All the Small Things

[Homemade bunny bread]

[Finally received my '7 days' ring, all the way from Portugal]

[Making popcorn - movie theater style]

[Does anybody else get bizarrely excited about veggies fresh from the farm??]

[A thoughtful souvenir from Nicco's brother and his girlfriend]

[Sunset view of Firenze above the olive trees in Fiesole]

Prime Time

Okay ladies. Lets talk primer. Do you use it? I started using the miracle product a couple years ago. My mom received a Bare Minerals starter kit, and in it was a small tube of their primer. We dabbed some onto our fingertips, and rubbed the product into the backs of our hands. 

It absorbed almost instantly and left the skin feeling so soft and smooth. I was hooked from that point on.

Primer is the product that I put on after my moisturizer has been absorbed, but before I put on my foundation. It's great for helping your makeup stay in place, and blend evenly. It helps give your face a fresh, finished look. 

I've tried my fair share of primers...

Some significantly more expensive than others *cough (laura mercier) cough*. They've all done their jobs well, however I was most impressed (out of the above) with e.l.f.'s brand! Which, ironically, was the cheapest! Hellooooo six bucks!

It works well on all skin types (oily, dry), it helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and pores, and it makes the application of makeup oh so much easier.

I literally have nothing bad to say about this product, and I will be definitely buying it again. 

Do you use primer? Do you have any products that you love and are inexpensive?

Monaco

I was hanging around on Friday afternoon, reading a book and waiting to go to the gym when Nicco came rushing into the room and excitedly asked, “Wanna go to Monaco this weekend?!” He usually has to work on Saturday mornings, but had this particular one off and so we decided on a spontaneous little road trip over the border.

It’s been raining like crazy here the past couple weeks and this weekend was no exception, but even beneath the rain, Monaco knows how to shine. There are certain streets of Monte Carlo that legitimately sparkle, the glitz of which was only magnified by the drizzle.

[yachts on yachts on yachts]

The moment we drove into Monaco, a Ferrari sped past and then another right after. It’s the home of an annual Formula 1 race and though the streets are winding and somewhat confusing, Nicco knew exactly where to go as a result of driving on those same streets on Playstation so many times. Kinda weird, right? 

Monte Carlo is the wealthiest quarter and it’s like entering into another, richer world. It’s like a little Las Vegas on the sea. There’s an enormous, intricately decorated casino, which we frequented one night. Parked outside were Ferraris, Maseratis, Bentleys, every fancy car imaginable, the cheapest of which were Mercedes. Never in my life have I seen so many high-end, luxury vehicles, let alone in one parking lot.

Monaco is also home to Grace Kelly, who married into royalty and became the Princess of Monaco.

[Our hotel overlooked the stadium of Monaco where Champions League and UEFA league games have played. The stadium is in Monaco, but our hotel just across the street is in France]

[This is the fastest straightaway in the Monte Carlo Formula 1 race]

[See the red marks? They're for the track]

I hope next time we visit Monaco it lends us a little sunshine, but rain or shine, it's beautiful all the same!

All the Small Things

[Jazzing up the pasta in this joint]

[Dinner with greats friends at my favorite place in Prato]

[Flowers Nicco brought home after I wrote this post]

[It's the most wonderful time of the year!]

[Studs on flats]

[Taco night is the best]

Happy weekend mangs!

Wait, what? -- Kombucha Edition

The other day on my lunch break I was wandering (typs, typs) around my local health food store, looking for something to satiate my tummy, also lovingly referred to as my bottomless pit. I walked by the refrigerated section and stumbled upon a group of drinks called GT's Kombucha. I'm a big health blog reader, so these beverages were familiar - but did I really have any idea what organic raw kombucha was? No, of course not. Did I buy the mystery drink to try? Yes, obviously! 

