Newbies in the beauty dept.

I'm so proud of myself for finally purchasing something online like modern people do. I ordered two get started kits from bare minerals for me and my sis last week and was all happy happy joy joy when I got a notice from the post office that they had received my delivery from the UK!

My roughly handled package

On the other hand it's easy to shop this way, but boy did I become frustrated standing in the queue at the post office. It's easy to find time for window shopping and stopping by in shops since I get to voluntarily spend my time there. But waiting for my turn to get the delivery.. oh my. I was already late for a meeting with my friends from the Mannheim exchange and of course wearing things that were too warm for a sunny (!!) fall day - a thick jacket and a woolen scarf. Bahh. I bet I looked like an anxious little brat when I was standing there :D

Get started kit x 2

Anyway, I got the package and now I'm practicing with my new toys ;) I can't say that I was astonished of the result after trying on the mineral make-up for the first time, but it sure feels lighter and looks more natural on me than any other make-up. I guess I still need some practice, but so far I'm happy with the purchase!

2 foundations, a veil, a bronzer and 3 brushes

This is what's waiting for my sis as well ;) Let me know when you can come pick it up! <3

Updates on the wardrobe

I've been running around like a maniac, trying to find that white blazer from Gina Tricot that I spotted a week ago. I went to try it on in the city centre but I noticed that here was a stain in the one that I tried on. That piece was the only one that they had of size small so I just walked out of the store empty handed. Now I've been to 4 other GT's and none of them have the white one in size small! I even went to check out the store in Kouvola when we were driving back from our cottage and they didn't have it there either. I was so frustrated that I decided to forget about it and look for something else.

So I started to update my wardrobe for the fall with other things. The first purchase was a dark, burgundy nail polish. Then I spotted a simple tank top of the same shade and later got a thin belt from my grand mom - also of the same burgundy shade. It must be decades old!

Tank top H&M, belt from grand mom & 'Las Vegas' nail polish, Mavala

I haven't given up on the white blazer yet, but I fell in love with a completely different one that I found in Stockmann. It's also warm and soft but the silver chains give it an edgier look. And I guess it's actually more like a combination of a blazer and a cardigan. With this on, I shouldn't be shivering in the chilly lecture halls :P

Blazer, Oui

I guess I've said it a million times already, but I really hate shopping for pants. But last weekend I managed to find new pants as well! They're so soft and feel nice on - and are a good match with the previous purchases ;) Aftert bringing them home, I started thinking that I might have seen these pants somewhere before. L, are these the similar to the ones that you just found in Zara?? My apologies if they are, haha. This might just be the very first time that we're glad not to live on the same continent ;)

Skinny pants, Zara

The pants have golden buttons and I really like the combination of burgundy and gold. Maybe that's why I couldn't resist the burgundy scarf that had golden details in the ends ;) It looks a bit purple in this picture but the color is supposed to be similar to the pants. Just slightly darker.

Woolen scarf, Zara

I guess I can now manage for a while. But that white blazer.. I'm gonna find it somewhere! ;)

A new start

Fall is my favorite time of the year and as always, it represents a new start for me. The new start doesn't necessarily have to be a radical change, even though I've been through those too. It could be a new apartment, new hobbies, different kind of courses that you're attending or a new decision about your life that you just made.

The start of the fall is nothing mind-blowing this time, but instead a bunch of decisions and small changes. There is a theme, though, that binds all of them together: well-being.

I've always hated aerobics and I thought that attending those kind of classes would be the last thing I'd do. Last spring I gave it a shot. I joined the Get in Gear program in Ireland in February and attended 3-4 fitness classes per week. After coming back to Finland, I decided to get a membership to the fitness centre that my sis recommended to me. I bought the summer season card and started noticing that I actually prefer fitness classes to individual training at the gym and therefore I decided to continue there in the fall too :)

weheartit.com

Another issue related with well-being that is constantly on my mind is my facial skin. I used to suffer from a bad skin when I was a teenager but it got a lot better with time. Unfortunately, it never heeled completely and even today I still have some problems with my skin. I've been planning to do something about that for a year or two, and now I finally got a hold of myself and booked an appointment with a dermatologist. I'm hoping to get medication so that my skin would finally become healthy and I wouldn't have to worry about it anymore.

weheartit.com

Also, I've been checking out alternatives for the make-up that I use, because it doesn't seem to be the best possible choice for me. Liquid foundations and concealers that I use contain oils and their texture is thick and I'm pretty sure they only do harm for my skin. I've been planning to change from ordinary make-up to minerals, since I've read everywhere that they are healthier for the skin - they let the skin breathe and don't block the pores. 

