First night in the new house!

I DID IT! I survived the first night alone in my new house!

my living room-cum-bedroom room!

Mom, dad, and Tanner drove down with me yesterday to help me move all my things into the new place. (and when I say all my things, I literally mean ALL MY THINGS.) We (the roommates and I) drew straws for bedrooms, and I got the 4th (and previously non-existent) bedroom that was a small living room.

cheap, but FABULOUS shelving

 Since it wasn't a bedroom to begin with, it came without a closet (and good overhead lighting, but that I can deal with) so dad put together 2 really pretty maple shelving units! I put canvas boxes (in cream and beige) to hold or hide certain things and then I put various decor in the open shelves. I have these fabulous glass replicas of famous cathedrals from around the world (St. Paul's, Westminster Abbey) that my older sister gave me a few years ago, and they fit perfectly in the shelves.

FAVORITE part of the room: my Harry Potter books

 I also used my books as one of the main decorations for the room. The living room originally had a fireplace (it's still there, but not in use) with a mantle overtop, so I used that mantle to hold my Harry Potter, LOTR, Hunger Games, and various other novels. I also added a bottle of "Sobering", which is non-alcoholic beer that they served on the set of the LOTR movies and I bought in New Zealand, and "Holy Gr-Ail", a Monty Python-inspired beer.

the Book of Books

 I also have a "book of books" which is beautiful coffee-table book that is literally filled with pictures of books. It's one of my favorite display pieces. Dad and I also set up a chest of drawers and tried to hang some things on the very bare, white walls.

 A mirror over the mantle, though small, makes the room seem, well roomier, and I'd love to buy a fancy wall mirror to hang either over the bed or on the wall next to the chest of drawers.

slightly messy, but getting settled!

we have a dining room cabinet!

 Mom also helped me put away all of the kitchen stuff (and make it look cute!) Our kitchen has lots of storage room, which is great and this will probably be my office the whole time we live in the house. The girls are particularly chefs (not saying that I am, but I enjoy cooking, baking, experimenting) and they've already decided that we're having weekly PHamily dinners that I'm in charge of preparing.

this shall be my spot forevermore

 The 'rents also took me grocery shopping to make sure I won't starve and I'd say that I'm settling in quite nicely. The rest of the house may be completely threadbare at the moment, but it'll be filled shortly enough. I can't wait for the girls to move in so we can officially say we live here!

such a cute kitchen!

I can wait for classes to start though...not looking forward to that. Well, not all of them, anyway. Arabic has got me intrigued - and I'm taking my last Spanish class at WKU. So between work (with Barbara) and classes and trying to fulfill my practice TEFL teaching hours, and taking a music class (did I mention I was learning to play the banjo?) this semester is shaping up to be unlike any before. On second thought, I can't wait!

Monday, Monday, Monday

I really ought to just rename my blog Welcome to My Thrilling Life: Briana's nails. That really seems to be all I'm talking about (and blogging about) these days!

Base coat in L'oreal Club Prive

 Well, I'm not going to change the name, because I really do other things with my life! (Even though it may seem otherwise)...Sunday afternoon, my friends Stacy and I went to see Disney's Brave in theaters. So cute!! I love all things Disney, Scottish, and girly, so Brave really just took everything I love and brought it to life. Stacy's boyfriend and our friend Chris came with us, but went to see The Dark Knight Rises instead (another movie I can't wait to see!) so Stacy and I had over an hour to kill after our movie ended. We ended up going to Wal-Mart and browsing through the nail polish selection (I have a problem, y'all) and of course, I bought 2 new shades! L'oreal's Club Prive (which I used today) and Tweet Me, a really pretty, shimmery yellow.

Leopard "spots" in Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Manicure in Pink Slip

I did a base coat over all my nails in the new Club Prive color (the camera shows it pretty close, but just a wee bit off - it's a brighter aqua in real life) and then on just the ring fingers of both hands (I went for the accent nail look!) I made several spots in Sally Hansen's Pink Slip. As that was drying I went around the spots with black acrylic paint - that's right, paint. I thought paint would be easier to use than actual polish, and turns out I have no idea where I put most of my fall nail colors. I LOVELOVELOVE the overall look of my nails and I think I'm getting pretty good at this! Let's see how long this design lasts...

Babysitting the bro

Someone (read: me) got roped into babysitting the little brother while my parents are making a trip to town, and since he's 11, and not really into hanging with his older sister, I've kinda just been leaving him to his own devices and just checking in periodically.

