how I stay fit abroad.

Workout gear of the champions - Aerie sports bra, Under Armour leggings, Nike sneakers

When I left for Italy earlier this past year, I was in the best shape of my life. I was running regularly, lifting weights, and eating well. Because of this, I was somewhat worried about how my new Italian lifestyle would affect my fitness. I knew I'd be surrounded by delicious food and without easy access to a gym. Yet I didn't let this deter me! I've been in Italy for over three months now, and I can 100% promise that staying fit abroad is possible. Here's how to do it:

1. Drink lots of water.
When I first arrived, I wasn't drinking nearly enough water. I began feeling sluggish and getting headaches. So I turned things around! Now I start each day with a big glass of water. I drink hot water throughout the day and always have a cup of water before I go to bed. It really makes a difference!

2. Eat a variety of food.
Eating healthily is probably one of the most obvious ways to stay fit. While I do this, I also make sure to eat a range of foods. This can be rather hard in Italy, where bread and pasta are staples at almost every meal. I make sure to vary the types of carbs I eat as much as possible. I also load up on fresh fruit and veggies at every opportunity. The best part of living abroad is that fresh produce is amazing and always in season. Right now I'm absolutely loving the abundance of clementines!

3. Exercise however you can.
Before I even left the US, I knew that exercise would be one of my biggest challenges abroad. At home, I could go for a run or head to the gym pretty easily. Unfortunately, small town Italy doesn't have the same resources available. However, that hasn't stopped me. Instead, I've become obsessed with the amazing number of fitness tutorials on Youtube. My favorites are ones from Jillian Michaels, FitnessBlender, and PopSugar. They make me sweat, and I never have to leave my apartment!

4. Get 8 hours of sleep.
I know the number of hours varies from person to person, but eight hours of sleep is my magic number. In addition, I've found that going to bed and waking up earlier helps me feel more productive and energized. I like starting my day with the sunrise!

That's it! I know I'm only a few months into life abroad, but these four tips have made such a difference. Would you add anything else?

xoxo

Sabrina

P.S. Are you following me on Bloglovin? Add me to your queue!

top beauty youtubers.

While Twitter is undoubtedly my favorite social media platform (if you're not following me, check out my page here), YouTube is a close runner-up. I love how visual and informative YouTube videos are. To be more specific, I'm obsessed with the slightly overwhelming number of makeup and beauty videos on the site. Over the past few years, I've come to trust and follow the opinions of a number of beauty vloggers. Here's a roundup of some of my favorites.

#1. Tanya Burr
Tanya (pictured above) was the first beauty YouTuber I discovered. I found her videos shortly after she began posting and have been following her ever since. Her makeup looks suit my skin tone perfectly and I love hearing about her product reviews. Plus, because she used to be an independent makeup artist, I really trust her opinions.

#2. FleurDeForce
Fleur is another British beauty YouTuber that I've come to love watching. My favorite videos are her product empties and disappointing products ones. She is great at describing products and scents. Plus, we have similar skin types, so I trust a lot of her skincare reviews.

#3. Ingrid Nilsen
Surprisingly enough, Ingrid is one of the only American YouTubers I follow. Her hair color and skin tone are pretty similar to mine, so I like seeing her many makeup looks. However, I also really like her fashion videos. She does a good job of combining the relaxed Cali vibe with the chic NY one. Plus, she never shies away from bold lip color!

#4. EleventhGorgeous
Tracy and Stephanie of EleventhGorgeous are two of the funniest and happiest YouTubers I watch. My favorite thing about them is that they always stick to more affordable brands. I love watching their drugstore hauls and tutorials. They try a wide range of products and always share their honest opinions.

#5. HelloOctoberxo
HelloOctoberxo is the most recent addition to my subscription list. I love Suzie's makeup and fashion style. She feels very relatable in her videos. My favorite uploads are her "Get Ready With Me" ones. She goes through every step of the process, from moisturizing and makeup to clothing and jewelry.

Do you watch any beauty YouTubers? I'd love to hear who your favorites are!

xoxo

Sabrina

P.S. Are you following Lip Tints & Leopard Prints on Bloglovin?

my thoughts on the Parsons x Teen Vogue course.

An inspiration collage for a course assignment.

If you follow me on Twitter, you may have seen that I enrolled in the ParsonsxTeenVogue Fashion Industry Essentials course. The program just wrapped, so I thought I'd share my thoughts on it. If you're thinking about signing up, if you've never heard of it and are interested, or if you're a fellow student, please read on and let me know your thoughts on my pros and cons list in the comments!

PROS

• Wide variety of course topics - We covered everything from industry basics and design processes to portfolio development and marketing techniques.
• Instructive videos from industry insiders - I got to hear firsthand tips and stories from designers like Rebecca Minkoff and Angela Gao to professionals like Amy Astley and Caletha Crawford.
• Interesting and creative assignments - I was constantly pushed to put my best work forward with each new course assignment. The design course was particularly challenging, since I'm living in a small town in Italy without access to standard design materials!
• Social media development - Social media is a huge interest of mine. I love that these courses helped me to strengthen my platforms even further. My LinkedIn page looks fantastic now!
• A better understanding of my portfolio - Before this class, I had no official portfolio to present. Now, I have a much better idea of what to include and how to format my portfolio in general. While I submitted a version of my portfolio for the final assignment, I will definitely continue to adapt and improve it so that it represents my best work.

