Hello, my friends,

How are you? How was your week? Ready for the weekend?

My week was great, regarding having fun. But in terms of work not so much. I was a lazy butt this week. Because of that, I was super nervous and ashamed. But after last night I feel happy.

Today weekend planner is about small joyful things and moments in our life. About being spontaneous and making smart choices.

The story is…

I have a project for summer that I need to finish soon. Summer is a week away, and I’m not even close to finishing it. So this week brought some tension. Even though we already had one day off and it did help me a lot to unwind, but yesterday I was all over the place. I stuck with a part of the project that was fighting with me badly. And I couldn’t switch to anything else because I was so frustrated.

Do you know when you are doing something and it is not coming together, and you can’t focus on anything else until the things are done?! So you struggle desperately, but all you feel is frustration and anxiety?! Well, this was my first half of the day.

I know myself well, and I was sure I wouldn’t do anything else except burring myself deeper and deeper in anger and frustration. So I decided, how to say it nicely, put things down and get away from it.

I needed to get away from it, get out from the house, so I’m not even close to the computer.

“The evil plan” was born: to screw rest of the working day and go have fun.

My husband was in sync with the idea, so we packed some things and went for a picnic. Checked the movie theater and decided to have a late movie date. Our choice landed on Book Club movie. And oh boy it was an excellent choice!

The movie is funny, smart and well done. The actors are terrific. What I enjoyed the most was the AUDIENCE! If you watch the Book Club Trailer, you will see the movie is about ladies in their 60s. And the audience was the same except for a couple of people our age. The right audience always adds a little more charm and tone to the movie. Like when you watch the cartoon, giggles from kids make the movie brighter and funnier.

The ladies were laughing and commenting, and it added such a great layer to the movie. There was a connection. I think this is a secret to a good movie. You have to create a connection with the viewer. If you tie the whole audience together, where at the end of the movie strangers are talking with each other to hear the opinion, then it is a successful movie. This what happened yesterday. I enjoyed the film, I was thrilled to have such audience, and I left the theater much better person then I came in.

Even better the next day, today. I’m happy, relaxed and I feel joy. All of this because I let things go and allowed myself to relax for a moment.

Now I need to catch things up because it was my work day and things did not cross themselves from a list. This was an impromptu, BUT I have no regrets about it. And definitely will do it in future.

The moral of the story is:

It is OK to stop when things are not coming together. Instead of beating a dead horse take a break and go find joy in small things.

When you fill your life with little joyful moments, you feel better and alive. The world will not stop spinning if you stop to take a breath for a moment. Whenever you feel tired or exhausted or when things are not coming together, just let it go. Ground and feel yourself. Think what is better for you right now. And take proper actions.

Since the post is already long, in short, I will tell what else we did in weekend planner things to do down below.

I feel like this half day-off was more important to share with you then a full day-off. I want you to know that you are not alone in “broken days” and it is ok to feel angry about them. BUT it is up to us how we handle such days. To me closing my eyes and forgetting the day works well. Because I know the next day I will catch things up much faster, more efficient and with a smile on my face and joy in my heart!

Weekend Planner Things To Do:

• See Book Club at the movie theater. I highly recommend checking this movie. Take your mom or a friend and have a movie date with them. You are going to love it.
• Go on a bike ride. We did The Minuteman Bikeway. Started in Lexington, MA -> Bedford, MA -> Lexington, MA. Use Zagster if you don’t have a bike. The rate in Lexington is ONLY $1 per hour! Super fun and good for your health!
• Movie to watch: Molly’s Game. Based on the memoir Molly’s Game: The True Story of the 26-Year-Old Woman Behind the Most Exclusive, High-Stakes Underground Poker Game in the World. She is one strong, honest and principled women I must say! Enjoyed every minute of this movie.
• Food to savor: For the first time we tried Wholefoods Pizza. It was BBQ and Pepperoni pizza. Very delicious! The crust is chewy, the way we both like and the toppings are fresh. Definitely will check other flavors. As for dessert, I made my favorite Banana Coconut Bars.
• For the health: When I work long hours this Best Yoga For Slow Deep Muscle Release is a saver for my body.  Good for beginners and intermediate yogis.
• To wrap things up, watch this short Ted’s Talk Where joy hides and how to find it.

Just let yourself go from time to time. The more joy you let in your life, the better your life and work get.

Have a joyful weekend my friends!

Lots of love,

Maria

💗💗💗

PS: Indeed I caught things up and did even more. Half day-off I took made me a little happier and a more productive person next day 😉

Photo by Abigail Lynn on Unsplash

Hi there,

Friday is here which means time to share weekend highlights. This weekend planner is about slowing things down and allowing yourself to rest and let go of things.

By the end of my work week, I was exhausted… My husband and I had quite a rough week. We both worked long hours, received a couple of bad news which kept my mind spinning around during the night. So by the end of a week, we were baked.

Do you know the feeling when you are laying on the sofa and don’t want to move a single muscle? When you know, you have more things to do but cannot get your butt off the couch? Then your non-stopping pushing voice kicks in and says you have to do at least something. You agree with that and thought all right I will do at least this and that and then will have some rest. BUT nooo, your body still doesn’t want to move at all. So you are laying there and protesting! Protesting either against your body, or your mind or in my case both. Meanwhile the time is flying by, and in the end, you did nothing, and feel even worse!

I think we all have been there.

The best thing you can do during such days is LET IT GO. Many years ago I read the book about health and one advice stuck with me:

Always listen to your body. It is the best doctor who always knows what’s best for you.

