Christmas In Paris

It started with our 2 day stop in the Cotswolds- you might remember we were winging it and deciding where we wanted to stay each day. And we did fine until the last day we were there and we couldn’t find a hotel and our taxi driver was laughing that we decided to wing it on a bank holiday weekend. He was so great to help us find something- thankfully- but thus the European comedy of errors began.

Christmas in Paris

Between leftover travel restrictions, overbooked everything and stock supply issues- making a Christmas shoot happen in Paris during the summer of 2022 had more than a few hiccups. It was a team effort making this shoot happen for sure! Thank goodness for Balsam Hill and Balsam Hill France and all of their help. They jumped in to make a twinkling tree in Paris in August happen -they had a full size tree, small tree and foliage in stock we could use and they were amazing and sent them to the Paris apartment for the shoot. The apartment was with Paris Perfect- a beautiful backdrop for us to work in with the most perfect views. Beyond thankful for both of these partners and their help making this happen.

While in the apartment -I was planning on shooting for the Christmas book, another print project, working on social media videos and photos (which need to be different from book work) and also trying to squeeze in a bit of vacation- all over just about 3 days. And it was HOT in Paris at that time so I am certain that neighbors thought we were a tad nuts shooting Christmas trees in shorts in 90 degree weather haha.

The apt had guests in it until the day we arrived and so, we were unable to have anything shipped directly there but there was a market a block from the apartment that accepted packages which was perfect. Nothing was due to arrive the first day we were in the apartment- so we were settling in and wandered over to pick up supplies for the shoot and I worked on another photo styling that evening.

When we got a notification the boxes were here – we went to the market to grab them and that was when the hiccups started. After a lot of back and forth and searching, they discovered due to some kind of a restriction – they had been delivered to a pick up ‘mailbox’ type place a few miles away and they were unable to deliver. So I punched in the address to map us and we walked to the pick up location. When we got there, I had just 3% battery on my phone. We waited in line to get the boxes – and right when we just got up to the service desk, my phone died. I explained the packages, my name etc. but the man explained unless I had the bar code from the email (which was on my dead phone) I could not pick up the packages. No exceptions. My husband was about ready to take me out at that point since we had a short time before the mailbox store closed, no phone, no barcode & no way to pick up packages.

We walked outside and started looking around the street and it was almost like a beaming light shining across the street and 1 block down. There was a cell phone repair shop- thank goodness! We were able to get a fast charger, go back to the mailbox shop and plug in and charge for a few minutes- enough to get the barcode and get our packages before they closed the doors. We had a good laugh with the mailbox guy after all that haha.

Then it was on to find a taxi that was large enough to find big boxes in it in a city where small taxi’s are king. We called Paris Perfect and they recommend a larger taxi service they use and the taxi came about an hour later and shuffled us and our boxes back to the apartment. We got right to work decorating to try to be able to photograph the tree during evening light.

After we set up in the living room -my camera would not turn on even though I had charged the battery all night. Both the batteries I brought would not charge on the new international charger I brought with me. So I used my iPhone in Raw to photograph the living tree and then several more trips walking to stores and helpful folks later- they figured out the issue, we bought another new charger and then I moved the tree to the dining room. I filled the tree with the fresh flowers we had used for other photoshoots. It was an unplanned shoot and I absolutely loved how it turned out. We then moved the large tree up to the patio that afternoon to try to capture the Eiffel Tower with the tree at night.

Pure Magic!

As you can see, Murphys Law was in full force that trip it seems haha! And did I mention that about a week before we left for Europe I had pulled my calf muscle and was able to barely walk a short time & only in heels by the time we got on the plane? I wore heeled boots the whole time we were there just to even be able to walk. A trip filled with a few glitches- but it was honestly so amazing and so many memories were made. I loved every crazy minute!

And you know, I am an emotional kind of girl and I will admit- I was a bit teary that trip. All the crazy aside- it truly was a pinch me moment when I stopped for a second and just soaked it up -it was BEYOND. In my wildest dreams I don’t know that I ever imagined I would be traveling to Paris to style and shoot photos for a book that I was writing. There are several big dreams come true all in that moment!

Living Room Tree

Decorated with the ribbons, ornaments and citrus slices and candles we brought.

