Good morning to you! By the time you read this, I will probably be in the air on my way to Maui with my sweetie :) And since I have travel on the brain, I thought it would be fitting to share some tempting new items from Amy Butler – all kinds of bags and luggage and even paper-organizing binders and folders to keep you pulled together on your next trip.
I am just so pleased that the talented Ms. Butler has expanded her offerings from fabrics alone to encompass bedding, towels, snazzy office supplies, and now even suitcases – because I don’t know about you, but her color palettes and nature-inspired patterns never fail to lift my spirits.
And these cushy wheeled suitcases may even sway me from my long-standing obsession with Orla Kiely’s travel bags – I mean, doesn’t that bag above look positively yummy? Let me tell you, I wish I had that beauty by my side right now instead of my ancient L.L.Bean duffel!
The lush and cool prints remind me of tropical getaways and carefree summer days…and the neat-freak inside of me really wants to collect all of the tidy little makeup bags, pouches (and a laptop case of course) so I can happily organize and reorganize my belongings as much as I like!
And then there are the notebooks, folders, binders, and files, oh my! Too much goodness, I tell you! You can find out all of the details on Amy Butler’s website. I have so much respect for this creative lady – tell me, do you share my love of all things Amy?
{images: Amy Butler}
Ready for a bit of travel inspiration? How would you like to go to the Italian countryside just in time for the harvest season, and learn to cook in a gorgeous old restored farmhouse in Umbria? Oh, yes? I thought you might be interested…
Ca’ Di Gosto is a B&B as well as a cooking school, and the owners will take us on trips to local markets to shop for ingredients (always with a stop for a perfect cappuccino along the way) and then return to the house to cook a delicious Umbrian feast. We can hang out in the fantastically rustic kitchen and sip wine as sauces and stews bubble away on the stove…
…and try our hand at making fresh pastas and ravioli, along with a few English sweets and treats (the owners are an English and American couple), mm. Feasting, lounging and exploring the countryside sounds like a plan to me!
And if it gets a bit too hot in the kitchen, we can always cool off in the lovely hillside pool!
Ca’ Di Gosto B&B and Cooking Classes
{images: Ca’ Di Gosto}
Would you like to dream a little dream with me? It begins with packing a gorgeous old leather trunk with airy white dresses, sun-faded scarves and exotic jewelry. Then we’re headed to a secret hideaway surrounded by thousands of acres of fragrant olive and orange trees, where the light filters softly through a canopy of grapevines. Are you ready? Away we go…
Our destination this week is the Trasierra Hotel, located outside of Seville in the Sierra Morena Mountains of Spain in Andalucia – land of the magestic Andalusian horses. Trasierra is the kind of place I thought only existed in the movies. Completely luxurious but in an easy, comfortable way – to say I would love to stay here is an understatement. I want to move in. Every detail has been lovingly tended to, from the colorful textiles draped over tables and chairs, to the stacks of books by the bedside and the little jars of house-made Seville orange marmalade at breakfast…
Flamenco guitar, local cheese and honey, afternoon siestas, riding horses through the fields, swimming in a mosaic-tiled pool…sigh. I’m feeling better just imagining it, aren’t you? I would love to come here with a small group of close friends and family, but this also seems like the kind of place where a solo traveler would feel right at home.
And in one of the bedrooms: fresh whitewash floor to ceiling (the better to reflect that magical Spanish light), cozy banquettes carved into the wall for napping and reading, gorgeous woven rugs and a perfectly made up bed…heaven! I think they would have to drag me out of there kicking and screaming.
Owner Charlotte Scott has poured endless love, energy, money and sweat into Trasierra, reviving it from the abandoned, neglected state it was in when her family purchased it 25 years ago – it is a true labor of love. Are you ready? Is your bag packed? When can we go?
