+30 to -30

These are the coldest times of the year here up north. Outside it's been around -15, -20 for a while now, just getting colder all the time. Promising -30 is also about to arrive.

One Nordic experience to try for you people:

Step out from a warm (+30C) room full of candles..



.. to the freezing, crisp winter air (up to -30C) ..



.. and experience Finland!

Feel ..

.. the heat through these lyrics!

24 - 2 = 22

The same day we had the 24-hour-birthgiving, I also turned 22. I received more than 200 congrats from all over the globe and a huge amount of hugs and kisses. I want to THANK YOU all lovely people for remembering me on Tuesday, November the 30th!



Special thanks to Liv, one speacial and lovely Italian that managed to send me amazingly beautiful flowers despite the seas and countries between us, AND to a good friend/ the best flatmate I've had, Liisa for surprising me with candles and a lovely dinner after such a tiring event the next day!

24

The tradition for the 4th year team entrepreneurs at Team Academy is to participate and give all of your knowledge in a 24-hour-birthgiving. And what does this actually mean?

'Get a case from a customer at 12.00 o'clock, try to solve the problem, and present the perfection 24 hours later, at 12.00 the next day.'

It's about to give a birth to something new for the customers. With my team of 15 persons, unelMania we got 3 cases to solve on Tuesday November the 30th. Worked hard and after the presentation a huge part in me felt very empty. I realized it's all coming in to an end here. My last real participation..



I think this life's one huge 24. A mission to save a part of the world. I hope we did piece of our job this week, check out those moments HERE!

Paris delighted of dance for the 4th time

51 crews sent videos in advance for pre-selections of Paris Dance Delight 4. 23 crews made it and arrived at Theâtre des Variétés in Paris November 21st 2010. Our crew was among those, nervous backstage, waiting..

The show started 9pm, first was the show of Parisian crew 'Swaggers', six amazingly talented women. After the winners it was our turn. Keep your mind clear and just flirt, it's all about being a diva mannequin.


Mannequins on stage / More pics in ilovethisdance.com

I really want to thank all the girls (Illi, Rita, Saara, Tiikku and Veera), Juste Debout, audience, Liv and everyone who made this experience possible. Paris really showed its power! Waiting for the 5th annual Delight year 2011..

J'adore Paris

I love many things in Paris..


Lovely boutiques


Amis


Cafés avec petit déjeuner


Unique ideas - Sweat Shop Paris


Most of all, I love my love.

Sweet 16

Ye, that was me last time I was in Paris - just a teenager, very very sweet 16-year-old girl. It was a school trip, with my best friends though. We all lived in families, a little bit outside of Paris, near Versailles.

First time I visited Paris was at the age of 14, same kind of school trip. I also stayed in one family, in Gournay sur le Marne, other side of Paris. Tonight I'll meet that family again, I'm staying at Florence's house for first two nights. I have definitely changed since those years! As I suppose they've too.. I know what kind of house to expect, but the rest - I have absolutely no idea! Wiser tomorrow. And wiser than 7 years ago.

Paris Dance Delight 4

It's time to try some Delight Parisien:



Dancing with the girls at the Théâtre des Variétés next Sunday, 21st of November. Feel it!

What scares you the most?

Fire? [ ]
Death? [ ]
Relationship? [ ]
Terrorism? [ ]
Viruses? [ ]
Leaving home? [ ]
Happiness? [X]

Ask yourself?

Very basics..

.. of sustainability. To keep this Earth alive and for everyone of us to enjoy!

Beauty and decisions

What a cold beauty this morning! Had to stop to photograph..



Reports, meetings, and it's dark again. Welcome to some of these Nordic countries!

During this hectic day, we finally made some important decisions too with our team, routes for US next Jan/Feb. There're 14 of us flying first to Los Angeles the 25th of January 2011. Then we'll split a bit..

Eliel, Kati, Mervi and Eeva will travel in the same car with me these places:

LA - Las Vegas - San Diego - Tijuana - LA

Peace for the one that survives from the tour alive with these crazy personalities!

WeWeWeddings?

Sat 30th and Sun 31st of October, wedding theme and Kuopio - a town a bit up north from my home town Jyväskylä. Great event, people dreaming and realizing, inspiration.

