Thursday, December 29, 2011

Blogging Break

If you hadn’t noticed, I’v been taking a blogging break.  Between our return to California, the holidays and a whole bunch of unexpected (but welcomed!) work, the blog is on the back-burner for a few weeks.  Promise to return shortly in 2012.  
BUONE FESTE & BUON ANNO!

Wednesday, December 07, 2011

VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD

I just discovered I was nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award by Nichole at Cultural Comments...grazie mille!  I feel a little undeserving because I have not been at the best of my blogger game for awhile, especially while visiting my family back in CA, but the thought is much appreciated and gives me a chance to nominate some of my favorites as well.
Here’s how this works:

Rule #1: Link back to the person that gave you the award
Rule #2: Pass this award on to 15 other deserving blogs 
Rule #3: Give seven facts about yourself 
Blogs I adore and nominate:
  1. Little Paradiso
  2. A Certain Simplicity
  3. Ciao Lunigiana
  4. La Vita e Bella
  5. Madonna del Piatto
  6. At Home in Tuscany
  7. Hip Paris Blog
  8. Over a Tuscan Stove
  9. Help! I Live with my Italian Mother in Law
  10. Belle Provence
  11. Chez LouLou
  12. My Marrakesh
  13. Elizabeth Minchilli in Rome
  14. Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino
  15. Ciao Amalfi
7 (mostly little known) facts about myself:
1. Ok, known fact first: I live in the beautiful beachside resort of Lerici on the Italian Riviera, just south of Le Cinque Terre.  It’s a near perfect place in my opinion, as you feel far remove from things there, but the truth is you can be in a decent size city (La Spezia) in 15 minutes, on the autostrada in 10 and within an hour there are so many fabulous places to visit.  Also, the views and position cannot be beat! But I am originally from Laguna Beach, CA.  I consider myself still a bit of a “surf rat” and am most comfortable in beach attire and flip flops.
2. In my former/pre-Italy life, I worked for MTV, Motley Crue and Sony Pictures.  While it might seem all glamorous, it was a lot of organizing, negotiating and babysitting.  Fun while it lasted but don/t miss it a bit.  (And by the way, MC were some of the nicest dudes I ever met!).
3. I am obsessed with the old 90’s Japanese (and original) version of “The Iron Chef”.  Watching Chef Masaharu Morimoto come up with an amazing dish from one ingredient is food porn for me! :)
4. When I first moved to Italy, I went to school in Florence and worked at a B&B near Montecatini.  Loved going school but had to pull the plug on the B&B thing when the owner threatened me with a knife in hand!  
5. I wish I knew how to sew and could speak French!  I get great clothing and housing design ideas but no way to make them come to fruition.  The french is on the “to do” list for 2013.
6. The other country of my dreams is Thailand: beauty, grace, exotic, amazing food, tropical, colorful and some of the friendliest people you will ever meet.
7. Come March 2012, we are expecting our first baby, Pietro.  A long time coming and a dream come true.  I am sleeping a lot these days as soon enough that won’t be the case (and would love anyone’s feedback on balancing motherhood and a business!).