If your body is protesting, that means something. Listen to it. If you feel exhausted and want to do nothing, then this is a signal of low energy. You need to take time for yourself. Do nothing, let it go and don’t be too harsh on yourself for stopping to catch a breath!

I can go on and on about this subject, but it boils down to ONE thing.

Your body always knows what is better for you. Start listening to it and act accordingly.

A quick example. On the last day before the day off, I was tired and thought classy whiskey on rocks will do its thing and will unwind me. Way wrong. I tried to drink it, but I wasn’t enjoying it. Moreover, I was displeased by it. The body was so tired that it refuses to drink whiskey because it sucks out even more energy. The body knows better what is right for you than your mind. So always stick to the body advice first.

Anyway, I knew the best thing for us would lay flat and do nothing. But not at home. We needed a fresh air to unwind and let go of things. We dressed, took a blanket and went for a picnic to Arnold Arboretum.

It was the best decision. Now is the time for lilac blooming and Arnold Arboretum has a huge collection of lilacs. I adore lilac’s aroma. It is calming and soothing. So we hid on an uphill among this beauty. We talked, we laughed, we ate, we laid still. And we watched, felt and smelled the breath of arboretum.

Such simple day brought back so much energy, it centered us, renewed and inspired.

It reminded me how important it is from time to time to stop and catch a breath.

Next day was even more crucial in filling our tanks with energy. We went to Blue Hills Reservation to grill some delicious food. It was a beautiful day. The sun was playing on a pond, the air was not too hot and not too chilly. My husband was in charge of food, so I just sat back and enjoyed the moment.

The weekend was finished with a nice bottle of red wine and a Cinderella Man movie. I like to choose a movie based on our current mood. I felt like we were knocked down and this movie reminded how vital not to give up.

After two days of rest and doing almost nothing we were ready for the new week. The new ideas, inspiration, and hopes gave us enough energy to move forward. I’m so glad we were honest and did what our bodies wanted.

Give yourself time and permission to unwind and reenergize this weekend. Two days of rest can set up your mind and soul for a better and more productive week.

And as always below are more detailed offerings on places to go and things to do over the weekend.

Weekend Planner Things To Do:

1. Watch and breathe blooming lilacs in your local park or Arnold Arboretum.

2. Go for a picnic. Lay on a grass, do nothing, but bathe yourself with nature.

3. Which brings me to article to read: The Science—and Magic—of Forest Bathing.

4. Places to visit: Greek International Food Market. Sparkling clean place, very friendly staff, reasonable prices. They make enormous and delicious grilled chicken shawarma that I enjoyed on a picnic. And very yummy chicken and feta pie. Highly recommend this place. On the other hand, went to Espresso Yourself in Jamaica Plain and didn’t like it at all. Overpriced, coffee was cold. I chose the dark roast, and it was not even close to it. Halva they serve ain’t good at all. And for the prices they charge, the restroom looks bad. I do not recommend this place.

5. Grill some delicious food on fresh air. We like to grill in parks with the pond or lake view. Two of my favorite places: Blue Hills Reservation and Cochituate State Park. Please, don’t be a piggy and clean after yourself!

6. Food to cook: Traditional Ukrainian Piroshki Recipe – Egg and Rice Hand Pies. I desperately needed some comfort food, and to me, piroshki is my childhood throwback. That helped and soothed my soul.

7. Dessert to savor: Halva (sesame seed Mediterranean treat). Hate it when I was a kid but for some reason like it now 😉

8. Movie to watch: Cinderella Man with Russell Crowe. Based on a true story. An amazing and inspiring movie about heavyweight boxing champion James J. Braddock.

That is it for now.

There always be more things to do. But the most important thing is living your life. I know it sounds cheesy, but that is a simple truth that we all fight with all the time.

Have fun and let nature fill your body and mind with positive energy and vibes!

Lots of Love,

Maria

Photo by James Chanon on Pixabay

I’m grateful to all men and women who gave their lives for our freedom.

I’m grateful to all men and women who bravely fought to end the war.

I’m grateful to all men and women who survived and live among us.

I’m grateful to all men and women who show courage and kindness through the darkest days.

Even though I have deep feelings and respect for The Victory Day but today post will not be about war, heroes or history of World War II. This post about how we, the people, can prevent possible future wars, about the importance of educating our self and kids why and what happened.

There were many reasons why this war happened: economy, territory, ideas, etc.

What always terrified and perplexed me how people were remorselessly killing millions of innocent men, women, and kids! But there is a simple truth behind it. Unfortunately, Hitler was a psychology leader. He convinced his and other nations about significant clean race and other ideas on how to “clean up this world.” And step by step people started believing, following him and were ready for horrible actions.

Nowadays again we are facing hate against each other. Think of news today. All Mexicans are drug dealers. Afro-Americans are gangster and criminals. All immigrants are stealing your jobs, destroying cities. And let’s not even start with “the pure evil of all and everything” – the Muslim. Turn on the TV and the majority of news and events they are showing us are negative. Then politicians come to the arena, and they always find someone to blame for all the troubles.

It all starts with hate.

First, politicians try to disconnect nations. Then they make everything possible to convince you how evil the nation or a country is. Now the hate, the angriness, and violence are born. And the final step is convincing that only slavery, or separation, or war can fix everything.

Why not look in the opposite direction? Mexicans are the hardest working people. Afro-American are very talented people. Immigrants bring knowledge, culture, new ideas, and innovations. The majority percent of wealthy people are immigrants or children of immigrants.

Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.

George Washington

Of course, bad people exist. But you cannot judge the whole nation by the single act of one person or a group.

Next time you watch the news and someone is trying to convince you how bad the nation or country is and how it is ruining YOUR life, turn it off. Don’t let them plant the hate into your heart. Everything starts with a small idea and can grow into something big. When it begins with negative idea, the outcome can be tragic. Think about your husband, your son, your brother, your father. Are you ready to lose them? Think about what kind of future you want to live in.

War brings emptiness. It brings sadness, it destroys and takes millions of lives.

Around 65 MILLION PEOPLE of all nations died in World War II, hundreds of cities were destroyed…

We always have a choice, and we can avoid such tragedies by not letting angry, greedy people dictate us who is good and who is bad.

Be careful what ideas and emotions you are letting in, what kind of people surrounds you and what you teach your kids…

I hope we will never have to face such tragedy again! Peace worldwide comes from within.

Let the peace and love fill your heart and mind.

Lots of Love,

Maria

❤️❤️❤️

Below you will find some wise quotes and movies about World War  II.

Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution. Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages.

Thomas A. Edison

If civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships – the ability of all peoples, of all kinds, to live together, in the same world at peace.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality… I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life at all in any true sense. Under the clouds of war, it is humanity hanging on a cross of iron.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Movies about World War II to watch:

In English Language:

• Schindler’s List. Based on a true story. One of the most significant movie about humanity during the horrific time.
• Hacksaw Ridge. Based on a true story about Desmond Doss who remained true to his religious ideas even under the significant pressure.  During his service, he did not kill a single person instead saved about 100 men’s lives.
• The Pianist. Based on a true story of the greatest Polish pianist. A good movie that shows the Jewish people life from the beginning to the end of War.
• The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler. Based on a true story of  Irena Sendler who saved the lives of nearly 2,500 Jewish children.

In Russian Language:

• Семнадцать мгновений весны – Semnadtsat’ mgnoveniy vesny – Seventeen Moments of Spring
• В бой идут одни «старики» – V boy idut odni ‘stariki’ – Only Old Men Are Going to Battle
• …А зори здесь тихие – A zori zdes tikhie – The Dawns Here Are Quiet
• Летят журавли – Letyat zhuravli – The Cranes Are Flying

All these movies are available with English subtitles. Many times I saw Russian movies on DVDs with English subtitles. I highy recommend to watch them because Soviet movies are made in completely different style.

Photo by Isaac Cabezas on Unsplash

Hi there,

Complains about the cold spring stopped. Instead, we have 90 degrees in Boston. Add some occasional showers, and you can hardly breathe. So careful what you wish for 😉

This week was mixed emotions week.

I finally finished the 5 Leftover Rotisserie Chicken Recipes project and super happy about it. I love the idea from the beginning and exciting to share the final project with you. Let me know what you think and if you want more mini projects like this.

We had a beautiful day watching cherry blossoms. Now I’m happy and inspired. We live in MA for nine years now, and only this year we learned there is the whole bunch of cherry trees in Arnold Arboretum. Google to see if there is a hidden gem in your state. It is a lovely and inspiring spring moment to watch. Bonus, you don’t have to drive to Washington, DC. We’ve been there two times. The first was amazing experience long time ago, about seven years I believe. The second time was two years ago. We spent about 30 minutes among trees and ran away. People are EVERYWHERE! You can hardly get to the tree to smell or see it closer. Very crowded!

Planned and went for a hike. The plan was to climb on top of the mountain, had a picnic watching the sunset and go home renewed and inspired. BUT by the time we got to the parking, the rain started which I’m OK with. I love rain and getting wet and soggy under the warm rain is my kind of thing. But oh boy the rain woke up so many little beasts, INSECTS. Waving your arms in all direction to stop insects from getting into open parts of you: eyes, nose, mouth even ears is ruing the whole listening and feeling the wood’s life plan! I was strong and thought I could do it. Hell, I’m stronger then tiny insects. Apparently, not. After half an hour of insects attacks, we gave up. Found the picnic table, had our sandwiches and left the place.

Hiking failure is one of the proofs that no matter how well you plan things, life will still make the corrections. And this worked out well for us.

I needed to think fast of something to cover the hike failure. On the way home from the hike the Tully commercial was on the radio. I checked AMC theaters, and there was an early premiere in Framingham AMC. Without much thinking, we changed the exit and went for it.

After the Shape of the Water, this is the best movie this year! A real movie about reality. I was laughing, thinking, remembering my babysitting experience, and many other emotions I felt during this movie. I enjoyed every single minute of it. Charlize Theron is phenomenal. The movie felt like I’m watching a real life of somebody else not on a screen but as a real viewer. Raw, uncovered, unconcealed life that it so hidden nowadays. No one talks about the actual life, all the hassle, the troubles and down times we all have.  But Diablo Cody does, and I’m thankful to her for it. Must see movie for women and men of all ages. There is something to learn for every couple or young adults who are about to start a serious relationship.

As you can see pretty busy week I had. I guess I need one more day-off to chill and do nothing 😊

As always below are my offerings of things to do this weekend.

