Happy birthday to my idols.

Michael Jackson

Michael's music saved me in a way. I can't explain it, and this is gonna sound super cheesy, but I became a better person with Michael's guidance, and the message through his songs. For me, Michael has always been a get away from a bad day, and every time I listen to his music, and my friends are talking to me I always tell 'em: "I'm having a Michael Moment." They know what I mean right away. 

It's been four years since his death, and it hasn't changed anything for me. I still listen to his music, I still idolize him, he's still the greatest of all time to me. Michael will always continue to inspire me, and that is for me, the greatest gift a person can give.

Lea Michele

Lea is in my opinion, the greatest singer/actress of my generation. Her ambition is something you don't often see, it's probably the number one thing I admire about her, in the midst of her amazing talent. Her singing is so crystal clear, something you could listen to for hours. It's like angels singing. Then what happened this summer... She lost her fiancée, co-worker and her best friend, Cory. I literally cried all day, and if I reacted that harshly, I can't even imagine how devastated Lea was. Then when she gave that speech at the TCA's... That's probably the bravest thing that's ever been done in Hollywood. The strength it took for her to climb up there and give that beautiful speech. It's my number one favorite acceptance speech ever, even going before Tom Hanks's for Forrest Gump, and that's something. Lea, I hope you have a wonderful year as a 27 year old, and continue to be as amazing as you are. Your career is only in the beginning, and I can't wait to see what you can still do in the business. Have a wonderful birthday Lea! 

~

These two are my number one idols in the world, they make me so happy even without knowing it. Thank you both for being so amazing, inspiring, wonderful and one of a kind special.

~

Stay Gold,

Emma

Life is always better when I'm playing basketball.

Heey!
Eka viikko Suomessa takana. Oh boy. Koulu oli iha mukavaa, nähä kaikkii pitkäst aikaa ja nii, mut sit se tosiaa iski. Nyt oon takas viikottaisessa rutiinissa. Arkipäivät treenejä, koulua, läksyjä, kokeita... Mite voi olla et jo ekan viikon jälkee tuntuu et vois lähtee heti lomalle? :D Treenit mua ei tosin haittaa ollenkaa, koris on nyt mun numero 1, ainut asia mistä oon tosi intohimoinen tällä hetkellä. Tänä viikonloppuna oli tosiaan EHBT, yks suomen isoimmista koristurnauksista. Noh, itse turnaus ei menny hirveen hyvin meiän jengin kautta, tultiin 12/15... Mutta omaan suoritukseeni oon tyytyväinen. Käytin kaikkia liikkeitä mitä oon koko kesän harjotellut, ja niitä asioita mitä opin sillon Kanadassa. Sunnuntaista asti kävin joka päivä pelailemassa ittekseni tai Sofian kanssa. Myös käynyt lenkillä, pyöräilly joka päivä ja käyny treeneissä. Toteutin treeniohjelman tosi hyvin :) Torstaina mentiin omppuun Josun ja Morkan kaa, ja ostin uuet juoksulenkkarit! Nike Free 5.0, ihan sairaan hyvät! Laitan kuvaa tähä myös. Sit nähtii Sofia ja Erica vielä ja mentii Hanko Sushiin syömään. Niitten sushi on täydellistä... Oikeesti. Perjantaina menin Sindyn (mun koiran) kanssa Sofialle yöksi, koska mun äiti oli viikonlopun poissa ni en voinu jättää Sindyä yksin yöks :D Lauantaina oli kolme peliä, ja vikan pelin jälkeen mentiin Sofian kaa vielä Annalle, jossa nähtiin sitte kavereita, ja pääsin nukkumaa vasta jossain yhen aikaan, mikä ei ollu hirveen hyvä juttu koska seuraava peli oli 9.30 sunnuntai aamu... Jeeeee, mutta olin siel yllättävän virkeenä kummiski :D Mukavaa alkavaa viikkoa kaikille!
Stay Gold,
Emma 

