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Lifestyle, My Work

Where is the love?!

June 13, 2016

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I’m a person who barely ever watches TV. If I do watch TV then it’s usually Netflix. I never buy newspapers and I usually never read any even if I happen to see some newspapers at the cashier or at a favourite cafe.

I guess that thanks to FaceBook and my active friends, I do stay quite informed about what is going on in the world, but I take everything I read with a grain of salt and a “distant viewer” approach, meaning that I don’t take everything I read to be true, important or as dramatic as media tries to portray it to be.

Media is a powerful tool, I would say that they have the power to ruin and build the world. That is one of the reasons why I filter every news I come across and don’t allow big amounts of unnecessary information bother me. I like to live in “my own world” the one where I’m aware of what is going on around me and I do fulfil my “duties” but I also prefer to stay in that part of my own world which is ruled by love, goodness, inspiration, creativity and music. I live by the rules of heart and commands of the soul and I don’t know for better… No matter how many times I get “screwed” over for giving too much, loving too much and feeling everything so deeply… I end up hurt and upset quite many times, but I can’t live differently… I can’t “harden” my heart, be more thougher, distance myself from who I am by birth.

Ever since I was a little child, I have been led by my holy trinity of three : love, sea and music. If I had those three surrounding me, I was happy. To love and be loved in return is my motto and the biggest blessing and curse in my life. I always love too much, but so often stumble upon “closed” and hard hearts… In the past couple of years I’ve dealt with those kind of hearts too often and it all made me ask myself: “Where is the love?!” Even by filtering all of the media and information that reaches me, I can not understand all of the shootings and bombings going on all over the world. When was the spilling of blood an answer to anything? Who gives the right to a human to lift his/ her hand over the destiny of another person(s)?

Dear people… Hate, envy and darkness aren’t the roads to be followed… We all have the goodness, love and light inside of us, so the more you nurture them, the more they will prevail the dark side of us, which we all have. We are all made of yin and yang, it’s up to us which side we will choose to be. We can’t and won’t be another Mother Theresa and we don’t need to, that’s not what this article is all about, but I can not but not to realise that people have never been more as distant from each other and the source of goodness and love as they are in 2016. Situation needs to change immediately or we’ll be as good as robots and look more of a Arnold Schwarzenegger from the Terminator movie than a beautiful, sensitive and loving human race that we are supposed to be.

Peace, love and understanding… It’s not so hard to remember, acquire and spread these three words/ actions/ feelings. Let’s start today!

My heart goes out to all those affected in Beirut bombing and Florida shooting.

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Lifestyle, Outfits

Sometimes…

June 6, 2016

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Do you have those days in your life when you think that you’ve “cracked” the code? When you think that you totally got this thing called “life” and what it’s all about. I mean, there has never been more self-help books or inspirational speakers than there are nowadays, all of them teaching you something about life. Their “how to” books on what to do so that you would be happy or what to do so that you would succeed, how to this or how to that… I mean, we can’t be that lost?

You must have experienced those days when you think that everything is just falling perfectly in place, you have a clear vision about everything and you’re in a peace with everybody around you? If the answer is yes, well, congrats, at times, I have those days too… At times I have those kind of days when I’m somewhere in between, in a way as things aren’t maybe happening as fast as I have expected, but they’re still “moving”. Or in a way where I think that you know that person ain’t that correct in how they speak or act, but it ain’t anything real bad to not give them another chance… Or in a way where I have tried to solve this one problem for quite a while now, but hey, there are worser things in life I could be dealing with now.

Then there are those days like the ones that I’m going through right now… When your head hurts from thinking too much, from questioning too much… Those days when you think that everything you thought you knew or understood about life and people was completely wrong. Those days when you think that you could have done so many things differently and even though I don’t like to dwell in the past, sometimes it’s so hard to get rid of the past, because your past actions and choices are affecting the “today” that you’re living in right now.

Yep, not the most uplifting post, but one that I wanted to write down and start a conversation with you my readers… What do you do on those days when they look like a big, blurry mess…? When all of the lines are so intertwined that you have no idea how to separate what’s the “head thinking” and what are the “whisperings of the heart” and how to put these two back in sync with each other?

