my life, spirituality, travels and more
Santorini Travel Guide
Santorini Travel Guide
One of my passions is learning about life through travelling and exploring new things. I absolutely love seeing new places and learning about different cultures, customs and areas of the world. As we all know, traveling has been very limited for the past couple of years. Santorini had been on my bucket list (and vision board) for ages. So when we finally made the decision to start our summer vacation with the trip, I was beyond excited to see this natural wonder of the world! And it definitely did not let me down. Santorini exceeded all my expectations with its whitewashed villages, blue domed churches, friendly people and delicious food.
Where we stayed
When we were researching hotels, we were really torn about which town to stay in on the island. We had seen many instagram reels of “instagram versus reality” with people in line to snap their sunset shots and did not want to stay in a crowded spot. We had read that the two main areas to stay are Fira and Oia, but that there were other much quieter towns like Imerovigli, with a more sleepy vibe. We opted to skip the hustle and bustle and chose Imerovigli and Caldera’s Memories as our hotel. This decision turned out to be PERFECT and I would highly recommend this hotel and location if you’re looking to relax yet enjoy the beauty of the island. Not only is the view jaw-droppingly beautiful, the service, vibe and hotel was impeccable. The hotel has a large pool area overlooking the caldera, delicious breakfast, clean and cozy rooms, free parking and the friendliest staff. Breakfast is served each morning next to the beautiful pool area (or your room for an extra fee) and you can choose your meal options for the following day and also at what time you’d like to have it ready. They had great attention to detail and would bring us complimentary snacks to the pool while enjoying our time, recommend activities and restaurants. I made sure to give them a shoutout on Tripadvisor as well, as I was truly impressed with their service.
When to travel
When planning your trip, it’s good to know that peak travel time is July and August. If you’re traveling during this time, you can expect certain spots to be jam packed with tourists, especially the ones you’ve seen on instagram. Even if our trip was in July, we were happy with it our trip and didn’t find the crowds to be intolerable at all. I guess part of this could be to thanks to our choice to stay in Imerovigli.
A buggy gives you the freedom to drive around the island as if you had a car and they can carry two people.
Getting around
Getting around Santorini is easy. Santorini is small and distances are short. We opted to rent a buggy and found it to be a comfortable and easy way to move around. The longest distance we drove was 40 minutes, but in general it took less than 15 minutes to get from one town/spot to the next. If you don’t want to rent a buggy, another option would be to rent an ATV or a scooter. But whatever you do, don not rent a car! It’s way easier finding parking with a small vehicle and besides it’s super fun driving around in a buggy or ATV. One advantage with a buggy compared to an ATV, is that you don’t need to carry your helmets around with the buggy, as you would with an ATV.
All places get crowded around noon, be early to enjoy spaciousness and empty streets!
What to see:
Oia (pronounced Ia) is the most famous of all villages of Santorini and most surely worth a visit. I literally got goosebumps from its beauty and this is the place to get your instagram shots. That being said, it’s crowded and there are even lines for the most popular photo shot locations. These are the most famous “instagram spots” of Oia:
The Famous Blue Domes Viewpoint
Three Domes of Santorini Viewpoint
Church of Panagia Akathistos Hymn
Blue Dome Photo Spot
Main Street of Oia
Blue Dome with Orange Walls
Fira (Thera) is the busy capital of the little island and worth mentioning. Shopping, nightlife, restaurants with great food with views over the caldera. Busy vibe and jam packed with tourists, yet offering absolutely incredible views and sunsets.
Megalochori is a charming little village with narrow streets and rustic cafés. Without a doubt one of my favourite spots of Santorini and not at all as crowded as Fira or Oia. The village is located on a hill and offers an expansive view of the entire island.
Imerovigli is THE spot to escape the crowds. It stands at the highest point of the Caldera and is located approximately 3 kilometers from Fira. Sleepy, breathtakingly beautiful sunsets and the best food we ate was in this town.
Pyrgos is located on the highest spot on the island and the former capital. Picturesque & pretty everywhere you turn your head, however if you time is limited and you’d have to choose between whether to visit Megalochori or Pyrgos, I’d pick Megalochori.
In addition to beautiful views and whitewashed buildings, Santorini also offers plenty of beaches. The beaches are easy to get to and have plenty of amenities, such as sunbeds, umbrellas, bars, restaurants, and cafés. We visited Kamari, Perissa and Perivolos. Our favourite beach was Perivolos and our favourite beach club was Seaside Santorini, that being said it is on the more expensive side. We also saw the famous White beach and Red beach during our catamaran tour, yet did not visit them as we were only passing by.
Food:
In general the food was delicious, yet very expensive. Important to know: you should always make reservations in advance, especially if dining in Oia or Fira.
Below some of restaurants we ate at:
La Scala: located in Fira, this restaurant has an impressive, panoramic view of the Caldera and the endless deep blue of the Aegean sea. The service is quick and the calamari was delicious, it’s not a fine dining experience and you should be aware that people gather in front of the restaurant to take pictures just before sunset. Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Dear Elie: okay this is your go to for brunch. The service was superb and everything we had was delicious. They even make their own bread and marmalade. Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Avocado in Imerovigli: Hands down the best food we had during our entire trip was here. We were first a little hesitant to eat there, as the restaurant is not located on the cliff, meaning it doesn’t offer a view like so many other restaurants on the island. However, once we finally decided to give it a try (after three separate recommendations) we were AMAZED and did not regret our decision at all. If you go, you should have the Broken Mille-feuille as dessert (creme brulée, vanilla / chocolate ice cream, cocoa powder) and you’ll reach a state of Nirvana. You’re welcome. Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Our very first lunch in Santorini was at the White Lounge Restaurant and cost around 170 euros (okay with a few drinks) but still, that is A LOT for a salad, some bruschetta and feta. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this spot, even tho the view was spectacular. Star rating: ⭐⭐
Le Moustache in Imerovigli: this is your instagram paradise. If you follow me on the gram, you might have seen the reel where we’re first in the plane and then here. The ambiance is top notch and service very good. They even bring you wooden moustaches Food is quite tasty and I enjoyed my mango pie as dessert. Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mavro Restaurant in Imerovigli: Fine dining & very expensive, this restaurant did offer us the best views of the trip, yet the portions are over-prized, small and unfortunately the service is poor. Star rating: ⭐⭐
Terpsi N Oia: Terpsi N Oia is a traditional Greek restaurant in the heart of Oia. The views from this place were breathtaking overlooking the blue domes and the ocean and the food was quite nice. Star rating: ⭐⭐
What else to take into consideration:
🐛 Early bird catches the worm: the earlier you get up to visit each place the more quiet it’ll be. Every spot gets crowded around noon, so make sure to get up early and visit the towns before it gets busy. Especially if you’re looking to take pictures, and let’s be honest, that’s what everyone is doing there!
Do yourself a favour and leave your heels 👠 at home 😅. There are plenty of stairs and the pebbles streets make it impossible to wear heels. Trust me, I tried.
For how long should you stay? It’s a small island, 5 days or a week is plenty!
Enjoy your trip!
xx
Eva
Rewilding the skin: a 30 day journey to balancing the microbiome
*Commercial collaboration with Esse Skincare
Rewilding the skin - a 30 day journey to balancing the microbiome of my skin
Confession: I’ve never been diligent or good at taking care of my skin (or hair) for that matter as I’ve been quite lucky with having healthy skin. However, after moving back to Finland about three years ago, I noticed my skin did not like the shift from a tropical climate to a dry and cold environment. I slowly started to become aware of how this change took a toll on my skin, as it started getting dry and dull, not to mention the impurities and zits that would surface. I realized I needed to do something about it.
Pic: Johanna Keto Photography
Another confession: I’ve only been to a facial three times in my life. Once in Mexico and twice to Jolie Spa in Helsinki. I booked these spa visits in hope of a quick fix for my skin problems. Spoiler alert: turns out there’s no quick fix. That being said, I truly loved the way my skin felt after the visits, which was also the reason I went back. During these visits I learned that the line they use for their facials is called Esse Skincare. It’s worthwhile to mention that Esse Skincare is only sold by cosmetologists. Fast forward a couple months after my second spa visit, and I receive an inquiry about collaborating with Esse Skincare. At this point I was already familiar with some of their products as I used their cleanser and toner, but I still mixed them with other conventional beauty products. But this challenge was to to only use Esse Skincare products for 30 days and report back about my experience. The universe always has a funny way of creating these synchronicities when we are open to receiving. So of course I said yes. I was also excited to commit to a skin care regimen, as I sometimes (like mentioned) can be a bit sloppy with stuff like this.
About the line
The Esse Skincare line is inspired by nature and the idea with this challenge is to rewild the skin (hence the name of the challenge), which simply means that it’s all about bringing back the natural pH of the skin and rebuilding it with the help of probiotics. Interestingly it has been noted how we only have certain skin issues in Western cultures (results from poor diet, stress, pollution, disconnection from nature, hormonal issues, but also from toxic beauty products and too many “deep cleanses”). Skin deceases like acne or eczema are almost non-existent in hunter-gatherer communities. It’s also fascinating how for years, the industrial beauty standard has suggested that we get “healthy glowing skin” by deep cleansing and by applying synthetic chemicals to “treat” any problems. The problem with this solution however is how it strips our skin from all its natural oils.
The 30 day challenge gives your skin enough time to recreate harmony and to restore that symbiotic state between microbes and the skin. Microbes are often associated with the gut, but they also live on your skin. Your microbiome is actually a crucial part of your health, as it protects you from pathogens and is essential for healthy-looking skin. The line is 100% certified organic (by Ecocert) and infused with prebiotic nutrients to create an intervention of microbes that balance the ecology of the skin. All products hold a pH at 5.
The products I used in the 30 day challenge:
Esse Sensitive Cleanser - an ultra-gentle cleanser designed for sensitive skin that uses probiotic extracts
Esse Sensitive Toner - made for sensitive skin, this toner uses probiotic extracts and prebiotic nutrients to support a state of equilibrium in the skin’s microbiome
Esse Sensitive Nourish Moisturiser - a moisturiser that combines probiotic extracts and prebiotic nutrients to boost barrier function for sensitive skin.
Esse Sensitive Resurrect Serum - an anti-ageing hydrating and plumping serum for sensitive skin
Esse Sensitive Protect Oil - an oil that shields sensitive skin, offering it all round protection from environmental stresses
My experience
Day 1
Thoughts: Okay, I am ready to embark on this journey of taking care of my skin and being more systematic. I start my day by washing my face with cold water, by adding the toner, serum and moisturiser and some natural concealer to conceal my impurities. I only cleanse my face at night before adding the resurrect serum. I also decided to limit my makeup to only use organic cosmetics during this time to avoid any extra “stress” on my skin. My starting point was that my skin felt dry (especially the forehead), tired and tight and that I had lots of zits and impurities on my cheeks.
Day 10
Alright, 10 days of only using Esse Skincare and I can tell that the skin on my forehead is not feeling as “tight” anymore. Even if I still have impurities and pimples I feel that my skin is starting to get deeply nourished (it’s almost as if this feeling of quenching a thirst you’ve had for a long time). I notice that I appreciate this new softness and find myself adding moisturiser even twice a day. It’s funny how I used to avoid oil based skincare as I thought it would create more impurities or clog my pores. That’s not the case with this protection oil at all and it leaves a very “light feeling” on my skin.
Day 20
It’s interesting what you notice when you become acutely aware of your skin. I can see some improvement in my impurities but the biggest difference is in the change of how my skin feels more hydrated. Using these products at this time of the journey has become a natural part of my day and almost like a ritual.
Pic: Johanna Keto Photography
Day 30
30 days went by quick, I guess it’s not hard to commit to a new program after all. Now I am very used to using all these products and I wouldn’t trade them for something else. The biggest change I can tell visually is that the skin looks healthier and not only feels but looks less “tired”. There are also less impurities which is amazing. The biggest difference I can is the level of moist that my skin now holds and it feels like the moist is not just on the surface, but deeper if that makes sense. I feel like when I used to cleanse my skin before it would always end up feeling dry and “thirsty”, this sensation is long gone and I can feel an actual texture change in my skin. I obviously. intend to keep going with this regimen.
