I went on my first creative retreat almost two years ago. It wasn’t a conference that was packed with classes and activities. It wasn’t a family vacation where I was wrangling kids between pockets of relaxation. It was a time away specifically for the purpose of filling my creative tank and stepping outside of my daily routine, so I could … Read More
My Europe Sketchbook
Just an FYI to those who might be thinking about Mustard Seed Mentoring, but you’re on the fence. We close our doors tonight (Thursday) at midnight, but before we do, we’re offering the opportunity to have a full membership for ONE WEEK for $1.00! You can snoop around, join us for a live session and see if this group is … Read More
florence | a walking tour
This is my final post about my trip to Europe last fall. (If you missed any of the posts or you’re planning your own trip, all of the links are below.) During the car ride from Barga to Florence, I was feeling ready to go home. I would’ve been completely okay with going straight to the airport. But, after checking … Read More
Florence | the maestro & the apprentice
My unenthusiastic start to our day in Florence was quickly turned around by our warm welcome at the Piazza Pitti Palace and meeting the delightful uncle/niece pair at the pen and paper shop that has been in their family for 163 years. I was energized and excited to see what else Florence had to offer. We met with our guide, … Read More
florence | the 163-year-old pen & paper shop
Once we were settled in our room at the Piazza Pitti Palace, my mom and I decided to walk around and explore until we were scheduled to meet our guide at 4:00. We didn’t have a specific destination but were just planning to meander and wander into pretty shops. Just a couple of blocks from our hotel, I was drawn … Read More
florence | piazza pitti palace
When I was planning out the final leg of our Europe trip, there was no doubt that my mom and I wanted to stay at the Piazza Pitti Palace in Florence again. We made a last-minute hotel change last year and it was one of the best surprises of the trip. Not only does the hotel have amazing rooms, but … Read More
Lucca Purchases
One of the things I was looking forward to most about our day trip to Lucca was visiting Officina Della Pelle, the family-owned leather store I bought so many beautiful pieces from last year. Last year, I visited the leather store at the end of the day, so I wasn’t able to get any of my pieces monogrammed. I was … Read More
montecarlo & a vineyard lunch
On our last full day in Barga, we went to tour and have lunch at a classic Tuscan vineyard and visited the small hilltop town of Montecarlo. We went to the same vineyard last year and I was eagerly looking forward to the delicious lunch and the beautiful scenery. Just walking up to the vineyard is a treat. The gravel … Read More
