Today I am joining my pals Mary Ann and Annie for our Sunday favorites. Let’s chat about What are the Top 5 Travel Destinations on your Bucket List, a yummy recipe, an outfit of the week and more.
OUTFIT OF THE WEEK
If you can wear a halter dress this one from Zara is linen and wonderful. If not, you can throw this gorgeous scarf (I ordered it) from Zara that so many of you loved. I added accessories from Machete, the great Mar Y Sol bag that was a big hit with you ( I own it as well) and the Mar Y Sol hat that was also a fave of many of you. I know a lot of bloggers show you something “brand spankin new every week” ( I know some of you like that), but I would like to show you things that you can invest in that you can use multiple ways. That is what I do myself. Here is the link to the Zara dress. Let me know if you do appreciate that, or if you would rather see everything new every week.
SHOP OUTFIT OF THE WEEK
WWD THE ONLY NINE COLORS THAT DEFINE THE QUIET LUXURY
Can you guess the colors? Think about it before you read the list. I bet you can, but a few might surprise you. You can check them out here. I am anxious to hear if you agree?
PINE CONES AND ACORNS MARINATED FRESH CHERRY TOMATOES WITH HERBS
Elizabeth from Pine Cones and Acorns is one of the nicest people in the blogging community and she consistently works hard to provide interesting content to her readers. I don’t know how she does it all. She is stylish, an amazing cook, an avid reader and a wonderful person. If you aren’t reading her blog you are missing out. I sometimes get busy and miss some of her posts. I can’t wait to try this Marinated Fresh Cherry Tomatoes with Herbs recipe when our tomato crop is in full swing.
WHAT IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET LIST AND WHERE ARE YOUR FAVORITES
Steve and I have seen a lot of the old US of A with our kids when they were growing up. We have not traveled a lot abroad because Steve was very tied down by his construction business. Now that he has retired and his ankle is doing well, we are looking ahead to where we want to travel in the next few years. I would love to hear where you have been (your faves) and where you would like to go. We love Italy and would like to go again but have other spots on our bucket list first.
IT’S NOT JUST NORDSTROM THE NORDSTROM SALE
We all love the Nordstrom sale but all of the other retailers have gotten on the July bandwagon as well.
BLOOMINGDALES HAS 25% OFF IF YOU SPEND $400 (sadly how hard is that) ends today
J CREW HAS 40% OFF CASHMERE (when are you going to get better than that?)
THE EILEEN FISHER SALE IS HARD TO BEAT HERE
Thank you guys so much for your support and reading What are the Top 5 Travel Destinations on your Bucket List and more. I can’t wait to hear your faves! Now let’s pop over and visit Mary Ann and Annie for their favorites. I will be back on Tuesday with some of my favorite silver haired bloggers. We will share our tips for going gray and keeping it healthy.
CLASSIC CASUAL HOME
MOST LOVELY THINGS
Cindy, I love that halter dress! And you’re right, Elizabeth is one of the nicest and most hard working bloggers around. Those tomatoes look so so good. My travel bucket list is so long. We finally got to Lake Como last month and it was a dream. xo
Hi Juliet
Isn’t Lake Cuomo fabulous! We can’t wait to go again.We need to get the wedding gang together and go before we are all too old!
Hello Cindy,
First, thank you for your kind compliments! You are so kind to share my tomato recipe and I appreciate it.
I loved your outfit of the week, the scarf is beautiful and could be used in the Fall as well.
As for travel. May I recommend Sandy Grodsky https://www.instagram.com/youmaybewandering/ if you need help planning any adventure. Sandy is AMAZING and formerly wrote the blog You May be Wandering.
I highly recommend Scotland( Fife, the Borders, Edinburgh), London, the Cotswolds, the Lake District, the Peak District and all parts in between. We have travel to Scotland several times and to England as well.
My brother lived there for 10 years and we went back and forth. One year we did a 3 week trip from Peter-bough to the Cotswolds, to the Lake District then to the Boarders of Scotland, then to Fife and St. Andres and then to Edinburgh. Another year we started in Edinburgh then drove over 6 days to Peterbough stopping in York and several other places.
