This one goes out to all the psychos

There is so much information on the internet. Like scary amounts. You don't even have to be a stalker to be a stalker anymore. Which is weird because I swore I would never become a stalker, but its just so easy, what with Facebook, google, blogs and other stuffs. I wouldn't say I am a serious kind of stalker. Every once in a while I check to see what interests Facebook friends have, just to see if we have anything in common. Is that weird? I don't know, sometimes I think it is, because then you know things about people that they didn't actually tell you in person, so if you mention that show or that band they like and they go "how do you know I like that?" you have to awkwardly come up with an answer... usually avoiding the truth: "I checked your interests on Facebook... but don't worry, I remember to take my meds almost every day".

In a way I sort of hate the internet for that reason. I am sure I wouldn't know as many people if it weren't for Facebook, but I am pretty sure I would know a few people a lot better than a lot of people semi well. I am also sure I would get most of my info from people themselves as opposed to hearing things through Facebook statuses that pop up on my community spy wall. Granted it is information people share freely.

It also scares me how much info there is about me on the internet. Especially since I seem to be a crazy magnet, attracting all sorts of trouble. I don't know if you can actually turn off a magnet, but I have decided to believe in the power of "the Secret" once more and flip the switch. I am from now on only magnetic towards mentally stable, handsome, faithful, tall (optional), secure, manly men who want to hold my hand in public. Having your choice of good, handsome, healthy men beats having to choose between a commitmentophobic, a commitmentaholic or a plain old psycho. Just saying.

This is what I would love to love:

All photos under the search word

Love

Jealous much?

foundit!

I don't actually hate people who are beautiful when they cry, they just annoy me. Actually, beautiful people just annoy me. Especially when these beautiful people are men. I guess I have met too many guys who were like that one guy Liz Lemon on 30 Rock dated, the one who was so gorgeous and thought he was so talented, but then it turned out everyone just complimented him on being so good at things because he was so gorgeous... when in fact he pretty much sucked at everything except being gorgeous. 

I was talking to a friend about this the other day and we agreed that usually when we meet an extremely handsome man we just sort of have no interest because our brains instantly tell us they must be dumb, self-absorbed or something worse. No one that good looking could also be a good person who is interesting and talented, especially if he is single! More often that not we are wrong though. There are plenty of good looking worthwhile men out there. Perhaps its a self preservation thing. If I reject him right away then he won't get a change to reject me later, which makes me feel in control and not so freaking fat and ugly. 

There is this guy who is extremely good looking. I have sort of been ignoring it for a while now how good looking he is. Then all of a sudden I was like "wow! why are you so good looking!!" and the very next thing that went through my mind was "I AM SO NOT GONNA LIKE YOU" and every once in a while I wonder if he automatically thinks I like him because he is so gorgeous and used to all the girls and gay guys liking him. I realize that going on and on about this makes it seem like I like him, but I don't (as I am writing this last sentence this comes into my mind: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_bEWXs_FX4 ... dang it!) And dear guy out there reading this, I am so not talking about you! I thought it would be a good idea to make that clear since it seems pretty common in my life that people read my blog, assume things and think that its all about them. It's not. Sorry.

On a more positive note, life is amazing! Moving back to where I lived as a child is definitely brining out the child in me! in a good way (no temper tantrums). I have been painting, sowing, making jewelry,  crocheting, cooking, singing, writing and reading so much since I have been here! its wonderful. I totally recommend visiting the place you grew up in! yay for life!

Frosty Friday: The Wind!

foundit!

Yes I know, I have been terribly absent this week and with finals and work I haven't had time to go to the flea market "Kolaportið" to take pictures for the Frosty Friday post I promised. So the Kolaportið post will have to wait. Instead I would like to dedicate today's Frosty Friday to... dudududummm... the wind!

Yes, the wind. It is the one thing I hate the most about living in Iceland.

Due to the wind it rarely if ever rains or snows straight down, umbrellas are useless and trees grow sideways or along the ground. As kids my friends and I used to practice flying during recess. We would pretty much do what these guys are doing, except we would open our jackets and use them as wings, and then jump.

Also, most people unknowingly inhale while saying yes, this is due to the wind.

Check it:

hahah so mad!

