Required Reading: Week of March 31

Ciao from the eternal city! 

After a whirlwind first week and weekend full of delicious food, time with friends and lots of learning, I am full of inspiration for new posts on the blog.

I've figured that I will definitely try to be posting during the week, but will be taking the weekends off (mini-breaks will prevent me from taking weeks at a time off). So, here's an abridged version of this week's required reading, featuring some of Italy's finest:

Fashion: Italians have flawless style (more on this later in the week). I've seen the craziest shoes, most gorgeous coats and airy scarves as locals transition from winter to spring. Click here for Refinery29's guide to mastering chic European style.

Beauty: Now that spring is here, it's time for a much needed spring cleaning. Allure has an in-depth guide to cleaning all of your beauty brushes and tools. Read about it here.

Wellness: I have been walking so much since I got to Italy. No wonder so many Italians are in great shape! Given the traffic and sometimes inconsistent public transportation, walking is often the fastest way to get somewhere. The first day or so, I was honestly so sore it was embarrassing (okay, I do have to climb up six flights of stairs every day to get to my apartment!), but I've totally noticed a change in my body. Here are some benefits of walking that will encourage you to skip the subway and walk.

Recipe: I tried cacio e pepe pasta for the first time a few days ago and absolutely love it. While this simple dish isn't the healthiest, it is so delicious! Make it at home here.

Song of the Week: "This Head I Hold" by Electric Guest

xoxo

The Eternal City

Buongiorno from Rome, Italy!

 I took the last few days off as I was traveling to Europe and settling into a new routine in Rome for my three month study abroad program. I am so excited to be studying the art and architecture that surrounds me in Italy as well as learning some more italian.

Rome is also a city full of vibrant culture, gorgeous fashion and delicious food, so I will be inspired to share what I'm thinking as well as "normal" content throughout the next 11 weeks.

Here are a few pictures from the beginnings of my adventure:

In front of the Spanish Steps

A cappuccino from the historic Cafe Grecco

Me at Caffe Grecco

Ciao!

xoxo

Documentaries

Those of you who know me well, know I am a total nerd when it comes to learning random facts and stories. I adore books like Freakonomics, Fish Sticks and basically anything by Malcolm Gladwell. 

I think my love of documentaries is in line with my obsession to learn, well, everything I can.

Yesterday, I watched two slightly older documentaries on Netflix and was fascinated by both.

The first was Jesus Camp (2006) which is a little more controversial, but intensely interesting. My family had to drag me away from the TV to have lunch because I didn't want to stop watching. Essentially, Jesus Camp is a film directed by Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing about an evangelical Christian summer camp. 

The second was Freakonomics: The Movie which was directed by Heidi Ewing, Seth Gordon, Alex Gibney, Eugene Jarecki, Morgan Spurlock and Rachel Grady. It is basically Steven Levitt's Freakonomics (the book) adapted to the big screen. However, the visual imagery helps explain Levitt's theory of incentive-based thinking clearly and provides some real-world examples beyond the book. Definitely a good alternative for those people who don't love reading, but I much preferred the actual text.

Watching these two movies got me thinking about watching others. I now realize that I see a lot of more political/activist documentaries (think: Sicko, Food Inc., An Inconvenient Truth, Bowling for Columbine, etc.) so I've made a list of documentaries I'm excited to watch during my upcoming study abroad (hello long transit times), that are more focused on art and pop culture- I seriously cannot believe I haven't seen some of these! 

We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks (2013)
A documentary that details the creation of Julian Assange's controversial website, which facilitated the largest security breach in U.S. history.

As an aspiring journalist, I am constantly thinking about privacy and its relationship to news. As technology increases exponentially, we are now forced to think about how we define privacy, especially in the context of the internet. I know this film will certainly be thought provoking!

Catfish (2010)
Young filmmakers document their colleague's budding online friendship with a young woman and her family which leads to an unexpected series of discoveries.

Embarrassingly enough, I used to be addicted to the TV show Catfish. I think this is a reflection my childhood obsession with detective stories (I also love watching TV shows like CSI, Law and Order, etc). I am so excited to watch the documentary that started it all.

The September Issue (2009)
A documentary chronicling Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour's preparations for the 2007 fall-fashion issue.

Somehow, this film totally slipped by me. All I know is that the topic is right up my alley and I can't wait to get an up close look at magazine production.

Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)
The story of how an eccentric French shop keeper and amateur film maker attempted to locate and befriend Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera back on its owner. The film contains footage of Banksy, Shephard Fairey, Invader and many of the world's most infamous graffiti artists at work.

