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!