Weekend Planner Things To Do:

• If it is not too late google the cherry blossom in your state to see if you have botanical gardens or parks filled with this beauty. If not still go somewhere to see a different kind of blooms. It is such a breathtaking spring moment.
• If weather allows, and I highly recommend checking the weather from the story above, go for a long hike. If you are intermediate hiker climb the mountain and watch the sunset. Don’t forget to take snacks or dinner with you. And take a lot of pictures for your memories.
• Got to the movie theater to see the Tully with Charlize Theron. This movie is mostly for mothers, but in my opinion, it is necessary to watch for young couples who are about to start growing their family. For husbands to check whether they give enough support to their wives. For nannies, so they know how much they are needed and that it is ok to go the extra mile in helping free of charge. If you see this movie, please share your thoughts in comments. I would love to know if this movie connects with you.
• Food to savor: Shakshouka is my healthy quick and easy saver. When I don’t have much time but want something healthy, I always go for Shakshouka. Dessert was store bought churros. Yep, even bloggers are buying store bought desserts!
• Food for brains: The Power of Moments is a great article to read and rethink of the lifetime moments we had in the past and create in the present.
• If you celebrate Cinco de Mayo here is the 5 Easy Cinco de Mayo Recipes collection for the last minute planning.

That is it for now. See you next Friday.

Have some fun this weekend. Spring is nearly over so enjoy every day of this short season.

And Happy Cinco de Mayo 🎉🎉🎉

Lots of Love,

Maria

❤️❤️❤️

Photo by TOMOKO UJI on Unsplash

Hello, my friends,

Spring has finally arrived in MA and made my head spin around.

We all waited for so long for the warm weather, din’t we? Once it hit MA, I planned my weekend like crazy, and that did not end up well 😐.

I felt like I’ve been in the cage for so many days and finally, someone let me out. I wanted to do EVERYTHING. So I broke my own rule of slow living and enjoying the moments of life.

The intentions and the things I planned to do over the weekend were great. Planning and timing could have been better.

My two days-offs were:

Day 1:

Bought new phones. -> Had haircut. -> Checked out new Mediterranean Café. -> Had a long walk in Arboretum to see the first bloom. -> Went back to sprint store for file transfers. -> Did grocery + some personal shopping. -> Came home exhausted.

Should have stopped here and realized how fast of the rhythm I created but nooooo.

Day 2:

Went to the flea market and bought one sad thing. -> Stopped at Aldi store to buy lots of chocolates. -> Went for a walk in Plymouth Downtown. -> Had an oceanfront picnic. -> Had a long walk on a Plymouth beach. -> Did the rest of grocery shopping. -> Came home SUPER exhausted.

In two days I crossed five things from the 21 Romantic And Inspiring Things To Do In Spring. Ironically, not proud of it.

Then Monday came, and I couldn’t move a single muscle. I’m an early bird and wake up around 6 am every day. That day every time I opened my eyes the next moment I was asleep again. I was freakishly tired from the weekend.

Somehow managed to get up. Strong coffee woke up some senses, not all of them. For about an hour was drifting around, doing nothing. Finally made a deal with myself to do two things from my work list, and then take time to recover from the weekend.

Homemade salsa, chicken nachos, my favorite Leffe beer and Barcelona VS Roma soccer game made it all better. What a game! Life is full of surprises and Roma proved it.

So instead of two days, I needed an extra half a day off to recover from “rest.” Feel so old writing these words! It is what it is. The rhythm changes with age and I kind of like it. Low and slow is my thing.

Anyways, below are places I visited over the weekend. Despite my all crying above I do recommend all the places and activities. Just don’t finish them in two days.

Weekend Things to Do:

1. Visit Arnold Arboretum or your local botanical garden. Some trees are waking up here in MA. While the others are still waiting for warmer days.
2. Check out new Café Landwer. Still, haven’t made my mind about it. Something is missing in this place. The food is good, but the soul isn’t there.
3. Visit Raynham Flea Market or Thrift shop. As mentioned in Spring Things to do spring is the best time for treasure hunting.
4. Go for a long walk near the water. The chilly water breeze is the best thing to clear your lungs and brains after the heating season.
5. While you there have a romantic waterfront picnic. Make delicious Muffuletta sandwich, grab a coffee, fruits, and sweets and enjoy every single moment.
6. Movie to watch: North Country with Charlize Theron. There will be a time when men, even some women will realize how strong and smart women are. We are not there yet, but moving toward it. Meanwhile, try not to give up in personal or public fights you are having.
7. Food for the brain: Last week was the Earth Day. I grow up on a farm and nature is an integral part of me. In modern life, it is impossible to be 100% nature But small things are making a BIG impact. Please read this 50 Ways to Help the Planet – Save Our Environment and Planet Earth. And be respectful to Mother Nature who supports us. #17 is definitely something my husband wants to take advantage of.
8. Food to savor: Rotisserie Chicken Nachos + cold beer or Margarita + fav show or game = good time. Polish it with Luscious Tres Leches Cake. Getting ready for Cinco de Mayo. How about you?
9. For your convenience, there is a FREE PDF E-BOOK with 5 Easy Cinco de Mayo Recipes.

That is it for now. Even my list sounds and looks busy 😊

Be present and enjoy one thing at a time! Don’t let the rush to take over the precious life moments.

Have the most inspiring and relaxing weekend, my friends.

Lots of love,

Maria

❤️❤️❤️

Feel free to download a FREE PDF guide at the bottom of the post for your convenience.

Photo by Maryam Borra on Unsplash

Almost all things from this list includes a connection with nature. Spring is the time when not only nature renews itself but also a good time to renew yourself.

Slow things down and embrace every moment of this short season. Leave everything behind, clear up your mind and let the fresh air fill your head, lungs, and body.

