Walking in the snow...

Yesterday morning I woke up early and I prepared my backpack to go to the mountains with my friends!
I felt so excited because it was my first walk in the snow of this winter and I really needed to lose myself in all that white!

 

 

 

Our destination was a refuge at 1457 meters, a relaxing walk in the snowy mountains,less than an hour from home.

The snow was wonderful and compact, so we had so much fun playing snowballs and creating the shapes of angels with our bodies!

 It was fantastic to breathe the fresh and brisk air, talk about many things, learn the names of the mountains and laugh lighthearted!!!

 

 

 

When we reached the refuge it was midday and we ate some sandwiches with ham and speck with a glass of "radler" (beer with lemonade)...Awww we were so hungry that all seemed so yummy!!!

 

 

Walking together strengthens the friendship and frees the mind from everything that oppresses it, to make room for all the joyful thoughts...

                                                               

              Love

           Martina

                                                   



What's in my bag?

 

I've read a lot of posts about the contents of people's bags and I really like them because I'm sure that they reflect a little bit the personality of their owners.

I want to share with you what a keep in mine...

 

 

From the left:

 

1. My pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses:I received them from my parents for my Baccalaureat and I wear them all the year.

2. My yellow headset for my i-phone, which is useful when I need to chat on the phone and I'm driving.

3. The headphones to listen to music when I'm travelling alone by train or by bus.

4. My little perfume " Violet", which is perfect when you're away from home all day. 

5. My strawberry fragranced lip balm.

6. My new yellow wallet that I received as a gift from my birthday from my best friend.

7. House keys and car keys.

8. Liquorices:I keep them in a colored tin box and I can't stay without them because they are a great remedy against low blood pressure.

9. My pochette, where I keep some pills, some patches , a mascara, an eyeliner pencil and another lip balm with honey and propolis.

10.My i-phone.

11.My pink Moleskine diary, which is perfect to write all that I have to keep in my mind!!!

12. My Nivea hand cream,  which is perfect for my hands that are always chapped.

13. My flowery little mirror that I bought last summer in the Lake District.

14. Soft tissues.

15. A book .. I always need to take with me something to read.

16. My beautiful pen of the Little Prince, one of my favourite books when I was a child.

 

         And you, what do you keep in your bag???

 Love

   Martina 



Spring-flowering!!!

 

"The snowdrop and primrose

Our woodlands adorn

And violets bathe mid the wet

o' the morn"

      -Burns-

 

Ohhh I love spring so much!!! I was so tired of wearing heavy coats, gloves and woolen scarves to go out, of the freezing weather and of the darkness that came at five in the afternoon!!!
Now days are getting longer, it's not so cold anymore and the air smells of flowers!!!

Last weekend when I opened my wardrobe I realised that I really needed something colorful and flowered, to completely immerse myself in the spring atmosphere!!!

So on Saturday morning I went in Vicenza with my mother to do some shopping and I found what I was looking for:

 

 

This lovely jacket and a soft scarf with flowers

 

 

A blouse with light blue roses

 

 

And  a mint-colored dress, on which are laid these beautiful butterflies!!!

 

What have been your purchases of spring? :)

 Tell me..I'm so curious!!!

Love

xoxo

Martina

 

 

 

 
 

 



The Language Of Flowers

 

Today I've finally found some time to write a new post after many busy days!!!
I received this book, " The Language of flowers",  from a friend as a gift for my birthday and I really devoured it!!!
It is a heartbreaking and redemptive novel about the meaning of flowers, the meaning of family, and the meaning of love.

 

The Victorian language of flowers was used to express emotions: honeysuckle for devotion, azaleas for passion, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it has been more useful in communicating feelings like grief, mistrust and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings. Now eighteen, Victoria has nowhere to go, and sleeps in a public park, where she plants a small garden of her own. When her talent is discovered by a local florist, she discovers her gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But it takes meeting a mysterious vendor at the flower market for her to realise what's been missing in her own life, and as she starts to fall for him, she's forced to confront a painful secret from her past, and decide whether it's worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness.

 

This amazing book is the first novel of Vanessa Diffenbaugh who, to write this story, has drawn inspiration from her own experience as a foster mother.

She is determined to take care of children without a family and, with her husband, she has created a non-profit association called " Camelia Network", an on-line community which harnesses the power of new technology to connect youth "aging out" of the foster care system with a community of resources, opportunities, encouragement and support.

As a woman and a social worker I really admire this writer and her strong determination. When I finished to read this book I felt full of hope in the possibility of people to find love and to learn how to give love to the others, despite their difficult past as neglected children.

