Girl Friday: Wild Side

Spring started this week. It was snowing outside and the weather was wonderful. I really don't mind the white spring. On the contrary - it gives energy and I have always loved snow. Nevertheless, it happens every March that my restless heart starts longing for summer. I've never really liked spring, but the summer is divine. Those images were shot in Croatia last summer.

In those photos you can see Meisi Volt who's taken a thousand photos for Stellarium. There's warmth and verve in those photos. I'm taken by the impulse to go into those photos and walk barefoot on warm sand. But let dreams be dreams and rather look at that wonderful handbag that accompanies Meisi in those photos. This sunny treasure came from a local shop - that's what Meisi told me afterwards. I've always been fascinated by local masters who create miraculous handbags. An acquaintance recently told me that people go to look for brand products in her second hand shop. Regardless of how pretty or ugly the thing is - if it carries a brand label, it will be bought. That's why I'm crazy after the things that tell another story and where the brand makes no difference. Everything is set in this photo series - a careless summer, cute outfit and a completely wonderful redhead. I can feel the Croatian sun on my skin when looking at these photos. This Girl Friday should surely bring sunshine in everyone's hearts.

Outfit details:

Skirt: Lara Bella Jacket: Bershka
Shoes: Zara Sunglasses: Italia Independent

Sel nädalal algas kevad. Aknast välja vaadates sadas lund ja ilm oli võrratu. justkui jõulud. Valge kevad mind ei häiri. Vastupidi - annab energiat ja pealegi olen lund alati armastanud. Ometi juhtub see iga aasta märtsis, kui minu rahutu süda hakkab suve järele igatsema. Kevad pole mulle kunagi meeldinud, kuid suvi on jumalik. Need kaadrid on tehtud möödunud suvel Horvaatias.

Piltidel poseerib ei keegi teine, kui Stellariumile tuhandeid kaadreid pildistanud Meisi Volt. Nendes fotodes on soojust ja hoogu. Mind haarab soov minna pildi sisse ja kõndida paljajalu soojal liival. Unistused unistusteks. Kuid vaadakem seda imelist käekotti, kes on Meisile nendel kaadritel kaaslaseks. See päikeseline leid on ühest kohalikust poest - nii Meisi mulle hiljem muljetas. Mind on alati võlunud einevate riikide kohalikud tegijad, kes loovad imelisi käekotte. Üks tuttav rääkis mulle hiljuti, et tema second-hand poes käivad naised alati vaid tuntud brändide tooteid jahtimas. Ükskõik kui ilus või inetu see asi ka pole, kui kuulsa firma nimi on kenasti peal, siis see ka ära ostetakse. Sestap meeldivad mulle pööraselt just asjad, mis kõnetavad ja kus bränd ei mängi mingit rolli. Meisi crossbody nendel piltidel on tõestuseks. Selles pildiseerias on kõik paigas: muretu suvi ja võrratu punapeast modell andmas edasi suve sulnist vibe´i. Jah, neid kaadreid vaadates ma peaaegu tunnen enda nahal Horvaatia päikest. Seekordne Girl Friday peaks küll kõigi südamesse päikese tooma.   

PHOTOS: Kermo Vahula

Perfume Portrait: Boucheron Collection and Leading Ladies

 Ahead of the International Women's Day, I'm honoured to present exceptional perfumes that are inspired by legacy of the Boucheron jewellery house gemstone hunters. From their explorations of far away lands, they brought home the most beautiful gemstones, but also the grandiose scent experiences of those wonderful lands. To ensure that those unique memories continue to live on our skin, the Boucheron perfume collection was created.

While introducing those six perfumes to you ahead of the Women's Day, I decided to go on a journey myself. While holding those heavy bottles with mystic scents, I was reminding myself of films where women who have influenced me, have played, and I started thinking about which scents they could have worn in their roles. Oh, those noble bottles are packaged in luxurious white boxes, wrapped in high quality paper, and decorated with a silky ribbon. An ideal present, but to what kind of a woman? Do you recognise yourself in those heroines and find yourself a new perfume?

