New challenge // 30 days 30 goals

October's challenge stems purely from my need to get a lot of things done in a short amount of time. With the move to Germany, my increasing work-load, and aspirations in business and singing, I feel it's so important to take more time to organize and plan my daily hour-count, so that everything important is taken care of, but I'm still moving towards my bigger goals.

It's easy to get lost in the everyday hassle and lose sight of what you're really working towards, or just push those big plans further and further into the future. It happens to the best of us. Better time management is a constant learning process, for sure. I'm definitely not the expert here, but I'm working towards a more balanced and fulfilling life.

This months challenge is to make a list of 30 goals (big or small) and complete them within 30 days. Sounds daunting, for sure, but the accomplishment would be so rewarding. I have a million things I still need and want to get done before my move to Cologne in mid-November (that's soon!). So I'm setting myself a goal to complete 30 of those things before moving away.

As I'm going to spend 10 days at the end of October in Cologne where I can't complete these goals, my challenge will go on until the 9th of November. I'll share the result on the blog in the next "5 things I learned" post.

I'm posting my list of goals on Instagram tomorrow, so if you'd like to follow along on my journey, just follow me there. Or, if you'd love to join me and share your own journey, use the hashtag #30days30goals

So, what do you say? Are you in?

Let's get shit done! (pardon the language)

xo. Hanna

Words for the Week // No.15

This will be my motto for the next 3 weeks until I fly to Cologne to visit Rein. We've only been apart for a week, but I'm already missing him like crazy. Luckily, my days are filled with babysitting, lectures, work, sewing and blogging. Oh, and all those things in between. I'm keeping myself busy and it's helping. And, really, I know it's just another few weeks before we're together again.

I know I promised a new challenge introduction today, but it's been such a hectic day, so I'll be back tomorrow with all the details of the new challenge.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings!

xo.Hanna

5 Things I learned // Phone photography challenge

Happy Sunday, guys! Today I'm starting a new tradition. Going through my 30-day phone photography challenge has sparked a yearning for more learning and growing. Which is why I decided to take on a new challenge every month. Of course, you're all welcome to join me. The participation and documentation is completely up to you. Whether you want to shout it out to the world, share it with your friends or go through it on your own is your choice. I will be documenting my journey here on the blog at the end of every month with a 5-things-I-learned post.

I will be announcing the next challenge tomorrow, but today I wanted to share the 5 things I learned from my phone photography challenge.

1. I'm not a phone person. So, I pretty much had a hunch this was the case, but I always thought it was more of a habit thing. Now I know that I'm officially totally not a phone person. Correction, I'm not a smart phone person. I love talking on the phone, and sending an occasional message, but that is pretty much how far my phone usage goes. I'm not the type of person to pull out their phone whenever I see something exciting happening. I don't play on my phone, I don't surf the internet (unless that's the only option I have), I rarely use any apps. Yes, I pretty much still live in the last decade. And, that's ok.

2. I love being in the moment. The main reason I don't pull out my phone, or DSLR for that matter, is that I don't want to ruin the moment. Yes, I wish I had more pictures of special moments, but I'd rather have less pictures and be whole-heartedly in the moment, than lose some of that being-in-the-moment feeling. I see more and more people digging their faces into their smart phones or Ipads when they should really be interacting with real people live face to face. And, I don't want to become that person. I actually missed about three days out of my 30, and those were the most eventful days of all. It doesn't cross my mind to pull out the phone when I'm having so much fun with the ones I love, or I'm having a really hectic day. It just feels unnatural. And, I didn't enjoy looking for "the moment". I'd rather let my days flow, and talk about the highlights with Rein at night than to look for those photo-worthy shots.

3. That being said, I did learn a few things about phone photography as well. Firstly, I learned to change the camera settings before taking the shot. It's tedious sometimes, but I found that it was really difficult to get a decent photo with my default settings. And, my phone camera is very sensitive to light, so even a small angle adjustment can over-expose or under-expose the shot. So the main things I adjusted constantly were exposure and contrast. Sometimes, I also adjusted saturation.

