Weekend Recap: Stratton Trip '13

        Well I'm finally back from my girls weekend in Vermont! We all had such a good time, it was a much needed get together for all of us. If you ever have the opportunity, travel with your girlfriends, there is nothing better.

Quick recap:

       We got to Stratton Mountain Resort on Friday night around 8 after the long dark drive (plus side: my high beams got put to good use). We checked in and got settled into our Condo, which was huge and clean (phew). Our Friday night consisted of plenty of food, wine, comfy clothes and gossip which was really an ideal situation after a long day. I truly believe a night in with friends can be one of the best medicines out there and it really set the tone for the rest of the trip.

        Saturday morning we got up and headed out to the Manchester Designer Outlets for some retail therapy. If you're ever in Vermont you should definitely check them out, they're not a conventional outlet were all the stores are stationed in one little area, but it allows you to walk around Vermont, see some beautiful scenery and explore some local mom & pop stores as well. 

        We definitely did some damage at the outlets... I worried for a minute we wouldn't have room in the car for all our stuff. I'll be doing a post later this week highlighting my deals.

 

Side Note: We all had matching minion hats (like Despicable Me!), don't judge us.

       We spent a good chunk of our Saturday shopping in Manchester  so we didn't get back to our room until dinner time. Back in the condo we regrouped, showered and got ready for the night. We decided we wanted to go to a bar to get some pub food and drinks. Side note: since we went to the resort in September and not in the winter, Stratton is a ghost town. Empty. So despite our intentions of heading out for a night on the town, it ended up being us in a bar (the only bar in town open in September), completely by ourselves. Oh and we were trapped in the bar with the waitstaff for sometime because there was a bear outside and we couldn't leave. Glorious. But it ended up being a great story to share.

       My favorite part of the trip was Sunday, where we took the gondola up to the very top of the mountain. The view was amazing with all the leaves starting to change. It was a beautiful day and we couldn't ask for a more perfect way to end our trip. I'm not a skier so I was able to check standing on the top of a mountain off my bucket list without worrying about how I was gonna get down! After the mountain we stopped back at the outlets to pick up a couple more items, grab some lunch at this amazing deli called Zoeys and have some ice cream at Ben & Jerry's, because you can't spend the weekend in Vermont without a little Ben & Jerry's. 

Another minion hat photo op.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

xoxo

Sunday Thought

Hey guys! Happy Sunday, I'm still on my way home from Vermont but I thought I would leave you all with a thought of the day. Hope you all had a great weekend!

xoxo

15 Style Tips

       I found this list of 15 style tips from Michael Kors on Pinterest the other day and I have to say, I really agree with a lot of the things Michael has to say. I'm a huge Michael Kors fan, I have several dresses and bags from him and I love the way his styles flatters my body type, plus the pieces he creates are timeless and never go out of style, which is why it's worth it to spend the extra cash on products created by him. 

      Here are some of the 15 tips that really resonated with me:

1. Try on a few sizes first. Every designer cuts differently so don't get stuck on a number. -- I couldnt agree more with this statement, for the longest time I would stick to just grabbing things in my general size (especially pants) and become discouraged if something fit me weird. It's so important to try different sizes. Now I can proudly say I have items in my closet that range from extra small to large, because I'd rather find something that fits me right, rather than focus on a number.
2. A chunky mens belt takes the sweetness out of a soft silk dress and skirt.-- One of my favorite things to do is belt dresses. I feel like it gives me a better shape and I love pairing masculine pieces with a feminine dress.
3. Saddle colored leather bags, shoes, and belts are great neutrals that get better with age and work all year long.-- Since I am a navy lover, I love brown accessories. Designers like Michael Kors and Tory Burch have perfected the perfect saddle colored accessories. 
4. Great style means having a point of view, but evolving your look is even more important. Rushing to embrace every trend will leave you fashionable, not stylish.-- I love a good trend and expanding my wardrobe, but lately I've been working on staying away from spending big money on the trends, instead making a push to keep classic pieces in my wardrobe that will never go out of style. Fashion is supposed to be a fun way to express who you are, so embrace what works for you and makes you feel confident!

