Milan Italy

Milan Italy

I'm sorry... but who doesn't love shopping, coffee, gelato, pasta, cheese, red wine & pastries??

In my 24 hour visit this May, I managed to have and do everything listed above... twice! ; )

This is my second post, journal the trip I took with my parents to Germany to visit my brother Ben and the side trips we were fortunate enough to take!

This is a picture of the Galleria in Milan Italy, built in 1861. It is the site for many luxury goods' shops, including Prada, Massimo Dutti (where Ben got my birthday scarf!), Gucci and Louis Vuitton. The Galleria connects two of Milan's most famous landmarks: The Duomo and the Teatro Alla Scala.

We went to Louis Vuitton and I was struck by how beautiful it was, even from the outside. There are marble floors leading to the entrance. Everything was so glamorous inside the two story store- I felt like I was in a museum.

Above: The Milan Cathedral, know for its Gothic architecture and my dad, walking up to it for a tour!

I loved it here! We really scored big time at dinner that night... getting a table for 4 at a restaurant called Maruzzella, a family-run Sicilian seafood place. I thought it was our best meal.. with a pitcher of red wine, oven baked pizza for me, bacon/egg-nog sauce pasta dish for my mom, ceviche for my dad and a traditional fried chicken dish for Ben.

We topped it all of with one tiramisu and four forks!

ps. Thinking of Susanna - as she is enjoying her summer in Bologna Italy!!

Trip to Europe in March

During my trip to visit Ben in March, my parents and I not only got to see his home in Germany, we took side trips to Brugg Belgium {chocolate & waffles}, Belgian Belgium {beer at the monastery called Westvleteren brewery}, Interlaken Switzerland {best base jumping}, Milan Italy {fashion capital} & Colmar France {for the wineries}.

I'll post several times with pictures and notes on the places we went, starting with Colmar France.

We spent the day driving in the wine country, stopping for a tasting at a family owned winery called Andre Blanck and bought several bottles of wine, took a tour of the winery {family owned 7 generations} and walked the small City of Alsace, just outside the walls of where the wine was barreled. It was so beautiful - a day I will never forget!

Highlight: eating breakfast with everyone in the morning at the hotel before venturing out. My mom and brother ended up going back to the room and my dad and I stayed to drink more coffee (shocking). He told me stories about his childhood and about my grandma Janine Hall (whom I idolize). I learned that she often took him and my two uncles to a park Saturday mornings and build a fire to cook breakfast before fishing or playing baseball, on weekends my grandpa was busy. Just hearing my dad retell the story made it so special. I could tell he looks back on his childhood with fond memories - and thanks to him, so do I.

a few of my favorite things..

GlassyBaby

"The magic starts in our Seattle studio. It takes four glassblowersto create just one unique, handmade glassybaby. Glassblowers gather a ball of clear, molten glass on the blowpipe and blow it into a bubble. Next, a piece of colored glass is dropped onto the bubble and rolled over it. Finally, a layer of clear glass is gathered over the color, creating the unique, three-layered starting point of a glassybaby."

Dark Chocolate Bar with Almonds & Sea Salt Bar (and a love note inside)

J Crew Vintage cotton V-neck tee

Hunter Boots Original in Navy

Ray-Ban 'Boyfriend' Flat Top Frame Sunglasses

A Kindle.. of course

Blue Monkey Coconut Water

I've been drinking Blue Monkey Coconut Water like crazy lately!! It is so good for you.. here's why: "A single coconut usually provides an 11 ounce serving of water, and it is low in calories and fat but rich in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. A few key nutrients in Coconut Water include Lauric acid, Chloride, and Iron, as well as important electrolytes such as Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium, and Phosphorous. In fact, the potassium content in Coconut Water is close to twice the amount in a banana. A healthy balance of electrolytes is important for the optimal health of our muscular, cardiovascular, nervous and immune systems, as well as to help with the absorption and balance of the body's internal fluids."

Tyler Laundry Scents, a detergent perfect for your delicate laundry items and bedding.

Lululemon pants.. after all, people bend, your pants will too!

Jo Malone

Jo Malone is a perfume I got onto while working at Nordstrom this year. There are two sizes, one is under 3 oz and perfect for traveling. Verbenas of Provence Cologne and French Lime Blossom are my favorites so far. Here is a little information on the product: With clean, natural and often unexpected ingredients, Jo Malone infuses each scent with a story and originality of its own.

