Venice's Pretty Moments

So I have taken some time to just go out and 'Happy Snap' Venice over the past couple of days!

Here are some of my favourite photos and views-

Mixing Up the Christmas Spirit...

Well, did you know that Christmas Day was actually 'invented' in Italy? 

(Some brief Italian history) In 4AD Jesus Christ's birthday was set by the Church in Rome as the 25th December, some say that this was to eliminate the Pagan celebrated festival Saturnalia that was celebrated around the same time. The Italian word for Christmas is 'Natale' which means birth.

So firstly, this Christmas I wont be walking around in my Havaianas  (stylish Aussie thongs -AKA flip-flops) and sun dress, I have a feeling it will be some red boots and a lot of jackets! (I've gotten used to layering my clothes- this first 'real' winter experience is not totally agreeing with my usual December sun-kissed skin), Oh how I will miss swimming in the pool on Christmas Day - but it is all in the name of NEW EXPERIENCE!

After my earlier post about Panettone , and some conversation with fellow Aussie-Italian friends about the yummy Christmas cake - we had a laugh - ooooh, a mix of traditions! One friend commented that a Bread and Butter Pudding made of Panettone would be her dream dessert! 2 favourites in 1!

So, I decided to give it a go... here is the recipe (and it was TASTY)~

Ingredients:

• 4 thick slices of Panettone
• 60g dried pineapple (Panettone usually has sultanas in it already, so I opted for a sweet fruit but you might want to try something other like peach, apple, or a mix!)
• 350mL milk
• 2 eggs
• Cinnamon
• Sugar Sugar Sugar (always gets the party started!)

How to do it:

• Cut the panettone slices into squares (or triangles.. if you want to be really creative dice out some xmas trees!) butter them both sides- I go for 2 layers of panettone
• Arrange in an greased up oven-safe dish along with the dried pineapple
• Beat the eggs (not too hard as it does hurt), then add 1 tablespoon of sugar and warmed milk
• Pour the mixture over the panettone in the dish then sprinkle some extra sugar and a bit of cinnamon over the top and let it stand for 20 minutes... (this gets it all soaky and moist - I just love that word). 
• Then bake in the oven for 1 hour at 180 degrees.

Trust me, you wont regret this mix! Oh and just for fun, when there is only about 5 mins left of cooking time add some chocolate blocks on top to melt over! - I then crushed up some kit kat and sprinkled it over... It's just not a real party without chocolate!... I was actually quite proud of myself - it didn't look overly pretty, but it's the taste that counts RIGHT??

(I'm making it again tomorrow for my cousins, so I will post a photo here!)

Desperate Need of a Holiday!

So I've stayed put here in Venice for just over 1 month now... yes, I am of to Rome for a visit and then London for a week to see some friends in early January- but I decided I need a holiday!

I woke up early today, that is different for me, but only because the landlord had booked a 'scheduled' maintenance on our "caladai" this morning (I think they mean the hot water system? don't quote me on that)- but they decided not to show up, how Italian of them... and now I am sitting here eating a home made Nutella Tiramisu  my cousin brought over for me as a house warming present yesterday (she knows me far TOO well... "aw thats a pretty vase - but I would really prefer a Tiramisu!") while I am on this topic let me just tell you it is awesome! The marscapone cream is just melting on my lips before I can even lick it up off the spoon - delectable and delicious! - Just look at it's creamy chocolatey goodness!

So back to my holiday plans.. I can't make a decision between Barcelona, Spain or Paris, France... just a weekend bender, see something new. I've been told by a lot of people that I belong in Barcelona, so I think I should see it - but I think it's a summer time party destination, and that could be why I belong there! Or maybe it's because I'm an Australian, living in Venice, but everyone just assumes I am Spanish? 

Then there is Paris, the most talked about- over-hyped travel destination in Europe - All I can think about though is the fashion! Yes, I know there is the Eiffel Tower and all, but the Luis Vuitton Flagship store is there... his first store ever opened in 1854 - now that is some history I want to see!

I found great flight deals for both with RyanAir and seeing as I am postponing my finding a job plans thought I might shoot off to another destination before February when Carnevale  starts in Venice as I already have a job lined up for then. 


Why does choosing a Europe travel destination have to be so hard!?

see... There is Entertainment in Venice too!

Well... along with my obsession for chocolate, comes my obsession for Red Bull - yes that highly addictive caffeine and taurine based drink that "gives you wings"... Red Bull has a very good marketing campaign for starters - sponsoring many different events, like the air race that was hosted in Perth the last few years.

But this was an event with a difference... Acqua Alta. The floodings on December 1st in Venice were the worst the beautiful city has seen since 1986 - the most fun had by anyone that day (other than myself who was gob-smacked with the experience) was Duncan Zuur - he is a Dutch pro-wake boarder.

When the water levels had reached 135cm in San Marco Square, the water-logged tourists were surprised with some 'half time entertainment'... see here...

After performing 4 impressive turns quick enough for the local police and security to turn a blind eye, it was all over... One would think - 'what crazy mofo would do such a thing?!' - a crazy mofo being sponsored, that's for sure. I admire Red Bulls unique and quick-witted use of advertising mechanisms! Not even us, the people living in Venice knew that the floods would be that high until 1 hour before it had happened, which I would assume Red Bull would have thought up and organised the entire event within that hour! Brilliant if you ask me! 

The publicity and hype that it would have driven at the time would have been unbelievable - but what next? Will we see a pro-surfer riding the next Tsunami? An air-boarder floating through a Cyclone? Or even a fire-juggler at a Volcanic Eruption?

Bum Photos!

haha... I said I was going to do it... I was very indecisive all day actually, it must have been the ice cream for breakfast that threw me off, or the fact that i had an umbrella blowing around in one hand, my camera in the other, over sized hoodie on my head and it was raining non-stop!

Told you it is OVER SIZED.. I can see about as much as you see of my face, but I didn't want to get my hair wet!

There wasn't a lot of people out and about today - they must of all been working or something, but I managed to sly a few booty-licious photos, just excuse the bad angles as I was going for incognito... 

hehe... I only took 3 snaps before people started to look at me weird and I got bored of all the ass on my camera... so I had to pretend I was a tourist taking photos of random scenes... here is what I got-

at least the lights were on at the Natale in Laguna markets today, made it a little more pretty!

