La bella vita- More Siena!

In addition to this post with our trip details through Siena...I just had to share some of our favorite pictures with ya'll. There are no words to describe how beautiful this place is. The colors are out of a pantone book. perfection!

and...AND we went to a castle!!!!!!! gahhhh

Most pics taken by my talented hubby.

xx
b

Venice Vacation!

Brandon and I celebrated our two year wedding anniversary by hopping on a train and going to Venice. I have heard the ups and downs about Venice prior to going but we were in for such a treat. It was the first time for both of us and I have to say we LOVED it so much! I know we 100% lucked out with the weather! We really did. But there is something so amazing about that wonderful city. The fact that it's all water is insane! I couldn't stop saying "Babe, it's all water" or "Babe, the ambulance and buses and police are all BOATS"!! BOATS people!

We visited the glass factory in Murano which was insane! Took a private boat to the isalnd. HEAVEN! And, we ate the best pasta at Alfredo's pasta to-go. YOU MUST TRY THIS!

I always dreamt of being in Venice with my husband and it came true! We stayed at the most amazing hotel and drank delicious wines. We ate on the main channel and just got lost on those tiny little romantic streets. The one thing I really really wanted more than anything was to find an older gondola guide who would sing to us in Italian. All of the guys looked so young and didn't seem to say much on the rides. I wanted that perfect Italian man and Brandon spotted him from a mile away. He was perfect! We got on his boat and he started talking about the history and pointing at different ancient buildings...and then...and then there was that awkward silence. Brandon and I were staring off and just full on goofy smiling and he started to sing. He was singing in Italian and my heart melted!!! Brandon and I squeezed each others hands and just died. It was so magical! If I could, I would want to go back to Venice every weekend. We loved it!

 Have you been to Venice??


I love being married to you Brandon. You're my favorite person and it's a blessing to be your wife.
happy two years!

 xx
b

La Bella Vita- Clueless.

Ciao, ciao!

Prior to moving to Italy, Brandon and I were pretty much clueless about life abroad. We didn't know about the expat life we were about to experience and it slowly hits us in waves. The first few weeks/ months felt like a vacation. Sure we had to work but it wasn't the work we were used to. We didn't sit in a car on the busiest freeway every day and waste 3 hours going to work and going home. We didn't see familiar faces or speak English. We didn't really understand how different this life would be. I decided to write this post about all the things we were NOT prepared for… ;)

