Eternally Fashionably Late

Healthy Weight, Healthy You

2012-01-28T13:53:00.000-05:00

I'm really trying to eat a cleaner diet this semester and trying to work out more. That's one of the best things I find about doing my own grocery shopping - I try to stick to buying fruits and vegetables, lean meat, healthy snacks, and pasta (yes, I know it's a refined carb which you are supposed to stay away from but I needs me some pasta in life.) I have quite the sweet tooth, but there is just something about living on my own that makes me eat healthier and shy away from comfort/boredom snacking.

When I hung out with a friend over winter break, she left me a link for a pilates video on my Facebook wall and today was the first time I tried them out. I am now officially obsessed. Here are two videos [one and two] for beginners that introduces you to pilates basic form and techniques. The first is a total body workout and the second is an ab workout. Enjoy!

First Day Jitters

2012-01-26T18:45:00.000-05:00

After a semester last year of no working and just classes, this semester is gearing up to be a busy one. I'll be taking five classes, will hopefully have an on-campus job, and have just started an internship at a local marketing firm. Classes start on Monday, but this was my first day at the internship. While it's not a magazine publication which is what I'm hoping to get into upon graduation, any experience in the marketing field, especially digital, is one that I will take full advantage of. Here is a quick snapshot of what I wore on my first day today:

I am wearing: Sweater: (August Silk); Tank: (Old Navy); Skirt: (Gap);

Stockings: (Betsey Johnson); Flats: (American Eagle)

Apologizes for the horrendous quality - the woes of a terrible hand held camera. Ces't la vie. I have some exciting news coming up so...get excited :)

You Can Fall Out Of Bed

2012-01-24T17:07:00.000-05:00

Breaks always fly by so fast; alas (what a funny word) here I am at the end of my final winter break and at the beginning of my final semester as a college student. That's a lot of beginnings and endings read within the last five seconds. I drove up Saturday with my mom and was delighted when she stayed the night. Sunday morning was all about brunch, shopping, and restocking the apartment. While I am excited to be back here in Bing, one of the saddest feelings ever felt is when a loved one leaves you to go back home. Luckily I wasn't alone for long as Meg arrived just as I was saying good-bye to my mom. And now here I am. Classes start Monday and for the few days beforehand, I'm just hanging around, enjoying lazy freedom and job hunting before the hectic semester begins.Looking for a part-time job is quite the pain in the ass. Just saying.

I read this interesting article in the New York Times that states that the new hair and make-up trend for 2012 is "effortless, minimalist, just-out-of-bed-with-your-lover," a look that is “coming home from the party, not going out to the party.” College students everywhere rejoice! Any look that embodies messy hair and smudged eyeliner is one I am a fan of. I think I can safely say that I was ahead of the trend on this one (re: always having messy hair and no makeup in lecture although I despise seeing students wearing pajamas outside of their dorms) One thing I am not looking forward to seeing as part of this trend is the "Popsicle Mouth." That look needs to end when you graduate kindergarten. I have always tried to maintain a minimal makeup routine, so I am glad that this trend is in now and will still probably keep "in" long after it is "out."

I am wearing: Sweater: (American Eagle); Tank: (Old Navy); Leggings: (Costco); Slippers: (Walmart); Glasses: (Dior)

In celebration of this new beauty trend, I was inspired to do a post in my lounging clothes with no makeup and messy hair.This doesn't digress far from my normal look,but usually I put some kind of effort in looking presentable before taking self-blog-pictures.But hey, a trend is a trend and who am I to argue? Tonight, I'm going to see Beauty and the Beast in 3D with Meg and I am beyond excited! Did anyone else see it in theaters yet?

Dancing In A Minefield

2012-01-23T17:18:00.001-05:00

Plushgun - Dancing In A Minefield

The Hunger Games: The Girl On Fire

2012-01-20T21:19:00.002-05:00

I am a huge fan of The Hunger Games Trilogy - I read through them so quickly and have re-read them for a second time over winter break. I could go into all the reasons of why I love the books, but I'll simply recommend them to you to see for yourself. The movie adaption is coming out on March 23 and in anticipation for the awesome costumes that the characters will wear, In Style has asked twelve designers to interpret a look that the female protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, dons at a pivotal moment in the beginning of the novel. Here are some of my favorites:

Christian Siriano

Charlotte Ronson

Christian Cota

The Blonds


BCBGeneration

Beauty And The Beast

2012-01-13T17:26:00.003-05:00

Celine Dion & Peabo Bryson - Beauty And The Beast
In excitement for the movie coming out in theaters today :)

These Past Few Days...

2012-01-11T17:01:00.000-05:00

I am ashamed to admit that I've been in hibernation mode these past couple of weeks. With the exception of the holidays, I have been a certified couch potato. As much as I love being home on break, the days filled with a whole lot of nothing get tedious and I long for the moments where I am running from library to lecture hall. I've always been like that though - while I look forward to breaks to have some down time and be with my family, I love how active life gets throughout the semesters.

Don't worry, it's not a real horse

This past Thursday, I met up with some high school friends to catch up over sushi. On Friday night, I babysat my little cousin, slept over, and made a quick trip down the next morning to the Upper East Side where I met up with my friends again for a tour of the Guggenheim Museum. The main exhibit by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, showcases his takes pieces of past exhibits by hanging them haphazardly on display from the top of the Guggenheim rafters. Everything is all mixed up and the pieces seem to be carelessly thrown next to each other. Because the pieces seemed to have been thrown together recklessly, when you moved around the exhibit, there were new pieces to discover behind the larger pieces that blocked it. Though I found it intriguing and fascinating, I really felt that the admission price of $15 was a bit steep. Here is a brief background on the artists and the exhibit from the Guggenheim site that you can visit here:

"Hailed simultaneously as a provocateur, prankster, and tragic poet of our times, Maurizio Cattelan has created some of the most unforgettable images in recent contemporary art. His source materials range widely, from popular culture, history, and organized religion to a meditation on the self that is at once humorous and profound. Working in a vein that can be described as hyperrealist, Cattelan creates unsettlingly veristic sculptures that reveal contradictions at the core of today’s society. While bold and irreverent, the work is also deadly serious in its scathing critique of authority and the abuse of power."

Other special exhibits on view included Kadinsky's Painting with White Border, Pop Objects and Icons from the Guggenheim Collection, and Surface, Support, Process: The 1960s Monochrome in the Guggenheim Collection.

Central Park

After spending some time in the museum, we grabbed a late lunch at Lexington Candy Shop, a cute little luncheon that is reminiscent of American "Pop" History. It was like eating at a place that was frozen in time from the 1940s. There are authentic dusty Coca-Cola bottles from around the world displayed in the two front windows, autographed pictures of celebrities that have visited, and an original menu displayed.

Belvedere Castle

The two bff's

Not a random stranger, just my friend :)

After grabbing a quick bite, we wandered around Central Park for a while and took silly pictures. By the end of the day I was exhausted and my feet hurt from all the walking. This upcoming weekend is going to be fairly busy as well. On Thursday, I'm meeting a friend that goes to school in Boston to catch up over lunch and frozen yogurt, on Friday I'm volunteering at a ballroom dance competition, Saturday I have a "Pampered Chief" party to attend, and Sunday, I'm volunteering my afternoon again to the dance competition.

What plans do you guys have!?

Source:

http://www.guggenheim.org/

2012 Resolutions

2012-01-06T03:15:00.003-05:00

So here are a few resolutions that I have for the new year that I am going to try my absolute bestest to keep. I tried making them small and realistic so that way I might be a bit more successful at keeping them despite previous year's failures. So, without further ado and in no particular order...

1. Drink more water. Don't leave the house without a full travel 20 oz. bottle of water every morning before class. Try to refill multiple times throughout the day.

2. Listen to my stomach. When it's full, stop eating. It's a very European method, or so I've been told.

3. Try eating well rounded dinners by making sure my plate is filled with veggies and lean meat next to any carbs.

4. Dedicate 1 hour a day for 3 days a week to exercise by either jogging around the neighborhood or doing Youtube videos of different exercises.

5. Mediate a few minutes before bed by taking deep breaths.

6. Listen more, speak less, and think before talking.

7. Live in the moment and enjoy life!

Christmas in the Ozarks: Silver Dollar City

2012-01-03T02:24:00.006-05:00

Instead of starting off 2012 with a New Years Resolution post, I have an even better surprise for you! Katie is a friend of mine that I made when studying in Italy and I am super excited that she is guest posting for me! When you finish reading, go check out her site where you can read about her adventures as a college student and see where she has traveled while abroad. Enjoy!

Hi! I’m Katie. I’ve been a blogger for almost a year now! I started blogging at La Vita e Bella to document my amazing study abroad experience. That’s where I met Stephanie, when we had a food class together in Florence! It’s also where I became obsessed with blogging. I started a new blog about my life this past August at Life Of Katie I hope you’ll check it out!

I live in a town just outside of Springfield, Missouri. That’s in Southwest Missouri, in the area known as The Ozarks. I live about an hour‘s drive from Branson. I’m sure you’ve heard of Branson. Everyone knows Branson: The shows, the gospel music, the shopping outlets, the old folks . . . It is what it is. If you’re living in the Ozarks, you’ve got to embrace it.

My grandparents live in Jefferson City, but they make the three hour drive to Branson several times a year. It’s become a bit of a tradition for them to come to Branson just after Christmas and spend several days between Christmas and New Years. They stay in a timeshare, and my aunts, uncles, and cousins come down and spend some time there as well. The main Branson attraction, at least for us: Silver Dollar City.

Silver Dollar City is an old-fashioned 1880’s-themed park that opened back in 1960. There are numerous things to do at SDC. There are roller coasters: Wildfire, Thunderation (I cried the first time I was finally tall enough to ride it with my mom—it was terrifying. Haha.), and Powder Keg (0 to 60 in 3 seconds). There’s a creepy ride called Fire in the Hole, SDC’s first roller coaster. It still freaks me out. There are water rides: The American Plunge and The Lost River (the best ride on a hot summer day). The Giant Swing might be my favorite—it’s huge! The Flooded Mine is a ride where you shoot laser guns at targets and try to get the most points. Geyser Gulch, a huge water play area, is a great place to be during the heat of the summer. You can take a ride on the Fresco Silver Dollar Line Steam Train, where you ride through the park and are held up by train robbers. (“THIS—is a stick up!” is said by one of the robbers holding up a stick. Classic.) You can tour Marvel Cave, a cave discovered in 1869.

There’s an old schoolhouse, a church, a swinging bridge. You can watch glassblowers and blacksmiths and woodcarvers, basket weavers, taffy-pullers, candle makers, and potters at work. (Did I mention that all the employees dress like they’re from the 1880s?) You can walk through Grandfather’s Mansion—a fun house. There’s a carnival area in the park with rides like the Pirate Ship and the Teacup Ride.

There are all kinds of shows to see: The Saloon Show, The Homestead Pickers, and various shows in the Opera House, The Dockside Theater, The Gazebo, The Amphitheater, and so on.

Food options include pork rinds, funnel cakes, veggies and potatoes and meat cooked in giant skillets, fried foods, refreshing root beer, ice cream with strawberries in the summer, hot chocolate and hot wassail in the winter. Kettle corn, roasted drumsticks, nut brittles from the candy store. As you walk around the park, you are greeted with smells of all kinds of delicious food wafting through the air.

Throughout the operating season (March through December, I think) are different festivals: World Fest, Kids’ Fest, Bluegrass and BBQ, An Old Time Christmas. Though I love coming to SDC in the summertime, I think my favorite time of year there is Christmastime. The park is decorated with around 4 million lights and a five story Christmas tree. There is a parade at night, right after the must-see lighting of the enormous tree.

Some of my favorite childhood memories take place at Silver Dollar City. I remember Mom packing up lunches in a cooler and snacks in our fanny packs. (Yes, I had a bright pink fanny pack that I actually wore.) I remember loading up the van and bringing an extra change of clothes for the ride home, because my first outfit would always be soaked by the water rides. My family would drive down to Branson, park the car, take the tram to the entrance, and spend literally all day walking up and down the hills of Silver Dollar City.

Mom would usually buy a big bag of kettle corn or a funnel cake to share. We would ride as many rides as possible (and as many times as possible), only stopping to watch a show or if we needed to rest our feet. We had contests on the water rides to see who would get the wettest. I always loved the doll shop (I’m not sure if they have it anymore) and the bookstore, and watching the ladies in the candy shop make peanut brittle. They also used to have (and I’m not sure if they do anymore) a little petting zoo with goats and sheep (I think) and baby bunnies. When it got dark and we were too tired to continue, we’d head back through the park, wait in line for a tram heading towards our parking lot, and I would be fast asleep by the time we drove out of Branson.