Anyway, I think this is enough for tonight... I made some great chocolate sauce to go with my after dinner ice cream (mmm, melted dark chocolate, milk and cream, drizzled over that gelato - it tastes as good as Ice Magic! But I haven't quite mastered the hardening formula they have yet!)

Ice Cream for Breakfast

mmm... Italian straciatella (that's choc-chip of course!), what better way to start a wet, cold and rainy day!?

For some reason I woke up with killer heart burn, I didn't even know what that felt like before - it's a whole new experience! (I think it was the triple cheese deluxe "Hamburgers-alla-Nikki" I made last night - they were so delicious, but I might of overdid the mustard!) So the only thing that came to mind to cool down a burning chest was GELATO! why not? I keep a fresh supply in my freezer for those lonely nights at home. I followed my bowl of ice cream with crunchy peanut butter off the spoon (a personal addiction of mine) and feel a whole lot better!

So after checking the weather through my Wardrobe Window ... and hearing the rain on the roof, heavy, I decided to stay in for a while - I was originally on a mission today, you see, yesterday a friend of mine made some comments about this photo I had posted on Facebook  from the floods in Venice this week-

Nikki D'Agostino wrote Today at 11:04 I just realised there is traffic lights on that canal????... WHAT THE FCK?? lol.. i havent seen a car for ages, I am going to investigate these traffic lights tomorrow and blog it i think lol

So that was my last comment at the time... from discussing the cuteness of the little girl splashing in the puddle (ok it's a bit bigger than a puddle, I guess) to realising that there were TRAFFIC LIGHTS in the background! Ok, yes, logically they are for the boats in the canal, but it's just the excitement of seeing those Red, Amber and Green lights that struck me, I thought it would be nice to investigate how they work, whether the Amber light flashes like it does at home in Australia and how the boats would trigger the settings. It's always nice to learn something new in every city, isn't it?

But instead, I decided to cut my own hair - as I usually do.. you see, at home, my mum is my hairdresser - a bloody good one at that! I miss her, and I refuse to allow any other hairdresser to touch my hair - especially here in Italy where you can find your certificate in a cereal box (Literally to work in Italy you don't necessarily need the qualifications, you just need the right contacts - the whole, "Hi, I'm looking for a job, my uncle's dog's brother's owner's friend sent me and said you were currently employing..." Well that's how it is in Venice)

I don't think I did too badly this time, considering I used the kitchen scissors (real hygenic I know - but don't worry, I cleaned them well before and after!)

And now, I can hear the rain has slowed down, and I think it is time for me to get some of that stuff they call FRESH AIR! Hopefully I will come back with some traffic light answers or an interesting story to tell... failing that, I am sure to come home with some kind of cake I find at the Christmas Markets again!

Bridges for Booty!

As I walked around Venice in the rain today (I'm getting used to looking like a drowned rat under the over sized fluffy hood of my jacket- I've given up on playing Mary Poppins and trying not to fly away with my umbrella - I keep it in my bag 'in case of emergency')... I realised that there doesn't seem to be any over weight people - it's only ever the tourists that are of a larger build.

Everyone has a great booty here! walking up and down the steps, over bridges along the canals - I realised I am in the city of booty-full people... I'm talking nice, tight, rounded bums that all this bridge climbing could offer! (I suppose it might seem a little rude of me to walk around the city taking photos of people's bums... but I might make this my mission in the next few days just to prove a point! - I wonder how people would react if I ask them first.. could make a funny blog entry, a black eye at the worst?)

I've even started to notice over the past month that the firm factor of my own legs and ass has increased! No amount of chocolate I have been devouring has added jelly-itis to my lower body, YAY!... I could potentially be one of the happiest choc-o-holics out there right about now!

For the Love of FOOD!

I have a bit more than just LOVE for FOOD - it's a passion, an obsession - taste can change every feeling in your body when tickled the right way, and it is an amazing gift we have in life.

This is an opportunity to give the gift back  - This year I am helping with contributing my money, my time and my blog to help the "Menu for Hope #5 " program. This is where food bloggers from all over the world join together for a fundraising campaign against world hunger. This year the fundraising is for The United Nations World Food Program .

To do your part and help donate for this cause, find out more information and EVEN have the opportunity to win some very cool food related prizes go to the donations page.

  

This is how I like to Waste Time...

...SHOPPING!

So I had some spare time on my hands today... unlike every other day where I am adhering to my very busy schedule of being a lady of leisure who lives in Venice! (yes... that was sarcasm) But today while I was wasting my time, I was actually consciously thinking about it. So let me run you through my day...

11.32am - I woke up, I lay in bed for a while thinking about whether or not to get up (this already wasted a good 10 minutes). Finally I motivated myself to get out of bed... I then cleared my room a bit, took a shower and got changed. I spent a bit of extra time blow drying my hair and putting on some make up as the weather looked beautiful in Venice.. blue skies and sunshine! I put on a load of washing, and left the house around 12.40.

When I stepped outside and saw the water from the floods, I remembered the sirens going off earlier this morning, and had my camera ready for some time wasting watery fun - the photos are in my earlier blog . 

I decided to explore Venice a little more today, and not take my usual route, through Piazzale Roma - to Strada Nuova around through Rialto and back to Santa Croce where I live, instead I headed backwards, starting at the very flooded Campo Santa Margherita - I spent a lot of time taking happy snaps of children playing in the water, watching people wade through the puddles and waiting for the right moment to capture a photo before I tackled the ankle deep water myself.

I wanted to stay out of the house - I meet Leo on his dinner break at 5pm everyday for a coffee, so i had a good 4.5 hours of time to subside. I browsed shop windows - frequently stopping in for a closer look at whatever seemed interesting at the time.. I actually found these gorgeous porcelain hearts - I'm not usually into nik-nak type things, but these were sooooo cute! They are designed by the Heart Gallery but I thought they were a little overpriced and kept wandering. 

I was able to waste hours browsing, taking photos of the high waters and even went to the Natale in Laguna Christmas markets - taste testing all the cheese, cakes, sausages and wines for a while - a very gourmet lunch, and it was FREE! 

