Surprise parties and peaceful moments - friends, food, and fun in Slovenia

Vacation time has finally started, and boy, it couldn’t have come soon enough! Not because of work, but because I was melting like an ice cream cone in the heat at my job and my apartment. So, we packed our bags and headed to our beautiful spot in Slovenia. Why not go somewhere else? Because I love peace and quiet, and that's hard to find at a crowded seaside resort. Croatia is lovely, but right now, it’s packed with people. Here, no one bothers me, and I can be as loud as I want without worrying someone will get mad. Just us, some beautiful animals, and nature—perfect for recharging my batteries.

This weekend was super exciting. There's always a lot to do when we come back, but being with family and friends I’ve missed is the best part.

Saturday was a blast! My girls came over for coffee in the morning, and of course, we needed a little pick-me-up—a shot of Jägermeister, because why not? Just one, though! 😊 We laughed so hard that my stomach hurt. Then, we went out for a delicious lunch. I love the food here—so tasty and not too pricey.

čevapčiči mmmmm

After lunch, it’s nap time. Even though it was hot, lying in the shade with a book is so relaxing. I fell asleep and woke up two hours later to my husband saying it was time to get dressed for a stand-up show. Of course, there was a hitch. A friend got the tickets but mixed up the dates—two were for Wednesday! The show was sold out, but they said we could wait to see if any seats opened up. We got lucky and got in! I laughed so much my cheeks hurt. Slovenian comedians are pretty good, who knew?

When we got home, we were all starving. I’ve been craving roasted corn, and I was ready to pick it myself in the dark if no one helped. Corn grows around the pond, so I didn’t have far to go, but it was spooky with just a flashlight. One friend said the corn wasn't ripe, my husband said it was too ripe. We bet a case of beer on it. Guess who was right? Me! Perfectly ripe corn, and now they owe me beer, even though I didn’t bet 😊.

I love those cozy moments by the fire, roasting corn and drinking wine. We chatted late into the night, and when I finally crawled into bed, I fell asleep instantly. I turn off my phone here to enjoy uninterrupted sleep, except for the birds singing in the morning. Bliss!

Suddenly, a car arrived—it was our parents! I forgot we planned a lunch together. Luckily, my mom anticipated this and brought salad and veggies, and the dads took over the grill. Perfect! It was a great family meal, and I was secretly happy I didn’t have to cook.

After they left, I picked up a book and, of course, fell asleep again in the lounger. When I woke up around 6 PM, I had one thing on my mind: ice cream. There’s a guy here who makes the best ice cream in the world, and I always visit him when I’m in Slovenia. I couldn’t decide on a flavor, so I ate one scoop there and took two more for later.

The fun didn’t stop there. My cousin turned 40, so we had a big celebration. When someone hits a milestone birthday, it's always a big celebration. My cousin turned 40 that day. So, how do we celebrate? At midnight, family and friends gather and head to the birthday person's home. We call it a "wake-up call" ( budnica). It's a surprise party with singing, dancing, and fireworks to make sure they wake up. His wife knew this was happening, so she had prepared food and drinks, and we celebrated long into the night.

This tradition is really nice, and even though we were loud in the small village, it wasn’t a problem because all the neighbors were there too. Our puppy was with us, and around 2:30 in the morning, she decided it was time to go home. Since our place is only a few minutes away, my husband and I walked back. It was so peaceful, no cars, just quiet.

I thought I’d sleep all day today, but of course, that didn’t happen. I'm the only one awake right now, my husband and dog are still asleep. I’m sitting outside, writing, drinking coffee, and enjoying the peace. What more could I ask for?

we have a squirrel here :)

This weekend was really special, and I can’t wait for more adventures to come! What's next today? Swimming in the lake!

"Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax." – Mark Black

With love, @tinabrezpike❤️