Dear Wannabe Diary,

I woke up today feeling shockingly refreshed. The stars must have aligned for me to get a decent night’s sleep. But as I sipped my morning coffee, reality hit: I should’ve been sipping espresso in Livigno right now. Yup, this was supposed to be our annual ski trip to the Italian Alps, the week I daydream about every summer.

Livigno: My Winter Wonderland

For the uninitiated, Livigno is a dreamy little Alpine village nestled on the Italy-Switzerland-Austria border. Think endless ski slopes, snow-covered mountains, après-ski DJs, live music, and a charming town that screams Hallmark movie setting. It’s a duty-free zone, too, which means perfume and wine shopping is practically mandatory.

For the last 10 years, my family and I have been flocking there every January. We split a spacious apartment with my parents (because shared costs = more spending money for pasta and Prosecco). Everyone gets their own room, so it’s relatively toddler-friendly. The routine? Morning skiing for the adults, snow play with my daughter, hearty lunches, and exploring the town at night.

But not this year. Thanks to placenta previa and my OB’s “no long car rides, no stress, no fun” orders, I’m grounded. Nine hours in a car is off the table, so my parents went without us. And here I am, scrolling through their photos of the trip, battling major FOMO, and trying not to cry into my reheated leftovers.

Next Year: Ski School and Chaos

Next year should be interesting. My daughter will be almost three, old enough for ski school (thank you, Livigno, for starting kids at three). I have high hopes a professional instructor will do better than me shouting, “Pizza slice, pizza slice!” while she stares at me like I’m nuts.

Oh, and by next year, our newest little family member will be eight months old. If all goes well, they’ll enjoy their first dose of fresh Alpine air. My daughter visited Livigno for the first time at ten months and loved it, even slept through the entire overnight drive. Those were simpler times.

A Day in “Quarantine”

So, how did I spend today instead of skiing and sipping grappa? Trapped indoors with a not-yet-fully-healthy toddler. I’m counting down to Wednesday when she’ll finally be cleared to go back to daycare. Honestly, I’d send her tomorrow, but I’m trying to be a responsible mom and follow the doctor’s orders.

It was a pretty uneventful day. Blog work, toddler time, meditation, and a lot of how much longer can I survive this? thoughts.

Lunch: Cauliflower Soup

Lunch was a culinary masterpiece born out of necessity—cauliflower soup made entirely from leftovers. Yesterday’s beef broth, the other half of a cauliflower, and a couple of sad potatoes hanging around the kitchen. Five minutes of prep, some blending, and voilà: a toddler-approved hit. She even licked the bowl.

Dinner: Avocado Shrimp Toast

Dinner was equally slapdash: avocado spread and shrimp on homemade bread (courtesy of my partner, the bread-baking king). It was divine, but my toddler wanted nothing to do with it. She demanded another bowl of soup, which, luckily, I had. Crisis averted.

My Cooking Adventures

For more of my “wannabe chef” creations, check out my Instagram highlights. I don’t cook every day because daycare lunches are a lifesaver, but when I do, it’s usually something quick, semi-healthy, and shockingly delicious. Recipes? DM me—I love sharing my shortcuts to culinary glory.

Final Thoughts

Today was a meh day, and I’m not ashamed to say it. Sometimes life is boring, and sometimes you’re stuck indoors wishing you were anywhere else. But hey, at least my cauliflower soup was a win.

Oh, and if you want to torture yourself like I am, keep an eye on my Instagram for some throwback Livigno photos. Let’s all daydream together.

Signing off,
Wannabe Ski Bunny (Stuck Indoors)