...some highlights

So this being my second to last night in Italy and my last night being reserved for the family I'll be making my last official post from Italy tonight. As the title says this will be some highlights brought to you by the pictures on the iPod and Francesca and Samuele's phones.

Ludovica and I getting gelato every sunny day

My first week watching 3D movies with Ricardo and Letizia

Eating almost every single one, every time we got these...

Eating at least two of "my" yogurts everyday

(this is turning into another food post) 

Quick background: I have tried almost very gelato flavor in Italy...No joke. Ricardo is Letizia's BEST friend. They are hilarious to watch. And he MAY have a crush on me :) I can now check "Woo an Italian boy" off my bucket list. 10 points for me! That tray of goodies may look great, but Americans sure know how to sweeten deserts unlike any Italian. 'Murica! And finally, "my" yogurt. Muller is a German brand. I don't know if it's the yogurt that is good, or the chocolate goodies that you pour in it. 

Continua...

Visiting Romeo and Juliet's castles 

"Tanning" with Letizia

The sun was too beautiful to not enjoy and apparently the

 same goes for the Letizia sized chair called my stomach. 

We did the same thing the next day except for I made sure she had a pillow to lay next to me on

Our day on the islands surrounding Venice

Feeding the missionaries chili, cornbread, and white chocolate cheesecake.

Followed by a humility crushing round of applause, thank you very much : )

Buying this beauty in Venice.

desigual.com look it up

Unless you don't like this, in which case you shouldn't. 

Going to this horrible park.... broken neck waiting to happen. But look at those faces!

A short bit about this park. It is completely electricity/worker free and I'm pretty sure everything is made out of recycled materials, old tire trails, old rubber trampolines, etc. (10 pts for being environmentally friendly - negative 1,000,000 for trying to kill me). It is run solely by the people attending it (probably because if they had anybody working the equipment they'd be liable when  - when, not if - someone is seriously injured). It is obviously a lot of fun, but what this picture doesn't show is the four inch metal bar at forehead height waiting to stop them at the end of the slope. I know you're saying calm down Julie, your kids are going to hate you, but this is not the worst. So, no I did not participate at all. Scusa, but I have no mommy to catch me it things get iffy so no thank you, I'd like to live to be able to have children to catch when they want to enjoy stuff like this. Consider that my first sacrifice for motherhood.

Getting to be with these punks for 45 awesome days

I could post a smiling picture, but then you'd never get any idea of what they're really like :) 

And last, but not least, getting to spend everyday with Francesca. She was an amazing host, friend, and temporary mom. Thank you so much for letting me borrow/keep your clothes, learn from you, become your friend, and become a part of your family. Until next time.

Taken in Bibione along the Adratic Sea

Can I stay a little longer?

Please

...fattening.

Replace "for Christmas" with "in Italy" and it's spot on. Spot on. 

Meh. Let me start with saying: God bless you, my 18 year old metabolism. I've abused you for so long, but this is the last time, I promise.

Second, this will be a sad excuse for a food porn blog post, slightly boring and mostly for journaling all the yummy stuff I ate with super low quality pictures, so yeah.

Lets start with Easter. Just pure heavenly descriptions. The meal started with a large plate of AMAZING lasagna (like really large). Followed by a slice of veil. Small and mostly insignificant, except that it tasted really good. You'll notice we had the whole farm gathered round for lunch. After a short intermission of carbonated water and seconds on all produced thus far, the lamb was brought out. I think a ate a whole lamb. Poor thing didn't know I was coming to dinner. Probably didn't know IT was going to dinner, but that's irrelevant, he tasted great. Lamb down the hatch next up were the potatoes and artichoke hearts. And to all my sisters wondering, no, I did not in fact eat the hearts of those innocent veggies. Forgive my sin but Francesca actually complimented me on my willingness to try everything, just not THAT. So HA. I'm not the same extreme of snotty brat I've always been ; ). Next up is the pallet cleanser! In a previous post I mentioned Sorbetto, which is basically melted sorbet, but with less of a sugary taste (though it is very sugary). I've never had good experiences drinking straight melted sorbet in the states. But mind you I will be trying it when I get home. Next I was handed a good sized bowl of some celestial cream of some celestial cow. Not being sacrilegious, if one of you gets to the celestial kingdom before me and this stuff isn't there just keep on walking, you ain't there yet. Along with this cream is a HUGE slice of a traditional Italian Easter cake. It is focaccia cake in the shape of a dove. D-e-e-elicious! And here's the best part... You dip the cake in the cream! Smokies...

This is approximately a lot smaller than the piece I was handed.

 How Italian women maintain the little twig legs they're all sportin' is beyond me. You might say "Well, Julie, they didn't Old Mcdonald's farm for lunch", but au contraire my friend; they ate more than I did!

