{Just Call Me The Queen of Online Shopping}

So this past weekend I did A LOT of online shopping for my Italy trip. As you know, I'm going with a black theme to keep everything simple and classy. All of these items will go with things that I already have {jeans, khaki's, black capris, scarves, jewelry, hats, etc...} so I think I'm set. One thing that I love about online shopping is that you get a flood of packages delivered to you...kind of like Christmas {except for that whole paying for your own gifts thing...}.

Top row left to right:

~Army green tank embellished with black sequins {perfect to wear alone with jeans or black capris and then put a cardigan or jacket over top in the evening}

~Black classic blazer {can wear with jeans and a white tee to keep it casual, or to dress up and wear in the cool evenings}

~Floral tee & white tee simple to wear during the day}

~Blue button-down shirt {versatile and classic}

Bottom row left to right:

~QUOTE black canvas and cognac leather handbag {this bag is GENIUS! I found it on Etsy and it's a 3-in-1. You are provided with 3 straps to be used as a handbag, a shoulder bag, or....a messenger bag! Fab find right?} Click here to visit the shop.

~Striped tee with flower embellishments {another simple shirt to wear during the day}

~Gentle Souls shoes {ok, these were MEGA expensive, but due to all of the reviews and me trying a pair on last week {they don't rub and I feel like I'm walking on clouds}, I think these will be the perfect shoes to walk around in. Fingers crossed}

~Chambray Skirt {just to switch things up a bit - it's a little shorter than I expected so I think I will wear some leggings underneath...but I still love it - especially the bow}

~Black cardigan vest {can literally be worn over any and everything}

~Classic grey tee {yet another simple tee that I can jazz up a little with the right jewelry and a scarf}

So....what do you think?

{Travel Journals}

I promise Flourish isn't going to turn into a blog about my trip to Italy next month, but I'm just so freakin excited - I can't help but to plan and talk about it. While I'm away for 10 days, I will not be able to blog, however, I plan to have several guest bloggers entertain you while I'm away. Because I do want to share every detail of my trip with you once I return {I mean you deserve at least that after having to listen to me about it for the last several months}, I'm on the prowl for the perfect travel journal so that I can write a daily entry of all my experiences as I travel through the various Italian cities. In addition to something that's durable, has lots of pages, and has a convenient space for my pencil/pen, I would like something that has space to hold all my little findings (receipts, menus, matches, etc.). I've done a little research and am thinking of choosing one of the options below. What do you think?

1. O-CHECK TRAVEL JOURNAL - "JOUR": Available in grey or brown, the diary features a durable soft cover, tabbed stickers, various planners, ruled and plain note taking pages and an inner rear storage pocket.

2. Baggage Check Travel Journal. This is journal was originally on the Fred Flare site, but it's no longer available. {booo...} If someone can find this for me, I promise I will bring you back a gift from Italy!

3. Travel Collage Journal from Paper-Source. I really like the organization in this one, and the secure place for my pencil. Not wild about notebook portion as I'm not sure if the pages are really secure.

Hmmmm....decisions, decisions.

{Forfeit Fashion for Practicality?}

As I'm preparing for my trip to Italy, I'm wondering I have to forfeit fashion for practicality? I'm searching for the perfect bag and while I'm completely in love with the idea of carrying a backpack {yep, they're coming back in a big way}, everyone is telling me that it's not a great idea due to pick pocketers. Is this true? If so, then I'm trying to convince myself to start loving the idea of carrying a messenger bag - keeping in mind that I need to carry my camera, extra lens, and all my purse items. Below I searched through Polyvore and found a few bags that I really like {but look at the backpack...isn't it perfect???} - sigh... What do you think?

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}

Now I won't forfeit fashion when it comes to shoes BUT I will make sure that they are comfortable {even if I have to stuff some Dr. Scholl's in them}. So I'm planning to take 1 pair of sneakers, 1 pair of flats, and 1 pair to wear to dinner and/or out for drinks. I'm still working on my "evening shoes {aka - heels}" but what do you think of these options for my sneakers/flats? Any contenders? {PS. Can't believe I'm saying "sneakers" instead of "tennis shoes"...lol - these southerners are rubbing off on me}

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}

{Italian Street Fashion}

Well...today a very large sum of money will be exiting my bank account to finally pay off my Italy trip. It's official and I'm super stoked! So now that the trip is paid for, I get to do a little pre-Italy shopping - woohoo! Oh malls and online shopping, how I've missed you. I've found some amazing street style pics to give me a little inspiration for how the Italians roll regarding fashion. I figure since I'm gonna be in another country - I can be a little bit of a fashion risk taker while still staying true to my everyday style. So...here we go:

{I love this casual style - this is very me. Now I've heard through the grapevine that you won't see many people wearing shorts, so I wasn't planning on taking any - but I love the casual look of the pic to the left. And {clearing throat} that bag is...ooowee-worthy!}

{Socks and pumps - I've always wanted to do this...}

{Love the pops of color, and again the bag...shaking head}

{Love the hat, LOVE the hat - and with the pink (maybe not the polka dots), yep I'm feelin it!}

{There is absolutely nothing better than jeans, a white tee, and a pair of pumps. PLEASE look closely at the shoes... AMAZE! I'm also realizing a trend that I will need to take some comfortable black flats. PS - look at the bike, I'd die!}

{So this may be a little much for Italy in September - mid to upper 70s - but I still love the coat, the scarf,  and that chevron patterned skirt}

{Love the jackets, the necklaces, the glasses, the white tees, the casual flats, the leopard print flats, and the black Chucks - head to toe cas fabulousness}

{Finally, in a nutshell this is my version of Italian casual chic that I hope to pull off this September. In my Julia Roberts Pretty Woman voice ~ I've got to go shopping...}

Pics via The Sartorialist and Le Blog De Sushi}