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Naistepäeva eel on mul au esitleda erakordseid parfüüme, mis on inspireeritud Boucheroni juveelimaja kalliskivijahtijate pärandist. Seigeldes kaugetel maadel, tõid nad kaasa kõige kaunimaid vääriskive, aga ka imeliste maade suursuguseid lõhnaelamusi. Selleks, et need ainulaadsed mälestused võiksid tänapäeval meie nahal edasi elada, sai loodud Boucheroni lõhnade kollektsioon.   

Tutvustades Naistepäeva eel sulle neid kuut erinevat lõhna, otsustasin asuda ka ise rännakule. Hoides käes neid müstiliste lõhnadega raskeid pudeleid, meenutasin filme, kus on mänginud mind mõjutanud naised ja hakkasin mõtlema, milliseid lõhnu just nemad oma rollides võinuksid kanda? Oh, need nooblid pudelid on pakendatud luksuslikesse valgetesse karpidesse, mähitud kõrgekvaliteedilisse paberisse, mis on omakorda kaunistatud siidist paelaga. Ideaalne kingitus, kuid millisele naisele? Kas tunned ennast nende filmikangelannade seast ära ja leiad endale uue lõhna?     

How to capture a skilled art thief? That's the key question in the film 'The Thomas Crown Affair'. The insurance agent Catherine Banning, created by Rene Russo, is a woman who knows what she wants, and even better - she knows how to get it. Oh yes... I remember so well how the red-haired Banning started relentlessly seducing the art thief Thomas Crown, played by Pierce Brosnan (... let's be honest, he wasn't a regular thief, but a millionaire who stole a Monet painting out of boredom...). Catherine Banning's arsenal most definitely included sexy suits, dresses, high heels, and of course... perfume. But which one out of those six Boucheron perfumes could belong to the seduction arsenal of the fierce redhead? I'd put my money on 'Ambre D'Alexandrie', a perfume with oriental currents where the strong notes come out of precious amber. In one passionate dance scene, Thomas Crowne asks his dance partner: "Do you wanna dance or do you wanna dance?" This perfume could be summarised with the same ambiguous question.

'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' is a musical where the fun dialogues of Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell still entertain us today. Their outfits, hair, and performances are as good - they still inspire today's pop stars. When I think about Lorelei Lee, played by Marilyn, I think about Boucheron's 'Vanille De Zanzibar'. There's vanilla and wood in the perfume - it's a dainty and addictive combination. The perfume makes our senses spin in a rush. Thinking about the scene where an older gentleman gives Lorelei Lee his wife's tiara... You have to be careful when wearing that perfume - you could also end up with the same fate!

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Kuidas tabada kaval kunstivaras? See on filmi "The Thomas Crown Affair" võtmeküsimus. Rene Russo loodud kindlustusagent Catherine Banning on naine, kes teab mida ta tahab ja mis veelgi parem – ta teab, kuidas seda saada. Oo jaa... Ma mäletan nii hästi, kuidas punapäine Banning asus halastamatult võrgutama Pierce Brosnani poolt loodud kunstivargast Thomas Crowni (...olgem ausad, ta polnud tavaline varas, vaid miljonär, kes varastas igavuse peletamiseks Monet maali...). Päris kindlasti käivad Catherine Banningi arsenali seksikad kostüümid, kleidid, kõrged kontsad ja muidugi ... parfüüm. Kuid milline nendest kuuest Boucheroni lõhnast võiks olla selle hurmava punapea võrgutusarsenalis? Mina panustan "Ambre D’Alexandrie" orientaalse hoovustega lõhnale, kus tugevad noodid tulevad hinnalisest merevaigust. Ühes kirglikus tantsusteenis küsib Thomas Crown oma tantsupartnerilt: "Do you wanna dance or do you wanna dance?" Selle sama kahemõttelise küsimusega võib ka selle lõhna kokku võtta.

"Gentelmens Prefer Blondes" on muusikal, kus Marilyn Monroe ja Jane Russeli lõbusad dialoogid naerutavad meid tänaseni. Sama inspireerivad on nende tualetid, soengud ja esinemised, mis inspireerivad jätkuvalt ka tänaseid popstaare. Kui mõtlen Marilyni kehastatud Lorelei Lee`st, seostub mulle sulnis Boucheroni "Vanille De Zanzibar". Lõhnas on vanilje ja puit – see on hõrk ja sõltuvusttekitav kooslus. Parfüüm viib meeled peadpööritavalt lendlema ja mõeldes episoodile, kus vanem härrasmees kingib Lorelei Lee`le oma abikaasa tiaara... Siis seda lõhna kandes pead olema ettevaatlik – sama saatus võib tabada ka sind!

