STOCKHOLM

A teenage hippie-troll in Stockholm some eleven ten years ago. Ehrm, me, in other words. But 'm quite cute though. And I remember really loving that strange furry old jacket!

Well anyway. I used to pop by in Stockholm at least a couple of times per year before; K and I went over there for some shopping and (never too successful actually) bar hopping, staying at her father's place downtown. Now I actually haven't been there properly for a couple of years! I'm doing a short trip there soon and as I've gone bazookas on the internet I have absolutely no need to shop anything but I was thinking if you locals would give me a hint on some stores worth visiting anyway? And for men too! And what's you absolute favorite place for a fika? Advice appreciated :)

LUCKY GIRLS

(Photo from here.)

There were so many participants of the Tara Starlet give-away but as you know, only one lucky girl to win. Miss Fortune has drawn that lucky new owner of the sailor slacks; this time it's The Sun and the Sparrow! Congratulations!

(Btw even though the Choo collection is not out yet it's already known that the next designer to work with H&M will be Sonia Rykiel. There will be a lingerie collection launched in both H&M stores as well as Rykiel's boutiques (!) in December 2009, and knitwear for women and children(girls) in the spring of 2010. I never end up buying any of the stuff anyway but I think the designer collaborations were a pretty genius idea for H&M to come up with. And if you're sad for not winning the pants maybe this will make some of you girls feel better :)

Wedding Dresses - How to Buy Dreamy Wedding Gowns Online

Wedding dresses are literally the icing on the cake on every bride's wedding day.

You can find perfect wedding gowns online, or simply brainstorm which style of wedding dresses to start looking for as you narrow down your search.

First you need to determine which types of wedding dresses are right for you.

Your wedding dress should tell the world exactly who you are. After all, this is YOUR day, and your wedding gown is the key way that you share yourself with your wedding guests — and, of course, your husband-to-be.

By now, you've likely given some thought as to what kind of wedding you would like to have: traditional, informal or a theme wedding, perhaps.

Here are some general guidelines:

In formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses and a veil, perhaps a train and, of course, gloves.

In semi-formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses, a veil and gloves if desired.

In informal weddings, brides have more flexibility. They can wear wedding gowns of any color — short or long — or even a suit.

What about theme weddings? Here you should decide first on the theme and then on the formality of the wedding you've always wanted to have. Only then is it time to shop for wedding dresses and wedding accessories to determine which ones match your theme!

As you can see, the most important aspect to consider when selecting wedding dresses is your own sense of style.

For specifics on what's appropriate to wear for each type of wedding, I recommend Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette, which devotes an entire chapter to wedding dresses and other fashion dos and don'ts, or Vera Wang on Weddings, in which Wang shares her vast fashion expertise with you as you plan your wedding. Both can be purchased from any major online bookstore and have great tips on buying wedding dresses.

How can you purchase wedding dresses online?

The Internet can be a tremendous help when you're looking for wedding gowns and have a tight wedding budget. And let's face it — most of us do have to keep the bottom line in mind when we plan the most important day of our romantic lives.

After you have given some thought to the type of wedding you want to have, I recommend that you:

• Look through bridal magazines and check out your options by flipping through the pages to see which wedding dresses are available in your area.
• Go to local bridal stores and try on wedding gowns.
• Look online to see what other wedding dresses are available to you. In case you're uncertain about buying wedding gowns from an online vendor, bear in mind that there really are online bridal shops that deliver the same level of service as regular stores.
• Compare the in-store price to the Internet dress stores to find out which is the better deal. Many online stores offer you discount wedding dresses because of their vastly reduced overhead costs!
• Narrow down your search to a handful of wedding dresses that make your final cut.

When you've gone through all these steps, you're certain to have accessed all the wedding dresses available to you -- and you will very likely save your hard-earned money if you end up finding discount wedding dresses available only from an Internet vendor.

Good luck with your search! Though it might seem daunting at first, if you follow these tips, you'll be well on your way to finding a beautiful range of perfectly elegant wedding dresses.

SOFT SUNDAY, ONCE AGAIN

This Sunday was not spent in The Big Harbour as supposed but instead in bed since I have a stomach flu. That sucks. But I'm waiting to get well again next week since I intend to have lots of fun then!

