Cancun, Mexico bathing suit fashion

Cancun, Mexico has a lot to offer students for a fun, memorable spring break trip. From the beautiful clear blue ocean beaches to the crazy nightclub scene that features famous DJs, there is no shortage of activities for everyone to enjoy during their vacation. 

The popular destination also proved to be a place for people to show off their latest spring fashion, including swimsuits. This year's bathing suit styles far exceeded the classic triangle shape, establishing that swimwear can really be a high fashion category of its own. Below are some of the best bathing suit street styles I saw during my spring break trip to Cancun.

Sexy straps

Jordyn Altit (right) wears a bathing suit from shop.forloveandlemons.com alongside Hannah Gruenberg.

Having extra straps on bikini tops, bottoms and even on one pieces was by far the most popular swimsuit trend this year. This style can take a plain bathing suit and transform it into something sexy and unique. Whether it's a crisscross, accentuated neckline or diagonals along the torso, adding a few extra lines can go a long way.  

"Graphic tee" one piece 

Abagail Wetzel (left) and Gabby Kreissler (right) wear bathing suits from Aerie.

From deep Vs to vibrant colors, one piece swimsuits were all the rage over spring break. One particular look that quickly became a crowd favorite was the graphic tee style. These hysterical suits had wacky sayings ranging from the two pictured above- "vacay all day" and "go coconuts" - to "team kittens." These fun one pieces gave girls a chance to express their comedic side while still showing off their bodies with flattering cut styles. 

Velvet swimsuit

Lauren Lolordo (left) wears a velvet bikini from Mura Boutique next to friend Jenny Fliegel. 

New swimwear fashion didn't stop at funky cuts and shapes. A surprising material was introduced this season: velvet. This unconventional swimsuit fabric proved to be totally hot and chic, as the two-tone shades reflected perfectly in the blazing sun. Plus, you know this trend is cool when Kylie Jenner posted a mirror pic of herself in a green velvet bathing suit back in January

Off the shoulder

Catherine Joss (left) wears a black off the shoulder swimsuit from Top Shop while posing with Molly Whalen. 

The off the shoulder trend hit big in 2016. From '70s style blouses to peek-a-boo type dresses, they were everywhere. And it's clear that the iconic design has not seen its last days. An off the shoulder bathing suit can take basic swimwear and make it feel more like a complete outfit, perfect for wearing at a beach party. While some may be hesitant about getting random tan lines, the vast amount of compliments you'll get is completely worth it. 

Taste: My Experience as a Self Proclaimed Foodie at a Professional Food Convention

It was the weekend of March 11, just a couple of days before my midterm exams. While my roommate and I should have probably stayed in and studied, we were extremely tempted to travel instead by the thirty euro round trip tickets we found to Florence (thank you Italo Treno!). We had so much we wanted to do: see the Duomo, say hi to David, bargain at the leather market, and end our day watching the sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo. However, when we got an email that the "Taste" fair will be happening in Florence this same weekend our whole plan changed.

Taste is an annual Italian fair held in Florence that highlights Italian food and lifestyle, putting an emphasis on "good eating and good living". It features farms, producers, wineries, and breweries from different Italian regions and attracts many well-respected international food journalists, gastronomic and catering trade personnel as well as the many enthusiastic "foodie" visitors (AKA: me). Well, at least that's what I saw myself as, but as I entered through the doors of Stazione Leopolda I quickly realized that the term "foodie" should not be used lightly. 

To start, my roommate and I were the youngest visitors by what looked like at least ten years. Then again, Italians tend to mature very well and I have a long list of Italian teenagers I've mistaken as 30 year olds. Still, I'm convinced we were some of the youngest guests there. 

Thus began the struggle of trying to fit in. We began our journey along the massive isles of local food and drink booths at a Tuscan winery. After a long thirty seconds of intense eye contact with the man behind the desk, he clearly recognized us as oblivious Americans and kindly informed us that we had to pick up tasting glasses at the front of the building. Soon enough we were tasting excellent wines from the Fattoria Dianella vineyard in Tuscany. My day continued with tasting samples of fresh cheeses, meats, wines, craft beers, chocolates and olive oil. So much olive oil. 

