You guys have been VERY curious and since there’s still a ton of questions left, I’m dividing the answers into three parts in stead. Enjoy! 🙂
PERSONAL/RELATIONSHIPS
Do you miss anything about Sweden?
I miss having my mother around, especially now that she’s the grandmother of my beautiful daughter. What else? Making good money and spending it on the pretty things (who am I kidding, I obviously mean clothes and shoes) they don’t sell here. Oh and my friends, of course. And Stockholm, it’s such a lovely city. What do you know – I miss Sweden more than I realized! Although I bet there’s more I don’t miss…
Quitting smoking – cold turkey or slowly reducing the use?
Cold turkey, for sure (at least that’s how I did it when I found out I was pregnant). I’ve heard people say that it’s better for your body if you slowly reduce the use of nicotine because your body’s grown addicted to it, but I think smoking is more of an emotional and social thing. You just have to cut the cord and decide – I’m done. Otherwise you’ll just relapse because it’s so easy to just have “one more”.
What do you guys do for a living?
I’m a full-time mom and H makes sure the police, military and rescue services are equipped with the latest technology.
What is the best part of living in Estonia and what are your favorite places there?
In comparison to the all-liberal Sweden where everyone is equal and allowed to be “themselves”, people actually are genuine and honest here in Estonia. Swedes are polite and politically correct to the point where everyone proudly wears a fake smile and everyone is friends with everyone. Sh*t never gets real in Sweden. I think people are a lot better at taking responsibility and being respectful here, which makes Estonians a lot easier to cooperate and make friends with (plus Estonians can hold their liquor, which can’t be said about Swedes).
My absolute favorite places in Estonia are Otepää (because I had a lot of fun there with great people in my teens, hence the awesome memories) and Tartu (again, lots of stuff to be nostalgic about, it’s a magical town with amazing people). If I was going to buy a house anywhere but Tallinn, it would be Haapsalu (and H agrees). It’s a small (but no too small) town and a great place, I imagine, to raise your children and because it’s so close to Tallinn, it wouldn’t have to interfere too much with anyone’s career choices.
Are you happy with your life?
I’m so incredibly happy! Of course I have days of existential crisis when I feel I lack in self-sufficiency or feel trapped/bored/like I’m at a standstill (everyone does), but then I take one look at my little rugrat and know I’ve made all the right choices.
What’s your stand on smoking/hookah?
I used to be a passionate smoker but that obviously isn’t an option with a baby around.
I can’t stand the smell or looking at a hookah, gives me chills and makes me want to throw up (might have something to do with excessive hookah consumption in my teens).
What do you do/did for a living? Are you on a break from university?
I’ve had a lot of different jobs – I used to work as a barista after school, I’ve been a salesgirl, I’ve waited tables, done customer service over the phone (for Swedes from Tallinn) and my last job was at a Swedish company that produces electronics and is located in Tallinn. I was a buyer, my job was to buy all the components. I was completely clueless most of the time, but qualified because of my Swedish! I’ve learned a lot from all my jobs and have quite a CV, but I’m looking forward to starting studies and working towards my goal to work with what I truly enjoy and love.
Did you party a lot BC? (before child lol).
Yes. Not missing it one bit!
Do you hate anyone? Are you still friends with H’s ex-girlfriend? (not trying to stir shit, so sorry if it seems intrusive;()
I generally think hate is such an intense and large emotional weight that always brings down the one carrying it rather than the person it’s directed against. I hold a great antipathy against a couple of people that harm those I love, but that’s about it.
I’m pretty sure where you’re going with this, so if we rephrase your question a bit (ex-girlfriend doesn’t sound like an adequate epithet), I’ll have to say unfortunately not.
Are you close with your father?
I am, on and off. He’s a very peculiar and paranoid person, but he’s very loving and caring deep (VERY deep) down inside. If we do have an argument, neither of us is too good at getting back in touch first so we have periods of time when we don’t have any contact at all.
