As you may or may not kn0w, my friend Michelle over at Bleeding Espresso is on a little blog trip around Italy.  She’s actually in Calabria, and I know I really ought to make it over the “arch” to go visit her in the “toe”.  In the meantime, I am excited to be part of her “gita Italiana”.

See my piece on the Salento here!

Hello blog readers.  We need your help.

As you know, Cherrye and I, along with AffordableCallingCards.net, have been hosting the Blogging from the Boot contest, where the best blog entries of 2009 (written in Italy) are to be selected.

The contest is closed for entries and we now have our finalists!  This is where you come in.  We want you to take a look at their submissions and vote!

Please go to this link to see the finalists, read their entries and vote.

There three finalists for each category, along with links to their respective blogs and posts.

Take your time, read through the posts and click the “VOTE” link below each section to cast your vote for that category.

Thank you!

Whether you are already living in Italy or are just in the dreaming stage, chances are you have several blogs from Italy in your feed.  Expats living in Italy have the fortune of being inspired practically every time they turn the corner.  With so much variety among Italy’s different regions in terms of food, dialect and tradition, there are plenty of interesting – and addicting – blogs out there.

If you look back at 2009, you’ll see that it was a year in which many expats in Italy – new and veteran – had a lot to say about this beautiful, inspiring and sometimes frustrating, yet always magical and always fascinating country.

With that in mind, Cherrye from My Bella Vita and I, along with AffordableCallingCards.net, have an exciting announcement for you!  I’d like to present…

Blogging from the Boot: The Best of 2009

We are inviting expats with blogs in Italy to submit what they feel is their best writing from 2009.  Here are the details:

The Blogging from the Boot awards were created as a Blog Carnival to highlight the best expat in Italy writing from 2009.

The following categories are open for submissions:

- Mangia! Food and Recipe Posts
In this category, expats in Italy will share their experiences with Italy’s other national pass time-eating!

- That’s Amore: Romance and Love
The Bel Paese is all about love and romance and any post that discusses an expat’s love affair with Italy-or her inhabitants-should be submitted to this category.

- Italianissimo: “Only in Italy” Tales from the Bel Paese
All expats have at least one “Only in Italy” story … whether funny, poignant or educational-submit those posts here.

- Mamma Mia: Parenting Stories
Rearing children in Italy is a topic near and dear to the heart of every expat parent. Posts that focus on this theme should be submitted here.

- Buon Viaggio: Living and Traveling Around the Boot
Many Italy-based expats enjoy sharing stories of their adopted hometowns, destination highlights or tips and tricks from their favorite Italian vacation spots. Any and all travel-based posts should be submitted to this category.

- Paparazzi! Expat Photography
Given the unmatched beauty of the boot, it is no surprise expats in Italy fill the Blogosphere with photos of the Bel Paese. Photo entries should be submitted here.

- Eccomi: Arrivals in 2009
New expats often have a different perspective from those who are settled into their adopted lives. This category is dedicated to expats who moved to Italy in 2009.

Rules and Deadlines:

1. To be eligible, the author must have lived in Italy at some point during 2009.

2. Submitted entries must have been published in 2009.

3. Entries must be received by 5:00 PM-Italy time on Friday, January 29, 2010.

4. There is no limit to the number of entries you can submit.

Click here to submit material.

Judging will take place on January 30-31 and finalists will be announced onAffordableCallingCards.net on February 1.

Winners will receive local Perugian chocolate – straight from the source – and a special banner for their blog.

For more information, email bloggingfromtheboot@gmail.com.

This was generated based on the words I used most on twitter this year.  If you use twitter, go here to make your tweet cloud.

One reason you’ve seen me a bit quiet over here is because I’m writing everywhere else!

A couple weeks ago I wrote about my idea of comfort food while living abroad.

Then I raided the blog of my friends Barb and Art, who live in Umbria.  They have a house for sale in Umbria, by the way.   I’ve seen it up close, and it is beautiful.  While I’d like to know they’ll always be just across the hills, it would also be great to see them succeed in selling it so they can continue with their life adventures.   I wrote on their blog about new olive oil.

