Hi readers! 
I'll have to start off by apologizing. January has been hectic! There are so many things going on at the moment for me. I haven't had much spare time for my blog.

I experinced a nasty back injury roughly a week before Christmas that forced me to put all exercising on hold - even walking, sitting and standing were painful. I broke my tailbone when I was younger but that felt like nothing compared to this. 

Before the injury I had been attending dance class twice a week. It still continues to amaze me how effective it is for the core especially! Now that it's been six weeks from my last class, I can tell the difference in flexibility. I had also been going on long power walks twice a week for an hour at a time and switching from public transportation to my own two feet. The distances weren't significant but the uplifting effect it had on the mood was amazing. I recommend you to try it! Now, it's time to get back on track.

Sportstracker, the app, has been a great motivator for me. It ables you to monitor your workout whether it's biking, running or walking. It might cause you to want to push your workout to the next level - and feel even better afterwards! Also The Workout Trainer by Skimble has brought a nice addition! It has numerous different workouts, all categorized for you whether it's cardio, weight loss, running, cross fit, full body, core, arms, butt & legs, yoga, stretching, weight lifting, walking, biking or even rock climbing you want to do! I was like a kid in a candy shop at first, I wanted to try as many as possible! Plan your week's workouts beforehand, mark them into your calendar with The Workout Trainer and stick to that! Go for a 30 minute power walk or jog and continue with a workout of your choise. It's a great alternative for morning coffee, for sure! There are also different fitness tests you can take. The free versions of both of these two apps will do just fine.

Get inspired! Set goals for yourself. What do you want to achieve? Stay focused by motivating yourself! Challenge a friend! Always do a little more than last time, it doesn't have to be much, run one extra block, do two extra push-ups. Keep it interesting! Finish each workout on a positive note. Remember to stretch!
 
 

 

 Never underestimate the power of bright colored sports gear! I have something in store for you guys later this spring with Stefanie from www.steffit.com! Stay tuned and check her blog for some tips from a professional regarding exercise, nutrition and more. She has some great inspiration pictures too!

15 ml of Sweet Vanity in a Bottle

Glitter nailpolish is back! At first I strongly thought it was just for little girls, I remember very vividly some hideous ones from my childhood: big chunks of heart shaped glitter that left the surface of the nail clumpy, rough and uneven - not a pretty sight. Then, I found some classy ones by Deborah Lippmann and became a fan.

Although I favour natural beauty and most of all, inner beauty, I don't believe in things like fake eye lashes, hair extensions etc., nail polish is my weak spot. It can have a moodlifting effect! I hate to admit but the moment I opened the package, I was hypnotized - yes - by this tiny bottle. Just like deep underwater, tiny fish stare at bigger, bioluminescent fish. 

 

Ray Of Light by Deborah Lippmann is a blueish purple shade with thin, hologrammic glitter that reflects tones of green and orange. It dries surprisingly fast and is long lasting. For best results apply two layers of clear base coat, two layers of Ray Of Light nailpolish and 1-2 layers of clear top coat. 

Before buying yours make sure to compare prices, they vary anywhere from 14 € to 30 €. If you live in Finland like I do, you'll have to order online. I bought mine from Amazon.com. While comparing prices I noticed that Love It has a good range of Deborah Lippmann products in a decent price, they also provide free shipping at the moment!

As an animal lover it gave me great pleasure to notice that Deborah Lippmann cosmetics doesn't use animal testing with their products! 

Other spectacular shades below by Deborah Lippmann include: Cleopatra in New York, Candy Shop, Let's Go Crazy and Across the Universe.

Bottom four photos by Deborah Lippmann

It's not typical or obvious, it doesn't spell out: "Best Friends". It's not a puzzle and it doesn't even form a heart shape. 

 Yet, it makes a perfect friendship bracelet.  

Bracelets by Thomas Sabo

I introduced a technique on how to transform a t-shirt into a ball of thread earlier in my blog. Find instructions and read the post HERE. I also promised to share an idea on how to put that thread into use. 

 

I decided to crochet a huge rug which measures 2 m x 2,2 m. Since I was impatient and wanted to utilize all the material I could get my hands on, I mixed all kinds of colors together to create a bright, happy colored rug which I think, gives it some character! Adding white thread here and there makes it look fresh and black thread gives it some depth.

If you want to avoid getting knots in your rug, you can either sew the thread together or buy packs of different colored jersey from your local fabric store. Don't invest in expensive kinds, you can find real bargains on sale since each piece doesn't have to be that big! If you're in Helsinki I suggest you check out what Eurokangas stores have to offer, they usually have hideous colored jersey in their sale department, which is a good thing! Remember, with this DIY project you're allowed to go over the top!