What chores do you hate doing?
Well, the dishes COULD wash themselves, but I don’t mind doing it myself. What I do hate? Ironing bed linens. Has to be done though, sleeping between fresh, ironed sheets is a magical feeling.
To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?
I’m not sure – I’m happy to be where I am because I know I wouldn’t be happier anywhere else (where the green is supposedly greener). If my mom hadn’t dragged me along to Sweden, I wouldn’t appreciate what I have here. On the other hand, if I hadn’t taken a chance on moving back to Estonia, where I didn’t have a safety net, it wouldn’t have been the beginning of the life I have here now. So this and that, I guess.
Do you have a driver’s license? What kind of car do you have in your family?
No driver’s license (aspiring to get it, though). H drives a BMW E46.
How often (if ever) do you use public transportation?
Whenever I need to go somewhere and H isn’t available Although he pretty much always makes himself available because he has some sort of weird idea that taking the bus is bad for me and the kid. Overprotective, I guess.
Do you still have anything from your childhood?
The apartment we live in is the same one I grow up in. We threw out most of the furniture and tore off the old wallpapers, but I kept some keepsakes like the curtains my mommy made for my room, some of my favorite toys, etc. Plus one of my grandmothers made a photo album of each year of my childhood, so I have a lot of photos (except from when I was a baby). 🙂
What do you spend most of your money on?
Food, probably.
What do you do to avoid stress and routine? I cook. Honest to god, cooking is a huge stress relief for me. And when I need to get out of the house, my man takes me to the theater.
Have you had any negative feedback on your blog? How do you take it?
There hasn’t been any and I hope this doesn’t inspire anyone to take a go at it and start throwing up bitter comments all over our lovely blog. I love that we have a warm, friendly environment here and I can be completely honest and open. 🙂
What do your parents do for a living?
My mummy works at Nobis hotel at the center of Stockholm, bosses the cleaning ladies around and makes the place feel humble for the guests (and by guests I mean rich celebrities). My dad is a private entrepreneur and owns a garage (a repair shop) in Tallinn.
What do you think of homosexuals?
I think of homosexuals what I think of any other people that are in love and want to have a family. Love never did anyone any harm and nothing bad has ever come from two people being devoted to making each other happy. If they want to adopt, they should be able to – all a child needs is parents who take responsibility for and give all their love to him/her (plus I think saying homosexuals parents raise homosexual kids is like saying a single dad would raise a man out of his daughter – nonsense). Homophobes are ignorant morons and deserve a good old smack across the face.
VANITY/CLOTHING
How much money do you spend on clothes in a month? On make up?
Clothes? Depends entirely on what I find and feel the need to buy. Last month I ordered stuff for 200€ from H&M, but that’s for all three of us, plus some Christmas presents and things for our home. Let’s say I spend an average of 150-200€ on clothes for the whole family. Give and take.
I’m stocked up on all the makeup I need right now, so I don’t buy any more. I don’t need nail polishes because I get my nails done (that’s 23€ a month) and I don’t go and buy more eye shadows or lipsticks just for the sake of buying. This month I bought another BB-cream, because it was 3€ cheaper than usual and I was running out. If I finish up a product and have to buy a new one, it’s another 30-40€. Otherwise I probably never spend more than 5-10€ a month.
It looks like brands on clothes are important to you. Is it true? Do you only buy clothes from expensive brands for the baby?
No, brands aren’t essential. I have no interest in having Juicy smacked across my ass to show people my velour dress cost more than I pay in rent. What I do appreciate is quality, style and exclusivity. First of all – if a piece of clothing feels expensive, it means you’ll be wearing it for a long time. I love having classic, stylish pieces in my closet that I can build outfits around. And lastly, exclusivity – I love brands (especially those of Scandinavian designers like Birger et Mikkelsen, Hunkydory, Odd Molly etc.) that are expensive and that most people on the street just don’t have.
