Madrid: 2 years later

Two years ago, I was arriving at Barajas Airport in Madrid utterly scared and also excited to start a new life. Jimmy and I didn’t know what to expect since this was our first time in Madrid. We left behind so many things and felt heart-broken for many reasons.

I remember being scared to come here just for the reason that eventually I would have to leave again. But here we are two years later blending in this lovely city. I didn’t look back: I just said good-by to my family and left. No farewell parties, no calls, no social media «I-am-leaving» posts. We just took our things, our hopes and dreams and left for a better life.

So how can I manage to resume our two years here without making this a tremendous long post? With a list, obviously. 🙂

1. Two years, two different apartments. Our first one sans elevator and the second one with a lovely terrace. 
2. I have two of my old friends from school here in Madrid, but in these past two years I have made incredible new ones. I am so grateful for that.
3. We have built a solid video reel with all the things we have filmed since we got here.
4. In two years we have changed from one music producer to another (It didn’t actually work out for us, but still keep in touch because they are good friends). Now Jimmy and I haven’t stopped making music because we found our music flow together and we are loving it. I hope to share some new music soon.
5. Talking about music, I wrote a song for the SRF Eurovision Switzerland Song Contest and we made it to the final 6 from 400 people! It was an amazing experience!
6. I traveled to Paris, Pisa, Zürich (two times) and Thessalonica (3 times). I also made a fast trip to Miami with my parents. These two years have been busaaay!
7. Nina moved in with us last year and I was the happiest person on earth to have my little monster here. 
8. I finished the first draft of my book. It is still a work in progress but I am trying to squeeze the time to actually polish it.
9. I work every single day to get what I want, I feel I have made such a big progress but there is still so much to do.
10. Finally, I am still learning new things every day. Madrid, you still haven’t seen the best of me. 😉

Vlog series: Tuscany trip

I wanted to make a different kind of travel post so after stalking people on YouTube I got the (brilliant) idea to try to do a travel vlog for this trip.

I have to confess I was kind of skeptical about this whole vlog thing but it was actually fun and I got to capture tons of footage for you guys.

So here it is! Hope you like it 🙂

 

What’s inside my makeup travel bag

I don’t know about you, but I love seeing posts of what people carry on their bag (little creepy right?). In my defense it is just kind of fun to take a peak and see if they are organized, what products do they carry around, what can’t they live without. It is fun.

I have shared the «what’s in my bag» post and «what’s inside my travel carry-on» post and after taking a look at those two posts I need to add some similar posts with more appealing pictures. Let us called them the «updated» ones.

Next week I am going to be out-of-town for a small business/pleasure trip and (obviously) I am going to share it the week after with you guys so you can see how lovely the place I am going to is. It is a short trip so I try to fit as little makeup as possible in my toiletries bag.

1. Smashbox photo finish primer water
2. Duo lash glue
3. L’oreal Infallible 24 h-mat (20 sand)
4. Make up Forever full cover (waterproof)
5. Too Faced «Better than sex» mascara
6. Tarte «The sculptor» contouring crayon
7. Brow brush from E.l.f
8. Concealer and eyeliner brush from M.A.C
9. Morphe M433 Brush
10. Collistar black kohl pencil
11.  Stila «Stay all day» waterproof liquid eye liner
12. Maybelline lip liner (20 nude)
13. Face brush by E.l.f
14. L’oreal color riche matte in 640 (all time favorite)
15. Catrice matt bronzing powder
16. Ardell demi wispies (you know I can’t live without lashes)
17. Make up Forever Step 1 primer
18. The beauty blender
19. Make up Forever Pro sculpting palette
20. Revolution ultra contour palette (I used it as eye shadow too)
21. Dead Skin Origins under-the-eye patches

This makeup bag is fantastic because it’s small, practical and has plastic coverage so is something spills, it won’t ruin my things (let’s add that is cute too). I bought it from Forever 21 two years ago.

I would love to know, what’s do you guys put inside your make up travel bag?

Fresh air: 12 random things right now

1) My legs are sore of so much walking.

2) I can’t explain this wonderful feeling of walking in the street and feeling the fresh air in my face.

3) I love to walk and walk and wander around.

4) I see small coffee shops and old streets.

5) I stare at the «tapas» in every Madrid’s restaurant tables.

6) I drink «cafe con leche» like crazy.

7) I am like a little bird who has finally opened the small cage and is flying through the trees.

