Curly hair

For those of you who read Annika's blog, you know about her no-poo experiment. I've been trying it too, although not as consistently as I probably should for the best results. I've been fairly pleased with how my hair looks and feels now, and I think I'm going to continue using only conditioner.

However, as if I needed yet another reason to go back to Italy, I made a little discovery while looking through photos of my recent trip. This picture, which I didn't even know was being taken, shows my hair in its completely natural state. Earlier that day, I had stepped out of the shower (after using only conditioner) and did absolutely nothing to my hair.

Look at those curls! Look how naturally my hair takes to Italy! (Yes, I realize the top is messed up a bit - I think I had just brushed it back with my hand, but let's ignore that part...)

It's as if it's saying, "Stay here, and I'll look like this for you every day!"

I want...

I’m feeling a little sad and discouraged today, so I thought I would write a “wish list” of things I need to address. I’m a big list-maker, and seeing things written down makes me feel better. Feel free to offer any suggestions or input!

I want:

●To lose 32 pounds. I gained about 50 pounds after my father died, so I ended up hiring a trainer. I’ve already lost 18 pounds by following what my trainer taught me, and it really works, but it just takes time because it’s not a crash diet or anything.

●A new job. Not only have I lost interest in my current line of work, but I only get 2 weeks of vacation per year! That really doesn’t work for me anymore. I’ve been trying to get on with our university for almost a year, with no luck. I’ve now started looking other places, getting the word out to people, etc. I’ve decided I need a new job by October 1st. (Yes, there’s a reason for that date, but I don’t want to go into it unless it really happens!)

●To learn Italian. I took 2 classes at our local community college - they were nice and all, but they weren’t “real” graded classes. Considering I didn’t study once outside of class, it’s amazing I learned what I did. I can understand a bit when people speak (as long as they speak slowly!), but I can’t form a sentence at all! There are “real” classes at both our university and community college where I would have to do assignments, take tests, and receive a grade, so I would have to study. I’m about 95% sure I’m going to enroll in one for the fall semester.

●To stop thinking about something I shouldn’t be thinking about (long story…I may post about it soon…)

●To find a way to spend more time in Italy each year (which I'm hoping the new job/more time off will help me accomplish)


To be continued…

Paradise...

I have just returned from my third annual trip to paradise…er…Positano. It gets harder to leave each time. I wish I could just pack up my belongings and move there. Yes, I know it’s not perfect, and reality would be different than I imagine – I read Nicki’s blog every day - but please allow me to live in my little fantasy world…

This year:

• I traveled with two of my best friends. One has been with me each time I’ve been to Positano, and the other experienced her first trip to Italy.

Said friends had never met each other before, and got along famously.

I finally met Nicki! Unfortunately, we were only able to chat twice for a few minutes each time, but we shall rectify that the next time I’m there.

I resolved an ongoing “issue” I had with one of the locals. We had a great time hanging out together after the issue was resolved, but now I miss this person terribly!

Strangely enough, I did not drink a great deal of wine, but what wine I did have was delicious...and from the Campania region.

I swam in the beautiful water of the Tyrrhenian Sea, spent entirely too much money in Sorrento, saw Amalfi for the first time, and took in the beauty of Capri for the second time.

I bought an unbelievable amount of candy. I'm not much of a candy eater, but the fact that it's Italian candy and I won't see it again for a year makes me go a little crazy!

I witnessed the annual Saint Vito festival for the second year in a row. I am constantly in awe of how Italians celebrate things...so very different than life in the states...

One morning I spent hours just wandering the streets of Positano by myself, and I felt more comfortable, more at peace, more at home than I have ever felt before. I felt like I was "home". I know some of you understand exactly what I mean.

Since I couldn't carry-on bottles of limoncello, due to the new safety rules, I packed several bottles very carefully. All of them survived the trip home.

I managed to hold back the tears until I was safely alone at home, locked in the bathroom so my husband wouldn't see.

Within 48 hours, I was planning next year's trip...

Introducing my new blog!

Considering I haven't posted in my old blog for almost a year, and also considering that I'm working on a new and improved ME, I thought I would create a new blog as well.

First, confession time: I blatantly stole the name for my blog from my favorite songwriter/singer, Rob Thomas. As he says in the song of the same name, "we're all looking for something, something to be". This describes how I feel at this stage in my life, and I'm assuming he won't mind if I "borrow" the name!

Second, stay tuned for my post about my recent trip to Positano...

Third, I'm not happy with the template, colors, etc., so this will be a work in process. I'm just feeling inspired tonight and I wanted to write while the mood struck me!