I’m all about positivity, inspiring people however and whenever I can, but I must say that I’m really tired of all of the “How to” books because what if there is no secret formula for having your thoughts, feelings and life in perfect order? What if it’s absolutely normal to feel and find yourself in a situation where you question if anything ever made sense in your life and it’s absolutely normal to find yourself in a situation in which you tap yourself on the shoulder and feel as if you’re the king of the world.

What if it’s good to every now and then have those days where you’re questioning everything? Aren’t those possibly the moments when you’re “growing”, when you’re indirectly admitting to yourself that you might have been smarter about some things/ choices, that not everybody will be as great as you’ve imagined them to be? Maybe it’s actually necessary to have those days when you’re completely lost? Isn’t that those are the moments when you’re about to see a brighter light on the new path that’s just uncovering in front of you?!

I have survived before those “How to” books, so I think that I’ll be fine now too… My blurry situation and unanswered questions might be in a completely different shape in a week from now and life will again look different and more “understandable” than it is right now. I also believe that we will never really “crack” the code of what life is or how it should be. Living it as honestly, simple and as kind as possible is all that matters…

Bag by Borsha, get a similar bag -> BORSA by Mala Radnja Dizajna

 

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Lifestyle, My Work, Outfits

No fear

May 30, 2016

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Lately, I’ve encountered some situations and people which made me often think about one specific subject: “fear”! I wonder, when did we stop being these fearless kids who would do all sorts of “crazy” things and not fear the outcome of our adventures? I’m not talking here about the vandalism or doing bad things, but you know, about doing that “one extra” push or step just to test the water and how cold it really is.

When did we all became slaves of our own brain and have started to overthink everything!? When did we started to ask so many questions and building up a feeling of fear because we can’t find the answers to all of them?

One quote always rings in my head: “What would you do and how far would you go if you wouldn’t be afraid?” That is so true and very thought provoking at the same time. Just think for a sec… How much we would all do and how far we would all get if this, anxious feel of fear wouldn’t stop us? If we wouldn’t be afraid of taking a risk in anything, from our relationships and jobs to other segments in our lives… How much more wider our horizons, experiences and better everyday life would be?

You do know, my dear readers that “fear”, such thing simply does not exist. We are the ones who bring it into our lives and we’re the ones who are such pros in making the fear stay present in our day-to-day lives. Being aware or responsible aren’t the same thing as being afraid of something. In reality, fear just disables us from thinking clear and makes us only make more bad choices faster. Fear disables us from fully ever accomplishing anything at our best or reaching those dreams and goals which we’re longing for so much…

Fear is an illusion, but I don’t know if it’s ever possible to fully let go of this illusion and live fearlessly. I believe that we can at least try our best to control it and always take a moment to breathe or take a step back before we act on anything out of fear.

So, message of this post is – NO FEAR dear people! No fear that you’ll do wrong, choose wrong, etc… Every choice which you make, every step that you take, fear not that you’re going in the right direction and walking the path you’ve been supposed to take since the day you were born.

P.S. Special thank you to my brother for taking these awesome outfit photos! 🙂

I’m wearing: Espadrilles – Chanel, Bag & bracelet – Balenciaga, Shorts, top, jacket, headband and earrings – Zara

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Lifestyle, My Work, Outfits

Do you bleed?

May 23, 2016

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There’s a thought that’s been on my mind a lot lately… Sometimes, it’s been so present in my daily life that I’ve been loosing sleep over it. Maybe because I’m a too sensitive soul, maybe because I’m a mom that wants the best future and society possible for my daughter… Maybe it’s just because I bleed?! I bleed like everybody else does… Some people hide their sorrows better, some aren’t as skilful, but we all do, indeed bleed. What I’m talking about is – judging! Why do we judge each other so easily? We are not know it alls and we’re not more special than the person we’re “looking wrong” at.