Who wouldn't love Audrey Hepburn and the film 'How to Steal a Million'. The mischievous character Nicole Bonnett wears Givenchy throughout the film and invents audacious plans. Following her adventures, I believe she could have worn the fresh and bright amber perfume 'Neroli D'Ispahan', because this scents lets the wearer's mind wander and helps to polish the plan on how to steal a million. There's something in the perfume that I associate with the set of the film 'How to Steal a Million'. The grandiosity and the precious materials of gold plated metal and glass are something everyone would want to have a piece of. When watching the 1966 film, it seems that the prestige of the era has vanished, but when holding this perfume, I understand that special scents could be the things that save the world. Or at least the day.

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Kes ei armastaks Audrey Hepburni ja filmi "How to Steal a Million". Krutskeid täis tegelaskuju Nicole Bonnett kannab läbi linateose lendlevalt Givenchy loomingut ja leiutab hulljulgeid plaane. Just tema seiklusi jälgides usun, et talle sobinuks värske ja valgusküllane merevaigulõhn "Neroli D’Ispahan". Sest just see parfüüm viib kandja mõtted rändama ja aitab plaani "Kuidas varastada miljonit?" täiuslikuks lihvida. Selle lõhna välimuses on midagi, mis seostub mulle kaudselt just filmi "How to Steal a Million" interjööriga. Suurejoonelisus, kullatud metall ja klaas kajastavad prestiižeid materjale, millest tahaks igaüks osa saada. Vaadates seda 1966.aastal vändatud filmi, tundub, et kogu selle ajastu erilisus on kadunud, kuid hoides käes seda lõhna, mõistan, et vähemalt erilised lõhnad võivad olla need, mis päästavad maailma.  Või vähemalt päeva. 

'A Beautiful Mind' has a scene that lasts 4 minutes and 22 seconds that I watch over and over again. Through years, it still has something that deeply captivates me. The music. Dialogue. Interior. Music. Oh yes... I already mentioned the music. A charming blonde woman who just appears in the room and doesn't say a word, inspires the young genius John Nash. The graceful gate of the woman, the curls, the outfit, and the smile put his mind to work... Which perfume could this unnamed muse have worn? I reckon 'Tuberuse De Madras' - a creamy scent full of sunshine, dominated by the white tuberose. Yes... This perfume reminds me of that woman a lot. Silent, but yet so inspiring.

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Filmis "The Beautiful Mind" on 4 minutit ja 22 sekundit kestev stseen, mida ma ikka ja jälle vaatan. Läbi aastate on selles jätkuvalt midagi, mis mind sügavalt lummab. Muusika. Dialoog. Interjöör. Muusika... Ah jaa... Ma juba mainisin muusikat. Ja see hurmav blond naine, kes lihtsalt ilmub ruumi, ei ütle mitte ühtegi sõna ning inspireerib noort geeniust John Nashi. Selle naise nõtke kõnnak, lokid, kostüüm ja naeratus panevad mõtte tööle... Millist lõhna võinuks kanda see nimetu muusa? Eks ikka parfüümi "Tuberuse De Madras", kreemjas, päikeseenergiga laetud lõhn, kus valitseb tuberoosi valge õis. Jaa... See lõhn meenutab mulle nii väga seda naist. Vaikiv ja ometi nii inspireeriv.  

How about our domestic heroines? In the series 'The Whores' I'm captivated by madame Kukk played by Merle Palmiste. With each episode I watch, I see more an dmore of madame Kukk and I forget she is played by an actress I know personally. Yes, madame Kukk is the one who can wear the more intense perfumes on the dim lit stairs and grandiose hall of the call house. Boucheron's 'Oud De Carthage' would definitely give her strength. It's a rich and powerful leathery oriental perfume that demands a strong character. This perfume could be worn by a woman who is surrounded by a veil of secrets and a mystical force. If you recognise yourself in this description, this perfume is made just for you.

