I love my job, but it’s hard work. Thankfully, I have lots of help from my Beko appliances! My Beko fridge and dishwasher are my ride-or-die best friends and sidekicks of my kitchen. I know it sounds dramatic, but I truly couldn’t live without them. 

I’ve shared my love for Beko in previous blog posts, where I provided tips for cleaning as you go and unloading the dishwasher more efficiently. I’m super excited to partner with Beko for this third article in the series, where I gush about my favorite features of these state-of-the-art appliances. 

I’ve had a long, happy, and committed relationship with this brand, as we even had Beko appliances in my childhood home in Turkey! While the brand is new to the US, they’ve been around since 1955 and have proven to be one of the largest and most sustainable appliance manufacturers in the world. 

It’s truly a full-circle moment for me to have Beko appliances of my own and to be sharing them with you today. Read on to learn about my favorite features and why Beko appliances make my kitchen (and me) happy. 

Storing Food Items is a Breeze

Ample Shelf Space and Bright Lighting

Because I work with food on a daily basis, you can bet that my fridge is always chock-full of recipe ingredients and leftovers. If you also keep a stock of food in your kitchen, then you know it’s super annoying to have to reach into the deep, dark depths of your fridge to search for a food item. Without proper shelving space and lighting, food items often get pushed to the back of the fridge to slowly expire as you forget about them.

Thankfully, I’ve never run into this problem with my Beko fridge! The adjustable glass shelves help me increase usable space and accommodate larger or smaller items. Plus, the bright LED lighting allows me to see all of my items clearly. Even after a big grocery haul, I can easily store all of my ingredients, keep them organized, and avoid that back-of-the-fridge conundrum. 

The fridge even has a concealed interior filtered water dispenser, which doesn’t take up precious shelving space as most refrigerators do. 

Produce Stays Fresh Three Times As Long

Aside from packaged food items, I purchase tons of fresh, colorful fruits and veggies that play starring roles in many of my recipes. Since I cook and photograph my recipes, I need that produce to look bright and fresh, even after sitting in the fridge for a week or longer. Because of Beko’s innovative EverFresh+ with Active Fresh Blue Light technology, I can feel confident that my produce will stay fresh for all of my recipes.

This EverFresh+ technology mimics natural light conditions, allowing the photosynthesis process to continue right in the fridge! As a result, it keeps fruits and veggies fresh for up to 30 days, which is three times longer than your average fridge. 

Better yet, the technology also helps produce retain its vitamins and nutrients, so I still get all those awesome health benefits. 

Hosting-Friendly 

While my home is a place of work for me, it’s also a place to gather with family and friends. As any hostess knows, the first thing that seems to run out when guests are over is ice! 

I’ve never had to embarrassingly serve a beverage without ice, as my Beko fridge always keeps it coming. In fact, the Turbo Ice Maker in my freezer makes 11 pounds of ice in only 24 hours. Cold drinks for everyone! 

Cleanup Has Never Been Easier

Okay, now let’s talk about that life-saving invention we call a dishwasher. If you cook on a regular basis, you know that your dishwasher is a crucial appliance that does a lot of the work for you. Therefore, it’s important that your dishwasher actually cleans your dishes. 

A Deeper Clean

Don’t you just hate it when you pull a still-dirty dish out of the “clean” dishwasher? It’s kinda gross, and it makes you question how “clean” your dishes actually are.

Most dishwashers have a spray arm (the part on the bottom of the dishwasher that rotates and sprays water) that rotates on a fixed axis and sprays in a circular motion, which doesn’t quite get to those dishes in the corners. That’s likely why your dishes come out not-so-clean.

With my Beko dishwasher, I never have this problem! The dishwasher has something called CornerIntense® technology, which features a spray arm that rotates on a movable axis to clean every inch of the dishwasher, including the corners. I love how clean and sparkly my dishes are when they come out! There’s even a light inside, so you can easily locate all your dishes once they’re clean.

To achieve an even deeper clean, the dishwasher has a spacious interior with adjustable shelves to accommodate dishes of every shape and size and ensure they each have enough room to truly get clean. I especially love the versatile third rack at the top, where I can lay out each piece of silverware instead of throwing them all in a basket. 

Not only do my dishes look clean, but they also smell clean. This is all thanks to Beko’s IonGuard technology, which uses a fan and a hidden ionizer to circulate fresh air and keep those icky odors away. Even though I have a constant rotation of dirty dishes in the dishwasher, the appliance stays smelling fresh and clean.

Performance That Outlasts Other Dishwashers 

Did you know that you’re technically supposed to clean out your dishwasher’s filter every two weeks? I don’t know about you, but that seems like a hassle. 

You also might be wondering, “Why do I need to clean my dishwasher filter?” Well, food and grease on your dishes can fall into the filter, which clogs it and decreases its performance over time. 

I love that my Beko dishwasher features an EverClean™ filter, which keeps the filter clean for up to four times longer than the standard dishwasher filter. This means that I don’t have to take time out of my busy schedule to clean my dishwasher filter every two weeks!

They’re Compatible With My Work-From-Home Lifestyle

My job as a food blogger allows me to work from the comfort of my own home, but it also means that I use my appliances more often than someone who works outside of the home. To me, it’s important that my appliances are energy efficient, quiet, easy to clean, and nice to look at! I’m here to tell you that Beko checks all of these boxes. 

Aesthetically Pleasing and Easy to Clean

My fridge and dishwasher make an appearance in some of my blog posts, so it’s vital that they are aesthetically pleasing and easy to clean. From the stainless steel exterior to the sleek and modern design, there’s something so special and luxurious about my Beko appliances. Many of the appliances are also coated with a fingerprint-free coating, so they always stay photo-ready. 

Quiet

I prefer a peaceful, quiet home during my computer hours, and I can think of nothing worse than a noisy appliance interrupting my workflow. Thankfully, my Beko dishwasher is as quiet as 39 dBA (a scale used to measure sound). The average dishwasher is about 50 dBA or above!

If my Beko appliances must interrupt me, they do so for a good reason. The fridge sounds a subtle (not obnoxious) alarm if the doors are left open. I welcome this interruption, as I don’t want my recipe ingredients going bad!

Energy Efficient 

Working from home uses up quite a bit of energy throughout the house, especially because of how often I open my fridge and run my dishwasher. Even so, I don’t have to worry about my environmental impact or my bills at the end of the month! 

Beko appliances use minimal water and energy while still achieving a high level of performance. My fridge is Energy Star qualified, and my dishwasher is rated Energy Star Most Efficient.

The dishwasher also offers several programmable cycles, which help me save on energy consumption. I like to choose the Normal cycle for a full load at the end of the day, but I also love the Express cycle for my big cooking days when I need to run the dishwasher multiple times a day. I can even schedule a cycle for overnight washing!

I truly cannot stress enough how much I love my Beko appliances. They keep my kitchen clean, organized, energy efficient, hosting-friendly, and, above all, happy!

The post How Beko Appliances Make for a Happier Kitchen appeared first on Foolproof Living.

I periodically publish life updates like this one when I have something valuable to share. Therefore, if you are interested in learning more about me and behind-the-scenes happenings, please continue reading.

A Difficult February

If you are among the few people who read these updates, you may have noticed that I haven’t published a monthly update since January. The truth is, I have been emotionally overwhelmed since the earthquake in Turkey that happened in February.

The devastation caused by an earthquake of such magnitude is immense, regardless of its location; however, when it struck the country where I grew up, it profoundly impacted me. I spent most of my time glued to my phone, witnessing the unfolding horror while attempting to offer whatever assistance I could from so far away.

I am grateful that my family lives far from the center of the earthquake and is doing well.  Still, witnessing such a terrible natural disaster in my life has been so hard to go through. I have never felt so far and powerless in my life before.

Thankfully, my family resides a considerable distance from the epicenter and remains unharmed. Nonetheless, experiencing such a catastrophic disaster has been incredibly difficult for me. I have never felt so far and powerless in my life before.

Regrettably, the path to recovery is long, and rebuilding will take a long time. Currently, we are contributing monthly donations to Ahbap, a non-profit organization that assists the victims and coordinates incoming support for the country. If you wish to contribute, this is a trustworthy organization. 

10 Years of Foolproof Living 

I bought the domain for this website on my birthday, April 4th,10 years ago. At the time, we were living on a small island in the Caribbean. I had just lost my mother to a sudden heart attack. Island life was good, but I felt lost. The big hotel career I spent most of my adult life was behind me, and I didn’t know what to do.

Little did I know, building a website to tell my story and share my knowledge was exactly what I needed. I won’t claim that the journey has been an easy one, but I can confidently say that I am extremely proud of it.

I am beyond grateful for the privilege to do what I do and for all the support you have shown me here on my blog, social media, and beyond. Thank you so much for visiting my site, cooking from my recipes, and being a part of the Foolproof Living community.

Here is to many more years to come!

What is Working?

• Started working with a personal trainer: I have never been able to build the discipline to work out on a regular basis. Despite multiple attempts, I could never maintain a routine. Following a friend’s recommendation, I decided to work with a personal trainer. Remarkably, after working with my trainer, Leslie, for over two months now, I am now exercising four times a week – twice with her and twice using the Corecircle app she recommended. The most gratifying part of this is that the results are already evident on the scale.
• I’ve got more help: I began collaborating with Kathy back in September of last year. She mainly helped me during the photoshoot days by preparing ingredients and cleaning while I was shooting recipes. Our mutual enjoyment of working together led me to inquire whether she would be interested in helping with recipe testing. To my delight, she said yes! We have been working as a team since early April, and it has been invaluable to have her assistance in developing truly “foolproof” recipes.
• Backyard Project: The hydrangeas we planted in January have started to bloom. Although they are still quite small, and I was informed it would be an entire year before I could fill my vases with hydrangeas indoors, it is wonderful to watch them grow. Sadly, I can’t say the same for ranunculus and peonies. However, our landscaper advised that I should give it more time. Time will tell.

What Is Not Working?

• AI & ChatGPT: I worked with a group of online business owners for the last few months to understand AI and figure out ways to use it in my business. While it is a great source for overcoming writer’s block, I find that the information that it is providing is usually incorrect, especially if you are looking for a specific recipe. Additionally, for those times when what AI gives you is correct, it scrapes the information from websites (and other resources) written by humans (journalists, writers, recipe testers, etc.) Having been a content creator myself, it is hard not to be concerned about where this is going. I truly hope that the powers-to-be value our hard work and figure out a way so that there is still a need for us (and we can still make money by doing what we do.)
• Social media: I am continuously trying to figure out what works on social media platforms and how I can grow my presence there. However, just as I think I grasped what works, the landscape shifts. I get that the demands and preferences of users change daily, but staying on top of these changes is exhausting. 

This and That

I thought I’d do something different and share a few things I am enjoying lately:

• Rose Mary: In March, I attended a conference in Chicago and got an opportunity to visit Rose Mary for the first time. I had heard many positive reviews about it, and I must say it lived up to the hype. Mostly serving rustic yet refined flavors of Croatian cuisine, the restaurant offered small plates ideal for sharing, and each bite was delectable. If you are heading over there for a trip and need a good place to eat, be sure to put Rose Mary on your list.
• The most comfortable shoes: I recently purchased a pair of Cariuma sneakers after seeing a few celebrities wearing them. They are possibly the most comfortable and light shoes I have ever owned. Plus, they are machine washable, so if you are like me and care about your shoes being clean at all times, I cannot recommend them enough.
• Summer trips & fancy dresses: We are invited to two weddings this summer. The first one will be held in Oregon, and the second will be in Turkey. I bought two dresses (the first one and the second one) for each wedding. Needless to say, I am excited about all the fun trips coming up and can not wait to play dress-up. 

I Leave You With This

This year will mark the 11th year of my mom’s passing. Kathy and I have been going over and updating the recipes I shared back when I first started Foolproof Living, and most of them are my mother’s recipes. Each time I take a bite of her food, it brings up so many memories. 

If you are lucky enough to have your mother around, ask her for those recipes you love. Write them down and keep them in a safe place. Because let me tell you, when she is gone, all you are left with will be the memories.

My mom wrote so many of them in an old notebook, which is the most valuable thing I own. I cook from it often and share some of it on the site. Her eggplant beef stew was one of the most popular recipes on the site, which tells me that my readers enjoyed her cooking.

Starting with my own mother in heaven, I wish all moms a happy Mother’s Day. May your family spoil you with lots of good food, hugs, and kisses.

Until next month…

Cheers,

Aysegul

The post Foolproof Life Lately April 2023 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

I am happy that you are here. These life update posts are a way to share things I am working on, enjoying, and struggling with both in life and at work. They are honest conversations about my life in a particular month. 

Dwight Is Doing Better

The last life update post I wrote was in a hospital room after Dwight had a seizure. It was a very dark time for us, but he has been doing much better since leaving the hospital. It has been over two months, and we are grateful that he has not had another episode. 

We have received hundreds of messages and well wishes, and I did my best to write back to everyone. But if I missed you, please know that I read every single message and took comfort in knowing that someone out there feels my pain. 

Thank you for all the well wishes. Thankfully, we are in a much better place now and are still hoping that it was a one-off thing and, hopefully, will never happen again.

Fresh Cut Flowers – A Dream Come True

Ever since I started following Floret Flower on Instagram and reading her first book, I have wanted to grow my own cut flowers. This year, it is finally happening. Last month, we hired a landscape designer who spent two days digging, planting, and organizing everything.

We removed the bushes on both sides of the entrance of our house and planted hydrangeas, peonies, and ranunculus. He said that I wouldn’t have much to harvest this year, but by the spring of 2024, I would have more cut flowers than I know what to do with. 

To say that I am excited would be an understatement. Sadly, looking at it now, it is hard to believe that, but thanks to the ample sunlight our house gets, I know they will bloom before we know it.

Winter Blues – Time for Books & Good Shows

I don’t know about you, but I find this time of the year, right after the holidays and before the spring, to be the hardest. Between the cold and the rain, I feel no desire to go outside. So, I have been doing a lot of cooking, reading, and watching TV shows. 

I thought it would be fun to share some of the notables books and shows I’ve been enjoying just in case you need some suggestions:

Books

• Wild At Home – How To Style and Care for Beautiful Plants by Hilton Carter: If you are following Hilton Carter on Instagram and drooling over his gorgeous plants and home, you will enjoy this book. Because this is where he shows us how to decorate with plants in such a way that an artist composes a painting. He shares the thought behind technical details like light, humidity, and space while helping you understand how to design a home filled with life and warmth.
• The Source: The Secrets of the Universe, the Science of the Brain – Dr. Tara Swart: I decided to read this book after watching Dr. Swart on Deep Dive with Ali Abdaal. A neuroscientist and former psychiatric doctor, she teaches us how to change negative thought patterns based on neuroscience’s latest findings and her life experiences as an executive coach and a professor at MIT. It is packed with actionable steps for improving emotionally and intellectually by living an intentional life.
• The Perfect Marriage – Jeneva Rose: If you need a pleasing page-turner that is hard to put down, give this a read. It is about a successful defense attorney defending her loser husband, who is the prime suspect in the death of his pregnant mistress. With so many twists and turns, the short chapters make it easy to follow the story until the end.

Shows:

• The Club – Netflix: This was my favorite show last year. The story starts in 1950s Istanbul with Matilda, a mother who has just got released from prison after serving a long sentence for killing the father of her baby. She tries to connect with her now-teenage daughter, who spent all that time in an orphanage. Between the rebellious daughter and the tumultuous times in history, life has a lot in store for her. This show is a heartwarming story of loss, love, and elegance.
• The Bear – Hulu: After the unexpected suicide of his brother, the main character, Bear, who has worked in the best restaurants in New York City, comes back home to Chicago to take over the family restaurant. Though this restaurant has a much different vibe than what he is used to, there is much to change. Sadly, the team that has been around for a long time is not ready for change. It is such a great story that shows the behind-the-scenes of the cutthroat restaurant business and the personal life of a chef going through some very tough mental issues.
• Poker Face – Peacock: We just started watching this show. The story revolves around a woman whose superpower is her ability to tell if someone is lying. Using her talent, she solves one crime after another while trying to stay alive from the demons of her past. While each episode is pretty predictable, the stories are engaging and fun to watch.

What Is Working In Life & Work?

• Bullet Journaling: I started keeping track of the important things using the bullet journaling method. If you are unfamiliar, it is a notebook where you keep track of things that are important to you daily. I decided to do this because, towards the end of last year, I found myself feeling like I didn’t have enough hours in a day. This nagging feeling of a combination of not doing enough and not being enough was becoming a daily downer. But after a month of logging everything important to me helped me see how much I accomplished in a given day. If you feel the same way, I highly recommend investing in a notebook and a pen to start. It is surely a great way to ground yourself, put away all the devices, and take a moment to review the day you left behind.
• Website Design: Foolproof Living is about to get a facelift. After years of “making things work” with a minimal budget, I finally decided to bite the bullet and work with some of the best people in the industry. We are in the beginning stages of the design process, and it won’t be live until late March, but I am excited to provide a better experience to my readers. 

Challenges:

• Wrinkles: I recently got a photoshoot done in my kitchen. I wanted some fresh photos for the new site thinking that it would be fun to get some recent photos. Sadly, when the photographer delivered the photos, all I could see was this weird wrinkle on my forehead. It just came out of nowhere. So, I asked my hairdresser to cut me some bangs to cover it up, but some friends say it is time for Botox. I don’t know what I will do, but I know for sure that I do not like this aspect of aging.
• AI – The so-called next big thing: For the first time in my blogging career, I am jumping on the wagon for the next big thing, Artificial Intelligence. While I am happy to do so, there is so much unknown with AI. Like many, I have been dabbling with it since ChatGPT entered into our lives in November 2022. And I have to say I am blown away by what it can do. However, while it is pretty incredible, I am worried about how much of it I should use in my business. While it can do so much, I feel like the rules have not been established yet, and if you use it incorrectly, one can drastically hurt his/her business. Luckily, I signed up for a mastermind group where we explore all the new and shiny AI tools and brainstorm ways to use them. Still, there is so much unknown, and I feel so much resistance to change.

I Leave You With This:

I have never been someone who enjoys working out. I really wish I could change that, but I don’t think that it is in the cards for me. With that being said, I recently started doing the daily classes of Misty Tripoli using the program she created, Body Groove. 

For one thing, the classes are so-much-fun. You are pretty much dancing the whole time. There is no right or wrong move. Rather, you are following her prompts and letting it all go while you are sweating your a$$ off. I have been doing these classes for 2 weeks now, and for the first time in my life, I look forward to “working out” after a long day at work.

If you are struggling with the same thing, give it a try. Who knows, you might like it too!

Until next month… Cheers.

Aysegul

Want To Go Back In Time? Read More of These:

• May 2022 – Trip to Istanbul
• April 2020 – Still in Vermont
• July 2021 – First summer back in ATL

The post Foolproof Life Lately January 2023 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

I usually write these life updates in the comfort of my home. But today, things are different. I am currently sitting on a reclining chair next to my husband’s hospital bed.

We have been here for the last two days, and it has been a humbling experience, to say the least.

Dwight has been consulting at a hotel upstate New York for the last few months. He drove down to Atlanta two days ago. It was a long two-day drive, but it was uneventful. Nothing felt out of the ordinary when he made it home.

I made a festive dinner with chicken and mashed potatoes, and we enjoyed it together with a few glasses of wine. We went to bed as usual, with everything being normal. Or so I thought.

At 5:30 in the morning, I woke up to Dwight shaking uncontrollably in bed. At first, I thought he was having a nightmare. I tried to wake him but couldn’t stop him from shaking. His eyes were open, looking up at the ceiling with no sign of personality or focus. 

Devastated and scared out of my mind, I called 911. Don’t get me wrong, I know things can always get worse, but what happened next was the worst thing I have ever experienced. He started having a violent seizure in front of my eyes. And when I say violent, I mean it.

His whole body shook uncontrollably, with bloody foam coming out of his mouth. It took about 45 very long seconds, and in the end, he was exhausted.

I, on the other hand, have never been more scared in my life.

The paramedics came and took him to the emergency room. We have been here ever since. So far, they have run every single brain and blood test you can imagine, and thankfully, everything is normal. 🧿

What Is Working?

They say it is important to find something to be thankful for in times of difficulty. Thankfully, I have many to be grateful for.

• A Thanksgiving to remember: As Dwight was up in NY, I celebrated Thanksgiving with my neighbors, Kathy and Liz. It was a wonderful day with great company and delicious food. On the blog front, we broke a record with the highest number of visits to the site. So many people used Foolproof Living as a resource to cook for family and friends.
• Business As Usual: I am beyond grateful for a business that allows me to take time off when life happens. Even though I was here and couldn’t work, my team continued to work on the site, and (knock on wood) things have been going smoothly.
• Our first Christmas tree in our new home: The last time we could put up a tree was in 2018 in Vermont. Between the pandemic and all the moving from VT to GA, we couldn’t manage to put up our Christmas tree. Since we do not have kids, it felt like a chore, but I made it a point to put it up this year. I have done most of my Christmas shopping with most of the items from my gift guide, and they are at home ready to be gift-wrapped.  I hope we can get the heck out of this hospital today, and I can spend the rest of the weekend wrapping gifts.

What Is Not Working?

• Getting back to normal: As much as I want to go back home, I am scared to experience such a devastating thing again. We feel like we have done everything that needs to be done and are in good hands with the best doctors and nurses, but I need to actively work on finding comfort in normalcy.
• Social media: During this debacle, I didn’t feel like sharing everything that was happening on social media. And even though I had content prepared, I could not publish happy and fun recipes as we went through this difficult time. When life gets difficult, I struggle to define the line between real life and work.  Do I publish a reel on Instagram that shows us being silly in the kitchen (and act like we are having the best time of our lives), or do I keep quiet? I decided to do the latter, but I’d be lying if I said that the fact that I didn’t keep up with my social media presence did not weigh on me.

Go Back In Time

If you enjoy keeping up to date with us and similar life updates, here are a few more you can read:

• October 2022 Life Update
• May 2022 Trip to Istanbul, Turkey
• August 2022 – We Bought A House

The post Foolproof Life Lately November 2022 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

Skip the stress of the holiday season and start shopping in the comfort of your home! We own and use every single item on this list, so our recommendations are honest and genuine. 

Please know that some of the links below are affiliate links, and if you make a purchase, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The post Foolproof Living’s 2022 Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on Foolproof Living.

These life update posts are a way to share things I am working on, enjoying, and struggling with. I also share some of the fun and not-so-fun things that happened behind the scenes in my personal and work life.

The last time I wrote one of these was back in June. It was just the beginning of summer, and I had all the intentions of sharing everything I had planned for summer. Sadly, work and life happened, and I fell behind. But now here I am. Back at it with a brand new life update.

But before we talk about October, let’s go back in time and talk about the highlights of this past summer.

A Summer To Remember

While life was pretty uneventful, we enjoyed summer and even packed a few fun trips here and there. Here are a few of the highlights from the Summer of 2022. 

My BFF Moved to Atlanta

You might remember my friend Ceren from my trips to Chicago and Maine. She is my best friend from college. We moved to the US around the same time. We always wanted to live in the same city, but between jobs and life, it never happened. Until this summer. 

