Three degrees of attention

I saw this dog today, right before the Rhythm Riot parade. He was sitting on a tractor from 1946. I could not help but go and play with him.

You're an Adventurous Spirit

I just took a very cool visual test on the NYT website..and this is what came out:

You're a fast-mover and feel energized about anything that gets your pulse racing! You're enthusiastic about life and an upbeat spirit who knows how to have fun and tends to value all which is fresh and new in the world. You tire quickly of old conventions and outdated ideas, wishing to experience new methods with youthful innocence and vigor. It's all about big thrills and exciting antics that take you out of your comfort zone. You want to feel connected to the world around you and actively seek out opportunities to get closer to nature. For you, it is all about broadening your horizons and living life to the fullest!

I guess it's pretty spot on!

Images and text courtesy of New York Times. You can take the test here.

One of the cool things I saw in Paris..

Heading to Paris

In 48 hours...cannot wait!

A project worth supporting

A year ago my friend David decided to start a new adventure, and after working for numerous prestigious publication decided to start his own. Just like my hubby for The Fiction Desk, David put together years of experience, passion and hard work to create his own project: Trunk. Trunk is a beautiful magazine, aimed a travelers and in general people curious about the beauty of the world. The first issue was stunning, with images and stories that made me long for the second issue. Unfortunately money ran short, and so the second issue took a little longer. But now we all have the opportunity to be a part of this project. Please take a minute to watch this video by David. He explains the nature of the magazine, and why it may be a great idea to support it.

Some friends are visiting Florence this weekend, and they asked me for suggestions for bars and restaurants..Old faithful Serge was able to give me some good ideas: I due Fratellini (via dei Cimatori) remains an easy and charming option for a quick sandwich on the go, however I fear that the place has become a bit touristy ‘ino (via dei Georgofili 3r/7r) is another option for a quick panino and a table to sit at Trattoria Armando-(Borgo Ognissanti) was a recent discovery. I went there on my last trip, Serge and his girlfriend took us there. Everything was delicious, and the atmosphere cozy and relaxing. Also on Borgo Ognissanti is the panificio Palatresi does an amazing orzo (or riso) bollito con verdure e formaggio. Very simple, but incredibly good. And for a glass of wine (and maybe an overnight) with a stellar view of Florence? Hike up to the Torre di Bello Sguardo and enjoy life!

Missoni for Target

Why am I not in America right now? After Liberty for Target another fav brand is collaborating with Target. While I am normally not a big fan of the T store, I love their new project..and I would love to get my hands on some of the Missoni stuff!

The collaboration is promoted in all sorts of ways, including the creation of a fictional character ( a doll?) called Marina who takes care of social media for the new collection.

The colors are fun, not everything is something I would buy, but it makes for a fun and cheap designer splurge..oh to have a target nearby...do they deliver to the UK?

For more info:http://allthewayuphere.tumblr.com/

http://www.target.com/c/Missoni/-/N-5ouwb

The collection will be in stores starting Sept 13..just in time for my trip to Paris!

We are going sailing

We just joined the Rye Yacht Club and this weekend we are going sailing! I am so excited:-) I may even get to compete in a little dinghy race..

London part 2

It looks like things have gone back to normality, at least in London. Yesterday the city was busy as usual. There was definitely more police around, but the atmosphere was not tense.
What will happen now? Talking to friends, we are all shocked by what happened. Unfortunately there will always be people who take these kind of opportunities. The worry is they are increasing in numbers due to social inequality, child poverty levels etc.

I hope this is a wake up call for a turnaround rather than a marker of the future.

Riots in London

I cannot get over the madness that's going on in London. People are looting and trashing the city. It's sad and scary, it looks like the crowds are mainly made up of teenagers without a sense of society. How sad. I hope things will get better soon..

Looking forward to..

This rooftop view in London!

The new shopping mall in the City is not only great for retail therapy- but also for food and amazing views. The One New Change building has been designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect, Jean Nouvel. The modernist building has 6,500 floor-to-ceiling glass panes in varying shades of red, grey and beige, flooding the floors with natural light. 4,300 of which are unique pieces. It's open everyday from 7AM till late..I am definitely looking forwards to many meeting up on the terrace!

Woody Allen does Monti

I knew Woody Allen was filming in Rome, but I did not expect to bump into him on my way to coffee. Here he is, in our Piazzetta, directing the Rome Decameron.

what am I doing?

eating figs, peaches, watermelon, seeing friends, drinking prosecco, walking around and enjoying the heat. today will also start the shopping.

life is not bad at all.

