Hi friends. I know it’s been quiet around here lately. I’d like to say that will get better, but with the kids out of school in a few days, all bets are off.
This is what we’ve been up to lately.
Tag: summer
HI! How was your summer?
Hey! How’s it going? How’s your summer been? Flying by? I hear ya.
We’ve been in the US of A this summer. Sorry for the long absence here. We’ve been pinging around trying to squeeze in as much family and friends time as we could. It really was wonderful to have this time. We were very grateful. But . . .
It was difficult as well. Being homeless for so long was tough. And the poor kids were so confused. Are we going to Nana’s house? Are we going home? Are we in Malaysia?
Oh, right. We’re doing our next three years in Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur to be exact. We’re actually already here! It’s been just over a week. We’re kind of unpacked and starting to get over jet lag. More on this soon, but we’re having a blast so far.
I’ve missed you guys. I’ve missed writing. Hopefully, you can expect some uptick in posting around here. They may not be the prettiest posts. They probably won’t have pictures. (You can always check out my IG for that.)
But this is a unique and special time. A time of first impressions. My thinking changes day to day. I already have trouble relating to some of my thoughts from a few days ago. I want to be able to look back and remember.
So you’re in Malaysia now . . . but still using Roman Reboot?
Yup! For now anyway. When I first started the blog, I thought it would serve me just fine later because it was a reboot on my life that happened to start in Rome. Now, it does feel a bit too specific. I’m trying to find a more general name, but as you can imagine, names like “The Reboot” are all taken. If you have any suggestions, please let me know!
It will also require some techno thinking on my part to make a transition happen. So it’s on the list. Along with all sorts of other projects I want to attempt. Writing, podcasting, Crossfitting, travel planning. The boys are both in school, and the world is my oyster. (Although I do feel conflicted on this. More to come.)
Hope you’re doing great! Talk soon!!
Thought this was neat-o mosquito? Would love for you to pass it on!
ICYMI: Local Tourist Edition
I think there may be more link posts here. Or something where I just share. I want to include evergreen content, but I feel like if I don’t cover things in real time, then I forget a lot. You’ve been warned.
This past weekend we picked off two on our To Do in Rome List. On Saturday we toured the Savoia bunker at Villa Ada. It was pretty neat to see and to learn more about a park where I spend a lot of time. New #housegoals to have a Travertine spiral escape staircase in my bunker.
On Sunday we hit the Domus Aurea tour. This one was with the kids. That was . . . interesting. On the plus side, you can actually roll your stroller through the whole thing. (One staircase to exit.) On the other side, the tour was billed as being an hour and 15 minutes. It was definitely more like an hour and forty. We got hard hats. (With hair nets.) Yay! But the kids wanted those off after about two minutes. The guide was really hard to hear, and she kept insisting on talking while walking. No one could hear that. But she didn’t say anything when the kids ditched their hard hats or when we busted out lollipops. It was a very cool space to see–literally felt like AC in there–but maybe without the kids would be better. Oh, well.
This weekend we are heading to Abruzzo. I think Sulmona and Pescara are on the list. Would love any recommendations!
For future travel plans, I’m now gung ho about planning a Slovenia/Croatia road trip for this fall. I’m thinking drive there and ferry back. Possibly hitting this on the way because it just looks too cool.
Things have been fairly quiet around here. Rome is definitely clearing out. And hot. Henry’s last day of school was last Friday. We’re slowly getting used to our new schedule.
On the Blog:
I finished The Hunt for Red October. Diving into The Cardinal of the Kremlin. The Summer of Clancy continues.
You should go to Lake Garda. One of my favorite things in Italy yet.
It’s hot. We haven’t made it back to Ludoteche Amelie yet, but I’m sure it will happen soon. (Maybe with a side trip to the Make-Your-Own-Magnum store??)
On the Internets:
I’ve been drinking bulletproof coffee for a bit. Bulletproof intermittent fasting could be next?
We’ve all heard of Myers Briggs, but I finally got around to taking my Enneagram. What’s your number?
I’m still using PicMonkey for photo editing, but playing around with Be Funky these days. Anyone tried it? It seems to have different features, but I found it to be a lot slower than PicMonkey.
Thought this was neat-o mosquito? Would love for you to pass it on!
ICYMI: SO HOT Edition
Yup. A link post on a Monday. It feels so wrong that it feels right.
In Rome news, it is officially summer. 90s erry day, but it somehow feels even worse. Muggy. Gross. The direct sun is merciless. It gives no quarter. We’ve been staying up late because summer and because it is actually kind of pleasant after 7:00 pm. Water is my happy place. Other than a recent bout of the flu, I’ve actually been enjoying summer a lot. I just haven’t been getting much done. Schedule is out of whack and the heat is just wiping me out. I know. #firstworldproblems
Gearing up for our road trip to Bologna, Modena, Ravenna, and Lake Garda. If anyone has any recommendations, would love to hear ’em!
On the Blog:
If you told me a year ago that I would have done this, I would have said you were absolutely crazy.
If you are in Rome or coming to Rome, check out these tickets to score in advance.
Now with two chuckleheads on the loose. Hoot.
I’ve been all about habits lately. (More on my latest love soon.) This is my take on how you can build on foundational habits. (This graphic made James giggle.)
My cousins are here. Guess what I asked them? (Seriously, no one is safe.)
And because this is occasionally still a travel-related blog, here is why you need a sense of humor to travel in Italy, here is about that time I met the President of Italy, and here is why I loved our trip to Marrakesh.
