Category Archives: Travel

September Edition: A Note from the Editor

A Special Note from the Editor

Fashion. Books. Home. Food. DIY.  These are all things this site promises to deliver, but it has not really lived up to doing just that.  Or perhaps, it was something I always wanted to deliver, but needed some sort of direction on how I would deliver that to you.

When people ask me about this site, I never really passionately talk about it.  Perfectionist Wannabe  has not been in a place I was proud of yet.  I was honest about that with the people I met.  I did not know how to find that sweet spot where I was content with what I was putting out there.

So I went on a mission to discover what exactly I loved about magazines.  Blogs were no longer the answer to what I was looking for.

The Bold Type

As I flipped through a stack of magazines, Freeform’s The Bold Type, a show about three young women working for a fashion magazine, played in the background.  The show centers around a writer, a secretary turned stylist, and a social media director.  As the girls go from one disaster to another, it is the wisdom of their editor that resonates.

1) Write from your own perspective in life.

2) Print is dying.  The electronic age is making print media obsolete, so it is important to focus only on that.

Taking these two points, I began to see a clearer vision of what I wanted.

Book Reviews

To get a better handle on how book reviews should be done, I went to the best source: O Magazine.  As I read through the book reviews, I saw the importance of writing about experiencing the book.  Describing feelings eloquently is what ultimately gets people to read a book.

I read about one reviewer’s morning before she even sat down to read the book.  She made me experience her morning with her.  There was nothing extraordinary about it.  Her morning was a regular morning, just like anyone else’s morning.  But by the time she sat down to read the book, I  wanted to read whatever she was reading, even though she told me so little about the book.

What made this particular review stand out is that it was written incredibly well.  That is the beauty in writing a good review.  The writer made me see reviews, not just book reviews, in a whole new light.

The Voice

Finally, it began to occur to me what I was unhappy with.  I was dissatisfied with the voice I used on this site.  I was mimicking other bloggers and what they were doing instead of focusing on what I ultimately wanted to do with this site.

In the back of my mind, my friends who are well read, played in the back of my mind.  Their comments on fast literature (i.e. the books saturating our market), started to bring me down.  As much as I shared their opinions on great literature, it made me ask if what I write is great literature.  Would they even think I was good enough?

This is where that sense of wanting to be perfect comes in.  There is that fear of never being good enough for my friends to recommend my work to others.  They are brutally honest (which I respect and need).  What if what I was doing did not live up to their standards?

In our opinion, discovering an author or a book that is well written is difficult to find these days.  If you think about blogs in this context, it is not so often you will come across a lot of well written blogs.

Magazines and newspapers house many of the best writers that live up to these standards.  Yet, these types of publications are failing because of the saturation of mediocre or poorly written content flooding the market.  That means there are a lot of incredible writers out there that go undiscovered by the masses.

Branding

There are a lot of blogs out there I love that are both inspiring and beautiful.  I like their brand.  Even though many of these bloggers are the first of their kind in their niche markets, there are many who try to emulate that same voice, which in turn creates a problem.  That brand’s voice is copied, and then it becomes overdone, watering down the original voice.  I know, because this site started to do the same thing.  I ultimately did not want that.

The direction this site lacked was always something very simple.  It was missing my voice and the way I wanted to write and present my views of the world.  I spent too much time trying to be like the other bloggers.  As a result, I forgot why I created this site to begin with…to share my own adventure into learning how to be a better version of myself.

A Sense of Direction

Most noteworthy of this entire adventure are the opportunities that presented itself to me over these past few years.  From Martha Stewart’s American Made to Tribeca Film Festival to Book Expo America (BEA), the universe gave me every single tool I needed to discover how to create my vision for Perfectionist Wannabe.

As a result of those experiences, I learned that even though I believe I am not doing enough, the industry communicated the exact opposite.  Publishers explained to me at BEA that I was doing the right thing.  I did exactly what they were looking for in order to work with them.  They decided who they were allowing into the BEA this year, and I was among the select few they allowed in.  [Of all the publishers I spoke with, they only counted three bloggers that were allowed to attend, unlike previous years where the expo was saturated with bloggers.]

What all of these incredible experiences tell me is that I was always on the right track.

AHA!

I finally had an AHA! moment somewhere between flipping through the magazines and binge watching The Bold Type.  This site is my resumé.  In the end, this site is about a brand.  These past few years of discovery was about defining that brand.  That is the only thing it’s been about.  In a sense, this site is turning into a better version of itself.

So what can you look forward to?  Better content.  More continuous posts.  A more active social media experience.  Better inspiration.  More importantly, my voice.

xoxo,

Michelle Kenneth

 

The Resolutions 2016

Resolutions 2016

Resolutions.

We all make them.  Some try to say they tossed their resolutions out before the ball even dropped.  Then there are those who realize that they need a change.  Very few stick to those resolutions just a day into the new year.  Others go two to three weeks into the new year.  Some see it through for the first three months and then give up.  Then there are those who truly stick to their resolutions because they wanted to see it through until the end.

Over these last couple of years, I’ve tried to make resolutions, but because I was a little stuck in life, I just didn’t care about those resolutions because I wasn’t quite sure what it was about me that I wanted to change.

For those who don’t know, I was faced with my own mortality back in 2013 when I was told I had a tumor in my parathyroid gland (the gland that synthesizes calcium).  The gland and the tumor had to come out.  I was told to prepare for the worst.  The worst was death.  I found out in August 2013.  On October 22, 2013, I went under the knife and woke up a very different person.

I’ve been pushing myself since then to try to get back to some sort of normalcy.  But it just wouldn’t come.  That normalcy is about finding out who you are now that everything in your universe has changed.  This is normal for people who have had a major surgery or are faced with their own mortality (like a heart attack, an accident, cancer, etc.).  Your life before that moment means nothing to you.  It’s who you are after the surgery or life threatening moment that you are trying to define.  Just who are you now and what do you want out of life?

Since the surgery, I’ve had friends so absorbed in their own worlds that the second they can stop and ask what is going on they are shocked to discover just how much I’ve been struggling since the surgery and what I’ve been doing to get back to being normal again.  I can tell you one thing…it has not been easy.

But this year, I feel like it is time to evolve into the person I am trying to become, and in some cases, get back to.

This past year, I’ve been sharing a few of the things I’ve been doing on Instagram and Twitter.  It’s a way to take a glimpse at the path I’m ultimately following.  I’ve found that when you are on the right path, everything works out more magically for you than you can ever imagine.  I’ve made a lot of new friends this past year and have met and spoken to a lot of incredible people this past year.  When I got the invitation to Martha Stewart’s conference, I was shocked.

That was synchronicity. It was the defining moment of 2015 that helped me understand what I was going to do with my life.  What direction my life was heading was all laid before me in that conference.  It was like I could finally connect the dots stretching across the universe before me to create a new destiny.  In other words, I finally saw the person I was to become.

When people ask me what my resolution this year is, I say it’s to work on my Type-A personality.  People laugh like that’s absolutely crazy.  Who wants to work on being Type-A?  Well, I’ve been lingering between Type-A and B and I’m kind of sick and tired of being stuck in the middle there, gravitating between getting shit done and being too lazy to do it.

My friend said to me after Thanksgiving that she had read that the way you can tell if a person is Type-A or Type-B all falls under when they put their Christmas tree up.  Type-A’s have the tree up no later than the day after Thanksgiving.  Type-B’s procrastinate.  They get their trees up no later than Christmas Eve.  My tree was up the day after Thanksgiving.  Waiting until Christmas Eve would have driven me crazy since there’s so much to do between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Now, I’m going nuts because the tree is still up and it’s January 2.  No worries…it’s coming down at some point today.  I only kept it up until now because Matthew Lucifer’s birthday was yesterday and he loves hiding out under the tree.

Getting back to being Type-A, it falls under being a Perfectionist Wannabe.  Martha Stewart is the epitome of the Perfectionist.  After all, when it comes to home stuff, don’t we ask, “What would Martha do?”  One thing I learned at the conference is that we all need to be just as good as Martha, so that one day people will say, “What would ______ do?”

So this year, at the top of my list is to work on being a Type-A for one simple reason…because focusing on being that Type-A is what drives the motivation behind doing all of the things I want to do in life.  I’m tired of dreaming or just trying to figure out what I want to do.  Being a Type-A motivates me to stop thinking about it and just do it already.  Meandering between Type-A and Type-B to me means thinking about it, thinking about doing it, and then coming up with a lot of reasons on why I can’t do it.  When you do that, you find you start to suffer.

So I’m going to take you through each resolution one at a time.

 

FOCUS ON BEING THE TYPE-A PERSONALITY.

{Explained above.}

 

KON MARI (DECLUTTER) THE HELL OUT OF MY LIFE IN ALL ASPECTS: HOME, MIND, BODY, FINANCES, AND LIFE.

Over the next five months, I’ll be sharing how I’m decluttering the various aspects of my life. The reason why I chose to make this a major resolution is because I found that I was buried under so much stuff that each weekend when I told myself I was going to write, I’d find myself spending the entire weekend cleaning and taking care of stuff around the house.  I never got around to doing the things I wanted to do to advance my life because I was too busy taking care of the shit I already had in my life.  In November, I learned about the Japanese art of decluttering and started to apply it to my life.  I feel so much better now that I’ve started to create the right kind of change in my life.  I’m getting rid of things so I don’t have to take care of them anymore.  The less tidying I have to do, the more time I have to do the things I really want to be doing with my life.

I learned over these last couple of months that decluttering doesn’t just happen with your things, but it should also happen with the things you keep in your heart and your mind.  It should happen with your finances.  You have to clean house in every single aspect.

One thing I didn’t expect out of this were the emotions that come out of nowhere.  They’re emotions you never knew you had.  It can be pretty ugly to face, but it gets to the root of the problem with why you stockpile so many things around you…why you shop so much…why you do X, Y and Z until you are drowning in it.  When you face it, it will help you move forward to living with only the things you need in order to be happy.

PRACTICE YOGA REGULARLY.

This year will mark my 40th year of life.  One of the goals I’ve had for myself since I was in my early 20s was to have a yogalicious body.  Well, that Type-B in me has procrastinated until now.  So this is the year I want to finally make that change a permanent change.

DEVELOP CONTENT DAILY FOR PERFECTIONIST WANNABE.  WORK HARD AT MAKING THE SITE SUCCESSFUL.  

One thing I’ve discovered over these last few months is that the thing I wanted to do most was create more content and make this site successful.  But being bogged down with so many other things (like stuff) made me realize it’s time to be that Type-A, declutter the stuff that doesn’t bring me joy, and really bust my ass to do the things I want to do for this site.

Two days in a row of posting in 2016.  You can say I’m off to a good start.

I’ve been promoting my work, researching and putting things together to make sure I turn this site in the direction I want it to go into.

READ 52+ BOOKS THIS YEAR. 12 OF WHICH NEED TO BE A CLASSIC (1 CLASSIC A MONTH).

This is a resolution I make every year.  These last two years, it’s fallen to the wayside.  I decided to really to get things moving this year, especially since I’ve been talking to publishers these last six months.

These past few days, I’ve been following a lot of Instagram accounts for people who love books.  I’ve followed a January Instagram challenge.  I’ve sorted through and picked the books I want to read and review this month.  Photographed it.  Posted it.  More importantly, I’ve spent plenty of time reading, so I know I’ll cross one book off my ‘to be read’ list later today.  That’s one book down by the second day in 2016.  That is huge progress, especially since that’s a book I was supposed to review months ago.

