I have stayed in Dubrovnik for five beautiful sunny days – I even went swimming with cheap swimsuits bought for 2 euros there, obviously I didn’t think things through, but who the hell is dipping in the sea in the middle of October!? Being here, immersed with the locals, visiting my nona (grandma), eating delicious Mediterranean food and embracing the different characters, I’ve met half of my Croatian side again – that is a bit crazy, sometimes bitchy, painfully straightforward, but always warm hearted.

The first three days were all about meeting and greeting Croatian chefs (and making some goofy boomerangs with them), learning and tasting traditional Dubrovnik desserts (well hello there cheat days!) and full on preparing for my two workshops.

The third day my dear “momager” or Slovenian Kris Jenner (she hates it when I call her that, sorry mom) arrived to help me out. The big day was finally here and we were completely sold out and fully booked for both of my workshops! It was incredibly overwhelming but at the end of it all I couldn’t be happier. I’m proud, humbled and even more determined to bring Teresamisu and Zdravo, Tereza! (Healthy, Tereza!) to Croatia and all around the world. From now on you can call me a “culinary globetrotter, healthy nomad or even part time boomerang queen“.

Photos by Ana Mihalić

More photos coming soon!

Photo: Dan Ax

Stopped counting days with my minimalism challenge and started counting weeks, which is a progress I guess!

Week two was keeping up to date with reducing, which is pretty addictive I must say, I’ve started selling and giving away every day now. You won’t believe it, but I have packed all of my clothes in only two suitcases (this never happened to me before!) We have successfully moved into our new small apartment and I’ve realised I still have too much clutter, because it can’t fit in the apartment. Bring it on I say! 

Minimalism challenge week one! It’s incredible how light I feel right now, but with a dash of gulit. Why? Because I’ve gotten rid of half of my stuff (no I’m not missing it, a lot of it when for charity), it’s just horrifying when visiting the dump station where you pay only $25 and all your “memories” are thrown on a massive pile of dump. It was scary seeing how much unnecessary stuff we buy! We get tired of it and we just dump it, which ends up in our ocean anyway and then in our food.
We think we payed only $25 to get rid of it and now we feel lighter and it’s not our problem anymore? No, not really. It will come back as a boomerang and I’m one of those guilty ones yes, I admit it. 
I know it’s not all our fault, they are giving us too many choices, we used to buy good quality machines, that worked for years (in Slovenia I still have a dishwasher that is 28 years old!) and have three outfits per week – now we are able to buy a $2 singlet that we will wear for that one festival and then throw it away!? 
But we DO have a choice! Thats why I’m accepting my own personal minimalism challenge where I reuse, recycle and only buy good quality objects that can be used for longer periods of time, I will take care of my fashion pieces and stitch them up when needed, not throwing them away and always reading the care labels. Not only for our planet, but for my own personal development as well. Less clutter = more focus!
Overcoming the pull of consumerism is a difficult challenge regardless of our stage in life. But for a comfortable life we don’t need much! Simplicity requires encouragement and minimalism is a tool that can assist you in finding freedom. Freedom from giving too much meaning to our things, often forsaking our health, our relationships, our passions, our personal growth, and our desire to contribute beyond ourselves. Allowing you to make these decisions more consciously, more deliberately.

What does this have anything to do with cooking or recipes? I’m glad you’ve asked. It will be a challenge in my closet as well as in my kitchen. Yes, recipes can be minimalist as well with using few ingredients, but always local and seasonal which makes it even more delicious. No need to do to much with the best quality ingredients, as they are full of flavour already.

Guys, this will be the new blank page for me, my recipes and my way of thinking – the art of Simplicity…the ultimate sophistication.