After living in Chicago for over ten years, she decided that it was time for a change, packed her stuff, and moved down to ATL. 

With her being here, I feel like I have a family member who is close by. A feeling I have been yearning for ever since I left Turkey over 20 years ago.

The best part is that we enjoy similar things like traveling, eating good food, and fashion. We have also been discussing starting a new social media account, documenting our mutual interests. Who knows if we’ll be able to make that happen, but I love that she is here, and I get to spend more time with her.

The Restaurant Scene in Austin is Insane!

Dwight and I took a trip to Austin, Texas, to celebrate our wedding anniversary (an early celebration) back in August. We chose Austin because we wanted to attend one of the Secret Supper dinners.

I’ve heard good things about the Secret Supper and thought it would be fun to enjoy one of their community dinners. While the dinner ended up being okay, we truly enjoyed the restaurant scene in Austin. A few places we loved are:

• La Piscina at The Proper Hotel: A Texas-Inspired Mexican cuisine restaurant, La Piscina was my favorite spot. We ordered one of their signature fajitas. Both the flavors and the presentation were creative and new. Plus, the ambiance of the restaurant and the service were impeccable as well. Having been hoteliers in our past lives, we appreciated the attention to detail in the quality and creativity of food and service.
• Clark’s Austin: Originally an Oyster Bar, Clark’s Austin felt like the place to be. With gorgeous-looking people eating delicious food in a cafe-style atmosphere was quite fun to experience. While the food was okay, I truly enjoyed the ambiance.
• Franklin’s BBQ: We were told that “You can’t go to Austin and not stop by Franklin’s BBQ.” So, we put that on the itinerary. We were also warned about the long lines, so we made sure to go there as early as possible. While the wait was about 3 hours long, we had the best brisket of our lives. 

San Diego With Blogger Friends

You might remember I attended a food bloggers conference in Chicago back in March. These events are usually enjoyable as you meet many new people and make new friends. The best part for me is that you keep in touch with some of those people and build long-lasting relationships.

So, when my friend Olena (of I Food Real) put together a bloggers retreat in San Diego and invited me, I knew it would be a great experience. The idea was to get together and pick each other’s brains about what is working, what is not, and how we can help each other.

Also joined by Olivia, Katie, Kristen, and Jess, we had the best time together while sharing our experiences and offering each other our knowledge. I came back with so much actionable information to better my business and felt inspired by these women who inspire me every day.

Fall Is Here

On the home front, things have been relatively steady. At the end of summer, Dwight started helping a hotel in New York with some training, so he has been traveling quite a bit. 

We recently celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary in Canoe, the restaurant we got married. This was the first time I had been back since the wedding, and the minute I entered through the door, I felt all the memories come flooding back. If you visit Atlanta, put Canoe on your list of places to eat. It is an Atlanta classic that is a must-visit.

To this day, the day I got married to Dwight is the best day of my life. Here is a picture of us at the exact place where we said yes. 

A Few Updates From The Business Front

Recipe Updates:

I have spent the last ten months intentionally working on the site, mostly updating the older recipes and ensuring they are as helpful as possible.

Sadly, when I started in 2013, we weren’t writing recipes as we do now. At the time, I didn’t know how to be helpful like I do now. Between blogging and social media, a lot has changed, so now I am going back and editing recipes as much as possible to offer more helpful information.

If you are signed up for my emails, you are already getting these updates every week. If you are not and want to, be sure to sign up for it. I keep them short, sweet, and to the point.

Instagram Viral:

One of the most surprising things that happened in 2022 (at least, so far) was having two of my reels go viral on Instagram. I honestly had already thrown in the towel on making it as a social media star, but it took me by surprise to go from 40K followers to, as of the writing of this post, 131K followers within a matter of 2 months. 

If you think about the fact that it took me over eight years to get to 40K, you can appreciate and understand where I am coming from.

I am humbled by the experience and am more excited about creating content for Instagram. Who knows where this will take me (and Foolproof Living as a business), but I am enjoying meeting new people and making friends on that platform more than ever.

And if you haven’t already and want to join the crowd, you can follow me on Instagram for a lot of behind the scene videos and mostly silly videos with Dwight.

FPL is Ready for Thanksgiving!

As I write this, we are about three weeks away from Thanksgiving. I spent most of October testing, photographing, and writing about turkey. 

I thought it would be great to share recipes highlighting various turkey parts (like turkey tenderloins, drumsticks, and thighs) since buying a whole turkey might not be an option for many people this year.

We’ll start publishing them next week. I hope you find some inspiration and/or try some of them, especially if you plan a small gathering this year.

On a personal note, after many days of testing, photographing, and eating turkey, I need a turkey break. While it may look glorious from the outside, eating the same thing repeatedly gets old after a while. 

FPL is No Longer A One-Man Army:

Foolproof Living has been a one-person show for many years. I hired one of my college buddies in 2018 to help me with the business’s SEO and social media-related aspects. However, she has been working part-time, and even though she is lovely, I have been looking for help with running day-to-day activities like writing, managing WordPress (the platform that the site is on), and other back-end-related things.

I finally found the person for the job, which has been a fresh breath of air. Rebecca, my new assistant, is new to most website-related stuff, but she is a quick learner. 

She is also an excellent writer, which helps tremendously as nowadays we publish very detailed and long articles. It makes me so happy that another set of eyes goes through every single post (and recipe) and ensures that it is free of errors. 

I also hired a new kitchen assistant. Kathy is my neighbor. She is a retired nurse who happens to be a big-time foodie. I felt so excited when she volunteered to help in the kitchen with prepping and testing recipes with me in the kitchen. We worked on all the upcoming turkey recipes together, and it has been wonderful to get a second opinion before sharing them with the world.

On a selfish note, thanks to Kathy and Rebecca, I can now take Sundays off, which was a much-needed change after almost nine years of working nearly every Sunday.

Phew, that was a lot, but now you are caught up with everything I have been doing. You will be seeing many new recipes leading up to Thanksgiving, and I cannot wait to share them with you. I wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving. Thanks for being here and letting me share my recipes with you.

Until next month. Cheers!

Aysegul

Want to Go Back In Time?

• Life Update October 2021
• FPL Life Update September 2019
• My Alaska Trip

The post Foolproof Life Lately October 2022 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

I am happy that you are here. These life update posts are a way to share things that I am working on, enjoying, and struggling with. They are honest conversations about my life in a particular month. But I think more than anything, they are a diary of where I was, am, and now are heading. 

It’s The Boiled Peanut Season

The first time I had boiled peanuts was when I went to a baseball game in Atlanta back in 2006. It was my first time both eating boiled peanuts and watching baseball in a stadium. It was quite memorable, to say the least.

I won’t go into the details of how shocking it was to me to see people around me care less about the game while eating their weight in boiled peanuts with ice-cold beer all consumed under the sun. 

But, I adapted quickly, because boiled peanuts were love at first bite. Ever since that day, I am a boiled peanut addict, and that by itself is a reason to love summer. 

Yesterday we went to our local farmer’s market and had Cajun spiced boiled peanuts. OH MY! It is the kind of spicy that you just can’t stop eating. Even after you feel like your lips are swollen. 

I just can’t get enough of it.

Birthday Celebrations

We celebrated Dwight’s birthday in June. The foodies that we are, we celebrated in a new-to-us restaurant in Atlanta. 

St. Cecilia is located in the heart of Buckhead, one of the most affluent neighborhoods in Atlanta. If you were living here in the 2000s, you might remember Bluepoint, the Asian-Fusion restaurant, that closed years ago. That spot is now St. Cecilia.

It felt a bit weird to go there because I used to go to Bluepoint all the time. The vibe is totally different but the layout is still the same. 

Still, I forgot all about it after they brought the warm focaccia bread with whipped butter and burrata on the side. 

Good food, good vibes, we will definitely go again.

What’s Working?

Now that you are up to date with life things, I will continue in my usual format and talk about what is working and what is not working. Let’s talk about the positives first:

• Dwight is on board: You might remember from last month, my husband moved down to Atlanta from Maine, after working there for almost 2 years. While we think it is going to be for a short amount of time, during the transition, Dwight is helping me with creating content. We are now spending most of our days testing recipes and making videos in our kitchen.
  They are mostly silly cooking videos but both filming and watching them later is so much fun. If you need a good laugh, feel free to give them a watch (and follow us while you are there).
• Currently looking forward to: While we do not have a big vacation plan planned for the summer, I am very excited about a few events coming up:
  • Secret Supper – Austin, TX in August: I have been following the folks at Secret Supper for a few years now. They put together these beautiful dinners in “secret” locations. From what I understand, it is never the same place and they tell you the location 24 hours before the event. A friend of ours experienced one of these dinners and said that it is a must. So, when they announced their next locations we immediately signed up. It is the last weekend of August and we are so excited!
  • Fetes De Bayonne – Atlanta, GA: One of our favorite restaurants in Atlanta is bringing the biggest summer festival in France, Fetes De Bayonne, to our neck of the woods. I still need to go out and purchase a red dress for the occasion, but I am looking forward to delicious French food with friends. 
  • Bloggers Retreat – San Diego, CA in September: Ever since I came back from the food bloggers conference in Chicago, we have been chatting about putting together a bloggers retreat. It is finally happening. It is going to be a fun get-together/power session with a few of my favorite food bloggers in beautiful South California.
  • Abraham-Hicks – Atlanta, GA in October: There is still so much time until October, but Esther Hicks is coming to Atlanta. I was contemplating going to one of the cruises, but I was putting it off because of the pandemic. So, when I heard that she is coming here, I bought my ticket immediately. I cannot tell you how excited I am. If you are reading this and plan on being there, please let me know.

What’s Not Working?

• Raised Beds/Gardening: Last year around this time I was raving about my tomatoes. Sadly, this year, I just couldn’t get myself together to work on the backyard. I guess I didn’t realize how much work is required to maintain a backyard. I plan on getting back to it in the fall but for now, it is on the backburner.
• Negative Comments: I hear bloggers talk about getting negative/hateful comments about their recipes from time to time. Until recently, I have been very fortunate to not have gotten many of them over the 9 years of my blogging career. Last week, I received a note from a reader telling me that my food tastes so bland that it is like “prison food”. I am pretty thick-skinned but this one got to me. Whenever I receive a note from someone who had a less than satisfactory experience with a recipe I immediately follow up with an email asking what happened. In this instance, I could not get myself to do that. I just couldn’t believe someone could say something so mean for a recipe that they found online.
  But then I remembered that quote, “Hurt people hurt people” and decided to let it go.

I Leave You With This

We watched Father of The Bride last night and it felt so good. It is light, happy, and fun. If you need a few hours of easy entertainment with a fantastic soundtrack, I can’t think of a better movie.

Wishing you a wonderful summer friends. Until next month…

Aysegul

Want To Travel In Time?

If you enjoy life updates like this one, here are a few more that you might like:

• FPL Lately March 2021
• Becoming a US Citizen
• One Year Ago
• Two Years Ago

The post Foolproof Life Lately June 2022 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

If this is your first time reading these monthly life updates, welcome! 

I am happy that you are here. These life update posts are a way to share things that I am working on, enjoying, and struggling with. They are honest conversations about my life in a particular month. But I think more than anything, they are a diary of where I was, am, and now are heading. 

My Dad Goes Back Home

After a year and a half of living in the US, we decided that it would be best for my father to go back home. While he enjoyed his time here with me, he found it challenging to live in a country where he doesn’t speak the language. 

I was the only person that he could talk to and since I am working all the time, he was having to spend all his time by himself. We did look for a Turkish community in Atlanta but that meant that he would have to drive, which he was not comfortable with. 

Plus, the high cost of health insurance (especially for a 75-year-old man) in the US made it an easy decision for us. He already has great insurance and a group of doctors in Turkiye he can visit whenever he needs to.

When I tell you how hard it is to establish that from scratch here in the US, I.mean.it.

Long story short, he is now home. I saw his face literally light up when he entered his house, which made me so happy. 

Istanbul Is Always So Beautiful

After I dropped him off, I decided to take a few days off and stay in Istanbul to be with friends and family. 

To me, there is something so magical about Istanbul. I don’t know if it is the memories, food, or just the charm of the city, I can never get enough of it. Also, I think being so far away from it and being able to only see it every few years make me miss and appreciate it more.

While there I went to a few popular restaurants and of course, to the grand bazaar. I did some shopping and a lot of eating. I am listing a few of the places below in case you decide to go there someday:

• Meroddi Barnathan Roof Top: The best views of Istanbul and Galata Tower. It was hard to get in but the views were breathtaking. You can have a bite to eat there but I would recommend it for drinks and views more so than the food.
• Lokanta 1741: Believe it or not, this restaurant is located in a historical Hamam (aka Turkish Bath). The restaurant is located on the top floor and offers outdoor seating. It is an open patio surrounded by brick walls. It feels like you go back in time and are now in Ottoman times. The menu consists of traditional Turkish dishes made with a modern approach. With every bite, you first recognize the taste, and then as you chew more you feel like this new version is better. 
• Muutto – Anatolian Tapas Bar: Located in a new-to-me area called Galataport, Muutto is a restaurant located right on the coast with Bosphorus views. It is one of the many restaurants on that strip. Small yet high-end space with a very creative menu. As the name suggests, they serve Turkish food with a modern twist, tapas-style. It is great because you can taste a lot of different dishes without feeling full right away. 

If you want to see more photos of my trip, watch this and this video I shared on Instagram.

While restaurants around Istanbul were wonderful, I have to say, nothing in the world beats my aunt’s cooking. Just like my mom, she is an incredible cook. All of the Turkish recipes I share on my site are ones that I learned from my mom and her sister.

One evening, the whole family gathered in her house and she treated us to some of the old family recipes. Needless to say, not only I ate SO much but also had to best time seeing my extended family members.

Dwight Is Home

You know what they say, one door closes and another one opens. After living and working in Maine for a year and a half, Dwight moved down to Atlanta. He made the decision to move after my dad decided to go back. 

Even though it has been just a few days, I already love having him home. We bought our house almost a year and a half ago and he never got to live in it. As you can imagine, we are so excited to spend time together as a couple and enjoy our house together.

I Leave You With This

If you have been following me for a while you know that I lost my mom to a sudden heartache at the age of 59 (you can learn more about it in this video). It was so unexpected that when it happened I felt like a rug was pulled under me. 

Going back home, to the house that I grew up in, was difficult because being there without her in it is just so hard. When I am here in the US, it feels like she is back home (not dead just far away) but when I am physically there it feels like she is actually dead. 

I don’t know if what I am writing makes sense but I know one thing for sure: Tomorrow is not granted and anything can happen at any time to any of us. 

Give a tighter hug to your family today. Tell them you love them. And write down those family recipes. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

Until next month… Be safe friends.

Aysegul

Read More Life Updates

• Trip To Alaska
• Life Update June 2019
• What I know for sure

The post Foolproof Life Lately May 2022 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

If this is your first time reading these monthly life updates, welcome! 

I am happy that you are here. These life update posts are a way to share things that I am working on, enjoying, and struggling with. They are honest conversations about my life in a particular month. But I think more than anything, they are a diary of where I was, am, and now are heading. 

If that interests you, keep on reading. I have some news to share.

What Is Working?

Relationship building: 

When it comes to running a successful business online, building relationships are SO important. The truth is that I work alone in my kitchen (and in front of my computer) all day long, and there are days that I don’t talk to a soul. While I am (and have been) happy in my bubble, I am now learning that it doesn’t work that way. You have to know your peers and build relationships. So, for the last two years, I have been actively working on connecting with successful people running online businesses. 

This month, I went to Chicago for a food blogging conference to meet other food bloggers and learn from people in the industry. In addition to learning the latest trends, I have made many new friends. I attended classes where I learned about where the food blogging community is heading and what I need to do to keep up with it. 

Needless to say, it was an incredible experience. Having made new friends and rekindled relationships with the old ones, I felt seen and understood. Plus, visiting Chicago, where my BFF lives, and spending time with her is always a fun time. 

A Short Trip to Turkey

If you have been around for a while, you know that my dad moved from Turkey in December 2020. We didn’t want him to be alone during the pandemic and thought it would be best to be together. 

Well, that is now coming to an end. With the Covid numbers going down worldwide, he decided it was time to go back. Even though he has been enjoying his time here, the language barrier and a not-so-welcoming US healthcare system made it difficult for us to have him stay here any longer.

So, we are making the trip back home together in May. My plan is to drop him off and take some time off to see friends and family. It will be a short trip for me, but I look forward to it. 

Air Fryer Goodness Coming Your Way

If I am being honest, I was a bit nervous about starting a new series with Air Fryer recipes. I didn’t know if my readers would be interested in recipes made with a yet-another kitchen gadget. 

I was happily surprised that many of you own an air fryer, and many are interested in getting one. I have published only three recipes so far, but I am testing more recipes, so stay tuned.

What Is Not Working?

War:

Like many, I have been overwhelmed with the war going on in Ukraine. It is mindblowing that something like this can happen in this day and age. I have spent the better part of March glued to the TV, watching all that unfold and feeling depressed about the violence and the lives lost. 

We have already donated money to World Central Kitchen and Unicef, but the fact that we can’t do anything else is so sad. I hope and pray that it comes to an end soon. And more importantly, the powers-to-be learn that we are all connected, and war should never be the answer to any problem.

Not Being Able to Keep Up With the Joneses:

As a part of my job, I need to be on top of popular recipes. Nowadays, social media channels like Instagram and TikTok seem to be where one can find interesting recipes. 

However, some of the viral dishes don’t make any sense. At least to me. I am having the most challenging time making myself try (and publish) some of these recipes. 

A good example of this is the yogurt/custard toast that became popular a few weeks ago. Essentially, it is made by mixing yogurt with an egg, spreading it on toast, baking it in the oven, and serving it with various toppings.

While I can see it being a kid-friendly food, I don’t see myself making it in my kitchen. I am not saying that you shouldn’t make it. Instead, I am questioning whether or not I am the person who makes something because I need my numbers to look good for those who are watching.

This, to me, is a bigger part of the problem in that the direction of what people are interested in (and what goes viral) has gone to a place where I am not sure if I want to go to be relevant.

Sadly, I don’t enjoy scrolling through one “wanna-be-viral” video after another in 15-60 second intervals. Instead, I find it exhausting. 

Still, I am very much aware that change is the only thing that doesn’t change, and the only way to stay relevant is to find those trends that match my values and where I want to take my own brand and let the rest go.

Though it is easier said than done. 

Sold Out in 30 Seconds!

On April 4th, I will turn 44 years old. Since I’ll be 44 on 4.4, we wanted to do something special and put a checkmark next to the item on the top of our bucket list: Having dinner at the French Laundry in Yountville, CA.

I have heard that it was difficult to get in. An online article said that it is best to be in front of the computer and ready to book as soon as the reservation lines are open.

But boy, did I not know that a month’s worth of reservations would sell out in 30 seconds! Yup, you read that right. I was there, ready to sign up. I was trying to make a reservation. And it sold out in 30-freaking-seconds. Every single time slot I picked was sold out in seconds.

We had to postpone to another time. I know very well that in a world where there are wars and people are dying, this is a first-world problem, but I was bummed. 

Imagine though… What an experience it must be that people are willing to plan ahead and race to book your restaurant, and it sells out in 30 seconds month after month! 

My hats off to you, Thomas Keller.

The post FPL Life Lately March 2022 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

I wanted this month’s life update post to be about looking back and reflecting on what worked and what didn’t. But before then, let me tell you what we have been up to.

Home Sweet Home

When Dwight came home for Thanksgiving, I gave him a long list of things to do before he leaves in January. Things like fixing things around the house and some decorative projects. 

We have been in the new house for over a year now and we haven’t done much decorating. So, I wanted us to take advantage of the Black Friday sales and buy a couple of rugs and a few decorative elements like pillows, frames, bookshelves, etc. 

It ended up being a bigger project than I thought. I won’t lie, the strength of our marriage got tested a few times during the process but in the end, we checked everything off of the list. The two things that got me most excited were the coffee bar and the wall gallery.

Coffee Bar:

I have been wanting to have my own coffee bar since the beginning of the pandemic. I wanted to have a designated section in the kitchen where I can make Starbucks quality drinks. I am happy to tell you that now I have my dream coffee bar. 

I am sharing the (affiliate) links for the furniture, shelf, and both coffee makers below, in case you are wondering.

• Bar Cabinet
• Shelf with Hooks
• Moccamaster – Coffee Maker (On the right)
• Breville Barista Touch (On the left)

Gallery Wall:

There is a gal I follow on Instagram. She shares lifestyle content that revolves around interior design. She lives in a gorgeous house in some Scandinavian country. I have always loved the idea of having a gallery wall and when I saw hers I knew I wanted to have my own.

Thankfully, Dwight also liked the idea so we built our own gallery wall in our living room. Now, this is a start. We plan on working on this section in the coming months (aka major cable management) but for now, I love how it turned out. 

I bought most of these posters from this European poster store.

The next project is going to be my office space but we ran out of time so I’ll share more of it next month.

Things That Worked In 2021:

• Expanded my network: The word for 2021 for me was “to engage”. I wanted to find ways to come out of my shell (namely, behind my camera and keyboard) and connect with more readers and blogger friends.
  During the first half of the year, I have been able to meet some of you during live cooking classes. I also started mentoring new bloggers, which has been a great way to help people who are interested in blogging about food and recipes.
• Found a good rhythm: I am finally at a place in life where I accepted the fact that I find comfort in routines. And for the first time in my life, I am comfortable with the daily routines that I have been able to establish. I do not know if it is an age thing but I have never been more content with where I am in life both physically and emotionally.
• Grew my own tomatoes: Back in May, my dad and I built two raised beds in our backyard to grow our own tomatoes. We did learn a few lessons along the way but I truly enjoyed eating from our own backyard.

• Alaska Trip: A trip to Alaska was on top of my bucket list of places to go. I went there in August and it was the trip of a lifetime. 
• Got a housekeeper: Don’t get me wrong, I love cleaning my house. In my early years in college, I even worked as a housekeeper. I find it therapeutic, but cleaning a big house all by myself takes a full day. I finally decided to get some help and I have to say, it is worth every penny.
• Yearly Reader Survey: I do reader surveys once a year. I usually get about 200 to 300 people to fill them out. However, this year’s survey got over 1000 responses. It felt incredible to read through your kind words and to hear that you are enjoying the recipes I share in my corner of the internet. Thank you for that.

I leave you with this…

Who knows what the future holds, but like many people, I enjoy hitting the reset button on January 1st. Below is a great video from one of my favorite YouTubers, Matthew Encina, about productivity. 

I have been applying some of the tips he shared in the video and it has already been so fruitful. I am sharing just in case you need a bit of help with organizing your workflow/day.

Happy New Year, my friend. I hope 2022 will grant you everything you want in life.

Until next month…

Cheers!

Aysegul

Enjoy Life Updates Like This One? Here are a few more:

• Leaving Vermont For Good
• Guess what? We bought a house!
• Life on a small Caribbean Island
• You need to put Anguilla on your travel bucket list

The post Foolproof Life Lately December 2021 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

A Thanksgiving To Remember:

How was your Thanksgiving?

