Rewind: 2014

So it's that time of the year. When people post their memories from 2014. I also happen to know that people usually also remember the negative parts easier. Or well, at least I do. My year has been rather normal. I've gone to work, I've had fun, I've traveled, I've spent time with my friends and family.

Most of all I remember the worst thing that happened in 2014. I had to let my horse go. She was already 24 years old and she started to have trouble with her legs so it's understandable. So I made the decision to let her go. The day was a blur, because we took her to the clinic in the morning and then left. Suddenly my beautiful horse was gone. The only thing that remained was this aching pain in my heart.

Not even two weeks later I left to Paris with my best friend. Somehow I got a little bit better. Disney made everything better. It has always been my saving grace, really.

The most affecting movie of the year was certainly The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies. Even though I loved the movies, because my favorite actors were cast in great roles, it left me with lots of feelings (relationship status: crying over fictional characters) and pretty much broke my heart. So yeah, I'd definitely say it was the movie that had my feelings going up and down. I still cannot quite watch the movies or listen to the soundtracks without major feels. But well, someday.

What else? I got two more Disney tats this year. My chest was finished in 2013 so I don't count that in as one. But I got Mickey head outline and Olaf.

I got a few photography gigs as well. Wedding, two confirmations, engagement.

I was drowned into Ice Hockey World Championship games in May. Even though we didn't win, we were just great. I still remember how the judges were seriously uncool and playing the game for Russia and so forth.

I became a restaurant manager in March. I won VIP ticket's to Daughtry's gig in Helsinki and I almost passed out when the radio host said that I won them. I got to meet and greet them. Oh the day!

I've had lot of shitty days this year but I'm lucky to have such great friends that always make me smile. And even though I might feel that this year has been just full of stress and crap, I know it's not all that. It just feels like it. Especially now since I just watched all the Hobbits and the feels.

I don't usually make new year's resolutions but this year I'm going to make one because my lovely bff Haja already agreed to help me on this quest. I'm going to finish writing my very first book. I've had it in the works for years and I've only written one chapter because of my writer's block. Honestly, I'm amazed I've succeeded to write that one chapter. But I decided that I finally need to do something that I know I can do if I just try.


So goodbye 2014, I certainly hope that 2015 will be great.


Last but not least: my latest creation, lemon-liqorice cheesecake.

with love,

Christmas preparations + big news!

 

It's been a while. I'm not gone and I never will be. Honestly, I've been drowned in work of different kinds and planning my next trip and doing Christmas preparations. I swear that Christmas and I do not get along. Usually. Especially when it comes to gifts. I tend to spot million gifs for one person but then nothing to another. It's actually really hard because this year I knew what my friends + family wanted but with my friends I didn't know if they already had it. Now that is one reason why I usually craft something myself. This year I barely had time to do anything so crafting was in minimum.

Earlier this month I went to see The Hobbit: Battle Of The Five Armies. Boy oh boy. I went from "HAHAHAHHAHA" to "NOOOOOOOOOOO! WHY DO YO UDO THIS TO ME?!?!?!". Back and forth. I've never had such feelings for a movie before. I knew way before who's gonna live and who's gonna die but I never knew when. So when it started I was still surprised. The first one was the worst. The character wasn't my favorite, but he was close to that so yeah. After that I just knew the other deaths would be following so surprisingly I wasn't even to emotional. I thought I'd cry like a baby. I almost did. Just so you all know: I blame Thranduil, that stylish, selfish, greedy bastard. His fault. Yep.

On Friday I went to a local big shopping mall called Ideapark. It's very convenient cause it has all kinds of stores and you don't have to freeze your ass in the cold weather outside. I found almost everything there though. I only have a couple of things to buy and that I will do tomorrow.

On Saturday I drove 2hrs to see a very dear friend of mine. I have like five friends living in Helsinki area, but I always fail to visit all of them. It would be very convenient to do all at once but none of them know each other so... yeah. Private time is good. We went to eat in Vapiano, probably our favorite restaurant in the city, then did a little bit of xmas shopping and finally I went to see her new place and took another 2hr drive home. 

And today. Today I have been baking a lot. First I baked a mulled wine - gingerbread cheesecake and toffee chunk caramel cupcakes with peppermint cream cheese frosting. Pics (& probs recipes) to come later. I have a very busy schedule tomorrow and on Tuesday so my next free time will be my luxurious 4 day Christmas holidays.

Then to bigger news. My other dear friend asked me if I'd go somewhere with him. We talked about London, then Santorini (but apparently it sucks in the winter) but finally we found very decent priced flights and hostel so now we're going to *drum roll please*

Wanna guess? It's not in Asia, I can tell you that much.

LOS ANGELES

God you don't even have a clue how long I've been dreaming of setting my feet onto American soil so this is like a dream come true for me. So after panicking if my passport is still valid, or if they require it to be valid 6 months after leaving or if our bag would go straight to LAX and all that we booked the trip. We'll be staying in a hostel in Hollywood, near Walk of Fame, Kodak and Chinese Theater. We might actually rent a car too. We'll be staying 3 whole days and then we have like half a day on our arrival date and on our departure date so it's not very long yeah but it's more than I could've ever dreamed of. And you know, you gotta leave something to the next time too ;)

We'll be going as soon as the end of next month so it was really a quick decision :D I'm so excited right now and my christmas just got a million times better!

But now I must away, for the dreamland is waiting for me.

xoxo,