DOMINYKA GRUCYTE

Kategorija: Uncategorized

  • 2023. the year of pain and gain

    So, the year is nearly over. What a rollercoaster I must say. It has been a year full of adventures and challenges and also changes. Honestly it has been a very interesting year and probably one of the most up and downs one in the whole life. And it was painful quite a lot. But no pain no gain, right?

    It is still early to reflect fully but just the fact that after 8 years of corporate job I decided to go on an adventure and leave comfy corporate chair and instead of working 8-5 i became my own boss and started to work 24/7 haha. It is not exactly like this but it is very different from Monday to Friday corporate hours. Now I am available and working without noticing i am actually working. Do i regret? oh no, not at all. i am finally happy with my work and I do what i love to do. Why did I leave you might ask? So going back to the beginning of this year all i remember is being sick. all. the. time. and there is a reason why. Two jobs, lots of stress in the corporate one and no rest. Where else could it lead if not to a burnout? How blind was i for quite few months i realised just now. But being sick got over the top and i had to take a decision. and i did. Cried for 3 days. Not because i was sad, because i was so freaking scared to leave and go to unknown. and now I am still scared and still learning how to be a freelance and how to handle all this but the sleepless nights and all the sickness is gone. I have sacrificed the financial stability so I haven’t been sick ever since. Magic how doing what you like instead of what you don’t can change your health and sleep.

    Despite of being sick I had another challenge sent by universe where I had to get new camera gear. all. from scratch. Cried for three days in my bed again (yes, another drama with 3 days of crying in bed). But I realised crying wont solve the problem and got out of bed to buy the new gear. Realising that loosing material things hurts (mostly the bank account) but it is not the end of the world helped (also all my friends and family who helped me and supported on those quite grey and sad days).

    Lots of loses for the first half of the year. Lots of reflecting and lots of thought decisions. But that wasn’t it. there was another chapter with again different pain. Operation. in the middle of the summer. no walk for few weeks and no exercise or mountains for a more than month. Taking away one of the things what I love the most, walking in the nature was really painful. But this was the time to stay home and reflect again on what I actually love and how grateful i am for my health. This is the time where I worked on my portfolio and website and gave myself a lot of time to rest and be lazy.

    So many chapters this year, and as my friend says you feel like you live a life when you have chapters and things happen to you. And she is so right, it gives me goosebumps to remember all the chapters and how strong i am or how strong I have become this year. But saying things happen to you is not correct and I prefer to say things happen for you. FOR. not TO you. Meaning these all ups and downs happened for me to teach me something or make me stronger or protect me from something or to push me to be where I am today.

    Grateful. So freaking grateful for all those lessons, for all the people who supported and helped me on those though days, grateful for all the new opportunities I got this year, i have worked with so many cool brands and people, I have photographed 4 beautiful retreats (i love love love working as retreat photographer and hope next year will be full retreats), been in Italy twice, started destination wedding photography business with my friend and not only that we started we also photographed wedding in Italy and some weddings in Spain and also did so many styled photoshoots in different locations. We have now booked weddings for next and even 2025 seasons. I have worked with brands like Oysho and traveled to Cannes film fest for that. Created beautiful content for product brands and small businesses.

    What a year. Wish 2024 to be less dramatic but same interesting and full of colours and full of emotions. Cause living a boring life is easy, but who wants easy when there is so much fun and challenges.

    Will leave something I have learned this year here below, you. can agree or disagree, but I have learned my lesson

    ”Your comfort zone will kill you”

    xx

    Domi

  • Weekend getaway to Vall de Núria

    Weekend getaway to Vall de Núria

    To escape this crazily hot weather and polluted city, that was the idea. Vall de Núria is not too far (3h journey more or less), reachable by train, amazingly pretty place in high mountains and never disappoints with its beauty.

    All I needed to do was to convince couple of people to camp with me, buy a tent (I didn’t have one until now hahahah) and pack some essentials for one night and two days adventure in the mountains.

    7am already at the train station to catch a 2 hour train heading towards France (R3 Rodalies, Puigcerda direction). Jumping off the train at Ribes de Freser (I also really like this small town, been here million times) and hopping onto Cremallera train which takes us up to 1900m altitude to Vall de Núria. The train also stops in Queralbs, if you fancy hiking up 1km elevation and enjoy amazing views, you can do this. I am normally going down that trail, and it’s the best part of Vall de Núria trip.

