Blog Spotlight: Posing with Friends

A pose "Posing with Friends" would imitate? Probably.

London, 2007

I don't know about you, but when I travel I enjoy watching other tourists. The differences in cultures becomes apparent when viewing others in a new environments. I found this blog through a friend and found it pretty entertaining. I wish I had come up with this idea when I traveled abroad in college! If you need a laugh, take a look. Even if you don't need a laugh, still look!

Posing with Friends

Past Trips: Hilton Head Island

Harbor Town, Hilton Head Island

Over Labor Day weekend 2010, I was able to take a trip to Hilton Head Island for a reunion with two of my roommates from college. It was such a great trip because we hadn't all seen each other in over 8 months. We basically spent our time at the beach, eating good food, drinking margaritas, and joking around. It was such a great long weekend and it just goes to prove that you don't need to take a two-week long trip to a foreign country to enjoy traveling. I'm hoping we can all have a reunion again this year - maybe to somewhere other than Hilton Head Island but still nearby!

The Cut: Kate Middleton

November 16, 2010 - Announcing Engagement - Issa London dress

February 24, 2011 - Launching a lifeboat in Angelsey, Wales

I can't avoid a Kate Middleton post for much longer, so I figured I'd go ahead and do it. I must admit, I'm pretty excited about the upcoming wedding (most likely the wedding of the century)! And as a Historic Costume and Culture student,  I love following what Kate Middleton has been wearing and seeing the effect on society as a whole. From what I understand, the anticipation for the royal wedding is just as big in the US as it is in the UK. I'm a little upset that they decided to have the wedding in April when I won't be there (how dare they.), but at least I'll be there to experience some of the aftermath.

From her now-iconic navy blue Issa London engagement dress to her intriguing fascinators (hats), Kate Middleton has changed British royal style. She's a part of a new crop of young royals who are embracing fashion and the slightly more affordable styles of UK brands like Reiss (white dress worn for official engagement photographs). She's already won over big name designers like Karl Lagerfeld and Valentino, but she seems to be staying true to the British contemporary clothing scene. Only time will tell how big of a fashion star she'll become.

I came across this article on The Cut (the New York Times Fashion Blog) that discusses Kate Middleton's style and has an accompanying slideshow of her previous looks. If you want to keep up-to-date with her style, take a look. I think she'll be a trend-setter and style icon for years to come so it should be interesting to follow her along the years!

The Kate Middleton Look Book

Book Review: The Happiness Project

Siena, 2008

As I've said before, I love to read. And when I travel, I love to read even more. I've been trying to compile my reading list for my trip this summer, as I always do before I travel, but I just couldn't wait to read this book. I've been seeing this book for months and once it came out in paperback I grabbed it. 'The Happiness Project' by Gretchen Rubin is a year-long experiment to increase the author's own happiness. I'd heard so many good things about this book that I was excited to start reading it. The basic premise of the book is that you create and maintain your own happiness. The book offered various ways to increase your own happiness - trying something new, focusing on activities you enjoy, or being nicer/more understanding of others. The book was a great, easy read and I would definitely recommend it to others. I think it would've been great on a trip because it encourages appreciating what you're doing in the here and now and appreciating your surroundings. Check out the authors website below and pick up a copy if you're interested!

The Happiness Project

lululemon: we see london

The London Eye

Lululemon is an athletic brand of clothing and I came across them through my sister who is a personal trainer. I LOVE their products and I cannot wait to visit their store again! Through following them on Twitter, I came across this blog post regarding London. Have a read and enjoy their suggestions if you ever get the chance to visit, I know I will!

we see london

Travel Partners

Florence, 2008

When thinking about what to post today, I couldn't come up with anything I was excited about. That was until this morning, when I woke up and called my Dad to say "Happy Birthday!" Then it clicked. I love my Dad (and Mom!) a lot...it's hard to say just how much. I have very happy memories from all years of my life, and some memories that come to mind immediately involve traveling together. Over the years, my family has usually taken a summer holiday to the beach, always to Hilton Head Island and we've been lucky enough to travel to Bermuda and Ireland together. When I studied abroad in college, my parents came to visit me for about a one-week period in both London and Verona. I loved traveling with my parents - they're easy going and like to see the sights. I hope that I'll have more opportunities to travel with my Mom and Dad in the future! Today my Dad is headed to St. Simon's Island for a golf trip for his birthday - so I hope his trip is amazing! Happy Birthday Dad! I love you!

