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! 

KC MASTERPIECE. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME!

Buenas Sera my friends.

Well Happy Weekend to you all! I heard about the storms in MO at least, hope everyone is okay!

Well update as of this Saturday gloomy : ( morning..

Yesterday was BEAUTIFUL! CINQUE TERRE was gorgeous! Shelley got sunburnt again……but not near as bad as in my beloved soon to be hometown of Sicily.

Well, Thursday night, we did end up going to Spera’s, the pizza place that won the world’s best pizza in 2002 I believe. It was okay, but we all agreed that it was not better than Gusta’s. Chelsea and Lindsey however mixed up the dates that they were coming, so they were unable to go. However, I told them I would rather have them go to Gusta’s anyways! So then we wanted desert…….Canoli? Day 4? I think so.. So we went to the place where Trish and I found that delicious chocolate filled canoli last week and Ainsley, Amy, and Haleigh all got Nutella crepes…..(not better than my place!) and I got my precious day 4 of canoli! HOWEVER, I did realize this place has freeking chocolate chip cookie gelato and oreo gelato. What have I been doing all semester that I am just now realizing this!?!?!?!?! SO then we all went home and I went to bed to wake up bright and early at 5:30 to get ready for Cinque Terre day trip with the school that I paid for.

So I met the bus at 7:30, hard to find the bus let me tell ya. Almost thought the trip was cancelled or something. Usually we take huge coach buses, but I guess since like less than 12? People signed up for this they took a mini bus. It was such a cute little bus and luckily I found it! Haha

So then we made into La Spezia and caught the next train to one of the 5 parts of Cinque Terre (hence the cinque—means 5). So then we made it into town and the place was so cute, so full of color! Everyone knows how much I love color! Esp. lots of orangy colors and yellow! This part was considered to have the best beachy area and since it was so nice out they had told us to bring our swim suits and towels! (Ooh yes, Shelley walks up to the bus and looks around {since I didn’t know anyone going!} and was like oh crap,…..I am in my swim suit and shorts…..everyone else is in jackets and pants……no shock there considering I ALWAYS dress the wrong way here half the time for the weather!) So the 2 leaders we were with told us we had some free time since the hike we were going to take was closed due to safety construction since you would hike so high up! So they gave us an extra hour since this place had the best beach. So I looked around for a bit and then met this girl named Andrea who didn’t know anyone either and we ended up hanging out everywhere the rest of the day! She was super nice and I am so glad I met her!

So then after looking around everywhere, I went and met Andrea to lay out on the beach. It was so pretty out and I am still working on building my tan back up! I caught some color with a partial sunburn! But it doesn’t hurt NEAR as bad as Sicily! Haha

So then we had to meet everyone at the train station to go to the next part at 1. So we went and met everyone and made our way to the next stop so we could look around and grab some lunch. This next part totally reminded me of Portofino because it was so small. Andrea and I looked around for a while and really weren’t craving anything in particular but we stumbled upon this pizza place with pesto pizza that looked delicious. (Cinque Terre is known for their pesto and foccocia bread!) So we knocked out 2 birds with 1 stone and got pesto pizza, which was on foccocia bread! Even though it wasn’t hot, it was still really good! So we took the slices of pizza and went down to the harbor type area where a bunch of rocks and boats were and sat and chatted while eating our pizza. We had time still to look around and so we went up to the other last part of town pretty much and stumbled upon this bakery. We wanted gelato, but really we’d probs go for anything sweet. So we walked in and they had the canoli shells…….my mind went crazy and I was like FRESH FILLED? WHAT!?! So her and I were going to get the fresh filled canoli, however they were 4 euro which was so not worth it cause they really weren’t that big of shells! However, they had these fresh fruit seasonal granitas, so Andrea got this strawberry granita topped with whipped cream. I don’t like whip cream, so I was looking at the pastries and found these 2 croissants that one was filled with ricotta and chocolate (make-shift canoli!?) and then one filled with nutella. Me wanting canoli, got the croissant filled with ricotta and nutella! IT WAS DELICIOUS!!!!!!! Def. an idea because I could so make those at home! Andrea loved her granita as well!! We both loved that we stumbled upon the place and the waiter guy was so funny and kept calling us both beautiful! Haha

