║today my way║: December 2013

Exciting campaign 'Giving Extra to Someone Special' provided by my new Santa this year, one of the English banks found us talking about the perfect present for that special person just in time. You know, the one that makes us all nervous to get it just right. I happily grabbed the opportunity (and Amazon voucher for the purpose) to show just how well I really know that special someone by getting him that perfect gift and you better believe I am going to tell you all about it. Before I’d hop on any idea let me tell you how my clever reasoning worked...

Men (from my 5'3" perspective) dream of fancy things but are afraid to admit it. They're into toys but don't want to be seen as immature. And they actually like to be able to USE them outside the sitting area so no mugs with inappropriate bumps and lumps, slippers that loose pieces by the third day, books they go after the title and credits because that's when you're still watching. I mean a long lasting toy he can show to his mates and score some good points, a gadget of a fair value and within his knowledge how to operate it. Girl, you got yourself into a case to handle because the obvious will not work around here that's for sure. Socks? Yes, he's got at least 50 pairs but does it give me right to add to the collection? I could play with cotton content and the thickness of fabric, that could be fun but I've learnt through past purchases that clothes are only right to give him if he's over 70 or specifically pointed at his fingers freezing up on the steering wheel. All the clothes Damian was given were a hit but the awe kept him so surprised he still thinks he might have to give them back so I don't attempt to dress him, at least not over caroling season. You gotta have some self control!

So he weights it gently carefully removing layers of my loving. Smile is a good sign as he goes further unpacking unnecessary blend of plastic and paper. Here comes his gift - a pair of wireless speakers (thanks to fabulous reviews with only one owner saying: 'these headphones are too tight for someone with not a particularly big head and they fully enclose your ears.' Oh man, how was I going to go round this?). More comfortable than pair of socks, more glamorous than pants purchases happening regularly. Just give him a minute to bask in their silver glow. Hit or total miss? Special gift or specifically unfortunate? I got a little wild with my choice but I kept the wow factor, likes and level of his expertise in mind at all times (only being distracted by dropping this mohair shawl into the basket). Think of the possibilities! Perfect for running after a busy toddler while listening to his favourite tracks, learning how to play electric guitar with his online course, watching movies while we girls have more important stuff to do. And they go with almost everything I bought him the previous years in case he's tempted to forget. x

<< This is a sponsored post. Thank you for the opportunity! And thanks for supporting our sponsors! xx >>

14 comments

Merry Christmas everyone!! We're enjoying days measured by the lengths of rainpour and clear sky allowing us to head for a stroll when we're brave enough to do so. The strangest thing is we're not in a hurry to jump ahead into the squalls of rain if table is obliged to entertain our taste buds, one story comes after another, rediscovering presents unwrapped hours ago keeps us fondly chained to our walls. They were well mixed this year with just the right amount of surprise, unpacked with increasing ease of little fingers. Piles of wrapping paper revealed colouring and pop up books whose every page has been repeatedly reread and coloured since they appeared under the Christmas tree that is no longer pointed at because of its sorry naked branches (it was taken down today because you'd think it could last for days until you realize it won't survive the next hour). There's always room in a girl's closet for her first nail polish and strawberry lip gloss, the kind of essentials Santa would bring with confidence. We try to remove the unwanted but the general mess around the place has been unreal.

^^ Nadia was particularly drawn to a baking set that consisted of an apron, oven glove, tea towel and a heart shaped cookie cutter. This apron is kind of a piece that will work with everything in her size.^^

This year we were so excited with the whole new idea about Christmas Eve. Instead of preparing a big meal and opening presents straight after we decided to play it as relaxed as weather allowed and went out for an evening walk downtown to see the decorations, ride on a carrousel and inspect the market and its handmade toys and not-at-all-necessary items. It was crowded, cold and simply awesome. Rediscovering my town time and time again continues to be amazing.

^^ Thank you SO much for visiting and for your support! xxx^^

3 comments

Hat: New Look, Scarf and sheer sweater: Primark, Tee, Cardigan, Jeans: you guessed it, H&M, Coat: Mango

'Tis the day I'm traveling on Christmas. Up from socially unacceptable in this latitude hour inspecting remains of nature enraged to the point of not accepting any of this rushing home for tomorrow while rearranging the street layout that will make it work with almost any weather. I'm still in awe we're able to get by without too much hassle. Picking my mum from the airport marks the beginning of the caroling season in a flat layered with spruce tree needles. So if we'll be just sitting across from each other while talking, eating excessively, watching movies and family videos while making insightful comments please don't judge me too much these couple of days because I've waited for every minute of it since October. It's such a gift to be surrounded by my closest family at this time of the year even if it won't be a white Christmas at all. Hail storms and wind breaking trees are fun too. Wonderful holiday to you, my friends! xxx