THE 5 SECOND HAIRDO

Sometimes when I don't have the need to or feel like fixing my hair I create the fastest hairdo in the world by grabbing half of it- the hair that is- and pushing it upwards with a comb into something of a bouffant kind of style, a miniature beehive. Super Kawaii Mama has a tutorial on how to achieve the look without backcombing, by tucking some hair under itself in order to achieve some height; you can also avoid back combing by putting a hair rat/sponge roll in, but that's all to hi-fi for this. I go casual : grab, twist and push. Take half of your hair and twist it about halfway around itself and press a comb in tightly from underneath, upwards. You can actually get the hair pretty big!

It's a good 'do if my hair is still damp from washing it, or a bit fly and dull. It works just like that and truly does not take longer than 5 seconds, but if you want some more flair curl the ends of your hair. Or add a ribbon. Then you have to add a couple of minutes but you still get away pretty easy.

Persian Wedding Ceremony Traditions

Like most weddings in Toronto, a Persian marriage has two stages that most often happen in a single day. Occasionally there is a period in between them. The first stage is known as 'Aghd', the legal process where the marriage contracts are signed by the bride, the groom and also their guardians. 'Jashn-e Aroosi', is the second stage. It means the wedding reception where the actual feasting and celebrations begin which, traditionally, lasted for three to seven days; unlike Toronto weddings today. There is a room, specially decorated with flowers and 'Sofreh-ye Aghd', a beautiful spread elaborately placed on the floor. The spread faces east, traditionally, where the sun rises. This is so because when the bride and groom sit in front of the 'Sofreh-ye Aghd', they should be facing the 'Light'.

Unlike Toronto ceremonies, tradition demands that 'Aghd' be held at the residence of the parents of the bride. The arrival of the guests, or witnesses, commences the tradition. Close family members of the couple present at the ceremony make the guests comfortable. After the guests take their seats, the groom walks up to the front of the 'Sofreh-ye Aghd', and sits on the right side, which is considered the side of respect according to Zoroastrian culture. He is later joined by the bride who sits on the left.

The 'Sofreh-ye Aghd', the backdrop used on the floor, is passed from mother to daughter or to son occasionally. It is made of luxurious fabric, such as satin, silk and cashmere. On it, the following items are placed: A mirror, 'Aayeneh-ye Bakht', signifying fate and two 'Candelabras' (candles), placed on either side of the mirror. The mirror and candles are considered to be two very important items in the Persian society. They symbolize light and fire. Just like most weddings in Toronto, a bride walks in with her veil on but removes it later in that the first thing the groom sees in the mirror is the reflection of his bride. Also present on the 'Sofreh-ye Aghd', is a tray of spices and herbs which are seven and multi-colored. They are to ward of evil spirits, guard against evil and witchcraft. The seven elements in different colors are: poppy seeds, angelica, nigella seeds, frankincense, salt, black tea and wild rice, each with its own purpose.

Unlike Toronto weddings, flat bread, which is specially baked and decorated, can also be found symbolizing happiness and prosperity for the couple thereafter. Decorated eggs in a basket and also decorated almonds, hazelnuts in the shell and walnuts, also in a basket, are present. A number of other various items are placed on the backdrop including a copy of the couples' Holy Book and an assortment of sweets.

As the couple sits together, two guests, females, hold a cloth which is thin and place it on top of their heads and pour hard sugar crystals in it signifying in their relationship, sweetness. The bride and groom are then asked separately if they have accepted one another for future companionship where the bride is asked three times and remains silent for two before answering. Then gifts are given to the couple to bless their future.

SOME PEOPLE NEVER HAVE TO CLEAN UP BY THEMSELVES BUT I'M NOT ONE OF THOSE

If you ever wondered this is what I look like when I do my cleaning (and like this when I make the magic in the kitchen happen). And I listen to opera while I do it, of course.


Well.
Let's not break any illusions here shall we, I actually AM vacuuming in those pics because sometimes you need to do so. Vacuum that is. Weather I actually always do it all dressed up or not is a totally different question, but sometimes it's just inevitable to do it right there right then so at least it has happened once.

(My dress is from Stop Stearing, the seamed stockings are what Katie Did. Very recommendable stockings.
The mini beret is Molla Mills, shoes OIS.)