Are you familiar with this line?
Whatever your skin concerns are I recommend starting with the 30 day kit, it’s an easy way to change your skin care regimen in one go.
What is Divine Feminine energy?
What is divine feminine energy?
If you’ve found yourself scrolling through feminine empowerment content on Instagram, you’ve probably come across someone talking about the “divine feminine energy”. But the concept of this sacred feminine energy is way more than a new buzz word within the wellness field. The truth is, this energy has been repressed for ages and there’s a reason you see the hype everywhere today. It’s because it’s very much needed right now, just take a look at what’s going on in our world with war, exploitation of earth and our patriarchal societies with mostly white men in positions of power. We need to restore the harmonic balance between masculine and feminine energy within ourselves, but also in our societies.
Even if the word “feminine” may inherently make us think of the gender binary, divine femininity isn't all about gender, but rather about energy. So what then does it mean when we talk about this sacred or divine feminine energy. Let’s do a little back-pedaling to begin with. First, in terms of energy, we know that everything is energy and that we are energetic beings. We all hold both masculine and feminine energy, despite of our gender. The Divine Feminine is an energy, which cannot necessarily be seen or heard, but she can be felt.
This divine feminine energy exists in all living beings on earth, including the ocean, moon, and earth. This energy is also known as shakti, yin, and lunar energy, and is often connected symbolically to the moon, Gaia (Mother Earth), and water. Her energy is loving, abundant, creative, nurturing, soft, grounded and she holds firm boundaries. She is intuitive and her energy is flowing. This energy of the divine feminine is also embodied in basic archetypal patterns that exist in all cultures — the Mother, the Virgin/Maiden, the Medicine Woman Healer/Witch/Sorceress, and the Wise Woman/Crone. Archetypes are universal patterns of energy found in the collective unconscious.
As I mentioned, we live in a world where the divine feminine energy has been oppressed. We see this in many different forms, not just in how our governments are led (with the exception of Finland having five female women in lead), but also with how we are treating our planet. There is clearly an imbalance that is earning to be healed. The call to unleash the divine feminine is a deep calling in our souls to step forth, to align with this energy and heal the wound of the oppression. This is why embracing the sacred feminine is an essential contribution to the healing and transformation of the world. You have to start with healing yourself before you can heal or help anyone else, you cannot simply pour from an empty cup (see my funny instagram reel for this).
But how do we then heal or align with this divine feminine energy?
Start with feeling yourself. Ask yourself questions, such as “how am I nurturing myself?” but also, “how I am neglecting myself”. Set firm and healthy boundaries to put yourself first.
Pic: Johanna Keto Photography
A deeper connection with your body and sensuality. Sensuality is not only sexuality, but also creativity. How can you tap into this creative force that lives within you? How can you bring more playfulness into your life? Movement is medicine, what can you do today to connect deeper with your body.
If you’re a woman, become aware of your cyclical nature and learn about your internal ebbs and flows.
Allow yourself to receive. The feminine energy is abundant in nature, you don’t need to compete in order to get what you want. Be you. Be authentic. Be open to receiving.
Feminine energy is all about connecting in circles with others. How can you connect with your community, how can you find a new partnerships, collaborations and teamwork?
Tap into your intuition. We are all intuitive beings by nature. What does your inner wisdom centre tell you? What is your way of being intuitive (there are four main ways: clairvoyance (seeing), clairaudience (hearing), claircognizance (knowing), clairsentience (feeling)?
How do you nurture your feminine side? Do you find yourself constantly just doing doing doing? Feminine energy is not linear, it has its rhythms and cycles, just like nature does. You can not demand yourself to perform 100% everyday in the same way, nor does nature do this. Understanding and learning more about this energy has resulted in more compassion and kindness towards myself. If you’re curious to learn more about feminine energy, I truly recommed picking up the book “Women who run with the wolves” by Clarissa Pinkola Estés.
I’d love to hear from you, how do you align with this energy?
Health is your greatest wealth - my experience with Susa's Deli (home delivered healthy meal plan service)
*In collaboration with Susa’s Deli
New Year - New me? - A cliche worth committing to!
Well hello hello hello and happy new year everyone!
Each year, there is a desire in each one of us to do a little better than we did the previous year, and in particular when it comes to taking care of our bodies and our overall health. With infection rates on the rise and new variants appearing from right and left, there’s even a deeper emphasis on health this year. Boosting the immune system is not only good for you, but actually provides protection against disease by creating a barrier that stops those nasty invaders (antigens) from entering the body. Perhaps this profound significance of staying healthy will also aid us all to not only making, but actually sticking to our new years resolutions of a “new healthier me” this year?
Many people may think that new year’s resolutions are nothing but silly cliches that people create to make themselves feel better. Personally however, I find that new years are magical. Energetically they offer us a fresh start a clean slate and therefor an opportunity to start anew and create better healthier habits. I actually once turned a new year’s resolution of becoming vegetarian into a 12 year lifestyle commitment (until I noticed I was low on iron).
You can check out their different meal plans here.
What makes the first week of January even a little more special for me, is that both mine and my boyfriend’s birthdays happen to fall on that very first week of the year. This year we were lucky to kick it off and celebrate all these festivities with a collaboration with a small family run meal delivery business, Susa’s Deli.
Susa’s Deli is a prepared meal home delivery service that currently offers three different plans: 7 days, 30 days and for two weeks. You can choose between a vegetarian or mixed meal plan. You’ll get three meals per day, including breakfast, lunch and dinner. All meals are made with healthy and nutritious ingredients, using fresh local produce and you set up the drop off times according to your schedule.
If you’ve followed me for a while (or read some of my previous blog posts), you may also know that I am really into subtle energy, and that I also emphasise Albert Einstein’s quote of “everything is energy”. The food you eat, the thoughts you think and the actions you take. Since food is a huge source of energy and an actual component of what makes you into you (a.k.a. you are what you eat) it is extremely crucial for your overall health and wellbeing to eat healthy. When we eat nutritious rich food, not only do we feel better, but we vibrate on a higher frequency, and therefor have more energy, feel better and actually think clearer.
One of the beautiful things about Susa’s is, that all their meals are home made using local produce and Finnish ingredients. You can check out their list of the producers they use here. I enjoyed all the meals, but my personal favourites were the green smoothie (pictured), veggie soup, chicken curry, mozzarella wraps, sweet potato patty pasta, quinoa salad and fish soup. Another aspect that I enjoyed about this service, is the easiness and convenience of it. Instead of spending time (money and energy) on thinking about what to cook and what to buy from the store, you have these lovely ready made meals that you only need to heat up. It also made me think how this service would be very suitable and helpful for busy people or families alike.
Another thing that felt great about this collaboration was connecting and working with another small business. When I received the first delivery, I was touched by the hand written note explaining each meal, which made it feel very personal.
Interestingly, there was a strong synchronicity of me landing this collaboration. Just a couple weeks before being contacted by Susa’s, I had connected with a customer at my Pop Up Shop who spoke very highly about Susan (one of the founders of the company) and her other services as a channeller. As it also happens, I’ve actually once had a session with her many many years ago, even before my years moving to Mexico. This made it all feel very aligned and like a collaboration meant to happen. As I am a strong believer in synchronicities (instead of coincides), perhaps there’s also reason you’re also reading this blog post… perhaps you've decided that the coming year is dedicated to changing your habits and start living a healthier life? If so, I truly recommend this service. Not only is is all of the above, but it’s quite affordable in my opinion! You can check out their website here and the different meal plans here and give them a follow on their instagram here. We all know covid-19 has been tough on small businesses, so let’s choose wisely the ones we support and buy from!
Cheers to a happy healthy 2022!
Xx,
Eva
Wrapping up 2021 & What I learned from hosting Pop Up Shop(s) in Helsinki
Well hello hello, long time no blog.
Thanks for tuning back into my scribbles! We are soon to be wrapping up the year, so I wanted to take a moment to reflect upon this past year and also share some of my experiences from now having hosted two Pop Up Shops for my yoga clothing brand, Moonah Wear. And, yes, if you’ve lived under a rock, this may be new information for you, but I launched my own sustainable yoga clothing line back in 2020.
Having my own yoga clothing company, in addition to being an entrepreneur within the fields of wellness and yoga has been a rollercoaster and such a massive learning experience. I’d be lying if I wouldn’t also say it’s at times been challenging, frustrating, scary and even stressful. That being said, I get to work with things I love.
Okay, so I think it’s fair to say this year has been a crappy sequel to 2020 (in terms of the pandemic). Right now, infection rates are on the rise and new restrictions in place here in Helsinki (hence having the time to write this blog post as all yoga studios are currently closed). Looking at the bright side however, it seems as if this new variant may be less dangerous 🤷♀️. Anyways, this blog post is most definitely not about the big C, but neglecting its affect on us all when reflecting upon the last year would also be disingenuous. The toll it has had on us small business owners is devastating.
If you follow me on instagram, you may have seen my stories last year about me missing out on all Christmas Sales with Moonah Wear due to the pandemic and various production problems (not that I expect you to remember them lol 😅). Due to that experience, I had decided that history was not going to repeat itself this year. This is why I had decided to book a venue for hosting my very first Pop Up Shop in the heart of Helsinki before Christmas. Turns out renting a beautiful venue in the city centre is not only expensive, but quite challenging as a one (wo)man show. Long story short and a few meetings later, the lovely Pukhraj Ranjan from Moi Namaste and I decided to team up as we share the same values, are both female entrepreneurs working within the sustainable textile industry and both quite new to the world of running our own businesses. Together we decided to co-host our beautiful Mindful Moments at Spalt PR on Iso Roobertinkatu 30 in Helsinki in November and then another Pop Up Shop in Ullanlinna on Tehtaankatu in December.
As my business is an e-commerce business, the whole idea with the Pop Up Shop was to create a week filled with different events so that people would get a chance to get the full brand experience, meet up with the founder, hear the story behind Moonah Wear and get a chance to see and try on the yoga wear in person. We made sure to create an interesting schedule with free events everything from sound baths, yoga, a full moon circle to even an influencer event with Champagne Yoga.
Our beautiful Instagram wall wouldn’t have been the same without the Peacock chair from Parolan Rottinki. Pic by Johanna Keto.
The key is having a killer Instagram Wall
But, the one thing that lured in customers and people alike (in addition to the great location in Punavuori), was our amazing Instagram Wall. And this, we wouldn’t have been able to pull off without some of our very generous sponsors including Parolan Rottinki with the most stunning Queen chair (they call it the Peacock chair, but honestly, I felt more like a Queen on my throne on that chair 👸) and Cafe Cucca with their flower installation.
The chair was such a hit, because not only did almost every single customer and guest snap a photo of themselves on it, they also shared it on their socials, tagging us and generating more traffic and brand awareness for us.
Another great advantage with the chair was that we had positioned it just in front of the main entrance to the shop with a neon sign saying “This must be the place”. This created curiosity in all the people passing by, as they would see the “throne” and that sign, eventually wanting to come check out what it was all about.
MY TAKEOFF FROM HOSTING TWO POP UP SHOPS
Hosting a week filled with events and manning a shop morning to night was tiresome, but such a great experience. We got to meet with so many customers in person and to share our stories and make new connections. I also believe it created more brand awareness and even a small buzz for our brands during that one week period. It did result in more sales than a regular e-comm week as well. I also loved working and collaborating with another woman owned business, as it can be quite lonely at times running my own company. We even created a collaboration Kimono (the Lunar Kimono) as a lovechild from our collab. The Kimono is made out of GOTS certified cotton with a traditional block printing technique honouring Indian craftsmanship.
Our second Pop Up Shop was not as successful as the first one we hosted in Punavuori. I think for a number of reasons: first, the location was not as great as the one of our initial Pop Up, secondly, we didn’t have the same killer Instagram wall (even if we had the gorgeous chair on display), third, nor did we host daily free events, as the space was smaller, not to mention the infection rates were on the rise again. Now in hindsight, I am happy we hosted both Pop Up Shops, as I definitely learned so much from both of them. In 2022 I am most definitely looking to host more Pop Up Shops, making sure to create an Instagram Wall in each single one and perhaps even taking Moonah Wear on a tour to my beloved Sayulita, Mexico.
