2011 Recap

Love & Marriage: After over 11 years of dating, Kevin and I finally tied the knot in May. The day was amazing, although it was a little warm. Looking back, are there things I would change? Absolutely! But then again, nothing turns out perfect and I am completely happy with how everything turned out. I'm still at the stage where I look at our wedding pictures on a weekly basis because I love them so much. I always tell Kevin I could do it all over again (with him, of course) and he is not in agreement. He still thinks we should have went to Vegas!

May 29, 2011

Retirement or Not: In 2010, if you would have asked me what Kevin and I would be doing in 2011, my answer would have sounded a lot like this..."Kevin is going to retire from hockey after this year. Then once the honeymoon is over, we'll start looking for a house and jobs. We are really looking forward to some stability and having a place to call home."

Well, obviously it didn't turn out that way. We had good intentions and had actually started looking at places in Chicago. Then, Kevin got a call a few weeks before the wedding telling him about the job opportunity in Italy. We went back and forth over what to do and ultimately made the decision to pack our bags once again. The way we see it, we have our whole lives to work. We are still young and have nothing tying us down so we might as well do it while we can. Some people think we are crazy and some people envy us. Regardless, we always make the decision based on what we want and we couldn't be happier.

From Goalie Reiter...

To Coach Reiter

Italy: Things definitely didn't start off easy. We had issues (and are still having issues) with my visa. Kevin went over by himself and I followed two months later. Since arriving here, things are great! Our little town is amazing, our apartment is cute, and we are enjoying every minute of our time here. Kevin spends a lot of time at the rink being a coach, but we still manage to do and see a lot. Whether it is going into town for coffee or heading to Innsbruck for the day, we have a blast. I'm also lucky to have another North American wife here with me. It is always nice to have someone who is in the same situation as you.

We have 5 months left here and are looking forward to visitors coming in March. We have also planned some trips for just ourselves in late April/early May when Kevin is done coaching.

The clock tower in Vipiteno

Our apartment

Pizza, Gelato, & Spritz

We didn't celebrate Christmas the traditional way, but we still had an amazing time! We took off for Venice on December 24 at 8:00am and made it all the way there without getting lost once (we do not have a GPS). Instead of driving into Venice, we parked in the Mestre and took the train in. We were nervous about whether or not the water buses were going to be running on Christmas Day and couldn't find information anywhere so we opted for the train since we knew for a fact it was running. And at €1.20 a person, you can't beat the price!

Like I stated in my earlier post, we had no plan once we got there so we decided to walk to our hotel instead of taking a water bus. We knew it was a bit far, but we wanted to stop along the way and take pictures. We didn't have a map and just followed the signed to San Marco (where our hotel was located) and it took about an hour (with stopping at the Rialto Bridge). Once we checked in, we dropped our bags and went back out.

Our first order of business was to find the pizza place we ate at the first time we were here. The slices are huge, cheap, and thick crust (so sick of thin crust pizza)! It took me no time and we were there. Alleluia...it was as good as I remembered. And because pizza wasn't enough, we each grabbed a scoop of gelato.

The place was right next to our hotel...dangerous!

Kevin enjoying his Frutti di Bosco (fruit of the forest) gelato in the rain.

It started to rain pretty hard so we decided to take a break at the hotel for an hour. We let our feet have a breather and watched some BBC (Kevin watched it through his eyelids). Since it had gotten a bit colder, we put on our layers and headed back out. Our first stop was St. Mark's Square because I wanted some pictures at night, but since I am still learning the specific of my fancy new camera, they didn't turn out too great. I was able to get a few good ones at the Rialto Bridge though. I guess I better start studying for my next trip to Venice in March so I can get the shots I want.

St. Mark's Square

Rialto Bridge

After my unsuccessful attempt at taking some nighttime pictures, we decided to grab something to eat. We ended up walking around for an hour looking at menus, playing the game where neither of us want to make a decision. And it isn't like there are a lot of choices. We finally decided to drink our dinner. As we were walking by a bar by our hotel (checking out the food options), a friendly Ukrainian man told us to come in for a drink and we did. Kevin had a Spritz and I had some type of strawberry/champagne drink. And along with complimentary snacks, American Football was playing! We ended up staying for 3 drinks and met two other couples from Dallas.

