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Morgan ma Belle

B is a much more go-with-the-flow travel person than I am. Growing up, my Mom planned every detail of our family road trips. She had an expandable folder binder thing that held maps, sightseeing stops, coupons and gift cards for food stops, hotel reservations, and even the schedule of events. I'm not nearly that organized about everything, but I was stressing about Italy. Big time.

We were lucky that we had family in Florence to stay with initially, but since B & I joined them at the end of their Italian stay (they were moving on to Germany mid-July after living in Florence since early-June), we had 5 days without accommodations to plan for. 5 days that we had to do some major adulting and find lodging and figure out transportation and where we would eat and book day trips & tours and the list just goes on and on. B, of course, thought "when in Rome" and that we could just figure it out when we got there. I wanted a little more security and to at least know we would have a bed to sleep on!

My Aunt had booked their house in Florence through VRBO.com, part of the HomeAway family, and it was seamless. So when we were looking for our short stay in Rome I looked at AirBnB first because I had heard more about it and then I checked VRBO and the price differences were dramatic. I created a short list of properties that were located near what we wanted to experience in Rome, were less than $80 a night, and were either private rooms or private homes/apartments. The next day, two of the four properties had already been booked for our dates so then I was really nervous about finding a reasonably priced place that would have what we wanted - even if we would only be sleeping there. I was thrilled that this WayToStay gem was still available!


First Stop, Florence!

Our two-story flat in a recently renovated 1850s building in the center of Florence was booked by family for the month. We had everything you would need in a kitchen and surplus of bedrooms and bathrooms. The balcony was a plus and I loved the mix of antique and contemporary furniture and art throughout the entire apartment. You can see just how great our view from the living room was and what a neat residential area of Florence we were in, near the Piazza Beccaria.

The bathrooms were....different from what we are used to. Yep, we had to look up the purpose of a bidet. And shower doors, or lack of, made bathing a little challenging. Despite these quirks, they were still cute little bathrooms! One was purple (my favorite color), one was pink, and the one upstairs actually in our bedroom was blue.

The kitchen/dining room was really the showstopper of the apartment. With a huge dining table that everyone could sit at, it really was the gathering place if we were ever all in at the same time (rare). The kitchen was laid out like a galley kitchen, with the sink, dishwasher, fridge, counters and, yes, even the washing machine conveniently disguised as a lower cabinet, all along one wall. There was a fantastically huge buffet used to house all of the dishes & glasses on the opposite wall in the entryway. Having the washing machine in the kitchen was a new experience for us too.

The location and our little balcony were really my favorite parts of this apartment. That everything else was so nice was just the cherry on top! On the one evening we decided to stay in and make dinner for ourselves we stopped at a local grocery store and picked up a loaf of bread, grapes, a bottle of wine from the same class we had discovered on my birthday wine tour, some cheese, Italian sausage, olive oil, and honey (for the sweet tea he made for me that we kept in the fridge). B put together a light meal and we enjoyed an Italian evening together without the crowds. We could see the Piazzale Michelangelo on the hill in the distance, in windows across the way we could see families eating together (including one shirtless man who sat in the same chair at the table every night, always shirtless), the sunset was pretty and the temperature was mild. It was perfect.

No complaints about our Florence flat at all. We were 25-minute max walking distance to the tourist destinations such as the Duomo, Santa Croce, the Ponte Vecchio, Ufizzi Gallery, and even the train station. Our one and only snag was entirely our fault: we left without keys on the same day that my family headed to Venice for 3 days. Luckily, we were able to get in touch with the landlord who was able to send over a very friendly woman and her son to unlock the doors for us!

Next Stop, Rome!

Having booked our home away from home in Rome myself I was excited and nervous, and Maurizio was so great to work with and very accommodating with our flexible arrival time. We stayed in touch via email the week before our check-in date and were very much in touch the day-of as B & I navigated the trains.

