Postcard Venice

I'm back!

Sometimes I am at the mercy of late nights, early mornings, or a too busy schedule. These past two weeks,  I've been at the mercy of ROTTEN EUROPEAN WIFI!

I don't mean to complain, I AM the luckiest traveler alive :). But, I've found it nearly impossible to get work done while in Italy and beyond!

Finally, at almost 3am, I am posting again! Phew. Come inside my trip to Venice....




Every summer 5 of my girlfriends and I trek to Italy for a few days of fun without the distractions of husbands, children, work, and the business of everyday life.

Our tradition started in Florence four years ago, and we've since been to Positano, Capri, Rome and this year, Venice.

Venezia

I love this weekend so much; nothing feeds my soul like spending three nights together giggling, gossiping, eating pizza, sipping chianti and tottering on our heels over cobblestone streets.

My travel companions would insist on photo approval, but I'm sneaking in a shot or two of my amigas as well as some typical, strange, or beautiful sights from our time together in Venezia.

...2 of 6 (me and....)

This year we stayed at one of the most beautiful hotels in the world, the Hotel Cipriani

Right on the water and a short water taxi away from the city center. 

The adorable concierges who made us smile every morning. Wouldn't you?!

The view from my bedroom window...

The ONLY Hotel with a pool in Venice. And, what a pool!

Ready for dinner...3 of 6 (me and....)

Of course the hotel food was amazing....but two of our favorite meals were:

Harry's Bar

My mother used to buy this pasta and have it shipped home! 

And, Da Ivo...

 Our favorite restaurant in Venice. Zuchini flowers, homemade pasta, and the best steak filet in Italy!

I'm not giving anyone away, am I? 4 of 6 (...and....)

Besides enjoying the absolute best restaurants in each city, we always make at least one cultural outing. This time we enjoyed a private tour of the recently opened Prada Museum. 

The exterior of the Fondazione Prada.

Lucky for us all, Miucca Prada, the legendary clothing designer,  has taken her personal art collection and made it public. She exhibits works from Anish Kapoor, and Damien Hirst to Jeff Koons in this 17th Century Villa.

Catalogue

How about the art on the street?   This beautiful mosaic is actually...

An exhibition on the street...

Made from painted, wooden eggs!

My kids love the Simpsons (no parent judgement, please)...Thought this might be too racy for them.

After art comes more eating....

Impossible to not indulge in all of Italy's offerings....

We always indulge in a little shopping.

Walking by the Chanel store late one night...

Is that an IPAD cover I see? Ohh, I want!

Beautiful Venetian Glass...How about a table full of these? 

Anyone wanna buy a cat puppet?

Somebody please throw a masquerade ball!!! How beautiful?!

Lucky underwear...Really?!

I stumbled upon a designer I never knew, Ermanno Scervino.

Feminine, simple, and easy to wear...




Arrivederci, Venezia!

Next post on Capri...

Sneak Peek, Paris

For the past 48 hours I’ve been on “Toe-Rest" (who knew a pinkie toe could be so ouchy?), held captive in the one place in the world I don’t mind being under Medical House Arrest, Avenue Mozart.

I thought I’d share with you my favorite little bits and bobs in my Paris apartment, the little treasures that keep me happy and homey away from home, especially when I'm stuck inside and the most beautiful city in the world lies outside...

Balls of roses in a bowl in my entry.

My brother gave me this painting in the late '80's when he started collecting
South American Art.
It now hangs in my living room.
  

Cinderella's Slipper.

A crystal tree for good energy.

One of my most prized possessions, a painting of my fathers'. It is so precious & beautiful, I wish I had more of his art. 

A gift for my daughter from our friend Scott D. on the occasion of her first trip to Paris,
at 3 months old!

Speaking of...My daughter is slowly converting her room into a groovy "tween-den", pink shag rug and all!

I found these prints at a beach shop in the South of France nestled under a pile of pareos and hats. I'm certain the owner never thought they'd sell. I love their simplicity.

Interior French doors, a modern statue and lots of light...

Surrounded by those I love.

Candy anyone?

A warm and inviting hallway (you should have seen it before the renovation!). 

An American Kitchen in Paris! You should have seen this before the renovation!

Melvin Sokolsky "bubble series", first published in Harpers Bazaar, 
hangs in my dining room.

More Melvin...fashion + art = happy!

Just a pretty powder room. 

I can look out my window and decide whether to take a cab or the metro....C'est facile!!

My son keeps his father's first teddy bear from his childhood.
Poor bear has a really big forehead!

Do it yourself art: pick a poem, print it out, frame it in sections and hang together. Voila...
Can you name the Poet?

Adding new art,  a bowl from my recent trip to Senegal. The women used the beads to make a musical beat by spinning and catching the bowl in their hands.

I can never get over the view from my bed!
Simply heaven. 

  
Time to squeeze the little toe that went wee wee wee all the way home into Valentino Gladiators for a night out.
Thanks for dropping by.

XO

It's in the bag

Here’s the deal, it get’s messy before it get’s neat.

Packing for a 7 week trip is a challenge! I need utilitarian clothes for my trip to Africa, city-chic threads for Paris, the right clothes for my annual girls trip to Italy, and resort-wear for Greece.

The task made more difficult by my exacting need to keep it all in one manageable rolling bag (I’ve schlepped heavy, burdensome suitcases far too many times). 

Loire Valley biking trip, we were only 3 people for 6 days - I learned my lesson! 

I usually manage one carry on, but 7 weeks and 7 cities with different needs made it impossible. I kept to one LL Bean rolling duffle bag for each of us and one small carry on. 

My method:

I grab my stack of polaroids and sift through what I think I might want to wear.

I eliminate anything requiring special shoes. I limit myself to two pair of heels, 2-3 sandals, and 2 flats. This trip needed sneakers too. 

I hang all my clothes on a rolling rack and divide each leg of my trip with tags.

Before the edit.

Then, the secret to making it all fit in the suitcase is laying each item long and flat. DON’T ROLL your clothes – that’s a space-saving MYTH!

Shoes go on the bottom (in shoe bags), toiletries and small accessories go in last, on the top.

All of my toiletries, makeup and medicines go in zip lock bags.

I keep toiletries in a bag ready to grab and go. 

I always carry a Longchamp pliage bag for purchases along the way or to send back clothes I won't use anymore; I've already sent back most of the clothes I wore in Senegal already. Wish I had those sneakers now that I BROKE MY TOE!!! 

Will I ever get to wear those heels I brought? 

Here's a question for you...What is the one item you don't leave home without? 

XO