Christmas spirit in Milan

This year I will spend Christmas back home in Africa. But even if I won't be in Milan, I feel like I have already had my share of Christmas here. The lights, the sales, the music, the Christmas markets, the crowds, weeks before the 25th is all so exciting. The Christmas celebrations in Italy go on days before and after Christmas day.

The whole craze about Father Christmas (Babbo Natale) is not so popular here as in other parts of the world like America. The kids do expect gifts from parents and relatives though. A lot of gift exchanging goes on for the adults too, hence the crowds in the stores and impenetrable streets. I already got mine :-)

The Duomo

 In Italy just like in my country, Christmas (Natale) is the time for families to come together after long separations through the year to spend a special time over great food and drinks. 

According to tradition, the Christmas eve meal does not have any meat so it's about fish and vegetables. All types of fish you can think of; baccala (salted dried cod fish), octopus, shellfish, mussels, calamari.

Then the day long Christmas lunch menu usually consists of pasta, braised veal, anchovies, lasagna, oh the list is endless. Did I mention the dinning goes on the whole day?

I love the traditional sweet cakes served during the holidays. The 'panettone', made in the region of Lombardy, contains raisins and candied fruits. The 'pandoro', made in Verona is soft dough sprinkled with sugar.

The Pandoro and Panettone

I will miss the many invitations to meals throughout the season and Christmas day spent eating numerous courses of Italian traditional delicacies, chatting away over fine wine. Who wouldn't miss that??

Off to my other family in Uganda, where the traditions are actually not so far apart. Feasting, chatting, laughing the festive days away. It's the time for the annual get-together gatherings so there's lot to catch up on.

Buon Natale!
Happy holidays!

LT

No man is an island

Whenever someone closed themselves off from others, my mom always said 'no man is an island'. It did not mean so much to me back then but the older I get, the more sense it makes.

Time and time again we have all felt the need to cut people out of our lives. Friends who have not been so loyal, annoying family members, irritating neighbors and whoever else rubs us the wrong way. You have thought to yourself, if I eliminate this person from my life completely, I will be free from some irritations. Which could probably be true. But then you would have to cut off almost, if not everyone, you know. At some point, everyone in your life has failed you, irritated you, disappointed you, at least the people who are a little close to you.

If everyone thinks in this way, we will all be booted out of someone's life everyday for the irritating things we have done to them and are bound to do again. Then what? Everyone lives isolated from everyone else? If only that was practically possible.

Everybody needs somebody at some point in their lives. Even that one person you never imagined you could ever need. Some people are better being on their own than others. Some actually prefer it. But does that mean they never need anyone, no. Some people are loners, but one thing for sure is no man can thrive well on their own, in isolation and with no connection to others. It could be someone to laugh with, someone to cry with, someone to argue with, name it.

Truth is, sometimes we are better off without some people in our lives. People who pull you down, demoralize you or bring out the worst in you. People you would rather love or hate at a distance. People you know are not good for you and will never be. You are able to tell who these people are after a while of interaction with them in different situations.

"People talk. People lie. People cheat. People change their ways. People do stupid things. People walk out of your life. People hurt you. People make you. People break you. People heal you. People save you. Life happens and there is absolutely nothing you can do about any of it."



So I have learnt to accept the form in which some people are present in my life. Even that very irritating, annoying, disappointing part in which they may come. The days I have badly felt like totally deleting a person from my life, I have distanced myself from them or given them a time out.
Of course there are those I have inevitably kept in my heart but out of my life. You can tell when it's really not worth it and you have to cut ties.


But as John Donne put it, 'no man is an island'. Unless you are sure you need NOBODY ever, think twice before you continuously cut people out of your life. You will soon ran out of people to delete because cliche as this sounds, nobody is perfect. Not even you.
And no man is self sufficient, how ever rich, intelligent, beautiful they may be.
We all need somebody.

LT

Is age really just a number??

My 73 year old mother in law enrolled for a course some weeks ago at a university. She's not those 'overly educated' people who are obsessed with studying if that's what you're thinking. An ordinary, self employed housewife for years who felt studying something new could do her good, so she went ahead and applied for this course.

I know many of you are wondering why a 73 year old who is not looking to develop her career or to be employed is going back to study. And honestly, I thought the same at first, even if I was really impressed by it.

So I thought; Do we let age have more impact on how we run our lives than it should?? Do we let it be the key determinant in the decisions we make and the paths our lives take??

Well, theoretically, age is not really just a number. It is wrinkles, experience, wisdom, wealth, maturity, among other things that come with being around the world longer. But we do know MANY of these are also a choice. Say maturity (we all know that one person who refuses to grow up. PS; not judging).