1. The h u m i d i t y ….I know I sound like a big baby when it comes to this topic but GUYS it was brutal. The weather app should not give the percentage of the humidity but instead tell you the hours during the day of when you can breath. No.joke. 
2. Tourists. Ok, so clearly we knew there would be millions of tourists since we moved to Florence but they are intense. Tourists walk around as if everyone here is on vacation. No people! We are not on vacation. I'm trying to walk to work with my coffee and breakfast and these tourists will bump in to you, stop in front of you and my favorite…take your picture. I mean what is that? Will a picture of me be printed and put in your house? It better. I may have broken several tourist rules in the past but living here has shown me that tourists think the world revolves around them and we should all cater to them because...well because they are on vacation. Wrong! Have some respect!
3. Speedos. Ok, ok call me childish but there is one piece of clothing I will not ever be able to get used to and it's speedos. Sure when you vacation in Europe you're bound to see them here and there. But when you live here…oh my. It's just awkward and weird and I can't. Sorry.
4. Paying for drinks…It's the weirdest thing to us Americans that when you buy a drink you have to pay right then and there. There is no 'put it on my tab' talk. It's simply...you drink, you pay…now.
5. The lack of mexican food is rough. Withdrawals rough. Being from Cali and being a teeny part mexican and being married to a half mexican and being obsessed with mexican food…ughh it's just so hard. The tortillas, the beans, the enchilada sauce, the burritos, the CARNE ASADA…ugh. Vallarta, I miss you… Tears! Italian's don't know what they are missing and I do. Merda!
6. Chap stick is locked up in glass at the grocery store. Swear to god. Not the alcohol or the olive oil or the tic tacs. Chap stick. No capito. 
7. Americans being so obnoxious. There have been more times than not where I have actually been embarrassed to be American. In the states we have the crazy age limits to drink, drive or go to a night club. You can drive a vehicle at 16 but can't drink until 21. You get carded everywhere if you look a day under 40. What!? Here it's a free for all unless you get out of hand of course but you can really do what you want. Drink in the street, party at 16, etc. We (Americans) would drive to Vegas to be cool and drink in the street. Here it's natural. Brandon and I still feel weird to this day walking around with a drink on the street. But when we see the loud/ crazy/ obnoxious/ screaming people who are throwing up during lunch time…they are 99.9% American. I'm sorry Italy. I am. Americans come to Italy and unleash these inner beasts that wouldn't exist if the laws weren't so backwards in the US!
8. Food to-go. Oy…in the US we always always always ask for our leftovers to go. Can we get a doggy bag please? I miss Gladstone's and their foil swans. sighhh. Here in Italy…it's considered rude. We asked for some of our pizza to go when we first arrived and they were mortified. They asked us if it was ok, what's wrong, why, why, why? They didn't understand. Italians take their time and don't rush 24/7 so if they get full at dinner they can sit there until they finish. In the US you eat in record timing and take half your dinner to go. 
9. Bacon. There is no bacon here. and by bacon I mean BACON. The legit fatty bacon that smells like heaven bacon. BACON people!
10. Hours of operation. I knew coming here Italians had siestas and coffee breaks and cigarette breaks and mental breaks and gossip breaks and potty breaks and snack breaks...but one night Brandon and I were hungry and went to this place since they stayed open late. We still had about an hour or so and when we walked in, they said they were closed. We said...'oh but the sign says 12 and it's only 10:30' and they responded "well, today we are closed early". Oh, ok. cool. Wait what?

There you have it. 10 things we were not prepared for. Sure I can go on and on but 11-100 will come soon. :)

Dear Italy,
I am not complaining, just adjusting. You have changed my life and I am grateful.

xx
b

La Bella Vita- Like, like, like.

Ciao Amici!

Our Italian is coming along very slowly and I get so amped when we have a lesson. Davvero! The hard part is actually finding the time to study but we are working on it. 

I have been in Italy for 3 months and my favorite Italian word so far is ALLORA. Say it with me
"AH LORRRR AHHH". It sounds so soothing at times.

I have concluded that this is the Italian "like".  Californians use LIKE, like all the time. With every sentence. We can't help it. Maybe it can be narrowed down from Californians to Angelino's, but still.  you get my point.

Every single Italian speaker says allora after/ before/ during every word that comes out of their mouth. It's a way for them to buy time when they can't find the words to speak, to kill time and a way to break up the sentence just because. Allora means 'then', 'therefor', 'so far', 'since', 'now', 'but', 'in that case', 'because' and so on. It's one of those magical Italian words where you can't really ask what it means because it means everything. and it gets really confusing. It fits well in every sentence and makes sense. It's allora and you just know what it means. Like, really.

Allora, I'm done with my rant. <---see how it works?

Is there a word out there that you notice is used all the time?

CIAO TUTTI!

xx
b

La Bella Vita- Forever Young

Now that's it getting hotter in Florence I have been able to wear my summer clothes! well kind of... It is currently not so hot. Firenze's weather is so moody. Hot/ cold/ scorching can't breathe heat-get this American to some AC/ thunder storms moody. So menstrual...
While husband was away last week I shopped till I dropped. literally. I was so bored with myself and could not walk around anymore. But I did some damage on Via dei Calzaiuoli. The shops are nice but the tourist watching is so much better. I swear if you find a little corner or some steps to a church make sure you people watch. f a s c i n a t i n g. 
I went in to Coin to buy some much needed things and found this 'forever young' shirt and had to. I'm obsessed with the fact that I am 30 in a holy shit kinda way and this shirt made me smile. Husband approved since he thinks we are so young. sighh...

shirt-too late evom on, skirt/sunnies-h&m, necklace-urban outfitters, wedges-dolce vita, bag-guess, sunset-beautiful place I like to call hom.

