Hei Astrid

everyday life

2012-02-01T09:18:00.002+01:00

There is always more than enough when he cooks dinner.

We kept the tradition of celebrating their new home with good food and bottles of champagne.

I tried but failed. His limit is three. We are no experienced oyster eaters.

Good times on grandma's kitchen table.

Dear sun. It is so good to see you again. You have been missed a lot this winter.

Rosemary shoots film

2012-01-31T08:37:00.000+01:00

Why do you shoot film, Rosemary?

I shoot film because I love the process. Film helps me to be less about 'perfection' and more about capturing moments. Perhaps it's because I take fewer photographs with my Diana camera but each one tells a story in a way that I find missing from my digital shots. There's often a lot of heart-break when you get your films back but it is oh-so worth it for that one photograph that makes you smile!

You can see more of Rosemary's photos on her blog.

what's for dinner, week 5

2012-01-30T12:22:00.000+01:00

salmon sashimi and ponzu sauce | Fuji Superia 1600, Canon EOS 500N

Monday: endive/chicory salad with avocado, smoked salmon, apple and mixed nuts vinaigrette
Tuesday: red curry with pork
Wednesday: pasta with shredded chicken, tomato and cottage cheese
Thursday: fish gratin from Søstrene Hagelin with boiled potatoes and grated raw carrots
Friday: fresh shrimps on white bread with mayonnaise and lemon
Saturday: first course: salmon sashimi, main course: pan fried filet of cod and shrimp risotto
Sunday: filet of turkey, sweet potato and other vegetables

- - -

What we actually had for dinner last week:

Monday: Sunday leftovers (my mother-in-law's homemade meat and root vegetables soup)
Tuesday: beef wraps with guacamole
Wednesday: white bean, tomato and feta salad
Thursday: red curry with pork
Friday: Thursday leftovers
Saturday: fish/meat of the day and vegetables: Sølve's Thai inspired fish soup with cod and mussels
Sunday: fish/meat of the day and vegetables: Saturday leftovers + salmon sashimi with ponzu sauce

- - -

about this project | the dinner project 2010, week 5 | everyday stories 2011, week 5

oysters

2012-01-29T08:21:00.000+01:00

Fuji Superia 1600, Minolta SRT 101

work

2012-01-28T09:31:00.000+01:00

In September we at ASKO Reklame made this back to everyday life magazine for Blomsterdalen shopping center.

I did mini interviews (+ photographs) of customers at the center about the joys of everyday life.

I sourced everyday life related products and ideas in each of the nine shops at the center and made this "Welcome back to everyday life" piece.

And I talked to (+ photographed) one employee in each of the nine shops about where they like to go for a afternoon walk or a Sunday outing.

things I like lately

2012-01-27T19:06:00.000+01:00

- this small apartment (via)
- Julia's everyday positivity project
- mammadamen's new blog magazine bloggspotting.no
- season four of Californication
- a successful first solo roadtrip with Sara
- a weekend in our hometown Sandnes
- friends, their new fabulous house and champagne
- Sara talking to her reflection in the mirror
- listening to Sølve sing lullabys (often made up there and then) for Sara at bedtime
- Leila's Beta
- several days without rain - so nice when I'm out on my daily walks with Sara
- like Amanda, Rachel and Jördis, I'm all for bringing back the Flickr love (I wonder if Twitter and Instagram (I'm on neither, and I don't have an iPhone) took away some of the Flickr love?)
- shooting my first polaroids (above) with the camera borrowed from my sister + PX 680 color shade film from the Impossible Project - I'm a total novice when it comes to instant photography, so I'll probably learn a lot from Susannah, Amanda and Jen's book
- a new very green pillow for the daybed - a perfect match for our green Seed lamps
- fresh coriander/cilantro

january sun

2012-01-27T10:06:00.003+01:00

Fuji Superia 1600, Canon EOS 500N

January sun and a optimistic promise of brighter days.

lunching

2012-01-26T16:25:00.001+01:00

Fuji Superia 1600, Canon EOS 500N

Lunch with Hanne and our minis at the kids friendly Augustins Deli at Galleriet. A certain someone certainly loved the oreo balls... Sara's stripes was a gift from my lovely Flickr friend Lucie.

my mornings

2012-01-26T11:08:00.000+01:00

Fuji Superia 1600, Canon EOS 500N

My mornings lately are slow and comfortable. The fire is burning, I enjoy my coffee and Sara is happy playing with her baby gym. It won't last forever, so I'm soaking in this idyll as long as it lasts.

august garden

2012-01-25T07:53:00.000+01:00

Agfa Precisa 100, Canon EOS 500N

Because of the big renovation, we hardly gave our garden any attention at all this summer. We did enjoy some lovely afternoon light out there though.

everyday life

2012-01-24T18:15:00.000+01:00

Daddy and Baby Björn to the rescue.

I never tire from seeing the sky from our livingroom window.

Some mornings I wake up before her.

Not to self: Wet socks sucks - buy new waterproof shoes.

Yes, I do love pretty skies.

Andrew shoots film

2012-01-24T08:04:00.000+01:00

Why do you shoot film, Andrew?

I purchased a digital camera in early 2011, and was completely nonplussed by the resulting images. Luckily, at about the same time, I was lent an old Rolleiflex by my grandfather, and it was really the gravity of utilizing film, the sensitivity and tenderness of the film itself, that drew me to it. I shoot film now because of what it is, because of what, and how, it captures. A digital camera neatly and cleanly encodes reality with innumerable pixels, saves that as data, and renews itself to encode again. A film emulsion is ruptured by light- that one frame is irreparably corrupted with the scene in front of it, and that little process is, in a way, a very beautiful sacrifice for that moment. Though our digital information, these images-as-data, are a tool for recording reality, (and a very handy tool indeed), they are but a simulacrum of light. With film the light is all there, permanently, having wormed its way through the emulsions, that moment all the richer for what it has ruined. Digital translates light into information. But in keeping the light unconverted, film does something else- it translates life into nostalgia, perhaps.

I think there are beautiful digital images out there, and i look forward to other methods for photography that may be developed in the future, but our eyes respond to the untempered mortality of the images produced on film. I shoot film because film is closer to us.

You can see more of Andrew's film photos on Flickr and his blog.

what's for dinner, week 4

2012-01-23T12:33:00.001+01:00

Sunday dinner at my in-laws'

Monday: Sunday leftovers
Tuesday: beef wraps with guacamole
Wednesday: white bean, tomato and feta salad (adapted from this)
Thursday: red curry with pork
Friday: Thursday leftovers
Saturday: fish/meat of the day and vegetables
Sunday: fish/meat of the day and vegetables

- - -

What we actually had for dinner last week:

Monday: weekend leftovers
Tuesday: ~~white bean, tomato and feta salad~~ homemade mushroom soup
Wednesday: ~~beef stir fry~~ a beef stroganoff-ish stew with rice

We were in our hometown Sandnes for the weekend, so these dinners were shared with our parents and friends.

Thursday: my mum's homemade moose meatballs with boiled potatoes, vegetables and gravy
Friday: skrei (a kind of cod) with boiled potatoes, vegetables and melted butter
Saturday: seafood and champagne
Sunday: my mother-in-law's homemade meat and root vegetables soup

- - -

about this project | the dinner project 2010, week 4 | everyday stories 2011, week 4

baby traces

2012-01-19T09:43:00.000+01:00

Kodak Portra 400, Minolta SRT 101

Small traces of our baby daughter Sara's presence in our home.

30 days of winter

2012-01-18T18:54:00.000+01:00

Müller 200, Minolta SRT 101

The above photos are from my 30 days of winter book that I published a year ago. Here is some background on the book:

In December 2010 I received a package from Mallorca, Spain. It was a Christmas card and a film from my friend Lorena Arance, whom I’ve met online through Flickr and blogging. We share a passion for shooting film and Lorena sent me one of her favorites – a German film called Müller 200. In return I decided to do a special project of everyday life journaling, which I know Lorena adores.

I loaded this Müller 200 iso film in my Minolta SRT 101 camera on December 29 and took one photo every day until the film was finished. Each day I made a note of what I had photographed and wrote a few words about that day. The result is a record of 30 days of winter on the west coast of Norway.

