Christmas lights, Florence-style!!

So here is my street during Christmas time--pretty awesome, huh?? Oh and that cute couple? That's my roommate Maleesa and her boyfriend Xander. They're pretty awesome as well :)

La prima nevicata in Firenze!!

IT SNOWED TODAY!! Which means... Lots of snowball fights. Even with complete strangers.

LasagYUM

No school today! Whaddo I do?


1) wake up, walk into the living room freakin out to my roommates because I think "Oh my goodness, I slept until 1pm!!" They look at me like I'm crazy, then inform me that it is only 10:10am.

2) Meet up with Lauren. Walk 30 minutes to what we think is a Christmas Fair with Italian doo-dads, turns out it is the equivalent to the Salvation Army, and as American as Italy can get. (they were selling bags called "american treats" filled with 3 marshmellows, mini hersheys bar and a stick of gum).

2) Purchase some gems in the used clothing section (four sweaters and one tunic= 17 euro!!)

3) Walk home, see the giant ceremony in Piazza del Duomo and watch the guys in funny costumes throw flags and play trumpets while they TURNED ON THE LIGHTS on the Christmas tree!!! So exciting.

4) Make Lasagne with Lauren, and then some sugar cookies with the Peppermint sprinkles my Mom and Dad sent me!

4) Invite friends over to eat it! They bring apple pie and more cookies.

5) Happy Food coma.

Reunited and it feels so good!

Over Thanksgiving weekend, three of my very dear friends--Amanda, Marie and Allison came to visit me in Italy!! Amanda and Allison are studying in England this year and Marie is studying in Spain. They arrived Thursday night and left eaaaarrrrly Monday morning, so we got a good three days together to eat and explore. 

On our first day, after waking up at 1pm we went and got lunch where we proceeded to eat: two pizzas, a calzone and a bowl of gnocchi. Oh, and a bowl of bread. 

After feasting, we walked around Florence and I showed them some of the sights. 

The following days consisted of: more pizza, going to the top of the Duomo, gelato, dancing, cioccolato calda (pretty much melted chocolate that you drink/eat with a spoon), some MORE pizza, RAIN, making true Italian tiramisu from Ilaria's own recipe that she has memorized, and celebrating Marie's birthday!! Such a great time--I cannot believe that we all were able to get together in ITALY! 

their first day in Florence, on my street!

Yes I ate this whole pizza, I'm a proud member of the clean plate club.

Smooches

my beautiful friends and the Arno River

love this picture!! They fit in just fine in Italy :)

Climbing to the top of the DUOMO!

the most incredible view of Florence!

we went out to a dance club called SPACE

making Tiramisu!!

we found some excellent candles to put atop of Marie's birthday "cake"

just to make you jealous ;)