Good End of a Good Day

How great it is at the end of a busy day to drink a cup of herbal tea with rosebuds,sitting in the room where the air is filled with sweet smell of fresh peonies. Enjoy your evening!

Как приятно завершить насыщенный день сидя за чашкой травяного чая с лепестками розы в комнате, насквозь пропахшей свежими пионами. Чудесного вечера! 

Music/ Музыка: Song from the secret garden

Evening at the flower market

There's a nice flower stall there, where I used to go every time I get "unanswerable" questions about my plants. Today the task was to find out if there are sorts of lavender to plant inside. The answer was: "No!". Having no idea what I should choose then for my new flat I decided to go out for dinner there. Female logic. :) I love the ambiance at all these little market squares, it's so French, so Provence! Dark old wood, herbs hanging, evening sun...Mmmmm,somehow it makes me think of "A Good Year" with Russell Crowe.

From Amsterdam with love...

I'm going to show you my probably favourite trousers, which I don't put on that often though. Obviously because they're so special for me: both the story of how I got them and how they look like. Banana trousers in turquoise, nothing more to say. :)

Home design inspiration

As I already told right before, the fact that I move into a new flat makes me think a lot about how it will be there. Where I'll put the couch, what shape of dishes I'm going to have, which colours could be chosen and so on. So here's a little part of my design inspirations, it's not about copying the picture itself, but about taking the idea out of it. :) So how you can, there're gonna be a lot of space, soft shades, white wood and colourful accents - a mixture of Provence, Scandinavian and shabby-chic styles. :) I'm looking forward to showing you the result and probably even inviting you for a tea. ;)

Go Lavender!

Lavender flowers and seeds

Last days, weeks and months brought many changes in my life. Keeping it short, above all I'm going to move into a new flat in about a month. I can't even tell you how happy it makes me. Just t in some weeks there'll be a piece of space for me alone and an opportunity to create my own little world in there. You can hardly find anything more inspiring than this.

Helsinki: Day 1

Actually, day 2. We arrived yesterday late in the evening, had dinner and went to bed. So it didn't count for a day really. 

Me in front of the campus wearing 2 (!) jackets

Best friends

Music - Our last summer

        My holidays are over and tomorrow I'm flying back to Graz, so today it was planned to get all undone things done. I met My Best Friend in the city centre, we enjoyed some sushi in a restaurant and went shopping. To tell the truth, both of us were tired and completely exhausted. And even when everything was complete I felt as if I missed something.
     There is an amusement park here, where you get candyfloss almost all year round. I hoped to get there, but somehow it didn't work out. 
     Now let's come back to the story: it was 20 o'clock and we were already going to take subway home, out of energy. But then I suddenly said to My Best Friend: "Great job, we have everything done. But.. we haven't been to the park,although I would love to... Doesn't matter, another time! ". It took her just about a couple of seconds to say: "Let's go there now?". I didn't hesitate. We took a tram, got there, bought our candyfloss and walked around, taking photos with my new old film camera.

    I can't even say it's made my day. No, it's made at least my whole next week. :) And, you know, now it's the right time to leave - I have everything done!

05.36

      Till now I've been trying to fall asleep since 23 o'clock. Well, let's say I got 12 more hours of the day before flying back to Austria
     It feels absolutely strange to come home for two weeks, being, actually, a guest at your own place. I don't even mean being a temporary visitor in my parents' flat, but feeling alien when trying to live the way I did before. Hope, you understand, what I mean.
      It's as hard to leave as great to return. A neverending story.

Zaz – Eblouie Par La Nuit  and some city views...

Diagonale. Der Prozess

      Ihr wisst schon, dass ich mir ab und zu merkwürdige Filme gern anschaue. Und genau darum hätte ich den folgenden Film am vorletzten Tag des österreichischen Filmfestivals "Diagonale" einfach nicht verpassen können.    

Der Prozess. 
Regie: Gerald Igor Hauzenberger
Austria, 2011. 120 min. 

Saturday is a weekend, isn't it?