So then we went back down to the harbor area and laid out for a bit more before we had to go to the next stop. Then we met back up with everyone and caught the train to the next part. This was supposed to be where we were going to hike I think, but since it was closed we weren’t able to. However, our leaders got their times mixed up and it was going ot take like 20 minutes to walk into town and then we’d have to take another 20 to get back down. We didn’t have that much time cause we had to catch the next train so everyone kind of just walked around and looked around the train station area after we took a group photo. Andrea and I however walked down to the water area kind of stop, which was really pretty before they called us to come back. We really were surprised when they called us! Haha! So then we met back up with everyone and caught the train to the next stop!

This was where we were going to walk to the next stop along the walkway. This also is where all the locks are in Cinque Terre.. The walk is basically considered like the walk of love or something. People sign their names (like couples do) and then the locks are hung. However, this is the story I didn’t know cause I am pretty sure the same rule is here in Florence. It is illegal to put the locks on unless you properly ask the town and have the little ceremony. Apparently there, you have to get permission from the town and then you have this little ceremony with people around and the couple professes their love and then everyone walks down from the church to this walkway and the couple puts the lock on together and locks it. Cute? Ya, I think so. If you are caught putting a lock on without permission I am pretty sure you may get a ticket, but I think for sure they cut it off. So we walked aound there for a little bit. It was so funny cause there is this long wall where couples sign their names and everything and one of our leaders was just there a few weeks ago and put her and her boyfriend’s name on the wall, but they had painted over the entire wall. We don’t know if they do that once the wall is full or what! But no one new had really signed anything on the wall so no one knows! My leader was pretty upset though because she was joking that it may be omen and that her and her boyfriend are destined to break up now. Haha! So then we kept walking till the end of the trail and stopped every so often to enjoy the view. The view was spectacular overlooking the water! So pretty!

So then we got into the next part of Cinque Terre and walked around for a little bit, but it was very small and then we just stood around and chatted and waited for the train to go back to La Spezia and meet the bus.

So we caught the train and took the bus back into Florence! Luckily made it through no traffic as far as I know unless I was asleep! Haha

So I called Chelsea and Lindsey, starving……And made a meeting point so we could grab a quick dinner! KEBABS!

So I raced home, changed into warmer clothes, and booked it down to the river. I seriously have MASTERED the art of powerwalking.. Like MASTERED. I make record time now all the time to get places. So I met up with the 2 of them and they also had met this guy Matt who was in Amsterdam with them as well and now staying at the same campsite they are. (Yes, they are LEGITLY camping!) So I told them I was going to bring them to the best kebab place obviously! So we went and got kebabs! They all loved them of course! Then we walked down to my gelato place, aka the BEST gelato in Florence I think. They all loved the flavors they got and they loved my cheesecake gelato I always get! I was so happy to be reunited with my cheesecake and cookie gelato!

So then we all went back home and caught up on our sleep! It was kind of raining which stunk! But I was so exhausted, so I raced home to bed!

So then I woke up yesterday and cleaned our apartment and then met up with Chelsea and Lindsay after I started writing this. I was supposed to go meet Julie and Debbie at 1:20 at the train station, so we didn’t have much time. I was going to bring them to my sandwich place, but I decided to make a change. Haleigh, Amy, and Briana swear by the sandwich place Haleigh found. The place she goes to is 50 cents more, but with the same bread used and more of a sandwich variety to choose from and it’s made fresh. SO I decided to give it a try. We all got the Turkey Best.. The sandwich was quite smaller and more square shaped than mine, but it came with roasted eggplant, peppers, cheese, turkey, pesto, tomatoes, and spinach! It was very good, but the bread was a little too crunchy after they toasted it for a while. It wasn’t burnt, it was just thin bread. My place lightly toasts them to a perfect texture, mild crunch and mild softness with thicker foccocia. However, I did really enjoy the added ingredients for this sandwich! Chelsea and Lindsay enjoyed their sandwiches as well!