We had the most wonderful time. Dwight came down from Maine a day before Thanksgiving and we cooked the big turkey dinner together. 

This was also my dad’s first Thanksgiving so we made sure to make all the traditional recipes like Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprout Salad, Sweet Potato Souffle, and of course, the turkey. We had a few friends join us, which made it even more fun and festive.

I finally met Ina!

Well, sort of. 

Katie Couric came to Atlanta to promote her memoir and Ina was her guest. She was there to interview her and help Katie tell her story. 

I am not sure if I am the biggest Katie Couric fan, but I thoroughly enjoyed their conversation. It was a delight to “meet” Ina in person. Having been a fan for so many years, I thought I knew everything about her but I guess I was wrong. 

She said that when she first started no one in her family believed that she would be successful. They thought that her leaving the White House and pursuing her dream of cooking/entertaining was a mistake. The only person who believed her was her husband. 

I guess that explains why Jeffrey is such an important person in her life. He literally had her back from day one.

What Is Working – The Highlights:

This month, I think it is appropriate to divide this section into two categories; personal and professional. There is so much work happening in the background that I think it wouldn’t be right to not mention the business stuff.

Personal:

• Dwight is home: It makes me so happy to have him home. He will be here until after the new year and I want time to stop.
• Setting up a time to celebrate: In the past, I made these last 2 months all about work and obsessed over creating content. This year, I made an intentional decision to arrange my schedule so that I can spend some time socializing and celebrating the holidays. We have been doing a lot of outings with friends checking out all the hot spots in Atlanta and I am loving it. 
• A warm house, finally: Guys, I was so cold in Vermont and now looking back, I am realizing that I hated the winter there. It was so cold that we couldn’t heat our house warm enough. Here I am typing this in December and I am not freezing. I am just so happy and grateful that I am living in a warmer climate now.
• Got my booster shot: I have to be honest, the next day was not fun. It knocked me out so much that I couldn’t get out of bed. But still, I am grateful that it was available and I was able to get it. 

I Live You With This – #Deliveryworker

I don’t know about you but since the beginning of the pandemic, we have been ordering everything online. Obviously, it is convenient and safe but after watching the CBS 60 Minutes segment on how hard it is for the people who are preparing and delivering these orders, I joined the #deliveryworker movement on Instagram.

The idea is that you leave some snacks and beverages in front of your door for these hardworking people to enjoy and feel appreciated when they bring your packages. I think it is an easy and thoughtful way to cheer someone up and make them feel special. 

I wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season wherever you are in the world. 

Until next month. Cheers!

Aysegul

Want to go back in time? Here are a few more life updates:

• My Trip to Alaska
• Life Lately – Leaving VT – September 2020
• Life on a small island in the Caribbean – October 2013
• Trip to Turkey – July 2020

The post Foolproof Life Lately November 2021 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

I lost track of time in September. I don’t know if it was because of the changing weather or being ready for the holiday season and all the fun family time ahead; I have no idea where it went. 

So here are some of the high and low lights from the past two months.

A Milestone Anniversary

Dwight and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary in September. It is crazy to even think about it. During this time, we lived in 3 countries, moved 11 times, traveled to some of the most beautiful places in the world. Oh, and we bought a house!

He is still living and working in Maine, but we have made it work, and our marriage is stronger than ever. 🧿 He is coming home right before Thanksgiving and will be here throughout the holidays. To say that I am excited would be the understatement of the year.

I love this man with all my heart and cannot wait to see what life has in store for us in the years to come. 

Highlights 

A Quick Trip To Virginia

You might remember me mentioning that I was invited as an ambassador for Beko’s Healthy Kitchen initiative. They kicked off their campaign with an event in a gorgeous resort in Virginia.

If you are not familiar with Beko, they are one of the world leaders in home appliances. A part of Arcelik, they are one of the largest companies in Turkey. Here in the US market, they consider themselves “affordable luxury.”

With this Healthy Kitchen campaign, they are redefining our understanding of what a healthy kitchen means and how we can use design and technology together to create a sustainable healthy lifestyle. 

The Healthy Kitchen Council is made up of kitchen and bath designers and health-focused content creators like me. We were invited there to share our experiences and help them create products that will help promote a healthy kitchen.

In addition to spending time in a spectacular backdrop, I was truly honored to meet the executives behind the brand. In the new year, I will be joining them for KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show) in Orlando, where they will share their latest products. Perhaps, I will bring one home so that I can share it with you as well. 

Their appliances are lovely, and I cannot wait to learn more about them and share them with you.

Yearly Reader Survey 

You probably saw that I did a reader survey last month if you are on my email list. My goal was to understand your pain points and ways that I could help you in the kitchen.

Over 1000 of you filled out the survey, and other than two “constructive” comments, you all said something nice, making me feel SO special. If you have taken the time to fill it out, thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you haven’t, no worries. I will do another one next year.

Needless to say, it was SO helpful to learn more about you and your needs in the kitchen. I now know what you need and plan on creating recipes and related content based on your needs. 

Getting Back Into Making Videos

I will be honest, making how-to recipe videos takes a lot of time. Between recipe creation, photography & editing, writing, and promoting, I spent over 10 hours publishing a recipe. When you add a video to the equation, it takes close to 15 hours. Hence, why I haven’t had a video for the last 5 months.

To make matters worse, every social media platform wants a different format of video adding more to the workload.

However, now that I know that you enjoy these videos and actually find them helpful, I am getting back into making them. I am changing the format to make it more efficient for my workflow, but they are coming. 

Lowlights – What Is Not Working

Living In The US Without Speaking The Language:

If you have been around for a while, you know that my dad moved in with us last year. He is a retired dentist who has always wanted to experience a life abroad. While he enjoys being here, the fact that he doesn’t speak English makes things very hard. 

Plus, the changes in technology and the fast-paced life we live make it challenging for him to adapt. It makes it harder for me because he is tied to me for everything he needs.

He takes English classes online during the day, but it is not enough to help him speak with confidence. We decided that it was time to sign him up for ESL (English As Second Language) classes. He will start in January with classes three times a week. I know it is not easy to learn a new language after 74, but I am looking forward to seeing him learn and use English.

Updating Old Recipes 

I started Foolproof Living back in 2013. There are over 500 recipes on this website. As it is with everything else, so much has changed over the years. 

Back when I started, recipe posts were more like a daily diary. We were all writing about our lives and why we make and share the recipes we make. 

It is funny to think about it now, but there were many people following me to read about my adventures in living in the Caribbean. 

Since then, things have changed a lot. We don’t write about our lives anymore. Nowadays, it is strictly about recipes and how to make them. Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with this new format, but I can’t update all of the old recipes overnight. 

I am doing my best to update 2-3 recipes every week, but getting all of the 500+ recipes updated will take a lot of time. 

Reading through your comments in the reader survey, I realized that some of you are aware of my efforts and appreciate the positive improvements, which made me SO happy.

But in the end, I am faced with eight years of hard work against the changes in the online world. Honestly, I sometimes feel like deleting them all and starting over, but of course, that would not be smart. 

I just need to be patient and do my best, but boy, it is easier said than done. 

I Leave You With This

Two things:

1. A simple tomato salad made with the tomatoes I grew this summer
2. My current favorite social media account: I recently found Lennie on Instagram, and I love her so much. If you need a morale boost, check her out. This and this video put a smile on my face when I am feeling down. 

Until next month, I am sending you hugs from ATL.

Aysegul

The post Foolproof Life Lately September & October 2021 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

Luckily, it was for me and the answer was obvious: Of course, I am coming!

Cordova, Alaska is a small fishing village located in the South East of Anchorage. Or, if you need a more official description, here is what Wikipedia says:

Cordova is a city in Chugach Census Area, Alaska, United States. It lies near the mouth of the Copper River, at the head of Orca Inlet on the east side of Prince William Sound. The population was 2,239 at the 2010 census, down from 2,454 in 2000. Cordova was named Puerto Cordova by Spanish explorer Salvador Fidalgo in 1790. No roads connect Cordova to other Alaskan communities, so a plane or ferry is required to travel there.

To get there, I first traveled to Seattle, WA, and then took a three-and-a-half-hour Alaskan Airlines flight to Anchorage and then another 45-minute flight to Cordova.

What have you learned?

This is a loaded question because it wasn’t long after I set foot in Cordova that I realized I knew nothing about fishing salmon and all that goes into getting the freshest and the tastiest salmon on our tables.

It takes a village. Literally!

I thought salmon fishing and getting it in our kitchens was a process that looked like a fisherman would fish,  give it to a company to transport it, and then it would magically be available in our local supermarkets/fishmongers.

Those steps are still there but there are also biologists, the Department of Fish and Game, net menders, canning facilities, folks working over at the processing facilities, and non-profit organizations that work to protect the resources all with the same goal in mind: 

Bringing us the most delicious fish in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way. And they all have one thing in common and it is that they are passionate about salmon. 

There are five types of Alaskan Salmon

On my way to Cordova, as I was waiting for my plane, I met an elderly gentleman who took it upon himself to educate me on the types of salmon. 

Sir, if you are reading this, I am grateful for your teachings because I knew them before anyone else.

The way to remember the types of salmon is actually quite easy and fun, especially if you have kids. Each finger on your hand represents a type of salmon making it easy to remember:

• Pinkie finger: Pink or Humpback Salmon – The smallest variety with a mild flavor. 
• Ring finger: Silvers aka Coho Salmon has a mild in flavor with a delicate texture. It is available towards the end of the season, around August and September, and pairs well when back with root vegetables and mushrooms.
• Middle finger: King Salmon aka Chinook, is the largest of the three species. With its rich flavor, thanks to its high oil content, it melts in your mouth after it is cooked. Mostly available around May and June, it is the most expensive of the bunch.
• Index/Pointing Finger: Sockeye aka Red Salmon is robust and rich in flavor with a firm texture, which makes it versatile for any cooking method. Known for its natural deep flesh, it is the most abundant species of Copper River Delta and it is available May through July.
• Thumb: Known as Chum or Keta, this type of salmon has lower fat content compared to Coho, Sockeye and King salmon.

Of all these types, the most popular ones are Coho, Sockeye, and King Salmon. They are the most sought-after varieties and are available in stores during the season. The other varieties, Chum and Pinkie, are mostly sold canned or grouped in other salmon products.

Wondering how much it costs to buy salmon in Cordova? I took the picture below to give you an idea as to how much they charge for each type of salmon in its homeland.

Life in Cordova is not much different, except that they eat salmon every day

Though it is hard to tell in 5 days, the small town feeling made me go back to Virgin Gorda, the small island we lived on. Resources are limited, but there is a strong sense of community and a can-do attitude. 

We heard so many of the people say the same thing, “I came here for a few months, fell in love with it, and decided to live here for the rest of my life.”

We were also told that their freezers are full of salmon and they eat it every day. Can you blame them?

I know, I can’t.

Where can I buy Copper River Salmon?

I am glad you asked because I cannot wait for you to give it a try (if you haven’t already.) Lucky for us, folks over Copper River Salmon have a handy dandy tool on their website that will help you find the freshest Copper River Salmon in your area.

There is also David Saiget, a direct-to-consumer fisherman, who we met in person, who sells Copper River salmon and other salmon products (like Salmon Jerky (surprisingly delicious), canned salmon, etc.) through his website, Copper River Salmon Direct.

As you are shopping for salmon, one thing to keep in mind is that the pricing changes based on availability, type of salmon, and the season you are buying it. If you are a regular consumer, it is good to build a relationship with your fishmonger to get the freshest fish for the best price.

I’ve got salmon, what do I make with it?

Honestly, my favorite way of eating Copper River Salmon is by coating it with a little bit of olive oil, salt, and pepper and then roasting it in a low heat (275 degrees F to 300 degrees F) oven for 12-14 minutes. 

This method not only is as easy-to-make as it gets but also allows you to truly enjoy it to its full potential.

However, if you need some recipe ideas, here are a few that I make often:

• Baked Sockeye Salmon
• Grilled Sockeye Salmon
• Salmon Coconut Soup
• Baked Salmon over Butter Beans
• Salmon Nicoise Salad

To Sum It All Up

In my blogging career, I have been fortunate enough to be invited to a few of these trips like Vermont Creamy Cheese Camp, Stonyfield Dairy Farm Tour, and Visit to America’s Test Kitchen with California Figs.

As it is the case in every one of these trips, I feel a deep appreciation for the people who work so hard to provide us with the most delicious food. My trip to Cordova and meeting its hard-working people made me realize once again that it takes a village to produce a good quality product and I am grateful that I have been chosen to showcase it in my small corner of the internet. 

Thanks so much to Christa and Mathias, the power duo behind the Copper River Salmon marketing team, for such an unforgettable experience. 

Finally, a full disclosure; I was invited to Cordova, Alaska by Copper River Salmon for an all-expenses-paid trip as a part of the Summer Salmon Camp 2021 campaign. I have not received any other compensation to write this post and all opinions expressed here are my own.

I hope one day you get to go, see all this beauty for yourself, and eat your weight in salmon just like I did. 

Until then, eat salmon while it is in season. It is good for you. Really, good.

The post Copper River Salmon in Cordova Alaska appeared first on Foolproof Living.

Back here in the FPL HQ, I am finding it really hard to sit in front of the computer and work. We are a month away from fall, aka the beginning of the busiest season for a food blogger, and I am trying to take it easy and rest.

Sadly, resting is not my forte. My mind is going 100 miles a minute with everything I should be doing instead. Of course, when one’s idea of rest is scrolling through Instagram (and feeling less of yourself) it doesn’t help.

Please tell me I am not alone.

Backyard/Raised Beds Update

A few weeks ago, one morning we realized that half of our tomatoes were eaten by some animal. It took us a few days to figure out that it was a bird.

The annoying part of it is that he wasn’t eating the whole thing. Instead, he was taking a few bites from each tomato and leaving the rest to move on to the others. As a result, we found ourselves with a bunch of half-eaten tomatoes in our raised beds.

Super annoyed, I asked Google what to do and found out that the best way to deter birds from eating plants is to get a scarecrow or a bunch of flywheels and place them around the tomato plant.

We immediately bought a few flywheels from the Dollar store, placed them around the tomatoes, and voila! No more birds or half-eaten tomatoes.

Don’t you love it when you solve a problem so easily?

What is Working?

• My dad and I are now a team in the kitchen: Have you seen my post on Whole Roasted Eggplants and wondered about those manly hands? Well, they are my dads. He realized how much work it is to take those step by step photos and offered to help. To my surprise, we were able to accomplish so much together. So, now I have a new full time employee in the kitchen. #dadsarethebest
• Updating the old recipes with new photos and helpful tips: Having been blogging for over 8 years, there are so many recipes on this site. I am 100% behind every single recipe, but how we share content has changed so much since 2013. So, I have been doing a lot of updating behind the scenes and it feels resurface some of that old content.
• Thrilled to be a part of  Beko Healthy Kitchen Council: If you do not know, Beko, an applience company, is one of the largest companies in Turkey. They are coming to the US and I am excited to be a part of their healthy kitchen council with 20 other professionals with expertise in design, nutrition, and other areas of wellness. It is exciting to be a part of a group of people who believe that a healthy kitchen is the heart of a healthy home. More to come on this in the next few months.
• Checking off items on my travel bucket list: I won’t be able to share too much about this one yet but at the end of this month I will be visiting the place that has been on the top of my bucket list since the day I moved to the US. If all goes well, you will see a milion photos of it in next month’s life update. So, stay tuned. *** Update: Wondering what this was?**** Check my trip to Alaska!

What Is Not Working?

• Turkey is burning: It has been heart breaking to watch the wild fires in Turkey. The places that I grew up visiting every summer burned one by one. People lost lives, homes, and memories. So many animals died. The lack of government support and resources make it even harder to watch from afar. I can talk about this for hours but I’ll spare you of all the drama. It is just so sad.
• I am not on TikTok: I have been ignoring TikTok for the longest time but it is coming to a point where I probably shouldn’t, because it feels like it is here to stay. I understand that it is entertaining to some but to me, it is a time suck. I just don’t want to spend my time on it watching people trying to come up with the-next-big-thing. Sadly, my job requires me to be one of them and I feel so guilty for not jumping on board.

Shows I am Loving Lately:

In this section, I usually talk about the books I am reading too but lately, I have been in a funk and don’t feel like reading anything. It is bad, but that is the honest truth. I just downloaded Laura Dave’s book, The Last Thing He Told Me, and plan on reading it this month. I hear it is amazing. I’ll be sure to let you know how I feel about it.

• Mozart in the Jungle: I just finished watching this show on Amazon Prime. I have always loved Gael Garcia Bernal since I watched his performance in Motorcycle Diaries. He did not dissapoint in this one either. If you like classical music and New York City, I think you could find it entertaining.
• Virgin River: I watched this show because I wanted something easy and light hearted. It is a modern day love story in a gorgeous backdrop. If you have nothing else to watch go for it, but it is nothing earthshattering.
• Modern Love – Season 2: If you haven’t seen Season 1, stop what you are doing and watch it on Prime because Season 2 is coming on August 12th. Each eposide of this show is a different love story based on the popular New York Times podcast, Modern Love.

That is it from me folks. Enjoy the rest of your summer. I’ll see you next month!

Cheers!

Want To Travel in Time?

If you like reading these life updates, here are a few more you might like:

• July 2020 Life Update
• April 2020 Life Update
• Our Trip To Vieques, Puerto Rico in May 2014
• Vermont In The Fall – December 2018
• Thanksgiving 2021

The post Foolproof Life Lately July 2021 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

A year ago, I lived in Vermont and had no idea that I was about to be a homeowner. The most important thing that I kept praying every night, having my father live with us rather than being alone during the pandemic, would come true. 

A Much Needed Getaway:

After the funeral, Dwight left as he had to go back to work. I felt so bad because I didn’t want him to be alone right after losing his father. So, I booked a flight to Maine and went there. 

If you are following me on Instagram, you probably saw my 10-day trip to Maine. It was wonderful to take a break from work and get a chance to actually have a vacation without having to worry about getting the virus. 

Boothbay Harbor, where Dwight lives and works, is a beautiful small town North East of Portland, Maine. It is a quintessential coastal New England town that is perfect for an unplugged vacation. 

The only problem (at least for me) was that the temperatures were around the 50s, and I did not do a good job of picking the right clothes. I knew that it would be cooler than Georgia but didn’t expect it to be that cold. 

Still, I had a wonderful time taking long walks, boat trips, and eating my weight in lobster rolls. 

On one of the days, I took a quick trip to Portland to do some sightseeing, eating, and shopping. It hasn’t changed much since my last time there a few years ago, except that my new favorite lobster roll place is no longer Eventide. 

Don’t get me wrong, their lobster rolls are good, but I thought that The Highroller Lobster Co. had a superior role. If you ever visit, be sure to try it. I promise it won’t disappoint.

What is working?

Raised beds/Gardening: 

If you read last month’s life update post, you might remember how frustrated I felt with my summer raised-bed project. After chatting with my friend Alexandra and applying some of her strategies, we started seeing immediate results. 

I don’t know if it is because of those recommendations or the frequent rain showers that Georgia is known for, but my raised beds look amazing. We have the most delicious heirloom tomatoes. 

Plus, my herbs are doing much better. I have three different varieties of basil, cilantro, and thyme. Italian parsley is still a bit of a challenge. We just moved it to more of a shady area, and it immediately started doing better.

I am learning that growing your own vegetables is all about patience and love, and it is so worth the effort. 

Sadly, the ranunculus died, but who knows, maybe it will survive the winter and give us babies next year. We will see…

Want to know more about my gardening adventures?

• Setting up the raised beds
• Dreaming of a house with ranunculus flowers – Watch it from the beginning
• Things are not going too well

What Brings You Joy?

If you have ever read the teachings of Abraham Hicks, you know that they want you to make feeling good a priority. And the best way to do that is to define what brings you joy and do more of it. 

I currently love Ali Andrea’s Youtube channel that is all about makeup and skincare with Paris as her backdrop. She brings me so much joy and takes my mind off of things. 

It is a nice change from my daily food-related work. Ali is such a fun person to watch and learn from if you are into that kind of stuff.

What brings you joy? Share it with me in the comments, will you?

I am taking a break from cooking classes until September. I hope you are enjoying your summer (or winter if you are in the Southern Hemisphere). Until next month…

Cheers,

Ice

Want to go back in time?

Here are a few of my life update posts from the past:

• Life Lately May 2020
• A trip to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
• What to do in Vieques, Puerto Rico
• Foolproof Life Lately September 2019

The post Foolproof Life Lately June 2021 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

Summer is already here. It is getting exceedingly difficult to have the discipline to sit in front of a computer and work all day long. Thankfully days are long. As soon as it is 6 pm, I am out on the grill with a glass of wine in my hand. 

Wherever you are, I hope you are enjoying the changing weather and dwelling in the bounty of the season. Here is a bit of a life update from my neck of the woods. 

You Are Invited! June’s Live Zoom Cooking Class

Before I talk about my usual, what is working and what is not working, I wanted to let you know about this month’s live Zoom Cooking Class. 

This month, we are switching things up a bit. Instead of making a savory meal, we are making my go-to summer dessert, Peach Galette, with my foolproof Galette Dough. 

Based on your feedback, I am also switching the time and doing it on a Saturday in the middle of the day (instead of a Wednesday before dinner.) I hope that the timing would work better and make it easier for you to attend.

So, if you need a fun dessert that you can make all summer long, join me on June 12th at 3 pm EST for a live zoom class from my kitchen here in Atlanta, GA. 

Need a little convincing? Feel free to read the reviews from some of the attendees of past classes.

What Is Working:

Asking for help:

As someone who prefers to take care of things independently, I find asking for help to be hard. It is easier for me to figure it out myself than ask someone for a hand. But with the number of things that I need to do, I finally gave in and asked for help. 

And boy, what a relief! So, I am currently getting help from:

• A professional agency auditing my site to help me grow it again. If you don’t know what I am talking about feel free to read last month’s life update post.
• A few writers helping me update some of my old recipes and make them more useful for my readers.
• Blogger friends to brainstorm ideas and learn from.

How do you feel about asking for help? Is that easy for you?

Masterminds:

If you are not familiar with the concept of having a mastermind group, allow me to explain. Essentially, a group of food bloggers get together and share ideas about what works, what doesn’t work, and areas that we need help with.

I am in two mastermind groups, and we get together once a month. I cherish these times as I learn so much from other peoples’ experiences and feel energized after each session. If you are new to the concept and would like to hear more about it, you might enjoy the podcast I did with Megan of Eat Blog Talk Podcast.

Planning for a getaway:

I cannot tell you how happy it makes me think that things are getting back to normal. We are finally able to make plans to take a break and go somewhere. This summer, I have two small vacations planned.

The first one is to Maine to be with my husband and the second one is to the destination that is at the very top of my bucket list. We are still planning the details, so it is a bit early to talk about it, but I will share it with you as soon as I have everything set.

Have you got any plans to get away this summer?

Cooking & Grilling with my dad:

My dad and I took cooking and grilling to a whole new level. We cook together every single day. And we are tackling recipes that are not so easy to make.