The one thing I always do in spring is visiting local botanical garden or arboretum. It is a beautiful and breathtaking moment to watch trees and flowers wake up. I feel inspired and renewed after visiting it.

Please, feel free to share your most inspiring thing to do in spring. I would love to include and try some new ideas for the spring weekends.

Outdoor things to do in spring:

1. Bicycle ride(s).There are plenty of beautiful bike trails in every state. Do some research and find a bike trail that involves nature, not sightseeing.
2. Visit a local garden museum, botanical garden, arboretum or park to watch flowers and trees bloom. The Most Beautiful Spot in Every U.S. State

Photo by Florin-Alin Beudean on Unsplash

3. Take a long sunrise walk. Deep inhale the crystal clear air.
4. Take a long sunset walk. Days are longer now, you can enjoy the beautiful warm evening walk.
5. If you have a favorite spot for sunrise or sunset, then grab a tea or coffee, blanket and watch the sun waking up or going to sleep.

Photo by Gabriel Sanchez on Unsplash

6. Have lots of picnics in local parks to absorb all the fresh blooming air. Grab playing cards, coloring book, magazines, book or any other few of your favorite things.
7. Have a grill day whether it is in your backyard or at local BBQ area. Marinate your favorite food, grill, eat and enjoy the fresh air.
8. Have a waterfront picnic. By the ocean, lake, pond, river, waterfall… The smell and sound of the fresh spring water clear up your mind and fills it with the crystal clear air and thoughts. If allowed wet your legs in the chilly water.

Photo by Jordan Steranka on Unsplash

9. Go on a long hike. Feel the forest waking up.
10. Have a paddleboat or kayak fun. Super scared of kayaks so for me paddle boat it is.

Photo by Mathilda Khoo on Unsplash

11. Try some outdoor yoga if you are in this kind of things. Super deep connection with nature. All the breathing, slow movements make you become one with nature.
12. Visit your favorite small town and spend there the whole day doing local shopping, activities, eating, etc. And I mean small, cozy one that has its charm.
13. Find a new city or neighborhood and check them out. Do some Google research and try to find a new place you’ve never been before. I discovered many beautiful streets and areas by doing this every spring and fall.
14. Have dinner or coffee at a restaurant with outdoor seating.

Photo by Dominic Dreier on Unsplash

15. Have a walk on a rainy day. Put on rain boots, grab an umbrella (necessary), go to your local park and listen raindrops falling on your umbrella.
16. Check out your local Flea Market and Thrift shops. I ALWAYS do this during spring. People are doing spring cleaning and getting rid of some beautiful things. If you are an antique hunter then definitely consider this. Spring is the best time for treasure hunting.

Indoor things to do in spring:

17. Have a themed movie marathon. Not TV series, because they are addictive and can suck out a couple of days from you. Choose your theme: romantic, inspiring or based on a true story. Maybe you are in gangster mood or wake up that detective in you. I would recommend staying away from horror movies though. Leave it for fall.
18. Visit a local art gallery. Usually, they have some spring features. Check your local museum and see what they offer.
19. Declutter all your spaces… to fill them later with new finds from a flea market 😉. I mean get rid of the stuff that no longer serves and brings you joy. Never fear to say good buys to old things.
20. Have a spa day. More on this in Ladies Weekend Edition.
21. Open a bottle of wine and make a romantic dinner with your partner, or for yourself, friends and family. I would go with the homemade pasta or a savory pie. Something involving dough, because it is romantic, calming and soothing.

Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

That is it. My 21 romantic and inspiring things to in spring 2018.

You don’t need to do all of them. No matter how well we plan our weekend, we never finish the list. It is far more important to enjoy the spring. Give yourself permission to slow things down and renew yourself before the busy summer days come. Feel the breath and rhythm of nature and sync with it.

Have the most beautiful, romantic and inspiring spring, my friends.

Lots of love,

Maria

❤️❤️❤️

FREE 21 romantic and inspiring things to in spring PDF GUIDE

PS: I was debating whether I should include my favorite spots in Massachusetts for this list. Let me know if you are interested in spring things to do in Massachusetts, and I will create a whole new post.

Photo by Jen P. on Unsplash

Hello, weekenders,

How was your week? Mine was both busy and mellow. The spring stuck somewhere and rainy days ain’t helping the mood.

I work from home so for me spending weekends outside of the house is crucial. But sometimes with all the rush, I simply want to stay at home, cuddle on the sofa with a glass of wine and a good movie. This helps my body and mind rest, calm down and reenergize.

Social Media are filled with the beautiful lifestyles nowadays. Somehow we started picturing that this is what life should look like. But it is not. We all are different. Our mood changes every day, so does the mind and body. Don’t let social media to oppress and fool you. Do what your mind and body are asking at the moment. If it is staying at home, then stay. If it is to call someone and have half a day conversation, then do this as well. Maybe cuddle with the book you always wanted to read. Or spend the whole day doing your hobby. And If you feel like going out, then put on some cloth and get out.

That is why I created the Weekend Planner where I share my real life. Whether it is fancy, or smart, or staying in your PJs all day over the weekend, I share everything.

So this weekend was very simple, yet calm and relaxed. Past Sunday was an Orthodox Easter that we celebrate. I baked the traditional Paska (sweet bread), colored eggs and made a nice dinner to celebrate Easter. We went for a walk, had a long talk with the family, had dinner with very delicious wine and watched Ukrainian comedy show. It was a beautiful day.

Next day we did some spring house cleaning, which all my body and mind protested 🤨😏. But after everything was done, the house looked refreshed and cleaned. This made my mind calm and free of clutter.

