here’s the thing. these days, when i’m not baking cookies and then eating them all, or crying at that darn carter’s commercial, i like to spend a lot of my free thinking moments re-living the fabulous trip to italy we took back in april of this year. i left my heart there, i’m pretty sure, and sometimes this brain of mine just needs to go on mini-vacations, so i send it back to italy for just a smidge of a bit. my brain meets up with my heart over there, and they sip macchiatos in a lovely piazza together. and my body is so jeal. oh, but anyway! there are a handful of random things that i really loved using/having/whatever during that trip, and i like to think about those, too. so, here they are: eight random items i loved while traveling around italy!
1. bose noise cancelling headphones – we borrowed these from my parents for our flights there and back, and i’m pretty sure i could never fly internationally without these suckers and their ear magic. we watched movies on our ipads, and when i’d take them off to go to the bathroom i’d be like ahh my ears! this plane! genius.
2. hunter wellies – two days before we left for our trip, i debated for probably an hour or so whether or not i needed to emergency order these. naturally, the conclusion that i came to was absolutely yes! so i did. and they arrived just in the nick of time. my main reasoning was that well, first of all, it was springtime and rain was in the forecast… but also, i was a pregnant girl with an achy back, and how perfect that these here wellingtons have orthopedic soles! i had no idea, though, how much i really did need them until i wore them the entire trip. i traipsed my belly-full of maddalena all over the place in those boots and it was great.
3. nutella – stop. stop everything. because i very decidedly did not go near nutella ever in my life before this trip. i heard the world raving about it and decided to abstain… except for this one time last year, when i saw it in a friend’s pantry and finally thought i’d just try a taste… and my suspicions were confirmed. it was so magical that i knew that i could never go near that kind of golden heaven food again or i’d be addicted. but! when you’re pregnant in italy! you eat nutella! you just do. and ever since then i’ve been wholeheartedly in love with nutella. i think i’m going to buy some soon because it’s the holidays, almost, and i just need it.
4. baby croc mini flat iron – isn’t she sooo cute? i couldn’t take my chi because it’s not dual-voltage, so i got this little pinky-pie and she performed fabulously! of course, i don’t straighten my whole hair, just pieces. she might be a bit small for that.
5. elbow patch cardigan – i mean, i knew elbow patches were in, but shame on me for not coming to italy equipped with elbow patches on my sweaters, because everyone and their mom slash dad slash boyfriend had patches on their elbs. i was all over that. i now own this one.
6. rose gold boyfriend watch – okay, for $12.99 on amazon, this thing has been my best friend for the past year. and mine is even still set on italy time, ha! [okay, i don’t really read watches… but don’t get me wrong, i can. it’s just ugh, so much effort.] also, the glass on mine somehow broke a few weeks ago, sad, but that’s beside the point. the point is $12.99 and cute.
7. hand-made leather shoes – these shoes! we stopped at rive gauche in florence, where the cobbler guy makes amazing shoes, and these shoes were like heaven on my feet. i almost got them. instead i got some other ones from some other store, but part of me wishes i’d gotten these. if you go to florence, please go here and buy them.
8. vino, duh – i was pregnant while we were there, yes, but i still had a little bit of wine in italy. i did lots of research and my doctor approved, so, i enjoyed myself a smidge of red… and i don’t even really know what we had while we were there… but our current fav is chianti. [i’ve been loving the bella sera chianti because it’s yummy and comes in a big ole bottle. i’m such a connoisseur!] i’m having some now, by the way. mmmmm, baby.
so there you have it! my random favs. i’m no travel expert, but i am an expert favorite things obsesser, and you know, i learned a lot from that trip! and obviously, i’m always mentally planning our next italian getaway, which i’m hoping will involve a vineyard, a cozy villa somewhere in the tuscan countryside, our child[ren] chasing some stray italian dog around, and me, drinking my chianti, not being pregnant.
ciao ciao!
[past obsessions here]
Hmm nutella.. No one can resist that 😉 the black boots look cute btw!
Oh that Carters commercial!! I'm not even a mama yet but I totally teared up watching it the other night! ha. I love a good chianti as well! 🙂
Love your list! Essentials for certain. I am especially in love with those darling flats. I love Italy and Florence especially. What great memories you must have from your trip, and how excited you must be to take baby M there one day! xo
after my trip to italy, i brought back a craving for nutella myself! isn't it beautiful over there? still dreaming of that gorgeous place.
That watch is so cute!
And around here we avoid buying Nutella. We love it too much and wouldn't last for 24 hours in this house! Addicting!
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love those leather flats you brought home from Italy.
mmm, nutella!!! So irresistible!
Um, I pretty much love this post because you just saved me a couple of pennies! I have been wanting that exact same watch for double the amount at another store but 12.99?!? You just can't beat it! Ordering it now, so thank you lady!
Oh, nutella. It will change your life and eating habits forever. Had no idea that they made Hunters with orthopedic soles! Definitely worth investing in for walking around a lot. So glad you enjoyed Italy!
Mmm…Nutella. I know. I keep one jar stashed in the pantry but I won't let myself open it, because it would be gone in the same day!
Vino – I haven't been brave enough to try any vino while pregnant yet. But maybe over the holidays, just a teeny tiny sip!
Hunters – They were good to you during pregnancy? So glad to hear that! It might help justify my 3 pairs I should wear more often! If only the weather in SoCal would make up it's mind!
Hope you're having a lovely weekend!
xx Vivian @ http://diamondsandtulle.blogspot.com
i didn't know about nutella until we moved to switzerland, then i was obsessed and had it on everything…and now i can't go near it, i think i had an overload 🙂
guess youll just have to go back to really indulge in the wine 🙂