Corner View - Spring!!!

Romp-around Costa Rica

It's no secret that Spring is my absolute favorite time of the year!  My first blog was called "Sempre Primavera" to embody my mission of keeping that wild energy that descends upon us in Spring throughout the year.  And surely enough with this Spring came another boost!!!  And I can't wait any longer I must say that I'm working on two awesome new projects!!!

My bff (code name: Kaya) and I are embarking on a new adventure!  And her and I have been on quite a few over the years... let's reminisce shall we?

California - when I was scoping it out to move there... and had plans to say with this boy I met on the internet... haha don't worry, he lived with his very lovely parents, and his mom made us lovely coffee, and it all worked out wonderfully and the boy and are are friends to this day!  But yes, Kaya had to accompany me on this important journey.

Sardegna and Roma - beach, moon, boys, cappuccinos, SHOPPING, repeat!

Key West - jet skies, cocktails, beach, sunsets, para sailing... repeat! Oh yeah, and we stayed at a nudist resort... totally by accident!

Costa Rica - pot wholes, Imperiales (beer!), beach, spa, hot springs, monkeys, rappelling down waterfalls, quading, and zip lining!

French countryside for New Years Eve with the husbands....

...and many more... even though we only lived in the same state during High School and College, somehow we managed to keep up with our crazy ruckus even cross state, even cross CONTINENT!  So it only makes sense we start this project together.

Introducing On The Same Page Blog!



















































































It'll be an international lifestyle blog with a mission of helping us all make the world our village!  What does that mean?  Well throughout our adventures we learned that our 'global neighbors' have tons to teach us and when we experience each others' lifestyles and learn from each others' wisdom, we can in turn make our own lives more interesting, fun, happy, full, adventurous and exciting.  With this blog we hope to continue discovering the world and meeting our global neighbors!


All this is still in very starting phase and our awesome genius programmer is working hard to make all the 'information flow' details work like magic... but I can give you a tiiiiiiiiiny tiiiiinyyyyyy glimpse.... www.onthesamepageblog.com .
We are aiming to do the big roll out in the Fall!

Omg!!!! Right!???

Well, and just because you've been so nice and patient reading through all my bla, bla... I will tell you about a SECOND project in the works....

Vito and I are expecting baby #2!!!!
EEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!

Haha, and NO it is not a belated April fools, it's real people!  We're half way there at the moment.  Super excited!!!  :) :) :)  We tried to explain it to Jr, and now he walks around pointing to his OWN belly and saying: "Baby in the belly!" Hm.....

Ta-da!  Now that's what I call SPRING!!!!!!!

More Corner Views here.

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Party Planning for 8

#Menus #Calm #Greece-Turkey


It's Friday!
Tomorrow is the dinner and I haven't exactly started preparing anything except getting some of the groceries last evening.  But I'm very calm.  The more the situation calls for stress the calmer I get.  I like that about myself.  It scares the kaka out of those around me.  (I can say kaka, I'm a mom, it's normal.)   Oh, and good thing I asked if any of the guests had any allergies or food aversions etc... and turns out there will be a VEGETARIAN among us.  She seemed very nonchalant about it saying I didn't have to worry as she'll b fine eating just the sides.  It's clearly her first time to my house.  In my house all dishes served contain "man-gredient", or meat.  (Yes, men can also be vegetarian I'm just grossly stereotyping).

The theme will be "somewhere in between Greece and Turkey..."

Happy Hour  
We're starting at 6.30 pm with cocktails.  To ensure dining success I like to immediately get the guests to an advanced stage of inebriation.

• Welcome Cocktail - Kir Royale
• Cocktail 2 - Tequila...with something
• 32 bites (4 per person)- I was going to make sushi, then... I got real and decided to buy some instead.
• 8 sushi bites
• 8 pempernikle triangles with smoked salmon and sour cream
• 8 cucumber somethings....
• 8 something else....

Fun Dishes
Dishes to have on the table before the starters come out.  The starter's starter?

• Beetroot Hummus (Thanks for the inspiration Tiny Woolf!)
• Chickpea Hummus
• Pita Triangles (to go with all the Hummus overload)
• Black and Green Olives
• Bread aioli and herb butter

Main Course
• Peppers stuffed with wild rice, sausage and apples
• Lamb something... (I have not decided yet)

Side Dishes
• Little Gem, garlic olives and feta salad
• String bean salad

Dessert
• Cheesecake with Fresh Strawberries
• Grapes platter (you know for after dinner when we're reclining on our right side.)



