It's almost March and that means it's officially acceptable to put away winter layers and freshen up my closet with airy tank tops and sandals. I'm mostly a flats girl but something about a wedge really brings out some inner sass and confidence, don't you think? Plus, wedges tend to be much more comfortable for my feet (i.e. better arch support) than heels. They look great with everything from ankle skinny jeans to destroyed denim shorts to breezy sundresses. I may or may not have multiple pairs of these shoes in my online shopping carts at this very moment! xo
As I mentioned in a previous post, I recently moved to Columbus, Ohio due to my husband getting a new and exciting job opportunity. Although I was sad to leave my old job and great coworkers in Texas behind, I also welcomed this new change with open arms and decided to view it as an opportunity to dive into a new career path that excited me while also using my new MBA skill set.
It's been a few years since I've had to look for a job so there are definitely things I need to update such as my LinkedIn profile and resume. One thing that had been on my "to do" list for quite some time actually was getting a new, professional-looking headshot! Although I enjoy taking portraits of others on the side, I've never experimented with taking a picture of myself. Using acclaimed YouTube beauty guru Michelle Phan's super helpful tips in the video above, I found a blank wall in my house across from a window (natural light is the most flattering light) and used my Aduro bluetooth selfie clicker and iPhone to take tons of pics from different angles. I normally prefer my DSLR for professional photos but for a simple LinkedIn photo, the iPhone worked like a charm.
If you are local to Columbus and looking for a photographer for your professional, senior, newborn, family, or engagement portraits, give me a shout or check out my Facebook page for examples of previous work. I took a break while I was in grad school but ready to jump back into it!
I recently took a trip to Milan, which was actually my first trip to Italy! Since it is not the typical tourist season right now, airfare was relatively inexpensive. My husband was already there for a work trip so I flew a few days later to meet him there. I had never flown overseas alone before, but luckily got the row to myself going both ways. Despite the extra space, I was not able to fall asleep so I need to figure out some good strategies for doing that the next time around (the jet lag was killer the first day I was there.) Here's a little recap of my trip:
Day 1 - Like I said: killer jet lag. I took a bubble bath in the amazing tub at our hotel, napped, and then went downstairs in the hotel lounge/bar area for dinner and a drink.
Day 2 - I grabbed a cappuccino and breakfast at a cafe down the street (I did my best to speak only Italian and enjoyed my meal up at the bar like the locals do!). Then I bought a bus pass and toured the city for a few hours while my husband was in meetings. For less than $30, I could hop on and off at any stop and there were multiple routes so I could see all the main sites! I ended up hopping off at the Duomo to scope out the area and grab lunch at Luini before jumping back on a different bus route. I typically try to avoid super "touristy" things like this when I travel and prefer to explore the city like a local. But I was pleasantly surprised at how fun the bus tour was and the fact that I got to see so much more of the city than I would have just walking around on my own. I enjoyed listening to the audio explanations of each sight as we went along to get some background and history about the city. I joined my husband and his coworkers for dinner and dancing that evening--it was a late night but so much fun! I had some wonderful risotto and tiramisu... I'm still dreaming about it!
Day 3 - I slept in a bit and worked out in the hotel gym. Once my husband finished up the last of his meetings, we napped and relaxed before heading to dinner at an amazing pizza place called Camilo Benso. Superb! We walked off our meal and headed to the Duomo to see it lit up at night.
Day 4 - Hubs and I explored the Brera district for breakfast. It rained pretty much all day, but we made the most of it. We walked all around the city, grabbing cappuccinos and pastries along the way. Hey, while in Rome Milan, right?? In the afternoon, we headed to Sforza Castle and walked through the museums. We would have liked to see the Da Vinci Last Supper exhibit but since I wasn't sure what our schedule would be like, I didn't buy tickets in advance (we attempted to get in but were turned away!)
The next day we flew back to the U.S. It was a whirlwind trip but I think we made the most of it! I was so glad I spent a few weeks leading up to it listening to my Coffee Break Italian podcast episodes--it really helped! I used my new language skills quite a bit while ordering coffee and food as well as just generally understanding the Italian culture.
Overall, my trip was a blast and I cannot wait to return to Italy.
If you asked me to pick my favorite holiday it would be really, really hard for me to answer because I love them all! Currently, I'm head over heels for all things red, pink, pretty, heart-shaped, and romantic for Valentine's Day. I cannot wait to celebrate this weekend! I am not sure what my husband and I will do yet, but my preference is the cliche dinner date with wine and chocolate and a pretty dress. As such, I'm looking to some of my favorite bloggers for outfit inspiration for this weekend. From ultra-feminine to effortless and minimal, these looks are perfect for whatever your Valentine's Day plans are--whether it's a fancy night out, a relaxing home-cooked meal, or a Galentine's Day party with your friends!