The Secrets Here? We bought brown paper and wrapped various small things we found around the apartment to be gifts. Books, dishes, tissue paper boxes, etc. We then placed them on the toile bedspread from one of the guest beds that was used as the tree skirt.

Dining Room Tree

We moved the tree to the dining room for a photo by the window with the buildings in the background.

The Secrets: We had to wait for the right sunlight to get this photo- the light in Paris is incredible and it bounced off the buildings in this room which made it feel like sunshine filled light all day long. The tree skirt is a lovely throw from the sofa. The flowers are all fresh from the flower markets there and were used for another photoshoot. This tree was a last minute addition to our shoot schedule- originally not planned but I was inspired and decided to start decorating it while my husband was off on an errand. As you can see, the same ornaments and ribbons- but with the flowers, the tree looks a little different.

Eiffel Tower Tree

A tree on the patio with the Eiffel Tower and Paris architecture as the backdrop- perfection.

The Secrets: It was pretty windy the day we had this tree set up. I scrambled to get the tree moved through the small doors to the patio and then get some simple decor on it quickly. I left it with just a few baubles and ribbons and candlesticks and a faux fur throw underneath and started shooting just before the sunset was glowing. I had about 10 minutes to capture all the photos and videos I wanted before the purple pink glow disappeared. These photos were actually taken with my iPhone rather than my DSLR. My iPhone shooting photos in Raw was king on this trip for the photos!

Beyond amazing – this was a big magic filled moment for sure.

So there you have a bit behind this Christmas photoshoot in Paris. I hope you have enjoyed hearing a little bit about what goes on behind the scenes. You can see more of this shoot in my Christmas Book HERE.

See more of the Cotswolds HERE

And our stay in this beautiful Paris Apartment HERE

I am slowing a bit the next few days to simmer and soak up all the Christmas magic of the season. I will pop on and share a bit more before taking a break and then will see you after Christmas for NYE inspiration and a look back at the year that was along with dreams for 2024.

Happy Friday All.

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This week, the weekend view is looking a lot like Tennessee travels & Thanksgiving fun.

Tennessee Travels

Oh it was so much fun being in Tennessee for a few days! We traveled over to Leipers Fork for a book signing with our friends Brooke & Steve Giannetti. They have a shop called Patina Home & Garden there and are currently settling in and growing their new patina dream- Patina Meadow.

It was so much fun to meet so many of you there! Thank you for coming out and saying hello and buying books- what a joy filled day it was visiting with you!

After the signing, my husband and I hopped into our rental car and drove the roads on over to The Great Smoky Mountains. We explored the park for a couple of days – and thank you for the suggestion to go to Cades Cove- we Loved it!

I am a big fan of the Tennessee countryside and the park and meadows and mountains did not disappoint! We made our way back to the airport and headed home full of beautiful inspiration.

Thanksgiving fun

We went to my moms house for Thanksgiving this year- the babies had a great time playing and exploring a new place. With one brother traveling for his honeymoon and the other brother and his family staying home for the holiday- the house was a lot more quiet but it was lovely to enjoy a little slower paced day. Doesn’t my mom Gigi or great-grandma look so cute holding Jionni?

Favorite Things

Today is all about Christmas fun over here- though I am arguing with my sinuses big time. I am allergic to cedar and last week, had to have a couple of my favorite line of cedar trees cut down and the cedar dust, pollens and molds from the trees landing on the ground are a bit out of control. The long line of trees in the middle of our property has always been a favorite thing of mine. Unfortunately, many of those 150′ tall trees are no longer safe after they were damaged from that crazy storm in March. There are a couple more that will need to be cut before stormy season and likely in the next couple of years, all of the trees in the line will be cut unfortunately.

Linens & Books

Thank you so much for all your orders! We are almost sold out of several of the tablecloths and slipcovers already- and the books and totes gift sets are moving along too. If you are looking for any slipcovers, table linens or signed book gifts- go grab them before they are gone.

I’ll have a post up soon with a few favorites and also a whole lot of decking the halls posts are coming your way. Happy weekend everyone.

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Round Top Antiques

Once again, I will keep the chatter to a minimum because the treasures speak for themselves and there are a ton of them.

We hit the road in Texas and actually explored a bit into some other areas and took some back roads to see some of the countryside outside of Round Top- but the majority of the shopping time was right there in the famous shops and stands selling all the beautiful things.

