everyday is so wonderful. suddenly it's hard to breathe.

I am sitting in the “family room” area of the apartment. Both Joanna and Rachel are in bed, but my mind is full awake with constant thoughts that the idea of putting it to rest seems distant and unrecognizable. Today was good. Nothing new to report, other than I succeeded in Italian class without being corrected every word. Therefore, I would call this day productive simply for that reason.  My stomach kind of aches, but it can’t be because I had three cookies instead on my usual two.  Italian treats just do not work that way.  I haven’t really been getting any sleep lately. My mind has been working over time, a constant clock, ticking through the hours without a water break. I have been thinking of everything. Of going home, of leaving, of what I missed, of what is to come. My family, my friends, my choices, my art, how I have changed, what I want to become. I have been thinking of all the people I never told how much they mean to me and how much it worries me that I will never get to say it. Sometimes I forget how fragile life is until a death strikes close to home and rattles everything into place. 

count your blessings

It is a quiet, chilled, evening tonight. The sun fell beneath the buildings early today (at least in my opinion) and ever since four o’clock, the city has been draped in a bleak darkness. I am currently writing this while cuddled next to the radiator under the kitchen window. A colorful blanket (that I got for my great deed of graduation, if you remember) is wrapped around my legs like a butterflies cocoon. I have two pairs of socks on to cover my tingling toes. My hands are purple. I know it is from the lack of blood they receive due to my disease, but I like to pretend it is just because they are too cold, like in cartoons.

 

            Looking outside the window, there is no light, except from an apartment window a few rooftops away. The curtains are drawn; open wide, and I can easily see the figures of an older male and female dancing. It is a slow dance, their bodies crippled with memories of a good life, but you can see they are in love. I sit here, imagining their lives. I guess they have housed three kids, two boys and one daughter, who are now all grown up and on their own travels. Maybe they fell in love early and were surprised with a child at a young age, pulling the idea of marriage faster than they thought it would come. The way they are holding each other is frail, beautiful, and supportive. It makes me think of my parents dancing on Friday nights after my Mother has had a stressful week at work.

            My Father used to always put on Macy Gray at five on Friday nights, in anticipation for my Mother to come home. Gabrielle and I, dancing together, watching my Dad nod his head and stir whatever meal he was making, a glass a wine swirling in his hand. He always comes over and grabs me, rocking me side to side, twirling me out. Ever since I was little my parents and I would dance together. I think they are the reason I love it so much and, not to brag, is why I am pretty good dance partner. My mom would do this twist to the floor as soon as she got into more comfortable clothes.  It is her signature move that the two of us always pull out at weddings. We wouldn’t eat until eight or nine, but no one cared because we were too busy in the music and the environment.

            I wonder if this couple does something similar. I hope my parents never stop dancing together and that one day I will stand outside of their house and look through their window and see the same image I see in the apartment a few blocks away.

And of course, it is music monday! Enjoy "Drop Names Not Bombs" by Louise Burns 

xoxo

Firenze Marathon 2011

The Firenze Marathon 2011 ran outside of our apartment today, so of course I felt inclined to watch and document it. It was such a beautiful day, filled with lots of laughs, and of course, cute boys!

Happy Sunday. 

Happy Late Thanksgiving!

Being in Italy celebrating an only American holiday is quite the sensation. First off, you do not get school off, in fact, you even have an extra class. Thursday we had a rescheduled cinema class in the morning, followed by film photography in the afternoon. Other than not having school off, I actually had to prepare Thanksgiving dinner. The three of us did a splendid job at that. Our menu included frosted tap water and delicious local red wine from our friends around the corner. Then we started off with an appetizer of fresh pink lady apples, swelled with orange juice. The main course included The Rachel-Grandma Shaw famous stuffing, hand mashed with a fork and arm muscles potatoes (by yours truly,) hot rolls, and of course, a turkey breast basted in seasonings, carrots, and mushrooms hand rubbed by Joanna. Dessert included milk from our own personal cartons and (Joanna’s Mom --->) Kathy’s too good to be true fudge sent all the way from Pittsburg. Now although it is nothing to compare to the amazing meal my family makes in the States, BUT considering we all had never really cooked anything like a Thanksgiving dinner, the meal was eaten with a smile and a sigh of content was released after we were induced into a food coma. To finish off the evening, we sat in the living room listening to Shaggy and Italian’s own Lucio Dalla, while yelling with laughter at a three-hour game of Catch Phrase. I even got told a bedtime story before passing out from a wonderful evening.