In the picture you see above, he rolls the dough for cig borek, a Turkish/Middle Eastern dish that I have never made before. It was our first try, and I can’t say that it was a success, but we indeed had a great time together.

What is Not Working:

Raised Beds/Gardening:

Yup, you read it right. My summer project that was supposed to be fun hasn’t been that enjoyable so far. My dad and I spent hours setting up the beds and planting herbs, tomatoes, and my favorite, ranunculus flowers. 

Sadly, other than three of the tomato plants, they are not doing too well. For some reason, the herbs are just not growing. 

I knew it would be a year of learning, but I guess I was not ready for it being hard. 

Thankfully, my friend Alexandra of Occasionally Eggs, who is a pro at this, offered me some help and gave me some suggestions. 

There could be a million reasons, but to start, we will:

• Only water in the evening
• Get new seeds (for herbs) and try growing them from seeds
• Cut any yellow leaves
• Watch Charles Dowding’s videos to learn more about gardening.

Covid Weight:

As most people did, I found comfort in food during the pandemic, and it now shows because all of my summer clothes are too tight. I do not want to get new clothes as I want to lose the extra weight, but I’m not too fond of the idea of dieting.

I recently started eating an early breakfast (around 8) and then an early dinner (around 5 pm) with no lunch and no snacks in between. 

I am okay with not having lunch, but the lack of snacking is tough because I found joy in taking breaks to eat something throughout the day. Still, it has to be done, but it is a struggle in itself.

I am also planning to up my workout game with Barre Blend. I will be sure to report about my experience in next month’s newsletter. So stay tuned.

Are there any good work outs you enjoy and see results?

Books and Shows That I Have Been Enjoying:

Abraham’s Teachings – Esther Hicks:

These books came to me at a very desperate time a few months ago. One day, while feeling like I am at a breaking point, I found myself praying for help. Honestly, it didn’t feel like anyone was listening, but I didn’t know what else to do. 

At some point, I Googled, What to do when you are feeling really sad? Then, one thing led to another, and I found a video on YouTube. 

Have you ever had one of those moments when things started falling into their place? That is what happened to me. Next thing you know, I find myself watching and reading everything that Esther Hicks shared over the years. 

I think it is safe to say that after reading The Law of Attraction, The Vortex, and Ask and It is Given (affiliate links), I will never be the same.

I know some people might think about the teachings of Abraham to be controversial, but I find immense comfort in them. I genuinely believe that we are vibrational beings living in an eternal universe governed by the laws of energy. And everything that happens to me is a result of what I think and how I feel. 

I am now at a better place, but I am intentionally working on how I feel and carry on with my life. 

I think these kinds of things come to you for a reason, and if you are ready for the message they share, you too will find comfort in it. So feel free to check them out and decide for yourself.

I know I am in a much better place and am thankful for the day I asked Google for help.

Mare of Easttown:

I just finished the HBO show Mare of Easttown and loved it. 

This New York Times article said it best:

“The show is a murder mystery with many motifs: grief, the opioid crisis, small-town life.”

Mare, played by Kate Winslet, is a detective trying to solve a murder and two missing girls in a small town in Pennsylvania. The desire to find the bad guy intertwined with Mare’s own story and shortcomings sucks you in and makes it a show you want to binge-watch.

Lucky for you, all six episodes are now on HBOmax so that you can watch them all in one sitting. 

Want To Go Back In Time?

Here are a few life updates from previous months:

• FPL Lately April 2021
• Life Update March 2021
• FPL Lately August 2020

The post Foolproof Life Lately May 2021 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

It is a nice change for me because I looked at the weather app on my phone and saw that it is supposed to snow in Manchester, VT today, where we used to live. I know it will get super hot here very soon, but I can’t say I will ever be missing the snowy weather in Manchester. 

Also, can you tell that I am loving my new houseplants?

Backyard Update:

If you read last month’s life-lately post, you might remember me talking about our backyard project. We now have 3 raised garden beds. My dad and I spent a few hours setting them up together.

So far, we planted fresh herbs, microgreens, and six different types of heirloom tomatoes. They are still babies, but they are growing every day and bringing me so much joy.

I am currently obsessed with microgreens and have been testing various types/brands of microgreens. I am still in the learning stages but plan on sharing my experience with you next year. So stay tuned.

You Are Invited – May 2021 Live Cooking Class:

In April’s live cooking Zoom class, we made my creamy Pasta with Mushroom and Peas. We also had Pineapple Margaritas to enjoy throughout the class. As usual, it was so much fun. We drank, cooked, and laughed together.

This month, we are switching things up a bit. I am partnering up with my friend, Ari of Well Seasoned Studio, to cook together. 

We will start the class with a cocktail, Kir Royale. Then Ari will show us how to make her Mozzarella Caprese Gazpacho. I will finish off the class with my meal-worthy Butter Lettuce Salad recipe. 

I am so excited about introducing you to my ultra-talented friend Ari and cooking together with her live. As always, it is going to a virtual live Zoom class. It will be held on May 20th at 5:30 pm EST.

We would love to have you join us. Feel free to book your spot and even invite a friend (or two) for free. 

What is Working:

Finally fully vaccinated: I got my second shot two weeks ago. The next day was no joke, I felt so tired and sick. But I was much better after the first 48 hours. I feel grateful that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Have you gotten your second shot yet? How did you feel?

Cooking from new cookbooks: I don’t know about you, but I find so much joy in cooking from cookbooks. They offer so much inspiration to me, especially when I feel stuck. Below are the ones I am loving so much right now (affiliate links):

1. Help Yourself – Best soup recipes!
2. The Complete Salad Cookbook – I just got this cookbook and I cannot stop reading it.
3. Occasionally Eggs – Alexandra’s photography and recipes are incredibly inspiring. I just made her Banana Bread and posted a quick video of how I made it on my Instagram account.
4. Canelle et Vanille – Aran’s Chocolate, Olive Oil, and Citrus Cake is out-of-this-world

What is Not Working:

• Staying focused: There is so much to do and so little time to do it, but I am constantly battling to find a balance between the connected world we live in and the quiet I need to live a meaningful life. I know it is best to take one step at a time, but some days are better than others. Please tell me I am not alone feeling this way.
• Playing the numbers game: In the world we live in, it is hard not to attach the value of your work (and yourself) to numbers. The money you make, the followers you have, the page views your blog receives every day… It is hard not to compare yourself to others around you and not feel less of yourself and what you produce. I am finding comfort in daily positive affirmations, but man, it is hard sometimes.
• Covid Struggles: I am trying my best to keep a positive attitude about it but watching India and my home country Turkey still struggle with Covid the way they are struggling breaks my heart. I was planning to go to Turkey this summer for my cousin’s (outdoor) wedding, but I am not sure if that is such a good idea right now.

Apparently, I am also not very good at protecting myself from the sun while I am working in the backyard.

Books & Shows

• Got hooked on Abraham Hicks: Having gone through some setbacks in my business, I felt a downward spiral of negativity and fear-based emotions. As I was looking for spiritual guidance and answers, I was introduced to Abraham Hicks and the book Law of Attraction. I read it in 2 days and have found so much comfort and healing in it.
• The Beauty & The Baker on Netflix: If you need an uplifting show that will quickly get your mind off of real life, watch this show. Apparently, it was first aired on ABC but became a hit after it was released on Netflix. It is a show about a Cuban family living in Miami. So far, they only have one season, but its cast is trying to get its audience to help them convince Netflix to sign them up for a second season. If you are like me, would love to see more adventures of the Garcia family, you can sign the petition here.

Until next month, stay safe friends.

Cheers,

Aysegul

Want More Life Updates? Here are a few more:

• Foolproof Life Lately July 2020
• What I know for sure
• Foolproof Life Lately May 2020
• This is My Island

The post Foolproof Life Lately April 2021 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

There are two things that I have very little experience with. The first one is gardening and the second one is grilling. 

My big goal for the rest of this year is to tackle these two warm-weather activities. I know that I have a long road ahead but I am excited. 

The Current State Of Our Backyard:

As you can see from the pictures that I literally took 5 minutes ago, currently there is not much in the backyard. It is a blank slate and I feel like it is begging me to play with it.

Here are a few things that I am planning on doing:

Set up Raised garden beds: 

The first one is for edible plants like herbs, heirloom tomatoes, and salad greens and the second one is for flowers. I have always wanted to grow dahlias. Not sure if I will be able to succeed but I want to give it a try.

Since I have absolutely no idea about growing anything in a raised garden bed so I invested in Peter Shepperd’s book, Introduction to Raised Bed Gardening (affiliate link), and have been reading it. 

I haven’t received them yet but I have also ordered two of these wooden raised garden beds (affiliate link) and one of this small garden bed (affiliate link). 

As I mentioned earlier, I am in the very early stages of my gardening adventure but I am super excited to learn and share it with you here on the blog.

I plan on documenting all of my learning in the months and years to come so stay tuned. Also, if you are someone who is experienced in the subject matter, please do share your experience with me. I am all ears. 

Up My Grilling Game:

Growing up, my father was the one who was in charge of grilling. I never felt the need to learn. After I got married, Dwight took over my dad’s grilling responsibilities. 

As a result, I have no idea about grilling. This year, my intention is to change that and share more recipes with you in the months and years to come. 

We recently bought two grills, one gas grill (affiliate link) and one charcoal grill (affiliate link). They are currently in the garage, waiting for my dad and Dwight to set them up but once they are set up I might turn into the grilling master that I was born to be.

I’ll be sure to update you here and on Instagram as I learn. So, stay tuned for that as well. 

What Is Working:

• Foolproof Living turns 8!!: I bought the domain for Foolproof Living on my birthday, April 4th, 8 years ago. All I knew was that I wanted a place where I could document my life in the Caribbean and share my mom’s recipes. I had no idea that it would become what it is right now and I am beyond grateful for that. The logo you see in the picture above was my very first logo. I guess you can tell I like colorful things.
• Just got vaccinated: Both my dad and I are now vaccinated. I still have one more to go but I am so happy that we are somewhat protected. Who knows when life is going to go back to normal fully but it felt wonderful to do something to head in that direction.
• Planning trips for summer: As many, we didn’t do much last summer. This year things will be different. I plan on spending some time in Maine with Dwight and enjoy the beauty of New England summers. Last month, I went to Miami for work and it felt wonderful to spend time with a few friends. Needless to say, I am thrilled to be planning about these trips and socializing with friends and family again.
• Finally got some furniture delivered: We sold most of our furniture before we left Vermont. We bought a few pieces back in October but due to the pandemic they had a long waitlist. This past week, we received a few of the pieces. We finally have a dining room table and a side table for our living room. I am not sharing photos just yet because I need to do some decorating before I share them with you. ????

What Is Not Working:

• I’ve got hit with yet another Google Algorithm change: Google changes its algorithm regularly to make things better for its users. Most of these updates affect us bloggers in a positive way, especially if you are someone who is regularly updating your blog. However, sometimes they penalize you for something and finding that is very hard. Last month, that happened to me and I have been navigating the deep waters of Google ocean with no idea what to do. I am getting some professional help but it has been so hard to see my traffic (and small business) go down.
• Witnessing how hard it is to be an elderly person: If you are following me for a while, you know that my 73-year old father has been living with us since December. Having been spending more time with him, I see clearly how hard it is for him to keep up with the changing world around him. This is especially a problem when it comes to technology. I gifted him with a new Iphone, thinking that he would enjoy having a new phone. Sadly, with all the pop ups and password requests,  it does nothing but frustrate him. I help as much as I can, but with all the security measures and changes happening every day, witnessing him struggle is not fun. 

April 2021 Zoom Live Class – You Are Invited!

The live zoom class in February was SO much fun. Most people attended and cooked with their significant others, which made it even more fun and interesting.

Sadly, after getting so hard with the algorithm updates I had to take a break in March to figure it all out, but now I am back. This month, we are making frozen pineapple margaritas and serving it with a vegetarian spring pasta recipe packed with mushrooms and peas.

You can reserve your spot here. I would love to have you join us. Check out the reviews from some of the attendees from my previous sessions, if you need a bit of convincing.

And as always, let me know if you have any questions, ingredient substitutions, and/or anything else I can help you with.

I Leave You With This

Every week, James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, sends a short and sweet email newsletter with thoughtful quotes. The one below was from his last newsletter. Having been feeling so beat up with everything happening around my business, I am taking it to heart. 

“Fear of failure is higher when you’re not working on the problem.

If you are taking action, you are less worried about failure because you realize you can influence the outcome.”

James Clear

I think it is important to understand there is only so much you can control. And after you take the next best action the only thing you can do is to surrender.

It is easier said than done, but I think we are all trying.

Until next month…

Aysegul

Enjoy Reading These Life Updates? Here are a few more:

• Foolproof Life Lately November 2020
• Foolproof Life Lately October 2019
• What I Know For Sure
• Foolproof Life Lately April 2021

The post Foolproof Life Lately March 2021 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

It is the same thing every year. I work my butt off during the holidays thinking that I will have time to rest in January. But then January rolls around, and I am full steam ahead. 

Still, I am grateful for everything I have, as I know many people struggle with life right now at all levels. There is light at the end of the tunnel, but the tunnel is long. Like many, my patience is wearing off, and I am itching for some normalcy.

If you feel the same way, please know that you are not alone.

Home Projects

We did a lot of work in the house this month. I am no handy person, but my dad is, and thanks to him, we accomplished quite a bit. I shared them in detail on my Instagram account, if you’d rather watch me talk about and show you everything we did around the house.

Kitchen

The new kitchen cabinets did not come with knobs. I initially thought that we can live without them, but after cooking in the kitchen for a few months now, I realized that it is best to install them in the long run. They get stained so quickly, and having to clean them every time I cook is no fun.

So, I ordered knobs, and we installed them. It was a whole day project, but it ended up looking pretty good.

Reading/Library Room

If you have been following me for a while, you know that we have been moving from one place to another for years. Living the nomadic lifestyle, I had most of my books in boxes for years. 

They are out now because we finally bought some new bookshelves. It took my dad four days to put them together, but it ended up being SO worth it. I finally have all my books out of the boxes and on the shelves. 

We still need to do more decorating, i.e., buy some plants, art on the wall, a new lamp, etc. but so far, I am loving starting my days in this room.

What Is Working?

My First Zoom Live Cooking Class:

If you read last month’s life lately post, you know that I announced my very first Live Zoom class. If I am being honest, I had no idea what it would be like as I have never done anything like this before. 

For one thing, I didn’t know if people would attend. Then if they did, I wasn’t sure if they would cook with me at the same time. I honestly thought that I would cook and people would watch.

Boy, was I wrong?

Not only did they sign up, but also they cooked with me. Towards the end, everyone was talking to each other and having a good time. We all ended up having dinner for our families after a fun cooking session together. 

Feeling encouraged, I am excited to let you know that our next live Zoom cooking class will be on February 18th at 5:30 pm EST. 

This month we are making my Southwest Chicken Salad with Avocado Dressing. 

If you are on my email list, you probably already saw the survey that I shared. I landed on this recipe with your help. Thanks a million to those of you who took the time to respond.

I love this recipe because it is filling, healthy, and oh so delicious. 

You can find more information about the class here. I would love you to join me for a fun and relaxed evening of cooking a healthy meal for our families. 

Gabby Bernstein’s Manifestation Challenge

I started reading Gabby Bernstein’s books a few years ago. If you are reading spiritual books, you may have heard her New York Times bestsellers like Super Attractor (affiliate link) and The Universe Has Your Back (affiliate link).

I have read all her books and found a lot of wisdom in her teachings. However, after such a brutal year, I felt like I needed to get back into a spiritual routine and start the new year on a positive note. 

When I heard that she was doing a manifestation challenge, I knew that it was what I needed, so I signed up. In 21 days, I followed her prompts to take small daily steps to make feeling good a priority. 

The essence of her teaching is simple. If you want good things to happen to you, you need to:

1. Make feeling good a priority. The way to attract what you want is to appreciate what you have and trust in the universe that it is working for you.
2. Have a spiritual practice where you protect your mood and be very intentional about what information you are consuming (Aka no reaching out to your phone first thing when you wake up)
3. Be crystal clear about what you want. She suggests having a journaling practice to check in with yourself daily.
4. Surrender and trust that the universe has your back. If something is not happening, it doesn’t mean that other things are not happening. 

Having read her books, I already knew all of these principles, but I needed a helping hand in getting back into it. Doing the challenge helped me get back on track.

Nowadays, I start my day with journaling, set an intention for the day, and read the following prayer before doing anything else. 

What Is Not Working?

Accepting the fact that it will never be normal again

Have you watched 60-Minutes this past Sunday? The first segment was about people who lost a family member to this brutal virus. They talked to some of the 400K+ people who lost family members. 

People who lost their parents, siblings, lovers… 

I cried the whole time watching it. Life will never be normal for those people. 

Here I am with my 72-year old father, grateful that he is with me and healthy, but I am scared at the same time, thinking a million what-if scenarios in my head.

Times are hard, my friends. If you are feeling it, please know that I am right there with you. I hope we will come out of this stronger, but until then, we have more learning to do. 

Until next month. With gratitude,

Aysegul

Love these life updates? Here are a few more:

• Foolproof Life Lately September 2020
• Foolproof Life Lately April 2020
• Foolproof Life Lately June 2019

The post Foolproof Life Lately January 2021 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

Back in January, I decided that my word for 2020 would be “Surrender.” I wanted to be better at letting it go and letting it be. 

I wanted to be intentional about this decision, so as a reminder, I changed my phone’s wall picture to what you see in the image below. 

It said, “Trust the journey, even if you don’t understand it.”

Of course, at the time, I had no idea what was in store for the world for 2020. Nine months into this pandemic now, we learned many lessons, were scared for our lives and had to make some hard choices.

I think, in a way, we all had to surrender to life in one way or another during this challenging year. On the last day of 2020, as I write this, we are still not out of the woods yet. 

Who knows what will happen in 2021, but as I am thinking about my word for the new year, I know for sure that anything can happen anytime. 

It is possible that I can get sick and die tomorrow, as many people did in 2020.

My “Word” for 2021

And when I think about the possibility of death being so close, it makes me realize that when all is said and done, all we are left with are the experiences we’ve had. That is why I want this year to be about fostering relationships and being intentional about creating memories. 

This is a big step for me because I find comfort in being behind the camera (and the keyboard) and just doing my thing in the comfort of a room in my house that I call my “studio.”

But that is not the way to build relationships, so I am making an intentional decision and choosing the word “Engage” as my word for 2021.

The first step for getting out of my comfort zone

The other day I was thinking, there are thousands of people who visit Foolproof Living every day, and I am privileged to reach thousands of people on social media with the click of a button. 

But, how many of those people do I know? I am embarrassed to admit that the number is very (very) low.

So, as a part of my new word (and mission), I am taking a step towards getting to know the people in my community.

Join Me For My Very First Cooking Class on Zoom

To get to know you and have a good time doing our favorite activity, cooking, I want us to get together and cook delicious food via Zoom. 

My goal is simple; bring us all together, lift our spirits with a hands-on cooking experience, and help you put dinner on the table after an hour of a fun cooking class.

And in this class, drinking alcohol is encouraged. 

We will start the class making one of my all-time favorite cocktails, French 75. Then we will make my Salmon Nicoise all the while we are sipping on our cocktail. 

At a time when the pandemic is trying to suck the fun out of life, if you want to have a good time with good food, join me for a live cooking class via Zoom on January 13th at 5:30 PM EST (for 1 hour 15 min).

You can learn more about it and sign up for it here. Have you got questions? Feel free to send me an email. 

An Honest Annual Review

In his latest newsletter, Ali Abdaal (one of my favorite YouTubers) talked about the importance of having an honest annual review and answering some questions. 

He defines it as it being “just a sit-down-self-exploration exercise where we reflect on how our year has gone in the hope that we gain insights to improve the next.”

In the same newsletter, he included some questions to answer.

Do you ever do monthly/yearly reviews?

This year, I want to start doing them myself, so here I am sharing a few of my answers below:

When have you felt proud of yourself in 2020? What were you doing?

I felt proud of myself on the day we got the keys to our new house. I have been living in the US for almost 20 years now, and it has been a rollercoaster ride. Since the day I came to this country, I have moved over 15 times.

We have been dreaming of owning a house and working on our finances for over five years now. It finally happened, and I am just so proud of having a place where I can call my “forever home.” 

If you had to teach one thing you learned this year (that would improve one’s quality of life), what would that be?

The biggest thing I learned this year is the importance of delegating and getting help to go far. Even though we are a small team, I hired a few people this year to help me manage things to make time for myself. 

As a control freak, it has been hard for me to have anyone else play with my baby (yup, Foolproof Living is my baby), but it opened up some room for me to do other things, and it has been so helpful for me. 

If you are a small business owner like myself, my biggest advice to you is to hire people to help as soon as you can.

What things did you stop caring about in 2020?

I stopped caring about owning material things in 2020. I have been following people who are practicing minimalism for a few years now. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I could let my buying addiction go. 

However, during the move, it became clear that I have collected way too much stuff over the years, and most of it is no longer needed for me to continue with my life. It was time to make the switch.

We donated so much stuff to Goodwill and decided that we would be more intentional with identifying what we want versus what we need. 

This is not to say I won’t be buying something for myself but rather mostly spend my money on experiences than things.

Things that I enjoyed during December:

As I do it in every one of these life update posts, I thought I could end this month’s Foolproof Life Lately with a few things that I enjoyed during the month:

7 Great “This American Life” Episodes

If you are a podcast listener, you probably know Ira Glass and his podcast, This American Life. This year they celebrated their 25th anniversary. They shared some of the most popular episodes in an article in the New York Times. 

Sadly, my favorite episode, Abdi and the Golden Ticket did not make it to the list. Still, if you are new to listening to podcasts or missed these episodes, check out the NYT article.

This show has been instrumental in understanding American culture for me, so I especially recommend listening to it if you are a foreigner living in the US like I am.

Masterclass with Ottolenghi

A good friend recently gifted me with a subscription to the popular teaching platform, Masterclass. I have been taking various classes for the last few weeks. So far, my favorite one has been Yotam Ottolenghi’s class. 

His marinated feta recipe is now a staple in our house, and I can’t get enough of it. I even shared how I make it in my Instagram stories. 

I cannot recommend this class enough, especially if you are like me, always looking for ways to up your cooking skills.

Chasing Life by Sanjay Gupta

We have been watching the documentary, Chasing Life by Sanjay Gupta for a few weeks now, and it has been a delight to watch. In his miniseries, Dr. Gupta travels to different countries in search of a healthier life and lifestyle. 

Along the way, he shows us how people from other countries live a healthier lifestyle and heal themselves. He volunteers for some drastic and impressive treatments throughout the series, making it quite fun to watch. 

A Heartfelt Thank You

Wherever you are in the world, thank you so much for being here. I am grateful for your support and interest in what I love doing.

I wish you and your loved ones a Happy New Year. I hope that 2021 will be a much better year. Sending much love your way. Until next month.