While I loved the bigger more curated and refined shops- I have to admit, there is something about walking in boots in dusty fields and shopping the pop ups that really speaks to my treasure hunt loving heart. So if you are going- don’t overlook those ‘flea market’ looking booths -I saw a ton of beautiful things there too.

Shopping Treasures

I don’t think anyone could say there are not enough treasures at the Antique market in Round Top… here are a few pieces and vignettes that caught my eye. What is speaking to you? I know, I know… Everything. Me too.

Some treasures were priced super well- others were definitely more antique store pricing. Like this mirror that is a whole lot like the one I scored on marketplace- the price tag was almost $6k.

We shopped some of the big buildings for inspiration and some of the smaller pop ups and both were beautiful. I love the quirks that you find among the treasures- like all the halloween stuff that my daughter loves

and things like Elvis driving a car and Bigfoot shopping the market too.

There are some reproductions or mass produced pieces mixed and mingled- so if you are a true antique lover- just keep an eye out for those and keep shopping if they aren’t your thing.

I loved seeing all the creative merchandising displays- my house never looks quite that enchanting when I display something but I got a few ideas that I am thinking of trying and will share here soon.

And back to that first photo I shared above- talk about a show stopper!! That antique cabinet/cupboard/wholly guacamole piece was STUNNING. It was I don’t even know how long but I had to stand way back and put my phone lens on wide to capture it all. The size was perfect for a castle and the price was also one fit for a castle too- over $80K. Seriously BEYOND beautiful.

I hope you enjoyed a peek at what shopping Round Top, Texas looks like. Cannot wait to get back again soon!

Happy Monday everyone!

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Junk Gypsy Magic

There is just something about the Junk Gypsy’s and the charm and magic they bring to everything they touch. I have long been a fan of Amie and Jolie and all they do. Two amazing gals who forge their own paths and follow their hearts and along the way have created a whole incredible charmed lifestyle.

I had been thinking about where I wanted to do book signings for my Christmas book for awhile and when I think about Round Top- I think of the Junk Gypsy’s. They are Amazing and are so inspiring in so many ways.

A plan came together for a signing with them at an event they were doing with the Country Living Editors, fellow author Max Humphrey and HGTV star Brian Patrick Flynn.

I met so many of you who came by – it was so much fun! I really enjoyed visiting everyone and getting to know Brian, Max and the Country Living editors Rachel and Jen and the other vendors who were at the event too. And of course, Amie and Jolie are even more fun and sweet than I knew they would be-their talent, personalities and smiles are as big as Texas.

Haunted Prom

On my wish list for Round Top was joining them for their Junk Gypsy Prom. I had planned to pack a full witch costume- but with my go to 2 pairs of boots and all the things I *might* need space was running low in my suitcase so I wore a flowy black dress and rhinestone cowboy boots.

There was live music, lots of spooky decor and a whole lot of fun going on all evening long. If you have ever thought about going to their prom event- you can bet you would enjoy it! I got mostly videos while there so if you want to see more- you can find those on instagram.

Inside the shop- lots of inspiration and treasures in every nook and cranny. We couldn’t resist picking up a few Christmas gifts while we were shopping.

Wander Inn

We stayed with the girls at their Wander Inn. Talk about a beautiful place to soak up some Texas countryside views- we sat on the porch in the rocking chairs every morning and evening. They have several spots to stay with them at their inn- we stayed in the Crown House.

The room overlooked a beautiful field and my husband enjoyed a dip in their cowboy pool to escape the heat and humidity.

When we weren’t shopping, we spent some time gathering up some chi while watching the longhorn cattle graze and the storms roll in- and the sunrise and sunset were vibrant and magical each day.

A place that is full of magic and it was so fun to get away for a wonderful couple of days working and playing. If you are planning on going- wandering and shopping at the Junk Gypsy’s is a must stop and a must stay. You can read more about both HERE and so bummed I am that I didn’t grab a photo with them and the other authors at the signing.

You can shop the books & boots below- and stay tuned for treasures from day 2 of shopping coming your way. Happy Friday everyone!

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Round Top Antiques

You know, I feel like it is a tad depressing to shop so many beautiful treasures knowing that you can only bring the smallest of them back on the plane with you. I will say we seriously considered canceling our flights back and renting a truck to fill up with all the things. We ultimately decided to plan for bringing or sending treasures back next trip and just gathering up inspiration this time around.

