the big 33.

Older. Wiser? No idea. But happier and happier every day. Even though pretty much every night I fall into the bed exhausted from the days activities, oh God how I am happy. Content. I guess 33 is a good time to find that path.

What makes me happy? Regular pedicures and beach.

FRIENDS

As incredible it sounds I have new friends. Real friends that I can count on and trust. Kids just know how to do it. Adults not so much. But I am here. I am thirty three and I got to share my birthday with my new friends.


I also have THE friend. You know the one that I have shared 30 years of my life with. She is the one that I can call and no time has passed. She is the one that sends me a mindfullness book, apologizes for adding clutter (honey, you didn't) and shares a Anja Niskanen song with me. Knowing it will make me laugh and tear up at the same time. These bonds are just too strong to be broken. Ever.

WORK

I think I have found balance. I think it was about a year ago when I figured that there is no perfect job. Especially A job, that would satisfy me and my goals and dreams in every way. But slowly I am building two very different businesses that equally give me a sense of giving, teaching, and offers me a creative outlet. For this little epiphany I am truly grateful.

The beautiful Mbudya Island. Just a 20 minute boat ride from Dar. Heaven on earth. 

FAMILY¨

Oh god I miss my family in Finland. They are opinionated, hard headed and out spoken, but that is how I am too. They keep me on my track and make me prove my point. I can't wait to see them at Christmas.

And our little family unit of four. (Although this is Africa, there are days when I am lugging around quite a few extra kids with mine). It is so precious to be together in Tanzania. We have way more freedom and more time to each other. We love it here.


I'm going to leave you off with some Anja. Enjoy!

School is out for summer

The cutie monkeys finished their school year last Friday and to keep them busy I try to provide some activities. Today's challenge was junk-storage-make over. While I have embraced the new minimalist life style and we keep a very few items in our home there is still some of things you need to keep around even though they don't bring any added value to my daily life. Like tools - I hate that I have to keep my hammer close by, but I do need it every once in a while. Other one being medicine. You need it couple of days a year but it needs to be in the house. Don't want to be looking for a pharmacy while sick. Sewing kit, cleaning supplies finally some shoes that don't get much wear. It is not much but definitely enough to create chaos. And the thing is that I'm not that kind of minimalist that just wants to have less stuff and everything organized. I want everything to look beautiful too. 

So back to the chaos. Originally built for kids toy storage (under a bed when we were living in one room at the inlaw's place). The shelf unit was pushed into our back corridor to hold said items. But it would get messy and definitely became a catch all for all things random at our house. I forgot to take a before picture of the chaos but here is a "we just started" picture of the little helpers sanding the old paint off.

When it was a under the bed unit, it didn't need a top, since the bed was acting as a top. Also the finishing was not very well done. We sanded it down, painted it with a couple of coats of fresh whiteness and added two pieces of wood to act as a side table/folding table etc. 

I was really wonky and I feel like I wasn't able to finish it perfectly but it serves it's function and looks kind of pretty too :).

Maybe now that it is pretty I won't be crowded with stuff.

At the final location. The shoes found baskets at the bottom. Middle baskets hold tools, cleaning supplies and meds. I'm looking to purchase two small boxes for the meds and sewing kit that I can now place on the top. To be out of sight but still one step away. 

The top shelves host soap and cat food. Both used daily. I'm so pleased with the results and it was a fun and easy activity for us.