Sweden {Midsummer Part I}

Friday in Sweden was probably my most favorite day of the trip, as it was Midsummer!  When we were planning the trip I was so excited that we'd be in Sweden for Midsummer {or the solstice - the longest day of the year} - it's such a huge holiday in Sweden and I couldn't wait to celebrate like a local.  In the morning we stopped by Christian's childhood friend's home for coffee and cookies with their family {such sweet people} then we headed back to the lake house to get ready for our ride to our own party - on a boat.  Bengt & Kersten {and Lettie} offered to take us to Pia and Bjorn's home via their beautiful boat and after about a 30 minute ride up the lake, we arrived at one of the most beautiful homes I've ever seen to spend the Midsummer holiday.  When we got off the boat, we instantly were greeted with some delicious gin and tonics {my kind of party} and after cocktail hour and lots of visiting we were greeted by the most delicious lunch spread of traditional Swedish food accompanied by lots of aquavit and random outbursts of singing {one of my most favorite parts of this traditional celebration}.  After lunch we snacked on strawberries and port wine, and instead of going home {like I thought we would} we were invited to stay, relax, take naps, drink more gin and tonics, and get ready for dinner - what?!?  This was quickly becoming one of my most favorite days ever with such a wonderful group of people :)

 lettie and i ready in our life jackets

arriving in style

 pulling up to this house from the water was pretty spectacular

 my kind of entry way

 a delish lunch of new potatoes, salmon, pickled herring, cream, cheese, and deviled eggs with shrimp - i think i could eat this every day

gin & tonics + tabloids

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Sweden {Lake & Lagan}

Thursday was a pretty chill day for us - one of the only ones we spent mostly relaxing at the lake.  We started off with coffee on the deck, where the little duck family from a few days prior came walking right up to us {I'm pretty sure someone has been feeding them}.  We had a lowkey breakfast at home, then walked down to the marina to check out some of the local boats and get out of the house for a bit.  Later we headed in to Laganland to pick up some souvenirs and treats to bring back home and stopped by some grocery stores to pick up more provisions for the rest of the week.  Back at the lake, we poured a glass of wine and headed down to chat with our neighbors Bengt and Kersten who were camping on the property and are good friends of Christian's family.  We hung out by the water with them, chatting and playing fetch with their sweet dog Lettie who would've gone running into the lake to fetch her ball for hours if we let her :)  Later that evening Christian's parents stopped by for some traditional Swedish cheesecake {so different from what we have in the US} and after they left we caught some of the USA vs. Sweden World Cup {so fitting} before calling it a night. 

writing on postcards

the teeny tiny roads to town

clever souvenirs in laganland

sweet lettie trying to get c's attention

cheesecake!!

can you spot the hare that came to visit?

go usa!!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Sweden {West Coast Part II}

After leaving Thomas and Leis, we decided to hit up a few more beach towns before we headed back home for the day.  We drove a few blocks to the beach in Nyhamnsläge {the town we were already in} and all took off our shoes to walk in the warm sand and stick our toes in the water to cool off.  Afterwards, we headed to the town of Mölle {where Thomas and Leis used to live} and drove through the hills seeing the most idyllic homes looking out at the sea.  We took a stroll along the harbor, watching sailboats come in from a day on the water and took in the peacefulness of this gorgeous seaside town.  After stopping at a cute little shop to pick up a souvenir, we headed back to Lagan where Christian and I were able to have a sunset drink by the lake and reflect back on such a wonderful day.

 the cliffs of mölle felt just like the california coast

 back at the lake

xoxo,
stephanie marie