Speak your Truth. Follow your Purpose. Be your Dream; Live in the knowing of now and create your life passionately ~ Nicole Ciccarelli
Author: Nicole Ciccarelli
I speak my truth through means of this artistic expression. I write with the intention of bringing thought-provoking musings through profound soul-searching and questions. A lifestyle site with topics ranging from travel, anecdotal thoughts, health, meditation, yoga, economics, environment and esoteric teachings.
I want to preface this with of course being pregnant one should be taking their prenatal vitamins with methylated folate (not folic acid), EPA and DHA and getting enough iron and choline.
I will do a separate post on foods and more!
Having taken most of the 5 I’m stating for years before conceiving, it’s in my opinion that these I’ve listed are less known yet vital to building blocks for baby and mama’s health and well being.
𝐈𝐎𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐄- There are many ways to get Iodine, some of the major ways are seaweed, fish, dairy, eggs, chicken and more. I take a supplement daily which helps with my energy as well. Ingesting Iodine before and during pregnancy is associated with higher IQ and health for baby.
𝐑𝐄𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐈- A mushroom that is beneficial for the immune system and energy levels, in Taoism and TCM they are one of the most beneficial mushrooms to take and there is a term “Reishi Babies” for the calm and centered babies whose mama’s took Reishi while pregnant. Can be taken many ways including as a tea.
𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐍- A building block for mama and baby, building skin, bones and cartilage along with placenta building and full of vitamins. There are many ways to get collagen, from Marine collagen, to collagen peptides to Bone Broth (I make mine homemade but you can buy at the store too!)
𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐁𝐈𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐒- Mama’s microbiome has a direct relationship with baby’s microbiome which is formed in utero. The microbiome is the gut health and determines baby’s mood, health and more! So give that baby and yourself all the good bugs you can. There are many sources of probiotics, I love raw milk kefir and sauerkraut, along with taking a supplement and drinking probiotic rich drinks.
𝐂𝐎𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐔𝐓 𝐎𝐈𝐋 & 𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐒- I add virgin coconut oil to my coffee or tea daily and notice an increase in energy. It helps combat morning sickness and is good for the skin and so much more! Avocados have a similar effect and eating 1/2- 1 a day feels nourishing to the body and baby.
If you’re a stay-at-home parent, you may be looking for ways to earn a little extra money. You don’t have to turn to direct sales or sell all your possessions on eBay. There are plenty of service-based businesses where you don’t have to keep any inventory but can earn a little extra cash.
Service-Based Business Ideas
Some of the simplest businesses to begin are service-based. Getting started generally requires very little investment, though you may need additional training, certifications, or classwork if your new field requires licensing. Here are several ideas as well as some benefits of these industries.
• Virtual Assistant. Many business owners need a hand getting all their administrative tasks done but don’t want to hire a secretary. As a virtual assistant, you’re an independent contractor taking on tasks for business owners, such as sending out marketing messages, making calls, or scheduling appointments. This can all be done from your own home office.
• Pet Sitting. When people go out of town, they often need someone to care for their pets. You can do this from your home or stop in at theirs. The position generally includes feeding and watering the animals, spending some quality time, and maybe walking dogs. Some entrepreneurs pair pet sitting with house sitting services as well, staying at someone’s house while they’re out of town and making sure everything is taken care of until their return.
• Bookkeeper. If your math skills are on point, you may be able to help other business owners keep track of their finances. This is an essential part of any business, though many owners avoid it. With new businesses opening all the time, this service is always in demand.
Getting Started
No matter which type of business you choose, you must do several things before getting started.
• Begin with funding. Do you need supplies to start this business? Are you paying out-of-pocket for them or looking for a small business loan? Many states and cities, including Los Angeles, have grants and other programs for those starting small businesses.
• Choose a business structure. While many individuals opt for a sole proprietorship, starting a limited liability company (LLC) has many real benefits. You limit personal financial responsibility, have several business-related tax advantages, and still retain all ownership and rights to your business. Each state has its own rules and procedures for setting up an LLC, so check the specifics for California. You can form an LLC on your own or use some of those start-up funds to hire a service to do all the legwork for you.
• Designate a workspace. While some of these business ideas involve you working in a dedicated space outside the home, many can be performed right from your own house. However, it’s important to have a separate area in your home for business operations. It makes it much simpler to focus on work tasks and can potentially provide tax write-offs.