But in the meantime, stay tuned and follow Moonah Wear on instagram check out the most beautiful chair from Parolan Rottinki, as they also recently just restocked (it’s been out of stock for a while) and make sure to also give me a follow to stay in the know of my upcoming shenanigans.
Thanks so much for the read and wishing you a happy, abundant 🎉NEW YEAR 2022 🎉
X,
Eva
Below you will find a mixture of some pictures from the Pop Up Shop at Spalt, Pukhraj and me, Moonah Wear shots, as well as the collaboration Kimono and the new High Priestess Hoodie.
"Why am I so tired"... sound familiar? Sometimes rest is not enough! + GIVEAWAY
In collaboration with puhti.fi
I guess it’s safe to say this year has been heavy in many ways. The world is faced with a pandemic that is causing us distress, worry, fear and anxiety both health wise, economically and socially, not to mention the polarization on how we handle and view these exceptional times. Even if we might fall into the group that’s not “that affected”, or are not in the so called “risk group”, the continuous collective worry, media overload and fact that the pandemic is wreaking havoc worldwide can be devastating for the nervous system. No wonder we might feel a little tired, overwhelmed or even depressed.
To be frank, even if I give out a quite positive image of myself on my social media feed, this spring, summer and fall have been pretty heavy for me as well. As you might know, I recently launched my very own yoga clothing line made out of ocean waste, called Moonah Wear (check it out!), which has obviously been so so exciting, but simultaneously super scary. I’ve invested not just a big chunk of my savings into this new company, but also so much time and energy.
It has also felt (and still feels) scary to be starting a new venture during these very unusual times with a downward spiraling economy. If you’ve just found my blog or social, you might not know that in addition to running my yoga clothing line, I teach yoga as my profession, which obviously also has been compromised during the pandemic. Even so, I still consider myself to be very privileged, lucky and blessed to be working with what I love and quite well off compared to many many others that have lost their jobs or even worse. But what I do want to highlight instead, and what I am here to openly share about are my feels in a very real and vulnerable way. So, as much as it’s been super exciting to be working with this passion project, it’s definitely also been a lot.
Even so, sometimes feeling tired is not just a symptom from being overworked, overwhelmed or having an overstimulated nervous system. Sometimes you might actually be lacking important minerals that are crucial for your overall health. And at times, it’s the sum of all of the above. Yet, making sure your body has all it needs to function properly is key 🔑.
I first started feeling tired as the days started getting shorter and the weather started cooling off. I figured it must be the decrease of sunlight (which it actually also is), but I didn’t really think that much of it. Slowly and surely it would get worse and I had some mornings when I actually struggled to get out of bed 😞. It made me think, this can’t just be from “being tired” or “overworked”.
Luckily, I was able to team up with Puhti , which is a company that offers a variety of packages to scan your blood to give you an idea of your overall health. They offer laboratory tests (without a doctor’s referral) and help with interpreting the results.
Nature is medicine, yet sometimes nature & sleep is not all we need.
Shot by Jonna Monola. Halti sleeping bag.
The results come in super quick and I actually got most of my results already on the same day. Oh, and by the way I am scared shitless of needles, but their lab staff is super friendly and understanding and they actually offered me a juice box as I started feeling a little nauseous during the blood test 😊.
Before I share my results I’ll just drop the symptoms of both ferritin and Vit D deficiency here below, let me know if you can relate 😅:
Signs and symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency might include:
Fatigue.
Bone pain.
Muscle weakness, muscle aches, or muscle cramps.
Mood changes, like depression.
Signs and symptoms of low ferritin levels might include:
unexplained fatigue.
dizziness.
chronic headaches.
unexplained weakness.
ringing in your ears.
irritability.
leg pains.
shortness of breath.
Vitamin D is important for health. Some of its roles in the body include:
helping with the absorption of calcium
maintaining healthy bones
regulating genes and cell growth
preventing osteoporosis
modulating the immune system (via Medicalnewstoday)
Ferritin isn’t the same thing as iron in your body. Instead, ferritin is a protein that stores iron, releasing it when your body needs it. (via Healthline.com)
I had never before had any similar tests taken, so for me it was super interesting to see “my health on paper” so to speak. It made me emphasize with people that have hypochondria, as it was actually super fascinating having all this new information to dwell upon now on “paper”.
And waddaya know, I was deficient in both Vit D & ferritin.
Days are getting shorter, weather is getting colder. Shot by Jonna Monola.
As you can see below on the first chart (text in Finnish) my result for D vitamin falls into the red zone, meaning I am D vitamin deficient.
I am also low on ferritin, as it falls into the “alert zone” just before the red zone. Please note: I’ve been on a vegetarian diet for 10+ years.
Luckily, both of these deficiencies can be reversed with supplements. If you live in a sunny place, you should get enough Vit D from spending at least 20 min outside, but if you reside on the Northern Hemisphere and have long, dark winters 😱🥶 you’re most likely going to be needing some extra Vit D. (PS. I highly recommend checking out Puhdas + and my discount code EVA25 for any purchases).
So, the lesson here is: if you’re suspecting you might be lacking in any vitamins or minerals or having any of the above mentioned symptoms: check yourself!! Health is the greatest wealth, fo reals! Sometimes sleeping more, or resting more, or taking “you time” is simply not enough, especially if you might be deficient in some super important minerals/irons. I truly and highly recommend getting yourself checked, especially now as we are moving towards darker times. Puhti is giving away one free blood screening, so make sure to comment on my blog post, as one of the commentators will WIN A FREE blood scan (participant must be in Finland). Winner will be announced in a week from now, on Sunday, Nov 1st. Yay!
Stay healthy,
xx
Eva
Easy vegan chocolate vanilla swirl mousse - with only 5 ingredients 🤎🤍
In collaboration with Fazer Aito
The world’s easiest vegan chocolate vanilla swirl mousse - with only 5 ingredients
I’m so excited to share this simple yet indulgent vegan chocolate mousse recipe to you guys that me and my good friend and fellow yogini, Jonna threw together! Rich, creamy and fluffy - this is your ultimate chocolate & vanilla fix 😋! This super easy recipe only consists of five main ingredients and is so quick to make, you’ll whip it together in no time even if your guests are already at your house, or why not treat yo’self and make a sweet quick snack for yourself to celebrate, well, life. Because why not. Without further ado, let’s dive in.
The following amounts are for two people, so just divide the amount if you’re making it yourself, double if for four, etc. You get the math 😊:
What you need (for two persons:
🍌1 small ripe banana
🥛🌾1 Aito Vaahtoutuva Kaura Vaniljakastike (oat vanilla sauce that is completely gluten and dairy free, made out of Finnish oats. You can use this vanilla sauce as it is, or whip it for a more fluffy texture).
🍯2 tbsp of agave syrup
🤎2-3 tbsp of cacao powder (start with two teaspoons and check the flavour once blended. Add more to suit taste.)
🥑1 ripe avocado (Make sure your avocado is truly ripe. If it is too hard it won’t blend properly.)
🧂pinch of salt
How to (shortest instructions ever):
➡️Simply combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor (with the exception of the Aito vanilla oat sauce) until completely smooth.
➡️Pour chocolate mousse and Aito Vaahtoutuva Kaura Vaniljakastike in layers into serving cups. You can whip the vanilla sauce if you prefer a more fluffy texture.
➡️For decoration you can add strawberries, blueberries, coconut flakes and chia seeds.
Enjoy!
For more recipes, check out www.fazeraito.fi
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Suomeksi 🇫🇮
Kaupallisessa yhteistyössä Fazer Aito
Maailman helpoin suklaavaniljamousse- vain 5 aineksella
Välillä täytyy vähän herkutella, ja mikä sen ihanempaa kuin vegaaninen suklaavaniljamousse, nam 😋! Tää on yks mun lempparijälkkäreistä, jonka teimme yhdessä hyvän ystäväni ja kollegani Jonna Monolan kanssa. Tää mousse on taivaallinen, sillä se on täyteläinen, kermainen ja suussasulava ja mikä parasta, se on täysin vegaaninen ja superhelppo ja nopea tehdä! Tarvitset ainoastaan viisi ainesta ja sen tekeminen on niin vaivatonta, että voit huoletta myös loihtia tämän reseptin sun vieraille, vaikka he olisivatkin jo kylässä - tai sitten pyöräytät sen ihan vaan itsellesi täydelliseen hemmotteluhetkeen.
Ainekset kahdelle hengelle:
🍌1 pieni kypsä banaani
🥛🌾1 Aito Vaahtoutuva Kaura Vaniljakastike Tämä ihana maidoton ja gluteeniton ja kotimaisesta kaurasta valmistettu vaniljakastike sopii tähän reseptiin käytettäväksi sellaisenaan tai kuohkeaksi vaahdotettuna!
🍯2 tl agavesiirappia
🤎2-3 tl kaakaojauhetta (aloita kahdella teelusikallisella, ja kokeile makua kun sekoitettu, voit lisätä oman maun mukaan.)
🥑1 kypsä avokado (On tärkeää, että avokado tosiaan on kypsä, kovaa avokadoa on vaikea blenderöidä muuten!)
🧂kevyt ripaus suolaa
Ohjeet (ja hyvin lyhyet sellaiset):
➡️ Yksinkertaisesti lisää kaikki ainekset blenderiin tai monitoimikoneeseen (paitsi Aito Vaahtoutuva Kaura Vaniljakastike) ja sekoita, kunnes massa on sileää
➡️ Lusikoi seuraavaksi kerroksittain suklaamoussea ja Kaura Vaniljakastiketta annoskuppeihin, voit toki myös vaahtouttaa vaniljakastikkeen, jotta lopputulos on vieläkin kuohkeampi!
➡️Koristele haluamallasi tavalla (anna moussen jähmettyä hetki jääkaapissa ennen koristelua). Me käytettiin mansikoita, mustikoita, kookoshiutaleita ja chia-siemeniä. Pikantin lisäyksen saat vielä esim. sitruunamelissan lehdestä!
Nauti!
Löydät lisää ihania respetejä myös täältä www.fazeraito.fi
Uudistunut Aito Kaura Vaniljakastike on nyt myös vaahtoutuva ja gluteeniton! Tää jälkkäri on vaan niin best! Suosittelen!
Our New Home: a preview
In collaboration with SMEG
Our New Home: a preview
If you follow me on the gram, you might have lately noticed an increase in sunset shots in my stories. The reason is, that’s our new view from our brand new home. We’ve recently moved into a new building with a stellar ocean view just a stone’s throw away from the heart of Helsinki. I counted that I’ve lived in 17 different homes (in three different countries) before this apartment, which is the first apartment that I have bought (well with the bank 😅).
We’ve now been living here for a couple months and I still feel like I need to pinch myself as it feels like a dream. Having lived in Mexico for so long and having been in such close proximity to the ocean and nature, I’ve really missed seeing the ocean on a daily basis and now having this view and being able to watch the sunsets from the convenience of my own home, I feel connected to the ocean again. I find it very calming and soothing to just stare out at the sea without doing anything else.
We bought the apartment last year before it was completely built, without fully knowing if we would love it when we were going to move in. Some would perhaps argue that is buying a pig in a poke, however as my boo works within the field of real estate and property management, I trusted his expertise on this. Obviously we got to see numerous illustrative 3D drawings and images to get an understanding of what the apartment would be like, its layout and design. We also got to pick all the materials, such as the flooring, kitchen countertop and backslash, bathroom tiles along with choosing between a bigger wardrobe or a sauna (we obviously chose the latter). We also got to pay a visit to the construction site a couple times to see the process.
Buying a new build means we didn’t have any pre-conceived ideas of furniture arrangements from the previous occupants, so we had the opportunity to create a layout that works perfectly for our needs. The apartment is a three-room apartment with a sauna and a balcony and as the apartment is high up with big windows with lots of natural light, we wanted to keep the airy feel and keep it light. We both love Scandinavian design, but I am very into well, I guess what some people would describe as ‘bohemian’ decor. So we had to balance out the boho with some clean Scandi elements. We both love small sprinkles of colour and this is something we are slowly bringing in piece by piece.