10 comments

Christmas spirit has been holding strong within magnolia of our walls coupled with superior tree at the center of the household, presents tucked away above head level and plans made around unwrapping them and sharing festive meal and mood. I enthusiastically immerse myself in the magic of shimmering lights lightening even the gloomiest of days above fundamentally important fish and poultry year after year, now bringing Nadia along to make her own memories. Because this is what Christmas means to us - a sheer joy of recreating childhood memories through scents of ginger, fresh spruce needles, real excitement at more chocolate than we can hide for later. A time in a year family bonds speak louder then the howling wind we're trying to escape from snuggled in coziness of decorated rooms. Dear Santa, we'll not be praying too much but going to sing carols at the top of our coughing throats, we'll not recreate much of nativity scenes but will wait for a snow coat with withdrawn breath. xxx

I used this track in a video: 'Heute Mplon' by Thiaz Itch (http://www.thiazitch.com)

16 comments

It's beginning to look a lot like well-defined outdoor space inside our tiny flat already especially interesting subdivided into a thick needle layer right in our living room. Any day and I'll have fresh mushrooms growing underneath that Christmas tree. It's not festive anymore, it's disturbing for the guests and residents alike. Now that tree is creating lots of physical stimulus forget everything I said about appreciating layers. We'll just smile through stings.

How do you feel when being complemented? Without a warning or a quick foreplay (eye contact will do), out of the blue while being focused on things that rarely please at work? You totally convinced me, feels like being 28 again!

We're attending Christmas party at Nadia's kindergarten later today because there's always room for more sugar when you're four. Before I get those 35 mini jam sandwiches ready which will surely set me in the festive mood for the rest of the day I'll take the risk and taste really small one really fast. Will keep you posted how many were actually appreciated.

Moving to a new flat is a case of jumps, skips and singing tunelessly with joy but the waiting until I've found the ultimate gem is killing me. My eyes are sore from the exotic view of my desktop wallpaper and its artificial light. I need a place with a proper view!

Have a blast of a weekend!

10 comments

This blank notebook of a new year excites me like it hasn't happened before. It does every year, leave me and untouched day to a page diary alone and I'll have it all planed, pre-booked, organized to specific date and time. It just feels natural to be ecstatic and overwhelmed about something you know it's coming and you can make the most or the little of it. Anything. But nobody needs to know that. Only those who are involved I reckon. So, yeah welcome to day to a page of goals and playfulness. Some serious nerve-tingling events will mingle with everyday activities transforming them into something magical or just a little different which is especially good news as we've missed a few dates and ocassions this year. Nadia will take part in 'Alice in Wonderland' ballet performance on two days next July because movement of any kind is going strong around here since forever. This will be cute to watch and I'm inviting everyone like crazy. Grab yourself a glass of milk and consider being greatly entertained for about two hours straight.

The next paragraph will be a very domestic one about a house with white fences and children running among the heavily breeding trees. Sun will shine through the open patio doors while I sit watching frilly skirts floating before my eyes. Or so I want to. I’ve been bragging around about a massive urge to move out to a house of ours (semi-detached, terraced, doesn’t matter) for a long time. Maybe it’s far more urgent because I've never experienced a proper home or my own space as my family was moving from place to place, I kept changing schools like Kim Kardashian changes her outfits. On good days my space would consist of a half of a family table with the other half for my younger brother. I gave a lot of thought to renting properties because they’re not bad option to consider. If we’re lucky we could find a decent size house with rear garden and being close to main streets and the beach. If it’s unfurnished, the better. And if the landlord is not too much of a jerk, we can decorate rooms as we please. Even yesterday owning a house was a big deal for us (me), today I’m much laid-back about the whole buying idea especially that we’re not huge money savers. I’d rather spend that extra cash on trips, food or little clothes so yeah, mentally preparing myself for journeys through estate agencies to get that new space under our wings.

I think it’s going to be an exciting year. (Shhh... happy almost Christmas, friends...)

10 comments

Those beauties are speaking my fashion language: Primark

It's not the colour that is talking, it's the texture and simplicity of wear. I needed a good scarf this season, socks that will get a lot of use, hunted down warm and oversized cardigans, didn't avoid the underwear department. (Santa has the best helpers around here). The amount of deliveries to our flat has been pleasantly disturbing because I finally found them life-saving pieces (mostly) on sale for ridiculous prices. Wondering why I don't buy in multiple colors? Navy makes the first move but when my eyes will get drawn to yellow or red, I won't postpone the news.

