022 Why I sometimes feel like an old lady

We often associate seniors with specific activities and old-fashioned hobbies, like collecting stamps. Sometimes my friends joke that I was born in a wrong decade and I should be retired now and spend the longest holidays in my life. Well, sometimes I think that they are right and the only thing that is missing is my retirement pension. :)  Of course, I know that those are stereotypes. This blogpost doesn’t mean to offend anyone and it was just written for fun!

1.       I love mushrooming…

…and most people I met in the woods are retirees. Who could explain me one thing – everybody likes mushroom risotto or mushroom ravioli but nobody likes picking mushrooms!

2.       A cup of tea with biscuits? – Yes, please!

Dunking biscuits in tea tastes so good! I don’t know why, but many people find it a little bit old-fashioned. Well, it isn’t the most elegant way of drinking tea, so it is just better to do it in the privacy of home.

3.       I love plants!

Many seniors keep plants at their homes. This activity gains on popularity thanks to social medias. But let’s say honestly – it is easier to find a plant in a home of an older lady than in a teenager’s room. I love plants but I have no idea why ferns grow better at seniors’ houses than in mine…

021 Guinea pigs myths

If you think that guinea pigs are hilarious pets who sleep most of the time, you are 50% right. The other half is reserved for being an annoying creature who demands more food! There are many myths about those animals and today I would like to debunk some of them.

1.       Guinea pig are little

Many people find those animals little because they see guinea pig babies in zoological shops. Meanwhile, when they grow up, they become big. An adult guinea pig is about 30-35 cm long!

2.       Guinea pigs don’t like human attention

Guinea pigs love humans and being caressed by us! Sometimes my pets demand loudly to take them out of their cage and hug them. They are very trustful and they can even go asleep on your knees.

3.       You can take your guinea pig on a walk

Never! Although you can buy a leash for your pet in a zoological shop, it isn’t the best idea to use it on your pet. Guinea pigs’ spines are very sensitive, so it is a high risk to damage it. Moreover, they are a bit fearful creatures, so a dog barking can give them a heart attack.

4.       Guinea pigs are stupid

Guinea pig are rather intelligent pets. They are capable to respond to their names, they know when their owner is angry with them and can respond to some simple commands.

5.       You can keep your guinea pig with a rabbit in one cage

People tend to think that guinea pigs and rabbits have the same needs. However, many rabbits are carriers of a dangerous bacteria for guinea pigs – e. cuniculi. The infection may cause even death of your guinea pig!

6.       You can keep only one guinea pig and it will be happy

Guinea pigs are herding animals and it means that you should keep at least two guinea pigs in one cage. A lonely guinea pig can be depressed and even die because of its broken heart and missing the other one’s companionship.

020 Our guinea pig had an operation

Well-balanced diet and regular vet check-ups didn’t guarantee health for our guinea pig. A few months ago, we felt a lump on Sasha’s body. The first thing we did was taking our pet to a veterinary clinic. We got the information, that the lump is just a defect and it isn’t dangerous for our guinea pig. Meanwhile, the lump got bigger and bigger. When we touched it once, we had an impression that it is painful for Sasha. We took him again to the vet’s and we learnt the tumor must be removed. It was a very stressful time for all of us. We didn’t know if Sasha would wake up after a general anesthesia and how painful the removal would be for him. Fortunately, the operation succeeded and Sasha is back with us. The post-surgical wound is healing and he feels better now. That’s a big weight off!

019 Beauty is a relative term

In the 21st century, everybody has access to the Internet and many social medias. Our Facebook or Instagram accounts aren’t used only for communicate with our friends, but also to observe people we admire – influencers, models… Every day we contemplate bodies of athletes, dream lives of perfect men. However, nobody should torture himself with jealousy or complexes because the beauty is a relative term.

Did you know that the ideal of beauty is strictly associated to a culture? In different regions of world, other features are appreciated. For example, in Brazil or Venezuela, slim bodies aren’t as attractive as female silhouettes with rounded hips who resemble the guitar shape. What is more, African ideals of beauty are very diversified and can be sometimes even awkward for the rest of the world! Have you ever seen the images of Ethiopian women wearing lip plates? Or “giraffe women” of Burma who wear brass necklaces to make longer their necks? Of course, the beauty standards don’t affect only women – for example, in Maori culture, men get facial tattoos who are the symbol of courage.

Canons of beauty vary according to the region, culture or to personal preferences. We should remember that, even if some of those ideals can be strange and inexplicable for us, we must respect them. What is more, the richness of the canons can be useful because it teaches us the acceptance of our bodies and self-love. And sometimes, our complexes, the things we find unattractive in us, can be something beautiful for someone else.

