Sweet escape {Florence Travel Diary}

Hi guys,

There's no arguing with the fact that we live in some pretty strange times... Without mentioning anything in particular (because we all lived and felt every moment of pain and despair brought by the recent tragedies), I'm just going to say this: I'm hurt and I pray to God for a better and safer world!

I've been through some rough patches this past couple of months, after a period of prolonged stress that triggered a pretty ugly case of anxiety! I'm not going to share much on the subject, but I am more than happy to answer to your questions, if any of you are going through something similar, so do not hesitate to ask! The bottom line is that I wasn't myself anymore, and all that's been happening kind of forced me to slow down, to analyze which are the main stressors in my life and to try and eliminate them. Things happen with the world outside that we don't understand, but what I'm trying to say is that sometimes, our own world, the one within us, can also be shattered and we have to take better care of ourselves!

Travel has always been my escape, and during these times, it helped tremendously. We had bought the tickets to Florence some time around March. As the departure date approached, I was becoming worried that I wouldn't be able to enjoy the city break, because I wasn't feeling well. Still, I decided to go and it was amazing! The weather was perfect, there were fewer tourists than usual, the views were spectacular, the food was delicious. It was such a nice escape from everything, it was almost a healing experience. Because travel does that sometimes... it takes you away from the hurricane that is your life, and slows you down a bit, makes you enjoy things.

I hope you guys will love the photos as much as I do! Florence is beyond beautiful. You will be seeing some panoramic views of the city, taken from the Giotto bell tower, the Dome and Piazzale Michelangelo. I'll soon come back with more images from the trip.

Many, many hugs!

Mamalina

The girl and the wardrobe

Hi guys,

Going through some old photos, I came across one in which my Mom was wearing a stunning knit pleated midi skirt with a turtleneck, looking ever so beautiful. That style resonated with me so much and I felt this immediate urge to re-create it for the blog. Instead of the turtleneck I used a v-neck sweater with a shirt under it. The neck style of the sweater and the black bow do match the look I was going for, and the two elements also allowed me to play with prints and patterns, which is what I love to do when I get to work with layers.

I was thrilled with the results and Alex did a wonderful job again with the photography (I'm really thankful!). I'm planning to select a few more of my Mom's photos and try to re-create some more of her looks. She has always been my inspiration! I remember being drawn to her closet when I was a kid, fascinated by how she would organize her clothes (by color), by her collection of scarves and the smell of perfume when I'd open the door to that magical place. I would try on all her clothes and parade in the living room, to the amusement of my Dad... Sweet, sweet memories.

I hope you guys will enjoy the post! It really touched a sweet spot for me :)!

Many hugs!

Mamalina

Skirt: Zara (old)
Sweater: Zara
Shirt: Koton
Shoes: H&M (pimped by me :P)

Delicious Autumn

Hi guys,

If you needed any more reasons in favor of this season being a true spectacle of nature, the pictures below capture what I believe to be the essence of Autumn: the colors, so warm and beautiful, are truly inspiring! 

I tried my best to blend into this perfect scenery, and I hope you'll enjoy the results!

Many, many hugs, and a wonderful week ahead!

Love,

Mamalina

Skirt: Zara
Sweater: Mango
Necklace: H&M
Boots: Mango
Hat: Accesorize

True colors

Hi guys,

Wow, it’s been such a long time since my last post here on the blog. I apologize for my absence! Sometimes, stress, work and different life events catch us off guard, and we realize that we need to slow down and take care of ourselves for a while. Now I’m back, back to something that brings joy to my life, back to my little wonderland. Truth be told, I’ve missed it terribly! I’ve missed all of you guys, and all the positive vibe that I get from you! Not to mention not wanting to miss out on this wonderful spectacle of nature, this autumn fairy tale. Autumn is my favorite season in terms of fashion! I feel that it makes me more creative, more courageous. You might notice in the photos below that I even got a haircut, my hair is pretty short now! Talk about a bold move J!

I hope you guys will enjoy my first outfit proposition for this season. It’s all about using layers and mixing different prints and patterns, and I think it's super fun!

It feels great to be back!

Love,

Mamalina

Vest: Zara
Jeans: Mango
Blouse: H&M
Shoes: H&M
Necklace: Promod