NeroDoro, passion and determination always pay or…volere e’ potere!

Carolina and I have known each other since I got to the States and I established my life in New York. We have seen each other almost every day at the restaurant where we used to work together. It was nice to have found someone who knew the city and the people here so well. Carolina is an interesting mix of cultures, born in Switzerland, from Italian parents (one from the north and one from the south, which is always a great mix!), lived in Geneva and then moved to New York about 15 years ago. Hard to say which is her first language as she speaks French, Italian and English all at the same level.
We are very different, Carolina and I, but our relationship soon became a successful one, especially at work. Same neatness, same anal way of doing certain things, same “obsession” for organized things and well written papers
To make a long story short, we ended up being each other right hand at work for almost two years. That is when Carolina also became a great friend, one of the very few real ones I made in New York, a bit social-dry city that it is.
I was amazed by how we have always managed to work together every day without arguing on anything. I am sure the reason why is because we were constantly ready to understand each other need and way of thinking, and we were always willing to listen to what the other had to say. She is just the perfect partner!
The reason for all these words I am writing today is because in the past year I experienced something unique, I saw my friend getting up with pride and strength after someone tried to push her down. I saw her determination and passion gathered together into one single project: having her own business!
And today, after some many questions, doubts, uncertainties and why not, fear of of making the wrong choices, Carolina realized her dream of opening her own place, a gorgeous mix between a cafe and a wine bar. And I feel special when I think I was one of those people who spent hours on the phone with her deciding how to call the place. And NeroDoro won, not exactly sure why, but I love it and it fits her very well. For those who don’t speak Italian, Nero means Black and D’oro means Golden. Much has definitely to to do with her love for clean, straight environments, and the choice of two strong colors very well identifies her mind set.

All I want to say today is how proud I am of her, as she literally created the place from scratch, it went from her mind to real walls, floors and all the rest.
When I saw it finished for the first time it was a gigantic emotion and I literally thought: “Damn, she made it!!!”
NeroDoro still smells like fresh paint and it will slowly finding its own personality. I am sure the people who will go there to eat, drink or just read and relax, will soon set the perfect mood and coziness for such a cute little spot. The website will be ready soon, and then it will be it. Done deal! Time to grow and become successful!

And I bet it’s hard to find a place where the owner is behind the bar, in front on it, she makes the pies she sells and she hand made the menu covers. If you don’t believe me you just have to go check it out at 395 Classon Avenue Brooklyn, NY, 11238; Also find NeroDoro’s page on Facebook.. and see the link below. It seems like someone already put an eye on NeroDoro!!

<a href=" http://theunemploymentcafe.blogspot.com/2010/01/clintonhillalert-nero-doro-coffee-shop.html“>
http://theunemploymentcafe.blogspot.com/2010/01/clintonhillalert-nero-doro-coffee-shop.html

There is something missing, it’s just about knowing what that is…

There is something missing. Every once in a while a wake up being a little sad and unsatisfied and I think that, although I am accomplishing many things in my life, there is some missing piece. And I can’t figure it out what that is.
I am good at many things but I am bad at one in particular, finishing what I start, getting to the end of things, and I hate it.
For example, I have always been a big-time reader and lately I am having a hard time even finishing a book. I could list at least 5 that I have bought, started and then forgot on my shelf getting dusty. What is it all this about? Do I need to challenge myself? Do I need to give myself a time line to finish things? It might actually be a good idea, and I have just been inspired by a movie I watched.
Well, to start, I am back to Bikram Yoga, oh if I missed it. If I remember well, I took classes for almost three months last year and it gave me such a happiness every time I went. And starting again after all this time is kinda hard, my body is trying to figure the whole practice again from the beginning, but I like it, again. Let’s see if this time I can keep it up for longer.
Today is the last day of January and as we all know January is the month of people’s resolutions for the year, and I am thinking what is my resolution? I don’t need to quit smoking or drinking as I don’t do either, I might want to commit to exercising, but I do it already (it’s just a matter of being constant and finally loose those few pounds that have been bothering me). So what do I have left? How about finishing things? I truly need some motivation or I will be surrounded by books, projects, ideas…unfinished.

I am going to start by making a list:

- finish reading “Intervista col potere” Oriana Fallaci
- printing all the picture that I have been thinking to print for months now and finish my photo album
- working hard on my company (Yeah that is something I still didn’t get to write about). This shouldn’t be hard as this is finally something I absolutely love doing, the job…I hope…of my life!
- being a good wife.. )
- take my RE test, damn I just don’t have time for that. Oh well I will have to find it (good luck to me)

Maybe I could keep writing but I better keep this list short or I will get scared and give up )

There is one thing that I am being very good at though, my friends. I am nourishing my friendships and making sure the people I love know that in a constant way. Because we should never take anybody for granted. And I hope my friends feel this effort.

Going to read few pages of my Fallaci book.. committed!

New York Mon Amour….

