Italian Lesson No 1: Numbers

Remeber i told u i was going to write a few words and phrases of italian i learned every once in a while?? Well, here u go!! :)
Lesson No1: Numbers
0= zero
1= uno
2= due
3= tre
4= quattro
5= cinque
6= sei
7= sette
8= otto
9= nove
10= dieci
11= undici
12= dodici
13= tredici
14= quattordici
15= quindici
16= sedici
17= diciassette
18= diciotto
19= diciannove
20= venti
21= ventuno
22= ventidue
30= trenta
31= trentuno
40= quaranta
50= cinquanta
60= sessanta
70= settanta
80= ottanta
90= novanta
100= cento
101= centouno
200= duecento
300= trecento
1.000= mille
2.000= due mille
1.000.000= un milione
2.000.000= due milione

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First Week

Sunday today and the weather is freezing cold!! Time to relax and enjoy the indoors..:) So, it's almost a week since i started my new years resolutions.. I'm glad to announce i lost almost 2.2. pounds!!!! It's not much but, hey, it's a start!! :p
I haven't really changed much in my diet. Can't seem to live and breathe without sweets..lol But i have substituted sugar in my coffee and tea with stevia. Stevia is a plant also known as sweetleaf.
I have also started exercising and i must say that i LOVE it!! I'm 30 and i could never imagine myself getting up in the morning just to exercise. I always told ppl that i just cannot do it and was wondering why on earth can't they understand that!! I tell u that i CAN do it and it's the best thing u can do!!! You feel energized for the rest of the day!!
Since i was totally out of shape I started with 10 mins on a treadmill and raised the time a little each day. I've now reached 30 mins of jogging!
Tomorrow, i'm starting my afternoon routine too. Strength exercises and some yoga. I'll let u know how that turns out. ;)

xoxo
B.

Here's a video i hope u'll enjoy!!

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Happy New Year!!!

James Morisson in the background, a glass of red wine, xmas lights (yes, i admit i haven't taken off the xmas decorations yet..lol) and ready for some blogging..;)
It's been a while since my last blog post..Meanwhile, 2012 is starting its journey.. I wish u all a very very happy new year!! Filled with health, love, courage, happiness, understanding, new experiences, creative moments, but above all persons who love u and care for u to share all these with.
I've closed a big chapter of my life and going on for the next one. My 5+ yrs old relationship ended in late November. I can't say i wasn't upset and sad.. It just comes a point to your life where u;ve got to make a step, especially when u're with a person for such a long time. After 5 whole years u know the good and the bad and u can decide whether u can spend the rest of your life with that person or not.
I couldn't.. I needed someone who will be there for me always. Someone who will hold my hand no matter what. Someone who will say "Don't be afraid! I'm here for you". Someone who won't be able to even imagine his life without me. Someone who will need to see me each and every day. Someone who will treat me as equal. Someone who would love me JUST the way i am..
Now, i feel good!!! I feel calm and relaxed...
So, along with the coming of this new year - our last for many :p (according to many prophecies the end of the world is near)- I'm drawing a line. I start anew!! I put ME in front of all. Cause if I can give to myself, then i can give to others as well.
My New Year's resolutions are these:
1) Get in better shape! Be stronger and healthier. I'm starting on Saturday and i'll let u know how that goes! :)
2) During the last couple of yrs i've developed an even bigger fear of being in closed spaces like the subway, or even worse an airplane. That stands in my way of flying to places. So, this year i'll overcome this fear and start making my dream come true. Travel around the world, expand my horizons, meet new places, new cultures and new people.
3) Learn Italian. Yes, I adore Italy. I love Italian ppl (men especially lol), i LOVE italian food, italian music, italian scenery, italian fashion, italian everything.. As for their language it;s just music in my ears. Of course, u're gonna tell me..are u nuts?? Why learn a language that is spoken only in one country in the world? Learn Spanish for example..Well, be patient ppl. Time will come for another language as well..;) So, I'll write small phrases or words of italian i learn every once in a while.
4) STOP and i mean STOP being so stressed 24/7, 365 days a year. I'm probably one of the people that i had anxiety in my mother's wound. I'm stressed about anything. I might have an appointment tomorrow morning and i won't sleep at night. Or might leave for a holiday trip and i still won't sleep at night. I might get caught in traffic and i'll freak out. It's NOT healthy and certainly doesn't help me or the people who surround me at all. So, as of now, i'm starting doing yoga and find new ways to let the steam out and try to enjoy life and its moments more.
5) Finally QUIT smoking. It's just a freaking bad habit and nothing more!! I just fool myself by telling that i've reduced it to 2 cigarettes a day. But, the truth is that on the weekends or when i go out, i do more. So, i just HAVE to quit it once and for all!!!
6) Start writing the book i've wanted since a child. Stop having it in my mind and just put my thoughts on paper.
7) Fall in love with someone who will fall for me too and live the magic!!! That's gonna be a hard one..but it's worth the try..haha!!
8) Cut a little down on sugar. I'm a huuuuuge sweet-addict (i don't know if there's really a word for that), but i just prefer not to eat food and eat sth sweet. Bad bad bad...
9) Tell the people i love that "I love them" at least once a day. U never know when they're gonna stop being there for you...(there's a huge story here, but maybe another time)
10) Hmmm..i would probably say meet Chris Evans in person, since i'm so totally in love with that guy hahaha, but i'm gonna be an adult and say...Just BE happy and don't forget to SMILE!!! :)

I want to say..that i owe a huuuge, enormous thanks to the 1 year 1000 challenges community and of course Jesse Brisendine. If u don't know it yet, pls check on it. I'll give u the links at the end of the post. I guarantee u that u'll be more motivated and more challenged than u've ever been in your entire life. I know i have!! I've met people who are kind and beautiful not just on the outside, but in the inside as well. And i hope that i'll have the honour and the pleasure of meeting them one day in person as well.