We were in Round Top for a book signing at the Junk Gypsys- and oh my goodness what fun Amie & Jolie are! They are as sweet and fun in person as I imagined them to be and I absolutely enjoyed spending some time with them at their beautiful store! I cannot wait to come back and visit them again soon and if you are in Round top- I highly recommend a stop and wander at their place. So beautiful! I will share a post about their Prom and the book signing and stay at their beautiful Wander Inn soon. Today is about a few treasures from day 1 of shopping- I am going to keep the chatter to a minimum and mostly share the treasures.

Treasures

Round Top is really a mix of beautiful curated high end antiques and a more flea market kind of vibe. There are buildings and areas that are like antique malls with lots of vendors to shop – and stand alone pop up tents with things that are new and antique right next to each other. I greatly enjoyed perusing the high endand I took a ton of photos of those treasures-but found a lot of inspiration in the independent mix and mingle areas too.

There is so much to find- and so much that you fall in love with.

I mean- look at this gorgeous blanket chest with that lovely patina and detailing. OBSESSED.

There were a lot of big oversized cupboards and armoires- which of course, I loved them all.

Architectural Salvage

I also fell in love with the architectural salvage- Beyond beautiful and the prices were really good on a lot of them.

Mix & Mingle Treasures

These are some favorites from those chandeliers (need them all) to racks full of vintage silver and copper and more. Honestly, there was something to inspire around every corner.

Do you see why I considered renting a big old truck? haha. I have a ton more photos and videos to share- stay tuned for day 2 of shopping and all about the Junk Gypsy’s and Wander Inn that has definitely made me feel like wandering back to stay again soon.

Happy Tuesday everyone!

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Today it is all about the next post in our travel diaries- Paris.

It was such a thrill to be back in Europe and in Paris especially after the past couple of crazy years of no travel. And Paris was just as beautiful as always! This was the first time we have been there in August- we were quite surprised at how very busy it was. Standing room only on trains, full boats and markets, no masks or other restrictions- if you didn’t know that we had all just lived through the crazy that we had with the virus- you would think you stepped right back into before 2020. It was so good to feel like things were as they should be usual again! ( but yes, I used my hand sanitizer often even so haha)

The first night in Paris we arrived late and stayed near Notre Dame and the next morning, explored a bit before heading over to check into our beautiful Parisian home for the week with Paris Perfect.

Paris Apartment

The video above is a walkthrough tour of the apartment- it gives you an idea of just how spacious and beautiful it is. We were in Paris for a couple of special photo shoots and most of the week was full of photoshoot busy and fun. I will share more about our photography project soon but for now- I can share a look at the beautiful apartment we stayed in. And I have to say, all of the terrace views were the most incredible of everything. We stayed in the Margaux apartment with our partner Paris Perfect. You might remember that we stayed with them on our first trip to Paris as well. It was such a lovely stay with them and when we were planning our trip back over- I reached out to ask about a specific request: An apartment with an Eiffel Tower view.

Margaux Apartment

The Margaux apartment has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a den, kitchen, dining and living room and French doors and a terrace in every.room. It is INCREDIBLE folks. We enjoyed breakfast at the bistro table outdoors every morning and relaxed on the patio terrace in the evenings while the Eiffel Tower twinkled away. Beyond beautiful. The weather was actually quite warm when we were there- and it was so lovely to sit and just soak up the morning sun while sipping coffee.

They have everything you need in the apartment- which was perfect. One of our favorite things to do while traveling is to cook our own meals and the full sized kitchen was wonderful for that. This apartment is also a large one- about 1500 square feet so it can allow a couple of families to stay together as well since there are several rooms and pull out beds.

In between setting up for photos- we wandered Paris to find supplies we needed like fresh flowers, pastries, etc. And there were also some of the items that were shipped to Paris for a Christmas shoot we were doing with Balsam Hill. Balsam Hill sent the boxes just up the street from where our apartment was which was amazing and Lisa at Paris Perfect was such a help with navigating the oversized boxes that we needed to pick up and bring to the apartment.

Below-my favorite spot! The large terrace – perfect for evenings watching the Eiffel tower and Paris views.

