OOTD

I had a fun (busy) day today. I was honored to get invited to a Finnish Independence Day celebration held by Finland's Consul General in New York. The reception was held at the Consul General's residence on Fifth Avenue by Central Park. I mingled with some good old friends, and met some new ones too. I enjoyed walking through the city to the event, and seeing all the Christmas decorations. I made sure to pass by the Bergdorf Goodman windows, and they are just as amazing as every year. I have to go back to the city to take some pictures. I wore an H&M lace top and tuxedo vest, Ann Taylor skirt, Tory Burch boots and Balenciaga bag (which I left at the coat check at the party, though, because it's too big to lug around a party).

Gratitude and Respect

On this day, December 6th, the Finnish Independence Day, I am filled with gratitude that I was born in a free country, that my grandfathers' generation sacrificed so much and fought in the war to ensure that Finland stays free and independent. My parents' generation paid for this also, being children during the war years and suffering from scarcity. Some of the lessons of the sacrifice have rubbed on me too, although I never had to feel that there wasn't enough of food or everyday necessities. I have a lot of respect for the people who built up Finland after the wars into the prosperous country it is today, a country that is advanced on so many levels - education, technology, infrastructure, freedom of speech and expression, environmentally conscious, safe and secure, democratic with real opportunity for anyone. America has a lot to learn from Finland, if only they would understand to look...

Happy Independence Day Finland!