The booth for I Due Mastri, my favorite craft beer of the fair.

Now, I won't sit here and continue to ramble in long paragraph form to you about everything I experienced at Taste- though I really could. Rather, I will grace you with a few highlights of the day as well as some tips incase you ever happen to find yourself in Florence during the weekend of Taste or go to any other elite convention you are way under qualified to attend. 

Interact with the exhibitors 

Every exhibitor there was beyond excited to be sharing their food or drinks with us and even more honored to be sharing the stories behind their products. Speaking to each exhibitor was was truly an interactive learning experience that shed light on the importance of  "good" food, which to me meant high quality products that support sustainability.  

One of the most interesting moments of the night was when I learned about the history behind the famous Cipriani Bellini and future plans for the company all while sipping on the classic Venetian cocktail. In case you're wondering, Cipriani is currently available at Trader Joes and they are really trying to get into Whole Foods!

Be kind and you may just get free samples

Whether it was due to my genuine interest in their products or the fact that I clearly stood out as a lost outcast among the culinary professionals, multiple exhibitors were kind enough to offer me and my friend free samples of their products after we "tasted" and enjoyed them. A special thank you Evo and Spiritozzi for the excellent olive oil and the scrumptious cookies!

Enter The Taste Shop 

Okay, this one only applies to the Taste fair but it was a fantastic ending to the fair. The Taste Shop is located right before the exit of the fair and held products from almost all of the booths that were available to purchase. Here, I was able to buy my two favorite products of the night: I Due Mastri red ale craft beer and pesto from Delicatezze della Riviera. 

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In the end I learned something very important from this experience: I love food. One day I hope to come back to Florence on the weekend of Taste not as a timid, amateur "foodie" but as a professional culinary expert. Perhaps a food journalist, perhaps being the PR rep for an international restaurant organization, or perhaps I'll suddenly develop an extraordinary gift for cooking and become a world renowned chef! My study-abroad cooking classes start in just a few weeks... I'm just saying it could happen...

A True Hungarian Meal in Budapest

I knew my first post that wasn't about Italy had to be a good one. After a few trips and lots of taste testing (for blog research, of course!), I finally found a new cuisine to share. Behold Hungarian food. Rich, thick, creamy and, above all, buttery describes the food in this eastern European country. And this makes sense considering how bone-chilling the weather was, especially at night without sun. 

To try a traditional Hungarian meal I headed over to a restaurant recommended to me by some friends called Budapest Bistro. Now, I know what you're thinking, "It has the word Budapest in it, how much more touristy can it get?" I know because I thought that too. But boy was I wrong. It was quaint, cozy and the food was delicious. Incase you are traveling to Budapest (and, by the way, if you're not you 100 percent should) then I highly suggest heading over to Budapest Bistro to try traditional Hungarian food! Here is what I ate: 

Fresh bread with Hungarian pepper spread

The creamy spread was surprisingly mild for having "pepper" in the name. It went along great with the fresh, soft bread as a light appetizer. 

Duck Breast

Duck is a very popular poultry in Hungry. While duck liver was a constant star on the menu in different dishes, I opted for the lighter smoked duck breast with fresh veggies and a beet puree sauce.  

"Legendary" Goulash Soup

Served in the traditional piping hot red pot, my first goulash soup was just as the menu claimed: legendary. I am a fan of all things spicy and on the side of the soup came both a pepper as well as red pepper paste, both of which you can add to the soup to give it a kick. The soup had a thin but flavorful broth and included beef, noodles and veggies inside. There was nothing better to have on a chilly night in Budapest.

Cappuccino and chocolate wafers 

Okay, fine, you caught me! The cappuccino is obviously not Hungarian; it's Italian. However, I'm so used to my cappuccino fix in Rome I had to get one! What was Hungarian were the chocolate wafers, courtesy of Budapest Bistro.

Best Milan Winter and Carnevale Street Style 2016

Milan, Italy is one of the great fashion capitals of the world. While the city structure may be comparable to New York, Chicago or London, the beautiful fashion is enough to make a visit worth while.  

