Where Trevi Fountain Wishes, Duckie Brigades & a Little GiGi Love Made Memories to Last a Lifetime! 🥰❣️
Oh, Roma! 🇮🇹⛲️❤️ What a magnificent final stop on our Italy Girls Adventure!
But to tell you why Roma was so special, I have to take you back one year…to June 2025. 🥰❣️
When GiGi traveled to Italy with sister Shawna and niece Blue for the very first time, we had a magnificent adventure! 🇮🇹❣️
But before I ever left home, I told my granddaughter Tyla that I was going to Italy, and she immediately exclaimed…
“GiGi! You HAVE to go to the Trevi Fountain ⛲️ and you HAVE to send me pictures!” 🤩❣️

Well, truth be told, GiGi didn’t even know what the Trevi Fountain WAS! 😂❣️
But I promised my sweet Tyla I would certainly try! 👍🥰❣️
One evening during that first trip, our private driver asked if we would like to visit the famous Trevi Fountain.
And OF COURSE GiGi’s answer was…
YES! YES! YES! 👍👏❣️
After all, my Tyla had given me a very important mission! ⛲️💕❣️
I was so excited to see this magnificent fountain, and even more excited to send Tyla the pictures she had requested! 📸🥰❣️
So you can imagine how special it was when, exactly one year later, GiGi and Tyla were finally standing together in ROMA! 🇮🇹❤️❣️
And there was one place we absolutely HAD to visit…
THE TREVI FOUNTAIN! ⛲️🤩❣️
GiGi secretly videoed Tyla’s very first look as she walked toward this magnificent fountain.
And OH MY GOODNESS…
The look on her face was PURE JOY! 🥹😍🥰❣️

It was one of those priceless GiGi moments I will treasure forever in my heart. 💕💓💕
In fact, Tyla loved it SO much that we simply HAD to return on our very last day to see the Trevi Fountain in the beautiful daylight! ⛲️☀️🤩❣️

One year earlier, I had visited because Tyla asked me to.
And now, here we were, experiencing it TOGETHER! 🥰❤️❣️
Sometimes the most beautiful adventures begin with a grandchild’s simple wish. 💕❣️
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🛍️💕 WHEN IN ROMA… SHOP UNTIL YOU DROP!
Well, of course, no Italy Girls Adventure would be complete without a LITTLE shopping! 😂🛍️❣️
And when I say a little shopping, I might be stretching the truth just a bit! 😉😂❣️
One of our MUST-VISIT destinations in Roma was the famous Brandy Melville clothing store! 🛍️👗❣️
And I must apologize to anyone who planned to shop there after we left because…
YOU MIGHT WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THEY RESTOCK! 😂😂❣️
Oh, it was SO much fun watching Tyla and Blue shop until they dropped! 🛍️🥰❣️
There is something very special about watching these girls enjoy being young, being together, and finding their own treasures in a beautiful city halfway around the world! 🌎💕❣️
But while those girls were busy shopping for clothes…
GiGi discovered a store that was practically MADE FOR ME! 🤩❣️
A store filled EXCLUSIVELY with…
DUCKIES! 🦆🦆🦆❣️
Every shape, every size, every color, and every design imaginable!
Now, before I tell you what GiGi purchased, I must take you on a little Duckie Brigade sideline! 😉🦆❣️
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🦆🚙❣️ THE DUCKIE BRIGADE… AND A LITTLE GRUMPA WISDOM!
Have you noticed that so many Jeeps driving around these days have little rubber duckies lined up across their dashboards? 🦆🚙❣️
Well, GiGi certainly noticed!
And after seeing duckie after duckie after duckie, my curiosity finally got the best of me! 😂❣️
So one day, I asked a member of the Duckie Brigade…
“WHAT is with all these DUCKIES on your dashboards?” 🦆🤔❣️
And I was told a wonderful story!
During the COVID shutdowns, when people couldn’t gather and socialize as they normally would, Jeep owners began sharing little duckies as a way of reaching out, spreading kindness, and saying…
“HI! 👋 We’re still here, and we’re still thinking of YOU!” 💕🦆❣️
Well, GiGi thought that was just the most wonderful idea! 🥰❣️
After all, who doesn’t need a little extra love, kindness, and a friendly HELLO now and then? 💓💗💓
And even though GiGi doesn’t drive a Jeep…
I decided right then and there that I was joining the DUCKIE BRIGADE TOO! 😂👍🦆❣️
And I still have my duckies riding along with me to this very day!
So when I discovered an entire store dedicated to duckies in Roma, I was in DUCKIE HEAVEN! 🦆🇮🇹🤩❣️
Of course, GiGi couldn’t leave empty-handed!
I purchased…
🦆🇮🇹 An ITALY DUCKIE to remember our adventure!
🦆🧖♀️ A SPA DUCKIE, because even duckies deserve a little pampering!

🦆👛 And a PURSE DUCKIE to dangle from my purse and accompany GiGi on future adventures!

