Time and travel

I've been passing this on for a whole lifetime by now. Or a few weeks for sure.

I am in Estonia right now, and I'm staying a bit longer that first planned.
As it is, my plans somehow keep failing. I should've left a while ago already, but well..I can live with this. I think.

I'll try to post some more, I do have things to write about. If only I had a recorder, that put my thoughts straight here..
I would be a blogging-friggin'-queen.

Work and Fun

I decided to show what I do for work.

The first two pictures are from Tokyo Fashion Week. A show for a Japanese designer Kamishima Chinami.
Unfortunately I can't do as many shows as I would like to (since I am short). I really love doing catwalk though. It's something that happens in the very moment.
I love the clothes, the make-up, the lights, the eyes and cameras on me.

And then some of the pictures from the spread I did for  'Fudge' in September.
Fudge is a famous Japanese magazine, that has a young and cute image. They love western models with a natural look.
My spread was done without any make-up. They used a little lipstick on some of the pictures.
It's always a lot of Fun working for Fudge Magazine. I love it.

Rhythm of life

I am so glad to finally do things I didn't have time for before. Time to take. Time for myself.
Yesterday (Tuesday) I went to this wonderful Chant Song evening with my mom.
Oohh, the songs and the rhythms! Still so warm inside.
I also signed the contract for my next trip. Only waiting for the flight ticket now.
The question still remains - when am I leaving?


I've been planning to go to Tartu for a while already. Last Friday wasn't the day. Tuesday was surely not the day. Today and Tomorrow - nope. Not the day.
If it's the day, I'm on my way.
Then I would know for sure.

But,

every little cell in my body is happy
every little cell in my body is well
every little cell in my body is happy
every little cell in my body is well
I'm so glad every little cell in my body is happy and well
I'm so glad every little cell in my body is happy and well


The Rhythm of Life is inside You.
Find it!

Home-style

I love messing around in the household. I am currently obsessed with making everything myself - just like a five-year-old, who wants to be a grown-up.
Since I was thirteen-fourteen, I've loved baking. Until now, I have been such a sweet tooth. Just recently I noticed, that I've started preferring salty food more. Still, baking is a hobby of mine.
Now when I bake or cook something, I usually try to make everything as healthy as possible. I try to keep wheat out from my bakings (sometimes I use whole-grain wheat flour, if I can't do without) and I like to make things as low-sugar and low-fat as possible. I like to experiment. It doesn't always come out as well as I hope. That's how 'interesting' food happens.

Today I made buckwheat cookies. I found the recipe in this foodblog. They came out really crispy and nice. Perfect when on the go or just for a little snack.

There was a time, when I really wanted to be an architect or interior decorator. I watched a lot of shows on BBC Prime, that taught how to design your home. A while I was pushing my mom and dad to renovate our house. Since they didn't have enough time for that, and I was still too young (and out of money) to do that, I threw the idea away for a while..
Now, I still like decorating our house, but my dreams for the future have changed a bit. Sometimes I give my hand on renovating an old piece of furniture (which I completely love doing!) or just bring some freshness into our house with some new ideas.

Last Tuesday I did a bit of flower arrangement with the last blossoms in our garden. It brought more life into my room for a whole week.

I use my time to do things I love, and miss while abroad, until I can.
I am slowly starting to pack too.
The time has gone so fast, since I arrived.

Happy happy Sunday

It was Fathers' day here, in Estonia today.
As we often forget to appreciate this important person in our life, it is wonderful to have a special tradition or a surprise for this dedicated day.
I have considered it a bit overwhelming to figure something new for every celebration. So I stick to roots -

As my dad grew up with the knowledge, that Sunday is Pancake Day, he is always expecting some home-cooked pancakes for breakfast at the weekend. Sadly, there aren't always that many pancake-makers to find. Especially when I'm not home (like while those four months, when I was working in Japan).
So today morning, to wish my dad a happy Fathers' Day and send him off to work, I woke up early in the morning and made him a sweet pancake-breakfast and hot coffee to start his day with.
I believe there doesn't have to be anything expencive or fancy, to make someone happy. Self made things, coming from your heart, are the best.
I sure got a smile on my father's face:)

From autumn to winter

I have been back home in Estonia for already a week.
It took me a few days to rest from those sleepless nights in Tokyo. And a bit longer to get myself together again.
Now I am almost ready to meet my long-lost friends again.
For the past few days I've been enjoying how peaceful and quiet it is in my hometown. It feels amazing going to bed practically in dead silence, as in Tokyo there were always some street and traffic noises in the background throughout the night.
I enjoy taking long walks in the park with our family dog, helping out in the household and eating Estonian food.

