still here...

a quick post mid trip! i've been recording each day in my special red journal and promise to have detailed posts once we get back.

we just left Positano, we were there for a week and i fell in love! and think alex did a bit too. the weather couldn't have been more perfect, our apartment was lovely with two terraces that boasted the best view in the small city. we arrived in napoli mid day and are now relaxing in the hotel vesuvio on the bay!

we haven't really come up for air since we've been gone, always going going going!

the wedding was lovely, we couldn't have asked for better weather in florence and everything went so perfectly!!!!

ciao ciao! we're off to eat more marherita pizza here in napoli :-)

Being Productive Rocks

Last night before coming home from work I was in one of those moods where I was dreading coming home and doing the piles of dishes, laundry, making dinner, and going to work out. I was tired and basically wanted to do.....well nothing. However, upon walking through the door I snapped into "Crazy Eryn Productive" mode and got it all done within a few hours.......and I even filed my taxes. Well actually, Alex filed my taxes and I watched and ran around and brought him the necessary paperwork needed. So horray :-)

And as for going to the gym, I just made myself...because at the end of the day, I don't think anyone has ever said, "Man, I wish I hadn't gone to the gym today!" It just makes you feel so much better....mentally and physically!

Today I think marked the day as almost a week without sunshine. Maybe I'm over exaggerating.......just a teensy bit. But it's been miserable outside.......disgusting is a better word. Rainy/drizzly and cold cold cold. I've spent probably no more than 1 hour total outside for the past five days.

Now to a more "sunny" topic. Alex and I are in the last phase of planning our trip to Italy for April and May. We're currently looking for living accommodations for when we're in Napoli for 2 1/2 days and Rome for 3 1/2 days. First we'll be in Naples from May 3rd-5th, Alex had the idea of checking where Samantha Brown recommended to stay (travel channel gal)....of course she recommended a more expensive hotel.....see here. But it is going to be our honeymoon and we do deserve to treat ourselves! I'm thinking we may go through with it and just say "yes" since Naples is such a chaotic city as it is and we'll just want to relax after pounding the pavement for two days.

And in Rome, my other half, helped me find this apartment. Very reasonably priced and right by or in (not sure) Campo dei Fiori.....meaning "field of flowers" in Italian. Supposedly we trekked past this lovely spot on our last art history trip to Rome but since we were in a mad dash to see every historical monument in three days I "somehow" missed it. One of the reasons why I'm looking forward to going to all of these places on our own accord and taking our time and seeing what we WANT to see.

When asked by Brian what I look forward to the most about being back in my "homeland" I said I simply just want to BE there. Allow the culture, smells, atmosphere, people, language just wrap itself around me for three weeks. Ever since leaving in December 04 I've done nothing but long to go back. Not a day passes that I don't wish I was there...and sadly am jealous when I hear of other people going and just wish it were me instead...I will soon VERY SOON have that chance!!!

Another thing I mentioned to Brian that I want to partake in is go into a family owned Trattoria, sit down, and tell the owner/chef to bring us whatever they recommend for all five courses. I never did this the last time.....even though I was there for so long. It never even occurred to me, I would simply open a menu and order an antipasto, primi, secondo, and dessert (a cue that I was probably going to establishments that were too touristy). I'm sure I'll do that a good amount of times when I go back this next time.....but I want that ONE experience that I can refer to in years to come about that cute little place tucked behind an alley where I fell in love with the sense of taste all over again and wondered why I didn't always treat my taste buds with such delight.

.....and I've gotten carried away talking about food, esp. considering that my stomach's been in a funk ever since consuming a plate of Lebonese food at lunch.

Once the booking for living accommodations in Italy is final I'll let you guys know what we decided on!

Pumpkin pickin'.....in Texas

It's October right? oh wait.....one more day. Well we're ready for it after our journey 1.5 hours outside of Austin to go to Sweet Berry Farm where my dad was in heaven rummaging through the mountains of pumpkins and fall gords. I was kept busy by the little itty bitty pumpkins that weighed less than a pound while my brother and dad insisted on getting 24 lb pumpkins.

It was a cute place with homemade jams, corn mazes, and pumpkin painting contests.

The wedding planning is coming along although I can't help feel lazy about it. I still need to print the invites and send them all out as well as buy a dress, buy Alex's wedding band, and of course arrange our living accommodations and plane tickets. We ALMOST bought tickets last week for approx. $1100 each roundtrip from Houston to Florence but then were haulted by my bro's girlfriend who's travel agent said it would be cheaper if we waited 'til January. This makes me nervous because I feel like we're now waiting too long and prices will become inflated.......any advice?

p.s. the picture of the hand painted like an elephant was from an email I just received from my aunt.....the artist is pretty incredible, he does it all himself!