This week: Power Walking + Photos

So yes, you do get used to the regular life again. You do adjust, even if it takes a while and it gets harder and harder over the years when you actually think it should get easier and easier to re-adjust.
But now I have adjusted, and I am back in the US again with both body and mind. All good, all fine, and as you all know I like it a lot here!

Karolina is getting ready to start Middle School and I am probably more nervous than she is. All is so new and foreign to me and to her of course.
It will be hard to get the little lady out of bed in the mornings, SO VERY HARD. Middle School starts at 7:20 and that is quite a difference from elementary school where she started at 9:15.
Hmmm…it will be a struggle to get up in the mornings for her. Oh, and I have to start a new routine as well. I was so used to taking my walks after I dropped Karolina off at school. Now I either have to take a walk at 7:30 AM or wait until my “regular time”. Time will tell. I am sure it will work itself out.

Power walks I need, for crying out loud. Power walks and Wii fit!! I have gained weight over the summer. Yes that is what happens when you pig out on food, candy, coffee cakes, drinks and the best bread in the world. Scandinavia does not do a body good…there is way too much delicious food there, way too much.

When in Finland, you would think I would go out for long walks daily but I don’t…I just hang around the houses, take the car or the bike. LAZY ass me!! When in Stockholm it is easier to walk around, it just happens naturally.

We finally got the hold of a Wii Fit. Peter purchased it when we were up north, and it waited for us when we got back. I have to say it is pretty fun, and a good complement to your regular exercises. You can do quite a lot on Wii fit; kick boxing, step aerobics, yoga etc. Oh, and plus that it keeps track of your weight and BMI, and it gives you your virtual wii age. YES, it does, so far so good for me….I have scored 36 and 39 years old.
But to simply rely on Wii fit as your sole exercise, I would not recommend. I don’t think it will help you lose weight or get more active, but a good complement it is, to the real thing.

My sister-in-law is a power house when it comes to exercising. She is out Nordic walking every day for over an hour, she does yoga and Pilates and she is in a very good shape!! When she’s in Finland she’s out every day. The past summer when she was walking her regular route she heard a loud noise from a nearby field. She looked up, and saw something big and brown at the edge of the forest. It was more than likely a bear. Kinn stood frozen for a while, and then she took her walking poles in her hands and she ran as fast as she could to our summer house. A good five kilometer run from the point she was at. Poor Kinn ran and ran, she did not stop once. I think that bear sighting scared her BIG time…But a couple of days later she was on to her old routine again, only a little bit more observant to her surroundings.

You go, Kinn!! I wish I was half as active as you in the summer time! Now it is my time to start!

Power walking, here I come!!!

And here are some more pics from the summer:


This is my grandma's old farm house. This is where she was born. Where my mom and aunt were born, and where I spent every summer, some Christmases and winter breaks while growing up. My grandma left Stenö for Näsby when she was 86 years old. The only time in her life when she has moved. Now the farm is empty, but we take care of the house and the sorroundings. We love this place.





Some typical Annika pictures :-)



My aunt's summer house is located about 2 km from our summer house. This is Junkarsgrund.



Cousins: Anton, Edvin, David and Karolina (Ella was napping when I took this pic).
Staffan, my brother, and his daughter Ella and cousin Edvin. It's been a true cousin summer this year.






Have a very good Tuesday!