It’s all in the details
Head over to my instagram to win a SMEG toaster like this!
Decorating your home in a style you love doesn’t happen overnight. For those of you who have moved know that it takes a while before your furniture and all items find their new places. What really makes a room design special are the little details and for this reason, I was super excited to team up with SMEG from Idelux to collaborate with their kitchen appliances. I am obsessed with their style, 50’s design and colors and in love with my mint coloured toaster and kettle, which sit in our kitchen perfectly. I am also very excited to host a giveaway on my instagram feed, for you to able to win a SMEG TOASTER of your own. Make sure to participate! (in Finland only 🇫🇮)
Even if our home isn’t exactly how I envision it to be yet, I still am quite happy and pleased with how it is right now and the process of slowly collecting more beautiful pieces one item at a time. It’s a creative process and it’s not easy to decorate slowly, it is hard patiently piecing things together over time. But I guess that’s the beauty of it too.
Work in progress…
One of our bigger projects is making our balcony cozy, as it’s quite a large space. I am content with the table and cushions that I got from Nougat as they match the style I want to create perfectly. Nougat offer these tables in two different sizes and have a beautiful collection of decoration items for you to explore, if you live in Helsinki. The best bet is to go check out their showroom in Kalasatama. We are also planning to add a wooden flooring to the balcony to soften the feel, plants and more floor cushions to create a cozy little nook to read a book, enjoy the sunset or perhaps have a glass of wine.
Another still not finished project is the second bedroom that is currently my boyfriends work space (gaming room 🙄)/my yoga space. We are still deciding on how to decorate the room, but in the meantime it works to keep the space quite empty, as I’ve used it to teach yoga virtually during the era of covid-19.
Last but not least, we are also in the hunt for beautiful lamps as lighting has a huge impact on the way a space looks and feels, and it can make or break an interior-design scheme. If you have any ideas on beautiful bedroom lamps, please hit me up!!!
That’s all for now!
Hope you enjoyed this post!
Much love,
Evita
Easy VEGAN carrot cake 🥕
My favourite carrot cake recipe, that also happens to be vegan
The following recipe is probably one of my favourite desserts on planet earth: CARROT CAKE 😋The cool thing about this easy recipe is, that it’s 100% vegan and completely cruelty free, meaning it contains zero animal products in it. Extra bonus: It’s also gluten free and made without refined sugar. It’s crazy how delicious desserts you can make without any milk, butter or - wheat. This carrot cake is fluffy and quite moist and delish.
What you need (crust):
5 cups of shredded carrots
2 cups of oat milk
5 cups of buckwheat
2 1/2 cups coconut sugar
1 1/2 cups of coconut oil
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp cardamom
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Frosting:
100 grams of unflavoured cream cheese
1/2 cup vegan butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 - 4 cups sifted organic powdered sugar (you can use less)
How to:
➡️Peel & shred carrots. Heat oven to 175 Celsius.
➡️To a large mixing bowl, add oat milk, coconut oil, sugar, cinnamon, salt, cardamom and cinnamon. In another bowl, mix buckwheat with baking soda and baking powder. Then, combine these two bowls and mix thoroughly, however avoid making the batter too runny. Add shredded carrots.
➡️Add batter into a pan that you’ve oiled with coconut oil and bake for 45 minutes
➡️Let the cake cool down for at least 30 minute before adding frosting.
➡️To make frosting, simply whisk everything in a bowl and spread on top of the cake. Decorate with walnuts or shredded carrots.
TIPS to consider 👩🏻🍳:
💡Tip: so if you prefer a less moist version, you can simply reduce the amount of carrots and leave it for a little bit longer in the oven.
💡Tip: If you don’t want to use any sugar, supplement it with honey or maple syrup!
💡Tip: Do not use packaged pre-shredded carrots because they are hard and dry.
💡If you melt the coconut oil, make sure all of the other cake batter ingredients (carrots included) are room temperature.
Let me know what you think 😋
ENJOY!
XX
Eva
ESSENTIAL OILS 101: Essential oils to balance your 7 chakras
In collaboration with Puhdas+ use code EVA25 to get -25% off
ESSENTIAL OILS 101: Essential oils to balance your 7 chakras
If you’re into natural wellness, surely at this point you must have stumbled upon essential oils. The world of essential oils is vast and can feel somewhat overwhelming with so many different oils and usages. I decided to create a guide, that can help you navigate through the world of essential oils, using the chakras (energy centers of the subtle body) as your map.
Before me dive into these, let’s cover the basics first. An essential oil is a concentrated liquid made from parts of certain plants like leaves, herbs, barks, roots, seeds and rinds into a concentrated oil through extraction. The idea is to capture the flavors, scents, and overall beneficial properties from the plants into potent oils than can be used topically.
You can use essential oils, well, for a variety of things including; aromatherapy, treating skin conditions, soothing muscle inflammation, headaches and so much more. Another lovely way to use essential oils is using a diffuser. I use the Ultrasonic Aroma Diffuser from Puhdas+ and absolutely love it, as it acts both as a diffuser and a humidifier, and is perfect drier climates (such as Finland).
The easiest form of usage, is to simply apply a few drops of the oil in your hands, rub your hands together and then inhale the scent. Even though I root for natural products, please note that even natural substances can be irritating or cause allergic reactions. Like anything else you put on your skin, my recommendation is to test a little bit on a small area and see how your skin responds.
Some of my favourites from Puhdas+
Certain oils, such as rose, ylang ylang, lavender (my absolute favourite 😍) help you relax and are good to use before going to bed when you want to wind down. Peppermint oil is great for treating headaches and migraine attacks, whereas ginger oil can help ease discomforts of the stomach and bowel. Lemongrass oil serves as a natural repellent for mosquitos and insects. Essential oils can also be used to freshen up things like laundry. Like I mentioned in the beginning, there’s a myriad of ways you can use essential oils and to cover them all would probably take a book or two 😅, for that reason, I decided to approach the subject through the Chakra System. Below you will find my favourite oils and which chakra they relate to.
Root Chakra
This chakra governs stability, security, your primal needs and feeling grounded and connected to Mother Earth.
Color: Red
Location: base of the spine
Physical manifestation: kidneys, adrenals
Essential oils to activate/balance: cinnamon (my top pick), myrrh, patchouli, cedarwood
Sacral Chakra
This chakra is related to your emotions, sexuality, pleasure and sensuality.
Color: orange
Location: just below the belly button (by the reproductive organs)
Physical manifestation: reproductive organs
Essential oils to activate/balance: sweet orange, ginger, jasmine, ylang ylang, clary sage
Solar Plexus Chakra
This chakra is about our personal power, will and courage.
Color: yellow
Location: stomach
Physical manifestations: stomach (digestion), gallbladder, liver
Essential oils to activate/balance: lemon, peppermint, rosemary, lemongrass
Heart Chakra
This chakra is the expression of love, compassion and joy.
Color: green (or a rosy pink)
Location: chest
Physical manifestations: heart, arms, hands
Essential oils to activate/balance: rose, lavender, bergamot, thyme
Throat Chakra
This chakra is governs our expression, truth, speaking up but also our ability to listen to others.
Color: blue
Location: throat
Physical manifestations: lungs, respiratory system
Essential oils to activate/balance: eucalyptus, palmarosa, camomile ginger, lemon
Third Eye Chakra
This chakra is our wisdom center, connecting to the unseen, our psychic abilities and intuition.
Color: indigo
Location: between eyebrows
Physical manifestations: eyes, head, lower brain, pituitary gland
Essential oils to activate/balance: clary sage, bay, peppermint
Crown Chakra
This chakra is about our connection to the divine (source), unity, giving us access to higher states of consciousness.
Color: white
Location: crown of the head (above the head)
Physical manifestations: brain, pineal gland
Essential oils to activate/balance: lavender, sandalwood, frankincense
Make sure to take advantage of this generous discount code from Puhdas+ use code EVA25 to get -25% off your purchase!
That’s all for now,
Best,
Eva
Pictures by Jonna Monola
10 ways to whiten your teeth naturally and my review of Blackwood by Splat 🖤🌲
Sponsored blog post by Splat
10 ways to whiten your teeth naturally and my review of Blackwood by Splat 🖤🌲
Ever since I was a little girl, I remember looking up to all the beautiful Hollywood stars with their gorgeous, perfect white smiles, thinking to myself; “geez, I want that too”. Having a radiant smile is contagious and I truly love these following quotes and find them to be true; “a smile is the prettiest thing you can wear” and “a smile is the most beautiful curve on a woman’s body”.
However, if you’re feeling insecure about your smile, smiling can even become a struggle, which is sad, since smiling actually boosts your immune system, because your whole body relaxes when you smile. Many feel hesitant to undergo laser treatments, which is understandable, but luckily there are ways to whiten and brighten your teeth naturally, without synthetic measures.
When I was asked to collaborate with Splat, I was very excited, since not only have I always aimed for a whiter smile, but I also love to choose natural, sustainable products and I try to be eco-conscious about my choices. This toothpaste happens to be made out of natural ingredients (up to 96% ), including activated charcoal from Karelian birch trees (which whitens effectively), natural menthol that refreshes your breath, and juniper extract (great for keeping your gums healthy). Oh, not to mention the product is completely cruelty-free and sustainable (happy dance 🕺).
Below, you will find my 10 top tips for whitening your teeth naturally, including my product review of the Blackwood toothpaste by Splat.
Blackwood by Splat 🌱🖤(including activated charcoal from Karelian birch trees): I’ve been using Blackwood by Splat for a couple weeks now, and in all honesty, even if I was excited to try it out, I was also a little suspicious in the beginning. The reason is that even if I do prefer natural products, not all of them work as well as conventional ones. Let’s take natural deodorants as an example 🙈 (side note, if you’ve found one that works, please holler at me).
Luckily, I was positively surprised with Blackwood. So, when I first started using the toothpaste, I was a little wary as the toothpaste is completely black. That being said, I was also intrigued and it felt very different from what I’m used and almost counter intuitive (who knew it would take the blackest toothpaste to make the whitest teeth). As soon as I started brushing my teeth, I was pleasantly surprised, as I immediately noticed the fresh scent and refreshing taste. I instantly liked the product and was happy and quite relieved actually (imagine to write a review for something you wouldn’t like 😅).
Probably the best thing about it was, that already after one single week, I started noticing a difference and felt that my smile was looking brighter. The more noticeable difference was after two weeks, when I felt that my teeth had actually turned brighter. In a nutshell: I absolutely recommend this product, because not only is it natural, sustainable and cruelty free- it actually does whiten your teeth when used consistently.
Practice oil pulling: Every morning for 20 minutes, swirl coconut oil in your mouth.
Brush with baking soda: Mix a tsp of baking soda with water and use it as toothpaste-let it sit on your teeth for 1-2 minutes.
Use hydrogen peroxide: Mix equal amounts of hydrogen peroxide & water and swish this mixture around your mouth for about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Use apple cider vinegar: Mix a ½ spoonful of vinegar with one glass of water. Rub your teeth with the mixture.
Eat fruits and vegetables.
Flossing (no, not the dance 😂).
Cleansing your tongue with a tongue scraper 👅: This will remove bacteria from your mouth, and help you maintain better overall hygiene in your mouth.
Strawberries 🍓: Crush the strawberry to a pulp, then mix it with the baking soda. Spread the mixture onto your teeth and leave on for 5 minutes, then brush thoroughly.
Last but not least, the obvious way: reduce 🚫: coffee ☕, tea, red wine 🍷, liquorice, and other foods that easily stain the teeth.
So, having a white smile, I think we can all agree upon, is something many of us strive after. And when you feel confident about your smile, voila, more reasons to smile! Make sure to check out my instagram post for a video review and follow Splat on instagram. Oh, and STAY TUNED as I will be hosting a giveaway soon where you can win a batch of the toothpaste (8 packages) a long with a YOGA MAT for you to practice home, so that you can take care of your body in a holistic way. Yay!
how it works:
🖤 Activated charcoal, the element that gives its black colour, naturally whitens, adsorbs odours, and removes stains, leaving your teeth spotless and perfectly clean.