     "How wonderful it is to wake up a little bit later on Saturday, having breakfast in bed. To open a window, breathe deeply and make yourself a coffee. To read some inspirational magazines and to listen favourite music.Mmm, I love it. " - that is exactly what I was dreaming about, when I woke up at 7 o'clock today in the morning, knowing that firstly I have to clean the room and wash the dishes. And that my whole Saturday is planned in detail.

Garden, where Magnolia is blossoming

      Spring is definitely the happiest season ever. When it's a real one, of course. The one with blossoming lilacs, tulips and apple trees. With "sweet-scented" air and rain during sunshine. With these little birds bathing in creeks of fontaines...

       

      Весна- это, определенно, самое счастливое время.  Разумеется, когда она - настоящая. С цветущей сиренью, тюльпанами и яблонями. Когда воздух становится вязко-сладким от аромата цветов и когда идет грибной дождик, когда маленькие птички купаются в ручейках фонтана...

  

Diagonale. Outfit.

  
  These pictures were taken at the Austrain film festival "Diagonale". Well, yeah, they look a little bit odd, but believe me, they fully reflect the mood of the whole event. Sophisticated movies, arty audience and creative film directors- nothing more to say. By the way, I was sitting next to the Austrian Ambassador. ;)

It's all just about new sunglasses, baby!

Mood of the day - In The Sun

    
       Actually I wasn't going to write an outfit post today, but finish the one about language learning tips. On the other hand, I've been looking for a good opportunity to show you my new sunglasses, which I got on Tuesday. Sunny weather, no morning plans, good mood and here we go!

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain №15 Rose Vinyl

       Colour is a great accessory. One of the ways to wear it is on the lips - I own quite a big lipstick collection, but surprisingly all my favourites are by Yves Saint Laurent. So when Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain came out on the market, I started hunting it. Yeah, what sounds better than "long-lasting formula", "glossy shine" and "range of 19 shades"? I can hardly think of something like this. Unfortunately we didn't get all the colours in Austria, but just about 10 of them (5 with shimmer, 5 without). I've also heard, that the colour range differs from country to country, now I'm curious which of them I can get in Russia on my Easter holiday. But there wasn't much time to hesitate and have taken number 15 Rose Vinyl - a shade of pink with silver micro-shimmer. 

Alps

      On the top of a mountain it feels free like nowhere else: standing on a couple meters wide rock at the height of over 4500 feet, taking a breath of cold crisp air, looking down at the surroundings. You've just overcome yourself again and reached your aim. Now you're going to eat a sandwich and drink a couple of burning hot tea, watching the world from above. Although it was tough, you will feel a little sorrow that your way up is over. And it's going to take another couple of hours to get down, but the way back will seem to you much shorter than before.

Fuchsia

       As I told you previously in the post about my spring resolutions, I bought new pants in fuchsia. And to tell the truth, I was pretty sure to bring them back the next day as I won't dare to put on them on. But I absolutely fell in love with them as soon as I saw how perfectly they go with my fuchsia lipstick. You know how it can be, when you buy a thing you like and just can't wait to try it out but something goes wrong, don't you?

Spring Resolutions

  
   I think, that everybody has already recognised, that today is the first day of spring.  And even if it's just a calender day, I woke up in that special mood, you normally have after New Year's celebration- you get one more opportunity to start living you life anew.

Art of Art

   
      How great it is from time to time just to let things happen. Yet yesterday evening I had no plans for today, but unexpectedly it's become such a wonderful day: my friend called me last day and suggested to go to a dog exhibition with her. Of course, I couldn't say no and that's how the day began. The dogs were just awesome.

Shrove Tuesday

        Generally, there are two categories of people: those, who love carnivals, and those, who hate them. Well, what I've found out today is that I belong to the forst category. It's been fun! And instead of writing much I'd rather show you the pictures.

