Holiday Festivites with my Florence Friends

As I have said before one of the greatest parts about traveling is getting to meet new people. You may remember from my last trip (back in November) to Italy that I had made friends in Rome with two girls; Giada and Alice, who are originally from Florence. We have since continued to stay in touch and made plans for when they come to the states.  With the holiday break both girls had come back home to Florence and I got to meet up with them again. Giada was gracious enough to invite me over to her home to celebrate the holidays with her and her friends the real Italian way. Which consists of; great company, a first course, wine, second course, wine, cigarette break, espresso, main course, wine, cigarette break, desert, desert-wine, another espresso and of course tons of conversation. Giada was such a great host, and her friends were very welcoming. Giada’s group of friends they have an annual holiday dinner together (Something I am planning on incorporating in my life when I get back home). This is an all day event, so apologies if I am not making much sense, I am tired and still in a bit of a food coma. So the day pretty much went like this; Giada woke around 7 to get a friend at the train station, came home cooked two turkeys, along with all the other dishes, we watched Miracle On 34th Street, listened to 80s music (which is quite popular here), ate, drank wine, talked… all over about 9 hours. This was the first time Giada had cooked turkey, apparently that is only an American thing. Luckily I’ve had plenty was able to help them carve it, cause they were a bit unsure how to serve it. It was funny once they set them down on the table they stared at the turkey, said something in Italian, looked at me, looked back at the turkey and looked back at me for a cue. It was great though getting to experience a holiday in a new way.  The food was amazing! Unfortunately I am not able to share it with you but here are some pictures, sorry. I can’t wait until they come to visit in the states so I can return the favor.

 

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Merry Christmas!

I hope you all are having a Merry Christmas! This year I spent Christmas in Roma, we started the day off with a couple of cappuccinos and mass at the Vatican. It was such a great experience to attend mass by the Pope himself. I can cross that off my bucket-list (which I’m still writing). The plaza in front of the St. Peters Basilica was filled with hundreds of people from around the world all gathered to celebrate together, it was a lot of fun to look around and listen to all the different languages. But however you celebrate from my family to yours Happy Holidays ❤

 

 

The Worlds Greatest Christmas “Card”

One of my favorite things about the holidays is getting (in the mail) Christmas cards! You know the ones your mom usually forced in to taking back in the summer. It is always something I look forward to receiving, and I’m sad I’m not home to see who sent what this year. I have noticed that over the years that less and less people are actually evening doing those anymore. If they are it’s no long sent via your local mail service but email. (BORING) I could just check-in with you on your constantly updated social media page. For me I like the being able to have something tangible its more meaningful to me. It’s also fun to break out the ones from years past and see the changes among the different families. But I recently came across this video that has to be the greatest holiday mood booster ever! Being a film student I know this video took a lot of work to put together, and it is just so stinking cute! I’m okay if this is the direction “holiday cards” are going in, I’m not okay with they completely disappearing. Just because we can instantly update our friends and family via social medias I think its important to send out those family holiday cards. They really mean more to people then you would think. But this year this family gets the cake for best Christmas “card”! Check it out for yourself:

Dear Santa,

If you happen to be reading this you already know I’m on the good list (at least I hope so). I can’t remember the last time I actually made a list, but what the heck. Here are just a few of the things on my mind that would be great gifts. Not just for me but any 20-something girl:

1. Miss Dior Perfume                                             2. The gift of coffee

3. A Nikon Lens                                                         4. Marc Jacobs Watch

5. Aria Sonic Skin Cleansing System                                  6. Tickets to Britney’s show in Vegas

7. My Dream Bag                                                          8. Tickets to Coachella!

Sincerely,

Ashley xo

Happy Turkey Day!

I hope you are all having a wonderful Thanksgiving! I am so thankful for all the wonderful people in my life and glitter! No big family feast for me this year, instead an interesting performance and wine.

Christmas is coming!

Today when I went to Starbucks it hit me- Christmas is coming! Christmas music was playing, decorations were out along with their holiday edition product.  This seems to happen more and more as I get older, that I find the holiday seasons to come up all of a sudden. It was just summer and now already Christmas. Who’s fast forwarding the clock? Tell them to slow down so I can catch up. It was funny cause I had gone in for a pumpkin spice latte and they said they no longer had it. I couldn’t believe it, how could they not have it through November? That’s the best part about this season, the holiday flavors. Anyway settled for a gingerbread latte instead-it tasted like Christmas. What’s your favorite holiday drink?