12 Days of Christmas Challenge- Day 8

Day 8: Least favorite thing about the Holidays 

 I love love love my family.Sometimes the stresses can run a little high and be a bit much to handle.I do my best to remember that it is just that time of year.I come from a big family and someone's feelings always gets hurt--I know that I am sensitive......that said, I hope that I have the courage to see beyond the hurt feelings and enjoy the time!
With this, I love love the holidays and I love my family!!I am so looking forward to seeing all of my loved ones and I cannot wait for the holidays to unfold!

The Shoes-Edited!

Hello to all!!

I have just found and purchased my wedding shoes!

I needed shoes back in July to try on my dress. So I hastily went looking and I found a pair that I liked, but wasn't in love with them.

I kept them and tried to love them, and I just couldn't...

So I did some online shopping and found these beauties!

I went to Nordstrom and they didn't have them so they had to order them for me.

Also, when I was there I found another pair that I liked but they didn't have the color I liked in my size...

I got both pairs in the mail the week before Thanksgiving...{yes I know, I have been holding out on you all for a while--I wanted to wait until I knew I was keeping them}

I decided to keep both pairs...I got both of them for less than the price I paid for the first pain {I know...they were expensive..another reason why I couldn't love them}

So, without further adieu...

My wedding shoe!

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I decided that I can wear these for showers and stuff! 

Aren't they adorable!!

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Now the only thing I need to worry about is walking in them...it looks like I will need to start practicing!

They are pretty tall!

I am sure I won't have a problem...

...I can see it now...

I am walking down the aisle, in white, and I trip and fall!

ha!

I hope you all have a Tip Top Tuesday!

Italia- Verona

I went to Italia in the summer of 2008. I studied Art, Music and Culture in Firenze for a month.  

From now on, my adventures were mainly shared with my two roommates: Jodi and Stephanie, people in my program, Bev or random people we met along the way!

Now on to my Firenze adventures--a lot of site seeing, staying up late, and wine! How to travel in Europe when you are 20!

I have decided that I will take you along my journey based on the places I went :-)

Verona

For those of you who don't know, Juliet's balcony is in Verona.

This is another place that I remember visiting when I was young. I remember my mom and I went on a tour of her castle and we came out on the balcony and we said the famous "Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo? Deny thy father, and refuse thy name" line to my now padrastre.

All over Italia, there are copper statues that if you touch them it is good luck. 

So whenever we came in contact with anything that we needed to touch or do for good luck, we did it!

 This is a statue of Juliet right outside of her balcony! Oolala!

Arena di Verona

We saw Aida. The coolest part about this Opera...Aida is the first Opera and it was first performed in this amphitheater!

How neat is that?!

Since the Opera was back in its original amphitheater, when we walked in to the area, we were all given candles and we lit the candles. Everyone in the Area had a candle to light! It was magical!

Even though it was all in Italian, and we weren't able to understand, it was such an amazing experience!

 When you are in Verona, see an Opera. It is amazing and you will always remember the experience!!

Also, visit Juliet's castle and touch her boob! ;-)

Until next time, Buon Giorno

It's Monday...again...

Today is going to be:

long

intense

stressful

exciting

relieving

happy

great

The weather outside is frightful...

unfortunately I cannot complete this thought with a beautiful fire that is delightful...

I can; however, say that I am back at work and glad to be back!

1.  What is your favorite way to eat chicken?

Like the host of this "meet me on monday" I could eat Chicken Tenders all day, every day!

My mom made this yummy recipe (from I believe Martha Stewart-pre jail time)

Basically you take chicken and you dip it in eggs seasoned with salt and pepper

Then you take crumpled frosted flakes and you coat the chicken in that and your bake them! 

Oh my! They are soo good!!
2.  Have you decorated for Christmas yet?

No, soon though!
3.  What is your favorite article of clothing?

I love coats and jackets!
4.  Do you pay your bills online or write checks the old way?

I do most of my banking online...weird though, because some of them don't do online ;-( Common people..it's 2010!
5.  Do you make Christmas cookies?

Yes! What else will Santa eat when he gets hungry from putting all of the presents under the tree?!

We also leave veggies out for his reindeer! {Let's be honest...They do most of the work}

12 Days of Christmas Challenge- Day 7

Day 7: Holiday Craft/DIY  (If you don't make anything, what do you WISH you could make?) 

  I would love to make some kind of a centerpiece. I love, absolutely love, candles!I would like to make some kind of a candle centerpiece. I am excited to read all about you do-it yourself centerpiece ideas!! I know that this is the time for all of these fun projects!

Italia- Milano

I went to Italia in the summer of 2008. I studied Art, Music and Culture in Firenze for a month.  

From now on, my adventures were mainly shared with my two roommates: Jodi and Stephanie, people in my program, Bev or random people we met along the way!

Now on to my Firenze adventures--a lot of site seeing, staying up late, and wine! How to travel in Europe when you are 20!

I have decided that I will take you along my journey based on the places I went :-)

Milano

When we were in Milano, we didn't do a lot of site seeing...we did a lot of shopping and mingling!

