Author: kat.marly

Jeg er Kat. Figmentsofimaginations.com er min blog. Jeg kan være kedelig. Skør. Nørdet. Kreativ. Impulsiv. Stabil. Denne blog er stedet hvor jeg får afløb for mit kreative sind. Den vil være på dansk og engelsk. I am Kat. Figmentsofimaginations.com is my blog. I can be boring. Crazy. Nerdy. Creative. Impulsive. Steady. This blog is an outlet for the creative mind of mine. It will be in Danish and English.

Series Review: 3%

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Now, before you start yelling at me that this is a Hunger Games replica, and you have already seen quite a few of these type of films / series. I find it necessary to begin this review by underlining the necessity to give this series a chance. In a world where series that goes worldvide are almost always in english, this tv-series is almost a “breath of fresh air”. It is in line with hunger Games, The Divergent Series and Maze Runner, questioning the elite society in a provocative manner.

The series follows a group of 20 year olds, especially a girl among them and how their demeanour changes and crackles throughout a series of challenges meant to value their individual worth. The series takes place in a futuristic setting where the world is separate between the few elite and the rest of the world population. The elite lives in a place that almost seems like an utopia out on the ocean, whereas the rest of the world population lives in the world as we know it. Every year, everyone who have turned 20 years will get one chance to prove themselves worthy to become a part of the utopian society out somewhere on the ocean. Whereas, only 3 % makes the cut every year. It is in this setting that we follow a 20 year old woman and her personal transformation in her fight to become a part of the elite – or is it really what she wants?

The series is mainly in Brazilian, but you quickly get used to it and it quickly turns on you. The low-budget settings is in my view almost not seen. But I love how the series is shot. Almost as if the camera follows the person and not in a Hollywood manner. I love the idea of the setting and how the series turns on you almost all the times. You can almost never trust your own instinct. What is the initiate point of origin, is not where you’ll end and the characters you side with in the beginning makes you question your own judgement in the end. As well as the one’s one would consider “evil”. The series made me question the terms of good and bad, and our entire moral codex. I mean everyone have the basis in something real. The idea that this is what’s best for the world. But what do you do, if what you see as the only truth starts crackling and suddenly it shows it’s ugly face? Well, I might get a little philosophical on you now, but that is what it does. Makes you think again. Question the reality as you see it.

The series is in one season and is viewable on Netflix. Go se it. It is true when they say that it is an underestimated masterpiece.

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The Guide to a Cheaper Glutenfree and Milkfree Lifestyle

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It can get quite expensive if one with a need for a glutenfree and milkfree lifestyle takes the easy way out and buys the glutenfree products. While it is a bit more expensive, you can plan your way out of it ruining you totally. I have gathered some of my tips and tricks to making sure I don’t spend too much money on my food being different. It might seem like obvious advise, but sometimes we all need them again.

1. Always have baked bread and cake in your freezer. It makes it easier to grab something on your way to a household where they haven’t thought of you. Or just for a rainy day.
2. Make a whole bunch of frikadeller (meatballs) and have them in the freezer. They are good with a salat, for lunch or for dinner and cheap to make.
3. I always have glutenfree oatmeal in my cabinet. As well as skinned tomatoes, and canned coconut milk. And on the days I can afford it, nuts.
4. Buy the cheap popcorns for the microwave for the fast snack.
5. On the days you can afford it, have the darkest chocolate you can find in your cabinet as well. When you feel like chocolate. Take one peace and divide it in as small pieces as possible and dont just chew them. In that way they will lasts longer and you might even get rid of the need for sugar.
6. Make too much dinner and eat the rest for lunch or dinner the next day.
7. Buy vegetables in the stores where they are focusing on waste of food. In Fakta, Denmark, they often reduce the price for food in general that is close to its waste day. That goes for meat as well.
8. Get one of those cards where you collect points. I have a Coop-card, I use in Irma and Fakta. On the days I don’t have enough money for the rest of the month, I use my points I have collected.

Do you have any tricks? Don’t hesitate to share! 🙂

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I Am A Woman, And Proud!

