Portland>Finland

I am back in Finland, and hopefully back to regular blogging from now on as well. I am sorry for the lack of writing recently. Let's just say, that I'm not your regular woman who can handle multitasking just like that. 

I arrived to Finland on Thursday... Well, Thursday or Friday. I landed around Midnight and I can't remember whether it was before or after. Anyways, I was 6-7 hours late, yay for that, and as I was landing, I did not feel any kind of fondness toward my homeland. The roads were white... And the snow blizzard hit the southern coast conveniently at the time of my arrival. What a welcome party for me, a person who hates winter -.-

Rocky Mountains!

The blizzard wasn't the reason I was late, though. Due to my flight schedule change from a non-stop flight from PDX to Amsterdam to PDX-Minneapolis-Amsterdam, I already had a longer return time, BUT, as it turned out, I was about to be traveling a bit longer still... To make a long story short, I got stuck in Minneapolis for 3 extra hours, because there was something wrong with our plane. They had another plane for us, and during the preparation of that one, Delta Airlines gave 50-dollar vouchers to all the passengers on that flight. I spent mine on a duty-free store, and headed for the purses (d'oh). All the handbags were a little out of my price range, but I did get myself something nice ;)

Guess -wallet, $45,00 from some duty-free store at Minneapolis/St.Paul Airport. Note the strap that comes off -this one will also work as a purse at parties :)) I love it!! Thanks, Delta! It pays off to be delayed ;)

So we finally took off from Minneapolis, and headed to Amsterdam. The flight time was an hour shorter than announced before, so I still had a slight chance of making it to my connection flight from Amsterdam to Helsinki. I landed at 1.05pm and the connection was at 1.55pm. I didn't make it :( I was at the gate at 1.30pm, but they wouldn't let me board, because my luggage was sure not to make it to the flight, and I wasn't allowed to fly without it. So they rebooked me, and I had another 6 hours to wait at Schiphol Airport... Oh happy days. Jet lagged, and all. I got a 10-euro food voucher, a phone call voucher and a 50euro discount from my next flight, that's valid for two years.. So yeah, I wasn't too pissed ;)

Minneapolis!

So... now my trip's over :( I cannot even describe how amazing these last three months have been. I truly lucked out with my job, host family and I made a lot of incredible new friends. I had a blast. Non-stop. I'm so so so very happy that I went. Thank you, Portland <3

I'm here, but not quite here yet, if you know what I mean. My head's still a mess, and I get tired at weird hours. I'm trying to convert prices into euros, even though they're already euros, and when I want to call somebody, I try to figure out the time, even though we're in the same time zone now. Leaving Portland was hard, I cried more than once. Now I'm sort of in denial about it; I refuse to let myself think about it. I'm here, but I don't wanna acknowledge that fact. I start thinking about Portland, and I feel like I could catch a bus and a MAX downtown anytime, and remembering that I can't do that right now, is too much. I'm still more in Portland than I am here.

Slowly getting on my feet... I'll get back to you :)

-i

Black Friday

To be honest, I was a little disappointed. I went to a mall downtown, and was expecting to have to elbow my way to the stores, but it was nothing like that. Sure, the mall was busy, but... you know. It was just busy. Not once did I have to stand in line or anything. I guess I should have gone to a Walmart, Target, Kohl's or something, to get the real Black Friday experience. But, due to my foot injury, I didn't want to go anywhere too far and walk more than necessary. 

I didn't spend too much time shopping, but still got myself something nice... :)

Royal blue gardigan from H&M, $15,00. This was on sale, original price $39,95. I love the color, and this is actually my first piece of clothing that is royal blue. Warm and comfy! :)

And the back of it is different material! I like this detail :)

Hello Kitty -hat from Forever 21, $9,80. Not on sale, but once I saw it, I knew it belonged to me! This is just so random and awesome, I had to get it! Absolutely in love with this hat! <3

Comb-in Hair Color from Fuego (at Pioneer Place), $3,80. This is something I'll try on tomorrow ;) 

In case you're not aware of it, but Oregonians put bacon in e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g! Bacon gum balls from Fuego,  $4,94.  And these are not for me, btw :D

I'll be doing some more shopping tomorrow! Now I'm about to go and fix myself dinner from Thanksgiving left overs... Turkey wrapped up in -what else than- bacon. Oregon's so weird :) Maybe that's why I fit in so well. 