Then Chelsea needed to go to H&M to get jeans, so I went to the market and got my carrots and bananas since it wouldn’t be open today (Sunday!). Then I booked it to the train station and got there perfect time at 1:20 to meet Julie and Debbie. I checked the gate for where the Rome train was coming from and waited at the platform. I literally did not see them, like 5 minutes passed and I was like OMG how am I going to find them- they didn’t give me phone number, neither of their US phones are international (Love my blackberry, apparently those are really the only phones that will go international!), and this train station is pretty dang big. Then finally they came up and were like HEY! And I was like OMG I can’t believe you are here and we were all excited to see each other. It was such like a quick OMG hey, I didn’t even process crying. Haha! But I was very happy they made it safe and sound! Geez, the story they had of getting here. Thank you thank you to Deb’s husband Lee for driving them all the way to Chicago. They had a 1:30 flight to Chicago from STL, but the 11:30 flight got cancelled due to the weather-- so all the people on the 11:30 got put on the 1:30, therefore since they were both on standby they wouldn’t have a flight! So Julie was going to drive, but Lee offered and drove them in that terribe tornadic, hail, torrential downpours of rain, etc. etc. Just HORRIBLE weather. Lee said visibility was probs 0 most of the time and they had to stop I think only once to avoid the hail. Then they finally made it to the airport and of course American Airlines is the only airline that doesn’t fly out of the International gate of the Chicago airport, so then they had to go to a whole other spot! Basically it was hell to get to me! But I am so happy they made it safe and sound and didn’t seem too jetlagged!

So Julie handed me the directions to their hotel and of course the 2 of them know darn well my ability with maps. They both doubted me it seemed like for a bit haha! But, I told them no worries I got this! I did stop at a bakery place just to make sure I was going the right way and the hotel ended up being right around the corner!

So we dropped their bags off at the hotel and then went out in search of food. The hotel they are staying in is SUPER nice though! I told them they were probs going to have a delicious breakfast if it’s anything like the one Ainsley and I had in Vienna and Salzburg at the places we stayed at!

So I guess I just never really am here on Saturdays or what. I mean I wasn’t familiar with the area they are staying in, but like no food places were open. By me, there are places you can stop for food around every corner and as far as I know not many close to take the whole “siesta time” deal around lunch time. However, we finally just stopped at this one place and got food. They both LOVE bruchetta so they had to get that, than they split this meat sauce pasta with Chianti red wine, which they said both were very good.

So then we stopped and picked up some water for them, they were both pretty thirsty after all that traveling! Then we went back to their hotel and hung out for a bit.

STORY TIME> BIG STORY!

I talked to my mom sometime last week and she asked if I wanted her to give them anything to bring me and I said no I am at the point where anything American I will have when I get home so I can savor it more (made the exception for the strawberry water though : ) !! ) HOWEVER, thank you mother and father. My mom sent me a card with some American money : ) (WEIRD to see that!) for Easter and then in the card it said enjoy your……………KC MASTERPIECE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Omg I was sitting at lunch when I read it and was like what!? My mom and dad sent me KC MASTERPIECE? NO WAY! And they were like ya it’s at the hotel. So then I anxiously awaited them to get their bags when we got back to their room. OMG they gave me the bottle and I was like it’s freeking Christmas. Grabbed a spoon, struggled to open it, but got it open and dug in! YES I ate it plain with a spoon. Call me weird-- I DON’T CARE! Haha! That stuff is freeking delicious. I did only take a few spoonfuls so I could enjoy it on some chicken when I cook again! YA!!!! Thanks mom and dad!

But, that wasn’t my only Christmas like present! My friend Bev from work had emailed me saying to be sure to ask Debbie for what she gave me for Easter. She gave me American money too! (I need it for when I get to the airport since I exchanged all mine when I got here!) AND a reese’s peanut butter egg! OMG I love reese’s peanut butter cups!! They were DE-FREEKING-LICIOUS! Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday, and Happy New Year, and Happy Easter to myself and thank you thank you Beverly!!

So then we just sat around and chatteed for a bit and caught up! Of course I have loads of stories to share that aren’t in this blog to tell!

Then it got to be about 5 and I asked them what they wanted to do, they were both exhausted and were just going to stay at their hotel and chat and then sleep! I was like okay and we decided we would meet up today after their Uffizi tour!

