Loving Life Blog

Spur of the Moment Reflections

American Idol Fatigue… and Swedish Euphoria May 27, 2012

Filed under: Promotion,Swedish-American — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 12:23 pm
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I was listening to the radio the other day and heard them talking about the ongoing series of American Idol. The view numbers are decreasing, and they claimed an American Idol fatigue – the number of artists having performed the same covers starts to be too many. It’s not new any longer.

I know what might be the next big thing. It’s recently been pitched in Sweden. And I won’t say more. Just yet. Can’t wait for it to be created and cross the boarders.

What is similar to American Idol, and is still going strong, is the Eurovision Song Contest. The difference is that the artists participating compete with a new original song, representing their country, voted by the countries and the populations. I wouldn’t say that it is as ingrained in our Swedish culture to watch the national Melodifestivalen, leading up the Eurovision Song Contest Final, as it is to watch Donald Duck 3pm Christmas Eve – but very close.

Here in the U.S., a Norwegian friend hosts an annual party the evening of the final with a replay of the event. Norway won 3 years ago. There are clear and strong instructions to stay out of Social Media and news, so that we don’t know who the winner is… With the new feature of starred Facebook friends, and automatic notifications of their updates on my phone, I didn’t succeed to avoid my cousins shout out real time in Sweden… but it was fun to watch.

There is a sweet rivalry going on in-between Sweden and Norway – but they didn’t deserve to fall that far down the list…

And here is the winning song, “Euphoria” with Loreen from Sweden.

Enjoy,

Johanna

Lyrics: Euphoria
Why, why can’t this moment last forevermore?
Tonight, tonight eternity’s an open door…
No, don’t ever stop doing the things you do.
Don’t go, in every breath I take I’m breathing you…
EuphoriaForever, ’till the end of time
From now on, only you and I
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Euphoria An everlasting piece of art
A beating love within my heart
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
We are here, we’re all alone in our own Universe,
We are free, where everything’s allowed and love comes first,
Forever and ever together, we sail into infinity,
We’re higher and higher and higher, we’re reaching for divinity.
Euphoria
Forever, ’till the end of time
From now on, only you and I
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Euphoria
An everlasting piece of art
A beating love within my heart
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Forever we sail into infinity,
We’re higher, we’re reaching for divinity…
Euphoria, euphoria
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Euphoria….An everlasting piece of art
A beating love within my heart
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Euphoria, euphoria
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up

 

House Matters – “Swedish Invasion” Edition May 17, 2012

Filed under: Swedish-American — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 11:30 am
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Got a skype message sent my way informing about an “all Swedish” session of Tiesto Club Life Episode #257.

I’m realizing that there is a lot of Swedish music I haven’t kept up with… here is a two hour list of Swedish house music podcast, downloadable on iTunes.

Tiësto’s Club Life Podcast #257 – “Swedish Invasion” Edition.

And thanks Martin Johnson @yourbigpicture for sharing.

Enjoy,

Johanna

http://housematterss.wordpress.com/2012/03/05/tiestos-club-life-podcast-257-swedish-invasion-edition/

 

 

A lot of dough December 19, 2011

Filed under: coaching,Inspiration,Swedish-American — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 10:50 am
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In my past days I have successfully made cinnamon roles that were pretty – but small and hard as stone, so you could almost hurt someone with them, should you want to…

This year, would be my first year of five in San Francisco that I actually have a traditional Glögg Party. Along with that goes saffron bread. Now, scarred from the memory of the past I wanted to make sure that these were presented in the light they deserve.

Off I went to get the ingredients. One thing remained on the list. Fresh yeast. Trader Joe’s – no. Safeway – no. Whole Foods – no. [Shame the one who gives up!] Rainbow Groceries – YES! I don’t know how you guys (Americans) do it. Baking with dry yeast – ain’t working for me. Or maybe it was because I got the advise to heat the liquid (milk, butter…) a little extra for the yeast to have effect – and by the time I added the egg and turned my back away, it had coagulated… It became pancake of everything, as we say in Sweden.