Paris Views

We ran into a few technical glitches while there- my camera batteries would not charge and so we went off on a quest to find a new charger which no one had in stock so they would recommend another shop and so on. It turned into a half day marathon all over Paris while walking in boots. Before you yell at me about the boots- I had pulled on of my calf muscles a few days before leaving for Europe and honestly could barely walk around the house for the first day or two after it twisted. I was concerned about how all the walking in Europe was going to work but could manage to walk easier with my heel elevated- and my boots were the perfect height. So they took me all over England and Paris logging from 5-8 miles a day and allowed my calf to heal at the same time. I will admit- it was like a comedy of errors a couple of the days there- we had to just laugh about some of the crazy glitches. (like the Bank Holiday weekend in England and trying to find a hotel haha)

We can hardly wait to return to Europe again and are planning our next trip soon. Of course, if you are planning a trip to Paris- I highly recommend Paris Perfect. Coming your way next: lots of wandering snaps of doors and architecture to share yet- so stay tuned for those. And if you have any questions about staying with Paris Perfect or traveling to Paris- let me know and I will try to answer them next post!

Happy Tuesday all.

Disclosure: I worked with Paris Perfect but all opinions and love of their apartment is my own.

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Bath England

Remember how I mentioned that it was that bank holiday weekend? It was also a Saturday on the bank holiday weekend and that meant all.the.folks. were out and about and All the folks were for sure out and about in Bath it seemed.

We were surprised at how busy it was but just stepping onto the standing room only train should have told us that we were in for a very busy stop.

Bath & Beauty

No doubt about it- Bath is beautiful. As the train pulls into the station and you can see the building tucked into the greenery- it is breathtaking. The walk up to the main ‘bath’ area was not that far and that was the top of what to see on the list so we wandered in that direction.

We paused here to listen to this musician performing in the square. He played Andrea Bocelli and it was so beautiful- especially surrounded by all the stunning architecture. The ‘Bath’ was just to the side of this.

Bath is more like a thriving modern city but with incredible architecture and buildings. While it is historically old- it looked and felt much more modern and new in places at the same time. I can see why it is a must stop while in the area- it has a huge amount of charm and things to see. I recommend a stop if in the area- just try to avoid a holiday weekend or weekend in general probably so that you can soak up more of what Bath has to offer- without fighting the crowds.

While we were wandering- we bumped into a tag sale so of course, I had to snap a few pretty things that definitely would not fit into my carryon.

We spent just a few hours exploring Bath before hopping to train back to Chippenham and then wandering over to another village before heading to our hotel in the countryside. Which we really didn’t know much about at the time- but was about the last room available on that bank holiday weekend- and so- we grabbed it. It has an interesting story- and a few ghosts we were told. More on that one next travel post.

Have you been to Bath, England before? What did you think of it?

Happy Thursday all.

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Another day another tiny village to explore in the cotswolds. Today it is a quick tour of Lacock, England.

Lacock

Remember when I told you that it was a bank holiday and our taxi driver became like family? We learned about a little village called Lacock while in his taxi. It wasn’t one that was on our radar to visit- and that is probably why it is even more special that we had the chance to tour it.

Like many of the villages in the Cotswolds, Lacock (spoken like Lay-cuhc) has a claim to fame as a popular movie (and others too) was filmed there. Some of the scenes in Harry Potter were filmed in the Lacock Abbey. Who. Knew. I didn’t- but our taxi driver did of course. So we decided that the next day we were going to go exploring in Bath in the morning- and then wander over to Lacock after that. I will share Bath with you in another post – that was a wild visit that day with all the vacationers.

Lacock Village

The minute we drove into Lacock, we instantly were enamored with all the charm and old world character it had. The rock and stone buildings were incredible- and with all the English roses and flowers-this little village absolutely stole my heart.

Lacock is about 3 miles from Chippenham which is where the train from London goes and you can just jump off there and grab a taxi (or car).

When we told our driver we were winging it that day with the hotel stay- he was a bit concerned with the bank holiday and drove us by a friends home that ran a b&b- they too happened to be out for the bank weekend so he rang another friend who worked at a hotel. We realized it was probably going to be hard to find a good place to stay anywhere near Lacock but checked with a couple of hotels on the Main Street. I would have loved to have stayed right in the village and wandered after all the folks and cars were gone to be able to take photos. We ended up staying out in the countryside a bit further in an interesting (and haunted) hotel. Another post for that one haha.

