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 […]
rearranging the studio
The very nature of a creative space dictates that it has to be dynamic. My furniture and belongings are accustomed to being maneuvered and shuffled around, but that’s doubly true for the stuff in my studio. Each new artistic endeavor or novel idea can put new demands on the space. It usually starts in stacks and […]
casa cordati | tuscan home tour
Wedged in one of the narrow streets inside the walls of Barga, Italy, is a 17th century home – Casa Cordati. It was once known as the “red house of the Grand Duke”, because Grand Duke Leopold ii of Tuscany slept there. This amazing, historical building offered accommodations for part of our group as well […]
subtle seasonal dining room
The week after I got back from Europe, summer was still hanging onto Rochester, but it finally released its grasp. The trees are turning fiery hues at their tips, there is a refreshing chill to the air, and I donned my favorite leather boots in church this weekend. Fall is here. Having missed a week […]
barga quietly captivates
When Dana, the owner of Inspired in Tuscany, first pitched the idea of a creative retreat to me, she sent along some pictures of Tuscany to woo me to that beautiful little corner of the world that seems stuck in time. I honestly thought the pictures were stock photos from a travel website. Truly. They […]
hutch makeover in tuscany
I must admit, when we got on a plane headed to Florence, Italy, I wasn’t ready to leave Paris, yet. I loved our time there and it was tough to pack up our belongings and leave that apartment. I was excited about Italy, but Paris would be hard to top. Well, Tuscany was not going […]