A few weeks ago, Jeff asked me a dangerous question. “Would you like to go to Barnes & Noble?” Well, of course, the answer was yes. I am so glad we moved to a city that has a good bookstore. Now, we do have an even larger library, but I must admit that I love owning my books. I want … Read More
a walking tour of Barga
On the afternoon of our first full day in Barga, we had the pleasure of doing a walking tour led by Keane, a man who moved from the UK 30 years ago and has made Barga his home. We didn’t get to do this tour last year, so I was excited to learn more about this ancient walled town. The … Read More
rest & recovery
Two weeks ago, I had surgery on my right shoulder and bicep. Since then, I’ve spent the better part of my time in a recliner with a twin-sized, 3-inch-thick piece of memory foam on top. Rest isn’t easy for me. I sit in this chair with ice on my shoulder and feel like I can be doing more. But this … Read More
milk paint makeovers in barga
The main reason for my trip to Europe was teaching at a creative retreat in Barga. For one of our creative sessions, we painted an antique chest from the Cordati house where we had our workshop space. We did this last year and it was a ton of fun and a great success. Not everyone in our group this year … Read More
pole-pole-tree & dinner with Florentines
None of us were looking forward to an early morning wake-up call to catch our train from Paris to Milan to Florence, but that is what had to be done. Since train travel is less expensive then air travel, my mom and I decided to splurge on business class tickets. Since we were on the train most of the day, … Read More
linen bee napkins
Just before I left for Europe, I received a package from Linen Bee. I have worked with them for years as a sponsor and a paying customer. I’ve worn their dresses to China, Europe, and all over the US. They are my favorite custom-made linen clothes. So, I’m always excited when I get a package from them! In this order, … Read More
how to clean paint off fixtures & a tub
As I was prepping the boys’ bathroom to paint, I removed the old towel bar and TP holder. I knew I was going to replace the towel bar, which always looked messy, with a ring. I was also planning to replace the TP holder because it was smeared and splattered with paint. Once I took a good look at it, … Read More
fall touches in the living room
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Walmart. As always, all words and opinions expressed are honest and my own. I have resigned to the fact that decorating for fall isn’t going to be a priority this year. Each year, I think I’ll just put out a couple of pumpkins or something, but each year, I’m wooed by the cool temperatures, … Read More