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