Make Your Small Business Dreams Come True
Starting your own business can be the solution to a million problems and a great blessing for your family. If you need help manifesting your dreams, reach out to Nicole Ciccarelli for help and guidance. A fellow small business owner, she specializes in unlocking your energy to achieve your purpose.
After several years of posting very little and being immersed in new mom and pandemic life, I am back to share with you in a new way. I am re-creating the experience of this site to share information tailored to decades of childcare and nannying experience, along with years of intuitive travel and adventure, coupled with all the knowledge I’ve experientially gained in the health and healing, wellness and meditation, farm to table cooking arenas. My goal is to be posting more with practical guidance and tips.
My intention is to also feature other writers in the mom, mindfulness, travel and adventure, health and parenting realm, so feel free to reach out to me with articles.
As promised on my Instagram, which for whatever reason is not linking to this site, @nicole_astara I am here with travel tips with little ones.
I have flown with my 2.5 year old son 18 times to date, most of them have been just he and I flying. I’ve found flying, for the most part, has been smooth and effortless, besides our most recent flight where he vomited all over me. It is important to have a checklist either in your mind or written out of what needs to take place.
Here are tips that I have found to be extremely helpful:
1. If it’s an afternoon flight, keep the child or baby up so they’re tired for the flight and nap on the plane.
2. Have them drink from a bottle, sippy cup, pacifier or nurse going up and coming down to help their ears pop and adjust.
3. Bring books, snacks and simple activities or a device to plug headphones into for music or movies in flight.
4. If there is a long layover or delay before the flight takes off, have them run around and burn energy at the airport so they are not as restless on the plane.
5. If you need quiet space to decompress with your little one, nursing pods are a great option along with chapels or contemplation rooms which most airports have.
6. Bring a stroller and check it at the gate at each airport, I find it so helpful to cruise around in it, if we are in a hurry, for eating and if he’s walked a lot. It’s also great to put the carryons in the bottom.
7. If you’re traveling alone with a child use the skycap if available for departures, and for baggage claim, get a cart and stack the baggage and you can put the car seat on top.
Hope these help and feel free to ask any more questions regarding traveling with children.
I started this blog 10 years ago to the day. On 1/11/11 and posted my first post at 1:11. Purposefully.
As an advocate for activism and change in the world, carving out this little niche for myself to have expression, felt right at the time. I was unaware of what a blog was, what it entailed and thought my first few posts would be the culmination of my blogging.
In reflection of where I’ve come and where the world has come over the past 10 years, I’m amazed. This blog saw me through my activism, occupy movement, standing up to corporate corruption, musings, meditations, health tips, living in Detroit, Chicago and LA, the 26 countries I’ve traveled to and lastly finding love and starting a family.
While I don’t write as much here, if at all anymore, I keep my writing here as a reflection. Much of what I wrote years ago is relevant to now and what we are facing as a collective.
A dream would be to see the people of our planet, United as a front, especially right now in our country. There are so many ideologies and differences separating and the oligarch tech monopolies and corporations are very purposeful in that; it is a divide and conquer strategy.
Left vs Right
Us vs Them
Masker vs Anti-Masker
Vaxxer vs Anti-Vaxxer
Rich vs Poor
This list could go on. The point I’m making is that divided, we will fall. It’s messed up right now in our country. People are fighting, creating more rifts of separation and stuck in viewpoints that are like tunnel vision. I’ve seen this along the gamut, the extreme on all sides. I wonder if having more discussions collectively to get to the root of our issues could help solve some of the problems plaguing our country.
I think now, more than ever, is the time for everyone to sit at the round table and have their say with the talking stick, uninterrupted. Not just ego based, but from the heart and see where that could lead.
The corruption, deception, greed and divide and conquer strategies MUST end.
It is time to claim self sovereignty and for those who can, to step up and into their power. The time is now to be lead by those who are more enlightened and advanced, leading us into conscious and heart based advancement as a race, being the caretakers of this beautiful planet we inhabit. I fear for our demise if not.
Holding peace, space and love for all those adversely affected by current circumstances.
Preparing for a baby can be an incredibly stressful and expensive process. After all, there’s just so much stuff to buy! Or is there? Having a baby changes your life in so many wonderful ways, but it doesn’t have to drain your savings. From buying used baby supplies to having a home birth, there are many great ways to keep your spending in check while you prepare for the arrival of your little one.