Ever since I finished up grad school last December, I've thrown myself back into reading (for fun, of course!) I have always enjoyed reading and love to share books I've read here on the blog (see here and here). This list of recent reads pretty much covers the spectrum of genres--from suspense to mystery to romance. This allows me to pick up any one of them according to how I'm feeling that day or what time of day it is! (Dark Places isn't exactly bedtime reading material for me.) As always, I'm open to suggestions for new books to check out! xo.
What Alice Forgot - Currently reading. The main character (Alice) wakes up after hitting her head and can't remember the past 10 years of her life. Not sure where it's going but I'm already hooked!
The Husband's Secret - This was a great book with a nice little twist. I read this on my recent trip to Milan and was completely engrossed until the very end!
The Secret History - Currently reading. I've been digging my way through this one for several months now. It's an extremely rich, complex, well-written novel and it is just taking me longer to read and digest the material. However, I really like it and am determined to get to the end of the story! Donna Tartt is an amazing author (check out her more recent Goldfinch!)
All the Bright Places - A great read for fans of Fault in Our Stars. A tragic love story between the two main characters, Violet and Finch. Both easy to read yet emotionally complex. A tearjerker!
Dark Places - Although it took me a few chapters to get into this book, I couldn't put it down once the story got going. This book has plenty of suspense, twists and turns!
Big Magic - Currently reading. I've heard amazing things about this book and hope to get some nuggets of wisdom and inspiration from author Elizabeth Gilbert.
I'm looking forward to brunch, exploring more of my new city, and--of course--watching the Super Bowl! I'm not exactly partial to either team, although I will probably be rooting for Peyton Manning and the Broncos. Whoever you're rooting for and whether you're entertaining or attending a friend's party, you can't go wrong with a delicious dip. Try one of these crowd-pleasers (some of them are even "skinny"), any of which will be a hit with all your friends! My husband loves the white chicken chili dip (it's on a regular rotation in our kitchen) and the beer cheese dip is sinfully good--it won't last long, I promise!
I'm a sucker for a good playlist, especially when a long plane ride is on the agenda. I like mellow tunes that also put me in the right frame of mind for traveling to my final destination, whatever that may be. Recent playlists I've made include a beach/tropical theme (for my trip to Punta Cana in 2014) and a California themed playlist (for my 5 year anniversary trip to Napa last year).
Here's my playlist for last week's trip to Milan. Many of these could easily apply to other trips but I did sprinkle in a few Italian-themed tunes for fun. Enjoy!
Last week, I took a spur of the moment trip to Milan, Italy to meet my husband on one of his business trips. I took my first trip to Europe last year so though I'm by no means an overseas travel pro, I definitely implemented lessons learned from packing for that trip into planning for this trip.
I spent a full week in Italy and was able to pack everything I needed in a carryon suitcase and a big purse. And this is for WINTER, so I imagine if you plan to travel to Europe in the summer, you should have even more extra space (read: no bulky layers to pack) so that you can shop and bring things back with you! Here's a peek into my carryon purse that I kept with me at my seat for easy access to all my necessities. My goal for this trip was to pack only what I NEEDED and not a bunch of random things that would take up space and never get used.
The List: Noise-canceling headphones Passport Moleskine & pen Kind Bars Warm fuzzy socks iPad Lip balm Cord organizers Tissues Camera Scarf & hat
Luggage-wise, one of the best pieces of advice for packing in a carryon is to pack clothing in the same or complementary color family so it is easy to mix and match a few basics. This also makes it easier to pack only 1 or 2 pairs of shoes because you won't have to worry about needing shoes to match that one super cute floral blouse, for example.
Travel Day
Shopping Day
Date Night
Nine West boots (similar here) // Zella leggings // J. Crew pants (similar here, on sale) // Thread & Supply peacoat (on SALE!)
As you can see, black riding boots, black tights/pants, and my black peacoat were STAPLES on this trip. I switched out my tops/accessories but for the most part this was my uniform. I was not only comfortable and worry-free, but I found that I actually fit in with the locals pretty well. The Zella leggings were my favorite and I wore them nearly every day--highly recommend these!
Stay tuned for pictures from my trip and some recommendations of places to go in Milan!
