Amalfi Coast | Italy

Part 2 is here! After our amazing time in Conflenti learning about our family history, we made our way to the Amalfi Coast.
On our way there, I made my dad pull a questionable u-turn so I could get some photos of this beautiful hotel and foliage. Thanks for putting up with me, fam.
Our airbnb, located in Erchie, was fittingly called the Casa Di Limone.It had a bright open feel with colorful retro touches.
The best part was access to a semi-private beach, where we spent our downtime.Short trips into town awarded us with everything we needed for delicious meals. I loved shopping at the local markets – everything was so fresh!
Many evenings, we made our own dinners and enjoyed the views.
Of course, we had plenty of local pizza too.
Our first big adventure was a boating tour that took us from Cetara to Capri. 
Along the way, we took in all the colorful beachfront towns like Atrani, Amalfi, Praiano and Positano. The pictures really don’t do them justice!
I could not get over the rich blue water – that color!After a swim, our tour guides recommended a sweet oceanfront restaurant. The menu was mainly seafood, but we were able to order a simple salad and spaghetti marinara.
After lunch, we were full and sleepy from the sun – time to head back! Our next big outing was a trip to Amalfi. After some espresso in Cetara, we caught a ferry. 
We spent some time wandering the touristy area, and of course stopped for gelato. Their chocolate gelato was incredible and naturally dairy-free! 
After checking out some cute shops we made our way up up up and away from the populated area.
It was a hot day, but the hike up Valle delle Ferriere was absolutely worth it.About 350 stairs later, we made it to Agricola Fore Porta, the sweetest hilltop restaurant!

Almost everything there was organic and grown fresh on the farm. We started off with lemon slushies, which were perfect after our long hike. With lots of vegan and vegetarian options, we were totally set. The lemon potato chips, lemon risotto, and fried zucchini flowers were all huge hits.  
They even offered us soy lattes before our trek continued. If you are ever in Amalfi, I highly recommend making the trip up – it was an amazing experience!
Our next big adventure was to Ravello. The drive through the wild winding roads was certainly worth it for the stunning views. 
There were two main attractions I couldn’t leave without seeing, starting with Villa Rufolo. 
The gardens, architecture, and views were so picturesque. It was quite peaceful to walk around after our long drive, and I especially loved all the foliage and bright flowers.
Nothing could prepare me for our next stop at the Villa Cimbrone Gardens. It felt like stepping into another world. And I know I’ve said this 100 times but: THE VIEWS!The views! An absolute must-see if you are ever in Ravello.
Somehow all these spots were within a 15 minute walk of each other, including our next destination: food! 
We made our way to Villa Maria, peeping their organic vegetable garden on the way. 
The restaurant overlooks the beautiful hills of Ravello.
I had heard amazing things about their food, and they even provided a vegetarian menu.
We began with cocktails and wine, of course! The “Villa Maria’s Garden” appetizer came highly recommended – all fresh from their garden.
For our main course, Zach and I both tried a pasta dish. I had the “Pasta with Potatoes and Lemon” which was so creamy, and Zach had the “Giant Spaghetti with 5 Tomatoes sauce.” 
And for dessert, my first ever vegan crème brûlée! This was honestly the most incredible meal of my life. At the end, my family all raved about it being a “once in a lifetime meal,” then I kid you not we went back two nights later to do it all over again. It was really that good. 
I’ll be dreaming of this meal and all the incredible sites for years to come. Until next time, Italy!

Affiliate Links/codes:

  • I found a lot of my outfits on Poshmark. Use this link and save $10 when you sign up with the code EVERYDAYALLEGRA.
  • My vegan Dr. Marten’s are on sale here.
  • Use this link for $40 off your first Airbnb rental, or $15 off an Airbnb Experience.

Travel Highlights: Southern Italy

Beyond my Italian name and my great-grandmother’s lasagna recipe, I grew up without knowing much about my family’s background. So traveling to Southern Italy with my family this summer was an absolute dream.