We walked the 40 minutes from the train station pulling our suitcases behind us, stopping for lunch and then to gawk as we passed Trajan's Column and the new World War 1 Memorial that neither B or I expected to see. I think the ancient Romans would be proud of their descendants for this particular construction. It was so strange to see the architecture that we had seen in art history books surrounded by modern cars and mopeds and people wearing what you expect to see people wearing today (ahem, not togas)! We thought of Rome as this ancient city - which it is! - but it is still very much a thriving metropolis of today's businesses and people and transportation that all just maneuver around and through ancient history.

apartment entry near Roman ruins
Finally, we made it! And just look how amazing this place was! Walking into the apartment foyer you're first in a courtyard. The floors are sloped to the center to drain water when it rains because there isn't a roof over this part. Once inside the unit I first thought it was smaller than it had looked in pictures, but really that shouldn't have been surprising. It was still perfect and cute and epitomized where I thought I should stay on an Italian vacation. There were hidden storage cubbies and cabinets in the wall, bright tiled floors, and a perfectly tiny kitchenette well-stocked with cooking utensils if we were so inclined to cook (except for boiling water for tea, we weren't).

A set of French Doors opened up into the bedroom, and from there you could then proceed to the bathroom. It was small and modern and stocked with fresh towels and a hair dryer. The shower did run out of hot water quickly, but that just kept us on our toes! We didn't have the amenity of a washing machine in this unit, but we were only spending four days in Rome, unlike the 9 we had spent in Florence, so it wasn't such a big deal.

It was a first-floor unit and there was a fair bit of foot traffic that we could hear outside, but it was a calm stretch of neighborhood on the LAST STREET before the Roman Forum. No joke. Walking out our front door we saw this in the morning.


Overall, I would say I am extremely pleased with both bookings and would happily stay at either again -- especially since we've decided we've already started planning Italy Round 2. Regardless of where you stay in either city be prepared to walk. A lot. Trains are convenient and quick between cities, and buses aren't bad when you do truly need to get to the other side of town - but hold on to your purses and pockets!

What about you? Have you visited Italy and absolutely loved (or hated) your accomodations? Do you have anywhere you'd like to recommend for the future? Let me know!
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Skin is a fickle thing. It can be affected by stress, moving, traveling, that pesky time of the month, lack of sleep, a new fitness routine, a poor diet, not enough water, a new moisturizer or cleanser, and even the pillow you sleep on! I haven't done a beauty post before, but I've been impressed enough to share my newest lineup of skincare and beauty products -- and I'll even let you know which made the cut into the airplane carry on for my trip to Italy.

DISCLAIMER: This post does contain affiliate links. If you're curious about what those are why that is, there is an explanation here (scroll to the bottom of the page you're about to click on).

I'm blessed to have never suffered from severe acne; I just have one or two breakouts every now and then and almost always in the same place: right around my chin and on my cheekbones. The most likely causes of this, I've discovered, is resting my head in my hands and probably not washing my pillowcase often enough (ewwww...). My other annoying skin "condition" - if it can even be called that - is that my nose is almost always dry and peeling.

1. Cleanser

Cetaphil was my go-to cleanser throughout college, but after graduation and marriage, it just wasn't cutting it anymore. I switched over to the H2O Sea Results 3-in-1 Foaming Face Cleanser just last year after my mother-in-law gifted me a pack that included a moisturizer. I liked it so much that when I found it at Marshalls for a great deal I bought two more bottles. It's a gentle cleanser that I keep in the shower and it doesn't dry my skin out -- which is great for my constantly peeling nose.

2. Moisturizer

For daytime, my moisturizer must have SPF. My face refuses to tan even if the rest of me does, instead freckling with any exposure to the sun. Most of my makeup has SPF too so I'm sure my face will remain pale and freckle-free! I have two moisturizers, one Olay and the other Estée Lauder.

When I'm home, I use my Olay Age-Defying + SPF 15 moisturizer daily. It goes on in the morning after I wash my face and before I put on my makeup. Because it is a larger bottle, it didn't make it into my carry-on. Because it was smaller, I instead took my Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme + that I normally use at night after removing my makeup and washing my face.

3. Night Cream or Serum

I already described the Estée Lauder moisturizer that I use at night as a night cream. I also use Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair before I go to bed. It comes with a handy dropper, so it's very easy to apply exactly where I want it. I tend to use it around my eyes specifically, but it's a product where a little goes a long way. Instructions and recommendations state to use on your throat as well.

My Estée Lauder products are probably the most expensive beauty products I own. They were gifts that I would not have bought for myself, but they are also an investment in maintaining healthy young skin as I get older, so I may repurchase when these run out. An ounce of prevention is worth it, right?

4. Primer

It was watching this video on Christen Dominique's YouTube channel that turned me onto the concept of a pink primer.


