tis' the season to be crafty.

Mati & I's Christmas Ornaments.

It's been so long since I've celebrated Christmas with little kids that I forgot how much fun it could be!
More to come :)

Top 10 _________ in 2010.

So, 2010 is winding down and it's about that time where list upon list is being published to clarify "The Top Twenty Celebrities of 2010" or the "Top Ten New Businesses in 2010" or the top whatever of 2010. I got to thinking and thought I would publish a little list of my own that my personal, top 13 ( I couldn't pick just 10) favorite pictures and their back stories from this year.

one and two) SAINTS. SUPER. BOWL.

Sarah, Avery and I at the Black and Gold Dress Run the week before the Super Bowl.

On February 7, 2010, the New Orleans Saints won their first Super Bowl. To anyone not from the state of Louisiana or not a true Saints fan, I'm not sure you will ever fully understand the euphoric feeling that flooded through an entire city, through an entire state, through an entire nation of people. For years and years as a kid I went through many a Sundays listening to my Dad scream and curse at "The 'Aints" through our television and the best part is that he still continued to watch them week after week, season after season. Fast forward 21 years later and there I was, standing in the middle of the French Quarter, right before the Saints play for the title taking this picture surrounded by (excuse my bias here) some of the best and most charismatic people in the world. New Orleans is better than ever and now we had our team that was better than ever. The magic after the biggest W the Saints have ever received is a feeling I will never forget.

3) Senior Spring Break.

In an age old tradition, my girlfriends an I (along with all of LSU) headed down to Gulf Shores, Alabama for what is possibly the best week in the whole year. With mostly everyone finishing up and heading off on new adventures in the months to come, this was one of the last times we would truly be all together. Some how someone was crazy enough to rent a beach house large enough to pack in EIGHTEEN girls for a week that was filled with drinking on the beach. We spent a majority of our nights at Florabama (because we were finally all 21 now, right?) just enjoying some of the last times we would be allowed to act like irresponsible college students. Going to LSU was the best decision I ever made and I met some of the most wonderful people and made some of my best friends. This is by far one of my favorite pictures of all time. Love you girls!

4)fat tuesday.

Kobi and I before the Bacchus parade (&&seeing DREW BREES!)

Mardi Gras in NOLA with the best cousin ever and catching beads from Drew Brees. Enough said.

5) Family.

Mom, Anna, Lainie, Joseph, Me, Dad

Again, I might be bias, but I have one of the best families EVER. This past summer we somehow all managed to be in the same state, in the same house, all at the same time. I got to spend uninterrupted time with all my siblings and parents and enjoy the Florida summer weather. This day was so fun and meant so much to me to be able to spend time with the whole family before I headed out to Italy for the year. Love yall!

6&7)  Ratthew Mussell gets married.

Matt Russell. Where do I begin? This crazy kid was one of my best friends in high school and is a person whose friendship I value so, so much. It was hard to keep in really close contact throughout college considering they were 14 hours away from one another but we managed to stay good friends throughout the separation. This past summer, Rat-a-Tat got all grown up and married his amazing wife, Becca who is more than perfect for Matt. This was one of the most fun weddings I have EVER been to. Seriously, I will be happy if my wedding is half the amount of fun. I was so happy to be able to spend time again with Matt and his wife and enjoy the festivities. I also really enjoyed getting to travel and stay with one of my first really good friends in Tallahassee, Miss Brittney Hegwer. Clearly from the looks of the second picture, no one can do white girl dance moves better than us.





8)  The Goodbye.

LA Fitness, Danielle ("You guys take more pictures than the cheerleaders!!"), RJ, Amanda, Becca, Ratthew.

Before I headed out to Italy, I had one last get together with my friends and family. It was the last time I had legitimate Mexican food and margaritas (something that pains me very, very much) and just got to see everyone one time before I left. It was such a fun night and everyone looked so great in their red, white, and blue attire! I miss these people more than words can describe.

9and10) CINQUE TERRE.

Vernazza.

Cinque Terre. The most beautiful place I have ever been. I was pretty lucky to have this as my first traveling experience while here in Italy. Cinque Terre is a string of 5 towns connected by a hiking trail (don't let anyone fool you if they tell you this hike is a walk in the park...) just surrounded by the most amazing natural scenery. I went with such great friends which made the experience even that more amazing.

eleven&twelve) Oktoberfest.

Oktoberfest. You. Must. Go. Seriously, Oktoberfest has by far been my favorite trip since being in Europe. I STRONGLY urge each and everyone of you to go experience this at least once in your life. This festival features liter after liter of specially brewed German beer (what more do you need me to say to convince you?) in huge pint glasses in which you get to enjoy surrounded by thousands of beer enthusiasts. Katherine and I made quite the interesting road trip from Torino to Munich and started enjoying Oktoberfest each and every morning at 6am. In the first picture, you can probably tell we were a few in and the chaos in the background is just a perfect representation of how much fun it really is. Needless to say, I want to go back every year for the rest of my lifeeeee.







13) Milano.

This is the duomo in Milan. It was probably one of the most beautiful structures I have ever seen. The size of this church is incredible and the absolute detail included in the architecture is unmatched by anything I have ever seen before. It's so amazing to think that this was built without modern technology and all by hand. It makes the church just that much more special.

And there you all have it. My favorite pictures of the year. 

Thankful.

THANKFUL: adj. 1: conscious of benefit received; 2: expressive of thanks; 3: well pleased, glad

Well it seems as though another year has passed and I truly wonder if that in the last 365 days since the previous Thanksgiving, I've stopped to think about how unbelievably lucky and blessed I am. I've been thinking so much about my family since I've been here and today especially is just one of those days where I really miss home. I miss the warm familiarity and comfort of my family and close friends that can not be duplicated anywhere else. I am so thankful for them and for their immense support and love that seems infinite despite incidents in the past and rough patches we've been through. Even from across the World, I feel the complete opposite of alone and so loved. I am so blessed to have such an amazing family and I would love nothing more than to be able to teleport home and be able to sit in the dining room table and listen to our crazy family conversations, eat the Barbara family's traditional Cajun Thanksgiving, gossip with my sisters and mom, watch football with my dad, and quite possibly make up ridiculous and gross songs (a tradition since Barbara family roadtrip 1994?...;) ).

While I do miss home more than words can describe, I am so thankful for this experience and opportunity in my life. I feel so lucky to be surrounded by a wonderful family in Italy and wonderful friends as well. I get to spend my days with three of the most loving children who's perspective on life is so honest and untainted by the monetary and standard things that "grown ups" need to make them feel happy. They mean the world to me and teach me more about life than they will ever know. This Saturday the family here is even doing a Thanksgiving dinner for me and the other Americans here which means so much. (I'll post pictures from the meal after!) Being here in Torino has brought so many wonderful people in my life who I am more than gracious for. I am learning much about myself and others in an experience that most people don't get to have and for that I am truly, truly thankful.

The chalkboard that the kids and I did this week for Thanksgiving!

So thankful to have Martina, Gabriele, Matilde (and Francesco, the friend of Gabri's) in my life!

So from 2,000+ miles away, Happy Thanksgiving. :)

and WHO DAT!