So here I am, wishing you all a very, Happy Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for my family and friends (who I miss so much,) for the opportunity to live in the most beautiful country, the chance to chase my dreams, and for the best life any one could ask for. I am truly lucky, blessed, and ever so thankful.

Forever and Always. Xoxo Ciao. Ciao.

LOOK MA

Look what my Mamma sent me! 

Grazie, Grazie, Grazie, Mamma! : ) 

I love you!

Also, a shout out to my auntie Michael in Salt Lake City who underwent some extreme surgery yesterday! Get better soon! MWAH. 

xoxo 

life’s too short to even care at all.

 Hello from my bed. It may be only 7:00 but I already have my fuzzy socks on and am positioned under the covers. The lights are even off. No, I am not ready for bed; it is just kind of really chilly in this apartment, and I didn’t want to sit in those uncomfortable squeaky chairs in the kitchen. Italians obviously do not believe in decent warming devices in their apartments (probably because they do have a lot more hair on their bodies than other countries… but STILL. I am a hairless American who needs to be warm!) Okay, I am over exaggerating a little bit. Truth is, my bed is comfortable and I like the way the comforter practically glows in the dark because it is so neon yellow.

I apologize for such an awful introduction paragraph. Lets try this again.

Young the Giant’s most recent album is playing through my headphones right now as my feet are cuddling underneath my neon yellow comforter. The only light coming into the room is from the sliding propped open door. This square shadow of light (play on words, eh?) is enough light to frame Rachel’s bed in a halo like fashion. I am wearing my “your blog sucks” tee shirt and feeling really good about life.

Now, wasn’t that better?

Italy was beautiful today. This morning, I woke up with a burst of energy that needed to be set free. I harvested this emotion by going out on an hour long stroll, wandering through streets, kicking leaves up in the small park to the left, and watching old men row boats down the Arno river. It was truly refreshing.

I simply love this city. Walking home from school after class today, I really tried to soak in everything I passed. I have become so accustom to the route from casa mia (my house) to the school, that I sometimes take for granted how magical Firenze is. For example, as I was walking I breathed in deeply (with my new nose!!) the smells of home cooking, cigars, and that certain Italian city smell (no, not the pee and beer smell thank you, there is another one that I cannot put a name to.) I was walking down the little side street and I noticed the steam coming out of what looked like an air vent for one of the walled apartments. The way it swirled up and dispensed into the cold air as thick white petals was entrancing. I still smile at the lines of clothes that hang out of windows, even though it is a common sight in my days here. Now that I have lived her for so long, I can look passed the tourist monuments and really fall in love with the sweet subtitles.

I have begun to develop the feeling that every city is like this. Salt Lake City is just as beautiful as here, but I do not take the time to notice its details because I realize that I have taken it for granted. You never know what you have until it’s gone right?

Italian language is one of my least favorite classes because I hate being put on the spot and failing miserably when I am. BUT on the plus side, I love the challenge of trying to learn this new, beautiful, language. I want to learn! Oh goodness, my life is so hard. Just kidding. : ) Italian class was alright today. My fingertips were really cold. I have mentioned my pronunciation/spelling problem before, well now in class it is kind of a joke. For example, we were changing verbs from present to past tense, and Joanna chose my word to be the hardest one in the whole wide world (not really) to pronounce just because we all know how I st st stutter. I cannot remember it now and cant look it up in my notes cause I left my notebook at school, but know that it was hilariously hard (for me.) Oh well. Italian class is one of those classes that you dread going to, but once you are there you are fine, and everyone leaves laughing. Nicola may be an awful teacher, but he quite the character. 

