A typical Monday night

Computer with Italian and English grammar websites open. Check.

Some travel website just to indulge a little bit. Check.

Some itunes in order to keep me entertained. Check.

Notebook with some lesson planning going on in it. Check.

My cell phone. Check.

My Planner. Check.

A plate of pasta I just cooked for dinner. Check.*

A glass of red wine. Check.

Yeah, that looks like my typical Monday night!

*(It was spaghetti alla carbonara, for you curious folk. No cream, because, really, at 8:30pm no one really needs cream.)

Oh, Happy Day!

(I don't remember where I found this pic, if you know, fill me in)

Often, when I am in a good mood, 

I have a hard time holding back the urge to sing a long to my music on my mp3 player. 

I don't do it because I know I would get stares from random people on the street.

Well, on Friday I was in an incredibly good mood...

..I woke up to some VERY good news, it was an incredibly beautiful clear day, I was hit on by a rather handsome redhead and the list could go on...

I was walking to meet up with my roommate for some drinks and I couldn't help but have thisbig goofy smile on my face,

 I was trying so hard to resist my urge to sing with the music,

 then I figured people were staring at me (because the people of Trento aren't used to seeing someone smiling as they walk, but more on that later) so I figured, 

What the hell...

...and I SANG...

...and it was wonderful!

Here are the two songs I was unable to resist:

Blackbird singing in the dead of night...

{via}

Here where I live they have a legend about the "giorni della merla" {The days of the blackbird}, which are the last 3 days of January, the 29th, 30th, and 31st. 

It's actually a really cute legend.

Once upon a time {all good legends start this way, right?}, the first blackbird alive was all white (it probably wasn't called a blackbird back then, but that's neither here nor there). One day it got really cold and freezing...

{via}

so, the blackbird had to look for someplace to hide in order to shield itself from the cold. The only place it could find to hide was inside a chimney stack

{via}

So, our little {white} blackbird hid out inside the chimney stack for the next 3 days {the coldest days of the year}, and when it started getting warmer he emerged, but due to the soot and ash in the chimney he was no longer white, but black, and it remained that way forever....

{cannot for the life of me remember where I found this one...sorry!}

 ...and that my friends is why blackbirds are black!

Esther

This is my roommate, Esther.

(Let's all say it together...Hi, Esther!)

She is awesome!!!

Sometimes, we have the weirdest/funniest/randomest (yes, I make up my own words, sue me!) conversations.

Example 1: I was eating a banana and was walking past her room and the following took place

Cyn: Ba-na-na...You know when I say it like that I feel like Tarzan.

Esther: Did you say Tarzan?

Cyn (coming back to her doorway): Yeah, you know like when he has to learn to speak...Ba-Nah-Nah

Esther: Dear God, she has gone crazy. You're nuts!

Example 2: I forget what we were talking about

Esther: Yeah, like RoboCop

Me: What?

Esther: Yeah, like the movie- RoboCop

Me: Never seen it

Esther: (Backtracks into the room) What?!?! You have never seen RoboCop? What kind ofAmerican are you? Everyone has seen RoboCop!

(I guess in Europe, RoboCop is one of those classic movies that, apparently, EVERYONE has seen..or maybe it's just like that in Spain.)

Example 3: Esther had just gotten to get blood drawn this morning and she shows me this:

Esther: I look like a junkie

Me: I don't think junkies wear band-aids

I adore her.

What am I going to do without her when she moves out next month?!?!?!

Dear Forehead

Dear Forehead, 

We need to have a talk...

I know we've had a tumultuous relationship in the past 

(I know there were several burns from curling irons and I KNOW you still haven't forgiven me for running on wet cement in order to jump into the pool back when I was 7, and I know you will always have that bump to remind you of my carelessness, but dude, I was 7, can you please get over it?

I'm sorry, ok.)

I understand that you may feel slighted by the recent change (my getting bangs and all), but you had many, many years of exposure. 

I understand change can be hard and it definitely takes time to get used to it,

but PLEASE don't start breaking out in order to get back at me!

Just because you are currently in hiding,  DOES NOT mean you have the permission to ruin my face!

The bangs won't last forever, one day it will be all about you again...

IF you play your cards right!

Let's not have to have this talk again.

~Cyn

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark (update)

Today, I figured it out. 

When I got back from California TWO WEEKS AGO my roommate made stuffed eggplants. 

We all ate some and I guess at the time no one realized there was one leftover...

Well, I guess no one EVER did.

Today my friend, Anita, came over for lunch and we decided to throw some french fries into the oven.

I go to open the oven and the stench just hits me...

I look inside and what do I see...

the NASTIEST, MOLDIEST, most DISGUSTING looking stuffed eggplant in the history of man.

I promptly wrapped it up in the foil it was in and threw it out.

...And with that the mystery of the stench was solved.

P.S. if you ever have a stench in your kitchen and you've checked all the usual places, 

make sure you check the oven!

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark

Ok, maybe not in Denmark, but definitely in my kitchen.

Can I just say that it highly disturbs me that it's the STATE of Denmark. Umm, Shakespeare, I know you are one of the greats and all, but Denmark is a COUNTRY. 

Unless, it wasn't in your time and only a state, in which case...sorry!

I think I remember from high school that it was a reference to the how crappy the politics in Denmark were at the time, I dunno. 

Anyway, I digress...

I walked into my kitchen this evening and there is definitely a funky smell in there. 

Basically, it stinks!

We have been on a hunt for the culprit, but just can't figure it out.

We just cleaned the fridge and freezer and threw out any fruits that were gross 2 days ago, so it can't be any of those.

We don't have a garbage disposal and the sink is nice and clean.

We took out the trash last night.

What could it be?

Culprit, we WILL find you...