This year, I’m 20. I drove down to Branson myself. I didn’t bring any snacks. I didn’t wear a fanny pack. I met my grandparents, aunt and uncle, and four of my cousins at the entrance of the park. We got there around noon, when the park opened. The rides opened at 1, and my cousins and I spent about three hours walking around and riding rides.

Some shops in the city

The Christmas tree before the lighting

The Old-Fashioned Church

Wildfire Roller Coaster

My cousins and I being silly

Chance pointing the way to the Giant Swing

The Giant Swing!


Chance, Me, Whitni, and Hance

We made sure to get all the good ones in: Wildfire, Powder Keg (twice), Thunderation, Fire in the Hole, The Giant Swing, and four of the carnival rides. We were “rided out,” by later in the afternoon, and I made sure to get some hot chocolate. (SDC’s hot chocolate is the best, and I have to get it when I come at Christmastime.)

Hot Chocolate: A tradition

We met up with my aunt and uncle later on, after Grandma and Grandpa had left. We went through Grandfather’s Mansion, watched a show at The Opera House, and then we waited for the Christmas Tree to light up before heading home.

The Christmas Tree at Night

Christmas Lights Everywhere

Silver Dollar City is just as old-fashioned, just as fun, and just as magical as it always has been. If you ever find yourself down in the Ozarks, make sure to spend a day at this theme park. I’m positive you will leave with memories that will last a lifetime.

Big Lighted Wreath at the Silver Dollar City Entrance

Thanks for reading about Christmas at Silver Dollar City! You can read Stephanie's post about Christmas in another (slightly bigger) city here!

Thanks so much for guest posting on my blog Katie! Don't forget to check out her awesome blog, Life Of Katie, and leave her some love!

Happy New Year 2012!

2011-12-31T21:02:00.001-05:00

Wishing everyone a

HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

May this New Year bring you new goals, a new beginning, and all the joy, happiness, blessings, and luck in the world! Celebrate in style, whether that means staying in wearing your pajamas and drinking sparkling cider or partying until the wee hours of the morning in your sparkly mini dress and holding flutes of champagne. Despite some people's argument that New Years is just another day, I like to believe that it is an official time to renew and refresh; I'll be looking forward to a clean slate with the hopes that this year will bring everyone countless amounts of love and happiness. I know that I am very thankful to have my family and friends in my life and everyone for sharing in my adventures on this blog - I'm so grateful! Thank you!

A Look Back Of 2011

2011-12-30T23:55:00.000-05:00

The end of a year always amazes me; I can never believe how fast the months go! 2011 was an incredible year for me with many ups and a couple of downs. The most memorable and obvious "up" was my study abroad experience in the first half of the year. I still look back fondly on my time in Italy and exploring the different countries and cities in Europe. I also had a great summer interning at a national magazine in the city and moved in for my senior year with my best friends. Another absolute favorite and once-in-a-lifetime moment was meeting the cast of Harry Potter, both at the New York premier for Deathly Hallows part 2 and at Daniel Radcliffe's Broadway show. The "down" times such as the flood in the beginning of the semester as well as figuring out my next academic moves were difficult but provided me with the sense that the bad times help you appreciate the good ones and that things will always get better with a positive attitude and a hopeful mind.

To be perfectly blunt... :P

Putting pictures of all of the great times from 2011 would make this an extremely long post and even trying to decide on a small few of my absolute favorites was really hard! And so I used pictures that I found on tumblr. I was so blessed and extremely lucky with this past year and am looking forward to another exciting, memorable, and fun year and will try my bestest to appreciate all of the good times and embrace any bad ones that come along.

I love list-making: to be honest, I am a list aficionado! I find that writing things down in bullet points and crossing them off helps clear my thoughts. Resolutions for the new year are no exception and so I am currently creating a list of small attainable resolutions for 2012 and will post them in the New Year. However, if anyone noticed on my right side bar, I had a list of big "To-Do's" before the end of the year and am delighted at finding that I accomplished most of them.

"Exploring The World" was an obvious one though it was contained to just Europe. Being a study abroad student, I got bit by the wanderlust bug and can't wait for another big adventure overseas. While I would love to return to the countries I've visited, I have my sights set on Eastern Europe and countries further East. I haven't gotten a "Drastic Makeover" yet, but I did cut my hair to a shorter length (you can see the before here and the after here) and am trying to convince myself that dying my hair to a red hue is a good idea. I've never dyed my hair before so technically, this would be considered drastic for me. As for "Hosting A Party" I had some friends come over for my 21 birthday celebration, but I would hardly consider that hosting - my mom helped me with most of the planning and cooking. So that will still remain on my list, as well as "Be In A Photo Shoot" - that hasn't happened at all unless you consider me begging my friends to take pictures of me in front of historic building abroad! I felt as if I "Made the Most Of My Wardrobe" by limiting my spending of new clothes and re-wearing everything differently. As for "Organizing My Living Space" I try my best to keep my room and apartment clean and will continue to do so!

What are everyone's New Year's Plans? I'm going down to Jersey to celebrate New Year's Eve with my old roommates and then on New Years Day, I'm going to a family friend's house for our traditional dinner. Anyhow, peace, punch, captain crunch, I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe weekend!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T09:33:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone has a lovely, wonderful Christmas filled with lots of laughter and love!

Hot Chocolate, Checkered Flannel, And A Tree

2011-12-22T15:36:00.004-05:00

On Monday evening, I went down to Manhattan to visit my good friend for a cup of hot chocolate in a coffee spot. We talked for a few hours about various happenings in our lives and then separated as she had a dance class to attend. Having traveled down to the city, I decided to take advantage of my time alone; I finished my Christmas shopping and gazed through the windows of department stores decked out in holiday decorations. I also managed to make a pit stop at Rockefeller Center where I shamelessly asked tourists to take pictures of me in front of the famous Christmas Tree. I still have plans to go down and see the tree again on Christmas Eve with my siblings, but it was nice to take in the sights by myself and absorb the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season. I'm so excited for the next couple of days! I hope everyone has been in much of the Christmas spirit as I have been!!

Christmas colors!

Outside the Lord and Taylor's department store

One of the many window decorations

My outfit choice was once again simple and comfortable. I pulled this old shirt out of the back of my mom's closet which was the best choice as it kept me nice and warm under my pea coat. I added the scarf for a little bit of color and brought along my trusty Italian leather bag.

I am wearing: Shirt: (Unlabeled from Mom's); Jeans: (Levi's);

Boots: (DSW); Scarf: (Pashmina from Boscovs);

Bag: (Florence Leather Market);

Pea Coat: (Michael Kors)

Also, yesterday was the shortest day of the year, so it's longer days from here on out!

Mission Christmas Gifts: Almost Accomplished

2011-12-18T03:07:00.002-05:00

I was hoping to have an outfit post for today, but instead stuck to jeans and comfy tee-shirts this whole weekend. Hopefully, I'll find inspiration early next week as some fun plans are lined up. I'm super excited to go see the tree in Rockefeller Center, but am going to have to wait until Christmas Eve, right before we go to church for the Christmas Vigil and then to my aunts house to celebrate with my baby cousin (he's 2 years old, but I'll always refer to him as "baby cousin.") In the meantime, I got most of my Christmas shopping done (yay!) but still have to buy gifts for my dad and brother. Why does shopping for men have to be so hard? *Le sigh.

Some Favorite Christmas Movies

2011-12-16T11:41:00.004-05:00

Certain things make people feel nostalgic. A particular smell, for instance, can bring anyone back to a time or place, sometimes it can even bring up a certain feeling. Movies for me are nostalgic, especially around Christmas times. When I watch the above films, most of them bring me back to a certain place of being younger and watching them with my brother and sister. With the exception of the newest releases (like The Holiday and Love Actually,) the other movies all stir childhood feelings. Elf has become a tradition in my family to watch it after our big Thanksgiving dinner. It has become the official kickoff for the Christmas season. Lifetime and ABC Family have less of a sentimental value but are always fun to watch the original movies. Nest year, I'm going to try watching more old classics along with the above movies and see if they can become incorporated into our families Christmas viewing traditions.

The Santa Clause
Elf
The Holiday
Love Actually
Home Alone
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
ABC Family Original Movies (The cheesier, the better)
Lifetime Channel Original Movies (The sappier, the better)

Home for The Holidays

2011-12-14T18:06:00.001-05:00

My papers are handed in, finals are finished, my commuting to campus is kaput, and I'm listening to Christmas carols as I write this. My mom came up to Binghamton to pick me up from school earlier this week and along with stocking up my apartment with bulky non-perishable items for next semester, we went shopping at the local mall and attempted to start our Christmas shopping to less than stellar results. Mom crossed some gifts off her list, but I left without a clue of what to get anyone. She stayed the night and the next day we made the journey home after I made a simple breakfast of hard boiled eggs, toast and tea (I'm still trying to hone my culinary skills and refused to let her help me out) We hit Woodbury Commons outlet which has been our four year tradition of ending my Fall semesters and immersing into the Christmas season. Though the air is chilly, there are carols playing throughout the area and we always enjoy our time wandering through the high end outlets.

I came home greeted with simple yet beautiful white lights decorating the exterior of our house and warm colorful figurines inside our house. My favorite is of course our tree peaking out of the front window with it's twinkling lights and the smell of freshly baked cookies that Nicole made earlier in the evening. Casey greeting me at the door excitingly is always the bow on the gift! Eleven days until Christmas morning!

Santa Clause Is Coming To Town

2011-12-09T17:18:00.000-05:00

Michael Buble - Santa Clause Is Coming to Town

Where's Winter?

2011-12-07T13:13:00.000-05:00

These past weeks have been quite a strange experience weather wise. The first and only time I have seen snow this season was on Halloween; the fluffy white powder hasn't made an appearance since and there were even some days in November where it felt like spring weather. While the temperature has dropped a bit since then, I still don't feel as if I am in a winter setting. I know it's not officially winter until the 21 of December, and I do enjoy not having to brace myself right before I exit through my front door, but at the same time, one of the charming things about Christmas is wearing all of the winter accessories! It's very difficult to be content when wearing a sweater, hat, scarves, and gloves, and then sweating through them on a brisk walk around campus. Until the snow rolls in, I'll just keep myself in a winter wonder by listening to Christmas music (particularly the new Michael Buble Christmas album), coming up with Christmas craft ideas, and drinking hot chocolate.

Picture:

Tumblr.com

Welcome To My Humble Abode

2011-12-05T17:36:00.001-05:00

This past weekend has been a really rough one. Without going into too much detail, it was just an extremely overwhelming couples of days that put me in a damper mood. Despite the circumstances and the feelings of inadequacy, I have tried to remain calm and optimistic and see the good that it has brought - no matter how much it sucks, it is important for bad things to be called to attention in order to reexamine your position and figure out ways to deal with it. Hopefully things will get sorted out within the next couples of days so that next semester flies by a bit easier. While I know at times, life can seem like an uphill slope, the best advice I can give myself is to remember that it is impossible to make and keep everyone happy, so if you do what you feel and know is right for yourself and for anything that you are in charge of, it is the only way you can go to sleep at night satisfied with yourself.

Anyways, I felt like a little venting does a mind good. Now onto the more fun stuff! I've been living in my apartment going on three months now and I have remembered that I haven't yet introduced it to my blog! I'll be showing just my room as the rest of the place is pretty messy. My room in this apartment is so much bigger than my original house and while I'm still in the process of decorating the walls, I've done a fairly good job at keeping things cleaned and organized with the exception of those times where I just don't have the time to clean..

I just took off my leaf garland after I got back from Thanksgiving break last week.

Well, I am off to finish my third paper of the week and to get a head start on studying for Thursday's final. Tomorrow I have a study party with my friend at her apartment where we are going to eat gyros, make a list of things to do over winter break together and to study (of course!)

Good luck to everyone who has finals within the next few weeks!

Ruche Winter 2011 Lookbook

2011-12-01T11:22:00.001-05:00

I discovered this cute little film look book of the 2011 winter collection for Ruche. I thought it perfect to start off the month of December and the fun festive holidays that the next few weeks will bring. Enjoy!

Happy December!

Drop Everything Now

2011-11-30T15:36:00.000-05:00

I was never a fan of Taylor Swift. I find her songs to be irritating, not to mention that almost all of them sound the same from the lyrics to the notes and melodies. I also noted a trend in her lyrics where she puts other girls down when the guy of her affections no longer is focused on her (prime examples: You Belong With Me, Better Than Revenge, Speak Now). Regardless of what I hold against her, I went with my sister on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving to Swift's last concert of her Speak Now tour as an early Christmas gift from my brother. I knew most of the songs from always hearing them, but the few that I didn't know, I was easily able to pick up and sing along to the lyrics.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed myself! The concert was great - the sets were beautiful, the special effects included firework type sparklers, confetti, a rotating tree, a flying balcony, and a stage that threw the performers up from the stage. The background dancers were incredible and demonstrated various types of dance from ballet to acrobatics. I'll give credit where credit is due - the girl can perform. The only thing that bugged me was how she would pause at the end of every song and listen to the crowd scream. Yes, I understand that there must be no greater feeling than hearing all of the loud screams from the thousands of fans while performing in Madison Square Garden at the conclusion of your tour, but still, I grew tired of her smirking at the crowds. Maybe I'm bitter that 20,000 people weren't screaming for me. It is possible.