8) I get overwhelmed, I sometimes let go a tear or two but this time because I am free.

9) I don’t hide my phone in the streets, I don’t worry every time I go to the supermarket because I know I will find the things I am looking for.

10) I miss my sister, my mom, my dad and I can’t walk by a dog without missing Nina.

11) This has been hard. I try to focus on the things ahead but somehow I find myself remembering the things I left behind.

12) I am scared but also excited to start this new adventure.

The weather is starting to get a little chilly and the summer heat is far forgotten, but I am happy that this time my hands are the ones who are cold and not my heart.

I am ready for you Madrid.

From Paris with love (Part II)

Last week we went on a brief and short trip to Paris with Jimmy. My mother-in-law was going to be there with a friend for a week, so we thought it would be a fabulous opportunity to jump on plane and meet there. My brother-in-law was coming from Barcelona and we all got together for a small family reunion.

I can’t emphasize enough how much we laughed and had a very lovely (and freezing) time. Although I missed my sister Stefi so much because every street and every corner reminded me of the last time I was in Paris with her. My little travel companion.

I think this is the first time in twelve years with Jimmy that I got to share and have so much fun with his family. His mother is the sweetest person you will ever meet and his brother is absolute fun. I rarely got to see him back in Caracas but I am really happy we got to share this trip together.

The view from our room

Breakfast and lunch at Laduree

I have a small obsession with postcards

Skulls everywhere

Almost done: Madrid here I come!

I am writing this post and I already feel nostalgic since this is probably the last time I am going to be posting from this place. It’s official: I have packed everything and I am ready to start from scratch.

Tomorrow is going to be a very long day. Trips to Europe are long and the whole Caracas-airport-thing makes me feel anxious. Tonight I will be having a hard time falling asleep for sure. I am going to miss tons of things but I am excited for all the new experiences to come.

My bags have extra weight and we do have extra luggage. I just can’t process how I managed to pack our lives in just five suitcases (well thanks Mom you are amazing at this).

I will be posting as soon as I get there.

See you soon!

 

 

10 things I am loving about moving to another country

I thought this would be so much easier. I have been dreaming of this moment for five years. It was like a distant dream. I would write about it and fantasize about a life outside this chaos. Suddenly I realize that moment has come. I am leaving all of this behind and starting from scratch.

I still can’t believe it but reality just slapped me in the face. I am packing and selling everything. You have no idea how much stuff you have hoarded until you have to move.

I can’t take everything with me, but I have some things that I do need. I am moving to a colder country and the nice tropical Venezuelan weather will be a cherished memory.

I am putting in a box all my summer clothing and taking out my winter clothing that I kept from my year studying dance in Toronto.

I am extremely anxious. I can’t sleep, I eat more than I should but deep inside I am truly excited.

This change is a big step towards a better life.

I want to share with you ten things I am loving about moving to another country.

1) I will be finally able to walk outside without the fear of getting robbed. 

2) I am getting rid of everything I don’t actually need. 

3) New culture to explore. 

4) Wearing high boot without looking ridiculous .(You do look funny wearing winter boots in a tropical country.)

5) Finally going to the supermarket and finding everything I need. 

6) Sharing my new music with a different part of the world. 

7) Meeting new people. 

8) Being really close to my Europe family. (Spoiler!) 

9) Continue my book in a different country.

10) Taking the Golden Limoncello with me!

Greece: 5 places where I would rather be right now

Summer is here, I am working: no fun at all. I am here sitting in my work space wishing I was swimming in the clear and warm Greek waters. My summers consisted of frappe coffee, swimming and sharing with family. I want to leave everything as it is, pack a small bag and randomly leave.

So today my mind is flying far away and I want to share my inspiration board of five places I’d rather be right now instead inside a room with air condition and extreme allergy.

1) Paros

2) Zakinthos

3) Agia Marina

4) Kalogria

5) Lefkatha

Shall we all leave everything and book a ticket to Greece? We wish right…

 

 

My favorite place to hide

My italian family lives in Tuscany. They have a beautiful place in the mountains of Coreglia. I spent most of my childhood in this house and every time I go there, it reminds me of happy times.

My grandparents used to live there. I never met my grandfather but my «Nonna» was the reason I went every summer.

Now that she is gone, I still go there every two years and disconnect myself from the world. No cell phone or internet. Just me, the mountains and nature. On the upper floor lives my aunt Anna and on the lower floor my aunt Gabriella with my uncle Paolo.

