Blogging tips I learned 2014.

I was surprised finding out that a new blog is created every half second!!! This is SO much content to read :) So it means I we have to be better than so many blogs, to make our readers entertained, but How?
I was started my blog at 2014 and readed vety much blogging tips. Here are few tips that I'm using and suggesting for everyone. I hope You will find something useful :)

Use images!

Not only it is visually pleasing but it is also interesting, you can share your emotions, inspirations and sometimes feelings also.

Always stay who you are!

No one wants to read something we all readed year ago, but You don't have to copy latest blog post you readed, even if it had a lot of comments or likes. There are nothing more exciting than read something you didn't know and can share with friends. And you can write something unique. How? Easy! We all are unique - just share your thoughts, ideas, personality...

Share your posts.

It's basic - how can I know that you have an amazing blog? Don't be shy and share your posts on twitter, pinterest, facebook, instagram,bloglovin..

Bloglovin!

Have You signed up for Bloglovin? It is the best way i know to share your blog and discover new blogs.

Read!

Books, magazines, other blogs, news. You will get ideas, grammar and if you not only read other posts, but also communicate, you can reach new friends.

Communicate!

Leave comments and respond on comments in your blog.

And the most important - Do what makes you happy, It is your internet space and You can use it however You want! 

Italian wine

Italy is home to some of the oldest wine producing regions in the world. Italy, closely followed by France, is the world's largest wine producer by volume. Grapes are grown in almost every region of the country and there are more than one million vineyards under cultivation.

Etruscans and Greek stellers produced wine in Italy before the Romans started their own vineyards in the 2nd century B.C.

Although wines had been cultivated  from the wild Vitis vinifera grape for millennia, it wasn't until the Greek colonization that wine making flourished.

In 1963, the first official Italian system of classification of wines was launched.

Understanding of Italian wine becomes clearer with understanding of the differences between each region, cuisines.Most noticeable regions are:

* Aosta Valley

* Piemonte

* Liguria 

* Lombardia

* Trentino Alto Adige

* Friuli Venezia Giulia

* Veneto 

* Toscana

* Calabria 

Most common Italy's grape varieties are:

* Arneis 

* Fiano 8.04.2015

* Friulano 15.04.2015

* Garganega 22.04.2015

* Greco di Tufo 29.04.2015

* Malvasia Bianca 6.05.2015

* Moscato Blanc 13.05.2015

* Nuragus 20.05.2015

* Passerina 27.05.2015

* Pecorino 3.06.2015

* Pinot Grigio 10.06.2015

* Ribolla Gialla 17.06.2015

* Trebbiano 24.06.2015

* Verdicchio 1.07.2015

* Vermentino 8.07.2015

* Aglianico 15.07.2015

* Barbera 22.07.2015

* Corvina 29.07.2015

* Dolcetto 5.08.2015

* Montepulciano 12.08.2015

* Nebbiolo 19.08.2015

* Negroamaro 26.08.2015

* Nero d'Avola 2.09.2015

* Primitivo 9.09.2015

* Sagrantino 16.09.2015

* Sangiovese 23.09.2015

Lets spend year with Italian wines :)

Stuffed Cabbage rolls- Tīteņi

Russian Golubtsy also known in my family as Tīteņi (in Latvia) are sige rolls. They are very popular in many European countries. It is believed that this dish was borrowed by Russians and Ukrainians from Turkey, where it's Sarma - meaning "wrapping" or "rolling".

Golubtsy consist of ground meat and rice rolled inside the cabbage leaves, then simmered in tomato-sour cream sauce.

Traditional recipe requires boiling the whole head of cabbage in a pot of boiling water for 15 minutes before separating the leaves. But let's be real - dealing with cabbage in a pot is quite messy. Fortunately we have microwaves :)

So let's begin!

Serves 8 - 10 persons.