While I'm still not completely devoted to her, I have changed my opinion on Taylor Swift and respect her as an artist and definitely as a performer. Selena Gomez and James Taylor came out to duet with her which was a fun surprise although I'll admit that I have no idea who James Taylor is.

What are your thoughts on Taylor Swift? Do you love her, like her, dislike her, loathe her?

Your Guide To Black Friday

2011-11-25T11:06:00.002-05:00

1. Stay home

2. Wait for Cyber Monday

Gobble Gobble,

2011-11-24T10:43:00.000-05:00

This year, as of every year, I am so thankful for my wonderful family and friends, my health and happiness, and especially for the incredible year I have had, both the good times and the bad. I will always be grateful for all the blessings I and my family have been fortunate enough to receive. May next year be just as wonderful as this one was. What are you thankful for?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tacori Jewelery

2011-11-17T10:48:00.000-05:00

I don't like beginning to celebrate Christmas until the evening of Thanksgiving, when the delicious dinner is done and we all sit as a family in the living room to watch Elf. Yet there is no denying that the festive season is quickly approaching. Stores are beginning to displays decorations of green and red as soon as Halloween is done and I can't help but feel rushed into the holiday spirit. While there is nothing I can do to delay celebrating the Christmas season until right around Thanksgiving, I have given in to starting a Christmas List. I am still adding on to my realistic wish list, but I also like to dream and pretend that I live in a perfect world where I can get my hands on Tacori jewels. Around this time of year I always scour jewelery web sites and pick out the pieces that I would get if I could afford to treat myself (or if I had a significant other to gift it to me hehe.)

Tacori has the most beautiful jewelery and within minutes I knew that I wanted every. single. piece. Well, a girl can dream. Until then, I have entered into a Tacori giveaway hosted by the lovely Mara of M Loves M in the hopes that instead of waiting for the day for a man to buy me a piece, I can possibly win it!

Have A Lovely Monday!

Did You Make a Wish?

2011-11-14T23:00:00.000-05:00

Last Friday was November 11, 2011 also known as 11/11/11. My roommate Meg is the musical director for the all-girls A-Capella group on campus, the Harper Harpeggios, or, in shortened form, The Pegs. They had their end-of-the-semester show last Friday night and the theme was Make A Wish with all proceeds of their show going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They sang a whole bunch of songs that was from Lady Gaga to Adele to Jason Mraz. Meg had a solo and sang A Fine Frenzy's Almost Lover. She and all of the girls in the group were amazing!

I am wearing: Jacket: (TJ Maxx); Tank: (Old Navy); Lace Tank: (Mossimo);

Jeans: (Sevens); Boots: (Unlabeled); Earrings: (Forever 21)

After the show we went to the after party at one of the friend's basement and hung out until we walked over to one of the Bars where we danced the night away. The next morning I made pancakes and snuggled to watch TLC reruns of Say Yes to the Dress.

My outfit was a pretty simple yet fun one. I bought this lace top last year and while the quality is slowly deteriorating, I love it to much to get rid of it without a replacement. I paired it with my trusty mid-calf boots and threw on a frilly light jacket. then I was off to enjoy the show!

Currently Adoring...

2011-11-11T19:09:00.002-05:00

So I have a David Guetta Pandora station playing in the background as I am getting ready for Megan's A-capella group, The Pegs, semester show. With the exception of last year (when I was in Ohio for my ballroom competition in the fall and then abroad in the spring,) I have been to all of her shows and can't wait for this one. In the meantime, here are some things that I am currently adoring.

Ellie Goulding's Bright Lights album

Started and finished reading Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Currently reading The Hunger Games trilogy - I finished the first book and am waiting to get my hands on the second one

Finished panicking about next semester. I'm now super excited for next semester's classes, including: News Editing, Costume Shop Design, and Argumentative Theory to name a few. The last class will be extremely helpful when debating on current topics with my brother - he's a lawyer now!

It will be one year since I left for my study abroad program in Florence, Italy so I am planning on starting to create and organize photo albums over the winter break. Scrap booking them will come later in life

A sneak peak of my outfit that I will do a future post on!

Have a lovely weekend and don't forget to make a wish!

Crippling Confusion

2011-11-10T14:51:00.002-05:00

Amid studying for a British Literature exam that I have tomorrow morning, completing an article summary for the Health and Wellness class that I have right after my exam, and catching up on readings for my Post-Colonial Theory class, (and finding time to write this blog post -clearly my priorities are in order,) I had to register for my next semester classes this morning - quite the stressful situation. I only need one more class to complete my English degree (a Shakespeare lecture) and so I had 3 more classes open and ready to go. Though I have considered taking a Sociology minor, poor planning on my part resulted in having to take too many classes in a short period of time - I'll admit it was ambitious of me to think, even for a second, that I could complete a minor as a second semester senior. Enter the panic.

Le sigh...what I wish I was doing right now - eating breakfast in bed

I know what I want to do after I graduate - go into the publication industry, preferably as a marketing or advertising agent, but I am open to whatever creative outlet opportunities arise. While I always considered my liberal arts degree to be sufficient enough, was it really? Doubt started settling in. Why didn't I decide last year, when I had plenty of credit time available, to double major in English and Economics? If not that, then why didn't I pick up a minor in Sociology earlier than at the end of this semester? I loved my Philosophy courses, so why didn't I consider getting a degree in Philosophy along with English? I know I don't need anything other than my English degree; I truly believe that the career I want to go into has more to do with how I have taken my education and bettered myself because of it than the amount of degrees I have. But what if it's not enough? What if I want to graduate knowing that I have more than one degree?

She must have had a difficult time figuring out her class schedule also :P

3 open class spaces. Sheer panic. What to do? Stop. And think. I could still declare a concentration within my English major and that was exactly what I did - I will be going into the English Department tomorrow to declare a concentration in Rhetoric. The three classes I signed up for underneath a rhetoric concentration will definitely be beneficial to a potential career in publication. While it is not another degree, it will give me a crucial learning experience that I will be able to apply to any future career - and that is what college and education in general is about anyway right? Well, that and all of those crazy weekend keg parties.

Trusting my instincts has gotten me to where I am today - and I couldn't be happier!

Well, I'm off to attend my evening lecture. Good luck to all of those who find themselves in a similar position I was in this morning! My only advice to you, learning from my mistake, is to think about the future and plan ahead. If you're unsure, trust your gut instinct and don't take "no" for an answer. I truly believe what is meant to be will be.

Happy Thursday!

A Denim Gem

2011-11-08T10:18:00.000-05:00

I found this distressed denim shirt lingering in my mom's closet over the summer and knew that it had to be mine. I don't think she has worn this since the mid-90s and the fact that it was still in her closet suggests that she is long past due for a closet overhaul. When I asked her for it, she suggested that I donate it to charity. I couldn't bear the thought of losing this precious gem and so I brought it with me up to school. I have been trying my hand at the whole vintage and thrift store finds but have been so far unsuccessful. I was always a bit uncomfortable with wearing stranger's clothing for various reasons, and as a matter of fact, the clothing that I found from the church rummage sale the other week has been sitting in the original bag. The fact that the shirt belonged to my mom was obviously without a question a sure reason to keep it as I love getting hand-me-downs from my cousin and salvaging anything my mom once wore. As for the rummage sale clothing, I am still skeptical to wearing my new old thrifty finds but after a few washes, I am sure that I will work them into my wardrobe.

I am wearing: Vest: (Mom's Closet); Dress: (Mossimo); Leggings: (Danskin); Sneakers: (Converse)

The dress was on a summer clearance sale from Target so I scooped it up and paired it with the denim vest and threw on some leggings and my trusty Converses for a cute casual look.

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

Buckle Up: Adventure Calls

2011-11-03T17:37:00.000-04:00

When I figured out that I wanted to be a Pan Am stewardess for Halloween, I dove head first into research. Below is the inspiration for my Pan Am costume this past Halloweekend. I have been watching the show weekly and used the ABC.com site as a useful resource for inspiration pictures and the helpful printable version of the Pan Am logo, the stewardess pin and the cap pattern. As previously mentioned, I found my navy suit and gloves in a church rummage sale (a whole bag of stuff for a mere $1) and bought my bag, blouse, and shoes at my local mall (the most expensive of the outfit)

Hair and Make-up Inspiration:

Rosy lipped and fresh-faced

Winged eyeliner

Pin straight hair and bangs

Minimal make-up; a very natural look

Straight hair and winged eyeliner

Uniform Inspiration:

And for your entertainment, a video I discovered on the beauty and glamour of the 1960s Jet Age. I hope if for next Halloween, you want to dress up as a Pan Am stewardess, this posts helps you!

Sticks & Stones

2011-10-31T20:27:00.002-04:00

The Pierces - Sticks & Stones

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Welcome To The Jet Age!

2011-10-30T23:24:00.003-04:00

Deciding what to be for Halloween is always a challenge. Last year, I pulled some shirt out of my closet and called myself a mime while the year before I found a cheap, 70s inspired dress and called my self a demure hippie. This year however, I knew what I wanted to be right away: a Pan Am Stewardess! I have been watching the show weekly since it premiered in September and I am hooked! I've always had a small piece of me that loved the 1960s - Down With Love is a guilty pleasure and I have just started watching the Mad Men series. How To Succeed in Business is also set in the 60s and I was in love with the costumes, set design, soundtrack, and of course Danielle Radcliffe.

This was one of those costumes that came together effortlessly. I thought I was going to have a lot of difficulty finding a blue suit, but the church down a side street had a rummage sale and I found this baby and some white gloves; along with my two costume essentials, I purchased two flannel shirts, two dresses, two books and a lace dress all for the price of $1. I was in shock that the main part of my costume cost about thirty cents. I bought the blue handbag at Burlington for $12.99 and the black heels for $30.00 The heels were a bit more than I wanted to spend, especially because I have so many black pumps back home, but I knew that I was going to get a lot of use out of them so I didn't mind paying a bit extra.

I wore nude stockings that I already owned and was so sad to find that at the end of the night, there were holes in the toes. The label on my bag and my cap were printed from the ABC site and assembled quickly with tape before I left the door. Meg and I had our friends come to our apartment to hang out a bit before went downtown. The rest of the night was spent dancing away and figuring out other people's costumes.

What did you dress up as!?

Apple Something

2011-10-28T18:19:00.002-04:00

A promising set up

With the temperatures dropping, summer is long gone and autumn is slowly leaving us too. To cross some final things off of my autumn to do list, I decided to make an apple pie. I had the apples all set, all of the ingredients, this recipe (filling only), and the promise of an easy, no bake crust. I was ready. I started peeling the apples; what I thought would have taken 20 minutes at best, took me around an hour. My arm was tired, my fingers were near sliced off so I just said "too bad" and decided not to finish peeling the amount of apples required. I made the easy crust in two minutes (all that was required was an addition of water) and I shrugged off the fact that I needed to dust it with flour. Well, guess what: I needed flour. On top of the crust dough being too sticky, I also lacked a vital rolling pin. This wasn't going as planned, so I decided to improvise. I rolled the sticky dough out in my hand and made different shapes that I could fill with the apple/sugar/cinnamon filling. It went from being an apple pie to apple turnover mutations on crack. I had so much apple filling leftover that I dumped it into a store bought crust (that I was planning on using for a pudding pie) and threw both "creations" into the oven.

Post-exhaustive peeling but still, a glimmer of hope

Embarrassment

Don't let them fool you; they look better than they tasted...and that's saying something

They came out decent at best. Because the crust dough wasn't rolled out, the apple mutations were too crusty and thick. As much as I love pastry crusts, too much crust and not enough filling do not make a good combo. As for the sad excuse of an apple pie with no crust cover, the apple filling dried out and, though I ate the whole damn thing, I enjoyed it only a little bit. Oh well. I'm not discouraged and will definitely try making a pie again during the next apple season, but for now, I'm going to turn off the oven and leave it to the pros: Mrs. Betty Crocker

Happy Halloweekend!

Re-Focus

2011-10-26T22:59:00.000-04:00

I can't count how long it has been since I have featured an outfit post. I'm pretty annoyed with myself, especially because that was the initial point of this blog - to document my daily outfits, experiment with different looks, note the current different trends and to ultimately see how my personal style has evolved over time. While I love the fact that my blog has essentially become a life and style blog, the style part is greatly lacking. So, while I will continue to document any kind of recipe I make in the kitchen and all the fun activities that go on from being a college student, I am making a promise to myself, right here and right now, to blog more about my personal style. Starting....now.