Which of Michael Kors tips do you relate to? 

Is there any advice would you add to the list?

xoxo

Friday Five

Happy Friday everybody! There are so many things I am looking forward to this weekend, so I thought I would give you my Friday Favorites!

Girls Weekend

I leave today for Stratton VT for a girls weekend with my 4 best friends. I feel like we made the plans forever ago and now it's finally here! Once the school year starts again it is so hard for all of us to be together since everyone gets busy with school and work so it's exciting that we were able to find a free weekend on everyone's schedules to be together. This weekend will be filled with a lot of wine, outlet shopping and gossip which sounds fabulous to me. Expect a weekend recap post when I get back.

                                                                     Essie Nail Polish

 My Essie Pink About it nail polish arrived in the mail this week. The profits from this nail polish goes to breast cancer awareness. I know everyone has been showing off their fall nail polish colors but theres nothing like a bright pink polish to brighten your mood.   

           

Design Darling New Arrivals

 The Design Darling Boutique always has great accessories for your desk and home but I'm loving the new pencils they've added. Sometimes you need a little pick me up when you have work to do. 

Warby Parker Home Try-On Kit

I just ordered my Warby Parker at home try on kit and I hope it is waiting for me when I get home from VT on Sunday. I've been in the market for a new pair of prescription glasses with a tortoise shell frame and Warby Parkers glasses fit right into my budget. I think it's so cool that they send you a free try at home kit with 5 frames of your choosing so you can find the frames that work best for your face. 

Butterfinger Brownies:

I found this recipe for Butterfinger Brownies on Pinterest. Don't they look amazing?!?! I definitely put these on my list of things to try and bake one day, when my sweet tooth is taking over. My mouth is watering just looking at them.

Essie Pink About It polish

Design Darling Pencil Set

Warby Parker Try-On Kit

xoxo

Shake Your Booties

      Two years ago I got a pair of brown booties from a tiny boutique in the mall that I loved, I since then I have gotten so much use out of them. The bootie is the perfect trend for fall because there are so many ways you can wear them, they look good with leggings, skinny jeans and even tights paired with a skirt. I also love that they have a ton of booties in stores that don't have a gigantic heel because a huge heel will deter me from buying them. I need a shoe I can walk more than 5 feet in without my feet hurting. But even with a shorter heel, these booties are so cute and stylish. 

      Since I have two pairs of booties, one in brown leather and the other in black leather so I think I am going to invest in a pair of suede boots this winter. I think my favorite of the 6 boots I chose are the Panelope Boot by Steve Madden (top right), aren't they a sharp looking shoe? But, if I hit the lotto between now and then I'll probably scoop up those Tory Burch booties as well. 

Are you digging the bootie trend?

Which ones are your favorites?

ALDO Brown Biker Booties

ALDO Taupe Ankle Boots

Steve Madden Panelope Bootie

Vince Camuto Holden Bootie

DV by Dolce Vita Jaxen Boot

Tory Burch Landers Bootie

xoxo

Day Two: C Wonder Fashion

     As I said in my last post I've been loving so many items on the C Wonder website, they have some really beautiful pieces for fall. Yesterday I focused on the jewelry that I loved, but today I'm going to focus on the clothing (and a couple of accessories). 

      I think that one of my favorite trends this fall are silk shirts. Mainly because they are classic and can be dressed up with a cute skirt or dressed down with a great pair of jeans. I really want to scoop up that navy silk button down in the picture above. I would totally choose navy over black any day. Side note: the pattern on the white shirt on the left hand side... are zebras! How cool is that?! All three of the button downs I mentioned would look great on their own or paired under a sweater or cardigan...possibly the adorable Dachshund wrap around crew neck sweater! 

