The following photo is my husband’s favorite from the photo shoot.  Is it okay if I mention quickly that I have the sexiest husband in the world???  Even after six and half years of knowing him I still get butterflies when he kisses me.

Curious, did anyone realize that I am wearing my wedding earrings and shoes in the photos?

Which is your favorite photo?  It might be a while before I do another photo shoot with Kyle, but I can promise you there will definitely be more in the future!  Thankfully, I did not have to say goodbye to her just yet, as we had a special dinner date planned in the “most romantic restaurant in Chicago”. . .

1. Espresso – also known as Caffé Normale is the most classic coffee beverage in Italy.  It is a shot of espresso served in a small porcelain cup and it alone comes in many variations depending on the amount of espresso, the container it is served in, and the temperature.  If you would like to do it like the Italians: order it directly at the bar and drink it standing up.
2. Cappucino – one of the most popular Italian coffee “exports” that consists of 1/3 espresso, 1/3 milk, and 1/3 foam layered on top of each other.  In Italy it is most commonly consumed for breakfast.  Italians even frown upon ordering it in the afternoon.
3. Caffè Macchiato or Macchiato Caldo – if you need a shot of espresso for the caffeine boost, but the taste is too intense, order one of these.  It adds a bit of steamed milk to the espresso.
4. Latte Macchiato – this drink is the Caffé Macchiato’s counterpart, as the amount of milk and espresso are the opposite.  It is a glass of milk with a shot of espresso poured over.  If you prefer half coffee/half milk order a Caffé Latte.
5. Caffè Corretto – in this coffee a little bit of alcohol is added to the espresso.  It is great to consume after meals.  The most common types of alcohol added are cognac or grappa.

Why do you not put this newly acquired information to the test by staying in one of the Venice apartments?  There you will find Caffè Florian located at Piazza San Marco.  This historical coffee bar which first opened in 1720 and is amongst the oldest coffee houses in continuous operation is guaranteed to serve excellent coffee, however be warned as great taste has its price here.  The price for a cup of coffee is one of the most expensive in the world.

Maike accidentally on purpose stumbled into writing.  She is the daughter of a German father and a Filipino mother; she grew up in Germany, lived in the US andDenmark, though currently resides in Barcelona.  To see more of her writing follow her on Twitter @antsinmypants15.

The following photo is my favorite from the photo shoot.

Which is your favorite photo?  More photos to come soon. . .

A couple of months ago I was invited to join TWIN: Toyota Women’s Influencer Network.  It is such an honor and privilege to have joined a community supporting a brand that I so passionately believe in.  Over the upcoming months you will see more posts regarding my relationship with TWIN, however, in my first post of the series I thought I would do a self-interview.

Are you a Toyota owner?

Yes, I have been one for almost four years now and I cannot imagine ever not being one.  Before I left for Graduate School in NYC I sold my car.  Once I returned to Charlotte, a city that has very little public transportation, I needed to buy a car again.  Right around the same time, the Toyota Prius was beginning to get rave reviews, thus I took one for a test drive.  It was love at first sight and the rest is history.

Why did you pick the color red?

Red in Chinese culture is good luck.  We all could use a little extra luck when we are on the road, right?  Plus, it is such a sexy color for a car!

Why do you like Toyota?

Honestly, I originally chose the Toyota Prius, simply because the car was fuel efficient — making it kinder on the environment and my wallet.  It was not until after I became an owner did I become a Toyota fan.  I have had nothing but the most pleasant of experiences throughout the years with both my car and with the employees when I need to have it serviced.  My Mom was so impressed herself that a year after I bought my car she bought one too (though in green).

Why the Toyota Prius?

I normally avoid hot topics on My Beautiful Adventures, but I have decided to touch upon one: the environment.  Our world is being destroyed with each passing day.  Whether you want to believe in “global warming” or not, it is impossible to refute that climate change is real.  I know that I contribute to it, just by being alive, so driving a hybrid is one positive way that I can help.  I personally feel as though it is a crime, yes I used the word crime, to create and buy non-hybrid cars.  There is no reason why the United States government cannot make a legal mandate that from this point forward only hybrid cars will be produced.

