Farm Girl Café on Portobello Road

Where: Portobello Road, Notting Hill // When: Mon to Fri 8:30am to 4:30pm, Sat to Sun 9am to 6pm

What's there: cafés, boutiques, cute houses // How much: coffee about £4, cakes about £5

How to get there: central, circle or district line: Notting Hill Gate

Sister Jane is open Mon to Sat 10am to 6:30pm and Sun 12pm to 6pm

Portobello Road is just so lovely on a quiet Wednesday afternoon! Indeed, the same road Julia Roberts walked down in Notting Hill gets rather crowded time to time so make sure you go on a weekday rather than weekend or high-season. 

The crowds are not here for nothing, though. Listed as a Wes Anderson destination in London's Time-Out magazine, this is probably one of the cutest neighbourhoods you'll come across. Pastel-coloured walls and doors are so incredibly photogenic it would be a shame to forget your camera. Opt for a cute outfit to match with your surroundings.

Once you need a break form this mini-semi-professional photoshoot head down the road once you spot a tall white house with Sister Jane's logo on the wall. Walk through the courtyard to find yourself in an adorable café. Farm Girl's waiters will welcome you immediately and seat you while you mesmerise this aqua-tiled vision. 

Take your time with the menu and experience the multiple wait what?!-s. The place has probably the most hipster-y coffee menu. No wonder the place is founded by an Aussie. Unfortunately, I cannot vouch for the drinks since I had already had way too much caffeine that morning, but my lovely friend Katy ordered a chai latte and seemed to enjoy it very much. 

Foodwise Farm Girl serves wonderful-looking lunch that is relatively pricy. Most of it is vegan, or at least gluten or dairy free. Personally, I opted for a rose cupcake. I paid £4.50 that sort of hurt but, man, was it good! I also have to give tons of points for presentation. The china was as lovely as the dog head created with pink sugar. You'd think this much pink would get too Umbridgy but no, we're fine.

A good way to rate places, at least in my opinion, is by their bathrooms. Again, Farm Girl scores high. It's almost as walking in to a Glossier pop-up shop: pink, red, big mirrors and neon lights. The poor waiter got very confused when in the end I started praising their lovely loos. Still, a good bathroom is like a cherry on the top. If it's done poorly it can ruin the whole experience.

Overall, the place is a tad bit pricy but I would go there again. The atmosphere is relaxed, the environment instagrammable and the service very friendly. A friend of mine refers this as convenience cost.

The main reason I ever go to Portobello Road is Sister Jane's flagship shop. Cute, cute, cute! It's right upstairs from Farm Girl (very convenient!) in a two-level attic space. I first discovered Sister Jane in Cannes, France a few years ago and fell completely in love. The clothes are about £60 and very good design. I own quite a few pieces and can definitely vouch for their quality. The best thing is that they organise sample sales once a season. Last time I walked out with six pieces that cost me £30 together. What a bargain! The shop is definitely worth checking out even if there isn't a sample sale. It's like another kind of wonderland.

What to bring: a Wes Anderson outfit, to match with the doors // camera, preferably polaroid

Matching background for my outfit!

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Columbia Road Flower Market

Where: Columbia Road, Shoreditch // When: Sundays 8am to 3pm 

What's there: flowers, farm and cafés // How much: bundles from about £4, cash

How to get there: overground: Hoxton

My favourite flowers

Sundays are, believe or not, a bit slow even in London. I don't know if it's my mother's persistence on avoiding shopping Sundays or just the general quietness of the end of the week that often takes me to a market of some sort. Having just stated London is dead on Sundays, the markets of London, on the other hand, are absolutely thriving! And it is the most miraculous thing you've ever seen!

Hop on overground and head to Hoxton station. It's a nice and brisk 10-minute walk to the market. Don't forget to get some cash on the way: there's is a sneaky cash machine on a blue wall, easy to miss. The way to the market is relatively easy and if there's any difficulties, just follow the trail of people carrying bouquets. Foolproof!

First thing you'll hear is lovely chatter and a guy playing a guitar. The vendors are shouting the most creative Cockney chatter. "The worst mistake of your life!" yells a man pointing at my bouquet behind a massive mountain of tulips. A little spring shower doesn't matter either. Quite oppositely, it only makes the atmosphere cosier.

It is worth walking up and down the road before buying anything, just to make sure you can grab the best offer. But don't contemplate too long. These flowers go quickly! Instead of pre-made bouquets opt for bundles and get crafty back home. It's a fun and hygge-approved way to spend a Sunday afternoon with family or friends. Also, it comes much cheaper and somewhat homelier as well.

Once you're there, check out the little streets branching from Columbia Road. There's loads of little hidden boutiques selling incredibly cute vases, pots and tin boxes. Keep an eye for artesian cafes too. After all, it's sort of early and if you're anything like me, you've only had a cup of coffee this morning. On the other hand, it is worth suffering for a little longer and head to Brick Lane to Beigel Shop to spend that leftover cash. Trust me, these bagels never let you down! Get some plain ones to take back home. They're only £0.30!

What to bring: comfortable shoes, don't even consider heels // canvas bags, at least two //

a raincoat, rather than an umbrella // sunglasses // cash, £20 should do for flowers and bagels

On your way to Brick Lane, do stop by Hackney City Farm to say hello to their chickens, ducks, goats, baby goats (they'll melt your heart!) and donkeys. Despite its numerous parks and commons, London still lacks the animals this countryside gal is used to. A fifteen minutes with these furry friends are worth a month's therapy sessions.

Beigel Shop on Brick Lane

Sunday afternoon bagels and planting

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the fifth year

I’m sitting at a café in Helsinki airport and I just stopped to think about this whole year. There was really low lows but also, in contrary, really high highs.  As my father said in his speech on my graduation: Kaisa is a person who feels everything, it’s never neutral. I lost that for a moment but I managed, with great strength, different sort of strength I’ve known before, to get past that.

This year I have taken action and I must admit admiring myself for that. I felt stuck so I moved on. I felt bad so I made an effort to feel better. I solved problems. I pushed myself outside my comfort zone, for the first time in ages and it felt so good. It was exactly what I needed.

As I’m writing this on New Year’s Eve I can say I am in a place in my life I feel good. I feel happy. I feel safe. I feel passionate. I feel comfortable in this very moment. In some point I found myself trusting the world and the people around me. For that I am extremely glad. I am back being that fearless me I used to be. 

In 2018 I want to work on that last insecurity I still have. I am starting running again. I am starting stretching again. I want to get in shape in order to being able to like my body as much as my mind. I have a strong feeling this will also help with mental stability which is an issue I am far bored of standing for anymore.

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