Happy holiday weekend to my fellow Americans!! (and okay.... I guess happy Canada Day to you Canadians, too) And to everyone else- just Happy Weekend!
We kicked the weekend off already with a nice little boat ride last night. Maddie got to experience her first ride on the boat, and we had no idea how she would do- but she was great! She absolutely loved life on the water, and I'm pretty sure if she could talk, she'd be begging us to buy a boat of our own. She was so good that she earned herself another boat ride tomorrow night for the fireworks!
I'm on a boat!
Loving Life!
Enjoying the pretty sunset on the lake
Woo hooo! Good thing I have my fancy schmancy
life jacket on in case I fall out!
For my fellow hockey wives, today also marks the beginning of Free Agency here in North America. There are always mixed feelings when it comes to being a free agent- to some it is an opportunity to be free from an organization that they no longer desire to be with (and seek a new contract with potentially higher pay), and for others it's an extremely stressful time of uncertainty until a job is nailed down for the upcoming season. Here's to hoping any and all of you get the deals you guys want in the least amount of time (and least stress) possible!
Hope everyone has a fantastic, safe, long holiday weekend!
Well... for those of you who don't know, the team lost in game 7 of the quarterfinals on Monday night, putting and end to their season. It was a little earlier than hoped and it was too bad they couldn't pull out a win and keep going. But, on the bright side....
WE'RE COMING HOME TO THE U.S. of A.!!!
(nope, no excitement in that or anything... not one bit ;) )
I wish it was as simple as heading to the airport and jumping on the next flight, but unfortunately, it's not. Stuff has to be packed up and moved to the rink for storage. The apartment needs to be cleaned out. Laundry has to be done. Our car needs to be returned. Maddie needs to go to the vet to get her papers for back home (this is about the only thing we have completely done so far... haha). Keys to our apartment, cell phone cards, TV card, have to be returned to their proper owners. Hubs has team meetings. Planning a time to see our friends here before we take off. Tickets have to be booked (...minor detail). All of that wonderful, fun stuff that is even more fun and wonderful when it stands in the way of getting home!
I despise packing and moving (someone remind me again why I picked a lifestyle that requires I do this twice a year again? oh, that's right, a cute boy brainwashed me into thinking it'd be fun ;) ) but I'm keeping my eye on the prize: 4 wonderful summer months spent at home, with family and friends, eating all of my lovely American foods, trips to Target whenever I feel like it, drying the laundry in a ¡dryer!, driving a car (warning to those of you I will be sharing the roads with back home: this girl hasn't driven in 7 months!) buying milk by the gallon so we don't have to go to the store every. single. day. Don't get me wrong, I like Finland a lot, and I'm sure come July I will be more than excited to get back. But no matter where you're from, I think we all can agree.... There's no place like home!
We don't have an offical date of arrival set yet, but it will more than likely be sometime this weekend or early next week. The hubs is acutally at the rink right now for meetings and figuring all that good stuff out and we hope to have our flights booked by tonight. I know I kept talking about our European trip we were going to take at the end of the season, but, for several reasons, it's just going to have to wait :) We may decide to take a trip somewhere warm once we get back, but we'll see how we're feeling. Right now we need to just focus on getting home first.
So, off I go to continue packing and cleaning. I'm still waiting for my personal assistant to come and help me.... but she just never seems to show? Not sure what's up with that ;)
As I'm sure many of you remember, a while back I wrote a post about How To Move to Europe With Your Dog. I got a lot of positive feedback about it, and I'm so happy that I could pass the info on to those needing it- hopefully it can help some more of you along the way, too! In that same post, I also promised I'd write a post about packing, what to bring, etc. and I'm finally getting around to posting it. Hopefully it will come in handy for any of you hockey ladies heading over to Europe next season, or at least make you a little less clueless (like I was) about the whole process. [Though, it's definitely not just for hockey ladies.... Students, travelers... anyone moving to Europe for a several month period of time will probably find this information useful as well :)]
When I came to Finland this year, I checked 4 bags and brought one carry on. Since I was traveling separately from my husband, some of the stuff in these bags was his, but I'll admit... most was mine. I think I did pretty good though... I use pretty much everything I brought and don't think I've really ever thought of anything that I left at home that I wish I had here with me (guess that means it's time to get rid of some of that stuff sitting in my parent's basement!)
