I was incredibly good at filling you in
on my every breath and toe tap while in Italia, but the moment I got home, I
left this blog to get a thin line of dust on it from two weeks of no posting.
To sum up the last two weeks, I have been overwhelmed with happiness of being
home. Italy feels like it happened forever ago and was even possibly a dream. The
day after I got home, I was surprised when all my friends slowly showed up to
my doorstep because my sister had invited them to welcome me home. I couldn’t
stop smiling and was overwhelmed with excitement that I got to see all the
people I missed most. The holiday weekend came fast and I was spoiled to death
with gifts, compliments, and welcome home hugs. And now it is time to bid
farewell to 2011, a year of many firsts.
In 2011 I gained confidence, faced my
fears, made big decisions, stepped on some large stones, and ate really good
food.
·My
year started off with one of the biggest job positions I have ever acquired. I
was the official photographer for the FIS Freestyle Skiing World Championships
up at Deer Valley and Park City Mountain Resort.
·I
produced the 49th year of East High School’s Take Five.
·I
turned eighteen.
·Gabrielle
and I saw Miniature Tigers and Desert Noises in concert. One of my favorite
shows I have ever been to.
·I
graduated from high school.
·I
went to Europe for the first time with my family for three weeks.
·I
underwent my first surgery, which included going under amnesia, getting my
first iv in, and my first urine test where they told me I wasn’t pregnant.
·I
traveled completely on my own to another country.
·I
survived my first semester of college.
·I
lived completely on my own.
It was a great year. Thank you 2011! Here
is to 2012, may it be just as fabulous.
As a final note, audnotodd.blogspot.com
will no longer be the url for this blog. Starting January 5th,
Verbaledudette will be at www.verbaledudette.blogspot.com. This change wont be
for five days, but be prepared for the change. I do not want to loose anyone on
to the way. : ) If you ever get confused, remember you can find Verbaledudette’s
page on Facebook.
Is there an award for blogging in the most places? If so, I
am winning because friends, this is being posted from Washington D.C. as I wait
for my last flight towards Salt Lake City. I have been up since three a.m.
Florence time. I do not know what that equates to for America, but it has been
one hell of a day for me. All I have to say is that the first flight, the girl
next to me snored and her head rocked back and forth, the second flight the guy
fell asleep and put his hand on my knee. Do not worry, I through that thing off
fast! He also would interrupt my movie to ask me questions like “do you believe
in horoscopes?” I said “yeah sure” and of course that means he has to follow it
up with “when did you start your studying of horoscopes?” I wanted to say “the
moment they started getting emailed to me daily by Yahoo! Mail.” There are some
weird people out there and I was stuck next to the Turkish one for nine hours.
Italy kind of feels like a dream. I do not want to compare
it to a movie with oversized Smurfs, but I feel like an Avatar. Italy was a
dream life and now I am coming out of it with vague memories. Those four months
went by so fast. It is scary to be back, but I am so excited to see my family.
Today is the last day for Verbaledudette’s Gift Guide. I
hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have. I really have loved seeing how
expensive all these cool things are and dreaming that I lived in a world where
I could pay thousands for an action figure set of the Beastie Boys. Final Gift
is: The Beatles Magnetic Hair Game
I figured I should finish off with something silly and
simple. I have no reasons why you should get this other than.. look at it.. it
is the Beatles and you get to design their bowl cuts!
I really have to go! Almost flight time! See you soon Salt
Lake City!
I sit in my hotel room on the left side of the bed. It is
quiet, except for the occasional Asian tourist laughing in the room next to
mine. Against the wall are four bags (two checked, two carry on… I know you
were worried Father) all packed and eagerly awaiting tomorrow for they get to
get tossed around and lugged without love from airplane to airplane. My travel
outfit is set out by the mirror. It includes a lot of black and two mismatching
toe socks. My hair is braided tightly in a fishtail braid and my nails are
painted with all that was left in the nail polish jars. I am ready to go home.
Italy has been an amazing experience and I know I have said
this time and time again, but I am incredibly lucky to have been able to live
in such an amazing city. I met amazing people, including my talented professors,
sweet overflowing with creativity Melania, quirky yet smart Charles, and my
dear roommates Joanna and Rachel. I have laughed hard, learned so much,
traveled on my own, and gained confidence in myself.
