10 Reasons why having twins is great!

Last week on 17th, our beauties turned 2! Oh my Gosh, the time just flew away! It feels just like yesterday we were anxiously waiting their arrival in the delivery room! Sometimes when I look at them tears spring to my eyes thinking how tiny and fragile they were (2kg and 46 cm each) and into what extraordinary toddlers they have grown!

Moving to Germany

It is official: We are moving out from Italy to Germany by the end of May! (therefore, I am not and I am not going to be so punctual in blogging..) The countdown has began! Next life destination: Lippstadt. It is a lovable mid-sized town in the north of Germany (Westphalia). It is also nicknamed “Venice of Westphalia", due to the many Lippe arms that criss-cross though the town centre...I was there last weekend to see some houses, and I found it is such a cute town! It seems very calm (if you compare it to Thessaloniki or Bologna) but a very family friendly town, full of parks, which is more than perfect for us! 

Have a wonderful weekend!

It is already weekend! What are your plans? My husband is coming home for this weekend, so it is going to be a hectic Saturday! I am looking forward to it! We have some plans: to have fun with the girls, in our first class of "music together"! Have you heard about it? It is an international music and movement educational program, where children and their parents share songs, rhymes, instruments and dance all together! It should be a lot of fun! Has anybody tried it? At the evening we plan to meet up with friends, probably for the ritualistic italian "aperitivo" here (the main sala is decorated with frescoes) or here (historical and unconventional place in Bologna, where everyone can bring in food, from the local shops around, and indulge oneself a great selection of wines). These two places deserve to be on the bucket list if you visit Bologna!

What are your plans? 

Marco Colombari

New Year's Resolution Ideas- Στόχοι για την νέα χρονιά

Για ελληνικά εδώ
First of all I want to wish you all a wonderful year 2014! I am sincerely so glad that 2013 came to an end, I wish I could say it was a nice year but alas it was not. I must admit it was rather harsh on me. I can't decide which of the following has been the most difficult moment of 2013: My Zoe ingested a hairclip when she was 10 months and was taken to the operating room for endoscopic removal of it, my husband has been working in a different country for the last 6 months or me, having my leg broken (compound fracture, 3 operations and  and 3 months in a cast/brace shoe)...Well, I try to see it as a character development opportunity afterall!:) Therefore, I am ready to tackle the new year! I feel it in my bones that 2014 will be a changing year and moving forward!!!

As each year, I did make New Year's resolutions. I am very good in compiling the list. In fact, I literally copy and paste my last year's resolutions, at least my 5 top ones- promising myself to be more loving, less messy, more creative, more active, more money saver..But every year I realize how hard is to keep up with them, set up good habits and break the bad ones. The web is full with articles about resolution ideas, how  to effectively keep them or reasons to abbandon them. I am not sure if it is a waste of time or whatever, but I really enjoy challenging myself. Moreover, there are relevant apps to download in order to keep track with the resolution list.

Ideas how to celebrate New Year's Eve at home- Ιδέες για μια όμορφη παραμονή Πρωτοχρονιάς

 Για ελληνικά πατήστε εδώ
I hope you had wonderful Christmas, and if not, as the year draws to an end, there is always time to compensate for a sparkling New Year's Eve! Here are some ideas, I found on the web, hope you enjoy them!

New Year's Tinsel Numbers

Last minute Christmas gifts charity - Ιδέες για χριστουγεννιάτικα δώρα με φιλανθρωπικό σκοπό

 Για ελληνικά εδώ
Christmas draw close; Only 8 days are left! OMG! I was so taken with the physio visits and my rehabilitation exercises in addition to the babies that I just realized I need to speed up to provide gifts for everyone. And since this year I am not able to go shopping myself due to my broken leg, I will buy everything online. Moreover, I decided that this year I will go manly for alternative gifts, that give back also to society and since I run out of time, I opt for short deliveries. 

The last years, I foisted a budget on me which mounts to 10-15 € per gift, which I try not to exceed. Hence, here are some of my ideas for this year:

A $25 loan (slightly over my budget but worths it) to people without access to traditional banking systems, who need money for their business. When the borrower repays the loan (99% repayment rate), the money returns to your account, and you can loan it out again to someone else. For more info go to Kiva. This is going to be the perfect gift for my husband - I already found the borrower to whom I will lend money in my husband-s name.

I love Ballet

Yesterday I read on Cup of Jo about the City.ballet, the 12-episode web reality show developed, produced and narrated by Sarah Jessica Parker. I wanted to check out one episode to see what it is about and I could not help watching all the episodes at a stretch! Each episode which lasts around 6-7 minutes goes behind the scenes of the intense life of the dancers of the New York City Ballet. I found it so inspiring and enchanting! I have always admired ballet art and the dancers for their discipline and their ability to make something so hard to look easy! 

Check out the full series on Aol city.ballet 

and if you like it, I recommend you to watch the documentary film "First Position", you will appreciate further ballet performances! 

Εχθές διάβασα κάπου για το City.ballet της Sarah Jessica Parker, το τηλεοπτικό σόου, παραγωγός του οποίου είναι η ίδια.

November movements : Movember & Dinovember

Για ελληνικά πατήστε εδώ

Movember (the global charity movement which calls on men to grow mustaches during the month of November in order to raise awareness and funds for men's health issues, such as prostate cancer and other male cancers) is not the only movement which is happening during November. 

Why don't you grow a moustach (growYourMo) & download the app Movember!

Some days I ago, my friend Maya refered to me the following link. I found the idea awesome! And I will definetely execute it as soon as the girls will become a bit older to enjoy it! The dinovember! 

Why I love Bologna in autumn

We are back in Italy! As soon as I set my foot on the airport of Bologna, I realized how much I missed this town! We traveled with Pegasus airlines, and I must give my compliments on their service despite they are a low cost air company. They were very friendly and very helpful, and they managed to guarantee me a comfortable flight as it could be, since I had to travel with my foot in a cast.

My beautiful long distance friends

Good morning again from the hospital ! I did a third operation because the fibula was completely out so doctors considered they should fix it.. My leg adventure made me realised for once more how many people i love, love me back!and how awesome and important those folks are !

Life is full of unusual twists , and mine the last years is based on long distance relationships.. after a 3 years long distance relationship with Jony(i promise i will post about it in the future), i had to suffer from homesickness and long distance friendships and now that my husband moved to Germany i have to go through all over again, with him and my friends in Italy..

I can't give you 5 magical ways to keep in touch with your friends that live far away..but i can share my experiences; each friendship is special and has its dynamics and to my opinion, we shall not try so much to make them work..real friends forgive and accept you with your flaws so even after a long period without contact you shall be able to pickup where you left off- if not, no means of communication can make wonders for your relationship. 

After i relocated  in Italy i did have some fears considering me drifting away from my friends and loose contact but being away doesn't mean you can't stay close! the most essential ingredient is mutual care and love, and the good will to stay in touch!I am officially the worst at calling people regularly but i do spontaneously pick up the phone or text to report big or little things from my life every now and then, and that , i believe, keeps my friendships flourishing..and technology fortunately eases it. Here are my fav apps: 

Good morning! i did the operation and now I am at home, safe and sound!

I am still overwhelmed from this fantastic emotion when you feel that all the people you love are close to you! even if they are far away physically...thank you what's up, face time, viber & skype!