{Dinner with friends}

Sorry ladies I know that I'm always late on Monday and fortunately is almost at the end here in Italy... It's not one of my fav days of the week... I remember when I was at school I really didn't like it. After the weekend that you could sleep till late, on Monday waking up at 7 it was one of the worst nightmare ever!

How was your weekend, (long long weekend for all the american Girls) what have you done?
I'll come to visit you to see how was your Thanksgiving weekend (did you know about the Black Friday? Isn't it great to have important sale before Christmas? Can you imagine how much could you save?)



I had a great weekend... Friday evening I worked to my headbands, pillows and decoration with the sewing machine (pics soon) and on Saturday I organized a dinner with my friends ... I love to have friends at home especially when is cold and it rains outside. I love to stay at home in a Christmas atmosphere with all the candles light on, the smell of orange and cinnamon in the air ( I've found a home fragrance that reminds me to a wood) and good food on table!

Dried beef Ravioli filled with cream cheese with a Rocket sauce ...

Baby artichoke in oil...

My Sweet-and-sour eggplant recipe:

1 big eggplant
1 garlic clove
Rosemary
Chilli pepper
4 tblsp of Olive Oil
2 tblsp of White Vinegar
1 tsp of Sugar
Salt

Wash the eggplant and cut it in small slices and put it in a strainer covered with cooking salt and leave it for a while (this is necessary 'cause it will help to take out the water in excess). After an hour, wash the eggplant from the salt and broil them on the grill.

In the meanwhile put in a nonstick pan the mix of minced garlic, rosemary and chilly pepper and the oil and leave it one minutes on the fire (be careful that the mix doesn't burn!). Take the grilled eggplant slices and cook them in the oil for few minutes. Add the sugar and the salt and at the end add the white vinegar (be careful...) and leave it until the vinegar it's all evaporated.

... cruditès

Piadina, (flat unleavened bread) with ham, salami and cheese! Easy and fast to prepare!

and at the end "White chocolate cheesecake", icecream, fruits, nuts and lots of laughs!

I love to bake, I love dinners and my friends...

Goodnight Ladies!

{Pure&Simple}

Skona Hem is always inspiring me and if you love nordic style ( and not only!) or simply you love stylish and unique homes, this is the right place for you...

Today I found this amazing home






In this period, I'm looking for my first apartment and I'm "visiting" and studying home decor magazines, your blogs and website to capture ideas!

I love this parquet...




I think it will be impossible to have a kitchen big like this but dreaming it doesn't cost anything!





I have already some ideas for my "perfect" home:

* Bright colors ... white in all of is variants but also bright grey, lavender...
* Particular attention to details; lots of pillows, candles, fresh flower some photos, books...
* Personalize... I see so many things I like, because they are objectively beautiful, but they doesn't reflect my and Mr B personalities. We know what we love and we won't be influenced by fashion... we don't love "à la mode". Fashion come and goes...I cannot change the furniture once every 6 months! I'd wish but I can't!
* Old and "recycle" furnitures;
*....

This is just the beginning... I'll tell you more once we've decided!

Any particular plans for this weekend? I have already decorated the Christmas trees and the rest of the house so I'm doing practice with my sewing machine, I'll make new headbands (if you are interested in write me at gaia.borzicchi@gmail.com), I'll cook for a dinner with friend this evening, maybe a tour to Ikea tomorrow...still don't know!

And what about you?

Have a great weekend. Love you!

{I'm thankful for...}

*credit*

...the love of my family,
the love of Mr B,
the love for my friends.

I'm thankful for my Angel that's watching me and he protects me everyday... love you! I know you are there...
I'm thankful for my freedom and because nobody can choose what I will be...
I'm the owner of my life...

*credits*

I'm thankful because, even if I'm having a difficult period, I'm very lucky,
I'm healthy, I'm young and I still have a lot of dreams.

I'm thankful for many others reasons and for you!

*credits*

You make my day since I've started blogging and you started visiting me. Some of you make their daily appearance , some of you stop by just once then come back later in the months...

THANK YOU!

And you what are you thankful for?

Happy Thanksgiving Day my dear Friends. I hope you'll have a great weekend full of delicious food with your family and your loved ones!

{Avoca Anthology}

Avoca's family-run business that spans one of the world's oldest surviving manufacturing companies and Ireland's stores.

I've been to Dublin few years ago and I've just remembered that I've visited it and I felt in love immediately with every single piece... Mr B didn't like it very much ... He waited me outside the store . Actually he liked it but it was tired to wait outside all the Dublin's stores ...

Avoca is a kind of "Anthropologie", a mini department store, a great fashion and lifestyle store. They sell Accessories, Homewares, Hampers & Food, books and many more...





