dentist

Tomorrow I have a dentist appointment. I am so nervous. I absolutely HATE going to the dentist even though it is a necessary evil. After my first trip to the doctor about my pregnancy I was informed that I needed to make an appointment, and so I have been awaiting this dreaded day since August (why does it always take so long to get an appointment!). I don't even know where this dentist's office is and I am counting on the hubby to make sure I get there on time. Urgh...the things we have to do sometimes!!

Merry Christmas!

I hope that everyone has a very Merry Christmas this year! I will be spending mine with the hubby's parents. And in parting I leave you with one of my favorite Christmas songs from one of my favorite Christmas movies!

girl

According to the midwife today baby Lilja is going to be a little girl. We're excited. Girls are hard to come by in my immediate McCaskill family. For example, I am the only female McCaskill in my immediate family not married in. So it is nice to be having a little girl. All of the grandparents are excited, and I finally posted things on facebook. Now it is just a waiting game. The expected due date is May 8th, but sometimes babies have other plans. Now if only she would sleep when I sleep. I am tired already and she isn't even here yet! :-)

lazy me

I have felt pretty lazy this weekend but tomorrow I am going to try to get out and go see the newest Harry Potter movie with the hubby. We're just basically killing time until Monday morning. Monday morning is a big day for us. I'll be in my 20th week and we're having our second ultrasound. So is baby Lilja going to be a boy or girl? The hubby thinks girl. We'll just have to wait for Monday morning to know for sure. :-)

4 years

Yesterday was mine and my husband's 4 year anniversary! I can't believe it has been 4 years already. We have both been sick recently so it was nice that we were feeling up to going out for dinner yesterday evening. The hubby also pointed out that this coming June (2011) is also an anniversary of sorts for us. It will be 10 years since we first met. I thought it was sweet that he remembered that because it had completely slipped my mind. Ah, to be 18 again...

And my dear ole' Dad had a birthday yesterday as well. So there were celebrations and phone calls all around. All in all, it was a really nice weekend but it certainly was not long enough. I think that the weekends could use as least 2 more days!

survivor

I managed to sleepwalk through an entire week this week without making a trip to the doctor. Thankfully, I am beginning to see some improvement with this cough/cold/flu/infection/crud/ whatever the doctor wants to label it. It has taken 6 weeks but we are starting to get somewhere now. I am finally starting to feel like I am going to survive this thing. And Kai is happy too. He doesn't want me to be sick and he also doesn't want me to continue getting him sick. He has cut me a lot of slack since all of this started and I am grateful, but I am glad that I can get back to a normal routine. At least until we make our move (I am so excited!)!!

On a whiter note, we have gotten TONS of snow here and it hasn't let up since it started in November. I plan to brave the cold when I am back up to par for good and take some decent pictures, but for now this is it. It is lovely outside. And I am so glad that I use public transportation. I was sort of missing driving last week, but then as I watched people digging their cars out of 3-5 feet of snow I didn't miss it so much anymore. The good, the bad, and the white stuff!

gifts

I ordered all of my US Christmas gifts for family online on Black Friday and got some pretty good deals. And now I know that they have all arrived at there next to final destinations and are going under the Christmas tree. I really hope that my family enjoys them. Sad I cannot be home for Christmas this year, but no one feels that I need to be traveling. Especially since I am currently still sick with whatever I can't take meds for that I have had for a MONTH now. I took some penicillin a couple of weeks ago for this crud and it didn't help, and now the doctor won't give me anymore. Ah, the upsides and downsides to pregnancy. To be honest I think I could deal with all of the snot if this cough would just go away. The cough is what keeps me up at night and makes everything ache. :( But cannot let this crud get in the way of my Finnish Christmas shopping. I would do all of it online but I don't understand everything, lol. My Finnish is improving but it isn't that good yet!

very thankful

Kai and I had a nice little Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday. It isn't a holiday celebrated here for obvious reasons, but Kai likes to celebrate American holidays with me (esp. ones involving awesome food)! This year we have been blessed and I have so much to be thankful for. I've had my työharjoitelu at the päiväkoti, Kai has a good job, we're getting a huge new apartment in January and we'll be adding a new addition to the McCaskill/Lilja family in May. So many new and exciting things going on. And I am always thankful for my amazing family and friends.

we have snow!

