Let the tears begin........

Ciao Ciao.

WELL….What to say in these last final blogs? I think I will start crying now…..

Well Saturday night I cooked an amazing dinner of chicken and veggies and then got ready and went out for a bit with the girls after skyping Stacey about coming here next semester (I am so jealous it’s not even legitly funny.) and finally talking to my cousin Ali! I can’t believe she is graduating high school………I am getting so old.

Anyways....... so then I came home and went to bed after chatting with Alexa for a bit.. Then I woke up Sunday morning and did laundry and met Haleigh down by the Arno to tan for a bit. Ughh it was SO hot and I swear I practically got more sun in those 2.5 hours than I did in Forte Dei Marmi last weekend. I brought my stuff to study but that was a fail…… Lauren eventually came and met us and Hal and I were like girl we won’t be here much longer, both of us were way too hot. So Hal and I left about 3:15 and went and got gelato! Best gelato ever! I found out my favorite gelato place actually has it’s “sister store” right by Santa Croce and is so much closer than the one across the river! Wish I would have known that all semester, but that means I would have gotten it more! Haha!! So then I came home and showered and then made my dinner of meat and veggies! It was DELICIOUS!!!!! Then I “began to study” for my Customer Relations and Special Events final. I swear I don’t even think a bottle of adderal could have helped me stay focused enough to study….. I have no attention span to study after how bad last semester was. I just kept wishing SEIGS was with me to help me procrastinate like normal. : (

Then I did benderball real quick and then went to Ainsley’s so her, Jenny, Hal, and I could study together for our Special Events final. I don’t think I would have studied anymore by myself than I did with them. We didn’t get as much done as we thought we would but all of us couldn’t help but procrastinate and get off topic! Haha! So finally, I was tired and Hal didn’t feel good so we all went home.

So then I came home, caught up with Alexa, then went to bed! This morning I woke up and studied again for my Special Events final and then went to class a bit early to study more. Then I finally took the final and wrote my dang brains out. It was horrible how much I had to write, but hopefully I did okay! We will see!! Then I met up with Hal again for Pino’s and got the amazing sandwich again! It’s just so good with the spinach and eggplant and pesto! I love it! Then I went to go try and buy my baking book…….they didn’t have it so I had to wait and hope the other place had it. SO then I went up to Italian and we reviewed for our final and then I went in search of the other place to find my baking book. Yes I haven’t bought my book yet! Haha! Val had it and so did Lola and I didn’t think I would ever need it, nor are the recipes in American cooking styles anyways….. It’s all in grams and Celsius temperatures so I didn’t think it was worth it to get it…..But I changed my mind and bought it. Luckily they had it! SO I bought that and then dropped my stuff off at home and went out for my run/walk before going to pick up my book once they had it copied and then came home to quickly stretch and book it back down to school to take my Customer Relations final. I thought I wrote a lot in Special Events this morning. That’s a joke…………… I wrote so freeking much!!!! It was all essays on this one, so hopefully I did okay! Again------we will have to see!

So then I went and got gelato at my new favorite place technically and then ate it in Santa Croce square since it was so pretty out. Then I was going to get a kebab, but it was only 4:30….. I thought I cooked my last dinner last night, but I decided to go to the grocery store and buy a chicken and other stuff. I bought my last container of fresh pesto today probs……..I could cry. SO then I came home, caught up with Alexa for a bit, and made pasta to use up my pasta and sauce…..Then I cut up the chicken and dipped it in KC MASTERPIECE. Umm DELICIOUS doesn’t even explain how freeking amazing it was!! It was soooooo good it’s not even funny!

So then I cleaned up my laundry and caught up with faceboook…..now I am writing this and about to study for Baking and Accounting in a bit if I can get myself to focus enough…….

SO other than all this……. Let the tears begin. I am going to be a freeking emotional wreck the next few days and I probably won’t even be able to see Friday and Saturday. I don’t know what I am going to do without seeing Sam, Ainsley, Chris, Hal, Amy, and B especially all the time! Grrrrrr that we all live so far apart! But I can’t wait to visit them soon enough!

I can’t even begin to explain how truly amazing the past 4 months have been and when everyone asks me how studying abroad was when I get home, I am not going to know what to say because there are no words to explain it.

I literally do feel like this is all still a dream though.. I feel like on January 24 my life stopped and then on May 14 my life will come back. It’s like I was in a coma the past 4 months and I was just dreaming all this up in my head because I still can’t believe I am in freeking Italy and I have been to over like 20 cities. It has to be a dream.

Freeking Ainsley is going to Hong Kong after she goes to London for a few days and JEALOUS doesn’t even begin to explain how I feel. I would LOVEEEEE to go to Hong Kong. : (

But really, I don’t have many regrets from this past semester trip wise….. I pretty much went at least somewhere each weekend I think besides before and after midterms…. But really the only other places I would have loved to go to was Amsterdam, Brighton to see Tricia, the Amalfi Coast, and maybe Prauge. But it’s okay! I really wish I could have made it to Brighton to see Trish, but the timing never worked out and it was super expensive. : ( Just all the more reason I will be coming back in the future!!!!!!

Also, Haleigh gave me some extra Crystal Light packets since she brought so many…..I had a fruit punch today and it was delicious of course. I am saving the wild strawberry ones for Thursday and Friday. But between having those and KC Masterpiece, can we talk about how much better my life is with those. But can we also talk about how much my life is going to suck when I don’t have fresh pesto to dip my carrots in, the best dried fruit ever to snack on, the best gelato of cookies and cheesecake, amazing cannoli, blood oranges and blood orange juice, amazing hummus to dip my carrots in, fresh pasta……….ughhhh I am rambling and wanting to tear up now.

Well, until tomorrow….Ciao Ciao. I am going to go cry now.

Love and Miss.

blah blah blah blah......blog.

Saturday May 7, 2011

Ciao.

Saturday May 7, 2011. WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I still remember telling everyone 1 week till I leave FOR Italy not 1 week till I leave FROM Italy! : ( This is my last weekend in Florence. NOT OKAY!

So anyways. I got internet back……Stupid I had to pay again for it. GRR internet here SUCKS.

Anyways what has been up since Wednesday.. Well Wednesday night of course I watched my SVU episode. SO GOOD and so glad it’s finally back!

Then Thursday I woke up and went for a run/walk down by the Arno, came back and then took a shower, and went and met Sam at the train station to go to Pisa.

So we got into Pisa and walked around the city for a bit. We came to the river and saw this really random church by the river. It was pretty cool looking though! So then we kept walking and finally got to basically one of the only sites to see in Pisa. Haha! Of course that would be the Leaning Tower. It was pretty crowded and hard to take photos of just us in the photo. It was so surreal to actually see the Leaning Tower though, I will be honest. I mean usually that’s just like see it on a postcard or see it on tv kind of thing! But NOPE! I saw it and got a photo with it! SO we took some photos and of course got the holding the tower up photo. It was so funny cause all of a sudden we looked over and a whole line of people were trying to do the same photo. So then we walked around for a bit. Their duomo and baptistery are right by the Leaning Tower as well, so we took a look at those and then went and took a cool looking jumping photo by the Leaning Tower. We then ended up chatting with these 2 American guys who asked us to take a photo of them. I find it so fun to find Americans to chat with and tell them where to go around Italy! After 4 months-- I obviously have some recommendations! Considering that is all you really can see in Pisa, we ended up walking back to the river, taking some photos, and then going to catch the train back to Florence. I looked at Sam on the train and was like that was a nice trip to Sicily! And she was like What?!? And I was like dude we were supposed to go after Sicily remember?? Haha! I wish we were just coming back from Sicily…… : (

So then we got home and I stopped and picked up a few things at the grocery store for dinner and then went and sat at school for a bit to use their internet. Then I came home and made my chicken, pasta, and veggie mix for dinner! It was so good! And then I finished the movie Beaches……If you ever want to cry…….watch that movie. I balled like a baby!

Then I got ready for…… a duhhhh! Cinco de Mayo with some of my favs! So then I went and met Ainsley, Chris, B, Amy, and Lauren to go to Tijuanas for margs! We were kind of worried it would be too crowded, but we were fine! Got a seat and got our margs! Then the crowd started showing up, so we got there at a good time. Of course I got a margarita…… Strawberry this time! So good. I highly doubt I will ever have a margarita like the ones they make again! So sad! Then we sat and chatted for a bit and then got ready to go the bar where Chris’s roommates were doing Karaoke! So then I came home after that and went to bed!