I am sure a short while back at home will do good for me. Four months in Japan edventually started to work on my brain.

Unfortunately, as the life of a model is, I have currently no idea, when and where I will be going next. This makes everything a bit difficult, since I can't really plan anything. So this is how I am living - a day at a time.

Winter is showing its first signs. I picked the last rasberries from our garden just last weekend.
Today, the grass and trees were covered with morning frost.
The first snow is not far away

I am back.

How is it?
-  Confusing.

They made me eat chocolate..

..and a truffle
and caramel popcorn
and I got sick from it.
But later we went to a Sashimi restaurant. I had shrimp Tempura. Don't really like any other raw fish than salmon. That, unfortunately, they didn't have.

The job was nice and easy. Although the first thing they asked me, when we got to the studio, was if they could cut my bangs.
No! No! and once again, no!
I loved my co-model. A very cute dog named Toto.

The studio was at the seaside near Chiba.










Can't believe this was my last job in these four months in Japan. And that this is my last day !

I've had a little rest now, so I am off to Harajuku and then I will go to the agency to get my statement, and then to dinner with all Zucca crew.
I guess I will be packing my suitcase during the night.

The time is mine to take

Time has really started flying. But this is how it usually is with the last weeks and days in...anywhere!
Last week started off more slowly, but got pretty busy in the end.
On Tuesday I started with exercising in Tipness again. Then we met with Triinu in Harajuku to have Döner kebab for lunch. We both had castings in the evening.

Wednesday I had a long day shooting for uniforms. I have no idea, why I keep getting the uniform jobs. Is it really because I am blue-eyed, blonde and cute?
The job was pretty awful itself. The studio was in a basement, so it was dark and the ventilation made weird noises. Also, the clothes weren't anything pretty either. Luckily I was working with two other models - Tod and Daniel. I knew Daniel already before, and he is a funny guy, so at least that cheered me up. We did some overtime too, but later, the clients refused to pay Daniel, because he had been late to the job - three minutes!
Japanese are really punctual, but come on! This is ridiculous. There is no way, that him being a few minutes late, caused one and a half hour overtime. Besides, when he got to the studio, the make-up artist was still busy with Tod. So there was absolutely no difference at all.
But these are Japanese. If the meeting time is at 8, and you get there 8.00, you are already late. To be on time, you must be a few minutes early. Insane, but true, as much as I've experienced.
After the job, I still caught my castings. The last ones before I leave.

Thursday I wasn't working, so I had the whole day off. Me and Triinu met at 10.30 in Harajuku, in order to prepare ourselves for Halloween. We had an idea lingering in our minds, that made us really excited about the upcoming weekend. We managed to get almost all the stuff we needed from Takeshita dori. Triinu was working from noon, so she left me and I walked to Shibuya to get the last things from Tokyu Hands. It was a perfect day for walking - sunny and around 20 degrees. Feels more like springtime. Only the Halloween decorations betray, that it is already a late autumn.

A flower shop in Shibuya

Around 2 o'clock I walked back to Omote-Sando (it is just next to Harajuku, so just a 10-15 minute walk from Shibuya). I had lunch at this lovely organic restaurant, that has a salad buffet at lunch time. I got a soup set - pumpkin pottage with some bread, salad and a mini-dessert. I think it was my first time for going to a restaurant alone. I've been eating without any company a lot anyways, so usually I prefer going out for lunch or dinner with some company. But actually it was nice. No need to talk, simpy enjoying the break and good food.




When I finally got back home (also walking - it takes 40 minutes to Roppongi), I tried going swimming. But there were too many people in the pool, so I couldn't really swim as much as I wanted. But the sauna was worth going anyways.
When Triinu came over, we did a few hours of handicraft, before we were off to dinner. Thursday was already the beginning of the Halloween weekend - we got some Venice-style masks from Feria, and since the rooms were already decorated, everybody had a different mood and attitude.