We flew into Naples and made our way to the Villa Poseidon Boutique Hotel in Salerno. We spent the day relaxing after the flight, enjoying the pool, drinking wine, and eating pizza. It was the perfect way to kick things off.
The hotel offered fresh pizza made in their outdoor wood oven. They even had a vegan option with marinara, olive oil, and fresh basil. It looks simple, but was probably one of the best pizzas of my life!
The next day, we made our way south. We arrived in Fiumefreddo Bruzio, a picturesque hilltop town in the province of Cosenza. Our Airbnb was over 400 years old, and basically felt like we were living in a castle.The view from the roof was everything!There are about 150 residents in the village, and just one restaurant, but they hope to bring more tourism to the area soon. I loved walking around and enjoying a more peaceful way of life.The graffiti above reads “Enter here and dream.”
The restaurant in the village was excellent, with options for omnivores and vegans alike.
Our Airbnb host helped pick out our vegan dishes, including bruschetta topped with local veggies, fresh pesto, and a potato cake dish special to this region.
I loved our short time in Fiumefreddo Bruzio and hope to make it back again some day!

Our next adventure was the main reason for our trip: Visiting Conflenti, the town my great-grandparents grew up in. Southern Italy Travel set us up with an ancestry tour to trace our family history. We started our day at the city hall to learn more about our family tree. It was so special to see the birth certificates and records of my dad’s grandparents.
Our guide, Stephano, created an amazing itinerary. There were so many highlights, like seeing the homes where my great-grandfather was born, the church where he was baptized, the tiny family farm, and so much more.A restaurant in town created an incredible meal for us, and local musicians came to share some of the traditional music and instruments of Conflenti. I loved sitting down with Stephano and hearing more about the culture and political climate in Italy.Another surprise was meeting a second cousin, Tonino. He and his wife welcomed us into their home for more coffee and treats, and shared some beautiful family photos with us.
Being able to walk where my great-grandparents walked and see the views they saw, was absolutely surreal. I only wish we’d planned another few days here!Looking forward to sharing part two of our trip soon! xo

Affiliate Links/codes:

  • I found a lot of my outfits on Poshmark. Save $10 when you sign up with the code EVERYDAYALLEGRA.
  • My vegan Dr. Marten’s are on sale here.
  • Use this link for $40 off your first Airbnb rental, or $15 off an Airbnb Experience.

Exfoliating | Natural Skincare

Today is all about exfoliating. First off, why is exfoliating important? It removes dead skin cells and toxins, evens out skin tone, stimulates collagen production, and reduces the appearance of fine lines and enlarged pores. It can also help your favorite products absorb into your skin better!

Exfoliating has some amazing benefits, but it should always be done gently. Over-exfoliating can cause irritation, breakouts, and damage to your skin. When used correctly, the options below are gentle and effective. You’ll be glowing in no time!

everyday allegra exfoliating natural beauty_0001

Konjac Sponges. These sponges are extremely gentle, so they are perfect for everyday use. They help balance your skin’s PH levels, and even out your skin tone. I currently use the Original Facial Sponge (great for sensitive skin) and the Turmeric Body Sponge (meant to help with detoxing).

Microfiber Washcloths. I honestly don’t know how I survived without these! Microfiber cloths are perfect for washing your face or oil cleansing. They are antibacterial and pick up toxins and makeup without needing to scrub or pull at your skin. I’m always amazed at how soft my skin feels afterwards! Highly recommend these, especially if you have sensitive or acne prone skin.

Spin Brush. The most fun way to exfoliate! This brush comes with 4 brush heads: two for your face, a body brush, and a pumice stone for your feet. I felt like a whole new person the first time I used it – it removes makeup and dead skin cells, and really makes you glow! Currently on sale here.

Natural Exfoliants. There are a lot of natural products on the market for exfoliation. Some can be used daily, like this gentle face wash, made with oatmeal and quinoa. For a monthly pick-me-up, I recommend finding a facial peel like this one, which uses fruit enzymes and acids to resurface skin.  Another great option is a facial scrub, which should be used no more than once a week. You can make your own by combing sugar and oils, or purchase an affordable one like this.