Well, anyway, the picture is slightly less fuzzy... I'm very calm. ;)
And now JUST at this moment it struck me to consult people that know what they're talking about....

A quick search yielded the following advice from Michelle @Browneyedbaker:

What she suggest and what I actually did...

1 }  First choose your main course and work the rest of your menu around that - oops... I planned the cocktails first and worked my way up from that...
2 }  I always like to include a salad with a dinner- check!! Little Gem salad
3 }  Then add a vegetable- String bean salad, yey, so far so good
4 }  Depending on how many people you have, you may want another vegetable side dish- Caprese salad
5 }  Starchy side - Wild rice
6 }  Bread or rolls with butter - bread with aioli and herb butter7 }  Now choose your appetizers. For appetizers, the general rule of thumb is 5 servings per person per hour prior to serving a meal. - good deal! I got 4 bites per person plus humus "fun" plates

Piece of cake!

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new year's eve dinner

I have not had a chance to describe the opulence of our New Year's Eve in France. The six of us stayed at an old farm house and cooked up an amaizing multi course dinner. My best friend M was visiting from Chicago with her husband E. What a change this NYE was. Not to long ago my NYE consisted of wild dancing on the beach of some exotic country or other, just 4 years ago M and I were in Costa Rica viewing the fireworks from a beach at Manuel Antonio. Well now we celebrated also in a different country but it was a bit more relaxed. I found it perfect in its own way. Growing up is not so bad.

Starters:

saucisson
taramasalata on blinis
pate'
crevettes
about a million oysters

Main:

roasted chicken with chessnuts
green beans
garden vegetables
thyme roasted potatoes

Cheese course:
french cheese gallore, I will be lost to recount all the cheeses

Desert:
petit fours

Champagne and red wines from Burgundy accompanied the feast.

It was the six of us in a farm house somewhere in the middle of French country side (Ok, a tiny little village called Poligny) and we were thinking about having a very relaxed New Year's Eve, but somhow we still managed to go to beds around 3am. We just got carried away with the deliciousness. It was great!! I would not mind to do a similar stint next year. Just where...?

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Copenhagen weekend!

Yes dears, Vito and I jetted ourselves away to a loooong weekend in Copenhagen! Ahhhh..... there is just something unexplainably dramatic and alluring about exiting the country you live in for a few days. I guess its like flyingover to Cali for a weekend from NYC. From the Netherlands however 2 hour travel in just about any direction by car or plane will lend you in another country! So we took advantage and hoped on over to Denmark. Added bonus, my friend bella Louisa lives in Copenhagen so we got to do some serious hanging around soaking up the sun.

And here you go and don't say I never tell you anything useful:

Copenhagen Island hotel: Lovely place to stay in Copenhagen, walking distance to the center overlooking the harbour:

http://www.copenhagenisland.com/

Sexy modern rooms with big windows, very helpful and friendly concierge, SUPER brekfast bouffet in the morning anything from breakfast pastries, danish specialties, and fresh fruits, all taking place in a sleek restaurant overlooking the harbour.

Sticks'n'sushi: AWESOME sushi! It was intoxicatingly gooooood....

http://www.sushi.dk/en/addresses/388/istedgade/274/

The one on Istedgade is in the neighborhood with a bunch of other good restaurants and bars (don't let the random hookers and junkies turn you off, it's an up and coming neighborhood) Best sushi I've had since NYC, and that's saying alot. (The nice concierge girl tiped us off about this one).

Also on the same street, a GREAT Thai restaurant Spicylicious:

http://restaurantspicylicious.dk/

Shoping.... oiiii just weave in and out paralel to the magior shopping street and you find lots and LOTS of cute boutiques.

LOVELY!

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We partied till the boat sank... then we partied some more..!

There was some serious party doing on board of Odessa in Amsterdam last weekend.

There is just something about partying 'off shore' that just kicks it up a notch.

There were babies!
And babes...

And of course plenty of champagne!!!

Ciao! Till the next one!

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MARCH Babies!!!!

What a fabulous day! I have to admit something... I LOVE Birthdays!!

