next stop: montauk

images sourced via pinterest

Okay, so we may not end up in Montauk, but I couldn't resist that title and it's definitely a location we're going to try to hit today as we embark to Long Island! It's a girls weekend that I have been looking forward to for a while. I love spending time with my mom and stumbling upon the most unexpected places. Some things I am hoping to do:

- shoot an outfit post somewhere along a cute main street.
- visit sag harbor, NY
- see the windmills
- whaling museum?
- get some fresh cut lavender or buy some fresh flowers.
- squeeze in a coffee diaries
- tour the theodore roosevelt home at sagamore hill
- see a lighthouse (I don't have a preference to which one) :)

I've got my weekender packed, the car is filled, to-go coffee in my hand. I'm wearing the most nautical chunky sweater I could find to fit in with the seafaring theme. Can't wait to get on the road! Have a great weekend, everyone! ciao, xo

coffee diaries (for two!) | profile coffee roasters

This coffee diaries post is an exceptionally significant one. Let me preface it by saying this...it includes an amazing new cafe, but to make it even better, I was joined by a long time friend from the blogging world who I finally met in 'real' life - it's going to be hard to contain my excitement writing this!!

I started blogging in 2010. If you're a blogger yourself, you may know some of the challenges as well as the empowering moments that blogging brings. I've dealt with the ups and downs of blogging that we all deal with! The times have been good: opportunities to travel, collaborations, and nurturing creative dreams. The times have had their troubling moments: being hacked and starting from scratch, struggling with the privacy issue, and of course, staying authentic and original. Over the years, though, I have found bloggers and cultivated blog friendships that make all of it the best part.

Which brings me to my next point....Kerri (and our mystery photobomber! he made us giggle).

I am not sure exactly when I first started reading her blog, but we soon "hit it off" as bloggers do. Through sweet and encouraging comments, then following each other, and staying in touch with social media. I soon realized that we are both PA girls, and we have such similar interests! Kerri has given me fantastic coffee diaries recommendations, and this place was totally her idea. We had always resolved to meet up for coffee, once things started getting less busy, but it never seemed to happen. Life happens, right?

I've followed her for a while now, and I can say that her posts are consistent with themes of grace, elegance, and inspiration. I love her bright and colorful style, her honesty and authenticity, and of course can totally relate to her affinity for the countryside! We stayed in touch mostly through instagram and blogging, but I turned my blog private this past year and kinda fell off the radar.

So...this past weekend, our plans for coffee actually came to fruition! Meeting Kerri was the BEST! It  is such a weird phenomenon to meet someone for the first time in "real life" but feel like you're in such familiar company. It just felt like catching up with an old friend! When we started snapping photos of our lattes in unison, I knew that it was going to be the most fun coffee date.  She brought me the most precious gifts: a handmade bracelet (Kerri, you need to sell these, seriously!) and the most beautiful rose tea cup. It is perfect for intimate weekend moments when nothing but a cup of tea will do. It's perfect, and I love that Kerri makes a point to enjoy tea the right way (in teacups, not mugs!!)

We ventured out to a new cafe: Profile Coffee Roasters. I read about it by chance in the paper - it is a new cafe inspired by the Seattle coffee scene.  I love the small-town roots, although this cafe rivals any of its counterparts you could find in the city. The interior of the coffeehouse is clean, crisp, and bright; the counter/bar is adorned with warm wood tones and has the essentials of any classic cafe like chalkboard menus, cafe lights, and big windows. I ordered a simple skim latte (Kerri ordered a vanilla latte) and we were both fawning over our cups! The baristas - clearly knowing the way into my heart - poured in latte leaves. Note to self: learn how to do that someday so I can impress all my friends. The coffee was delicious, and it was good to support this new local business. I love shopping small. I'll keep coming back to this cafe because it's just plain, good coffee and has such an alluring coffeehouse atmosphere.

notes from the coffee diary:
- delicious, light, smooth finish
- intimate, bright coffeehouse feel
- balanced, full-bodied and just-right foam
- the latte art, though :)

Every coffee diaries post should be like this. I loved catching up with Kerri and turning a blog friendship into a real one. I've seen so many of my favorite bloggers do it and now I can understand the hype!  She helped me with some blog advice, and if you haven't noticed, there are some changes I've put into place since our meeting (i.e. no more private posts! helloooo, world!). Chatting about the blogosphere was inspiring, encouraging, and much-needed. Truthfully I became a little disenchanted with it all over the last year, which happens to a lot of people - but I like it too much to stop altogether. Talking to someone else who blogs really is helpful, especially when you're from an area that doesn't have a big concentration of bloggers. It was really empowering.

So, in a nutshell, best coffee date ever.

Profile Coffee & Roasters
21 S. Market St., Elysburg
@profilecoffeeandroasters

gettysburg

Today marks the 152nd anniversary of the Gettysburg Address.