I hope you are all having a lovely week!

Ciao Tutti!

xx

b

La Bella Vita- How to get an Italian Visa in 180 steps.

This post is meant to let you in to our Italian adventure. It's going to be long but it's ok, it's entertaining. How the move started...How we ended up in Florence. How we went about getting a work visa to live in Italy. 1,2,3,4567454064064, 180 steps to getting your visa. More like 180,0000000 steps...

If you know Mr. Scarpelli and I you know how happy we are all most of the time. We are two positive people that love love love life. We try to take the positive out of everything, Mr. Scarpelli more than me but I try...

Almost two years ago I came up with this insane plan for my job to move to Italy. Florence Italy. I had gone on a business trip that didn't almost happen then was back on then back off and then finally back on. The workplace was a negative one and the drama seemed to grow like mold in a damp dark stinky place. So the plane ticket was booked under my name and I was finally the one going to Florence for our work market. OMG I was going to Florence for work! Paid! BAHHHH I died. Moving didn't cross my mind once. My husband and I were set. We had our little condo, our family down the street, our kitties, our friends and our jobs that we commuted to an hour or so each way. We were living the dream in the San Fernando Valley. or the dream we wanted then...

The moment I got off the plane in Florence I knew I would move. I just felt it. I knew my husband and I would live in Italy. I can't explain it but I just knew. I told my husband we would be moving and he laughed it off. "Right babe...keep dreaming." I had a great work trip in Florence. Working in the gorgeous office on Via Dei Benci and walking through Florence. It was surreal. It was unreal. I didn't want to leave. Being in the office that week and working with the team I thought of ways I could get there and of course be beneficial to the company. A month or so later the design director came to LA and I asked her. I asked her if there was a teeny weeny possibility that I could work in her office. It was the most insane meeting. Well second to most insane. keep reading.

We met and I asked. I was shaking. "You want to move to Florence?" YES! yes, I do and I want your help and your advice and your guidance to make it possible. She said obviously if the owner thought it was a good idea then she did! WHAT?!!! Did I just hear an answer far from "you're crazy, no"!?! After that meeting it was 'go time'. My boss, the design director and my husband were the only people in the world who knew and it was time to plan. I drafted a job description with the help of these amazing people and put down all the reasons why it makes perfect sense to move your product development manager from LA to Italy. it made total sense...

About 2 months later I was as comfortable as I would ever be with the job description. It was time to ask the owner. I cannot begin to explain how nervous I was. I set up a meeting with his assistant and in typical owner of our company fashion he canceled like 10 times. NO JOKE. I was dying. Every day I couldn't eat or sleep..this is it. This is the day I am going to ask. nope, not today. Ughh it was draining! Well my excitement started to fade when I couldn't get my meeting to actually happen. Then the day came...I was not prepared or nervous and my phone rang. UGHH you're joking. "He's ready for you". WHAT? Nowww??? I haven't rehearsed 20 times in the mirror how I was going to start off. I haven't talked to B. Ugh now?! I haven't prepared myself mentally for this meeting.

This was it...

As I walked up the stairs I literally died inside. d i e d. and no one at the office knew. 

"Brandi-snap out of it. The worst he can say is no cause lord knows this is nuts. He can't take anything away from you. You are already living your 'no'. If it's a no, it's a no. and it will probably be a no but you will never know if you don't go in there and try."  boom. Sometimes the best advice is the advice we give ourselves. 

