What can I say: Rome is pretty fabulous. Although I got off to a rather bumpy start, I’m smitten by the chic Italian women (fur and purple are quite the rage here), which has inspired me to ferret out a pair of violet stilettos, the sumptuous gelato, sexy, scarf-adorning Roman men, and the awe-inspiring beauty that is The Pantheon. I’ve only been here three days, and although this trip is a bit of a splurge, I’m trying to save where I can. Here are some tips I’ve procured during my brief stay. If you have your own tips for beating the Euro, please leave them in the comments space below! We can get all the help we can get!

1. Get a Roma pass: Available at most newsstands, subway terminals & smoke shops, daily (4 EURO) or weekly (20 EURO) cards will give you unlimited access to all public transportation. Also, the pass will allow discounted entrance into some of Rome’s museums and attractions. Alternatively, grab your guide book, city map, and some very comfortable walking shoes. With my paltry Italian, I was able to navigate the city quite easily.
2. Get the FR1 from the Airport: Avoid gypsy cabs (only use white, numbered cabs) or taxis that can cost upward of 60 EURO from the airport. For 5.5 EURO, grab the FR1 metro, which will take you to Termini (main station in downtown Rome) and most destinations. The trains come every 15 minutes, and will allow for easy connections to the city’s busses, subways.
3. Dining Out: Let’s just say I’m taking full advantage of my hotel’s bountiful breakfast spread. However, if your hotel doesn’t offer a choice spread, head to the local bakery/pastry shop where you can sample a coffee and pastry for under 4 EURO. Also, order the primi (pasta) as your main course instead of primi + secundi (meat/fish dish). This will save you on cash. Also, eat at the apertivo hour (7-9pm), where a buffet meal can cost you 5-8 EURO - the price of a glass of wine. Before entering the restaurant, check the display boards/signs to see if they indeed offer this great meal deal. Additionally, I make lunch my biggest meal of the day so I can grab a slice or two of pizza in the evening. Finally, dine on the side streets. Eating near the main tourist attractions is insanely expensive. Luckily, I am staying in the Trastavere (artist’s) district, where there are a fine selection of restaurants, cafes, and trattorias that are incredible and affordable.
4. Drink Like a Roman: Taking your coffee at the bar (drinking al banco) is cheaper than table service. And although I’m not a drinker, many restaurants offer “refill” stations, where you can cheaply refill your glass of vino without splurging on a bottle.
5. Pizza: Speaking of pizza, you really can’t go wrong scoring delicious slices in Rome. However, if you spy a bustling line and hear lots of Italian, you know you’ve hit a local favorite. Remember, Italian pizza is not like American, rather it’s made of a very thin crust with a fine layer of topping; they are eaten by folding it much like a sandwich.
6. And this goes without saying: Don’t buy anything that you can’t easily find at home. True, that Burberry trench is divine, but a weak dollar makes it more like an outrageous divine splurge when I can easily score a fab coat at my local consignment shop. Scour the markets and local merchants for unique, crafted wares and vintage items. Also, the jewelry from Vatican City cannot be exported, so that is a worthy splurge as well.

My first day in Rome was not a pleasant one. There was a poorly-navigated trip from the airport, pouring rain, a sudden disappearance of every single taxi in the city, and other such trivial affairs. However, my second day was infinitely better. A stunning tour of the heart of Rome which included the Piazza di Spanga, The Trevi Fountain, The Pantheon, Piazza Navona, as well as Ancient Rome & The Coliseum (I gasped at the absolute and utter beauty - you will be speechless at the grandeur), The Vatican, and Baroque Rome. I have so much to see and do, including excursions to Pompeii and Florence, however, my feet are sore, many, (too many) scoops of gelato were consumed, and a beautiful boy was met. More to come…

Click

With almost fifty years of experience as a leader in the professional hair care product market, with distribution in over sixteen thousand salons in the U.S. (and growing), Redken has solidly established itself as the go-to brand for transformative, wallet-friendly styling products. In an era where stress is high and belt-buckling is the norm, the newly renovated and repackaged Redken Chemistry line promises to treat distressed hair as a result of chemical (highlighting, coloring, perming or relaxing) and/or mechanical processes (normal hair wear from blow-drying, flat-ironing, or curling). Distressed hair can cause hair to become dry, brittle, damaged, and devoid of sheen and health.

