Reflections, thoughts and everyday moments

A gentle space for honest reflections, quiet thoughts and the beauty found in

everyday life.

  • The Narcissist

    Why narcissists? And why are there so many of them?

    Why do we excuse them and come up with the strangest explanations for why we should feel sorry for them?

    Why do we believe we can change them?

    Why do we think we can change them if we just love them enough?

    That they will see. That they will wake up. That they will understand that what they are doing is wrong. That they were mistaken. That they didn’t really mean what they said — or what they did.

    That they didn’t mean those words. That of course they were only joking.

    Why do we believe a narcissist can love anyone — when in reality they may only be capable of loving themselves?

    The narcissist only sees himself — and everyone else becomes pieces in a game.

    A narcissist lacks empathy, feels superior to others, and has a sense of grandiosity about himself.

    There are different degrees of narcissism, and I feel like I have met them all. In the form of boyfriends, friends, colleagues, and employers.

    A narcissist will often make you feel special and unique, while slowly draining the life — and sometimes even the joy of life — out of you.

    It often begins quietly.

    They start treating you badly without you even noticing it at first. It creeps in slowly. A few words. A few actions. Things that are easy to excuse. Because of course they didn’t mean what they said — or what they did.

    They make excuses — and you accept them

    Over time the words and the actions become bigger. Harsher. More painful. But you keep excusing the narcissist. Because you feel sorry for them. And surely it must be someone else’s fault that they behave this way.

    After all, no one chooses to become a narcissist… right?

    Maybe someone once treated them so badly that they simply became this way.

    It is easy to feel empathy for a narcissist and believe that you can fix them. That if you just hold on and love them enough, things will change.

    If you are just kind, good, genuine, honest and decent — then surely the narcissist will become the same.

    Kind. Genuine. Honest. A good human being.

    But that thought rarely exists in the narcissist’s mind.

    To the narcissist, you are simply an easy target. Someone he can manipulate, dominate, and eventually discard when he is done.

    Or maybe not discard completely.

    Sometimes they keep you close enough — but still at a distance.

    Because narcissists like control. They like having power over other people, even when they are no longer truly interested in them.

    They enjoy the feeling that they can dominate and control — even from afar.

    It is difficult to argue with a narcissist.

    Because a narcissist is never wrong.

    Everyone else is wrong. Everyone else says the wrong things and does the wrong things.

    And of course, the narcissist feels misunderstood.

    Or at least — that is what he says he feels.

    But often he is not misunderstood at all.

    People simply begin to see who he really is — and he tries to cover it up.

    If the narcissist is skilled enough, he might even force out a few tears. Because it is so tragic to be the misunderstood one.

    The narcissist has a unique self-image where he sees himself as a million times better than everyone else.

    In his mind, he is good at everything. And he loves hearing it.

    He loves when people point out how talented, intelligent, and capable he is.

    But is he really all of that?

    Or is it simply a role he plays in order to appear bigger and better than he truly is?

    When you finally see through the narcissist — when you truly see him for who he is — life can suddenly become difficult.

    Because the narcissist feels cornered and wants to escape.

    He may avoid you for a long time, hoping you will forget what you saw and allow him to control you again.

    Often you need to meet several narcissists before you fully understand what this really is.

    But the more of them you encounter, the easier it becomes to recognize the signs.

    Eventually you begin to notice the signs more and more. Once you have learned to see them, they are hard to miss.

    There are so many people in the world who are genuine, honest, kind, empathetic and full of love.

    But the narcissist is not one of them.

    Signs of a narcissist

    • They are never wrong
    • Everything is always someone else’s fault
    • They lack empathy for other people’s feelings
    • They make you feel special in the beginning
    • Slowly they begin to criticize and control you
    • They manipulate situations to make themselves look better
    • They enjoy power and control over others
    • When confronted, they often play the victim
    • They rarely take responsibility for their actions
    • When you finally see through them, they may disappear or avoid you

    Love,

    Fiffibelle 🌼

  • Living on a Budget – A New Season in My Life

    Right now I’m living on a budget, and I have to think carefully about how I spend my money going forward.

    After a year of illness — and yes, I’m still sick and undergoing medical evaluation — I’m currently receiving health-related financial support while I’m unable to work.

    My income has now been reduced by about 34%, which simply means I need to be a bit more mindful about how I manage my money.

    I used to receive my income once a month, but now I will receive payments every two weeks.

    Two months each year I will receive three payments, and this year that will likely be April and September.

    I’ve lived with very little before, so I’m not too worried. Things usually have a way of working themselves out, and I’m quite good at making the most of what I have.

    Life sometimes takes unexpected turns, and this is one of those seasons for me.

    My biggest monthly expenses

    My biggest expenses are housing and food.

    I pay about $1,470 / €1,350 in rent each month, and that includes electricity and internet. The rent is actually reasonable compared to other apartments in my area.

