arrivederci

 

we're off for an anniversary trip to italy. 

dream.

come.

true.

(this was three years ago, i can hardly believe it...)

we originally had 10-days of nothing planned in cinque terre, amalfi and rome, but we had to change our plans a bit when matt was invited for final rounds for that miracle job we've been wanting here in london.  now its just 5 - more than a fair trade me thinks. just means we'll go back if we get to stay. 

are you on this roller coaster with me?

it changes daily...

i'm pretty sure our miracle arrived, but it wasn't a miraculous delivery and it's not grown into fruition just yet. so no decisions have been made. we're just waiting, and waiting, and waiting. but i think that's a good lesson for us. i'm not very good at waiting.

1,000 words (or 2,000?)

nothing.

today, i'm feeling a little like this.
just nothing.

people ask:
how are you? (nothing)
will you be so excited if you stay in london? (nothing)
do you want to go back to new york? (nothing)
what will you do for work? (nothing)

which isn't really like me. there's always SOMETHING.
something i saw on the tube.
something funny i overheard.
something that made me smile. or think.
something i'm looking forward to.
something i want to do. or watch. or dance to.
something i can't wait to eat.


not today though, today it's just nothing.

i'm so off my game that...

• i booked our hotel in pisa for the wrong night. 
• i stood a friend up for lunch because i was certain it was the NEXT day. 
• i lost my cell phone, searched all over, and found it IN MY HAND. 
• i took the pasta off the stove, drained it, covered it in pesto and THEN realized it was still crunchy and had only been boiling a few minutes. and guess what, i served it for dinner anyway.

where to stay in london

why don't you come visit us in late july / august and rent this perfect little flat for the family? 

london blogger lindsey is doing what every european should and heading on holiday this august.
if you're planning a trip to london, and need somewhere homey and affordable to stay, email me and i'll forward it along to her. (noelle.nicolai@gmail.com)

it's a white stucco, raised ground floor flat with oodles of light, lots of space to spread out and kate moss across the street. no really...

so we'll see you in august?!?!?! (if we even still live here!)

a few things:

• while walking home today, i saw 3 pairs of red pants. there's not room in this town for all of us.  i might have to find a new color of pants... mint? cobalt? but nothing will ever be as great as red...

•  regardless of what shakes out with the rampant-cy of red pants, i will never give up my cheetah flats. ever.

• i get to spend A LOT of time with my best friend. and it's pretty great. matt and i are averaging something like 8+ hours of togetherness a day not including sleeping.

• our long-time-in-london miracle may have arrived, but it's hard to tell ... 

• i think bentley (the bachelorette) is getting a bad rap. he's HYSTERICAL, albeit insensitive. i admire his HONESTY.  these guys speculate about spending the rest of their lives with a girl they've known for a week AND only ever been alone with for a few hours. my personal favorite: "i'm going to make ashley cry ... i hope my hair looks ok!" CLASSIC. for that bentley, i will jump on the trampolines at your family fun center. 

• italy in 9 days. can't wait to get back. 

• i still sleep with my baby blanket. so what? 

• i miss stella.

forgot to mention....

not sure if i shared this exciting bit of news...
(no. we aren't pregnant)

but we are spending 9 days in italy this month.

3 in cinque terre with kate and tim.
3 in amalfi da solo.
3 in rome with kelsey and robby.


and needless to say, i am STOKED. haven't been back since 2007 with jana. 
sogno d'italia!

hobbs

found a store chocked full of dresses i don't want to live without. 

 modest. well-made.perfect fits.

oh, and really expensive. 

hobbs.co.uk

in case we move before you get to come visit...

i spent the first 4 months decorating our flat.

the next 2 wondering how long we'd be living here

and the next 6 trying not to care that our place is half done. 

in case you don't get to come visit, here's your room. 

the air mattress goes in the corner.

if we leave, i'm selling it all. 

if we stay, i'm buying 2 more lamps and hanging art and photos.

[for when you come visit]

so maybe...

so maybe today i was shirtless in hyde park.
on the ground.
dry-heaving.
and laughing.
and screaming.

kate and i went on a walk. and as we passed the serpentine lake, a nut fell from the trees and smacked me in the head. surprised by the pain and weight of said nut, i rubbed my head and inquisitively said "that was a wet nut..." then i hear kate exclaim, "oh my gosh. oh my gosh. IT WAS POOP!" 

this kind of poop:

as i tried to stifle girly screams of disgust, i was overpowered by my gag reflex. (have you seen it in action? i can't control it.) while i'm on my hands and knees dry heaving, kate tries to scrape the poop off my head with a stick and some leaves. as it trickles down my back she makes an executive decision: "noelle, i'm sorry, but you have to take your shirt off..." 

10 seconds later i'm in a sports bra with droves of summer tourists walking by. what next? dunk my head in the serpentine? search for water to rinse it out? needless to say, we laughed the whole way home. (with a few goose bumps of heeby geebies - no pun intended.)