Wedding Sand Ceremony Tradition

Your wedding marks the start of your lifetime journey to love and life, which is why a number of traditional union ceremonies are observed during this celebration. Incorporating these practices into your wedding will certainly make it more special and meaningful. However, this does not necessarily mean that you need to squeeze all these practices to your wedding. You only need to choose one. Observing a wedding sand ceremony makes a great choice for does not only involve the new couple but their families as well.

Compared to other unity ceremonies, the unity sand ceremony is a relatively unique idea that makes a great wedding ceremony. It presents a more personalized alternative to the widely observed unity candle ceremony. It is a perfect complement to beach themed wedding, although it may also be observed in the more traditional theme weddings. Observing a wedding sand ceremony may be a first to your family. Hence, it gives you the opportunity to set a new and meaningful family wedding tradition.

In the ceremony, the sand is used to demonstrate the union of the bride and groom. Traditionally, colored sand is used, one color to symbolize the love and affection of the groom and one color for the love and affection of the bride. With that, two separate vials of sand will be prepared. After the exchange of rings, the bride and the groom will come together with their vial of colored sand. Together, they will pour the sand into a colorless vase, symbolizing their unity as husband and wife. The intertwined pattern of the sand created by the color represents their newly formed union. The vases in which the colored sand will be poured symbolize how a marriage can contain all.

One good thing about wedding sand ceremonies is that it can involve the two families, particularly the beloved grandparents. As a sign of giving their blessing to the union, the traditional unity sand ceremony has been modified in a number of ways. In some occasions, the parents of the couple are called on to participate and represent their family with another color of sand. The intertwined sand patterns that they create will then symbolize the couple's as well as their families' newly formed union.

Aside from possibly being one of the highlights of your wedding, the ceremony also gives you a precious keepsake which will remind you of how special your wedding was. It will remind you how deeply overwhelmed and touched you and your partner's family was in your decision to involve them in the ceremony.

Every part of a wedding needs to be carefully planned to facilitate a smooth blending of two families who found new ties. With that, you also need to include your unity sand ceremony essentials to your wedding's shopping list. Traditionally, the ceremony requires a special vase with cover, colored or uncolored sands and two or more sand vials. To make these items double as a welcome accent to your wedding mementos, you may choose to buy intricately painted vases and shaped vials. For your wedding planning's convenience, wedding sand ceremony essentials are now sold in sets.

As the practice of this intimate ceremony becomes more popular, shopping for wedding sand ceremony items and kits is now easier. Wedding websites are now featuring these items. With their comprehensive product listing, comparing the prices and designs of every kit is made easier.

SUBTLE AUTUMN COLOURS & SUNDAY BIKE RIDES

The warm afternoon sun could almost make one think it is still summer, but there are still some things giving autumn away: the shade of the light, a colder breeze and colours starting to pop up here and there, less green, more yellow.










And of course, the fallen leaves. More and more of them.
A great weather to bike in however!

Wedding Accessories - Beach Accessories and Unique Accessories

So the wedding is not that far away and you are still not even close to having all of your planning done. Well don't sweat it you'll get everything in order it just takes time. You still need to purchase your accessories such as your cake and server set, flower girl basket, ring bearer pillow, unity candle and tapers and much much more before your reception and ceremony will be completed. Well do not worry I'll help you choose some really great wedding accessories for your wedding just in the nick of time. So below I have listed some popular products that you can purchase online for your wedding.

If you are looking for a really great wedding guest book and want your guest book to be unique and fun then I suggest choosing a signature guest book platter. A signature guest book platter is usually a porcelain plate that you can usually have personalized with your name and wedding date on the plate and other designs as well. But thats not it. A signature guest book platter is fun and unique. Your guests can sign the platter and write fun little notes and then you can easily display in your home for cherished memories.

Now a day's a lot of folks are having destination weddings. So of course their are many different types of beach accessories that you can purchase for your wedding. You can choose some nice beach toasting flutes which usually you can get engraved with your names and date. The flutes will have a little star fish on the front and a sand which makes for a great beach themed flute. Also finding a guest book and unity candles for a beach wedding is a breeze as well. The accessories will coordinate with your wedding wonderfully.

So whether if you are looking for unique accessories or beach themed accessories I am sure that you will find exactly what you are looking for. So have a great time and most of all enjoy.

