HOME IS WHERE YOUR MIND RELAXES

Home is usually told to be that apartment where all your stuff is and your family lives. For most of us home could mean something else. It could be the feeling you get in your favorite coffee shop, one beautiful boutique that have that unique atmosphere or a restaurant you can spend hours in. Home could be anywhere your mind relaxes and why not? There must be some elements in that place that make you feel almost like at home, breathe deeper, daydream and even miss. 

To me some coffee shops, hotels and restaurants do that. Hardwood floors, stonewall and big soft sofas do the trick for me. Add some candles and the right kind of music, I´m sold. 

 Small hostel Waraku-an really made me feel like home in 2008. 

What are the elements that make you relax? Did you know that according to some researches people breathe deeper while being in room that have wooden walls and floors? That might be the reason that you feel so relaxed after being in wooden cabin. 

Why won´t you try spending some extra time in your favorite place next month and feel the difference. After all relaxing is very healthy. It minimizes the stress in your life and keeps you strong while flu season. 

Here is another great recipe for you to keep the flu away!

Ginger lemonade

1 cup of sugar 

1 cup of water

some ginger grated

1 cup of lemon juice
about 3 to 4 cups of water 

Heat sugar, water and grated ginger in small saucepan until the sugar is completely melted. Pour in to pitcher then add lemon juice and cold water. Taste and add what is needed. When ready, put in fridge for hour. Enjoy!

SLOWLIFE

Take it slow. Sounds like a wonderful idea after running around whole day. An ideal cup of warming tea, soft blanket to wrap on and some relaxing music. A moment to dedicate just for breathing and relaxing. An ideal evening. Most of us dream about moment like that. Excuses are all we have when somebody asks why not to? After all life should be in balance. It should have times just to enjoy ourselves, enjoy our family and friends and doing all the things we dream about.
For couple of days now I´ve been dreaming about taking one Saturday off, gathering all of my friends and cooking delicious food, eating, drinking wine and mostly enjoying life as it should be. And it really should be!

Why won´t you take some time off wrapping yourself in soft blanket and enjoying this delicious recipe of carrot cake.


Preheat oven in 350 degrees (175 degrees C).
Sift 2 cups of all purpose flour to medium size bowl.
Add 2 teaspoons of baking soda and cinnamon.
(I love to add some cardamom and ginger too just to get some nice heat on the cake.)
Peel and grate 3-4 carrot and put aside.
Whisk 4 eggs and 2 cup of white sugar well in another bowl.
Add flour mixture and mix carefully but well with wooden spoon.
Add grated carrots and 1/2 cup of oil. Mix, taste and add more what is needed.
Bake 45 min-1 hour. Check with toothpick if ready. Allow to cool before adding the topping.

Topping:
Mix 250g of cream cheese and juice of 1/2 lemon. The topping should´t be too sweet so I prefer no white sugar but add 2 tablespoon of icing sugar and mix well . Pour on cake. You can let the cake cool on fridge for 1/2 hour so that the topping will settle nicely.

Enjoy with large cup of tea.

Memory of passed by summer