my cupboard love

waiting for the Easter.

What are your plans for the Easter?
I've just looked to these photos and I realized I have to make something special for this year!
I find these marbleized Easter eggs in the first photo just gorgeous - it would be really nice to try to color them like that. So I'm planning to do it this year and here's a very nice description how to do it if you want to give it a try as well.
Moreover, I was thinking about the chocolate cake, but these cupcakes look soooo pretty and the colors are just the colors of spring, aren't they? Unfortunately, I don't have the special form for cupcakes, but, anyway, here's the recipe if you would like to try them.
Or maybe I will buy the form. But I'm 100% sure that if I'll try to bake them, they won't be looking that good as in the picture. Sometimes this saying fits for my kitchen, I have to remember it sometimes:).
P. S. haha, good idea!
xoxo
Ak.

levitation.

photos via Yowayowa Camera

Remember that cool photography idea - Feet First - I told you about?

Now I've found one more brilliant idea!

Natsumi Hayashi is a girl, who lives in Tokyo and photographs levitating self-portraits, how cool is that, ha?
Visit her page to see more!
xoxo
Ak.

ticking boxes.

Remember when I told you about the festival Spring of the Cinema?
I mentioned that I would love to see the new short movie by Tadas Vidmantas.
Well, I didn't see the movie in the cinema, but I did saw the director himself that day! The thing was, I won two tickets to the other movie called Ave, which was at the same time like Ticking Boxes. But my movie was late and while we were waiting, Tadas Vidmantas walked from the hall with flowers. Anyway, now it's on Youtube, so you can watch it as well!
The whole time as I was watching this movie, I knew what's the end going to be. But well, the end is not so clear - isn't it?
P. S. Here's a very funny article for lithuanian readers (written by T. Vidmantas) about working with advertisement company - it made me laugh out loud!
xoxo
Ak.

traveler's gift guide.

photo via Pinterest

I've already talked about finding a present for Christmas, now I thought about finding a traveler's gift.
When I was leaving Germany, I found it really hard to pick up the presents for everybody, so I just came up with the idea - what would be the universal gifts from the journey?
Here's what I think:

It's always nice and easy to buy some jewelery for your girlfriends (I loved this store!) - it's very lovely to wear something from abroad and when someone says "that's a nice bracelet!", she can answer "my friend brought me from England." or whatever. And it's not because it's a chance for you to brag about it - it's more like every time someone notice it, you remember your friend and you remember that country and what they told you about it, because - obviously, it was the first time you met her/him after her/his journey:).
Another gift could be a book - especially written by the classic author of that country (for example, a book of H. Hesse from Germany.). The only disadvantage is that perhaps you will have to find it in English and that may be a problem. I had an idea of finding a cookbook with German food specialties for one of my friend, who loves cooking. But then I realized that the names of the products, which are very specific, will be a hard work for her. So I decided that you can always end up with a nice cover notebook:). As she loves traveling, I took a traveler's journal for her - this one looks very nice as well.
As I searched the souvenir stores, I found a very adorable dark red scarf for men with a little Bavarian blazon on the edge - it's very practical and it looked stylish. But I was a little too late - unfortunately, it was sold out when I finally decided to buy it. Anyway, a scarf or a nice T-shirt with some national details on it (just like this one, haha!)is always practical and I find it nice as a gift as long as it looks not too souvenirish - sometimes it's just a kitch.
Another item from a souvenir store I would suggest - a wine or a beer opener. It's very practical, you can be 100% sure that your friend is going to use it, it's simple and most important - you can always find some cool design decisions with some national attributes, just like this one. And you can always add some fine wine or beer along with it:).
When you are stuck and can't think about anything to buy for someone - food is always an option. In every country you can find food specialties store (just like this one - Käseladen), where you can pick up some interesting and delicious things. And if you can't find anything there - chocolate and candies are always the answer (it may even be with some national attributes as well - chocolate from Russia!).

These are 5 tips for travelers, who are looking for gifts, I hope they helped somehow!
And always remember - even when you are already leaving - it's how every travel happens:).
xoxo
Ak.

Inspiration Monday.

photo via Piccsy

I'm curious - do you worry too much? Have you ever caught yourself thinking about negative things more often than about positive ones?

I definitely did.

And now I've found a great article, where I 've read some interesting things.

Did you know that some people do have a more positive outlook, but almost everyone remembers negative things more strongly and in more detail?

Moreover, we tend to ruminate more about unpleasant events — and use stronger words to describe them — than happy ones.

And what is more interesting that most people can take in only one critical comment at a time and that many good events can overcome the psychological effects of a bad one. In fact, the authors quote a ratio of five goods for every one bad.
I absolutely recommend you to read it here! The second part is more for business routine, but it is interesting as well.

So think about 5 good memories today and try to start your kudos file!

Have a good week!

xoxo

Ak.