A Rainy Day in Pisa

Trip to Pisa last week was fabulous! I'll be posting images to flickr, there are some up from Piazza Michaelangelo, Pisa is to follow. :)

I'm coming out!

After admiring the work of three of my favorite ladies, I figured it was time to get in on this action and they graciously agreed!

Can't have too much of a good thing...except when it comes to chocolate frosting, ambitious perfuming, and stair-steppers.

Copious amounts of stair-stepping is not good at all.

Return to Warmth

Today I am going back to San Diego for the first time in almost 8 months, which is the longest I've ever been away from my lovely hometown. It seems that it doesn't matter how many times I move or how long I've been gone, going back to California still feels like going home (even though my home is technically in another state). I've been looking at the weather forecasts for this weekend and it makes me smile to know that for three short days, I will be able to return to my "uniform" aka shorts, cute shirt, and my Reefs!!!

ps. The picture is from my grandparent's balcony :) I love staying with them!

Let it snow (x3)

I love snow. Yesterday, I was delighted by the white layer of chilly goodness. Today the snow was crunchy, slippery and icy. But, hey, still thrilling for a Texan like me. I'm hoping for more snow tomorrow.

Florence 2: Sightseeing 201 (Pop up video style)

That same day....we were actually on our way to this Piazza on a hill overlooking Florence -- Piazza Michaelangelo where a copy of his David now stands. So here's installment 2--Piazza Michaelangelo.

Florence 2: Sightseeing 101

This was my first weekend in Firenze my roommates and I did a bunch of sightseeing. This is the first installment--Ponte Vecchio.

My new haircut/color!

So its been quite a while since I've posted, but nothing really exciting has happened. Anywho, on Friday I finally got a hair cut (it had been more than two months, which when you have short hair is a REALLY long time), and I got it colored!!! I wanted to get it dyed something closer to my own color, because I'm sick of those lovely roots showing, and I need to take a break from coloring it due to budgetary concerns. I LOVE how it turned out!!! I found an awesome place to get it cut in Denver on Yelp, its called Babooshka :) The lady who did is really sweet, she cut it in November and I knew she would be my go-to gal for hair while I'm here!

I love how a new haircut and a different color can make you feel like a new person! I feel so much more like a "grown-up" now :)

This isn't the best picture in the world, it looks way cooler in real life, but it'll do! :)

The Tanya Tribute

Goofy edition featuring Leah, Stacey, and Allison

Florence 1: Near Where I Live

Here's my first video of life in Florence!

I had a ball

Last night, Justin and I went to "Black Tie and Boots," the Texas inaugural ball. It was boot-scootin' fun-- with plenty of country music, tasty tex-mex appetizers, and at least 7000 glitzy guests. It made me proud to be a Texan.

Justin had a good time too. Here he is with three Rangerettes!

Fresh Meat for Florentine Restaurants

As I mentioned today, I ate dinner in the Piazza Republica. The restaurant had a great deal. Any dish on the menu and any drink of your choice (including wine or beer) for 10 euro. That sounds like a good buy for me.. considering a glass of wine usually costs at least 4 euro.

One of the waiters told me about the deal and I said I'd come back. So a few hours of shopping later, I returned ready to eat. As I walked through the square I wasn't sure where the entrance was. I walked up to one enclosed patio attached to a restaurant (I'm amazed that Italians actually still put out the outdoor seating in the winter when it's about 40 degrees outside. Even more amazed when I see groups of people eating there!) and my waiter friend came out from an enclosed patio adjacent to the one I was headed toward.

As I redirected my path. A waiter (from the first restaurant I approached) in a red jacket (even the wait staff is well dressed here. If you go into a pasticceria - a pastry shop that sells croissants and gelato and sandwiches, they're sometimes fully clad in suits!) ran toward me where he started waving me in and called, "Come into my restaurant, it's better!" in English.

I felt bad having to turn him down but the wallet dictates the meals.

Florence and seeing Sart Differently

Number three in the gloves post is right by the post office and a piazza (square) where I had dinner tonight! Fabulous seeing the people and the places everyday. I forgot my camera in my apartment and I've only been using internet here in this little Gelateria (Ice Cream Shop) around the corner. They offer free wi-fi, with the purchase of a Cup of Gelato 1.5 euro or a tea or anything for as little as 1 euro! Fabulous trade off for an hour or two of internet access.

I've been enjoying the sales which take place only in January and then only again in May! I've got to get it all done now! I've since purchased from one of those haggling street vendors, an across the chest purse to hold my essentials and hopefully keep me safe from pickpockets. Nearly everyone wears them here, I think it helps me fit in. The other day actually, I was stopped by an Italian man who asked me for directions to a place I didn't know, obviously. I responded with a confused look and some broken Italian (which is getting much better by the way) and he got the idea.

I went shopping at ZARA here too and it was fabulous. I got a great shirt for 12 euro! The styles, boots, fashions, bags, nearly everything you can imagine putting on your body in a fashionable way... you could probably find inspiration here.

Aside from that, there are little shops for almost everything you could want! Glove shops, hat shops, eye glasses shop, shoe shops, bag shops, scarf shops, even a nineTnine cent shop! Where one can find some American chocolate candies for, as the name indicates, 99 cents. Also toilet paper.

I got swearing in tickets!!!!

After two "no inauguration tickets for you, Miss Doolittle" emails from Congressman John Carter, I was feeling pretty bummed. Then on Tuesday, I got a phone call from a family friend. He offered me two free tickets to the swearing in ceremony. Yippee! God is so good.

Why I'm Cold

I wish I had a second set of earmuffs... for my face. Or a Russian hat. Or maybe a ski mask.

Artsy Funky Decor

I've been scheming and dreaming about how to decorate my new abode in D.C. It's furnished but still lacks personality and color. For kicks, I went online in search of ideas...

Apartmenttherapy was my launch pad. I went on "virtual house tours" like this one for inspiration. I checked DesignPublic for artsy modern decor and ReadyMade for do-it-yourself decor. I searched Etsy for handmade stuff like wall decals from Shannon1972. I swooned over pricey bedding from West Elm and Anthropologie. In the end, Target and Ikea seemed my best bets for great style that won't kill my budget. Yay!

Do you know of other sites I should check out? Any other tips?

Summer is here

Austin is a balmy 82 degrees today. My iced coffee is perspiring. Our confused tree is budding, drawing crowds of eager bees to the front yard. Ahhh-may-zing.
Please note: Beaches this lovely don't exist in Austin. This pic is from Sydney.