I don't think it is going to last long though. And I got soaked going to class today because it was unexpected, but it sure is pretty. I think I can wait a little while longer for the really good fluffy stuff though.

out of work...

and I hate it. I really don't want to be stuck at home and the only thing that makes it not quite as bad is the fact that I have plenty of books to read. This week I am stuck here because I fell down the stairs leading to the sauna and banged myself up pretty good. Of course there is another reason he wouldn't let me go back as well, but it is best not to mention that one. *sigh* And since the hubby and I will be moving in March so we need the money.

Stacy = Clutz

Somethings just never change!

Random

I haven't blogged in forever, so I thought why not share the fact that I really, really, really want some wontons right now. Problem is I don't know where I can find them.

I'm going to see my in-laws tomorrow when my hubby gets off work.

I work at a daycare 3 days a week and then have class 2 days.

My husband is wonderful! I haven't cooked in 3 months and he has been lovely and taken care of me. Today I will be baking some cookies though.

I really need to buy some rubber boots. Preferably some colorful Nokia ones. Yes, Nokia as in the same Finnish company that makes the cell phones. They made rubber boots first.

Winning the lottery would be nice.

We are looking to move into a new apartment in March of next year.

My dad and his girlfriend are looking into coming to Helsinki for the first time in May (2011).

I have a new pink Nokia cell phone. It has a lot of bells and whistles. I hope I don't break it. Took me 2 hours to find the language tool to change the language to English, but I did (myself).

I am really looking forward to May! :)

Mayo Clinic atrium piano, charming older couple...

These two are just adorable!

Smell Like A Monster Sesame Street Spoofs The Old Spice Guy

I Love Sesame Street! Grover is too cute in his 'Old Spice' spoof for the word on!

Raymond

I know he is a bit creepy, but I love this video! And that poor cheese looks so frightened!

where did the fall weather go?

It looks like Autumn outside with the leaves turning lovely shades of yellow, red, and burnt orange, but what is up with the weather? I am already wearing a thin jacket under my coat and it is just the end of September! I believe that in 2 weeks I will have to break out my Winter clothes. To me this is a huge disappointment because I love Fall weather, but this wind out there will cut right through you!! *sigh* I suppose I will take what I can get and be glad of it.

who wants to be sick?

We don't! There has been the flu and other manner of sicknesses going around the daycare I am at, and I was lucky enough to be one of the workers that got sick. I went to the doctor on Thursday and he gave me meds and a 'sick leave vacation'. I don't have to go back until Wednesday of this coming week. Of course I am all for sharing, and now poor Kai is sick too. And this is his last week of Summer vacation! Poor guy. I feel awful for having shared my germs with him. Let's hope this epidemic has played itself out by the time I return to work!! As it stands now we are single-handedly keeping the Kleenex people in business!

copped a feel?

As you know I am back at the päiväkoti where I had my työharjoitelu (internship) working on an extension. Yesterday I was helping a little boy (3 yrs. old) get into his outdoor clothes to play in the yard when he just reaches right into my shirt, grabs a handful and squeezes! Then he asks, "what is this? It's a fly?". As I was laughing too hard to explain to him what was what, one of the girls that work there explained that no, it was a boob. He thought about that for a minute and then announced that he has boobs. There again she had to explain to the poor dear that he didn't have boobs and of course he wanted to know why. The short and simple answer was: girls = boobs, boys = no boobs!

Stockholm

Here are just a few of the pictures that I took while in Stockholm over the weekend. The majority of them are on my Facebook page, but I thought I would post just a few of them here as well. Seems like I never post many pictures nowadays. Enjoy!

Helsinki at a distance from the harbor.

Statue behind the House of Nobility.

Lopsided picture of the King's palace.

Front of the House of Nobility.

Parliament

Behind the House of Nobility. I was really struck by this particular building.