Disclosure: I was selected for participation in the TWIN community through a program with Clever Girls Collective. I did not receive any compensation for writing this post, or payment in exchange for participating. The opinions expressed herein are mine, and do not reflect the views of the Toyota.

We decided to arrive in Chicago a few days earlier than the party, just in case there was bad weather and we would have flight issues — a definite possibility for that part of the United States in December.  Our first hotel stay was at the Elysian Chicago, which was introduced to me via Kiwi Collection.

From the facade of the hotel alone I knew it was going to be special.  I love hotels that give you the feeling that you have walked into another world once you have passed through their front doors.

After we unpacked and spent some time luxuriating in our Deluxe Suite, we dined at the hotel’s casual restaurant Balsan.  The meal was destined to be delicious, since they serve baguettes as their bread option.

Instead of water, my husband and I chose to celebrate our trip to Chicago with fruit-infused caipirinhas.  We could not be more excited to finally, after six and a half years, be in the same place together for New Year’s Eve!

Lunch consisted of a creamed cauliflower soup and a goat cheese salad.  We decided to eat light, as later in the evening we had reservations at the Argentinean restaurant Folklore and we knew that we would be eating as though it was our last meal ever, because we both have a strong affinity for Argentinean food (especially since my husband is Argentinean).  Also, we had two dear friends joining us, one of them being the amazing Traveling Ted.

Our first day in Chicago could not have been more perfect (or so we thought).  Thanks to the Hyatt Regency Chicago, I was about to cross something huge off of my Bucket List!

Hope Street Hotel

When looking for hotels in Liverpool, look no further than Hope Street Hotel.  What is unique about this hotel is that it is located within a gorgeous historical building that was built in 1860 in the style of a Venetian palazzo.  The rooms are spacious with a contemporary design —  along with these rooms that are so luxurious that you will never want to leave them is a restaurant, The London Carriage Works, with world-class dining.  Another perk of the hotel is that it is only steps away from the best shopping and sightseeing in the city.

The Berkeley

A favorite of celebrities when visiting London is The Berkeley.  What is unique about this hotel is that retro movies are played on a big movie screen for guests on its perfectly manicured rooftop garden no matter what season of the year it is.  The hotel is located in the fashionable district of Knightsbridge.  The rooms are designed to impress and any need, want, or desire can be met by the staff.  The hotel also houses two of the city’s finest restaurants: Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley and Koffmann’s.

Malmaison Oxford

First Impression

I was smitten from the moment I walked through the Elysian’s front doors, as I was now in the land of ultimate luxury.  I could not wait to explore the entire hotel, however I was most eager to see my Deluxe Suite.  I was completely taken aback as I entered the room.  For a hotel in a major city, when space is extremely limited, it was almost impossible to believe just how large the room was!

Location

Having never been to Chicago before, I had no idea what part of the city to stay in.  Thus, I took a chance with the Gold Coast neighborhood, which is where the hotel is located.  This historical area is filled with designer boutiques, gourmet restaurants, and high-rise penthouses all within walking distance.  The Elysian fits in perfectly with its glamorous surroundings.

The Room

The bedroom in the Deluxe Suite is designed with a strong aura of simple elegance.  The bed was so comfortable that I never wanted to leave it — in fact I hardly left my room for the three days I was there.  My excuse as to why I hardly saw any of Chicago: the Elysian.

The flat-screen TV and iPod docking station were the perfect amenities in the already perfect room.

The Bathroom

You know that you are in a luxury hotel when there is a TV in the bathroom mirror.  It might be ridiculously indulgent, however I loved being entertained while relaxing in the bathtub or getting ready to go out.  I also very much enjoyed the designer bath products and terry-cloth robes.

The Extras

The Deluxe Suite had another room attached to the bedroom that functioned as a kitchen/living room/office.  In an appointed nook there was a sink, an ice maker, a refrigerator, and a microwave.

My absolute favorite part was the fireplace, which immediately turned on and filled the room with warmth with a press of a button, and that was a necessity since I was visiting in December.

