108. Yet another delay on updates...?

Hello everyone!

Oh, I'm just passing by telling you there will be a slight delay on updates... yet again. I know for sure it won't be near as long of a break as last time, just a little bit settling down and preparing for the upcoming school year, which (sadly or gladly?) begins in less than a month. I already apologised everything on my Instagram, so I won't do that here as I clearly do apologise things too much. I have got a brand new laptop, which means much setup must still be done even though it's been only about four days I got it. I am also ill - or "ill", I have to say - it's the young woman's curse, you know what I mean. But I have brainstormed a lot of new blog post ideas in the past few weeks as I maybe have mentioned in some post (sickly head can't remember) and so I have absolutely no means to quit blogging! Not that anybody would imply that, just know I have lots to adjust to, much to set up, and the whole heart still giving healthy thoughts to writing posts and taking pictures. Mentally I am fine, with loads of blogging and vlogging ideas, but physical illnesses and obstacles get in the way quite a lot.

Disregarding these obstacles, I am fully motivated to do a lot of things: as a fresh 17-year-old, I am going to a theatre play with Mum and her friends in Suomenlinna, a fortress-island group outside Helsinki! It's going to be so much fun, we're seeing Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. I watch beauty and health videos on YouTube and study Italian on Duolingo, still unable to do the practical part of those activities. Oh, and yesterday I installed all my Sims 3 files on my new laptop, and now I'm trying to get into playing it, with regular breaks both for sanity's and my laptop's sensitive overheating's sake.

In short, I will be back in time, when I gather my strength and energy, and I will see you all then!

 Bye!

107. Meow - I turned 17! + Cat Lady shopping list!

Hey!

How are you? I have to say, I've not been very good myself.
I have fallen ill all of a sudden, before I could even meow; I have an inflammation on a part of my body, and a horrible stomach ache to add to it. My mother took me to the doctor twice last week, and on the second visit I got to know I need a surgery. The surgery is estimated to be in a few months, though nobody knows for sure. What is confirmed is that the inflammation drains all my energy, and so I have only slept and been in pain the whole of last week. That means I haven't had the strength to even photograph anything or any cat, or visit anything more than a concert on Thursday. I am truly sorry! But this week's looking promising, though we'll spend it at my grandparents' summer cottage, so no kitty photographing if I don't do some quickly before we leave.

But! I have other things in mind for this post, and you can learn what if you just read further!

So my birthday was yesterday, and the whole day (minus the physical pain) was a blast! I had a really good time eating ice cream and berries with my grandparents, and watching Ms Marple on the telly later - and everything in between. For my birthday I got new bed sheets, a small voodoo doll-guardian angel key ring, some jewellery, a giftcard to Pentik (a home decor shop) and a scarf made by my lovely grandpa. I will also get a new book from England, but about that I will tell you later, when it arrives. Overall I was happy with what I got, and the crazy thoughts that came to me that day made it all oh-so precious!

But now onto this time's post. This post is a wishlist of all the kitty-related things I wish to own someday. It could be for a birthday or Christmas or anything you like, and at the same, I here now share what gift suggestions you can get for your crazy cat friend - or even yourself! I will also include the link to the site that sell these objects. Thank you Pinterest for making the dreaming possible!

The perfect doormat for a perfect cat lady house! Get yours here, on Amazon.

These are quite a bit on the pricy side, but well worth every penny. Also, they go in three different colours! Found here, on ShopMelissa.

Even the thumbnail when I first saw these looked comfy! Here is how you can get yours.

As if it wouldn't get any comfier! I would love to have this hoodie for the winter. Get yours here.

Sweatpants, don't we all love them? Sadly I own zero pairs, so maybe these could be the next ones? Here is where I would get these.

Aren't these just adorable? For the rockabilly girl I am, I would wear these every day. Get them here.

Where would you like to travel? I would absolutely love if this map was on my wall. Here is where I'd get it.

You've never smelled better! A cat perfume is all we need when we get homesick and miss our cats on longer holidays. Get this one here.

This bag is basically a dream come true. Not even kidding. Here's the link to get yours!

This is another fulfilled dream, the cutest swimsuit there is. You just can't go wrong with this one. Meow! Check it out here.

Every tea drinker's paradise purchase - even mine! If you are a teaholic and wish to know more about this item, go check out this page.

Story of my life! Found here.

The cat ones are what caught my eye, but all of these are cute! Click here for more information.

This must be the weirdest but also the cutest inventions: a hoodie with a cuddle pocket for cats! Truly something for me! Here's where you can read more.

Get some new post-it notes for school! Now you never forget to feed your cats. Get yours here!

So true. This practically applies to any boyfriend! This is a real must-have for me. Here's the link!

What were your favourites? I can't possibly pick mine!

A new post is coming soon. Be sure to stay tuned!
I'll see you soon, have a good one! Bye!

106. Soft kitties in soft places + Midsummer resolutions!

Hello there!

Notice the once promised and now accomplished new design? I’ve spent the whole of last week playing around with Adobe's products (thank you Photoshop and Lightroom!) and browsing through the endless possibilities of a new, way more summer-y layout. I’m really liking it! What do you think? Leave your thoughts down in the comment section! 

Midsummer is over just as quickly and still so glamorously as New Year and it's Eve, both being beautiful holidays in my personal opinion. Being away from home has led to the birth of new ideas, and so I will do something I have not done ever: just as there are New Year's resolutions, I will introduce Midsummer resolutions to my life!

You can be as creative with Midsummer resolutions as with those you make when the new year begins, and generate tons of ideas that motivate you through the year. I believe determinations at Midsummer are better for me than that of New Year's, as it applies throughout the whole school year, so I can promise to do something from one summer to the other. You can do either that, or then you can do as my higher motivation brain would like to do: apply Midsummer resolutions from summer to the New Year, and then make more resolutions and wishes from New Year's Day to Midsummer. Whatever you and I choose to do, it will be a great addition to building our dream lives!

