I bought a new lens with our upcoming trip to Morocco in mind and was happy to have a reason to take it for a test drive.With just about 48 hours to explore, we definitely made the most of it.

Worst things first. If the skies are clear I recommend you learn from our mistakes and head directly to the Golden Gate Bridge. It may be covered in fog the rest of your trip. While we didn’t see much of the bridge, we did manage to catch a glimpse of a humingbird. From the Bridge, we ubered to the Cliff House then walked a bit through Golden Gate Park.

We took an Uber to and from the bridge, but if you’re not renting a car you could also take a ferry from the ferry terminal.

Since we didn’t rent a car, we walked Lombard Street rather than driving the hairpin turns on the crookedest street. My best advice is to take the Powell Street Cable Cable car to Lombard Street and it will drop you off on top of the hill. When you reach the bottom, walk just a little further (downhill), and pick up a box of truffles in the deceivingly divey XOX Truffle. 

San Francisco’s Chinatown is one of the best in the nation, so we spent some time wandering in and out of a couple of import shops and had dinner at Mister Jiu’s. We didn’t make a reservation in advance, but dined at their full service bar instead. I highly recommend the potstickers and the steak fried rice.

Near Union Square we ate brunch at The Cavalier designed by Ken Faulk, shopped for the Christmas ornaments I collect at Gump’s and walked by the stunning, deco Four Fifty Sutter. We also wandered the SFMOMA and sipped on Sightglass Coffee.

Onlookers were laughing when Anthony placed his phone on the public art.

In the Mission District we stopped by Souvla for a fast casual lunch (the fries! Oh my gosh, the fries!), Craftsman and Wolves, and Dandelion Chocolate for coffee and a chocolate flight. We also popped by the legendary Tartine and Bi-Rite Creamery, but couldn’t eat another bite

I was oogling at the architecture throughout the weekend. Of course we visited the Painted Ladies. I snapped a few photos of other gorgeous homes. Pumpkins and the porches and fallen leaves on the ground added to the charm.

If you’re looking for some shopping Sacramento street has some great local boutiques. We popped in to Sue Fisher King to peruse their extensive collection of Astier de Villatte and browsed Hudson Grace‘s homewares.

Lucky for us, Mr. Holmes Bakehouse was a very short walk from our hotel. Going from Central to Pacific time made it easy to get up early and beat the crowds for cruffins. If you’re not up for waiting, every other pastry we had was honest-to-goodness as good or better than the cruffins. Think: flakey churro croissants with vanilla custard, not-your-ordinary filled donuts, and the best chocolate chip cookie you’ll ever eat. What to know before you go: The bakery opens at 8. Cruffins aren’t ready until 9. The line to the right of the door is “everything but cruffins” and the line to the left is “nothing but cruffins.” If you arrive right before nine on a non-summer Saturday, you can probably get both cruffins and other goodies within 30 minutes. We arrived too early, got our croissants, donuts, and cookies, then I hopped in line to wait for the cruffins, while Anthony grabbed us coffee at Jane right down the street.

Looking for other travel inspiration? Head to my Pinterest board

Do you have any Bay Area favorites I missed?

Here it goes: the pictures, noted changes, a list of what I would still like to accomplish here, and sources.

The crane above is the newest addition to my collection. My produce has finally found a home other than “anywhere on the counter.” With the bananas on top, it reminds me of the Chiquita banana lady with the fruit on her head.

So what have I done exactly since last featuring the dining room?

• I’ve changed the artwork
• I painted the green stripes black
• I’ve restyled the curio, swapping my most of my green pieces for neutral ones

What would I still like to do?

• Get a new dining table (I’ve purchased one that is currently being rehabbed and I cannot wait for you to see it!)
• Purchase new dining chairs
• Add a black ribbon trim border to the curtains
• Get a new chandelier (I’ve got my eyes on this one, but I’m not sure it would be enough light)
• Replace the pillows on the dining chairs

I feel like the vision is finally all starting to come together.

Sources: Alphabet Chest (no longer available) | Curio | Dining Set | Rug | Mirror | Frames | Artwork | Ceiling Medallion | Duck Foot Serving Platter and Bowl | Black Marble Cake Stand (no longer available) | Gold glasses | Malachite Box | Crown Teapot  (I purchased mine in London in 2007)| Monogrammed Carafes | Crane Tiered Server | Large Bowl | Mug/Bottle Rack | Nespresso  (I purchased mine at the William Sonoma Outlet)

You will see women with llamas decorated in colorful pom poms all over Cusco. In exchange for a few soles, you can have a few incredible and incredibly touristy photos to commemorate your trip. This picture is one of my absolute favorites.

