Meanwhile in Iceland

When I first started blogging I wasn’t working and had more free time then I knew what to do with. I had all day to focus on my blog and never had to worry much about planning ahead.

Now that I am working full time though I am learning just how important scheduling and writing post ahead are in staying organized and not feeling overwhelmed by everything.

So for today’s post I am keeping it simple with a currently update.

Azora Face
Azora has been on my mind a lot this week, I just love that face!

Wearing: double layers of everything. The temperatures have been below freezing all week, feels like we are back in December!

Loving: my current job. Even though I don’t know what will happen in the next few weeks this experience has been amazing and I have met so many wonderful people. Anywhere that sends you to an annual ball is a winner in my book.

Needing: socks. I have worn the same few pairs I packed so much that almost all of them now have holes in them.

Knowing: that I need to start practicing my Icelandic again. Ever since my course finished I haven’t been very good about practicing, I need to get on it.

Watching: Scandal, I count down the days tell the newest episode is out!

Feeling: homesick. It’s just been one of those weeks were you can’t shake the feeling of homesickness and I just have to let it run its course.

Drinking: carrot and ginger juice. We recently got an amazing new blender and I am obsessed with blending everything in it. My favorite combination so far is carrot, pineapple and ginger.

Hoping: for spring to arrive soon, I need some sunshine in my life!

Wanting: new clothes. After wearing the same outfits for 5 months I am dreaming of a shopping spree.

Missing: my sisters. We can spend hours laughing and talking about anything but we have all been so busy that we haven’t had much time to talk lately.

Anticipating: what the rest of this month will bring job wise.

Wondering: when I will get to see my family again. At the moment I have no idea when my next trip back home will be and I think this has been a factor in my recent feelings of homesickness. Will be nice when I know when I will get to see everyone again.

Playing: Badminton. Last weekend we went with some friends to a badminton court and it was a blast. We ended up playing for a few hours and are already planning our next trip back.

Looking: for the perfect picture wall layout. We just rearranged our living room and now have a big space on our wall we want to fill up with photos so I have been browsing Pinterest trying to get some ideas on different layouts.

Baking: this recipe for chocolate chip cookie bars made with chickpeas. They are delicious!

Thinking: that I need to fix my bike. I got a flat tire last week and have yet to deal with it. Not having my bike is starting to get a bit inconvenient.

Reading: Michael Pollan “Food Rules” for my book club. Last meeting we got into discussing one of my favorite topics, nutrition, which led to the reading of this book. I can’t wait for our next meeting to hear everyone’s thoughts about the topic.

Laughing: at the adorable video of the dog rolling around the bed when the owners are gone.

Wishing: that my good friend and amazing hairdresser Sarah was here so she could help my poor hair out. I haven’t gotten it trimmed since I moved to Iceland, it is in need of her magical touch. If your in the Eugene, Oregon area look her up at The Mothership salon!

Dreaming: of this hike that I hope we get to do this summer. I can’t wait for the weather to get nicer so we can start exploring around Iceland more.

Until next time, Azora says be sure to smile today :)
Azora

Question of the Day?
What’s something going on currently in your life?

Linking up with Treasure Tromp and Her&Nicole.

Previous Post Next Post
  • http://djseaward.tumblr.com/ Cynthia

    Do you have any opportunities to use your Icelandic? I think that’s sooo cool, I would love to have a reason to learn a Nordic language. Also, you’ll have to tell us how your chickpea cookies turned out! My goal this week was also to fix my bike, so I asked my landlord to borrow a bike pump and he came over with this fancy pump machine and fixed all my problems. Love it.

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      At times but its hard since everyone speaks such great English most conversations quickly turn to that. I really need to start practicing more though! Ah thats such a nice landlord, I hope mine is a simple fix!

  • ablondearoundtheworld

    I know EXACTLY what you talking about.
    I mean all.
    I work sometimes more than 8 hours a day, and often weekends, so all of my posts are scheduled and sometimes it’s really hard to keep the good work on a blog when yuo are so busy elsewhere. :(
    And I totally get your points.
    I lived 6 months in Finland and I found a lot of your points reflecting mines of that time.
    In cold countries things like fruit juices, sun, and especially new spring clothes when outside it’s -10C in March are absolutely necessary!!! :D

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      I am so glad that I am not the only one! Seriously this cold weather needs to go away, I am more than ready for spring!

  • http://www.rhymeandribbons.com/ Amanda

    I try to do as much of my writing of blog posts ahead of time as possible. I usually set a chunk of time aside one evening of the week to do it. The weather here has been beautiful for the past two weeks and has now snapped back to the cold and dreary. x

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      I am so jealous of your beautiful weather, even if it is a bit chilly now. I need to get better about writing them in advance, I usually get my firs few for the week done then run out of time for the others.

  • http://www.gutenblogyall.com/ Margo

    I completely hear you - planning blog posts is so crucial yet I’m so terrible about it. I’m sure that I’d be a heck of a lot less stressed at times if I just added some bloganization to my life (like how I did that?:)

    As far as homesickness, me too. As you said though, gotta just let it runs it’s course.

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      I love the term, bloganization, I need some of that in my life too! I think its the deary weather that has really been making me miss home even more, hoping it runs its course for both of us soon!

  • http://bitsofdays.com/ Zia @ Bits of Days

    I can imagine quite overwhelming it will be. I realized I probably have more free time than you, but I always complain that I have busy schedule haha. It’s so crazy that there’s still snow in Iceland. Here in Germany the temperature is already 20C!

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Luckily the snow has finally left us but its still so cold! It can get overwhelming at times for sure, planning is key now I just need to get better about actually planning things out!

