Weekends Are For Dreaming

Remember that part in Jerry Maguire when Tom professes his love to Rene, and Rene responds, "Shut up, just shut up. You had me at hello. You had me at hello." ?

Well, those were my words exactly as I flipped through the gorgeous images in Stephen Karlisch's new photo set, Italy Summer 201o. "You had me at Italy Summer. You had me at Italy."

And since it's Friday and weekends are for dreaming, let me get lost for a moment in the memory of when I lived in Rome. Of late nights stumbling across Piazza Navona in high heels and good company. Of long, drawn out weekend lunches eating pizza al fresco.

Of cute Italian carabinieri clad in Armani designed uniforms. Of slower days, vibrant culture, the Mediterranean sea and sun, and of two glorious years of self-discovery.

Tell me friends, where do you go when you daydream about your happy place?

Have a beautiful weekend!

xo,

Crystal

SNAPSHOTS FROM VENICE

I returned last night from a very restful and lovely week in Venice. My dad attributes an earlier trip to the city when I was sixteen - replete with a loud dinner party and two handsome Casanovas etched in my memory - for sparking my lifelong love affair with Italy. I think he's right - Venice brings back special memories.

Our favorite restaurant in Venice is Corte Sconta so of course we paid a visit and devoured homemade pasta dishes, the freshest of seafood, flavorful red wines, and a pumpkin gelato and chocolate cake that make my mouth water just thinking about it.

The Rialto Bridge, with its iconic arcade of arches and pediment, is what romantic evenings and dreamy nights are made of. And the gondolas in the foreground? Absolutely stunning works for engineering and art!

The Views! Every corner you turn, every bridge you cross, every canal you traverse...there is beauty in Venice!

I was also quite inspired by the stripes I kept seeing around the city. It's nice to remember that a pattern we hold as simple and commonplace actually holds great history.

One of my favorite things about being in Europe is the scale of its cities and attributes. Streets are narrower, doorways are shorter, portions are smaller, and that constant reminder that bigger is not necessarily better thrills me.

A nice evening in a beautiful palazzo listening to a concerto was probably one of my favorite parts of the trip. My dad is a huge classical music buff and though I resisted the genre growing up, I thank him for my appreciation for it today.

What would a visit to Venice without a day trip to Murano be? Here are two glass pieces I fell in love with. It is now on my biggest wants list to own a Murano glass, yellow chandelier like the one on the right one day. My two favorite glassmakers from the trip were Venini and Seguso.

But most amusing of all was the fact that a good portion of the time, Venice was under water. The sirens would go off alerting the town that high waters were coming and nobody would flinch. It's just another typical day when you live in a city made up of hundreds of little sinking islands. We had a blast buying 10 dollar rainboots and splashing around the city!

Thanks for all your kind comments while I was away! It's good to be back - I missed you!

VENICE BOUND!!!

Just a quick email - as I board a plane - to let you know I'll be back soon! In a very generous gesture, my parents have booked me a post Rue Issue Two vacay to Venice!

For those of you who have read this blog for awhile, you know that Italy is my place. It's the place that makes my heart jump and my soul sing.

So you can imagine my excitement! I plan to spend the time with some good bonding with mom and dad, a bit of shopping, a lot of eating, and ceasing as many opportunities to speak with locals as I can!

But before I take off, I wanted to say THANK YOU! All your support and lovely comments about the new issue of Rue mean more to me than you'll ever know!

See you in about a week....ciao!

xo,

Crystal

*images unknown

Time Out in Tuscany

Because Italy is the place I love more than anywhere in the world and I'm bummed I couldn't squeeze a little Italian vacay into my life this summer, indulge me while I live vicariously through these images.

Could there be a population more adept at creating beauty? From fashion, to food, to furniture...those smooth talking, style producing, good looking Italians take the cake! Sorry folks, some people are just born with it.

When you're there you can't help but learn from their example. Before you know it, you find yourself slowing down while you eat, dressing up when you go out, and being present while you live.

But for now, I'll remember to add a little bit of that Italian sensibility to my life to hold me over until next summer...

*images via Simon Watson

A Love Story

Today a very special guy moved away. We met in Rome in the fall of 2005 when, fresh out of college, I followed a dream, packed my bags and moved to Italy. We used to ride around Rome like this. He tried to teach me to drive the motorino on a few occasions, but all I could do was scream at the sound of the engine. So he stuck to driving and I held on tight.

We met on the corner of what would be my new building just three hours after my plane had landed. I was getting out of the taxi with all my luggage and he was getting home from work with a grey suit and tie. From that moment on we were inseparable.

We spent two years living, loving, struggling, growing, and discovering in Rome. Then, when I was ready to move back to the US and he accepted an offer to earn his MBA in the States, we moved to Chicago. We spent another two years living, loving, growing, discovering, and still inseparable in our new city.

After those next two irreplaceable years, he graduated just this past June. He is talented and intelligent and so the jobs and recruiters soon began to call. But the offer and decision we discerned was best for him and me has taken him away from Chicago. So, for the first time in four years, we are divided... but not alone.

"i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)" - e.e. cummings

Have a lovely weekend. See you Monday. xoxo Crystal

*images via le love, simply seductive, coco+kelley, lazareva valeria flickr

Dreaming of Summers in Siena

It has always been my dream to buy an old, abandoned Tuscan villa and resuscitate it back to its original magic and glory. I'd enjoy every moment of discovering the home's quirks and history, shopping for antique pieces to suit the space, and the fulfillment of slowing watching it come back to life! That is exactly what these home owners did and why I am drooling with envy over their gorgeous estate just outside of Siena in Italy.

I love this palette of blue, red, brown, black and white. Something about it is both contemporary and old equestrian - perfect for the famous Palio horse races that in Siena each year.

I'd love to be able to put my makeup on in the mornings at this boudoir and watch the landscape outside the window to my left. What a soothing place to start the morning! And then at night, wind down with a bath in this 19th century tub under the low glow of this chandelier of the same period.

I think I could get a little work done at this desk while being inspired and consumed by the gorgeous mural of pastoral scenes in Tuscany.

I adore the flood of Tuscan sun drenching this room! The soothing palette of pastel blue, beige, and red don't overpower the beautiful details of this room - the arched window, the terracotta tiled floors, the high ceilings - but let the space speak for itself!

And then at the end of the day, when all is said and done, I'd come out to this veranda and watch the sunset on this twenties style sofa with a glass of vino in hand!

*via WMagazine

Pucci's Palatial Paradise

Here's a peek inside fashion royal, Laudomia Pucci's country estate just outside the foothills of Florence. It's absolutely breathtaking and filled with precious family heirlooms (like a coat of arms!). I love the whole Mediterranean royalty vibe and use of strong graphics and colors...just like the fashion house' signature look.

How's this for an entrance hall!? Isn't that 16th century fireplace to the left and the solitary floor pillow placed in front wonderful? And I would kill for arches, columns, and windows like that. The sunlight would be enough to make me never want to leave!

I would also kill for this vintage Pucci rug in the main living room. The hint of pink is the perfect complement to the dark red 19th century furniture, which I might add is from Emilio Pucci's grandmother's personal collection....a descendant of Catherine the Great!

These are the kinds of things that catch my eye and evoke a sense of deep admiration for the designer...the tilt of the desk placement is just perfect! It's one of those things that could look off at first glance but the more you stare, you can't deny that it is so right on! And aren't those original Emilio Pucci painting stunning? I've fallen in love with this home :)

*images via W magazine