4. I learned once again that natural light truly is a photographers best friend. Whether it's a fancy DSLR or a standard phone camera, they both perform so much better during the day with lots of natural light. So, nothing new here, but a confirmation to what I already new in DSLR photography.

5. I love photographing things in my everyday life. So, for example, I had lots of pictures of my coffee cup. Those are the shots I'd love to capture more with my DSLR. The morning coffee, the sweet cinnamon buns from my favorite bakery, the mess I create in my studio. I'm making a mental note to capture these things more in the future. Also, I dislike taking selfies. Although I loved the self-portrait challenge last year, that was more about finding new angles and trying different settings. But, I don't like taking a selfie in my everyday life. I guess that's the other reason there are so many pictures of things rather than people.

So, those were my 5 things. What are some of the things you've learned recently? I'd love to know!

Last, but not least. I remember I promised a prize for one of those participating in the #adayinamoment challenge. As there were only a few of you taking part, the prize goes out to everyone. So, contact me at hannaATpearlsandscissorsDOTcom.

xo. Hanna

On coping with life-altering decisions

If I'm really honest with you, I have to admit that the last year has been the hardest of my life. It was also the most rewarding, and the happiest, if that makes any sense. Lets just say, it was full of contrasting emotions. I've never felt so content in my decisions, or so happy in my relationships, but also, I've never had to deal with so much change and the challenges that come with it.

Last summer, I made a decision that changed every aspect of my life as I knew it. I briefly mentioned it on the blog, and I won't go into further detail, but I broke up with my then boyfriend of many years, to be with my then best friend, who now is my husband. Choosing between the two most important men in my life seemed impossible at the time. It was like on of those movies you see, only nothing is ever that romantic and simple in real life. Life is complicated and not everything we do can be the right thing to do. Sometimes we end up in situations where there is no one right way to go. Either way, you end up hurting someone, or you end up hurting yourself in some way.

Although I was certain of my decision in my heart, giving up my relationship also meant losing a lot of stability in my life and some very dear people. I turned my life upside down. Everything I thought I knew, everything I had believed to be my life was gone. I didn't know if I was truly ready for this much change, but I had no other choice than to jump right in.

Now, being on the other side, a happy newlywed, I can sincerely say that I made it. And the grass is so much greener on the other side. Although it's been incredibly hard at times, I've never regretted my decision, and I've never given up on my dream future.

This year has taught me so much about patience, respecting other's feeling, letting go of negativity and coping with my own difficult life choices. Here are my two cents on coping with a life-altering decision:

1. Making a life-altering decision is one thing, but living with the consequences is another story. And, while the decision-making process seems the most daunting step at first, the long run is still ahead. Knowing the possible implications will not only help you make the decision, it will also help you deal with the aftermath. Although I thought about life after the decision, I don't think I was fully prepared for what was going to happen. Not only the impact of others, but also the way I treated myself at times truly surprised me. I learned that I am my worst critic. But, I also learned to be more gentle on myself, and not care so much what other people think.

2. Having good people to lean on is the single most important thing. When things are great, we may not even realize how much we need our people. For me, my (now) husband, my best friends, and my family have been the best support group I could ever find. They listened to my crying, and my wining, and dealt with my sadness and confusion. Although they worried, they never judged. Even if they didn't understand, they supported me.

3. Which brings me to my next point. Talk about it. I know it's a cliche, but it's a cliche for a reason. Talking constructively about your thoughts and feeling helps. Seriously. Even if it's hard, sometimes you just need to get it all out. Trust me, I'm a psychologist (it's funny cause it's true). Some things are very hard to talk about - there's a lot of guilt, and shame, and confusion. But, bottling it all inside is not going to help at all.

