My Fall Favorites: Burberry

I've decided to break from writing about our Italy trip to do something a little different and tell you about my favorite beauty pieces for fall. There is also a lovely giveaway at the end, so read through!

Disclaimer: I am not an expert on beauty products. I know what I like and what works for me, and I just want to share it with you all! 


While I was in Texas last year, I went a little crazy purchasing Burberry makeup. I have enjoyed using everything! It's still a bit warm in Cyprus, and fall can come a little late here, but I have adored using Burberry Lip Cover in Antique Rose No.11. It is so creamy it glides right over my lips. With my skin tone the color looks very natural. Most of the time my lips are chapped, so I tend to wear a lip balm, and then apply the lipstick. With this Antique Rose, I don't need to! When I need a touch up or a simple gloss, I grab the Burberry Lip Glow in Heather Rose No.11. It is a natural lip gloss that adds a shine at the end of the evening. 

If you're having a difficult time finding these pieces, Stephane from Burberry's customer service suggested trying Lip Mist in Camilla Pink No. 207 for a Lip Cover and Burberry Kisses Gloss in Antique Rose No. 85 for the Lip Glow. I've not tried these, but I might have to when I'm back in Texas.

On to the fun part...

This past March a group of girlfriends and I went to Paris. Paris was AMAZING! I promise to do a post or two in the near future. My friend and I visited the Burberry on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. I wanted to purchase a 30ml My Burberry fragrance. I had first sampled it while at the Galleria in Houston, Texas. I knew I had to have it in my collection, but I waited. I'm glad I did. In Paris, I ended up getting the gift set that comes with a 90ml Eau de Parfum and a 100ml moisturizing body mist, which I carry in my handbag. It's not heavy or overpowering like some fragrances I've used. It is the perfect scent for fall! It takes me back to the few years Zach and I spent in New Hampshire as we drove down the winding country roads and soaked up every scent and color imaginable during the fall seasons.

Photo by ZH

Some of the fragrances include sweet pea and freesia, rain-tipped damask, and centifolia roses.You can find more about it here. 

It all smells wonderful! I've already used it several times on date nights and even brunch with the girls. 

So the giveaway? 

A 30ml My Burberry Eau de Parfum. Ladies, all you have to do is leave a comment of your favorite scent for fall. Gentlemen, you can also comment and tell me your favorite cologne or your significant other's scent for this wonderful time of year! After all, Christmas is just around the corner...

*I purchased everything and the opinions are my own. 
*The giveaway is only to the residents of Cyprus and the United States. Everyone is welcome to comment. The contest ends on Friday, November 13, 2015 at noon.

Florence, Round Two

Today was a fun and busy day. We saw the Basilica di Santa Croce. This lovely basilica holds the bodies of Dante Alighieri, Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, and Galileo Galilei. Zach and I admired this place because it had such prominent figures that you only read about in history books or literature.

We then visited the Accademia Gallery which holds several works of art by Michelangelo. Many of these works were started, but never completed. In the distance, we saw the representation of the Biblical hero David that Michelangelo completed in the early 1500s. 

Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore was next on our list. Stunningly beautiful is all I can say about the outside of this structure. The building began in September of 1296. Much has been added, restored, or changed since its construction so many years ago. The intricate details are absolutely amazing. There is an option to go up to the top of the bell tower, but our large group didn't get that chance. We were pressed for time, and we had a schedule to keep. 

After a busy morning, we checked out of our hotel and headed to our next destination, Siena. We stopped for lunch in a medieval Tuscan village called Monteriggioni. This walled village, constructed in the 1200s, was built on a hill to see any enemies approaching from below. As we walked through the village, I could imagine myself living there during medieval times. They had quaint shops which sold items ranging from clothes to cheese. 

We wound down our day at a family-owned vineyard which has been in the family for three generations. They have a restaurant where all of the ingredients are grown organically, including the vino! Our group had such a wonderful time, and we felt like part of the family! It was a delightful ending to an already lovely day. 

