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55:18-3. Qualifications of prospective lessee
Before any lease is entered into under authority of this act the prospective lessee shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the municipal governing body:
(1) Its financial capacity to undertake the proposed conversion, maintenance and operation, including reliable commitments for any financing reasonably required to meet its obligations under, and resulting from, the terms of the lease; and
(2) Its possession of adequate experience in, and qualification for, the management of projects of comparable type and magnitude, or firm agreements to acquire the same through contractual arrangements conditioned upon execution of the lease.
L.1983, c. 335, s. 3, eff. Sept. 2, 1983.
Section: Previous 55-17-7 55-17-8 55-17-9 55-17-10 55-17-11 55-18-1 55-18-2 55-18-3 55-18-4 55-18-5 55-18-6 55-18-7 55-18-8 55-18-9 55-18-10 Next
Last modified: October 11, 2016


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14K White and Yellow Gold with .45ctw White Diamonds and .55ctw Yellow Diamonds
Celebrate the beginning of your forever journey through life with the woman of your dreams with this breathtakingly beautiful yellow diamond engagement ring. An amazing canary colored oval diamond is secured at the center of this engagement ring with four bold prongs of lustrous yellow gold. A halo of demi-pave set round yellow diamonds surrounds the center diamond with a luminous and brilliant elegance. A second halo of demi-pave set round diamonds in white gold surrounds the haloed center diamond adding a radiant and dazzling brilliance to the timeless design of this amazing engagement ring. Diamonds cascade along each shoulder of the ring completing the stunning luminosity and elegance of this gorgeous engagement ring.
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14K Yellow Gold with .04ctw Diamond and 5.5ctw Blue Topaz Ring Set in the warmth of 14K yellow gold with a textured finish, this 5.5 carat blue topaz shimmers with...

subset: commoncrawl


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Filter By:
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Sun's Atlas X-Type is built to withstand tough riding and hauling the heaviest cargo in the harshest conditions. For superior durability and low maintenance, it has a unique steel X-frame and a tough steel fork, a rust-resistant chain and sturdy 26-inch alloy rims with heavy duty 12g spokes. There's also an integrated rear rack that can carry up to 50 pounds of gear. And, the frame design allows quick and easy mounts and dismounts, a handy feature if you're making deliveries. You'll also love the comfortable springer seat and the swept-back handlebars that put you in a natural and comfortable position on every ride. And the fenders mean you're ready for any weather.
You'll have a blast cruising paved roads, bike paths, or maybe even a little dirt on Sun's RevMX. It's Klunker style frame with coil-sprung saddle and extra-wide handlebar will get you where you need to go in comfort and classic style. Single-speed simplicity and a hands-free coaster brake make this bad boy ridiculously easy to maintain, and knobby 27.5 x 2.4-inch tires provide stability and traction on varied terrain. When you arrive at your destination, the included sturdy steel kickstand will come in handy.
The Shortcut is a purpose-built folding bike for the rider who finds their free space is limited. It's compact, lightweight, easily folds away, and can spring into action with the flick of a few levers. The single speed and coaster brake provide a simple, fun, and low-maintenance ride. This Shortcut is the perfect roommate and travel companion!
The Steamroller is the bicycle in its simplest form — the fixie. You may be thinking, "Fixies are so 2008" or "All the blogs I read say I should like something different now." Well, the Steamroller is different. Built for the streets, it has a geometry that's closer to that of a road bike than a true track bike. Couple that with its double-butted 4130 CroMoly steel construction and 38c tire clearance and you have yourself a lively and resilient ride that can handle potholes, grass shortcuts, urban trails, and back alleys like a champ.
Sometimes small wheels just don't cut it anymore. The Divide 700c is a big-wheeled urban shredding machine. Takes your BMX roots and apply them to bigger wheels — a bike that'll take you from A to B with speed and style. Plus, you'll have a ton of fun on the way. - 1020 Hi-Ten steel frame with Chromoly downtube and seat tube - Radio Divide Chromoly fork - Radio Divide alloy hydroformed bars
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There are certain scenes in some past British comedy programmes which have passed into our folklore. Several moments from the epic Fawlty Towers series come to mind.
In one famous scene a severely concussed Basil Fawlty is welcoming a party of Germans to his hotel and warns his staff, "Don't mention the war".
From then on in, it becomes a master class in getting it wholly wrong.
"Don't mention the cycling", I hear you say. But, hang on, signs on the boundaries of the town have been proudly saying "Harrogate Welcomes the World" for weeks. And Harrogate International Partnerships did precisely that. Representatives from our twin towns, Montecatini Terme in Italy, and Barrie in Canada came to join us and reminded us of the joy of "twinning".
They enjoyed Yorkshire hospitality with the participants from a staggering 49 different nations. Nobody knows how twinning first started, but it may well have been a way of pursuing reconciliation between the nations after the war.
Montecatini is a beautiful spa town (like Harrogate). Admiral Sir Robert Barrie, the founder of modern Canada (Barrie is named after him) married into the Ingilby family and is buried in Ripley Church. Apparently other "twinnings" come about for more arcane reasons. Dull in Perthshire is twinned with Boring in Oregon.
A Dull-Boring twinning event must be quite something. In the end I mentioned the cycling, but I think I got away with it.
On the schools scene, more polarisation.
Primary schools in the Midlands again found themselves targeted by angry parents. Parents who believe that lessons about same sex relationships should not be on the curriculum for very young children. In the same week the Labour Party announces that it will put the abolition of private schools into its next election manifesto. Yikes, since I am a governor in both a state school and a private school, I suspect I won't be allowed to sit on that particular fence for long.
Furthermore controversy will soon rage about children without medically recommended vaccinations not being allowed to attend school.
If it becomes "Don't mention schools", I really am sunk.
And then we come to the use of language. As a linguist, I try to use it properly.
If the grammar expressing an idea is faulty, it can easily change the meaning of a phrase or sentence entirely. We all learned that from a seminal book title some years ago. Lynne Truss wrote "Eats, shoots and leaves" to demonstrate how a badly placed comma could change a harmless panda into a murderous beast.
Language can also be used in a way which is powerful and dangerous. Referring to the letters of the alphabet, Benjamin Franklin said, "Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world". Schools are in the vanguard of teaching proper discourse, along with values of courtesy, honesty, respect for others and tolerance.
Our Parliamentary discourse is falling well short of the standards it requires of our schools. In fact if OFSTED had been called into Westminster last week, the place would immediately have been placed "in special measures". Even the stuff they send us is sometimes gibberish. "We expect children getting top GCSE grades to be cut in half under the new GCSE reforms". Sounds extreme to me. Finally, there's Brexit. Don't mention it. Well, I just did…but I think I got away with it.


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This is an Encore performance of our "Swing Set" night. We really mix it up with swing, some tango, Waltz and cha-cha for this very special crowd of avid dancers. Janet Hammer to join in.
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: February 9Private Party
Later Event: March 17La Jolla United Methodist Church


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AUSCUFFLINKS – Navy Pink Flamingo Pocket Square
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You don't often come across homes like this one. It's a real show stopper! Check out this million dollar listing. Both photos and video are available!Read More
This week we take you over to Merion Station, to 546 Howe Road. The sunny back deck, the large white living space, it all takes you in and makes you feel at home.Read More


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Well this is the third day of my happy meme. Today I was happy that I had a safe trip to work and back even though the weather was nasty. The roads are slick but better tonight. What will really make me happy is if we have no more snow for awhile. :)
Waiting on some beautiful boy to To save you from your old ways-The Killers
16 December 2008 @ 11:45 pm
Happy meme day three
4 comments —
jackieville on December 17th, 2008 12:57 pm (UTC)
I'm so happy you're safe!
*sends you lots of sunshine*
*sends you lots of sunshine*
lijahlover on December 17th, 2008 04:25 pm (UTC)
Awww thanks I'll take it hun :)
glamoursnipe on December 17th, 2008 04:01 pm (UTC)
No more snow: I second that! :)
lijahlover on December 17th, 2008 04:25 pm (UTC)
I know I wish I liked snow :)


