Coming up in summer 2023!   ..read more

Hi! I’m Mari. I’m a Finnish forest woman who is passionate about sharing the gifts of our nature and SISU, the Finnish art of inner strength. In my own life, I’ve experienced burnout, depression, and anxiety, but I’ve also been on a journey to heal from them. I’ve found a way to a balanced and happy life in this chaotic world, through harnessing the power of the human mind and a need connection to nature. I love to share what I have learned and that is why I created this ..read more

Paid partnership with Savonlinna Cruises If you ask locals to recommend you some summer travel experience in Saimaa, it most probably would be a lake cruise. And if ask Savonlinna recommendation, it would be a Savonlinna city sightseeing cruise. Even we who live here never get tired of the beauty of Olavinlinna castle. City cruise is also the best way to see the personality of my home city; the fact that Savonlinna is built on islands and surrounded by the waters of Saimaa. Savonlinna city sightseeing cruise – TOP cruise ..read more

Fresh buns with afternoon coffee is a THING in Finland –  I’d say it’s a part of our culture and nature. If you ask us, our dear friend Paula Huovinen makes the softest and the most delicious buns. You can’t buy these buns anywhere in Saimaa but you can learn to make them at your home. Here’s the Finnish Paula’s bun recipe, “Paulan pulla”. A luxury version of it is the Shrovetide bun that is the star of February in Finland. Recipe of Finnish Paula’s bun You make about two ..read more

It is so true that the best recipes are born almost by an accident. Like this simple Christmas apple dessert recipe; there were some apples and marzipan left and Christmas gingerbread dough in the freezer – and voilà – Stiina combined the ingredients into this delicious dessert full of Finnish Christmas flavors!  Recipe for simple filled Christmas apples  You need: 4 apples  Mulled wine/ black currant juice (glögi) 40 g marzipan 40 g gingerbread dough  You can use many different kinds of gingerbread dough. To get Christmas flavors, we recommend ..read more

Paid partnership with METTÄ nordic, Harjun Portti Holiday Resort and Savonlinna Cruises Winter in Finland is snowy and cold. However, it is also full of sunbeams and warmth. Maybe even the magic of our white winter wonderland comes exactly from that combination.  Cold weather, but the warm heart of Finnish winter wonderland Blue and green are beautiful summertime colors in Saimaa but so are blue and white of the wintertime. Summer is far now, autumn with its wild mushrooms and berries are behind too. The Christmas season is here and ..read more

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Nowadays nature is present in my home and everyday life in many ways. Behind there is a long story but also many study results from different countries that all say the same thing: No matter what form nature takes, it affects positively our wellbeing. Simply, #woodisgood. And, it’s not only wood, the connection of all natural materials to our wellbeing is good.  The positive power of natural materials to our wellbeing My story goes back to the moment in 2014. My depression was on and as one natural way to ..read more

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower” has Alburt Camus put beautifully. Autumn is also the time that is strongly full and busy everyday life for many of us.  We may not have a chance to go outdoors to enjoy nature’s colors and relax as often as we would like to. However, what we can do is nature visualization. Studies have shown that visualizing nature scenes, and even looking at pictures of nature has a calming and mood-lifting effect on us. Watching nature photos can also ..read more

Paid partnership with Kukkoniemen Lomamökit There’s something extremely beautiful when you take all huzzle and bustle of modern life away from around you and fall to the simple, basic things in life. The ones that are in fact the foundation of every one of our health and happiness. No wonder the people who have already reached all the success and glory in life, tend to start favoring again places where this kind of falling is possible. Places like Kukkoniemen Lomamökit. Best bits of slow, natural Finnish living in Saimaa The ..read more