Then another year my mom and I did 3 weeks traveling in Italy, we had the best time traveling by train.
Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain,France, Austria are all amazing too! As are the Canary Islands! We’ve been to Argentina 2 times to visit our son and loved it! When you visit Paris be sure to plan a trip to the Loire Valley, Giverny, Versailles, Champagne, to name just a few beautiful places.
My husband has been to Africa several times, I skipped those trips but he loved his time there.
I am sure that with the suggestions from this post, and Mary Ann you will find some lovely places to visit.
I do agree with one of the comments above, get off the beaten path as they say. The cities are beautiful as are the museums but the little towns, villages, etc are so charming and you meet so many lovely people.
Have a wonderful week and thank you again for the mention.
xx Elizabeth
Hi Eliz
Africa is definitely on our list. I want to go to France before we do England. So many places to go!!
Definitely like seeing you mix & match pieces. I mean, even the Queen repeated outfits.
Hi Leu
Exactly!!
I love when you show me old clothes. It shows me what lasts. What to aim for. What to include. So keep on doing it. I like seeing which styles are evergreen.
Hi Pal
Thanks!!
Portugal, Portugal, Portugal. We’ve been twice and want to go again and again. Other recent, favorite vacations that I think you would enjoy have included a small group, wine/food-focused trip to Sicily with a James Beard award winning chef (email me if you’d like more info) AND a Uniworld river cruise (we aren’t cruise people either) to the Bordeaux region of France.
Hi Lori
We had a good friend who traveled a lot and Portugal was his very favorite. That Italian trip sounds fabulous!!
P.s. I m looking forward to the Tuesday post on silver hair. After all, you were my main (mane) inspiration!! 🫶🏼
Hi Pal
On my way to the Midwest Let’s get together when I get back!!
Good evening, Cindy,
Your creative reimagining of enduring clothing styles with layering options and charming accessories, has inspired me to join the capsule wardrobe movement. As a consequence, my closet now reflects a more thoughtful, intentional, and surprisingly interesting wardrobe suiting my lifestyle. So, do please, continue your marvelous tutorials which combine your chic style and shopping wisdom.
Years ago, my husband and I were each able to finagle a 6 week sabbatical at the same time. For our first trip abroad we chose England because of the language, museums, gardens and our ancestry. At the end of our trip, we booked a round trip on the Channel Tunnel (‘Chunnel’) between Southern England and Northern France including a two night reservation in a Paris hotel. On the return to England we picnicked with choices from a boulangerie, a charcuterie, and a confiserie while toasting our short introduction to Paris. I only mention our experience as a fun possibility for a first trip abroad.
Summer hugs, Diney
Hi Diney
A six week sabbatical how lovely!! We have been to Italy but not France! That will be next. We may start with a trip to San Miguel de Allende. That is also on my bucket list and easy to travel to!!
Keep including your own clothing. I like that you show us how to incorporate older clothing with new pieces. As for travel, I’ve travelled the world and nothing has Impacted me as much as Africa has.I visited South Africa and Botswana 4 years ago and couldn’t get it out of my mind. So a few weeks ago I went to Kenya for two weeks. I’m a city girl through and through and yet there is nothing like driving around the countryside seeing the various animals, the only sounds you hear are the quiet rustling of animals gracefully moving about. The people are gracious and so happy to have visitors. The biggest difference between south Africa and east Africa is that Kenyans are much poorer. I was impressed at their work ethic everyone’s just trying to get by.
I know that you’ll never experience anything like it please visit if you get the opportunity.
Hi Bonita
We are both dying to go to Africa.
Cindy! I can see you in that halter dress! You always have the best eye!
There are so many places on my bucket list, and yet I keep returning to France and Italy!
xx
Hi Annie
I don’t think that halter would work for me unless I cover my shoulders with the scarf. I rarely wear brown, but that scarf is fabulous!