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A Song Of Ice And Fire or, as the show is titled, Game Of Thrones, is a vast world with a very extensive history. The events George R.R. Martin has created are so detailed and go so far back that it's sometimes hard to believe this isn't a real world, and it makes us wonder exactly how he comes up with and remembers it all.
Some of the history is extremely relevant to what's happening in the world of Westeros right now, so if you've forgotten some of it or just never knew, take a look through this timeline compressed as much as possible. We sadly can't note down every detail, or both the writer and reader would be here for years, but this is a good guide to the essentials!
This was the beginning of Westeros; when the First Men arrived from Essos. The Children of the Forest were the first ones to live there, and it's still unknown exactly how long they did live in Westeros for; but the First Men came and took over, crossing into the land that would eventually become Dorne.
There was a war between the First Men and the Children of the Forest, although information has lately shown that they may actually have worked together more than they were at war. This age lasted more than 2,000 years, although much like most of the information from back then, the exact details are unknown.
When the Dawn Age ended, the Age of Heroes commenced. There was a pact between the Children of the Forest and the First Men, although a lot of kingdoms rose and fell during this time since it took a while for a system to be clearly worked out and agreed to. Most of the noble houses' history seems to begin during this time, and a lot of the structures we're familiar with now were built — such as Winterfell, and even the Wall itself.
It was mostly a peaceful era, but the longest and darkest winter Westeros has ever seen did belong to this time.
The Andals crossed the Narrow Sea under the banner of the Faith of the Seven, the major religion known in Westeros at the time that the show and books take place. The First Men and Children of the Forest fought against them as they attempted to conquer Westeros much like the First Men had, and the war went on for centuries as the religion spread across the land and they began to raise their own kingdoms.
The details about this time period are fairly unknown, and it could have taken place any time between -8000 AC and -2000 AC. All we know for sure is that it was long before Aegon conquered.
Aegon the Conqueror invaded Westeros around -2 AC and managed to overthrow most of the Seven Kingdoms pretty quickly, establishing his capital in King's Landing. Using three dragons to secure his reign, he melted the weapons of his enemies after winning into the Iron Throne; the throne that would later be fought over fiercely. He appointed most of the noble families at the head of their regions after his victory, although Dorne successfully managed to defend their territory and remained independent.
This began the Targaryen Dynasty sitting on the Iron Throne, a family reign that would last 300 years.
The Targaryens began to rule over Westeros, but it was not an easy rule. With so many problems in the family—mainly due to the intermarrying and dragons at their disposal—there were plenty of wars (most notably, the Dance Of The Dragons, a civil war which involved a fight for the Iron Throne between Targaryens).
The last Targaryen king to rule was Aerys II, who was perhaps the maddest of them all and would burn his enemies with wildfire. He intended to finish King's Landing and all of its inhabitants by burning them alive and burning the city to ashes.
Aerys had opposition in his plan from Robert's Rebellion. Robert Baratheon claimed that the war was started over Aerys' madness, when in reality he was jilted because his beloved ran away with Aerys' son. Falsely claiming it was an abduction, he raised his banners against Aerys and the war that would later become known as Robert's Rebellion won.
Robert managed to slay Rhaegar Targaryen at the trident and Jaime Lannister slit Aerys' throat, leaving the Iron Throne to be usurped by Robert. He placed himself on it, ensured there were no more Targaryens left to challenge him in Westeros, and so began the reign of House Baratheon on the throne.
House Baratheon's reign was a short one. For 15 years Robert ruled in relative peace, with the only Targaryens who could have possibly challenged him far away in Essos. He married Cersei Lannister and created three children with her, leaving an heir to the Iron Throne in the event of his passing.
The Lannister influence became extremely heavy over the throne with Cersei as queen, Jaime on the Kingsguard, and Tywin Lannister very close — the most dangerous of all of House Lannister. Upon Jon Arryn's death, however, Robert Baratheon decided to ask Ned Stark to be his Hand, a friend he could trust and one starkly different from the Lannisters.
The books and/or show pick up with Robert traveling North to ask Ned, and we've all seen the rest. The discovery that Joffrey isn't truly Robert's son, Robert's so-called hunting accident engineered by his wife, and all that followed. The Iron Throne has cycled through to the Lannisters now, and an even greater threat looms from the North, leaving some people to wonder if the fight for the throne even matters any more.
It's become fairly clear that however Westeros ends, it will be a changed system; the Iron Throne has had so many monarchs sat on it that yet another simply wouldn't be a satisfying ending. Maybe it'll be melted down, maybe it won't exist at all after the White Walkers reach it. We'll see.


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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53681458914519602662019-08-18T14:59:57.343+02:00Kwa NanjuYummies and Lifehacks | A Personal ArchiveNafeAQhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-15595400712183194392019-08-12T19:29:00.001+02:002019-08-12T19:29:44.909+02:00Make Your Own Yogurt
I'm a big fan of thick, slightly tart, creamy Greek-style yogurt. Two problems: I can't find any in the city I live in AND I'm sure that if I did find it, I'd have to part with more coin than I want. So I taught myself how to make yogurt (with lots of help from Google) about a year or two ago. Parking this recipe here for future reference. This ones fits in both lifehacks and yummies. Win-win.

You'll need:

1.5 liters of fresh, preferably whole milk

1/4 cup of yogurt (buy some then always save some for future batches)

A food thermometer

Glass jars + a cooler bag OR a slowcooker OR thermos (either way, they need to be big enough to hold 1.5 liters liquid)

Hot water (enough to fill your jars)

A pot

Spatulas

Stove

Colander lined with a dishtowel

Bowl

How-to:

Heat the milk to 82-85 degrees Celcius.

While the milk is heating, add hot water to the jars and place in the cooler bag to warm it up. If you're using a thermos or slow cooker, put the hot water in and close the lids. Set aside.

When the milk has reached 82-85 degrees, take it off the heat. Cool it 42-45 degrees Celsius. If you've got places to be and people to see, set your pot in another pot or container filled with ice water. This'll speed the cooling up.

Grab your yogurt starter and thin it a bit with some of the milk. When the milk is at 42-45 degrees Celsius, add your yogurt - stir for a bit to mix well.

Pour the water out of your incubating dish. Add the yogurt and milk mixture and close the lid. Go live your best life for at least 6 hours. Et voila - after at least 6 hours your yogurt is ready.

 Once the yogurt has set, pour it into the colander lined with a dishtowel. Cover and come back in 4+ hours. Scoop the mixture into a bowl and whisk for a minute or so to make it smooth and creamy. Put it in a jar and keep in the fridge until you're ready to eat. That's it.

Back Story

In short, desperation leads to creativity. Slightly longer version here >>> I started making my own yogurt because I had to travel 1-1.5hrs if I wanted fresh, unsweetened and unflavored yogurt. I was living in Zomba at the time and had to go to the next town over to get some fresh yogurt. When I did get my hands on the yogurt, it was too watery and not tasty enough. Since traveling that far for something I didn't really like wasn't working for me, I took to google. After lots of trial and error, I figured out how to make the yogurt to my liking.

There are tons of ways to use yogurt! I make a batch every week or two. I typically have mine with a teaspoon of honey, occasionally I'll add fresh fruit. I've also added it to overnight oats, smoothies or marinades. More recipes coming at some point soon.
NafeAQhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-42226780620179584782019-07-27T17:20:00.000+02:002019-07-27T17:20:23.203+02:00TestI'm back! Kinda..just testing a post to create some new custom labels. New content coming real soon!NafeAQhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-55626398665353637342016-06-24T16:00:00.000+02:002019-08-03T11:08:38.709+02:00Woza Friday | Five Food Blogs I Follow

I've been thinking about food quite a bit. Since I have quite a number of food allergies, it's sometimes hard to find recipes that are suitable for me. Finding inspiration for what to cook or eat can also be tricky. It's taken me a while but I've stumbled on some blogs that are really helpful. Some of these are new, others I've been following for a few years now. If you need inspiration for what to cook and how to prepare it, take a look at these five food blogs:

Budget Bytes - I've been a fan of budget bytes for a while. Eating can be expensive, but Budget Bytes proves that you don't have to break the bank to cook delicious foods. I'm made BudgetByte's Thai Coconut Curry Braised Chicken Thighs last Friday and it was tasty!

Minimalist Baker has been a staple of mine for about three years. I love the versatility of the recipes on the site. Most of the recipes 10 ingredients or less, one bowl, or 30 minutes to prepare. A few of my favorites: DIY Gluten Free Flour Blend, 5 Ingredient Granola Bars (contains nuts so sadly I don't make these anymore) and Avocado Boats.

The Iron You's Cauliflower Crust Grilled Cheese is to die for! And I despise cauliflower so that's saying something. I love the site's tag line "Eat Well, Exercise More, Become A Healthier You." I strive for all three and love than I can find a bunch of healthy, delicious recipes and motivation.

I stumbled across Ndudu by Fafa on Youtube. I wanted to learn how to make jollof rice and her recipe was one of the first ones I clicked on. The rest is history! Fafa makes west African inspired recipes with a Western twist. Her recipes push me out of my food comfort zone and re-introduce me to flavors so similar to my mom's cooking.

Kwa Nanju - please indulge my little bit of shameless self promotion. All the amazing blogs above are a wonderful source of recipes, motivation and inspiration. However, none of them are specifically tailored to me. At the end of the day, I know myself best. I know what foods I can eat, and what flavor combinations I enjoy. This blog is my cookbook, a completely Nanju-proof catalogue of what to eat and how to eat it.

I follow a ton of blogs and it was hard to pick just a few. Maybe they'll be a part 2 of this list at some point in the future. Do you have any to add? Drop a line in the comments section.

Woza Friday!

Image source: PixabayNafeAQhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-73599969640788402852016-06-22T03:44:00.000+02:002019-08-03T11:00:22.107+02:00Hydrate with Cold Brewed Hibiscus Tea
Summer is officially here (and by here I mean New England)! With rising temperatures, hydration should be at the top of your summer to-do list. My daily fluid intake is about 3 liters (around 100 ounces). Drinking only water to get to 3 liters can be a drag. This is where cold-brewed hibiscus tea or sorrel comes in. This tisane is full of antioxidants and other goodies. Plus it's a flavorful, spicy alternative to plain ol' H20. Meeting your hydration goal doesn't have to be so bland!