They have restaurants and cafè inside thier store...to relax after a bit f shopping.... I bet you won't go out without a dress or an accessory!

click on the image

The have stuff for your home too and an online shop for the unfortunate people that don't live in Ireland near an Avoca Store! Me, for example!

click on the image

There are so many things to purchase but remember... If you are there just for vacation pay attention to the room you have left on your luggage! It could be very dangerous to visit Avoca Store...

I wish there was an Avoca Store in my city for buying all the Christmas presents for my friends...I know for sure they will appreciate it. I think I'll visit the online store... you never know waht you can find in there!

Be ready for my next giveaway! it will be something made directly by me!


I have to thank Inspiration in Italy for giving me this awards that I pass to:

My Wonderland... today is her birthday! Go visit her she's waiting us for the cake!
City Of Dionne... Alice loves her wonderland !
No. 15... because you will love her pics!
Just a girl in the city... 'cause I agree with her... Life is simple , be fabulous!
Nearly Stylish... she knows Fashion!
Catching Instants ... she has a great new scarf!
Sweet as a Candy... great post about interior home!

DON'T FORGET:

If you desire to be featured in my Etsy project feel free to send me an email at gaia.borzicchi@gmail.com

I'd like to be the Host for your giveaway... send me an email if you want! It would be an honour for me!

{... and the Winner is....}

that means: Mimi Charmante you are the luckiest to receive the 25% discount from Nadinoo!

Can you send me your email address? Nodinoo will write you the code for the discount! I hope you'll share with us your purchase!!!

I'm so happy you win and I'm so sorry for you that you didn't win! Please, stay tuned!! I promis I'll do another (or 2) giveaway contest before Christmas!

Thank you all for participating!!!

DON'T FORGET:

If you desire to be featured in my Etsy project feel free to send me an email at gaia.borzicchi@gmail.com

I'd like to be the Host for your giveaway... send me an email if you want! It would be an honour for me!

{Laura Urbinati}

Laura Urbinati is an Italian designer of sexy, stylish lingerie and beachwear but not only.

She designs beautiful and simple clothes with precious materials... Cashmere, silk...





I would say a "Shabby Chic Style" or a bohemienne look!



I visited her tiny store in Milan in piazza s. eustorgio 6 just near the California Bakery, a place to die for... but I'll tell you tomorrow about my Saturday in Milan. Now enjoy the clothes that are fantastic!

In the store they have this coat and the dress (picture above) ...

Girls, one day left before the announcement of the winner of the
Nodinoo's Giveaway....

don't forget to leave a comment! It's really worth it!

{Chocolat}

Ah le chocolat, je l'adore! I love chocolate...

Did you see the movie with Juliette Binoche and Johnny Deep? A woman and her daughter open a chocolate shop in a small French village that shakes up the rigid morality of the community... My favorite character was (after Johnny Depp!) the chocolate...






A Chocolate show take place this week in my city and I've decided to visit it... Just for watching not for testing! bakery and "chocolaterie" from all over Italy show their product till Sunday!


I love chocolate in the classic version and I don't really like all the strange shapes that it's possible to find in the stores... I love white, milk chocolate, nougat chocolate, and even the dark chocolate ( that I use to cook) when I need chocolate and there's nothing else on the cupboard... I eat chocolat and bread: one bite of bread, one bite of chocolate...Fantastic!


and what about chocolate creams?





For scientific and medical reserach chocolate, "Food of the gods", it's good for the body, mind and the spirit. I've read an article about it that says : "Chocolate stimulates the release of endorphins, natural hormones produced by the brain, that generates feelings of pleasure and promotes a sense of well being. Chocolate may also make a person feel better by directly interacting with the brain. One of the ingredients in chocolate is tryptophan, an essential amino acid needed by the brain to produce serotonin. Serotonin is a mood-modulating neurotransmitter, the brain's "happy chemical." High levels of serotonin can give rise to feelings of happiness" ....

.... "Many people consume chocolate during moments of emotional distress, for its comforting properties, ability to improve mood and restore a sense of well being"...

See? Chocolate is good and it helps to feel better! And you... Do you eat it? How often? Are you gredy? do you love it? what type? Can you make chocolate? I'd love to learn to make my own chocolate!!!

I leave you for the weekend with...

My empty Christmas tree....
now all the house is decorated and I'll show you soon the new pics! ( it took all the afternoon to make it!!! it's 3 metres high and 2 metres wide!)

the REMINDER for the GIVEAWAY!!!
Don't be late...you have 3 days left to enter the game!

Leave a comment... you could be the One... I WANT YOU!

Tomorrow I'm going to Milan to visit some friends....

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!

LOVE YOU!