New Blog: The Best is Here and Now

I am slowly starting up in a new blog address. It would be great if you followed me there: http://thebestishereandnow.blogspot.com/

Thanks for visiting!

Vacation Break

Summer Vacation - So happy it's finally almost here! I will be traveling for the next couple of weeks and most likely will not be posting much. And when I come back it's time to turn a new page... I am thinking of retiring this blog and starting a new one. Since I am not really a fashionista anymore, it feels a bit misleading calling myself that and not reflective of who I am today. The same goes for the title "The Best Is Yet to Come". I have come to think that perhaps the best is simply here and now. You just have to take the time to notice is and appreciate it. I will let you know when my new blog is up and I hope you will follow me there. Enjoy all the wonderful things that summer brings!

Bronx Zoo

A few weeks ago we took the kids to the Bronx Zoo. It's an amazing place. I do feel a bit sad for the animals, but the plus side is that there is much education about the real habitats of the animals and about importance of preservation and what we can do to help. It is fascinating to see these exotic animals close up. 

Lake George

Here are a couple of snapshots from our trip to Lake George. Such a beautiful place, very laid-back and relaxed. Far enough from New York to feel like you're really getting away and a completely different atmosphere.. What a great time we had!

Age is Just a Number

Or that is what I keep telling myself.

I am less than a month away from turning forty, and my feelings are all over the place. In some ways I am mourning my youth... And in some ways I am so thankful for the maturity, strength, clarity and wisdom gathered along the way.

My body has a mind of its own. It's not easy to lose weight anymore, no matter how hard I watch my diet. My energy level is down, and my skin is not as youthful as it was even a couple years ago. My hormones are on a roller coaster, and I'm not even close to menopause yet.

I get glimpses of seeing myself in the eyes of young people...and it surprises me to notice that they think I am old. I don't think that I've changed, but then I see my friends and notice the change in them. I guess I am looking at the mirror through my own denial..

I am a little bit disappointed with myself. Mostly because I don't feel that I have lived up to my full potential. It takes too much effort to do that! So I've been a bit lazy and scared to leave the comfort zone.

Age has made me realize that you cannot have everything. Life is full of compromises.

On the other hand, I do realize that I have achieved some wonderful things. I put myself through graduate school without taking loans, I have a good job in the financial industry, and most of all, three healthy, happy and intelligent daughters, and a happy marriage.

My life is certainly not over..just changing..hopefully for the better.

So what gives?

I don't know... I just know that I don't feel like celebrating my birthday.

Ruis

The Finnish Love their ruisleipa (rye bread). But not just any rye, it has to be all rye, baked with a certain traditional finnish recipe.

It has been impossible to find it in NYC, and throughout the years, there has been many of suitcases filled with this earthy, healthy bread coming home from Finland. It has been lugged around the world, on trains, plains and automobiles...frozen in large quantities in freezers, and eaten sparingly and lovingly over weeks and months.

When the supply swindled dangerously low, we began asking if anyone knows anyone coming from Finland soon. And sometimes we found a "courier", like the time when a friend's mom came to NY to shop, and packed her empty suitcase full of the rye bread. So much of it in fact, that it didn't all fit in my freezer!

But all that is thankfully behind us because this delicious bread is now available in Whole Foods and the Union Square farmer's market. It's baked by a Finnish baker and tastes totally authentic. The bread has become a huge success and hopefully production will grow so that it will be even more widely available.

So when we go to Finland next week, there's no need to load up on ruisleipa on our way back...

YOLO

You only live once. Better make the best of it. We took off on an impulse trip to Lake George at the Adirondack region, upstate New York. It's been great, no plans, no pressure, just laid back relaxation. A break also from emails, cell phones, computers, iPad, news, newspapers, anything that usually distracts our attention away from really being together.. The lake is beautiful and nobody wants to leave...

Housewarming Outfit

Yesterday I wore my new Marimekko dress to my sister-in-law's housewarming dinner. The dilemma at these type of events is always what to take with you, especially for people who have everything and are very particular about their stuff... Problem solved when I spotted the giant cupcake at the fancy neighborhood deli/bakery, Kitchen Kabaret. So cute and unexpected (and quite delicious too).

The gym was deserted on a Sunday afternoon, but my work-out was totally necessary, since I got a genereous helping of the cupcake too! I noticed one downside at the locker room though, there is no full length mirror!

Sand Everywhere

I have said it many times before, but I'll say it again: I LOVE living in Long Island and close to the beaches.

Yesterday was so hot it was the perfect day to take my gang to Jones Beach. We packed some picnic and sand toys and spent a few hours playing in the sand and water. Jones beach has good waves and my 9 year old learned to body surf. She is fearless!