This has nothing to do with anything, but it made me laugh. I thought you would need a little giggle on your Monday. 

Thanksgiving is obviously not celebrated here (if you do not know why… you have some serious problems that you need to figure out before reading any further. Google it.) Despite the country we are living in, Joanna, Rachel and I have decided to make a feast. We made a list of items we like to eat and divided them up between the three of us. I am in charge of a fruit and mashed potatoes. I am thinking maybe doing my family’s favorite apples in orange juice mixture and maybe some pomegranates.

Grandma, when Michael reads this to you, please know that I will not do your mashed potatoes justice and I am sending up my white flag. There is no competition; you have already won. Hopefully I will come in at least a close fifth place on the “good mashed potatoes” list. It cannot be very hard right? I mean I do not have a blender or anything... Is it unsanitary to use a rock? (I am only joking Rachel & Joanna; you honestly do not need to worry about if there are going to be dirt and other earthy materials in your buttery potatoes.) 

All I can say is thank goodness I am not in charge of the turkey.

Music Monday Update: Check out the song “Hotel Song” by Regina Spektor. It is a current love of mine.

I finished Like Water for Chocolate. Please read it. I had chills of wonderful emotion through out the entire thing. It is an easy, magical, read. (Please note that the picture to the right is not the real cover of the book, but an illustration someone did. I found it on google and liked it. That is all. ) 

Also, in the news of the social networking, I think you will find great pleasure in the new follower my twitter account has gained. “Titsoffire” has indeed started to follow my unwitty, too quotey, status update, tweet feed. I feel honored, really. Not many people can say that someone with such a great name is one of their 92 followers. 

My final statement deals with a lot of exclamation marks. Prepare yourself:

MY BEASTIE BECCA IS COMING TO VISIT ME OFFICIALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for reading! Ciao. Xoxo

*title: “Cough Syrup” by Young the Giant

Stereophonics Sunday

The Stereophinics are a Welsh rock group formed in 1992. They originate from the small village of Cwmaman in Cynon Valley, Wales. 

The main members of the group include Kelly Jones (lead vocals & guitar,) Richard Jones (bass,) Javier Weyler (drummer,) and Adam Zindani (keyboards.) They have released a total of seven studio albums, five of which has topped the UK Album Chart. The band’s sound is described as “a classic UK rock delivered with whiskey vocals,” but to me they sound like a calm, motivational, alternative band. Enjoy the last day of this music week, for from now one, I will only continue with Music Mondays. Here are a few of Stereophonics great tracks for your calm Sunday afternoon:

Maybe Tomorrow (my favorite)

Mr. Writer

Just Looking

Could You Be the One?

It Means Nothing

Now news about my day in Italia! 

Sundays here are dead silent, quite literally. There is no one in the streets, the shops are closed, and even the sky seemed empty except for the bright sun warming the frozen piazzas. Felix came over for lunch with Joanna and I. Then it was off to take photographs for me. I went to all the main monuments in Florence taking a roll of film at each for my final project. It was productive, a work out, but so enjoyable. There is nothing like listening to good music while taking photographs, two things I love whole-heartedly. Now, it is about 5:30 and the sun has completely set, the wind has picked up, and the city is dimming with cold air. I have been reading Like Water for Chocolate. I cannot seem to put it down and will probably finish it tonight, huddled next to the radiator with my blanket wrapped around me. I could really go for some warm lemonade and honey right now. Oh well.

Wishing you a wonderful rest of your Sunday. Xoxo

Skrillex Saturday

I just got home from watching some wonderful break dancing in the piazza and boy I am I chilled. It was worth it, but I am glad to have my black fuzzy pirate socks on in the comfort of my warm apartment. Today is, as the title suggests, Skrillex Saturday.

