Win win win… make up! Yes, please.

Another Norwegian entry I’m afraid. You see, one of Norways best bloggers are hosting a contest, it’s make up and I’m drooling at the sight of the prize. Therefor I have to join in, that’s a given. Might not have the biggest chance of winning, but I find it easier winning a contest if you actually enter it!

Ser du etter en blogg som har gode innlegg, tekst som engasjerer, bilder som matcher og som av og til holder noen ufattelig digge konkurranser? Ta en titt innom Reidun Beates blogg da vel, om du ikke alt følger henne. Noe du virkelig burde gjøre. For bare bittelitt siden hadde hun en konkurranse om å vinne en skikkelig digg goodiebag med masse stash til en verdi av 700kr!

I waaaaant!

Og tror du ikke hun sannelig nå slår til med enda en superdigg konkurranse?!
Denne gangen kan du vinne 10 valgfrie øyeskygger og en sminkekost fra Tikei! En del av de bloggerne jeg følger har opptil flere ganger nevnt denne sminken, og aldri har jeg fått noe inntrykk av at den er noe annet en helt fantastisk. Har vurdert å prøve den ut selv, men som fattig student i utlandet, har det bare ikke blitt ennå. Dessuten elsker jeg sminke, det morsomste jeg vet at å sitte foran speilet før vi skal ut på byen, å sminke meg. Kan bruke timer, noe som i gjengeld kan irritere min flotte housemate.

Utvalget i øyeskygger finner du HER. Herregud hvor vanskelig det skulle være å velge ut 10 av de.

Har du vett, bli med du og!

Monday.

In lack of wanting to rant on about my feelings at the moment, as I am confused enough myself, no need to confuse you guys as well, I chose to copy this list thing from the gorgeous Astrid Katrine. I have translated it to English, for my lovely non-Norwegian readers. Am I not just ever so kind?

Ten firsts
First best friend: Ida
First crush: This boy nicknamed Calle waaaay back in kindergarten.
First favorite book: That must have been a series of books by the author Staron Slamon, that I got through a book club I was in, TL-Klubben. I don’t know what the books are originally called, but in Norwegian they were called “Overnattingsgjengen”. I loved those books I did.
First pet: Never had one.
First holiday: My mum and dad brought me to Sweden in a caravan when I was just a few weeks old.
First job: Like a proper one would be cleaning a garage.
First love: The first one I’ve been anywhere near in love with must be Henry.
First piercing: In my ears.
First dress: No idea.
First concert: Another no idea. Seriously, I can’t remember stuff like that.

Nine lasts:
Last drink with alcohol: Believe it or not, but I think it’s beer! :O
Last trip in a car: Don’t think I’ve been in a car since Towers took me and Ida to Ikea, weeks ago that is.
Last movie I watched: Saw “The Ugly Truth” earlier tonight. Cute.
Last phonecall: To my mummy last night, singing the birthday song for her, made her start crying that did. Bless.
Last song I listened to: The Party Scene – All Time Low.
Last kiss: -
Last friend I saw: Ida.
Last time I cried: Just over a week ago.
Last meal: Some scrambled eggs.

Eight have I ever:
Fallen for a friend: Yes.
Driven a car: Sort of.
Slept under a tree: Not sure.
Been heartbroken: Yes.
Made a prank call: Yes.
Said I love you without meaning it: Yes.
Written a poem: Yes, some terrible ones.
Been to Australia: No.

Seven things I am wearing right now:
1. Bra
2. String
3. Night shorts
4. Morning gown
5. Glasses
6. Lip-ring
7. Hair clip

Six things I have done today:
1. Been to the gym
2. Showered
3. Seen a movie
4. Made food
5. Eaten food
6. Walked around in underwear

Five favorite items:
1. My camera
2. Macbook
3. Phone
4. Dresses
5. Make up

Four people who truly knows me:
1. Meself
2. Ida
3. Camilla
4. -

Three choices:
Winter and summer or fall and spring? Fall and spring
Flowers or bushes? Bushes obviously! Haha
Sugar or salt? Sugar

Two things I have to do before I die:
1. Find true love.
2. See places.

One thing I want more than anything else:
To be happily in love for once.

