cough, cough, cough (grumpy post)

I'm sick! Ewwww! I've spent every day this weekend cuddled under a blanket, with lots of tea nearby,  and something amazing on the tv. (thank, thank, thank you to abc family for airing a perfectly-timed harry potter weekend). I got a lot done for work, actually, which was nice, and was able to just veg out. It snowed a lot more than I expected on saturday so it was a total lazy, indoors day...

before i started feeling like total awfulness

I am reeeeally starting to get sick of being indoors, really sick of the below-freezing mark, and even more sick of feeling like my head is going to explode from all of this pressure. I am pretty grumpy. I've said before that I hated winter, but I am kind of depressing myself because I keep reminding myself that it's only January (well, it's kind of over) and there's so much more snow, so many more sneezes, so many more days of horrific paleness to go. there, i said it. i absolutely detest this right now.

grrrrrr.

insta-lately

l to r: a half frozen lake nearby my home; a pretty sundown over the philly skyline;

a throwback from a lovely evening stroll in florence; chatting over a latte with my best friend;

sherbet that i would say yes to on a much warmer day; new kicks (nike free! love those);

cold day errands with possibly the best caramel macchiato ever made; sushi dates with my dad.

follow my instagram at @tmango77

January has been bitterly, bitterly cold. Some of my new favorite things are sushi dates with my dad.

Who knew I liked sushi? This is a new development, as of this past summer. My favorite is shrimp tempura.

Is that even real sushi, sushi snobs? I don't know. But hey...baby steps. 

Another new favorite thing of mine is my pair of Nikes. I've hopped on the neon trend, maybe two years too late.

I went on my first run with them last week and really felt like I was wearing air. Does that sound weird?

Other oldies but goodies...my caffeine, evening lights in the city, and of course...italy!

what has january been bringing you so far? ciao, xo

spoiled with snow days

part of this balanced breakfast.

new spring-colored moleskines...how exciting!

The annoying thing about snow days - well, is being snowed in with 5 other humans. EEEP.

#Livingathomeproblems.

But we have a lot of fun. Girly tea time is an all-day thing. Downton Abbey is on repeat. 

And we lazily trudge through work.

I do things in between, like paint nails (which color should I choose by the way?)

and sit in bed surfing blogs.

The other day I realized that I am super spoiled by these snow days...as I now expect them.

When it snows I immediately go into lazy girl mode.

Does that even make sense?

Do snow days affect your efficiency?

Do you love them or hate them?

ciao, xo

pienza dreaming

As I stated yesterday I am in quite a blogging rut, and this collection of cheery, summery photos might just be the dose of inspiration I need. Pienza! A little commune in Tuscany right outside of my favorite, Siena. Photos from 2011.

When I think of Pienza...I think of penne alla vodka. I think of the smell of cheese wafting through the brown-walled streets. I think of quietness and bright Tuscan sunshine over the most beautiful vistas. Quintessential Tuscany. When I was in Pienza, I was studying abroad and I remember not being able to get over the view of the rolling hills of the countryside - the screeching birds that were flying in and out of eyesight. We had a once-in-a-lifetime lunch of penne alla vodka, among other things that I can't remember, made by monks in a monastery. 

It was something that I think back on now and wonder, how did I not write down the name of the place? Maybe all that matters is somehow I finagled the recipe out of someone who spoke to someone - and I can make the penne alla vodka all by myself here! I doubt it will be anything close to that experience though. We watched a mid afternoon thunderstorm roll by through the windows, and ate our lunches happily - "we" being some of the best friends I have ever made in my life.