 

I want to leave you with my favourite poem of William Wordsworth: " Daffodils", a flower that I love and that, in the victorian language of flowers, means " new beginnings".

 

"I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed--and gazed--but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils. "    

Have you read this book? What do you think about the victorian language of flowers? Do you use it when you give flowers?
 

Love

xoxo

Martina

 

 

 



Ten Things That Make Me Happy

Today I want to share with you other ten things that make me happy!!!

11. A garden full of flowers

The scent of flowers, their colors and the pride that you feel when you see them growing up and beautify your home, fills me with joy.

12. A steaming herbal tea

Sip a steaming herbal tea during the long winter evenings, under a wool  blanket , with a good book to read, is one thing that gives me a great pleasure.

13. Cycling in the countryside

On sunny Sundays I love to take the bike and go in the countryside! It's fantastic to ride with the wind in my hair and enjoy the feeling of freedom that comes over me!

14. My favorite perfume  

The fruity soul of blackberry, blueberry and raspberry meets with a flowered spirit, the transparent vibration of the green leaf is intertwined with the feeling of woods and musks, and the intensity of a beautiful summer day melts into the mysterious and intriguing suggestion of a walk in the cool and shady atmosphere of the woods.

15. Pancakes for breakfast

I love eating pancakes for breakfast, especially in the summer, with honey and  fruits like peaches, kiwis, strawberries, cherries, blueberries and bananas, because it is an easy way to feel like on holiday!!!

16. A soft wool scarf

On cold winter days I really like to be wrapped in a beautiful wool scarf, because it makes me feel protected and pampered!!!

17. The rainbow after a summer storm

The sky that, after a summer storm, is colored of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet and makes the countryside shine in all its glory, will never cease to amaze me and make me feel full of joy.

18. An unexpected gift

Coming home and find a small package just waiting to be unwrapped always makes me feel happy and is able to dissolve in a moment the weariness of the day!

19. Eat chestnuts

My favourite thing about autumn are chestnuts! I love to collect them in the woods and eat them with my family and my friends with a glass of mulled wine! The aroma that fills the air is so delicious!

20. Kids of different nationalities who play together

See how children of different nationalities are able to make friends and play together, free from the prejudices and the stereotypes that crowd the adults' mind, makes me feel happy and confident in the humanity.

An afternoon of shopping!!!

Yesterday I went shopping with my best friend in my favourite shop called "Lady", which sells clothes, bags, shoes and  accessories from England! For my birthday I received a gift certificate to spend there and I was so excited!!!I tried many things and, in the end, I chose this beautiful grey skirt with embroidered pockets and this scarf with colorful birds :)!

 A bought also a black cotton sweater with tiny buttons from Tezenis to match with the skirt.

While I was looking at another shop window I saw this wonderful light blue blouse and I loved it at the first sight!!!
I really like this pastel color and it seems perfect with the arrival of spring!!!

And here Minù, posing to be photographed in the morning sunlight!!!

Love 

Martina

Birthday Parties and Gifts!!!

This weekend I've partied a lot because Friday it was my 26 birthday!!!:)

The night before I was in Venice and I went out for a delicious fish dinner with two of my closest friends! I ate pasta with scallops and rocket and peppered mussels with a glass of white wine..yummy!!!

 

 We laughed and chatted so much and it was a wonderful evening!!!

The day after it was sunny and warm and Venice was more beautiful than ever!!!I received some beautiful gifts from my friends:

a gorgeous leather wallet that I love!!!

a lovely necklace of sea glass 

some books that I really want to read as soon as possible! 

and this stunning outfit from my parents!!!

I wore it yesterday evening when I went out with my friends to celebrate my birthday and the International Women's Day!

I received the cutest complete underwear I've ever seen and I was sooo happy!

 It was so nice to celebrate with people that I love and I feel really really lucky to have such wonderful friends!
 

Love 

xoxo

Martina

           

Tiny Beautiful Things of The Week

This week I've studied a lot because time flies and I still have many books to read for the university and some essays to do!
Fortunately Cloe always keeps me company...even if she sleeps and snores for the most of the time!!!

 

On Thursday I went in Venice for the graduation of a friend and it was a really beautiful day!!!
The sun shined in the sky, it was warm and there was an air of spring! 

I was so glad to spend the entire day with some of my best friends and after the graduation we partied until late at night! 

We slept in a tiny but cosy bedroom of an hotel and, the morning after, we did some shopping!!!

I bought a dress for my birthday ( that will be next week) and this beautiful hairpins in the shape of butterfly!!!

And the song on  whose notes I danced for the whole week has been "Budapest" by George Ezra! I like it so much and when I listen to it I feel happier and carefree!!!

Love 

Martina