I just think that there is no way you could go wrong on that day! It's a day to reflect on the year and celebrate all the achievements all the good things and toast to the next year! (Kind of like a very PRIVATE New Years Eve!). I know some people tend to be sad or depressed that they're getting older or for whatever other reasons. I think you should always be happy especially on that day.

Birthday is simply a chance to remember all the great things in your life and infact say thank you to the people in your life. Even if you've had a terrible year lets say, Birthday is a chance to close the chapter and make new plans for the next year! Next year being a brand new chance to make it a great one!

Well enough philosophy. I love Birthdays. I love presents, little presents,

big presents, shiny presents, drinkable presents, EATable

presents!!! All prents are ALL GOOD with me!!

And... best of all... Birthdays come complete with their very own PARTY! Well since this is my big 3-0 I have decided to party year round! ha!

Speaking of celebrations la Bernadetta and Rainirio gave birth (well SHE gave birth and I believe Rainirio stood by trying to be helpful?) anyway, gave birth to little Nate-baby! In fact it's the second Nate-boy I know under the age of 2. How adorable, I had instructed B to have the bay ON my birthday but I guess she was 5 hours late... it's ok! Close enough! March babies rock! Though I don't think she was worried about it as she was in labour...

Hmm... having babies is deffinitely NOT a party, I mean the word "labour" should be a complete give away that it's WORK!! Labour - not party- but work! Just sayin'......

Anyway back to ME.

People are asking me how it feels to be 30. Well I say GREAT! I now no longer have to make excuses for being so glam, fab, elegant, nor do I have to wait for special occasions to wear big rings and furs! Thank you very much!

Now I just have to really make myself believe that I'm grown up enough to have a mercedes in midnight blue (the color is all the rage this spring btw), a yacht, and donate obscene amounts to non profit causes. (All the starts to it!) ;)

Ok, I will now let EGO out as it's feeling stifled in this livingroom...

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Everyone is Baby-loony!

What a week!

Wednesday: Celebrate Sinterklaas get lots of presents!

Thursday: Concert Billie Ocean

Friday: Party it up at an all 'adults' party


...pictures to follow


I emphasized the word ''adults'' because this Saturday and Sunday it's all about the baaaayyybeys!


Here is one super adorable 2 yr old chowing down on some delicious good ol' dutch apple pie!



and tomorrow we are of to visit another baby! Yes people WELCOME to Baby-Loony! So what do I feel being among all these babies!? Well, I feel a minority! They're taking over! Not to mention all "the pregnant ladies" they're everywhere!!!! Aaahhhhh! (Here I go showing my OBVIOUSLY high level of immaturity, please don't mind me).

:)

They are kinda sweet... and could potentially be very useful! I remember the days when my little brother, at two, would spend HOURS vacuuming the ENTIRE house! The kid would turn over all the cushions of the couch and get all the crumbies! He would lift the rug corners, he was the vacuuming king!!! But the only thing is that you can't stick your kid back in the closet after the vacuuming is done...

Ok, I better quit cus my immaturity levels are about to hit the roof.

ciaaaaaaaooooo

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Happy new year!

We went to see these guys yesterday. Are they popular yet in the US? Well, Johnny the singer used to date Kirstin Dunst, but apparently (as Vito informed me) they broke up a few days ago.



We went together with Maudina and Bartolli (not to be confused with "Bertolli" the olive oil... hehe I just love giving everyone an Italian name, so easy!)

Today is Rosh Hashanah, the jewish new year! Happy new year! Also... Ethiopia celebrates today new year as well, and a special one, the millennium (info also courtesy of Vito, such smart cookie.) The article calls it a "special ethiopian ancient calendar", but its basically the same "ancient" calendar that the jews use. But ok fine, happy millennium to Ethiopia!

Tomorrow Vito and I are having friends over for dinner and we'll be eating some apples and honey to make sure the new year will be SWEET! Or even... saaaAAAWWWEEEEt!!!!!

kisses!

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Glossy

I'm REALLY behind on all the stories and all the action. It always happens when you have stuff to tell, so you wait to put it together in your head... and end up not talking about it. Ok, so good thing they invented cameras. I'll do a pictorial run through of last week and last weekend:



Saturday: Kayaking with the ladies


Sunday: Hike in the dunes with big Vito



Monday: in the Kitchen with chef Vito. He made yet another incredible Indonesian dish called Babi Pangang. SO GOOD! (Sauce made by him from scratch too!)