I was able to get through almost the entire time without spending any money, which is a surprise for me, as I am a bit of a shop-a-holic... but for some reason, it's always that last hour of time wasting that seems to be the hardest! At 4pm, I couldn't think of anything more to do, so I stopped for a capuccino in a little cafe in Rialto - I bumped into a man I had met in Venice over a month back and had a bit of a chat with him... then went on my merry way. I was so close to Leo's work, and it was 4.30pm, only 30 minutes more to waste- but I didn't want to go too far.

Then there it was.. a gorgeous lingerie shop! uh-oh... I almost got through the whole day with only having spent 2euro on my coffee... I walked in, it was warm, then I saw it... a gorgeous bra with my name on it... 1 left, my size- the shop assistant then told me that if I buy the bra, the panties came free as today's special promotion!! Who can resist an offer like that!? Then I also ended up buying some socks, I think the fact that the socks I had on were wet made me want some socks subconsciously... gorgeous thigh high cotton socks - I was on a roll.. bra, panties and socks... uh oh, lingerie designer tops on sale! A gorgeous black number, long sleeved and showing just enough skin for my liking... I'll take that too! "But what are these?" SHOE SOCKS! What the? They are cool sock type things that go over your shoes to make them look like a boot, "how much?... oh that's a bargain!" whack them on the list... and while I'm at it I will take that cute phone sock to pretty up my mobile too thanks! (here are some pics of today's collection) - yes I know I am in undies... but hey, sex sells and it's just like being in a bikini really, isn't it?

Although I didn't get through the day for free as I'd hoped, I did take all this cool stuff at a bargain price, so I am content, I also perfectly wasted the extra hour waiting for Leo, and got to enjoy a glorious hot chocolate with him in the cold after a hard day of time wasting!

JUST ADD WATER

They say a photo is worth a thousand words... and sometimes, it's even worth getting your socks wet for!

So another day in Venice's acqua alta... I was surprised to see so many people still out to eat at cafes, drink at bars and do their Christmas shopping. Last night I couldn't sleep... it was really windy and noisy, but my mind was racing a million miles a second and I couldn't keep up with my thoughts.. I finally decided to get some shut eye at 7am, just as I crawled into bed, the acqua alta sirens started to alarm outside!

They say a full moon causes the moody tides, also the fact that the acqua alta from the 1st December wasn't drained entirely as it was unexpectedly high - either way... I think everything always seems to look more beautiful when you just add water!

To see more pictures from today's acqua alta click here  and here .

'Tis the season of PANETTONE...

So I always wondered what language Santa tends to think in.. I'm not even sure what the spoken language of the North Pole really is?.. in Italy, it looks as though he thinks in Panettone!

Ahhh, the joy of Christmas time... ever since I was a little girl, it was never fruit mince pies and Christmas pudding for me, ohhhhh no, it was PANETTONE through and through - when I was working in an Italian cafe in Subiaco a few years back it was even on the breakfast menu, toasted with butter, and it was good... I mean REALLY good, delicious even! It is such a versatile, dry cake - not too sweet and so fluffy!

I even had a recipe back home to fill the Panettone with a litre of ice cream, freeze it overnight, then bake it for 15 minutes in the oven before serving, so tasty - the hot and cold sensation of freshly baked cake and vanilla ice cream party in your mouth while you eat it and stay on your mind forever!

Even to this day it is the traditional gift of this yummy Italian-style Christmas cake that Nonna and her friends trade over the festive season - she usually gets so many of them that they we are still eating them with our coffees for dessert months after Christmas!

My plan is to spend Christmas with my cousin and her family, I was wandering Venice doing my Christmas shopping today and thinking what could be the perfect gift - then it hit me, literally! I walked into the chocolatier that I frequent in Venice with bags of shopping and knocked Santa's head flat off the shelf... uh oh, a bad omen maybe? No wait!! Santa's head was on sale for starters, then I saw the wonderul PERUGINA PANETTONE tag hanging from his hat... "Are you serious, there is Christmas cake behind this dude's face?" Oh yes there was, and you could imagine my excitement! I had to buy it for a laugh, I wish I could send it to Nonna back in Australia as I think she would go crazy over it! But I will settle for passing it on to my cousin's family for Christmas this year... I can't wait!

To commit or not to commit?

I'm a girl with anti-commitment issues... If you've seen the movie Runaway Bride, that could potentially explain me very well! (My aunt laughed when the movie was on TV in Italy recently and said it was made about me... that's how bad it gets!)

It's not that I'm afraid of falling in love.. that is the best part of any relationship... the falling in love stage. It's the commitment stage that freaks me out a little... dedicating my own life to someone else for the rest of the time I have to live... getting married and playing happy family. But what happens to ME after this? Will I lose myself in somebody else's world and forget about who I am, the person I want to grow and develop on being.. my beliefs, my values, my thoughts and my experiences united with someone else's, does it still make them my own?

The reason I am thinking like this at the moment is because the subject of marriage came up recently, for many reasons, but primarily being that I'm in love. Is this my cue to start running for the Swiss Alps already? I kept saying "THIRD TIME LUCKY" after breaking off my second engagement earlier this year, but I don't believe it is about luck - it's more my mindset that will determine whether I end up a spinster for life (mind you, this does sound appealing to me, the idea of being able to love freely, keep romance alive when I want it and with no 'life threatening' commitments involved!)

I mean, is anybody ever completely certain when they enter these 'forever' contracts of marriage? Even though 'forever' in this day and age doesn't mean ''til death do us part" like it used to, it just means 6 months to 1 year of separation before being able to legally divorce when the going gets tough. I think it happens after all the excitement and lead up of that one party you get to have, wearing your dream gown and with all the alcohol, food, friends and family, music and dancing around to celebrate the new chapter you are entering in life, followed by your two-week dream honeymoon in paradise - which all sounds wonderful to me - But after all the hype, fun and romance, reality rears it's ugly head, and steps in...

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against people that divorce, I think it's better to be apart and be happy with your own life, than to pretend everything is fine and feel unhappy.. Life is too short to play 'make believe', I think the average person stops that game by the time they are about 8 or 9 years old and realise it is scientifically impossible to ever really look like Barbie and find your Ken with the gorgeous house and car... I also look up to those who have stuck by each other through thick and thin and are married in the forever that forever used to be! I just don't know if I will ever be ready to take the chance personally.

