A.F. (After Florence)

I am writing from a hostel in Sorrento right now. I have just come from swimming in the beautiful Mediterranean and thought to update you on my doings. After school ended, Alexa and I packed up and cleaned our whole apartment and left for Rome. We ate some delicious fried baccala in Roma and then I had to say goodbye to my roommate, which was actually quite tearful. And now, I am flying solo! I went and spent the whole day in the Roman Forum, met up with Niccolo for a quick hello, then departed for Naples (Napoli - where all the trash strikes are). I arrived pretty late and was just a little fearful because Napoli can be a quite intimidating at first, with the traffic, "friendly" people always asking "where are you from?", and trash piled up everywhere. But the next day, I explored and I could actually see its charm. I learned that Naples hates the rest of Italy, and the rest of Italy hates Naples. It has always been an oppressed city I guess because it has always been under the rule of someone else (before Italy's unification in 1861). So I guess you can kind of understand why they are constantly in sciopero (on strike), and so riotous. I tried the so-called best pizza ever, at da Michele, and I will agree with everyone else in the world that, yes, it IS the BEST. (and yes, it is the one in Eat Pray Love)

After gorging myself on pizza, and then gelato of course, I took the ferry to Sorrento. That first view of Sorrento was absolutely magical. It is perched on the cliffs above the Mediterranean, and you can see these amazing tunnels and stairs in the rocks that bring you down to the beach. It kind of feels like Pirates of the Caribbean. And tomorrow I am going on a tour of Capri, and going to experience the Grotto Azzurro. I wish I could take pictures of everything, but my camera pooped out yesterday. So I will try my best to paint it with words...

Moonlight and lovesongs are never out of date

Giardini di Perfezione

While I was in touring Ireland this past month, I was able to experience some the greenest landscapes I have ever seen in my life. It was amazing. Even within all of this wild lushness, two manicured gardens captured my interest. The first I saw while I was in the tiny little mountain town of Glendalough. It was a garden of the senses. Sight, touch, and smell were represented there. There were fragrant spearmint and peppermint plants, soft chamomile, and beautiful flowers. It was magical because every person could be able to enjoy it.

The second garden that I fell in love with was the Poison Garden at Blarney Castle. I know it sounds morbid, but it was absolutely fascinating! Every single plant in this garden was poisonous is someway, and was heavily marked as such. But there were also explanations about each plant with its history and the features of its poison. I vow to have a similar garden when I have a place of my own... maybe along with another one that is a little bit more functional, like a herb and veggie garden as well. :)

Gotta get that money, honey

Money, money, money. This stupid idea that makes the world go round, that everyone strives for but always ends up resenting, yet wanting/needing more. I effing hate it! I swear over here in Italy, it is spent even quicker. And the freaking exchange rate from dollar --> euro does not help in the slightest. The exchange rate right now is 1.45 I think, making everything here 18746392 times more expensive.

This weekend I went to Bologna, Modena, and Verona. While these places were fun and worthwhile to see, they definitely were NOT economical in the slightest. I managed to somehow blow almost 300 dollars in one weekend. So for the rest of the month, I will be subsisting on frozen veggies for every meal. I just hope that I will be able to make it through without having to borrow money, AGAIN, from my parents considering that I just did only 3 weeks ago and it is almost gone. I am not looking forward to having to pay them back over the following months. I think that it will be quite a bit... -_-

I really need to learn to control my spending. I thought that I was good at it, but I didn't realize how hard it can be when you are surrounded by people who don't need to. They always pressure you to buy, that you need 'this' or 'that', when in reality, you really don't. HELP!

"An Instant Era"

I was surfing the web the other day, and came across this article about fashion, by Sara. Now to be one hundred percent honest, I am no fashionista in any way, shape, or form. Sure I like to look good, but generally its the old jeans and tee, nothing eclectic or out of the box. But I digress...

This article doesn't really address the conventional idea of fashion, which is what made me look into it. It talks about the effect that fashion has on society, and that it essentially shapes so many different aspects of it. It affects our world in so many more ways than we consciously think. It definitely made me think of the role of fashion in my life, and how it subconsciously affects me everyday.

Here's a preview of the article "An Instant Era - An Era Under Anesthesia"

"The collective unconsciousness of the world of fashion has been followed by a cultural thoughtlessness.

Fashion has become more than a simple word, it is a word that has the power to generate movement, a movement that has the power to lead the mass.

Fashion has become a lifestyle, a way of thinking.

This is why we must rethink, not the meaning of the word fashion, but what is being communicated under such premise..."

The End of 3 Whole Months in Italy

MIA for the past 6 or so months = ME.

So here is the quick and dirty run down of my stay in Florence. -yes, I said FLORENCE. I got here in the end of January and quickly settled into my routine of going to school for the first half of each day, then doing various things (a lot of nothing...) afterward. Thus far, I have stayed in Italy for my weekend trips: Venice, Rome, Viareggio, Lucca, Pisa, Chianti... And we will suffice it to say that I am officially in love. With Italy of course.