Love Portugal so much, might be my favorite. We have done a number of river cruises in Europe on Viking and Uniworld and loved them, informative, relaxing and nice size group, usually about 100-125. I found southern Italy amazing; Bari, Lecce, Matera, Taranto. So different, amazing food and much more agricultural than most of Italy. I do still have to do more of France.
Hi Linda
As I said above a traveling friend always favored Portugal….on the list!! We have been to Florence, Rome, Tuscany and Lake Cuomo…would like to see more!!
I feel like I have my own personal stylist when you show us how you wear things more that one way. I always get new ideas for things I already have in my (somewhat crowded) closet. I don’t need more clothes, I just need the right things that I can mix and match and wear on repeat! I’m still learning the quality over quantity concept. We are planning a trip to Italy, so I appreciated the comments about what people liked. Our last trip included a family countryside wedding in England, our anniversary in Paris, and as amazing as all of that was, I found our last week in Spain with dear friends one of the best travel experiences I’ve had, Sevilla was truly magical.
Hi Laura
My daughter loved Spain as well. We have a big anniversary in the next couple years….where to go??
After retiring from teaching, we have gone to so many wonderful countries. Since we are major antiquers we love England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy, Bavaria, and on-and-on. We stay a couple of days in the large cities and then stay in wonderful cottages located in small villages.. We drive to many other villages and then return to our “homeplace”. We love being with the charming locals and the beautiful sceneries. It is amazing what you experience in the countrysides. There are so many surprises! We have had so many great “moments”. We travel with wonderful friends. So many stories and memories — could write a book!
Hi old pals
You guys are pros! We need to pick your brains!
We’ve been fortunate to live in several amazing places because of my husband’s job, including Alaska (highly recommend!) and several Asian countries which allowed us to visit so many interesting locations. We absolutely loved vacationing in Bali! Now we’re back in the US and retired, so planning our bucket list trips here which will entail lots of road trips. Looking forward to not needing a passport or airport for a change!!
Love your blog and enjoy seeing you use the same clothes in different ways. Guessed most of the luxury colors, except brown. Probably because it’s one color that doesn’t work for me. Thank you for sharing your fabulous style!
Hi
I have a hard time with brown as well, now that I am silver.
Hi, Cindy. I want to see the U.S. but have been all over Europe and parts of Asia. I don’t have a bucket list or favorite place, although Ireland, Paris, other parts of Frane and Italy ae all wonderful. My husband and I loved Portugal, which nobody seems to go to. We go on our own and do all our own planning (as my mom did), but sometimes join a tour of a city or site.
I LOVE that you reuse and restyle. As others have mentioned, the fashion industry is one of the least sustainable industries — period. We should not be buying lots of new clothes constantly. It’s just wrong. We need to be more thoughtful and more intentional — and you are an expert in helping us look good and be confident for less. I really enjoy your blog!
Hi Maeve
I have always done all the planning for our trips too but I am not sure I have the time or the energy anymore!! I totally agree about being more mindful. I try to do my best.
We toured the Greek Isles prior to Covid with Winstar Cruises. This is a motorized sailboat, all adults, fantastic food and 148 people on board. I highly recommend.
Hi Norma
That is another cruise that I have heard great things about!
I encourage you to keep doing what you’re doing with fashion. Don’t mess with success! It was fun guessing the 9 colors. I guessed all but the olive, which I like on me in the right shade, and brown. I even guessed the pink; I learned many years ago that if light enough, it’s considered “universal pink” since it works with all skin tones. As to travels, I’m very fortunate to have fulfilled most of my travel list. I think maybe my top most favorite trip was an African safari and I can put you in touch with just the right person to set it up at San Simeon Travel. I went with John and he does everything first rate. Have fun on your domestic trip and toughen up for bigger, more intense travel!
Hi Wren
I am so jealous of your upcoming trip!!
Your outfits are inspiring and practical. I named most of the luxury colors, but missed chocolate brown and olive green. As a silver haired lady since my 30’s, I don’t wear those colors very much.
As for travel, we loved Norway and Portugal on our Viking cruise. But, our visits to Yellowstone and Maine were also big favorites.
Thank you Nita. I don’t wear those colors much either!
We have traveled a lot, and our very favorite was Greece in 2016. A week on each of three quieter islands (Naxos, Milos, Sifnos.) Heading back this October (we like off season) for a similar itinerary. We travel on our own but have used Athenian Thesaurus Travel company, based in Sifnos. They put the whole thing together for us, with our preferences, and we think they actually saved us money, not to mention the comfort and convenience of having accommodations, ferries, and transfers already arranged. I’ve recommended them to several friends, who also had great experiences with them. So much more flexible and interesting than a cruise, plus you get more local flavor.
Hi Barbara
I agree about traveling off season. I will check out Athenian…sounds interesting..
Hi Cindy,
Personally l love it when you re use fashion ideas as that is more in keeping with my habits of building a wardrobe. We just got back from Split, Croatia and Prague. We loved both but to me the highlight was Prague as the history is so fascinating and the city was beautiful to wander through on a summer night. We lived for about five years in Australia and that was fantastic highly recommend going there.
Another place that is dear to me is the south of France, Arles, Avignon, Toulouse, Bliss.
Enjoy looking and planning 🙂
I *LOVE* seeing how you re-style a dress or garment. I love your style aesthetic in general, but particularly enjoy seeing the “repeats” pop up in your photos – that, and the fact that you always look elegant in cute, practical shoes!
I haven’t traveled as much in my married life as I did when single, but 2 places that stand out are cruising the Greek Islands and Madrid. The Greek Islands are fabulous, just beautiful. I particularly liked Mykonos and Santorini.
Madrid was a fun and beautiful city and I didn’t spend long enough there. Rome and other parts of Italy, including Venice are on my bucket list.
Yes, I like to see fashion items repeated. That’s more realistic, probably to all of our lives. I like to work with what I have instead of just accumulating more and more. Then it becomes a burden and overwhelming.
9 “colors” are boring to me, but reading your blog and seeing your style with so many neutrals, it really can be great to have those basics and just add colorful accessories if desired.
Yes! I enjoy seeing your posts using your existing clothing too. It reaffirms that some older pieces in ones wardrobe are treasures. I see this in your posts often and am so impressed how beautifully you weave them into whatever topic is being presented.
My hub and I prefer to travel with one other couple or solo as opposed to a large tour. Our favorite thing to do upon arrival is to take a street food tour where ever available. These tours provide fun food, great walking and a general history of the area. We will often hire a guide for a 1/2 day or full day for specific sights. It is great way to meet a local and hear their point of view. The rest of the time we will seek sights on our own. Also we make it a point to sit at a cafe one or two times a day. 🙂
Can’t wait to try the tomato recipe! Looks delicious!
We have been to Egypt – Viking river cruise – and loved it. We actually were doing it again in 2025 with some friends.
We are off to Antarctica in February. Should be an adventure. Anywhere in France is lovely. A safari in Tanzania is also wonderful. On our bucket list is Morocco, Galapagos and Vietnam & Cambodia. My husband is retiring soon and we plan to go pick a place and stay a month to immerse ourselves in that culture. We hope to do this 3-4 times a year in different places. I think somewhere in France is 1st on the list. Then who knows?!?
Always enjoy your suggestions for what to pack.
Enjoy your traveling!
I love that you show up various ways to wear good quality clothes and things from your closet. You’re encouraging us all to reject the throw-away culture that surrounds us.
Love all your posts. We also loved Italy, The food and stunning architecture and vistas but Spain was all that and more. Barcelona and Madrid had opulent cathedrals and buildings and the tapas restaurants fantastic.
Hi Cindy,
I love your blog and I like the idea of showing outfits multiple ways. I am learning to curate my wardrobe more from a place of lifestyle rather than outfit, which used to be the way I bought things. I’m learning!