Inspiration, courtesy of Pinterest!

my workstation = mom's living room floor

 Given that, I've been busying myself perusing the likes of Pinterest and Tumblr and I stumbled upon these adorable nail designs! And since it looked relatively easy, I thought I'd try my hand at recreating this particular look for myself..

Sinful Colors and Spoiled, colors with a slight shimmer

I started with my arsenal of nail polishes (Sally Hansen, Sinful Colors, Spoiled, Essie...okay, I like nail polish) with a mixture of opaque colors, shimmery colors, and straight glitter polishes. 

Spoiled and Essie for a BIG sparkle!

I already had a nude base coat (my go-to nail polish for day to day wear) so I just added a coat to smooth everything over and let that dry. 

Base coat - Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Manicure in Peachy Keen

a 2nd picture with flash

 I then used a cheap, thin bristled paint brush to apply the strokes of nail color to my nail. I went with Essie's Watermelon, Wet n Wild megalast in Through the Grapevine, Sally Hansen's Fairy Teal, Sinful Colors in Cream Pink, and Sinful Colors in Mint Apple. I varied the lengths of the stripes to give the design more of an artsy look, but tried to keep the widths of the stripes mostly the same (tried being the operative word.)

Adding the stripes of color

Alternating stripes of color with alternating heights

 I then gave the entire nail a sparkly coat with Spoiled in I Have No Reception, and I have to say I'm rather pleased with the outcome! I only decorated one nail (I thought about leaving it as an accent nail) but since I like it so much, I think I might go ahead and do the rest of them! At least it will give me something to do until the 'rents get home:)

Added sparkle!!

Back in the Bluegrass

And just like that I'm back in the great ole state of Kentucky! A total of 18 hours traveling from Cologne, Germany to Louisville, KY, and 4 back to back flights, yet surprisingly, I seemed to have dodged to jet-lag bullet this time. I'm just skimming the top of the GINORMOUS heap of laundry that awaits me, and my room looks like a tornado burst through it. And in 2 short weeks, I'll be packing up nearly every object in my possession and moving into my NEW HOUSE in Bowling Green with 3 lovely ladies!! But until then, I have a town festival this coming weekend to look forward to. Can't wait!

Köln, Germany

And on to Germany! Our second train ride was FARRR superior to the sleeper car - dad and I booked a first class cabin on the high speed ICE German train from Innsbruck to Cologne, Germany. We left mid-morning from Innsbruck to see the amazing countryside along the way.

Our first class train car

 We had lunch on the train, took in all the scenery, took some pictures, and made some friends in our cabin. We arrived in Cologne mid-afternoon, where we checked in to the Maritim Hotel right in downtown Cologne. Since Cologne is one of UPS's main hubs, we ran into quite of few of dad's colleagues - other pilots who were flying in or out for the weekend.

First sighting of Cologne!

 One of the pilots told us some great places to wander around while we were there, including a great place to get dinner that's extremely popular with the pilots for traditional German food.

the lobby of the Maritim Hotel

 Before dinner, dad and I wandered around Cologne. We went to the Dom, the oldest Cathedral in Germany (I believe it's around 1000 years old.) The architecture of the cathedral is truly impressive - even with all the amazing technology we have today, I simply don't think there is a way we could reproduce something so beautiful.

the Dom

the oldest Cathedral in Cologne, Germany

 We then went to Haxenhaus for dinner, which was DELICIOUS. Dad ordered the Haxe, for which the restaurant is named, and I ordered Sauerbraten, which is very similar to corned beef, if corned beef were German. Oh, and can you guess what Haxe is? Turns out...it's pork knuckle.

Haxenhaus - best place for haxe!

We ended up with a GIANT piece of crispy, salty, delicious meat that took 2 of us to finish. We washed it all down with lots of German beer - I could definitely get used to this.

HAXE = pork knuckle.

 Since we were so full from all the amazing food, we need a slow (emphasis on the slow) stroll along the waterfront before we could force down any more food. (One of the pilots told us about this ice cream place and we just had to try it)

walking along the Rhine

We walked along the Rhine, took some great pictures in the setting sun, and for a Thursday night, the place was crawling with people. We even saw a party boat floating along the Rhine full of business people getting down to the likes of Usher and Chris Brown. We stopped for ice cream before heading back to the hotel, but I would have loved to have stayed in Germany for longer. The weather, the food, the people - Germany is amazing. I can't wait to go back and travel through the Black Forest region, Munich, and even Berlin. Until then, Auf Weidersehen, Germany!

