Today is the day!  I am moving BACK to Spain for another year!  It’s strange, actually….today is one year to the day that I moved there last year.  Didn’t do that on purpose, but funny how things work out!

I’m flying with Norweigan air, which is a lowcost airline and they don’t give you a.n.y.t.h.i.n.g for free.  Granted, the one way ticket cost me 269 Euros, but I get no food, no blanket, no checked bag, no seat.  Kidding about the last one, but I wouldn’t be surprised.I’m taking one carry on bag that is STUFFED to the brim (mostly full of tea hidden on the bottom).  I’m fairly certain that when that bag goes through security scanners, they will see a whole lot of “organic material” in the sides, which will look quite suspicious!  haha it’s tea…not cocaine!  Then I have that other “personal item” with my computer, camera, magazines, and a lot of food.  Then I have a backpack with more food…

My flight is not until 11:30 pm tonight, but we are leaving for the airport around 4:00 since I need to take 3 trains to get there.  Good thing I have less stuff than last year (because most of it is all in my room in Madrid….)  My mom and I are off to get our nails done soon (my third in the last 6 weeks.  That’s more than my entire life!!!  But I could get used to it…).  This morning I got up early to finish painting this birdhouse: 

But not before cuddling with Teddy:

I’m going to miss that little love-bug so much.

Later today, I’m going to pack up a ton of food for 16 hours of travel (with a 5 over layover) and just plan to sleep through the flight tonight (hey Dramamine!!!).  I’ll wake up in Copenhagen, where I’ll have a layover for five hours- most of which will be spent in Starbucks- and then I’ll be back on another plane, headed to Madrid!  To say I’m excited to go back would be an understatement!  I’m excited for a new year and a fresh start and new friends and adventures.  I have been thinking about ways I’m going to make the most of this year, which include:

• Private lessons only two days a week, and no more than 2 in a day.  Last year got out of hand with the number of private lessons I was doing and was causing a lot of unhappiness that really is not necessary.
• Go on one outing/ adventure per week.  Hikes, museums, parties, restaurants.  Anything to get out and do things.
• Take Spanish lessons 2 days per week!  I REALLY want to improve my Spanish this year, so on the afternoons that I’m not teaching, I would like to take classes.
• Take time to relax.  I think I fell into the routine of life last year, accepting my long days as what is normal, but I was quite unhappy during the week and fairly overwhelmed.  I want to have more free time to write on this blog, go to cafes, read, etc.

In other news, last night I went to dinner with my parents as a “last supper”.  We went to Marzano, a new(ish..2 years) restaurant in Jenkintown because my dad had a gift card.  We would have never gone there on our own, but let me just say- although pricey- this restaurant was SO GOOD.  We were raving about our meals the entire time.  We had quite a generous gift card to spend, so we were able to try a number of delicious dishes.Arancini and porcini mushroom risotto

Salad with roasted red peppers, cucumbers, tomato, goat cheese rolled in pistachio, cranberries, and a honey-balasamic viniagrette

Lightly breaded veal medallions with an arugula, tomato, and Parmesan salad on top

Pan-seared lamb chops in a wine reduction (that didn’t taste like lamb.  They were amazing!)

sauteed chicken breast, black olives, asparagus, wild mushrooms, and a light cream sauce

Everything was absolutely incredible.  So full of flavor and fresh-tasting.  The portions were quite generous and we felt that they did everything perfectly.  Highly recommended!

And last, but not least, my mom made delicious, crispy waffles for breakfast yesterday:

After I did a really great (since I’m so sore today…) NTC workout at the gym!

Off to get my nails done, go for a run (gonna run like Edward Scissor Hands so I don’t mess those babies up) and then finish packing!