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Vintage Shopping Helsinki Short: The Retro Handbag

This weekend I was looking at the sheer amount of handbags I have, and I was considering if I should sell some because I dislike having too many things that I do not use. This piece almost made the cut, but as I held it in my hands, I could not help but admire the piece’s craftsmanship. A chunky leather topstitched 1970s-style handbag that many brands have tried but have yet to copy.I bought this…

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Project 2023: To Get Fit : January Diary

Photo by Athena on Pexels.com Not me So I finally put a battery in the bathroom scales and weighed myself after a long time. It was not too bad, but it could be better. It seems at my age (53), you have to switch things up a bit to achieve to your weight goals, all all sorts of strange new body problem areas start to develop if you are not careful. The things you did when you were a little…

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Self Improvement Plan at the End of 2022

Self Improvement Plan at the End of 2022

High art clothing, design # by Library of Congress is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0 This is a little bit related to the topic. More on the theme of how we used to consume less in the past. This blog is about self-improvement and trying to live more intentionally and sustainably. Therefore, I have a few thoughts at the end of 2022 about how I consume things and how I would like to improve that. Last…

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A Quick Getaway to Amsterdam

A Quick Getaway to Amsterdam

My go at photography. I was quite pleased with this one. One of the joys of living in Finland is that you can get away to other countries in Europe for weekends and events quite quickly and easily. I love seeing live music, but bands do not always come up to Finland to perform. Therefore, when one of my favourite bands was touring Europe, we had to go.  Arcade Fire is the band in question. Last…

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Beauty Review: Arganour Gel Aloe Vera Bio 97%

Beauty Review: Arganour Gel Aloe Vera Bio 97%

Who knew? I always have used Aloe for burns and cuts, but my face is loving it. Here is my review of Arganour Gel Aloe Vera Bio 97% What is Aloe Vera Gel and why is it good? Here is what I found online. It apparently: Eases sunburn Helps to moisturise the skin. Boosts the healing of wounds Fights skin ageing: “Aloe Vera gel has vitamin C and E, beta-carotene in abundance. Therefore, it has…

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Quick Getaway in Amsterdam

Quick Getaway in Amsterdam

My photo. Should I start doing more photography posts? One of the joys of living in Finland is that you can get away to other countries in Europe for weekends and events quite quickly and easily. I love seeing live music, but bands do not always come up to Finland to perform. Therefore, when one of my favourite bands was touring Europe, we had to go. Arcade Fire is the band in question. Last…

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Exploring the Foundations of a Wardrobe

Exploring the Foundations of a Wardrobe

Looking for fabulous finds I call Autumn my dangerous shopping season. So many amazing pieces come out, and I need them all. However, I have to be careful because, like many people, I buy items for a lifestyle I do not have, buy items for another climate, or have so many duplicate items that it is impossible to wear everything. I am looking for a solution. Exploring the French 5 Piece Wardrobe…

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Managing the Dreaded Menopause: A health post.

Managing the Dreaded Menopause: A health post.

Photo by Adonyi Gu00e1bor on Pexels.com The first time you have a hot flash, it is really weird. You think that someone has turned on the heater next to you or it has something to do with global warming. Then you think; “Oh, this must be a hot flash”. It is quite novel at first, but then they come again and again at it becomes really annoying and a little bit embarrassing when you are in the…

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Ivylee Copenhagen Review

This company started popping up on my social media these last couple of weeks. I have been on the lookout for new pair of ankle boots this season, and after marching up and down the streets of Helsinki and finding nothing, I decided to give them a try. About the Brand They are from Copenhagen, and from what I can see on the website, they have a small collection of shoes and boots. The boots…

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Beauty Review: Beauty Pro Ocean Retinol 1%

Beauty Review: Beauty Pro Ocean Retinol 1%

Beauty Pro Ocean Retinol 1% I have another job as a kind of mystery shopper. In this job, I source new products on the Finnish market, input details about them, and then get to keep them. Every month, I acquired ten new beauty products. My students benefit most from this because there are not always 10 new beauty products that I would like to keep. However, some products I keep and try, so I…

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Beauty Review: Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel

Beauty Review: Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel

This is the best skin product I have used in years. Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra Strength Peel, 30 day box On our visit to Vancouver earlier in the year, I had a browse in one of the department stores, and the sales lady recommended this product. It is a two-step product that involves opening small sachets, the first being an exfoliator that you apply to your skin with a tiny towelette. The…

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Preparing for Autumn: Hats

Preparing for Autumn: Hats

Photo by SevenStorm JUHASZIMRUS on Pexels.com I love Autumn, and I go a little bit nuts in preparation every year. This year is no exception. I am really trying to be careful, but the other day I walked past a hat shop and decided to go in. Now, hats and I have a love-hate relationship. I have a bigger-sized head, so I always hesitate to check in hat stores because I think there are no hats in…

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Shoes: Road testing Gucci, Sézane and Flattered Loafers

Shoes: Road testing Gucci, Sézane and Flattered Loafers

Photo by Feyza Altun on Pexels.com Ah, shoes, the great decision we need to make when considering the climate, budget, and lifestyle. Living in Finland, I wear boots in the winter, sneakers and sandals in the warmer seasons, and loafers in between. Over the last couple of years, I have purchased three pairs of loafers at different price points, and I thought I would review them. I have wide size…

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Polène Paris: A medium priced Luxury Handbag

A quick Friday review and rant.

This is a quick Friday blog entry: a kind of rant as well as a mini-review. For many years I have been what I call a luxury bag fanatic- but only in my fantasy life, not in reality. I have owned and sold: -One Loewe Puzzle bag -Three Louis Vuitton bags (two different Speedy Bags, one Neverfull) -One vintage Chanel clutch bag -One Balenciaga City bag Yes, I know this is bad. I just cannot…

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My new blog: La Face du Phenix

My new blog: La Face du Phenix

http://lafaceduphenix.blog/2022/07/30/personal-shopping-a-sezane/ I have started a new blog where I talk about all things fashion and how I am just trying to work it all out. Feel free to have a look if that is your type of thing. If not, stay tuned to this blog for more general lifestyle reviews from Finland and beyond. lafaceduphenix.blog All things fashion, over 50, in Finland.

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My other blog: Kukkakarli.reviews

I also have a second blog that has been running for a couple of years. In recent months I have decided to separate out my content so that fashion and beauty is on this blog , and more general life reviews are on the other. Here is an earlier post from this year, talking about vintage shopping in Helsinki. https://kukkakarli.reviews/2022/03/20/vintage-shopping-helsinki-spring-2022/ I hope you…

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Trousers and Choosing the Right Style

Trousers and Choosing the Right Style

Photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels.com In preparation for this post, I decided to do some research into the history of trousers after my husband mentioned: “sans-culottes”. What are “sans-culottes”, you may ask? I did not know, so I investigated. “Sans-culottes” means “without beaches” and was the name referring to the lower classes in late 18th century France, a great many who became mobilised…