The book is 36 pages, square format, soft cover. It is available here in my Blurb bookstore. You can view a little preview here and I have uploaded a few of the photos from the book to this set on Flickr.

Blurb bonus: Save 20% on two or more books with the promo code NY2012. Just place your order by January 31, 2012.

oreo balls

2012-01-18T08:02:00.000+01:00

Kodak Portra 400, Minolta SRT 101

My sister Mari made these oreo balls (oreokonfekt in Norwegian) for Christmas - I was instantly hocked! They are so easy to make, any time of year.

1 pack of oreo cookies
1 pack of philadelphia cream cheese
200 g of dark chocolate
50 g of white chocolate

Using an immersion blender crush the oreo cookies. Mix oreos and cream cheese together. Make balls using teaspoons. Chill in the fridge for about an hour. Melt the chocolate over a hot water bath. Dipp the oreo balls in the melted dark chocolate. Using a sandwich bag with a tiny hole cut in one corner, decorate the chocolate covered oreo balls with white chocolate. Keep them in a chilled place.

PS: You might find food.com's description useful too.

good, lately

2012-01-17T22:28:00.001+01:00

Merette shoots film

2012-01-17T08:02:00.000+01:00

Why do you shoot film, Merette?

For me shooting with film has something magical. I've been shooting with film since 2008 and I still get nervous every time I take a trip where I really want the pictures to turn out well. It is the excitement when you get your negatives back and discover that there some gems on it!

I recently started a course that teaches me to develop my own film. I feel at home in the darkroom. Working in the darkroom is a different kind of manipulation than with digital photography. I dislike the kind of photography that is heavily manipulated by post processing.

I remember a friend proudly showed me a picture he took of a pier. He removed the people on the pier in post processing, but for me that kind of unmanipalative human element in the photo is most important.

I like the fact that analog pictures can be unsharp or too grainy. It creates a dreamy effect that I like. I also have a love affair with black & white photography, which just turns out better on film. Digital photography can do cool stuff, but for me true photography will always be analog.

You can see more of Merette's film photos on her blog.

what's for dinner, week 3

2012-01-16T09:15:00.000+01:00

filet of turkey and vegetables | Fuji Superia 1600, Canon EOS 1600

Monday: weekend leftovers
Tuesday: white bean, tomato and feta salad (adapted from this)
Wednesday: beef stir fry

We are off to our hometown Sandnes for the weekend, so the rest of this week's dinners will be planned and/or made with our parents and friends.

- - -

What we actually had for dinner last week:

Monday: leftovers from Sunday (filet of turkey and vegetables)
Tuesday: creamy salmon pasta ~~with spinach~~ with green squash
Wednesday: ~~beef and vegetables stew~~ a lukewarm salad of spinach, green squash, shredded grilled chicken (store made/bought), cherry tomatoes and feta
Thursday: ~~stew leftovers~~ meatballs from IKEA, boiled potatoes and gravy
Friday: fresh shrimps on white bread with mayonnaise and lemon
Saturday: ~~fish of the day with vegetables~~ roasted lamb shanks with boiled potatoes, pan fried Brussel sprouts and tomato sauce based on sweet dulcita tomatoes and broth from the lamb shanks
Sunday: ~~moussaka~~ vegetable risotto and pan fried cod filet with a little bit of salami

winter warmth

2012-01-15T13:14:00.000+01:00

Kodak Portra 400, Minolta SRT 101

We keep the fire burning pretty much the whole day. Such comfort!

work

2012-01-14T09:21:00.000+01:00

In August we at ASKO Reklame made this at it again/back to everyday life magazine for Sletten shopping center.

In cooperation with the shop owners at the center I chose which products to feature in the photo shoot and styled (most of) the everyday life themed images, shot by GS Foto. I also wrote the texts.

I interviewed the shop owner of the clothing store Catch and one of her employees about the Catch concept.

And I talked to employees at Meny (grocery store) about how to make the perfect matpakke (packed lunch).

things I like lately

2012-01-13T18:06:00.000+01:00

Kodak Portra 400, Minolta SRT 101

- a Sunday walk in the fog (photo above)
- this made me smile
- Zoo Payne
- giving in to the desire for chocolate (even though I'm trying to stay off sweets for a while - baby weight...)
- Walters drasjé
- having two films developed
- ordering film, including polaroid film from The Impossible Project (from here)
- the news about a close friend's pregnancy
- an afternoon visit by said friend
- clean sheets
- Whitney Reeder's blog (via I don't remember)
- Eggs Benedict at Smakverket with my friend Nina (the last time I was at Smakverket - and had Eggs Benedict - was the day before I gave birth to Sara)
- Sara has slept through the night (8 hours straight!) almost every night this passed week
- the warmth of the transient January sun (minutes later I was caught in heavy rain...)
- season 3 of Sons of Anarchy
- Krosser (via NIB)

out walking

2012-01-13T10:39:00.000+01:00

Fuji Superia 1600, Canon EOS 500N

An early January walk with Sara. There was some really beautiful light just before it started raining. Unfortunately this 1600 iso film didn't capture it well.

After seeing the result of this Fuji Superia 1600 (which I forgot that I had tried before) and the Ferrania Solaris 800 film, I feel pretty much done with high speed films. I just don't like all that grain. There is one last film I will try though; Kodak Portra 800. From what I have seen on Flickr, it seems like the grain is a little less massive.

What I do like, is the super fine grain of for example Kodak Ektar 100, Fuji Velvia 50 and Agfa Precisa 100.

Any thoughts? Is heavy grain yay or nay?

december snow

2012-01-12T22:53:00.000+01:00

Ferrania Solaris 800, Canon EOS 500N

Bergen has not had a lot of snow so far this winter. We got some in late December though. It was beautiful.

party baby

2012-01-12T15:58:00.000+01:00

Ferrania Solaris 800, Canon EOS 500N

Our baby daughter Sara enjoys sitting not just at, but on, the grown ups' table. She smiles, "talkes" and power naps. She's good company, I tell you.

napping

2012-01-12T07:58:00.000+01:00

Ferrania Solaris 800, Canon EOS 500N

Our baby daughter Sara, two months old, had a great time with our friend Jeanette.

best of 2011

2012-01-11T09:22:00.000+01:00

These are my favorite everyday stories diptychs from each month of 2011.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

I have been working on an everyday stories Blurb book during 2011. It is very close to being finished. I will let you know when it is published.

Edit: I just discovered, after publishing this post, that the size format of the photos above is a bit off. Bummer! Well, I'll just let it be. Click here to see all the everyday stories posts, with correct photo size.

mini kicks

2012-01-10T17:18:00.002+01:00

Ferrania Solaris 800, Canon EOS 500N

Our baby daughter Sara, at ca two months old. She loves kicking with her little feet, and her arms are constantly moving.

a walk in the woods

2012-01-10T09:36:00.003+01:00

December 26, 2011 | Ferrania Solaris 800, Canon EOS 500N

I grew up next to this big forest with lots of hiking trails (Melsheia, for you how know my hometown Sandnes). My family used to go for Sunday hikes here; my parents still do. I took it for granted growing up, now I try to always go for a walk there when I'm home visiting my parents.

I have briefly mentioned before that I'm ambivalent to high speed grainy films. So far, Fuji Superia X-tra 800 is the best one I have tried. I'm not too fond of the result of this Ferrania Solaris 800, but these shots turned out pretty well.

Anabela shoots film

2012-01-09T10:23:00.000+01:00

Why do you shoot film, Anabela?

I shoot film because it is so much more satisfying than digital. It's a lot more work, but the end result has so much more depth and beauty, at least to my mind. When I was growing up there was no such thing as digital photography, so using film also has a nostalgic quality for me.