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I’m not necessarily a dedicated feminist. I do think women should have more influence on society and I do agree to a great extent with their arguments of the feminists. However, it is difficult not to be a little feminist in a world where the new normal is not necessarily to feel like the gender one is born as. Guides on how to raise your children “gender-neutral” are emerging in the media, online, and in some countries are flourishing in different state as well as non-state institutions.

In Sweden it is well-known that the day care facilities are supposed to neither call children him or her. Instead they have implemented the gender neutral “hen” in an effort not to label one person a boy or a girl. The main argument is that society have created the different genders. That the citizens have in some way been suppressed under the label of one gender. Therefore, it is of interest of the citizens to raise children gender-neutral in order to give the future children the ability to choose what they feel they are.

I honestly can’t help but wonder what on earth is wrong with being a boy or a girl? What is wrong with me being a woman? Personally it has spurred a lot of self-examination: Why is it that I keep it a secret that I might be a little romantic? Am I embarrassed of being who I am: feminine?

For a very long time growing up I found the whole idea of being feminine difficult. In my teen-years, I longed in a self-centred moment for others to look at me and admire me. Growing up I realised that, what others thought of me would only let them abstain me from becoming who I truly was. My teen-years was confusing and turbulent, and I do have absolutely no intention or wish to relive those years. They made me who I am today. The woman I am. This is how I am born and who I am proud to be. I know that there is some in this world that are confused and have a need to “not determine”, but that shouldn’t prevent those who is in no doubt about who they are?

Furthermore, I can’t help but wonder whether the idea of a gender-neutral upbringing emerging and spreading in the Western world, is a sign of boredom? Because while we are arguing and discussing how to raise children in an effort for them to define themselves, there are people in other parts of the world that doesn’t have this luxury: The freedom to define themselves. There are people fighting to  live through another day of war or hunger.

“Perhaps the world’s second-worst crime is boredom; the first is being a bore” – quote by Cecil Beaton.

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When Singles and Relationshipper’s collides

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Here the other day, I called a close friend. It was with an impulsive request to join me to watch a play at a theatre nearby. Just within 15 minutes I was called up myself and had been given two tickets. She declared, she couldn’t because the boyfriend and her had plans to share the evening together. I jokingly declared that she had become a tad relationshippy-boring – a comment that came out a bit more judgemental than I ment it to. It was meant as a loving joke. Because it all was last minute. It was understandable if she wasn’t in the mood for a spur of the moment thing. And btw she is not relationshippy-boring. Far from it actually. She is quite amazing.

It made me think about the difference between being single and being in a relationship. More specifically it made me think about an article I been meaning to read in eurowoman, that facebook so conveniently had advertised for in my news feed. An apparently happily coupled lady/woman talks about how difficult it can be to talk about the good things in her relationship to her single friends. Quite literally, she advices all single females to embrace the good things in their friends relationships, ask about them and so forth. It is all written from the not so single female point of view. Honestly, I find it kind of sad if she has a group of friends that are more interested in the intrigues and finding the bad things in her relationship more interesting than the good. Personally, I find it a bit (not to say humongously) generalised. Maybe an article ment to initiate a discussion on the subject. Not only have I listened to the hunky dory and pink sky happy things when my friends have gotten a new boyfriend – I embrace it and I ask about it. Because I actually thinks it is a naturally part of being a woman. We are all a bit oversharing at times, some would say annoying (actually the lady in the article her self find oversharing annoying). But eventually it evens out. the everyday life comes back and what made my friend’s heart burst with joy, is not so overflowing anymore. Actually, I’ve always told my friends, that if I were in their shoes I would be a hundred times more annoying than they are to me. Some day wind turns and it is my heart overflowing with annoying pink skies and flying elefants that they will have to listen to. That’s life. I admit to not having succeeded always with this principle. Here the other day a friend told me that another friend had finally found someone, she wants to see where things are going with. And my respons was: “OH, I’m the only single one left!” Truthfully, I talked to God once praying that she should find someone before I did. Because I don’t find single life annoying, and I wanted that blessing in her life. Prayer heard, I guess…

