Scent of Rose

While 2009 has been a fantastic year, all in all, 2010 has had a slow start and too many nostalgic looks into a long gone past. To lift my spirits, I have booked a few treatments  this month and got myself two rose scented gifts: a candle and a Dr Hauschka body oil. Rose is my comfort zone fragrance: it's delicate and yet penetrating, sweet without being nauseating.

These colourful candles have been designed by yoga teacher Nadia Narain, and they are chemical free and 100% recycled plant wax. The essential oils are so intense that I can smell them without burning my candle. They come in four different scents, each evoking a mood: joy, love, peace and hope, according to your wished feeling. You can choose yours here. I went for LOVE: a wrapping blend of rose and geranium to feel desirable and loved.

I prefer body oils to moisturisers because, when they are of good quality, they are less greasy than creams. If I am lazy, I will just mix them with my shower gel  (which is also rose based) to create an instant softener. You can buy Dr Hauschka's natural body oil directly from their website.

My 2009 Status Updates Collage

Everyday LOVE

I need to interrupt my hiatus to post a message my husband sent me today:

"I liked that when I asked to use the hairdryer this morning for a second, you let me, and sat patiently looking sweet, and didn’t moan.

It made me very happy."

I found it a quite sweet appreciation of a good deed {= me not moaning}. :      ) 

Photo from WeHeartIt

Making some Space

I have to stop blogging for a few days. Too much thinking enfeebled me.  My osteopath recommended to use ice packs to ease the tension cluttering the channels to my brain... I have started my yoga training which took over my week. I need some time and space to digest all the information and sensations I have taken in in such a short time. 

Writing will resume at the end of the week, I trust. In the meantime, live well and stay warm...

Me, back

A brief message to announce my coming-back with a scary backlog of duties, ideas, chores, nuisances. Sardinia was great and will be posting photos soon. Apart from a short absence next weekend when I will be in Paris to intimately celebrate my belated birthday with my husband, I will be resuming my posting as I am in need of retreating into my domestic bliss to gather my thoughts and enjoy some retrospective moments. Thank-you for keeping up with me and my blog...

-100

I am going to do nothing and then I am going to take a rest

If I glance at the date of my last post, I goose-bump! I have literally lost a season worth of blogging, a season of outings, cultural experiences, pleasant visits (Marco, my parents, Steve's family) and discoveries, but it was also a claustrophobic period crammed with doubts, questions, negativity, refusal and closure, a state of mind that I voiced with an openly disobedient attitude towards life. I am sure I have disappointed my partner and parents with my erratic behaviour, but I am relieved I have come out in the light with them. anyhow, I am not here to feel guilty about anything, as my crisis has partly been triggered as a rejection against my typical urge of worrying about other people's well-being and opinion.

Then Christmas came and it was a mixture of pleasant and fun moments (the nieces, skiing, my dearest friends) and more introvert times. I spent virtually a week indoors sleeping till noon and watching Hitchcock films relentlessly, without seeing anyone unless they came to knock at my door. The lack of social life over Christmas is my main regret as I could have made some of my Facebook reencounters feel more real, but I am not here to regret, I said. I also had some more arguments with my mum to try and put things in perspective in her mind. I temporarily succeeded. New Year was lovely - lovely food, lovely people, lovely gifts, lovely fireworks, lovely games. I sang until I lost my voice. For real. The morning after I was in agony with high temperature, aching bones and a nasty cold. It was a painful flu but was also a cathartic transition. I had not been that ill for years and I am a firm believer that our system needs a shake every now and then to reactivate its immune system and make it stronger. Unfortunately, three days later I had to travel, so I could not let the virus take its natural course and leave my organism at its own pace. It was too risky, or so my freaky mother who stuffed me up with antibiotics thought. Nonetheless, I considered it a process of purification, rather than a bad omen for 2009 (chi sta male il primo dell'anno sta male tutto l'anno).