Anyway, I also wrote a bit of a poem in my pensive state last night thinking about it all... It's based on the conflict in my mind with my current relationship - we've come from different worlds, but found each other being in a similar situation now... and it's all quite beautiful, but I am still stubborn about changing aspects of myself to suit someone else... I guess the confusion you might sense from the writing here will make you understand a little of the confusion in my mind -

From Different Worlds
by Nikki D'Agostino

We're from different worlds that were once miles and miles apart,
Our lifestyles were once so different, But now they are in tune...
But it doesn't mean I'll be the girl you can coupe up in her room!

We're from different worlds, that were once miles and miles apart,
You get so jealous and hurt when you look at me, always scared and worry,
But because you think I am beautiful, it will not make me sorry!

We're from different worlds that were once miles and miles apart,
Company can cure the loneliness and help us grow together,
But that doesn't mean I still wont leave in the stormy weather!

I'm a girl who believes in Freedom, I feel it when I write,
I'm not afraid to be alone in the cold and dark night.

We're from different worlds that were once miles and miles apart,
Being with you is wonderful, and I know there is a way to keep us together,
But I just don't know if I can commit or am ready to give up my heart!

All I want for Xmas is a pair of GUMBOOTS!

Is it a fashion crime??... I think the combination of time and fashion have done to gumboots (or "wellies") what it does to most style-No-NO's (like the bomber jacket and trench coats) ~ Fashion has created a gimmick out of something I once would NOT have been seen dead in... GUMBOOTS.

The History of Gumboots:
Born almost 200 years ago when Arthur Wellesley, the first duke of Wellington, returned home after defeating Napoleon. He instructed his London shoemaker, Hoby of St. James Street, to modify an uncomfortable Hessian boot commonly worn since the 1700s. The cobbler obliged, and the duke was photographed in 1815 wearing the new close-fitting, calf-high, short-heel look.

Sure, I used to wear them when I was about 4 years old in the 80's splashing through puddles in the park... but as an adult, I kind of grew into stiletto's and sexy boots. Living in the city of water, Venice for just over the past month at the start of winter time (surprisingly within a month of me being here I have seen snow - this is a freak occurence and hasn't happened in this city for over 15 years! And acqua alta - being in the worst floods Venice has seen in 22 years on 1st Dec 08, and 3 more floodings since - I am starting to think this might be a sign? But I am way too excited with it to leave anytime soon!)

I am being exposed to a new normal way-of-life (for the Venetian's anyway)... and this way of life includes gumboots as a wardrobe MUST HAVE! I want to take the time to THANK the world of Fashion for enabling me the opportunity to find gumboots that look stylish, you can even buy them with a wedge or heel on them, in many colours, lengths and styles - I think it beats the AUSSIE-ACQUA-ALTA solution in this photo...

So as I leave you to think about your opinion on gumboots in the style world... here are today's photos from the aftermath of last nights Acqua Alta in Venice ~*

Qantas Frequent Flyers!

Just got the news via email today from QANTAS airlines, and I think its great!!

I have been a member of the Frequent Flyer program for years now, and I don't have a single complaint about it! I joined when I had moved to Melbourne in 2004 for the year as I was flying domestic in Australia quite regularly to visit home and travel about, I have had many flights free (paying taxes only) on the program since I joined and I also gain a lot of extra points by using my ANZ frequent flyer's Visa Card too! (When you have a shopping addiction like me, it's not too difficult to accumulate the numbers).

But today news just came through that Qantas will be linking with Woolworths - (see the press release here) this means that as a frequent flyer, you can also earn points by doing your everyday grocery shopping, purchasing fuel and even visiting the liquor store! - I think this is a fantastic idea!

Just from my return flights to Italy, I have earned enough points to come back one way and only pay the airline taxes, for instance, this will only cost me approximately $260 AUD. I am happy to have the opportunity to gain points in another method just by shopping at Woolworths Stores - it is also a great marketing tool for Woolworths to have an exclusive customer base in this regard.

There are already so many partners affiliated with the program- offering reward points when you shop or use their services - industries from airlines, car hire, hotels, banking and finance to retail and wines! it is like having the benefits of working for the airline just by signing up as a member!

Umbrella...ah?

So definitely an extra accessory when you are walking the streets of Venice, such beautiful umbrellas... colourful, decorative, adding a lot of colour and life to the gloomy mundane weather... but why are they always so flimsy?

You tell me WHEN it isn't windy and raining at the same time? I went shopping in the rain today- it was my first day home alone as Leonardo started work, so I took advantage of the situation and tried to cure the loneliness and boredom at the same time... and was very frustrated when my umbrella blew inside out (a very normal occurrence when walking the streets with one) it was my favourite black one too! argh...

When I flipped it back the right way, all the water that had accumulated on the top of my umbrella splashed into my face and had my eyeliner running...

It's funny how walking around with an umbrella can make you feel so sleek and stylish for a moment, then, when you least expect it and you are treating that street like your run way... BAM... there is that gush of umbrella-flipping wind ruining the glamour and feel goodness holding an umbrella in the rain can offer.

On a brighter note, I found the best way to wear a mini skirt and stay warm in this cold weather... Cycling gear! haha... having a fair bit of cycling gear from when I rode my bike in the winter, I thought, why not grab those shiny black leggings (they are warm and thermal on the inside, come all the way past your foot and are water and wind proof... without looking ridiculously tacky!) That and about 4 long sleeved tops and 2 winter jackets come in handy... my mission today was to purchase a 'proper' winter jacket, not an Australian winter jacket...

MISSION.. succeeded! Oh it's adorable, purple - as this is the colour of 2009 fashion (heads up for Aussie winter time) its feather lined inside, to the knee, stylish, funky and warm! I am definitely liking the purple this season... all connotations of it being a 'sexually frustrated' colour aside - it looks great on everyone!... of course I couldn't resist the purple tartan miniskirt to match... oops!

(please excuse my pathetic photography, as this is what happens when your personal photographer gets a real job, and you have to use web cam in awkward positions to get the right shot... argh)

Investing in Picasso... and I don't mean Art!

