Obsessed: Moomins

I have a confession to make... I am obsessed with Moomins.

£8, Primark

 I found this insanely cute pair of Moomin pyjamas in Primark a while ago and I just had to buy it.

I'd seen Moomin pyjamas in Primark and Topshop before, but I haven't liked them much so they've been left in the shop after the initial excitement. This pair, however, is perfect. It features a print made of the original comic strips and is perfect for summer with the sweet tank top and shorts combo.

As some of you might know, Moomins come from Finland. They were created by Tove Jansson, and originally started as comic strips. Jansson also wrote books (which I love), and since her original creations, there has been a couple of tv series, movies, plays and so on. I grew up with Moomins, as in Finland they are considered as something of a national treasure. I've watched all the episodes (multiple times), read the books, comics and visited the Moominvalley theme park when I was a kid.

As I approached adulthood, my interest in Moomins didn't wane, but took a new, rather material, direction. I started collecting Moomin dishwear! My current mug collection alone consists of 39 mugs (I only have a few with me at the moment, due to space and constant moving — student life!). If I'm honest, there might be one or two more, as I didn't update my inventory sheet last time I was in Finland (when I inevitably bought the new Christmas mug, the Tove 100 anniversary mug and possibly the Moominmamma mug that was being discontinued...), where most of my collection still resides. And you know, just the fact that I have an inventory sheet probably tells you enough.

All of my dishwear are made by Finnish brands Arabia and Iittala.

In addition to the mugs, I also have a pile of bowls, a stack of glasses and a salad bowl, a jug, a plate, a tray, spoons and possibly something else too. Most of this is currently hiding in my mother's cellar in Finland waiting for me to take permanent residence somewhere in the UK.

Close-up of my glasses | Some examples of Moomin towels by Finnish home textiles brand, Finlayson

My collective habits do not stop at dishwear. I also own two bedding sets (my favourite one pictured below), kitchen towels, oven glove (pictured below) and pot holders, a sizeable stack of bath- and handtowels, t-shirt, a massive pile of postcards, a pile of Topshop Moomin underwear and a Moominmamma soft toy (which my 6- and 8-year-old sisters gifted me as they didn't want it, haha). And of course books, comic books and other little trinkets (people like to buy me Moomin things for birthdays and Christmases — it usually works pretty well). I also always buy the new Moomin academic calendar for the upcoming year when I am in Finland during the summer. I only go to Finland twice a year now, for just a week or two at a time, so having little things like this make me feel still connected to my home country. :)

(Photos by Finlayson)

Moomin rotary candle holder that I got as a gift last Christmas. It's so fragile!

Postcards, which I keep meaning to put up on my walls — but I think I will end up waiting until I move out of student accomodation and I can put them into frames.

Moomins are of course not the only thing I have fallen in love with over the years: Disney and Harry Potter have just as firm hold of my heart. It is however only Moomins that have managed to secure such a physical manifestation in my life. The few Disney soft toys and things I own do not quite compare to the extent of my Moomin dish- and homeware collection.

I am unapologetically a Moomin fanatic. I love them to bits, and enjoying food and drink out of my brightly coloured cute little dishwear makes gloomy days a little bit brighter here in Aberdeen.

Here are some links to UK websites that sell Moomin products:
The Moomin Shop
(43 Covent Garden Market, London, WC2E 8RF)
John Lewis
Cloudberry Living
Shannon

43 Covent Garden Market London WC2E 8RF

43 Covent Garden Market London WC2E 8RF

43 Covent Garden Market London WC2E 8RF

43 Covent Garden Market London WC2E 8RF

43 Covent Garden Market London WC2E 8RF

Do you collect anything?

Until next time,

Jenni

Reappearance (and London)

It's been over two weeks since my last post. I had a good reason though — my boyfriend returned to the British Isles for the first time in two and a half months. He is gone again now, this time for four months, which means I have to find things to fill my life with again. I had such good time with him, both here in Aberdeen and down in Oxfordshire at his parents' house. Apart from day trips to Oxford and Burford, we stayed in the village and just enjoyed each others company, and met up with some of his friends.

  

Burford! With a £0.99(!) eBay bargain dress, and my trusted yellow H&M bag. I also decided to bite the bullet and went full-on blonde!

After (tearful) goodbyes on Saturday, I headed to London to distract myself by seeing some friends and wandering around in the weekend buzz. I spent a lot of time sitting in parks, eating delicious things and talking with one of my best friends. I took a camera with me, but didn't end up taking a single photo. Usually when I am in London, I try to be as productive as I possibly can — see as much as you can, as quickly as you can. And of course, take photos. This time however, I found that I just wanted to relax in the sun and be calm. So I don't have any photos to share. But I wanted to share my favourite things about my weekend in London (in no particular order, and excluding my friends).

1. Tibits

12-14 Heddon Street
off Regent Street
London W1B 4DA
http://www.tibits.ch/en/home.html

Tibits is essentially a vegetarian buffet, where you pay by weight. I had a full plate for just under £9 and some dessert for just over £3, which I thought was a fantastic price for what I got. I love buffets, as I always have hard time deciding what to choose from a menu — I want to try everything! If you recognise yourself, you'll love Tibits! I cannot recommend it enough and it is safe to say that I will be back next time I'm in London — yum!