Trasierra Hotel
{images: Trasierra}
Good Morning! Over the weekend, I finally made my first camping trip of the year. It was such a relief to get out of town and have absolutely no agenda, to be surrounded by gorgeous trees and blue sky and long, long beaches stretching out to infinity. I had never been to the Cape before, and the dunes and the scent of the pines reminded me of the California coast. I’ve loved camping since I was a little girl, and over the years I have been collecting little items that make camping more comfortable, beautiful, and easy. I took a few photos around the camp site, and I thought you might enjoy a little peek, so here you go:
In the top picture, you can see I’m peering into the tent through the window – I’ve laid down a pretty quilt beneath our Therm-A-Rests and sleeping bags, and my copy of Country Living is waiting patiently to be read. The newest addition to my glamping kit is this tiny knife, which I bought because it was cute and it comes with a little safety cover – but I was amazed at how sharp it is! It cut through a giant pile of vegetables like softened butter. Beneath that you can see a little smidgen of the floral tablecloth I spread over our picnic table, and candles lined up down the center to add an ambient glow as the sun sets.
What did you do over your weekend? I would love to hear. I’ll be back in just a few to start my first giveaway, which I am so excited to tell you about!
{images: Laura Gaskill}
Hello dear friends! Sorry for the late start this morning, I’ve just been setting up home insurance for our new house: only 25 days to go until we move in! Hooray!! Because we are buying our first house, B and I are not traveling much this year…but that means I have lots of time to concoct all sorts of travel plans for the future! With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to pick out one delicious destination each week to share with all of you; these are the places I am dreaming of going. Are you ready? Away we go!
First up on my list is Petersham Nurseries, located just outside of London. What’s this, you say? A nursery couldn’t be worth traveling for? Well, I beg to differ: Petersham Nurseries is not an ordinary plant shop. Offering up scrumptious fare and tea service in their cafe, loads of idyllic spots to picnic, fresh cut flowers, antiques and books; all in addition to their staggering array of plants – I don’t see why you would ever want to leave!
Their website has the most amazing gallery page, which leads me to believe that every square inch of this place is photogenic – I bet you couldn’t take a bad photo here if you tried! I mean my goodness, there are chickens and cows, rolling meadows and blooming flowerbeds, antique armoires and farmhouse tables thickly laden with cakes and sweets, glasses and silver lined up straight as little marching bands…
Even the garden tools look gorgeous! I think I could spend all day rifling through luxurious ribbons, burying my nose in flowers and herbs, caressing Italian silk scarves, and trying on yummy organic bath products. And I would certainly need to take home a pair of these amazing Ilse Jacobsen Wellington Boots, which are lined in cozy wool for gardening in the winter.
And when we get hungry, we can settle in amidst the flowers and enjoy a leisurely three-course feast…or perhaps simply a cup of perfect tea and a slice of chocolate cake with ginger caramel and Jersey cream? Before we leave, we will doubtless be tempted to carry off the whole place with us. But we will satisfy ourselves with a roll of pictures and full bellies and maybe just one more little trinket from the shop…
Petersham Nurseries
{images: Petersham Nurseries}
Good morning! What did you do this weekend? I hope you were able to relax and enjoy the summer weather :) Over the weekend as I was browsing my local bookshop, I was so excited to find this book by Pia Jane Bijkerk, which I have been looking for since it came out. And let me tell you – Paris: Made By Hand is a treasure. If you haven’t heard of interior stylist Pia Jane Bijkerk, you are in for a real treat – and if you have already been thinking of getting Pia’s book, I can assure you it’s worth every penny! Arranged into nine wanders through Paris neighborhoods, Pia describes her favorite ateliers and fait main (made by hand) boutiques in loving detail. I sat down this morning by the window with a mug of tea and took some time to dip into the book, savoring each page.
Isn’t the cover adorable? You can read a fantastic interview with Pia and see a behind-the-scenes look at the styling that went into the cover design right here. I love that the book is perfectly sized for tucking into your bag – whether you are wandering through Parisian neighborhoods, or dreaming of Paris during your commute back home :) Let’s open it up…
As a stylist, Pia has searched Paris high and low over the years for gorgeous and unique little treasures to use in photo shoots, so this book is the culmination of those treasure hunts: her little black book of stylish resources. The photo above is from Galerie Végétale, an amazing shop that combines art with unique plants and breathtaking floral arrangements. From wander #6, the Tenth Arrondissement.