Another side of the Parliament building. It sits next to the King's Palace.

olen kotona

Olen kotona: I am at home. Got back from Stockholm earlier today. Finished a book, took a little nap, now trying to get caught up on the computer. Have some pictures. Will post them later. Probably tomorrow. We had fun. Did shopping at H&M in Stockholm and it was the best. The ones there are so much better than the ones in the U.S. Even bought a pair of crocs on sale. Wouldn't have ever bought them but I need something to wear inside at the daycare and they seem to be the shoe of choice. Anything that is quick and readily available. I work with 2 years olds so I have to be ready at a moments notice. Bought some things on the boat to and from Stockholm. Gotta love tax-free shopping. We even enjoyed the bars and club on the boat. How so not Kai and Stacy but it was fun. No getting drunk for us though - the goal was to be not hungover so that we could be good tourists. It was so much fun. I now want to go back really bad. It was quite a cheap trip (and so nice). The entire thing cost us about what 1 ticket to the U.S. would cost and that included our cruise tickets, shopping, food, etc. Not a bad weekend at all I would say!!

ruotsi

Or in English: Sweden! That is where Kai is taking me this weekend. I can't wait to get on that boat Friday!!! I've been here for 3 years now and have been wanting to go to Stockholm from day one. Since we aren't going to be able to take the vacation that we hoped for, we are just going to visit the Swedes for the weekend! Now lets hope that I remember my camera!

read much?

Remember when I mentioned splurging on books? Well, this is a 'few' of the ones I ordered. Not all of them are in yet. And my hubby wonders why I am boring! At least I go out and enjoy them in the lovely Finnish Summer weather!

And the fact that I didn't pay tax or shipping and handling makes it that much better! 60 euros worth of books. When you buy a book in English here from the bookstore it is usually 10 euros for just 1. Play.com makes things too easy for me. That can't be good!

my boring life

The hubby pointed out that my blog is boring and that it is not updated enough, so I suppose that this week I will try to remedy this oversight on my part. Fact: I really don't go out and do a whole lot. I read a lot. If he wanted me to update you on everything I did I am sure my blog would simply be a book review. But I am going to try to do better. For his sake. Thanks, dear.

I suppose that the hubby's sister getting married in Hong Kong this past Thursday is exciting news. At least for us. Especially for him, he sorta has a "man" crush on his new bil! Congrats you crazy (older than me) kids!

splurge, splurging, splurged

I really like that word, splurge. Not the point though. A while ago the hubby and I were introduced to the website play.com by my bil. It is based out of the UK and makes buying books way too easy for me. They get delivered right to my door for free. That's right there is no shipping. Also most books I buy are something like 3.99 euros. Therefore I do not feel guilty when I purchase things from the site, although I usually do it in moderation. No more than 1 or 2 books at a time in a 2-3 week period. Until today that is. I just spent 40.94 euros on this FABULOUS website. I have money in the bank to cover my purchases, no worries there, but I feel sort of guilty for spending so much money at once. Of course my hubby spends WAY more money on Play than I do, but that is no excuse. Ha, my life sounds so difficult doesn't it!?

la, la, la

OK. So over here on my side of the pond it is 1:22 in the a.m. Why am I up at this time? The answer is simple, my hubby is working night shift for the next 4 days. And somehow I always end up on his schedule. During the Summer I don't mind so much. The rest of the year I find it intolerable! Why I am sharing this random bit of information with the internet at this particular moment in time? That is a simple answer too, I don't have anything else to do. Of course there is always sleep, but I am not tired. Urg.

last day

Can't believe that my työelämä is finally coming to a close. Tomorrow is the last day. No more 'courses' for me through the TE-toimisto. Although I do have the option to continue my internship (työharjoittelu) which I have already turned in the paperwork for. It was so much fun and since I haven't found a job myself this gives me the opportunity to keep studying the language on my own terms. And there is no better way to study than by working with my adorable kiddies. I hope it won't take too long to get a response back from my application. It's difficult to make plans when I don't know what kind of schedule I am going to have.

Yummy Yummy!