You know how I love my lists, here are a few memories:
·Charles picking me up at the airport with no
enthusiasm and whispering in taxi
·Linda talking about “muskles” and “cazzels”
·Phase ten/Uno rounds for hours wherever Joanna
and I could find a place to deal them out
·Playing old maid with jumpy stoned guys on the
steps of Santa Croce
·Going to Castiglione del Lago on the wrong train
·Joanna slithering off the chair to get me to
take her shoes off
·Colorado
·Rachel’s computer and our confusion on why she
could not type
·The little party where boys and cigarettes just
kept walking through the door
·Carrot juice and how I always seemed to have it
in my hands when the scariest part of the movie comes on
·Being called homeless by the lady at the front
desk who thinks that after I leave this hotel I am going to go live under the
Ponte Vecchio
I could go on for hours but I think that is enough for now.
All I am saying is I had an amazing time. : )
Tomorrow at 6:35 a.m. I will be on my way home. See you in twenty-three
hours Salt Lake City.
Verbaledudette’s Gift Guide Number Nineteen: Palomar’s
Crumpled City Maps
From someone who is terrible with direction, I think this is
a fun way to hint to whomever you are giving this gift to are directionally
challenged. This gift is creative, fun, unique, and can be used as a blanket if
you get cold while you are lost.
Where to find this: http://www.palomarweb.com/web/prodotti/crumpled-city
Price: About $10.00
And if any of you do not know what to get me, here is a
little last minute gift that will make me love you forever if you get it for
me:
I am exhausted despite sleeping in until eleven o clock this
morning. I spent the entire day running around the city, just because I can. It
was quite chilly today.Although
the sun was out, the clouds covered it’s heat. The wind blew any warmth that
may have been there away, following the heavy flow of the Arno River. Thank
goodness I had those cute mittens to keep my fingers from falling off like my
nose nearly did.
Like promised I took a few photographs of the golfing off
the bridge set up. They are not very good, but hey, it was hard to capture such
an abstract sporting event.
I also stumbled upon some other interesting street artists.
Yes, this man is real. Yes, he is covered in paint and doesn’t move for thirty minutes. Yes, it is creepy. No, I did not push him over.
The silliest thing I saw today was this puppet show. It was these two men that looked like they loved life to much (not a bad thing) and were making everyone smile. (I uploaded the video on YouTube so I apologize to those who get this emailed to you, but you wont see it in your email. BUT please check it out. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXITxmUyZpQ )
Tomorrow is my last day in Florence. What a journey this has
been. I have no regrets and have enjoyed this experience more than anything. I
am truly lucky and thankful to have this opportunity.
I am going to end with Verbaledudette’s Gift Guide Item
Number Eighteen: Natwerks Mounting Sauces. (I think I may have called last
nights number eighteen but that is a lie. See.. I check my numbers by looking
at the date and when I wrote last nights, it was really this morning, so two
posts both written on the 18th. I know it is not important. I just
needed to explain my faults.)
These are fun for the whole family. What more would Dad want
than to put ketchup on his hamburger like a working tool from his tool box you
got him last year? Also Ladies, you know how you want your man to fill in the
cracks in the tiles in the shower, let him practice with this first! He will be
pro when he finally picks up your hint that the shower needs finishing touches.
Where to find this: http://www.natwerk.nl/natwerk-specialties/montage-sauzen
My Firenze journey has changed locations. Instead of writing this post
from the comfort of a yellow kitchen under a window that looks upon eerie
statues of children, I am sitting in the center of queen size bed looking out
the window where the sun settled against the dirty red tiled roof and flowers.
Hotel Bretagna feels like the Hilton of Italy. I checked in this morning and they
already knew who I was and were waiting to help carry my bags to my room (where
were they on the long treacherous walk to the hotel? Hee hee.) When I asked the
lady at the front desk what the best way was to ensure that I had a taxi
leaving the hotel at four a.m. on Tuesday morning she seemed very confused. I
asked if I should do it the night before and have it reserved. She told me just
to do it that morning. I looked at her with utter shock as my mouth uttered “You
mean someone will be at the front desk that early?” She looked at me like I was
speaking fluent German and said “of course, we are here twenty four seven.” I
really wanted to reply with a “ well excuse my confusion but every other
Italian hotel I have ever stayed in, the owner went to bed and doors were
locked until seven.” But instead I smiled sweetly and said perfeto, like a true Italian, if I may add.