Buy Used Whenever Possible
Buying used is the best way to stretch your baby budget. Shop around in thrift shops, buy gently used items online, or ask around in your mom circles to find parents willing to part with their old baby supplies. Most baby items are generally safe to buy used, including changing tables, baby monitors, baby bathtubs, toys, and clothing. That said, there are a few things you should always purchase new, including a crib, car seat, and stroller.
Pack a Budget-Friendly Hospital Bag
As your delivery date draws closer, you’re probably thinking about what you’ll need to pack in your hospital bag. Keep it simple and try to stick with essential must-haves. You don’t want to haul around a huge bag stuffed with expensive items you won’t end up using. Some clothing items that are worth bringing to the hospital include a delivery gown, nursing pajamas, slippers, nursing pads, a nursing bra, and some comfortable maternity clothing that you can wear on your ride home from the hospital. And don’t forget to pack your phone charger!
Assess Your Health Insurance
Long before your baby’s due date, take the time to go over your health insurance. While all health insurance plans must cover pregnancy and maternity care, there are a few exceptions. For example, if you’re still using your parents’ healthcare plan, their plan will not cover your delivery and newborn care. Also, make sure you understand the deductibles, copays, and co-insurance costs associated with your plan. Without insurance, most parents can expect to pay between $5,000 to $11,000 for a normal delivery in a hospital, according to SmartAsset.
Consider a Home Birth
A home birth could be a great option for moms-to-be without health insurance. According to Money Crashers, a typical home birth costs between $1,500 and $5,000 — at least half that of hospital birth. A home birth will also give you more freedom and control over your birth plan. Unfortunately, most states do not require health insurance plans to cover home births, so you should be prepared to pay out-of-pocket regardless. The hope is that future health insurance plans will evolve to cover easier and healthier birthing options, like midwifery services and home births.
Maintain Your Self-Care Routine
Whether you decide on a home or hospital birth, keeping yourself healthy and happy during your pregnancy will have a very positive impact on your birthing experience. Maintaining a healthy pregnancy is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of complications during birth, which can be both dangerous and expensive. Make sure you’re getting all the nutrition you and your baby need, especially calcium, iron, and folate. Regular exercise is also important.
If you have room in your budget, consider hiring a doula. While doulas can be pricey, think of it as an investment. Having a doula with you during labor and delivery will help you keep your stress levels low, shortening the duration of your labor and reducing your risk of expensive complications. Women who have the support of a doula are also less likely to need medical interventions like c-sections or epidurals.
You can spend a lot of money preparing for the birth of your child, but you don’t have to. You need very little to welcome a newborn into the world. Whether you decide to have a home birth or hire a doula to be with you in the hospital, make sure you choose a birth plan that will keep you calm and comfortable. And if you need more tips on health and wellness, check out the resources on Nicole Ciccarelli’s website!
For more articles and helpful tips on all around mom life check out Emily Graham at mightymoms.net
A quick post to give 6 simple health measure to take amidst the Coronavirus.
Other than the obvious of washing your hands and not spreading bodily fluids and covering the mouth when you cough.
This post is 6 simple things you can do to reinforce your immune system against threat of the Coronavirus.
First of all, do not allow yourself to go into panic or fear, that attacks the amygdala and puts the body into fight or flight response, which lowers your immune function.
Also, eating plant based and protein based foods will keep you in better health. Here are some supplements, foods and info to boost the immune system to naturally guard yourself.
VITAMIN C
Vitally important. Taking 1,500 to 2,000 Mg a day can greatly improve your immune function. Eating foods high in vit c like oranges and kiwi are beneficial.
VITAMIN D
Affects key cells of the immune system. Taking 40-80 iu a day can boost the immune system or eating foods like eggs, fish, cereals, nut and soy milks, mushrooms and more.
MUSHROOMS
There are many that have been touted as immune boosters. These include Shiitake, Reishi, Maitake, Cordyceps, Lion’s Mane and more. You can find in capsule form, or make a tea from the dried form, or cook with them for delicious mushroom rich dishes.
TURMERIC
Taken in conjunction with bioperine (black pepper) it is an immune booster that is also an anti-inflammatory. You can find it as a spice to cook with, make golden milk with it or take it in capsule form.
REST and WATER
Get plenty of rest and hydration. Both of which reduce oxidative stress which can lead to lower immune response.
