To Beauty I met today. Thank you.

I met a wonderful person today. A sweet wonderful girl started to talk to us as we were leaving the Lucky Duck takeaway, and what started just as a question, then evolved into a conversation, and word for word we were talking about the raw food and life.

My dear friend, if you are reading this, I want to tell you THANK YOU. From my heart. I needed to feel your spirit and the love that you radiate. You have no idea, but today YOU were my Saviour. The words you said and comments you made lead me to think and look at my wonderful , and... not easy life from a "wonderful" only angle. I , again, was reminded of the beauty of Creation and the biggest blessings and Divine Love , present in my life every minute, the ones that ARE the PURPOSE of MY life. Thank you. You, probably, have no idea what you've done for me today. You were just self - a beautiful, kind, loving spirit. Thank you. My love will always go your way. In any way there is to help you, please, email.

Baby talk

So, we are not talking the usual... We've mastered "mama", "dada", "no-no", "baba", "tata", "babi", etc long time ago. This was the time of the first conscious COMPLEX word, which in baby's language is anything that is not a "-a -a", or "-o-o".

AAAAND THE word is ...:

Pig.

That's right. The pink little animal with a snout. That's the one.

Now, there is a little explanation of why. I DO use a phrase "don't be like pigs" a lot. Especially, when comes to table manners. We have a cultural saying, where the pig is the center of teaching the table etiquette, hence is the focus. And a week or so ago, I noticed that Yeva added a little "PAH!" to her vocabulary every time she saw a crumb on the floor or , sometimes, just for fun.

It took me a little to register, but she's clearly declaring her dislike for dirty floors during the dinner by confidently pronouncing "PAH!". I think this is the most well mannered baby out of all I've had so far. The other two just enjoy being "pah"s.

Clohies love

We are officially in LOVE with cloth diapers. I've never thought that I'd love them so much, and now I completely cannot imagine putting anything else but clothies on my baby's bummy.

Even though she's 10 months and definitely not small, I am still using the newborn diapers ( and loving them ) . Here are some tips for the things I've discovered.

* use ORGANIC only material if you want your diaper to function best. Organic bamboo velour is my FAVORITE, because it is wonderfully soft and absorbent AND has naturally antibacterial qualities, so that means a happy rosy bum-bum, no rashes. Another plus - velour is THIN, while absorbent. Translation? More layers, less bulk. Appealing.

* use terry/knits over wovens outers. WHY? Because knits stretch, and definitely makes your diapers last much longer. That is one of the reasons we are still able to use newborn diapers.

* use snaps over velcro. Less mess, more durable diapers, and much for diverse sizing.

* invest in the diapers. Do not 'save' money by buying cheap cloth diapers. Unless you are doing pre-folds, be ready to spend about $14 a peace for a newborn, and $20 for larger sizes. Some sites offer gently used , or seconds for less. Those ARE worth buying. But if the diaper you buy is PRICED at $9-10, simply avoid. You are most likely going to have to replace a diaper after 2 months. Not worth the initial money. With the good diaper you should not be limited in time. We are still using ours after 10 months, and loving it.

* you need 24 diapers to be happy. More , if you want to do laundry less. Don't try to go on 10, but also do not buy 50. Washing diapers every day ( or more) is just as annoying and difficult as doing a massive, dried out , stinky load. Just be smart.

* use wool covers ( knits or jersey). I love the wool jersey covers - thin, look like cute cover ups and do the job beautifully. Also... do not be afraid of letting your baby run cover-less. You'll be surprised how efficient those diapees actually are, and that , with changes every 2 hours, per se, you wont even wet the clothing ( most likely) and definitely have one happy baby.

Over all, cloth diapering is wonderful. From all aspects - whether environmentally, healthwise, or just ... simply because they are SO CUTE, and your baby's bum will be the most stylish around our block!

Excuse me, please...

So!.. Speak your voice, hah? I sure did. In a subway.