At my grandmother's summer cottage, about 3 hours from home by car, I have gotten the motivation to do some changes to my life - changes to the better. It was there where I got the idea for Midsummer resolutions, and down below I have gathered my own resolutions, to inspire you to make some of your own!

I widely recommend doing at least some of your own - it doesn't hurt to try!

ART

• Finish at least one (1) story
• Read three (3) books
• Draw a complete picture in PhotoShop
• Do a speedpaint

BEAUTY

• Pluck eyebrows every week
• Try out new Color Masks (e.g. brown, purple)
• Learn to make a braid on myself
• Moisturise face + body + lips regularly

BLOG

• Carry a camera everywhere
• Improve video + vlog quality
• Do more design
• Get more free photo + video editing software

CATS

• Play with cats for 10-15 minutes every day at first
• Help cleaning their litter boxes
• Sleep in the company of cats every other month
• Do three (3) cat DIYs

CONFIDENCE

• Smile more!
• Take singing lessons again
• Enhance my singing voice
• Always assume I'm good enough
• Read The Secret
• Master selfies again
• Value and appreciate things I love the most
• Put uplifting quotes around my room

FITNESS & HEALTH

• Go to the gym 3-4 times a week, doing different activities
• Improve posture
• Eat as clean as possible
• Drink more water
• Drink more tea
• Learn to meditate
• Use healthy fitness apps and games
• Get in shape for Wanhojen Tanssit (Finnish "prom")

SCHOOL

• Go to the libraries more
• Buy the Back to School supplies I want - that's for a great year!
• Study at least one (1) hour (5 x 20 mins) every school day
• Rewrite notes after class
• Learn two (2) new study tips
• Do Duolingo on Italian and Russian

SOCIAL

• See friend at least once (1) every two (2) weeks
• Make new friends in school

OTHER

• Save money
• Create a cleaning habit
• Make & keep iPad and phone school + blog friendly

I have to tell you something: my father can be quite impatient and quick-tempered, quite often so. Combine that with that the cats, mostly Emi, pee everywhere, and you've got a recipe for disaster. When we last time went to the vet with Emi, to get some clarity in the situation, the veterinarian said she's super stressed, so she urinates all over the house. The most obvious reason is that she's stressed because of Dad's frequently occurring "bad days" and the shouting he does during those times. So Emi is stressed and does her business in the wrong places, and then my father becomes stressed, which leads to an immense amount of rage, and then Emi becomes even more stressed - you see the pattern.

My father can be a real prick very often, and warns that he will sell or kill Emi if she doesn't stop what she's - in stress - doing. Luckily Mum is reasonable and keeps those words as simple threats, and has arranged a new toilet for the cats in the human bathroom of the highest floor. That, and a new place for the cats to live in. So basically the Cat Studio moved from the study room (which is now a real study room, for example for my father to work at) to the hobby room in the basement. You know, the place with the sofa-bed and dozens after dozens of books? There they now spend their nights, ever since Sunday (although with clear protests from the Queen cat!).

On my father's demand, Emi was from Friday to Saturday locked to the bathroom and sauna area of the basement - all alone. I get it, Dad is not happy with what the cats do, but now his threats became real. And it doesn't end there - at first, Emi was locked in a cage and left in the basement for herself. It was Mum who opened the cage and let her out in the bathroom so she could calm down from the shock my father cast upon her with his plain stupid actions.

Now they are all fine, my brother has slept with all three of them in the basement for the whole time now. I am getting my chance to sleep there from this night on, until the day we go to my grandparents' summer cottage again. And of course, for sleeping in the same room as the cats, you just have to get a camera!

I have planned to craft something for the cats there in the basement, like I mentioned in the Midsummer resolutions. I have a few ideas, unprocessed but still, and so we'll see what project the near future will bring me to!

Since Emi has been having major trust issues with my father I haven't seen her much elsewhere than under the benches of the sauna, so I have no recent pictures of her. I did go and bond with her many times, petting her until she purred, and being a second mother to her, doing everything I could to ease her stress.

But there's another cat who has been the most affectionate type for the last few days - can you guess?

It's Bimbo! He has been begging for love and petting, and I'm glad to be the lucky provider for those! To be honest, he's been playfully battling with Ella of who will get the most attention from me, and because I'm awful at choosing, I usually give them both my love - at the same time! It looks pretty funny when I try to stretch both my arms to simultaneously scratch them behind the ears!

Here he is finding a spot for him to cuddle with me - you can see little Ella's profile in some of them!

And here he is when his quest to search the warm spot is complete!

And Elsa? She's not been too happy with her new p(a)lace, but she knows she has no options - how loud she ever meows behind the locked door, it's not going to magically open itself! She's found her new favourite spot outside the basement, which is on the heaps of yarn and Mum's knitting works in the study room. There she sleeps all day, high on her throne, all in her solitude, bringing to my mind the coziness of autumn (because no autumn of mine is gone without woolen garments) and reminding us all that she is the true queen of the house... after Mum, but that doesn't count in her world.

Someday this week I will most probably going to Anna's after a long while, to have a look at the kittens in the barn and to comfort little Findus, who has fallen ill. To other current things, I have been to a few concerts lately, but I'll make a better, separate post about those later. Perhaps on Friday or after that, as I am going to see another great band that day. I will also do a separate post of the Midsummer Fire Festival in Azeroth some day - this was the first time I saw the fireworks!

Oh, and my birthday is also soon here! I can't wait for the cake and celebration, and to be a birthday queen for a whole day - super seventeen, here I come!

I'll see you very soon, take care & have a wonderful week!

Bye!