One more time

Today when i woke up the buzz feed wouldn't stop.
I was like, what's going on?! Then I saw it, 9 will turn to 8. It's happening again.. Surprise!?
I have never really liked Jessica, she can sing, but I don't like her voice. It reminds me of Fran Drescher, too nasal!

SM Entertainment sent out their official statement regarding the whole situation with Jessica, revealing that SNSD will be active as 8 members as Jessica has chosen to halt her group activities.

Still it seems Jessica will be a SM, I'm not sure what her contract says and that might be it.
But why not say that she'll redraw from SNSD and be "solo" instead of saying she'll halt her group activites?
But I believe it also has something to do with her sister and f(X) member Krystal. I mean, we all know is that she's the one SM wanted first!! XD

As for Jessica, I'm not surprised, she's been with SM for 14 years now, and SNSD member since 2007. So, it shouldn't come as a surprise that she wants to do something else. I mean, "non-celebrities" also change their careers!! So why be upset? Let the woman do what she wants, she has been an idol for
Look at other K-Pop groups, like KARA.
But why should her other activities stop her? Just like JYJ it's happening again, kinda sad. Why can't they come up with a better solution?!
Without Jessica I'd say SNSD and SM is at loss, because we all know that she is one of the main vocals...!!!

Oh well...soon another news will pop up!!

Berry Boost

My colleague gave me this one a few days ago, but I hadn't been able to eat it until yesterday.

This is a super delicious mix from Rene Voltaire. It's filled with delicious raisins and berries.

I love the pomegranate ones ^^

I will try to look for these next time I'm at the supermarket!!

Food for thought

Don't have to say much really....Food for thought!? ^^

To work...

I found this on FB, I couldn't stop laughing to be honest..

I wonder who made it and where it was put in the first place ^^

cred @ 9gag

Saffron fish soup

Yesterday, after I came home from the gym I made a saffron fish soup. It took a bit longer than expected, as I didn't have dinner until 9pm!! But it was delicious so it was ok!!

I liked it so much I decided to share the recipe.

I'm not too happy with the photo of it, but I can promise, if you make it... You will be very happy with this dish!!! I didn't want to stop eating but it's not good to eat too much of what's delicious!?

Hope you enjoy it!! 

4 Servings
Ingredients 
3 large green onions (or you can use 1 leek)
1 tbs butter
2 large garlic cloves
1 radish (medium size)

1 package of saffron
1/2 tsp fennel seeds
4 tbsp flour
350 ml white wine

1 l water
3 stock cubes fish or veggie stock

20 romantica tomatoes or 5 normal sized tomatoes
200 ml fresh cream

600 g salmon cut in chunks
400 g cod or other kind of coley, cut in chunks

300 g crayfish tail or shrimps
1 lemon


How to make it:
Cook and blanch the tomatoes, pour them over cold water, remove the skin and cut into chunks. Remove the head of the tomato as it might be hard to eat.

Dice the leek/green onions and garlic into pieces. Dice the radish into small julienne pieces. heat a big saucepan and add the oil and stir the leek/green onion, radish and garlic.
Turn the heat down a bit and add saffron, fennel seeds and flour. Then add wine, let it simmer.

Add the water and stock and turn up the heat again. Let it all cook for a few minutes, then add the tomatoes and cream. Let it cook together for a few min.
Add the fish and let it cook.
Before serving add the crayfish/shrimp and a bit of lemon juice.

* Don't forget to taste, you can always add more stock or wine... ^^
Also, If you want the soup to be thicker, add some more flour.

A day in the sun

Yesterday I spent the day at Gröna  Lund  with friends.
All thanks to Ericsson ^^ they  had rented the  whole place...yet so crowded!But we had fun.
It was a great day with friends..windy  but sunny!
A fun Saturday ^^

손대지마

As I mentioned yesterday, k-pop singer Ailee is back!! This uptempo song is called 손대지마 / Don't touch me.
I really like this song, and Ailee's voice fits perfectly!!

Enjoy!

미니앨범 3집 - 매거진

Singer Ailee is back with a new mini album, it's titled 매거진 (Magazine). It's only a few songs but Ailee really shows what a great singer she is. There are mixed songs and there's a song for everybody. I really love her voice and I'm so happy over her success in the kpop world that's filled with boy- and girlbands!
My fave songs on this album are 이제는 안녕 and 문득병! Totally different yet so awesome in their own ways ^^
Well done Ailee!! Can't wait to see even more from you!!

