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!

005 3 ways to feel happier in the winter

I don’t like the winter season, especially when there’s no snow. The sky that gets dark too early and that omnipresent cold – is there anybody who likes such unpleasant things? Every year I get upset and depressed in the middle of November and my bad mood doesn’t change till March. Of course, there are some remedies to get a little bit better and today I would love to present you 3 of my best hacks to feel happier in the winter:

1. Tidy up your room!

Imagine that – you finish your job and it’s time to go home. The sun goes down at 3 P.M., so every time you go back home it’s already dark. You get upset easily, the city is crowded, you are hungry and there’s only light in the fridge. And then, you open the door of your home and see that mess. What’s next? It makes you more depressed and angry than before. That is why I always try to have my room cleaned. What's better than just go back home, lighten up a couple of candles and prepare a hot cup of favorite tea?

2.  Well-balanced diet

Yes, I know that “well-balanced diet” sounds obvious but don’t forget that winter is the season when we don’t eat too much healthy food. When it’s cold, nobody wants to go shopping to buy vegetables – it’s easier to order a pizza. And there’s something more ­– when I think about winter, the first image that I see in my head is Christmas time. Christmas in Poland means always the tons of greasy food, sugar and no fresh vegetables or fruits. That is why you should add more vitamins into your diet. If you don’t like fresh vegetables or fruits, try some smoothies recipes.

3. Bring summer to your home!

You might know that I am totally crazy about houseplants. I am aware that many people don’t like plants, they find them hard to keep in good condition. Of course, there are many plant species that require too much attention but there are many who are perfect for beginners, too. If you are afraid that you would forget about watering your plants, try aloe vera, snake plant or a type of echeveria plant. There’s nothing better than a little bit of green color at home when the world outside is gray and unwelcoming.

004 Art

I love art and everything about it. My favorite subject at high school was art history; a travel without a trip to a museum of fine arts was never good enough for me; I always doodle something in my notebook during the lessons and it isn’t a sign of being bored; when it’s sunny outside I grab my camera and take some photos to show to others how I see the world. But the thing I love most in art is painting.

I paint since I remember. When I was at kindergarten my works were a little bit better than other kids. Thanks to pocket money from my parents I could buy new sketchbooks, paints, pencils… and my parents weren’t suprised when at the age of 15 I told them that I wanted to study at the art high school. To anticipate your questions: I didn’t study later at the University of Fine Arts because it is hard to find a well-paid job as an artist when you don’t have an enterprising personality. As you can guess, I am bad at promoting my works of art.

The things that I love the most to paint are human faces and bodies. I use vibrant colors and a lot of contrast to express my emotions.

Unfortunately, I don’t have much time during my studies to create new works as before. I can’t wait to February when the winter exam session ends, and I will have more time to paint!

003 Houseplants

When I was a child, our home was full of houseplants. To be honest, I didn’t like them much. Although my mum took a lot of care of her plants, they were always losing their leaves or getting them yellow. I remember the moment when I said that I would never have any plants at my home. But many years later I understood how I was wrong.

My first plant was dracaena bought in Ikea a few years ago when I had moved from my parents to start my studies. Some time later I had to admit that my bookshelf and windowsill were so empty! That was why I got more plants – two cactus plants, a succulent and a strange-looking plant that, unfortunately, died two months later.

I couldn’t allow myself to buy more plants – if you share a room with another person, you know that there isn’t much space. Fortunately, all my plants were perfect for a beginner because they didn’t require a lot of attention. I forgot about plants until I saw Her on Instagram. Her Majesty Monstera Deliciosa. And since then, it was just a matter of time; in September I moved to a bigger flat and now my friends call me Crazy Plant Lady. Well, now I have only 13 plants in my room but every month my collection gets bigger and bigger.

I love my plants: their variety, shapes, all the shades of green… I wouldn’t lie if I said that they are my huge passion. I spend a lot of time on reading about plant species, plant pests… I even have my Plant Wishlist. Unfortunately, there is one obstacle to change my room into a jungle – my fiancée (I hope he won’t read this post!).

002 Sasha and Bilbo

In my first year at university I saw an advertisement about a guinea pig. Just two photos of that little creature melted my heart and I made a decision: the guinea pig would be mine. I bought a cage, a huge pack of hay and some petfood. Everything at my student’s flat was prepared for the arrival of a new family member.

Sasha was a tiny, three weeks old frightened guinea pig baby. At the beginning of our relationship he was so calm and silent. Now I can’t believe that it is the same animal – the animal who cries loudly for food almost all the time and is so naughty!

About two months later Sasha wasn’t frightened anymore. He was just sad and was sleeping most of the time. I had no idea why he had got so depressed, so I asked about that matter on one of the Facebook groups dedicated to guinea pigs. Everybody told me that guinea pigs are naturally gregarious species and they need a company or another one. And that is why Bilbo has came to us.

Bilbo was two years old poor creature. His previous owners didn’t pay a lot attention at him – he was living in a far too little cage and was probably starving. They haven’t taken care about his claws and that is why he has still his feet deformed. When he arrived to us he was very aggressive to everybody, he tried to bite our hands.

I remember the moment when I hugged him and he didn’t escape from me, like always before. That was a very important moment that has changed our relationship. Bilbo has trusted us. Although he is a bit backed out in his relationship with Sasha, I think he is happy to live with him in one cage. On the other hand, Sasha loves his “older brother”, as we call Bilbo. Sometimes he licks the space behind Bilbo’s ear – in guinea pig language that is a sing of a huge attachment.

001 The Kórnik Arboretum

Last year October was grey, rainy and a bit depressing. The only thing I was able to do was watching some series on Netflix, drinking gallons of tea and being, of course, wrapped in a warm blanket. But this year the autumn season looks completely different. Although it is nice to stay at home and get a cosy nest there, the weather encourages to take long walks. That is why we have visited The Kórnik Arboretum.

The Kórnik Arboretum is a kind of botanical garden that is dedicated to the trees. According to the information board at the entrance, this beautiful park contains about 3000 species and varieties of trees and shrubs. To be honest, I don’t know much about the dendrology, but it was interesting to walk and to observe all of those tree species – almost every tree has got its own table with its name and its age, the place of existence and some other curious facts.

It is said that the best moments for visiting Arboretum are May/June, because it is the time of flowering of many plants there or September/October when the leaves turn colours. I haven’t seen the park in the spring yet, but when it comes to the autumn, I must agree: it is worth to visit it!  I really recommend visiting that place - there's still some time left until the trees loose their leaves.

My words can’t describe its beauty, so perhaps the photos below will do.