Bucket list for me: Safari in Africa, Monte Video Uraguay, and Kyoto Japan. I have been fortunate to have lived in many places in Europe and South East asia, so I have really been able to see different parts of the world. I spent 5 summers in Lugano Switzerland, which is incredibly beautiful and makes it easy to see some of the places others have mentioned on Lake Como etc. I also really enjoyed Sienna- we stayed at a place called Certosa di Maggiano which was magical. Also on the magical list was Bali and Lombok- we stayed at the Aman hotels which are spectacular. Another fascinating place is Jakarta and Yojakarta – to see the ruins. Hope this is helpful.
Mary
Cindy, great post today! I love Elizabeth at Pinecones and Acorns! I always learn something fashionable from you so thanks for sharing. Regarding travel, we just came back from a trip to Seoul and Mongolia. Quite the experience! On the bucket list is Turkey and Croatia, Scotland, Japan and of course, Italy again and again. I feel like there is a small villa there with my name on it! We have traveled alot and took the children everywhere with us. Yearly, we try and do a family trip somewhere new and fun but the hassles of traveling are well, hassles….Happy Sunday!
As someone who loves to travel, and plan that travel, I have learned a few things. We love the cities but the memories are made in the smaller towns and off the beaten path. The food is better, too. See the monuments and “must sees” but never stay in the tourist part of town. Book your tickets in advance to museums, etc. If you are going to one of the major museums, hire a private guide. Better to see and learn something you’ll remember than wander through aimlessly and get lost (unless that’s what you like about a museum visit. Some do.). You’ll save time, too (skip the line, etc.). We never join groups, or tour buses. A private car rental is not necessarily more expensive than European train travel. We hired a driver to take us from Rome to the Amalfi coast because we didn’t want a car when we got there and didn’t want to drive the twisting road to our destination. He was very amenable to a stop here or there. We also hired a taxi driver to give us a mini tour of Belfast and then he drove us back to Dublin. He had great suggestions for stops along the way. But our best memories of Ireland were not in either city, but off the beaten path with our best meal being suggested by the driver we hired to take us up north in N Ireland. Don’t travel to most destinations in summer – as one reader mentioned, it’s painful. I prefer an AirBnB to a hotel. We like the convenience that brings to meals (being able to nibble on something wonderful you pick up while out and about instead of chasing the next meal). I know some of your readers like cruises. The only cruise that has any interest for us is an Alaskan cruise, because that is the best way to see what you are there for. Otherwise, I can eat, drink, and sit by the pool at home. And I want more than a two hour drive-by when we get there. Obviously, travel is very personal for everybody. After a trip or two, you and Steve will be able to hone in on what your own style is.
P.S. The United States offers some of the most amazing scenery in the world. I can’t say enough about our National Park system. Each one worth the trip, so far. ,
I enjoy your repeated posting because it’s inspirational and I’m new here so it’s new to me;) My husband and I just yesterday booked a 14 day tour to Ireland. We’re doing a small group in April with Tauck tours. They are a luxury tour company. Not cheep but you truly get what you pay for. We’ll be staying at 5 star accommodations which include castles. My most memorable trip was to. South Africa (also Tauck tour) which included safari .The trip is unforgettable as It touches your soul to see those animals so close up. My 2nd fave was Norway fjords cruise. Breathtaking scenery and relaxing. Love Croatia as well but coastal towns are being over run with cruise ships and the crowds are overwhelming. Been to Italy multiple times. and look forward to returning couple more times. Each area is so different but equally wonderful, We did the Amalfi Coast and Capri on our own. and will also do Tuscany on our own, At the top of my dream bucket list is Switzerland. Now fir the not always fun part of travel…One of the worst experiences we ever had was a river cruise on Viking. Not their fault as you can not control the weather but how you implement plan B does vary by company, That year they had terrible flooding so ships couldn’t go under the bridges or tie off at the docks. We only had one night on the cruise before they informed us we couldn’t it go further. They bussed us on chocker block full busses from point A to point B and then brought us back to the ship to sleep on. Another couple shared that couple year before their river cruise was a bust because of draught and there wasn’t enough water for ships to navigate, Thankfully that’s not the norm so one day I’d like to experience a river cruise again. Sorry for such a long post but I love traveling and fashion 😉
Hi Cindy
Well I wrote a whole thing here and just as I went to publish it dropped me. In a nutshell keep doing what you are doing. Mix old with occasional new. Over consumerism is killing our planet and a huge amount of waste is produced by fashion.