Petticoat Lane

A few days ago, Jess and I went to the V&A. We focused on the English galleries, learning about furniture, textiles and clothes..
Brilliant photographer Jess captured me trying on a petticoat..I look like a crazy woman, but I love this pic! Thank you J

London Dandy

Art Galleries and art shows are always the best places to catch dandies...I saw this guy just outside the Serpentine Gallery after seeing the Pistoletto show. I tried to be discreet with my phone, but I think he was posing for me! Peacock :-)

Look what I have done

This weekend J came to visit us in Rye. We had a great time and even managed to get crafty and do a weaving workshop. Believe it or not it was great fun and we were actually pretty good at it. Armed with creativity, a huge loom and an ungodly amount of wool, we created this lovely tapestry. It will live in the Rome office and bring it lots color and light:-)

10 things I want to do in Rome

1- See my family. I have missed them terribly since I moved to England

2- See my friends: work friends, play friends, food friends..everyone I have not seen since March

3- Go to Sperlonga, or Sabaudia. The lovely beaches of Italy are a must in the Summer, and if I cannot make it to Sardegna this time around, at least I can chill in Sperlonga!

4- Gelati: both Daniel Gelo - with their coconut, mandarino and watermelon flavors, but also Ciampini with fragoline and panna.
(I am salivating just thinking about it)

5-Giacomo: Al Vino Al Vino, la caponata, sitting by the courtyard sipping a glass of Bisol and eating the figs that Giacomo brings us (yes, I am spoiled!)

6-Caffe: shakerato, al vetro, con un goccio di latte. I am so excited at the idea of paying 80 cents for an amazing coffee, I cannot wait.

7- Rome: I miss walking around my city. Taking in the beauty and chaos, the dirt and magnificence of Rome. I heart my city, even when it's 40C

8- Shop: Monti, Testaccio and via del Babbuino..I shall shop and be merry!

9-La parlata Romana: believe it or not, I miss hearing some of the typical Roman expressions, the jokes that only a Roman would do and understand.

10- Water: drinking fountains everywhere and perfectly sparkling water easily available. Now, that's luxury!

Only 1 week to go!

Dinner in the green

Our weekend just ended in the best possible way, eating out with friends in their amazing garden, overlooking the country. The food was great, the wine was flowing and the company perfect.

two exciting weeks ahead

So much to do in so little time! Heading up to London tomorrow and tuesday and then again the following week. Have lots of appointments with hotels, journalists and PR people.

Then Jess is coming to visit - it will be great having her here!- finally on the 20th we go home (Rome) for 2 weeks!

Walked in for Vivienne

And walked out with Chanel..pictures to come soon.

Ladies of Style

What a great bunch

China Glaze Pink Prick

Love my new pedi!

walking around London

I cannot help but love all the style inspirations. I love this city, the colors, the constant activity of art galleries, fashion houses, markets, bankers, foodies..I love having my weekly dose of this and then going back to the lovely yet fashionable country side. I love this about England..the fact that the country side, the wellington boots and barbour jackets can co-exist with the Saville Row and Harvey Nichols...

So what do I like this summer? I love the colors of shoes and accessories that these two gils paired with a plain trench coat




I love the colors of the flowers I can pick in the country side, and how they go with the lovely teapot from Denby (thank you Elizabeth for introducing us to Denby- we are now obsessed!)



and the contrast of brown buildings and brights graffiti, or the bright green of the fields around me

English cherries

English cherries has finally arrived! Who knew life could be so delicious:-)

Celebrating Trouping Colors in Rye

Summer has arrived, we are busy with the million activities going on in Rye and London..it's such an exciting time for us. Every weekend something new and fun happens: guests visiting, sailing, exhibitions, new towns to discover..and this weekend was Trouping of the Colors: a celebration that takes care ever year to mark the birthday of the Queen.

After the Royal wedding, I was sure there would be no more patriotic events for the rest of the year, and instead this weekend I was reminded of the importance of certain dates and events for British people. Rye was packed with people, lots of locals dressed up in the style of the 40's, they brought out their vintage cars and even danced to some great swing and lindy hop tunes..

Here is a member of the Hastings historic cycles society "showing off" his style. Love it!

More Wedding Frenzy!

The Royal Wedding

The Royal Wedding frenzy is taking over everything...including beer!

The Perfect gluten free cupcake..curtesy of The Truffle Cup, Rye, East Sussex

My new life

So many things have changed! I now live the wonderful life of the country!

