why gelato is good for the heart.

sometimes, your heart hurts so much and you feel so overwhelmed...

there's one too many things to do on that check list, and there's really no end in sight. 

and suddenly, you're transported back to italy. to the best gelato shop in rome. to a weekend of exploring and eating and eating and exploring. 

and even though i'm back in the states and trying to be a bit more health conscious (call me regina george, but i really just want to lose three {or ten} pounds!), i'm feeling all the better, just looking at these photos and remembering my weekend-long love affair with italian gelato. 

and for the record, there actually are gelato shops on every street corner of rome {if you've ever been to seattle and seen the plethora of starbucks, it's comparable}. 

but all gelato is not created equal. 

by far, we were the most impressed by giolitti. it was recommended to us by several individuals-- tourists and italians alike-- and there are rumors circulating that the last pope loved it so much that he had it delivered to his home,

so naturally, we had to try it out...

one or two or... okay, maybe four times!

seriously, though. it's absolutely worth the calories, and it's really quite reasonably priced.

another benefit of gelato?  while we all know that eating gluten-free in rome isn't always the easiest task, you're pretty much a guaranteed a gluten-free option at any gelato shop. 

and did i often use this as an excuse to eat nothing but gelato for lunch? 

absolutely. 

eastern market.

ever since i lived in europe, i've been a sucker of sorts for markets.
remember this? and this?
welll... on saturday morning, we braved the crowds and headed over to the district's famous market for brunch.
eastern market is described as "a lively market for a lively neighborhood," and really, the title is quite fitting.
though the weather was pretty dreary, the neighborhood & market were a bit of an aesthetic overload.
so, so charming.
we spent the morning perusing, sampling fruit & hot cider, and eating eastern market's famous "blue buck" buckwheat pancakes (and eggs for the gluten-free girl, of course).
a saturday morning well spent!

if you're ever in dc, you must check this place out.
el fin.

holiday weekend traditions.

as part of our annual president's day weekend family reunion, 

we stuck with tradition (granted, it's our only tradition...)

we headed up big cottonwood canyon toward brighton 

for some sledding and lunch. 

we ate lunch at the usual, the silver fork lodge,

and it was as warm & cozy as always. 

we shared some good conversation,

some comfort food,

and lots of hot cocoa.

is there a better combination? 

i think not. 

post script: i know how awkward i look in that picture, but i had to show off bennett's mountain man look. just because i'm a photographer, doesn't mean i'm photogenic. but i'm working on that one...

sundance.

we went sundancin' up in park city a few weekends ago during the film festival,
and it was awesome.
freeeezing, but awesome.

we devoured delicious bbq at bandit's,
window shopped & got free cider at roots,
searched for celebrities,
chatted by the fire,
and kept running into more and more and more friends.

the whole night was so charming...
walking around main street of this darling mountain-y town has always been a favorite past time of mine
(did you know i spent the first months of my life in park city?),
but it was especially fun with all of the excitement and clamor of the festival.
and i was a little obsessed with all of the lights strung all around.
it felt like christmas again!

though we came out of the experience celebrity-less and literally frozen,
we enjoyed an evening of ten-degree weather, tasty food, and good company.
and what's better than that?

the donut man.

once upon a time, 

i traveled to the city of angels for a friend's wedding (you know, the one i've mentioned about a million times...)

anyway. 

after setting up for the reception for a few hours the night before the wedding,

we cruised the streets of glendora, looking for treats with the groomsmen (who were CA natives, mind you). 

so we stopped by the donut man, a popular socal venue,

for some midnight donuts. 

they were apparently delicious (but so, so full of gluten).

at least i have a great sense of smell & sight and a camera right? 

i love living vicariously through my friends. 

padre's birthday.

once upon a january, 

i flew home for  the weekend... to shoot a wedding reception.

and this wedding reception just happened to coincide with my father's january birthday.

so how did we celebrate?

with our favorite mountain pizza of course (also seen here & here).

i had flown home earlier that morning (hence the not-so-bright-eyed expression),

and bennett had was healing from a recent, nasty ankle sprain, 

but we enjoyed each other's company (and the pizza... gluten-free pizza in my case!) nonetheless. 

when your family members are your best friends... you know you've got it right.

st. moritz.

once upon of time,
the gleave family explored switzerland.
after eating the best brats in the world, we headed to the famous ski town, st. moritz.
from the sports cars, to the chocolate, to the gondolas,
everything was perfectly... swiss.

see for yourself! 

we had the greatest time eating pastries,
walking & enjoying the sites of the posh little alpine town,
 listening to the cow bells (my mom's favorite!),
and enjoying each other's company.

oh! and did i mention we saw a st. bernard just roaming the streets in st. moritz?!
it really couldn't have been more perfect.

and though i'm proud of my swedish/welsh/british/norwegian heritage,
after visiting switzerland, a little part of me wishes there could be a little swiss in the mix!

if you ever get the chance,
go to swizerland. i mean it.
the world is beautiful.
life is good.