As for travel just start going. You will quickly figure out what works for you or not. Personally I avoid big cruise trips. I just pick a spot because of a book I read or wanting to paint there and make an adventure of it. I go off season to save money and avoid the crowds. I choose to immerse myself and have some flexibility. And I wear good supportive shoes that are broken in. Otherwise you will be miserable. I carry on my luggage even if it’s a monthlong trip. Just start as the world is getting harder to navigate.
Great tips.
Leslie, I love your motivational reasons for trips; i.e. “read about it in a book…” I think that is a marvelous reason to travel. I wanted to go to Queensland based on a novel I read pre-covid, and we booked a Viking cruise from New Zealand to Australia based on that. It unfortunately backfired when Covid hit and Australia closed its borders. But we are finally going in December! Not quite the itinerary I had wanted, but Viking is not a flexible tour company, so we have had our cruise plans tipped over backwards and upside down and now have very little time in New Zealand.
Still, each and every trip we have taken has turned out to show us many hidden gems that we will never forget.
How fun you get to explore further afield! I live for it, and by “it”, I mean the planning, the research, the anticipation and then the actual travel. I prefer to go in the shoulder months, April, May, early June and then September and October. Oppressive heat and crowds….no. My husband was somewhat reluctant so I made sure our first trip together (Paris and Tuscany) included everything I knew he’d love, so now that he’s claimed it as his idea, the world is wide open! Our current favorite is Portugal. Italy is hard to beat. We will explore Puglia this Fall. Always France. So many wonderful trips await and I’m hoping we can fit them all in while we are still young enough to endure and enjoy them.
My top two recommendations are both in Italy. The Almafi Coast is magnificent, but my all time favorite place in Europe is Lake Como, Italy. The lake and it’s villages are beautiful, quaint, and reminiscent of a simpler time, not effected by the commercialization of life as we know it. The people are friendly and kind. The food and drink is good. The villages are very clean and gorgeously landscaped. There were many shops of artisans, proudly displaying their goods and carefully packaging them. We were there for 10 days and it was the perfect amount of time. We stayed at a Villa in Pianello Del Lario for the first 5 days, (fewer tourists are at this end of the island), to celebrate our friends 50th wedding anniversary. While there, we visited the Museo Barca Lariana International Museum of Vintage Boats and it was unbelievable. We then moved to the Hotel Menaggio for the remained of the trip. You travel to the different villages by ferry and the ferry picked us up right outside this hotel.
We have been to many other countries in Europe, but nothing compares to Lake Como, to me at least. I hope this gives you some inspiration.
“Cities” not countries?😉
We aren’t travellers ( does owning two properties on opposite sides of the country count;) ? So not much wisdom to offer there but I’ll comment on your other questions. Yes I love to see you mix the old with the new, that’s how good wardrobes are built! Re imagining a dress or accessory helps the wallet and the planet. On the ‘dressing rich colours’ I cannot agree. Cheap garments are cheap garments in any colour. I am the opposite type..I will buy a higher end item ( ie cashmere) in a totally unexpected colour like orange or aqua. Always gets compliments, of course I wait until they go on sale. Everybody wants their cashmere in grey, black or off white so the unusual colours are usually available at better prices. Of course I have my wardrobe back bone of black, navy, white & khaki but colour doesn’t have to look cheap when It’s in cashmere or silk or linen. Look at the late HRM QEII that lady brought the colour story to every event!
The article was odd though as she showed very high end logo’d items ( the Dior purse) Logo’s are a big no-no if someone wants to look ‘high end’.
Putting together a wardrobe takes a lot of personal style, self knowledge and good judgement. It’s a learning process.