Then I woke up Friday and went for my run/walk by the Arno again and came home, cleaned the kitchen a bit, and then showered and got ready to celebrate International No Diet Day and National Nutella Crepe Day before having to go to the venue we had our farewell party at for FUA! So I met Sam and we walked down to MY nutella crepe place and for the 5^th freeking time they didn’t have crepes. I swear I was livid. I am done with them. I will give them one more try next week and if they don’t have them I am demanding free gelato. DONE. So then we went to the place Haleigh likes and got a nutella crepe. What a great day of holidays! Whoever put those 2 things on the same day, I thank them. : )

SO then I went to the market real quick and went over to meet my class to set up for the farewell party we helped plan in my Special Events class all semester. So we got there and set up for a bit and reviewed the plans since we were working it all night. Then we got a break for a half hour……Finnegan’s Irish Pub was right down the street. Of course my idea was followed by everyone and we all went and got a drink. HAHA! I am such a bad influence, but whatever everyone was happy! Haha SO then we went back and set up for a bit more and reviewed the time schedule of events and what our jobs were. So then we got a break again and my 2 friends and I came back to my apartment for a bit and got ready and then went back to start the night. I was in charge of raffle tickets and checking people in at the door. So I did that and then as for what went on at the party—we had a slideshow of photos my class brought in of the semester, a fashion show, raffle, food and drink, music, a rock show, farewell photos people could take, and speeches. After my door entry help, I was supposed to help with photos but that didn’t go as planned! Haha! The whole night went a whole lot better than we thought it would and a lot more students came then we expected and everyone pretty much followed the black and white dress code! We were pretty worried because we thought our teacher would be livid with us if not a lot of people came and would make our final horribly hard. But we ended up getting so many compliments that this is the best farewell party the school has ever had! SO we were happy! After helping put away chairs, we all got to go home thankfully!

So I came home and went to bed. I was supposed to go to Cinque Terre today again and lay out all day by the beach with Sam and Ainsley, but I woke up at 2 am this morning wanting to be sick. No I wasn’t hungover, but I felt like crap still when I woke up so I called Ainsely and told her I couldn’t come!

So then instead, I slept in and then got up, showered, and decided I am so behind on America and keeping in touch with everyone, I went and bought more internet. I swear the whole internet situation is such BS and I don’t even want to count up how much I have paid over the past 4 months. It is so ridiculous! But whatever, now I will have internet when I am sitting in the airport! Bahaha! SO then I ran to the store to pick up a few things and came home and chatted with Bess, Alexa, and Laura about the party and then made lunch and brought my computer up to the balcony with my lunch and ate and got on the internet and caught up with life at home and added photos! So then I was getting so hot, so I went shopping for a bit and then went and picked up some veggies for dinner. Then I came home and now I’m back on my balcony writing this and I am going to call people and try to skype with people from my balcony on this pretty day!

I am excited for my dinner tonight and then all us girls are meeting up tonight to go out when Sam and Ainsley get back!

Tomorrow I am laying out all day by the Arno with Haleigh and Ainsley to study for our finals!

So other than this……1 week I know. Dummmmmmmb.

Random fact, I am eating ice right now and I can’t explain how great it tastes and how much I wish I had some strawberry water to go with it. : ) haha!

I will say yes, I am excited to see everyone so soon, but it’s going to be super hard to leave. I know I will be back though. I already told my friends I could never do another semester here without them, they made the semester what it was and I don’t know what I would do without them! I can’t wait to go visit them, but I wish we all lived closer!

So I will leave it at this for now! Ciao Ciao until my next post!

Love and Miss!

wednesday's blog..

Ciao.

Well Happy Wednesday, Happy weekend to me! Happy no more classes for me too!

So quick update since I am going to Pisa tomorrow.

Well this morning I woke up and then practiced my Italian presentation that was going to be at noon! Then I ate lunch real quick and went to class a bit early to utilize the internet access! Then I went into class and the rest of us presented our speeches……I did okay I guess. I had like the longest presentation out of everyone because it was supposed to be about 3 minutes, but not everyone followed that! Haha! But whatevs, hopefully I did okay! Then we reviewed for our final!

Then I came home and did Cardio Max and stretched……my back pain I can already tell is going to get really bad again if I don’t watch what I am doing. SOO needless to say carrying around my probs 150+ pound luggages next weekend is going to be purely joyful. NOT.

So then I got ready real quick and went to school to utilize the internet again and add photos and yesterday’s blog. NEW episode of SVU finally! I was getting worried. Downloaded and about ready to watch it! Plus I sent my work the final : ( update and some more photos!

Then I came home and made dinner…..fresh ravioli and my pepper, zucchini, and chicken mix with my awesome pasta sauce! It was absolutely so good! You can’t get pasta like this in the states!

Then I started writing this thing!

Tomorrow Sam and I are going to take a quick trip over to Pisa before coming home to celebrate Cinco de Drinko, I mean Mayo………….with everyone! : ) I can’t wait! It’s going to be amazing with our awesome margaritas!

Friday is the going away party my Special Events class “helped” (NOT!) plan for the whole school. We are all less than thrilled and we are all already betting on how many fights we will get in with our teacher! It’s going to be ridiculous!

Don’t know the weekend plans yet.. But Sunday, at least Ainsley and I, maybe Haleigh, may go to a beach again or sit and lay out by the river and study for our exams. If we’re going to study, we mine as well do it in style! Haha!

Finals next week are going to kick my butt……literally……start praying for me now. Thanks! : )

Other than all this, got the email from my mom this morning of send me the grocery list…. I love that question. I told her don’t worry I will send it to her, but stock the fridge with OBVS KC Masterpiece and TONS of lunchmeat. Totally snacking on that all the time when I get back.

Well, I will leave it at this for now…… Big update to come after Pisa! Enjoy the rest of your day!

Love and Miss!

Well...................yesterday's blog.

Ciao.

Well hello my friends. Happy Tuesday. 1 class left of my semester and it’s time to study for these dreadful finals.

Well today was a normal Tuesday.. Woke up this morning and went to my LAST Hospitality Accounting class. Can you see the tears of happiness flowing when I say my LAST class? And so we discussed our final some more and went over exercises. He ended class early, so I stayed for a little bit and used the internet to catch up on American life. Gas prices supposedly going up to 5$ by summer? Thank you Italy for teaching me to LOVE to walk and yay for the fact I have a bike!

Well, then I came home and did benderball and went for my walk/run and then home to stretch. Well, no thanks to the running and walking so much on cobblestone, my backs acting up again. Joyful.

Then I went to the market and grocery store to buy some last few days type things and of course one of my last times getting dried fruit : ( !! I did buy some fresh gnocchi and fresh ravioli though and I was so excited for it! My new favorite staple in life is carrots….dipped in pesto or hummus. Thank you to Alexa for that lesson!

Well then I came home and got ready to go to my last baking class : (! Now that is like the only class I am sad to say is coming to an end! It’s going to be a hard goodbye to everyone in that class! I know in the beginning I was intimidated as heck, but Val and everyone else, as well as my chef, really taught me a lot and made me feel welcome considering I think I am like the only one who is doing a study abroad type thing. It’s def. going to be hard to say goodbye to Val considering she is moving here in September! Lucky girl!

So then I went to class and we finished up the cakes we have been in the process of making for the past 2 weeks. We made a dark chocolate glase (UMMMMM smelled like brownies. SMELLED DELICIOUS! I want some brownies….now.) to top the dark chocolate and cooked pastry cream type cake and a white chocolate with vanilla glase to top the yogurt and raspberry cake. Then we made some cool decorations to go on top- cooked apples and strawberries, cooked and rolled cocoa (chef’s recipe!), and then this cool clear stuff that we wrapped raspberries and hazelnuts in. I actually found out this clear stuff is what they use in the movies when people “break” through glass windows! I thought that was neat and ended up breaking one of the decorations trying to figure out how anyone can break through it! Haha SO I just ended up making a new one! And then we made this cooked sugar type thing rolled out with almonds and then baked in the oven and then cut and rolled into shapes, it was kind of like peanut brittle almost. So then we topped both cakes and the mini ones we made with everything and then tried them! I skipped the trying them because it was practically all creamy stuff and cake. SOOOO.. then we chatted about our final during class too and then he let us out a little early.

Then I sat with Amy at school and used the internet to check my flight that is coming up soon. (I love countdowns, yes. But I refuse to countdown for this! Hahahaha!)

Then I came home and made dinner! Yet another Tuesday I had to make dinner……So sad. I made my chicken, zucchini, and pepper mix and then mixed it with my fresh gnocchi and spicy tomato sauce! It was so good of course! I have to find this pasta sauce when I get home, it’s so good!

So then I cleaned up and started writing this thing! Wow, this one isn’t that long. Good job to me.

So 1 more class left, then finals, and then everyone, little miss Shelley Marie is going to be a SENIOR in college. Theoretically I am one now and should graduate in December, but the intern thing got in the way. SOOOOO one more semester left of classes. YES! I am getting so old. I still remember graduating Duchesne……..I guess that’s because that’s when I got the kitchen aid, so that made it pretty dang memorable. HAHA!

Well, other than that stuff I am going out again finally with all the girls tomorrow and then we’re celebrating Cinco de Drinko, I mean Mayo, on Thursday with the best of the best margaritas at our favorite Mexican restaurant Tiajuanas. : )!! Cannot wait!

I have a flight home booked, but now I just have to stalk the seat availability! I am dreading dealing with security now when I get back. It’s hard enough having a pacemaker, with my luck they’ll probs tell me my card is fake.