SO then I left and met up with Chelsea and Lindsay again! I took them back to my apartment and we decided we should go buy wine and drink on the balcony before meeting up with Matt again to go to GUSTA’S! So that is what we did! It was fun and I swear, Chelsea and Lindsay are so much fun! Tricia’s so lucky to have them in Brighton with her! I want to go to Brighton so bad, but I don’t have much time left and flights are pretty dang pricey!

However, I did tell them since I probs won’t be coming to Brighton, I want to come to California this summer, which is where they are from! I originally wanted to go anyways before Valerie (My lab partner in baking!) moves here for good! So now I can go see the 2 of them as well! I realllllllly realllllly want to go so I just have to figure out when that will be this summer!

So then we met up with Matt and I took them to Gusta’s! They had the spinach, mozzerella, and ricotta pizza on special again and since I swore by it, Matt and I split the margherita pizza and the spinach one and Chelsea and Lindsay did the same thing! We all enjoyed every bite as it is like the best pizza we will ever have!

So then they went back to get ready to go out and so did I! My throat kind of hurt, so I stopped by that place Trish and I got the canoli and crepe that one time and got the Chocolate Chip Cookie gelato! It was AMAZING! And then I came home and got on my internet and caught up with people for a bit! Made plans for when I come home too!

So then I got ready real quick and booked it down to meet them at the river!

Then we went over to Amy, Haleigh, and Briana’s apartment and never ended up going out. Ainsley, us, and then Haleigh and Amy all dyed Easter eggs! Matt is from Australia and never has before so he enjoyed it! The eggs are brown on the outside here, so they kind of took awhile to dye but it was really fun!

Today, we are doing an Easter dinner with the 7 of us. I don’t really know the menu yet, but Haleigh was making the shortbread crust for this fruit tart she was going to make! I am really excited! The dough was good!

I still have not seen Kate and the other girls yet, but I am hoping to meet up with them soon! I can’t get Kate’s number to work so I have to rely on facebook!

So then we all went home and it was kind of raining again which stunk!

So then I came home, called my mom and dad since they were at the lake and then went to bed!

Woke up this morning, showered, did laundry, and went back to bed! Pounding headache : ( !! haha

So soon I am going to meet up with Chelsea and Lindsay at least and hopefully the other girls too! Then Julie and Debbie later!

Yes, now where is church on Easter in this equation. I KNOW I KNOW! I tried everyone, but I can’t figure out freeking Easter times! So, I don’t know. I do plan on hopefully just going into one of the churches soon and praying for a little bit. I really and I really do mean this when I say I miss going to Church. I don’t have a very good attention span and if I went to a mass in Italian, I would either fall asleep or not be able to pay attention! Hopefully I will be able to go to mass at the Duomo before I leave at least one time. I usually am just never here when they have the English mass there. It is 2^nd thing on my to do list that Sunday I come home-- Haircut. Church. Rec Plex. Tan. Catch up with people. Dinner with Papa and mom and dad!

Other than this, I basically have those 2 papers done! YAY me for how quick I got those done! I don’t have class tomorrow, but the baking paper is due Tuesday!

Also, Julie and Debbie will actually be gone all day tomorrow on this trip Julie booked. They get to go to Pisa, Siena, and Sam Gimnano. They told me I could go, but it’s pricey and I have already been to Siena twice and San Gimnano. Yes, no thanks to that 16 hour train ride mess, I didn’t get to go to Pisa, but I am hoping to talk to Sam soon about when we will go before we leave. However, I will probs end up having Julie and Deb stop to get me some of those cookies I loved so much! I literally cannot find them in Florence! I miss them so much and I would totes go back to San Gimnano just to get those!

Ainsley and I are probs going to end up not going to Sirdinia this weekend. Apparenty it’s really pretty, but to get around you need to rent a car. Like the 2 of us could get around in a car around there! Haha So we are probs going to take a day trip Friday and Satuday to 2 of the beaches we have been told about and then we still need to plan one more day trip I guess! We will see!

So this is getting long and I need to get ready soon, so CIAO for now!

Since I cannot send my usual mass text………Here is my “Happy Easter to you and your families! Hope you have a good one!” Because that is what I would be sending everyone! I know everyone just loves and misses my mass texts! : ) Of course everyone will get one when I get to the Dallas airport! HAHA!