By the end of the day, we were so tired that decided to stay at home. We opened one more wine bottle and watched The Lincoln Lawyer. My husband enjoyed this movie more than I did, but I liked it too. Matthew McConaughey as always is great in this movie. I like this actor and have a couple of my all-time favorite movies with him.

This is pretty much all that happened during our weekend. Even though we didn’t do anything special, but I feel calm, relaxed and centered now.

Such weekend reminds me how quiet days are as important as spending outside time. Never fear to let your mind and body rest at home. In the end, home is where our energy is. Bringing some quietness and stillness is essential.

As always below are some of my offerings to go through the weekend.

Weekend Planner Things To Do and Thoughts To Share:

1. Movie to watch: The Lincoln Lawyer with Matthew McConaughey. I enjoyed it. I wouldn’t say I will watch it again, but this is a good one time see thriller.
2. Back to spring cleaning. If you haven’t switched to Nontoxic Home Cleaners yet, please do it. So much nasty stuff you inhale from them not to mention if it gets onto your skin. Here are some suggestions: 7 mbg-Approved Nontoxic Home Cleaners To Use On Everything. I use and love Seventh Generation, Dr. Bronner’s and Mrs. Meyer’s.
3. If you want to do deep spring cleaning this weekend then this 20 Things You Should Deep Clean This Spring will help you develop a plan. And this The Best Printable Spring Cleaning Checklists will help you through your cleaning process.
4. After all the cleaning take a Chakra-Balancing Ritual Bath. You will feel relaxed and refreshed after it.
5. To center your mind and body read this Working On Strengthening Your Alignment? Here Are 9 Rules To Live By.
6. And try my all-time favorite Best Easy Yoga For Stress Relief  Unwind & Let Go yoga practice to release all the stress and body tension.
7. And lastly, spring is the season when I buy a lot of flowers. This 15 Flower Hacks To Make Your Home More Beautiful has some unique tips and tricks.

That is it for this weekend.  See you next Friday.

Enjoy your weekend whether it is staying at home or going out. Balance is a key, my friend 😉

Lots of Love,

Maria

❤️❤️❤️

Photo by Alexandra Gorn on Unsplash

Life sometimes can get very busy. Kids, work, studying, business and another daily routine can suck all your time, energy and youth. The first two things we ladies sacrifice are our body beauty (I mean the whole body from head to toe) and healthy eating (lots of takeouts).

I can live with the takeout since there are plenty of healthy options nowadays. But I’m always doing my best not to forget about my body beauty.

We all are busy and constantly have important things to do but taking care of yourself is no less important than other things. Try to find time JUST for yourself and treat yourself nicely. You can devote the entire weekend for yourself or spread things out for the next couple of weeks. I like to spread things out to enjoy every single step slowly.

I can’t stress that enough how crucial it is to love and treat yourself. The beauty for sure comes and shines from within, but you also have to take care of the body you’ve been given. As always it is about the balance. Take good care of both your inner and outer beauty, and you will shine like a star in the sky.

One of the best things that ever happened to me is that I’m a woman. That is the way all females should feel.

~ Marilyn Monroe

I put a lot of thoughts on how to inspire you to try the ladies spring self-care routine and decided to create two plans. You may choose the one that suits you better or design your own. Everything is in the order I usually do and sometimes the way they should be done. Because never go after the facial peel to a sauna for example 😉

My Yearly Spring Beauty Routine:

1. I start with shopping. Do an old-fashioned Grab a friend or mom and go to a mall. Try things on, talk with the salesperson, browse through all the fabrics, textures, styles. Have fun and try on ridiculous things. Have a break and sip a coffee at the café. Then keep searching for a couple of your new favorite outfits. The feeling when you try and fall in love with the cloth is much better than sitting at the computer, browsing, ordering and then wait…
2. The next thing is to take care of the whole body. I don’t splurge on massages and expensive spa salon treatments, not budget friendly for me at the moment. But I found a new whole body routine that I’m in love with. Book a sauna or steam room. As Ukrainian, I’m used to this kind of things. It may be new to you though. I can guarantee after the sauna you will be refreshed, tired, good tired and pampered. The best part, your skin will be as soft as baby skin.

Things I always do at sauna:

• Deep hair conditioning
• Body exfoliation either with the natural exfoliator or natural loofah
• Face exfoliation followed by a facial mask
• Finishing all with a rich natural moisturizer from head to toe

Let me know in comment section if you like to know the brands I use.