    Once we have arrived in Nuria, we built our home for that night in small but cozy camping slot, packed day trip backpacks and started our little hike. We headed up towards Coll de Noucreus but due to the strong wind, clouds and massive temperature drop we haven’t reached the top (it was soooo close thou, but safety first, these are high mountains so hail and snow is posible all year around and can come very suddenly). Cows, horses, marmots, wild flowers, little mountain river and other gorgeous things followed us all the way up. Clouds and strong wind followed us coming back haha. Even thou we thought it might rain it didn’t at all. We had and amazing sunny evening at the camping, ate dinner with a sound of a small river which was just next to our camping and the night was pretty too, no strong winds or rain at all. The temperature dropped t0 10C so good sleeping bag is a must if you don’t like cold. Camping had a cold shower and nice clean bathrooms even with loads of toilet paper. Next morning we went to look for some coffee and cafeteria opens at around 8:40 so after big nice breakfast we headed back down to Queralbs. And as already mentioned this is my favourite part as the way to Queralbs is full of massive gorgeous waterfalls, mountains views and cute old bridges. As always I went to my fave spot for a quick cold dip into the river (water is pretty cold but so so good). The way down is around 3h long if you don’t stop and enjoy the views and of course more if you do. Once we have reached Queralbs we ended up in a foam party with lots of local kids but this soapy random shower after a night in camping was really needed and so much fun. A little cold beer reward also happened and of course some decent lunch in Queralbs. Walking all day with heavy backpack made us a bit tired, also some of us slept in very thin sleeping bag so it was a bit chilly that’s why we only headed down the second day and chilled quite a lot. We got cremallera back to Ribes Enlác – which is train station and straight to the train back home to stretch our legs on a comfy coach.

    Walked – 18km and 650m up first day and 14,4km second day with some 500m descent (I didn’t track this one haha). You can find all these trails on Wikiloc (my fave app ever, for which I am paying money and I think its really worth it) and also you can check my trails recorded on this app and become my buddy .

    Train tickets – A.recurrente Barcelona-Ribes- which is 10e for unlimited trips to this destination. Cremallera to go up one way (Ribes Enlac-Nuria) is 22e per person. Camping 10,5e per person. Going back with walked till Queralbs so the cremallera ticket Queralbs-Ribes Enlac is 6e per person. 38 euros on transport in total. Food was a mix of what we have brought and some snacks bought up in Nuria – there is plenty of options where to eat up there, hotel restaurant, bar, cafeteria, 2 little food trucks. All the info can be found on Vall de Núria official website.

    This weekend wasn’t plant very well but as we like to say let’s mistake and better do it not perfectly than not to do it at all. No regrets as it was such a nice escape, with lots of fresh air, lost of wild animals, breathtaking views, great company and beautiful hikes. Will repeat very soon. This time better prepared.

    You can check more of my adventures on my instagram

    campsite
    Morning views
    6:30am view
    Cold dip
    Packed and ready to go
    Morning glory

    xoxo

    Dom

  • B&W film roll developed

    B&W film roll developed

    film roll from 2022. b&w 35mm.

    I love film photography, it is so different from digital photography. You have to think few times before you press the button, there is maximum 36 shots only. So you don’t want to waste them. 

     

    Morning stuff.
    Coffee at camping.
    Hiker I
    Hiker II
    Portugal. Porto. 2022
    Porto.
    Pyjamas, coffee, cake, mountain views.
    Lunch in nature.

    xoxo

    Dom

  • I am back! Hello again.

    I am back! Hello again.

    It has been a while, but finally this website looks like website again. Apologies to all who used to come here for recipes, I have been busy living life and also I have managed to totally destroy what I have created before (my recipe blog minutado.com). Anyways I am back again. With some inspiration to share my photography work with you as this is my work and hobby at the same time and like always share some travel tips and stories and of course of course to share food, restaurant recommendations and my recipes. So previous Minykado.com website is now renamed to www.DominykaGrucyte.com, which is my real name. MinykaDo was basically about recipes and tiny bit of travel, but now I am more about photography than food. This website is all about what I do and who I am. From my photography portfolio to my blog with recipes, which won’t be as often as it was before but it will definitely be back. 

    Anyone who doesn’t know me yet and came here, welcome, I am Domi. A photographer based in sunny Barcelona. I love few things: photography, food and travel and and I love nature, so lots of nature content coming soon too.