I have only been to Paris once, and just for two nights; but it was enough to thoroughly enchant me. I would love to go back, and when I do I plan on keeping Paris: Made By Hand close by my side. Above, we have a photo from Le Petit Atelier de Paris, which is the peaceful workshop/boutique of two ceramicists. From wander #2, the Third & Eleventh Arrondissements.
This is a very different sort of travel guide (the sort I wish there were more of!), because it is also an ode to the unique and richly varied world of handmade. Check your local independent bookshops (in the travel section) to get your hands on a copy, or you can order it online.
{images: Laura Gaskill}
I have been dreaming of traveling lately…okay, actually I am always dreaming of traveling :) Some of my most treasured memories are travel experiences that have been indelibly printed in my mind – swimming with wild dolphins in the Caribbean, riding horses bareback in secret at night with my best friend on a Colorado ranch, burying my nose in heavenly hundred year old roses in Florence, hiking in the Swiss Alps in the spring with my husband and eating delicious meals with my Mom and sister overlooking the sea in Amalfi.
Travel can be an extraordinary, unpredictable experience. It can also be expensive. But what if you didn’t have to pay for a hotel or apartment rental? And you could still stay in a gorgeous, private space (not a shared bunk-room hostel!), for free? That is the purpose behind HomeExchange.com, a website devoted to connecting home-owning travelers from around the world; and after browsing through some of their listings, I must say I am intrigued:
With over 28,000 listings (the most listings are in the United States, France, Italy, Canada & Australia), there are an enormous range of travel possibilities. Of course, you must agree to participate in a swap (listing your own house or apartment on the site costs about $100 per year), so you would need to be comfortable with the idea of people you’ve never met staying in your home while you’re gone! I think I would give it a shot – the savings alone seems to make it well worth it, and there are some gorgeous properties listed – but I’m not sure how much international interest there would be in my home in Providence, Rhode Island!
What do you think? Would you ever try this? What’s on your list of destinations you would love to visit?
{images: HomeExchange}
Well, it’s just about time for me to sign off for the weekend – I’ll be taking tomorrow off for the Fourth of July holiday, and I am so excited to have a nice, long weekend! I’m planning on staying unplugged as much as possible, and really giving myself a chance to refresh and recharge. I will be going for a picnic in the park, doing a bit of cleaning and organizing around the house, definitely seeing the new Johnny Depp movie, and hopefully watching some fireworks as well :) In the meantime, here are my very favorite images and inspirations from my wanderings this week; enjoy!
1. The stunning Nicota Restaurante in São Paolo, Brazil, featured on Desire To Inspire. This place is so unique and creative, just packed with killer decorating ideas – I wish I could jump on a plane right now to check it out in person!
2. I am dreaming of waking up and seeing these two things together on a breakfast tray: KleinReid bud vase + vintage Jadite shell cup & saucer
3. Danish designer Ornamented Life gives old crockery a glamorous new twist with gold drippings and hand-made floral transfers. Drool.
4. Did you catch Kim’s bedroom redo on Desire To Inspire? She has that cool-boho vibe nailed.
5. Lanlocd jewelry. Waaaaaaay too expensive for moi, but after seeing this in Lucky mag, I can’t get it out of my mind. All of their pieces look like they came from the jewelry box of a warrior goddess.
6. Because I wish I was there: street style in Florence, via The Sartorialist
Have a fantastic weekend, everyone!
