Loving Life Blog

It is true what they say… October 26, 2012

Filed under: coaching,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 6:44 pm
Tags: dancing in the moment, Find iPhone App, GreenBlackDress, Ladybug, LLXLLQ, Michael Boris, Police, robbery, San Francisco, SFMTA

Friday, Oct 25, 5.06pm. iPhone reactivated, restored and functioning. With data as of October 23, noon.

Dear Apple: I love you. Your product features are unbeatable, and your service outstanding. Getting a new SIM card and SIM card holder and a functioning phone same day, was fantastic.

Police Department of San Francisco: you did an amazing job, thank you for finding the thief and for driving me till the bitter end…

Dimitri: thank you for calling the cop and for pulling up “Find iPhone” on your Sportique store computer.

Anna Sandgren, E. Denise Johnson, Roger Francisco and team: having a team that know what they are doing and if not, create from what is, is fantastic. I’m glad I could join the photo shoot in the end.

Denise, Tatiana, Agatha and Valencia – you looked beautiful. Especially in those LLXLLQ shoes 😉 You are such pro’s – an honor to work with you! The Michael Boris and GreenBlackDress clothing was a very nice, classy and classic complement as well.

SFMTA – you only did your job – but you better accept my citation protest for the $501 car tow fee and $83 parking ticket, due to me being stuck at the police department processing the claim.

Lessons learned:
1. No matter time and location: don’t walk with valuable things in your hand that can be easily taken away from you.

2. If someone robs you – it is worth running after and screaming – other people will help.

3. The iPhone app “Find iPhone” is outstanding. Having the police on the phone and being able to tell them the exact corner where the phone is located helped track down the thief.

4. The back seats of Police cars ain’t made for comfort – you don’t want to sit there.

5. And finally – it is true what they say: Ladybugs brings you luck. This was my screen “savior”.

If my letter to the 14 year old boy, who stole the iPhone from my hand when I was standing on the street looking for a store, impacts him in a positive way sooner or later – then this was all worth it. That is my last wish to this ladybug before I change the screen saver.

Yesterday was quite a day – from beginning to end. It ended well, and I’m glad it is over.
Enjoy the weekend all. Keep dancing in the moment!

Johanna

Leave a Comment

I passed the start line. October 14, 2012

Filed under: Health,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 10:19 pm
Tags: cheer zone, Health, inspiration, leukemia and lymphoma, lymphoma cancer, michael jackson music, Music, nike, NMW, NMW12, san francisco fire, women marathon

Well… I passed the start line.
The first 6-7 miles the tempo wasn’t too shabby. Then the hills started…

Mile 8 I turn to my iPhone to turn on some trigger music.
The phone dies on me!
Mile 10 my knees start to really hurt. I’m speed walking – feels much better.

Mile 11 comes one cheer zone with Michael Jackson music Beat it! – and I suddenly run faster than after start line ?!?! until I can’t hear the music.
Finished strong.

My image of the San Francisco Fire Fighters was misleading. But they were classy in tuxedo.
The post finish line massage was nice!
Late lunch with runner friends and supporters super nice.

Ice bath was not as bad as I imagined it.
I hope it makes magic and that I can walk down the stairs tomorrow. Sorry knees – will prepare you better next time.

And even if it’s misty and foggy, I’ll wear sun screen next time.

And, dear iPhone – I may have taken an hour longer to run this race than 10 years ago – but I’ve got more juice than you’ve got! And seriously – we gotta change that, partner!

After all, 3.08hrs for 13.1 miles given circumstances, is quite ok.
Seeing those t-shirts with mom and dad on, in a race fundraising for Leukemia and Lymphoma Cancer, makes it real.
I hope it makes a difference.