With the seasons changing, sometimes it is hard to predict what the weather would be like. And I am still too used to UT never fulfilling forecasts to trust what the prediction for the day is. So, naturally, we found ourselves too far from home in not so friendly weather. And while I DID learn to have the umbrellas always, the ENE wind that picked up later was too much for what I was wearing. And since we weren't too far from Justin's work, we decided to wait for him to be done and then just take a subway back home.

Considering the fact that it was the end of the day, the end of the WEEK, RAINY AND it was at the most busiest stations, the train was crowded. We squeezed all 5 of ourselves in. Kids landed squished against the metal handle bars. Right in front of a lovely young man , aged 20 something, who was holding a FAO Schwartz ( toy store ) bag, who , as it appeared , belonged to a family, that consisted of 5 adults : 3 men, 2 women. All were sitting and adoring the children, as kids were getting more and more squished. As even more people piled up over the next few stations, Nadya got literally pressed against the metal bar, RIGHT UNDER the young mans NOSE, and started to cry. The little thing could not move, change positions or do anything. She was literally stuck. The above mentioned family kept staring and talking amongst themselves, pointing at children and smiling at me. While SITTING. And so my patience got left on one of the previous stops, and I approached THE young man. "Excuse me" , he stared at me as if seeing for the first time (until then he very thoroughly tried to not notice that I and the kids were standing in less then one inch proximity from him) , and started to smile ( probably awaiting for something nice). "GET UP!!! You have a THREE year old GIRL, CRYING under your NOSE! ". He tried to mumble something in the reply while STILL sitting on his... ehem... bench. Smiling , I added "NOW". Whether he saw the dangers of being permanently mounted into that bench by one angry mother, or it was the "loving" sparkles bursting out of my eyes that simply can classify as " DEADLY", but the smart young man finally registered I was not kidding , and swiftly ( and wisely) removed himself from the bench ( to small applause and cheer behind my back) and went to stand by his PARENTS and - assuming - brother and sister-in-law ( or the other way around, note: all sitted) , who started to really fast mumble something to each other in either German or Dutch, sniffing angrily ( though justified) at my "Thank you".

I do not now the rules of etiquette in either country, but surely, EVERYWHERE in the world, SQUISHED little children MUST have a seat priority over a HEALTHY adult. Especially when it is a 3 year old GIRL. Especially when the mother is standing right behind her. Especially when she is furious. Particularly, for your own life's sake and safety.

An icon of perfection? Or...

Who doesn't know the classic black and white, the little black dress, the quilted purse. The "always" it colors - beige, gray, navy, black... Chanel. Genius. But... is she?

My admiration for Chanel is something words cannot describe. To create a TIMELESS legacy of what women throughout the world will call "classy", to break the rules and expectations of society, to be an icon of femininity , yet strength and independence at the same time, and THEN do it all , at the time when women were considered but a beautiful ( and useful ) addition to men and literally , having no other special skills other then desire and ambition to be FREE , is ... to be nothing less then a hero. And yet...

She created what we adore now. But at the time she did ... her inspirations were not from happiness, from nature or love. While , I am sure , a few things were created in a bliss of happiness, the majority came from ... trying to get even with her LIFE. She didn't have the money, hence is the cream jersey. It was an underwear fabric. But is was the cheapest. Her life was hard. Let me re-phrase, her life was impossible to live by anyone else by Gabriel herself. And at the times of most grief she created the little black dress, and other so much adored by us pieces. Her life was struggle with speckles of happiness, hence is the cream/gray/black/navy pallet with the tiny bursts of red and green here and there. She dived into work and produced more then ever, when grief was visiting, yet again. We adore and iconize the fruits of her ... misery?

Still she was a genius of her time. And , actually, everyone's time. Chanel is not only what she created - or her legacy now. She did not create thousands of tiny clutches now existing. But they all came from her little black bag. She did not like white - she loved cream. But black and white is now "HER" signature, even if she did not endorse it. Or simplicity of the modern design. Or... The beautiful flower in your hair . Or the heels paired up with the jeans. Or the fitted feminine jacket worn over the T... It's all Chanel. Yes, her creations included nothing like high heels. Yet, just like an artist who expresses himself on canvas, creates a new movement, Chanel created timeless definition of SENSE of beauty. While maybe not made by her direct hands, it is her creation.

