Last week, I had a celebration for my 25th work anniversary at the LEGO Group.  It was amazing to be recognized by the company this way. 

Working at LEGO has been so much more than just a job; it's been my life.  Major life events have unfolded while I've been here. I’ve moved to a new country, acquired a husband as part of “my relocation package”, and welcomed Emma and Dina into my life... And now, I’m a Danish citizen — even if my Danish skills leave a lot to be desired. 

I’ve had the privilege of working on some incredible projects, BIONICLE, LEGO (Board) Games, Design by Me, the launch of LEGO Friends, DUPLO and social media, and now LEGOLAND and Discovery Centers. I am truly grateful for the friendships and memories that have been created over the years.

Jennifer Lopez eyelashes

I love Dior Show Mascara. I used it for years. But somewhere down the line it just felt too expensive.

It sells for about 200 dkk here, which is about $30. That's not so much more than the $28 it sells for in Sephora, but suddenly $30 for mascara seems so expensive. Kids? Priorities? Common sense? Whatever it is, I just can't do it anymore.

But mascara here is quite pricey, even the drugstore brands like Maybelline or L'oreal. So, when I saw that Matas was having a 2 for 1 mascara sale, I decided to try a new one. 

I will admit that the idea of having Jennifer Lopez eyelashes was appealing, so I decided to try the L'oreal False Lash Superstar Mascara.  And, it looks like it's not even out in the U.S. yet, so ha-ha, Europe gets something first!

The normal price is 149 dkk, which is $22.50 and waaaay too much to pay for L'oreal mascara IMO. But, $22.50 for two tubes works for me. Especially given the fact that there is primer included.

I tried it this morning. It went on really nicely, and I think I had some seriously false-lash-superstar-looking lashes today. If I'm still hooked on it after these two tubes, I'll have to check out the price in Germany to see if I can stay with my whole less expensive beauty product quest.

A new perspective... nude nail polish

The idea of blogging is very appealing. Consistently writing one, not so much, as is evidenced by the three year gap between blog posts. Perhaps it was the mommy blogger path I was on. The mommy part was getting in the way of the blog part.

But today, I had a "ah-ha" moment. This blog is about my expat life in Denmark, and one of the biggest challenges is how to feed my beauty product obsession without going broke. The price of skincare and make-up in Denmark is shocking. Yes, there is a Sephora in Copenhagen (still a two hour drive), but it's really pricey and doesn't have the same brands as in the U.S. stores, so I can't love it the same way.

I was imposing on every single person I knew who was traveling between the U.S. and Denmark to bring me products. However, this is not sustainable (although I did alright with it for about a decade) because the dollar is strong again (yeah! and boo!) and there are less people willing to mule for me. 

So the past few months I've been on a quest. How can I find products I like that won't break the bank? It's harder than it sounds. 

One solution has been trips to Germany. The border is only a little over an hour away.  Last week, I had a work trip to Hamburg and found a new nail polish. I had read about Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in "Shell we Dance" #160 and hadn't found it in Denmark. It was 8.95 Euro, which is 67 dkk (which is still $10). The same polish is 90 dkk ($13.50) at Matas, (Denmark's answer to Ulta or Sephora, I think is the best way to describe it) So, although I had to drive for over an hour to save $3, it still felt like a win.

The polish is a nice sheer nude, flattering on fair skin as Allure Magazine so kindly informed me. This is the third day I've had it on, and there is already some chipping but it's not as obvious as a darker or more opaque color would be. But given my expat mommy lifestyle, three days is really not bad...

Gadefest - IN WHICH Leah attempts to socialize with her neighbors...

Last Saturday was the yearly "gadefest" (block party). I had been looking forward to socializing. I just always forget that all the socializing is done in a language I don't quite understand.

The plans always go something like this:
3:00 - Coffee and cake (it IS Denmark)
4:00 - Family fun
6:00 - Bring meat to grill, a dish to share, wine/beer and eat, drink and be merry
9:00 Bonfire including burning a witch in effigy for Sankt Hans



(The bonfire ready to go)



(The tent where food is consumed)

Our house, along with 2 others, were supposed to provide the family fun. My husband tried to delegate this task to me. One, half English/half Danish, almost entirely misunderstood, conversation with my neighbors relieved me of that responsibility.

Instead, I spent all afternoon making food. I made a pasta salad, marinaded some chicken and decided to give a crockpot chocolate cake a try. (Which went horribly, horribly awry.)



This should NOT have taken me all afternoon. But somehow it did.

I also thought that our children are somewhat, possibly, very nearly, almost able to have fun on their own. I was wrong.