I am wearing: Shirt: (TJ Maxx); Vest: (BCBG Max Azria); Jeans: (Calvin Klein); Sneakers: (Converse)

A special feature on my camera that I was playing around with

So while my next post is going to be on food (desert in particular...my favorite!) and my room, I am focusing on getting back to my blog roots and featuring more of my personal style!

The Writer

2011-10-21T21:20:00.001-04:00

Ellie Goulding - The Writer

Baby Cakes Pop 'Ems

2011-10-18T22:10:00.000-04:00

I'll be the first to admit, I'm not great in the kitchen. Even with the cooking class I took in Tuscany and a mother who should have her own Food Network program, I am a novice at best when it comes to creating dishes in the kitchen. For my final year in school and with living in an apartment, I was looking forward to really branching out and experimenting with that thing called a stove and that item known as an oven. With everything that happened with the flood, however, I was unfortunately without a kitchen for a number of weeks and got set back. I seized the opportunity of the down time I had when I was on break back at home at the end of September and played with my sister's new baking machine, Baby Cakes. I simply followed the recipe that was given and voila! cute little one-bite cakes to pop in your mouth. They came with lollipop sticks but I didn't use them as I knew that with my family, they would be gone before the day was over. Lies, I ate most of them before anyone came home from work or school.

This mixer was a wedding to gift to my mom. Yes, after 26 years of service in our kitchen it still works. My mom refuses to throw it out.

The Nature Preserve

2011-10-14T23:14:00.000-04:00

After class yesterday, I made the trek up the steep hill at the back of our campus and entered our nature preserve. The nature preserve is a huge area of woods with many different paths that students and community members can stroll through on lazy days or get a workout by jogging through the beautiful scenery. Although it extends past our university, the only two entrances are on campus. I must admit, that it felt walking through a fairytale. Despite it being a cloudy day with hints of drizzle here and there, I braved the muddy path and walked about fifteen minutes through to the expansive lake where the colorful trees were reflected in it's glassy surface. I crossed the bridge and ate a snack I brought with me while I sat and absorbed the beautiful scene. It is something that I definitely recommend to anyone. Find a beautiful spot in nature, sit in silence and take in the view.

My head got cut off but I liked the way it came out

So naturally I edited my head out of this picture as well.

A Preview of the Univeristy's Nature Preserve

2011-10-11T00:38:00.000-04:00

On Thursday afternoon, I have a class that lets out early, so straight afterward, I am going to venture into Binghamton University's nature preserve and snap some beautiful shots of the fall foilage before the trees turn bare and snow settles in. To give you a sense of how beautiful the nature preserve is on campus, take a sneak peak below,shot from Meg's camera phone. Yes, that is a lake.

Felt Leaves

2011-10-07T20:20:00.003-04:00

While I was home on school break, I occupied myself by doing some of my favorite fall things, like eating pumpkin pie and going to my favorite grocery market (Stew Leonards for anyone in the NYC/Westchester area.) During the times when I wasn't doing much at home, I created an arts and crafts project that was inspired from Elsie over on A Beautiful Mess. I bought some felt squares, cut a bunch of leaf shapes out of the felt, and sewed them together with brown thread. I hung it up in our living room for the remainder of my days home and have since put it around the perimeter of my closet at my brand new spanking apartment. Stay tuned for pictures to follow of my new digs!

Gonna Get Over You

2011-09-30T21:30:00.000-04:00

Sara Bareilles - Gonna Get Over You

A Fall Favorite

2011-09-28T14:24:00.002-04:00

Fall is a favorite season of mine for many reasons. The air becoming crisper, the leaves changing colors, snuggling up in a blanket for the first time, and the delectable goodies that can be devoured. The other afternoon I had my first pumpkin spiced latte for the season and can't wait to get my hands on another one. I came home for the week due to classes being canceled for the Jewish holiday and was delighted to find pumpkin pie waiting for me in the refrigerator. Along with spiced tea and pieces of apple crumbs sprinkled on the side, the slice of pumpkin pie was like a slice of heaven. The autumn season has finally taken a turn for the better!

I couldn't resist taking a nibble of the crust

Happy Wednesday!

I'm Still Here

2011-09-23T10:11:00.001-04:00

Hey Everyone,

I'm sorry for being so absent and for not getting back to your amazing comments of support. It means so much to me! I don't really have anything to write about at this point - hopefully we will be moving off campus into another apartment by next weeks time so I I can finally feel settled in. I can't wait to finally be organized! In the mean time, I was horsing around on the computer so here are a couple of silly photos I took of myself!

I am wearing: Glasses: (Dior); Top: (Victoria's Secret)

Happy Friday!

Pictures taken with :

Cameroid.com

Humbled

2011-09-20T22:50:00.001-04:00

It has been a long couple of days; my house is made up of two floors and the first floor, where Meg and I live, was flooded with water up to waist height. Needless to say most of our possessions and new supplies bought for the upcoming year were completely destroyed. Despite being in such a tough situation, I can't help but be hopeful and realize there is a lot to be thankful for. I have posted some pictures of the damage, not to get sympathy from everyone or to make anyone uncomfortable, but to show that even in times of trouble, there are clouds with silver linings.

I have been fortunate enough to surround myself with amazing people throughout the past three years. One friend in particular immediately said "yes" when I asked if I could crash on her couch for a few days. I will forever be grateful to her and her apartment mates. I am currently in an on campus dorm, living with Meg. It is always a comfort knowing that Meg will be there to come home to, but it is especially reassuring now. Other friends have been amazing by asking me how I am doing and even offering me a place to stay if needed. I have also realized that even though I am going through troubled times, my friends are also experiencing their own personal problems and it is really important for me to be there as a support system for them and to listen to their problems and to help out any way I can.

There are still many individuals residing in our university's Event Center evacuation site and for a couple of days I was able to volunteer. These people lost everything - their homes, possessions, and any tangible memories they made. By helping out at the Red Cross station, I was able to play a small role in helping people recover; but sadly I feel as if it is not enough. Listening to their stories made me realize how insignificant my situation is. Some individuals were extremely grateful for the help they received while others were very resentful towards the volunteers and were at times rude. I understand that they have a reason for being upset, but I have promised myself to learn from their mistakes and to always treat people with respect, especially if they are helping me out.

While I might be in a bit of a funk due to the disappointing fact that I don't know when I will be able to return to my house and that I can't enjoy any of my usual fall traditions such as apple picking (and baking a pie by myself for the first time) and decorating the house with fall decor, I'm trying to keep my spirits up. I made a fall to do-list and will try to accomplish as much as I possibly can while living in a dorm. I am humbled knowing that I have such a great group of friends and a loving family. So many people have lost their homes; I keep reminding myself that I lost a house for a bit and not a home. Material things mean nothing if you don't have the love and support of family and friends. It sounds cliche, I know, but until it happens to you, one cannot understand. I only hope that I can return the generosity given to me to others in times of need. Having a positive attitude and trying to see the bright side of things has really helped to keep my spirits up! "Life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it" - Charles Swindoll

Keep Your Head Up

2011-09-15T22:52:00.000-04:00

Andy Grammer - Keep Your Head Up

Ten Years Later...

2011-09-11T13:35:00.002-04:00

On this day, ten years later, stop for a minute to remember the brave police officers and firefighters who selflessly lost their lives to save innocent people, remember the innocent men and women lost, remember the families affected this devastating tragedy, and remember how love overcame hate. Do something selfless today to pay tribute to the innocent lives lost and never forget.

Flooded

2011-09-08T16:06:00.002-04:00

I was planning on posting last night about how much I love rainy days. Despite trudging to classes with my head bent against the wind and jumping over puddles, I took a nice hot shower, put on my fuzzy socks and cuddled under my blankets, ready to write a post and then watch a movie with the hopes that classes would get canceled all while listening to the steady rhythm of rain pounding against my window pane. And then I got the call from my landlord: all six of us needed to evacuate our house due to potential flooding - we live on a river front and with the estimated amount of rain, it is predicted to be the worst flooding in Binghamton history and that "the river level is over 25 feet, above the 25-foot record set in 2006 and more than 11 feet above flood stage. It's expected to rise another foot or so" and "it's unknowable at this point as to whether or not those flood walls in the city of Binghamton will hold."

So late last night, all of us packed extra clothing and our valuables and drove over to our university's Event Center where it was packed with the local community members. To pre-register would take a couple of hours and who knew how long it would take to actually register, get assigned a space, and then actually get to fall asleep. So we decided that we would find another place to stay and I was lucky enough to have a friend that lived on campus who generously offered me to stay with her. My other housemates either stayed with their friends or found a hotel.

When I woke up this morning the rained stopped, and I thought that everything would be fine and we could all go back to our house. However, roads are flooded and closed off, the river's in the area are at a record breaking high, and it is estimated that thousands of people have been evacuated. According to MSNBC, "the worst is yet to come. That was the message stressed this afternoon by state and county officials during a news conference regarding the flood event that leaders are saying is of “historical proportions'.”

Our local Walmart is completely gone. Those are the tops of cars.

We are all safe which is what matters most, but the news sites are continuously reporting that the situation is going from bad to worse and our landlord informed us that our first floor is flooded which is where mine and Meg's room is. I don't have any valuables left in the house, and I moved things to a higher shelf, but there is going to be a ton of damage. However, I'm keeping my thoughts positive and am surprisingly calm, so all should be well.

If you are in the Northeast area, please stay safe and dry!

Sources:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44436279/ns/today-weather/t/pa-orders-evacuate-flood-zone/#.TmjgHr9ydvA

http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20110908/NEWS01/110908036/Situation-bad-getting-worse?odyssey=mod_sectionstories

An Engaging Engagement Gift

2011-09-04T13:27:00.001-04:00

So we finally have internet in our house! I'm super excited although I must say that not having internet or cable for the first week was in a way refreshing. We were forced to make our own fun and while I'm sure that we will still continue to have movie nights, play cards, and simply talk in a circle, it was a nice way to start our last year together. But now, I can finally get to take my time making posts and catching up on all of my favorite blogs!

For two of my housemates engagement party back at the end of July, I searched their registry and got them the super cute tea kettle that they requested. I had it mailed directly to them but still wanted to get them a personalized gift that was creative. I feel like those small touches to any gift makes them extra meaningful.

I wanted to stay with a "tea" theme so I searched a few stores for some cute tea mugs and discovered these that I couldn't let go - I wound up going back and buying two for myself! My mom came up with the cute idea to mount them on a box of tea and she helped me wrap them up to have a cute finish. I also stuck a shot glasses in each of the tissue paper. One was was shaped like a bride and the other like a groom. I mean hey, we are still in college!

Your Song

2011-08-31T13:04:00.000-04:00

Ellie Goulding - Your Song

Sole Mates

2011-08-30T11:29:00.000-04:00

I'm all moved into my house and am super excited to have started classes as a SENIOR! I still can't believe this is my final year, but I am loving all of my classes so far and am having an awesome time living with all of my friends. The only problem is that I don't have internet yet and so I'm posting from a tiny corner in the library, so I apologize for the lack of replies! I'm supposed to get internet on Friday so I should be back in form then. Once I'm all done decorating my room, I'm going to do a before and after post, so I'm really excited to see how w it all turns out! Until then, lets talk about shoes, shall we?

When I was younger, my mom used to go to Payless to buy my sister's ballet slippers, and some fun cute sandals for us for the summer. She even got some shoes herself. However, we haven't shopped in the store for many, many years due to declining styles and quality. I would still go in to get some cute sandals that would last me throughout the summer, but discovered cuter and more practical shoes at other stores available in my area.

On a whim, one day, I went into Payless and spotted these babies: Christian Siriano for Payless peep-toe pumps and with a 50% of price tag, I couldn't leave the store without them. They are the perfect color to add as a nuetral to any outfit, and help elongate my legs. I've only worn them a few times into work but have brought them up with me to school to maybe get a wear or two out of them . The high heel is obviously impractical to walk around campus and they are too fancy to wear to a bar, but there might be some formal events that I'll get a chance to break them out. I saw Siriano's work in Payless prior to these, but never found anything that tickled my fancy. With these pumps, however, I have found a new sole mate to share my life with. I can't imagine how excited and over joyed I'll be when I get my first pair of Louboutins (however long that takes!)

Party Pieces

2011-08-25T13:14:00.000-04:00

Back in the beginning of July, I had a small backyard get together and completely forgot to feature a post on it. I was hoping to take lots and lots of pictures of all of the food that was made and how it was presented outside on my deck, but due to the sweltering heat and the buzzing insects, the food came out in spurts, so there was no way for me to take a picture of everything looking nice on the table. But I did manage to capture a couple of snap shots.