You have been warned!

Bang, Bang!

I got bangs!

I know I kinda had bangs before, but not the kind that went across my whole face.

The ones before were a prelude to the real bangs I now have.

Not the best pictures of my bangs, but I am too lazy to take anymore or to have my roommate take another one of me.

So, whadya think?

Cupcakes with a message

For New Years Eve my bff, Kate, made a fabulous dinner.

Tri-tip, roasted carrots and potatoes and sauteed green beans

It turned out delicious!

 

While she was cooking I made some cupcakes. 

She had gorilla, lion, elephant, and dolphin sprinkles (along with all the normal ones).

Needless to say, I got a little creative with the decorations.

"Jerry got separated from the pack"

 "No one was brave enough to tell Timmy he was adopted"

"Jane Goodall"

"Breaking social norms"

"You complete me"

"Anne, a hopeless romantic in a world of non-believers"

"On the lookout for their perfect match"

"Soulmates"

"Checkpoint Charlie"

Things I have learned

When faced with bitter and utter disappointment my initial response is...

To go on a total cleaning frenzy!

Letter to Italy

Dear Italy,

I am still pretty upset with you for almost instantly making me get a cold the second I re-entered your territory. Sure, it might have something to do with the fact that that after a month in glorious So. Cal weather I was not ready for your freezing temperatures, but I am still blaming you for what I have started to call my "allergy to Italy." 

I hear there is a cold front moving in, which will be bringing quite a bit of wind with it.

Please, please, please hold off on that...at least until I am completely cured of this cold and no longer sound like a man by day and sniffling, hacking, sneezing, coughing menace at night. 

Thanks, 

Cyn.

Things I am in love with at this moment

Back in 2004, when I was studying abroad, a friend introduced me to this tea. I will forever be in her debt. 

Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice has to be my favorite tea ever!

Not as great as Bengal Spice, but this Cinnamon Apple Spice tea is worth a try. 

I swear, Celestial Seasonings has such amazing teas!

I love pouring wither of the two aforementioned teas into my mug and golding it like this!

It gets your hands nice and toasty!

I am currently mid love affair with my old UCD sweatshirt.

Mine is about 7 or 8 years old and perfect for:

sleeping in, lounging in, throwing on for the late-night supermarket run, snuggling around your house doing NOTHING all day!

Fresh Mozzarella...

I didn't realize how much I truly loved it until I had to go a whole month without it.

I love you, Mozz!

Adieu, 25

When it comes to a new year I have my own little philosophy...

I never go calender year to calender year, my new year starts on my birthday! 

In my head it goes a little something like this, 

"24 suuuuucked, 

25 started out a bit rocky but overall was a pretty awesome year, 

let's see how 26 pans out"

Call me superstitious, but even numbered years tend to be a little more on the crappy side than my odd numbered years. 

I don't know why this is, but I am hoping my little theory is wrong, 

because I would like for this year to not suck!

I have a lot of big plans coming up for this year...

... but before we get into that let's have a little recap of 25.

In January my new year (i.e. my birthday) began with a spa day and dancing with my girlfriends. 

I also started a new job which has affected me drastically.

In February I ended things for good with my boyfriend of 5 years. 

For the first time in my adult life I was truly single. 

So, I dyed my hair and went out to celebrate!

 (There is a difference in the hair color between the first picture and the second, I swear)

In March one of my closest friends, Giuditta, graduated...and we celebrated...Italian style! 

I also spent a great deal of time hanging out with my friends Keith and Anita.

In April my friend Anita and I went to Amsterdam. 

We saw canals, tulips as big as our hands, windmills and ate amazing food. 

We also got stuck there for a few extra days because all air travel was suspended due to a volcano in Iceland.

 In the end, we ended up having to endure an 18+ hr train ride home.

 In May I helped organize a training weekend for work and I met Andrea, Letizia and Mina, three people who have become very dear friends (though, of course, I couldn't have known that at the time.)

In June one of my closest friends got engaged and another one graduated from his M.B.A.,

 my little town of Trento had its yearly summer celebration,

 and my roommate and I spent some time getting some sun out on our balcony.

In July I house-sat for my friends Keith and Anita, where I got a bit too much sun.

I also volunteered as in interpreter at a camp for kids with serious pathologies in Ireland.

It was a life-changing experience, to say the least, and I made some amazing friends.

In August I found this beautiful video, 

went to Munich to visit a friend, 

went to Salzburg, 

had more fun nights out with my roomie 

and capped off a summer of constantly hanging out with Andrea.

In September my friend Letizia came to visit and we celebrated a mutual friend's birthday...in a castle.

I made a life-changing decision, which I have yet to make public.

In October I cut my hair, 

got a nasty virus, 

and went to Parma to visit the ever-so-lovely Lety (and thoroughly enjoyed her mom's cooking)!

Oh, almost forgot...Andrea and I went to a halloween party at my roommates castle (a.k.a. her house).

In November I got one of the nicest compliments from my roommate.

Celebrated Thanksgiving with a fun group of Americans.

Joined the gym and went 4x/week.

I went to visit Andrea in his hometown of VENICE and saw it from a true venetian's point of view

In December had one of the best days ever.

I went home for a month!!!

I also spent Christmas with my family for the first time in years.

Spent some much needed time with the loves of my life!

I got to hang out with my friends...

...aaaaand I found the PERFECT red lipstick!

In January (up until the 15th that is)

I celebrated New Years Eve with my best friend,

was actually around to celebrate my nephew's birthday (5!)

and I went to the beach, saw some calm waves, took off my shoes and dug my feet into the sand...

it was pure bliss!

My family also celebrated my birthday early before I left for Italy.

Like I said, 25 was pretty good....

Let's hope 26 is just as good, if not better!