Dear November; my body hurts

 Dear November, 

I have no words today. Just want to share this photo. 

The Shed

Elina

Dear October; 29th of yours in Oxford

 I spent a day in Oxford for my Life in the UK test. Oxford is beautiful.

I passed my exam. I'm really happy. It was not a hard one, but I have a feeling of achieving something which does not happen often recently. 

The night before, Giulio got me a beautiful card. With more beautiful note inside. This man makes me feel everything so much. I'm so grateful that for feeling what I feel now. For friends who are supportive of me. And for my own guts, which brought me here. 

I need to spend a bit more time thanking everyone. 

Love you, 

And you dear October, 

Elina

Dear October; you and your beauty

 Dear October, 

You and your beauty. 

You and your beauty, both are making my days. I think I have not seen you like this. This "Eshveh-gar". 

I woke up today with so many colors out of my window. Do I need to thank the pandemic that has opened my eyes to your beauty? Do I need to thank this chaos that slowed my pace down to see you? 

I had a good weekend. I rested. Giulio came over. We biked together to Peckham. We had breakfast in a very cute cafe and then walked, explored the area. We found a rooftop cocktail bar. And spent a good couple of hours there. 

I was feeling a bit anxious the whole time, thinking that he wants to leave at night. And he did. I was worried I hadn't seen him enough. Had not kissed him enough. Time. Greed. And me in love. Let's say they don't know how to be a team player. 

With Niloo we were talking about "Nesting", and how pandemic or maybe this time of our life by chance we are nesting. I am loving spending time with myself and then with G. I don't want to spend time with others like before. I just want to read, think and maybe write. 

Gosh I miss the mountains so much. 

Day 45: Self isolation

A man with taste is sexy.

One of my birthday gifts from him. He knows me well. And it is so beautiful.

My rainy day and you by Giulia Rosa

Giulia Rosa's illustrations.

Love,
Elina

Day 40: Self isolation

40 days indoors

Day 34: Self isolation

Little joy: Finding a colorful table cloth in the storage.

Frozen betties smoothie + toasted bread + jam + cheese + peanut butter

Just eat,
Enjoy,
Elina

Day 29: Self isolation

Today in Iran and tomorrow in UK is my birthday.

So blessed for all the lovely friends I have!

So so so blessed for the journey I am in.

So much love in me.

Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you <3

Aurora and I; social distancing

Happy birthday Elina.

Day 17: Self isolation

Today I was invited to an ONLINE surprise party. I find it hilarious!! Fair enough, seeing your friend's while you are in quarantine is the best thing, but I don't understand the surprise part of it. haha.

Today I was still very sad. I'm very sensitive these days. Fucking PMS. Ruins your life. You need to be aware of it all the time.

Mark these days as complete second year that I have not seen my family.

Be strong Eli jaan, more to come! :(

Good food brought me back to life

Us raving in the house with Bubbles & Base! 

Me kick boxing with G - Bubbles & Base online party!

Me kicking G - Bubbles & Base online party!

Dance,
Elina

Day 16: Self isolation

Today I am with myself in my head.

Today is actual self-isolation.

Breathe,
Elina

Day 12: Self isolation

Today was slow. Sunny slow.

I woke up early. G didn't. It was still hard for him to concentrate. He made apple pie. Very delicious.

I have to say, I like it here. I'm so me.

We are finishing our cheese! As you know we did a big fresh cheese purchase. Haha.

Most of our food is with cheese these days. Happy we are not diary intolerant. We might be in future if we keep eating like that. hahah.

World is going crazy. People are losing their jobs. So many infected. So many dying. I still am having a heard time believing what we are going through.

Apple Pie

Salad with Burrata

Pussy tattoo

Love, 

Elina

Day 10: Self isolation

We woke up late today.

I forgot to tell you, from yesterday we started doing some exercise. 40 minutes of exercise with weights.

Weather is amazing. It's a torture to stay in.

Online shopping has stopped. We should not be more than three people together in the streets. In public places we need to stay away from each other with two meters apart. Pubs & restaurants are closed. People are still out in so many neighbourhoods.

I know for a fact that I'm lucky that my job is not affected with this virus. I will stay sane & get the best out of this quarantine.

These days for me is all about food, work, quality time with us. Today I felt we are real adults. The feeling of trust, safety and love was all over me. So much love for this feeling.

There will be loads of food photos on the way.

Sorry for scattered sentences.

Mozzarella with tomatoes

Courgettes and onions getting ready for pasta with ricotta 

Salmon with chopped tomatoes

With love,
Elina

All Day I Dream

Well... you meet some people by accident one day in a party and bam! one year later they become your sisters, brothers, best friends, family, loved ones. . .

All Day I Dream - August 2017

All Day I Dream - August 2018

Safe & Sound;

I have chosen me. Over others.