🌱Juniper tree extract, a natural antibacterial ingredient, leaves you with fresh breath for a long time after toothbrushing.
My instagram: @evaestlander
Splat: @splat_nordics
If you live in Finland, you can find the toothpaste at your local S-markets & Prismas (incl. their web shop).
With a bright smile 💚,
Evita
xx
Simply the best & (easiest) VEGAN blueberry pie
Easy vegan blueberry pie
It’s your Gordon Ramsey here again, hi 👩🏼🍳! Today I’m sharing with you the easiest, quickest and most delicious dessert ever 😋: vegan blueberry pie. What’s even better with this blueberry pie, is that it’s made with blueberries I’ve picked myself just by our summer house and it is completely cruelty free, meaning it is vegan and contains no animal products whatsoever. It’s also gluten free and made without refined sugar. So, with that many perks, you’d think the taste would be compromised - but it’s not, it’s divine. Yum. So without further ado:
What you need (crust):
2,5 dl buckwheat flour
1 cup of coconut oil
1 cup of coconut sugar
1 tsp baking powder
half a cup of oat milk or any other dairy free milk
Even if the weather was not the best, this pie gave us joy.
What to do:
➡️Mix flour & baking powder in one bowl. Mix sugar with coconut oil in another bowl. Add everything together in one bowl and carefully the oat milk while mixing the batter. Add batter into a pan.
➡️Prebake the crust for about 7 minutes in 200 Celsius.
➡️If you’re using frozen blueberries, add the blueberries on top of crust (you can add a little coconut sugar with the blueberries) and bake the whole thing for another 25 minutes. And voila, you’re done✨
Quick & Easy & Healthy
💡Tip: Pre bake crust if you’re using frozen blueberries!
💡Tip: If you don’t want to use any sugar, supplement it with honey or maple syrup!
💡Tip: You can add other berries in the mix as well, such as lingonberries, strawberries, raspberries… use your imagination!
You can serve it with oat milk ice cream or perhaps vegan vanilla sauce 😋
ENJOY!
XX
Eva
10 things you can do right now to feel better + learn the energetics of the situation
10 things you can do right now to feel better + learn the energetics of the situation
Did you know the word ‘Corona’ translates to Crown?
The seven chakras of our energetic body.
The crown of your head is the highest part of your physical body, but the same applies to energy. If you’re unfamiliar with the subtle body, it consists of 7 primary chakras, or energy fields (the word ‘chakra’ translates to wheel and refers to how the energy moves and spins in the energy center).
These chakras are all connected to different areas and aspects of ourselves, our physical bodies and our lives. All of these correspond to functions of different organs. The chakra system runs along the spine and is connected to our nervous system. The first primary chakra is located at the base of our spine and is connected to our sense of survival, our home, our finances and everything we need in our lives in order to feel stable, grounded and supported. The second energy center, located by the reproductive organs, is connected to creation, creativity, sensuality and sexuality. The third energy center is linked to our ego, our core, our sense of self and sits in our solar plexus. The fourth is the heart center, our center for love. The fifth energy center i connected to expression, communication and truth, located at the throat. The sixth sits between our eyebrows and is connected to vision, intuition and wisdom. And the seventh and last one is our sense of unity, belonging, connection. The seventh and last chakra is considered to be the highest chakra representing higher consciousness and unity. You can think of it more as WE energy instead of a ME mindset. It’s what brings us all together and connects us all into one. Interestingly enough, this virus also carries its name.
For a long time already, humanity has been dormant and in darkness. Blindsided to our own greed, actions and choices, we’ve reached a point where our planet is hurting. Here’s the thing, everything is energy and everything has its tipping point. The energy we all hold individually also gathers and forms together into what is called a collective consciousness. This collective consciousness holds our shared beliefs, thoughts and ideas. This collective consciousness has been napping, for well, quite some time now. But now, we’re being told to wake the *insert whatever strong word of your liking* up in a very real way, that surely affects us all in some way or form. The coronavirus is on everyone's lips and minds right now. We’re all talking about the myriad of ways of how it’s touching our lives and worry for our health, finances and the insecure future. As horrible as the situation might feel, this is also an opportunity for change and to become united.
When you think of the virus from an energetic point of view, one could say it pierces through our heart center, both through how it actually affects the people who get sick and also through causing anxiety (that is often felt in the chest through heart palpations or pressure) for many others. In a more Western view we know that the virus attacks the lungs. We know that the virus spreads through touch and physical closeness. These are also aspects of the heart chakra. The heart chakra is connected to the element of air, our lungs and breathing. The sense that is connected to the heart chakra is our sense of touch and the virus also spreads through both the air and through our biggest organ, our skin, again, both connected to the heart center. Emotions that are connected to the heart chakra are; grief, sadness, compassion, love, joy and balance.
And clearly we’ve been living out of balance for a long time already. When this energy enters our hearts it drops down to the root chakra, where many of us might feel compromised currently. We feel a rush of fear take over, as our root chakra is connected to our adrenal glands and to our sense of survival. It’s interesting when you think of people’s reactions and how their primal instinct is to hoard toilet paper and groceries, which are all very basic needs. A primitive reaction, but very understandable when you think at it from an energetic point of view.
In yogic philosophy we are taught how the Kundalini energy sits at the base of our spine and by rising it up to the crown chakra we can become united. In order to reach samadhi or higher consciousness (lift the energy to the crown chakra), our lower chakras need to be in balance and harmony, so that the higher chakras can also open. In order for us to balance this, we need to take care of ourselves, our mutual home, our planet, and each other, and now more than ever so. We need to start building the energy from the bottom up, so that we can feel united and lift the energy up to the crown chakra, our last and seventh chakra and become united. We need to start with the basics.
We’ve clearly been exploiting mama earth and too focused on the material plane (first chakra), which is why now we are being shaken to the core in this energy center. This overcompensation and exploitation of natural resources has no reached a point, where we have an opportunity for change, to become more united. Interestingly enough, from an energetic point of view, when you think about the origin of where the virus stems from, it’s from a food market with animal products. And this is part of the problem and key causes of global warming: animal agriculture. We’ve been consuming and using meat and animal products that are not necessary for all to live and particularly in the amounts that many are consuming. The heavy and toxic energy from dead animals transforms to energy too, which is something we’ve been carrying in our fields of energy.
Now, we are asked to to wake up, think about our choices when it comes to consumerism, our diet and health. But without being too hard on ourselves. Surely there’s a bigger picture here at play and a call for a collective wake up. That doesn’t mean you need to stop being human. We are all in this together and we need to come together and support each other, but we also need to take care of ourselves and our health. Fear lowers the immune system, which is why it’s even more important than ever to stay connected to ourselves through self-care, a healthy diet and exercise (did someone say yoga?). You know what else helps; HUMOR. I think just like with everything in life, balance is key. Don’t be hard on yourself for enjoying your Ben & Jerry’s or binge watching your favorite Netflix show, while everyone else is posting their workout videos. Because self-help can mean a lot of different things and this is also a time to rejuvenate, relax and destress. Take this time to do you. And if you’ve had a breakdown or two, that’s okay too (🙋🏼♀️). This is the human experience. I’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster during this time too and just because I am analysing the energetics of the situation, doesn’t mean I have it figured out. But I try to remind myself that, the only constant is change, and this too shall pass and luckily there are ways to work things out.
Here are 10 tips for the handling the situation:
Buy a voucher from a struggling local business.
Boost your immune system & get your vitamins! Tip: If you live in Helsinki, I highly recommend ordering a berry snack in form of a Quarantine package from Bär Bar
Stay connected to your body. Practice yoga & meditate! Tip: You can check out our online community on Facebook with a local studio here in Helsinki. I had a class yesterday for stabilising the Root Chakra
Make sure to maintain healthy diet and get your exercise going! Tip: Check out my fave PT Kanerva Ahonala and her e-course Paremmille Tavoille (Improve your Ways), which is an e-course for making healthier choices with your diet. Only in Finnish tho.
TURN OFF THE NEWS. You don’t need to read every single news there is - instead you can use this energy into something else. read book or listen to ebooks. Tip: If you’re into spirituality or want to learn more, join me and Jonna Monola for our online course Sacred Ceremony with two guided meditations, and ebook and two yoga practices.
Get your creative juices flowing or start a new project/course/hobby: paint, draw, sing, dance. Tip: Here’s a playlist I made to calm down your nervous system. Or sign up for an online class! I just signed up for Yale’s most popular class for free: How to be happier in your daily life
Nature. As long as we are still allowed outside, take a walk or go out for o run. Enjoy the sunshine. I promise you’ll feel better afterwards.
Gratitude. We are privileged. At the end of the day, we are told to stay home, not to go to war. That being said, you’re allowed to feel your feelings so don’t be hard on yourself if you do feel confused, sad, worried or fearful. It’s human, when you feel those lows try to direct your attention to the good stuff you already have.
Call your friends and loved ones. Tip: There’s a bunch of great apps such as Whereby and Houseparty, where you can talk to a group of friends simultaneously and host virtual wine parties/coffee chats or whatnots.
Laughter. There’s a reason they say laughter is the best medicine and I’ve seen some of the best memes ever during this time. A special shoutout to my meme sender and good friend, Eder, who always keeps me supplied with the funniest stuff. Please feel free to share your favorites with me too! Either by commenting or DM on instagram. Here’s a couple of my faves this far:
Quick and easy banana bread recipe + 10 reasons to eat more bananas
You know bananas are super healthy for ya right? 🍌
Well, newsflash! They are. Here are 10 reasons to eat more bananas:
1. Lots of potassium - yup, one of the highest sources of potassium is bananas. Eating just 1 -2 bananas a day can maintain proper heart function, offsetting the effect sodium and salt have in raising your blood pressure.
2. Energy boost- Bananas give you a slow but stable energy release to the body, which is why athletes often eat bananas before working out.
3. Digestion enhancer- Fiber improves the flow of food through the digestive tract and promotes healthy bowel movements. Bananas contain loooots of fiber.
4. Vitamin B6 - B6 helps your body produce more antibodies for a stronger, more robust, more reliable immune response.
5. Prevents heartburn and stomach ulcers -Bananas do this by enhancing the protective mucus layer, which relieves pain and helps food to move faster through the digestive tract.
6. May fight cancer - There are studies that relay that entirely ripe bananas (the ones you’ll use for banana bread!), contain a compound that increases the white blood cell number and enhances immunity.
7. Stress reduction - Bananas have high levels of an amino acid called tryptophan, and the human body converts tryptophan to serotonin. Serotonin makes you feel good and relieves stress.
8. Boosts antioxidants -Bananas are an excellent source of several natural antioxidants, Specifically dopamine and catechins.
9. More Minerals + Vitamins - One medium banana contains the recommended daily intake of magnesium, copper, vitamin C, manganese and good carbohydrates.
10. Skin - you can use the peel of the skin and especially the inside part to treat various skin conditions such as psoriasis and acne as the fat of the peel has a soothing effect.
EASY BANANA BREAD RECIPE
Now if you happen to be a person who doesn’t particularly enjoy bananas just as they are, you can make a delicious and easy banana bread recipe in no time.
First and foremost I want to say that I truly admire people who know how to cook and all the creative beautiful recipes they come up with. But let’s set up one thing straight right away, I am no master chef, so I am not going to pretend to be one. This is my first recipe I am ever sharing and if you happen to be like me, not a Gordon Ramsey, worry not, I will only ever share VERY easy recipes, pinky swear.
That being said, I do enjoy baking once in a blue moon and what I enjoy even more, is eating the goodies (I’m a carbie girl). So the recipe I am sharing today is simple and quick and something my friend Emilia shared with me during our new years trip to Lapland. I decided to add my own touch to it by including some super yummie Barebells protein Milkshake to it for some extra flavour and protein. Let’s go.
What you need:
3-4 ripe bananas, mashed (the darker, the better)
1/4 cup melted butter
1 egg
1 1/2 cups oats (or flour)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
cinnamon or cardamom
Barebells Vanilla Protein Milkshake (1/2 cup)
I also love banana nut bread, so you can easily add walnuts or pecans to your liking. Another option is to add chocolate chips.