On the Internets:
You guys! Land Before Time is on Netflix! (My kids were not as into it as I thought. I was like, yes, DINOSAURS, but I think it was a little slower moving than what they are used to. And they seemed to get really focused on the Mom’s death so that was fun to explain over and over.) For the adults, Sixteen Candles is also added. This is a movie I definitely thought I’d seen, but realized I hadn’t actually. Let’s just say it’s a classic for a reason.
Would you try cricket powder protein bars? I haven’t done it yet, but I’m seriously considering. I’ve been looking for a good paleo on-the-go option and been coming up short. I really really wanted to like Epic Bars, but they just aren’t my thing. (Mac loves them though.) I’ve also tried some Beef Sticks from Grass Run Farms, but not my jam. Just too vinegary maybe? (Both kids love them.) I make Melissa Joulwan’s meat muffins and use things like boiled eggs, but it would be nice to have an already prepared emergency option.
This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for supporting Roman Reboot!
Thought this was neat-o mosquito? Would love for you to pass it on!
Want to hear something kind of crazy?
I want to tell you something that is kind of crazy. I, Melissa, mother of two, have never put both my kids in a car and driven them somewhere all by myself. And these kids aren’t weeks old, mind you. My “baby” turned one this spring.
The other crazy thing? I haven’t driven a car since last August when we moved here. I haven’t driven in Italy at all.
Back when we lived in DC, I was never a big driver. When we were in Maryland, I sometimes drove to the metro or shopping or to visit my friends in Virginia, but I didn’t drive all the time. Once we moved to DC proper, I mostly stopped driving. I walked Henry to day care. I took the bus or metro to work. When we did family outings on the weekends, James would drive. I did pull shifts–usually the early morning shift (no shocker there)–on our drives to SC, but I could still go months without getting behind the wheel of a car.
I’m a nervous person and a nervous driver. Not driving much exacerbates this. Living in cities exacerbates this.
I usually don’t mind it at all. I have plenty of stores within walking distance. Public transportation is still a challenge with the two kids, but it is there. We can get where we need to go sans automobile.
But something happened earlier this month that has me reevaluating my no drivo status.
We visited Lake Bracciano on a weekend. Although our trip out took longer because of a flat tire, this volcanic lake is only 45 minutes from Rome. Motor sports are limited, and the lake is a pristine and quiet place. It is rimmed by three towns to explore and an awesome (and free!) airplane museum at the sight of Italy’s first airport.
Even though the lake is crazy close, we opted to do an overnight so that we could explore more. Our agriturismo, Agriturismo Il Castoro, sits on smaller, neighboring Lake Martignano. You have to go down some serious dirt roads to get there.
Even if you don’t stay there, you can pay a few euro to access the expanse of grassy beach lined with hammocks. You can pay a few more euro to rent a paddle boat–some with their own slides–or grab some refreshing beverages at the small cafe.
Because of uncooperative weather (I swear, it is always stifling except when I actually have aqua access), we didn’t frolic in the water. (Although we did all touch it; Mac was particularly nonplussed.)
We did enjoy some time swinging in the hammocks and feeling the grass between our toes.
As we strolled, I could not help but think, I could do this.
I could load up the kids on a random weekday and hit the lake or explore a nearby town or do anything we wanted. We have fun at the zoo and parks in Rome, and I’m trying to get better about picking off new sights with the kids, but we could just go.
Of course, exploring a new town with the adorable weirdos sounds downright frightening. I’m not scared of my kids, per se; however, sometimes I am definitely intimidated by them.
But things change. And faster than I think too.
Not that long ago, I could barely grocery shop with the two kids by myself. Now we have a produce guy, an egg lady, fish dudes, and I can get around the store with the two of them if I need to.
Not that long ago, Mac refused to move anywhere. Then I spent HOURS walking behind him holding his hands. Now I walk beside him and sometimes dash to keep up as he darts off a few steps on his own. (He still refuses to crawl though.)
At some point, trips with these guys may not seem so crazy. I need to be ready.
Even if that means getting behind the wheel of a car. I’m planning to force myself to practice when town empties this August. Our car is already lightly “Romanized.” No one would notice a few more scratches.
Deep breath. I’m an adult. I can do this.
Other Trip Highlights
- We hit up Il Castello Odescalchi in Bracciano, site of famous weddings such as Tomkat’s. The self guided tour involved some stairs, but went over well with the kids. Shocking to NO ONE, Henry loved the weaponry.
- Historic Bracciano is fairly small. We wandered, checked out views of the lake, and enjoyed lunch outside at Pane e Olio. Service was slow (they were slammed), but the food was very good.
Pistachio pasta FTW
- We drove through Trevignano, but didn’t get to explore this town. Unlike Bracciano, which overlooks the lake from on high, Trevignano is down at the water. Several restaurants on the water looked pretty sweet.
- We enjoyed an evening wander and dinner watching the sunset over the lake at Il Vecchio Salus in Anguillara. Although we didn’t go, Anguillara seems to have an expanse of public beach along with a jump park and rides area.
- If you have kids or any interest in planes, definitely check out the Italian Air Force Museum. Fun (oversimplified) fact: Italians built lots of seaplanes because they didn’t feel like building runways. This free museum has several hangars of planes to delight the kiddos. Even though half of it was closed at our visit, it was still worth the trip. Did I mention it’s free?? Cafe inside.
Also lots of old cars. BONUS.
Other Bracciano Resources
Roman Reboot 