Sonny Moore, born January 15, 1988, is an American electronic/dance music artist who is more recently known as Skrillex. The former front man on the band From First to Last, decided in the late autumn of 2007 to embark on his first tour as a solo artist under the title the “Team Sleep Tour.” He is widely popular for his “dubstep” mash ups and deep beat rhythms. Here are a few of my personal favorites:

Rock and Roll

Hey Sexy Lady

My Name is Skrillex

Rock that Body

For the Kill

Hope you have a nice night. Much love from Florence. Xoxo

Fanfarlo Friday

As Rihanna so proudly sings “cheers to the freakin’ weekend,” I would like to wish you all a happy Friday. It is nearing five o’clock over here in the chilly city of Firenze and the sun has already begun to set. 

Today was productive for me in the sense that I went to school. I had cinema this morning where we watched Mamma Roma. The actress who played the “Mamma” was brilliant and quite a joy to watch. I would suggest it for your late Friday night movie tonight. After that we had, excuse me- we got to, make up a Italian class that we did not have on Monday. If you think Italian is hard on a Monday or Wednesday, you have not tried a Friday afternoon. Goodness. Obviously, I survived. This weekend holds no extravagant plans, except I plan on taking five rolls of film and at least ten REALLY GOOD digital photographs for my final projects.

And now for Fanfarlo Friday! 

The London pop/indie rock/alternative/folk/post punk band, Fanfarlo, was formed in 2006 by the Swedish musician Simon Balthazar (& Giles J Davis, but I do not count him because he quit the band before they released their first single.) Today, the band consists of Amos Memon, Cathy Lucas, Justin Finch, Leon Beckenham, Simon Balthazar. (I know the picture has six people in it. All of the pictures have six people in it. I cannot find out who the sixth person is!!!) 

The name comes from the Charles Baudelaire novel 'La Fanfarlo.' I tried looking up what the name meant and all I got was an Urban Dictionary response of “someone who goes out and has a grand time dancing and is multitalented in the rave department, exploring the term rave to an extreme, cooler than a hipster is a surrealism way.” Whatever that means… I also got this song made by the band MAZES for a project they did called “Art Is Cheap,” but the real definition is still up in the air.

What Does Fanfarlo Mean by Jack Mazes

Anyways. Their debut album Reservoir was recorded in November of 2008 at the Tarquin Studios, in none other than the grand Connecticut, US of A. The album was released in February of 2009 and welcomed large amounts of appreciation from music lovers (like myself.) Enjoy.

De.con.struc.tion

I’m A Pilot

Luna

Hands

Ghosts

Ciao Ciao. xoxo

The Tallest man on earth Thursday

Hello my dear readers. I am very happy today. I hope you are happy too. I really do. I think part of my reason for being so happy is the baby that was born yesterday into my family. I simply love babies and good news.

            Today the Florentine air is chilly, but the sun warms my face. I went to my special photography class with Charles. The class lasted thirty minutes and I walked away with the closing statement of “Never loose sight of Photography.” Can you think of a more inspirational statement to start the day? I thought not.

            Film photography was good. I developed three rolls of film and made nine contact sheets. Good work effort Audrey.

            The minute we got home, Joanna put on Kill Bill. We were mesmerized and amazed. Of course we had to watch the second one right afterward, that we just happen to have thanks to Joanna’s mother. Those movies kicked ass. Wonderful soundtrack too!

            Speaking of music! I bet you thought I forgot.. but today is The Tallest man on earth Thursday! I am highlighting the (what I think to be similar to Bob Dylan) Tallest Man on Earth.

            Now, Kristian Matsson is a musician from Dalarna, Sweden. Although he is not actually the tallest man on the earth, he performs under the title. He plays guitar, banjo and the piano. I do not have anymore facts on him… sadly. But he is a chillfull artist that will put a smile on your face. And hey, he is pretty cute.  Enjoy.

I wont be Found

Where Do My Bluebird Fly

Love is All

Like The Wheel

xoxo

Welcome baby Avery!