★★★★

01. 손대지마
02. 미치지 않고서야 (feat. 다이나믹듀오)
03. 이제는 안녕
04. 문득병
05. Teardrop
06. 손대지마(Inst.)

Marabou Salta mandlar / Salted almonds

It was kinda funny, I saw this ad after I went to the gym!

And a few days later I got it. 

I have to say, of all of their flavours they have released lately, this one is THE BEST!

It's Marabou chocolate with salted almonds!

I think I mentioned the Norwegian one with salted peanuts, but this one is better.

I think it's because I prefer almonds ^^

The saltiness, almonds, and chocolate is like a match in heaven ^^

This is def. a chocolate I will buy and bring as gift to friends around the world.

Also, whenever I get a chocolate craving, I will buy this one!

AND...

I promise it won't spoil my work out.

One square of chocolate = more exercise!!

쳐다보지마

This song popped up in my YT feed and I have to say, it's good!
I think the reason why I like it is because it's different from being Korea, the lyrics is contraversial!

The song is called 쳐다보지마 (Don't look at me like that) and there's an Eng translation of the lyrics in the video.
So I guess, you can figure out what they want to say with this song!

Human Hamster wheel

I saw this in the metro newspaper the other day and I felt like.. WOW!

I so want this! I stand up at my work place 90% of the time.

According to the article this American guy had built it himself, a hamster wheel ^^

But to me it looks healthy and a great way to work.

And it wasn't to expensive to built, aprox US$300.

#TEMPTING!!!

Bulk up!

My PT (personal trainer) told me to buy protein powder in order to help me gain muscles and also not lose more ^^

I have lost 3 kgs in a month, yet it seems it has taken from my muscles instead of fat.

So, according to him the protein powder will help me ^^

At the store, I looked very lost among the very fit and large men!! But I got help and bought a few things.

Protein powder, a shaker and another big jar with some powder helping me not to lose muscles.

To be honest I'm not sure if I need the jar thing, but oh well, I do not need to take it as often.

And since I start to become more girlish, I bought the shaker in a PINK colour.

They had it in pink and black! (^^;;)

He for She

It was six months ago, Emma Watson was appointed UN Women Global Goodwill Ambassador. Emma Watson, who's most know for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movies, gave an impassioned speech on feminism at the U.N. Headquarters in New York over the weekend to launch the "HeForShe" campaign. Although her voice was trembling, her speech got through, she was able to convey her message.

I think it was great that she started of by saying Feminism by definition is: “The belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. It is the theory of the political, economic and social equality of the sexes”.

Also the finish was very good, it gave a strong impact and really got the main message through.
"If you believe in equality, you might be one of those inadvertent feminists I spoke of earlier. And for this I applaud you. We are struggling for a uniting word but the good news is we have a uniting movement. It is called HeForShe. I am inviting you to step forward, to be seen to speak up; to be the ‘he for she’ - and to ask yourself if not me, who, if not, now when."


It has been widely talked about since she held her speech, and it's definitely worth watching.
If you haven't watched it, please do.
Click on the PLAY button on the video below!

You can read the full script of the speech here


#HeForShe

내일도 칸타빌레

One of my fave dramas are Nodame Cantabile, and when I heard that they'd make a Korean version, I wasn't too sure.
I mean, Tamaki Hiroshi and Ueno Juri were made for the parts as Chiaki-sempai and Nodame.
Oh well, it will be interesting to see how this story will develop! It's a few weeks left but I'm excited already ^^

Title: Cantabile Tomorrow
Hangul: 내일도 칸타빌레(Naeildo Kantabilre)
Network: KBS2
Episodes: TBA
Broadcast: October 13, 2014 --
Runtime: Mon & Tue 21:55

Original Story
Shinichi Chiaki, an arrogant, multilingual perfectionist, is the top student at Momogaoka College of Music and has secret ambitions to become a conductor. Born into a musical family, he is talented in piano and violin and once lived abroad in the music capitals of the world as a young boy (namely Prague), but is trapped in Japan because of his childhood phobia of airplanes and the ocean. In contrast, Megumi Noda, or "Nodame", is a piano student at Momogaoka, notorious for messiness and eccentric behavior. Despite being very talented, Nodame prefers to play by ear rather than according to the musical score; thus, she is regarded as sloppy and playful.

When they meet by accident, Nodame quickly falls in love, but it takes much longer for Chiaki to even begin to appreciate Nodame's unusual qualities. Their relationship causes them both to develop and grow. Along the way, they meet some crazy people (like Masumi, Mine, and Stresemann) and make lasting friendships. Because of Nodame, Chiaki gets the opportunity to lead a student orchestra and begins to have a broader appreciation of people's musical abilities. Because of Chiaki, Nodame faces her fears and enters a piano competition. Opportunities open up as both begin taking risks, stretching themselves far more than they ever thought possible.