(this is what I looked like when she told me that they are there all hours of night. the only difference was that I was by myself and I still had my shirt on)
My room is huge and welcoming. The bed sits in the frame of the
window, to the left a large desk and dresser with a full size mirror. (The full
sized mirror earns double points because every girl needs a full-length mirror
in order to complete getting ready.)
The bathroom is beautiful. It has fully convinced me that when I have
my own house I want a square sink. The shower looks like a space station and it
was out of this world talking a shower in it. Let me tell you what it’s all
about. It is a box. It has three showerheads. The first is your standard circle
detachable showerhead coming from the left corner. On the ceiling there is a
giant sunflower shaped showerhead. And then there is a bench, with three rows
of ten misters. You can turn each on one individually. Oh also, did I mention
that there is a special light that is dimmed and relaxing and it has an Italian
radio station built in? Well it does. I could live in it. This shower was worth
the entire trip over here. All I can say is thank goodness I do not have this
at home or at the apartment I spent the last four months in, because our water
bill would be on fire.
Now I know you are probably thinking “wow. This chick showed up to the
hotel at ten in the morning and spent the entire day in the shower” but I am here
to inform you that I did leave, not only the shower but also, the hotel. After
wiping the sweat off my brow from that extra large work out to hike over the
piazza’s to get to my hotel (but it was worth it,) I went out to explore the
town. Now my hotel is only a block away from the Ponte Vecchio (aka the most
amazing thing on earth,) so I did not have to walk far to find excitement. Now
I have not photographic proof of this event because it was too crowded to even
thinking of getting a shot of the action, but people were golfing off the
bridge. It wasn’t just a few old Italian men who had a few too much to drink.
No this was an actual planned, sponsored, announced, full on, golf tournament.
They were positioned on a platform on the edge of the bridge. Then out on the
river were large patches of floating grass boats with those little flags in the
hole. (My aunt Michael just had a heart attack about how badly I am describing
this golf set up. Please forgive me for butchering your sport Michael. I just
do not know the terms and flags in the hole pretty much sum it up for me.) They
would putt off of it and try to make it on these boats. It was the most
interesting thing. Hopefully I can get in there and document it tomorrow.
Since this was such a big deal, the city was crowded and alive. The
streets were busy with crazed Italian Christmas shoppers (much more elegant and
intense than those we have in Uh-Merica.)
Piazza Rubbuplica had Volvo booths set up and giant television screens. There
was even Santa. Oddly enough, no one wanted to sit on his lap and tell him what
he or she wanted for Christmas.
I also stumbled upon this group of adorable, incredibly talented,
elementary school children singing Christmas songs. It really put me into the
Christmas spirit and I watched them for about an hour.
(Please note the video may not be done processing. I just uploaded my first Youtube video after three failed attempts to upload the video in different formats right to the blog.)
I was the only “tourist” who stayed and watched. I kept getting odd
looks from the parents so I decided to adopt a kid and pretend she was my
sister. I would smile and clap after the instructor said something that I did
not understand. I think people started to believe it. The girl in the on the
second row, four people in, is my adoptive singing sister for an hour. She is
very animated and we look nothing a like.
The one thing that annoyed me about this concert was the parents and
their iPhones. Now I am one for the iPhone. I think they are great, classy,
everyone should have one. BUT there were text message dings going left and
right like they were trying to recreate the tune of jingle bells. These parents
could not just sit there and watch their kids (like I was doing,) they had to
play on their iPhones.
Speaking of iPhones, let’s talk about Verbaledudette’s Gift Guide
Number Eighteen: The Dokkiri Hand Case
Do not even ask where I found this. BUT
although it is creepy as hell, what a great gift. I just cannot express my
feelings about holding hands with your iphone. It will really create a bond to
your friend electronic.
Where to find: http://www.strapya-world.com/categories/6034_6035_6136.html
Price: I think $65.00’s
And then just for another phone excuse reasoning
here is the: Native Union Pop Phone Handset:
Classic. Simple. Retro. This is for the people
that you do not think will find the humor in the hand one. (If you are a buying
a gift for me you should know that I am not one for the hand one and secondly I
do not have an iPhone.)