Not only did I spend the whole day working on my voice and acting/presenting skills which is a lot to do with letting go and having a complete emotional release as well. I went out of my comfort zone, shouted, sang and did all sorts of weird sounds which was a very different way of spending the B day. By the end of the class I went through emotions like anger, sadness, happiness and complete gratitude. Coming home with a mix of emotions my friends and my better half took me to this absolutely beautiful restaurant where we had probably 10 different dishes. With a hand full of balloons and belly full of goodness we went back home and started with the usual birthday drinks, but it wasn’t over yet!

Momma surprised me with the cutest flash from the past video with clips of when I was a tiny blondie dancing throughout the day. Than my boyfriend Ziga has surprised me with the most delicious healthy Nutella cake that he made himself… You have to understand that I always do the cooking and baking in our relationship, so obviously he is a complete beginner. This was absolutely the best present to me because he made the effort to step into my world and try to create one of the recipes from Teresamisu. He decided he will make a healthy Nutella cake and it was just the cutest thing when he told me the troubles he went through. One of them was that the cake didn’t rise, so we just called it a very tasty pie! The Carob teddy bear you see on top of the cake is called Banjo which is a thing we have… I usually get it once in a while instead of flowers, he knows the way to my heart is through my stomach as well!

The night ended with a lot of dancing, coming home late and of course finishing the creamy and crunchy cake! I couldn’t wanted a better birthday. Thank you!

Recipe for Healthy Nutella Cake

As I’ve mentioned in my recent post on skincare, I’ve finally found something that suits my skin and thats the natural eco skincare Herbfarmacy. The next step for revamping my beauty and skincare routine was my hair. This is a whole different story. My hair is coloured and very oily, especially in winter season and don’t get me started with New Zealand humidity, sometimes I feel like I’m rushing to a Lion King casting – me being the lion. So no, I’m not one of those that wakes up with gorgeous silky hair that shine in the morning sun and have a slow motion wave in the wind… So choosing something natural that works with my type of hair was a misson.

But! I’ve found my favourite product. Unique Beauty had found it’s way into my bathroom and my daily routines. Don’t worry they have a variety of products for any type of hair. Below are three of my favourites! Not only does Unique Beauty have very good products that actually work they are also organic, fair-trade, sustainable, cruelty and the best of all it’s produced with 100% wind energy! How about that?!

Unique Beauty is a Danish company offering certified organic hair and bodycare of paramount exclusivity and quality. Based on the simple philosophy and all-embracing principles of profound sustainability and natural beauty science, Unique Beauty enables advanced beauty and environmental friendliness to join forces.

The key ingredient in Unique Beauty products is the locally sourced and renewable ingredient, whey, which ensures extremely high contents of protein, vitamins and minerals. In every product category nature’s most effective active ingredients are chosen in order to ensure uncompromised effectiveness of every product.

And because on the 22.4. we are celebrating Earth day, you can use my coupon and get a beautiful gift!

Coupon: terezainpomlad

COLOUR CARE SHAMPOO

 It leaves my hair wonderfully soft and easy to comb through, while Organic Danish milk proteins nourish and strengthen every straw of hair. It’s anti-colour fading an adds strength to my hair!

COLOUR CARE TREATMENT

This is pure magic for damaged hair requiring extra care, like mine. After I apply this it makes it wonderfully cashmere soft and shiny.

COLOUR CARE CONDITIONER

 This luxury conditioner is great for protecting your hair, reducing frizz and adding a beautiful, healthy shine to it.  This fabulous conditioner with organic, fair trade shea butter and organic sunflower oil leaves your hair softer.

It’s not all about healthy food, active living and meditation… Your skin is a very big part of your well being as well. I received countless questions what products do I use for my daily skin care and I’m proud to say I’ve been incredibly satisfied with Herbfarmacy Organic Skin Care.

This brand is such a positive world of its own! Herbfarmacy is a British skincare brand, committed to creating only fresh, certified organic and cruelty-free products. Because I’m the biggest fan of this line we are doing a special promotion with Via Naturalis!