52 books may seem like a lot, but I hope to read over 100.  There were a few Instagram accounts I followed that read over 100 books in 2015!  If they can make it possible, I know I can at least attempt to read over 52 books this year.  I’d feel like I accomplished something HUGE!

I do listen to audio books at the office and while I’m commuting or walking.  I’ve cracked out a few books this past year that way.  Now that I feel passionate about reading again and have started following a community with that same passion, I believe this is definitely a resolution that will be completed by the end of 2016.

[NOTE: If you have a resolution you need help with, follow inspiring accounts on Instagram of people with that same goal in mind.  A lot of times seeing something visually beautiful and stimulating, sharing your progress and joining challenges will help inspire you to complete your goal.]

GO ON A SPENDING DIET (SEE #2).  HAVE FEWER, BUT BETTER THINGS.

I carry a piece of paper in my wallet that says “Have Fewer, But Better Things.”  At first, figuring out what ‘better things’ was netted me a lot of stuff just to pare it down to figure out what was ‘better.’  In the process, I discovered what I truly loved.  I  kept only the things I knew would last for a very, very long time.  These were the things that I enjoyed.  In the process, I started to find my own sense of style.  No more are the things that don’t fit, pinch a little, or I don’t feel absolutely amazing in.  They were donated or sold.

I also have a large entertainment collection consisting of videos and books.  I learned new ways to pare those things down, and go digital.  That meant getting with the times and investing in new technology that would allow me to simplify my life, organize everything, and help me to get rid of things that would only require maintenance and space in my home.  The goal is essentially to have fewer, but better things.

That means…for the next 6 months, while I am saving for another resolution, I’ll be focused on a spending diet so I don’t accumulate while I’m trying to declutter and get things under control.  The focus is fewer, but better things.  I already have the better things, I just need to pare all the other stuff out just to make sure that’s all I have.  I don’t want to add to it anymore.

PHOTOGRAPH MORE.  RELEASE THE WORKS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS (like the Pete Yorn photo collection like the photo that appears above).

So when I met Pete Yorn after one of his concerts in NYC, I mentioned I was a photographer, because I had been photographing him all night in front of the stage.  He asked me where my studio was (I had a good laugh).

I promised him a couple of years ago I’d release my photo collection of him from that night.  Yeah.  It’s been two years.  That Type-A in me from here on out will be getting that collection, as well as all of the others, out this year.  After all, there are some photos out there that is available for sale through stock photography already.  I just have to work on a few more of my relationships with a few other stock photography companies this year.  Trust me, it’s on my TO DO list.

The stuff like this Pete Yorn photo are treated a little differently.  When the collection is released, it’s not available for stock photography.  It will be available in more of the art photography form.  A little pricier than licensing to publish a photo.  His photos are part of the Rockstar collection.  I would like to continue the Rockstar collection this year.  We’ll see who I add to the collection…

FINISH THE NOVEL.  NO EXCUSES.

No more procrastinating.  Just finish it.

LIVE EACH DAY FULLY.  WORK HARD.  PLAY HARD.  ENJOY IT ALL, EVEN THE TOUGH STUFF.

WRITE, WRITE AND WRITE.  THEN WRITE SOME MORE BECAUSE YOU LOVE TO WRITE.

TRY TO EAT MORE FRUITS/VEGETABLES WITH EACH MEAL.  SNEAK IT IN SOMEHOW.

Since the surgery in 2013, I gravitate between being a foodie and a kiddie.  That first year, you couldn’t ask me to get beyond eating what you’d feed your 5 year old child.  Grilled cheese.  Chicken nuggets.  Tater tots.  Spaghetti with meat sauce.  You know, the simple stuff.

I couldn’t enjoy the finer things that first year after the surgery.  Now, I either have a foodie moment, or I eat kid food.  There’s no in between.  When people say they’re on a diet, I look at them like…what’s that?

I don’t eat a lot of food.  I only eat as much as my body is interested in eating (which isn’t much).  What I would like to do is in that little amount of food I consume, that my veggies be more than ketchup with my chicken nuggets.  I would like to enjoy fruits and vegetables again.  This is a 2 year struggle post-op.  I’m hoping this is the year I get beyond the protein and carbs and can really add in fruits/vegetables on a regular basis.

MAKE MORE FRIENDS AND CONTACTS.  GET TO KNOW YOUR FOLLOWERS.

Over the years, I have tried not to get close to people.  I’ve tried to make sure there was that barrier.  You can say there were a few too many stalkers and weirdos in my past that contributed to that decision.

Over these last couple of years, I’ve learned that I can handle the crazies and the fans that call me all the time, text me, message me to the point of…ok…you’re being a little awkward and weird.  I can handle it now.

Why punish everyone because there are a few people that get a little nutso?  There are a lot of great people out there.  I’ve made some great friends over this last year in the various industry events I’ve attended.  I’ve been learning to start being friendlier to complete strangers on social media, and not so guarded.  Kindness gets you so much farther in the world these days.  Besides, being kind and just talking to people (including the homeless) has made me really see life in a whole new perspective.  It’s helped me to finally see humanity in everyone…including the forgotten and ignored.

FIND A SITTER FOR MATTHEW SO YOU CAN GO ON VACATION THIS YEAR.

So the main reason why I have not been able to travel in these last two years was because I was under a medical travel restriction the first year post-op.  After that, I adopted Matthew Lucifer.  He’s my sweet, adorable, can turn into Lucifer himself, Maine Coon cat.  He’s not a normal cat.  He is HIGH MAINTENANCE.

I can leave the other cat home for a week…no problem.  Matthew…I can’t leave alone for one night.  Both cats would be dehydrated if I left them alone a whole day, because Matthew plays with water.  He dumps out his water bowl so he can play in the water.  I have not been able to kick him of this habit.  He literally picks the heavy container up using his entire body weight to dump out the contents.  I fill his water bowl 3 times every morning.  Usually, there’s no water in the bowl when I get home.

Matthew is like a 4-year old child (he turned 4 yesterday).  You can’t leave him alone unattended for too long.  He is very social, but he’s not good with sleepovers because he is known to bite and keep people up all night long.  I had mom brain the whole first year I had him.  He’s been sleeping from 8PM-5:30AM for only 3 months now.  He wakes at 5:30AM, wakes mom up, and doesn’t stop until 6AM when it’s time for breakfast.  If you don’t rise to feed him at 6AM, plan on dealing with Lucifer until you get out of bed.  Full on cat attack while you’re trying to sleep.  Every morning it is like this.

If only I could find him a sitter so I can go to South America…I could really begin to travel again.

BUY YOUR NEW HOME BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

I’ve been tossing between buying/building for the last two years.  This is the year I’ll make that decision.  I am tired of living where I’m living now, being bothered by other people. I just want a place all my own without crazy landlords calling me up about apartments that have nothing to do with me.  Like I care the person next to me is moving out.  Why are you telling me to list their apartment?  It has nothing to do with me.  [Yes, this did happen just last month.]

HIT ALL MONTHLY FINANCIAL GOALS YOU’VE SET FOR YOURSELF. HUSTLE.

If you want to reach your own financial goals, you have to buckle down and get serious about it.  If I want to build my dream house, it requires the right funds.  If I want this site to do what I want it to do, I have to hustle.  If I want my own personal success and dreams to come true, I have to hustle.  The goal this year is to make sure all of those goals are met, especially financially.  It is not cheap to do the things I do.  There is a lot of money vested into the success of this site.  Between events, appearances, the correct wardrobe to go with it, conferences, etc. it costs a lot to go and do these things.

I have a certain audience and they are my peers.  Who are my peers?  The same people who understand that if you want a dream to come true, it takes a lot of your own capital.  You have to really invest in that life in order to make yourself successful.  If you want to be a millionaire, you have to surround yourself with millionaires.  You want to be an artist, you have to surround yourself with other artists.  You want to be a writer, you have to surround yourself with people in the industry.

When you have money and invest in putting yourself among those people that are the influencers and will inspire you to make your dream happen, it’s easier.  Most people think that success comes from luck, busting your ass, etc.  I’ll let you in on a secret…it is a whole lot easier when you have the money that can put you in the same audience as those people you admire and strive to be like.

What I plan to do over the course of this next year requires some serious hustle in order for this site (and my life) to turn into what I envision it to be.

All of the previous resolutions, especially the Type-A resolution, is what will fuel me in making sure that the ultimate goal for 2016 for this site comes to fruition.

…..

So over this year, I’ll be sharing this Type-A hustle journey with you.  There are so many aspects to it, especially with the decluttering over these next 5 months.

If you love to read books, follow my Instagram: diaryofaperfectionistwannabe.  I’ll be joining a lot of the reading challenges and discussing books there, since there is a pretty huge community there discussing it.  I’ll also look for other avenues to discuss books/movies, etc. with everyone if I see there’s an interest.

At any rate, I look forward to talking to everybody.  Feel free to share your resolutions or thoughts below.  Is there anything you’d like to see from the site this year?  Just let me know.  I already have one request in re: Justin Bieber…

Young fans…

Vive La France!

Sacré Cœur (c) 2012 Michelle Kenneth
Vive La France!  Photograph of Sacré Cœur (c) 2012 Michelle Kenneth.

Over the course of this next month, we’re going to take a look at the French culture.  From macarons, to the delectable French cuisine, to the art and literature, to fashion icons, and so on.  We’ll dive into what we love about the French culture.  We’ll even try out a few recipes to dispel the myth that cooking French food is difficult. Vive la France!

Photos from Venice, Italy

With only a couple of days left in this month, I thought I’d share a few photos with you from my time in Venice, Italy.

Venice is a confusing place, especially if you’re walking around because there are so many waterways and canals.  I didn’t do too much venturing around the city because a) I was jet lagged and b) I was lost most of the time.

When I travel, I like to pick up items that are reminiscent of the culture of the people or the traditions of the city.  For Venice, I picked up a couple of intricately woven metal masks (shaped into lace patterns).  They are two of my favorite things in my home because they are so delicate and beautiful.  The woman I bought them from, I told her I’d be back in 10 days to buy them.  She didn’t believe me.

I told her, I couldn’t carry around something so delicate all over Italy for two weeks.  It was best I picked it up on the way home.

Ten days later, I walked back into her shop and picked up not one, but two masks.  Yes, she was shocked I came back!  The one I wanted was already sold, but I did find a similar one and then a smaller, more intricate one.  It arrived home safely.

One of my favorite places in Venice is the market.  I spent a lot of time there because they had unusual fruits and vegetables.  I stopped each time to ask what the strange looking fruits/vegetables were.  A lot of the stall owners were happy enough to let me try the different items.  I bought fresh fruit for my journey and an extremely large packet of sun dried tomatoes.

I also found a man that sold pastas and oils during my trek in Venice.  I bought so many ingredients from him in tins and glass that were all so beautiful.  The contents may be gone, but the beautiful containers they came in align my kitchen shelves.

Venice is one of those places I’d like to go back to and photograph at various times of the year, exploring the different pathways throughout this water city.

