{Planning Retreat} That’s Amore

It’s always good to close shop, take a break and catch some much needed deep breaths with Bryan.

During our time off, we submersed ourselves in the Italian culture. We started in Venice just so I could experience a gondola ride, margherita pizza, wine and second home options (jk…I’m dreaming).

Then it was off to Florence where we visited the Academy of Fine Arts, so I could gawk at Michelangelo’s original David statue…what a divine specimen of a man, all 17 feet tall of him. Swoon.  After about 20 minutes, Bryan thought I should probably move on (people might think I was a little creepy) and look at some other works of art. I did, but David was/is still on my mind.

Pictures don’t do it justice, but here’s a replica I shot in the original’s position in the Piazza della Signoria.

On Monday we went to Fattoria Poggio Allora, a family wine farm in Tuscany for an afternoon lunch (more wine, more cheese, more pasta) before our afternoon siesta.  A girl’s gotta rest before shopping and gelato!

Before arriving in Rome, I wanted to watch the classic movie Roman Holiday (featuring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck)…this was one of those moments when my nice husband happily watched it with me. Yes, this is true.  And so I couldn’t help but shoot this photo of our new friends…Teresa reminded me of Audrey in this moment!

Nor could I resist photographing the majestic Trevi Fountain, Vatican and Colosseum at night.

We carved out time to talk about business, projects, and planning for the second half of 2013…lucky for us there were a ton of locations willing to provide inspiration, introspective moments and fresh perspective.

I’m so excited to be home rejuvenated and ready for what’s to come…