Hallo, Innsbruck, Austria!

After a wonderful 2 (almost 3) days in Florence, Italy, it was time to head North for Austria!

6 person sleeper car

 Dad and I left Florence late evening, taking a sleeper car on the train into Innsbruck, Austria. We arrived around 4:30 am and took a cab from the station up the hill to our hotel, the Aldranser Hof. Since it was so early, no one was up at the hotel yet, so Dad and I stashed our bags under a picnic table out front and wandered around the tiny town on top of the hill as the sun came up.

sunrise in Innsbruck!

 The desk clerk arrived around 7am, and luckily she let my dad and me check in early, and we got a FREE breakfast! We then took our bags up to our room, took a long-ish nap, woke up and made ourselves presentable, and then caught a bus into downtown.

the Old Town area of Innsbruck

 We grabbed lunch at an outdoor terrace restaurant downtown that was full of locals (we might have been the only tourists there) and we tried to stereotypical German cuisine - sausages, beer, and beer pretzels. YUM.

WEINERSCHNITZEL

We wandered around downtown for a few more hours before the rain drove us back to the hotel before dinner. For dinner it was more typical German food - weinerschnitzel! Which, I must say, was surprisingly delicious. It's served with cranberry jam and boiled potatoes, making it a very filling (and perfect for colder-weather) meal. After dinner, it was back to the room to once again pack up our belongings and get ready to hit the road. Next stop: Cologne (Köln), Germany! Auf Weidersehen, and until next time, Innsbruck!

Buongiorno, Florencia!

Sunday morning Dad and I flew from Madrid (through Barcelona) into Florence, Italy! We arrived in Florence that evening and trekked (luggage in tow) the couple blocks from the train station Santa Maria Novella to the Hotel Rapallo. If Madrid was hot, Florence was downright scorching! The heat and humidity did not make quick friends with my hair, but I'll sacrifice a little just for the fantastic view. The desk man at the Rapallo, Mauro, recommended a great little authentic Italian restaurant called Alfredo's for our first dinner in Italy.

First night in Florence, Italy.

We had pasta with eggplant, zucchini strudel, pizza with ham, artichokes, and olives, and sampled plenty of the red wine.

Dad at Alfredo's restaurant with his best friend.

We called it an early night since we were both worn plumb out, but we were up and at 'em early the next morning! We booked a full-day tour along the coastline, the Cinque Terre region. We took a bus to the coast, where we walked through several of the small towns, then took a boat to the last town for lunch and free time on the beach.

Cinque Terre - Italian coastline

The water was clear and absolutely gorgeous, but silly me came unprepared and fell victim to the sweltering sun! My shoulders and the back of my neck look like a lobster, and I have a gorgeous pattern on my back from the cut of the dress. But other than that, the beach and coast were wonderful!

soaking up some sun.

Tuesday, dad and I decided to FINALLY sleep in for a change, and we booked a half-day wine tour of the Chianti region starting at 2:30 pm. We woke up for a nice breakfast at the hotel and then wandered through Florence and through the street fair and San Lorenzo Market. Dad bought a fabulous lamb skin leather jacket and I bought a Carnivale mask and snake-like jewel bracelet.

Carnivale mask from Florence!

The wine tour was pleasant, but dad and I would have preferred more wine! Most of the tour was riding a bus through the Tuscan countryside, which was breathtaking, but only the last hour and a half of the tour was reserved for wine tasting.

The Arno River

Clearly not enough time if you ask me! We sampled a few wines, such as the Chianti Clasico and the Chianti Reserva, and also the region's Olive oil and Balsamic Vinegars.

Tuscany Wine Tour - Chianti Region

Our sleeper car/train left Florence after dinner (more pizza! more red wine! more caprese salad!) and we ended up sharing our car with 2 girls from Germany, who were very sweet. We all tried to get as much shut eye as we could since we knew we'd have a very busy day ahead of us in Innsbruck, Austria! Arrivederci, Italy!

Pueblo Inglés - Home away from home

I can't believe I spent a mere week (less, really, since I arrived late) at the Pueblo Inglés in Galicia. We've all said our goodbyes, shed many a tear (some of us more than others) and gone our separate ways. In some ways, it felt like we spent a lifetime together. Bonds were formed that can only come from being forced to spend every waking second with a group of people, sharing thoughts about everything from your hopes and dreams to your views on politics.