Happy Easter everyone, CIAO!

Love and Miss!

somebody pass the crab rangoon.

Ciao!

Well not much to report today~ But I figured with going to Cinque Terre tomorrow, I better do a quick update!

So last night, ate dinner and had canoli day 4. The pastry was very good, but it lacked a lot of chocolate on the inside and the ricotta inside was way too creamy and whipped for my taste. So that place is def. not the winner of my best canoli competition!

So then I continued to work on my paper and then got ready to go out! So I met up with all the girls after they got out of the Santa Croce TRL mess! They said it was pretty cool though. The girl I talked to today pretty much said it was all Italians and I don’t think she stayed that long!

So then woke up this morning….. Told Alexa to make sure I was up at 6 since she was leaving for Greece at 7am! So I woke up and couldn’t stay up : ) haha so then I went back to bed. Woke up at 9am and got ready super fast and booked it down to the other gym where my friend Lauren was going to give her Zumba and strength classes! Everyone swears by her workout classes and since the gym is closed where I go, I figured since I had the day off I would go try hers out! I will be paying for it in the morning cause I am already sore! But both classes were awesome and kicked my butt!

So then I came home and showered and ate lunch on my balcony! It was sunny out, so I tried to tan and then the clouds came and ruined it sometimes! But I worked on my paper for a bit and then called my mom and dad! I was sitting there and there is a Chinese food place under me and I had to sit and smell the deliciousness half the time. It was horrible. Geez how I can’t wait for China King with my dad when I get home! CRAB RANGOON : ) !!!! Then I skyped with my work at home finally again! It went awesome and I totally enjoyed finally getting to see Amy again (since I know you’re reading this Amy, here’s your shout out. : ) haha!) and of course the big talk was all about Julie and Deb coming SATURDAY! I cannot believe they are already coming! Geez time flies! Robbie brought in Canoli from Valenti’s and I was like GIVE ME SOME! Haha I will be making frequent trips to there this summer as well as The Hill. Hopefully it gives me some taste of Italy. Probs not, but I will try and let it.

BUT TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY….why? SHELLEY HAD CRYSTAL LIGHT STRAWBERRY WATER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN LIKE 3 MONTHS. BAHHHH! IT WAS AMAZING! Words don’t describe how much I miss those little packets of goodness. Thanks so much to Haleigh for that great packet!! Everyone at work asked me what I was drinking and I was like a margarita…..haha I wish! But I was happy to report it was strawberry water : ) They all know I love that stuff!

So then now I am back down in my room and typing this and going to upload some more photos.

Then tonight, I am hoping to meet up with Chelsea and Lindsey soon. I haven’t heard from them but with how these phone numbers are over here, I don’t know if they have my number right! Haha

But for dinner tonight, me and the girls are all going to Spera’s Pizzeria. We have been wanting to go for a long time because they were voted the best pizza in the world a few years back. Needless to say, def had to call in a reservation earlier! Haha I cannot wait!! We’ll have to see if it compares anywhere to Gusta’s! Haven’t decided if it is going to be Canoli Day 5 or gelato tonight. haha

Probs not going out tonight. I leave for Cinque Terre tomorrow at 7:30 am. I don’t know anyone that is going because this is one of the trips I paid for through school before I even got here……….so time to make new friends tomorrow! Haha

All the girls I was with in Dublin get here Saturday night as well as Julie and Deb getting here in the early afternoon so I am anxiously awaiting all of their arrivals!

I told work today I wasn’t coming home……….haha. However, if there are 4 materialistic reasons why I can’t wait to be home it is because HCGTLD. What does that mean? Hair Cut. Rec Plex workouts return (Gym). Tan. Laundry- with a dryer to use after the washer. YES! My hair is atrocious. No one believes me but seriously I hate my hair right now. Tried to straighten it last night. FAIL! SO I don’t know if I am chopping it yet, but it’s a possibility. I had a dream the other night I came home and got it chopped and I didn’t like it so maybe it’s a sign. HAHA! It’s probs going to be headbands and ponytails until the end now! Sunday is already planned. Wake up and go to Great Clips, get my hair cut, go to church : ), Rec Plex workout, tanning, visit people, and dinner with Papa and my mother and father! YA!

