Reminder: Watch out you summer lovers, now's the time you're being ripped off!

Spring is here, which means yey!

In Finland it's fare to say it's spring when the sun actually feels warms on your skin, no matter if it's -5. It's crispy and light in the evenings, the driveway is showing dry asphalt, all the dog poo from the winter is appearing everywhere you look (and step) Let's say it together kids: It's springtime!

I think many of us love the idea of spring because of the idea of summer. Aaw, you're already picturing yourself in a park having a picnic with some fresh strawberries..Or maybe you see yourself riding a nice, cousy "grandmom style" bycicle (the one with big tires and no gears), summerbreeze is blowing your hair when you arrive to the open market in the centre of the city and the basket in front of the bike is full of sunflowers. And I'm going to start finally wearing those girly skirts to show off my tanned legs! Ooh, and guess where the dinner will be served? At the balcony which is a perfect city garden. How amazing it feels to cool off with a glass of whitewine and salad - and easily pick some fresh green basil to spice up your dinner. Wow, that's me next summer.

You see what I'm talking about? The previous summer is so far behind that we've already forgotten what it was: That it takes effort to keep up a balcony garden for entire summer. At least I'm one of those who get excited about it and buy expensive floral or herbs and after they dry out the first time, I'll thing "naah - I've had my fun" and let them go. And many summer days aren't so warm either. How many actually warm days typical Finnish summer usually has? 9? 14? I may be too hard on Nordic summer, but the most days are approx. 18-20 degrees, slightly cloudly if not raining...And at least I get goose pumps if I try to go to the beach on this kind of day. Many women wear skirts and I salute you for it! Too often I think about wearing a skirt, but then notice how easy it is to wear for example capri pants - homemade out of your own jeans! If..no, let's say when it gets cold in the evening, it's easy to roll them down. Definately the easiest thing to wear when riding that granny bike. And the open market, wow..It's crowded, could we go to the movies instead?

I know how the summer doesn't always (never?) meet our fantasies of it and so do you. But all the good people in the marketing business know we are going to have some "moments of weakness". Like: you're drinking your coffee on a nice March afternoon, the sun is shining and you're going through the mail. Suddenly, you open a catalog full of light green coloured spring & summer accessories. Skirts, scarfs, sunglasses..And wait, there are amazing picnic blankets and beautiful candlelights for those garden parties you're going to have! You know you've never had those earlier, but maybe next summer..You think watching the spring sun outside of the window, zip your coffee and just maybe make the order online right away. And how great it would be cool off in a pool like that on the final page..Wow!

"Thaaaankyou, come again!" thinks the marketing man behind the catalog. Us summer people are just too damn easy.

Reminder: Keep those happy slogans coming!

Lately, I’ve felt a bit blue-ish due to some significant changes in my daily life. Funnily enough, these changes were carefully made to make our family’s life easier. Still, I’m struggling to keep my mind on the positive side as my sub-conscious seems to be sad about the change. I know it will get better though. Also, I’ve had absolutely rotten day, a real stinker!! – although it got way better when I had some of my familymembers for a heart-warming visit. I won’t bore you with details of my day with frustrated feelings and self-disgust, instead I want to give myself (and anyone in need) some short-cuts to cheerful mood with some of my favourite sentences in the world. Here we go, please feel free to crab one for your own slogan if you get the tickles from it:

MY HAPPY-HAPPY-JOY-JOY PHRASES:

- Who wants coffee?
- Why don’t we heat up the sauna, doesn’t matter we did it yesterday as well
- What would you do if you’d win the lottery, tell me your desires!
- Man, let’s go dancing – I love this song!
- Have you lost weight?
- C’mon here, let’s rub those shoulders
- Why don’t you take a nap, I’ll watch the baby in the mean while
- Glad you came, I just made pancakes – want some?
- Shall we watch some Gilmore Girls together?
- You’ve been such a nice girl, you deserve some chocolate!
- When you have the time, come meet me in the office and lets finally set that pay raise
- You are a good mother
- I can see you’re doing you’re best, that’s enough you know?
- Why don’t we take a trip somewhere warm and far far away?
- You just look younger!
- Your baby is adorable
- Let’s go to a nice restaurant, my treat!
- You don’t have to worry about a thing, I’ll take care of it!
- Everything is going to be alright
- How about a glass of wine?
- I’m glad you came
- Will you marry me? (for one time only, and I’ve had the pleasure to experience that  )
- I’ll dare you to try that roller coaster / parachute
- Oh, the sun is up this early! Let’s go to a park and enjoy
- I love you


Now, I feel a lot better already..Which words make you smile?

