Road Trip 2014: On the Road Again

We've been on the road for a while now. Last year I had my first taste of Italy and was determined to return, so return we have. Here are a few snapshots from last year:

That's me waving: See you soon!

A Summer Wedding: Pt 3

At the reception flowers bloomed and laughter carried out over the water. The seating chart was a map: find your home and you'd find your table number. Pretty girls wore pretty dresses and boys wore boutonnieres. The wedding cake was made of donuts, because why not? Lights twinkled, the music played, and we all danced long into the summer night. Everybody agreed it was worth the trip.

See Part 1 and Part 2.

Kitsch Kitchen in Amsterdam

I had heard the rumors, seen the blog posts, scoured the website, but really nothing prepares you for the visual onslaught that is Kitsch Kitchen in the Jordaan neighborhood of Amsterdam. Pretty much everything I loved about this shop, my husband hated. Shocker. But we did find a few things we both liked. In any case, LOTS to see here! Most of it reminded me of stuff I used to see in Mexican border towns, but there were definitely more than a few other influences at work. Check it out:

Such a fun stop! I basically wanted one of everything you see, but there's just no way to justify the purchase of so much *stuff*, so I took pictures instead! Still, a part of me regrets not grabbing some of that black and white oilcloth -so many fun projects could be made with that, right?

I highly recommend stopping by Kitsch Kitchen if you ever head to Amsterdam. And if Amsterdam's not on your upcoming agenda, check out their website (with online shopping)!

A Summer Wedding: Pt 2

An elegant white dress and a big smile can make any bride lovely, and a smashing belt can spin some magic, but true beauty really does come from the heart. It shines through a smile, making skin glow and eyes sparkle. Even the most bashful of grooms can't hide an open heart on his wedding day -and it's a good thing, too!

See Part 1; stay tuned for Part 3!

Cats & Coffee in Amsterdam

This past spring we camped out at a cafe in Amsterdam for a while and were greeted by this fellow. He was the friendliest of cats, purring and cuddly,  and looking to make a friend or two. The sunny window seat had beckoned to us both, so he hopped up next to me and settled in for a while.

Eventually he decided to take a snooze, and all our drink-fidgeting sent him in search of a quieter corner. It looks like he settled in just fine. There's something about that, right? Something simple and easy: Let's be friends, but I'll give you space when you need it. I think there's a lesson in that.

Here's to travels and cafes, cats and friendships.

A Summer Wedding: Pt. 1

Earlier this year an invitation arrived in the mail. It wasn't for just anybody's wedding, it for was for an extra special wedding, the kind you simply can't miss, no matter what corner of the globe you call home. And so people came...from everywhere.

The important part was the being there, so things were kept simple. A little white wooden church by the sea, summer blooms, friends pitching in to decorate, and just enough sparkle to set the day apart.

Stay tuned for Part 2!

Waving Your Flag

Little people and little flags. I had a fun time visiting these two in the USA over July 4, the same day that Germany played an important World Cup game. There were two flags to wave and lots of reasons to cheer!