An Adventurous Sunday Morning!!!

Last Sunday I went in the mountain with my friends to live an adventurous experience that I had never tried before: Rock climbing!!!

After a busy week, dividing myself between study and work, I really needed something relaxing and funny at the same time so, when my friends asked me to join them, I didn't hesitate!

The day was beautiful and hot, the sun shined in the blue sky and I felt full of energy!!!

The climbing wall was located in a clearing, accessible by walking for half an hour, which is perfect to do a little bit of muscle warming.

When we arrived and I saw the climbers, who were trying  to reach the top of the wall, I felt really scared.. I couldn't believe that I would be able to climb to the top, overcoming the dizziness!

 

 

 

Luckily my friends were cheering me on and soon the desire to try and the courage have taken over the fear...so I wore the harness and the shoes and I started the new adventure!!!

 

At first I needed the advice of my friends, who suggested me where to put hands and feet, but soon I felt quiet and concentrate and, slowly, I found myself on the top!

 

 

 

From there the view was wonderful and I was filled with a sense of peace .. I was so proud of myself to have done it!

After a morning of sport we were hungry, overheated and also a bit tanned, so we headed to a tipical restaurant and we ordered a tasty lunch!!!

There couldn't be a better way to end a beautiful morning like that ...

Love
Martina

 

The Last lesson in Venice...

 

 Last Friday was my last day of lesson of my university career!!!

These five years have passed in a flash, but they have been wonderful and unforgettable!!!

It was supposed to be a day of study in the library, but it was sunny and warm and we couldn't waist inside such a beautiful day!!!

 

 

 

It was fun to wander through the streets and take photographs..Venice shone brightly and we relished every single moment!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also bought an amazing book : "Venice is a fish", written by Tiziano Scarpa, a sensorial guide of the city,  which is discovered through the feet, the legs, the heart, the hands, the face, the mouth, the nose and the eyes!!!

  This is a very unsettling guide to Venice. It doesn't contain the addresses of museums, hotels or restaurants.

 In "Venice is a Fish", the author invites the reader to partake in sensual experiences that will enable her to discover the most intimate facets of the city. It's a funny initiation ceremony where one learns how to stand on a gondola, to cross barefoot muddy canals and caress eyes shut the faces of statues.

 

 

In order to explore Venice with the taste I chose a yummy ice cream, which is made by GROM! It is an italian speciality,made in Turin with organics ingredients, and my ice cream cone with strawberry and dark chocolate was sublime!!!

 

 

 Love

Martina



A perfect Saturday morning!!!

Last week my parents were on holiday in Tuscany, so I stayed at home with my sister, Cloe and Minù!!!:)

The days have flown between work, study, houseworks and evenings with friends and the weekend has arrived in a flash!
On Friday night I went with my sister to our favourite Chinese restaurant and we spent some beautiful hours together, chatting, eating yummy things and laughing!!!

 

 

But my favourite moment of the entire week has been the Saturday morning!!!
We slept like angels until nine o' clock and, still in our pajamas, we prepared pancakes with chocolate and honey, orange juice and coffee to start the day with the smile in our faces!!!

 

 

 

After breakfast we went out for a walk in the countryside with Cloe..it was warm and sunny and the air smelled of flowers!!!

 

 

I really needed a morning like this to regenerate my body and my mind!!!

 

 

How was your weekend?

 

Love

xoxo

Martina



Easter Day...

These little holidays have passed in a flash and I want to share with you some shots about my Easter Sunday!!!
We spent the all day in family and we ate some delicious things!!!

My mother prepared one of her specialities: risotto with strawberries.

 

 

It's easy and fast to prepare but the result is simply delicious and and its flavor is delicate and refined at the same time!!!

 

 

And here is my beautiful mom with Chloe, the little naughty puppy of the house!

 

 

As a dessert I prepared some muffins with limoncello, almonds and dark chocolate, to eat together with the chocolate eggs..yummy!!!

 

How was your Easter Day?

Love

xoxo

Martina

 



Some days with Lady Butterfly

I want to introduce to you Lady Butterfly..this handmade butterfly, created with
scraps of cloth, that is the main character of my English course for children of 4 years old.
From the first day of April I work in the nursery school of my village, the one where I went when I was a little girl, and I hold a workshop of English for two hours a week.

When I received the proposal I was so excited , but also a little worried , because I didn't know how to keep alive the attention and the enthusiasm of the children.
The idea came to me when I was talking with my best friend and, until now, it has been a success!!!
The first day of the workshop was last Monday and I told the children that I had spent the weekend in a beautiful country called England, from which I had brought a surprise. From a luggage I pulled out this lovely butterfly  and I told them that she spoke a foreign language, the English language!

The kids were so happy to learn some words in English to communicate with Lady Butterfly and, in order to know how to pronounce her name properly, we listened and danced this simple song: " Fly Butterfly".

 From my big bag I also extracted an atlas and  Lady Butterfly helped us to find out where her country was ... The kids were so curious and it was great to see the wonder in their eyes!

During the activity we also learnt how to say " Hello" and " Bye-bye" and, in the end, the kids had fun coloring the portrait of their new friend.

I'm really happy for the result of the first lesson and I'm trying to organize stimulating and funny activities for the next ones...Always with the support of Lady Butterfly!!!
Could you suggest me something?

                                 I would appreciate it very much!!!!

 

 

 Cloe is always a bit shy when it comes to making new friends!!!

Love

Martina

Cheesecake with Blueberries

This afternoon, when I came back home from work, I felt inspired to make a cake!!! I wanted to try something new, so I chose the recipe of a cheesecake with blueberries that I found in a cooking magazine! :)

The problem with this kind of cakes ,which are full of dairy products, is that I can't eat the dough neither the filling..so I really need the help of my sister as taster!!!
Needless to say, she is always happy to do this for me!!!

INGREDIENTS
180gr dry biscuits
100gr butter

FOR THE CREAM
3 eggs 
250 gr ricotta cheese
250gr  mascarpone cheese
120 gr sugar
1 tablespoon of white flour
1 vanilla pod
1 lemon

Blueberry jam 

PROCEEDINGS
Chop the biscuits and add them to the melted butter. 
Put the mixture into a baking tray covered with baking paper, level well and place in the refrigerator.
Whip the egg yolks with the sugar, add the ricotta cheese, mascarpone cheese, flour,  the seeds extracted from the vanilla bean, the lemon rind and the whipped egg whites.
Pour the mixture over the biscuit base and bake in the oven at 180-200 degrees for 30 minutes.
Spread the blueberry jam on the cream cheese and serve cold.

A slice after the other the cake is disappearing ..  it must be really good!!!:)

                                                Love
                                                Martina

Sweet remedies against the flu

 

This week I've finally started a new job and...guess what??
I got sick!!! I couldn't believe it!!!
Cough, cold, sore throat and a slight fever..on Wednesday evening I was completely destroyed..but I couldn't miss a day of work!!!

 

Here are some tricks that have helped me get to Friday night:
- First of all this delicious yogurt cake..something sweet and light to begin a day of work, with a cup of green tea.

 

- Makeup: after a sleepless night to blow the nose and cough a "morning restoration"  becomes necessary in order to be presentable in the office.

It's important to keep soft the skin of the face with a moisturizer cream and use soft handkerchiefs to avoid unsightly redness.

-Go to bed early with a cup of hot chamomile tea, a good book (at the moment I'm reading "Memoirs of a Geisha" ) and thyme cream that has to be spread on the chest and under the feet ... it seems unbelievable but it helps!!!

 

 

And last but not least: the company of my two favorite darlings .. Cloe and Minù!!!

 

Love

xoxo

Martina