Lets dance!

Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Eli. She began to dance in the sand. Her beautiful hair became part of the game with the wind and the sun. It was her own way of showing happiness and freedom. She keeps dancing everywhere. People around her smile. I smile too. And they open their arms to embrace this positive vibration in difficult times that are not easy. This is a reminder for us. Our children are our driving force for life, our future, the mirror of our actions and decisions that we make. Let's dance!

Yours sincerely, Sweetest Dot.

The best years of our lives 2020-2021

The time of Covid was suffering, pain, loneliness, and change for millions of people. Something none of us could have imagined would affect humanity. The dark smoke in our hearts completely engulfed us in blackness, like sadness, anger, pain, and for some, the loss of jobs or loved ones. This endlessly long period gnawed at our hearts and our patience. It was a loss of freedom.

In the first wave, which occurred, we all experienced a new state, quarantine. Even back then, in the period of March, April, May 2020, it felt endless! At that moment, we dreamt of deserted islands, a bit of sunshine, that glimmer of hope. The world turned upside down. I also dreamt of a small island where my whole family would hide and live until the world came back together. We would catch fish, walk in white linen outfits, and meditate for a better world.

In June, we drove to Croatia, risking the current situation, and experienced two weeks of slightly different travel without tourists, empty streets, half-empty restaurants, open highways, and hearing people whispering to each other like sparrows on a roof, singing the same song about bacteria. At that time, we told ourselves that this situation happening all over the world is absolutely unique and will hopefully never happen again. It's like metaphorically carving our names on the ancient walls of the beautiful city of Dubrovnik. Or dancing in the humid air accompanied by a sensual Croatian singer and hearing the joy and gratitude in our hearts.

This experience propelled us to heights we didn't even know we could reach. Suddenly, we looked at the current world with a sense of detachment and fearlessness, and took another immensely significant step. There were three of us. Three fools who jumped into it a little recklessly. And so, in July, we embarked on a one-way ticket to our first destination, Crete...

What happened next?

Yours, Sweetest Dot.

Las Vegas

What is your lucky number?

Roll the dice! Do you have your lucky number? How much do you wish for it to come out and win? The love of your life, wealth, dream career, or maybe a trip to Vegas?

Las Vegas. The city that never sleeps. But unlike the bustling New York, all the temptations unfold within a few acres, on one street. A city that captivates you with its artificially built diversity on every corner of the famous Las Vegas Strip, in the Nevada desert. Where women undress at the drop of a hat, and men undress them with their eyes for a selfie on Instagram, and some beauties remain in memory as sexy police officers or superheroes. Locals hand out cards with topless women or invitations to the hottest pool party in town. People sip on XXL cups of piña coladas or margaritas.

After a few hours of walking across the bridges that connect the hotels, you might come across an exhibition of Tesla cars, the Omnia dance club where resident DJ Steve Aoki performs this year. The world-famous Hell's Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay. The iconic Bellagio hotel with its renowned singing fountain, or a few meters away, the charismatic David Copperfield will bring a smile to your face. Americans yearn to fly to Europe, and here, in the form of iconic miniatures, they suddenly find themselves at the Eiffel Tower, Arc du Triomphe, or take a gondola ride in Venice at The Venetian hotel.

However I may evaluate this city, every time I come here for a few days, I feel the scented, bustling streets, that energy, the mix of luxury and poverty, and the party mood completely engulfs me.

And when I end the day, looking at the gamblers in the hotel casinos and roll the dice for my lucky number, I will hope that fortune awaits me too.

After all, I'm in Vegas, baby!

November 2021

Yours, Sweetest Dot.

Happy New Year 2022

On the first of January, it was a magical day. After the rain, the sky cleared up, and our entire apartment was glowing and sparkling as if magical fairies had just visited us. And when I was talking on the phone with my mom, for a few seconds, I caught sight of a beautiful, colorful hummingbird on the balcony. It took my breath away with excitement that this exceptional bird had visited us in the city on the twelfth floor.

At Naples Canal, I tried paddleboarding for the first time, and it was fantastic. Inside the canal, I encountered neighbors in a good mood on kayaks, boats, and gondolas. Everyone wished each other a Happy New Year, and I felt an even stronger connection to America. Meanwhile, Vuki and Eli were picking up trash on the beach. It's an activity we teach them when living by the sea, to help keep the environment clean. When I reached the shore, I helped them pick up trash with Mrs. Nancy, who writes children's books. She had moved from New York to Long Beach during the pandemic. Suddenly, a city girl became a beach girl. We talked, and she gave me a heart-shaped stone she found on the beach, wanting to give it to someone and bring joy through love. She hugged me, kissed me on the cheek. It was such a symbolic day full of love.

