art in ravenna.

Like Parma, Ravenna is one of those beautiful, small Italian cities that have the power to instantly charm you.  I spent the day here recently and was amazed by the gorgeous buildings and artwork that the area had to offer.  Both of the churches I visited were extremely ornate and well-preserved.  However, my favorite stop was at Dante Alighieri's tomb.  The inner literary geek in me was freaking out the entire time.  Basically, it was just another amazing day in Italia. 

xoxo

Sabrina

PS.  Next stop Milano!

love for verona.

An amazing horse show in the center of town



 

A lovely depiction of Romeo and Juliet's story

The arena!

I could not believe I actually got to see Juliet's balcony.

Juliet's statue was gorgeous.  It's a tradition to touch her chest for luck.

Of course I needed a gelato break!

My flavors: tiramisu and stracciatela

First Christmas/Natale display I've seen in Italia!

View from the top of Castelvecchio

I learned of Verona's existence in sixth grade when my English class studied Romeo and Juliet for the first time.  Since coming to Italy, I have wanted to take a trip to the famed city, even if it was only to see the statue of Juliet.  This past weekend, I finally made the visit and am so glad I did.  The city is lovely and visitors can find hints of Shakespeare's story throughout it.  My favorite spots would have to be La Casa di Giulietta (Juliet's house) and Castelvecchio.  Castelvecchio is an amazing castle on a hill that overlooks the entire city.  While the climb to the top was a hike, the view at the end made it all worth it. 

xoxo

Sabrina

PS.  More travel and food posts coming soon!  Follow me on Bloglovin for updates!

rolling the dough.

The beautiful Italian countryside

Rolling the dough!

All the lovely tortelloni

Ravioli too!

Freshly cut tagliatelli

Recently, I had the opportunity to take a few cooking classes here in Italia.  The final lesson, and perhaps the best one, involved taking a trip out to the Italian countryside to learn how to properly make pasta from scratch.  My mind was blown after seeing how simple the recipe is and how much hard work it takes to make everything perfectly.  The effort was worth it though.  I ended the day with a delicious bowl of tortelloni in a butter sage sauce and a plate of tagliatelli with homemade ragu.  What can I say, just another day in Italy!

xoxo

Sabrina

holiday picks 1.2.3.

holiday picks 1.2.3.
 

As the start of holiday party season is approaching with Halloween and Thanksgiving right around the corner, I thought I'd share a few looks for inspiration.  I love relying on neutrals to ground my outfits and then picking some fun colors or prints to liven things up.  Accessories and makeup are also essential.  Some of my top makeup picks to transform any outfit include winged liner, burgundy nail polish, and bright or crimson red lips.  There are so many possibilities!

xoxo

Sabrina

PS.  Tell me in the comments what your party outfit essentials are!
PPS.  Follow me on Bloglovin and Polyvore!

good eats.

Baked eggplant with homemade sauce and cheese

Just out of the oven!

Farro with carrots, zucchini, and celery and a cheese biscuit on the side

I've been eating rather well recently, if I may say so myself.  Maybe it's because I'm in Italy or maybe it's because I really love cooking, but I've been whipping up a bunch of recipes as of late.  My most recent meals include baked eggplant with sauce and cooked farro with veggies, as well as a side of cheesy biscuits.  The eggplant is an old favorite while the farro is completely new and absolutely delicious.

xoxo

Sabrina

PS.  Check me out on Bloglovin!  Food adventures and fashion hauls to come!

siena story.

Siena is quite possibly one of my favorite spots in Italy.  Not only is it beautiful and picturesque, but it also is incredibly community-oriented.  The city is divided up into different zones, which all connect to the piazza in the center.  The zones, or contrade, mark the different teams that compete in the palio, or horse races.  Each contrada is like one large family; members are baptized into them and work together to host celebrations and events.  During my visit, the most recent district to win the palio was celebrating the victory.  Lively music filled the air as people walked from street to street, stopping to chat with friends or get something to eat from one of the many food stands in the area.  It was lovely scene in the midst of a gorgeous town.  I definitely plan on returning.

xoxo

Sabrina

firenze/florence.

Here are some beautiful landscape shots from my trip to Firenze.  The city was absolutely amazing, but it was hard for me to get over the fact that most of the people I passed on the streets were tourists.  Having been in Italy for a while now, I feel as though I'm in a sort of in-between state where I am neither a tourist nor a local.  Regardless, I can certainly appreciate the beauty that a city like Firenze has to offer.

xoxo

Sabrina

PS.  Stay tuned for updates on my next trip to Siena!!
PPS.  Check me out on Bloglovin!