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72-Hour Guide to Norway: Oslo (Part II)
Besides the Christmas walks and fun experiences around London that I have written about earlier, one of my favorite things to do each December before Christmas is visiting Oslo. My husband and I have discovered Oslo first time in 2014 in search of a snowy destination and have been going back every year since then. The city fits the bill for winter holidays for many reasons: there is lots of snow (which we love!), there is plenty to see and do both sporty and culturally, it’s efficient and safe, and it’s very cosy and welcoming. This is Part II of my blog post on Oslo, following earlier Part I. Day…
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8 Soviet New Year Celebration Traditions I Love
As I have already described here, growing up in the Soviet Union was far from the ordinary. With religion being forbidden and no Christmas celebrations allowed until the 1990s, New Year has become the biggest and most exciting holiday of the year with large-scale celebrations that last for days. Even though the times of the Soviet Union are long gone, many countries that once made USSR still hold on to some of its New Year celebration traditions which I am sharing in this post. 1.New Year Tree The New Year (not Christmas!) tree is the center of New Year’s celebrations at every home. Lovingly decorated with glass baubles, tinsels and…
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72-Hour Guide to Norway: Oslo (Part I)
Besides the Christmas walks and fun experiences around London that I have written about earlier, one of my favorite things to do each December before Christmas is visiting Oslo. My husband and I have discovered Oslo first time in 2014 in search of a snowy destination and have been going back every year since then. The city fits the bill for winter holidays for many reasons: there is lots of snow (which we love!), there is plenty to see and do both sporty and culturally, it’s efficient and safe, and it’s very cosy and welcoming. As you know, 2016 has been a year of ‘hygge’ – a new word/concept that has…
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Quick and Easy Red Lentil Soup
I am sucker for soups, especially around winter when it’s cold and dreary in London. One soup I recently discovered for myself is red lentil soup. Having ordered it several times from a nearby Turkish restaurant Hala, I decided to learn how to make one at home. And guess what, it’s so easy peasy that I had to share a recipe. You will thank me later! INGREDIENTS 1 1/3 cup red lentils 1 large onion, finely diced 1 large carrot, diced 2 teaspoons cumin 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1 heaping tbsp tomato paste 5 cups (or 550 ml) boiling water 1 vegetable stock cube 1 tsp coconut or olive oil salt and…
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Weekend Getaway: Bath Christmas Market
As I continue the series of Christmas-related posts on what to see and do in London during the festive season, today I wanted to talk about Bath Christmas market. Bath (or more accurately Bath Spa) is a small but very beautiful and cosy town in Somerset and a UNESCO Heritage site, just 1.5 hour away from London. It’s very popular among the Brits and visitors, thanks to its renowned Roman baths, beautiful Georgian architecture, nearby world attractions such as iconic Stonehenge and great options for shopping, entertainment and eating out. I have been to Bath few times, but this trip was special as I ventured out to see Bath Christmas market.…
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My Christmas Giveaway
If you have been following my blog, by now you would know that I love Christmas and shopping for Christmas gifts and decorations. So in the spirit of upcoming holidays, I decided to hold London-inspired giveaway for my most loyal readers. I picked a number of gifts from my favorite brands that I hope you will enjoy, they will put a smile on your face and some even grace your Christmas tree. UPDATE And the winner of my first giveaway is….drum rolls, please! It’s Cristian Cizmaș. Thanks to everyone who entered and congrats, Cristian!!! What is included Paperchase London bus foldaway bag Paperchase Royal Guard pen Paperchase London stickers Gisela…
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Crispy Rocky Road Energy Bites
As someone who has a terrible sweet tooth yet is trying to stay healthy and resist constant chocolate cravings, I decided to invent my own energy bites using really simple ingredients in my kitchen. From crispy rice cakes to sweet and juicy dates and raw cocoa – this recipe has everything you need to keep you going on a busy day. These can also be consumed as a dessert to help with sugar cravings! INGREDIENTS (for 5 cakes) 2 rice cakes ½ cup coconut oil ½ cup raw cocoa 4 big majore dates ½ cup walnuts ¼ cup raisins Stevia to taste METHOD Melt coconut oil in a microwave, add cocoa…