EXERCISE and BREATHING
Boosting the body’s oxygen intake can greatly improve the immune function. Exercising and moving the body along with taking deep, oxygen rich breaths are important. You can also take deep, purifying breaths in, imagining the body carrying the oxygen (or light) into all of your cells, and on the out breath releasing any stress, fear or negativity your body, organs, cells and being is carrying.
As a child I had an intense fascination with all things Egyptian. Eternal life and traversing the afterlife through mummification was an obsession to my 8-year-old mind. The mythology bespoke of eternal life, gods and goddesses that held ancient secrets to a way of life. Needless to say, that fascination has stayed with me through the decades.
I had many opportunities to go to Egypt throughout the years, but all of them fell through and didn’t feel right. This all women’s pilgrimage through the mythological, spiritual and ancient sites almost fell in my lap, it was as though the universe aligned opportunities to prompt me to take this life altering journey.
And so it began.
CAIRO
Arriving to Cairo after a 21 hour flight, including the layover had me excited for this group trip, there were 9 of us all together. My inclination other than my trip with my beloved last year is to travel alone, so being in group was a completely new experience for me. I have been part of many women circles over the past ten years, I was looking forward to this new experience. The trip was led by the embodied Goddesses and brilliant astrologer Divine Harmony divineharmony.com and powerful somatic healer Sarah Grace, both of whom I resonated deeply with before choosing to go. I could feel there was a profound activation of energy that would occur.
Photo by Divine Harmony
We stayed at the Le Meridian Pyramid with a stunning view of the pyramids outside in the massive pool area. It was amazing and the busiest hotel I’ve ever been to. After we all met one another, we started our adventure. Our first days in Egypt were mind blowing, integrating into Egyptian culture, astounded by what our experiences entailed.
We were taught esoteric and Goddess mythology teachings from an extremely knowledgeable and charismatic woman named Katy, originally from London who now lives in Cairo. Her home and family were a place of good energy, community, love with a backdrop of the pyramids. We felt taken care of from a local standpoint in her space and the homemade food we had there was out of this world~ scrumptious, mouth-watering amazingness. At Katy’s we delved deep into the Egyptian mysteries with her before venturing into the desert by camel and horseback to visit the pyramids to cross our threshold of what the trip held for each of us individually.
As we came through the desert by camel, seeing the pyramids in the distance was breathtaking, it felt surreal and other worldly, I couldn’t help staring in complete astonishment. We went to sacred ancient temples in the desert by horseback and learned more about the ancient ways of Egypt. Much of what we did was so sacred that I am glazing over how deep, transformative and life-changing it was because sometimes there are no words.
On our last night in Cairo, before leaving to Luxor, we had a private in the middle pyramid for two hours. Meaning it was just us in there, exploring the inner chambers and sitting in sacred space. We were in meditation and the energy inside was ethereal. The meditations and ceremonies we did in there were so sacred, again no words can encapsulate the power of what was derived. I will leave you with the notion that anyone can tune into these energy frequencies and heightened awareness with the right intention and guidance. I now feel more connected to the divine feminine, carrying the energy forward into my life.
LUXOR
We took a quick flight to Luxor where we were told it was much quieter than busy Cairo, and it was the perfect juxtaposition. It looked and felt more tropical and lush as we drove along the nourishing Nile. It’s flowing, freeing and purifying waters spoke of the fluidity of the healing process we were all within, it almost seemed to whisper “wash away all that no longer serves to step into your new place, new life, re-birthed within the lands of Kemet (ancient name for Egypt).”
We stayed at Ville Jolie which was on an island along the Nile, a piece of paradise. It was a luscious reprise where a cacophony of nature sounds enticed me to stay on the grass, hang out with the trees, swim in the infinity pool, follow my heart and do what it pleased.
In Luxor we visited many ancient temples. The first was Mut, which was quiet and we wandered and ground into the energy. Statues lined the temple of Mut, who is the mother Goddess. The waters were so sacred surrounding the temple. I saw so many faces of the statues bashed in from when the Christians came during the empirical rule and defaced the statues, it was sad and disturbing how many temples were desecrated in the name of God. It’s hypocritical that death and destruction happen because of the religious superiority we’ve seen played out for so many millennia.
Karnak is the largest temple in the world at 61 acres and even after 4,000 years its massive pillars and statues are astounding, with colors still on some hieroglyphs. I could spend days exploring the nuanced intricacies. Once can only surmise what happened within the ancient temple, which boggles the mind. We walked around and visited many places dedicated to different Egyptian dieties.
