From the Sardinian recipe box: Gigantic Zucchini … Bread

Posted on June 27 by Jennifer Avventura

A friend who lives 3km down the curvy mountain road cultivates her own vegetables: eggplant, tomatoes, every herb known to man and gigantic zucchini. Each and every year her surplus is big and beautiful and this year I’m able to taste the fruits of her labor.

For the first time in recorded history … I’ve made Zucchini Bread. Many moons ago, my sister went on a zucchini bread making binge which lasted months, she gave zucchini bread away as gifts for birthdays, Christmas and weddings! At the time she was new to gardening and wasn’t aware of the growth potential in zucchini, hence, her gigantic garden of zucchini and the hundreds of loaves that followed. I’ve been a zucchini bread lover since. Here’s the recipe I scoffed off the internet for which, the author is a gigantic zucchini lover too. Continue reading →

Caldareddu maccu in Sardegna – It’s crazy hot in Sardinia

Posted on June 18 by Jennifer Avventura

I’m not complaining, really, I’m not. I’m happy summer is here, I’m happy the sky is blue and the birds are singing their lovely summer songs, but … it’s HOT in Sardinia. So hot in fact that I’m pretty sure I’m melting. So hot in fact, that the winds have pushed the hot African heat our way turning our once lovely veranda into a 35° melting pot.

When the hot burning heat of Africa is upon us, what do we do? Well, for starters we head to the nearest beach and strip down to our ~~birthday~~ bathing suits and take a nice long swim in the waters of the Mediterranean.

How do you keep cool during the summer months?

Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says

Posted on June 1 by Jennifer Avventura

The sign says … this way to Jamaica, mon. I spent the last 12 days in the hills of beautiful Jamaica and this is what I saw …

On our way to Negril, Jamaica.

Anyone up for some Seapuss?

Naked lights?

How about come Cow Foot to start your day?

Interesting restaurant names in Jamaica … Food Spot.

The Jerk Spot

The Rehab sports bar!

Black the Streets concert with Sizzla! Oh yah, mon!

Want to see more signs from around the world? If so then click here.

Travel theme: Beaches of North West Sardinia

Posted on May 12 by Jennifer Avventura

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted something on My Sardinian Life and when I saw Ailsa’s theme this week I knew I just had to post some of my favourite beaches in North Sardinia.

(Click on any header name to read a more complete profile of these beaches, plus more photos!)

Li Feruli

Li Feruli by Jennifer Avventura 2012 (13)

Isola Rossa

Jennifer Avventura 2012 (8)

La Marinedda

La Marinedda by Jennifer Avventura 2012 (4)

Tinnari

Jennifer Avventura (5)

I hope you’ve enjoyed the photo montage of my favourite beaches in The Gallura. If you want to see more fabulous beaches from around the world, or even sign up and add your own then check out Ailsa’s Travel Theme at Where’s My Backpack.

Have you been anyone of these stunning beaches in Sardinia?

Travel Theme: Roads

Posted on March 5 by Jennifer Avventura

This week’s travel theme by Ailsa at Where’s my backpack is roads. Sardinian roads are curvy, fast, mountainous and covered with little surprises.

My favourite road in Sardinia with a Nuraghe.

Jennifer Avventura My Sardinian Life (37)

A favourite hiking road.

Cascabraga by Jennifer Avventura 2012 (6)

A very curvy mountain road – taken from the top of a mountain.

Jennifer Avventura My Sardinian Life (49)

My Sardinian running road.

wwwp5k (3)

A typical farm road, leading to paradise.

Jennifer Avventura 2013 (2)

My favourite Sardinian road scene; covered with sheep.

Road by Jennifer Avventura 2013

What are the roads like in your neck of the woods?

Don`t forget to check out my new blog My Caymanian Life.

Buon Anno – Here’s to 2013

Posted on December 31 by Jennifer Avventura

Jennifer Avventura 2012

Where will you ring in 2013?

My Sardinian Life’s Top 12 Posts of 2012

Posted on December 31 by Jennifer Avventura

It’s been a busy and exciting year at My Sardinian Life; I’ve witnessed traditional festivals high up in the mountains and had the pleasure of being crushed by i Candelieri at the fantastic, energetic festival in Sassari, Sardinia. I’ve virtually met some of the most fantastic bloggers out there today and you’ve all inspired me to blog on; you’ve humbled me and made me laugh out loud one too many times and you’ve even made me shed a few tears. Thank you.

I’ve put this little post together to highlight My Sardinian Life’s top posts and pages of 2012. I’ve already done a year review of my favourite photos from 2012 and you can see it here. According to the wonderful stats by WordPress, here are …

My Sardinian Life’s Top 12 posts or pages of 2012.

1. Home page / Archives with 45,928 hits!
2. Top 7 Shirtless Italian Soccer Players with 5,283 hits.
3. The naked truth on nude beaches in Sardinia, Italy with 2,854 hits.
4. Aboot me (thanks for checking me out) with 2,413 hits.
5. A Mediterranean Medusa | Sardinia, Italy with 1,696 hits.
6. Cost of Living | Sardinia, Italy with 1,618 hits.
7. How to make tomato sauce like an Italian with 1,402 hits.
8. My Expat job struggles | Sardinia, Italy with 1,095 hits.
9. Contact page with 1,088 hits.
10. Start Here page with 1,053 hits.
11. Top 11 Reasons why Living in Sardinia Rocks with 869 hits.
12. The Raw Reality of Expat Life in Small Town Sardinia with 862 hits.