  • Samantha Krause

    I think the arrival of spring (whenever it gets here!) will help with your homesickness as well. I missed my family and home (slightly) less during the warmer months- you are just able to be busier & happier when the weather is nice!

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      I agree, once the sun comes out it helps to feel happier. When the sun is shining its hard to be in a bad mood!

  • http://www.chicadeedee.com/ Dannielle @ Chic-a-DeeDee

    I think I feel less homesick when there’s more sun (weirdly). probably because the sun just makes me happier! Hope that helps. It’s always tough when you don’t have plans to go home to look forward to.

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      I agree, I think the combination of cold weather and not having plans yet on when I will be going home are to blame. Hopefully soon both of these things will change!

  • http://hemborgwife.wordpress.com/ Bailie @ The Hemborg Wife

    ugh socks they are the worst and most boring thing to buy but you need tons in these Nordic countries. Sometimes Intersport will have good deals on socks that are not so pretty but warm and durable, I have bought socks at H&M but they never go high enough for me to wear with boots.

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      I agree, they are so important but my least favorite things to buy. I wish we had an H&M here!

  • http://Girl-Meets-Globe.com/ Tina @ Girl-Meets-Globe

    Must have good socks!!! My feet get SO cold! It’s been nothing close to extreme cold here, but I’ve still be wearing wool socks. I blame it on all the Alaska cold winters growing up and getting too much exposure as a kid, so don’t let that happen! ;) And I’m with everyone else, warmer weather helps!! Hopefully it will be coming your way soon!!

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      My feet are always so cold! I thought i stocked up well before I moved but its already time to get some new ones. Warm weather really does help, hope we get some soon!

  • http://agirlandhertravels.com/ Polly

    Cute dog overload! We’re packing up our life over here, getting ready to move out of our apartment. Whee… Not :)

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Ugh moving, least favorite thing to do! Best of luck!

  • http://www.kaitmakesarunforit.com/ Kait Comiskey

    Azora is such a babe :) i’m jealous of your new blender, that juice sounds so refreshing!

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      I am pretty much in love with Azora:) I was so excited for the new blender, I think this means I am getting old but I don’t care all those drinks I have been making lately are amazing!

  • http://anothercleanslate.com/ Kate @ Another Clean Slate

    Going to a ball has been on my wish list for ages- a real ball where I can wear a pouffy dress!

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Yes! Like a Cinderella dress that I can spend the night twirling around in.

  • http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/ Jamie | ink + adventure

    I had an amazing carrot/ginger/beet juice when I was in Bali and now you’re making me wish I had bought a juicer before we started this budget thing! hope you get over your homesickness soon. I left my 2 cats behind in the states so I know how tough it can be missing your furry ones :/ xo

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Yum that juice sounds delicious. I just recently started using ginger and I am now hooked! I think missing our furry ones can be harder at times then missing the rest of your family. Probably because I can’t call Azora and talk to her on the phone:)

  • http://www.hungrymeetshealthy.com/ Christina

    just found your blog through amanda’s (meet at the barre). i love a good blogger survey. carrot & ginger juice is my jam lately. and just juicing in general. i will have to try that cookie recipe. i’ve made one with chickpeas before and they came out pretty funky, haha

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Welcome, I am so glad you found my blog! I was a bit worried about how the cookies would turn out but they were amazing!

  • http://www.diariesofanessexgirl.com/ Kate Hall

    I feel you on this! I started mine in the summer when I barely worked and my family here took a 4 week holiday. Now it’s all crazy and it’s definitely important to rely on scheduling everything in before! Ah… I miss the simple days!

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      The simple days were so nice and relaxing! Schedule is the only thing that helps keep me sane, I think a personal assistant would be nice as well, wouldn’t we all:)

  • Jessica Shannon

    I’m sorry you’re feeling homesick! I can’t even imagine how you must feel!

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Thank you :) I am hoping with some sunshine and skype dates over the weekend it will be cured!

  • http://voyageofthemeemee.com/ Amanda MeeMee

    Badminton is so fun! I haven’t played it in forever and don’t know the real rules, but, I love it! Tennis… I suck at! haha

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      It was so fun to play again. The real rules sound way to complicated, we tried for a bit but life is much easier when you don’t play by the rules:)

  • http://www.bohemianjourneys.blogspot.com/ Cheyenne

    Love this post, so much fun to read :) Currently I have a lot of reading going on in my life, so many books still have to be read before exam session.
    xx

    http://www.bohemianjourneys.blogspot.com

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Glad you enjoyed! I don’t miss those days of non stop text book reading, best of luck with your exams!

      • http://www.bohemianjourneys.blogspot.com/ Cheyenne

        Thank you Kaelene :)

  • http://www.handandtheheart.com/ Andrea Laughery

    If you need anything from the Northwest, be sure to give me a holler. I’ll bring it up to you in May! :)

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Thanks so much! I am having my mom ship me over a goodie box. Hope you guys are getting excited about your trip!

  • http://ifsandsandbutts.com/ Alex

    I just got a blender and whipped the badminiton set back out. Unfortunately, I’ve been using my blender for not the healthiest of smoothies, but it’s been so helpful wiht my sweet cravings on this no sugar kick.

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      I can’t wait to be able to play badminton outside again. If there is fruit in it its healthy;)

  • http://cheapgirlfashionstyle.blogspot.com/p/about-us.html Morgan

    Love the pictures of Azora , so cute! I have also been watching Scandal a lot this winter. I was late to become a fan, so I have been catching up on Season 2. Glad to hear you are enjoying your job. I think I would like working for a university too.

  • Pingback: Stand Out & Be Proud | Unlocking Kiki()