We’re beautiful, unique creatures, all sent to this earth with our unique personality which was sent down here to make a difference… Even the smallest difference is a significant one and the one that was supposed to be done. Maybe we were sent here to influence by talking or maybe by singing… Maybe we were supposed to “touch” other people’s hearts by our beautiful paintings… Maybe we were sent down here to be somebody’s mom, a life teacher, maybe a daughter which will hold our hand through though moments in life, maybe we were supposed to write so beautifully that we would inspire others by that. We were all sent down to this earth with a special purpose and a good, positive, kind one that is.

Something that we might not all be aware of is that as much as we are unique, everybody else is too. As much as we’r vulnerable, others are too… No matter what it may seem on the outside, we all need the support from each other, understanding, love.

Way too many times I’ve seen people pointing fingers at each other, starting or continuing constant fights over such meaningless things… So many times bad and ugly things overshadow the beautiful moments we could be living. Only if we would see more clearly, only if we would try bit harder to be there for each other, if we would try to be more acceptive and understanding of each other, this world would be a much better and more promising place to raise our children in.

We both have good and bad sides inside of us… We are the devil that we feed. What you give out is what you build yourself of. The bad thoughts about yourself or others will always prevent you from completely finding beauty, goodness and magic of life… But remember, once you’ll bleed, you’ll want that saving, comforting hand and there won’t be a single one if you’ve lacked to give one when it was needed.

If we would just open up our eyes more often and instead of staring into our phones, tv and laptop screen and instead of living on the “auto-mode”, maybe we would see how much we and everybody around us needs a change, help and a promise of a better future.

I’m wearing: Dress – Zara, Sandals – Isabel Marant, Bag – Gucci, Sunglasses – Chanel, Ring – Deni design, Bracelet – Givenchy

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Lifestyle, My Work, Outfits

Needing less, getting more

May 16, 2016

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As you might remember from my previous posts, I’ve been mentioning that I would be attending my friend’s wedding and it happened two days ago in a little town on the South of Croatia. Little town in which I grew up, went to school in and have so much that still connects me to it. Some of the memories will never die and I will always in a way or another have special place for this town in my heart.

I was happy to bring along my daughter with me to the wedding ceremony to witness one of the most beautiful moments and highlights of any relationship. I know that real love doesn’t need any papers, stamps or “files” but when there is a wedding happening already, it’s such a sweet and magical moment which makes everybody equally happy and excited to see the smiles and proudness on the faces of the bride and groom.

Seeing my friend and her now husband getting married, having that magical love aura surrounding them and being just so truly happy in that moment, right there and then surrounded by the closest people made me realise how little we need to be truly happy and how often we think that we need this or that in order to be someday completely happy. I have already touched base on this same subject before and it’s more clear to me now than ever before that…

There’s no such thing as complete happiness and there are no formulas on how to get happiness come to or be part of your daily life. We all hurt and cry, we all laugh and love, it’s just up to our inner selves how much we’ll let the real happiness be part of our daily lives. Seeing my daughter being excited and happy about the smallest things such as Kinder Surprise and which toy she’ll get in it made me think more and realise that happiness truly does lie in the smallest things and it’s never about the big things, let alone materialistic ones. I have been “guilty” of thinking that having more will give you more happiness, stability, closure… Whatever! That’s bullocks my dear readers. Core of real happiness is inside of us and it’s not up to anybody else OR hoarding on things to make us happy… It’s up to us to let ourselves BE happy and appreciate the smallest, daily life miracles. It is a miracle and a pure happiness to open your eyes every day and know that you are alive, that you breathe, that you have a possibility to do a good deed, that you have a chance to put a smile on another person’s face, that you have the choice to surprise a friend with a flower bouquet… That you have an option to be happy and spread happiness anywhere you go. It’s not in the big things, it’s not in materialistic things… It’s in that kid’s honest smile, it’s in that perfect ice cream ball in a cone, it’s in the sun that is shining today…

Thank you for reading and commenting my dears, you are among other “small things” what makes me so happy day in-day out. 🙂