Paper Lanterns to hang on the tree was a small touch

Hydrangeas and Tiki torches are the center pieces for a soon to be full tabletop

Marinated tropical chicken ka-bobs to be grilled

How To Succeed

2011-08-24T10:00:00.002-04:00

On Sunday, Nicole and I ventured down to Broadway to catch the 3:00 pm matinee performance of Daniel Radcliffe's show, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. It was amazing, probably one of my favorite Broadway shows that I've seen so far. Even if you're not a Daniel Radcliffe fan, the story is cute, the music is a-mazing, the dances are wonderful, and the set production and costumes were so stylish and nostalgic of an old time 1960's New York City (think Down With Love). I definitely recommend seeing How To Succeed... if you were looking to see a Broadway Show.

John Larroquette signing autographs on the first night we were there

After the show, we were able to get the autographs of John Larroquette (J.B. Biggley) and the understudy for Bud Frump, but due to the rain, Daniel Radcliffe (J. Pierrepont Finch) signed extremely quickly and left. We were extremely bummed that we were unable to get his signature. However, the two of us were determined to get it, so after my internship yesterday, Nicole met me in Midtown, we grabbed dinner, and then we staked out the stage door for four hours. At the beginning, when the light was still out, the time passed so slowly. However, we were successful in getting Daniel Radlicffe's autograph along with John Larroquette (again) and Christopher Hanke (Bud Frump), it was worth it.

Christopher Hanke

John Larroquette

Daniel Radcliffe

Success in getting all the autographs!

I never thought I would be one of those people who wait incredibly long hours to see a premier or a show, but it was fun and totally worth it. Sometimes you have to get lucky but other times, you need to plan it out and be patient. We were standing right in the front, so not only did we get our playbills signed, but we were able to briefly talk to them. An awesome and exciting way to end my summer!

Cape Cod

2011-08-22T22:42:00.001-04:00

This past week, my dad had off from work, so we packed our bags and hopped in the car. We decided to go up to Cape Cod since it was a nice vacation spot close to Boston so we could pick up Mike along the way. Two of the friends that I made in Florence live in Cape Cod, but I unfortunately didn't see them due to the fact that I was with my family. The first couple of days were rainy, but the weather cleared up so we were able to walk around the storybook neighborhoods, look at the gingerbread houses on Martha's vineyard, and eat our weight in delicious home-made ice cream. The car ride up was cramped since it was the three of us stuck together in the back, but we made the best of it for the most part and had a relaxing week of sand and sun.

Back In A Jiffy

2011-08-18T23:39:00.001-04:00

Hi Guys!

Sorry for such a long absence! I have been on vacation for the past few days and will be home on Saturday with a whole bunch of new posts including a vacation recap, a new purchase, and some random happenings.

I hope everyone has been enjoying their last couple of days of summer!

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

Nicole's Style

2011-08-10T18:38:00.000-04:00

I have been urging my sister to create her own look book blog due to the fact that she has an awesome taste in clothing and wears everything flawlessly. I'll admit, that I sometimes steal some of her things ranging from shoes to trying to squeeze into a shirt or two. Butttt, in all fairness, she steals some of my stuff too. That's what you get though when sharing a room with your sibling (which makes moving into my off campus house next year with my own room even more exciting.) The other day, Nicole met me in the city and I captured some snapshots of her in order to feature her style on here.

Nicole is wearing: Shorts: (American Eagle); Tank: (Anthropologie); Bag: (Spring *Borrowed from yours truly!) ; Sandals: (Unlabeled); Necklace: (gift from Ireland)

Take A Look-Sie

2011-08-09T19:18:00.002-04:00

Here is a quick feature of some recent items I've acquired. I've been on a very strict budget this summer with a "spend as little as you can" attitude due to the fact that I've been working only as a babysitter and as a for-school-credit-only intern. Nevertheless, I've gotten some awesome new items this summer whether it be as gifts, hand-me-downs, or free samples. Take a look-sie!

A new fall blazer that I got as a hand-me-down. The mother that I babysit for was giving some of her clothes away to the church and kindly offered to let me go through them and salvage anything. I can't wait to wear this Nordstrom blazer this upcoming fall.

Another hand-me-down that I nabbed from the mother. Although it is hard to see in the picture, the short sleeves, collared top, and pattern scream that it was a dress from the nineties. Bloggers are always taking old pieces and creating them into something new or they throw on accessories to make something old look new again. With this piece, I felt like I was finally up to the challenge. Stay tuned to see if I can rock it or fail miserably.

My best friend Meg studied abroad in London while I was in Italy. When I went to visit her, I grabbed some tacky William and Kate wedding memorabilia because I was (and still) am obsessed with all things royal. This tote bag was a souvenir that she brought back along with the necklace-watch as my birthday gift.

When strolling through Camden Market in London, these necklace-watches caught my eye, but due to my tight student budget, I couldn't justify spending the hefty price tag (in pounds nonetheless.) They were in the back of my mind for the rest of my time in Italy and even when I got home. I was thrilled when Meg gave this to me as a gift. True thoughtfulness! <3

Our family friend went to Ireland for a summer vacation and was so sweet to think of my sister and I. She brought this lovely necklace back from the next country that I can't wait to visit. I have worn it a bunch of times and always get compliments on it.

This Sibu facial cleanser was a giveaway gift that I won from the lovely Erika's blog cafefashionista.blogspot.com. I have yet to try it but am excited to see the results.

Grand Central Station is the subway stop that I get off to go to my internship.In Vanderbilt Hall, Nivea celebrated their 100 years as a brand by giving away free samples of their products, having you sign up for a trip to Prague to meet Rihanna, and skin testing to see your elasticity and moisture levels. I grabbed the above samples before work and even snuck an extra sample of the body wash before I left for the day. The two pictures with Rihanna are creme tins in two different sizes and the bottle is body wash.

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On another notes, if you have a free moment, please go check out my cousin's blog, Project Home, as she documents the process of decorating her new house in Phoenix, Arizona. The last time I was in Arizona was for her wedding to my cousin, so I can't wait for our family to travel back for new fun times and to see the complete live version of their new home!

Good Life

2011-08-05T13:07:00.000-04:00

OneRepublic - Good Life

Dog Days of Summer

2011-08-02T14:51:00.000-04:00

Today marks the last month of summer and so I've decided to make a list of last minute things that I want to do before school rolls around. I always try to do these things sporadically throughout the summer, but always have in the back of my mind the thought that there is plenty of time. Now, with mere weeks left, by having them written down, I can see what I would like to accomplish before the leaves turn golden red and orange.

Print the photos from Florence and organize them in albums
Finish my book list
Sit on my deck and relax
Go to a farmer's market
Start packing and preparing to go back up to school
Jog around the neighborhood

My First Foray Into Guest Blogging

2011-07-27T10:09:00.000-04:00

Something felt wrong these past couple of days. A little bit off. And then I realized that it was because I haven't put up a new post in a while. An exact week to be precise. Whether it was from lack of inspiration, writer's block, or being too busy, I am in a summer slump. I have a bunch of exciting upcoming events though, so hopefully the writing and posting will pick up a bit. My friend's engagement party is this week so I have been busy crafting something unique and thoughtful to accentuate with the registry gift I have purchased - I'll make a post after I gave it to her.

But on more exciting news, I had my first guest blog post EVER on the awesome A Picture A Day blog by the lovely Abby. In my cloud of self-blog exhile, I completely overlooked the dates as to when my post was put up so here is a belated reminder to check it out! (How awful is it that I waited a whole week!?) The content is on traveling tips and tricks, so if you're getting ready for an adevnture, just coming back from one, or would like to see how my first guest post turned out, then please head on over to check it out by clicking here. Then, stay a while and look through Abby's blog because it is filled with wonderful pictures and all around awesome-ness.

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

Happy Birthday Mike!

2011-07-26T10:22:00.006-04:00

Today is my big brother's twenty-fifth birthday: he's a quarter century old! I just want to give him a huge Happy Birthday wish and the best of luck with these next three days on his exams. I can't wait for the cake tonight!

Happy 25th Birthday Mike!

Back To Black

2011-07-23T13:03:00.001-04:00

Amy Winehouse - Back To Black

R.I.P. Ms. Winehouse

It All Ends

2011-07-19T20:55:00.003-04:00

I remember the first time I heard of Harry Potter. I was in fourth grade, standing in line with my fellow fourth graders to go down to lunch when the classmate in front of me started talking about a book called Harry Potter. I thought it was a funny title to be named as it sounded like Hairy Potter and assumed that it was about a boy with a lot of hair.

Photo Credit: People.com

I remember the first time I laid my hands on the books. There were presents underneath our tree for Christmas and three of them were wrapped with the edges ripping (probably from me trying to get a peak of what kind of gifts I were getting that year.) I noticed that they were books and was excited as I was and still am quite the book worm. I opened them on Christmas morning and was delighted to get the first three books and proceed to read the first chapter of the second one first because I couldn't figure out how they were labeled. I then discovered the numbers on the spine and read all three in numerical order. I lost count of re-reading those books at 13 and that was when I was twelve years old.

Photo Credit: People.com

I remember the first time I saw the first movie. I was in sixth grade and went with my mom, sister, best friend at the time and her mom. We got in a little bit late and missed all of the previews. As we entered the theater, I looked up at the huge screen looming over me and saw an owl perched on a sign that read "Private Drive."

And now I can say that I remember the first time I saw the last movie in Harry Potter saga. I was on my way to meet up with friends on late Thursday evening to catch the midnight premier (12:35 actually as the earlier shows were all sold out) and got into a minor fender bender a couple of exits before I needed to get off. I was totally fine as was the other driver and my car was in perfect condition minus the fact that my driver's side mirror was swiped off and dangling on the side of my door due to it getting swiped. I got lucky in the sense that I was okay and that, for the most part, the car was fine, but I was so annoyed and upset that I couldn't see my beloved franchise coming to an end - my dad told me to come straight home.

I finally saw it on Sunday evening and I must say that I loved it! Everything from the acting, the scenes, the humor, and the sentiments, all of it. I, as well as all people my age, grew up with the three characters on screen and to see it wrap up beautifully was one of the most satisfying feelings. It was a two hour movie but it felt like it went by too quickly My only complaints was that they should have had a slightly better recap as I didn't get to watch Part 1 before I saw Part 2 and, while I know it wasn't in the book, I would have loved a better montage of the previous movies showing them growing up. Also, *spoiler alert!* while it was funny to watch Voldemort uncomfortably hug Draco towards the end of the movie, it didn't fit in with Voldemort's evil character and, though I got a good laugh, I felt they could have left that out. Other than that, it was all love, love, love.

On Monday, July 11, they held the premier in Lincoln Center, and while I knew that I wouldn't get anywhere close to the red carpet due to the massive amounts of fans waiting, I thought I needed to go, just to say that I was there and that I was a part of it. So after I got out of my internship at 4:00pm, I took the subway over to the west side with my fellow intern, and got to the place around 4:45pm, with celebrities due to arrive at 5:00pm. On a fluke whim, we went to the back of the theater where we had an awesome but distant view of the red carpet. I was going to see my favorite actors! Lo and behold, on sheer luck and good fortune, the police guards decided to take down the barrier and let us move closer to the red carpet. I was mere feet away from where they would stand and hopefully give autographs. Long story short, I got some great pictures (from my cell phone which makes them a bit blurry when increased in size), awesome videos, and autographs of Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Tom Felton in my Harry Potter book. It wasn't the seventh book as I brought the fifth one because I was re-reading it, but at least I got them in the cover! They rushed Daniel Radcliffe passed us and and Mathew Lewis was giving out very few autographs so I unfortunately missed his. Rupert was such a nice guy - he was taking pictures and trying to the best of his ability to get everyone's merchandise signed while Emma was nice but seemed a bit overwhelmed and was not as warm and friendly as Rupert. I still love her though! I also saw a bunch of other celebrities, as seen with the Sarah Jessica Parker shot above!

Mischief Managed!

All Photos:

By me except where credited

Video from Youtube

Harry Potter: One Word

2011-07-15T21:55:00.001-04:00

Linguini With Shrimp In Garlic And Oil

2011-07-14T17:32:00.000-04:00

The other night, after a full day of shopping, I wanted to prepare a quick and easy dinner, partially to give my mom a break, and partially because I want to continue cooking after a semester of taking classes. I'll admit that I have been slacking when it comes to standing in front of a stove, so I have been trying to seize any given moments when I can test out different recipes in the kitchen.

The one I tried for this particular dinner was very simple and easy and took mere minutes to prepare. I washed the pre-cleaned shrimp and sauteed them with peeled garlic, boiled the linguine, and threw everything together. While I didn't follow any particular recipe, but merely did what my mom directed me to do, here is a simple recipe that I found that is identical to my dish. Enjoy!

P.S. Is anyone seeing the midnight premier of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 tonight? I am and couldn't be more excited! I also went to the red carpet premier on Monday and have some very awesome pictures to share with everyone tomorrow!