In the future I'll be writing more about people I love to travel with - so pay attention, you might just show up!

Finished Product

Ok. So pizza dough and I are not quite friends yet. Where did things go wrong? I'm not quite sure how to answer that. I bought it fresh today, set it out so it would be easier to work with rather than when it is cold (that's what you're supposed to do, right?). So I come home to cook dinner, thinking 'Psh, this will be easy!' Just kidding. While it was easier than in the past, I still had trouble forming the dough into a shape that resembled a circle. Thus the picture of slices. But in the end, it was pretty tasty! On my second try, I think I'll add more pesto but other than that no changes to the ingredients. My dough-forming skills however, need some improvement. Any tips?

White Pizza with Tomato and Basil

One of the ways I stay connected with cities I've visited that I loved is through food. I've been picking up 'Cooking Light' whenever there's a new issue because the recipes are usually pretty easy and tasty! Tonight I'm trying 'White Pizza with Tomato and Basil' from the March 2011 issue. I'll be sure to post a picture once the pizza is finished (as long as I'm not ashamed of it...)! Here's the recipe:

1 (10 ounce) Italian cheese-flavored thin pizza crust (here I'm using pizza dough from the deli section of my local grocery store - usually I would use whole wheat but they were all out!)
1 teaspoon cornmeal
Cooking Spray
3 tablespoons refrigerated pesto with basil
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded fresh mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1/2 cup sliced small tomatoes (I picked up cherry tomatoes)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup small basil leaves
Crushed red pepper (optional)

1. Preheat broiler to high
2. Place a baking sheet in oven; heat for 10 minutes
3. While baking sheet heats, place crust on another baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal. Lightly coat crust with cooking spray. Spread pesto evenly over crust, leaving 1-inch border; sprinkle mozzarella evenly over pesto. Dollop ricotta, by teaspoonfuls, evenly over mozzarella. Slide crust onto preheated baking sheet, using spatula as a guide. Broil 5 inches from heat for 5 minutes or until cheese begins to melt. Remove from oven; top evenly with tomatoes, black pepper, and basil. Sprinkle with red pepper, if desired. Cut into 8 slices.

Now, I don't have a broiler so this poses a problem. I'm thinking I'll simply add all the ingredients on to the crust and cook in the oven at 450 for 10-15 minutes. I'll post later tonight with how this turns out!

Grand Canal, Venice, Italy

Piazza Bra, Verona, Italy

After spending two and a half months in Verona, Italy on a study abroad program during college, I now have an eternal love for all things Italian: food, fashion, wine, language, and art! I've always loved Italian food but it's been further emphasized since my trip to the beautiful country. I love exploring cultures through food and I plan to continue this experiment in the future!

