Tag: exploring

European Cruise: Day 8 Sicily

by Ariana Peters, posted in food, healthy lifestyle, training, travel

Sicily, Italy! We are in port from 7am to 7pm today. I have no planned excursion today but most of my travelling companions do so I was just gonna walk around on my own. 

I slept in until 8 then got up and went to breakfast then Carra’s grandma and I headed out for a little walk in the town. 

We meandered along looking at the pretty buildings. 

Got cappuccinos

Wandered around some more

Then stopped for wine and bruscetta before getting back in the boat to relax and read. 

We went to an actual sit down dinner that had great food and tiramisu for dessert!!

Then I went with Carra’s grandma to a 50s and 60s music trivia thing then went to a little game show that I was terrible at hahahahaha. I only lasted 8 seconds before I said the word I’m not supposed to. 

Then I wandered around for a few minutes then went to bed. 

European Cruise: Day 3 Venice!!!

by Ariana Peters, posted in food, healthy lifestyle, travel

Today is all about exploring and experiencing everything Venice has to offer…..that I can afford, let’s remember I am on a budget.

Last night we had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe (that is the tourist spot my friends like to hit everywhere) I get it, I like to get the starbucks You Are Here mugs. 

Then we went straight home and passed out!!!! My bed was a little hard on my back so I tossed and turned a bit but we all slept for about 10 hours!! 

Up at 10am, everyone is showering and getting ready! 

Time to explore!

But first breakfast! Espresso and pastry. 

Oh man, did you know you aren’t supposed to drink the tap watsr I’m Venice? So we have to keep thinking about buying bottled water.  

We travelled around on the vapparetto and saw the outside of islands. 

I had pizza in Italy for lunch!!

Then we hopped off the vapparetto and ended up in an almost empty part of Venice which was amazing!!! 

Totally happy I got to see this classic Italy scene!

Piazza San Marco!

Enjoyed a glass of wine in the afternoon and people watched 

Then we took a walking tour

Saw some amazing things 



Then it was Gondola time!

And of course, pasta!!!!!!

And now it’s back to sleep cause we are leaving at 5am to catch a train to Verona! 

Goodnight!

Stitch Fix for Europe!!!

by Ariana Peters, posted in healthy lifestyle, travel

Good morning!!!

Europe is coming up quick and after asking my roommate about her packing situation and realizing we have 2 formal dinners on the cruise I thought I might need a little more style to add to my wardrobe for the trip. So I my clothes will be have stylish have workout clothes hahaha. I ordered a stichfix and for the first time gave them a dollar amount that I needed to stay with and they totally listened! She was actually $1 under my budget! I was impressed. But I won’t be keeping the whole box unfortunately. I wish they gave you like 10 things instead of 5. But here is what was in the box:

This necklace is actually on point for my style but so much so that I have at least 2 necklaces that are pretty similar hahaha.

This doesn’t wow me or unwow me. I have been starting to lose weight so in another 10lbs it will look totally cute but I have a few things in this style already.

LOVE this shirt, it is cute and comfy and has Polka Dots which are totally my jam. It is adorable and conservative so I can wear it to the more strict dress code places in Europe like Vatican City. and it is loose a breezy so I shouldn’t be dying on a hot day. This is definitely a keeper.

This dress is the style I love, its empire waist-like and its a dark green color which I love, it would be great in fall with leggings and boots and I like the neckline design, it makes it cute but still classy because it doesn’t really show cleavage. But again I have a dress pretty similar to this so I unfortunately don’t need to spend the extra money on something similar.

The fifth piece is this kimono cover thing. I don’t hate it but I don’t love it. I can see how it would be cute with jeans and a tank top in the fall and the colors are great but I am not 100% sold on it. And if my first thought isn’t “omg I have to have it” then it goes back.

That leaves me with the polka dot shirt. Maybe I will check out target and some discount websites.

 

Have you tried Stitchfix yet?

Here is my referral code if you have not.

https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/7169629?sod=w&som=c

 

 

Ariana’s travel tips

by Ariana Peters, posted in food, healthy lifestyle, training, travel

 