We visited Abydos, the oldest temple in Egypt that was said to hold Osiris’ heart in the Osirion. This temple was dedicated to healing and there were healing chambers in it where the energy was powerful and felt all-pervasive.
Dendera was also massively impressive. A temple built to honor Hathor, the goddess of love. Again it was sad to see all the faces bashed in, but walking around in the ancient crypts and spaces was outstanding. How? was a question I constantly found myself asking in awe, looking at the hieroglyphs and perfect symmetry.
Valley of The Queens and Kings
We first visited Nefertari’s tomb, which was in the Valley of the Queen’s. As Ramses’ wife, she was one of the most revered queens throughout Egyptian history. Inside it was a preserved menagerie of beautiful paintings and hieroglyphs depicting various scenes of beautiful queen and goddesses for her journey into the afterlife. The colors were so vivid even after 5,000 years. The energy was intensely heart based, like waves of love emanated from her tomb.
We then went to the much busier side to The Valley of the Kings where there were many tombs for the pharaohs. The King’s tombs were ornate and some when deep into the mountainside, we visited three tombs as a group and my roomie who I has such a deep affinity for and I visited King tut’s tomb.
A nice treat to our time in Luxor was going on a hot air balloon ride. It was a floaty, dreamy time and beautiful watching the sunrise. It was such a lovely experience landing in the fertile lands of the farmlands along the Nile.
ASWAN
We took a bus to Aswan, which had a completely different feel to it. It felt like a vortex of energy. I decided to go on the optional trip to Abu Simbel which took 3 hours to get there and seeing the sunrise in the desert was remarkable. There were four of us on this trip and once there it became apparent that Abu Simbel was very touristy. We had been spoiled in seeing ancient places that we were able to explore without the hustle of a lot of tourists so this was a bit overwhelming for me.
Abu Simbel was great, I’m glad I went but I found it to be too touristy. Especially the first temple dedicated to Ramses. The other one dedicated to Nefertari seemed much less busy, again, like the Valleys. More to our enjoyment.
On our last day in Aswan before heading back to Cairo we visited the Temple of Philae. This temple was moved when the dam was built, yet still carried so much beauty walking amongst it. It held such rapture along the waters. We meditated around the holiest of holies and visited the different areas. There was much that came to me there about the suppression, domination and control of the feminine and how harmful it has been to all of us humans over the millenia.
I stand in knowing that the feminine is coming back into power and that we as a race will rise back into honoring her and her many forms. Tears flowed down my cheeks for the suffering so many have endured and are enduring. I felt the pain of so many women who have walked before me who had no voice to object mistreatment, urging me to step into my power as so many women are right now. We as women, we as humans, we as beings on this planet persist and the shift is taking place for us to step up again and not allow the mistreatment of our race, creatures and planet any longer.
Love overcomes all is what I kept hearing.
CAIRO
Our last day in Cairo we visited the great pyramid and again had a two hour private where we were able to hold space in the chambers. The pyramids felt like energetic portals to other times, dimensions, worlds and galaxies. We were exceptionally fortunate to have privates in both pyramids. I’d say it was divinely guided. We held sacred space in the chambers and afterwards watched the sunrise while sitting on the pyramids. I went through a death of self into reweaving, rebirth and reclaiming the power that resides within and the strength to use it for the highest good.
Us SiStar women had bonded so much on the trip, it felt like a reunion and recognition from the different lives we lead. Each one of us adding our essence of self. Leaving was sad yet we were all so grateful to have experienced the profundity of what we did. Grateful for the teachings from our incredible facilitators, that were so well versed, divine and planned out. There was so much knowledge and teachings we embodied with our classes sight seeings and outings and I’m still integrating the power of what was uncovered with shifts in my perception of who I am in relation to this planet.
The trip was an honoring of the sacred, the divine, the seekers truth that resides within. An alchemy of spirit with matter, in a group that changed my life. While it’s engrained in our society to look outside of self for sustenance, it is only uncovered within the self, the deep unlayering and unraveling to bring one back to remembering source and all its facets played out in life.
xo,
Nicole
Many of the photos are from Divine Harmony from the trip. You can check out her Instagram @divineharmony and for information on the next Egypt pilgrimage check out her website at divineharmony.com
This is a bit of a philosophical exploration yet it wanted to be written.
