Darphynia's Diary

The BEST pizza flavored snack EVER! On our way to Milan (Milano) we made a pitstop, and I picked up some of these crispy, pizza-flavored bread squares.  They were the best snack item I have had in a long time.  Why did I choose them?  Well, I figured if the Italians couldn't get pizza flavored snacks down, nobody could.  They tasted of tomato, cheese, and basil, yet contained no cheese/milk products!  Yes, they were...are...vegan.  Anyway, if you ever see them, give them a try. An old shopping center across from La Scala. The first Prada Store. We continued on to an old shopping center (Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan), which houses the first Prada store ever established (1913).  Our local guide was so fun!  She had a story about the families who controlled the area, and even got our group involved.  After the shopping center we had some free time.  We went into Duomo di Milano, then had lunch before headin...

LUSH Cosmetics recently launched new hair care .  There are more solid conditioners to choose from, as well as a new solid shampoo and a solid leave-in conditioner.  When I was last in the shop I purchased a piece of Avocado Co-Wash  (3.5oz/$15.95) and Queen Bee  (3.5oz/$16.95).  The shampoo is quite soft and pliable-- much like the old version of Big Conditioner.  You can either pinch a small piece off ands it, or use a whole chunk.  I find that using a larger piece is far easier.  It has a sweet, fruity (almost like Froot Loops or Trix), vinegar smell, but the smell once it is rinsed out is light and slightly sweet.  My hair was left soft, hydrated (not oily), and shiny.  I will definitely repurchase this.  Since it's in the shower and contains a lot of oils/butters, it might melt.  It may also not last as long because of the same reason.  I suggest keeping it in a container and pinching off a small portion.  Lather...

My best friend and I now have annual things we go to.  One of them is Renegade Craft Fair in LA.  This past weekend was the summer show, so we went on Saturday.  After having brunch at Crossroads Kitchen (it was pricey, but really good!), we grabbed some tea at Alfred's  and headed over. Renegade is a neat spot where local, small businesses can showcase their wares.  They have everything from home decor to food, jewelry, clothes, etc.  Most everything is handmade, or at least partly handmade.  I love supporting local, small businesses, so I got a couple of things.  I bought a deodorant spray and solid from Cee Cee & Bee , a cold brew bottled coffee from Knight Owl Coffee ,  washable face pads from Facekins  (you can read my review  here ), and some Health-Ade kombucha because I like the taste.  It was hot (of course it was; it's SoCal in July), but not as bad as last year.  The prices for the products can be a bit...

Day 6:  Venice, Part II For a few euro, you can take a photo with them. It was raining on the boat, but I got the angle. So much graffiti!  The second day in Venice was filled with walking.  First, we stopped at a Murano glass company where we watched a demo, followed by a walking tour with a local specialist.  It was overcast and drizzling for a better part of the day, but nobody minded.  Venice, especially, is not for people who have a difficult time walking.  Because Venice is comprised of several small islands, there are tons of bridges and stairs.  It’s not that they are steep.  They are very abundant and uneven.  The steps have warped from centuries of people walking on them.  Anyway, our local specialist was this adorable older woman, who grew up in Venezia.  She pointed out how much has changed since in the time she has been there.  The water level keeps rising, but the government isn’t really...