In two words...Italian honeymoon!

Yes we just bought tickets to go on our honeymoon…drum roll please…to Italy. Which I know will be one of the most magical places I've ever seen. Honey and I were talking about traveling to Belize or Hawaii, but both sets of our parents called to encourage Italy. There’s something so calming to know that after all of our hard wedding work, we can get on a plane to Rome and get lost while we still feel the newlywed bliss.

Italy, I can’t wait to be welcomed by your history, cobble stone streets, beauty, food, wine, music and warmth of people. Can someone call ahead and let them know we’re coming? Thanx sweetie.

I am so excited to go to the Italian countryside and be calm. We can drive the Amalfi Coast without having to talk about what flowers to pick or discuss menu selections. Sure wedding planning is a rite of passage, but our treat is visiting Italy.

And I knew we made the right honeymoon decision when we started to tell people. For example, recently while standing in our local supermarket the grocer asked us about our wedding planning and we told him our news. A woman waiting in the line behind us started to tell us of her incredible Italian honeymoon. She wished she could still be there watching the Italian sunset and eating olives.

Life will take over for Honey and I after our glow has gone. Our days will become more about our daily lives together, seeing friends and family, lunch making, children rides to and from baseball…but we can quickly think back to our time away.

It was the book Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert that spoke to my soul about letting go and enjoying the travel.

You haven't read it oh you so have to!

So what advice do you give us while we are away our Italian honeymoon? Should we be tourists and see everything Italy has to offer or get lost in the Italian countryside?

Wishful Wednesday: travel around the world

On this Wishful Wednesday, I wanted to share with you pictures of beautiful places I've been to and places I hope to one day see.

One of the places I'd love to travel to is Tuscany, Italy. My dream is to bike ride through the Tuscan countryside, next to the sunflowers and finish the day at a winery for some tastings. A girl can dream can't she?

When we were in Brazil last year, Sugarloaf mountain was simply breathtaking. Honey timed it so we were there to watch the sunset. That was a truly magical day and trip.
I've always wanted to swim in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia since I learned about it in school. Hopefully I can get there soon before we lose the coral completely.
Ahhh picture perfect Santorini Greece, I hear you calling to me and I hope to see you soon.
I took this picture on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. What struck me was the red sand walkways. I wasn't fast enough to catch the chickens in the picture that kept crossing the road.
If you haven't been to Toronto yet, try to make a trip to see this friendly and clean city. Take it from me, visit my childhood home in either the Spring or Fall.
Bonjour the streets of Paris, oh how I've missed you. I 'll try to be back soon, but this time I'll bring some of my blogging friends. (Check out my guest post for Ms. Fifi Flowers about my love for Paris.)

In high school, I loved living near Laguna Beach as its tucked away from the rest of Orange County. I wish I could be on the beach right now, don't you?
I took this picture of the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco on a cold and foggy day. The sun peered through the clouds long enough for me to take this photo.
We took this picture last year in Brazil at the Brazil vs. Bolivia game. The energy and pride of the crowd was infectious! Notice how the score was OxO and it stayed that way until Brazil scoooorrrreed. Thank you for traveling with me around the world. Don't forget to tell me, where you would like to travel on this Wishful Wednesday?

Our love story: Guilty weekend pleasures

We returned home to San Francisco from Hawaii. After spending so much time together, it was strange to return to our separate homes. Mine was in the neighborhood of Nob Hill in San Francisco and at the time, Honey was living in Larkspur (Larkspur is north of the city and about a thirty-minute ferry ride). We said our goodbyes and then made plans to spend the next weekend together in Larkspur. When people find themselves in a new relationship, sometimes guilty pleasures can develop.

The weekend couldn’t come fast enough for me. I packed up, met Honey after work and we took the peaceful ferry over to Larkspur. As we got to the steps of his apartment, I started to feel run down and tired. I’m sure it was due to all of the travel and being sad that I was no longer in paradise. Honey suggested that we rest and stay in for the weekend to recharge.

Now I don’t know about you, but I am a horrible patient. It takes a lot for me to sit down and relax. I always seem to have to do something or talk to someone. Honey had recently purchased ‘The Office’ DVDs. He convinced me to sit down, order food in and watch one episode. I have a British sense of humor and enjoy sarcasm, awkward pauses and character development; Honey thought the show was made for me. Well, one episode led to two and before we knew it, we had watched five episodes and I was hooked into the characters lives. I loved being in his apartment shut in from the outside world. Daylight turned into night and the popcorn we were eating turned into pizza.