That fortunately was the end... of lunch. I promptly went home and passed out. Only to wake up in time to eat a whole pizza by myself. Granted these pizzas when folded in half twice are the same thickness and size of a Domino's slice, BUT STILL. I was cursed with a conscience that doesn't let me throw away food a host buys for me. I don't know why they bought me a whole pizza after that lunch. I got smart the next time we ordered and requested a smaller pizza.. Every one that saw my "baby" pizza chuckled. Baby? This is still the size of a 1,000 calorie Totinos pizza!

I have eaten this whole thing multiple times

Now on to the foods I eat on a daily basis.

Breakfast 

Not very exciting

Every morning I wake up at 7:50 in time to walk the girls to school. I enjoy the weather and then return home to breakfast alone. I eat a slice of bread Francesca either makes or buys every week. She makes one loaf and then for the week She, Samuele, Letizia and I enjoy it with either amazing honey OR peanut butter. Peanut butter, Francesca had never had it before...we've already finished one jar and are half way through the second. We may be requesting some more get mailed. And Ludovica has some really crunchy version of cocoa puffs. I know very intriguing, but breakfast is the most important meal so you can't skip it no matter how boring it is in a blog.  Although one day this week I looked over  and Letizia was literally eating straight sugar and orzo powder. Needless to say after a few scuffles with Ludo that afternoon and a tantrum with a pillow on the floor she was passed out right there. (miracle for the babysitter that does not speak her language).

Lunch & Dinner 

Personally my favorite meals - unfortunately, also the most fattening

Just a few highlights

 Everything small you might find in the ocean fried with no concern for skin or shrimp legs. Yum. But ew. 

 Zuchini, something creamy and wonderful, and rice. They have a spinach concoction like this too 

 I had lobster for the first time! Definitely outs-shined by the delicious pasta accompanying it.

Tortellini and the aforementioned ragu! I'm addicted.

A few of my other favorite meals include Lasagana of course, Carbonara, an egg and bacon pasta, tuna and tomato sauce pasta, the Italian equivalent of pizza hot pockets (just as greasy I promise), prosciutto tortillas, ham and mozzarella in a tortilla, a rice, barley and some other grain concoction (definitely my favorite rice dish), strawberries with orange juice and sugar, AND panna pasta. Okay panna, it's good. Just plain panna is the American equivalent of heavy whipping cream. But they have different flavors I guess is the right word, for different dishes. The lasagna kind is my favorite, but the generic pasta dish with bacon chunks is to. die. for.


Knick Knack Snacks

They fed me mold. I have never been more insulted. Except for when they fed me raw meat. Ergh, I have learned more words in Italian in defense of my tastes buds than for anything else. Crudo means raw and stampo means mold, just for your information. Aside from these offenses I am fed VERY well. Maaaaadooonna if you haven't seen already.

I also ate a smoothie is Venice this week, eh. Italians don't like to eat anything that is cold. They refrigerate as much as necessary but no more. That didn't kill the smoothie, although it probably would have helped the flavor. I'm not a fan, but I'm sure they make enough money on their sangria and  other such things to not worry about the random American just dying for a smoothie.

Picture time

Easter I received a big chocolate egg
Post meal, pre-coma
(note: I can still fit into the black dress...or I could three weeks ago)

I think this is focaccia bread. Basically fluffy salty naan. You can get it cooked with onions, potato flour, tomatoes, olives, whatever nasty stuff you want. Plain salty is my favorite.

Hehe this is my personal favorite. Italian's morning, mid-morning, noon, afternoon, mid-afternoon, evening, and bedtime cafe breaks are all VERY important to them. Being the LDS in their midst I must decline every coffee they offer me. But that doesn't mean I have to decline a coffee cup full of whipped cream : ) I'm ashamed it wasn't my idea, but it definitely makes coffee break much more enjoyable.

When Francesca suggested I ordered this she described it as beignets dipped in chocolate, put on top of ice cream, slathered in whipped cream, and then drizzled in chocolate. Um yes please.
I actually ordered another ice cream dish, but she and I swapped bowls a few times.

Gelato, yeah, it's kind of an everyday thing with Ludo and I.
Moments before my panna (whipped cream) had toppled to the ground in a successful suicide attempt. There's a reason movies use that scene so much. It really is so crushing to watch your ice cream fall towards the ground. But that just may be my inner fat girl talking.

And last but not least, I made banana bread tonight. I would say it's my payback for them making me fat, but I'm probably going to eat half of it anyway so never mind.

In other food news we're having a "Texas BBQ" at English course next week. A Californian elder is doing the cooking, but I'm bringing the seasoning and the white chocolate cheesecake and being the token Texan so it should be a good time!

Also only two more weeks until you don't have to hear about Italy anymore! 

...animated

Visited two castles today...

