Morning! 
Crazy Bachelorette last night! Thoughts?
Adios Weatherman, love Cape Cod, LOVE Frank, Kasey is a lunatic and, for Heaven’s sake, why do these men keep singing?! And why can’t they see the general look of horror on Allie’s face when they do?? And why can’t we see more of Roberto?!?! 
Ohhh, at any rate, I had an awesome breakfast this morning – Cherry Almond Oatmeal!
In the mix:
- 1/3 cup old fashioned oats
- 2/3 cup water
- 1 banana
- 1/2 Tablespoon chia seeds
- Couple drops of almond extract
- Cherries!
- Sliced almonds
I’m in love!! Cherry + almond = bliss 
Sweet and flavorful, juicy and crunchy. This was top notch.
Someone asked me if I used a cherry pitter for my cherries – I actually just cut them in half and pop the pit right out. It’s pretty easy!
Lunch is pretty well rounded, me thinks.
A cup of sweet, crispy red grapes. You know my phobia of squishy/overripe fruit? That extends to grapes as well, so I have to pick them off the vine before packing to make sure there aren’t any soft ones that make it through. I know.
A cup of creamy, cold cottage cheese. I am so shocked by how many people hate cottage cheese! I grew up eating the best stuff from a local dairy, so maybe that’s why I like it so much…although I am interested in this “whipped” cottage cheese several of you talked about!
A turkey sammie.
That’s a thin bun with cheddar cheese, roasted turkey breast and dijon mustard.
All together now!
In other news, break out the passports – last night Ben and I booked a trip to…
Italy!
I cannot TELL you how excited I am!!!! Italy has been on my dying to go list for as long as I can remember, and we’ll be heading there for 10 days this Fall! Half our time will be spent in Rome…
and the other half on the spectacular Amalfi Coast (which I’ve been obsessed with since Diane Lane followed her Italian lover to Positano in Under the Tuscan Sun!!)
Wheeee!!!! I cannot wait for gelato, wine, pasta, the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, pasta, wine, gelato, the Mediterannean Sea, gelato, wine and pasta!!!!!! I’ll be asking for all your input and must-see hot spots before we go. In the meantime, I can’t wait to PLAN!! I’m such a planner. 
Ahhh – it’s nice to have something to look forward to!
On that note – have a great Tuesday everyone!
~~~~~
What’s on your “dying to go” list? What sparked your interest in that particular place?
I so excited just reading your post… wow…
I’m so jealous! I don’t get to travel much, but if I could go anywhere in the U.S. it would be New York/Maine (upper East coast) and internationally I would love to see the coast of Italy (because of movies!).
I TOTALLY feel you on the grapes! I don’t like mushy fruit either and I am incredibly picky about my grapes!
A couple places on my dying to see list…. New Zealand (my ex husband’s best friend and his wife packed up and moved there on a whim. Pictures were AMAZING.), Paris (just always wanted to go), and the Azores (my aunt and uncle lived there for several years when my uncle was stationed there in the Navy. Beautiful place!).
Fun!!! I’m going to Italy for 10 days this Fall too!! We are going to do Florence-Siena-Rome – Definitely read the Rick Steves books – he is kind of dorky but gives some great advice on hotels, food, and all the sights. Plus you can download walking tours on your ipod for free on his website!
YOU ARE SO LUCKY!!!! At least I can live vicariously through you! Man, I can’t wait to hear about it
Those cherries look divine, btw!
OK, so we totally agree on Bachlorette….C’mon, Kasey. What a freak. And Frank and Roberto and Kirk…wahooooo, are they nice to look at.
As for Italy. You are living my dream! I can’t wait to hear how your planning is going!
That sounds phenomenal!! I love Italy with all my heart! It’s in my top three favourite European countries for sure. I can’t wait to hear your planned itinerary – 10 days is a great amount of time too! Woo woo!
Kristin!! First of all…YES to a totally crazy and somewhat awkward Bachelorette last night!! I mean…I literally felt awkward FOR Ali when Kasey was singing to her…and who is the other guy that she continues to keep with dark hair (Chris somebody?!) They never show ANYTHING on him! Glad to know you’re a fan too
Also, I LOVE Under the Tuscan Sun!! I am SO SO jealous! At least I will know who to go to if I ever get to go!! The food, wine, and gelato will be fantastic! So excited for you!