Venice: Amazing. We went during Carnevale and it was a complete madhouse, the minuscule avenues and carless streets were filled to the brim with people, who were for the most part, tourists. Nevertheless, somehow I managed to charm a cashier enough in a glass store on Ponte Rialto who took my friends and I to a private Venetian party. (!) Then we had to fight tooth and nail for a taxi to get to our train on time, at 3 AM. We were in Venice for a total of 12 hours. Don't worry, I will go back.

Rome: I am head over heels for this magical, fast paced, ancient city. I don't think that there are adequate words to describe my feelings for Rome. I was lucky enough to experience a moto tour of the city by a Roman friend, a legitimate, traditional roman meal, and Trastevere... all in the first day. We followed this up with the Spanish Steps, Fontana di Trevi, the Pantheon, Colosseo, Foro Romano, Sistine Chapel, and mass outside the Vatican. My favorites of the trip: the "Hole of Rome" which is a little hole the size of a quarter cut into a door of a baptistery where you can see directly to San Pietro. The fountains of Rome where you could drink water directly from the spout. And La Boca della Verita, a statue of a man with a legend from Ancient Rome - if a man believed his wife was cheating on him, she was forced to place her hand in the statue's mouth and if she was guilty of adultery, her hand would be chopped off...

Fiesole: A little village right outside of Florence, which was founded by the Etruscans. I would say this is the most beautiful place that I have been to in Italy thus far. When you picture the Tuscan countryside, it does not get any more majestic or breathtaking than the hills and the views of Fiesole.

Sorry for the photo overload and the writing and info shortage. I think I have become a little too lazy... ;)
More later! (No promises though...)

Sensual Sea

 

Low Tide - April Lindner

More tease than strip, the surf slips back
and though the show runs twice a day
we're fascinated by the slow
disrobing. Shallows webbed with gold
ripple, then draw back to expose
crinkles tender as the lines a bedsheet
etches on skin. Our hands itch
for all they might gather, periwinkles clustered
on wet underledges, the rich nether tangle
of rockweed and knotted wrack.
What's left veiled undulates somewhere,
barracuda, moray, hammerhead,
caressed by the same waves that lap our ankles.
At nightfall, the tide unfurls,
black and glistening, tipped with moon,
to gather all its secrets up in silk.


*for some reason, this poem really moves me. it's enchanting how she describes the sea.

Fun Fact Friday?? one day late...

I figured I'd write a random, little about me... and since all of my blog posts have been random (and sporadic) I figured, why stop now?

1. I think I am obsessed with chapstick, I buy a new one every couple weeks. But none have yet to rival Maui Mikes, and I can't find those anywhere!

2. I live in the past too much, I mean when you think about being an ancient Egyptian or what it would be like to have grown up in the 50's or even how great some of the times I had in high school were, at least once a day, something's wrong here.

3. I can't make up my mind on whether or not I'm a small town girl, or the big city type. Maybe I need to find a happy medium?

4. I have to consciously remember that people I meet don't know me, or my personality, or my little flaws, so I have to try extra hard to reach out to them... and text them back! Which leads me to...

5. I am absolutely terrible at texting: remembering to text people back, texting them back within a decent time frame, being charming/cute/nice/etc. through text, and relaying what I really mean. I am also preeetty bad at calling people as well. :/

6. I absolutely love LOVE to read. I would much rather read than do just about anything else. My gramma and I read all the time together.

7. I am not an emotional person. I don't cry in front of people, and rarely cry anyways. But I AM always laughing.

8. I love Tech N9ne and Andre Nickatina, which some think is a little weird because those are kind of hard core rap.

9. I am a complete Harry Potter nerd. November 19th, midnight premier, here I come! I've read all of the books at least a dozen times.

10. uhh... I'm running out of fun facts so, my right headlight is out. and I haven't had time to fix it, or take it in and have some cute auto shop boy help me out. :)

I hope you enjoyed some random information about me, I felt like I just needed to get it out there! ...even if no one is reading this, I feel better knowing that maybe stating this about me will help me kind of find myself. Does that make sense? Oh well, ta ta for now.

Puerto Nuevo

Nothing's better than a day safely spent south of the border with family, food, and tequila. The lobster was delicious, the margaritas fresh, and the weather perfect. I even haggled for a good ol' Mexican blanket.
Viva Mexico!

The Birthplace of the Renaissance

The beautiful and cultural country of Italy has been calling to me for quite some time. I have been taking Italian in school and despite all of the difficult verb tenses, I love it. Hands down, unequivocally, love it. The language is so lyrical and beautiful, it is a joy to even struggle through it. My pitiful attempts at mastering the Italian have led me to the conclusion that the only way to become fluent is to live it. To immerse myself entirely in Italian culture, language, everyday life. And to do that, one must go to Italy!

Spring 2011: I will be studying abroad in Florence.

I may have yet to apply [be accepted, pay for it, etc.] but I already know that I will be going for sure. There is no doubt in my mind... I just need to work out a few kinks is all.