By the end of the weekend, we had finished an entire season of ‘The Office.’ I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I actually felt better by the end of the weekend because of the laughter and relaxation.

And then it happened. A few weeks later, Honey offered to me ‘LOST’ on DVD. It was a show that I had heard a lot about, but had never watched. I didn’t take into account that if I watched it alone, I could scare myself. I learned that my guilty pleasure was watching shows all at once. What are some of the relationship guilty pleasures you love to do?

Our Love Story: Pursuit of Happiness

There’s something wonderful about leaving your fast paced life for an island. There’s paradise all around and I felt a sense of calm that I didn’t feel in my city life. Honey and I had already been through so much to be together, and we were enjoying each other’s company as a happy couple. I had the most amazing days in Hawaii, but I wasn’t looking forward to returning home and facing the reality that there were some who would be against us being together.

Let me tell you, it took a lot of strength to make my decision to be with Honey. I was so worried that a relationship would ruin our friendship. I had been hurt before and wasn’t sure if love was for me. It had taken me a year and a half to realize that I was wrong.

Honey and I took many pictures on Kauai and Oahu of exotic birds, flowers, waterfalls, juice stops, beaches and sunsets. The pictures that amazed me though, were the ones of us together. We were beaming from ear to ear - I had found my match and finally let my guard down.

Yes, some would not support a Jewish-Canadian woman dating a Hindu man. Looking at those pictures, all I could think was how happy we looked.

I believe that love and happiness were colorblind...

As we drove in the rental car through the hills of Kauai, I couldn’t stop thinking about how we could earn his family’s acceptance. I had never met his family. I thought the best way for us to get to know one other was to arrange a dinner as soon as we got back to San Francisco. I wanted to explain to Honey’s parents how happy we were and how we wanted them to be apart of our lives.

Half way through our talk, I noticed a look in Honey’s eyes that I had never seen before. He was very concerned. Getting his parents to accept us was going to take a lot more then one dinner. What advice would you give to battle years of tradition? Do you think that happiness can break through barriers?

Our Love Story: Travel & Quirks

After a lot of excitement and planning, we landed on the Island of Oahu. As soon as the tropical air touched my skin, I felt better and calm. I am sure that Hawaii is my paradise. Then we took a small plane to Kauai. Did I mention that we took a small plane? A small plane. Ah yes! The first test of our new relationship on vacation was getting me on and through the small plane ride. This was going to either make or break us or just break me.

We arrived at the small Hawaiian airport and waited to take our flight surrounded by honeymoon couples and lucky families. We were asked by inquiring minds how long we’ve been married. "One day", we answered.

So Honey had to help me through my quirk of not being afraid to fly. My reward for getting through the flight, was to stay on the most beautiful island of Kauai. I should mention here, that although Honey had never been to Kauai before, he felt he would one day retire there with a house on a beach. The house that he imagined will have invisible bathroom walls so he can still see the beach.

I held his hand tight during the flight and landing and I'm pretty sure I hurt him. At the Kauai airport we successfully found our rental car and drove through the incredible hills and waterfalls to our bed and breakfast. We had a room with a balcony that overlooked the palm trees, swimming pool and flowers.

Ah paradise!

And this is how I discovered my Honey’s quirky love for Costco. Let me explain. The next morning we were really excited about trying the breakfast. The owner of the hotel had put on quite a spread of fruits, cheeses, fresh breads, fresh squeezed orange juice, coffee & tea, flowers from the garden, cereal and croissants. We ate almost everything and then Honey took a bite of his croissant and asked the owner, “Is there a Costco on the Island because these taste just like Costco's croissants.”

The owner seemed a little shocked and replied “Well, yes these croissants came from the local Costco.”

We all started laughing. Little did I know that this was my first true sign of Honey’s Costco obsession. I discovered another quirk when Honey told me he would not sleep in the sun. You know when you are lying in the sun on a beach chair and can hear the crash of the beach waves, feel the shade of a palm tree on your skin and you find yourself drifting off to sleep?

Honey will get up, go back to the hotel room and take a nap.

So I asked him, “I don’t understand. Do you not like the beach? Are you afraid of getting burned? Why don’t you just stay here on the beach and snooze?”

He replied “I like the bed and my covers.”

Learning to travel together can be quite an experience. But with each thing you learn, you get closer and closer. I tell myself, if I wanted someone that does everything exactly like me then I should just date myself. What quirks did you find in your partner? Any deal breakers?