Back in London I missed the first three days of work and had time to fully recover. I have been very active since. I have restarted my beloved yoga and made contact with Triyoga to start an 18-month teaching programme; I signed up to an exciting two-day workshop with a fantastic yogini (Angela Farmer) on Women’s Day; I got my yoga teacher’s back-up to be admitted to the course (I can't tell you how happy I am!); and asked and obtained 10 weeks off work. I am now planning amazing trips to Turkey and Africa. And of course there is the wedding. I would like to devote a separate post to the subject and what this really means to me. Granted, in this economic climate money is a bit of a worry, but, apart from the British Pound ghost haunting me, I am much more content than I was last year. Now I am just waiting for something to hit and shake my current mood again. That will be a revealing point of my sanity and will determine whether I should take more drastic measures (therapy anyone?), or whether I should take everything more light-heartedly...

Photo: Drawing by Unica Zuern

Welcome to the world of grown-ups... and downs

planning a wedding should be fun, but you are 1732km far away, have a full-time work full of new projects, need read financial reports and news that you only partially understand to cheer up/reassure your dad who has got several euros invested in Lehman Brothers, and need to watch out what you buy for lunch because you are broke and need to save, planning a wedding becomes an abstract prospect. in this economic climate, am i really allowed to try on all those wonderful gowns, choose pretty party favours and plan my honey moon??? despite all of this up and downs and my mood swings, i feel rather serene because i have a soft rock next to me and my parents seem rather collaborative. [i need to open a whole post about my mum's bizarre reaction.]

maybe lehman crack, which paradoxically coincided with the setting of the wedding date ,is an ill-omened sign or, more optimistically, a memento of humility... so, we chose the date, i was saying: 13 June 09, which will also be Loftino's grandma's 85th birthday. we also chose the venue: Borgo Lanciano, without having seen it live yet (!). to make the whole experience more spiritual, in october we are starting a 10-week pre-wedding *course* (it's not a course but can't find a better word - my writing is a bit rusty) with Padre Carmelo, priest of the Italian Church in London. on the more frivolous side, on 30th september i have an appointment with the glamorous Browns Bride, on 1st october with Alice Temperley and on 2nd with the sought-after Jenny Packham to try on some gowns which will remind me that it is all real! in other news:

• she will be my photographer.
• my wedding band will be my grandma Lina's resized ring and Loftino will have my grandpa's ring.
• i shall have three bridesmaids and a bride of honour and two witnesses, all girls. i would have loved to have also two adorable flower girls but they are too far to fly over... : (
• we have already drafted the text for the invitations, which we hope to send out soon after Xmas or thereabouts, completely ignoring the etiquette.
• i have some ideas for the invites and party favours, but nothing has been firmed up...

deciding on the list of guests and musicians (if any) will be the hardest pre-wedding tasks. we are still unsure about speeches - whether to have them or not because of the bilingual situation... dilemma, dilemma. it will be sooo hard not to share my bridal fashion findings - i could inaugurate a whole blog on the subject...

Giant Shades

there's nothing more comfortable than hiding behind a pair of giant shades even though, paradoxically, you tend to attract people's attentions... i can wear the Prada glasses also when the light is not so bright... perfect for north-european ever-duskiness. from the top, butterfly glasses by Prada and Marni sunglasses.

my 23rd b'day

I spent a flashing b'day weekend doing the things I mostly like doing when in londinian staycation mode: breakfast in Queen's Park bakery, buying art and fashion books at the local independent bookshop, the Wizard of Oz musical in Southbank, roller-disco and Hadrian exhibit at the British Museum...

Roller-disco was fun if not a bit *repetitive* after going round and round and round for four hours surrounded by people whose only association with the 80s was their year of birth... however, roller-disco confirmed my love for this sport... I wanna be a Skating Queen!