Congratulations to John and Kara! 

She is absolutely beautiful.

 I love you three! 

xoxo

Wolfmother Wednesday

I hope by now you have begun to see a pattern with my last two posts this week. If not, I will give you a hint, they both have contained a special “get to know this artist because they are awesome” music section. I am going to continue this all week. Let’s do a recap, Mac Miller Monday, The Temper Trap Tuesday, and now… drum roll… Wolfmother Wednesday.

Wolfmother is an Australian (who knew that they were housing so much talent down in that beautiful scenery and kangaroos) rock band from Erskineville, Sydney. The original group, formed in 2000, was made up of Andre Stockdale (vocals & guitar,) Chris Ross (bass & Keyboard) and Myles Heskett (drummer.) This trio released a self-titled debut album in the fall of 2005, which shot up to number three on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart. They even won a Grammy Award for their song “Woman” for Best Hard Rock Performance, 2007.

cute bunch right? 

Even though they had reached great success with there last album, in August of 2008, Ross and Heskett left the band due to "irreconcilable personal and musical differences." Stockdale, on the other hand, still wanted to rock the title Wolfmother, and set out to find new musicians. After a brief hiatus, the band returned with a new four-piece band in January 2009. Wolfmother welcomed bassist and keyboardist Ian Peres, rhythm guitarist, Aidan Nemeth and drummer Dave Atkins with a big wolf mother hug. Atkins could not take the heat on reaching number on the Australian charts, and left the band in April 2010. The group instantly replaced him with Will Rockwell-Scott (and American from the band The Mooney Suzuki.) Rock and Roll.

For me, the band sounds like a mix between White Stripes, The Avalanches, Jimi Hendrix, and maybe even a little Kings of Leon. They are danceable, motivational, and a down right good time.

Vagabond (MY FAVORITE)

Woman

The White Unicorn

Monolith

Love Train

Have a great Day! ciao Ciao.

The Temper Trap Tuesday

I feel so good right now.

Everything in my life is perfect.

       This morning, I woke up and practically danced out of bed before my alarm clock went off. This does not usually happen. My breakfast of yogurt and carrot juice tasted extra delicious and “Caring is Creepy” by the Shins narrated my walk to school.

       In art history, we took a field trip to a museum where Linda (my professor) raced us up and down and around every floor. This did not take as long as she had planned, so of course, she took us to two other museums and quickly gave us a tour of her favorite pieces. It was fun, but I am beginning to learn that my four-foot tall professor has more energy than a toddler.

       I ate a kebab for lunch with Rachel. It was jaw dripping delectable.

       Photography came and I was pumped to develop my nine rolls of film. I cranked through the first three, loaded and began developing the second set of three and finished that by four thirty (three hours later.) I did not have time (or the energy) to develop my last three rolls, but what I did develop got my little photography heart beating with happiness. I think I finally got the hang of developing film, for there were no watermarks and the negatives were perfect! The only bummer of the class was my new negative holders do not fit in my made-only-for-Italian-four-holed-extra-long-paper binder. Oh well, there are more important things to be sad about.

       While waiting for my film to dry, I checked my email where my cute Mother had updated me that my family (John and Kara) went to the hospital because Kara’s baby was going to be induced! Yahoo! I am wishing you two all my love that it is a healthy birth of a beautiful baby. I am so excited! I will update you when the birth is official! I love you John and Kara!

       The air smelled thick with fall leaves and the preparation of four course meals, as I walked home from class. The sun had already set when I exited the building, but left just enough light that the street lamps had not been lit.

       My day was completed with a little a pile of letters all with my name on them! I received a package from my Mother & Father that contained the newspaper of the Academy of Art University in San Francisco (the school I desperately want to go to after I get home from here,) a letter from my sister, Gabrielle (which also had little surprises in it including her pudding cup lid (don’t worry, it was cleanly licked) and an autographed picture of a band she saw,) a sweet letter from my dancer/twin Audrey Marshall, and an adorable letter from Sarah Ashworth. They made my day! Thank you!