Under the Sheets Q and A Interview

My friend La Belette Rouge has tagged me with some Q and A. I love answering questions as I can pretend that I’m being interviewed. Please feel free to comment and ask me any questions that you may have. Thank you La Belette for thinking of me. Inquiring minds want to know…

Here are the guidelines:
1. Respond and rework. Answer the questions on your blog, replace one question you dislike with a question of your own invention; add a question of your own. 

2. Tag eight other un-tagged people.

What is your current obsession? Cooking is my current obsession. I have committed to only eating out for dinner once or twice a week so I’m enjoying cooking at home.

Good fika place? (That would be coffee to us non-Swedes) There’s a little café near me that serves a free truffle with your coffee. Coffee and a free truffle. I ask you can life get any better then that?

Do you nap a lot? I wish I could. I am a very light sleeper and it takes a lot for me to sleep. It’s a huge sign if I am napping then I do not feel well.

Who was the last person you hugged? Honey.

What’s for dinner? BBQ chicken and ranch salad. I copied it from The Cheesecake Factory. Romaine lettuce, corn, chicken, avocado, black beans, tomatoes, ½ cup of ranch dressing and ½ a cup of BBQ sauce (mix them together). Add fried onion pieces on top of the salad and mix all together.

What was the last thing you bought? I recently bought three very soft, v-neck t-shirts from the GAP. There are such great deals out there right now.

What are you listening to right now? I am listening to Ben Folds Five- One Angry Dwarf.

What is your favorite weather? My favorite kind of weather is 75 degrees. Sunny, blue sky and little wind. I love having sun on my face without over heating. (The Miami heat is not for me or for my hair.)

What’s on your bedside table? Yellow daffodils from Trader Joe’s, apple red digital picture frame, matching apple red lamp, books and candle.

Say something to the person/s who tagged you. La Belette you are so talented and creative. I love reading your thoughts and am excited to read your book soon. Give Lily a hug for us!

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be? Kauai Hawaii. Maybe I'll retire there.

Favourite vacation spot? So far it has to be Brazil. What an amazing place. I wanted to move there!

Name the things you can’t live without. Friends and family, dance and music, MacBook, laughter and Cadbury’s chocolate.

What would you like to have in your hands right now?
The cure to cancer.

What is your favorite tea flavor? I love tea as I was raised English. Earl Grey, Peppermint, Jasmine with green tea and I like bedtime tea.

What would you like to get rid of? My coffee table. I have had it for so long and it’s way to big for the room.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? I would take a ferry ride and go to Sausalito. It’s such a lovely place to stroll around. It has wine galleries, lunch places and it’s only half and hour away. The view of San Francisco from Sausalito is gorgeous.

What did you want to become as a child? A Ballerina or a child psychologist.

Where would you like to be in five years? (This is my question) I would love to have a family, my own business and be published with my own book.

What are you reading right now? Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations.

What's your favorite brand of jeans? Joe's Jeans (me to La Belette and I also like 7 for All Mankind)

What designer piece of clothing would you most like to own (new or vintage)? I like to daydream about wearing a Chloe dress with some of her sunglasses. 

I tag: 3 Bay B Chicks, City of Dionne, Audrey, Cora, Allison M, Maggie May, Kari&Kijsa and Couture Carrie.

Our Love Story: Getting Ready for Hawaii

We parked the car at a lookout point stared at the spectacular view and talked about our exciting trip to Hawaii. Honey suggested extending our trip for a couple of extra days and visit another island. I called my family and best friend right away to tell them the good news. They were excited for us and proud of Honey for his award. This was going to be my first real vacation in years.

During the next 2 and 1/2 months, I accepted a new job at an Advertising Agency. Everything felt like it was starting to turn around for me. During my agency interview, I let my new boss know that I would love to accept the job if it was OK that I leave on a trip in only 3 weeks. He asked me where we were going and then said I could go as long I went without pay. Since the upcoming trip was paid for by honey's company this felt to me like a win win. I got to start a new job and go on a great trip.

* Photo was taken over the islands.

But still the dark cloud over my soon to be umbrella drinks was Honey telling his parents. They were not happy with his decision that he was taking me and so Honey couldn't be completely happy with his award. We made the decision to be honest with them and we didn't want to keep our trip a secret.

In my first 3 weeks of my new job, I had a count down to vacation. I was enjoying my new co-workers and learning about the advertising world. I kept my secret Hawaii adventure secret until we only had three days to go. I confided in an executive assistant 'Tammy' my good news. She was supportive and I made a mental note to bring her back a thank you present.