4. Dreaming is the fuel for the future. I dreamed a lot - of better days, of new goals, new horizons, a better, more fulfilling life. Some days, that was what kept me going. All through our first few months of dating, me and Rein would stay up for hours at night dreaming about our future together. And those dreams have fueled our lives. One of our dreams was to move to Cologne, and we're actually doing it! Dreams have power if you give it to them, remember?

5. Feel what you're feeling. Change means a lot lot of stress, and even if you know it's in the right direction, it won't be all rainbows and sunshine. We need to give ourselves permission to feel whatever we're feeling, without feeling guilty about it. Don't pressure yourself to be OK when you're just not there yet. Even though my decision created a new and better life for me in the end, the transition phase was the hardest time of my life. Sometimes it was hard to let myself be sad. You chose this, so you don't get to be sad, right? The thing is, even though you chose this path, doesn't mean it has to be easy for you. You're allowed to struggle. It's normal.

6. Accept whatever is coming. This in one of the hardest things to do. I know. But, it's also the only thing you can do.  Accept, that there was always going to be a totally shitty time (to quote one of my favorite movies). Accept, that there will be people who don't want you in their lives anymore. Accept that there will be people who will never understand. Accept, that some people will judge. These are things that you don't have control over. So, just accept them and move on.

7. It's a process. Process the change. Feel it. Talk about it. Learn from it. Try to understand it. Processing is what makes time heal all wounds. It's not time that heals, but the process of going through it.

This post has been on my mind for a very long time, and I've taken time over the last couple of weeks to write it. It hasn't been easy, but I felt I needed to get this out there for those who might be going through something similar. It's one of those things that we don't talk about on blogs. We fear we're going to be judged or misunderstood. Sometimes I felt so alone because I didn't know anyone who had gone through what I was going through. So, I hope this helps somebody somewhere to cope with their life-altering decisions.

Thanks for letting me share!
xo. Hanna

DIY Wall calendar / chore chart

I've been trying to get more organized this year, and setting up a blog content calendar has been on my to-do list for months now. When I took the Blog Life e-course this June I realized how sporadic I was with my blog content planning and how much blogging-stress it caused me. I have a million ideas in my head at all times, so having a place to put them all on to see the bigger picture was what I badly needed.

So, one afternoon I took some time and some scraps of wavy golden cardboard I had laying around, and made this simple wall calendar. I've been using it for about 3 weeks now, and it's been a game-changer. I'm so much more organized and it's really helped me blog regularly without stressing out about what to write. Why didn't I do this sooner?!

Although I use it to create a content calendar for my blog, this type of wall calendar could also be used as a chore chart, or a way to keep your goals and to-do lists organized. So, if you'd like to make your life a little easier, here's what you'll need:

• A2 size black paper (card stock weight)
• golden wavy cardboard for the letters
• silver or gold sharpie or ball-point marker
• ruler
• scissors
• glue
• printed letters (optional)
• poster gum or other poster fixers to mount to wall

The main thing is to get the grid in place. First, measure the outer lines: 4 cm from the bottom, 3.5 cm from the sides. Then, start drawing the inner gridlines. The first horizontal gridline is 11 cm from the top edge of the cardstock, and then draw a horizontal line every 7 cm. Lastly add vertical gridlines every 9 cm inside the frame. As the end result you should have 6 rows and 7 columns.

Next, cut out the letters for the weekdays. I cut mine out using the waves as a grid and then just eye-baling the proportions of the letters, but you could also print out letters with the height of 6 cm in you favorite bold print and use those a template to cut out from the cardboard.

Finally, glue the letters inside the first row of boxes. I'm used to the Estonian way that the weekly calendar always begins with Monday, so that's why I have my letters in that order.

Last, but not least, mount your brand new calendar to the wall using any type of poster fixer (thumb tacks or poster adhesive or something like that)

This is by far been the most practical thing I've created lately. I tried using google calendar before, but I love to write things down on paper and put it where I can see it all the time. I'm old-school like that. Plus, the calendar is a great way to decorate my studio space (which is now also my bedroom, but studio sounds way better).