Abstract art could be described as art which is not a realistic representation of something concrete... Just like the Internet and cyberspace perhaps...

It's an ever changing 'World Wide Web' but is is destined to 'end' like our real world.. do we potentially face an Internet apocalypse? (the idea has been played with, and a Finnish Scientist even thought to have predicted the 'end of the Internet' to have taken place in 2006 - I guess it was a bit like the millennium prediction - where on New Years Eve 1999, the media had played on our minds so much about the Y2K that we were all secretly expecting something strange to happen at the strike of midnight.)

I actually got thinking about all of this after reading 'Claim your online real estate' written by the intriguing mind of Peter Fletcher who I have the pleasure of knowing from my time working as an assistant and later a sales representative at pfr.com.au, a Real Estate Agency based in my hometown of Victoria Park in Perth. Peter was an ex-colleague and friend of my Directors, whom I also claim as my mentors, Jay Wood and Joe Mucci - this is where my passion for real estate derived, and I can say I learnt a lot about investing, honesty, integrity, selling, marketing and life from my experiences with these guys ~the business ethics they offered and taught me will be with me always.

In Peter's blog, he mentions ideas on claiming your online real estate by not only registering your domain, but claiming the rights of your OWN name on various networking sites like twitter.com and Linkedin.com. We have seen our economy 'boom' and flatten over the years in regard to investing - from real estate, to the stock market.

For instance, my grandparents, through word-of-mouth of a friend purchased a substantially sized block of land and built a house in the mid-80's in an area then known as Wannanup - which then was undeveloped bushland and was priced at something ridiculous like $5,000.00AUD, not knowing that their luck was about to change with the new Dawesville Cut being put into play and Port Bouvard- (a recent development located by Mandurah which saw a new exclusive community established approx 1 hour from Perth city and offering a luxury waterside lifestyle with canals, beaches and more!) They have now been sent letters and information offering between $600,000AUD - $800,000AUD, in a matter of less than 20 years, this was considered a worthless investment at the time, and has seen a profit of more than 160 times their original investment amount! It goes to show that no matter how much research you do when making an investment, sometimes, it is just a matter of sheer luck!

We have also seen this kind of thing happen in the mobile phone retail industry - only over the past 10 years has mobile communication come into play as a necessity in our technological society - but did you know, there are such thing as 'highly desirable phone numbers'? These are the easy to remember numbers (think 555, 777 etc), an asset to any businesses marketing methods - much like the .com's of today. Mobile phone retailers obtain available phone numbers on the 'pre-paid' set up kits which are sold from as little as $5 AUD, but if they come across a desirable number, they keep this aside for the bigger clients, and can even start a bidding for the phone number. I was fortunate enough to obtain one of these 'desired numbers' around 7 years ago through a connection I had working in mobile phone retail. Something I didn't really consider anything but a 'cool-and-easy-to-remember-number' at the time- I was after all 17 years old, but now I can see it as an investment I made without thinking, as I am the rightful owner of that number and can arrange to sell it on to a business willing to pay the right price- it's the law of TITLE, you can rightfully sell what you hold title to - a very, if not, the most important aspect of Law I learnt in my Advanced Diploma of Business Legal Practices.

So this is where I can really see the potential opportunity in Peter's blog about claiming online real estate because like mobile phone numbers and real estate, these .com, .net, .anything-else sites are being taken quickly in the Information Age.

Today it is difficult for the average person, in particular the youth to be able to invest in real estate, unless we played our cards right, we will be lucky enough to inherit a home from our families at some stage in life rather than purchase. It is important to think about the tomorrow's in life because they come every day, and look at methods of investing in our future... for us 20-somethings and under especially, we don't know that there is even going to be such things as pension and superannuation available to us in the future, and it's always a good idea to hold some kind of 'back-up' plan. Think Abstract, step our of the mainstreams of investment and look at the bigger picture... you can take the time to claim online sites or 'real estate' in cyberspace from as little as NOTHING but time to register... who knows how much it could make you in the future, and everybody LOVES A FREEBIE!

Sweet Tastes of Venice...

I've turned into a bit of a sweet tooth these days... addicted to all things DOLCI!

and what better place to taste and try new cakes and pastries is there than Italy!?

Venice has a lot of traditional sweets of their own on which I can't get enough of! In between eating all the hazelnut milk chocolates of course... Here are some reviews on my personal favourites!


ZAETI VENEZIANI:


yum yum yum! Zaeti in the Ventian dialect translates to 'gialetti' meaning, little yellow cookies! - this name was given to them as they are made out of a yellow cornflower. Believe it or not, they are actually an ORGANIC biscuit (see, I am being healthy!)

It tastes like a buttery smooth biscotti, but not hard, it crumbles in your mouth a bit like shortbread and has chunks of chocolate chips through the middle! They are huge too (you can buy small ones in the supermarket but I prefer to buy the big bread-roll sized ones at the bakery as they are a lot fresher, and basically subsidise as a meal! haha)

Find the organic recipe HERE.. and give them a go!


PAN DEL DOGE:



With a similar tasting biscuit as the Zaeti (above) but rather than chocolate chips, it has a rum and raisin kind of taste inside, and is layered with different kind of nuts.

A 'Doge' is what they called the VENETIAN EMPEROR's reigning from the 700's (it is a name commonly used in Venice for restaurants, bars, food etc.)

These PAN DEL DOGE biscuits are based on a legend that in the Villa of the Doge Valzer, one of the favourite recipes was this sweet-tasting bread made from ingredients reaped from the surrounding grounds that was very sparse as the Villa was built near a swamp. - the ingredients include, butter, honey, sugar, eggs, walnut kernels, rum and pine nuts...

see the recipe HERE.

BUSSOLA DI BURANO:

Just looking at them, these not-too-sweet ring-shaped biscotti from the Veneto region might seem boring... But the Venetians love them and SO DO I!! They are called bussolà, from the word buca which means "hole", they are perfect with coffee and tea... but are also awesome to dunk in a nice glass of wine - believe it or not... preferably red! I've discovered a new kind of 'cheese-platter' to go with my vino these days - these biscotti are awesome :)

They keep for a long time, but you have to be very particular with your ingredients when baking them yourself... My Nonna makes these a lot at home too, but more commonly seen in the "S" shape... find the recipe HERE.