Photos of Bologna, Italy

Getting to review photos at home while I’m in the midst of a redecorating/renovation project is completely non-existent!  I dug around my other blog for some photos I may have posted because I had some sort of vague recollection of posting a few photos from Bologna, Italy that I had already worked on.

Surprise!  I did have a montage of pictures.  Here they are:

If I can remember correctly, I had the tortellini in brodo (tortellini in broth) and the lasagna verte e bolognese ragu (green lasagna with bolognese sauce).  These two dishes both originated in Bologna, Italy.

I also found a copy of Il Paradiso by Dante printed in 1900 while I was in Bologna.  It was a very special find.  Dante wrote the Divine Comedy in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy (Florence, Bologna, etc.).

You can read more about my adventure in Bologna (which actually did not start off on a positive note…something about falling off a train and getting hit by it…not fun at all) HERE.  I don’t remember much of Bologna, just bits and pieces.  It’s good to look at these pictures, because it refreshes my memory (something I’ve been struggling with since my surgery last October).  I couldn’t remember where I saw a huge theater screen in the middle of a plaza when I was in Italy.  I just remembered the screen was by King Neptune.  Ends up…that was Bologna.  You’ll see pictures of King Neptune in the photo montage.

I wanted to go back there one summer and watch a classic Italian film in the plaza.  I think that experience would be absolutely magical.  I think next year I’ll take a trip out to revisit a few of my favorite spots in Northern Italy.

I see a few shots from that group I may end up blowing up to mount on my gallery wall.  A few of the ‘enraptured’ and the dark visage of King Neptune (the first shot I took of him when I found him in the plaza)…those would look perfect!

Re-reading the post on the visit to Bologna, I remember now how the city erupted when Italy won a futbol match.  I was in the hotel when the entire city of Bologna cheered.  It was so loud!  It was like I was in the stadium surrounded by cheering fans.  That’s how loud Bologna got that night when Italy won.  Gotta say…that moment was just a tad bit amazing. 😉

The Laughter of Children in Paris

While wandering around le rive gauche , I ran into a man making gigantic bubbles for children.  You could hear the kids screeching with laughter and joy as the man created bubbles bigger than each of the kids just outside one of the large fountains.  The kids looked at each bubble in complete awe and with excitement at each wonder.

You can’t help but remember what life was like when things were so new, amazing and wonderful when we were kids.

As I was walking by Le Pantheon, I came across a bunch of boys playing soccer in front of the building.  The boys were happy enough to pose and play as I shot pictures of them playing their little game.  The big kids and the little kids ran up and down the cobblestone courtyard playing their makeshift game of European football.

Oh, to be young again.

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The Beauty of Notre Dame

nd23I have many favorite places in Paris. I think the place that is my favorite of all of them is none other than Notre Dame cathedral. I think over the last seven years, the place has become very special to me. It reminds me of my grandfather when he was on one of his adventures.

He used to foot the bill for me to travel all over the world.  When I got back from Paris, I told him all about my adventures.  The last time he had been in Paris was during World War II.  He told me he had always wanted to go back, but for whatever reason, he never did.

I remember pausing when he said this and looking at him strangely.  I was only 16 years old and I told him he needed to see the world.  He needed to get out there and live the best life he could doing anything and everything he ever dreamed of doing just in case this was his only (or last) lifetime.  He spent the last 15 years of his life doing just that.

This also started a new tradition after he died.

As my father went through some old photos, he found one of my grandfather wearing a beret in front of Notre Dame.  It’s funny how he wore those berets until he died.  It was in Paris when that fashion trend of his began.

I framed that photo and put it up in my home.  I look at it every single day.

When I went to Paris a couple of years ago, I sat outside of Notre Dame watching tourists come through…trying to figure out the places where my grandfather had been.  I sat out there for two hours…just taking in the atmosphere of the place, trying to see if I could feel my grandfather’s presence there from long ago, hear his voice on the wind.  Trust me, there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t miss him.  Traveling is my way of connecting to him, because I’m continuing our adventures around the world.

When I came back later in the afternoon to photograph the cathedral, I hadn’t realized that the guards had taken notice of me.  I was looking for certain things there…Point Zero, the saints on the roof, the different stories the building was telling us…

It was like a treasure hunt.  I was looking for things most tourists do not look for…and that’s what caught the attention of the guards.  It was Point Zero that started it.  No one really goes looking for Point Zero.  Most tourists walk right over it, very few know about it.  While it is considered the “Center of the French Universe,” it is the exact point where all distances in Paris are measured.

In mythical lore, it is one of the ley line points.

After I found Point Zero and started walking towards the cathedral, I saw three of the guards walking towards me.  They didn’t say anything at the time.  They started to follow me around, very closely, looking to see what I was seeing through the screen on my camera.  I was so immersed in what I was doing, I never took notice of them until after I was inside and one of the guards said that all tourists needed to leave because it was time for mass.

I turned around to see the three guards behind me.  One of them said I was okay.  I could continue.  So I continued.  As they kept shuttling tourists out of the cathedral, one of them said to me, “We see what you are taking photos of.  You see the beauty of this place the way we do.  You can stay.”

I was so honored, but I didn’t want them to get into trouble, so I snapped a few more photos and as I walked out the gate one of the guards asked me if I got everything I needed.  I told him, “How could I?  There’s so much!”

The sun was starting to set, so I headed across the bridge and sat across from the cathedral along the river so I could take photos of the church at sunset.

When you really want to cherish a memory, especially one that is shared between generations, you spend the time reveling each and every crook and cranny. You try to see the beauty in every rock, cobblestone and rain drop.  You try to memorize the way the light fell, or the man walking across the courtyard holding his son’s hand.  This is the way I remember Notre Dame.

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A Walk Inside Monet’s Paintings

One of the greatest things I’ve ever done in this lifetime was take a walk through the world of Monet.  It started at Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris.  As you walk through and marvel at the great works of Renoir, Picasso, Matisse, Cézanne and many other famous painters, the part of the museum that will take your breath away is below in an oval room.

From Flickr (mbell1975)
From Flickr (mbell1975)

On the walls surrounding this oval room is the world famous Les Nymphéas (Waterlilies) by Claude Monet.  What makes this room so unique is that the painting is curved and goes around this entire oval shaped room.

There is not a single photograph that can accurately capture the awesomeness of walking into this room and taking in the Waterlilies for the first time.  This is the type of room you just want to sit in for hours staring at the beauty that graces these walls.

While Musée de l’Orangerie is an amazing place to take in, consider it the introductory course into walking into a Monet painting.

About an hour and fifteen minutes away from Paris is a small town called Giverny, home of Claude Monet and his gardens.  Monet’s home is open to tourists.  There are many tour companies that offer excursions to Giverny.  If you are in France and love Monet’s work, I highly suggest going, because you will never experience anything like this.

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Le Pont Japonais
Le Pont Japonais

They keep the grounds as close to the way Monet kept them, especially in his artwork.  From the sunflowers to Le Pont Japonais, everything remains as true to the original as it can be.

Taking a walk inside of Monet’s gardens is like taking a walk inside the paintings of Monet.  The beauty and splendor is remarkable.

The best time to go is, of course, in the summer months when the flowers are in full bloom.

You will never truly appreciate the work of Monet until you’ve experienced his world.  Over 100 years later and it is still as pristine and beautiful as the day he put paint to canvas.

If you’re planning a trip to France, I highly recommend making a stop at Musée de l’Orangerie and then spending the day in Giverny.  On the way there, try and stop at Fontainebleau, France, home of Napoleon.  The story of Napoleon’s home (and why he refused to live at Versailles) is an interesting tale.  The story of the horseshoe staircase and the things that happened there was one of my all-time favorite history lessons.  It was the story of Napoleon slipping on the staircase…it’s what he did afterward that made me respect him.

Friday Loves New Finds

1.  Global Festival.  Time Out New York just emailed me about the Global Festival.  The Headliners: Neil Young with Crazy Horse, Foo Fighters and The Black Keys…and it’s FOR FREE (if you have a ticket).  Holy crap, right?  What a way to end the summer and start the fall.  The Global Festival takes place in Central Park on September 29th. 

What’s great about it is that you can win up to two tickets to the event just by learning more about the program, signing petitions and sharing it with your friends on Facebook (and Twitter). 

Their issues are all important, especially when it comes to stamping out world hunger, poverty, developing more schools (100 is their goal) in the next year, and stamping out malaria by giving children a fighting chance at survival from a mosquito bite.

These are basic issues.  In first world countries, it’s hard to imagine our kids not going to school.  It’s the law!  They have to go!  It’s hard to imagine our kids dying from a mosquito bite.  It’s also hard to imagine that any child in our country is dying from hunger or living in extreme poverty that they have to eat rotten food out of landfills.  Yet, there are children around the world that won’t survive because of these basic issues. 

Throw in war, scarcity of access to clean water, etc. and you’ll find what the rest of the world is really like.  Imagine if the first world countries faced this kind of dilemma.  It’s hard to imagine these basic things we take for granted are not available to the entire world.

The Global Citizen campaign is a network that is aiming to bring the world together to help each other.  It doesn’t make sense how we have so much abundance in first world countries, yet there are children starving to death in third world countries.  They are dying from hunger.  Why can’t those who have abundance share their wealth with those who have nothing?  Why are we hording it all?

Why are there children in the world who can’t read or write their own names? 

Why are people not given access to medical care for something to prevent a simple bug bite from killing them?

Some people will say it’s the difference in classes.  The differences in the haves and the have nots.  Why are we punishing them just because they were born in that part of the world?  Then again…you call yourself a religious person.  Not sure who you’re religious about if you can’t take care of your brothers and sisters around the world.

This world is a sad place when someone with wealth refuses to share their wealth with those that have nothing.  The way I was taught…when you have wealth, your wealth is a gift from God.  It is your duty to share what God has given to you with your brothers and sisters…within meaning.  You have to share the wealth in order for your wealth to grow.  Giving it all away is not the same as sharing.  Sharing is about helping to lift each other up.  Give people access to the things they cannot access because of their conditions…open doors for them.  Help give them the tools they need so that they can spread the wealth even further. 

When you give…you give knowing that the good deed will keep going.  It doesn’t end in that one act.  Look beyond the initial act.  Only give if you know that by giving, that good karmic action will continue flowing from one person to the next.  This is how you build up wealth. 

There’s a story from Fez, Morocco about a British woman who loved Morocco so much that she decided to help the people there by building an animal hospital.  How does an animal hospital help the people of Morocco? 

Simple.  The people of Morocco rarely have pets.  Their animals are their livelihood.  Donkeys and camels work.  Sheep provide wool.  Cows provide milk.  They need their animals in order to work and survive.  So if an animal is injured, they can take them to the animal hospital where they are treated…FOR FREE.  

This not only helps the animal, it helps the people of Morocco and their commerce.  It gives them an opportunity to continue working, because these animals are part of their jobs and getting from one place to the next.

By helping the animals, she in turn helps the people of Morocco.  Even after her death, that animal hospital still provides free veterinary care to the animals of Morocco.  It’s a good karmic action that continues long after her death.  That is thinking beyond the initial action and a perfect example of how to create good karma that lasts even after your death.  That is what it means to be a Global Citizen.

You can read up on Global Citizen here and find out how you can get free tickets to the concert in September.  I really can’t wait to go! 

