What I Want: Travel Edition

Sometimes traveling can lead to some rather unglamorous moments. Who among us has never debarked from a long plane ride feeling (and maybe looking) like hell a little under the weather? Recirculated air can wreak havoc on your skin, and sitting still for hours on end can be enough to drive any one of us mad. It can be hard to look good while carting around luggage and running to catch your flight.

Buy it: The Little Market
Classic Large White Trunk, $400

Large White Trunk

You know what helps?  Great luggage helps.  With any of these pieces, you could almost (I said almost!) wear sweat pants and still look chic carting these around the airport.
The trunk pictured above is from the company Nappa Dori, an Indian based design house that creates beautiful trunks as well as other home and travel items.
Maybe a trunk is a little too unwieldy for you?  A little too heavy?  I, personally, am in the market for new luggage that is lightweight so I can fit more clothes and purchases in them.  Last time we went overseas we ended up having to leave clothes and shoes behind, as well as mail a large number of items home because we bought so much stuff.  (It was worth it, I won't lie.)
But, if you are in the market for a lighter piece of luggage, but still want durability and quality, as well as that wow factor, I don't think you need to look much farther than these next beauties.

Steamline, The Diplomat, $600

Steamline's The Diplomat in Carry-On size, $600

Aren't those two just gorgeous?  They are from the company Steamline and are both under 10 pounds.  I know a $600 price tag may seem pretty steep for a carry-on, but think how much use you would get out of using it!  I would probably travel more just so I could use the bag more often and justify the cost.  So it would definitely be a win-win in the grand scheme of things, what with all of the traveling I'd be doing just so I could show off use the bag as much as possible.
So what do you think?  Splurge on gorgeous new luggage, or go for something like a Samsonite?  I currently have Michael Kors luggage, which I love, but it is pretty heavy and I have a hard enough time packing as it is.
I hope your week is going well!  Halfway to the weekend, woo-hoo!

Travel Chic

This week's Friday's Fancies theme is centered around staying chic when you travel. We were just talking about traveling last night at dinner. I realized that we need to start planning our trip for next summer, or for spring break, if we decide to go somewhere then. I also realized that I have never really traveled during the winter or fall months; at least, not on a plane. We've gone up north, but never really far. Hmmm. Maybe we can remedy that soon. So anyway, here is my take on a couple of comfortable, chic looks that will take you from the airport to final destination in style. I also happen to think these would be great outfits for running errands in on the weekend.

Travel

Paul Smith cardigan / Zoe Karssen jersey tee / Merona plus size long sleeve top / Loeffler Randall slip on shoes / UGG Australia Women s Alloway Slippers / Sperry Top-Sider green purse / Mango black purse

I've got to say that I am so glad it is the weekend.  Time is just flying by; can you believe that we only have two full months left this year?!  Crazy!
Happy Friday, and a big thanks to Alison over at Long Distance Loving for hosting the link up!
Oh, and happy birthday to my little brother!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

The Cat and I are leaving on a jet plane tomorrow, so I thought I'd share some of the things I deem as travel essentials for a flight.  Lucky for us, this is going to be a relatively short flight, as we are flying into Denver, staying there for a night and day, and then driving on into Cheyenne to visit family.
First on my list: magazines.  I always buy a couple of new magazines to look at in the airport and on the plane.  I used to always include a couple of books in my bag, but now I can substitute the Kindle (although I still prefer an actual book).  I love being able to load the Kindle up with a few different book choices, and even some more magazines, to be able to have a choice.
I also try to bring wipes- when the Cat was a baby, I loved the convenience of having wipes around; they are for more than just babies, and I swore that I would continue buying them long after I needed to clean up any babies.  A good sized scarf is great, as I can use it as a light weight blanket if I need to.    A sleeping mask is also a good idea, but not for me- I always bring it for the Cat.  Same with the goldfish- anytime we travel, I always pick up Goldfish (current flavor- S'mores) for my little missy boo.  Chapstick, cracker/cookies, and mints, plus a tea that I'll buy at the airport Starbucks, and I'm pretty set for take off!

Rebecca Minkoff / Scarve / Beauty product / Nice 'N Clean Baby Wipes Soft-Pack with Aloe Unscented,... / Lucky / Amazon.com: Traditional Home: Kindle Store: Meredith Corporation / Amazon.com: House Beautiful: Kindle Store: Hearst Magazines / Amazon.com: Verso "Prologue" Standing Cover for Kindle Fire HD 8.9",... / Pepperidge Farm Baked Goldfish Grahams S'mores, 6.6 Oz. (4 Pack) / belVita Breakfast Biscuits, Blueberry Breakfast Biscuits, 8.8 oz / Black and White Polka Dot Sleep Eye Mask

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend! We are going to a Cracker Barrel while we are in Denver, so that should set the tone for a pretty great weekend for us. That, and the fact that I get to visit my family and meet my cousin's little babies for the first time ever. There is that, too.

 

826 Valencia

When we were in Chicago last summer, my brother and sister-in-law took us to a place called The Boring Store.  

We walked in and instantly fell in love.  It isn't really a boring store; it's a secret agent store, selling secret agent spy things.  And that is just a front too, because really what it is is a part of 826 National, a nonprofit organization that works with students,  working on their writing with them and doing their best to instill in them a love of literacy.  They even go so far as to publish student writing and then sell it in the stores.

It is pretty awesome.

