical organization. Mila Kristina Nikolovski is a small but powerful boss on the top. Maria Cecilia Book Nikolovski assistant and operational manager of the food supply. Mr Loren Nikolovski assistant and manager of diapers and entertainment.


Lates important decission taken by the boss is that nighttime snacking is totally aloud and something she wants to continue with for at least Q3 & Q4 2013.

Forecast or no forecast...

Talking about rain.. There is so many different approaches to weather forecasts. Mr Nikolovski put his trust in the Norwegians, www.yr.no is without a doubt one of his most visited webpage. My friend Miki put her trust into her phone. " My phone says it will be nice weather on Wednesday" makes me laugh.. But.. Am I the only stupid one that just looks through the window and end up either too cold, too warm or too wet ?

Too much rain makes too much water...

First week of June dark clouds came and the raindrops started to fall over Prague.. It rained and rained. Not this nice drizzling summer rain no no this was heavy no-mercy type of rain were the water just kept pouring down. Cold miserable rain that had no intention of stopping. And it didn't stop it just kept raining. The water levels got higher and higher. It flood over and the country got put in catastrophe mode. Roads, metros, bridges, parks and schools got closed. Poor beautiful Prague and poor all the people effected by the floods.


Under första veckan av juni hopade sig mörka moln över Prag. Regndropparna började falla. Dropparna förvandlades till spöregn och spöregnet bara fortsatte och fortsatte. När jag säger spöregn så menar jag just kallt vått spöregn och inte ljummet sommarregn som man annars kan förvänta sig i juni. Regnet bara fortsatte dag in och ut. Miserabelt och vattennivåerna steg allt högre. Prag klarade inte mer och svämmade över. Katastrof tillstånd. Vägar, tunnelbana, broar, parker och skolor stängdes. Stackars stackars vackra Prag och alla som är drabbade.

The swans seems to like it though, the can explore new territories and hang out at their new local restaurant.

De enda vinnarna är svanarna som verkar helnöjda med att kunna utforska nya områden och till och med fått en egen resturang som de hänger runt.

Town-life collection

Houses has always inspired me and been created in my drawing-pads over and over again. Fantasy mushroom houses, troll houses and typical Swedish red farmhouses with stables and a green garden. I also remember one summer when I was around 13 years old and worked all summer with a view of a little street with French type buildings and a cute café with green chairs. While I draw I am living there at that place in that house, on that farm or walking that street. I can smell the grass, the coffee, I know how it looks inside and what life is like in that painting. I love to enter to my creative dream worlds. Lately I have again started to draw houses and this time it is very influence by town-life and my sceneries while walking the streets of Prague. Prague has amazingly beautiful facades in different styles and colors and decorated with many impressive statues. Does this means that I am really living in my creative dream world?

This painting is currently displayed at a new modern Thai restaurant in Prague 3, Kiin. 

This painting was a birthday present to my friend Christine.

 

And this one is at the moment sleeping in my illustration box. 

Mamma fashion accessories

Since I became mamma I have changed some of my accessories...

Exciting experiences

Sverige besöket bjöd på många intryck och upplevelser. Roligast var Chili (hunden), kramigast var mormor, Moster o mamma sjöng "Just give me a reason" (Pink) högst (varje gång dom ville att jag skulle sova..) och blötast och härligast var den varma poolen.

The trip to Sweden offered a lot of exciting experiences. Funniest was Chili the dog, most hugs from grandmother, auntie Sofie and mamma sang "Just give me a reason" (Pink) the loudest (every time they wanted me to sleep..) and the warm pool was wet and extra super duper exciting.

Love in the air

Saturday 25/5 Floda Sweden

The sun was shining strong and warm even though it was suppose to rain that day

Beautiful dress on a beautiful bride. Way too big suits on the two cute little boys ( bridesmaids but boy version..) Proud and happy groom. He said yes and she said yes. And so they were just married although been together for 13 years. Congratulations Tess and Henrik ! Thank you for having us there on you special day.

Happy baby

Baby Nikolovski's smiles and laughs are to die for

During the past two weeks she has offered a lot of million dollar smiles and genuine giggly laughs

It makes her mamma goes silly

Pappa proud as a rooster 

We just simply can't have enough of it

No no no !

Baby Nikolovski is a sweet little character with a mind of her own. I was at first hesitant of giving her a pacifier. Worried that it might be difficult to wean her off it in the future. When we finally tried she totally refused it. We have bought zillion five hundred different types and keep trying to convince her to use them, but no way baldy!  I am actually not sure anymore why I keep forcing them on her. She must think I am a raving lunatic who wants her to suck plastic. I promise I will give up soon, just try this new cool orange one first..