Oh, the JOY of finding unexpected little treasures! 😂🥰❣️
BUT WAIT… HERE COMES GRUMPA WISDOM! 😎🦆❣️
When I first told Grumpa about my decision to join the Duckie Brigade, he asked me a very interesting question…
“Have you ever noticed that some people have their duckies facing IN toward the driver, while other people have their duckies facing OUT toward the world?”
Huh??? 🤔🦆❣️
Well, NO, Grumpa, GiGi had never noticed such a thing!
But Grumpa had a theory! 😎❣️
He explained that…
The people with their duckies facing INWARD must be the ones needing a little extra love, comfort, and support from their duckies. 🥰🦆❣️
While…
The people whose duckies face OUTWARD are the friendly, outgoing people who want to share their joy and love with the WORLD! 🌎💕🦆❣️
OH, GRUMPA! 😂😂😂❣️
Well, naturally, GiGi had to go check the duckies I had placed on my dashboard months earlier.
And wouldn’t you know it…
ALL MY DUCKIES WERE FACING OUT! 🦆🦆🦆🤣❣️

Guess I’m the FRIENDLY TYPE! 😉🥰❣️
Oh, that Grumpa wisdom is simply priceless! 😎❤️❣️

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🏛️🇮🇹❣️ ANCIENT ROMA… THE COLOSSEUM & VATICAN CITY!
Of course, we didn’t spend ALL our time shopping and collecting duckies! 😂❣️
Tyla and GiGi had some magnificent history to explore!
And that meant visiting two of the most extraordinary places in Roma…
THE COLOSSEUM! 🏛️🇮🇹❣️

And…
VATICAN CITY! 🇻🇦😇❣️

We were blessed with wonderful guides who shared stories about the history and people of this ancient part of our world. 🌎🥰❣️
The Colosseum was absolutely AWESOME!
Just imagine standing in a place that has witnessed nearly 2,000 years of history! 🤯🏛️❣️

But I think our favorite experience was visiting Vatican City! 🇻🇦❤️❣️
We learned so many fascinating things!
Did you know Vatican City is actually its very own COUNTRY? 🇻🇦🤩❣️
People really are citizens of Vatican City, and they have their own passports!
There are only around 800 residents living within this tiny independent country! 😅❣️
They even have their very own post office, license plates, and other official services!

Well, GiGi thought that was absolutely fascinating!
So, of course, we HAD to send ourselves postcards from Vatican City! 💌🏤❣️
And wouldn’t you know it…
When we returned home from our Italian adventure, our postcards arrived, officially stamped by the VATICAN CITY POST OFFICE! 🇻🇦💌🥰❣️

What a wonderful little souvenir from such a special place!
But one of the most meaningful experiences of our entire visit was walking into the beautiful Sistine Chapel. 😇🙏❣️
Oh, my…
To stand beneath Michelangelo’s magnificent ceiling, surrounded by such extraordinary beauty and centuries of religious history, was truly humbling.
There are moments in life when words simply cannot describe what your heart is feeling.
And this was one of those moments for GiGi. 💕🙏❣️
Sharing that experience with my precious granddaughter made it even more special.
A beautiful reminder of faith, history, and the incredible gifts of beauty and creativity God has given His children. 😇❤️🙏❣️
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🍔🍟🍝❣️ A LITTLE TASTE OF HOME IN ROMA!
Well, after all our wonderful Italian adventures, our final evening in Roma arrived!
And guess where we decided to have dinner?
THE HARD ROCK CAFE! 🎸🍔🇮🇹❣️
Now, I must admit something…
GiGi is really NOT much of a pasta 🍝 or pizza 🍕 girl!
I know, I know…
How can someone LOVE Italy so much and not be crazy about pasta and pizza? 😂🇮🇹❣️
But after enjoying all those wonderful Italian experiences, it was rather nice to have some food that reminded us of HOME! 🏠🥰❣️
And Tyla?
SHE WAS IN HEAVEN! 😍🥰❣️
What a fun way to spend our last evening together in this beautiful city!
But our adventures weren’t quite finished…
Because there was still one more VERY IMPORTANT Italian tradition to enjoy…
GELATO! 🍨🍦🇮🇹❣️
And OH, do we have a story about THAT! 😂❣️

For our final night’s adventure, be sure to read our special story about GELATO IN ITALY on my Joyful GiGi Adventures posts page! 🍨🤩❣️
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💕🇮🇹❣️ ITALY IS FOR LOVERS… AND FOR GiGi & TYLA!
They say Italy is made for LOVERS. ❤️🇮🇹❣️
And I would certainly agree!
But this year…
ITALY WAS MADE FOR GiGi & TYLA! 💕🥰❣️
Because somewhere between the magnificent Trevi Fountain ⛲️, the ancient streets of Roma 🏛️, the shopping adventures 🛍️, the little duckies 🦆, the beautiful Vatican 🇻🇦, and all those unforgettable moments together…
We learned something very special.
We learned to LOVE Italy! 🇮🇹❤️❣️
But even more importantly…
We learned to love EACH OTHER in a whole new and beautiful way. 💕💓💗💓💕
There is something magical about traveling with a granddaughter.
You begin the adventure as GiGi and granddaughter…
But somewhere along the journey, you discover each other as friends, fellow adventurers, and two people sharing memories that will forever belong to just the two of you. 🥹🥰❣️

