"Girls" Rule the World

I just started watching the new hit series "Girls" over winter break and have fallen madly in love with Lena Dunham's witty and realistic portrayal of Hannah.  Instead of creating another unrealistic depiction of four girls living a glamorous life in NYC, Dunham showcases a truly relatable story for girls in their 20's trying to survive the big city life.  I respect Lena for being true to herself and for making it in the industry based on intellect and not appearances.  She is such an inspiration to me.  You go girl!

I am a TJ Maxx-anista!

For my 21st birthday my mom suggested that before heading over to Lenox Mall that we check out the TJ Maxx in the area.  I was on the hunt for something big, possibly a staple handbag or a cool pair of winter boots (Yes I know it's September but I like to think ahead).  Upon reaching the purse section, I started stacking multiple leather hobo bags in this season's ox-blood and navy hues.  I was overwhelmed with the amount of designer steals I encountered, amongst them were Michael Kors metallic styles and Badgley Mischika crisp shoulder bags.  However, during my stay in Firenze I noticed a new brand of bags emerging that reminded me somewhat of the ever-popular Longchamp brand called JPK Paris.  These bags generally retail at anywhere from  $165 and up and are quickly taking over the European market, so I was over-joyed when I spotted a navy bucket bag for only $80!

So the moral of the story is that not only should you always try to shop at TJ Maxx to find the best deals, you should try to target the locations in the wealthier neighborhoods.  The selection is noticeably better because they cater to upper class consumers with designer taste.

I can't wait for fall so I can wear all my new presents!  Here are some of the things I found:

Elizabeth and James (The Olsen Twin's Line) Wedges
Original price: $275
Reduced price:$47
Savings: $228!!!!

Michael Kors trench coat
I can't wait to wear this with jeans and boots!
Original price: $120
Reduced price:$60
Savings: $60

Adorable Blazer
Possible interviewing material?
Original price: $80
Reduced price: $60
Savings: $20

JPK Paris bucket bag
The next Longchamp!
Original price: $145
Reduced price: $80
Savings: $65

The inside of my JPK bag!  I'm obsessed with this interior paisley print!

Dolce Vita grey oxfords
I'm super excited to wear these because they're actually really comfortable and are usually sold at department stores for WAY more than my price.
Original price: $70
Reduced price: $40
Savings: $30

First Impressions-C. Wonder at Lenox

Hey guys!
Today I ventured over to Lenox mall for the day with my mom to do some 21st bday shopping!  We had lunch at a little cafe and drooled over everything at Anthropologie, then suddenly came across a huge sign advertising a brand new store called "C.Wonder."

I loved this printed pant! Great colors too ;)

I hunted down the store and found that it was bright and inviting, but that it also looked similar to J. Crew and Madewell.  As soon as we walked in the nice security guard informed us that, fun fact, the store is actually owned by Tory Burch's ex-husband.  After he mentioned this I could see a huge similarity in the merchandise in comparison to Burch's preppy and up-and-coming brand

SO Tory

 The patterns he used were slightly different to ones I've seen in Tory's products and he even had similar sandals to the infamous logo-ed Tory Burch summer sandals.

The collar detail is very fresh

There were mostly oxford shirts with adorable collars that had pretty fabrics so all the preppiest girls out there can properly pop their collars in style.  He did, HOWEVER, set himself apart by offering lower prices and even an in-store monogramming station.  He also chose to sell not just clothing, but helmets, kitchen accessories, and dog bowls in trendy, bright hues.   Here are some pictures I took of the new store so go check it out!

Totally getting this

They had REAL gumballs...fo free

  

My first "good" Goodwill shopping excursion

As every fashion-minded college girl has experienced lately, the economy is not only taking a toll on our wallets but our shopping capabilities as well.  At times I have been utterly discouraged trying to keep up with fashion trends due to my lack of available clothing funds.  I have fortunately had a fashion spending epiphany since returning from the center of the fashion universe, Europe, where I spent a glorious semester in Florence, Italy.  The Italian women absolutely nail the effortlessly chic look, which made me wonder how they manage to maintain this on a daily basis with tight budgets.  Surely not every woman in Italy was growing money on trees, so what was their secret?  It dawned on me after my second month in Firenze that the key to their style genius was their belief in investing in classic staples.  Once they mastered the basics that could be re-worn in a variety of ways, then they spent less on trendier items that inevitably disappeared after only a few seasons in order to stay on top of must-have looks.