PS I haven't seen the movie yet. If you have - please, share.

Style. What is that?

My days are filled in absolute amusement and surprise, admiration and respect. all in equal amounts. I see many people of different classes and races, cultures and ages. In my search for the answer, I see, many times over, that there is a deeper level then initial impression may be. Style has , less then more to do with fashion. Style is self. Expression, feeling , being. Fashion... is also expression , feeling, being. The difference is - owning or being owned.

Style and fashion are life's best mirrors. Just like in life, There are those that know what they want. And know how to get it, no matter now many dead bodies they have to walk over or dinners to skip. Then there are people that don't really know that they are doing, but they are happy to follow whoever said that something is cool. Whether it fits or doesn't, they don't know. They just do it, because someone said it was good for them. Lost, but happy to be so. And then there is the kind that is so scared to be either : too scared to be self, and too scared to admit that they are scared , and therefore, they pretend that nothing matters, loudly announcing that fashion is for fools, while secretly wishing they were among those. And then...

There are those that create it all. They are the people that are confident and secure. They care less what others think. They do what works for THEM, because they are too ... bored? to follow someone else or fit into someone else's standards. And... as crazy as it may be it just WORKS. Because then the rest are there to follow.

Style is life. Life is style. Make it be yours. Be too cool to care. Always.

It's my time now

After a long time my book of life is open. My life ROCKS. It's fabulous. Happier then ever been. Living a dream. I am a performer. Born. Many generations' love for stage came through in success. Finally. Didn't come free. By far.

A pain of a loss is more then I thought it would be. A part that belonged to someone else somewhere else is with me and is empty at the same time. Sometimes it's more then I can handle. I know past is past. I want it to be gone. And it is. Time is the best doctor, I know that much too well. Yet... I just wish I had a magic wand to just make it happen. Now. Today. This minute. And then... I don't at the same time. The memory is precious. The time shared is a treasure. The pictures in my heart and mind are priceless. I would not be me without them. I would not be me without changes either.

I know that there will be many more moments when I'll just want to curl up and cry. And , yet, I am perfectly fine. And happy. Everything is just like it should be. Nobody will know. Opponents will never suspect. Make them happy? Never. I am here to be happy. And I am. Despite of everything.

I see my children pretending to be adults, and I want to shout : no! be kids! let me take care of you! solve your problems. And then I pause. Think. Marvel. Little beings know it all about how to be self. How to be responsible. How to live. I teach them nothing. I learn.

Letting go is hard. Growing up is hard. Living is hard. When you are an adult. And it is all fabulous. Every minute. When you are a child. That is what I am here to be. A child. Strange? Possible. Perfect? Absolutely. Just like everything else in life is. Mine included.

Happy to say that...

I'm happy to say that after a virtual hibernation my raw recipe blog is up and running again. While I have not been posting, I have definitely been inventing ( and eating ) , and now bursting with recipes to share! Check the latest HERE.

I have also come to many interesting realizations and observations after this very interesting and informative summer in regards to food, emotions, health, etc. Definitely sharing. Tomorrow.

The weather outside...

It's getting cold. I've never been a hat person. Well, scratch that. I've never been a hat person while living in UT: dry air = warmer winter, and I forgot what a REAL winter feels like. However, my memory was quickly refreshed by the sudden outburst of a coolness in NY, which, I was told "is nothing". That "nothing" made me really want to put SOMETHING warm on my head. But then , there is that dreaded hat hair... That is when, walking home from the park I found THESE:

Super cute, super WARM, hand made, unique and DO NOT give you that flat hair look. As a matter of fact , you can do a gorgeous updo, and STILL be warm. AND there is about megazillion options for color combinations, size, coverage - you name it, they've got it. Now. How cool is THAT?!

Read THIS!

Double posting , BUT IT IS IMPORTANT!!!

WEEELLL, Friends and more Friends!!! I know what you all loved voting for me on the blog site and all, but this is where it all gets REAAAALLY awesome :

WE GOT APPROVED FOR GAP CASTING CALL!!!! I mean ALL of the kids did!!!

