rachel zoe

i just finished this book, and i couldn't put it down!

rachel zoe is just awesome, i love her.

as a once-travel blogger (which is what i will go back to once chemo is over!) i had to share this excerpt from her book:

Holiday Pack List for Hot Weather:

"bikinis, cute bras, and boy shorts to wear under sheer dresses (and that can double as swimwear when the moment arises); tunics, caftans, and sundresses that can serve as dresses or tops. A fabulous belt can turn a sarong into a dress, so pack one that sits on the waist, in leather or raffia, or a color woven or gold chain.
Anything in lighter, brighter colors, and definitely white, is appropriate, and leave most of the black and any items that require dry cleaning at home. leave the pumps behind, too. this is one of the few times I'll pack flip flops, and a sandal of any kind is requisite. Also, great are espadrilles and open toe wedges. Clothes might be minimal, but not accessories. Stockpile hoops, anything ethnic, and bangles (island cheapies are such a great addition). And layer yellow gold on top of a St. Tropez tan for a look that is always uberfabulous."

more to come!

summer time menu

on one of my summer adventures,

the bestie suggested, in our absolute desperate hunger,

that we stop by this beautiful Thai place called amyours.

Usually, I don't have a taste for Thai Iced Tea- but

oh

my 

god!

it was so awesome!

and we also preferred the curry puffs (bottom photo)

of course,

we communicated between bites

and muffled noises

and freudian slips

while we enjoyed yet another yummy meal together.

totally worth the trip there. 

for info, you can e-mail!

love me,

the globetrotting gamine

lazy summer days

there has been plenty going on in my world as of late. bulletting everything wouldn't even begin to be enough. let's start off with the super duper fun things i can remember.

in my world, summer means this:

1)

 wine with friends. everywhere. beer with friends. everywhere. party party.

2.)

 planning future...plans. designs. events. publicities. ah, same old adventurous things that i'm in love with.

3.)

writing- and researching EVERYTHING! I have almost read an entire-library full of books this year...actually, two libraries. I'm moving in on the third library and am researching a fellowship i'd like to do. this and my upcoming book(s)- making me happy.

4.)

writing- the lists, the manuscripts, the notes. i'm writing it all and i have every facet available to me to do so. my house often looks like a school's study hall without the students and bad smell. i've discovered about myself this year that when i'm writing, i'm much more likely to do it swiftly with a pen in my hand rather than type it out. this has kept me motivated.

that and my haters.

there are so many good things going on around me that it's overwhelming to take in. i am thankful for so much all year round, but especially in the summer time. for me, a lot of reflection and friend-seeing goes on at this time of year. also, vacations and movie-watching (if you've been reading along ;) )

one of my beautiful friends is actually reading one of my books as we speak- and i am waiting to receive one of them back from a publisher. these past two years have been quite a whirlwind for me (and quite a few people around me) and it's all been for the better. i love karma and trust in God and the universe now more than ever.

more than my dreams have come true. i am so blessed.

and thankful thankful thankful.

more soon, and keep cool ;)

~the globetrotting gamine

i loved this turtle

remembering summer moments

turtles that swim
and the beautiful sounds of summer...

it's just happiness :)

though there hasn't been a season i didn't love

love me,
the globetrotting gamine

eagle fun

this eagle

down at our favorite vineyard

(pugliese)

must have been really hungry...

because he was eating koi

straight out of this pond...

as you can see :)

hope you enjoy our videos!

kalamata- it's not only olives

"so, i'm greek, right?"

one of my most favorite lines from 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding'.

being a Greek means that if your family had the means, you've had summers in Greece at least once in your life.
I've had about 20 summers in Greece, give or take.

being a Greek means that you have to travel to Greece at least once after you get married...be it to another Greek (which is preferred by most hardcore Greeks, or wanna-be hardcore Greeks) or to a xeno (which means a non-Greek).

have fun trying to bring a Greek who doesn't speak, read or write Greek down to Greece to meet your family- especially if you're married. Fortunately, we didn't have that problem.

Our only problem? Where will we pick up our breakfast before we get to the beach?
LML and I had two requisites for summers in Kalamata- constant access to the beach and some R&R throughout the day.

done and done.