In the Allegory of The Cave, from Republic by Plato, prisoners are chained their whole lives, watching on the wall in front of them what looks to be real life, which is in fact shadows on the wall.
The shadows are illuminated due to the fire behind them, people walking around, where actual life is happening inside and outside the cave which the prisoners can’t see. They have even given the shadows and life they perceive names but do not know that they’re imprisoned, nor wish to leave this imprisonment because they cannot grasp it.
One of these prisoners breaks free and is lead to see what the shadows from the fire behind them were and out of the cave. Blinded by the light of the sun, seeing that everything he had thought prior was actually a distortion of what was real.
When he tried to go back down to the prisoners to explain what he understood as their shadow play, they would not believe him nor could they, for they had been chained their whole lives.
Now, I want you to think what the enlightening moment of clarity would be like as the one who came out of the cave, eyes hurting and unable to see to then have awareness of the whole of reality.
To give up all the ideas conceived while in the darkness, chained to an idea of truth that was a shadow of what was real.
And waking up from that, into the illuminated dazzling light of truth, different from what was perceived. How would that be?
Then trying to bring back the information to those still in chains to his own detriment because he was not believed.
Now to take it to a collective and epistemological level. Perhaps what we view through our individual lenses of experience are these shadows on the wall, formed from subconscious and group conscious agreements; this is how reality is designed.
Social conditions and norms could almost be considered the shadow play, ones we are born into and weren’t given a choice about with how our society and world is set up. Ie. think right, act right, do right and be right and you will attain abc or xyz. If you’re this (think any label) you will act and do of accord of this (generalization).
Do you think the chains of an imposed reality structure come from how we have to assess what our brains are taking in to understand our individual life and consciousness?
Think about the prisoner who came back to the cave to try to explain, how often does that happen, when something is so outlandish that it’s not believed and is shuffled away as a disillusion? Many of the genius minds that came before us were the ones who “saw the light” and visionaries trailblazing a new path unseen before then.
In the allegory I see the sunlight and real life as one coming into enlightenment and clarity. Those profound times when the AHA moment comes about and self realization, which is a constant work in progress, is at a moment of zenith.
When these moments of pure clarity within the light of realization come about, is it not pure bliss and a realization of the interconnectedness of all things?
This allegory could also relate to the ego and its imprisonments vs the pervasive superconsciousness.
Given what we deal with on a day to day basis with so much bombarding us, it’s hard to discern and decipher what we believe as our inward truth. Not truth because someone told you it is a truth, truth because the core of your being resonates deeply with it. It’s up to us individually and collectively to break the chains.
Metaphorically, I feel the chains when giving credence to ideas and truths that don’t resonate within and the numbing of my ego and its distractions that distance me from my well of depth, mind, soul and creative work, which is in the present reality. Life is lived, change is inevitable, an ever flowing, always evolving moment. Which when stuck, needs the sunlight of consciousness and focus to guide it forward.
Do you in any way feel chained to the cave?
How does it feel in the moments of clarity and awakening in the glaring, dazzling light of self-realization?
While London felt like home and Paris was a sweet interlude, Italy topped our trip off and Capri and the Amalfi coast were the favorite parts of our overseas adventure.
CAPRI
We arrived by ferry from Naples. Immediately we noticed the flowing and beautiful Italian language, picking up on words here and there from knowing bits of it. We also noted the bouncy, affable and confident flow to the Italian way. One that suits our personalities, sharing, caring yet assertive.
Our ferry ride to Capri was about an hour, in a storm and choppy waters with rainbows guiding the way. Once in Capri we found it difficult to get a taxi, in torrential downpours we decided to share one with two guys who happened to be going to the same, Hotel San Michel, for a wedding.
The roads up felt precarioulsy close to the edge, like a thrilling adrenaline rush. The driver wound with expertise into Anacapri. It looked surreal with colorful homes dotting the hills. We arrived to our hotel, which was nestled up on a cliff and walked out of our hotel room to a huge patio with this. Needless to say we didn’t want to leave this paradise.
The first night there was an Italian couples’ wedding with about 75 people. After dinner we heard the music up in our room, so we decided to crash the wedding party and went down to see it hopping with a rambuctious crowd that we assimilated into. We were the Americans that were a bit out of place. After about 10-15 minutes of hanging with this party all the lights in the hotel went out. Music stopped and everyone was left mingling about. This is where we took our leave and went walking through Anacapri. For being a small island there were many people out in the squares.
