My Mélange

Picture This!

I was recently contacted by a group called Schmap, which is an on-line destination guide.  They cover areas all over the globe.  It is a pretty cool concept, one that I had not heard of before I was contacted.

Well, apparently they scour Flickr for photos to use for their on-line content.  And as luck would have it, they were interested in using five of my photos for their on-line guides for Montreal, Florence, Rome, Naples and Paris.

There was of course a waiting period as the photos go up for a vote...but low and behold, all five made it into the guides!

So, if you'd like to see the photos and check out Schmap's in general, I'll provide you the links.

• In Paris, a Flower Market
• In Rome, Spanish Steps
• In Florence, Rivoire cafe 
• In Positano,  Sirenuse 
• In Montreal,  Auberge Bonaparte. 

And if you want some more photos for your viewing pleasure, you can always go right to my Flickr page and enjoy the slideshow!

Happy Clicking! 

In my Italian dreams

As you may know, one of my dreams/goals is to move to Italy.  I often imagine what my life would be like over in Italy.  And having the vivid imagination that I do, my dreams are often fillied with scenarios played out in Italy.  Here are a few that I am willing to share.

In my Italian dreams...

I see myself shopping in the food markets, for the first time-my eyes wide with colorful pleasure, struggling to make sense of the handwritten signs and conversions, not knowing what to buy.  A stranger to the men and women behind their boxes of produce as I skittishly decide what to purchase. Years later, I have made friends with my local shopkeepers and they greet me with large Italian smiles and share time-honored family secret recipes while just throwing the needed ingredients into my market bag.

In my Italian dreams...

I see myself walking into my local cafe for the first time as a resident, yet a stranger, the sounds of Italian chatter and clanking china cups against saucers and the smell of strong espresso flling the air.  Everyone a stranger to me and sizing me up and down.  Eventually, my barista greets me with my *regular* every morning café, the conversations become something I understand, rather than just lovely backgound noise and I am afforded a welcoming *Ciao, Robin*  by my Italian friends that I have now accumulated.  I sit with them and enjoy my morning, speaking and understanding my new language.

In my Italian dreams...

Our house starts as a bare shell, old and peeling with a patina only a true Italian can appreciate. My canvas before me, I hop from flea market to flea market throughout Tuscany, picking up old Italian treasure after treasure and lugging them back, somtimes on the bus or train, to fill the empty space.

My bedroom dressed with an old rusty, peeling iron bed, covered in simple Italian monogrammed antique linens, old engravings of Italian towns hung on the stone walls, and a large armoire.  My kitchen has a large farm table and lots of eclectic hand-made Italian pottery- complete with nicks out of the rims.

In my Italian dreams...

I picture family and friends coming to visit, both old and new, both American and Italian.  We cook and enjoy large dinners around a table on a terrace on the deep, green grass, under blossoming trees. Large bowls of herbed olives, prosciutto and melon, figs and gorgonzola, a neighbor cooks a fresh pasta and sauce and joins us.  We enjoy many bottles of local Tuscan red wine while eating and storytelling into the wee hours. We finish off with our homemade limoncello.

In my Italian dreams...

We enjoy train travel all over Europe.  We visit our friends in Provence and Paris and vacation on the Riviera.  We go north to Venice and south to my friends in Calabria and Catanzaro.  We island-hop in Greece and ferry to Morrocco.  Eventually we see Spain, Portugal, Amsterdam, Brussels, Prague, Croatia, and Bavaria.  Exploring new languages, diverse cultures and local cuisine keep us happy and entertained for years.

In my Italian Dreams...

We love helping our Italian friends and neighbors by picking their olives and making olive oil. We help harvest their grapes and make wine.  We are invited to take part in the fruits of their wares at the family dinner table.  We are always presented with a few bottles of each as our generous gift for helping out.

In my Italian Dreams.

Do you ever dream of living in another country?  If your an expat, how have your dreams compared to the reality? 

Love Thursday: My Funny Valentine

1. Happy Valentine's Day!, 2. love message, 3. LOVE, pop art, Indiana, 4. Queen Of Hearts, 5. Love XOXO, 6. Romantic Vintage 1900s Valentine Postcard--Cupid, Heart, Lady, 7. Pierced Arrow Heart Cookies, 8. Untitled, 9. Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!, 10. Coffee with love, 11. Happy Valentines Day!, 12. Vintage Valentine's Day Card

I know I'm a few days early, but better early than late, especially when it comes to Love and Valentine's Day.

