I've Got a Crush

On fabulous italian women,

On draw-dropping spaces,

on rings with flair,

on popin' prints,

 and on delightful {wit + delight}

Oh and on you dear readers, on you! Thanks for all the sweet comments this week. Check back in a bit for a little thank you gift!

*Mrs. E

Euro Utility

With the thoughts of Italian hillsides still dancing in my head, when I stumbled across these Tamara Fogle bags, made of antique textiles like flour sacks, military tents and french linens, I was immediately smitten.

images via tamara fogle and pilgrim's way

They just pair so nicely with the rolling Italian hills, trips to the local farm stand or grabbing a few bottles of lovely wine as you stroll home for an afternoon on the veranda of your villa!

Honeymoonin' Heaven {Italy}

Following our amazing week in Amsterdam, the husband and I flew to Italy, spending nearly a week out wine tasting in small towns throughout the Veneto region and enjoying a glorious stay on Lake Como.

The sights of Italy were truly breathtaking. We visited small medieval walled cities like Bergamo and Borghetto. They're equal parts awe-inspiring history and complete present day charm.

Lake Como certainly didn't disappoint. We spent an incredibly relaxing two days taking ferry rides across the water, breakfasts in the garden and wine lakeside every evening.

In each town we visited we'd pause to take a quick snapshot with our thank you sign - they'll all be compiled into thank you cards for our wedding guests. The cards will make lugging that chalkboard around worth it!

We certainly couldn't visit Italy and skip the most romantic city in the world - so we ended the trip in Venice. And I must say, it exceeded expectations. When you got beyond the sea of tourists and discovered the the twists and turns of the real city, the calls of the merchants in the fish markets, the clinks of glasses as people would toast next to the grand canal...

I spent the entire time trying to soak in each and every sight, sound and sensation. 

all photos by me!

There really is no place like it. We literally wandered this maze of a city for hours on end, until our feet just simply wouldn't hold us up anymore. 

Each evening we'd plop ourselves down, exhausted but thrilled, at one fabulous dinner table after another. Multiple courses of pasta, seafood, dolce, grappa, coffee and gelato later (more on the food experiences to come soon!), we'd collapse into our bed.

Ahhhh, la vita bella, ti amo.

Wedding Wednesday {Going On Our Honeymoon - Part Due}

Last {Wedding Wednesday} I shared that we're about to embark on our European honeymoon and we'll be starting our in Amsterdam. I am so excited I can barely stand it.

But where might we be going next you ask? Well, there was really only one option and that was......... Italy!

We'll be traveling from Amsterdam to Northern Italy, spending 5 days touring the shores of Lake Como and the small towns all around.

And we'll end up back in Venice for some serious romance (and gelato eating!)

images via ryan wynn creative,  dustjacket in the attic, {this is glamorous}

I just couldn't resist sharing my excitement with all of you, but alas, I can't take you all to Europe with me. Instead, I thought it'd be fun to spread a little European flare around with a giveaway! 

One lucky Apartment 34 reader will win this La Tour Eiffel dress from Shabby Apple.

Simply leave a comment on this post, letting me know what you love to wear to feel romantic. Make sure to include your email address. A winner will be selected at random at 12:00 pm PST on Friday, June 4. 

Good luck!

Wedding Wednesday {Honeymooning}

As we've embarked on the wedding planning, the man and I have been advised, and wisely so, to actually go on a full fledged honeymoon trip because those well-intentioned promises of getting to it "someday" or "when we can really afford it" always seem to slip down the priority ladder.

So after much hemming and hawing we've begun to make our honeymoon destination decisions and the first place on the list (with more to come) is...Venice!

all images via dustjacket attic

I can't think of anything more romantic than strolling arm-in-arm past the canals, sipping cappuccino all morning and vino all afternoon, doing little else than watching the gondolas float past. 

After all, Italy is the epicenter of la dolce vita. Not a bad way to begin a life of marital bliss!

PS. all travel recommendations welcome - so you Italy aficionados, please comment!