{Oh, and if I win tickets, I’m passing them along, because I’m buying a VIP experience.  It did say Foo Fighters, right???  Backstage, please!}

2. Save On Crafts.  Alright DIYers, home decor lovers and people prepping for their weddings…I’m going to let you in on a new find: SAVE ON CRAFTS.

I’m surprised Martha Stewart and Country Living haven’t found this place yet.  It’s everything you would see from their sites and magazines for a fraction of the price (and saves all of that time scouring antique markets just to find these things). 

Let’s take for instance this picture on the right.  I used this photo in my post for how I’ll be displaying my couture shoes…like artwork.  See that display on the left sitting on the table?  Now, where does one find something like that?  HERE.  Did you see the price tag?  For a set of 2 jars (in 2 sizes)…it’s $30.  They have another one for $24.

In the Upcycle Crates post, I also mentioned they had crates on this site too.  It was the cheapest place of all the ones I researched. 

There are so many things on this site that are very budget friendly for those trying to decorate at home or for a wedding. 

3.  A Beautiful Mess.  I came across this blog on Pinterest.  I have to say…they talk about everything that I’m interested in.  From photography to dress making to food to how to organize just about everything in life (including ideas), you’ll learn plenty. 

Check out their site: A Beautiful Mess.  You’ll be inspired and learn so much!

4. Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  So I’ve been thinking about this for years…and then while I was in Sorrento, I thought…I have to do this.  Maybe it was the sailboats.  Maybe it was the marina, the seafood or the beach.  I don’t know.  But when I came back from Italy, I started to put my plan into action.  I’m going to the Cape for Labor Day weekend…to look for a house.

No, not to rent.  TO BUY. 

A lot of my friends in NYC, while they rent here, they all have vacation homes they bought elsewhere.  I talked it through with my boss’ wife the other day and it just made sense to buy in Cape Cod.  I have a lot of friends in the Boston area.  It would be a great way to just meet up on a long weekend.  For me, it would just be nice to get away and write…especially during the winter months. 

Ooh…I said winter months.  I always said to myself that after the first book is published, I’ll get a little cottage in Cape Cod.  Well…

5.  Homemade Thin Mints.  OMG!  No way…there’s a recipe out there for HOMEMADE THIN MINTS! 

While I could just tell you how to make it…that would be stealing.  I’ll just let you find out for yourself, just because the pictures of the process are just incredible at The View from Great Island.  They make you feel like running out to the grocery store to buy up all of the ingredients to make them at home.  Hell, I plan to this fall.  You can get the recipe here.

Actually…I just want you to go to that site because the blog is amazing.  All of those recipes…and the pictures…so hungry now…

Day One: Hello Venice!

Some of the best inner journeys start with the passport-stamped kind.
(Whole Living, July/August 2012)

Most of this journey across Italy was a bit of a strange tale.  Like the quote above, I didn’t realize that I was about to take an inner journey of epic proportions.

I was just newly retired from hockey writing and on my first trip post-career.  The lessons I learned throughout this entire journey were moments I never thought I would experience.  But everything was a huge wake up call in life. 

This was probably the weirdest and strangest journey I have ever been on in my entire life.  This journey marked the end of one journey and the start of a new one. 

What follows are my log entries that I wrote while I was in Italy.  If you follow it from start to end, you’ll not only see all of the new pieces to my photo collection, but you’ll also learn about the deeper inner journey I took. 

Everything starts with Day One…before I even hopped on the plane. 

It’s strange how the universe works on these adventures.  Everything conspires in the most strange and peculiar ways to show you a world you never knew existed, including the ones inside yourself.

And so the tale begins…

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So before this whole Italian adventure began, I was at the office and for some ungodly reason, I dropped my grapefruit juice on the floor. I kept thinking…this is not a good sign.

Half an hour later, I was talking to my friend and out of the blue…my water spilled all over the counter. I remarked, “This is not a good sign.”

My friend responded, “Everybody gets clumsy every now and again. Even I do.”

I just looked at her and said, “I don’t. The only time I get clumsy is when Death is messing with me and someone is about to die.”

This, of course, freaked her out a little…as well as myself.

I can actually tell you the last time I got clumsy and wound up with a blueberry smoothie all over my bedroom wall…it was right before Derek Boogaard died. All of the clumsiness didn’t end until after his death. [I still swear that the glass moved…it was nowhere near me when I ran into it and splashed it all over the place.]

It’s like you know something is about to happen…and I was sick to my stomach with worry because it could happen to anyone I’ve met in this lifetime. Worst of all, this was happening a few hours before I was hopping on a plane to Italy.

It wasn’t until the defibrillator woke me from my slumber on the plane that I realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Oh, it wasn’t me that was dying.

I sat up and saw a nurse, the co-pilot and two doctors standing in the first row. I realized something was amiss. Ends up they had to shock a guy three times over the course of three hours before he showed signs that he’d make it to our first stop in Zurich. We were halfway across the Atlantic Ocean. There was no way they could divert the plane to a closer locale.

I don’t know what was wrong. I just prayed a silent prayer that he would make it.

After some time, they lifted the man up. He was practically lifeless. They placed him in a seat, wrapped a huge down comforter around him while they spoke to him about what was going to happen next.

I couldn’t even hear a thing, but I was just happy that the guy made it all the way to Zurich…alive.

So that was Death’s first official ‘brush by’…and the guy lived. So either Death took a Holiday that morning, or that wasn’t the person. Just the prelude.

Trust me…it was the prelude.

When I arrived in Venice, the luggage hadn’t hit the carousel yet, so I headed to the restroom. As I reached for the toilet paper, the metal container it was in came flying open (I didn’t even touch the thing) and almost broke my hand. It literally opened up and slammed down on my hand. Luckily, I got away with just a scratch and a lovely bruise as a welcome to Venice.

Stuff like that…it’s still Death f*cking with me. I didn’t even touch the metal container when it came flying down on my hand. This kind of random stuff only happens when Death is following me around trying to deliver some ‘warning’ news that someone I know is about to die.  [Post-Vacation Note: This really was the start of all of these weird happenings.  It gets worse as we go along.]

After collecting my bag, I quickly found the bus into Venice. It was pure luck how easy that turned out. I put my bag on the bus, helped a British couple with theirs and then hopped on the bus.

The drive in was spectacular. All of that water!

They say that the best way to see Venice is to get lost in Venice. Well, I took a wrong turn and got lost right off the bat. I asked this very handsome Italian man (that was walking down the sidewalk looking at me and smiling) if he could help me. He really put on the smile and took a look at my map and then told me where I was at that very moment was completely off the map!

Thus the story of my life!

It took him 10 minutes to explain how to get back to where I started and then where to go from there. Mind you, those bridges are a pain in the ass. You climb up the bridge (aka carrying your suitcase up a flight of steps and then down a flight of steps). I swear that suitcase got heavier every single time I had to do that…and there are a lot of bridges in Venice!

Ends up the handsome Italian’s directions were spot on and I found my hotel in no time. I was so hot and sweaty that I ended up taking a shower before changing and heading out to explore Venice.

I didn’t see any sites beyond the Grand Canale. I was hungry, it was 5PM in Venice, so I sat down in the first open restaurant I could find, Ristorante Roma. That restaurant ended up being right on the Canale. The food there was fabulous!

I started with a mixed salad with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Next, I had the pasta bolognese with tagliatelle noodles (not spaghetti). I have to say, the tagliatelle noodles are probably now my favorite noodles. I asked for a gelato for dessert, he brought me three scoops (lemon, strawberry and chocolate). I followed it with an Americano coffee. Oh, it was so good. I enjoyed every single bite.

Most of all, I enjoyed the atmosphere surrounding my first meal in Italy sitting along the Grand Canale, watching the boats go by and listening to the singing from one of the men on the gondola boats. His voice was so big, you could hear him all the way down the canal.

As I ate my dinner, a beautiful little bird kept me company. Since I didn’t eat the bread, I let the bird sit across from me and pick at the bread. It flew away to take a few pieces to its nest. After a few minutes, a sparrow came by to do the same thing. I couldn’t believe how brave these birds were to just sit at the same table as me and eat my bread. It just added to the wonderful ambience of Venice.

After that amazing meal, I headed out to ‘get lost’ in Venice again.

I found myself in a shop buying postcards only to see the magnificent masks she had inside. Since I didn’t want to pick up a mask and carry it around Italy for the next two weeks, I promised to come back to buy the metal mask that was shaped in a way that looks like it’s covered in lace (but it’s metal). It was so beautiful. I knew if I bought it then, it would break over the next two weeks.

The shops of Venice are filled with the most beautiful and intriguing masks you’ll ever see. Some are comedic, others are outrageous, and some are downright beautiful that you can’t help but marvel at the craftsmanship.

Even the cheap masks designed for tourists are a wonder to see…especially the way they are displayed in a sea of thousands of colorful, and all very different masks.

As I made my way over yet another bridge, my calf muscle decided to say, “YOU SHALL NOT PASS!” in the good ole’ Gandolf way. I literally stopped, hobbled over to the side of the bridge and decided to rest for a few minutes and take photographs.

I think this is where the jetlag was really setting in. I hadn’t eaten in over a day. That meal I just had was the first. I didn’t put on sunscreen when I first got lost and ended up getting sun poisoning. Throw on top of all of that a bit of dehydration and my body was begging me to just stop…go back to the hotel and sleep.

Instead, I pressed on.

After I climbed the bridge and made my way back down again, I discovered a fruit/vegetable market. It was just so beautiful…all of the colors and shapes…the smell of the basil as the beautiful and young Italian men bunched them up for sale. Yes, it was a sight to see and take in.

I stopped at one stall that had sundried tomatoes. I picked up a bag when the shopkeeper pointed to some fresh cherries. He had three different kind. He kept directing me to the most expensive ones so I asked, “What’s the difference? Can I try one?” He hesitated and finally agreed to let me try one from each batch. I ended up buying the more expensive ones…and they were delish!

I realized after the bells to close up shop started ringing…I should have bought some bananas. Of course, that wasn’t until after the other calf screamed “YOU SHALL NOT PASS!” at the next bridge. Oh boy, I was a frightful sight! I haven’t been this bad since post-surgery in 2008 when I pulled a muscle in my stomach…just because I was walking too fast. This is why the doctor keeps saying that my body still isn’t ready to workout again.

I found a statue close by and just collapsed. My body was giving out on me. I rested underneath the statue for a good half an hour as tourist after tourist took photos of the statue (and me) and the homeless guy on the other side!

I headed back to the hotel after that second beating…only to get kicked in the calf again at the next bridge. Why didn’t I think to fill a prescription for pulled muscles before I left? Those drugs would have come in nicely.

I made it back to the hotel finally, but stopped along the way to buy a new leather purse. You know…the MADE IN ITALY…leather bags. They come in so many sizes and colors that it is so hard to decide which one to buy.

I settled on an orange one that has “FLORENCE Made in Italy” imprinted on the front of the bag.

I decided that I might end up coming home with a new bag from every place I visit. I just hope there’s enough room in the suitcase.

The quality of each piece in the store was just impeccable. These are the kind of bags that will last you a lifetime…just like the Italian leather shoes. This is the kind of leather you invest in. Ironically, each bag is about 30 euros each. In America…it’s well over $100…even at Daffy’s.