If they say, "As you start the New Year, so you'll spend it," then this year will be about deepening relationships, kindness, helping others, being open to building new friendships, and performing small and big acts that warm the heart. So, Happy New Year 2022!

Yours, Sweetest Dot.

Date

Today we had a date. Time flies by so quickly, and sometimes we forget who we are as a couple. These days are immensely important to us. They allow us to share our plans, thoughts, needs, and desires. To fill our lives with even greater understanding and contentment. After a few hours that we need, that reconnection happens again on our bridge over the ocean. I couldn't be happier that these days are still a part of our lives! And we appreciate our relationship just a little bit more, not only as parents but also as friends, lovers, and human beings walking the same path for over eight years.

Thank you, Vuki, for this day.

And for this amazing, stylish, and timeless sweater you bought me when you saw the sparkle in my eyes, the excitement of having it in my wardrobe.

Yours, Alena.

The Bells in Our Hearts

How strong is our heart? That precious organ in our body. The life that is given to us. The heart that works at 100 percent and weakens as we age. The most precious heart! Like the heart of the neo-Gothic church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which I am currently looking at in Balluta Bay, Malta. I'm sitting on a sun lounger by a public pool where my daughter and husband are swimming. Surrounded by the endless Mediterranean Sea. Sun rays reflect the austere beauty of this structure. It's noon. The church's heart is its bells, which speak up and play a song that I subconsciously know. I close my eyes and listen. The song my mother used to sing to me as a little girl. Or the song that played during our first kiss at the disco, the song that united our hearts forever when I married my husband. The song "I love you baby" that I sang to my little girl when she was still in my womb.

The bells grow louder and their vibrations are so strong that it feels like they have merged with my heart, giving it even greater strength. The strength to live life with every touch of my inner bell. My heart thanks me for listening to it. And for that moment, it stops and thinks only about that experience. Thump, thump, thump. My heart, I hear you!

What are your strong experiences?

Yours, Sweetest Dot.

Symbols

What do symbols mean to us? They are something that is given to us and creates that blissful feeling of familiarity. Something that is close to us, pleasant to touch and look at, something that subconsciously makes us stronger and puts a smile on our face. It drives us to explore further and to want to understand why it keeps appearing in our lives. The same digit, sign, animal, shape, place. Something so beautifully familiar and personal that it becomes ours.

I adore that warm feeling when I catch sight of the number 13 or when I see the shape of a heart. And when I don't see it, I create it. I connect with my symbol and it makes me feel wonderful.

What is your symbol?

Yours, Sweetest Dot.

A Shower at Long Beach

Monday morning is painted in blue. I put on my favorite blue polka dot dress that gives me a fresh feeling, and I run to school with Eli. The journey takes us twenty minutes. Thank goodness for sneakers! We're running late.

I've decided not only to post stories about the orange sunsets. About carefree days on California beaches, but to show our everyday life without embellishments. About my life here in the port city of Long Beach. I would love to preserve its authenticity and current state. Not just in my mind, but also the places where I live with my husband and our five-year-old daughter as a family. And if the American continent is still completely unknown or less explored to you, or if you're looking for inspiration for a dream vacation in the country, I can be your off-the-beaten-path guide. So let's do this.

That decision is right because something very unpleasant happened today, and I'll share it with you. I'm sitting in front of a café where they already know my name. I'm sipping coffee, observing everything around me. A man with two cute dogs, a large American Coca-Cola truck, a lady picking up freshly ironed white shirts from the laundry. A beautiful and stylish African-American woman smiles at me from the opposite table, and I return the smile. The sun is starting to lean against my back. It's a wonderfully pleasant feeling. I continue my musings and start translating my story about Las Vegas into English.

When a man parks next to me in a car, he starts yelling and gesturing wildly. I can see that he is in a very intoxicated state and smoking marijuana. I put on my headphones, play my favorite dance album, and continue translating. I don't even know how long I've been sitting here. When I finish writing, I want to take a walk on the beach. The man in the car drives alongside me at the speed of my steps, shouting and offering me a joint. Do I look like a party girl? I walk down the street. It happens to be a day when some streets are being cleaned, so there are no parked cars anywhere. The driver gets even closer. Crazy thoughts race through my head. Should I run? No, I can't run. Should I go into a salon at the end of the street? Phew, they're closed. What if he grabs my hand and pulls me into his car? Where is the police, and should I call 911? The only thing that comes to mind is calling my husband. I look for a spot where I can wait for him. A place with a lot of people, in front of the bank. I try not to cry and move my hair to the side so he doesn't see my panicked face. The man is still in the car next to me, then he realizes that I probably won't be his partner and sharply turns and drives away. A few minutes later, I break down in tears in the car with my husband. Those few minutes walking down the street felt endless. I'm shaking, my shoulders are tense, my stomach hurts. We go to a restaurant. I'm safe now.