This past weekend I went to Milan to spend Valentine's Day weekend with a few friends and was surprised to arrive on the final weekend of Carnevale. Carnevale is an Italian festival that began during the Renaissance period and is centralized in Venice but celebrated throughout Italy (and even in the U.S., where it is referred to as Mardi Gras). Due to the special holiday weekend in Milan, I not only saw everyday street fashion but also beautiful Carnevale fashion. 

Milan Street Fashion

Fur

Fur has taken over Italian winter fashion. From Rome to Milan you can see furry shirts, fur vests and, my personal favorite, furry black jackets. This style not only keeps woman warm during the colder months, but it also makes any outfit chic and luxurious. 

Sneakers

No, I'm not talking about basketball shoes or Nike Shocks. I'm talking about high-end, designer and boutique sneakers. The brand you'll see on almost everyones' feet is Adidas. While many people have the classic Superstars with white leather and black stripes, try and find a more unique design, such as the black snake skin Stan Smiths pictured bellow. Or, head over to a shoe boutique to look for an original, non-designer pair of sneaker. 

All Black Everything

If you find yourself in Milan, Italy or Europe in general and have no idea what to wear, stick to the timeless color black. In Milan, I saw multiple people wearing black from head to toe, such as the woman photographed. From the posh black hat to the edgy black purse and combat boots, this unicolored outfit is sure to impress even the most fashionable. 

Scarfs

Scarfs in Milan serve more as an accessory than as a means to keep warm. You won't find fashionistas wearing thick, knit scarfs with their outfits but rather scarfs with elaborate designs or classic black scarfs with fringe on the end. 

Wedding Dress

The most stunning outfit I saw during my visit to Milan was this elegant winter wedding dress. She was being photographed in The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the upscale fashion mall located right next to one of Milan's Most famous landmarks- The Duomo. Notice the white furry jacket that incorporates the trend I previously mentioned. 

Carnevale

Pictured here is a perfect example of traditional Carnevale fashion. While today many people, especially young children, dress in costumes similar to those Americans wear on Halloween, traditionally classic Renaissance dresses and beautiful masks are worn. 

Go to Naples, if Only for the Pizza.

My first trip outside of Rome was to the nearby city of Naples (or "Napoli" in Italiano). Amidst the warnings I got about how Naples could be dangerous, I also received information that I deemed much more important: Naples is the birth place of pizza. Pizza, people!

So, clearly, I made it a point to travel there, if only for the pizza. Thanks to fantastic recommendations, my friends and I were able to spend almost the entirety of our trip on a self-guided food tour. Beyond the cuisine, we saw beautiful landscapes, a stunning sunset on the beach and spent a considerable amount of time shopping in local boutiques. 

Take a look at my day in Naples through the delicious meals I ate:

BREAKFAST

Beautifully crafted and individually designed cappuccinos at Pastisseria Capriccio di Salvatore Capparelli.

It's not a true Italian breakfast without a light pastry to accompany the cappuccino.  The bread was dense but sweet and flakey. 

LUNCH

50 Kalo di Ciro Salvo Pizzeria is not only known for their classic Napoleon style pizza, but also for their specialty appetizers and craft beer selection. I got Agustus, a darker red beer. 

Best part of 50 Kalo? The fried pizza. The dough tasted almost like an unsweetened funnel cake and made a tasty contrast to the fresh tomato sauce, grated cheese and basil leaves. 

A story I learned in my food and culture course tells the tale of the creation of margarita pizza. It was June, 1889 when the King and Queen of Italy traveled to Naples. The Queen had heard of the Napoleon specialty, pizza,  and wanted to try it for herself. So, the Napoleon pizza maker gave her three types of pizza, one of which was made with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and garnished with basil. Together the red, white and green of the pizza represented the Italian flag. It felt right to order this classic pizza while in its city of origin. 

DESSERT 

With five minutes to spare before having to catch a cab to our train, we picked up possibly the best gelato I've ever had from a small stand that I will never know the name of nor probably find again... Perhaps that's the most beautiful part of it all. 

A Guide to Roman Pasta

If you have never been to Italy and think you have eaten pasta, you are wrong. Just wrong. Pasta has been a favorite dish of mine since childhood but I swear I have never truly experienced eating good pasta until coming to Rome. 