Not a lot of things are needed to pack for Hawaii. A camera, dress, hat, suntan lotion and a new bathing suit. I really should have packed nothing and bought my necessities there. I wondered where I could find a perfect hula skirt?!

Our trip to Denver had gone well so I wondered how our first real vacation would turn out. We also booked to go to Kauai for 3 days before flying to the Island of Oahu to join the rest of Honey's company. What islands have you been to sweetie?

Our Love Story: Valentine's Day

After arriving home from our trip to Denver, Honey and I settled back into our lives. And then I realized that Valentine's Day was only a couple of weeks away. I was excited to see how our V-day night would go. Honey made the plans and I would have never guessed the surprise he had in store for me.

We went to a lovely Italian restaurant in North Beach. This restaurant was a small, warm and intimate place with less then 15 tables. I remember the owner Bruno coming over to our table and greeting us. They had a Valentine's Day meal planned so all we had to do was choose our wine and settle in for the night.

Honey kept smiling at me through dinner and he seemed to have something that he wanted to say. 'Hmmmm,' I wondered. Did the owner Bruno know what Honey was thinking? Was there something shiny hidden in my dessert?:)

Now before you get all excited honey had a different surprise. ..

Scene: Honey and I talking over the table

Honey, "I have some great news to share with you."

'What is it?' I asked

Honey replied, " I was just given an excellence in service award for work."

'That is wonderful news honey. Congrats!"

'Well," he continued "Each year the awards ceremony is held in different places. The awardees get to bring one guest to the ceremony. It's an all expense paid three day trip. The hotel, food and flight are all included."

"Amazing. I am so happy for you."

And then he said, "I want you to come with me and be my guest."

"I would love to."

"Aren't you going to ask me where the trip is to this year? Will you go with me to Hawaii in May? Happy Valentine's Day."

I gasped and threw my arms around him, "Hawaii are you sure?"

Honey said," Yes and we're going to have a great time."

I was beaming the rest of the night. Saying that I was excited would have been an understatement. After dinner Honey had arranged to show me his favorite view of San Francisco. We got into the car and drove over the Golden Gate Bridge to the Marin Headlands. The Marin Headlands is one of the most common photographs of San Francisco, the view of the city of the Golden Gate Bridge over the fog. The view is a panoramic view of the bay.

We parked the car at a lookout point stared at the spectacular view and talked about our exciting trip to Hawaii. Honey suggested extending our trip for a couple of extra days and visit another island. It was then that some doubt crept into my mind. How would his parent's react to the news that we were going away together to Hawaii? Do you think we would tell them?

South of Spain: Finding Out You're Traveling Alone

Part 1 of 2: There are several things people say that you must do by yourself before settling down in life. Two near the top of the list are living and traveling on your own. I had always wondered what it would be like to do the latter. How safe would it be? Who would I meet? Would my father even let me go? :) I used to read romance novels that talked about the independent woman needing no one except her journal on her travels. I used to read about the affairs she would have with a man that she met on her travels. My traveling alone story, however, is a little different then those...

I first met "Debbie" and "Bobby" while I was with my ex on a cruise to Hawaii. Debbie and Bobby lived in London had been together for many years, but never married. I found it fascinating that they went against societal norms by not marrying. When I met them, Debbie and I seemed to connect right away. She reminded me of my English family. She was cheeky, funny, sarcastic and full of life. After several days of our cruise friendship, she confessed to me that she had lost her mother at my age and I told her I had lost my mother as well. From there we felt like we were kindred spirits. After the cruise, I returned to Los Angeles and Debbie and I became pen pals. For years we exchanged letters and emails between Los Angeles and London. We sent each other birthday gifts and I was so excited when she told me she was pregnant. I also went once to London and spent New Year's with them.

When I broke up with my ex, I was pretty devastated. Debbie started encouraging me to come to Spain to stay with them. Bobby had a condo in the South of Spain. For a long time I thanked her, but I refused her offer. She would say "Come over and stay with us. We'll help you get over him," and other encourgements like "You won't need to pay for lodging," and "It will be really good for you to get away." A year after Debbie had her daughter, I decided that I would come and visit. This was a huge step for me. Traveling all the way to Spain by myself. "When would I get a chance like this again?" I asked myself.

I decided to travel first to London to catch up with a friend. I then flew to Luton airport in Marbella, Spain. (As I was on my way to Spain, this might be a good time to mention that I took French in school and didn't speak Spanish at all. I had to pick it up very quickly). I should have known that something was wrong when I landed in Spain and neither Debbie nor Bobby were at the airport to pick me up. Did I get that the day wrong?