Thank you for the suggestions, Mr. Ukraine.

No matter where we are, I can always find American Football.

As much as we wanted to stay all night, we knew we were in for a long night so we ordered a sandwich and headed towards St. Mark's Basilica. At about 9:30pm, the people started coming in herds so we hopped in line. Luckily, it wasn't too cold and we only had to wait until 11:00 for the doors to open. We found a seat, but I would say about 1,000 other people had to stand. Luckily for us, the mass booklet was written in four languages (including English) so even though we had no idea what anyone was saying, we could follow along. Mass was beautiful, but long. About an hour in, people started leaving (which I think is so rude) and those who didn't leave, were drifting in and out of sleep. The ones who stuck it out with us, ended up getting out of St. Mark's Basilica at about 1:45am. It was totally worth it though!

On Christmas Day, we woke up exhausted, but ready to get back out and explore the city. The weather was gorgeous...clear skies, sun shining. We actually had to take off our coats because it was so warm. And despite being Christmas Day, the streets were packed with lots of people and cameras. For the most part, we just walked around until we made our way back towards the train station. We decided to have a slice of pizza and a scoop of gelato to celebrate Jesus' birthday and then we were off.

Buon Natale!

Ciao Venice! We'll see you soon!

Virtual Christmas Card

If you haven't already figured it out, you're not getting a Christmas card from Kevin and me. I really wanted to send them out since this is our first Christmas as a married couple, but somehow it slipped my mind. Now, on December 22, it is a little too late. But thanks to Picnik, I was able to design a Christmas card and I don't have to worry about whether or not it will make it to you in time for the holidays. So Merry Christmas family, friends, and random people that read my blog!

Christmas in Venice

After much debating, we have made a last-minute decision to spend Christmas in Venice. We are only able to stay one night since the boys practice on the 23rd and 25th (at night), but we are super excited. Our plan is to leave Vipiteno early on the 24th and drive to Venice. We can park our car outside the city and then take a train and water bus to our hotel. Our plan once we get there is to have no plan, which is hard for someone like me who likes to know what I'm doing and where I'm going at all times. The only reason we are doing this is because we have already been there and have seen the sites. Plus, we are sure lots of places will be closed for the holidays so we might just end up walking around for hours. The only thing we are definitely doing is midnight mass at St. Mark's Basilica. I cannot wait for it, although I've read that you have to get there about 2 hours early for a seat. I'll have to make sure I pack some treats for the wait!

We're a little nervous in regards to transportation because we haven't been able to find much information about whether or not public transportation will be running Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We emailed the water bus company and they told us what line to take, but didn't answer our question about their holiday schedule. It looks like we'll have to play it by ear. Fingers crossed that we don't have to spend a fortune to take a water taxi. I guess if all else fails, we'll just have to stay in Venice an extra night.

Pinterest Recipes Reviewed

I've been putting my Pinterest recipes to the test in order to get away from pizza and pasta. So far, I haven't been let down. Check out what I've been preparing in the kitchen.

Recipe 1: Hasselback Potatoes

I love, love, love potatoes! They are one of my favorite foods. The Hassleback, or Swedish Baked Potato, was an excellent change-up from our usual. They are simple to prepare and I enjoyed mine with a little bit of sour cream (or panna agra, as we like to call it here).

Recipe 2: Nutella Cookies

Since it is hard finding baking items here, I need recipes that are simple and don't ask for much. The Nutella Cookie recipe only has four ingredients and doesn't require a mixer. I followed it exactly as the recipe said except I had to add about a tablespoon of water to the mixture because it was a little crumbly. The final product was delicious!

