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It has been awhile since I've updated this blog. Excuse the long absence. I am not gonna try to write down everything that has happened between August 2020 and today in just one blog entry. That's gonna take me days to get every important detail mentioned. I'll simply go with the flow and write stuff that has taken place, events that are happening at the moment and some future endeavours - in no particular order.

I have to admit that I've missed writing. Despite the evolution of social media, blogging for me is still one of the best platforms to document my daily reflections, look back at my past mistakes and learn from them and look forward to upcoming plans and celebrations.

The past three years have been a real-life roller coaster ride of my life. Let's just say that I have become more independent and have turned into a stronger person than ever. Still a little bit shy when it comes to speaking out what's on my mind, but I have definitely seen a huge transformation when it comes to self-love, self-care and self-respect.

Anyhoo!!! To start this ball rollin', let's get this thin' goin'!

Let me start by letting you all know that I finally conquered one of my worst fears! It was on the 29th of May this year that I finally decided to get into a hair saloon and had my haircut done by a professional. This to me was a first since I landed here in Sweden in 2007. And because I was already there, I pushed myself to the limit and told the hairstylist to cut it really short. I asked for the bixie cut (part bob, part pixie). I remember, I was sitting on that chair all excited but nervous at the same time. To make a long story short, I did love the result. Lemme show you these...

FROM THIS:

TO THIS...

Quite the transformation and yep! It's the same me! Months have passed since May and although I admit that I miss my long beautiful hair, I am having a great time with my short and easy-to-care short hairstyle. I am not sure though if I am keeping this length or if I am gonna want my long hair back. We'll see in the next few up and coming months!

Ciao for now! I have to prep for my evening work. Time check: 01:51pm as of this writing and I have to be at work by 4!

Have a great day everyone!

xoxo, Mary Anne

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If you're considering Scandinavia for your next wishlist destination, make Stockholm your first stop! You'll never regret it. Promise!

I live in a small town in the northern part of Sweden and since it's only a 2.5 hour-train-ride to Stockholm City, my boyfriend and I enjoy spending some of our weekends there.

It is one of our favorite destinations whenever we long for that "hustle and bustle of the city" kinda feeling.

Stockholm is home to one of the most famous must-visit attractions in Sweden --- Gamla Stan [Old Town]. So if you're only staying for a day or two in Stockholm, I suggest you spend most of your time in the beautiful Old Town.

Gamla Stan, Stockholm

Below is a list of my personal favorite spots when in Gamla Stan, Stockholm:

1. My favorite hotel. First Hotel Reisen is my second home whenever I'm in Stockholm. It is situated on the water front in Old Town and their room with sea view is highly recommended. I so admire the views over both Saltsjön Bay and Skeppsholmen islands through the hotel room window. Pretty mesmerizing and romantic especially during sunset.

First Hotel Reisen. Gamla Stan, Stockholm

View from our hotel room window.

Coffee! First Hotel Reisen. Gamla Stan, Stockholm

2. The Royal Palace. Considered as one of the largest palaces in Europe, The Royal Palace is situated in the heart of Gamla Stan and is the official residence of the Swedish monarch.

It also has Treasury, Tre Kronor and Gustav III museums. Go check them out! Admission isn't free. Tickets can be purchased online or at any of the palace's entrances and prices are 160SEK for adults and 80SEK for kids and teenagers up to 17 years old.

P.S. Don't miss the changing of guards! On weekdays, changing of guards starts at 12:15pm and at 1:15pm on sundays. However, be advised that due to Covid-19, there might be changes to the schedules so always check updates online.

The Royal Palace. Gamla Stan, Stockholm

3. Nationalmuseum. It doesn't matter if you're a museum enthusiast or not. You'll definitely love it there. I honestly have no interest in museums but this one captured my heart and is now one of my favorite attractions in Stockholm. It's massive! There are three floors filled with paintings, drawings, applied art, sculptures, portraits and more. Do not forget to drop by its sculpture garden. It's worth your time. There is a 100SEK standard admission fee for temporary exhibitions only otherwise, you can have a great learning experience in this museum FOR FREE!

This museum has been temporarily closed due to Covid-19 but reopened to the public sometime in June under controlled conditions complying with the Public Health Agency of Sweden's recommendations regarding social distancing.

Nationalmuseum. Gamla Stan, Stockholm

The Sculpture Garden. Nationalmuseum. Gamla Stan, Stockholm

4. Stortorget. I can't get enough of Stortorget! Considered as the oldest square in Stockholm, this is the perfect place where you can spend hours and hours of walking while enjoying Gamla Stan's historic buildings. There are bookstores, souvenir shops, grocery stores, churches and restaurants everywhere! So, put on your coziest pair of sneakers and explore the beautiful and stunning Stortorget!

