Would you try this?

Warming my feet, a cold December day in Pamukkale.

Fish therapy - where small fish eat dead skin cells off your feet! I got to try it in Turkey. I had seen it before and was curious but I don't think I would ever have done it if it wasn't because I won it as a prize. It was second prize in a music quiz one night at one of the hotels where we were staying. So of course I had to take advantage of my winning (even though I was scared at first!). It tickled like crazy in the beginning, when those tiny fish take little bites off your feet, but one gets use to it pretty fast. If I noticed any difference? I think I actually noticed more after a feet dip in Pamukkale. This thermal water is supposed to make you ten years younger. Since I only dipped my feet.. let's say I'm about five years younger now? :)

Simple (with a twist)

I found this pair of Calvin Klein stilettos in an old issue of ELLE, that I was flipping through yesterday. This is EXACTLY the kind of style I like in fahsion. So simple but with a little detail that adds something extra. Love them.

Mmm

A vitamin packed carrot, pineapple and orange juice drink at favorite Bloom Cafe should hopefully keep that winter cold away!

www.bloomcafe.com

Lazy Holiday

Today, I haven't been doing much at all. The fun, but hectic Christmas preparations and celebrations have taken out their toll. And I'm still jet lagged and have been waking up not later than 6 am every morning since I got back. So with good conscious, a Christmas gift book and a candy jar have been my best friends for the day.

My Christmas

I got the best Christmas gifts! A lovely Theory cardigan, a beautiful Michel Kors ring, books I can't wait to start reading, Mac makeup brushes, makeup from Face Stockholm, Stig Lindberg china and some handmade and personal items...and much more. Perhaps I'll show you some tomorrow! ;)

Swedish Christmas food. Sill, meatballs, Jansson's Temptation...

And of course some sweets afterwards..

I do live in Southern California after all. The palm trees and sun shining through. Even on Christmas Eve.

Since I'm Swedish the big celebration day for me is Christmas Eve and I had a really nice time. Christmas is by far not over yet though. I'm soon on my way to the valley for some more Holiday spirit - the American way. Hope all of you are having a wonderful Christmas!

From Me to all of You: Merry Christmas!

A tired vagabond...

On my way home again.

...finally lands in Lala-land. After almost three weeks of traveling - to Turkey and then to different locations in Southern Sweden, I was pretty tired even before my trip home even took off. And I had one of the worsts ones ever - three long flights before I could see the palm trees again. With a delayed flight coming in to Toronto I had to spend the night in Canada and got home one day later. So very tired, jet lagged and stressed out about Christmas, only two days away now...

Swedish Christmas

Since I'm going back to LA on Tuesday, my sweet parents brought me to Kosta in Smaland, to give me a little dose of the Swedish Christmas. I have learned to appreciate an American one as well, but having grown up in Sweden and being used to all our traditions, it's just not the same. At the beautiful Art Hotel we enjoyed the most delicious Christmas buffee with all those traditional dishes I'm so fond of. And lucky me even got to experience quite a bit of snow. (Is the sun still shining in LA?)

Back home from Turkey...and soon on my way again

I had a wonderful week with my mom, met a lot of great people and enjoyed a very exciting country. Sharing a photo from the beautiful Pamukkale. Now I'm about to catch a train and go visit my sister and her family. Who said vacations would be lazy? :)

Oh December

Dear friends, the calendar has turned page to the very last month of the year, and I have traveled to Sweden, been to an old friend's wedding, enjoyed an early Christmas turkey dinner, spent time with friends and family and then tomorrow I'm leaving again. This time to Turkey - and I'm taking mom with me. One week filled of fun, just the two of us. So see you again in a week or so - probably a little bit more sun tanned, more cultivated from all the interesting ancient history we're about to explore and hopefully maybe a bit more relaxed too. December did get a busy start for me.