Recipe 3: Eggplant Bruschetta

The eggplants here are huge and quite cheap. I've been using them quite a bit on sandwiches, in pasta, in salads, and as main courses. I paired the eggplant bruschetta with a penne in a creamy mushroom sauce. I thought it was great, but Kevin said I sliced the eggplant too thick. So, I guess the only change I would make to this recipe is slice the eggplant thinner (and that is only to please the husband).

The Best Just Got Better!

This morning I was rocking out to a little VH1 (Jump Start) while making pasta sauce and heard my favorite Christmas song "All I Want for Christmas is You" by Mariah Carey come on. I turned the computer near me to watch the video and then I saw him...Justin Bieber! Maybe I've been living under a rock for awhile and everyone in the world knows this, but I had no idea they redid this song as a duet. I'm pretty sure this just made my day. And I don't care if this post makes me sound like a 10-year-old girl. Merry Christmas to me!

Random

Kevin had off this morning, which hardly ever happens, so we went into town to get a coffee. And when I say morning, I mean like 11:00. We are still doing our coffee tour so we tried another new place today, the Hausler. The Hausler is our favorite place to get desserts and treats (they have amazing chocolate croissants), but we've never been in the cafe so we thought we would give it a try. Everything was going great until a random gentleman decided to come in and serenade everyone with his trumpet.

A trumpet...really? When I think of trumpets, I think of marching bands or jazz bands. The trumpet is not a romantic instrument like the violin or piano. Although, carrying a piano around would be difficult. I will give the guy an 'A' for effort and I appreciate him sharing his talent with us. But next time I have my morning latte, I'll take it without a side of trumpet.

The Sights at the Gym

Lately, I've been doing really well with getting to the gym at least four days a week. Most of the time, I really look forward to going, but not because I love the way I feel after a good workout or because I'm doing something productive. Instead, I love to people watch at the gym. Back home it is never this fun, but the gym here never disappoints.

The gym (located under our apartment) is pretty small. It has 3 treadmills, 3 bikes, and 1 elliptical. Plus, there are free weights and weight machines. There are also two large mirrors located by the free weights and the weight machines. No matter where you are, you can see everyone else in the gym. And this, I love!

In general, Europeans work out in the most random clothes ever. When we lived in England, I was baffled that people would work out in Keds or lift weights in jeans. Here in Italy, guys LOVE spandex and short shorts. And it seems as though women have never heard of sports bras. I know they have them here!

Last week, Kevin was at the rink and I headed down since it usually isn't busy in the afternoon. When I walked in, there was a younger couple. The guy had on his spandex and the girl had a full windbreaker warm up on. The whole time she was riding the bike, I kept wondering how hot she must be. Well, they left soon after I arrived...maybe they were tired of me staring at them. But I got a new Italian friend to watch so I didn't care. At first glance, he looked completely normal until he took off his jeans and sweater and revealed his unitard (with a t-shirt under it). But the head sweatband really made the outfit.

Not even Rob Pattinson would look good in one of these.

When Kevin got home, I couldn't wait to tell him. He didn't believe me though. He said I was a liar and there was no way someone would wear that to the gym. But today, Kevin had to eat his words when my Italian friend, complete with his unitard and head sweatband, showed up to the gym while we were there.

If the Pope likes it, it has to be good

Apparently, the Pope is a big fan of Sterzing Vipiteno Yogurt. Rumor has it, he has it shipped to him because he loves it so much. Well, I love it too! Just another thing the Pope and I have in common. Kevin and I are making our way through all the flavors and so far the only one we haven't liked is blueberry (which is weird since it is one of my favorite flavors of yogurt back home).

My favorite flavor and one that is not available in the States is Stracciatella. I'm not entirely sure what the flavor of the actual yogurt is...maybe vanilla, but it has chocolate pieces in it. Stracciatella yogurt is good in the morning for breakfast, in the afternoon for a snack, or at night for dessert. You just can't go wrong with it.

Obviously, this is me enjoying my Stracciatella first thing in the morning.

As luck would have it, Sterzing Vipiteno Yogurt is one of the sponsors for Kevin's hockey team. At Tuesday's game, the other wife and I were talking about our love for this amazing yogurt and how we should see if we can get a tour of their factory. I don't know who we need to talk to or know, but one thing is for certain...this tour needs to happen.