The same big no no goes for eating from a bottle. Stubborn little thing. She can play and drink from the bottle when it has water inside but as soon as it is milk she shows very clearly it is NO to even consider to drink from it. No no no!! Man we have been trying and trying but not a chance/ nema chanca !! Such a small person with such huge will, I wonder where she has got that from...

Spring-time tidy up

 

Efter flera månader i långa byxor, luddiga sockar och varma tröjor är det nu dags för att exponera hud i tid och otid. Hud som är är blek och lurvig. Hur kommer det sig egentligen att hårborttagningsprodukter för kvinnor är lika rosa som de är patetiska? Ge oss något rejält för tusan. Efter en lång vinter kan det behövas både gräsklippar och trimmer för att få ordning på torpet.

After months and months in long trousers, fluffy socks and woolen sweaters the season to expose bare skin is here again. Out of hibernation comes pale skin with some dark unwelcome hair here and there that needs to be removed, right. Why is it that hair removal products for women are as pink as they are pathetic? Are our hairs suppose to be less, thinner and more gentle? Is the pink suppose to make the hair-removal experience cuter or what is all that about? Give us some real hard-ware equipment. I mean after a long winter both lawnmower and trimmer might be needed to get organized.

More birds and colors on the wall

These gang of owls living in the tree tops

Cute and colorful 

Framed and put on the wall

Growing and dreaming

Team Nikolovski and especially Mr Nikolovski is dreaming of our own homegrown tomatoes. Project growing tomatoes is on going. Granddad Sven-Hugo has been consulted. Pots, soil and plants has been bought. We spent a couple of evenings last week and planted and arranged our growing corner on the balcony. Mr Nikolovski has taking great pride in watering, talking to the plants and moving them around to get as much sun as possible. To increase our chances for nice red tomatoes Mr Nikolovski decided to buy organic super growing pellets. The pellets has generously been put in all the pots.

Team Nikolovski och framförallt Mr Nikolovski drömmer om egna hemodlade tomater. Sagt och gjort, projektet odla egna tomater har påbörjats. Morfar Sven-Hugo har konsulterats. Krukor, jord och plantor har inhandlats. Under ett par kvällar förra veckan har vi planterat och fixat och donat på balkongen. Mr Nikolovski har tagit stor stolhet i att vattna, prata och flytta runt plantorna för att ge dem så mycket sol som möjlgt. För att ytterligare öka chanserna för fina röda goda tomater kom han hem med ekologiska näringspellets. Dessa pellets har generöst fördelats mellan krukorna.

After a short while a not so pleasant smell started to spread around the balcony. Great now the whole balcony smells of chicken shit... I am hoping it will be worth it.

Med näringspellets spred sig en hemsk doft över hela balkongen och säkert i hela området.. En härlig doft av kycklingskit..

Enjoying the sunshine

Solen och värmen kom

 Blek hud mötte solens strålar

Våren slutade tveka och knoppar brast

 Naturen kläddes i gröna nyanser

Förra veckan var helt fantastisk med sommar temperaturer och solsken. Det är helt ok att vara hemma. Det är som jag får nypa mig i armen. Njuter till fullo gör vi. Mila är dock lite fyra månaders kinkig och har lärt sig bemästra konsten att gnälla, men skratten och det busiga leendet väger upp gnällandet. Vad jag gör om dagarna..  Jag dricker kaffe, promenerar, dricker mer kaffe. Åker in till stan. Äter lunch med mamma bebis kompisar. Yoga måndag och onsdag ( inte alltid så avslappnat som det borde vara, Mila tröttna efter ett kort tag..) Kindermusiken på fredagar uppskattas mer, då sjungs och skrattas det (jag står för sången och Mila för skratten.) Förra veckan var det premiär för att provsmaka mat. Bananen och potatisen smakade helt ok medan morötter och ärtor inte föll Mila i smaken. Bäst verkade den nya haklappen smaka.

Last week we had great weather with Summer temperatures and sunshine. Totally ok to be home. I am very much enjoying walking with a cappuccino in my hand with the sun in my face and hearing the birds twitter. The smell of the newly cut grass is happiness. And so many pure beautiful green colors in the nature.  I am making the most out of our days and the enjoying as much as I can. Yoga, kindermusik, walks and nice lunch with our mum baby friends. Great time!

IF: Train

I have missed a few weeks to draw for Illustration Friday although it has been great topics.

This weeks topic is train

I got inspire to make a sweet little playtime train.

Mr Niklovski's scanning adventure in US

A couple of weeks ago Mr Nikolovski flew to US, Texas for meetings and training with his department. Of all the stories and happenings he was telling me about, this one made me laugh so hard....

