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Maintaining the birthday mood all day long wasn’t difficult, but the best part of a birthday is still the cake and the gifts! Rú and I could hardly wait for evening to arrive and for the (slowly roasted over many hours based on perfect tips from Laci’s mom) marinated beef roast to be ready, while we were already deep into baking the cake alongside it. I have a very reliable recipe that I heartily recommend even to beginner cake makers (I don’t consider myself a great baking wizard, just a joyful baker at most), because it’s truly simple, the batter behaves well—at least every bake so far has turned out…

We’ve been preparing with Rú for weeks to pamper this wonderful man all day long, feeding him delicious treats and showering him with gifts we secretly sourced, carefully selected together, and meticulously wrapped behind closed doors while whispering…! And the day turned out beautifully, just as we planned. It started with blueberry-vanilla pancakes, continued with a pork knuckle lunch, and we geared up for the evening celebration with more of Laci’s favorites and the grand finale: the birthday desserts…! Laci, we can’t thank you enough for who you are.For everything you do for us, and for how naturally you create everyday life for us that far exceeds our wildest imaginationFor…

Verona is a slow city. Not slow like when you have to wait, but slow like when there’s time for everything. The cobblestones make a dull sound under my steps, and sunlight sits deeply between the houses. A creamy espresso macchiato here isn’t anything special, just a natural part of the day — like the air or the noise. In some shops, handmade Italian hats or leather shoes line the shelves, yet my favorites are still, hopelessly, the bakeries, cafés, and bookstores. We peeked into the courtyard where Romeo and Juliet’s names meet on the wall, but for me, the best parts of Verona are somehow the balconies heavy with…

Anyone who’s been reading me for a while knows how easy it is to sweep me off my feet with anything watery…Well, welcome to Venice…!!! ♥

One of my eyes is crying, and the other is laughing as I write these few posts about Italy… The last time I was here was when I was very little, and this trip gave me so many impressions, experiences, and feelings that only the little one could have been the strong enough reason pulling us back from this northern Italian region. During the autumn break, Rú preferred to go home to visit family (which was expected after our move to Vienna), and Laci and I, left on our own, decided to wander a bit together to breathe some Italian air and indulge in some pasta, pizza, and bite-sized desserts.…

Dear Reader,who has been with me for almost ten years and maybe these diary pages brighten your day, make you think, make you laugh, or just chase away your boredom in a lonely moment.You, who know my struggles, my difficulties, have seen our beautiful days and the gloomy ones.You, who have tried my trusted recipes.You, who have empathized with me.You, for whom we are important. I would now like to introduce you to a new member of our life, whom we have waited for a long time, prayed for much, and who has now decided that the time has come to join us in this world.He in the picture is…

Several of you were curious about the recipe for the chocolate cookies I shared in a story the other day, and it’s been so long since I last posted a tried-and-true recipe here that I’m happy to share this delicious one with you all. For me, it’s a go-to treat when unexpected guests arrive, because if you’re practiced, you can make it from scratch to serving in about 20 minutes. You hardly need anything for it, and usually, a mom’s kitchen will always have these basic ingredients at home. Plus, guests will definitely want more, because it looks great and is the kind of dessert you just can’t stop eating.…

And yes, I found it! Although I was looking for a library while Ruben visits friends and family in Hungary and Laci is having a boys’ weekend in the mountains with his friends, most libraries in Vienna are closed on weekends. That was quite a sad surprise for me, but always, even in this bad, there was good: I found my happiness nook in the city, the Shakespeare & Company bookstore! A local bookseller gentleman recommended them when he couldn’t suggest English books in his garden district shop, and unfortunately, I don’t know German well enough yet for the books here to give me the reading pleasure. So, following the…

Dear Moments of Times Gone By!I will always remember you, the Good Times’ moments, whenever my fate turns a bit gloomy. I lived the feeling of completeness with you as Ruben was growing up. You stood by me while I shaped characters as a Krav Maga instructor, imparting knowledge, confidence, and purpose to my team. You accompanied me on the rocky path leading to my diploma, a journey I completed as a single mother, balancing work and studies, which gave my life meaning and vocation. You showed me direction when I felt trapped in a small town, when my situation seemed hopeless, when I was afraid to trust myself—yet every…