I’m wearing: Shoes – Marc by Marc Jacobs, Jeans – Tiger of Sweden, Shirt – Pepe Jeans, Bag – Chloe, Bracelet – HOH1960, Long blazer – Uusi Kuu, Trench – , Sunnies – Dita, Earrings – Chanel

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Lifestyle, Outfits

One heart in two bodies

May 9, 2016

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That’s how I feel like about my daughter… We are one heart in two bodies. Ever since she was born, my world has completely changed and has never been the same. Each day, esp. since she has grown up a bit and is away at kindergarten or at a playdate, I feel that half of my heart is “gone” with her. Whenever she’s hurt or sad, I feel it double as she does… If she’s happy and smiling, I’m double as happy as she is.

I feel like this world is the most beautiful place ever each time I see her sunlike wide smile and diamond spark in her eyes shine the beauty and pureness of her soul from the inside. Becoming a mom, I didn’t take it as something that makes me somewhat better, smarter or more important than any other woman around, but being a mom def. has thought me so much about life, feelings, worries, etc. more than any other “role” in this life could. Children are our biggest teachers and they always speak the truth, no matter if we like to hear it or not. As much as I like to hear my daughter tell me how she thinks that I’m the best mom ever and that she hopes to become like me someday, I also don’t like to hear when she complains at times that I work so much and we haven’t managed to play a board game we were supposed to play 2 days ago. If anybody can quickly shake me up and make me rethink my daily life, habits, choices and “forces me” to get my time management and scheduling in order, then it’s her.

She also thought me, or should I say has reminded me to see the world through child’s eyes more often… Something that I can pass by many times on daily basis and not see it’s beauty, she will spot it immediately and see so much in perhaps, so little… Taking a moment to really “look up” and around yourself just the way that she does, made me remember what’s the core of life… To see beauty everywhere, to be happy about everything and anything. As long as we’re breathing, as long as we’re jumping in the muddy puddles, as long as we’re enjoying the sun that’s shining while laying in the park on the freshly grown green grass, as long as we stuff our faces in ice cream cones and laugh together, as long as we hold onto those precious little moments that make life so special, we’ll forget about any worries we might’ve had.

Life can be so simple, so real and so good, only if we change the way we see things and how we act or react to what happens to us on daily basis.

They say that a woman has always been a woman and she will forever be a woman, but mother, mother has been born when the child is born… The moment that birth cord has been cut, one heart has been split in two newborn bodies, one body of a child and another one of a mother. None of them existed up until that moment. That is so true! I have and always will be a woman, the one that loves unconditionally, the one that is silly, the one that is vulnerable and strong at the same time… The one that is bit crazy and different but has pure heart and a soul that hold so much inside… The one that wants to inspire and help, the one that wants to go out with her friends and have fun… But I’m also a mother… Something I never thought I’d be, something I have never been even imagining what it feels or looks like to be a mother. I’m a mother that I hope my daughter will be proud of someday and will look up to me when she decides to give birth to two bodies of one heart…

Happy Mother’s Day to me and to every single beautiful mom that I know in real or this “virtual” world!

Have a good Monday everybody!

I’m wearing: Sneakers – New Balance, Jeans – Tiger of Sweden, Sweater – Max Mara, Kimono – Asos, Bag & bracelet – Balenciaga, Sunglasses – Chloe

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Lifestyle, Outfits

Starting fresh

May 2, 2016

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Happy month of May everybody!! How was your weekend? Did you had a nice May Day celebrations? I had a chill weekend which consisted of long walks, “sucking up” all of the sunshine ( weather was incredible ) and having an ice cream by the beach. I went to Sea Life as well since I love the sea world and it’s creatures. 🙂 Sea Life always makes me calm…

I love the idea and feeling of new, fresh beginnings and every time, when the 1st of month comes around, I feel that I have a chance to press that invisible “restart” button, sort out my thoughts, have a conversation with my inner being and get a clearer picture of the path I’ll be taking on that month(s).