He clearly had no clue what I had to say. I have probably been in his office 3-4 times in 6 years so for me to schedule an appointment with him is not usual. "What's up B" he said. And then it was a blur. I have no idea how I started the convo. Couldn't tell you. I remember him saying "wait you want to move to Florence." yep, I do. "But have you thought about what you would do"? Yes, actually here is my job description and there it was...the moment it hit us both. He sat back and I tried to not throw up. We went through the job and talked about different possibilities. OMG was this real life? I felt like I had the biggest job interview of my life to date. I was literally trying to sell every reason why this was a great idea. and he was listening. He was asking questions and intrigued. He asked but what is the process of moving there? Well I did my research (or so I thought) and it sounded simple enough. The LA office needed to write a contract sponsoring me to work in the Italy office. No biggie. ha! little did we know...After what felt like the longest meeting of my life he said he needed to seriously think about this and he would let me know. I couldn't read him. but man, I felt on top of the world for asking. I felt amazing! Even if it was a no I was so proud that I asked. It was all me! and it felt exhilarating! 

T h r e e months later... longest 3 months everrrrr we had a follow up meeting scheduled. HOLY MOLY! I was dying. I walked in to his office trying not to cry or burst out reasons why he shouldn't say no and he said it. He said "I think this can be a positive thing for the company and for your career and I am going to give you the green light to move to Italy." ARE YOU FUCKING JOKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!$#*$&$%#@$(#@$@)!)!($&$@!!?!?!!!!!!!

I can't tell you what I said or what look I had on my face. I remember him saying "B you can move" and I felt like I was paralyzed. I felt like my whole body was asleep. HOLY SHIT We are moving to Italy for work! I did it! We did it! Is this real life?!

I literally left his office like a zombie and started balling. OMG my husband! I have to call my husband. I went downstairs to my desk and had an email from the design director in Florence saying "Heard you got a new job". Literally, died. I cried more. I ran outside and called my husband. I cried so hard and told him we were moving. I could feel his reaction through the phone. WHAT!? "Baby is this real? I'm so proud of you! You did it!" he's right. I did it! I was just told I could move to Italy for work because of the job description I put together with the help of my mentors! holy moly!

The next few months were a whirlwind. Everyone involved with getting my visa thought it would be an easy process. Write a letter, get a visa is what we all thought. wow were we dead wrong. It has almost been one year from the time we started working on the contract and we didn't even have our visas yet. The company had to write up a contract explaining why they needed me there and why they couldn't just hire an Italian. It's a difficult process and the Italians like to make everything difficult. The letters written about me boosted my ego though. We need Brandi because x,y,z. So nice. :)

There was one hurdle after another. The company I work for is too small, the paperwork isn't complete, she isn't qualified, the documents we need are missing. We went through so much bullshit and countless nights without sleep constantly checking my email to see if something came through. Husband and I ran around LA to get this signed, this apostilled, this copy...It was intense. We had an Italian rep doing all of our paperwork and in typical Italian fashion we would only hear from him when he felt like responding. It was so frustrating. Every email we got was saying "This week I will have an appointment with the immigration office." That week turned in to the next month and well the following year. It was awful. It became so stressful because we didn't have a departure date. We were the only ones who knew everything going on and everyone around us didn't understand. If you're moving, then move. You work for a large company, this should be easy. If only it was that easy...

We wanted to move so badly and yet had the biggest hurdle to jump. I was having an awful time at work and not to mention we rented our condo and moved in with my parents. We are so thankful for their help but it was rough after having your own nest for so long. And it was rough on them for having kids back in the house! One awful morning at work and I lost it. Imagine everyone at the office now knows I'm moving and they all treat me like I'm invisible. Umm hello, I still work here! It was rough. It was my first time in HR's office balling like a baby. I needed out of this situation so bad. And in the next 30 minutes our lives changed forever. I went from crying sad tears to crying happy tears in 3.5 minutes. I left HR's office and went to speak with the lawyer. She was on the phone and told me to come in. She was talking to an immigration lawyer and they told her I could travel to Italy NOW and stay for 3 months as a tourist. Within that 3 months my visa would be ready. WHAT?! The lawyer told me to book our tickets for for the following week. HOLY SHIT! This really is happening. I called Husband, we booked our flights and there it was. The moment we were waiting for.