So, that's all for now!! Take care and don't forget to smile!! :)
Be back soon!
xoxo
B.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/1Year1000Challenge
http://www.jessebrisendine.com/
http://jessebrisendine.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/#!/JesseBris

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Mocha Viennese Swirls

November is finally here... Not cold enough though, but i really need to get in a little Christmas mood. What's better than some divine mocha cookies, that just melt in your mouth!!!! Trust me.. u're totally gonna love these ones!! ;)
Ingredients:
120 gr plain chocolate broken into squares
200 gr softened unsalted butter
50 gr confectioners' sugar
30 ml strong black coffee
200 gr all purpose flour
50 gr cornstarch (cornflour)
For decoration:
about 25 blanched almonds
150 gr plain chocolate
Preparation:
Melt the chocolate in a bain marie (bowl over a pan of hot water). Cream the butter with the sugar in a bowl until pale and smooth. Beat in the melted chocolate and then the black coffee.
Sift the flour and cornflour over the mixture. Fold in lightly and evenly to make a soft mixture.
With a piping bag fitted with a large star nozzle, pipe about 25 swirls on two baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Allow room to spread during baking.
Press an almond into the centre of each swirl. Bake for about 15 mins in preheated oven at 180C.
Leave the cookies to cool a little, then transfer with a spatula to a wire rack to cool completely.
Melt the chocolate in a bain marie. Dip the base of each cookie into the chocolate until coated. Leave to set.

Enjoy with a hot cup of coffee..;)
Good luck!
xoxo
B.

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Wonderland...

Financial crisis, social crisis, cultural crisis... The whole world is in fast forward mode and doesn't seem to stop... It's times like these that I just wish i could close my eyes and transfer myself to Wonderland....

If you believe in fairies, clap your hands....;)

xoxo

B.

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Barcelona, Spain - Part 2

Day 2 of the beautiful Barcelona trip..
Destination: Park Guell. When Nature met Gaudi. A monument of World Heritage, is named by Count Eusebi Guell, a Catalan textile enterpreneur, best known as a patron of Antoni Gaudi.
THe breathtaking view of the city is sure to capture your memory.

Park Guell can be accompanied by a visit to Gracia. Beautiful buildings of past centuries make you have a relaxed feeling and a sense of culture all around. Enjoy your sangria in one of the little shops with the tables out.
And since you're here, you have to taste some pure catalanian flavours. Try the Origens. A dreamy meal. ;-)
Next stop: Forza Barcaaaaaaaaa!!!! Camp Nou. Home of FC Barcelona since 1957. Seats 99.354, making it the largest stadium in Europe. Entering will give u goosebumps and feel like u're in the centre of the world.
If you have the chance, book a ticket and watch a football match. Still regret I didn't!! :-(

After that, walk Av.Diagonal towards the city centre and pay a visit to Piscolabis tapas restaurant. Choose between almost 70 different tapas to have with ur beer or sangria.

Day 3
Destination: Port Vell, L'Aquarium. 11.000 animals and 450 different species. The most important aquarium on the subject of the Mediterranean. You'll just be amazed by the colors some fish have..haha

I was thinking all the time what if that glass broke..with all those sharks swimming above you..eww..just..DON"T think about it!! lol
Close to the aquarium is the zoo. I didn't go, but some of my friends did and said it was beautiful but very very tiring. Don't know, so can't really say..
I preffered to visit Poble Espanyol. One of the most amazing places I went to. Absolutely loved it. You'll find lots and lots of shops..Macrame, masks, ceramics, carved wood, jewellery and of course hand fans. Be sure to visit the glass workshop. Smells like candy..:-)
We ate at a cute restaurant sort of medieval. Don't remember the name and don't have a card.., but you'll find plenty of places to eat there.

Last day, was dedicated to shopping...lol El Corte Ingles is one of the biggest department stores in Barcelona.
Custo Barcelona, Desigual, La Gauche Divine, La Boheme, Mango are some of the shops that will make ur wallet thinner..

Oh..and I mustn't forget..Bellart Chocolatery. The best chocolate shop!! ;-)

This post is dedicated to my friend Indra!! Hope u have an amazing, magical trip with great experiences and memories to last for a lifetime!! :-)

xoxo
B.

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Two hands..

"I had to grow old, my boy, to finally learn what happiness is..
Happiness is a pair of hands, two hands..
Those who will hug you, hold you, put you to sleep, take care of you, cook for you, stroke you..
And in the end, will close your eyes.."

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