I love your column, always so much to think about on offer! I am going to check out that other blog too.
We too have traveled much of the U S, from Boston to Key West to San Diego and Hawaii plus places in between. However, I still have not visited our western National Parks and an Alaskan cruise is on our list. Two weeks on a tour of Scandinavia was lovely and a side trip to Krakow was surprising. Now we are looking forward to a week long cruise on the Danube with extensions in Prague and Budapest next year. But my dream of visiting Italy has not yet happened. I’ve made a deal with our oldest granddaughter that I will take her to England when she graduates from high school. Let’s hope this grandma can still travel well 6 years from now. I say, book the flights and buy the tickets because we just don’t know. My husband’s and my saying is, AS LONG AS WE CAN!
I love that you show items on repeat. It’s more realistic and the ones that show new outfits every week must surely be returning them after photographing. Wasteful.
I’m a retired airline employee so have traveled more than most. My most memorable trips may not be possible to duplicate today. Bali before heavy tourism, the Andes in Ecuador, and Egypt where we stayed in a faded old hotel in old Cairo and hired a guy with a car to be our guide and we went everywhere. We ate where we were the only foreigners and It was delightful. I just returned from Turkey and Italy. I loveTurkey, it’s beautiful, interesting and the people are so friendly. I want to return. I’ve done Italy many times and wanted my grandson to see the sights in Rome so spent 5 days there and headed to Florence and Venice via train. Venice is our favorite because there’s no cars. I try to avoid the large cities. They’re tiresome and food is mainly for tourists so not very good. The best food I’ve eaten inItaly was in Orvieto, a small walled hill town in Umbria. Few tourists in October and delicious local food. My favorite time to travel is October or April so the lack of a/c isn’t usually a problem and there are fewer crowds. I’ve done Europe in summer because I was on a school schedule with grandkids and it’s miserable.
Since i am just semi retired and still foster rescue dogs,I cannot go on long lengthy trip sadly. Maybe one day. However, i live vicariously through my friends who do travel. One couple spent 4 months in Tuscany living in vineyards and also the Amalfi Coast. Paris is also on my bucket list. I dream of sidewalk cafes and great shopping! But closer to home, I found I loved a trip to Vancouver Island. We visited Tofino, Uclelet, and Victoria. I could not believe the forests reached all the way to the beach. We went in late Oct thru early Nov and it was in the low 70’s. I enjoyed the small town feeling . Plus I had never seen whales before. Where ever you decide to go I am sure it will be perfect! (I still haven’t seen everything in Texas yet! LOL.)
Also, I love your OOTD ! We all need to reuse our clothing items in different ways.
I love that you show pieces again and again in different ways — not only does it inspire me to dig into my closet, but it’s also a responsible choice from an environmental and budget perspective.
Travel – I’ve read that research shows pleasure from travel includes the period of anticipation and the reflection and remembering after; so I consider the planning time to be bolstering the pleasure of travel! We have travelled independently and love going slightly off the beaten path and exploring. Our best trips have been to the south of France with the wonderful town of Uzes as our base, to Lyon, and to Normandy. Uzes has a fantastic market on Saturdays as does Lyon. Love gathering items for a picnic or simple meal in our rental. One of the highlights of a trip to Paris one May was taking the train to Giverney to visit Monet’s Garden. We went early and were there when it opened. As gardeners we were in heaven! Walking trips in England and Italy are on our list and I’ve always wanted to visit Morocco. And as a Canadian I must encourage you to visit the west coast where I live, Montreal or Quebec City (a taste of Europe but near home) and the east coast — all charming and with the strong USD against the Canadian dollar — a bargain for you!
I would add Africa (Tanzania) and Brazil (the Pantanal and the southern Amazon) to the list: Africa for the animals and the birds. Brazil: jaguars, birds and butterflies. We are going to Botswana in 6 weeks and will fly to Europe, stay overnight in an airport hotel and then fly the next day to Africa with the same on return. We did that before and it made a big difference in how we felt for the long flights. Last but not least: Patagonia to see the Torres del Paine mountain range!
thanks for a great blog!