Cheer,

Aysegul

Love these life updates? Here are a few more:

• Foolproof Life Lately January 2021
• Foolproof Life Lately October 2019
• Foolproof Life Lately November 2020

The post Foolproof Life Lately December 2020 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

Hello from our new home in Atlanta. It is hard to believe that we have finally fully moved, and it has already been a month.

This month has been a whirlwind of opening boxes, trying to figure out a place for everything, and finding out that our life in the New England area is not quite over yet.

Yup, you read it right. 

Yes, we did buy a house in Atlanta, and I am currently living in it. However, around mid-October, we found out that life had some other plans for us.

Home Away From Home – Boothbay Harbor, Maine

You might already know this, but my husband, Dwight, works in the hospitality industry. Like many people in that field, he lost his job during the pandemic.

One of the reasons we decided to leave Vermont was because there was no reason for us to be there anymore. Our plan was to buy a house here in Georgia, where we both lived and continue to look, but in GA instead of VT.

But then, around October, Dwight got a call from a headhunter for an opportunity to manage a resort in a coastal town in Maine. After a few interviews and a couple visits to the resort, he was offered the job.

Not knowing what will happen with the pandemic and the elections, we did not want to pass on such a good opportunity and said yes. Plus, he loved the team and the energy of the resort.

Long story short, he now lives in Maine, and I live here in Georgia. We visited Boothbay Harbor right before we left Vermont. It is such a beautiful place, and I cannot wait to go back.

And you know me, I’ve already eaten my weight in lobster on my first visit to my home-away-from-home.

This pandemic has been so hard on the elderly

If you have elderly parents, you know that this year has been extra difficult for them. My dad has been in Turkey all by himself throughout the pandemic. I have been worried about him not having anyone to look after him since the beginning of March. 

One of the reasons why we decided to buy a house was to have enough room so that he can come and live with us. So, he is coming this weekend. 

I am excited but also scared and worried. He is an active and healthy 72-year-old man , but this virus is ruthless.

The good thing is that with him coming I will not be alone in this big house. Plus, Dwight will be able to go back and forth until we find our rhythm between our lives in Georgia and Maine.

So, yeah… That is what’s happening in my life in a nutshell. 

What is working?

• The white kitchen of my dreams: We sold most of our furniture while we were in Vermont and still waiting on the new ones to be delivered, so I do not have any photos of the house to share yet. However, I am loving the new kitchen (pictured above). I have always wanted a white kitchen, and this kitchen is everything I asked for from the universe. I plan on getting back to filming new videos this week and cannot wait to share it with you.

• People are cooking more than ever now: There is no doubt that 2020 has been a difficult one, but if there is one good thing that came out of it, people are cooking more than ever now. My olive bread recipe even went viral on social media.
  I have so many of you reached out with emails and comments on the blog to ask questions. I just love connecting with you, and your questions help me figure out what I should share next. So, thank you.
• Happy to be back in a city: Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed living in a small town in Vermont. However, I am so glad to be back in a city. I appreciate that there are so many options, and everything is within a 15 to 30-minute driving distance. I haven’t been able to do much yet, thanks to the pandemic, but I cannot wait to find new places to eat and shop.

What’s not working?

• Moving sucks: We moved 8 times in the last 10 years, and I am so over it. Like moving from one state to another is not enough of a hassle, I hurt my back during the first week of opening boxes. I have been in constant pain and doing my best to rest as much as possible, but it has been so hard.
• Don’t know where I fit in social media: I am having the most challenging time between the daily news and my daily Instagram feed. I feel awful reading the increasing number of cases and their effects on the economy (and people’s lives). Then I go into Instagram (or any other social media platform) and see people act like life is normal, talking about their Christmas shopping list (!)
  
  I get it; being an influencer requires us to be all cheery and fun, but I feel SO much for those who lost their loved ones and have to wait in long lines to get food. Many people are struggling, and I just can’t bring myself to tell people to go out and buy stuff when the money is so tight. 
  
  So, I decided to not publish a gift guide this year. If you have to have one, here is my 2019 gift guide. I own and use everything on that list and still recommend them.
  
  This year though, we are only buying what we need and mostly shopping local.

Books & Shows I loved in November:

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey (affiliate link): 

I’ll be honest, I have never been a big fan of Matthew McConaughey. I’ve seen some of his movies and know about his famous, “Alright, alright, alright” but that’s about it. 

I decided to read his memoir after watching him in one of the late-night shows. I had an Audible credit to use and bought his book on a whim to listen to while I was opening boxes. 

WOW! First of all, he is a great writer. Second, listening to him read his own words in such an authentic way was a treat. The book is full of wisdom from a life well-lived, starting from his childhood to his years in Hollywood to today. 

I plan to buy the printed book so that I can highlight bits and pieces to go back and read again. I highly recommend listening to the book, as I thought it was a delightful experience.

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover (affiliate link): 

I picked up this book to read after I hurt my back. I had to lay down to give it a break and needed something light and fun. I thought it was a steamy love story. 

It was, but it was also more than that. The main character is a woman who grew up in a household with domestic violence and blamed her mom for not standing up against her dad.

Then one day, the man that she thinks of as “the man of her life” hits her, and she finds herself in her mother’s shoes. 

This book offers a unique perspective on domestic violence and proves that things are not as black and white as they seem. Overall, it wasn’t exactly what I thought but a good read nevertheless.

The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix: 

This is a 7-episode show about a girl who is a chess genius. She grows up in an orphanage, where she learns to play chess from the janitor. He helps her shape her talent, and then she gets adopted.

It is a heartwarming story, and the cinematography is outstanding. It is a great show to watch if you need a new one to get your mind off things.

I Leave You With This:

I won’t lie. I am tired of it ALL.

The virus, the news, the fight for power, the feeling of losing hope in humanity, and the lack of empathy…

But, I am also grateful and hopeful. I know things will be okay, and we will come out of this stronger. 

Only if we can survive…

So, I leave you with Nathaniel Drew’s latest video. The concept of “information fatigue” resonates with me SO much. Like many, I am exhausted from all that is going on. 

I hope you have a month where you take steps to manage your information fatigue. I know I will be working on it every day.

Until next month, with gratitude,

Aysegul

Love these life updates? Here are a few more:

• Foolproof Life Lately August 2020
• Foolproof Life Lately March 2021
• Foolproof Life Lately January 2021
• Foolproof Life Lately May 2020
• Foolproof Life Lately June 2019

The post Foolproof Life Lately November 2020 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

After I published last month’s Life Lately post I got an email from a reader asking me, why would anyone want to leave such a beautiful place?

I wondered, how does my life look from the outside? The funny thing is that I have been here before.

If you have been following me for a while you know that we used to live in the Caribbean. I’ve had the same exact question asked to me many times during the time we left Virgin Gorda.

The truth is that it is hard to live in these remote and touristic towns. While they are beautiful with gorgeous scenery, resources are limited, the cost of living is expensive and if you haven’t grown up here it is really hard to get used to the weather conditions. 

In other words, living and vacationing in these places are hugely different from one another. 

Don’t get me wrong, there is no way anyone would know this without going through it. But I have and believe me, it is not easy. 

We are leaving Vermont in the second week of October for good and I am counting days. This is not to say I won’t miss it, but luckily I can always come back and visit whenever I wanted.

What worked in September 2020?

• Being outside & taking time to soak it all in: I made an intentional decision to make sure that I took the time to enjoy Vermont’s beautiful foliage. This year was one of the best I have ever seen. Dwight and I took daily walks, ate way more apple cider donuts than anyone should ever eat, and visited our favorite pumpkin patch in town. If you ever visit New England around this time of the year, be sure to visit pumpkin patches and apple orchards. They are so much fun.

• Batch creating recipes: Knowing that I won’t be able to photograph and film until we get the keys to our new house in November, I have been recipe testing and photographing nonstop. I don’t remember the last time I have been this productive. Almost all recipes for the month of October and November are ready and I cannot wait to share them with you.
• Letting go of the things that no longer bring me joy: I am not going to lie, I have a hard time letting things go, even if I haven’t used them for years. However, after watching several episodes of Marie Kondo, I felt inspired to take a look at the cupboards in my closet and kitchen. We donated the unused stuff that no longer brings us joy. At first, I felt guilty but now I feel lighter. 

What did not work in September 2020?

• Showing up on social media: It blows my mind how much information people share about themselves on social media. There are times I feel like I am just not cut out for being an online business owner who needs to be active on social media.
  
  Most of the time I feel like whatever I share is not enough.
  
  Watch this interview on YouTube. Carolina Herrera (at the 6th-minute mark), the fashion mogul, did a great job of explaining how a woman should be.
  
  Mysterious.
  
  This is exactly how I was raised. After such an upbringing, I find it so hard to be an open book and to share my life on a daily basis. It feels like it is never enough. I am never enough.

• Planning ahead & feeling overwhelmed: Ask any food blogger. They will tell you. October through the end of December (aka Q4) is the busiest time of the year for us. This is when people search for recipes.
  
  Moving in Q4 is the worst idea for a food blogger. So, I have been in nonstop creating mode to close the gap but I am overworked and tired.
  
  And Q4 has just started.

Notable Books & Movies from This Month:

Book  – The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday (Affiliate Link):

I started reading this book as a way to keep myself grounded in this chaotic time. Between moving, the political climate we are currently in, and a few other personal challenges I needed someone to tell me what to do.

With daily bite-sized stoic philosophies, this book has been so helpful for me to keep myself grounded in the actual facts of my life. I learned that more often than not the thing that worries me is bigger and more dramatic in mind than it actually is in reality. 

“It is not things that upset us, it is our judgment about things.”

Epictetus

Therefore, having a source like The Daily Stoic providing me with meditations on wisdom and perseverance has been so helpful. 

The book is divided into 366 one-page Stoic quotes with additional commentary from the author, which helps you think further. It’s about a 5-minute read a day but it is just full of actionable wisdom to live a better more grounded life.

If you are new to Stoicism and want to learn more about it, The Daily Stoic is a great YouTube channel to watch. The video below is one of my favorites and I watch it whenever I need a reminder to stay the course of the trajectory of my life.

Movie – The Secret – Dare to Dream: 

When I first watched “The Secret” when it came out years ago, like a lot of people, I found it to be life-changing. In time, I continued reading on the subject and realized that there were fundamentals that were not covered in the documentary.

After reading life-changing books like Gary Zukav’s “The Seat of The Soul” (affiliate link) and Michael Alen Singer’s “The Surrender Experiment” (affiliate link), I learned that being aware of and in line with the frequency of your calling and believing in yourself were the missing fundamentals that the Secret failed to cover.

I hoped that this movie would go deeper into those principles and take me through someone’s journey through finding his/her calling. Sadly, it was nothing more than a love story around the same message they initially shared in the documentary version many years ago: “Our thoughts become our reality.”

If you have nothing to do or are new to the concept, give it a watch but otherwise, I wouldn’t recommend it.

Selena Gomez’s Cooking Show on HBO MAX:

I love watching cooking shows when I am doing the dishes after hours of testing recipes. This month, I watched Selena Gomez’s new cooking show on HBO Max. 

I wouldn’t consider myself a fan of her, but the show was pretty entertaining and fun to watch. She cooked her way through the pandemic with the help of famous chefs around LA.

The recipes that they made together were way above her skill level but she pulled them off pretty well. To me, this was yet another reminder that with a little bit of help (and following directions) anyone can cook.

It is a fun show to watch if you have time. It is great to watch when you are doing the dishes.

The next time I will share one of these life updates I will be in Atlanta. We will probably be opening boxes and putting things away. However, between now and then there is so much that needs to be done. Packing, moving, traveling… SO. MUCH.

Wish me luck friends! 

Until next time…

Love these life updates? Here are a few more to check out:

• Foolproof Life Lately January 2021
• Foolproof Life Lately May 2020
• Foolproof Life Lately June 2019
• Foolproof Life Lately July 2020

The post Foolproof Life Lately September 2020 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

When I was a kid, every night before going to bed, I would go down on my knees and pray that my life would fold in a way where I get to travel around the world and live in different places.

Every. Single. Night. The same prayer. And asking for the same thing. 

They say, be careful what you wish for because it might just come true. 

I have been granted my wish and been so lucky to see so many parts of the world and live in three different countries since I left home at the ripe age of 18. Since then, I have been on the move, one place to another, experiencing different cultures, food, and making friends along the way.

While I am grateful for all of it, something shifted in me when I turned 40, a few years ago. I felt so tired of moving. But more than anything, I felt a sudden yearning for belonging. 

The idea of settling down sounded so good. In an unknown and strange way.

With Dwight feeling in a similar way, we decided that it is about time to find a place where we can call our permanent home. We have been here in Vermont for almost 4 years now and have been enjoying it but we’ve always known that we wouldn’t call this state home.

Dwight and I met, fell in love, and married in Atlanta. The idea of going back there to find ourselves a home felt so right for both of us. So, last week we traveled down to find a place for ourselves.

At the end of three days and seeing over 15 houses, we found one that we liked and put our names on it right on the spot. 

I swear my hands are shaking even when I am writing this. 

I have been living the nomad life for so long that I had no idea when this day would come. But here we are.

The New House:

Our new place is a brand new house. As a matter of fact, it is still being built. 

The photo below is my new kitchen. The door you see on the right goes out to a backyard where I plan on growing my own herbs, vegetables, and fruits. 

I know that it doesn’t look like anything right now, but it will be an all white kitchen with white cabinets and a large island in the middle. It has a large South facing window with natural light coming in all day long.

Needless to say, I am thrilled to have a place where I will be able to cook, photograph, and film my videos.

Our Actual Move Date & The Next Steps:

We are supposed to be getting the keys at the end of October so we plan on going down sometime around mid October. While we are not excited about all the packing that is ahead of us, both Dwight and I are counting days for that moment when we get on the road to Atlanta.

Leaving Vermont:

It will be bitter sweet to leave Vermont. We made so many friends here and enjoyed the beauty that it is known for. But I am not going to lie, I will not miss the brutal winters. 

The good thing is that the foliage season is right around the corner and we will be enjoying our last few weeks here in the most beautiful backdrop possible.

I plan on spending the whole month of September intensely testing, photographing and filming recipes for the whole holiday season so there will be a lot of cooking and baking in our house.

If your travels ever take you to Vermont or you are living closeby be sure to stop by for a bite or two.

The Rainbow:

Before I let you go, I can’t help but share this.

Right after we signed the paperwork and got into the car to head back to the hotel, it started pouring. It was such heavy rain that I felt like it is best if we wait it out for a few minutes rather than getting into the rush hour traffic.

Then as soon as it slowed down, we started driving and saw a double rainbow. It was so real and so beautiful.

I felt like my mom was right there with us saying, welcome home.

Until next month…

Cheers!

Aysegul

Love the life updates? Here are a few more:

• Foolproof Life Lately June 2019
• Foolproof Life Lately October 2019
• Foolproof Life Lately April 2020
• Foolproof Life Lately May 2020
• Life Lately October 2021
• What I know for sure – 40th birthday edition

The post Foolproof Life Lately August 2020 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

As it usually happens, I spent the next hour looking at 800 + photos I took during my trip. I meant to share them after I came back but life happened and I never got around to publishing them on the blog. 

Now looking back, I feel like I took it all for granted. I had no idea how lucky I was. The last 5 months of life taught me a big lesson. Life is fragile. There is no guarantee that plans will pan out. Universe doesn’t owe us anything.

This morning I saw someone call this time, The Great Pause. 

How true! We all got a time out. And it is not over yet.

The struggle is real and as it is with everyone I am struggling with the new norms of life. We are at home all summer long and there are a few big decisions ahead of us. I will share them as things happen but for now I’ll continue with my usual format with a few of my favorite Turkey photos sprinkled throughout the post.

What is working?

• Site switch: If you have been a regular reader of Foolproof Living you probably recognize that things are looking different on the blog. I have been working on this design for over 6 months right now. It finally happened and I feel like the weight of the world is off my shoulders.
• Zoom/Skype/Facetime meetings with friends and family: In the new norms of life, I am finding a lot of comfort in technology and keeping in touch with my family through online gatherings. Can you imagine how much harder it would be if we didn’t have the ability to talk to each other face to face?
• The abundance of summer produce in Vermont: While I spent most of my time working on the new design, I made sure to take a few hours from work to visit our local farmer’s market. When it comes to fresh food, this time of the year, is truly amazing in Vermont. I have been so fortunate to live in so many places in my life but I have never seen this kind of abundance anywhere else. Now that the redesign project is almost over, I will get back to publishing recipes and share some of this abundance with you in August.

What is not working?

• Site switch: I know that I listed this exact thing up in the what is working section. But truth be told, the switch and everything that happened after that has been an exercise in frustration. I thought I was prepared for it but a lot of things happened outside my control. I cannot begin to tell you how much work it is to go over seven years’ worth of content and organize them to fit the new look.
  As it is with every difficult situation, it was a big learning experience. There is still more work to do so if you see things out of place please know that I am working on them.
• No vacation this year: We have always taken some time off during July or August. This was either taking a few days off to pay a quick visit to New York City or take a full vacation to places like San Miguel de Allende, Anguilla, or Santa Fe. However this year, with all that is going on, we are staying put. I wish this was not the case because I feel like we need a getaway more than ever. 
• Femicide in Turkey and all over the world: If you haven’t heard, a young Turkish woman was beaten, strangled, and then burned by his ex (married with two children) boyfriend in Turkey this month. This horrific crime brought up the importance of the Istanbul Convention, a human rights treaty of the Council of Europe against violence against women and domestic violence which was opened for signature on 11 May 2011, in Istanbul, Turkey. Sadly, the conservative Turkish Government (and media) is now trying to alter the message, what it stands for, and trying to get out of the Istanbul convention.
  It is beyond belief that, in this day and age, there is still a discussion around violence against women and that it is somehow okay to label these horrific crimes as honor killings and have sympathy towards the people who commit these crimes.

Favorite Books

Bob Iger’s – The Ride of A Lifetime (affiliate link): If you are not familiar with Bob Iger, he is the CEO of Disney for the last 15+ years. His memoir is about how he got there at a fairly young age of 54 and how he shaped Disney’s future in a technologically driven entertainment scene. As you read through the book, you get a closer look at how life is when you are so high up. It is packed with leadership advice and compelling stories only someone at that level can tell.

My Favorite Quote of the Month

I read the following in Oprah’s, What I Know For Sure column in the latest issue of her magazine. It is a poem written by Haroon Rashid.

We fell asleep in one world and woke up in another.
Suddenly Disney is out of magic, Paris is no longer romantic, New York doesn’t stand up anymore, the Chinese wall is no longer a fortress, and Mecca is empty.
Hugs and kisses suddenly became weapons, and not visiting parents and friends become an act of love.
Suddenly you realize that power, beauty, and money are worthless, and can’t get you the oxygen you are fighting for.
The world continues its life and it is beautiful. It only puts humans in cages. I think it is sending us a message:
“You are not necessary. The air, earth, water, and sky without you are fine. When you come back, remember that you are my guests. Not my masters.

Citation: Haroon Rashid

As we all live through this “Great Pause”, I wish you a healthy and safe August wherever you are in the world. 

Until next month.

Aysegul

Enjoy reading these life updates? Here are a few more:

• Foolproof Life Lately October 2019
• Foolproof Life Lately August 2020
• Foolproof Life Lately December 2020
• What I know for sure

The post Foolproof Life Lately July 2020 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

Here are a few notes from my journal outlined in my usual format:

Black Lives Matter:

Growing up in Turkey, I did not know any black people. The closest dark-skinned people I knew were either Kurds or Arabs. I don’t ever remember them being treated poorly because of their skin color. 

Then I moved to the US. It was so difficult for me to make any sense of it. The harsh reality of discrimination against black people hit home after I married my husband. I still remember the first time how horrible I felt when I witnessed how poorly he was treated because of his skin color. 

What happened to George Floyd and many others have to stop and it starts at home. Since it all broke down at the beginning of June, Dwight and I have been talking about this every day and I have been thinking long and hard in understanding my role in this and how I can be a part of the positive change.

I believe the conversation has to continue. We need to educate ourselves and listen to and support each other to make the change happen.

Here are a few links that I read and watched that affected me to my core:

• Movie: Just Mercy – The real-life story of a falsely accused black man’s journey from death row to freedom. 
• Social Media: This video by Trevor Noah 
• TED Talk: The Narrative of Racial Difference by Baratunde Thurston
• Podcast: Oprah’s Interview with Ray Hinton
• Emmanuel Acho’s – Uncomfortable Conversations with a black man series
• Instagram – You can find more articles, books, people, and shares in my Black Lives Matter highlights.

What is working?

• A New Look For Foolproof Living: My developer and I have been working on a new look for the blog for over six months now and we are so close to launching it. I cannot even begin to tell you how much work goes into a new site launch and I am beyond thrilled to share it with you.

• Going 100% paperless: I finally did it. As of this morning, I am 30-days paper-free. I manage everything in an amazing free online tool called Notion. Being the die-hard fan of pen and paper for all my life, I never thought that I could do it. However, thanks to the ease of use of Notion I have been paperless for over 30 days now.
  If you are interested in learning more about Notion, this course and this video are very helpful. 
• Having an incredible social network: As you’ll read below in the what’s not working section, we got some not-so-favorable news this month. While I am mature enough to know that the universe has a plan for me and that I have to be patient for that plan to unfold, I am incredibly grateful to have a group of close friends and family to get support when life takes a different turn.
  This article on resilience on traumatic times resonated with me so much. Towards the end of the article, it says that the people who are more resilient are those who rely on their social network to get through hard times. And I did just that. I reached out and asked for help and they were right there for me with open arms.

What is not working?

• Weight gain: Like many people, I ate my way through the pandemic, and the scale shows. All my summer clothes are tighter, even the ones that used to be on the looser side.
  Please tell me that I am not alone.
  It feels terrible because I usually work on my holiday content during the summer months. It is so hard for me to cut back on eating when I am supposed to work on all kinds of Thanksgiving & Christmas sides, cookies, and cakes. 
• YouTube videos taking forever: I love creating videos for Youtube but editing them takes forever. I am working on a more efficient system, but even that is taking a lot of time. 
• Waiting is over: If you read the FPL lately I published last month, you’ll remember me mentioning that we have been waiting on some news (too personal to share here). Well, the wait is over. Sadly, we didn’t get the answer we were hoping for. Now we are back to square one.
  I am not happy but I also know that when one door closes another one opens. The sad thing is that it sucks so much right now.

What have I been cooking?

One of the reasons why I wanted to redo the design of Foolproof Living is to showcase some of the older recipes I shared and bring them out of the dark corners of the web. For that reason, I have been constantly retesting and reshooting some of the old recipes. 

Additionally, with the weather warming up I am all about quick and easy meals like big meal-worthy salads like this Sesame Chicken Salad with the most delicious Asian Sesame Ginger Dressing and Sesame Seared Tuna Salad. 

I have also been baking a lot, mostly as a preparation for all the fall baking coming up. Now that we can easily find flour and yeast I am slowly but surely working on more easy bread recipes to publish.

