Weekend, one day prior to the start of this year's A to Z Challenge, pretty exciting! I thought I might share some of the rules with you, all of the details, ideas, inspiration can be found here.




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Most of the time if you subtract Sundays from April, you then have 26 days--one day for each letter of the alphabet.  When April 1st lands on a Sunday you begin on that day which will be the only Sunday you would post during that month's challenge. 

Using this premise, you would start beginning April First with a topic themed on something with the letter A, then on April second another topic with the letter B as the theme, and so on until you finish on April thirtieth with the theme based on the letter Z.  It doesn't even have to be a word--it can be a proper noun, the letter used as a symbol, or the letter itself.  The theme of the day is the letter scheduled for that day.

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I started this adventure last year and I did also the May Challenge and all I can say is that I had lots of fun, met great bloggers and also I did learn how to organise my blogging process in a more efficient manner.


You may wonder what will I do? Well I will not tell you too much since I really wish you will come back tomorrow and the day after tomorrow and so on ... But one extract from tomorrow's post:

To begin with A - accept your reality as it is, since the journey begins within.

As for today, I was pretty busy and what I am truly proud of, is my light lunch - baked gnocchi with wild garlic pesto and mozzarella and nice wok veggie including asparagus. Yummy! Some of the evidence below!

Happy Saturday!

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Another weekend, amazing weather, many plans (already cleaned with wardrobe - selected two full bags with clothes to donate next week), great events ahead (Indonesian food tonight and an orchid exhibition tomorrow), some cooking (slow cooker goulash) and some baking (cherry pie). All in all I am busy, but doing what I like (including a lovely breakfast with my husband this morning looking out towards the mountains), thus all I can report is happiness! I wish you all a Lovely weekend, smiles for you all!

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Hm ... this Saturday was spend so far in the kitchen, in town, with friends and in the living room.

In the kitchen I was pretty inspired today, after a lovely egg liquor cake which was yesterday's highlight, I was busy with a cherry clafoutis and a spicy cajun chicken pasta.

The cherry clafoutis looked truly like this:

 Recipe from here

As for the spicy cajun chicken pasta, it is based on a surprising discovery - a wonderful food blog, called Skinny Taste. After seeing this picture:

I knew that I had to try it and boy I was not dissapointed. It is super delicious and trust me Peter was having a smile on his face during the entire meal.

In town I did a little bit of shopping plus I had a date with my husband, we are in the middle of a project, I promise I will reveal some details soon, I just don't want to jinx it, I am pretty excited, I tell you!

Then B., my good friend, came over for some coffee, cake and chit chat. Before she came I had a horrid headache which was gone by the time she went, she is so positive and I enjoy spending time with her.

And now in the living room, writing, talking with Peter, watching some sports and looking forward to read some magazines which mom send me - what a special treat!

Yes, Saturday, pure and simple!

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One of my dear followers, Sofia has posted recently photos with a lovely apple pie, happy apples indeed when you take at peak here. I love anything which contains fruit, thus today I thought, why not? Let's give it a try! The house at the moment is full with spare ribs aromas and apple pie scent. All I can tell you is: I am a happy girl, Peter is next to me, Naila at my feet, I watch winter sports and some nice dishes are in the making. Life is good and I wish you all, happy weekend. And btw if you want the recipe, Sofia shared it with me as a comment on the pos Eleven & Smiles, it does fit the mood!

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I am not an English teacher, but during my high school and university I gave English and Math lessons to pupils with age between 10 and 16. It was a great way to earn some pocket money, to keep my mind fit and also I believe that it helped immensely my way of communicating. I had some great students, I am proud of all of them, and today I found out that one of them is studying in Frankfurt for her doctorate in medicine. She came to me with no enhusiasm towards Math and in the end after 4 years spend together she was not bad at all! Funnily enough, in Germany I continue my odysee to teach English, this time for the daughter of a friend, who come to me prior to a test in order to tune her grammar. She is smart but cannot focus, so most of my time is spend in getting her attention towards the exercises, and that is a complicated task. Any hints how to catch a 10 year old attention? That is my Saturday so far, a walk into town with my husband, some cooking (chili con carne), some teaching and now some reading. How about you?