Snow Day!

Since the first day I arrived, I've been looking forward to the snow. I would wake up every morning and the first thing I’d do was look out the bathroom window to see if we had any. And every morning, I've been disappointed...until yesterday!!! I'm not sure why I'm so excited since I've always lived in places that have a fair amount of snow during the winter. I guess it is because snow looks so much prettier here in the mountains of Vipiteno than in the flat Midwest.

With the snow, it is definitely a lot colder. Since arriving I've been used to daytime temperatures of 5-10C or 41-50F, but today I got in the car and it said -2C or 28F. The snow has also brought the tourist. The hotel property we live on went from a ghost town to being packed in less than 24 hours. When we were driving through town today, the parking lots were packed with buses, the ski lifts were running, and the walking street was packed.

And the most exciting news of all...I got to break out my new snow boots today!

Krampusumzug: The South Tyrolean Way

Kevin and I were super-excited to check out Krampusumzug ('Krampus' for short). And then we started hearing a little more about how it all worked and our excitement quickly turned to fear. We talked to some of the guys on the team who are from the area and they gave us two tips. Dress in old clothes and don't stand near the front of the group.

First off, I only bring one bag of clothes with me when I come over to Europe. I'm not going to waste precious space on old clothes. Secondly, why would I stand near the back of the group. How is a girl supposed to get good pictures of the Krampus standing in the back? In talking to the guys, I quickly realized why they gave us the two tip.

In Vipiteno, there are 25 Krampus who run down the walking street with their faces covered in black paint. From what I was told, the paint is practically impossible to get off. If they touch you, it is getting all over you whether you like it or not. Some also throw ashes into the crowds. Then, the Krampus use bundles of twigs to hit you with. If you are in town for Krampus, you are fair game.

Since we wanted to experience Krampus, but didn't want to ruin any of our clothes or get whipped, we went into town before the actual event started. We still got to see the Krampus (as they were whipping people) and came home nice and clean.

Kevin and Markus (one of the local guys on the team) with a Krampus whip.

The little girl in the yellow was not a fan of the miniature Krampus.

I absolutely love the facial expression of the guy in blue.

The Krampus

I'm pretty sure I would not be having the Krampus take pictures with my babies.

Hello December!

When I woke up this morning, I had so many things to look forward to. For starters, it is the first day for my Advent Calendar. I had never heard of them until we went over to England and they were everywhere, in all sorts of shapes and flavors. Now I HAVE to have one every year! Kevin told me, he would just buy me 25 candy bars, but it isn't the same. With an Advent Calendar, you have an excuse to eat candy for breakfast and I love having that little piece of candy to look forward to.

December also brings the holidays. Of course, we are sad that we won't be spending Christmas with our family. And it looks like Kevin has zero days off, but the Christmas season in Europe is so much fun. Christmas Markets take over towns. We have only been to the one in Vipiteno, but we're planning on making our rounds in the coming weeks. At these street markets, you can purchase local crafts, fill your belly with fattening treats, and stay warm with Glühwein (mulled wine). It also gives me a chance to expand my Christmas ornament collection (we get an ornament in every city we visit).

On Monday, we are going to Krampusumzug. It is a tradition that takes place every year on December 5. Men dress up as Krampus, a demon-like creature who punishes bad children. Think of Krampus as the opposite of Santa (or St. Nicholas as he's called here). Apparently, the Krampus roam the old town and Christmas Market frightening people with chains and bells. Here's an idea of what I'll be looking at Monday night.

December also brings the end of Movember so Kevin no longer has a schnauzer (moustache in German) as of right now. Yes, I was starting to get used to it, but that doesn't mean I thought it looked good. I'm happy to have my husband back to normal, at least for a few months.