After I bought my bag, I handed a gypsy woman two euros for luck and headed back down the canal to my hotel. I fell asleep right at 9:15 and woke up again at 11:30PM. I took a friggin nap! I didn’t fall back asleep until 2:30AM…and I had to be up at 7AM for my train.

Jet lag…totally not fun.

Next stop…Bologna.

[Here are the photos and new pieces to my collection from Venice.]

Friday Loves Being Home Again!

I’m back in the States.  The trip will be told in the coming weeks (be prepared to read a lot…it’s currently 40+ pages and I’ve only made it to day 10 of the journey across Italy). 

Now, some crazy stuff happened while I was in Italy.  When I got home, I decided I would never leave again for a summer vacay, because the cat almost died while I was away.  Apparently, there was a blackout while I was gone…which meant no A/C for the princess (she was sleeping in the bathtub to stay cool).  She drank all 7 bowls of water and ran out.  She was almost on day two of no water when I walked in to a screaming, crazy cat.

I understood immediately why she was going crazy when I walked into the apartment.  I dropped everything, and ran to the sink to get her some water.  She not only drank it too fast and threw up three times, she started bleeding the next morning…scaring the crap out of me.

NO MORE SUMMER VACATIONS FOR ME! 

But don’t worry…after spending the day home with her on Wednesday, brushing her for hours upon hours on end and getting her rehydrated, she’s doing much better.  She’s back to her happy diva self again and knows she’s in 100% control of our domain. 

(Guilt card is definitely in play.)

So here are the top Friday loves…being home again.

1.  I Lost My Phone in Verona, Italy.  So you’ll find out over the next few weeks what happened in my trek across Italy that was very much on the strange side…as in…Death was following me.  A gypsy woman confirmed it when she saw me and had to give me some charms to ward him off (which are now at home close to the cat).  While I was in Verona, I was so sleepy after seeing the performance of Aida at the Arena (an outdoor coliseum), I must not have put my phone back into my purse when I reached for my wallet to pay for the taxicab.

Of course, this freaked me out, because that’s my alarm clock!  That meant I would have a few sleepless nights until I got a new alarm clock/phone.  [Plus, I never do stuff like this.  I never lose anything.  That freaked me out even worse!]

Well, thanks to watching Hulu Plus, an advertisement from AT&T showcasing the new Samsung Galaxy S3 kept replaying.  I thought…what a cool phone.  I went in and got that phone the next day. 

Sure, I’m upset that my BlackBerry Torch with all of those interviews I was going to type up this summer (like the Kovalchuk part 2 story) are gone forever…it was just a reminder of the world that has ended.  I’m retired.  I can no longer write those hockey stories.  (Sorry, Ilya.  That was the most important part of the story…lost in Verona, Italy…FOREVER.) 

[I just love how the universe makes sure that I really should not go back on my word or even reconsider retiring from hockey writing.]

Luckily, AT&T helped me out with purchasing this phone by giving me some options like using my brother’s upgrade, and he could use my upgrade in October (which means he can get the iPhone 5 at that time).  This brought down the cost of the phone to $199.  Switching upgrades worked out perfectly since my brother is an iPhone lover and the new device won’t be out until later this year.  It gives them time to work out the bugs (as he says). 

Now, what I love about this phone…it’s everything I love about the Nook Tablet in a phone.  The whole fact that the phone is an instant WiFi HotSpot is probably the only feature that is lacking in the Nook…but works perfectly while traveling or just commuting to work.  For instance, I watched “Once Upon a Time” on the way into the office.  I love that it hooks up to my Netflix and Hulu Plus accounts. 

While I could read books on the Galaxy…I’ll just keep the Nook for that.  The Nook has a bigger screen.

This device has been creating quite a stir.  Even the guys at the AT&T store love it.  They gave up their iPhones and Blackberry devices for it.  For those at AT&T who don’t have the Galaxy S3, they are hoping to get it soon.  That should tell you how amazing the buzz is around this product if they’re giving up their iPhones and Blackberry devices for this device. 

Apple, on the other hand, might be a little threatened by the success of the Galaxy S3.  There’s a rumor they’re releasing the iPhone 5 on 8/7 instead of October.  It’s just a rumor…but it should also tell you how amazing this new device is.

So in retirement…and my first few days back in the States I’ve discovered I’m becoming a techie…

Yeah…we’ll see how long that lasts.

2.  Young Adult Bestsellers.  So, I may be cheating a little on my New Year’s Resolution.  I just finished reading book number 34 this year.  That’s probably a record for me since we are only in July.  I’m going to share my secret…I have an addiction to young adult book series.  I plow through them in a few days because they’re filled with so much action and adventure…I just can’t put the books down. 

While in Italy, I was sad to finish both the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan and the Nicholas Flamel series by Michael Scott.  Both authors brought their series to an end.  I was sad and almost cried because I didn’t want the adventures to end.  But the symbolism in seeing an adventure come to an end…yes, you’ll read about that symbolism in the coming weeks as I recount my adventure through Italy. 

Even though I ended the journey with these characters I loved, I started a new one with Peter Pan in the “Peter and the Starcatchers” series.  A Broadway show is currently playing in NYC with huge success.  I definitely plan on seeing it soon.

I realize that even though one adventure comes to an end, no matter how much you enjoyed it and the characters in it…sometimes it can mark the beginning of a new adventure.  With Peter Pan, it is all about being forever young and never growing up.

3. PASTA!  I don’t care what the diet books say or the fact that my hips may have grown a little bit while in Italy…but I’m in love with tagliatelle noodles. 

They look like fettucine noodles, but they’re actually egg noodles. 

My first meal in Italy was Tagliatelle al Bolognese in Venice, while I was sitting right next to the Grand Canal.  It was the most amazing dish I had throughout all of Italy.  It was sooo good.  It was the noodles that made the difference.

While I was in Florence, I searched everywhere for a shop that sold tagliatelle noodles and finally found them.  I bought two boxes and bought another bag before I left Venice to come back home. 

Last night, I made a pasta sauce and boiled up a batch of these noodles…and all I can say is that these noodles just make everything taste better.

Since tagliatelle is not easy to find in America, I found a recipe!  Actually, I bought a cookbook in Florence (in English) with the recipe for Tagliatelle al Bolognese to make at home.  It takes two hours to make the sauce, so I’m going to wait until the fall/winter to cook up a pot (it’s too hot to cook in the summer).  As far as making the noodles…I found a recipe for you to try!  Homemade Tagliatelle.

I’ve never had noodles that redefined a pasta dish, but tagliatelle did it for me.  FAN FOR LIFE!

4.  Marty’s Better.  So while I was in Vatican City, I decided to mess with a few nuns while they were praying (you’ll read about it in the travel log).  After I left the prayer room, God answered my prayer.  I’m not joking when I say it happened right after I left the prayer room.  I looked down at my phone and there was the news!  Marty Brodeur is still a Devil for two more years.  I could almost kiss a priest.  Almost…  (they creep me out…especially since I can read their sinful minds…just disgusting human beings some of them are).

Anyway, the Martin Brodeur Facebook page just linked to a really awesome shirt that I have mad lust for.  It’s a Marty’s Better t-shirt.  You’ll have to click the link to see. 

That shirt is just as awesome as the new Dallas Stars jerseys featuring #68 on the front.  Jagr in the back.  [Just happy he decided to go with a team that didn’t have orange in their jerseys…bleh.]

5. A New Wardrobe.  So the great thing about going to Europe is the fact that I can bring back fashion that will not be in style until next year. 

I like being ahead of the fashion curve.  After all, I like knowing I’m wearing something that other people can’t own unless they go to Italy themselves to purchase it. 

While in Milan, I didn’t have time to do anything before heading to Verona, so I headed to the train station early and luckily, they had shops galore.

One store that captured my attention was Mango.  I’ve only seen a cheaper brand of Mango at JC Penneys, and all the fashionista seem to love the store, so I decided to go in.  Luckily, the store was 50-70% off.  I picked up the striped top (in the picture) a new bag and a bracelet for 29 euros.  I really couldn’t believe my luck!

While in Sorrento, I picked up a few lightweight (aka see-through) tops that can also serve as dresses (but I wouldn’t recommend wearing nothing but underwear underneath).  I wore the longer piece as a tunic because of the drastic lines and wore a pair of jersey pants and a t-shirt underneath.  I got so many compliments on it because no one has seen this kind of top here in NYC. 

Jewelry…came in the form of Karl Lagerfeld.  There was a shop in Verona that gave me 50% off the two Lagerfeld necklaces I found.  They were so willing to make a deal…and everything was so beautiful in their shop (all major couture designers). 

Of course, the most important finds were all about the purse purchases.  I bought a new bag in every single place I visited except for Bologna and Naples.  The most amazing find wasn’t just the 100% Italian Leather bags…it was a scarf bag I picked up in Sorrento, Italy for 6 euros.  It was the cheapest bag of the lot, as well as the cutest.  You’re not going to find that bag anywhere else in the world except in Sorrento, Italy. 

In Florence, I picked up a scarf from a store right outside the Uffizi Gallery.  It is the only place in the world that you can buy this scarf because it was specifically designed and made for that store…and there’s only one store in the world.

For the Fantasy Wardrobe followers…this is actually how I create my wardrobe.  After you get past all of the basics and have added a lot of couture pieces from your favorite designers, all that’s left to do is to define your look by wearing what no one else can buy…unless they go there themselves to buy it. 

I always hate when I see someone wearing something I own.  I like wearing items that no one else will have…yet, they also want it very badly. 

Something to keep in mind whenever you venture away on vacation…always look for the boutique stores.  Take a look around.  You’ll always find something that is unique to that place you’re visiting and something you will love from your time being there.  Just keep in mind that whatever you buy to add to your wardrobe…it’s something that you will actually wear at home and not just on vacation.

So if you’re in Jamaica buying a sarong, make sure it’s something you won’t mind wearing at home or displaying over a table or chair when you get back home.  That’s how you determine what you’ll actually buy as far as clothes go while you’re on vacation.

Even right now, I’m wearing a top I picked up in Raleigh, North Carolina when I went with a friend to see the Columbus Blue Jackets play against the Carolina Hurricanes.  Sure, the CBJ guys like to talk about my big ass octopus bag they saw me buy…but the top I picked up during their nap…that’s the piece I love the most.  That top was a reminder of a fun trip and of a marvelous city. 

So for those vacationing soon…always look for something you’re going to love owning for the rest of your life.  I said LOVE.  I LOVE all of the pieces I’ve picked up from all over the world.  Those pieces always have more meaning to me than any of the NYC finds.  It doesn’t matter if I picked it up from one of their local JC Penneys…all that matters is that I picked it up in that place while I was traveling.  It’s a great way to remember those places you visited beyond just the pictures you took, because there’s a story and an adventure behind those pieces.

Friday Loves The Summer Getaway

The HEAT is definitely on in New York City, just as it is throughout most of the Northern Hemisphere right now.  While most are planning their summer vacations and getaways, especially with the Fourth of July just over a week away…I’m heading out for a very long trip around Italy.  {That means this is my last post until mid-July.}

Here are some of the things I love about the summer getaway.

Photo: Marina Oliphant

1.  A Time To Read.  One of the things I love most about traveling is that I get to catch up on some reading without distraction.  Between the empty time spent at the airport, on the airplane and trains…catching up on a few good books is essential.  My aim…to read some fabulous reads where I can’t put the book down.