This time… I got a lot of dough. Cha-ching!!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Practice makes perfect.

Hubedubedo – signing off,

The Swedish Chef

Btw – I got the comment when I started this blog “Why should you write a blog? Who would read that?” At least I am having fun. I hope you get a smile out of it too. Maybe get inspired. I hope the one who said that initial comment do. He has a pretty amazing story to tell. I am sure you do too. Just saying… [#herringbone.fm 2.0]

 

Santa Got Fired?! December 14, 2011

Filed under: Inspiration,Swedish-American — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 10:12 am
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Santa Claus New Port BeachA young girl’s dream come true! I met Santa. In Newport Beach!? What’s up with that? The best bear hug ever. Mmmmmmm. And he laugh like Santa too. I wonder… did he also leave the north pole, considering spending the cold part of the year in Southern California? Or was he fired?

Seriously… after watching this movie… I would fire… someone.

Ho ho ho, are there any kind – parents – in the house?

Enjoy the season,

Johanna

 

Occupy Lucia!? December 13, 2011

Filed under: Promotion,Swedish-American,Uncategorized — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 1:11 am
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Santa Lucia, Balboa Park, San Diego, December Nights 2011I had the pleasure to attend the annual December Night celebration in Balboa Park, San Diego – what was once called Christmas on the Prado. I think the current name make more sense – the feeling of Christmas celebration was far away. It felt more like a food feast and beer fest, with the rock band from party area playing louder than the Christmas Choir on the main stage and the main area had commercial tents for sponsors rather than vending of Christmas delicacies and gifts. Half naked promotion girls with a featured bottle of liquor in their hand. While kids walked buy – and I was freezing my butt off.

Yes, I am proud to be Swedish, and it is with very objective eyes that I can say that the area by Museum of Man, where SWEA always have had their Christmas Market, Glögg serving and Lucia Procession, was the only place where I felt the atmosphere of a really nice Christmas Market. I knew that there was a competition the first night, when the Swedish Lucia Procession performed by young children, was drowning in the sound of a Mexican Mariachi band calling people to go to the new beer garden of the Museum of Man. The second night when I was there a group of drumming people paraded by. Someone close by said “What the f-k is that?” “Occupy Lucia!”.

That said – the Swedish Lucia Procession made the cover of Union Tribune the following Sunday morning.

Today, December 13, is the day of Santa Lucia in Sweden. This is how it could have sound:

Next year, I will attend the new San Francisco Christmas Market – a market I know will live up to it’s name. Check out the site and complete the email list so that you get the information about it!

Enjoy the season!

Johanna

 

Deligaditas Sabor Capuchino November 16, 2011

Filed under: Promotion,Swedish-American — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 11:16 pm
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Hm – what started out as “awkward” this morning hit me as “actually – its not that bad”, after half a package and a few hours later.

It’s Cappuchino Flavored Thins I’m talking about. With other words Anna’s traditional Christmas ginger cookies with a different twist. And 0 Trans fat! Only at IKEA abroad.

I’m wondering if there is hope for real taste of Swedish Christmas this year – honestly IKEA, what have you done with the food store?!?! So much of the real good stuff is gone?!?! – maybe it’s time to find Grand Ma’s old secret recipe for “lunch ginger cookies”…

…instead of these for dinner… But actually – not that bad. Sometimes you just gotta give it some time and trial. Or, does ‘hunger’ make you blind?

Want the real good stuff! I know it’s there. The Marabou chocolate at least…? Please.

Johanna

20111116-221029.jpg

 

US Debut Documented October 14, 2011

Filed under: coaching,Promotion,Swedish-American — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 7:02 am
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Early August I wrote in the blog post Light Will Guide You Home: “I am sharing this song because I think it is beautiful, and beautifully sang by an artist I think who’s journey you would enjoy to follow from the early years”.

Little did I know then, that a US performance would be that close around the corner. I may have played a part in that happening, but you can only connect the dots looking backwards as someone wise said..

