"uh, I think our building is on fire"

Well, first off, thank you to everyone for their sweet messages yesterday!  It makes me feel a little less crazy in this world knowing that I'm not the only one that has times like this (wait, does that make me... normal?!)  My time at the spa was a-maz-ing, it really helped me relax and get rid of the extra tension and stress in my body.  A couple of glasses of wine and some time spent with girlfriends later and I'm feeling much better!  All I needed to top it off was a good nights sleep, which looked to be promising.

That is, until 1:30 a.m....

When we were woken up by Maddie who would not quit barking.  I was half asleep, but J eventually got up because she wouldn't stop. He said he smelled something right away, and we could see the flashing lights through the blinds. He sleepishly stumbled over and opened the blinds to look out, and his reaction? "uhhh, babe, I think our building is on fire.  Theres like 5 fire trucks, police cars and ambulances outside and all the firemen are looking up at our building." WTF?!



the lovely circus outside of our building


So, I jump out of bed... He was going to go check it out and turned on the light. I could immediately see all the smoke in the air (of OUR apartment!) and then I was really freaking out.  WHY aren't the firemen getting us out?  WHY hasn't anyone come knock on our door?  WHY is there no fire alarm going off?  ARE we going to have to go to a hotel?  WHAT is going to happen to all our stuff?!  WHY are they just standing there looking up at us, freakin pull your ladder out come rescue us already!  WTF!  As I'm having my mini freak-out, J peeks out to the hallway... and one of the neighbors was doing the same. "I think the building is on fire, better get outside" was their conclusion (gee, ya think?... men!) so I'm grabbing wallet, keys, passports, MADDIE, I even stuffed some stuff in a bag cause if we couldn't get back in that night there was no chance in hell I was walking around anywhere in my pink penguin jammies and no makeup today.  (A lovely habit I've always possesed, like when I was little and I would quickly pack up all of my most important belongings [dolls and hockey trophys] and bring them to the basement in a tornado warning)
We bundled up and headed down the stairs.  We saw a fireman on the way and tried to ask him what was going on and if we needed to go outside. Guy didn't speak English. Figures. You'd think a firefighter in a big city would at least understand the word "OUT!?"

So... we leave, find out that there was a fire in one of the apartments on the first floor (in the door and to the left, thank goodness we're up one floor and to the right or we probably would have gotten a lot more smoke in our place!) The fire was out but we had to wait for the smoke to clear out. (now is when I was feeling like an idiot for carrying around my bag of goodies.... ha!)

We finally got to go back in, most of the smoke was gone but it still SMELLS, even this morning. I was convinced I was going to suffer from smoke inhalation (dramatic? haha) and thought we needed to go to the nearest hotel.  All J wanted to do at that point was go back to bed, he had practice in 7 hours.

So now I'm sitting here with our windows open (it's -16 out, yipee) and the stove fan on, hoping to clear the rest of the nasty smell out :(   I looked the story up online to read about it since there were several reporters out last night.  They think the cause was electrical, still invesigating.  The people obviously got out but they had 2 cats that both died.  I'm no cat lover, but that alone could make me cry.  I'm the one that cries freaking bawls every time that Sara Evans ASPCA commercial comes on. RIP, kitties :(

Freaks me out a little that there are clearly no fire alarms in the building.  Is that even legal?  Surely wouldn't be in the U.S.!  Good thing we have such a good guard dog with her keen ears and nose!!  Extra treats for her today.

Maybe I can make another attempt at a good nights sleep tonight...

that's it.

...I'm going to the spa.  I need some severe de-stressing and relaxation.  I've been in a terrible funk for over a week now and can't seem to shake it. 

I was hesitant to make any sort of blog posts about my little self-pity party, in fear that friends, family, and anyone else reading would think that I had gone off the deep end and put me in a psych ward.  But if it's any consolation, over the past couple weeks, I have found that I'm not alone.  Fellow hockey wife bloggers KY , Hockey Wife and Life of a Hockey Widow have recently blogged about similar feelings.  KY has dubbed it "hockey season-al depression", and it is just that. 

It's January.  It's cold.  It's dark.  The new-ness of the hockey season and excitement of being in a new place is totally gone.  It's the second half of the season, yet the off-season seems so far away.   The holidays have come and gone.  It's been almost 5 months since I've seen friends or family back home.  The day-to-day struggles of living in a foreign country, though a little easier now, are still very present and real.  (this is where I could go on and on forever... but I'll spare us both)

I think know J has come scar-ily close to booking me on the next flight home the past few days.  I haven't been able to shake things, even with all of his love and support.  I've realized this is something that no one is going to be able to fix but me. 