2. Stroll through Plaza de Armas

Sit on a bench in the square during sunset and enjoy the perfect golden lighting. If you stay in one place long, be prepared to turn down many paintings and drawings, massages, llama themed tchotchkes, and woven hats. Soak it all in. It is part of the experience.

3. Visit Qorikancha

The historic temple is believed to have been covered in gold before the Spanish conquest. Note: the Boleto Turistico is not needed for Qorikancha. Admission is charged separately.

4. Buy Alpaca at Kuna, Sol Alpaca, or Centro de Textiles

Kuna and Sol Alpaca are boutiques with gorgeous alpaca scarves, blankets, sweaters, and gloves. At either of these boutiques, you can rest assured you’re getting the real thing and can choose from a wide selection of styles in a variety of neutrals and colors. Centro de Textiles is a small shop dedicated to preserving the Andean art and paying fair wages. Here you can watch women weave and purchase alpaca goods in more traditional colors and styles.

5. Pick up a few yards of handwoven fabric at Illari

With my guestroom in mind, I purchased 2 yards of fabric so I could come home and make a long lumbar pillow for the bed. I also purchased several yards of gorgeous handwoven ribbon to wrap souvenirs for family.

6. Drink fresh juice at San Pedro Market

San Pedro was closed for repainting for most of our time in Cusco, but we were able to sit down and sip a glass of freshly pressed juice our last day. It was certainly worth the wait.

7. Shop for souvenirs at Pisac Market

If you’re looking for souvenirs, grab a cab and head to the Pisac market. This was my favorite of all the markets we visited and we shopped markets in Chincheros (though not the Sunday market), Aguas Calientes, Pisac, Lima, and Cusco. Pisac has a huge selection of things made of semi precious stones (I bought jade letter openers and lapis lazuli jewelry) and all things llama (like brass llamas and llama pens).

8. Wind down the narrow mountain roads to Maras Salt Mines

When planning the trip, I wasn’t sure how easy or expensive it would be to visit some of the places I wanted to surround Cusco: places like Maras, Pisac, and Moray. I was thrilled when I found out our hotel could hire a cab for 250 soles, or about 75 dollars, and we could tour the Sacred Valley for a full day. You can also hire a guide, be we opted to adventure with our Spanish-only speaking cab driver, Elvis. Though our Spanish is very minimal, it was such a great experience that we ended up using Elvis for any cab needs for the remainder of our trip (excepting our misadventure in Ollantaytamo). We purchased several small bags of Peruvian pink salt while in Maras. Admission to Maras was approximately 10 soles per person, or roughly three USD.

9. Visit Moray

The exact purpose of the circular terraces is unknown, the speculation about their agricultural uses is fascinating.

10. Say a prayer for Peru at the colonial church in Chincero

Iglesia Colonial de Chinchero is a strange wonder. Unassuming from the outside, and poorly preserved, the interior of this humble church in seemingly the middle of nowhere is stunning and serene.

11. Visit Sacsayhuaman and Cristo Blanco

In my pre-trip research I repeatedly saw writers recommending a hike to Sacsayhuaman and Cristo Blanco. Without more than a couple of days to acclimate to the altitude, I would recommend a cab for the long, steep journey. At Sacsayhuaman, marvel at the single stones weighing hundreds of tons and wonder at how Incans were able to move them by rope from the local quarry.

12. Eat when you have an appetite

Altitude sickness was not nearly as scary as it sounded on the internet, but I did tire easily and lose my appetite. I am sure there is better food is Cusco than I had the energy or appetite for, but I did enjoy Qespi Restaurant JW Marriott, tableside tiramisu at Carpe Diem , and lunch on the balcony at Papachos overlooking Plaza de Armas.

13. Take the train to Machu Picchu

If you are in Cusco, there is a good chance that the primary reason is so you can make your way to Machu Picchu. If you are headed to Machu Picchu you can find my advice and thoughts on the best mode of transportation here.

For more on the Sacred Valley check out my map or ask questions in the comments below. If you have been to Peru, I would love to hear your stories!

I am sure it is a given, but I would be remiss not to mention it. Go for a show, go for a tour, go simply to admire the architecture, or to check it off of your bucket list. I don’t care why you go to the Sydney Opera House, but go.

Until I was right beneath it, I didn’t realize that the sails are tiled.

Anthony and I bought tickets in advance, packed our Sunday best and went all in. Before heading into the concert hall, we snagged a few seats at the Bennelong bar and grabbed a drink and a few delicious small bites.