You can see more of Anabela's photos on her blog; fieldguided.

what's for dinner, week 2

2012-01-08T12:00:00.000+01:00

Monday: leftovers from Sunday (filet of turkey and vegetables)
Tuesday: creamy salmon pasta with spinach (ca like described here)
Wednesday: beef and vegetables stew (ca like this)
Thursday: stew leftovers
Friday: fresh shrimps on white bread with mayonnaise and lemon (like this)
Saturday: fish of the day with vegetables
Sunday: moussaka

- - -

What we actually had for dinner last week:

Monday: red lentil soup
Tuesday: tandoori salmon with couscous salad
Wednesday: ~~white bean, tomato and feta salad (adapted from this)~~  soup leftovers and couscous salad leftovers
Thursday: ~~beef and vegetable stir fry~~  Astrid's home alone dinner: fish gratin from Søstrene Hagelin and bolied potatoes
Friday: ~~salmon sashimi~~ Sølve: hamburger at Gardermoen airport, Astrid: got a sudden kick on crispbread with ham and cheese and ate a whole lot of them
Saturday: ~~moussaka~~  salmon sashimi with ponzu sauce
Sunday: ~~halibut and vegetables~~ filet of turkey and vegetables

work

2012-01-07T09:11:00.000+01:00

In August we at ASKO Reklame made this back to school and everyday life magazine for Amfi Os.

I sourced photos of school backpacks and talked to shop owners and a physiotherapist at Amfi Os about what to look for when buying a good school backpack for your kid.

I did a mini interview with the shop owner of the new Tilbords shop at Amfi Os.

And I wrote this article about why you should take your family on a Sunday outing to Lysøen.

things I like lately

2012-01-06T15:25:00.000+01:00

our TV/guest room | Ferrania Solaris 800, Canon EOS 500N
I'm not sure if I like all this grain. There is a 1600 iso film in my camera at the moment - I wonder how the result of that one will be compared to this 800 iso film.

- a wonderful Christmas holiday filled with family, friends and great meals
- getting back to everyday life
- being out walking with Sara every day, in all kinds of weather (a lot of the wet kind lately...) - I live by the Scandinavian attitude "there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing"
- Sara playing with her baby gym
- Sara's eyelashes
- developing some kind of sleep routine for Sara, which means I feel rather rested
- the junior (via Stella magazine)
- oreo balls
- lunch with Hanne and her super charming son Peder
- watching Peder enjoy the oreo balls as much as us grown ups
- season six of Weeds
- shooting film (on a rare bright and sunny day) and having it developed
- this photo by my friend Anja

everyday stories outtakes

2012-01-05T09:40:00.000+01:00

Everyday stories outtakes from week 52 in December. This is the end of everyday stories 2011 and their outtakes, but I will still post photos of my everyday life in this space.

memories of spring

2012-01-04T12:37:00.000+01:00

Agfa Precisa 100, Minolta SRT 101

Memories of spring on a very ordinary, grey and rather wet January Tuesday feels good.

Ida shoots film

2012-01-03T10:31:00.000+01:00

Why do you shoot film?

I’m having such a hard time answering this question. Most of what attracts me has already been said a tousand times: the colours, the sound of the shutter, the weight of the camera and the way you’re forced to slow down to really see and take the picture.

So instead I’ll say this; the most valuable thing I’ve gotten from shooting film is the knowledge of how a camera works. Everything on my camera is manual so it’s forced me to slow down and learn about everything from shutter speed to aperture. I love that.

Also, there’s the magic of getting that developed roll of film in your hands and looking at the pictures for the first time. It’s almost better than Christmas eve to me.

You can see more of Ida's photos on her blog and Flickr.

a new project for 2012

2012-01-02T13:14:00.001+01:00

Rollei Retro 100, Minolta SRT 101

A new year calls for a new project, right? In 2008 I did my first everyday stories photo project, 2010 was the year of the dinner project and yesterday I finished the everyday stories 2011 project. This year I will focus on food again. This is why:

Sølve said to me the other day:
- I want us to make weekly dinner menus again.

Me:
- Good idea. We need to write it down somewhere; how about I blog it? Lots of my blog readers seemed to enjoy the dinner project, maybe they will enjoy this too.

Sølve:
- Ok.

Just like that a new project for 2012 was born. Like all my daily/weekly projects, I will make it simple and doable. Every Sunday I will post our ideas for what we plan to have for dinner the following week. There might be links to recipes, but it will mainly just be basic ideas. I suspect that we won't always manage to go through with our plans. We will always have fun and be inspired making them though! I will illustrate each post with a food related photo mostly from my archives, but sometimes there will be new photos too.

Let the games begin!

What's for dinner, week 1

Monday: red lentil soup
Tuesday: tandoori salmon with couscous salad
Wednesday: white bean, tomato and feta salad (adapted from this)
Thursday: beef and vegetable stir fry
Friday: salmon sashimi
Saturday: moussaka
Sunday: halibut and vegetables

- - -

January 23 edit:
- What's for dinner posts will be posted Mondays, not Sundays.
- There will also be a note about what we actually had for dinner the passed week.
- Saturday and Sunday dinners will often not be planned ahead because we have a habit of buying whatever looks good in the store when we are out grocery shopping Saturday morning.
- Click the label "what's for dinner" to view all the posts in this project.

everyday stories, week 52

2012-01-01T22:20:00.000+01:00

Monday December 26
out walking, Melsheia | at my parents' place, Sandnes

Tuesday December 27
at our friends' place, Hana | at my parents' place, Sandnes

Wednesday December 28
on our way home to Bergen, close to Mortavika | home, Bergen

Thursday December 29
out testing a car, Bergen | home, Bergen

Friday December 30
out walking, Fjellveien | home, Bergen

Saturday December 31
at our friends' place, Sotra

Sunday January 1, 2012
at our friends' place, Sotra

Everyday stories 2011, THE END

PS: Click on each photo to view them bigger | the dinner project 2010, week 52 | I will most likely introduce a new weekly project tomorrow

until next year

2011-12-31T15:04:00.001+01:00

Kodak Portra 160, Canon EOS 500N

We are enjoying happy days with family and friends. Hope you do so too. See you next year peeps!

everyday stories outtakes

2011-12-29T16:50:00.000+01:00

Everyday stories outtakes from week 51 in December.

everyday stories, week 51

2011-12-27T15:14:00.000+01:00

Monday December 19
an ex-colleague's place, Verftet | out shopping, city center

Tuesday December 20
home, Bergen

Wednesday December 21
out walking, Store Lungegårdsvann | home, Bergen

Thursday December 22
at my in-laws', Sandnes | home, Bergen

Friday December 23
at my in-laws', Sandnes

Saturday December 24
Hellestø beach, outside Sandnes | at my in-laws', Sandnes

Sunday December 25
at my parents' place, Sandnes

PS: Click on each photo to view them bigger | the dinner project 2010, week 51

things I like lately

2011-12-23T11:29:00.000+01:00

Agfa Precisa 100, Minolta SRT 101

- the radio programs Helgeland and Herreavdelingen
- The Holiday
- Herriot Grace's new site
- photographer Kari-Anne Toth's blog
- second breakfasts
- State of Play
- snow and sun
- lunches with colleagues
- having film developed
- even more gifts for Sara from generous family and friends
- wrapping Christmas presents
- driving home to Sandnes for Christmas - Sara's first roadtrip, she slept like an angel

Merry Christmas all!

everyday stories outtakes

2011-12-22T06:52:00.000+01:00

Everyday stories outtakes from week 50 in December.

The pillow in the top photo is by Siri Tollefsen.

pre Christmas Bergen

2011-12-21T09:01:00.000+01:00

Fuji Pro 400H, Canon EOS 500N

Bergen, one week before Christmas Eve. Are you ready for it yet?

inside other people's houses

2011-12-20T08:36:00.000+01:00

Agfa Precisa 100, Canon EOS 500N

Glimpses of my parents' house on a sunny day in early September.

Alex and Mina shoot film

2011-12-19T09:52:00.000+01:00

Why do you shoot film, Alex and Mina?

We don't really shoot film seriously. We have a few toy cameras that are fun and the results are always unexpected. Our favorite thing about these plastic fantastic cameras is that you don't get the instant gratification you get with digital cameras and the anticipation is usually worth the dreamy photos we get - full of desaturated colors and light leaks. We travel as much as we can and end up photographing things that millions of tourists before us have already taken photos of. Taking pictures of these attractions on a lomo fisheye camera makes it a little more likely to be unique and personal.

