february weekend pics: brightening our days

we've had so much snow this month and then it just went all away, almost overnight. it brightened up the days so i was sad to see it go. 

but there were other ways in which our days were brightened... keep reading:

1. hanging out with friends. throw in a walk in the woods and well, we have a very good day. early in the month we met up with jenny and nils, taking a walk along årstaviken and then fika-ing on a snowy picnic table in the cold. whiling away the time laughing and chatting makes the cold almost bearable. 

by the end of the month, the skies and snow cleared and we were once again dining outside but this time in warmth, which is so unusual for february, in ximena and petter's garden. while so many friends and family back home have spent much of their time isolating from loved ones, we have been fortunate to still have the option of hanging out with friends. i am so thankful for ximena, couldn't have coped this year without her.

2. cats. especially when they keep you company while having breakfast in bed. 

even when patiently waiting for their dinner, they are adorable

3. views of the city. they never get old. running an errand in town, i walked around for long while to make my way to a favourite view from the kungsholmen bridge.

4. semla day/fettisdag! between christmas and easter, swedes enjoy this cardomom bun pastry filled with almond paste and cream. but on on the third tuesday of february, referred to by swedes as 'fat tuesday', many more semlor are eaten. bakery / café window displays overflow with semla on this day. the tradition of fettisdag comes from when the buns were eaten as a last celebratory feast before the christian fasting period of lent, often eaten soaked in a bowl of hot milk referred to as hetvägg. of course, we joined in (without the milk).

5. while not technically brightening up my day, hopefully, the cats enjoy their new cat tree.

6. omnomnomn chocolaterie's hazelnut chocolate chip cookies. i have been addicted to these. the. best. cookies. ever. 

7. sébastien på söder. not much more to add here, right ximena? 

8. hiding the grey is always a happy day. thanks to my 'hairdresser.' 

9. packages arriving in the mail. my order from suji's online shop arrived and i was so happy with all the little extras she threw in. of note, the quick buff exfoliate cream is a dream.

hope you all had a lovely february.