Favorite books, shows, and movies from June 2020:

Book: The Light Between Us & Signs *- Laura Lynn Jackson:

If you don’t know, Laura Lynn Jackson is a medium. She can connect with dead people. In both of these books, she talks about how she does what she does with examples from the lives of people she touched. I read these books to find answers to how I can connect with my deceased mom who I miss dearly. 

I found her stories to be very convincing, but I am not sure if it would be easy for me to apply her strategies to connect with my mother in the way she is able to connect with the dead. There is a lot of inner work I need to do to get there, but after reading these two books I know for sure that my mother is with me at all times.

Just because I can’t see her doesn’t mean that she is not here.

* Affiliate links

Show: Ramy on Hulu:

The story of a Muslim family living in New Jersey told in an entertaining (sometimes really funny) yet eye-opening way. Everything revolves around the son of the family, Ramy, who is trying to figure out where he fits in the society with his beliefs, upbringing, and the realities of living in the US as a Muslim. 

The reality of discrimination towards minorities combined with Ramy’s immaturities and the friends he surrounded himself with makes a compelling experience filled with a few really good LOL moments.

To be honest, the story was not new to me, but in the midst of Black Live Matters conversations, it was good to watch a similar story in my journey of listening, learning, and understanding.

Classes:

I am currently obsessed with learning ways to be more productive and manage my time in a better way with things that I enjoy doing. Believe me, this is a necessary skill when you are working by yourself from home. 

Here are a few classes & free Youtube videos I have learned a lot in the last 30 days:

Thomas Frank Videos on YouTube: If you are like me, interested in living a more productive and disciplined life, I cannot recommend watching this channel. His videos are packed with information, tools, and actionable steps you can apply in your daily life in a rather short amount of time. The best part of it is that it is free and available 24/7.

My favorite quote of the month:

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”

Anne Lamott

With all the productivity work I am doing, I am also working on taking time to just be and recharge. Things will happen in life and the only thing we can do is to continue to work on ourselves.

Until next month…

Aysegul

Love these life updates? Here are a few more:

• Foolproof Life Lately May 2020
• Foolproof Life Lately December 2020
• Foolproof Life Lately September 2019

The post Foolproof Life Lately June 2020 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

Hello friends. How are you doing? But really, how have you been?

Like most of you, our lives are still upside down. I think it is more emotionally than literally as we have not been hit as hard as most other places in the US. Vermont has done relatively well keeping the numbers down and people in our community are very conscious of following the new rules of our current reality.

Still, the thought that there is a long road ahead weighs me down.

While I am no pro in handling these kinds of difficult situations, I decided to take this time to be intentional about everything I do. Below are some of the highlights of May 2020. 

My hope in sharing these is to offer you some ideas, and selfishly, keep a track of where I am in life to, perhaps one day, look back and see how life was during these difficult times.

What Is Currently Working?

• Daily walks in silence: I have always enjoyed listening to an audiobook or a podcast during my daily walks. Lately, I am doing it in silence with nothing in my ears. Just me and my thoughts taking the time to let it go.
  It felt weird in the beginning, but I feel incredibly charged after an hour of time I spent by myself.
• Organizing both physically and digitally: Admittedly, I am not an organized person, but during this time I decided to change that. Or at least, take baby steps in that direction.
  I feel like the idea of not having my belongings and mind together is emotionally weighing me down. Here are a few things I am doing:
  • 10 minute clean up sessions: During the day I set my alarm for 10 minutes and organize something. It could be anything: my desk, bedside table, bathroom counter, etc. I do this twice a day. It adds up and my house looks and feels more organized than ever.
  • Digital Organization: Having been a blogger for so many years, I struggled so much with having a way to organize all my photos, video footage, documents, etc. I finally sat down and spent two days in organizing everything and built a system for the backups to happen automatically going forward.

What Is Not Working?

On Friday morning, I spoke to a friend in the morning. She told me about the phone call that she has been waiting for from a job she applied for a week ago.

Then I talk to my aunt and she said that she is waiting for the results of her blood work after her cancer treatment. 

Then another person, who told me some other thing that she has been waiting for. 

The message was all the same. We all have been in this non-stop waiting mode. 

I struggle with this so much. I, too, am always waiting for something to happen to move onto the next thing, feel better, do more, etc. 

Sadly, the waiting game never ends and I am always in the same place. I want this to change, but I do not know how. 

What I know for sure is that I want a life where I am content with where I am and able to surrender to whatever is happening in my life at that very moment.

What Have I Been Cooking?

For the last few months, I have been diligently working on building a How-To Recipes archive, where I cover the basics of cooking and provide you with recipes with helpful tips and tricks. So there is a lot of going-back-to-basics happening in my kitchen.

I am also loving Amy Chaplin’s new-ish cookbook, Whole Food Cooking Every Day (affiliate link.) It is filled with wholesome recipes that are somewhat advanced, but the flavor profiles are very interesting and unusual. 

I also made my Turkish Simit recipe on Instagram and people loved it.

Finally, I am using my Instant pot more and more every day. Currently, I have been creating a lot of recipes made with quinoa and plan on publishing them over the next few weeks.

Favorite Books, Shows, and Classes in May:

Books:

• Superfans – Pat Flynn: As a digital business owner, my income depends on algorithms and algorithm changes. My biggest goal for the year is to change that. Reading this book was a great step in that direction. Pat Flynn outlines the steps to follow to connect with people who care about what I do as well as how I can offer them great value. It is a very helpful book, especially if you are a digital business owner and sick and tired of having your income tied to algorithms.
• Stillness is Key – Ryan Holliday: This is one of those books that gave me a perspective on everything that is currently happening. The kind of perspective that made me feel okay to take more time and find peace in stillness. As it is with all other books of Ryan Holliday, Stillness is Key is packed with great stories of people (celebrities, historical figures, etc) and steps to convince you that there is no other way but to spend more time looking inwards.

Shows:

My husband and I don’t do a lot of binge-watching, but in the last two months, we splurged in a show on Netflix. It is an older show (aired between 2011-2016) called People of Interest. 

It is somewhere between a sci-fi, action, and bromance. Both the characters and the storyline are incredibly strong. It kept us on hour toes for all five seasons and made us want to watch more every day.

If you need a show to kill some time, I highly recommend it.

Classes:

I recently signed up for Skillshare. If you are not familiar, it is a website filled with educational videos made by everyday professionals.

I have recently finished Ali Abdaal’s class on Editing on Final Cut Pro.

The classes on Skillshare are short and to the point. I love that I can learn something new from someone who inspires me. Both of these teachers are YouTubers I follow and enjoy.

The best part is that there are so many classes to choose from and I bet you that you can easily find a topic that interests you.

Quote of The Month:

It is a commonplace observation that work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.

C. Northcote Parkinson

Also known as Parkinson’s Law, this proverb states that people usually take all the time allotted to accomplish any task. 

That is why, unless you give yourself a deadline and stick to it, completing projects (personal or work-related) takes a long time to complete, or worse, never gets done. This is a good read about this subject, if you want to learn more about it.

My goal for June 2020 is to set up a system for myself to get more done by focusing on time management.

Until next month.

Aysegul

The post Foolproof Life Lately May 2020 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

I bought this domain seven years ago on this day. I had no idea what it would become. I was sad, lonely, and lost, but it offered a glimpse of hope.

Now years later, at 42, I feel similar emotions for a different reason. I am not going to sugarcoat it. Like most of you, I am struggling with the uncertainty and what is ahead of us. I miss the normalcy and cannot wait for things to go back to the way they were.

How Am I Supporting My Mental Health During This Time

They say the anecdote to sadness is finding things to be grateful for in your daily life and dwelling on them, even if they are very small. So instead of feeling all the feels, I wanted to share a few things that we are doing to bring some normalcy back into our lives.

• Daily Walks & Audiobooks: The weather is finally warming up here in Vermont, and I take every opportunity to go outside. I walk every single day for at least one hour. And since I can’t do it with a friend, I listen to audiobooks. It allows me to get lost in another world all the while I am active.
• Sleeping In: I am a morning person through and through. However, during this time, I am letting myself sleep in an extra hour. I still wake up rather early, but I no longer set the alarm. I wake up whenever I want to.
• Call my dad every day: My dad is in Turkey. He is at home and alone. I so wish he could be with us, but there is nothing I can do to bring him here. Instead, we FaceTime every day. I teach him how to make simple meals through the phone. In a weirdly funny way, it became our thing to meet up every day around noon, when it is dinner time in Turkey, to cook together. It is by no means ideal, but we laugh a lot.

• Call my friends every day: I make it a point to connect with a different friend every day. Whether it is on Instagram (the photo you see below is from my conversation with my friend Lauren) or a private chat over the phone, it brings me joy to chat with a friend.
• Using those things that I saved for a special day: Like most people, I have those things that I collect for “a special day.” Things like an expensive bottle of wine, a jar of my aunt’s sumac that she dried in her backyard, or my mom’s pearl necklace. I am using them every day now. I feel more than ever that the time is now. 
• Watch TV Shows: Before this whole thing, we decided to get no longer hooked on TV shows as we didn’t want to be sucked in. I am sure you know what I mean. But during this time, we are in front of the TV every night. We are letting ourselves watch whatever we want. If you need ideas on what shows to watch, we loved Succession on HBO, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Prime, and Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan on Prime. 

• Put my husband to work and have him cook dinners: Dwight doesn’t consider himself a cook, but I believe if you can read, you can cook. So once a week, he makes us dinner, and we share it on Instagram.
  He is quite shy but loves the limelight, especially when some of my followers comment on what a great #instagramhusband he is. 

What Is Everyone Cooking:

One other thing I find comfort is cooking. Even though I cook for a living, I don’t remember the last time I cooked as much for as long as I have during the previous 2 weeks. Still, I am grateful for the fact that I have food to cook.

I am personally finding comfort in simple meals such as this Mediterranean Quinoa Salad, Turkish Red Lentil soup, and a Simple Whole Roasted Chicken.

However, when I look at the analytics of my website, I see that my readers cook various dishes from the blog. Below are five recipes that have the most amount of clicks in the last two weeks:

1. Turkey Meatloaf: This should not come as a surprise. Turkey meatloaf is an American classic. This recipe has a ton of hidden veggies in it. Based on some of the comments I received, I think that is one of the main reasons why it is so popular.
2. No-Knead Artisan Bread & Olive Bread: I had never seen a time when people baked as much. This bread recipe has been a favorite amongst many. If you are lucky enough to get your hands on bread flour and active dry yeast, be sure to give it a try. I also have the same bread recipe made with olives, if you love chunky olives in your bread.
3. Almond Flour Recipes: People are in the kitchen and baking. Plain and simple. This post has over 25 people on it right now as I am typing this. If you are into playing with almond flour and want to try your hand in healthier baking, be sure to check it out.
4. Turmeric Latte & Turmeric Smoothies: This is not a surprise as we are drinking turmeric drinks every day. They are a natural way to boost your immune system. I especially enjoy a cup of turmeric latte after dinner as we are watching our shows.
5. Mexican Quinoa: This recipe was always a popular one. I guess most peoples still love that it is a one-pan dinner that you can make in 30 minutes. 

Before I let you go, I want to thank you for being here with me on this special day. These difficult times are not forever. I know we will come out of this stronger and together. Wherever you are, I hope you are safe and sound, my friend.

I am sending you all the positive vibes.

The post Foolproof Life Lately April 2020 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

This post includes affiliate links.  You can read my full disclosure policy here.

I wouldn’t consider myself much of a shopper. However, when it comes to kitchen stuff I have a weak spot. Below is a list of items that I own, love, and use in my kitchen every day to help you as you decide what to buy for your foodie friends and family members:

1. Durable Moscow Mule Mugs: Over the years I have had several copper mugs to make Moscow mules. Sadly most of them rusted after a few uses and I ended up throwing them away. These mugs are not copper per se, but even after 2 years of serving in them (like I did in this Kentucky Mule Recipe) they are still brand new.
2. Fraiser Fur Candle: This candle smells like Vermont to me. I keep one lit in my kitchen on those days when I cook a lot. It absorbs heavy food smells and leaves my kitchen smelling like the mountains of our home state.
3. Le Creuset 10.25″ Cast Iron Skillet: This is a great cast iron skillet that you can use for searing, sauteeing, and even for baking.
4. Everyday Use Spatulas: I love this set as it comes in different sizes. They are durable. You can put them in the dishwasher as well.
5. Technivorm Moccamaster Coffee Maker: I bought this coffee maker as a Christmas gift for myself last year during the Black Friday sale. It was more expensive than I would have liked to pay for a coffee maker. However, after a year of using it, I can tell you that this was a great purchase. You definitely get what you pay for. Perfect for coffee lovers.
6. Bee Seasonal Certified Organic & Raw Honey Gift Set: The folks over at Bee Seasonal sent one of those gift sets to me a few months back. This would be a great gift for those who like to sweeten their morning beverage with honey. This set comes with 4 different flavors of honey and they all taste distinctly different making this set a great gift for those who like to experience different honeys from around the world.
7. Copper Measuring Cups: These copper mugs are not only handy but also super stylish. Perfect gift for a baker.
8. Everyday Swissmar Mandoline: I recently bought this mandoline as my old one broke. It is easy and safe to use, clean, and store.
9. Le Creuset 3 1/2 Dutch Oven: I use this dutch oven every single day. It is the perfect size to make soups, reheat food, and my no-knead bread.
10. Lodge 6qt. Dutch Oven: If you are in need of a good quality dutch oven, but don’t want to break the bank get this one. I bought mine last winter as I needed a white dutch oven to use in my videos (you can see it in action in this Vegan Chili post and video) and I cannot be happier with it. It is just as good as the expensive French dutch ovens but without the crazy price tag.
11. Bose Bluetooth Speaker: I love to play the radio when I am cooking. This Bluetooth speaker is small and water-resistant, perfect for the kitchen.
12. Mini Food Processor: One of the most used gadgets in my kitchen. Perfect for chopping onions on the fly.
13. Turkish Kitchen Towels: If you are in need of some good quality kitchen towels I cannot recommend these enough.
14. Instant Pot: I have been using my instant pot more and more now and I love the convenience of it. The one that I own is an older model, but it works perfectly.
15. Mahabis Slippers: When you are on your feet all day cooking you need comfortable slippers that keep your feet warm. These slippers are just that. I have no idea how, but they keep your feet warm without making them sweat.
16. Yeti Cooler: We invested in one of these coolers this summer as we love Sunday picnics in local parks around Southern Vermont. This cooler is good quality and small enough to easily carry around.
17. Dansko Shoes: These are my summer shoes when my Mahabis slippers are too hot to wear. I love that they support the arches of my feet, which makes it super comfortable while I am cooking in the kitchen.
18. Green Pans: If you are in need of an everyday pan to reheat/cook food (like I did here in this Skinny Shrimp Scampi) or to make simple eggs in the morning, green pans are the way to go. Since they have ceramic coating they are healthier than Teflon. If you use it with a little bit of oil, the food easily slides off making the cleaning afterward a breeze.

Love Reading Posts Like This? Here are a few more:

• Check out Foolproof Living’s Shop
• What is in my camera bag?
• Videography Equipment

The post 2019 Foodie Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on Foolproof Living.

So here we are at the end of October. It is hard to believe that we are just 3 weeks away from Thanksgiving. While I am excited about all the amazing food and planning coming up, I am sad to let autumn go.

It is so weird that Vermont is still unseasonably warm but I know cold days are ahead of us. I am not ready for the snow and the cold temperatures that will linger through the end of May.

Though I think the biggest news of October 2019 was the fact that we found out that this will be our last winter here in Vermont. I am not at a place where I can share more information just yet, but as soon as I know our next location I promise you’ll be the first one to know.

Don’t get me wrong, I love living in Vermont and feel so grateful to have called this place home. However, the winters are just too brutal for me. Honestly, I don’t mind the cold but the fact that it doesn’t last until May has been so hard on me.

We do not have all the details as to where we are moving yet and when, but I am secretly hoping for a warmer place. Or at least, somewhere with shorter winters. Even though it is bittersweet, I am excited to see what is ahead of us.

Monthly Book Update

If you have been a reader of these life updates you know that I love reading and do my best to read at least two books a month. This month was a bit of an exception as I started taking a class about blogging and had to spend some of my precious reading time on learning.

Still, I was able to finish one book. A book that I cannot recommend enough.

Super Attractor by Gabriel Bernstein

Full disclosure. I am a big fan of Gabriel Bernstein and read all her books. If you are not familiar with her work, I recommend checking out her YouTube channel to see if you like her.

I have been a follower of her for many years and have found lots of wisdom in her teachings. Similar to her other books, Super Attractor (affiliate link) is about how to manifest what you desire and get into the frequency of the Universe. It is packed with doable action steps that you can follow when things go wrong.

Oh and I did something that I have never done before. I bought the actual book and the version of it on Audible. I made Gabby read the book to me.

I had to pay twice for the same book, but I thought it was just an amazing experience to have one of your favorite authors to read to you.

Best Thing I ate in October

One of the best things about living in Southern Vermont is that it is close to New York City. We usually drive down to Albany and catch the Amtrak train from there to Penn Station. It is a good 4-hour trip, but when you need a quick city fix it is worth the trip.

Last week, I took a day trip to NYC for some retail therapy and to treat myself in one of my favorite restaurants, Jack’s Wife Freda.

Have you ever been? If not, put it on your list next time you visit NYC. One of the reasons why I go there is for their hot green sauce, which is why you see two of them (in small bowls) in the photo below.

I ordered the burger on the lunch menu and spread the middle with a generous amount of that sauce. Oh man oh man.. It was AMAZING. The best thing I ate all month long.

THANKSGIVING PLANNING

Have you started planning your Thanksgiving menu yet? We are having dinner at a friend’s house and I am in charge of the side dishes. I am super happy about that as I am all about when it sides when it comes to Thanksgiving. Here are a few of the recipes that I know I will be making:

• Vegan Stuffed Acorn Squash – I made this last year and it was one of the first dishes to disappear. Quinoa flavored with apples, cranberries, and nuts, it is a great vegan and gluten-free dish you can serve.
• Butternut Squash Soup – I cannot imagine a Thanksgiving dinner without a squash soup. This one is flavored with apples and a dollop of creme fraiche.
• Brussels Sprout Kale Salad – A big bowl of kale topped off with shredded brussels sprouts, avocados, and pomegranate arils.

Want to travel in time?

• Foolproof Life Update July 2021
• Life Lately June 2020

The post Foolproof Life Lately October 2019 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

This post includes affiliate links. Each link is marked with an asterisk.

Have you ever been to Vermont during foliage season? If you have not and need a little bit convincing to make plans, check out the article I wrote last year about what to do in Vermont in the fall.

If you have been following me on social media, you probably know that I was in Turkey during the whole month of August. I am still in the process of organizing the 500+ photos that I took and plan on sharing them on the blog. I am super late as I have had a lot going on in September.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH

A Quick Getaway to NYC:

On my way back from Istanbul, Dwight and I spent a few days in New York City. One of the best things about living in Vermont is that it is so close to the city. A 3-hour road trip will get you to the best restaurant scene in the world (IMHO). Here are a few great restaurants we ate at:

• Sadelle’s for Brunch: Sadelle’s is a great brunch spot known for its lox and bagel. Their house-cured smoked salmon was to die for. We went on a weekday, so it wasn’t too terribly busy. However, if you decide to go there over the weekend, you might need to make a reservation.
• Momofuku Noodle Bar: Momofuku Noodle Bar is one of my favorite restaurants in NYC. They change their menu quite often, but if you get lucky and they have the brisket on the menu, be sure to order that. I promise it will not disappoint.
• Sushi Yasuda: I saw this place in a documentary a while back and have been wanting to check it out since then. It was spectacular. If you like sushi and Japanese food in general, you have to go there. They offer everything in small portions, but everything you eat is so delicious that it makes you want more. We paid a hefty bill, but every penny was worth it.

Trip to Austin, Texas:

The next day after I came back from NYC, I went to Austin for an SEO retreat. This was my first time in Austin, and I have to say I was not ready for the 90+ F. degree weather. Luckily, I didn’t spend too much time outdoors because the retreat was indoors. Sadly, I was not able to try much of the foodie scene, but I am glad that it was a productive trip with a lot of learning and a long to-do list to make my website better.

Spoke at Blog Brulee in Jeffersonville, VT

I spent 3 days in Smuggler’s Notch Resort in Northern Vermont for a conference called Blog Brulle. I was a speaker at the conference and talked about food photography and how to photograph food for a blog. It was my first time speaking at a conference, and I have to say I was nervous at the beginning, but as soon as I started talking, it all went away. In the end, I actually enjoyed it quite a bit.

GOOD BOOKS I READ IN SEPTEMBER:

I was able to read 3 books this month. Thanks to all the traveling I did, I had a lot of free time to relax and read. Here is a list of the books I read and recommend:

• Talking To Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell *: I think we can all agree that Malcolm Gladwell has a unique point of view when it comes to writing about the topic he chooses. Talking to Strangers was no different than his other books, where he carefully curated his stories to present his point of view.
  
  Each person/event in the book was explained from a different angle with his final thoughts in the end. Most of the stories were from recent history with others from earlier times. In the end, he made sure to show us the patterns of how people behave, think, and act when talking to strangers.
  
  I saw a review on Amazon recommending to listen to the book, and I decided to read it in Audible. I am glad I did that because it was recorded in a podcast form where portions of the book were told by the actual characters (from previous recordings) in Malcolm’s stories. Overall it was a great read with a lot of a-ha moments. Though if this is your first time reading Gladwell, I would recommend reading Blink * and Tipping Point * before this one.
  
• Keep Going by Austin Kleon *: If you have never read Austin Kleon’s book before, stop what you are doing. I mean, really stop and head to your favorite book store and start with Steal Like an Artist *. It is my favorite book written about creativity. Finish that one and read this.
  Similar to his other books, Austin is a pro at showing you how to do something with actionable steps.
  
  In Keep Going, he talks about how to continue to create when things get hard, and you feel like you can go on anymore. I wouldn’t say I learned anything new, but it was full of reminders that I needed to hear.

• How To Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big by Scott Adams *: Scott Adam’s is the person behind the cartoon character Dilbert. Though that is not just who he is. He also is a serial entrepreneur who failed many times in his personal and professional life.
  
  His book is full of life lessons that he bases on his experiences. It is written in a humorous tone that makes you want to turn pages faster. If you need an easy read that will cheer you up and provide you with a lot of life lessons, this book is a great read.

COOKBOOKS I PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER:

You guys probably know by now that I am a cookbook lover and can’t stop buying them. This month was no different. I bought a bunch of cookbooks, but the below two are my current favorites:

• Cannelle et Vanille: Nourishing, Gluten-Free Recipes for Every Meal and Mood *: I have been waiting for this book for some time now. Even though I do not have celiac disease or follow a gluten-free diet, I have always admired Aran Goyoaga’s Instagram account and followed her throughout her cookbook writing journey. I even tested a few of her recipes.
  
  So you would probably understand the shock I felt when I saw my name on the Acknowledgements page. She thanked everyone who helped her with thanking her recipes. What a pleasant surprise this was. My name on one of my favorite photographers/stylists’ books…
  
  If you are someone who wants to learn from the extensive knowledge of a home cook (who is also a professional Pastry chef) and try new recipes, this book is a great one to cook from. In addition to creative yet doable recipes, her photos are breathtaking, making this book my current favorite coffee table book.
  