But sometimes, I also find that my not-so-single friends don’t always understand things from my perspective. I never imagined to be single now. In a once childhood fantasy I would be married by now and maybe had initiated the baby-production part as well. Things changed, and I am glad that, that fantasy did not come true. I have been given so many other things, that only a single-life could give. But sometimes. That little 7 year old girl pops up. And, well. It is not envy I feel. It is sorrow. It is grieving of a life I will never get. I will never be married before I’m 30. It’s a fact. And it is a sorrow that I think one should embrace, accept and act upon.

We should accept and listen to a friends relationship – in the good as well as the bad times. But we should also turn things around and accept and listen to the sorrow and the grief that can be in realising that the single friend does not have that right now. Being friends is always a two-way thing, and as in a relationship, sometimes we have to compromise in order to be there for each other.

I admit that my married and relationshippy friends might find me that annoying friend they cannot share the good times with right now. But it will turn. I will be back. Because deep down I know that, that life is not for me right now. It will all come in the right time. But now, I am grieving. I am grieving once again over the fairytale I never got – and never will get. And if I cannot share that with my friends, there is something wrong with the friendship – not me (and vice versa of course). The woman in Eurowoman ended the article by declaring that singles should hug their friends in a relationship and ask about it. Well, I would say it to be the other way around as well. Because you, not so single woman, might get acknowledgements and is caressed more than a few times a week by your significant other, your single friend is not. So go out their and compliment your friends hug them and make sure they feel appreciated. Because sometimes, the envy has nothing to do with the relationship. It has to do with a boundless need to feel seen, appreciated and caressed.

I guess we all need a hug, for different reasons. So let’s just agree to hug more people. 🙂

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Restaurant Recommendations #6: Café Kaf

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The small basement based, yet warm and cozy café placed in Copenhagen N offers a great variety of different things to those of us who either eat vegan, vegetarian or glutenfree. Personally, I have been looking for a place where I could go and treat myself with cake that was glutenfree and milkfree. Kind of a demanding request – I know! Cake is often only glutenfree, because diary free cake isn’t the easiest thing to make if you aren’t used to it. But this Vegan/vegetarian place is definitely an exception. I have tried different cake’s and have not yet left the place disappointed. Often when they post a new glutenfree, diary free variation to a cake on instagram, I jump on my bike and race down there just in order to try it out.

The place is “hyggelig” as we say in Danish. I love it’s old fashion style in furniture and porcelain. How you can sit for hours just working, eating cake and drinking the. The staff is often friendly and always able to give different recommendations or answer any allergene question one may have. The café also have a possibility making some lunch menus glutenfree. But the cakes is most definitely worth a trip to the café.

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Glutenfree & Milkfree Scones

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I’ve been trying to find the perfect glutenfree and milkfree recipe for scones. The ones on the picture, I was not satisfied with, but I think it had to do with the sirup I put in instead of sugar. Not a succes. Thus, today I present to you, my until so far best recipe for scones. Yay! They are perfect for the freezer, to take with you for that event where you don’t know whether or not the hosts have considered your specific diet. Or just for a rainy day, with a cup of the or coco and a good scone.

Ingredients:
4,5 dl flour (I used 2 dl coco fiber flour and 2,5 dl buckwheat flour)
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla sugar
A pinch of salt.
80 gr butter (I used Becel, which is plant based butter).
2 eggs
2 dl soyamilk
3 tbsp sugar
Juice from a half lemon
100 gr chocolate.

Mix flour, baking powder, vanilla sugar, sugar and salt together. Add eggs, butter, lemon juice and the soyamilk to the mix and stir. Let it become a soft dough, chop the chocolate into smaller pieces and add that to the mixture. After it has been stirred into the dough. Then you divide the dough into smaller potions on a baking tray and put in a preheated oven (200 degrees). Mine where done after 10-20 minutes. And then you have until so far the best scones! Now, I admit that this recipe will change in the future. Because I have a ton of ideas for how to improve the taste! So stay tuned and remember

“the more you weigh, the harder you are to kidnap. Stay safe, eat cake!”.