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

Obvi-Lux

2011-07-11T10:49:00.002-04:00

Hello Loves,

I was recently contacted by the people behind a new site called ObviLux (obvious + luxuries.) The site is described as a "social shopping community that helps people find, save, and share clothing and beauty products. It was created by a group of design students in San Francisco who want to make online shopping and sharing easier for us."

What I personally like about the site is how I am able to organize various types of clothing, group it into different style sections, and see everything in one given space. It is a great place for me to see what clothes and beauty items are out there and for me to keep track of them in their own individual folders. While I prefer in-store shopping over online shopping, being a part of ObviLux helps keep ideas of the styles that I'm into at the moment and want to buy fresh in the forefront of my mind. I have just started Luxing, but you can join and follow my page here!

Poolside On The Fourth

2011-07-07T21:24:00.000-04:00

Hello Darlings,

This weekend I had some really fun plans to go up to Cape Cod, Massachusetts to reconnect with all of the new friends that I made in Florence and bask in the sun on a sandy beach, preferably with a cocktail in my hand. Unfortunately, plans got canceled (which has been happening quite a lot these past few weeks..grr!!) but luckily we moved them over to next weekend of the 15.

I still had a pretty relaxing, albeit uneventful weekend, that was filled with party planning, babysitting, shopping, and reading. On Monday, for the Fourth of July, my family and I, minus Michael who is busy studying for his Bar exam in Boston, went to visit my aunt and my cousin and took a gander over to the pool she joined. It was a lot of fun! My cousin as adorable as he is, always cries whenever he sees me so I'm determined to make him like me! I played with him for a bit in the kiddie pool and pushed him on the swings, so he warmed up a bit, but still was not the happiest camper.

I am wearing: Shirt: (DKNY); Shorts: (The Gap); Flip Flops: (Old Navy);

Bag: (Gifted); Hat: (Nine West); Sunglasses: (Betsey Johnson); Necklace: (Swapped)

After swimming with my mom and sister for a bit, we joined my dad and aunt back at the chairs and laid out in the sun for a bit. When we went back to my aunt's house, I took a quick shower to feel clean again and ate a cheeseburger and some fries. Very American of me, I know. After we got back to our house, we went across the street to my OTHER aunt/uncle and my cousins (they're both older than I am and thankfully don't cry when I am near them) and watched some fireworks from their back porch. Sure, fireworks are illegal in the state of New York, but that sure doesn't stop people in our neighborhood from buying them and setting them off. Pure entertainment for me.

I hope you all had a wonderfully fun holiday!

Tell me, what were your plans on such a festive day?

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

Happy Fourth of July!

2011-07-04T11:59:00.004-04:00

I hope everyone has a wonderful, fun, and exciting day! I can't wait to relax by the pool, see some fireworks, and eat some delicious BBQ food. Summer is in full swing and I am loving it!

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

Photo Source: Apartment34.bogspot.com

Planning Difficulties and Biscotti Con Noci

2011-06-29T09:44:00.000-04:00

Hello Lovelies,

Has anyone ever tried to plan a party and find that the menu is set perfectly, the decorations are easily accessible (and include some fun DIY projects) only to find that the guest list is the problem? I am trying to plan a small backyard BBQ, but find that the guests are having trouble coming - a lot of their reasons are legit, (work, family engagements, etc.) but some people don't answer and it can be frustrating trying to plan things and having everything in order except the most crucial piece - the guests! Anyways, I'm keeping my hopes up that everything will fall into place and have started preparing some things that I plan on cooking.

Burgers and hot dogs are a cinch, so I decided I would start trying out the most crucial of crucial aspects to any get-together: the desert. My sister is known for making chocolate chip cookies and my mom for her biscotti cookies so I am going to try and put a spin on both - chocolate chip biscotti cookies. I plan on making half of the cookies plain and half with chocolate chips. If I get ambitious, I might even dip them in melted chocolate and let them cool for a crunchy topping.

Here is Mom's recipe for Biscotti Con Noci:

Ingredients:

1 and 3/4 sticks of butter (melted)

1 and 1/2 cup of sugar

3 eggs

4 cups of flour

1 and 1/2 tsp of baking powder

chocolate chips, walnuts (optional)

Mix the sugar and eggs together. Add in the flour, butter, baking powder, and toppings and mix all together. Make long strips of the dough, making sure that they stick together. Place in a greased pan or on parchment paper and cook in oven at 375 degrees until slightly brown. Remove and cut in strips, Place back on the pan, place in the oven, and cook until golden brown.

These cookies are one of many deserts that I am going to try and create for the backyard BBQ bash!

Happy Wednesday!

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

Ready To Go

2011-06-28T22:26:00.002-04:00

Panic! At The Disco - Ready To Go

Curioser and Curioser...

2011-06-24T14:07:00.003-04:00

Hello Lovelies,

I can't believe how fast this past week has flown! The days literally rushed past me and before I knew it, Friday is here (not that I'm complaining. hehe) But seriously, can anyone really believe that June is almost done with? I always felt like the summers go so quickly but man, time is just slipping on by.

I am wearing: Blazer: (Larry Levine); Tank: (Old Navy); Jeans: (Calvin Klein);

Shoes: (Burlington); Bag: (Florence Leather Market)

I guess what made this week feel like it went so quickly was that it was jam packed with long days. Monday and Tuesday, I had jury duty and I must admit that it wasn't as bad as everyone was making it out to be. I brought my good old friend, Mr. Harry Potter with me and read the entire time for both days. I'm re-reading the series (you can check out my summer book list here which, I'm proud to say, I'm breezing through) Yes, I did lug the fourth book, which was not only hard cover but just happens to be the largest in the series, all the way to the Court House and back. Wednesday and Thursday are when I have my internship and while Wednesday was a little slow, Thursday was packed to the brim with things that I needed to get done.

This weekend has a lot more fun things stored for me: bowling with some old friends, having my entire extended family over for a summer BBQ and bikram yoga. Next week is even busier with work, babysitting, and planning for a Fourth of July weekend in Cape Cod! I snapped a couple of pictures of the outfits that I wore to my internship the past couple of days, so I will post those, as well as any worthy recaps.

Have an Awesome Weekend!

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

Genuine

2011-06-20T22:00:00.001-04:00

Hi Lovelies,

This bag was featured on a previous post, but I realized that I never gave it the attention it fully deserves. I purchased this bag in the San Lorenzo leather market on one of the last couple of days during my stay in Italy and I absolutely love it. It is genuine leather and buttery soft. It's is big enough to hold all of my essential stuff, a book or two (to read on the train going to work,) plus a couple of odds and ends items yet, at times, it's actually too big - it does take me a while to find my keys and phone when I'm in a rush. I have a lot of black bags at home (granted, they aren't real leather) so I wanted to go for a different color. What was most important for me, however, is that the bag should be a classic staple that I would wear season after season. This Italian leather one will see me for many summer's to come as well as helping me transition from summer to fall and spring to summer.

Wishing you all a very lovely day!

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

Birthday Lady

2011-06-17T20:55:00.001-04:00

Hello Loves,

Well, another birthday has come and gone and it's a whole year's wait until the next one. But this year, I feel, is going to be a good one! One of the things I'm most excited about is moving into a new house for my senior year and living with my best friends (two of whom got engaged in March!) I can't wait to decorate and show you the before and after pictures on here. This summer is also shaping up to be a fun one as I have several get togethers planned and have a pretty awesome internship with really nice people. I'm still working on that whole getting-paid-this-summer deal and panic is slowly starting to set in but if nothing comes my way, I'll just work overtime all of next year. Bad thoughts get me nowhere so I try to remain optimistic and think of potential solutions to any problems. It does have a calming effect.

I am wearing: Tank and Skirt: (Old Navy); Heels: (Unlabeled)

As soon as I went into the office of my internship, all of my new co-workers were wishing me happy birthday. My supervisor sent out an email to everyone with the day's agenda and wished me a happy birthday on the bottom, so everyone knew that today was the big 2-1. I also got a bunch of birthday text messages from my friends which always makes me smile :) For lunch, all of the interns and a couple of directors went to this restaurant, Perishing Square, right across from Grand Central Terminal and had a fabulous lunch! The best part was at the end when we all picked desserts to share, and the one I picked came out with a candle. Everyone sang Happy Birthday and I couldn't stop blushing!

For dinner that night, my family and I went to Bronxville for a yummy Mexican dinner. I ordered my first alcoholic drink and was expecting to get carded but didn't. So bummed! Haha! I'll admit it was weird to have a drink sitting next to my parents, but now that I'm of age, I can do it at any family gathering and not get the warning death glance from my mother to put it down. This time last year, I was waiting until it was my birthday again, but right now, I'm content with having the year drag by as long as possible.

Wishing you all a lovely day!

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

Twenty-One

2011-06-15T11:15:00.002-04:00

Today is the big day - my birthday! I am Twenty-One and although I have been legal for three years now, twenty-one seems a bit more important. I am super excited for the year that lays ahead of me and will post tomorrow about tonight's festivities. While a lot of people have huge blowouts on their twenty-first birthday, I am going to celebrate quietly with my family and get my first legally purchased drink. The birthday celebration with all of my friends will probably happen later in the summer, seeing as how a Wednesday night is tricky to get people together and the fact that the next couple of weekends are booked solid with other events.

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

June Bug

2011-06-13T19:33:00.001-04:00

Hello Lovelies,

Ah June, my favorite month of the whole year, not just because it is my birthday month, nor is it that school is out and that summer has just begun. I can't exactly describe what it is about June that makes me tinge with happiness but I always feel like I'm on cloud nine. Maybe it's the fact that we open all of the windows in our house to circulate fresh air into the rooms or that I can go in the backyard and bask in the sunlight on my grassy green yard. All I see within the next couple of weeks leading into the rest of the summer is fresh fruit salads, BBQs, family dinners on the backyard porch, long days to read pages and pages of novels, hanging out with old and new friends, beaches, and even perhaps a small road trip.

I am wearing: Blouse: (H&M); Jeans: (Sevens); Sandals: (Steve Madden); Bag: (Florence Leather Market); Thumb Ring: (Swapped); Necklaces: (Handmade in Kenya Fair Trade)

I wore this little ensemble the other day when I went to see my sister's a dance competition. It was a warm day but we were in an enclosed auditorium so I tried to balance keeping cool with denim capris and a light blouse. I had a back up jacket tucked in the car, just in case it got too chilly in the auditorium.

I got these three separate necklaces from my dad when he came home from a business trip in upstate Albany. There was a little craft fair outside his hotel where a table was selling fair trade necklaces in which full proceeds go to Jedanda Modern Handicrafts, an "organization that works with individual artisans throughout central Kenya and helps provide a worldwide market for Kenyan crafts people who no longer can rely on the tourist market for sustainable income." These necklaces were all handmade! For those not familiar, fair trade means that "the artisans are paid a fair price in advance for their products and work in safe working conditions." My dad bought three, the two shorter ones for me and my sister and the longer wrapped one for my mom. While my mom appreciated the thought, it was something that she wouldn't wear and so, she gave it to me. I'll admit that if I were to see it lying on a table, I would have easily overlooked it. However, it seems that when an item is gifted to me, even though I wouldn't initially pick it out for myself, it somehow manages to transform into something that I would wear. And so, while each necklace would have worked on their own, I decided to make it a triple threat and pile them on all together for a quirky, fun vibe that clashed with the flouncy frills of my blouse.

Wishing you all a lovely Monday!

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

Dear 16-Year-Old Me

2011-06-10T12:46:00.002-04:00

Hello Darlings,

The countdown to summer has just begun and the heat in New York is becoming slightly unbearable. Summer is great for all different kinds of reasons, but one negative aspect of the season is the amount of sun exposure that everybody seems to crave. Coming from living a life with very fair skin and a mother who should have invested in a Coppertone stock for all of the sunscreen that we go through, I wanted to dedicate a post about the importance of healthy skin care and how crucial it is to protect your skin from the sun as well as the tanning salons. Please, take a moment to watch the video, and visit here for more information about melanoma. It might change your outlook and could even save a life.

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

A Quick Dinner

2011-06-04T02:25:00.000-04:00

Hello Darlings,

I haven't posted about food in a while. I must say that I expected to be making all of these amazing home-cooked gourmet meals since I came home from Italy, but I must be honest and say that I am uninspired. I'm waiting until I see some great recipe and actually want to go grocery shopping so I can purchase some great produce. Another main reason why I haven't cooked up anything for the past couple of weeks (besides pancakes and pasta) is that I have missed my mom's cooking so much that I need to take advantage of whatever amazing dish she whips out.

