Easter Decor

Happy Easter everybody! I hope you're all enjoying the long weekend off and have eaten enough chocolate eggs to satisfy your chocolate cravings until Christmas ;)

Easter is one of my favorite holdays because it brings with it the promise of spring and all in all is just a happy celebration with none of the stress that comes with Christmas. I love decorating for Easter because it really feels like I can bring the spring home.

Usually I paint or decorate some eggshells every year. These are real eggshells - I blow out the egg inside (and make yammy omelets) so these last from year to year. My mom has a collection we've crafted throughout the years and this year I decided it was time to start my own. I was inspired by some of this springs biggest trends -chevron and polkadots as well as metallic gold and neon colors. Didn't they turn out adorable?

I also got some very cute Easter decorations from PENTIK, a Finnish design brand that makes the most beautiful ceramics and also just all kinds of adorable little things for the home.

For me, flowers are just as important part of Easter decor as eggs. I love tulips and think they make a great Easter bouquet. Anemones are also one of my favorites.

A Finnish tradition is to grow "Easter grass" that can be decorated with eggs and tiny chicks of just put on display by itself. This year, instead of the traditional grass I opted for the sturdier ochre. My own cultivation didn't turn out nearly as well as the one my mom gave me, though. 

Now I'm off to celebrate with loved ones. Last night's engagement party was a huge success and we all had a great time. This really is a weekend full on laughter and joy - as Easter should be. Hope you're all enjoying your Easter weekend as well!

xx,

H

Barca in photos

Hello everybody!

This week has been a busy one, even though I'm not returning to work from my sick leave until next friday. It's amazing how much stuff you can put on your schedule when all you have is free time! 

Today I finally got my beloved Olympus PEN Mini E-PM2 (which I can highly reccomend if you're looking for a good compact camera) to synch with my MacBook. I'm not sure what the problem was, but it seems to have solved on it's own. So now I finally have the opportunity to share some pictures from last weekends trip. The wineyard was beautiful and the wines excellent! I'm not gonna bore you with anymore babbling and am just gonna let you enjoy the pictures. Here you go! 

Have a great Easter weekend everybody! This is going to be a busy weekend for me as my bestie's coming home for Easter and we'll finally get to celebrate her engagement to her prince charming. All sorts of other more or less traditional family events are also on the schedule, so lots of fun on the way! I'll be sure to post some photos of our Easter Decor later.

xx,

H

Barcelona, I love you

Good morning my dear readers! I'm sitting at a lovely cafe by the Passeig de Gracia waiting  for the stores to open. I woke up early dispite being exhausted last night after being awake for 22 hours straight. Just can't sleep when I'm in one of my favorite cities! 

Yesterday was a lot of fun, although I could totally feel the waking up at 3am weighing on me a bit. We mostly just walked around, taking in the atmosphere. I love Barcelona for so many reasons - there're the beautiful Gaudi buildings, the warm and sunny weather, amazing shopping possibilities, the beach and so much more. This really is the ultimate destination and I'm so happy to be back, even just for a weekend. 

Me and some of our group are staying at the Eixample which is one of the fanciest part of the city with all the luxury brands lining the streets. Yesterday we walked down to Barcelonetta and it's beautiful beaches to just hang in the sun. The weather was beautiful, sunny but just enough windy that it wasn't hot. I got a little sunburnt though since I didn't realize to put sunscreen on that little bit of my decolte showing from my blouse. We took the gondol from Barcelonetta to Mont Juic, since we thought it'd be fun to see the city from the air. The views were great, as expected, but the line, which we thought was about 20 min long, ended up continuing once you got to the top and we had to wait for over an hour for our 5 min gondol ride. So not worth it.

What was amazing was the Sagrada Famiglia! Last time I was in Barcelona I didn't have the time to go inside so I had decided that was something I wanted to do this weekend. I got tickets online so we didn't have to wait in line, something I highly recommend doing. Our ticket included an audio guide which was pretty great and made you notice all the small details of this amazing architectural wonder. 