What a precious gift!
And now?
Well, we are ALREADY planning our next Italy Girls Adventure for next JUNE! 🇮🇹✈️🤩❣️
Because for GiGi and Tyla…
Life just wouldn’t be complete without a little ITALY ADVENTURE! 🇮🇹💕❣️
🇮🇹💃❣️ TYLA’S VERY IMPORTANT REASONS WHY GIGI & TYLA MUST TRAVEL TOGETHER EVERY SUMMER UNTIL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION! ✈️🌎🥰❣️
Well, wouldn’t you know it! 🤪❣️ Miss Tyla has already figured out that our Italy Girls Adventure simply CANNOT be our last big summer adventure together! 🤩🥰❣️
And of course, she has a perfectly wonderful reason for why GiGi and Tyla NEED to take a special trip together EVERY SINGLE SUMMER until she graduates from high school! 😂👏❣️
So here it is, straight from Miss Tyla herself! 💕💓💕
🎓 8TH GRADE – Well, I’m finishing middle school, GiGi! And that’s kind of like a MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADUATION! So obviously we need to celebrate! 🧑🎓🎉❣️
🏫 9TH GRADE – My FIRST YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL! That’s a pretty big deal, GiGi! Definitely deserves a summer adventure! 🤩👏❣️
😅 10TH GRADE – Well, GiGi, I’m going to need something special for BEATING THE SOPHOMORE SLUMP! 😂💪❣️
📚 11TH GRADE – My FIRST SAT TEST! And surely all that studying and hard work deserves a wonderful summer vacation! ✏️🤓✈️❣️
🎓 12TH GRADE – Well, OF COURSE, GiGi! MY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION TRIP! 🧑🎓🎉🥳❣️
And there you have it, folks! 😂❣️
FIVE MORE SUMMERS! FIVE MORE ADVENTURES! AND FIVE MORE YEARS OF MAKING MEMORIES TO LAST A LIFETIME! 🌎✈️💕💓💕
Now how in the world is GiGi supposed to argue with reasoning like THAT?! 🤷♀️😂🥰❣️
And you know what? I WOULDN’T WANT TO! ❤️❣️
Because one thing GiGi knows for certain is that the years fly by, little girls grow up, and the greatest treasures we can give our grandchildren aren’t things we buy them, but the TIME we spend together and the MEMORIES we make along the way! 🥹💕💓💕
So, Miss Tyla, GiGi thinks you’ve made a pretty convincing case! 🤗👏❣️
LET THE NEXT FIVE YEARS OF GIGI & TYLA ADVENTURES BEGIN! 🌎✈️💃❣️
“Children’s children are the crown of old men…” — Proverbs 17:6 ❤️🙏❣️
Arrivederci, Roma! Until we meet again! 🇮🇹👋❤️❣️
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🛌🙏❣️ OUR ITALY GIRLS ADVENTURE BEDTIME PRAYER
We’re all tucked into our beds tonight, 🛌💕
Our prayers to God we’ve said just right. 🙏😇
We thank Him for the days we’ve shared, ❤️
For every moment, how He’s cared. 🥰🙏
We look forward to the days ahead, 🌅💕
Trusting always where we’re led. 🙏
For wherever life’s adventures go, 🌎✈️
God’s love will guide us, this we know! 😇❤️❣️
CHAO to ITALY🇮🇹❣️

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Until Our Next Adventure… ❤️🇮🇹

To our children, grandchildren, and all who come after us…
May this story remind you that life’s greatest treasures are not found in the souvenirs we bring home, but in the memories we create together.
Dream big.
Travel often.
Laugh loudly.
Take the picture.
Eat the gelato.
Climb the stairs.
Watch the sunsets.
Try something new.
Say “YES!” to the adventure.
Most of all…
Make time for the people you love.
One day, the places we’ve visited may fade from memory, but the love we shared and the stories we created together will live on for generations.
Our prayer is that these pages inspire you to gather your own family and friends, step out in faith, explore God’s beautiful world, and create adventures of your own.

Whether your journey takes you across the ocean or just across town, remember that every adventure is made extraordinary by the people you share it with.
The world is a gift.
Time together is priceless.
Love is the greatest souvenir of all.
Thank You, Lord, for blessing us with sixteen unforgettable days of laughter, friendship, safe travels, and memories we will treasure forever. May we never stop noticing the beauty You have created or the joy that comes from sharing it with those we love.
Until our next adventure…
❤️ The Italy Girls
June 12–28, 2026

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”
— Psalm 19:1
GiGi Will L💝VE You Forever &
LIKE You for Always, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18❣️
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 🙏❤️❣️
Living Joy-Filled GiGi Adventures with Grumpa & Grands! 💕💓💕❣️
THE END… UNTIL OUR NEXT ITALY GIRLS ADVENTURE! 🇮🇹✈️🥰❣️
What a fun and inspiring story! Thank you for sharing.
Wonderful! Tyla is so lucky to have such a creative and fun-loving Gigi. I love Roma, and am so happy you got to discover and explore. Oh my, the luggage! 😄