Food for Thought!

Being in Italy is good enough, but a personal Italian chef on top of that?? It's unreal! We are so lucky to have Margharita who fixes lunch on days that students have class. She has the most amazingly natural talent for food, and can go weeks without fixing the same thing twice. Here are some of the insanely delicious dishes we've been enjoying!

Sometimes I wonder if my constant camera-clicking during lunch gets annoying, but can you blame me?

And finally, a little snack of tomato slices, mozzarella, and balsamic made by yours truly! (Whether or not I could ever be a Margharita is still up for debate.)

Yum!

Katy

Big Girl Store

Nothing brings out my domestic-ness quite like Busatti. If my sources are correct, there are only two stores in all of Italy, one of which is in my "home-away-from-hometown", Sansepolcro. It is full of kitchen and bedroom linens and necessities made out of the most gorgeous Italian fabrics I've ever seen. (Fabrics can also be bought by the bolt... sometimes I actually ponder the logistics of toting them home in a second suitcase... they're that beautiful.) My friends and I have discussed at great length how we want to buy an old Tuscan home and furnish it entirely with Busatti wares. (We're only partially joking...) I regretted not buying more from here last time I was in Italy, so you better believe my wish list is quite lengthy this time around!

I have to laugh because it's one of those stores I would've despised going into when I was little, but now I can't get enough! Perhaps I'm growing up after all!

Katy

Product Placement: Luggage Tags

I've decided that checking luggage on international flights is both the best and worst thing ever. Being that I LOVE summer clothes, I didn't skimp on packing. (Lightweight fabrics means you can definitely bring more, right?) I managed to stay under the weight limit, but that would still make for a miserable load to haul. On the other hand, during my flight I would catch myself thinking about all of the lovely things I brought with me and how devastated I would be if my suitcase were to get lost...

Janna's suitcase was one of the first to come out of baggage claim (when has that ever happened?), so I was thinking mine had to be next, but many many rounds of luggage later, mine was still nowhere to be seen. As I was standing on my tip-toes craning my neck anxiously scanning the conveyor belt, I thought about how great it would've been for me to get a cute luggage tag that would make my suitcase pop from what seemed like hundreds of others.

I really love how you can choose the font, pattern, and colors of the tag! 

Contact info- very important!

You can order yours here and hopefully be spared the worry! Oh, and my luggage did come out eventually! (I wouldn't be telling the story here if it hadn't... I'd still be freaking out...)

Katy

By the way, I'm in Italy...

I know, I know- no big deal.

I kid, of course- it’s a huge deal! In 2010, I studied abroad in a beautiful little town in Tuscany called Sansepolcro, and I have gotten the amazing opportunity to go back and assist with the summer programs that Meredith College runs over there! I arrived here with one of my best friends this past Thursday with minimal drama (though some might argue that almost missing their international flight due to bad weather more than minimal…), and have been re-acclimating myself to my second home!

I can’t wait to share more about travel, food, shopping, and the GORGEOUS palazzo that we live in, but, for now, here are some pictures from around town! 

 Katy

P.S. I made this!

Everybody has different ways in which they like to treat themselves for a job well-done. Aside from the obvious rewards - sweets, retail therapy - one of my particular favorites is allowing myself time to squeeze in a little DIY time!

In my first post, I shared this picture.

Well here is what I did!

Ta da! I know I'll get great use out of it during the hot summer months!

Katy

Product Placement: Tervis Tumblers!

One thing I love about college classes versus high school classes is that all of my professors allow me to bring drinks. Of course, I’m sure this would be very different if I was working in the lab classrooms… luckily the Mass Communication/Business department doesn't mind!

I got a monogrammed Tervis as a graduation gift, and it has been my confidant during many a class and study session. (Not to mention, it’s enabled me to get as much Dr. Pepper out of the dining hall as possible… whether that should be considered a good thing or not is up for debate…) It may seem silly to make such a fuss over a cup, but it’s probably been one of the most useful things I’ve gotten!

Order yours HERE! 

1. 12 oz cup

2. 24 oz cup

3. Water bottle (I've got my eye on this one!)

4. 15 oz mug

5.16 oz cup

Katy

Arm Exercise

Almost every time I get on Pinterest, I see a new braided hairstyle that looks arm-numbingly crazy and incredibly beautiful. I’ve really become obsessed with braids over the past year- they’re just so perfect when either a) I need to spice up an ensemble or b) my hair just isn’t cooperating. Check some of these out!

Photo 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

A far cry from the pigtail braids of elementary school, right? Other than the classic, I’ve only mastered the fishtail, the ponytail braid (#5) and the waterfall (#4 - only on really good days though, and when I have to time and patience to keep both arms over my head while I fumble around with my hair). I’d really like to attempt some of these others this summer. Better start hitting the weights...

Katy

A Little Organization Inspiration for Your Friday!

I’m staring at my desk as I write this from my bed, and here is what I see: several stacks of notebooks and random papers, three cups, a coffee mug, a box of stationary, random odds and ends (paper clips, push pins, hair ties… things of that nature), and to top it all off, several articles of clothing over the back of my chair. (Where are the pens and pencils, you ask? Those are in the drawer, and I’m not even going to go there…)

Needless to say, desk space has not been a recent priority.

Finals week starts today (and yes – I do think Friday is an odd day for finals to begin), and I’m thinking I could really use some clear desk space to kick-start my brain power. Here is a little inspiration I’ve been sifting through in an attempt to muster up some organization motivation!

Now that's a calendar! Plus- I love the idea of spelling your name with letter mugs for pen/pencil storage.

 Fabulous chair!

 Fresh flowers make all desk-work more fun!

 I like the big number labels.

Great filing system.

 ... it's so clean!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Happy weekend!

Katy

Love the Wood Cut Out Monograms? You Can Win One!

If you are like me, you just love the new wooden cut out monograms and can think of about 10 places in your house that screams for one!

Wait no longer...we're giving one away!

Just visit my friend, Laurie's blog, Lulu and Daisy, and enter to win...easy peasy!   Click here to enter.

Introductions are in order...

Hey everyone! 

My name is Katy, and I'm so excited to be blogging at Invite Cottage! I'll be sharing my favorite products as well as some thoughts on fashion, food, travel, design... all kinds of fun things!

But first, to help y'all get to know me a little better, here are a few random facts about myself:

 This is me.

Photo

Like Kim, I am a Meredith College Angel! (Next year is my senior year! Unbelievable...)

 I'm obsessed with coffee. (Much to my dentist's dismay...)

I love bright colors. My fashion choices used to be called "creative". Now they're called "color-blocking". (I like to think I was ahead of the curve... ;))

This one time, I went to Italy... and I haven't been able to stop talking about it since!

 I'm one of those people who takes lots of pictures of their food in restaurants...

 ... over

... and over again.

Being crafty makes me happy. (I can't wait to show y'all what I did with these bows!)

...did I mention the coffee obsession?

And one could hardly be involved with Invite Cottage without loving monograms... I am definitely no exception!

Hope that gives y'all a little taste of me- I can't wait to post again!

Katy