2. Cookies and Scream

Camden Lock Market,
Camden High St

London NW1 8NH

http://www.cookiesandscream.com

My friend had been raving about this place for months, so of course that's where we decided to meet first thing on Saturday morning! Cookies and Scream is completely dairy, egg, wheat and gluten free, as well as vegan, not to mention completely delicious. I had a brownie, warmed and topped with their homemade ice cream, and my friend had a cookie dough ball milkshake. Having devoured my order, and sampled hers, I can guarantee that they know their stuff. My friend swears that the milkshake was best she had ever had, and also heartily recommends their peanut butter and jelly cookies. As with Tibits, I will most definitely be back.

3. Wedding Dresses and Italian Fashion at V&A Museum

Victoria and Albert Museum

Cromwell Road

London SW7 2RL

http://vam.ac.uk

 The Glamour of Italian Fashion 1945 - 2014, 5 April - 27 July 2014 

Wedding Dresses 1775-2014, 3 May 2014 – 15 March 2015 

Wedding dresses, Italian fashion... need I say more? This is one place where my boyfriend would have refused to accompany me I think, so it was lovely to go with friends and have such a traditionally "girly" excursion. ;)

4. Marylebone Farmers' Market

I love Farmers' Markets. We don't really have one here in Aberdeen, so being able to go and browse in London was a lovely opportunity. I bought a delicious quiche for lunch, and a punnet of strawberries, which I devoured as I sat down to a park to enjoy sunshine a few minutes later.

I told you my weekend consisted mostly of food didn't I? ;) I did not really do any shopping, besides stocking up on tea (The Tea House on Neal St in Covent Garden always gets a visit) and getting an eyeliner from Kiko. Braving Oxford Street or any shopping hub on a sweltering weekend just did not appeal to me this time. But wow do I miss those sweltering streets when looking out of my window to the grey and cloudy Aberdonian skies, with not a stripe of blue to be seen...!

Until next time,

Jenni

OOTD: Hot Air Balloons

Cardigan: Seppälä, Body: H&M, Skirt: TKMaxx, Shoes: Converse (via Office)

Sun decided to come out in Aberdeen last week, and I celebrated by baring my legs and putting on something more summery. While cardigan was still a necessity, I'm delighted to say that I managed without a jacket! 

I found the skirt I am wearing from TKMaxx last spring. I love the hot air balloon print, cute novelty prints are my favourite thing ever. The skirt is actually a size 14 and supposed to be fitted at waist height but it's so short! I'm just under 5'3 and it's rather short for me even when wearing this on my hips (where it sits nicely now as a size 10). Maybe it's from a petite collection or something?

As a side note, I was so excited to notice that my Converse and the blue of the skirt match rather perfectly!

Sadly, the sun didn't reach my room, and the photos came out rather dark. I'm trying to figure out which time of the day is the best to take pictures. My glasses reflect even the tiniest bit of light, and midday sun seems a bit too bright for photos, whereas later afternoon seems too dark. I guess I will just have to discover a good time through the good old-fashioned trial and error. I'd love to take photos outside, but setting up a tripod alone in the middle of a city is just not something I am willing to do and I don't have anyone to help (and I think I would feel a little bit self-conscious asking someone to come and take photos of me, and posing for them).

Until next time,

Jenni

Review: Vinted

I've sold some of my clothes on eBay before, as well as done some shopping there. I briefly thought about registering for depop, but didn't like the look of it that much. Vinted, however, kept popping up on my Facebook ads, and I decided to try it out. I went to a swishing party a few months back, and loved the experience, and Vinted offers a similar function through its 'swap' option. I also still had a fair bit of clothes that I can't wear anymore due to weightloss, but eBay is a bit of a hassle — and generally I only end up getting like £0.99-2 for each item anyway.

It's been a few weeks now since I registered for Vinted and I wanted to give a review of my experience so far!

I put in some items that have been sitting in my closet unworn for months, feeling somewhat sceptical that anyone would want them, but how mistaken I was! I was absolutely shocked that within 1 HOUR, I had sold my first item and had multiple swap requests for a few other items! Vinted also had a fantastic offer on when I joined, in which they gave you £5 voucher when you posted your first item.

I found a Topshop dress that I have been hunting for literally months with no luck (I always miss it on ebay!), and due to the voucher got it for just £8.90, postage included. Sadly, the seller never shipped it and didn't reply to messages, so after 5 days, my refund was put through. While this was an unhappy transaction, I did feel reassured by the fact that Vinted automatically refunded you if the item hasn't been sent within 5 days.

I did end up finding the same dress by another seller a few days after my first transaction fell through, and though I did pay £2 more for it than the first one, it was hardly used and the seller sent the sweetest card and candy with it, so I felt I got a better deal anyway. ;)

The perfect little boat dress (with pockets!)

I also swapped one of my dresses for the pretty little New Look dress (pictured below), and a tunic for a pair of Poetic Licence heels, as well as sold another 4 items. :)

Overall, my experience with Vinted so far has been good. It's important to be careful though, and check the feedback of the people you are doing transactions with, particularly before doing swaps.

Note: Vinted takes a 15% fee from the total of any sold items, and there is a 50p charge when withdrawing your balance to your bank account.