My Sardinian Life’s Top 12 Search Terms.

1. Medusa with 657 searches.
2. My Sardinian Life with 438 searches.
3. Living in Sardinia with 259 searches.
4. Rossella Urru with 207 searches.
5. Gianluigi Buffon with 164 searches.
6. life before the interner with 164 searches.
7. jennifer avventura with 153 searches.
8. Andrea Pirlo with 144 searches.
9. Andrea Pirlo shirtless with 143 searches.
10. Buffon with 141 searches.
11. Sardinia with 131 searches.
12. forza Italia 2012 with 129 searches.

I’m SUPER stoked that people searched more for me than Andrea Pirlo! Snaperiffic!

Wishing you all a safe and successful new year. Thank you for sticking with me these last two years – each day I learn something new.

What’s your most popular post? Drop the link in the comment section below.

My best kept secret at My Sardinian Life

Posted on December 5 by Jennifer Avventura

Besides my immediate family; only two of you, in the internet world know about my best kept secret. It’s been a secret for so long that I’m bursting at the seams with excitement, anticipation and nervousness. I mean – this is something I’ve done before, I’m no rookie. I know the ins and the outs of this game; I’ve played it many times in my career.

But now, it’s just a bit different – because my heart and soul are here, in Sardinia.

In the last several years I have struggled with finding decent employment to the point of frustration, tears and hopelessness. I have written about it several times in the past and you can read about it here and here.

This post is not about what happened in the past – it’s about what’s going to happen in the very near future.

My Sardinian Life’s best kept secret is …

Continue reading →

1st Place for My Sardinian Life in the 2012 Canadian Blog Awards

Posted on December 4 by Jennifer Avventura

The votes are in and My Sardinian Life takes 1st place in the 2012 Canadian Blog Awards – in the category of Best Travel & Expat Blog – snaperiffic! It was a close one; so close in fact that there was only a 3 vote difference between 1st & 2nd places!

And now, on with the acceptance speech:

Firstly, I would like to thank Jonathan Kleiman who took copious amounts of time to organize this award for Canadian bloggers across the globe. Jonathan is a Toronto Business Lawyer and a Small Claims Lawyer and his side gig is organizing fantastic blogging awards. I wonder how he does it? If you need a lawyer, be sure to click Jonathan’s name above – and I’m sure he can sort you right on out. So, thank you Jonathan. I appreciate all the hard work you’ve done in the last year to make this award a reality.

I would also like to thank all of those that took time out to vote for My Sardinian Life – you helped make this award a reality and to you I am grateful.

Thanks to you!

My number one fan – my Mom.
Every family member that voted.
My virtual friends from Sardinia – grazie per il vostro continuo supporto. Ho imparato molto da voi in questi ultimi anni sulla tua terra, il tuo mare e delle vostre tradizioni. Grazie. La Sardegna è la nostra da scoprire.
My Italian Reflections group – if it weren’t for you lot I would have gone bonkers long ago!
The Virtual Tourist crew.
My Twitter followers.
My first real life blogging buddy in Bagni – you showed me that anything is possible.
All my Facebook fans & friends and to all the expats around the world, who are living their dream.

2012 Canadian Blog Awards 1st

Raise your glass high; I salute you.

From the bottom of my heart – thank you!
Jennifer Avventura

2nd Blogiversary at My Sardinian Life

Posted on November 22 by Jennifer Avventura

There was a wonderful little reminder from WordPress this morning:

Thank you for reminding me WordPress!

Today, November 22nd, 2012 is the two-year blogiversary for My Sardinian Life! I can’t believe that I’ve written about this lovely island in the Mediterranean for this long. It seems like just yesterday when I took the leap of faith and signed up for a blog on WordPress – now two years have gone by. It’s been a fun and interesting adventure where I’ve learned about Sardinia – her people, cultures and magical traditions.

To my readers, followers and stalkers – thank you. If it weren’t for your words of encouragement in these last two years – in all honestly, I would have given up. I have virtually met so many wonderful, inspirational, courageous and brilliantly fantastic people via My Sardinian Life – I have learned from each of you. You have made dark days seem brighter and even managed to turn already sparkling days into moments of magic. It humbles me to be among your followers. Thank you.

And now I have a little treat for you all, and I do hope you enjoy.

The Best of My Sardinian Life (according to you … and the stats.)

1496 followers spread across various social media outlets.
394 posts – 395 after this article is posted. Wow, I remember having to write a 500-page essay as a teenager and the thought of getting a tooth pulled was more appealing, how things have changed – for the better.
Top 5 search terms:
1. medusa – 591
2. my sardinian life – 428
3. living in sardinia – 222
4. gianluigi buffon – 164 (you’re welcome)
5. jennifer avventura – 153 (thanks Mom)
Top 5 pages & posts:
1. Top 7 Shirtless Italian Soccer Players – 4,897.
2. Aboot me – 2,278
3. A Mediterranean Medusa | Sardinia, Italy – 1,546
4. The naked truth on nude beaches in Sardinia, Italy – 1,518
5. Cost of Living | Sardinia, Italy – 1,336
Top 5 Views by Country
1. United States of America – 23,027 views.
2. Italy – 13,768 views.
3. United Kingdom – 9,081 views.
4. Spain – 8,329 views.
5. Canada – 6,386 views.

The best of My Sardinian Life’s photography – enjoy the show.

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Thank you for sticking with me these last two years. My aim in the coming years is to give you the best Sardinia can offer. Come on over – she’s waiting for you.

Why did you start to blog?