My husband tried their cider ale (it was cider weekend too apparently haha) I ordered a coffee and we sat for a bit and simply soaked up that ambiance.

Wander the circle

Lacock is in a circle basically- so you can start at one end by the Abbey and wander all the way around and back. It seems untouched by all the years and has the same charm and beauty as always.

It felt like we were wandering an old medieval town and every corner was another beautiful little moment. If you are going to the Cotswolds- and are going to be anywhere near Chippenham- I would absolutely put Lacock on your must stop list. You can easily visit both Castle Combe and Lacock in the same day- they don’t take too long to explore.

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There is something about the English countryside. Charming stone houses and thatched roofs. Small winding country roads, country farmhouse kitchens and pubs full of laughter and the most lovely of folks. I mentioned we were off for some travels recently and our first stop was London on the way to the English countryside. Last week, we hopped a plane and landed in England & have been in the English countryside for the past several days exploring. Today I am sharing more about the Cotswolds and village of Castle Combe- and having a few issues getting the video to post so check back for that as well.

The Cotswolds -Castle Combe

Just straight out of a fairytale -the Cotswolds is the most beautiful spot we have been in England. It has been on my list of places to visit and so, since our travel plans had changed this trip and we found ourselves landing in London instead of Paris- we decided it was the perfect time to plug an extra couple days in there.

We landed in London and hopped the train to Chippenham which is at the lower end of the Cotswolds area. We had a few villages on the list to visit- and would have loved to have have visited more. Best laid plans of mice and men- we happened to arrive on a bank holiday weekend. Which meant, transport was chaotic and not running as usual. Next time, we will rent a car or hire a driver to take us around all the places we want to go for the day.

And lots more posts coming- I took a TON of photos. Prepare for English countryside overload!

Countryside Charm

We didn’t stay in Castle Combe- but you could stay in there if you are visiting when there is availability. (avoid bank holidays!) Burton is where we stayed and it is a small town-just a couple of restaurants and not much else. They have a bus but the locals told us it isn’t very reliable and runs on its own schedule. We stayed in a pub -which I didn’t know was a thing. And we enjoyed dinner with the locals at the pub as well as the loveliest of breakfasts with the farm animals at a farm shop across the street. The epitome of slow living folks. Sipping coffee overlooking the countryside with the animals was insanely relaxing and centering. Something I very much needed.

And yes, we have decided Kevin and Clover need some pygmy goat friends like these. lol

Castle Combe

The village of Castle Combe was just 2 miles from where we stayed. You may have heard of it before- or seen it before. It has been in many movies and is said to be the most photographed village in the Cotswolds. It did not disappoint at all.

We started out to walk there- but two issues. The roads are very small with no shoulder or sidewalk. And I had pulled my calf a few days before we left and so was taking it a bit easy (aka limping along) on mileage. So we called our cab friend who dropped us off and he took us over to the village. We wandered the streets and snapped a zillion photos of the details and fell in love. Yes, coffee has been on repeat this trip.

As with most of the very old villages- the houses were built with stone and lots of attention to detail.

Architecturally, Castle Combe has remained unchanged since the 15th century – meaning nothing new has been built, there are not street lights or other modern day things to clutter the calmness and views. We were told that parts of the village date back to the 12th century.

And that charm was around every corner. Every. Corner. I could probably share a hundred photos but I will get into trouble with my tech guy who has to fix the glitches when I overload and might have said I share way too many photos already. But tucking in a few favorites and recap all the do’s and don’ts in a separate post.

It is seriously a dreamy old antique countryside village and I felt like we had stepped back in time. We spent a couple of hours wandering here so you could absolutely fit it in on the list as you traveled from one village to the next in the Cotswolds. Though it is small – it is well worth the stop! We explored some more and will be sharing each village as well as some tips and more details if you are thinking of a trip as well.

And would you believe that this morning- I woke up in Paris? We are in Paris for some work, some exploring – but it is all fun. I packed my big camera for a couple of special photo shoots here this week but I will share a few peeks as I work.

Happy Monday all.

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And while we wait for things to open up and get back to planning our next adventure- we are spending some time dreaming about where we will go, what we will do when able to get back on the road again.

But for now, of course, travel is on hold. And so, the dreaming continues- and today it is all about 24 hours in Rome, Italy.