Now the stores are opening up, so time to go do a little bit of shopping before the bus picks us up and takes us out of the city to one of the most famous vineyards of the area for a bit of wine tasting and tapas. I'm very excited about this! 

Have a great Saturday! 

Xx

H

Up in the Air

Picture from Vogue

Since I'm packing up my bags and heading to Barcelona in the morning (I have to be at the airport at 4.45am, are you kidding me?) I thought it'd be fun to share some of my best advice for flying with you all.

As I mentioned, I love traveling. I need it to survive the cold and dark months of winter. Ever since I was a little girl my parents have taken me on trips all over the world. The first time I traveled abroad I guess I was three months old. I can't say I remember anything about that trip, but I've been told I behaved very well. I'm very lucky, I know, to have such amazing parents who have taught me the value of traveling from such a young age. Growing up the wanderlust hasn't subsided one bit, but grown if anything.

Last year I traveled to 3 continents, 7 countries and 9 cities and I counted that it took me at least 20 flights total to reach my destinations and get back home. So I guess it's safe to say I know a thing or two about flying and traveling with luggage. Here are ten tips to make your next flight a little more enjoyable.

1. The first rule of traveling is comfort 

This is especially true if you're flying overseas. You really don't want to sit eight hours straight on a plain thinking that your jeans are feeling too tight or that your dress is getting all wrinkled and keeps rising up. As a true fashionista I feel that part of feeling comfortable is also wearing something that makes me feel beautiful. So no sweat pants and t-shirts, please. Comfort and style, can they really match? Yes. Nowadays even easier than ever. My go-to flight look consists of a pair of leggings and a long comfortable sweater plus some ballerinas. Or if flying to someplace warm, as I am tommorow, a pair of opaque tights and a summer dress with a comfortable cardigan will do the trick.

Heading to Rome last spring with my beautiful mom, wearing my favorite travel dress from New Look and having all of my things in my beloved Neverfull.

2. Bring a scarf

It always gets too cold on the plane. Always. So no matter where you're travelling to - be it a beach in Greece in the middle of July where it's bound to be 40 C once you hit the ground - take a nice, soft, warm scarf on the plane with you. Take my word for it, you'll be glad you did. For extra warmth, I always bring ollen socks with me as well.

3. Travel as light as you can 

I'm very bad at this but keep trying to improve. Traveling with a 10kg carry on is a bitch. Packing only what's really necessary also leaves room in your luggage for souvenirs and those beautiful shoes you just have to have. There are some great packing tips to be found here and here. Do make sure you have all the essentials with you though!

My travel essentials

4. Don't be an idiot 

Seriously, few things annoy me more than stupid (sadly, often Finnish) passengers who make a huge number about themselves. I get that this might be your first ever time on a plane and you're all excited and possibly a bit scared, but that's no excuse to ruin everyone else's trip by your loud and innappropriate remarks about the stewardess behind or that poshy looking foreigner (who by the way, might understand your every word). 

5. Invest in a good carry on 

Weather it be a roller that fits the international sizing limits or a big quality leather bag, having a carry on bag that you can fit all your things in without a fear of it breaking, is just invaluable if you travel a lot. It may also help you save money since most of the bargain airlines charge big bucks for check in bags. I have my trusted Louis Vuitton Neverfull which has never failed me and can easily hold a weekends worth of stuff (and as I said, I'm not a very light packer). I found a great little Densley roller last summer from San Francisco that is only about a kilo and a half when empty so no extra weight from the bag itself is a big plus.

6. Be on time

Make sure to have extra time getting to the airport and through securityYou never know what can go wrong and trust me, running from the airport train to the gates when your plane is about to leave in 5 minutes is not a whole lot of fun. If you can, check in online beforehand so if you do end up running a bit late, you don't need to wait in line for that. Most airports now have all sorts of amazing features in the departure halls as well, so being on time also gives you the chance to explore and do some last minute shopping of course. I'd advice to reserve extra time if you are to visit some of these airports which have been chosen as the best in the world. 