First Day In Florence

We left early the next morning from Venice to visit Florence. On our way, we stopped on the outskirts of Modena at a farmhouse called Leonardi Acetaia that has produced balsamic vinegar since the early 19th century. They have 100-year-old vinegar stored in barrels, and we were given the opportunity to try this creamy yet delicious balsamic vinegar. It is definately the best I have ever had. 

After arriving in Florence, we stopped at our hotel, the Mediterraneo, and off we went to a leather shop called Misuri. We watched a jewelry and leather demonstration before we began shopping. The shop had everything from handbags to coats to jewelry, all beautiful pieces. Since my birthday was coming up, Zach let me pick out a purse! I was excited, and I picked the purse they had a demonstration on. It was a handbag that was made for Grace Kelly when she was on location for To Catch a Thief. Misuri also engraved my initials on the inside for free. I was one happy gal! 

We then enjoyed some free time before dinner that evening, so we walked around Florence. We found another leather shop where Zach tried on some leather jackets. He bought a nice, tan-colored jacket. It looked pretty good on him too!

We finally met up with Ciro, and ate at a lovely restaurant called the Finisterrae. It was right across from the Basilica di Santa Croce in the piazza. We had a margarita pizza there for lunch, and we also had gelato, which was possibly the best-tasting gelato out of the whole trip! For dinner, we had a five-course meal...and by the third course, I was incredibly stuffed. But I carried on! I wasn't going to let all this lovely food go to waste. 

Ciro wanted to show us how the city looked at night before we saw it during the daytime, so our little group walked around Florence, and he showed us certain sites we would be seeing the next day. He showed us the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore and the Piazza della Signoria which had many statues on display including the Fountain of Neptune. After a long walk back to our hotel, we were exhausted. I couldn't help but fall asleep with a smile on my face knowing there was still so much more to see!

Venice & Burano, Italy, part 2

As I mentioned in my previous post, our next stop was an optional excursion to Burano. We took an hour boat ride to this colorful island. All the houses are painted in bright, vibrant colors. Instead of having house numbers, they are identified by the color of their house! We had a fantastic lunch and purchased some masquerade masks. The gentleman who owns the shop makes each mask by hand, and they were all so lovely that it was hard for me to pick just one! If you decide to purchase an authentic Venetian mask, look for one handmade in Italy with a seal from the maker. 

We then took the boat back to the Bridge of Sighs and walked to our hotel – yes, the hour walk we skipped from this morning! Zach and I decided for a quick 20-minute gondola ride instead. Our particular gondola had musicians and a singer. We sat back and enjoyed the music, the gentle breeze brushing our faces as we glided through the Venetian canals.

As part of our traveling experience, we try to purchase t-shirts or magnets from a Hard Rock Cafe in each city. Ciro showed us how to get to the only HRC, and cautioned us on where to eat because of extra charges or taxes that most restaurants along the waterway will include in your bill. We got our HRC purchases, walked along some alleyways, and came upon a small pizzeria. We sat outside for dinner and enjoyed a delicious margarita pizza. 

Nighttime fell upon us as we made our way back to the hotel. I enjoyed everything we did on that first day in Italy, but the gondola ride was the most memorable! 

Venice & Burano, Italy, part 1

The next morning we woke up refreshed and quite ready to start our trip. Zach and I ate a wonderful breakfast of eggs, bacon, fresh fruit, and English Breakfast tea at our hotel. We were up early to beat the crowds and the heat. Our group took a boat ride to the other side of Venice. We could have walked, but it would have taken us a good 45 minutes to an hour at a brisk pace, and we didn't have time for that! 

On this first day, we visited the Doge's Palace with its Bridge of Sighs and St. Mark’s Square. We also attended a glassblower demonstration which was spectacular to watch. 

The Doge's Palace housed the Doge of Venice, which was the supreme authority of the Republic of Venice. First opened in the 1920s, it is now a grand museum where we saw many paintings, weapons, and a seating area where the jury sat, and where they held court. Then, we crossed the Bridge of Sighs where the prisoners were taken to prison if convicted. 