018 3 creative things that I've managed to do during the quarantine

If you have an Instagram or Facebook account, you may have seen the quarantine bingo images. In the times of COVID-19, our daily habits have to face the tests and the trials. Is there anyone who hasn’t binge watched or spent a whole day in pajamas? Today, I would like to present you 3 pretty creative things that I’ve managed to do during the quarantine.

1.       I made pierogi

After many online meetings we must face boredom at home. How many days in a row can we watch Netflix series? To break the routine, I decided to make homemade pierogi. I had never prepared that dish before, so I was very surprised how tasty it was!

2.       I observed the night sky

When you don’t have to wake up early the next day, you can grab your car keys and go to watch stars. Because of the light pollution, it is impossible to observe the night sky in the proximity of cities, so you need to drive about 20-50 kilometers away from a city. You can plan your trip by using a weather forecast and this tool https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/

An amazing view with many constellations guaranteed!

3.       I read the whole fantasy saga

If you have ever wandered nearby fantasy literature shelves in a bookstore, you know an average size of a fantasy book – they are often very thick. During the quarantine, I’ve managed to read not one, but four volumes and now I have a book hangover. If you are a fantasy literature fan, I highly recommend you to read the Stormlight Archive written by Brandon Sanderson.

017 A book hangover

Have you ever heard about a book hangover? This phenomenon is associated to the inability to start reading a new book because you are still living in the last’s book world, you still think about the characters you've met. The book hangover is like this strange feeling when you are going to taste a delicious apple pie, but the voice in the back of your head says that the best apple pie is that of your mum. The same applies to books – even if there are many positive reviews about a new book, you just can’t start to read it because the last one was brought too many emotions.

The book hangover is an ambiguous thing – on one hand, you have had an amazing adventure with a book, you spent some valuable time with the characters you loved and with the story that interested you. But on the other hand, this situation is like an impasse because you can’t start a new title. There is only one solution to finish with that feeling – you need to push yourself out of your comfort zone and pick up a new book! Have you ever had the book hangover?

016 Astrophotography

When we think about photography, we often imagine portrait or landscape images. But have you ever heard of the astrophotography? This field of photography is associated with the night sky and stars. If you think the astrophotography images are completely black with some white points-stars, you are completely wrong! Not everybody is able to practice this type of photography; a special equipment is needed – not only a stable tripod but also some fast lenses and a professional camera. What is more, it is impossible to take photos of stars everywhere because of the light pollution. This phenomenon disenables the observation of stars and planets around cities and towns. But if you have a professional equipment, a car, some knowledge and free time at night, you are able to practice the astrophotography. However, we don’t have to fulfil those conditions to admire photographs of night sky.

015 Does urban jungle have to be always green?

When we think about indoor plants, we often imagine pots filled with green leaves. But the plants we have at home don’t have to be always green. After succulents, monstera deliciosa and then, variegated plants hype, it’s time to admire pink plants! Their beautiful deep colors aren’t the effect of Photoshop editing.

 

More light they have, with more saturated colors they pay you back. What is more, many of them, like wandering jew plant or ficus belize, don’t need any special care and every beginner can deal with their cultivation.

 

 However, in the pink jungle we can find other, more sophisticated plants, too. For example, philodendron pink princess is my great dream. I hope they will inspire you!

014 3 the best things of being a hotel receptionist

As you may know from my previous post, I have two years’ experience as a hotel receptionist. Although this type of work is often associated with stress, I remember many amusing situations and I can honestly say that I loved my job! Today I would like to tell you three stories that show why being a hotel receptionist isn’t as bad as they say…

 

1.       Hotel puppy

The wife of the hotel owner had always dreamt about a dog and that is why her husband gave her a little shih tzu on her birthday. Unfortunately, as it turned out, she was allergic to that dog breed. They didn’t want to give the puppy back, so they decided that it would live in our hotel. Try to imagine that fantastic feeling when you have a terrible day at work, and you can caress a little puppy!

 

2.       Wedding cakes

In the hotel’s restaurant, we organized weddings almost every Friday and Saturday. There can’t be a good wedding without a tiered wedding cake! Sometimes, newlyweds thanked for our job and presented us a piece of their wedding cake. What could I tell more...? 😊

 

3.       Hotel receptionist = local hero

The best thing was that I could help the people. From offering an extra pillow to looking for a lost mobile phone, printing a coloring page for children or giving first aid… Those were the moments that made me feel important and needed.

013 3 things that I hated as a hotel receptionist

I have a two years’ experience as a hotel receptionist. I remember my fist day at the front desk and my manager who was instructing me how to get around hotel guests and billions of telephone calls. She told me that if I worked there, I would learn how to be a perfect actress. And she was right – you won’t survive even one day at the front desk if you don’t know how to lie. Sometimes you must pretend you are nice, even if you boil over the range deep down.