  1. plan, plan, plan- I know some people like to fly by the seat of their pants and that is great but in some cases you need to plan. If you are not on a budget then you might have a little more room to play with this but if you are on a budget, as I always am, planning is your best friend. Also if you only have a limited amount of time planning ahead can save you hours of wasted time standing in line.
  2. research- Groupon is international if you didn’t know. For most places if you do a little research you can find inexpensive skip the line passes, semi-guided tours, activities and so much more at reduced costs and it definitely saves you on those hours in line.
    1. planning and research also help you squeeze in as much as possible in a short time period. For example we are packing Venice into a day and a half then on our last day in Venice which would have been a 3/4 day anyways we are instead taking the train and spending a few hours each in Verona, Florence and Pisa before laying our heads down in our AirBnB accommodations in Rome.
  3. Think outside the box when it comes to lodging- you don’t have to stay in a nice hotel to feel luxurious when traveling. If you once again research you can find nice places for a lot less expensive. I have stayed in some seriously nice hostels and and used AirBnB several times when I have travelled. If you are traveling with friends AirBnB is a great choice. We have accommodations in the heart of Venice, Rome and Barcelona through AirBnB that are less than $150/night,  whole apartment in each place, split the cost between everyone and you are looking at $20-30/night for each person in a nice place. and having and entire apartment means you have a kitchen so you can hit the market and make a few meals to save some money. You are still eating locally!!!
  4. Do a few things that aren’t overrun by tourists- on my first morning in Venice after some coffee and a pastry I plan on walking the opposite direction of the crowds and will continue to do this. That is how I will explore Venice, going the opposite direction of the crowds (obviously do a little research on places you should avoid and use common sense, if you turn down a street and it feels sketchy, backtrack quickly).
  5. Safety!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!- Be safe, research the places you are going, know the areas to avoid, know the laws and customs. Pay attention to the dress code. If something or someone doesn’t feel right get out of that situation and place ASAP. Think before you act. If you are alone, don’t get so drunk that you are impaired. That movie TAKEN with Liam Neeson is a fun thriller but it is also real, people are kidnapped and murdered every day, enjoy your vacation but be smart and be aware.
  6. common sense should see you through-if you wouldn’t do it at home don’t do it abroad. Again take 10 minutes and learn about the place that your are going, I would sunbath topless in Ibiza, I would cover all tattoos and most skin in the middle east, different place different experience.
  7. Check in. Give someone at least a vague itinerary of where you will be and when you will be there and when you will be home so someone will know if you don’t arrive. Try and check in at least ever 72 hours (I tend to check in at least once every 24 hours) you can find a free or very cheap internet café almost anywhere. And most cell phones have international coverage if you check. It will cost me $.55 every day to send 1 text message to my mom and get one back from her both acknowledging we know I am alive. $.55/day is not much to ensure piece of mind.
  8. Be a dork. Take selfies and make stupid faces and journal and take videos. Who cares what the people around you think, in 5, 10, 15 years you are going to be so glad you can look back on those memories.
  9. Be respectful. It may not be your culture, religion or favorite food but it is theirs. You wouldn’t want someone to bad mouth your way of life so don’t do that to anyone else. You don’t have to believe in it or even accept it but don’t be mean about it. Step to the side, quietly leave the church, discreetly bow out of the ceremony, say thank you and try the tiniest bite you can manage.
  10. lastly HAVE FUN!!!!! You may never be back, you may never experience something like this again so drink it all in. Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way and truly live this experience.

Ipsy month 3 and some other tidbits

by Ariana Peters, posted in food, healthy lifestyle

Hi!!! The snow is really sticking around here. Most of the main streets are plowed but the side streets are still pure packed ice, as in snow that has melted then refroze. It’s a mess. It’s got 2 more days to melt a bit before I need to drive. 

Now the Ipsy bag

I like this design, I could totally carry this around as a little clutch. 

Definitely can’t wait to try some lipgasm lol

This one is perfect for this time of year! I coat on so much chapstick for my dry lips.

I am excited to see if this prolongs the life of my nail Polish, it always chips off so fast.

Bronzer!! It’s freezing here, literally, so this will bring a bit of summer to my life

And the perfect shade for a little multi-use makeup. In my world this can be eye shadow or blush, and maybe even lip gloss depending on the consistency. 

From last months bag I am LOVING the curling gel and the mascara. The lilac eye liner is nice as well and the green eye shadow is fun.

The BF and I hit up WinCo last night and for pennies I bought a bunch of stuff to make an awesome trail mix for munching on this week while studying 

I also made some white chicken chili 

I took 4 recipes I found on pintrest and took what I liked from each one and made my own version. I also bought cream cheese instead of sour cream and just went with it hahahaha! It turned out pretty awesome actually. 

Today my BF, roommate, roommate’s BF and I attemped to do a museum tour around Portland but almost everything was closed!!! Dang snow strikes again. 

We were able to hit the vacuum museum 

And hit OMSI our biggest museum around, we watched a 25 minute presentation on the night sky in Portland. It was pretty cool, the projected the night sky on the ceiling of a domed room. It looked amazing!!!

How is your winter going?