On my drugstore budget, I did some googling & review hunting and selected Maybelline's Master Prime by Facestudio in Blur+Illuminate 200 over Almay's similar primer solely on price. I know it's supposed to be better to be consistent with makeup brands and I did buy the Almay CC Cream, but I've got to save where I can!

I've found that when my skin looks clear I don't need or want to use a heavy foundation. This pink primer has just enough of a tint and goes on so smoothly that I can use this with a little concealer under my eyes and some light blush and I feel good to go! It isn't thick or cakey and does exactly what it should do -- prep my skin for foundation should I choose to apply it.

5. Foundation


I've been using Rimmel for the past year and a half or so. I liked the blend, the coverage, and that it was just about perfect for my skin tone. The cons are it was pretty thick and it liked to rub off on things -- phone screens, shirt collars, etc. I switched to a powder foundation at my mom's recommendation, Bare Essentials, but it didn't do well by my ever-peeling nose. Again, I heard about CC Cream from the above video. I selected Almay Smart Shade CC Cream with SPF 35 in Light 100.

To apply, I put a little on my fingertip and then dab it on my face, focusing on my chin and cheekbones for a little extra coverage in those areas. I then just use my fingers to gently rub it in, just like you would a sunscreen. Applying this on top of the primer means it just glides across my skin, leaving my face feeling dewy without feeling or looking oily. It does seem to take a little bit of time to set if I don't use a setting spray, but that really is my only minor complaint.

My makeup routine does also include eye shadow, blush, eyeliner, and mascara. And about once a week I do a more intensive "deep clean" using an exfoliant, a mask, and pore strips. But this is pretty much it for normal everyday skincare!





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Thank you so much, Vanessa Jone of  Just Little Things, for nominating me for the Liebster Award! This is my frst nominee as a blogger, and apparently there are a few rules for this award:

- Acknowledge the blogger who nominated you. Done!
- Answer 11 questions from the blogger who nominated you. Below!
- Nominate 11 blogs. They have been contacted separately.
- Give them 11 questions to answer. At the end!

Questions from Vanessa:
1. Describe how did you first get into blogging?
I used to run the blog for Melissa's, Sorority Source, in college. We focused on sorority recruitment and things to do in Austin. I liked designing & tweaking the blog more than I liked the actual writing.

2. What would be your ideal working environment?
I need windows!!! I also love traveling so as long as I have a laptop and a wifi connection I can get work done anywhere. Thankfully, I've been blessed to work with companies and people that understand and allow this kind of mobility and freedom.

3. How do you want to improve yourself in the next year?
I'm really working on being less fearful. Years ago I was accused of being "too confident" and that really affected my future relationships and ability to make them. I would so enjoy being "too confident" again not being afraid to let people be my friend and become close friends.

4. What was your greatest failure and what did you learn from that?
I don't think that this qualifies as a "failure" when compared to success, but it was a mistake looking back. I grew up competitively swimming on teams, starting with the almost youngest age group in a summer league way back in elementary school. But when I didn't make my high school team, I was invited to practice with the team and tryout again at a later date and instead I quit. I was disappointed because I hadn't done well enough at tryouts, and I was burned out of competing against and with the same girls for years, and I was just done. Walking away from something that I not only enjoyed doing but had been good at is still my biggest regret to date.

5. What is your greatest achievement outside of blogging?
I've done a lot of things that I'm proud of -- graduated a semester early with honors from the University of Texas, spent less than $8,000 on our wedding & honeymoon (with some help from parents along the way), I've shared my faith with friends acquaintances and not been shot down. I think one thing I am SO proud of is moving to Missouri. My husband and I moved away from friends and family and the state we called home just to try something new - new weather, new jobs, new friends, new church. It feels like it was exactly what we were supposed to do.

6. Who takes the majority of your photos?
I do take a lot of my own photos, but it depends on the post. For anything having to do with modeling most of my photos come from events & collaborations with fashion photographers. I've worked with eGolden Moments, Joseph Oliphint, Steve Gibson, and others. I've even gotten B to take a few photos along the way.

7. How would you describe your personal style and is there a person who is a fashion inspiration to you?
Classic. Kate Middleton epitomizes classy and modest dress so she is on my fashion inspiration short list. You can even see her in a few places on my Pinterest board. I like to dress modestly and I'm rarely dressed super casually. "Snappy casual" is what we called it in back in my sorority days.

8. Which movie or book do you think is ridiculously overrated?
I was (sadly) disappointed by the Fantastic Beasts movie. I grew up with Harry Potter and am still a huge fan of that world, but this movie just didn't have the substance I've come to expect from the series to back up the effects.

9. Who would you most like to sit next to on a 10 hour flight and why?
My great-grandma. I knew her as well as I could when I was young, but I was too young to truly appreciate her for the woman she was and things she had done. I would love to have 10 hours to just talk to her about her life. About being married to my great-grandpa and how she handled things when he went to war and how life was on the farm in Indiana and raising my grandpa and moving to Texas and her relationship with Jesus and her love of shoes. She was only ever Ma to me and I'd love to learn who Jane was.

10. What are two things you think you should know how to do but don’t?
I still have to ask my mom about certain laundry techniques; yes, I'm 23 and married and still don't know all of the different stain-removal techniques. I also don't know how to drive a manual car.

11. What makes you say “What was I thinking?” when you look back on your life?
I've had some bad haircuts and outfit regrets, and when my parents divorced when I was in high school there were a lot of big decisions to make, but I must be living pretty well if I don't think I have a "what was I thinking" moment!

Questions from me:
  1. How do you take your coffee?
  2. What is the farthest you've ever traveled from home by yourself?
  3. What is your least favorite color for walls and why?
  4. What was the best gift you've ever received?
  5. What is the best advertisement or commercial you've ever seen? Please provide a link to the video or include an image.
  6. What is your greatest disappointment and what did you learn from it?
  7. What is the weirdest food combination you're embarrased to admit you like and how did you first experience it?
  8. If you could be any fictional character (movie or book) who would you be?
  9. Which teacher made the biggest impact on your life?
  10. What are three things on your bucket list?
  11. If it started to rain while you were out on a walk, would you run for shelter, continue on your way like nothing was happening, or dance in the rain?










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photo from https://www.bellaitaliatour.com/tours/cinque-terre-by-boat-one-day-trip-from-pisa/

Have you ever wished for something so hard that, once it happens, you can’t believe it’s real? That’s how I feel about my upcoming trip to Italy. I haven't been overseas EVER and I can't wait! In just under a month I’ll check off the second-most anticipated destination on my travel to-do list (I'm keeping my top-of-the-bucket-list travel destination a secret). The only problem? The only thing B & I have booked for our first two-week international vacation is our flight.

That’s right. I have zero hotel reservations. We haven't booked train tickets, made reservations at the top tourist attractions, or settled on our must-dine restaurants & vineyards. And last minute panic mode is starting to set in. For all the Mediterranean dreaming I’ve been doing over the years, very little thought has gone into what I’ll actually see, do and eat while I’m there. Upside, I'm pretty much done packing already!

Here's where you can help! I'd love to hear your recommendations and travel experiences. We'll be in Florence for the first week & exploring northern Italy, and then heading south to fly out of Rome at the conclusion.
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All photos by Kaylee Mariee Photography, our friends & family with the WedPics app, and volunteer photographer Alexandria Steeber Photography.


"I have found the one whom my soul loves"

~ Song of Solomon 3:4














Photographer: Kaylee Mariee Photography
Venue: Oak Valley Vineyard
Dress: David's Bridal
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I'm starting a new monthly tradition around here: Currently Loving! At the end of each month, I'll summarize my current favorites.

TV Show: Anne with an 'E' on Netflix

I was an avid reader growing up. My Anne of Green Gables boxed collection has survived the many purges & moves since elementary school and had me seriously considering moving to Canada to visit this magical place called Avonlea.

So when I saw the Netflix original in the queue I had to watch it.  Only three episodes in, it does seem to have removed some of the whimsy of the original tale and attempted to replace it with a little more realism, but Anne is still the scrappy, imaginative, "accidental feminist" I remember from childhood.


Blog: Addison's Wonderland

I'm being completely honest when I say that the Addison's Wonderland blog is what first got me interested in blogging. I'm not an interior designer by far, but her use of colors in her designs was absolutely eye-catching, and then I started to read what she was writing about her life and her inspirations and I felt like I was actually getting to know Brittany (if she ever reads this I'll be plenty embarrassed).

You can see her interior designs all over my dream home Pinterest board Nail by Nail, Board by Board.