A few kind locals directed me to the bus depot and helped me get my bearings. I got pretty lost with my limited Spanish trying to maneuver the bus system. I remember needing to take three buses and one of those buses also had caged chickens traveling in the seats with the passengers. Finally after days of traveling from Los Angeles to London and then to Spain, I got to a hotel near Elviria and I called Bobby's cell phone. " Oh Laura, sorry we couldn't pick you up. We're at the beach. Are you near?" I couldn't believe it. They didn't leave the beach to come and pick me up from the airport. "Did I miss something?" I asked myself.

Bobby came and met me at the hotel. He took me to see Debbie who was sitting on the beach near the hotel with their daughter. I had traveled half way around the world and they were sitting on the beach? When I saw her, it hit me. I knew things had changed. Debbie was no longer my bubbly friend, but seemed down/depressed and had gained a lot of weight. Not the five or ten pounds that we all gain, but a lot of weight. I hardly recognized her at first. She kept looking at me up and down and commenting about my weight. I should have known then that I was in trouble.

What would you have done if you were in my shoes? Stay tuned for final part of the story on Sunday 1/18/09...

* (I took the picture above in the early morning when I visited the markets in Mijas which is known as a white village. I loved how the light fell over the man sweeping the already clean street.)

Where Should I Travel to Next Poll: The Greek Islands

One of my passions in life is to travel. I was bit by the travel bug six years ago when I ended up traveling in the south of Spain by myself (I wasn't supposed to travel alone and believe me that it was a tough and wonderful trip when my friends left me). In the last two years, I've also traveled to Hawaii, Seattle, and Brazil, all very beautiful places in their own special way.

For the past two months, I have asked you to vote on where you think I should travel to next in the world. The places that you got to chose from were Italy, The Greek Islands, Australia, Costa Rice and Zurich. Twenty-two of my fabulous readers for Under The Sheets-Shhh voted and chose...drum roll please... The Greek Islands. I would be very lucky to be able to go and visit any of these places on the list, but was thrilled to see that you chose the Greek Islands.

I fell in love with one of the islands, Santorini, several years ago through a pastry chef friend of mine. She had just returned to San Francisco from a trip to Santorini with her family. She fell in love with the island. She had fallen in love so much that she wanted to recreate some of the desserts that she had tried and bring them to the San Francisco restaurant that she was working at. I felt drawn to her holiday pictures and even put one of them up at on my cubicle at work. Each time I gazed at the picture of Santorini, I started day dreaming of what it would be like to visit there and to see Greece.

The Greek Islands are a collection of over 6,000 islands and islets that belong to Greece. Only 227 of the islands are inhabited, and only 78 of those have more than 100 inhabitants. Out of all of the islands I have wanted to visit the island of Santorini for its natural beauty, architecture and warm people. Santorini is home of a small, but flourishing wine industry due to the islands special grape varieties. Another very interesting fact is that this island is the site of the most active volcanic eruptions in the world. The volcano which last erupted in 1956, is currently "asleep" and could erupt again at any time.

Most of the Santorini houses are built into the hills of the islands and overlook the water which gives the most amazing views and even more amazing sunsets. This island seems to have an diverse mixture of boutiques, wineries, and galleries. It also has a prehistoric museum, plenty of white sand beaches, amazing music and food. And the food... Ahhh close your eyes and imagine the food. The food is combination of all of the different cultures and people that have inhabited the island. Fish is served throughout, there was a cherry tomato conference on the island in 2002 and I've read that Santorini serves a heavenly ice cream with rose petals.

This island also seems to be a photographers dream. Each photograph paints the picture of this hidden gem of an island. The photos show the contrasts of color between the radiant blue of the ocean, the bright white walls of the buildings and reddish-pink petals of the flowers.

I can see myself exploring the island and needing only to carry my digital camera, straw hat, sun tan lotion, and some money for the entire day. I can also see Santorini as one of the most romantic honeymoon getaways. A couple must feel like they are lost on a paradise island, especially after the stress of a wedding.

So while I save my pennies to visit this island, I will settle for going to our local Myconos Greek Restaurant on Polk Street here in San Francisco. The restaurant walls are covered with pictures of different Greek Islands. The house specialty is dolmades (rice and herbed stuffed grapes leaves), Spanakopita (spinach and fresh herbs rolled in filo pastry oven baked, topped with feta cheese) and lovely wine.

I hope to one day be one of the lucky ones to see such beauty. Thank you for voting. What I should I poll you on next? Have you ever been to the Greek Islands? If not, would you now like to visit Santorini?