On March 1, Mr R and I moved into a beautiful 15th cent. home in Rye, East Sussex. We fell in love with the house immediately, almost oblivious to the troubles of living in a historic house. After the first few days we realized we needed to keep the heating going for at least 5 hours to get some temperature variation in the house. We also realized the washer/dryer needed to be changed, and all the floors were slanted.

We talked to the landlords and found solutions for most of the issues. We started using our massive fireplace (the first time we set the fire alarm off), we got a new washer/drier, and after various attempts with duck feather pillows (a whole separate story) we manage to get all the bedding necessary for us and for guests.

Rye is lovely. The Lonely Planet guide to England uses the following words to describe it: "Seemingly pickled, put on a shelf and promptly forgotten about by old Father Time, Rye is one of England's most beautiful medieval villages. You can't help but fall under its spell as you slip and wobble through the cobbled lanes, past mysterious passageways and crooked timber-beamed buildings. Romantics can lap up the townsfolk's tales of resident smugglers, ghosts, writers and artists, and even the most hardened cynic will be seduced by a slew of exquisite accommodations in its heart."



Our house is on the main square, hence it's often photographed by curious tourists who peek inside our windows saying with a surprised tone in their voice: "It's and English Listed building! But there are real people living here!!!!"

We are about 30 min on foot from the beach and 1 hour by train from London. We are blessed to have 3 amazing cafes and tea houses all serving a variety of Gluten free cakes. We have our favorite restaurant where we try to go every week. There is a great place for massages, pedis and all beauty treatments and I even found a hairdresser I like!

Life could not be better..now we just need our friends and family to come and visit!

Shopping in Rome - for a good cause-2

Here is our stand. Our day was very successful and we raised 504 Euro for Behbud.



Thank you Katie, Arlene, Jessica, Elizabeth and everyone else who came by and gave us support!

On Al Jazeera

I come up around minute 1:30..

Moving in 11 days

I cannot believe I am leaving Rome in 11 days. Mr. R and I and heading to England where we got a beautiful house and lots of exciting things coming up

And yet, the though of leaving makes me teary, the list of people I want to see and say goodbye to makes me happy, because I have so many special people around me, and yet sad- because I know I will be far from them.

I already have a trip back scheduled. I will be back in Rome in mid march, for a couple of days. And then in April I will see my best friend, my parents and a good group of friends in Istanbul, but it's not the same.

Shopping in Rome - for a good cause-

If you are in Rome on Feb 27, stop by the Radisson Blue Hotel, in Via Turati. We'll be selling beautiful vintage for a good cause. All proceedings will go to Behbud.

Jumping over

This week I am in rural Pennsylvania. My colleagues and I are on a company retreats..one of the activities was sledding...

House Hunting in the UK

It looks like this is one of the runner ups.

Read!

The news are full of stories about libraries having to shut down all over the UK. The Italian Finance minister said the "con la cultura non si mangia".
Things are looking sad for culture in both Italy and the UK. Cuts to culture are up to 80% in Italy, and the Tory Government is threatening to slim down the school curriculum.

In this time to turmoil, my husband decided to start a publishing house. I am extremely proud of him, and while I am concerned about the difficulties he is going to encounter, I think he will have great success.

The Fiction Desk will be publishing new fiction in the form of quarterly anthologies. The first issue will be out in Mid-April.

You can find out more about it here.

things I like

Skinny, slightly short jeans and Vans shoes. Maybe it's because when I was a teenager, and lived in the States, I used to have a collection of vans..about 20 pairs, all different, all colorful. The year I got back from the States my mom decided Vans were not good for me, maybe she thought they had something to do with my hair being green and my clothes being baggy.

She threw away all the Vans.

It was in a way, the end of an era. I went back to wearing my classic Italian clothes, went back to my normal hair color and to shoes made in Italy. Hoever, my love for these lovely,colorful shoes did not end. These days, I opt for a French version of the slip ons by Bensimon.

England

I am heading to England in a few days..Mr R and I are going house hunting before our move in mid March. My mom and dad are coming along, and will help us select the perfect house for us.
The parents presence is welcome, especially as I hope it will make my mom fall in love with England and stop worry about my move. Sometimes I think her impression of the UK is a perennially cloudy land of tea drinkers who don't know how to cook...that's it.

So, now we are preparing for the trip. We booked the flight, the hotel, we are renting a car for the week and...now we need to pack. What to bring? I am hoping for a sunny week, but I know I have to be realistic and pack some rain gear. I do not have heavy boots and my coats are more apt for Rome weather than British country side.

I love these umbrellas from London Undercover



But what to do about shoes? should I give up to the Wellington mania? Or the Ugg craze?