You can see more of Alex and Mina's photos on their blog, sending postcards.

everyday stories, week 50

2011-12-18T23:19:00.000+01:00

Monday December 12
out walking, Isdalen

Tuesday December 13
home, Bergen

Wednesday December 14
home, Bergen | out walking, Store Lungegårdsvann

Thursday December 15
home, Bergen

Friday December 16
out walking, Store Lungegårdsvann | Zupperia, Bergen

Saturday December 17
home, Bergen

Sunday December 18
out walking, our neighbourhood | home, Bergen

PS: Click on each photo to view them bigger | the dinner project 2010, week 50

and the winner is

2011-12-17T14:36:00.000+01:00

The winner of the Smakfulle øyeblikk Blurb book giveaway is

Irene

She wrote:

Hi Astrid! I have followed your blog for such a long time now and I like it better and better. I love the way you capture the moments in your life and I appreciate that you don't show too much here on the internet. It's nice to get tiny little impressions. I like the way your "new" flat turned out, and the best stories here on your blog are about Sara growing up in such a nice family. Keep on taking photos and blogging – I'm looking forward to seeing more. And I'd love to win your book, of course. Many greetings from Austria :)

Congratulations Irene! Please send me an email with your postal address and I'll send you the book as soon as possible. Thank you all for participating in the giveaway. I really appreciate all your wonderful comments.

things I like lately

2011-12-16T17:44:00.002+01:00

Kodak Portra 160, Canon EOS 500N

- bare streets, because it is so much easier to be out with the pram than on snow covered streets (but I miss the snow too, because it is pretty)
- daily walks with Sara
- a long phone conversation with my friend T, who had a baby girl two weeks after Sara was born (her due date was the day before mine)
- first meeting with the barselgruppe at helsestasjonen (a group of mothers/fathers who have babies ca the same age, organized by the local municipal health center)
- ordering my copy of Kinfolk magazine volume two
- Freia Premium dark chocolate filled with chocolate mousse and chocolate sauce
- Red
- after days of wet and grey weather, the sun finally came out today (it really made me want to shoot film - which I haven't done in weeks - but I forgot to bring my camera before I rushed out to an appointment)
- whole grain spaghetti with creamy cheese sauce, shredded chicken, a little bit of salami, garlic and snap peas for dinner (and leftovers the day after)
- suddenly getting a good night's sleep (after several nights of hardly any sleep - Sara loves being awake during the nights)
- a happy, smiling soon to be seven weeks old baby daughter
- your answers to the giveaway (it ends tomorrow)

everyday stories outtakes

2011-12-15T10:10:00.000+01:00

Everyday stories outtakes from week 49 in December.

- - -

PS: giveaway

winter at the mountain cabin

2011-12-14T11:24:00.000+01:00

March 2011 | Kodak elite chrome 100 (expired 02/09), Olympus mju

The snow from last week is all gone and I find myself longing for a trip to the mountain cabin. I also long for a few (or many) hours of good sleep. Our baby daughter Sara loves being awake during the night. She is usually in a good mood, but it does no good for her mama's beauty sleep ;-)

need a new desk?

2011-12-13T16:35:00.000+01:00

lussekatt | Kodak Portra 400nc, Minolta SRT 101

My parents are giving away my old desk to make room for a bed for our baby daughter Sara. Take a look if you are in need of a new desk (and live in the Stavanger/Sandnes area).

PS: Today is Saint Lucy's Day. Have you had a lussekatt yet? | Don't miss the giveaway. It ends Saturday.

Caroline Kaspara on motherhood

2011-12-13T10:31:00.000+01:00

Caroline Kaspara is a 27 years old mother of one.

photo by Caroline Kaspara

The best thing about motherhood...

Det beste med å være mamma er å våkne opp til en fantastisk og smilende gutt som fyller hver eneste dag med mening! Det er uvirkelig, og noen ganger er gleden så stor at jeg ikke vet hvor jeg skal gjøre av den.

My advice to mothers-to-be is...

Helt i starten var jeg som mange mødre usikker og sårbar. Jeg syntes det var slitsomt med alle disse fremmede menneskene som kom bort til meg og sa at jeg hadde for lite klær på barnet, at jeg hadde pakka han for godt inn, at han hadde feil farge på klærne (!) eller at jeg ikke burde spise rå grønnsaker. Jeg ble lei meg og mestringsfølelsen sank, selv om disse kommentarene i utgangspunktet sikkert fremstår som harmløse, så slo de der og da. Nå stoler jeg på meg selv, og jeg oppfordrer alle mødre til å bruke sunn fornuft og lytte til sin egen magefølelse. Hvis man gjør sitt beste, og ønsker det beste for barnet sitt, så tror jeg det er godt nok. Hvis det er noe jeg lurer på, ringer jeg mamma, søstra mi eller ei god vennine. I begynnelsen hadde jeg også stor nytte av Svangerskapsboken, og stikkordsregistret ble flittig tatt i bruk. Her fant jeg svar på det aller meste! Jeg slet med amminga i begynnelsen. Var livredd for at Audun ikke skulle få nok melk og syns det ble mye knoting hver gang jeg skulle legge han til brystet. Nå vet jeg at det er helt normalt at både barnet og mammaen trenger øvelse. For meg funket videoene på ammehjelpen (http://ammehjelpen.no/video) veldig bra. I begynnelsen hadde jeg veldig stor melkeproduksjon, noe som resulterte i melkespreng og at Audun fikk dårlig grep. Ei elektrisk brystpumpe ble redninga! Det er den beste investeringa jeg har gjort etter at Audun kom til verden. Nå pumper jeg meg og fryser ned melka dersom jeg skal være borte noen timer eller trenger en pause. På den måten kan pappaen gi Audun melk, og jeg tror det er godt for oss alle med denne avvekslinga.

I korte trekk er mine tips:
Sørg for å få nok søvn
Stress minst mulig
Hvis det er en pappa der, så slipp han til!
Finn din måte å være mamma på og stol på at dette er den riktige og eneste måten for ditt barn!

- - -

Google translate | Caroline Kaspara blogs at sovekatt

- - -

PS: giveaway

Joe shoots film

2011-12-12T12:24:00.000+01:00

Why do you shoot film, Joe?

I shoot film because I like the mystery... I love getting a roll back from the lab after I've forgotten what's on it, there are always a handful of really great suprises - it's like a present from my past self! I love the richness of the colors and the solidity of the tones in film, it's something I can never achieve digitally. I like the light leaks and happy accidents (although sometimes they aren't so happy), the unplanned beauty when you don't have complete control. When it goes wrong it can be disappointing, but when it goes right it can make for a one-of-a-kind image.

You can see more of Joe's photos on Flickr.

- - -

PS: giveaway

everyday stories, week 49

2011-12-11T23:07:00.000+01:00

Monday December 5
out walking, Isdalen

Tuesday December 6
out walking, Store Lungegårdsvann

Wednesday December 7
out walking, Isdalen | home, Bergen

Thursday December 8
out walking, Store Lungegårdsvann | home, Bergen

Friday December 9
home, Bergen | out walking, Store Lungegårdsvann

Saturday December 10
home, Bergen | out shopping, city center

Sunday December 11
home, Bergen

PS: click on each photo to view them bigger | the dinner project 2010, week 49 | giveaway

giveaway

2011-12-10T08:13:00.000+01:00

A while ago I mentioned that I was planning a new giveaway. For some reason it took me quite some time to get organized, but now I'm all set - just in time for Christmas.

In September I made a new Blurb book. It is called Smakfulle øyeblikk and is filled with photos of food taken with film.

Smakfulle øyeblikk

is Norwegian for tasty or tasteful moments.

I live for tasty moments. Breakfast, brunch, elevenses, lunch, dinner, supper, snack time, coffee break, cocktail hour – food and drinks makes me happy, so does cooking and entertaining.

All photos in this book are shot with 35 mm film and are copyright of me, Astrid Hagen Mykletun.

Smakfulle øyeblikk is 78 pages square format soft cover with standard paper. You can see a preview of the whole book here or below.

Smakfulle øyeblikk | Make Your Own Book

Enter this giveaway and get a chance to win a copy of this book. This is what you do:

Leave a comment and tell me what you like (or don't like) about visiting this blog.