Heey!
So first week in Finland is now behind. Oh boy. School was nice, it was great to see everyone after a long time, but now it really hit me. I'm officially back in the normal routine. Weekdays of practices, school, homework, exams... How is it that after the first week I'm all ready for some vacation? :D The practice part though just makes me happy. Basketball is now my number one thing, the only thing I'm really passionate about at the moment. So this weekend we had the EHBT tournament, one of the biggest basketball tournaments in Finland. The tournament itself didn't go that well if you look at our team, we came in 12th out of 15.. But I'm really satisfied with my own performance on the court. I used all the moves I'd been practicing all summer, and the moves I learned in Canada. Since Sunday, I've gone playing by myself or with Sofia every day. Also gone out jogging, cycling or gone to practice. I executed my workout schedule really well :) On Thursday we went to the Big Apple (a shopping center) with Morkka and Josu, and I bought new running shoes! Nike Free 5.0, they're super good! I'll post a picture too. Then Sofia and Erica came too and we went to eat at Hanko Sushi, their sushi is perfect... For real. On Friday me and Sindy (my dog) went to Sofia's for the night, cos my mom was away for the weekend and I couldn't leave Sindy alone for the night so... :D On Saturday we had three games, and after the last game we went to Anna's, and we hung out with some friends, and I didn't get to go to bed until one o'clock, which wasn't a good thing considering that we had a game 9.30 sunday morning... Yaaay, but I was actually surprisingly cheery XD Have a nice week everyone!
Stay Gold,
Emma

just shooting between games, why im not wearing any shoes

thank you jenna for this picture <3

loving the face i know

a fact.

my loves <3

perfection ..

sindy and nana, sofia's dog

gametime!

so true, a quote from a legend

The road to success is always under construction.

Heey!
Nyt oon sitten Suomessa. Tyhjä olo... Onhan se kivaa nähä kavereita ja perhettä mut silti oisin hirveesti halunnu jäädä :D Eilen sitte näin Sofian piiitkästä aikaa ja oli aivan ihanaa <3 Heti huomasin et jetlag vaikutti, mut tänää se vasta iski kunnolla ku heräsin 6.30... Eikä sitte tullu enää unta ja nyt oon ollu siitä asti sitte hereillä XD Ihanaa... Toivottavasti ei kestä tää hirveen kauaa ku ens viikonloppun on sitte vuoden lempi turnaus, EHBT! Oon tehny kunnon ohjelmanki ens viikolle, joka me sitte Sofian kaa toteutetaa ;) Huomenna alkaaki ysi luokka... Vika vuos ylä-astetta thank god <3 Seuraava postaus taas viikon päästä :) Nyt loppuun vielä kuvat vikalta viikolta Seattlessa :'(
Stay Gold,
Emma

Heey!
So, I'm back in Finland now. I feel empty... Sure it's great to see my friends and family, but I wanted to stay soo bad :D Yesterday I saw Sofia for the looongest time and we had a great time time <3 Right away I noticed that jetlag was affecting me, but this morning it really hit me when I woke up at 6.30... Then I couldn't sleep anymore so I've been awake since then XD wonderful... Hopefully it won't last for long cos next weekend I'll have my favorite basketball tournament of the year, EHBT! I've even made a real program for next week, that me and Sofia will do ;) Tomorrow, ninth grade really starts... Last year of middle school thank god <3 Next post in a week :) Now pictures from my last week in Seattle :'(
Stay Gold,
Emma

a small collage of last summer :')

flying in business class woop :)

O' beautiful, for heroes proved.

Heey!
Palattiin Vancouverista takaisin Amerikan puolelle perjantaina, ja loppuaika Kanadassa oli ihanaa. Torstaina menin pelaamaan viela Kanada-kamujen kanssa ketka tapasin leirilla ja oli haikeet hyvastelyt :( See you next year Steven, Dita and Daniella <3 miss you already.  Mun matka on melkeen jo lopussa, lahen takasin kotiin torstaina. Mihin taa kesa katos? Muistan nii selvasti ku laskin viela satoja paivia tahan matkaan ja olin ihan varma ettei se koskaan tulis, mutta nyt on enaa nelja paivaa jaljella. Tiettyhan se on ihanaa paasta kotiin perheen ja kaverien luokse, mut viela niin paljon jai tekematta taalla. Vaikka koko lista on jo suoritettu minka tein tata matkaa varten, silti. Mun ja Amerikan suhde on vasta alussa, ja tulee kestamaan kuan. Tassa viela kuvia mun matkalta mita en oo lisanny, ja loppuviikon kuvat lisaan sitte kotoa. Seuraava postaus tuleeki sitte merien toiselta puolelta... Nyyh :(
Stay Gold,
Emma