7. Remember to hydrate 

Hydrate. And not with alcohol. I cannot stress this enough. Remember the movie Bridesmaids? Yeah, we don't want that happening. Drinking enough water before and during a flight has many benefits and also helps with your complexion. You can save some money by bringin an empty water bottle with you through security, since most airports have fountains with clean drinking water so you can fill up once you're inside and avoid those heavy prices they charge for water at the kiosks.

8. Bide your time 

I can never understand why some people spring up and rush to the line at the first announcement of boarding. You already have your seat reserved and are going to be able to sit in it's tiny slot for a good while, so why not strech your legs and relax for a bit longer? I usually get in line when I see that nearly all people have gone in. Still, it's polite to be at the gate on time so the whole plane full of people doesn't have to wait for you.

9. Freshen up

Take a little bit of cosmetics with you so you can freshen up on the plain of after you've landed. I usually bring some sorts of facial wipes, a tester sized facial cream, compact powder, blush and lipgloss. Even if the flight is only a short one, I feel the high airconditioning makes my face feel very dried up. I feel the washing of my face and reapplying my makeup right after landing is very revigorating and helps me start my trip on a good note.

10. Give back

If you're traveling to a place where you'll need to change currency, you can light up some strangers day by leaving the leftover cash as a tip at the airport. I always like to do these types of small good deeds and this is one great option. Also a lot of the airlines now collect the extra change during flights for charity like the unicef, so if you don't like giving money to strangers than at least you can use up your foreign cash to help a good cause.

So there you have some very well tested and well deemed advice for smooth travels. Do you have any tips you'd like to add to this list?

I'm heading to the warmth and sunshine of beautiful Barca for the weekend and will be sure to be back to tell you all about it once I return! Have a great weekend everyone!

xx

H

Crazy Days

So it's that time of the year again. The city is filling up with yellow shopping bags and people are arriving to work late or leaving for lunch early and everyone seems to be going a bit crazy. It's the semiannual Hullut Päivät (Crazy Days) at Stockmann. For those of you not living in Finland I'll just say it's a bit like as if Black Friday would happen twice a year for four consecutive days only at Nordstrom, but with deals that aren't as great. For the early birds there really are some sweet deals to be made, especially in cosmetics and food. I used to be as crazy about these supersales as anyone but have since learned to controll my inner shoppaholic and limit myself to only the things I would've needed to buy anyway.

This year, I must say, there weren't nearly as many covetable items for me as there have been in the past. I'm not sure if it's me growing up or the recession hitting the store's collection as well. Probably both. I did venture inside the mayhem yesterday and made a couple of great findings, which I'll tell you about in a bit.

The key to a successfull shopping spree at a crazed event like this is, I think, preparation. Well prapared is half finished, right? That is why I started my morning over breakfast with one of my dearest friends at Kiila. If you're looking for an affordable yet nice place to have breakfast during the week, I highly reccomend you try this place. I'm calling freshly baked bred with all the toppings, oat meal, yougurts and berries, to die for mini croissants and even do-it-yourself waffels for only 7,50,- a real bargan in this over priced city. Plus the enviroment really is nice and bright in the morning sun.

To go shopping at Hullut Päivät not only do you need to start your day off with a power breakfast and of course check the catalog in advance to know just what you're looking for, it's also really important to think about what you're going to be wearing. If you don't, you might end up like my friend, pushing through the crowds of people fighting over those 279,- Micheal Kors trench coats, wearing a down jacket and a heavy sweater and just feeling miserable and like you're suffocating. 

First and foremost it's important that you're wearing comfortable, easy to dress clothes, so that fitting isn't such a pain in the butt. For yesterday's crazyness, I put on jeans, an easy top and a knitted blazer. Had I been shopping for a new pair of pants, I would've opted for a skirt, but since I still had my walker cast boot on, jeans worked great.