The Wardrobe Window

A smile is the window on your face to show that your heart is at home...

but why have a window in the wardrobe I wonder? It was the first thing I noticed when I moved into my new home a month ago... the lack of windows. There are 2 small windows in the room which are in the ceiling as it is an attic style apartment-so I would consider those more as skylights as they have no views... the only REAL window facing out to the world is the one in my wardrobe.

I love looking through a window... I often find myself gazing outside at the world, and wishing I was somewhere else... It would be a great reminder every morning to look through the window and remember "Wow, I'm in Venice".

It's something I haven't ever really thought about, but a window can tell a thousand stories- looking out to those carrying on about their day, observe the great fashion and shoes rushing by, gazing at an old trees branches year after year or peering into the neighbours onlooking window with the lights on, so you know they are home. A window is also a gift to the home, letting in the rays of sunshine to brighten the day or warm the room, and it's like candy for your eyes to have a view of something, and that view only belongs to you because it's a window in your own home.

This normal, unappreciated everyday invention doesn't exist in my home unless I am standing in the wardrobe. It also kind of deters me from getting undressed in the wardrobe, maybe I could start a light flashing system with neighbours when I want to know if my clothes look good that day, one flick of the light for yes, two flicks for no.

The Real Estate Sales Representative in me thinks that some big glass windows in this top floor apartment looking out onto the characterised charms of Venice would add astronomical value to it's price and be a great selling point. How many people in the world have views like this? Why block them out with walls?

But I feel this window in my wardrobe is teasing me... it's locking me out from the rest of the world- I want to watch the sun come up over canals in the morning, I want to see the raindrops in the winter falling down into the antique streets and I want to watch the tourists enjoying their Gondola rides through the canals. Why couldn't it sit next to me at the dinner table, or be by my bedside where I can enjoy it's presence a lot more, rather than torture my mind with wanting answers as to why this window was built into the wardrobe?

Speaking of Toasters...

All this talk about toasters... or lack thereof here in Italy (at my home anyway) reminded me of a funny story... well it was funny for everyone else, not me at the time.It was a long time ago, like just over 10 years ago (ok maybe 12 years ago), and Italy was playing in the World Cup soccer this particular evening, so my mum, dad and 2 uncles took me with them to a friends house- Teresa T (hehe remember this one Teresa?) with my bestie Jenno- while the parents all started drinking and watching soccer, the three of us girls sat in Teresa's room and played on the computer, but remember how boring computers were over 10 years ago- I don't think they even had Solitaire, and you could really only use 'Notepad' (that question is aimed at the older generation that know) so we spent the entire evening watching the Flying Toasters screen saver and singing along to the words... conveniently, I found it...

Stompface, I had to let you in on this one...I know you love cute and random things... this is VINTAGE apple computer fashion- and could you just imagine your toaster singing this cute theme to you while you were waiting to spread that vegemite aboard!?

Teresa and Jenn, I don't know about you guys, but for some reason I have never forgotten this song, it could have been the point that Angela, Teresa's mum walked into the room to tell you to go to bed, saw me sitting there with you then dropped to her knees laughing because my family had gone home and forgotten me! THEY LEFT ME THERE! Then everyone wonders where my abandonment issues come from... I was the joke of the party for the next few weeks, and I still have never forgotten that day... not only my mum and dad forgot me, but there was 2 uncles with them that could have had the courtesy to say "isn't something missing in this car... LIKE YOUR DAUGHTER???"

Am I Homesick??

Why is it you leave somewhere thinking things can only get better for you.. but when you get there, your head decided to tag along and everything is still the same?... No matter how far you go, your problems follow you, or better yet, when you try and forget your problems and pretend they don't exist because you moved to the other side of the planet, they seem to get worse?

It's been a very strange month... I've been missing things and having crazy cravings for the things I have at home in Australia... (I must be breaking the 3 months now!)

• 
  VEGEMITE... mmm, that black shoe polish tastes so good on a piece of toast smeared with melty butter- I haven't even seen a toaster since I have been in Italy!

(TOO TRUE!)

• TIM TAMS... oh YUM... don't get me wrong, Italy has some fantastic sweet treats, like canolli, home baked biscotti and gelato, but sometimes all I want in life is a 'never ending packet of tim tams' so I can bite the ends off and suck warm milk through them until they are melty, sloppy and soft, then gobble it up in one mouthfull and lick the chocolate off my fingers - it really is an art!
  
• KRAFT Peanut Butter... and it's gotta be CRUNCHY! I did find some Calve peanut butter here in Venice, fortunately, but unfortunately for my readers I am in a mood to complain tonight.. and it's just not the same when you eat it straight off the spoon! Kraft is so much better, bigger crunchy bits and more buttery! It also spreads a whole lot better... what was the ad? "NEVER OILY, NEVER DRY" that's the one!
  
• 
  mmmmmm.... Make mine a MASTERS. I think its just the advertising they use with those cool cows driving convertibles, but what I would give for a Masters Choc Milk or Iced Coffee! Even a good old spearmint milk that's been in the freezer and gets eaten with a pop stick in the dry heat of Perth summertime! Uh, I am so jealous right now as I am freezing my booty off in Venice winter... Perth girl's were just not made for this weather!
  
• A packet of Winfield SKY Blue cigarettes would go down nicely too! Marlboro lights are just so mainstream here...
  
• If it ain't a Mrs Macs, TAKE IT BACK...
  those beef, cheese and bacon pies! Just look at that pie! DAMN that is some good unhealthy eating right there, and there is NO better hang over cure!
  
• LEAN CUISINE... 'It's not just Lean, It's CUISINE!'
  haha... just look at that freezer door, looks just like mine did at home, WHEN I ACTUALLY HAD A MICROWAVE! They don't seem to believe in microwaves or kettles in Italy! That also means, no instant Nescafe with milk and 3 sugars in the morning, or no tea unless you want to boil water in a pot on the stove to use and no microwave dinners for one! bugger.
  