Where to find this: http://www.nativeunion.com/us/popphone.html
Price: $29.90
Now back to my day.
The most exciting part of my day is when a fifty-euro bill literally
blew in my direction. I stepped on this piece of paper at my feet and goodness
gracious it was money. I was thrilled! How many times do you get to claim a
random fifty-euro bill as yours!? Never. Never. Never. Except this once. I
decided that with this little find I was going to treat myself to something
really nice.
I was walking through San
Lorenzo and I saw it: the cutest leather messenger bag. I walked over to the
woman, grey hair and a touch of crazy, and asked her how much it was. To my
surprise her English was flawless as she spoke, like a waterfall mind you, that
it was ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY EURO. I was crushed, but I knew I had to have it
and I had to have it for fifty euro. I turned on my Concrete Rodeo Swag Skills
(for you who do not know what this is, it is a little talent my father passed
to me. I walk into a skate shop and walk out with more product than he would
ever get. If I learned anything on the skate tour it is how to bargain (and how
to dry out sweaty skater money and take showers with only twenty five cents and
three minutes.) I talked to her about the quality of the bag, she told me how
it was made and showed me pictures of the artist’s wife. I told her my story. I
am student who is studying art for the past four months and was recently kicked
out of my apartment because the term end and now is spending the last three
days in a hotel alone because my best friend had flight complications. The last
part really got to her. She even called over her little assistant guy and told
him and he said “give her a discount mama, she is a pretty girl.” I wanted to
hug this boy. To bad he was way old and too short for me because after that
line and what it got me, we could have gotten married. She dropped the price to
fifty euro. In conclusion I got two hugs from people I had just met wishing me
happy holidays and a real, paten leather, sexy, red, hipster, Italian, messenger
bag, that some poor soul with a hole in his wallet bought for me.
Oh my life is a wonderful piece of art.
(Yes. I did just tie my life in to art in a cheesy line so i could show you this photograph i took of a spray can street artist that I found today. Worth all that extra cheese, eh?)
Now I am sitting in bed (like I mentioned earlier) and Italia’s
version of VH1, DeeJay, is having karaoke night on the television. They are
playing loads of random songs (ABBA to The Backstreet Boys, Amy Winehouse to
The Killers, Cold Play to songs from Grease the Musical) music videos, but with
the lyrics on the bottom of the screen. When the artist sings the lyrics, the
words change to orange. It is actually really great because the lyrics will
come up and I will have one of those “oh so that is what they actually say
there... hmm... that is much different than what I was saying” moments.
So I am sitting in a comfortable bed, in a beautiful city, at one o
clock on a Sunday morning singing to myself while writing this letter to you.
You should feel special for that.
Good morning to Europe, Good evening to my fans back home. :)
(Spell check just corrected my smiley face for me. I originally had
this : ) but then they told me this :) was grammatically correct.)
Welll well well, what a day this one has turned out to be.
First off I had my cinema final this morning. That went well, aced it with a
smile. I had to say goodbye to my parents of four months, Charles and Melania.
Then I had to say goodbye to Joanna, who I am going to miss dreadfully.
Finally, when I thought all was good, I got an email saying there was a mix up
in my best friend’s flight so she will not be able to come and spend my last
few days here in Florence.
Oh goodness.
Well, there are worst things in life. I did scope out my
hotel for the next few days and good gracious my Father scored the best one. It
is over looking the Arno and is a block away from the Ponte Vecchio. It
honestly could not get any better than that.
Tonight is my last night in the apartment. It is empty and
lost that home feeling. This makes it easier to move on I guess. Good times Mr.
Apartment. Good times.
Verbaledudette’s Gift of the Day: LeRoy Jenkin X Quintin’s
Hats:
I do not need to describe why these balla’ caps are the bee’s
knees. Look at that old fashioned “grandma’s curtains” fabric aligned on a
classic trucker hat. Beautiful and one of a kind.
Where to find: http://ljallday.bigcartel.com/
Price: $45.00
I am kind of depressed tonight. That’s why the post is a bit
on the lacking side.