{images: linked to individual sources above}
La Bella Lingua: My Love Affair with Italian, the World’s Most Enchanting Language by Dianne Hales is the kind of book you want to savor slowly, like a small piece of fine chocolate melting on your tongue; which is why I am writing this review before I have finished the book. I can’t bear to let it end! Dianne has studied the Italian language, both at home in the San Francisco Bay Area and through countless trips to Italy, for more than 25 years. By digging deeply into the secrets of the language, she has amassed a wealth of knowledge about the Italian people and culture, and her passion is infectious.
The luscious sounds of the Italian language (I couldn’t help but try pronouncing the words aloud as I read) and the stories behind them have me hooked. After the first chapter, I ran right over to my computer to look up Italian classes nearby – no joke! I am one quarter Italian, and I have traveled to Italy twice without being able to say more than Ciao and Grazie; it may be about time I learn. Even if you do have experience with Italian, there will doubtless be a few new words and concepts from La Bella Lingua to add to your arsenal. Take, for instance, this tidbit on flirting, Italian style:
“Only Italian distinguishes between a civettino, a precocious boy flattering a pretty woman; a civettone, a boorish lout doing the same; a civettina, an innocent coquette; and a civettuola, a brazen hussy. A giovanotto di prima barba (a boy who starts flirting even before growing a beard) may turn out to be a damerino (dandy), a zerbino (doormat), a zerbinetto (lady-killer), or a zerbinotto (a fop too old for such foolishness). If he becomes a cicisbeo, he joins the long line of Italian men who flagrantly courted married women. I’ve met every one of these varieties over the years.”
In Dianne’s expert hands a grammar lesson becomes an ambrosial experience, and by drawing on the riches of Italian art, history, cooking, literature, film, customs and romance (as well as countless anecdotes from her travels and research), Hales tempts us to fall as madly and deeply in love with Italian as she has.
But what delights me most of all is the sense that Dianne is a woman following her dreams, and that is always a beautiful thing to behold. I will leave you with one last quote, this time from the introduction:
“Somewhere en route to fluency, I turned into Diana, pronounced Dee-anh-aah, and entered a parallel universe where I wear my heels higher and my necklines lower, dance barefoot under the Tuscan moon, and swim in island coves so blue that the Italians say the color twice: azzurro-azzurro.”
You can read an excerpt of La Bella Lingua in this guest post by Dianne Hales on Bleeding Espresso. For more information about Dianne and her work, please visit her website or her fabulous blog.
{images: Dianne Hales}
Why let being on a budget cramp your style? Ace Hotel, which started in Seattle and has expanded to include Portland, Palm Springs and NYC, offers a lively alternative to the typical budget chain – with turntables and vintage records in the rooms, indie artwork adorning the walls, and industrial-chic fittings, it makes me want to plan a cross-country road trip just so I can hit each one!
I love the laid-back bohemian vibe of the Palm Springs location (pictured above and below), where you can have a massage in a yurt, lounge in a hammock, or slurp a “booze sno cone” by the saline pool and hot tub. Some of the pricier rooms include private patios and outdoor fireplaces, but a simple king room is just $99 bucks – or $89 on a weeknight.
Ace Hotel Palm Springs
I am crazy about the idea of chic-and-cheap hotels, and I would love to see more open up around the country. As far as I can tell, there is no reason this couldn’t become a growing trend – there are so many talented, creative people out there doing amazing things on tight budgets, why not? Imagine being able to drive cross-country and stay each night in a completely unique little hotel with a real sense of place – I mean, how cool would that be?
Ace Hotel Portland
The thing that excites me the most about Ace Hotel is the sense of place. Just look at the photos of Ace Hotel Portland (above): everything from the local art and eclectic furniture to the concert posters in the bathroom supports the handmade-indie-rock vibe that Portland is known for. If I am going to the trouble of visiting a place, I want to feel that I’ve really been there – and it’s hard for that to happen in a cookie-cutter hotel room that looks identical to five million others around the world, know what I mean? Whenever I do make it to Portland to visit the family and friends I have out there, Ace Hotel will be right at the top of my list. Well, that is, if there’s no room for me on the couch :)
Ace Hotel Website
{images: Ace Hotel}
