Nautical Stripes in Cinque Terre, Italy

I'm recapping our visit to Cinque Terre, Italy from this summer. This was my second visit to this special place along the northern coast. In Italian the Cinque Terre or "five lands" are connected by a series of trails which make for a day or two hike with varying degrees of difficulty. The entire route there are breathtaking views of mountains, water, trees, and the colorful buildings.  There's also the option of boating between them.

We stayed in my favorite town, Vernazza and had some wonderful dinners in the mountains overlooking the Meditteranean. The fresh sea food will keep you wanting to come back for more! There's nothing that compares to this unique travel spot, rich with history and plenty of beach for taking a swim or cliff jump.  Although it's highly tourist attracted in summer months, I remember it more calm in the fall which makes for much milder hiking between the towns without the crowds. I definitely recommend it for a visit, it's a romantic and adventurous spot to experience. 

We didn't hold back enjoying the panoramic view  from the top of the castella which made the perfect back drop for photos. Though my shorts are unavailable, I'm linking some similar sale styles as we close out the summer. 

             Outfit Details:

Shorts: Nordstrom, similar fall option, Sandals: Dolce Vita similar style on sale here 

Watch: Michael Kors, Bracelets: Loft, Sunglasses: Fendi (past season) similar here, Tank: On major sale in tons of colors!  Loft

Cold Shoulder Dress exploring Siena, Italy

If you haven't noticed yet I'm continuing to cover my recent trip to Europe where I spent most of July traveling. Hope you're not sick of it, because there's so many photos and looks to cover!  I definitely get a little camera crazy, but who wouldn't when theres so many photo worthy places we stumbled upon in our adventures exploring.

These photos were taken during my time in Siena, Italy. Siena is located in central Tuscany and is one of the oldest medieval cities still functioning today with traditions like "Il Palio" The annual summer horse race between the contradas. I'm hooked on this unique culture, because in 2009 I lived and studied in Siena. This started my passion for travel and opened my eyes to other cultures. I couldn't have chosen a more beautiful place and was blessed with the best Italian host mother whom I had the privilege of reuniting with again! The 55th reunion took place over 5 days and it was amazing to be back to my little home and see some familiar welcoming faces. 

These photos were some of my favorite from a day where we explored the oldest and remote area of Siena, tucked behind winding roads before the rest of the city was later developed. And of course I had a little fun with someone's moped. And no I didn't take it for a spin. I've worn this dress before and it was the perfect light weight outfit for a lunch out filled with lots of walking. 

I'll be sharing more photos from my stop to Siena as soon as I get my travel section up and running. Enjoy!

My Outfit Details:

Dress: Loft (sold out) similar looks here and here, Sandals: Dolce Vita, Straw Tote found here, also loving this option,  Bag tassels: MISA, Sunglasses: Loft, Lipstick: MAC (in color snob)

More photos to come, stay tuned for my travel section to see the full round up of my exploring in Siena, Italy!

Vineyard Florals

This past trip to Italy was unique and extremely special. I loved traveling to new spots and tasting cuisines from various regions of Italy. It was only natural to wander away from the more tourist spots that can be busy in the European summer months and sample what more remote Tuscany has to offer. And boy did it not disappoint!

When I lived in Siena, Italy during college days I had a fabulous and still very much out of this world Italian teacher that took us to many places to best experience the culture, art, and history. What better way to learn right?! During this visit she traveled with our group to a special place in her heart,  Fattoria Del Colle, the 16th Century vineyard of her matrimonio. This villa was the perfect back drop for an afternoon lunch and wine tasting. Every view was breathtaking!

I wore a sundress for the hot weather, as it's impossible to stay cool under a cypress tree. I loved the detailing on the back and the loose comfortable fit.  This was a day to remember, getting to wine taste and tour the grounds. The scenic views weren't short of a fairy tale and I was so happy to have met the owner herself, Donatella. This fabulous female makes it a point to keep the vineyards tradition of educating and employing predominantly female staff to run the business. Throughout generations this Italian family has continued with this tradition.  The winery even has a vino named Cinderella to symbolize its history. It is home to some of the best chianti and brunello of the region. 

Special grazie to Barbara and Donatella for sharing such a wonderful spot in Tuscany with our group that day!

My Look Details: Dress: Zara (sold out) similar finds here and here These are perfect to transition to fall with! //Purse: Zara loving this option and this style// Shoes: Soludos// Sunglasses: Prada similar style here and here// Watch: Michael Kors