Sensory Overload

I came to the rink with Kevin this morning so I could get the laundry done (we don't have a washing machine/dryer at the apartment). The team just got a new Latvian player in the other day and he is here because he has to figure out his hockey transfers. In the process of calling the different hockey federations, he has had to speak Czech, Latvian, and Russian. Then, I have the head coach and the GM here throwing some German and Italian into the mix. Of course, I only speak English so luckily they are translating some bits and pieces for me. Thanks guys for making me feel included, but my head still feels like it might explode!

And in regards to the laundry, I am so nervous that I'm going to leave a pair of my underwear or a bra in the washer or dryer. All I need is for the guys to be talking about Frau Reiter's (Mrs. Reiter's) underwear.

On another note, I got offered the secretary job here at the rink. All I need to do is learn German and Italian. No problem...I just hope the job is still open in about 10 years!

Meet Mandy!

Mandy is the apartment/hotel dog. I'm not exactly sure who owns her, or even if anyone does. She just wanders from one building to another taking naps in the bike shop, outside our door, in front of our car, and in the hotel lobby. We see her on a daily basis and always greet her with some prosciutto or salami. Kevin says he is pretty sure he is going to come home one day and Mandy is going to be laying on our couch. I'm thinking it's a good possibility.

The average dog is a nicer person than the average person. ~Andy Rooney

This sums up my time here in Italy

Back in the States, I always order a vanilla latte with skim milk, but here in Italy, I'm getting daring. So far, every place we've been, I've ordered something different and have only been disappointed once (with a lukewarm espresso). I'm working my way down the menu and I've got pictures to prove it. I'll blog about my coffee tour at a later date, but for now, I'll leave you with this.

My Goals for this Hockey Season

Kevin has been at the rink for the past five hours and I haven't moved from my computer except for one bathroom break and a quick trip to the snack drawer (I needed a few pieces of biscotti). As I was getting crumbs everywhere, it dawned on me that if I keep this up, I am going to weigh 500 lbs. And that's only if I don't die of boredom first. When Kevin isn't at the rink, things are great and we are out and about exploring new places. It's the other 30 hours or so a week I need to plan for.

In the past when we were overseas, I had school to keep me busy, but as much as I'd like to take some classes, I really don't need any more student loans. Working is obviously out of the question considering I do not speak the language...at all. I thought I had gotten lucky when I interviewed for a nannying job and was offered it, but that all changed when the guy wanted to pay me $100 (American) for 6 days/40 hours of work. That wouldn't even cover my travel expenses for the week. No thank you, Fabio!

So I've decided to set some goals for myself in order to keep busy.

#1 Workout: At one time, I loved working out. I was at the gym 5 days a week, took classes, and really enjoyed myself. The last two years have been horrible though and I can count on one hand how many times I've been to the gym. My goal for the next 6 months is to go to the gym at least 3 times a week. Obviously, it would be great to go more than that, but I'm trying to be realistic. Really, I have no excuse since the gym is directly below our apartment. And when I say directly below, I mean it. I hear the music blasting and the treadmills going as we speak. I wondering if looking like this in the next six months is achievable?

#2 Learn German: Yes, we are in Italy, but they speak German here. Most of the people in the town speak both languages, but I need to stick to learning just one. We have both Rosetta Stone and Drive & Learn. I've also started doing a language course on bbc.co.uk/languages, which is my favorite program. I know I'm not going to become fluent in the next 6 months, but I'd like to be able to at least get by in the town. Right now, I just stare at them when they ask me something and then I speak English. Thank goodness most of the people know what I am saying or are at least patient and let me just point at what I want.

#3 Drive a Manual (Stick Shift): I started the learning process 2 years ago when we were in Sheffield, but then we switched teams and ended up with an automatic so I quit learning. Now, I'm kicking myself for not sticking with it. I had a lesson yesterday in a parking lot and I made it home from the town center, but really all I had to do was drive straight for two minutes and then turn into our apartment building. If I knew how to drive, I could go places when Kevin was at the rink or at games. The only place I would probably go would be to the town center, but at least I could have my coffee and people watch.

Willkommen! Benvenuti!