I think the general consensus is that hockey bags are the easiest to use for your move to Europe. They're lightweight (well, at least before you add the clothes, shoes, makeup, etc) and you can fit a lot of stuff in them. You just have to be very careful to keep them within size and *weight* restrictions. Don't just go buy the biggest ones you can find. And most people would agree, the ones with wheels make life much easier! (your significant other will probably give you crap for wanting a hockey bag with wheels. If he does, politely remind him how much work you do for him, and that you'll probably be making a move with these bags on your own at least once. I don't know about you, but I'm NOT carrying 4+ bags through an airport, up and down apartment stairs, etc. by myself). As far as how many bags, that's up to you and how much stuff you feel you need or want. Remember, when you head back home at the end of the season, you'll definitely be coming back with more stuff than you came with (ie: my husband got four winter jackets from the team this year. FOUR!! That's like, 3/4 of a suitcase right there!) And if you're like us and spending multiple seasons over here.... well, let's just say I don't even want to know how much stuff we're going to have by the end of our time here. But, it is nice to be able to buy some stuff to make our place a little more "home-y" and know that it will get more than a few months use out of it. We'll probably end up either donating a lot of it or passing some of it on to other teammates or friends over here. (TIP: If you're so lucky to have visitors at some point, send some stuff home with them!)
So... getting down to the biggest question. What to pack? Let's break it down into these categories: Clothing, Accessories, Shoes, Health & Beauty & Misc. Goodies.
CLOTHING: *Jeans - wear 'em almost every day *Leggings - a close 2nd to jeans, especially when comfort is my priority! *Dress Pants - I brought a pair or two of nicer dress pants for anything I would need to dress up for. They have come in handy once. *Sweaters - pretty much my daily go-to. It's freeezing in Finland, so lots of layers is the key! *Tee's - long sleeve, short sleeve... anything I can layer with the sweaters! *Blouses - a no brainer *A nice dress or two. We had to dress up a few times this year for team events (Christmas party, etc.) or just going out with friends. This is where the LBD comes in handy... so versatile! *Socks, Undies, etc. - I probably have 2 weeks worth... maybe a little bit more of socks. They're fairly easy to squish in between things (or put in shoes) when packing your bags! *Workout clothes - I have probably 5 or 6 different "outfits" and just mix & match them. *Pajamas & lounge clothes - I brought a few sets of each *Jackets & Coats: I have lived in my black North Face Metropolis parka this winter. Also have my long pea coat and several other jackets & coats - Finland is COLD so I didn't want to be lacking in the coat department!
I guess the general idea is to pack stuff that is logical. The other ladies (here in Finland at least) do not get all dolled up to go to the games like many back in North America do. You can if you want, but you might get some funny looks. I also know that many arenas in countries like Germany, France, etc. aren't fully closed in, making for a rather cold environment in December and January! Plan accordingly. And even though it may be Summer & warm when you're heading over, don't waste a bunch of space packing tons of summer-y clothes. You won't use them more than a month, and it won't be warm enough yet in the spring time to wear them.
ACESSORIES: *Jewelry - cover the basics first. Simple stud earrings, & a pair of hoops or 2. Simple necklaces and bracelets that will go with everything. Your favorite watch. Once you've got those covered, start adding in the extras as space allows. If you have a different pair of earrings or watch for every outfit... good luck! try and narrow it down to the most versatile pieces. *Purses/Handbags - Bring a couple of your favorites, but leave the rest behind. Take the biggest one as your carry on so it doesn't take up suitcase space. Bring some sort of satchel/crossbody bag, as it will be perfect for traveling around & sightseeing. *Scarves - I don't think there's a day all winter that I didn't wear a scarf. They're lifesavers in the bitter cold, and a cute accessory to the perfect outfit. I have probably 12 here, some that I bought here & some that I brought from home. As with everything else, just go for versatile- what will go with the most stuff? *Mittens/Gloves & Hats - In the bitter cold of winter, mittens were not optional! Bring a couple pairs. Same goes for hats, though I'm not a big hat person. I usually just used my hood on my North Face to keep my head warm but my hair in somewhat decent shape! I also brought a couple casual hats as outfit accessories and a baseball cap or two for when I run outside in the sun. *Belts - Bring a couple of your most versatile (starting to notice the trend yet...? :) )
SHOES: *Sneakers - one or 2 pairs for working out, walking around, etc. *Flats - one or 2 pairs. They're perfect for fall and for walking around, and you'll be excited to pull them out again in the Spring (if it gets warm enough before you leave!) *Dressy - one pair, 2 max. You'll probably only be needing them a couple times, don't waste the space in your suitcase (and don't say I didn't warn you!) Make sure they're ones that can be worn in Summer and in Winter. *Boots - aside from my actual winter boots, I lived in them. I have a few pairs of flats and some that are higher. But let me tell you... with all of the ice & snow, the flats have moved to the front of the closet. *Winter Boots - I LIVED in my Ugg Adirondack boots this Winter. They were so perfect for walking around in the snow and ice (as I've mentioned before, they don't do a great job cleaning off the sidewalks & roads) and were so warm and comfy. If you think you'll make it all winter without a pair of (cute) winter boots, I suggest you think again :) *Summer-y - one or two pairs of your favorite summer sandals will do. They're small enough to fit easily in your bags, but won't get used past the first month or two (at the most).
HEALTH & BEAUTY: *Medicines - I made a kit of the basics - cough & cold medicine, ibuprofen/tylenol, airborne, vitamins, benadryl. Take them out of the boxes if you can so they fit easier. If and when you get sick, have a headache, etc. you'll be glad you have something to take that is familiar and that you can read the label of! *Cosmetics - I decided to bring 1 or 2 of everything so I had enough to get me through the first bit and get a sense of what I could find around here. The department stores have most major cosmetic brands - MAC, Clinique, Dior, Chanel, Clarins.... etc. as well as the smaller drugstore brands like Maybellene, Cover Girl, etc. I personally use Bare Minerals, which is, of course, like the one brand that isn't big around here. You can find it, but it's really expensive (a regular size foundation powder is 56 euros compared to $25 at home!) so I ended up having my mom send me some more in a package mid-season. *Hair Products -Same as the cosmetics. Bring enough to last you a month or two, and after that you should be able to find what you're looking for. *Hair Styling - As far as hair dryers, straightening irons, curling irons, etc. go, in my opinion, your best best is to invest in some European tools. If you're going to be spending more than one season over here, it's definitely worth it, and you won't risk ruining your stuff from home. If you insist on bringing your stuff from home, you will need a special converter (if it's not dual-voltage) so make sure you get the right one (I believe it's a 2000 watt converter, but don't quote me on that) but keep in mind that it won't work the same. My fancy schmancy straightener from home would only heat to one temperature (Fry!) and blow dryer only had about 1/2 the power as it does at home. Not to mention I've heard stories of sparks flying out of them and stuff.... Save yourself the trouble, packing space, and fried hair... invest in some inexpensive but decent styling tools over here. (one thing I should note though... I have had an impossible time trying to find a regular old curling iron in Finland. I plan to buy a new dual voltage one at home this summer to use in both places. In the meantime, I use my straightening iron to curl :) )
The general rule of thumb I use for this stuff is that if it's a European-produced product (Kerastase/L'Oreal, Chanel etc), it will be cheaper here (or the same price)... if it's a USA produced product (Clinique, Bare Minerals, Redken, etc) it's better to stock up on at home.
The key is to be flexible. If you can't find exactly what you're looking for, there will most likely be something similar. If there is a product or two that you know you cannot live without, bring a little more of that and a little less of something else.
MISC. GOODIES: There are tons of gadgets and things that will make your life in Europe easier & more enjoyable. Bring or invest in what you can, or what you think will be the most important to you. I'm sure many of you already know about a lot of these things, but every now and then I run into someone who has never heard of something & really wished they would have known, so bear with me!
*Computer/iPod/iPad etc. - self explanatory *Digital Picture Frame - the perfect way to have lots of pictures of family and friends with you without actually hauling them all around. One simple frame and you've got them all right there with you in your new home! *DVD's - we brought some DVD's with us and are lucky to have a DVD player that will play them, but from what I understand not all DVD players over here will play American discs, so pack them at your own risk. You may be better off sticking with the Sling Box (below) and renting/buying movies on iTunes. *Skype - no brainer. Video chat with family & friends back home. Skype to skype calls are free, or you can call landlines or cell phones for a really low cost. You can even set it up so that you have a North American phone number for family and friends to call you guys from their cell phones or landlines without long distance fees. *Amazon Kindle - I'm a person who likes to have a book in my hand, but the Kindle is very logical in this lifestyle. You can download pretty much any book in the palm of your hand. A selection of books in English vary depending on country/city (some have none) and packing a bunch of books in your suitcase takes up extra space that could be used for something else (like another handbag!) *Camera - another obvious one. We just invested in a good SLR. A decent camera is a must have when you're traveling the world! You'll have wonderful pictures of all of the places you have been, plus family & friends will probably be wanting lots of updates and to see what life is like in Europe! *Sling Box - Your tv channels from home... on your screen in Europe! You'll be able to watch every single show just as you would at home. You connect it to your cable box & internet in North America, and can log in online to watch your home tv from anywhere in the world. Get the adapter to plug your computer into the television & it will be just like you're on your couch in North America. Don't worry about the time difference - you can still DVR and everything just as you would at home! You can also watch on iPads, smart phones, etc. when you're on the go. Here's the website to find out more about it (*note: those of you who have lived over here are aware that most American shows are blocked from watching online over here... so if you were planning on foregoing the Sling Box and just watching online, unfortunately you won't have much luck) *Google Talk - most of the same features as Skype, but I found that I can use it to call phones in the U.S. for FREE. I also use it on my Android phone to text friends and stuff. *Face Time - similar to Skype and Google Talk, but for Mac/Apple users. I don't know much about it because we haven't made the switch to Mac yet (will be this summer though!) and have Android/Blackberry phones, not iPhones. But, from what I understand... it only works Apple to Apple. *Phone apps - Kik messenger uses your data plan to text anyone, anywhere in the world (they must download it also, it may only work with Androids & iPhones, not sure). Skype Mobile works similarly, but you can call also. Google Talk can be used to text, too. TuneIn Radio lets you listen to any radio station in the world on your phone. Google Translate comes in handy when you're out and about (think: grocery store!). *GPS - If you don't have some sort of GPS program on your phone over here, getting an inexpensive European GPS might be a good idea. Navigating the streets of a foreign country are hard enough with the road signs, manual cars & different rules of the road... you'll find your way around much easier & be more comfortable driving here if you have something to give you directions along the way. Wait and get it over here though... it will most likely be cheaper than the ones with European maps at home.
I'm sure there are tons more gadgets I could add to the list... but these are the main ones in my mind. If you have another favorite, please share!
So, that's my take on packing for a move to Europe. Surely everyone is different and might prioritize different things, so take or leave whatever you'd like :) Hopefully it's not too intimidating or confusing. Feel free to let me know if you have any questions, I'm happy to help in any way I can! If you have any tips to add to the list, or a list of your own to share, please leave a comment and share your ideas! :)
(I will also be posting this information in my "Moving to Europe?" tab at the top of the page for easy access) :)
Hockey Update: The guys won Game 2 on Saturday to go up 2-0 in the series, but lost on Monday. They're still up 2-1 in the series and play Game 4 at home tonight, which will either put them up 3-1 (meaning they'd only have to win 1 more game) or the series will be tied 2-2. It's been a very physical series and makes me cringe watching a lot of it. J has come home with many battle "wounds" (bumps & bruises) over the past few days (I would post a picture but I don't think he'd be too pleased...). Hockey fans may like lots of hitting and physical play... but not this girl, not when my hubby is the one out there!
A quick update for family & friends (and anyone else who was curious): The team won their first playoff game last night 1-0. Since it was an "away" game (even though the arena is right next door) I did not go. The game was sold out, not many (if any) of the other wives & girlfriends go to away games, and I figured one night this weekend was enough hockey for me :)
Game 2 is tonight at home and it looks like this one is sold out too (13,500 seats... that's pretty big for over here!) I'm sure it will be a rowdy and intense atmosphere, since it is playoffs, sold out, and against their biggest rival team..... and seeing as it's Saturday, and boy these Finns can DRINK!! Looking forward to a fun night of hockey, hopefully the boys can pull off another W :) For those of you who aren't aware, you can check the live updates of the game here (I even already google-translated for ya, beware though... some of the names/penalties etc. translate pretty strange!)
Check back soon for more updates and some new (hopefully more interesting- sorry, my life's just not that exciting right now!) posts :)
...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 butme.
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....
We're going to be in Finland for 2 more seasons! It's been in the works for a little while, but J just signed his extension through the 2012-2013 season today. I'm excited I can finally tell our family and friends now :)
guess I better finally crack open my Finnish book and start studying!
It's really nice (and kind of crazy...) to know exactly where we'll be for the next 2 1/2 years. That sounds silly to anyone outside of the hockey world... but in professional hockey, that's quite a long time. Just like the rest of the job market, hockey jobs have become increasingly hard to come by in recent years. We know many people who are playing in leagues lower than they should be just because there is nothing available. Or who aren't playing at all this year. There are just a lot of good hockey players out there.
Now that's 2 more years we don't have to compete with all of the other talented players for a job. Many players in North America don't know where they'll be playing that season until well into September & October. They bounce around from NHL camps to AHL camps and go back and fourth until they (maybe) win a spot on a team. And how many spend their time split between leagues, living out of suitcases in hotels? I cannot tell you how fortunate we are feeling right now. And how proud I am of my husband. He works extremely hard, and has earned everything he has been given. So, since I know he is going to read this and is sure to be embarassed about my "proud hockey wife" rant... I'll stop now. :)
Other than that, not a whole lot new around these parts. We've been so busy lately, or at least it feels like it. It seems like we always have somewhere we have to go in the afternoon when J gets home from practice. The team has 3 games a week in the coming weeks also, so that will really add to the busyness of our lives. Guess it's better than being bored all the time, right?
For New Years Eve, we went to one of the other guys and his wife's house for a small get-together. There was lots of good food, wine, champagne, and company! We had a great time. There was also some action outside- some neighbor kids were outside setting off fireworks for a good part of the night (fireworks are a big tradtion on NYE here). These ones were a little big for kids to be setting off (can you say illegal in the U.S.?) but they appeared to be having fun and we were enjoying watching them. That is, until they hit the HOUSE next door and set it on FIRE! Luckily, there was no one inside(!!) and no one living there at the present time, and we were a good 75 yards away from it. I have never seen a house fire that close up. It was blazing for a good couple hours as the firemen were trying to put it out. Actually, when we left it was still going.
poor house! thank GOD no one was in it!!
On New Years Day, we stayed up until 3 am to watch the Rose Bowl (it started at midnight our time!) Too bad our Badgers lost :(
Hope you all are having a fabulous start to 2011. I've been trying to come up with some New Years Resolutions, but I am stumped this year. I really can't come up with anything that is worth "resolving", or anything that I know I will actually stick to. Maybe I'll come up with something in the next few days. What are your New Years Resolutions?
Sure, Thanksgiving was a month ago. But all of the holiday season is a time to think about what we are thankful for and also to reflect on everything that happened over the past year. With that, I decided to make a list of my:
Top 10 Things I am Most Thankful for in 2010
(tie) 1) Family and Friends. No brainer. Sorry if I'm boring you by putting them at the top of every list I make, but how could I not? We're blessed with such wonderful people in our lives, and they deserve every bit of recognition that I can give them. You help make both of us the people that we are.
(tie) 1) My husband. I couldn't ask for a better person to spend the rest of my life with. This has been a huge year for us, and I know it's only going to get even better. You're always there for me when I'm having a tough day and can always put a smile on my face.
3) Our Dream Wedding. It is, and probably will forever be, the best (and most fun) day of our lives. We had 160 of our nearest and dearest all in the same room to celebrate us. What more could you ask for? Everything worked out flawlessly (ok, I'm sure there were a little bumps throughout the day... but obviously they weren't a big deal since I don't even remember them 6 months later!) Everyone had such a blast and it turned out just the way we were hoping it to. I'm even more thankful to our parents, because if it wasn't for them, it would have never happened.
4) Hockey. Sure, it's a love-hate relationship, but there's no denying that it has brought great things to our lives. First, it provides an income for us. And how many other people get to move to Europe in their twenties? There are definitely perks that come with the life. On top of it all, my husband gets to wake up every morning knowing that he's going to a job that he loves. Doesn't get much better than that. As a friend of mine quotes on her facebook profile "Find a job that you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."
5) Other Hockey Wives. Whether it's ones I know personally or not, these ladies make me feel a lot less alone in this crazy little world that we live in. From advice to sharing stories, support to making new friends, I don't know what I'd do without them! So few people understand our lives, so it's important to be able to connect with one another and have people to talk to who "get it".
6) Skype. I hadn't really used Skype much until this year. Now, I don't know what I'd do without it!! Being able to talk to and SEE family and friends across the world is amazing. I can't imagine what it would be like living over here without it (and it wasn't that long ago that people had to!)
7) Money. But not in the sense that you're thinking of. I am thankful that we have a steady income to support ourselves and pay the bills. It seems like a simple thing, but so many people don't even have that. The security that it provides makes day to day life a lot easier (which, I know, is where the irony comes in, since many say that money only complicates things)
8) Maddie. She probably knows me better than anyone else, even my hubby. She hears all my secrets and see how I act when nobody is watching. She nurses me when I'm sick, sleeps on my feet when they're cold, and listens to me when I need someone to talk to. No one else gets so excited every time I walk in the door and makes me feel as important as she does.
9) Finland. I feel so blessed to have been given the opportunity to live in this beautiful country. I learn something new about it every day, and it has been a wonderful place to live. Almost every person I have come into contact with has been welcoming and helpful. The team has been wonderful to us, and I have only good things to say about our stay here so far!
10) Learning so many new things about myself. Okay, that's kind of broad. But I think I have grown a lot as a person in the past year especially, and I'm really proud of that. Every challange that I face (and overcome) makes me aware of what a strong person I am. I think I have always been ahead of my years in maturity, but I think I have surpassed even that in this past year. I have learned a lot of new things about the world, cultures, people, myself, and life in general. I'm pretty content with who I am right now :)
Also: I added a "my story" page at the top. For those of you interested in reading, you can also find it here.
Here's a shot of our tree, decorations and presents! It has taken a lot of willpower from me to sit in front of this all weekend (with no whitnesses) and not dig into them. It doesn't help how adament my husband is about "DO NOT TOUCH" any of them. It only makes me want to touch them more (don't worry sweetie, I didn't!!)
Gosh, I sound like a 5 year old... haha :) But J and I usually end up telling/giving each other our presents before the actual occasion, so I'm not used to this! Plus, I have no idea what they are, and I'm a person with no patience what-so-ever. A lot of these are from J's parents also, so I know there are some goodies from the good ol' U.S. of A., which makes me even more excited. Aside from all of that, I'm excited to give J his presents. I usually spoil what I'm going to give him (last year he got his Christmas present on December 2nd, the day that I bought it) so I'm pretty proud of myself that I was able to keep them a secret this long. I just love shopping for other people, which is part of why Christmas is one of my favorite times of year!
It's been snowing all day here... must be getting a fresh blanket of snow ready for Santa and his reindeer! My back is still the same :( but I made it out to do some shopping and got my book!
I saw LC's books at the bookstore the other day so I figured I'd give them a try. The selection of English books here isn't so great, and I'll admit I've kind of wanted to read them anyways. We'll see how it is!
Sorry for 2 fairly uneventful posts in a row... it was just that kind of weekend!! Nice and relaxing though... :)
I'm so excited to see more and more of you checking out my blog. Don't forget to become a follower! And I always love to hear from new people (and old friends too!)... feel free to say hi, or email me! :)
*Strangers are just friends you have not met yet*
Unfortunately, we don't get to go back to the U.S. for Christmas (the guys don't have enough time off) and it will be our first Christmas that we don't spend with our families. I've been a little sad about it, but I've come to terms with the fact that this is our lives now and pouting about it isn't going to change anything. We just have to make the most of what we're given to work with, and we plan to do just that. It's time to start some of our own holiday traditions :)
Christmas "break" marks the halfway point through the season here in Finland. Time flies! Since the holiday season has been making me think more about home lately, I thought I'd dedicate my post to the things that I miss most about home.
1) Obviously, the thing that I miss most about home is our family and friends. Nothing else on this list means as much as them. We are so lucky to have such wonderful loved ones who support us in everything that we do. As many other hockey wives know, it's not easy to keep good friends when we move around so much. Quality far outweights quantity. Luckily for me, I've got a few quality good friends that understand our crazy lives :)
2) My Blackberry. The phone I have here right now is brand new, but I'm pretty sure it's the same model I was using in 2002. Anyone remember T9 texting? Yup, that's what I have to use! It's almost comical. Aside from the visual embarassment and functional difficulties, No Blackberry = no BBM and internet to connect with my family and friends easier :( It is so weird to not be able to pick up my phone and BBM/text someone whenever I think of something or feel like talking to someone. Why don't I just get a Blackberry here, you ask? Well, Finland has decided to make as difficult as possible for me seeing as they don't sell them anywhere here! Nowhere! not in the entire country. Ugh! Although, I'm hoping Santa will find a way to bring me a new one this year...
3) A Clothes Dryer. Seems sooo simple... yet... not. Not only am I sick of air drying all of my clothes (hello, they get super stiff!) but it's annoying that you can't do more than one load of laundry per day (no where to put it!) and our apartment isn't the biggest in the first place- much less having the drying rack taking up space. And, sometimes you just don't want the drying rack sitting out. Um... I don't really care to have my undies sitting out to dry when we have company over, thanks!
4) Target. Do I really need to explain this one? I am the Target queen! If I could only shop at one store for the rest of my life, I would choose Target. I don't think I've ever stepped foot in the store and not come out with anything.
5) Nordstrom/Macy's. My 2 favorite department stores. Stockmann department store here definitely rivals them (and in many areas wins!) but I have small feet, and I know I can always find shoes at Nordstrom and not having to worry about seeing a 10 year old wearing the same pair. They are one of the few places that carry size 4 and 5 (and more than just 1 pair!) and if they don't have them in, they order them and have them sent to my door for free. Both of these stores have a lot of the brands and designers that I love, and for fractions of the prices they are here.
6) Culver's. Ohhh, Cuvler's. I hate to love you, but I do. We try to eat very healthy, but Culver's is one guilty pleasure that I will give into. I am in love with their chili cheese fries. Top it off with a dish of custard for dessert and you will be my best friend forever.
7) My car. Well, technically it's not even my car anymore.. my parents bought it in the first place so my mom repo-ed it when we moved across the pond :) But, I miss my Altima! And driving at all for that matter. I'm afraid I won't know how to drive when we get back! It's been 3 1/2 months since I've driven at all. And that doesn't look like it'll be changing anytime soon...
8) A bath tub. (and Bath and Body Works goodies to go with it) Another one of those "so simple, yet so hard" things. I can't count how many times I've been dying to take a nice warm bubble bath after coming in from out in the freezing cold. Not only that, but I actually have the time on my hands to sit and take a relaxing bath for once. Yet we're stuck with only a shower. Go figure :(
9) American TV shows. Sure, we get them here... if you like watching My Super Sweet 16 season 1 on repeat all weekend. The shows that are on tv here are always a season behind, and they are seriously lacking in variety. J lucks out most from this one- all of his hockey channels seem to come in just fine! Weird how that works ;). The biggest bummer is not even being able to watch shows online (legally, at least) because they are "blocked" over here. It just makes it that much more difficult to try and watch... needless to say I don't do a whole lot of tv watching here. My apologies to HGTV, TLC, and E! ... your ratings are probably down. I'll be back in the Spring, promise! :)
10) A familiar grocery store/Trader Joe's/Whole Foods. Oh, how I miss being able to maneuver the aisles and actually know what I'm getting. I'm getting better and better here, but almost always before I try a new recipe I have to get advice from my good old buddy Google Translate before I hit the store. Several times I have bought things thinking they were one thing only to find out they were something completely different. Not to mention trying to find natural/organic products poses great difficulty also. I think we do okay, but I can't wait to get back and get my hands on some of the stuff that we aren't able to buy here. Not to mention all those cute names they have for things at TJ's!
I'm sure I could go on and on as I thought of more things... but I'm curious to know what you think. What would you miss the most if you were away from home for a good portion of the year? Hockey wives, what can you not wait to get your hands on in the offseason? It's amazing to realize how much you take for granted once you step back and think about it... :)
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 :)
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 :)