EASEY PEASY:
Preheat oven to 165 degrees C. Grease your bowl/pan.
Combine mashed bananas, and butter together in a bowl. Mix oats/ flour and baking soda together in a separate bowl; stir into banana mixture until batter is just mixed. Stir salt into batter. Pour batter into the buttered pan.
Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean, about 1 hour.
Serve with honey or butter and enjoy with a cup of tea and go bananas (sorry, I had to say that)!
I sprinkled coconut flakes on top.
MOON MAGIC: YOUR MOON 101 GUIDE
MOON MAGIC: Your Moon 101 guide
Happy FULL MOON!
On my birthday I made a post on instagram stating that this year, I will be more authentic. This blog post is as a step towards that direction and a way for me to shed some light on what some of my deepest interests and passions include, which happens to be spirituality, the moon and my connection to it. And what better time to do that than the day the sun fully illuminates the moon, which happens to be today.
It’s interesting how my soul chose to be born in a country where we today are so disconnected from nature and spirituality (and within that same spectrum, also the moon). Growing up in Finland, I’ve throughout my life been conditioned to a society where we are surrounded by systems, order, rules and regulations. Everything is perfectly planned, systemized and scientific. Don’t get me wrong here, I am grateful and aware of my privilege and I do feel lucky to have been born into a country that is so well functioning. But in terms of being connected to nature and its cyclical essence, our surroundings and spirit, I wouldn’t rank Finland very high today. Quite the opposite actually. But it didn’t always used to be that way. Finnish shamanism is one of the oldest shamanic lineages as it stems from the indigenous peoples of Finland; the Finns and the Saami. Both peoples developed rich shamanic traditions, where for instance going to the sauna was seen as a spiritual act (similar to a sweat lodge in Native American culture). The sauna was a sacred ritual and you had to follow the sauna rules. Sauna also had its’ own spirit called löylynhenki. So even if we Finns might seem detached from nature and spirit today, we still have our deep traditions that live and thrive.
Despite us Finns having these deep roots and traditions, to be openly interested in things most people would describe as occult or new age mumbo jumbo, is not always the easiest path. When you mention the idea of aligning your actions with the lunar phases, you might get eye rolls or be ridiculed. On the flipside though, I actually find it sad people are so detached, as they see everything they don’t understand as woo woo. Luckily however, I’ve been fortunate enough to have connected with many like minded people, who understand the ancient wisdom of connecting with la luna and its cycles. When I lived in Mexico, I used to meet up with a couple friends during full moon and new moon. We would go to a very special place overlooking the town of Sayulita to share our deepest desires and hopes and do various ceremonies to connect with the moon. And if I can inspire even one more person to find this connection, this blog post serves a purpose. Aligning your actions with nature is so so powerful.
HOW THE MOON AFFECTS US
As some of you might know, the moon affects the ocean with its tidal pull. If you’re a surfer, it’s helpful to use this information to decide the most ideal time to shred the gnar. What you also might be aware of already, is that the human body consists up to nearly 70% of water. You do the math (moon + water = effect). Another interesting thing to consider is the link between the lunar cycles and menstrual flow. A menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, which is about as long as a moon cycle. The moon takes 27 days, 7 hours, and 43 minutes to complete one round around the earth. Normally, the ovulation happens around full moon, when everything is coming into full circle and fruition and the shedding usually happens around new moon, which is the darkest phase of the moon. When you start to observe your body more you might notice a clear correlation with the celestial events and your menstrual cycle.
The moon has always been a big theme in religions art and rituals. The moon represents powerful feminine energy. It signifies wisdom, intuition, birth, death, reincarnation, and a spiritual connection. Throughout eons of time, peoples across the world have worshipped it and gathered to celebrate the full moon. Each phase of the Moon’s cycle has a unique visual characteristic and spiritual meaning. The lunar phases are also used in agriculture as these same forces affect the water content of the soil, creating more moisture in the soil at the time of the new and full moon. This increased moisture encourages the seeds to sprout and grow. The lunar cycle is like the cycle of a seed: it grows up into a flower, it blooms and then it dies.
Meditate and center yourself during a full moon to connect with yourself. Pic: Vuokko Salo
We are all capable of attuning with the moons energies and activating our inner power. The lunar cycle is made up of different stages.
Traditionally the full moon and the new moon are considered to be the most potent phases to align with the moon. There is a myriad of ways you can work and connect with the moon through intention and ceremony. Each month of the year also holds a specific symbolic meaning for each full moon as well as the weekday it falls upon. The full moon also falls each month in a different astrological sign and you can learn specifically about each full moon and its themes. As there is so much to dive into, I’ve gathered a simplified list here below of the different lunar phases of one moon cycle about what the various phases represent and what you can do in order to connect with them.
New Moon
New moons represent new beginnings. The Moon is positioned between the Earth and Sun so it cannot be seen from Earth.
WHAT TO DO: This is a time to start new projects and phases within your life.
Waxing Crescent Moon
This phase signifies intention. ‘Waxing’ means the moon’s illumination is growing, and ‘Crescent’ means less than half of the moon is illuminated.
WHAT TO DO: Write a list of your intentions and keep them in mind. What things do you want to accomplish or get done?
First Quarter Moon
This phase signifies decision making. Exactly half of the Moon is illuminated and the other half is shadowed.
WHAT TO DO: During this phase spend extra time making decisions.
Waxing Gibbous Moon
This moon phase signifies purification. ‘Waxing’ means the Moon’s illumination is growing and ‘Gibbous’ means more than half of the Moon is illuminated.
WHAT TO DO: Assess your goals and figure out what is working for you right now and what may need to change.
Full Moon
Fruition, completion, bloom, release and sealing of intention. The Sun illuminates the entire moon.
WHAT TO DO: This is a the time to set goals and make any promises to yourself on a soul level. If there are any areas that no longer serve you, it is time to let go of them.
Waning Gibbous
Gratitude. ‘Waning’ refers to the decreasing of the Moon’s illumination, and ‘Gibbous’ means more than half of Moon illuminated.
WHAT TO DO: Make a list of all the things you are grateful for.
The full moon is a powerful time for looking within, for healing and shifting. A great way to channel these energies is through a sound bath. Pic: Vuokko Salo
Third Quarter
Forgiveness. Exactly half of the Moon is illuminated and the other half is shadowed. We will see the opposite side than the First Quarter Moon.
WHAT TO DO: Use this time to forgive others and forgive yourself.
Waning Crescent
Surrender. ‘Waning’ refers to the shrinking of the Moon’s illumination, and ‘Crescent’ means less than half of the Moon is illuminated.
WHAT TO DO: Spend time being mindful, going with the flow and surrendering to the world around you.
February Snow Supermoon 2020
Like I mentioned above, each full moon has a specific theme and meaning. The February’s moon is the Snow Moon. In the northern hemisphere, this name reflects the time when winter is in full force. This moon has other names as well such as the Hunger Moon, Storm Moon, and Chaste Moon.
This specific full moon falls upon the sign of Leo and is a supermoon, meaning the moon appears to be closer to earth. The theme for this full moon is passion, motivation and shining brightly, burning away anything that stands in front of you from achieving your deepest desires. Leos like to be in the spotlight and this full moon is a time for all of us to embrace our inner Leos and celebrate ourselves. As full moons represents fruition and/or completition, it’s a great time to look back at all you’ve accomplished.
This full moon also has the moon trine Mars aspect. This condition helps us to acknowledge the fears that have been holding us back,and the things we have tried to avoid resolving. This creates a new setting for change and progress. The projects that we start during this Full Moon will blossom into something truly beautiful. So if you’ve been waiting for a sign, let this be it. Source & read more here.
How do you connect with the moon?
It’s been a while since I wrote my last guide. Let me know if you enjoy these posts or you have any topic you’d want me to write about.
Con amor,
Eva
5 x 5: My Top Lists of gift ideas this Holiday season, my current favorite instagram accounts, beauty products and more...
5 x 5: My Top Lists of gift ideas this Holiday season, my current favorite instagram accounts, beauty products and more...
Everyone loves lists! Lists are a quick and easy way for our brains to gather information and make sense of things. Whenever we encounter new information, our brains immediately try to grasp wether or not this new piece of information is relevant for us. Just like you are currently assessing these lines that you’re reading. The process is instantaneous and we don’t even understand that we are constantly evaluating what we are seeing or reading. As we are continuously bombarded with images, headlines, news and texts, our attention span is nowadays extremely short and there’s something in numbers that make them pop out more than just the ‘normal’ headlines. Lists tap into our preferred way of receiving and arranging information at a subconscious level; they hit our attentional sweet spot. Cool, so now that you’re on board with lists, I’ve gathered a few for you to enjoy; everything from silly favorite beauty products to my favorite podcasts at the moment and so forth.
5 ideas for gift giving this Christmas that doesn’t involve buying more stuff (aka zero waste!):
Give a staycation: pick a nice hotel in the city and plan for a romantic getaway in your own home town/city (this gift idea is only for your partner duh)!
Give a massage session or session to a chiropractor or any other healing/bodywork or pampering gift!
Give a wine tasting course… I mean who wouldn’t benefit from a little extra knowledge other than always ordering that same ole Sauvingnon Blanc or Malbec…. 🙋🏼♀️
Give a yoga private/course or a one month yoga pass to their favorite yoga studio!
Give a floating experience!
My five fave podcasts at the moment:
The Goop podcast by Gwyneth Paltrow - from doctors to creatives, CEOs to spiritual healers, this is a good mix of it all.
Expanded by Lacy Phillips - Get your manifestation to the next level, no more unicorns, puppies and “only positive thinking”.
The Influencer podcast by Julie Solomon - If you’re in the marketing biz, there’s some useful tips and interesting convos.
Auta Antti! by Antti Holma (in Finnish) - In this hilarious and brilliant podcast the Finnish NY based actor answers to his listeners questions and the answers are not just funny, but actually very very wise. I almost pee myself as I laugh so hard.
Under the skin with Russell Brand - In this podcast Russel explores what's beneath the surface - of people we admire, of the ideas that define our time, of the history we are told.
5 tips for surviving winter in Helsinki
Embrace the season. It’s crazy how in our society things tend to speed up during Christmas with the year coming to an end, people run around like crazy. The problem is that at the same time people are tired, exhausted and stressed AF as naturally we feel like hibernating and sleeping in for longer. The reason is simple: we are not living in alignment with the season. Winter should be a time to slow down, cuddle up and get cozy with your woollen socks. This is literally the opposite of our modern society. So my very first tip is to cut out the unnecessary commitments. Make space for nothingness.
Yoga. Not a shocker here, but self-care goes a long way and especially during the darkest time of the year. If you’re not into yogi, then do your thing, whatever it might be (crossfit?). But exercising will give you well needed boost of feel good hormones (serotonin).
Get a sun lamp. Some people argue that this is going against the natural rhythm and season (and even my first tip). HOWEVER, some people get truly affected and depressed of the lack of day light and if you happen to be one of those people, there are luckily methods to counteract the darkness blues. I use mine in the mornings so that I have an easier time getting out of bed.
Pretend that you’re a tourist. Helsinki is a really nice city and there’s lots to do even in the winter time, so put your jacket on and go on a city stroll to Tuomaan marrkinat (market) and walk around and voila you’ll start to feel all jolly and fuzzy inside.
Decorate your home during the holiday. I swear, when we got a christmas tree last weekend everything felt a little better.
Being a tourist in my own home city is kind of nice.
5 Interesting & different instagram accounts worth following:
@connecting_consciousness : Mysticism, kind of out there, might be too much for the science loving instagrammer.
@chaninicholas : Astrology as its finest. Chani started learning about astrology at a very young age of 12 years and shares her wisdom on her feed.
@emotionalclub : Depression isn't funny, but dark humor sure is. This account is all about embracing the humor in everything, even depression.
@tobemagnetic : Lacy gets it. Her instagram is straight on and she cuts through the New Age ‘just think of something positive and you’ll attract it into your life’ BS.
@wat.ki : This feel good account follows the life of tho adorable dogs: Watson and Kiko along with their other animal friends.