Reminder: Giving up on old dreams - doesn't mean there can't be new ones

I'm mourning.

We're about to leave a home of our dreams in following 48 hours. This is truly a beautiful place, magical, just something very warm to it, which makes me (and many of our guests) sigh. This is a place we sat by the fire, just enjoying the evening not saying a word. This is a place I cooked traditional Christmas porridge first time on a wooden stove, having already a little sign of pregnancy around my belly - in that photo I'm the happiest girl in the world! This is a place we built a cradle for our baby whilst I was still carrying him. This is a place we became a family.

I thought we would stay here a lot longer time. But then, mr. reality came for a visit and made us realize living here made life a bit harder. Life has certainly thrown us a few surprises we didn't expect. To make many many many things easier, we have to leave and go somewhere "sensible", somewhere less magical..Somewhere very nice, ok, good surroundings offering an excellent distance to my husband's work. But it will take time before I can take a same kind sigh of happiness there. A sigh of many things which become easier, sure - but "that" feeling I got when we first walk in this appartment we're about to leave.. I'm afraid I'll never get that again!

Although I'm leaving goodbyes to our home in tears and heart-broken, I like to hold on to the fact that I'm an optimist. So, there should and will be new memories ahead of us in the new apparment. Our son will probably take his first steps there. He will have his very first birthday in the new place. We'll get to see him grow and listen while he learns to talk there and has something incredibly of his own to tell us. By the signs he's already given us, those stories are going to be hilarious! Maybe we'll make some new friends there also, who knows.

Judging by the state we are: under huge stress, intense athomosphere and just trying to survive through days from morning to evening with 1 million things to handle -although we're just moving to another place and planning some redecoration- I think I must also say goodbye to a dream of ever building a house of our own. I think for some people, these kind of challenges are welcome and making people excited. But for us, we're close to nervous break-down although it's not so much we're supposed to do. Certainly, there's some emotional package from the previous year, and as we've not 100 % recovered from it - it's only fair to not to overlook that. But I must admit I'm a bit shocked how unready we were to welcome new challenges. I guess building an own house someday would require a huge amount of project control and it takes a certain kind of person to enjoy it. I'm sad we're not that people. So, to say goodbye to this thought, I must welcome something: easy living (huray Uriah Heep)! So long ever having stressful days at a construction site, welcome ready-to-move in homes in future!

This seems to be a sort of writing I do when I'm on very emotional mood so maybe it's not meant to be taken too seriously later on- but today it's the way I feel. So why stop while I've started? Ok, I'm also thinking I must say goodbye to big family. This is a very sensitive matter to me, but the way this year has gone with our precious baby(who is extremely beloved, no matter any circumstances) - I'm not sure I want to take the risk of all happening again. I think having many kids might be someone else's dream, but sadly not allowed for me, although I thought it was my dream as well. Saying goodbye to this dream, I'm welcoming possibilities to have perhaps time and space for more pets as I love animals as well. Damn it, I'm just scared I'll never take that chance again. There's a word to describe this kind of person: a coward. Not too proud of myself this second..

No matter how sad I'm feeling today and feeling vournable, I know that life gives you lemon(s!) and you're supposed to make juice out of it. When a door closes, a window opens they also say..I'm certainly having my eyes on that window now. And for God's sake I hope I have something happier to write about while waiting for it to open

Reminder: Road to hell is paved with good intentions indeed..

In my few previous updates I've nobly written about self improvement.

First, I came up with a new diet which would suit me perfectly. It was about dublicating any amount of unhealthy food with vegetable or a fruit and it was supposed to be easy as hell..sorry, (I have to constantly remind myself not to use swear words in my daily life as our son is picking up his words here and there - and as a responsible parent I don't want his first word to be "hell" or his first sentence: "goddamn cat threw up on the carpet again!") So, where was I? Yes the diet, it was supposed to be as easy as let say riding a bike! But no, I'm finding it difficult to obey it! Yes, I'm aware I should peel an orange..or two of them if I want a slice of cake, but when I want (=need) sugar, things go rather rapidly from one thing to another and I've caught myself constantly saying: "ok, you can have this one, but be sure to eat something healthy even after it.." Now, there's a plate full of - not grapes or blueberries, but white-chocolate-rasberry cookies right next to my computer, and guess if I've eaten anything healthy to "deserve" them..or if I'm going to do it afterwards either? I've had a bad day and I'm weak. Sorry jeans size 28, we're not going to be close friends as soon as I was hoping of. Can we postpone our date for next summer? So..Can I continue this diet tomorrow? Or Monday, I promise! (can you see the halo over my head..)