       Наверное людей можно поделить на две категории: те, которые любят карнавал, и те, которые его ненавидят. Так вот, я,оказывается, отношусь к первым. Сегодня там было очень забавно,по крайней мере. Но вместо писанины я лучше покажу вам фотографии. :)

Going carnival

photo source here

   It's Carnival week here now, even though Austrians don't celebrate that much and that's why it's cost me a fortune to convince my boyfriend to take part-he said he has nothing to put on for this occasion. But can't be easier than making a carnival costume for men? Just a hairstyle and some red lipstick on the chin and.. here it is: you're a vampire! (that is exactly what my boyfriend is going to be tomorrow :D)

Walk me!

       Here's just the outfit from yesterday's post about spring music :

Spring playlist

      What can be better than long walks in sunny warm weather? Only long walks in sunny warm weather with groovy music! Strolling in the city I realised, that my playlist got old and neither matches my mood anymore,nor gives me feeling "Love is in the air",you know. I have some favourites,though, which give me energy right now. But I would love to expand the list and probably you could share your current favourites with me? ;)
Here are mine:

Winter Spring

 

       Yesterday spring came to us, suddenly and unexpectedly. It's been an extremely warm day today, as a prove for that you can see me, wearing a vest instead of a jacket and chucks instead of winter boots. And eating ice-cream. Amazing, isn't it? ;) 

       Вчера к нам пришла весна- такая настоящая, с теплым солнечным светом и весенним воздухом. Такая, какая в России бывает примерно в середине апреля. ;)  Поэтому целый день сегодня мы гуляли и ели первое мороженое на улице в этом году.

Gingerbread hearts

Today I got up at 6 o'clock again. Normally I don't wake up that early,but if I do, know- there's something wrong.
Actually, late in the evening yesterday I realised I can't live without gingerbread cookies anymore. Guess, why I was awake at such an early hour? Right,to bake some gingerbread stuff. :)
And here is the recipe!

A Day of Red Lipstick

       Again St.Valentine's Day, many of you say.  Those, who don't really like it. Why not then?

Do you care? Part I: Hair

      Here I am again. I'm really sorry about my absence in the last few days and the reason is quite plain- just lack of time.But now I'm sooooo glad to back!
Recently I got an idea of writing series of articles about beauty stuff on Sundays. Let's start straightaway then and today's topic is hair care.

     Ура! Вот и закончилась сложная неделя, когда мне,к сожалению, никак не удавалось найти время на написание очередной статьи. И я очень рада вернуться!
Недавно мне пришла идея каждое воскресенье "выпускать" пост о разных бьюти-премудростях. Итак, тема на сегодня (хоть сейчас уже и прошло полтора часа от понедельника) - уход за волосами.  
 

Movies of the year

            It's late evening here and I should be actually sleeping, but something made me write my Top 5 Films of the Year. Well, not something, but French "Leon", a film by Luc Besson.  I finished watching only some minutes ago and can confidently say - it belongs to the top-list. This year's generally been the year of French films, with one exception. What I like about them is a special ambiance, brought by play of light and shadow, perfectly suiting to every single moment music. They give a feeling of "enhanced" reality. So, here they are..

Peacock castle

             As I promised once to continue walks through the city, today we're heading for a place in Graz, where you can find a castle, surrounded by a park with peacocks walking - Schloß Eggenberg. It's located almost on the borderline of city, in front of the mountains. I don't think, I should tell you the history,but if you are interested, then read it here: Eggenberg Castle, Graz. Let me just say, it's one of the greatest parks I've even seen. And now you'll understand why...

            В продолжение темы прогулок по городу сегодня мы отправляемся одно чудное место в Граце,где есть все, что нужно настоящей принцессе - замок, окруженный парком с гуляющими в нем павлинами: в Замок Эггенберг. История его создания довольно занимательна (особенно часть, касающаяся архитектуры), можете почитать здесь Замок Эггенберг, Википедия. К тому же, я бы сказала, это один из самых красивых парков, которые мне удалось посетить. И вот почему...

Where dreams may come

 In the very beginning I was going to write about our dinner out with the family of my boyfriend (yeah, we are still celebrating Birthday!), but then I met a friend of mine and decided to talk about pets.