Prep time 20 minutes

Cook time 1-1,5 hours

Ingedients:

* 1/2 cup rice

* 2 Tbsp butter

* 1 onion, finely chopped

* 1 large shredded carrot

* 0,5 kg ground pork ( You can use beef or chicken also)

* Salt

* Pepper

* medium head of cabbage

* Garlic, finely chopped

* 5 Tbsp tomato sauce

* 5 Tbsp mayonnaise

Directions:

1. Cook the rice for filling, place 1/2 cup of rice in a fine mesh sieve and rinse under cold running water until the water runs clear, then drain well. Bring the rice, pinch of salt and 1 cup of water to boil in a small saucepan over high heat. Then reduce heat to medium and cook for about 10 minutes and allow to cool slightly.

2. Preheat oven to 170 degrees.

3. To make the filling, heat the butter in a frying pan over low heat. Add the onion and garlic until soft and slightly golden. Place in a bowl with the meat and remaining ingredients. Mix really well to combine until meat and rice mixture becomes sticky.

4. Place cabbage leaves in microwave and cook at 600w for 2 minutes or long enough to soften leaves. You will need 14 to 16 big leaves. Use extra leaves and trimmings to line a deep ovenproof pot.

5. Place a generous tablespoon of meat filling at the base of each leaf, roll firmly to the end of leaf. If you prefer, you can roll and tuck in sides to contain the filling better. Place the first layer in the pot.

6. In a saucepan over high heat, bring the tomato sauce, 3 tablespoons of water and mayonnaise to a boil, add salt and pepper, and it is done.

7.Pour sauce over each layer and on a top. Cover and bring to a boil in oven. It will take about 50 minutes to 1 hour.

8. Serve hot.

Labu apetīti :)

how to be healty tips

Who don't want to become a healthier person? It's easy. All secret is about making gradual changes. Health is a very important priority in life so what are we waiting for?

It may seem obvious that sleep is beneficial. Even without fully grasping what sleep does for us, it is not ssecretthat going without sleep for too long makes us feel terrible. In order to maintain a healthy body, you will need 8 - 10 hours of sleep everyday. This will keep you awake and alert.

Scientists have gone to great lengths to fully understand sleep's benefits, they have discovered that sleep plays a critical role in immune function, metabolism, memory, learning, and other vital functions.

Not only smile, laugh whenever you can. Smiling makes your face look younger and it feels great too. Also smiling slows the heart and relaxes the body and this lets the heart work without overworking. We are more trustful of others when they smile and smile genuinely. Trust is an important part of social health when dealing with people.

Simply just do nothing! It's almost a meditation - stay in a dark room and let the stressful thoughts behind the door. About ten minutes with closed doors and clear mind will leave you feeling refreshed. Do not do more then you can of feel good to do. If you are tired, believe, that dirty dish would not run away - it will be there tomorrow too. It is not meaning that you have to become slovenly. Just manage time to refresh your thoughts and body. Usually after little relaxation you will feel that good to wash dish, clean kitchen and a lot more :)

Really? You really don't know why we have to eat vegetables and fruits? Because they are fruits and vegetables!!!!

It is key in making us run throughout the day. We all have to drink at least 2 liter of water each day. Why? It helps re energize and keep going, helps to reduce acne, headaches and even dehydration. But why water? Why not juice or coffee, or smoothie? Because your body is composed of about 60% water.  That's why!

It feels great, but before you start, don't forget to stretch. This easy form of muscle exercise warms you up and makes you more flexible. after stretching you can run. This doesn't mean that it's necessarily run 25 miles every morning, but jogging or running for about half an hour at an easy pace will keep you in shape.

And the most important health tip - be happy, enjoy your life and celebrate every day!!!

Winter skin essentials

Winter months can trigger many changes in our skin. starting from drying to breakouts from cold. That's exactly why we need to be ultra aware in winter to nourish, hydrate and love our skin. It is not always about fancy skin care routine, it's all about how to love ourselves.