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Waking up this morning I faced a foggy wet winter weather, not very inviting and for sure not bringing any immediate smile on your face! So here I was in front of a decision: either I will let the weather influence my mood or I will simply try to make the best out of it and have a lovely Saturday!

And we did decide: off to Frankfurt, but not before I went green! I chose clothes and accessories in a powerful green in order to bring a little bit of brightness and positive approach from within! 

Our quest? To find a slow cooker, I am fascinated by the multitude of recipes, plus it is so practical especially when we are both so often working late! But no luck, Germany did not adopt this trend yet, the only one which I found was worth a fortune, so I guess I will revert to Amazon!

But our day still had its magic waiting for us, a light lunch at the Jumeirah Hotel Coffee House. What an atmosphere, lovely service, great dishes (I did not resist and took a carrot ginger soup, Peter went for salmon wraps), plus the amazing spring Darjeeling tea. Pure luxury!

And now you might ask? I will fill the house with baking smells and aromas. Sofia (one of my newest followers) tempted me with a nice post about cinnamon buns, so guess what I will try now? Plus some butter cheese buns as well, I am still in the mood for a nice cup of tea with a smile on the side!

Happy Saturday!

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This is how it actually looks outside, less snow though. I have to stay in, and as per husband's instructions, in bed. Nothing serious, just a cold which is a bit nagging. I am being pampered, watching winter sports and drinking tea. For sure I'd rather be outside talking a walk, but I am aware that my body needs a rest and I have to listen, right? So, happy Saturday, hope you my readers are doing what you've planned!

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There are days which can only be defined as happy, great, funny, enjoyable. I am simply and plainly happy, I have a couple of great days behind (no special reason, but sometimes you do not need any right?) and today was the same, looking back at the past hours all I can share with you is :) Hoping that my good mood is contagious and that your weekend will brighten, as do the last days, more anymore light, the nature is getting ready for spring!

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How much I love weekends! Mean to relax, to enjoy life and to share quality moments with the loved one. I had one of these days when I did everything which I wanted, had a nice haircut, a bit of copper in it, followed by coffee with a good friend, some lovely shopping (I will only say underwearand let your imagination in peace LOL), a bit of lunch, then some time at home, cooking (spicy thai curry) and. now some baking.No complaining from this girl, just smiles! I just hope that all of you are having as a great day as I did, worth working hard and looking forward for the weekend.

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A day just for us, actually a weekend just for us, as dreamt yesterday. While adding these lovely photos which I found on Pinterest, I am enjoying a lovely hot vanilla pudding, I like the warm feeling it gives.
Enjoy your Saturday!

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The first Saturday in 2012, sadly rather grey and moist, not very inviting, but in end I would have ignored the strange weather if I would have not had an intense pain in my shoulder. Any sudden move brings tears into my eyes, thus I am very much irritated my by lack of mobility and speed.

Nevertheless We went to Frankfurt for some errands, had a quiet slow walk and a lovely lunch. My better half did his best in humouring me, even if I know that I haven't had my very best mood on.

Today's lessom? That even the smallest muscle is critical and that without your health in the end yo do not have much.

To enjoy: some cartoons, just because ;)

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An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. ~Bill Vaughan

A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. ~Author Unknown

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~Benjamin Franklin

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. ~Oprah Winfrey

I wish you all health since without it nothing really makes sense. I wish you all that 2012 will bring some dreams come true and leave some for the years ahead. I wish you all that the moments of happiness overcome those of sadness.

As for me, no resolution list, just the wish that things will be better and happiness, tranquility, joy and balance will be present in my life on a daily basis.

I think in terms of the day's resolutions, not the year's. ~Henry Moore

Happy New Year!