Sometimes a girl just needs to pamper herself a little, so I decided to spend 40 euros as The Body Shop on myself! I love all things strawberry - candles, lotions, body wash...you name it I love it. And indeed that is what I bought myself. Now I can walk around smelling like my fave fruit. Not to mention that it puts me in the mood for Summer. I love a good Finnish Summer...if only the rain would go away!!

Also, Happy Memorial Day weekend to all of our hardworking Service men and women who risk (and have risked) their lives to keep us safe and cozy at home!

Almost outta there!

So...today is Wednesday which means that the work week is halfway through. Big sigh of relief! I had an early day today (went in at 7:30, left at 2:30), but tomorrow is going to be a long one. Probably won't get home until about 6:30 in the evening. Why is that? Because the kiddies at the päiväkoti are having their Kevätjuhlat (spring party) which is the exact translation, but in actuality it is a program. They kiddos will be singing, dancing, and reciting poems for their parents. And yours truly will be accompanying them with Chip (my flute) for 2 of their songs. And after tomorrow it is all downhill from there. Next week is my last week with these amazing, lovely, too smart for their own good Finnish children. I am going to miss them when I leave. Of course after I am through with my työharjoittelu (internship) I will still have 10 more days left to sit in the classroom and listen to either Simo or Aulikki talk. I hope we don't have any of the other teachers as I cannot understand them when they speak. Also, Simo will be coming to speak with my and Jaana (my pomo - boss) on Monday to check on my progress. Of course only good things will be said according to the woman in charge. She seems to like having me there as much as I enjoy being there. I do feel like I have gained a lot from this experience. I am speaking more. There is no way around it since only 2 of the children (they have at least 1 English speaking parent) can understand my English. But that was the whole point of this exercise wasn't it? To improve my Finnish speaking skills. I am really looking forward to tomorrow being over with (I won't get off until at least 5:30), but I am hoping that next week doesn't fly by too quickly. Cause then I really will be outta there!!!

...

Looking forward to actually making a decent post. Hopefully I will get around to it sometime this week.

I'm so lazy!

I've been slack the past 2 weeks because I have simply been too tired to blog. Working with the kiddos is energy draining work, and the I have the hubby to take care of when I come home!! I just haven't been able to collect my thoughts, but this weekend I will post and update. Or if I'm feeling froggy I might even post 2!

All 50 States

I named 50 US states in 10 minutes

I actually managed to do this in 6 minutes. Not that 6 minutes is something to brag about, but its been awhile since I've even thought about all 50 states. Not to mention some of them are just spelled strangely. Anyway, it was fun and something to pass the time. It's easy cheesy if you remember the "50 Nifty United States" song that is taught to most elementary/middle school children! At least it was when I was coming up through school! Why don't you try your luck!!

1 week down!

I have successfully finished the first week of my työharjoittelu (internship). It was exhausting but I have fallen in love with all 9 of the kiddies that I am working with. They are too cute. And somehow they understand me when I speak. Of course I speak on their level, but I still think I deserve brownie pts. for being understandable to children!! I definitely need to take pictures of these little munchkins and post them. I'm taking my flute, as per request, to the päiväkoti on Monday to play for them during their music time. I think it is going to be really fun. They LOVE music and dance anytime someone sings, hums, whistles, or plays a cd. They really are awesome and I get to spend 5 more weeks with them.

Työharjoittelu

Tomorrow I begin my työharjoittelu (internship) at Päiväkoti Virkkula (Daycare/Playschool Virkkula). I will be with eight children, the youngest being 1.5 years and the oldest being 3.5 years. This is somehow supposed to help me speak the language better and give me experience working here in Finland. I REALLY hope that things go well. The guy that I will be working with speaks some English, and he says that he understands everything I say but doesn't speak very well. Of course that is more than I can say for myself, not only do I speak poorly, I also do not understand everything that I hear. I'm sure I will learn something valuable from this experience and I am halfway looking forward to it. I'm sure I will be posting plenty of updates since this is what I will be doing until June 4th!! That's right, six whole weeks of being immersed in children's Finnish! Good luck me!

Watch out for that bird!!

