Transition Scents

 During the warmer months I tend to put candles away in favor of quicker burning and altogether less "hot" ways of scenting my spaces. I like a bit of incense or a reed diffuser but when it starts to get cool the candles come right back out. 

I have sort of moved on from my days of the Bath and Bodyworks candle and have stopped trying to find sophisticated and unique scents in the sea of sugar-y frosted donits and pumpkin coffee. 

Enter the wonderful world of small batch candle life. 

An Apple A Day

 Nothing makes an Autumnal weekend better than apple picking except maybe apple picking, perfect weather and great company. 

This past Sunday myself and three lovely NYC ladies ventured up to my childhood apple picking farm, Dressel Farms in New Paltz NY for a smog free day full of cider and donuts. 

The apples were fresh and the views did not disappoint. 

London #zitosonparade

 As yesterday was the first day of Fall I thought it was only appropriate that we close it our with the last of the pictures from my summer vacation.

London is easily my favorite place in the world. My pictures here were sporadic because I was so happy to just be there with my family walking all over and soaking it up. 

It reminds me of a lot of the reasons why I love New York. It's artistic, eclectic busy, metropolitan and simply my favorite place.

We stayed in East London's Bethnal Green in an AirBnB that was good, somewhat less successful than Glasgow but I was so excited about the neighborhood and the people nearby. If you find yourself in the area there is a bar restaurant called The Hemingway that is hilarious and delicious and manned by some of the most polite and funny people we met throughout the vacation.

Glasgow Pt 2 #zitosonparade

 To kick off the final Scottish installment of the Zito's on Parade series I wanted to show off a little of the AirBnB we had while we were there. 

It was a lovely second floor apartment in the West End neighborhood of the city that was owned and operated for the express use of renting out to visitors. The hosts were friendly and helpful and the location beyond ideal. It was at the start of the Great Western Road just before the Kelvinsbridge Subway station a short walk from both the Botanical Gardens and Byres road.

As a family we loved the place and it served as a great home base for our three day Scottish stay. 

Edinburgh #zitosonparade

Oh Edinburgh.

Featured on every one of my fellow collegiate travelers to see lists it very quickly become on of my favorite places to visit. So much so that when I graduated I took my roommate back for a visit and she fell in love too. Up until recently I had never left Edinburgh not hungover. Classy.

Now that I'm no longer a college student the city holds less of a long term appeal but it is no less beautiful for that fact. 

With mounds of tourists over flowing at every turn it can be tricky to capture how stunning it is.

Let's try shall we?

Crystal All the Things

I have been majorly jewelry obsessing over here this Summer. Ever since I started shopping to go on vacation I've been preoccupied with updating my wardrobe and investing in some nicer pieces to add to the line up. 

No while the clothing arena is a little slow going right nowI've definitely developed a definitive preference when it comes to my personal decoration. 

All the crystals and ALL the good vibes. 

Dublin, Ireland #zitosonparade

 Next stop on the list was Dublin. 

Now to be totally fair the Zitos spent a grand total of 6 hours in Dublin.

So not nearly as long as some of the other places we saw and certainly not long enough to get a real feel for the city. 

So while I can't really recommend anything specific maybe some of my snapshots will inspire some visits of your own.

Oh! We did have lunch and a few quick pints at O'Donohgues on Suffolk St which was quick, easy and, delicious. It came at the recommendation of a friend from Dublin and it was a solid choice. Looked like an excellent music spot too. 

Dingle Co. Kerry Ireland #zitosonparade

Holy view Batman!

Today marks the chance for me to share easily one of if not my favorite location from the entirety of the epic Irish tour.

I actually find myself at a bit of a loss for words with this one. 

The town of Dingle is set into a gently rising hill along the coast of Dingle Bay and is speckled with a rainbow colored array of buildings that house a selection of shops and pubs that far exceed the tourist spots along the main drag.

There are some great places to stop in before touring the peninsula to get a bite, some snacks for the road or some memorabilia on your way.

Holding Out for $2 Perfection

I have spent nearly a year and a half with various postcards, posters and prints haphazardly taped to walls in a holding pattern just waiting for the perfect frames. 

Yes...yes I am a little bit picky I will admit but, the last place I anticipated finding the perfect addition to the collection was the new to New York Flying Tiger flagship.

The best part?

They were 2$.

I Have the Same Glasses as Everyone Else...Kind Of

 A brief hiatus from vacation recap due to some technical difficulties. 

I am a sucker for a good knock off.

Specifically sunglasses. 

First of all I am terrible when it comes to keeping my sunnies in one piece. In pieces at the bottom of my bag left behind in cabs or in bars I just can't justify spending more than a few bucks on sunglasses.