While traveling in Europe last fall, the books of choice were The Help and The Paris Wife.  The only thing I wished I had done…was bring more books with me!  By the time I hit Africa, I had read both books cover to cover.  That meant I had some very boring nights after curfew hit and I was stuck in my hotel room with no TV.

As an early birthday present to myself, I decided to break out and just buy the Nook Tablet from Barnes & Noble.  I got it in May because I wanted to make sure that I downloaded everything I could possibly need or want well in advance of heading overseas.  It also gave me enough time to troubleshoot anything that could possibly go wrong prior to leaving.  {Very glad I did, because there was a reset problem…fixed in no time!}

The good thing about the Nook Tablet is that I can watch TV on Hulu Plus, movies on Netflix, play Sudoku and Scrabble games, search the internet, and have an arsenal of books at the ready to read.  Luckily, there are plenty of Free Books out there that made the first month basically pain-free on the credit card.  Every Friday, they have a Free Nook Book that you can download.  You can get the free book from their blog! 

So far, I’ve read an Amish book on Free Friday that was about a female reporter who tried to educate the world on what happens to children in war torn parts of the world.  Some asshole decides to set a car on fire, load it up with a bomb, and send it sailing right towards her while she’s filming.  She ends up surviving the bombing…but needing a place to heal.  This New Yorker heads to her Amish grandmother’s home in Lancaster, PA, where she rekindles her Amish family roots and falls in love with the Amish man next door.  Did she give up her life as a war reporter to marry an Amish man?  Well, you’ll have to read about it in “A Time to Love.”

Even though I’ve loaded up on plenty of Free Friday Nook Books for the last month and a half, I decided to pick up a few others to read over the next couple of weeks.

Here’s what’s on my Italy reading list:

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.
In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson.
Birdman by Mo Hayder. {Today’s Free Friday Nook book}
The Enchantress (Nicholas Flamel series) by Michael Scott.
Billy the Kid and the Vampyres of Vegas (Nicholas Flamel series) by Michael Scott.
The Death of Joan of Arc (Nicholas Flamel series) by Michael Scott.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.

The books I link to above are based mainly upon Barnes & Nobles’ recommendations.  The first two are New York Times Bestsellers.  The first one is based on a historical look at the World’s Fair in Chicago and how a serial killer was able to abduct, torture and kill women without anyone knowing about it for years.  TRUE STORY.

The second story is about America’s first Ambassador to Hitler’s Germany.  I usually don’t like reading war books or watching war movies, but I got a sample of the book and read the first 50 or so pages…have to say, I am intrigued.  This is also a TRUE STORY.

Birdman is today’s Free Friday Nook Book.  The Enchantress is great for the kids (if they’re reading the Nicholas Flamel series…Enchantress is the latest book in the series).  The Night Circus is the book I’m looking forward to reading the most.  It was front and center on BN.com today and looks like an amazing story. 

Getting the Nook was probably the smartest thing for me since I go through a lot of books when I travel.  It’s lightweight and simple to pack and carry around.  It’s also the best birthday present I’ve ever given to myself…nurturing the traveler and the book lover in me.

If only Eyewitness Travel would put their guidebooks on Nook…would be so much better (that Italy guide weighs a friggin ton). 

2.  Summer Whites.  Would you believe I ran around during my lunch hour looking for 2 things?  A white lightweight flyaway cardigan and my favorite white tank.

Luckily, I found everything I needed in two stores…right as the torrential downpour began in NYC.  Luckily I made it back to the office in the nick of time.

Earlier this week, I had stopped into Ann Taylor to pick up this sweater.  I bought a similar one last summer in white and it was the perfect lightweight sweater to wear with everything.  Even in the Sahara Desert, it was perfect over tanks and dresses.  But I had to retire the sweater because the usual end of the summer sweat stains just made it unsalvageable. 

It is a rule…every summer YOU MUST buy new summer whites.

Unfortunately, that sweater from Ann Taylor is nowhere to be found in the NYC area.  So I settled for this sweater for $19.99 (in stores).  It wasn’t exactly what I was looking for but it would do for the moment. 

I decided to take my chances at Ann Taylor Loft today for a flyaway sweater in white…and luckily I found one on sale today for $29.70.  It wasn’t in my normal size, so I tried on a smaller size…lo and behold…I found out I lost weight!   {Eat pizza for two weeks straight…don’t ask me how this works.}

As mad as I was at the Gap earlier this year for sacrificing quality, I went in anyway hoping that my Favorite tank would be back to its old self again.  Luckily, it was.  I stocked up on a couple of white tanks, a navy blue tank, and a navy blue/white striped tank.  They were on sale for $10.  At the end of the summer they usually hit between $3-$6, but I needed them now.

Even though I missed out on getting the right cardigan at Ann Taylor the first time around, I did find this shirt for $29.99 (in stores).

This find made the whole trip worthwhile.  It’s a beautiful color…and one of the colors of choice I’m wearing in Italy.

So make sure to stock up on your summer whites.  After all, they are the most beautiful whites of the year…crisp and clean.

3. The Carry-All Tote.  So I may be just a little bit in love with my new Rebecca Minkoff tote that I picked up during her sale (after the Devils had that horrible loss). 

I found that the answer to styling my summer wardrobe with this tote is to wear bright colors.  Teal green, orange, purple…(my main colors for Italy) all match this bag.  I don’t have to wear just a solid.  I can wear prints and the bag looks even more fabulous with what I’m wearing.

When traveling I highly recommend a nice big tote to carry around while traveling or hitting the beach.  I always keep my camera and wallet towards the front corner of the bag so it’s closer to me and easier to pull out.  I basically leave the guidebooks, etc. in the back…just in case some pickpocket comes along and tries to take something from it.  The most important items are closer to me and my body. 

Totes are also great to throw purchases into without having 50 different shopping bags to carry.  For me, after seeing how plastic bags do not break down and can litter the Saharan Desert…I don’t like using plastic bags.  I told my driver in Morocco that I wish I could just take a photo of this calamity…but how do you take a photo of miles upon miles of plastic bags littering the Desert?  It’s impossible.  All I can tell people is to stop using them. 

If you plan on doing some extra shopping, make sure to throw in some extra shopping totes that you can get just about everywhere these days.  They definitely make it easier to carry extra purchases, and the bags are easy to collapse and carry inside your tote.

Also, the best way to move around in tote bags (the organizers way)is to put everything in pouches.  I keep my makeup/emergency tampons in my YSL cosmetic case.  I keep cords for laptops, blackberries, etc. in a pouch of their own that makes it easier to find, so your not endlessly searching all over the bag for your headphones.  Pouches are a godsend for those who carry big bags.  They’re also easier to transfer items from one bag to another.

My favorite place to get pouches?  Well, I love SakRoots.  But I get my collection of SakRoots and R & Em pouches through trading at Little Black Bag. 

4.  Stay cool.  Want to know my secret to staying cool in the summer while temps are scorchingly hot?  I wear fabrics that are lightweight.  Now, I hate seeing women wearing tight camisole tops with their bra straps showing (as well as all of their rolls).  Keep that stuff for home, ladies.  There’s no reason to bring it out in public. 

Trust me, that look even makes me feel like I’m going to die of heat exhaustion.  People always look so disturbingly sweaty and roasted…it doesn’t look ‘cool’ in any shape or form. 

The trick to surviving the summer all lays within the fabric used to make your clothes.  Think breezy fabrics like silk and linen.

Take for instance this top from Tracy Reese (Plenty collection).  It’s a linen/silk blend.  It may be expensive, but you can find Tracy Reese on Gilt.com for $45+. 

My stylist introduced me to Tracy Reese last year.  I thank her every single time I wear that top because it’s a godsend in the summer.  It’s light, breezy, and sweat free.  Even if you’re sweating on the inside…it doesn’t show on the outside. 

The bonus about this style and fabric is that every time a breeze hits, the fabric sort of picks up that cool air and circulates it around you…keeping you cooler than if you had a sticky, sweaty camisole glued to your body. 

These are the types of fabrics you shoot for in the summer months.  Today, I have on a silk chiffon dress from Warehouse that is perfect on this 98 degree day.  To feel the breeze picking up and circulating inside of your dress…it’s what keeps you cool on a scorchingly hot summer day…unlike those cotton/polyester blend tops and dresses. 

Ladies, keep it cool not by shedding your clothes.  Keep cool by wearing the right fabrics.  Your body will thank you. 

5. Don’t Forget the SunBlock!  I don’t kid about this.  A sunburn can lead to skin cancer.  I got burned horribly in 2000…in 2005 I almost died from skin cancer.  Now, I have to live with that mistake I made in 2000, because I will always have skin cancer.  It is a matter of the cancer being dormant or active. 

Protecting yourself from the sun is a serious matter.

I got stuck out in the sun yesterday morning and now my head, neck and face itches like crazy.  I realized that I must have sweated off the sunblock…and I should have worn a sun hat. 

Make sure to always have some sunblock in tow.  The rays are getting worse as we lose more and more of that protective ozone layer every year.  Even though it’s hot out, you should pick up a lightweight sweater to wear over your sleeveless tops and dresses, too.  It’s one more layer protecting you from skin cancer.

Have a great 4th of July.  This is where I’ll be…drinking a limoncello. 🙂

Friday Loves The Summer DIY

Ah…the summer.  Hockey season is FINALLY over.  The Stanley Cup has finally been lifted and I can go back to my normal life…

Oh wait…my life’s not so normal. 

The first question someone asked me the day after the Stanley Cup was lifted was: now that you’re retired, what are you going to do with your life?  Well…ask me that in a month after I’m back from vacation.

In the meantime, here’s what I plan on doing this weekend.


1.  DIY Chalkboard Paint.  Well, in the chaos that is my bedroom right now (still rotating my wardrobe because the cold days are still lingering around; packing for Italy; redecorating for the summer months; and needing to do laundry for the last two months) I ended up smacking the suitcase right into my full length mirror and it came crashing down.  Yep…it broke.  7 years of bad luck for me, right? 

Well, instead of lamenting over the bad luck, I took one look at the smashed up mirror and thought…DIY PROJECT!

Instead of throwing out the mirror, I’m recycling it.  The mirror frame is being turned into…a chalkboard!

The Idea Room shared her recipe on how to make chalkboard paint in just about any color under the rainbow.  It’s really easy.  I still have some leftover paint from the time that I painted the apartment.  This will help recycle some of that leftover paint, too.

As for the broken shards of the mirror itself, it will go towards a mosaic table I’ve been thinking about doing ever since the roofers smashed my Hermes toucan plate into the kitchen floor!  I couldn’t bare to part with my first Hermes…even if it was broken.  So a mosaic (Hermes) table is definitely in the works this summer.  Now I have some more pieces to add to the table.

2.  Garage/Yard Sales.  One of the great things about summer is that you can find a lot of things being tossed out for next to nothing at garage/yard sales.  I’m in the market for a new side table for cheap because I need it for my mosaic (Hermes) table I’ll be constructing this summer. 

There are a lot of blogs out there on how regular joes like you and me found something at a yard sale for less than $5 and turned it into a treasure. 

Take for instance A Pinterest Addict’s post on how she changed this dull chair she picked up for $5 and turned it into an incredibly new and beautiful chair.  All it took was a little fabric paint.

