Dysfunctional yet Charming » Heartbeats

Le Quartier Latin, Paris

Shamini — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 21:51:04 +0000

I'm sitting in our hotel room in Paris as we speak, trying to muster up a post to update you all on how we're doing down here. It was so strange coming back, we both immediately felt at home when we drove into the city, it's like we belong here. The weather has been so-so, overcast and a bit chilly, but I'm not complaining. So far we haven't done anything special really, we've just been walking around, visiting brasseries and cafes, having a good time enjoying our vacation. So far we don't have much planned, but exploring more of the city by foot or bus. I'm in love with Paris, and I hope we've made an annual thing out of our Paris escapades.

I haven't been shopping much yet, I'm sure I will once we hit Champs-Élysées and I can go nuts at the ginormous Sephora there, but I did shop a little in the duty-free on-board the boat and I went to M·A·C Pro and the smaller Sephora yesterday. At the duty-free I bought one Chanel Les 4 Ombres in "93 Smoky Eyes", a Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in "Sari d'Eau" and a gift set from Dior consisting of a Crayon Eyeliner in black, Diorshow Extase mascara and an adorable mini Quint in "004 Mystic Smokys". I wasn't really planning on buying anything from M·A·C, but since they just launched their Semi-Precious collection from which I wanted two of the mineralized eyeshadows, I popped in to pick them up before they sell out. I ended up with "Smoked Ruby" and "Golden Gaze", in addition to two of the new brushes: 235 (split fibre all over eye) and 128 (split fibre cheek). I also wanted the 234 (split fibre eye blending), but apparently this M·A·C hadn't stocked it? Oh well. I'll look for it in another store later. Lastly I went to Sephora to look around, where I bought the smallest bottle of the new Dior Miss Dior Cherie (eau de perfume) as I've been lemming it for a while now.

Oh! And we went on a macaroon spree today, picking up assorted ones from three different stores to try them out. I didn't think I would like them at all, but I was wrong and I think they'll be amongst the things I'll miss the most when we leave. We stopped by Dalloyau first, then Maison Georges Larnicol and Gérard Mulot, who had the largest sortiment of the three. Let me just say that the first box of eight macaroons are already long gone, and I'm suspecting the rest of them will have a very short lifespan before devoured.

Apart from everything else I'm just admiring the gorgeous diamond ring I'm now wearing on my right ring finger. My previous post doesn't need my explanation, does it? I must be the luckiest girl in the whole wide world as I'm now engaged to the very best guy out there! He surprised me yesterday when he got down on one knee, pulled out a ring and asked me to marry him.. and there was absolutely no doubt in my mind when I gave him my answer. I don't understand how he managed to keep it a secret, I can usually tell straight away when he's hiding something, but this time he really did it. What can I say? I love my darling fiancé, and there's nothing I want more than to spend the rest of my life with him.

July 9th 2011

Shamini — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 14:15:38 +0000

Tiffany & Co. Heart Key

Shamini — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 20:31:21 +0000

Mr. UPS came with a delivery for me today, a delivery I've been very anxious to receive. I almost went crazy when the Germans decided to keep it in Koeln for four whole days before moving it on to.. another city in Germany! Thankfully they kept their word, and it was safely delivered at my doorstep today. The package held a Christmas present from Øyvind, my very own Tiffany & Co. Heart Key!

I usually find it kind of hard to imagine what something in a picture will look like in real life, so I was a little unsure if this key would be a good size for me. I'm not the kind of person who wears overstated jewelery, so I didn't want it to be too long, but I didn't want it to be so small it would disappear either. It measures 2" or 5.08 centimeters, and it's just perfect. When I went to order it I discovered that you could choose to have it engraved - by hand - with initials of your choice, so Øyvind told me to go ahead and have it done. I can honestly say it's the most precious necklace I own, and I absolutely adore it.

Thank you so much, my sweetheart, for this gorgeous gift.
I'll keep it close to my heart forever. I love you, Øyvind!

Photos © Shamini Thevarajah '11

The Key to Your Heart

Shamini — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:01:46 +0000

For quite some time now I've been wanting a key necklace. I didn't want the classic ones from Tiffany & Co., and I didn't want it to be too big either. A couple of weeks ago we were in town, and I ventured into Gullfunn where I discovered this little beauty. I prefer my jewelery in .925 Sterling Silver as opposed to gold, so I was very happy to find this little key - although I didn't pay very close attention to the label saying "Diamond". I was planning on buying it for myself, but Øyvind beat me to it and gave me this gorgeous necklace as a gift.

I'll admit to be frowning slightly at the price since .925 isn't usually that expensive - still not really noticing the "Diamond" label - but it came with a chain and was from aha® Design, so I figured that might be the reason. When we arrived home I yet again opened up the box to admire the necklace, and this time I actually noticed the tiny little stones which the key was set with. Hm, stones? And then I suddenly realized that my key was set with diamonds! Diamonds. Imagine that.