My five favorite beauty regimens/products I am obsessed with right now:
Hydrating nutrient mist from Mad Hippie - I received this hydrating mist as a gift a long time ago on a retreat that I was co-hosting together with SurfYogaBeer and I just recently started using it. Now I use it every day and it really makes my skin glow like no other serum, cream or anything else I’ve tried in a loooong time.
Skinperfect primer by Dermalogica - I love the velvet texture and it smoothes out the fine little lines and uneven spots on my face.
My Simply Natural - hairbrush. I have hair is fine and gets easily super tangled, so this baby has helped a lot. Especially now with my long extended curls.
Oil pulling with coconut oil - this simple technique of swishing oil in your mouth improves not just your oral health, but your overall health as according to Ayurveda, all disease start in your mouth. I try to do this at least 3-5 times a week in the morning for about 15-20 minutes (which is annoyingly long), but it leaves my mouth feeling fresh and on top of all bleaches your teeth in a non harmful way.
My amethyst jade roller from Embrose - There’s been so much hype in the beauty world about face rolling and gua sha, I had toto try this out and I have to say, I do notice a different. My skin gets more plump and soft whenever I use the roller.
I’d love to hear some of your favorite podcasts or any other input you might have to my lists!
Happy Holidays!
xx
Eva
PS. Make sure to check out my upcoming events if you feel like you could benefit from some strechin’
Tuomaan markkinat by Senate Square in Helsinki. Image: Jonna Monola
Sayulita 101: your guide to Sayulita
Sayulita 101: your guide to this magical little town and pics from our trip
Sunsets in Sayulita from the North end.
As I am sitting here looking out the window seeing a dark, gray and rainy Helsinki, I can’t help but to miss the vibrance of Sayulita. To ease that longing, I decided to make a little guide on the town as I receive lots of questions on what to do, where to eat and so forth. As many of you might know, I spent nearly 7 years residing in this little beach town, which is probably why I get direct messaged with these questions a lot. I’ve actually already written a few blog posts about Sayulita in the past; one on cute shops, one on where to eat and one on where to stay. However, for the simplicity of it all, I decided to gather everything under one post, that will hopefully serve as a guide from here on (feel free to share with anyone asking the same questions). Another reason I made this post, is because the town has changed a lot in the past few years and I felt the need to update my previous lists a little, so that you can have a more fresh input on things in its current state.
To have your heart in two distinct places is not always the easiest thing, but at the same time, I am extremely grateful to be calling two places home. I love hosting retreats in Sayulita and our recent trip there was absolutely magical. In lack of better words, I simply couldn’t have asked for more. We had such an amazing group of people and there were these new connections made on a way deeper level I couldn’t even have imagined. I also want to extend a special thank you to my friend, colleague, fellow yogi and co-host Jonna, whom it was a pleasure working with. If you’re interested in joining us next year, make sure to shoot me a message as we will soon be publishing our new dates. But in the meantime, if you’re planning a trip to Sayulita or need some inspiration for a trip, read through this simple Q&A formatted guide:
WHERE IS SAYULITA AND WHAT IS IT LIKE?
Sayulita is located on the Pacific coast of Mexico, just an hour north of Puerto Vallarta in the state of Nayarit. From Finland the travel is easiest either through LA or Mexico city, which after you hop on a short flight to PVR. There used to be a direct flight from Helsinki to PV, but unfortunately they decided to discontinue it. If you’re traveling from the states, lucky you, as there are numerous direct flights to Puerto Vallarta on a daily basis. Sayulita is a relatively small beach town (population about 5000), most known for its surfing, its vibrant colourful boho vibe along with it being a popular wedding destination. In its early days, Sayulita was considered to be a quaint fishing village, however those days are (unfortunately?) long gone, because just like any other popular tourist destination, also Sayulita has grown, a lot. Especially in the past few years. Today Sayulita is still mostly known for its surf, beaches and laid back & relaxed vibe, however there’s also a big growing underbelly of a party town happening as many decide to throw either their bachelor/bachelorette or wedding parties there. Sayulita is also known as a cultural melting pot with lots of expats from all over the world, even though the majority of all expats are still either Americans and Canadians. For some odd reason there’s also lots of Argentinians, Italians and a few Finnish people (known as the Finnish mafia).
IS SAYULITA SAFE?
Many people refer to Sayulita as the safe little bubble of Nayarit as Sayulita is considered to be a cocoon of safety compared to the rest of the state. As Sayulita is a tourist spot, it’s in everyones interest to keep it safe and keep the tourism thriving. That being said, Sayulita is no Helsinki Finland and there’s certainly more crime than in our Scandinavian neck of the woods. If you’re smart and don’t roam around at 4am in the night, you’ll be fine. In a nutshell: be wise about where you move, with whom and at what time. My recommendation is to always use the buddy system and never walk alone at night or at dark. You’ll be fine by using some common sense; don’t leave your things out of sight while swimming etc.
Cotton candy skies.
WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE?
Mostly sunny and warm throughout the year. There’s basically only two seasons: summer and winter. From June to October, is the period when it’s considered to be rainy season, however this is changing a little bit as in the past few years the rains have started a little later on and continued on for a little past October. The summer is basically just hot as hell and if you’re anything like me, you have to walk around with a cloth and continuously wipe the sweat off your face. Weather wise I personally enjoy Nov-May the most, when the nights are a little cooler and you don’t have to continuously seek shade during the day.
ANY TIPS ON WHERE TO STAY?
Sayulita has a broad variety of different accommodation possibilities and it all depends on how much you are willing to spend since you can literally find everything from a low budget hostel to a extravagant villa with jaw dropping views overlooking the entire bay. You can still use this previous post as a guide, but there are a couple new places that I want to add: Don Bonito Hotel and the airbnb listing: Casita with a view. Don Bonito Hotel is a new & hip boutique Hotel located on the North end of town. The Rooms are clean and the pool area is cute and fresh and the location is perfect for those not wanting to listen to the hustle and bustle of town. Casita with a view is located on Gringo Hill and has a stunning view over the ocean along with a super cute rooftop palapa, this spot only sleeps two people and is best fit for either couples or solo travelers.
WHAT TO DO IN SAYULITA?
Obviously surf. Whether you’re a Kelly in practice (just kidding) or a complete beginner, Sayulita has the perfect setting for both. There are three different surf spots in Sayulita; the beginner spot on the far left with a sandy bottom and mellow white waters, the right hand point break in the center and then a left hand point past the river on the North end of the beach. If you’re looking for less crowded beaches, make sure to ask the friendly surf guides at Lunazul to take you to a nearby surf spot, one in particular worth seeing would be La Lancha or el Anclote (when it works).
Beachcombing. In all honesty, the main beach of Sayulita is not my favorite. There’s a shit ton (sorry language) of beach vendors and unless you want to listen to “donuts donuuuuuuts, donuts very good” or “bracelet amiga” all day long, my suggestion is you explore the more tranquil nearby beaches. Make sure to check out: Malpasos or Carricitos along with Playa los Muertos and the colorful cemetery next to it. As Malpasos and Carricitos are a little trickier to find than Playa Los Muertos, my recommendation is to hit up Mexitreks that will take you there. PS. Make sure to also ask them about Monkey Mountain, which is an amazing hike overlooking the entire bay, but a little outside of Sayulita. Definitely worth the sweat.
Turtle releases. Yes, yes and yes! Check in with the local organization Campamento Tortuguero Sayulita and go watch these little fellas crawl out to sea. Make sure to donate to support this non profit organization so that they can continue their valuable work!
Farmers market or Mercado del Pueblo. You don’t want to miss out on this one. Farmers market happens every Friday during high season from 11am until 2pm. Sayulita’s Farmer’s market brings together local farmers, artisans, jewelers and artists offering their fresh produce, craftsmanship, consumable goods, art and so much more in this colourful happening on the North end of town. My personal favorite is the older gentleman selling his essential oils just by the entrance.
Colorful everywhere you turn.
Salsa night. I mean, you’re in Mexico, so you might as well get your groove on and move your bootie to some latin rhythms. Make sure to check out the most legendary and iconic salsa night happening every Monday night at Don Pedro’s restaurant. This is not for the shy tho and don’t think that you can hide and just watch the show as the odds are you will be asked to dance.
Marietas Islands. The Marietas Islands is probably still one of the most sought after tourist attractions in the Banderas Bay area. These uninhabited group of islands are breathtakingly beautiful and located about 24 km outside of Sayulita. This popular spot is famous for its colourful marine life and its “secret beach”, however depending on the time of the year, there might be lots of other tourists seeking the same experience.
Yoga. The Rose Room Yoga at Hotelito de Los Suenos is your spot baby. Look no further. These gorgeous open air palapas are not only the most beautiful studios in town, but they also have the best teachers. Say hi from me.
Go out and about. Well, it is Sayulita after all and you might as well try out them margs. The best spot for delicious mouth watering drinks in town is hands down Le Zoave De Hafa and Eder’s margaritas. Make sure to check out the trendy, semi-new and cool place El Conejo while you’re out as the ambiance there is pretty cool as well.
WHERE TO EAT IN SAYULITA?
My old list is still pretty accurate and my absolute favorite still remains Itacate, but I would like to add a few more newcomers and an old one I forgot to include in my last post:
Organik: smoothies and acai bowls along with their poke bowls. Yum.
Miscelanea: try their matcha, chilaquiles or avocado toast.
Mary’s tacos: this is an old place I simply forgot to include in my previous list. Try their Sayulita Taco or Olea.
Zatar: Mediterranean cuisine that is simply clean and delicious.
Barracuda. Try their tuna tostada.
In general the food is delicious and pretty cheap in most of the places in town. That being said, even tho I listed Leda in my previous post and I still think the food is yummy there, I would like to emphasize that it’s probably one of the most expensive restaurants in Sayulita. Make sure to especially check out the prize for their wine bottles (just a friendly suggestion).
Please let me know if you think I’m missing out on something else you think is key for me to add onto this list and keep in mind these are only my opinions and takes on Sayulita.
xx,
Eva
Follow your bliss: Why I quit my job
FOLLOW YOUR BLISS: WHY I QUIT MY JOB
One of the biggest struggles for me has always been decision making. Be it big or small, I find myself pondering the options and outcomes way too long. Lately though, I feel as the universe has been handing me big platters of decision making practice and I am slowly honing this skill and becoming more intuitive, especially when it comes to decision making for myself.
I feel like I’ve always been pretty gifted in seeing and supporting my peers in the right direction for their highest self, but when it comes to myself, it’s often been foggy, messy and uncertain. Luckily though and like I wrote in a previous blog text on my decision to relocate back to Finland (after having lived in Mexico for nearly seven years), I am slowly learning to listen to that squeaky little internal voice and whisper (before it becomes a roar).
After moving back to Finland, I quickly started working with event production. It was a massive change coming from the laid back beach life style and after having been my own boss and working within wedding planning and the hospitality and wellness industry in the tropics. All of a sudden I found myself in a hectic corporate world with completely new tasks, in a new environment and with a very different client base. With a pace where your daily hours run out and you add darkness, cold weather and adjusting to Finnish culture and customs into the mix, you have yourself one exhausted gal. And when exhaustion happens, energy shifts.
This shift manifested in many ways; I started experiencing bodily stress symptoms such as eye twitching, bloating and even mood swings. My body knew before my head did, it was time to slow down and change direction. It was simply way too much and way too fast. I did my best to keep pushing through as I didn’t want to give up and I thought to myself that maybe things would change for the better as there was a vague silver lining in foresight. When things didn’t fall through as I had hoped, I finally decided to resign. It was time to breakthrough my fears and leave the secure corporate world for the unknown world of entrepreneurship.
“My body knew before my head did, it was time to slow down and change direction.”
Letting the dead leaves drop.
Follow your bliss.
Because what it all comes down to is time. And life is short. The time you have in this precious life is scarce and your days are limited. As cliche as it may sound, if you’re not going to chase your dreams or try something you’ve always dreamt of, you’ll probably regret it later in life. Sure, it’s risky, crazy and nerve wrecking, but for me it is absolutely necessary and having regrets later is not an option. There’s also the benefit of working with what you love and on your own terms and you get to enjoy a whole new level of personal, professional and financial freedom. Besides, being an entrepreneur is not completely new to me as I used to work for myself also while living in Mexico. That being said, in all honesty, there’s a huge difference in running a business in Mexico compared to Finland. But, I am up for the challenge and more importantly, I simply have to give it a go.