Recipe | Cold Brewed Hibiscus Tea

1 cup dried hibiscus

¼ cup fresh grated ginger

5 whole black pepper seeds

5 coriander seeds

5 green cardamom pods

3 cloves

1 star anise or 1/4 tsp fennel seed

½ cinnamon stick

8 cups cold water

¼-½ cup sweetener of choice

Steep the hibiscus, ginger and spices in cold water in the fridge for at least 8 hours in the fridge. (Watching the colors change is a fun distraction ) Dissolve your sweetener of choice with a little hot water in the jar you'll be using to store your tea. Then, place a large strainer over the jar and pour the liquid over it. Squeeze any extra liquid out of the mixture. Shake the jar a bit. Serve ice cold. Add a splash of white rum if you want a little punch, but make sure you drink an extra glass of water.

Perks of Hibiscus Tea

Full of antioxidants

Improves digestion

High vitamin C content (hello immune system boost)

Relief from cramps and menstrual pain (Hallelujah!)

Quenches your thirst, especially tasty after a tough workout

Lower blood pressure

Helps alleviate depression

Hydration Etiquette

Over 70% of our bodies are composed of water. It's so important to make sure you keep your body well hydrated, especially in the summer when it's hot out. Also adjust your fluid intake based on how much you sweat, how humid it is, and how much physical activity you do. How you hydrate is up to you. I typically drink 2 liters of cold water a day, then add about half a liter each of my cold-brewed hibiscus and hot tea (no caffeine).

How much water you drink per day depends on your body's needs. Conventional wisdom says at least 2 liters a day. Other's say half your body weight in ounces (if you weigh 150 pounds - 150/2=75, so 75 ounces of water. Another way to check? Look at the color of your urine. Your goal should be a consistent colorless or light yellow tinkle. Darker colors are a sign of dehydration.

Perks of Hydration

Happy body - every cell in your body needs water to survive and function well

Aids with digestion

Promotes skin health

Helps beat/prevent hangovers

Alleviates (some kinds of) headaches

Lubricates your joints and helps ready your body for a workout

Boosts energy

Go hydrate! Water alone is great, but sometimes you need a little flavor. That's where this yummy cold-brewed hibiscus tea comes in. Kalibu!

Image sources: T.Kiya, Kwa Nanju

email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-82584816574895281422016-06-10T21:30:00.000+02:002019-08-03T11:01:17.695+02:00Woza Friday Five | June 10, 2016

Welcome to Woza Friday Five! This is a weekly list series of things I enjoyed/experienced/thought about/felt etc. It's my version of 5 Things Friday. Here's what rocked my world this week:

The "here and now": I'm preparing for a major life change and I'm freaking out. There's so much to do and to prepare for. The tangible things require lots of planning and endless to-do/to-buy lists. My emotions are also all over the place. Small reminders to practice being present and gratitude have been popping up everywhere. This quote has been a lighthouse:

Yoga: My yoga practice is evolving. I started practising yoga for as a physical workout. I didn't expect to find any mindfulness, but that's exactly what I found. Poses that were once torture are now places of comfort and meditation. As soon as I settle into a pose, I let go of the physical sensations and draw inward to give myself a mental and emotional check in. Bring on the healing!

Yarn braids: Late last Saturday, I felt the impulse to change my hair. So, I got my stuff together and started installing my yarn braids. They're smaller and shorter than my go-to style, but I'm falling in love with the look!

Reading! I've always been a voracious reader, but school changed my habits. I've been getting back into regular reading and have a growing reading list. I just finished reading A Thousand Splendid Suns. Up next is The Unbearable Lightness of Being, then Questions for Ada, then Around the World in 80 Days.

Gold nail polish: My nail polish choices sometimes catch me off guard. I usually stick to dark colors but somehow end up with the occasional burst of color. I've been wearing gold on my toes for two weeks. I didn't think I'd last a day, but laziness struck. The brightness has grown on me.

Woza Friday!

firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-31287650281752531122016-06-07T21:35:00.001+02:002019-08-03T11:01:59.532+02:00My Food Allergy Story

Here's the thing, living with food allergies is really taxing. Food is meant to nourish your body and bring joy. When you're allergic to a lot of things, you quickly learn that food isn't so straightforward. The simple acts of grocery shopping, cooking and eating became muddled with confusion and frustration. I found out about my food allergies about two years ago. Up until that point, I'd lived my life thinking chronic headaches were my portion. That's over 20 years of pain and of eating all the wrong things!

Spring 2014 rocked my world. I was having full-blown allergies to all things New England springtime. Before then, I never really struggled allergies and enjoyed all foods. My only problem was chronic headaches. I've had migraines for as long as I can remember and no-one could explain what caused them or treat them. Since they couldn't help, I stopped seeing doctors and taking any medication. But when I suddenly started getting bad allergies, I sucked it up and sought medical attention. I went to an urgent care center and they prescribed some drugs. That didn't help, I was still feeling miserable. So I went to see a naturopathic doctor.

Naturopathy has been a blessing, I tell you! My naturopath suggested that my problems weren't just a reaction to the environment, but also to the foods I was eating. We came up with a game plan. I had some blood tests done, went on an elimination diet for about 6 weeks, and started taking some vitamins. I started paying more attention to food and how my body reacted it. I haven't had a migraine in two years and my seasonal allergies are more controlled.

Results from my blood tests revealed the culprits that were making me sick. Wheat, corn*, soy, peanuts, walnuts, shellfish, sesame. I panicked. The first four foods were staples in my diet and also happen to be key ingredients in a lot of foods. I'd been enjoying them for years. Realizing these foods were hurting me made me distraught and depressed.

All the foods I loved and indulged in frequently - pastries, baguettes, pizza, nuts, edamame - became my enemies. I couldn't trust myself or anyone else to cook, and going out to restaurants became a hassle. Resisting the temptation became a daily test. I know how delicious all the foods on my no-list are, but I also know that they cause bloating, headaches, sluggishness and skin issues.

The last two years have been a dream! For the first time in my life, I know what living without headaches feels like. Aside from the headaches, I've always maintained a healthy lifestyle. I adapted to living with headaches so they didn't interfere with my life. I powered on and found how to cope. But when my diet and lifestyle changed, I became a new woman!

I've done some more testing and now know which foods to stay away from. I can eat corn, but am still allergic to wheat, soy, shellfish, and sesame. I'm allergic to all tree nuts and peanuts. I have to avoid them like the plague because exposure could be life-threatening. My hardest challenge right now is adapting to a new set of food restrictions and teaching myself how to cook and eat differently.

So health and a positive relationship with food are my portion. It's certainly a little harder to maintain both than it used to be, but not all foods are my enemy. There are plenty that bring joy and health.

Image sources: Unsplash, Pixabay
firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-54840657218567853272016-05-13T21:31:00.002+02:002019-08-03T11:04:26.541+02:00I'm allergic to ALL THE NUTS

Earlier this week, my allergist informed me that I should stop eating nuts. ALL THE NUTS!! I'm no stranger to food restrictions, I've been through the whole elimination process before. I'm back to square one and struggling. My lists of forbidden foods is growing and I can't help but pout. It's not easy to stomach news that the foods that I love are in fact hurting me. It sucks.

I've known for about two years that I'm allergic to some nuts - namely peanuts and walnuts. When I first found out about my allergies, I made some lifestyle changes. Before you side-eye me, eating/cooking are a lifestyle. Cutting peanuts and walnuts out of my diet wasn't easy. But I did it. I found alternatives and modified recipes to fit my new diet.

As with any lifestyle change, switching my diet completely was and continues to be a daunting task. I had just learned how to cook and adopted healthy food habits. But then, I got news that every time I ate, I was contributing to my unwellness. I became anxious about all things food related. I learned to scrutinize every food label and menu. I became picky about all things related to food. I taught myself how to quiz hosts at parties and waiters at restaurants. I came up with an elevator pitch explanation of my allergies to skeptics a. The whole process was depressing, frustrating, stressful, and exhausting.

Now I'm back in that nightmare. This business of cutting out nuts is making me relive an unpleasant time in my life. I have to re-adjust and get used to a new set of restrictions. I have to be hyper alert and cautious about cross-contamination.

A more challenging task will be learning how to live without some of my favorite things. No more almond or cashew milks. No more nut-full granola or granola bars. No more thendo stew (almond chicken stew). I have to rework my favorite recipes and find substitutions. I can't make some of my go-to meals anymore because.

Ultimately, I know that cutting out ALL THE NUTS will result in a healthier me. But I'm nervous and frustrated yet again. I've been through this before and did not expect to ever have to adjust to new allergies again.
NafeAQhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-74904684314923892732016-04-29T21:24:00.000+02:002016-06-22T17:15:22.686+02:00Recipe | Oat Waffles for One

 I love waffles and other deliciously wheat-full breakfast foods and baked goods. But i'm gluten intolerant, so even the occasional indulgence can be dangerous. Luckily, there are plenty of gluten free flours available - my favorite OATS! Naturally, since waffles are a breakfast staple, I've tested a few flour combinations and found one that sticks.

I use oats because they're cheap and easy to find. I also like the texture and taste that oaf flour waffles have. It's the closest combination I've found to using wheat flour. I've tried using a blend of tapioca and rice flour, but they didn't do it for me. I only use this blend when I'm making savory waffles.