-i

PDX-VA-PDX

Wow... November has been slow when it comes to blogging! Sorry! Oh my goodness... Where to start? 

Well, this past weekend I got to spend in Virginia, one of my favorite places on Earth, with my wonderful friends and their families. I flew to D.C on Friday and back to PDX on Monday. I had a blast! I got to see pretty much everyone I wanted to see (except for a couple of friends who didn't live close by) and we were busy doing stuff the entire weekend! Wine tasting, hiking... I wish I could still be there :) But I'm loving Portland, and going to enjoy my remaining two weeks. 

Beautiful VA <3

Thank you all in VA!!! I'll miss you! 

Keeping it real, weird and weirder.

I believe I'm not the only one who thinks it's so friggin' unfair how time flies when you're having a good time.

I have only 3 more weeks left until I have to return to Finland. 

My time here in Portland has been amazing. I've got a ton of new friends, new experiences, new perspectives, new memories... I believed from the very beginning this would be an experience of a life time, but never did I think this whole thing would have such a huge effect on me. I knew I would come back to Finland so much richer than what I was when I left, but there's something I didn't expect.

I didn't expect to find myself in Portland. 

In Portland you can be whatever and whoever you want to be, and no one will say s**t about it. Be a hipster, be a hippie, be a nerd, a jerk, an artist, weirdo... You'll fit in. You have to be very, very strange to stand out here, and it's only uncool if you try too much to be something you're truly not.

To Thine Own Self Be True. 

I will be facing a big challenge in Finland. Trying to maintain my personality the way it really is, and not falling back into my old ways, when I was the quiet one in the crowd, afraid of big changes and afraid to stand out too much. That's NOT ME! If you ever see me starting to follow my old patterns, feel free to give me a good ol' slap in the face. 

"People are gonna tell you who you are your whole life. You just gotta punch back and say: 'No, this is who I am'. You want people looking at you differently, make them." 

- A quote from "Once Upon A Time".

I want to be me from now on. 

Keeping Portland Weird while I'm here,

-i

<3

Suddenly the bridge was there and... we crossed it.

Today we continued our road trip and headed further south, through the Redwoods!

Pictures don't do justice, you gotta see these yourself!!

And then... one of my dreams came true and I finally got to visit a city I've alwaysalwaysalways wanted to visit. It's ridiculous how many times I've had actual dreams about it... 

San Francisco, I made it!

Baker Beach

Cali !

Today I crossed the state-line between Oregon and California.

I entered into my 18th state.

Sunny California my a**, lol! 

It's been a gloomy and grey, rainy day, but we've had a lot of fun! We've been driving for about 8 hours today, and tomorrow we're driving another 6,5 hours. But it'll be worth it. Because tomorrow I will finally get to cross a bridge I've dreamed of crossing ever since I can remember. The Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco awaits!!

Here's more pics from today:

California, here we come, with new shades and everything!

Hollaaa! :)

I'm almost on my way downtown, I just have to wait for the dryer to finish up. 

It's RAINING, surprise surprise, and I'll probably be wet by the time I get to Pioneer Square. Oh well, this is Portlandia. Rain is a part of it. 

I hope you've all had a great weekend so far; mine has been the most relaxing in two months. Haven't done much anything :) Sometimes it's good to just space out. 

Yesterday's catch! I happened to find the sale racks at Forever 21, and purchased the sunglasses for $3,80 and the earrings for $2,99. 

It'd better be sunny in California so I can wear my new sunglasses! Oh, if I haven't mentioned, I'm leaving for California on Tuesday!!! STOKED! And I'm going with my family! My mom and brother are flying in tomorrow :) So happy!

Gotta go, lovelies. Take care<3

Good things come in pink boxes

Today was a day when I woke up and cried. It was time for my room mate to go back to Germany. Her flight left from Portland at 7 am, and suddenly I was alone. With my host(mom) out of town, I have the house all to myself, and it's weird.
Now only my stuff is taking space by the sink in the bathroom. They're neatly organized on my side. The other side is empty. Maybe I should spread my things more.

Yesterday we had a little going-away party for S. We went out to dinner and after that a few of us gathered at our house for a sugar-filled after party.

We ordered a Party Platter from Voodoo Doughnuts. This is so funny... I still have left overs. 