5 things I love

I see you

I love going to the 24 hour store down the street from where I live after 11pm and seeing the hot Securitas  guy who sometimes works there. I can't decide if he is more "eye candy" or "man tower"... maybe a bit of both.

I love waking up when the sun is shining and my room looks golden and warm.

I love Sunday mornings when I wake up to church bells. Real, small town church bells.I open my windows to let their sound into my room to find that it is accompanied by birds singing and bees swarming. Sort of makes life sound perfect.

I love wearing a silk nightrobe, it makes me feel feminine.

I love love love my family and the fact that we are also friends. Its wonderful being able to call up my parents or my siblings and just chat, and joke around. Some of my best memories are with my family. I hope it stays that way.

Welcome to Vintage Town

Have you ever been in Iceland and found yourself wondering where all the best vintage shops are? If yes, then you will never have to go through that again. If no, then fear not, simply read this blog post and you need not worry about finding yourself in that situation anytime soon.

After having gone around to all of my favorite vintage shops in Reykjavík with a new found friend visiting from across the ocean I realized not everyone who comes to visit our little ice cube in the North Atlantic knows where to find all these precious little treasures. So, at the request of my friend I have compiled a list of vintage, quality second hand, and half&half stores in downtown Reykjavík, Iceland (half&half = vintage + new creations). 

Hlemmur is where it all begins. It is just about the easiest place to find in Iceland because all the main busses go there and every single Icelander in the whole wide world knows where it is. The Grand Central station of Reykjavík if you will. 

The first, and my personal favorite, vintage shop is right across the street from Hlemmur and chock-full of goodies at the lowest prices. It may not look like much from the outside but venture in and you won't be disappointed. Fatamarkaðurinn (The Clothing Market) is a sort of side project for another vintage shop, Spúútnik, selling similar clothes at a lower price.

Kassetta (cassette tape) is only a couple of blocks down Laugavegur, the main shopping street in downtown Reykjavík. It is a small but ohh so cute half&half, selling new jeans, lomo cameras and vintage clothing among other things.

Nostalgía (Nostalgia) is as cute on the inside as it is on the outside. A truly joyful place to visit. The prices are a bit higher than the previous two places, but it is worth the visit. FIY they sell Vintage Kimonos. Something everyone should know.

Spúútnik (Sputnik) is the mother of vintage in Iceland. They have an outlet in Kringlan mall as well as a side project vintage shop, mentioned earlier in this post. The shop on Laugavegur has a great selection of women's clothing as well as the biggest selection of men's vintage clothes. 

Rokk og Rósir (Rock and Roses) has the most gorgeous dresses along with other beautiful and girly vintage things. Even though their prices are generally a little bit higher than most other vintage shops they have sales and special offers every once in a while that totally make up for it. So keep your eyes open and your wallets stocked and ready because when they offer 7 items for only 55 dollars you are going to be able to find at least 14 vintage things you can't live without.

To some "second hand" does not sound as exciting as "vintage". But let me assure you, the Red Cross second hand store on Laugavegur has an incredible selection of beautiful vintage clothing. It is one of many Red Cross stores in Reykjavík, but I am pretty sure they hand pick the clothes for this little shop. You can always find something exciting in there, and the best thing is it's generally cheaper than the other places in the area and you can usually get a discount, that is if you are a bit flirty and good at negotiating ...I highly recommend paying the full price though, because its the Red Cross for Pete's sake!

Dótturflélagið (The Daugther Company) is a cute little half&half with a lot of character. The shop might not have an overload of vintage clothing, but it has wonderful employees who are more than willing to help, inform and make you feel right at home. There is even a little wall for poloroids of mothers and daughters who visit the store together and a little kiddie corner so the kids can play while mom tries on that awesome looking vintage jacket. 

Gyllti kötturinn (The Golden Cat) is an interesting, medium sized half&half. Even thought it is a couple of blocks from the majority of the vintage shops its worth the walk. They have a mixture of new and interesting designs and vintage that fits ohh so well together. And the shoes, all those lovely shoes. 

Kolaporið (The Flea Market) deserves a post of its own. In fact thats exactly what I am going to do. Some come back next Friday for a look at the one and only Icelandic flea market.

