I truly can’t believe September is over. It was a busy month in a lot of ways, so I feel like it flew by. Work was hectic so I didn’t have much time to write this month, but I did manage to squeeze in one last summer trip.
There aren’t many places left that are considered safe for us to visit, so I thought we were done with travel for the year. But my husband and I ended up booking a weekend in Sicily last minute. Italy has good COVID policies, and we had some friends who were going to be there for a few days. Plus it was the weekend before my husband’s birthday, so it ended up working out perfectly!
We picked a smaller town called Taormina (travel guide coming soon!), knowing it would be less crowded. The airports were more empty than they were in August when we went to Greece, and they had mandatory temperature checks before boarding the plane.
To be honest, I felt more safe in Italy because of the compulsory mask wearing inside. The Netherlands only just started “encouraging” masks, and people haven’t been great about social distancing. They did just announce new rules (including a limit of 3 guests at your home) and even prison time as a consequence. So hopefully we’ll be able to get control over our rising new cases here. I will definitely be hunkering down for a while in NL – which means lots of cozy fall evenings at home, and (hopefully) more time to write. So here’s the latest on what I loved in October!
xx,
Mercedes
What I’m eating: pasta, pasta, pasta
If you follow me on Instagram, you probably saw my carb overload while we were in Italy. Italian food is my favorite cuisine – I would eat cheese, pasta, and bread for every meal if I could. Sicily is famous for pasta alla Norma, which is delicious (and vegetarian friendly). This is the best recipe for pasta alla Norma. I prefer to use penne or rigatoni, and I would recommend getting fresh pasta if you can – tag me on Instagram if you end up making it!
What I’m wearing: silk ribbons
I post a LOT about my favorite silk brand on Etsy. Their silk face masks & makeup remover pads are two of my travel essentials. This silk ribbon is my newest favorite, and I wore it all during our trip to Italy. It’s always great supporting a small business, so I recommend her Etsy page if you need any hair accessories. And check out my favorite fall fashion trends for more on what I’m wearing!
What I’m using: Olaplex
With the travel we’ve been doing combined with the hard water in Amsterdam, I’ve had a ton of hair breakage. I’ve gotten professional Olaplex treatments for a long time, but just started using their line of haircare products and it’s doing WONDERS. The scent is fantastic, and my favorite item is the bond smoother. They have this travel set (EU link here) that’s perfect if you want to try them out.
What I’m listening to: this wine podcast
Just before heading out to Italy, my friend sent me this Sicilian episode of Wine for Normal People. I’ve been really interested in learning more about wine, so I’m trying to listen to at least one episode per week.
What I’m doing: working off that pasta
Just because it’s sweater weather for the next several months here in Amsterdam doesn’t mean it’s time to give up on working out. My favorite way to work out in the morning is a 15-20 minute HIIT routine. I love that it’s quick but super effective at burning calories for the rest of the day. I usually do my own variation, but I also really like Natacha Océane’s HIIT videos.
And that’s it for this month – leave me a comment below and let me know if you try any of my favorites!
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