I purchased a couple flavors - with the "multi-green" one being my first victim. Once back at my office, I grabbed the bottle and noticed that there was some separation of ingredients going on in there -- little specks floating about. I gave the bottle a few good shakes to mix everything up. It was at that exact moment I read on the bottle "DO NOT SHAKE."

Alright then, off to a great start. 

I twisted off the cap and heard the distinct sound of carbonation - did I just purchase a soda by accident?? I took a sniff of the murky juice - it smelt like vinegar. 

So it was bubbly vinegar. Not exactly what I was hoping for. I decided to just go for it (hey-I did a juice cleanse, I can do anything!!)

I took a sip. Initial reaction? This stuff is weiiiirdddd. Not bad. Not super delicious. Just...weird.

I continued sipping because I'm a trooper! And by the end of the bottle - I was enjoying the stuff! It's got a bit of sweetness to it, and a nice effervescence I enjoyed. Sort of like a champagne. 

By the end of the bottle I was taking large gulps. It tasted healthy and I was enjoying it. Not to mention all the health benefits the bottle boasts...

On the bottle itself it informs you that the beverage aids in digestion, metabolism, immune system, appetite control, weight control, liver function, body alkalinity, anti-aging, cell integrity, and healthy skin & hair. It's also a great source of non dairy probiotics.

Kombucha comes in many flavors. I was informed by a friend of mine that I had actually chosen the worst flavor - whoops! I've got a strawberry one to try next that will hopefully make up for that. 

Have you ever tried Kombucha? What are your thoughts on this strange beverage?

Washington D.C.

Alex and I took a road trip down to Washington D.C. this past weekend! Alex had never been and although I have been a couple times, it was never to check out the monuments or museums. An educational trip was necessary! We went through the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the International Spy Museum, had some great meals here and here, took a bike tour, and just all around had  a great time. Below are only a fraction of the photos I took (I'm a camera whore), hope you enjoy!

[Who doesn't love a road trip with your best mang?]

[D.C. has such a comprehensive (and clean) metro system]

[We said "hello" to the Obama's]

[Walking around enjoying the spring weather]

[Somehow I had major helmet hair before I ever even put on a helmet - gross]

[Enjoying the bike tour!]

[Nothing says vacation like raw clams and truffle mac n' cheese!]

It was a great mini-vacation and I'm already looking forward to planning our next adventure!

All in the Bag

If there’s one accessory I’m typically willing to splurge on, it’s purses. They’re easily my weakness, but in my opinion, they're also an investment piece. Something that if purchased wisely, could last for years and years and outfits upon outfits and maybe even generations.

To be clear, however, when I say splurge, I mean it in the TJ Maxx/Marshalls sense of the word. When I’m home in the States, Corey and I will usually make a day of hitting up the local stores and while we make sure to cover the full territory of the retail space, our quest generally comes down to one thing: the bags.

We probably definitely don’t need a new bag, but nevertheless we’ll search and we’ll likely find a purse to obsess over and then the rationalizing and peer pressure and support kicks in.

With a visit back to the States around the corner, my mind can't help wandering to the purses I can only hope to find:

1. Kate Spade Clutch
2. Marc Jacobs Hobo
3. Michael Kors Satchel
4. Tory Burch Adjustable Mini Bag
5. Michael Kors Shoulder Flap
6. Kate Spade Cross Body
7. Zara Evening Bag

What do you usually find yourself splurging on? Is there one fashion piece that you favor over another? 

All the Small Things

[Best birthday pastry filled with cream and topped with powdered sugar]

[A (very funny) t-shirt from my boyfriend's mom]

[Token nail photo - weekend nails]

[An extremely outdated (but helpful) book for those going through their quarter life crisis]

[Brunch at the American Diner between Florence and Prato - decked out in 50s paraphernalia down to the waitresses wearing roller skates!]

[The best thing about Easter...Portuguese sweet bread (with a hard boiled egg baked right in)!]


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Happy weekend and Happy St. Paddy's Day mangs!!