Required Reading & Rome Update

Confession: Before I arrived in Rome, I not only overestimated not only how much time I would have to post, but also how much time I would want to spend posting. So for the past 4 weeks, my blog has been a series of random updates and excuses as to why I haven't been posting. In reality, I simply haven't wanted to devote an hour or more per day to writing.

This blog has always been my creative outlet- a side project that I didn't want to be stressful, but instead a place to share what I love and what inspires me.  During my first month in Rome, I wanted to soak it all in and explore, so I took a break from Prose, Pearls & Polka Dots.

And during that time, it felt great. 

But now that things have settled down, I am going to try to post a little more often when inspiration strikes me. However, while I am studying abroad my main priority is to soak it all in. And let me tell you- there is a lot to explore and experience.

I will be posting some more in-depth updates about the trip, but today I have some articles I have been reading to share for "Required Reading."

Note: This week's "Required Reading" won't feature the normal categories of what I post, but will be a compilation of different favorite things I have read online. 

1. For anyone who has, will or is studying abroad, this list of tips is helpful and mostly applicable to making the most of your trip. Especially number 15!

2. I am legitimately paranoid when it comes to sunscreen. When I was a sophomore in high school I went to an outdoor music concert in a tank top and forgot to reapply sunscreen to my shoulders. What seemed like months of peeling and redness later, the burn recovered but I still have a smattering of freckles across my shoulders. Now that spring has arrived, applying sunscreen all over is very important. Read this guide for head-to-toe protection.

3. I have been eating so much great pasta in Italy. What makes it stand out is just how well it is cooked- slightly al dente, but not too firm. When preparing pasta at home, follow these tips to get the perfect texture every time.

4. Now Smell This and The Olfactorialist are two blogs I consult whenever I'm looking for a new perfume. They recently came in handy lately when a perfume I had turned a strange color and started smelling strange- turns out I've been storing my perfume incorrectly (aka displaying them on my bedside table) all along. Follow these tips to make your scents last long and smell great.

5. One of my favorite websites is The Coveteur. Dedicated to following the lives fashion's biggest names, The Coveteur gives readers a peak into the closets of stylists, profiles new designers and highlights all things chic. This article about Grace Coddington of Vogue's birthday is phenomenal as is this look into make up artist Lisa Eldrige's home.

6. Finally, I have been recently loving theSkimm. My wifi hasn't been the most consistent while in Rome and my mornings start much earlier, so I haven't had as much time to peruse NYT right when I get up (thankfully since downloading the mobile version of the paper, I've been able to read it at lunch). However, for my morning informing, theSkimm is perfect. Monday through Friday, I get an email with important news stories even some fashion and entertainment updates. It's written very conversationally and is great for right when I get up in the morning. 

Happy Monday!

xoxo

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

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 

Required Reading

News Story: Follow the violent protests in Ukraine here.

Fashion: Get your Outfit Inspiration for the last week of February fro Lucky Magazine!

Long Read Essay: While this couldn't have been farther from my experience with Greek life in college, this essay titled "The Dark Power of Fraternities" is an interesting look at the challenges fraternities pose at many universities.

Arts & Culture:  An interesting read on the future of the Artist's Statement and its history. 

Beauty: Everything you've wanted to know about Heat Styling is covered by the beauty gurus at Refinery 29.

Wellness: Learn about the negative effects of stress on your body by reading: This Is You on Stress.

Recipe: Madeleines. Yum!

Song of the Week: Clint Eastwood by Gorillaz 

xoxo 

Required Reading

Sorry I've been a little MIA lately- between midterms, essays and a few doctor's appointments I haven't had much time for anything, including the blog!

News Story: Copies of Wendy Doniger's Book The Hindus: An Alternative History published by Penguin Books India were recalled and then destroyed after it was deemed offensive to Hindus. Read the thought-provoking story about censorship, economics and literature here and the follow up here.

Fashion: Check out Vogue's Instagrams from Fashion Week here! #vogueinstafashion

Long Read Essay: The Atlantic's Deborah Fallows wrote a really interesting article called "What We Mean When We Say Hello" analyzing what different questions in conversations mean depending on which part of the country you ask them in (for example, in South Carolina it's perfectly acceptable to ask "where do you go to church?" after you meet someone).

Arts & Culture: Check out these Vintage Olympic Photos from Vanity Fair that are timely given the games in Sochi.

Beauty: I've had bangs my whole life (right now, side bangs) and absolutely love them. A few of my friends have asked me about getting bangs, but I don't really have any kind of authority of hair styles. However, this Allure article might help you out if you're thinking about making the cut!

Wellness: This Refinery 29 post about tricks to improve memory has me excited to make some changes that will hopefully mean I'll remember everything from the items on my to do list to the terms on my Italian flash cards.

Recipe: Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix from Food 52

Song of the Week: New Politics' "Harlem" 

xoxo 

Required Reading: New Series!

Happy Monday!

Today, I'm excited to announce a new series on my blog called "Required Reading" (big thank you to the boyfriend for listening to a million different title ideas). Basically, I will be posting a list of must-reads about different topics to start off your week. Here are my picks for this week:

News Story: The 2014 Winter Olympics have begun. If you missed Russia's spectacular opening ceremony, NYT's Alessandra Stanley wrote a great (and funny) piece about the ceremony and its implications for the host country here. And follow NYT's coverage of 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games here.

Fashion: With NYFW 2014 well underway, what better way to see this season's trends than by flipping through Vogue's Street Style. From piling on the fur to layering tights, here's how the fashion elite bundle up.

Long Read Essay: The Atlantic has a really great series called "By Heart" in which different writers reflect on their favorite literary passages. Last week's article was by Dorthe Nors, reflecting on Ingmar Bergman's quote "Here, in my solitude, I contain too much humanity" about the importance of solitude for writing, and art more generally. Read it here.

Arts & Culture: NYT's Martha Schwendener reviews a new exhibition at Purchase College's Neuberger Museum called "Dear Diary: Update on All" here. The exhibition is about the evolution of the journal- from a private place to explore thoughts to a public discussion of happenings due to social media.

Beauty: This Allure article describes how to get the same peachy, feminine look as Oscar de la Renta's models during fashion week and also examines the chic french braids models sported.  

Wellness: This Refinery 29 post about what not to do when you're trying to boost your mood debunks some commonly held conceptions about how to get out of a funk.

Recipe: Dessert blog "Top With Cinnamon"'s Banana, Pecan, Coconut and Chocolate Chip Blondie recipe looks seriously amazing. Try it out here.

Song of the Week: Reptar's "Water Runs" ( from Body Faucet 2012)

xoxo