CLICK HERE to enjoy some pictures of the first day of the event!



Roses also ready for the second day..

Love

Seen-through, red, blue and black love for you people by Robyn:

Changes

Changes freshen the air. New things bring excitement in life. If you're bored or tired with your everyday life, change something! You don't always have to move to India and stop keeping contact with anything that might remind of the past life. Small changes make this world so much prettier.

I changed the style in my room few days ago, which I also talked openly about in the local radio show - it's so therapeutic I must say. I burn different kinds of candles and listen some new artists. I travel in my home country to a city I never tend to visit.. leaving today to Kuopio for this coming weekend. I might also take a random book from the library, and go deep down into a complitely another world.

These little things lighten my day and week. Soon I'll realise it's Christmas time and all those small things are lightened by everyone else. In the middle of chaos you just need to lay down for a second and enjoy. That way everything seems brighter than the darkness outside.

Changes brighten and lighten - enjoy the darkness of autumn days and nights!

Winter coming in the colour of autumn

How pretty it's been! Cold, but oh so beautiful. I was cycling to a meeting yesterday and just had to stop to take a picture. First snow falling, but still autumn in the air - sun, colorful trees and excitement of something new. Something touchable.



As I've told before in this blog, I'm leaving for a trip around the world next January. As said, my winter will be very short, so I'm trying to take everything out of the time that I still have here. Even these small wintery details make me smile.

I don't want to keep it only for myself, want to scream and start counting the days. Route's decided finally!!

HELSINKI - LOS ANGELES/LAS VEGAS/SAN FRANCISCO - AUCKLAND - SYDNEY/MELBOURNE - ABU DHABI - LONDON - HELSINKI.

First flight is 25th of Jan and I'll be back in April then, ready for the summer 2011. But for now, let's enjoy first pieces of snow and last days of colorful leaves!

It's about time, it's about time..

.. for SLOW. To finally decide which way YOU want to live and behave.

Do you still want to fly, like a bee change friends, clicks and situations in life? Swing and run. Or is your cake actually the one that you can eat by youself in peace? I decided I want a piece of balanced peace. Though still, I look for some excitement. But there're many ways for that. Excitement can be an old flame burning again, or the first time you see snow again. Maybe just sitting down and breathing - seeing the beauty of the world.

It's about time to SLOWER. Slow is finally becoming a real trend, slower food as well as slower fashion. Have to mention this one awesome blog, Slow Fashion Forward, that my lovely friend from Basque Country helped to find.

Enjoy the Slow people!

Take a break!

Once again it was time to gather with creative young team entrepreneurs to make each other understand this complicated world and life a bit more. I had a lot of interesting, deep conversations. How funny it is I have so many things in common with these innovators, and at the same time countless of differences.

We walked in a forest close to 15 kilometers, by thin paths through the network of living creatures. During those hours I started thinking very basics of human life.

‘If you slip away from the wooden path, you might get hurt. It’s important to have someone close enough to help you survive.'

‘If you try to move forward and look back at once, you’ll get blind for the future and can’t get a clear picture of the past.’

‘All the things are connected to one another, some just underneath the surface.’

‘We all have different backgrounds, still we share this special moment of trust and warmth.’

‘This is my life on paper. How will I create my future?’

B&B

Roundtrip around northern Germany, what a lovely weekend I had. Check THESE out..


Schnoor's a touristic neighborhood..


Check that Autobahn!


Berlin's Next Top Model?


Find the dancer in the picture.



Danke schön Deutschland!

Hallo Deutschland! And the World.

My very first time in Germany, first stop in Bremen. Flew here this morning, such a nice sunny autumn day. I'm so in love but weather nor changing the country are NOT the main reasons. This is how I felt today at 11 am:

'The excitement of a new place. Here I am, standing in front of the airport terminal of Bremen. So many questions running in my head. What does the city centre look like? Is Livio still as handsome as few weeks ago? What kind of car does he have? What will happen during next four days? Fact is, no one knows. Yet. This waiting part creates such a funny feeling in your stomach - hopes and wishes of the time of your life!'