     Every girl needs to own at least one little black dress (LBD). I have a couple sleeveless summer LBD's that are cotton material but now that it's colder it's time to pack them up and bring out the fall dresses. I love the embellished neck detail on this C Wonder dress, plus the A line skirt would be very flattering on most bodies. This dress would be perfect for a cocktail party or a date. 

      C Wonder has so many cute heels, but of course I am not coordinated enough to pull them off so I found a bunch of cute moccasins! I especially love these calf hair moccasins but they also had them in a variety of other colors. Don't they look super comfortable? Finally, going with my silk trend I love this brightly colored scarf! I'd even use it as a head scarf or headband. 

What are your favorite pieces from C Wonder?

Navy Silk Pocket Shirt

Dancing Zebra Silk Shirt

Embellished Neck Dress

Dachshund Sweater

Blue Gingham Button Down

Calf Hair Driving Moccasins

Silk Printed Scarf

**Side note: There is a Flash Sale going on till tonight on the C Wonder website, I was able to score some great deals***

xoxo

Day One: C Wonder Jewelry

     As much as I've been loving the new J Crew fall line there has been just as many items on my C Wonder wish list. So many items that I could not fit all of them in one post, so today I decided to focus solely on the jewelry I've been loving. I hate that their isn't a C Wonder in my area, but I've already mapped out my plan to check out their store in Soho when I head to NYC this December. Luckily for me, I don't have to worry about trying jewelry on before I buy it to make sure it fits, so I hope to snag some of their jewels before then. 

       As you can see I've especially been loving the C Wonder bangles and bracelets. They are all perfect statement pieces and so many of their products are monogrammed so you can pick out your own initial. Plus the initial necklace reminds me so much of Carrie Bradshaw's "Carrie" necklace in Sex and the City. I don't think I can decide which product of the 6 above I like more...decisions, decisions....

     When you're done making all your C Wonder jewelry purchases you can display them all in your very own monogrammed jewelry box! 

What are your favorite jewelry pieces from C Wonder?

Wide Enamel Initial Bangle

Skull Cuff

Buckle Bangle

Rectangle Bling Bracelet

Leopard Calf Hair Screw Bangle

Initial Necklace

Monogram Jewelry Box

xoxo

New Recipe: Lasagna

The Final Product

           Typically I post easy to make recipes for the girl too busy to cook but that is not the case today. I really love my lasagna recipe because its delicious but it does take a little while to make. When I am making a lasagna I normally make it on a Sunday afternoon when I have some time and either have it for dinner that night, or put it in the fridge for a pre-made dinner later in the week. You may want to put aside an hour of your time to prepare this because there are a lot of ingredients, but I promise it's not a confusing recipe and it will be worth the wait because its yummy.

The sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 box of Lasagna noodles (buy the "oven ready" kind so you don't have to boil/cook the noodles ahead of time)
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 4 garlic cloves, diced
• 1lb hot Italian sausage (I buy the ground package at the grocery store)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 (28 oz) can of crushed Italian tomatoes 
• 1 (6 oz) can of tomato paste
• 1 (16 oz) jar of Marinara Sauce (whatever brand you like)
• 1/4 cup fresh Oregano (or a palmful of dry oregano...)
• 1/2 cup fresh Basil (or a palmful or dry basil)
• 1lb whole milk ricotta cheese
• 1 cup parmesan cheese grated
• 1lb whole milk mozzarella cheese
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup parsley

Layers

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees (if cooking right away)
2. To make the meat sauce, heat the olive oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion and cook over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
3. Then add sausage to onion mixture, cook over medium-low heat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon for about 10-15 minutes or until fully cooked and no longer pink.
4. Add crushed tomatoes, marinara sauce, tomato paste, oregano, basil, and a sprinkle of ground pepper to mixture. Simmer uncovered over medium-low heat for 20 minutes.
5. While sauce is simmering, make cheese filling. In a large bowl, combine ricotta, 1 cup parmesan cheese, the beaten egg and chopped parley (It helps to beat the egg first before combining it). Set aside mixture.
6. Slice up whole milk mozzarella cheese into strips, set aside.
7. Ladle one third of the meat sauce into a large baking pan. Spread the sauce over the bottom of the dish/pan.
8. Then add a layer of noodles, layer of cheese mixture, layer of mozzzarella and another layer of sauce. I try and make 3-4 layers of noodles, sauce and cheeses. 
9. Cook for 45 minutes or until hot in the middle. 
10. Enjoy!