Will you be keeping us updated from there or taking a vacation away from your website too?!
I am a long time reader, but I guess I’ve been a lurker the whole time?
I love Ali I was super excited when I saw that she was going to be the new bachelorette. That Kasey guy needs to go. I also see the crazy in Frank. I didn’t like Roberto originally but he has grown on me. I have always liked Cape Cod so I hope he makes it to the end. I was sad to see Jesse go b/c he is kinda hot. There is a guy on there one of the Chris’s who I swear I have never seen speak? Or is that just me?
I will be watching it faithfully all season.
And congrats on your trip… I think I would pick either Belize or Spain.
That’s so exciting you get to go to Italy! I definitely would love to go there, mostly for the reasons you do (wine, pasta gelato!!!) But the number one place I would like to go to is Greece. It just seems so beautiful. And i LOVE Greek food.
Okay, now maybe I’m alone in thinking this buuut this season seems to be a LOT more staged than usual.. in the first episode when Alli and Frank broke down, it showed them stranded on the highway, and then the shot would transition to them next to the woods and back and forth.. SO fake! Plus, in what past episodes have the contestants left the house alone to go to the main house or just wander around?! I just think it’s weird haha buuut with all of that said, I am hooked and my vote is Team Chris L (Cape Cod!) ALL the way! What a man
Buy Rick Steves guide to Italy. My husband and I just got back from our honeymoon in Italy and had the most amazing time. We relied on the guide book for affordable places to stay, how to get around, etc. and that was the only reference we needed. Totally worth the $20!
BTW, the gelato, wine, and pizza were all I’d hoped they would be!!
Congrats on the trip!! That sounds so amazing! I love cherries too but they`re still so expensive over here!
Another rec for Rick Steves–his whole philosophy is to see “Europe through the back door”. We visited Milan and Venice last spring (my husband had business there). It’s wonderful! Lake Como is breathtaking. There’s so much to see, do, and EAT! Venice is a city like no other and I would put it at the top of the list of places to visit.
You will love both Rome and Amalfi Coast. My husband and I went there on our honeymoon and it was fabulous! we stayed just outside of Sorrento and there is nothing more beautiful!
(Just found your blog on accident through Juice and I’m now an avid reader)
Wow!! So jealous! My Mom just went to Italy last summer and LOVED it; and all three of my cousins have studied there – my youngest cousin is still there. I’ll have to hit them up for some destination recommendations and get back to you.
The British Isles have been on my dying to go to list for several years. I’m note entirely sure why, but maybe my love of the book ‘The Secret Garden,’ history, royalty, and cloudy gray weather have something to do with it. And being able to communicate is always a plus. Hopefully we’ll get to go soon!
Soooo jealous of your Italy trip! I’m happy that you get to go though. Someday, I will go there! It’s a must see/go to place for me as well!!
I like cottage cheese, but after about 5 bites, I lose it (texture thing). It can’t be too thick, and the consistency of th one in your pic is about what I like. Oh, the grapes…I cannot eat a squishy grape YUCK! They have to be very firm.
Hi,
. I am from India and working in IT as a proj lead (Newyork City). I love you blog and specially one thing feel me happy that you like indian food (palak paneer, chana masal etc). I like your presntation of the food, detail and your dedication towards excersie (which keepes me motivated).
I was silent reader of your blog
Some day hopefuly I will aslo go and see ITALY
take care,
Sweetytiger
Italy! How exciting! I went two years ago, it is lovely. Venice was my favorite, though Florence and Rome were also quite wonderful. I can’t wait to see you eat your way through Italy!
Pretty much my entire blog is dedicated to places I’m dying to visit… The amalfi coast is definitely on my list for next time I make it out to Italy.
Congrats!! I am so excited for you and TOTALLY green with envy
I have always wanted to go to Europe. Paris is the first place I would go though. I read a book about the effiel tower when I was little and fell in love. Ever since I have been oh.. just a tad obsessed! I have effiel towers in most of my home decor. It didn’t go well at all with my boyfriends baseball decor but we managed 
Aside from Paris I would love to see London, Greece, Italy, and Spain. I hear Barcelona is breathtaking. I can’t wait to read all about your trip!
