There She Goes: Italy to a Spanish Island
Hello From Mallorca!
Found Mallorca’s version of Elenor!
This past week has been a wild blend of ultimate relaxation and sleep deprived days. We started the week in the countryside of Italy (ultimate relaxation) and made our way via overnight bus (let the sleep deprivation begin) to Barcelona, Spain. We then flew to meet a friend in Mallorca, and have been spending some time exploring charming towns and beach coves (back to relaxation). I feel incredibly grateful to be here and hope to absorb healthy doses of sun and an abundance of local foods and sights. I hope you enjoy this week’s soulful edition and can find a couple of tidbits that resonate with you wherever and however you are, today.
Songs To Stitch To, Sing To, Get You Through The Week
Paradise Waiting — Vacationer
This is How We Walk on the Moon— Geographer
Catahoala Man — Generationals
Set Aside Some Time This Week For Some Self-Care
Hydrate your skin: It’s important to drink lots of water, especially in the summer, to keep your head clear and your skin hydrated, but your skin may call for a little more attention. After days of swimming, sweating, and sun, it’s a good idea to apply lotion or oil. I’ve been trying to be better about this! I personally am loving Dream Cream by Lush.
Try some spinal twisting: Spinal twists help to realign the spine and increases blood flow to vital organs. I love the way that spinal twists me feel not only physically, but also mentally. They are super awakening to the body and leave you feeling fresh and loose. Check out this guide on the reclined spinal twist.
Eat color: This week see if you can make your meals or snacks a little more colorful! Typically, the more colorful your meal is, the more healing nutrients it contains. Read some suggestions on how to get your rainbow wheel here.
Uplifting Things Happening Around The World
This article discusses how, in comparison to 50 years ago, humanity is doing pretty dang well.
Dogs are hard at work to help save endangered species. You probably knew that dogs are employed by law enforcement for their great sniffing and tracking, but you may not know that they are also employed for a range of environmental protection project. There is even an organization called Working Dogs for Conservation.
For the first time in 17 years, Iceland abandoned it’s controversial whaling practice for the summer season. This will be the first summer since 2003 that no whales will be commercially harpooned.
Sunday Salutations
When in doubt, imagine yourself
as this carefree pup
“Storms make trees take deeper roots”
“Give yourself the same care and attention that you give others and watch yourself bloom”
“Your mind is a garden. Your thoughts are the seeds. You can grow flowers or you can grow weeds.”
There She Goes
As I mentioned, this week was chock full. We started the week in the countryside of Italy and I am ending it on Mallorca, an island off the coast of Spain. Between the two, I took my first overnight bus (from Italy to Spain), had my first 7-course tapas experience, and found myself running through an airport in Barcelona to make the “Last Call” for a flight to Mallorca. These thrilling moments are what makes travel so special — I’m here for it!
Freshly picked from the apricot tree
Good Eats
Garden fresh jams— the place we stayed in Italy had an impressive garden. The owners enjoy seasonal fruits and vegetables like apricots, zucchini, and cherries and we ate SO well while there. On our first morning we were offered a selection of homemade jams including fig, kiwi, and peach! It was such a fun breakfast tasting experience.
Fried zucchini flowers— as I mentioned, the owners try to use absolutely everything that their garden yields. That means even making use of the zucchini’s flowers, which are totally edible. We tried them fried as a lunch “apretivo” and they were tasty!
Vermouth! This has become a bit of a silly joke. I discovered the magic of vermouth when I visited Barcelona last year and I couldn’t get enough. I’m not much of a Spanish clubber and much prefer slowly sipping something refreshing on a patio in the early evening. Vermouth is a fortified wine served with an orange slice and ice. Restaurants typically make their own vermouth and it’s super cheap to boot!
Destination Facts
Piedmont, Italy (the region where we stayed) is famous for truffle. The white truffle that grows wild there is the most expensive in the world and is a big draw for tourists each year There’s even a festival dedicated to it!
Mallorca, despite its size, is one of the busiest airports in Spain. I still am amazed that my friends and I were able to find each other without the ability to call/text one another!
In 2015, The Times recognizes Palma de Mallorca as the best place to live in the world!
On Sustainability
Ideas on traveling a little “lighter”
BYOS— as in Bring Your Own Straw. Whether it’s quick trip into town or a serious road trip, reusable straws are easily packable and can come in handy especially with iced summer drinks. I carry two metal straws and a little cleaner with me on just about every trip. I never regret it!
Swap out disposable face wipes for a microfiber washcloth and soap— this is my new favorite travel hack. I love when after, a long day of travel, I arrive to my destination and get to wash my face and neck with something I won’t simply toss AND that makes me feel fully refreshed.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and listen with us today!
We hope you have an excellent week filled with lots of happy stitching.
Be well,
Brooke & Sheila
