Italianspiration: One Week

One week from today, we will be on a plane to Italy. I have to admit, it's turning out to be both the best and the worst timing possible. It's been an insane couple weeks for both J and I. (My clip folder—thankfully—attests to many of the recent late nights spent reporting.) And J is in the middle of some big changes on his current project. The time away and alone will be good for us, even better and more necessary than we'd imagined when we originally booked the trip. However, it also comes in the middle of big projects and deadlines for both of us, so leaving is a little scary. But we're going. Period. So I am praying we get everything done in the meantime and are able to focus on our trip and each other when we're there. I cannot wait for next week!

Italianspiration: Travel Organizers

It's Monday, which means I am already thinking of next weekend and my next adventures. My thoughts are also turning towards our upcoming Italy trip in September. In the midst of figuring out where to go, what to wear, and what to pack, I've been pondering ways to streamline the process. We are attempting to share a suitcase or just bring two small roll-a-boards that we can easily schlep onto the train. But one thing we've also discussed is whether to bring a laptop, iPad, Kindle, or any of the other devices that seem to power our lives (and weigh down my purse!)

Last week, I was thrilled by this innovative Vintage Book Travel-Tech Organizer by Design*Sponge's talented diy-er Kate Pruitt.

(Photo by Kate Pruitt for Design*Sponge)

Closet Craving: Briefcases

(Photo via NYTimes)

I confess, this T Magazine piece gave me a serious case of briefcase envy. In a city of schlepping as much as possible in a shapeless, massive tote bag, these sturdy, well-defined cases would be refreshing. We used to go to the Hartmann outlet every few years and buy an attaché case for my father. I remember the smell of new leather and the feeling that very, very important documents went inside that case—that's why it had a combination lock, right? I rounded up some favorites and these are all super-duper expensive, but it gives me some inspiration to look for one at a thrift store.

My roundup of attaché cases on Polyvore:

Berluti Le Laureat Briefcase, $3,090

Slim Attache with Fan File
Brooks Brothers | Alligator Billfold Briefcase, $6,500 
Saddler's Union Double Gusset Briefcase at Barneys New York, $2,225

Italianspiration: Postcards from Verona

Today is one of those days, so in my mind, I am in Italy. I'm exploring the streets of Verona, learning all about the arena and the various squares, churches, bridges, etc. The Library of Congress has archived thousands of images on Flickr, and I found this collection of postcards from Verona, between 1890-1900.

Piazza delle Erbe (the Square of Herbs) where the market is held and the chariots used to race

Hudson Anniversary Weekend

This weekend was our first anniversary. To celebrate, Justin and I wanted a relaxing getaway and a chance to be in nature for a while. Lots of time to talk, to rest, to just be together and not feel the pressure to be doing all the time. We're going to Italy as our "big trip" so we wanted a simple, quiet weekend together.

We drove up from New York Friday night, slightly paranoid about driving on the spare tire and starving, since neither of us had eaten dinner. The Wendy’s in Kingston tasted like gourmet goodness at 9 pm. But we were welcomed into the Renwick Clifton by Eric, one of our hosts. He showed us around the house and made us feel immediately comfortable. Then, we walked into our room and I saw the most beautiful, lush bouquet of lilies and roses. Justin had managed to track down a local florist. They made the whole room smell heavenly!

It's Mapnificent

Mapnificent may be the coolest website I've come across in a while. For selected cities, it allows you to see how far you can get on public transportation from a specific address. You can adjust the time. The image above is the default in Dallas with a radius of 30 minutes. Of course, the site has disclaimers that there are no warranties—so don't be upset if it takes longer to get someplace in your area! But it's a great tool when looking at places to live and to explore. Although it's still in Beta version, Mapnificent has cities around the world and is adding more frequently. If nothing else, it's an amusing time-waster. Enjoy!