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took a break from studying physiology my senior year of college back in 2006 and did a semester in Siena, Italy! Every weekend we left town to travel. I recommend Rick Steves! And of course, learning a few Italian phrases from the back of his book are a nice gesture to the Italians. If you have a chance, explore the small Tuscan hill towns that are north of Rome!
I’m so jealous! I was eyeing a trip to Italy in the fall but my husband is building a house for his parents (in his spare time). Our first grandchild was also born recently and we hate to be gone that long. My husband just looked at me like I’ve got to be kidding. Could be all the whining I did on the plane ride to Hawaii. Maybe next year. Make sure to give us lots of highlights.
Great news! I love Italy
I have so many places where I am dying to go, especially Asia, Caribbean and South-America which all are REALLY far away from us
Congrats on your upcoming vacay to Italy! Italy…One of the best trips we DF & I did was was fly into Milan and do a road trip from Milan all the way down to Umbria stopping at all the hot spots like Parma, Bologna, Genoa, Florence, Pisa, Tuscany, Venice before driving back along the beautiful coast and stopping at all the “smaller” cities. It was 8 days with nothing but a travel book and on the spot hotel bargaining. I loved visiting all the tourist landmarks (the cathedrals, OMG! Thank goodness for digital camera’s and memory cards!) and then driving to the smaller cities to see how the locals lived. I just wished we had more time to go down to Rome and Sicily and enjoy the Amalfi coast like you and Ben will! Expect to pay for a primo, secondi, vino and dessert for dinner each night for an evening that lasts 2.5 hours. Eating is such a feast there! You’ll gain 3-4 lbs but get tons of walking in so no, don’t think you gained 9-10 lbs! Its worth it for the culture!
DF works for R&T Magazine so he gets to travel A.Lot. He just got back from Brazil which is def on my list. But dying to go? Spain to watch the F1 race, France for the eiffel tower, Vietnam to get back to my roots (and its super cheap), tour through China, Hawaii, Carribeans and so much more!
Will you and IBE’s be going with a tour or winging it on your own or both?
Italy is amazing. I went last year and didn’t want to come back. My favorite city was Florence and I also loved Como!
Soooo jealous of your TRIP!
oh my goodness! I’m so jealous! I’ve always wanted to go to Italy! Cannot wait to see your take on it!
Oh my! I am so JEALOUS! I’m planning my own trip too. I absolutely fell in love after Under the Tuscan Sun. You seriously need to read “Eat Pray Love”!!!
So exciting – two great places in the best country!
Can’t wait to read those posts!
I just started reading your blog a few days ago when I found it through the DSM Register’s website! Love it! I spent the Fall ’09 semester in Rome and am SO jealous you’re going! Get ready to walk–a LOT. I lived right across the street from the Colosseum. My favorite tourist-y site was the Pantheon, loved drinking Chianti wine by the Trevi, and the best place for gelato was Della Palma, just down the street from the Pantheon. Try to get to the midday market at Campo dei Fiori to see all the best fresh produce and trinkets and things, too! ENJOY!!
Hello, I’ve been reading your blog for a month or so now and really enjoy all your posts! So your announcement to go to Italy is when I decide to finally comment, because this is where I’ve been dying to go myself!
How did you book your trip? Through a travel agent? I’m just curious…
I’m so jealous that you are going to Italy! I studied abroad in Rome when I was in college, and I would die to go back.
Congratulations on booking your trip to Italy! My husband and I are going there this fall too. We’re going for 10 days, flying into Rome, down to Sorrento/Capri, and then Florence. Rick Steve’s books have been really helpful in planning and make sure to check out his website. There is a traveler’s helpline where people post all kinds of questions and receive responses from people who have already traveled there. I can’t wait for the food, wine, and gelato!
So nice to read of your love for good food and travel, those are my great true loves!! hehe after my husband of course
I’ll be visiting the same locations in October as well as Barcelona, Provence and Monaco. Can’t wait to visit Positano and Tuscany. Your breakfast looked yummy, I’ll try it soon 
Happy planning!!!