I hope you're excited to add some organization to your life. Happy crafting!

xo. Hanna

Tips and Tricks for dyeing hair naturally

I've been meaning to write this post for the longest time now. I've been on the natural hair dye path for a little over a year, and I'm truly loving it, so I thought it would be high time to share my story and some tips and tricks I've learnt along the way.

This is what my hair looked like before my first natural dye and after my second time dyeing with henna and indigo. As you can see from the before picture, my hair was in pretty bad shape. The color that came out of the box faded quickly, and tried my hair,  so I had lots of problems with frizz and split ends. I have pretty weak hair naturally, so it didn't handle chemical dyes very well. Despite that, I had used chemical dyes for many years up to that point, going from blond highlights to red to blond to brunette to light brown to caramel. Yikes! (Make up your mind already, right?)

So, last summer I decided it was time for a change. I had admired Elle's beautiful henna-dyed red hair, and Anneliis' shiny henna-indigo-dyed hair. And, after dyeing Marita's hair with henna, I was pretty much sold. Just a couple of months later I was ready to take the plunge myself.

Here's a few tips and tricks if you're thinking about going natural:

1. Natural dye can only make your hair darker or redder. There no way to go lighter with natural dyes. So, natural dyes are perfect for you, if you'd love a ginger shade or would love a warm brunette color. The main dyes used are henna and indigo, but you can add amla to cool henna if you want a colder brown.

2. It's hard to go back to chemical dyes. So, here's the thing. Henna, indigo and other natural dyes don't strip the surface of the hair, but rather build upon it, filling up all the pores. Which means that when you ever want to go back to a chemical dye, it won't stick. Then again, after you've seen your hair get shinier and healthier, is there really any reason to go back?

3. The color of the dye-job is harder to predict than with chemical dyes. Yes, they both depend on what color you had previously, but the magnitude of change with natural dyes is more restricted. As I said earlier, it attaches to the surface of the hair strands, so basically it's translucent. For me, that meant that the part of the hair that was pre-dyed a lighter shade remained lighter after dyeing with henna and indigo, and it continues to be lighter even after multiple dye-jobs. I'm loving my slightly ombre hair, but this is something that you need to consider when choosing natural dyes.

4. Dyeing hair naturally comes with a lot of experimenting. You can never be 100% sure which color your hair turns out. I knew I wanted something towards chestnut, so the first time I mixed 2 parts henna to 1 part indigo. Over the year I've added more and more indigo, so that now I use a half and half mix. But, the experiment is half the fun, I think.

Also, Indigo fades faster than henna. This is something I didn't notice in the first months, since my shade was more towards red anyway, but I've started noticing it more now that I've gone more towards the brunette side. You can even see that the shampoo turns a blueish color for the first week after dyeing.

6 weeks after my last dye-job.

5. Natural dyes makes your hair sleek and super shiny, and the shine doesn't fade. So, even 2 months after your last dye-job you'll have shiny and pretty hair. And, you'll notice how much healthier your hair will become.

Note of warning though. Since henna needs an acid to release the dye, it's good to nurture your hair with moisturizing masks after dyeing. I've mostly just noticed some dryness in the ends and used a coconut oil mask after a dye job.

6. You don't have to dye all your hair every time. While I find it's good to do a complete dye-job every 6 months, just touch up those roots in the mean time and use a gloss to even out the rest of the hair if necessary. For a gloss, just mix together a lot of hair conditioner with left-over dye from dyeing your roots and apply it to the full length of your hair. It's dye and a mask in one. Win-win!

3 weeks after my last dye-job

7. The dye starts running after a couple of hours after application (the recommended leave-in time is 3-4 hours), so have some tissues handy or place them on your neck right after application.

8. My roots blend better with the dye. Since natural dye is translucent (so my natural hair color is peeking through), I've noticed that my roots are not that noticeable even if I'm way over-due for a touch up.

Although dyeing with natural dyes can be a little bit more tricky and definitely more time-consuming than with chemical dyes, I've never looked back, and I'll probably keep dyeing my hair naturally for a long time.