Hitting up garage/yard sales allows those inner home decorators a chance to try out something new for next to nothing.  For those who are furnishing or decorating a home for the first time, garage/yard sales allow you to quickly furnish your home without spending thousands upon thousands of dollars.

Where to start?  Craigslist!  You’ll be able to search for and find notices of yard sales in your community listed on Craigslist.  Just make sure you write down the time (always sucks to show up early…you can’t browse).

My favorite hits are always the ones where more than one household is hosting a yard sale.  It then becomes a community yard sale.  So always try to put those sales at the top of your list to hit up first.  You may find everything you’re looking for and more in that one stop.

These are the exact Mason Jars I picked up. While I use them for canning purposes, they can also be used in various ways…like adding sand at the bottom with candles to create a new tablescape.

Thanks to garage/yard sales, I’ve found flip top canning jars from the 50s and 60s for $1 a piece just days after seeing how they were listed for $35 each in a magazine.  I’ve also found gorgeous pieces from all over the world (like a geisha bust and a wooden vase from Indonesia).  I also found a beautiful crystal globe vase for $3.  The owner would only sell it to someone that she knew would cherish it.  She was really attached to the piece.  The fact that she was willing to sell it to me, and the fact she cried when she let it go…makes me cherish that piece even more.

A lot of my favorite treasures were found at garage/yard sales.  I always like things that have a little bit of history to it and isn’t just on some clearance rack.  These items are being given a second life.

3.  New uses for PAINT.  Oh, leftover paint…what am I going to do with you?  I painted my apartment five years ago, and because of the laws governing waste removals like paint, I can’t seem to get the leftover paint out of my apartment.  So what’s a girl to do?

INSERT…new DIY projects. 🙂

 

For the painted vases, Oh So Lovely explains just how she was able to create these beauties.

I also saw another pin on pinterest where someone used old glass tea light jars to create a similar look like you see in the picture with the cans. 

If you can’t tell…I like simple DIY projects…like something that can be done in just a few steps.

4. Where In The World Have I Been?  If you haven’t noticed yet, I’m a bit of a jetsetter…always running all over the world.  Well, I also photograph every place that I’ve visited.  My problem is…what do I do with the thousands upon thousands of pieces that are so good…they’re worth putting up?

While I realize that as a photographer, I may be sitting on a gold mine of work that can be sold…as the person that took the shot, it’s a moment from my memory of the places I have been.  That’s something I want to see on a regular basis.

But how does one go about seeing it all on a regular basis?  Well, just perchance I had an epiphany.  I took one of my new Paris magnets from off of the refrigerator and went to my front door and stuck it on there.  Surprise, surprise…it stuck.

So now I’m in the market for little circular plain magnets…and a lot of them.  It’s an easy way to put up all of the really remarkable photos I’ve taken over the years and put them in a place where I will see them all of the time.  I can probably put up 50-100 photos on the door.  When I get tired of looking at a few of them, I can just easily remove them and put a different group up. 

Believe it or not, I’m actually putting the photos up based on color scheme.  This summer, the door will match the summer decor of the whites and blues (so photos from Santorini, Greece will flood the door, along with the blues of Morocco).  In the fall, I’ll probably change the photos to the more gothic pieces from Paris and the photos of Prague in the fall.

As for that great big picture…the search is on to decide which photo I’m going to supersize and put up on the wall.  The above idea comes from Design Darling.  I think something from Paris would do the trick.  We’ll see what wonders I bring back from Italy.

5. DIY Seasonings.  Now, why didn’t I think of this?  Want a non-preservative seasoning?  Why not DIY? 

The one seasoning that gave me a D’OH! moment was the taco seasoning.  I always order taco seasoning when I order my groceries because I come up with about a zillion ways to come up with the taco stuffings without using meat.  I never even thought about making the seasoning myself. 

Thanks to Self-Reliance by Jamie for sharing the recipes she found!

Although, since these will be staple items in my pantry…I plan on upcycling some of my jars and creating a few labels to give them a gorgeous and French kitchen worthy touch. 

Thanks to The Painted Hive, she lets us in on how you can create these dishwasher safe labels.  For the jars pictured here…she found these SLOM jars at Ikea.

I love these kinds of jars.  They are perfect for just about anything and everything you need for storage purposes.  They’re even great when you’re canning the summer’s bounty. 

******************

So my first weekend in retirement = catching up on all of those DIY projects I’ve been pinning since I got on Pinterest.  There are so many things I want to do that I can’t wait to start. 

Just wait until I get back from Italy.  I plan on buying a sewing machine so that I can start my next DIY project…turning all of these damn NHL t-shirts into something I actually love…PURSES. 

Although, I’m saving that Clarkson t-shirt for something special…I’m thinking a skirt. 

And people thought I wouldn’t have anything to do in my hockey writing retirement…

Packing for Italy

Ah, Italy.  What does a girl traveling on her own take with her when she’ll be running all over the country for two whole weeks?

Well, the first thing is a QUALITATIVE suitcase.  My last trip in Europe cost me two suitcases, and I retired a third one after my trek across Ottawa in the snow, salt and mud.  I’m down to two suitcases now.  A Polo Ralph Lauren carry-on and a bigger American Tourister suitcase that I picked up from my grandfather’s house after he died (to lug back all of the memorabilia, photos, etc. I wanted from his home). 

For me, having a suitcase that can pack the punch all over a European country is ideal…and very difficult to secure because cobblestones will ruin every single suitcase you can muster to find.  So I’m just praying that my grandfather’s suitcase will survive this trek across Italy.

The key items I’m carrying is my great big Just Cavalli tote bag (biggest bag I own) and my new Rebecca Minkoff bag.

This Minkoff bag is one of the key pieces I’ll be toting around.  The mission is to structure my wardrobe around this key piece.  Sounds crazy, right? 

Well, blame The Glamourai for inspiring what I’ll be wearing on this trip.  I saw their photos from their trip to Marrakech and I couldn’t help thinking “What a great idea!”  BE THE FASHIONISTA while traveling. 

I probably do the fashionista look while I’m traveling most of the time, but the other ‘most of the time’ I’m basically in jersey pants and a tunic.  While the Moroccan men have informed me that I’m stylish and my clothes are 100% acceptable…the only time they raised a fit was when I wore a pair of jeans.  My driver tried to turn me right back around to go and change until I remarked, “But I’m riding a camel today.” 

He stopped and said, “I forgot. You can stay in jeans today then, but don’t wear them again after today.”  He referenced the Saharan heat as the reason why I should not wear jeans.  So taking his advice…you’ve probably heard how HOT Italy can get in the summer…not to mention the humidity.  Keeping that in mind, I’m structuring my wardrobe around being fashionable, in cool fabrics (no jeans), and comfortable.

I decided to take the lead from two fashion icons from their time in Italy.


What better way to get into the spirit of the Italian holiday than to be inspired by America’s favorite sweetheart, Audrey Hepburn, from the movie “Roman Holiday.”

Even America’s favorite first lady, Mrs. Jackie Kennedy Onassis, is even a worthwhile candidate to be inspired by.

The key components here are 2 MUST HAVES: 1) ballet flats and 2) amazing shades.

Jackie always has her classic Gucci hobo on her arm.  The most important part of her look all lies in her accessories.  From her necklaces to belts to scarves, she dresses up even the basic of garments. 

Did you also notice that everything pictured here are basic colors, with only the dress for a special night out with the print?  Even her skirt could be mixed and matched with the other colors she wore during her different visits to Italy.

Both Audrey and Jackie remind us to keep it classic and to keep it simple.  Both can go a very long way.

Most importantly, Jackie definitely shows how we can wear relaxing outfits, and still look absolutely amazing. 

So the key to packing for this trip?  I’m packing fewer things, but better things.  [Remember that theme?]

To keep cool, the maxi dresses and maxi skirts will be the number one item in my suitcase.  Jersey pants, tanks, tees and a cardigan will keep me comfortable.  Plus, I always make sure to bring a travel sized bottle of Tocca’s Delicate Wash to wash my clothes to hang and dry overnight or while I’m out and about. 

The most important way to pack is to make sure that you have a color scheme that compliments each other in about 100+ways.  In other words, you could pack 10 key pieces and interchange them with each other into over 100+ outfits.  That is probably the most important way to pack.

Most women usually choose how they pack based on one outfit at a time.  That then equates to 10x too many clothes and a suitcase that will barely close.

Take for instance this montage from The Stylish Geek:

These 11 items can pack a punch.  She was able to come up with 10 different outfits with these pieces.  I’m sure she could have come up with way more (but that would have been a very long post)…but the key here is in the accessories.  She could come up with a lot of outfits thanks to all of her different accessories.

When it comes to accessories, I’m really big on scarves.  Lately, Valentino scarves.  Believe it or not, I’ve been trying to come up with a zillion different ways to wear a Valentino scarf…especially as a shirt.  Bag Snob showed us a few of the different ways you can turn a scarf into a shirt:

Looks fabulous, right?  What’s really great about the scarf as a shirt?  Packing a scarf is so hassle-free.  It’s so lightweight, it takes up no space at all. 

For those who don’t like the thought of showing their belly…I always wear a tank or a tee under the ‘scarf’ as a shirt’ look…just in case anything were to fall out or the scarf came undone.

As for accessories…I’ll be packing a lot of statement jewelry from Bauble Bar, and a few different belts.  Shoes?  Besides my tennis shoes, Speedo sandals and ballet flats…that’s all that’s coming along.  Shoes can take up a lot of space.  If I’m going with one suitcase, a tote bag (for shopping) and my new Minkoff bag…trust me, I’m not bringing a lot because I want to bring some bulky stuff back with me.

My sun hat arrived from Little Black Bag.  It’s nice, foldable (a neutral color) and easy to maneuver into whatever shape I want.  It’ll be a lot of fun to wear with the many outfits I’ll construct.  But most of all…it matches with my Minkoff bag!

Will I wear something hockey related?  Well, that Jagr shirt is just itching to be worn, but I’m itching to remove all Flyers notations in the shirt…even if I have to cut a hole in the middle of the shirt to remove that logo (don’t think I won’t do it).  It would provide some serious ventilation in the back. 🙂

But we’ll see if it even makes the suitcase, because my goal is to keep it 10 clothing items (not counting shoes) to get me through the two weeks all over Italy. 

As you can probably figure out by now…the color schemes will all compliment the Minkoff bag…but I can’t start putting together the Italy wardrobe until it arrives.  So excited! 

More to come…

Friday Loves


1. Frozen Planet.  I am all about the BBC’s “Frozen Planet” this week.  It is probably the coolest and most intriguing documentary I have ever seen.  I’ve learned so much from it.  These guys filming the North and South Poles have the coolest jobs in the world (figuratively speaking, as well). 

After watching the behind-the-scenes video of the filmographers capturing footage of the penguins in Antarctica, their job also looks like it has to be the scariest adventure too.  If these guys are caught on the coast filming penguins when 80-120 mph winds pick up, they’re screwed.  Camp is 2 miles away…and they have to get back somehow (with all of their equipment).  They could either lose one of the camera guys (they struggle to not get blown away), or get lost when those winds come down. 

Other times, they felt their cabin getting ready to be lifted up while they were in it…and this was during the summer!  It’s like an Antarctic Hurricane.

I keep watching these guys thinking…I so want to be on that adventure! 