WELL YOU'RE A BUNCH OF LUCKY GALS!

I have such great news for you all:
One of my all time favorite labels, Tara Starlet, is doing a give-away right here, right now!


One lucky reader will win a pair of what I find as one of their most desireable products, the Sailor Slacks! I've dreamed about these sailor styled pants with a super high waist, wide legs and contrast coloured buttons a long time myself already. ♥ Oh ♥

I will as usual let Miss Fortuna decide by randomly choosing a winner on Monday September 28th! That means you have ten days time to try your luck - all you have to do to enter is to leave a comment on this post. Feel free to spread the word. OH yeah and if you don't have a blog account remember to leave me your email!

Tara has also started a blog for an inside view of a fashion studio! You can read it at tarastarlet.blogspot.com.

YES PLEASE.

In general I am not very fond of listing things that I want to have and shout that list out on the internet. But of course it is no news that I do like a lot of pretty things, and just because I don't list them all the time doesn't mean there aren't things I dream about every now and then. But because it's my birthday soon I thought I'd give it a go, in case some kitchenware manufacturer or apple sellers would be reading this and be in a generous mood...

Since world peace and a 1967 Ford Mustang most likely are out of the question (and apart from constantly craving dresses and weekend trips to European cities) these are some things I dream about for the moment:

A mint green Smeg! Even though getting one such would require a bigger kitchen and therefore also a bigger flat (plus a cream coloured oven and cream coloured dish washer from the same line to match my future cream coloured cupboards), which I unlikely will receive for such an insignificant birthday as my 28th(and probably no other B-day either :) I still keep on wishing. Because one day I will have all that! (picture)



The Minna Parikka ginger bag in powder blue...and pretty much any Minna Parikka shoe too, but I guess I should add that I absolutely have no need for new shoes for the moment, but oh what the hell, I wouldn't mind!


A lomographic camera so I can take artsy-fartsy photos!(cat pic from here)


A new mac: mac book pro. Doesn't have to be in 24K gold though, but hey, why not?

I also wished for a bow trench, waterproof shoes and a nice umbrella but I took care of those things myself already.

(Ps. Smeg suppliers and mac-men, did you get the hint? Thanks in advance, appreciate it.)

LAYING LOW

My cats are taking it easy while I'm busy working and organizing things, like different jobs and gigs and my life and stuff, but I do have something great coming up for all of you soon! Exciting...

MAGIC, WELL KIND OF

Remember this post and it's one-of-a-kind bag?


Well abracadabra, now it's mine!


(Dress - Tara Starlet, Bag - Viivi Vein)

Unique Bridal Gown Designer, Combines Elegance and Whimsical Designs

Do you know Melissa sweet...???

Melissa Sweet is a premiere wedding dress designer with success in combining whimsical and elegance in every dress created. She was born in Kentucky and found her love for sewing at a very young age. When other girls were playing house or with dolls Melissa was honing her talent stitching clothes under the supervision of your grandmother. During classes she would sketch dress designs and often created her own cloths setting fashion trends at her school!

During the summer Melissa took some summer courses at Parsons School of Design. She then went on to Bauder College in Atlanta and received a bachelor's degree from the university. In 1996 Melissa opened her first boutique with a new mix of elegant and whimsical designs. Sweet's eye for modern designs and vintage glamour set her apart from the competition. This fresh look began to catch on gaining attention from Georgia's 22-28 aged new bride to-bees. As her dresses gain popularity she began selling them to national bridal boutiques across the country.

As Melissa Sweet's gowns created more buzz she was able to showcase her designs on the Today Show. Shortly after being on the show she was approached by a representative of Priscilla of Boston who wanted to buy her business. Being a business woman she sold her company to them in 2005 however was recruited to stay on as the director of design, overseeing the classic Pricilla of Boston collection and the Melissa Sweet line. Today the Melissa Sweet collection is sold nationwide at more than ten Pricilla locations as well as department stores such as Saks Fifth Ave. and Neiman Marcus.

So what is new for Melissa Sweet and her fabulous dress designs? Well this season she will be focusing her new line to incorporate more sheer fabrics like silk Garze and organza. When layered together it creates the effect of subtle movement in the flowers when they are in bloom. It is a quite elegant finish to a wedding gown. This silhouette combined with a flowing perfectly white dress radiates pure sophistication.