I have asked you this narcissistic question before. Again I hope your answers will give me a hint of what I should keep doing (or maybe not keep doing) with this blog. Feel free to repeat your answer if you participated the last time ;-)

A winner will be picked at random in one week, on Saturday December 17 at ca noon CET+1.

things I like lately

2011-12-09T13:04:00.000+01:00

Kodak Portra 400nc, Minolta SRT 101

- Händel's Messiah
- doing a bit of simple decorating for Christmas
- snow (which I also dislike because it makes it hard being out with the pram)
- meeting people in skis whilst out walking in the snow
- toasted whole grain bread with sliced banana
- leftover pasta bolognese for dinner
- the promo for volume two of Kinfolk magazine
- Jan Johansson's Visa från Utanmyra
- our baby daughter Sara's smiles
- Belgian truffles (from Jacobs utvalgte)
- my sister Mari is visiting this weekend
- season 3 of True Blood
- this photo by Xavier and this by Annie
- announcing a giveaway in this space tomorrow

everyday stories outtakes

2011-12-08T07:04:00.000+01:00

Everyday stories outtakes from week 48 in November/December.

As I mentioned here, we recently had our Peter Lik photographs framed and re-framed - the results are above. The frame on the Central Park image used to be on the Simpson Desert image, as seen here. I think it works so much better now. We still need to find a wall for the Brooklyn Bridge image though. We are thinking of hanging it on the brick wall, but I'm not totally convinced yet.

our christmas

2011-12-07T17:43:00.001+01:00

The December challenge over at NIB (Norwegian interior blogs) is Christmas homes.

Here is a (sightly edited) repeat of what I wrote for NIB's December challenge last year:

I have mentioned before that I'm generally not really into decorating with all kinds of knick knacks. I have also mentioned before that I'm not really into Christmas decoration either. We always go home to our parents in Sandnes for Christmas, so that is were all the decoration is happening - which is absolutely lovely.

Our Christmas decoration is as simple as ever: red tea light holders (bought for our wedding), ilex or holly, bowls of clementines and nuts, red placemats and Händel's Messiah on the stereo.

There are more Christmas photos in this god jul set on my Flickr.

winter blues

2011-12-07T09:36:00.001+01:00

January and February 2011 | Kodak elite chrome 100 (expired 02/09), Olympus mju

It snowed a lot in Bergen yesterday, so today we woke up to a true winter wonderland. Maybe we will get a white Christmas? In the meantime I'll enjoy some of that beautiful blue winter light.

winter | 30 days of winter

Barbara on motherhood

2011-12-06T08:00:00.001+01:00

Barbara is a mother of two.

photo by Barbara

The best thing about motherhood...

is to accompany this human being on its path of life.

That of course includes lots of beautiful things itself:

- that tininess in the beginning and then realising how fast everything develops
- the warm glow around your heart when being touched hearing your child talk, laugh and do silly stuff
- all that innocence of child
- seeing the world again from the childs point of view and therefore discovering lots of lovely details in life again
- astonishment and
- all that laughing... and so on

My advice to mothers-to-be is...

- listen to yourself and act intuitive (there are too many books out there to confuse you)
- get in touch with other moms - motherhood is not easy at all and I believe to exchange experiences helps
- motherhood lets you get to know your limits - it is a lovable mirror and teacher
- keep in mind: you are not only a mother, you are a partner/wife, a sister, a co-worker/boss too
- I like the concept of the "good-enough mother" especially on difficult days: over-parenting (or helicopter parenting) is as bad as negligence it is sad, best is to be a "good-enough mother"
- be proud and love yourself: you are the best mom!

- - -

Barbara is on Flickr; find her here.

Silvia shoots film

2011-12-05T06:36:00.000+01:00

Why do you shoot film, Silvia?

One day I got tired of photographing everything. Twice, three times even just to get the perfect shot. So I bought a disposable camera and took a walk around Delft on a rainy day. It was so fun to have to carefully choose what to shoot and how. And to wait to get the film back from the lab was somehow really exciting. The pictures didn't turn out perfect, but they are to this day one of my favorites. I could never part with my digital camera, but I do love the added disposable one, once in a while. And in the near future I'm going to try out a 'real' film camera. Can't wait!

You can see more of Silvia's photos on her blog.

everyday stories, week 48

2011-12-04T22:40:00.001+01:00

Monday November 28
home, Bergen

Tuesday November 29
home, Bergen

Wednesday November 30
home, Bergen

Thursday December 1
home, Bergen

Friday December 2
home, Bergen

Saturday December 3
Sølve's brother's place, Nesttun

Sunday December 4
Sølve's brother's place, Nesttun

PS: Click on each photo to view them bigger | the dinner project 2010, week 48

work

2011-12-03T10:00:00.000+01:00

In June we at ASKO Reklame made this summer magazine for Amfi Stord.

I did research in the shops at the shopping center, sourced photos and wrote a small text about maritime summer inspiration.

things I like lately

2011-12-02T11:05:00.001+01:00

Mount Ulriken seen from Festplassen, December 2010 | Kodak Portra 400nc, Minolta SRT 101

- season 7 of Entourage
- season 2 of Modern Family
- ignite light (via HOME by linn)
- our neighbour's outdoor Christmas lights
- small glimpses of sun on otherwise very wet, gray and dark days
- accidentally timing my walks with my baby daughter Sara to these slightly sunny periods of the day
- napping on the daybed whilst Sara naps in her daybed
- coffee
- the sound Sara makes when sucking her pacifier
- this makes me smile
- Bergen is covered in a thin layer of snow today
- pinterest - here are my boards
- this photo by Shari, this by Kristin, this by Nidhi, this by my sister Mari

everyday stories outtakes

2011-12-01T12:09:00.000+01:00

Everyday stories outtakes from week 47 in November.

early summer bloom

2011-11-30T08:37:00.000+01:00

Kodak elite chrome 100 (expired 02/09), Minolta SRT 101

It has been really wet and windy lately, so these images of early summer bloom in our garden and neighbourhood brightens up my day.

Margrete on motherhood

2011-11-29T10:09:00.000+01:00

Margrete is a 33 years old mother of two girls of 3,5 years and almost 5 months.

photo by me

Best things about motherhood...

- The unconditional love you feel for your children. It really is very special, and even though I`m not a very sentimental person, my children has triggered some feelings in me I didn´t know before.
- The wonderful, toothless smile from a baby at 5 a.m. in the morning, when you really are very grumpy. The baby’s face lights up when she sees yours.
- When your child cracks herself up because of a silly dance.
- When your child asks really good questions like "what's holding up the rainbow?”, that makes you realize that your child is a wondering and thinking human being.

There are countless small examples that together make it wonderful to be a mother. Even though my children have made my everyday life more of a rollercoaster than before, things are definitely more unpredictable (and I´m a bit of a control freak...), the highs are so high they easily clear out the lows.

My advice to mothers-to-be is...

- Trust yourself. I know it’s very frustrating at times to get the answer "you know your child best" - when you’re desperate for some help, but it really is true. You do know your child.
- Accept your child for what he or she is. We tried for so long to make our eldest daughter into a child with no sleeping issues. This made every night a struggle for us. When we just accepted that - Ok, she does need time to find her sleep, both in the evening, and during the night, life really became easier. Instead of trying to make her into a dream child when it comes to sleeping, we accepted her struggle to find her sleep. It actually made everything less tense for us, even though it didn’t make us less tired.
- Everything passes!!!!!! Even though it may seem so intense while you’re in the middle of it and you are so tired or exhausted you think "I will never feel rested again" or "I will never forget how tired I am now". But you do.

Being a mother is a wonderful job and I really love it, even though it’s also extremely frustrating at times. And remember who you are in the midst of breastfeeding, diapers and clothes change. I believe that being a mother is just another aspect of me. I think it is important, at least for me, to still be a professional, wife, friend and a sucker for the good things in life, like champagne and good food.

Christie shoots film

2011-11-28T09:20:00.000+01:00

Why do you shoot film, Christie?

I can remember being in Washington DC in 1989 and getting so sad when my dad ran out of film for the day. I looked at him and said, "but now what?" I was six. Taking photos has always been a big part of my life and I have the photo albums to prove it. I like the anticipation of finishing a roll of film and seeing the outcome days, weeks or even months later. I'm the one going on a trip with three cameras and a bag full of film. The surprise of recalling the memories and tiny moments through film is so special to me.

