Welcome <3
This Christmas was very different. First Christmas without family, first Christmas just the three of us – my husband, my kitten and me. I tested positive for Covid19, and five days later so did my husband, so going to see the family – which includes his grandma – was out of the question.
Continue reading “Very Different Christmas”
(Nine months, if anyone’s counting)
I’ve turned into these people who call themselves bloggers, but only show up on IG, with barely any writing, showcasing ‘the best moments/outfits/night out’. The kind of people I used to raise my eyebrows at. Are you really a blogger?
But now… Am I really a blogger? We can’t have this.
Continue reading “Hello, it’s been a while.”
You know when you have a blank wall that you want to do something with, but don’t really know what?
I had that wall, in my bedroom.
Continue reading “Breathing more Zen into my bedroom”
Today is International Women’s Day – which falls on 8th of March every year, and I grew up knowing this. In all post-Soviet countries, the tradition stayed the same for years:
The flower shops would be flooded by men of all ages, and all of them are getting flowers for all of the important women in their lives: mothers, sisters, wives, daughters and friends. Many boys would be getting flowers for their favourite teachers.
My mum would have an arrangement with a florist, so when the men of our family went to buy flowers, they would all be same height and type.. basically so you don’t get a bunch of mismatched flowers!
Many would gift a single flower – often a rose – but in our household it was always tulips.
As a girl in my teens, I’d be getting flowers from my dad, grandad, two uncles, brother, two cousins, a couple of key family friends, boys from school, from music school, from karate… This was the day when you felt the love of all key men around you. But that was in my home country, in Estonia.
Interestingly enough, not many would say ‘Happy International Women’s Day!’; in Russian culture it’s simply “Happy 8th of March!’ – because everyone knows what that date is.
My first International Women’s Day, when I moved to England, was sad – I was terribly homesick, because nobody celebrated it, and the boys here weren’t brought up to know that flowers are a must on 8th of March. I shared my feelings with Ben, and that one year was the only year I was left without flowers. He’s a good egg ❤
But now, 11 years on, a lot more people know about International Women’s Day, and the narrative has changed:
I love the campaigns that are run by great organisations that promote equality for women in many different aspect, and I love what local communities are doing. I love the rise of Women supporting Women, of #EachforEqual campaign this year and just how empowering this day has become. Most of all, I love the facts that this is the day to stop and think about most the important and inspirational women in your life – for both women and men.
But still, for me, forever, 8th of March is the day when I’ll get a sweet message from my dad and many other old friends from back home. The day of tulips, appreciation and love.
I hope that each and one of you, ladies, got to spend the day the way you wanted.
Happy International Women’s Day!
P.S. Spot the Party Po
Lots of Love,
Po
x
Today! – I promised myself.
Today I will finally sit down and write down all of my grand ideas for content, put down in writing so many thoughts that’s been rummaging through my head… Today is the day. Today is the day I commit more to blogging and content creation… Continue reading “Today is the day I become a great blogger.”
I was the luckiest birthday girl this year. Twenty Eight. It seems the closer I get to thirty, the less scary it gets.
So I was happy to turn 28. Logistically, however, my birth-day turned into birthday-week. See, the big day fell on a Sunday this year around, and it would have made sense to celebrate on Saturday night, so my birthday starts right there at midnight… But it also would end right the next day! And I wasn’t having that, not this year! Plus tier one friend of mine was away with work, so I’ve decided to celebrate the following weekend.
But as if this was up to me! My lovely Issy and Sarah decided to throw me a surprise the day before my birthday – Ben got me out of the house, and when I got back, the lounge was full of decorations and confetti (which – mind you – 2 weeks later is still all over the house despite hoovering it up every other day!
As I’m writing this, the balloons are still everywhere… I’m too busy nowadays to take them off (that’s my excuse, ha)
My 28th birthday was also a special one: it cemented the cupcake face mask tradition.
We then popped out for some drinks at Port Mahon and Half Moon where the I played the piano. I’m sure it was a poor attempt, but after all that wine I was on top of the world!
Btw, this is Benji. If you’re not following on instagram yet, you totally should 🙂
The next day, slightly hangover, I was awoken by my husband to my new presents that I’ve wanted for a very long time! It got a new FitBit – I need to be able to try my fitness better – I can’t thank amazing family enough! The second present from my dear husband was a big surprise – we got amazon dot – I now have Alexa next to my bed! For year Ben refused to get Alexa – because they do listen. But from my perspective, we’re not important or interesting enough to be listened to as individuals! Plus – I have nothings to hide… Anyhow, now I can play Taylor Swift without having to even move a finger. What a lucky girl I am, huh?
For Sunday lunch we went to our wedding venue – The Crazy Bear – with my in-laws. As always, beautifully cooked food, seamless service, and live jazz. In the room where we dined for the first time as a husband and wife.
And then it was Monday, and the working week started. We checked out The Oxford Factory with my team for my birthday lunch, and it was great – so much so we returned the following week with the wider team. Anyhow, the week was exhausting. Work is very busy nowadays, and for two days I was in Glasgow.
But the celebration day arrived – Saturday week later – and it was absolutely lovely, and for sure very memorable!
We started at the Cartoon Bar at the Randolph Hotel, followed up by the meal at Acanthus restaurant. We’ve enjoyed our dinner and were about to go, as it started to… rain??? Yes, someone left the bath running in the hotel room above and our table happened to be right underneath the leak!
The final stop, for the final celebrations, of course, was The Oxford Retreat. I can’t thank the staff, but most importantly my amazing husband and friends for celebrating with me getting older yet again and making it so very special.
Thank you all.
I’m writing this, so that I can come back to it at any moment when I feel sad or anxious. I’m just so lucky to be surrounded by all these amazing people.
Lots of love,
Po
Let’s not dwell on the fact that I am now on the wrong side of my twenties, that I will turn thirty before I know it… Instead, why don’t we have a look at how great my birthday celebration was, and announce a winner for the best birthday message. Continue reading “Hello, I’m 26.”
polina.rocks 