Ultimate Wish List: The iPad

Bahamas - 2008

Whether you're traveling by boat, train, plane or car, one of the biggest hurdles is 'what do I pack?' There are plenty of items out there to make this question easier to answer. From a good carry-on bag (which I'm still looking for...) to easy-to-use electronics, innovation in the travel industry is abundant. Throughout this blog, I'll be posting various items that I'd LIKE to have for my trip. These are often things I can't afford to buy but I feel would make traveling much easier. Some of the items I will have had the chance to try out, but not all them.
For me, on the most cumbersome parts of traveling is lugging my computer around. I have upgraded from a heavy computer, which I took on my last two long-term trips, to a lighter computer so hopefully this will make a difference. But of course, I'm interested in the iPad. Who isn't? The features of the iPad seem to scream "take me with you! I'll make your life easier!" Having played with the new iPad in the Apple store, I found it easy-to-use. Not only is the gadget pretty, but it's also realistic. With access to the internet, the ability to download all my books into one place, access to music, movies, photos, etc., the iPad seems like the ultimate in travel technology. And with the attachable keyboards that are available, blogging and emailing would be easy as pie. My only concern would be the ability (or inability) to Skype. This is a feature I haven't inquired about so I don't know the answer, but if I'm able to Skype via iPad...sign me up!

Apple iPad

I think the main feature that draws my attention is the Bookstore. When I travel, I always bring 4-5 books with me. I see traveling as a time to experience new cultures while also relaxing and enjoying life. I love to read so books are essential for my trip. The only downside to bringing books with me is the space they take up in my luggage. To be able to combine my books into a lightweight, simple gadget that also enables internet access is a dream come true. Once I get that Skype question answered, I may be saving up for a big purchase!

Things To Do #1: Yohji Yamamoto at the V&A

This summer, I'll be interning for the 2nd time at the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington in the Fashion, Textiles and Furniture Department. I'll also be conducting interviews for my thesis while at the V&A! I'm more than thrilled that I'll be able to spend a few weeks at the V&A with some of the nicest people. From March 11 - July 10, the V&A is exhibiting 'Yohji Yamamoto,' an exhibit celebrating the work of the famed Japanese designer. I've been following the curator's blog throughout the planning process and I cannot wait to see the exhibit in person.

V&A Yamamoto Blog

I've seen a few pictures of the exhibit through the V&A website, but there is nothing better than seeing an exhibit in person. And according to the NY Times article 'Feeling the Flow of Yamamoto,' visitors will be able to touch the garments on display, as only one dress is behind glass. The ability to touch a piece of clothing on display is rather innovative and rarely implemented - I cannot wait to experience this aspect of the exhibit! 

NY Times Yamamoto Article

Along with the Yamamoto exhibit, I'll be able to spend a good amount of time exploring the various galleries of the V&A. On my last visit to London, I saw the opening of the jewelry gallery, which houses beautiful creations from all over the world. Also on display this summer, the 'Future Fashion Now' exhibits new designs from the Royal College of Art, and 'David Watkins - Artist in Jewellery, a Retrospective View (1972 - 2010).'  With all these gorgeous items on display, I'm sure I'll find inspiration by exploring the museum, as well as through my work there.

P.S. the 'Things To Do' posts will be a continuous process where I write about what I'd like to do this summer in London. Once there, I'll update the blog with what I've done and hopefully I'll be able to cross everything off my list! Suggestions on interesting things to do/see are more than welcome!

You've Got to Love

You've Got to Love London

It's hard to pinpoint why I love London so much. A few months ago, I stumbled across a time lapse video that was put together from over 7,000 pictures taken during a study abroad trip. I'm not this talented so it's fun to see someone else's view of London and how much it coincides with mine. I think the reason I love this video, and London itself, is the energy of the city. From sunrise to sunset, and well beyond, the city is literally alive with energy in all areas. I've been lucky to live in central London each time I've visited, so the energy is palpable. If you've never been to London, or even if you have, I hope you'll enjoy the video and get a sense for the city, or be reminded of it.

The Beginning

In preparation for my trip this summer to London, I wanted to start a blog. I've tried before to start a blog but I've never felt like I had anything interesting to say. Hopefully this won't be true this time around! With this blog, I'll try to discuss all things travel: packing, planning, books, planes, friends, etc. Some posts may seem random, but I'll try to connect them back to traveling! I hope it's interesting for y'all to follow along in my adventures because traveling is a passion of mine that I've been lucky enough to pursue and hope to continue in the future. Thanks for reading!