Now you give it a go!

T i r e d

Why is it that I can’t wait to get packing weeks before I have to, then when the time comes and I really do have to, I find myself too lazy to bother? Which is kinda weird, considering just how excited I am about going back to my lovely Wolverhampton. At the moment I am sat yawning, haven’t really slept much at all in such a long time, so tomorrow I am gonna try and force myself to a proper lay-in, knowing I probably will wake up around 8 – 9 am. It is the cause of working 12 weeks this summer that has ruined my sleep routine. Before I was pretty good at this sleep thing, when not having to get up early could easily sleep ’till 11 am. Now I am lucky if I make it to 9.

Went out last night, partying in the park with my awesome mates. That was the last shalabang before me and my housemate take off into the big, wide world outside the walls of Norway. It’s kind of impressive how drunk I can get from so little. Because drunk – that I was!

I should try and become slightly more representable now, seeing as we are going to Monica and Erlend, to celebrate his birthday. I look like a crack-whore who has just woken up in the gutter. Not my best look.

So long!

Last note edit; Check out Helene’s blog.

Krash Magazine

Like I told you guys in a previous entry, I wrote a little piece for a Wolverhampton based magazine. Well I wasn’t sure if it was any good, like always I’m my hardest crit, but the response from the magazine was very up-lifting!

Can I say thank you so much for a wonderfully written article and some superb photographs. Your article really gives an insight into your ‘changed perspective’. Well done you!

Thank you for contributing to Krash

So obviously it wasn’t all bad, and therefor I might let you guys read what I wrote… Be nice!

Changing Perspective

I used to dislike the place that I am from, finding it too boring for my likings. Everything about it, the nature, the people, my life, nothing seemed to ever happen there, a place where time stood still.

My name is Renate Solhaug and I am a second year photography student at the University of Wolverhamton. The place I am talking about is a tiny, little town in the middle of Norway called Verdal. The place where I’ve spent my first 19 years dreaming about living abroad, preferably in England.

So you could say it was like a dream come true when I last September packed my bags and moved out of my parents yellow wooden house, and over the sea to a white, smaller house surrounded by loads of houses just like it. For the first time in my life I had neighbors living wall to wall, and I was living within a short walking distance to everything I could wish for. The Civic hall, Asda, shopping centers and pubs. Well, and the football stadium and the University as well of course. The differences between my new situation and a boring forest isolating you from what seems to be the rest of the world, were huge. It felt liberating, and it made me feel more alive than I have ever felt before standing on my own two feet, ready to start a new chapter in my life.

I did not once think that I would miss Verdal, being in a place with so many more options for a restless, creative soul as mine. However I found myself being wrong by end November/beginning of December. When the nights were at their coldest in our old, dusty house in Dunstall Road, double glazed windows none-existing, I did miss our warm, cosy house in between the trees a few miles from the town center of Verdal. When the university work seemed to be at it’s hardest, frustrating me I missed my parents comfort and uplifting words to keep me going. So around Christmas time, I felt good about going home again to Norway and everything I once hated. Though it didn’t take long before I then missed Wolverhampton, it was like an evil circle.

My second semester of my first year at the University, went by pretty fast and before I knew it I was no longer a first year photography student. It had been a good year for me, having enjoyed learning much more about photography than what I knew to begin with, making me certain I had chosen the right thing for a bachelor. By this time, early May, I had once again started missing my hometown, so going back for the summer was not something I wasn’t happy about. But it wouldn’t take long before the ball started rolling again, and yes, I was missing my dear Wolverhampton. All the reasons for not liking Verdal came back to me, as I found myself awfully bored and lonely most of the time.  In lack of things to do up in the woods, I started going for walks, an activity that had never been much of an interest for me.

It was during these walks I realised just how beautiful the scenery around my childhood home really was in the summer time. Having spent several months in a country where everything is so flat and urbanized, yet exciting and fun, it came to me the thought that maybe I should recognize the worth of such a breath-taking nature, the quiet surroundings and the clear air. Never before had I found anything to photograph around there, no motives that would make it as an interesting photo. I was blinded by my own disliking of the place, but now it was like my eyes had opened to see all the subjects forming in front of me. I have never taken as many photos in such a short amount of time as I have during this summer.