As a friend (and fellow hockey wife in Europe)'s facebook status said today: 

"We may not be able to control events, but we can control our attitude toward them."

It is so right.  I need an attitude adjustment. 

So today I called J while he was on the bus to an away game.  Short and sweet, "I'm going to the spa.  I need a massage.  I love you, I'm sorry.  Bye"

Time to shift the negativity into positivity.  What better way to start than with a trip to the spa, follwed by a girls night while the guys are gone?  Ahhhhh, I can feel the stress shedding from my body already....

cake recipe, book reviews, and birthday cupcakes :)

Well, it's been a couple more busy days around here!  It's so funny how life goes from basically nothing going on to being busy non-stop for several weeks.  It's nice to shake things up a bit and keeps things interesting.

So, now that I'm back, first order of busniess:  My cake recipe!  It is basically chocolate cake layered with peppermint ice cream.  It's kind of Christmas-y, since peppermint is one of the main flavors, but if you're like me and loooove peppermint ice cream, you'll enjoy it year-round!!  If you're not into peppermint, you can really use any flavor of ice cream that you'd like (J doesn't like peppermint ice cream either though, but he LOVED this cake!)  It was a huge hit with everyone at our Christmas gathering.

Peppermint Ice Cream/Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:
CAKE:

1 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup unsalted butter

6 tablespoons milk chocolate (chocolate chips, or broken up chocolate bar both work)

3/4 cup water

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 large egg, room temperature

ICE CREAM:

3 Litres (about 3 quarts) vanilla ice cream, softened

about 3 tsp. peppermint extract

2 cups crushed peppermint candy canes (or round peppermint candies)

(You could use store-bought peppermint ice cream if you prefer... I couldn't find any here so I made my own using this recipe and it came out great!)

CAKE

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (175 C)

Grease and flour a 15 x 10 x 1 inch baking sheet (38 x 25 x 2.5 cm, I think mine actually ended up being 38 x 29 x 5 cm, but just as long as the dimensions are big enough that the cake ends up being about  3/4 to 1 inch thick.)

Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda and salt into a large bowl.

Melt butter in a medium sauce pan, remove from heat.  Add chocolate, stir until melted.  Whisk in water, cocoa and vanilla until blended.  Whisk in the egg.  Add to dry ingredients, and whisk together until well blended.  Pour batter onto baking sheet.

Bake cake until toothpick stuck in center comes out clean/with only a few moist crumbs, about 20 minutes.  Cool cake on rack at least 15 minutes.  Run a knife around the sides of the pan to loosen the cake.  Turn cake out onto a sheet of foil (do not do this until it is plenty cool or it will crumble and break into pieces! I learned that the hard way...)  Cut cake crosswise into 3 equal strips.  Freeze cake strips for one hour.

ICE CREAM:

Mix the softened vanilla ice cream (soft enough to stir well, but not runny), peppermint extract, and chopped candy pieces together.  Stir until very well blended.  Add more or less peppermint extract to your taste preferences.  Return to a freezer-safe container. 

ICE CREAM CAKE:

Place one cake strip on a platter.  Working quickly, spread about 3.5 cups of ice cream onto the cake strip, smoothing to the edges.  Layer with 2nd cake strip, and repeat with 3.5 cups of ice cream, again smoothing to the edges.  Top with the last cake strip, return to freezer for 1 hour. 

After 1 hour, spread the remaining ice cream (about 6 cups) over the top and sides of the cake, covering generously (being sure to work quickly!)  Freeze for at least 3 hours, until firm.

For decoration, I added some whipped cream around the edges and sprinkled it with M & Ms, broken candy canes, and other various candy pieces.  The cake will make about 12 servings. 

 The Finished Product:

Hope you enjoy it as much as we all did!

Order of business #2, book reviews!  I am now onto the 3rd book in Lauren Conrad's series of L.A. Candy books, Sugar and Spice.  I promised to give my reviews of the first 2, L.A. Candy and Sweet Little Lies, so here they are! 