            To achieve a complete and ever-current wardrobe, one does not have to spend endless amounts of cash on brand new clothes every few months to stay on trend.  After coming to terms with this idea,  I decided to see for myself if “thrifting” really held the answer to my monetary constraints.  I selected the Goodwill by Perimeter Mall as my subject and headed over with low expectations as to what I would find.  To my great surprise, I sighed in relief when I realized how neatly organized and “Roy G.Biv”ed  the racks were laid out.  My first stop was the dress section where I selected a few denim dresses, a funky blue tulle overcoat, and a black Banana Republic knee-length dress (Goldmine!).  The jean dresses unfortunately made me look like a 6-year old ready to play hopscotch, and the Indian-influenced jacket was a tad much for wearing around campus.  Lo and behold, the winner was the BR dress, which was streamlined, classic, and probably retails for around $100.  This was my first treasure I found amongst the sea of wacky used clothes. 

            Next I ventured over to the jeans section, stopping along the way to pick up a black-and-white peplum top.  As I scoured the aisles for a pair of suitable “mom jeans” to cut into high-waisted hot pants, I came across a pair of Citizens of Humanity designer jeans in my size…for a whopping $6!  A satisfied grin took over my face as I pulled the jeans on in the dressing room and realized that their worn-in appeal was perfect.  They fit like a glove and normally sell for anywhere from $130-200 a pair!  This was steal number three for me.  The peplum top was flattering and for $5, why not?  After discovering the ideal subject for my jean shorts project, my Goodwill shopping excursion came to a blissful end.

            My total came out to a miniscule $25 and I drove home with 4 items that would’ve cost me close to $400 if purchased at full price.  Lesson to be learned folks, don’t let the fear of disorganization or laziness hold you back from thifting.  You could miss out on super-savings that will leave you more money to spend on other designer staples, like that Michael Kor’s snakeskin clutch that you’ve been eyeing for months.  I promise you won’t regret it, you just need a little fashion faith and a creative approach to your style to save big and look flawless.

Last post of the semester!

There are only three measly days left in Firenze and I am starting to get so emotional!  I can't decide which feelings are the most overpowering....I'm so many things at once!  A week ago I was so excited to go home and aching to enjoy all things american, but now I'm having second thoughts.  Sometimes I blow the things I'm looking forward to out of proportion and make them seem more awesome in my head than they are in reality, like Chik-fil-A.  Scratch that, chik-fil-a is amazing and I can't wait to get my hands on a chicken biscuit...my first morning in roswell WOULD be a sunday!  I will survive until monday though because my dad signed us up for a sweet mother's day buffet at good ole hsb club so I'll be able to have american breakfast once again!  Europe has some great food, but they definitely don't care much for breakfast foods to my dismay.
I think I 'm ready to be home, or at least my body is telling me to take a break because I am constantly exhausted here!  Amy has taught me the beauty of "seizing the day" and waking up early in the am, something I don't generally take advantage of back home.  With my internship this summer I'll be getting my arse up with my dad during the week so hopefully he can make me some delicious coffee with our new coffee-maker!    I just want to soak up these last few days and be out in the city as much as possible but stupid finals are getting in the way of my plans.  Fortunately they're not nearly as intense as UGA finals hehe.  Tomorrow night we're all going to a restaurant called Aqua al Due that has a delectable steak sampler of blueberry and balsamic steak that is out of this world, so I'm looking forward to that very much.  Before dinner I have my last fashion illustration class and sewing class (we're learning how to sew in zippers for our final?) and I am so sad to see all the friends I have made for the last time!  It's been such a nice change to actually get to know the people in my classes because at UGA I always sit with the people I know and it's difficult to meet people in 300 person lecture halls.  Everyone is from schools across the U.S. and is a product of where they come from, which definitely made me realize how the south is an entirely different place in itself from the rest of the states.  Apparently it is insane that people are laying out at the pool in May?  The weather here has been pretty unfortunate for most of the semester with only a handful of warm, sunny days.  Who knew europe was so dang cold?!  I definitely didn't come prepared, that's for sure.  Three days ago I was doing my homework while wearing my fur vest from Hungary to stay warm!
Nonetheless, I am so stoked to be back at home for the summer!  I keep daydreaming about seeing my parents for the first time in four months at the airport and it brings tears to my eyes!  I'm also counting down the seconds until I get to see my little rascal of a cockapoo Riley and his sidekick Cody the chihauhau.  They're the number one boys in my life :)
It is weird looking into my little closet with five hangers (what a joke right?) and seeing it almost empty.  My time here has flown by and it seems like a week ago I was walking by the duomo for the first time in sheer amazement.  Now I walk by it and don't even think twice!  Florence has been the PERFECT host city because it is the perfect size, has amazing food and shopping, and is incredibly picturesque.  I couldn't have asked for a better study abroad experience, especially because of the people I met.  My roommates have been there for me through my debit card fiasco, slapping creepy italian men at fullup, staying up until 6am at naima, and getting sketchy chinese food at the place on the corner.  These are only a few of the crazy experiences we have shared together and I wouldn't change a thing about it.  Studying abroad isn't always as glamorous as it may seem, but these guys definitely made it as amazing and fun as humanly possible.  I can't begin to grasp the idea that we may not see each other again for a long time, but I am happy to have shared this incredible experience with you guys.  You have made me a better person!  Let's make these last few days count!
Arrivederchi ciao ciao!