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Let Us All Be Radical

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First published on figmentsofimaginations.blogspot.dk, February 20th 2016 during thesis writing.

“The first four steps, in fact, revolve around getting to know people and building trust: Be helpful, be good neighbors, listen to the concerns of others. The activist’s religious identity is not revealed until step five and only then in a rudimentary fashion that avoids church questions and instead centers on generic religious discussions and values … In a similar fashion some Islamic activists, particularly jihadis, hide their movement identity, until after a personal relationship is developed. ” Quintan Wiktorowicz, Radical Islam Rising, 2005 p. 23.

As I am writing my thesis  I came across this rather detailed description of how religious activists, through a development of personal relation, seeks to proselyte among strangers, in an attempt to gain followers. At first I found it kind of weird; So now I have to worry about the guy who pics up my wallet from the street and runs to me to hand it to me? Or the neighbour that knocks on my door with a piece of pie she made yesterday? Because they might be radicalised and before I know it I might be involved in some extreme activities? First, I came to realise that this method is not exclusively something “Islamic activists” do, everyone does it. Everyone should do it. Not necessarily with a hidden agenda. But, wouldn’t the world be a less lonely place if we were some who came out of our individualistic tendencies? Everyone needs someone to listen to one’s concerns. Relate. Everyone at some point in their lives needs a helping hand. Second, I became a little curious on how many ‘radicalised’ have actually been detected in the Danish society. An article recently revealed that the Danish Immigration Services received 5 notifications of coincidences of possible radicalised people. In 2015 an estimated number of over 21000 people sought asylum in Denmark (exact numbers: https://www.nyidanmark.dk/NR/rdonlyres/E3C50EA0-BD36-4DDD-9C8D7AAF44DE1F12/0/seneste_tal_udlaendingeeomraadet.pdf). Now, 5 coincidences are not a lot. Though, we may take into account that various de-radicalisation programs may have received some notifications as well, the next question is what here is meant by ‘radicalisation’? The usual definition contains a process where someone to a higher degree accepts violence in order to fulfil one’s political / ideological / religious goals. Now, does this person have to exercise violence? Can someone be referred to as radical just in terms of opinions? One’s execution of regular lifestile choices? Would someone choosing to live fully by the bible not also be called radical by the rest of the society if they did not live by this norm? And what exactly is wrong with having a radically different worldview as long as such worldview does not violently affect others? I understand that something needs to be done when it comes to preventing violence from being the choice of expression when someone wants to express themselves, but I find that radical way of living becomes dangerous in itself, without some perspective and without general knowledge about the different worldviews. Hypothetically, I guess the reason why Christianity in some contexts isn’t regarded as ‘dangerous’ in the Danish society, because Danes are aware and know to some extent of the religion and what it entails, naturally everything unknown becomes that dangerous thing out there in the dark. But maybe, instead of accusing someone for being ‘radical’ in its negative connotation, it is time to reach out and become acquainted with the different worldviews. What is the worse that could happen? Maybe you will get a knew friend? Maybe not? Under all circumstances, we are all free to express our opinions. Free to belief in anything we want. As long as that does not cause any harm to others’ rights? So lets all look over the hedge separating our gardens from the neighbours and say hello.

Let’s all be ‘radical’.

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Everyday Tales: The Harry Potter, Gilmore Girls, Not Soo Cool Adult Freak Ladies And Gentlemen

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…AAaaand if you haven’t guessed, the adult referred to in the line above is … ME!!!! #AndI’mProudOfIt.

After waiting what have felt like decades (truthfully I have waited 6 months), I FINALLY got to borrow a sound-book from my library of Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone #YEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSS!!!! #HarryPotterGeekRightHere #LikeWaitingForTicketsToTheHarryPotterPlay #WhyIsEveryoneListeningToHarryPotterTheseDays?

