My Travels Around The World
Europe
In my twenties, I was blessed to study abroad in Italy. Later, I was given the opportunity of a lifetime to be a video blogger touring around Europe with a student tour group. Each destination below has a special place in my heart and mind that I cherish.
So, I'm in the middle of having a little date night with myself - got a Halsey mix on Spotify, just made a little apertivi/dinner plate of spinach, lentil penne, roasted tomatoes...and some aged goat cheese and red vino. I went to the gym earlier, took a shower, did an at-home microdermabrasion, and indulged in my favorite charcoal mask. It's been heavenly, albeit a bit quiet. So, since I have all of this free time, I wanted to share something I've been meaning to post...a little Italy re-edit.
Sloping streets, walls doused in golden sun. The floor, the stones, the steps into shops and cafes all felt sacrosanct and ancient...
I am so fortunate to have been here twice - and both times in the beautiful vibrant warmth of summer!
Don't climb to the top of Èze and fall down in the garden. Because you'll be riddled with thorns and cactus prickles.
I've been told so many tips, ideas, and things to look for when searching for places to eat while traveling. and my own advice is this: ignore the rules
This legendary horserace has the city buzzing - it's not just anticipation, but it's the blood, sweat and tears (literally) of an entire city...
Silver espresso machines hiss and steam up countertops, men converse (or argue?) animatedly in front of open electric truck doors...
But if you know how to get away from that and find the little jewels that are the unoccupied streets, the little hole-in-a-wall restaurants, and tucked away galleries...then, you're good, Venice.
The light dawn hues in the sky illuminating the Duomo and the rest of the high-walled streets are really one of a kind.
The sun dances on the water, the boats preparing to float into to grotta azzurra bump up and down, the mist is tantalizing as it hits your face from the water.
A liter of white wine for the table, fresh calamari fritti for me, a friends' dish of risotto, and two side dishes...It's hard to believe that only a few weeks ago I was island hopping in a place I've always wanted to visit: Croatia. It interested me in the aspect of its' recent history and independence, but it's also become such a trendy spot - this summer, I had the amazing opportunity to go to a music festival in Split, called Ultra - is it weird that I had never heard of it before? :) It was the first ever Ultra Europe, so I think it's safe to say I have never felt trendier!
Perhaps my favorite part of the day was climbing along the terraces with S and seeing Vernazza from the path-less-traveled.
Should you go to Gilli in Florence? Yes. They have quite the business history - they opened in 1733.
North America & Road Trips
I'm lucky to live in an amazingly beautiful country with the ability to drive and travel to world-renowned (and not so well known) gorgeous spots. My road trips and longer distance trips all over the country have been the source of so much inspiration! Each place here marks a special chapter in my life.
We ventured through lake country — notably Saratoga Lake and Lake George — to find a much needed dose of nature, quality mom and daughter time on the road, and lots of new finds and inspiration to take us right into spring.
This trip was a product of a spontaneous decision we made back in September, after the first few days of school were trying and seemed impossible. After an “I’ve had it!” kind of day, I went home to visit mom, and we just kinda…well, booked a trip to Virginia.
For my 29th birthday, I wanted to be selfish and take a trip. And it was a getaway of pure celebration, quiet revelry, and natural beauty! Even during the middle of our travels, I felt as though our girls trip to the Florida Keys was going to be a legend.
This year, our family did something very different for Thanksgiving. We each packed a weekender bag, piled on the flannels and ventured up to a cabin in the Pocono Mountains.
Summer is our time to explore and stay up late at night. When I had the opportunity to visit the Astronomer's Lodge in Fort Davis, Texas at the McDonald Observatory -- a rare treat -- one of the first things I began to dream about was seeing the Milky Way and attempting to capture those twinkly stars on my camera.
This blog post title has a ring do it, no!? We traveled mighty far in Texas, a grand total of 16+ hours or something like that. Can't even count the miles! But we started in Dallas, ended up in Fort Davis, and Waco, Hico and Abilene were some of our most memorable stops. My mom and I are good travelers together; we've shared many road trips. And they come with bizarre stories, they truly do!
Chip and Jo really have created a little haven in the Magnolia Silos! On a trip to Texas for a workshop, my mom (aka partner in crime) and I made a little side-trip to head down to Waco, TX. With the intention to walk around, grab a cupcake, and see what all the hype was about, we really did feel that this little corner is delightful (and very instagrammable).
Since my first visit in Toronto, there was still much to be seen and I am so glad that on our most recent trip, we were able to walk and explore around this beautiful Canadian city! We quickly understood how much of a FOOD CITY Toronto is!
The upcountry, in all of its wild nature, was what complete our trip to Maui - it is an unmistakably different feel from the rest of the island. The foreign-looking flowers and mimosa trees, the ranches and farms, and all of the windy hills are what make the upcountry so rugged. It's like an untouched microcosm that is so different from the resorts on the rest of the island.
This little photo diary is featuring some of my favorite scenes of West Maui; notably, Ka'anapali and Lahaina. Maui is jaw-droppingly beautiful, and the perfect subject for photos at any time. Everything about it is paradise - naturally, intoxicatingly, hypnotically beautiful.
After the wedding, we had a delayed honeymoon. Taking a little over a month to regroup, get our heads on straight, and process the entire wedding was honestly the healthiest thing I think we could have done! It also gave us time to really build excitement for our honeymoon: HAWAII!
There is a certain energy that surrounds a beach cafe...it is undeniable. Knowing the beach is close might be the magic. The ritual of having coffee - the ritual that precedes the day, precedes the day's possibilities, what's to come - evokes a different kind of energy at the beach.
The stunning views of Red Rock Country make for a pleasing respite from the Arizona heat.
How to do Toronto our way: three days, lots of food, a cafe, some hockey, and some picturesque sights.
There is no denying that Christmas in New York makes up the quintessential splendor of the holidays. It's romantic. It's classic.
Nestled in the Shenandoah Valley and in the height of autumn...this winery was a perfect pit-stop on our way home.
An autumn girls' weekend at the Shenandoah National Park had us reaching for lofty summits to see spectacular sunrise mountain views.
When it comes to mountain roads, fiery fall foliage, and the smoky fog of autumn, you may not think of Pennsylvania first.
Sagamore Hill might sound boring to some, but as someone who loves history and learning from travel, this was a weekend well spent. I have read several books over the last year in my free time about the life of Theodore Roosevelt - books that paint him in a good and bad light - and I have concluded that he fascinates me as a person and a President.
My friend, a beautiful flight attendant (who is living the dream!) came to visit and had enough time on her layover to sightsee around Philly...
S and I embarked on a mini-road trip adventure to see the dramatic rocks and coves of El Matador...
helloo! just popping in from southern california with a quick post of what daily life {on bike!} looks like.
We got a seat right in the heart of the Gaslamp District and enjoyed the people watching...
I could write a love letter to these fields. I want to sleep there, wear a big floofy dress in there, and just take thousands of pictures all day...
Finally, we have a Christmas market in our community! Grab a hot cocoa and see just how beautiful of an event this was. I can’t wait to return!