Stealing Decoration Tips

So as you have been able to read from my previous posts, I am really trying to make a big deal of Christmas this year. In all honesty, I'm not the kind of person who can make beautiful things out of two strings, but I've decided (with my new-found proud to be a WIFE :P) that I'll try a bit more to make our home look like home made.

So, I stole some ideas (like any good housewife) from Eevi's blog. I really wanted to have our door decorated all the way :P. The thing is that since I suck at these things, and was able to find a basic instruction on Tiimari's website, I thought that if I just go to the shop they'll be able to give me good pointer's to make it easier. In the end, I did not get any good customer service.. Turns out that I knew MUCH more about how to go about it.. What a disappointment, but I decided not to let it put me down, or give up, so here's the result :D

the door

I had some ornaments left over so I copy/pasted another idea also. Looks sweet, at least in my opinion.

So maybe I'm not the best and most natural in artsy type things but I've tried and I was able to finish something. (OK, I had to go to the shop three times in total, but in the end I was able to finish it :D)

Now the real preparations start. I've still got some more christmas shopping to do, and then on Sunday we are cleaning the whole house from top to bottom (WE=Tonny and I), and then on buying all the food items as well as cooking ... The pork will enter the oven early Wednesday morning, so it'll be finished late that night. It'll be my second time cooking it so I'm still a bit nervours about it. Luckily I have a big family and they all have agreed to back me up in case of problems.

Show Must Go On

So earlier this fall I realized that it's impossible for me to go on like I used to. Work was bringing new challenges to me and while I absolutely love gymnastics, going to coach every day after work just didn't motivate me anymore. So I reduced, ALOT. For the past few months I've been coaching only twice a week, and the group I work with is just so amazing.

They're all aged between 4 to 6 years old, and there is 13 girls all at once. Suffice to say, not a super easy task to be teaching them gymnastics, but it has offered a great diversion from everything else. For one hour a week there is nothing else on my mind than just the girls.

Yesterday was the season ending Christmas show for the whole club. And we were to perform as well. It would be the first time that we put on a show, and needless to say I had some trouble coming up with a routine since I feel that the biggest thing we learned this season was how to stand in a queue. :D

So, it wasn't perfect, (most of the time at least one of the kids was not doing what they were supposed to) but it was so sweet, and I did not stop smiling the whole way through... AND they looked so so cute with their Santa hats as sparkly clothes (this was not mandatory, but for some reason it was the hit of the day :D).

Can't wait for next year when I get to start working with them again.

Christmas List

When I was a kid it was always hard for me to understand the pressure that mom's go through to set everything up for the big day. And now, for the first Christmas at our own home, as husband and wife, I get that same feeling, "need", to get everything perfect. I wouldn't describe the feeling to be negative at all, just a little extra kick in the b-hind to get things going.

So, for me, a way to release a stress of multiple tasks has been making a list of all the things that I need to do. It works in two ways - 1) I don't have to worry that I'll forget anything 2) I get a nice feeling of accomplishment when I can tick off any given task from the list.

So here's my pre-Christmas list:

TO DO AROUND THE APARTMENT

1. finish all the laundry
2. separate good usable clothes off the ones that I don't use
3. clean the closet
4. organize office and corridor closets again
5. storage everything unnecessary (esp. cd's, dvd's and books)
6. bring out decorations
7. make new decorations
8. clean thoroughly
9. decorate
10. try to do something to office
11. storage wedding dress + other wedding things

TO SHOP

decoration things for door
outside decorations
Christmas present for mum
Minna's, Aki's birthday present
Daniel's name's day present
table for corridor
look for a chair
lamp for corner
lamp for living room
mini-table
big vase for decorations
small basket for table
take pics to be framed
talk to dad about hanging the pics
buy presents for rest of the family
candles
table cloths
take Tonny's watch to be fixed

HAVE ALL OF THIS FINISHED BY 20th.

Lot's to do, but not impossible. At least I have a hubby to help me. Christmas is fun, right??

Dreaming of a White Christmas

I missed Christmas last year, because we were on a safari in Tanzania, and I've been waiting for it to come around this year so bad. I'm doing the whole family thing. Mom and Jouni are not around but I've invited Dad and Grandma over as well as Miikka and Minna, Jarkko and Daniel. I think Tonny's family might join us as well, but anyways it's going to be so nice just to relax and enjoy everyone's company.

I'm being a good housewife and cooking the whole christmas meal, with a huge KINKKU and everything. It's nice, for the first time in years I get to spend the chirstmas in a place that feels like HOME and with family. I don't know when was the last time I did that. For years now my christmas has been a bit of a chaos. Normally we try to divide the day smoothly between my mom and dad and always end up feeling like we failed totally. I just can't wait when we have children of our own and it truly becomes a huge family gathering. Kids just make Christmas feel so much nicer and their precense gives a good reason to be silly and go all crazy with decorations and preparations.

I actually have a big Christmas wish this year.. but I'll let you know whether I got it or not only after.. ;)

Happy Father's Day!!

I absolutely love holidays. It gives such an great excuse to gather up some family members and spend some time with them. I know, I know, I could just do that on any other Sunday as well but life happens... Lame I know... And it's something that I truly want to be better at, but at least until I master that I can still enjoy family moments on a any given holiday.

Today of course being the father's day, so I decided to invite DAD and grandma... They're such amazing guests - no dull moment around when they're over. I love the fact that now that we have our own place, it just seems much more nice to have people around..

I'm so glad they came, and SO SO proud of my hubby, he actually remembered to whip out the camera and we were able to freeze this moment..

Tonny and Mummu

Three generations of Kemppi

I think these photos will make up a nice christmas present for Mummu. (I'm already sooo exited about x-mas coming so soon, can't wait to push kinkku in the oven and have to whole family over...)

Week 1

This week was finally the time for me to start my new job. I've been waiting for it so much that I thought that on Monday my heard would burst of excitement. It went well, the first day I mean. But since then... Have you ever noticed that the first days in a new job might get a bit boring?

My boss gave me the opportunity to chill and get to know everyone for this first week. But since I basically knew everyone already, the days without any program have been quite boring. I love the job, I'm just too wired to enjoy the moment of peace before the stress begings.

I made some first calls yesterday, and it went well, but making appointments for the next three weeks was not so easy because of I'll be spending quite many days away from the office. And in my opinnion if I make an appointment for like a month from now - they are sure to forget about it.. So I will try again next week. At least then I can make appointments for two weeks from now.

On another note I've started to get excited about studying again. I've been searching the internet for possible places to do my masters - while working of course. I have couple of different options so I hope it will work out somehow for next fall. I don't feel "ready" yet - preferably I still want to do my master's in business administration but also a whole another degree in a more specific field. My issue is that I can't seem to decide what that other field might be. I have wishes about social politics, and I guess also insurance.. but only time will tell I guess. I just feel so OLD already....

So many things I want to do - and so little time.. And the hardest thing for me is to focus on living in the moment and stop planning so much!