Pessima idea stampare le mie foto da Mediaworld

Stamattina sono un po' arrabbiata con Mediaworld, più precisamente con Net-Print, il servizio di stampa fotografica.
Tornati dalle vacanze qualche mesetto fa, ho deciso di stampare alcune delle nostre foto più belle per poterle incorniciare in casa. Avevo onestamente già fatto stampare delle foto presso Mediaworld di Vignate, ed avendolo ora ancora più vicino a casa a Carugate ho deciso di ripetere l'esperienza. Purtroppo è stata una pessima idea scegliere Mediaworld per stampare le nostre foto.

Premetto che la prima stampa fatta anni fa era solo per formati standard, mentre questa volta ho selezionato diversi ingrandimenti 50 x70. Premetto inoltre che tutte le nostre foto sono state fatte con una reflex della Canon e alcune con un Iphone 6 (per le quali comunque non ho scelto formati grandi ma standard 13 x 18).

Ordinarle è già stata una piccola impresa perché il sito online è assolutamente osceno, vecchio ed obsoleteo (e meno male che sono tra i più grandi retailer hi-tech in Italia!). Tanto è vero che ho rinunciato all'uploading online, ho caricato le foto sulla cara vecchia chiavetta, mi sono recata nel centro e le ho ordinate dal loro computer. Ma la vera delusione è stata ritirarle.

Le foto che ho ritirato stamattina presso il dentro Mediaworld di Carugate (MI) sono tutte e dico tutte sgranate, stampate in pessima qualità e addirittura un ingrandimento ha un segno quasi fosse stato "piegato". Le foto originali erano nitide, luminose, con una risoluzione grafica ottimale.

Segnalo la mia esperienza per evitare che anche voi rimaniate così delusi dal vedere i vostri bei ricordi offuscati e abbruttiti e a buttare via soldini per una stampa davvero scadente.

Ecco una delle mie foto in versione digitale, Monte Fuji, Giappone. La stampa di Mediworld purtroppo non rende giustizia alla mia foto

Best buying for next season A/W 2015-16

I am not going on holiday this summer, so days in Milan can be pretty boring... every friend is laying on some beautiful beach right now and the meanwhile I am in the office trying to be productive...

However there is one thing that cheer me up being a city girl: not only I am can drive everywhere with my car - and parking as well - withiout the classic traffic jam of Milan, but also I can look at the new autumn winter collection just arrived in the shop.

Here a short #5 list of some of the biggest trends for the upcoming season for the street fashion, inspired from big designers, rulers but far affordable for most of us.

Trend #1: Get a jacquard pattern dress 
Jacquard fantasies are a must next season, you need to at least have a piece, bossibly a dress, ideally in the color of the season "brick", which is slightly browner version of burgundy. Look at this model from Max and Co, love the fantasy and the jersey touch, this fantasy will give personality to any look.

Max and Co Jacquard dress  Trends AW 2016

Trend #2: It is ponchos mania
Burberry had launched last winter season and street fashion is now full of ponchos. Thank you there are many smart styles and colors as we do not want to look all as a gringo girl. Look for example at this cute model created by Italian fashion brand Liu Jo: this brown color will suit with all colors trends and waiting for the real cold weather is a perfect fashion alternative to a boring coat.

Liu Jo poncho - trends AW 2016

Trend #3: Fringes everywhere
Together with the ponchos do not forget to get something with fringes. Fringes were everywhere this summer and they will last also this winter. Would be a smart buy at the end of this summer sales if you can find a deal with them. I really like this skirt from Mango, suade simil lather in a beautiful Cognac color.

Mango fringe skirt . Trend AW 2016

Trend #4: Culottes trousers rule

They are not proper trousers, they are no shorts either... but they are a real trend! I think  they are perfect with high heels and a transparent camisol, very elegant for the evening... not really sure about the day version, they might be very risky as outfit, you might look like something got wrong in you weekly laundry. I love this beige faux leather from Zara, beiges colors are always the right choice for a effortless stylish look.

Zara Culottes trousers - trends AW 2016

Trend #5: A satchel from day to night

If you have to invest into a bag get a satchel, the new must in terms of accessorize. They are perfect as they have a lot of space and you can either carry them on your shoulder or as side bag.I got one with sales this summer as I know will be a lasting trend. I love also this Furla version, in neutral grey scale color, easy to match.

Furla satchel - trends AW 2016

Discovering Salento, latest top holiday destination in Italy

Are you looking for sunny weather, amazing landscape and truly genuine food? Apulia is then the region you will deeply fall in love in Italy and might  become the next destination of your trip!