Heey!
We came back to Seattle from Vancouver on Friday, and the rest of the time I spent in Canada was wonderful. On Thursday I went to play basketball with my Canadian buddies, who I met at camp, and we said our sad goodbyes :( See you next year Steven, Dita and Daniella <3 miss you already. My trip is almost over, I'm leaving back home on Thursday. Where did this summer go? I remember so clearly counting hundreds of days till this trip, I was so sure it would never happen, but now I only have four days left, till I go back home. Sure it's great to go back home to my family and friends, but there's still so much that got left undone. Even though my whole "to do"-list is done, still. Mine and America's relationship is only starting, and it will last a long time. Here's some picture's from my trip I haven't posted yet, and the pics from the rest of the week I'll add from home. My next post is gonna come from the other side of the seas... Tear :'(
Stay Gold,
Emma

crepes at granville island, vancouver

best sushi place ever, sushi maru

seattle

night time seattle <3

getting my nails done!

first time eating roasted marshmallows!

my very first day in seattle, at pike's place(:

going to an outdoor movie, wearing my fav hoodie <3

night time space needle <3

Lea Michele's touching acceptance speech, teen choice 2013
Watch that video, and you'll understand why she's my idol. Lea, you're the strongest person ever. The strength it took for you to walk up to that stage and give that beautiful speech... I'm amazed. You are such an amazing person Lea, and you inspire me so much. "We'll get through this together." <3
Love you Lea, I'm so proud of you!

I wish I could freeze this moment and live in it forever.

Heey!
Tiiättehän kun Kanadalaisista ain sanotaan et ne on tosi ystävällisiä? No, se on niin totta. Ei kertaakaa oo tullu yhtä vastaa joka ei ois hymyilly :D välillä se on mukavaa, toisinaan hieman ärsyttävää. Mut kai mä automaattisesti ajattelen nii ku suomalaiset ei taas koskaan hymyile tai tervehdi. Mutta siis, mun viikko Kandassa on menny täydellisesti! Perjantaina mentiin Capilano Suspension Bridgelle. Semmone metsä täynnä kaikkii siltoja yms. Illal käytii viel Vancouverissa, ja ajettii sen hotellin ohi mistä Cory löydettii... :( Lauantaina lähettii semmoseen leiri-tapaamisee. Siel oli ympäri Kanadaa jostai Adventisti-uskonnon kirkoista ihmisii, ja kaikki näytti tuntevan toisensa :D Meiänki perhe (paitsi mä) tunsi melkee kaikki siellä XD Luulin et siitä viikost tulis maailman tylsin, mut sitte sunnuntaina menin heittelee koriskentälle, ja korisleirin valkku tuli pyytää mua korisleirille seuraavaks viikoks! Sinne sit menin ma-pe aina 9.00-12.00 :) Se oli aina päivän koho-kohta, päivällä menin aina yksikseni pariks tunniks pelailee, mutta aina joku tuli ja kysy et haluunks pelaa 21:sta tai 1vs1. Jokasen 21-pelin voitin, paitsi yhen hävisin yhel pinnalla yliopisto-pojalle XD Samaa tyyppii vastaan tein oman vapaaheittoja peräkkäin enkan, 12! Woohoo, sit se vaa sano "this is the worst game of 21 ever!"XD Sit joka ilta menin yheksän jälkee pelaamaa kentälle yliopisto-pelaajien kaa (ja vanhempienki pelaajien kaa scaryy). Eka kerta ku menin pelaamaa ni olin iha varma et mut murskataa siellä, mut joka pelissä kummiski tein koreja! Sen koris-leirin järjesti yliopisto nimeltään Canadian University College, ja niitten miesten korisjoukkueen pelaajat valmens sit meitä. Ja sen yliopiston korisjengin valmentaja oli ain kattomas pelei illalla, ja kutsu mua ain "Finland":iks :D Anto mulle myos paljon hyvii neuvoja, ja sano et jos jatkan samaan mallii saatan pelaa parin vuoden pääst Suomen maa-joukkuees... what. Anyway, thanks Coach Ford for the advice you gave me! Oli sinänsa aika hauskaa, ekoin päivinä en tuntenu ketää siellä, mut vikana päivänä kaikkialta kuulu ain "hey emma!" ja muunlaisii tervehdyksii. En ois tutustunu keneenkää ilma korista, jote thank you basketball! Sain upeita kokemuksii ja ystävii Camp Hopella, ja toivon että pääsen ens vuonna menemää uuestaan :) Eile illalla pystyin pelaamaa vaa kaks kertaa ku molemmis jaloissa alko tuntuu kauheeta kipuu pohkeessa ja reidessä... En vielä tänääkää pysty kävelee normaalisti :/ viikon lepoo suositeltii, kai sitä pitää :/ mut nyt oon lorpotelly liian kauan, picture time!
Stay Gold,
Emma

