Crazy Sunday

 

Another adventure packed day today. I started off by going to the Wellington Arch (above) to see an exhibit called Carscapes. I am really interested in urban history-- on top of architecture and preservation-- and this was an awesome exhibit by English Heritage! It was very relatable to what I have been doing research on at school (urbanization, suburbanization, decline of urban centers). After the exhibit, I walked through Hyde Park, down Oxford Street and made my way to the British Museum. This museum is full of archeological artifacts, including things from the Rosetta Stone, Cleopatra, and statues from the Parthenon. The museum focus on ancient cultures, so it was a nice change from the modern day effects of the automobile. After this, I went to the British Library to see hundreds of documents, including lyrics written by The Beatles and the Magna Carta. Overall, I got to see a lot of interesting artifacts and explore more of the city, not too bad for a Sunday right? I am going to head back to Oxford Street tomorrow (get a cookie) and do some shopping if I am up for it in the morning.  So enjoy some of the pictures from today below!

 

This was on a tiny side street off of Oxford Street. I did a double take and almost bumped into a few people getting down this street to take this picture.

 

 

Abroad... again.

 

Abroad Round Two has officially started. After working my butt off since January contacting, researching and finally hearing back from several historic preservation organizations and architecture firms, I complied a huge proposal for an award at my college. I wound up getting the award (yay!) and now I will be in the UK for about six weeks, and in Italy for four weeks. Super, super fun! I have started my adventure in London, and will be making my way to Bath and Cambridge too. So for the next five weeks now, I will be living in London! I think that the travel bug really got me since my semester abroad, because I could not have spent a whole summer away from Europe. Today I decided to walk around London, in the super tourist areas. I started in Lambeth, made my way toward the Thames, and crossed over to see the Big Ben, Westminster, Trafulgar Square, the National Gallery, and Buckingham Palace. So much to see, and I felt like seeing it all today. Obviously I have more places to go, but it was fairly nice outside and I didn't want to stay in and watch Netflix all Saturday (that's what Sunday is for...). So here are some of my, uh 368, pictures that I took today!

 

 

Several people have asked me what my favorite part of London is. My obvious answer is this blue chicken that sits in Trafulgar Square outside of the National Gallery. Who wouldn't love this thing?! London is an awesome city, it is really extensive, but a lot of good attractions are in the same area, so that explains my multiple places in one day. I also really love the National Gallery, there is everything in it. I got to see things from my beloved Italy in a special exhibit on the architecture of Italian Renaissance paintings (how perfect is that?). After spending almost three hours in the museum, and walking around taking a billion photos, I am exhausted but ready to head out to Oxford Street for some shopping-- as well as a cookie from Ben's Cookies which was recommended to me (not by Rick Steve's this time!). Keep checking back for updates of my adventures back abroad!

 

 

My Favorite Clinique Products

I haven't posted anything in.... awhile, but trust me I will be start up again... soon. Unfortunately school is starting up again, so posting will be limited. But I wanted to at least update you all with my favorite Clinique products I have been using lately. I have really fallen in love with Clinique because it is gentle and really does what the bottles say it will do, though some products can be pricey, it is worth the investment. Now I have very oily skin, but recently with acne products I have been using, my skin has become very dry. Here are some of the products that I really enjoy to help keep my skin looking great!

• Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream SPF 30: Now BB things were huge in the past, I even had the Clinique BB cream that I used while in Rome last year, but the CC cream is even better! This cream is very hydrating and has a great medium coverage, which allows me to wear less product on my face, but still get a flawless look. This comes in several colors, and is sheer enough to blend in with your skin while covering up troublesome areas too. If you have dry, or combination skin, this is a great product to keep you hydrated throughout the day. Definitely a must for the dry winter season!
• Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Clarifying Concealer: I wouldn't rely on this concealer to clear up your skin, unless the pimple is fairly small. I have the green color, which helps minimize redness of my acne, a real problem for me. This will dry out the blemish, because of the salicylic acid, so if you are using other acne products, be careful, you may over dry the pimple and irritate the skin. If you are looking for something extra to help treat and hide your acne, this is a great concealer, just remember to dab the product with your ring finger, and set it with powder. 
• Clinique Airbrush Concealer: I have very purple under eyes, I was even asked in middle school and high school if I was sick, tired, or had a black eye. This is a very light concealer that helps illuminate my under eye area, and get rid of that dreaded purple. I normally have no preference to using this before or after foundation, and either way I chose, it ends up looking great. Again, make sure you dab the concealer into the under eyes, and set it with an illuminating (preferably) powder. 
• Clinique Moisture Surge Intense: I never had dry skin, but after I went to the dermatologist and was given different acne creams, my once very oily skin became very dry. I love this moisturizer! It is super hydrating and makes your skin so soft! I originally only used this moisturizer in my PM skin care routine, but have added it to my morning routine. A little goes a long way with this product, and it is expensive, but trust me, it is worth it. 
• Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner: Lining your lids is a great way to emphasize your eyes and make your lashes appear thicker. I love this cream liner and I use it daily. I use an angled brush from Sephora, not the brush that it comes with, to line my upper and outer third of my lower lash line. Some makeup artist say that you should set cream/gel liner with a powder liner, but it isn't necessary with this product. It stays on all day, even if other parts of your makeup wears off. It is also blendable, so if you desire a less harsh line, you can achieve it! It comes in black, brown, and Clinique's famous Black Honey.