So what else……… I need a haircut. No one is probs going to see how long my hair has gotten besides my parents because first thing Sunday morning, its straight to get my hair cut, get it conditioned, and then dying it ASAP. Goodbye light brown and gray hair! Haha

Like I said in my status today, if there is any materialistic reasons I have that is making me anxious to come home—I call it HCGTLD. Haircut, RecPlex, Tan, Laundry with a dryer. : )!!

SO I will leave it at this for now. Until tomorrow. Ciao Ciao!

Love and Miss!

Over 5000 photos. I'm a champ.

Ciao………

MAY 2^ND WHAT THE HECKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!! This date is not okay. I remember being like January 24! I am leaving! BAHHHH!

HAPPY 21^st BIRTHDAY (+1 DAY) to one of my bestest friends Rachel Brown finally!! Can’t wait to get home to celebrate soon! Love and miss you of course!

Well kiddos.. It’s May 2^nd. I am not okay with this.

But what is new with little miss Shelley Marie…….

Yesterday Ainsley and I had a really rough day…. We laid on the beach all day and soaked up some serious sun. It was quite enjoyable obviously.

So we woke up bright and early and took the 7:47 am train to Forte Dei Marmi about 1.5 hours away from Florence. My friend from accounting had told us about the beach there when Ainsley came into my class on our break the one day. She had overheard us talking about going to a beach for a day trip if we didn’t do Sardania this past weekend and she recommended this one! She was SO right; I thanked her today in the other class I have with her!

So we got to the train station at about 9:30ish and asked how to get to the beach. Turns out the beach was like 4km away, which is like 2.5 miles away. Ainsley and I are champs at directions and decided to walk it instead of taking a taxi cause apparently it was go right at the church and then just keep walking straight. Easy enough we thought! So we did keep walking straight after the church and ran into several interesting things on the way- 1 was a huge statue of a rooster sitting on a giant walnut……..then some big dolphin statue, Conad City that looked trashy (which is the grocery store in Florence), and some run down house that we said was being renovated and we were going to move into it. Well after every quick turn or hill and then a bridge- we would be like okay around this turn, after this hill, after this bridge, there will be hope and so we would just keep walking and walking and it reminded us of Florida a lot……Then it changed from Welcome to Florida to Welcome to the Hamptons. It got to be the richest looking area ever…..Prada, Gucci, Dolce, Etc., as well as a bunch of other rich Italian stores. And then we saw their little Pier looking thing and the beach! The beach was GORGEOUS and the weather was FABULOUS! Multo Bene : ) !!

We really lucked out with the weather considering we thought on Thursday when we were looking at places to go, we thought that the rain percentages just kept going higher as the weekend progressed! But nope, not here! It was bright and sunny and hot!

So we first walked down the Pier and took photos and then decided it was time to beach it!

The beach was not very crowded, but we didn’t know if it was a public beach or what. The area was so rich looking with a ton of little club looking things of chairs and tables for people to sit on that you probs had to pay for. So we finally decided after going the one way to turn around and lay out in this area where others were laying!

So we laid out our towels, popped our iPods in, and tanned! Ainsley fell asleep pretty quickly and I just enjoyed the sun! I also started out by doing my budget for the next 2 ( :( !! ) weeks! Then I just enjoyed the nice sun rays I just love and worked on my tan!

But during our tanning time, the lovely people I deal with at the fleamarket who sell my purses also sell them here; they’re just not near as legit as the ones I buy. All these men kept coming up to us trying to sell clothes, jewelry, towels I think, and esp. purses. I can’t stand the people anymore because they do it so much in Florence, so I always flat out rudely say no. But I mean come on, yes it is HIGHLY illegal, but seriously if you’re going to try and sell me illegal purses- MAKE THEM LEGIT LOOKING! I mean seriously, the V on a Louis Vuitton being smaller than the L………You think I don’t notice that. I am a pro at shipping for this stuff.. I wish I knew their language so I could say THESE SUCK! I mean I don’t sell the stuff, but if I got caught and arrested like they could, at least I would want to get caught for selling legit looking stuff. HAHA!

Anyways, Ainsley and I both brought work to do, like I was going to write my oral presentation for Italian and she had stuff to study I think. FAILED.

We laid there for quite a while and then I was like okay maybe I should do something and got out Italian and then I was like I can’t write this and then I tried to read Eat. Pray. Love. SUCKS I couldn’t read that. Geez my attention span with a book SUCKS! I like the movie; the book just started out going so back and forth and everyone knows I don’t read books that have movies : ) !! So then I just decided my priority was just to enjoy the sun! : )

It got to be about 1:30ish and I looked at Ainsley like I need a beverage. Our waters were basically warm and we both agreed we wanted a nice pina colada or of course me, I wanted a nice cold frozen margarita. So we got up and were going to try and find a grocery store and just make some kind of drink, but the little town was just too rich, so there wasn’t much hope for finding one close. But we got up anyways and went on the hunt for one. Ainsley had gone to change earlier and said the little café at this club looking thing by where we were laying out may have had drinks but I was like ya probs EXPENSIVE! So then we got up and walked around the pretty little town. I have never been to the Hamptons, but I was like I have seen it on TV and the town reminded me of it!

So then we agreed a nice canoli or something cold would suffice since no grocery store was in sight and we finally saw people with gelato and found the bakery it was coming from. HELLO SHELLEY MARIE FINALLY GOT HER COOKIE SHE’S BEEN SEARCHING FOR! (The one I am obsessed with from San Gimnano!) Ainsley got gelato and I wasn’t enthused by anything, but I saw this cookie that looked like it had pine nuts on it, but I didn’t think it was my cookie since it wasn’t in the same thick shape. I was going to just try and find somewhere else for gelato, but I decided to risk it and try whatever cookie it was cause it looked so close to mine. So I got 4 little cookies and the lady told the cashier PINOLINI and I was like BAHHHH Ainsley it’s my COOKIE!!!!! Finally! I was so happy!

The cookies weren’t as good as the San Gimnano one, but it is because they weren’t in the same thick shape. However, obviously they were good and I was very pleased to finally be reunited with my dear cookie. : )

So then we decided it was just give up and time to go back and lay out esp. because like 2-4 I think is like prime time tanning time and everyone knows I can’t miss that. So we went back to the café place Ainsley had talked about earlier and we got waters and then decided a nice cold Diet Coke would suffice to split.

So we got that and took it back to the beach and laid our stuff out again and drank our Diet Coke and waters. Then we put our iPods in and started chatting about home again, ER stories, and other random stories. I explained to her the story of my feet and why I had surgery, it’s so weird to think that was so long ago. Haha! And then Ainsley as funny as she is had so many funny stories I just cracked up hearing! I swear I don’t know what I am going to do without her random faces, hilarious jokes, etc. in 2 weeks. Thank God for texting, phones, Facebook, and skype!! Oh ya and NEW YORK in November. : ) !!

We both went in and out of the water every so often since it was so hot, but neither of us swam. It was still kind of cold. SO then it got to be about 5:20 and we packed up our stuff and headed back for the train station to take the 6:20 train home. Ainsley was pretty burnt and I thought I was too, but I got a lot of color mainly. I wasn’t near as bad as Sicily though! SO we got dressed and headed back for the train station. We had originally agreed to getting a taxi back earlier when we were walking to the beach, but then decided the walk home shouldn’t take as long now that we knew what to expect. Ainsley and I esp. love little Italian children because they are so presh! There was this precious little child walking out in front of us and I swear I was like you are too freeking precious in those little green pants! Haha

So then we walked back to the train station and got our tickets for home! We don’t know why the ticket was so much cheaper, but we were fine with it! We then waited for the train after we almost thought we missed it and luckily we got on the train at the right time. The other beach we talked about going to, but have heard too many mixed reviews on is called Viareggio, which is like 1 or 2 stops before ours and when we got to that stop on the way home it was like a mad rush of people on the train. We had a hard time enough with finding seats, but then it became standing room only after Viareggio. At first, we were sitting across the aisle from each other, than the people sitting by me got off and Ainsley moved over and then the huge mass of people that got on made the train standing room only. We were both sweating from our sunburns and because it was SO hot in general!

So then people kept getting off at really random stops, but whatever, and then we finally made our way back to Florence at about 8ish! All the train rides now bring back memories because everytime I pass the stop for Firenze Compo, I think of Sam and I’s terrible train ride mess back from my beloved Sicily! Haha

So then we both agreed we didn’t want to cook, so we were debating kebabs or my sandwich place for pizza this time! I told Ainsley Saturday when we got my sandwich for the last time, I wanted to get pizza from there at least one more time too! So we decided on the pizza and if it looked bad, then kebabs instead! The pizza looked legit, so Ainsley got this huge sausage pizza I have been wanting to try ever since I had the sandwich the first time with Alexa and I got this procioutto and mushroom pizza. We bought different pizzas on purpose so we could share pieces with each other! Both pizzas were so good and the sausage on hers was DELICIOUS!! So then we took the pizzas and ate them on the steps of the Duomo. It was kind of chilly, so we ate real quick and just wanted to go home! So we both said Ciao and went back to our apartments to shower and then snuggle in our beds!!