The apartment has been officially packed up in suitcases. I finished mine
this afternoon. Two bags stuffed with dirty socks and memories. I cleaned the
kitchen today, meaning this post is being written with sunglasses on because
the room is sparkly and spit spot. My room is put back to how it used to be set
up and it is quite odd. I think this little change in beds is making it easier
to leave, because it does not feel like “my room” anymore.
Tomorrow is the last day of school. I have my cinema final and then I
am finished. We are going to have a roommate lunch, Charles is going to come
check the apartment, and then we are enjoying our last day. For me, I am lucky,
because my best friend Becca is coming and I get a few extra days to enjoy this
fabulous city.
Now, I have devastating news. The Verbaledudette Gift I was going to
show you are currently back ordered until after Christmas. BUT you can always
give the person a gift certificate that says it is coming in the mail for New
Years. Introducing: Brooklyn Brewery’s Beer Soap:
This is for every man you have ever met. What kind of guy doesn’t want
to lather up in his favorite after work beverage? And ladies, we all know those
boys are afraid of the soap, trick him into thinking that it is cool to use
soap in the shower because it is actually beer! It is a win win gift if you ask
me. You can even choose the flavors because it is made using a different Brooklyn Brewery style: Lager, Brown Ale, and Black
Chocolate Stout style beers.
Where to find this: http://store.brooklynbrewery.com/beer-soap
Price: $10.00
Have a wonderful Thursday my friends. Five
days left.
Slowly the apartment is packing itself into little bags and
suitcases. Books have been removed from our shelves and the refrigerator has an
empty glow. A sense of sadness, but excitement lingers in the air. We are ready
to go home, but now we question where home really is.I want to see my family more than anything. I want to live
in my house. But why is it so hard to leave paradise? I have to stop thinking
about it, because I know, one day, I will be back. It is a promise I am making
to myself right now. You are the first to witness it.
It rained today. I know talking about the weather is
something I cannot seem to let go, but really. It rained hard today. The last
week has been one day of rain, one day of pure sun, and so on. It is the
perfect balance.
I had my Italian Language Final today and I am expressing
good vibes on that one. It was so much easier than the test at midterm. Maybe I
actually learned some Italian. Fancy that.
Tomorrow is packing day. It is also clean the apartment so
it looks like how we first got it day. Both should not be too difficult. Just a
little depressing, you know?
Verbaledudette’s Gift Guide Item Number 14 is: Blik Wall Decals
Now I never had these (don’t worry mom, my life is not
ruined because of this) but my sister did. She had fairies or flowers or
something.But I think these are a
fun idea for any age, any room. This site has so many to choose from. Giant
stickers that go on your wall and peel off cleanly when you outgrow that
design, how cool this that? It is wallpaper for the creative and the A.D.D.
Where to find this: http://www.whatisblik.com/shop/explore
Price: Ranges based on detail and size of chosen design
Oh what Tuesday this one has turned out to be. First of let
me tell you that my hair looked fabulous today. At least I thought so. Last
night, I slept with my hair in a fishbone braid. When I took it out twelve
hours later I had the sexy beach hair every ocean lover wants. What a great day
to start my morning. The second eventful thing, after eating my yogurt, was
taking my Italian Art History Final. Five different print outs of pieces of art
were placed before me. For each one I had to identify and explain the piece, and
then there was a second question that had to do with the detail of either the
artist or the style of the piece. I feel like I did all right, but it was the best I could do,
so I am satisfied. (I also had my Photography Final Critique.. but that was a joke. Everyone loved my work. Actually everyone loved everyone's work. Charles just talked mostly. He does that often.)
Today in the streets of Firenze there were wild protests. I
do not know what these men were fighting about, but the city is on edge. There
were helicopters flying around (this is really rare) and I was surrounded by
men in uniform with bats, and helmets with face masks running to “designated
protest areas.” It was exciting. If I get any news on what exactly was going
down, I will inform you. Currently the rumor is something with a neighboring
African country…. But that has not be confirmed. Don’t worry mom, I am safe and
sound.
Isabella and Felix came over for dinner tonight. For those
of you who do not remember, they are my two friends from the break dancing
group. We had a delicious pasta dinner (surprised?) and then played a few
rounds of the card game Spoons and finished with a great game of Bullshit.