Anyways, long update probs to come tomorrow night (my time) or Saturday about Cinque Terre! I am pretty excited for it! Can’t believe it’s already tomorrow though, I remember signing up for it when I was still at home! I’ve heard so many good things about the city and everyone’s photos are gorgeous!! I will try for at least 250 photos. I am sure I can do it!

Ciao!

As always, Miss and Love!

stay here forevs?

Ciao ciao! Happy Easter weekend to me! Happy MidWeek for you all!

Well let’s all ask Shelley why she didn’t update yesterday!? Well that is probs because she got to baking yesterday and found out her paper on a pastry chef was due TODAY! Haha

So what is new?

Well Tuesday I woke up and actually got dressed for class since we were supposed to be doing a site tour and talk with a manager at a hotel here. (Usually I go to class in my workout clothes!) However, got to class and found out we are going next week because he didn’t think we are ready for our final. Sucks to suck, we’re never going to be. I can’t wait till that class (Hospitality Accounting) and Special Events are over especially!! Made it through that excruciating class and came home to eat and go do Spartacus.

All pumped up and ready to go, get to the gym, only a few minutes in, the guy comes and tells me they have to close the gym…….UGH! I was so mad. They have to close till next Tuesday because of the construction going on. Alexa and I aren’t happy. So he let me workout till 12:30 and then I had to leave. So then I came home and finished some of my workout then went to walk around my apartment. (I will get to how hard it is to walk around here when I explain my Wednesday!) Then I went to the market and came home to get ready for Baking!

Well, went to school to “work on my paper”, but finally got to see my lab partner Valerie since she missed class last week and I caught up with her for a bit and heard all about her trip to Sicily! So jealous. She went with her friend and they are both friends with this guy who has family in Sicily. He ended up getting them a sweet deal and they were driven around by the guy’s dad’s personal driver because they are pretty rich! Val explained the guy even walked around with them and carried her shopping bags and purses! How cute! It is apparently a custom in Sicily that the guy carries the woman’s purse!

However, then continuing our catch up conversation. If I wasn’t so jealous that she works at a bakery here before, I am even more jealous now! She went here last semester and came back again this semester. Now she has decided she is staying here forever and her husband will probs move here eventually and they might open a bakery eventually. I was like YOU CAN’T!! She was my reason to go to California….. She told me to come in the summer.. and I was like hmmmmmm…….pondering. haha! It could happen! I am so jealous! However, it just gives me another reason to come back to good ol’ Firenze! If I could live here I would, but everyone knows I prefer Sicily!

So then we went into baking. One of the guys in my class set his paper down and I was like why did you write that already and he was like it’s due today and I was like no it’s not! It’s due the week before finals! And then Jeff and Val were like no it’s due today! I was like WHAT! He said the week before finals. The other girl in my class didn’t have hers either, but neither did Jeff and Val SO chef got to class and said it can be due next Tuesday! I was like I am so sorry!! I had it down as due before finals!!

SO then we proceeded with class. We really didn’t do much because we are making these huge cakes I guess in the end. So yesterday we prepped the cake doughs and layers and then put them in the freezer to continue next week. So we made this whipped dough with hazelnuts that turned out almost crusty but didn’t taste very good I didn’t think. Val and I made a sablet dough, which consisted of butter, sugar, modern salt, spice, egg yolks, baking powder, and flour. It turned out quite spicy but was so cool to make because we got to put it in a pastry bag and form the cake in the springform pan (MISS THOSE!!). Also, we made this whipped olive oil cake with lots of almond flour! That one didn’t taste too bad. Then we made these custard type things that are going to go in between the cake layers and also a raspberry sauce as well. For the first time like ever, I didn’t eat my dinner in baking it seems like. I didn’t like any of it really!

SO then I came home to make my chicken and pasta! Then I went to find my pastry of the day, CANOLI of course! I am still stuck on finding a different canoli place to go to every day. So I went to this place by the train station and got one and then raced home to tell Alexa all about Valerie moving here! It was so good! Chocolate on the inside, once again a success!