Just like all other theories, there are a million exceptions to this one too. The  50 year old that has less wrinkles and a firmer body than that fresh 20 year old (or was that pushing it too far? But you do get the point i'm sure). Wiser younger people. Younger people that have had experiences that double or triple their ages. Retired people who have not been able to accumulate as much wealth as a person in their 20s and the list continues.

Age is just a number depending on your attitude and state of mind. How important it is for you to do things within the norm. How thick your skin is to take the judgement and not so silent whispers that come with doing things out of the ordinary (which is relative by the way) or things out of the cultural expectations.

For time immemorial, age  has determined when it is 'ideal' to have or not have kids, who we should or should date, what we can or cannot wear, when it's too late or too early to pursue certain dreams, who we associate with and so on.

Our problem is that we are so afraid of what people are going to think of the decisions we make at a certain age. We are so afraid of the stigma attached to doing things at any given age. So we forego our happiness just to fit in, to be 'normal'.

Now I am not going to sit here and pretend age totally doesn't matter. That would be hypocritical. It's true, you will naturally feel odd about certain things because of your age. In some situations age won't be just a number even if you keep singing it to yourself. There are limits that may be a little too much to be exceeded. But then again, who sets the bench mark to these limits??

I believe that we need to be more in control of the choices we makes, depending our circumstances than minding those numbers on our birth certificates. It saves you a lot of headache trying to fit things into a particular age bracket plus you miss out on opportunities and joys because your age said you could not do something.

Wear that sexy skirt if it makes you feel good even if some people may think you are too old for it. Have your first baby at 18 or 45 if that's when you feel ready for it. Hit the club at 70 if it still lifts your spirits. Date that person who is 20 years your senior or junior if you feel good with them and you are compatible but be sure to be given the side eye every now and then when you do these things. Or to be the topic of a conversation somewhere. But even people doing the 'normal' stuff are gossiped about and get the side eyes too right?

Dare to break the 'rules'. Do what you want, most importantly what is going to make you happy in the long run. We are tailored differently and our life situations are different. Do what suits you as long as it's not offensive of course, some little common sense is required, haha.



What's you take on this? When you throw around that phrase 'age is just a number'. Is it because you badly want to believe it or you actually agree with it??

LT

Every day should be thanksgiving day.

Thanksgiving is not a day that is really celebrated where I am. So there was no turkey grilling in my oven this week while friends and family where it's celebrated, feasted and enjoyed the holiday.
But seeing all these thanksgiving messages on social media gave me a food for thought. It got me thinking of how often we complain, which is almost all the time, but forget to be thankful for the good things happening in our lives. Even the very simple things like a affording a good laugh every once in a while.


For the believers, many of the times we go to that higher power asking for this and that. Do we ever stop to just say thank you for what He has already us, before we even asked?

I am often a complaining queen in my own way. Mostly when things don't go as planned or as I want them to, but I know I ought to be thankful.

I have a few good friends I giggle with, chat with, share my troubles with and can always count on.
I have a huge amazing family that ROCKS. We fight, argue, laugh, gossip, cry together. We support each other and anyone who knows us knows not to tamper with any of us or you are in deep trouble. We are glued together by a woman so special, we are glad to have her as our mother. She's our superwoman. Our hero.

Part of my amazing big family

It has been an amazing year for me. It started off with marrying my boyfriend who has been nothing but a great companion. I hope to grow old with him. God blessed us with a cheerful, handsome baby boy that I would kill for. Our lives have never been the same. That includes the sleepless nights and changing diapers, haha, comes with the joy of parenthood. Few days after the birth of my son my condition got bad and I feared I would not make it. That is something to be thankful for, I am still here to see my baby grow.

My son, my prince

Early this same year my siblings and I got together in the same place at the same time for the first time in so many years.

Another one of my crazy family

You too have a reason to give thanks. Let's brush off counting what should have been and count our blessings instead. The simple things; health, friends, family, pets, that neighbor who always says good morning.

Everyday should be thanksgiving day. We have so much to be thankful for to put it in just a day. You may not be where you want to be yet but you definitely been through a tough moment you thought would never pass. Give thanks. It's good for the soul.

What are those simple things you are thankful for? Brag away!!

LT

We made sushi.

This weekend me and the girls had a fun lunch. We had our own home made sushi.

Back home, I was never a sushi fan because the thought of raw fish grossed me. Still does a bit but it's a little different with sushi, I don't even think about it. It's not very popular there anyway because we don't have the sea close by.

The beauty of home made sushi is that you can skip the bit of raw fish and just put the smoked one like we did (I am not sure if that still qualifies it as sushi. Oh well, it does to me). You can also add anything else you find tasty even if it's not traditionally included (by the Japanese).

