HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy New Year to you all! For me year 2013 has been eventful; there hasn't been a boring moment. The little person in the above picture has made sure of that. After having being the easiest baby imaginable for the first six months of her life she decided to go the very opposite way when we entered 2013; clingy (every morning all the way until lunch time nap she would have to be held pretty much non-stop), frustrated (trying to do things beyond her age and getting very angry when failing), noisy (crying LOTS and LOUD what ever the reason), teething (she had sore gums and a runny nose most of the year), waking up too early (5.30am at worst, 6.30am at best) BUT at the same time she has been the cutest, sweetest, cuddliest thing. You can't but forget all the rest when she flashes one of these smiles at you! (These days with a few more teeth!) 

I think Baby M is going to have a very different 2014 though. As if by miracle everything changed about a week ago. She's been playing happily on her own, has hardly asked to be carried, her nose has stopped running, she has stopped drooling and she has even started sleeping the full 12 hours or a bit more. 

And this little one then. Where can I begin? Little M is an angel. An absolute angel of a little girl. She went through her tantrums briefly at the age of two but this year she has been the easiest, happiest, most polite and considerate little girl. I can't quite believe our luck with her. If only I could stop her from growing any older!!

I can think of just one time she was naughty this year. She locked herself in a bathroom and did herself a face paint using toothpaste... Luckily she managed to unlock the door herself and I must say she smelled very fresh for the rest of the day! 

Year 2013 has also included a lot of fun with friends. There has been more weddings, birthdays and trips than in any other year! It's certainly been busy but so much fun. What would life be like without great friends?? I feel so lucky to have you all in my life!

I was also lucky enough to travel a lot in 2013. My destinations included Cote D'Azur, Bordeaux, Paris, Puglia, Ibiza, Marbella, Barbados, Oman and Dubai. Not to mention Somerset and North Yorkshire here in the UK and of course Finland!

I'm excited about 2014 and have a feeling that it won't be a boring year either... I want to wish you all an amazing New Year! I hope you have fun tonight and I wish you all the best for 2014! It's a pleasure to have you follow us, thank you so much! 

Minna x

YORKSHIRE, CONSTABLE BURTON HALL

Hi everyone! It's been rather quiet here on the blog in the last couple of weeks but then I'm sure all of you have been busy too with your Christmas preparations and celebrations. I'm now back in London and ready for a quiet, healthy January. Well, after tomorrow night, that is! As I told you in my previous post we spent the weekend in North Yorkshire and to be more specific in the most beautiful house called Constable Burton Hall. Check out their website for more pictures of the estate and what they do in here. 

Kids had great fun running around and playing with their cute, furry friends (read: chasing the poor animals around endlessly).

Meet Myrtle, the sweetest dog ever. And can you believe it they another Jack Russell called Minna too! Slightly confusing to hear my friend very sternly call "Minna, come here" at the top of her voice.

Mince Pies and Christmas Cake are some of the rare sweet things that don't tempt me. Year after year I try them but I don't think I'll ever be anglicised enough to learn to enjoy them. A bit like salted liquorice that everyone loves in Finland... If you weren't brought up with like us Finns it you'll never going to like it.

Miss R looking glamorous in a very appropriate way, ready for her day in the country.

If the house and the gardens are amazing at Constable Burton so is the food! It wasn't good for my waist line though especially right after Christmas so I'm very ready to take a re-try of that clean eating challenge. 

How was your Christmas?

Minna x

POSTCARD FROM NORTH YORKSHIRE

Hi from the most beautiful English countryside in North Yorkshire. We're spending the weekend at my friend's house and what a house it is! Have a look at the below picture and you'll see just what I mean. This is just a quick hello, more about this amazing place soon. 

Minna x

OUR CHRISTMAS DAY

... in pictures :-)

Too many of these. You guessed right I failed in my clean eating challenge. Re-take in Jan.

Present envy.

Best presents ever!

New hair clips, not so much hair.

New outfits.

New wallets!

Red Christmas outfits.

Way too many nibbles.

Christmas doggies :-) 

Hope you all had a lovely time! Sorry for not responding to comments it's been rather hectic. Things will get back to normal in a few days time but now we're about to hit the road for our last destination of the year. Speak to you soon!

Minna x