I feel that the time which we’re given in this life is a gift and a curse at the same time. It’s a gift, because if we use our time right, we can do so much, we can make a big difference in the world eventually and we can def. someday die knowing that we’ve done it and seen it all… But if we don’t use the time that we’ve been given to the max, we’ll always feel somehow “lost”, uncomplished and as if the time just slipped out of our hands. E’ll wake up someday when we’re suddenly 10 years older and will have no idea where did the time in between pass by.

Writing down 5 things I’m thankful for and 5 things that I want to accomplish/ do each month does help me see and feel that I’m using my “fresh start” correctly or they give me perspective on what I could and want to do more of in the next month.

Couple of years ago I had the attitude of “there’s still time” and a lot of days were taken for granted because of that. I only now see that the time we’ve been given is so precious, uncontrollable and it might end tomorrow, so hitting the refresh or restart button every 1st of the month has proven to be a very good thing for me.. It also made me much more humble in sense that I’ve learned to find the beauty everywhere around me, in the smallest of the things. Hitting the restart button made me see that when you do a lot of little, but significant things each month, you’ll end up having a year that will equal the value of 5 years of being “lost in translation”.

Go, hit that restart button today and make this month of May the best one so far. 🙂

I’m wearing: Ballerinas – Chanel, Bag – Gucci, Scarf & trench – Burberry, Sunglasses – Celine, Dress & ring – Free People, Bracelet – Kate Spade, Longline blazer – L.A.M.B

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Lifestyle, My Work, Travel

5 for Friday

April 29, 2016

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Good morning world and hello FriYAY!! I’m back with my 5 for Friday post where I’m sharing my favourite 5 Instagram photos from the past week. If you wish to follow my daily adventures on Instagram, please do check out my profile HERE!!

One more working week is almost behind us and “the” mark of 1st of May is coming this Sunday! I just can’t wrap up my head around the thought that 5th month of this year is kicking off… Time flies and there’s still so much that I want to do and complete in this year. I better start driving bit faster and take my foot off the break for a little. 😀

What are your plans for the month of May? I’m taking off to Croatia soon and I can’t wait for that. I will do my best to bring /create some awesome content to share with you. It’s such a gorgeous country, esp. in the end of Spring and whole Summer, there’ s just no better place to be at. 🙂 Also, as I’ve mentioned already, my childhood friend is getting married so I’ll be happy to get all dolled up and celebrate with her!! It’s been about time to go out “properly”. 😀

After a week of rain and clouds, it’s finally sunny in Helsinki and I’m about to hit the gym and after that, I’m off to two meetings, but in between, I’ll make sure to inhale some of that natural D vitamin in some of adorable cafe terasses in the city center.

Have a great weekend everybody!

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Lifestyle, My Work, Outfits

Not fitting in

April 25, 2016

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I came to a conclusion that for the past 28 years, I’ve been trying too hard to “fit in”! I’ve been doing everything “the right” way, just that it was never really the right way for me… So in reality, I was working against myself. This whole time… For almost three decades I’ve been trying to “box” myself and be something that has never been “me”!

I always had this tiny little voice, my own inner voice telling me what it wants and how I should do things, react, act… But I have rarely listened to it. Most of the time I’ve been either ignoring it or make it quiet. Guess what? Did I fit in, after all of my hard efforts to do so? Nope! Was I happy while trying to fit in and always missing out in doing so? Nope! Was the final outcome what I wanted it to be? Nope!

The answer was always no and the only time when I did feel good and alive was when very rarely I did listen to that little voice inside of me and did things “my way” or have been myself. The people I was surrounded with would then point it out as me being “weird” or not doing things the right way. They would get upset for that one moment seeing a different person than the one that they’ve been used to having around, would get confused and of course I would take it as something really bad and personal… I would think that : “There you go when you try to NOT fit in and when you don’t alter yourself to other people’s wishes and expectations.” Then I would just go back into trying to fit into all sorts of boxes that weren’t mine… Filling the boots that weren’t mine to walk in.

Do you know when I did become happier, more fulfilled and inspired? Only a few months ago, when reached that final, rock bottom of realisation when I truly didn’t know who I was. For a moment I stood in front of the mirror and I simply didn’t know whom I was looking at? Who was this woman that was staring back at me? What are her dreams? What are her wishes? What are her thoughts?