When flying back Mr Nikolovski got a bit scared of all the big super scanners they have in the airports in US. Scanners that scan your whole body very thoroughly. Too much radiation is not good, so Mr Nikolovski asked to be scanned manually. In Dallas it was no problem they scanned him with a handheld scanner and he was good to go. In Chicago he asked the same thing. "No problem sir" said the security guard and pulled out a latex glove. "Please take you pants off so I can examine your anus!" Mr Nikolovski had not expected such extreme examinations for bombs and had to think quick to get himself out of this situation. "I changed my mind" he said and try to look as sorry as he could. "Too late, you asked for manual scan and you are getting a manual scanning!" Mr Nikolovski looked even more sorry and innocent (the puppy face) "sorry sir I am just scared of the radiation coming from the scanners, but I changed my mind I don't mind the radiation..!" After a big sigh the guards let him go. He jumped through the scanner and promised himself never to ask for a manual scanning again. 

Spring

Finally spring has come to Prague!!

The birds are singing !

The grass is growing green. If you stop for a minute you can almost see and hear how it grows.

Tree buds are working hard to dress all the bare branches in a green costume.

Spring flowers are blossoming

It feels good to have spring here, welcome!

A hate-love relationship

 I have a love-hate relationship to washing. I love the feeling of putting things in the washing machine. If I don't have things in the washing basket ready for washing I go for a hunt around the apartment looking for things that can do with a wash. This behavior is totally inherited from my mother who could ask me to take clothes off so she could wash it ( possible that they also smelled a little horsey..) As much as I love the washing moment I hate the feeling of having to fold and put away washed and dried cloths.And don't even mention ironing, I refuse, a crease or two has never hurt anyone... These days the washing pile is bigger but at the same time more bright and colorful. Sweet little clothes for a sweet little girl.

Jag har ett speciellt förhållande till att tvätta kläder, en passionerad hatkärlek. Kärleken riktas mot att få stoppa in kläder i tvättmaskinen för tvätt. Finns det inte mycket i tvättkorgen letar jag rätt på något som kan behöva en tvätt. Ett beteende jag ärvt från mamma Mi som jag minns tll och med bad mig ta av mig kläderna jag bar för att hon ville fylla en maskin ( dom kan också ha luktat lite hästskit..)
Hatet riktas oavkortat mot momentet att hänga och sedan vika undan de rena plaggen. Huuujedamig vad trist det är och att stryka kommer inte på tal. Lite skrynklor är tecken på ett rikt liv lyder min filosofi..Tvätthögen nuförtiden är definitivt större men samtidigt mer färgrann. Söta små kläder i söta färger, med fläckar både här och där.

Passport challange

Not so easy to take a photo of baby Nikolovski for her passport...

So much things to do..

Something about dogs

Prague is full of dogs in different shapes and forms. I read that according to some estimates, more people have dogs as pets in Prague than anywhere else in the world. No wonder they keep showing up in my sketch book..

Big girl

When baby Nikolovski was born people kept saying "enjoy every moment because they are growing sooo fast" We thought yeah right surely she won't grow THAT fast. But o my God people were right she really is growing like crazy. A whole bunch of clothes are already outgrown and put away. She is playing away with her toys, "talking", standing on her little tiny legs with help from mum and dad, looking like a drunk when sitting and having a mind of her own. Before we know it she will be crawling, walking and running.

Thursday treat

Thursday evening after a long day in the office ( not quite true for part of Team Nikolovski, but sounds more exhausting then spending the day drinking coffee in comfy chairs at Starbucks..) Our good friend Mr Adad turned up with nice fresh organic ingredient ready to cook for us (that's whats friends are for, right!?) There was seafood, peppers and a whole pile of onions.

Mr Adad turned all the good products into a magically tasty seafood paella.

Team Nikolovski was eating away and enjoyed it ALOT

Thank you very much and come soon back!

The baby effect

Mr Nikolovski is appointed as Team Nikolovski's grocery shopping manager. This is an important role and a role he takes very seriously. When the light has fallen he heads to one or two stores to do the weekly shopping. The list is written and he is taking his time touching, squeezing and smelling products of interest. We have done a through ECO hunt and are happy to say that we can find good products organic certified here in Prague. Mr Nikolovski likes his shopping and takes his time picking the right products. He is reading what everything contains and is avoiding scary E-numbers and chemicals, which is to say the least not easy these days.

The other day when he came home from the store, he was a little giddy. He said " I am not sure if I am going mad or not.. but I find myself shaking and moving the shopping-cart back and forth like a crazy person.People must think I am a little cocko shaking the groceries just like the baby.."
You are not mad och crazy it is just the baby effect, where the most important rule is don't-you-dare stop-moving-the-stroller-or-else-I-will-wake-up-and-make-you-run-all-the-way-home-with me-screaming-until-I-nearly-choke...
I must admit I am also heavily baby-effected and a little mad. I am sitting rocking from side to side when I see or hear Baby Nikolovski. 