Back to my oat waffle recipe. Prep takes 15-20 minutes, making this the perfect mid-week treat or weekend indulgence. Pro-tip: if your mornings are hectic, prep the dry ingredients the night before so they'll be ready when you wake up.

Recipe | Oat Waffles for One

¾ cup Oats

1 tsp Baking powder

¼ tsp Salt

⅛ tsp each cinnamon, allspice, ginger, & cardamom

1 tbsp Sugar or maple syrup

⅓ cup milk*

2 tbsp Melted coconut or canola oil

1 egg*

½ tsp vanilla

Add all the dry ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until the oats turn into flour. In a bowl, combine all the wet ingredients. Pour the dry into the wet and mix well. Let sit for 5-10 minutes to allow the batter to thicken a little. While you wait, preheat your waffle iron and prep your toppings. When the batter's had time to sit, cook it according to your waffle iron's instructions. The waffles are ready when they're crispy and light brown. Serve with your favorite toppings. I'm partial to maple or ginger syrup, almond butter, banana, and avocados.

*I recommend using dairy and egg instead of substitutes. I've tried using substitutes but find that they alter the taste and texture of the waffles. If you need an egg substitute, combine 1 tbsp ground flaxseed and 3 tbsp warm water, let sit for 5-10 minutes then use as normal.

Kalibu!

email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-74960353806933510402016-04-14T02:58:00.001+02:002016-06-11T19:09:27.438+02:005 Essential Tools for Graphic Design

I'm no graphic design whiz. I have a certain look in mind for my blog posts, and realizing it with my limited skills requires a bit of creativity. Luckily, I've discovered a range of resources that make the task of creating graphics less daunting. This list is a collection of the resources I use most for my blog posts. The resources allow me to easily create and edit graphics with ease for free.

Canva is one of my favorite graphic design tools. It's user-friendly and has plenty of customizable templates. I use it almost every day at work to create pictures for social media and flyers.

GIMP is a free downloadable image editor that is used for photo retouching, image composition, and authoring. I don't have the money to pay for Photoshop so GIMP is the next best thing. I'm still learning how to use it, I think it's time well spent!

Using images without permission can get you in some serious trouble. If you use images from around the internet for any purpose, make sure you have the right permissions. Either get permission directly from the source or use images that are in the public domain. Here's a list of 30 free stock photo resources.

Freepix is a library of free vector graphics. To use the vectors, download and edit them using your image editor of choice (I use GIMP). I scour the site frequently for backgrounds to use for posts.

Creative Market is an online store for fonts, graphics, themes and more. Every week, the market offers 6 free goods you can download and use to your discretion. My favorite freebies are the fonts, I've also picked up some nice frames, icons, and patterns.

Graphic design is a new passion of mine and it is one I'm excited to explore and cultivate. These programs give me the tools I need to explore the look I have in mind for this blog and realize it.
NafeAQhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-1758460609949174242016-04-05T04:08:00.000+02:002016-04-29T21:25:43.759+02:00Cocktails with Nanju | The Ginger Gimlet

I take limes seriously. I rarely make cocktails without some not-so-subtle hint of lime. Just like my caipirinha, this beverage - The Ginger Gimlet - has more than just a touch of lime. It also has a special guest star: ginger syrup! Ginger is one's also got three ingredients: liquor, lime juice, syrup. This gimlet's special because of the instead of using a simple syrup, I use a homemade ginger syrup.

Today's liquor of choice is gin. Gin is a delicious spirit derived from distilled grain or malt, flavored with juniper berries, and occasionally, other botanicals. There are four main styles of gin, London Dry, Dutch Genevar, Old Tom and Compound; find out more here. My choice of gin is Farmer's Botanical, a small batch organic dryish gin.

I perked up the flavor of the gimlet by using ginger syrup. Ginger is one of my favorite flavors so adding it to the bunch was no trouble at all. I took a risk and added it, and was quite impressed with the results. The ginger helps balance the lime and gin flavors and adds a layer of complexity to the mix.

To make, place all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake. Strain into a glass (I used one of my trusty mason jars), garnish with a half slice of lime and serve.

Kalibu!

firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-43734765553708805342016-03-30T21:56:00.000+02:002016-04-29T21:25:30.505+02:00Cocktails with Nanju | The Caipirinha

I've got spring fever! The calendar says it's Spring but Mother Nature hasn't quite caught up yet. The cold temperatures aren't stopping me from indulging in springtime cocktails. Meet the Caipirinha, Brazil's national cocktail and one of my personal favorites. A caipirinha is made with cachaça, sugar or simple syrup, and lime. 3 ingredients and a whole lot of flavor!

Caipirinhas are refreshing, earthy, tangy and delicious. The cachaça is what makes this cocktail so special. Unlike rum, cachaça is made from fermented, then distilled fresh sugarcane juice. I love it because it's one of the few hard liquors I can have with zero guilt. I've got a loooooong list of food allergies so I try to avoid most liquors because they're usually derived from grains that I'm allergic to. The lime and sugar are pretty easy to find so I won't go into their origins.

Whipping up a caipirinha is super easy. In a small mason jar or old fashioned glass, smash lime and sugar together, add cachaça and ice. In a small mason jar, combine the lime juice and sugar. Pour in the cachaça, add some ice then shake. Garnish with a wedge of lime and some sunshine, sand and samba if available.

Kalibu!
firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-51156927558364863852016-03-25T16:42:00.000+02:002016-04-29T21:25:54.699+02:00Exploring Minimalism | 5 Resources to Help You Eliminate Clutter

Accomplishing a goal doesn't have to be a solitary adventure. I've transformed my closet and simplified my life with the help of online resources. Here are the tool's that have indispensable to me over the last few months:

Unfancy's capsule experiment is my go-to guide for closet organization guide. She shares tips on creating and maintaining a capsule closet.

The Minimalists: Their approach takes recommends decluttering your physical and mental/emotional space. I especially love their podcasts and Month of Minimalism series.

YouTube: I find watching videos one of the easiest ways to absorb information. My current favorites are Light by Coco, Rachel Aust, Inspiroue and Lavendaire.

My Minimalism Pinterest Board: A lot of my inspiration comes from things I find on Pinterest. I created a board on Pinterest dedicated only to my pursuit of a minimal closet and by extension, life

Rachel Nordgren speaks about minimalism from a spiritual perspective. I was drawn to her because I challenged myself to let go of things I don't need during Lent. I love her 31 day challenge.

Defining and recognizing enough is hard, especially when it's so easy to get more. I know I struggle with this concept, but I'm working on it and getting lessons from others. As cliche as it may be, I truly believe it takes a village to raise a child. The "child" that I'm learning to raise is minimalism and I'm trying to learn to be content with enough. I don't have a clear definition of "enough" right now, as soon as I'm enlightened I'll let ya know.

Join my village! If you have any tips or feedback that'll help me on my journey to a simple, experience abundant life, please sheya (share)!

Image designed by Freepix
email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-51260649710437372702016-03-22T22:08:00.001+02:002016-04-29T21:26:08.156+02:00Recipe | 3 Pepper Black Beans with Garlic and Lime

Last night, I came home from yoga class famished and exhausted. Power yoga is no joke and it kicked my butt and took all my energy. I needed to get some food in me and I needed it quickly. Hangry me glanced around my kitchen, spotted some key ingredients and added some nice flavors.

I found a can of black beans, three cloves of garlic (because 1 isn't enough), some spices, and coconut oil. I took out a bag of spinach and a bit of lime out of the fridge. I pre-cooked some rice before leaving for yoga, so post-yoga dinner prep took me only 15 minutes. That's about all I had the patience and energy for and got to work creating this protein packed, spicy, garlicky and tangy meal:

3 Pepper Black Beans with Garlic and Lime

1 16-ounce can or 2ish cups cooked black beans, drained
3 cloves of garlic
Half a lime, juiced
Freshlyground black pepper
White pepper
Cayenne pepper
Coconut oil

Drizzle some oil onto a frying pan and turn the heat to medium-low. Once warm, add the garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes until the garlic is beginning to change color. Add in a few dashes of each pepper and stir for about 30 seconds. Then add the beans and stir around until the beans are warmed through and beginning to peel. Take the pan off the heat and pour in the lime juice. Stir and serve immediately over rice or in half an avocado. I served mine with some rice and spinach.

Obviously, my love for garlic is intense. If you're fine with half a clove, do as you wish. This recipe pairs well with half an avocado and a mojito or caipirinha. I was too hungry to prep both so I didn't include them. But next time I make this recipe, they'll both be there. I may even nix the rice and just have the beans with avocado.

Kalibu!
firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-14075603812027309362016-03-21T22:49:00.000+02:002016-04-29T21:26:32.380+02:00My Blog Bucket List

I have a case of writer's block (as I'm sure you can tell by my silence). The last few weeks have been emotionally and physically tormenting. I'm still trying to get over them and am on the rebound. I haven't had much time to write or think really, so I thought I'd have a brainstorming sessions. Below are a few of the things I want to write about or do for my blog. Here's my blogging bucket list or a list of blog post ideas.

Goals/skills to learn

HTML and CSS: I've discovered an interest in web design, specifically for Blogger (my blogging platform) and want to learn more.