If you buy Herbfarmacy (over 39 EUR) you will receive a beafutiful gift! One of the following:

Herbfarmacy Balm for face, body and lips (15g)

Mallow Beauty Balm

Skin Rescue Balm

Meadowsweet Balm 

Lip Balm

USE THIS CODE: 8march

Available till 8th March

A few years ago I wouldn’t even imagine screaming this sentence: “my first cookbook is published!”.

You’ve read correctly (or maybe even heard me screaming from New Zealand!) the book is here and available for purchase. (only available in Slovene… for now).

Order the book here

The first 12 purchases will be awarded with beautiful Teresamisu gadgets!

My new book Zdravo, Tereza! is for everyone who wants easy, wholesome and affordable eating that is nutritious and delicious. It’s all about eating very simple, going back to the basics, but with my additional twist to the food always making it fun! No diets, just healthy flavoursome food making you happier, healthier and energised.

The book is packed with recipes that I absolutely adore and constantly make in the kitchen. From flourless green pizza, vegan patties to rich chocolate cakes. From the start till the end the book takes you on a adventure through New Zealand and behind the scenes filming the cooking show Zdravo, Tereza from POPTV the work of an incredible team Blueroom Production.

This book wouldn’t happen without the most talented people around me some Kiwis some Slovenian – the perfect mix for a pretty book! Thank you to all of your hard work.

Special thanks to HercogMartini for making the book look absolutely stunning! Also to Matic Prusnik for his wizzard design brain. And my partner in crime Žiga Zupančič for his endless support.

A massive thank you to my super-mum Barbara Drnač and bestfriend Liza Kasal for overseeing the sales.

Photography: Žiga Zupančič, Priscilla Northe, Grace Watson and Tereza Poljanič 

Design, preparation for print and additional illustration: HercogMartini

Design and illustration: Matic Prusnik

Post-production: Dan Ax

Editing: Tina Bernik and Simona Ana Radez

Print: PRIMA d.o.o.

This brand is such a positive world of its own! Herbfarmacy is a British skincare brand, committed to creating only fresh, certified organic and cruelty-free products. Tucked away in the beautiful Herefordshire countryside is a unique organic herb farm and the setting for the creation of the beautiful Herbfarmacy skincare range. The creator of this buzzing brand is Paul Richards whose goal was to always maintain organic no matter what. They are proud that their herbs are all carefully grown and handpicked when at their freshest, to ensure they are as potent and effective as possible. With over 30 years’ experience, it’s easy to understand why herbfarmacy is now an award-winning leader in the world of organic skincare.

Get a 10% discount off everything using my code: tereza

Available till 28th February 2016

This is how my daily cleansing routine looks like (every morning and evening):

1. Wash off cleansing mousse

A deep cleansing mousse containing soothing Chamomile and Marshmallow and essential oils of Rose Geranium and Ylang Ylang. It actually gets rid of all my make up including mascara using the gentle cotton cloth and it doesn’t leave my skin feeling heavy or oily which is perfect for my skin!

2. Rose & Echinacea toner

Naturally refreshing and gently astringent, provides a good skin tonic with an uplifting beautiful aroma.

3.  Just eyes

Fragrance-free rejuvenating cream enlivens and nurtures the skin around the eyes and is especially suitable for sensitive eyes. Great for women my age who are in their mid twenties and are terrified to see any minor wrinkles!

4. Divine light face cream

Use as day cream after cleansing and toning the skin. My skin loves this cream. I usually used only coconut oil, but it left my skin feeling a bit oily. With this divine face cream my skin feels smooth and soft.

5. Exfoliating cleanser (sometimes)

Great for everyday use for oily skin or once a week for dry skin. A beautiful and gentle exfoliator with marshmallow and apricot kernel oils, jojoba beads and white clay. I use it as a mask sometimes and just leave it for 15 minutes and than wash it off. My skin is noticeably clearer after every use.

They have a great range for every skin type, have a peak and maybe there is something you would like to try. I also have great news for you, you can get a 10% discount on any products on this page! 

Get a 10% discount off everything using my code: tereza

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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