lack of apps & meatloaf

Hey, guys. I'm comin' to ya late with a post for #blogtober14 because today was my first day at my new internship (at the best little children's book publisher in Chicago!!) and I just got home. It was a great first day & I'm so glad to be there.

Also, I wasn't suuuper excited to write this post, haha. As  new blogger I don't have a ton of editing apps partly because I'm not really educated in which ones I should have and because I was convinced the play store didn't have all the same apps the apple store had (I'm still partly convinced) until I just searched for VSCOcam and found it... uh, when did that become available? Anway, I have Instagram, Aviary, and I like to use the Pic Monkey website but I also really love the A Beautiful Mess app.

With this app, you can add beautiful text (and do other things that I probably don't understand or know how to do) to your pictures and they end up looking super gorgeous and graphic designer-y.

Bottom line... I'm not super tech-y, and while I know you don't technically have to be in order to use editing apps, I just don't like to spend so much time editing one single picture. Does that make me a bad blogger?! I happen to think Instagram does just fine. I already feel like I spend a lot (maybe too much sometimes) of time connected to my phone, computer, and/or social media that I don't want to spend even more time editing a picture of the vegetarian meatloaf I just made in order to make it appear more appetizing because 1, no filter will make it look appetizing and 2, I'm hungry. And I just want to live. So, editing apps, let this drama queen me live!

for the record, although I doubt anyone cares, this is "raw" and it does taste much better than it looks 

aaand being the hypocrite I am I just spent ten minutes too long editing (see...it didn't help ;) ) the lovely snapchat of the vegetarian meatloaf I will eat tonight as my family eats regular meatloaf while also making fun of me for making said vegetarian meatloaf. Whatever. PeaceLoveCows.

But to all you bloggers who have stunning photos and make it seem so effortless... how do you do it?! I look forward to reading all of your guys' posts from today and learn from you all!

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Link up with Taylor, Helene, & the rest of us for #blogtober14!

one lovely blog award

I can't even you guys.

Like I've mentioned before, I've been reading blogs for years now and I've seen bloggers post about being nominated for different blogger awards like the Liebster Award and always thought wouldn't it be nice to be nominated for an award like that... wouldn't it be nice to be recognized? Okay, I know... dramatic. But I wished for it regardless.

Well, today my wish came true as I was nominated for the One Lovely Blog award thanks to Martina over at A Splash of Mimosa!! Thank you so much, girl! She's hilarious so you guys should really go check her out.

& now there are rules I have to follow...

1. You must thank the person who nominated you and include a link to their blog. 

2. You must list the rules and display the award. 

3. You must had 7 facts about yourself. 

4. You must nominate 15 other bloggers and comment on one of their posts to let me know they have been nominated. 

5. You must display the award logo. 

My 7 (random as hell) facts:

// I usually dream in black and white

// I've never read any of the Harry Potter books (I know, I know)

// I think Steven Tyler is extremely handsome 

// I have a hyphenated last name. My mother's is a city in Sicily and my father's is a German beer.

// I get choked up after sitcom theme songs. I.have.no.idea.

// I'm beauty obsessed and have been ever since I became obsessed with Jaclyn Hill & Casey Holmes.

// I've passed eight kidney stones. Old man status, what, what. 

My nominees:

// The Parisian Wannabe

// A Love Triangle

// Musings of a Wanderer

// Andiamo

// Wonderfully Made

// Girl in the Kentish Kitchen

// The Unsophisticated Blogger

// Sincerely and Sarcastically

// Life with Lolo

// Boho Chic Cafe

// The Road to There

// Xo Kerry

// Tay Meets World

// Always, Al

// Raindrops on Roses

Thanks again to Martina! I'm thrilled to get my first blogging award. xo

"serenity now"

I've been told that I get annoyed easily. I try to deny it but in the end I know that it's true. I know that it's true because when I saw the prompt for today I barely had to think before several of my pet peeves came to mind. I'm generally a happy person but there are some things that I "just can't". 

So, without further ado... some of things that make me so irrationally irritated that I'm almost embarrassed. But not really because people should just stop being annoying. 

// when people wear gym shoes with business wear

   

I get it, you're walking long distances. Cool, we all are. You don't want to wear heels for 18 blocks? Yeah, same. Get some flats or a nice boot. Not hard and it looks far less ridiculous. 