One of the first things we did in Sydney, was headed to the Quay (pronounced like “key”) and hopped on a ferry. Regardless of where you go, the the panoramic views of the Opera House and the harbor were worth the price of admission. Anthony was intent on seeing Koalas and Kangaroos in Australia so we took the ferry to the Taronga Zoo. Entering the zoo from the ferry was a whimsical experience: after disembarking we were whisked up the top of the hill to the entrance of the zoo via gondola.

We opted not to do the Sydney Harbor Bridge Climb and enjoyed the perfect view from our first hotel instead. We also walked across the bridge. If you decide to walk across it, check the opening times for Pylon lookout.

Early one morning, we hopped on a bus and headed to Bondi Beach before the crowds.

The ocean was (hyperbolically) freezing, so we opted for a dip in the slightly less chilly pool at Iceberg’s instead. Watching surfers from the oceanside pool was as cool as it sounds.

Take the stroll to Mrs Macquarie’s chair. The site itself is filled with some unique history, but the view along the way is possibly the best of the Sydney skyline.

If I could only point you to one restaurant in Sydney I would emphatically tell you not to miss the Grounds of Alexandria.  It is unlike any restaurant I have ever been to.  It’s a farm to table restaurant, patisserie, craft coffee roastery, flower market, and garden all in one. It is a casual place of the highest quality. From the coffee menu, I would highly recommend the affogato with house made tiramisu ice cream and pop rocks. Be sure to meet the animals on the property like Kevin Bacon the pig, and Russell Crowe the rooster.

The Melbourne based chocolatier, Koko Black sold me the best truffle (hands down, no contest) I have ever eaten: their liquid caramel truffle was heaven in a bite. Stop by one of the two Sydney locations in the Strand Arcade or the Queen Victoria Building (pictured below).

A few other noteworthy places we ate:

• Single O for a hearty on-the-go barbie brekkie sandwich
• Gelato Messina, self-explanatory, worth the hype
• Mr. Wong (reservations advised)
• Riley Street Garage for when you want to share a lamb shoulder that might end up being your least expensive sit down meal in Sydney
• Little Jean for convenient pre shopping brunch (I recommend Mud Austrailia for hand poured Porcelain dinnerware and Dan Murphy’s for Crafter’s Union wine)
• Any of the options in the Barangaroo area (We tried Belle’s Hot Chicken, Born by Tapavino, and Shortstop Coffee and Donuts)

  

If you’re look for fine dining, Quay has ranked in the top 50 restaurants in the world for eight years running. Anthony and I opted not to spend the approximately 225 USD per person, so I cannot speak to the value or experience.

My favorite Louis Vuitton city guides pointed me to Eau de Vie, recommending the Aviator, so I ordered just that. The pink cocktail is served with a blue “cloud” of cotton candy and a paper airplane on top. All the other drinks looked just as fun. When you walk into the small, award-winning bar, you will feel like you stepped back in time 100 years.

I do not like apples, and I do not like whisky, but I ordered a pressed apple and rye at the Baxter Inn, and found a new favorite drink. They juice the apples after you order and pour you a tall, frothy, green glass mixed with Tennessee Whisky. The Baxter Inn is tucked away down an alley which just so happened to be on the same block as our second hotel. When you finally find the basement bar, you’ll feel like you stumbled on Sydney’s the best kept secret hideout.

If you’re looking to go a little further off the beaten path, I loved venturing to Precinct 75. Society Inc. by Sibella Court and InArtisan are great local shops for a non-touristy souvenir. There is also a darling print shop whose name is escaping me next door to Society Inc. A ginger IPA at local brewery Willie the Boatman was a surprisingly delicious first. We also got a kick out of people watching at Maniax, an axe throwing bar (because drinking about yielding sharp weapons are the perfect pair?)

HELPFUL HINT: Before arriving in Sydney I heard nothing but sarcasm and negativity surrounding their public transportation. Coming from Austin, Texas where we have nothing more than Uber and city buses, I found it to be fantastic. Once we arrived at our hotel, Anthony and I got everywhere we could dream of going without once hailing a cab (though we do tend to walk more than the average traveler).

If you want a more comprehensive list of places we went or wanted to go, head to my Sydney Map. If you have specific questions or want to share your memories of Sydney, please chime in in the comments below.

Friday morning, the day before we left Peru, we set out on one of the most anticipated parts of our adventure: we boarded the Belmond Hiram Bingham train and headed for the world wonder.

Since we went to Peru in April, during rainy season when no trains run from Cusco to Machu Picchu, we took the Bi-Modal Hiram Bingham service to Aguas Calientes. From our hotel, we headed to Poroy station, where we were greeted by traditional Incan dancers in colorful costume and loaded into a van while being serenaded by very ceremonious live music.