Wanna be skating Queen (you can't see it from the photo but they are flashing skates)

with sunflower offered by lovely hisano and cool francesco and doroty's doggy TOTO with a greedy grin hidden behind Marni oversize shades

post-musical dinner with (from left) Francesco, Amanda, me and Hisano

Gifts: Tate to Tate book Annual membership to the tates for me + one guest : ) Grave of the Fireflies (Hisano always cries when she watches it) Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore (looking forward to starting this) Barack Obama, Dreams from my Father Expressionism Toto Branche d'Olive room fragrance Paper vases and seeds Moleskine 2009 diary (looking ahead) Birth chart Snake Ring from British Museum Heart bracelet Charm bracelet Loads of cool cards I am planning to frame Thanks to you all for contributing to making it flashing *^__^*

my deco~ravelry~oblivious yogina~bad foot~juno

my deco

two interesting discoveries: the first is not a real discovery as my brother-in-law-to-be sent me this link. it's a portal that gathers together highstreet and designer online furniture shops! i had a hard time looking for something quirky and yet affordable until i browsed this. in less than a morning, i got three new pendant lamps for my tall flat, a floor light for our studio area and a cheap coffee table. little touches to improve our living space. next will be a new basin because i managed to break it! don't ask me why - i am not that strong but i am that clumsy.

ravelry
second discovery - a facebook-type community for knitters! it is not live yet, but i already registered to be in first line.

bad foot
i have a foot-ache which started in belgium. it is an on/off pain, whose origin is hard to identify. so, i booked a reflexology session next week, as well as my annual dentist appointment. it seems like february will be *check-up month*, so i may well visit also my doctor for a routine blood test. bring on the hypochondria that it's in me.

oblivious yogina

my yoga centre is magic - i keep forgetting things there and i keep finding them again. tonight i left on the yoga studio's floor my mum's yellow gold ring with ruby and realised about it only at the bus station. [digression - this is the engaged girl who is about to receive an expensive ring!] i ran back swearing to myself that i will no longer take it out. an angel had handed it in at the reception. previous to this, i lost and found there a pair of Dior glasses, my wallet, my credit card.

juno
tomorrow i am seeing sian, an ex-colleague of mine, and i want to propose to go and watch juno, which was presented at the london film festival and received incredibly good reviews despite the unoriginal theme. it is described as cunning, humorous and with cast talented actors. we'll see if it lives up to my pumped expectations.

28 levels of me

i got this game from lovelysalome's blog... it is an intriguing way of knowing details you ignored about your friend's past...

Level 1

(x) Smoked a cigarette.

(x) Smoked a cigar.

(x) Kissed a member of the same sex.

(x) Drank alcohol.

Level 2

(x) Are/been in love.

(x) Been dumped.

(x) Shoplifted.

(x) Been fired.

(x) Been in a fist fight.

Level 3

(x) Had a crush on an older person.

(x) Skipped school – just once!

( ) Slept with a classmate.

( ) Seen someone/something die.

Level 4

( ) Had/have a crush on one of your friends who is now on Facebook.

(x) Been to Paris.

(x) Been to Spain.

(x) Been on a plane.

(x) Thrown up from drinking.

Level 5

(x) Eaten sushi.

( ) Been snowboarding.

( ) Met someone BECAUSE of Facebook – technically, this is impossible! On facebook you are supposed to be linked only to your real friends!

( ) Been in a mosh pit.

Level 6

( ) Been in an abusive relationship.

(x) Taken pain killers.

(x) Love/loved someone who you can’t have.

(x) Laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by.

( ) Made a snow angel.

Level 7

( ) Had a tea party.

(x) Flown a kite.

(x) Built a sand castle.

(x) Gone mudding (offroading).

(x) Played dress up.Level 8

(x) Jumped into a pile of leaves.

(x) Gone sledging (sledding).

(x) Cheated while playing a game.

(x) Been lonely.

(x) Fallen asleep at work/school - at a conference, on my professor's shoulder!

Level 9

(x) Watched the sun set.

(x) Felt an earthquake.

( ) Killed a snake.

Level 10

(x) Been tickled.

(x) Been robbed/vandalized.

(x) Been cheated on.

(x) Been misunderstood.

Level 11

(x) Won a contest - skiing competition

(x) Been suspended from school.

( ) Had detention.

(x) Been in a car/motorcycle accident.

Level 12

(x) Had/have braces.

(x) Eaten a whole pint of ice cream in one night.

(x) Danced in the moonlight.