       ALSO, big news in the Italian world: their prime minister since 2001, Berlusconi, has officially retired and Mario Monti is his new replacement. This is a really big deal and the Italian people are excited. I am living a huge moment of Italian history. Everything is going to change for the country now and hopefully for the best! This picture is of him. He looks like a fine Italian. 

       I hope you enjoyed Mac Miller yesterday, but today we are going to switch gears to a more alternative artist because it is The Temper Trap Tuesday! You are right my friends, today I am going to share with you one of my favorite artists, The Temper Trap. I discovered this band after their song “Sweet Disposition” was used in my ALL TIME FAVORITE movie 500 Days of Summer. 

       The Temper Trap is an Australian indie rock band formed in 2005. The band includes the ever so talented Jonathon Aherne on bass guitar and vocals, the erythematic Toby Dundas on drums and programming, the simple Dougy Mandagi on vocals and guitar, and the multitasked Lorenzo Sillitto on guitar, keyboards and vocals.

       In 2008, the group relocated from Melbourne to London for reasons I do not know. Maybe they just liked English chicks better, then again, they do sound a bit more English. I would never have guessed Australia as their homeland.

       The band released their debut album Conditions in June 2009 which gained instant favorable reviews and commercial success.

       It jumped to number nine on the ARIA Albums Chart and into the top 30 on the UK Albums Chart within months. "Sweet Disposition", peaked in the top 10 on the Belgian, Irish and UK Singles Charts and reached number fourteen on the ARIA Singles Chart. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2010 in November, The Temper Trap won 'Best Group' for their album Conditions and 'Most Popular Australian Single' for "Sweet Disposition." 

       To me, their songs are a mix between Mika and Scissor Sisters, with a dash of Mumford and Sons. They have a juicy sweet sound with high tenors against thick drums. It is addicting.

       Enjoy a few of their tracks from the album “Conditions:” 

Sweet Disposition

Love Lost

Fools

Down River

Resurrection

       If you have a favorite band that you think the world (or at least the readers of Verbaledudette) needs to hear, leave it in a comment. I love hearing about new music. Have a good night! xoxo

Mac Miller Music Mondays

All right folks, Mac Miller just released a great new album, so I decided to dedicate a little Music Monday for him. 

Mac, also known as Easy Mac and Malcolm, is a rapper from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Surprised? Not me. Every since I started living with two people from Pittsburgh, it has been brought to my attention that everything happens in Pittsburgh.) He was born January 19, 1992 to an architect and a photographer, so instantly we know that there is creativity steaming through his blood. Weird thing is, this super star is only my age of eighteen. Miller is a self-taught musician starting at the age of six, playing piano, guitar, drums, and bass. (Over achiever much?)

"Once I hit 15, I got real serious about it and it changed my life completely ... I used to be into sports, play all the sports, go to all the high school parties. But once I found out hip-hop is almost like a job, that's all I did."

He has won a few awards including two awards at the Pittsburgh hip-hop awards; "Live Free" won video of the year and he also won Best Artist Under 21. The video for the first single he released, "Donald Trump", has reached over 27 million views on YouTube and Donald Trump himself acknowledged the video on the social networking site Twitter when it reached 20 million views stating "Who wouldn't be flattered?" and declared that Miller was the “new Eminem,” and stated “I am very proud of him.” (Who knew that Ol’Donald could say more than “YOUR FIRED?" I am proud of him for saying more than three words.)

Here are a few of his tracks that I personally like:

**Note that if you are getting this emailed to you, the following videos may not show up. I do suggest you look up the songs though. Sorry for the inconvenience, Blogger just needs to get it's act together and learn how to send media files. 

