Category: Travel

The difference between 24 and 34

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6.16_laugh

So I went to the beach today.   (Santa Severa)  Yeah, on a Thursday.  My life is sweet.

We had a great time.  Well, most of us.  Mac is NOT a fan of sand.  He does like seashells.  Except for the part where they are covered in sand.

When it was time to leave, I gathered up the sand toys to go rinse them in the water.  I was wearing my new bikini bottoms and an ancient top.  As I bent over to swish the toys . . .

SNAP.

Yeah, my bikini top snapped in two.

So here’s the difference between 24 and 34.  My previous self would have been MORTIFIED.  I would have wanted to dig a hole with those sand toys and disappear forever.

Now?  I laughed.  I laughed and laughed and laughed.

I did call my friend for backup to assist.  But I didn’t crawl in a hole or even worry about anything that much.

It helped that it happened facing away from everyone.  It definitely helped that I wasn’t surrounded by work associates or a bunch of my friends’ husbands.  Stakes were low.

I’m glad I can laugh now.

Something different in Marrakesh

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5.25_marrakesh 1

“What are you most excited about for your trip?”

“Seeing something different.  I just really want to experience something totally different.”

We just got back from four days in Marrakesh.*  It definitely delivered on being something different.  Big time.

(*Just to make it easier, I’m going to stick with the Marrakesh spelling instead of Marrakech in these posts.)

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Typical Italy {Day Trip to San Gregorio da Sassola}

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This weekend, we had what I would call a very Italian experience.  Not always what you planned on, but interesting and fun if you are open to it.

As planned, we set off on our day trip to San Gregorio da Sassola for the Sagra del Cinghiale AKA the tasty boar festival.  We knew the weather looked bleak.  Rain predicted on and off all day.  We decided to chance it.  A warm rain feels different than a wet rain, right?  We armed ourselves with rainboots, jackets, and umbrellas and set off.

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ICYMI: I Hate Pollen Edition

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Brothers with brothers. Aww.

Brothers with brothers. Aww.

Hi everyone!  Sorry so quiet this week.  We had a guest, and I’ve been bowled over by some sort of respiratory thing with a touch of allergies thrown in.  Good times.  I’m hoping things have turned a corner.  Which is good because we have big plans this weekend to check out the Sagra del Cinghiale (Festival of the Boar) in San Gregorio Da Sassola and the Craft Beer Festival in Rome.  If we are feeling super crazy, we may check out the rose petals at the Pantheon for Pentacost.

On the Blog:

Temps are pretty nice these days.  I’m definitely getting use out of these new spring pieces.

Still the best thing on the blog.  Also, I got around to sharing some updates on the boys generally.

I’m slowly rolling out Sicilian content.  Here is an overview of our trip and here is everything you ever wanted to know about taking a ferry in Italy.

If Sicily is too far, how about a day trip to Calcata?  (Wear your long skirt.)

When I’m not gouging out my sinuses, I’ve been doing more reading.  And even some writing.  And probably drinking more coffee than I should.

On the Internets:

My tabs are covered with bathing suits and tutorials on how to use Evernote.  (I am DETERMINED to tame my tab problem.)  I do have a few tabs up about our upcoming Morocco trip.  Exciting for me!  But nothing good to share.

Do you have any big weekend plans?  Do you also hate all the pollen?  Any tips for a trip to Marrakech?

Just a few thoughts on Sicily

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Sorry for the radio silence, folks.  We just got back from a week and a half in Sicily.  I have all sorts of content planned for you, like How to Take the Ferry in Italy, an Itinerary for Adventures in Sicily, and even Media to get you in a Sicilian State of Mind, in the coming weeks.

But for now I just wanted to share some general thoughts and observations.  Overall, this was a pretty fun trip.  I’ve realized I adore island vacations.  A fixed set of points to explore and adventure in?  I am THERE.

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Get in Touch with Your Inner Artiste in Calcata {Great Day Trips from Rome}

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I have a confession to make.

Sometimes  I wonder if I might be a hippy.