A #NMW12 finisher.
J

Leave a Comment

NWM12 Countdown October 11, 2012

Filed under: coaching,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 2:55 pm
Tags: Firefighters, first half marathon, Half Marathon, Health, NWM12, san francisco firefighters, sports, style, Tiffany, tiffany neckless

Dreamt about racing/running uphill. Woke up thinking I should eat some pasta and started googling preparation for half marathons…

“This was my second half marathon and it was super fun! […] Oh…and train well for those hills, they kill ;)” – had a feeling I should…

“All sarcasm aside, Nike gets it right with the Tiffany finishers necklace from SF firefighters.” Now, I had heard something about that – but hadn’t quite pictured it…

With other words – those who cross the finnish line receives a Tiffany limited edition neckless, handed over by SF Firefighters. Curious about the Tiffany neckless I googled that… Haha – I couldn’t find a photo of it, apparently that’s a surprise and new design every year – but I found this… San Francisco Firefighters 😉

So the big question is, from someone who hasn’t run half as much as the first half marathon 10 years ago: what will keep you (me) running and cross The Finnish Line?

You may borrow that Tiffany Necklace for special occasions 😉 Wish me luck this upcoming Sunday at The Nike Women’s Half Marathon.

Johanna

Comments (1)

Resource or Resourcefulness?

Filed under: coaching — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 2:32 pm
Tags: Anthony Robins, blogging, business, Dreamforce, resource, resourcefulness, technology

We have the expression in Swedish: The art of cooking a soup of a nail. Basically, to create something with very little or no resources. It comes from an old Scandinavian tale, telling the story of a man who made soup from a rusty nail.

Listening to Anthony Robins at Dreamforce in San Francisco recently, one of the key points that he had was: Resources are never the problem. Its the resourcefulness. Emotions are the ultimate resource. Creativity, commitment, determination, certainty, flexibility, connectivity, compassion, vision…

Which resource are you drawing upon today?

Get at it!

Johanna

Leave a Comment

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme… October 6, 2012

Filed under: Inspiration,Promotion — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 8:37 am
Tags: brushing my teeth, entertainment, Gimme Gimme Gimme, LLXLLQ, Music, Narada Michael Walden, Patti Austin, Winner, YouTube

Went to the best concert last night. More about that later. We started singing on the way home in the car. With this one song, the lyrics didn’t really come to mind, more than the title section… “Gimme Gimme Gimme….” Do you remember?

So, what would we do without google, or youtube?!

Found it! And I later found myself this morning, brushing my teeth, with the iPhone earphone plugged into my ears, door closed, brushing in rhythm, singing along in my mind, and dancing away – remembering the year of… 1985.

No, it is not ABBA – this time. Here it is:

Wohoo! So good! 🙂 No? I actually think it was the year when I was in 3rd grade, one too low to go to the “Mellan stadie disco” for grade 4-6 in the Parkhem School. Without false ID (:O – no, we didn’t even know what that was) – I did go. And came in. And I won the dance competition with the comment “Lillen vinner”. The kid wins.

Young grows old, small grows tall, and these days… the big ones are the winners. LLXLLQ – need no more. The size is a plus!

Enjoy,

Johanna

Leave a Comment

Not Joe, but Johan September 26, 2012

Filed under: Herringbone,Promotion,Swedish-American — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 4:26 pm
Tags: Fashion+Tech, Gevalia, Italy, joe, johan, LLXLLQ, Old Spice, plus size, plus size designer shoes, Romney and Obama, San Francisco Fashion Week, SFFW, SHoes, YouTube

Attended the San Francisco Fashion Week event yesterday: “Fashion+Tech Expo & Social Media Panel” on how technology disrupt the fashion industry.

There were a lot of new fashion tech companies exhibiting. The Herringbone team were there to show off our client LLXLLQ – Plus size designer shoes from Italy. The feedback was great. Everyone knows someone who always complain about, or have a huge difficulty in finding stylish and comfortable shoes their size. The LLXLLQ shoes comes in sizes 10-12. I promise you – if you know someone with that size, and let them know about LLXLLQ.com, and if they will buy – they will be grateful to you forever. They will find a pair of shoes their style, and they will love them. So please do – share the word. If they do it before Sunday September 30, 2012 and use promo code SFFW12 they will receive an extra 35% off. Ride on the wave of fashion!