Mondays....yay?

After getting back from Rome yesterday around 6:30 I was surprisingly not as exhausted as I thought!  My lovely roommates whipped up a healthy salad with chicken and balsamic/olive oil dressing for dinner, a nice break from all the carbs I consumed this weekend!  This morning I was woken up at a mere 8a.m. by our neighbors downstairs that decided to blast "Turn me on" as loud as humanly possible.  Not to mention that there is already enough noise with the roof construction and jack hammer?  Who knows why API put a group of girls in this apartment, I mean don't get me wrong its a cute place, but the inhabitants in this area concern me.   The other day after a night on the town we headed back to our apartment and as we approached the door a man tried to follow us into our building and was banging on the door yelling at us to open up!?! Scary stuff I know.
                  Anyways, after tossing and turning for a while I decided to start my day and go for a jog by the river.  It was such a beautiful day today, just another reminder of how blessed I am to be in Firenze!  On my way back I stopped at the Conad grocery store to pick up the week's necessities: some fresh baguette, tomatoes, wine, ham and cheese, some yummy apples, and my absolute favorite blackberry jam that I will have withdrawals from when I go home.  The grocery stores here are actually very stressful because of how fast-paced the paying process is and the fact that you have to bag your own groceries.  They are, however, environmentally friendly in that most Italians bring their own bags for their food versus using the plastic ones.  Of course I always forget to bring my bag and sometimes I feel the cashiers glaring at me as if I'm destroying the planet or something.  Come to America honey where one person uses twenty plastic bags and see how that feels!  On my way back I passed through a popular piazza with lots of street vendors where one guy hollered at me "Can I come over for dinner??!?" in reference to my grocery bags I'm assuming.  The men here have no shame in yelling at you weird/creepy things and making disgusting kissy noises every time a girl walks by.  It is "the desperate girl's haven" Amy refers to Florence as far as the dating scene.  Next I came back and got dressed for the day and made myself some caprese salad for lunch.  During this time I realized that I actually needed to do a country report on France that is due tomorrow, so I completed about half of that before Julia convinced me to go hunt down some cilantro with her.  Unbeknownst to us, Mexican food is absolutely impossible to cook here because they don't have the following key ingredients: sour cream, black beans, and cilantro.  NOWHERE TO BE FOUND!  We went into about five different stores before giving up the search and settling for some gelato at GROM, which is absolutely amazing.  I got my typical chocolate and caffe combo and thoroughly enjoyed every bite of it.  Then we headed back so I could get back to work (unfortunately) on my homework.  Overall, it was a great and pretty relaxing day for me and it is really starting to feel like this is my home.
                 I also wanted to talk a little bit about the fashion here in Italia.  It is mind-blowing how different Florence is versus UGA in terms of fashion choices.  Prior to coming here, I thought I was a pretty well-dressed person with a diverse array of looks.  No way hose.  The amount of crazyily interesting and unique combinations I have seen here has really opened my eyes to the endless possibilites of outfits.  To my surprise I have to say that the most fashionable women I have seen are the Asian tourists.  Although some of their choices are way too out-there for me personally, I truly respect the risks they take.  The absolutely are obsessed with these puffy downcoats!  Thankfully its getting warmer every day and coats aren't really necessary anymore but I wish I had known before I arrived how many cool coats they have here!  On the other hand, the Italians have much more of an effortless chic to them that the Americans here will never be able to master.  Even walking around with wet hair is a sign that you're American because an Italian woman would NEVER do that.  Black is the most popular color, another reason why we stand out because we love patterns and neon and bright colors.  The women often don sleek knee-length coats with varying buttons, tights, and some heels/heeled boots.  How in the world they manage not to face-plant on the cobble-stone streets is beyond me...My feet are STILL recovering from the weekends walking marathon.  They typically wear minimal make-up and go for a much more simplistic look.  Lucky for them, most of them have straight hair that is easily manageable, not me of course I have a head of messy curls to style.  It seems to me that they value quality versus quantity, which is the complete opposite in the U.S. where forever21 specializes in making fashionable clothes as a great price but only lasts two washes before the shape is completely deformed or shrunken.  I have never seen so many louis vuitton purses in my life.....the other day a girl about my age was carrying a brand new snakeskin hobo gucci bag, freshly purchsed outside of the store.  Soooo casual?  This would not happen in a million years where I'm from because high fashion is considered to be Tory Burch.  Going back to what I mentioned earlier, they invest in staple pieces and wear them until the end of their lives.  This might be a better concept for me to adopt because then I could fit all of my stuff in my suitcase to go home instead of sending a big box home beforehand.  Shopping addiction has flared up, help!!! I need a little more high fashion in my life and a little less disposable in my closet.
                 Lastly, I was so sad I couldn't watch the Oscar's last night!  I was able to check out the best/worst dressed of the evening on people.com though, and I have to say that my favorite was Angelina.  She is so confident and is the definition of a strong woman, she never seems to go wrong these days!  I'm also recently intrigued by Rooney Mara, who looked very chic and edgy so I'll have to keep an eye on her in the future.  My favorite appearance was definitely Natalie Portman not only because she is one of my role models, but becuase she and her husband are such a cute couple!  I mean, how many women can graduate from Harvard, be an actress,pull off playing a professional ballerina, and be a momma?!  Only Natalie.  Well it's getting late here in Florence so I'm off to bed so I can get up to head to the studio to get some sewing done.  Ciao tutti! xoxo