Remember the days when a salon treatment involved a thick, gluttonous application of conditioner, various head dressings, and thirty-minutes immersed in your own personal head sauna? Sadly, those days are still my reality. But rejoice! Gone are the 1950s hair dryers and costly treatments, as Redken Haircolor Consultant and stylist at New York’s Angelo David Salon, David Stanko showed me how my stylist can protect and condition my locks in as little as 15 minutes and for as low as $15. Seriously, where do I sign?

Click here to read the rest of my fabulous All About the Pretty guest blog!

Still fretting over finding the perfect dress for the holiday parties? Buck the basic black and seasonal color trends and opt for Mischen’s Novack Cocktail Dress. A decidedly vintage appeal - think 1940s with a splash of violet - the dress feels like second-skin from it’s flattering drape (the dress comes with a removable bow belt) and delicious silk material. Wear this at work with a cardi and rock it with black stilettos in the evening. As the dress is vibrant, keep the gems to a minimum - perhaps a lux cocktail ring or sparkling studs. Although the dress is on the $$$ side ($526), People’s Stylewatch is offering the dress at a 25% discount. Simply enter the code: TOBISTYLE08 at checkout.

Need more holiday options? Look no further than former investment banker Anjali Kumar’s confident, and elegant wares. Check out this sexy red cowl neck silk number ($250), or this version with the high round embellished neckline ($269.91).

However, if dresses aren’t your bag, opt for a pair of Kumar’s flowing silk charmeuse pants. Simply layer some statement pieces, albeit a chunky ring or a piece de resistance necklace - I adore Gerard Yosca and Viv & Ingrid. Add the highest heels, and you’re as good as luxe.

Come Thursday, I will turn 33 and I’ve never felt better. By the time you read this, I’ll be on a plane, in the air, headed for Rome. I don’t know exactly what I have planned yet for my Roman birthday, but you can be certain it will involve pasta and loads of gelato.

And when 12.18 passes, the winter wonder of celebrations continue, because come February I’ll celebrate two years of sobriety. I’d never though I’d come this far, but I couldn’t be more happy with my life right this moment.

Cheers to health and happiness in the months to come.

This beautiful photo is courtesy of

Radiant, fresh, smooth and glowing skin - sounds unreal right? Something mythic like some sort of science fiction experiment or a Noxzema commercial (I mean, is there is a difference?), but it’s possible to spot treat blemishes, unclog pores, and freshen your skin - all overnight. And believe me when I say that I am evangelical in my worship of DDF’s Sulfur Therapeutic Mask. This therapeutic, medicated mask uses the anti-inflammatory properties of sulfur, aloe vera, purified clay, and aromatic extracts. Not only does it help to clear blemishes and treat oily skin, clogged pores, acne, and seborrhea, if you have sensitive skin like I do, don’t panic as the mask won’t irritate your skin.

For 32 years I’ve had clear, unblemished skin. Then there was the Forehead Situation of 2008. Since the summer I have tried everything short of blowtorching my skin in an effort to rid myself of these small pebbles which have decided to take up residence on my forehead. I tried masks, cleansers, spot treatment gels, and while they all helped freshen my skin and reduce irritation, my forehead blemishes simply WOULD NOT GO AWAY. Then a friend turned me on to the DDF mask, and after using it last night I see a dramatic difference in my skin.

And this afternoon I had to do a double take in the mirror. The blemishes: GONE, or reduced to mere specs. The face: glowing and radiant. The reaction: I don’t care if this is The Twilight Zone, I’m sold. Buy the mask!

I’m kind of obsessing over Pedro García, who has become the go-to designer for modern, feminine footwear. Ever since I spied a pair of embellished flats under a conference room table, I was hooked. Garcia is known for exquisite detailing, whether it be frayed edging or diamante and pearled flats - simply put these elegant shoes have flare. So it was practically kismet while shopping at Michael’s Consignment yesterday that I would snag a brand-new pair of Damaris satin stilettos (pictured right). If you’re looking for a new shoe to dress up the suit for day or partner your LBD for evening, consider my Garcia pics:

Karise Satin Peep-Toe pumps, $216 (on sale at Bluefly!)
Bianca Black Satin Pumps, $252
Sheila Black Patent Leather MJs, $149.99 (on sale at Bluefly!)
Ginger Satin Embellished Flats, $495
Nickki Black Satin Pumps, $340
Duna Black Satin Strappy Sandals, $225 (on sale at Bluefly!)
Isabella Gold Satin Swarovski Flats, $270 (on sale at Bluefly!)
Dior Satin Sandals, $450
Iara Taupe Satin Ballet Flat, $100 (on sale at Foot Candy Shoes!)