 Pretty much - I want 

 I sat on Attila's Throne yesterday (no connection to the real Attila) and today I learned the legend is if you sit on it you're more likely to get pregnant.

Oops...

No searches could confirm legend. 

Side note: My children should be anything but white... Nerina, Tiana, Ayah, Israel, Etai, Tzipporah. Extreme examples, but fortunately I have a few years to grow up in all areas.

I put a lot of energy into not looking like a tourist. I fail, but I try.

Gelato is really good - expensive - but really good. 

Blinkers are very important here. I neglected (did not know it was necessary) my blinker once and Francesca definitely let me know it. After a long trip with Samuele driving today I completely understand why...

Public transportation was made by Satan to put good people in really bad moods.

 And this is what people faking good attitudes look like 

Peach tinted carmex is the one of the best things that has ever happened to me. For real. 

I ate real Italian pepperoni today. Emphasis on the pepper, it's a lil spicy. 

I kind of wish I had been a teenager in Italy, but then again no, but then again yes. 

I'm going to Utah for ten days right after I get home 

 I'm a little excited 

Which means I don't get my mom back until May 28th. I guess she deserves a vacation too.. 

I LOVE ragu. No, not the American spaghetti sauce brand, the real Italian ragu. Yes, I do have the recipe already. 

Only in Italy will I think "Oh you're going 60 in a 40, please go faster NOW". You're killing me, Smalls. 

Don't forget your blinkers

I'm too grumpy when I'm tired. I'm tired a lot. 

I want a Terra Nova, Newfoundland dog. THEY'RE HUGE. But I'm not sure how I feel about washing a human size dog every other day for 12 years (every other day or however often, or not often, I have to wash it to maintain my dog smell free world). 

 Would you just look at that! 

I hate shoes. Correction I hate my ability to pick all the wrong shoes for five weeks. Oye. 

If you don't speak Italian, Italians sound like really big fans of Madonna, but they're really just talking about The Madonna. Just by the way. 

There is a Saint Julia, we'll call her Julie J for short. 

In Vicenza there are two castles. One is Romeo's and one is Juliet's. At Juliet's crib you can have a wedding in the courtyard  or a nice coffee at the restaurant and at Romeo's you can go to a concert or a movie, whichever is available at the time. I can't help but enjoy the sexism. 

America needs more castles. No, Disney does not count.

I want sons. Lots of sons. That said I am probably going to get all girls (and love it, of course). 

I need to start following American sports (sports in general), that's all Italians talk to me about. 

Letizia randomly holds my hand, A LOT. Adorable. 

She had been asleep for about 15 minutes when I took this. 

Why do I want sons again?

I think everyone twitches in their sleep 

I have a snoring child on my shoulder. Not fair to share the picture since she never gets the chance to get a sleeping picture of me because she starts laughing at me the second I lay down. I must be hilarious to live with because these girls never stop. That or I look like a fool all the time. 

I want gelato

Bigger is better (sometimes) when it comes to food packaging. Sorry Italy, I'm making a big ole cheesecake and I'm going to need more than 3 oz of cream cheese for 2,70 euro if this going to work out between us. 

I never wish to sit between two car seats again. 

I discovered how to use gifs today...

I'm more impressed with how the old men of Italy dress than I am of all the women. Too much camo, sweat pants, and funky boot wearing going on there.

I don't care how efficient or a good idea they were, I hate roundabouts. Curse them all. Speeding around with and Italian is bad enough, why must you add in ten Jello rounds in two miles (Jello referring to the game sometimes played when you take a sharp turn).

Also, life is a lot more fun when you look at it like this. And you're probably dancing, so it's even better 

 

I absolutely love this movie. I only include both videos because I love Brian Stokes Mitchell in real life as much as I love him as Jethro!

Also I love how Tzipporah asks him to dance and then totally ditches him on her dad. Jerk. 

...surreal.

Today I had the opportunity to go contacting and attend a baptism with the sisters here in Mestre. So I donned my finest sister missionary gear, got some words of encouragement/wisdom from Andrew, and headed out.

I don't speak Italian, I don't know the particular area we were working in, and in the companionship I was with one of the sisters very fresh from Utah and doesn't speak Italian and the other is an Argentine meticulously fluent in Italian and Spanish, not English. I was scared. I've never been out with the missionaries, much less missionaries I can hardly communicate with as a whole.

 An uneventful hour or so out with the missionaries doesn't qualify me as a missionary, but it was surreal. I was contacting in David's mission. Earlier this week I was looking specifically at his Mestre pictures and it finally registered. I am in David's mission. The people I see on Sunday are the people he is going to talk about in talks for years to come. These are THOSE people all of my brothers have that I will never know, and I know his! And now I've had the opportunity to have shared the gospel with them. I'm going to their baptisms. I'm eating in their homes. I get their hugs and kisses every Sunday. These aren't my hugs and kisses! They're David's!