There is a quote that has stuck with me from Wim Wenders where he said, "within every photograph there is also the beginning of a story [...] so over the years, at least to me, taking pictures has more and more turned into 'tracing stories.'" So that's what film is to me, a story from the beginning of the roll to the end.

You can see more of Christie's film photos on her Flickr.

everyday stories, week 47

2011-11-27T23:59:00.000+01:00

Monday November 21
home, Bergen

Tuesday November 22
home, Bergen

Wednesday November 23
home, Bergen

Thursday November 24
out walking, Isdalen

Friday November 25
home, Bergen

Saturday November 26
home, Bergen

Sunday November 27
home, Bergen

PS: click on each photo to view them bigger | the dinner project 2010, week 47

work

2011-11-26T09:48:00.000+01:00

In June we at ASKO Reklame made this magazine for Amfi Os.

I talked to a guy at the grocery store Eurospar about barbeque food and a guy at the hardware store Mekk about barbeques, and wrote this summer + barbeque = true article.

I interviewed one of the founders of the Rock n' LOL music festival, Andreas Lindborg, about the festival and their air guitar competition for kids.

things I like lately

2011-11-25T14:48:00.000+01:00

the best slippers ever | Kodak Portra 160, Canon EOS 500N

- sleep
- our new laundry/nursing room - we use it A LOT these days
- A Merry Mishap
- ert & ris (via NIB)
- Smallable
- MøbelPøbel
- est magazine (via sf girl by bay)
- this post
- cream cheese, salami and cucumber on toasted whole grain bread
- Kinfolk magazine - I got my copy this week and it is really beautiful
- this photo by Shari, this by Lisa, this by Øystein and this by Debbie
- steak and homemade fries for dinner
- baby gifts from our generous friends
- being able to do stuff, for example blog, with one hand (whilst holding Sara with the other)
- fire in the wood stove after a walk in the wet and cold "Berit" storm

everyday stories outtakes

2011-11-24T16:59:00.000+01:00

Everyday stories outtakes from week 46 in November.

first dinner

2011-11-23T10:36:00.000+01:00

Kodak Portra 160, Canon EOS 500N

After a day of mattress shopping at IKEA and carrying lots of heavy stuff with a little (or a lot) of help from our friend Jakob, we invited him to our "new" home as our first dinner guest. We enjoyed Sølve's wonderful beef stroganoff while Jakob's dog Hama enjoyed the heat of the wood stove. It was a great night.

Norunn on motherhood

2011-11-22T10:10:00.001+01:00

Norunn is a 32 years old mother of one

photo by me

The best thing about motherhood...

Mitt bidrag er basert på de første 16 ukene med et nytt familiemedlem, lenger har jeg faktisk ikke kommet. På den annen side så er startfasen da i beste minne, og ikke allerede et fjernt og ullent minne. De fleste sier at første halvår er travelt, og selv har jeg også erfart at det er mye nytt å komme inn i. Men det er en fantastisk tid i livet, det er bare å glede seg for dem som enda har erfaringen i vente.

Alle svangerskap er forskjellige, og det er vel alle babyer også. For min del føltes slutten av svangerskapet ganske tungt, og det ble soving på ettermiddagene igjen slik som i begynnelsen. Jeg lurte på hvordan energien ville bli med en liten i huset og atskillig mindre søvn, men overgangen fra høygravid til barselstid var bare flott. Den nødvendige energien og utholdenheten ble hentet frem av det store "kicket" det er å få sin egen lille baby. Kjærligheten er bare overveldende - vi beundrer henne enten hun er våken eller sover, og fryder oss over hvert nytt fremskritt hun gjør. Og det er virkelig fantastisk å se hvordan hun vokser og gjør framskritt både fysisk og sosialt. Nå for tida er stemmen blitt veldig viktig for henne, hun presenterer høye frydefulle hyl, herlig pludring, syngende herming på lange vokaler, rasende skrik, sytende lyder og alt akkompagnert av masse mimikk som passer til. Vi blir totalt sjarmert selvfølgelig, men det er ikke til å unngå at vi føler vi "lykkes" best som foreldre når hun er fornøyd og glad.

My advice to mothers-to-be is...

Mitt råd for positivt samspill med babyen er følgende:

- Ikke "skap" en skrikerunge. Alle babyer gråter, men det er mulig å tilrettelegge for at mesteparten av dagen foregår i fred og fordragelighet. Det kreves litt bevissthet, men er egentlig det samme som alle foreldre gjør - bare at mange venter med å gjøre det til babyen gråter. Vi er nøye på å gi masse positiv oppmerksomhet når hun er våken; vi tar henne opp av vuggen før hun gråter, vi gir henne leker hun har mistet før hun gråter, vi snakker i et hyggelig tonefall med henne, og vi snakker masse om alt vi gjør og hva hun opplever. Vi synger for henne, vi tar henne på fanget. Dette gjør nok de fleste, men vi vil ikke at hun skal lære seg at gråting må til for å få viljen sin eller for å få omsorg. Vi vil at hun skal se at det ordner seg uten gråting. Jeg prøver f.eks også å gi mat når jeg ser at hun er sulten eller jeg vet at hun burde være det basert på når hun sist spiste. Den siste uka har hun begynt å sette pris på litt alenetid selv om hun er våken, hun kan for eksempel ligge litt i vuggen eller i liggestolen sin og se på oss uten å være i fokus selv hele tida. Da er vi likevel bortom henne jevnt og trutt og snakker med henne, får henne til å smile, snakker og synger litt slik at hun ikke skal føle seg gjemt og glemt. Frem til nå har hun blitt urolig og redd om vi var ute av syne når hun var våken, nå er hun tydeligvis moden for litt mer selvstendighet så lenge vi viser henne at vi er der likevel. Ingenting er som en trygg og glad baby.

Praktiske råd for vordende mødre:

- Kjøp eller lån brystpumpe slik at denne er tilgjengelig før du kommer hjem fra sykehuset. Brystspreng kan vare i flere dager og må ikke undervurderes. Ha klar ammeinnlegg i ull + engangsinnlegg + 2 amme-bher.

Praktiske råd for nybakte foreldre:

- Ting tar tid i begynnelsen, det å komme seg ut av huset går fortere etterhvert men tar stadig tid for min del i hvert fall. Pakk gjerne stelleveske, og klargjør vogn med tilbehør kvelden i forveien om dere skal ut på noe. Pakk gjerne ut i bilen også når dere er to voksne hjemme slik at babyen ikke blir liggende og gråte alene mens du har tusen ærend.
- Engangs tisselaken fås kjøpt på Boots eller apoteket, kan være greit å ha i stellevesken for offentlige stellebord er ikke særlig hygieniske.
- Sinksalven Inotyol gjør røde / rosa rumper hvite på få timer, fås kjøpt på apoteket uten resept og er uvurderlig ved behov.
- Ta kontroll på barselbesøkene og inviter så mange som mulig samtidig! Vi hadde siste barselvisitt denne uka og hun er snart 4 mnd. Flere om gangen hadde gitt meg friere dager tidligere, for det er gjerne litt man vil ordne i huset og ift mat før besøk.

- - -

PS: Google translate

Myrte shoots film

2011-11-21T08:42:00.000+01:00

Why do you shoot film, Myrte?

Because it is as honest and real as it gets! I love the authentic character. The depth, the colors, the grain and lightning, or (when used in combination with a flash) the rawness and pureness. All impossible to achieve with Photoshop.

Besides that: I love the surprise effect! Opening a pack of developed film feels like opening a birthday present - every single time.

You can see more of Myrte's photos on her blog.

everyday stories, week 46

2011-11-20T22:03:00.001+01:00

Monday November 14
home, Bergen | helsestasjonen, Danmarksplass

Tuesday November 15
home, Bergen | (ex) office, Verftet

Wednesday November 16
home, Bergen | out walking, Bergen

Thursday November 17
home, Bergen

Friday November 18
out walking, Bergen | home, Bergen

Saturday November 19
home, Bergen

Sunday November 20
home, Bergen

PS: Click on each photo to view them bigger | the dinner project 2010, week 46

work

2011-11-19T12:45:00.001+01:00

In June we at ASKO Reklame made this summer magazine for Sletten shopping center.