There aren't any kids near the same ages at the party. In fact, most the kids in the neighborhood seem to be teens who use English profanity with impunity. (It's not their language, so it doesn't mean anything to them.)




So, I thought the party was a bust until dinner. It was then that I sat across from a neighbor who was very comfortable chatting in English. We talked at length about the plight of the working mother, since that's what we both are... the wine was flowing and the conversation engaging, so when they asked who would volunteer to plan the party next year, my hand went up. Note to self: no more wine at block parties.

Dina and I couldn't manage to stay for the bonfire. It had started raining with no end in sight. We went back to the house, got in PJs and promptly fell asleep on the couch watching Barbie Island Princess. (How could I fall asleep during that movie, you ask? It's a mystery.)

Lars and Emma stayed to burn the witch...


...and I need to get started planning next year's party.

Location:Tingstedet,Billund,Denmark

A Very Merry Unbirthday

Today, we are celebrating Dina's "half birthday". No party, no friends, no balloons, just a favorite dinner, a cake and some little presents.

Why do this, you ask (just as my husband did)?

Emma has her birthday in May. A lone nice weather birthday in a house full of wintery birthdays (and don't get me started on the lonely Taurus in a house full of Sagatarians, although I can imagine an entire blog dedicated to it). So, if Dina gets a nice weather half birthday, then Emma will have a half birthday just before the family birthday/christmas craziness starts. And each of them gets something to look forward to when the other is the center of attention.

I did envision a little different evening. I didn't think my Viking husband would be feeling under the weather (he's never, ever, sick). I didn't anticipate that the chiropractor would leave me crying with pain (we'll see how this is tomorrow before I start freaking out). And I did think that if Dina chose her favorite dinner, she would eat it. Dinner was just as painful and full of cajoling, threatening and yelling as it every night. Perhaps even more so. Dina is, after all, still 4 1/2.





Emma's half birthday gifts to Dina were drawings. She made some featuring Winnie-the-Pooh, which is what I am reading to Dina at bedtime. It was quite sweet and thoughtful. Dina even accepted them graciously.




I had also gotten Dina a little wooden cake set which she loved and started playing with right away.

My friend Kristin brought Dina the cutest Hello Kitty shirt and a lovely summer dress. Lars brought her the plush unicorn she has been eyeing in the company store for weeks. She made out pretty well for just a "half" birthday. (Yikes, what will she expect in December?!)




After gifts, we had the cake. Thank you, Betty Crocker. The sad thing is, Betty Crocker cake mix and frosting can only be gotten either in German, by mail order or if some kind person smuggles some in their suitcase when they visit Denmark (hint, hint). So it really is a treat.




I had thought the evening was turning out to be a bit of a bust, but then Emma and Dina starting playing together with the new cake set. And Emma composed and performed a happy half birthday song. Ear splitting, perhaps. But sweet. Very sweet.





- Most likely posted in a mad rush from one device or another...

Location:Tingstedet,Billund,Denmark

Someone's in the kitchen with Dina

"I LOVE chocolate!" declared Dina as I chopped up the chocolate block for cookies.

"Yes, I know." I replied dryly.




"Can I have one of those things you wear when you're cooking? You know, an open?" Dina asked.

"You mean an apron?"

"Yes! I need an apron. Where's an apron? Can I have an apron? Where is it? Can I have it? Please get it. Will you get it, will you get it, will you get?!"

The joys of baking with a four year old.

"Ut-oh. I had Daddy get more chocolate, which we don't need but I didn't ask for brown sugar, which we do need!" Oof. I stop, take off the apron, ready myself and Dina to go out into the rain, and to the store for brown sugar. Meeting Lars on the way out, he informs me that he did, indeed, go back to the store and got brown sugar when he got my panicked text.

"Where is it?!" I asked in my panicky voice.

"See, it's in this bag here, the I-went-back-to-the-store-to-get-sugar bag." He informed me, in the usual voice he uses when I use my panicky voice.

So Dina and I take off the rain coats and boots and put our aprons back on.




When we finish the dough, I say, "Let's try putting the dough in the refrigerator for an hour, making the dough into rolls and slicing bits off to make the cookies. I've never tried that before."

"I don't think that's a good idea." Dina says solemnly.

"We're doing it."

"Ok. Can I clean this?" she asks. Hell yes, I think. "Yes, thank you." I say.

"I'm the cleaner, and you're the baker!" Dina declares. We spend the next 20 minutes calling each other "Baker!" and "Cleaner!" and she's happy as a clam. The benefits of baking with an easily amused 4 year old.