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Aga kuidas on lood kodumaiste kangelannadega? Vaadates sarja "Litsid", köidab mind ikka ja jälle Merle Palmiste poolt kehastatud proua Kukk. Iga osaga, mida vaatan, näen ma aina rohkem proua Kukke ja unustan sootuks, et seda mängib näitleja, keda isiklikult tunnen. Jah, proua Kukk on see, kes võib härrastemaja hämaratel treppidel ja suurejoonelises saalis kanda intensiivsemaid parfüüme. Kahtlemata annaks talle tugevust Boucheroni "Oud De Carthage". See nahkne orientaalne parfüüm on tõeliselt rikkalik ja võimas, mis on nõuab sama võimast karakterit. Seda lõhna võiks kanda naine, keda ümbritevad nii saladused kui ka müstiline vägi. Kui sina tunned selles kirjelduses ära iseenda, siis on see lõhn loodud just sinule.

Who's been watching the legendary crime series Hercule Poirot? Poirot has a faithful secretary miss Lemon. If I'm not mistaken, it was miss Lemon who announced in one episode that she never wears perfume to work, because it wouldn't be appropriate for a lady... If not to work, how about free time? Still waters run deep. I imagine clearly how miss Lemon has 'Iris De Syracuse' on her cupboard. Iris plays a big part in the perfume and it's inspired by sunny Sicily. In my mind, miss Lemon is the one who delicately dabs 'Iris De Syracuse' on her wrist and behind her ear on her free time. She closes her eyers, forgets the foggy England, and travels to Sicily for a moment. 

Which one of these women are you? Which one of the six Boucheron perfume descriptions do you recognise yourself in?

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Kes on vaadanud legendaarset kriminaalsarja Hercule Poirot? Seal tegutseb Poirot ustav sekretär Miss Lemon. Kui mu mälu mind ei peta, siis oli just Miss Lemon see, kes ühes episoodis teatas, et ta ei kanna tööl mitte kunagi parfüümi, sest see poleks daamile kohane ... Tööl mitte, aga kuidas on lood eraelus? Vaga vesi, sügav põhi. Ma kujutan elavalt ette, kuidas Miss Lemon hoiab oma peeglilaual lõhna "Iris De Syracuse". Selles lõhnas on suur roll iiriseõiel ja parfüüm on inspireeritud päikeselisest Sitsiiliast. Minu vaimusilmas on Miss Lemon just see, kes tööst vabal ajal delikaatselt käe siseküljele ja kõrvalesta taha "Iris De Syracuse" parfüümi paneb. Ta suleb silmad, unustab uduse Inglismaa ja viibib hetke Sitsiilias.  

Milline naine nendest oled sina? Milline nendest kuuest Boucheroni lõhnast läbi kirjelduse pani sind ennast äratundma? 

Me Time + Teatime = Fuze Tea

What is ‘Me Time’? It is the time that you just claim for yourself to do anything you wish with it. However, how often can we afford to make time for ourselves? Me Time tends to slip away. It isn't even like sand slipping through your fingers -- at least we would feel sand for a moment!  No, most often we fail to sense or see it as each day of our lives is making its own demands on us. A day flies by unnoticed and suddenly the night surrounds us. And we're left wondering where did all the time go that was supposed to be just for my own use or Me Time?

For the time being and for a quite some time by now, I have been living in the Me Time period, in a tranquil balance and at peace with myself and my loved ones. My perfect day is a day I have no scheduled appointments. And my Me Time can pan out to be fairly different. Sometimes it means waking up at noon. Sometimes it means fasting from the news. Sometimes it is a day when I bake and clean, my favourite film playing in the background for a hundredth time, making me feel ineffably good. Sometimes it means reading magazines in front of the fireplace. Sometimes it is – ahem --losing myself in browsing of online stores. Sometimes it stands for rearranging the furniture and fixtures. And then there are times it can mean giving a wall a new coat of paint.