I have fallen for Clinique, I love all their products, and use many of them. Their makeup and skin care lines are amazing, and great for all skin types and sensitive skin. I have tried various high end and drug store brands, and Clinique is one of the best brands out on the market that sells both makeup and skin care. Obviously this is my opinion, and I am not in any way a skin care specialist or makeup artist, but these products have worked for me and made my skin look and feel better. 

I hope you guys enjoyed my first post in a long, long time. I want to know what are your favorite Clinique products? Or do you have any other brand preference? Let me know by commenting below!

What to do in Florence

Firenze, or Florence, is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. Though I lived in Rome for 4 months, and visited Florence for 4 days, I may have loved Florence more.. shhh don't tell anyone. With that being said, I am not an expert on Florence, but I can at least travel around the relatively small, and walk able, city. Like other cities, there is a Duomo and Baptistey which you can visit. Santa Maria dei Fiori, the Duomo, and the Baptistery, are adorned in green, burgandy, and white stones, and are gigantic. These two attractions, and their plaza they share, are normally packed. You can also visit a variety of churches, which are spread out throughout the city. If you are interested in museums, there are many, but the major one would be the Uffizi Gallery, where the famous David is held. Other museum attractions are the Palazzo Vecchio, where the picture above is taken, and Palazzo Pitti, a castle across the Ponte Vecchio (a bridge filled with jewelry shops). If you don't want to visit museums, and love to shop, the leather market, right near the Medici Palace, is for you. The leather market stretches along the street outside of the Medici Chapel, another attraction. At the market, you will find many leather goods, including purses, key chains, wallets, jackets, and more. In this market, you need to barter and lower the prices, you will be able to tell if something is not great quality. Some salesmen will even take a lighter and run the flame across the leather, proving the quality. Don't be astonished that  the same purse is in every stand, some things aren't unique. Also, the sellers may want to take you to their store, which could be right behind their stand, or many streets away. 

Interested in visiting Florence? Here are some tips:

• Comfortable shoes. Enough said. 
• Try to get a Firenze pass, honestly I don't know where you can purchase one, but you get access to churches, museums, and the buses with this pass. 
• Visit the Uffizi Gallery, Santa Maria dei Fiori, and the Baptistry. Make sure you visit all three of these attractions. they are very famous, and if you are short on time, these are the best to get the essence of Florence, the home of the Italian Renaissance.
• Enjoy the leather market. Walk through first, then start finding your treasures. Don't take too long, some of the salesmen will get nasty and raise their prices. Just walk away if they get mean and annoying, and don't take their bantering too seriously. 

Santa Maria dei Fiori

Ponte Vecchio

Palazzo Pitti

Medici Palace

The David in the Uffizi Gallery, a very sneaky picture taken by me, when the guards weren't looking...

There you have it, a short blurb about Florence and what you can do there! I would definitely go back and visit some of the churches I didn't have a chance to visit while there. It is a beautiful city, and relatively small, but still amazing!

The Feeling is Neutral

J.Crew Blouse (Similar Blouse) | Gap jeans (get them here) | Eddie Bauer Scarf (get it here) | J.Crew Flats (Similar) | 

After a busy day of shopping, I get to start wearing the things I've bought this summer. I really love how my style has changed, though I don't always feel like getting dressed everyday, and would rather stay in sweats, but I love to get into skinny jeans and a scarf. Wearing the most simple outfits, can make you feel really good and pretty, and I'll add in chic. 

I Just Love to Shop

I love to shop, and I love to go through what I have and figure out what else I need to find. So today, I went to almost every store, and found some good things, used some student discounts, and shopped some sales. All around, great day. Here is what I got:

Target:

Get it Here

As you will see, I love scarves. I really like anything that is a brighter color, but not obnoxious looking. As long as I can wear it with some basics and neutrals, it is perfect.

Eddie Bauer:

Get it Here

Again, I have an obsession with scarves. I normally don't shop at Eddie Bauer, but they do have nice v necks, as well as cute scarves. Exhibit A. 

Gap: 

                                                 

Get it Here

Get it Here

I really like to wear skinny jeans. I feel more comfortable wearing skinny jeans than wearing bootcut jeans or straight leg jeans. I also really like Gap jeans too. I never really wore them before, but their legging jeans have started looking a lot better, maybe they are just made differently? Other than my beloved Zara pants I bought in Italy, Gap jeans are my new favorite. Also, the grey jeans actually hit my ankles, they aren't cropped on me, and I am almost 5'6".

Banana Republic:

Get it Here

I am finding less and less things at Banana Republic, minus the elephant shorts. I think it is just because I don't really have the need for suits and business attire. However, I did find this sweater. It fits a little looser, and wide on the shoulders, and seems to be perfect for a summer night bonfire! 

J.Crew:

Get it Here

In my J.Crew store, they had this scarf in pink, however online only in white. But, again, I got this pretty scarf, to help beef up my outfits. Normally, I don't buy expensive scarfs, but when I get a student discount, and its on clearance, I'm sold! 

So that is what I got! Do you normally look through your clothes and try to shop for things to update your look? Let me know!

Elephant Shorts Debut

Shorts (Currently out of stock) | Tank | Similar Sandal

The elephant shorts are here! I picked up these shorts at Banana Republic a while ago, but I haven't put them on my blog until now. I really like them, they are super cute, comfortable, and, dare I say, chic! Of course I have my elephant bracelet on as well. Though its hot outside, I'm still opting for a black tank. I really love wearing black, it just seems very chic and easy. Have a great day and stay cool!