Today I would like to present 3 common hotel situations that I really hated:

 

“Can we leave our room 3 hours after the time of the check-out?”

The time of the check-out is established in every hotel and it must be respected. After guest’s leaving, the room must be cleaned and prepared for the arrival of the next visitors.

 

“I travel all around the world! And only in your hotel…”

In 99% of the cases, the guests complain about the rejections of their early check-in (8 a.m., seriously?), the additional charge for breakfasts and parking… so, about the things that are in force in almost every hotel.

“Why your hotel is so expensive?”

If you don’t like the prices, you don’t stay in 4-star hotel, but you choose a cheaper place, don’t you?

012 Seagulls

Seagulls. For tourists, they are the symbol of holidays, sea and freedom. Beautiful, innocent birds who always accompany sunsets at the seashore. However, the local people have a different view. For them, the seagulls mean noisy predators. Most of those birds don’t live anymore at the seashore – they moved from the coast to the nearest town. It is easier to look for food in the trash than to hunt sea creatures. The local people associate the seagulls with ubiquitous beasts who empty the bins and who wake up everybody in the city with their screeching at 5am in the morning.

Although I haven't lived in a seaside town since I was in high school, I sometimes catch myself listening to the sounds of silence and trying to hear seagulls' noisy voices...

011 Variegated plants

If plants are your passion, you might know what is monstera variegata plant. Instagram got crazy about it – there are hundreds of photos with monstera leaves that are all white or partially white. It is a natural phenomenon, something like albinism for people. Variegation phenomenon can be caused by a virus infection or by genetics. Plants that are affected by this “albinism” need more sun and they are more moody than normal green ones.

Variegated monstera plants are quite rare and that is why its’ cost is really high. Not everybody can afford to buy it – for example in Poland, the cost of a little monstera variegata cutting is about 350 PLN!

Fortunately, the variegation phenomenon doesn’t belong only to monstera plants. There are many others species that can have their leaves partially white. Today I would love to share with you some photos of the most beautiful variegated plants.

 Philodendron Cobra

 Philodendron Gigganteum

 Philodendron Birkin          

 Ficus Elastica Variegata

 Epipremnum Happy Leaf

What is your favorite one?

010 What’s in my purse? My 5 everyday essentials

I can’t imagine to go out without a purse. For me, it is like a pair of shoes – who goes out without shoes? It doesn’t matter if it’s just a quick shopping in a grocery or if it’s a long day at the university, my purse is always with me. Of course, depending on the situation, its contents changes. But there always 10 things that I always have in my purse and they are my everyday essentials.

Glasses

My sight defect isn’t very serious and I don’t wear glasses every day. However, there are many situations when my glasses are very helpful, especially during straining-eyes activities: driving a car, working at the computer.

Bottle of water

It isn’t anything special. I try to drink about 2 liters per day, so I always bring a bottle of water with me. In my opinion water can’t be replaced by an another liquid like tea or juice, so 2 liters per day are my minimum. Unfortunately, I’ve been using one-use bottles for about two weeks because my filter bottle is broken down. It’s time to buy a new filter one!

Cotton bag

Carrying groceries in plastic bags is a shame in XXI century. They are so inelegant and wasteful. That is why I try to be always prepared for a shopping and I have a cotton bag in my purse. To be honest, being less-waste isn’t a piece of cake for me but I’m doing my best!

Headphones

I love walking and listening to the music. Sometimes I get off the tramway earlier, just to walk home and listen to music. It’s so relaxing after a long day at university or at work.

Hand cream and lip moisturizer

It’s just better to avoid the situations when the skin is overdried. I feel more comfortable when I have my cosmetics with me.

009 Plant friendly places in Poznan

I’ve been living in Poznan since September. I loved the city at the first sight and today I would like to share with you some places that are perfect for all crazy plant ladies and crazy plant guys. If you are into plants or you just want to take some hipster-looking Instagram photos, you won’t be disappointed!

Palmiarnia

Must-see in Poznań for everybody who visits the city. An enormous botanical garden with a plenty of plants. The garden is divided into smaller sections that are dedicated to certain climatic zones. You can meet there tropical plants, aquatic plants, succulents and cactuses… Minimum two hours of amazing walk in a real jungle!

Zarośla

This is the place where I spent a half of my salary! That florist’s isn’t like others – you won’t find there cut flowers. This shop is dedicated to pot plants, so if you are fancy to change your room into a jungle, it is a perfect place for you. What’s more, the staff is very friendly and they are always ready to solve your plant troubles and give you clever advices.

Ro_ślinka

If you want to hang out with your friends and drink a cup of coffee, I recommend that place! It isn’t only one of the best cafés in Poznań but also a florist’s. Aromatic coffee, tasty cakes (there are vegan options, too!) and beautiful interior design, where plants are the major part.