I also think it's important to wear clothes that you really like, and that are the truest to your style. My general style is pretty classic and feminine and I remember this one time when I was wearing a much edgier outfit than usually while shopping and ended up taking most of the suff I bought back because they just weren't really me afterall. Top that comfortable yet chic outfit off with natural make up and a hairdo that won't get too frizzy when you're trying on those beautiful sweaters, and you're good to go.

After rummaging through dozens of clothesracks and piles of shoes I finally found the pieces I was looking for and left the store really happy but tired. One of my favorite thing about Hullut Päivät is that they sell pretty orchids for a fraction of the normal prize and this is always something I look forward the most. This year I found two excuisite white phaleonopsis. I also found new, cute and extremely comfortable running shoes and some gym wear. My favorite bargain in addition to the orchids was a new city bike (and a stylish helmet to go with it, of cource) which should be delivered to me in a couple of days. I'm very excited about it since Helsinki really is a biker's city. 

Beautiful orchids

After a very exhausting day spent shopping I was about ready for bed, but luckily had still some energy left as I had tickets for this years Lääkiksen Speksi (the annual musical by my fellow med students). And boy was it greater than ever this year! I used to be a part of the stage make up team for years and it was very exciting to watch the story unravel as an outsider. We have some very artistically talented doctors to be, let me tell you. But more on that on another day.

Good luck to all of you who are still trying to get your hands on some bargains at the Hullut Päivät this weekend, son't forget to prapare well!

xx

H

Sweating it

Today has been a a relaxed day so far, with writing the blog and going through pictures (and having a talk on FaceTime with my bestie which just cheered me up so much). I thought I should pick it up by doing some exercising. I've always struggled with my weight a little, partly due to a genetic glitch that causes my body to produce more insulin than needed (insulin is an anabolic hormone so extra is just making all those extra calories turn to fat that much faster) but also just because I know I'm a bit lazy at times and love chocolate, especially during the dark months. Though I'm far from being happy with my body, I don't beat myself up for it too much. I've always known that loving me for me is the key to happiness, so although I always feel like I should be on a diet and do more exercising, I also let myself off the hook at times when I'm just too exhausted.

Spring has always been the best time for me to get my fitness back on and this year is no different. Like I said, I had a bad accident during the Holidays and haven't really been able to work out ever since, but now I'm finally getting back to it. My bestie (whose amazing blog you can read here, make sure to check it out!) is getting married in the fall and to help support her attempts at looking her best on the big day the bridesmaids and I have set up a wedding boot camp. It really helps to set up a plan with the girls and work together towards a common goal, because after all we all want to look fabulous in those photos. I'm also about to take an amazing sailing trip with some friends in May, so knowing I need to be presentable in a bikini by then helps with the motivational issues as well.

I've found several really great shape up plans online, my favorite being Lauren Conrad's Bikini Bootcamp which I just love love love. For our wedding bootcamp we wanted something a little bit simpler and more effective though. The general rules are easy to follow and hopefully we will see some visible results come fall.

1. Eat clean: The most important part of weight loss is to realize that it really happens in the kitchen. No processed foods, no fast carbs - the more you cut down on carbs the better, at least for me, no sweets or sugar. (Oh boy was this tested at brunch on sunday, but I'm happy to tell you that I did manage to skip the dessert table, hooray!) Counting calories is essential - at least until you just learn how much is enough - because as we all know weight loss is all about how much you put in your body vs how much you spend. I love that these days this arduous task is made so much simpler by all the wonderful apps for our smart phones. My favorite is Lose it! because not only is it an amazingly simple app for calorie counting, they also have a website with lots of extra features.