CABINET PORTAIT

A couple of Sundays ago we had our photo taken by Atelieri O.Haapala at a small street fair. There is only one chance left for you to get one yourself, at the Halloween Horror Cabaret, since the project is coming to and end! All the photos they've taken will be exhibitioned at the Finnish Museum of Photography in the beginning of next year.

The Horror Cabaret party is at Wäiski and our burlesque troupe will perform one scary number there. But more on that later.

Great Winter Wedding Cake Ideas

Many couples want to have their wedding in winter-when holiday season is in the air and when the snow and cold weather make everything more romantic. Moreover, this is the time of year when almost all people do not go to work. It is also more fun to go on a honeymoon in winter right after the wedding because almost all countries all over the world are celebrating either Christmas or New Year or both. And in planning a winter wedding, choosing some great winter wedding cake ideas should be at the top of your to-do list.

To help you on this one, here are some cake ideas for your dream winter wedding.

• One great theme for your winter wedding cake is a traditional theme. This theme includes the colors red, green, white, and gold. You can use icings with these colors or cake decorations. Usually, cake decorators use poinsettia or red ribbons design for these winter cakes.

• Another great idea is a rustic or woodsy theme. to achieve this, you need to use designs of natural objects that you usually see outside like pine cones, lanterns grapevines, bird's nests, bird motifs like chickadee, holly leaves, and other natural things usually associated with Christmas. Use these to designs to decorate a white cake base.

• When you think of winter, what immediately comes to mind is Christmas. In decorating your winter wedding cake, think about Christmas symbols or objects such as snowflakes, holly, wreath, mistletoe, poinsettia, reindeer, Christmas bells and candles, stars, pie trees, and a lot more. You can use these to decorate the wedding cake but do not overdo it or your cake will look more like a Christmas cake than a wedding cake. Add a touch or romance like hearts, ribbons, or flowers. Do not use childish Christmas symbols like Santa Claus or candy cane.

• One of the best winter wedding cake ideas is a winter wonderland cake motif. The combination of white, silver, and ice blue shouts winter wonderland. Decorate it with ribbon and flower designs to make it more romantic.

• Use winter characters like penguins, polar bears, reindeer, and birds. Decorate your cake with a pair of these animals. Nothing can be cuter than a pair of these adorable characters on your cake.

• If you a re planning to use a round cake with several layers, you should decorate it with snowballs, snowflakes, or bells. Another popular option is a cake that looks like a stack of gift boxes. Red ribbons are the usual designs of this kind of cake.

• Think about a great and romantic cake topper. You can use a snow globe with a bride and groom inside. This is probably the perfect cake topper for a winter wedding cake.

These are just some of the winter wedding cake ideas that most bakeshops and cake decorators use these days. There are so many other cake ideas out there for a winter wedding. Choose the best one based on your wedding theme and also you and your partner's preference.

Source : http://ezinearticles.com/?Great-Winter-Wedding-Cake-Ideas-For-You-and-Your-Partner&id=2794326

RESULTS OF HAVING THE FLU pt.3

This year I have prepared myself for autumn very well; while ill at home I hanged out a lot in The Evil Internet, one result of many being that and ordered myself a pretty umbrella. Vain, but useful.

Standing under it is like standing under a tree, or looking at flower meadow. It almost makes me wish for rain.

BY THE OCEAN, BY THE SEA

Every third weekend I work 12 hours a day in the harbour, in order to have the week after that free. Not a bad deal, really. Those Sundays are spent in the largest harbour in Finland mostly just looking out at the sea and the islands, with our summerhouse just around the corner, since the day tends to be real easy after the first busy hours. The Baltic Sea is not exactly a big one, but you still cannot see beyond the horizon. And if I would be as small as a ladybird it would be huge as an ocean.

I think Hawley is worth a listen, at least on Sundays when one tends to go soft. Some years ago a journalist reviewed Hawley's album saying this is what all music nowadays would sound like if the Beatles would never have been.

ANSWERS AND ANSWERS vol.2

Little Brooklyn's King Kong at HBF09 (Photo Rik Stavale). One of the most creative burlesque performances I've seen. You can youtube google it. It has nothing to do with the text below but so what, it's always nicer with some pictures ain't it?

