Hello! How are you? I truly hope you’re well and staying safe. I haven’t blogged in a while, and the reason for my extended absence is simple: I like to keep things cheerful and lighthearted here, but because of everything going on in the world of late, I haven’t felt cheerful or lighthearted at all…. Read more »
WOW. Just wow! We had the pleasure and privilege of staying at the Four Seasons Sayan in beautiful Bali. The resort blew me away with its beauty, elegance and harmony with nature. I think it may be one of the top ten hotels I’ve ever stayed in — perhaps one of the top five. We… Read more »
This segment will focus on Vietnam and Cambodia. I’ll cover Thailand in a future post. TRAVEL TIPS FOR VIETNAM: We only had a week in Vietnam, but we could’ve happily spent a full month there. So much to see and do! We were there during the month of January, which meant the evenings in Hanoi… Read more »
LONG POST ALERT! You have been warned. Preface 1: The title of this post is a redundant phrase because Paris is basically an introvert’s paradise. The French in general are a lot more reserved and introverted than, say, Americans. But anyway, let’s carry on… Preface 2: The places mentioned below can get packed, but I… Read more »
We went on a fantastic Flavors of Lucca food tour in Italy last month. The short review: It was super comprehensive and we made so many stops for tastings, viewings, etc. We thought the tour was only supposed to last about 2.5 hours, but it lasted an entire 4 hours, full of delicious tastings that… Read more »
When I first went to the Côte d’Azur over fifteen years ago, I quickly realized which areas I loved and which areas I didn’t. I loved Saint Paul de Vence, Èze and St. Tropez. Notice I didn’t mention the big cities. So when we went last month, I already had the “dream itinerary” in mind…. Read more »
A few Saturdays ago, I decided to live like a tourist in my own city. So I went over to Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice for some quality alone time. What an AMAZING afternoon! I started off with tea at Caudalie Spa while waiting for my facial appointment. I love this place. Why is everyone… Read more »
Get thee to these delectable spots in Rome and Tuscany: Rome: Bonci Pizza – Anthony Bourdain raved about this place, so we had to check it out. And oh my goodness, it totally lived up to his assessment. I loved the cherry tomato pizza and the pizza with mortadella. The Geno loved everything, even the… Read more »
(Villa d’Este with view of Lake Como) We were torn about where to stay during our visit to Lake Como, Italy. There are so many gorgeous options, we simply couldn’t choose. Major flip-floppiness! So we split our time between the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, and the famous Villa d’Este. Boy, am I glad we experienced both…. Read more »
One of my favorite ways to get to know a new city is to go on a food tour. I try to schedule one for the first or second night of my visit, because it’s a great way to get an inside scoop of the city and eat at some amazing spots. We’ve been on… Read more »
I love @villagebookbuilders ❤️ They build libraries in rural communities & villages across the world, and they invited me to do an inaugural virtual visit to the Gram Sewa Library in Nepal! It was so cool to meet the students, and to hear about their hopes and dreams 🙌🌏
(Visit villagebookbuilders.org if you’d like to donate or get involved in their amazing projects.)
#villagebookbuilders #nepal #picturebooks #childrensbooks #kidlit #authorsofinstagram #authorlife #virtualvisit #bookworm
I’m so thrilled to reveal my next book, Sora’s Seashells!🎉 The launch date is May 9, but it can be pre-ordered now 😊You’ll see luminous watercolors by @stellalim_art & @ji_hyukkim — each page is truly a work of art! 🙌The story is about a girl who learns the meaning of her unique name and gains the courage to deal with school bullies, thanks to her grandmother. The team @candlewickpress put together a gorgeous book, and I’m so grateful for all the incredible attention & care.
For signed/personalized copies, please order through @cbwchildrensbooks — they’ll also host a launch event on Sat, May 13th at noon. Join me for a fun chat + some surprises! More details at the link in my bio. Thank you, all!! ❤️
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#coverreveal #bookstagram #picturebooks #kidsbooks #childrensbooks #childrensbookillustration #bookworm #booklover #childrensliterature #kidlit #watercolor #watercolorart #illustration #picturebook #authorsofinstagram #booklaunch
Thinking of our friends in Turkey 🇹🇷 I actually can’t believe we were there just a few months ago (photos taken in late Oct 2022). Beautiful country, lovely people. ❤️ I hope they heal soon from the devastating earthquake — it’s after terrible events like this when I’m in awe of the brave people who are helping on the ground, like the @white.helmets 🙌
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#turkey🇹🇷 #whitehelmets #whitehelmetsturkey #turkiye
One of my favorite things: morning coffee in the front yard with a good book & Sherwin saying hello to all the neighbors + their pups. This gorgeous book of photos, recipes & essays is by photographer extraordinaire @jamiebeck.co ❤️ Makes me reeeeally want to go back to Provence! 🌻
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#anamericaninprovence #provence #photography #lazyweekends #bookstagram #book #bookrecommendations
(Video taken from our hot air balloon over Cappadocia, Turkey at sunrise - a few months ago in Oct 2022)
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#happynewyear #2023 #cappadocia #turkiye #hotairballoon #turkey🇹🇷 #authorlife #research
