Milan- The Fashion Capital of Italy

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Milan is widely known as one of the fashion capitals of the world. It is Italy’s second largest city that is the center for architecture, banking, and high fashion. Famous attractions include the Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano), the Golden Quadrangle, and the La Scala Opera House. Many people that visit Milan go for the extravagant, high fashion shopping around the Golden Quadrangle. The Golden Quadrangle houses some of the most popular high-end designers including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Prada. Around the Quadrangle, other popular designers line the streets flashing their brands to draw in the fashionistas. Milan is a haute couture powerhouse that exposes all of the top designers. The study abroad class got a tour of the streets around the center of Milan where we were in shopping heaven!! Most of the designers are extremely expensive, but there are also many stores that are affordable. Can we just have it all, please? We didn’t want to leave this beautiful city where the fashion screams and the buildings gleam. The pictures below include the Milan Cathedral, the Golden Quadrangle, a collage of brands seen on the streets, and my Study Abroad class farewell dinner.

Burano

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Burano is a colorful island that is the home of lace making. Literally, colorful, the town is filled with a variety of bright buildings all linked together to make the perfect “camera ready” destination. Burano is my personal favorite place on the Venetian Islands because of the color and all of the lace accessories including fans, umbrellas, clothing, jewelry and more. Burano is filled with restaurants on the water and personal roof top dining treatments to their up-most loyal customers. I would highly recommend this to someone that wants a great environment along with delicious food and accessories. Ciao!!

Tourist's Top 5 "Must Eats" in Italy

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Attention Tourist's traveling to Italy: I have the top 5 must eat foods that you absolutely have to try!! Not only is Italy known as the Fashion Capital, it is also known for some of the best food items around the globe. I have only been here for 2 days and have already hit all five!! Here we go:

1. Pizza

Oh, and by the way, the winner of the best pizza "Italy vs. New York" goes to...ITALY!! Hands down

2. Pasta

3. Gelato

4. Meat and Cheese Plate

5. Wine

Ok. I know wine is not a food, but in Italy, wine is a part of every meal. Pair it with anything and you will be pleased!! I found my favorite Cabernet in Italy that I will never forget!

Stay Cocky

Florence University

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Today I went to Florence University (FUA) in Italy. First, we started off eating at the Gonzo Restaurant, the student based restaurant similar to my work, The McCutchen House!! After a five course meal, we toured the Pastry School (with complimentary cookies, of course), the school of arts, computer technology, and the school of fashion. FUA is a prestigious college in Florence that focuses on intimate academics. This experience was amazing!! I learned similar things in the college of Hospitality at USC plus new perspectives on the food and fashion influences in Italy. Pictures below show a my favorite plate at Gonzo, Cookies at the Fedora, the FUA classroom setup, and the post tag greeting to the fashion school.

                                                         Stay Cocky

Charleston's Finest Seafood Mac n' Cheese

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Macaroni and Cheese with a Southern twist from one of the most historic places in South Carolina, Charleston. Mosaic Cafe, located in Mt. Pleasant, features one of their most famous Southern Cooking entrees, Crab and Shrimp Macaroni and Cheese with a side of steamy carrots. This cheesy delight is a fan favorite that keeps people coming back for more.

                                                            Stay Cocky

http://mosaicedibles.com/cafe/charleston/

Frat-Tastic

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Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the ultimate fashionable man in the South!! Dressed to the tee without a flaw, this Southern fraternity boy from the University of South Carolina tops my best dressed award for the collegiate "preppy look". This look is appropriate for any Greek function, most notoriously the Carolina Cup, a widely popular horse race in Camden, South Carolina The fluorescent bow tie and matching pants make up the proper southern look. Not to mention, the seersucker pastel shirt in between. Come on boys, let's dress the part to be the most fashionable Southern gentlemen.
                                                          
                                                              Stay Cocky

Mens Business Attire for Young Professionals

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To all my Southern boys. Lets take a look at a Michael Kors suit. This MK suit is a girls dream and a guys best investment. Young professionals all over the globe need to dress the part, look the part, and perform their ultimate corporate duties in order to be strong, successful, and sexy.
http://www.michaelkors.com/

Business Chic Attire

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Welcome to the work world ladies!! How to dress professional and sassy at the same time. I start with basic tanks and dress pants and match them up with affordable blazers. Black and white stripe blazer is from Forever 21. Red blazer is from Arden B. Show up to work confident and fabulous!!
                                                             
                                                                     Stay Cocky

Deadbolt Wine

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Want a fabulous red wine to drink? Well, I have the perfect solution!! Deadbolt wine is a rich flavored, sweet red wine from California.  Blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Petite Syrah and Syrah perfectly mix together creating the ultimate glass of wine for any meal. Deadbolt features a red fruit aroma and flavors of black cherry, brown spice, and mocha. Cheers!!

Low Country Boil

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One of the best Southern meals to have during the warm summer months is definitely Low Country Boil. The mixture of fresh crawfish, shrimp, spicy sausage, corn on the cob and potatoes are the key ingredients to the southern style meal that will keep you wanting more!! Tis' the season for the reason: Low Country Boil for the ultimate Southern craving

                                              Stay Cocky

Tweet Tweet!! First Official Twitter

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Cocky Hospitality has is proud to announce our First TWITTER page!! Please follow...following back the first 100 followers!!

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                                                https://twitter.com/CockyHOS

Sweet Start

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What is the best way to start off a fabulous day? A cup of coffee and scrumptious macaroons of course!! Sweets are a girls best friend. I wonder...what are your favorite pick-me-ups?

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Jazzy Brunch in NYC

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I had the pleasure of dining at Garage Restaurant and Café, the classiest Sunday brunch restaurant located in Greenwich Village, NYC. Garage provides an amazing atmosphere along with live, soothing, jazz music setting the tone of a causal and fabulous end of the week celebration meal. From the floor to ceiling are brickwork walls, glowing atmosphere, and an exclusive two story fireplace accenting a spotlighted stage for premier jazz bands to perform, this restaurant is the ultimate treat. Oh, and did I mention they offer bottomless mimosas for only $6.95?

The food is delicious and impeccably plated including a various amount of pancakes, French toast, and waffle creations with bursting flavors of fruit jellies and fillings flowing out of the bread ridges as well as juicy, jumbo filled omelets with fresh, made-to-order famously hot breakfast meats.

To all my hospitality food lovers living so far up North, the bottom line is to have a fabulous Sunday brunch at Garage Restaurant and Cafe because of the soothing tone of jazz music, bottomless mimosas, and exquisite food items all inside an astonishing atmosphere.

            Stay Cocky

http://garagejazz.com/

Starting blog: New Years 2013 at the Gansevoort Park Avenue Hotel in NYC

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What is better than a Southern Girl taking on New York City??  After bringing in the New Year at the ever-famous Gansevoort Park Hotel, I was exposed to the endless detail of the hospitality world. From the handmade, artfully crafted chandeliers to the heated balcony overlooking the Empire State Building, this hotel is truly in a league of its own. My fabulous New Years Eve was filled with multiple VIP rooms in the two story Penthouse bar. Glasses of bubbly champagne and silver platters of hors d'oeuvres accented the eclectic fashions of the Internationally influenced guest list.

 http://www.gansevoortpark.com/