Julian Smith brings families closer

Today was supposed to be all study and no play. It didn't really work out that way. My new place is like a summer cabin. You've all seen the pictures. Can you imagine waking up in a room like mine on a sunny day, everything looks yellow and warm in the morning sunshine and the flowers are just about to bloom in the early Icelandic summer. You hear the tick of the antique looking clock and your flat mate playing the polka on her clarinet in the next room. Then your siblings come over with their wonderful kids and you all talk some, sing some Julian Smith songs and laugh some together. How am I supposed to feel motivated to study hard core when I live a perfectly calm and dreamy life? 

I would have gone to the library to try to get some work done, but today was a holiday in Iceland so everything was closed, except for the 24hour grocery store down the street. So I went there, not to study though, but to get some chocolate. It didn't help with the studying.

I did however manage to get a perfectly wonderful picture of my niece reading a book in my favorite nook. Lovely!

Prize winner and Frosty Fridays

Last time I posted I promised whoever could find and name all the instruments in one of the photos in the post a prize. I am surprised only one person accepted the challenge, especially since a few people commented on the post. 

My good friend Maliana was not only able to find all the instruments and name each one, but she also outdid me by adding the wind chime to the list. Well done. I believe I owe you a prize. And your prize is: A children's book in Icelandic. How lucky are you! You can send your address to ueo@hi.is and I will write it on that envelope you see in one of the photos in the collage and mail it to you directly. I am also going to give you a bonus for the wind chime and throw in a cool looking post card (and I will only write on it if you want me to). 

Frosty Fridays

I also wanted to give you guys a look see into the future. As you all know, or should know, I am Icelandic, born and raised, and I would love to share a bit more of all things Iceland on my blog. So from now on I will be celebrating Iceland and all its magic with Frosty Fridays. Every Friday (or just about) I want to blog about something Icelandic, or in Iceland that I and/or others love. 

Here is a little peek at the first Frosty Friday coming up this week:

check 'em out

Can you guess what I will be blogging about this week?

My Magical Room

So remember how I moved to the place with the magical garden? Well, my room is pretty magical too. There are still a few things I want to do, and I will probably write a couple of DIY posts in the near future to share some of my tiny home/room makeovers. But for now I just want to share all the magic with you wonderful people.

Since I took this picture yesterday I have put up another picture of the temple over my bed. I also want to change the light a bit. I have an idea of what exactly I want to do. More on that later.

 A few of my favorite things. I love that plant, my goal now is to help it stay healthy enough to bloom. Poor thing didn't get very much light in my basement room and sort of got neglected a bit during finals so it was in pretty bad shape, but I am trying to nurse it back to health. The keyboard is also very dear to me, I don't play well, but I sing lots while playing the chords I know the best I can. The pictures are both favorites. The one with Christ on it, with the two children was an unexpected gift from a friend just when I needed it and has a very personal story behind it. The other one I got at the flea market and is so beautiful. I absolutely love it. The fish mobile used to be my youngest brothers. One year when my and my brothers were younger we all got mobiles for our birthdays. Mine were African animals and one of my brothers got birds wile the other got fish. They all fit out personalities. My brothers outgrew theirs, but I guess I never outgrew them. I still love mobiles and the fish one fit best out of the ones I have in that corner.

 This is my window seat, the one I have been wishing for in my mind since I was little. I hope I will have one for always in the future. I love window seats! Also, how many instruments can you see in this photo? The first one to find and name all of them will receive a surprise present from me! post your answers in the comments. 

 I love mirrors and the old style suitcase is a favorite of mine. When I was getting settled into my new room my sister came over for a visit and reminded me that it used to hold our barbies when we were little. Thats one more excellent reason for it being my favorite.

 This book shelf was inspired by photos on Pinterest and built for me by my teenage nephew. He is brilliant! I told him about my fascination with pallets and pallet furniture. He then told me that they have a few pallets in their backyard and that he would build me a book shelf. He is by far the coolest 16 year old I know! Shout out to Danni!!

I one of the photos above there is a black door. The door has these Asian figures cut out from different color paper in the glass part int he middle. This door is one of the many reasons I fell for this room! 

This is just some of the stuff I love about my room. 

I could write a post about the backyard, dining room and the bathroom as well.. they are very interesting. The kitchen... not so much. Its pretty much just a walk in closet big enough to turn around in with a sink and a small stove/oven. Ohh well. The rest of the apartment more than makes up for its lack of a luxurious kitchen.

