On beauty

Aesthetics, looks, beauty have always been important to me.  Of course true beauty goes much beyond that, but it's wonderful and inspiring to have beautiful things to look at.  Be they objects, scenery, art, or people, it's lovely to see something that really pleases the eye.  I've loved looking at all things beautiful ever since I can remember.  I'm sure we all like things that look good, but as I've become older, I've really realised how important aesthetics are to me.  Fashion, beauty, interior design, art, photography all mean so much to me, and bring a lot of joy to my life.  Can we really call something that brings so much joy and does no harm superficial?  I am talking just outer beauty here.

I'm not going to get into a huge philosophical conversation regarding beauty, because I simply don't know enough about it.  What I do know is that beauty is subjective, and different to all of us.  That's what makes it so wonderful and interesting!  When perceiving something, no one can have the same experience as you. While there are so many other much more important things in life, beauty surprises, delights, pleases, and in my opinion vastly improves quality of life.

Isn't it interesting though how you can look of photos of someone, and then meet them in person, and realise how you find their looks changing?  Someone very attractive can suddenly seem incredibly plain, while someone regular can suddenly become irresistible.  All through the power of personality, charm, charisma, and mannerisms.  We can all influence how beautiful we're perceived, and can bring so much joy and happiness to others' lives.

A dog named Indy

He arrived in this world on the 17th of February, just 2 days before my 30th birthday.  We were sunning ourselves on the beautiful beaches of Thailand, and a little litter of beagles was born in the cold, wintery, snowy Finland, on the shores of a frozen lake close to the city of Varkaus.

He arrived in our city home in April, causing stress and gray hairs and arguments, lack of sleep, and raising of voices.  He sticks his nose anywhere and everywhere, and wants to take part in everything we do.  He chews and plays, not sitting still for a moment.  He loves to fish and lives to eat.  As his hair lightens and he grows up, my heart fills with joy and excitement and love.  As he curls up to sleep, bites my arms with his itching teeth and gums, jumps up to scratch my legs, as I find bite marks on my favourite shoes and as he pushes me off my place on the mattress, I am filled with warmth.

Today's fashion crush: Jeans by Acne

It's always worth investing a little bit more on great jeans - you wear them so often, they pay themselves back very quickly!
I'm currently drooling over a new pair of jeans from Acne.  Slim fit, high-waisted, and just the right shade of blue...  I can't wait to get my hands on you!  I haven't tried these on (I haven't actually investigated whether you can get them in Helsinki yet, just seen them on Acne's site), but the fit looks great!  I'm all for higher-waisted jeans for this summer.  Flattering and chic, no belly or panties on show.

xx

Cheap n' easy home-made body scrubs!

Just take some raw salt, and use to scrub your bod.  Can be used on face as well, very softly.
For your legs and tummy in particular, use plain ground coffee.  They say it's good for eliminating cellulite, who knows.  Follow with a gorgeous thick body lotion for wonderfully soft skin.

Easy peasy, and cheap as chips!

xx

Can someone please tell the weather gods it's May, not November?!

The Canada Goose is coming out again today.  I thought I was joking this weekend when I said it would make another pre-summer appearance.  Apparently not.  It's under 5 degrees out there, and I can see snow.
My parents live in Germany, and it's been 27 degrees there on several occasions over the past month.


On a happier note, I'm going to get my lashes re-filled at Maarit Leikoski's salon today, and the man and I are off to the gym now while our new pup sleeps in his pen.

xx

Experiences in Helsinki workplaces, pt. 1

Job no. 1, unnamed marketing agency, high level marketing position.

At the interview

Company owner:  Our goal is to be the best and most wanted employer not just in Finland, not just in Scandinavia, but in the whole of Europe.
Me:  Ok, sounds great!  (Pretty ambitious for a small agency, but it's always good to aim high, isn't it?)

First day on the job


Me: Hi!  Would someone like to go for lunch with me?
Group of girls: (Grumble, grumble, no clear answers given, no one moves so I'm guessing I need to find a lunch place on my own)

- Old dirty laptop I'm given is not working
- No phone, mobile or desk phone
- Despite my requests, no one has time to brief me on anything
- > I sit at my desk texting my boyfriend and watching the clock for 8 hours

Second day on the job


Me:  Hi, how are you?  I was told you would be able to order me phone...?
Office / HR assistant:  I'll get back to you when I have time.  I'm really busy.  (Gets back to school books)
Me:  Ok.  Would be great to get the phone as soon as possible though, because I'm making all my work calls on my own phone.
Office / HR assistant:  No one's said anything to me about a phone.  I said I'll get back to you when I'm less busy.  (Turns back to school books)

Later that day

Me:  Hi, how are you!?  Nice to see you again!
New colleague, who is also an ex-colleague from a previous client-agency relationship:  Fine.

Still no brief on my work / the agency.

Third day on the job

Me:  Hi!  I've been trying to reach you about fixing my computer.  Please could you come over and have a look at it asap?
IT support:  I might be able to make it tomorrow...

Still no brief on my work / the agency.

Fourth day on the job

Office / HR assistant:  Ok, we can talk about getting you that phone now...

Most relevant people can't make any of my scheduled briefings.

Fifth day on the job

Me:  I'm really sorry, I'm not going to stay in this job company.
New boss #1:  What?  Everyone here is so nice!
New boss #2:  That's ridiculous!

And so I left.  Word.

x

Some advice on getting advice!

Don't listen to other people too much!  It's great to get other opinions, and learn, but the most important person to listen to is yourself.  You need to be happy, and live with your decisions.  Don't let anyone talk you into anything, and don't go out of your way to put yourself in uncomfortable situations.

Now if this post isn't a contradiction in itself, I don't know what is!

I'm back by the way! :)

x