Yes, yes it's true. Water can help us with anything! Maybe, just, because we are made mostly from water. No! Tea, coffee or cider doesn't coun. Just a pure water can help you to keep your skin hydrated and healthy.

During other months You can skip one or two days without moisturizing and everything will be ok, but not the winter. Not even a single day! And even this is not enough - you may have found a moisturizer that works just fine in spring and summer, but as weather conditions change, our skincare routine should too. We have to find oil based moisturizer, rather than water based, as the oil creates protective layer on the skin. Most moisturizers that are labeled as Night cream are oil based. But don't be lazy - choose your moisturizing oils with care, look for non clogging oils, like avocado, almond or grapeseed oil.

Keeping a tube of lip balm in a pocket is a must have in a winter, because these winter winds can take chapped lips to a whole new level. If your lips are flaky, give them a gentle exfoliate to remove excess skin. 

No! No, No, no, sunscreen isn't just for summer. Winter sun combinations with snow glare is even worst than a summer sun. Since exposure to UV rays are more culprit of wrinkles, apply sunscreen whenever you are planning to go out. 

And the most important thing - have fun, make a snowman, take walks, skiing is great, and it is never too cold  - it's just wrong clothe choice :)

1. Wear at least 70% selfmade clothes.
2. Sell or donate any cloth that I didn't wear last year.
3. Track any spending.
4. Blog everyday.
5. Start my Youtube channel.
6. Finish book till april.
7. Have 100 sells on my Etsy shop til february 25.
8. Do kalnciema market every week starting from summer.
9. Have my own shop til december ant Riga
10. Quit smoking.
11.Lose 1 kg every month.
12. Read 1 book every week.
13. Do weekly favourites.
14. Take a photo every day.
15. Upload 10 new Etsy shop Items every week .
16. Set up an emergency found.
17. Run at least 2 times in a week.
18. Learn at least 10 words in German every month.
19. Watch all IMDB top 100 movies.
20. Donate blood.
21. Find out my blood type.
22. Run 10 km at Nordea Riga marathon.
23. Floss every night.
24. Wash my face and moisturize every night.
25. have a manicure every day.
26. Start yoging.
27. Travel to a Island.
28. Hit 1000 followers on my blog.
29. Set u a sewing area.
30. Get my Pinterest together.
31. Do a giveaway.
32. Finish my business plan.
33. Set a deontologist appointment.
34. Learn how to edit HTML code for my blog.
35. Make my handmade Uno.
36. Redesign my blog.
37. Renovate my bathroom.
38. Organize my inspiration magazine box.
39. See the new Rotko exposition at Daugavpils.
40. Watch all O.C. seasons
41. Start a diary.
42. Get another tattoo.
43. Send out Christmas cards.
44. Write random notes in library books for someone to find.
45. Get new laptop.
46. Buy lottery every week til I win at least something.
47. make new friends.
48. For every task done save 5 Euro.
49. Be able to do 100 situps.
50. Read a book in russian.
51. read a book in English.
52. Buy a pair of fancy heels.
53. Host boyfriends birthday party.
54. Go to Opera.
55. Start studying.
56. Make a blanket for friends kid.
57. Go to Christmas Church.
58. Get professional manicure.
59. Take an IQ test.
60. Wake u every workday at 7 am.
61. Enjoy ice skating.
62. Buy car.
63. Have a real Christmas tree.
64. Visit AHA center in Tartu.
65. Become a Latvian National Library member.
66. Visit Madara in London.
67. Go to the Botanical garden.
68. Go to Ķemeru purvs.
69. Buy fancy perfume.
70. Buy fancy eyeshadows.
71. Buy a sewing machine.
72. Finish caret.
73. Start to design and sell Tshirts.
74. Start design and sell carpets.
75. Start design phone cases.
76. Go to the oculist and get glasses.
77. Do a full body inspection.
78. Give only handmade gifts all year.
79. Try to be vegetarian for at least month.
80. Drink at least 1 liter water every day.
81. Visit a zoo.