• Snap, Crackle, POP! I love to kick start my day with those crackles in my mouth! Don't the Italian's know anything? A plain croissant and a short black coffee for breakfast everyday = BORING!!

(Just writing this blog is bringing a tear to my eye and hunger pains to my tummy!)

Then there is the more important things in life (oh, don't you worry, food is still up there in my "important things in life" list - if you haven't noticed!) But I'm talking about my family and friends, my puppy dog, and of my collection of HOT new shoes I bought from designer stores in Thailand a couple of weeks before I left for Italy and didn't have room to pack in my bags!

It can get so lonely in Venice, yes you get to speak to the occasional tourist you meet, and to my boy, and my cousin and friends... but it's not like home, where I have my close circle of girls to laugh and cry with, go shopping with and laugh about silly things, my friends who know how to party - they just don't drink and dance here like we do at home!

And now two of my closest buddies and my little sister are expecting babies and I am not there to poke their pregnant bellies! Here is a picture of my soon to be niece or nephew (I really think it's going to be a niece!!)

isn't he/she CUTE?! its my very first REAL ANIPORTINA/O! I can't wait, so I am excited to be coming home in April to be there for my sister! I'm going to be an AUNTY!

I can't believe I missed this one...

I'm sorry for the delay, as it was one of the best nights for me in Italy so far! We had a great time, and captured all the great moments on camera!!

I'm talking INTERNATIONAL HALLOWEEN PARTY IN ROME!!

Who doesn't love dressing up and being someone that just isn't you for one night!? - when that someone is a naughty nurse, you're bound to grab some attention too!

My last party in Rome before I packed up and moved to Venice was a blast, I think the best night yet... and most of my wonderful 'Expats Living in Rome' friends would agree!

As we mingled, tried to recognise each other behind fantastic costumes and crazy masks on this superstitious evening... we also had a lot of fun, dancing, drinking, eating and making a lot of new friends!

This event, hosted again by our Expats Guru, Patrizia was a night of mayhem! I don't remember seeing one person that wasn't smiling all night! And I mean all NIGHT!

The party was held at LIVING ROOM... a Fantastic venue, pumping great music - the fantastic DJ, Gianni Lafort, who started with some great chill out music while we ate, and went into crazy dance tunes for the rest of the night creating a vibe like no other- people were sprawled from the dance floor to the front door! The bucketing rain outside didn't stop anyone from getting there, and ensured everyone stayed passed their bed times! The atmosphere was just incredible, everybody was into the spirit, and everybody was having a lot of fun!

I didn't get home until about 5am, with a quick stop for a cheeseburger at Maccas on the way home with my newly made partners in crime... Sean and Jill (see our crazy adventures in picture here.. THIS IS FASHION)... what a mission getting to MacDonald's was! After a few too many LOOOOONG Island Iced Teas and freebies at the bar that evening... (it always helps when the bartender takes a fancy to you!- plus 5euro Cocktails are a bargain too!)

I was actually quite devastated to think that this was the last time I would be partying with my Roman crew for a while, and moving on to Venice, but also so happy as I know that my heart, the friends I have made, the good times I have had and of course, the crazy amounts of coins I threw into the Trevi Fountain (The legend says that anyone who tosses a coin over their shoulder into the Trevi Fountain will some day return to Rome.) will always bring me back to ROME, SWWWWWEEEEEEETTT ROME!!!

To view more of my Halloween fun photos from the evening click here, and here.

A Special Thank You!

To me, writing is a passion... but what is writing when nobody cares to read what I have to say?

For those of you who follow my words, my feelings, and care about what I am passionate about in this world...

For those of you who visit my page and nag me when I haven't made any updates for a while...

For those of you who leave the wonderful comments, who visit my blog, and who remind me that what I am doing here has a purpose!...

Without you all, I would have no motivation to keep going... you are the drive behind my writings and my thoughts... and I know I haven't told you all this lately and given you the thanks you deserve!

From the deepest part of my heart - it really does mean the world to me... I have always been so passionate about words and how they string together to create feelings, that famous quote

The pen is mightier than the sword...

A word can unleash many emotions in a person, and can be interpreted in so many ways... it is the essence of communication. I hope I can keep you all interested and am so happy to have you visit- it's not my blog... it's our blog, because without you all, it wouldn't be here...

so please, the next time you are reading, and you laugh, or you crack a smile, or even shed a tear, remember, these words are put here with the inspiration you offer me!
Nikki xox

The Poetry of the Earth is Never Dead...

An amazing city slowly sinks into the sea... What creates beauty, can also destroy it.

Venice is renowned for it's gorgeous canals colourfully decorated by elaborate Gondola's and surrounding buildings that add to it's romance and character. However, we can question it's reliability with the 1st December 2008 when one of the highest tides in history literally brought this amazing fairytale city to a hault... I see this as a reminder that 'beauty is only skin deep'.

I remember getting to sleep around 3am that morning, and being rudely awoken at 6.37am by strange sirens - "What the hell is that?!" I asked Leo with a very grumpy temperament being so tired, he explained that these sirens alarm when there is expected 'acqua alta' (high waters) in Venice. I didn't think much of it and went back to sleep. Just to be woken again around 9am by some strange music... I am used to hearing the church bells ringing on the hour every hour, but this was like a chimey music... a second warning to inform that the waters were a lot higher than expected!!

This was just too exciting an experience for me to sleep through, so I put my camera on charge (figured I would score some excellent photos that day!) jumped in the shower and got ready to head out for a walk around the city and have a look... having been warned of these floods that happen in Venice, I had fortunately purchased myself some water proof boots about a month ago when I was coming over. I prepared myself, ate some breakfast and went downstairs to go outside. Leo stood at a hault at the front door... I went to push him on our way until I saw the water seeping in on the ground level and the massive pool at our doorstep! I couldn't stop laughing! We studied it for a while, trying to think of the best method of exit... here were my ideas;

• Plastic bags over our shoes! (Leo said no as the bags would only come to our ankles and the water was knee deep... ok thank you for the reality check~ but I did think it was a good idea at the time.)
• I said I would piggy-back him out to the dry spot! (Leo said no, firstly as I probably wouldn't be able to carry him, and secondly as I had all my documents, passports etc in my bag and it would be a shame to get those wet if we fell over.)
• The thoughts then got a bit more far-fetched... I KNOW... we can build an ark out of the spare planks for wood and I can take a broom to row us to the dry spot! (no explanation needed as to WHY we didn't do this....)

