Istanbul Diaries

Let me start off with the simple fact that you do not have to travel all the way to Turkiye, or any Muslim country, to find a man who is...

Jul 15, 20246 min read

1 comment

Why I didn’t Wear Makeup to My Wedding

Weddings are often seen as a day to go all out with glamor and beauty with an emphasis on looking your most beautiful. Back when I got...

Jun 9, 20244 min read

4 comments

5 Super Simple & Healthy Turkish Meals Under 500 Calories

These Super Easy & Nutritious Under 500 Calorie Recipes can be made my anyone ~ Get a taste of real Turkish cooking!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars.(3)

Jun 2, 20249 min read

0 comments

Istanbul Diaries: An American's Tale of Culture Shock in Turkiye Part 2

It is time for part two of culture shock in Turkiye. How many parts will there be? This series is potentially endless. I suppose I’ll...

May 13, 20248 min read

6 comments

Istanbul Diaries: 5 Ways To Live Slowly In The Big City

At the moment I am sitting in my office, a tiny bedroom meant for children I don’t have. I just finished an English lesson with a younger...

Health & Wellness

Rated 5 out of 5 stars.(2)

May 7, 20249 min read

2 comments

Istanbul Diaries: Turkish Raki Culture & Alcohol in Turkey

We’ve just come home from a short trip to another province of Turkey and let’s just say that I am feeling well-fed. The scale has been...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars.(3)

Apr 28, 202410 min read

4 comments

Istanbul Diaries: Turkish Henna Night (Kina Gecesi)

With the end of Ramadan and the first major holiday following it, wedding season is upon us. This weekend, we have the pleasure of...

Apr 21, 202411 min read

6 comments

Istanbul Diaries: Decoding 14 Turkish Gestures

Learning a new culture is a bit like an archaeologist brushing away hundreds or even thousands of years of sand and soil to reach the...

Apr 7, 20247 min read

2 comments

Istanbul Diaries: Slow Living In a Bustling Urban Jungle

We are here on another gorgeous Saturday and I have a few updates from the projects I started last week. The sun is especially bright...

Mar 31, 20248 min read

2 comments

Istanbul Diaries: Spring Reveries from Strawberry Jam to Sourdough Dreams

It is the first week of Spring in Istanbul and I have never quite felt the season like I do this time around. I’ve always said that...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars.(3)

Mar 24, 20245 min read

2 comments

Istanbul Diaries: Experiencing Ramadan & Muslim Holidays in Turkiye.

It is 3 o’clock in the morning, a few hours before dawn. You are sound asleep in your bed when you hear a small and a large drum being...

Mar 10, 20247 min read

6 comments

Istanbul Diaries: An American's Tale of Culture Shock in Turkiye Part 1

As I sit in my Istanbul apartment on this crisp, sunny winter morning, wrapped in a floral Balkan blanket by the living room window, a...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars.(2)

Feb 22, 20248 min read

0 comments

3 Things From Turkish Culture That I Will Teach My Children

Four years ago I was backpacking in Turkiye when I met my soon-to-be husband. Four years later, I'm still here and I can tell you that it...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars.(2)

Feb 15, 20246 min read

4 comments

10 Misconceptions about Muslims

There is a lot of fear and confusion around the religion of Islam and the media’s focus on extremist behavior does not do it any favors....

Jan 22, 20248 min read

3 comments

Having Christmas In A Country That Doesn't Do Christmas... What it's like celebrating Western holidays in a predominantly Muslim country.

It’s that time of year again and I find myself actively taking part in more Christmas traditions every year that were never even a part...

Jan 1, 202411 min read

0 comments

Must-Know Basic Phrases for Your Trip To Turkiye!

If you are planning a trip to Turkiye, I highly recommend learning a few phrases of Turkish. Turks are honored when foreigners try...