"This is the last call for the flight..."

I am ashamed to admit that it took me this long to watch the movie Up in the Air. Have you seen it? If not, watch it, it's great!! It's about a man (Clooney!!), who spends more time on an airplane than on the ground, and who has to face new challenges with his work, but to me the work stuff was secondary. I focused on the traveling part, as you may have already guessed :)

When I say that I travel a lot, I mean, like, once or twice a year. To me, it's a lot. But there are other people who travel once a month (like my mom has done this year), people who travel for work, people who travel just because they can. They have the resources. As for me, all my extra money is spent on traveling... something I learned from my parents from very early on. 

I can't even be compared to the people who practically live up in the air. It's their way of life. 

I don't want that. I would love to be able to travel whenever and wherever I wanted, but to do it all the time, switching destination every five minutes... No thank you.

 I love to fly, but it's not the time spent on an aircraft that I love. It's the feeling of going somewhere, of being able to go somewhere. I love circling around airports, I lovelovelove it when the airplane speeds up and takes off. I also love the landing. Sometimes. Not always, when I land to Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport. That's the one place I love it the most, when I take off. 

There are a lot of things you learn, when you travel much. You learn to pack only what's necessary. You learn to ask the right questions when checking in, you learn to have the necessary documents ready at hand, you learn to read people. The latter may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but it's true. Especially if you're traveling alone and end up sitting next to a stranger. After the first couple of minutes you pick up signs of whether or not they're talkative, social or if they want to enjoy their flight (or train-ride or whatever) uninterrupted. But mostly... you learn about yourself. Cliché, but very true. 

I only have a little over a month left until I get to enjoy all of this again. I'm flying with Delta Airlines and I joined their Skymiles -program. After doing so, I wondered why I hadn't joined into these things before... Well, I fly with a different airline almost every time I travel (I just pick the cheapest flights when I book them, without looking into what airline it is), so maybe that's the main factor. But maybe I should join. Can't do any harm, right?

And finally, I wanted to link this song for all of you to listen. One of my favorites, it's somehow very beautiful.

....yet another one ! :)

As if Facebook, Twitter and Blogger aren't enough... I've found a new love in my life. 

Instagram.

You can find me under the username iiris89. So far I've got 5 followers, feel free to join them! :)

Snapped this shot today:

With the rainy weather in Finland lately, rainbows are almost an everyday occurrence. Beautiful, don't you think? <3

Z is for ZOO

The last time I went to a zoo was four years ago in Washington D.C. I spent the day with a close friend of mine and her kids. It was a scorching day, and those of you who have been to the zoo in D.C, you know it's all hill. If I recall right, it was downhill going there and uphill when leaving. And it was pain. I was so jealous of the Segways the zoo-employees got to use to get around. But, regardless of the heat, we had a nice day. I'd forgotten how nice zoos are. I rarely visit them. I doubt I'll have the chance to visit one anymore this year (unless... I think there's one in Portland), but maybe next summer :)

And... this is it for the Alphabet-posts. In Finnish language there are actually three alphabets more (Åå, Ää, Öö), but still.. this is it. Any ideas for a next project?

total eclipse of the heart

Heyy :) Been MIA for a couple of days, sorry. I'm back! 

There's this annual music festival in my hometown that takes place in July. It lasts for four days and this year was my third time. I never go for more than one day, and usually it's the last day, when there's an international star performing. Mainly the performers are Finnish. Two years ago the international star was Boney M, last year The Village People (ahahah, so much fun!) and this year it was Bonnie Tyler!

We had a blast! 

An Instagram shot of my party-look

Suvi Teräsniska

Tuure Kilpeläinen

Bonnie!

Hope you all had a nice weekend :)

Me. Just me.

Yeah, so I admit I've had my share of small panic attacks relating to whether or not I've accomplished enough in my life. I'm 23 years old, and sometimes I feel like nothing's not enough. Most of the time, fortunately, I feel like I've done pretty well.

I've traveled in a lot of places, ever since I was a baby. I learned some English before it was a mandatory subject at school, and then went on learning, so ever since I was 10-11 years old, I've managed to communicate in English on my own, without much help. It has encouraged me to test my limits abroad. I can travel alone in the biggest cities in the world, and know I have what it takes to survive, and survive well. I've made some very useful contacts overseas, if I may say so myself. I have been blessed with common sense. I tend to be bossy sometimes, but hey, someone's gotta keep it rolling. I take after my mother on that one. 

I have friends, who enrich my world with their own backgrounds, stories and experiences. 

I'm a daughter of two people, who support my desire to explore the world. 

I have a brother, whom I love so very much, and whose occasional special needs make him the most special guy in this world. 

I'm not much of a talker, unless you get me reallyreally drunk (don't), but I've come to realize that blogging is the easiest and the best way for me to say things I may not be comfortable saying to someone's face, even if the things I want to say, are positive. 

I've gone crazy with my friends, laughed so hard it actually hurts, cried my eyes out, attended concerts of world-famous singers', screamed in awe, screamed in anger, loved, hated, embraced, gotten up from the bottom. I have lived. 

For a 23-year-old... could be a lot worse :) 

Love, 

me

Brand it, baby!

I don't usually go to flea markets. I'm just not that thrilled to have something used. I don't know why, since it's perfectly ok, and I know you can find amazing stuff if you happen to be at a right place at a right time. In fact, I'm selling some of my stuff next month at a flea market, to get some extra cash to Oregon. 

Well, anyways, yesterday I let my friend drag me to a flea market, and OMG I got stuck at the very first table. It happened to be my heaven. Me, at the right place at a right time. 

Louis Vuitton e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e!

Got this for my make-up!

This for my phone :) Love this one!!

I've always loved Louis Vuitton. I have an LV-bag, too. Cost me 20 bucks. The woman who sold it to me was very vague of its origin. She said it was real but I'm not sure if it is... But it's amazing. The details and everything make it look so real. If someone just gave me a certificate that it's an original Louis Vuitton, I would totally buy it. 

I fell in love with this ring. I know skulls are a bit out there, but for €1,20... Man, I love this. It's such a cool piece of accessory. It looks like it might be an Ed Hardy -ring, but I don't know, it doesn't say. And it's one of those adjustable rings that you can make fit any finger, so this one's definitely not an original piece :D 

Any cool stuff you've found on a place you weren't supposed to go? :)

*light bulb over my head*

This summer has gone by so fast. I'm glad to realize it's been good so far. The weather hasn't been too hot (although my apt is sweltering and I don't have A/C... so my fan's on 24/7). I've also had the chance  to do nice things. I got to see one of my favorite singers, Christina Perri, perform live, I've spent time with my friends and family, I'm doing well at work, I've made new connections and acquaintances... All in all, summer 2012 is pretty much rocking :) 

A couple of years ago things weren't this good, but I've learned a lot since then. And I wouldn't change a thing, because I think that was a turning point in my life. I wouldn't be the person I am today if it weren't for all the s****y (I don't like cursing, but that's the only word that describes this well enough) experiences. 

I still can't wait for the fall!!!