And that's our Long Beach today. What would you have done in that moment? Was the situation dangerous? Or was it just a game of cat and mouse?

In conclusion, despite my long love for America, as you know, I would like to point out that every citizen in the USA owns a gun. Marijuana is legally available here. Everything is allowed here. As the ideology says: an American citizen is free because they live in a free country.

Today, I didn't feel free. Oh, and we made it to school with Eli.

Take care.

Yours, Sweetest Dot.

February Weekend in San Diego

Saturday

The perfect weekend is just beginning! Our home is in Long Beach, by the beach on Ocean Boulevard. From the balcony, we can see the sea, the harbor, sailboats, and large cargo ships. Near Marina Park, there is a large space that is often used for hosting massive events like the Grand Prix car races or concerts. This time, a three-day Cali Vibes Festival was held here to commemorate Bob Marley's birthday, featuring dozens of performers such as Sean Paul and Shaggy. Even though we enjoy music, we want to spend the weekend actively and see and experience new things. So, I'm packing a small overnight bag for a weekend in San Diego. I only know motels from movies, where romantic scenes or murders usually take place, and that environment makes me a little scared and uncomfortable compared to what I'm used to. But everything is a first time, so I book a two-star motel with breakfast and we head south for a two-hour journey.

Finally, after almost three hours, we find ourselves in the perfect place in La Jolla. This seaside town is rightfully called the "jewel of America's finest city" and is surrounded by incredible cliffs, panoramic views, beaches, tide pools, and caves that are home to seals and pelicans. It's a place where Alicia Keys, for example, has purchased a $20 million house. It's a somewhat upscale place. You can find stylish hotels, restaurants, galleries, and this place is a paradise for real estate agents due to the location and climate of San Diego County. I learned from a man who works for the Marine Mammal Rescue Center in Laguna Beach that February is the month when seal pups are born here. We are in the right place, and we have a perfect view of the seals and their newborns. There are plenty of them here. Information signs advise us not to take selfies with the pups, as it would cause their mothers to abandon them. The beach where everyone gathers is closed, but even so, the access through the artificially created observation deck is impressive. Dozens of people are captivated by the sight of the pups, commenting on their every move. Time stands still for a moment, and my view is like watching a nature documentary about these amazing creatures.

We move a few dozen meters to Wipeout Beach. Everyone is enjoying their time here until sunset. Vuki happily swims, and when he emerges from the waves, he's happy, even though the water is icy and almost numbs his face. Elinka jumps from the cliffs into the sand and makes a sand cake for me. I sit contentedly, leaning against the sandstone cliff, and observe the buzz around me. I feed my favorite seagulls with an overripe banana.

After sunset, we go for dinner. I choose our favorite California Pizza Kitchen, located in a luxurious fashion shopping center with only top-tier luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry, and the high-end department store Bloomingdale's. The hostess at the entrance taking reservations informs us that the wait for a table will be forty minutes to an hour. Note: In America, waiting is common. There are long lines everywhere, and no one minds it at all; it's part of their life here. I've never felt any nervousness, remarks, disagreements, or complaints about service in a crowd or in a line. People talk to each other while waiting, whether it's in lines at stores, restaurants, post offices, or offices. You wait here, but the service is first-class, and everything runs smoothly. Everyone takes their work very seriously. If something is unclear, you ask, and they explain everything to you multiple times.

In the end, I decided to check out two other new restaurants, and I succeeded in one. We got a table immediately. So, despite the wait, it's worth having a plan B, especially when you have a hungry child. And a husband. True Food Kitchen is a restaurant and lifestyle brand inspired by the philosophy that food should make you feel better, not worse, and it should taste great too. We were even offered a seasonal menu that follows the principles of Dr. Andrew Weil's anti-inflammatory food pyramid and raw, healthy, simple ingredients with straightforward preparations that highlight the natural health benefits and flavors of each ingredient. From nutrient-rich basic foods to carefully sourced proteins and even little-known superfoods. I had the Grilled Chicken Avocado Wrap with hummus and butternut squash soup, and I was literally in ecstasy. Especially my intestines, which are not healthy and need daily loving care in the form of these superfoods. Bravo!

We ended our evening at the Howard Johnson by Wyndham motel. Elinka fell asleep from exhaustion, and Vuki still had to work. So, I decided to go for a little shopping at TJ Maxx and left satisfied with summer dresses from Steven Madden, an iPhone case from Kate Spade, and a gift for both my husband and daughter.

I fall asleep happy. Even in the motel.

