torstai 30. toukokuuta 2013

A week in pictures!

The weekend is almost behind the corner, yay! I've been waiting for it badly! We've had long days at work, seriously heavy duty, but I'm sure the outcome is going to be good! It's also nice to notice that even though the sun is shining big and the temperature has risen, I've managed to hold on to my concentration!! The holidays are getting closer and there's good energy in the air!

Here's some snapshots from this week, mainly from well deserved lunch brakes!



Beautiful sky, beautiful scenery





My sweet Japanese colleague visited home and brought me the prettiest souvenir ever! She clearly knows my true nature!



And here's me sporting my new flea market-goodies! The sandals and one of the new bags! I can't believe that I payed 1€ for it! A leather bag! And this you won't believe: I had it with me for the first time Yesterday, and in the evening when I was coming home I reached for my keys in the small side pocket, and found 3,5€ from there! I was at awe. For a brief moment I was thinking should I perhaps return the money... but naah, I had an ice cream today at the lunch brake instead!! 




Now it's definitely time to go to bed, I just got home an hour ago only to wake up in the morning to go back! But after that it's weekend and it'll be lovely! Good night my friends!!






sunnuntai 26. toukokuuta 2013

Yet another flea market day...!

Yes, I'm going crazy with the flea markets, I know, but it's the best kind of shopping there is!!
I love to get surprised with something unexpected, to snoop around and look at beautiful things! It's treasure hunting! And since the whole day Yesterday went by at work having to miss the Siivouspäivä when the whole city turns into one gigantic flea market, I headed East today.
There were several things going on: Apila-kirppis in Roihuvuori and Rantakirppis in Marjaniemi.
I made a date with my sweet friend in one of the playgrounds of Roihuvuori, where she was out with her boys, and we were sipping tea from a thermos while the boys were playing around! It was nice to catch up with the latest news, hugs Sweetie!

It started to rain a little so I didn't find much action in the Apila-kirppis, but oh my, when I drove to Marjaniemi! First of all it was beautiful! Big beautiful houses along the shoreline, the sea so pretty, and the whole Marjaniemenranta full of yard-sales, friendly people and such kind atmosphere! I chatted with several ladies, had the yummiest mushroom-pie, was welcome to even use the loo in one of the houses, and got a tour in the prettiest backyard I have ever seen! This family had their own boat in their own little pier, lots of tulips and a fountain! The house was a 100-year-old stone villa, originally the ladie's husband's grandparents had it as their summer house.
When Helsinki was a lot smaller, Marjaniemi was filled with villas like these as people's summer places.
Oh, how I love the history of Helsinki, these old areas, and the fact that there still are people from the same old families living in the same homes. That's rare I think. It was fascinating, we talked for quite a while!

I also made some finds, bargains, if I may say so! A pair of golden leather sandals, almost new, and three little black leather bags, total 7€! Clothes-wise it wasn't my cup of tea. I'm telling you, when the garages are filled with Jags, Mercs, even with a Maserati and a Porsche, the clothes are pretty businessy, being all black and beige, suits and pencil skirts, so I let them be, but enjoyed enormously the walk, the talk and the landscape! It was just perfect! I want more happenings like these, pretty please!!

Now we're just taking it easy, sweet husband took me out for a dinner to one of our favourite places in Katajanokka, and now it's sofa-time! Stomachs full!

Off towards a new week tomorrow, lots of thoughts to you all dear ones!



                                                      Sweet Roihis & sweet friend!







Here's the beautiful house...



....and this is the backyard!















Here are he finds!
The smallest one of the bags with the golden little strap belonged to the Mother of this older lady who sold it to me. A very special thing, I think. It's very delicate, goes beautifully with evening wear.








Fashion Friday!

On Friday I was free the whole day and went to check out the Fashion Stock Sales in Vanha Ylioppilastalo. This is an interesting event: Finnish designers and fashion brands organise a kind of an outlet for one weekend where you can make true finds in clothing, shoes, bags jewellery and accessories! It was pretty full when I got there but managed to look through the tables alright! Minna Parikka, Katri Niskanen, Lumi, Kirsi Nisonen and the sweet Paloni were all presented, just to name a few, plus one of my favourites, Hanna Sarén herself, behind the counter! This was a really cool coincidence, since I was wearing one of her dresses from her line for Seppälä a few years back! We chatted for a moment, I was really tempted to buy one of her super-fun and glitzy evening bag, but didn't in the end, shoot! Her shoes are nice, especially the wooden ones! I wish her the best of luck, she has a unique style and I like it a lot!

