And now!  For photos of my new office (not studio!): My very DIY office, which I LOVE.  I love it so much I even took a wee nap on my couch this afternoon before a shoot. Every stick of furniture, apart from the couch- has been painted, sewed, glued, wrapped, velcroed, etc.  I did it all, folks.  And even though everything isn’t perfect, it’s awesome.  I really, really love it.  I love the vibe. Cozy, approachable, homey, comfortable- all the things I want to be as a human being embodied in a little blue office. My “I’m at the office” slippers: My desk: My kitchenette (sidenote about the kitchenette.  At first, I hated the look of it so much, I thought about building a giant barn door to cover it.  But then I thought, “You know what’s easier than building a barn door?  NOT building a barn door.”  And so I just painted it blue and called it a day.  I might, at some point, hang some DIY art- I already have the fabric, but I kind of ran out of steam): A part of my window sign and an attempt at keeping flowers alive (I think I’ve already killed the rose plant (not pictured)): One wall gallery- mounted prints velcroed to the wall.  I’ll add prints as I go until the walls are really, really covered: My coffee table

I’ve been waiting for months for the perfect combination of good light, camera present, barber on hand for Henry’s first haircut. Unfortunately, I forgot about the most important ingredient.  Okay, second most important- clearly the camera will always be the most important.  I forgot about the DVD player to provide the distraction. Because Henry was NONE TOO PLEASED to have his mullet chopped off. Even pulla couldn’t provide the necessary comfort. He was all about the party in the back- and today he was shorn. He’s all business now, folks.  A respectable almost 18 month old

One of my Mom’s first jobs (maybe even her very first- I’m not totally sure about the details) was at a bank.  And at this bank, she met a lovely, lovely woman named Rita.  Rita and her husband would become my Mom and Dad’s lifelong friends.  Good friends.  The sort of good friends that send Mom and Dad’s children birthday cards EVERY. YEAR. without fail.  The sort that go Mom and Dad’s family members’ funerals.  The sort that ask Mom and Dad to help celebrate their 50th (FIFTIETH!) wedding anniversary. Sadly, very sadly, Rita died last year. But as with all fantastic people, she left behind a legacy.  Her legacy was loving her son, loving her husband, loving her friends.  And.  Making a fantastic Farina Cake. In my Mom’s last care package (the one that included the book that inspired Olli to pick up his harmonica), she included the recipe for this fantastic cake as well as the ingredients in the event that Finland didn’t have them (ps.  Just looked it up, Mom, and they at least have the word.  The likelihood they sell it is high). As a rule, I love recipe trading.  Anyone who has a signature food item, be it cake, chicken, muffin, cookie, pasta- whatever- and is willing to share the recipe gets a gold star in my book. I’d never had Rita’s Farina Cake before,

So, he’s still a bit cross-eyed. But we’ll take him anyway

You might remember from a couple months back, that I have read and internalized the book The Happiness Project.  You might also remember that one of my goals has been to look good naked- vain as that might be. Well, I’ve gone to the gym pretty regularly (apart from the three weeks I was putting together my office).  I’ve switched to skim milk.  I’ve pretty much given up juice.  And I’ve been more vigilant about staying away from sugared sodas. But after some deep soul searching and reflection, I’ve decided that life is only as good as the chocolate one eats.  A life without chocolate isn’t a life worth living.  No Happiness Project goal is going to come between me and my chocolate.  Etc., etc. Especially if said chocolate is the product of  professional cupcake chef the Cupcake Goddess. Yesterday, I attended a birthday party catered by the Cupcake Goddess, and my heart sang with joy as my belly overflowith with cupcake upon delicious cupcake. I’m telling you, folks.  The Cupcake Goddess does NOT mess around. Naked shmaked- I looked AWESOME scarfing those puppies down. A special thanks to Tracy, the birthday boy’s mama, for sending the leftovers home with me.  You will forever hold a special place in my heart