Yours, Sweetest Dot.

Sunday in San Diego

Good morning world! Elinka shouts in her pajamas and calls for Vuki, who is going for breakfast. I'm packing my suitcase. Eli is still trying out her new skateboard and looking important. When I see her with that board in her hand, it reminds me of my teenage experience when my sister Blanche briefly lent me her red skateboard to try. I started rolling, turned, and fell. Ugly enough that I left the doctor's office with a damaged joint capsule and a fracture. Due to better healing, my arm was put in a cast at an angle that hindered my movement, and it took a long time to heal. My sister was amazing, caring, and held my hand the whole time until we reached the hospital. Some pains we simply feel our whole lives.

Just a few minutes from the motel, we arrive at a place that engulfs me for several hours! Liberty Station, a former naval training center, is now a cultural, educational, and sports hub. It's a place where you can spend hours strolling and admiring the Spanish colonial style, art galleries, picnic greens, an amazing gourmet market, stylish cafés, and interesting pop-up shops. It's the place you want to be. Moreover, it's located in the bay of San Diego, and when you take a moment to sit on a bench, you get a perfect view of Downtown and its skyscrapers in the background. Airplanes fly by frequently, making you feel like you can touch them at any moment. Next to me, an old lady is painting the landscape on her canvas. Nearby, a squirrel is frolicking, and people along the bay are running, rollerblading, cycling, or heading to the meadow or paddleboarding. And that's our case. On a paddleboard, the world is even more adventurous. While sailing, Eli collects trash, and passersby thank her for cleaning up their beautiful bay. The sun shines brightly, it's azure, hot. I order an iced tea, sit at the market, and listen to live music. I explore the complex, visit the gallery, and chat with the owner about glass and Czech craftsmanship from Moser. About Europe and how multicultural her gallery is. I guess the countries of origin for artistic treasures like chandeliers, carpets, plates, or seashell jewelry.

We end our afternoon at SeaWorld San Diego, which is a paradise for all children and even adults, to be honest. We bought annual passes, which also include parking. This annual membership cost us only slightly more than a single day ticket. NOTE: If you plan to stay in America for at least three months or longer and live on a budget like us, it's definitely worth looking for events that are worth paying for annually, as you can also enjoy various benefits and associated activities. And there are plenty of them. For example, February at the aquarium is associated with the Mardi Gras festival. Kids have dance parties and various competitions in this purple and green spirit. Many events can also be conveniently purchased on the discount portal Groupon.

We enjoyed San Diego a lot in such a short time. And we'll be back soon for at least a week, so we can get to know it better and more in-depth. It's a city that I used to perceive as a touristy place that didn't really appeal to me. Now I'm giving it a second chance. San Diego is a city with many benefits for a beautiful family life.

So, I raise a metaphorical toast to more adventures in California and to a good life with all of you.

Thank you for being here with me!

Yours, Sweetest Dot.

Dreams come true

 "I often dream and remember almost all of them. I even remind myself of them when I wake up and analyze them in detail. Some dreams repeat themselves for several years. These are the ones that are close to my heart and have been a part of my dream world for a long time. Visualization helps me dream and then fulfill those dreams when the time is right. I have never told anyone about my dreams except for my husband. I enjoy telling him about them with such enthusiasm that they feel real to me. He says he loves my imagination and laughs with me, because he loves me just the way I am.

Let me tell you about one dream. Get comfortable, because it's going to be a ride. The dream begins with me putting on a white maxi dress and sandals. It's warm, and in my minimalist retro apartment, I make myself a coffee in a mug and leave. I live right by the beach, so every morning I open the balcony doors and breathe in the fresh salt air and admire the view of the sea and the harbor, with boats. I am happy. My journey takes me to the basement, where I take my beautiful pink beach bike with a basket on the handlebars. I come out of the house and wave to my husband. I head towards the beach path and greet all the other cyclists. After a few kilometers, I arrive at my destination. At the harbor, there is a farmer's market where I buy baguettes, flowers, fruit, vegetables, and local jam. I put everything in my basket and happily ride away on my pink bike. The flowers smell amazing on the way, and I indulge in the momentary intoxication of the idea of a perfect life. Life by the sea with a pink bike.

And when I wake up in 2021 in California, in Long Beach, in an apartment with a balcony and a view of the beach, harbor, and sea, and I go downstairs in my white dress and a mug full of delicious coffee for my pink beach bike. I wave to my husband, and he smiles. I get on my bike and ride off. But you already know where I'm going!

Thank you, my beloved Vuki, for being here and fulfilling my dreams.

Dreams come true when you believe in them, even if it takes forever. The joy afterwards is worth it!

Yours truly, Sweetest Dot."