Marie in Malawi!

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One of my best friends, Marie, just started her first blog!

Marie recently returned from Malawi, Africa, where she worked for a few weeks with her grad program! She took some ahh-mazing photos and I wanted to share them on my blog. I’m super jealous and am living vicariously through her!

Be sure to check out her blog, Marie in Malawi!

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Safari time! (Photo credit: Marie Townley)

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(Photo credit: Marie Townley)

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(Photo credit: Marie Townley)

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(Photo credit: Marie Townley)

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(Photo credit: Marie Townley)

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(Photo credit: Marie Townley)

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(Photo credit: Marie Townley)

I like this one because I think it looks like the pair are gossiping.

I like this one because I think it looks like the pair are gossiping. (Photo credit: Marie Townley)

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(Photo credit: Marie Townley)

Marie's just hanging with her favorite elephants!

Marie’s just hanging with her favorite elephants!

Marie talks all about her experience in Malawi on her blog!

She’s going to China for spring break and I’m sure she’ll write allll about that next! :)

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Weekend Update: 1/18-1/20

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I had a semi-relaxing weekend. The apartment is starting to come along and feel like a home, rather than a few rooms with boxes and stuff everywhere. I even hung up my gallery wall- which I love so much!

One of my best friend’s, Marie got engaged. However, she scared the crap out of me telling me on the phone. She started with, “I need to tell you something,” then said, really fast, in between what I think were tears some mumbling nonsense with her boyfriend fiance’s name. My overactive imagination jumped to the conclusion that he was in a coma or got in a motorcycling accident, not that he even owns a motorcycle-  I just watch too much TV… Anyways, thankfully no one was in the hospital and I didn’t have to rush across the country to be by my friend! She just got engaged!

My friend Brooke and I decided to try the dive bar in an alley near our apartments. Apparently it’s “world famous”, only takes cash, and has a fabulous musical selection that includes Mickey Avalon’s “My D*ck,” Poison’s “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn” and of course, Trace Adkins, “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.” Just the classics, ya know…

I also made a stop at the beach to get a free microwave and coffee pot for my apartment! There I got some great antlers for the apartment and got to dip my toes in the sand for a smidge bit. I also got to go to my faaavooorite bakery in the world, well at least the Tampa Bay area. Cafe de Paris at Indian Rocks beach. I went there all the time a couple summers ago when I was living at the beach.

Last night, Brooke, Chelsea and I met downtown for free yoga in the park. There was a festival going on so the class was relocated to a section of the park I had never seen before! I love when I discover something/somewhere new in a place I thought I already knew well!

My friends and I also decided on a new rule that if it’s possible to walk somewhere, instead of driving, we walk. That way, it’s better for our wallets, the environment and our health :)

Love, Liv

Things to look forward to:

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The past couple weeks I’ve been really busy with holidays, moving and work! I might be exhausted, but I am so thankful to be busy with so many exciting changes!

Now, that the holidays are over and I’m starting to feel settled into my routine, I finally have a moment to get excited about something I’ve been looking forward to… Gasparilla!

If you’re from the Tampa Bay area, you already know about Gasparilla. If not, just think of pirates and Mardi Gras mixed together for a day.

Since I went away for school, this will be my first Gasparilla in five years (eeek.. that reminds me of how old I’m getting!)  A lot of people like to dress up like pirates, which is fun, however that’s just not my thing. I’m happy with simply using pirates as inspiration for a sassy yet stylish outfit.

I’ve been brainstorming some ideas …

Gasparilla 2013 outfit

A perfect day in Milan:

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As soon as I stepped foot in Milan I felt like I was home. Probably more so than I’ve felt anywhere else, ever.

Here are my top five things to do in Milan to ensure you have a perfect day.

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1. Buy the current issue of VOGUE ITALIA. Though you could buy it anywhere in Italy I think everyone should buy it in Milan, since it is the fashion capital of the country… it just has more meaning.

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2. Window shop stores you’ve never heard of / could never afford.

These shoes remind me of something a modern Cinderella would wear!
These shoes remind me of something a modern Cinderella would wear!

3. Climb the stairs to the top of Milan’s duomo. It’s the third largest cathedral in Europe!

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4. Then, grab a bite in Milan’s version of “Central Park.”

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5. Go to the museums. Don’t forget to make your appointment to see Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper at least six months in advance or you’ll miss it like me! After you see the official museums check out some of the fun art on the streets!

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Try not to leave your heart in Milan like I did.. I’ve been homesick since I left!

Love, Liv

Pack light; Travel cute

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Packing light is necessary when travelling, but so is comfort and style. You don’t want to be lugging around heavy suitcases on to trains and ferries, and you also want to be comfortable and look together.
The key is to pack a lot of versatile items that you can wear over and over! Here’s a guide that can help get you started:olivia leigh gaggi
1. Luggage. I used The North Face’s small base camp duffel, it’s great because it is a backpack that doubles as a duffel bag! I know I’ll use it when I’m not travelling, too.
2. Fedora hat.
3. A bright necklace.
4. Hippy shoes.  I know, I know… they’re kind of fugz but trust me you’ll learn to love ‘em! You need comfy shoes that have a back strap, especially when you are walking around a lot.
5. Longchamp. Or another light weight easy-to-pack purse. The Longchamp is great because it’s waterproof and it folds up so it can fit in a small packing space when you’re not using it.
6. A sassy scarf. Perfect for sassy-ing up an outfit for night or just accessorizing during the day.
7. Comfy cotton dresses. Old Navy has some great inexpensive cotton dresses. They’re great for wearing during the day and being super comfortable.
8. Versatile shorts. J. Crew, Gap, Banana and Old Navy all have great shorts for traveling. They’re nice, tidy looking and look good with a lot of things. The last thing you’d want to wear are those tacky, little booty shorts in a foreign country. Actually, I hope they are the last thing you would want to wear ever, to be perfectly honest.
9. Basic tanks.
10. Button downs. 
11. Cotton skirt.
12. Colored blazer. They’re fun and can brighten up any outfit.
13. Wedges. Personally, I need a heel. I’m 4′ 11″ and wedges are perfect for giving me a bit of height and are easy to wear.
14. Cardigan. Cardigans are great when it’s just a little cool and you don’t want to wear the blazer. I don’t like to wear sweatshirts abroad because I think they make people stick out like soar thumbs as Americans.
15. Jeans. One or two pairs is enough to pack. You can wear them a couple days in a row and then switch them out.
16. Cross-body purse.
*Don’t forget a bathing suit and sunglasses too! And yes, all those things (and more) did fit into my base camp duffel =]

Have a happy, healthy holiday!

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Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

With Thanksgiving officially over and the rest of the winter holidays around the corner I thought I’d do a post on how to make your holiday just a smidge bit healthier. No one wants to be counting calories or worrying about how much they eat during the holidays, especially when you’re surrounded by so much good food!

Here are three simple ways you can have a healthier holiday and still enjoy yourself :

  1. Participate in a holiday run. Yesterday morning my sister and I ran a Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 5k but there are other runs you can sign up for around Christmas and New Years day too.

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  2. Have a colorful meal. Generally, the more color you have on your plate the more nutrients and antioxidants you’re consuming and that is good for you.
  3. Clean up! Before plopping down to watch the game or take a nap, do some cleaning! It’s a nice gesture to the host/hostess and it gets your body moving and burning at least a few extra calories. (:

Hope everyone has great holiday season!

5 Things I’m thankful for:

  1. My family and friends
  2. Cats
  3. My new iPad!
  4. That I have a job
  5. That I don’t have student loans I need to start paying off!

And soooooo much more!