I am so happy to be back in Florence. Although it seems like it has been a year (in reality it has only been 4 months since I left). After spending all last year living in Florence, it is a bit surreal to be back.
I am living on the opposite side of town, which makes it feel like a completely different world. Everything is the same but different. Of course, that is what Tampa felt like when I returned last December.
Working with students again has been exhausting but exhilarating. I forgot how much fun it was to experience Florence through their eyes. I think the experience of being abroad has already rocked their world, we even had one student who had never been on a plane before (you can read why I am such a fan of study abroad here). Some of them are really into taking photos, which is basically a dream come true for me.
The group is large (60+ people), but so fun (one of my students even joked that he was going to start a blog Museums and Manpris, as in capris for men lol). They have great attitudes and are generally excited and interested in seeing and learning about everything. We have been here less than a week, but we have already climbed the Duomo, ventured into the countryside (more on that soon), visited some churches, hiked to Piazzale Michelangelo, and sampled lots of local food and wine (you can follow our adventures on Snapchat - HinHH).
The group had a bit of trouble adjusting to traveling in such a large group at the start, but they are coming around nicely (you can read my advice for traveling in a group here). Our schedule for the month is intense. The goal is to give them a taste of everything Italy has to offer. That means we are go, go, go -- Siena this Friday, Amalfi next week, Venice the week after that, followed by day trips in Montepulciano and Pienza before heading to Rome (all with classes in Florence sprinkled in between). I am already tired, but it is so worth it. They remind me why I love teaching and working with study abroad.
Please excuse this lower-quality image, I had to use my iPhone to capture my new camera.
After weeks of researching, debating, and trying various cameras, I finally settled on a new camera!
I get lots of emails from people asking how they can improve their blog or get into blogging more generally. Honestly, I think having great images is one of the most important components of a successful blog. Blogs and social media are image heavy and if you want to get noticed you are going to need original, high-quality images. That means you either need to hire a photographer (which is not very affordable when you are first starting out), or invest in a good camera and teach yourself some basic photography skills.
I love photography, so investing in a camera and learning more about photography has been the most enjoyable byproduct of blogging for me. I look forward to thinking about the lighting, composition, and overall vibe of the shot I am trying to achieve. It is a much-needed creative outlet.
My initial investment was small(ish). I purchased a refurbished Nikon D3100 off Amazon. I quickly learned, however, that if I wanted the "blurry background" I coveted of professional images (also known as bokeh), I needed to invest in a good lens. Lenses are what make the difference. Of course a $3,000 camera will take a better picture than a $400 camera, but with a great lens, you can get a hell of a lot closer! To get a blurry background, the hallmark of the fashion blogger photo, you want a lens with a low aperture. My first low aperture lens was this Nikor 50mm 1.8G lens (that 1.8 is how low the aperture will go).
After a year of shooting with a 50mm on a camera that was not full frame, I decided to invest in the 35mm Sigma Art lens. Now, this one was an investment, but what a difference it made. The difference between the 35 and 50mm is the focal length. Both are prime lenses (a fancy way of saying they don't zoom in or out), but the 35mm has a longer focal length. Simply put from the same spot, you might only get my upper body shooting with a 50mm, but from that same spot with a 35mm you might be able to get my entire body.
With any hobby/activity, the more I learned, the more lenses and cameras I wanted. One of the best ways to shop for cameras is to rent. You can easily rent a camera and a lens for three days to get a feel of how it works and if you like it. After renting a couple nicer camera models, I decided that whatever camera I purchased next, I wanted a full frame. A full frame camera has larger and more advanced sensors, so you get more image and depth of field from a closer range.
After a couple trials and lots of internet researching, I pretty much had my heart set on upgrading to the Nikon D610. My rational - It's full frame, has better focusing sensors, and will work with the lenses I already own. Then Kelly and I popped into our local Best Buy to purchase (Kelly was set on the Canon 6D, which is Canon's version of the Nikon D610). While there, however, we met an associate named Emmett who made us doubt every decision we had ever made.
Emmett introduced us to Sony's line of mirrorless, full-frame cameras, the A7, A7r, and A7rii. I was an easier sell than Kelly, because Sony's new technology gave me everything I wanted in a camera AND it was smaller and lighter weight, which is perfect for travel. The Sony also has this amazing focusing tool called peaking, that I instantly loved.