3. Now schedule a deep facial cleaning. I like to do peels during spring. First, to remove all the dead skin from winter. Second, when the heating season is off the face heals much faster after the peel. Third, it is a perfect time to remove all the dead skin once again and prep it for the summer time to let your skin glow and be kissed by the sun. Facials can sometimes be very expensive, depending on the salon and the quality of products they use there. I don’t have to tell you that this is not where you want to go cheap, right? The face is your business card so when searching for the place read the reviews. Ask if the place offers a free consultation. Check them out, talk with the esthetician. If you like the place and staff, then develop a plan with them and book an appointment. Of course, you can check Groupon to see if there is anything good. But I recommend asking friends and family if they know and trust the place they go to. Or the better alternative to Groupon is Gilt City. You can find good salons for a discounted rate there. Depending on your face condition you may need a couple of visits.Everything is individual. But I highly recommend at least one deep facial cleansing.
4. Let your face recover from deep cleansing. Have a relaxed day-off at home. Open a bottle of wine, order your favorite food and watch your favorite movies.
5. Meanwhile, call and book a haircut with deep conditioning. Winter and heating are sucking all the life out of the hair. To renew it cut all the dead ends and deep condition your hair. Bring back the shine and life to it. If deep conditioning at the salon is over your budget, then do it at home. Have a haircut, and next day give your hair some love. You need to buy deep conditioner or hair mask, preferable natural, and a shower cap. Wash your head follow the hair mask instruction, tie hair in a knob, and cover your head with a shower Put on the towel or shower hair towel and let the magic do its thing. Wash the hair and touch, and touch your hair again and again. It will be super soft, shiny and healthy.
6. Now optional thing. Salon manicure or pedicure. This is obviously the best thing to skip. But if you have some extra money left, then do it.
7. Now you are super clean with baby-like skin. The face is glowing and screaming how healthy it is. The haircut looks good on you. The hair is like ocean waves, silky, smooth and soft. Put on your new cloth and head over to your favorite food spot. This is ALWAYS the way I finish my ritual. I mean common you have to show the world your beauty, right? A small tip, this is not the time to check the new place. Go to your favorite spot: restaurant, café, bar, club, etc. Finish the ritual the right way. You know the place; you like it, it will make you happy. The new place can be a disappointing experience, and this is not the way it should end.

Budget-Friendly Ladies Spring Beauty Plan:

1. Still, do a shopping. Maybe set a budget and narrow down the list to about three Three is enough to feel good and happy and to freshen up your closet.
2. Instead of sauna or steam room take a couple of baths. Buy a natural bath salt or make a DIY one. But still follow the body cleansing ritual: deep hair conditioning, body exfoliation either with the natural exfoliator or natural loofah, face exfoliation and mask, and finishing all with a rich natural moisturizer from head to toe.
3. I still highly recommend doing a salon deep facial. You can omit or reduce the rest, but facial care is essential during springtime. Take advantage of Groupon and gilt city.
4. Once again have a relaxed day-off at home with my previous suggestions.
5. Haircut at the salon, but deep hair conditioning at home. Follow the instruction from the previous plan.
6. Make a manicure and pedicure at home. Buy a new spring color nail polish, and you are good to go.
7. Since you saved a lot of money by doing a lot of things at home still go to your favorite food spot. If this is not an option, then go to your favorite place. It can be a park, hiking trail, museum, movie theater so many options… Choose something that you love and enjoy.

So there you have two plans to choose from. Do make at least couple of things from the lists. It is very important to love and take proper care of yourself. If you don’t take good care of yourself then who will?

And as always below are a couple of my offering to read, check and watch.

Weekend Planner Ladies Weekend Edition:

• As mentioned above Groupon and Gilt City is the place where you can save money on spa salons. I still strongly recommend checking with friends and family first for their suggestions.
• Getting ready for the spring shopping and shoes are on my list. I love walking and hiking. The comfort of my feet is my #1 priority for these activities. Why The Shoes You Wear While Walking Are Super Important will help you decide what shoes are right for you. I’m a big fan of Skechers. They make my feet happy, and I already bought a pair for this season.
• I recently discovered Fabletics. They sell the best quality yoga pants! I’m a quality freak and honestly have never had better sports outfits until now. And I’m not even a leggings fan! HIGHLY recommend to check them out. Plus, for new clients, they offer 2 leggings for $24.
• To continue self-care routine this The 50 Best Tips for Glowing Skin article has a couple of pretty good advices.
• Since we are talking about beauty this week, then Pretty Woman is a must-see movie. Fun fact for you. The scene where Richard Gere closes the box with the expensive jewelry was his impromptu. But Julia Roberts’ laugh was so real and authentic that filmmakers decided to keep the scene.
• I love this commercial. The way this gentleman describes her…

That is it for this Ladies Weekend Edition. I’ll see you next Friday with the new weekly planner.

Have a relaxed, self-loving weekend, lovely ladies!

❤️❤️❤️

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links.  If you purchase a product through one of my links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that I use and love myself. Thank you in advance for your support! It means a lot!

Hello weekenders,

I cannot believe it is the end of March! Winter this year just flew by!

As a general rule, we do cleaning by the end of the March. But here in MA March was super cold, and cleaning didn’t make any sense. Instead, I decided to do mind cleaning and let in some inspiration.

This week we went to MFA (Boston Museum of Fine Arts). I love this place. Every time I need inspiration or food for brains, I go there. This time it was a double pleasure to visit it. The Klimt and Schiele is the current exhibition there.

As luck would have it, I learned about Gustav Klimt from the Woman in Gold movie we watched a month ago. I enjoyed this movie a lot. The painting in this movie is so beautiful. I thought it would be nice to learn more about this painter. Later I received notification from MFA about Klimt Exhibit. Coincidence, I don’t think so… The Universe works around the clock 😀

The collection is magnificent. Don’t use this word often but it is appropriate here 😊

There are a couple of painting I fell in love with. You can see some of them on my Instagram profile. If you have a chance, do visit MFA and see it for yourself. Klimt is on display until May 28, 2018.

By the way, the Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I painting from the movie is in Neue Galerie in New York. Visiting this gallery is on my list for the next NY trip. If you live there, take advantage and see it. If you are kind enough, please send me a video or pictures of it 😊. Can’t wait to see it myself.

Contrary seeing pictures on the wall next day we went to see picture on a big screen. We went to AMC to see Game Night. It is a decent funny comedy. I don’t like American comedies these days, but I enjoyed this one. Will I see it again? No. Did I enjoy it as a date night? Yes.