It feels right.

Happy Monday!

Everyday I walk passed by these trees. Spring is here.

RUNderful life;

I do respect runners deeply . I always have.
Actually I always wanted to be a runner myself. Back in my hometown I tried. Hijab got in the way, pollution wasn't helping either.
So I quit.
I am skinny. I never needed sport for sake of fitness. That's how the whole concept was explained to me when I was a kid. So I didn't go after it.
But I had this vision of a happier me in my mind and running was in it.

I started running a year back in Istanbul. I started on my own and I was about to pick up injury I can tell when NHS podcast was suggested to me.

Now I am running each day.

Running has become daily meditation for me. Everyday after the first 20 minutes of running I need to tell myself, "You can do this", repeatedly! Believe me I found my mantra and silence in running everyday. That's when I can turn the switch of my brain off and let it all go.

*The photo was taken today. I ran yesterday under the showering rain and still my shoes are wet.

Love,

Breathe,

eL.

London transition

Great.

Heavy rain in 1st of June. London. Yes, I am here in London, and yes I love (adore) the sun, but NO, I don't hate London weather. At least I keep focusing on its beautiful side. In this weather you get to enjoy your coffee and warm socks and cosy clothes always. You will enjoy when your fluffy friend (in my case, Maya) comes and sits on my feet.

Change of weather is a sign for me for a bigger change. I am in somehow a transition here. My high and low is exaggerated. And guess what? I don't have my yoga mat with me. I left it behind in Istanbul. As much I were connected with it (cause I had my very first sun salutations on it), and I thought it will stay with me for life-time but the quality was bad and my hands kept slipping on it. So I don't know where it is but I am looking forward to get a new one as soon as I get my first pay check.
It has to be turquoise. Like the ocean. Yoga will bring me back to me.

I just want to be alone these days.

I will work on my painting today.

Love you all.

eL.

Sunset, oh dear sunset;

Istanbul sky

Love,

eL.

Breathe, believe and receive!

Hi everyone,

Have you ever think about “Mantra”s?

I mean when was the first time you heard about them? Did you use them? Do they make you feel comfortable or you feel stupid while repeating your mantras?!

For me, the first time in my life I heard about mantras in this book. My boyfriend had broken up with me and I was very young and in love. I thought I could die with this broken heart, I needed some comfort, even talking to my friends was not helping, I needed more than that.

In the search for a real love, I started my mantras at the edge of 20. I used to write all the time, I used to repeat these mantras all the time, whenever I was sad I used to repeat that I am happy and grateful, and to tell you the truth I can never, ever disregard the effects and impacts of them on my life.

Now today let’s just take a moment, sit somewhere comfortable, drink something warm and delicious, grab a pen and your journal. Just start to write.

Me writing, relaxing and being grateful in weekend!

Write about the reasons you are proud of yourself. The changes that you wish to see in yourself. Make them simple, lovely phrases and repeat them in your meditation. Try to imagine it. Try to be it in your mind. Feel each aspect of it. And enjoy being it.

Healing Mantra by CarlyMarie

There’s nothing better in life than being grateful and hopeful for things yet to come!

Love you all.xoxo

Thursday Quote;

Stay patient and trust your journey.

eL. 

Breathe in, Breathe out;

Everyday people are dying around the world and I just get the news. I search their name and read about their life. 

These days I keep thinking about other people. Their problem, their struggles and their feelings. For first time I don’t feel any responsibility towards them, but for first time I understand them. I mean I have come to the point of understanding the changes between people. When someone is stuck in a destructive relationship, or when someone is not happy with how they look, or when the other one cannot decide which aspect of his life means more to him.

I think there are few people who are able to figure out themselves, I think for most of us we have to experience life. And through experience we will learn what matters the most.

I can be happy with simple things. I am not searching for power. I am trying to find peace. It’s peace that pushing me to nature, not to shout, love music and adore walking. It’s peace that motivates me to go on my mat everyday and stretch. When I am doing yoga, I feel that I am paying attention to my body, to all the muscles which have served me nearly 10 years and I didn’t thank them. I think they are all my responsibility, not people around me. My responsibility towards others are with giving them passion. Giving them hope and introduce them their inner body. Their breath.

Every inhalation of the breath prolongs life and every expiration of it gladdens our nature; wherefore every breath confers two benefits and for every benefit gratitude is due.

-Sheikh Muslih-uddin Saadi Shirazi

Check out my photos on my instagram. 

#100happydays No.2

On Sunday, I went to yoga class. It arrived there soon. So I could find a time to sit by the calm sea for a while.
My mind was as free as a bird and I was full of good energy.

After it, Babak joined me. And we walked together, had chai and enjoyed some-olny-us-in-the-moment time. 

Istanbul can be romantic most of the times.