A quick synopsis: The first book in this series, titled L.A. Candy, is about 2 girls that move to Los Angeles after high school, one to go to USC and one to work for a high-end event planner.  Shortly after the 2 girls arrive in town, a reality tv producer "discovers" them at a club and convinces them to be a part of a new reality show called that he is going to film called L.A. Candy.  They soon discover that there are 2 other girls that will be on the show with them, requiring them to become "friends".  The girls are excited to get into the world of reality tv (some more than others...) and all of the new opportunities it will give them- VIP access to clubs, a new apartment, spa days- and to get paid for them.  However, they quickly learn that it's not always all fun and roses, and the drama begins to unfold.

My opinion of it:  This was a pretty good book.  I mean, it can't be that bad- I finished it's 300 pages in 2 days.  If you like reality tv shows, you'll definitely like this book.  I was curious to find out if it was going to be just like The Hills, which it sort-of-was and sort-of-wasn't.  The chapters are told in the point of view of different characters, which I liked, because you can get into each character's "head" and learn the unspoken things that are a big part of the drama in the story.  It was an easy read and just something fun and lighthearted to get into.

A quick synopsis:  The girls of L.A. Candy are starting to realize the negative side of being a reality tv star.  As the show ratings skyrocket, they cannot go anywhere without being recognized.  They begin to learn that not everyone is their true friend, and their boy drama that began in the first book continues to escalate.  The girls are starting to forget what it was like to be "normal", and sometimes find themselves longing for what their lives used to be like.  Others, on the other hand, can't get enough of the fame, and will do just about anything to be in the spotlight.  There is backstabbing, heart break, lies, suspense, and even some happiness all mixed into this second book in the series.

My opinion:  Now that I already knew all about the L.A. Candy girls from the first book, this one was an even quicker read, finishing it's 300 pages in a mere 24 hours (I know, I know, I need a life... :) )  It's the kind of book that is so easy to finish because you keep wanting to know what is going to happen.  Each chapter ends with a cliff hanger that keeps you going back for more.  It also kind of gives you an inside peek on  how a reality show really works (if you didn't already know) and what sets apart the "real" reality from the "fake" reality. 

Not only is Lauren a #1 NY Times Bestselling Author, but apparently these books are very popular here in Finland.  When I have been searching for them at the bookstore, all of the sales people I have asked help from all know exactly what I'm talking about right away.  They get 10 new copies in and they're gone within a day or two.  I had to go to 3 different stores to find the 3rd book. I give Lauren Conrad a lot of credit for not only making millions by starring on a reality show, but then going and writing books about the exact same concept and making lots more money.  The girl is good!  I didn't like her when Laguna Beach was popular way back when (I thought she made herself look too desperate, or at least the show made her look that way) but I really liked her in The Hills.  I also like that she broke away from the show tomove on to bigger and better things than reality tv.  She is an all around respectable girl (which can't be said of many reality tv stars), and knows how to write a good book or two, also! :)

Now that I've gotten that taken care of, I'm off to enjoy the rest of my BIRTHDAY!   The guys have an away game (go figure, happens every year on my birthday! haha)  But it's a short trip so I was able to see J for a good part of the beginning of the day, and he will be back shortly after the game.  One of the girls has invited me and our other fellow American girl over tonight for dinner and to watch the game and have a little something special to do on my birthday, which is super sweet of her and I'm very excited to not be sitting alone all evening on my special day ;)  Oh, and the best part of the day? 

FUNFETTI cupcakes with pink frosting!!  My faaaaaavvvorittteee! My mom sent a box from home in her Christmas package of goodies because they haven't yet discovered the-greatness-that-is-funfetti-cake in Finland.  Thanks Mom!!

Ok, reading back over this post really makes me feel like I shouldn't have taken the day off the gym today.  But hey, a girls gotta indulge now and then! :)

ask and you shall receive

Wow, is it December 11th already!?  Where does the time go.  Feels like just yesterday I was saying "wow, I can't belive it's December already", and now it's more than 1/3 over.  Good because its closer to being done with these silly road trips, bad because the holidays are my favorite time of year and I hate to see them come and go so quickly :( 

I woke up to more snow this morning.  I don't know where we're going to put it all... literally!  They are removing it from the city by the truck load, but seemingly not fast enough.  The roads are poorly plowed and many of the sidewalks too.  I feel really bad for all of the elderly people and people on crutches or disabled that I see trying to get around.  I think it's difficult for me- I can't even imagine having to deal with that all winter.  Oh, and they don't use salt or sand or anything either.  If/when they do use something, it's little rock pebbles.  Unfortunately, I think this is about their extent of "snow clean-up" here, taking care of it initally and leaving you to fend the rest for yourself.  Maybe I'll have to hook Maddie up to a sled and use that to get around ;)

All of my whining about wanting a girls night finally paid off.  Last night a couple of us got together at one of the other wives house.  It was a nice, relaxing evening with a couple friends and some wine.  Just what the doctor ordered :)  Ask, and you shall recieve!