When it comes to brands for the baby, I have to say I’m willing to spend a lot more on her. Partly because I just don’t feel any guilt if I buy expensive clothes for her (all of her overalls cost ca 100€) and also because my favorite brand is Polarn o. Pyret, which makes beautiful clothes (that aren’t all either pink or blue, gah) that are durable, designed and sewn to grow with the kid (the kid is still wearing onesies from when she was four months old, it’s magical) and the stuff she doesn’t get to wear much, can be sold after she’s grown out of it.
What do you think of thrift stores and second hand clothes? Do you believe it’s possible to find cool stuff and do you check some out sometimes?
I love second hand stores, I think they’re absolutely brilliant! I have no weird passion for paying a lot of money for clothes, but as I said, I love exclusivity. Vintage provides just that but for a lot less money! I’ve found so many pearls in thrift stores and if going from store to store wasn’t such a pain with a stroller, I would probably spend most of my days going to second hand stores. That’s why I like online auction sites, where people try to get rid of their junk. That’s how I got my sofa for 15€!
Can you recommend any good hairdressers in Tallinn? Where do you get your hair done?
I’ve been going to a salon called Désirée (located on the fourth floor of hotel Olümpia) and never been disappointed. If you don’t get an appointment there, they also have a salon in Stockmann. The hairdressers are true professionals and the place has a nice ambience. And it’s not more expensive than any other salon in town!
COOKING/FOOD/WINE
When your baby first birthday comes, what would you cook for the b-day party?
Depends on the number of guests: if there are a lot of people coming, I won’t bother preparing a hot meal, in which case I’ll probably be making a salad of some sort, baking a quiche or two and a cake. Then I’ll make something for the babies – maybe sugar free cookies, smoothies and veggie snacks. 🙂
3 favorite snacks that are easy to prepare?
1) Vegetable plate (cucumber, carrots, cauliflower) with a tzatziki dip (thick Greek yogurt, drained chopped cucumber, garlic, salt, pepper)
2) Buy puff pastry, cut into strips, sprinkle with grated cheese and bake until golden (anyone you serve these to will be blown away; the recipe is also great for utilizing leftover strips of puff pastry)
3) Mix grated cheese with mayonnaise and a pressed glove of garlic. Serve on toast. Yum!
What sort of wines do you prefer? Sweet? Semi-sweet? Acidic? Red? White? Rosé?
I like dry, acidic red wines that are fruity, smoky and full of flavor. Valpolicella and Côtes du Rhône are two favorites.
Have you considered becoming a chef?
Not only have I considered it, I’ve dreamed of becoming a chef for as long as I can remember 🙂
Best thing to eat for breakfast?
A salty oatmeal porridge with butter and sour cream or H’s mom’s pancakes or my world’s best scrambled eggs!
What kind of food don’t you eat?
This is going to be very embarrassing, but I promised to be one hundred per cent honest: I don’t eat any seafood (including fish) or mushrooms. I’m doing everything to develop a taste for those, but I’m not doing too well. I will have to learn how to appreciate seafood, though, or I’ll make one pathetic chef!
TRIVIA
What’s your favorite motto/quotation?
The prayer of serenity:
“God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.”
If you could have dinner with any three people in the world, who would they be (doesn’t matter whether dead or alive)?
My very deep and intellectual boyfriend picked Mel Gibson (because he knows his way into the mysterious mind of women – I didn’t have the heart to tell him it was only in the movie…), Nicholas Cage and Bruce Willis (because they’re plain awesome).
I pick my beloved grandmother, my awesome friend Martin and my daughter. So the first two can meet her. They’re no longer with us and a day doesn’t go by when I don’t wish they had met my little girl before they passed away.
If you could identify yourself with a movie character, who would it be? And why?
First character that comes to mind is Lorelai in Gilmore Girls, just because of her sarcastic and fun-loving nature, sincerity, her carelessness and how she’s really awkward in some situations.
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