At the Belmond Hotel Rio Sagrado, we transferred to the luxury train. I could not have anticipated what I was about to experience. While their website details live music in the observation car, Pisco Sours in the lounge car, and full lunch in the dining car, those strings of words don’t capture how appropriately grand Belmond makes the journey to the fabled ruins.

No detail was unattended. The first course of lunch included smoked Andean trout and cornbread baked in a husk made from Peruvian corn. Before disembarking, we were given water for the trek. The bus ride up the mountain, admission tickets for the citadel, and an English speaking guide was included in our fare. We stamped our passports and it was official: we made it to Machu Picchu!

I won’t attempt to recite the theories our guide told us about why Machu Picchu exists. I’m not writing this as a history lesson, but in hopes this post inspires or emboldens you to go, and helps you plan your travel.I would strongly suggest if you visit Machu Picchu, hire a guide. Our guide did a great job and explaining the significance of what we were looking at when we walked through the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Condor or passed the Intiwatana Stone. I was so impressed to learn the details of the thoughtful construction that I would never have picked up on wandering on my own.

To punctuate our time at Machu Picchu, we enjoyed a very hearty afternoon tea at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, the only hotel at the entrance of Machu Picchu (also included in our fare). We wound back down the mountain on a bus and perused the market before boarding or train back toward Cusco. To save on costs without sacrificing experience, we took the Vistadome for our return journey. Our arrival at Ollantaytambo truly added adventure to our trip (more on that here), but I wouldn’t trade the story for a taxi driver with my name on his sign. ____________________________________________________________________________

Knowing what I know now, I would probably stay overnight in Aguas Calientes, go back to Machu Picchu for a morning hike up Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain, or to Sun Gate, and then return to Cusco. If you do that, keep in mind the trains only allow a small bag, so pack just enough for an overnight trip, leaving the rest of your luggage at your hotel (or a hostel) back in Cusco.

More from my trip to Peru including highlights from Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Lima coming soon.

Have any specific questions about our experience in Machu Picchu or on the Belmond Hiram Bingham? Fire away in the comment section below. Have stories from your own trip to Peru? Do share!

That, my friends, is why my guestroom, while always ready to welcome out-of-town guests with fresh sheets and towels and a comfortable mattress, has been furnished with hand me down furniture for the past four years. I don’t think most people mean four years when they say good design takes time.  I have no excuses for it remaining beige for so long, on the other hand.

I finally decided it was time to sink a few dollars and a few hours into the guestroom. Here is how it looks today:

I’m still trying to decide on brass frames for the Yago Hortal prints I searched the world over for. Don’t mind the masking tape; just keepin’ it real. I still need to borrow my mom’s sewing machine to turn the handwoven fabric I picked up in Peru into a pillow (yep, just wrapped around a pillow right now).

You want a glimpse of the before?

It is pretty incredible what a coat of paint and a pair of matching nightstands can do. The only other thing I bought was the curtain rod below (at the West Elm Outlet). I pulled the duvet cover out of the linen closet and had the white Ikea curtains in another room.

Side note: the Louis Vuitton City Guides ^ are wonderful and probably the least expensive things in store!

Nightstands | Bench (not pictured) | Curtain Rod

If you don’t know where to look, finding high quality, European glass ornaments outside of Europe can be a wild goose chase, but I’m here to share my secrets! These tips come from years of collecting, a little bit of research, luck, and even some travel.

First, I’ll break down brands to look for: searching for specific makers helps tremendously! Then I’ll go over some of my favorite places to hunt, both in store and online. After that, I’ll cover some tips on displaying and storing the fragile ornaments to keep them safe and secure on the tree at the holidays and stowed away the rest of the year.

Brands:

• Christopher Radko – Christopher Radko is really the brand that popularized intricate blown glass ornaments in America and can be found at department stores and boutiques alike. These ornaments are made in Poland. They tend to retain or gain value for years to come and are quite popular on secondary markets, like Ebay.

  Weihnachtszierde – Weihnachtszierde, literally translated means “White Night Ornament” or Christmas Ornament. This Polish brand makes some unique, numbered, limited edition glass ornaments painted to look like tin toys.

  

  Weihnachtszierde Tin Toy Glass Monkey

   

• De Carlini- These free blown style ornaments are made in Italy. De Carlini most often makes figures or animals of glass with mixed media props.
• Wiktoria Morawski –W. Wiktoria-Morawski, another free blown maker, isn’t likely a name you’ve heard, and chances are you wouldn’t come across the name easily either. I owned many Wiktoria-Morawski ornaments before I knew the name from purchases at various stores, where the ornaments came unmarked. It wasn’t until I bought my favorite souvenirs in generic white boxes with a tiny stickers at a shop in Munich that I learned of the company. These Polish gems are some of my absolute favorites for a couple of reasons including shapes blown into clear glass domes and a clip-on selection better than any other maker.
  