Level 13

(x) Hated the way you look.

(x) Witnessed a crime.

( ) Pole danced.

(x) Questioned your heart.

(x) Been obsessed with post-it-notes.

Level 14

( ) Squished barefoot through the mud.

(x) Been lost.

( ) Been to the opposite side of the world.

(x) Swam in the ocean.

(x) Felt like you were dying.

Level 15

(x) Cried yourself to sleep.

(x) Played cops and robbers.

(x) Recently colored with crayons/colored pencils/markers.

(x) Sang karaoke.

(x) Paid for a meal with only coins.

Level 16

(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't.

(x) Made prank phone calls.

( ) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose.

(x) Kissed in the rain.

Level 17

(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus.

(x) Watched the sun set/sun rise with someone you care/cared about.

(x) Blown bubbles.

(x) Made a bonfire on the beach or anywhere.

Level 18

(x) Crashed a party.

(x) Have travelled more than 5 days with a car full of people.

(x) Gone rollerskating/blading.

(x) Had a wish come true.

( ) Slept with a member of the same sex.

Level 19

(x) Worn pearls.

( ) Jumped off a bridge.

( ) Screamed "penis" or vagina".

( ) Swam with dolphins.

Level 20

(x) Got your tongue stuck to a pole/freezer/ice cube.

( ) Kissed a fish.

(x) Worn the opposite sex's clothes.

(x) Sat on a roof top.

Level 21

(x) Screamed at the top of your lungs.

(x) Done/attempted a one-handed cartwheel.

( ) Talked on the phone for more than six hours (in one day).

(x) Recently stayed up for a while talking to someone you care about.

Level 22

(x) Picked and ate an apple right off the tree.

(x) Climbed a tree.

(x) Had/been in a tree house.

(x) Been scared to watch scary movies alone.

Level 23

(x) Believed in ghosts.

(x) Have had more than thirty pairs of shoes (not necessarily all at once).

( ) Gone streaking.

( ) Visited jail.

Level 24

( ) Played chicken - ???

(x) Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on.

(x) Been told you're hot by a complete stranger.

( ) Broken a bone.

(x) Been easily amused.

Level 25

(x) Caught a fish then ate it later.

( ) Made a porn video.

(x) Caught a butterfly.

(x) Laughed so hard you cried.

(x) Cried so hard you laughed.

Level 26

(x) Mooned/flashed someone.

(x) Had someone moon/flash you.

(x) Cheated on a test.

(x) Forgotten someone's name.

(x) French braided someone's hair.

(x) Gone skinny dipping.

(x) Been kicked out of your house - not physically as i was in germany as an Erasmus student, but i was still paying my rent in Perugia.

(x) Tried to hurt yourself.

Level 27

(x) Rode a roller coaster.

(x) Went scuba-diving/snorkeling.

(x) Had a cavity.

( ) Black-mailed someone.

(x) Been black mailed.

Level 28

(x) Been used.

(x) Fell going up the stairs.

( ) Licked a cat.

( ) Bitten someone.

(x) Licked someone--not in private places...

random (weird) facts (confessions) about me

Rule: Each participant posts eight random facts about themselves. Afterward, I'll tag eight more bloggers in their comments section.

1. i don't eat fish with shape of fish. 2. i am snake-phobic, but i do not mind spiders that much. 3. as a child, my mum used to bring me to the old witch of the village to fight off the evil eye, which (she was sure) had possessed me. 4. i have had only two long-term relationships. 5. i love bending leaves and then i always feel guilty for having ripped them off their plant. 6. i practice yoga to learn facing sorrow and pain and find a sublime pleasure (through pain) in it. 7. i have a tatoo in my lower back which i find difficult to describe (an unfinished circle between brackets?) whose meaning i kept secret. 8. i have had (a bunch) of white hair since i was 2 years old. i struggled to find eight targets (facebook's fault - most of my friends are there now and neglect the blogsphere), but here you go: superqueen,SE4, oggi non ho tempo, kiara yuki, fat robot, aurelie, maga, garnant are all tagged.