Tuesday: making carrot cake for the FIRST TIME in my LIFE!! It came out tasting like... carrot cake! Really!




Wednesday: Supah Faaaahhhbulous dinner with Alexis and friends at a snooty restaurant. Taking advantage of the Restaurant Week in AMSTERDAM!




Wohw... and we are only on Thursday!
Ta-ta darlings!

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1 Week down!

The week went really well! I just have to really figure out my new schedule and when its best to do what activity. That however did not throw off my Thursday night lady's night!


Alexis and Face (Alexis calls her that so I can adopt it also for web purposes, though to italianize it, it should be La Faccia, but ok.)


Well miss Face cooked up an amaizing Southern breakfast for dinner! Hash brown with onions, southern omlette with cheddar cheese, tomatoes, spinach and mushrooms!!! I was in charge of the Mimosas, though the girls quickly switched over to harder artillery such as the Screwdrivers... What a great, great evening!

Friday evening I came home and Vito and I immediately got on our bikes and went over to a dinner at Danilo and Gioelli's house for an Italian dinner where yummyness such as mozarella salad and lazagna were served. For desert.... trio of amaizing ice creams (poached pears, strawberry and rasberry) were doing tango with home made mango mousse! YUM-O! (Thanks for the fraise Rach!)

This now is Saturday "morning", well it's 2pm but for our purposes it's morning as we just had breakfast...

Now, after Vito cleans the house and washes the windows etc etc we're going to a Jazz festival! wheeeeee! Ahhhhh...

Ps: just kidding mama zuli, I'm helping Vito to clean... really...

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Fun in the sun!

The weekend was absolutely gorgeous! Starting Friday it was sunny and warm ending up as HOT by Sunday. Friday la mamma di Vito took me for a nice little (3.5 hours) ride around the nearest towns and lake. What a gorgeous, gorgeous bike ride! I love seeing dutch towns because it's always a mix of really old built houses and new architecture...

On the lake you could see a number of sailing schools practicing. Danielle, pay attention, this is where you're going to go for your lessons when you're here!
The beach was a ZOO all weekend...!!! I've never seen so many kids all at once in the same spot. If the population growth rate is dipping in the entire Europe please be sure to note that it is NOT dipping here in Holland. People are popping them out like hot cakes!! Or... pancakes!! Yes I know, not very respectful of the whole child baring process but there are just so many kids here. AND they're all PLATINUM blond!!!! How do the parents tell which one is whose??? I mean after a day at the beach where all the blond kids run around yell and scream the same way with their little pink and blue plastic buckets, how do you know which one to take home at the end of the day!??? Maybe it's a good idea to tag them. Actually would be kinda nice to have one of those self retractable leashes so at the end of the day you just press a button and the kid is just sucked back to your blanket. Yeah that would be useful.
Speaking of kids... Here is Big Bad Vito getting in touch with his childlike inner-self. We met up at the beach with Ranirio and Bernadetta to whom I was able to complain about how Vito is one scary dude who tells me what to do. They just confirmed that yes indeed that sounds like Vito and suggested I rename my blog "It's Scary all the time!" Well... Vito decided to soften his hard image just a bit and allow for some playful activities like ice cream licking. (P.S. I like Vito telling me what to do... sshhh don't tell anyone!)

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Ohh beeHaaaive...!!!

Or... "Don't let Ale and Vito out in public because they can't behave in the presence of gentle company".

Last weekend we went out for a leisurely afternoon with one of Vito's friends Barollo and his lovely French girlfriend Madellina.

After a few very elegant pints of Belgian beer we were all taking turns visiting the restroom...

scene: at the table Ale and Vito are having a loud conversation with hand gestures... Barollo comes back from the restroom and sits down next to Madellina.

B: What's going on? What did I miss?

M: They're fighting again...

Ale: OF COURSE IT WOULD BE ME!!!!

Vito: But I'm a GUY!

Ale: I'm a GIRL!!!!!

Vito: It would be me, I'm hotter!!!

Ale: WHAT!? NO WAY!!! I'm HOTTER!!

B: What are they fighting about this time??

M: Who gets to make out with Scarlett Johansen first.

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It's FREEZING, RAINING and WINDY! I guess this is what it's like to live in the middle of the SEA!

