Fashion Find!

My friend Robin invited me to a party that sells My Thirty-One.  This is the first time I've ever heard of the products and would have really liked to go but I have to work.  Robin is hosting the party for a friend of hers who is trying to raise money to adopt a little girl.  She already has two boys that she has adopted from Ethiopia.  The products are really cute and trendy.  They remind me a lot of Vera Bradley but for a fraction of the price!  You can also personalize your own trendy stationary.  Check it out!

If you like what you see, go to Kim's website and check out the other products My Thirty-One offers.  Not only will you find great stuff for you, your family and friends but you'll be helping out a great cause!

Ciao!

YOUR Vote Is needed!

What can I say?  I have some amazingly creative friends!  My friend Ashley is spending a month in Alaska while her husband is there on business and has taken some really amazing photos like this one...

You can see more gorgeous photos like this one documenting her Alaskan journey on her blog Dolce Vita!  And while you're at it, don't forget to vote for Ashley on Shutterfly's Summer Freedom Contest.  You can find her entry here.  Thank you in advance on behalf of both me and Ashley!  For a rookie photographer who just does it for fun, I think she deserves to win!

Ciao!

And Then There Was One...

Some of you may know that this past Spring nine Guinea Hens wandered over to Dreamwalker Farm.  They were one of our neighbor's Guinea Hens and they decided one day to pick up and leave and search for greener pastures.  Those pastures happened to be ours.  However, as time went by the Guinea Hens began to disappear one by one.  We can only assume that foxes probably took care of them.  But one has still managed to survive.  We call her Gracie.  And this is what I see out my back door every day...

Gracie often comes to my back door to admire her reflection.  Of course, she thinks that she's seeing another Guinea Hen, but obviously she is really just looking at herself.  In an attempt to get their attention, she spends a lot of time pecking at the back door.  When she's not at the back door, she is admiring herself in the hub caps of our trailer.  It's rather humorous... when it's not annoying!  Today I decided to go outside and snap some pictures of Gracie...

It didn't take long before she was rather annoyed, or perhaps felt threatened, by my presence...

And then she started yelling at me...

Needless to say, it has been quite the experience having some foul around the house.  It will be interesting to see how long she is able to avoid her prey... so far so good!

VOTE NOW!!

Hey everyone, check out my friend Robin's fabulous nursery she and her husband, Bryan, created for beautiful Baby Jacob!

Robin has been named a finalist in a "Best Nursery" contest over at Sweet Charli's Boutique & Blog!  Please head on over to the site and VOTE NOW!!!  Don't waste any time!  Robin deserves to win!  :)

Ciao!

It Won't Be Soon Before Long...

Wow, can't believe I went a whole month without posting...  Whoops!  Since I got home I've been ridiculously busy with working at the hospital, jumping back into Avon, wedding planning and, of course, catching up with family and friends.  I humbly apologize to those of you who have been following for leaving you all hanging for the last month.  However, I hope you all enjoyed reading about my amazing journey through the country of Italy.  What an unbelievable adventure!  But, I still have so much to SEE!  Even in one month I couldn't cover everything!  Northern and Central Italy ~ Absolutely breathtaking!  Southern Italy ~ It won't be soon before long... and that's a promise!

So, now that I'm home... what's up next for me?  Well, I still have a blissful six weeks before it's back into the grind of nursing school.  Other than working at the hospital, I hope to spend lots of time with family and friends, hopefully take a couple trips to the beach and catch some rays by my in-laws' pool.  Oh, and of course wedding fun - I need to fit it in while I still have the time to do it!  I will definitely make sure to post more frequently with lots of fun summer pictures!  Oh and... I have a super fab secret that I can't share just yet so I will just have to leave you all in suspense for now...

P.S.  For those of you who noticed, my title definitely comes from one of my favorite Maroon 5 album titles.  I just love them!  And because I love you so much, check out the video of one of my favorite songs off that album via YouTube below!  :)  Ciao!

What Home Means To Me.

A couple of months ago I was introduced to the website Pin Interest via Ashley at Oh What Fun and sfgirlbybay.  The website sounded really neat and I loved the idea of sharing "What Home Means To Me" with everyone.  For those of you who know me, you know that when I move into a new place the first thing I want to do is make it my own.  Whether it was my dorm room in college or my very own apartment, I would stay up until all hours of the night getting things organized and decorated.  In fact, the very day I moved into my last apartment, I had it set up and ready to go by 7 PM that night for an impromptu birthday party for the fiance!  So, naturally the idea of creating a blog post all about this very topic was just perfect for me!

At first, I pictured myself thinking a bit more outside of the box.  I didn't want to go room by room and just show you the things I would put in it.  However, as I began to look for my next home with the fiance, I found myself getting excited over that very idea - the furniture, the artwork, the organizational tools, the bedding - all of it began to excite me and before I knew it I had pinned more than 35 pictures!  So, without further ado, here is my literal translation of exactly "What Home Means To Me."

~The Living Room~

I see lots of throw pillows, artwork and a fabulous rug...

Photos via Target, Rita Zaudke, Veronica Tronoski and Bridget Davies.

~The Kitchen~

Space, lots of cabinets and a baker's rack - oh my!

Photos via Target and Elle Decor.

~Office/Man Cave/Music Room~

I see a desk, shelves, artwork for his interests and artwork for hers...

I actually envision this room to be not one but two, one for him and one for her...

For the sake of this blog entry, they are combined.

Photos via Target and KELLY G DESIGN.

~The Bedroom~

Ah, now we arrive to my favorite room... ;)

Artwork, sexy bedding, romance...

Photos via Target and Kohls.

~Backyard/Patio~

Last but not least, we have the great outdoors!

Photos via Target, Elle Decor, and Emily of Hello Self.

So I guess it's pretty obvious that I like Target, huh?  Well, what can I say?  They've got great stuff for affordable prices!  Who can't love that??

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed taking a tour through my home.  Please stop by my What Home Means To Me pinboard over on Pin Interest and find out more about what home means to me!  As I continue to research homes and prepare to create my wedding registries, I will definitely be adding to my pinboard!

Thank you for stopping by Butterfly Kisses.  Please head on over to Ashley's blog ASK on Monday, June 21st to see a completely different interpretation of "What Home Means To Me."

Roma.

Two weekends ago I spent the weekend in Rome.  What an unbelievable city!  It's not like any American city you have ever seen!  No tall skyscrapers.  No grid-like street pattern.  Much, much more than that.  Lots of squares (or piazza's, as they're called over here).  Lots of beautiful art and sculpture.  And... LOTS of tourists!  For as much as we see them in Philadelphia and New York it is a whole different experience to be a tourist in Rome.  And, for as much as I love Italy, I should warn everyone that the Italians do NOT move out of the way for you.  So, if you are stubborn and don't move out of the way for them, I recommend you bring some padding because they WILL hit you!  Aside from that one negative aspect of Rome, the overall experience was simply breathtaking and I am so glad I got to see all the beauty, history art and architecture that this amazing city has to offer.  Below you will find pictures documenting my travels!  Enjoy! :)

Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps.

The Trevi Fountain.

The Pantheon.

A Palace.

The Coliseum and the Arch.

St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican.