Friday, October 14, 2011
THE STORY OF A KLUUVI MAC
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
WHEN IT RAINS
Sunday, February 13, 2011
ANGRY BIRDS
Friday, December 17, 2010
CHRISTMAS CHATTERBOX
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
A LUSH LJUBLJANA
P.S.: For all of you that come to this page while searching for any info about Lush store in Ljubljana- you can find the shop in the old town, right next to the famous Robba fountain, the address is Ciril-Metodov trg 21. However, more info is here.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
COLOURFUL UPDATES

Nothing special is going on, I am basically working on my thesis, or at least trying to work on it, and so I actually do not come up with some interesting material for the blog. However, some things are new and they even surprise me. I guess it's because I was bored with colourless everyday of Finnish as well as Slovenian winter, or merely bored with colourless everyday in general - and so I had started to paint my nails. For a girl that has owned just a transparent top-coat and possibly some black nailpolish only a month ago, this surely is a big change. I think that now I have something like 15 or 17 nailpolishes - heh, I am not even sure about the exact number. :P
It all started with a small bottle of Lumene's blueberry-purple polish called Drama Queen. I was quite skeptic as I was not very patient when applying colorful polishes in the past, I was clumsy with the brush, I put too thick layers, the polish did not dry nicely etc. But when applying Drama Queen I was more concentrated - and I have realized one just needs some more patient (which I surely need to practice, so dealing with nail polishes is useful in this way) as well as a good polish (my black ones were usually very low-quality). So I have started to enyoj the colours on my nails and I have also started to collect nail polishes. Well, at first I thought I would only stick to those small 4ml bottles of the same family as Drama Queen was, but then, and this is another "interesting" update, I have started to follow some nail-polish blogs and forums. Thus I have discovered some other famous and commercial names like OPI and China Glaze. Finally, I have also found out that one can get OPI as well as CG polishes in JKL as well. Eeek. Luckily, some very nice shades were also on 70%-off sale. :D
Now I am thinking to get a small cosmetic case as I suppose my nail polish collection would probably keep growing. At the moment I am protecting myself to start ordering stuff via Ebay as internet shopping is dangerous in the sense of wide selection of products. However, I have already realized, kind of, that there are numerous shades of one colour and that one could just keep collecting forever; according to my current polishes, I prefer purples and reds, rather darker than brighter. But I do own one bright turquoise and shinny apple-green, too.
All in all, I probably won't change Cinnamon Book into a fashion/make-up/polish blog as I don't feel too competent for something like that, and I guess I have not turned that commercial. Or well... let's first see how nice I will learn to apply polishes; at the moment I cannot even take good pictures of swatches. I dare to say I have got better with eyeshadows, but that would be another story. ;)
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
NUJNOST SAMOSTOJNEGA VSAKDANA

Deklica mlajše generacije je razlagala svoji starejši družabnici, po vsej verjetnosti mami, da se, ko bo dosegla določeno starost, ne misli odseliti od doma. Zakaj le, ko pa imam doma vse preskrbljeno, perilo je oprano in hrana skuhana. Takšen bi bil povzetek argumenta, v katerem je deklica opisala ugodje, ki ji ga ponujajo mamina gospodinjska opravila. Seveda, ko se nekdo preseli, gospodinjska opravila postanejo neizogibna nujnost samostojnega vsakdana.
Sama sem si kar nekaj let želela, da bi se odselila od doma. Ker sem študirala v domačem mestu, se selitev v študijske namene ni zgodila, dokler se nisem odločila za magisterij. Na Severu Evrope, izkušnje imam predvsem z Islandijo in Finsko, pa je tako ali tako nekaj popolnoma običajnega, da se otroci odselijo od doma že zelo zgodaj. Družbene razmere so tam res drugačne, standard višji in situacija mnogo ugodnejša za tiste, ki začenjajo samostojno pot; ni primerjave, pa vendar...
Če so razmere naklonjene odraščajočim mladim, ali ne - želja in hrepenenje po samostojnosti lahko ostaneta prisotna. Špekuliram in razmišljam, da si bodo mulci prizadevali ravno nasprotno- čeprav se jim bo ponudila možnost, bodo vztrajali in raje bivakirali v udobnem Mamahotelu.
Kakorkoli že, ugodje zna biti tudi to, da se nekdo ob življenju na svojem nauči dobro opravljati osnovna gospodinjska opravila, od kuhanja in nakupovanja živil do pranja in spoznavanja primernih pralnih sredstev; enostavnosti, ki lahko prinesejo samozavest in občutek neodvisnosti ter tako osvežijo življenje.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
CLEVER
Winter sales in Finland went all the way to 70% off the original price and thus it was easier to spend money on some additional and perhaps slightly silly thingies other than just clothes. Lately, however, my obsession would not be clothes but vegan and bio cosmetic products; well, this could be another post within too many times neglected Cinnamon Book.
There were winter sales that turned my attention to this clever set for traveling. It surely is all-in-all plastic and it probably has been made in one particular Asian country... but I don't care. When traveling, I do not plan to search for products in small bottles I would probably throw away after the trip, thus polluting the environment. One can fill these little bottels with liquids-already-at-home by her own choice; in my case, everything would be just products for using while taking a shower. Or a bath, whatever.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
BIVATI S FINKAMI ALI GRELNIK VODE
Poleti sem srečala samo eno od njih. C, po črki na vratih njene sobe, je včasih prišla po pošto. Punco A sem prvič samo slišala; nek junijski dan se je prišla zjutraj stuširat, nato pa je šla, ne da bi se videli. Ampak takrat je bilo poletje, predavanja so se končala in študentom ni bilo treba ostajati v študentskih naseljih.
Septembra me je pričakalo stanovanje v enaki zasedbi - jaz in isti dve Finki. Kmalu se je izkazalo, da je C več ali manj pri fantu ter da v svoji sobi prespi le tu in tam. Doma pa je bila A, čeprav sem to včasih vedela le po tem, da je bilo v veži več čevljev kot ponavadi. Z A sva sobivali po cele tedne in tudi čez vikende - in kljub temu je približno dva meseca skupnega življenja sploh nisem videla. Nekdo je uporabljal kopalnico in šel v kuhinjo takrat, ko mene ni bilo notri. Tudi ko sva se prvič srečali, se je to zgodilo po naključju: jaz sem šla v stanovanje, ona pa ven. Tako se nisva nikoli predstavili druga drugi; njeno ime vem samo zato, ker pobiram pošto. Kasneje sva se srečali še dvakrat in vsa najina konverzacija v pol leta deljenja kuhinje in kopalnice do tega trenutka obsega jutro in živjo. Dobro, vsaj to dvoje je bilo v finščini.
Že prej sem slišala mite o finskih cimrah in cimrih, da so kot duhovi, da se jih sploh ne sliši in podobno. Po drugi strani pa sem slišala tudi zgodbe o tem, da so finske in nefinske cimre med seboj postale prijateljice. Spet tretja Finka mi je rekla, da je popolnoma odvisno od človeka; s tem se strinjam. Tudi sama nisem najbolj zgovorno bitje, poleg tega pa zelo težko navežem prvi stik. Če me ogovori drugi, nimam problemov in se lahko pogovarjam. Če zaznam nekakšen zid tudi na drugi strani, je težko... V vseh mojih študentskih letih pa se poleg tega šele v času magisterija prvič srečujem z dejstvom, ki se mu reče cimra in tako itak nimam nobenega pojma.
Opazila sem, da me je v teh mesecih medsebojne tišine začelo motiti dejstvo, da tako A kot C, kadar je doma, uporabljata moj grelnik vode; A pa tudi moj aparat za kavo. Deljenje stvari in posojanje kuhinjskih aparatov me sploh ne moti - ampak vseeno hočem, da me drugi vpraša za dovoljenje. Mogoče zato, ker sama nočem uporabljati stvari, ki ne pripadajo meni oziroma vedno najprej vprašam. Odsotnost vprašanja in samoumevnost me prizadaneta. Enostranskega posojanja in občutka, da nekdo samo izkorišča mojo dobro voljo, ne maram. Poleg tega imam nekaj izkušenj s finsko kulturo in vem, da so ponavadi vljudni in previdni. Po drugi strani sta tišina in nezgovornost Fincev površna stereotipa; vse te misli pa so končno samo posploševanje, če ne celo rasno razlikovanje...
V našem finsko-slovenskem primeru se druga drugi nismo niti predstavile, kaj šele da bi izmenjale osnovne informacije o delitvi stanovanja. Z A se še nikoli nisva pogovorili, kdaj ima katera predavanje in kdaj katera potrebuje kopalnico. Nikoli se vse tri nismo domenile, katera bo kupila toaletni papir. V sicer skupni kuhinji vsaka uporablja svoj detergent za pomivanje posode. Vse skupaj je kot hostel, ki ga občasno posesava jaz ali C, kadar pride; pa še v hostlih prebivalci govorijo med seboj. Po eni strani mi tak individualizem zelo ustreza, obožujem svoj mir in od cimer ne pričakujem, da bi postale prijateljice. Prav tako v vsem tem času ni bilo niti nadležnih obiskov, niti hrupa. Pa vendar... pomanjkanje osnovne komunikacije in občutek ignorance sta moteča. Finsko govorim dovolj dobro, obe z A sva naročeni na Helsingin Sanomat, tako da jezikovne prepreke ne morejo biti izgovor.
Ker se je moj grelnik vode začel obnašati čudno, sem ga po božiču raje pospravila in priklopila le, ko sem ga potrebovala in sem lahko preverjala delovanje. Takrat se je izkazalo, da je C tako ali tako že ves čas imela svoj grelnik, ki je bil v škatli in je čepel v omari. V tej isti omari je tudi škatla z aparatom za kavo in še ena škatla z mikrovalovno pečico. Nekje je bil svoje čase tudi palični mešalnik. Ko sem se poleti preselila, je bila kuhinja prazna. Ne vem, kateremu dekletu te kuhinjske zadeve dejansko pripadajo - ampak očitno so pospravljene in nekako ne na voljo za množično uporabo. Kakorkoli, ko je C prejšnji teden spet šla, je izginil tudi njen grelnik, A pa je po dnevu ali dveh popolne odsotnosti grelnikov v kuhinjo od nekod prinesla svojega. Nobena izmed njiju me ni vprašala, kaj je z mojim grelnikom narobe ali zakaj sem ga kar naenkrat pospravila.
Če sem jaz otrok socializma, so potem Finke in Finci moje generacije potomci razvite kapitalistične družbe. Znamo mi deliti in oni ne? Smo mi iz držav v tranziciji manj individualistični in obenem tudi manj egocentrični kakor Zahodnjaki? Je nam manj vseeno in samoumevno? Najpreprostejši grelnik vode oziroma z njim povezana bedarija lahko tako kaj hitro preraste v družbeno-politični diskurz; vso to kolobicijo bi seveda rešila preprosta komunikacija. Vprašanje, odgovor in mogoče drobna vljudnost.
Otroci socializma ali kapitalizma - očitno je A, meni B in mogoče tudi C skupno to, da nismo ravno spretne v komunikaciji...
Friday, December 05, 2008
DECEMBER
Novembra bi lahko pisala o marsičem. O žurki treh škorpijonov, kjer smo imeli kamin in preveč hrane. O dejstvu, da od začetka novembra izjemno veliko pečem. Začelo se je s preprostim jogurtovim pecivom, sedaj pa se je vse skupaj razvilo v korenčkovo torto z mandlji in čokoladnim oblivom. Zanima me, kaj bo naslednja in še zahtevnejša tortna stopnja. Poleg slaščičarskih dejavnosti tudi veliko kuham. V novem stanovanju je pač mnogo večja in svetlejša kuhinja, poleg tega pa bi morala delati na svoji magistrski nalogi.
Kakorkoli, na magistrski nalogi sem brez milosti morala delati novembra, in napisati vsaj eno poglavje. S katerim nisem zadovoljna. Itak, da ne. Ker pišem v angleščini, ugotavljam, da ima ta jezik čisto preveč zadev po imenu particles. Japonščina tudi, ampak v popolnoma drugem smislu. Heh. Partikkeli on kikkeli. Vsaj finščina in slovenščina sta brez teh nepotrebnih nadlog.
