40 Is the New 30 (Milan Edition)
It’s official – I turned 40 this past weekend! I rang in this fabulous new decade in Italy (more on that below). The amazing thing is, I feel better than ever (even better than I did when I turned 30).
I often joke that:
- Your 20s are your toddler adult years
- Your 30s are your teenage adult years
- Your 40s are your grown and sexy adult years
I believe that life only gets better after that too. Whatever our age, I think it’s worth celebrating.
I remember for yeaaarrrrs, I used to downplay my birthday, never wanting anyone to make a fuss over me or do anything particularly celebratory. In fact, one year, I actually attended a work conference – by choice – on my birthday (oomph!).
But, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that we only get one shot at this amazing human adventure. I, for one, am going to celebrate myself every single year until my very last breath.
And where better to celebrate 40 than in Italy?
We spent a day and a half in Milan and two in Lake Como. It was a whirlwind but also a total blast!
Here’s what we got up to in Milan (and Lake Como).
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A Personal Shopping Treat
As soon as we landed, I headed straight to meet Alessandra, my personal stylist for the day, in the Piazza Liberty, a bustling shopping hub right near the Duomo.
Naturally, she looked head to toe chic and whisked me away to some wonderful stores in search of staple wardrobe pieces. Our time together was both educational and inspirational; I learned so much from her, which I share in more detail here.
What’s a Trip to Italy Without Pasta & Gelato?
Felice e Testaccio
For dinner that night, we dined at Felice e Testaccio, which had long been on our radar.
We started with a salad, marinated artichokes and a glass of crisp Prosecco. Of course, we ordered pasta for our entrees – opting for the carbonara and cacio e pepe (the latter of which the restaurant is famous for).
Watching the waiter toss the pasta in the cacio e peppe was a show onto itself and J’s carbonara was out of this world. The pancetta provided the perfect saltiness and the sauce was bellissima!
Casa Infante
Of course, we had to balance the salty with the sweet. So, after dinner, we went in search of gelato, enjoying a stroll through streets and admiring the incredible architecture along the way. Milan has a distinctly cool, urban feel to it, unlike other major Italian cities; I can totally see why it’s considered the New York City of Italy.
Late into the night, the city center was still bustling and when we stumbled on a line for Casa Infante, we knew we found just the right spot for some gelato.
I think the hallmark of any great spot is the quality of its simplest offering. So, we got vanilla and when I tell you it was unbelievable, I mean it was UNBELIEVABLE! Immediately after sharing our first taste, J and I shot each other a, “god damn, this is delicious” look; that’s how good it was.
New Hair, Who Dis?
The next day, I went to Christian Colombo Salon where I had a hair appointment. Without a doubt, it was, hands down, the most incredible salon experience I’ve ever had.
When I arrived, I was on the fence about whether to cut my hair – I was craving something fresh but was all over the place about what style I actually wanted.
Just one look at me and the owner, Christian, knew exactly what we should do. He grabbed his iPad and showed me a hairstyle that I fell in love with – the perfect layered (long) bob. He proceeded to give me one of the best cuts ever.
And the wash and conditioning experience… unreal! The combination of being in the massage chair while getting my scalp washed and massaged felt heavenly. When all was said and done, I was ecstatic with the final result!
Vogue
The real reason I got my hair done that day was because we had a photoshoot planned. A year ago, friends gave me a gift certificate to Flytographer for a 30 minute session. It’s a company that sets you up with a photographer almost anywhere in the world to capture your special travel moments.
Initially, I resisted the idea of ever using it because I generally dislike taking pics – so much so that J and I never even took professional photos on our wedding day (yep, definitely regret that).
But with turning 40, I figured, “why the hell not?”
We met Alice, our photographer, at the entrance of Castello Sforzesco, an iconic medieval castle in the heart of the city (where Leonardo Da Vinci himself once spent time as an artist).
Within minutes of meeting Alice, she immediately put us at ease by talking us through her location strategy and sharing ideas on different poses (something we never would have thought of).
Throughout our 30 minutes together, Alice gave us constant reassurance, which was extremely comforting. J and I always joke about how unphotogenic we are but we were beyond pleased with how the pictures came out!
If you’re ever looking to capture special moments when on holiday in Milan, I cannot recommend Alice enough. Although she is affiliated with Flytographer, she also has her own photography business, which you can read more about here or even check out her brochure.
I Hadn’t Really Lived… Until I Tried All’Antico
After our shoot, we grabbed lunch at All’Antico Vinaio where we ordered the sandwich special – chock full of the most incredible prosciutto, ricotta, roasted peppers, and olive oil.
The bread was perfectly pillowy and crusty at the same time; I later learned it’s called schiacciate – a Tuscan-style bread.
The best news? You don’t have to travel all the way to Italy to get it because there are locations in the U.S.: New York, LA, and Vegas!
Just a Place to Rest
We checked out of our hotel, The Radisson Collection Santa Sofia, right after the shoot. It’s a beautiful hotel and we liked the location (walking distance to the major sites but not in the thick of the hustle and bustle).
Honestly, we barely spent much time there aside to sleep but would absolutely stay again if/when we’re in town again (though… full transparency, I would also loooovvvvve to stay at these more boutique spots – here or here).
Once we checked out, it was off to Lake Como!
xoxo