On Friday I was working for Scroll - a company, whom I've been working with already last year in Tokyo and this year in Osaka. Instead of shooting underwear and pyjamas, we were making a lookbook for denim clothes. The job was one of the nicest ones I've had in a long time. I already knew the make-up artist from a shooting for Fudge magazine, and the Brick studio wasn't new to me either. (it is a really spacious and natural-lighted studio near the bayside).



The cuts went really fast, the photographer had a nice sense of humor, and the clients loved me and already asked when they could book me again. So perfect in every way. (For lunch we had some really nice curry!)
In the evening, Triinu came over to my place again, so we could continue with our costumes. Unfortunately I didn't manage to prepare everything for Saturday before we went to F-bar for another pre-Halloween party.

Getting ready for Friday night

I couldn' stay out for long again, because the next day I was going to have a rehearsal for TV commercial shooting for handbags on Sunday.

On Saturday we met at 11 in Shibuya and were supposed to get back at 6pm. It took place in a studio outside from Tokyo and there were about 40-50 people taking part of it, plus the shooting crew. Since there were so many people, we managed to get back at 8.10 pm instead. And that kind of sucked, because I still hadn't finished my costume, I was exhausted from the rehearsal (and only a 5,5h sleep), I had to be ready at 9.40, and all of Triinu's things were in my appartment too..
So I literally run back from Shibuya to get home as early as possible and be perfect at the Halloween party. Triinu helped me a lot, so we somehow made it - we were the black and the white swan. A perfect duo.
Everybody loved it! Ourself the most, probably.
The streets of Roppongi were crazy that night. I have never-ever seen so many people around this area. We couldn't even use the sidewalk, because it was jammed with all these insanely dressed-up Japanese. We saw Smurfs, we saw aliens, marionette dolls, teddybears, all the Disney characters, ..and.. You name it, they had it!

Marilyn Monroe, the Black Swan, the White Swan

With Superman

And again, my night could not be complete. The knowledge, that a 15-hour day of work was in await, send me home at 2 am. So it managed to get me a nice two and a half hour sleep, before I had to wake up at 5 am, to take a shower and be in Shibuya at 6.30.
We got to the studio with an hour, then we had breakfast, they did our hair and make-up and the shooting started. But it took A LOT longer than supposed to. Soon we were five hours behind the schedule. It wasn't exactly the most difficult job ever, but sitting on the cement floor in the same pose for about five to six hours, doesn't make it easy either. Thank god there were many chool people around to talk to, including Ana from my agency. Otherwise, the people were from all ages and all nationalities. Besides me, there were only two contracted models.

With Ana

The day was the longest ever. By 8 pm, we had finished shooting half of what we were supposed to. Then our block had to wait until 1 am, before we could continue. And it all ended around 3.30 am. We left the studio around 4, so I got back home at 5.15 - that meant, I had been awake and working (after 2,5 hours of sleep) for 24 hours and 15 minutes (with about two one-hour naps in the meantime).
This was my first time to do a TVC. It wasn't anything too amazing, but definitely gave me the idea, how much work it needs to make a 30-second commercial.
When I got back home, I went straight to bed. I was already feeling a bit braindead.

I didn't get much sleep though, because I started getting text messages from my agency and Triinu rather early in the morning. I finally woke up around 11.30. I took a bath and then went to 'Eat More Greens' for lunch. I had a couscous salad with chick pea soup and a coconut milk and sweet bean dessert with Ceylon tea. I enjoyed eating alone, watching the sunny Azabu-juban streets and trying to gather myself for the rest of the week.




Later on, Triinu came over to pick up the things she had left to my place on Saturday. We sat and talked, and then she left. I started packing, to see if I fit all my things in my suitcase or not..