• Whole Food Cooking Every Day *: This is Amy Chaplin’s second cookbook. She, too, is a chef who has extensive knowledge of cooking and baking. This cookbook is like nothing I have ever seen before. It is divided into several sections, where she gives you a basic recipe and then creates variations of it with helpful tips. In the end, you not only get to master a simple recipe but also make it with different flavor profiles.
  
  Even though technically there are a handful of “basic” recipes in the book, the way she recreates them with different ingredients and flavors is admirable. There are a few ingredients that I have never heard before, but I have already ordered them as I want to learn as much as I can from a pro like Amy.

TV SHOWS AND MOVIES:

My husband and I try not to watch a lot of shows as we do not want to get addicted to one and find ourselves glued to the TV. This happened so many times in the past that we decided not to put ourselves in that situation again. However, we love watching movies and documentaries.

Here are a few we watched this month:

• Inside Bill’s Brain – Decoding Bill’s Brain on Netflix: I didn’t need a documentary to know that Bill Gates is a genius, but watching this show gave some insight into who he is, how he built his company, and what he stands for.
  Watching the three-series show, I realized even the richest of the rich lives a similar life with personal and professional goals with all kinds of ups and downs. It is hard not to admire his talents and money, and more importantly, how he uses them to solve the incredibly important (oftentimes heartbreaking) problems of the world.
• Long Shot: If I am being honest, I expected more from such huge Hollywood names like Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen. While we had a few moments where we laughed out loud, I wouldn’t put this movie in my top 10 films in the comedy category.

A FEW OTHER LINKS:

• I am no beauty blogger, but I am currently obsessed with the combination of wearing this * and this * for a “no makeup” makeup look. If you are like me, go for a clean every day look without being over the top, you should check it out.
• I recently met the gal behind this blog in person (in the Austin SEO retreat) and fell in love with her personality. Her blog has a ton of great Asian recipes.
• In September, I made a few of my recipes on Instagram stories. They are all easy and healthy recipes like Roasted Whole Carrots (with the volume turned up), Apple Walnut Cake, and Chicken and Wild Rice Soup.
  Can’t hear? Be sure to adjust the volume on your mobile device.
• Love this round up of healthy recipe for October from my friend Alexandra.

And finally, my husband and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary this month. I am beyond grateful to have such a sweet, kind, and honest partner in my life. I feel so lucky to have him as my forever partner and recipe tester. 

Until next month friends…

The post Foolproof Life Lately September 2019 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

She said, own your story. Tell it. Let people know who you are.

So here I am, not sure what and how to say it. But I am showing up and sharing a bit more of me.

I hope that my not-so-exciting life will somehow entertain and inspire you.

Please know that this post includes affiliate links. They are marked with asterisks.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH

I Became a United States Citizen On June 21st, 2019

A lot of people ask me what becoming a citizen entails, what questions do they ask, what happens during the interview, etc. So I thought I could share a few notes from my experience.

The Interview: Once I was eligible to become a US citizen, I applied for citizenship through the United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) in October of 2018.

First, I got a notification to go to their office in Albany, NY (the closest USCIS office to where we live) for a fingerprint and photo appointment in November. This was also when they gave me a booklet to get ready for the citizenship civics interview.

Then I got a notification for my citizenship interview for May 1st. This time in their offices in St. Albans, Vermont.

A day before the interview I drove up to Burlington and stayed at a hotel as I didn’t want to drive for 3 hours on the day of the interview. St. Albans is a small town north of Burlington close to the Canada border.

I was interviewed by a male officer, who was very professional and polite. In the beginning of the interview he explained to me as to why I am here and what he will ask.

The citizenship interview had 3 parts, civics (10 questions from the booklet), writing and reading. In order to pass that test, I had to answer at least 6 questions right. Luckily, I went prepared. After getting the first 6 questions right he said he does not need to ask me more questions.

Want to see if you can pass the civics test? I studied for the test using these flashcards.

The rest of the interview was pretty basic. From my experience, since I can speak and write fluently in English and have not gotten into any trouble during my time in the US, the rest of it was pretty standard and easy.

At the end of the interview, the officer congratulated me and asked me to show up for the oath ceremony in Burlington, VT on June 21st.

The Oath Ceremony: A few days before the interview my dad came from Turkey to join Dwight and me for this once-in-a-lifetime event. It was a last minute decision, but I am so glad that he came because I was so happy to have him with us on such an important event.

June 21st was a double special day in that it was also Dwight’s birthday. We traveled to Burlington together to attend the ceremony.

The event was held at the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum. There were a lot of officials in attendance including the US Senator Patrick Leahy and his wife, the Honorable Geoffrey W. Crawford (the judge), and Miro Weinburger, the Mayor of Burlington, VT.

I have heard that oath ceremonies in larger cities like New York City and Chicago are usually very crowded. In our case, living in a small state like Vermont, we were only 14 immigrants.

Overall, it was an incredible event where I felt welcomed. The speeches from the Honorable Geoffrey W. Crawford and the US Senator Patrick Leahy were sincere and encouraging. Their message was that we are now a part of a country made up of immigrants and that we should honor this and be involved in the government as a new citizen.

Needless to say, I am so honored to have experienced such a special day after 17 years of living in the US. More than anything, I am so happy that I can now vote.

After the ceremony, we went to Hen of the Wood for a celebration dinner. It was amazing. If you ever visit Burlington and need a good place to eat, go there. It is very good.

Stonyfield Organic – Summer Farm Tour Blogger Event

The second highlight of this month was the opportunity to visit two farms with Stonyfield Organic as a part of their Summer Farm Tour Event.

In addition to learning all about organic dairy farming, I had a wonderful time meeting with a few of my favorite food bloggers. Spending quality time with Becky, Maria, Andie, Cheryl, Lisa, Ashley, and Beth throughout the trip and dining in the best restaurants of Stowe was so much fun.

Oh, and I also took my very first cow selfie while we were at the Wonder Why Farm. For the record, getting a good shot with a cow is very hard.

We Started Volunteering At Grateful Hearts

Dwight and I have been thinking about volunteering for some time now. With the help of a friend, we found a good cause that we want to be involved in.

Grateful Hearts is a local community that helps the people in need. In the Manchester area, a group of locals gets together every Monday morning for a few hours to prep and cook meals for those who are in need.

Oh and seeing my husband chop 25 pounds of onions in a food processor is PRICELESS.

LOWELL LAKE STATE PARK

This month’s cookbook club gathering was in Lowell Lake State Park. Embarrassingly, I had no idea that this place existed.

OH MY! Lowell Lake was simply stunning. We had our dinner by the lake while watching people ride their kayaks.

If you ever visit Southern Vermont during this time of the year, put Lowell Lake Park on your list. They have lots of picnic tables by the lake. The day we visited was a cold one, but I was told that most people go there for a swim.

We are already planning a trip back for a lake side brunch, hopefully on a warmer day so that we can also get in the water.

READING UPDATE

If you are following me on Instagram, you probably know that I have been doing a lot of reading.

I am not much of a fiction reader, but this month, after hearing so much about it, I finally read Where the Crawdads Sing *. It did not disappoint. I thought it was such a beautiful story. I literally could not put it down.

I also read Breaking The Habit Of Being Yourself * by Dr. Joe Dispenza. I had heard so much about this book, but honestly felt intimidated by the fact that it is a quite thick book. But it was AMAZING.

Dr. Dispenza is one of the people behind the documentary, Heal, in Netflix, which I loved watching.

If you want to learn more about meditating, how our thoughts and feeling become our reality, and how can you master positivity in a scientific way, this book is for you.

I just finished it, but plan to read it again. SO SO GOOD!

What have you been reading? What are some books that you recommend? Tell me, please!

A FEW THINGS I AM LOVING LATELY:

• Just bought this wrap top * from Loft and it is SO cute. It is such a flattering top that goes well with white jeans.
• I recently started using this face wash * and I cannot recommend it enough. It does a good job of getting rid of makeup as well.
• These shoes * are incredibly comfortable, especially if you are like me cooking, photographing, and cleaning all day long.
• Made this pasta salad last night and it was the BOMB!
• Currently sipping on this. I know it is not considered a summer drink, but I love it.
• I recently invested in Grammarly. It is a game changer, especially if you are like me, English is not your first language.
• Need a refreshing non-alcoholic limeade recipe? I recently made and updated this basil limeade recipe. Try it. It is so SO good.

So there you have it. This is me.

June was a month that I will never forget. We applied for my new passport and I am already planning my first trip in August to Turkey. Last time I was there was back in 2013.

Needless to say, I cannot wait. August cannot come fast enough.

Hope you are having a wonderful summer. Cheers friends!

Want to read more of these Life Updates? Here are a few more:

• Foolproof Life Update June 2021
• Life Lately October 2019
• Trip to San Miguel De Allende

The post Foolproof Life Lately – June 2019 appeared first on Foolproof Living.

As I was complaining about everything in my life, I was also finding comfort in the motherly, kind, and judgment-free expression on her face. She was listening to me carefully, with compassion and love. When I finished, she leaned toward the camera to get closer to my face and said in a very calm and caring tone:

“You are still so young. Thirties are hard. You are figuring out who you are. Wait until you are 40. It is when the fun starts. Because that is when you start enjoying who you are. ”

I was 34 years old on that day and had no idea that it was our last conversation. Today, I turned 40.

Since this is a new chapter in my life, I will do something different, and instead of sharing a recipe, I will share some life wisdom gained in my time on Earth.

If you like Oprah as I do, you know about her “What I Know For Sure” series. The following is my version of what I know for sure at 40. Also, below you will read about three books that changed my life.

True lottery in life is having parents (or parent figures) who love and support you:

I was no different than any teenager. We fought every day. I wanted to leave the house as long as I remember. It didn’t matter where I went. I wanted to GO.

Then one day I did. And that was when I learned how I was only able to do whatever I was doing because they were behind me, always ready to support me. My parents were my superpower.

What I know for sure is that what makes me who I am today is because of the parental guidance and love I received. I am very fortunate to have won the great parent lottery.

My talented videographer friend, Kristen of Border Free Travels helped me put together a video of my story and how and why I started Foolproof Living. She shot and edited the video below. If you have a few minutes to learn more about how the parent lottery I won brought me to who I am today, feel free to give it a watch.

The Power of Giving – If you want to get something you need to be a giver:

In the book “The Go-Giver” the authors, Bob Burg and John David Mann, discuss the power of giving. Before reading their book, I didn’t understand the importance of the giving and sharing. The way they told the story created an entirely different perspective for me.

The story is about an ambitious businessman, introduced to the idea of being a giver. He wants to succeed in meeting his business goals, but does so in a selfish way of caring only about his success. As he gets involved with the “giver,” his understanding expands. In the end, we learn the outcomes he experiences once he genuinely applies a giver mindset.

I don’t want to spoil it for you, in case if you read the book, but after finishing the book I know for sure I am a happier person when I give. I also know the more I give the more I get in return.

And most of the time, the question is not how it is that I can get. Rather it is, how I can give more?

The Third Law of Physics – For Every Action There is an Equal and Opposite Reaction:

Life is hard, unfair, ugly, and challenging in one way or another for everyone at one time or another. Everybody we see around us has some pain or sorrow in their hearts. That is why I believe being kind is more important than being right. Approaching people with a loving and caring heart full of compassion is how I live my life and view my interactions every day.

You may ask, “what if they take advantage of you and your kindness?” I struggled with that question myself for a long time, but then I learned the concept of surrendering.

Now, I surrender because I know for sure that (1) whatever happens has nothing to do with me and (2) the third law of physics – For Every Action There is an Equal and Opposite Reaction – always works.

The Wealth of The Mind is The Only True Wealth

It was five years ago when I read in a magazine that by reading 25 pages a day, you can finish 10-12 books a year. At the time, I was one of those people who always complained about never having enough time to read. But after reading that article, I learned that all I had to do was to commit to only 25 pages a day and do it every day at the same time. Since then, I read every morning (first thing when I wake up) for 30 minutes and in the last five years, I’ve read more books than in my whole lifetime before that.

I am not telling you this to brag – though I think it is brag-worthy – but rather to let you know that by taking small steps, or in my case 25 pages a day, you can finish more books that you can imagine.

What I know for sure is that true wealth comes from the things that you can take with you anywhere and use anytime you need. Your physical health is important, but the health of your mind is as important, and you have 100% control over nurturing that. In my case, the best way I found is to learn as much as I can and to do so daily.

Small little things you do everyday make up the big things in life:

The other book that changed my life is Jeff Olson’s “The Slight Edge” This goes hand in hand with reading every day.

Prior to reading “The Slight Edge,” I struggled with tackling big projects and found myself regularly lost in tasks that required learning new skills.

The reality is that in this day and age, we are all in the same boat. Things are changing so fast, and it is hard to keep up with all that is happening around us. It is so easy to feel intimidated and think less of yourself.

In my case, I was trying to do too many things at the same time and felt I wasn’t good enough. I felt like a failure not being able to keep up with it all.

After I read “The Slight Edge,” I realized that I don’t need to do it all. Instead, the success I was looking for came from doing small tasks consistently.

Do you want to learn a new software? Start small. Study 15 minutes a day.

And then you know what? By the end of a week, you will end up with almost 2 hours of studying under your belt on that very subject that you found intimidating a week ago.

Today, I know for sure that if I break big projects into small actionable chunks and work consistently, there is nothing I cannot tackle. And the best part is the satisfaction and feeling of success from those accomplishments.

Our Most Valuable Asset is Our Intuition:

I recently finished reading Gary Zukav’s, “The Seat of the Soul” It is rare that I get to find answers to a lot of questions all in one book.

I don’t intend to go into the details of the book here. Though if you are in need of some life-changing perspective as to why we are here and where are we going, I recommend giving it a read.

One of the many things I learned in the book is how our intuition is our strongest asset. Our instincts are there to guide us through life. However, the key to making it work is to know how to listen to them.

I now know for sure that my intuition is guiding me through my journey and that I have to rely on it more. Today, as I turn 40, my new goal in life is to become a better listener to not only my intuition but everything and everyone around me.

If you have read this far, you might think that I had it all figured out. Nothing can be far from the truth. Yes, I might be happier and tiny bit wiser, but I don’t know if life will ever grant me with that. However, I am surely excited to find out what is in store for me as I continue my journey in this world.

Love reading these life updates? Here are a few more:

• Foolproof Life Lately June 2019
• Foolproof Life Lately April 2020
• Foolproof Life Lately January 2021

The post What I Know For Sure appeared first on Foolproof Living.

I said this before and I will say it again.
One of the best parts of living on an island in the Caribbean is the fact that it is so easy to hop around the islands nearby. At the very beginning stages of our island life my husband Dwight and I decided that during the time that we are living in the Caribbean, we would like to see and experience as many islands as possible. Mainly because, as we have witnessed again (St. John) and again (Dominica) and again (Peter Island) and again (Jost Van Dyke), they all offer something different to enjoy.

Therefore, as we both needed a break from our island Virgin Gorda, last weekend we took a trip to Vieques, Puerto Rico.

To get there, we flew from Virgin Gorda to San Juan and from San Juan to Vieques. With a layover of 2 hours in between, it took us 4 hours (45 min to San Juan and 20 min to Vieques) to get there.

We stayed at the W Vieques and enjoyed our time immensely. This blog post is some of my notes and pictures from our 3-day getaway to Vieques.

W Vieques Retreat & Spa

As we landed, we were welcomed with a staff member and walked over to the lounge of the hotel at the small airport of Vieques. From there, a staff member picked us up and drove us to the hotel.

The W Vieques offers a  welcoming environment with its charming contemporary design. With two swimming pools, a pool bar, a full restaurant, a cafe, and a couple of beaches, the hotel is a paradise for people, who are looking for a getaway “in style”.

As we were going there I had three things in mind. (1) To get some rest and spend some quality time with my husband (2) to spend some time outside to the hotel and do some sightseeing and (3) do the Bio Bay tour.
I can safely say that we did all that and more.

On the day of our arrival, we spent the rest of the day resting by the pool. For dinner, we went to the hotel’s beach restaurant , Sorcé. Although Sorcé’s menu mainly offers Puerto Rican dishes made with very Caribbean ingredients like plantains, malaga, and rum, you can still find a simple salad and a Mediterranean meze plate.

For breakfast, you could either go to Sorcé for a full open buffet with an omelette station, or for a cup of coffee and a quick sandwich (and/or a pastry), you could stop by the W Cafe, which is located right next to the  hotels 24 hour open gym. W Cafe is open during the day and could be an option for a light lunch. However, I would highly recommend the Vieques Burger on the menu of the pool bar, which is your other option for lunch in the hotel. The cold cocktail options on their menu are perfect to sip on while you are laying on the floats in the pool.

The Island Tour

There is a convenient car rental place in the hotel but since we did not know the island very well we wanted to do one of the guided island tours. The concierge referred us to a company called Vieques Island Tours and Transportation. Angie, a middle aged woman with a welcoming smile, a born and raised Viequense, and also the owner of the company gave us an enjoyable tour of the island. Along the tour, we learned valuable information about the island’s history and culture.

Vieques is a 21-mile long and 4-mile wide island located in the East of Puerto Rico. It is an island-municipility of Puerto Rico. Between the years of 1940 and 2003, a portion of the island was used by the United States Navy as a testing (and storage) ground for some of its weapons. As a result of serial protests by the locals,the Navy left the island and today the former Navy land is turned into a national wildlife refuge.

Still, the remains of those days are available and are being shown to tourists. The picture below is one of the bonkers that Angie showed us.

As a part of the tour, Angie took us to a couple of beaches on the island. Since we already live on an island with beautiful beaches just like the ones on Vieques, we opted out on spending time on the beach. However, if you are interested in swimming or snorkeling the Sun Bay Beach and the Media Luna Beach that Angie showed us are just a couple of the many options on the island. If you are interested in spending more time on the beach, Angie offers a beach tour where she also takes you to the famous Blue Beach.

For us, the interesting part was to see locals gathered on the beach eating, dancing, singing, and simply having a good time. Angie told us that camping on the beach is a favorite pass time for locals. As I asked a couple of people if I could take their pictures they were very welcoming and happy to pose for a photograph.

As we drove around the island, we saw many wild horses. To my surprise, there are more than 3500 wild horses on the island. Though I never attempted to pet them, when I tried to get close to take a picture they were pretty shy. Still, it was so beautiful to see many wild horses as we were driving around the island.

They consider the 300 year old Ceiba Tree you see below as the oldest resident of the island. As we were admiring the tree, Angie showed us Kapok, the silken fiber from the seed pods of the tree. Kapok is much lighter and silkier when compared to the cotton we picked up from the nearby cotton plants.

As we drove along, in several occasions, Angie stopped to show us the local plants that are rarely found anywhere else.

Esperanza, mostly a residential area is also home to El Malecon – The Strip, the coastal strip overlooking to the Caribbean Sea. The Strip is full of restaurants ranging from an all American steakhouse to local Puerto Rican cuisine.
There are also a couple of cool stores to do some souvenir shopping in Esperanza.

We went back there for a quick lunch the next day. It is a short 15-minute taxi ride from the hotel, which only costs $10.

As we walked along the coast, we came across an area where mostly locals were hanging out. Located on the same strip, a small collection of bars played loud Latin music while locals danced and smoked with pleasure. The further we explored this strip, the friendlier everyone became. Many welcomed us with wide smiles and eager questions, embracing us with their rich culture.

With its rustic charm, Isabel II is the capital city of Vieques. Even though it feels very authentic, you get to see locals going by their day reminding you that even on a paradise-like island people still have to work for a living. Still, it was nice to walk around and be in the presence of the old Spanish houses where locals have built their lives.

Bioluminescence (Bio) Bay (Mosquito Bay)

I must say – Bio Bay was the BEST part of our getaway. I have experienced bioluminescence once or twice in my life before, but nothing like it was in Bio Bay.
Unfortunately, I have no pictures because it was pitch dark.

If you do not know what bioluminescence is, the paragraph I took from this website (link no longer available) explains it the best.

“The still, undisturbed water of Mosquito Bay is home to the world’s highest concentration of dinoflagellates, with 720,000 of these tiny microorganisms per gallon of water. Each individual bioluminescent flash from these microorganisms lasts only 1/10 second, but together, they light up the water in a vivid electric blue which can be seen for miles around. As a result, Mosquito Bay may be the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world.”

The concierge at the hotel booked our Bio Bay tour with one of the local tour companies, Eco-Tours Vieques. We were told to meet at the lobby at 8:30 pm for the 9:30 pm session. We were picked up from the hotel and taken to a meeting point. From there, with 6 other couples, we were taken to the Bio Bay.
The road to Bio Bay was quite bumpy. Our tour guide Pepe, told us that it may feel like going through the Jurassic Park. He was right. It took us 15-20 minutes to get to the bay, and at times, it was quite scary.

From there after a brief introduction, as a couple we hopped onto our kayaks and followed Pepe. It was the most surreal thing to see the magical sparkling lights that these microorganisms create.

If you ever go to Vieques, you must do the Bio Bay tour. However, one very important thing to remember is to make sure that you a plan your trip around the moon calender as you won’t be able to see much of the sparkling during the times when the moon is shining.

Also, it is imperative to wear clothes that are comfortable as you have to kayak through the bay. Wear something that you wouldn’t mind getting wet.

Pepe told us that swimming on the bay is not allowed by law to protect the water and microorganisms.

Like I said earlier, if you ever go to Vieques this is a must-do.

All in all we had a great time in Vieques. It felt great to leave our rock to go to another rock, even if it was only for a couple of days. I strongly recommend a quick trip to Vieques for anyone thinking a trip down to the Caribbean. With all of its natural beauty and beautiful people, there is so much to see and experience on this island.

Oh also, when you are there do not forget to order a cold Medalla, the delicious local beer of Puerto Rico…

Cheers!

The post Vieques, Puerto Rico appeared first on Foolproof Living.

When I first moved to my rock, Virgin Gorda, the heart of the foodie beating inside me sank a little bit. Where were my farmer’s markets? Why can’t I count on one grocery store to carry all of the basic items on my list? Seriously – all I’m asking for are some tomatoes. What do you mean I can’t make the recipe I planned because the entire territory doesn’t stock buttermilk?!

This part of my transition to island life was a literal punch to the stomach. I love food. I love to cook – a lot. And not just your average couple of nights a week, but daily. You see, I have a food blog called Foolproof Living. That means that every recipe I make must be – you guessed it – foolproof. To accomplish this, I often make a single recipe at least three different times: the first time, to test it and ensure it is just right before releasing it to the public; the second time, to photograph it from every angle until it ultimately becomes inedible; and the third time, to finally serve the finished foolproof product to my husband, aka my favorite taste-tester. So, as you can imagine, not being able to find what I was looking for in terms of groceries caused some significant snags in my planning. I began to wonder if trying to achieve my massive food blogging goals while living on an island was a recipe for disaster.

