So I found myself thinking about this quote again today. For me it's always been a reminder of such a basic and yet vital part of our lives. Doing the right thing even when it's not just for ourselves. Doing it because it's the right thing. Even though it's important to keep in mind 'doing the right thing' if we are ever faced with one of those pivotal and difficult moments in life- I think it's even more important to keep this idea in our everyday.

Doing the right thing isn't just for the dark times and hard moments. It's smiling at our neighbors and saying hello. It's stopping when a person has fallen or looks distressed. The 'right thing' is in every act of kindness and understanding. And every one of those acts and smiles we offer people, whether reciprocated or not, are worth our efforts. You'll never run out, you can spare goodwill on those that don't appreciate it because after those seconds when you continue on your way you'll forget but maybe it'll sink in for them, maybe it'll mean something.

Who among us hasn't had a day where a smile from a stranger could make it so much better? Be kind because one day you might need kindness in return. Be kind because it will make a difference to someone. Be kind because the world needs it, because it will make you feel better, because there's no good reason not to be.

The world can be a hard place. Make it better. Do the right thing.

I think that it's alarmingly expensive to get your hair cut in sweden. At least 500 sek (about 80 dollars) just for a cut that more than often in my experience hasn't been that great. Whereas in the States I was getting my hair cut for 25 dollars (with tip) and it was great! So after going on hair cutting strike for more than half a year, I finally craked. Craked open with an awesome idea! I got my boyfriend to cut my hair for me (mind you he's particularly hair and style savvy so he was no bad choice) and it worked! I have stumbled upon something brilliant.

I'm going to go on an internet shopping hunt for those neat razor scissors and hair cutting books! Imagine all of the money to be saved and spent on plants and fabric and art supplies and yummy indian food! And someday when I have kids, if I can cut there hair too!? Thousands and thousands of kronor!

Check out the first hair cut-

The cute kind of graffiti of course, not the boring and confusing kind. Like the random 'fuck the polis' I see randomly written on buildings. What police? I almost never see any police in Umeå- not that they don't do their jobs, just that there's that little crime. I blame the desire to rebel against ficticious police and the use of the word 'fuck' on uncreative teens.

But forget them! I've noticed a number of rather cute and creative graffiti's in town that deserve their wall space!

I've seen these on another bridge as well. For those that don't live in Sweden, mosquitoes are just about the only bug around (at least up north) and they are incredibly irritating and large. Seriously large. And they hang out in swarms (is 'swarm' the correct term for mosquitoes?) it looks like a cloud that every so often you have the misfortune of walking through... and then they chase you.

The thumb prints! It's like a giant showed up in the night with smutsy fingers and started poking the buildings. I haven't counted these but every so often I find myself noticing a new one.

Lastly for today, the winged box creature. I see him often on my way into Haga so I thought I'd add him to the list- because good graffiti should be rewarded.

There was also, my favorite, a giant carrot but it was sadly painted over just this last week. Linn has an old picture of it that I'll be getting from her, because it too should be immortalized- especially since it was the first.

More to come!

So many firsts have been concurred with this project! My first skirt, first garment for myself, first pockets, first zipper, and probably something else I'm forgetting at the moment. I'm rather proud of it. Again, I didn't use a pattern or follow the wise advice of several accomplished and wonderful sewers- which was to use an old sheet or cheap fabric and try it on those first. I would have, but I had neither and I wanted to sew last night. Luckily it worked out!

It wasn't what I intended when I started out, but I'm really proud of it nonetheless. I guess the fabric knew what it wanted to be.

The skirt is a bubble (ballong for the sweds I think) the end is sewen to another fabric inside and creates kind a pillowcase effect that I really like. The inside is purple by the way.

So these are wonderful and I hope other people get a change to try them. Unlike a lot of cinnamon bun recipes, this one doesn't need a bread machine or yeast and you don't have to wait for the dough to rise. I tried my hand at making the ingredient quantities european friendly (even though I live in Sweden I've still managed to continue using cups) so use your best judgement when you try it. Don't be afraid to make changes to recipes... they're more suggestions than rules and you know best what you're going to like in your food.

Ingredients

For the Dough:

(110g)     3/4 cup cottage cheese
(1,2dl)     1/2 cup milk
(0,5dl )    1/4 cup granulated sugar
(4msk)    4 tbs unsalted butter, melted
(1tsk)      1 tsp vanilla extract
(4,5dl)     1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
(1msk)    1 tbs baking powder
(0,5tsk)   1/2 tsp table salt
(0,25tsk) 1/4 tsp baking soda

Filling:

(1,4 msk) 1 1/2 tbs unsalted butter, melted
(1,6 dl)     2/3 cup brown sugar (brun farin is wonderful for this if you're in sweden)
(1,5 tsk)   1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Glazing:

(1,6 dl)      2/3 cup confectioners sugar
(2-3 msk)  2-3 tbs cold milk
(1 tsk)       1 tsp vanilla extract


Directions

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees (celsius). Grease the sides and bottom of a 9 or 10 inch springform pan.
2. Blend cottage cheese, milk, sugar, melted butter and vanilla until smooth.Pour into a large bowl. In separate bowl mix flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Add flour mixture to liquid mixture until smooth and doughy- pour out onto floured counter and roll the dough into a rectangle.
3. For filling, brush the dough with the melted butter. Mix brown sugar with cinnamon and then sprinkle over the dough.
4. Starting from the long edge, roll the dough and use butter to press the seams. Cut the roll in half, the halves in half, and then those halves in half- you should end up with eight.
5. Arrange in pan and bake 20 to 25 minutes or until brown.
6. For glazing, mix confectioners sugar, vanilla, and cold milk. Drizzle over rolls.