Within one week we said our goodbyes, packed up our kitties and dropped them off. worst experience ever but we are just so thankful for the guy who loved our babies for a couple months. Brandon and I were on a flight and arriving in our new town. GAHHHHH!!!! Being back in Italy just felt so right. Our decision to move was a good one and we couldn't be happier! The next couple months went by so fast. We explored by foot, by bus, by plane. just amazing! can't get enough of this place! We finallllyyyy received the news we had been waiting for. Our Nulla Ostas are ready and approved by Florence immigration. Seriously unbelievable! It took one year to get this news! one.year.

After the news we headed back to LA one final time because of course we have to pick up our visas at the US Italian consulate. It was so nice to see our parents, family and friends. We were able to see almost everyone a couple times and it was perfect! We missed them all so much! We picked up our kitties and had a week of getting used to each other again. that was fun. ;)

Shopping in Italy can be extremely pricey. Chucks in the US are 40 bucks. In Italy they are 90 Euro! nuts right? So you can imagine B and I went a little crazy. Shoes, clothes, makeup, medicine, vitamins check. Oh and my sweet husband bought me an ipad. it's my new obsession. sure I'm behind the times a bit but my laptop was getting to heavy. my ipad rules. :}

OK, enough about the fun and games...Tuesday the 11th was our appointment at the consulate to apply for our visas. We didn't have the greatest experience at the consulate in the past so we were so nervous to go back. I was shaking when we were handing over the paperwork. We were extremely prepared and ready for anything but the lady said all was good and we should be able to pick them up on Friday. FRIDAY! (which was perfect because we had a flight back to Florence on Monday). Friday comes and Husband and I are so proud to walk in the Italian consulate and collect our visas. It was such an amazing feeling! One year of stress, calls not returned, emails unanswered, back and forth back and forth and finally they were in our hands. best feeling ever!!!!!!!!

So there it is pretty people! a teeny weeny glimpse in to the process. 180 steps of hell and joy to live in Florence for two years. (we'll see where the road takes us after that...)We arrived back in Florence on Tuesday and we are here to stay for a long while. I've been a slacking blogger but you can imagine everything insane that has been going on.  Oh and we love when the internet decides to stop working in our flat because...well, because it's Italy. She's on her own time schedule.

[sorry for the blurry photo! I was still shaking!]

If you read the whole post I just adore you! Please let me know if you have any helpful tips for 2 expats! We love to hear from you and don't hesitate to email me if you are in Italia!

Ciao tutti!
xx
b

La Bella Vita- Cars&Gelato

Hi pretty people!

Brandon is out of town, again and I am holding down our Italian fort. I love our little house but it's so lonely when he's gone. I should throw a house party and make flyers and charge a bottle of wine at the...ok ok, just kidding. I miss throwing our B'Squared themed parties so much! It seemed like there was a time in our lives where we threw one every month. fun fun!

I know I've said it a thousand times but we are loving Florence. It seems like every weekend there is something going on. The other weekend we went for a walk and there was a car rally passing through Florence. Since my Husband is a car freak he literally almost peed his pants. We watched so many Ferrari's pass through the center and I watched my Husband ooohh and ahhhh the whole time. He's so cute. After the car show thing we walked around and ran in to a gelato festival. A.gelato.festival. You see, it was meant to be. Brandon got his car fix and I got my sweets fix. It was heaven! They set up a truck with windows where you can see the gelato being made. So amazing! We got 5 tastings and a gelato cocktail that was pure amazingness. We had such a fun day enjoying what we both love. :)

I am so deeply in love with this man!

Florence keeps surprising us with her amazing festivals! Keep it coming!

xx
b

La Bella Vita- twelve things.

Life has been pretty hectic lately. Brandon has been traveling like a mad man and we just celebrated our TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY. Ten years. Being so close to Paris we just had to. :) Best Anniversary ever! Details coming soon. I promise soon. Not 2 weeks out soon.