Become a GIMP master

Continue customizing my blog design

Create and stick to an editorial calendar

Learn more about graphic design

Basic photography skills

Post Ideas

Stuff I wish I knew about Blogger.com

My blogging toolbox

30-day photo challenge

Why I work out

My fitness routine

How I cope with the blues

Things that inspire me

Date night ideas

My favorite blogs

My favorite essential oils

Cramp Survival Kit

How I take care of my hair (it took me a good 20 years to figure it out)

How I take my tea

How to use tea for healing

My kitchen essentials

Mason jar meal series

DIY Happy Hour

My favorite low-cost wines

Resources for living gluten free

Coping with a restrictive diet

There's no timeline here, just a list of goals and ideas. I'm purposely staying away from sticking to a specific timeline because my life is a little too unpredictable right now. Instead, I'm hoping that this list will be a catalyst for creating content for my blog and writing! Expect to see some of these posts on my

How do you get over writers block? Do you have any ideas to add to this list?
email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-66934904016432332792016-03-08T21:39:00.001+02:002016-04-29T21:26:44.449+02:00Exploring Minimalism | Developing My Personal Style

While I value embracing minimalism, I don't think I have to sacrifice my personal style. I've been working on developing a personal style for quite some time now, and have finally settled on a look that I'm happy with. It includes a lot of black and some colorful accessories. I'm working on investing in quality items of clothing that I can keep around for a while. My motivation for creating a personal style has come out of years of frustration with fast fashion and some hoarding on the side.

I don't foresee any major changes to my style so I've been developing my ideal closet. I'm going to try to keep the principle of enough in mind. To hell with excess!! My goal is to wake up and have a simplified getting dressed routine. No more rustling through drawers trying to find something acceptable. I want to open my closet and know that I have several possible combinations. I don't want to spend 15-20 minutes trying to find something that fits, matches and looks presentable.

An anecdote + fast fashion

A few years ago I bought a pair of combat boots that I absolutely adored. I wore them for a season, but before long they were destroyed - they had holes and the heel had started peeling off. I sent them straight into the trash. I threw out $60 and found myself with a huge gap in my closet (shoes complete the outfit!). I've had similar experiences with a bunch of other items I've bought and it's left me dissatisfied. That's what happens when you try to follow trends and try to save by buying into fast fashion.

Several things about that shoe experience stuck with me. I found that I had a lot of fast fashion in my possession - items that are cheap but not well made and fragile. I don't know about you, but once I decide on a look I stick to it. To make this happen, I'm choosing to invest in pieces that fit the aesthetic i'm trying to create. Because i'm an overachiever, I want them to last more than just a season. Since i'm trying to purge (you can read all about that here), I've decided that investing in quality items will help me stick to my values.

My Style Guide: Deal/bargain = lowish price + quality

Developing a personal style is important to me. In my experience, I find that when I look good, I feel good and radiate confidence. I care a lot about my self-image and how I present myself to the world. I like to put my best foot forward at all times. I don't feel my best when I'm dressed down. So I've been working on curating a closet that reflects the aesthetic i'm trying to present.

Buying clothes every season is expensive and does nothing to counter the vicious cycle that is fast fashion. I'm all about breaking my fast fashion addiction and have decided to invest in quality. I love a good bargain! But at some point, my habit of shopping became somewhat unhealthy. I over indulged and got too hung up on having things. This complicated my style: I didn't have one. I owned clothes for the sake of owning them and not because I really every single item. To complicate matters even worse, my body's changed over the last two years and I found myself with a pile of clothes that did not fit.

To fix this problem, I took up purging and started embracing minimalism. I donated or got rid of anything that was too small, not the right style or too old. My updated aesthetic involves a lot of black with a pop of color around my neck (yay scarves) or my head (I love wearing headwraps). I've whittled down most of my closet and can now proudly say I only have items I love. There are some gaps, but I'll work on filling them over time.

Building My Ideal Closet

I've given you a glimpse into my closet and my motivations for minimalism. I'm still learning, and this whole process will be a journey. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was my closet.One day, it'll resemble the vision I've created. But for now, i'm going to continue working on my desired aesthetic.

Do you have any fashion or minimalism tips to share? What's in your closet and how did you develop your personal style? Let's hear it; drop a line in the comments below and share your wisdom.
email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-17554070857772722522016-03-01T23:07:00.001+02:002016-03-08T21:40:34.614+02:00Recipe | Thai-Style Green Papaya Salad
I was recently introduced to the wonderful Thai delicacy that is green papaya salad. My taste buds and stomach are in love! With just a handful of ingredients, the whole meal comes together in about 20 minutes. It's refreshing, simple, delicious, and super easy to make. This green papaya salad is so savory, tangy, sweet, appetizing and absolutely delectable. Get ready to be amazed!
Malawi (the beautiful country I grew up in), has an abundance of papayas. We had multiple papaya trees at my house - so many that we didn't know what to do with all the papayas. Growing up, all I knew about papayas was that they were delicious when they were fully ripe and that they cured acne. It never occurred to me that green papaya is edible and or even palatable. Imagine all the missed opportunities! But thanks to globalization and some food adventures, I've discovered that green papaya makes for a great salad base.

Story time: papaya does not cure acne!

I have a funny papaya story to share. When I was a teenager, my skin was plagued with severe acne. My mom, Amayi, being the genius that she is, decided to tell my siblings and I that papayas cured acne. Since we had a lot of papayas in the garden and Amayi doesn't lie, we ate all the papayas. I can't remember how long it was until I realized that my acne wasn't disappearing. My guess is a year or two, and that's probably modest. It turns out, papaya does not, in fact, cure acne. Amayi didn't want the food to go to waste so she got creative.

I have a confession: it's been two days since I've learned to make this recipe and I've made it thrice already. I'm making it for dinner tonight too. It's that good! I rarely ever have a dish two times in a row, let alone three times so that's saying something.

Green Papaya Salad (serves 2)
Salad
½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
½ -1 cup green beans, bruised
2 cups green papaya, shredded or julienned

Dressing
1 red chili pepper, chopped finely (more if you love the burn!)
1 lime, juiced
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
1 ½ tablespoons palm sugar
1 tablespoon dried shrimp, chopped finely

Extras
2 Tablespoons roasted almonds, chopped
1 avocado, cubed

In a large bowl, mix all the salad ingredients together. In a smaller bowl or mortar and pestle, blend the dressing ingredients well. Pour the dressing into the large bowl and mix until the veggies and papaya are well coated. Cover and let sit in the fridge for 20-30 minutes (or eat immediately if you're still working on acquiring patience). When you're ready to eat, divide the salad into two bowls and top with your extras.

Your turn now
Play around with the ingredients and customize this recipe to suit your taste buds. This green papaya salad recipe is versatile. My twist to the original recipe was to use less fish sauce and chili peppers and add a touch of rice vinegar. If you don't like something, take it out and replace it with something you love. You can also serve it with a hard boiled egg, fresh shrimp, salmon or chicken. If you're vegetarian, use a tablespoon of soy sauce or coconut aminos instead of fish sauce and dried shrimp.

Have you ever been tricked you into eating something? What's your take on green papaya? Share an anecdote, opinion, or comment below :)

Kalibu! (Bon Appetit!)
firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-57390450590425116342016-02-27T20:57:00.000+02:002016-03-01T23:10:45.224+02:00Exploring Minimalism | Changing Why & How I Shop
Less means more. I've been trying to define what enough means to me, and that first sentence is my first guide towards the right direction. I've made a conscious decision to reevaluate my shopping habits and my attachments towards my possessions. By changing my approach to consumption, I'm hoping to end up with fewer items, but a much deeper appreciation for what I have left.

Intentional Shopping

I've been examining the motivation behind why I shop. Before, my compulsive shopping habits left me feeling guilty, greedy, and resentful. As I've mentioned before, I felt compelled to have more stuff because I thought it would lead to more happiness. This left me with a lot of things I didn't need. Despite the abundance of stuff, I didn't truly value it and it didn't enrich my life in any way.

I keep reminding myself that clothing has two purposes: protection from the elements and decoration. Since I don't need 100s of items to achieve both aims, I'm paring down my wardrobe and adding in things that fit my style. Practically, this means that I'm not going to buy because or can, or because it's a good deal, or because I'm emotional.

$avings and Redistribution

I've been brainstorming ways to purge and simplify in a lot of areas in my life. I'm making this change because I think that a lighter life will allow me to appreciate everything I have. It's important to seek out and fund experiences that enrich and add value to life. Shopping is one of those areas, but it needn't be the only one. Instead of shopping on impulse, I'm redirecting my funds towards more meaningful experiences. These include experimenting with food, more DIY beauty hacks, activities with friends, blogging, running and yoga!

Honestly, I know i'm still going to shop occasionally because I find a lot of pleasure in it. I'm developing my personal style and plan to invest in it with intention, planning and budgeting. In my next post, I'm going all in about my new aesthetic and reimagined wardrobe. Stay tuned!