Sliced Mozzarella cheese

Before putting in oven

xoxo

Remember to Always Have Fun

I've had such a busy day today, spending time with friends, and I'm late getting a post up, but I thought I would leave you with this quote. I feel like this has been my new motto lately, trying to plan more things, get out of the house more, and spend more time with the people who are most important to me. 

Hope you all had a great weekend!

xoxo

Halloween Projects

                                         
           Happy Saturday! I've been feeling a little crafty lately and despite still being in mourning over the end of summertime, I have already been getting into the Halloween spirit. I love doing all the typical fall activities like pumpkin carving, apple picking and eating the occasional cider donut so I thought I would get in the spirit a little early this year and make a Halloween centerpiece. Michaels craft store is basically giving away all of their Halloween crafts to make way for their Christmas stuff (it seems a little early for that, but thats just me). I was able to scoop up a bunch of items for $1 each, which is a steal.
          The centerpiece was pretty easy to put together too, just picked up some styrofoam to put in the bottom of the bucket and stuck the flowers and other pieces into the foam to hold it in place. I'm hoping that sometime next week I'll be able to get back to Michaels before everything is picked over and I can grab a couple more items to make a Halloween wreath as well.

Are you a crafty person? 

Is Halloween one of your favorite holidays or are you ready to fast forward to Christmas?

xoxo

What's in your Wallet?

       I love a good wallet. I am one of those people who keep so much stuff in their wallet, and every once and awhile I have to stop and clear it out because I'm guilty of holding onto receipts I don't need and coupons that have long expired. So long story short I need a big wallet that gives me lots of room to hold my crap. I've had my Kate Spade wallet for a couple years now and I really love it. There are lots of pockets and zippers and it helps keep me organized, however that doesn't stop me from browsing other wallets. I picked out 6 wallets that I really like, I think my favorite is either the blue Michael Kors wallet or the lime green Tory Burch. My wallet needs to be bright so I can easily find it in my purse, and I don't think I would have any trouble finding a lime green wallet in my bag!
       I totally think it's worth spending money on a nice wallet because you carry it around with you everywhere so you want it to be durable. Sometimes I even use my wallet as a clutch when I don't feel like packing a bag. 

Which one is your favorite?

Is your wallet as full as mine?

Michael Kors Wallet

Kate Spade Pink Wallet

Kate Spade Polka Dot Wallet

Tory Burch Purple Wallet

Tory Burch Neon Snake Skin Wallet

Guess Wallet

xoxo

New Book: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)

       I'm a little obsessed with Mindy Kaling. She's hilarious, successful and has great taste in clothes. She's one of those famous people that I know I could be best friends with, bonding over our love of fashion and celebrity gossip. If you haven't watched the Mindy Project, her sitcom on Fox, I suggest you check it out. Last Christmas I received her first book as a gift and I read it in 24 hours. It's a quick light-hearted read and I found myself laughing out loud on multiple occassions. Plus, she's super relatable despite being a television star. I've even went back a couple times and read different chapters in her book, which I never do (I don't like to re-read books once I read them the first time). Even if you don't decide to pick up her book, you should definitely follow her on Twitter or Instagram because she's awesome.  

Here is the description of her book:

Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck–impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress prone to starting fights with her friends and coworkers with the sentence “Can I just say one last thing about this, and then I swear I’ll shut up about it?”