 Last weekend my mom and I took a whirlwind, last-minute trip to Gettysburg, a place that neither of us had been before. For a sleepy Pennsylvania town, it is brimming with relevant history and is absolutely one of my favorite experiences in a while. It really was an investment to go, as a historian, and as a stakeholder in history education. It was powerful to see the sprawling, hilly fields of Gettysburg and contemplate what it may have looked like all those years ago. It was a somber but meaningful visit, especially as I am becoming more and more interested in the Civil War. Short weekend trips like this can teach you so much, and make you appreciate your country. It was really good timing, as today marks the anniversary of Lincoln's famous address; it was also the weekend after Veteran's Day which really made me think not only about our country, but the people who quietly gave what they could to serve to make our country great. In light of recent events I am even more grateful for this.

Not sure if I should be posting this, because technically we broke a rule...but my favorite part of the trip was going onto the fields at night. Not to hunt for ghosts, but to take pictures of the stars. The milky way was fantastic. Streams of stars lit the sky. Little bright balls of white developed the longer you kept your eye on them. The starlight picture above was taken at the site of one of the hospitals at Gettysburg, near Cemetery Ridge.

Even without the history, Gettysburg is a delightful town. All the locals that I spoke to love living there. It is quiet, simple, and well maintained. The town has a certain dignity along with its charm. We found some cute cafes and restaurants on the main street, Chambersburg Street, including this place and this place. 

I can't sufficiently express what I got out of this trip. I loved every second of it and can't wait to visit again.

ciao! xo

my first matcha

A few weeks ago, I posted about the challenges and benefits of going vegan - since then, it has gotten so much easier, and best of all, more fun. I am going to posit that going vegan seems easier in the summer, due to the constant availability of fresh and in-season produce. So I've really been enjoying it, while I generally miss dairy and chicken. I'm not a strict vegetarian, but I have really come to like - not love - the substitutions available (i.e. almond milk instead of milk). Actually, finding a way around my usual half-and-half creamer that I put into my morning coffee was very difficult.

I had heard about matcha lattes (aka green tea lattes) from one of my best Siena friends, and was immediately curious about this peculiar green coffee. This site does a beautiful job of explaining what it is (and how to make it), but to get to the point, matcha lattes are antioxidant-packed drinks that are experiencing quite a heyday on instagram right now. There's a little caffeine in matcha lattes, but after doing my reading I found that most people say that matcha leaves one relaxed rather than jittery. There is a tiny bit of caffeine, but overall it's a really delicate and light tasting latte, with a  soft taste of green tea. They can also be made with almond milk!

So since I am in California for a few weeks I decided to try it at The Source, my favorite cafe in the area. It never disappoints (except that finding seating is always difficult). I decided to go during the lunch hour, and splurged on a spicy veggie wrap to accompany my all-green matcha. You might think it an odd combo (it probably is), but it was aces. The matcha latte is definitely, in my own words, airy. It has a light and foamy quality, so much so that it almost doesn't taste like a latte at all. Aside from being beautiful, it's such a graceful little midday pick-me-up.

ciao! xo

first day of school!

Today is my first day of grad school! And I'm a little nervous. I completed my undergrad in 2012. It feels like ages ago, partly because it has been, but also because I have changed so much. Completely morphed. I had an unusual fondness for college, and I look back on it weirdly - I don't look back on my experience with nostalgia, like some people. Sharing food, dealing with dirty sinks, rooms that smell like bad smells covered by Febreeze - these are things I do noooooot miss.

I loved the school part of school. I enjoyed my professors and I enjoyed my classes. I graduated as a dual major, history and education - and my history classes were my absolute favorite. I didn't dread them or even mind them (sometimes the 6 to 9's were rough). So, I decided that for my master's I'd pursue history. It was, after all, my favorite. It was challenging. During the height of junior and senior year, I was whipping out 15 page papers with the same ease it takes me to make scrambled eggs. I was very good at writing and reading for context; I remember researching using microfilm and library archives and feeling kinda Indiana Jones-ish, exploring for the answers. I built up an endurance for the art of writing papers and researching.

I enrolled in a history program in January, with the intent to start that month. The syllabus hit me like a ton of bricks. It required thirteen books, 4-5 twenty page responses, and a final paper that was obviously really long (I don't remember exactly, I think while I was reading the syllabus my brain stopped). I was overwhelmed, and more than anything, scared. I knew that I could do it, but not while tackling a full time job, which I love and is, ultimately, more important. So, with deep regret and almost a twinge of shame, I opted out of the program. I knew that the type of work and time needed to be successful was something I just wasn't ready or able to give. My second option, education, is going to be my new route. And to keep things spicy, I think maybe I'll throw an Italian or photography class in there once or twice. What do you think?

ciao, xo

a new look

I am SO excited to unveil a new look for my blog. I am really happy with it! The template is a bit simple and sophisticated; the entire look of it (to me, at least) is very different and edgy. I have been toying with the idea not only for months, but for years. I have blogged for a very long time now (5 years total!!) and I think I owe this little source of happiness a much-needed makeover.

