What a mess!!!

This is the follow up to my last blog.  Last night I went to this little Bed and Breakfast, where they also offer a "mud sauna treatment".  I didn't bring my camera (I forgot) and I don't know how we'd been able to take pictures anyway, since we were deeeep in the dirt! 

This experience might sound a bit "different" to anyone who did not grow up with a traditional sauna culture.
We were a group of 5 ladies, I knew one of them from before.  This was not held at some posh resort type of SPA, but in a house that consisted of a big room with a few couches (changing room), a bathroom, shower room and a woodburning sauna.  On the coffee table there were pitchers of water and a little jar with seasalt (we all took a few pieces and let them dissolve under our tounges to help get fluids out of our systems), then we drank a lot of water.  Before entering the sauna, everybody only in their birthdaysuits of course, we poured seawater all over ourselves, and then went in to the sauna to get warmed up.  After about 5 minutes, we went back into the shower room where we all had our own bowl with mud.  This we smeared allover ourselves (except the eyes, nose and mouth), even in the hair!  When we were done we all went back in the sauna and let the mud do its trick.  It's supposed to help cleans your body and get rid of extra fluids, and it smoothens your skin.

We spent about 20 minutes in there, before showering it all off.  I still have some stuck under my nails and my hair feels a bit funny.  We didn't use any shampoo or soap at all.  After sitting with only towles wrapped around us, cooling off on the couches, we got dressed and went to the main house for a nice evening snack, consisting of herbal tea, steamed veggies, rye and spelt breadrolls (made at the BnB), covered in garlicspread.... Yummmm....
No entertainment, no loud anything.  Just the 5 of us quietly visiting, in this old loghouse.... Very laidback very relaxing.  I don't really care what the mud did or did not do, I just truly enjoyed this evening out!  And yes, I did feel very rejuvenated and very very tired....  Coming home I laid down on the couch, and Little Guy joined me and fell asleep on my stomach.... mmmmm..... Life is good.

A messy reward

The last week, month, year has been a true whirlwind of events.  A year ago I was neck deep in moving boxes, and what seemed like a thousand things that needed to get done in time for the move.  Our house was technically sold, but we were waiting for all the nitty gritty details to get ironed out, before we could put that magic "SOLD" sign in front of the house.  I was still asking myself at times "what in the world are we doing?".
But as you know we made it here, and now it's been almost 11 months since we touched down in Helsinki.  Our house is at the last stages of construction before we can move in.  So, soon I have to pack up this apartment (piece of cake compared to last years move), and the circle will come to an end for now...

I have been at the house as often as possible, I really enjoy helping out there.  It's the perfect date for me and Big Guy.  We get stuff done together, on something that benefits the whole family, it doesn't cost anything (well, the house isn't free, but no "dating" costs) and we can talk uninterrupted with no audience.  The big girls have been of great help, and they are keeping a tally on hours worked, smiling about the upcoming reward.  Speaking of which.  I'm getting a reward too!!

I have felt that I have been running on spare for a while now.  When I leave the house it's to pick up kids from school, go to the groceriestore, or to K-Rauta (Home Depot), w. Big Guy for yet more house stuff.  That can be fun, but at times it's nothing too exhilirating.  (plumbling and balconyposts is not THAT exciting, while picking out the tile and flooring is of course fun).  Other than that I rarely venture out for any "me" time.  So on Tuesday evening when I was helping hubby to clean out a bunch of garbage in the garage and breezeway at the house (we are hoping the get the floor poured there soon), I got a call from one of my local friends!  She carefully explained how she is looking for someone who might be interested in going for a mudpack-sauna-spa this Friday.  (she tried to make it sound less messy than it is, in case I would get a bit grossed out), when I practically yelled "Sandy" I LOVE playing in mud!"  That made my day!  I hadn't had a very good one, but the thought of that Northern Finnish muddy stuff, generously spread out all over me, sounded like a perfect thing to brighten up my day!  (no added anything to that stuff, the real thing only, so I guess I'll go a few skin shades darker for a while after...)  When the treatment is over, we'll enjoy some healthy tea and goodies.  I can hardly wait!

Sandy asked me to do a cleansing before the mudpack to help me get the full effect from the mess.  So I'm doing a 1 ½ day cleansing, meaning I'm ONLY eating frutis and veggies.  And some mineralsalt spiked water.  I'm aiming to get the pipes cleaned as well as my skin rejuvenated from all that mud!  I'll let you know how it goes... If I'm daring enough I might bring my camera for some action shots.........   I feel that I need and deserve this night out.  In a woodburning sauna, all covered in mud, somewhere in Finland... very close to the Russian border :)  Sounds like the perfect night out.