Blogger Postcard Travels Linkup: Ciao from Italy!

Hi guys! And greetings from the Blogger Postcard Travels Linkup! Bloggers have been doing traveling to some amazing places this summer so why not show them off?! I'm actually writing today from Rome, Italy! Actually, I've spent the whole summer living and working abroad in Italy, Milan to be exact! It's been a crazy adventure but so very worth it! Italy is everything I imagined it to be: amazing pasta, fast Vespas, beautiful buildings, slow waiters and gorgeous suits and ragazzi! But it is also so much more: incredible hospitality, views that will take your breath away, gelato that will give you life again and a constant sense of humble yet passionate Italian pride.

I've gotten the chance to do some super cool things and see coastlines that I will be dreaming about for years so today I'm happy to give you a few snapshots from my summer in the most beautiful country on earth!

Verona, Italy: Romeo, oh Romeo! Yes I shamelessly had to take a photo on Juliet's balcony!

Lake Como, Italy: There's a reason this place was just voted the "most beautiful lake in the world"!

  

Lago Maggiore: With Switzerland in the background, this is one of the prettier views I've ever seen

Cinque Terre, Italy: The colors, the coast, the pesto oh my!

Venice, Italy: Can it really be called a trip to Italy without seeing Venice? Wow, this place was as beautiful as I had imagined!

Burano, Italy: This place looks like a fairy tale, a very colorful fairy tale. Now ranked on my top 5 places to visit in the world!

Florence, Italy: I could have spent all day in the Uffizi Gallery. Oh wait, I did..

And just being in the city of Milan I've gotten to do some pretty neat things! I've visited the World Expo, eaten at Wes Anderson's cafe Bar Luce, visited the Missoni exhibit and of course climbed on top of the Duomo!

Anna Akhmatova had it right when she said, "Italy is a dream that keeps returning for the rest of your life". I know this place will be with me long after I leave and I know that it will be waiting for me patiently till I return!

Check out where other bloggers have been traveling to this summer! Click below to find the links to the rest of the posts in the Blogger Postcard Travels Linkup! Also use the hashtag #bloggerpostcardtravels to see all of their photos on Instagram! Ciao ragazze!

An InLinkz Link-up

A Recipe For: Friendsgiving

{Photo from A Beautiful Mess}

The concept of "Friendsgiving" is something that I've seen buzzing around the internet lately and I really love it! Thanksgiving will always be one of my favorite holidays. Food, family and football - I mean it doesn't get much better than that! Being a college student, I am always ready to hop in the car and take the trek back home for this festive fall holiday but with all of my roommates back in different states with our families we never get to celebrate together! Luckily, Friendsgiving picks up right where Thanksgiving ends! It let's you spend time together, eating and talking about all that you're thankful for with, well, your friends!

So how do you do Friendsgiving? Here's my recipe!

Step 1: Invitations // Send out some DIY printed invitations in the mail or just shoot an e-card with a talking turkey! Make sure all of your friends are on the list and be prepared for a packed dinner table!

Step 2: Potluck // As the host you are responsible for the turkey of course however let your friends bring the rest! In the invitations, divide up the food by alphabetical order to make sure that your cranberry sauce, baked apples or stuffing is not left out! Also, don't forget the apple pie!

Step 3: Decorate // Set the scene! Friendsgiving banners, leafy centerpieces and chalkboard seating markers add a nice and festive touch to your friendly feast!

Step 4: Give Thanks // Once all your guests have arrived and everyone is seated be sure to give thanks! Go around the table and have this happy discussion with your friends. This is what makes it so great!

Step 5: Eat // Need I say more?


** This post is part of the MM Linkup with Corbin and Laura Leigh from The Classy South and Louella! Check out the other bloggers that were part of the Linkup through this link! **

Dig into the food and enjoy this Friendsgiving! Plan a time before everyone is with their families and spread this holiday to all of the important people in your life. What do you think of Friendsgiving?!
Emily

Gameday Girls Link-Up!

Woo hoo it is the best time of year: Football season. Being from Lexington, Kentucky I will always be an SEC girl at heart living for Saturday afternoon tailgates with music blaring, the grill fired up and a cat paw tattoo on my cheek. Game days in the south are definitely an experience! It's such a great time seeing family and friends excited for the festivities and it's an even greater excuse to dress up! 

I keep my eye out all year for blue dresses for the UK games and red and black dresses for football games while I'm at school! In any SEC town there are always countless boutiques filled with solid dresses in the hometown school's colors! Although my school's football team isn't as much as a focus like it would be at a large state school we still like to get dressed up for games! I always try to keep a look out for unique dresses like {this enlarged red herringbone dress} to stand out a little bit on those Saturdays! When all else fails, a simple black dress with your school color's accessory always works! Scarves for the win! 

For me, the go-to shoes are a pair of boots whether that's riding boots or cowboy boots or sometimes even Hunters. Tailgating fields are usually super muddy and there's no point in ruining a pair of wedges or having muddy toes! Pick something comfortable that you can walk around in all day and you don't mind getting a little messy!

A cute dress, cowboy boots and your sorority pin! Looks like you're ready to go! Here's a picture from our Homecoming tailgate this past weekend with some other KDs! Saturday's in fall will always be my favorite!

This post links back to Corbin's blog {The Classy South}! Check out all of the other girls' game day looks on her post! 

What does your school typically wear for football games?

Emily

Feeling Fall Linkup!

Truly so many fall posts and so little time! Today's post is actually a link up! Thanks to Carrie from {Carrie on Blogs} today's post is actually a link up! And! It's all about my favorite fall trends and highlighting scarves!

So I really can't say it enough but scarves are the best! Here's a look at one of my favorites in my ever-growing collection! It looks great paired with a white tshirt but I also love matching it with a black and white striped tee for a little different look! With the chillier weather coming in I can't wait to throw it over top of some camel sweaters or to brighten up a khaki trench!

Here are some questions for the link up!

1. What's your favorite fall trend?

Right now it's definitely felt hats. I love this retro look and it's courageous but when it's pulled off well it's such a fun statement!

2. What is your favorite fall Starbucks drink?

Chai tea is my favorite all year round. I've already switched over to hot chai and at Starbucks I'll ask for a touch of vanilla added to really give it a cozy taste.

3. If you could only wear one pair of boots for this whole fall season, which pair would they be?

Oh this is tough! Right now I've been wearing my Ariat cowboy boots a lot! I guess it's the southern in me. I love the look with dresses and a girly necklace or tucked into jeans with a flowy top! I'm planning on pairing them with some brown tights once it gets a little chillier outside!

4. What is your favorite fall activity?

Football! One of the reasons why fall is my favorite is because it's college football season. Coming from an SEC hometown it's definitely in my blood. Dressing up, tailgating and cheering on the Cats will always be one of my favorite things!

Hope you enjoyed my fall link up! What are your answers to these questions?!

Emily