Če bi se k pisanju spravila pred dobrima dvema tednoma, bi lahko opisala zanimiv naravni pojav: snežni vihar. Le ta se je zgodil neko nedeljo, Pihal je strašljivo močan veter, in nosil sneg. Glede na časopis Helsingin Sanomat je bil vsaj v Helsinkih to najhujši snežni vihar po letu 1961. Ker sem kljub viharju morala ven, sem ugotovila, da je bil tisti veter dejansko zelo divji. Nanesel je kupe snega, ki so tako konec novembra, skupaj z že okrašenimi trgovinami in mestu v lučkah opominjali, da Božiček ni tako daleč. Pravzaprav le 9 ur vožnje z vlakom na sever, in potem par kilometrov z avtobusom.
Sedaj je december, zato ne morem pisati o snegu, ker se je medtem že stopil. Tako se mi zastavlja vprašanje, ali je bilo v tistem strašnem viharju sploh kaj smisla. Sneg bi namreč prišel še kako prav v teh kratkih dneh; sonce zaide okrog treh popoldne, pa tudi če še ni čas zahoda, je temno. Plasti oblakov in cikloni; nič od tega pa ne prinese svežega snega. Lani se je to zgodilo šele konec marca, takrat, ko bi morale veverice početi vse kaj drugega, kot pa se skrivati pred snežnimi zameti.
Šesti dan zadnjega meseca v letu je na Finskem praznik, dan samostojnosti. Država praznuje 91 let, kar sem seveda izrabila za ponovno slaščičarsko priložnost, in spekla torto. Seveda že od konca novembra potekajo številne predbožične zabave, ali prevedeno iz finščine mali božič; brez alkohola tako ali tako nikoli ne gre...
Naj se december začne! :)
Sunday, October 12, 2008
SPET IKEA

Kljub pogostejši prisotnosti IKEA nakupovalnih nebes na Finskem je zanimivo, da se obe nahajata v okolici mesta Helsingfors oziroma Helsinki; ena IKEA je v Vanti in druga v Espu, vse skupaj pa je svojih 300 km oddaljeno od naše osrednje Finske. Perkele. Govorilo se je že, da se bo švedska krasotica preselila bližje Jyväskyli, denimo v Tampere ali Kuopio, a ker se to še ni zgodilo, nas organizacija, ki tu skrbi za študentska stanovanja, vsako leto odpelje na IKEA nakupovalni izlet. Tudi letos je bil avtobus poceni, vožnja dolga, končna destinacija pa spet Vantaa.
Lansko leto sem bila ob IKEA obisku na Finskem precej zmedena. Potrebovala sem kar nekaj materialnih dobrin, ki bi mi olepšale študentsko bivanje. Kakorkoli, v spominu mi je ostal predvsem stres. Letos je bilo že zaradi vesele družbe mnogo bolj zabavno, čeprav je IKEA tudi tokrat pripravila teren za spodobne neprijetnosti.
Deževna sobota je privabila precejšnjo množico, njeni pripadniki pa so se nato z veseljem zaletavali drug v drugega. Nakupovalski podmladek pa sploh, ne glede na dejstvo, da bi jih starši lahko pustili v igralni sobi, in si tako zagotovili nekaj miru. Ker pa je bilo v večini primerov videti, da igralna soba morebiti sameva, se je posameznik lahko hitro znašel ujet med velik nakupovalni voziček z ene in otroški voziček z druge strani. Vsekakor zabavno. Po drugi strani pa pravilno, da se vzgoja mladega potrošnika začne že v prvih mesecih življenja.
Odkritje letošnjega izleta je bilo, da se mi IKEA nenadoma ni zdela več tako zelo fantastična. Ni bilo tako zelo velike izbire, nekatere stvari so se seveda podražile, sploh nek točno določen model lučke, pa še prave barve niso imeli na zalogi. Eh, IKEA is nothing that special. Da sploh ne razmišljam, v kakšnih pogojih so ustvarjeni njihovi izdelki; samo upam, da švedskega dizajna ne proizvajajo azijski otroci ali delavci v sweatshopih.