I mean, not really, because I’ve never looked good in long skirts, and I hate the smell of incense.

But I do like small batch.  Locally-sourced.  Heirloom.  Craft brews.  (Well, not lately on the brews, but you know what I mean.)

If these things make me a hippy, I guess I will wear the title with pride.  Just not the long skirt.

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ICYMI: All the Feels Edition

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3.18_ICYMI

This is pretty much my life right now.

On the Blog:

Thanks for all of your support on my Quitters Story and my freak out on the future.  You guys are awesome.  I totally owe you a cappuccino.

The blog’s most popular feature by far.  I should just cut the middle man and have Henry do all the writing here.  #1 blog of all time.  Done.

I’m still doing a little running and still doing a little paleo.  Looking to change up your own habits?  Try this trick.

Looking for your next read?  Check out my 2015 list.

It’s Friday!  You know what I’m doing tonight.  Henry has already called “all the Octonauts.”  Huzzah!

On the Internets:

The baffling reason many millennials don’t eat cereal.  Hint:  it isn’t because they’ve all gone paleo and started eating eggs.

Over at MMD, Anne is talking about fashion in the thirties.  I agree with it all, and loved this:  How a Closet Cleanse Helped Me Embrace My Thirties.

I need to remind myself of this frequently.  Yes, it is only a season.

Hey there West Wing fans.  I’ve got the podcast for you!   (More podcast shenanigans here.)

I’m a little obsessed with Bower Power’s faux wood laminate backsplash.  #kitchengoals

We’ve got an Easter egg hunt this weekend.  Will also see if we can pull off any Palm Sunday capers.  I mean, we are in the right city for it after all.  How about you?  Big plans?

ICYMI: Jet Lag Edition

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Hi friend!  How are you?  Are you having a good February?  Also terrified of puppy monkey baby?

Sorry for the radio silence ’round these parts.  We’ve been battling jet lag, and I feel like we are just kind of mostly getting back to normal.

I’ve been kind of insufferable lately.  I have so many things I want to do that I feel like I’m going to jump out of my skin.  We did have excellent family time in January, but it was hard to get going on things while on the road.  Then the jet lag is setting us back.  I know it will just take time.  But I never claimed to be a patient person.  I want it ALL.  And I want it NOW.

I should give myself a little credit.  We have booked 2/3 of a Sicily trip for this spring.  I won my January Diet Bet, and I’ve been sticking to fairly strict paleo.  I just signed up for the Spartan Run in April (EEP!), but I still need to get officially signed up for the half marathon in March.  And then train for it.  NBD.

We are psyched to be back in Italy.  Carnival has been in full effect.  Confetti on all the playgrounds.  Children in costume on the reg.  We hit up the parade in Piazza Navona this past Saturday.  It was quite the classy affair compared to our raucous Tuscan Carnevale last year.  Picture lots of people on horses and in period costumes.

We are also in the throes of trying to apply for Italian public preschool.  I’m still not sure if we want to do it, but we are trying to even see if we can get a space before we have to decide.  Let’s just say the process has been VERY Italian.  I promise to share more on this later in case it helps anyone else who wants to try it.

On the Blog:

What I was into in January.  I should have also mentioned seasonal squash.  They don’t really have winter squash here, and I was LOVING all the butternut and spaghetti squash.

I also finally got around to putting pen to paper on 2016 resolutions.

After an awesome free first Sunday museum in December, you’d think we’d have hit one last Sunday, but not.  😦

Those boys keep saying the darndest things.

I threw down the fitness gauntlet.  But then I did some thinking on how to feel good without diet or exercise changes.

On the Internets:

My latest stroller obsession.  I’m very tempted by the fact that my friend says this fits on Roman buses and trams.

Anyone want to buy Michelangelo’s Tuscan Villa?  (Hat tip PK)

Want to see where Beyonce (apparently) stayed for the Super Bowl?  (Hat tip JRW)

Hope to be back more frequently soon.  In the meantime, anyone have any cruise line recommendations?