Do your possessions ever inspire any strong emotions? Yes, no, maybe? How do you seek out opportunities to add value to your life? Let me know what's on your mind.
firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-9278328564423802842016-02-25T20:55:00.000+02:002016-02-27T21:48:44.773+02:00DIY Spray Deodorant

Let's talk about sweat and body odor. If you have a body and you move, chances are you sweat and have a distinct body odor. I'm not particularly bothered by sweat, but don't like smelling musty. Enter witch hazel and tea tree oil! I've been using both to make my own deodorant for a little over two years. Since I made the switch I haven't looked at any other products. My DIY spray deodorant is a cheap and effective way to keep body odor and a few other things at bay!

I've always had a testy relationship with deodorants. Most deodorants on the market left white or light colored marks on my skin and clothes. Obviously, because I'm dark-skinned and love wearing black this is a problem. I searched for years to find the perfect deo that went on dry, didn't leave marks, was paraben- and aluminum-free and all that jazz. I found one, but had to get creative when it was discontinued. Going back to other deos wasn't an option because my skin and clothing didn't miraculously change color.

All About Witch Hazel

I did some research and found a few recipes that try out. Most of them involved making a paste with baking soda, coconut oil, arrowroot and essential oils. But, I'm lazy and was skeptical that they wouldn't leave any white marks. I found some threads that talked about using only coconut oil, rubbing alcohol or witch hazel.

Since I had a newfound appreciation for witch hazel, I trusted my ingenuity. I put some in a spray bottle with a few drops of tea tree oil and tried it out. Friends, the rest is history! FYI, witch hazel is a natural astringent and anti-inflammatory product. It's used to treat swelling, inflammation and skin irritation among other things.

How To Make and Use DIY Deodorant

Grab a glass or plastic three-ounce spray bottle. Pour in two ounces of witch hazel. Add 10-12 drops tea tree oil and a teaspoon of melted coconut oil. To use, shake the bottle and spray onto your pits after the shower. I pump the nozzle 3-5 times on each side. Hold your arms up for a few seconds to allow for the mixture to dry. The blend goes on clear so there's no risk of any white stains on the skin or clothes.

As with my of my DIY beauty products, you can customize this to suit your needs! I'm not a fan of strong smells so I leave my deodorant kind of plain. If you're looking for a stronger scent, add in a few drops of your favorite essential oils. You can try vanilla, rosemary, eucalyptus, lemon, grapefruit etc. Use your imagination! You can also do without the coconut oil and essential oils. If witch hazel isn't available where you are, try rubbing alcohol. You can find all these ingredients at a grocery or drug store.

A Multipurpose Blend

I'm all about creating products that have many uses, this DIY spray deodorant is no exception. It works as a deodorant and so much more! Because of the witch hazel and tea tree oil, I also use it as a toner and aftershave spritz. Bye bye odor and skin irritation! I've also used it to help get rid of a toenail fungus and to treat other minor skin irritations. I add tea tree oil because it adds even more anti-inflammatory and healing powers. The coconut oil helps seal moisture into my dry skin.

Did I mention how cheap this DIY spray deodorant is? $1 gets you a month and a half supply of deo. 16 ounces of witch hazel costs $4, 16 ounces of coconut oil costs $6, and 1.5 ounces of essential oils costs ~$4 too. To make the most out of all the products, I use them for countless other projects around the house. I love any DIY project that helps me simplify my life and save money. Instead of having a lots of single-use products, it's best to have a select few that will multitask.

Just a note - this deodorant is not an antiperspirant. I'm not a fan of antiperspirants because sweat doesn't bother me so I can't offer any tips. If you're looking to sweat less, do some research and find some products that work for you. If you're particularly bothered by how much you sweat, seek medical advice.

What's your favorite deodorant? What's your favorite essential oil combination? Let me know in the comments below!
email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-42298128615857566802016-02-23T05:19:00.001+02:002016-02-25T20:56:16.435+02:00Practical Uses for Mason Jars

I'm addicted to mason jars and glass containers. I use them around the house for just about everything I can. If it fits and can be stored in a mason jar, I will put it in a mason jar. Mason jars are affordable, fairly easy to find, and versatile. What's not to love?

How I Discovered Mason Jars

I started using mason jars about three years ago. We had tons of leftover jars from a family wedding that summer. The centerpieces for all the tables at the wedding had glass jars and vases of varying sizes. After the wedding, it was either donate or throw them out. Naturally, I claimed a few jars and started experimenting.

Glass vs. Plastic

I'm not a fan of plastic, especially when it comes to food storage. Plastic isn't really an option for my uses in the kitchen because I cook with a lot of spices. Spices tend to stain plastic and those stains don't ever go away. Plus, plastic, even if it's BPA-free, isn't necessarily safe to microwave in. I also tend to use a lot of acidic foods, plastic doesn't like lemons and vinegar.

Using Mason Jars for Food

When I first started using mason jars, I used them exclusively for smoothies. As my love for cooking developed (link to past article) and I started meal planning, I found more uses for them. I found that 2-cup and 1-cup mason jars helped me portion my meals to perfection. I put soups in the 2-cup jars and put yogurt parfaits, oats, and granola in the 1 cup jars. They're also handy for serving tea or water - I don't own many other cups or glasses because I can just use jars.

Using Mason Jars for DIY Beauty Projects

When I started experimenting with DIY beauty products, I found even more uses for mason jars. The main reason I use glass for beauty products is that it is aesthetically pleasing. Since I make a lot of things myself, I like having a consistent look around the house. I find that it's easier and safer to mix in glass (as opposed to plastic), especially if essential oils and heat are involved.

My collection of jars has grown because I use them for a lot of different projects. I have glass jars of varying shapes and sizes. Do you use mason or any other glass jars? What side of the glass vs. plastic debate are you on?

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firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-60448594372255361492016-02-18T20:55:00.000+02:002016-02-23T05:20:38.151+02:00Exploring Minimalism | Enough vs. Excess

Growing up, my parents always made sure I had just enough to get by on. sure I didn't live a life of excess. Somewhere along the way, I lost sight of the value and meaning of having enough. I became greedy and obsessed with filling my life with things. After amassing so many possessions, I realized that I felt stifled and didn't value the items. But, I don't have to be enslaved by my possessions. I own my stuff, it doesn't own me. So, I'm taking stock of what enough means to me and finding ways to enhance it.

My Path of Excess

I've always been envious of people who had the ability to get more. I thought that amassing great amounts of things would lead to a happily enriched life. I think that's partly the Malawian in me - I find that my culture enforces the notion that more possessions mean more wealth, more abundance, more happiness etc.

Since I had set up this expectation, as soon as I could get more, I did. I never pay full price so I justified buying things by the savings I was making. I bought for the sake of buying and not out of necessity. To make matters worse, I often shopped as a form of therapy of coping with the stresses of life. In the end, however, the satisfaction and thrill of possessing something disappeared after a few uses.

Excess Leads to Clutter

All that meaningless consumption lead to clutter. It's no surprise that my physical space was messy. My emotional space became complicated with feelings of guilt, greed, frustration, and disarray. Having such an attachment to meaningless consumption is unhealthy and unnecessary. I find that this form of overindulgence doesn't lead to much joy or fulfillment.

A Turning Point

Sometime last year I found myself with a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear. Clearly, this nothingness didn't come from a lack of clothing. I realized that my compulsive shopping habits turned me into someone I don't want to be. I was dissatisfied with the sheer volume of stuff. I was also hit with a sudden awareness that it didn't contribute to my happiness or well-being.

I felt weighed down by it all; the greed of wanting to always have more, the guilt of buying into that greed, and resentment of having allowed myself to feed both the guilt and the greed. That's a lot of emotional baggage to attach to clothing!

I realized that I had turned into someone I don't want to be because of my compulsive shopping habits. I was blessed with the ability to acquire a lot of things, but they didn't bring much joy to my life - just clutter. I thought to myself - what's the point of having all these things if they don't contribute to my happiness? I realized that something had to change. I felt compelled to let go of excess.

Finding Enough

I'm working on gradually kicking my addiction to stuff. I now believe that clothes shouldn't carry such emotional weight. The primary value of clothing is to supply a necessary barrier between your body and the environment. Their secondary is to decorate and adorn your body. I don't need hundreds of items to achieve either purpose. I can achieve both aims without making clothing a source of guilt or resentment.

I've been getting rid of things that no longer bring joy. I throw out anything that's trash and donate or gift anything that might be useful. I currently have two huge bags of stuff in my living room that are going straight to a charity store. I'm also developing a closet that reflects my personal style. The plan is to only own things I love and use regularly. I plan to only shop with intention and purpose and not impulse.

My path towards a more simplified life is only just beginning. I've learned a lot in the past year and am looking forward to putting it into action. Your turn now: are there any things in your life that aren't serving you? What's your take on minimalism? Share your reactions in the comments below :)
email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-4782654295446701432016-02-16T22:37:00.000+02:002016-02-18T20:56:52.489+02:00The Amazing Benefits of an Epsom Salt Bath

Epsom salts are a natural remedy for a lot of ailments. In fact, Epsom salts are an essential part of my DIY spa day/general body maintenance. I take a bath with Epsom salt once or twice a week to find some chill and heal some ailments. I have stumbled on a super powerful natural remedy and beauty aid. If you're sleeping on Epsom salts, don't worry I'm here to enlighten you.