So then it was time to knock out this 6-page paper on a pastry chef. I decided to do an American pastry chef because mainly every Italian pastry chef I looked up- the websites came up in Italian. SO needless to say I chose David Lebovitz who used to be a pastry chef in America, but now lives in Paris for good! Living the sweet life and has written many cookbooks that I cannot wait to look up! It seems like he has some pretty good recipes I could make! He’s a pretty legit pastry chef if you ask me!

I knocked that paper out like all in one night! Perfectly 6 pages with proofreading and things to add soon-- GO ME! SEIGS could tell you that is like a miracle that I wrote that long of a paper in such a short time, but shoot I wonder why!? HAHA! Probs cause she wasn’t here to help me procrastinate! Haha Nor did I have my phone to help me procrastinate either!! Haha

So then I finally went to bed and woke up this morning to study for my LAST Italian quiz that was at noon. Then I went down to school to study some more cause I couldn’t focus (shocking?) and ask my teacher questions. Then I went in to take the quiz. UGHH I have no idea how I did.. Guess I will find out next Wednesday since we don’t have class on Monday. We have been doing teacher evaluations all week. I gave her and chef a nice evaluation, but the other 2 teacher I have……….hmmmmmm………

Then since the gym is closed, I had downloaded Biggest Loser Cardio Max onto my computer to do when I got home! Haven’t done it since like before Christmas break since Seigs is the one who owns the DVD. I will probs be paying for it tomorrow. I could already feel the soreness coming down the steps to meet Haleigh and Johanna at school again to tlak about our project.

That was a joke because our teacher has yet to email us what is due on the next part of the project! So I walked all the way down to school for nothing! At least I got yesterday’s One Life episode and a Golden Girls episode downloaded! Haha! So then I came home and stopped by another canoli place and picked one up! Tried a bite, but saving it for desert! Crunchy and chocolate on the inside! LEGIT! Can’t wait to make dinner. So then I picked up a few things at the store and came home.

Now I am sitting on my balcony tanning and enjoying this beautiful weather while writing this!

I am going to go make dinner soon and then work on my other paper that is ACTUALLY due before finals after I eat.

Tonight we are all going out somewhere thankfully! I need to go out!

MTV TRL Awards are being held in Santa Croce tonight. No one knows who is coming. Some say Eminem, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Britney Spears, etc. then it changed to no American artists, just Italians. Now everyone is thinking that it’s all Italian artists singing American songs. Apparently it is going to be a small TRL Awards just for the Italian community…. SO who knows. I guess we will see. I would cry if Lady Gaga was here. Haha! Santa Croce is a mess to walk around right now so I didn’t feel like waking around there! People were already camping out this morning for it apparently! haha

Florence is getting a little too busy for me. I cannot tell you how hard it is to walk to school now, especially around the Duomo. I swear these games of let’s walk at each other and see who moves first is beyond annoying and the stopping in the middle of the already too small of sidewalks is beyond old!!!! I need to find other ways to go. Hopefully once the TRL stuff is over, I can start walking behind Santa Croce again to avoid the Duomo. Walking through mass loads of people can only last me like one day until I am tired of it!! Haha

I actually have to write papers these days, which is why most of you probs haven’t heard from me! SO sorry for that! And so sorry my contactability since before Dublin has basically sucked. I am due for like 10 skype dates that I keep not having because of being so busy! Hopefully soon though! I am trying my best!

Chelsea and Lindsey come tomorrow! Julie, Debbie, Kate, Kate, Lana, Sarah, and Jessica all come on Saturday! Cannot wait to see them all!!!!!

Other than all of this, my friend Haleigh offered me a wild strawberry Crystal Light packet today. I was quite hesitant to take it since my stance these days is no American things I miss till I come home. However, I had to take it and will drink it tomorrow! Cannot wait! Gahh-- how I miss those things.

