November ambience

I'm sure you remember me stocking up on tea lights? This is where they go. In clear, amber, red, grey and purple. I think the next one should be lime... I buy a new one every year.

I had a busy weekend at Saara's school, her class held a Fall Bazaar as a fundraiser for camp school next May. I ran the cafeteria/cake stand, and was literally run off my feet. My feet and shoulders ached and it's taken me serious doses of ibuprofein and 2 hours of yoga to get back into feeling close to myself again. I was getting tension headaches...I never get headaches. Hate them! But we did raise 2200 euros (almost $2400). We are halfway to the mark.

Mika left for Germany today, he'll be back late Friday night. He'll be traveling to Germany three times this month. I'm quite OK with that... I get to reclaim my desk for scrapping purposes and not hide my chocolate :oP

Happy Halloween...

From me to you.

(the 'A' stands for our last name)

BOO!

I think Saara was very spooky indeed for the school Halloween party today...what do you think?

Picking up my camera again

It's been sitting nearly neglected for two weeks [gasp]
Since I had this beautiful snow outside, I decided to take a few shots. After coming here, I decided that the banner was just too 'summery' and changed it to a shot of my frozen roses, hope you like. I'll share a few photos:

It's not much, but it is pretty!

I guess I didn't store away ALL the summer toys...

What's wrong in this photo? Yup...too much yellow, LOL!

White stuff

View from my livingroom window 9am today. No, that is not snow..it's sleet. Big difference. Snow would mean dry feet, this meant digging out for my goretex winterboots so my toes stay dry! We've since had rain, more sleet and it looks like it just changed into actual snowflakes.

Niina and I had an interesting afternoon. Yesterday while shopping downtown Niina was sitting , very bored, at a store while I was finding the right size pants for her. A lady walks up to me and asks if we'd have time tomorrow to bring Niina into an audition for a tv-ad for a national radio station. So today we went to the casting. Getting wet in the sleet... It was fun actually. The idea of the ad is that they have a girl and a boy playing in a sandbox. She has made a great sandcastle and then he comes along and just wipes it out with his toy tractor. Fast forward about 30 years and you see a woman walking down the street to a tractor and she starts to drive, with revenge in her eyes, towards the man's house. Only you're not really sure if she'll ram the place down or stop by for coffee. They auditioned yours truly as well...

Do me a favor? Please?

If you read this, type out a quick 'Hi' comment.
I'd like to know who stops by :o)
Thanks!

Nearly burned the house...

I'm so rattled today...I have a million things to do this week, but just making a list seems too much of a task. Let me just try to type it all out, in no particular order, so you can see just how much of a scatterbrain I am.

-I found a fabulous and easy to make ghost outfit idea for Saara at Martha Stewart's site. It's made entirely out of tulle, NO SEWING!

Doesn't this look fabulous? It's about 7 layers of tulle (top two layers are shredded) , it's a cape. Now I just need the tulle.

-Saara's class is organizing the fall bazaar this coming Sunday. I got tricked into being in charge of the cafeteria (simply because I know how to use the big ovens... I never learn to keep my mouth shut...). I'll be at the school baking on Wed evening, Saturday and working during the bazaar on Sunday. We need to raise 5000 euros (about $6000) for the kids' camp school next May.

-Jill, kick me if I forget to email you my DT work. It's all done, I swear...well except the recipebook, but that wasn't until mid month, right? :oP

-My desk is about as messy as my mind.

-Ironing...oh and laundry...sheeeeesh... What I have to feed my family too? But that means grocery shopping...waaaaahhhhh.

-finish the other set of pages for Nic's baby album! I forgot all about those!!!!!! Pam, sweetie...I might just be mailing these directly to Nic.

-find two hours for my yoga routine sometime during the week (1 hour a session)

-we are looking at a very strong possibility of snow on Wednesday! Guess if I have winter tires on the car? Make a WILD guess, ok? Think DH will have time? I NEED the car on wed to truck all the stuff for the bazaar.

-It's chilly.

-Big news here is that a very popular band called Nightwish (heavy metal with a classical soprano leadsinger, totally rocking band!) fired their leadsinger due to her greediness and divaesque behavior. They did this by handing her a letter after the last gig on their world tour on Friday and then publisizing the letter on their website yesterday. I say it was a brave thing from the boys of the band, all the best for the future.

- I still have 5 altered postcards to make. Shame shame shame on me.

-I had a dream last night that we had snow up to my ears...and that the mailbox was filled with packages just for me. Hate to wake up to reality and bills in the mailbox.

-I getting my hair cut and colored tomorrow, yeee haaaa!

-I want to add a list to the sidebar of blogs I like reading.

-My old classmate, a dentist, agreed to clean my teeth cheap. I asked what her price was if she didn't nag to me about flossing....ka-ching.

-why can't I get my LO's submitted? Oh yeah...that actually takes time and effort. sigh.