This is a pic of Ri when she was in Florida last April. I'm concentrating on making the sun come out...

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Sunny in Brussels

Another fabulous weekend clocked! Hmm... this is becoming a pattern... YES! Ok, so since sightseeing was gotten out of the way this past winter when I was in Belgium for the very first time, this weekend was about quality time and relaxation (right, because I'm oh so very stressed...hahah).

Ok, so I arrived Friday morning. There was a bit of an adventure when for the very first time (in history probably) the Dutch train system hiccuped and delayed me! It threw me back an hour. I'm convinced it happened because when Aurelia suggested I should leave an hour earlier just in case the train is late, I laughed in her face (well, via the phone). Ugggh.. But it was ok. The regular train has a special weekend price of, R U READY? GRAND TOTAL of €40 for a return trip! How cool is that!? For trips during Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Love it.

I arrived a bit hungry. (STARVING) Not that I couldn't buy anything on the train because a nice but slightly unamused young men kept making rounds every half hour with a little cart selling all kinds of goodies. I however decided to be on a "health conscious kick" and felt guilty purchasing pre-made sandwiches that of course contained mayo and were not made with whole wheat bread...

I was rewarded however by Aurelia who immediately proceeded to stuff my face with SUPER healthy whole wheat sandwich with hummus and fresh cucumbers! AND she made me a wonderful juice cocktail with carrot and tomato juice not forgetting to add some pepper and Tabasco!!! (Oh and a sprig of greens) YUMMMMMMY!!!!!!!!

She then jetted off to work and I was left to my own devise with a hand drawn map of the fastest way to the shops. Hehe. I didn't have to use it because I decided to choke the pillow for a bit in preparation for a late night that would surely ensue for her birthday.

Plus Aurelia's place is just SO so sweet and peaceful that it is very conducive to lazying around. (Though I'm pretty talented in that area and can accommodate myself to that activity in a variety of environments.)

Ok, my view from the bed as I took a nap (before I closed my eyes of course).

And good thing I did because the birthday celebrations that evening lasted very well into the morning hours. I really do not remember the last time I came back with morning light.

Saturday was spent leisurely checking out the shops and boutiques. I'd like to report that shoes are more to my liking in Belgium, and I figured out why. Belgium seems to import a lot more Italian shoes and you can find more variety in styles. (Not to mention variety in prices rather then just SUPER HIGH as it is in Holland.)

Speaking of Italian stuff, we had the absolute greatest ice cream at this little corner shop.... that's all I have to say, I think you can all come up on your own with praise words for a blissful ice cream experience.

For dinner on Saturday we went to this little but super cute Thai place where the owner herself (Sally) was making rounds in the room. The food was delicious, the presentation was authentic and came in beautiful green jade plates with elephant families walking across their borders. Our curries came in matching sets of heated pots! How fun! Anyway the dinner for two came out to €33 WOW. (I guess that's how it is when you don't order bottles of wine ;) And we had a starter too of cellophane noddles with giant pawns. After dinner we were supposed to go to a free outdoor concert but we are too above going to crowded public activities and decided to go snooping around the richest neighborhood in Brussels.

This is simply us driving by and ogling at the HUGE mansions sometimes offering useful advice in the area of cosmetic home improvements... The richy-rich neighborhood is up on a hill surrounded by green lushness (of course) and the houses are huge. Just like in the old fashioned movies like Pride and Prejudice and such. Some looked like real castles, some like chateaus with gates and all the works. There were also mixed in a bunch of super lux condo complexes that were also gated and you can just imagine they put California's Melrose Place like places to shame with the drama and intrigue... We also came across some smaller houses in the area at the sight of which we both took out our cellphones to call our real estate brokers to order them to place a bid... then we woke up. Ahhhh... but girls can dream can't they!? It's very good for the skin I hear... ;)

Anyway, I personally believe that it's not about how BIG your house is, but how well you capture the ESSENSE of living comfortably and enjoyably.... again going back to Aurelia's place, I say her one bedroom apartment channels the best and biggest mansion in St. Tropes...! Oh, you are not convinced.. Look at this picture and tell me what it makes you feel!

Anyway they did a study on home space usage and concluded that no matter how big your home is, most people use only one or two rooms to the max.

Oh this is getting really loooooong! So I will summarize. Sunday we had a gorgeous breakfast at the neighborhood patisserie...