Well, anyway; thank you for all the nice coments on my previous post. As I now read my text afterwards I see it may sound a little defensive, which it wasn't ment to be, since no one should have to defend their style; it was rather just thoughs - and some minor ranting perhaps- in general. And neither am I offended of what people may say on the internet when it comes to issues like that, even though I might raise an eyebrow or two and wonder what the hell is wrong with people... But thanks anyway! You are all so nice.

And then it's time for the answers to the rest of the questions:
Where you've taken your tattos and are all of them your own design?
- I've taken most of them at Legacy Tattoo and those are made by Sailor Andy.. I've designed all of them myself, some are my exact drawing line by line while others are slightly modified to suit the skin better. My meraid is hand made (with a bamboo stick) in Thailand.That's also the one that looks the least like my drawing...

What are the names of your cats? They are gorgeous! I love cats and pics about those two makes my day.
- Pekka and Lulu! Pekka is the fat one and Lulu is the tiny one. They're brother and sister. I'll make your day somaday soon again and put some more cat pics then:)

Do you have any brothers or sisters? Do they look like you?
- I have two younger sisters, 25 and 22 years old. We all look pretty different. The older of them works in the harbour with me and a some people there think we look the same and mix us up. (Like a stevedor guy she once dated. It was cold and we wore wearing caps outside. He drove up to me and said "I haven't heard from you laely but I guess that's ok since you haven't heard from me either" I looked up and told him he should propably talk directly to her. He kept his calm and said that yeah, he will, drove away. And then he avoided me for some weeks afterwards :D)

Are you that blond by nature and what hair products do you use?
- No, not this blond. RIght now I'm not sure what my real colour would be. It was quite chocolate brown when I was small, then went lighter into a, now that I think about it, rather nice toffee-like colour. I had a spiral perm for years which dried my hair out and turned real light in summer, so I started bleaching it due to that, as it grew out darker in fall and looked bleached anyway :) I use silver schampoo and conditioner every now and then, otherwise a lot of salon products for chemically treated hair. I have a lot of hair and it's all dry so a bottle of conditioner or leav-in blam doesn't last long.

I don't have a question but a request, would you like to post some pictures of your wardrobe?
- I was actually asked to do so by a fashionsite, to participate in their article series about wardrobes last year but didn't have the time. I might do so later this autumn perhaps!

The same request to post a picture with your boyfriend, but I would totally understand if you don't want it.
- Well something might show up here at some point...

More pics: 2 in 1! Brilliant.

Renewing Wedding Vows

Your first wedding might have been perfect, but then again it may have not gone just the way you would have liked. Perhaps you didn't have enough money to have the splendid wedding you always dreamed you'd have. Or maybe it was the ideal wedding that everyone dreams of having. No matter what your wedding was like the first time around, there is nothing more romantic than reaffirming your love for one another by renewing your wedding vows.

It may be that you are celebrating a milestone anniversary, or it could be you have rediscovered all the things about each other that once made you fall in love. Whatever the reason, renewing your wedding vows can bring new life to your marriage and keep you appreciating the joy and happiness in the years that have come before as well as the ones to follow.

When you renew your wedding vows, you will have a chance to celebrate your love with the children you have created from your joyous union. They can be a part of the special day where you and your beloved review your past and look forward to an even brighter future.

For those who are celebrating a 25th wedding anniversary or longer, you may even have the delight of sharing this occasion with your grandchildren. You can even have the little ones participate by being a ring bearer or flower girl. Imagine your pride and joy at seeing your beautiful family gathered together to join you as you renew your wedding vows.

You can make it as elaborate or as simple as you please. You can renew your vows in a tropical paradise, or you can exchange your promises right in your own home or backyard. You can make it a large gathering or a more intimate get-together. However you choose to celebrate your union will not be a day you won't soon forget nor will your guests. Whatever venue you choose to renew your vows will be a place of love and romance.

Love is great the first time around, but think of how much deeper your love for each other has grown in the years you have shared. All of the sorrows and triumphs that making a life together brings only intensifies the respect and love you have for one another. Don't hesitate to make plans to renew your vows. It may be the most romantic day you and your true love share.