Framed

Leaving Italy is not something I want to think too much about now, however I do get really excited to think about decorating my apartment with all of my "souvenir-y" stuff! (And by "souvenir-y", I definitely don't mean tacky... I mean things like the green and white bread basket that can be seen in the upper right-hand corner of pictures in my Busatti post)

Of course, the cheapest and best souvenirs are always photos! I love the idea of having a personal gallery of all my favorite photos that I've taken. My only problem is figuring out how to show them off. So I did what any girl would do and turned to Pinterest for some frame-spiration... 

 {neat, orderly, and in the same frames- a classic setup}

 {mix & match!}

 {HUGE black & whites!}

 {many many pictures in one huge frame- this might be smart for me since I already have a billion I can't choose between...}

 {frames within frames for added interest}

 {not applicable to Italy pictures, but I thought these MacBook pics were hilarious!}

I know I'll have mixed feelings about leaving come August, but covering my apartment in pictures of Italia will definitely give me something to look forward to!

Katy 

Color Me Neon!

I realize that neon isn't exactly a new trend. (I suppose it might be reaching the early adulthood stage of it's fashion lifetime?) Nevertheless, I love looking at it, and I love wearing it even more! I can see how it might be intimidating, but what people don't realize is that it's actually a very all-inclusive trend. It's perfect for those of us who love the shock-factor of wearing our best and brightest from head to toe as well as those of us who prefer to use our neon sparingly rather than daringly. (Nothing pumps up a neutral outfit like the pop of a chunky neon necklace, shoes, or clutch!) 

{necklaces are a fun an easy way to participate in neon color-blocking}

{pairing a neon with a neutral is a great way to ease into the trend}

 

{neon solids}

{full on neon color-blocking!}

 

{never underestimate the power of a bright shoe}

{another one for the brave and the bold- love it!}

{a personal favorite- neon top with a white bottom- perfect for summer!}

Katy
*all pictures are from Pinterest

... I'm still here!

Well hello there! Just popping in to say I'm still around! I got a lot of flack (all in good fun) about how I was just bumming around Italy all summer, but we have really been put to work! Assisting students, working in the offices, doing little duties around our building that everybody wants done but doesn't actually want to do... (But of course, we've been having a blast doing it!)

However, I'm about to completely contradict the previous statement with the following pictures...

The students had a travel break, so we took the opportunity to head to Rimini so that we could hit the beach! It was absolutely lovely and gave us the rejuvenation we needed to get back to this...

 

I hope you all are having great beginnings to your summers!

Katy

Product Placement: Monogram Decals

 Order yours here! (there are also really cute mini decals that are perfect for sassing up small decor!)

Sometimes it's hard for me to imagine anyone who doesn't understand what a monogram is, especially since they seem to be everywhere I turn in North Carolina. However, step outside of our neck of the woods, and – believe it or not – very few people know what they are. (My best friend's uncle is from the North and thought that the monogram decal on the back of her car was a gang symbol...) 

My friends and I love learning people’s full names (a small idiosyncrasy we share), so we were all about asking our Italian friends about theirs while we strolled the main street last night. As it turns out, Italians don’t have middle names, and therefore, monograms are completely off of their radar. We had a lot fun explaining the concept of "the monogram" to them and the crazy obsession we have with them all while drawing ours in the air with our fingers. (I think they thought our passion for three funny-looking letters was a bit strange…) Now all we need to do is get them to start using "y'all"...

Katy

Food for Thought!

Being in Italy is good enough, but a personal Italian chef on top of that?? It's unreal! We are so lucky to have Margharita who fixes lunch on days that students have class. She has the most amazingly natural talent for food, and can go weeks without fixing the same thing twice. Here are some of the insanely delicious dishes we've been enjoying!

Sometimes I wonder if my constant camera-clicking during lunch gets annoying, but can you blame me?

And finally, a little snack of tomato slices, mozzarella, and balsamic made by yours truly! (Whether or not I could ever be a Margharita is still up for debate.)

Yum!

Katy

Big Girl Store

Nothing brings out my domestic-ness quite like Busatti. If my sources are correct, there are only two stores in all of Italy, one of which is in my "home-away-from-hometown", Sansepolcro. It is full of kitchen and bedroom linens and necessities made out of the most gorgeous Italian fabrics I've ever seen. (Fabrics can also be bought by the bolt... sometimes I actually ponder the logistics of toting them home in a second suitcase... they're that beautiful.) My friends and I have discussed at great length how we want to buy an old Tuscan home and furnish it entirely with Busatti wares. (We're only partially joking...) I regretted not buying more from here last time I was in Italy, so you better believe my wish list is quite lengthy this time around!

I have to laugh because it's one of those stores I would've despised going into when I was little, but now I can't get enough! Perhaps I'm growing up after all!

Katy

Product Placement: Luggage Tags

I've decided that checking luggage on international flights is both the best and worst thing ever. Being that I LOVE summer clothes, I didn't skimp on packing. (Lightweight fabrics means you can definitely bring more, right?) I managed to stay under the weight limit, but that would still make for a miserable load to haul. On the other hand, during my flight I would catch myself thinking about all of the lovely things I brought with me and how devastated I would be if my suitcase were to get lost...

Janna's suitcase was one of the first to come out of baggage claim (when has that ever happened?), so I was thinking mine had to be next, but many many rounds of luggage later, mine was still nowhere to be seen. As I was standing on my tip-toes craning my neck anxiously scanning the conveyor belt, I thought about how great it would've been for me to get a cute luggage tag that would make my suitcase pop from what seemed like hundreds of others.

I really love how you can choose the font, pattern, and colors of the tag! 

Contact info- very important!

You can order yours here and hopefully be spared the worry! Oh, and my luggage did come out eventually! (I wouldn't be telling the story here if it hadn't... I'd still be freaking out...)

Katy

By the way, I'm in Italy...

I know, I know- no big deal.

I kid, of course- it’s a huge deal! In 2010, I studied abroad in a beautiful little town in Tuscany called Sansepolcro, and I have gotten the amazing opportunity to go back and assist with the summer programs that Meredith College runs over there! I arrived here with one of my best friends this past Thursday with minimal drama (though some might argue that almost missing their international flight due to bad weather more than minimal…), and have been re-acclimating myself to my second home!

I can’t wait to share more about travel, food, shopping, and the GORGEOUS palazzo that we live in, but, for now, here are some pictures from around town! 

 Katy

P.S. I made this!

Everybody has different ways in which they like to treat themselves for a job well-done. Aside from the obvious rewards - sweets, retail therapy - one of my particular favorites is allowing myself time to squeeze in a little DIY time!

In my first post, I shared this picture.

Well here is what I did!

Ta da! I know I'll get great use out of it during the hot summer months!

Katy

Product Placement: Tervis Tumblers!

One thing I love about college classes versus high school classes is that all of my professors allow me to bring drinks. Of course, I’m sure this would be very different if I was working in the lab classrooms… luckily the Mass Communication/Business department doesn't mind!

I got a monogrammed Tervis as a graduation gift, and it has been my confidant during many a class and study session. (Not to mention, it’s enabled me to get as much Dr. Pepper out of the dining hall as possible… whether that should be considered a good thing or not is up for debate…) It may seem silly to make such a fuss over a cup, but it’s probably been one of the most useful things I’ve gotten!

Order yours HERE! 

1. 12 oz cup

2. 24 oz cup

3. Water bottle (I've got my eye on this one!)

4. 15 oz mug

5.16 oz cup

Katy