While visiting, we explored Capri by hiking its trails and walking through the main centers of Capri and Anacapri. We ate delicious fresh food sitting outside, enjoying the balmy nights. Feeling serenaded by the magnificent views and tastes of Capri.
We met a couple at our hotel pool and hung with them for the day, having fun sharing travel stories and finding new things to do. We had been up in the air of where to stay next, from Positano, to Amalfi and with the suggestion of our new friends we decided on Maiori.
We visited the Blue Grotto. Which has a line that winds down the mountain. We thought this somewhat pricey tour would at least give us a while in the grotto, but to our surprise we were rowed in, went around a stunning blue cave, sparkling with unreal colors, to be rowed right back out. I’d say it was 4 minutes or less.
AMALFI COAST TO MAIORI
We took the ferry to Positano because of a storm. This added several hours to our trip, but the views of the coast we wouldn’t have seen otherwise given our time there. We took the bus, again winding precariously along the high cliffs that at times felt unnerving.
The fresh ocean air was intoxicating and invigorating, smelling of salt with slippery winds. We drove through Positano and Sorrento into Amalfi. The views were absolutely breathtaking along the coast.
We arrived to Maiori and walking through the square, it felt almost empty, which was a sweet relief from the bustling touristy areas that we had been in. People there did not speak english as much, so we made due with the little Italian I knew.
We had the best food we’ve ever eaten in our lives in Maiori at Mammato dal 1890. An unassuming restaurant that knocked our socks off. While all the food we ate in Italy was out of this world, this place was mouthwatering. We had fish baked in sea salt, mussels and seafood fresh from the sea in pasta dishes that melted in the mouth. Savory, rich and addictive with flavors bursting of simple spices, fresh cream and tomatoes.
We delightfully porked out into a food coma and were so impressed we decided to give our sentiments to the cook. We stopped in the kitchen to find the chef, a little lady, about 70, who we were interpreted to that her restaurant’s recipes had been handed down from her family members for many generations.
We went to the place across the street the next night and were immensely impressed with the food there as well. Ahhh Maiori, you captured our tastebuds fancy.
We spent our last day exploring Amalfi. It just so happened it was the first storm in the area for the past several months. We were not dismayed and still enjoyed our time exploring the shops and cafes of Amalfi.
The next morning we had to jump on a bus to get to the train station in Salerno to make our train to Rome, the last stop on our Italy trip. What we weren’t prepared for was how packed the buses coming from Amalfi were. We waited for two which were already full to then, luckily, share a cab with a lovely woman from Toronto who also lived in Italy. With her angelic help, we made our train just in time.
xo,
Nicole
Apologies for the delay in my travel writing, which happened in September. There has been a bustle of new activity which I’ll share, along with a creative block, which feels like it has (finally) dissolved. I’ll be back with our trip to Rome and Stockholm.
Giving is a blessing and for this birthday of mine, even if my bank account at the moment doesn’t reflect a lot ( in between jobs) I still have so much I can give, on little to no budget.
Wealth is also a state of being. I decided to go and Do Good for my birthday and pay it forward. I think I may have started my new birthday tradition.
By giving I receive knowing someone is affected in a positive way. I like to think it’s a balance to all of the negatives that we are bombarded with on a daily basis.
I gave my birthday number (perpetually 25 😉)good deeds today.
Some of the highlights of what I did were:
Making organic (except the cheezits) lunches with little “You are loved” notes and driving around finding hungry or homeless people to give them to. The rate of homeless people in LA is very high.
Dropping off clothes and supplies like shampoo, deodorant, clothes and socks to a women’s shelter.
I paid for someone’s bus fare.
Spending time with several people at a nursing home, hearing stories that were fascinating. Including one of a well known singer who was married to another very well known singer. Her words of advice “If you’re happy or unhappy you’ve got to express that as a free human being”. She said I looked like a teenager. Nice birthday sentiment 😉
Another lovely woman, shared her story about her family and living in Chicago. She assured me I would be successful. Fingers crossed.
I normally wouldn’t highlight good deeds I’ve done, but this is intentional because I want to challenge you to pay it forward and do a good deed for someone. It doesn’t take money to do good, sometimes just being present to someone who is in need of company is all that is needed.
Giving nourishes the soul. Get creative and share if you’d like.
xo,
Nicole
I’ll be back with our amazing time in Capri and Amalfi, better late than never. 😉
Purpose and Dream 