12/31/2014

Teja's New Year Resolutions 2015

The New Year's Eve is around the corner and with it the end of 2014. I have to say I was quite pleased with this year – no major health problems, no scary boyfriends, no clingy attention-seeking friends… yes, 2014 has been good to me.

I have learned a lot this year, and if I compare it to 2009, I truly believe I have grown spiritually, as corny as that sounds. I know more what I want, I have more realistic expectations of myself and what is more important, I know my limits. Seven years ago, this would have been impossible, I had absolutely no idea who I was or what I wanted in life and it was a really scary phase. Not a cool scary phase like Julia Roberts has in Eat Pray Love because you know that the movie has a happy ending and everything just works itself out because she’s Julia Roberts. This was the reality of my life with recession knocking on my door, with absolutely no guarantee of a happy ending. In real life, you just don’t know what’s coming next and that can be quite stressful.

That is why I have come up with a to-do list that would help me improve the quality of my life in 2015, so here it goes:

12/23/2014

Wrap a Christmas Present Like a Pro

This Christmas I have decided to go for a theme - brown paper packages with a twist.

12/21/2014

And the Giveaway Winner is...


Congratulations, Kaja!

Thank you for reading my blog and have a very Merry Christmas!

Love,

Teja xoxo

12/19/2014

DIY My Christmas card!

This holidays I wanted to send my friends from all over the world something really unique, therefore I've decided to make unique Christmas cards.

12/14/2014

DIY My Christmas Tree

I have never done a Christmas tree post, mainly because since I have moved away from my parents two years ago, I haven't had an actual Christmas tree. Real trees are too heavy for me (and I won't settle for a small sissy one) and I hate fake plastic ones. So, the last two Christmases I have gone without a tree, but in my defense, I have decorated the rest of my apartment;)

I really thought that this Christmas would be no exception to my new no-Christmas-tree tradition, but then I met the Mellow Moose Team at the Christmas Vintage Fair I had blogged about a week ago, and purchased this really cute wood-and-wool mini Christmas tree. Without anything on, it looked a bit bland, so I decided to DIY it into the fabulous work of art that you see above:)

12/11/2014

A Christmas Card Giveaway! (CLOSED)

What is the one thing that is really great to get for Christmas besides the presents?
Yup, you've guessed it - Christmas cards!
In December 2014, I've decided to host not one, but two Christmas giveaways!
And I'll be giving away these three gorgeous Christmas cards by mima.
I met the artist, Mateja Lukezic, at the Artish Fair, and we just clicked.
She is one of the warmest, most positive people I have ever met 
and her art reflects her amazing energy.
 I was so happy that she agreed to host this giveaway with me.

12/09/2014

Aaaand the giveaway winner is...


Congratulations!!!

Love,

Teja xoxox

12/08/2014

The Christmas Vintage Fair

 Whenever there's a vintage fair organized by VintageVikend in Ljubljana, I get so excited because I know it’s going to be good! And this one was no exception, I mean ‘’Christmas’’ and ‘’Vintage’’? These two words I like used together!

12/02/2014

Soul Fishing Skincare Routine + A Christmas Giveaway! (CLOSED)


I sometimes really envy people with mixed skin. At least you guys have a layer of lipids (fats on the skin). I seriously doubt that I have one, since my skin is really sensitive and feels constantly tight. In the summer, it turns red before you can say ‘’lobster’’ and just as the winter comes, I think: ‘’Oh well, at least the nasty UV rays won’t get to me with all this cloudy and rainy weather, so my skin is going to be fine.’’ Wrong. There’s central heating and then again, there’s the cooooold. If I don’t properly moisturize with a specific face cream that really deeply moisturizes and nourishes, my skin gets flaky and blotchyL Also, I can’t use any heavily scented bath soaps, shower gels or body lotions, they are way too aggressive on my skin. So, here’s my new and updated list from the old one mentioned here.

11/25/2014

Cake pops!