If you think that all that you do it just enter a picture... ehem... , no, not really. It was a head ache and a half to GET the RIGHT kind of picture ( 1 hour in cold weather waiting, several trials and more...), and after spending 2 hours registering and loading , all we got "thank you. your entry will be reviewed for approval. IF you are approved you'll be notified". We almost lost hope, and WE GOT NOTIFIED that ALL the entries we put in were accepted!!!!!

SOOOOOOOO!!!! That's where YOU come in. I mean YOU and in YOU!!!!

If your voice ever needed most, it is NOW. I mean - who cares about elections, right?! Nobody is happy with political situation anyway. But at least you can be happy with the little faces that you see every time TV commercial pops up or when you go to the mall! Besides! Wouldn't it just be super cool to be a direct friend of those little famous faces?! We'll do autographs to all that vote! Promise!

Vote HERE

PS IMPORTANT : votes count EVERY day, ONCE per day from ONE given email addess. Meaning you can vote 10 times if you have access to 10 emails. And it is all cool with rules, we've checked in registration in person. THAT is how all those kids get 21000+ votes. Please, vote for us as often as you possibly can. We REALLY appreciate it. Really.

Guess WHAT?!

WEEELLL, Friends and more Friends!!! I know what you all loved voting for me on the blog site and all, but this is where it all gets REAAAALLY awesome :

WE GOT APPROVED FOR GAP CASTING CALL!!!! I mean ALL of the kids did!!!

If you think that all that you do it just enter a picture... ehem... , no, not really. It was a head ache and a half to GET the RIGHT kind of picture ( 1 hour in cold weather waiting, several trials and more...), and after spending 2 hours registering and loading , all we got "thank you. your entry will be reviewed for approval. IF you are approved you'll be notified". We almost lost hope, and WE GOT NOTIFIED that ALL the entries we put in were accepted!!!!!

SOOOOOOOO!!!! That's where YOU come in. I mean YOU and in YOU!!!!

If your voice ever needed most, it is NOW. I mean - who cares about elections, right?! Nobody is happy with political situation anyway. But at least you can be happy with the little faces that you see every time TV commercial pops up or when you go to the mall! Besides! Wouldn't it just be super cool to be a direct friend of those little famous faces?! We'll do autographs to all that vote! Promise!

So. GO HERE : vote for Yeva, and then under "see all entries by justinandolya1" , you can see ALL pictures. PLEASE VOOOTE!!!

PS IMPORTANT : voting is EVERY day, ONCE a day from ONE given email address. Meaning that you can vote 10 times a day from 10 different emails. We've checked in person, and it is cool with rules. That's how the favorites get 21000 + votes ( that are there right now)

When it's cold and rainy...

Take a seat in one of these:

Turn on one of these:

Pour some warmth in one of these:

And cuddle in with one of these:

Enjoy your weekend!

Need your help, comment please.

So, it was brought to my attention that nobody ( but I ) could leave a comment on this blog. Google explained that it is possible that some computer systems work different. I really need your help. Please, leave me a comment - something like "done', or whatever, after this post. If you cannot, please go HERE and let me know, so that I can fix this glitch.

The way I was able to check and leave comments : click on the comment icon, scroll below the post, there is a box there. Click to type, and then to post , select either an account ( google , or whatever you have, it gives you options) , or select "open ID" ( posts anonymously) . There is no word verification in this system, and the window does not pop-up like usual.

Really need your help. Please , comment.

Need your feedback

It was brought to my attention, that so far no readers of my Life&style blog can leave comments.

From my side, I can, but it is very possible that there is a glitch , and only I can access it.

Please, leave a comment - something like "done" or whatever - HERE, so that I know it is working. If you cannot, please , come back, and leave a comment letting me know, in this post.

I've contacted google, and their explanation is that it is possible some systems work differently from others. Really need your help.

Unique and beautiful

One of my very good friends moved to an absolutely gorgeous flat in England, built in 1460. Looking at the pictures of her gorgeous place, I can't help but wish to place myself into the same ... if not place, at least environment.