Basically, he explained how all three cameras, the Nikon D610, Canon 6D, and Sony A7, were all capable of producing the same image. Once I conquered my fear of the unknown, I was completely sold on the Sony. I have had the camera for a couple weeks now and it is amazing! And bonus, with an adaptor, I can use all of my old Nikon lenses. If you are looking for a good camera for blogging that won't break the bank, I highly recommend it. It is also a great and less-expensive alternative to the more well known Leica mirrorless cameras.
One final note on cameras and blog-tography. There is no point in investing in a good camera if you shoot on automatic. Shooting on manual and learning camera basics (like aperture, shutter speed, and iso) is a game-changer. If you are feeling intimidated, I suggest starting with some cheatsheets like these.
If your like me then your search for a blog camera likely started with Googling "best camera for blogging." Let me tell you, those results were overwhelming and not helpful. While I am far from a professional, I feel like I have learned a ton and hopefully sharing my experiences and what I learned along the way can help someone else.
Expect to see a lot of amazing pictures of Europe this summer with my new camera!
So, I finally decided to take the plunge and expand my Etsy shop a bit. Not only did I purchase the domain preppyprintshop.com, I am also creating new mugs and tumblers! I'm going to start slow and see how these new products are received. I know I am biased, but I love them, especially the "Lemonade or Limoncello?" tumbler. I mean, it's a legit question most days.
I also love the "Well behaved women rarely make history" mug. Not only is this my favorite quote, but the back of the mug says, "You better start misbehaving." In addition to these new designs, I turned some of my best selling prints into mugs as well. "Smarty feathers," "She's a voracious reader and a fantastic dancer," and my bookshelf print will all be available as mugs soon!
I hope you all like them as much as I do! I am currently creating the listings on Etsy and on my new Preppy Printshop website. I hope to have them all up and available for purchase by the end of the week... just in time for graduation... because these would be great gifts ;)
What kinds of mugs and/or products would you like to see in the Preppy Printshop?
Living in dissertation land is stressful enough on it's own, but fielding constant questions from friends, family, and strangers only adds to my stress. I know these questions are not malicious and people ask because they genuinely care. Nevertheless, writing a dissertation is a very specific kind of hell struggle most people have never experienced. Since most will never understand what the process is like, their questions, while well-intentioned, become a bit exasperating. So, I figured rather than get frustrated with people, I should explain why these standard questions are often ill-received.
Don't ask:
1) When will you be done? Getting your PhD is not like getting a 4-year undergraduate degree. Every program is different and timelines are more malleable. In most programs, being a PhD is a full-time job and you are considered a professional. You don't go around asking other professionals when they will be done with their training or position, right? Just remember, that writing a book and conducting original research is not done in a classroom for two semesters a year. Your book/research is done when you finish.
2) What are you going to do with that? The current job market for PhDs isn't great, especially those of us in the humanities, so asking this only increases our anxiety about spending a decade on something that has terrible prospects. I promise I will do something with it, but first I need to finish! Please don't remind me that I probably won't get my dream job.
3) What is your dissertation about? Ok, this one seems simple and like it would be a good idea, but honestly, no one really cares that much about my esoteric dissertation topic. I have a generic canned response I give, but it is best to ask this question only if you are truly interested in a lengthy history lesson. 4) Shouldn't you be writing? Yes, always. But life, writer's block, stress, and $hit happens.
5) How's the dissertation going? Terrible, it's a dissertation. Have you ever written a book? It's not easy. Plus, only five people will probably even read this beast I have devoted the better part of six years on...*sigh*
6) How much, or many pages, have you written? Just stay away from numbers, they are only a reminder of how much I haven't written and still need to write.
Oh and try to avoid calling a PhD's job/research "school work." It comes off as dismissive, as if they are an overgrown kid in school, not a working professional.
Instead you can ask: 1) Can I buy you drink? 2) Can I cook you dinner?
And if you actually want to know more about someone's topic or the process of writing a dissertation, try these safer alternatives: 3) Which do you prefer, researching or writing? 4) What is the most interesting thing you have uncovered through your research? 5) Where do you do your research? 6) What got you interested in your subject? Maybe these will save you from an awkward encounter with a dissertating PhD.
Guess where Sprinkles Cupcakes decided to open their very first store in Florida? In Tampa! Not only is the new store, complete with ATM, located in my home town, it is a 10 minute walk from my house! Dreams do come true. Although I am concerned for my waistline.
Tuesday the store invited local bloggers and media professionals to come by and see the new store and, naturally, indulge in some sweets. We even got to make and decorate our very own cupcakes. I went with pink and high heels, of course. Kelly and I had a blast and went home with a half dozen new flavors to try. My favorites are the pumpkin and cuban coffee, which is fitting for Tampa. Our store also features ice cream, homemade cones, and cookies. So many sweets, so little time.