Enjoy this US Debut of Anna Bergendahl, together with her guitarist Joakim Tidemark coming for a 24 hour stop in San Francisco from Stockholm. They are performing three songs, in an intimate setting, at the end of the dinner and award celebrations at the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce San Francisco/Silicon Valley Annual Achievement Award Gala, oct 8 2011.

Here is a play list where you can do a fast replay, and catch up from the very start: Idol finalist 2008. “That is the most musically talented we have heard…. If you have that kind of caliber when you are 16 – then you can conquer the world… She will be our first star abroad.”

Good thing she followed her heart and pursued another audition to Idol in another city, since she got rejected for her young age the first time around… What does that teach us?

Enjoy,

Johanna

 

Dance like Frogs June 24, 2011

Filed under: Swedish-American — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 12:53 am
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Want to do something typical Swedish today? Find a Swedish Midsummer Celebration – I am sure there is one in your area, if not today, so this weekend if you live outside of Sweden. Then you join the dance around the midsummer pole, and dance and sing the “Small Frogs”. Couldn’t be more Swedish than that.

[Editorial add on: I got a comment on Facebook saying that "this makes absolutely no sense to me?"  - Maybe this article from NPR would add some valuable helpful content: Party Like The Swedes On Summer Solstice. It will give you some nice recipes as well. It states one thing: "Swedish midsommar essentially comes down to three things: friends, food and schnapps." If you have been to one of the Swedish celebrations before, you know that there is no schnapps without singing -  I would claim that singing and dancing have an equally important role as well.

AND - yes, it is true. We don't have a sunset in midsummer. As a matter of fact - right now it is 11.52pm, one hour outside of Stockholm -  and the sun has not fully set. June 29, 2011. ]

Enjoy!

Johanna

This video is from our Midsummer Celebration in San Diego a few years back. It got so many views so youtube offered to advertise on it!

 

Open Landscapes June 6, 2011

Filed under: Swedish-American — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 9:24 am
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June 6. The National Day of Sweden. Here is Ulf Lundell’s “Open Landscapes” – the unofficial National Anthem, after the real one and… ABBA’s Dancing Queen ;)

Cheers Sweden! Enjoy…

Johanna

 

Workation or Frimester? August 5, 2010

Filed under: Entrepreneur,Swedish-American — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 10:10 am
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The Swedish language got 30 new words last year 2009, of which 10% relates to vacation… maybe not surprising in a country where the employees are entitled to a minimum of five-weeks paid vacation, usually taken 4 weeks in a row, during the month of July. Right – six or seven weeks is not unusual. You can get your one week ski-trip in too. No worries. And a couple of weeks to Thailand during the holidays to escape the cold darkness.

The word for vacation in Swedish is “semester”. The new words were:

  • “hemester” (home-ation or staycation), when you spend your vacation at the home location,
  • “svemester” (USation), vacation spent in Sweden (or US), and
  • “frimester” (freecation), vacation completely free and disconnected from work via mail, cellphone etc.

I on the on the other hand got what I asked for, “to be flexible in terms of where I work and be able to spend more time in Sweden”.  Doing my best to squeeze in a little vacation too. Speaking with a fellow coach while in Sweden, she said “in America we call that workation“. I am not surpriced.

My experience, workation during a start-up phase in Sweden during the summer, is a recipe for burning the candle in two ends. It is easy to work from there, where ever and when ever. Computer, comviq surf and skype – that’s all I need. Great opportunity to get new clients in Social Media Marketing. There is also so much to catch up on with home, friends and family. The fact that the sun almost never goes down, and up very early, makes you believe that there is so much more time at hand… “It is possible to do it all”.

So the goal for next year is to E-Myth (by @michaelegerber) the business and also having a vacation – why not a Freecation. That should be possible. Maybe not 4 weeks in a row – but one. To start with. If you don’t ask for it, you won’t get it. A little bit of action needed too, to make it happen.

Are you getting what you need to charge your batteries during vacation?

Make sure you do. It not only benefits you, it also benefits everyone around you.

Enjoy,

Johanna

 

 
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