What a nice day to turn into the Hulk!

peekaboo

I spent all day yesterday packing and running errand and then all day today moving, unpacking and running errands. It wasn't until right after 6pm that I realized I can totally turn into the Hulk! It happened when my parents just seemed to want to chat and catch up when we stopped at their house for "2 minutes" to pick up some tools and then planned on heading back to my new place so I could start unpacking boxes. I had spent the day moving and running all over town looking for little bits and peaces I was missing and desperately needed in order to make the move.

The ingredients needed to turn one Unifer into the Hulk: lots of time doing things she doesn't enjoy doing, lack of sleep, getting overworked, forgetting to eat meal after meal after meal due to being too busy, running from one store to another to another, being constantly surrounded by people (yes, I am an introvert, I enjoy people and am friendly and outgoing, but it drains my energy like nobodies business!) add a dash of deep conversation and I am a ticking time bomb! I can't handle all that thinking and trying to be sensitive to other peoples needs when I am so physically and mentally tired. I am sort of like a baby in that way... its all about me! man, I suck at life...

Dear mother,
I love you and I am sorry I went all Hulky today

With loving hugs
Your daughter... the younger more immature one.

Being almost naked is fashionable?

I don't understand what is going on... who decided it was ok to leave your house without putting propper clothes on, not even just "ok" but fashionable!
At the mall today I saw a girl, not more than 16 years old, and she was wearing shorts that were smaller than some underwear and a top that barely covered her bra. Now I can understand why people would wear so little when they go to the beach or lay out in the sun, but to go to the mall?
And wearing lingerie as clothing to go clubbing, who is in charge here? and why is this ok?

What happened to the classic elegance of the 1920's 40's and 50's?

I might be wrong though. Those eras probably had their nudie moments and floosies all over the place too. But in my mind there was a lot more of the following...

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As opposed to this...

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What happened to being virtuous and modest? This is just too gross! ... agree? disagree? feel free to comment!

The Magical Garden

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My plans change all the time these days. I actually quite like it that way! Remember how I said I was going to change a garage into an apartment. Well thats off. It seemed like an exciting project, but there was something off about it, and this other apartment kept popping up. So, I decided to call the owner and see if it was still available, its an apartment where I share a kitchen and a bathroom with another girl my age. I wasn't sure if I would like that, especially since I don't know the other girl. But, I decided to go check it out anyways. The moment I walked into the room was the moment I fell in love for the second time in my life!
Now let me tell you a little story.
When I was little I lived in a wonderful big white house in a town built in a lava field. The house was close to the ocean and had a wonderful big backyard. There were four apartments in the house, and my family shared a hallway with an elderly man who lived in the attic. What a beautiful place! Our backyard was on a lower level our neighbors backyard. But over the tall wall with Asian looking tiles on top we could see flowers and trees with blossoms on them. I had never seen trees like that anywhere else in Iceland in my whole life (which had been pretty short at that time). We sometimes climbed on top of our bike shed to peek over the wall, but that was always risky and dangerous because the neighbors had a dog that sounded as mad a dragon! I was sure if it caught us peeking over the wall it would eat us alive!! Therefore I can only remember having gotten a peek at the beautiful garden two or three times when I was a kid, and it was magical!
We moved to a new house when I was a little bit older and years passed. Then one day when I was all grown up my friend told me she was going to rent a room in the house next to the one I grew up in. I hoped and wished it was the house with the magical backyard, and my hopes and dreams came true. Finally, I got to walk around in that garden, and it was just as magical as it had been in my memory, and whats more, the apartment was magical too. It was so full of stories and had such character! At least the parts I had seen. There was some stranger renting the other room, and I remember having been so curious about it! what did it look like? was it tiny? was it like the dungeon in a beautiful castle, thats sort of how I pictured it... every castle has a dungeon. So one day, when I was over at my friends house and the man in the other room had left his door slightly open on accident I tried to peek in... but couldn't see anything, so I had just keep imagining a dungeon.
Then I saw the add in the paper: room for rent in the town that was built in a lava field. So I called, hoping it was the house with the magical garden. And once again my hopes and my dreams came true! but alas! it was the dungeon that was up for rent, not my friends old wonderful and spacious room!
I didn't want to live in a dungeon! But decided to give it a change. If worst came to worst I would at least be able to finally see the room I had always been so curious about.
When I got there the owner greeted me and lead me into the apartment where old memories still filled the air.
As soon as I walked into the dungeon I realized I had been terribly wrong! This room looked like it had been made from my boards on Pinterest. And thats when I fell in love.
If all works out as planned I will be moving in next weekend and will post pictures soon.

