I love winter holidays – this time of the year when cities and homes get transformed into wonderful fairylands and people into happy inhabitants of these magic places. When smiles and laughs replace worry and sorrow and every grown up at least for a moment becomes an 8 year old again. When big happiness fits into a small blue ornament, hung with care and love on the pine branch.

I am not a religious person and I am not a follower of any faith. I am on the side of agnosticism when it comes to the question of God. But I am a believer and I wanted to share with you my humble version of faith which makes sense to me and makes me peaceful and hopeful.

I believe in holidays. I believe in the power of positive energy. The power of good deeds. The power of happy thoughts. During winter holidays everyone becomes a little bit happier, a little bit more joyful. You can physically feel this joy in the air and unlike red bull it really does give you wings! I believe that during such times magical things happen and dreams come true. I believe in people and all the good, great things they are capable of, when their minds and hearts are full of happiness and kindness.

I wish everyone to have great holidays this year! Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

Smoothie #14

Cucumber Refresher

Cucumbers

Banana

Green Apple 

Pear
Spinach

15 Days - 15 Smoothies!

Smoothie #13

Butternut Squash Smoothie

Cooked squash

Banana

Soy Milk
Vanilla Extract
Spices (Cinnamon, Nutmeg)

Close to winter holidays I always feel somewhat nostalgic and sentimental. Today I felt like browsing through my childhood pictures and as a result came up with this post.

I was born in a little town Tomsk, which is hiding in the pine forests of Siberia, Russia. When I was seven, my family owned a two-bedroom apartment in a five-story condominium building in a…well, let me call it uptown or sleeping quarters. The building was the exact copy of dozens or even hundreds of other buildings placed in a certain order around the neighborhood. Those were the Soviet times. Everything had to look the same – buildings, clothes, furniture, cars. People were deprived of choices. The choices were made for them by the caring communist government. But despite of certain weirdness and in some cases even absurdity, I always remembered those times fondly. That was my childhood and those were great times: fun and active, free and happy, barefoot-and-loose-hair kind of times!

15 Days - 15 Smoothies!

Smoothie #12

Beet Smoothie

Steamed Beets

Banana

Strawberries
Almond Milk