After graduation, Nodame succeeds in curing Chiaki from his phobias and they both move to Paris, where Nodame continues her piano studies at the Conservatoire de Paris while Chiaki starts a professional career as a conductor. In Europe, they encounter new friends and rivals, as well as keep in touch with their friends from Japan.

I have not been able to find out the plot for the Korean version...

Cast
Joo Won as Cha Yoo-jin
Shim Eun-kyung as Seol Nae-il
Baek Yoon-sik as Franz von Stresemann
Go Kyung-pyo as Yoo Il-rak
Jang Se-hyun as Ma Soo-min
Jung Sung-ah as Lee Dan-ya
Min Do-hee as Choi Min-hee
Kim Yu-mi as Chae Do-kyung
Park Bo-gum as Na Yoon-hoo
Jo Yoon-woo as Lee Jae-yong
Ye Ji-won as
Ahn Gil-kang as
Lee Byung-joon as Do Kang-jae
Namgung Yeon as
Lee Ah-hyun as Yang Sun-young, Yoo-jin's mother
Choi Kwon-soo as young Cha Yoo-jin

info @ dramawiki, asianwiki, wikipedia

アイスクリームの天ぷら

Thinking of Japan made me hungry, and I found this by chance!!
アイスクリームの天ぷら / Tempura Ice-Cream.
I really want to try to make this ^^
It was published a few weeks back... it's kinda fun how others can make with things you normally eat, just not mixed together ^^

World Bags and Luggage Museum

I found something fun on NHK world last week.

They did a feature on Asakusa and fun for women, one of the things was this museum.

"World Bags and Luggage Museum" - Yes it's exactly what it sounds like.

To many maybe boring but to a bag lover like me it sounds like heaven ^^

Also, it's for free!!

I wonder how I have missed out on this before, it's a must visit in December ^^

More info can be found here... (All in Japanese) official website

Or you can Google it ^^

Address: ACE 8F, Komagata 1-8-10, Taito-ku
Open : 10:00 - 16:30 / Closed : Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays

How to get there

Asakusa Line - Asakusa Station, Exit A1, aprox. 50 m
Oedo Line - Kuramae Station, Exit A5, aprox 360 m

Ginza Line - Asakusa Station, Exit 2, aprox 500m
Ginza Line - Tawaramachi Station, Exit 2 or 3, aprox 500m

info + pics @ official website + Google maps

Today's quote

"Life is so precious and very humbling at times. Please please enjoy every moment you have been blessed with."

People (MV)

I made a review of the album yesterday, and today I want to share the title track "People".
I think the video is very cute ^^
Enjoy!

Kitkat Coconut

I also found this at the local supermarket in Hamburg ^^
It doesn't taste as much coconut as i thought but still very nice ^^

People

It has been quite some time since we heard Younha in Japanese, but here she is.
All songs are from her 2 previous Korean albums.
I'm happily surprised since I'm not a fan of the songs I have heard in another language first. But Younha has been able to produce good Japanese versions. My fave song is also on this album.. "Home".
The only thing I miss is a new song, I really hoped that at least one song would have had been new.
I guess I have to keepon waiting!?

★★★★

01 Run
02 People
03 クリムパスタ
04 Wait for me
05 ソナギ
06 Hope
07 星から来たなた (Japanese version)
08 Home

Arashi Blast in Hawaii - WARNING

PLEASE TAKE NOTE!

THIS IS SERIOUS.

To all fans who attends or attended Arashi's BLAST concert in Hawaii.

NO PHOTO TAKING FROM INSIDE THE CONCERT AREA.

It is fine to take photos of OUTSIDE the venue, eg, the standies/flags.

Johnny has issued a warning, for all fans who uploaded PHOTOS or VIDEOS of the concert, remove them ASAP!!

If not, the DVD will be CANCELLED.

(concert DVD has been confirmed before the concert, but due to the many rules breaker, it is currently voided.)

If this would happen, it'd be extremely unfair for fans who didn't attend the concerts, as we'd also love to watch it however on a dvd.

People who uploaded images of the concert, remove them asap. If you see photos from any SNS accounts, like Facebook, Twitter or tumblr, KINDLY tell them to remove them, and don't forget to tell them the reason why.

All Arashi and JE fans knows how strict JE is and they will proceed to stop the dvd unless they are satisfied!