Then, there was talk about self control and mental exercice for a more stable mind Screw it..sorry for swearing again, I meant: it hasn't gone so well as expected either! Our little family is going to move soon to another appartment and there are million little details with the bank, real estate agents, insurance companies and tax authorities (don't get me started with them, or the swearing will be uncontrollable)..So it's been a bit intense, also with our little angel who seems to be chronically out of patience. No matter how I picture myself by the ocean and sunny beaches, I'm too close of losing my temper - and again the poor cat has to hear it (I cannot scream to our baby can I?)

Unfortunately we're not even close to the end of this rather frustrating period of packing, cleaning, moving, paper work..We'll get the keys to our new home next Friday and hopefully the moving day itself will be ok with the help of our family and friends. But we're suppose to do some home renovation as well with some new paint and wallpapers. So I think white chocolate-rasberry cookies are justified right now? And keep 'em coming for upcoming days..

Mr. Lama, you've visited Obama now - could you make a short trip to Finland as well and share you wisdoms about peace of mind? I'm sure China won't mind this visit

Yours truly, Woolysocks and the hand too close to the cookie plate once more..

Reminder: When it comes to mom's cooking, finish your plate!

I never realized until now, how important role breakfest, lunch, dinner or even just a cup of coffee plays when it's served by your mom. When it's served, don't brake your mother's heart - finish your plate and ask for seconds although you are already full. Why? Because you love her, and by refusing to eat all the food she has put on your plate, you refuse the love!

You don't think it's such a big deal? Think about it. When you were younger, did you ever went to a party or visit over your friend's home? You did? Good. Now, did your mom ever ask you: "Was there any dinner? What did they serve you?" Yes, this would be a question 90 % of moms ask as they want to know if and what has been served to her baby (that's you, you're going to be her baby even you're 45 years). If you say "yes, they had an amazing stake - Tiina's mom is such a great cook!", you're mom seems pleased and happy, but actually you've just stole her good night sleep. She's afraid her biggest nightmare has come true: someone else has fed you food you might like better than your own mom's! At this point I must warn you, if you ever do feel like the food served somewhere else than your mother's table is actually better, for heaven's sake don't tell it to her! Love her enough to lie, "yes, it was good but nothing compares to your stake mom!" NOTHING, pleases her more, because every mom wants to be the number 1 in her son's / daughter topten for favourite dishes.

My son is still a (real) baby but I can already relate to any mom's worry: what if he doesn't think my cooking is the best? What if he finds a wife who beats my sourcream-sweet chili-salmon 0-6?? Or what if they come together for a dinner and nobody wants to have a second round?? For my old poor state of mind by that time, I hope my son has the good heart to say: "Oh it's not the food mom, we're just already so full! Nothing compare's to your cooking, nothing!"

Reminder: Sweet sun and the blue sea is only seconds away

Today's reminder is about one's frustration and self control. Read until the end and I'll specify what the sun and the sea have to do with it.

Tell me one thing: Do you ever loose your temper and wish you hadn't? Or even struggle with negative or aggresive thoughts which just make you feel bad even if they were only in your head and never came out of your mouth? If you answered: "no, that has never happened to me. I'm always optimistic and calm in my actions my thoughts - actually Dalai Lama just called and asked for my advice on patience" - then congrats! You're inhuman AND my hero! But if you nodded, join the crowd!

"My name is Woolysocks, and I'm a peace-of-mind-aholic, I've been sober (without any disturbing thought or action in my head) for 4 proud hours now.." You know, I would love to be ZEN, a cool, peaceful girl who always takes a nice long mind-soothing breath in and out, before saying, doing or even thinking anything too hasty or negative. But to my disapointment, I'm not that girl - no matter what amount of yoga I practice or how many positive guidelines I have in store in case of a loose-of-temper emergency. One of these lines I read from my yoga classroom's wall. It said: "ACCEPT, accept and accept everything in life, the key to peace of mind is not to protest against anything" - I bet the writer of this noble thought..never had kids.

