with you.

An old PostSecret that made my heart ache.

Guest Post Max: Christmas Alone

It has been 3 months since I moved into colder country. Last Friday, we got a big snow. 13 inches!


This is not the kind of snow that happens every year, more like every 10 years. It reminded me of playing in the snow when I was little, sledding over and over until your fingers and toes are numb.

No sledding this time, except for sliding the car on the snow and getting stuck. But it is still profoundly beautiful. It struck me that I didn't have my Chunga to share it with. It was like a snowglobe, perfect. The sun hitting the new fallen snow...or the moonlight making the snowy night bright. I tried to take pictures, but I couldn't capture the bracing cold...the stillness and quiet. Snow makes even the ugliest landscape beautiful. It covers up all the imperfections with a smooth white blanket.

It was just not as much fun alone.

But that is going to change soon...this is our last Christmas apart. My family has already put her ornament on the tree. A sign of things to come.

Max

I am sad she missed it.

like auntie, like niece.

sophia wanted to wear my glasses to look like her auntie mickey. i had just painted her nails pink like mine.

(we can blame the bad bangs on her momma, my older sis)

i can not get enough of my little nieces. better pics soon, i promise.

(i can't stop holding and playing with them long enough)

and our (me/twinkie + maddie's) Christmas gift to my older sis is getting their photographs done by an incredible photographer.

those... those will be a treat. xo

Sharing Sundays... Warm Pears.

Gather round and meet bella Gina of Warm Pears. her dreamy corner of the internet is a constant getaway to my heaven on earth. Gina is a talented photographer who captures magic in the country i love. here are some of my favourites:

this last one was on a post that was titled: "easily romanced." i want to meet this beautiful stranger and inquire about what keeps him up late.

i am fascinated with Gina's life. She's an American girl who sold all her things to move to Tuscany. oh if only i could do it...

why the title of her blog she explains: "Warm Pears was named after a daydream I would often have about Italy. It usually took place in a beautiful olive grove, blue skies, orange hills, a feeling of complete contentment and me sitting in a pretty dress eating a warm pear."

can you see why i am enamored with her?

but this post... this post touched my heart. i knew there was more that i loved and shared with Gina than a romance with Italia.

PS: Gina, I hope you're having an amazing time in Paris. xo

M, did you see why i especially loved one of her above photographs? *wink.

is there anything cuter than a sleeping baby?

when she's your niece sophia.

they came in late last night and i could not stop staring at how beautiful this little one is. Even when she's sleeping. oh i'm in love.



(btw she's not wearing blush. her baby skin is so sensitive and the air was cold and dry.)

Ornament Showcase #3.

To Anna / From Marte

To Marisa / From Wendy

To Fallon / From Brianna

To Sarah Kleman / From Huai-Ann
1st one: To Huia-Ann / From Raquel

(don't you just love her titanic porthole mirror?)

2nd one: To Raquel / From Katie C.

To Marte / From Marisa

To Chels / From Gemma Louise

To Jozen / From Fallon
To Kate / From Katrina

To Madeline / From Kate
can you see the deer? sweet bauble on her pretty tree.

I have to share a little story about this last one. Madeline is my baby seester. She was so excited when i told her about my ornament exchange & wanted to participate. (this actually brought us closer)

In fact, she was my life line in this ornament exchange (worked on it for hours to make sure we didn't forget anyone- helped in matching up what turned out to be 70+ participants to each other so not one person got the other).

Maddie (who doesn't have a blog) is thinking about starting up one because she couldn't believe the kindness of Kate and their exchanged emails. She was overwhelmed. Kate, I can not thank you enough for your sweetness to my seester! xoxo

and to me. Kate sent me a matching beautiful ornament and a lovely Christmas card, thanking me for hosting the swap. Kindness... i believe in it always and returning it every chance possible.

thank-you Kate. It means a lot to me.

oh 1st Ornament Exchange... you've been a huge hit with me. I think I will have you every year at Dolce Vita.

(See more showcases here & here)

you're wonderful!

oh my goodness lovies, THANK YOU sooo very much for all your comments and kind words yesterday, on my tough morning. They really helped me out more than you know.

my heart is all of yours!!!

i am so glad to know that the one thing that won't ever change no matter where i move is this wonderful blogging world we share.

it's great to be your friend. xo

(picture 1, 2)