So yesterday evening, although I was completely exhausted, I went out to see Triinu..she was supposed to leave today..but things(read: 'shit') happen..

with Kasia and Triinu

Today I woke up around 10 am. I had breakfast and then went to Harajuku, to see if I could find some presents to take back home..and also, to just enjoy the lovely sunny day walking. Now, I got back from the long walk around 5.30 pm. Probably I will rest a bit, and see what can I throw away to lighten my suitcase. I might be going out for drinks or dinner later, but not sure about it. I am working tomorrow for a magazine, so I have to leave the apartment at 6.30 am. I should really get some sleep, because tomorrow will be a long day. I have to go to the agency for my statement after the job and then we will probably have dinner all together as well. And we'll see, maybe I can see some other friends during the night, so I would be tired enough to get some sleep on the plane..
...
Has it really been 4 months already?

Memorable last week

Somehow it happened - more than a week has past. I can say it felt like a busy week, although I had plenty of free time as well.
There is something memorable from each day, I guess. Otherwise I couldn't remember all of it..

Last Sunday I had a fitting for the Kamishima Chinami fashion show. After that I walked through Aoyama on the way back and saw the Farmers market, where I bought a delicious cupcake..

My organic cupcake of walnuts and carrot with cream cheese icing

On Monday, the Kamishima Chinami fashion show took place. It was well organised and more
exciting than photoshoots usually are. After that I was full of energy, so I went for dinner with Kasia, met some really interesting people, and ended up dancing..
On Tuesday I had a day off. I went to Tipness in the morning and was wandering around in Shibuya in the evening and later I went out for dinner with Kasia again..
On Wednesday I was working with three other models for Reebok school sportswear in Yokohama. The shooting was outside and quite fun. We were 'blessed' with the cold weather and wind. Wednesday ended with a dinner in F-bar with Triinu..




On Thursday I had another shooting for Reebok. This time it was in a nearby studio. A lot of jumping again, but it the nine cuts took less than four hours to shoot. We finished before lunchtime, so I had my
whole day off. Sleeping..
Since I didn't have any castings on Friday either, I met up with Cliff again. We were walking, talking, drinking coffee and on my request, had some Japanese Soba noodles as well..(Soba noodles are made from buckwheat flour. They are much healthier than Ramen)
At Saturday noon I went to the Jazz dance lesson in Tipness. When I met with Triinu, we walked down to Tokyo tower, to buy some presents. I got myself another white 'I ♥ Tokyo' shirt. We saw a trained monkey doing tricks outside. That was quite amusing. As well as the Japanese reaction to it.



We had lunch at a lovely restaurant called Eat More Greens in Azabu-juban. (I'd desired to go there already a long time ago. It has a very inviting feel. Plus it is organic, healthy and vegan).

Daily vegetable curry: Tomato curry with brown rice and lensils

In the night I wore my new T-shirt to a party in F-bar.. Why don't I always dress so casually when going out?
Yesterday was quite a lazy day. Although I started it with running, a Yoga class and some exercises for abs in Tipness. Me and Triinu tried to go and see a movie at TIFF (Tokyo International Film Festival). We missed the first movie we wanted to see (because it was sold out just before we got to the TOHO Cinema in Roppongi Hills), so we bought tikets for another Italian movie, "Between earth and sky". In the meantime we hanged out with Mikey and Taroo..
Today I was working for a clothing company called Ingni. The job started later than usually (at 11.30) and there were only four cuts. But it took much longer than I hoped, because every image had a different hairstyle and make-up. The shooting was fun though. I got to jump and laugh a lot. I even had a chance to play drums. But yeah, there always has to be something, that keeps a job being perfect. This time the hairstylist accidentally broke my headband..

Sorry Followers&Readers,

I have really been to the apartment only for sleep lately. No time for blogging.

but I am all OK!

Keep warm!

Wearing sandals

On Monday I was wandering around in Ginza.
Ginza is known as an upscale area of Tokyo with numerous department stores, boutiques, restaurants and coffeehouses. Ginza is recognized as one of the most luxurious shopping districts in the world. (Wikipedia)
So it is rather fascinating to walk between all those Dior, Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, etc, stores. I didn't manage to do much though, since I got a call during the day, that I was going to have a casting in the evening. Otherwise it was another holiday in Japan - National Sports Day - so I had a day off.

For some reason, one of the main roads was closed down for cars, so all the people were randomly walking on the street

On Tuesday morning I had to go to the agency by myself, because the first casing was there. Usually I get picked up from somewhere else, since I don't live too close and it takes me 45 minutes to get there. After the first casting I had to take some new snapshots for Europe. I really hope they will take me soon. It would be way too much for me to stay in Asia the whole year.