Apulia is one of the most amazing southern European region, rich of culture and history, with a strategical importance for ancient Greeks and Romans, today is one of the pearls of Mediterranean tourism. This is a real special region to me as I am born in Milan, but one of my grandma is from this area, so it is very familiar to me and owns half of my heart.

In particular today I would like to present you an area, Salento, still an unspoil destination that became very popular for holidays in the last years. Salento it has been my last holiday trip either, so I am still very excited to talk about it.

Salento is the very botton are of Italy (image Italy as a "boot", well, Salento is the very bottom of the "heel").

The area is surronded by two seas, Ionian Sea and Adriatic Sea, facing Croatia, Bosnia, Albany and Greece from Adriatic side and Sicily to the other. The area is all in province of Lecce and the closest airport in Brindisi (maybe soon it will be named The Airport of Salento). If you travel from Europe very cheap airlines as Ryanair and Easyjet flight here.

If you are planning an holiday let me suggest you to avoid August: traditionally is the holiday month for all Italian students and workers, and Salento is a very popular destination for us. In other months you will defenetly find the beaches less crowded and ways cheaper accomodation. The weather is amazing, so all May to September period is perfect for a sea bath.

Salento offers a lot of different landscapes and activities, dependind of what you search from your holiday. You can look for disco and night life around Gallipoli as for trekking journeys around Leuca (but I advise you to pick just spring or autumn time) to discover Olive trees..

Here are the spot we visited, hope you can find some interesting information for your journey.

Where we stayed in Salento 

We based in Ugento and we stayed in a very cute Bed and Breakfast, family managed, which I raccomend: Aria Bianca Bed and Breakfast. It is quite a convenient location as driving (yes a car is mandatory if you want to travel Salento) you can reach any point of Salento by day and return.

What and where to eat in Salento

Burrata - Orecchiette - Puré di fave

Food is amazing everywhere and absolutely everything deserves to be tasted, especially in Apulia. Here is the home of olive oil, taralli, juicy tomatoes, fresh fish, burrata and stracciatella. No, I am not talking about the gelato, but the very softest and creamy mozzarella you will ever taste in you life.When in Salento you must try fresh pasta, in particular orecchiette, small hand made pasta that litterally means small ears, you can enjoy them with tomatoes sauce and sometimes beef sauce. Vegetarian must try puré di fave e cicoria, deliciou mashed fave beans and chicory. Anything with fish and seafood it is absolutely delicious, and also meat eaters will satisfying their taste with many bracerie: they are restaurant where you pick the beef you like and they cook for you as you like! I suggest you to try Le locande di Totò, but always better to reserve a table, this place is very popular also among locals (please remember for southern Italians it is common to dine around 9 -9:30 PM, in summer time).

Looking for a perfect romantic typical dinner? I was very impressed with this restaurant, in the heart of Taviano, small village in the heart of Salento, La Corte degli Aranci: I sincerely raccomened it and please try the BBQ beef on the spit. What to drink? Of course, a calice of Primitivo di Manduria or Salice Salentino, robust red wines, perfect with roasted beef.

Castro

Castro - Salento

Beautiful small location where we rent a boat for half day (in august better to book in advance) and visit the coast. If you have the chance visit the cave of Zinzilusa, you can arrive by boat with an organised small tour (2 hours included the guided visit) or driving for a very little distance from Castro.

Otranto 
Small sea city, with a medioeval fortress "balcony" to an amazing gulf. We visited at "aperitivo" time, just before sunset to enjoy the amazing pink color that the sunlihgt colors the white walls of the city. You can take a walk along the sea side, enjoy the bar and dinner in many restaurants.

Baia dei Turchi (North Otranto beach side)

Long sand beaches, amazing tourques sea and many bars and restaurant with beach umbreallas and sunbed to rent for a day. I raccomend it for  a relax beach day.

Leuca

This is a special place as it just the "very end" of the heel Italy. No sandy beaches here, but you can rent a boat or join an excursion and visit the coast (and take a bath of course).

Gallipoli

Is very much the new party city of summer in Italy. Here and around you will have plenty of partys with some of the best international Dj's as guest stars in many clubs and discos; summer night-life here is for sure some of the best in the country. However, if you are looking for relax and quiteness, avoid this area in august: it is crowded of young party lovers.

Baia Verde

It is close to Gallipoli and it is an amazing sandy beach, we loved spending here the day even if in the late afternoon bars in the beach start partying and get crowded.