Perhaps you want to know what Mindy thinks makes a great best friend (someone who will fill your prescription in the middle of the night), or what makes a great guy (one who is aware of all elderly people in any room at any time and acts accordingly), or what is the perfect amount of fame (so famous you can never get convicted of murder in a court of law), or how to maintain a trim figure (you will not find that information in these pages). If so, you’ve come to the right book, mostly!

In Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Mindy invites readers on a tour of her life and her unscientific observations on romance, friendship, and Hollywood, with several conveniently placed stopping points for you to run errands and make phone calls. Mindy Kaling really is just a Girl Next Door—not so much literally anywhere in the continental United States, but definitely if you live in India or Sri Lanka.

Have you read any autobiographies that you loved?

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)

xoxo

Quick Shout Out!

      I want to give a quick shout out to Hunter from Prep on a Budget who baked a banana bread last night using my recipe and sent me a picture via Instagram. It looks delicious Hunter, thanks for trying it, I hope your bf enjoys it!

Banana Bread Recipe

xoxo

Alex and Ani Bangles

       My friends are all obsessed with those Alex and Ani bracelets, so I decided that I would dedicate my post today to highlighting some of my favorite products by them. Alex and Ani refer to themselves as a "positive energy company that creates products of quality and beauty while promoting consciousness and unity." They have a variety of jewelry, but their bangles are their best selling products. Each bangle contains a charm that has a specific meaning, and the bangles link to each other creating one long bracelet. This allows the owner to customize their bangle to represent them and their interests, which is super cool because each bangle is unique to the owner that wears them. Each bangle/charm comes in both gold, rose gold, and silver so you can pick which metal works best on you.

      The majority of the charms are $28, but they do have pricier bangles made with more expensive metal and more detail. Also they make perfect gifts because they have different charms for a variety of occasions including holidays, graduations and birthdays. 

Here are my favorite charms:

*FYI they offer a 10% discount for students*

Do you have any Alex and Ani products?

What charms are your favorite?

Alex and Ani Website

Starfish Bangle

Birthstone Bangles

Initial Bangles

Paw Print Bangle

Skeleton Key Bangle

xoxo

New Recipe: Pork Tenderloin

      I found this recipe on Pinterest and fell in love with it. It's one of those great recipes you can make in advance and serve it later in the week. I prefer to let the tenderloin marinate at least 24 hours before cooking it. The best part is you combine all the ingredients in a plastic Ziplock so theres little mess involved. I typically serve the pork tenderloin with some version of potatoes, apple sauce and a vegetable. 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1-2 tbsp parsley
• 2 tsp dry mustard
• 4 cloves garlic, peeling and minced
• 1lb pork tenderloin

Combine all the ingredients in a Ziplock bag overnight

Directions:

• Combine all marinade ingredients including the pork tenderloin in a large Ziplock bag and let marinate at least 4 hours (I like to do mine overnight).
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Take tenderloin out of marinade and set marinade off to the side. In a hot skillet or frying pan over medium high heat, sear each side of the tenderloin for 2-3 minutes. 
• After you're done searing place tenderloin in a tin or baking dish and pour marinade over it.
• Cook for 40 minutes.
• Enjoy! (I like the use the marinade as gravy and pour it over the meat and potatoes...yum!)

I cook the pork in these cheap tins bought at the dollar store, throw away when done!

xoxo

Leopard Pants?! Sign me up!

        So I think I should start my birthday/Christmas list early, because I've seen so many beautiful fall pieces that I really want. The newest addition to my wish list? Kate Spade's leopard broom street denim pants. They are such an awesome statement piece and would be perfect for a night on the town. I would probably pair them with a chunky black sweater or a silk blouse. Colored and patterned jeans have been a trend for the past two years but these really stood out to me. It's a new twist to the leopard trend this fall!
       Although I love Kate Spade jewelry and other accessories, I have never owned pants from them before. I will probably have to make a trip to their actual store to try them on because I have no idea how they fit. Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll go on sale before then... 