In cooperation with the shop owners at the center I chose which products to feature in the photo shoot and styled (most of) the outdoor work and relax themed images, shot by Gustaf Bratt. I also wrote the texts.

I interviewed the shop owner of the new clothing store Soho and one of her employees (+ photographed them).

I interviewed the shop owner of the new Tilbords shop (+ photographed her).

I talked to employees at the grocery store Meny about barbecuing.

And I interviewed the shop owner of Toppe Blomster about summer flowers (+ photographed him).

things I like lately

2011-11-18T18:02:00.000+01:00

Kodak Portra 160, Canon EOS 500N

- our soon to be three weeks old baby daughter Sara
- getting to know myself as a mother and Sølve as a father
- Dotty love
- beautiful sunny, frosty late autumn mornings
- pastel colored sunrises
- Alle snakker sant (Hvor skal du gå?) by Siri Nilsen - even more beautiful when performed with her father at Senkveld
- Dodgeball
- reindeer filet for dinner
- this made me giggle
- finally having our Peter Lik photographs framed and re-framed (I'll show you the result when they are hung)
- seeing nature through Shari's lens
- motherhood mondays at A Cup of Jo
- spending time at home in our "new" apartment
- Jen's new food blog Nectar
- being out for a real walk with Sara, in the pouring rain
- this most charming little man turns one
- so kinfolk
- Brian's beautiful book (I got my copy today)

everyday stories outtakes

2011-11-17T08:59:00.000+01:00

Everyday stories outtakes from week 44 and 45 in November.

visitors

2011-11-16T12:32:00.000+01:00

Kodak Portra 160, Canon EOS 500N

Bergen had some pretty awesome visitors in late September; Charlotte and Claire. Hanne and I took them for an afternoon walk of our favorite part of the city; Klosteret, Nordnes and Nordnesparken. We enjoyed drinks in the Indian summer night at Verftet and yummy burgers at Bølgen & Moi. Please come back soon, girls!

Jeanette on motherhood

2011-11-15T07:31:00.001+01:00

Jeanette is a 31 years old mother of one

photo by Jeanette

The best thing about motherhood...

The best thing about motherhood is difficult to sum up, because there is so so much greatness about it. But if I have to pick one thing, I’ll say this: It feels fantastic to get to know all these “new” people:

- Your little baby wonder whom you have been so curious to meet these past 9 months. It is like magic watching your little one grow into a beautiful person.
- Yourself as a mother! I have discovered strengths, grumpiness, wisdom, tiredness, playfulness and endless patience and love, within me, that I had no idea I was in possession of.
- Your partner as parent. I had been with my husband 9 years before we had our child, and I thought I knew him inside out, upside down. But having a child together (who is half him and half me which is totally crazy to think about!) has increased the amplitudes of our emotional bond, also down but mostly up, and taken the relationship to a totally different level.
- Your parents and in-laws as grandparents. You see it in movies and you hear stories about grandparents who go nuts about the little heir, but that doesn’t give justice to how powerful that emotion is. I will never forget my Dad telling me how perfect our son was with a voice choked with tears of joy.

My advice to mothers-to-be is...

My advices to mothers-to-be are a mixture of practical and emotional stuff:

About the newborn-period:
Bring pregnant-clothes to the hospital – your tummy is still pregnant-size for a week or so, although not as tense.
Remember: you are a fantastic mother! You are the best mother this baby can ever wish for! You can and will manage! Be proud of yourself!

After the initial shock of coming home with a baby, and you are just getting into it:
Many people will have an opinion on what you do and don’t, but in the end it is you who is there with the baby 24 hrs a day. So you do what works for you and the baby, and don’t feel bad about it.
This is not the peak time for romantic adventures with your partner… although your increased breast-size could make you think that…

When they start with solids:
Squished banana, avocado and pear - either by themselves or a mixture two and two together, are delicious and nutritious.
Sweet potato or pumpkin or carrot (tastes sweet) boiled with garlic or some other herb, then mashed, has been a great hit.
A liquefier is a must!
The baby-feeder is also brilliant. You put a piece of fruit in the net-pocket, screw the handle on, and ta-daa! The little one can munch happily away on fruity goodness, and mum can relax knowing the baby won’t choke on anything.

When they start mobilising:
We have a dedicated drawer in the cupboard that’s our son’s. It’s filled with his things, like bottles, pacifiers, porridge-packets and other unbreakable things. He is allowed to open and close that drawer and throw those things around as much as he likes, and that makes it easier to say no to all the other cupboards with china and glassware.
But you cannot have things that are too precious within reachable distance. Same with furniture – life is a lot easier if you don’t stress too much if yoghurt or something else is spilled there.

SO GOOD LUCK AND ENJOY!

- - -

Jeanette is on Flickr; find her here.

Andrea shoots film

2011-11-14T09:13:00.000+01:00

Why do you shoot film, Andrea?

In a time where everything is temporary and soon discarded in favour of a new "better" version and people store their entire lives in hard drives and USB sticks, it makes sense to cling on to something more real. It makes me upset that the majority of the world simply stopped using cameras with an excellent quality to start using digital cameras not better than a phone camera. An entire generation of children is going to have blurry, pixelated childhood photos with low contrast and awful colours. This is a shame.

I like shooting film because it has a depth, texture and colour that I can't get with my digital camera. The results I get with a film compact camera are far superior to those I get with a digital equivalent, and I'd much rather carrying around a little film camera than a massive digital one.

The moment when I fell in love with film again is when my grandfather gave me his old camera, a Yashica Electro 35. Now that he's passed away, shooting with it feels like seeing the world through his eyes, and it's something that I hope I never stop doing.

You can see more of Andrea's film photos on her blog.

everyday stories, week 45

2011-11-13T22:52:00.000+01:00

Monday November 7
home, Bergen

Tuesday November 8
home, Bergen

Wednesday November 9
home, Bergen

Thursday November 10
home, Bergen

Friday November 11
home, Bergen | helsestasjonen, Danmarksplass

Saturday November 12
home, Bergen

Sunday November 13
at Sølve's brother's place, Nesttun

PS: Click on each photo to view them bigger | the dinner project 2010, week 45

work

2011-11-12T08:07:00.000+01:00

In April we at ASKO Reklame made this Hææærlig Tid magazine for Amfi Os.

I interviewed the owner of Foss Ur og Smykker in connection with the opening of the new shop at Amfi Os.

I sourced photos and wrote some small texts about inspiration for spring; fashion, gardening and outdoor play.

Finally I interviewed the composer of the folk opera "HavFest", Glenn Erik Haugland, in connection to this being the opening show at the new art and culture center in Os, Oseana.

everyday stories outtakes

2011-11-10T16:35:00.000+01:00

Everyday stories outtakes from week 43 in October - a very special week.

everyday stories, week 44

2011-11-09T15:00:00.000+01:00

Monday October 31
Storken, Kvinneklinikken, Haukeland sykehus, Bergen

Tuesday November 1
Storken, Haukeland, Bergen | home, Bergen

Wednesday November 2
Barsel 1, Haukeland, Bergen

Thursday November 3
home, Bergen | Barsel 1, Haukeland, Bergen

Friday November 4
home, Bergen

Saturday November 5
home, Bergen

Sunday November 6
home, Bergen

PS: Click on each photo to view them bigger | the dinner project 2010, week 44 | introducing: Sara

motherhood

2011-11-08T16:11:00.002+01:00

I find breastfeeding fantastic yet no walk in the park | photo by daddy Sølve

I don't know if you have noticed that for the last three months or so, Tuesdays on this blog have been all about my last (work) trip aboard; my June travel to Tuscany. I'm now done posting my Tuscany photos and it's time to let Tuesdays be about something different. Something big yet tiny that is completely taking over my life these days; our baby daughter Sara!

