Day Trip to Pompeii and Sorrento 2025

August 18, 2025

 

Hello friends.


  We are continuing our trip to Rome and London.  In case you missed my first and second blog posts about our trip, you can click the links at the bottom of this post.



My husband and I started the morning very early to take a day trip to Pompeii and Sorrento.  My daughter and her friend were going to take a train to visit Florence for the day.  My daughter booked our bus trip with City Wonders Ltd.  We started the morning off very early and had to arrive at a meeting spot by 6:15 am.  We were all divided into two groups.  We were brought to our bus and met our tour guide.  We were brought to a spot after about an hour to use the bathrooms and get a snack to eat.  

Our meeting spot for City Wonders.

Our first stop was to see Pompeii.

Walking around Pompeii with a different tour guide who explained everything about Pompeii to us.


You can see in the distance Mt. Vesuvius.


After the tour of Pompeii, we were given a small pizza and lemon soda to eat on the bus. 

We were then brought to a Limoncello Factory to see a tour and taste different samples of Limoncello.  It was nice to see the gift shop and everything to do with lemons.  


The gorgeous view of Sorrento.


We were given about two hours to walk around the area.  I would have liked more time to explore the area.  There are such nice stores for tourist shopping and restaurants.  


This is a view looking down at the beach clubs.  You can walk down the cliff or take an elevator down to the water.


Basilica di Sant' Antonio.  I loved the inside of this beautiful church.


After a long day, we got on our bus and headed back to the drop off area in Rome.

My husband and I wanted a quick meal after a long day.  We spotted a McDonald's in the area and had burgers for a late dinner.  After our meal, we had a small cup of espresso that was so good. 

Instead of a long walk back, we decided to take an Uber back to our apartment.





We had a wonderful day exploring Pompeii and Sorrento.


If you missed Travel and Day 1, click here.
If you missed Exploring Rome, click here.

To be continued...


Click HERE to see the blog parties I will be linking up to.

Julie
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Currently - August 2025

August 13, 2025

 

Hello friends, and happy August.  I'm a week late with this post, but I'd love to share with you what is going on lately.





I'm joining Jenn for her Currently link-up.  It's held on the first Wednesday of each month and lasts about two weeks. This month, we are sharing what we are loving, looking forward to, scheduling, buying, and gearing up for.



LOVING:  I'm loving the cooler weather we've been having since we recently had a heat wave.  I'm loving eating all of the summer fruits such as cherries, watermelon, and peaches. 


LOOKING FORWARD TO:  I'm looking forward to fall weather in a few weeks.  I'm looking forward to fall decorating inside and outside the house.  Making soup and fall baking.



SCHEDULING:  I am scheduling doctors' appointments.


BUYING:  I've been buying some items that we needed from Amazon.  You can read my latest post here.


GEARING UP FOR:  I'm gearing up for more hot weather this month.  I'm hoping we don't have any more heatwaves.  The weather has cooled down a lot and I hope it stays that way.  I've also noticed that it gets darker earlier at night and I'm gearing up for that and fall.



What have you been up to, and is currently new with you?



Click HERE to see the blog parties I will be linking up to.

Julie

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How Do You Take a Break? - Share Our Lives

August 11, 2025


Hello friends.  

It's the second Monday of the month, which means it's time for the Share Our Lives Link Up.  This month's topic is How Do You Take a Break? 


I have many ways I like to take a break, and here are just a few of them.


I love drinking coffee in the morning and in the afternoon.  I drink regular coffee that I make in the coffee pot for me and my husband.  In the afternoon I make espresso coffee for us in our espresso machine.  If we are out, I like to have a latte or a cappuccino.



One way I take a break is by reading a book.  I enjoy reading library books on my Kindle using the Libby app.  I recently enjoyed reading Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore.


I enjoyed taking care of my little garden this summer.  I grew peppers, basil, parsley, cucumbers, and watermelon.