Herr Nikolovski är utsedd till Team Nikoloivski's mathandlare. Detta är en mycket viktig roll i teamet och han tar sin roll minst sagt på största allvar. När mörkret har fallit beger han sig ut på sin matjakt till både en och två affärer. Med listan i högsta hugg utforskar han affärena noga. Han tar tid på sig och känner, klämmer och luktar på alla råvaror. Han läser på varje etikett för att undvika läskiga e-nummer och kemikalier som matproducenterna försöker förgifta oss med. Det tar tid, men han gillar det. 

Härom dagen när han kom hem från affären, var han lite fnissig och sa " jag vet inte om jag håller på att bli tokig, men vet du vad som hände idag!? När jag stannar för att känna och klämma på produkter har jag numera ena handen på shoppingvagnen och står och hela tiden rör den fram och tillbaka som en galning. Folk måste tror att jag är helt kocko som står och vaggar matvarorna som vore de en bebis.." 
Nej jag lovar du håller inte på att bli galen det är bara bebis-effekten, där den viktigaste regeln är låt aldrig vagnen stå still om du inte vill springa hem för att en nyvaken bebis är nyvaken och arg och vill hem NU!!
Jag har själv lagt mig till med en konstig vaggning. När jag sitter på stolen vaggar jag från sida till sida när jag ser eller hör baby Nikolovski. Ser inte klokt ut och känns ganska fånigt att gunga fram och tillbaka som en galen person.

IF: Egg & Happy Easter

Happy Easter 

Glad påsk

IF: Swim

This weeks topic on Illustration Friday is SWIM

It got me to think about my own relationship to water and swimming.
A walk down memory lane took me to somewhere in the middle of the 80th. I can still feel the cold wet tiles where me and a bunch of other small people had to sit on the ground and practice frog movements over and over again. A cheerful teacher cheering us on. Huu there I was shivering with goosebumps all over my body and blue lips. When we finally could move on from the cold floor the water felt just as cold. It took me at least half of the lesson to be brave enough and get into the water. The yellow plastic floaty things wrapped around my little chest was squeezing and hurting me. Teacher told us to collect apples and pears as we jumped up and down in the water. We could get different medals if we achieved different things in the water. I managed all the way to the "golden frog" medal , but then the water became deeper and I simply wasn't brave enough to dare getting out on the deep water.

Veckans team på Illustration Friday är simma.
Jag började fundera på min relation till vatten och simmning. Det hela började någonstans i mitten på 80-talet i Vingåkers badhus. Jag minns än idag de kalla blöta kaklet där jag och ett helt gäng av små personer fick börja öva på torrsim. Rör benen som en groda hojtade simläraren. Usch där satt jag med gåshud och blåa läppar. När vi till slut fick börja prova på våra rörelser i vattnet, var vattnet jobbigt kallt och det tog mig minst en halv lektion att försöka komma i vattnet. Simläraren ropade att vi skulle plocka äpplen och päron och vi hoppade upp och ner i vattnet och plockade osynliga frukter.
Vi tog medaljer. Baddaren, järngrodan, silvergrodan och guldgrodan sedan blev vattnet djupare och min rädsla tog över. 

At school they send us for swimming once a week. When they figured out that I couldn't swim as good as we were suppose to, I got sent for extra lessons. Me and a couple of other kids were forced to go for swimming lessons twice a week. I had to skip the math lesson, maybe that's why I am crap at math. However I did learn how to jump on one leg and pretend that I was swimming, work pretty well until the water got too deep. The result I am a poor swimmer and also very bad at math...

När jag började skolan stod simmning på schemat en gång i veckan. Läraren upptäckte ganska snart att jag var urusel på att simma och blev beordrad extra lektioner. Jag och ett par ungar från parallell klassen skickades till Vingåkers badhus två gånger i veckan. Det var mattelektion som jag missade och kanske är det därför jag är urusel på matte. Hursomhelst fick jag upp tekniken att hoppa på ett ben och låtsas att jag simmar, det funkade bra ända tills vattnet blev för djupet. Resultatet jag är alltså dålig både på att simma och på att räkna..

Saturday walk

Saturday was sunny but very cold

Great visit of Mamma/Mommo Mi

We decided to go for a long walk to down-town Prague

We had a good time and enjoyed the day

We were out for quit some time. 

Had a late lunch with some nice wine. 

The whole team enjoying it

But next minute Baby Nikolovski had ENOUGH!!!

PANIC!!!

Baby Nikolovski SCREAMING, SCREAMING, SCREAMING!!!

The rest of Team Nikolovski stressed, stressed, stressed

Shaking, shaking, shaking - didn't work

Ssshhh, ssshhh, sssshhh - didn't work 

Running, running, running - didn't work 

The way home felt LONG

Having a screaming baby on the metro is pretty stressful I can tell you

When we finally reached home, Baby Nikolovski smiling again
Enough is a enough and no compromises !!