Ahhh the Nerd in Me Comes Out Again

There's just something about a well stocked library or a toppling stack of books that speaks to me. I love seeing them, thumbing through the well worn pages, smelling the mustiness of an old novel... But I would still really like to have the Amazon Kindle to carry around with me, because 99.9% of the time I am lugging a book around in my purse and sometimes it gets too heavy and bulky. So if anyone wants to get me this sleek, graphite gray Kindle, it'd be much appreciated. ;)

Nostalgia

Just got back from an amazing week-long vacation. First stop was Yosemite with the g-parents. Second stop: Lake Havasu with B. ahhhh... need I say more? -maybe I'll make a couple posts about it.

And returning from pure leisure everyday with one of my bests just makes me miss having friends. Since I moved down to San Diego last year, I have had a hell of a time making friends. I didn't think I was such a terrible friend maker, I was good at it in high school but I guess I've just become terrible since I'd established my necessary friend base. Community college seems so much harder to meet people at than state colleges. I mean sure, I have my cousin and my sister, but I miss having best friends around to just come over and sit sometimes. I miss that simple easiness you have with someone whom you've known for so long. Oh well, I guess I need to try harder. But it really is so god damned frustrating!

WOOHOO!

Blahhhhh!!!! Sneakers on Gilt, sneakers on Gilt, sneakers on Gilt!

I can't contain my excitement! Keds AND Sperry Topsiders! (Converse, Simple, and 80%20 also... but who cares). One of my favorite pairs of shoes ever were a pair of Keds, and I have been in love ever since. And I've been aching after some Sperry's for some reason, and now they're on Gilt!

But unfortunately for me, I am too late to snag a pair that I like. :(

I'm still glad to know that the fashion world is looking out for us jeans and tees girls.

If You Blow, Let Us Know

Heard of the most fantastic hair salon the other day. [teehee ^^that's one of their slogans]

Drybar. A hair salon that purely and exclusively does blowouts, and its pretty inexpensive too! Only $35 a blowout - they don't do cuts, colors, highlights, etc. So they must be good at what they do. 

 I started following their blog and saw a video they made of interviewees for new locations opening up all over LA. I wish they would move south a little to San Diego so I could get the Mai Tai or the Cosmopolitan that I am lusting after!

How Great is This Dane?

[creds]

I thought this was hilarious and just had to share!

Just a Quickie

I have been soooooperrr busy lately so I have no inspiration for a good blog post right now, other than my lame excuses and reasons for being so busy.

1. School. - I swear I had an essay a night for summer school, because they try to cram 16 weeks worth of classes into only 6 effing HELL weeks. Yesterday was my last day! YES

2. Work - Not truly an excuse as I've only been working 3-4 days a week due to said Hell Weeks. But it takes up valuable free time!

3. Internship - Newly acquired... but starting yesterday I have to write two L-O-N-G articles on How to Choose a Cigar (uhhh... How would I know?) and Contemporary Furniture Stores in SD. Welp, there goes my break between semesters.

"Keep your eye on the prize" I know, I know.

P.S. Kinda loving these Toms wedges... cute and caring? Too good to be true.

Heartless... done much better

I was just farting around (Dad's phrase - I guess I inherited it) on You Tube and came across The Fray's cover of Kanye's Heartless. Needless to say, I am much pleased with it.

"To write is therapy, to write well is art."

Maybe I should start writing just to write. I need to keep this in mind, and write to just get my feelings out there, instead of tip-toeing around what other people think. Because who knows who ever even reads my musings? Not like I have had many real musings lately, just little, almost thoughtless postings. Trying to emulate other bloggers around the web instead of focusing on what I really care about, on what really moves me. ME, not anyone else. Because if I'm not passionate about something I'm writing about, who the hell will want to read it?

Isn't that the point of a blog anyways? To write about your thoughts, ideas, loves, dislikes, interests, etc. And how am I ever going to become a better writer unless I just go at it and write whatever comes to mind. Practice makes perfect, right? Well I'm not trying to be perfect, just relatable and engaging someday. Let's face it, I'm not the most interesting and charming writer, but I want to be, I want to be able to hold a reader's interest and have a compelling flow. I want to know how to say what's on my mind in attention grabbing prose. I don't want to be put on the back burner, damnit!

These are just my current, random thoughts. There will be more to come, more me, and not catering to others. Un bacio.

Thermometer Risen

The temperature has sky rocketed here in sunny San Diego and let me just say: FINALLY! But now I have my mind on classic summer treats... ahh it's been years since I've had Dip'n Dots. But personally my all time favorite is a frozen Capri Sun,  when it's at its slushiest. Although otterpops come in at a close second. Mmmm... What's yours?

all images from we heart it

NO I do not want Viagra

...Or Cialis, or Cheap Rolexes for that matter. Those stupid, annoying spam emails really get to me sometimes. I don't understand how these companies get my email address. I reserve one address specifically for professional and business matters, and never enter it into those sometimes tempting giveaways, so where do they get it from?! It must be some unwritten rule: Have email address = will get spam. I can usually just send them to Junk no problem, but for some reason unbeknown to me my hotmail account won't let me! Ughhh it's so frustrating...

On a lighter note: I stumbled across this website,The Oatmeal. One of the funniest that I have seen so far. So you absolutely have to, HAVE TO, check it out. I seriously cry laughing every time I go on it, which is very very frequently now. My favorite thing on the site is probably this. It's so true!