March Love&Inspiration

I took this shot yesterday; The Helsinki Cathedral shining in the spring sun. Still one of the most majestic sights I've ever seen.

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» Some of my favorite posts I've stumbled upon.

» Music for the soul.

» This is almost too awesome to handle. Stamp yo face!

» This two ingredient chocolate mousse from Oh, Ladycakes blew my mind.

» Can't wait to get my hands on the new book, My Paris Kitchen: Recipes and Stories, from the one and only David Lebovitz...Actually, I just pre-ordered it. Oops.

» I also have a huuuge crush on Emma Galloway's first cookbook, My Darling Lemon Thyme – Recipes from My Real Food Kitchen. Emma is the kind soul behind the Perth-based blog My Darling Lemon Thyme. I'm sure her book is as lovely as her blog.

» I totally need this cat cookie rolling pin in my life.

» Pasta in all its glory. I can't even tell you how much I adore Valentina's work both on Hortus and Modern Pop Cooking. Rock it, girl!

» And then there was this absolutely gorgeous post from Kelsey. Her words & the agnolotti recipe – this lady amazes me every single time.

» This French ad is beyond gorgeous.

» Made this rye soda bread from Dagmar's Kitchen – it was superb. Next time, I'll try the gluten-free version.

» Cute, cuter, mini princess cakes.

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ALSO:

A miracle has happened - I'm on Instagram.

Have you already seen my interview on PAPER/PLATES? I talk about food, books, and watching a stormy sea. Hope you have as much fun reading the interview as I had doing it!

Aaaand... Last but not least. My Salmon Salad with Wasabi Dressing was featured on Food52's 8 Food Blog Links We Love last Friday. Such a happy surprise! I'm honored.

Have a great week, friends!

>>>•••••••••<<<

EDIT (9.45 pm): I'm totally honored/baffled/over the moon/can't feel my legs right now/excited to be a Saveur Best Food Blog Awards finalist among all those other talented people in the category "Best New Blog".

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Seriosly.

February Love&Inspiration

“You will find that it is necessary to let things go
simply for the reason that they are heavy.
So let them go, let go of them.
I tie no weights to my ankles.”

– C. JoyBell C.

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Tomorrow, it's March. I still can't really get my head around it. February flew by so incredibly fast... Here are some of my favorites:

» Posts I especially loved this month.

» Let's listen to some great music.

» Interpretations by Veera Välimäki & Joji Locatelli – fine tune and at dawn are my favorite patterns.

» Hello HOMEMADE SPRINKLES! Not kidding, this is totally happening.

» I think I've never told you how much I adore Meryl Streep. And after this, I'm convinced she is one of the most wonderful woman walking on this planet.

» Are you a planner? An organizer? Do you always have too much going on in your head? Yeah, me too. Let's make a spring clean out! Maybe Todoist would be a great tool to get organized? I heard about it on Sara's lovely blog Cake Over Steak and got an account. I'm still learning and getting used to it but so far I've liked it a lot. There is a good blog post about Todoist on the Well.

» New blog crush: Babes in Boyland. Love the mood!

» Eating Healthy on a Budget – A lovely new series by the awesome Stockholm-based David & Luise from Green Kitchen Stories. Their Shakshuka is a stunner!

» This girl knows how to write.

» Had this salad for lunch today. Highly recommended! I also made this crispy rice dish from Smitten Kitchen for a family dinner last weekend and it was delicious! It was so crispy that my dad broke a molar... True story.

» The newly launched Roost blog. Breathtakingly beautiful work by the incredibly talented Caitlin Van Horn.

» I would like to have a cup of marshmallow hot chocolate, please.

» I love to follow how this lady lives her life to the fullest (hello Sydney!). Makes me reflect on my own life – what do I want from life? A very important question to ask oneself from time to time.

» A huge portion of this ice cream would totally make my day.

» Telling a story through a photograph – How To Photograph Food by Haruka Sakaguchi

» I'm making the Brown Butter Chocolate Maple Pecan Cookies from Flourishing Foodie tonight. Brown butter makes everything shine, right?

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Hope you have a great weekend!

I'm spending tomorrow in Helsinki with a bunch of dear friends – we'll have a brunch here and laugh hard. I want to find a pair of shoes for spring (something like this, maybe).

January Love&Inspiration

I've been amazed by the sparkling snow lately.
This is how it looks like through a camera lens. #nofilter

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Here is a list of posts, recipes, music, articles, and generally just things that have inspired me during January. Happy browsing!

