FROM VIENNA WITH LOVE

Hello beauties, followers and friends!
It's been almost a week ever since I came back from Vienna and somehow life happened and I didn't really had that much time to post about this priceless experience. So here I am now - writing few lines about my empirical research on the best cakes in Vienna cafes.
It's no secret to any of you that I am in love with everything sweet, more precisely with those kind of afternoons when you go out have a cake and coffee with your BFF and just purely enjoy life. Well, that's what I'd been doing for last week. And let me tell you: I LOVED IT!! My new fav place happened to be Cafe Central. My dear friend Polona introduced us and I fell in love. Immediately. It's not only about cakes and coffee, but about the atmosphere itself, live piano music and big painting of Sissi. 

We've tried Apfelstrudel, Klimt's Surprise, Winter Kiss and many more. Eventually we also made it to the famous Sacher Eck right next to the Hotel Sacher and had some of its delights. Polona and Bojan were so kind that they've included me into their Valentine's Day, which made me super happy as I was spending almost the whole day on my own :) Thank you once again! 

Yes, yes, I know. Vienna is not only about good food. And yes, we also tried to be tiny bit cultural. So my new friend Beth and I decided to explore Belvedere Palace, which was beyond perfection. Oh boy, I really wouldn't mind spending some more time there. We've visited Wien-Berlin exhibition about the paintings from 19. - 20. century made in Berlin or Vienna and can only recommend to visit it as well, once you're in Vienna, 'cos it's so grand! 

To point out several other things which I've learned during my stay in Vienna, let me sum up: I discovered who Ludwig Wittgenstein was, where he lived and what he built. Also found out about Karl Popper's research on white and black swans. How ontology and epistemology really works. What really is verification and falsification. But most of all that Vienna really is more than tiny bit marvelous!
So thank you everyone who made this week special and great, to name the few of you: Polona, Bojan, Beth, Annika, Laura, Cristina,... and many many more. And most certainly P.T.J. :))
Lenka, xx

ON A STARBUCKS DATE WITH MYSELF

Hello all of you happy faces!

It's Friday - finally -  and I am in Vienna (again!). Kinda wish it was some other city now, but I am super happy, 'cos I am about to meet up with my long time friends, Polona and Bojan, very very soon! In fact, I believe that Polona is already on her way while I am writing those lines from Starbucks, where  I took myself on a proper Valentine's date. Just me and me! Who else do we need? LOL

Being in Vienna, I am part of the Winter School of Methods and Techniques, because my mentor decided that it's never enough of methodology. BUT besides all of those software statistic courses and methodology courses, what I am really trying to embrace is the love for myself and the others. Not only trying to be my best friend but also to be a best friend for others. To be there for them when needed, to offer a valuable advice and always have something kind and nice to say.

Valentine's day is not only for couples! It's for EVERYONE WHO'S IN LOVE WITH LIFE!! That's how I look at this day and that's how I do celebrate it. With friends and coffee I love in a city I adore!

How about you? What are your stereotypes and cliches when speaking of the Day of Love? Share with me :)

With love,

Lenak, xx

PS: This is the view at the Votivkirche in Vienna, I was having lunch just nearby and was mesmerized by it! 

PERKS OF BEING UNEMPLOYED IN FEBRUARY

Let's face it. To be unemployed has actually a lot more advantages than disadvantages. Or at least I keep on telling this to myself. Daily. I know, I know the BIGGEST weakness of unemployment is actually no income. But keep on looking on the bright site of the problem and count with me:
1. Slow morning - every morning. And not only on Sunday. I have time to sleep in, relax, pilates and smoothie. All things which in fact take time and are not really on your list when hurrying to work. 
2. I have time to think and plan my balanced life. Or at least to work on better life. Not only to care more about what am I eating physically, but also psychically. Food for thought became my daily pleasure. I keep on bookmarking interesting articles and yes, of course, planning on sharing them with you :)
3. Time to think of and set up my own little projects. I know it includes a lot of risk and external support not only from my family and friends but also from all the other people around. Having more time I came across loads of interesting people on internet, who were actually studying something diametrically different from what they are doing right now and oh boy, they are so great in making invitations, online courses or daily excersices. Real inspiration! 
4. Socialista lifestyle! Oh yes, being available almost all day long brings loads of opportunities to hang out and meet up with friends and people I haven't seen in a while. Or just with my friends, when they finish earlier at work, just ring me and yes, I meet them in a local cafe and I am super happy. On the other hand, it also includes a lot of days when I am my own best friend. When everyone around is working and my first words of the day are for a lady at the counter in a grocery or post office. 
5. And the most important especially in FEBRUARY is that I can watch OLYMPICS ALL DAY LONG!!! Basically it is the second thing I do in the morning - I turn on my telly. (The first thing is to put water in the kettle to boil.) So my favorite perk of being unemployed especially in February is, that I can sit here with you, write some nonsense and sometime sense sentences and watch snowboarding! Cheers for you guys over there in Sochi!
So here is my secret life on a PhD student, who hasn't really have that much on work, keep on procrastinating on Pinterest and watching Olympics! For now I gotta go, as I have a lunch date with my friend. Have fun guys and share your thoughts on happy life! 
Lenka, xx

