Restauranting - Milano

A week or so in Milano

I attempted to combine this with my main Milan post (Oh where is My Hairbrush?), but realized the food was getting excessive...or maybe I ate excessively...so I figured I would separate out the important, from the anecdotal. :)

The hardest thing to do when traveling in Europe is to pick places to eat, as Yelp users are infrequent in Europe and TripAdvisor, while more used, tends to come from tourists...and I don't really want a tourist's opinion on what is best in the city.  Although, I think I did pretty well though, and only had what I would consider a 'miss' once.

My favorite place is a bar my coworker and I popped into during the Italian/British football match...the owner was nice to get us some wine and meats while the game was on (I'm sure he cursing us tourists) - it was called Ronchi 78.  The meat and cheese plate was simple and tasty, the wine perfect (Verdicchio), and while the chicken was a little overdone, the veggies and sauces in the 'stew' was great

Meat Grill - where I had a very frothy (and tasty) Spaghetti Carbonara.  I blame my coworker for wanting to eat at a place called "Meat Grill", but walking around the Duomo, non-touristy restaurants are harder to find.

Osteria Al Coniglio Bianco - in the lovely Navigli canal district - which was my area favorite, despite the man-eating mosquitos (and subsequent swollen feet...).  I had a great melon/prosciutto appetizer, but a dry pounded/breaded veal - note to self, never pick a restaurant with English versions of the menu publicly displayed and picking a rando-restaurant in a touristy area is always risky.

Mag Cafe - Classic cocktail bar in Navigli, the night was alive with people and the football matches were projected on big blow up screens, so the atmosphere combined to make this a fun spot to stop.

Vun - A lovely Michelin starred dining experience with a Seattle friend - everything was amazing, and the sommelier picked wines like it was her job :), and I always love the 'free' chef tastes they give at these types of restaurants (I even got a 2nd taste of the chocolate/ice cream one! The collage to the right shows the 'free' food).  Our meal consisted of (1) 'Caprese...Sweet Salted', (2) 'Dumplings, smoked eggplant, flying squid, pecorino, lovage', (3) 'Lamb, courgettes 'roasted and escabeche', pine nuts, aclla cress', and (4) 'Gianduja and raspberries' for dessert (pictured in order below):

Osteria Ippodromo - near work, but a classic 2 hr Italian lunch (sliced, raw sardines and salmon; a mixed bag of seafood; an entree of fish ravioli), complete with 'piggy' marocchino coffee and a Sardinia liquor - Bresca Dorada Mirto di Sardegna.

Rebelot - where I made friends with an Italian makeup artist and a couple architects, the girl invited me to hang out at a party the next week, friend requested herself from my phone, but sadly, she never accepted.  Either way, I enjoyed a 3-course chef's choice meal (of pounded eel w/ cherries, fish with melon, and fried sweetbreads), and some shared wine, meats, and cocktails to round out the evening (and then got semi-stranded when the metro stopped running at 12, but finally was able to hail a cab while waiting in the rain, although I did debate whether I could walk home or not...mostly cuz I couldn't get any drunk guys to help me, the only suggestions they were able to make were suggestive remarks).

Cova - in the Montenapoleone shopping district, where the men in the cafe wore tuxes, I ordered a Negroni, got a side of puff pastries and a marocchino espresso to boot.  Also, had a man ask for my number, give me his, and his fb name...and then creepy text - multiple times, of his love for me.  Don't worry, he stopped when I did not respond.

Convivium - While wandering just outside the Duomo square, I came across this little gem - and had pesto/potato/gnocchi/green bean pasta (a specialty in the Cinque Terre area), with some wine, a strawberry tart dessert, a cappuccino, and a complimentary digestif.  I also escaped the rain shower :).

Cinc - Which I only had cocktails at, but made friends with the bartender who thought that #JamieBoudreau was the shit :).  There my coworker and I had some Milano/Torino aperitivis - containing: il malanese Bitter Campari ed il torinese Punt e Mes si incontrano al Cinc.  I finished my coworkers drink... hmm either he is wimpy or I'm an alchy... or both.  While we only had cocktails here and some ok pasta a block away, we were given a great suggestion for dinner the next night!

 Il Liberty - A quiet place for a Monday night, but in a new-to-us neighborhood, where you kind of had to know what you were looking for and had to ring a bell to be allowed entrance.  The food was more modern-Italian style, though don't hold me to that as a type of food :).  The menu has changed a bit since we were there, so we'll go based on my memory.  We had tartar, what appears to be a take on tomatoes and mozarella, apparently an un-picture worthy entree?, but some tasty smoked chocolate cigar dessert!

