All posts filed under: anniversary gift ideas

day 6 – a day in camogli, italy

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Genoa is a good base if you want to explore the Italian Riviera. (In my opinion anyway). So, I included the destination on this year’s trip to Europe to do just that. After a stormy day in Lake Como, (a day trip from Genoa) we loaded up on esspresso and pastries and got on an intercity train for a half hour journey to Camogli from Genoa. A fishing village I haven’t been to for over 15 years. The easy going small town, adorned with charming pastel colored buildings, put me at ease right away and I had a difficult time leaving the place to catch the last train back to Genoa for the night. I can see myself spending at least a week, if not more there, simply existing, eating focaccia, plenty of fresh seafood and rum balls, in between napping and oh yeah simply existing. 🙂

day 1 – florence by nightfall

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We arrived in Florence at a little passed four in the afternoon on Sunday, to the city winding down from the weekend. After checking into our hotel, we decided to walk from our place of stay near the Santa Maria Novella train station to Ponte Vecchio, just so we could tire ourselves enough to fall asleep. We wanted to get adjusted to the time difference as quickly as possible. It was clear, the tourist season was beginning to wind down. The stores were closed, the tourists too few, hardly any students left in sight and the locals mostly ‘adorned’ the streets, while taking their usual Sunday afternoon stroll with their families. Everyone was either eating a gelato or standing in line to order one at a number of gelato shops along the way. As I leaned to look over the ledge at the quant restaurant tucked on a man made grassy patch alongside the Arno river, I heard music echoing from the famous bridge not too far away. After bearing witness to a surprise birthday …

boutique hotel pick – raphael roma – italy

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There is always something to be said about a beautifully luxurious hotel and I can’t think of a better one to mention, on the eve of my holiday travel abroad than Hotel Raphael in Rome. My inspiration, my fantasy, my utmost admiration and appreciation for a gem of a hotel. This will make sense shortly to all my loyal blog followers. In the meantime I will let their website inspire and entice you, while I give you a glimpse of their amazing property with photographs I borrowed from their site.

fashion: going out in style

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Yes folks it’s that time of the year (season) where I am looking at jackets, coats, sweaters and all things to keep me warm during the winter months. Although winters in San Francisco are not as harsh as anywhere else, we do enjoy an extra layer for looks and on occasion for warmth. (Although some may consider it the other way around) Here are some of my favorite going out jackets

boutique hotel pick – grand hotel plaza – roma, italy

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While traveling through Rome, I spend some of the time, walking in and out of hotels, just to get a sense of what they are all about. This was the case for The Grand Hotel Plaza located so perfectly on Via Del Corso, sandwiched between the  designer boutiques along the boulevard. I walked in and just from the beautiful lobby, decided this would be, where I’d stay the next time I visit Rome – which of course is coming up in September. But in the meantime, enjoy the photographs I borrowed from here and click here for everything else you need to know about Rome.

boutique hotel picks – royal hotel san remo – sanremo, italy

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I can usually tell it’s time to plan my annual vacation, when all I can think about is, romantic destinations and the luxury accommodations that should go with it, especially for those of us over 40. I mean I’ve done my share of hostels in my youth, budget properties throughout my thirties. But now I seek luxury and romance, with an attached bathroom to my suite. In light of this fact, I have included my favorite property in Sanremo, Italy. A place I never considered vacationing until I saw the place in the film, The Talented Mr. Ripley.  So, I’ll let the photos do the talking and if you need to know more about the property, click here:

buying what i don’t need but want

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Occasionally, I splurge on things, even though I tell myself to stay true to simple living. I can’t help it, I am a woman after all and the need to shop, eat chocolate, pamper my self as well as appreciation the finer things in life is part of my make up. So,  I put splurge happily and very carefully. This month, being my favorite, I have decided to shop and perhaps splurge on:  

five months of 2013 – goodbye may, hello june

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I swear I was just toasting in 2013 and now all of a sudden it’s June. What in the world is going on? Has it always been like this. Where time flies, no matter if you are having fun or not. May was a busy month for me and one, although long, felt like it passed by in a flash.  I’m okay with that, because May really isn’t my favorite month of the year, June is :). Instead of looking back to what I have accomplished  in the month of May, I am going to, through photos, express what lays ahead for me in June:  Looking forward has always been my motto. 1. Graduation party dress from here 2. Bathroom inspiration from here 3. Anniversary Formal attire from here 4. Birthday destination idea from here 5. Birthday Cake from here