008 How to buy a plant and not to go crazy

Go to the nearest florist’s, choose a plant that you like the most and pay for it. Done.

No, no, no! Buying a plant isn’t a piece of cake. Of course, there are many possibilities to get a nice plant – they are sold almost everywhere, even in supermarkets. And there’s nothing bad at it – for example, I got my favorite monstera plant in a discount shop. But you should know that buying a plant has always a high risk, especially when you’ve already owned more plants. That is why I would love to share with you some advices how to avoid unpleasant situations with houseplants.

Looking over 

You went to the shop and you saw the plant that you would like to buy. First of all, look it over carefully. Check if there aren’t any insects on or under the leaves. Be careful, the plant pests are very small! The second thing that you should examine is plant fungus. Very often it looks like discolored stains on the leaves. Of course, not all stains are fungus – sometimes they are just burn spots. It is very important to look over a plant because all the diseases can infect other plants that you own. If everything seems to be fine, you can buy the plant.

Transplanting

After buying the plant, you must transplant it. Very often the shops don’t take care about the quality of the soil, they overwater the plants… The second thing are the pests. If you can’t see them on the leaves, it doesn’t mean that the plant is healthy – they can be hidden in the soil. 

After transplanting the plant, you can enjoy your new plant!

007 Where to eat in Wrocław?

Today I would love to share with you my favorite restaurants in Wrocław, the city where I’ve lived for almost 3 years. You might know that I’m a vegetarian but don’t worry – on my list there is also one classic restaurant with many options with meat. Let’s get started!

1.       Mango Mama:

In my opinion, this is the best restaurant ever. I love all about that place: from its pretty exotic name, climatic interior design to delicious aromatic dishes. You can try the real India’s taste thanks to Hindu cooks. What’s more, the kitchen is opened, so you can observe how your meal is prepared. Just one advice: spicy dishes are REALLY spicy. 😊 I have been there many times and I am always amazed by the taste of the food there. You can try there anything, every dish is fine-tuned and just perfect. Must-eat there? Coleslaw salad with mango.

2.       Warzywniak:

This is 100% vegan restaurant nearby Technical University. The menu is seasonal and it changes every day. The prices are very affordable, so if you are a person who would like to eat delicious dinner that wouldn’t ruin your wallet, it is a perfect place for you! Everything there tastes like polish home-cooked meals, so you can try their vegan versions of pork-chops, meatballs, beer stew… I got hungry!

3.       Panda Ramen:

If you are on Wrocław’s main square, you must visit Panda Ramen. It’s just 5 minutes away on foot. The restaurant is always full, so you must be patient and wait for your table, but believe me, it is worthy! There is nothing better than warm aromatic ramen. What’s more, you can personalize your dish and upgrade your ramen by adding some extras.

006 5 things you don't know about me

Almost every blogger takes part in the challenge “5 things that you don’t know about me”. I thought that it would be nice to introduce you some of the facts about my life that you probably don’t know and let you know me a little bit better. Let’s get started!

1. My first animal

No, it wasn’t a dog or a cat – it would be too easy! When I was about 15 years old, I became an owner of tliltocatl albopilosum. Sounds very exotic, doesn’t it? You might not know that enigmatic Latin name, so I will explain you it more clearly – I had a curlyhair tarantula and its name was Sheloba. Although she was a very scary-looking spider, her venom wasn’t poisonous. Unfortunately, Sheloba died some time later. Now, as you know, I’m an owner of two cute guinea pigs. And who know, maybe our herd will grow to three ones?

2. I have a collection of thimbles

Every time I travel to new places, I buy thimbles with a name of a city I am visiting. However my collection isn’t very impressing, I own many thimbles from Poland and other European cities. Unfortunately, there is no thimble from non-European country in my collection. I think that collecting things runs in the family. For example, my sister collects snow globes.

3.  I am afraid of darkness

I know it is stupid but when it’s dark, my imagination goes and I see the things that aren’t real. Every shadow looks for me like a zombie, monster, murderer… What’s more, when I’m in bed, my feet must be covered by blanket – otherwise, I won’t sleep. There could be a monster under the bed!

4. I am a vegetarian who doesn’t like fresh vegetables

Two years ago I made a decision to become a vegetarian because of animal and health reasons. It wasn’t easy for me because I used to love eating meat and I hated fresh vegetables. First weeks of my new diet were awful because I didn’t know what to eat. Fortunately, I got used to the taste of vegetables and now I’m not frightened of the green color in my plate. :) What’s more, I love vegetables and I can’t imagine how it was possible to not to eat them before. The only veggie that I still hate is fresh cucumber, it tastes horrible to me!

5. I am engaged

I met my S.O. when I was in junior high school. We have been together since then and 7 July 2019, on our 8^th anniversary, I said yes!