prepping a piece of furniture to paint
I intended to get a post up last night and then this morning, but time escaped me. The mix of work, family, and church stuff has kept me busy. I still have a few more posts to write about my trip, including our quick stay in Florence, but today I’m going to share a dresser […]
hall/foyer update
Believe it or not, fireplace season has started in Rochester, Minnesota! My boys love switching the fire on, turning the chairs to face the firebox, and basking in the warmth. And I love watching them do it. We also had our first snow. I thought it was just going to be a few flurries, but […]
villa moorings
While staying in Barga, Italy, this was our temporary home… It is Villa Moorings, a family owned and operated hotel that has more of a bed & breakfast vibe. Because it’s family-owned, it feels personal. I would pop my head in the kitchen and ask for ice for my water bottle or plates and flatware when […]
one year of oil painting
I really wanted to write this post on the one-year anniversary, but I was in Italy on that date and have been posting mostly about my trip, so I missed the boat. I really didn’t want to let this milestone pass without a post about it, so better late than never. After about a […]
what I bought in Lucca
Yesterday, I shared about our shopping trip to Lucca and today I am showing all of the goodies I bought, carefully wrapped, strategically packed, and brought home in my suitcase. Well, and I borrowed some space in my mom’s suitcase, too! If you remember back to my post about shopping at the flea market in Paris, […]
flea market in Lucca
I’ve been thinking about the highlights of my time in Tuscany and have concluded that it would be impossible to pick a singular favorite thing. The places and experiences that were amazing, magical, awe-inspiring, and memorable are just too numerous. If I was forced to pick one, though, our excursion to shop at a flea […]
thrifting in tuscany
On our way home from lunch at a local vineyard, Dana asked if we would like to stop by a thrift store to do a bit of shopping. Was this even a valid question to ask of a bus full of antique lovers? The answer, of course, was an enthusiastic yes. Our bus pulled up […]
15 minute European-inspired dinner
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Blue Apron. The first 50 readers to sign up for Blue Apron through this post will receive $50 off their first two weeks of meals, so you might want to stick around! As always, all words and opinions are honest and my own. France and Italy were inspirational in a […]