HOW FEBRUARY ROLLED IN

February rolled in and it was a complete silent over here. Was speechless for a while and not that I was missing eventful occasions and adventures in my life - I was mesmerized by Wolf of Wall Street, almost crying during The Labor Day, had a very good salmon pasta for lunch, read some books, got sick, then back on healthy. Life somehow just happened while I was watching, sleeping, reading and cooking.
I've just decided to think it all through once again and try to give some answers to questions I've been asking myself for a while. That's to the silent and creativity block. I've been asking myself for who am I doing this? Why am I actually leaving my thoughts, life, friends and photos here? And how come I stuck to this habit for almost two years?
All very crucial and existentialist ones. Albert Camus would be proud of me. So proud! 
But I've decided for the very last time, that I am doing it ALL for myself. And even if my father was the only one reading those lines, it's all worth it. This online documentation of my love for life will remain here forever and I can always come back to it - back to the days when I was living with my legs up in the air, building air castles and jumping on the rainbows. 
So HELLO FEBRUARY and let's have some real fun! 
Lenka, xx

ON SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT HIGHLIGHTER

Quite honestly I didn't even know about the highlighter at all - let's say till two weeks ago. I discovered this beauty essential thanks to my roommate Katka, who found a girl on youtube, who was using it as the final touch to her already perfect make-up and we both fell in love with it.

Later on I discovered that my friend Petra, who is a beauty freak, naturally uses it as well. Well hello Lenka, it's already 2014 - find yourself a highlighter because sooner or later you're gonna be the last person around walking in the streets of Prague only with your blush!!! Totally exaggerated, but still.

So I got on search and between interviews for several jobs positions I always found myself close to some beauty shop where I could try those highlighters and fix my make-up. Petra also told me to go and try Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick - so I went, tried and deeply fell in love. Still wearing it on my cheeks, because it's so damn beautiful.

But here comes the question, for all of you lovely ladies reading this. Do you use a highlighter? And if yes, which one? Because now I am deciding and having my first big dilemma in this year: Shall I go for Bobbi Brown or for a little bit cheaper version of MAC Finishing Touch?

Let me know your thoughts, they will be fully appreciated!

Lenka, xx

PS: As you can see I put together my very first Polyvore collage. Well excuse me - it's not perfect :)

On Search for the perfect highlighter by etieneeugene featuring a blending brush

1 MONTH AFTER X-MAS AND 11 MONTHS TILL X-MAS

I know, it's 25th January - one month after x-mas and 11 months till x-mas and exactly 25 days of the new year. And yes, I finally bought myself an agenda for 2014. Hurray! 

Agenda is always important to me and I might be the last one person alive who still prefers to write down all the tasks I need to do, then stick some notes over it and highlight important meetings. Just the glitter on top of it is the only thing missing. 

So naturally, it was a long decision process. I was considering Moleskin (all time classic, but a little bit boring to me) and Papelote (a Czech brand with the similar inside design but a lot more playful outside design) and in the end I've decided to support regional business and went for this blue-purple stripped one from Papelote.

How about you? I'm sure you all probably already have agendas, but what are your criteria (of you have one)? Share and love :)

Lenka, xx

5 REASONS I LOVE TO EAT BREAKFAST OUTSIDE

I believe that by now almost everyone knows about my food addiction. To be more precise: breakfast / brunch addiction. You all also know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and we should eat breakfast like a king, lunches like a prince and dinner like a pauper. This is a tricky one, as sometimes I eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a king and dinner like a double king. Buy hey, I know this happens to you as well - especially when surrounded by good company.

So here are my reasons why I love to eat breakfast outside and not alone at the dining table in my apartment.