This Sunday was the first time I have ever made cake pops and I was really looking forward to that. I bought all the ingredients, I was super excited about buying the sugary decorations and chocolate melts for the icing, imagining what perfect little pops of pleasure they are going to be in less than 24 hours. The next morning, I nearly jumped out of bed, I swear I was like a kid on Christmas morning, I scurried into the kitchen, waited for my friend to come and help me start baking.

11/18/2014

#CosmopolitanChic Transition Looks

#CosmopolitanChic Daytime Look




11/05/2014

The French Interiors

I thought about it for a long time and decided to write a post about the French interiors that I saw in Paris, it's where I draw my inspiration from and I really wanted to share this with you. I love pouring over pages of interior design magazines, such as Art & Decoration, HOME, ELLE Decor, etc. It gives me so many ideas on how to decorate my own apartment, which is a total work in progress, after almost two years, my books are still on the floor of my living room. Oh well... 

Our home reflects our state of mind; how we perceive the world and how we see ourselves in it; and I honestly believe that every apartment, even the smallest, dingiest, one-bedroom apartment has the potential to be turned into a welcoming warm nest. How? Follow these simple steps.
 1. Go crazy with a bold color, such as red, on the walls, and then tone all the pieces of furniture down with whites, beiges, silvers, etc. (The sheep are optional:)

10/30/2014

How to Survive in a Slasher Movie


Aren’t you tired of the same old clichés in slasher movies? How the virgins never die and sluts get chopped into pieces? How people in a group always split up and thus making it easier for the psycho-freaky Jason to get them, one by one? Sounds familiar?

This post is all about survival. So step aside, Bear Grylls, Soul Fishing is taking over.

Here is slasher movie survival one-on-one:

10/29/2014

How not to go Broke in Palmanova


If you’re from Italy, Slovenia, Austria or Croatia, you must have heard of Palmanova Village Outlet. If not, let me explain in a nutshell – it’s basically a shopping village, with sales all year round. In short – it’s paradise.

This Sunday was my first shopping trip to Palmanova and I have to admit I wasn’t particularly excited about the whole thing since two of my closest friends said that it was nothing special. End quote. Therefore, I was expecting a big warehouse-like building with fluorescent lights and bad ventilation and cheap clothes stacked in piles and people fighting over them like pigeons over crumbs.

I am happy to say that this was one of those occasions when life pleasantly surprises you and gives you something way better than you had imagined. The ‘’village’’ was an actual mini village with detached houses, each a shop on its own, with everything your heart desires: from Lindt chocolaterie, to renowned brands, such as Baldinini, Pollini, Calvin Klein, IXOS, Pupa Makeup, I could go on and on. Like I said – it was paradise. A paradise that caused a big leakage in my wallet, which is not the first nor the last time it has happened. So, I have decided to do something about it – and to blog about this experience, hopefully preventing further faux pases for myself and for all the lost souls making a pilgrimage to Palmanova.

Here’s what you need to know. Before you splurge in Palmanova:

9/23/2014

Enjoy your life like the French!


9/17/2014

And the Giveaway Winner is...


Number 2! Congratulations! Wear them with love:)

Love,

Teja xoxo

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9/08/2014

Soul Fishing + Zlatarstvo Skušek's International Giveaway! (CLOSED)

These are one of my favorite Slovene designs: the sterling silver ginkgo leaf earrings by Zlatarstvo Skušek. I have them and they are fantastic to wear, they go with everything, they are incredibly light and they don't get easily tarnished. Then I thought: Why not have an international giveaway, I mean Slovene designs are so underrated and some really talented artisans just don't get the recognition they deserve. So I called the girls at Zlatarstvo Skušek and suggested to have a giveaway and they were on board! Yay! I love it when people so open for collaborations!

To enter the giveaway, here's what you need to do:

1. SHARE this post on your Facebook Wall
2. Like Soul Fishing Blog's Facebook Page
3. Like Zlatarstvo Skušek's Facebook Page
4. Leave a comment under this very post on Soul Fishing Blog with your email address, so we can contact you if you're the winner:))

And that's all you need to do. Just two clicks on the Like Button, one SHARE on your Wall and you're in the game of winning these unique sterling silver ginkgo leaf earrings. 