One comment in the panel discussion at Fashion+Tech , naming a success case using social media was the Old Spice youtube videos. And if you can come up with a concept that others want to copy and make a version of, that will make it viral. Just like the “Call me maybe” videos that Anna wrote about in Bone up! recently featuring versions starting with the Harvard Baseball team, leading up to Romney and Obama…

Today Anna showed me the below video. Am I the only one thinking of the Old Spice Commercial (now with almost 43 million views!) when I see this Gevalia commercial? It is not Old Spice. We are talking about strong, dark, delicious coffee. And no, it’s not Joe – it’s Johan.

Like – not Jo, but Johanna… 😉 Or Simply…

Swede

Comments (2)

All or Nothing. September 8, 2012

Filed under: coaching,Inspiration,Promotion — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 2:06 pm
Tags: Bobby McFerrin, crowd funding, entertainment, finish line, Kickstarter, Music, Nicolas Bearde, support, Vocal class, Voicestra

If you want to get your venture done – it’s all or noting. If you start a crowd-funding campaign on Kickstarter – it’s all or nothing. Either you reach the finish line – or you don’t. Either you receive all the funds – or none.

The benefits of supporting a Kickstarter project? Well, let me give you an example…

Nicolas Bearde and Bobby McFerrin

These are two great local musicians in the Bay Area, Nicolas Bearde and Bobby McFerrin, normally singing together in the Bobby McFerrin’s renowned vocal ensemble “Voicestra” as well as having their own solo careers. I am going to have a vocal class on stage presence and performance technique with one of them! And receive an Autographed Pre-Launch CD. For $100. Why? As a “Thank you” for supporting the production of the next CD?!?!

Who should thank who?

Anyone else signing up? Check it out! You might prefer a different bonus… (House concert, catered dinner with entertainment, concert tickets, CDs and more).

Click here for the latest update I received from the #YouAreSensational campaign this morning.

So… either Nicolas Bearde reaches his finish line – or I don’t get my vocal session! :O Please like, share and or pledge if you would like to support this. Every act counts. – Thank you!

What does music mean to you? Just saying… oh yes – here is the address: http://kck.st/N0h9X4.
Johanna

To me? I think music is the beat of love and life. Something to support and enjoy.

Leave a Comment

A Room With View | Mälaren, Sweden August 31, 2012

Filed under: Uncategorized — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 12:15 am

A Room With View | Mälaren, Sweden, a set on Flickr.

I made it a point this summer to take a photo from the same view of Mälaren, the inner archipelago of Stockholm, during the span of ten days.

Not a moment is the other alike. Enjoy the present! And if you really can’t see any beauty in it – after rain comes sunshine.

Enjoy,
Johanna

Leave a Comment

Parental Courage Redefined July 19, 2012

Filed under: coaching,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 9:18 am
Tags: courage, home schooling, Journey, kids, kudos, parents, San Francisco, spain, spanish family, summer camp, Sweden, swedish friends, travel, trip, Vacation, world trip

A year ago I had a visit from Swedish friends. A couple and three children, age 2-6 .

They were in the middle of a three week road-trip in California. The reaction from many was that it was brave to travel with 3 kids.

Yesterday, I had a visit from a Spanish family. A couple and three children, age 9-12.

San Francisco was their first stop on their 8 months world trip travel, well planned out, including 2 weeks summer camp for the kids in the US, and home schooling along the way. You can read about their journey here.

Now THAT is something to me unheard of, and opens up my mind for new possibilities… Adding that trip around the globe back on the list. It’s never too late.

Kudos to courageous parents!

Johanna

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Leave a Comment