How adorable are they?

Vamped up always

She's mysterious don't you think?

Roma!

I just got back from the amazing city of Rome and can confidently say that I haven't been this tired in a longgg time!  I will be getting to bed VERY early tonight and hopefully getting a solid 12 hours in so I can get back to a normal schedule.  Who knew travelling was this exhausting?! Anyways, I absolutely loved Rome!  The architecture and the ruins were mind-blowing and I think that everyone needs to see them once in their life.  After arriving friday morning we got a a quick walking tour to get our footing, even though the city is so big I still couldn't get around on my own without getting lost on day three!  We saw some of the famous sights like the Trevi Fountain, the spanish steps, and a few other things with the group.

Spanish steps

Trevi Fountain wishes

In piazza Navona with the roomies

The Pantheon

 We also picked up a nom nom little pizza (mine was mushrooms and tomato) that was really yummy!  It was weird to me that just casually strolling around you will run into world famous monuments like its no big deal.  I tried to appreciate every moment of it and kept thinking about how dang old all these places are and it is truly unbelievable.  After walking around for a while we stopped at a cute outdoor cafe to grab a glass of wine and some bruschetta.

In Piazza Navona

    It was kind of a rip off because we chose a place right in the piazza navona, a very popular/touristy square.  Nonetheless the weather was beautiful and we enjoyed giving our feet a break.  I've also come to realize that no matter what friggin shoes I wear my feet will be killing me by the end of the day.  I just tell myself to suck it up and that I'm in Rome and shouldn't be complaining and usually it works?  Amy and I bought some adorable white sneakers at a shop near the Trevi  fountain that I wore today, and they were slightly more comfortable than my leather boots.  To my dismay I realized that my brand new leather boots are a wee bit too snug and that I have to "break them in."  Rome was definitely not the best place to try and do that because they were throbbing by dinnertime!  After wine we strolled around and made a reservation at a FANTASTIC restaurant called Antiqua Trattoria that was recommended by API.  When I imagined what Italy would be like before I actually came here, this is exactly what I had in mind.  We sat outside and for 20 euro got 2 bottles of wine, a meatball and bean dish, and steak!  I have to say that is pretty good deal!  The steak wasn't as good as Dad's big green egg creations, however.