I like taking a few classes a week at my gym - weights, pilates, and Zumba.  


I go in spurts with crocheting.  This summer I took a break, but I'm looking forward to starting up again this fall and winter.  It's a great way to pass some time, and it relaxes me.

I crocheted these pumpkin coasters a few years ago.


I used them to decorate my mantel for fall last year.


I enjoy going for morning or afternoon walks with Lucy.  



 How do you take a break?

 

THE TOPICS FOR EACH MONTH:



I will be sharing this with Joanne's blog My Slices of Life.



Click HERE to see the blog parties I will be linking up to.

Julie
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Books I've Read - July 2025

August 7, 2025

 

Hello friends, happy August!


I'd love to share with you the books I've read in June and July.





The Wedding People by Alison Espach



Phoebe Stone arrives at a grand beachside hotel in Rhode Island wearing her best dress and least comfortable shoes. Immediately she is mistaken for one of the wedding people - but she''s actually the only guest at the Cornwall Inn who isn''t here for the big event. 

When the bride discovers her elaborate destination wedding could be ruined by a divorced and depressed stranger, she is furious. Lila has spent months accounting for every detail and every possible disaster - except for, well, Phoebe . . . Soon, both women find their best-laid plans derailed and an unlikely confidante in one another. 

Hilarious and moving, The Wedding People is an irresistible novel about love, friendship, dysfunctional families, and the unexpected paths that lead to happiness.

I was excited to finally read this book after my daughter read it.  The author was my daughter's professor while she was away at college.  I enjoyed this book, although I found it sad, but I liked the different relationships and friendships between the characters.   

The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore



When Jeanie’s aunt gifts her the beloved Pumpkin Spice Café in the small town of Dream Harbor, Jeanie jumps at the chance for a fresh start away from her very dull desk job.


Logan is a local farmer who avoids Dream Harbor’s gossip at all costs. But Jeanie’s arrival disrupts Logan’s routine and he wants nothing to do with the irritatingly upbeat new girl, except that he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her.


Will Jeanie’s happy-go-lucky attitude win over the grumpy-but-gorgeous Logan, or has this city girl found the one person in town who won’t fall for her charm, or her pumpkin spice lattes…


This book is a light read, and I know it was trending on TikTok last fall.  It was cheesy but cute, and it reminded me of Gilmore Girls.


Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man by Jesse Q. Sutanto



Ever since a man was found dead in Vera's teahouse, life has been good. For Vera that is. She’s surrounded by loved ones, her shop is bustling, and best of all, her son, Tilly, has a girlfriend! All thanks to Vera, because Tilly's girlfriend is none other than Officer Selena Gray. The very same Officer Gray that she had harassed while investigating the teahouse murder. Still, Vera wishes more dead bodies would pop up in her shop, but one mustn't be ungrateful, even if one is slightly...bored.

Then Vera comes across a distressed young woman who is obviously in need of her kindly guidance. The young woman is looking for a missing friend. Fortunately, while cat-sitting at Tilly and Selena's, Vera finds a treasure trove: Selena's briefcase. Inside is a file about the death of an enigmatic influencer—who also happens to be the friend that the young woman was looking for. 

Online, Xander had it all: a parade of private jets, fabulous parties with socialites, and a burgeoning career as a social media influencer. The only problem is, after his body is fished out of Mission Bay, the police can't seem to actually identify him. Who is Xander Lin? Nobody knows. Every contact is a dead end. Everybody claims not to know him, not even his parents.

Vera is determined to solve Xander's murder. After all, doing so would surely be a big favor to Selena, and there is nothing she wouldn't do for her future daughter-in-law.

This is the second book in this series.  The first book is Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers.  I enjoyed this suspenseful and funny murder mystery that Vera solves.  


