Allison Collins Writes

It has been a long time since I’ve updated my website and author social media. A lot has happened in the year since my last post, so let’s catch up.

First, I turned 30. Yay. The aches and pains of aging are already giving me a preview, and I’m ready to cancel my subscription to this whole “adulting” thing. Take me back to the days of feeling refreshed after three hours of sleep and not being incapacitated if I happen to sleep in a weird position. Back to the days of being a bit more carefree and not feeling as much responsibility with every decision. Despite this, I feel like my thirties will be a memorable and life-shaping decade.

It hasn’t all been bad or riddled with new medical conditions, though I did unlock a new allergy to medication. To ring in my thirties, I traveled Europe with my partner. England, Italy, Greece, and France to be exact. It was a whirlwind of a trip and a life changing experience.

The food was incredible. My partner ordered carbonara at nearly every restaurant we went to. Alfredo alla Scrofa, the birthplace of fettucine alfredo, was by far the best, though the portion left him wanting more. We split their fried anchovies. Neither of us had had them before, but something about them intrigued me. They were crispy, slightly fishy, and the lemon mint sauce added the perfect touch of freshness. I ordered their signature fettucine alfredo. It is mixed tableside. It’s the perfect blend of richness and creaminess from the parmesan and butter. Sometimes simplicity is best. Giolitti is also a must for the best gelato. The line was always long, but the wait was worth it. We both preferred the freshness of their fruit flavors compared to the richness of the more gourmand flavors. It was all delicious though.

Our second favorite place to eat was in Athens. Months later I am still thinking about the succulent lamb shoulder we had at I Kriti. The staff at the restaurant were lovely as well. We ate there two nights in a row because of how good it was. Another place we visited twice while in Athens was The Brunchers. Their cinnamon vanilla pancakes were the perfect combination of fluffy sweetness to start the morning.

In England I was able to see my favorite painting in person, The Swing by Jean Honoré Fragonard. The Frick Collection is a charming free art museum with a fantastic collection. Then we took a spontaneous trip to Disneyland Paris.

One of my lifelong dreams also came true. I am now the mother to a beautiful two month old. Pregnancy was relatively easy, though Athens in July at eight months pregnant was a challenge. It is truly amazing what the human body can do. My healthy little boy was born after 35 hours of labor. Motherhood has been an adjustment, but it also feels like one of the most natural things in the world.

I’m hoping this year will continue to see my dreams come true. I crossed off the top places on my travel bucket list, I became a mom, and now I hope to have my book published. That means I have to return to putting in the work. As I continue to adjust to motherhood, I hope to establish a better writing routine. I need to be more consistent posting both here and on social media. I need to continue to improve and refine my manuscript. I need to carve out time between feedings and diaper changes to write new stories.

Stay tuned to see how I do chasing my dreams.