So we watched and waited from the doorstep... it was quite entertaining to see people in gum-boots up past their thighs, like a very unglamourous Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman style prostitute... haha...

It made me think of how convenient a Bunnings store in Venice would be! (Always enterprising, I guess that is part of how being jobless for the longest time in my adult life has been for me).

Then the most adorable thing I have EVER seen in my life happened... the man that lives in the apartments next door walked over to us, in his gorgeous thigh high gum-boots and offered to carry us to the other side of the street where it was dry! I said I was ok as I had some sexy boots of my own, and he piggy-backed Leonardo across the knee-high water... I nearly cried with laughter and just plain cuteness at the sight of this little old man - who kind of looked like an Italian Bob-the-Builder with work boots on - carrying my boyfriend through the floods... I wish I got a photo of that! But lucky for me my memory is photographic and the gentility this man showed will stick in my mind for a long time! I haven't come across much kindness in general in Venice yet, so it really restored my faith in humanity, as traveling often does!

I was amazed at the sights and destruction I saw of this beautiful city that day- boxes of products floating the streets, people wearing big rubbish bags over their feet with gaffer-tape holding them on, shop floorboards lifted and destroyed by the water, items damaged, restaurants afloat... it was an amazing chaos, but what surprise me the most was how relaxed everyone was... No one was in hysterics, no one seemed upset or distraught, the ambiance in Venice this day was like no other- people did what they had to do, people helped each other.

We walked along 'cat-walks' (just sounded more classy than traditional raised wooden walkways used during flooding), which funnily enough earlier in the day could not be installed because the water rose so high the platforms would have floated away too! Even the water buses of Venice couldn't run as the floating platforms that they pick passengers up from were under water!

So this was the fourth highest tide since 1872 (which is when the city started keeping records)- the floods peaked at 156cm that day (to put it into perspective, I am 164cm tall, which means the floods were about up to my lips in depth!)

It was a lot of fun that day... something completely different, and I loved seeing something so beautiful looking 'normal' for a day.. it was a lovely reminder that life can change things overnight, so we should appreciate what we have when we have it!

I have also been wondering about Venice, will this historic city one day become history, a legend like the Lost City of Atlantis??

*to view more of my photos from this day - click here*

The Day I Cried...

There is a first for everything in our lives, but when you're 24 years old, traveled most of the world and think nothing can surprise you anymore... there it goes, catching you off guard!

The 24th Novemer was a normal day, I slept in until late (like normal being the 'lady of leisure' I am... a nice way of saying unemployed) and decided to scout out for some Peanut Butter... I know my life seems to revolve around FOOD but God I love that stuff and you wouldn't believe how much I miss it!

So i dragged Leo out of bed by around 2pm, and we headed to Panorama which is the big shopping centre outside of Venice - I thought this might be the best place to start my search for my delicious home treats! On the shuttle bus I was tired and grumpy, listening to the Italian Radio station that the driver had on, when the news came on, and I heard talk of SNOW in Venice and surrounds.... I looked out the window and squealed in Leo's ear - poor guy didn't know what was happening - I then felt the tears well in my eyes... in all my experience, and everything I have done in life and been through, I have NEVER seen the magical white stuff they call - Snow.

I rushed off the bus when we arrived on the phone to my mum in tears of joy explaining the story and grabbed a big handful off a parked car... it was amazing, like being a child again and seeing something for the first time - I always love that feeling of overwhelming joy! Which was quickly cut short when I was hit in the head by my very first snowball by Nardi!

After all the laughing and excitement and forgetting about how cold it was outside, I never did find the Peanut Butter that day...

Updated...

so it's been a while since I've done some updating ... (again! I know, I'm slacking off a bit, sorry!)

but I was busy moving to Venice in the meanwhile- I hired a car and drove from Civitavecchia, Rome to Venice with my friend Zarina on 5th October~ what a mission! haha.. lucky for me I had a lot of pre-lessons before tackling the left hand drive, in a manual transmission car on the right side of the road! ARGH... it took me 7.5hours, but made it safe and sound... (my GPS told me it would only take 3.5hours, so don't ask me where the other 4 came from as I hardly made any stops.. sorry Z! I know you were starving by the time we arrived!

May I just say, WHO THE HELL ORGANISES THE ROADS IN THIS COUNTRY? It was very different, up and down mountainsides, trying to read and understand the road signs, and stopping in rural farmland areas at randomly placed traffic lights in the middle of nowhere?! Definitely an experience I will never forget, and would do all over again ANYTIME!

When we arrived in Venice, I saw my new 'home' for the first time! And I fell in love with it, and Leonardo all over again! It's so cute, just a room in an attic style apartment on the top floor with a private bathroom and LOADS of space, but it's cosy and the location is brilliant!

So my first day in bella Venezia was spent as a tour guide for my buddy Z, just prancing around showing her all the sights and sounds of Venice... unfortunately it had rained the night we arrived so when we went to drink our celebratory Mojitos after dinner in Treviso, we were saturated trying to get home!

so as always... let me talk about FOOD... interesting actually, as I have always seen this BLACK pasta dish in Venice walking by restaurants, but never tried it... "pasta alla seppie" which is squid ink- well actually, it is the result of a cuttlefish being cooked in its own ink... sounds pretty rank, but have to try everything once, right? so I thought it would taste quite fishy or salty, like black caviar, but to be honest, and I don't know if it was just the one that Zarina and I had at this particular restaurant or in general, but it just tasted like oily pasta and left our teeth black! Still, it was a new experience having black gums when I smiled and a lack of taste in my mouth, especially in Italy where the food is usually so TASTY!
After a day packed full of touring Venice, eating and walking around in the gorgeous weather (luckily the rain was only with us for the night before..) I had to say my buh-byes to Zarina... my girl, the best friend I had made in Italy as she headed back to Rome to get ready to move back to her home in London. It was pretty teary, my first real goodbye since I'd left home - I miss having my girl around to party with, drink Mojitos, and just have a good old laugh and chat with.