A quick trip to Lake Como

Just a couple place to visit when in Como or neighboring Bellagio.  Some of the places I visited were Antica Darsena (no photos, the wait staff were lovely, and the hotel looked high class, the food was good but apparently not memorable enough for photos), Fresco Cocktail Shop (the old fashioned at a classic cocktail a bit of a walk from the waterfront), Osteria L'Angolo Del Silenzio (the saucy dish, 2 doors down from the cocktail shop, the food was good, but maybe a little too old school style for my liking), and Aperitivo et Al (eggplant lasagna and maracchino, a sweet little wine store that I found after wandering and being quite hungry in Bellagio - I jumped on the ferry north - without food and the ferry happened to be the slow one that took 2 1/2 hours).  And all I have to say, is that I'm grateful for all the walking you have to do while in Europe, otherwise, I would be a 'piggy Natalie'.

Donut meets Coffee

I'm not sure I understand the dating site "Coffee Meets Bagel", especially since the girl is termed coffee and the boy is bagel... ok, yes, I know, my 12-year-old brain is trying to kick in and figure it out physically (well you may dunk the bagel into the coffee... but really a bagel has a hole...damn it all to hell, I don't know.  But I really think you'd want a donut, not a bagel with your coffee).

It's hard to keep the proper 'excitement' when you're attempting to date.  You never want to get too excited about any one person.  But you do have to keep a little sense of hope and expectation, or you may come across as the bitter cat-lady.  You also don't want to go sharing with everyone about your dates, because if it doesn't work - you have to relive why it didn't work when they ask (because dating is somehow an interesting topic).  But conversely, in having friends and sharing your life with those friends... if dating is what you are doing as part of your life, how do you not share that part?  If I learned anything from last year, it's that to get to better more intimate friendships, you have to be willing to share about yourself - both the good and the bad.  What it really comes down to is me talking a lot or me going MIA because I've out-talked myself (don't snicker, it DOES happen).

I'm back in what is known as the dating game - though it's not that fun, I think it should be called 2nd shift or life-part 2 or purgatory.  It really is like another job.  It seems you really can't do much else or then you risk seeming uninterested.  And as much as I want a relationship, finding the energy and time to be interested in a stranger, can be hard to muster up.

Over the last couple of weeks, I've had more dates than I did maybe all of last year (ok, that may be a slight exaggeration, but the dates have felt a little easier to come by - I highly recommend Speed Dating).  So much so that last week it was a 3-for-1 week.  Which leaves my brain and emotions spinning a little.  It always feels like you like someone more than they like you or someone likes you more than you like them.  It's like 2 trapeze artists flying in 2 separate circus rings - it's bound to be a disaster when one person let's go and finds there isn't a partner on the other side to catch them

I thought I had a guy I was interested in seeing, turns out he did not feel the same way (though I do appreciate the honesty, but there is a slight pain when it comes to being rejected).  And with others...I'm frustrated with the over-communication.  Or with a guy who says he wants to date, but then never calls again.  You really have to take it all with a grain of salt I suppose.

I've had date conversations about how I touch my hair a lot, or how touching my hair is a sign I'm sexually interested.  I've been asked to go running on a date (I'm sorry, boob giggle?! f no).  I've gone to a chain restaurant (and did not feel very well the next day...).  But I've had guys patient with my travel schedule and me coming down with the flu.  I haven't had a single one push a check at me and tell me "you got this".  There hasn't been a guy who showed up smelling like he crawled out of the bar that morning, or one that just kept staring at me saying how attractive I was (I know, I sound like a jerk, but for someone to say it more than once throughout dinner, it becomes a little awkward - how much demurring can a girl do?).

Overall it's been good and awkward and tiring.  And I was reminded by a dear friend tonight - you have to see it like the world is your oyster and there are a lot of options out there.  If one doesn't work, move on to the next.  He said you are attractive, you have a great job, and a lot to offer.  Trust your gut, be honest with how you are feeling, and most of all have fun. (I'm sorry if I mixed up what you were saying MP!)  One day this cup o' joe will find the perfect donut to dunk in her cup... wait... strike that, that doesn't sound right.  Oh well, and by the way, I really like maple bars ;-).

UPDATE: I think I spoke way too soon on not having any awkward experiences, apparently people can hold it together for a few dates, and then go a little nutso later on.  Dear lord, nothing about this process is easy.  Maybe I should just give up and marry myself? (see story of 40-yr-old woman who married herself recently...)

Nesting

For a long time, I've felt stuck between two worlds.  My love for the friends in Portland pull on my heart all the time, but the life I have established in Seattle has become equally hard to part from.  At one point, I'd likened Seattle to Jacob (well you know, he IS the fun, literally hot, one...), and for the most part the lifestyle I lead here reinforces that.  And when I was visiting with a friend, I mentioned that I hadn't hung any pictures up in my new (at-the-time) condo - she mentioned that maybe I was subconsciously not wanting to be in Seattle.

After returning from Rotterdam, I admit, I felt pretty lost.  I didn't quite feel like I was "home" and it took a bit to feel like I was established with a life here again.  Moving to Portland seemed closer than it had been in awhile.  But this summer, after making the choice to stay home for the weekend, I finally decided it was time.  It was time to hang up my pictures.  I mean seriously, I'd owned my condo for 2 years, and all they were doing was collecting dust and taking up precious space under my bed (I mean, where else is the monster supposed to live?  And by monster, I mean the extra clothes :) ).