The giveaway ends on September 17, 2014 at 17:00 local time (CET).

How will Soul Fishing choose a winner?
By using a random number tool www.random.org

I have never entered a giveaway before. How do I do that? 
You can read my article here.

Happy liking! :)

Love,

Teja xoxo

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9/06/2014

Creative Gift Wrap Ideas

9/03/2014

DIY: Jewelry Hanger

I have been living in my new apartment for almost two years now and the blank wall next to my bed has always been bothering me and I couldn’t quite figure out what to do with it. Do I paint it? No, because the wall opposite has already been painted. Do I make a collage of photos and hang them on it? No, because that would make it too busy and I want my bedroom to be my place of Zen. The problem are two radiator pipes which kind of tie my hands in terms of creativity.

Then it hit me – what if I incorporated the problematic radiator pipes into my new DIY project? I went to OBI hardware store faster than you can say ‘’Soul Fishing.’’

I have to admit, I never imagined having fun while shopping in the hardware store. And the best bit is that there is almost 90% only male customers! Okay, yes, it’s true that they are somewhat old… and grey-haired… and… beer-bellied… you know what? Let’s get back to my DIY project!

8/29/2014

Diy Project: Recycle Your Old Jewelry

I love jewelry. I love it so much in fact, that I have not one, but… okay, I don’t know exactly how many drawers I have choc-a-block full of jewelry, some of it that I haven’t worn in years. You know how these things pile up, you get a few birthday presents with jewelry you’d never wear and then you lie to your friends that the bling is great in order not to hurt their feelings and then the bling stays safely hidden in the drawer.

Then, there are the impulse purchases; you think something is going to look great on you and you’re so psyched about it that you buy it, picturing yourself wearing it for the rest of your life, because it’s so friggin’ great, but then it turns out it’s completely impractical to wear. I remember purchasing a really cool pair of earrings, the design was and still is, absolutely perfect, I love them – but they are really very heavy. I mean, I don’t want to end up with drooping earlobes, like those old ladies from African tribes. So I don’t wear them, which is a shame because I do love them.

8/26/2014

8/19/2014

The Istria Diaries

 With the weather being the way it is of late, wait, scratch that, the whole summer long, I have forgotten what a proper summer in Slovenia feels like. There is no more blistering heat, no more slinky summer dresses, no more balmy summer evenings, it’s just rain, wind and clouds.

The funny thing is that up North, the weather is better than ever. Sunny and summery. And down South, the weather is rainy and rotten. It’s like the whole world is upside down, I don’t understand. Do you have any idea how many slinky summer dresses I have in my closet that are just dying to be worn and don’t get out because it’s too cold outside? It’s not fair!

This weekend, I took a mini break from work, thinking I’m going to have a glorious three day vacay in Istria, instead the weather Gods played a trick on me, and decided to mess it up by first sending a strong gust of wind to unsuspecting swimmers (that would be me) who climbed quickly out of water and rested on the rocks, goose bumps covering my whole body. I then spent the rest of the day wrapped in a beach towel, shivering from the cold, wishing I had brought a sweater to the beach.

 The next day, the weather Gods decided they were bored and played even more tricks on us bathing suit-clad lesser mortals and sent the rain. I spent the entire Saturday indoors reading a book with a thick sweater on, while my friend was quietly snoring in the corner of the room. Yay, we were on holiday!

In the evening, the rain finally subsided and we heard through the grapevine that there is a concert in town. We quickly got dressed and went out. The concert was magical with all the floating lanterns, it was beautiful, fabulous… it was also really really cold! 15 degrees plus wind. People were wearing parkas, while my friend and I were freezing our tails off in light summer sweaters. Unbelievable!
Luckily, the next day was pure sunny bonanza, the weather was perfect, the temperatures were just right, I finally got a little bit of tan and the water was fantastic! The water was so pleasantly warm and lovely, I just couldn’t get enough of swimming. Is there anything better than floating in crystal clear water? I swear I could feel my troubles just melting away with each stroke. It was well worth the long wait! Gorgeous!
 And – I made a new friend? Isn’t it cute?:)
Note to myself: Next time, bring an even thicker sweater and bring it to the beach, that way, the weather is bound to be sunny and hot.