I like the idea of taking a day to celebrate the one(s) you Love.  Not that you shouldn't celebrate them everyday! 

But today, I'd like to talk to you a little bit about my Valentine.  And, you know who you are.

I am lucky enough to have as my other half, my Number One Fan. He is so supportive of me and my endeavors.  He is the first to hand someone my business card, while I am still fumbling around in my bag for one.

He is always happy to be my editor-in-chief and proofreader, even when it's way past his bedtime and he can't even keep his eyes open.

He often gets stuck with making dinner, cleaning and washing dishes while I am busy writing, working or blogging- and I hear nary a complaint.

He is very independent.  Even does his own laundry.

And he is a good Doggie Daddy!

He doesn't have a lot of money, or a Master's degree, or a fancy car.

He does have a sweet, gentle nature, a fabulous sense of humor, a sexy bald head and a perfect toothy smile.

He is smart, introspective, adorable, respectful and hard-working.  He gives the best hugs and does some of the best impressions and character voices...ever.  He makes me laugh.  Everyday.

His passion is music, he plays drums and guitar and he has an ear for languages.  He listens to opera-Turandot is one of his favorites, he cries when he hears Nessun Dorma.  And he doesn't care that I just shared that with you.  

He doesn't mind that our living room has pink throughout and he puts up with my constant redecorating and rearranging of our house.  He shares my flea market madness and my love of Italy.   

And he puts up with my snoring.  

Who could ask for more really?  Really!

So, to celebrate further, we will be spending a nice day shopping and antiquing and enjoying a nice dinner Italian dinner at Vico.  A full report on this gem will follow!

Happy Love Thursday and Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

How will you be celebrating this year with your Valentine?

It's a Pizza Throwdown!

Yes, sir! My sister challenged me to a Pizza Throwdown.  And it wouldn't be like me not to accept.

So this past weekend, we met up at my Mother's house, secret recipes and ingredients in hand. 

It. Was. On.  Eat your heart out Bobby Flay!

Mom and Chris were to be judges- and we would all eat the entries for dinner, with wine of course.

Sis never actually revealed her exact recipe- so the info I have is from sight and info that my mom has sneaked me about her pie.

Some basic notes first.

1.  We both used already-made dough bought from our local store, which is above average.

2.  We used a pizza stone to cook the dough.

Sister's Pizza

Newman's Own Tomato Sauce

Sliced Red Peppers

Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Lots of Chopped Basil

Sliced Mushrooms

A blend of Goat, Mozzerella, and two other *mystery* cheeses

*VS*

My Pizza

Smashed Grape Tomatoes

Red Pepper Flakes

Fresh Garlic

 Baby Arugula

Kalamata Olives

Salt and Pepper

Shaved Pecorino-Romano Cheese

Good Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar for drizzling

Some tasting notes:

**  My sister's dough was excellent!!  She is an awsome dough-thrower, she would put any Italian pizza thrower to shame!  She literally slams the dough onto the counter about 30 times to get the air out and then takes it in her hands and stretches it, round and round until the disk is large enough.  Her whole process took about 30 minutes, but her dough was as impressive as her skills.

I could shoot myself for not getting pictures of how cute she was making the dough.  They would have made a great addition to this post.

** My dough was horrible.  A downright hot mess! Chris usually rolls our dough and yes we use a rolling pin- but since he was under the weather, and didn't want to contaminate the pizza, the rolling duty was left to me. Big Mistake.  After struggling to morph the dough into any recognizable shape- the cavalry (my sis) had to come in and save me.  It took her several more tries to rescue my dough and by the time she did, I am afraid it was overworked and tough.

** Both pizzas tasted very good.  Both judges agreed that they were too different to judge in the same category.  If you like your pizza crunchy, healthy and light- like a salad on a crust, then you would like mine. If you like your pizza crust a little softer, but loaded with bold flavors and cheesy, then you would like my sister's.

Honestly, I liked them both.  Very much.  But for very different reasons.  The judges called it a tie.

If I had to pick, I would have picked my sisters, especially because of the crust.  But I will surely make mine again.  And again.

