By Elle
At the last minute this past Saturday, my beloved decided that we should go to the Feast of the Assumption in Cleveland’s Little Italy neighborhood. I wasn’t terribly in the mood until I spotted my sun hat that I’d bought from H&M just two days before. “I’ll go get dressed!” I said, charging up the stairs.
I had to dress in a hurry because it was already mid-afternoon and we wanted to beat the rush. Without too much thought, I grabbed my black lace skirt (to match the black ribbon on my hat) and, for a spot of color, my green, flowy blouse. Comfy and easy!
It was another fashion blogger’s post about her floppy sun hat that inspired me to hunt one down. Plus, I’d been thinking about a summer hat. I have several lovely winter hats but had nothing special for summer and, frankly, with my pale skin — and desire to minimize sun damage to my 50-something face — a big floppy hat for summer made sense.

My floppy hat totally kept the sun out of my eyes. Dark sunglasses don’t hurt, either.

There was no way I was going to wear heels to the Feast. For one, some of the streets are paved with brick, with large gaps between each. For two, I suspected we’d do a lot of walking. So I opted for my black flip-flops, “blingy” version.

I wore my green “pickle” bracelet, as my 4-year-old granddaughter, Rosie, calls it.

You can’t beat the street food at the Feast.

Love this hat, from H&M. (I couldn’t find this exact one online, but I bought it at the Mentor, Ohio, store.) It’s floppy in all the right places and fits my tiny skull like it was made for it.

Octopus salad. His, not mine. I ate zuke and portobello risotto.

Mmm, gelato. Unfortunately not vegan.

Holy Rosary Church sits across the street from this apartment building.

Happiness is a belly full of good food and vino.

Love.

Goodbye Feast. Until next year.