I also believe in the phrase “todo pasa por algo”, meaning everything happens for a reason. I needed to go through this year to get clarity on what it is that I want to pursue and what is truly important to me. I am extremely grateful for this almost one year that I worked with a lovely team and for the fact that I get to call my ex colleagues not just my former co-workers, but friends. We had a good run and I truly wish the team all the best of luck and success in the future.
You know, it’s interesting now in hindsight reflect upon my decision and notice how big decisions and releases tend to happen around fall. There’s wisdom in nature and just like the trees you can let the dead leaves drop. You release and shed and let go of the things that did not serve you for something new and better.
So what does the future hold for me right now you might ask? Well, I am going to work with the things I love; yoga (corporate yoga classes, privates, studio classes and yoga retreats), wellness, copywriting, content creation and marketing. I am very open to new opportunities and projects and if you see that there is something we could work on together, make sure to drop me a line. I will also be launching something I’ve always dreamt of, so stay tuned for this secret I am revealing in the near future. Oh, but first things first, I am heading to Mexico to enjoy life on the beach for the darkest month of the year; November.
Let me know if you’ve made any similar transition or have any tips, tricks or input on this scary journey that I am about to embark. I would love to hear from you!
Stay tuned,
Con amor and excitement for this new chapter,
Eva
Pimp my cabin (with before and after pics)
If you follow me on instagram, you’ve probably seen some of my stories with the hashtag #pimpmycabin during the past few months, if not, let me open it up a little bit. My parents have a beautiful summer house on a nice piece of land just an hour outside of Helsinki, by the sea. On that piece of land, there’s the main house they spend the summers in, but then there’s also a smaller sauna cabin that’s been mainly used as the dressing room for the sauna. Well, not anymore.
My mood when the reno is over.
During this past easter, me and my boyfriend paid my folks a visit and started playing with the idea of turning the sauna cabin into a more cozy summer cabin for the two of us. Things escalated quickly and only moments later were we throwing out old furniture that we decided to burn as a big ole traditional easter bonfire. The bonfire sure was impressive and big, but what sucked, was that we later learned that we ended up burning a Danish wooden table worth 700€. FAIL. Anyways, as fire is the symbol for transformation, the project was now officially initiated.
The plan was to give the cabin a facelift and make the space feel more open, as it felt dark and cramped with old junk. Little did we know how much work we were taking on. As the space is not that big (about 33 square meters), we wanted to make the best out of it by moving some things around. First we gutted the entire cabin and threw out the bunk beds along with the funky and outdated furniture. On this second round of getting rid of things we made sure to be more cautious and not to throw away any lavish furniture. We also felt like we wanted to honour and respect the history and feel of the cabin, so we decided to keep some of the items to create a unique combo of rustic and new.
Burning that 700€ Danish table sure made a nice flame.
As one of our main goals was to create a more airy and open feel, we concluded that the “easiest” way to do this, would be to give the entire cabin a white out paint job. This meant painting all surfaces white, including the ceiling and the floors. As the floors had a lot of sun damage and were a little murky and stained, our next step was to polish the floors. And this, my dear readers, ended up being a pain in the butt. Neither one of us had ever polished wooden floors before, which basically meant that we had to simply learn by doing. It also meant messing up a couple times and renting all the wrong gear to begin with. Thank goodness for youtube and tutorials, as we finally (after hours of studying) found the best machine possible for this bothersome work. After the floors were finally polished, we proceeded with the walls. This was a pretty straight forward kind of thing and actually somewhat meditative, but it ended up taking way more time than anticipated. We ended up giving the walls three layers of white. Last, but not least, it was time to varnish the floors and voila, the cabin was now a white light filled new space. It might sound all effortless outlining the project here, but I can assure you this took us days and days of hard work and so many times of driving back and forth to various hardware stores.
After all the surfaces were done, it was finally time for the fun part: redecorating! As we had shuffled things around quite a bit and gotten rid of most of the furniture, we had to buy alot of new stuff. Hooray for Ikea. In addition to making the interior all cute and fresh, we also had a large new terrass built, that further enlarged the living area and gave the small little cabin a bigger feel. Now that the project is nearly finished (we still want to buy some outdoor terrass furniture and get a SMEG fridge) we are super pleased with how it turned out. Plus, the terrass works perfectly for yoga too. But, before we dive into the reveal, here’s a bunch of before pictures to start with, if you scroll further down you’ll find some making of pics and last, but not least the final revamped and pimped cabin pics. Let me know what you think! When you scroll alllll they way down you’ll see two before & after comparisons! Lemme know what you think :)
xx,
Handyman Evita
BEFORE RENO
MAKING OF
AFTER RENO
MY BFF IS A BEEKEEPER
MY BFF IS A BEEKEEPER
Meet Elisa Nordman, a long time friend of mine who is an avid hobby beekeeper from Helsinki with a passion for sustainability, green thinking and a deep appreciation for nature and our planet. She keeps her two hives at a farm outside of the city and produces artisan honey under the brand name Hunter House Honey. I sat down with Elisa and picked her brain about her super hipster, yet actually amazingly impressive side hustle that she’s been doing for a while as I felt the urge to to introduce this insanely cool save the bees- gal with my fellow internet scrolling audience. Here goes.
Q: Who are you?
A: I am Elisa. I currently work as a graphic designer and in my free time I love to get outdoors and spend time in nature, read a lot, do sports and then of course beekeeping.
Q: What made you take up beekeeping and become a bee-person?
A: In all honesty, it was actually half a coincidence as I stumbled across an ad in beekeeping at a Christmas fair in Helsinki (Tuomaan markkinat). It immediately caught my attention and I took a photo of the ad and then the next day I thought to myself, what the heck, why not. I signed up for the course online, without truly knowing if I would follow through or not. Fast forward 5 months and I found myself in a beekeepers farm shopping for the gear. Once I had all the necessary items, I knew I would have to buy the bees as well. Even though there initially was some slight hesitation, I’ve always been aware of the role the bees play in our eco system and how they are struggling and declining in numbers due to the pollution, harsh pesticides and changing weather patterns. Since a very young age I’ve always loved the flavour of honey, so that worked as one motive as well.
Q: How did you get your hives, did you buy them?
Learn the difference: 1. Honey bee 2. Bumble bee 3. Wasp 4. European Hornet
A: Yes, I bought my hives from a beekeeping shop and the bee colonies I bought straight from a beekeeper I was referenced to through the beekeeping course. The beekeeping community is a quite small and there are forums online where you can exchange knowledge and buy equipment from people within the industry. So basically all the bee colonies are bought from another beekeeper, you can not buy them from a shop, or at least not that I know of.
Q: How do you get started in beekeeping?
A: Well, in my opinion the only way to start is to participate in a course and learn the basics. The other option might be to have a mentor who walks you through the step by step process of starting your own colony. I still highly recommend participating in a course as it’s quiet complicated and you’ll get into the community easier and learn to know other people within the community.
Q: Most people do not react well to the sight of swarming bees, were you afraid of the bees when you first started out as a beekeeper?
A: No, I wasn’t afraid of bees. Bees are actually really calm and they don’t mind us people if we let them be(e) in peace. I’ve noticed that people can not distinguish the difference between bees and wasps and most people easily mistake wasps for bees or vice versa. To clarify and in case you were unsure, bees and wasps serve different purposes in nature. Bees pollinate our food, our plants and produce honey, whereas wasps eat pests from flowers and plants, but their pollination value is lesser than their hairy cousins. I think it’s only relevant to be afraid if you know that you’re very allergic to the stings.
Q: Do beekeepers get stung by bees?
A: Yes of course, however not very often. I’ve only been stung while beekeeping less than 10 times through my gloves and suite. The stinger has not been able to penetrate my skin properly as I am always wearing my protective suite.
Q: As a beekeeper, do you become more sensitive or more in tuned to nature?
A: For sure. I’ve always been a nature lover, but now after beekeeping you have to pay more attention to the weather, to the seasons and to the flora around you as it all affects the bees and their behaviour. This is actually the part that I’ve enjoyed the most and it’s been very fulfilling to become more aware of my surroundings.
Q: What's the most fulfilling part of a beekeeper's job?
A: I’d have to say that the most fulfilling part of this job is to actually get to know your bees and to learn how to work with them as honey bees are not wild bees, even though they are free to fly, come and go as they wish. Honey bees need our help and I try my best to read their signals and their behaviour to my best ability and make the right decisions in being their caretaker. As an example, I need to prevent mites from invading the hives and when the season has ended it’s my job to feed the bees and prepare the hive for the winter.
Q: How long does a bee live?
A: On average a worker bee lives 40-50 days. A queen bee usually has a lifespan of 4-8 years.
Q: How much time does it take to take care of your hives?
A: Holy moly, it takes quite a lot of time. The general rule is to visit your hive every nine days, but usually I go there once a week. You never know what to expect, so it’s hard to know in advance wether you’ll end up spending an hour or five tending to your hive with each visit. In July I take a little more free time to myself as this time is usually the time the bees are collecting honey and you can actually let them be. That being said, this is not set in stone as it also depends on the weather. Many professional beekeepers are so good at reading the signs of nature that they can visit their hives according to weather (meaning less times), but I am not there yet personally.
Q: What has been the most surprising aspect about beekeeping?
A: The complexity of a bee colony. The system is totally astonishing and I am continuously learning more by each visit. For example, did you know that the queen is not the ruler in the hive, but the worker bees are. The worker bees make all the decisions collectively so if they see that the queen is not laying enough eggs, they will start to make a new queen bee by starting to feed an egg with royal gel.
Q: What do you have to say to anyone who is interested in starting beekeeping?
A: Find a course in beekeeping and you will get a good start. After my first course I was still completely and utterly lost because at that time I didn’t have my own hive yet as all the information was only theoretical. Slowly and after my first summer in beekeeping I took another advanced course in and finally things started making more sense to me. Just like with any new skill or hobby, learning takes time, so be patient! In Finland there are great courses in Työväenopisto, so make sure to check in with them.
Q: How much honey do you get per season and is it difficult to collect the honey?
A: Last summer I got around 30 kg of honey from only one hive. This season I am not sure what to expect yet, since one of the hives is very weak after the winter and the other is strong, but there has been some issues with the queen. Honey collecting is hard work. Firstly, the hive boxes are extremely heavy and it’s quite challenging to pick them up from the hive tower and your body positions while doing the labor can end up being super uncomfortable. In addition to the hard physical work, the bees usually get pretty upset with me fiddling with their home (understandable) , which adds an extra challenge to the whole process. That being said, last summer was my very first time collecting the honey, so I am hoping for it to run a little smoother this year. Fingers crossed. The bees do not hibernate during the winter, instead they curl up keeping warm and eat sugar water that we feed them in the autumn.
Q: Where can we find out more information about beekeeping and your bee endeavours?
A: I have an instagram account @beetvsuomi , where I share videos and posts about my beekeeping. I sell the honey after the summer and I have my small artisan label called Hunter House Honey.
Q: Any further plans for Hunter House Honey?
A: Not currently, my aim is to keep beekeeping and learning more as I go. I wish to spread awareness about bees and their importance to us humans.
Q: Tell us something weird about yourself?
A: I am extremely organised and well prepared when it comes to packing and my friends always make fun of me when we go on trips together, but I always have something they end up needing. I have issues with jello-like food textures and can not eat anything wobbly, slimy nor spongy, such as eggs, tofu or creme brûlée. Wherever I go I always make sure to check out the nearest exit route and I am passionate about whales. I have a degree in prosthetics & orthotics (prostatic legs.) I’ll just leave it at the list could go on for a while…
Q: Favorite quote?
A: I am bad with quotes but I guess you can’t go wrong with ”Always smile more than you cry, give more than you take and love more than you hate”.
Below an episode of BeeTv. Enjoy!
Thanks Elisa!
So long honey,
Evita