Swedish Spa Day Ystad

On the shores of the most western tip of Sweden is the town of Ystad. Along with being a charming little seaside town in its own right, it is also home to one of the finest spas in Skane.

For a birthday present my husband took me there to get a very unique treatment called "The Creek Experience".

 

This is the entrance to the treatment area. You take your shoes off and walk through a water filled path to get there.

The program is for couples and you are guided through spa treatments from all over world by a technician and then you perform them on each other.

 

                           You start off by soaking your feet in gold tiled tubs filled with Dead Sea salts

 

And then proceed through a labyrinth of wet and dry saunas

 

Waterfall showers

 

 

and hot tubs....

My favorite parts of the experience were the African mud bath treatment and the Turkish bath of which were both done in separate but equally authentically decorated treatment rooms. I wish I could find photos of them, but maybe its better you see them for yourself......

Finally a Swedish Spa experience to write home about, what a day!!!

Full Grown and Thankful

So yesterday I turned 31. I woke up slow and opened a box wrapped with satin ribbon to find a dress that fit me perfectly, carefully selected by my thoughtful husband. I got on the train to Malmo and on my way there passed through breath taking woodlands and picture perfect countryside.
I treated myself to a pedicure from a wonderful woman from Vietnam who has lived in Sweden for 20 years. She spoke beautiful Swedish to me with the patience of a saint. We spoke slowly in our second language about what it is like to be an immigrant in Sweden. We spoke about how hard it can be but mostly about all the reasons we loved the country and our experience as a whole. I walked out of that little salon feeling appreciated, understood and totally pampered.

We then met friends for dinner that treated me to great conversation and a bouquet of the pinkest peonies. When I arrived home late in the evening I had tons and tons of messages from family and friends wishing me "Happy Birthday!" from all over the world.

So this is what I know for sure at this point: My name is Natalie Hanna Soderbom. I am a full grown 31 year old women but most of all I am just thankful as hell. Because I am loved for who I am no matter where I am, my life is truly beautiful.

Summer Love

Some of you may have noticed that I have not been producing so many blog posts, well the reason for that is I have been too busy enjoying the Swedish Summer. When you spend half of the year in less than warm weather when the sun comes out you drop everything and go outside.

 

This is the time of year that made me want to move to this little village in the middle of Skane. Long walks around the lake and BBQs that last long in to the warm evening, these are the simple things that I live for nowadays. 

 The air is so fresh from all of the foliage and flowers in different stages of bloom are seen at every turn.

Small red cottages with white trim hide mysteriously in overgrown gardens. The lake stands as the constant back drop to every snap shot. Every frame I look at when I return home looks like an illustration from a children's story book or fantastic post card. Just breath in and breath out. Oh yes, this is paradise.......