Indeed… For the past couple of years, I have chosen to indulge myself in the greatest luxury imaginable: moseying on in my very own bubble. This illustrious Me Time, longed-for by many, has become my way of life. This way of life has its own set of rituals. And for me, Me Time also contains another alternative – tea time or time for tea. How many times I have written about my love for tea! Usually, upon arriving at someone’s house, I tend to ask “May I have a cup of tea?”A greeting "Shall I put a kettle on?" sounds like music to my ears. And I love iced tea equally! I need to have some of it in my arm’s reach at all times.

When reflecting on Teatime and Me time, I envision a girl getting ready for a party she secretly abhors -- with all its meaningless small talk and evening-long inner craving for being left alone. Yet she bravely finishes doing her hair, puts on a chic dress, adorns herself with pearls, and decides on a pair of shoes. And just before she is about to walk out the door, she halts, goes and opens a chilled bottle of Fuze Tea, and -- after just a sip from the bottle -- the time stands still. Does she really have to set off again? And looking at her large bed, she feels it beckoning her as the best place for her for this evening. All else may wait. Parties. Receptions. Proms. However, the time for herself – it cannot wait, it never should! Thus, she stays in. She throws herself on the bed, accompanied by Fuze Tea, the snow covered vastness outside her windows. The whole evening belongs to her now. Yet, something is still missing... She puts on a vinyl and goes for ‘Spend the Day in Bed’ by Morrissey.

Mis on Me Time? See on aeg, mille sa võtad endale ja teed, mida hing ihaldab. Kuid, kui tihti me ikkagi endale seda päris oma aega saame kinkida? Me Time kipub käest libisema. See pole isegi liiv, mida hetkeks oma sõrmede vahel tunneme... Ei, me tihti ei tunnegi ega näegi seda, sest iga päev nõuab oma. Päev kappab penikoormasaabastel õhtusse ja siis... Siis me mõtleme, kuhu jäi see aeg, mis pidi olema vaid minu aeg ehk Me Time?

Mina olen pikemat aega elanud Me Time perioodis, vaikses rahus iseenda ja oma lähedastega. Minu jaoks on ideaalne päev selline, kus pole ühtegi kohustuslikku kohtumist. Me Time on minu jaoks väga erinev. Vahel on see ärkamine alles keskpäeval. Vahel on see paast uudistest. Vahel on see päev, kus küpsetan ja koristan, taustaks mängimas sajandat korda lemmikfilm, mis tekitab minus selle ületamata heaolu. Vahel on see suure kamina ees ajakirjade lugemine. Vahel on see ... Khm... Täiesti ennastunustavalt netipoodides surfamine. Vahel on see toa ümber tõstmine. Vahel aga hoopis seina värvimine.

Jaa ... Juba paar aastat olen valinud oma kaaslaseks suurima luksuse – kulgemise omaenda mullis. See kuulus Me Time, millest paljud kõnelevad, on saanud minu elustiiliks. See on elustiil oma rituaalidega. Me Time tähendab minu jaoks veel midagi - teatime. Kui palju kordi olen ma kirjutanud oma armastusest tee vastu! Tavaliselt, kui külla lähen, küsin alati: "Kas saaksin tassikese teed?" Samavõrd armastan ma külma teed, mis peab alati mul käeulatuses olema.

Teatime ja Me Time meenutavad mulle tüdrukut, keda ootab pidu, pealiskaudsed vestlused ja õhtu täis igatsust omaenda aja järgi. Ta seab vapralt valmis oma soengu, paneb selga šiki kleidi, ehib end pärlitega ja valib välja kingad. Enne kodust lahkumist avab ta külma Fuze Tea ja ühe kerge lonksuga jääb aeg justkui seisma. Kas tõesti peab ta jälle minema? Vaadates oma laia voodit, tunneb ta, et sel õhtul on just see tema jaoks parim paik. Kõik võib oodata. Peod. Vastuvõtud. Ballid. Kuid aeg iseendale – see on miski, mis ei tohi kunagi oodata. Nii jääb ta koju. Heidab kokteilikleidis voodisse, kaaslaseks Fuze Tea ja aknast paistvad lumeväljad. Terve õhtu on tema oma. Tema päralt. Kuid midagi on puudu... Ta paneb vinüülplaadi mängima ja valib Morrissey loo „Spend the Day in Bed”.