Italianspiration

We just booked our flights and hotels this week, so Justin and I are for sure going to Italy in September. The trip technically celebrates our anniversary and my birthday that week. I'm sure I'll be posting in the coming weeks as I do more research, but to start, I looked at my own pictures from 2006. I've been to Venice a couple times with family and friends, but each time was in late fall or winter. I'm excited to be there when the weather is lovely!

But going through my old shots, I'm impressed at how vibrant and stately the city looks, even during a dismal season. This one is my all-time favorite picture I took in Venice. I think it's the combination of blues in the door, the way the water has chipped at the paint and the moss has grown over it. I desperately want to know what's going on inside.

The Great BBC

On our honeymoon, we discovered the BBC—Bailey's Banana Colada. Our resort in Costa Rica had a half-price happy hour each night, so we treated ourselves to several during the trip.

Of course, when you try to re-create fond memories, they never turn out quite as good as you remember. But our homemade BBCs were pretty close. Here is a general recipe, but feel free to tweak as you like. We've also added Malibu or piña colada to the mix. Note that we did bring home a set of bamboo straws which does add a great deal of authenticity. Enjoy!

Ingredients  

2 bananas, broken into chunks 

6 fluid ounces banana liqueur 

6 fluid ounces Irish cream liqueur 

6 fluid ounces coconut cream 

6 cups crushed ice

Directions

In a blender combine the bananas and banana liqueur; blend until smooth. Blend in the Irish cream and coconut cream (Note: Make sure the coconut cream is at room temperature, or you will not be able to pour it). Finally, add the ice and blend until smooth. 

Wedding: Katherine and Michael's Charming Tennessee Farm

This weekend, my friends Katherine and Michael got married in Franklin, Tenn. The outdoor ceremony and reception were beautiful and charming, filled with handmade details, cheerful wildflowers and Southern warmth. The farm is owned by the sweetest local couple who served as "hosts" for the evening, handling many details, but Katherine did all the planning and design. The centerpieces were wildflowers in Mason jars; the Southern food was hearty and the sweet tea cool. Several of the tables also had white butcher paper and a jar of crayons to keep the children amused. They offered flip-flops for guests so their high heels wouldn't sink into the grass. The views from the farm were stunning, and the entire evening felt personal and welcoming, like we were invited into their place and their story.

Check out the photos after the jump!

Destination: Franklin, Tennessee

Located only 20 miles south of Nashville, Franklin sits among lush, rolling hills of central Tennessee. Because of it's proximity, the city is home to many writers, performers and other people who work in music industry. Notable residents include Steven Curtis Chapman, Ashley Judd, Miley Cyrus, Haley Williams and TobyMac.

Easter in Texas

This Easter weekend, I met my family down in Fort Worth, Texas. The above images are the Water Gardens in Downtown Ft. Worth. They've been closed for several years and recently reopened. When my parents were in grad school, they used to take me down here to play. I remember hopping from one block the another, trying to avoid falling in the water. Today, I watched my little sisters and their friends do exactly the same thing.

Next, we headed to the Stockyards for lunch at Riscky's BBQ. We were just in time for the afternoon cattle drive down Exchange Avenue.

Roosevelt Island

This morning, J and I went to Roosevelt Island to check out the Riverwalk Court apartments. 

They were, in a word, glorious. Or sunny. Floor-to-ceiling windows, facing either Manhattan or Queens, and right by the river. This is the view from my favorite, looking towards Queens. The summer sunlight just flooded the place, and it's still fresh-paint white and untarnished. We're not in a place to buy or even rent (and we're not engaged or anything!) but it's fun to come get ideas and dream a little.

We've been obsessed with Roosevelt Island for awhile now. The island is a secret gem between the Upper East Side and Queens, with amazing views and lots of green space. The rents are relatively inexpensive, and residents get to be right up close to the water. Even Riverside Drive apartments don't get that close because of Riverside Park and the West Side Highway. There aren't a lot of amenities on the island—one dry cleaners, two grocery stores, etc. But there are several parks, a community garden, jogging paths all the way around, and two hospitals.