Heey!
You know when people always say stuff about Canadians, that they're super nice and kind? Well, that's so true. Not once have I ran in to a person, who wasn't smiling :D Sometimes it's nice, other times a tad annoying. But I guess I automatically think I like that cos Finnish people never smile or greet anyone who they don't know. But yeah, my week in Canada has been perfect! On Friday we went to the Capilano Suspension Bridge. A forest full of bridges and stuff, pretty cool! In the evening we went to Vancouver for dinner, and we even drove past the hotel where Cory was found at... :( On Saturday we went to a camp meeting, where everyone seemed to know each other :D Even our family (except for meXD) knew almost everyone there :D I thought that that week was gonna be the most boring week ever, but then on sunday I went to the basketball court to play, and the basketball camp's coach came and invited me to the camp for the week! So of course I went, monday-friday from 9.00 to 12.00 am :) That camp was always the highlight of my day, in the afternoon I always went and played by myself for a few hours, but always someone came and asked if I wanted to play 21 or one on one. Every game of 21, I won, except for one game against a college guy, who beat me with one point XD Playing against the same guy, I made my own "freethrow's in a row" record, 12! Woohoo, then the guy just said "this is the worst game of 21 ever!"XD Then every night around nine, I went to play with the college guys (and older players, scaryyy...) The first time I went to play, I was so sure I'd get crushed, but in every game I scored! The people who organized the bball camp were from a college called Canadian University College, and their men's basketball team's coach was always watching the games in the evening, and he always called me "Finland." :D He gave me a lot of good advice, and told me if I keep it up I'd be playing in our national team in a few years... what. Anyways, thank you Coach Ford for the advice you gave me! It was quite funny actually, that in the first few days I didn't know anyone there, but the last day I was constantly hearing "hey emma!" while walking around the campus. I wouldn't have gotten to know anyone if it weren't for basketball, so thank you basketball! I got amazing experiences and friends from Camp Hope, and I wish I can go there next year too :) Last night, I could only play twice, cos my legs started to hurt so bad, awful pain in my thigh and calf :( And even now I can't walk normally. They suggested I'd rest for a week, so I guess I have to. But now I've babbled for too long, picture time!
Stay Gold,
Emma

OK these pictures are in a TOTALLY wrong order. 

Hello Canada!

 

Suspension bridge!

Our tent at camp meeting

Fraser-river

fraser-valley

thank you basketball <3

tha ball everyone got from camp, our coach greg and cuc basketball coach signed my ball for me:)

third ledge, iha ok näkymät

the court, where i spent most of my time(:

harrison hot springs, not your typical tourist destination :D

harrison hot springs, its amazing!

Lisää kuvateksti

the suspension birdge

courteney, amy and i at the river