hira: lazy hazy sunday strolls

current location: torino, italia. il mio apartamento (piccolo. molto piccolo).

hello blog world--checking in at the beginning of another week. i have to admit, i spent this weekend pretty much camera-less--choosing instead to walk the streets of torino and just live minimally. saturday and sunday were spent with respective roommates, first summer and then regina. it was a pleasant, relaxed weekend--strolling through via madama cristina for the street fair, via roma, garibaldi, po and piazza della repubblica for shopping and crepes with nutella. yes. visiting sick friends, pastries and chocolates in tow (harry potter taught us that chocolate was good for ailments, remember?)

at Murphy's-- a pub where the world seems to come together. here you will meet students from all over the world.

a lazy brunch at piazza san carlo felice with a good friend and roommate

still trying to spend as much time outside as possible before the weather gets too cold, usually studying my italian lessons--brown leather bag, as requested.

blog moments: emily's root vegetable pie and chili in a pumpkin bowl (seen all over the blogosphere). canadian thanksgivings. chicago marathons (inspiring longer runs).

currently obsessed with:

running a route that takes me over this beautiful bridge at sunset

milano. zara. divine.

Io voglio regalarti la mia vita, Chiedo tu cambi tutta la mia vita

{I want to treat you to my life I ask that you change all of my life}

tizzy, you've got me hooked.

elyssa: pumpkin mania

location: starbucks, hamilton (the boy's place of employment)

week in review:

clean week went out with a bang. i.e. me baking scones at 2 AM. oatmeal scones to be precise. i took jenna's recipe - subbed in earth balance, for butter, and almond milk, for dairy. it's surprising how often this works without a hitch. all in all, 15 minute scones are pretty life-changing.

do i feel cleaner? a bit. mostly thanks to all the yoga shared with friends. yoga is one of those activities that's always better when shared - and i rarely say that about anything. something about doing your own thing as an individual - yet the same thing as everyone around you - makes it awesome.

all week i was dreaming of the food i would soon be making and eating. i've been scouring the blog world late into the night looking for new recipes. basically, i've turned into a huge blog copycat.

the weekend started off with pumpkin chili bowls from emily. definitely a crowd pleaser. too bad the only crowd was the boy and the cat. at least they were impressed..

after chili came angela's spiced gingerbread. i've never made anything with molasses before. i think it's love. it made for my absolute favorite fall dessert. i'd show you pictures but we ate it too fast for photographic proof. fail.

saturday brought a trip to the farmer's market. we bought plums and peppers. tomatillos and tiny ornamental pumpkins.

actually, the pumpkins were free. the vendor lady was so impressed by my fascination with the tiny pumpkins that she insisted i take them as a gift and put them to good use. in fact, she promised she would bring me an entire set of tiny pumpkins on a vine next week so i can save them for american thanksgiving!

the afternoon ended with an impromptu bouquet of sunflowers from the boy - my favorite flower. he's never bought me flowers before...

new goals:

the past week i ran myself absolutely ragged with school and exercise. friends and obligations. too too much. campus was beautiful - and yet the amount of times i criss-crossed from one end to the other left my poor legs quivering at the end of each day.

the law school

upper campus

mid campus

a beautiful place to learn.

the next two days will be ones of complete relaxation. family thanksgiving dinner. long slow drives to enjoy the changing colors of the season. maybe an impromptu yoga session or two. my legs (and my brain) need a vacation. columbus day/canadian thanksgiving is as good of an excuse as any methinks.

i will:

- sleep more

- drink more tea

- reevaluate my current exercise goals

- take as many pictures and do as much as possible to enjoy my last canadian fall

current obsessions:

chai tea. tiny pumpkins. countdown to christmas. making pumpkin butter. figuring out what to do with the massive sack of spelt flour the boy dropped off at my doorstep.

hira: still mesmerized

location: back home in torino

thanks for keeping the baby blog well-fed, alive and well while i was gone to the italian riviera darling---looking at that photo of us from last spring makes me miss you, the many cups of coffee we have shared together, and the comfort of having you close. thankfully, this blog keeps us more connected than ever--in your memory, i wear those scarves more than one should wear any article of clothing and order many espressi con panna.

i am extraordinarily blessed to be able to experience such a beautiful land and even more blessed with an able and strong body to hike, climb, and run through the mountains, towns and beaches. i completed my journey to santa margherita in increments, stopping along the way to explore the main port city in the north, Genoa. touring the city center took me to open markets, historic churches, royal residency, and panoramic views of the city and harbor..

i had to utilize enormous amounts of willpower to refrain from purchasing everything i saw--it was just all so me--homemade jams, old books and records, prints and paintings. thankfully simona (our amazing program assistant) pulled me away to go look at even prettier things.

we made our way to santa margherita, about an hour from genoa and our home for the next three days---arriving to the coastal town (SMALL town), we check into a quaint little hotel that is located about 3 minutes from the coast--perfect. valeria, sarah and i spent the rest of the day walking around, up and down the streets of santa margherita--stumbling upon little shopping boutiques (because really, we both know that a vacation is incomplete without some shopping), french provincial cafes, ocean-view restaurants, and plenty of gelaterrias (surprise, no?). the liguria region of italia is known for its pesto, focaccia, and seafood. so thats pretty much what i ate over the next few days--lots of cinnamon and yogurt gelato (better than GROM, dare i say?), homemade pizza with capers and anchovies, mussels, shrimp, and pesto focaccia. usually consumed on the beach, standing around in narrow streets, or sitting and facing the crashing mediterranean waves.

i enjoyed many pear and apple almond cakes, berry custard tarts, tiramisus, and caffe. balanced with lots of walking and climbing stairs, hills, and mountains. initially, i felt guilty for 'over-indulging', but then i just shut myself up and enjoyed every bite and every hill. i'm convinced those desserts gave me the energy to hike the cinque terre. people say that the cinque terre is the most beautiful part of italia--i have no doubt. five villages/towns lines the coast along cliffs and mountains--one can either take a train from town to town, or one can choose to hike along the mountains. a bit strenuous because the 'trail' is a constant up and down, up and down; a bit intimidating because the hiking paths line the edge of the mountains and cliffs, a quick glance down can cause one to, at the very least, stumble over the breathtaking beauty and the direct drop down to the sea.

much like yourself, i have been completing HIIT workouts here, 30 minute intervals of running and lots of walking, yoga and stair workouts unknowingly prepared me for a weekend of running around without being the slightest bit sore afterwards. success.

each town brought something new to be discovered--different people--welcoming us with with open arms, nourishment with fruits, lots of water, and coffees, as well as breathtaking views of pastel-colored houses lining the coast and dotting the cliffs,and a lavish history, pride and culture.





paradise. the views, the company, the experience. we will come here together one day.

this week's challenges: keep drinking that water. clean week, italia version: consists of less sweets, more protein. thinking of creative ways to transition my workouts to adapt to the colder weather. i haven't joined a gym yet, forcing myself to take advantage of my surroundings and build strength in my legs. more stair workouts.

current obsessions: relearning spanish. maroon. grill marks on my bread and vegetables. bringing back braids and incorporating them into hairstyles. chic winter wear. vespas.