Dreaming Milan thanks to "Milan Dreaming"

I've been in Milan only once before moving to Rome, seven years ago. But it doesn't count as I spent the only night there freezing in front of the train station waiting to get my ticket to Rome. All this suffering because we thought that getting cheap flight tickets to Milan was clever. Couldn't be more wrong. On our way back we missed the flight and ended up paying triple as much.

In all these years in Italy I've heard many controversial opinions about Milan. Some say it's too grey and industrial, the weather is bad and the people are cold. But I guess this idea is particularly common to romans as there has always been rivalry in-between the two most important italian cities. Other's strongly contradict these negative opinions and absolutely love the vibrance and synergy of the italian most international and creative city. I am strongly intrigued by Milan and I am planning on visiting it properly in the near future. The 2015 Expo is the perfect excuse. The reason I am writing this post is the video above. Take a few minutes to watch it as it's worth it. Simple shots and frames, almost as if this clip was composed by "moving photographs". It is made by Francesco Paciocco. I wonder why I haven't heard of him before as his work is amazing! Check out his videos on vimeo. And now tell me, you who you have been or lived in Milan, how is it?

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Preparing elegantly for a better, brighter and more successful 2012, in Ralph Lauren way

"One Fifth" is the name of the winter collection firmed by Ralph Lauren Home. Once in every 6 months I remember to check their website for some inspiration and once I do it I end up being carried away by their breath-takingly glamorous photos at least for a couple of hours. Ralph Lauren Home designs are easily recognizable as all the collections are mostly inspired by the late 19th, early 2oth century's anglo-saxon upper-middle class home decor trends. Undoubtedly a huge role is played by the ad campaigns which perfectly express everything the maison stands for: classiness, fabulousness and timeless elegance unreachable for normal mortals. Although I doubt I'd like to live 24/7 in this kind of perfection I wouldn't mind surrounding myself with this kind interiors in some special occasions.

On the website the collection is defined as feminine expression of glamorous deco style. I personally find it rather masculine and obscure. The only woman figure I could associate this collection is the fatal Sharon Stone from Basic Instinct. And yet I'm strongly seduced by the collection's hypnotic Art Nouveau and Egyptian vibe combinations.

New Year's Eve in the horizon, this collection could be a great source of inspiration for a special occasion like the one last dinner of 2011. Elegant, strong and memorable. Could you imagine a more fabulous and greater way of starting a New Year?

My absolute favorite item!

Grrrrreat design for a chair firmed by Ralph Lauren Home!!

Have you ever had a serious themed New Year's Eve party on occasion of which you've almost re-decored your rooms and bought some new home decor/cutlery/design items? Or if you're planning on having one this year, what kind of preparations are you doing?

Merry merry Christmas to you all!

For now all the gifts should be wrapped (I just finished my last ones), cards written and food cooked. Some of you have already eaten, some of you like me are still suffering in hunger! Unfortunately in few hours this slightly pleasant pain will be transformed into a heavy aching full of guilt and regret, just like every year. And just like every year, automatically "The serious diet" promise makes it into the Top Five of New Year's Promises-list. Whether you actually start it or not, that we'll discuss in the future, there's literally no space for worrying about that today. So here are my very deliciously fishy Christmas wishes to you all!! Let me explain that "fishy" is for typical italian Christmas-meal tradition as here all you eat before Jesus was actually born is fish, fish and fish. That means fish starters, fish pasta, fish steak and fish desserts! Kidding, no fish desserts but almost. That's all folks!

Merry Merry Christmas !!

Sincerely yours,

Merilin.

Christmas Romance in Rome

The other day I went for a quick Christmas-shopping in the center and took my camera with me. First of all I went to the fancy italian food boutique called Castroni. Castroni was first opened in 1932 on Via Cola Di Rienzo, just around the corner from the Vatican. You can find absolutely everything in Castroni - from oriental spices to scandinavian gingerbread! And, as I discovered this time, also english shortbread, which my mum insanely loves! I bought the ingredients for the cookies I planned on making later on and then I head to Via Del Corso, the main shopping street that links to the Spanish Steps. Once my shops were made I continued on wondering around the small streets, or vicoli, as they are called in italian, and taking some pictures.

"Torrone in vetrina" - torrone is the typical italian Christmas white sweets. It's made with honey, sugar and hazelnuts.






Via Cola di Rienzo.



Via del Corso. It wasn't as crowded as I expected it to be.. I even managed to take a picture of it!

The piazza that links Via del Corso to Via Condotti, the most exclusive shopping street in the city, at the end of which there is Piazza di Spagna. There were, strangely, two Christmas trees. The nice and fat one you can see on the picture, and then the taller, skinnier tree which you can sightly see from the left edge of the image.. I wonder if the shape of the tree has something to do with the fact that it was infront of the huge Fendi department store... hah!

The chestnut seller! I love chestnuts!! They taste like potates only they're sweeter. In Italy chestnuts are a typical Christmas treat.




Piazza di San Lorenzo in Lucina had this very strange christmas decoration.. Huge christmas packs with names of the shops on the piazza on top of it.. function? ...

Ciampini is one of the most famous Caffès-bar-ice-cream shops in the center. It is known for its very "prestigious" clients like politicians &co.

Oh how kitsch!











Via Condotti.




Via Condotti towards Piazza di Spagna.

This is a parallel street to Via Condotti. This is the back-entrance, which hasn't been in use for years, of the famous and probably one of th emost expensive bars in Rome called Il Caffè Greco. The coffee is told to be served in golden cups.. probably a myth but apparently a good one as it results to be in the top twenty tourist attraction list.

Piazza di Spagna.




And finally at home...



Preparations for my bisquit-cooking-mission! (Never have I done it before in my life... )



Almonds.. chocolate..






Cooking time boreness...

And tadaaa!! They seem delicious - I haven't tasted them properly, have to wait until the 24th!
These bisquits are called in italian "i fiorentini". You can find different recipes, I read four different ones and at the end invented my own version. I used cream instead of eggs and powder sugar instead of normal sugar. Also I added some grinded orange peel in the mixture which goes perfcetly together with dark chocolate!

Quick visit to the cinema withmy little sis! The Puss in Boots is such a hilarious cartoon, i recommend it to everyone! I think it was great that Antonio Banderas did the dubbing in italian too so it didn't lose its initial groove..







And finally here I am with my family enjoying our Grinchy Christmas!







Some real gingerbread cookies from Estonia which look better from the actual taste..

Oh how I had missed my home and Rome... it feels so good again walking around the city, discovering new and old, eternally charming small streets and piazzas, especially now in the holiday spirit! And then those cozy moments at home with family, friends and with your loved one!

I'm wishing you all, my dear readers and followers, relaxing, happy and warm Christmas! Eat, drink and laugh a smuch as you can!!