For the next hour, both Emma and Dina come to ask me if the cookies are ready every 5 minutes.

***

The timer goes off and I check the the tollhouse cookie recipe. After an hour chilling, the dough needs to be shaped and go BACK in the fridge for another half an hour? Screw that.

I make three dozen cookies and put them in the oven.




Meanwhile, Dina wants to clean again. She ends up using most of the bottle of dishwashing liquid on two coffee cups. Yelling ensues. On both sides.

Finally the cookies are done. It only took almost three hours and my entire afternoon...






- Most likely posted in a mad rush from one device or another...

Location:Tingstedet,Billund,Denmark

Work visa

Two things are happening this evening... I'm trying to start blogging again using multiple devices (tonight my iPad makes it's blogging debut) and I'm preparing to spend hours at the Kolding police station tomorrow to renew my work visa.


- Most likely posted in a mad rush...

Location:Tingstedet,Billund,Denmark

Billund Library

It's funny that there are at least 4 different nationalities of kids and parents running around the library today. For such a small town, it's becoming quite diverse. Hopefully, that will translate into the international school, which has been in the whisper stream for months, actually being established.


- Posted on the go with my iPhone

Location:Åstvej,Billund,Denmark

Snow

Took the girls out yesterday to get them some fresh air. It's still
nice and snowy today and very picturesque.

Butterfly

Emma got her face painted at LEGOLAND today.

Almost!

Dina is on the verge of crawling. She's very excited by rocking on her
hands and knees.

Mmmm coffee

My cousin's plane was late, but we got to sit and wait in Starbuck's!
Oh please, oh please come to Billund airport!

Night out

So there is a world outside of Billund. Had my first night away from
Dina to see Duran Duran in concert. Not only was it a great concert,
we got to meet the band! It made the separation anxiety worth it. But
can't wait to get home now...

Thoughts on nursing bras...

Yes, welcome to my world. It's one where I feel compelled to write about finding a good nursing bra. I picked up a Medela seamleass softcup bra when visiting my sister a few weeks ago, and it's been the best find. It's really supportive, and it covers in all the right places, which helps when trying to be discreet. Between that and my Glamourmom tanks, I'm ready to keep nursing little Dina for as long as I can stand it.

Lovely Dina

A full day of travelling and she was the belle of the ball. She had
grown men goo-gooing, children ooo-ing and ahh-ing. "what a (good,
happy, pretty, sweet, insert compliment here) baby you have!" Dina
played to the crowd, smiling, cooing, NOT sleeping. And here I am at
4am, blogging and not sleeping. Yeah. My baby is cute.

Check-ups

I took the girls to the doctor yesterday. Dina had her 5 month shot and Emma had her 3 year check-up. They are both thriving, Dina maybe a little more so! She is holding steady at 11 kilo but she's gotten quite long--74 centimeters.

Emma is an above average 101 centimeters and a slim 15.7 kilos. The doctor complimented her on her language skills. She was very impressed by how she could switch between English and Danish.

Emma was so sweet to Dina when she got the shot. She stood by, very curious about the whole procedure and then hugged and kissed Dina when she cried. Of course this morning we were back to, "you're my mommy, not hers!".

Dina had a tough night. She was pretty feverish and uncomfortable. None of us got much sleep. She's sleeping now and I'm going to try to do the same.

Emma at the salon

Emma got her hair cut this weekend. She really wants to grow long "princess" hair, but at age three, she won't keep anything in her hair to hold it back. So she has short bangs and we're trying to grow out the back.

The hair dresser added a pink heart to her hair and there were many tears when we had to wash it out. I wonder sometimes if I'm responsible for the pink, the dresses, the make up and nail polish obsession. Or does she just come by it naturally? Maybe at 15 she'll start wearing black and stop shaving under her arms to rebel.

After the hair cut we went to LEGOLAND and had some nice Emma and Mommy time. I'll worry about the rebellion when it rears its ugly head.

Like a baby

Dina hasn't been sleeping well the past few days and I guess it caught
up to her while I was having lunch at the cafe.

Cheese!

A satisfied birthday girl. She didn't quite understand that the party was for her, but she knows where to find the camera.

LEGO cake

More cakes for children's birthday parties... I baked the cakes for
Emma and Anders birthday party at LEGOLAND today. Emma's cake was a
layer cake version of the pink princess cupcakes and I made this blue
LEGO brick for Anders. Both cakes were chocolate with cream cheese
frosting.

I'm obsessed. Let them eat cake...