  Morawski Penguin Glass Dome

• Eric Cortina- Eric Cortina makes some of my favorite quirky and whimsical ornaments such as my French bulldog wearing a top hat, bowtie and a spectacle, and my clip-on of Santa’s boots sticking out of the Chimney. He also makes my crown tree topper.
• John Huras – This guy’s story is really neat. Accustomed to the gorgeous and traditional trees of Poland, he originally started making ornaments for orphanages whose trees he wished could bring more cheer to the children.
• Jay Strongwater – Jay Strongwater ornaments are on my wishlist, not my tree. The designer’s glass ornaments are pricier than most, with a very distinct enameled look.
• Patricia Breen – I don’t own a Patricia Breen ornament (yet), and while the more traditional themes aren’t typically my style, the detail on each ornament is magnificent.
• Landmark Creations – Landmark Creations is best known for their ornaments of, well, landmarks. Artist Michael Storings has a line made by Landmark Creations of lovely hand paints bulbs, typically of different holiday scenes in New York City.
  

  Landmark Creations Michael Storings Bergdorf Taxi Ornament

• Krebs Lauscha and IMPULS are German and Polish companies, respectively, that make some of the widest variety of more readily accessible European glass Christmas ornaments.
• Inge Glas – Inge Glas is one of the oldest German-based glass blowers. These little treasures are usually more reasonably priced than other brands.

Stores:

• Bergdorf Goodman (New York, New York) – Bergdorf Goodman has many exclusive ornaments with at least five themed trees each year. Their in store selection varies from the limited options you see online, but contact the store and you can shop through pictures via email. They will ship internationally, but if you’re in New York City for the Christmas season, I highly advise a stop on their 7th floor where their Christmas room is set up.
• Neiman Marcus (multiple locations)- Neiman Marcus boasts of the widest variety of European ornaments I can find locally in Austin year after year. They have excellent buyers who select many ornaments made exclusively for them each year. Be sure to shop in store because like Bergdorf, their sister company, the majority of their exclusive ornaments are not available online.
• Last Call (multiple locations)- Neiman Marcus Last Call can be hit or miss, but often during the holidays you will find a small selection of last year’s ornaments that didn’t sell out at Neiman Marcus or Bergdorf Goodman.
• Tuesday Morning (multiple locations) – At Tuesday Morning you can find a few different brands, including Radko’s from last season at up to 75% off! Most of what you find will be IMPULS, found in those pale yellow boxes.
• TJMaxx/Marshalls/HomeGoods – Most years these stores carry something, but there is no telling what. Brands and selection vary greatly from store to store and year to year. On a couple of occasions I’ve scored a Radko for under $10! Again, many of the ornaments will be IMPULS.
• Dillard’s (multiple locations)- Dillard’s is one of the few national department stores that carries Radko in store. Go and check out the quality for yourself!
• Mia’s Christmas Gallery (Ocean City, NJ) – I haven’t been here myself, but based on their sister website, DaPolonia, mentioned below, I hope to make it here eventually.
• The Christmas Store (Fredericksburg, TX) – If you’re in central Texas, this is a great little shop for any time you need Christmas fix as it is open year round. They are one of the few retailers in the United States that has an entire room dedicated to Radko ornaments. If you’re out-of-state, give them a call, and they’ll help you hunt down what you’re looking for.
  

  Christopher Radko Limited Edition Owl Ornament from The Christmas Store, Fredericksburg, Texas

• World Market – Cost Plus World Market usually has a small selection of ornaments made in Poland. Their quality isn’t always superb, but I’ve got some fun additions like a hamburger, stand mixer, and Big Ben.
• Pier 1- Pier 1 has a very limited selection of European blown glass ornaments, but you can count on them to have one or two each year.

Online:

• Ebay – Ebay is a vast resource for ornaments. Searching by brand or generically searching for “Polish Glass Ornaments” or “German Glass Ornaments” will return tons of results. I often brose the seller, xmasworld, who sells a great variety of mostly Krebs and IMPULS
• ABC Home – I have had less than stellar experiences with ABC Home’s customer service, but I have found a few Wiktoria Morawski clip on ornaments that were worth the trouble on their site. Shopping in the beautiful store at the holidays is pure magic if you happen to be in New York City.
• Gracious Home – Gracious Home is another lovely NYC home store you can shop online. They stock a selection of Radko and Morawski ornaments as well as a few IMPULS options.
• Bloomingdale’s – Bloomingdale’s carries a handful of Landmark Creations ornaments each year including a few Michael Storings’ baubles.
• Directly from Poland– After seeing one of my blog posts I was contacted via Instagram by @morawsky. I was able to purchase sales samples or production endings directly from Wiktoria Morawski. I’ll admit I was hesitant at first, but was delighted when my dozen or so ornaments arrived unbroken.
• GiftsbyKasia – Gifts by Kasia is a Polish owned shop that sells the largest variety of Wiktoria Morawski ornaments I have found online. Join their e-mail list. They have occasional sales and even send out giftcards!
• Christopher Radko – In very recent years, Christopher Radko has made their annual collection available directly from their website.
• Amazon – Amazon is more difficult to navigate when it comes to searching for ornaments, but if you find a specific ornament you like, pop over to Amazon for a price comparison.
• Horchow – Horchow is the sister company of Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus, and usually has a similar selection to the two stores on their website. They carry Eric Cortina, De Carlini, Christopher Radko, and Jay Strongwater.
• Bronner’s – Bronner’s online stocks a simply enormous variety of Christmas goods. The site can be overwhelming, but if you click on “Christmas Ornaments” and then “European-Made” it narrows down the scope to a manageable number of pages. Most of what you find here will either be IMPULS or Krebs.
• The Cottage Shop – The Cottage Shop sells the widest variety of De Carlini ornaments I have found on the world wide web as well as a smaller selection of Polish ornaments.
• Dapolonia – Da Polonia is a pricier resource overall, but they have a truly unique selection. I’ve been eyeing the unavailable “Girl with a Pearl Earring” ornament for a couple of years now. They have some makers I am unfamiliar and some Wiktoria Morawski ornaments.
• Silverado – Shipping at Silverado costs approximately $50, but their ornaments are so well priced that if you are looking to buy a handful or more, you end up saving in the end. Silverado carries the best selection of Weihnachtszierde brand ornaments I have found
• Dillard’s is one of the few department stores that carries Radko in store. Go and check out the quality for yourself!
• RogersGardens – Roger’s Gardens sells the best selection of Eric Cortina ornaments I found. They also stock Christopher Radko.
• Christina’s World– The selection is huge!

Non-European ornaments are not always sub-par I have a few treasured ornaments that were made in China. Sometimes you just find an original concept or design that makes up for lesser quality and sometimes the quality and detail are equally lovely. Old World Christmas ornaments are made in China, but if you are looking for a specific shape or theme, Old World Christmas is a high quality go-to. Anthropologie occasionally carries blown glass ornaments that are unique and worthwhile. I also have a few ornaments on my tree that are travel souvenirs made in China, such as a bearskin soldier I bought in London. Waterford’s blown glass ornaments are typically made in China, but the detail on my Waterford ballerina ornament rivals that on many of my German and Polish made ornaments.

Waterford Ballerina Ornament

Display:

Generally speaking, glass ornaments are better displayed on an artificial tree because real trees have moisture that can damage this finish over time. The likelihood of this causing any significant damage in your lifetime is small, so If you prefer to celebrate with a real tree, you do you.

I highly recommend purchasing Sure Grip Clips for displaying your fragile favorites. You can find them online, but they are pretty pricey. Hobby Lobby carries them in store for a song in comparison. I replaced all of the clips on my ornaments in 2014 and feel like they insurance my collection’s safety. There have been accidental shakes and bumps of our tree without shattered glass.

Storage:

While plastic is typically not advised for storage of precious blown glass ornaments, for moisture reasons, I use Snapware to store all of my ornaments. I just don’t trust cardboard not to get crushed. I try to control moisture in other ways which I will share in a second. Another bit I have learned is that the Snapware storage boxes are the same size as the Christmas boxes, available year-round, and usually priced lower than the green and red holiday variety.

While Snapware comes with dividers, I buy Ikea Drawer Dividers. If you buy the Christmas Snapware, you will receive more than enough cardboard dividers. If you buy the storage variety like I do, you will only receive enough plastic dividers for one tier. That’s just fine by me though: Ikea Drawer Dividers are the perfect height and are far more customizable, so you can arrange them to fit the stranger shapes and sizes.

In order pad the ornaments and combat moisture, I use Archival Shred that I buy from the Container Store. I also add Silica Gel packets to the bottom of each tier in order to trap any moisture that might make its way into the boxes.

Do you think I’m crazy yet? Do you know of any stores or brands available stateside that I’m missing? Do you collect a specific type of ornaments?

Get more Christmas inspiration from my holiday PInterest board!

If you find yourself heading to Oahu or the Big Island, I’ll breeze over some favorites, hoping you find my experiences useful. If you’re not going anywhere for awhile, I hope the pictures provide a quick escape or motivation to start planning your next getaway.