1. I get to meet my friends the very first thing in the morning. What could be possibly better? Just the pure motivation of seeing their faces makes me "jump" out of the bed.
2. And when you have such a wonderful start of the day, the day itself just must be good!
3. I can chose whatever I'd like and don't have to think whether I did grocery shopping the other evening. Or whether I have enough milk in the fridge or more than one egg - haha. Simply anything!!! 
4. It's connected with exercise a.k.a. I have to walk to the place - which is more or less almost like a morning jog. So it's even healthy for me to take breakfast outside! See?
5. And the most important one: I don't have to do the dishes afterwards!

How about you? What are your reasons to take breakfast outside? Or maybe the reasons why you prefer to take breakfast at home? Besides the only advantage and that is: breakfast in pajamas! Bulletproof. 

WHAT CITY SHOULD I LIVE IN?? LONDON!!

Because it's Friday and all of you working friends deserve a lil fun before the weekend. Here is the link for the fun quiz: What city should you actually live in?
I got London and am pretty pleased. Kinda got me right as stated in the results: You probably look pretty awesome in Burberry trench! Oh well - I am super sure I would look, lol.
So go ahead, take the quiz and let me know in which cities you should actually live in!!!
Have fun!
Lenka, xx

THE ART OF DRESSING UP

I should have read article like this ages ago. Or at least half a year ago when I started studying and spent most of the time at home desperate and hopeless to find a job to pass the day. (I still haven't found one - but that's the different story) So yes, my days were proper pajamas days. Because I can study and also sleep in pajamas - what a convenient outfit, isn't it? And I go to the grocery store twice a week, so other five days easy there - in my pajamas. Sometimes I even changed but my home outfit reminds a lot of pajamas, I just don't call it like that. But when spending the whole day in pajama I was so lazy that I didn't even wanna go out with friends when they all finish work in the evening. 
This article "Rituals for the modern woman" published on Darling (yes yes I really like them!) was exactly what I needed to start up again. They are discussing all kinds of rituals which modern woman should have and keep to brighten up her day. From morning cup of coffee to the healthy nourishment during the day and also about the art of dressing, which is sometimes forgotten when working from home. They encourage to dress doesn't matter the occasion. What matters is how we feel about it and sometimes also in it. 
"Maybe you’ll go as far as wearing heels to the grocery store on a Monday night simply because you want to. Dress for how you want to feel regardless of what activities you have planned or what day it says on the calendar." 
I took this little advice literally and decided to put on a red lipstick when headed only to the library. Because I just felt like it. I refused to have all nerdy look with my glasses and comfy shirt. And also because you simply never know where you go after done with studying in library. (Actually speaking of today, I know exactly where I'll be going, and that is home, as I am hosting a dinner for couple friends.) But anyway. You got the point. Right?
So you, ladies of my life, keep this to your heart and never stop dressing up. Bring the little girl who used to spend the whole day in mom's closet back into our lives. Don't let pajamas rule your world - doesn't matter how comfy it is. And also dress up because you never know who you might run into - on the way back from the library.
Love,
Lenka, xx

For the first time on the ice

It was Sunday afternoon and I thought that I'll make it with my friend to see the Italian movie "La Grande Bellazza" (excuse my non-existent-italian-spelling). But she cancelled and that only opened the door for me to join other friends, who decided to go ice-skating. 

Ice-skating. If I remember right, it was on my "to-do-list-for-2014" - to try all the winter sports. Quite honestly I forgot about ice-skating, at all! For some reason I put only skiing and snowboarding on my list. But then I remembered and decided to go! 

Frankly, it wasn't the very first time I tried ice-skating, but the last time I tried it was long long long time ago, so I basically didn't even remember when and where it was. But all in all, I guess I must have been max 3 times on ice before. Which obviously doesn't count and won't make a pro of me!

Anyway - it was SO MUCH FUN!!! I had more fun than on Friday night out. Seriously. Pretty amazing time and I have to add that I wasn't so useless and lame on the ice. Naturally could be better, but I didn't fall!! Which is worth the medal for me :)

Do I have to add that the best part of it was when we decided to have a chai latte afterwards? Let's keep it a secret and enjoy the ice! Can't wait to try it again next weekend.

How about you - Have you ever tried ice-skating? Does the weather in your home allow it? Share your stories!

Lenka, xx

PS: Sorry for the crappy photo, but it was night and my iPhone is old, lol.