And then stopped by her mom's house to pick up Vodka (the dog) and take her for a walk in the park...

Ahhh....

Then I got on a train, came home to Holland (I like the sound of that) where Vito dear was definitely a sight for sore eyes... and then we watched Bourne Supremacy during which I did not shut up even for a second... PERFECT WEEKEND!

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Girls just want to have fun!

A whirlwind weekend!

We picked up my friend from the international bus station. Did you know that you can go to Belgium from Amsterdam on a bus for 20€!!!?! And apparently a bunch of other destinations...

The only downer is that the trip is longer then the Thalys train, plus its not as reliable as my friend had to wait for a whole hour for the bus to depart. She also mentioned that some of the characters she traveled with were rather questionable... hmm... but it is a big saving compared to 94€ train ride.

She however made up for the savings with major money spending by SHOPPING! Saturday morning has begun with a very innocent minute trip to my downstairs housewares shop to get some gift paper for Vito's mom's gift. It flowed into an even MORE innocent "stop by" a clothing for old lady's shop... you know... just to peek inside... in case a perfectly normal item was accidentally acquired by the store's buyer. Well... lets just say, a purse (for me), a gold scarf and a very cool snake necklace (for Aurelia) later we were on our way back to the apartment. Hmm... damage done and we have not even entered Amsterdam yet!

In Amsterdam we have discovered some really cool shops where they sell ONE of a kind clothes made by some very funky people! We were browsing and trying on stuff (well Aurelia was, I was lounging on the graffitied white leather couch...). The store is run by two funky chicks, one Dutch and one American. At one point another funky Australian dude (friend of theirs) came in and the store had to quickly be closed because the whole posse had to run off to some party... This was only about 4.30 in the afternoon! But don't get alarmed! Aurelia was able to carry away a really cool seventies peasant shirt with embroidery and a waterproof (!!) red mini skirt! Hey, it rains a lot in Belgium too!

Anyway all details will be on my hotelbycity blog but here is a fun picture of the shop:

We made our way down the main shopping street wowing not to spend another euro... meanwhile silver espadrilles, heart dotted umbrella, white bubble tee and a puchiesque pink scarf had somehow made their way into Aurelias bag even tough a very strict self imposed budget was forethought by her before coming to Amsterdam. (I myself did indulge in a heart dotted umbrella and an exaggerated orange plastic diamond that will accent my new bag!)

By that time the shops were already closing and Aurelia was facing the harsh reality of the many shopping bags in her hands... I consoled her that all shops will be closed the next two days so there was just no way we could shop even if we wanted to!

As we made our way to a busy square for a beer or three she disappeared to the restroom to emerge wearing all her new acquisitions. Again, I congratulated her on good choices and reminded that in fact she SAVED money as all that stuff would have cost her more in Brussels... (So she swears.)

The evening continued happily, the sun peaked out and we made our way to a sure hit street where you can find excellent eateries for any taste. Rude awakening set in as we realized ALL restaurants were totally FULL!!! Boy and I thought New York City was bad...

We however inserted ourselves in this really bustling Indonesian restaurant and had a SUPER rijstaffel!! It was both our first time eating Indonesian. We just looked around and when the waitress appeared just pointed and said: "We want what they're having!" It was delicious!!! The meal consists of a bunch of little dishes with various meats and vegetables variating in spiciness, accompanied by different rices. WE LOVED IT! The waitress was surprised that we actually able to finish everything! (Well almost...)

Wow this is getting really long... and I've only described half of day one... and more pictures need to be posted...

More tomorrow, but lets just say, shopping was not finished!!!! The next day we stumbled upon a huge MARKET!!!!! Key word... hand embroidered Indian pillow shams... HELLO!!!!

Ok, I'm too tired, must go and... do nothing.

ps: the roses were so pretty!!! only 6€ for TWENTY! At this price flowers could be had in the house all the time not only for impressing house guests! ;)

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Hot

I have a bit of a surprise for you!

I've been secretly cheating on you...

NEEEEH! Just a little experiment. I was chosen as a blogger for Hotelsbycity.net I figured I'll be doing a lot of touristy things here in Amsterdam for... a WHILE, so why not have it all categorized nice and neatly somewhere.