2. Weight training: I have a personal trainer to whip me into shape, but due to my accident I haven't been able to train with her since December. I'm a firm believer in the effects of weight training and that most of your exercising should comprise of muscle building work outs. Not only does it help you to sculpt a more toned body, but muscles use up more energy so you'll actually be rising your basic energy expenditure levels. My PT always tells me that the weight is just right when I can finish 8-10 reps so that I really feel it on the last 2-3 reps. If I can do 15 reps easily, the weight is too light and doesn't really engage all of my muscle fibers and thus doesn't really build up any muscle either. For the wedding bootcamp we're really focusing on our arms and chests and backs because that's really the only part that our beautiful gowns reveal. I'm very excited that I finally found 5kg dumbbells this past weekend and have already tested them out and they really bring the needed extra kick to my arm training. I'm aming for 30-45min of strength building exercising 3-5 times a week.

3. Cardio: Although not the key factor in weight loss (as many still seem to believe), cardio is very important for other health benefits such as making the heart stronger and boosting general endurance and as new research shows it may even help preventing dementia later on. I haven't been able to do almost any cardio for months now, but with the cast and the iron pin coming off of my foot this week, hopefully I'll be able to at least take nice walks soon and (fingers crossed) start running by the end of this summer. The aim is to do about 3-5 hours of cardio per week.

I'll post some specific work outs later on. Time to get into shape again!

What are some of your biggest fitness obstacles and best advice?

xx

H

The first day of spring

I woke up this morning with a sudden urge to start writing a blog. It came to me like spring sneaks up on winter - you know, one day you're walking outside, gloomy about the never ending cold and sleet and suddenly the sky clears up and a ray of sun hits your face and you hear a robin sing, perhaps even see a daffodil pushing it's way through the cold, hard ground, and you realize there's hope - that once again spring is about to conquer winter. I cannot even tell you, my dear reader, just how much I adore those first rays of the spring sun warming my face. It's like waking up from six months of stupor and realizing it's ok to breathe again.

The idea of blogging came to me just like that. As suddenly and surprisingly as the buds appear on the trees after a sunny spring day, yet as expectedly as the birds return from their trips from far far lands. The idea of writing a blog has been growing in my head for a while now. I've always loved writing and so I guess the question really is, what took me so long? To be honest, I'm not even sure. Sure, I've been busy, but hey, who isn't. I guess I've just bided my time, waited for that warm breeze to help me push through. It is very approriate thus, that I'm beginning this new exciting endeavor as the last bits of snow are melting away. It doesn't hurt that because of a little accident on Christmas Eve, I've practically been more or less stuck at home for the past three and a half months and I guess I finally ran out of other things to do.

So from this day on I shall blog my heart out. I'll blog mostly about the things that make me happy, about traveling, fashion and beauty, party planning, interior designing, fitness and health, but once in a while you'll find me writing about the things that really matter in life as well, like relationships and charity. Really, I guess I'm just going to write about whaterver it is that fills my soul on a particular day. 

Due to the nature of my work I won't reveal too much about myself, but because I will anyway be posting a lot of personal stuff I can tell you this much - I'm a twentysomething girl living in Helsinki, the capital of Finland (the country between Russia and Sweden which no one really seems to know about). I've just finished med school, though am no where near done with my education. Although I realize there are a lot of great things about my country, I dream of leaving Finland behind and moving to someplace warm and sunny as soon as possible. I have the biggest case of wanderlust and am constantly planning my next trip. Through my travels around the world I've learned to appreciate the beautiful things this world has to offer, as well as realized just how good we have it and feel an obligation to help those in need. So even though I really am a girlie girl who dreams of a life by the Malibu beach and loves her Luis Vuitton bags and Jimmy Choo heels as much as anyone, I also wish that one day I'll truly be able to make a difference.

I hope to bring beauty and inspiration to your daily lives. I'm a very positive and energetic person and hopefully some of that happiness can rub on to you through these posts. From time to time though, I hope to also challenge your way of thinking and encourage you to make this world a tiny bit better place to live. I'm hopefull that writing this blog can also do that for me, that in some ways it's going to help me see things in a whole new light.

So there you have it, the first chapter of my blog. I hope you enjoyed it and will come back soon! If you have any comments, critique or requests, don't hesitate to leave a note, I'd be grateful for any feedback.

xx

H