But through all of the disappointments in finding ingredients, something unexpected happened. Out of necessity, I developed a new sense of creativity and can-do spirit when it comes to my cooking. And I’ve become a better, more competent, and more flexible cook as a result of it – all thanks to the island and its trademark inconveniences.

So this post goes out to all my fellow islanders who have griped about poor produce quality, lack of variety, and the general scavenger hunting they’ve undergone and still wound up short items on their list. Let’s bring out some island ingenuity and not let the grocery stores defeat us!

When all else fails, here are 9 Work-Arounds for some Common Island Ingredient Issues:

…

To read the rest of this blog post click here…

The post You Can Cook Here – 9 Island Ingredient Issues SOLVED! appeared first on Foolproof Living.

Prior to living on an island in the Caribbean, I thought these islands are all about luxury resorts and beautiful beaches. But then 19 months ago we moved to Virgin Gorda, BVI. It was not much later, I realized I was wrong.
Yes, they have the most beautiful beaches, nice resorts, amazing bays, gorgeous views, etc. But there is much more than that. As we traveled (or I should say “cruised”) around the Caribbean and visited other islands, I learned that each island has something unique to offer in addition to the beaches and resorts.

So I thought I could show you the side of “my island”, Virgin Gorda, that you would not see unless you make a trip here. I took my camera and walked around a mile radius of our apartment and photographed things that make it unique in my eyes.

Please join me as I walk along my neighborhood and allow me to share things that make Virgin Gorda special to me.

Virgin Gorda meaning “Fat Virgin” was named by Christopher Columbus because the island’s profile on the horizon looks like a fat woman lying on her side.

We live in an apartment complex called Olde Yard Village. Most tenants here are expatriates or foreigners, who rent (or own) an apartment for vacationing purposes. It is a calm and pretty complex with a restaurant, pool, gym, and a tennis court. Every single apartment has a beautiful view of the Handsome Bay.

The population in Virgin Gorda is around 5000. Most people are either from here or migrated from one of the neighboring islands to work and live here. One thing they have in common is that they are very religious. Mostly Christian, locals are a big part of the church and church activities. The church you see in the picture is the oldest building on the island and can also be used as an emergency shelter, if needed.

We have a police station here but there is almost no crime on Virgin Gorda. It is considered as a very secure island. So much so that one of the biggest resorts on the island, Rosewood Little Dix Bay, does not give keys to their guests.
As you walk around the island it is customary to exchange friendly conversations or a simple hello or good afternoon with people you encounter. As a matter of fact, it is considered as rude to not to properly greet each other.

As it is a pretty hilly island, when you climb up the hills throughout the island, you are welcomed by the stunning views of the bays of Virgin Gorda.

The graffiti on the walls of the street going to the world-known famous “The Baths” are a great reflection of the community and culture.

Locals live in small, modest, and colorful houses.

Somebody once told me that there are more chickens and roosters than people on Virgin Gorda. They are everywhere around the island. They love spending time in garbage bins. If you ever discard your trash I recommend you to be careful because there maybe a chicken party going on inside.

After people die, they are buried in a place overlooking the ocean.

It is not just the ocean that makes my island spectacular. The nature is at it best around here. The occasional rain showers throughout the day feed the nature and its habitants so much so that I feel like the green is greener here than anywhere I had ever seen before.

We have bars too. Green House is one of the fun places for locals to hang out. If you want to make friends, listen to good Latin music and have some local food, Green House should be on your list to visit when you come to Virgin Gorda.

There are at least 5 beaches within walking distance from where we live. Each with its own personality. Sometimes, in the afternoon, I take a walk on the beach. I found it to be a fantastic way to calm my mind.

As you walk along the beach, you can always make friends with these crabs.

Like I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I took all these pictures on the same day as I walk around in my neighborhood. The beauty you see here is just the tip of the iceberg and if you want to see the rest, you would have to come and see it with your own eyes.

And if you do, make sure to say hello to me…

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The post This is My Island appeared first on Foolproof Living.

Russell is one of Dwight’s best friends. They go way back.

I love it when we have friends over because we get to do things that we wouldn’t normally do.

Just like this past Saturday. We went sailing.

Sounds fancy, right?

You know it. It was.

I have to confess; it was my first time on a sailboat and I LOVED it.

We spent 6 hours (1 of which I slept like a baby) on a beautiful sailboat.

When we first moved to Virgin Gorda, a wise man told us “if you do not like the weather on the island, just wait for 15 minutes and you will see how fast it changes”.

He is so true. What started as a rainy and cloudy day turned into a beautiful, sunny day.

And boy, did we enjoy it!

The highlights of our day were:

being able to spend some quality time with my hubby and our friends,

eating great food and drinking lots of wine on a beautiful table setting on the boat,

resting (mostly sleeping) as we enjoyed the calm breeze of the ocean,

stopping at different harbors and taking pictures,

making new friends; Captain Bob and Johnny from Sail Bravura,

and simply having a good, “not-so-ordinary” Saturday.

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The post A Saturday Retreat appeared first on Foolproof Living.

Last week, my husband and I made plans to take our friends, on a boat trip that included a stop on Jost Van Dyke. Needless to say, I was very excited, as it has been an embarrassment all this time to have to admit to people that I still have not been there yet.

On the morning of the trip, my husband, Dwight, woke up and realized he was not feeling well. I sighed, thinking, “here we go again… another trip cancelled.” But Dwight said that he would stay home and rest alone, and insisted we go without him. Although I was not the happiest person to leave him home alone when he is sick, I decided to go anyway, as our guests had been looking forward to this trip for sometime.

A local company called DiveBVI offers a day trip called the “Island Hopper Cruise”. It is a perfect way to see some of the British Virgin Islands as you cruise along the Caribbean Sea. They offer this trip twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays. It is $100 per person and offered to those who are older than 16 years of age.

Here are some more details and photos from our “Island Hopper Cruise” adventure day:

Meet at the Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbor at 8:45 A.M

We were asked to be at the Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbor at 8:45 am for a 9 am departure. We were greeted by our captain, Jeff, and tour guide, Sarah, who were both welcoming and friendly.

Sarah helped us find the right size snorkeling equipment to use for the day, prior to getting on the boat.

We left Virgin Gorda right on time and headed to Scrub Island to pick up the rest of the guests who would be joining us.

The boat is a relatively small catamaran with comfortable seating. Sarah told me that they only allow up to 20 people, as they want it to be comfortable for everyone without being too crowded.

You have the option to sit inside or outside, though the outside seating is much more limited. At first, I didn’t think anyone would choose to sit outside, but towards the end of the trip (and with the help of alcohol), most of us were standing outside, enjoying the gorgeous views and the breeze.

On the boat, they offer cold water, Jeff’s “special” rum punch, cold sodas, plenty of beer, and snacks. The boat is well-stocked and there is something to eat and drink for everyone.

Pick up the rest of the guests from Scrub Island

Scrub Island is 15 minutes away from Virgin Gorda. There is a resort property called Scrub Island Resort Spa and Marina managed by Marriott Hotels. The marina has “hotel quality” clean bathrooms you can use. I note this because this is your last opportunity to use a “real” restroom until the end of the trip.

There is also a small grocery store if you want to buy food, medicine, sandwiches, etc.

Two Snorkeling Spots around Norman Island

The Island Hopper Cruise offers two snorkeling opportunities around Norman Island. The first one is at the Indians, a small group of rocks (too small to call islands) right off the shore of Norman Island. The second snorkel spot is called the Caves, which are at the entrance to The Bight, the most popular bay of Norman Island.

Jeff moored the boat close to the first site, the Indians, while Sarah gave us a briefing on safety and what to look for as we snorkeled, which I thought was a good idea because it gave me a visual of some of the types of fish and coral that I heard of before, but was unfamiliar with their names.

She got in the water with us and guided us through the site. Along the way, she pointed out some of the birds, fish, and fire coral that are unique to the BVI. As we snorkeled around the Indians, Sarah answered our questions about things we saw underwater.

I was amazed at how knowledgable she was about the site and also at how much the natural environment here has to offer.

The fire coral in this area is magnificent. For some reason, I thought that they’d be red, but they are more of a dark orange in color. Sarah warned us to not touch them, as they can burn your skin.

At this point, I really wished that I had an underwater camera. If you have one, be sure to bring it with you, as there are some amazing pictures to be had. The colors, shapes, and variety of fish and other creatures in the ocean are simply breathtaking.

The second snorkeling spot is less than 10 minutes away. The Caves are a part of Norman Island. Normal Island is an uninhabited, private island and is famous for 3 things: (1) the snorkeling around the Caves (2) Willy T’s floating restaurant/bar (3) it is the setting for Robert Louise Stevenson’s famous book, Treasure Island.

Once again, Jeff and Sarah gave us a quick introduction. This time we were given flashlights to be able to see inside (and under the water) in the Caves. Sarah guided us through the Caves in small groups, as they are pretty narrow.

I could not go all the way inside the Caves as I was a bit scared of the dark and swimming into the unknown. However, some of the others in our group went in and thought that it was beautiful.

Right outside of one of the Caves, Sarah showed us a lobster under the rocks protecting her eggs from predators.

This is exactly why I suggest to everyone to have a tour guide as they snorkel around the BVI. I would not have known what I was looking at had Sarah not shown it to me.

Lunch at Willy T’s at the Bight

After almost 2 hours of snorkeling, we were hungry and in need of rest. Jeff took us to Willy T’s, which is literally 3 minutes away, and we tied up to the boat. Willy T’s is a floating bar and restaurant at the Bight, a bay of Norman Island. Our food was ready, as Sarah had taken our order at the beginning of the trip and placed it earlier so our meal would be ready as soon as we arrived.

I ordered a vegetarian burger and was not pleased with it, as it was dry and had no flavor. However, my friend Berat ordered the Mahi Mahi burger and he liked it. If you ask me, I would not recommend Willy T’s as a place for its food; I guess it’s more about the experience, as it’s an unusual setting for a restaurant.

I have heard some crazy stories about the fun that people have at Willy T’s. I was told that up until there was an accident in 2006, women were encouraged to jump off the boat naked or topless, in exchange of a free Willy T’s t-shirt. I can only imagine the crowd that “naked ladies” would draw to the boat. Even without the free t-shirt encouragement, there were still a lot of people drinking and jumping off the boat just for fun.

All in all, it was fun…

Other Islands and Views on the way to Jost Van Dyke

After lunch at Willy T’s, we headed to Jost Van Dyke. Along the way we passed through several islands, which Sarah and Jeff named and explained to help us understand where we were.

If you are into photography, I would recommend you take your camera with you, as there are many opportunities for some great shots. I took the picture that you see above by Ginger Island. If you look closely, you can even see 2 different rain showers at the same time.

I loved that Sarah told us stories about the islands and houses that we passed along the way. Come to find out, Ginger Island is up for sale for $20 million – with no drinking water, electricity ,or any infrastructure. However, the authorities say that it offers a great climate for growing marijuana. Want to buy it?

As you go along, you get to see beautiful houses (or mansions). The one above is rumored to be owned by one of the sons of Bob Marley. Imagine the view from this place.
Or look at the cute house below… This is one you can actually pay to stay on – a local hotel called Pusser’s Marina Cay.

Jost Van Dyke and Soggy Dollar Bar

It took us less than 40 minutes to get to Jost Van Dyke. This island is known for its pristine white beaches in the aptly named White Bay, which has no dock, hence the famous “Soggy Dollar Bar” (you have to swim in and pay with your wet – soggy – dollars) for their rum drink called the “Painkiller”.

Jeff told us that we had an hour and half to spend on the island.

As I mentioned, Jost Van Dyke does not have a dock. You are supposed to swim in to the beach from the boat. Wet money is accepted to pay for your drinks. They simply dry the money by hanging it like laundry.

They also accept credit cards with no minimum requirement.

Soggy Dollar Bar is a small bar with a gift shop. In addition to their famous drink the “Painkiller”, they also offer an extensive option of other cocktails.

To be perfectly honest, I am not a big fan of sweet rum drinks. I did, however, order a painkiller just because I wanted to know why it is so famous. And, let me tell you, it was amazing. I do not know what kind of rum they are using, but it was just delicious. So much so, that I bought a second Painkiller just for the road.

They do offer food as well. We were not hungry but the dishes I saw around us were looking pretty good.

The gift shop of Soggy Dollar Bar offers several things from hats to bags to t-shirts for everyone. They are a bit pricy but there are several options in different price tiers.

The bay that Soggy Dollar Bar is located on is called White Bay. It was pretty crowded with lots of young, fun people drinking and lounging on the beach. We spent the majority of our time doing the same.

If you are into photography, it is a fantastic site with great scenery. I was lucky because the clouds helped mask the harsh sunlight to get some really good shots of the beach and the blue-green waters.

On the Way Back to Virgin Gorda

As we were heading home, we were all tired – but in a good way. At this point most of us started talking and drinking together. Jeff turned the music on and as we cruised along, everyone was chatting about how much they did not want to go back home to reality…

Disclaimer: All of the places, staff, and establishments mentioned in this post are my personal favorites. The recaps are my own views and opinions. I am not paid by any of these establishments or people to mention their names on foolproofliving.com.

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The post A Day Trip to Jost Van Dyke appeared first on Foolproof Living.

Today is a particularly important day in our household because we have friends and family coming to visit us from Turkey. My cousin, who is like a sister to me, and her boyfriend are on their 34-hour trip from Istanbul to our little island, Virgin Gorda.

Yes, we live on a gorgeous island.

Yes, we have the most beautiful beaches in the world available to us whenever we want.

Yes, we have the best views.

Yes, we never need to worry about cold weather.

And yes, we can snorkel, dive, swim, and jump up and down as much as we want, whenever we want.

But, let me tell you something; it does not mean much if you do not have someone to share it with. It really boils down to that.

There are at least 5 amazing beaches 10 minutes walking distance from my house. I can swim, snorkel, and dive every day if I wanted to, but you know what, after 5 times of doing all that it does not give me the same pleasure. I want someone to share it with me.

And for us, it just gets better when our family and friends visit our island to share this beauty with us.

My favorite part of all this is the preparation. I am cooking up a storm in my kitchen. All 4 stove-stops are on to cook the best meals I can possibly make. My husband is helping me with the cleaning, laundry, and last minute shopping.

Clean sheets on the bed, fresh cut flowers on the coffee table and great music in the background…
Everything and everybody in their best behavior.♥

Can it get any better than that?

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The post It Does Not Mean Much Unless… appeared first on Foolproof Living.

When it comes to living on an island, lately, my feelings are on the opposite ends of the spectrum.

I miss the convenience of living in a city. A city, full of restaurants, coffee shops, stores, supermarkets, bookstores, movie theaters, etc.

Finding things easily whenever you want is something that I took for granted when I was living in a city.

Living on a small island, on the other hand, is much different than living in a city. You do not have access to things that you are used to having whenever you want. Simple things like mushrooms, brown sugar, printed newspaper, and the option to choose from the newest movies, are not easily available. If you need mushrooms or brown sugar you may have to take a boat and travel 30 minutes to the bigger island. If you want to see a new movie you do not have a choice but to get it from the guy, who is selling bootleg movies at the corner of the street. And, if only, he has that movie, on hand.

But then you go outside. This amazing nature is waiting for you. In its own way, it is so raw and untouched that there is a weird innocence about it.

You realize you are a part of something that is so much bigger than you.

When I lived in a city, in a way, my brain was numb. Numb from all the sounds, colors, traffic, people, and stress of the city. I did not have time to think. I was just trying to stay afloat.

Just trying to fit in and be.

Island life is the total opposite. You have ocean, quietness, nature, sand, sunset, stars, the moon and YOU. You and your thoughts… Being alone in an environment like that makes you think.

The loudest noises are the sound of the waves and the sound of the wind.

I think the best way to describe how I feel is these two words that I came up with: “Soul Fasting”.

Living on an island gives you this amazing perspective in life. You learn to do things in a different way. You learn to want things you can have and try to forget about things that you cannot have.

This “soul fasting” had really helped me clear my mind. I feel calmer and creative. This environment allows you to stop and think. Think about what is it that you want and what is important to you. Set goals and enjoy taking baby steps to reach to your target with no one chasing you.

Either way, aren’t we all supposed to learn to be happy with what we have?

At the end of the day I am 100% sure of one thing. I am very lucky to be where I am at this stage of my life.

The post Living on an Island appeared first on Foolproof Living.

It feels weird but we like it.

This weekend we decided to take advantage of the island being empty and spent the whole weekend at my favorite beach on the island, Little Dix Bay.

On Saturday, my husband, Dwight, and I made a romantic picnic date with homemade pizza, cacao-walnut banana bread and a bottle of Pinot Noir. On Sunday, our friends Pablo, Berenice and their adorable son, Rodrigo, joined us.

I thought I could share some pictures of our beautiful island and the time we spent together, here on my blog.

Imagine a beach on a small Caribbean Island that is totally empty. Nobody but us…

I mean, it is surreal…

Dwight is not too crazy about swimming. I do like it but when we are together we enjoy sitting on the beach and listening to the waves.

Our island, Virgin Gorda, has many beaches. They are all beautiful. However, Little Dix Bay beach is my favorite. It is so secluded. Almost like an aquarium.

Rosewood Little Dix Bay, where my husband works, houses the Little Dix Bay beach. Laurance S. Rockefeller built the resort in 1964. As he was building the resort, he made sure that the natural beauty of the beach and the land were protected as much as possible. He did an excellent job doing so. With its 100 rooms and 6 villas, the resort offers a luxury environment that complements the natural beauty of the island. Next year they are going to celebrate their 50^th anniversary.

So let me set the scene for you.

Here we are in this gorgeous beach by ourselves. Dwight opens a bottle of Pinot Noir. As it is airing, I empty our picnic basket filled with food that I made in the morning. As he pours the wine, I set the table. Our favorite “Latin Jazz” playlist is playing in the background accompanying the sound of the waves.

For a minute, we both had to remind ourselves that this is real and we are the luckiest people on earth to be where we are.

As the evening progressed and clouds started changing into their evening costumes, we finished the bottle of wine.
We would stay there longer but we forgot to bring mosquito repellent. An important lesson (which I should have learned by now) learned, again!

On Sunday morning, we woke up thinking the same thing. Dwight was the first one to vocalize it.

Let’s go to the beach again!

This time, our friends, Pablo, Berenice and their son, Rodrigo joined us. Berenice works in the resort. She lives here with her family. They are originally from Mexico. Like most Mexican people I know, they are warm, kind-hearted and genuinely friendly people. We love hanging out with them.

Their son, Rodrigo is almost two years old. He is one of the most adorable kids I have met in my life.

When you don’t have kids, you don’t realize how you take everything so seriously in life. Sometimes hanging out with kids brings out the kid in you. As Rodrigo was running on the edge of (and sometimes in) the water, without worrying that his clothes will get wet, we realized that it is time for us to let the kid in ourselves out. Instead of taking pictures of the beach and appropriate pictures of ourselves, we decided to act like kids. Lots of laughter and fun…

As you can see in these pictures…

Sunday night, when we were, finally, back home, we both were very happy and tired from all the fun we had.

After all, we spent the whole weekend in our very own private beach. ♥

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The post A Weekend on the Beach appeared first on Foolproof Living.

Just came back from vacation… I went home. Home to Turkey…

My first time going back after my mother’s passing.

My mother had a lot of friends. Lots and lots… From every age and every gender… What happens to one’s friends when she dies?

In my case, I inherited my mother’s friends. They became my friends. I was welcomed with the same genuine, friendly way that I am used to. I knew that it was just as hard for them to loose her so suddenly. In a weird way, it helps to know that there are people out there sharing your pain. We took this opportunity to talk, cry and laugh about her.

This is a post about some of the memories from my Turkey visit.

As I was vacationing I did not do a lot of blogging.
Bad, new food blogger… I know.

But, I promise I came back with a ton of new ideas.

So here is what I did when I wasn’t blogging…

• Enjoyed the most amazing breakfast made by my beautiful aunt, Ayla: Look at this table. Different kinds of cheeses, olives, baked goods, Turkish tea and hand picked tomatoes…

• Vacationed in one of the most beautiful summer towns in Turkey; Ortakent, Bodrum: Lot’s of food, great conversation with friends on the seaside…Dinners over looking this amazing view every night…

Amazing food with friends…

• Spent quality time with the family:

• Learn to cook and eat some new recipes… (Looking forward to sharing them on my blog)

• Met with friends and drank lots and lots of Turkish Coffee every day:

• Spent some quality “father & daughter” time…

Vacations are good for you. It helps you recharge… I enjoyed every bit of my time in Turkey with my wonderful friends and family.

I hope you are enjoying your summer and will get a chance to head out to a summer town (or your favorite destination ) as well…

Cheers.

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The post Back from “Home” appeared first on Foolproof Living.

This year, Father’s Day is a little more special than any other year. It is a day for me to celebrate more than ever. Not only because my father is a wonderful person, he is the only parent I have left.

With my mom’s passing, my dad and I grew closer than ever. Although being so far away from each other does not help, we take advantage of every piece of technology to keep us close to each other. Lately, the best part of my day is a half an hour Skype chat with my father.

Growing up as an only child, my parents talked to me as I am a grown up. I always felt like my opinion did count. As a grown woman, I think this tremendously shaped who I am today.

I was very lucky because I had parents who were role models. Unfortunately, I did not appreciate it enough while growing up. I was one of those teenagers who felt like she knew everything.

When I think back, I remember my father sitting with me and talking to me about important things and “how to’s” of life… It was not until much later in life that they made sense to me. Today, I know that he was right in everything that he told me.
I thought, on a special day like this, I could share them with you…

Keep on reading, you may have heard some of these from your father as well…

15 Valuable Lessons I learned from My Father:

1. Be honest. People will be more forgiving and understanding if you are honest.
2. Learn from your mistakes and move on. There is no need to dwell on your mistakes.
3. Keep your promises. Do not promise, if you can’t deliver.
4. Never underestimate yourself. You are an educated and smart woman with valuable qualities. Do not ever let anybody make you feel like you are any less than that.
5. Life is all about taking risks. The more risks you take the more you will succeed. However, remember, the more risks you take the higher your blood pressure will be. You should always think about how much pressure you could handle before you take a risk.
6. The way you look and you carry yourself says so much about who you are. Always look professional and dress appropriately for the place you are in.
7. Try and do everything your heart desires in life, but do not spend too much time doing one thing, because if you do, you will miss out on all the others.
8. When you make a mistake apologize. It is important to acknowledge your mistakes. It shows that you value others.
9. Always keep yourself informed with what is happening in the world. Read, watch and learn as much as you can. Knowledge, especially about current happenings, is power. Now, more than ever…
10. Give feedback in a timely manner. If you procrastinate, other people’s faults will be yours. They will not know how you feel if you don’t tell them in a timely manner.
11. Money is important. Save your money and always ask yourself before buying something; is this a want or a need?
12. Brush and floss your teeth. You will need them for a long time.
13. Do not cheat and lie. If you do, you will loose your credibility and reestablishing that might be harder than you think.
14. Think long and hard when selecting a spouse. This is one of the most important decisions of your life.
15. Keep your emotions under control and your facts in check. The better you manage your emotions, the more you will succeed.

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