I now appreciate where I am from, feeling proud whenever my friends in England comments my pictures from my summer at home in Norway, telling me how beautiful is it. How lucky I should be having such a great place to hide away. For once in my life I agree.

Maybe it is the change of scenery or maybe it is the eyes which are more trained to see motives and beauty in things now through my time at the University, or most likely it is a combination of the two, that has made me change my perspective.

So now I can finally say, and I quote one of my favorite bands Good Charlotte, “We all live in a beautiful place”.

All images taken in Norway summer 2009, © Renate Solhaug

And another one…

It seems as tho photography contests are a big hit at the moment, and yes, I found another one. Got a lot of photos so why not join in eh? This time it’s found on Trine’s blog, and the theme here is Madness (Galskap). Surely I should post a picture of myself then, but seeing this is a photography contest, and my self portraits isn’t exactly high standard, I chose another one with a slightly better quality and execution.

Her true colors I swear haha

The lovely Ida is the model here, doing what she knows best, being a proper weirdo. Tho she’s a very cute weirdo!

Another part of this contest is to give the lovely Trine some photography advise. So here’s mine;
Make sure to get the exposure right, if it is overexposed there’s not much you can do to fix it later on, but if it’s underexposed you can however fix it slightly on photoshop. But remember, the more photoshopping you do to a picture, the more fake it’s gonna look. So make sure don’t overdo it. Unless that’s the effect you want of course.

I would also remind you of my own photography contest, would be wicked if you join in if you haven’t already. You can find it HERE. Good luck!

Home

Yesterday after work I couldn’t be happier about the fact that it was Friday and I had the weekend off. The weather was nice..ish, so in the evening I went out with my lovely camera Mr. Poynter, as the skies were somehow epic for photographs. I walked over to my grandmas house, seeing as she’s not home I figured I would photograph around there, in her garden and such. The outcome of the photographs turned out pretty good, and I must say, I do think I live in a beautiful place. Two other pictures from last night are posted on my photography blog, go check it out.

We live in a beautiful place

I have played with the thought of having a contest of some sort, the very first so on my blog. So I came up with an idea while walking around shooting (yes I’m constantly thinking of ideas for my blog, while shooting, being at work, lying in bed, eating etc. yeah pretty much anytime anywhere). Yes, back to the contest. Now, I’m not expecting loads and loads of entries, but I do hope at least some of my regular readers will join in, pretty please!! Begging isn’t attractive, but hey, I don’t care.

PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST!

I want to see your best photograph from your home place or where you live if you’d rather do that. All you have to do is to post a blog entry about the contest on your blog along with the photo of your choice. It doesn’t have to be a new picture, but you have to be the one who’s taken it. With that I would like you to add a few lines about what’s the best part about the place your picture is from.

I haven’t got a big, spectacular prize, but I will come up with a nice little something, that will be personalized by my impression of the winner. Also the winner will be mentioned and honored in my blog throughout August. Some free publicity isn’t all bad is it?

Let me know when you have entered by commenting this blog entry, with a link back to your blog. Hope to see you lot making an effort, this could be fun, I hope! Closing date I’m not sure on yet, I’ll see within a week how many people who’s entered.

Work, food, love & lust

Today at work was awful. Well not awful really, but stressful none the less, and omg how happy I am about the fact of it now being weekend. Mondays off at work ain’t happening no more, so this weekend will go by like shoooosh, and before I know it I’ll be back to cleaning houses and oldies. Ironic yay there. But at least there’s only 4 weeks left working, before I can hand in my ugly, blue uniform and say adios for now, that will be a good day. A very good day.

After work was good tho, drove my lovely scooter to Levanger to visit Monica and Erlend. We went to a chinese restaurant for dinner, had some great food, which after we were too full to be true, to make it better we then went by the store to buy snacks for later. Played some Mario Cart Wii before watching 17 Again, while stuffing in on chips and chocolate.

Sighs...

