Misha Lazzara

Hi! For those of you who are interested in traveling abroad but don't know where to start, or can't convince anyone to join you abroad, or feel overwhelmed with all the details--my friend Chondra and I planned an amazing trip this summer, and you are invited. (Chondra and I host the Band Wives Podcast together.)

Last winter, we visited Tuscany and had amazing adventures twisting and turning down single-lane roads in Chianti, eating our weight in pasta and relaxing by the wood stove fireplace in the old villa where we stayed. We were excited for the opportunity to travel again, this time with a larger group.

The trip is open to anyone interested in spending a week in Lisbon eating Portuguese food, drinking Atlantic wines and taking time to read, write, sketch and journal. The tour company provides transportation, hotel bookings, a guide / translator, a Portuguese cooking class, wine tastings and more--all included in the price of the trip.

The last day to book is June 2nd! Join us!

Learn more here including the itinerary, everything included in the cost of the trip and further details: https://trovatrip.com/trip/europe/portugal/portugal-with-band-wives-aug-2024

I have a whole new stack of books. Still working through a few on the last one, too. Am currently reading ten books. Is it an attempt to escape the real world? Who can say? You’re the one scrolling Instagram. So, stop pointing fingers.

I’m kidding. I try really hard to be present and love ‘the real world’ as much as possible. There is so much good here too. Despite, despite, despite. Thank god books are part of that world, here, comforting us and challenging us and consoling us and cajoling (what other ‘c’ words work here? Alliteration be praised).

Highly recommend You’re Not Listening by Kate Murphy. Drew me in and had me up reading unintentionally late. One of those books you don’t realize have you up reading past bedtime because you’re so absorbed. Has me noticing the disproportionate emphasis on sharing, talking and platforms vs listening, absorbing and purposeful quietness.

In other news, I got a haircut. It’s been pre-pandemic since I’ve changed it, and it felt past time.

Weekend in Washington. Lots of good food including semlas from Mikko, a lovely concert, about half an inch of snow (I’m grateful for even a dusting) and family time. It’s a 6-7 hour drive, which can feel tedious for just a weekend visit, but to me (a self-identified ‘yes’ person), it’s always worth it to JUST GO. Make the memories, connect with your loved ones, get out of the house, try a new restaurant, see some new (or old favorite) places, fabricate an adventure, hug a tree, visit a museum. Just go. Shake things up. It doesn’t have to be far. But if it is far, find a good audiobook. We listened to Brandon Sanderson’s Tress and the Emerald Sea on the drive, which helped the time pass by much more quickly.

Celebrating the last year of my 30s. I’ve been with my friends through everything. Love, pain, wins, losses. Some of these ladies I met on the sidewalk, some I met through this person or that person, some I’ve seen birth babies and lose babies and win jobs and lose men and ladies or gain ‘em or fall down then get back up again or whatever all over again. All of them have held my hand through anger, grief, confusion, joy, or whatever. I can come at them with anything and they’ll churn that wheat into warm bread. With butter. With jam. With whatever. We’ve been together through it all.

Together. 🤍

Panthers vs Buccaneers. Not a great season for Carolina, but Asa asked for tickets for Christmas, and we had the best time. The game goes so much faster in person than on the screen, and the sun was on our faces the whole afternoon. That was the best part…besides just hanging out solo with the middle kid. 🌞

Vågen Romjul 🤎

Sending all our love to you + yours ✨🌏🌲🎁❣️

There’s nothing like it ♥️🗽🎄🍎

Believe it or not: not the first time a party has ended with group bathtub photos. We were a circle of washerwomen in another life. Happy holidays!

Still haven’t put the holiday cards together, but it’s on the list. Like last year, I think they’ll be NYE greetings at this point. So: happy holidays, goddess bless, merry merry, we love you!

We owe all these pictures to . She really puts us in our places. 😅😘

A walk in the woods. “She made the world a more beautiful place.” 🩷

where the lovelight gleams ✨