I remember that there were days we would go to the beach twice- in the morning and then during sunset. It was beautiful to watch the sun setting high in the sky while swimming...floating in the arms of your one and only.

The 45 minute walks to get to the beach, and back were also crazy worth it- probably because of our never-ending conversations. We loved walking by cafenia (cafes), watching the tourists (haha), snapping pictures (me- and LML telling me not to because we'd look like tourists)... and the amount of exercise we got between all that walking and all the swimming would lead ultimately to...

gelato.

Now, i don't have any pictures of the gelatos we would get. Why? Because the last summer we were there, my camera decided to kick the bucket about one day into our one month vacation.

Oh, Gelato.

Our nights consisted of: waking after our ciesta- getting all dolled up and hitting a different cafe for coffee or a beer (we'd sampled all the beers in kalamata during our last summer there)...or hitting the hookah cafe on the beach and watching the bellydancers... or going for the most incredible pizza in the world at Pizza Roma.

Ho. Ly. Cow.

Holy Pizza.

food...beach...swimming...r + r...what else is vacation all about?

love me,
the globetrotting gamine

in the summer...

hope you enjoy my photography...

and new collaging efforts! lol

happy day to you!

love me,
the globetrotting gamine

on the menu: tabouleh

i know very well what couscous is...yet that's what i tend to call tabouleh.

don't know why- must be the greek in me that renames everything...

you know...we call dunkin' donuts 'dunkie'...

anyway...

so my first attempt at tabouleh wasn't so bad!

i know i have some tweaks to make

i think the majority of people use an apple cider vinegar (just a smidge)

and don't tell anyone about it!

i used...

couscous

lots of parsley as finely chopped as i could get it (without a processor)

lemon juice

onions (shoulda been red onions- don't skimp on this!)

salt

finely chopped tomatoes.. non-squishy ones...

yum yum for the summertime tummy

please send me co...tabouleh tips!

new york 4th of july

happy birthday, america!

this weekend will be filled with family...
bbq's...
fireflies...
bonfires...
marshmallow's...
fireworks...
wine...
cupcakes...
fun...

and my puppy ;)

what are you doing for the fourth of july?

love me,
the globetrotting gamine

vineyard fun 2011

what a great way

to kick off the vineyard season

for me and my friends <3

vineyards, wine, bonfires, picnics...

a huge group of us

and lots of laughs...

i am so incredibly blessed!

love me,

the globetrotting gamine

happy father's day!

i want to wish you
a very happy father's day
filled with laughter, fun and in my case...
eventually a family bbq!

my daddy is quite awesome...

he's travelled the world...and had done so when he was very young.

when he came to america, he eventually through himself at my mama

and became a great businessman.

he was there at some of my plays

and he always laughs when i'm being loud

(i don't know why)

when he sent me to hawaii

(even though he didn't have to)

he told me to go and do what i want to do

as long as i know

that parasailing won't kill me.

he was right, because i don't want to ever do that again.

he makes incredibly yummy meals...

and shares my love of the cerveza called Presidente

he sounds like the Dad from 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding'

though there's time when i can't really tell

where his accent comes from...

so happy father's day to my

wonderful daddy!

who had 3 daughters, 1 granddaughter and 2 grandsons

and can still pull together a mean bbq!!

i love you, daddy :)

love me!

summertime routine

this is what our weekends

have boiled down to thus far...

LML and I-

we have way too much fun talking

and planning stuff

so we sit on our little corner of the world

with our tiny puppy

and laugh and make toasted marshmallows

and have some beer from somewhere

exotic that we've been to.

sigh!!

it's a routine we've grown to love...

have you fallen into a summertime routine?

love me,

the globetrotting gamine

some things never change

below are the pictures of a few of my good friends.

even though a few years have gone by since these were taken...

there's not much we do differently...

wine, cigars, yummy dinners

and chatting where-ever on chilly summer nights.

notice i am not in these,

because i was the one snapping away...

i love these guys and am so glad

that summer is back :)

(LML with his wine...or mine. we never can tell.)

(i must have snapped when the besties were stunned by something.)

what are you looking forward to this summer?

please share :)

love me,

the globetrotting gamine