So, this is what never getting married feels like

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At the age of 27 I have decided never to get married. I will reconsider my decision at age 34, or if successfully convinced to do so at an earlier time by a noble and handsome man.
I can't tell my parents yet though... being LDS and all, deciding not to get married is a culturally strange and unusual thing within my religion.
I enjoy my freedom, I enjoy my life and don't feel the need to find a better half. That doesn't mean I don't need a better half, I could use a lot more of "better" in my life. But I think thats something I need to do for myself. I need to work on bettering myself and not depend on some prince on a white horse to come save me and fix all my problems. My decision also doesn't mean I think "the world revolves around me" as one guy so nicely put it. I don't. And I don't expect it to ever do. That would sort of suck. Its about being happy, and staying true to yourself.
I tend to follow my gut, which I didn't used to do. The thing is I used to think I was a terrible judge of character, because I usually became good friends with people I got a weird feeling about when I first met them. Then I grew up a bit and realized those people suck at being friends, and I am actually a good judge of character. I was just so busy trying to make everyone like me that I didn't even stop and ask myself if I wanted to be surrounded by people who lie, gossip and use you.

Also, Khloe Kardashian Odom is even more of a hero in my eyes today than before. I was watching E!tv during evening shift tonight, and by watching I mean I had the TV set to that station as I worked my ass off. Don't judge me. Anyways, so this little news thing comes on talking about how Khloe and Lamar cancelled their show, but no, they didn't and bla bla bla, drama and speculations, but then they quoted Khloe saying they just needed to take a break from the show to keep things in the right perspective, with everything thats been going on in their lives lately the marriage comes first. She said she has an old fashion view on marriage and believes divorce is not an option. I honestly would be devastated if they ever got divorced.... and I usually don't care about celebs, but Khloe Odom is my exception. I literally adore her in a non gay way.

A wannabe Kardashian

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Ok, fine, I love the Kardashians! Their family reminds me of my family... yeah my family is like the Kardashians LDS style (not LSD style, that would be way too triply!). The other day I was telling my mom about the Kardashians, and about how she reminds me of Kris Jenner (the mom). It went something like this: "mom you remind me so much of Kris Jenner sometimes, except she is a little bit more nuts than you, she owns keys to all her kids apartments!!" .... mom: "I own keys to all my kids apartments"... awkward silence.

Khloe is my absolute favorite though. I wanna be Khloe Odom when I grow up! She is like seriously one of my favorite people alive!

Also, I just made peace with my finals. I have 3 left and they are all sorts of spread out. I won't be done with finals until the beginning of June because I've been sick during finals. Anyways, today I found out that I don't need to pass the finals for at least two of them, in order to pass the class. This is awesome! I did the math and it turns out I need a minimum of 1.5 on one test and 0 on the other (on a scale from 0 to 10, 10 being equal to an A in the USA and a 12 in Denmark) in order to pass the class. Major relief! Of course I am aiming a lot higher than that, but now its sort of like I can just breathe easier and don't really need to worry about much!
Also also, the sun in shining and life is amazing.
I would recommend life to anyone, its so worth living!

A single life, use it well!

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There are so many weirdos out there! How the heck am I supposed to stay motivated to find someone, or even want to find someone when there are so many really seriously weird men out there?
Right now I am making plans, turning a garage into my own place, it will be small, but it will be just what I need. Next week I am digging so that we can get some plumbing done, and then we need to get a shower, toilet and sinks in there, after that there are just some minor things that need fixing and I am going to make a kitchen, and a bed frame. Check out a few of my inspirations here. After I move in I plan on getting my first car. With all this going on... I sort of feel content, and excited for life... a life where men are not the center of my universe and I don't waste any time on idiots.
I feel perfectly calm and happy about life, it's sort of wonderful.
Some day, if it feels right, I might change my mind, but it will take someone extra special.