So I got home, caught up with Alexa and Bess. Both of them were like dang girl, you got color!! Haha. We were discussing Cinque Terre because Alexa and I both have been, I may go again this weekend actually, and Bess wants to go- so she had questions. I went into the bathroom to actually see myself and I was like OMG you guys, I didn’t know I got this much color! I got so tan-- I loved it though : ) !! haha

So then I decided shower time, no matter how painful it would be-- I had sand all over me! It wasn’t too bad, but it was pretty painful. Lotion, Lotion, Lotion, Lotion for sure! Haha

So then I got into bed, checked facebook, and added like 575 photos from just the past 3 days. I am over 5000 obviously by now everyone! GO ME! Now it’s time to try for 6000 : ) !! haha

So then I did benderball, did more laundry, and went to bed!

This morning I woke up and it was bittersweet. I took some shots of expresso and went down to school to print my paper for Customer Relations and make sure my friend Johanna printed the last part due for our Special Events project! Saw Ainsley in the computer lab and we exchanged burntness stories. She is worse than me and on her legs, she has like 3 different skin tones! Haha

So then we walked over to our LAST Special Events class. Oh now now, we are not SAD! Are you kidding me? I wanted to go to a bar with everyone and cheer our drinks to the last class! Sucks we still have the midterm and party on Friday to set up for! But Ainsley and I missed Haleigh since she was still in London! So we discussed what we thought of the party project, our final, and the party details and then ended the class! Johanna and I had to go to another class, so we had to leave before getting to tell her our real opinions of the project and see how we were doing on everything. I swear this teacher annoys the living heck out of me. She has yet to ever return any parts of our project, so we have no idea how we have been doing, she keeps us over time every class pretty much, the whole party planning deal was stupid because they used like barely any of our idea, and so much other stuff! GRRRR.. Anyways that class is almost over. YES!

Then I walked up to Italian and we did some of the oral presentations and then did some review for our final! I give my presentation Wednesday, so we will see how it goes!

Then of course, bad part of the day number 2- I then, as always, tried to go to the gym after class because we had been told last week it would now reopen today instead of last Tuesday. NOPE! I went downstairs and the whole floor was like dug up and the lady told me it is closed indefinitely and the original gym would reopen next month (HELLO! I won’t be here : ( !!)……..So then I was just mad and dropped my stuff off at home and went out for my run/walk and then back home to do my stretches. I swear, when I get back to my RecPlex/Spartacus workouts………..It’s going to be rough. Cardio Max and my walk/runs can only do so much. GRRRR.

So then I booked it back down to school for my last Customer Relations class! : ) !! Got down there and we had to turn in our papers and then give a short presentation. We got that done and he explained some of the questions on our final and then he ended class early! It was only like 4, so I decided since I have no more internet at my apt. (I will explain that in a moment!) that I would stay and use school’s internet so I could write my Italian oral presentation and catch up on Facebook. I did add like over 500 more photos I think, so check them out. : ) !! SO I caught up with miss Tricia in London finally and then I was running out of computer battery and came home!

Of course, Shelley doesn’t check the weather and had no umbrealla all day! It was sunny earlier, then rained during Italian, then stopped, then started pouring in Customer Relations! Luckily I waited just long enough that it wasn’t raining anymore and so I walked home. One of the last times I have to do this Corso to Italian to the gym and back to Corso, then home routines! Kind of sad, but the walk has gotten annoying. There are only so many different new ways I can go and way too many tourists now. I went a new way today and almost got lost, but theoretically I knew where I was. Haha!

So then I came home, caught up with Alexa, and told her my stories of the day. Then I cooked dinner. I had spaghetti with my new spicey tomato sauce and chickpeas! Then I made my chicken, pepper, and zucchini stir fry type thing right and mixed it with KC MASTERPIECE instead of adding it to the pasta like the other night!! Haha! IT WAS SO GOOD! I just love me some KC Masterpiece!!

Then Alexa and I discussed her family coming and the whole Osama’s dead news! Thanks to my minfeed on Facebook, I found out that news pretty quick. I swear like EVERYONE’S statuses involved that news! Haha! But YAY for America! Now it’s time to get gas prices to go down and I may come home!

So then I took a shower and washed all the rain crap off my legs from my walk/run today, folded my laundry, and then started writing this!

So that is what is new day wise!

But here we go again for real this time everyone. Shelley Marie may be MIA for the next 2 weeks. I got the message today that my internet is almost out. I swear I wish I knew better Italian so I could say some seriously nice words to Vodafone and scream at them for how big of liars they are. I can’t stand them and they are such liars. I am nowhere near my 100 hours I bought, but yet I am almost out of internet. GRRRRRRR. I refuse to buy anymore since I only have 2 weeks left, plus I will not be at my apartment much anymore because we have big plans for this weekend and next week. So if you don’t hear from me, I am alive…..but just don’t have internet access. So check facebook and this for updates.

Like I told Alexa and Tricia today.. I think this whole gym being closed and no more internet is like God’s way of telling me to shut this “I don’t want to go home” crap up and prep to go home. However, I have lived without a LONG list of things I used to love in America…….so no more internet or gym? I think I can handle it if I get to stay here longer and not come home. BAHAHAHAHA! What a joke! Shelley without the gym and Shelley without being able to Facebook creep. What would my life be? Haha! I am just kidding, but no seriously this no internet and gym thing SUCKS.

So if you don’t hear from me, just expect the BACK IN THE STATES text next weekend. (I mean I would put my flight info of where I will be on here, but I have too many creepers! BAHAHAHAHA KIDDING! Just felt like writing that!)

So yes, this is long. Geez how do I do this! Why can’t I write papers like this!!!!!!! Haha

Hope everyone had a good weekend and until tomorrow! Ciao! 3 days till Cinco De Drinko………I mean Mayo! HAHA!

Miss and Love!

loving me some day trips :)

Ciao.

Well kiddos, what’s new…….

Yesterday, the weather decided to change itself over to rain, so Ainsley and I switched our plans over from the beach to visiting the land of Amanda Knox- aka PERUGIA! I can’t say I know anyone who has visited there before! I just love these day trips!

So I woke up and got ready for the BEACH and then got the text from Ainsley saying it’s changed from 30% chance of rain to 60%, so we decided we’d risk Perugia instead. It was pretty much supposed to rain everywhere in Italy, so we really had to just chance whatever. So we took the 11 am train to Perugia and chatted along the way about whether or not we want to go home……obviously everyone knows the answer is we aren’t ready. Too many goodbyes we don’t know how to say.

So we got into Perugia about 1:15 and took the bus into the main center of the town. It was gorgeous! I was joking that I wanted to go find the house where the Amanda Knox thing happened, but we never could figure out where that was and I wanted to get a picture of the Perugian Police station, but we didn’t know where that was either! Haha

But OMG Perugia is so pretty! It kind of reminded me of Siena, but a lot more open! We pretty much just walked around the main square for while and took many photos. I had read in my Italy book about this place that was known for their gnocchi with ricotta and we finally found it, but it was too pricey! Ainsley and I both LOVE gnocchi! But then we were both hungry and wanted pastries! So we went on the hunt for some pastries and stopped at this cute little pastry and bread shop we stumbled upon. I couldn’t really find anything I liked, but Ainsley got this fruit tart and chocolate filled cream puff thing she loved. Then we took those and she ate them while we sat on these steps we found overlooking the rest of the city! It was so pretty! Then we went on the hunt to find another bakery and we totally failed! Perugia isn’t Florence; they have restaurants but not a lot of bakeries! So after walking around the whole square and seeing their Duomo and other big things to see, we finally went back to the pastry shop Ainsley got hers from! I got to try this apple strudel looking thing that was okay, would have been better with ice cream and if it was warm! But then I asked what this random thing was and it was real STRUDEL! Everyone knows Ainsley and I love strudel : ) !! (We miss Salzburg SO much!) But this was different, it was like a thin layer of pastry and then a small cakish kind of layer and then apple, nuts, and I think raisins! It was so good! I ate so much though, I was so full! Of course the 30% chance of rain turned to 100% and it started raining……So I had to eat my pastry under this little archway. It was so hot when we got there and sunny and then got so cloudy and rainy! We were so sad! So then under this archway, there was this little marketplace we looked through. Doesn’t compare at all to my fleamarket, but whatever!

So then we decided we pretty much saw all that we could see in the big center and were probs just going to jump on the bus and see what random stop we wanted to get off at. But then we found this chocolate place FINALLY! Perugia is actually known for their chocolate, so Ainsley was looking for her and our friend Chris some chocolate! So we went in this store, like the only store filled with chocolate, and they had SO much stuff! So much good stuff of course! So Ainsley got these 2 chocolate bars and the guy even wrapped them up so cute, even with bows!! We figured there would be a ton of chocolate shops, but nope! Luckily we found this one! So then we made our way back to the bus stop, of course I had forgotten my umbrella. Luckily Ainsley had hers!

