Thursday, June 30, 2011

An Outdoor Oasis

Looking for a relaxing, chic, outdoor setting to retreat to during these summer months? Anthropologie has some amazing outdoor furniture. I put together some of their pieces and created an eclectic, laid-back outdoor setting that is perfect for relaxing or entertaining!

*Images via anthropologie.com

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Summer Vibe

Free People is one of my top five favorite stores and I think they are exactly what I like to see for summer time. Their laid back, relaxed, hippie-chic, vibe is so groovy and i'm totally digging it for summer. Their tribal prints, light knits, and flirty fabrics complement the excitement and adventure of summer time perfectly.














*Images via freepeople.com

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Julia Morgan's Redwood Grove Manor

Julia Morgan was an architect who designed hundreds of buildings in California during her career. She is famous for her work on the Hearst Castle. In 1926, she designed this gorgeous estate along the Eel River in California. It has been restored over a four-year period and is for sale now for $8.75 million dollars! It is an absolutely gorgeous piece of property and I love how they restored this aged manor. It is the perfect balance of old and  new. The foyer is pristine, open, light, and inviting. The house is relaxed and laid back and I absolutely love it.









*Images via aol.com


Friday, June 24, 2011

Natural Beauty

Ciao everyone! I am nearing the end of my Italian adventure, it has been an absolutely amazing trip. Here are some pictures of our day at Giglio Cooking School in Florence, Cinque Terre, Portofino, and the winery. Portofino was the most beautiful place I have ever seen. The warm colors, cool breeze, impeccably dressed inhabitants, and flowing waters make Portofino my favorite place. Sadly, I am leaving on Sunday to journey back to America. I will miss my beautiful Italy, my favorite place on this earth. I am excited to get back to the rhythm of things and have time to blog everyday!

xoxo - Alex


















*Images via me

Saturday, June 11, 2011

The Weekend!

Hi everyone!!

Ciao from Firenze! 

My cousin and I have been enjoying Italy so much!! The one part that is bad is all of the rain! It rained the entire first week we have been here, which makes it difficult to walk the thirty minutes to class every morning in the rain, but the beauty of Florence makes it all worth it and now there are sunny skies! We wake up every morning and go around the corner to our favorite bakery and get a delectable pastry, breakfast sandwhich, and a cappuccino, couldn't be any better! We then walk 20 minutes on the ancient cobblestones, past the towering and historic Duomo, and down the street to our school which is absolutely gorgeous. It has black and white checkered and weathered floors with large windows and is filled with light. It is a gorgeous place to learn italian! We then go and get lost trying to find delicious restaurants on small secluded ally ways. My diet consists of pasta, pizza, cappuccinos, pastries, and gelato!! Who could go wrong with that? The food is amazing the people are amazing and the beauty is absolutely enthralling. I love every minute. After lunch we walk around the city, taking in all that Florence has to offer. Later we meander back to our apartment, over the river, and into our quiet and quaint neighborhood. We turn the key of the ancient lock, walk up the five flights of stairs, swing open our aged wood door and dance into our beautiful apartment. It is filled with light, flying in from every angle of our huge windows over looking the orange and red rooftops. I love it here, I really do. Now it is the weekend, I wonder what adventures I will stumble upon.


*Images via me

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

La Dolce Vita

I am so in love with Italy. I am completely wrapped up in it's beauty.



















Pictures from Rome and breath taking Sicily!