NIVEA store

I didn't know that NIVEA was from Hamburg to be honest. But i was happily surprised when I stumbled upon the store.
I bought a few things ^^

And when walking out the side entrance i saw a Nivea vending machine ^^ Only in Germany I guess...

Yummy

I found these in the supermarket in Hamburg. Super delicious ^^
I wonder if i can find them in Sweden too... as i bought these at Lidl ^^;;

Congrats Sweden!!!

Sweden... well done, really! *being ironic*
Some people should not be able to vote! Reason, they only look at small petty stuff!!!
All the things people are unsatisfied with, were better with our previous government. However the "new" one we just elected tried to blame them, they managed, but the numbers says it all!!!

All facts from Politikfakta


Government
2005: The Social Democrats, in collaboration with the Green Party and the Left
2013: Alliance: Conservatives, the Liberals, the Centre Party and the Christian Democrats

Cyclical
2005: Boom
2013: Recession

Average unemployment
2005: 7.8 percent
2013: 8.0 percent
* Such small number is can't be judged.

Number of persons employed
2005: 4,347,600
2013: 4,704,700

Employment rate (20-64 years)
2005: 78.1%
2013: 79.8%

Youth unemployment (NEET)
2006: 9.3 percent
2013: 7.5 percent

*NEET means "Not in employment, education or training", and describes the percentage of young people aged 15-24 who are not studying or apprentices.

Government debt
2005: 47 per cent of GDP
2013: 36 per cent of GDP

GDP
2005: 3 152.7 billion
2013: 3 604.0 billion

Swedish state assets
2005: 2951 billion
2013: 3902 billion

Sweden's emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2)
2005: 53 100 kilotonnes
2012: 45 608 kilotonnes

Number of companies
2005: 838,800
2013: 1,041,057

Tax revenues
2005: 1 358.8 billion
2013: 1 614.0 billion

Share in healthcare queue longer than 90 days
2006: 43 percent
2012: 10 percent

National use of renewable energy sources
2005: 41 percent
2012: 51 percent

Disposable income
2005: 161 800 SEK
2013: 195 800 SEK

All figures are adjusted for inflation.

Sources: Statistics Sweden, the Social Insurance Agency, Economy Facts, SKL, Eurostat, the Swedish Transport Administration, the National Agency and the National Debt Office

신화 - Throw my fist

I might have shown it before, but i listened to this one last night so I thought I'd share.
I'm kinda tired and I'm going home tonight, but first... WORK!!

LINE X Green car

I found this while reading news on Naver.

Obviously LINE is trying something new, this time together with KIA Motors.
If you don't own a car, you can rent one of these cuties ^^

I want to own one..hahaha ^^

For you who don't know, LINE is a smartphone app for texting and make calls.

For more info.. all in KOREAN LINE x Green car

Mini Album Vol. 2 - Holler

SNSD's trio TaeTiSeo is back with their anticipated mini album Holler.
However I'm not too happy of joy. To me it was kinda plain album, and not as much mix as I thought it was going to be. I guess the description said more? I'm either not sure if this music really suits them. Or maybe I need to re-listen to this album to get it? The only song I like is the one SeoHyun co-wrote, Only U.
I think the music matches Fany's personality, but their voices are too weak for most of the songs, I wish for a more fierce TTS.

★

01. Holler
02. 아드레날린 (Adrenaline)
03. 내가 네게 (Whisper)
04. Stay
05. Only U
06. EYES

소녀시대-태티서 - Holler

The girls are back with a new album.
I'm getting it later today so I will make a review for tomorrow.
Anyway, I'm not too excited anymore. This title track and music video style is so so to me.
I like Taeyeon's hair style though ^^

Enjoy!!

마마시타 (아야야)

It has been 2 years since last time we got a full length album from SuJu, then again... it has been 2 years since we saw leader Leeteuk! And it has been worth waiting for! I wasn't a fan of the title track at all! But hey, it might grow on me!? Anyway as for the rest of the album, I like it much more than their previous one. Maybe it is the best so far? And I like that they mix the music styles, letting all members shine through and you can clearly hear and feel that this is a Super Junior album! NO DOUBT! I guess SuJu has grown in many ways?! (^^;;)
I can also hear the Swedish composers' influences in the music! ^^
My fave songs are 백일몽, 사랑이 멎지 않게, Too many beautiful girls, and Islands!
Well done and WELCOME BACK!