Benefits of Using Epsom Salts

I'm no scientist, so I can't explain why exactly Epsom salts work for all these things. Since I believe in the powers of Google, I did some research to find evidence of Epsom salts amazing healing properties. Epsom salt is a naturally occurring pure mineral compound of magnesium, sulfur and oxygen. Epsom salts give you chill by promoting the production of serotonin and reducing the effects of adrenaline. The salts also draw pain away from the body. This is pretty handy if you have any tension, soreness, inflammation or are battling cramps that need to disappear stat.

How I Use Epsom Salts

My Epsom salt bath-time routine is a whole affair. In a tub full of water, I add 1-2 cups Epsom salts, a half cup of baking soda and a few drops of essential oils. I use lavender oil to help me relax, eucalyptus if I'm feeling sniffly, and tea tree oil for an extra antibacterial boost). I go all in - no phones, all the candles, lights out and some calming music. I've also been known to pour myself a glass of wine or a warm chai depending on the mood and time of day. Once I'm in the bath, I stay in and soak uninterrupted for at least 20 minutes.

Testimony Part 1: Healing Powers (pronounced pawahs!)

I'm athletic. With all the yoga, HIIT and running I do, I'm not stranger to occasional muscle soreness. But girl, Epsom salts help get rid of that soreness. After a soak in the but, I walk out feeling all kinds of fresh after a tough workout.

I could write a whole trilogy filled with rants against cramps and period pain. You know, all that fun back pain, soreness, and general crampiness. But since I discovered Epsom salts? Hallelujah!!!!! A soak in the tub helps me get through the worst of PMS and helps kick some of the pain to the curb. (Insert your YASSS!! here and get thee to a drug store).

If you haven't added Epsom salt baths to your weekly self-love activity list yet, maybe I can convince you with this last point. I use Epsom salts weekly whether I'm in pain. Why? CATCHING SOME CHILL! I'm no stranger to stress, I'm a proud perfectionist after all. Epsom salt baths give me a chance to step back and relax. I'm not sure if it's the salts, or just the fact that I treat myself to an occasional timeout. However, I know that after a bath I feel calmer, more focused and just plain old relaxed. All that from just hoping in a tub of salty water.

Testimony Part 2: Extra Perks

Since I've started using Epsom salts, I've discovered some pretty amazing additional perks. When used as a body scrub, Epsom salts exfoliate your skin leaving it soft and touchably smooth. Headache relief is another, I've jumped into an Epsom salt bath with a migraine and exited twenty minutes later headache-free. I've also noticed that my feet love a soak in the salts - goodbye cracked heels, toe fungi and sore toes (one less excuse to run long). These perks are just the tip of the iceberg with Epsom salts - there are plenty more benefits out there.

What are you waiting for? Get yourself some Epsom salts and get saunter into a tub of warm, sexy relief. Light some candles, put on some calming music, and enjoy your soak. Have you tried Epsom salts or other bath time remedies? Share them below so we can find some chill together.
firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-24350367542902815012016-02-11T15:00:00.000+02:002016-02-18T18:04:39.529+02:0010 Ways to Eat Healthy on a Budget

Eating healthy is more than just a habit, it's a lifestyle. With a few modifications to food routine, you can be on your way to a healthier you without having to rob a bank. Eating is necessary for life, so why not hack your diet and save some money in the process? My guess is that you don't have an endless supply of food money and are looking for ways to nourish your body on a budget.

On average, I spend about $50/week on food. I eat most of my meals at home and usually cook from scratch. (Please don't report me to the healthy eating police, I'm only human! If I ate out more or bought a lot more pre-made meals, I reckon I'd spend at least $80/week. These tips help me eat healthy, balanced meals without emptying out my wallet.

Meal plan: Come up with a game plan for meals that'll save you time and money. Once a week, make a list of all the meals and snacks you're going eat then go shop for the ingredients. If it's not on our list, it stays in the store. Buy only what you need so nothing goes to waste. Check out my post on meal planning for some guidance.

Learn how to cook: Eating at home is cheaper than eating out. To maximize the benefit of meal planning, learn how to cook.

Go meatless often: Meat and poultry can be expensive. Incorporate more meatless meals into your diet. Eggs, legumes and beans are your friends. They're cheaper than meat and will get you all the protein you need to stay healthy.

Buy in bulk: Small quantities of items like grains, beans, and nuts usually cost more than bulk quantities. Buying in bulk saves you money and frequent trips to the grocery store.

Stick to generic brands: Branded items are usually marked up. Generic items are often of equal quality and can be found for cheaper

Batch cook: Cook grains, beans and inexpensive cuts of meats in bulk and reuse them during the week. For example, brown rice cooked on Sunday can be served with a bean stew one day, used in a salad the next, and made into delicious fried rice with frozen veggies.

Go frozen: The frozen food aisle of your grocery store has some budget-friendly gems (that are not ice cream). I get most of my vegetables and fruit frozen because they cost less and keep longer that.

Buy in season: If you must buy produce, make sure it's in season. Extra savings also await at your local farmers market

Be flexible: healthy eating can be as simple or as complex as you'd like. If you decide to commit to eating healthy, be open to change and to exploring different cooking techniques and recipes.

Hold yourself accountable: Declare your intention to eat healthy and keep a record. I have history of not feeding myself, so to help me stay on track, I used to send pictures of everything I ate to my mom. This assured her that I was eating and kept me motivated.

Pro tips:

Set a budget and stick to it.

Find some simple recipes that you can make often with a few modifications. I've shared a few of my favorite recipes here. These folks also publish simple, healthy budget-friendly recipes that Budget Bytes, The Iron You, Minimalist Baker, Epicurious and Gimme Some Oven.

Eating healthy doesn't have to be expensive. All it takes is a little planning, some basic cooking skills and flexibility in your diet. Got any tips to add or some burning questions? Head to the comments section and chatter away. I can't wait to hear your tips and tricks for eating healthy.

firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-48281486989075088362016-02-09T08:13:00.000+02:002016-02-11T17:07:29.796+02:0010 Simple Ways to Improve Your Mood

I've been struggling to write this post. I'm not feeling 100% and need reminding that beauty exists in the world. If you're in the same boat as me, you're in luck. I'm sharing ten tips for coping when you feel like the universe is throwing all the struggles at you. I'll get straight to the point:

Get Active: Go for a run, dance, do yoga, go for a walk. It'll give your body a much-needed physical and mental boost.

Take a nap.

Take an Epsom salt bath: I'm not a bath person, but I've been taking baths to help me relax once or twice a week. Soaking in Epsom salts replenishes the body's magnesium lives and helps produce serotonin, chemical that creates the feeling of calm and relaxation (SaltWorks).

Call a friend.

Sniff some lavender: When inhaled, lavender reduces anxiety and provides calming, soothing and sedative effects (UMM, BodyEcology, MindBodyGreen). I put a few drops in the bath or in my humidifier when I need it always feel a little more relaxed afterward. It also helps me sleep when my mind is racing.

Meditate: I favor Transcendental Meditation, but any form of mindful silence will help you a whole lot.

Eat a well-balanced meal: Cook or go buy a healthy meal. Food can affect your mood so watch what.

Have some chai or whatever warm drink you like. I had hot sake with a friend yesterday and both elevated my mood!

Read.

Practice gratitude: count and list your blessings. Maybe after seeing some of things you're thankful for, you'll notice that life isn't so bad after all. (Here's my list: I woke up this morning, I have the ability to blog, I have family and friends that love me, rain, I ate three meals today, and I have a home.)

In the spirit of keeping it real
My levels of cynicism right now are unmatched; for every one beautiful thing you name, I can give you five things that are wrong with my life. To give myself a break from the negative, I've been using some the activities on this list. If you're stressed out, tired, and feeling defeated, try something on my list. It might just give you the little boost you need to stare your struggle in the face and work through it like the confident, competent person you are.

Like you, I'll keep trying to find the light and one day maybe cultivate it within myself. Until then, I'm relying on these ten tips to help invite some positivity into my life.
email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-40835807295684577402016-02-05T17:30:00.000+02:002016-02-18T21:21:59.123+02:00Moisturize and Get Rid of Acne with A Greek Yogurt Mask

My skin rebels against me a few days every month. PMS is not polite, least of all the evidence of hormonal changes it leaves on my face. To combat and prevent the offending spots and bumps, I make myself a Greek yogurt face mask whenever I see signs of their arrival. Since I love to share, I'm going to give you my go-to recipe for a face mask. I use this mask and a few other tricks to keep my skin glowing, moisturized and blemish free.

Grab your ingredients

The recipe I use is simple. A tablespoon of full-fat Greek Yogurt, a drop of tea tree oil and half a teaspoon of honey. All three ingredients have properties that rejuvenate skin and promote healing. Let's facing, nothing ruins a selfie session like five strategically placed, hard to ignore zits. Thanks PMS!

Why it works for me

I've discovered that the healing properties in all the ingredients help my PMS acne situation. The lactic acid in Greek yogurt moisturizes, gives your skin a glow, and tightens skin pores. Honey is a humectant; it helps prevent the loss of moisture to your skin. According to SheKnows.com, honey is also antibacterial (yay acne treatment and prevention!), antioxidant, soothing and clarifying. Tea tree oil has many of its own benefits, in this mixture it adds antimicrobial and healing properties. Say hello to silky smooth, clear skin!