Layering and bundling up is my way to stay warm throughout the cold. Just hours ago I have received two woolen cardigans in addition to those chiffon blouses not suitable until April. Got them in two colours, one for Christmas, one for my birthday, something like that. As for the socks covering ankles and peeking heavenly from underneath nice pair of booties... Well, piling on perfect product hasn't been easy - those fancy ones contain zero to none cotton and sport festive motifs without a breather (not that I'm not fan but would like to have some other options to go with my already Christmassy spirits). I had a pair of chunky socks in my shopping basket, almost went home with them but it's not easy to be my socks. I know I'm cruel to synthetics and willing to change one day. So while the search continues I'll dive into semi-synthetic fiber of a new jumper. I could think of all kinds of interesting ways to wear it. And grey... always.

Embarrassingly related: so addicted to online shopping I could barely choose anything from H&M in store. Convenience has transformed me into a person I don't recognize. H&M, you're still my best friend only I like you more on those skinny models and not necessarily straight off your racks.

18 comments

IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG TO RECOGNIZE SUNSHINE

If you said we were abnormally rich and had the whole playground booked for our most fanciful frolicking, we wouldn't be more in agreement. It seemed like only skeletons of trees heard our small talk and up to this point we haven't been able to keep up with the demand of all the abandoned play areas in our neighbourhood. There was not a jumping, pink or Spiderman wearing soul in sight and the whole experience could be as quick or take as long as we'd like even if it was likely the weather conditions would not stay ideal. So what kind of games we aimed for? We didn't avoid muddy grounds and sheets of fallen leaves because when company isn't available you actually try and make up for it in complicated tasks, moves and climbs. It's more than entertaining, it's gasps and bursts of laughter at every corner because when mama is chasing you you'd better run or hide or alter your approach to what she's capable of. Who said mummy-daughter playdates have to happen in overheated indoors?

It's been weeks now of Damian's insanely delicious cucumber soup eaten with chunks of bread and various sausages. Steaming hot is the best answer for wind-pulling-hats-off weather. Remind me to show you next time how we work on our body tissues over here. Days are still perfectly uncoordinated because of extensive gift wrapping, Christmas cards writing out and addressing, preparing short notes to go with them otherwise it'd look like Sunday-morning-type of season already. And those sort of things are last minute necessities alongside learning colours, counting, colouring inside lines.

Yes, yes! we're almost ready for my mum to fly over from Poland - last tips how to pack for English weather and which old and loved for a long time Christmas decorations to be brought with her repeated at least countless of times so my job here is done. Last entries in my new day to a page diary successfully interlined therefore New Year doesn't terrifies me anymore (those fully filled in days only) so from now on it will only be time of comfort and fun. And dealing with toddler's requests of all kinds. Like peeling her tangerine because she accidentally bit the skin around her little finger.

^^ I don't argue with toddler wanting to snack right there right that very minute. It may change, don't risk it. ^^

14 comments

The closer to Christmas the more fabulous activities are happening around the house to get excited, curious, overwhelmed with more than a tiny bit. Not much cooking is going on these days but we do craft like crazy and the big family table gets used properly every time creative thought strikes up. This time we came up with the idea of making our own Christmas cards and stationery of all sorts to the bundles of our joy's delight. Nadia and her two cousins didn't quite know what to start with having all the products they could mess up with at their reach. Immediately their senses activated stimulating creative juices. Everything appealed to busy hands, everything got glued to them and other surfaces accordingly. Not every project was finished off, quite a few could read 'task in progress' or 'will come back to it... one day' because there were some neglected toys awaiting so we called it a day as anything like that could take forever to get produced. But we liked it that way, it's their vision after all.

As for the supplies - let the kids choose what to incorporate in their designs from the whole household. We no longer have straws available and printing paper gets missing in record speed but that's just fine with us. Those things not only expand horizons but magically teach us how to substitute them around house with less used items (and believe me until this day I can't figure out how we let her play with the eggcups, they're foreign to our kitchen now). The best part of time spent on more than just drawing is that Nadia learns colours in English. These days it's all about emphasizing efforts in her second language so she can juggle between shades without blink of an eye. I don't sense a change to this trend anytime soon so prepare yourselves for a rainbow adventure. And we couldn't be more thrilled about that! x

14 comments

Newer Posts

Older Posts

About me

Connect & Follow

Popular Posts

Blog Archive

Search This Blog