I love it - in addition to the coolness of actually owning diamonds - thank you my sweet!

Photo © Shamini Thevarajah '10

January 18th: 2 year anniversary

Shamini — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:48:31 +0000

Imagine that, two years have passed already since I first posted my mysterious little collage in my diary. I was dying to let the whole world know that I had managed to land the most gorgeous and loving guy out there, but I couldn't get myself to do it. Not without his permission, and I didn't dare to ask. Well, somewhere along the line I worked up the courage, because I did tell the world - or at least all of my readers. That was two years ago already. Two years today. A lot has happened during these two years, we've moved in together, met the parents on both sides, bought an apartment where we just dreamed of living, gotten the cutest little doggie.. and lots more.

Today Øyvind brought me a gorgeous bouquet of red long-stemmed roses, along with a very nicely wrapped present. My guy is an observant one, because the gift contained one of the "Charming by Ti Sento" charms that I wrote about here. OK, I'll admit I cheated a little. I gave him the catalog where I had most cunningly circled all of the charms I'd like for my bracelet. But this is where the observances apply, he had picked out a completely different charm! And not any charm either, a gorgeous silver heart with an arrow through it called "Cross My Heart". I love it!

Later tonight he's cooking us a three course dinner from scratch with a little inspiration from the book "Inn med sølvskje" by Anne-Kat Hærland (famous Norwegian comedienne) and Eyvind Hellstrøm (famous Norwegian chef). And I know that I'm lucky. Lucky to have a loving boyfriend, an aspiring master chef, a caring "dad", handyman and techno-wiz - all in one. Oh, and he's handsome too! Did I mention he's mine?

I hope I'll be writing these posts for years to come, that we'll grow old together many years from now. No matter what happens we always find our way back to each other, back to the good times. And I love you, Øyvind. Now and forever. I hope you know that!

Photo © Shamini Thevarajah '10

Jakten p� Leiligheten

Shamini — Tue, 05 May 2009 22:04:28 +0000

Ja, den med stor L. For ikke mange dager siden skrev jeg om hvordan planetene riktig har snurret min vei i det siste, og idag kulminerte det hele da jeg og �yvind fikk tilslaget p� leiligheten vi har siklet p� siden vi fant den! Helt siden det ble sikkert at huseier her skulle selge leiligheten vi bor i n� har vi v�rt p� utkikk etter et nytt sted � bo, og vi har v�rt p� visninger. La meg bare si at det er mye.. lite vakkert der ute! Beklageligvis er det n� engang s�nn at jeg p� grunn av rullestolen har endel krav som ikke ville v�rt noe problem om jeg hadde v�rt funksjonsfrisk. Jeg har ikke tall p� hvor mange nydelige, og relativt billige leiligheter vi m�tte velge vekk enten fordi de enten var over fler etasjer, badet var lite som et b�ttekott, eller rett og slett fordi bygget ikke hadde heis. H�pl�st!

For omtrent to uker siden kom vi over en kjempefin leilighet som ikke bare hadde perfekt beliggenhet, men som ogs� l� i f�rste etasje. Det var heis i bygget, den l� sentralt, den var like stor som den vi allerede leier, og den s� skikkelig fin ut. Store vinduer, stor terrasse, og ikke minst stort bad - men vi var skeptiske til at det var en to-roms. Vi hadde allerede diskutert fler ganger at vi burde hatt noe st�rre, med bedre muligheter og kanskje et ekstra rom. N� er det ikke � stikke under en stol at det er ganske h�pl�s planl�sning i den vi allerede leier, selv om den s� absolutt er flott, s� vi bestemte oss likevel for � dra p� visning. Som sagt, vi hadde allerede v�rt p� noen andre visninger, og jeg var veldig forberedt p� � finne noe helt annet enn jeg hadde sett p� bildene i annonsen. Overrasket! Denne leiligheten var jo kjempefin helt p� ordentlig, og jeg s� umiddelbart muligheter for b�de det ene og det andre. Og badet, det var s� stort at det nesten fortjener et eget innlegg!

S� idag var jeg med p� min andre budrunde, og det var minst like spennende som jeg husket det. Ikke bare var det snakk om mye mer penger enn sist gang, men n� var det ogs� snakk om fremtiden v�r - og alle som kjenner meg vet at jeg hater � ikke vite. P� usle 45 minutter var det hele over, og vi fikk beskjeden om at budet var akseptert og at leiligheten var v�r! S� sinnssykt uvirkelig.. men s� utrolig deilig! Overtakelsen skjer i begynnelsen av juni, og jeg gleder meg som en unge til � sette igang med flytting, innkj�p og innredning. Omsider kan vi gj�re akkurat som vi vil, henge opp bilder og anskaffe oss en aldri s� liten pelsball.. etterhvert.

5. mai, 2009 - �yvind og jeg har nemlig kj�pt oss leilighet sammen!

1 �r!

