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About
I'm Chara K.
Crocheter, Traveler, Blogger, English Teacher, Wife, & Lover of Learning & Creativity.
"I think everything you do in life is ART. The way you love someone, and how you talk. Your smile and your personality. What you believe in...The way you drink your tea."
- Helena Bonham Carter
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CharaDK
Oct 6, 20244 min read
Where's the pumpkin spice? Fall Only Exists In The West
Believe it or not, fall as we know it doesn't really exist outside of the west. No pumpkins, no candles, no decor...
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CharaDK
Jul 15, 20246 min read
Are Turkish Men Controlling? My Experience Marrying a Turkish Man
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...
1 comment
CharaDK
Jun 23, 20247 min read
Style Guide: Classy Comfort At Home On A Budget
Back when Covid hit, many of us had to start working from home. Four years later, some of us still are. Initially, staying in your sweats...
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CharaDK
Jun 16, 20243 min read
The Butterfly Effect: How Embracing a New Hobby Can Lead to Personal Growth
I’m sitting down to write today, not knowing where it will take me. I don’t have a specific topic in mind. I just know that my keyboard...
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CharaDK
Jun 9, 20244 min read
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...
4 comments
CharaDK
Jun 2, 20249 min read
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!
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CharaDK
May 26, 20247 min read
5 Proven Strategies to Travel in Luxury on a Budget
Everyone wants more for less and us humans love a good deal. Following these tips is a big part of the secret to living a traveler's...
2 comments
CharaDK
May 18, 20248 min read
35 Beautiful Turkish Girl Names With Meanings
I am one of those people who likes to keep a list of interesting baby names I come across. You know, just in case I might need one. These...
2 comments
CharaDK
May 13, 20248 min read
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...
6 comments
CharaDK
May 7, 20249 min read
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...
2 comments
CharaDK
Apr 29, 20245 min read
Free African Daisy Granny Square Pattern (No Extra Tails!)
Free Pattern! Only One Tail To Weave In At The End! Oh, goodness. Another daisy granny square pattern. What makes mine different? I'm...
2 comments
CharaDK
Apr 28, 202410 min read
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...
4 comments
CharaDK
Apr 21, 202411 min read
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...
6 comments
CharaDK
Apr 7, 20247 min read
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...
2 comments
CharaDK
Mar 31, 20248 min read
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...
2 comments
CharaDK
Mar 24, 20245 min read
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...
2 comments
CharaDK
Mar 10, 20247 min read
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...
6 comments
CharaDK
Mar 3, 202414 min read
I studied the French language every day for 30 days. Here's What happened: Language learning tips, progress, and surprising results.
If you have ever tried learning another language, you know that it is a time consuming process and something that you have to prioritize...
1 comment
CharaDK
Feb 22, 20248 min read
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...
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CharaDK
Feb 18, 20245 min read
5 Reasons You're In A Calorie Deficit & You're Not Losing Weight
So you are in a caloric deficit, working out, feel like you’re barely eating a thing, and the scale isn’t budging. Many of us are too...
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