Not the Bride but Still Blushing

Today I have my stepsister's bridal shower at a restaurant downtown. Usually I am the queen of procrastination except for when it comes to picking out outfits.

I love going through my closet days in advance and finding items I forgot I had. It makes wearing them even more exciting! 


However, after being in New Jersey for the past couple of days I completely lost track of time and didn't pick out an outfit for Ashley's bridal shower till (horror) the day before!!!!


Luckily, after a mild panic attack (very mild) my sister and stepmom came in and choose the perfect outfit, that I completely forgot I owned! 

Sorry for using photobooth...I'm new at this.

Dress: Urban Outfitters. Cardigan: Target ("borrowed" from mom). Wedges: DSW. Bag: Melie Bianco. Necklace: Marc by Marc Jacobs wish bone, Fendi id tag, and Keychain from Florence (all bought in Italy). Watch: Michael Kors. Bracelet: Marc by Marc Jacobs (birthday gift from best friends)


Very happy to report that I love this outfit! Always so exciting when you go from panic and hating everything to loving everything!

Have you ever had an outfit panic attack? What about? What would you wear to a bridal shower?  

First Fad Friday!

Fridays equal Fad day at Kiss to Send Us Off. 

This means that every Friday I will be discussing a new clothing, accessory, etc trend! Yay trends!!

So for the very first Fad Friday lets talk about Jumpsuits

Lovely, fun new trend or gas station attendant?

Now when I think of jumpsuits (and I mean pants with a top attached..not rompers) I usually picture the old man with a beer belly named Bob working at the local Exon station...

Although he does look absolutely adorable. It isn't exactly the look I'm going for on a night out on the town. While in Italy this summer I noticed a lot of women rocking the denim jumpsuits around town. Although I couldn't help but think they looked ridiculous these women had a confidence about them that made me think twice. They not only looked trendy and cute but comfortable! What a concept!

Lately, jumpsuits have been popping up everywhere. Especially on celebrities out on the town in the heat of summer. Even though the summer is ending I am fully prepared to buy my first jumpsuit and bring this trend into the New England fall.

So here we go....splurge or save? These are the jumpsuits I can see myself rocking to the bars this fall.

1. Young, Fabulous and Broke Strapless Denim Jumpsuit- $163.99

or

2. Forever 21 Halter Jumpsuit - $24.80

I like them both a lot but I can't make up my mind! I don't want anything too in your face. I believe if your going to wear so much fabric it should be a solid color that you can play up with a lot of fun accessories.

So here I go...which one do you think I should pick? Be honest! 

Also, what do you think of the jumpsuit trend? Do you think you could rock one or not for you?

The Garden State

Well I'm off to New Jersey in the morning to hang with some of my favorite people ever! Couldn't be more excited!

Freshmen year <3 Love them

I think everyone has a different idea of what is most important staples to have when traveling. After spending a month in Italy followed by 10 days of traveling around with my madre, I have learned that a sacrificing packing less might actually be a better idea. My arm might as well have fallen off from pulling that suitcase around the European train stations. So I have decided to pick some travel essential pieces.

Oh if only I could be like the flawless girls at Wildfox and pack these beautiful clothes!

<3

1.  A good pair of jean shorts- obviously in warm weather preferably...but one good pair can go a very long way with almost any kind of top.

2.  Night to daytime tops- when traveling you never know where the day could take you so it is always important to have tops that can be appropriate for daytime and night time. That way if you don't have time to run back to your room you can go from exploring the town all day to a long dinner that night without feeling inappropriately dressed.

3. Comfortable shoes- this could mean comfy heels (wedges are the best), sandals that you know won't give you blisters, or even some cool sneakers (like these awesome nikes!)

 4. One high-waisted skirt- even if you don't love the look of a high waisted skirt, they can still be an important staple piece. You can wear them with a tank top, v neck, blouse etc tucked in or not! Doesn't matter! These skirts work with everything. Perfect for traveling/busy days!

and finally...

5. One stylish sweater-as we all know you can never get a perfect weather prediction when traveling. Therefore, a good sweater is a very important travel staple. Make sure its something not too big so you can carry it in your bag for when it gets suddenly cold or overcast whereever you are and throw it on. Also something that will go with almost any outfit. A neutral colored comfy sweater is a very important piece of clothing every girl should own! 

And there you have it! The 5 most important pieces to travel with! Hope this helps anyone who struggles with over packing. Trust me, coming from someone who openly admits to being a very bad over packer....just call me Kimora Lee Simmons with her 15 Louis Vuitton suitcases...

that giant green monster and that blue stripped bag aren't even enough for me...