Beauty: Better Than Sex mascara

best mascara: TOO Faced Better than Sex
I was gifted an Ipsy subscription that has kept me spoiled for the past year. It was a fun experience, getting a hot pink package in the middle of every month filled with sample-size hit or miss products. Better than Sex mascara by TOO Faced was a definite hit. It gave me long, dark, full lashes without any of the stiffness or little mascara flakes on my cheeks throughout the day. My makeup routine is super simple when I'm not getting photoshoot ready, just concealer, blush, mascara. If I'm feeling extra ambitious there may be some tiny eyeliner wings and some lipstick (plug for runner-up product Elizabeth Mott's Color is Bae Lip Lacquer in Moxie Mauve; it's a pretty natural pink with some serious lunch-and-two-coffees-later staying power). This mascara makes me feel like I'm done up just enough to be professional in the office without being overdone or spending a lot of time in front of the mirror.

Not what I would have chosen if I was naming the product, but still one of the few products I may upgrade to a full-size version of! If a travel size is more your style - and it means the product won't expire before it runs out - it's also available on Amazon and Macy's.

Devotion: A Heart that Dances

a heart that dances devotional
I'll be honest -- this is an 8-week devotional that has taken me 4 years to work through. That says more about me and my walk than it does about difficulty level or time commitment. Every time I feel that I'm getting in the groove something comes along and distracts me for a few months.

What I love most is the conversational tone of the devotions. Each week examines part of a Bible verse and takes the time to delve deeply into God's nature and heart toward us, his daughters.

Available on Amazon.


App: Duolingo


Spoiler alert! B & I are heading to Italy in July (more on that later) so I'm really feeling the pressure to learn some Italian. Insert Duolingo. Duolingo is the world's largest online language learning platform and it's FREE. Also available for iPhone & Android, and with daily reminders, there hasn't been an excuse to not get in my daily lesson. I even got B to download the app so we can compete against each other.

The lessons are organized by topic: basics, pronouns, animals, food and have a variety of different activities to help you learn the words English to Italian and Italian to English. There are matching games, translate the phrase both ways, repeat after mes that test your accent and pronunciation, and write what you hear to test your spelling. With manageable daily goals and incentives to keep a "streak," it's truly a fun way to learn a new language!

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Out with the old and in with the new! This blog has been more like a hobby than a true endeavor until this year, and as I began to take it seriously I finally crafted a name that I feel fits me and fits my brand: Morgan ma Belle.

My sorority had a description of the type of girls that fit our brand: "classic with a twist." That branding has stuck with me to this day. Your manners and style can be classic, just make sure to add your own "twist" to life! That is what I want to continue to pursue, adding my unique twist to life.

I've truly loved making this blog into what it is today and can't wait to continue to develop it into something great. I learn something new with every photo shoot and every post about what types of content truly resonate with readers.

Questions? Concerns? Suggestions? Let me know in the comments! My next post will be a recap of some of my May favorites. In the meantime, you can like my new facebook page, too!

PS. You can thank my husband for the above photo & my new "About" photo; he was the man behind the camera for this shoot!
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He did it! He finally did it! B modeled for a photoshoot with me!

On April 30th we braved post-rain mud and freezing wind to recreate & capture our wedding moments as directed & styled by photographer Elizabeth Golden of eGolden Moments. Elizabeth coordinated with Berry Acres to arrange a venue, florist Eden Floral + Events to provide a stunning bouquet, and makeup artist Alysen Lauridsen to style my bridal glow.


Berry Acres' bridal suite has all kinds of accommodations -- beauty bar, remote-operated A/C control, flat screen television, comfortable seating, and plenty of space for a group of excited women to primp and prep. B assured me the groom's suite was just as accommodating but more fun (think foosball table).


The venue also had a variety of settings for a ceremony and reception: indoor, outdoor, by the lake, by the barn-style gazebo, on the hilltop, there's a view for any & every bride! We loved the barn-gazebo-thing with the chandelier and the barrels (Probably because it reminded us of our own wedding!)



The Hilltop! Queue the swoon for the amazing view!








Photographer: Elizabeth Golden, eGolden Moments (Facebook)
eGolden Moments Blog Post
Eden Floral + Events: Website, Facebook
Location: Berry Acres
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About Me


Morgan ma Belle is written by me, Morgan René! Here you'll see lots of modeling adventures, travel anecdotes, and lifestyle inspirations as I explore and make my new home in the Midwest.

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