There were lots of laughs. I am going to miss those two.
We finished the night (when I say we, I mean Joanna and
Rachel and I) by watching the film The Truman Show. It is hard to explain. I
suggest you look it up. Watch it. Then watch it again. It was a mind blower.
Verbaledudette’s Gift Guide Item Number thirteen is: Something
that is off the market: The Parmesan Cheese Pencil Sharpener.
(Just so you know, before this I wanted to put a copy of
FUKT magazine on, but I could not find if you could purchase it! Is it an
online only thing? This gift thing is a disappointment. Look at this link http://www.fukt.de/
and tell me if you can find a price. Who knew trying to play Santa’s helper
could be so darn frustrating.) I give up. Listen folks, I have been collecting
cool things for the passed two months and the last few nights I have become
heart broken when the truth about these objects come out. I was thrilled to
find this product. A pencil that shaves off cheese is genius! I was excited to
show you this wonderful device. It’s unique, it’s classy, it’s fun, it’s artsy,
it sold out completely after the first two weeks of sale time and the Germans
are not making any more. What kind of world do we live in!?
Where to find it online so you can at least look at it: http://jazarah.net/meet-the-parmesan-cheese-pencils/
Price: Haha. Funny.
Let’s try this again. Today’s gift item from your favorite
blogger is: TOO EXPENSIVE FOR YOU but I have to show it to you anyway. It is
the Rocking Italian Scooter Deluxe.
I stumbled on this beauty a month ago and it was not until
tonight that I noticed, not only that it was a lot of moolah, but also it is
hand made from a guy that lives in Turin, Italia. How perfect is that? In his
little “about this” section, he claims that the one you receive may be a little
different because he makes the special for order. He may charge the big bucks,
but considering what the process must be, I would buy this. I would buy this,
but then not let my children get near it.
Where to find it: http://www.etsy.com/listing/41381029/rocking-italian-scooter-deluxe
Price: $2,300.00
Okay, here is a gift closer to your price range. (I am
guessing Bill Gates and other million dollar owners are not interested in my
ramble. I am guessing my audience is more normal.) Introducing the: ‘Stache
Labbit Plush
Do not ask me whata labbit is, but isn’t this the cutest hipster stuffed animal you have
ever laid eyes on? Your kids would love to find this in their stockings! Even
your boyfriend/girlfiend would love to get this while out on a romantic date
that you will do before anyone else cause your cool and that is the hipster way
to do things. Embrace the ‘stache my ‘sters.
Where to find this: http://www.kidrobot.com/Toys/PlushToys/stacheLabbitPlush7Inch.html
Price: $15.95
And while we are on the topic of mustaches… you might as
well consider getting these bad boys too. Perfect for those men, and women, in
your life who can’t grow fuzz beneath their nostrils. TA DA:The Sunstache
Again, I do not know why they call it that. But you cannot
resist these fabulous pair of shades. Get one for the whole family! Hey, even
old Grandpa Joe would like to grow a bushy mustache once again! It’s a hell of
a lot better than those ones with the fake nose because you do not have to
breathe in plastic and you look natural. . . ish.
Where to find: http://us.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?itemdescription=true&itemCount=80&startValue=1&selectedProductColor=&sortby=&id=23510506&parentid=SHOP_STOCKINGSTUFFERS&sortProperties=+subCategoryPosition,&navCount=0&navAction=jump&color=&pushId=SHOP_STOCKINGSTUFFERS&popId=GENERAL_CATEGORY&prepushId=&selectedProductSize=&cm_mmc=Social-_-FB-_-20111202-_-sunstache
Price: $8.00
And here is a crazy picture of me because I felt like there wasn't enough random on this post.
Tomorrow I have my Italian final. Wish me luck! Have a good night my friends. Stay classy.
P.S. Did you noticed I did not talk about the weather? You should be proud.
It rained hard all day today. The sky was dark and thick
drops poured down heavily. It was magical. I woke up to the sweet sound of the
water’s ping against the windowpanes. (Okay, I lied, I woke up to my neighbor
beating her children, but then I fell asleep and re-awoke to the surprising
sound of my alarm clock, then I hear the rain.) It was beautiful.
I truly do love the rain.