What’s your favorite way to exfoliate?

xo
Allegra

Zuzu Luxe Makeup Review

Confession: eyeshadow has always intimidated me. At some point I stopped wearing it because the effort to get it symmetrical on both sides was just too much! So when Zuzu Luxe contacted me about reviewing their “Techno Warrior” Collection, I thought it was a good opportunity to try it out again.

Zuzu Luxe is all about cruelty-free makeup and skincare that preforms just as well as its traditional competitors. For Earth Day, they created this “Techno Warrior” Collection that donates 10% of profits to Green Acres Farm Sanctuary. So sweet! zuzu8

At first I was thrown off by the packaging, because I’m really not a camo kind of girl. But because the collection is all about earth tones and a graphic look, I guess it makes sense. zuzu7

The cheek cream in “Weapon” was my absolute favorite part of the collection. It’s buildable, creamy, and long-lasting! zuzu4The Ammunition Palette has beautiful desert-inspired hues. I will say, these colors are EXTREMELY pigmented. My first attempt at applying didn’t go so well, so the second time around I used a super fluffy brush and only used a tiny amount. The colors “Missile” and “Grenade” (right two colors) were stunning! zuzu5zuzu3The Combat Palette has some really versatile colors, perfect for a smokey eye. I was a little scared to use the color “Blackout” as an eyeshadow, so I ended up using it as an eyeliner! The brush included in the palette was perfect for this. zuzu6Even though I only applied a tiny amount of product, it still felt like way more makeup than I usually wear. Zach said I looked “gothy,”😂 but I think the look could have worked for a night out! All I forgot to add was a lip color (oops!), which I think would have completed the look more.

zuzu1If you’re someone who loves highly pigmented eyeshadows, I think you’ll LOVE this collection. I’m really excited to play around with it more and get over my fear of eyeshadow. For more cruelty-free makeup and skincare, check out Zuzu Luxe!

Axiology Lipstick Review | Plantae

My everyday makeup look doesn’t usually involve a lip color, but I’ve been wanting to branch out! I was so excited to try these colors from Axiology.

I found these on Plantae, which is a site that curates an amazing selection of vegan and cruelty-free products. Axiology Lipstick is made with natural ingredients like avocado butter and coconut oil. It’s super moisturizing, but the color doesn’t slide off your lips like some other natural brands. And of course, brilliant packaging is always a plus.

axiology1The gold tube is so pretty! Somehow they designed it to pop up when you click the bottom (sort of like a pen), which makes it really fun to use.axiology2

From top to bottom, the colors here are Instinct, The Goodness, and Devotion. All of them have a shimmery metallic finish.axiology3Instinct is sort of a golden brown color. I always think of nineties makeup with brown lipstick, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. It was really beautiful and the perfect neutral tone! I was surprised at how well this color complimented me.

The Goodness is a blushy pink with lots of highlight to it. Their website site describes it as having a “sea shell shimmer.” This color was a little more in my comfort zone, and could be perfect for an everyday look.

Devotion is a coppery pink tone. At first I thought it would be too bright for me, but it seems a bit more neutral on the lips. It has fun peachy punch to it, so I’m excited to use this one in the spring!

Here’s an example of how it looks on the lips. The color here is “Instinct.”IMG_4023

Axiology has 19 different colors to pick from, so definitely check them out! If you love shimmery lips with lasting color, I think you’ll be really happy with these. I’m definitely excited to be branching out with some new colors. For more natural and cruelty-free beauty products, head over to Plantae.

xoxo
allegra

*These products were sent to me for review. All opinions are my own.

About Allegra

I am an Italian-American dual citizen sharing all about my recent move from Portland, Oregon to Southern Italy. I hope to highlight the journey of finding a home in a new country, and inspire others to embark on their own adventures.