We saw one of the tour buses and since we didn’t know what to do, we checked with the tourist office the prices and it was kind of pricey. SO we looked at the map of everywhere it went and we asked how do we get to this one spot, like what bus do we get on because on the map, a lot of the numbers of big attractions was in this spot. The lady looked at us and was like you can walk, it’s over there. Ainsley and I were like okay thank you! And walked away thinking omg she thinks we’re stupid now! Haha

So then we just decided to get back on the bus since everywhere else on the map looked like there was nothing big to see and see what train times home were and then just walk around the city by the train station!

So when we got to the train station and we walked up to the ticket machine and this older Italian lady came up to us and was like totally talking to us in complete Italian-- all these words we don’t know! So Ainsley was like Parlo Inglese and she just kept going. I started to purchase the ticket and the lady started talking to me and I was like OMG you think I am buying your ticket too since I bought Ainsley and mine together…… But then she started saying all this stuff to Ainsley and was like Grazie! And walked away so Ainsley and I grabbed our ticket and quickly made our getaway! We thought she was walking after us, but she stayed in the station! It was so funny!

So then Ainsley and I walked around the area around the train station and went into a few shops and bakeries! I wished I hadn’t eaten the dang strudel, even though it was SO good, because the one bakery had canoli filled with chocolate chips. : ( !! Whatever, I can get canoli here I guess!! So then we made it back to the train station and went to McDonalds and sat there for a bit! Ainsley got this Cappucino milkshake thing that was actually so good! America seems to be slacking again! Haha

So then we made it back for the 5:40 train ride home! Sat on the train and I snapped a photo of maybe the University Amanda Knox went to! Haha

But then it was so funny. Ainsley has already been to the Amalfi Coast.. I want to go….. Well one of the cities is called Positano. Well, those guys that Julie, Deb, and I talked to at Kebabs the other night had recommended it and Ainsley was willing to go back, but I guess moron me just followed the search help on Weather.com and searched Possagnano or something like that. I figured they probs just spell it weird and say it different. HAHA! Well the stop for Possagnano is actually on the way to Perugia and Ainsley was like you moron because the city looked so trashy! I was like whoopsies!!!!! Haha it was so funny! She was like dude what if we would have went here! Haha!

Well then we made it back to Florence and wanted dinner! There is this Chinese place under me and we had discussed everywhere we want to go before we leave and this place was on my list! Chinese isn’t too trusty around here/isn’t good, so I never have really gotten it before.. Plus I am picky with my Chinese food. But we decided to give it a try instead of going to this other restaurant Ainsley had mentioned! We were going to get it and eat it on my balcony, but it was kind of chilly!

SO I got this spicy pork with rice and veggies and a spring roll! Shockingly enough it was so good! Ainsley got the same thing, but with sweet and sour chicken! We both thought it was pretty legit and I was shocked I liked the spring roll! I miss my crab rangoon and China King! So we ate and chatted with Alexa and her friends! Her friends are so nice and funny. They told us the whole long story about all the trains they had to get on to get here. They are both studying in Spain and it was too expensive to fly here, so they bought a EuroRail pass to get here which is just taking a bunch of trains! Their story was ridiculous; I could have never done it! Ainsley and I were both like we could have never done that and props to you for doing so! I thought Sam and my 16 hour Palermo to Florence train ride was bad! NOPE! They win x infinity! Haha But now they are on their way to Rome and then Greece and then flying home from Greece to Spain luckily! SO then Ainsley and I got on my internet and looked up weather/places to go for Saturday, but everywhere we searched called for rain! So then we switched our plans and looked up Sunday! The beach we wanted to go to called for sunny weather and high 60s! So we slapped hands and agreed BEACH on Sunday! Ainsley has 2 papers to write and other stuff to do, so she couldn’t go to 3 different places, but it was supposed to rain everywhere Saturday anyways so NBD!

So then Ainlsey went home and I got ready for bed and cleaned up a little bit and chatted with Bess! Alexa and her friends went to my favorite gelato place and I recommended to her friend to get Cheesecake and Cookie like I like and she did! She agreed it was SO GOOD!!

Well then I went to bed and then woke up this morning about 9 and took a walk/run towards where Julie and Deb stayed and then along the Arno. There was soldier type people around the streets I was running on, but I have no idea what was going on!! : ( But the walk/run was so nice! I needed it! Then I came back and stretched, showered, did laundry, and then went to the market! I got 2 new scarves…… I have a problem and it needs to stop! I don’t need any more scarves. I told Alexa I have to stop NOW! But I can’t help it, I want one in every color and now all I need is a green one, but I haven’t found one I like. HAHA! SO then I went to the inside market and got my dried kiwi, melon, and banana chips! I told Alexa our dried fruit guy is going to miss us! He is just so cute and whenever he sees me now he’s either like melon? Or kiwi? Haha or he always just smiles when I walk by!

SO then I went to the grocery store for some pesto, veggies, and chicken! I am buying pretty much day by day now because I don’t want to have any leftover food to throw away! So then I came home, unloaded my goods, and got ready to go meet Ainsley for lunch.

Then I went to my favorite sandwich place to meet Ainsley and we got the sandwich for probs the last time : (!!!!! Tears. NOW. It was of course so good, but filling as always. I love Haleigh’s place.. but the bread on mine isn’t as crusty and is so good! But from here on out, I will probs go to Haleigh’s place for sandwiches, but I do want to go back to mine for their pizza at least one more time cause it is so good!

So then I looked at Ainsley and was like Canoli!? Gili? Best canoli if your life…..YES please! Oh wait, no Sicily still wins, but Gili is next probs. So we went and got 2 to go and sat and ate them in Piazza de Republica! The weather was so nice today and we both agreed that we so hope it would be like this for the beach tomorrow! So then we chatted for a bit and then walked back towards her apartment and looked for the Florence ring she is searching for! Then she went back to her apartment and I walked up to Piazza Michaelangelo to look for the jacket I wanted! That failed, cause the one I wanted was cotton and not like my Ireland jacket like I had thought! The 2 people I was with in Cinque Terre last Friday recommended going up to see this church a little bit up the way from the Piazza, so I saw this church and walked into it! It was so pretty and so I took some photos and kneeled and prayed for quite a bit! I know I haven’t been to church, so it felt so good to sit in the church for a bit! My friends had told me that it was so pretty and there was quite a few steps up to it and this one had quite a few steps to walk up to it, but I decided to walk more up the hill behind the church and saw this other church. SO I walked farther up the hill and saw this huge church with A LOT of steps to walk up and realized that was probs the one they were talking about.

SO I made my way up the steps and took plenty of photos! There was this big open area and I don’t think anyone I really know has ever been up to it! It was practically a better view than Piazza Michaelangelo! SO I snapped many photos and walked into the church. The outside architecture pretty much looked the same as the Duomo and Santa Croce! The inside was so pretty, but like the Duomo- not much lighting! But there was a little service going on in the downstairs part. It was a really cool church and the set up was nothing like I have ever really seen before! There was like 3 levels! The upstairs part had a really cool dome and then this blocked off area that kind of looked like something out of Harry Potter when everyone is sitting around in the dark brown benches…..kind of like Congress looking! Haha! But it was pretty cool and then the middle area had this cool altar and statues! I got some pretty good photos!

Well then around the back of the church, there was a HUGE cemetery. Okay call me creepy, but seriously.. These gravesites were so neat looking and boy oh boy, nothing and I mean NOTHING like you would see in America. They had pictures of the person on some of the graves, statues on others, HUGE room like buildings I guess for families, some had HUGE statues on them (one seriously CREEPED me out!), others had like glass room buildings, some had flowers, some had small graves, others had big ones, and there was even a statue of a man and a wife like getting married.. I don’t know- all of them were different and so cool! Americans don’t honor their loved ones graves decorated and what not like Italians. I found their ways so weirdly cool and a great way to honor their loved ones. Some of them you could tell probs had been in war because they had head statues with hats on them like they had been in a war! I don’t know, it was just weirdly cool looking! There was a black cat in the cemetery that did for sure creep me out though! Haha

So then I walked down and just started taking pictures of Florence. I know I have taken some pictures, but I haven’t taken any like I have in all the other places I have been! So I am working on that! Plus I want to take photos of all my favorite places, so when I come back I can find them : ) !! SO I walked towards the Ponte Vecchio and then back to the Uffizi. It’s so funny because when Alexa and I were walking around that first week, I got some photos around the Uffizi, but I didn’t know what I was taking photos of then! Haha

So then here’s a story……..everyone knows I am DEATHLY afraid of masks and creepy face paintings, etc. Well by the Uffizi, there are these people that dress up in masks or paint their faces and just stand there all day pretty much and people throw money in their hats they leave out or whatever. Like there is a cupid that usually is there, this Egyptian mummy, and this ghost looking guy with this Duomo painting behind him (I don’t know, he’s probs making himself seem like the “ghost of the Duomo”, but theoretically he looks like he’s one of the ghosts in A Chricstmas Carol!). Well I usually zoom passed those, took a photo of 2 of them that were there today though to prove to everyone why they scare me. (The other day in fact when I was walking by, there was a precious little girl crying.. I am pretty sure it was because of them and I wanted to walk up to her and be like I feel your pain!! Haha) But then I kept walking and there was like this huge crowd of people standing around watching something, I thought it was a magic show, but I was wrong. I saw this guy with a colored looking mohawk and then he turned around and his face was painted white and black around his eyes and mouth- like the joker, but without the red……… SO I was like mother effer, this is my worst nightmare probs. So I kept walking. Basically all he was doing was sneaking up on people and everyone would laugh. Well then he was creeping on the people walking in front of me, then sees me laughing I guess, skips over them, and then proceeds to try and pick me up. ME? I am like WTF buddy, this ain’t happening! So he was like grabbing my arm to put it around his neck so he could lift me up and I was like BLAHHHHHH fine and did so like he told me to, so maybe he would go away. So he picked me up and carried me around for like 1 to 2 minutes-- picking random people to fake hand me to and then finally set me down in this random guy’s lap that was sitting down. Too bad he wasn’t cute : ( !!!! HAHA! I seriously like snapped a photo after another minute or so of watching him and walked away and was like no that did not happen. My worst nightmare like just happened and I had to allow it! BAHHHHHHH!!!!!!! SO then I kept on walking away! At least I saw him straight on and he didn’t creep on me……..I’d probs really have nightmares.