Never any easier, never get used to the feeling. In the end, everything went so different that I was wondering at 11 am: city looks exactly what I thought, Livio didn't come by car and yes, he's still very good-looking boy. The second you fly, you feel you're living. I recommend. This is the part I really AM flying. But remember, FLY SAFE PEOPLE!

Future is a mystery

Why do I always go and look for troubles, problems and hard situations? I guess I don’t believe I can be happy with all the beautiful things that I already have in my life. Now, looking my life outside a little makes me realize I actually am in a good point. I should be much happier considering all this that I am.

Sometimes you need to take a little distance, stop for a second and really think what to do with your life. It might be enough to have one chilly evening at home or then travel to another side of the world for a year. In my case, I’ve always started thinking during travelling.

Now I have a feeling I do need to stop for a while to figure out the direction for my future. I’ve too many ideas, thoughts, ideal situations and choices to choose in my head, need to clear it somehow. I’ll just try to take more time for myself, travel and see the world. At least few smaller trips coming this autumn and January the 25^th my first flight leaves for a 10-weeks-world-around-trip. Route’s also now decided, Helsinki – Los Angeles – Auckland – Sydney – Abu Dhabi – London – Helsinki.

While still waiting, I’ve seen lovely Italian Livio that visited me in Jyväskylä, met lots of new cool people, seen awaking movies, been drinking too much tea, seen myself in television as well as my sister dancing with tears of joy, and slept - mostly well. Getting ready for my exciting life.. Oh when? Trying to remember, it is RIGHT NOW!

Laura (my sister) and Erik - 2nd place in Jyväskylä Junior Dance Festival

When did the summer end?!

I opened my eyes this morning, it was still a bit dark and hrr-freeezing!! Windy, rainy and only +10 degrees. What happened? Few weeks ago it was hotter than in southern Europe! I have the answer. It's autumn. I waited this soo much, but now that it's finally here, I'd kill to have the sun back, as well as an opportunity to lay on the beach.

International my life or what? I had two guys, originally from Pakistan staying at my place for a weekend. So enriching to discuss the differences between our cultures, and if I may say - there're lots of those! Still such funny boys!

Next guest will arrive on Saturday, Livio - my lovely friend from Napoli, Italia (living in Bremen nowadays though). He's staying for two nights, during moving our secondhand store Estheco to a new place to the centrum of Jyväskylä. Busy weekend ahead, but one couldn't be more excited!

My advise for this busy time of the year: 'Focus on those things that you love!'

Rally just keeps continuing..?

What a week! So much international flavour. Already on Wednesday, after having a dinner in restaurant Food with old friends, there was an incident in the centrum, don't know what happened though..



On Thursday started then the actual contest. My good friend, Joni also participated Neste Oil Rally, for the first time in his life. And he really made it! 53th place and reached the goal - which is already a big deal in this specific rally. Here's a pic of Joni's car before the rally..



The party after the rally on Saturday night was amazing, fireworks greater than ever. Sadly I was working. Though I was able see the real heart of the party.. survived without partying!



But does it ever end? It's the following week, still fast cars and foreign people can be heard and seen around the city. Hot-over+30-weather is reaching again central Finland coming weekend, so let's enjoy AUGUST!

Peace love and warmth, S

Tradition, not choice?

It's a tradition to go to a confirmation camp, have fun and pray a lot. I don't know how many of those young teens really take the whole thing seriously, some go just to get money from relatives. Fake, I'd say. Well, at least everyone can have one important party in one's life more. I, as usual woke up 15 minutes before the show started in the church. Running, getting a bit bored, and finally crying when my sister was singing. Nice day despite tiredness.



Congratulations my love!

Something? Hotness!!

It's been warm like h*** in Finland for a long time! Here SOME feelings..

Something to party?!
= HELSINKI & WITH FRIENDS AT THE CLUB



Something beautiful?
= HELSINKI & PICNIC



Something colourful?
= HELSINKI & PRIDE2010



Something funny?
= JYVÄSKYLÄ & A TEXT MESSAGE

Moments

'I've never felt unsafe in Italy. Don't know why. Lots of people and things can happen. Today I've already seen more than five incidents, crashes and some other problems. Whatta trafic! Still I don't realize I might be in one by myself one day. I travel here every day by public, cars and scooters - feels safe to me. I guess it's all in your head. You never know what will happen. If you're constantly afraid, you'll finally collapse that pretty day. So, my advice to life is 'just go and say sorry later on, if you still can.' - 22/06/10, Sitting in a tram in Rome one pretty day, following all the crashes around -

Morning at my summer office at Attilio Beach - Real Pleasure

.