I was always afraid to voice my real opinion, my real dreams and wishes because I already “knew” that because they’re not the most common or usual ones, people won’t approve of me and I won’t be able to fit in. If I’m not fitting in, I won’t be socially accepted and it’s better to alter myself and do fit in… WRONG!

I could have saved myself so much time, so many problems and wrongly traveled roads if I would have let myself just to BE who I am, who I was supposed to be all of this time.

Now… Now I’m unapologetically myself, every single day and I’m blooming of happiness and proudness for being who I am, for not being ashamed of anything that makes me – ME and for living the life the only way I ever want to live it – saying what I really feel, think, see… Not something that people expect me to say or think. Now… Now there are finally people in my life that accept me and love me for who I really am, there’re no wrong or right things to do or say in front of them. There is just me, in all of the beauty of my true character and guess what? I have never accepted or loved myself more than I do now, because now, for the first time ever I am finally at peace with myself. I’m free!

This is something that I can wholeheartedly suggest to all of my readers. We were all born to walk this Earth in our own way in our unique pair of boots, so don’t try to trade your road and boots trying to fit in and walk the ones that were never meant for you… Walk your road in your own boots with your head up high, confident and trusting that even the roads less traveled are the ones worth travelling, esp. if they’re your own ones… They’re worth that extra effort for choosing to be true to YOURSELF!

Much love to all of you! Take care sweet people!

I’m wearing: Shoes,bracelet and vest – Asos, Bag – Celine, Jeans – Tiger of Sweden, Blouse – Mango, Earrings – House of Harlow 1960

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Lifestyle, My Work, Outfits

No elevator

April 18, 2016

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Ok, ok, I do live in an old building, but it does have an elevator. Nice, old one… With an iron door and a wooden bench, charming one. I never ride that elevator. I live on the 6th floor and I always walk the stairs up, every single day, couple of times a day.

I’m not afraid of elevators ( even though I did get stuck 2-3 times in one of them throughout past 28 years ) but I rather walk the stairs up than take an elevator ride… There’s so much that “happens” on my walk up… Life got a whole another perspective. Now I know that there’s no an elevator to success… There are no shortcuts to “making it” in job, relationships… in life.

The best of times happen on your walk up the stairs. This walk… It might take longer than an elevator ride, it might make your butt cheeks hurt, you might even stop for a moment on your way up to catch a breath, reassess and then keep on walking the mountain of stairs again. True beauty and a key to success in anything lies exactly there, on the wavy and demanding way up. The journey which you decide to walk on every single day and everything that you learn from taking the longer, harder way up ( towards your goal ) is what will make you appreciate ( and cease ) your goal. Once you do reach it, it will give you the feeling and a unique life story that no single elevator ride ever could!

It will teach you survival, it will show you how to fight for your goal, it’ll give you tools and guidance in how to reach it too… Once you do, you’ll then see how the road to that goal has transformed you and opened some new horizons for you, so the road to another goal, dream… success keeps on shaping in the distance and you know that you must keep on moving forward. As long as you do keep on moving forward in life, it means that you’re alive and kicking’. As soon as you stop moving, you’ve signed your death bed papers.

I always say that no matter how much I have done ( and this doesn’t mean that I don’t appreciate every single achievement ) I’m only as good as I was yesterday. I’m only as good of a mom as I was up until yesterday, I’m only as good of a photographer as my latest photo, I’m only as good of an influencer as my latest post. Get the picture? Always keep on moving, carving your own path and listen to your own gut on the way… On the way up to your success, with NO elevator ride there.

Have a wonderful Monday my friends! Much love to every single one of you and THANK you for every comment that you leave me here, I read all of them and try my best to answer all of them too. 🙂

I’m wearing: Boots – Chanel, Bag – Borsha, Jeans – Tiger of Sweden, Sweater – Max Mara, Coat – , Ring – Free People, Scarf & necklace – Zara, Coat – Helene Berman

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