Update! Here's a great resource for all things henna. A lot of useful information and transformation stories.

I hope this is helpful to those thinking about going natural.

xo. Hanna

DIY Knitted 2in1 Bow/Turban Headband (knitting pattern)

I don't know what the weather is like in your part of the world, but here it's getting real cold. Like, they're predicting snow for tomorrow. Yes, SNOW. I don't know what's happened to the climate this year, but the fact is that we've jumped from sunny and summery to cold and wintery in just 2 days, so it's time to dig out those scarves, hats and gloves. And, even if it's not that cold where you live, it's still not too early to prepare yourself for the colder months ahead. So, today I thought I'd share my bow headband knitting pattern with you. 

I originally created this pattern for my Etsy shop 2 years ago, but since I stopped making these headbands last year, I thought I'd share the pattern with you so you could make your own if you wanted to. The pattern is designed in a way that allows you to change up the bows creating many colorful combos. Or, you can omit the bow altogether for a turban headband look.

 You will need: 
100 g of yarn (thickness suitable for size 3-3.5mm needles, but knit 2 strands together)
4mm double-pointed or straight needles
Tapestry needle or a crochet hook for hiding yarn ends

 Abbreviations: 
st, sts - stitch, stitches
k - knit
p - purl
k2tog - knit two stitches together
yo - yarn over (for adding a stitch)

One size fits most.

 The headband: 
Cast 15 sts
Work in *k1, p1* ribbing for 6 rows.
Rows 7-26: *k1, p1 repeat from * until the end of the row. (This is called the seed stitch)
Row 27: k1, yo, continue in the same seed stitch pattern until the last stitch, then yo, k1. (So your number of stitches grows by 2.)
Keep working in the seed stitch pattern for 30cm.
On the next row k1, k2tog, continue in the same pattern as previous rows until 3 stitches from the end, then k2tog, k1.
Continue working in the seed stitch pattern for 20 rows, then work the last 6 rows in *k1 p1* ribbing.
Cast off all stitches.

 The bow: 
For the bow ring cast 10 sts, and work in *k1 p1* seed stitch pattern for 36 rows, then cast off.
For the bow cast 15 sts and work in the same seed stitch pattern for 42 row, then cast off.

 Sewing: 
First, sew together the ends of the headband. Hide yarn ends.
Next, place the bow ring across the ribbed part of the headband, so that it cover the seam. Join the ends on the other side of the headband and sew them together. Then, sew the back of the bow ring to the back of the headband securing it in place. Hide yarn ends.
Lastly, hide the yarn ends of the bow, and place it inside the bow ring from the right side of the headband.

I don't know about you, but cold weather always makes my fingers itch for some knitting.
If you have any questions, just leave them in the comments, and I'll try to clarify.

xo. Hanna

Modeled by Marianne Nugis

Words for the Week // No.14

Rein is leaving for Cologne tomorrow. The big move is so real all of a sudden. Although, some moments it still feels like just another vacation we're planning. But, it's not a vacation. It's a part of our dream.

We love to dream. We spent hours every night for months just dreaming back when we started dating last summer. It was our thing. We talked about where we wanted to live and study and what we wanted our life to be. And now it's here. The life we talked about. Moving to Cologne, studying singing, creating a life together. And, as much as it stresses us out sometimes, it also means we're are realizing our dream. We are already one step closer and it gives me so much more confidence to keep dreaming. Because they can come true, if you give power to them and let them fuel you.

I hope you'll take a little time to dream today, my friends!
xo. Hanna

Sunday Spirit: My second home

If one can have two homes, then this is my second. Or, perhaps, it is my first. It's the first place in my life that truly felt like home. It's where I felt a sense of peace. And content. Even as a little child, when I wasn't able to put into words how this place made me feel, I knew it was special.