Shamini — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:59:19 +0000

Ig�r var det n�yaktig et �r siden forrige gang det var 18. januar - eller et �r og �n dag for � v�re helt eksakt, siden det jo var skudd�r i 2008. Tenk, det har g�tt et �r allerede! Et helt �r siden vi satt p� Dublin sammen med Bodil og Ingmar, og ble overfalt av gale islendinger (in a good way) - et helt �r siden �yvind og jeg ble sammen.

N�r kvelden kom tok vi turen tilbake til Old Dublin Steakhouse, som jo er blitt stamstedet v�rt, for � spise middag og kose oss. Dessverre viste det seg at Old Dublin var stengt, men at vi kunne ta turen innom Caf� Dublin istedet - den tilh�rende puben som ligger vegg-i-vegg med restauranten. Det som var litt morsomt med det hele, var at vi p� den m�ten havnet i samme lokale, ved samme bord, som for akkurat et �r siden. Har sagt det mange ganger f�r, jeg elsker Old Dublin! Atter en gang ble det carpaccio og Farmer's Potato Skins til forrett, Guinness Black Beef Stew og Blackened Sirloin til hovedrett, og den fantastiske Bailey's Cheese Cake til dessert. Med en tilh�rende Kilkenny, og det beste selskapet en kan tenke seg, ble det hele magisk!

P� bildet under ser du den nydelige gaven jeg fikk av �yvind, et armb�nd som virkelig ikke kommer til sin rett p� bildet. Selve lenka er mange sm� hjerter som er smidd i hverandre, og pynten best�r av "charms" i s�lv, perlemor, og det jeg tror og mener er krystall. Det er aldeles nydelig, og jeg skulle gjerne brukt d�gnet rundt, �ret rundt - men jeg vil jo ikke at det skal bli �delagt av hverdagsbruk.

Jeg elsker deg, �yvind min.

6 m�neder!

Shamini — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:06:30 +0000

Idag har �yvind og jeg v�rt sammen i 6 m�neder! Skj�nner ikke hvor tiden blir av, jeg. Selv om det kjennes ut som om at vi har kjent hverandre for alltid, s� virker 6 m�neder som en herlig liten evighet.

Vet ikke om du har lagt merke til det, kj�resten min - men jeg annerledes n� enn jeg var da jeg flyttet hit. Bitene som danner hverdagen faller sakte men sikkert p� plass, og du har mye av fortjenesten i akkurat det. Jeg har det bra sammen med deg, kanskje bedre enn jeg noen gang har hatt det, og jeg h�per du har det like bra som meg - du er biten som fullf�rer puslespillet meg, og jeg er uendelig glad i deg, �yvind.

Up, up.. and away!

Shamini — Tue, 27 May 2008 13:33:33 +0000

Jeg nevnte for noen dager siden, i innlegget "Dagens ord: SMIL!", at det er deilig med dager hvor alt rett og slett f�les bra. Ingen gr� tanker, ingen bekymringer. De gode dagene mine vedvarer, og glad er jeg for det - selv om jeg ikke kan unng� den snikende tanken om at.. n�r det bare g�r oppover, s� m� det jo engang stoppe, og g� nedover igjen? Har skrevet mang en gang om disse uunng�elige dalene, selv om det har v�rt i en ganske annen kontekst. N� skal det sies at jeg pr�ver � la v�re � v�re s� sabla negativ, og heller bare nyte at.. vel, livet er flott, men det er ikke alltid like enkelt. Kategoriserer dette som "tvangstanker"?

Saken er den at vi har funnet oss leilighet. Den perfekte leiligheten, med den perfekte beliggenheten, og alt er bare fryd og gammen. Planlagt flytting er i perfekt tidsrom, n�rmere bestemt august, og krasjer ikke med noe som helst. Kan det bli bedre? Jeg gleder meg, og det gir en god f�lelse i magen � tenke p� at det er i orden. Vi har funnet et nytt sted � bo, det er st�rre, mye penere, og vi skal flytte dit!

N� har dessuten �yvind t�mt hybelen sin, og meldt adresseendring hit, s� n� er vi offisielt blitt samboere! Hvor kult er ikke det? OK, s� er jeg kanskje litt jentete n�r det kommer til akkurat det punktet.. men det er fint � v�re samboere. N� er det p� en m�te oss to, helt p� ordentlig! Og jeg.. jeg er verdens heldigste jente, med verdens herligste og beste kj�reste, uten tvil.

N� blir det roadtrip!

Shamini — Wed, 21 May 2008 10:06:27 +0000

Kj�resten min er best! Han har nemlig tatt oppkj�ringen sin idag, og han stod - s�klart. Gratulerer s� mye, �yvind - jeg er utrolig stolt av deg! N� m� du bare kj�re pent, og passe godt p� deg selv - jeg gleder meg masse til � dra p� roadtrip med deg til sommeren. Yay you!

Illustrasjon: � Disney '07