Next, we walked through St. Mark's Square and saw the outside of the Basilica.  We made it to the Vecchia Murano Glass Factory and watched the glassblower do his work. He did it so quickly yet precisely. His first demonstration was of a vase, and his second demonstration was of a small horse. 

Our next stop was an optional excursion to Burano. We took an hour boat ride to this colorful island. Read more about this island next week on my blog! 

Arriving in Venice

In May of this year, Zach and I took a Globus trip of the United Kingdom, which you can read about here. But we had already been on another Globus tour in August 2014 where we visited Italy. It was a nine-day journey from Venice to Sorrento and it is definitely worth writing about now (even if it is a year later). The tour guides we met in each city loved what they did and were excited to share all they knew. Our main tour guide, Ciro, was fantastic, and he kept us entertained during our trip across the country. Like the UK tour, we traveled by bus with about 32 other fantastic people! 

We first flew into Venice Marco Polo Airport, and representatives from Globus picked us up, along with some other tour members, and took us to our hotel, the Hotel Carlton on the Grand Canal. Venice is a bunch of little islands completely surrounded by water, and there are no cars or roadways, only canals and boats. Because of this, we had to be dropped off a little ways from our hotel. But it was so gorgeous, and we were so delighted to be there that we didn't mind the walk at all. Globus took care of our luggage throughout the entire trip, so we didn't look ridiculous climbing the many stairs or cobblestone streets while in Italy. We rested up in our room for a few hours before we met Ciro and our traveling companions. After he went over some important information, we took a lovely stroll to a restaurant called Al Bacco Felice. Mama Mia! Here we had the most tasty spaghetti and fettuccine I have ever eaten. After lunch we treated ourselves to some biscotto and pistacchio gelato. For us, gelato wasn't just a treat...it was a meal in itself as we had some 3 or more times a day!

After our dinner, we walked back to the hotel and said goodnight to our group. We were both so excited to be there and couldn't wait for what was to come in our tour!

Visiting the Garden Tomb

On our last day, Ryan reserved a taxi via Gett (similar to Uber) for noon, so we rose bright and early to visit The Garden Tomb. It is the site where many believe Jesus was buried and where He was resurrected three days later. From our apartment, we walked about ten minutes to reach the garden. There is no fee to enter, and the organization in charge, The Garden Tomb Association, provides a guide to point out different areas in the garden. 

Even though we could hear traffic outside the walls, we sensed a quiet and peaceful atmosphere. Our guide, Steve, took us to the edge of the garden and showed us what they believe to be The Skull of the Rock, or the place where Jesus may have been crucified. He then showed us the winepress and cistern, both pieces of evidence to suggest that the garden was a working garden, similar to gardens of the day when Jesus lived.

Steve then pointed out the tomb, and we proceeded down the stone steps and found ourselves at the entrance. It was rather small, compared to how I imagined it. The tomb was supposed to be large enough for an entire family, with three resting places, presumably a father, a mother, and a child. On the door inside hangs a post saying, "He is not here for He is risen." True today as it was back then!

After purchasing souvenirs from the gift shop, we exited and walked toward the Damascus gate. Since it was close to noon, we went back to our apartment, packed what we had left, and waited for our ride. Within an hour we were back at Ben Gurion Airport. Using the kiosk, we printed our tickets and headed for security, which wasn’t as bad as our Larnaca Airport experience. As we flew out of Israel, I prayed that next year Zach and I would be able to make it back!

Old City of Jerusalem

After our Dead Sea excursion, we took the bus back to Jerusalem. We walked back to our hotel to clean up, so we could visit the Old City for the rest of the day. It was about a 10-minute walk from our apartment to the Jaffa Gate. We stopped and visited some tourist shops. One young gentleman asked my mom how many camels she wanted for me, and when mom told him I was already taken, he asked Ryan how much for Elsa! Let's just say it was an awkward conversation, and we ran out of his shop as soon as we purchased our souvenirs!

