Dear Mac,
You are now 18 months old. Instead of months, I can just say you are a year and a half. This is actually easier for me in Italian because numbers 16 – 19 trip me up occasionally. (Unrelated, “quindici” or 15 is one of my favorite words in Italian. I don’t claim to know why. But I love it.)
I had a breakthrough the other week. At the market. No one else realized I had a breakthrough. It all looked completely ordinary. To the untrained eye, I conducted a business transaction with my go-to produce vendor. But to me? It was a giant leap.
I love books. Even though I was late to the e-reader party, I love my kindle. (I’ll talk more on this later, but I think I actually prefer my kindle to real books now. I’m as shocked as you are.)
Have you started to feel like every day for the whole rest of the year is planned? Seriously, where did it all go?? And how do I already feel behind on Christmas shopping???
Chase pigeons every day
I’m slowly coming to terms with the fact that we are having adventures faster than I can write about them. I’ve been updating Travel Resources with more info to give you travel ideas, even if there aren’t links to full posts. Looking for your next day trip or weekend getaway? Check it out here.
One adventure I did cover was our jam-packed day trip to Turin. If you have a chance, I’d spend more than a day here.
I also talked about my love/hate relationship with crowds and our trips to Nemi and Orte.
As well as gettin’ deep about last meals at Castel Sant’ Angelo.
And 3 tips to make your travel awesome.
Huh, I guess there are still some travel posts going up around here. I feel like things have definitely gone off the rails lately. #sorrynotsorry
Fall is here! I still haven’t ordered my OTK boots, but I’m sure everyone here would like me to just do it or shut up about it. What’s on your fall fashion wish list?
Heh, million dollar baby. LITERALLY. And then my other recent attempt at humor where I talk resumes and giving booze to horses.
The one where I get kind of preachy about judging other people. I swear, I’ve put the soap box away. For now at least.
My baby is 3!! Still says hilarious things. (And like my kid, I’m very food-oriented. Treat yo self.)
For my hipster peeps, have you tried switchel? I really want to try this apple cider vinegar drink, but I’m having a hard time on the ginger juice. I can’t find it in juice form, and I don’t have the capability to juice fresh ginger.
This video had me cry laughing. If you want to kill your morning, delve into Break Womb’s other stuff. Ah, it’s funny because it’s true.
How not to say the wrong thing
If you looking for some fall pieces of your own, Ann Taylor is 50% off through Sunday.
I’m very intrigued by this stroller. Any urbanites tried this one?
That’s all I got. Happy weekend everyone!
I really really really try not to do this. I promise I do.
But I can’t help thinking that certain things, particularly travel-related things, will be easier in just a few years.
And I know. I’m working on enjoying the moments. I swear. But you just have these little niggling thoughts, ya know?
Ya’ll, it’s fall! This time around last year, I was just incredulous about the amount of layers everyone is wearing. Yes, there is a hint of a chill. No, we do not need to break out the puffy coats.
I also started to realize how delicious fall in Italy is. Porcini Mushrooms. Artichokes. Wild boar. Truffles. It is a tasty season, indeed.
Unfortunately, fall also brings more rain. Booo.
But other than the rain, this time around, I’m really enjoying the season. I’ve done things like throw on a scarf and boots with my tank and shorts to show the Italians that I tried to acknowledge the change in date if not in temperature. And you KNOW I’ve been eating.
I’ve been meaning to talk more about wardrobing here generally. Yes, I have strayed from just one shirt, but I’ve devised a new uniform of sorts. (It is basically all gray, all the time, with splashes of crazy.) I have made some purchases, and I’m hoping to do a roundup of wardrobe additions at some point. But this sounds big and intimidating so it might not happen. But know that I totally want it to. But also know that just willing things to happen seldom works for anything ever. I’ve tried.
Anywho, I’ve made some additions I’m quite happy with. But after assessing my wardrobe, there are a few pieces that I’d love to welcome to the proverbial closet fold for fall (and beyond).
Remember when I had your entrepreneurial heart all aflutter with talk of Pope Francis slap bracelets? Or opening an authentic American-style breakfast joint in Rome?
Forget ALL THAT.
I’ve found the next big thing.
Someone I know posted on Facebook about seeing a mom pushing a kid on a swing while checking her phone AND reading the newspaper with a “way to be present” remark.
In one of his specials Louis C.K. cracks on the mom on her phone on the park bench while he PLAYS with his kids.
I don’t like this.
It makes me uncomfortable.
So there are lots of food-themed festivals around here, particularly in the summer and fall. Fruit! Porcini! Carciofi for everyone! I love food; sign me up!
I meant to do more. And we will. But we did make it to the Sagra delle Fragole (strawberry festival) in Nemi this June.
But the thing about festivals is crowds. Shockingly, other people ALSO want to go to the cool-sounding festival with you.
I don’t really love crowds.
Modern Mrs. Darcy posted recently(ish) about family traditions. I really like traditions. Growing up we always had waffles on Christmas and always opened stockings first. I want to try ALL the new things, but I like having some steady standbys to return to.
Since the kids are young, we are still in the process of building our own family traditions. This was for Henry’s recent third (!!!) birthday. Maybe he didn’t remember last year, but I did, and I liked deepening the grooves on our past practices.
Roman Reboot 