The store officially opens today! And the cupcake ATM will be functional next week. Sprinkles is just one of many exciting new additions to my favorite part of town, Hyde Park Village. When I first moved to Tampa, the Village was filled with little local boutiques and a coffee house everyone just hung out in and played board games. Sadly, at some point new management took over and the Village took a turn for the worse. Thanks to soaring rents, the Village became a bit of a ghost town for a while. But now, thanks to a new owner/investor, the area is going through something of a renaissance and returning to its former glory. New stores and restaurants like Bar Taco, Sprinkles and Kendra Scott are moving in, there is a food truck fair and farmer's market the first Sunday of every month, and a fresh flower market and doggie play area are in the works. If you ever find yourself in Tampa, Hyde Park Village is definitely worth a visit.
If you ever need to find me in Tampa, I will likely be walking to the cupcake ATM.
I get a lot of questions about what I plan on doing with my history PhD and what can be done with a history degree more generally. I am surprised how undervalued history degrees are. Despite what you might think, history isn't about memorizing dates and names. History teaches you how to read effectively, think critically, write, research, and analyze and interpret data. All very useful skill sets in a wide variety of fields.
While it is true that becoming a tenure-track professor in the current market is a next-to-impossible goal, this doesn't mean that history degrees are not valuable. I think we have to move beyond the mindset that employers are looking for specific degrees. While specific degrees are required for some careers, more often then not, employers are looking for certain skill sets.
I constantly hear from my friends and family in corporate settings and technological industries that their biggest issue with hiring employees is finding someone who can read and write. It seems so simple, but with higher education's current emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and technical training, I think we are not giving students the reading comprehension and writing skills they need to succeed in any field/life.
I realize history isn't for everyone, but if you do enjoy history, I encourage you not to dismiss it (or the humanities more generally) because it is perceived as being useless or not leading to a specific career. Both couldn't be further from the truth. History degrees are wonderful for preparing students for law school, government employment, and museum work. And the skills acquired from a history degree will teach you how to adapt ideas, explain & interpret events and ideas, summarize information, compare and compile reports, developed world views and understand interrelatedness, offer new perspectives, develop new agendas for old problems, problem solve in general, present information using written and spoken media, and the biggest one, write effectively. I could go on and on, but all of these are essential skills almost every employer is looking for.
So before you dismiss history, think about taking a course, minoring, or even majoring in history. You might be surprised just how useful it is. And on a final note, I leave you with this amazing poster from the University of Utah's Humanities Department:
If you are thinking of applying to grad school for history, you can read my tips for applying here. And if you want more history, here are the five history books that have had the greatest impact on me as a historian.
I know I have been saying this for a while, but we have been having the most amazing weather in Florida this spring. It has been perfect -- highs in the 80s, low(ish) humidity, and a delightful breeze. Unfortunately, I am in the throes of trying to finish the dissertation chapter that I am currently writing before departing for Italy. This means I haven't had much free time to enjoy the outdoors.
Last week, however, Britt and I made a point to take the afternoon off and enjoy a picnic in the park. I was inspired to get outdoors and picnic by this adorable picnic basket, I mean it has a prosecco holder! It was basically made for me.
Britt and I sipped prosecco and nibbled from our charcuterie board under a shady oak tree. It was heaven. For me, the charcuterie board is the key to a perfect picnic. It needs to have a mixture of hard and soft cheeses, salty prosciutto and spicy salami, and interesting jams and jellies like strawberry jalapeño. Oh and don't forget the fresh baguette and cookies for dessert.
To go with my adorable picnic basket I created this bright and fun floral blanket. I am currently obsessed with creating my own patterns and having them made into fabric through Spoonflower. And this is not the last of my bright "poppy love" fabric you will be seeing. If you follow me on Snapchat (HinHH) it should look familiar. I used it to sew my very first dress, which I will be sharing on the blog next week!
As dedicated as I am to finishing this chapter before I leave, I am also making a point to get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine a little bit every day. It is good for the mind and body!
You guys, I am so excited about this. I am teaming up with Dagne Dover to giveaway my favorite work and travel bag, their 13-inch Tote in Powder Pink (a limited edition color that is no longer available)!
I carry this bag every day and when I travel. I absolutely love it! You can see mine in action here. The powder pink color is perfect for spring and summer. But thanks to the bag's structure and elegant design, it still looks professional and polished... and it's pink!