The cat even sat down on the couch to watch the white wolves in the Arctic as they were hunting.  She’s enjoying the program just as much as I am. 

In America, Discovery released the video of the same footage as narrated by Alec Baldwin.  I prefer the untainted BBC version (because they’re the ones that filmed it).

Check the videos out online.  Discovery has many of the videos available online for consumption.  Not only did I learn a lot, including discovering species I never even knew existed, but I enjoyed the scenery.  It was absolutely beautiful.  I especially enjoyed watching how a snowflake is created.  No two are ever alike.  🙂

Even though I picked up these DVDs from the library, I’m definitely going to have to buy them.  I love the show!

Can’t wait to start booking some nature trips in the near future. 

{I also learned that I don’t like killer whales.  They’re beautiful, highly intelligent, but absolutely cruel.  They need to learn to eat just fish…not seals or other whales.  I’m having a hard time watching the killer whales while they hunt.}

2. Seaweed Chips.  Since hockey is still ongoing for me, I like to pick something up for dinner on the way to the arena (because I can’t always eat what they offer for the media meal).  I think the Devils are used to my weird diet and how it’s difficult for me to eat, so they just let me do whatever and bring my own food.

Well, while I was picking up some soup and aloe water, I saw Seaweed Chips with Olive Oil.  I thought…why not?  It would be a healthy alternative to the chips and onion dip offered up in the press box. 

Gotta say…I LOVE THEM!  I think the perception when most people look at it is that it will taste horrible, but they’re actually really good.  For 30 calories per serving, I’m good with just making it my meal.  It can be filling and very easy to digest. 

It has a little bit of a salty after taste, but no salt is added.  That’s the natural sea salt you’re tasting.  It’s not added, because seaweed comes from…SALT WATER.  It’s the sea salt from the ocean you’re tasting.

What’s great about the ‘easy to digest’ part…seaweed actually helps to boost your metabolism and get rid of BELLY FAT! 

While I could say, “Eat Up!”  I know people go haywire and overindulge in something they find out is good for you (or in this case…trigger word was ‘get rid of BELLY FAT!’).  Like everything, eat in moderation.  I usually eat 1/2 a pack of seaweed chips (comes in 2 serving sizes) if I’m snacking.  If it’s my dinner, I eat the whole pack (60 calories).  That also means that I eat this one or two times a week, not every single day.

Your body needs a lot of different things…just not all at once.  So add this to your diet, but don’t overdo it. 

They’re a good, healthy snack to add to your diet.  My friend recommended this to me during a time when I needed to find a strategy in sneaking iron into my diet.  Seaweed chips were easy to get down and digest (i.e. something that my stomach liked).  Now, I eat them as the healthier snack alternative because I choose to “Have Fewer Things, But Better Things.” 😉

3. Spaghetti Aglie, Olio, e Peperoncino.  Thanks to Fab Fatale for directing me to this recipe from Yum Sugar.  It’s a great way to get me into the ITALY state of mind (t-minus 26 days and counting until I hit Italian soil).

What is it?  It’s spaghetti with minced garlic, olive oil, and chili flakes.  What did I do differently?  I added grated parmesan and freshly grated Romano to the recipe (I also used whole grain/whole wheat penne and fusili instead of spaghetti).  I mixed it up and used it as a base grain for the week (easy to grab during the week). 

As a base recipe, I was able to take this basic pasta and make a few different meals out of it, so it was like I was having something different every night.  One night, I added chicken with a tomato sauce on the side.  Another night, I added ham and peas.  Tonight, I’m going with capers, fresh tomatoes and fresh bell peppers. 

It’s so delicious!  It beats having just the plain pasta with nothing on it in the fridge (and then it ends up getting tossed because I won’t eat it or come up with new recipes). 

4. GabiFresh.  If you’ve noticed what are the latest things trending around the world right now, you might have found that one of my favorite bloggers, GabiFresh, has become the subject of some controversy over one of my favorite posts she’s done recently on her new bathing suit.

Now, for those of us followers, we knew about the bathing suit long before the blog post.  When I first saw the bathing suit (before the post), I thought…wow, that is so cool.  She looks fabulous.  It’s daring, but she looks fantastic!

I would never be brave enough to pull off the bathing suit (you should see the Muslim one I adopted for travel in Africa), but I thought it was incredible that she did it and she was willing to share her brave moment with the world.  Not once did I ever think that anyone could look at her fab photos and think something negative…until I saw FATKINI trending.

For those of us who are loyal to GabiFresh…we know what her blog is about.  It’s about inspiring women, no matter what your size, to be comfortable in your own skin.  It’s about being brave enough to wear something so scary as a bikini or even a pair of skinny jeans or a sexy dress that hugs all of our curves.  In other words, there are ways to look, be and feel beautiful in your own skin…it all begins with being brave enough to take that chance to wear something you’ve always dreamed of wearing and just take the plunge and do it!  That is the message of her blog.  And that is exactly why she is this week’s favorite blogger that I love to stalk that I’m sharing with all of you.

I think I’ve been following Gabi since December.  All along the way I’ve found her site to be very inspiring not just for me, but I realize for other women out there.  I know what it’s like to be so overweight, you can’t wear anything they put out in the stores.  Designers snub you if you’re bigger than a size 12…and sometimes a size 8. 

I remember the days when we were stuck with mumu dresses, sweatpants, oversized sweaters and tees.  We were too fat to be fashionable.  We were the world that the fashion world stuck their nose up at, and said crap about how unhealthy or overweight we were. 

It’s bad enough that we say this crap to ourselves…even worse when the world echoes those depressing feelings.  We’ve all been there at one point.  So I applaud Gabi for going out on a limb and empowering women to be comfortable in their own skin and showing us how. 

And if you don’t like it…as Rich Hardesty sings, “If you don’t got nothing nice to say, then don’t say nothing at all.”  Just look for the beauty of the moment like most sane people do.

5.  Pekka Rinne.  Now, there’s a reason why Pekka makes my top 5 loves.  I’m helping to promote him for the NHL 13 cover.  He’s currently up against Claude Giroux after defeating Henrik Lundqvist and John Tavares.  I mean…he BEAT Lundqvist.  I have no idea how that is possible, but he did.

Pekka is also part of the Puck Agency family (you know…the agency that represents Ilya Kovalchuk, Anssi Salmela, Anton Volchenkov, Johan Hedberg), so of course I’m going to lend my social media world of support for Pekka, especially after Scott Hartnell decided to tweet something about sending Rinne back to Finland (almost ranks up there with that BizNasty’s ‘commie’ tweet). 

So for those who are not Flyers fans, vote for Pekka Rinne. He’s probably the nicest (most innocent) guy I’ve ever met…and he’s never been suspended for getting pissed off and delivering a headshot to some innocent guy out on the ice (like Giroux did). 

I still find it funny that Pekka is petrified of Las Vegas.  We were able to snag an interview with him for Inside Hockey while we were in Vegas last year for the NHL Awards.  He had just become an uncle for the first time right around that time.  But the whole Vegas deal…this guy spends 82+ games a year stopping a flying puck made of vulcanized rubber from entering into his net…and he’s scared of Vegas.   

UNBELIEVABLE, but true.

So fans, vote for Pekka Rinne in the NHL 13 Cover Vote and vote often HERE. 

Italy Bound

While most of the hockey world heads to the Draft, I’m heading out of the country.  Destination: ITALY.

It’s kind of funny because my boss and I always book our vacations and then later he mentions to me where he’s taking the family this year.  I always look at him strange, because ironically…that’s where I booked my vacation this year, too!  {Not at the same time, mind you.} 

While he’s heading to Venice and Florence, I’ll be in Venice, Bologna, Florence, Pisa, Rome, Naples, Capri, Pompeii and Sorrento.  That definitely means I’ll be packing very light!  I have a lot of olive oil to bring back! 🙂

There will be a lot to see.  One of the things I’m looking forward to seeing the most is the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Venice and Verona.  I’m really looking forward to seeing Juliet’s House and catching Don Giovanni at the Arena in Verona…an opera under the stars! 

On my birthday (aka Free Agency day), I’ll be in Rome, running around the city from the early hours until late at night when I’m running around the ‘haunted’ part of Rome. 

Oh yeah, I guess I am going on the ghost tour in Venice, too. 

I always like to go on these little ghost tours to see if they’re full of crap or not.  I went on the Jack the Ripper tour in London, which was cool because I got to see a lot of London from the historical point of view and then see how it has changed in the last century.  Then some really super tall Chara-ish guy passed out after he saw a photo of the most gruesome Ripper murder ever. 

I felt bad for the guy.  He went into a seizure when he hit the pavement.  That ended his tour right then and there.

As for Italy…besides taking on the ghosts of Italy, I’ll be sampling a lot of food and buying up a lot of ingredients.

Ever since I saw Eat, Pray, Love and that pizza from Naples…I’ve been craving it ever since!  That is the main reason why I’m going to Naples. 

I’ve got 3 different travel guides I’ve picked up over the years (the latest one on Milan I picked up at the library’s seasonal book sale in my $5 per bag of books deal). 

Speaking of travel books, I only buy DK Eyewitness Travel guides.  What I love about them is that each book has a walking tour to cover all of the important locations, as well as give you a history of each spot (and give you an idea of what photos you should take at each spot).  I usually walk away with all of the same photos that were in the travel guide.

When I was in Vysehrad in Prague, I got a little lost on the walking tour, but the sights I did find were gorgeous!  Each marker, each bridge, each statute…they were all described as to its importance in the book.  It was nice just to take a moment and take in each place that is marked on the tour. 

After I came back from Prague, I only bought DK Eyewitness Travel as my guidebooks.  They are so much easier to navigate, especially if you like to go off on your own and look around (great for solo travelers that don’t want to pay for the tour guides…this is basically $20 or less for a tour of everything in the city you want to see).  They provide you with maps for each tour showing you all of the stopping points and things you should notice or do.

Most importantly…those subway maps are the most important maps in the book! 

When I get back from Italy, I’ll have lots and lots of photos from all over the country.  I’ll be armed with recipes and lots of ingredients, because who knows…I may ask to go back into the kitchen to learn more about the dishes they make!

Between now and leaving the US, I have to brush up on my Italian again.  The last time I spoke Italian was my sophomore year in college…and that was 16 years ago! 

This is actually a birthday present to myself.  I’ve never taken myself anywhere on my birthday.  I usually travel in late September/early October.  So this will be a big treat, because I’ve always dreamed of seeing Italy!

We Have a Winner?

So we may or may not have a winner for the big vacation of the year.  Sure, Morocco is in the cards right now for sometime in July/August, but you know me, I country hop in Europe, too.

I’m still looking at Barcelona for the spring.  But for the summer…I’ve decided on Italy.  I decided last year that I really wanted to go around Italia, exploring the Eat part of the Eat, Pray, Love phenomenon.  I took a look at a map of Italy and started thinking…hmmm…I could do Rome in 2 days, Florence, Bologna and then Venice.  Stay in Venice a day then head to Milan, go down to Morocco for 10 days, come back to Milan, travel on down to Genoa, Pisa and then Rome.  Maybe I can squeeze Naples in there so I can get a pizza pie before heading back to the US of A.

It’s doable.  We just have to get the Morocco part of the itinerary down pat so I can start planning Italy.  I’m so excited now!  🙂

I really can’t wait to photograph Italy. This will be an adventure within itself.