I also wrote recently on Jessica’s blog, Too Tall for Italy, about what living abroad has taught me about myself.  Jessica will be moving to France soon, and I wish her the best of luck!

You can also find me on Annika’s blog, where I talk about the pros and cons of nomadic life.  I hope to finally meet Annika in 2010!

By the way, if you want to fantasize about living in a villa in Tuscany, or if you are planning on traveling with a group to Tuscany (or Umbria) and would like to rent a vacation home for a week or so, visit Italian Town and Country.  They represent some beautiful properties.  If you do the math, there are actually some great deals for large groups of people traveling together (in the end, each person spends less than they would on a hotel).

Have a good Thanksgiving weekend everyone.

I recently write a guest post on a dear friend’s blog.  I invite you to hop on over to my article on making friends abroad.

While you’re at it, why not visit Katie’s Florence Destination Guide, brought to you by the Nile Guide?

And just who is Katie, you ask?  Check out my interview with her here.

A presto…

I saw this meme a while back on Joli’s blog and finally have decided to fill it out.

15 years ago today I would have been:

* in my senior year of high school. Eek!
* playing Margaret in Much Ado About Nothing (at school)
* having a serious crush on… not naming him here
* with my hair in a short bob, dyed auburn

10 years ago today I would have been:

* recently returned from a trip to Israel
* in a really weird relationship
* working for a bank
* insecure
* living in Belltown (a neighborhood in Seattle)

5 years ago today I would have been:

* planning to go back to Siena to take the CILS exam
* dreaming of and weeping for Italy
* dancing tango for a couple of years
* living on First Hill
* very single

1 year ago today I would have been:

* living in Buenos Aires, the most amazing, magnificent city in the world
* dating a really sweet guy
* enjoying wonderful lunches at home with Joli and Isabella
* going to Cachirulo every Saturday religiously

This year I am:

* living in Italy
* feeling relieved (whew!) after going through some serious changes
* renewing my addiction to buffalo mozzarella
* very single

Today I:

* did a translation
* did a load of laundry
* had coffee with a friend
* ate some chocolate

Next year I hope to:

* have a regular salary
* go back to Buenos Aires for a bit
* have a really cool apartment here in Italy
* have a boyfriend
* be really happy in general

In five years I hope to:

* have a family of my own, maybe
* have visited more of Argentina and South America
* be comfortable, financially

What have you done and what do you want to be doing?

I’m running around, publicizing as much as I can for Maximiliano Gluzman’s workshops.  I’m really looking forward to his visit, and watching him enrich Seattle’s already lovely tango community with his magic touch.  I’m putting my heart and soul into this and really want it to go well.  I am convinced of his magic.

After he leaves I’ll have just a few days to prepare for my next big adventure.  I’m not sure how I feel about it.  It would be nice to stay in Seattle a little longer to enjoy my time with my friends here, and to save up more money so I can be a little more relaxed while looking for work when I get to the old country.  But, everything will come into place as it always does, so I’ll just keep moving forward.

You can read a piece I wrote about preparing for a big move, by clicking here.

September has begun.  I’m in the thick of promoting Maxi’s workshops, tying loose ends in many areas of life, and doing my best to keep the translations coming in.

I’ve recently joined forces with a group of fabulous expat bloggers at AffordableCallingCards.net, and just published my first post there today, about why we move to new countries.  Click here to read it.  I’ll be posting there periodically and the other bloggers are very talented writers, so bookmark that site!

My birthday is this Saturday.  A year ago I celebrated my birthday in Buenos Aires.  This year I celebrate in Seattle.  And next year… ?

Since this is a bit of a “miscellaneous” post, I’m going to leave you with this video I saw on Facebook, of Guillermina Quiroga and Junior Cervilla dancing milonga to Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean.

Happy September!

I don’t know if I can do this blogging every day thing.  When I have that sort of pressure my inspiration goes out the window!  So, I’m dropping out of NaBloPoMo because I want to write in my blog when I feel like it and I want to be happy when I write in it, not “oh, damn, I have to write.”

And with that, I’m not saying anymore because I’m not inspired and it’s a beautiful day.  I should be outside!