After spending an afternoon at Punalu’u Black Sands Beach, we grabbed lunch at the  Ohelo Cafe on the way to Vocanoes National Park. If you’re short on time, walk through the Thurston Lava Tube and stop at the Jagger Museum overlook where we saw lava sputtering out of Kīlauea crater.

We rounded out the day with a guided night snorkel with manta rays. I hope to add photos of the dive to this post soon, but I used a waterproof disposable film camera, so they are currently being developed. I feel like I time travelled a decade just typing that.

One evening, we drove to the Mauna Kea visitor center in hopes of having the stargazing time of our lives. Unfortunately, there was too much cloud coverage for visibility and too much moisture in the air for the telescopes. Regardless, this was a highlight of the trip for me, and I have since added a trip to the summit to my bucket list. For blog related purposes, I’ll avoid talking about how astronomy might cause you contemplate the complexities of humanity and how miraculous it is that microscopic organisms exist in an infinite universe.

The morning the guys went on a deep sea fishing excursion, the ladies took the opportunity to visit Hula Daddy Coffee Plantation. I highly recommend a quick, free tour and tasting. Since it was nearby, we drove down Kaloko drive, in hopes of spotting some rainbow eucalyptus trees before reuniting with the unsuccessful fisherman.

Many of the Big Island’s beaches are rocky, so I was delighted to see white sand when we visited Hapuna Beach. If you don’t make it to Vocanoes National Park, there is a lava tube near Hapuna, on the east side of HI 19. The “seas the day” hats were a DIY labor of love, crafted for this trip.

My favorite meals in Kona were from Da Poke Shack and Broke Da Mouth Grindz. Poke is definitely one of those “when in Rome” Hawaiian must-eats. There are few places in the U.S. to get ahi as fresh. Broke Da Mouth makes melt-in-your-mouth short ribs that you must order.

Our last night in Hawai’i, we went to a lu’au to formalize the birthday celebration, complete with a whole kalua pig, hula lessons, fire dancers, and all-you-can-drink Mai Tais. This would finish the “When in Rome” phrase with, “do as the tourists,” but I loved every minute of it.

Before catching our flight home the following day, we perused the Kona Farmer’s Market for trinkets and souvenirs. My bag was nineteen pounds when I left for Hawai’i and somehow it gained six pounds. Since I didn’t buy anything over $5, I’m calling it a mystery.

Though we stayed in Kona, Anthony and I booked our flights out of Hilo. It is quite a drive, but it gave us the opportunity to explore a part of the island we wouldn’t have otherwise visited.

When we arrived in Hilo, we stopped at Two Ladies Kitchen. My only prior experience of mochi was the premade frozen variety you can find in grocery stores or Japanese restaurants. Two Ladies Kitchen makes fresh mochi in tons of flavors from lilikoi to brownie.

We also made a quick stop at Rainbow Falls.

On the way out, we visited ‘Akaka Falls state park, which is as picturesque as Hawaii gets, though the misty rain didn’t allow me to get any great shots. Anyhing you read that says it is a half a mile hike means that it is a very short, paved path with railings, tourist in flip flops level “hike.”

Anthony and I arrived on the islands a day before the rest of the family and opted to extend our layover to squeeze in a day on Oahu.  After a lunch of Laotian fried chicken at The Pig and The Lady, we headed to Leonard’s Bakery for hot malasadas. If you’re not familiar, good Malasadas are the Hawaiian equivalent to a hot  Krispy Kreme. My grandpa Kekahuna took me there as a child, and it was just as I remembered it.

Paying our respects at Pearl Harbor was on our short list of things to do during our approximately 24 hours on Oahu. I was fascinated to learn that to this day, some survivors of the attack choose to be placed inside the USS Arizona with their shipmates after their death. December 7, 1941 remains etched in my mind, though I wasn’t born until nearly 50 years later. How much more in the memories of those who were there, on that harbor, that horrible day.

After Pearl Harbor, we drank obligatory Mai Tais at one of the many ocean-side bars with a friend of Anthony’s who recently moved to Oahu. We spent the rest of the evening wondering around Waikiki, stopping for dinner and to buy the best shortbread from Honolulu Cookie Company. Before getting on the plane to Hilo the next morning, we took a stroll down Waikiki Beach.

There are few things as magical as enjoying a sunrise barefoot on the beach while your body still thinks it is 10 A.M.

Find my personalized map of Oahu and Hawaii on Google Maps.

Have you been to Hawaii? What islands? Leave some of your favorite memories and places in the comments below!