    I’m still trying to get a clear overview of how much I spend on food, but it’s probably around $380 / €350 per month.

    Clean, protein-rich food has been part of my lifestyle for many years, and because I have IBS I also have to be mindful of what I eat.

    I also pay for phone plans for myself and my daughter, who is a student. In addition, I have insurance, a loan I’m paying down, and a few subscriptions such as a gym membership, Netflix, YouTube, Spotify and iCloud.

    At some point I will probably try to cancel iCloud and see if I can reduce my loan payments for a while.

    Since last autumn I have known that my health situation might lead to a period where I wouldn’t be able to work. Because of that I made the decision to sell my car. I sold it in November and put the money into savings.

    It always feels good to have some money set aside in case something unexpected happens.

    A closer look at my monthly finances

    Over the past couple of months, I started writing down everything I spent money on. It helped me see where my money actually goes.

    January

    Income: $3,270 / €3,000

    Expenses

    Fixed expenses: $2,110 / €1,930
    Groceries: $430 / €395
    Public transport: $67 / €62

    Doctor / medication: $124 / €114

    Clothes: $89 / €81
    Skin & hair care: $244 / €224
    Hobbies: $22 / €20

    Coffee / restaurant: $6 / €5
    Other expenses: $265 / €243

    Savings: $57 / €52

    February

    Income: $2,930 / €2,680

    Expenses
    Fixed expenses: $1,935 / €1,770
    Groceries: $570 / €522

    Public transport: $74 / €68
    Doctor / medication: $82 / €75

    Clothes: $32 / €30
    Skin & hair care: $249 / €229

    Hobbies: 0

    Coffee / restaurant: $30 / €28

    Other expenses: $378 / €347

    Savings: $28 / €26

    What surprised me the most when looking at these numbers is how much money goes toward food. But food is expensive.

    Eating well is important to me, so it’s one of the areas where I try to be careful without cutting too much.

    Looking ahead

    Later this year I will also receive some extra income from last year, around $4,750 / €4,350.

    Even though I dream about taking a small trip, most of that money will go into savings.

    And I’ll also buy myself a bicycle.

    I don’t have many things I can sell to bring in extra money, but I do sell anything I no longer need.

    Dreams for the future

    My dream for the future is to start something of my own that I can earn money from — and of course to win the lottery.

    My son and I often have the most creative conversations about what we would do if we won the jackpot.

    He wants a house with a huge piece of land, big enough for a model airplane runway.

    And I dream of a house of my own with things like a pink KitchenAid mixer, a white and grey marble kitchen countertop — and of course a view of the sunset.

    Do you live on a budget too?

    I would love to hear your tips — or even your dreams.

    I’m not afraid of a period with less money. I don’t see it as something negative, but rather as a positive challenge.

    I know that God always takes care of me, and that somehow there will always be “money in my pockets.”

    Love,

    Fiffibelle 🌼

    PS: I’ll share another little update about my finances in a month or two ☺️

  • Simple, Nourishing Foods I Love

    I truly love healthy, clean food that tastes good — food that is high in protein, anti-inflammatory, and full of nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber.

    When I treat myself or buy something nice for myself, I still choose something that is healthy and nourishing for my body.

    Not because I have to, but because I genuinely love it.

    Today after my workout, for example, I picked up a chocolate protein shake, a small bag of dates with peanuts and a couple of clementines to enjoy on my way home.

    When I got home, I had a stew made with lean ground beef, vegetables and coconut milk.

    For dessert I had a large portion of Fiffibelle’s “Eat Your Water” salad https://fiffibelle.com/fiffibelles-eat-your-water-salad/, and later in the evening I had a bowl with 300 g low-fat cottage cheese, 150 g Greek yogurt, 20 g prunes, 1 clementine, 5 g flax seeds, 5 g chia seeds and about 10 g honey.

    I tend to eat many of the same foods, and I often meal prep for several days at a time so that a nourishing meal is always easy to grab.

    Over time I’ve also found myself returning to many of the same ingredients.

    These are some of the ingredients I almost always keep in my kitchen:

    Protein

    • Lean ground beef (5% fat), fresh or frozen
    • Chicken breast, fresh or frozen
    • Salmon, fresh or frozen
    • Cottage cheese (low-fat or regular)
    • Plain Greek yogurt
    • Protein shakes
    • High-protein milk
    • Eggs
    • Egg whites

    Vegetables

    • Cucumber
    • Spinach
    • Yellow onions
    • Garlic
    • Red bell pepper
    • Avocado
    • Olives
    • Sweet potatoes
    • Broccoli
    • Cauliflower
    • Carrots
    • Peas
    • Tomatoes
    • Ginger
    • Frozen vegetable mixes