Took care of my friends kids.  I had planned to make homemade slime as I was planning to pull a “the coolest adult of the year” card! I mean which kid does not like to mess around with “slime” without being yelled at? Well, I guess I was the only one being fascinated and finding myself rather awesome! I am soo outdated when it comes to being the cool adult. #ThoseWereTheDays #ILoveSlime #IdidNOTpullAFlubberThough #THATWouldHaveBeenCool #WeirdMovieReferences=GilmoreGirlsSeasonHaveKickedIn

Uh and apropos Gilmore Girls! WHAAAAT! As I am writing this, there is 3 days until the big reveal of the NEW SEASON!!!! I have hopefully seen whatever Netflix have put online! And as a preparation I am fast forwarding through all 7 seasons. I have seen the seasons a million times, so skipping the scenes I might find embarrassing seems like the perfect compromise in order to actually make it through them all in such short time. #4SeasonsToGo #TeamJESS(NotTheFirstVersionButTheOlderVersion) #SorryDean #NotSoSorryLogan

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Series Review: Westworld

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Have you ever dreamt that you were someone else, somewhere else? I know, I have. I’ve also heard about the man who imagined that he was king so many times that he believed it in the end and went insane. Why am I saying this? Well, this new series Westworld have taken this tendency we have to let our imaginations wonder about imagining our lifestory was different, pepped it up a bit and made a series out of it. What in our minds can be seemed as innocent, the series Westworld are making it dangerous.

Westworld is about a futuristic adventure park in which rich people can indulge themselves in outliving their inner fantasies. But, somethings going on with the programmed people in this world and somethings going on with the boss and inventor of the world. And it seems as if Westworld holds secrets no one knows about just yet. The series are build upon previous attempts of a movie and series, which is reinvented in this new version, toying with the idea of how human beings would act if they had the chance to let go of what social norms and society forced them to be – how they forced them to act. If morals and laws are left in the real world, and you enter this world lawless and without moral codes keeping everything in check. What would happen? How would you act? What is your true identity.

Additionally, the series have an amazing plot, with an amazing cast of people. The “bad-guy” who we still don’t know who is, played by Ed Harris. The unscrupulous, immoral, powerfull inventor of the world, played by Anthony Hopkins (who btw still gives me nightmares as Hannibal Lector) and many other amazing characters and actors actresses.

Personally, I have been quite bored by the series at the moment. With Pretty Little Liars ending, as with Bones. With Criminal Minds changing. It seems as if a good series was needed that made you just want to push play when one episode ended. This show had it for me. I am still incredibly curious about what happens next and it is a miracle I did not see the entire first season last night on HBO. I love the complexity of the show. I love how it just makes me want to see more, experience more. I love the cast. But then again I am a sucker for a good fantasy-story!

This series have left me like: GIVE ME MORE! And hopefully it will leave you like that as well. You can see the show on HBO where the entire first season are available.

PS I cannot be a blogger, with a Danish nationality without raising the Danish flag and mention Sidse Babett Knudsen, who are playing Theresa Cullen in Westworld but are also in Inferno at the moment.

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Glutenfree and Milkfree Icecream

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I have literally tried any type of diary-free ice-cream, but none as good as this one. It is one of the Danish Fitness / healthy food-guru’s that made this once in TV, and I just have to share this recipe with anyone who wants to listen! IT IS AMAZING. If you are a Dane – look here. To those of you who don’t understand Danish, I will translate. It is made by Michelle Kristensen and she has a lot of amazing ideas and easy recipes! I loooove this! 3 frozen bananas is put in a blender together with 0,5 dl almond milk, 2 fresh dates (remove stone) and 1 teaspoon peanutbutter. Blend it all and eat!! It is amazing and I simply cannot get enough! The other day I included some frozen berries and it did not destroy the ice-cream. Hopefully you will love this ice-cream as much as me.. and do check out her site! She is amazing!

Another amazing version of an ice-cream is blending frozen fruit with a tad of sucker free sucker and coconut-milk from can. Top it with different things a voila. Another creamy amazing ice-cream – sucker free even (except for the sucker in the fruit).

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