Donald Trump

Best Day Ever

LaLaLaLa

Nikes on My Feet

Comment found under the video: “This song makes me wanna strip naked, burst out of my window, free fall 28 floors, face plant in the snow, make a snow angel mixed with my own blood, shiver from the cold, get hyperthermia, DIE, go to the pearly gates, say wuzzup to Jesus, do our secret hand shake, look for Buddha, find him, have him reincarnate me into a frog, meet a princess, kiss her, turn into a prince, order my subject to bring me a computer, listen to this song again, and cry my self to sleep.”

Wear My Hat

Also, news spreads like wildfire and it doesn’t matter what country you are in, it is easy to discover the devastating loss of an athlete in the ski world. Jamie Pierre was killed in an avalanche back in Utah. Prayers go out to his wife and kids. He was an excellent skier, destroying boundaries and taking risks to the end.

I hope you have an amazing rest of your Monday. Keep your heads nodding to the lyrics of Mac Miller and be safe skiing out in those beautiful snowy mountains. Stay classy my friends. 

xoxo

slap the person who said mosquitos would go away in november

 If you are sitting next to my Father, he is the one to hit (gently) for I am busy scratching little red bumps all over my arms, one on my ankle and even a few on my forehead! Oh mosquitos how I hate you.

Yesterday I went to Pisa on a field trip, with my Art History class (so that mean Linda, Rachel, and I went.) I had adventured to this city during our Family trip. I left not quite impressed and rather disappointed. I mean, there is not much in the city to enjoy AND buildings and chains surround the almighty Leaning Tower! It was something to see once. Yet, I got to see it again.

I spent six hours there for class and still; Pisa does not hold a spot on my list of places to spend quality time in. It does have a lot of history in it though, so my professor was having the time of her life dragging us to every museum and special piazza, church, corner, bridge, in the entire city. And I enjoyed learning about “booomBBs” and “sWWords.” No but really, I learned a lot, got to see inside a lot of buildings for free (which was nice) and even sipped a nice glass of wine at lunch while talking about Linda’s dream to swim with dolphins. It was a splendid day.

creepy doll sticker. you know how i love my street art.

the Arno River, the same river that flows through Florence

Oh Mickey Mouse. 

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Rachel and I in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. 

(i do not know what I am doing with my arm. trying to be a robot or barbie doll obviously..) 

Statue near the Leaning Tower of Pisa. 

Inside the Cathedral that the Leaning Tower of Pisa is the bell tower for. 

This was something important turned into a Museum. I liked it and yes, it is near the Leaning Tower of Pisa. 

I was disappointed that we did not get to go to Lucca, but I can always go one weekend by myself. Not the end of the world.

On another note, we need to take care of some blogging business. I have noticed a recent trend on my fellow bloggers sites about writing a post about what you are thankful for. Now I just want to tell you that even though the country I most recently call home does not celebrate this festive eating holiday, I will still write a thankful post, but not until we are CLOSER to the holiday. Seriously people. Blogging a month before the holiday about the holiday is like putting Christmas decorations up in stores before we have even celebrated Halloween.

So, this is not thankful post because I now going to tell you how fortunate I am feeling right now.

I stumbled upon a blog of this girl that I had met a few times. She is sweet, but I never really got to know her, or tried to get to know her, due to the situation she was introduced in. That probably did not make any sense, but it is not important. I always treated her with kindness, don’t worry. ANYWAY, I read a piece of writing on her blog that followed a picture of a beautiful girl. It stated that her sister, very close sister, died in a car accident about six months ago. I almost broke down into tears. I had no idea and she always appeared so flawlessly happy. I just cannot imagine what she went through and what she is still feeling. I am just so lucky that I have never had something like that happen to me, knock on wood. I guess the moral of the paragraph is to always, always treat people with kindness because you never know what their background story is and to also live each day like it is your last. Cliché statements that are perfectly true.