Curves in all the right places

In my free time since Italy I have discovered some very interesting tv shows. One (fortunately only watched it once and won't be watching it again) is a show on Style called Big Rich Texas. 

One of the lovely ladies on the show wanted to go back to being a model like she was when she was 18-26. She was now in her 40s. She met with an agent who proccedded to tell her that at a size 4 (4!!!) she was considered a plus size model. 

In case your as shocked as I am let me say it again, size 4 = PLUS SIZE MODEL!

Whitney Cycle ten winner of America's Next Top Model and PLUS SIZE MODEL?

 
Now as a girl who has struggled with her weight her entire life this did not make me happy...to say the least. I have spent the last two years working my a** off to be a better me. Let me tell you I feel great! Working out and eating better really does help out with confidence etc. However, I am doing it for me. Not for what the general public says is the right size.

I am naturally very curvy. I have big boobs, big hips, a curvy stomach and long legs. For the first time in my life I am not afraid of my curves. 

So I am dedicating today's post to my favorite curvy women!

1) Christina Hendricks- who doesn't look at this women and think beautiful?? 

2) Sofia Vergara- I absolutely love her, especially now that I've started watching Modern Family. On top of her amazing curves and confidence she has a great sense of humor!

  3) Beyonce- I'm not a huge fan of her music but her confidence and "women can do anything" attitude is pretty awesome. Not to mention her curves kick all those size 0 girls butts!

4) finally I want to praise Italian and Australian Vogue for recently putting "plus size" models in their magazines! These women look gorgeous and curvy!

Basically, I am sick of seeing these stick skinny girls representing the clothes being sold to me. I am not a stick by any means and I will never be a size 2...but I'm ok with that. 
I'm waiting for the day I can flip through a magazine and see girls of average size representing the fashion I admire so much. 

Here's to hoping....

A good book on your shelf is a friend that turns its back on you and remains a friend. ~Author Unknown

In hopes that I actually keep this blog up to date the way I want to I've decided to dedicate one quote that I like to each post. I do not necessarily follow/believe what every quotes says. Some I might just think are funny but either way I'm going to do it. Onto my post for the day!

This past weekend the entire family (and I mean all 10 of us...) ventured to our house in Dewey Beach to celebrate my dad's birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!).

With a family as big as mine it is really overwhelming to have weekend trips such as this one. As much as sometimes I dread them because of the inevitable disagreements and moments of tension I am so happy to be here with them. They really know how to bring me down to earth and remind me whats most important in life.

my sister Amanda, me and My dad at my homecoming senior year

For my beach reading this year I'm trying to be a more "mature" reader. Take that whatever way you want but in my eyes that means books where the characters are not still in high school and the plot revolves around whether or not they get asked to prom....

At 21 years old I figure its time to educate myself and read books that will actually make me think, not melt my brain cells.
So I got a kindle! :)



My book list so far consists of:

1) Dork Whore by Iris Bahr

2) Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner

3) Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard

4) If you have to cry go outside by Kelly Cutrone

5) Bossypants by Tina Fey

6) The Help by Kathryn Stockett

...so far so good I think! I finished up Dork Whore and Certain Girls within the week (what happens when you have too much time on your hands) and I have now moved onto If you have to cry go outside by Kelly Cutrone. Any girl who isn't sure what she wants to do or how to get there I highly suggest this book. For those of you who didn't spend high school viewing Ms. Cutrone kicking butt on The Hills then you should know...shes tough...

This book is like getting a kick in the rear end from your future boss who loves you and wants whats best for you but isn't afraid to tell you you're stupid and get out of her office. I LOVEEE her!


I think there is nothing better then a book that makes you think. This book has the wheels turning for me. Everytime I pick it up I know I'm going to learn something new and I'm actually excited about it! Once again, highly suggested!

Are there any books that really make you think? Any books you would suggest for my more "mature" reading?

Might have taken that vacation a bit too seriously

As a newbie in the blogger world, I really shouldn't be taking breaks as long as 10 days...but I was on vacation and spending 9 euros (!) on internet seemed a little bit ridiculous.

But I'm BACK and ready to get this thing kicking again!

The last 10 days were spent actually discovering Italy for what most people know it for. Me, Kristina, my mom, her boyfriend Tim and my sister Amanda traveled to Positano, Florence, Milan and CinqueTerre.



All of them absolutely gorgeous but very different from one another.
I am forever grateful to my mom for giving me the amazing opportunity to see other parts of Italy after already being there for a month. This study abroad trip would have been a complete bust without her.