My son is the best thing in the world. Seriously,I cannot believe there's a gift like him and I want to express my love to him in any form possible. But, when he's is needy, clingy, not willing to sit with his toys for 2,5 minutes while I wash my face in the morning, I'm feeling a tiny bit of frustration growing inside of me. And for this yoga-thinker, I would like to ask how he would just "accept" the third attempt to feed a seriously hungry little guy, when he cries, turns his head away from the spoon and spits all the food from his mouth over and over again to floor and on himself..Then you think ok, stay calm, gentle and just try to comfort him as the baby seems to have a bad day, teething ache etc..But when keeping this 12 kilos of man-to-be in your lap who squirms, cries and pulls you away - you would just like to gently put him on the sitter and say: "ok, have it your way then" and go to a travel agency to book a nice weekend getta-away somewhere veeeery distant and warm. But as the child society worker might have saved your little angel away for good during your little holiday, you might like to consider something else.

Therefore, nowadays when I feel something or someone is about to steal my sweet sweet peace of mind, I do that gettaway in my head. When my child cries and refuses me putting him in his car sitter with every little muscle in his body, I'm already thousands of kilometres away in my head, to stay calm and smiling. It needs to feel pretty real to work though, so a good imagination really pays off with this method. I need to really concentrate on how the sun would tickle my toes and how the blue sea would send a very pleasent breeze to cool me off..I have a strawberry margarita on the other side, and there are absolutely no responsibilities or do-lists at sight, just amazingly relaxed feeling..

There is a risk I look a bit distracted few times a day and I hope my son doesn't have to go to a therapy because of it. But at least mummy's facial expressions stay a bit more relaxed and mellow AND, I have a very concrete example for his holiness, mr Lama if he ever needs an advice from a parent, who's really been tested when the frustration knocks on the door..

Reminder: Obey your new diet: "Double or nothing!"

Today I need to leave a reminder to myself, regarding my new diet : just obey it! I was wondering what would be the best way to cut the amount of treats I destroy daily. I'm in ok shape usually, but I'm a non-stoppable sugar teeth and a chocoholic combined with a huge, open heart for greasy food like pizza and hamburgers. I want to stay honest to myself and admit I'm never gonna say 100 % goodbye to desserts, candy or cookies. So, I need something to control the amount of tasty sugar and fat. Then I came up with my "double or nothing" diet. Or actually I don't even want to call it a diet, because if it works, I can use it for the rest of my life as it's so easy to obey..Anyway, want to know how it works?

Rule 1: You can eat anything you like
Rule 2: If you eat unhealthy (candy, icecream, cookies, pancakes boiled in grease), you have to double the unhealthy part with a fresh fruit, vegetable or fruit - prefarabely in advance
Rule 3: That's all you have to remember

Feeling doubtful? I'll give you an example. If I want to eat a slice of cake, I have to eat my healthy stuff in advance and by double comparing to the amount of unhealthy cake slice. A large orange can be compared to a normal slice of cake, and then just double it = 2 large oranges before the cake slice and I'm enjoying the heavenly piece of dessert with a halo above my head.

What's the difference to my normal life? A significant change is that, normally I would've had 2nd piece, then a 3rd piece, until I would be feeling sick and definetly going to bed later with a bad conscience. (You know the feeling: "What are you doing to yourself woman! Where's the self control??") But now I'm predicting I could only bare 2 oranges in advance. If I would've assumed I want to eat 2 pieces of cake, I would've had to eat 4 oranges (no way jose)! The same thing with pizza for example: I'll settle for a 1/4 plate of a pizza, if I know I only have to eat 1/2 plate of salad for starters. For a whole plate of pizza I would have to stuff 2 big plates of salad to myself in advance and you'll see Barack and Osama highfiving each other before that happens..

Why I'm willing to obey this? Because of the rule number 1: I can eat anything I like! As nothing is forbidden, I have no temptations. It's only the huge amount of healthy food I have to eat too, and that, I know will slow me down.

I'll keep you posted how this "diet"..No, "a new lifestyle" will work out and will it make wonders on my daily habits as a proud candy fan.