For amateurs, I must say it went very well. I plan on doing this more often.

The ingredients you need;

You can always add anything else like cheese but this is the basic stuff.

Sliced cucumber, yellow pepper, avocado and smoked salmon

 

Sticky rice

Sushi paper to wrap ingredients

Here is how you lay it out;

First, you spread the rice onto the sushi mat then add the rest of the ingredients with the fish on top.
Don't make the rice layer so thick. Avoid over stuffing it to avoid the wrap from tearing.

Ready to roll; 

You will need a bamboo mat beneath the sushi mat to firmly wrap your roll.
Keep wetting the tips of your fingers to avoid the rice sticking everywhere.

Keep re opening the mat to check that everything is
firmly wrapped inside

Time to cut up the rolls;

Use a wet, sharp knife not to crush what is inside and to make neat rolls.

Enjoy a silly chat and glass of wine while at it, makes it all more fun. :-)

We are finally done.

Annet excited about her first
home made sushi experience

Anna pleased with her results

You can now serve your sushi with soy sauce.

Final presentation

Easy right? You too can try it out. Let me know how it goes.
PS: If you are going to use raw fish, make sure it's clean, of good quality and safe to eat.

Enjoy your home made sushi!!

LT

Women with long feet.

I've been shoe shopping online all week since I cannot find shoes that fit where I am and walking barefoot is not an option.

Shoe shopping is one of the most frustrating things I have to do from time to time but exciting too when I manage to find a decent shoe in my size. Size 12.5. Yes, you read right 12.5 for women.

I have always been among the tallest girls through out my school days. It never really occurred to me that I had long feet then till much later in my teens. My relatives teased me a lot about my feet and called them all sorts of names. It was actually funny. A local tabloid once called them duck feet, pictures included. Haha.

We have all heard the myth about large hands and feet being a good fore teller of larger other things for men. My son is in luck if those myths are true as he took from me the long feet. Hihi. Now, you won't believe someone dared to ask if the same applies for women with big feet, seriously???

There are few myths about women with long feet but non make sense to me so I won't even go there. We are simply tall women with feet relative to our bodies. 

I get that traditionally, women are expected to have tiny, cute, delicate feet but let us leave that to men who have a fetish for feet. Even if I do know a size 13 can be equally as attractive. Anyway, I don't know much about foot fetishes.

Living in Europe, Italy in particular, has rubbed it in that my feet are abnormally long. I step into a store and have jaws dropping at the mention of my shoe size. Some will think I am kidding and peep to confirm.

When I am out shoe shopping, many will ask me about my athletic abilities, swimming, running, etc. Unfortunately, I am not good at any. I did not put these feet to good use, damn it! I am usually advised to try sneakers in the guys section. I also get directions to the specialized stores for people with big feet. The shoes at these stores are plain, most of the times not pretty and don't forget at an extra cost.

What I don't get is why would you expect a thick, 5'11 woman to wear a size 6? I think i would even topple over with such a tiny foot. These feet give us balance, believe me.

I find it sad to read that some women with big feet are actually embarrassed to admit their shoes sizes and will even buy smaller shoes that don’t fit. It's not that serious, it's just a foot, it does not define you.

I'm happy about the web sites and stores around the world trying to cater to us though. Thanx to them, I have had quite a fulfilling week.  Here is a peep at some of my new babies.

So don’t be afraid or shy my big feet women. Nicely pedicure those giant feet, paint your nails, feel good in those flip flops. Anyone makes a comment you don’t like about your awesomely longer than usual feet, make use of them. Kick their ass so hard, they will never forget your shoe size.

If Lisa Leslie (size 13), Tyra Bank (size 12), Kate Winslet(size 11.5 ), Michelle Obama (size 11.5), Macy Grey (size 12) among others are rocking their big feet, so can we. Oh, by the way, wearing smaller shoes does not make your feet smaller. It will simply give you PAIN.  

LT

Hello to beautiful beginnings!!!!!

So this is my first blog post.

The thought of blogging has run through my mind countless times. It has been thrown at me by friends and family who thought I could/should do it.

Today after all the back and forth I decided to give it a shot. It's 11.16 pm (Italian time), a chilly Thursday, seated at my dinning table, excited, wondering what to write about, what to call my blog etc.

Many little ideas popping in my head then I realize I can just make this a comfort corner where friends, family and everybody else can take a minute out of the 'real' world to share dreams, thoughts, inspirations, debates, arguments (peaceful ones :-)), whatever brings you comfort.

This is our 'comfort box'. A place you will find it all: family, travel, food, fashion, love, work, study, business, events..........................

Benvenuti (Welcome aboard)
LT