Inspired by these guest posts over at Hank and Lucy I asked a few of my closest friends to share their thoughts on motherhood and let me share their thoughts with you. I asked them to share 1) The best thing about motherhood, and 2) My advice to mothers-to-be is. Most of my closest friends are not very active online though; they don't have blogs, Flickr, Twitter, Facebook, etc. So, most of the thoughts on motherhood have been shared through great conversations. I do however have two motherhood posts lined up for you - the first one will be out next Tuesday. Maybe, and hopefully, there will be more of these motherhood posts in the future. Feel free to drop me a line if you want to share your thoughts here on hei Astrid.

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By the way, this post was prepared before Sara was born. Naturally I don't spend much time in front of the computer these days. I am however slowly sorting through all the photos that we have taken lately and I am slowly catching up on my everyday stories over at Flickr. I will also slowly return to regular blogging. But mostly I will spend time with the most fantastic little creature in the world; my daughter Sara!

everyday stories, week 43

2011-11-06T19:16:00.000+01:00

Monday October 24
out doing errands, Bergen | home, Bergen

Tuesday October 25
home, Bergen

Wednesday October 26 - Sølve's birthday
out doing errands, Bergen | home, Bergen

Thursday October 27
home, Bergen

Friday October 28 - my birthday
home, Bergen

Saturday October 29
Smakverket, Bergen | at our friend's place, Bergen

Sunday October 30 - our daughter Sara is born!
home, Bergen | Kvinneklinikken, Haukeland sykehus, Bergen

PS: Click on each photo to view them bigger | the dinner project 2010, week 43 | introducing: Sara

introducing: Sara

2011-11-05T12:23:00.000+01:00

Sara, four days old | iPhone photos by her daddy

Our baby girl, Sara, was so eager to meet her parents, she decided to make her grand entrance into the world two weeks before her due date. She was born Sunday October 30; two days after her mother's birthday (the 28th) and four days after her father's birthday (the 26th). We are over the moon in love with her!

work

2011-10-29T10:56:00.000+02:00

As some of you already know, I write for a living. I’m a journalist and copywriter; part time employed in an ad agency called AKSO Reklame + freelance. Sometimes I get paid to take photographs too. From time to time I share work I have done here on the blog.

Since I started my maternity leave one week ago, work hasn’t really been on my mind. I prepared these work posts a little while ago, so I thought I would just get them out anyway, maternity leave or not ;-) So, every Saturday will for a while now be about my work.

PS: Click the label “work” if you are curious about more of my work + feel free to visit my work website www.astridhagen.no.

March was the time for the first of two biannual so called prisfest (price party) at Amfi shopping centers, and my part time employer ASKO Reklame made this prisfest magazine for Amfi Os.

I wrote an article about how to be prepared for the best prisfest shopping experience. The title is inspired by fjellvettregelene (the Norwegian mountain code).

things I like lately

2011-10-28T20:02:00.000+02:00

a lucky find during our weekend at Fogn | Kodak Portra 160, Canon EOS 500N

- first week of maternity leave
- Sølve cut my bangs for the first time - with success!
- Threading In The Choirs (via that's just it photo)
- the rockstar diaries (via For the easily distracted)
- Nytt Rom-e-5
- HEI! by Una.dos.tres
- amazing autumn weather
- checking things off my to do list
- stumbling upon a free outdoor concert with Hot Club de Norvège
- remembering our absolutely fantastic trip to New York this time last year
- Little Miss Sunshine
- a spontaneous visit by my sister-in-law and my four months old niece
- a song on the radio reminded me of Underground and of how brilliant this movie is
- Me in You by Kings of Convenience, video link via Rick (on Facebook)
- birthdays! Sølve's birthday was on Wednesday and mine is today
- IKEA meatballs, gravy and potatoes for dinner, a guilty pleasure (bought at IKEA and brought home - why haven't we done that before?!)
- seeing The West Wing again

October 28, 2006-2011

2011-10-28T11:20:00.000+02:00

2006: Caption written on Flickr: Sølve served me breakfast and newspaper in bed, while he cleaned the apartment and making it ready for our dinner party tonight. He's the best!

2007: Title and caption written on Flickr: I turn 28 on October 28. A once in a life time experience. It fascinates me.

2008: Sølve and I had dinner at the elegant restaurant Krystall in Bergen.

2009: My 30th birthday started with a pastel colored sky and was otherwise pretty uneventful. The next day at crack of dawn we flew to Paris with our friends and had a fabulous time.

2010: New York!

2011: I'm 38 weeks (9 months +) pregnant, on maternity leave and enjoying a slow morning. There will be cake later today. I'm sure of that.

Click the label "flashback" for more posts like these. Original idea adopted from Sandra.

everyday stories outtakes

2011-10-27T10:23:00.000+02:00

Everyday stories outtakes from week 42 in October.

Fogn

2011-10-26T08:46:00.000+02:00

Agfa Precisa 100, Canon EOS 500N

Glimpses of a weekend in September spent with the bestest friends and their little ones at a cabin on the island of Fogn north of Stavanger. Bliss!

desk and chairs for sale

2011-10-25T16:12:00.001+02:00

Finn.no ad here: sjarmerende stablestoler - sold!

Finn.no ad here: skrivebord med heve/senke funksjon

Please spread the word if you know anyone in Bergen/the Bergen area who needs/wants any of these things. Thanks!

Florence | arrivederci

2011-10-25T10:24:00.000+02:00

Kodak Portra 160vc, Minolta SRT 101

Click the tag "Tuscany June 2011" to view all these Tuscany posts | See all the photos, including photos not posted here, in the Italy: Tuscany set on Flickr

Kristina shoots film

2011-10-24T11:09:00.000+02:00

Why do you shoot film, Kristina?

I started with film only about a half year ago and I am so in love from the first roll. Well, actually I felt in love with film colors years ago when I even did not know what these colors were from. I spend years trying to edit my photos in order to give them that ”vintage” look, the look only a film camera can produce. I find these soft colors so captivating. Before film, I shoot digital for about 6 years. I can not stop comparing film and digital . Film is so imperfect and so impractical, many things can go wrong, you never know what you will get and then all this waiting. But sometimes a picture can be so good, it makes worth all the waiting and all the imperfections. There is nothing like a good sunlight captured by film and there is no equivalent by any digital. With a digital I can compose a picture, select parameters and capture a moment as it was. With film, additional thing sometimes happen, a little magic. When I look at the picture, it has something more. I shoot film because I expect or I wish this something would appear in every photo. It is a bit of concern those only 36 frames and I was very frightened at the beginning, but it is almost relieve when it comes to photo editing. You can not compare the feeling when you have hundreds of photos to edit and do not know where to start and what to choose; and when you have precious 36 where almost no editing is needed and you happy to see each of the photos.

Of course I still use my dslr, it is very trustable camera, especially when it comes to photo sessions, I can not imagine taking hundreds of photos of running kids with film; that would be too impractical, too much moments would be missed and finally it would get too expensive. But when I create a picture for myself, for seeing beauty, for my art, I would choose film. I would save my best shots for film.

I also love design of most old vintage film cameras. I think they are so elegant, so special; no modern digital camera looks this way, they just look like each other. And what a pleasure to own a thing previously owned and previously loved! I have one camera that comes to me from my family, the camera that had been used by my late father, that I had been taken pictures of as a little girl. Another one I picked up in a thrift store for almost nothing, it works perfectly and I love it. What a pleasure to see that vintage cameras still work as good now as all those years ago. What a pleasure to see look on faces, to tell people that yes, it is indeed very good camera and works very well and yes it can take beautiful pictures.

You can see more of Kristina's film photos on her blog.

everyday stories, week 42

2011-10-23T15:33:00.000+02:00

Monday October 17
home, Bergen

Tuesday October 18
home, Bergen

Wednesday October 19
home, Bergen

Thursday October 20
home, Bergen

Friday October 21
home, Bergen | Lie Nielsen, Bergen

Saturday October 22
home, Bergen | out walking, Isdalen

Sunday October 23
home, Bergen

PS: Click on each photo to view them bigger | the dinner project 2010, week 42

into the woods

2011-10-22T10:11:00.000+02:00

I'm not a big fan of wallpapers in general, not in my own home anyway. Lately I have become more and more fond of this "Woods" wallpaper from British Cole and Sons though. I have seen some great examples of it in use lately. Now if I could only find back to those images...