What did the last 10 days consist of? Let me sum it up for you? (otherwise this blog would be the longest in history)

train strike, private cars, curvy cliffs, amazing sea bass, stray dogs that my mom feeds one too many biscuits, gelato, gelato, gelato, gloomy weather, tourist zip-ups even though we swore we wouldn't be caught dead in them, lemons everywhere, hiking, creepy guys trying to sell leather jackets, buying leather jackets, buying one-to-many string bracelets, searching for the perfect rings and finding them, not getting stared at everywhere we go, Italian train stations, scary homeless men, I <3 milano/firenze/ positano shirts, hotel busboys, heated towel racks that you don't know are heated till you burn yourself on it, amazing views, of lifeguards at the pool..., some tense moments with the fam (one too many days together can do that) and finally plenty of laughs with my best friend, who most definitely kept me sane this vacation (thank you a million Kristina, I couldn't have done it without you)




Although Kristina and I loved every minute of our 10-day vacation with my mom, we were definitely ready to come home.
Some things we missed desperately:
1) dunkin donuts iced coffee with actual ice cubes in it
2) beds that aren't twin beds
3) real laundry machines, not buckets in our friends sink and a basin...
4) english speaking waiters and waitresses
5) breakfast that doesn't involve every pastry ever created
and finally 6) restaurants that serve food other than Italian food

This may me sound ungrateful but I promise you I couldn't be happier that I got to experience such an amazing month in Italy. I will never forget any of the people I met or the places I went.



Now onto transitioning back into life at home.

I am still feeling pretty jetlagged...hence why it took me 4 days to actually sit down and blog this. Kristina and I spent our first 48 hours back in the U.S. doing/eatng (mostly eating) everything we had truly missed while overseas.
This includes:



1) Dunkin donuts breakfast sandwiches and iced coffee (felt like every morning at URI)
2) watching all the episodes of Pretty Little Liars we had missed
3) CALIFORNIA TORTILLA BURRITOS! (I, proudly, introduced Kristina to the bbq chicken ranch burrito at Cal-tor. May not be the best thing to eat after feeling like a thousands lbs of pasta are just chilling in your stomach but when your craving mexican for a month..you get it!)
4) Real housewives of New Jersey (not ashamed of my love of this crazy jersey women)
5) visited my sister Jodi with her puppy Teddy (isn't actually a puppy at all considering he could take me down if he wanted to)
6) fish dinner with my stepmom and dad (homemade meal!)
7) more dunkin the next morning (helps with jetlag, I swear)
8) bagels with flavored cream cheese (YUM YUM YUMMMM)
9) sweetgreen salads (finally having salads that have all the toppings we want)
then Kristina and I had to part for the first time in over a month :( but don't you fret its only for about 12 days then I head to Jersey to go to Seaside with her and some other biddies from URI :)

I love being home but the part of summer I'm really excited for is getting ready to go back to school and move into our house in Bonnet! I need to be back in the land of Charlie O's, Tidal waves, Iggys clam chowder, and my wonderful beautiful Rampack girls <3


well that was a lot of listing for one blog post...can you tell I'm too tired to function?
time for me to go back to sleep....

Winding Down

**I apologize for the change in font...blogger is being difficult lately so bare with me for now**

It is officially my last day in San Demetrio Corone before Kristina and I head to Positano to meet up with my family.
Last night a family in town threw a festa for us with a dj, too much food and some odd fashion choices...

I couldn't be happier to have one last night here to drink and party with the locals. They have been nothing but amazing (with some exceptions) and I will never forget them.

Obviously I've spent most of this blog talking about how lucky I am that I ended up on a program with some of the most amazing people I've ever met but here I go again...I just can't help it. I love them...

Last night over some beers by a gorgeous pool in the mountains of Italy my friends, Gabby, Tali and I decided that without the people in this group this trip wouldn't have been nearly as amazing. Don't get me wrong...we're in Italy so we can't complain but there were definitely some aspects of this trip that would have been awful if it weren't for the people around us.
We couldn't be more different from one another but somehow we all click.

We talk everyday about how we are going to see each other all the time at school and I really really hope it isn't just talk....because I don't know if I can live without these people now that we found eachother.

To the other people in the 2011 Calabria program, thank you from the bottom of my heart for making this trip absolutely amazing. You've made me laugh, think and become a better person. I'm expecting drinks, bbqs and lazy days together back at URI...no excuses...you're stuck with me forever <3