» Some of my favorite January posts.

» Music that made my heart sing.

» The incredibly talented and brave photojournalist Meeri Koutaniemi and how she witnessed female genital mutilation in a Masai village in Kenya. No words.

» I'm a huge admirer of Beth Kirby's work so I just loved to read this interview.

» You're welcome to freak out with me: Coconut Cream Pie French Toast by Minimalist Baker.

» This post about green garlic germs was interesting. Before, I've both removed and left them unattended which basically means I've had no idea what to think of them.

» Loved to read this. Aren't they adorable? And that look on Bev's face. Wonders of life.

» Have to make these soon. Loved the Bonkers Awesome episode with Ree!

» How to make flavored coffee creamer at home.

» The New York Subway in 1981

» Eat like a Swede – could also be labeled as "Eat like a Finn" (except #8 & #10)

» This beautifully written post left me speechless and with tears in my eyes.

» The History of Fika: Swedish Coffee Break

» I love this fruit map.

» On repeat.

» What about a cup of salted rosemary latte?

» 100 Notable Books of 2013

» Lovely Indian vibe - Box of Spice

» Dance party. Yeah, like on Grey's Anatomy.

I also started two new knitting projects this month:
this scarf (it's like knitting a cloud) and this pullover in a lovely moss green color

Both patterns are from Helga Isager's The Map Collection. A truly lovely collection.

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Would love to hear about some of your January favorites as well!

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Let's get connected!

December Love&Inspiration

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» Some of my favorite December posts.

» Music for cold winter days. (We've had a crazy warm winter here but at least I can pretend it was cold outside... Makes totally no sense, I know.)

» Still looking for a New Year's Eve drink? What about this, this, or this?

» I would love to have one of these hanging on my wall.

» For New Year's Eve: Avocado & Pomegranate Crostini

» Break Your Heart Winter Reading – I want to read The Light Between Oceans.

» This tv commercial. Got to love hens.

» I could browse for hours through this new to me blog. I especially love the woodsy weekend photos.

» Girl Crush

» Oooh! I simply love Helga Isager. Browse through these wonderful patterns. 

» I will never look at sugar cubes the way I used to... Homemade Angostura Sugar Cubes from Carey Nershi.

» Pomegranates. In my morning granola, in my lunch salad, on the floor. Everywhere.

» DIY homemade lip gloss

» The Golden Goose – "The killing day had finally come."

» Fishing Alaskan Crab

» 20 Time Nigella Lawson Proves She Is a Goddess Among Us  – I'm not so sure about that goddess thing but I surely might even like her after this.

» I want to have Baked Bananas and Hazelnut Pancakes for breakfast.

» Reuters Photos of the Year 2013

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Every Christmas I read a novel by Haruki Murakami. It started with Norwegian Wood a couple of years ago. This year I read Kafka on the Shore.

 

Wishing you all a wonderful 2014!

xx, Sini

November Love&Inspiration

So much to get excited about! Here are some of my favorites... Have fun browsing.

(And to all my American friends to there: hope you survived Thanksgiving!)

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» Some of my favorite November posts. Oh, and the most awaited post of the season.

» Music I have been listening to lately.

» For the holiday season: 23 ways to make your pie more beautiful

» This new to me blog. Breathtakingly gorgeous. And I can't believe I haven't stumbled upon this blog before.

» Her courage is incredible. Watch Deb's falsh mob before her double mastectomy. You go girl! 

» Are you on the lookout for a mind-blowing cocktail recipe for the holidays? This may be the one.

» a “Thelma and Louise”-ish weekend with Georgia Pellegrini. This may be the right time to confess that I've always wanted to go hunting... Like for elks. Or pheasants.

» The Invisible Bicycle Helmet. "Cars are so yesterday. Bikes are the future." I've known about this innovation for quite a long time already but it's always great to see the faces behind the products! See the video.

» This wonderful Swedish blog is now also in English.

» An Advent calendar for him. Handsome, right? For more Christmas inspiration, follow my Pinterest board. 

» Looking for a great granola recipe? I made this delicious one (I mixed in some sesame seeds and millet) and am eager to try this Cashew Butter Granola from London Bakes. Nothing beats homemade granola for breakfast.

» This book and this movie.

» Essential Thanksgiving

» Joy the Baker now has an online show. BONKERS AWESOME!
 

currently reading: Winter Journal by Paul Auster
currently knitting: my first socks in over 10 years! wish me luck.

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