Logo Design 2014

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My Latest Adventure

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Living in Italy - One Year Later

It's hard to believe a year has passed since my family and I got off the plane that brought us to our new home. Living in Italy has been whirlwind of wonderful, crazy, confusing, frustrating, and at times very magical moments. It took us about six months to really feel settled and at home. Home...My home is in Italy... There are still moments when I pinch myself to make sure it's not a dream.There are many things I love about living here and a few I could do with out. So I of course, I made a list.Why I love Italy

1. It's Italy. Need I say more? The blessing to have this experience is one I'm not taking for granted.
2. I am surrounded by antiquity. When you stroll though towns on cobblestone roads you can't help but think about all the people that have gone before you. In short, the history.
3. I've had to put myself out there and it's totally been worth it.
4. The wine. Ohmygosh...the wine!
5. "Domani". Italians are very laid back. I love how they enjoy and appreciate living and aren't afraid to put things off till "domani" (tomorrow). They don't rush to drink that cup of coffee on the run. In fact I think they only time they do rush is when they're on the road. It's made me appreciate the simple things even more than I already did.
6. Market day. Antique Market Day. Artisan market day. Festivals. etc. etc.
7. They take serious steps to conserve and preserve. From the recycling to the infrequent use of paper cups and utensils (I've yet to see them in a cafe).
8. Scarves. One of my favorite accessories is also considered one necessary piece of clothing for Italian women. Yay!
9. Pizza with mushrooms from my favorite Pizza place = heaven.
10. I'm actually getting to use the Italian I studied: four years in high school & 3 semesters in college. Over the last year it's vastly improved.
11. Gelato. Gelato. Gelato.

What I could live with out or miss the most about the States

1. The toilets. I absolutely dislike the toilets here. They're designed in such a way that one constantly has to take a toilet brush to them if you know what I mean. Oh and then there's the squatty potty.
2. Getting used to things closing in the middle of the day for "riposo" was really challenging at first and it still can be at times.
3. The lack of big box stores like Target. Oh how I miss Target and their cute home decor items and way affordable t-shirts I also would be remiss if I didn't mention the CLEARANCE items. The Italian sense of decorating style tends to either lean toward the ultra modern or somewhere in the 70's or 80's and there is no "clearance" section. There are two major times of year when the stores have major sales. January and July.
4. I know I'm surrounded by cafes that serve excellent coffee and I am a bit of a coffee snob...Yet as much as I'm embarrassed to say it, I miss Starbucks. Sometimes you just want a cafe latte to go. NO such thing here. [Except for the coffee vending machines which, by the way, make excellent coffee. (See number 5 above).]
5. Converting the Dollar to Euro. I hate that right now we get only about $.71 to every €1,00. Needless to say, I shop online a lot.
6. Closets. I miss closets.
7. Cellular telephone service. It's "no buono".

2013 A Review in Pictures Flipagram

In 2013 I welcomed my husband home after 751 days. Eight months later I kissed him goodbye for what should be 190 days. I kissed him... A lot. Said good bye to family and friends in Miami, fulfilled a life long dream of living in Europe. In Italy I've made some good friends who feel like family, climbed a mountain (sort of), read a ton of books. Wrote some stuff, including a letter to Juliette (and felt her up). I became a soccer mom, sent my baby to Kindergarten, drank a bunch of wine, and even more coffee and tea, and ate way too much gelato. My Gram gives the best hugs and slobbery kisses and I miss them. Oh and I still heart Mr. Darcy!I made this using the Flipagram app and the song is "Sway" by Blue October