We watched a movie called Idiocracy, I'd never heard about it before, but it was hilarious!
After our guests left, S gave me a present.

I'd been admiring this painting at the Made in Oregon -store, and told S that I would buy it if I had the money at the end of my trip. And now she got it for me. I love it!!!! Thank you, S <33

Something's definitely missing now that she's not here anymore. But today wasn't a goodbye, it was just a see-you-later.
Way later, though :/
Fortunately, there are cheap flights from Finland to Germany.

outfits

I've promised to do more outfit-posts, so here's my first official one :) You've seen my outfits in a lot of previous posts, but now the focus will only be in my clothes, lol. 

The quality of the pictures is not the best, but I think they fulfill their purpose. 

Jeans from Target / $29,99, Striped t-shirt from Target / $12,99, Black buttoned jacket/shirt  (very light material and not warm) from T.J. Maxx / $10,00, Scarf from Forever 21 / $9,99, Guess Bag from JFK Airport Guess -store, $108,00.  

The bag, scarf and the jacket/shirt are the same than on the pic above. Jeans are the same, but in black. Shirt from somewhere Finland, Shoes from Ross / $20,00.  

Not the most awesome of outfit posts. My style is pretty simple. I prefer black, but lately have been wearing more colors, even though these pictures won't prove that. I obviously don't have as much clothes with me here than what I have back in Finland, so maybe from now on I'll post from there when it comes to my outfits ;) Had fun with this one either way.

I'm a good Zombie :)

Half of my trip is over. 

I haven't slept in 6 weeks, and I won't sleep in another 6 weeks. I'll sleep when I go back to Finland. You know how you get so tired at some point and everything just starts being funny? And how after that comes the stupid-mode, when you don't know which way is up and which way is down? I've been there. And now I'm in the third phase. 

The zombie phase. 

And at the same time, I'm ridiculously happy :)

This weekend I got to explore Washington State.

Just so you won't be bored with all the nature pics!

Deception Pass

I love how there's drift wood at the beaches in Washington. 

Back to rainy Portland :)

I also got to do some driving for the first time since I arrived here! I love to drive. I drove us up to Olympia from Portland, and later on back to Olympia from Whidbey Island. When we passed Seattle, it was dark and raining, but we had a clear view of the city's beautiful silhouette. I felt like I was on top of the world <3

Hope you all had a great weekend, and all of you here at the Pacific Northwest, don't let the rain bother you :) I was soaking wet when I got home today. I hope my shoes are dry tomorrow!

1/3 of this trip is over...

First of all, millions of apologies for not blogging in a week. I think it's my record. A shameful one. When I started blogging, I didn't blog as much, but now that I have more readers and I've really got the hang of it, I feel really bad not blogging :( sorry! 

I thought that after coming to the States I would blog more. But I'm busy. All-the-time. I'm working Tuesdays through Fridays from 9.30am - 4.30pm. Tuesdays I've got other plans after work (every Tuesday), Wednesdays I'm either at home, relaxing after Tuesday or off somewhere else. Thursdays the same thing. Fridays too. Sometimes home, but usually not. And I'm always on the move during the weekends. Mondays are my easy days, and even they are not always easy. Oh well... I'm enjoying every little bit of it :) All of it. I love it here more than you could ever comprehend. It kills me every day a little to think about returning back to Finland, because I feel like my heart does not belong there. 

Before I get too mushy, I want to share this weekend with you. 

Multnomah Falls in Oregon. This picture looks like a screen saver, or something google gives you when you search for "fairytale sceneries" or something. But I'm proud to say that I snapped this picture. It was such a beautiful place! <3

Oh... I bought shoes today. 

And I love them!

You like? Me loves.

Tomorrow I'm going to the store-that-should-not-be-named.

Sensational in Seattle

Here's what I want you to do: click play on the video above and listen to the song while browsing the pictures below. 

I had an awesome weekend, and wanted to share it with you in a simple way without too much babbling. Enjoy :)

Finally made it to SEATTLE!

The Ferry ride to Alki Beach

Enjoying the fabulous weather!

Downtown Seattle

Up up we went!

Who knew Space Needle was so small... well, compared to everything else. 

The view from Kerry Park

My favorite one<3

Dinner at HRC

Yeah... 

Pike Place Market

The very first Starbucks in the world!

A good way to end the weekend in Seattle!