{quotable thursdays-postcards from Milan}

{taken in 2007}

Ciao da Milano!
I arrived late last night and am already immersed in the beauty of the city! So a little something from Henry James on my adopted city for the next week:

Milan, at any rate, if not bristling with the
aesthetic impulse, opens to us frankly enough the thick volume of
her past. Of that volume the Cathedral is the fairest and fullest
page--a structure not supremely interesting, not logical, not
even, to some minds, commandingly beautiful, but grandly curious
and superbly rich. I hope, for my own part, never to grow too
particular to admire it. If it had no other distinction it would
still have that of impressive, immeasurable achievement. As I
strolled beside its vast indented base one evening, and felt it,
above me, rear its grey mysteries into the starlight while the
restless human tide on which I floated rose no higher than the
first few layers of street-soiled marble, I was tempted to
believe that beauty in great architecture is almost a secondary
merit, and that the main point is mass--such mass as may make it
a supreme embodiment of vigorous effort. Viewed in this way a
great building is the greatest conceivable work of art. More than
any other it represents difficulties mastered, resources
combined, labour, courage and patience. 

-Henry James, Italian Hours

When I was a PhD student, many moons ago (actually exactly 10 years ago!), I lived here for a few months. It's an exciting city to be in with all its fashion and style and of course its fascinating history. I'm back again for archival research--here for a week and then off to Genoa next week.

stay tuned for pics etc... and you can keep up to date over on instagram!

baci, 

L

{postcards from Mexico-first communion}

It has been a while since I've been back from Mexico, but fell ill and am just starting to be able to catch up on things!
My niece and nephew had their first communion the first weekend we were there, which in Mexico is a very big celebration--like a wedding!
It was so wonderful to witness. My sister is starting a candy business, and did the most amazing candies table for the kids...and there was delicious food and of course the ceremony was amazing too.
I took a million pictures, but here are a few to give you a taste.

{beautiful sweets table designed by my sister!}

{my brother-in-law is a cigar manufacturer, so these were custom made!}

xo,
L

{quotable thursdays}

Hello everybody!
Thursday already?! Have you had a good week? I'm almost completely on the mend! Had a very long list of to-dos this week, which I mostly got through, so that's good.
and next week...I'm off to Italy! Feels like I just got back from Mexico!
More on that, hopefully later...
but for now, I wanted just give you a quote that will make you feel all warm & fuzzy on a chilly January day!

{beautiful, either inside or out!}

xo
L

{quotable thursdays}

Hello and Happy New Year!
Excuse the silence dear readers! I was away in lovely Mexico, then fell really ill, and am only starting to recover now.
Work is as crazy as ever, so I'll have to play catch up soon. So many lovely photos from Mexico to share. I had a really really busy 2016, and stretched myself a little too far. So if I can learn something for 2017, it's just take things a tiny tad slower.
Today is Thursday, so let's have a quote!

{flowers}

I like this quote to start 2017, because it's all about making your life what you want it to be. Don't blame your failures on others, or wait for someone else to make a success of you. Go out there and find the life that you want. Don't expect others to do it for you! & when you haven't the time to plant your own garden, buy yourself some flowers!

{gorgeous daffs at the LB market on Tuesday}

Happy Thursday everyone!
xo
L