Kljub temu sem pozabila svojo alternativno oziroma subkulturno nastrojenost proti in si privoščila predvsem škatle, krožnike, skodelice, sklede in termo vrč za čaj. Večinoma v črni barvi; subkulturno naravnanost je pač treba izraziti tudi z IKEA izdelki. Pomembna pridobitev je bil nož za lupljenje krompirja, ki je že danes oplemenitil moje kuharske sposobnosti, saj sem končno lahko pripravila pečen sladki krompir.
All in all - izlet v prestolnico fast-food opreme za dom je bil bolj ali manj zabaven, brez stresa ni šlo, bila pa je tudi dobra družba in švedska torta.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
FLUNSSA JE BEDNA
Napaka na kolesu je bila vseeno odpravljena, lahko sem se odpeljala na aikido. Tam sem skoraj obupala nad tehniko z lesenim mečem in kasneje s palico; vaja itak dela mojstra, ampak ne, če se vajencu pripravlja angina... Zvečer mi je potem še crknila žarnica delovne lučke. Končna ugotovitev: za vse sranje celega dneva verjetno obstaja le en vzrok.
Flunssa. Tako se je začela in se vlekla čez cel teden. Vem, da obstajajo mnogo hujše tegobe kot je navadna angina s prehladom. Vendar menim, da je vsak posameznik samosvoj in zaključen univerzum z lastnimi lestvicami težav; na tej je bila moja angina uvrščena visoko. Mah, flunssa on perseestä.
Dobra stran nje je bila, da sem brez slabe vesti lenarila doma; slaba pa, da sem zamudila aikido in bila nasploh brez volje. Pač flunssa. Še dobro, da so bili v našem supermarketu papirnati robci z alojo vero ravno ta čas v akciji...
Saturday, September 20, 2008
FLATS AND MATES
I guess those that were not confronted with the possibility to study in the place of their original being would probably experience these things I plan to write about much earlier. Anyway, Slovenia is also not Finland, students do not have so good oportunities to move away from their parents as soon as they finish high-school. If we Slovenians live close to the universities, we in most cases stay at home. Flats are expencive, scholarships are rare, and so on...
Last year, I was placed into a shared appartement; it was a small two-room flat. I had my own room, the bathroom and kitchen were shared with the flatmate. Never before I had been given the expirience to live with a person I had never met. People are put kind of randomely togehter, girls and boys are not mixed - and so one starts to live with the other one, like it or not these two have to share their everydays.
For me, and I guess also for every single one, such sharing can bring some nice and.. well, also not that pleasant thingies. I have found out what had made me a cranky shared-flat dweller, and decided to write it here. These are kind of general things, don't be tough on me if I'm overdoing...
- A small flat where kitchen table is placed right infront of my door.
- Flatmates visitors that sit behind that kitchen table and talk loud infront of my door.
- Flatmates visitors that are there when I don't feel like having any people around.
- Lots of visits.
- Unknown people that appear while I'm eating in the kitchen.
- Occupied kitchen.
- Having an unpleasant feeling when going home due to uncertain situation in the flat.
- Loud talking.
- Packed fridge.
- Smell of fried meat that stays on my clothes.
- Strange atmosphere due to personal problems.
- Putting personal problems too much on the other one; it's hard to help or listen sometimes.
- Old guys that dribble over young girlies.
- A boyfriend arriving at late hours at night.
- A boyfriend visiting for several days can become annoying, no matter how quiet and polite.
- Feeling that my privacy is too much observed or disturbed.
- Feeling sorry for not being tough enough and telling what bothers/bothered me.
People have different experiences in shared flats: I have heard some stories. Students are just put together, their habits differ, their characters differ, and in some cases, the cultures are also very appart. Forcing a friendship is perhaps not that good idea; in my opinion, the bond between flatmates grows, or it does not. However, I prefer sharing where my privacy is not disturbed, where I can feel relaxed and independant enough, and where lives of flatmates are not mixing too much.
Getting a one-room flat is, I guess, dream of every student here. However, waiting times for those flats are long. Meanwhile, we all have to learn how to be tolerant - with the other, and with one's self.
Sunday, June 01, 2008
KESÄN AIKA
The first day of June is the start of summer in Finland. Lectures at the University have finished, apart from various summer courses going on, schools have started their holidays, and our Aikido-dojo has switched to summer schedule of trainings.