My days there begin very early. I like to have coffee in the garden and go for a long walk. Walking in the forest is like therapy for me. The only sounds you hear are bird singing, the wind and the river.

The house has a big garden on the back with my uncle`s herb, fruit and vegetable garden. I love when it is strawberry time.

The town is close to our house and we normally go walking to say hello to some old friends and walk through the picturesque streets.

We sometimes go to the farmers market and I have so much with all the vibrant colors around.

Someday I would love to live in a place like this. In the city we often forget what the wind sound like because all we hear is the noisy streets. There is a big difference waking up and knowing nature is surrounding you rather than get lost between tall buildings.

Maybe it is just nostalgia talking right now. I miss visiting my nonna Emilia`s place and remembering how lovely her voice sounded when she called from her balcony «Ciao cocca!»

 

 

What’s inside my travel carry-on

I hate to have tons of things in my carry-on bag every time I travel. It’s uncomfortable, annoying and normally you end up bringing things you don’t need. That’s why I like to keep it simple and practical. I am going to give you a peek inside mine.

I always carry my handbag with the essentials for the airport and a small square travel case that is practical and fits under the front seat in the airplane. When I travel overseas I usually add black sweatpants and a cozy long-sleeve sweater inside my carry-on that I use as a «pyjama» because I hate sleeping in jeans or pants. I always change before landing.

These are the items I normally take with me. I didn’t add them to the picture but I also take a small purse with travel documents, my Kindle and a travel-size makeup bag.

 

1) You really need these. Sometimes you arrive at the airport with a fabulous face other times with a no-friends-face after a long flight.

2) My purse and my travel documents purse.

3) Sleep mask. I can’t sleep if everything is not pitch-black, so these don’t leave my bag.

4) My Iphone.

5) Planes get chilly, so I learned to a-l-w-a-y-s bring a shawl.

6) Face wipes. I take my makeup off on long flights and re-apply it before landing. So these are really helpful.

7) A pair of socks. I like to wear them before I fall asleep. Never walk on the airplane with bare-naked feet. Just don’t.

8) Bobby pins, hair clip and ear plugs.

9) Band-aids, toothpaste and toothbrush (missing from the picture above), travel-size perfume, sanitizing hand wipes, travel-size Nivea cream, sugar-free candy, lip balm, face lotion and Tide travel-size.

10) The case where I put #8 and #9.

11) Small hair comb and a pen.

12) My passport (well, obviously).

 

Everything fits here. I also have space for some granola, magazines and my camera.

Do you guys have any travel essentials?

Wanderlost: 5 places I want to visit

Lately, I have found myself in a state of nostalgia of the places I have visited and how wonderful it felt. I find myself with the desire to be anywhere except here. Has it ever happened to you?

Trapped in our daily routine we often forget how big the world is and how many things we still have to see. Personally, I want to find the courage to move but there are still many things I have to sort out before I go.

Meanwhile I want to share with you the places I would love to visit. It is kind of a small bucket list.

1) My father-in-law was from Sicily. Mr. Carmelo was one the most special people I have ever met. He sat whole afternoons telling me about this wonderful place.

(Photo credit: http://09am.com/sicily-italy/ )

2) Since my mom is Greek, this country has been part of my heart since a little girl. My mom made sure I learned Greek and I will be truly thankful for that my whole life. I stumbled with this picture on the internet and fell in love with it. My aunt has been there and told me it is magical. This is the Melissani Cave, Kefalonia.

 

(Photo credit: http://besttravelphotos.me/2013/11/12/melissani-cave-kefalonia-greece/ )

3) A dear friend went on a short trip to Istanbul. He really loved the place and gave me amazing tips for my future trip. The only word I know in Turkish is «Yavrum», depending on the context, it means «my dear». Since Turkey is near Greece I might even visit Istanbul and Kefalonia at the same time. Convenient right? 

(Photo credit: http://www.anascreccatravel.com/en/index.html)

4) Blame Woody Allen for this one. When I saw the movie «Vicky, Christina, Barcelona» I fell in love with this city. I have plans to live there one day, who knows. 

(Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sb4lynn/7084635515/in/pool-72006205@N00/lightbox/)

5) The Taj Mahal, India. This has been on my bucket list since a little girl. I would absolutely love to go there. 

(Photo credit: http://www.youramazingplaces.com/15-places-top-travel-list/)

I would love to know, what are five places that are in your bucket list?