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After a very strange week, being sick, attending a workshop not at full energy, I was looking forward for this Saturday. I just wanted to relax, to enjoy my presence.

I started with a visit to my hair dresser, since I believe that if you pamper your exterior, your interior will follow. Great cut, felt at least a couple of months younger :)

Some small shopping and then I went into the kitchen and I cooked and baked.

Jamie Oliver is always an inspiration, and here I was with my sheperd's pie and smiling. I hope that our friend Marion will enjoy it tonight.

And then I stared these amazing rolls, very time consuming but I cannot wait to taste them tomorrow. The recipe for the Honey Potato Rolls can be found here



Life is good and I am grateful that my cold is fading!

Happy Saturday...

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Peter is a wonderful teacher, he shows me music from different perspectives and one great examples of different means of interpreting a song is by listening to the following versions of Autumn Leaves.


Wynton Marsalis at its best


Eric Clapton, great voice


Chet Baker's approach


Simple jazzy


Another trio


and the original

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After a usual Saturday morning (breakfast in two, shopping, cleaning) I suddenly became so inspired today :) Somehow I am under the magical spell of cooking, and here I was preparing a lovely lunch: pea soup with shrimps, beetroot bolognese and poached pears with vanilla sauce!

Some photos and do watch this space for recipes, they will come I promise :)







No special plans for this weekend, just to enjoy Peter's and Naila's company. Heavy travelling ahead and I want to enjoy the days off.

What about you?

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Another Saturday and very unusual for me, without many things to do. I was super active yesterday, did my usual weekend chores, so here I am with a free day, able to do whatever I want.

Thus I proceed :)

Morning walk with Peter, coffee for sure, some small shopping (found a lovely fuchsia wool to knit a special gift for my niece), came home and starting cooking. A lovely chutney based on cranberries, apple and pear (yummy for meat!!), a nice orange ginger cake (recipe will follow on a Tasty Tuesday, promise) and a nice warm soup.

And now? Now I am debating with myself, shall I read, sleep, or knit? Decided to blog instead :))

Tonight we will be busy, an opening of new restaurant Dalmatino, owned by two good friends (will take pictures promise!) and then off we will go to the Culture Night. This is based on a very interesting idea, when for 5 hours all major cultural locations in town open their doors (till midnight!) and will organise special events, like concerts, art exhibitions. I cannot wait to walk around and enjoy the evening and the culture.

So what about you? And Saturday plans you would like to share with me?

As you might have notice, I am in a good mood and would love you to catch it :))


And I decided to smile!

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Well I guess I'm into orange again, probably due to this wonderful golden autumn outside.

Some reasone:
- cooked pumpkin yesterday
- decorate my table with orange
- bought sweet potatoes
- I wore an orange sweater
- I want this




and I coloured my hair ... copper! The proof below



Not a bad choice I think! And you?

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And I am here, back in my home town, enjoying a wonderful Indian summer morning, the sky is so blue that you could sink your eyes in it. The temperatures are warm and mild, I am only dreaming of walking and we will do so in a couple of minutes.

Peter and I are both so happy to be able to share a Sunday breakfast with my mom and granny, we were chatting about this and that for more than 2 hours, and life does feel good.

Sometimes you cannot find words to describe a situation since you land in a writing road block, but today I believe that HAPPY is the only existing word to define how I feel.

I wish you all a lovely Sunday!

P.S. Please excuse my lack of posting from yesterday, it took us some time to fix the wireless, so this should actually be a post for Saturday since I know that HAPPY was and will be my state here in Timisoara.

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Let the pictures speak!



Such a wonderful blue!


Street lamps!


Ecological street event preparations


The flyer for the ecological event


Taking a break


And another one


Depiction of old town


Books, books


Old townhall


The market (our finds: vegetables, fruits!)


The capuccino!


My next knitting project: a nice winter vest!


Don't you love sunny autumn Saturdays? For sure I do! This afternoon's stop: apple festival!

P.S. This is done for the Saturday Smorgasbord

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