CONS

• Short videos - While some of the videos we had to watch were longer and very informative (such as the ones from Gilt), the majority were short and lacked the more specific career and job information I desired. My favorite videos were the ones that related how people developed their careers and skills for their professions.
• Some unrealistic assignments - I recognize that I am in a relatively unique situation in terms of my living setup. However, some of the assignments (the design ones in particular) were difficult for me because I lacked the recommended resources. I'm sure that some other students encountered a similar problem.
• A short final review - Students taking this course have to complete a solid amount of work in order to achieve the certificate. Because of this, I had hoped that whoever reviewed my final submission would look into all of my work and give me a detailed review. Instead, I only received feedback, in the form of a short paragraph, on my portfolio submission. While the criticism was helpful, since I will use the reviewer's advice to further improve my portfolio, it did not take into account all the other work I had submitted along the way. It would have been nice to receive a more comprehensive analysis of my work.

Overall, I am very happy that I decided to take this exclusive course. I was challenged much more than I initially thought I would be, and came out with a more developed understanding of the fashion industry. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in a career in fashion!

xoxo

Sabrina

ciao amore.

ciao amore

As a rule, I like holidays because they give me a chance to dress up. Valentine's Day is no exception. I love going all out for February 14th, whether that means loading up on heart jewelry or wearing as much red as possible. Of course, I still try to keep things classy. That's why I'm loving these three outfit options for the big day. There's something for whatever you have planned. What's more is that while none of them are too over the top, they still feel flirty and romantic.

Which one would you wear? I'm torn between all three of them!

xoxo

Sabrina

P.S. Remember this Valentine's Day post from a few years ago? Those heels are the best!

new in: winter luxe.

Starting 2016 off with some glitz and glam.

Living abroad for a set period of time means that I always have my return trip in mind. To be more specific, I always have my suitcase in mind. As much as I may want to go on shopping sprees in Milan, I have to remind myself that my suitcase physically cannot hold all of the lovely pieces that catch my eye. Instead, I have to be selective if I want to make it back without having to pay the extra fee for another checked bag.

Of course, that doesn't mean that I've sworn off shopping permanently. On the contrary, I was in H&M recently and found myself walking out with this pair of pants. Disclaimer: I own the same pants in black. They fit perfectly and have the right amount of stretch. I love the color and the gold detailing on these ones. I'll definitely get a lot of wear out of them over the next few months!

As for the sweater, it was a Christmas present! I am obsessed with how over-the-top sparkly it is. I definitely wore it a few times around Christmas and New Year and will continue to wear it as long as it stays chilly outside. It's just so fun!

What about you? Picked up any new clothes recently? Hope your 2016 is going well!

xoxo

Sabrina

2015 beauty favorites.

The best of 2015.

2015 was a great year for my beauty collection, thanks largely to Ipsy. I discovered new brands, fell in love with old favorites, and had a lot of fun experimenting with my beauty routine. Take a look at my roundup of top products (and see what's changed since 2013, the last time I did a post like this).

Best Moisturizer: Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief
While Clinique's yellow lotion will always be a makeup bag staple, the Moisture Surge edition is just what my skin has been craving this year. I have pretty normal skin for the most part. Sometimes, however, I do get dry patches. That's why this gel is perfect. It's incredibly light, it soaks into my skin instantly, and it keeps my face hydrated all day long.

Best Eye Cream: Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream
I like to try a new eye cream each time I finish an old one. This Origins one is my latest discovery. I love how the formula is creamy but not greasy. It absorbs quickly and leaves my under eye area looking fresh and bright.

Best Face Primer: Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer
Although I don't use face primer on a daily basis, I will break it out when I'm traveling or when I know I have a long day ahead of me. This one by Smashbox keeps my makeup in place all day. I know I never have to worry about my foundation or concealer sliding around with this on.

Best Eye Primer: Urban Decay Anti-Aging Eyeshadow Primer Potion
I think I'll always be a Nars eye primer lover, but this anti-aging formula by Urban Decay has won me over this year. It looks invisible when applied and definitely helps to boost shadow pigmentation and lasting power. I haven't necessarily noticed any anti-aging effects, but I haven't noticed any wrinkles either, so that's a good sign!

Best Concealer (tie): Clinique Line Smoothing Concealer (04 Medium) and L'Oreal MagicLumi Highlighter (862 Light)
These two are tried and true favorites. The Clinique one is my go-to for any face blemishes or discolorations. It is a perfect color match for me. I always apply this before my foundation to create a more flawless look. As for the MagicLumi pen, I can't imagine my makeup bag without it. I'm currently on my third one and have no plans to stray to other brands at the moment. It covers and brightens my under eye circles like nothing else.