    Fruits

    • Apples
    • Bananas
    • Oranges
    • Clementines (when in season)
    • Pineapple
    • Kiwi
    • Lemons

    Dried fruits

    • Dates
    • Prunes

    Berries

    • Strawberries (fresh or frozen)
    • Blueberries (fresh or frozen)
    • Raspberries (fresh or frozen)
    • Cherries (fresh or frozen)

    Nuts

    • Cashews
    • Almonds
    • Peanuts
    • Walnuts

    Seeds

    • Chia seeds
    • Pumpkin seeds
    • Flax seeds
    • Sesame seeds
    • Sunflower seeds

    Dry goods

    • Rice
    • Rice cakes
    • Cocoa powder
    • Psyllium husk
    • Oats
    • Oat rice
    • Coconut sugar
    • Shredded coconut
    • Sukrin Gold
    • Baking powder
    • Vanilla sugar

    Spreads and toppings

    • Peanut butter
    • Cheese
    • Homemade jam

    Oils, fats and sweeteners

    • Olive oil
    • Coconut oil
    • Butter
    • Honey

    Spices

    • Cinnamon
    • Cardamom
    • Turmeric
    • Ginger
    • Tandoori chicken spice
    • Paprika
    • Pepper
    • Taco seasoning
    • Salt
    • Chili powder
    • Oregano
    • Ground ginger
    • Ground cloves

    Oils, fats and sweeteners

    • Olive oil
    • Chili olive oil
    • Coconut oil
    • Butter
    • Honey
    • Maple syrup
    • Apple cider vinegar

    Other kitchen staples

    • Milk
    • Coconut milk
    • Coconut cream
    • Canned tomatoes
    • Soy sauce

    Beverages

    • Coffee
    • Tea
    • Sugar-free cordial
    • Coke Zero
    • Sparkling flavored water

    Chocolate

    I love dark chocolate and always keep both dark chocolate and dark baking chocolate at home.

    I usually buy good ingredients based on need, seasonal availability and special offers. I freeze what can be frozen and I’m aware that many foods last well beyond their expiration date. I also avoid throwing away food unless something is actually wrong with it.

    Looking at my list, maybe there’s something healthy and delicious that you enjoy that isn’t on it — and maybe the other way around too.

    Perhaps we can inspire each other to try something new.

    Love,

    Fiffibelle 🌼

  • Fiffibelle’s Eat Your Water Salad

    Can you name a salad after yourself?

    Of course you can 🙂

    Today I want to share the recipe for Fiffibelle’s Eat Your Water salad and explain why I like to make and eat salads that are rich in water.

    Fiffibelle’s Eat Your Water Salad

    Ingredients

    200 gram spinach
    1 cucumber
    1 orange
    2 clementines
    1 kiwi
    100 gram raspberries
    100 gram blueberries
    20 gram prunes

    Dressing

    20 g honey
    10 g extra virgin olive oil
    1 tbsp orange or clementine juice

    How to Make My Eat Your Water Salad

    Place the spinach in a large bowl.

    Cut the cucumber, orange, clementines and kiwi into pieces and add them on top of the spinach together with the blueberries and raspberries.

    Make a dressing from honey, olive oil and juice from the orange or clementine and drizzle it over the salad

    Let the salad sit for a couple of hours before serving.

    Tips

    If you would like a sweeter salad, you can add a little Sukrin Gold or a similar product.

    If you would like more spice, you can use olive oil with chili instead of regular olive oil.

    Don’t have all the ingredients?
    Be creative and replace them with other fruits and vegetables that are rich in water.

    The salad keeps well in the refrigerator for 3–5 days.

    Dr. Murad – Eat Your Water

    In 2018 I discovered the philosophy of Howard Murad and his idea of “eat your water.”

    I was fascinated by his thought that hydration is not only about how much water we drink, but also about the nutrients we receive when we eat fruits and vegetables that are rich in water. Along with the water, we also get vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that the body and the skin can benefit from.

    For me, his way of explaining hydration was so inspiring that it made me think a little differently about the fruit and vegetables I choose to eat.

    We can all read studies, listen to experts and search for good advice. But in the long run we also need to listen to ourselves.

    What works for my body?

    What gives me energy?

    What makes me feel well?

    For me, juicy water-rich salads filled with nutrients feel good for both my inner and outer well-being — and especially for my skin.

    Fruits and Vegetables Rich in Water

    If you feel inspired to try more water-rich fruits and vegetables, you could try making Fiffibelle’s Eat Your Water salad — or simply create your own “eat your water” salad.

    Here are some of the most water-rich fruits and vegetables.