E anche oggi, come tante volte, la citta’ mi ha un po’ rapita, un po’ stregata. Succede sempre quando sono da sola e trascorro tempo nella metropolitana o in un caffe’ a leggere un libro. Oggi ho notato una cosa che mi era sfuggita. Tante volte vi ho detto che la gente corre sempre in metropolitana e nelle strade….ma…sono certa che solo la meta’ di coloro che vanno sempre di corsa, hanno davvero fretta; perche e’ quasi automatico per il nostro cervello seguire quello che la massa fa. Oggi sono ritrovata a camminare a passo svelto, a quasi arrabbiarmi con coloro che se la prendevano comoda e poi una volta arrivata sul treno e preso posto ho fatto un respiro, mi sono guardata attorno e mi sono chiesta: “Ma perche diamine stavo correndo?!” Ebbene si…non avevo nessun appuntamento o scadenza da rispettare eppure ero li, ingoiata dalla folla che viaggiava alla velocita’ della luce e devo aver pensato..perche’ no! Corro anche io!
Ma poi e’ bello rallentare e guardare tutti che sgomitano e mi chiedo quanti di loro siano davvero in ritardo. New York e’ cosi..tempo e’ denaro, prima arrivi, meglio e’..a prescindere!
E cosi si vive, perche se non arrivi tu, qualcun altro lo fara’. Ma la cosa positiva e’ che se perdi il treno delle occasioni oggi, ce ne sara’ un altro domani o dopodomani, ma allora tocchera’ correre, o lo perderemo di nuovo.

Vecchio Anno, Tanti Ricordi…Nuovo Anno, Tanti Propositi…

Ed eccoci qua..un altro anno sta per iniziare. Ogni volta si prova quel senso misto di tristezza per l’anno che se ne va per l’anno che ci lascia ed eccitazione per quello che sta per cominciare.
La tristezza solitamente e’ legata al fatto che durante l’anno in chiusura sono successe tante cose positive e non si vuole lasciarle andare; ed io non mi posso lamentare..di cose davvero belle in questo 2009 me ne sono successe a bizzeffe. Provo a metterle giu, nero su bianco:

- L’uomo della mia vita mi ha chiesto di sposarlo (22 Marzo)
- Ho sposato l’uomo della mia vita!!!! (6 Dicembre)
- Ho iniziato un nuovo percorso lavorativo importante (Novembre)
- Ho trascorso il mio primo Natale con le mia nuova famiglia allargata ed e’ stato bellissimo! (Dicembre)

Sono certa ci siano altri eventi che andrebbero ricordati ma per il momento mi fermo qui, a quelli piu importanti.
Per il 2010 i propositi sono tanti ma anche qui mi limito a quelli che mi premono di piu:

- Lavoro, lavoro, lavoro!
- Perdere 2 kili che mi stressano
- Fare yoga regolarmente perche mi passano tutti i dolori

Eh…credo aggiungero’ qualcosa alla mia lista a breve, ma per ora va bene cosi!

Buon Anno!!

E la neve fuori dalla finestra…

Questa mattina mi sono svegliata all’alba…fuori e’ ancora buio. E’ domenica mattina e’ c’e’ un silenzio di tomba, quasi non sembra di essere a New York. Ci sono almeno 15 cm di neve e sono onesta, piu guardo fuori e piu penso che non vedo l’ora di partire per il caldo. Il freddo non fa per me, e la neve non e’ altro che ghiaccio, non riesco a guardarla sotto un punto di vista romantico! No, proprio no. Mercoledi saro’ a Miami…molto meglio!
Un nuovo anno sta per iniziare, un’altra volta, e sono certa che tutti noi ci svegliamo ogni giorno con tante idee, tanti propositi e soprattutto con la domanda costante nella testa: ‘Quanto riusciremo a combinare di quello che ci ripromettiamo di fare?”
Aspetto il 2010 con positivita’, sono certa sara’ un anno di grandi novita’ e cambiamenti nella mia vita, e la parola “novita’” e’ sempre in cima al mio vocabolario.
Oh, e’ passata una macchina! Chissa’ quanto dovro’ aspettare per vedere la seconda! Non c’e proprio nessuno in giro…
Proprio ieri pensavo a quanto sono fortunata, dalla mia finestra al terzo piano vedo la strada senza nessuna interruzione visiva, nessun palazzo ostruisce la vista… elemento prezioso qui a New York. Le fondamenta per riempire l’insolito spazio vuoto davanti alla mia finestra sono ovviamente gia’ al loro posto ma sono certa che per quando la costruzione sara’ finita, io me ne saro’ andata da qui.
E’ quasi Natale, che differenza rispetto a quando ero bambina, emozioni diverse, che non so nemmeno spiegare. Ma ammetto che a volte mi manca quell’atmosfera di calore che sentivo da bambina, i nonni, l’albero, i regali, uno zio che non mancava mai di mascherarsi da Babbo Natale, le cene intorno a tavoli enormi….difficile riportare indietro certi ricordi. Ma quest’anno il Natale mi porta un regalo speciale, l’opportunita’ di trascorrerlo con i miei genitori e con la mia nuova famiglia, quella di Brendon, una nuova meravigliosa esperienza per la quale non sto nella pelle..
fa freddo in cucina, sotto le coperte si stava meglio, credo mi andro’ a fare un altro pisolino, in attesa che la citta’ si svegli!