// teachers who don't fully erase the chalkboard

You spend all that time erasing and then leave one little mark of chalk?! No. Clean it up. (for the record, I've been told I'm the only one who feels this way. Tell me there's someone else out there!)

// people who take up an extra seat on public transit by putting their backpacks or purses on them

Endlessly irritating. I'm convinced this is one of the worst personality traits. 

// mixing black and blue ink

There is no explanation for why this bothers me. I just appreciate consistency. 

// when people don't replace the empty toilet paper roll

Why do people assume they're exempt from the replacing of the roll responsibility if they've emptied the last one!?

// people who talk during movies

^^This is how I look during it, too! I can't even begin to describe the amount of anxiety this causes me especially when the people who are talking are my family or friends. It annoys me to no end but it almost makes me want to leave the theatre. This is why I like seeing movies alone...haha.

// people who leave dishes on the counter right above the dishwasher

It's.right.there. it.takes.three.seconds. 

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Link up with Taylor & Helene and the rest of us for #blogtober14 before I think of more pet peeves and go completely nuts ;)

Happy Wednesday, everyone! 

mes vacances de rêve

I have always longed to have a passport filled with stamps. I've envisioned an old fashioned suitcase covered in stickers ready at a moment's notice. While I have the old fashioned suitcases (I have a flea market obsession) they're collecting dust in our basement and I don't even have a passport.

Picking a dream vacation is in some ways difficult because I literally want to go everywhere. Being Italian, I've always wanted to go to Italy. I know as soon as I get there it will feel like home. But I'm also German and a couple other nationalities so I would want to visit those countries as well. I'd love to go on an African Safari, go to Mecca, go whale watching in Cabo. I want so see so many monuments and places! It's a wonder how I'll ever help choose somewhere to honeymoon ;)

Clearly, there are several places that would make for a dream vacation but one in particular holds a special place in my heart...

...Paris              

Within the past few years I have gone crazy for anything Parisian. I think it's so chic and glamorous and feminine. & having a reputation for being a writer's city, or an artist's city, I've always felt like a part of me belongs there... or at least has to visit. It's amazing how you can feel connected to a place you've never been. 

When I finished my undergrad this year my mom threw me a party and it was filled with the most wonderful people and energy and the party alone would have been enough. So, when she handed me an envelope I was surprised but appreciative because I figured it was a monetary gift (something a broke college grad always appreciates). Little did I know what it would contain...

I opened the card and instead of a check this little booklet she made fell out. 

She's cute :)

 When I flipped through the book each page had a different picture on it as a clue as to where we were going.

This is where I started crying saying "Mom... mom...." over and over haha

Excuse the water spots.. I set this on the counter before I took pictures..

Ahhh! I can't believe I'm going to be in Paris this coming year! & I get to go with one of the best women in my life who is giving me one of the best gifts ever. We've already started scouring the internet for hotels ;) Guess I'll be getting my passport after all.

Has anyone ever been?! I'd love any and all tips or recommendations you have! 

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Be sure to link up with Taylor, Helene & the rest of us for #Blogtober14!

my biggest fear

Today's #blogtober14 prompt is a hard one for me. There are a lot of things I fear both big and small. I'm a huge scared-y cat and can.not.do things like haunted houses or scary movies. I was almost dragged to one this past weekend and almost started crying at the thought of it. I know. I'm obnoxious.

But some of my bigger fears are disappointing loved ones or, perhaps worse, myself and/or failing at goals I've set for myself. I think maybe what I fear even more than failing is simply not doing. There have been several things in my life I haven't done because of some type of fear whether it's been anxiety (which I have a loooot of), homesickness, loss of control, etc. 

I've rationalized decisions and sat on the sidelines out of fear something wouldn't go the way I expected or wanted it to. I've missed out on opportunities because of it in the past and am working very hard to not miss anymore in the future. I've come to the conclusion that I am my biggest obstacle. I've often claimed other people or factors as reasons not to do something until recently coming to the realization that it's me. 

I can only control my own actions. I have the power to make decisions and do things for me. So, in order to silence that fear of not enjoying things or experiencing everything life has to offer I'm going to take that trip, and write that book, and cook the hardest recipe. I'm going to take that leap so I'll have a life to look back on instead of memories sitting on the sidelines. 

Yes, Dr, yes. 

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Be sure to link up with Taylor, Helene & the rest of us for #Blogtober14!