How are you? Come va? I have so much to discuss with you and yet I find it hard to decide what to post about. My life has been non stop. We finalllllllllyyyy received our Nulla Ostas for our visas in Italy and let me tell you. The best news! It's been a crazy struggle and I have them in our house and just giggle. It took so long! Next step is going to the US Consulate in LA to get our visas and then it's hellloooo Italy for 2 years! The good news is that we get to go home next week! I am so looking forward to family time, seeing our amigos and relaxing at home! The best thing is that we are going when my nephew turns one. I'm so so so thankful I'm not missing his birthday! There is so much more I am thankful for but I thought I would make a list of the strange things I am really looking forward to. The things I miss while living in Italy as an expat...

1. Going to TARGET. omg I can't wait! I try to explain Target and no one knows what it is!
2. Getting my eyebrows waxed! I look like a muppet character. I went to someone here when I first arrived and had the worst experience of my life.
3. Doctor check ups! yes, I'm actually looking forward to this. Within the first month I had to go to the dentist in Italy because I chipped a filling. figures. I was so scared being in another country and thankfully had a great experience.
4. CVS shopping spree. oh I can't wait to go up and down every aisle. slowly.
5. Buying converse. They charge a fortune for chucks out here.
6. Eating....sushi, mexican, in&out, BBQ, sushi, sushi and my parents cooked meals. mmmmm
7. BAKING! We don't have an oven. Where are we?! So I'm dying to bake. d y i n g .
8. Buying a ton of birthday cards, miss you cards, love you cards, anniversary cards. I can't read Italian yet, ok. don't judge.
9. Buying zip lock baggies. yep. sandwich bags. they don't sell them. Only at Ikea and that was an experience. That post will come in 2 weeks. I'm exhausted thinking about our adventure.
10. Buying bisquick for pancakes! They don't sell pancake mix. lord, I'm so excited.
11. Speaking english and not pointing and playing charades every day.
12. Being in the sun! The weather has been crap in Italy. rain rain rain, cold cold cold. Bring it Cali, bring it!

There it is. 12 things I miss about the US. Not that bad considering we have been here for 2 months. Everything else is an adjustment but we love love love.

Florence, we are in love with you.

This LA trip is going to be so exciting for us because not only are we getting our visas we worked so hard for but we get to complete our little family by bringing our cats back with us. We are so happy about this! It's been really hard without them and I can't wait to have them in Italy saying Miao! ;)
Have you ever flown with a cat? Please give us any advice. I'm terrified.

Hope you are all amazing!
xx
b

La Bella Vita- dollar dollar bills ya'll

Ciaoooooo!
My Husband is back home and I'm just so happy. Livin' La Bella Vita. :)

Since we are currently waiting for all of our visa paperwork to be finalized and we are in Italy as "long term tourists", the money issue is a little strange and we are getting hit hard with this fee and that exchange rate. Let me explain...

We haven't/ can't/ not sure if we can open a bank account yet without a visa. So we are waiting and in the mean time we are pulling out the max each day/ week and it's the usual ATM limit. But after the currency exchange which changes by the minute plus the fee our US bank charges we get hit hard and the amount we actually see is way less. By no means is this a complaint because the cost of living is different and we factor this "issue" in as a bill but I wanted you 'expat 's to be' to know what's up. I know parents wire money to students and they go through the same issue and it's just insane that there are no sister banks here for US banks. I think there is one in London but that doesn't help us.

Our main bank Wells Fargo does not do International wire transfers online. You have to go in to a branch. umm not possible. So on one of Husband's US trips he opened another account with Chase that allows wire transfers. We need this to pay our rent each month since the owner has an Italian bank account. obvi. Well Chase allows it sure, but it's like pulling teeth to get the money to actually transfer. They kept canceling the transfer since the account was new. And and and...not telling us! My poor husband spent days on the phone with them and thankfully the owner was more than understanding since our rent was so late. Hopefully this month there are no issues. :)

Not knowing Italian is really getting to me. Maybe we would be able to open an account but the moment you speak english or say "ummmm" they are over you. I want/ need to learn. Want because I hate when others can do things I can't and need because my boss said I needed to know Italian in two weeks. EEK! The main questions below are pretty much the most important Italian we know aside from Ciao, Grazie, Grazie Mille and Non lo so.