I still had some time left before the rest of my castings, so I spent some time with Ana, who lives in the agency's apartment (that is a 3-minute walk from the office). We went for a walk together and I got some rye bread from a Boulangerie. It was pretty expensive - two pieces of bread, both about 150 grams, cost me 660 yen. But it was worth it - the bread I bought, that consist 90% of rye, tastes like handmade rye bread from Estonia.

In the evening, after we all had finished our castings, we had dinner with the agency. The first time, since I arrived. Unfortunately, only one of our bookers managed to be there - others were working in the office until late in the evening. Still, the dinner was really nice. Dinner is probably the only way, we can see all the girls together. Right now there are 9 of us, but I usually see only 3 or 4 girls during the day since we are driving around in different cars and having our own schedules for work and castings.

Whoopss!...I guess this doesn't need much explanation..

On Wednesday I met Nagi (our manager&driver) in Omote-Sando. I did the first castings alone, because most of the girls were working that day. I had 6 castings that day, and I booked some jobs too.

Some kawaii donuts in Omote-Sando

Thursday was not that good with castings - I had only three, and since I already got booked for the 28th of October, I couldn't go on a casting for a 7-day job in Australia. The first casting was in the agency again. After that I was sitting in the car for about 2 hours before my second casting, and then again, about two hours until my last casting. The long day in the car was killing me.
In the evening I went to Feria dinner again with Kasia and a bit later, Triinu came there too.

On Friday I had a really early start - my call-time was 10.20 am. I had 9 castings in total and I was stuck in the car for almost 11 hours. How crazy is that!  Even though, I didn't spend much energy, I was still so tired I didn't want to do much after the castings. So I just had some soup for dinner and watched a movie.

Today I went to the gym in the morning and then for a walk in Azabu-juban to do some grocery shopping. Now I'm planning to go out soon to meet Triinu. I really need to do some socializing. It seems so lonely now, when I can't see Reelika every day anymore.

Otherwise things are going well. I finally booked a fashion show. Tomorrow I have a fitting for it, and the job itself is on Monday. It is nice to take part of the Fashion Week, even if it means doing only one show. It is still something.
And until yesterday, the weather was really warm again - around 24 degrees during the day, so the summer clothes and sandals are back in use again.
Yesterday it got a bit windy and today it was raining. Still warm though. Kind of weird. I remember experiencing some heavy snow at this time last year back in Estonia. What a difference it is!

I got it navy green

I have managed to keep myself amazingly busy, although I haven't really been working that much.
Things have changed a bit too.
The day after the rain (that means on Thursday), it was all sunny again. I didn't have anything else until the evening, so me and Reelika went to Omote-Sando.
First we had coffee/frappuccino in Starbucks,

Apple crumble frappuccino

then we tried to do some shopping and visited the Meiji-jingu shrine, where we also made some prayers for Japan

 
Our walk ended in Shibuya, with me going to my only (show) casting.
And after the casting I went back to Harajuku, to get a raincoat from the Gap store.

I had wanted it wine red, but they only had it navy green. Otherwise, it was perfect. And on Sale.

Later on, we went to Feria for dinner. And since I was going to work the next day from 6.30 for Tarzan magazine again, we left early.

On Friday, after the job, I did my castings and the weekend with Reelika started. This was her last. So there's not much to guess. We met up with everybody and had a lot of fun.
Briefly - on Friday we were with Mikey and Taroo, on Saturday we first met with Cliff (the 'book store guy') and then I was off to Feria's boat party with Triinu.

During the daytime on Sunday, we went to Asakusa to visit the famous Senso-ji temple with Reelika.

For some reason it was really crowded, so we couldn't really enjoy it and we came back soon. In the evening we went to Sam's place for a barbecue party, which was really nice, although I was super tired and didn't say much. I guess I was not really entertaining. It was a smart idea for me to leave early. Reelika stayed longer, and as I heard later, she had a crazy last night in Tokyo.

On Monday Reelika left with the 12.30 pm flight to Europe.

...

I had such great time with her.
Is it even possible to find a replacement?