A Californian living in Switzerland
I love packing for summer vacations. For each sundress and swimsuit I pack, I imagine a different, idyllic scenario. Strolling down a cobblestoned street with an ice cream cone in hand. Sunning myself on a beach with a good book. And the best scenario of all: Sauntering onto the plane with everything packed into a […]
Read MoreTwo years ago today I began one of my biggest packing challenges ever: How to fit two weeks of clothing into a backpack that I would carry through Greece. Before breaking down how I accomplished this, it should be noted that I have little-to-no upper body strength, I’m prone to complaining on long hikes and […]
Read MoreFor the past two years I’ve written a post on all the travel goods I’m secretly eyeing on the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (yes, they ship to Europe!). Nordstrom card holders can begin shopping the sale right now, while us plebeians have to wait until July 21 when it opens to the public. I window shopped […]
Read MoreAbout two weeks ago my husband and I took a quick trip to Brussels (and Amsterdam) where he had to attend a business conference. When he opened his suitcase in Brussels, I heard a familiar groan. Uh-oh. Did a pen explode? Shampoo everywhere? Nope. Just one pant leg of his only suit had become so […]
Read MoreOne of our favorite things to do when we travel is picnic–especially when the weather is as crisp and autumnal as it has been in Geneva lately. Sure, we love to try swanky restaurants in new cities, but eating every meal out can be rough on one’s health and budget. Plus, with no open container […]
Read MoreI usually get inspired to travel to a new place after reading an interesting article on it. I am a nerdy kind of traveler who likes to know the complete history before stepping foot in a city. You know, so I can rattle off WWII statistics over brunch. I’m charming that way. I can say, […]
Read MoreLast year I wrote a post on all the travel goodies I was secretly eyeing on the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (yes, they ship to Europe!). A friend of mine asked me–ahem, begged me–for this year’s Anniversary Sale roundup. So, I happily online window shopped and came up with ten items that I’d love for fall and […]
Read MoreThese are my favorite French things for summer 2016. They are all available in the United States…except for a Frenchman’s joie de vivre. That one must be cultivated on one’s own. Un. La Roche-Posay primer from La Vienne. I try to keep my skin care as simple as possible, so the idea of putting on a cream […]
Read MoreConfession: I took more time choosing a china pattern than choosing where I went to college. Whereas I felt in my bones I was a Tarheel years before enrolling, I had no idea what kind of plates person I was. Modern? Decadent? Simple? A little of all three, please? Then I came across Royal Copenhagen. Delicate, hand-painted, whimsical. […]
Read MoreI recently came across an online store with an amazing concept: Every product for sale is meant to last a lifetime! BuyMeOnce.com‘s mission is to “throw away our throwaway culture…products that don’t break the bank, don’t break the planet… that don’t break at all!” I love it. Less stuff, better stuff. Shouldn’t we strive to always shop this way? […]
Read More