Ciao

I've been blog-absent for the last month but with good reason!  I spent most of June soaking in every last bit of the food, history, art, and beauty of Italy.  Amazing is the only word to describe it.  That said, I do have some fun posts started (and lots of words) about everything we saw and ate while there that I'll be rolling out once I get my hands on the hubs thousands of pictures.

For now... some Blackberry quality sneak peeks.

Our first dinner in Italy on a walking street in Venice, after 2 days of travel.  I sat there repeating, "I can't believe I'm really here" over and over again.  The beauty of Venice totally blew me away; it was love.  I also loved all the wine and carbs...

Jetlag isn't my best look, but I can't even explain how how purely happy I was this night to have finally arrived!

One place I just knew we needed to make a stop while in Rome was La Botticella, the Steelers bar.  Yes, an Italian bar plastered in Steelers paraphernalia.  I suppose it defeats the "Europe experience" when you go where you know you'll be surrounded by people from your own hometown, but it was a blast.  And, well, Jesus was wearing a Steelers helmet, and you can't argue with that!

Hi, sorry we look like we've walked 10 miles in 95 degree weather... it's because we pretty much had.  Thank you Roman heat wave!

Anyone else have fun summer plans they've been enjoying?  
Any upcoming travel plans?  Let me live vicariously through you now that I've spent my travel budget for the next decade!

It just got sur-real

Life has quickly gone from busy to positively surreal.

Yesterday was my students' last day.

Today was my last day at the school before 4 weeks off.

The hubs and I board a plane in less than 72 hours for a vacation I've literally dreamed about for years!

I'm feeling blessed with my life right now.

Now if only the Pens can pull off a win against Boston tonight... we'll have even more reason to be celebrating!

What things (big or small) are you celebrating in your life right now?

Grow up and act like a little girl

After running a few errands after work yesterday, I had a hard time deciding whether to hit the gym or skip it.  I convinced myself I needed to go, knowing I wouldn't regret it.  Two wonderful things happened when I got there.

1. It was an arm day, and the weight room was a ghost town.  I prefer free weights for arm work, but the weight room at the Y can get crowded.  I don't care so much who is there, but I admittedly hate sharing benches.  I like to have my own little slice of space, and I had space galore to work on my guns ;)

Thank you iphone for the high quality image

2. As I was walking into the Y, there was a young girl walking in with her mother.  This story is even sweeter if you know that she was about 5 years-old and wearing nothing but a swimsuit and flip-flops (crazy hot weather this week!).  As I walked past her she looked straight up at me and said with the most sincerity a child can muster "You're pretty!"  I stopped, squatted down, and told her thank you and that she was very pretty as well.

Sometimes it takes a child to remind us how easy it is to make another person smile.  Old, young, friend or stranger, it takes only seconds to share a compliment.  Perhaps we all need to start acting like 5 year-old little girls a little more often...


When was the last time a stranger surprised you with a compliment?  

Did you "pass on" the kindness to someone else?

Gelato for dinner?

I love my kiddos, but I can't stop thinking about only having 12 work days before the school year is over.  That marks the start of my summer break and time for a huge 18 day vacation.  It would be (will be?) hard working in any other PT setting after enjoying the perks of a school-based position.

For now though, I'm just trying to enjoy the weekend.  The hubs is away for a few, so things are a little different around here.  Friday evening will definitely include watching the Penguins game, and it may also include any or all of the following...

• Eating gelato and kettle corn for dinner
• Staying on the couch for hours at a time
• Online shopping for said vacation
• Watching TLC wedding shows
• Reading blogs
• Doing absolutely nothing productive
• Eating more gelato

Sounds like a perfect Friday night to me!

How are you spending your Friday night?

Your idea of a perfect Friday night?

PS. I don't really eat gelato for dinner.  Gelato was just my appetizer.  Dinner was this monster-sized seafood stuffed portabella.  Yum.

Lusting

The hubs will be off to Vegas for a few days this week, and we'll be waking up in my dream vacation destination in less than a month!  That can only mean one thing... I was able to drag the hubs to the mall today.  This rarity usually happens about once a year, just before we go on vacation.  Sunglasses, boat shoes, and linen have me ready to start packing.

The last big thing to check off my list is a go-everywhere bag for 18 days of traveling and touristing (this is a word now).

I found this one at Macy's, and feel in instant love lust.

Fossil Explorer Tote (shopping.com)

Dear beautiful luscious bag, why must you cost $238?

I can spend $120 on running shoes that will last me a few months without blinking an eye, but even $100+ for a handbag that will last (pretty much) forever makes me want to...vomit.

I think a trip to the outlets may need to be in my plans soon.


What do you easily splurge your money on?
Running shoes and jeans for me

Where do pinch your pennies versus splurging for the "good stuff"?
Handbags and anything I wear to work