After staying in Milan for a few days Chelsea and I headed out for a day trip to Venice. From Milan, Venice is about a 3 1/2 hour train ride. It makes for a long day but it is so worth it! 

It was a super hot day so we walked around until we got tired enough to stop and take in the sights.

I highly recommend sitting on the steps of where the Grand Canal flows out to the ocean for this!

One of my favorite things about Venice are the textures and colors of the walls and shutters.

I could stare at the stained and distressed paint all day!

Chelsea couldn’t resist picking up a masquerade mask and trying it on!

 Every time I go to Venice I can’t believe that the guys in the gondolas actually wear the striped shirts and hats like you imagine them wearing as a kid!

One last thing about going to Italy…

If you are going there and don’t speak the language then you should check out these free language videos made by Girls4Teaching. They are funny and down right cheesy but will prepare you for some begining Italian!

After we left the beachside towns of Cinque Terre we headed up North to visit the fashion capitol of Italy, Milan. 

Two years ago I did an exchange program with Pratt (in NYC) and one of the design schools in Milan, La Nuova Accademia de Belle Arti. I studied fashion design there with some of the most innovative designers I have ever met.

Although Milan is not known for being a “pretty” European city, it is a city that offers the best innovative and awe inspiring fashion as well as interior and product design out there. 

So, after spending so much time there I wanted to lead Chelsea through the city. We walked all day and covered everything from 10 Corso Como (famous for designer clothes) to the Navigli district. While there we made sure to keep it Italian eat gelato to stay cool, pizza for dinner, and espresso for breakfast! 

Above is the main cathedral of Milan and my personal all-time favorite cathedral, the Duomo. Located in the center of the city and surrounded by the best shopping and opera, Teatro alla Scala, in the country the Duomo couldn’t be situated in a better place for visiting. Below is Chelsea standing in the door of the Duomo!

 Chelsea and I bared the heat one night and went out dancing. One of the best things about Milan night life is that it has aperitivo (happy hour) where you get one drink and dinner for about 8-10 Euro. This is perfect for students and travelers with a budget who still want to eat great food!

 Here I am on the canal in the Navigli district of Milan where I used to live. The canals in Milan were designed by Leonardo da Vinci and where once used to transport goods into, out of, and around the city. However, only two are still open and they are lined with great bars and restaurants. 

Greetings from L.A.!  I have just completed my road trip of California and I thought I’d share my trip with you all (while sharing some fun travel tips)! 

 My roommate and I started from our hometown of Sacramento and drove down to San Francisco to visit one of our friends (Travel Tip #1: Instead of spending loads on a hotel, stay with a friend.  They’ll be happy to have you… although don’t stay longer then 3 days, you don’t want to impose).  While there we shopped on Market St., walked around Haight and Ashbury, and had a picnic at Golden Gate park.  (Travel Tip #2: Pack some groceries.  Eating out can be fun, but it can also be unhealthy.  Instead of going to fast food joints, pack trail mix, fruit, and sandwich makings.

From San Francisco, we left for our 6 hour drive to L.A.  Neither one of us wanted to stay in the car for that long of a time, so we thought it’d be fun to make a little detour to Solvang.  Solvang is an old Dutch town with fun shops and amazing restaurants/bakeries. We ended up choosing a place to eat, and indulged in a dessert known as Aeble Skivers. These are pancake-like balls topped with Raspberry syrup and powdered sugar sprinkled on top. Delicious!

After our amazing meal, we continued on the road and eventually made it to L.A. The next day we ate lunch with a friend at Mini Kabob (Travel Tip #3: Don’t judge a book by its cover, especially when applied to restaurants). Mini Kabob is this tucked away Greek restaurant run by a loving couple, and I have to say, it was the best Greek food I’ve ever had! 

Next we went to Santa Monica!  We walked through the 3rd St. promenade where there were a bunch of cool stores and some street performers.  Then we headed to the Venice boardwalk where there were more street performers and street merchants.  A lot of cool art and jewelry can be found here. 

Last, but not least we finished up in Hollywood!  After some shopping (Hello Rodeo Drive!), we went back to Graumen’s Chinese Theatre where I got to compare myself to the stars…at least with my hands and feet.  FYI I fit perfectly into Marilyn Monroe’s hands and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s hands are HUGE!

 P.S.  Do you have a crazy vacation story?  What tips do you use to travel?

Ahh, Venezia! Que bella!

Every year, this city of bridges and islands gathers in the Palazzo di San Marco for one of the biggest gatherings of New Year’s kissers! The Palazzo di San Marco, being the biggest and most culturally relevant square in the city, is a great place to gather with your sweetie and snuggle up until the Campanile di San Marco, or bell tower, strikes midnight.

I would suggest making the effort to stay up to see the sun rise over the Adriatic Sea from the beach island of Lido, where the Auguri di Capodanno sulla spiaggia del Lido di Venezia takes place … aka jump into the freezing cold water a la Polar Bear Swim.

Venice is high fashion, and the Palazzo di San Marco has no heaters outside. When I was there last year, the stone ground was iced over, so make sure to watch your step and have some cute walking boots like the Bamboo Follie 04 Black Mid Calf Riding Boot in Vegan Leather [sold out!] (great for going over jeans!).

Add a little bit of sparkle with the Kismet Karma Dress  so you don’t have to wear any metal on your neck. Again, it will be cold, so the Emma Pillsbury Coat in Soft Pink is a great piece to keep toasty in, and attract the eye of any cute Italians walking by!

Pucker up, New Year’s is almost here!

Once there was a girl named Val (me) and her most wonderful green purse. She took her purse everywhere … to the mall and the grocery store; to the park and on first dates; to the movies and even into her dreams, for she loved her purse so much.

But such a pure love could not last.

The jealous eye shadow (cheap, awful eyeshadow I will never forgive) exploded in my purse and stained everything a noxious yellow. My cell phone, lotion, lip gloss, wallet, even my hands were instantly posioned! It was so bad, I had to toss everything, including my favorite wallet I bought in Venice, Italy, and yes, even my beloved purse.

But with heartbreak comes hope. Thankfully Lulu*s has some super cute items to replace my lost love. The Too Legit Handbag in Black [sold out!] is a nice size for day-to-day use, and every wallet needs rose on it (in my opinion) so the Jungle Rose Wallet in Leopard [sold out!] is just perfect! And so I don’t forget my old purse, a new green friend — The Owl Pal Wristlet!

The lesson here?  1) Love your purse while you can.

                            2) Be willing to accept the new bags in your life.

                            3) Don’t buy cheap make-up out of someone’s truck.