Love,

Teja xoxo

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8/13/2014

Shopping and Eating in Dublin

Hey guys, this post is about one of my favorite activities when I go abroad which are shopping and eating. I have to admit that I avoided most of the mainstream fashion labels, such as H&M, Zara, Topshop, etc. because we have them in Slovenia and also because I am getting fed up with them and was ready to discover something new and fresh, preferably local.

I discovered 9 Crow Street completely by accident as I was passing by the shop windows. Looking back, I think I was drawn by the pretty pastel colors. Upon entering I fell in love with the eclectic interior design, it’s sort of a mish-mash of old and new which is also reflected by the goods: they are part vintage, part brand new. Speaking of which, you should check out the 9 CrowStreet’s label Pretty Owls Drink Tea, it is a kind of homage to unicorns and mermaids. I mean who doesn’t like unicorns? Or mermaids?

8/11/2014

The Cork Diaries: Part 2 a.k.a. In Ireland Drugs Go Cheap

After the trip to the Cliffs, I noticed that my already a bit sore throat got much worse. I could barely swallow food, and I had a bit of a pain in my ears as well, no doubt due to the eternally windy Irish weather that I as a Southie was not used to.

So I went to the nearest pharmacy and got myself these kick-ass throat pills with ‘’anesthetic to quickly numb the throat pain and antibiotic to help fight throat infection’’ end quote. I took one and lo – not only I didn’t feel any pain in my throat after less than a minute, but my tongue felt a little… heavy. Turns out the pills had enough numbing agent to numb a small pony! This would definitely not be sold as an over-the-counter drug in Slovenia. Also, I could not believe that I had to pay only 3.45 euros for 24 throat lozenges. It was a friggin bargain! I wish I had bought more!

That’s when I got an ingenious idea. Since the meds are so cheap in Ireland, I was going to get a bunch of them and take them home, it shouldn’t be a problem, since both Ireland and Slovenia are in the EU. So I got two packets of these things called Lemsip, which is an equivalent of the Slovene Lekadol - turns out they were 30% cheaper! Then, when my cold turned for a bit worse, I also got myself 1000 mg Vitamin C pills, again, not available in Slovenia, as the Vitamin C pills in Slovenia have the sissy dosage of 200 mg of Vitamin C! So, it was definitely a good purchaseJ

The only thing that I really really missed while having a cold in Ireland, was a steamy hot shower. Turns out that up North, they don’t really take showers with hot water up from 38 degrees Celsius like we do in the South. I was bitterly disappointed since having a nice hot shower would be a perfect thing after the cold Atlantic wind almost blowing me off the Cliffs. Instead, I ended up having shower with the temperature of the water at pathetic 28 degrees, maybe even less, almost wishing I had brought a sweater to the shower. I mean, what the hell, paddies, can’t you take a decent shower with boiling hot water, like we do in the South? I know it would be tough at first, but it would harden your spirit. I dare you, descendants of bad-ass Vikings and Celts!

Putting the topic of drugs aside – I met two really interesting Slovene guys while in Cork, which is a miracle by itself since Slovenia is so small, there’s only two millions of us. Anyway, they guys were jugglers, actual jugglers, and the members of the International Jugglers Association (yes, there is such a thing). They were so sweet and even tried to teach me how to juggle (the operative word being ‘tried’). We ended up hanging out, having lunch at O’Flynn’s Gourmet Sausages – they were pretty good, I have to say. It was really interesting from the observers’ point of view to see how the guys were making money as street artists, how they chose a venue, approached the people, working their charm on them. I learned a lotJ
(My sausage sandwich:))
After saying goodbye to them, I went shopping and treated myself to a bit of retail therapy, I bought this incredible lip balm and a gorgeous moisturizing hand cream from the label called Lanolips. I swear, this thing is the best for dry skin! I am so pleased with it.

