Confusion, Sweat and Adventure {I got my driver's license!!}

Yuppers, I finally got my driver's license a couple of weeks ago! I'm so happy.. I've been driving a bit on my own, listening to Young the Giant and cranking up the heat in the car to simulate summer. The freedom (nearly) makes up for my ugly driver's license picture. At least my driver's license is pink. Pink and glitter makes anything pretty.. maybe I should sprinkle some glitter on it? I wonder what the police would say then.. ;)

Oh, and I've only gotten lost once so far.. although the incident was quite embarrassing... I couldn't figure out how to drive to our local grocery store because there was some road work. I ended up at an apartment building's private parking spots and then had to drive really far to somehow drive around it and back. Let's just say it felt like summer then, cuz I was all sweaty when I finally arrived at the store. Oh well, what's life without a little confusion, sweat and adventure?

What's your sense of direction like?
What music do you listen to in the car? (I really need to burn a CD with all my gangstah music :D)
If you live in Norway, watch out, cuz I'll be cruising by ;)

What I Wore - {Norwegian} Graduation Edition

I can't believe it's already been 4 weeks since I graduated high school! This was a huge accomplishment for me. First of all because I've graduated high school!!! I've been really worried about passing my exams. But I did it! And I couldn't be prouder because I passed with flying colours! I actually got As on all my written exams!!! :D

I thought I would share some pictures of what I wore to my high school graduation. In Norway we don't wear the typical graduation robes and hats people in the US wear. We wear our national costume or, if you don't have the national costume, you wear a pretty dress or suit (if you're a guy). I wore my national costume which is from the region I live in, Sør-Trøndelag. I got my costume for my confirmation when I was 15 and I love it! It's really beautiful. Each part of Norway has a unique national costume, and you have a costume from the region you're from.

The national costume has lots of different parts to it. We have a purse, 2 brooches, earrings, shoes, a vest, skirt, shirt, apron - even pantyhose to match! And each costume is hand made for you!! So each costume is your unique piece - which makes it even more special.

Take a look...

The vest, skirt and apron are all wool.. so it gets pretty hot (I was pretty hot sweaty when I got on stage to get my rose...)! But the good thing is that you don't need a jacket, at least not during summer ;)

I'm linking up over here, here and here.
If you're a new visitor, please be sure to leave a comment saying hi with a link to your blog, or other social network sites, and I'll be sure to visit/ follow you too! Also please follow the blog/ me via GFC, twitter, Facebook, instagram (@thegentleflower), pinterest :) Let's be friends! :D

xx Katrine

The Importance of Friendship {Russ 2012}

My russ-hat to the left :)

A while back I told you that I was going to be a "Russ" this year. In Norway, being a Russ is basically being a senior. We graduate high school a year after the rest of the world (nice, I know...), and celebrate graduating high school BEFORE exams and actually graduating. It's crazy to be honest. The celebrations are kicked off on May 1st, and we party and celebrate all the way to 17th of May (our national holiday). And yes, we still have school during the day.

A huuuge drawing of a ladybug on the back of my
lab coat in the works :)

Everyone wears the same kind of clothes - a lab coat that you draw on, red overalls and a red hat (red because I'm a red-russ / "rødruss"). You have to wear the clothes everyday, and you can't wash your overalls. You try to do several things to get different "knots" in the string of your hat. You have to do weird things like eating a burger in two bites, swim outside before April 1st (yes, in NORWAY), eat a "russekort" (russ-card.. we have like a kind of business card thingy. Little kids collect them.), etc.

My russehat "The Pun"

Last night the celebrations were kicked off, even though our school started our russ-celebrations on 26th April, when we were "baptized". You see, we get special nicknames, which we have to write on our hats. Mine is "The Pun". Haha - my jokes are FANTASTIC.

I was up until really late last night outside. It was cold, dark and scary.. but I had lots of fun.

I've been thinking a lot about friendship lately, especially since it's important to have friends during the russ-celebrations. Things haven't been easy lately, and I haven't known who to trust (read about that here). But yesterday I hung out with an amazing girl. We've never hung out before, we were just acquaintances up until yesterday, but now I love her to bits! She's super cool, and we had SO. MUCH. FUN. together :D

The front pocket on my overalls

It's really important to have friends that won't leave you behind and who will look out for you. And know that you can trust each other. I'm so grateful for this new friendship, and I can't wait to hang out more ;)

I read a great blog post on friendship today, you should read it too. It really puts things into perspective.

I've drawn the Norwegian flag and the U.A.E. flag on
one of the pockets on my lab coat

I may not write as many posts as usual the next few weeks, since I have exams, school and russefeiring (russ-celebrations), but I'll post when I can ;)
You can always e-mail me, and I always check all your lovely comments, which always make my day :)

My lovely CLASS 12 hoodie (SO COMFY)

I hope you liked the pictures - this is what I'll be wearing for the next few weeks ;)

Thanks for being such great friends, and remember to take care of those around you.

Katrine <3

I'M A FINALIST! ... {I Need YOUR Help!!}

I'm pleased to announce that I've been selected as one of the finalists in the Norwegian handmade competition "Håndlaga 2012" (= Handmade 2012) !

My A Ray of Sunshine Ring - Ivory Coloured Ring with Sun Rays has been nominated as one of the finalists in the jewelry category. A judge has chosen my ring, and it is now up to YOU to decide who wins!

I'm SO thrilled, and I would really appreciate it if you'd take the time to vote for me :)

HOW TO VOTE
All you have to do is go here, scroll down to the picture of the ring, which has my name (, misspelled) under it, and click the vote button ABOVE the picture!!!


Remember to vote by April 11th!


Thank you! :D
- An extremely excited Katrine ;)

Calling for Summer

This morning it snowed!!!!!!
I was SOOO mad, you have no idea!
I thought the summer came early this year, as I was walking around in a summer dress for a week.. in APRIL! That's quite amazing (here)!

But of course, it didn't last and it snowed this morning :C

Thankfully, the flowers in our garden have starting blossoming and the sun is out again now so that the snow didn't stick. PHE-EW!


So today I'd like to dedicate a post to calling for summer and saying bye bye to winter!!

I want less none of this...

(The picture above was taken last autumn on our drive home from Sweden)

I want more of this...

(The pictures above are taken of the current flowers that are blossoming in our garden.. blue irises. Aren't they lovely??! Please excuse the winter-worn grass.)

And more of this...

(The pictures above were taken of the Anemones in our garden last summer)

And even more of this!!!

(The pictures above were taken on Jumeirah Beach in Dubai last Easter)

I'm a summer-loving, sun-addicted, beach babe (haha ;)) and I can't wait till summer!

---

(REMEMBER THE DEAL OF THE WEEK! 20% off all flower products! Read about it here and go shopping :D)

A Glimpse of Where I Live

I took these photos a while back, on a 'warm', or shall we say sunny, day in the winter.


These photos are taken on my way home from school.


They're taken in Trondheim, Norway, the town I live in.


I hope you like them and that they inspire you!


I think they're beautiful!


(Sorry, I took a lot)

Have a great day!

Katrine