I have not felt good all day. I feel run down, my stomach
hurts, and I have a chill. Maybe I am unconsciously stressing myself out about
going home. I hope I feel better tomorrow.
Verbaleudette’s Gift Guide Item #12: The Under full
Tablecloth
I am an artist. I like to create designs and images out of
the things you least expect. This is why this tablecloth is so perfect. When
you spill ANYTHING on it, a pattern appears beneath. No need to cry over
spilled milk when butterflies appear under the stain! “The table cloth that
turns spilling into poetry.”
Where to find this: http://kristinebjaadal.wordpress.com/duk/
Price: YOU CANNOT BUY IT YET
So in he midst of writing this, I just discovered that those
wonderful tablecloths are not for sale. That is right, they are still in
production mode and cannot be purchased. What a joke!? I guess that means I owe
you another one. Hmm.. Let me see what I have in my Santa gift sack.
Introducing Verbaledudette’s Gift Guide THE REAL item #12: We
Are Handsome Swimsuits
Okay, so I know it is not swimsuit season, but you can
always plan ahead. Maybe fellas, you buy your gal a nice trip to some paradise
beach and get her this as a way to “break the news.” All I am saying is that
these suits are unique and to die for. Whoever you give this too, will be the
wildest thing on the sandy shores.
Where to find this: http://wearehandsome.com/
Price: I do not know, they are too classy to put prices
Hopefully that one is buyable. : ) Have a wonderful night.
This post had the potential to be a good post, but then Word
decided to take extra long on loading, a minute to be precise, so now I cannot
say that I started writing at exactly 11:11. Even though I am not starting at
11:13, I will try and redeem some points with what I am about to show and tell.
As you may, or may not, know, this is my final full week in
Firenze, Italia. Bittersweet feelings have begun to wound up inside me. I am
desperately excited to be home with my ever so sweet family, but I do not want
to leave all this magic behind. The rest of my stay is pretty much already
planned out. Here is my schedule:
Monday (tomorrow): In the morning, I need to skip my little
buns over to the photograph printing palace to get my final prints printed. (I
dare you to say that ten times fast.) I went on Friday, but for some reason my
thumb drive would not work in their system, so I am going back for round two.
After that, I have Italian Language class.
Tuesday: Bright and early at ten o clock I have my final
Italian Art History class. This is where I will take the final exam (wish me
luck) and say goodbye to the sweetest little teacher ever: Linda. I will miss
her dearly. Then, I have my photography final critique, which is a piece of
cake. Later that night, Felix and Isabella are coming over for dinner. It is so
hard to say goodbye!
Wednesday: I will take my final for Italian Language. I am
pretty sure it is going to be a hard one, but I will go in there and do my
best. One thing I am positive about is that I will NOT miss Nicola’s teaching,
but I will miss his character. What a funny man.
Thursday: If all goes to plan, I will not have a photography
class today. It is the pack and clean the apartment day! Woot! I feel like it
is going to be emotional. The three of us (Joanna, Rachel, and I) are going to
go out to dinner for a little “last supper” kind of thing. It is weird to think
I will never see these girls again.
Friday: I have my Cinema final, which should be easy peasy
lemon squeezey. (KNOCK ON WOOD.) And then it’s the finishing touches before
departure.
Saturday: Everyone leaves. I have to leave the apartment
before 12:00 where I will then proceed slowly to my hotel across the river.
Becca flies in later that night!!
Sunday: Show Becca my city.
Monday: Show Becca my city and get to bed early.
Tuesday: COME HOME!
What a week to come! Strap on your seatbelts folks. It is
going to be a rollercoaster!
Now lets talk about Verbaledudette’s Gift Guide item number
eleven: Candiware
This gift is for all the ladies who love food. I do not know
about your friends/girlfriends, but if they are anything like me, they love a
food experience. And why not celebrate this love of food by wearing it as a
beautiful accessory! Did I mention they are scented!?
Where to find this: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CandiWareJewelry
Price: $12.00 and up
Speaking of Christmas! I took a little walk through the city
tonight. Every street is lined with lights and decorations, take a look:
The city is breathtaking. It is like walking through a
Disneyland Christmas! This has been a productive day for me and I am exhausted.
So, now I bid you goodnight! Have a wonderful rest of your evening. I miss you
and love you.
