Greetings from Tallin!

So... totally randomly I went for a mini-vacation with 3 really fun single friends of mine.
These 3 gals had planned this trip a while back, and before they went to Estonia, they visited us for a few days.  Hearing about their upcoming SPA/Hotel vacation, made me drool a bit... and then I popped the question and asked if there would be room for me!  They were gracious enough to let me join them, so on Friday morning we got up at 3.30 am, and hit the road just past 4 am.  We drove to Helsinki to catch the early ferry to Tallin at 7.30.  The boatride is 2 hrs, so by 10 o'clock we were already checking in to the hotel!

The hotel is a conference and SPA hotel, so even if the visitors weren't hanging out wearing white robes and slippers 24/7, there were many neat SPA like features.  You could lounge in the SPA area and sip teas or different waters whenever you wanted.  There were many neat treatments to choose from, and I tried the chocolate wrap (AWESOME!!!), a foot/pedicure treatment and a facial.  The estheticians were very professional and did a great job.  All products were amazing and all natural!
The 1st day the 4 of us were ultra giggly from lack of sleep and excitement, so we took a great long walk touring this old Hansa town.  There are so many old buildings, and we climbed up some seriously tall and steep rock stairs to reach a "balcony walkway" that was running along the old city wall.  From up there we had a beautiful view of the city.  The wall was built almost 800 years ago!  We enjoyed some great food and had a fun, fun time together.  It was neat hanging out with single girls, since the topics of our conversations varied a lot more than they usually do when a bunch of moms hang out!  Neat.

In the afternoon we split up to attend various treatments, and then we had a light supper before chillaxing in the pool area.  There were several pools, hot tubs, an aroma sauna,(the lights keep changing colour as different aromas are released into the sauna) a salt sauna (you rub seasalt on your body as you sit in there, and the skin gets really really clean!), heated mosaic recliners!!  (they were actually concrete recliners covered with small white tile) SO cool!, jetshowers... etc.  It was nice.

On Saturday we enjoyed a large buffee breakfast, before again splitting up for more treatments.  After some lunch, we took a taxi to Pirina beach, a 10 min ride from the Hotel.  We had amazing weather, and I think everybody in Tallin had the same idea that day.  The beach was packed!  But we still enjoyed the sun, sand and saltwater.  Sipping a cool strawberry smoothie is never boring either...
Back at the hotel we showered and had dinner, and after that me and one of the girls had to head back to the ferry...  the fun had to end.  The other 2 girls stayed another night and flew home to Norway the next day. 

This getaway was so sudden, but I truly enjoyed it!  Thanks girls for taking me along, you are a great gang!  Besides some trips with my hubby in the past, I can't remember having this much fun in a long time!  My stomach feels "toned" from all that laughing!  (can you tone a marshmallow??)  And it was truly relaxing.  I feel very thankful and fortunate, and  I hope this break will give me the energy I need to "hang in there" as we are adding the last few touches before moving in to our house...  More on that later!

http://www.meritonhotels.com/Kuvagalleria/id/434/# Here's a link to the SPA photo gallery if you want to "check it out"!!

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.