I have seen a lot of Banksy's artwork in person and have read numerous articles on the artist, but have heard rave reviews about this film. The timing could not be better as Banksy has left his mark on Italy too!

Shut Up & Play the Hits (2012)
On April 2nd 2011, LCD Soundsystem played its final show at Madison Square Garden. Documenting this once in a life time performance and an intimate portrait of James Murphy as he navigates the lead-up to the show, the day after, and the personal and professional ramifications of his decision.

My high school self was totally devastated when LCD Soundsystem broke up (why?!), so I think this documentary will provide some clarity. Plus, I absolutely love watching documentaries about musicians (trust me, I've seen every Beatles movie there is) so I look forward to listening to some great music while the story unfolds.

Hearts of Darkness (1991)
Documentary that chronicles how Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now (1979) was plagued by extraordinary script, shooting, budget, and casting problems--nearly destroying the life and career of the celebrated director.

Apocalypse Now is a simply incredible film. In fact, it is one of my favorites (and somehow the book Heart of Darkness is too). This behind-the-scenes look will definitely enhance my understanding of the film.

Happy watching!

xoxo

A Much Needed Break

It's been a little over a week since my last post, which is the longest I've ever gone without writing something for the blog. The past few days have been filled with finals, goodbyes, plane rides and time with family at home. With all the emotions and mental exhaustion, I simply didn't feel like my content was meeting my standards, so it seemed that some time off was in order.

I am currently home for a "mini spring break" (think: 4 days) with my family before I head off to Italy where I will be studying abroad for spring quarter. I thought it was really important for me to take some pressure off by taking a break from blogging while I prepare for the trip, spend time with family and catch up on sleep. I have to say, it has been somewhat liberating. 

I wrote in the past about struggling to find inspiration. What I didn't include in that post is that sometimes, time away from a project is exactly what you need to get the inspiration you want. My blog's audience has been growing steadily, which has made me come up with a laundry list of changes I want to make and ideas I want to implement in order to make my blog better. However, right now there doesn't seem to be much time for anything beside posting, which I am okay with.

Over the past week, I've slept a lot, spent time with my family and generally let go of responsibility. It's been kind of cathartic to be in an environment where I don't really have to keep it together as much as I do when I'm away from home. I can't and shouldn't try to do it all. Somewhere between getting a facial and eating fish tacos, I found some semblance of inner peace and a lot of inspiration. And while I cannot (and will not) promise to post regularly while I'm abroad, I have a lot I want to share with my readers!

So, look forward to a slew of different posts this in the next few weeks full of fashion, literature, beauty and travel-- all starting tomorrow. Here's to a wonderful week!

xoxo

Upgrade with an Updo

I love mixing and matching clothes, jewelry and accessories but there's one thing I rarely change: my hair. I have extremely straight hair with side bangs that I actually really like mainly because it's low maintenance- I wash it daily with shampoo and conditioner, occasionally apply some kind of finishing product (although it isn't necessary unless I want to curl it) and blow dry for about 5-7 minutes and voila- done! This is perfect for me on "normal days," but other times I want to change things up. And by that I don't mean just curling it (although I like how it looks when I do that), I mean I actually want to learn how to make my hair look good in an up do.

Sometimes I'm not sure if this will look good given that I'm 5' 7 and don't want my head to look tiny, but I think a piece-y or loose look that keeps my bangs forward might end up looking really nice. 

Here are the looks I've been loving and tips I've found for achieving the perfect updo:

Ponytails and buns are super easy for every day- especially during finals. However, to take your pony tail to a higher level, add a volumizing mousse to your hair before you blow dry. Then, keeping the natural part in your hair, sweep up the sides. Pull a few pieces forward on both sides (especially important for  gals with side bangs to keep them from looking uneven).

Play with adding curls using a curling iron or straightening your hair if it is naturally curly. In terms of the elastic, I usually prefer to use a neutral color and then wrap a piece of my own hair around it so it is blended in. However here are a few adorable hair ties that I just love:

Jeweled hair accessory / Forever 21 hair accessory / Nicole Miller antique hair pin / American Apparel bow hair accessory / Hair clip accessory / Head wrap hair accessory / Juicy Couture bow hair accessory / Tasha barrette hair clip / J Crew headband hair accessory / Flower hair pin / Hair accessory / Tasha crystal hair pin

L Erickson bow headband / Henri Bendel hair accessory / Tasha glitter headband / Tova hair accessory / Henri Bendel hair accessory / GUESS rhinestone hair accessory / Henri Bendel hair accessory / J Crew hair accessory / Bow hair clip / Forever 21 hair bow

xoxo

2014 Academy Awards Highlights

The Oscars, which aired over this past weekend, were full of beautifully dressed and highly talented movie stars. Here are my favorite picks from the festivities:

Oscar Highlights by prosepearlspolkadots on polyvore.com

xoxo

Required Reading

News Story: Read the results and commentary from the 86th Academy Awards in the NYTimes.