Marina di Pescoluse (Maldive del Salento)

An other beautiful sandy beach where to enjoy the sun and the blue sea. One note when you arrive driving: it is common to pay for parking (as a reasonable €2- €5 for all day) and it is best way to access to the beaches and leave your car in a no-fine area: be carefull infact, local police is always giving tickets tocars parked outside lines- blue lines in Italy means pay parking zone - white lines are free parking zone.

Curious to read more about Salento? Let me advice you this guide Salento. Moods and colors

Hope these advice can help you in your next journey to Salento!

The Happy Orange Blog loves Apulia!

Go to Ikea and adopt a dog: marketing can be used for good sometimes

Everyone goes to Ikea, everyone buys something at Ikea at least once in lifetime.
But when you are walking along ideal living rooms now you can even do more: now you can imaginig how even more beautiful your house could be if you would adopt a dog.
A new home for an abondened dog means the chance to live, to be part of a family, to be cared and loved.
Love is they need, loyalty forever and friendship it is what the can give back.
Ikea has launches a great initiative now just tested in Singapore stores: a social conscious campeign to invite customers to adopt dogs. The initiative is called Home for Hope, brilliantly simple, brilliantly good.
Once marketing can do something good. Once a big multinational as Ikea can pass the right message.

Please help, please love dogs.
Watch the video
http://youtu.be/tBka2eF4OAI
And for more info visit http://homeforhope.sg
#homeforhope

Please Israel, stop the massacre in Gaza

What is happening in Gaza is hurting the humanity indelebly.
How humanity can be so aggressive and cruel?

Please Isarael, please stop now. It is no sense, killing is never the solution.

Free Palestine, let people live in peace.

Stop Bombing Gaza

Visiting Barolo, heart of great wine in Piemonte

Barolo, Italy

Langhe, Piemonte

Last weekend we all went to visit Barolo, small village in the heart of Piemonte, an area called Langhe, close to Alba, city of the prestigious white truffle (exquisite). Barolo region gives the name to the prestigious wine, made from Nebbiolo grape, and it is considered one of the greatest wine of the world. The production is strictly limited and authorized to selected communes,  Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d'Alba and parts of the communes of Cherasco, Diano d'Alba, Grinzane Cavour, La Morra, Monforte d'Alba,Novello, Roddi, Verduno, all in the province of Cuneo, as I mentioned at the south-west of Alba. I would suggest you if you have time to visit all the communes and select some of the most popular wine producer for a guided tour. There is a tour called La strada del Barolo (the Barolo road) and their website can give you some valuable advice about what to visit, timing and opening days (most canteen need a reservation for a guided tour).

We had only a full day so we spent the time just in Barolo, amazing small comune, surronded by hills, and wine trees. We visited the most ancient cantina and had a lovely dinner at Rosso Barolo Osteria, where I raccomend to taste traditional Barolo Risotto! 
If you like they also have room for the night, and it is a good idea to sleep somewhere once you have enjoyed the faboulous wine at dinner!
And in the afternoon do not forget to start with an aperitivo: great wine, focaccia and salame!
If you are looking for a great book to discover the marvellous region of Piemonte, one of the greatest area for Italian wines tradition, please let me to suggest a great book Piemonte... la signora del vino. Ediz. italiana e inglese (Piemonte, the lady of Wine, available in Italian and English edition). 
And now that you are curious abou Piemonte and you wish to taste a great glass of Barole, please come and visit! 

Aperitivo in Barolo

A poem for my Dog

Dedicated to Milo, 
thank you for being in my life, you teached me more than you will never know.


I have a dog. It is the first dog of my life.

Before I have never really cared at what time to go back home.
Now I am looking forward to open my door
and find my dog waiting for me.

Before I have never really cared to meet my neightborought.
Now I know each person living around me
cause my dog welcomes everyone when we walk around.

Before I have never really enjoyed spending the afternoon at the park,
now I love the smell of the grass, the lights through the branches trees.

Before I have really never cared if was a raining Sunday afternoon,
now I am sorry if we cannot walk for hours.

Before I have never really understood what grateness was when making a gift,
now I see the real happiness in my dog eyes
when I see him playing with my old teddy bears.

Before I have never really appreciated sharing things in my life,
now one of my best moment of the day is
sharing my rice cake for breakfast with my dog.

Before I always believed I could have been the only one to real care about my happyness,
now I look into my dog's eyes and I know what unconditional Love is.