Let me introduce you to our apartment! Nothing says home sweet home like twin beds pushed together and floral couches. But in all seriousness, our place is lovely. We have a two bedroom, one bath place located on hotel property. We have tons of storage space and a large kitchen, which is rare in Europe.

In England, we always had full or queen size beds, but I guess the norm here is to push two twin beds together to make a queen. It really isn't a big deal until I get into bed and hit my knee off the wooden part in the middle, but I'll learn my lesson eventually. The part that makes it really interesting is that we actually have two twin comforters too.

I love our bathroom! We have both a stand up shower and a large bathtub. And I guess the bidet is an added bonus...if you're into that type of thing.

You can definitely tell our apartment is owned by a hotel by the pattern on the couches.

Our kitchen/dining/work area are all rolled into one. We have a large refrigerator, a dishwasher, a table to eat on, and a table to work on. Perfect!

We also have an outdoor living space. It is a little chilly out there now, but I'm sure it will get put to use in the spring.

Our apartment is right off of the hotel property. Since it is the off-season, the hotel is dead. The owners have actually been on holiday in Spain for the last two weeks, but will be back soon in order to get ready for the Christmas Market and ski season.

Eat, Sleep, and Be Merry!

I've been in Italy for a little over 48 hours now and most of those hours have been spent either eating or sleeping. I am horrible when it comes to jet lag; it takes me weeks to recover from a long flight. And it doesn't help that I never sleep on planes because I am too busy watching movies. I'm pretty sure the large German man sitting next to me was less than impressed with me laughing out loud and crying. But I paid for the seat so I can do what I want, right?

I definitely feel less guilt over the sleeping part than the eating part. A 6 hour nap is perfectly acceptable when you miss a night's sleep. As for the 11 hours of sleep that same night (5 hours later), I can do that any given night so it isn't that impressive. I thought I was all caught up until Kevin left for the rink again yesterday and it was lights out for me. Unfortunately, I paid for it because I didn't get to bed until 5:00am and as I'm typing this, my eyes are barely open. I WILL stay awake though; I need to get on some type of schedule.

On to the food, it was pasta the first night and pizza the second. The pasta was just a little something I threw together at the house. Usually, I refuse to eat pasta sauce out of a jar or a can, but in Italy, I decided to make an exception. It was actually really good. The pizza was great, but then again, I think most pizza is great. Kevin and I shared so I got to try two different kinds. We had one with prosciutto, mushrooms, olives, and artichokes and the other one had salami and hot peppers on it. A-MA-ZING! I've also been introduced to krapfens. They are delicious, but I'm going to have to limit my intake so I don't come home 30 pounds heavier. Let me give you an idea of what my waistline is up against...

Decisions, decisions

After my mental break down on Tuesday, I found a flight and planned on flying out on Monday. All we were waiting for was the okay from the GM of Kevin's team (who books the flight), but in the meantime the Immigration Officer who Kevin has been working with for my nulla osta (entry clearance) informed Kevin that my paperwork would go through within the next two weeks. So, now I have to decide whether I want to wait for the paperwork or fly on Monday.

If I knew, for sure, my paperwork would go through within two weeks, I would just wait. But as I've learned throughout this process, 'two weeks' rarely means 'two weeks.' Then, you have to factor in weekends and holidays. If my paperwork isn't processed before Christmas, everything will be pushed back until mid-January.

On one hand, I just want to get out of here. I miss my husband (who I haven't seen in over 2 months). I miss my shoes (Kevin took those with him). I miss having my own space. Then on the other hand, it would be nice to be home for Thanksgiving (the first time in 6 years). Plus, I would be able to see "Breaking Dawn: Part 1" (yes, I am a Twi-hard). So what to do, what to do?

Don't cry over spilled milk (or cereal)

I woke up this dreary Tuesday morning, poured myself a bowl of cereal, and then spilled it all over the floor. Usually, something like this wouldn't bother me too much; I'd clean in up and start all over again. But considering my current 'situation', a bowl of spilled cereal sent me over the edge.