So then my camera ran out of battery, so I had to give up and walk back towards the market so I could finish my shopping! So I picked up my Italia T-shirt I have been wanting and then the Italia jacket like Tricia got, but in white finally! I am so happy I finally got them both!

So then I got more money out of the ATM, hopefully for the last time. HAHA! But we will see.

So then I came home and caught Alexa up on my day and told her about the Mime ordeal! She couldn’t believe it and neither could Bess when I told her! I seriously wish someone could have gotten it on tape. Haha!

So then I got ready to make my dinner! OKAY STUPID ME! I bought chicken to make tonight so I could dip it in my KC MASTERPIECE FINALLY! But I made my chicken, pepper, and zucchini mix and mixed it with my new spicy tomato sauce and pasta and chickpeas. I then sat down and was like WTF SHELLEY! I was so mad, so then I had to eat the BBQ sauce with my spoon to make up for it. Ughh.. I need a brain. I was like ALEXA I AM A MORON! Haha SO then I ate my dinner, it was wicked good though…..DEF. will make it again….. and watched a bit of my soap opera!

Then I cleaned up and took my laundry out of the washer! Then I called my mother and father, papa, and Seigs! And then I started to write this novel! I don’t know how I make these so long all the time! Whatever! Thanks for reading them if you are, less to tell everyone when I get home!

So other than this……. Ainsley and I are going to the beach tomorrow! Bright and early, taking the 7:47 train, getting to the beach about 9 and laying out all day-- bringing our homework to study and she’s bringing me Eat. Pray. Love and I will probs bring my journal to write and paper to do my budget! YAY! I cannot wait to lay out! We are so hoping the weather holds up! It was so nice out this morning on my run, then it kind of looked like it was going to rain, then it got sunny again and hot, so hopefully it’s hot and sunny on the beach tomorrow! : ) Prime time tanning time! I usually hate laying out when I am at home and now I love it. Moving to Florida to do Senior Living doesn’t seem too bad of an idea anymore : ) !! We will see! I cannot wait for California this summer!

I am not counting down the days till I come home…..Yes I know that sounds mean, but guys I am not ready to come home yet simply in the fact that you do not understand how hard it is going to be to say goodbye to my new friends and this beautiful place. I have fallen absolutely in love with traveling on these trips, daytrips, and Italy in general. I have made so many new friends and these friends aren’t close to me…..they’re basically on the east and west coasts and we will only get to see each other every so often now! I don’t know what I would do without the friends I have made! I don’t do goodbyes very well and everyone knows that! SO I am sorry if I say I don’t want to come home, don’t think I don’t care about everyone/thing at home now, it’s just going to be very hard to leave here. Before spring break, time wasn’t flying; but ever since after break, time has flown…. I guess with all the traveling, but still. I still have a few trips to look forward to thankfully and time to hang out with everyone! Cinco de Mayo is Thursday………Hello Margs! And us girls have big plans for it! : )

Well I will leave it at this for now! Love and Miss as always! : )

give me a beach and a drink in my hand.

Ciaoy Ciao Ciao Ciao..

Well kiddos, had the time to write a new one today!

Well yesterday and today were both eventful and filled with lots of walking!

Yesterday after my workout, I went over to Italian before meeting Julie and Debbie for lunch! I got a 37/40 on my quiz from last week : ) !! Yay-- so go me! However, I did find out we have oral presentations next week before finals! Like 3 minutes of straight talking Italian and we can’t just read off the paper, we have to memorize it and just look at notes if we need to! Ugh.. We can pick our topics, but I don’t know what I am going to do yet. I’m so nervous, I won’t lie. I chose to do mine Wednesday! Haha So we will see!

Well then I met Julie and Debbie by the Duomo so I could take them to Haleigh’s favorite sandwich place. They absolutely loved it and wanted to go there for dinner, but I told them no we are going to Gusta’s for pizza! I got the same sandwich as I got the day I went with Chelsea and Lindsay and of course I loved it! I love pesto so much these days no thanks to Alexa! Well then we took the sandwiches and ate them in Santa Croce square since it was so nice out! Then when I went to go meet with my group for our Special Events project, they had their pre-paid tickets to go see David, so that worked out! I got to catch up on Facebook before the meeting too so that was nice! We have one more part of the project due Monday and we’re done, just have to set up and go to the party next Friday! I cannot wait for that class to be over, I am SO beyond annoyed with that teacher and so is the rest of the class!

So then I met up again with Julie and Debbie at my apartment and we then walked through the market again before going to dinner. Julie and Debbie both wanted Florence leather cross body purses! So after a bit they finally got them from this guy who just loved explaining why he had to sell it for that price and that price only! They both got wallets too!

Well then we went over to Gusta’s for pizza and saw Haleigh when she got take out as well! I of course loved my pizza, as always! But Julie and Debbie preferred the fresh tomato pizza they had gotten on Tuesday! Both of them love fresh tomato stuff like Bruchetta and stuff like that!

So then we each walked home and I was exhausted, but stopped by and got a canoli for the way home! It was so good of course, filled with chocolate and cold like I like it! I was going to meet up with Haleigh for her nutella crepes place, but it didn’t work out! Someday soon I will get my nutella crepe though FROM MY PLACE!! Haha!

So then I came home and got on my internet and added literally like 500 photos to facebook, sorry it’s taken so long and sorry for the no captions- to be added later!

So then I finally got to skype with Miss Stacey Hoehne! I am so jealous of her upcoming life! She is the one who is coming here next semester and I found out another girl from HRA at MSU is coming too I think! I guess I started a trend : ) !! haha! I want to come visit her, but I don’t have a spring break type break to utilize in the Fall! She didn’t listen to me when I told her study in the Spring when I am back in STL! Haha However, I will return someday sooner rather than later since Valerie will be here probably!

So then I went to bed and woke up this morning to do my Cardio Max workout real quick before meeting Julie and Debbie at 10:30 to go to the inside food market! I am so ready for the dang gym to reopen! I miss my Spartacus, elliptical, and bike! I am sick of Cardio Max and walking around!

Then I showered and got ready to meet Julie and Debbie. Then I took them over to the market, which I knew they’d love! We walked around in there for probs an hour and they bought a few things! We all got to do a balsamic vinegar tasting, which they bought some of and the place’s pesto and seasoning! I may just go back to get the seasoning stuff cause it smelled so good! The lady who basically sold it to us was from San Francisco and has the business there as well so she lives in Florence for I think 3 months out of the year. I cannot imagine their prices in the states though! And then we walked around for a bit more and they bought a few other things!

So then we ran to the grocery store real quick so I could get my carrots for my pesto before dropping off their stuff and my stuff at my apartment!

So then we came back to my apartment, regrouped, and then headed out for once again, their beloved sandwich! We were going to go to this place Alexa told me about that has “the best sandwiches in Florence” called Marios and Julie had read about it too, but they loved Haleigh’s place so much, we went back! Of course the sandwiches were delicious! Pino (the guy who runs it) is so cute, he is so nice and everyone just loves him! Apparently they do wine tastings there we found out, so I might just ask my friends if they want to do a tasting there since my friends love that place and Pino too!

So then we made our way to Piazza Michaelangelo! I warned them both that the way up was definitely a climb, but I took them I think what is an easier way that Chelsea and Lindsay taught me this weekend! I figured it was easier than the steps I usually climb! So we finally made it up there and enjoyed the view for a bit and then walked around to the vendors so that they could buy some T-shirts! I don’t get why the shirts are cheaper up there, I figured they would probs be more expensive. Then we went and sat on the steps for a bit enjoying the view and just chatting! We were all wishing we had a bottle of wine to share!

So then we decided it was time to go back to my apartment! Debbie and I both wanted a canoli or a pastry and Deb wanted coffee, so I finally got to go to Gili (The place my chef said who probs has the best canoli in Florence!) and since it was during the day, they had some! Usually I have tried to go at night and they are out, I guess since they are so good! OMG everyone, it was by far the best I will ever have in Florence probs. I know I usually like the cold ones with the chocolate inside, but this one was like the one in Sicily……crunchy pastry part with fresher creamy inside and even a candied orange slice and chocolate chips on the side. I wanted another one. Let’s not lie. I will probs go there every day for the rest of the time I am here and get my pastry of the day there. They will probs know my name. My chef was totally right and I will have to remember to thank him in class Tuesday! Debbie loved it too and Julie got her a glass of wine, so we were all happy! Deb doesn’t like the coffee/cappuccino here anymore than I do though!