    Quick story what happened in last few months and why my website is gone and why I am back just now and other why’s. So I have been dedicating most of my free time to photography for last 2 years or so now, therefore I have totally abandoned my blog, then tried to change its domain and totally screwed it up. So left it like this (totally destroyed) until couple of weeks ago decided that I need it back. Also few months ago I have left my corporate job (after 5 years.. super happy about it) and decided to dedicate all my time to photography and creative work. 2 years ago being a freelance photographer sounded quite far and crazy but this is who I am today, already counting 4 months on this journey. Would lie if I would say it is easy and stressless, it is not, it’s very interesting, sometimes quite challenging but it’s so much fun. I am loving it so far. And I am happy to be back writing and creating.

    Check out my portfolio if you are here for some visual content or looking for someone to take your new profile picture or you have an event and would love to hire me as your photographer for your wedding day. If you are a foodie check out my blog where I share my favourite recipes. If you love nature and traveling also check my blog for travel stories, photos, recommendations etc.

    That’s it for the first blog post after ages.

    Follow me on social media for more content.

    My instagram.

    xoxo

    Dom

  • Banana bread with chocolate cookies / Bananų duona su šokolado gabaliukais

    Banana bread with chocolate cookies / Bananų duona su šokolado gabaliukais

    Lietuviškai žemiau..

    Banana bread with chocolate chips

    Ingredients:

    • 2 very ripe bananas
    • 1/3 cup melted butter
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1/2 cup of sugar
    • 1 egg
    • 1,5 cup flour (I use whole grain)
    • pinch of salt
    • about 50g of dark chocolate

    Instructions: 

    Squeeze bananas before peeling, put in a bowl, smash with fork, add egg, butter and all dry ingredients.

    Mix well with a whisk. Extra good with chunks of dark chocolate mixed in.

    Preheat oven to 175C and bake about 45-60minutes.

    Ready to eat.

    Bananų duona su šokolado gabaliukais

    Ingridientai:

    • 2 gerai prinokę bananai
    • 1/3 stiklinės tirpdyto sviesto
    • 1 a.š. kepimo miltelų
    • 1/2 stiklinės balto cukraus
    • 1 kiaušinis
    • 1,5 stiklinės miltų (aš naudojau pilno grūdo)
    • druskos
    • papildomai galima įdėti šokolado gabaliukų

    Paruošimas:

    Bananus šiek tiek paspaudinėjma prieš nulupant, dedam į dubenį, mušam kiaušinį, dedam sausus produktus ir viską gerai išmaušom su konditerine šluotele, galiausiai dedam šokolado gabaliukus.

    Orkaitę įkaitinam iki 175C ir kepam apie 45-60 minutes.

    Skanaus

    xoxo

    MinykaDo

  • Cream and curd cheese cheesecake/Sūrio ir varškės cheesecake (sūrpyragis)

    Cream and curd cheese cheesecake

    • 400g cream cheese
    • 200g of cottage cheese 
    • 3 eggs
    • 200ml heavy cream
    • 250g of sugar
    • 180g of cookies (digestive or similar)
    • 60g of butter

    Put biscuits into a food processor and blitz them until you have fine crumbs, add melted butter, mix and place crumbs into baking tin. Press with your hands to make a bottom of biscuits crumbs. 

    If curd is coarse rub it with blender to make more creamy. Add sugar and cream cheese, mix again, add the eggs and pour the cream.

    Mix everything well until a solid liquid mass is obtained. Pour cheese mass onto crumb bottom and bake in 180 C oven for 50-55 minutes. Once done leave it to cool down fully and then place in a fridge for few hours. Now you can serve and enjoy. 

    Sūrio ir varškės cheesecake (sūrpyragis)

    • 400g kreminio sūrio 
    • 200g varškės
    • 3 kiaušiniai 
    • 200ml grietinėlės, 36% riebumo
    • 250g cukraus 
    • 180g sausainių (digestive ar selga)
    • 60g sviesto 

    Sausainius susmulkinam iki trupinių, aš naudoju virtuvinį kombainą, tada pilam ištiprintą sviestą ir gerai išmaišom. 

    Gautą trupinių masę dedam ikepimo formą, gerai prispaudžiam rankomis taip suformuojam pyrago pagrindą. 

    Varškę, jei ji labai rupi gerai pertrinam, geriau su blenderiu. Dedam cukrų ir kreminį sūrį, vėl trinam, dedam kiaušinius ir supilam grietinėlę. 

    Viską gerai išmaišom kol gausis vientisa skysta masė. Aš viską maišiau taip pat su virtuviniu kombainu. Gautą masę pilam ant trupnių pagrindo ir šaunam kepti į 180 C orkaitėje, kepam apie 50-55 minutes. Iškepus paliekam pilnai atvėsti, tada dedam į šaldytuvą bent kelioms valandoms. 

    xoxo

    MinykaDo