Summer Sisters by Judy Blume



In the summer of 1977, Victoria Leonard’s world changes forever when Caitlin Somers chooses her as a friend. Dazzling, reckless Caitlin welcomes Vix into the heart of her sprawling, eccentric family, opening doors to a world of unimaginable privilege, sweeping her away to vacations on Martha’s Vineyard, an enchanting place where the two friends become “summer sisters.”
 
Now, years later, Vix is working in New York City. Caitlin is getting married on the Vineyard. And the early magic of their long, complicated friendship has faded. But Caitlin begs Vix to come to her wedding, to be her maid of honor. And Vix knows that she will go—because she wants to understand what happened during that last shattering summer. And, after all these years, she needs to know why her best friend—her summer sister—still has the power to break her heart.

I loved this book and couldn't put it down.  I loved the friendship between two girls from different backgrounds and how they were summer sisters.   

Have you read any good books lately?


I will share this post at the monthly book link-up party Share Your Shelf.  It's held on the first Thursday of each month.  It's run by these bloggers:


Slices of Life
Memphis Bridges
Overflowing With Thanksfulness
The Other Side of the Road


Click HERE to see the blog parties I will be linking up to.


Julie
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Amazon Prime Purchases - August 2025

August 4, 2025

 


Hello friends, happy August!

I bought some random items from Amazon that I'd love to share with you.  Some of the items we liked and used for our European trip we took this summer.

I'm joining Andrea from Living on Cloud Nine and Doused in Pink for their Amazon Prime link-up.



HERE ARE MY PRIME PURCHASES:

Wet Brush Shower Hair Brush Detangler - Exclusive Ultra-soft IntelliFlex Bristles - Minimizes Pain And Protects Against Split Ends & Breakage - Comb For Women, Men, Wet & Dry Hair - Green Glitter


I love this brush and I also ordered one for my daughter.  This works great on wet hair and gets knots out of your hair.



Amazon Basic Care Ibuprofen Tablets, 200 mg, Pain Reliever and Fever Reducer, For Arthritis, Toothache, Backache and More, 100 Count


We like using this bottle of Ibuprofen. 



TUMS Ultra Strength Antacid Tablets for Chewable Heartburn Relief and Acid Indigestion Relief, Assorted Fruit - 72 Count


We needed a new bottle of Tums.



WHOLE EARTH Monk Fruit Sweetener with Erythritol, Plant-Based Sugar Alternative, 12 Ounce Pouch


I like using this sugar alternative.  This is a repeat order and I also use this for baking and cooking.

60 Numbers, Reflective Adhesive Mailbox Number Pack, 3", Waterproof Number Stickers for Signs, Door, Cars, Trucks, Home, Business, Address Number


I needed to use these numbers for my garbage and recycling cans.




SHARPIE Permanent Marker Chisel Tip Black Durable Aluminum Barrel Carded


I ordered this Sharpie marker in case I needed to use it for our new garbage cans.



YIKOEE Crescent Bag for Women Men Small Sling Crossbody Bag with Half Moon Shape


I bought this bag to use for our trip.  It holds a lot and I also use it when I go to the gym.



CACOE Phone Lanyard 2 Pack-2× Adjustable Neck Strap,2× Phone Patches,Universal Cell Phone Multifuctional Patch Lanyards Compatible with Most Smartphones(Black+Gray)


I ordered these lanyards to use for our European trip.  They worked great.




Apple AirTag 4 Pack. Keep Track of and find Your Keys, Wallet, Luggage, Backpack, and More. Simple one-tap Set up with iPhone or iPad


We used these for our suitcases.  It was a nice way to keep track of our bags for our European trip.




2 Pack European Plug Adapter USB C, TESSAN US to Europe Adapter 4 Outlets 3 USB Charger, Type C International Power Adaptor to Italy Spain France Portugal Iceland Germany, Europe Travel Essentials


We also used these adapters for our European trip.





HERE IS THE SCHEDULE FOR EACH MONTH:



Have you bought anything lately from Amazon?



Click HERE to see the blog parties I will be linking up to.

Julie
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