There is a great story of how I ended up with the most beautiful model for children portraits (lapsikuvaus). Cafe / market Moko is a popular cafe / interior shop downtown Helsinki that we love to visit because of their spectacular chai late. They also have an actual playhouse for kids inside of the shop (you know, the real stuff, made of wood and big enough that it fits an adult as well). Some years back we were sipping on our chai lates when a miniature goddes walked in. I jumped up and walked over quickly and asked her sweetly: “Hello darling, where is your mommy?”

Ha! Of course, that scared the creeps out of her, but brave little woman she is, she pointed over to her mommy.

And so I met my gorgeous wonderful friend Marija, who teaches me a lot every time I see her, talk to her or think of her. She teaches me how to be a humble, calm, serene, kind and wise woman, how to be a great mother devoted to her children, how to be stylish, how to live simply, how to declutter my life. She is all of the above. I am trying. But on top of that she is breathtakingly beautiful. And ambitious – but in that way that makes noone jealous. In fact, the word jealousy means nothing to her as that is one of the feelings she doesn’t harbor. Can you tell I admire her deeply?

Marija, my dear friend, I thank fate every day for your daughter to be so brave and pointing you out to me. Next time we meet, I must finally ask you: “Do you have wings like all the other angels?” ♥♥♥

PS: And she is the only person I know who can have a stuffed deer wearing a princess crown in her children’s room and pull. it. off!