From Hustle to "Pomalo": My Journey to Slow Living

Welcome to my Pomalo Table, I’m Mary Ann, a Mom and a passionate Croatian home cook who left the fast-paced hustle culture behind to embrace the slow, intentional “pomalo” way of life. Raised in the traditions of Croatia, I’ve always cherished the warmth of family meals, the pleasure of picking up food at the market and the simplicity of home cooking.

For years, I was caught in the whirlwind of modern life, as type A over achiever—long hours, endless to-do lists, and a constant drive to achieve more. But then I realized that success isn’t about constandtly achieving more. Rather, It’s about finding joy in the small, meaningful moments that make life matter.

The Croatian "Pomalo" Lifestyle

In Croatia, we have a saying: “pomalo.” It means to take things slowly, to enjoy life, and to do things with care and intention. It’s a reminder to savor the present, whether it’s preparing a simple meal, taking a long walk, or spending time with loved ones.

This shift to slow living changed my life. I swapped the hustle for a more balanced routine centered around things that nourish my body, mind, and spirit: like walking/running, prayer, and meaningful work that brings joy without the hustle.

• Easy, Home-Cooked Food: I create meals that are simple, wholesome, and full of flavor. Many of my recipes are inspired by the Croatian kitchen, focusing on fresh ingredients and simple meals.

• Simple Daily Routine: Instead of cramming my day with tasks, I’ve learned the beauty of doing less but with more focus. My days are structured around intentional work, movement, and, of course, time in the kitchen!

• Meaningful Work: Whether it’s cooking, writing, prayer or spending time with family, I’ve found joy in work that brings meaning and purpose—not stress and overwhelm.

• Slow Living Practices: From tending a small garden to practicing mindfulness and creating quiet moments for prayer or reflection, I’ve built a life that prioritizes balance, connection, and contentment.

Join Me on the Slow Living Journey

Through this space, I share my love for Croatian home cooking, tips for slowing down, and ways to embrace a more intentional, peaceful lifestyle. Whether you’re looking for easy recipes or inspiration to live more mindfully, I’m so glad you’re here.

Let’s slow down together and savor a well lived “pomalo” tablescape.

As you can see from my videos below I love to create. Back in 2020 I ‘virtually’ travelled to Croatia and made some low-carb recipes and centrepieces for my tables. My imagination was on fire—and still is. These days you can find me in my kitchen cooking and styling dining experiences for my family. Most of my food is based on my Croatian heritage, I have fond memories of my incredible and simple childhood. I love to take classic Croatian dishes and turn them into low-er carb and gluten-free ones. But not always, in the recipe section, you will find many low-carb gluten-free recipes that are not Croatian, and that’s ok. I do my best to represent my cultural roots which have shaped me into a great woman.

Pull up a chair and join me in Diocletian’s Palace- Split Croatia. KETO in Croatia. I’ll share my reason’s for starting keto, how easy it is to continue with keto if you are planning a trip to Croatia next year, along with some tips and strategies that have helped me on this journey. Enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww5D1dw6dK4

Welcome to my Video’s aka my VLOG. In my first video I tried using my magic mixing spoon to transport me back to a cooking class in Croatia. While it didn’t work then, I think it worked today because I’m in Istria Croatia- wink wink. Hold on as I show you how to create the easiest cheese platter while sampling this new wine from Croatia. The dock is swinging me back and forth and the sea feels really wavy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE3tzLZYBHI