I have to walk about half a mile to my class every morning. I walk through a park that is between the baltic and some apartments. This morning I was making my trek to class when some birds flew out of a bush, and one of them flew right into my chest. I was more than a little surprised and it took me a minute to get over the shock of what had happened. I mean it's not everyday that a bird flies right into a person. The little bird (it looked a bit like a sparrow) did not get hurt. It fell to the ground, stood there for a minute (probably trying to get over its shock), then hopped off back to the bush. So from now on I am going to be on the lookout for rogue birds!

Confessions

One of the blogs that I read pretty often, Confessions of a Pioneer Woman, is absolutely, positively fabulous. If you haven't checked it out then you must head there right now and not leave until you've read every inch of this site! OK...maybe that is pushing things a bit, but you should definitely check it out. The Blogger is a woman by the name of Ree Drummond who went from being a city girl to a complete country gal. She wrote about her MAJOR life changes on her blog and entitled it Black Heels to Tractor Wheels (must read!), which is (eventually going to be published) now going to be made into a movie. Saying that I am excited about this would be the understatement of the day, and I am keeping my fingers crossed that Reese Witherspoon will indeed want to be tied to this project. Of course it won't be out for quite a while, but I was just too excited not to share the news. Which now that I think about it I hope that I am allowed to share. She has it on her blog of course, but then again it is all about her isn't it. I am just an overly excited fan!! Go check out her site and experience the fabulousness that is Ree!!

Oh yeah, buy her cookbook too! It is on my 'I'll get around to it real soon' list!! There is only so much stress I can put my husband's credit card under! :-)

Wear Your Green!

Happy St. Patrick's Day World!

Finnish Blueberry Pie

Or as they call it in Finnish (Suomi): Mustikkapiirakkaa.

Yep. I know it is a big word with a lot of double letters and they pronounce every single one of them. It is true!! Anyway, a month ago we visited with the hubby's parents and his little sister made a blueberry pie for us. It was REALLY simple, and REALLY good! So I asked for the recipe and it is the easiest pie I have ever made. So I thought I would share the recipe. I haven't converted the measurements from the metric system, but it isn't hard to do.

Finnish Blueberry Pie:

1. 150g butter
1 1/2 dl sugar

Mix them together.

2. Add one egg and mix.

3. Add:
3 dl Flour (1 dl = 100 ml)
1 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. cardamom (kardemumma)
1 tsp. vanilla extract (or vanilla sugar)

Mix all of these ingredients together and put into a pie pan. Spread evenly around.

Add 300 grams of blueberries (fresh or frozen) to the center of the pie. Bake pie for 30 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius (around 392 degrees F.).

It is simple to make and so yummy. Enjoy!

Post It Note Tuesday: True Story

This is my first attempt at Post It Note Tuesday. Hopefully I will get better!!

Cheers!

Estee Lauder Love

During the Christmas holiday while I was at home in NC I went on a little shopping spree. A lovely friend of mine took me out and gifted me with some new Estee Lauder goodies. I have to tell you that I am absolutely sold on the products and don't think I will be switching up anytime soon. Of course they are a bit pricey, but well worth it.


Not that I have wrinkles (yet), but there is nothing wrong with going on the offensive. The Advanced repair PM eye cream is quite nice as well.


The DayWear Plus cream is absolutely lovely. You use it along with the repair serum after you've cleaned you face. It leaves you feeling silky smooth and the light/clean scent that it has makes you feel fresh.

The Advanced Night Repair serum also leaves you feeling smooth and soft as well. Combined with the cream you will feel like you have a brand new face.


Love my Perfectly Clean Cleanser and Toner. It leaves me feeling completely clean and doesn't leave a trace of makeup or residue behind. It's fabulous!

I'm not really a review person, unless it is something musical, so I am not a great wordsmith but I thought I would share these lovelies with you. I use them daily and recommend them if you have the moolah to buy them.

Cheers!

New Do and a Pesky Webcam

My new toy came with a handy dandy webcam. As you can see from the pictures below I am not very adept at using it. I went and had my hair chopped off today and decided to use the webcam to take pictures of it. I never seem to remember to take before pictures, but here are the afters. The before was my hair about an inch and a half below my shoulders. I must also add that my hair looked a lot better after she did it, but I had to wear a hat when I went to the store and back home again, so it doesn't have as much body and bounce as it did when I left the salon.