    🍉 Fruits

    • Watermelon – about 92% water
    • Strawberries – about 91% water
    • Melon (cantaloupe) – about 90% water
    • Grapefruit – about 88–90% water
    • Orange – about 86–88% water
    • Peach – about 88–89% water
    • Nectarine – about 87–88% water
    • Pineapple – about 86% water
    • Papaya – about 88% water
    • Apricot – about 85–86% water

    🥒 Vegetables

    • Cucumber – about 95–96% water
    • Celery – about 95% water
    • Iceberg lettuce – about 95% water
    • Radishes – about 95% water
    • Tomato – about 94–95% water
    • Zucchini – about 94% water
    • Romaine lettuce – about 93–94% water
    • Bell pepper – about 92–93% water
    • Asparagus – about 92–93% water
    • Spinach – about 91–92% water


    If you would like to read more about the philosophy of “eat your water,” you can explore it further in Dr. Howard Murad’s book https://www.amazon.com/Water-Secret-Cellular-Breakthrough-Younger/dp/0470554703

    Love,

    Fiffibelle 🌼

  • Who am I ?

    After three days of trial and error, and incredible help from ChatGPT, I finally finished my blog last night. It is of course not 100% finished, but it is pink, it is beautiful, and it is finished enough that I can start writing.

    What do I need a blog for, you might ask me?

    What do you want to say?

    What do you have on your heart? That we don’t already know?

    And who are you?

    I am me, and I feel that I have something to say, that I have something to share.

    Share my thoughts, reflections and everyday moments ✨

    I love everyday moments, living NOW.

    Being able to live in the moment, live NOW. Not in what has been or in what is coming.

    I love pink 🌸

    I love making and eating healthy, and nutritious food.

    I love strength training and feeling strong.

    I love nature 🌿

    I love flowers, especially colorful summer flowers 🌼

    I love going for walks

    I love sunrises, sunsets, stars, the moon, clear skies, but also the clouds in the sky.

    I love summer, but also autumn, winter and spring.

    I love sunshine, but also clouds, rain, wind and snow

    I love pink, glittery journals, but I can let my pen flow regardless of the color of the journal.

    I love writing without thinking. Letting the pen flow without a goal or a purpose.

    I am a mom

    I love my children

    I love to travel, but I am also happy at home.

    All the places I travel to always feel like home, and I never feel homesick.

    I believe in God

    I believe in life

    I believe in love, hope and joy.

    I am grateful

    I am loved and in love

    I am on a spiritual journey

    I love my own company, but can adapt to anyone’s company

    I can talk to everyone, but I don’t need to talk to anyone.

    I love surprises, and especially positive surprises filled with joy.

    I love challenges – yes I do, but I feel done with the most difficult ones !

    I am positive

    I always see solutions, even if I sometimes have to think a little extra about them 🙂

    I love listening to music, podcasts and YouTube.

    I like reading books as well as watching movies and series.

    I love skincare and good skincare routines.

    I don’t have that many friends, mostly acquaintances.

    I never feel lonely

    I love brief encounters with people I may never see again.

    I have “money in all my pockets”, meaning that God always provides and I never run out.

    I dream of winning first prize in the lottery

    I love dark chocolate 🍫

    I like knitting and crocheting 🧶

    I like sleeping

    I like midi-length skirts, white blouses, gold shoes and Hello Kitty.

    I practice Yoga every day 🧘🏼‍♀️

    I love flying ✈️

    I am sick, but have a good life ❤️

    I am planning to live until I am 103+ 🩷

  • Reflections on Vulnerability

    Reflections on Vulnerability

    The Strength in Vulnerability

    Being vulnerable allows for deeper connections and personal growth. It’s a vital part of self-expression.

    How to Embrace Vulnerability

    • Share your thoughts with trusted friends.
    • Write about your feelings.
    • Accept imperfections.
  • The Color of Life: A Love for Pink

    The Color of Life: A Love for Pink

    Color and Emotion

    Colors can significantly affect our feelings and creativity. Pink, in particular, symbolizes joy and warmth.

    Incorporating Color into Your Life

    • Use colorful decor.
    • Wear vibrant clothing.
    • Engage in colorful activities.
  • Living in the Present

    Living in the Present

    The Joy of Mindfulness

    Living in the present allows you to fully experience life. It fosters joy and appreciation for the moment.

    Practicing Mindfulness

    • Focus on your breath.
    • Engage your senses.
    • Limit distractions.
  • Finding Inspiration in Everyday Life

    Finding Inspiration in Everyday Life

    Everyday Inspiration

    Inspiration often hides in the small moments of life. Learning to notice these can enhance your creativity.

    Ways to Find Inspiration

    • Take walks and observe your surroundings.
    • Engage in conversations.
    • Reflect on your experiences.
  • Journaling for Joy

    Journaling for Joy

    The Power of Journaling

    Journaling helps you document your life experiences and emotions. It’s a tool for mindfulness and creativity.

    Tips for Effective Journaling

    1. Write regularly.
    2. Be honest and vulnerable.
    3. Use prompts to inspire you.