It's my Grandparents' house in the South of Estonia. Maybe it's special because I spent the best part of my summers there with my cousins. Or maybe because we always gather there with my uncle's family and cousins for family celebrations. Or maybe, it's because it's where my Grandma lives. She is truly an inspirational person. She is the one who brings us together. It's her warmth and love that makes this place so special. Makes it feel like home.

Funny, how an imminent move to another country can make you think about these things. Home. Family. The things that matter in life. I sure hope that being further away will not make us grow apart.

Do you have a special place in your life?

xo. Hanna

Style Inspiration: Back to School

1 - dress // 2 - cardigan // 3 - shoes // 4 - socks // 5 - bag // 6 - necklace // 7 - hat

For today's post, I thought I'd try out something new. So, Modcloth contacted me and asked me to take part in their Uniquely You campaign. The task is to take one item they give you (in this case the Red, White, and Cute dress) and create an outfit around it using up to 7 other items from their shop. I'm not usually the type to spontaneously hop on a campaign train, but, since I haven't done an inspiration post in ages, I kind of liked the idea of giving it a try. 

This autumn is the first one in 20 years when I'm not going back to school. Yes, I've been in school for the last 20 years of my life. That's a lot! As much as I look forward to this new season in my life, I kind of miss the back-to-school feeling. I remember my first days in college. Everything was new and exciting and I felt so grown up, and, also, like everything was possible. Funny, I actually feel the same way right now, although I'm a little older, a few degrees smarter, and not in college anymore. If I was a little younger, and was going to college, this is the outfit I'd love to wear. Heck, I'd wear this outfit now.

To all those of you going back to school this year, what are you most looking forward to this school-year?
To those of you no longer in school, how has the September feeling changed for you?

xo // Hanna

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(This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click through and make a sale, I will earn a small profit. This does not affect my taste nor opinions.)

Vintage hamper makeover with electrical tape

I don't usually get to do a lot of furniture makeovers since we live in a fully furnished rental, but I always feel such excitement, when I get do restyle something in our home. Now, yes, it's a hamper, but we'll call in furniture anyway. I guess, technically it is :).

The story of this hamper is that it belonged to my parents, and it was the hamper in our home when I was growing up, up until we moved to our house. I have distinct memories of this hamper, which makes giving it a makeover the more enjoyable.

The makeover itself was super easy, though it was a little time-consuming. Or, rather, tedious would be a better word. I got the idea of using electrical tape for this restyle from A Beautiful Mess. I've been wanting to try this method ever since I saw this washer and dryer makeover on their blog. Finally, when my Dad pulled out the hamper from our attic, I knew it was the perfect project for it.

 I used: 

• a plastic weave hamper
• black electrical tape
• scissors
• a pen
• books

The process itself was easy. First I taped every other row on the lid, leaving about 2cm of extra on both ends to be able to push it between the surrounding strip. Then I taped every 2 rows on the rest of the hamper. Since I knew my hamper would be facing a wall, I didn't really bother taping in the back.

When the taping was done, I cut all the taped rows in all the places where it crossed the vertical weave. Once cut, I tucked all the edges under the vertical strip. It was pretty easy to move the strips, so the tucking was easy.

The last step was to makes sure the tape was secure and following the pattern of the original plastic strips. So I took a pen and started pushing the tape into the lines on the plastic with the tip. At first I used my nail (like in the picture above), but then I realized that left some marks here and there on the tape, so I switched to a pen, which was smoother. Since the plastic had been weaved to a wooden frame, which didn't support it at all places, I used large books and pushed them against the plastic from the inside, so I could then push the lines in with the pen from the outside.

Love how this turned out! Much more modern, and the tape covered all the bigger stains on the plastic, as well as the rusted nails on the last strip of plastic. Also, I'm so glad I did the tape every 2 rows on and not every other row like on the lid, since you can now get a  better feel for the weave as well. I ran out of tape, or otherwise I would've taped the top 2 rows as well to hide the nail heads.

What do you think about the makeover?

Thanks for letting me share!
xo // Hanna