So when we were headed to San Francisco with no real definite plans (except to follow SF Girl By Bay's advice and eat at Craftsman & Wolves), I figured that San Francisco would probably have a similar store.  I looked it up (man, I love having a smart phone!) and found that there was, indeed, a similar store in SF; in fact, I found out that the original store was started by two teachers in San Francisco.  They started an after school program to cater to kids' writing needs.  It just so happened that where they rented space, they needed to have a store front and sell something.  They decided to sell pirate stuff.

And so 826 Valencia was born.  Billed as "San Francisco's only independent pirate store," they have everything piratical your little heart could desire.  

So, it all started with the pirate store, and then the nonprofit grew and they've opened up more store fronts in other states; a Time Travel Mart in Los Angeles, an Unnatural History Museum in D.C.; the list goes on.

The Cat and I want to go to all of them.  They are funny and smart, and the profits from the sales go to the writing program.  

We were able to cross 826 Valencia off our list this trip.  If you're heading to San Francisco any time soon, I definitely recommend heading to Valencia Street in the Mission District and checking out the pirate shop.  (And eating at The Front Porch, Craftsman & Wolves, and Humphrey Slocombe!)

Our next visit will probably be to the Time Travel Mart in L.A., but we've got our eyes on the other shops too.

This is toward the back of the store front; behind this is a huge area for kids to come in for tutoring.  Kids come in after school and even during school on field trips.

When you walk in, you see that one wall is covered in drawers that you can open and dig through.  Some have items for sale, and others are just full of clever, funny surprises.

There was a bulletin board full of notes left by past pirates.  This was so much fun to look at; people are so creative!

Sea Salt and Pepper

The "Sea Pepper" was one of my favorite items in the store.  The label reads, "Sea Pepper: Stands to reason this would exist."

I think it is clever; everything in the store is pretty fantastic, and I love that proceeds go to helping out kids learn how to love to read and write.  Brilliant.

  

Happy Friday; Quote of the Week

Soon the Cat and I will be in Chicago, visiting my brother and sister-in-law.  We are both super excited for our trip (minus the whole making sure you get to the airport on time, get your bags checked, etc., etc.).

The following is a great picture featuring the iconic Marshall Field's clock on State Street in 1947.  The image comes from the Chicago Daily News.

image via

We've got big plans to visit all the touristy type places, take in lots of amazing architecture, explore as many different neighborhoods as we can, and eat our way through Chicago.  Lucky for us, we have two built in tour guides, so we are both looking forward to our visit.  And for those of you who have summer travel plans, I leave you with a little bit of sound advice...

So very, very true!
image via

~Lori

Maps: Home and Fashion Inspiration

This is really cute. Cover anything with a map, add a ship and I'm on board!

Maps, maps everywhere!  I have always loved maps and I believe Lori has too.  This season it is also a really big trend and there are some incredibly creative ways to decorate with maps.  Lori didn't get that amazing explorer skirt she wanted but there are some other great options here that might help ease the disappointment.   Take a look!

Here are two trends rolled into one: fake animal head made from a map image.

I love blue and green together. These shades of blue and green, inspired by the map, are so fresh.

Such a great idea: map cut into three sections then framed separately.

I have always loved these dressers. They really are quite classic but are having a great moment now.

I have done this with fabric but not a map! Great idea.

Map gallery wall.

 

A temporary way to add some fun and color.

map scarf. Perdy.

I really want this locket so no one buy it!

world cuff bracelet

Lori found these beautiful, almost origami like, map dresses.

This is Sasek



by Sasek



A couple of years ago, Alli and I were lucky enough to go on a trip to Europe that included stops in England, France, the Isle of Mann, and Ireland.  I wasn't sure if we were definitely going to France, as it was only going to be a day trip if we had time.  (The sole reason for going to France was to go to Paris, because Alli wanted to see the Eiffel Tower.)

Anyway, our trip was set for the summer, but the planning began months before that, and so for Christmas Alli received a special book to let her know of our upcoming trip- This is London by Miroslav Sasek.

By the time her birthday rolled around, our day trip to Paris was set, so I bought her the book This is Paris to let her know that we would be making the trip to the city of lights.





by Sasek



 While were were in Ireland, I got her the book This is Ireland by the same author.

by Sasek

Next summer, my goal is to go to Italy.  Alli wants to go back to Paris, since we missed seeing the Eiffel Tower lit up at night, but I have always, always, always wanted to go to Italy.  And I'm paying, so I win.  Part of me is a little scared to go, because it is looking like it may just be the two of us traveling across the pond.  We flew back from Ireland by ourselves, but for our whole trip last time, we were part of a large group.  We were really fortunate to be part of that group; for our first trip overseas we were gone for a few weeks, staying in flats and bed and breakfasts more than actual hotels.  And we had a beautiful time, though unfortunately we have fallen out of touch with many of the people from the trip.  Anyway, that trip has put it in my mind that if you're going to go to Europe, you should stay as long as possible.  So I would like to go back to London for a few days, and then go on to Italy.  And while in Italy, I'm thinking we should rent a little flat or villa, rather than stay in a hotel.  I just think it makes sense, if we can get a good deal, to rent a little apartment and make that our home base and travel around Italy from there.  I would like to go to Roma, of course, and Firenze (Florence), and the Amalfi Coast.  I want to go to Venice, Tuscany... I want to go everywhere I possibly can.  And I want to keep with our tradition of getting her the Sasek books that focus on the country or city.  So these are two things that I'm hoping to get Alli for Christmas, with the understanding that it means the trip is in the works and we are going to Italia.  I want to be able to test out our tiny bit of Italian, like "Tanto piacere" (It's nice to meet you).  Here's hoping!


also by Sasek



by Sasek