Can I just take a little moment of self-promotion? (because it is not like this blog is nothing but self promotion *sarcasm) Verbaledudette has a facebook page that I want you all to like. You want you to like this page. I usually post cool videos, websites, or photographs I find. It contains different stuff than what you get on here, but with my same cute quirky wonderful (self promotion eh?) personality that I write with. I also post the link of each new post to the page so you can get a constant reminder in your newsfeed to read Verbaledudette. (Wow! The internet is such a great place!) Please, show your support (if you have thebook) and like Verbaledudette on Facebook. Thank you. 

I hope your Sunday is perfect. Mine has been. xoxo

when ones beard is the same length as ones hair.

The Longest Way 1.0 - one year walk/beard grow time lapse from Christoph Rehage on Vimeo.


In the spirit of No Shave November (aka Movember) I share with you a great video about a man, his beard, a giant walk, and Chinese people. : ) Enjoy.

wine tasting

Wine tasting is an art, I have discovered, that is best explored when you are in a quiet room and can simply enjoy the Italian speech of your host while sipping out of different sized glasses without someone whispering in your ear if there is any more cheese when the bowl has already been emptied on their plate.

I went to a wine tasting last night. Invited by Joanna and her Aunt, I could not help but to accept with a pleasing smile. At five thirty, the five of us (Joanna, Joanna’s Aunt, Joanna’s Aunt’s Friend, Rachel, and I) met at a little corner store just down the street from our apartment called Pozzo Divino. We were greeted by Pino (aka the guy that makes delicious sandwiches) and directed down to the cellar. No joke, it used to be a prison cellar. Here is where we were seated together at one table. The table happen to have four extra seats at it and next to us was an empty table which we were told late guests who fill. Fifteen minutes later, three dashing young men come down the cellar, all smiles and cute in their little button up plaid shirts. I thought to myself, well hey, this is going to be fun, but pretty soon the entire American “party” abroad program came trotting down the steps, loud and obnoxious. Girls with their giggles and similar hair cuts escorting their rich and arrogant grinned parents to sit down. They would not separate, so our group, being courteous and all, decided to take the task in our own hands. We switched seats and forced Joanna along with her Aunt and Friend into a corner, while Rachel and I were immediately surrounded with Gucci bags and perfume.

Being raised by experienced wine drinkers and proper table manners, I was appalled by the way the evening carried on. Food was being stuffed into their mouths like they had never eaten and then it would fall out as they tried to talk at the same time. I sat quietly, desperately trying to listen to what Pino and his translator had to say about the wine we were drinking and the vinegar we were tasting.

 We tried a white wine and two red. I cannot tell you what they were called, because you probably already guessed that the noise level was higher than necessary, but they were local and delicious. I loved going through the process of examining the color/transparency, smelling the flowers and spices each glass contained, and then indulging in the wine’s flavor with different cheeses and meats at hand.

As I did this, I noticed how much my parents know about enjoying wine. The people surrounded me held their glasses like beer mugs and gulped down the wine like kid drinking grape juice. And there was the constant demand for more. My father always pours a little bit into my mother’s class with a smile and say “there is always more.” Meaning, you enjoy what you have, you do not need the entire bottle in one glass. Pace yourself. It also made me think of a little sign we saw in a store this summer while we were traveling Italy. The sign was placed on a table that had a platter of cheese and little glasses to taste local wine. The words on the sign were written large and in blunt English “THIS IS A TEST TASTER- NOT A MEAL. PLEASE THINK OF OTHERS.” We knew instantly of the sort of people to fall victim of eating the entire table, and I think they were all in the cellar with me last night.

My look may have been one of disgust as I watched my fellow table members, but Pino called me the “serious blonde.” This became a nickname that lasted through the rest of the night. He even asked to take a picture with the “serious blonde” and the end of the night. Thus the picture that follows:

Notice my hair around my neck. . . . no that is not a style in Italy. . . yes, it is the look that comes after a few glasses of really good wine. : ) 

Other than the pain in the arse group that yelled in my ear the entire night and ate all my parmesan, I enjoyed it. I know this post may have sounded like a nag… but hey, I have to complain about something when I am in this perfect city, right?

I hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday! Xoxo

Ciao Bellas!