Milan in April

Love how they decorate the famous shopping street in Milan, Italy! Just lovely!

Saw the movie twice in the movie theatre!

I think these shoes are from Prada! I saw them at Brown Thomas (store) in Dublin and curse myself for not buying them!

I simply love BIG NECKLACES and BEST FRIENDS!

This necklace is by Max Mara. I love this Italian brand. I bought a Max Mara camel coat last fall and it looks like that it is the new "Must Have" for this Fall/Winter.

Burberry trench

Traveling with my Burberry trench to Milan and back to Norway by bus (because of the Ash clouds from Iceland) was perfect! It served as a blanket for the LONG drive home!

Italy, April 2010

Went on a trip to Italy with 31 other women to Bergamo and Milan. I strongly recommend visiting Bergamo. It is situated right by the Italian Alps and is so lovely! We went on a four day trip to learn how to cook Italian cuisine and relax in wonderful restaurants. Did some shopping but the highlight of the trip was being with women I didn´t know before hand and meeting Italians where I was. I feel, more than ever, that life is the most interesting -in the moments. Like when I went alone into a store to buy-yes Converse snickers (without laces-the last one´s I bought were on the campus of Yale, Connecticut, USA). The owner, an Italian of 30+ years with thick curly hair, jeans, t-shirt, sneakers and still so Italian. He introduced me to his friend, who came in the shop to show of his self-made shoes. He had used an old pair Prada´s soles and stitched leather material on the top of the shoe. They looked like a sporty black and white golf shoe/ Church´s inspired with an Italian touch. I saw them, touched them and told them they were beautiful-nicely made. He was proud-and I could see he used many hours on them. My only regret is that I didn´t take a picture of them. I called him a Shoe Maker and that he should design for Prada! I loved this moment. -Being a part of a moment of pride and sharing and of admiring good workmanship! Rare these days..... This happened in the old town of Bergamo!

How does one dress oneself for patience?

I am sitting with my son doing homework and I wish I could find a way to dress for patience. When I look at the ocean, I feel peace and tranquility. My "dress" is of comfortable clothing, pastels, soft knits, and something warm but light. When I sit here at the kitchen table, with my son, I find myself at my wits end. I am supposed to be helping but I am not. I guess, just for me to sit here- is at least helping him to get it done. (The pressure). Schoolwork sucked way back when I went to school, and it still sucks. My poor son. My "dress" is of starchy, uncomfortable, black and red, irritable with rough edges, and it feels like I´m sitting on thumbtacks.

Is getting dressed for patience - all about layering or pulling back the layers? How can you find the soft when it feels so rough?

Ok. Love. Love is patience...Patience is love. I have love for my son, and I have patience on most levels, just not homework.

Conclusion: Find someone else who wears soft materials to sit with my son. This I do in love.