My friend - a funny guy

Once upon a Saturday

Today's look

          This weekend I'm at my boyfriend's parents' house in Upper Austria. They have a tradition to meet their friends every Saturday at 11 o'clock in a cafe in the centre of town. I suppose, they've been doing that for over 30 years! So we were there, chatting with friends and I suddenly realised, that I forgot my body cream at home and took just my face cream. Surely, we went immediately to the drugstore and popped in to some other shops on the way there. ;)

The girl, who went up a hill, but came down a mountain

          Do you happen to have a special place in the city, where you live? Where you always enjoy the beauty, independent of how the weather is? A place, that means a lot to you?

         Есть ли у вас такое место в вашем городе, которое вам особенно дорого? Где вы всегда чувствуете себя уютно и спокойно, несмотря на то, что происходит вокруг? 

Just cook it!

           Today it's kind of morning, when you wake up very early with a lot of energy and manage to do thousands of things! So did I, woke up at 6 and baked apple turnovers, made with puff pastry. So here's the recipe for you - enjoy cooking!

          Чудесное утро! Сегодня я встала рано-рано и уже успела испечь слойки с яблоками.

These little wonders

Music of the day
Yann Tiersen - La Terrasse

            Sometimes little things in the morning can make your whole day. I've started the first day of February with a cup of rose blossom tea,I bought yesterday and a traditional Austrian "Krapfen".

            Иногда мелочи с утра делают вас счастливыми на целый день. Для меня первый день ферваля начался с чашечки чая из розовых бутонов, которой я купила вчера и традиционного австрийского пончика. 

As busy as a bee

 Karl-Franzens Universität Graz

              Have you ever noticed that different cities have different rhymes of life? I mean, in some you can do 1000 things a day and not get tired, but in others just going to buy some fresh bread in the bakery feels like a "round-the-world trip"?
             Today I had a busy day: an exam in Business Administration, lunch with friends, then some shopping and again a meeting with a friend. You can say, it's not that much to do and you'll be right. But here, walking down narrow streets and getting to the opposite side of the the city just in 30 minutes it feels exactly like this.

            Вы когда-нибудь обращали внимание на то, насколько ритм жизни в разных городах отличается друг от друга? Например, в некоторых вы успеваете передать тысячу дел в день и не почувствовать усталости, а в некоторых поход за булкой хлеба превращается в настоящее приключение?
           Сегодня у меня был как раз напряженный день: экзамен по экономике, ланч с друзьями, немного шопинга и снова прогулка с подружкой. На самом деле, не так уж много, скажете вы. Но здесь, гуляя по узким улочкам и доезжая до другой части города за полчаса, у вас возникает именно такое чувство.

Do you have a sweet tooth?

          Firstly, I have to confess: I can't live a day without sweets. Not at all. In German they call it "Naschkatze", word by word translated it means "a cat, that eats titbits", I just love the word itself and that's exactly what I am. ;)
         And secondly, with every single day it's getting worse, because I live in the Kingdom of sweets. That's the country with all their chocolate cakes, apple strudel, yeast dumplings filled with jam and so on.
     

A Cinderella Story

   
         Well,I would say Austria is famous for 3 things: Vienna Coffee, Sachertorte and Opera balls. To the topic of coffee and chocolate cakes we will come later again, so now about balls.
The one I've attended on Friday is not a typical Opera Ball, that is known all around the world. This one was organised by the Technical University of Graz for its professors, students and just external observers, who had an oppotunity to get a ticket. By the way, in Graz a ticket for an Opera Ball costs about 200€ and in Vienna you can't just buy it, you need connections. ;)

        На мой взгляд, Австрия славится тремя вещами: венским кофе, тортом Захер и оперными балами. К теме тортиков и кофе мы обязательно вернемся попозже, а пока про бал.
       Тот, на котором мне удалось побывать в пятницу, не является типичным оперным, который славится по всему миру. Этот бал организован Техническим Университетом Граца для студентов и профессоров и прочих, кому повезло купить билет. Кстати, билет на Оперный Бал в Граце стоит около 200 евро, а в Вене просто купить его не получится- нужны связи. ;)