I also discovered a cute little boutique called Brocade& Lime where I found the cutest replica dresses in 1950s style with the most amazing prints, like lollipops and ice-cream and tiny ships, OMG were they beautiful! If you’re a vintage enthusiast and you’re in Cork, go to Brocade & Lime!


 Also, one of my favorite places to shop in Cork was actually the English Market. I really like grocery shopping:)
A few more photos from the streets of Cork:

Hope you enjoyed this post,

Love,

Teja xoxo

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8/07/2014

The Cliffs of Moher Diaries

If you ever decide to travel to Ireland, this is the place to visit. From my entire Ireland holiday, the Cliffs of Moher were my personal favorite.
Since the bus and train connections in Ireland aren’t that grand (notice me using the local lingo?:)), I think the most elegant way for a tourist would be to go to the local tourist office and book a day tour. I chose the Paddywagon Tours and the cost per person was 35 euros. Since my hostel was also sponsoring (or being sponsored by ?) the tour, it came cheaper, only 27 euros, which was a bargain! So, my advice would be to ask at your hostel if you get a discountJ
Our guide, Gavin, warned us beforehand that there are no rails or fences and that theCliffs of Moher are the cheapest way to get a divorce, since it is only one push away (I have always appreciated the British-slash-Irish dry humor).
(Ever wondered what's at the bottom of the cliffs? Ta-daaah!)

Watching the tourists, I have noticed many faux-passes in the way they were dressed or the way they were acting, so I’ve comprised a hopefully helpful to do list:

So, if you’re visiting the Cliffs of Moher, this is what you should do:

-leave the skimpy skirts and tops and home and dress warmly with a windbreaker on top. A really strong cold wind is blowing from the Atlantic and let’s face it, you’re not a polar bear. Or Irish. Or an Irish polar bear.
-leave the flip-flops at home. There are rocks and stones that become really slippery when it’s raining (which is basically all the time in Ireland). Wear appropriate (waterproof) shoes. (If you’re reading this thinking, well that’s common sense. Well, my experience has shown that common sense ain’t common enough - quite a few people were in flip flops climbing on rocks – and slipping on rocks).
-wear a scarf around your neck to keep your throat warm. You’ll thank me once you get there.

-wear a sweat-proof T-shirt under your sweater. Why? There’s a lot of climbing going on there and you will sweat. Once you stop and pose for the latest selfie, the wet cotton T-shirt under your sweater will feel cold against your back and you can catch a cold later on. A sweat-proof T-shirt will absorb the sweat and won’t feel cold against your skin. I really recommend it.

-have an extra piece of clothing, such as an extra sweater or extra T-shirt in your backpack ready to change.

-do not go to the Cliffs if you have a fear of heights. Seriously. I’ve noticed a couple of people freaking out and running inland towards safety. If you have a fear of heights, why would you walk along the edge of the 218-meter-high cliffs that have no rail? In my opinion, that’s just asking for it!


Hope you enjoyed this post,

Love,

Teja xoxo

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8/03/2014

The Cork Diaries Part 1

‘’Goodbye Slovenia,’’ I thought to myself as I felt the plane take off, the houses and trees getting smaller and smaller through the window. The connected flight to Frankfurt wasn’t very long, mind you. Only two turbulences later, and I was already at the Frankfurt Airport, waiting for the next plane to Dublin, which proved to be easier said than done as a plane in front of our plane had broken down and could not be removed from the landing strip, so all the passengers and the crew had to patiently wait in the plane headed to Dublin for an hour. If this had gone on for another half an hour, we would have been stranded in Frankfurt as the airport closes down at 11 pm.

Luckily, the guys at the Frankfurt airport managed to remove the broken down plane from the landing strip, so we were free to fly off to Dublin. Two hours later, I was roaming like a lost little lamb around the Dublin airport, looking for a shuttle to Cork. Turns out that due to the plane delay, I had missed it and had to wait until 12.30 am for the very last shuttle to Cork, which was one more hour of waiting. It felt more like five! I just collapsed into the nearest chair and waited patiently, caught somewhere between sleep and awake.