Bare Minerals

I already went to a cosmetics store to try out Bare Minerals and even found the right shades for my fair skin - the problem was that the make-up is quite expensive in stores. I never shop anything online except for airline and event tickets but I guess I have to make a change now. I found out that I could get a kit from Bare Minerals at a decent price if I bought it online and the kit would include everything that I need to get started. So I guess I have to go make the order then.. :)

Mission accomplished - brain switched off

I guess cottage life has done its trick - I have a hard time remembering what day it is today and I feel like I'm totally incapable of stressing out and worrying about things. Boy do I like that feeling. My brain is now on a holiday mode and I could continue like this for at least one more week.

The recipe for relaxing and taking it easy is not complicated at all. I like to keep myself busy and that applies for vacations as well - the thing is that the activities have to be fun ;) Hehe, I'm such a smartass.

Probably the last warm day of the summer

Getting on the boat again

Rowing in the sun

On Tuesday we had a slightly better luck with fishing. We were rowing around the lake and decided to stop next to a tiny island that was surrounded with shallow waters and seaweed - a perfect place for all the fish to swim around in.

A bed of reeds

At first we tried the ordinary worms but only caught a roach again. Then we put a green fat larva on the hook, but I guess it was freaky enough to even scare all the fish :D

The green fatty

After some frustrating moments with no catch, Ilkka decided to cut off the head of the roach and put that on the hook. Apparently the fish had been waiting for a bigger bait, since things immediately started happening after that. We caught a big one and were guessing it was something not worth keeping. After some texting with my dad we realized that it must have been a bream, which is supposed to be delicious if we smoked it, but it was too late by then...  We had already tried fishing with this guy's eyeballs and all the nastiest stuff but didn't get anything :D

One ugly bream

Soon after getting this ugly catch, we decided to stop the slaughtering and changed our gear into something more credible. The rod was left aside for a moment and we moved next to another small island and gave a try with the snare.

Switching to rougher gear

One more roach there in between. 

Roach - again. Damn it. 

Then finally something bigger. That seemed like a decent one..

Wait for it, wait for it...

Ta-daa! A pike! But it was so small that we had to let it go.I wonder if we have some issues since we treated the fish in such horrible ways.. :D Haha, maybe this is the way to relive all the work-related stress and all tension and frustrations. Haha. Or maybe we were just eager to get a proper catch?

It's a pike!

Anyway, not all the activities were related with mistreating the poor fish. We also paid a little visit to a nearby island that is supposed to be an excellent place for picking mushrooms. This hearsay turned out to be true and we found the most delicious ones ever - chantarelles! These fellows found their way to our frying pan pretty quickly.

Chantarelles

We also spent time in-house just talking, reading books and magazines, watching movies, cooking...

The living room in the cottage

...trying to look for a possible hidden cookie jar in the house.. :D

Cookies?

I also started to knit a woolen scarf for Ilkka but it'll take ages before it's done. Maybe I'll give it to him for Christmas or something :)

To-be grey and white scarf

Had to buy long needles so that the loops won't fall off

A little progress

Now we have to start cleaning up the cottage and pack our stuff. The time has passed by so fast that it's already time to leave. Bahh. But I have a plan in mind. That has got to do with a hunt and a certain white blazer ;)

Lazy days in Luhanka

A one-week vacation after spending the entire summer at work was more than welcome - even though I could have easily coped with a longer vacation. Me and my boyfriend decided to spend the week at my dad's cottage in Luhanka. Away from people, apart from schedules and obligations. And we love it.

View from the driveway

Dad's cottage

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View from the front door

Lake Päijänne

Since there are no other people and nothing urgent and important to do, we have finally had some quality time here. I guess it's something that all couples need, especially if they have a hectic life style. Busy weeks need lazy days like the ones that we've had here in order to create a good balance.

Our lazy days have consisted of activities that we rarely get to do. Hehe, that people of our age would rarely do :D For some it might seem boring and for pensionaries only, but we've really enjoyed our time :) We've been rowing at the lake and fishing. Wandering in the forest and picking mushrooms. Also, I've seriously started with knitting that I used to hate and I have an ambitious project going on.

Ok, ok, this time we were using the boat's motor

At the lake

The catch of Monday: Roach

On Monday the weather awful but we didn't mind - we left to the lake by boat anyway. I had three pulloverson , two of which were my dad's, and a woolen scarf. My gear was ok for a couple of hours but when it started to pour with rain, I had enough. Sauna in the evening was heaven and we spent the evening in the house making pancakes and enjoying coffee and liqueur in front of the fireplace.

Pancakes

Salty and sweet fillings

Coffee with whipped cream

I still have many, many pictures to share but now I have to take a break. I need to go bake cinnamon buns! Besides, laptops and cottages are not a good match anyway ;)