Italy in 4 days

Stopping by Florence, Venice and Rome. Picture is of the Villa la Vedetta in Florence where we'll be for 3 glorious nights, I am sure.

Tips for finding those amazing gem hotels when traveling:

I like to use www.kiwicollection.com and www.slh.com for their list of finely curated hotels. Prices range from low (I've seen $80 USD) to heartbreak (stacks on stacks) but quality and magnetism is always consistent across the board. Most likely, any where you go, there is a hidden magical gem to be found at your price range.

Will report back soon, wanderlusters!

Ask and you shall receive

I'm bored. Go check out my formspring, and ask me a question. thanks.

Maybe

We all ordered a glass of wine that evening. They were both meeting for the first time but both had been my long time friends for years now. It was my little test, putting them together to see if they had chemistry.

The evening dragged on and we had reached talks of long lost loves. The nostalgia was kicking in along with the wine. I savored the moments of laughter because they had been so rare in my life as of late.

As we parted ways, sharing parting kisses on the cheek, my girlfriend pulled me aside. Out of earshot of our friend, she asked, "Did you know?"

"Know what?"

"That he's in love with you?"

Mortality

It doesn't matter where I go, not any more. I can be any where in the world and that will be where he is. As long as I am happy he is with me. He was my first love and continues loving me even as his bones turn to dust.

I am in bed reading and suddenly thoughts of my grandfather came flooding. I miss him so much. I wish he could have gone to Paris with me. Maybe he did, there at Pere Lechaise, in the quiet solitude between the stone graves and their mossy coats. There was a light drizzle the entire time I was there and the sun was no where in sight. There was constant contact upon my face with nature and it was almost comforting, to be in such a timeless place among so many sleeping souls, with the rain always surrounding me, reminding me that I wasn't alone. I took my time there and took the long way through the cemetery to find Oscar Wilde's grave. I didn't want my journey to end upon discovery, I wanted the search to last forever. In my darkest hours, I imagine myself back at that beautiful place, full of life, yet all at peace, making my way towards him. Perhaps he was walking right beside me all along. That would be so nice to have shared such a lovely quiet walk, like the many bike rides we shared together in my childhood; the smell of morning dew and early day sunrise is synonymous with his smile. And what a charming smile he had!

It does seem a bit macabre doesn't it? To yearn for a cemetery, but for me they have never represented death but have always meant life, and hopefully a life fully lived. There is a peace that comes when we accept our mortality. In realizing that it is transient we realize that love is not. It lasts forever, long after the house has been torn down or abandoned, the soul leaving the body, his love will always remain.

I'm a pessimist. Ask me on any given day if I believe in love, I will always confidently say that I don't. But that's not entirely true because he loves me more than anything in the world and I did nothing to deserve it. Maybe that's the only type of love that I believe in, the bond of blood and family. Beyond that, I can confidently say that I don't.

all i need is the air i breathe

The biggest lobster sandwich I've ever had.

 The check came tucked inside a little book.

 The details in these little bulbs were my favorite

Green. So much green that just makes you feel calm

Can you just imagine a beautiful wedding reception happening here?

Tagged

So I was tagged, not too recently (sorry I am notoriously late to these things) by Ms. Givens. And here goes (unfortunately, I won't be tagging anyone back since I pretty much only keep in touch with about 3 bloggers lol):

The Rules:

1. Post these rules.
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
5. Go to their blog and tell them that you've tagged them.
6. No stuff in the tagging section about 'you are tagged if you are reading this' You have to tag 11 peeps.

11 Random Things About Me:
1. I am obsessed with collecting mirrors, pretty hand carves framed ones. White, antique ones.
2. Avocados with sugar or honey are my favorite snacks.
3. I don't drink soda. None.

4. Being short, I live in heels.

5. Currently listening to "This Years Love" by David Gray

6. I also collect tiaras/crowns. Yea...

7. I am currently freelancing as a digital marketing consultant, and it makes me really happy.

8. Winter is just god-awful. The cold is depressing. The lack of sun kills me.

9. I leave my window curtains open a lot for natural light.

10. Lint really annoys me.

11. I am lactose intolerant, as most Asians seem to be.

My Answers to what Ms. Givens asked me:

1. Favorite artist? Right now - M83
2. Place you want to retire? Croatia, New Caledonia or Paris
3. How did you get started blogging? I have too much not to say & share.
4. Do you thrift shop? Sometimes. Once I found a Philip Lim dress for $70, but it was a size triple zero, if that exists.
5. Do you volunteer? All the time. I am starting my own non-profit.
6. What's you favorite book ever? The Secret Garden.
7. Rings or earrings? This one is tough. I can't live without both, but I always always have my grandmother's diamond ring on me at all times.
8. McDonalds or Panera? Neither. Chipotles is my fast food of choice.
9. Do you do your own nails or go to a salon? I get my gel nails done at the salon, though am seriously contemplating getting my own diy kit to save some dough. $40 each time is not smart.
10. Your favorite dessert? Creme Brulee
11. Married or not? Not. Married to books and beautiful things.

Thank you Ms.Givens for tagging me and being such a great regular reader. I truly appreciate it.

we have been the mystery of the universe

"How are the waters of the world sweet—if we should die, we have drunk them. If we should sin—or separate—if we should fail or secede—we have tasted of happiness—we must be written in the book of the blessed. We have had what life could give, we have eaten of the tree of knowledge, we have known—we have been the mystery of the universe.”

Love is not over rated

delicately crafted tear

The Rape of Persephone by Bernini. He was only 23 when he completed this.

"Proserpina’s lips are slightly opened, as if she were screaming and begging for help. Upon closer examination, one would notice the delicately crafted marble tears that look as though they are dripping down her face." via wikipedia

Sternberg’s Love Theory

the perfect white dress

Loving Lykke Li's song Sadness is a Blessing, but even more, I cannot take my eyes off the cut of her white dress. If anyone knows me, I think a girl can never have enough white dresses. I need this desperately. If only just to prance around in my own room.

image

"an infinite nighttime lit by streetlights"

I've been down these roads before and sometimes in my best nights, I feel like I live here, forever driving. In this utter in between from home and where I think my happiness lies. I am driving to it, constantly, but the road never ends and I am left forever anticipating what it would feel like to finally reach that destination.

In the quiet nights when there is no cloud and just the moon, we share a moment and I feel safe. No one is around and I am the only one on the road, darkness hugging me tightly, comforting me. I don't need to get there. The destination isn't all that important. It was always all about the ride.

umm...what?! Versace for H&M Cruise not available stateside

I just saw this by chance because I am obsessed with Instagram and saw someone overseas showcasing their purchase. They made other prints, but I've taken a liking to this fruity Chiquita girl print of their's. So once again, the US gets left out of more cool shit, like the second release of Versace for H&M (Cruise Collection). It's not like I would even be able to get my hands on one of these because we all know the ebay hoarders (oh excuse me, and true fashionsitas) get in line about 50 hours before store opening and ebaying it later will just leave you dead broke. These stupid designer collections that are priced for the 99% of us are a test of dedication of how enslaved we are to labels and enthralled by the thought of "limited editions."

I digress. I'm just mad that label-whores stateside were not given the same opportunity to throw more money on useless overpriced clothing, all for a chance to wear the name Versace [for H&M].

Someone is winning today, and it's not US.