So then we came back to my apartment and checked out the market real quick because Deb either wanted a soccer shirt or a jacket! Some guy tried to talk Julie into getting a “465 euro” leather jacket that I talked him down to 220 just for the fun of it! However, that was still too expensive! Then we came back to my apartment and were going to drink some wine on my balcony, but we changed our minds and just went to dinner instead!

So we grabbed our stuff and headed down to go get Kebabs. They have been making the joke about always walking by the Duomo- oh we have seen this so many times and I am like trust me, I walk by this like EVERY DAY! Haha! So then we stopped and got kebabs at my favorite place! It was so good and I got extra spicey sauce, so it was extra good! They both liked them as well and found them interesting. They both said it wasn’t Italian and I was like ya, but you can only get these over here. Someone really does need to open one in America; they would make a fortune with how good these things are! We ended up talking to these guys who were here on vacation and I was telling them good choice by coming to this kebab place, since it is the best! Haha and then they ended up asking me where to go for good pastries! I told them anywhere around the Duomo really, but told them to go to Gili if they could for canoli obviously! Haha! Then we ended up talking about their trip to Possatano since Ainsley and I need another day trip to do this weekend! We may go if the train isn’t so expensive and the weather is nice! I still need to talk to Ainsley!

So then we made the long trek back to their hotel and ASAP sat down! My feet were so tired and I was exhausted! I don’t know what it is, I guess it’s cause I have been on the go since like last Friday, but I am so exhausted and my feet are so tired! So I sat around while they packed and almost fell asleep! They brought so much stuff and then bought stuff to add to it too! Haha! So then it was time to say goodbye for another 2 weeks (That is IF I make it on the flight that Saturday……….)! It was a different kind of goodbye- they were supposed to come the end of February (The weekend I was in Venice!), but ended up coming this past week. So it was an easier goodbye knowing it only be 2? More weeks longer and not like almost 3 more months!

So then I made the long trek home and came home and jumped in my bed to eat my dried kiwi and melon and write this after talking with Alexa and her friends for a bit!

Well, that is what is new as of today!

Julie and Debbie have a train to Rome at 11:10 tomorrow and are staying in Rome until they fly home on Sunday! They will most likely be exhausted by the time they get home-- as Rome is bigger than here and there is a lot more walking probs!! Good luck to them for going to work on Monday!

As for my weekend, Ainsley and I want to go to a beach tomorrow and Saturday, but the weather doesn’t look good and we don’t know about Sunday, so I am going to look into the weather here in a few minutes and talk with her about it! I WANT TO GO TO THE BEACH!!!!!!!!!! And read Eat. Pray. Love. All day! So we will see. I am going to also see if she wants to go to Perugia. I know Amanda Knox is there, but the city looked pretty in the movie!! Haha!

Other than that news, I heard about the news in the South on BBC at their hotel tonight! That is so sad and tragic! I cannot believe the weather in the states lately!

AND ALSO, another reason I am moving to Sicily……..gas is up to $4? Heck no does Shelley want to pay that!

Time to do this weekend big, as it is the 2^nd to last weekend I will be in Florence! (Notice the Florence since I am moving to Sicily……..)

So until next time everyone! Enjoy the rest of your day and I will update again soon!

Love and miss!

i'd give anything to do this semester all over again :) and never leave.

Ciao Ladies and Gents.

Well apologies for the no new updates since Sunday! Been a tad bit too busy and lacking sleep to take the time to write another novel! However, now this one might be long. : ) But what’s new? They always are.

SO finishing Sunday. What a great day it turned out to be!

So I called Amy and checked to see what she was doing for lunch. Chelsea and Lindsay were both still sleeping and I was starving! So I went and met her at H&M since she was shopping and we were going to try and find this sandwich place that Haleigh’s teacher says is the best sandwich place in Florence. Tourists don’t know about it, it’s an Italian thing. So we stopped at a hotel to ask if they knew where it was, we did find it but the line was pretty long and Amy and I were pretty hungry for meat! Amy’s other roommates love this other Kebab place, so we decided to venture out because neither of us have been to any other kebab place! Haha! However, we did end up going to that one and it was more expensive, not as spicy, and not as hot! SO I am sticking to our normal place! I mean it was good but not better than our usual place!

So then I went and met Chelsea and Lindsay down by the river so that Amy could go home and get ready for the dinner we were having later. They were both hungry, so I ended up taking them back to the same kebab place. Chelsea liked this place better, but Lindsay agreed with me that my usual is better!! So then it was time, NUTELLA CREPE time. I was so excited, as were they. So we walked towards the shop and Chelsea and Lindsay both got good deals on a hoodie and jacket! I may end up getting the same hoodie as Lindsay cause I really liked it! But then as we were walking, I ended up seeing Julie and Debbie walking by the Ponte Vecchio! Good thing I did because they had gotten where we were supposed to meet at 4 mixed up! So we all headed to the nutella crepe place Nikki and I loved! HOWEVER…… for the 3^rd time, I didn’t get my dang crepe! They were out of the crepe mix :( !! I was SO SAD, as were they. They promised they would have the crepes by Monday though. SO instead I took them all to get gelato at my favorite place again! They all loved the flavors they got and of course my cookie and cheesecake was as always, delicious!

So then Chelsea and Lindsay went back and got ready for our dinner soon and I went back to Julie and Deb’s hotel with them to drop the stuff off they had bought! So we stopped by there real quick and then I took them back to my apartment and we chatted for a bit before I had to leave for dinner! They also got to see my balcony, which of course they loved!

So then I had told them they should go to the Italian restaurant down the street from me that Haleigh, Amy, Briana, Ainsley, and I loved! I went and picked up some wine on the way for Chels, Linds, and I then took Julie and Deb through the market real quick. I must remind myself, don’t walk through the market with a dress on and with wine in my hands. Guys don’t shut up, but of course Julie and Debbie thought it was pretty funny! They thought I would be able to get them good discounts! Haha

So then I went and met Chelsea and Lindsay and we walked over to Haleigh, Amy, and Briana’s to meet them all and Lauren and Ainsley too! So there were 8 of us for the little Easter dinner we were going to have!

It was so much fun! They all had made DELICIOUS homemade gnocchi with pesto, Haleigh made this homemade tomato sauce and then put it with meat and spaghetti, a fresh fruit tart that was so cute, garlic bread, and the best roasted mixed vegetables ever! Also, I don’t usually like deviled eggs, but this recipe Amy used was so die for! Instead of it being so creamy, the inside had structure! Apparently there is no recipe, you just eye everything! They were insanely delicious though!

So after all the food was made, we sat down to dinner, poured our wine, said a prayer, and did a family style dinner where we pass the food around or serve it for each other! It was so cute! Haleigh led the prayer and I won’t lie, it was so cute Ainsley and I both had tears in our eyes by the end!

We all ate so much and were basically in food comas by the end! It was ridiculously worth it though! Everything was SO good. They all did a fantastic job!

So we all sat around and ate for a bit, then I decided I was in the lets do dishes mode, so I did all the dishes and cleaned the kitchen…….there were obviously A LOT of dishes.

Then after dinner, we all just sat around and talked for a few hours. Chelsea and Lindsay were so entertaining and all of my friends loved them! It was so much fun to just sit around and chat for so long, share stories, and just laugh together! I missed Easter last year with my family too, but we all agreed the night gave us such a homey feeling and the joke was that we all had so much fun sober! Haha I couldn’t even drink my wine cause I hated the taste of the wine and the food together and Chelsea said the same thing!

So it got to be after midnight and we were all exhausted, so we all went back home! Thankfully I had Sam to walk home with!

So then Monday morning, I woke up and decided after how much I ate Sunday night, I had to work out. So I had downloaded Cardio Max again, so I did that real quick and then got ready to go meet Chelsea and Lindsay at the train station!

I don’t know why, I guess just because it was Easter Monday, the inside market was closed, so I was very sad I couldn’t take them to the market!

So then we went to the grocery store, picked up some drinks and my few groceries and went back to my apartment! We sat around for a bit so Chelsea and Lindsay could eat their lunch! I introduced them to the best pesto of course and Lindsay understood why I love carrots and pesto so much! She especially loved dipping her pretzels in the pesto!

So then we got our drinks ready, took photos on my balcony, then were going to walk around for a while and go try and get nutella crepes again!

So we walked all the way down to the river and got to the nutella crepes place. We were all so stoked! However, for the 4^th time-------- FAIL! They had told us Sunday they would have them Monday, but LIES! This time their reasoning was that the crepe maker was broken. I just think they don’t like me. They said that it was broken and literally Lindsay and I looked at each other with the saddest faces ever and walked straight out. I had told the 2 of them before we went in if they don’t have these crepes today, I am going to be pissed and you’re going to have to hold me back. I was so UPSET! How many times do I have to try to get one of these dang crepes, I just don’t understand it!!