Have any of you bought pants from Kate Spade before?

Kate Spade Leopard Pants

xoxo

Sunshine Award

         I'm very honored to be nominated for the Sunshine Award! The main idea of the Sunshine Award is to nominate fellow bloggers that brighten your day with their posts. My girl Lauren from A Touch of Southern Grace chose me as one of her 10 bloggers. If you have time, take a moment to check her out because although I have nothing to contribute to "Southern Style" (being from New York), she has great style and ideas, plus she's relatable to all girls! Thanks again Lauren!

The Rules:

1. Include the award logo in your post.
2. Link to the person who nominated you... A Touch of Southern Grace
3. Answer 10 questions about yourself.
4. Nominate 10 bloggers to receive the award and link the nominees to your post (plus notify them!).

My Questions:

1. What inspired you to first start blogging? Once I graduated in May I found that I had some extra time on my hands now that I was no longer doing homework. I like to have little projects to keep myself busy and I thought it would be a fun opportunity to get my idea's out there. I love fashion so it was my way to meet up with other people who have similar interests as myself!
2. What's your guilty pleasure? I have too many to count but if I had to choose two it would probably be ice cream and reality television. I'm a pop culture junkie so I love to watch all that trash that will end up in the magazines. 
3. What's your favorite book? It would definitely be the Game of Thrones series, theres 5 books and they are looooooong but I love them. If you're into Kings & Queens with a mix of fantasy I definitely recommend them, plus they made an HBO show after them! I'm so ready for book 6 to come out!
4. What are three positive words you would describe yourself? Rational, confident, honest.
5. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? Somewhere near the beach where the weather was warm most of the time. I just love to feel the sun on my face.
6. What is your current favorite song? Not gonna lie, every time I hear Roar on the radio when I'm in the car I have to sing on top of my lungs... I'm sure the people driving next to me think I'm weird.
7. What is your favorite thing about the South? Well I don't get down to the South very often but I would have to say the warm weather and maybe Disney World, who doesn't love the magic of Disney?! 
8. Do you have any pets and if so what are their names? Yep, Misa is my (almost) 3 year old Akita. She's my one true love even though she's super bold (hence the nickname Monster Misa). 
9. What is your favorite football team? Sorry girlfriend... I am NOT a football fan. I'm one of those people who watch the Superbowl for the commercials. But I am a basketball fan. I've been following the New York Knicks since I was a little girl. I'm hoping to go down to the Garden this winter to see a game.
10. What is your favorite store to shop at? This question is like asking a mother to choose which child is their favorite, haha! If I had to choose I would have to pick a couple... J Crew, Macys, Michael Kors, Kate Spade, and the Gap.

Questions for my Nominees: 

1. Where is your dream vacation?
2. What is/was your college major (or what do you want to major in?)
3. What is your favorite restaurant and why?
4. What is your favorite thing to do with your friends?
5. What fall trend are you loving right now?
6. What is one thing in your closet that you could never part with?
7. Do you have a bucket list, if so what is one thing that is on it?
8. Do you have a favorite holiday, what is it?
9. What is your favorite movie?
10. If you won the lottery, what is the very first thing you would do?

My Nominees:

1. Caroline from Citrus and Style
2. A. Buchanan from History in High Heels
3. Meggie July from All You Need is Sunshine and a Little Pink
4. Hunter from Prep on a Budget
5. Adriana from Leopard Martini
6. Hannah from Champagne Lifestyle on a Beer Budget
7. Ashley from Sincerely Miss Ash
8. Whitney from McKenzie Wild
9. Michelle from Stripes and Sprinkles
10. Lindsey from Realistically Lovely

Thanks again Lauren! 

xoxo

Rain Rain Go Away

       
         Hope you're all having a great start to your Saturday! It's been super rainy in the 518 this week with plenty of storms and plenty of humidity. So I thought I would write a quick post about my favorite rain jacket from The North Face. I bought my yellow rain coat a couple years ago when I was in college and we went through their rain spell in the Spring where it poured almost every day. It was one of my better purchases because the jacket is super light weight, so I can wear in during a summer sun shower without sweating, but it also allows me to layer it for colder fall showers. 

