“I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.”

-Audrey Hepburn

Audrey nailed it.

I believe too, the whole lot of it.

~*♥*~

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Pipsa and I had a real girly day, visiting the lovely Lea, owner of the best jewellery boutique of Helsinki. Rubens.

Rose quartz & diamond ring and earrings. My favorites. Ok, amongst others.

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Coffee and a chat with friends, that’s what a cloudy afternoon needs…

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The beautiful Peppi of Rubens.

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Sometimes good retail therapy doesn’t need any purchases.

Ladyfriends, beautiful nothings and a cup of coffee is more than enough ♥.

~*♥*~

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A goooooood morning to all you my dear readers!

I’m having a sweet one myself. Behind is a weekend spent with a darling friend in Central Finland, sauna, a walk on the wild side following fresh bear tracks ( not my citygirl idea as you may have guessed…), swimming in a lake , deep & interesting conversations with two soul sisters, some treasure hunting… A good night’s sleep that was so badly needed.

Did Mama Bear have a Baby Bear with it???

And a Monday that began with a long hot yoga session.

Sunlight.

I’m ready to face anything now.

~*♥*~

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My Monday started by my 5-year old bringing me coffee – that he had made himself!!! – to bed.

He was so proud. The  first time, he’d managed it all by himself ♥. And he knows how much I luuuuuv having my coffee in bed..

This is what I call Everyday Poesie.

And Monday just became my favorite day ♥♥♥.

~*♥*~

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My dear friends,  this weekend there is a lovely pre-labor day event at Cafe Kapusiini in Helsinki’s Kumpula area.

In this event funds are collected for a housing project for handicapped youth. Plenty, plenty of fun program and yummy delicacies to eat are arranged for you:

14.00 Vallattomat 4 (Puntti Valtonen, Jussi Lampi & friends)

16.00 Tapio Liinoja performs with Pedro Hietanen

17.00 Helena Lindgren sings her seiren songs

AND from 12-14.00 chef Sami Hiltunen shows us the secrets of his mouth-watering soups, with the help my dear friend Samppa.

Sam the Man

Please come! I promise you a warmhearted, genuine feelgood day in the best possible company.

Address: Kahvila Kapusiini, Intiankatu 25, Kumpula, Helsinki

Opening hours: sun 28.4. 07-19.00

~*♥*~

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Here’s to doing something wild and out of character.

I just did.

OhBoy I’d almost forgotten how good that feels.

~*♥*~

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I have a family in India.

This Kashmiri shawl is a gift from them. My mother has made a pilgrimage to the very volatile Kashmir some years ago. It was an incredibly gutsy move from this 60+ lady, especially in India, where women rarely move alone – not to mention going practically to a war zone all on her own. But she has an adventurous spirit and as nobody in the family shares that with her, she realised her dream alone. Oh how I wish I could have gone with her!

She says she’ll never forget the beauty of Kashmir, or the incredible kindness of the people there. She had fallen very ill in an area where there are no doctors or hospitals, and the locals had taken her to their homes and taken care of her. It is these people who have made my shawl.

Shawl from Kashmir, gold and moonstone hoop earrings handmade in Hawaii

I wrap myself into this shawl every time I face something very harsh or have to encounter people who intimidate me. And it’s true; it has magical powers. It has been given to me with such love that no harm can touch me when I have it around me.

Uhhhhh how writing this makes me miss India… Some many stories I have of my journeys there… Will tell you more another time.

Have a peaceful Sunday dear friends! Mine will surely be sweet, as I’m expecting a very special quest to come and visit us ♥.

~*♥*~

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When my youngest son was 3 or 4, I encountered a situation every parent dreads. In a crowded tram, he pointed his finger at somebody and asked loudly “Why doesn’t that man have any hands?”. I tried to open up a conversation on how we are all born different yet equal, while the man in question clearly wanted the earth to open up and devour him right there and then.

Once we got home, I explained that next time, when we come across someone who’s different, it would be better to wait and discuss it at home. That pointing at somebody who’s not like the majority of us can make them feel uncomfortable and sad. Although I tried to say this gently – I know his question was innocent and he hadn’t understood it could hurt someone – his eyes welled in tears. “But I didn’t know that! I’m little, I don’t know everything!”, he sobbed, really upset at himself.

And he never forgot that incident.

A few days ago, we went to a pharmacy and a man came in. He was an adult, but not much taller than my now 5 and a half year old son. I went about my business and suddenly realised that my youngest son was making a tour around the pharmacy, meticulously aisle by aisle. Once, twice, three times all around. Then he came to me and said with a lowered voice “Mama did you notice that man? Was he an adult or a child?”. “Can we talk about this at home”, I responded. “It’s ok,” he said proudly “I checked the full pharmacy three times. He’s not here anymore. I wouldn’t have asked otherwise.”

Whenever I get the blues and feel like I’ve done nothing right in this life I only need to look beside me to find something perfect, happy and beautiful. And I know that at some point, I’ve taken the right turn. My guys!

My oldest son who understands me better than anybody else in this world. I don’t need to say a world – he already gets it, whatever it is.

My baby, so big now. With such a wise lionheart that every day he makes me proud.

~*♥*~

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My light as air Kenzo scarf is feeling playful ♥.

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~*♥*~

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