Photo scavenger hunt challenge: olympics

Yet at the same time, it was as though we had no time at all. The days blurred together and the week rushed by in what seemed a second. We were constantly moving; running around from 1 to 1's, to 2 to 2's, to group meetings and theater practices, and all the dinnertime conversations in between.

Find someone who...

 I slowly watched as the Spaniards came out of their shells little by little each day. They became more confident voicing their thoughts and opinions in a language that was not their own. We developed our own inside jokes and learned what made the others laugh. We truly became our own little tribe. Spaniards and Anglos, isolated on the rainy coast of Galicia, our own strange little family.

Excursion - group shot by the river in Vilalba

Now that I've returned to Madrid, and am en route for my Italy/Germany week-long trip with my dad, it's starting to sink in that I've left the little safe haven that was my home away from home for the week. We've exchanged emails and skypes, promises to write, email, and keep in touch, and all our goodbyes. I've made good memories, and even better friends - both that I will carry with me until we meet again.

Nighttime Queimadas and Witches' Incantations

I mentioned in my last post that after dinner Monday night, Pueblo Inglés held a nighttime Queimada, which is a traditional Galician ceremony (typical of the northern Spain region of Galicia) with strong Celtic (and seemingly Druid) origins. 

Mixing the ingredients

It's a strong drink made from Garujo Gallego (a Galician liquor) with spices and fruits added in, which then burns as more brandy is added. While the quemada burns, a traditional incantation is recited that is supposed to protect those who partake in the quemada from evil spirits and witches.

Explaining the history of the quemada

Of course, Pueblo Inglés turned the whole thing into a production, complete with 3 witches reciting the incantation in alternating English and Galician! While the witches (Margaret, Belén, and Beatriz) chanted (and laughed a lot), our Director Jez stirred the burning quemada and slowly ladled burning spoonfuls into the air and back into the vat. The quemada has a signature blue flame and once it has burned the majority of the alcohol (about 20-25 minutes) we blew out the flames and served it out.

It's alight!

Personally, I could take it or leave it; it has a very strong liquor flavor that doesn't really complement the added spices and fruits, but the ceremony itself was worth it. It's definitely a tradition that is more for the history and the spectacle than for the drink itself -- although some of the Spaniards had a full cup or 2...or 4.

doling out cups of the fiery quemada

After the quemada, we all shared songs from our respective parts of the world; we Americans performed (poorly, might I add) a rendition of She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain, Colin graced us all with a slow, mournful Welsh tune that is played before rugby matches, and our friends from the UK sang a song about London Bridge being on fire.

in the excitement, it was difficult to capture the toast

The Spaniards went above and beyond and performed not only a song, but several typical Galician dances for us. Of course, the majority of the Spaniards are Physical Education teachers and made the rest of us look like we had 2 left feet -- or as Marcos said, like a duck.

traditional Galician dancing!

Adios, Madrid. Hola, Vilalba!

After class tapas and cañas with Bouse

 Friday was my last day in the TEFL Madrid course! I still have 20 practice teaching hours to complete, but the course is done. Finished. Finito. We all taught our 2nd 30-minute class with Patricia and then Bouse announced he wanted to take us all out for drinks.

the group.

 What started out as a couple of beers quickly turned into many chupitas of whiskey (in honor of KY) and I dare say I don't remember what happened the rest of the night. Which means...I missed my flight to Galicia!

End of class celebratory beers!

 I woke up early Saturday morning and grabbed all my things from the apartment and booked it to Barajas airport. The earliest bus to Lugo (in the Galician province) was at 1:45 pm, arriving in Lugo around 8:30. I then had to take a 45 minute taxi ride to the venue here in Vilalba. I arrived around 9:20, 9:30 pm, dropped my bags off in my room, and was hurried off to dinner in the main dining room with the group.

"dragon shot" with whiskey.

 Everything was so rushed, but I'm so glad to be here! All of the native English, as well as the Spanish speakers, are so welcoming and friendly! There are a few others from the US, namely Tiffany and Suzanne, who are from North Carolina. They heard me say a few words of introduction at dinner and the first words out of their mouths were "Ooooh, thank the lord, we got us another Southerner!"

my room at the Hotel Spa Villalba

So far, we've been doing a lot of 1 to 1's, native speakers and Spanish speakers pairing up to chat and work on basic correction, since they have such a high level of English. There have also been a couple of group chats and all of the meals (3-course, DELICIOUS meals) are great times to chat. Last night was the quemada, but more on that next post!