Seeing as how I miss having photos of food, I thought I would document tonight's simple and oh-so-easy dinner. We just purchased a new grill so my parent's have been taking advantage of the warm weather to throw anything on the grill. tonight was hamburgers. I washed the salad, cut up some orange and red peppers, threw in some chopped almonds, and added a delicious low-fat dressing made from Dijon mustard, oil and vinegar - so simple, so good! My goal this week is to find one simple recipe, make a meal and have it posted by Friday. Maybe, if I don't burn down the kitchen, I'll make it a weekly thing!

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

The Big Bang

2011-06-02T18:56:00.001-04:00

Rock Mafia - The Big Bang

Boston University Law School - Class of 2011

2011-05-30T20:14:00.002-04:00

Hello Darlings,

No, I have not graduated from law school - I'm still an undergrad, entering the final year of college (tear!) But for those of you who don't know, my brother Michael just completed his three years of law school and has graduated! We're all so proud of him and spent a great weekend enjoying the city. He isn't moving home for the summer so I might take some weekend trips up to visit him and explore the city some more. I really love Boston and am always sad when I leave that I never had time to mosey about the streets. Maybe I'll get to it one weekend!

Coming back from Italy a mere days before, I didn't have time to buy a new dress so I shopped for one in my closet. I picked out this little white number that I last wore for my high school graduation and paired it with a light sweater, wedges and a pop of a light mint blue color in the form of nail polish and a ring. I didn't get a chance to do my nails in the hotel the night before so I snuck painting them during the commencement. My father got annoyed but my mom just urged me to finish it quickly. We were sitting all the way at the top and it wasn't a packed arena, so nobody took notice.

I am wearing: Sweater: (Charlotte Russe); Dress: (American Living); Wedges and Clutch: (NY&CO.); Ring: (Croatian Market); Nail Polish: (Essie Turquoise and Caicos)

Also, just out of curiosity, does it bother anyone else when people in the audience scream out a name of the person who is walking on the stage. I understand that you're excited and I was pretty close to screaming out Michael's name, but I just found it so irritating. Especially when the cow bells and the horns came out.What do you guys think?

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

Summer 2011 Book List

2011-05-27T15:25:00.002-04:00

Last summer I made a rather long book list but managed to get through only a couple before the summer came to an end. Being a bit of a perfectionist, even when it comes to reading, it irks me to have an incomplete list. I credit my failure due to the fact that I didn't have in my possession some of the books that I aimed to read. I had forgotten about the classic bound books that my mom used to decorate our living room because, as they were decoration, I wasn't allowed to touch them as a kid. Upon rediscovering them, I can now, without fail, read at least one classic hard covered novel a week and alternate them each week with modern paperback novels. Without further ado here is my shorter compiled list of books that I want to read before stifling August gives away to a crisp September.

Pride and Prejudice
Sense and Sensibility
Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of the Baskervilles
Alice in Wonderland
Through the Looking Glass
Treasure Island
Eat Pray Love
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
(re-read) The Harry Potter series
The Frugalista Files*

*The Frugalista Files are courtesy of the giveaway I won from the fabulous Erika over at Cafefashionista.blogspot.com. Thanks Erika!

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

A Bite Of The Big Apple

2011-05-26T16:53:00.000-04:00

Hello Darlings,

I have been home from Florence for a bit now and while I am ecstatic to be home with my family and friends, I miss living in the magic city horribly! All of the moments that I've shared with the city, some with friends, some by myself, will be the best memories that I can take away from my experience there. But now, I am back in New York! With the warm summer months ahead of me, I am looking forward to sipping cocktails by the beach in Cape Cod where some of my new friends live (legally! I turn 21 in June), interning at a NYC magazine, finding a second job (eh, not so excited about that one), getting ready to move into my new apartment off campus, and reading a lot of books. So, get ready for a terrific summer with me over here at EFL and get ready to soak up the sun!

It's T-Shirt Time

2011-05-17T23:11:00.001-04:00

Ciao Lovelies,

Seeing as how it's all of the news, I'm sure most of you are informed that the Jersey Shore cast is filming their fourth season here in Florence. I'll admit that I have mixed views of the show as they do portray young Americans and Italian-Americans in a pretty negative light yet I can't deny how entertaining they are to watch, almost like a train wreck where you just can't look away. So when I got news that they were moving in on my final day in Florence, I sacrificed an hour in the middle of the day to watch them move in. And after our last nice dinner out, with the 6 new best friends that I made, we caught the cast walking around the city and followed them around.

I'm at the far right, in the middle of speaking.

I'm to the right of "The Situation's" head, with my friend Kate

I'll admit that I felt ashamed that I was caught up in the hysteria but it's a strange force that pulls you in. These people contribute nothing to society except entertainment and it's not even the quality entertainment that actors and singers provide you. Yet, because these people are on T.V. people, myself included, get wrapped in the thrill of being near someone "(in)famous" and will see what they're up to.

So what are your thoughts: Was it ridiculous that I spent several precious hours following the cast around with my group of friends? Can you understand the hysteria not only on reality T.V. stars but celebrities in general? What do you think about the Jersey Shore? Honesty is always appreciated :)

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

What I've Learned Thus Far

2011-05-13T01:11:00.000-04:00

Ciao Darlings,

With mere days left until I return home to New York, here are some things that I have realized about myself and some discoveries I discovered while studying abroad in the beautiful country of Italy.

You may think that it can't get worse than your home campus library, but it can. I had to e-mail any files I needed printed and then go to a separate building down the street to wait in line and then print. Awful.
I love gardens. Borderline obsessed.
Edit group work projects yourself. (I learned this the hard way)

When going into museums or any building for that matter, always look up. More often than not the ceiling will be painted or decorated.
Invest in a camera that does not take blurry pictures when in motion. I have snapped beautiful pictures in transit and no longer have to run to catch up to my friends if they leave me behind while I stop to take a picture of something awesome.
Be a traveler, not a tourist.
Try, really try, hard to speak the language. The locals appreciate it more and you will feel more accomplished when they understand and answer you back in their language.

Plan ahead. Look up times days before leaving and don't book anything until details are concrete. The only exception to that is if you find a great deal and need to book it then. But be wary, as sometimes doing that will cost more in fees if you need to change something.
Create a budget and keep track of finances. Stick with that budget!
If your on the fence about buying something, ask yourself if you are going to regret it if you do/do not buy it. If you know you can't live without it, pick it up. Otherwise, leave it and go get a gelato.
Making lists are the best way to stay organized and see what you need to do and when. They are your ultimate friends.
Despite what people say, you can wear heels on cobblestone. But be prepared for your friends to leave you as it will take you 10 minutes to walk down the block because your looking down so as to avoid stumbling/ breaking your ankle.

Keep a journal every night. I bought one and wrote in it sporadically and regret not writing every night.
Bring your camera with you everywhere.
Wander during the daytime and get lost. It's how you discover things.
Rick Steves guidebooks can be your best friend
Trust your gut instinct. It's usually right.

Any other tips you want to contribute, please leave them in the comment section and I will gladly add them to the above list!

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

Arriverà

2011-05-10T17:00:00.000-04:00

Modà Featuring Emma

The Art Is In The Streets

2011-05-09T03:26:00.001-04:00

Ciao Darlings,

As part of my final, my ballet class had to perform in our school's end of the semester program entitled, The Art Is In The Streets - a dance recital including the modern, flamenco, and ballet classes followed by a student-run fashion show. I've been in many dance recitals growing up and compete a couple of times for ballroom during the years, but this was my first ballet recital. Yes, at 20 years old, I had completed my first ballet class. It was a great evening and while the choreography was very basic, I was satisfied with my performance and was utterly sad that one of my favorite classes had come to an end. If it fits into my schedule, I just may take Ballet II next semester at Binghamton.

Special thanks to Lana for the beautiful photos and for being a such a great supporter by watching me dance, along with our fellow friends!

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T14:31:00.001-04:00

To all of the incredible Mother's out there - have a special and beautiful day. You all deserve it! It's less than a week until I can see my favorite mom ever. I miss and love you so much Mom!

14th Arrondissement

2011-05-06T17:10:00.000-04:00

Paris, Je T'aime - 14th Arrondissement

Passport To Paris

2011-05-04T06:31:00.000-04:00

Hello Darlings,

With visions in my head of me flouncing through the side streets of Paris with baguettes and croissants, I went to the train station early in the morning, ready to begin my Parisian adventure. The one problem was that the train leaving to the airport that would get my there on time didn't leave because apparently the first train was at 5:00am instead of the 4:30am train I needed. And so, I missed my flight and had to pay for the next day flight. Instead of watching the Royal Wedding in my hostel, I watched back home in my apartment and moped about for the rest of the day. While I was super bummed and annoyed at the situation, I was so grateful to have friends come over for dinner and help cheer me up.

Macaroons

Peek-a-boo

Arc de Triumph

The Medici Fountain in Luxembourg Gardens

Moulin Rouge

Outside the Louvre

The next morning, I made it to the airport as scheduled and was ready to head over to my most desired destination. What everyone says is true- the entire city is magical. I would turn a corner and catch my breath because I caught site of the tip of the Eiffel Tower. I continuously risked getting run over by cars while zig-zagging across the Champs-de-Elysee so I could snap the perfect picture of the Arc de Triumph and I lost myself while wandering through the hills of Montmarte. Some highlights of the trip include seeing the sunset behind the Eiffel Tower while lounging on the grass, then watching the light show when it got dark. eating nutella crepes on the go, sitting at a cafe outside the Luxembourg Gardens and people watching, and browsing through souvenir shops.

Before I left the city to return to Florence, I was already planning my next trip back, preferably with a group of friends or a significant other as wandering through the magical city became quite lonesome at times. But no matter, as I fell ever so deep in love with the city.

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

The Food Of Italy: Sicily and Sardinia

2011-04-29T14:38:00.001-04:00

Ciao Darlings!

We have reached the end of our Italy tour of all of the foods of each region. I still have two more posts to do regarding previous regions, but as of today, this was my last cooking class. Next week is our written final and the week after that is our practical final. Tears! Sicily and Sardenia are two big islands of Italy and our menu today is Pane Carasau and Cannoli.

My cooking professor and I

Pane Carasau:

Ingredients

400gr buffalo mozzarella

4 bell peppers

Rosemary

2 garlic cloves

4 green olives

4 black olives

4 slices pane carasa

Oil, salt, pepepr

Slice the buffalo mozzarella, and put it in a colander to drain for 20 minutes. Roast the bell pepper in the oven until soft and browned then remove the peppers from the oven, and put them in a ziplock bag for a few minutes to steam. Peel the peppers, take out the seeds, and cut the peppers into big strips. Salt them and add quite a bit of chopped rosemary, chopped garlic, and oil. Take out the seeds from the olives, and cut the olives in big pieces. Place two pieces of pane carasau on a big sheet of foil. Top it with about a third of the mozzarella, bell pepper, and olives. Place another piece of pane carasau on top, more toppings, then the last pane carasau, and the rest of the toppings. Close the edges of the dish with foil, and bake for 15 minutes at 200 degrees C.

Before

After

Cannoli:

Ingredients

150gr flour

10gr sugar

1 egg white

2 tablespoons marsala liquor

Pinch of salt

30gr Crisco

250gr ricotta

100gr powdered sugar

30gr mini chocolate chips

Chopped pistachios

Powdered sugar

Carefully melt the Crisco in a pan over low heat, and immediately remove from heat to let cool. Place flour out on the table and make a hole in the middle for the sugar, salt, egg white, marsala liquor, and melted Crisco. Mix it all together with your hands until you've made a ball and leave to rest for an hour. Wipe the cannoli molds with crisco. Take a little piece of dough. Roll it very thin, as thin as possible and cut it in a circle. Roll the dough around the cannoli mold and make sure to close the edges very well, otherwise it'll open up when you fry it. Deep fry the cannoli forms in very hot oil. Dry them on paper towels. Take out the molds when cool. Be careful; they break easily. Mix ricotta with powdered sugar and chocolate chips (or candied fruit) until just mixed. Put it in a pastry bag and pipe the filling into the cannoli. Dip the ends into chopped pistacchios (or put a candied cherry on each end), and then sprinkle with powdered sugar, and serve!

I'm off to my final destination of my weekends traveling. I'm going to the city I have dreamed about for forever: Paris! I'm extremely nervous about traveling by myself, but can't wait to explore the city :)

Eternally yours,
Stephanie

Photo Credit:
Katie S. blogspot

Royal Fever

2011-04-29T12:00:00.001-04:00

If I could be anyone for a day, it would definitely be Kate Middleton on her wedding day. She looked stunning in her Alexander McQueen gown and her makeup and hair was flawless. She and Prince William looked so in love and their day must have been magical. Ah, to become a Duchess!

Credit: By Me

2011-04-28T15:45:00.000-04:00

Ciao Darlings,

As promised, here are some pictures that I took of Christy when we visited the Boboli Gardens last week. I still have a lot to learn regarding photography, but I think I'm getting hooked! I especially love the sound of the clicking and feeling so professional.