This versatile tumbler is double-walled to keep cold drinks from sweating. An acrylic straw will encourage hydration throughout the day. Safe for drinks 160° and below.This reusable cup is available in oversized 16 and 20 ounce, and ideal for water, tea, and iced drinks.

http://vesseldrinkware.com/vesseldrinkware/

Before Joe started his new job a couple weeks ago, we decided to take a weekend trip to Victoria BC to celebrate!

We took the clipper early Friday morning and got to The Grand Hotel around 10:00am, hoping to at least check our bags at the front desk for a few hours bc we were so early. To our surprise, they had our room ready and gave us the keys! The view was incredible from the balcony - so I had to snap a few pics!

We went to Irish Times Pub for lunch and sat by the window for a view. I had an Irish coffee with a flat bread pizza and Joe tried a local beer with his burger - perfect lunch before hitting the streets for the afternoon to look around.

I've been reading another book by Kate Morton called The Distant Hours that takes place in a castle.. so Joe agreed to take a tour of the Craigdarroch Castle. It was a self guided tour so we wondered around for about an hour or so and were really fascinated by the rich history.

We walked to the Royal BC Museum that afternoon too. The Modern Era History Gallery explores the mining and logging era of mankind on the west coast depicting the days of the gold mines and logging camps, the tools they used and the technology they invented to work their trade.

We took a picture by the Empress Hotel to show my parents. They have been here before for high tea so we were thinking of them!

Victoria feels so much like Europe and is such a walkable City. This time of year isn't tourist season so it wasn't too crowded, which we both appreciated. It rained most of the time and felt cold.. which made for a perfect weekend for two Seattle people. Until next time...

2010 books

2010 Books (in no particular order):

THE CONFESSION, by John Grisham
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, by Stieg Larsson
LITTLE BEE, by Chris Cleave
THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN, by Kate Morton
AT HOME, by Bill Bryson
CHELSEA CHELSEA BANG BANG, by Chelsea Handler
FREEDOM, by Jonathan Franzen
THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett
THE NO. 1 LADIES DETECTIVE AGENCY, by Alexander McCall Smith
TEARS OF THE GIRAFFE, by Alexander McCall Smith
THE PATRON SAINT OF LIARS, by Ann Patchett
THE PILOT'S WIFE, by Anita Shreve
ESCAPE, by Carolyn Jessop

Currently Reading or Waiting in the Que on my Kindle
Distant Hours by Kate Morton
Aftershock: The Next Economy & America's Future by Robert B. Reich
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, by John Gottman
Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, by Chelsea Handler

Books I started but didn't finish
THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, by Stieg Larsson (to intense at the time)
A CIRCLE OF QUIET, by Madeleine L'Engle (3/4 finished)
COMFORT ME WITH APPLES, Ruth Reichl (1/2 finished, lost interest)
HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET, by Jamie Ford (didn't finish
b/c I got the Kindle and it was my last paperback book)

New York City

Its been an incredible weekend in New York City... and tomorrow starts a week of Cole Haan training at the corporate office downtown.

My friend and I started the day in SoHo at Saturdays; an espresso bar/surf shop.

Check out the website: http://www.saturdaysnyc.com/

From there we walked to Smile for lunch... and it was "to die for" as my grandmother would say.

We then stumbled upon an Art Exhibit called RE:Form. I took some pictures at the old school building from different artist's featured in the classrooms.

Looking out onto the courtyard from a classroom

The cupcake shop in SoHo

School Bust

Birthday!

Joe gave me the most thoughtful gift as part of my b-day present. He printed coupons for all of my favorite things to do... loved them!

Yesterday was an eventful day.. due to the fact I turned 25 again and worked at a Junior League event in Seattle called the Northwest Art 50th Anniversary Project.

Eric was hired to play the piano as part of the entertainment for the event. It was really nice to spend the evening with one of my relatives.

Here is one of my favorite paintings, named by Eric as the Disco Deer. Heidi was on my committee and became a friend in the process!

The NW Art project introduces over 20,000 children annually to the rich production of NW artist's through the exibition of its highly respected art collection in local schools. Through informational and intimate discussion of the pieces, the children experience more than a formal art history lesson and develop the ability to imagine what might be. The JL of Seattle put together this fundraiser to expand the project to reach all of King County.

There was food donated by Beechers, Boom Noodle, Wild Ginger and Trophy Cupcakes!

Maker's Mark provided a specialty drink.. and Tranche, O Wines and DeLille Cellars provided the wine selection.

Guests could walk around the Wright Exhibition Space to see 20 of our privately owned art collection. The artists were also at the event to see their work hanging. Michael Spafford was also an artist present and part of the entertainment. He sketched a piece or art for a drawing that took place at the end of the event. A lucky guest got to take his painting home!