LivinginBrno

So, you washed your IKEA cover mattress despite the clear instruction on the label to not do it. Well, I did it because...I have a toddler and had to try and save it. I also washed the cover in a 3h program on 50 degrees Celsius. it did not shrink but I had a very hard time putting it back on. I would do it just once in a mattress' lifetime and only if necessary. If you are in the same situation, do not give up and run to IKEA for a new mattress...If I could put mine back so can you. Here a few tips: - turn the cover inside out and start pulling it on the mattress from one part slowly - grab small parts of the cover so it slides onto itself, allowing thus a smoother pulling on the mattress surface - pull each side at a time, with patience All operation took me about 8 minutes, here I share a video showing my struggle, you might find that helpful: Putting Back On the IKEA Cover Mattress

In 2014 when we had our first son I remember wanting to know other expats' birth experiences but at that time not much information was available online like these days. However, I still don't find an existing online presence where mothers share their expat adventures, except for few meet-ups or facebook groups. So, here it is - documenting for you both in video and text format my own experience with giving birth in Brno. If it helps at least one expat mother to be, my mission is accomplished. The birth of bot our kids took place at Brno FN Bohunice hospital. In this country there is no private maternity hospitals, in case you are wondering about the possibility to give birth at a private center. The public health systems works well enough so all births can be covered by the insurance. In the last 2-4 weeks gynecologist explained me we need to start the special weekly scans and check-ups at the hospital where I want to give birth. Based on her recommendation, I went to Bohun...

Shopping online was a thing for us, even before having the kids, but shopping our food and groceries is happening since 2018. Planning and cooking our meals at home ie enough time and energy consuming so, buying our food just by the click is really a game changer. 1. First we used online shop from Tesco (Brno) during 2017. For a while everything was fine, great delivery, in time, better quality of products like veggies, bread and fruits than what is found on the shelves. The variety of the online offer was not that much at the time. 2. Then in 2018 we discovered the online rohlik shop  and is our favourite and only grocery shop that we use on weekly basis. It provides fresh veggies, fruits, pre-packed meals, M&S food specialities and even an amazing and always growing variety of local farmers's foods like: meats, spreads, plant based meals veggies and fruits. The Bio/Organic offer is staggering and really very good quality. All you really need is one good grocery shop a...

I vote for staying at home to raise the kids as much as possible and this post is about my experience and reasons why I chose to stay on a longer maternity leave rather than starting to work earlier. 1. I get to raise my own children, rather than working and paying another stranger to do it The private day care costs around 5000-10000 czk/month - by paying this fee, not much of my salary remains, so it simply is not worth it financially 2. These early childhood years are so precious and go by so fast - that is actually the most important reason of all, overcoming any financial or physical demands of raising children 3. I manage to cook healthy homemade meals more than ever - it gives energy to raise them, among many obvious reasons like - less expenses 4. Being stay at home mom might seem hard and it really is exhausting at times - but I still find the time for me and even a hobby - before having kids I didn't care about my hobbies 5. I get more involved in the communi...

I have put together a list of English speaking doctors for Brno area, in hopes it might help expats to find the help they need easily. Most of the doctor professionals bellow are recommended from own experience, for few specialties I had to gather the links from other friends' or expats' recommendations, as some do not accept anymore new patients (like for ex.: my gynecologist, dentist). Urology: Surgal Clinic  -  MUDr. Jan Králík . Private clinic but, as most in this country, it helps and accepts also public insured citizens. Appointments go smooth and you must call or email before just to be sure your specialist doctor is available Bohunice Pavilion X also has Urology Ambulance  (link here) and all doctors there speak English, but is harder to get appointments because the nurses handle the calls, but the medical care is excellent; private Urologic Clinic  -  must pay out of pocket, not for public insured people MUDr Pavel Trojan Endocrinology: MU...

Once per year is possible to withdraw a discount from your insurance company for various extra medical services, nutrition or dietary needs. In my next tutorial I show you how to ask for the refund for optional vaccination and is in amount of 500 czk/ child/ year, maximum, Tutorial is in video format and feel free to ask any questions: How to Request a VZP Refund - Tutorial Note that the VZP club may provide refunds for various other medical needs, just read more at the offcial VZP club page. Thank you for stopping by!

Not much is written on the parenting experience as expats and far less is documented online about raising children without the support from an extended family. I will briefly summarize what it means for us as expats in Czech republic to have a family without any support from the ' village'. In 2014,  we had our first son and I was really scared about the idea of being far away from family and with almost zero support from anyone. I cried many days and waited 2 long weeks to make courage and give my son a first bath as newborn. Although the nurses had instructed me how to do it and there were many online helpers, I really missed some other mom around me - maybe my own mom, just anyone with more motherly experience. In the end, my husband said - 'look I will help, is our son, what can go wrong, we know him better than anyone, let's give him a bath, everything will be alright, no worries.' And we just did it, it was actually simple task. That was crucial moment when ...

Hello, I decided to document my Brno adventure here on blogger corner and hope to find new friends during the process!