Have you already seen Game Night? I’m curious what you think about it.

Last but not least. This coming weekend is Easter for some of you. With all the bad news across the globe lately, I wish you to have a peaceful Easter that is filled with plenty of love, peace, and happiness. 🙏🙏🙏

Lots of love,

Maria

Weekend Planner Things To Do and Thoughts To Share:

• Things to do: Visit the local museum for some inspiration and mind cleansing. We went to MFA (Boston Museum of Fine Arts) to see The Klimt Collection. Left museum renewed, happy and inspired. Some pictures are on my Instagram .
• Watch Game Night movie in AMC. Good, one-time see comedy. Perfect for a relaxed date night.
• Movie to watch: Woman in Gold is about the famous painting and a strong woman who fought with Vienna for the rights of this painting.
• Places to eat: This week we went to two places: Café Nero and Rail Stop restaurant & bar.
• No wonder I love going to Café Nero. It is filled with antiques and old books. As a flea market and thrift shop hunter, I find this place extra cozy and charming. And coffee there is the way I like it, strong, bold, and perfectly roasted.
• It was our 2^nd visit to Rail Stop restaurant & bar. We still like it but the food this time was so-so. I ordered salmon, and it appeared to be farmed 🙁. Here is a tip for you. If you don’t like farmed fish, always ask the server what kind of fish they serve. For the 1st time, I didn’t ask relying on fanciness of this restaurant and regretted it later. I ate two bites, asked to wrap it, and my husband ate the whole piece next day.
• This brings me to video to watch: Paul Greenberg: The four fish we’re overeating – and what to eat instead. Both my husband and I never heavily ate salmon. We eat any fish that is in season or on sale at Wholefoods. So for us, it was an easy video to implement. If you love eating salmon, please think of other fish alternatives. Let’s take care of the ocean the way it takes care of us.
• Food to enjoy: This week we did a little of fasting and ate salads only. Simple vegetarian salads with lots of greens and balsamic vinegar dressing. Good for the body, soul and when you don’t have time to plan weekly meals and do grocery shopping 😉. As for the dessert, these Easy and Elegant Banana Coconut Bars are incredibly delicious. The tray was gone in three days!
• Panera Bread is giving a free bagel every day for two weeks. Please note this is for select members. You have to have MyPanera card, and it is in participating locations only. Check yours and have a free bagel. Offer expires 4/8/2018.  Remember because it is free it doesn’t mean you have to eat a bagel every day for the next two weeks. Stay healthy, my friends 😉

That is it for now. See you next Friday!

Have a beautiful, peaceful and cozy Easter!

Photo by Brigitte Tohm on Unsplash

Hey weekenders,

It is still winter outside. But that’s OK. We are still finishing our cold weather indoor activities and loving it.

On St. Patrick’s Day we went to a local Trillium Brewing Company. Loved it and will go there again. Thankfully, in this brewery, the people were not that drunk. Maybe it was too early or just the location matter.

How did you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Did you stay at home or go someplace? Did you make any special Irish dishes? Above all did you have fun? We surely did.

We also went to see Vertigo by Alfred Hitchcock on a BIG SCREEN!  This year is the 60th Anniversary of the legendary film Vertigo. AMC has the Fathom Events where they show on a big screen Broadway shows, comedy shows, original programming, classic movies and more.  This Wednesday they showed Vertigo. Naturally, I went to see it because I’m a big fan of Alfred Hitchcock. For me, he is one and so far only best psychological thriller film director.

This was my first time watching an old classic movie on the big screen. I LOVED and enjoyed so much. After returning home, I hardly could fell asleep because of the excitement I had. So check Fathom Events schedule, grab a date and enjoy an unforgettable experience.

The weather is still not outdoor friendly. On top of the cold weather, the wind is freezing. Next weekend is indoor again, but it will be a good weekend. I have a plan .

What is your favorite indoor activity? Do you have a favorite place to go or favorite thing to do?

Hopefully, the cold days will be over soon, and we can switch to outdoor things to do.

My weekend planner things to do and thoughts to share:

Movie to watch: You absolutely need to watch at least one of Alfred Hitchcock movies. We were lucky enough to see Vertigo on the big screen in AMC Theater this week. My other favorites are Dial M for Murder, Psycho and Rear Window with amazing Grace Kelly. All are unique and equally good. Watch any or all and let me know what you think about them.

Thing to do: Visit your local brewery, distillery or vineyard. We went to Trillium Brewing Company and loved it. I’m not a beer person, but they offer such delicious, high-quality beers that even I had TWO glasses. Very cool place. I found this place in Where to Drink Like a Local in Every State article in my Food & Wine Magazine. Hopefully, the choice in your state will be as good as in MA. And if you are in MA, check this place. Girls, try the Tiramisu beer 😉

Quote, I’m enjoying: “There is something more important than logic: imagination.” Alfred Hitchcock. Cannot agree more!

Recipe to make: Decided to take an easy route and made Rotisserie chicken enchiladas with a simple enchilada sauce. It was a hectic week, and I needed something quick and healthy for a couple of days. Polished dinner with the cannoli from wholefoods 😊😊. I love them. They are much better than in some Italian bakeries around here.

Article to read: I worked a lot this week. The negative side of blogging and photo editing is sitting a lot and staring at the computer. If you have a sitting job, please read How to Counter the Effects of Sitting All Day Long article. Very useful and helpful!

That’s it for now. See you next Friday!

Have fun and enjoy this coming weekend.

Lots of love,

Maria