So, Chelsea was pretty tired and we were going to go back to my apartment so Chelsea could nap. However, first they wanted a crepe from somewhere. So I was trying to think of where to go, so I called Haleigh cause she raves about this place by the Duomo that makes crepes for so cheap! We went to try and find it, but I am pretty sure it was closed! SO instead we went to this random crepe and gelato place I had thought of. The 2 of them got the banana and nutella crepe and they both said they were good! I just couldn’t do it, I was so upset about my place being so stupid, so I was like I need a canoli! So I went and got a canoli and then we went back to my apartment! It was so good of course and the 2 of them both agreed!

So then while Chelsea napped, Lindsay and I got on my computer to see if Tricia (Who was here last week (my friend), but also Chelsea and Lindsay’s flatmate!) was online so we could skype her. However, she was not on facebook or skype, so we decided to go through Chelsea and Lindsay’s friendship on facebook and I swear, I was like crying the 2 of them are so funny together! I cannot wait to see this music video for I’m on a Bus that they’re going to make with Tricia!

So then we woke Chelsea up to get ready for dinner and we went to the Italian place I had told Julie and Deb to go to Sunday. Chelsea got what I had gotten with Haleigh- the Tuscan Meat Sauce Penne, Lindsay got a ham, olive, and mushroom calzone, and I got one of the best pastas I think I have had here, besides in Tivoli…… Pesto fettucini. It was DELICIOUS! And the 2 of them liked their meals as well!

So then we went over to Tiajuana’s so they could try these margaritas I always rave about! We started off with the Peach margaritas. Briana, Amy, Sam, and her friend all came and joined us soon enough and then we ordered the strawberry margaritas. THEY WERE SO GOOD! The peach were good of course, but this Tiajuanas, not like the ones I had in the very beginning by Haleigh, B, and Amy’s apartment Tiajuana’s, had the best Strawberry margaritas! Only the second time I have tried Strawberry margaritas though, so not much competition yet, but these will hold high on the pedistal until someone can beat how good they were!

So then we all just sat around and chatted for a bit and then left to go get ready to go out to the club for Briana’s 22^nd birthday! So we ran back to my apartment real quick so I could get ready, got our drinks, and then went down to their apartment!

Then we left and went to the club for a bit and then I for only the second time made it to Secret Bakery! However, I was disappointed cause my chocolate croissant was not that good : ( !!

So then we all went home and I had a 9am class to make it to.

Let me add in the fun fact of the day, Long Island Iced Teas are only a good decision the night of, not the next morning. My Tuesday morning started off very rough and it did not help I had to go to of all classes, Hospitality Accounting!

Once again, our site visit was cancelled so we held class. I wanted to leave so bad, but I stayed and looked like hell! Haha

So then I got out of that class, came home and napped for a short while and then woke up to walk around and workout. The gym is freeking closed all week still due to construction so the next time I do Spartacus, I probs will fall over. So until then, I have to make up my own workouts : ( !! So then I showered real quick and was supposed to meet Julie and Debbie at 1:15 by my apartment. They weren’t there after a while and I really wanted to go to the market before it closed. I figure I am not here much longer, so time to get dried fruit again and then I picked up some more pesto for my carrots!

So then by the time I got back, Julie and Debbie were there, so that was good. Otherwise, I didn’t know how I was going to find them! So then I got ready real quick and we were going to go to my sandwich place so they could try my sandwich, but of course they were out since they go out so fast! (They are just so good : ) !!) So instead they split basically this bruchetta pizza that was SO GOOD and they loved it thankfully. They didn’t like the pizza they had gotten at the Italian restaurant by my apartment sadly. I felt bad, so I promised them Gusta’s will not dissapoint (It never does and never will!). So we ate real quick and it was so sad, before we left this man and his wife were coming down the steps and the man fell straight down on his butt and dropped the food : (! Nevermind about losing some of the food, it looked like that fall HURT bad! But he got up and walked fine, but I am sure he is in pain this morning! I felt so bad for the guy!

So then we left after we made sure the steps were cleared and walked around the market before I had to go to class again!

So then they were going to go tour the Duomo and walk around while I was at class. So I left and went to class and printed off my paper and caught up with facebook real quick! We will see how I do on this paper : ( !! So then Val of course skipped another class cause she is in Venice. So Lola and I were partners for the day. We continued from last week and proceeded with the cakes. We made a yogurt mousse and a chocolate mousse to make 2 of the layered cakes. Then we made a few other sauces for the other cakes. We still are not finished and will continue next week. However, we did carmelize the tops of the pastry cream looking dishes we made last week after putting sugar on them and then for the layer cakes- it went yogurt mousse, pastry cream layer, more mousse, and then the olive oil cake and it was the same for the chocolate mousse, just switching out the yogurt sauce to the chocolate. The cakes turned out so pretty after we took the plastic off around them! So we will see what happens next class after we finish them and decorate all the cakes. It was yet again, another class I didn’t eat my dinner, so that was okay since I was going to dinner with Julie and Debbie.

So then I met up again with Julie and Debbie after my class and I went upstairs to get ready at my apartment.

Then we left to go to this restaurant Amy’s teacher runs that apparently has such good ravioli! Here’s the story on this night—

So we went to the restauant and it didn’t open till 7:30, so we were going to go sit in Santa Croce square for a bit, but this other couple who wanted to eat there too were looking at the menu and I don’t know why I said it, but I recommded the ravioli. After that conversation of why get the ravioli and this restaurant is ran by my friend’s teacher, Julie, Debbie, and I ended up spending the extra half hour talking to them and ended up eating dinner with them! The couple was so nice; their names were Barry and Shirley. We all just chatted at dinner and got along so well! It was so much fun! Shirley and I got the ravioli with bacon [ : ) ], Julie and Debbie ended up splitting this 3-course meal of bruchetta, lasagna, and chicken with spinach, and Barry got this minestrone soup and porksteak. OMG he let me try the minestrone soup, which I still have not had soup since I have been here! It was SOOOO good and his steak that he let me try too was DELICIOUS! So dinner was very fun and it was funny cause Barry also takes photos of everything he eats and then puts it on facebook! The couple is from Oregan and have been traveling around here for a month so it was fun to exchange stories with them!

So they were up for some gelato after dinner. They wanted to go to Grom, but I was like NO you have to try my place and I also recommended for them to go to Gusta’s if they could today or tomorrow because they go home on Thursday. So we paid the check and headed towards my gelato place! I was so excited to bring them! So Julie and Deb went back to their hotel, but we all went and got gelato. They were so cute- they paid for my gelato! I of course got my cookie and cheesecake gelato that never fails (this time it was the best because there were so many chunks of cookie..) and Barry got strawberry and lemon and Shirley got hazelnut and lemon! Shirley had been saying how she just had terrible lemon gelato the other day, but was thrilled with this gelato! I was like I know this place is the best! So we chatted for another while, but they still had to drive back to where they were staying about 40 minutes away! So we said our goodbyes and I told them we must become facebook friends! I swear they were so nice and it’s always good to meet people like them, which made the night a lot of fun!

But then I had to go all the way back to by where we ate dinner at because all the girls were out to dinner for B’s birthday! So I tried to race back before the end of that dinner and made it there in good time! I felt bad going to get gelato, but I wanted gelato and wanted to take Barry and Shirley!

So I caught up with the girls for a bit and talked about how fun Monday night was! We all swore against the long islands! Haha

So then we all left and I was so tired, there was no way I was going out! So I walked home with my friend Lauren before they were going to go to the bar!

SO I came home, caught up with facebook, and it felt SO good to go to bed.

This morning, I just woke up to write this novel! I have to go to Italian at noon and then I am meeting Julie and Debbie after to go to lunch. They had a Biboli Gardens visit at 10 am planned and then have a visit at the Accademia to see David at 3 pm. SO we are going to catch lunch at either of these 2 sandwich places Julie wants to go to and another that I want to take them to. And then while they are seeing the David, I have to meet with my group for Special Events because the whole project we have been working on all semester is due on Monday since next week is the last week of classes. In a few minutes, I am going to try and work out!

So that is what is new kiddos! Sorry it took me so long!

But other than this, Julie and Deb are here till Friday when they go to Rome. Ainsley and I plan on going to 2 different beaches this weekend and then somewhere on Sunday. We are still deciding!

I miss Chelsea and Lindsay already, I swear they were so entertaining and I wish them 2 and Tricia would just come live in Florence with me! However, I cannot wait to go to California to visit them in the summer!!!!

1 more week of classes and then the next week is finals so 18 more days my friends. I am balling my eyes out already at the thought of leaving. I do not want to leave even though it’s going to feel great to come home and see everyone!

I cannot believe how fast the rest of the semester after Spring Break has gone; I guess it’s because of all the traveling! The beginning of the semester didn’t seem to fly so fast : ( !! I would give anything to just do it all again! : ) !!

Well until next time, enjoy reading and hope you are all having a good week!

Love and Miss!