As we made our way through the stone-paved streets, we followed signs to the Room of the Last Supper and King David's Tomb. Growing up in Sunday school, I learned and read about the upper room where Jesus and his disciples partook of the Passover meal before His crucifixion.  This is the supposed site of the upper room, and I couldn’t help but imagine Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper unfolding before my eyes. We then visited David's Tomb, but there were so many people praying that we did not want to disturb anyone, so we left to visit the Western Wall. The Wall is also known as the Kotel and is a very important site to the Jewish people. It is especially important, as it is believed to have been the closest to the Holy of Holies in the temple. People from around the world come to visit, pray, or leave a message to God and place it in the wall. 

We then made our way through the Muslim quarter to get to the Mount of Olives. As it was getting later, we noticed there were fewer tourists. At one point, an Israeli police officer called out to us and asked us who we were and where we were from. Ryan answered that we were visiting from Texas. The officer told us that we could not go any further as the area was closed at that time. So, we turned around and detoured down another street (which happened at least twice) and exited the Old City. 

We had intended on walking up through the Mount of Olives to catch a panoramic view of the Old City, but a taxi driver stopped us before we started and told us it was a long, steep walk. He only charged 5 NIS per person, so we didn’t argue since we had been walking all day. (They may have worn sandals over 2,000 years ago, but a non-slip shoe might have worked out better!) We arrived at the top in time to see the sun setting behind the Dome of the Rock. It was beautiful. 

Exhausted from our day, we let the same taxi driver take us back to our apartment, and ended the evening with dinner at McDonalds and made a few souvenir stops. Ryan reserved a taxi using a service called Gett (similar to Uber) for our transportation to the airport the following afternoon. But our trip wasn’t over yet…we still had the whole morning the next day, and we were not about to pass up the opportunity to do some more sightseeing!

The Dead Sea

{This is a guest post by Elsa Bearden.}

When you don't travel with a tour group, you have to figure out transportation on your own.  After looking at rates online, it looked like we'd spend more than we wanted to for a taxi ride to the Dead Sea. In the end, we decided to take the bus, figuring out the routes via Google Maps (which was pretty accurate) the night before. 

We first had to walk about 20 minutes to the central bus station in Jerusalem. It was pretty clear upon arriving that not many tourists braved the crowded, bustling bus station. As we pulled away, a quick glance around the bus revealed mostly working and religious men and women, going about their day. Maybe four others (besides our little group) were vacationing. 

The city soon disappeared behind us and tall mountains and desert lay before us. About 40 minutes later, we saw water - the Dead Sea! Our bus driver called for our stop, Kalia Beach. (This was the closest beach to our apartment, and we wanted to come back and still have time to visit the Old City in the afternoon.) We looked around, but didn't see any cars or tourists swarming the beach. In fact, there was really nothing around this particular bus stop at all. Hesitantly, I grabbed my bag, preparing to get up when, our bus driver pulled away from the bus stop, never having come to a complete stop! It wasn't until after our bus trips to and from the Dead Sea that we realized you needed to jump up quickly to let the driver know you were getting off; otherwise, he'd keep right on going! 

Unsure of ourselves, we reclined back in our seats thinking that perhaps he meant the next stop was for Kalia Beach. Nope. It came and went with no one getting on or off. A glance to our left out of the bus revealed the Dead Sea, much larger than I thought it was, but with no beaches. Where were all of the crazy tourists floating with their newspapers? We decided to go on to Ein Gedi, a place a friend had recommended to us. 

As we continued travelling, it felt as if we were getting further and further from civilization.  Soon the other tourists on the bus with us were getting anxious as well. Where were the beaches? The bus driver wasn't too helpful which could have been due to the language barrier. Abby finally made an executive decision and said that we were getting off when we got to the Ein Gedi Spa stop. It was a good decision!

As it turns out, the private beach at the spa couldn't be seen from the road; we had to ride a tractor train (for what could have been a 10 minute walk) to actually get to the water. We think this is why we didn't see anything at our Kalia Beach stop. There was a fee for the spa, but we were just happy that we found a place where we could float! And that's exactly what we did. 

Dead Sea Tip: 

Take water shoes or sandals you can wear in the water as the ground (salt) is extremely rough!

Have you ever been to the Dead Sea? Tell us about your experience!