When I speak about my 'situation', I am referring to the fact that I've been in visa limbo for 71 days now. My paperwork is sitting in Rome waiting to be approved, but no one can give me an idea of when it will be reviewed. I've been told not to pester or try to hassle them because then they'll just take longer (like that is even possible). And on top of that, it seems like Italy has at least one holiday a week. How can anything get done if the office is hardly ever open?

So, as I was cleaning up the mess I had made, I came to the conclusion that living in my parents' spare bedroom, out of a suitcase, was no longer an option. I repacked my bag for the last time and have been looking for flights all day. If my paperwork goes through before I leave, then perfect. If not, maybe I can fly home once it does get approved and get my visa. But one thing is for certain...I am not going to sit here for another 71 days.

Glasses shopping online???

This week I decided to make a daring move and buy a new pair of eyeglasses online. For most people this probably wouldn't be a big deal, but my prescription is -9.25 in both eyes. Obviously, it would have been smarter to go to the eye doctor, have an eye exam, and try on numerous pairs, but that probably would have cost me over $600.

A friend of mine has used Zenni Optical before so I decided to use them (www.zennioptical.com). But before I started browsing, I called my eye doctor to get my prescription information. The website was easy to follow and allowed me to upload a picture of myself in order to 'try' the glasses on. I narrowed it down to two pairs, but decided to only order one pair just in case they turn out horrible. For a grand total of $51.80 I got a new pair of glasses and this includes the additional charges for extra strength lenses and high-index lenses.

So, in about two weeks I'll know whether or not I made the right decision. For now, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they don't turn out like this.

Italy Must-Haves

Yep, I'm still without my visa. Kevin is heading to the Immigration Office on Monday to apply for my nulla osta (authorization to be granted a visa) so hopefully I'll know more in a few days. Today, I got the last of my must-haves before leaving for Italy.

1. Snow Boots; Sorel Torfino- I've never bought snow boots before so I had no idea what to look for. A friend of mine whose husband played in Italy told me to make sure they were waterproof so that was my only prerequisite. Well, that, and they had to be cute. I researched for weeks, read hundreds of reviews, and tried on numerous pairs. I finally made the decision to go with the Sorel Torfino. Luckily for me, I found a pair I loved on Nordstrom.com and since I have smaller feet I ordered the kid's size and saved some money.

2. Puffer Coat; Tommy Hilfiger Hood Belted Down Anorak- The last down coat I owned was a red one from Gap and I'm pretty sure that was back in high school. I knew I wanted a black coat that was long enough to cover my bum, but not past my knees. It also had to have a hood without fur (since the boots have fur, I didn't want to overdo it). I found a couple different options at Macy's and on Overstock.com and finally settled on the Tommy Hilfiger Belted Down since it has some shape to it. I really didn't want to look like I was wearing a garbage bag. And it's perfect!

3. Hair Straightener; T3 SinglePass Compact- When we lived in England, I just used a converter with my straightener, but it wasn't a good staightener so I really didn't care if it got fried. In Italy, Kevin has already managed to fry our Sonicare charger and his electric razor so I'm not taking any chances with my Chi. Finding a dual frequency straightener wasn't easy, but the ladies at Ulta helped me out and suggested I get a T3. I looked at reviews online and found the T3 SinglePass Compact for an amazing price at Target.com and couldn't pass it up. And since it is compact it doesn't take up much space and will be perfect for traveling. I've tried it a few times and I'm impressed. I honestly think it works better than my Chi!

4. Slingbox- Thanks to this amazing invention, I'll be able to watch Jersey Shore and Glee and Kevin can get his hockey fix. I've never used one before, but know people who have and I'm pretty sure this will be my best purchase of the year.

5. Camera; Nikon D3100 Digital SLR- Okay, so I haven't bought this camera YET, but I look at it online everyday and sometimes even visit Best Buy to check it out. I know I could probably get by with my point and shoot camera, but sometimes it starts acting up (like on our honeymoon) and I don't want to miss a thing. I keep fighting with myself on whether or not to get it and I'm 80% sure I probably will, but for now, it is on my 'wish list' not 'must-have list.'