Concerned, Anthony and I discuss cancelling the trip we had long been anticipating. We were nervous (and so were our parents). I read horror stories of not being able to cross borders at specific locations we planned on using. The government advised against visiting open air markets; the main reason we chose the cities we did at Christmastime. What if we got stuck in one country or another? Or worse, what if the attacks earlier in the month were just the beginning of the terror?

I definitely did not throw caution to the wind. We enrolled in STEP. I sent my itinerary including hotel contact information to my dad. I printed out multiple copies of the address and phone number for the nearest consulate and/or embassy for each city we were visiting.

If you haven’t already guessed, we went. I was constantly alert and surveying my surroundings, as if I were walking to my car alone at night, but eventually my nerves settled and the trip quickly became one that had the je ne sais quoi of “the trip of a lifetime.”

London was the first of the five cities we visited. It was not originally on the itinerary, but we had to fly through Heathrow and opted to book an overnight layover. I had been once before, but Anthony had never. We arrived with just under 24 hours to cram in the sites he couldn’t miss and a few new experiences for me.

I am sure I have said it before: I almost never choose going to a place I have been over visiting somewhere new. However, there is something magical about return travel. It is like a strange memory game, flipping over cards you know you have seen before, remembering some precisely, and getting others entirely wrong.  It is also curious to see what has changed and what has remained exactly the same, or maybe even how you have changed since you last stood in the same place.

When booking our hotel, I felt compelled to stay at the place I stayed at with my British Literature class in college: The London Guards Hotel. Only, the very plain but conveniently located London Guards Hotel had turned into the very stylish, but reasonably priced Arbor Hyde Park. I couldn’t have hunted down more ideal accommodations: a well designed, central location with easy tube access and relatively inexpensive rates.

After dropping our bags, we headed out to Sketch for lunch. It was on my shortlist. Sketch is Wonderland: I cannot think of another place as full of whimsy. I could feel my imagination expanding as I walked in through the black curtained hopscotch path.

I ordered the souffle and giggled at the phone number seemingly scrawled on my napkin.

Sketch has different dining rooms serving different menus, open at different hours. Peer in all of them and find an excuse to use both restrooms.

After quieting our gurgling stomachs, we hopped around to a few of the typical sites. If you have not been to London and have only a short time, you cannot miss Buckingham Palace, the House of Parliament/Big Ben, Westminster Abbey where royalty is married and crowned and where many greats are buried, and Tower Bridge which many mistake for London Bridge. Anthony also checked fish and chips off the proverbial list.

A proper high tea was another “must” for me. Anthony obliged my desire to splurge on the Berkeley’s Fashion Tea in the Caramel Room which we reserved well in advance (bookings available 90 days out). These were moments of very meticulous magic. By our 5 o’clock tea time, I was bone-tired. And yet, we stayed up until the morning hours, returning to our hotel with just a few hours to shut our eyes before catching our flight to Salzburg.

After the surprisingly hardy tea sandwiches, scones, and savory bites, we nibbled on a couple of the stunning sweet treats and they boxed up the remainders in a darling neon purse-shaped box. I should also mention they had my name on a shoe-shaped place card when we were seated. The details were delightful!

Harrods was a short walk from the Berkeley, so, silly me, I thought we could just pop in.

We sampled Charbonnel et Walker chocolates at the counter and ogled at the variety before settling on champagne truffles in a Union Jack box.

I wish I would have captured better photos and videos of the animated window displays: teddy bears popping a holiday cracker to reveal Louboutin shoes, a strong man pressing purses, and background singers dancing in flapper dresses.

The last stop before our late night nap was for a night cap at Savoy Hotel’s Beaufort Bar. We ordered cocktails from their pop-up menu (request if not offered). Jetlagged, we sat in one of the gilded alcoves, relaxed a bit, and relished in the fact that we chose a daring adventure over nothing at all.

On my next trip to London, I refuse to miss Selfridges, Fortnum and Mason,  Victoria and Albert Museum, and Bob Bob Ricard. To see other places I’ve been or want to go in London, check out my custom map.

One weekend, we painted the ceiling, another weekend, the walls. I gradually added plates to the collection over the curio, and got new glasses to fill it. I picked up a book here and some containers there and eventually styled the alphabet chest. At some point, I gilded the mirror’s frame. It seems like forever ago that I spray-painted the chandelier my coworker discarded and moved the picture frames that used to hang above my stairway. I can’t even pinpoint when I turned the table (cue Adele) 45 degrees.

Just as a reminder, here is what the dining room looked like when I photographed it last. Woah!

Proof. Small steps toward the vision make a big difference.

For more inspiration, check out my H is for Home Pinterest Board!