It's a pretty fun site, all user generated with reviews of things to do, eat, see in various cities by actual people that live there. This is definitely the direction the entire marketing world is moving towards.

I'm weary about putting ads on my personal blog, just because most people that read my blog are either my friends or other bloggers. (or other blogger friends! ;) Anyway, I don't usually get too many random stumblers on my blog looking for Amsterdam Hotels, or restaurant reviews.

This is where Hotelsbycity comes in. I've made a few posts on there and already I see that the hits I get are from various people searching for the particular thing that I wrote about! Thus it makes perfect sense to have some google ads on that page because they're targeted for content. (It's almost freaky how they KNOW what you're talking about).

Anyway, whenever I go to a cool restaurant or visit some fun event all the official info and links will be on the hotelsbycity space and I'll give you a heads up.

How much money will I make??? Hmmmm... don't know, but I've made $2.09 for only 4 clicks! So that's about 50c per click, pretty good I say, it's just a matter of guessing what the people want to know about Amsterdam.

But have fun here is my profile page ;) - oh yeah, while you're there, can you just press on google links, maybe I'll make another $2 bucks horray!

OH, fun news... tonight another international visitor arrives!!! My friend from Belgium, Aurelia!! We are going to paint the town all kinds of colors! Vito dear is going to be safely OUT of town on some kind of music thingi so it'll be me and Aurelia doing city tripping.

You see, I'm soooooo scared to be allllllllll by myself in our 5th floor mansion that I had to import a friend to stay with me.... whahahahaaaa!!! I love being a girl!!! I just use it as an excuse for ANYTHING!!!!!

Hm... Vito, you sitll want to go to your music thingi? You know all the action is going to be happening around us anyway! wheeeeeee!

(That's the pic I took in December when I visited Belgium, Leffe blond! Yeah!!!)

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My Amazing Bike Race... (This episode: The Beach)

So HERE he is!!!! Isn't he so nice!!!! (Yes my bike is so beyond being called "it")

I have not biked since I was 8 when I had a little red bike with streamers. I got on a bike once when I was 14 went down the road for 5 seconds then squeezed the wrong hand break and did a somersault in the air (Scratching the entire side of my arm and leg). When I was 23, I got on a bike in Los Angeles and we calmly rode along the beach on a well marked designated path so that experience was ok.

Then last October I was on a bike in Maastricht which was scary but ok because most of the way there was not a person in sight! Later I got on an extra bike Vito had, but it was too big for me and I was scared just SITTING on it due to sheer HEIGHT! Whatever, I'm just not used to bikes plus that time flipping (literally) because I squeezed the wrong break is just not a nice memory.

Saturday we went out to a wonderful dinner in the beach town. The yumminess will be reported on later. After dinner we cycled to the place where the beach party was going to be held. This involved a long dark road... our friend Tomas was good enough to take pictures (while biking) yes don't expect any of those from me anytime soon. Thank Tomas!
As you can see, it's long, it's dark and it was even a bit hilly at some point. Everything went ok, but nevertheless I was relieved to get there! (See below me being relieved.)

On the way back we add into the mix the wind, the late hour, and a few other toxic ingredients and we have a STRUGGLE. Let's just say, I'm glad I'm from NY and so dealing with life threatening situations on a daily basis is a norm for me. Anyway, non of the happy people on the picture think riding a bike is life threatening, but for now I THINK IT IS! OK!!!??!!!

The ride back resembled something out of Amazing Race episode when you see the cutely annoying couple helping each other through a "tough" part of the race. Usually involves a half hysterical blond chick screaming something like: "I can't do iiiiiiittt....waahhh waahhhhh" and her usually model/actor boyfriend telling her, "Come on babe, you can do it! you can do it!" Yeah, well I'm glad I had my very own model/actor looking boyfriend helping me through the "crisis".

Ps: last nights bike outfit included a tube top, white pants and heels. :) Hey, just cus you're undergoing EXTREME stress doesn't mean you should look sloppy... ;)

PSPS: momi, daddi, don't worry, I make it more dramatic then it really was, I love the new bike it's GREAT! And my butt is getting a work out! Oh! AND it's not too big for me so I can actually get on it without having to jump up!! kisses!

pspspsps...: Queens day today! It's goregous, sunny and we are heading out to Amsterdam in a bit. Tomorrow full report on the festivities!

