Easter Weekend

     Hi guys! I hope everyone enjoyed their Easter weekend! Mine was filled with a lot of cooking, baking, eating, friends, and family. One of my family's many holiday traditions is baking Pizzelles and Italian Anise Cookies. They are delicious! Both desserts are fun to make, but even better to eat! Easter egg dyeing is always a must for my sister Daria and I. I love all the pastel colors! Every Easter, my mom, my sister, and I go to church in the morning and while we're at church, my dad starts cooking for our big Easter dinner later on in the day. When we get back home from church, my family always has Easter breakfast together and this year was no different. Around 3 o'clock, all of our family came over our house and enjoyed delicious food and contagious laughter. It was great to see everyone all together! The day ended with a beautiful sunset that was too gorgeous not to capture. I attached some photos I took throughout the weekend of some our Easter festivities! Enjoy!

     -Reneè

Pizzelles!

     

My dad's attempt at making a bunny out of dough haha

Pizzagaina!

Italian Anise Cookies!

Easter breakfast

Easter egg dyeing

For more pictures, you can check out my Instagram: @renee_contino

Shoot for the Stars

     Hi everyone! I don't know if it's just my teachers, but it seems like they have been piling on the homework, essays, and tests last minute and I have been swamped with assignments due within the next two weeks. I keep telling myself that I will try to start early on my essays, which I did do for my American Art class and passed in early, but I now have two essays due next week that I haven't started yet... good job Reneè! However, with all the stress that comes with college, I've learned to except the fact that things are going to be stressful and time consuming. I like to take a deep breathe and finish my assignments one at a time and I know eventually I will finish what I need to. I know I'm not the only one that feels this way because many of my friends and by many I mean ALL my friends have been stressed out with school lately and that seems to be whats been on everyones' mind. But with all the ink-less pens and worn-out keyboards, I wouldn't change it for the world because it is what comes with being a college student and a reflection on how time goes by too fast. Yes, I may be worn-out with school work, but my first year of college is coming to and end and the people I have met have made this one of the best experiences of my life! 

     I am finally able to put up these pictures of my friend Ana! It has been about two weeks that I have told her I would put these pictures up, but now that I am home for the Easter holiday, I felt like this would be the best time to post her lovely smile in my blog! One day during school a few weeks ago, I was talking to Ana and realized how totally adorable I thought her outfit was. I asked her if I could take photos of her for my blog and as a lover of photography herself, Ana didn't hesitate a bit. I thought her cool hipster-esque style consisting of a white cotton crop top with black embellishments and her navy blue velvet skirt were awesome for the Winter to Spring transition! Enjoy!

     -Reneè

Crop Top- Brandy Melville

Velvet Skirt- Marshalls

Combat Boots- Amazon

Tights- Marshalls

Red Lipstick- Nars

For more photos, you can check out my Instagram: @renee_contino

You can also check out Ana's Instagram: @anadabonana

Boston Strong

     April 15, 2014. Today marks the one-year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing. With four lives lost and over 170 people injured, all my thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those affected. I believe this year’s marathon will be like no other. I believe faces will be filled with emotion and hearts filled with pride and strength. Though this tragedy will never be forgotten, the city of Boston and a plethora of people around the world have come together to make this city a stronger community.

     Yesterday, a few of my friends and I went on a long walk as the sun was setting. It was gorgeous outside during the day and we thought...instead of going to the gym, why not be outside, enjoying the beautiful spring breeze, and taking a stroll around the luminous city of Boston? We made our way through the Fenway area to the reflecting pool next to The First Church of Christ, Scientist and the Prudential building. As we were walking, I found some eye-catching places to take some pictures. I hope you enjoy!

#BostonStrong

    

     -Reneè

For more pictures, you can follow my Instagram: @renee_contino

"Trials are what made me strong. My imperfections make me who I am. All the struggle that I have over come are why I act the way I do. I live for myself and no one else, and being this way gives me strength to go on to tomorrow" -unknown

Spring Fashion: Casual Chic

     Hey guys! Spring has officially arrived in New England, which means those bulky winter jackets and heavy knit sweaters are getting tucked away somewhere very far away from me for awhile. I wish this weather would last forever! Although Spring has sprung and the sun is shining, it is still a little chilly to be wearing full-on Summer apparel. I find my style inspiration from many different sources, but one of my favorites is just looking at the people around me. Although I attend a fairly small college, everyone has their own sense of style. With this in mind, I thought I would take some photos of my friend Lydia in her fashionable outfit that is also appropriate for the Winter to Spring transition! It was fun to just walk around the Fenway area of Boston, enjoy the nature around the city and take in all that it has to offer. Enjoy!

     Meet Lydia! Her style is very casual chic and sometimes preppy. She likes to wear simple clothing pieces, but adds statement accessories, shoes or blouses to dress up the look. As you can tell by the pictures you are about to see, Lydia's favorite clothing color is black. You can never go wrong with wearing black; it is very easy to dress it up or down. Her style inspiration comes from where else... tumblr, J-Crew catalogs, and the people around her! 

     - Reneè

Cardigan- Marshalls

Romper- Marshalls

Tights- Gap

Watch- American Eagle

Ankle Boots- Macy's

For more photos, you can check out my Instagram: @renee_contino

You can also check out Lydia's Instagram: @zepeda_lydie