Buon Natale a tutti!!

Cancun journal: episode 4!

I forced myself to wake up early today, to enjoy the last sunrise in this gorgeous paradise called Mexico. I can easily tell that the past 6 days have been among the best ones in my life. I am married to the best man I could wish to find on earth, I have been surrounded by the love of my family and friends and I woke up every day hearing the sea crushing on the shore, priceless.
I can’t describe what my wedding was like, I only know that I had an enormous smile on my face for the entire time. I can’t describe the emotion of walking towards the man I love and whom I want to spend my entire life with more than anything else..
I can’t describe the heart pounding for 2 hours in a row and the sensation of not being able to breath because you are so excited that breathing becomes really not that important.
I feel like I should thank one by one who was here for me and Brendon, because the company made a huge difference. It is in these moments that you understand how much friendship matters. Those who love you will always find a way to share with you the important moments of your life, and I will never forget that some of my friends traveled across the ocean to be there for me.
I could keep writing for hours but I think pictures will explain what I am not able to describe with words.
I just want to add that I am one of the happiest women on heart!

Cancun Journal: episode 3!

You know when things are starting to fall into place when you see all your friends arriving and enjoying their time. I must say that it is priceless to be in Mexico, surrounded by all the people I love and who love me. I feel so grateful for the love I receive and this is just the beginning of an amazing time. Tomorrow we’ll start partying and I am so looking forward to it! Going to get some sleep now…excited!!!!!!!!!

Cancun Journal: episode 2!

Alright…please tell me that brides always get caught into issues a couple of days before their weddings!
The weekend started in a pretty challenging way: last night, while packing, we couldn’t find Brendon’s passport and we were panicking until 3am. To make it short, we didn’t find it until this morning at 7am, 30 minutes before leaving to the airport! Pfiuuu!
Then, since it wasn’t enough, once in Cancun, we get to the gorgeous Secrets Maroma and I realized that of the many suitcases we carried, one was missing. Guess what, it was mine, with my wedding shoes and hundreds of other important things! I was about to have a heart attack and I have been unable to have a complete breath until we spoke to the airport and heard they had it and would send it in the am… pfiuuu!
I hope this is enough to test my patience!
We are now here, in a gorgeous place and the moon is so bright that the sea is almost like silver! What a dream. We have seen friends and spent a great first night here in Mexico.
I will update you about any news that shows up in our crazy days

Love

Cancun Journal: Episode 1!

Hello my friends,

I didn’t really keep my promise of writing on my blog on a daily basis, but I just decided that my wedding in Mexico is a definitely good thing to share with you. So, this is the beginning of my journey to Cancun, hoping that all those I love that will not be able to join us, will have a chance to share thoughts and emotions of the upcoming days.
It’s 11.51pm on Dec 3rd, my parents arrived in New York few hours ago and, as always, it was amazing seeing them and it’s priceless to have them here with me. Bags, gifts, suitcases, shoes and clothes are all over the place, I wonder what the hell is this mess and then I realize that all has to be fixed soon as our car will pick us up at 7.30 tomorrow morning. It’s raining outside and I am happy to say that tomorrow by this time we’ll be in the warm Mexico, enjoying the evening breeze and the sound of the waves…ahhhhh!
I must say…I am so sorry if I have stressed you out, my friends, I havehad some very long and intense months. Way too many things happened and I have got carried away a lot. I want to thank you all because each of you had supported me in a different and special way. I must send a special THANK YOU to Piergiorgio who, always with a smile on his face, kept telling me that everything was going to be alright, because he was there for me to make it happen, and it did go alright and he did make it happen. Thank you Pier for your love, friendship and support in the difficult moments I had and in the bridezilla moments I went through as well (I know you wanted to kill me sometimes but I appreciated the fact that you didn’t!). I wish I could thank you all one by one, and I am sure I will find a way soon, so for now, just know that if you are reading these words you definitely mean something important to me!
So here I am, ready to close my suitcases, hoping I won’t forget anything (Mexico is kinda far to go back and pick u things I forgot home!).
I will write something every day and I hope I will be able to make you feel like you are there with me…as I wish it could be.
Going now, time to finish packing, get some sleep and go catch my Cancun-bound-flight!

Love!

Ok, I have been bad!

When I started this blog I did it because I like sharing my thoughts on a daily basis or, at least, often. And lately, I must admit it, too many things are going on in my life and I never had time to sit down and think about this only. But, to catch up, yesterday was Thanksgiving day and, even though I am not American, it is always great to share time with good friends. It was a long day of cooking first and eating then! And everything was absolutely delicious.
Wedding news: we are at 10 days away from my wedding in Mexico and the excitement starts becoming impossible to contain. I can say that we are…almost…all set, still working on details!
I am so happy to say that we will be 77!!! So many friends from everywhere in the world will be there to celebrate with us, I am counting the days!
My mom and dad will be here on Wednesday, I can’t believe this day that I have been waiting for, for a long time, is actually here…:)
From today until the wedding, healthy food, lots of water and a couple of massages to relax, oh I need that a lot.
I have a long day ahead, better go.
I promise I will be back writing here soon!