Life´s Little Pleasures

Today I took my wonderful daughter to Porvoo for a day trip. We had a great day together, just the two of us. Real mother-daughter bonding. First we went to the Brunberg Candy Factory for tasting and shopping. Then we headed to the Old Town for little shopping and some cake...and some more cake. What a great day! And I love her company dearly.

Home Decoration Mania

Recently I have been quite manic! I can´t get enough of blogs and shops about home interior and decoration. There are so many wonderful ideas that would be wonderful for our new house. It will be hard to choose from all those great and beautiful things and pieces of furniture.

I love Country White Style so much right now. It suits our house, too. In the near future we will be getting a new sofa and some shelfs and cupboards. And also we need curtains and such.

Even though my manic shopping days are over I still do enjoy browsing the internet and finding new stores. There is a great looking home interior store right here where we live and I haven´t been there yet.

First Birthday Party And Other First Things

Kiia attended the first birthday party here. I am glad she´s making friends and getting rooted to a new hometown. Since we didn´t really know anybody here I think we are doing pretty well and making new friends. It makes me happy.

The only good friends we already knew from this area live 16 km away. The lovely lady is a very good friend of mine and has been since early 90s. We are also the godparents for her second daughter. She´s been taking me shopping on two Saturdays in a row. It´s been good to have some girl talks. I really enjoyed it.

Good News

Finally we sold our apartment for a very good price. It makes life a lot easier and cheaper not to have two homes. We are so happy!! And relieved!!

We will still have to empty all the little bits and pieces here and there in the apartment. But finally we will be able to chill out and have no worries whatsoever..... Yay!

Sick

My baby has been sick soooo much this year. I took her to see a doctor today. The doctor comforted me by saying that once we get pass all these illnesses, Kiia´s immune system will be back to normal. It was just shook up by the chicken pox she had the first thing this year. Kiia was blood and smear tested for many things. Just in case, said the doctor. I had worried so much that she now has some very serious illness. But we were lucky. Kiia will be fine. And that day will arrive soon, I hope.

Seven Days

Sunday

We had a snow storm.....

Monday

Getting ready for the Day Care

Tuesday

Wearing pj´s most of the day....I was sick



Wednesday

Candle in the snow....

Thursday

Happy B-day, Hubby!









Friday

Front yard....

Saturday

Back yard.... no more snow, thank you!

Let The Northern Lights Erase Your Name

On the day of her father's funeral, twenty-eight-year-old Clarissa Iver­ton discovers that he wasn't her biological father after all. Her mother disappeared fourteen years earlier, and her fiancé has just revealed a life-changing secret to her. Alone and adrift, Clarissa travels to mystical Lapland, where she believes she'll meet her real father. There, at a hotel made of ice, Clarissa is confronted with the truth about her mother's his­tory, and must make a decision about how—and where—to live the rest of her life.

What can I say about this book? First of all, I found it accidently at the library and was somehow drawn to it. The name of the book was very appealing to me. I didn´t realize it was partly about Finland and Lapland until I started reading it. Then also one of my most favorite city in the world, Memphis, was mentioned and handball which is very dear to my family. Plus, I have always loved the books about personal growth and finding yourself.

So shortly said, without spoiling the plot, it was a very powerful read. And I enjoyed it and couldn´t put it down.

The Room With A View

Let me introduce you one of my favorite rooms in the house...

Shrove Sunday In A Finnish Way

And some yummy pancakes made on the fire outside.....

"Pulla" with jam and cream

Today we have spent a very traditional Shrove Sunday. For Finnish people it means sliding, horse back riding, eating pea soup, pancakes and "pulla" with jam and cream . . . Lovely!!

My Dream Home Has Already Been Done

http://omakotionnenpesa.blogspot.com/

This lady has decorated her home the way I would love to decorate mine slowly but surely. What do you think?

My Life In the Country

Life is good as it is right now. In the middle of Winter, in my new house. I think it was a small shock to move to the countryside after all. I mean life is slowlier here. There is less people where ever you go. Customer service is much better and people actually greet you on the street!!

But for a city girl like me it has taken a while to adjust and enjoy the peace and quiet which I missed when we were living in the big city. The change has been slow and tiring, but we are loving it. So honestly I am not complaining one bit.