On my way back home I saw a really cool car! I'm usually not taking pictures of cars AT ALL, but this put a big smile on my face! Have to share it with you!





                  The Flamingo-bag on Hanna Sarén's table haunted me for a while! Isn't it cool?!
                                                


                     Hats by Kirsi Nisonen, they are super-delicious! One day I'll get one for sure!



Here's the car, a Citroen DS! Love everything about it, check out the tyres!






perjantai 24. toukokuuta 2013

Note!

I just realised that after the Blogger application update the pictures look really unsharp! Not good!!
So I re-loaded the pics from my computer starting from Puu-Vallila fleamarket-post, so go have another look, they should be fine now! Bad pictures do no good! Sorry about this,
I hope they fix it soon!

Bye for now, have a beautiful Friday everyone!!




Back home!

As wonderful as the visit to Vienna was, I was more than happy to sleep in our own bed last night! I slept like a log! No matter how short a tour, it always makes me tired! I wonder why...?!
We had a fun night with dinner and drinks after the concert. Our hotel was right at the center so it was all very handy!

The concert itself was wonderful, almost a full house, and we got invited back again, hooray! It's always a very emotional moment when you get to play Sibelius abroad, it's an amazing feeling. I cannot think of a better calling card between people than music! It's a missionary thing really, I feel like a little ambassadress, and proud of it!!

It was also so lovely to get a real glimpse of summer, to walk around without a jacket and wear a dress, oh!
Now off towards a new day, my mind is light and happy, grateful of the past few days! Love this feeling!!










keskiviikko 22. toukokuuta 2013

Grüsse aus Wien!

Here we are and it's beautiful as always!!
Yesterday was a horrific thunder storm but we managed to land anyway.
We went to the nearest Gaststätte to have dinner and off to bed!
In the morning there was time to look around before the rehearsal so I took a long walk around Hofburg and the pedestrian center, bought some souvenir chocolate from Hotel Sacher's café and stopped at my favourite Café Tirolerhof for tea and Apfelstrudel!! Mein Gott it was good!

Soon it's concert time! It's always a priviledge to get to play in Vienna, the city of composers, the heart of tradition. I feel exited and blessed in so many ways!
Auf wiedersehen for now!






















maanantai 20. toukokuuta 2013

A new week!

After a weekend full of happenings Monday's always around the corner.
It was nice to unwind but I must say that the 'Super-Saturday' was not so super after all.. Except that I had a lovely breakfast date with my dear friend! But the ice-hockey and the Eurovision song contest..oh boy! Nevertheless we fought hard in both, gave a good performance and showed that there's energy and definitely loads of talent over here!! Go Finland go!

Today was all about getting ready for the week ahead, for tomorrow I'll be in Vienna! The sweet and beautiful capital of Sacher-cake, Sissi and music! This is going to be a short trip, but a nice one I'm sure, so stay tuned my dears!
Nighty night for now!

                                           




sunnuntai 19. toukokuuta 2013

Sunshine, Weekend, Fleamarket!

Hellohello!
It's been such a heavenly day today! It was supposed to be a little rainy but we got full-on sunshine instead! 
The boys went fishing and myself, my Mother and Miss T headed towards Puu-Vallila, one of my absolute favourite areas in our sweet town of Helsinki! 

Weekends in May are busy times in these old neighbourhoods. The locals organise a lot of happenings such as street-fleamarkets, live music and little cafés in their yards and narrow little streets, it's adorable! Besides Puu-Vallila, Puu-Käpylä, Kumpula and Arabia are full of gatherings like these! 
I just love it, it's a perfect way to celebrate the beginning of summer! Trees are blooming, the sun is so warm and you can see smiles in people's faces, oh, it makes my heart pound!

We wondered around, made some finds, had crepes for lunch, and stopped for a while to watch the cutest wooden car-race for small boys! There were 27 contestants! Busy day for the parents!

Still stopped for cups of coffee and tea and came home. So lovely!!!







Now check this out!! I'm now a brand new owner of these über-cool Sendra boots! I couldn't believe it! They fit my feet perfectly, are in good shape and look so good! I've been thinking about boots on and off for sometime now but haven't really acted on it in any way, and this was just amazing: they came to me! And for 10€!! This is too good to be true!




Here's our lunch-creperie! They were handed to us from the window! Delicious!




Beautiful gardens everywhere you looked!



Wroom wroom wroom!



We were following signs so we could find even the smallest of yards!



And finally: the first day of sandals!!