Milano was an exciting place for me because one of my very best friends met Jodi and I there. Bev was working in Paris and we decided to have a little European adventure in Milano!

Also, one of my Alpha Gamm sisters was studying in Milano and so she showed us around the town the first night we were there and she met up with us the last day we were there!

This is one of my favorite pictures of food from the entire trip! It is the background picture on my iPod! I love it! Doesn't it make your mouth water for some good, authentic gelato! Yum!

I wanted to try a new flavor every time we went, so there was never just one that I always had! Yumm!

This bowl looks like it had chocolate, mocha and stracciatella gelato {like a chocolate chip}.

SOO tasty!

Look at that! This is what gothic looks like ;-)

Before our night out! We asked someone to take our picture and he took a picture of our legs...typical Italian Man ;-)

What a night! The day before we went shopping on the famous street in Milano for shopping. I bought a pair of beautiful orange shoes {my favorite color and I couldn't pass them up} another pair of off white ones, and the dress that I am wearing in this picture.

Then we went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner where they over translated the menu into English! We had a blast in Milano!

Then we headed to a night club, Beach, where we were surrounded by beautiful people! We had so much fun!

Our last day in Milano we went into the Duomo and just walked around for a quick minute. You could light a candle-there were candle everywhere...isn't this beautiful!

This is the main mall in Milano

This is another good luck charm, to put your heel in the balls of the bull and spin around 3 times.  This is in the center of the mall! So fun!

Love!

Alpha Gamm's!

Stunning!

This was an unplanned trip. If I were to go back, I would make sure to make an appointment to see the painting of the Last Supper. Other than that, relax, enjoy the gelato and shop til you drop!

Until next time, Buon Giorno

Aloha Hawaiian Tan Lines!

I have been MIA for the past week - aside from the Christmas Challenge - because I was in Hawai'i with my family for the Thanksgiving Holiday!

I am back and ready to blog! ;-)

Are you with me?? This is a highly photo'd post! I hope you enjoy!

I look forward to catching up on your blogs over the next week!

Here are a few updates (out of order)!!

I got home from my vacation and my Mary Kay check was waiting for me in the mail!
Hello! and Thank you!
No more debt for Miss La Tache!
Wahoo!

The Sunday before we left for Hawai'i my brother sliced his finger with a mandolin and we had to take him to the ER... I will save you the graphic picture...and will show you a less graphic one ;-)

He was such a stud and I am soo proud of him! I would have been a mess!

On Friday I met up with an Alpha Gamm Sister, and Friend, and we went to dinner at the Burger Bar in SF and then we went to see Harry Potter.

The Burger Bar was ok..the burgers weren't anything special...oh well...We did get a dessert burger!!

Buns: Donut

Patty: Nutella

Tomatoes: Strawberries

Pickles: Kiwis

Cheese: This weird gelatin thing

Interest mix of flavors!!

And Harry Potter..well it was Harry Potter...it was a great movie.

 The only problem: we got there a little late and we had to sit in the front row...for an iMAX show...

I don't recommend that!

{My one question..what is the deal with having seats that close?! It isn't comfortable for anyone!}

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We left the Saturday before Thanksgiving and we headed on a jet plane to Kona, HI {the big island}

My Aunt lives there and we stayed with them. It was an awesome trip!

The first day we just hung out at the beach and soaked up the sun

Look at that blue sky!

My Beautiful Momma!

My brothers being taken out by the waves!

A beautiful Hawaiian Sunset!

 The second day we went on a Submarine ride! Which was pretty cool!

We saw three sunkin ships! 

That was really neat!

{we got free tickets from my Aunt..it wouldn't have been as cool if we had to pay full price ;-)}

We saw a bunch of fish and sea life!

Going down into the submarine!

 

The weir colors under water!

Look at that fish!

We were under water at 106 ft (i just didn't get that picture)

The sub we were on!

Family shot...oh Daniel...

I got to spend some time on two different days with my Aunt!

The first night we went to the Mai Tai Bar.

That was beautiful...right on the water enjoying a Mai Tai..yes please!

Mai Tai Bar

A Lava Tunnel

A HUGE spider! EW!

 

The Painted Church

the ceiling in the painted church

isn't it beautiful!

A macadamia nut farm! They are like butter!

Auntie took me to a coffee plantation and to a macadamia nut farm. 

It was really neat!

I learned why Kona Coffee is the best!

Snorkeling!

me and my hott momma!

we saw a turtle!!

 

Some thanksgiving celebrations!

Checking out the petroglyphs

Auntie and I

the fam-bam

petroglyphs

enjoying thanksgiving! and Skipbo!

 Happy Hour across the street!

this is a great one!

Auntie and her fave niece and nephews!

 Celebrating Deuqued's birthday!

 

The whole gang!

 Some of the fun drinks we enjoyed while vacationing!!

celebrating deuque's birthday a little early..with some fiery drinks!

I hope you all didn't miss me too much! I am glad to be back and I look forward to reading about all of your vacations!