It only gets tricky when brands put out boss styles like the new Dior Reflected .

Carelessness aside $435 is just not realistic for me... even if I could swing it some day I don't know that I would.

eBay here I come.

Galway, Ireland #zitosonparade

Stop one on the Zito's on Parade grand tour was actually Galway Ireland. It was by far my favorite city in Ireland. Sure there were coastal views to take your breath away but if you asked me where I would want to live on the Emerald Isle my answer would be Galway all the way. 

Situated on Galway Bay this little coastal city has a lovely small town (well small town America) vibe and some of the friendliest people we met on the whole trip.

Every Friday all Summer Long

We intterupt your regularly scheduled vaation blabber in favor of a flavor a little closer to home. 

As a New Yorker Summer feels like a constant balancing act between too many things to do and too hot to do anything. Sometimes the best thing to do is drag yourself away from Manhattan (an impossibility for some people believe me.) and get yourself out by the water for some much needed breeze. 

So last Friday after work my roommate and I headed out to Coney Island for their weekly fireworks with the aid of a very thoughtful friend with a car (Thanks Carrie!)

Kilarney and Co.Kerry #zitosonparade

This week'a installment of #zitosonparade comes to you from the rocky shores of West Co. Kerry Ireland. 

A short trip from last week's Co. Tipperary visit lies on of Ireland's most visited attractions, and for good reason. 

Cashel: Country Tipperary,Ireland #zitosonparade (I'm Back!)

View from the Rock of Cashel

I'm back from my three week family vacation and can't wait to share some of the snaps I took with you guys! I really wanted to have things ready to go up while I was gone but ultimately between work and friends and packing I simply ran out of time. 

I'm going to make it up to you though. 

I have the rest of the Summer and 1,300 photos to share from our epic family adventure...not to mention several haul videos worth of products, prints, clothes, books and, albums.

Hippie Business

Do you know how sometimes you're really excited and intrigued by a product but then you just don't buy it?

For whatever reason you justify leaving it on the shelf with things like "I'll never use it" or "I already have things like that and I don't need another." 

All of these are really smart conversations to have with yourself when you shop. In my experience it minimizes unnecessary spending but, every now and then, you cave and you buy the thing that you know is probably not going to get used or finished. 

Except this time...I should have picked this up ages ago. 

Storm King Art Center Saturday

So last weekend on something of a whim some of my coworkers and I headed out of Queens and up to New Windsor NY to check out the Storm King Arts Center. 

Despite having lived within a half hour of the place for more or less my whole life I'd never been so I figured it was finally time for a little art hike.

If you are in the Hudson Valley or are looking for a cool day trip from NYC this would easily be my first recommended stop. 

It doesn't hurt that the drive up is a beaut too.

DIY Yourself into a Golden Girl

Remember a couple weeks ago when I mentioned how much I missed making things.

Well I've started to again and it feels SO. GOOD.

I posted this picture on Instagram last week and I thought today I'd walk you through how I made my new Golden Girls-esque circle shroud. 

At least that's what I'm calling it.

Manicures in the Park

 Now that the weather is starting to improve I've been looking for ways to bring the blogging out doors. ...So yesterday when a friend invited me for a little sun and girl talk in the park I thought it was a perfect opportunity to grab the camera and some nail polish and make an afternoon of it.

So this week instead of just making "things" I'm making time for things like this. 

My current polish choice is this OPI Multichrome. 

...and the Pink Gel Coat that a friend brought along might actually be giving my Holy Grail OPI Nail Envy a run for it's money!

I Miss Making

 You may have noticed a bit of radio silence over here on my corner of the internet. 

I took a week off to enjoy a family wedding and give myself a bit of a break and then that week turned into something of a creative crisis.

I am someone who has been making things for many years. From studying fashion design to some ill advised Mod Podge I've run the DIY gamut.

Now I am very fortunate to be in a position to live in a place I love, that inspires me, motivates me and, gives me access to all the resources necessary to turn that motivation and inspiration into something tangible.

The only problem is I wasn't doing that.

Stepford Alien

I feel like every year I share a new pair of sunglasses on the blog. Last year it was a badass pair of colorful, mirrored aviators and this year we have June Cleaver meets Judy Jetson.

Now these are "inspired" by the Tom Ford Nastasya sunglasses that I first saw on Dara's YouTube Channel.

Now I love Dara and her recommendations but Tom Ford and my wallet are just not on the same page these days.

I think the number of selfies on my Instagram may have grown by 5,000% since I got these.

I am in love.