+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!

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!

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!

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

Secondhand-wave in Jyväskylä

The first secondhand store in Jyväskylä, Estheco secondhand opens tomorrow 1st of June 2010. Me and my colleague Sirkku got an idea about a month ago to open a secondhand store that sells clothing and interior. Now, finally it's ready meet the customers, and opens tomorrow at 11 am.

Welcome to shop!

More about Estheco secondhand in the blog: http://esthecosecondhand.blogspot.com/

Walking around the city and freeeezing in the air, in the airr.. hrrr...

Today, I woke up a bit later than usually, after nine. Lightness came in to my room through the windows, wow what a feeling! For a second I felt like early morning in the summer. My dreams crashed when I stepped outside, hrrrr colder than ever! - 20 at least. Just like it's been for few weeks now.

When the weather's freezing, I tend to walk inside the shopping centers as much as possible on my way to somewhere. Normally, I go to work before 8am and no place is open yet. This morning I had the chance to walk in a warmer place for a minute cause the stores were open already. Helped a bit.

In the cold I met then a friend and of course I had to chat with him. So I freezed again, such a great plan! I found my way to work in the end, and here I still am - scared to death to go outside after the day. Ok, never hurt me before. And it's still beautiful around, look at the pic I just took.. Lots of lights, and the air is VC - Very Crisp. Luv.