Fashion: Want to dress like the star of  your favorite Oscar-Nominated movie? Read Vogue's guide to the big screen here.

Long Read Essay: My dad sent me this article from The Economist earlier this week about the recent challenges democracy is facing as a political idea, especially in light of the Ukranian protests.

Arts & Culture: Who isn't obsessed with Jennifer Lawrence? She's just so cool. Buzzfeed's Anne Helen Petersen wrote this interesting article about J.Law and the history of cool girls like her who charmed the world with their great looks and even better personalities.

Beauty: Fashion week is over and the verdict is in! Here are 2014's most-wanted makeup colors according to Allure Magazine.

Wellness: On the verge of a cold? Stop it quickly by following these tips from the Huffington Post.

Recipe: Try making Joy the Baker's cinnamon kettle corn for a quick, easy and delicious study snack perfect for during finals. Recipe here.

Song of the Week: "Changing of the Seasons" by Two Door Cinema Club

xoxo 

Try Out A New Texture

Whenever a special occasion comes up, I find myself wanting to try out a new hairstyle. I usually want to add volume and curls to my extremely straight hair (which, for the record I actually like on the day to day). However, I have pretty fine hair, so getting big bouncy curls isn't always easy. After getting my hair done professionally a few times and helping my friends style their hair, here are the tips and products I use to keep hair looking just how you want it all day (and night) long. 

Curly, frizzy, wavy or thick hair? Try a straight look.

The first step to achieving the look you want is starting in the shower. Begin layering on products that will help you achieve the hair texture you want to end up with. Start with Bumble and Bumble Straight Shampoo and then layer Bumble and BumbleLet It Shine Conditioner to start with a sleek shiny base. After washing and conditioning, rinse your hair a final time with cold water to seal the cuticle. Then wring out your hair with a cotton towel or tee shirt that will absorb moisture better than terrycloth. Massage a quarter size amount of Bumble and Bumble Straight Blow Dry Cream into your scalp and focus on the ends of your hair. Then blow dry with an ionic blowdryer and nozzle, pulling strands taught as you go. Use Drybar's Flatiron to straighten 1 1/2 inch pieces of hair and add shine and moisture with Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil styling product 

Pin straight hair? Go curly

Remove product buildup and get weightless volume with Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo. Then add  Bumble and Bumble Thickening Conditioner. When you get out of the shower, towel (or tee shirt dry) to absorb water and disperse an egg size amount of Bumble and Bumble Thickening Mousse into your hands. Rub the product between your hands until it becomes a rich lotion and evenly disperse through hair, focusing on the roots. Blow dry your hair with an ionic hairdryer and round brush, pointing the nozzle of the brush upward at the roots to get more volume. When hair has cooled, spray  CHI Iron Guard al over your hair and let air dry. Then curl 1/2 inch sections of hair with Drybar's 3 Day Bender Curling Iron. As you curl, spray Bumble and Bumble Classic hairspray on each curl. After you're finished curling, mist your entire head with hairspray.

Straight hair? Lots of curls? Try soft waves.

In the shower, wash your hair with Bumble and Bumble Surf Shampoo and Conditioner. Then apply an egg size amount of Drybar Southern Belle Mousse to your hair after rubbing it between your hands into a lotion. Blow dry hair straight and then set 1 to 1 1/2 inch sections with T3 Hot Rollers. Allow these to sit at least until they are cool (the longer the better) and then undo each curl one by one, starting from the bottom. Mist each curl with Drybar Money Maker Hairspray. After all of the pieces have been released, flip hair over and spray more hairspray to get extra volume.

Happy styling!

xoxo

Pastel Preview: Step Into Spring in Style

Spring is just around the corner, right? I can feel it! I absolutely love spring pastels, so here are some of my favorite accessories that will help you transition into the new season:

Nancy Gonzalez  / Lanvin / Kotur / Chanel / Versace Valentino / Alexander McQueen / Tory Burch 

Rebecca Minkoff

Alexander McQueen Smoking Slipper / Tory Burch Smoking Slipper / Chloé Ballet Flats / Tory Burch Ballet Flat / Coach Heels / Salvatore Ferragamo Flats / Manolo Blahnik Heels / Valentino Heels

Happy Saturday!

xoxo