I’ve always thought I had a pretty good relationship with my in-laws.  They’ve always taken good care of me in the absence of my own parents.  They feed me, watch my kids, fold my laundry (only occasionally), and give me movie tickets for special occasions. But they clearly secretly hate me. And clearly are conspiring for my early demise.  A slow, painful death by harmonica. Because that’s what they gave my kids.  A harmonica.  To bring home with them.  And “play” incessantly. My dear mother is also in on the conspiracy (what did I ever do to you, Mom?), for in her latest care package she sent a “How to teach yourself the harmonica” book, which has inspired OLLI to pick up HIS harmonica and give it a go as well!  (He’s playing Auld Lang Syne in this photos.  Afterwards, he said to me, “This part [of the harmonica] isn’t working properly.  I wonder if I should get it fixed.”  Oi!) Okay, but truth be told the harmonica isn’t the worst noisy toy to have.  It’s at least 20 times better than a recorder.  If my in-laws ever send one of those home with the kids, it might get “lost” pretty quickly. Ps.  This is clearly a joke.  Clearly my in-laws don’t hate me.  Clearly I’m kidding

I shared a pic on Facebook the other day (not my own pic) of the insane state of Helsinki’s streets at the moment.  Apparently, we’ve received as much snow in one month as we did the entire winter last year.  And that’s saying something, because last year was a record year for snow. Since a lot of my friends and family live in Arizona, you can imagine their genuine shock.  Shock and disbelief that I would choose to live somewhere so stinkin’ cold. First, let me say that I’m not here for the weather.  I’m here, because Finland happened to produce the most fantastic man on the planet and then the universe dictated I marry him.  And then we had kids and the awesome social benefits kept me here.  And now I have a business and friends and a life in the city. So, while I’ve got a lot of reasons to stay here- the weather is not one of them. That being said. There are some winter mornings which are impossibly sunny and warm (relatively speaking) and the park beckons to you and your kids.  And their skates.  And hockey sticks.  And your camera.  And it doesn’t matter that the basket broke on your winter stroller and you have to carry all the stuff while pushing the stroller and two kids with one hand up a hill of ice

I’m sure I’ve told you before, but in Finland, Valentine’s Day is really Ystävän Päivä- Friends’ Day.  This really sits well with me and how I view the whole holiday.  Because for the past 11 years, I’ve ignored the holiday completely.  Like, completely.  No card, no flowers, no poetry, nothing.  I don’t spout incessantly about the evils of the Hallmark holiday or glare at happy couples as they walk the streets- I just don’t care. But today, I decided to celebrate FRIENDS’ Day a la third grade with some homemade cupcakes delivered to my dear neighbors. I searched for recipes that would help me use up the buttermilk I’ve got in the fridge, and came across some nice Texas Sheet Cake and Coffee Cake recipes. But then Henry woke up from his nap, and Benjy- who has been sick for four days with the Man Cold to end all Man Colds- started to melt down, and so I abandoned all hopes of baking from scratch and reached for the box of mix and can of frosting I keep in my pantry for emergencies. I know that I’ve also mentioned how rarely I bake from a box anymore.  There was a time, back before I’d moved to this cold, distant country, where I actually preferred boxed cakes.  It wasn’t just that they were cheap (although that helped) and super easy (that helped, too)-

I get it.  I totally, totally get it.  Weddings are SO expensive, and you’re trying to save money where you can.  You want a fantastic photographer to document your day, but you don’t want to break the bank. But here’s the deal, if you love the photographer, find a way. Maybe this means you won’t buy the biggest package.  Think about what you really need.  You need a great wedding album.  You need a few prints for your wall.  You need some photos to put in your thank-you cards. If you can afford to buy prints for your parents and grandparents, wonderful.  If not, they’re free to buy their own prints from the photographer. A lot of photographers in Finland offer the full day and a disk of images for 800-1000 euros.  If the bride in question actually loves a photographer in that price range, then great!!  Super affordable photos that suit you and your style!  Super lucky! But if the photographer you REALLY WANT is a bit more expensive (and I’m not just talking about me, here.  There are some particularly talented photographers in this country, and they’re not cheap.  But they’re awesome), consider finding a way. Maybe that means a day-after shoot:  you and your groom looking great for an hour the day (or week or month) after your actual wedding day.  Or maybe it means the photographer