Here I am not even remotely looking at the camera. I am sure I didn't think that it was in the opposite direction, but there ya go. And I seem to be at an angle. Take #1.


Here I am looking at the camera but my eyes look off. I take horrible pictures. Something in them always looks fake. It is either the smile, the eyes or both.



And this was the last attempt at trying to take a good picture. At least I don't have one shoulder hiked up above the other. Something still feels a bit off to me though...

Anyway, that is the new hair, or what was left of it when I finally made it home almost 2 hours later!! :-)

The Newbie

This is my new baby. Second in my heart only to my flute.

New Toy!

Kai bought me a mini-laptop for Valentine's Day and I love it! I will have to post pics later since I now have camera batteries! :-) Apparently, having this new toy will allow Kai to play his games more on the desktop. Oh and he also can watch his shows whenever I just want to play online. Not that I am complaining, the little bugger really has been coming in handy. He REALLY likes playing his games!! Somehow I think this was just as much a gift for him as it was for me!!

Stacy vs. Patch of Ice

Needless to say the ice won the battle and I have been sore for 2 days now!! You don't mess with Mother Nature! Nope. Not one little bit. I have the bruises to prove it, however I will not be posting them as they are not in appropriate places. To top things off, Kai was with me because we were going to the movies to see Sherlock Holmes (which you must see if you haven't already) and he didn't even notice that I fell. He decided to turn around when he realized I'd gone quiet. To give him credit he did laugh, help me up, and brush me off. In that order! On a related note, we will not be getting more snow until next week. Ah...Finland!

Snow...

and plenty of it!








Sorry kids! You need to wait a few months before you can play on the toys again.

It has been a harsh week thus far. Next week can't come soon enough...

Batteries? Are you there?

I really would like to upload the pictures I took while I was at home this Christmas, and some that are on my other memory card. I really would. I just can't find my brand new pack of AA batteries!! I still have a couple of places left to look for them, and I really don't want to have to buy a new pack but this is ridiculous! My apartment is not that big! Oh well, I promise that there will be pictures up here eventually!!

Today of all days...

I tell ya, I just feel like crud today! I haven't been feeling it since I rolled out of my nice, soft, warm bed. The reason why this is such disheartening news? I start my Finnish 2 class this evening at 6:15 and I just don't like to venture out into the snowy wilderness in the dark when I feel poorly. It isn't nerves because I am excited about my class. I have the same teacher and I like her a lot. So maybe I will just bundle up all nice and cozy and make my way there later on today.

On a more annoying note, I cannot find my AA batteries. I just realized that the ones in my camera are dead, and I can't upload any pictures until I find the pesky little buggers! I just bought them so they must be around here somewhere!!!

Lol, and today isn't all bad though. I am alive!!

Sauna

I know it is not a big deal for anyone else, but I have really missed having my sauna every Friday. Well today is my first sauna day back and I am excited! I can't wait to feel thoroughly clean!

Christmas

I thoroughly enjoyed being back at home for Christmas this year. It was nice to be surrounded by family and friends. I was even home for the birth of my best friends second child. His birthday is the same as my Grandma's!! Something tells me I won't be forgetting that one. I even had the chance to spend some time with Chloe, Joe, and Emma. I was so afraid I was going to miss them while they were down in NC. I'm glad things worked out so that we were able to meet up.

I even had a few posts written out over the holidays, but to my dismay the computers I was using would not let me get onto blogger, and then they finally crashed! Both of them!!! I know that Dad really wants his laptop back up and running.

While I was away the scores from my Finnish final exam came in the mail. Can you believe I had to actually TELL my husband to open it and read it to me? I did really well and passed the course. I received top marks and an excellent. I am now enrolled in the second course and will begin class on Monday! I hope I can do as well this time around.

Hm...more updates to come soon. Pictures as well. I think I might go back to bed for a bit. Not quite back on Finnish time quite yet!! Urg...

Cheers!