For those with professional camera skills, do you have any helpful hints and tricks that I could learn?

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

Thicker Than Water

2011-04-26T12:08:00.000-04:00

Ciao Lovelies,

In front of my mom's old house in the Italian mountains

Over Easter weekend, I traveled to Emilia-Romagna to visit cousins I haven't seen since 2007 and relatives that I haven't seen since I was eight years old. I was most excited for this weekend and was planning it since February, using my mom to help me translate e-mails since my Italian is very broken and my cousin, who I am staying with, speaks broken English. Stepping off the train, I was excited and nervous. Two hours into the visit, I was exhausted; my brain literally hurt from trying to translate the Italian into English, comping up with a response and then translating it from English to Italian. I was also extremely overwhelmed knowing that even though I haven't seen or spoken to my relatives in years, I was a welcomed guest and treated like royalty. This weekend was one for the memory books.

The town where my relatives live

Only in Italy would you find fresh ravioli pasta in an ice cream freezer

I remember this from when I was eight year old!

Mom's house :)

The view outside my mom's old house

I'm sorry for all of the scenic pictures. The one above was the only picture that did not have family members in it.

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

Don't Hold Your Breath

2011-04-23T17:48:00.001-04:00

Nicole Scherzinger - Don't Hold Your Breath

The Food of Italy: Calabria and Puglia

2011-04-22T03:59:00.000-04:00

Ciao Darlings!

Today in cooking class, we explored Calabria and Puglia, two regions in the south of Italy where a Mediterranean diet is consumed. Our menu for the day was orecchiette con calamari e zucchine which translates to "little ears" pasta with calamari and zucchini and involtini di pesce spada ai carciofi which ia swordfish rolls stuffed with artichokes.

Oecchiette con Clamari e Zucchine

Ingredients

500gr fresh "orecchette" pasta

500gr small calamari

250gr zucchini

1 shallot

Margoram

Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper

Chop the shallot and the zucchini and saute the shallot in oil. Add the zucchini and cook for five minutes and add salt. Chop the body of the calamari into rings and cook the head first in a pan with oil for two minutes. Then add the body cut in rings. Cook for 3 minutes and add salt and the zucchini. Cook the pasta in boiling salted water and then drain the pasta. Saute it in the zucchini and calamari with some marjoram leaves, and serve!

Involtini di Pesce Spada ai Carciofi

Ingredients

5 slices of swordfish

2 fairly large potatoes

3 artichokes

1 shallot

1 garlic clove

Sugar

Wild fennel

Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper

Chop the shallot and the wild fennel and place on top of the fish, with a pinch of salt, sugar and a drizzle of oil. Let it marinate in the fridge for an hour. Clean and slice the artichokes then saute in oil with a whole garlic clove. Peel and slice the potatoes and saute them with oil and salt in another pan until they are golden. Once the potatoes are done, place them in a baking pan. One at a time, place the fish fennel-side down on a plate. Put some artichokes on top at the bigger end, and roll up the fish. Place them on top of the potatoes and bake 15 minutes at 200 degrees C.

Buon Appetito!

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

Photo Source: Katie S.

Croatian Craziness

2011-04-19T12:28:00.000-04:00

Ciao Darlings,

This past weekend, the usual gang took a 12 hour bus ride through northern Italy, passed into Slovenia and arrived in the beautiful Split, Croatia! The weather was pretty chilly and not ideal for beach weather, but the city was filled with friendly locals, a brand new hostel, bustling markets and vendors (I bought so much fruit, some coral jewelery, and lavender satchels) and delicious seafood. The best part was that the kuno, the Croatian currency, was a lot cheaper than both the euro and the dollar so that everything was so much cheaper. I am both proud and ashamed to admit that myself and Christy were the only two champions who went to the evenings pub crawl and saw it through to the end.

Another fun part of any trip, especially this one, was the hostel. We stayed at Golly + Bossy which was a department store that was converted into a brand new hostel. It was so new that it was still being refurbished. The beds were not beds but pods, beds in the wall - I had a really difficult time climbing to the top bunk-pod. i met this cool kid who was literally backpacking through Europe through Help Exchange, a site where you can exchange work at farms, hostels, etc. in return for free accommodation. It's how kids these days are seeing the world.

Fish dish - including head and tail

Fresh strawberries and juicy kiwi

I bought some fresh smelling lavender fro myself and my mom

With a limited number of weeks left until I return home to New York, I'm starting to panic - I'm not ready to leave. I'm creating a bucket list of normal everyday things that I need to do while in Europe.

Do you have any suggestions??

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

One Short Day

2011-04-18T10:20:00.000-04:00

Ciao Darlings,

I have Mondays off so I decided that I was going to explore the other side of the Arno River which is more local than the touristy side that I live on. My solo exploration was delightfully sidetracked when Christy suggested going to the Boboli Gardens. With great company and beautiful weather, how could I say no? Along with looking at the beautiful scenery and talking about our travel plans after our program ends, we stumbled upon a grassy area that had sunlight pouring in at various spots. A silly photo shoot took place with Christy's Pentax camera (I have to ask her what model.)

I am wearing: Shirt and Necklace: (Charlotte Russe); Jeans: (Calvin Klein Jeans);

Headband: (Forever 21); Flats: (Unlabeled); Ring: (purchased at a Croatian market)

One of many outtakes

This looks like my high school senior photo!

If I get her permission, I might be able to do a post with the pictures that I took of Christy.

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

Photo Credit:

Christy B.

The Food Of Italy: Campagna

2011-04-14T20:14:00.000-04:00

Boun Giorno Lovelies,

Today, in my cooking class, we learned about Campania, a southern region in Italy where Naples is located, most famous for their pizza. The dough that the people of Naples use is lievito madre, which is a natural yeast. The cheese used on the pizza is fior di latte mozzarella. Today, the menu is:

Pizza Alla Napoletana

Torta Caprese

Pizza Alla Napoletana:

Ingredients

1lb. Plain Flour, sifted

1/2-1 teaspoon salt

1/2 oz dried yeast

8 fl oz warm water

Pinch of sugar

In a bowl, put 1 pound of flour, the pinch of salt, and a drizzle of olive oil. In a second bowl, put some warm water, a pinch of sugar, and fresh yeast. Mix the yeast around with your fingers to dissolve it and dump the yeast bowl into the flour bowl. Mix with your hands, adding more warm water if necessary. Start punching it with your fist until it turns into the right consistency - it should be very soft and almost sticky. Then cover it with a warm, damp towel and let it rest an hour to double. For the sauce, take your tomato sauce and finely chop garlic clove. Then add a big pinch of salt, a drizzle of oil, a pinch of oregano and some hot pepper. Let it chill on the counter. When the dough has risen, roll it out on a floured surface with a floured rolling pin. Lightly oil a baking sheet and put the dough on it. Then, cover the dough with the tomato sauce, leaving the edges free for the crust. Put it in the oven at 480 degrees Fahrenheit. When the crust has turned a golden brown, take it out of the oven and place sliced fresh mozzarella on top. Sprinkle oregano on top of the cheese and then put it in the oven again till the cheese is all melted. Take it out and put the basil on top and drizzle with a more olive oil.

The colors of Italy, all in one dish!

Torta Caprese:

Ingredients

100gr Bitter chocolate

100gr butter

3 eggs

100gr sugar

1/2 tbs flour

1/2 tbs powdered sugar

1/2 glass of coffee liquor

1/2 small ecup of espresso

150 grs almond

1/2 tbs baking powder

Melt the 100 grams of bitter chocolate and let cool. Add half a small glass of coffee liquor and half a cup of Italian espresso. In another bowl, mix 100 grams of butter with 100 grams of sugar. Separate 3 eggs and add the yolks one at a time to the butter and sugar. Add the chopped almonds and half a tablespoon each of flour and baking powder. Add the melted chocolate. Whip the egg whites and gently fold them into the mixture. Next, butter and flour a springform pan. Place the mixture inside and bake 40 minutes at 180 Celsius. Then take it out of the pan and onto a serving plate. Then sift some powdered sugar on it - we used a stencil to add some decoration. Add almonds and chocolate shavings as desired.

Buon appetito!

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

Foundations

2011-04-13T19:05:00.001-04:00

Kate Nash - Foundations

Mid-Morning Cupcakes And Afternoon Tea

2011-04-12T15:31:00.001-04:00

Ciao Darlings,

One of the things that I was most looking forward to when I knew that I would be in England was getting tea. I know that it sounds pretty stereotypical, but how could I leave the beautiful city without trying the one thing that I always look forward to when I need to relax and feel better? Meg was kind enough to bring me to a fabulous bed and breakfast that offered afternoon tea as well as a delightful cupcake shop. While the prices for the tea were pretty expensive, the tea was delicious and the scones were fluffy and warm. The number of scones that I ate will be a secret that only myself and Megan will ever know.

The Hummingbird Cupcake Shop

Chocolate Cupcake with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting

The beautiful hotel where we had afternoon tea

Choices, choices :P

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

Winning London

2011-04-11T15:59:00.003-04:00

Ciao Darlings,

My last excursion that I went on was at my favorite city thus far: London. The beautiful weather was the cherry on the icing on the cake that was my amazing weekend. I was fortunate enough to stay with my good friend, Mary, and even got to spend a lot of quality time with Meg (my roommate from Binghamton.) The fact that they finally got to meet each other made was pretty cool too :) I got to spend four relaxing days in the city where I was able to explore the museums, wander through the various gardens, feast on a steak and ale pie, knock back pints of cider at British pubs, gaze in wonder at Big Ben, Parliament, and the Tower Bridge, buy tacky royal wedding souvenirs, and even catch a glimpse Mathew Fox as he was leaving the stage from his stint on the London stage (I was so starstruck, but managed to get his autograph!) The traveling was awful, but being on student budget, I found it necessary and worth it.

In Regents Park

In Hyde Park, among the tulips

Camden Market

Tower Bridge

Myself, Meg, and Mary bonding over pints of cider

Steak and Ale Pie with a side of Mashed Potatoes and Peas/Carrots

That's Mathew Fox!

While I traveled to London alone and did some sightseeing by myself, it was so nice to be welcomed by Mary and to hang out with Meg and Mary. I even made some new friends that attend Binghamton, so I might see them again in the fall!

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

Learning The Basics Of Wine

2011-04-08T18:52:00.002-04:00

Ciao Darlings,

One of my fears upon returning home is that people will assume that I have acquired a vast knowledge of the different types of wines offered in Italy. Despite the fact that I went on a wine tasting tour is Southern Tuscany and that our fireplace, the area where we are collecting empty wine bottles, has become full from all of the bottle my apartment mates have been consuming, I'm by no means a wine connoisseur and my knowledge is pretty limited. So with a little research and the tidbits that I do know of wine, please read on for some basic knowledge of why Benjamin Franklin says “Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy."

What Is Wine?
"Any fruit containing sugar will turn to alcohol if you leave it to ferment because yeast converts the sugar into alcohol. Yeast lands on the skins of grapes so when grape juice is left to sit, the yeast will mix with it and ferment it naturally. Different strains of yeast will lead to different flavors of wine."

The Ingredients
"The inside of red grapes is essentially "white;" it is only their skin that is red and most wines are made with just the inside of a grape. The red color in red wine is created by allowing the fleshy interior to mix with the skins when it is being crushed. This process infuses red wines with "tannin," the ingredient that gives red wine its distinctive flavor. So you can make white wine with red grapes."

The Process
"The grapes are crushed with or without the skins and then left to ferment. A disinfectant is used to neutralize any contaminants, such as mold and bacteria, that may have been on the grapes. The fluid, or "must," is then left to complete the fermentation process in either big steel vats or small wooden barrels - barrels call for a longer process. Some vineyards will age the wine for years in oak barrels, which infuses the wine with positive woody hints." Most of the wine's aging is done in the vineyard and the vats so when you buy a bottle, you don't need to store it away as it is ready to be consumed.

Wine Tasting
The results of the four recognized stages to wine tasting:

appearance
"in glass" the aroma of the wine
"in mouth" sensations
aftertaste

are combined in order to establish the following properties of a wine:

complexity and character
potential (suitability for aging or drinking)
possible faults

Pairing Food And Wine
"If you are going to be eating something delicate with subtle tastes you should avoid drinking something with a strong flavor that will overshadow the food. Conversely, a hearty meal will often be best complimented by a strong wine with flavor of its own. White wines tend to go best with fish and white meats, like chicken and pork; red wines go best with red meat and red sauces."

So, with these bits of information, you can now go around telling people about the basics of wine. If you have any input, questions, or more knowledge, then please, I would love to know!

Eternally yours,

Stephanie

Sources:

http://www.soyouwanna.com/soyouwanna-learn-basics-wine-1501.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine_tasting