Why It Is Andi’s Pick

Every luxury hotel should care about the details like the Elysian does.  No matter where you looked, there was a special touch that added sophistication and class to make certain that you would want to return over and over again for years to come.

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Today, I propose the awesome city of Berlin, where I realized this past summer while staying in one of the Berlin apartments, that the city offers more than just curriwursts (I cannot understand how they can like a sausage with ketchup and curry?)!  Thus, here you have some of the trendiest places for brunch in Berlin:

Café 100Wasser: Simon-Dach-Strasse 39

This is a place where for the price of a drink at a fancy bar (7.90€ Sat – 9.50€ Sun) you can have an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet with an international menu.

Café Einstein Stammhaus: Kurfürstenstrasse 58

Undoubtedly, one of the best places in Berlin for brunch; many consider it a classic.  Moreover, they have a cute leafy garden where you can eat.

Café Anita Wronski: Knaackstrasse 26-28

Excellent brunch served here, although space is taken advantage of as much as physic laws allow.  There are a great variety of coffees available.

If you prefer, you can also prepare your personalized brunch in your apartments in Berlin.  You only need to go to the supermarket the day before and even though you might be tempted to buy a dozen packs of donuts, remember to include fruits, natural juices, something salty and something lactic too.

Maria Climent is a 27-year-old Catalan lady.  After studying translation, she decided her life was odd enough to became a humor scriptwriter and by default, a blogger.  This is how she is now a mother of no one and a better person.  She also cooks her meals.

Upon arrival into the Eternal City, we immediately checked into the Kolbe Hotel, a stunning 15^th Century luxury hotel, with the the Roman Forum in its backyard.  Unfortunately, I would not be able to truly enjoy my two-level suite, as I had to be at the airport at 4AM for my flight back to the States, however when I return to Rome in the future I will definitely be staying there again.  Before our farewell dinner, we stopped at one of the most famous landmarks in the world: the Colosseum.

Dinner could not have been at a better restaurant, The Cabiria, located in the Rome Marriott Grand Hotel Flora, and Chef Luigi Sorrentino could not have created a more memorable last meal in Europe; even the table setting had creative touches!

The culinary journey began with fresh cherry tomato focaccia.

Our next course was rigatoni pasta “Amatriciana style.”

Our final course was a white fish with natural green beans and fried potatoes.

And to complete the meal, we had a delicious fruit tart with vanilla ice cream.

Our Travel Director Marco thought it was essential that we see Rome illuminated at night, thus we made two important last stops.  The first was to St. Peters Basilica, where the Pope just so happened to be that evening.

The second was to the Roman Forum, which as previously mentioned was conveniently next to our hotel.

As I was finishing packing, I was overwhelmed with the thought that I always have when traveling: life should be about exploring the unknown and embracing the joy of new experiences and relationships in other places.  We must begin the expedition and follow wherever the path leads.  And I highly recommend allowing Trafalgar Tours to lead the way from time to time.

There are nearly 20,000 olive trees throughout the completely organic agricultural estate.  The Frantoio and Moraiolo olives are picked by hand during the months of November and December and then pressed in the mill.  The finished product is Laudemio, a premium extra virgin oil with a high nutritional value and a taste that leaves you wanting more.

Lunch was served at Lo Spaccio, the estate’s restaurant, which also has an attached gift shop, where you can purchase the Laudemio along with other olive oil products such as soap and lotion, as well as a delicatessen that offers typical Italian products such as cheese, meat, and wine.

Besides the fact that the restaurant contained cosy rooms filled with charming furniture and crackling fireplaces, the panoramic views from the windows would make any meal taste sensational.

I could not wait to drown my pasta and bread in the Laudemio while looking out onto the Tuscan countryside.

I do apologize deeply for not taking any pictures of one of the many outstanding courses that we enjoyed, however I was too consumed by the greatness of the moment to capture it on film.  Before leaving though, I took one last, longing look out the window and made sure to count my blessings, which were abundant.

Now it was time to travel south to the ‘Eternal City’. . .