Best Foundation: Clinique Superbalanced Powder Makeup (04 Natural)
This was a rediscovery product for me. I've had it in my collection for a while and picked it up again this spring when I started to get more color. In general, I prefer light liquid foundations and BB creams for their dewy, natural finish. This powder, however, looks so natural on my skin that I've temporarily forgotten about my liquid foundations!

Best Powder: Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder (020 Nude Beige)
I know this powder is a favorite for a number of beauty bloggers, mostly because it's an amazing product for a great price. I use this every day after applying my face makeup to keep my skin oil-free. It works like a charm and, for the price, you can't get any better.

Best Bronzer: NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder (720A Sunny)
This is another drugstore favorite. It borders the line between a bronzer and a light contour powder. I use it for both purposes. I love how natural it looks. It adds just enough color and definition to use all year round.

Best Highlighter: Temptu S/B Highlighter in Pink Pearl
I have to thank Ipsy for this product. I had never heard of Temptu until I received this in one of my monthly bags. I'm so glad I got it! I am now a huge fan of liquid highlighter. This one blends so nicely and leaves the perfect glow.

Best Eyeshadow (tie): Urban Decay Naked palette and theBalm Nude Dude Eyeshadow in Fit
The Naked palette is an obvious choice, so I won't ramble on about it. I will say that it is the only palette I brought with me to Italy, which I think speaks volumes about its versatility and value for money. My other favorite is a beautiful bronze single shadow from theBalm. I am a huge fan of this brand for its sassy product names and color selections. Bronze is probably my most worn shadow color, so I've definitely gotten a lot of use out of it.

Best Pencil Eyeliner: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Smog
Speaking of Urban Decay and bronze colors, this pencil liner is a must! It combines my favorite brand with my favorite color. It looks beautiful with brown eyes. I love how it can be drawn straight on or smudged out for a slightly smoky look. Plus, these 24/7 pencils don't lie when they say they last all day.

Best Liquid Eyeliner: Starlooks Pro Luxe Longwear Eyeliner Pen
After I finished my e.l.f. liquid liner at the beginning of this year, I held off on buying a new one so I could experiment with other liners in my collection. This Starlooks liner was the first pen I ever tried, and I really like it. Not only is it the blackest liner I own, but it also stays on all day. My only qualm is that removing it is kind of a mess. It comes off in little clumps when I run my eye makeup remover over it. It does last all day though, so I'll take the trade-off.

Best Mascara: Lancome Hypnose Star Mascara in 01 Noir Midnight
I go through mascara pretty regularly, so I've been able to try out a number of brands and formulas. This Lancome one is fantastic for creating length and volume. Although it isn't the blackest black, it does have that thick, lasting formula that I love. I never have to worry about my mascara flaking when I wear this.

Best Lip Gloss: Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Blush
Prior to discovering this lip gloss, I was firmly a lipstick girl. Laura Mercier has me rethinking things! This gloss goes on so smoothly and delivers an impressive color payoff. Plus, it smells remarkably like vanilla cupcakes. Talk about yum.

Best Lipstick: Hikari Lipstick in Cabernet
Another Ipsy find! I was in love with this lipstick at first swipe. The color works well year round, although I think it is particularly suited to fall and winter. This is also one of the only lipsticks I own that doesn't require a lip liner. It lasts an absurdly long time too.

Best Lip Liner: Clinique Quickliner for Lips in 35 Rich Red
Clinique wins the lip liner battle for its retractable pencil design alone. I love that I always have a defined point to draw with. As for the color, it is the perfect base for all my red lipsticks. It even keeps my red Laura Mercier lipstick, which loves to spread all over my face, in place!

Best Perfume: Kim Kardashian Gold
Don't knock it until you try it! I may not watch the Kardashians on TV, but I love this perfume. In fact, this is my second bottle! The scent is very tropical, with vanilla, citrus, and spicy undertones. It works just as well in the summer as it does in the winter.

Those are my 2015 faves! Have you tried any of these? Do you know any similar products that you would recommend? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Sabrina

milan at christmastime.

It's not the Rockefeller Center tree, but it still looks pretty nice!

The Duomo looks magnificent, as always.

One of the many food stands that caught my eye.

I thought my ciambella alla crema would taste much better than it actually did.

La Rinascente went all out on their holiday display!

Prosciutto pizza dinner at Spontini.

All in all, another fun visit to Milano!

After my first stint in Italy, I thought that Rome was my favorite Italian city. Recently, however, Milan has been growing on me. I went there at the beginning of December to check out the Christmas tree and the holiday market and was impressed by just how magical the city looked. For me, the best part of the night was when the fog began to descend upon the Duomo and make the piazza look like a winter wonderland.

I also loved strolling around the holiday market and taking a look at the cute gifts that were for sale. While I didn't buy any presents, I did get a ciambella alla crema, or a cream-filled donut, and a cheese pretzel. Although the donut was unfortunately very dry, the warm cheese pretzel was the perfect treat for a chilly evening. I wrapped things up with a slice of pizza from the famous Spontini. If you're ever in Milan, make sure to order a slice! I went for prosciutto this time, but the Margherita looked equally delicious.

xoxo

Sabrina

P.S. Have you seen my travel articles on The Holiday Girl? Check them out here!