I already shared what the first half of January looked like, so here’s a look at the last two weeks before the month comes to an end. Nothing big, just a museum visit by the river, spotting planets on a clear night, making the most of seasonal treats, and picking up some simple yet beautiful tableware. But somehow, those small moments were enough to make the month feel full in their own way.

A Museum Visit with a View

As a museum card holder, I made the most of it this month by visiting Tekniska Museet. There were two main reasons I was drawn to this museum. First, the location. It is right by the river, where the water rushes with such force that it creates a stunning view. And second, well, I’m in Finland, the home of the legendary Nokia, so a museum dedicated to technology felt like a must-visit. Of course, you can also get to know Nokia’s history at other museums, like the one I visited in Tampere, but this one still had its own appeal.

The view outside didn’t disappoint. It was just as breathtaking as people said. The museum itself isn’t too big, but it’s definitely family-friendly. When I visited on a Saturday afternoon, the place was filled with kids. For a moment, I felt like I had stepped into a playground rather than a museum. But surprisingly, it wasn’t chaotic at all. Despite the lively atmosphere, it was still easy to enjoy and absorb everything the museum had to offer.

Chasing the Night Sky

One of the most exciting celestial events for skygazers this year was the rare planetary alignment and the sight of Mars glowing beside the full moon. Mid-January was supposed to be the perfect night for this. Mars shining right next to the moon, and not just any moon, but the Wolf Moon. Just imagine the beauty of the Red Planet standing side by side with the moon on a crisp winter night.

Speaking of which, I recently learned that each month’s full moon has a special name, and January’s is called the Wolf Moon. It’s the first full moon of the year, and the name comes from the idea that wolves remain active in winter while many other animals hibernate. The haunting sound of wolves howling under the bright full moon might be why this name stuck.

Unfortunately, Helsinki’s sky stayed stubbornly cloudy for most of January, making it almost impossible to observe the night sky as much as I had hoped. So, the much-anticipated sight of Mars alongside the Wolf Moon? I had to miss it. But there was one lucky break. A single night when the sky finally cleared, and I got to see not just Mars, but also Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, and Saturn. I don’t have a telescope to confirm what I was looking at, but thanks to the Night Sky app, I could identify them all. It’s surprisingly accurate, don’t you think?

It’s Semla Season! Or Should I Say, Laskiaispulla?

Back when I lived in Sweden, this delightful dessert was called Semla, but after moving to Finland, I quickly learned that here, it goes by a different name: Laskiaispulla. And as soon as the season rolls in, these fluffy, cream-filled buns start popping up everywhere.

Fun fact: Once Christmas fades away and the New Year celebrations wrap up, laskiaispulla season begins! Traditionally, these buns are eaten during Laskiainen, or Shrovetide, the week leading up to Lent. Before fasting began, people would enjoy a rich, fatty meal on Laskiaistiistai (Shrove Tuesday) to stock up on energy because, well, no one knew when they’d feast like that again.

And once laskiaispulla appears, you can’t escape it. It’s literally everywhere. Supermarkets, cafés, bakeries, you name it. Some local cafés even get creative and put their own spin on this classic treat.

This year, I decided to go for the non-traditional versions. I tried a Red Velvet Laskiaispulla from Espresso House and a Black Sesame Miso Laskiaispulla from Andante. The red velvet one? No surprises there. Delicious, soft, and just the right amount of sweetness.

But the black sesame miso laskiaispulla was something else. Normally, I don’t consider myself an adventurous eater, but Andante has a solid reputation for serving up amazing desserts that suits my preferences, so I figured, why not? And I’m glad I did! The black sesame flavor was infused into the bun itself, while the miso added a subtle, savory twist to the cream. At first, the miso cream almost tasted like cream cheese with just a hint of miso, but the more I ate, the more I appreciated how well the flavors blended together. Unexpected? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.

My Tableware Shopping Win (Almost!)

Earlier this month, I spotted a gorgeous mug while wandering through Tripla Mall. It caught my eye, but I was in full window-shopping mode, no serious intention to buy, just admiring. Fast forward to the second Saturday of the month, I found myself strolling around Esplanadi when I noticed IIttala was offering 40% off on the exact product line I had been drawn to. The simplicity, the design. It was just perfect.

I left the store without making a purchase, but the thought lingered. More than the mug, I realized I actually needed a larger bowl at home. So, by Monday, I made up my mind and bought the bowls. It was still a week before the sale ended, and I was feeling pretty good about snagging them at a 40% discount. A solid deal, right?

Well, not quite!

On what was supposed to be the final day of the sale, I dropped by the Iittala & Arabia Design Center, only to discover an extra 10% off on already discounted products. Yep, that meant the 40% discount got slashed even further. I could have saved even more if I had waited until the very last day!

Lesson learned: sometimes, patience really does pay off, but at least I wasn’t impulsive enough to buy it at full price the first time around! I’ll take that as a small victory.

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The last two weeks of January had a bit of everything: visiting a museum by the river, catching a rare clear night to see some planets, and enjoying laskiaispulla season with creative flavors. Even though I missed the Mars and Wolf Moon sighting, I still got a small win with a clear sky night. And while I don’t usually go for unusual dessert flavors, I’m glad I gave them a try, just like how I nearly timed my tableware purchase perfectly. Sure, I could have saved a little more if I had waited until the very last day of the sale, but at least I didn’t buy it at full price on impulse. A few near misses, but overall, a month of small wins!

See you in February!