-I see you are wondering about the 'nearly burned the house down' title up there... Yup. Lets just say I was DAMN LUCKY IT DIDN'T! I warmed up the sauna last night for Mika, it's a wood burning one and we heat it to 80-100C (175-200F). We have wooden trellislike things for the floor, they were hanging by the 'stove'. Well when I went to add wood in there, I was supposed to take them down and lay on the floor. My dad called just as I went downstairs, I added the wood but then he needed me to check my calendar and I forgot to take the trellises down. Eeeeeeek. You know this is the time when I should have heard big sirens and seen flashing lights in my head. So when Mika goes in there, he finds the ties have melted and the wood pieces have dropped on the floor just inches from the stove. If one of those wooden pieces would have landed on the stove...
Lucky I tell you...by the skin of my teeth...

...#&@*§...

(insert your choice expletive)
Just broke a crystal champagne glass we got as a wedding gift...now we only have ONE of six left!!!
So do you think it's because crystal breaks easier (and into itty bitty pieces) or because we've drunk too much bubbly?
Never mind...just treat that as a hypothetical question, OK?

Did you miss me? ;o)

I know Jill did, LOL!
Sorry, I was still too busy yesterday to actually make it here. So here's my week in a recap.

Weekend:
My eardrums were still recovering. Mika took the girls to 'listen' to certain loudspeakers. He came home with a new subwoofer. The store had a demo piece and it was apparently 'cheap'. Point is: never argue hifi with this man...he has the sharpest ears [eyeroll]. Besides, it is a whole lot smaller (and cuter) than the old hideous big black box.

See, it's cute.
On Sunday we visited my bro's. The girls got to hug the huge furball of a dog. Nice lazy day...

Monday:
Niina had preschool. She thought it was the coolest thing that I came to pick her up with Saara. The girls and I went to check out a new mall. Did a little Christmas shopping, came home, did some laundry and read my November CK.

Tuesday:
Preschool for Niina. While she was there my Dad came to visit, we all walked to pick up Niina. My Dad stayed overnight so I didn't have much time for anything, least of all the computer since he slept in this room.

Wednesday:
Drove the girls to my in-laws. Ate lunch and high-tailed out of there before dessert, LOL. Went to the fabric store, picked out some cute stuff for doll clothes and accessories. Both girls have American Girl dolls, and I find it's so much cheaper to actually sew stuff for them. I also got an email from CK, they want to pay me even more for the TIPster album that will be featured in an upcoming book. All smiles on that one.

Thursday:
I sewed doll sized sleeping bags (with pillows attached) so the dolls are ready for a slumber party ;o) I'll take photos tomorrow to show you. I'm also sewing cute robes for the dolls. I waited for guys to come pick up two shelving units we sold (to Lapland!), they said they'd be here in the morning. They showed up at 1pm...sigh. After they left, I went to do some more shopping downtown and to meet a friend. We ate and had a glass of wine before heading to the movies. We saw Jim Jarmusch's new film 'Broken Flowers' with Bill Murray. I highly recommend it, a feel-good movie. And Bill Murray is so funny when he does absolutely nothing! And how old is Sharon Stone??? Damn she looks good....

Friday:
Hey that's today!
Mika took the day off. I sewed in the morning, then we took the car to be inspected again, now that it had been fixed. It passed. We then drove downtown to listen to some other loudspeakers (I'm not going to let him do that alone ever again...), hit some design stores just to drool. Ate at Pizza Hut.I bought myself a new winter coat (on sale, yay!). Just enjoyed kid free time. Once home we vacuumed the house and now we'll get the big screen down and watch a couple movies. Oh I can't remember the film now...George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones... and then Sin City with Bruce Willis. Love and action. And a bottle of wine.
Catch you later!

A few days off

I'll be taking a few days off from blogging. The schools are out this week for fall break, so I'll be busy with the kiddos. I'll pop back in on Thursday once I've deposited the kids at my in-laws ;o)

It's official

This has been the warmest October ever recorded in Finland.
And it's also now over, LOL!
Frosty nights in the forecast. Finally.
Can't wait for first snow.

Onto other things...
Meet the newest member of our family, Mr Flatscreen.

It arrived on our doorstep on Tuesday.I really like the way it isn't so dominant as the old huge boxy one. However techgeeky hubby is driving me nuts. "That backlight is really too bright, I'll fix that." "Don't you think the contrast is off a bit?, It'll just take a sec!" "What do you think of the skintones now?"
STOP IT!
The man can tinker the settings all he wants while he watches Alias, but get the he** far away from the remote when I'm trying to watch Everwood!!!!!

Staying on the subject of tv. After a long wait and plenty of raving the first episode of Desperate Housewives aired this week. I understand all the raving now. I'm hooked. The dry black humor is right up my alley. The only thing that bugs me is the really stupid translation...they're calling it Perfect Women in Finnish... Maybe the translator was trying to be sarcastic?

I have quite a few new layouts to show off, I just need to get off my butt, well technically on my butt... and submit them first. I also got a brilliant idea yesterday while I was going through my recipes. I'll be making a filefolder album for my favorite Xmas recipes, the ones I make and bake every year without fail. I'll probably make a few extra ones to give as gifts too for dear friends (hope you get those xmas papers in soon Jill... all I have are the Rhonna Farrer ones from last year!).