So after a little soul-pinterest searching, and a few arrangement attempts, I figured out how to lay out my collection (I don't know what got into me, but a long time ago, I fell in love with the "Kissing the War Goodbye" photo...and rapidly collected multiple kissing black and white photos... creepy or hopeful, they make me happy).

Layout idea
How to hang a wall collage

Now, I don't know about you, but I find hanging pictures alone to be...a bit challenging.  I mean, something can look perfectly great close up, but look...ummm...terrible when you stand back...and by then, you've already got holes in your walls.  So you know, I probably looked a bit like a spaz standing on my couch, attempting to hammer in pin nails (praying I DIDN'T hit a stud or at least one of those metal ones, I just don't have the power to put those in! #twss), and then jumping back to check every 5 seconds that it was ACTUALLY level and ACTUALLY the right distance apart.

And I'd seen examples of people using paper to map out their plan, rulers to measure where to put nails etc.  Well, I don't keep spare butcher paper around, so I figured the ginormous roll of Costco wrapping paper (that I've had for about 5 years) would do just fine.


After finding a layout that was most similar to the pictures I had on hand, I set to work drawing and measuring.  After the first couple of photos, I realized no matter what I laid out, it was measuring about an inch lower than expected... hmm well, I adjusted and liked seeing the work slowly come together.

And I have to say that I was pretty happy with the finished product, and had fun even incorporating black and white photos of people I love to complement the whole wall.  I can't say they are perfectly straight or measured, and I've had to 'adjust' some of the small frames, but that really doesn't matter.  Seeing them behind my couch every day makes me smile, and if you can't feel happy and cozy where you live, where else can you expect to?

It took ~2 years, but I finally made my house more of a home.  I put permanent marks in my walls that I may be annoyed by one day, but for the time being I'll enjoy the fruits of my labor and be glad that I didn't have to make multiple holes for each one ;-).  So I guess the moral of the story is...live fully where you're at, because if you're always waiting to get to the next place, you'll never feel fully settled.

The opposite wall

Above my bed, though now there are a few more Vegas trip photos :)

We have arrived in the future...

It's crazy to think that in 1985, movies predicted that in 2015 we would have hover boards.  Yet, I suppose we have come a long ways since what 1985 was about - I mean if I said I was going to blog back then you may have thought I was trudging through a bog? (you can laugh now)

As you can predict, like I do every year, I will be making resolutions in this January 1, 2015 blog post.  But first, a quick look back to last year, and the apparently 'unusual' thing I did with my resolutions.  If you remember correctly, rather than making one resolution I would likely only keep for a month (if I was lucky), I was going to make 12 (The year I turned 32) - everything from spending less, finishing books, working out, trying new things or doing more of old things.  My favorite thing was actually something I didn't put on the list!  Instead of going cross country skiing, I tried rock climbing (and loved! it).

Last year was a year to focus on improving/analyzing me.  And it was interesting how multiple mediums reaffirmed what I was going through (from books to therapy to conversations with friends and even some movies).  I can look back now and clearly see the direction of last year was to be more okay with me, to know myself a little better, and to be more gentle with me - even though it was a year I cried more than I have in a long long time.  Growing pains much? (though, I gotta say, for all the hard times there was a LOT of good in 2014!)

Let's just say, I'm hopeful and excited for the 'clean slate' that the new year brings.  And found that my 12 months of resolutions were a great thing for me (and it sounds as though I may have inspired a few people to try it themselves? I'm excited to hear what they pick!).  It was fun for me, having something new to look forward to, having people ask about which one I was on that month or how it was going, and I allowed myself to fail.  There wasn't one month that I hit the mark 100%, I'd say I completed around 50% of each.  I found that the mix between improvement and fun things was appropriate, though I would look forward to the next month, but didn't allow myself to "start early".

The things I would like to focus on this year - fit back into a certain little black dress, purge the stuff, find more ways to incorporate spirituality into my life, spend less, and be less busy.  And knowing how this last year went (I was super looking forward to the dance month...and only went 1 time when it came to it!!), I think this year I will put 12 resolutions in a 'hat', and pick one at the start of each month.  So off the cuff, without much ado here is the plan for the year!

1. Meditate 3 nights a week before bed
2. Scrapbook my year in Europe - 1 page and favorite memory from each place AND find a way to display concert and football tickets
3. Do something active outdoors every weekend
4. Don't plan anything (additional) for the month
5. Start each work day with 5 minutes of prayer
6. Run an 8k (I know it sounds wimpy, but the most I've done now is 5ks...baby steps)
7. Cook completely through 1 cookbook - get rid of any where there isn't 7 things I would like to make
8. Don't watch TV during the week days
9. Check out Martha Stewart's guide to housekeeping from the library - and clean at least 3 things that I've not cleaned in my house
10. Get rid of non-sentimental things not used in the last year
11. Don't buy any entertainment items (books, music, movies, concert tickets, plane tickets, etc)
12. Pick 1 class from the gym - go 2x every week

Now, what are you resolving to do in the Back to the Future year you have arrived in?