I love the idea that Kiia will attend a smaller school one day. The air is fresh and the values are down to earth here. Right now we are just learning to know people and places here. Of course we miss the obvious circle of grandparents and friends we had in the city. But I am a firm believer that we will also gain so much even though we have lost, too.

Kiia has been sick three times since we moved so getting used to the new Day Care has caused her to be sick more than she´s ever been. I have found a work place where I actually find place for creativeness. I mean the working phase gives you a change to sit down and think what next. Plus, I feel like I relate to many people at my new work. Like I belong there. It allows me to be myself at all times and that´s very valuable.

I never thought that moving to the country would be easy, but it´s worthwhile.

Happy Valentine´s Day

I want to wish All My Beautiful Friends, far and near,

Happy Valentine´s Day!!!

You have all made my life so much better and I love you all. Thanks for being my friends!!!!

Being Strong

Oh, I know it!

It´s amazing to go thru something you think you never will, because it´s too painful and you think it´s the hardest thing ever. But eventually life goes on and carries you thru. And you realize that you are stronger than you ever thought you were.

There´s Always The First Time For Everything

Today we have done two things for the first time ever. In the morning we finally heated up our sauna for the very first time (and couldn´t do it without the smoke, but that´s another story). It was very good. The smell of the new sauna. There´s nothing better than a day off and morning sauna.

And tonight it´s the first time ever we will set the fire to our fire place (and hope there will be smoke too!!). I am sure it will be cosy and warm.

Some things in life you do for the first time ever and it feels like a milestone.

Beauty Is All Around

My Dear Friend calls me "the Most Aesthetic Friend" she knows. By that she means that I am very color sensitive and I always pick certain colors and beautiful things. I feel her compliment very deeply, because I´d like to think that I have some sense with colors and styles.

I also love flowers so much. We have fresh flowers in the house pretty much all the time.

What I Know For Sure

L I F E.

The Good and The Bad.

I have had some rough patches in my life, but got thru it which has always made me stronger. And I am also sure I have made some mistakes, but I have also learned to forgive myself for those.

The biggest losses in life have been miscarrying my son. There have also been smaller losses and downfalls, but the miscarriage 2,5 yrs ago has been the hardest.

I am proud of myself how I have gotten myself together and kept on going. Mainly for Kiia´s sake, but also because I have a strong faith in destiny that things always happen for a reason and sometimes we just don´t understand the reason right away. Of course, nothing can ever justify the loss of a child especially when my baby son was in perfect health... I just couldn´t deliver.

I have been fortunated enough to have lots of love in my life. I know I have been lucky.

All these experiences have made me the person I am today and for that I am truly grateful.

Disney On Ice

I became a huge Disney fan after visiting Disney World last Summer. It truly was amazing and magical place. And it truly pays off to pay a little extra for the Disney quality. Last night Kiia and I went to see the Disney On Ice Show in Helsinki. And here are some memorable moments for you all to share.

We we so lucky to have front row seats.... We both enjoyed the Show so much!! And we would love to travel to Disney World (or at least Euro Disney)!!!

Our Old Home

http://www.huoneistokeskus.fi/Aspx/Realty/RealtyDetails.aspx?RealtyID=7062402

Winter Fun

It´s been very snowy and cold (almost -20c) here recently. Today Kiia went skiing.

Lots to Do...

The renovation in our old apartment was ready last week and I have been there three times cleaning up. We picked a new agent to sell the apartment and the process has already started. So the old apartment has kept me busy. I was meaning to take some pictures of the old place yesterday, but I FORGOT!!! It looks so new and fresh. But I will put the agent´s link here when our apartment is on market so you will be able to see the change in the apartment too.

I just counted that I haven´t had a proper day off for 8 days now....until TODAY. This morning Kiia and I decided to have a pyjama party.... so we will be wearing pj´s until the afternoon when we will go to Kiia´s Music Club.

What else? I have been very content about all these changes in our lives. Our new house feels like a home already. I have always been a firm believer that things happen for a reason. And things always work out somehow.

Some Details

For the Love of the Country.... American at heart <3

Here are some first pictures of our unfinished decorations in the new house. Slowly but surely we are getting there. These pictures are taken from the kitchen and the living room which are basicly the same area. We still missing the curtains and many other little things... but it feels like home already!