Speaking about me, I have been very busy during the past days. Assignments would just not stop, and so I kept on writing or reading or whatever. Thinking and sleeping as well. Some parties, some gigs, meeting people, new bike and so on. As you have probably noticed, there was not much time to devote it to my blog; but it seems I will stay busy more or less all June. Another news is that I will soon be moving. Feels kind of funny. I have lived for some twenty years at one place, then I have switched the country all of a sudden, and now I am moving again within less than a year. Alright, this time, I will only change the location and the apartment in the same city.
The weather in the past days has not been that very hot here up North; pleasant twenty-something degrees. Also, the country has turned green, so very green and so very shiny. So much light! We have like 19 hours and 9 minutes of day at the moment, and this feels almost amazing. I am not even sure if there is any proper night left; at midnight, the sky is still bright. However, within twenty days, on Juhannus, the days will start to shorten again - and winter will soon be back to this places... but until then - rejoice, for it is summer!
Lovely and relaxed days I wish, my dear friends and fellow bloggers.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
COMPASSIONATE FASHION
These particular sneakers possess several functions. They are comfortable, they fit almost every way of dressing, from skirt to trousers, they are all in black, and for sure they signify an identification with a certain musically-related subculture. Yet there is more...
To make these shoes, not a single trace of leather has been used: they consist of canvas and rubber only. Thus, I can also show my vegetarian compassion to the world. For the production of my sneakers, no animal had to suffer, no animal has been killed for my pleasures. The only living thing that has possibly suffered was some kid, working in poor conditions for a very little money in some factory somewhere in Asia; but hei, who cares about that?Friday, February 29, 2008
LEAP DAY

Ei seesty pääni päällä,
tuo vanhat pilvet päivä uus.
Ja joka päivä täällä
on pieni ikuisuus.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
SKYWALKING TO SPRING
Past days were glittering with sun, it felt so magical after those dark winter days. Life is coming back. Happiness is awaking. It was well under zero last week, but regardless crispy cold air I have spotted some distant traces of forthcoming spring. Hope. The smell of spring, floating above deeply frozen grounds and waters.
Finally, I think such things occur on electric wires high above the ground if one lives in a neighborhood full of students and constant student parties.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
BLUE MONDAY, WHITE DAYS
Nowadays, I am quite piled up with essays. Constantly writing for over a month; or at least thinking what should I write. For sure I should be reading something at this moment, too. I am continuing my Aikido practice as well - and there I try to find additional energy for studies. My perception of Japanese term mae-geri, meaning front kick in Nanbudo (and Karate) has transformed into a strike with bokken, woden sword. Learning all the time. Nevertheless I have found out which moments can make my busy days. One of them is hot sauna after Aikido practice...
If the Monday was blue, now the other days are white. We have some snow! The landscape has turned into winter's tale; no matter the temperatures that are getting somehow lower. Today, the day was so clear and sunny. Yes, despite winter is still here, now even in all it's proper glory, the sun seems to be getting back its strength. It feels brighter than a couple of months ago. There is still some hope left. However, enjoy your days - and I will try to enjoy mine, desperately trying to complete the work.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
KAAMOKSEN KETTU
The main reason why I am introducing my fox to the world is actually the period of winter darkness, kaamos. Last year within this time, the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat featured online short animated stories. The series was called Kaamosajan kalanteri, The Calendar of Kaamos; now it does not exist online no more, too bad. But there was this main character: very interesting Finnish fox, living in its house, desperately trying to waste time during the period of winter darkness. The fox of the kaamos, kaamoksen kettu.
We do not have that real polar night in this part of Finland, but, believe me, there is lots of darkness anyway. I was well aware where am I going when deciding for Finland, Nordic countries have for sure good reputation of dark and depressive winters... but still.
I wonder how it would feel living in a waste, lonesome snowy land. Somewhere in Lapland, for instance. Nothing but snow and kaamos. I can imagine silent glittering of the snow in the moonlight, the blasts of northern lights and all other romantic thingies; however, this is only what I imagine. I guess, in reality, life in these frozen lands is not that lovely at all; even if there is no biting frost, there is still the great darkness.
However, every winter also brings the hope of spring, warmth and endless sunlight... and then, kaamoksen kettu will feel all awake again.