The Process

To treat my skin, I apply the mixture to my face and neck. The first sensation is cooling, obviously because yogurt come straight from the skin. It's cool on the skin and quite refreshing. For the next 20-30 minutes, I prance around the house trying to not to lick the mixture off my face, because duh, honey and yogurt. Tea tree oil isn't safe for consumption so I resist the temptation.

As the clock ticks away, the Greek yogurt face mask adapts to your body's temperature and begins to dry. Looking anything less than a hot, flaky mess is unavoidable at this point. Time to remove the mask comes when the yogurt is dry and starting to fall off. I like to use a warm cloth to wipe it off or rinse off if I'm in the shower.

The Results

Folks, my skin has not been as blemish-free since before I became a teenager. The mask plus my body butter, a weekly body scrub and black soap keep my skin smooth, moisturized and spotless. Try it out let me know what you think. If you have any other tips for getting rid of acne and getting glowing skin, please share!
email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368145891451960266.post-26924703823900919422016-02-04T03:26:00.001+02:002016-06-24T21:53:06.012+02:00How to Fall in Love with Your Life
A dear friend shared this quote and it resonated with me. The last year or so has been rocky. Right now, my future doesn't seem to be any smoother. When faced with uncertainty, I am usually negative, anxious and obsessive about fixing things. If you don't know, being pessimistic and anxious is both depressing and freaking exhausting. I think there's a way to find balance and Kerouac is onto the formula. I'm pretty fed up being unhappy, I'm choosing to invite more unconditional love into my life.

Finding Balance

I'm struggling to find balance and a way to reconcile the negative with the positive. In theory, choosing to love means accepting a certain level of unconditionality. Life is what it is and you accept whatever comes without too much attachment. I often hear people say that what you feed grows. To me, this means that I have control over what sentiments I choose to cultivate. I think that choosing to love my life means honoring all my emotions. Taking the both the bad - stress, anxiety, and anger - and the good - being present, happiness, balance.

Choosing Love

I'm going to focus on things that make me fall in love with life. My guiding intention is this: I choose to take create a space to cultivate and e explore self-love. Some examples are this blog, my relationships, my kitchen, running, HIIT, and yoga.

It's important to note that choosing to love life does not mean you get to ignore all the bad things that are there. Rather, it means mindfully accepting all emotions as they are and not them to overpower you. Remember, only you can decide how you feel and how you relate to your emotions.

Practicing Love

In practice, I'm committing to giving the negative a time limit. I'm going to limit the amount of energy I devote to dwelling on those feelings. Once my timer goes off, I'll move on. I know this all sounds too good to be true, but, I believe that I have the power to choose how my feelings will affect me. The way I see it, I have two choices: go with my default or rebel by embracing the craziness without judgement.

Pessimism and optimism are choices. Falling in love with life means making a choice to find balance and honor those feelings. It won't be easy, but I figure that if I remind myself often, cultivating a love for my life will soon become a habit.

A challenge for you

I challenge you to find inspiration to embrace a love for your life. Or at least, commit to a practice that allows you to explore what loving life means to you. Let me know how this process goes for you or if you think I've gone too far down the loony end.
firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
What kind of saving can be expected from your services?
Compared to a typical small accounting firm in the Britain, our clients can expect a fee saving of 30-40%. For clients that use our dedicated accountant service, there are additional savings from avoided desk space, computer equipment and other overheads.
Why is your solution different to that of other accountants?
Most British accountancy firms use British staff to process their accounts. We have a team of Indian accountants to do this work.They cost our clients less and, in our experience, perform better.
Most accountancy outsourcing firms do not have a base in Britain. We believe that only a part of the accounting function should be outsourced. We also believe that most clients prefer to deal with a UK company. Therefore, unlike our outsourcing competitors, we have a team of British accountants to deal with annual returns, tax returns, tax advice and communication with HMRC ... and to make sure that everything is working smoothly.
Can your accountants come to our office for induction training in our systems?
Normally, our accountants go through the process of familiarisation with your company systems online and a site visit is not required. However, if your business processes are particularly complex or if you would like to have a personal contact with a member of our accounting team, a representative can come to your office for training in your systems. This is not part of our standard service and Ondora will need to charge for the time spent, as well as travel, accommodation and daily subsistence at cost.
What is offshoring?
Moving work to another country, often to reduce costs of labour or taxation.
What is outsourcing?
Outsourcing involves contracting out work that was previously performed by a company. Typcially outsourcing applies to non-core business, so accounting and administrative functions are examples of the kind of work that may be outsourced.
What is insourcing?
Insourcing involves contracting in work that was previously performed by a company. Typically insourcing applies to core-business, so strategic planning and management are examples of the kind of work that may be insourced. Insourced personnel often work on site and are closely integrated in the company.
Range of services
- Invoice processing
- General accounting and book keeping
- VAT declaration
- Controlling
- Management reporting
Contact us
For UK
+44 (0)131 3378338
For Switzerland
079 / 471 75 26


text:
Good to know
|Distance to city centre
|1.2 km
|Location rating
|Nearest airport
|Saint Petersburg Pulkovo
|Distance to airport
|15.2 km
Standard rooms
Double rooms
|"Best location, friendly staff, very clean."
|(in 117 reviews)
|"the room a little cool"
|(in 41 reviews)
|"Plenty of food joints nearby"
|(in 6 reviews)
|"Staff rude and not helpfull"
|(in 15 reviews)
|"The rooms were very small."
|(in 20 reviews)
|"Poor breakfast, small reception"
|(in 5 reviews)
Traveller rating
Time of year
Traveller type
Show reviews that mention
|bars restaurants shops
|in 5 reviews
|breakfast was not included
|in 35 reviews
|close to the main attractions
|in 16 reviews
|in 4 reviews
|joints nearby
|in 6 reviews
|location rooms
|in 94 reviews
|location was good
|in 155 reviews
|outside the hotel
|in 59 reviews
|poor breakfast
|in 6 reviews
|right in the middle
|in 11 reviews
|room too small
|in 91 reviews
|st petersburg
|in 1 review
|staff very helpful
|in 60 reviews
ExcellentSep 201910.0
Excellent location, clean and nice room & bathroom, good restaurant, and friendly service. They were very gracious to have found something I left behind by mistake and held it until it was retrieved by a very kind colleague. I will definitely stay there again!
Helpful attitude above all
ExcellentSep 20199.6
Location is amazing, a minute walk to Nevsky Prospekt, 5min walk to the Church on the Spilled Blood, and 10-15min to the Hermitage and the Neva river. We booked Superior Double room and the room was big. Facilities are quite good, there is a lift and there is a water dispenser in every corridor in front of the rooms. All staff speak English, yet they are not smiling a lot but we noticed that is very common among Russian people. Breakfast is really nice. It was my Mom's birthday during our stay there and the hotel surprised her with a wonderful gift. Overall, I highly recommend this hotel.
There is no sign for the reception desk (it is on the 2nd floor, on the right behind the door), we couldn't find it when we entered the building for the first time.
GoodAug 20197.1
Nice breakfast Great location
The room was too small, I dint expect that. The reception is on the second floor, although you can always use the elevator. I could here a lot of noise coming from the neighbors, the isolation is not great.
ExcellentAug 20198.3
Nice staff,clean rooms and very good locality
breakfest-not bad, however after 3 day,still the same and not very diversified
ExcellentAug 20198.3
Perfect location in the city center and walking distance to Hermitage museum and 35min walk from the train station Moskovskiy Vokzal. Excellent street in general, many delicious cafes and restaurants as well as a grocery store a few meters away. Will definitely stay in this hotel again during my next visit to Spb! Great staff on reception (Vsevolod was happy to answer any questions about the hotel, city and train stations). You can leave your luggage in a special room next to the reception for free after checking out (if you still have time to kill before your next journey). Delicious, authentic Russian breakfast. Water coolers on every floor with hot and cold water.
The carpet in the room was a little dirty (maybe old).
With a stay at Nevsky Grand Apartments, you'll be centrally located in St. Petersburg, steps from Arkady Raykin Variety Theater and DLT. Featured amenities include express check-out, complimentary newspapers in the lobby, and dry cleaning/laundry services. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge (available 24 hours).
8.2 Excellent
based on 2,120 reviews
Things to know
- Friendly service
- Wonderful sightseeing
Check in
Check out
Policies vary by room type and provider.
Most popular landmarks
- Pushkin Museum and Memorial Apartment 368 m
- Alexander Column 0.4 km
- Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood 0.4 km
- Palace Square 0.5 km
- State Russian Museum 0.5 km
- Hermitage Museum 0.7 km
Getting Around
|Saint Petersburg Pulkovo
|15.2 km
|Saint Petersburg-Glavny
|2.3 km
|Saint Petersburg Saint Petersberg-Finlyandsky
|2.8 km


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Visit the Farmstand
The farmstand is open every Thursday from 4-8 pm!
The farmstand opens April 18th 2019 and runs through Thanksgiving.
Customers who buy with SNAP/EBT get 50% off their purchase!
All the produce, fruit, and flowers sold at the farmstand are grown organically at Aluma Farm. We take great pride in offering the freshest, healthiest, and most nutrient dense produce we can grow. No synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides are ever used in our production, and we always work to improve the health of our soil to grow the highest quality plants possible!