Italian Open Air Market Clothing Haul

Open air markets are a part of Italian culture and where you can find a lot of great things at more affordable prices than you would at a mall.  I really enjoy exploring the different markets locally, One can be found on any day of the week and even though they are all pretty similar, each one is a little bit different. Once you go to your local market a few times you also get to realize which vendors you prefer and they in turn get to "recognize" you, so it does help you feel more apart of the community too. Exploring open air markets when we travel is also one of the things I'm looking forward too, especially in cities like Milan, Rome, and Florence.Yesterday was Tuesday and that means that it was market day in Aviano. I met a good friend for a cappuccino and then we went to the market not really intending to buy anything, but more to look around and people watch. The last few times I was at the market, there were two items I kept eyeing but always passed up.  One were these extremely soft sweat pants and a cashmere blend sweatshirt tunic.  I love a tunics especially when they're paired with leggings.  It's my go to outfit on those days where I want to look cute but still feel comfortable. I'm not one to wear yoga pants when not at the gym so leggings and a tunic are my version of comfy. My cold weather wardrobe is pretty sparse so I was glad to get these items to add to it. I also purchased a pair of the sweatpants in grey. This mountain is what I get to look at every morning when I open my bedroom shutters. I still pinch myself to make sure that my living in Italy isn't a dream I'll wake up from.The scarf is a cotton scarf I also found at an Open Air Market earlier in the season. Scarves are my absolute favorite non jewelry accessory and I'm so glad women here wear them practically year round.The sweater as I mentioned is a cashmere blend, made in Italy and the tag says Meily. I paid €21,00. The pants are a non-branded made in china, and cost €8,00. The scarf isn't branded but similar styles can be found all over in the open air markets. I paid €6,00 for it, if my memory is accurate.The boots are Steve Madden Women's Troopa Boot. My bracelet I scored at Burlington Coat Factory when I lived Stateside. My wayfarers I've been sporting since before they were trendy, and yes I need them to see. You can find similar styles at  Coastal.Com.

Belluno, Italy

This weekend we visited Belluno, located in the Veneto region of Northern Italy.  It is a charming, picturesque city nestled in the Dolomite mountain region about 100 kilometers north of Venice. As in most places in Italy, every where you turn you see history, but here it's palatable. From the frescoes that span the ceilings above the walkways where shops and restaurants now lay, to the ruins of a castle dated to the 1500's.On the day we went a little market was taking place and we've become quite fond of these visiting markets because you can sometimes discover things you wouldn't normally find in northern Italy, like Mexican food and really good cannolis. [gallery ids="10939,10940,10941,10942,10943,10944,10945,10946,10947,10948,10949,10950,10951,10952,10953,10954" orderby="rand"] 

I captured all of these photos using my iPhone and the Hipstamatic app. (one of my favorites - f you'd like to know the lens, film, combo I used for any of these pictures feel free to inbox me a note or catch me on Twitter @nicky_olea) I shared them via Instagram.

 

Sightseeing in Northern Italy

I know I've been totally lame on the blogging lately. All of my free time has been spent pursuing other things...like exploring Italy. Everywhere I go my eyes are awash with beauty. I really am in love with this place.I've so much I want to share with you, but for now, I thought I'd post some short video snippets from my Vine account. They're only six seconds long, so they won't take up too much of your time. If you've not heard of Vine, it's a social sharing site like Instagram, but with six second videos. There are some seriously cool stop motion videos on there that make joining totally worth it. Which proves that the world is awash in art and talent and amazing things. Here are a few I've witnessed while sightseeing in northern Italy.Here is a waterfall in Fregona, we visited last week.A few weeks ago we went to an International street market in Pordenone, where there were a variety of vendors from all over Europe. Here we are sampling some Paella. I can't tell you how nice it was to hear Spanish. We spent €10 for a plate of Paella, but it was in all honesty, one of the best things I've had since arriving in Italy. Ironic? Me thinks so. Here are my boys walking over to investigate a boy chasing a pigeon. Can you believe they want to cut their hair..? We stopped on the side of the Autostrada to capture this rainbow on our way home from Ikea one weekend. (I just got my furniture delivered this week, and in writing this, realized, I really must share that experience with you too! Love and Beautiful Italy,nicoleSaveSaveSaveSave