Looking forward to it

Last night, I had a trouble sleeping, because ... well, I'm not even sure why exactly, but I knew one of the sources of the can't-sleep-angst was the upcoming fall and all the choices I have to make and live with. So, I took my beautiful little notebook, just perfect for the lists, really; and wrote some goals down.

The timeframe varied from one day up to a year - even though I was tempted to write a five-year-plan, because I'm a sucker for long-term plans, but I also know it's much harder to actually stick to those promises in such a long timeframe. Because life, you know, happens.

But I thought I would share the lists in all their crypticness (that's what you get for writing lists at 2 am.!), ad maybe they'll inspire you to think about where you're planning on going with your life in the next day/week/twelvemonth or so.

Things I want from my life (gotta love a pompous title, yes?):

Tomorrow (this being TODAY) I want to...
- go aqua jogging with Paula (done!)
- study for the stupid exam for at least 4 hours (I still have about three to go...)
- visit my parents'  house (I decided I didn't want it after all, they're on a trip so they wouldn't have been there anyway) 

In August I want to...
- write at least 10 blog posts (for either TT or PV)
- make some decisions concerning the blogs and get started on that homesite
- finish and pass the communications exams and the language course
- make a timetable for the school year and register to courses (I actually made the timetable today (totally procrastinating on that exam studying))
-actively started on producing things for my Etsy shop, if that's still what I want (this includes some plan-making and number-crunching too) 

During the coming 12 months I want to...
- finish my B.Soc.Sci and get started on my Master's thesis
- apply for the exchange program early next year
- have reached and happily passed the 20,000 views on my blogs (only those of my own count!)
- have finished at least one (no matter how awful) manuscript (I get to choose which one)

Do you think these sound un-/reasonable?

I've been thinking a lot lately about the direction where I want to go, what I want to do and how I want to spend my life. At the same time I really want to succeed on those things I've started or am about to start, so I found this exercise helpful for giving some time perspective as well. None of those things are something I believe to be beyond my skills or abilities at the moment, but of course shi life happens and then I'll just have to reassess.


For the visual entertainment value you get an oldie OOTC picture of a rose. Not sure how it's connected with this theme, but I've been assured that everything is connected. Maybe even a rose and life plans. 




Täällä on tehty suunnitelmia tulavaisuuden varalle; huomiseksi, ensi kuuksi, tulevaksi vuodeksi. Jos edes jotain saan aikaan, voin olla itseeni tyytyväinen. Toisaalta tuntuu hyvältä, että minulla on jo iso lista asioita, jotka oikeasti palavasti haluan päästä totetuttamaan (jos ei tenttiin lukua lasketa - mutta sekin palvelee suurempia päämääriä).

Fish soup and Fazer

I've spent the past few days mostly with my lovely two-year-old niece Elle (that's what we call her anyway). I can't help but wonder at the imagination and enthusiasm such a little girl can generate in her play and in everyone around her. We just all love her to bits and pieces.

Yesterday, my sister brought my niece to my parents' for a visit and she also made some fish soup for us all. I don't usually eat much fish, but when there's a two-year-old exclaiming how much she likes "lohli" (lax, that is), I had to grab a plate and eat some too. :D

After dinner Elle and I drew pictures on my new notebook, called "Today is Super" which I got from my trip to Kiasma (the Museum of Contemporary Art) the other day. I just love it it, has the fun and practicality combined in one pretty book! 

In case you wondered, there's a pirate boat (drawn by the auntie), colored by Elle; as well as clouds and fishes drawn by the assortment of family.  

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Today I had promised to take Elle to the city centre "for a coffee", something that made my niece very excited.  After getting her acquainted with university life (like returning books late to the library and chatting with friends in front of classrooms) we made our way to the Café Fazer where we got big cups of hot chocolate, doughnuts and a box of juice in case we got thirsty later. I think that generally speaking Elle behaved better at the café than I did. I just love taking pictures of people eating. 

(Yeah, I'm weird like that.)

My father came to pick us up as it was time to return Elle back to her parents, and it was almost a shame that we didn't have more time just the two of us! I would definitely love spending more time with my niece, she's such a sweetheart. 

As we drove to my sister's, I couldn't help but comment that if it was just a little less cloudy, it would be a perfect fall weather, with both a bit of rain and sunshine and a good part of the leaves already turned a lovely shade of yellow. And there it was, the rainbow to celebrate the beautiful day with the family.

Olen viettänyt aikaa perheen, ja ennen kaikkea siskontytön kanssa. Syönyt lohikeittoa ja piirtänyt merirosvolaivoja. Tänään kävin näyttämässä myös "tädin koulua" ja tietenkin käytiin myös kahvilla ihan oikeassa kahvilassa. Elle käyttäytyi niin kuin hienot neidit käyttäytyvät, tädistä en ole ihan niin varma. 

Illalla kotia päin ajellessa keltaisten puiden päälle piirtyi kaunis taivaan halkova sateenkaari.

Maailma mukana / The world with me

My old handbag is finished with me. Really, we're running on borrowed time. I got it at Century21 at New York City in 2008 when I was au pairing there for a few months. And all this time, we've been through thick and thin, from early April to late November and sometimes in between. It's been with me pretty much everywhere.

Don't get me wrong, I have purses, wallets, carrier backs, back bags and such, but only one handbag I really love. And now that I really need to find a new one, I found out that it's surprisingly hard to find a good one, one that fits all my requirements. And by requirements I mean things like it has to be a handbag but with good handles, it has to have more that two or three pockets, no black thankyouverymuch and oh, I have to be able to fit ALL my usual stuff in it. And there's a reason why I call one of my bigger bags by the name "World and It's Friends" (referring to its carrying space).

Well, let's just say that I don't much care for the fashion this fall.


Yesterday I had an hour or two to pass between meetings so I just strolled around city center window-shopping. And see what I found! Could this be my next Happily-Ever-After (Or At Least Every Summer) Bag?

promod.eu

Promod has finally made its way to Helsinki too, so of course I had to go to check it out. I know the bag is this weird shade of mustard shade (which is so not me, usually) but I think it would go great with my purple and brown fall coats. What do you think?


Laukkuni on päättänyt ottaa loparit, ja mistään en löydä uutta. Haluaisin nimenomaan käsilaukun (en olkalaukkua), en mustaa (tai muuta tylsää "syys""väriä"), siinä täytyy olla taskuja ja muutenkin tilaa kaikille päivittäisille tavaroilleni. Yllättävän haasteelliset vaatimukset nähtävästi, sillä useista epätoivoisista yrityksistä huolimatta, mitään ei ole löytynyt. Alkuviikosta olin kuitenkin tappamassa aikaa keskustassa ja päätin käydä katsastamassa Promodin uuden Helsingin liikkeen. Sieltä löysin ylläolevan laukun, joka sai kun saikin sydämen pamppailemaan. Väri on kieltämättä itselleni kovin kummallinen, mutta miksipä ei kävisi violetin tai ruskean syystakkini kanssa?