In America, we tend to overcook our pasta, leaving it in the water too long and making the noodles too mushy. An Italian would most likely toss that pasta out as if it were burnt toast! Here, each type of pasta needs to be cooked for a certain time period so that the pasta is cooked through but remains a little harder and chewier.

Oh, and if you think all Italians eat the same pasta you are also mistaken. There are many regions and cities in Italy, which each have their own traditional pasta dishes. In my first week abroad, I have already tried four traditional Roman pasta dishes; amatriciana, la gricia con carciofi alla romana, carbonara and cacio e pepe.

Amatriciana

Amatriciana is a pasta sauce that is made with tomato, pork jawl (guanciale) and pecorino Romano cheese. Sometimes, it is made with some black pepper or crushed red pepper to make the sauce a little spicy (as the one above is). The extra ingredients, such as the guanciale and peppers, give it more zest than a classic, plain red sauce. 

Where I ate it and loved it: Antica Biblioteca Valle. Largo del Teatro Valle, 9, 00186 Roma. 

La Gricia con Carciofi Alla Romana (Artichokes)

In this pasta, the Roman artichokes are paired with la gricia, which is a type of pasta that uses pork jawl (guanciale), pecorino Romano cheese and is tossed in a lighter sauce. This is a good pasta to order if you are looking for a less heavy meal. 

Where I ate it and loved it: Antica Biblioteca Valle. Largo del Teatro Valle, 9, 00186 Roma. 

Carbonara

The most unique, and perhaps my favorite, of the four pastas. The sauce consists of egg yolk, cheese (usually pecorino), bacon and black pepper. I absolutely loved the creaminess and richness of this dish. However, my roommate, Rachel, thought it was a little too heavy. Carbonara is certainly a meal to eat when you are super hungry (especially because take-home boxes are not really a "thing" here). 

Where I ate it and loved it: Osteria Centouno. Via Fabio Massimo 101, 00192 Roma. 

Cacio e Pepe (Cheese and Pepper)

Simple and delicious. This pasta sauce is made with two main ingredients: cheese and black pepper. It tasted like a mature mac and cheese. Incredibly creamy with a thick cheese sauce that has just a bit of a kick from the pepper. If you are a picky eater, this is the Roman pasta for you. 

Where I ate it and loved it: Osteria Centouno. Via Fabio Massimo 101, 00192 Roma. 

My Oversea Flight Essentials

In just two days I will be on my way to Rome, where I will be studying the food, culture and history of Italy. As I prepare to embark on an experience of a lifetime, I can't forget that leading up to my arrival in Rome is an eight hour flight. Being squished in row 38 is not the most enjoyable way to spend an evening, but being a seasoned traveler has taught me exactly how to pack for oversea flights. Check out what I'll be carrying with me from security to baggage claim.  

1: Slip-on Shoes

This is an essential, especially if you aren't TSA approved and still need to take off your shoes to get through security. Also, it's much more comfortable to have little shoes than big, bulky boots during the flight. 

2: Layers

Chicago is freezing, the airport is hot, the plane is usually chilly and Rome is a perfect 55 degrees. Be ready for the continuous changes in temperature that comes with traveling by wearing a few layers that you can easily take on or off.

3: Easy Access Tote Bag

If you're not in an aisle seat, or even if you are, it is such a hassle having to get up and look through your carry-on that is stored in the overhead compartment. Bring a tote  bag that you can nicely store under the seat in front of you so you can easily access all your in-flight entertainment. 

4: A Good Book

I cannot express how excited I am to read Mindy Kaling's book! If her real life is anything like her character in The Mindy Project it will be filled with hilarious stories and priceless advice. Find a book that really interests you and the flight will go by MUCH faster. 

5: A Comfy Neck Pillow

Sleeping basically sitting up is no easy task. Since most of us probably aren't traveling first class, a comfortable neck pillow is a must. 

6: A Sleeping Playlist

As discussed above, it is damn hard to fall asleep on a plane. A great way to help is by making a playlist of music that relaxes you. Even better, use noise canceling head phones to drown out the sound of the baby crying behind you (because there is always a baby crying behind you on a plane).