       It's available in so many colors that I'm always tempted to buy more than one. If I ever decide to retire my yellow jacket (since Misa ate a hole through the pocket when she was a baby...that brat), I may have to buy the turquoise or pink one.

    I wore my rain coat to the Syracuse zoo a couple years ago. Side note: this picture always makes me LOL because we asked another zoo patron to take a picture of all of us in front of the lion pen. However, he chose the most random angle that ended up cutting the lion out of the picture, so now we have this ridiculous photo of all of us space out in this awkward line. I seriously laugh at it every time I see it, didn't he realize that the lion was not in the frame?!

Do you have a favorite rain coat?

The North Face Venture Rain Jacket

xoxo

Oh Darling, Lets Be Adventurers

     Happy Friday! September always meant a new school year, new challenges, new classes and new personal goals. However, now that I've completed school I have to find new goals to set for myself. Especially now being in my twenties I think it's important to travel while I still can. Being in your twenties is all about exploring who you are, making memories and experiences that you can take with you long after you decide to settle down, get married and have kids. So I made a deal with myself to travel to one place that I've never been before at least once a year. It doesn't have to be somewhere far away, just someplace new I can take in and check off my list. This year I will be able to travel to two new destinations, I went to Myrtle Beach for the first time in June and I loved it and this September I am headed to Stratton Vermont for a girls weekend. 

Here are some of the other places on my list of "Places to Go, Things to Do":

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic 

      This has been on my bucket list for years since I saw pictures from a family friend's wedding. I'm a beach girl and I'd love to go to an all inclusive resort and be pampered for a week. Plus when you stay at resorts they have plenty of activities to do. My girlfriends have been telling me since high school I need to plan a trip here for all of us.... Girls, I promise I'll get us there one day! 

Italy

      I've never been out of the country but I know that my first trip to Europe will be Italy. I have family still living over there and I would love to visit them and experience my heritage first hand. I'd like to go over there for a week or two allowing myself to travel to both Northern and Southern Italy. Two other activities pushing me towards Italy... the food and the shopping. Wouldn't it be amazing to have a traditional Italian meal?! My mom and I vowed we would go together one day and I will make it happen. 

Hawaii

    I dont know if you're noticing a trend but I like tropical locations near the water...shocker. My mom went to Hawaii when she was my age and she said it was absolutely beautiful. I wish I could surf so I could go there and ride the waves (another bucket list idea?!). The only thing that worries me is I am a terrible flyer... I'm typically either nauseous or crying during the entire flight so having to be on a plane for that long makes me a little nervous. But, I think I'd get over it real quick though when I have crystal clear blue water waiting for me at the end. 

Greece

       After I plan a trip to Italy, I'd really like Greece to be my next visit to Europe. I always thought Greece was beautiful but I knew that I had to go there after I watched that Keeping up with the Kardashian's episode where they went to Mykonos on vacation (sorry they Kardashians are my guilty pleasure, don't judge me). Those beautiful white villas overlooking the water are to die for.

San Diego, California

     The nerd in me vows to make it to San Diego one year for Comic Con. We tried to get tickets this year, even booked a hotel but they sold out within minutes. So one day I'll have my 3 day pass to "Nerdvana" where I can sit in on my Game of Thrones Panels and dress like a super hero.... haha!

Key West, Florida

     Since I'm super broke and will probably be for sometime until I can build my savings back up from paying tuition my next trip will most likely be to Key West, Florida. It's not a far flight and it's definitely the cheapest on my wish list. I really would love to go snorkeling or swim with dolphins, something to do with being outside with nature in the water. So summer 2014 I hope you're ready for me!

Have you traveled to anywhere on my "Places to go, Things to do" list?

What's on your travel bucket list?

xoxo