Last fall we traveled to Europe in October. We were in France for a week where I had some work I was doing there- and after we wrapped up- it was over to Italy for a bit of R&R.

You might not know that we had just finished shooting all the photos for my new book – literally finished a late night location styling and photography the night before we left for Europe.

My husband knew how much I wanted to include a field styling in the book- and we just ran short on time to get it done. So, when we drove to Tahoe to drop Sweet Pea off with my daughter- on the way back we stopped and set up a farm table in a golden field surrounded by mountains. It was one of my favorite shoots actually- the sunset was perfect, the field was beautiful and no one was out wandering on the trails which was perfect.

Rome

I have shared what we were up to on our travels in Capri, Positano and France- and today it is all about a day in Rome. Literally. Just a day. We were there less than 24 hours- but we managed to see quite a bit just by wandering.

We left Positano in the morning and hopped on a train to Rome. It was several hours trip and we have found that we really enjoy the train travels in Europe. It is relaxing (mostly) and you get to see beautiful countryside along the way. When we got to the Rome station- we walked a mile or so to our hotel which was right in the heart of the section of the city where my husband wanted to stay. Have I mentioned before that my husband is half Sicilian? He loves all things Italian and all things full of history- and so-while all things French are my cup of tea- all things history filled like Rome- is his.

We dropped our bags at our hotel and ventured out to do a bit of exploring. Rome was actually not on our original travel agenda and was a last minute stop – we changed from leaving Positano earlier and stayed several extra days there. Rome just happened to be where we could get a flight to Paris easily- and so we decided to stay one night there on the way back. The goal was to see as many of the things within walking distance as we could before our flight back to Paris the next morning.

Where we went

Since we were just a block or so from the Coliseum – we started there. Side note – we did not pay to ‘formally’ tour or go inside anything. These are all just photos we took while wandering.

You can see that it was not too busy – there were tourists but in many of the areas it was not that crowded.

Though that said- the Trevi fountain- was insanely cram packed. I was actually a bit claustrophobic trying to grab a few photos. I am already a big germaphobe and don’t like crowded situations- and I had gotten a cold the week earlier while in Capri and was already sucking on cough drops like they were going out of style- so I was trying to be extra cautious of being exposed to anything else. So, at the fountain- we wandered in- snapped a few photos above all the tourists heads and left pretty quickly.

We wandered to most of the historic spots that were in walking distance- the Roman Forum was quite beautiful and interesting to explore on several side.

Wandering & then stopping to explore is kind of how we do things wherever we are- so basically- that was just what we did. My husband knew what many of the buildings were from history books-and we pretty excited to see them in person.

We did wander off the beaten path a few times and found hidden gems tucked away.

And we continued to explore until evening and the sun was beginning to set.

Random note: The sky and clouds above the architecture kind of reminded of those skies that are painted inside the shopping and casinos in Las Vegas. haha. So, I guess they replicated the look pretty well.

It was such a beautiful evening- and wandering the side streets not far from our hotel was so fun.

We enjoyed a traditional Italian dinner in a restaurant and sat outside to soak up the ambiance and beauty.

And then headed back to our hotel to relax. We did do a little more exploring of some of the areas the next morning before our flight left- and then it was back to Paris for one night before heading home.

Tips

Stay Close –The best tips I have for a quick stop in Rome- is to stay right in the area you are trying to see. It makes it much easier to not have to get a taxi or uber.

Grab the map and wander – most of what we saw was right in that central area- and we didn’t really need the map to figure out where to go- you can kind of get a sense from just walking where the paths and crowds are. But the map does help you plan which direction and how to avoid dead end paths or streets that you think might go through but don’t.

Ask for dinner recommendations. There were a lot of little bistro and deli type restaurants right along the main areas. Usually we like to stay where we can cook our own food- but this was a quick stop and we didn’t want to buy a bunch of fresh produce etc to cook anything when we were leaving the next day. So, a dinner out. Being vegetarian -we asked our hotel concierge for recommendations as to where we would find the best vegetarian options.

I hope this helps inspire a few day dreams about your next travels – I know I am itching like crazy to get back over to Europe- and I have some big ideas and plans I am working on.

Side note: Today is the last day to enter this weeks New Book Celebration Giveaway– a set of 4 Arte Italica Finezza chargers- click on over to enter in this post here.

Happy travel daydreaming all.

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