Stortorget. Gamla Stan, Stockholm

And hey! Since you're already there, have a photo of you taken in the Mårten Trotzigs gränd [Mårten Trotzigs alley], considered as the narrowest alley in Gamla Stan. It is definitely not easy to find but don't hesitate to ask around.

The Mårten Trotzigs Gränd. Gamla Stan, Stockholm

Hej då! xoxo / Mary Anne

Disclamer: In collaboration with Hotels.com, but all views are my own.

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Cats make wonderful pets! Not only do they give you excellent cuddles and endless amusement when they chase flies around the house, but they also stop you from getting too big for your boots by occasionally completely ignoring you for no reason whatsoever. If you’re ready to embark on the emotional rollercoaster that is cat ownership, there are a few things you will need to do to help them to settle into your home as well as possible.

Make your house safe

Before you bring your cat home, you’ll need to make sure that your house and garden are safe for them. These are some things to check:

Check your house and garden for any plants that are toxic to cats. Assume that your new furry friend will eat anything that they can access, and either get rid of them or lock them away securely.

If you have any breakable valuables, such as china, lock it away. Your kitty will love to jump up on any surface and will probably knock things off.
Secure any electrical cords to ensure that your cat can’t nibble them.
Check that your windows are secure. You’ll need to keep your cat indoors for at least the first couple of weeks, even if you plan to let them outside eventually, to make sure they don’t run off and get lost. Make sure your windows and doors are secure enough to keep them in.

Buy the essentials

Cats not only need to be fed and watered, but they also need to be entertained, and they need to be able to fulfill their need to scratch. If they don’t have a special post to do this, they WILL use your furniture. You want to make sure that you have:

Food and water bowls. These should be placed somewhere your cat has good visibility and easy escape routes so that they feel safe while eating and drinking.
A litter tray [ideally not in the same room as their food].
A scratching post.
A collar and identity tag.
Toys to play with.
Meet our furry friends: Bisse and Neko.

Get them vaccinated

It’s really important that you get your cat vaccinated annually, and that you regularly carry out flea and worm treatments. You should factor whether or not you can afford to do this in the cost of having a pet, because it really is essential. The diseases your cat can be prone to from not being vaccinated or treated for parasites are potentially life-threatening. Find an affordable clinic like the Little Elm vet, who are dedicated to making veterinary care affordable and easily accessible.

Introduce them slowly

Moving into a new home can be overwhelming for your new furry companion, so you need to do it in a way that keeps them comfortable.

Generally speaking, at first you will want to confine your cat into a single room, where they can access food, water, toys, and a litter tray, and have a safe place to hide. Give your cat space in this room but make yourself available for them to spend time with as well, perhaps sit quietly and read a book and wait for them to come to you. When they seem comfortable in this room and with you, you can begin to introduce them slowly to the rest of the house.

Always supervise introductions to children or other pets and ensure that both pets can escape from any meeting to prevent conflict. It’s a good idea to let your new pet get the scent of something belonging to the existing members of your household before you introduce them so that the introduction isn’t a complete shock.

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The internet plays such an inescapable role in our lives these days that things like broadband providers and routers have taken on much more significance than ever before. You have to make sure you are constantly connected and able to use the internet whenever you need to, in the best way you possibly can. This is something you are going to need to get right when you make the decision about the sort of choice you are going to go with.

Do as much as possible to think about what it takes to find the right broadband, and how you can get the best quality out of your choice. Make sure you do as much as possible to help you achieve this, and the best way of being able to achieve this is to think about how you can find the right provider. Here is a comparison so you can choose between Sky broadband or EE broadband.

Broadband Speed

Broadband speed is a massive thing to think about when it comes to finding out how to make the best out of the process, and this is something you need to consider right now. When comparing EE and Sky broadband, you are going to want to look at their speeds. The difference between the two is negligible, but, we would argue that EE just about edges it when it comes to the top level fibre optic broadband.

Package Deals

Package deals always sweeten the deal that little bit more, and this is something you should consider right now. Again, there is very little difference here, and it largely depends on what you are looking for from any kind of package deal. However, EE offers three different package deals to Sky’s two, and for that reason, we would probably recommend you going with EE if you want a little bit more range and choice.

Equipment

Broadband customers don’t like it when companies treat them differently from one another, and it’s on this aspect that EE falls down. See, they only offer the best router to their fibre optic customers, whereas with Sky you can be sure of getting the same router no matter what package you use. This means you feel as though you are always getting the best possible service from Sky, no matter the level and package you choose to use.

Customer Service

Both companies provide a positive and well-rated customer service platform that is pretty easy to get hold of. However, EE is lacking in the Live Chat department, which is something a lot of customers value highly these days, however, they do have a video chat function. We would probably say that Sky just about edges this, but it’s pretty much a coin flip to be honest.

These are two of the biggest names in the world of modern broadband, and this is why you are going to need to factor in what it takes to achieve this in the best possible way. From our comparison we have determined that Sky just has the edge here, due to better and more helpful customer service options.

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