★★★★

01. MAMACITA (아야야)
02. 춤을 춘다 (Midnight Blues)
03. 백일몽 (Evanesce)
04. 사랑이 멎지 않게 (Raining Spell for Love)
05. Shirt
06. THIS IS LOVE
07. Let’s Dance
08. Too Many Beautiful Girls
09. 환절기 (Mid-season)
10. Islands

Off again!!

I'm off again!

I know I came home 1,5 weeks ago, and I'm back at the airport. This time I'm heading down to Hamburg area in Germany. However this time not for pleasure, it's all for work!

And, sadly I doubt I will be see anything besides the inside of the hotel, office, and taxi and of course the high way. Oh well...

Happy B-day Mom!!

Today's my mom's birthday.

Sadly I can't celebrate with her as I'm on my way to Germany for work!

But I hope she has a great day!!

Hot Pot Sunday

Last Sunday Hanna and I had a Hotpot lunch/dinner Sunday together!

It was really fun, we also made Ddeokbokki.

And don't be fooled, we did not eat it all, I think I put most of it back in my fridge ^^

Oh well.. a great Sunday with one of my best friends ^^

And delicious food!

Darling

Although I'm not a huge fan of the song itself, I really like the style of the video ^^
Enjoy!!

Canada's Wonderland

Two weeks ago I woke up early and took a GO bus out of downtown Toronto and headed towards Canada's Wonderland.

There I met up with A, P and Y.

Not only did we have 28 degrees celsius and sun, we were also lucky as there were not as many people there and we had expected.

Then again, since it was labor weekend, many had probably left the city!?

Here are some photos of some of the attractions we took!

I'm so happy I got to go on the Skyrider, two days after my visit was the final ride!

It was a great day! I miss my friends, and Canada!!

What will happen now?

Before I went to bed last night I had a big lump in my chest, I do not want to go to bed and wake up tomorrow, was what I felt. Maybe it's time to seek work and life outside Sweden!?

I know it's democratic but, I do wonder, HOW DID PEOPLE think!?
Not only did the Sweden Democrats gain 13% which is awful, But will the Social Democrats, Greens and Left parties be able to unite and be able to rule Sweden?

Yesterday, Stefan Löfven said the country needed a "new direction". Oh well... with what he proposed so far, I rather stay the same. I do not want to pay more taxes for nothing, I work hard for my income. What Stefan Löfven wants is an imaginary world, it might sound good on paper but impossible to create in real life!

Also, The Social Democrats, Greens and Left Party have fallen short of a parliamentary majority, leaving them dependent on support from the Sweden Democrats. Which they have said not to work with. It's a good thing. however looking at the facts, what's gonna happen the next four years?
I'm not sure, All I can say is that it wasn't fun to wake up as Swedish today!

I want to thank Fredrik Reinfeldt for the past 8 years. He and his colleagues may have caused some trouble, BUT, we should not forget that they are the ones who helped Sweden out of the financial crises! Compare to other European countries, Sweden made it out far better!
I'm gonna miss this government and I'm sad they weren't able to continue for 4 more years.
I'm disappointed with the Swedish people, the intelligence of the nation is beyond my expectation,

4 years of chaos, let it begin!?

I'm gonna end this post by quoting the Swedish journalist Lena Mellin: "Det är inte Socialdemokraterna som lyfter den rödgröna sidan. Inte heller V eller MP. De vann för att Alliansen förlorade" / "It is not Social Democrats that raise the red-green side. Neither Left party nor the Greens. They won because the Alliance lost"

Today's quote

"Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple"

15th Anniversary

Today is Sep 15, and all Arashi fans knows what that means!

It's ARASHI'S 15TH ANNIVERSARY!

Congratulations!!!

Photo cred @ Arashi FB

Amijyaga

Another great Japanese snack is this one, it's called Amijyaga and comes various flavours.
I think it can be found here and there. In Japan i always get it at Daiso or other 100yen stores. However this pack i got in Vancouver ^^
I kinda regret i didn't buy two now...as i shared this one with my parents.
Whats great with this one is the texture and shape...and of course the taste ^^

Election song!

I donno how I have missed this, it said it was uploaded in last July!!
Today is our election day, I did not vote for this party, but I did vote for the "Blue" ones!

Anyway, I didn't expect this to be a song for the election!
And that was how I found it, but as I said above, when searching for the full song, that was when I saw it has been out for months!




I hope we'll have the same government tomorrow as we have today!!!

Vietnamese noodles

Mwt up with H a few days ago..catching up and gave her a bday present.
We also had dinner. I tried some vietnamese noodles. normally I'm not a coconut milk fan but tried it. And it was MUCH better than i expected ^^
However...impossible to finish, way too big portion! But value for money i guess ^^