Alexa and I had the can I live here forever talk again yesterday. Still so-so these days! I am so jealous of Valerie and Stacey for coming here next semester but I can’t say I don’t miss America a lot and my family and friends of course! It’s going to be weird coming home soon! I know I said in the beginning I don’t think I will ever forget how it is to miss my material things from home, but to be honest I don’t crave American food as much, I barely remember what it is like to text on my blackberry, and so on. Unbelievable I know. I crave canoli, Gusta’s, pastries, and so on these days! I do however insanely miss unlimited internet and wifi on my blackberry! Haha! And I also miss being able to walk at a legit speed on regular concrete just to add in here! Haha

It’s going to be fun having Julie and Debbie (friends from work), as well as everyone else, here this weekend, but I will already have to tell them immediately when we are waking, I walk around and see things as NBD now.. so they’re going to have to tell me to slow down cause they want to see this and this! Haha

Well I skype my work again tomorrow while waiting to see Chelsea and Lindsey! I cannot wait to see their faces and hear their voices finally once again! It’s been so long it seems like! I am hoping to take Chelsea and Lindsey (Tricia’s roommates) to the pizza place here that has won the award for World’s Best Pizza tomorrow night if they get here early enough cause me and my friends have been wanting to go! SO we will see!

Until tomorrow! Ciao my friends! Gotta wake up and do 2 hours of working out tomorrow morning with my friend Lauren at the 2 classes she is going to teach.. hopefully I will make it through the whole thing! Haha!

Miss and Love!

chocolate filled canoli. :)

Ciao Americans.

Well Happy Monday to you all!

Last night I ended up finally calling Haleigh and finished my homework! I can’t wait till this Special Events class is over! Plus I finally got to skype with my mother!

This morning I woke up and met Haleigh and our other group member to print out our project work and then went to class. We are still all in the process of planning the school’s going away party! 1 more class of Special Events and Customer Relations left since we are off the Monday after Easter! Can’t say I am crying because of that!!

Then I went to Italian and reviewed for the last quiz we have on Wednesday! Then I went to workout finally! Felt good to finally workout again!

Then I raced back down to Customer Relations and we discussed our final and paper we have due before finals!

Seemed like a pretty boring day……oh wait.

Getting ready to leave Customer Relations…………..where is my iPod? I don’t know. I had stopped by the bathroom before coming to class, but I wasn’t sure if I had walked into class with it. So I looked everywhere, ran back to the bathroom…..not there…..raced back to class, asked my teacher if he saw me walk in with it.. He wasn’t sure…. So I looked all throughout my book bag, freeking out of course, and then finally found it in my top pocket. I swear, first the passport in the side pocket and now the iPod in the top one….. I was pretty freeked out though cause that iPod is precious to me!!!! Plus I just bought those new headphones! Haha! Thankfully I found it though!!

So then I went on the search to answer the big question of CANOLI? Or different pastry? So I went on the hunt and finally stumbled upon a canoli that looked good! I am still trying to decide whether or not I want to do a different canoli every day or a different pastry every day……what has my life come to that I ask myself questions like that!? Haha! I may start out with canoli and then when I run out of places to go to, switch to pastries! We will see! I saw a few more canoli places as I walked home that I have to go to!!

So then I came home anxious to eat the rest of my canoli for desert and made my dinner! Chicken : ) and pasta again! SO good!! I miss chicken so much! Then I ate the rest of the canoli! It was DELICIOUS! They filled the inside with chocolate, which is now just like a fact-- I must make my canoli with chocolate on the inside. It makes the flavor so much better! It may have not been fresh, but it was so good and after sitting in the fridge for a little longer, it was very good!

So then Haleigh and Briana came over and finally got to see my apartment and balcony! We live so far away from each other, but they are closer to everywhere we usually go out to, so I always go over there. They don’t think they could live on the fourth floor like I do- they never would want to buy a big set of waters or groceries they said! Haha! They do wish they had a balcony like I do! I can see why! My balcony is amazing!!

So now I am about to send my work an update considering it’s been over 3 weeks.. I don’t know how I am going to decide what photos to send!

Next, I am going to begin these 2 papers I have due before finals.. I am running out of time to do them…….but I have no motivation to write either of them.. Where is Seigs to help me procrastinate?

Other than all this, I uploaded like 475 new photos to facebook. Check them out! I will come home with 5000+ photos.. I am striving for it!!

Well until tomorrow-- BAKING TOMORROW update!! Hope you all are doing well and had a good weekend!

Miss and Love!