Oh, Rome! (Part 1)

This city is definitely wonderful. There is so much history and delicious food! I enjoyed myself during the two days we had in Rome. I also visited Rome a second time with my mother-in-law...maybe it was because I threw a coin into the Trevi Fountain on this trip! 

Today was such a busy day. We had a lot of walking to do but we got to see some amazing things. Our hotel in Rome was the Villa Pamphili just outside the city center. Our bus picked us up from the hotel and took us to the Vatican, which was our first stop. To say I was excited to see the Sistine Chapel is an understatement. I was ecstatic. 

Growing up, my sister and I loved the movie "The Scarlet and the Black" with Gregory Peck. Quick backstory, the movie is set during World War II. Gregory Peck plays a priest trying to help Allied POWs and downed airmen out of Nazi-occupied Rome. (Fantastic movie; watch it if you get a chance!) This, I remember, was my first view of the Vatican City. I couldn't believe I was standing there. 

We were taken to the museum and given so much historical information; I wish I could remember half of what we were told. Out of respect, there is no loud talking or picture taking inside the Sistine Chapel, so our guide took us to the garden and told us more about the chapel before going in. There were pictures of the ceiling on description boards in the garden, and he mentioned some interesting stories behind certain characters in the paintings, including the turmoil Michelangelo had in his life before he died. 

We really went at a great time. There weren't many tourists inside. Zach and I were able to walk around and closely examine the paintings. From "The Creation of Adam" above our heads to "The Last Judgment," every single painting truly was a masterpiece. Read more about the Sistine Chapel and its paintings here.

Photo by ZH

Our guide then took us to St. Peter's Basilica. We were shown the "Pieta," created by Michelangelo in 1499. As you walk into the basilica, it is located on the right side (north side). It sits behind bullet proof glass because of an attack on the sculpture in 1972. 

As you make your way to the front, you see the altar for the Apostle Paul. Constructed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the altar was done beautifully in the Baroque style, and he would later be considered one of the best Baroque sculptors and architects of his time. 

Photo by ZH

Photo by ZH

We had barely scratched the surface of our sightseeing in Rome. Stay tuned for Oh, Rome! (Part 2); I will finish up the rest of our time there! 

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!