During our girls night we got into some discussion about the differences between the U.S. and Finland (and other countries/cultures) and why certain things are done certain ways in different places, etc.  It makes me feel so lucky to have this experience of living in a different culture and learning about it.  It also makes me proud to be able to teach others about our culture and what it is like to be an American.  Now, I'm not one to get all into politics (though this conversation was not just on a political level) I pride myself in being very accepting of others and new cultures.  It's not always easy for me being here, far away from home, family and friends, and on top of that not having all of the stuff that is so familiar to me.  However, I think I have adjusted to the differences very well and have been educating myself and learning from others about what life is like in Finland. 

All of the girls from the team that I have talked with are very accepting of our American culture as well... (though I think the hockey world is fairly cultured, seeing as many of us spend time living in different countries) and though they most likely prefer their country to mine, I'm just happy that they make the effort to try and understand some of the differences, and though it is not the way they may do or see things, they don't see it as wrong- just different.  Not everyone that I have come across in Finland is able to see the differences the way that my fellow hockey wives do.  However, I think a lot of it has to do with being uneducated.  Obviously there are lots of stereotypes out there, so I am glad that I am able to do my (small) part to help clear up any confusion.  Finnish people are very proud, which I can understand.  They have a nice country that is very beautiful, rich in tradtion, and from what I've learned so far, runs fairly smoothly (though it's a little easier when you're a cold country of only 5 million somewhat isolated in the north  ;) )  I don't agree with everything that they do here in Finland, and I don't agree with all of the ways we do things in the U.S. (political and otherwise). But, I am an American, and I'm proud of it.  If you're going to challenge me about my country, I am going to defend it :)

I also took some time yesterday to check out the Christmas market downtown.  It is lined with red cottage/huts and lots of wonderful hand made items and gifts.  There is everything from mittens to jewelry to candles to clocks and home decor and beyond.  I got a pair of really pretty hand made earrings.  I plan on bringing J back Sunday or Tuesday when he has some free time... maybe I can give him some hints to help him with his Christmas shopping... ;)  Here are a couple pictures that I took:

The guys will be home after their game tonight, yay!  That's the one nice thing about these trips... it makes it that much more fun when we do have a chance to be together.  We get excited to see each other and spend time with one another :)

wanted: girls night

Well, the team left for their trip today (I feel like I'm constantly saying that lately!)  so it's just me and Maddie-girl here again.  It's been a real bummer lately that there aren't any other North American girls here also (though the one that left does come back after this weekend! woo-hoo).  There are tons of girls from the team, I've mentioned before that virtually all of the guys are married or have a serious girlfriend, but since they are all from around here, they're busy with their own lives most of the time.  They're either busy with kids, work, school, family, friends, etc.  They are all great girls... extremely nice, welcoming, and fun to spend time with when we get the chance, but unfortunately that doesn't happen very often.

That's probably the one thing that I wish were different about here.  It would be nice to have some girls to hang out with when the guys are gone (and just for an occasional girls night here or there!)  Don't get me wrong, I love having time to myself and no offence to Maddie.. she keeps me great company, but I need some girl time!!  I know it makes it that much harder for my hubby to leave also, knowing that I'm here alone.  So to any of my friends at home reading this.... feel free too book a flight over..... cough cough :)

On a brighter note, Maddie and I went for another walk today and discovered a really nice dog park close to our place.  We have been to another one that was further away, but this one is much bigger and nicer, and close to home!  They have many of these dog parks throughout the city, and I'm so excited to find one close to home.  It's in a little wooded area also, so she's able to run around and play without it being on the middle of some street corner downtown.  She had so much fun playing in the snow... it was a good thing she was wearing a red sweater so I could see her or she would have gotten lost!

eating some snow

 beautiful winter scenery in Finland :)

Well, dinner is almost ready and last nights episode of Glee is almost uploaded.  Time for me to eat and hit the couch for a bit :)