I have several Dagne Dover bags and I can honestly say they are the best made and functional bags I have ever owned. There is a pocket for everything -- your phone, iPad, laptop, pens, papers, water bottle, and cosmetics (plus room for more). My favorite part about this 13-inch tote are the foldable handles, which means it's perfectly stow-able and will maintain its chic shape.
And now we can twin!
Enter to win from today through Friday and make sure to check out Dagne Dover's full range of bags over at DagneDover.com. I will announce the winner next week. Good luck!
There are two things that I love, secrets and tacos! The only thing better than secrets and tacos is a secret taco. And it's no secret that Bar Taco is one of my favorite restaurants in Tampa. So when they invited me to try their secret taco, I couldn't say yes fast enough. Kelly was invited as well so we made a girl's day out of it.
Every month Bar Taco has an off-the-menu secret taco. But if you want to try it, you have to ask for it. This month's taco is a crispy avocado. I thought the cauliflower taco was my favorite until I tried this one. Delicious is an understatement. It's a lightly fried slice of fresh avocado over tangy cabbage and topped with a slightly spicy sauce. Next time you hit up Bar Taco with your friends (they have locations in CT, NY, VA, TN, GA, and of course, FL) you can impress everyone by ordering the secret taco.
Also, it is worth noting that Bar Taco totally gets Kelly and I, they brought us tacos to photograph and then fresh, warm tacos to eat (plus and all of the staff wear gingham).
After eating our body weight in tacos, guac, and churros (#sorrynotsorry), Kelly and I strolled Hyde Park and grabbed a coffee from the Buddy Brew brew truck. It was an absolutely gorgeous spring day so I wore an airy striped pleated skirt, lace cropped top, and denim jacket. I added some red accents with my bag and espadrilles. I topped the look off with my favorite hat that I recently refreshed by adding a wide navy ribbon and bow. It was so easy and really transformed the hat (you can see the before here).
I am so enjoying these lovely spring days (Britt and I had the most delightful picnic yesterday) and I hope they hang around for a while!
After returning home to Florida from a year abroad in Italy, my skin was a hot mess! My skin had grown accustomed to a new climate and did not take well to returning to the humidity of Florida. I have never had flawless skin, but I have also never had really bad skin. My forehead was dry while my chin and neck broke out continuously.
Finally after trying a bunch of products, a friend of mine who is a make up artist and moonlights at Bare Minerals suggested I try some of their new skincare products. I am always inclined to go for oil-reducing cleansers and moisturizes for my oily skin, but she suggested trying their oil-based cleanser. Contrary to what you might think, it doesn't make your skin more oily. I was amazed at how balanced my skin was after just a couple of uses. It takes off all of my makeup but doesn't leave my face feeling stripped.
She also suggested I try their new Skin Longevity to help repair my skin and brighten any scaring or dark spots caused by my recent and relentless breakouts. No lie, using these two products together turned my skin around in less than two weeks.
Lastly, I wanted to try this Glam Glow mask that I feel like I have seen everywhere. I have only used it a couple of times, but it definitely feels like it is pulling out all of my skin's impurities.
In addition to my skin freaking out, I was running low on most of my makeup when I returned home. With spring approaching, I thought it was the perfect excuse to update my beauty routine for spring. Dior's Airflash is another product that I have heard tons of people rave about. I was curious to try an aerosol foundation. I mean it seems so convenient and efficient. And it is! I was skeptical, but this stuff really does glide on, giving you naturally flawless looking skin. It doesn't have a lot of coverage with one coat, but it is build-able. I was worried that with my oily skin this would make me look overly dewy or a sweaty mess by the end of the day, but it held up really well and I was no more oily than usual.
I don't know about you, but I am always searching for the perfect pink blush that gives a girly flush to your cheeks. This Dior blush is the closest I have found. It gives you a great natural rosy glow.
I also picked up this really subtle but gorgeous highlighter and this setting spray. This setting spray makes all of the difference when it comes to my eye make up and foundation. I can go all day without having to touch up or re-apply.
Lastly, I picked up a new black eye-liner (I am determined to master the cat-eye for spring), the prettiest pink lip gloss (#765), and this Korean eye brow tint (in grey-brown). I am always searching for a way to enhance my poor brows. I love the Anastasia system, but I also want something that will last and that I don't have to reapply every single day. So I took a chance and tried this tint. I actually love the results. My brows look fuller without any makeup. It doesn't last more than a week, but it is great for the days you don't want to do your makeup but still want better brows.
What is it about updating your beauty routine and cleaning out your make up bag that makes you feel so rejuvenated? What new products are you loving for spring?