'How do you keep losing the track of time? Realized so many times here, wow it is that late already?! I think then you're actually living your life in present. Not planning or remembering. Don't get angry that someone's always late, just living one's live.' - 26/06/10 Dreaming in a train somewhere in the middle of Italy -

Monday evening at Foli's - seafood and champagne

Matteo

Drinks with Maria at Momart, Roma

.

What are we supposed to do? Born, grow up, study, work, meet someone, have kids, build a house, older and die. Well, somehow I'm very much against the ideal way of doing things in life. Eg. if you like to travel, why would you go only for one voyage? Money's never the reason to say no. I always just take a plane and fly to feel a new wind. Like now that I'm back in Finland.. I talked with an Italian friend, Livio in facebook for hours and decided I need to see him again. And bought flights to Bremen, where he lives nowadays. Feels so free. Well, who wouldn't?

Waiting..

East and West of Italia..

Ok, so I took a train and came again to see friends in Milano Marittima. So here I am, at Attilio Beach - definitely THE Pleasure Club! Lots of stories to tell of past days, but I'm only adding few pics to get the image now..



Colosseo


Before the last match..


Luca the Bartender


Sunset at Attilio Beach

What you've missed..

Last night at 5.12 am

'It's strange how you realize you've missed something so much. I spent a chilly Sunday with few friends watching gli Azzurri, having barbeque and playing Band Hero like crazy. I expected only to go to bed and have a good night sleep. Didn't happen. I stayed awake talking more than four hours!

God, I've missed someone to talk this honest. Back in Finland I'm too busy to work, dance, meet friends briefly and work again, so that I forget this need. feel I just had my best therapy session in months, if not since last summer.

I don't care that it's already 5am. I can sleep tomorrow. Sometimes you just need to take the moment for a conversation when it appears. Too many time we push it further for careless reasons. Talking deep is as much healthy for me as few hours more sleep. I might not feel absolutely complete and refreshed, but I surely have new ideas for life and a lot to process again. Ready for next challenges..'

Happened in Rome..

Fiumcino 17th of June at 14.30:

'Landed in Rome. Wow, this humidity! Feels home. Two weeks in this beautiful city, what more can one wish? This athmosphere's so much healthier, feel so alive. Still unreal.. I guess I'll realize being here tomorrow, past year has gone so fast!

I've been sitting here outside watching normal Roman traffic about ten minutes, and already getting used to this. And, so typical of Italia! Five more minutes and one man already came to invite me to this one beach house for a party. I don't know if it's this new blonde hair style of me, or what..?!'


Villa Borghese 18th of June at 17.30:

'Yesterday I went out for a drink with friends Riccardo, Angelo, Maria and Stefania. Once again they proved that Finnish language might be the funniest in the world!

Now, some older French, young Italian boy and group of girls - all doing the same than me, chillin' under the Roman sun. The first whole day in the eternal city, and I've checked almost all of my favourite places of last summer, ending here in Villa Borghese. Ate lunch at Spagna, pizza and CocaZero. Still need to get something that's best in the world, Italian ice cream.'

Some cool day ahead, chill, sun, shopping, party, and travelling. And ITALIA, certo!

Baci e abbracci,

S

Flying again..

How fast time flies?! Don't know. But I know this: I will fly to Italy on Thursday! It was about to be months still before the departure, now it's only days. What happened?! Plan for the trip? Hm, I'll fly first to Rome to meet old as well as new friends, then we'll see where I end up..?




Back here in Finland we'll organize a special theme week then (5.-10.7), ITALIA MEETS LUTAKKO. I'm going to pick all the treasures from secondhand stores around southern Italy to bring them to our store here in Jyväskylä. All the pieces are then in sale. On Friday 9.7, there'll be also a nightparty on the terrace, and eg. fashion shows.

Stay tuned summer folks,

S