Which do you think you would pick?  What's on your favorite Pizza?

Paris Magnifique

I love French Music.

Not all French Music, but more like the French music that everyone thinks of when someone in the US refers to French Music.

The stuff that French cafe's were made of.  A combination between Latin-Quarter Jazz, smokey vocals and poppy new agey sounds.  

I love to listen it while blogging, or when I'm savouring a glass of red while cooking, or when I'm taking a nice bubble bath or when I need a quick armchair trip to Paris.

Some of my fav's include Madeleine Peyroux, Carla Bruni, Jane Birkin, Serge Gainsbourg.  I especially like good compilation CD's, like the Amelie soundtrack.  It's the mix of different voices and instruments. I found a pretty good one in Pier One last year for under $10, called Paris Metro.  I played the hell out of that one.

So, on my recent visit to Starbucks, when I saw this staring me in the face, I knew it had to be mine.

The description alone pulled at the ol' heart strings.

"Inspired by French café culture, this collection is a state of mind- where friends drink coffee, eat, discuss the issues of the day, love and live...all to a soundtrack of stirring music."

Yes please!  Sign me up! 

So, if you are in the market for a little Paris cafe music wafting through your maison, head over to your local Starbucks or online and pick up a Paris-pick-me-up for $12.95.

Who are some of your favorite French artists?  Share some of your favorite French CD's.

My Melange is....

 

1. number 2, 2. Big Number 2, 3. Mosaic Tile Number 2, 4. two, 5. 2, 6. Number 2, 7. 2, 8. entrance 2, 9. Dos-Two-Deux-Zwei-Due, 10. Surry Hills, 11. Two, 12. 2, 13. two blue, 14. 2day..., 15. Two, 16. Pewter Number 2

Two!  Deux.  Due.  Dos.  Duce.  Snake-eyes.  As in tea-for or number of peas in a pod!

Yep, that's right!!  It's my blog's birthday!

Happy Birthday My Mélange!  I can't believe it, but today you are two-years-old!!

Thanks to all of you for being here, reading, commenting, contributing and just being you!

I couldn't have made it this far without ya!!

 

And what a journey it has been.  So many trips, photos, recipes and travel tips- who would have thought I'd have so much to say (other than my grade school teachers who used to chastise me for talking in class).  And that someone would actually enjoy reading about it?!

Thanks for being there for the past two years, and I sure hope you stick around for the next two!

And a special thanks to the Flickr folks who helped be celebrate the big *2* in style!

Happy New Year 2009!

^{photo taken from the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris}

Just popping by to wish all of you a very Happy New Year, Buon Anno, Bonne Année, and the like.

It is a time for reflection, a time for goal-setting, a time for resolutions and for celebrating!

We had a perfect night.  A last minute,impromptu (aren't they THE best!) gathering at our friends' house. Real casual.  We snacked on tiny hors'd'oeuvres from a box that line the supermarket frozen food section-minus the pigs-in-a-blanket, as they were ALL OUT!  Damn!

We enjoyed more wine than I care to admit!  A few nips of Frangelico and Black Sambuca may have snuck their way in too!

We played Taboo, watched the ball drop and toasted the New Year with a few bottles of cold Prosecco.

It was a perfect evening!

I wish you all the best in the coming year!  

How did you celebrate?  What are some of your resolutions for 2009?

I'll be enjoying some more time off and will be back in full force on Monday!  

Where else you can find me

Just in case you might be the slightest bit interested...

A few months ago I told you about an article about Flea Markets.  If you haven't read it, you can still read it here.

Well since then, I have cranked out a few more. I hope you will allow me to share.

If you are heading to The Big Apple during the holidays or just want to read up on Christmas Traditions in New York, head on over here.

And speaking of Christmas, Christmas in Italy is always a special treat.  And speaking of special treats in Italy, Panettone, which is an Italian type of fruit-studded brioche, is ubiqutous this time of year. Head on over to Dream of Italy and read my short article on the bread and a sinfully delicious recipe for Panettone French Toast.  

And last, but not least, if the economy has got you down and the winter blues are setting in, perhaps watching a movie that showcases a fab travel destination will perk you up!  Well, wouldn't ya know it- I happen to have written 8 Movies that Inspire Travel, which you can find here.