And one hour later, I was in the bus to Cork, sound asleep. Three more hours later, I was in the middle of Cork which at 4 am, was completely abandoned. I guess all those rumors about the Irish being party animals weren’t so true after all. I was half expecting the streets to be swarmed with drunk university students, or people undertaking the walk of shame or… something.

Instead, the streets were eerily quiet and so was the hostel I was staying at. I basically just collapsed into my new bed and got high quality sleep for good four hours.

After that, I couldn’t sleep anymore, as the hostel guests had slammed the doors of their rooms so many times it would take a miracle to fall asleep again.

Oh well, I was ready for Cork, anyway, but first – I had to find some grub. Luckily, right next to my hostel, there was a really cute café called the Buttercup, so I ordered a huuuuge sandwich and a huuuuge cup of Americano and I was good to go. 
With no particular plan in my mind, just sheer curiosity, my first stop was the Cork Opera, just for the fun of it. Turns out, there was an opening night that very evening for the Hairspray Musical, so the tickets were cheaper. Did I get them? You bet!

After that, I was roaming the streets of Cork, just like that, stopping at whatever I found interesting, and that’s how I came across the Kilkenny Shop, which held the latest collection of Orla Kiely bags. If you’re ever in Ireland, make sure you treat yourself to an Orla Kiely bag, they are a bit pricy, but well worth the purchase as they are very high quality. I purchased an Orla Kiely backpack mostly due to the practicality factor: I realized that the backpack I had brought with me was way too big and clunky to take on sightseeing. And I really, really liked the new backpack! J Besides, most of the women in Ireland have at least one Orla Kiely bag, so you know… when in Rome… J

The streets of Cork were lively with people, the weather was sunny (!) which was kind of amazing, considering the fact that it’s Ireland! I fell in love with the cute Irish houses, the old streets with pubs, and the relaxed city atmosphere and after a while, I felt right at home in Cork. Just one of the locals.
 The River Lee
 An Old Sweet Shoppe:)
 A Detail on My Way to the Black Rock Castle
The Wall with the Famous Irishmen Graffiti

Then, I had to sit down again, as I had slept for only four hours that night and I needed a new dose of coffee. And that’s how I discovered the Butler Café. They seriously have the best coffee there and the best bit is that is comes with a complementary chocolate! I chose the caramel and salt one, which was a total win! However, the coffee in Ireland in much, much more expensive than in Slovenia. In Ljubljana, which is the capital, a cup of cappuccino costs around 1.50, in Ireland it cost 3.00, so circa 50% more. But on the other hand, everything in Ireland is more expensive than in Slovenia. The food, the drinks, the hostels, you name it.

In the evening, I went to the Hairspray opening night, which was amazing. Mind you, I was a bit worried about the dress code, as in Slovenia and Austria, where I had also lived, there is a strict dress code in the Opera, which means no jeans, no open toe sandals, everybody is really dressed up and then we watch the show in reverend silence, occasionally clapping, even if the show happens to suck. So, I got dressed in the only nice dress I had brought with me, just in case I went somewhere fancy. Turns out, I really needn’t have bothered.
Boy, was I in for a surprise when I got to the Cork Opera. Not only did everybody wear jeans, the Opera was providing snacks, SNACKS, such as ice-cream and popcorn, and other junk food that the Corkonians were happily munching down in large quantities during the performance, as if being in the cinema.

All of this was taking place in the Opera.

In the friggin’ Opera!

This would never happen in Slovenia; the Opera is practically sacred here! The same goes for theater. Can you imagine an actor in the middle of the ‘’to be or not to be’’ monologue and there’s crunching and munching coming from the third row? My point, exactly!

It was an amazing performance though, and I had such a ball!
I feel asleep with ‘’Good morning, Baltimore’’ stuck in my ear.


Hope you enjoyed this post,
Love,
Teja xoxo

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