visions of sugar plums...

I'm a sucker for sweets -- LOVED the delectable delicacies in Italy. I could have taken eaten them and taken pictures of them all day long.

butterfly shell

'Butterfly shell' was taken along the beach in Sicily. My hubby found it and gave it to me - what a sweetheart.

dandy-lion

This picture was taken while camping this summer with friends. I love upclose pictures

...

the red door

The Red Door was taken in one of the most beautiful spots on earth; the Cinque Terre, which is along the Mediterranean coast above Pisa. 'Cinque Terre' literaly means 'five lands' - it's a collection of five small cities clustered on the coastal cliffs that are simply breathtaking. This door belonged to one of the small stores there. I love all the varied, bright colors on the door and the circular decoration in the middle with birds on it. So unique and absolutely gorgeous.

the purple umbrellas

I love this picture. It was taken in the city of Volterra in Tuscany. I requested we go to this city after reading... wait for it... Twilight. It's true, I'm a Twilight fan. The city is a beautiful, walled-medieval city in the heart of Tuscany. Dave and I had quite the adventure getting to and from this city. On a Vespa. In the pouring rain. At least it was beautiful and worth getting drenched.

Thank you to the handsome couple and the woman with the purple umbrellas who made this picture bella.

keds

My favorite pair of shoes for the moment: Keds.

Way more expensive than I remember from when I was little...

{I think that's how life is sometimes,

we grow up and life is becomes more real, and unfortunately more expensive too}.

zuma

My hubby and I spent the weekend in California. This picture was taken at Zuma Beach in Malibu. What a gorgeous day.

roman angels

'Roman Angels' happened when my husband and I were spending two days in Rome after our trip to Italy with our friends in March. We had just come from spending time at the Vatican which, though I'm not Catholic, is a beautiful place. I love the spiraled lamp posts in this picture and St. Peter's basilica in the background. This angel is at the end of the 'walk of angles' across from the Castel Sant'Angelo. Apparently we were 'flaneuring' which means 'a person who walks a city in order to experience it,' which is exactly what we were doing, and hope to do again. Oh I love you Rome.

I love this quote so I googled it and stumbled upon this beautiful creation. I'm not positive about who made it but I found it on http://www.cakmommy1.blogspot.com/ - so kuddos to whomever for making my day :D

on the pier

I took this picture of my friends while lounging on the pier in Cefalu (cheh-fa-loo) in Sicily, soaking up the sun. Closest to the camera is Hayley {lovingly referred to as Hayls, sitting next her is Jessica with her hubby Scooter looking too-cool-for-school in the back}.

sweet citrus

This was taken at a restaurant that we happened upon while driving along the Amalfi coast. There is only one road along the Amalfi coast and unfortunately they decided to do construction in a tunnel right after this restaurant. We got frustrated and had to turn around, luckily this beautiful, seaside, family-run restaurant was right there. They had gorgeous fresh fruit in bowls lying around by jars and jars of olive oil - so Italian and so bella.

barche rossa

'Barche Rossa' is from my trip to Italy in March. It's off the coast of the small seaside town of Monterossa on the Cinque Terre, or 'five cities' in Italy.

I love the vibrant colors in Italy. The Italians are surrounded by the bright yellows and oranges of their citris fruit and the turquoise blues and greens of the ocean. When you're there you just have to soak it up and live the dulce vita.