Tomorrow it’s July 25th, meaning it’s exactly a month left here up north. A month from now, August 24th I’ll be a mess, stressing around to make sure I’ve packed everything, and knowing myself I’ll still be packing at this hour of the day. I’m lazy when it comes to cleaning and packing. Oh how I can’t wait to get started tho, I’m loving it. I fear I’ve got way too much stuff to bring back to Wolves, loads more than when I first moved there!!

Oh how I miss my town...

Last thing I’m gonna mention in this wicked blog entry, is that before christmas I’m gonna get to see not 1, not 2 but 4! of my fave bands live! That’s what I call good times. Not for my bank account tho.. Wops!

I'm kinda excited!

Out drinking again tomorrow night then? Not sure yet.

Thursday hangout

I love summer...

What is the best thing about summer? For me it is the possibility of the weather being somewhat sunny and warm (I really do hate being cold), hanging out with mates, BBQ’s and drinking. √

A friend of mine, Lars, wanted us to do something yesterday after I’d finished work, so when I got home and after having a nice shower, dressed in a rather ugly towel, he called, asking if I still were up for maybe a BBQ. Having no other plans except staying at home, possibly be very bored, of course I said yes. Around 20-30 minutes passed before he came to pick me up in his gorgeous BMW cab. We then went to pick up IdaPida, went shopping for some food to actually throw on the barbecue, he being a gentleman paying for the whole shabang. Went to Steinkjer to pick up the other Ida before heading home to Lars, making food. Okay Lars did most, I did however make a delicious salad to go with the chicken. It was very yummy indeed.

Triming off some of that amazing food we played a bit of Frisbee, we actually got quite good! As I had work today, I didn’t stay out too late, and were nicely tucked into my bed before midnight.

IdaPida and moi

Ida and meself

Lars and me

17th of May

Happy Birthday Norway!

It is times like these I’m happy to be Norwegian.

1. We bloody won the Eurovision yesterday, a competition I have given up on these last years, well done Alexander Rybak in giving me some faith back into the whole Eurovision circus. 

2. It’s our national day, the weather is amazing, real summery, and I’ve had a great day with my family. My sister and her boyfriend came to celebrate the day with us, which was cool. Had a nice BBQ, went for a walk in the woods, just enjoying the weather and scenery. I have to admit, I have a really nice childhood home!

 

Sister fierceness

 

In the woods

 

Verdal

Hope everyone else is having a great 17th of May, whether you celebrate it or not.

Orange Juice

It’s almost 7pm here in the land of Norway, and I am sat in my bedroom, trying to twist my brain cells for something worth writing about, for you to care reading about. I promised an update tonight, and I sure won’t let you down. How interesting it’s gonna turn out is a different story. 

First let us all congratulate James with his new wordpress blog, we’re now gonna be wordpress buddies! Yay *dancing around like a hurt little bird, who’s also kinda drunk, in other words just dancing* 
And sweetie, commenting on your blog, means commenting back. A policy more people should try!

Outside it is raining slightly and it’s a bit gray, which was totally NOT what me and Ida ordered when going back here for the summer. I think it’s meant to be nicer weather towards the weekend tho, I really hope that is the case. We could do with a great summery 16th of may party night, for so an even nicer 17th of may celebration the day after. Hopefully not too hungover by then. Tomorrow me and Ida are invited to come on a road trip with a bunch of guys who’s going to Sweden to buy alcohol for Saturday. That should be fun I guess, it’s not like I have any better plans so! 

My first day at home started at like 10am when I woke up, skipped downstairs for some norwegian breakfast, yum! Then I danced around in the living room for a bit, actually broke a sweat. Obviously then went for a shower while listening to Mayday Parade’s Miserable at best. Home and Away time, God I have missed that show! Beth’s dead, Robbie’s gone and some new faces have appeared. Weird, just weird. Missing Robbie already I do —> *insert sad face* Then my parents came home, had dinner and then they left again, going to my brothers football game (soccer for those with the weird type of English). So now I am sat in my room, writing a blog, it’s almost half 7 now, time flies. I have no plans of amusements tonight, mates either working or out with friends, and some even out getting drunk… Gah, lucky buggers. 

Anyways, I’m gonna sign in now as blogs should not be chapters long, for readers not to fall asleep or worse.