Mmmm...can you smell that?

I baked chocolate and maple syrup-oats muffins today.

Love the good smell in the house.

Oh, there's plenty, come on over!

Retail therapy

I could not pass by these towels today, yuuummmmm. They'll be my Christmas towels in the guest bathroom.

Twice a year the big Stockmann's department store downtown holds a 'Crazy Days' sale event. I had a date with my dear friend Nina. We started at the Academic Bookstore below ground level, hopped on the elevator and shot up to the 6th floor and started working our way down. We stopped for refreshments and well deserved leg rest on the 3rd floor. We met up at noon and left a good 3½ hours later...
Lets just say my feet hurt.

But I did pick up some xmas presents, so it was all well worth it. The best part was that it was quality girlfriend time, no kids. Aaaahhhh...

I'm not complaining...

...it's just odd, that's all. This month of October I mean. If it were a normal October, I'd be waking up to frost on the ground and the temps would be +5 t0 +10C (40-50F) during the day.

We've had nightfrost..once. A month ago.
I wake up to +12C (53F) at 7.30am, it gets up to +15C (60F) every day. For the past three weeks!!! Every night the meteorologist on tv says the same, "Unseasonally warm weather continues".

I do wish we'd have had a few frosts, the leaves would have gotten all their beautiful shades of red, now they're just yellow. And green. LOL!
But I do enjoy not having to dig for gloves and woollen hats.

I can even enjoy my garden. I have flowers that normally would have been killed off by the frost still in full bloom, like this one:

And a few foolish ones who think it's summer again:

So Courtney, no snow here. For a while still by the looks of it!

Surprise visitor!

Couldn't believe my eyes this morning, there was a woodpecker in my yard! I was wondering what that knocking sound was... Ran to get my camera and cursed that I don't have a proper zoom lens....grumble grumble...

So this is the best I got.

It's like the set for Hitchcock's 'Birds' today. I have roughly 200 thrushes circling around eating the ash tree berries. There are several lined up on the lawn digging for worms. Think police search line, it's hilarious.

Smorgasbord for squirrels

I love all the squirrels running around my yard.

This is a scene under my chestnut tree

They sit up there and just toss the shells down, you need to watch your head, these shells are PRICKLY!

But this is what they run around with hiding them all over the place

And Jill, you asked about the trees... this is my yard, well part of it..

You can see the playhouse, my mom's house and just a corner of mine.

Only 79 shopping days ;oP

I got my first Christmas catalog today.... I expect to have the dreaded toy catalogs dropping in my mailbox within two weeks. About three weeks before the stores start decorating. Thankfully some stores and malls have decided to lay off the Christmas carols until December!

I admit, I start early too. Not because I don't like the Christmas rush in stores. I don't mind, if I don't have to drag the kids along. I always do get last minute presents.
This year I already have the girls' main presents (the #1's on their lists) snuck away. What are they? For Saara the pc-game Sims2 Nightlife and for Niina a Fairytopia Barbie. I've almost gotten their book wishlist on Amazon done. I send that to my dear Sis who completely spoils my girls. Lets just say that whenever we get a package from Auntie Tawny, things get a little crazy at our house. Good crazy.

Do you have any gift giving traditions?
There's one couple I always make an ornament for. Over the years I have pretty much decorated their tree ;o)

How badly do you spoil your kids? Do you have a budget for them?
We tend to get the #1 wish, matching pj's (which my mom already bought!), and some little extras I might pick up. I do spend a bit on their advent calendars. This year from Dec 1st to the 24th (we celebrate on Christmas Eve here) they'll have a package to open. I plan to have all things (tiny flashlights, new undies, coloring book, stickers, candy, notebooks, socks, jewelry etc) wrapped up in numbered packages hanging from our stair bannister. Every morning they get to open a new one.

Stocking up for winter

I mentioned the darkness enveloping us a few days ago. Well yesterday I made a trip to IKEA to pick up a set of drawers for Saara's room. While there I stocked up for winter:

That's 50 candles and 300 tealights. With the rate of a minimum of 5 tealights burnt every night, that should be enough to get us to March. Just about. LOL!

And yes I do have a cupboard just for candles...

I wasn't kidding when I said it gets dark here, you know... ;o)

I have a bunch of candlesticks (those colorful ones on the upper shelf) that are originals from the 50's and 60's. My pride and joy. And always on the hunt for more.

To view really cool layouts...

...click this link http://www.amillionlittlethings.com/gallery/index.php?cat=13 . Each month the layouts amaze me.
Be sure to check out the store too ;o)
Yes, I'm an enabler...

I double dare you!

I'm starting a game of blog-tag. So if you read this and have a blog, you're it! You have to post this on your own blog as well, we'll see how far this one goes...
And if you don't have a blog, just write it here.

WHAT IS IN YOUR PURSE RIGHT NOW?

Mine has:
wallet
keys
car keys
empty pack of gum
lip balm
2 business cards
receipt from the car inspection this morning
nailfile
mobile phone