1. How much does this cost?
2. Where is the bank?
3. For me...
4. Where is the ATM?

It's hard with Florence being such a tourist city and everyone speaking english. I will learn Italian. I will.
:}

xx
b

La Bella Vita- Heater in Florence

'Baby it's cold outside'
no Baby, it's freezing inside!

I know we missed the winter in Florence. The dreadful long weeks/ months where Florentines stay inside and pray for sunlight. But since we have been here it's been freezing in our house at night. The weather is so moody. It's beautiful during the day--hot/ sunny/ dreamy and every afternoon it rains. When husband is cold, you know it's freezing! The floors in our flat are brick and the walls are concrete and exposed brick. It's beautiful but holy hell it's so cold. Brandon and I had no choice but to invest in this fancy heater below. We.had.too. The building controls the heating in our flat and let's just say it never turns on. And unlike LA where you call your maintenance guy and he comes to fix it within a day... Italians don't care. They just don't. Our building manager doesn't care and the agency we rented this place through doesn't care. And when we complain and they hear english...it's a lose lose. game over Scarpelli's. So we are left alone for survival.

This heater is magical when you are sitting right in front of it and don't move. Our place is a loft and very open and there is just no way it's warming up. We were told the power here can be pricey and since we haven't received a bill yet we are nervous and try to not use it. uuufff. Another lose lose.

So our nights consist of sweat pants, hoodies, onesies (for me only), socks, slippers and sometimes gloves. no joke. There is no streaking going on in this casa. You would have to be so brave or in the middle of a drinking game. After shower time at night it's so dreadful and I swear you turn in to a power dryer and clothes putter onner so you don't freeze to death.

You can only imagine sexy time is filled with laughs and....ok ok, enough said. We don't even know each other. You have to buy me a drink first... ;) but I'm sure you get it...

I need my bear blanket also known as husband to get his butt home so I can stay warm. :)



xx
b

La Bella Vita- SanDIYwich

Ciao lovies!

I'm so thankful for all the support with our recent move to Firenze and all the love with my new series La Bella Vita. Grazie Mille! 

My next experience I'm going to talk about is not only strange but quite comical...or to me at least. 

While Brandon was out of town last month I met a co worker at an outdoor farmers market in the center of Piazza della Repubblica (which is one of my favorite parts of Florence) to walk around and grab lunch. She introduced me to porchetta and I had to try it. Porchetta is an "Italian culinary tradition" and it was delicious. If you eat meat and like pork. :)

Everyone knows the food in Italy is amazing. Even if you haven't been here, you know that. 

So the funny thing was we waited in line to get a "sandwich" and when it was our turn the lady explained in Italian to my friend that she can't serve it as a "sandwich" and she can give us the bread and meat to make it ourselves. When my friend translated it to me I was shocked and said "how odd" and the Italian lady said in english "It's not me, it's Italy rules and all vendors are not allowed to sell sandwiches".  What do you mean?! You only sell bread and meat! strange right? I mean...you can give me all the tools to make it but you can't make it? And she had to bag everything separate so we were sure to not get a "sandwich" from her stand. It was a good laugh and a big "oh Italy" sigh...

We sat on a crowded bench and DIY'd our delicious sandwich. It was fun taking everything out of the bags on our laps. ;) It was so tasty and I highly highly recommend it. I mean, you have to. It's Italy! :)

and I won't lie...I miss DIYing so much. Next on my to-do list is find a craft store/ fabric store/ bead store. something. 

 

The last photo is one of my favorites! The cutest couple with their little booth serving Necci which looked amazing. Must try next time. <3

Hope you are all having a lovely week!

Baci!

xx

b