And if you are not sick of me yet (how is even that possible?), you can always pop on over and friend me on Facebook or tweet me on Twitter.

Careful though, it can be adddicting.

So, pull up your laptop and a cappuccino and settle in for the weekend!  

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 If you haven't already, enter to win your free autographed copy of The Paris Apartment.  The deadline is tomorrow at midnight EST.  Leave your comment on this post to be entered.  I will announce the winner on Monday!

Until then...Good Luck and have a Great Weekend!!

More About.....Me

This is my fourth meme revealing random things about me.  If you are interested you can read the others here, here and here.

This time, Chez Loulou tagged me in late October and I am just getting around to playing.

First, the rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you. 

2. Post the rules on your blog.

3. Write six random things about yourself. 

4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them. 

5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog 

6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Since I am so late in playing, and I have played before- I am going rogue and breaking the rules.  I won't be taggin anyone specifically, but feel free to play along and let me know if you do.  

I'd love to learn more about YOU too!

Six Random Things About Me.

1.  I read every night before bed.  Faithfully.  Even if I only get though one page before the book smacks me in the face.  I can't fall asleep unless I read.

2.  I learned to drive on a stick shift.  I have always driven a stick shirt car.  I will never own an automatic.

3.  I was engaged when I was 18, or was it 19 years old.  Whew, thank God THAT didn't work out!

4.  I won the Most Perverted award at my high school prom.  Please, don't ask.

5.  I don't eat much fast food, but if and when I do, my favorite is an Arby's Roast Beef ~n~ Cheese!

6.  I believe in and try to follow Feng Shui.  Not to the point of relocating the bathroom in my house, but I try to decorate and set up my home to be auspicious.

And now it's your turn!

On My Favorite French Memoirs

I love to read.  I especially enjoy other peoples travel experiences and accounts of their lives in my beloved France and Italy.  

Today, I have decided to share some of my favorite memoirs that any francophile will love.  

I should preface the list by saying that Peter Mayle was the original Provence memoir author and it goes without saying that his series is the the best of the best about Provence.  If you haven't read any or all of his books, than they should top your list!

A true story of an English girl who sets up a life in Paris and ends up starting a blog of the same name, Petite Anglaise is a recent favorite.  Catherine Sanderson has a way of making the City of Light come alive in her writing.  She reveals all of herself in this honest look into cultural differences, her life, her relationships, her blog, and her daughter, adorably referred to as Tadpole in the book, and of the city that she loves so much.

Cookbook author and cooking school teacher, Susan Hermann Loomis writes candidly about her love of France in On Rue Tatin.  The book covers many years of her life from attending Culinary School in Paris, working and living with a family in Normandy, meeting her husband in the States, and finally settling with family in her beloved quaint village of Louviers, where she restored a dilapidated convent into her dream home.  Her words mingle with some of her classic French recipes from the Normandy region, which makes it even more delicious.

A stunning book series, of Carol Drinkwater's delicious and inspiring life in the South of France, includes The Olive Harvest, The Olive Farm and The Olive Season.  Movie actress by trade, famous for her role in the BBC's All Creatures Great and Small, she moves with her then French boyfriend, Michel, to their newly acquired property in the hills above the French Riviera.  Together they restore an abandoned villa and its property, make friends with the locals, experience the woes of French home ownership, nurture their olive vineyard and entertain countless friends and family. It reads like a French-country dream come true.

Australian native meets the love of her life and moves to France.  Almost French is fun read about an outsider's struggles to fit in, in France.  Stories about trying to get work as a journalist (her trade) in France, struggling with the language barrier, attempting to understand and fit in with her boyfriend's life and friends, making her own friends, and making sense of the cultural differences while living in both the country and right in Paris, are told with wit and humor.

Georgeann Brennan, cookbook author who also runs a seasonal cooking school in California, writes about her experience of moving with her husband from California to Provence in the 1970s.  A Pig in Provence focuses on food and food adventures in the South of France.  Among the highlights are deciding to buy, raise and milk goats, attempting many times to make goat's cheese and the joy of finally getting it right, selling said goat's cheese at the local markets and cafes and joining the neighbors for a centuries old ritual of killing, gutting and preparing a pig.  Many of her delicious recipes are woven throughout the pages.

I need a few more to add to my list.  What are your favorite French Memoirs and why?