Luxecycle

I’M GOING TO ITALY!

I have been saving up to study abroad in Italy for Fall semester all year. I didn’t want to even put “Semester in Florence” on my list of New Year’s Resolutions because I was so afraid I’d jinx myself. Today was the deadline to pay for the program or forfeit my down payment for my travel costs and tuition, and it was only yesterday that I finally got my money together

I’ve been struggling financially for the last two months, which is the main reason why this site hasn’t been updated regularly — I’ve been spending every single spare moment of my day in the pursuit of hard cash. In mid-May I was hit with a double financial whammy. The first whammy was when my horrible renters informed me that they were moving out. (Even though this is a heavily disguised blessing, it still meant that I would be out two months rent on my home. More on this later). The second whammy happened three days later when the company I do consulting for reorganized its executive ranks and terminated my contract. While I still have a great relationship with everyone at the company and I’m still getting regular checks from them for freelance work, I’m not getting the monthly retainer I’ve enjoyed for the last six months. Boo.

While I’m so excited to be studying Italian in Florence for three months, this trip has pretty much torpedoed my chances of fulfilling most of my New Year’s Resolutions for the year.

Yes, I know. The horror of First World Problems.

The first victim of Italy is my Everything Handmade Mandate. The first tenet of my Everything Handmade Mandate is that any new clothing I add to my wardrobe in 2011 has to be sewn or otherwise manufactured by me. While I haven’t had the chance to knit or sew as many garments as I’d like, I’ve been getting along just fine just wearing the clothes I already own. Unfortunately, this will soon change because I’m out of presentable t-shirts and black tights. The last time I bought plain white and black t-shirts and tights new was five years ago and it shows. In addition to being dingy and worn, I recently realized that my cotton basics are so decrepit that they are pretty much fermenting on my body. There is a point where you can no longer wash the sweaty smell out of cotton, and I’ve hit that point. These shirts are too stinky even for the gym. Gross.

Since my departure date of September 8th is fast approaching, I won’t have time to buy fabric and sew myself new t-shirts. Also, I don’t have one pair of tights with working elastic and without a major run in them. (They’re all headed to the potting shed where they will be recycled into plant ties). While I could get by without t-shirts for the rest of the year at home, I can’t pack efficiently for a three month trip without them, as t-shirts and black tights are the backbone of my extremely hardworking travel wardrobe. So, I’m off to the thrift store for the t-shirts and off to American Apparel to buy black tights.

On a positive note, I will be packing enough yarn for at least two sweater projects.

Also on the chopping block is my 52 Weeks/52 Jams Challenge. I’ve been canning like crazy all year–yes, I will be posting all the recipes when I’ve got a spare moment–but I don’t know if I’ll be able to source local, free produce in Europe. So, I’m playing this by ear.

As with the 52 Weeks/52 Jams Challenge, I have been dutifully writing letters every single week for the 52 Weeks/52 Letters Challenge, but just haven’t had a chance to upload the photos and write about each piece of snail mail. This challenge will actually get more interesting (and easy when I get to Italy). Who doesn’t want mail postmarked The Vatican?

The Anti-Christ. 1-800-DIVORCE. King Henry VIII. But I digress…

I’ve failed at the Fat Ass Challenge and rechubbed. I tried on my favorite jacket yesterday and I couldn’t button it. Since I haven’t had time to go to the gym in two months, I’m just going to put this challenge on the back burner until I get to Italy and lose ten pounds on my Gelato Diet.

Because of my mini financial crisis in May, I diverted $8,000 of my savings that were originally earmarked for extra mortgage payments to my Italy Trip. But now that I’ve paid for Italy, I’m back to socking away savings to get as close to my $25,000 goal as possible by the end of the year.