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My ''Oscar" acceptance speach

Well first of all, before I launch into the many thank yous I must say that I now know what it's like to win an Oscar. This extended Easter weekend I have received so many hugs, so many congratulations and had so many photos snapped of me that I feel I need to walk around with little signed cards to give away to the crowds of screaming fans.

Ahhh...

Ok, so firstly thank you to my parents for being such awesome hosts to all the festivities. My mom was a real rock star with all the dishes that she prepared. And she never got tired of saying: "Eat! Eat! Make me happy!" Vito, myself and my dad really tried our very best, but I believe Kaiya made my mom the happiest of all, since everytime she heard "Eat!" Kaiya did just that! Finishing off the evening with some pickles from a jar! My mom got really emotional and said to my dad: "I love Kaiya! Can we keep her!?''

Besides super intensive home bonding we did make it out to the big city to meet with my friends. So here goes another thank you because you guys were soooooo cute and sexy as you always are! My big emotional line: ''You guys are so gorgeous!!'' La Bottega at Maritime hotel proved itself as a great location. It was not over crowded but cozy and warm!

'

On Saturday the festivities followed at the Staten Island "chateau" and Daniele entertained my friends downstairs by organizing a very aggressive competition of table tennis.

Wow I'm feeling really behind... there are so many funny details from the weekend that I want to mention...

Like my grandparents speaking to Vito in Russian/german/dutch/somethingski....

Must now go organize the 95 + pictures...

Oh... something delicious in the kitchen!!! Gotta run!!!!

OHH oh... speaking of deliciousness, we thought we would be on "detox" from food but Vito's mom made yummies... on which I will be reporting!!!

So again everyone... thank you thank you, muah, muah... kisses!!!!!

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Relationship advice

My friend Kaiya on relationships and the importance of communication and cultivating atmosphere that fosters mutual understanding:

"First of all, you have to know what you want because you're gonna want what you want weather you know what you want or not."

Kaiya you are freakin' BRILLIANT!

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Shall I pour?

Dulce's Birthday is coming up! First of all, WAW, has the year gone by already? I feel like I haven't really accomplished all that much since I go by how many states/countries I move in a period. I did however switch job twice (and looking to do it again right now). I'm telling you kids, job hopping is like drugs, once you're hooked you just can't stop yourself!



Well, the record for me so far, is 3 job changes in a year. Hmmm, if I hop again now, this will make it three, and if I hop again before summer is over, that would be 4 job changes in one year!



But hey, the good news is that if there was ANY doubt before about me working for myself, NOW it is definitely gone. That way I won't be able to job hop! Maybe my ideal career would be starting companies and selling them off. This way I can work for myself AND job hop!!!!



But yes, back to Dulce's Birthday... This is the illustration she sent out to us for "inspiration". This definitely looks like a job I can be happy doing!

Last year her birthday was a total trip.... and OBVIOUSLY we must top it this year!!!

On a totally unrelated note (as always)... I've been thinking... I don't feel blonde enough. I mean, I feel my blonde feeling is dwindling, and it just might be due to the fact that I'm in need of more highlights. Can this be possible?? And by blonde feeling I mean, the fuzzy peach, giggly, happy, sunny, I don't care that I'm about to switch my job for the third time this year, type feeling. You know what I mean?

Well. There is something to be done about it. Hopefully I can book myself an appointment with my shrink. I mean my hair lady.

On another totally unrelated note. I went to get some passport photos with all my family and the photographer totally asked my mom if she was excited for me to be leaving home.

"Her? Leave home??" my mom just waved her hand dismissively in my direction.

"Yeah! Why would I leave home!???" I asked the photographer lady

"Well, how old are you? 18? I imagine you'll be going off to college soon?" She looked confused.

"College??? Yeah, did that TEN YEARS ago!" I said

"Yeah, and she STILL came back to live with us!" Said my mom (is that a bitter note I detect?)

So there! Apparently I STILL look 18. And yes, I'm glad NICO was wrong but still not glad that I look so young. Apparently its the innocent eyes. What crap. Maybe its cus my girls Dulce and Wallstr look like they're 18 as well and its rubbing off on me!!!!

Ok, so I'm back at the initial point of this post, Dulce's upcoming birthday... Yeah, well, its POINTLESS to celebrate it girl, you still look 18. (Ok, maybe now we can try to say 19?)

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