So David, know, I am trying to be a worthy representative of you to these people who love you so dearly.

...Why do these things need titles again?

1. I broke Edward's adapter - I swear the gravity is stronger here. I have broken a bike light a mug, and not to mention Haleigh's iPod. (the adapter has been replaced for you Edward - sorry)
2. We visited Saint Antonios Basilica in Padova on Friday. Wow. Just wow. Pictures weren't allowed, I agree with that. But a google image search never hurt, not the same, but still beautiful.
3. Easter was fabulous (I have a post for it, but it's not quite finished)
4. Monday I went to and Italian BBQ. They loooove Tony's and TexJoy, just by the way. 
5. I live with a nail tech - let that soak in Callie. (she also waxes - my legs are on the bucket list before I leave)
6. I saw a sheep herder herding his sheep today! Nothing tooo special. Ludovica dragged me to the upstairs of her grandparents house, went through a huge ordeal of opening ginormous windows, (all the while me having no clue what was going on) then finally she finished, and gave me a beaming smile and yelled "Guardare!" (look!). She cracked up at my face. I wasn't exactly expecting sheep out the window o.O It was a nice moment. 
7. I found an adorable SUPER cheap apartment in Provo. Still waiting for them to email me back. I die a little inside every time I get an email that isn't from them. 
8. My hair is long enough to do a single braid! Whoop whoop - if I ever go to cut my hair again remind me that I regret it every time. 
9. I have made hardly any clothing purchases. I feel like I'm losing precious time. I need to go shopping. 
10. I have been here for approximately 18 days. Did you know that is an eternity? 
11. EVERYONE (all females) should do the Gritty Goddess race in Galveston on May 4th! The entry fee is $70 but they have a $20 discount for high school and college students. I'm doing the 9:00 am Athena race. And don't feel like you're not in good enough shape because A) it's a team obstacle course, do it as slow as you want - you've got help B) it's three days after I get back in the states, I am going to be majorly jet lagged and 100% out of shape and full of gelato, pasta, and bread. C) You got this. DO IT. Please. 
12. I miss my parents - they should live in Italy. Mom would love the cool air, but dad would wear a beanie from September to May.

That's enough for this evening, er morning. Ciao!

...problema...

On a less positive note: I shattered the dickens out of my niece's iPod today so those pictures are going to be impossible as well. Guess just makes the anticipation all the more!

 *Don't worry niece, a nice beautiful white iPod in one piece will be returned to you in May!

...what I love

Amo....

Venice

(the memory card I promised my mom would fit in my computer, doesn't fit in my computer so all

 you get is my cliche tourist ipod pictures...)

 Not totally sure what this is, but yeah, it's crack 

(usually served alcoholic so be careful if you encounter it) 

 Leti &Ludo 

(my picture with both of them in their movie watching car is on my camera -.-) 

Yogurt

 (UK brand, but Italy really should watch how much addictive substances they allow in their grocery stores)

SANPELLEGRINO

(Correct me if I'm wrong but we have this in the states?  And if we do I expect a case to be waiting

 on my doorstep when I get home. Preferably the original l'Aranciata, no "dolce" or "amara" per favore : ) )  

Front yards that look like this

(minus my stupid finger - isn't the sunlight dreamy?)

The sun 

(Mamma mia the sun - and how Italians look at this blue sky with a jet streak and say it's getting cloudy)

Spring

(Yesterday was winter, today is spring, the flowers know it)

And for those of you that care for some reason  - "hashtag" no filter "hashtag" Italy and I are just that great : )

....for me

For whatever reasons the family is about and out and I have time to myself. What better way to waste time in this lovely place than to give myself more post to giggle at. The whole humility thing didn't work out. Maybe next time. [disclaimer: I probably enjoy this blog more than any of you, so if I seem annoying then it obviously isn't being written for you. Much love].

This post is probably more what you were looking for with the first. The pictures. Turns out I've only been here 3 days and I'm already a failure as a picture taker. Fortunately I've got five and half weeks to make up for my lost days. But here's a few from the Ipod's point of view.

 Yesterday was very rainy and cold

 I love the architecture

 Conveniently distracted by some stunning landscape to give you this lovely cameo : )

Also,  the aforementioned bright red pillow jacket. AND the scarf Francesca's mother made for me! I'm in love. 

 Francesca and I walked around town today showing me where everything is

 Very fashion aware little twerps posing in ZARA

 Behind the line of trees the priests and volunteers are preparing olive branches for Palm Sunday

 I love the homes here

 Bike riders everywhere. I intend to join them at some point

 First trip into a bakery today. I am going to be fat when I get home (declarative statement, no doubt about it)

 All of the streets in my town are named after authors. Ex. Dante




Also, its hard not to feel like I'm boasting. I am in fact not,  I just want to share how wonderful this all is.