Meatballs and beans at Antiqua Taverna

 The whole time I was in Rome I kept wanting to turn to my side and see my family standing there, marveling at all this amazingness with me.  I really realized how lucky I am to have the opportunity to travel the world this weekend because I think I have already noticed changes in myself.  There is so much out there to see that I never even realized was there! Being here has opened my eyes so much to all the opportunities and possibilities that all seem so much more reachable now that I'm living in it.  Sometimes at home I tend to get sucked into my uga bubble and think that the world revolves around date nights and socials, but now I understand how different life COULD be after college etc!
Back to my weekend recap.  So after our delicious dinner we headed over to a place called "Drunken Ship," lovely eh?  After hanging out for a while Sydney and I called it a night around midnight when the realness of my exhaustion finally settled in.  On saturday we got up at 8:30 am (I was not a happy camper because anyone that knows me knows how much sleep I require...) to make it to breakfast and then bus over to see some more Roman sites.  First, we visited castel, not castle, St. Angelo where the popes lived!  There were some beautiful views at the top and we got to see the pope's bedroom which was very grand and neat to see.

Castel St. Angelo

View from the Castel

  Next we headed over to Vatican City, which was definitely my favorite part of Rome!  Pictures simply do not do the Basilica justice.  The place was a monstrosity and I still don't understand how they managed to construct something so magnificent with their level of technology.  Modern buildings do not even compare to the grandiosity  of the pillars and paintings that decorated the walls.  We spent a long time marveling at at the basilica and then headed over to the Vatican museum.  I was a little confused upon getting there because I stupidly thought that the Vatican was a church, when it is actually an old palace that is now turned into a museum.  On display are thousands of Roman relics, sculptures, tapestries, and paintings that I had no idea what their significance was because we had no tour guide, but nonetheless it was unreal to be in the presence of all the famous artwork.  We finally made it to the Sistine Chapel, which was much smaller than I expected and we were unfortunately not allowed to take pictures because the flash ruins the paint colors.  Of course there are always the girls in my group that think they can beat the system and do it anyway.  Little did they know there are guards in every room that will run over and yell at you in Italian while simultaneously embarrassing the s*^& out of you in front of the entire museum.  Lesson #1, don't try to take pictures of Michelangelo's stuff.  It was fun to picture him up on a scaffold at the top of the wall with his paintbrush working away.  At the same time it is crazy to think that he can work on a small section but be able to connect it all and see the bigger picture to create one massive art.  Very cool.
After finishing up in the chapel Kelsey and I wandered into a courtyard, sat on a bench, and basked in the sun to wait for the others to finish the museum.  We all walked back towards the hotel to shower and get ready for our next delicious Roman meal.  This time we made a reservation at a place called Maccheroni that was to die for, but for some reason I didn't have a big appetite so I mostly just sampled everything.  We ordered two traditional pastas to split amongst the three of us (Amy, Julia, and I), Pasta cacio e pepe that was phenomenal, and another one with black truffle sauce.  Every time I try to be adventurous with my food choices it backfires, so let's just say I only had a few bites of that one....After a leisurely dinner with my roommates, we went for a stroll down the street with all of the ruins before heading to a pub called Scholars.  It was spectacular to see the sites all lit up in different colors, it felt like I was the luckiest girl in the world!  The pub was a ball, and we all ended up meeting some great characters.  I met a guy named Sal from Argentina...random?  and Julia and Kelsey chatted with two Roman boys who kindly drive us over in their sweet benz to the next bar called Anima.  Everyone here has super fancy cars, and let's just say his car made my little toyota camry look pretty sketchy in comparison. This was a smaller bar, but still had a cool crowd and we dragged ourselves home at the wee hour of 3:30 am.
Getting up this morning was even more of a struggle than on saturday because of the buildup of lack of sleep, dehydration, and exhaustion in general.  We got breakfast and then attempted to go to a market a few bus stops away, but we were sadly dissapointed at the lack of vintage things we expected to find.  It was mostly tacky costume jewelry and cheap clothes on tables with hectic Italians shoving at each other to get their treasures.  So we headed back to the hotel to do a bus tour that lasted about 45 minutes, which showed us more of the city and sites.  Then we hopped off the bus to do the famous Colosseum tour, which was insanely cool to see and picture the gladiators fighting with the people in the stands.  We snapped some pictures and then broke for lunch where we found a cute little place that had DELICIOUS Margherita pizza!  Sadly this is where our trip to Rome came to a close as we headed back to the buses Florence bound.  Overall I enjoyed Rome immensely and highly recommend that everyone take a visit there.  I'm glad I chose to study in Firenze, however, because the city is much more intimate and way less intimidating than a huge city like Rome.  Next weekend is our trip with API to Venice, so I need to rest up to be ready for our next Italian adventure.  Arrivederchi tutti! xoxo

St. Peter's Basilica