Tell us about yourself in 3 sentences
I am a professional footballer and artist. I love creating and living an active lifestyle, always moving my body. I am very adaptable to change having moved countries a lot due to my husband’s professional football career, so I’ve learned that home can be anywhere with the right person by your side, and as long as you’re rooted in yourself as well. I love traveling and exploring the world, but I equally love being at home :) it’s all about balance for me.
Your work and passion?
I have been playing football my entire life, playing professionally in Norway, Sweden, and Costa Rica. I also am an abstract artist, painting in my free time from football to keep my mind active and challenge myself in a different way. I also do marketing, so I like to say that I am creating in whatever I do, whether that’s on or off the pitch. My husband and I are also starting a Costa Rican specialty coffee brand, so for me “work” is a multitude of titles. Through my experiences, I have come to see that we are all multifaceted, you can do more than one thing. Finding your passion is all about finding your passions, plural!! I believe that the more we lean into all aspects of ourself, not just one, that’s when we truly expand and the future becomes clear.
What is your relation to this city?
I lived in Sweden for 2 years with my husband who is also a professional football player, we absolutely fell in love with Stockholm - to me it is like a smaller Paris.
Best experience?
Staying at the Grand Hotel!! It’s absolutely stunning - the rooms, the service, the brunch, everything.
Your top 3 hangout spots?
- In the summer, anywhere by the water or just anywhere outside. The winters are so long and harsh, that the city really comes alive in the summer - with restaurants always opening up tables outside lining the streets. Enjoy your meal, a pastry, a glass of wine, whatever it is outside enjoying the sunshine and the bustling city.
- Take a boat tour from the city to see the stunning archipelago.
- You haven’t seen Stockholm if you haven’t been to Gamla Stan (which means Old Town) once - it’s the heart of the historic district where you’ll find stone-paved streets, boutiques, galleries, merchants, restaurants, ice cream shops, and the Swedish Royal Palace. It’s super charming.
Favorite restaurants?
Cafe Pom & Flora - for the yummiest brunch
Gast - another place with amazing brunch and good atmosphere
Fosch Artisan Pâtisserie - for the bakery
La Neta - kind of a hole in the wall place, best Mexican food I found in Sweden!
Hallwylska Palace - super cool pop up restaurant in the courtyard of a museum
Moyagi - super fun spot for a night out with friends! Restaurant upstairs and downstairs is private karaoke rooms! My friends threw me a surprise bachelorette weekend and took me here :)
Best date place?
Asian Post Office - I honestly think this is my husband and I’s favorite restaurant ever!! The food is sooo good - every dish we've ordered we've loved! It’s an Asian Fusion place with shareable plates so super fun for a date night to get a bunch of small dishes and share.
Best Sunday spot?
Cafe Pom & Flora, Gast, or Fosch Artisan Pâtisserie - you have to start your Sunday at one of the many cosy café’s in Stockholm with a coffee and baked treat.
Where do you go shopping?
Stockholm has the best shopping! Birger Jarlsgatan is the street with all the luxury stores like Cartier, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, etc. Either stay in the main area of the city to go to the popular Scandi stores like Samsøe Samsøe & Acne Studios, or head to Södermalm for cool boutique stores like SNS - my fav sneaker store.
Where is your escape from this city?
Djurgården - It’s still in the heart of the city but feels like an escape because of the beautiful nature. It’s an island in the middle of the city with water, forest, different museums, and an old town feel - it’s very cosy and a different pace from the rest of the city!
Best 5 local advice?
- You have to try a Semla - it’s the famous Swedish pastry bun filled with whipped cream topped with powdered sugar - they even have a holiday devoted to it called Semmeldagen (the day of the Semla)!
- Come in summer to see the city come alive
- If you love Acne Studios but don’t want to pay the high prices - go outside the heart of the city to Acne Archive where they sell past seasons/collections for much cheaper!
- Wear comfy shoes - the city is bigger than you think and you will walk a lot
- You will always need a jacket - even in the summer it doesn’t get that “hot” and if you happen to be in the shade, you could need a jacket
What’s your favorite This Way product? The volcanic rose clay face mask :)