I have debated on removing my header (the three Italian scenes at the top) for months, too. I know that it isn't 'clean' or 'sophisticated' or 'chic' to some, but I just can't bring myself to get rid of it. I even tried to work with incorporating the flourishes on the lantern into the "A" of Anticipation, but it just seems hokey and disingenuous for me to do that. So, it stays. :)

This experience for me has kind of been like buying a car (minus the haggling and awful paper-signing). Actually may be it's not like buying a car. It's like after you've bought a car, and it's in your driveway, and even though you are inside and have things to do you just can't stop looking at that beautiful new car of yours! That's what I keep doing with my blog. I've probably had more hits today than ever. Yep, just me.

to renewals! 

ciao, xo

seeing the cherry blossoms

Spring is officially here!!! I was so happy a few weekends ago to finally check 'the cherry blossoms' off of my must-see list - it was right at sundown, the light pinks were accentuated with the dark orange hues of the sky. I love the soothing and cool hues in the photos. I'd also never seen the Jefferson Memorial. It is a beautiful structure, made even more stunning with these delicate heaps of flowers surrounding the Tidal Basin. Confession: I didn't leave the car for any of these photos. While that might make it sound like these are a bit more ingenuine, I think it makes me love them even more.

HOWEVER - the reason we didn't get out of the car was because of the ridiculous traffic and crowds due to the Blossom Festival. If you're like me and just want to snap a few good photos without dealing with crowds (slow walkers are my pet peeve), I'd pop out the window as a passenger like I did, if that is possible. I don't think I've ever seen more people!

I love how much I've been in DC the past few weeks! Check back soon for a DC coffee diaries :) It was such a good, impromptu find.

ciao! xo

carlsbad flower ranch

Carlsbad Ranch and their 50+ acres of ranunculus was the last spontaneous destination of the trip heading back from San Diego...and it was so. heavenly. beautiful. I truly have never been so overwhelmed by color. It was once-in-a-lifetime unforgettable.

One important reason why I am so fond of this memory is that it is so truly and completely spontaneous. I had never heard of anything like this in California, let alone the United States...I only thought that fields like this existed in Europe. I saw an editorial in a hotel magazine about the Flower Fields at Carlsbad the day before and was immediately curious and intrigued. And even more conveniently, it was located right on our way home - about 5 minutes off of our route. Fate? Yes!!

From the road, you could see the rows and rows and rows of vibrant bursts of color. Ask S - I think I was squealing. By the way, S was SO patient as we walked through here. It might not look like it from the pictures, but the place was teeming with tourists. It was also teeming with the happiest buds of ranunculus - a more delicate kind of peony - of every color imaginable. It was beautiful to see the variety of colors even within one row. From afar, it looks like blurred punches of one color, but when you walk up to the flowers and get on a closer level, you really see all of the flecks and variegated colors within the petals.

I could write a love letter to these fields. I want to sleep there, wear a big floofy dress in there, and just take thousands of pictures all day. As a photographer, this was a moment out of one of my dreams. I loved the cheerful vibes of the staff - I mean, I guess working at a place like this is the secret to happiness indeed. I want to cut a bunch for a gigantic bouquet, but then I don't - how could one ever willingly cut away from these gorgeous, undulating waves of color?

Carlsbad's peak season is from the end of March until May. I am so, so eternally happy that I was blessed with the opportunity to see this with S! He knows it meant a lot to me. I love the little hidden treasures like this. Go if you're ever down on I-5 by Carlsbad :)

Ps. Thanks to the @the_flower_fields for following me back on instagram! You guys are the coolest. Be back soon :)

ciao, xo

first time at the italian market

Sunday's trip to the Italian Market on 9th Street in Philly was my first time ever. It was a lot different than I thought it'd be, but I loved it nonetheless. Now, before I forget...here's what was on our produce shopping list (aka the shopping list that was 100% spur of the moment and completely unplanned).

• fresh asparagus
• grapes
• blueberries
• romaine lettuce
• baby spinach

Now, while the Italian market is very non-Italian in its look (and produce selection - pineapples?), the general feel was very bold,  tough-yet-loveable, especially once you're in line at Claudio's. We almost cut out a guy in front of us with his bag of De Cecco pasta, and we at once rectified our faux pas with a "sorry! you were in front of us!" He grunted back, "I know," and turned his shoulder to us.

Philadelphia is so lovely.

So while the produce market was the most photogenic, the stores selling the fresh-made pastas and aged cheeses were the ones that spoke to my soul. Claudio's and Talluto's (pictured) were the two that we poked into. At Claudio's, we surrendered to the most sumptuously sharp pecorino cheeses that were so crumbly and salty and flaky that my eyes rolled to the back of my head and took me instantly back to that tasting in Montepulciano. That was the day I became a cheese person.

We purchased a piccante pecorino, and another from Sardinia - both were fantastic. We also bought reeeeallly long spaghetti, pesto alla genovese, oh and more cheese smoked mozzarella (be still my beating heart), and marinated baby mozzarella. Claudio's was fun but tough. The guys behind the deli counter liked our passion for cheeses. I think by the time we left we were kind of buddies.

Then we rounded back to Talluto's for some arrabiata sauce, pesto agnolini (!!!), and a few more things that I can't remember.

All in all, a very successful first day ever of the Italian market. Mom and I gotta make it a monthly thing. When am I going back to Italy again??

ciao!! xo