I love seeing how you re-imagine investment pieces in your wardrobe seasonally or whenever the topic of your blog warrants it. You are one of my style icons and your creativity and eclecticism inspires me. Thank you!
Love seeing all the ways you style up your own wardrobe and the suggestions for shoes and accessories! Always so creative. Also all your furniture ideas. Keep doing everything you are!
Hi Judi
Thank you so much. I so appreciate each and every one of you!!
Cindy,, I love that you show pieces you already own. You have inspired me to pull out pieces that I already own and have kept because I loved them and I’m having so much fun putting together new outfits. Please keep it up!
Hi Susan
You ladies encourage me to do so as well. I am too old to buy stuff just to be buying it!
I’m an investment shopper (especially if those pieces are on sale!), so I like seeing basics on repeat with ways to freshen them up.
When my husband and I first retired we took a spur-of-the-moment trip to Edinburgh and London. We planned it ourselves, took a few day trips out of the city (one on a tour, one not) and then a train to London, which we had visited before. We had a great time! Then we took the requisite river cruise with another couple. Okay, but all I could think of were the places I wanted to stay in longer and that dreaded tour guide and her umbrella herding us along. Since then we have traveled independently, renting cars and taking trains for 3 & 4 weeks at a time in Italy and France; we recently did the same in Lisbon and Spain. It’s not always perfect. We pulled up to one “chateau” in the Bordeau region in France and decided we just couldn’t stay there, so we had to find alternate accommodations, We don’t have a “bucket list” and we revisit cities we love and still have a short list of places to go. We ALWAYS meet fun travelers along the way. My husband has recently run into some serious health challenges which may require us to adjust our plans. We just hope we can travel again soon. My advice? TAKE THE TRIP. Don’t wait for friends or the perfect tour. Life gets in the way and can turn on a dime, choose a destination and go.
Hi Janet
Great advice! Steve’s ankle is healed and he will soon meet with the surgeon for the final final hopefully!! He is playing golf and enjoying life after a long recuperation. So appreciate your tips!!
Good morning!
I’m actually putting together our travel bucket list right now, too. We have been to Italy and loved it, but want to see more places as well. I think we are going to start off with a Viking cruise next Spring for a 14 day Mediterranean cruise that includes Spain, France, Italy, Croatia and Greece. That way we can experience several different countries in one trip. Also on my bucket list is New Zealand, the Galápagos Islands, an Alaska cruise, and Scandinavian countries with some Northern Lights!
Hi Jill
Steve and I aren’t cruisers but I know that is a great way to get a snapshot of many places. That cruise does sound wonderful. We do plan to take an Alaskan cruise at some point however. I know that is the only way to best enjoy it! Love hearing all your suggestions!
For a stress free trip we enjoy the Viking River Cruises. Only 190 people, no kids, no dressing up, you see something new everyday. Leaving soon on a France and Germany river cruise.
Turkey was he of the most interesting places we have been. Amazing architecture,
nice people, great rug shopping 😄.
The only color I would not include is Olive Green.. ( does not look great with my grey hair color. Planning my color carousel for our Sept. trip to Sicily and Malta. Most of what you put here I was thinking of taking.. mixing and matching. Still looking for that colorful “dress” tho.
Bucket list:.. to go back to Tuscany for 10 days
And next river cruise is Normandy/Paris….
My two favorite places are Barcelona, Spain and Sydney, Australia. Two very different locations but both had the best scenery, food and lovely people.
Hi Sydney
Both are on my bucket list!! My daughter loved Spain!
Our favorite trip was to Ireland. We had taken our daughter when she graduated from high school because we knew everything would change after she went to college. That time we took a 2 week tour. Then a few years ago just my husband and I went back for 5 weeks. We rented a home for 3 weeks in Kinsale, spent 1 week at Ballymaloe House and I attended their cookery school there as well. The last week we winged it by traveling around and staying in hotels and B&B’s. We rented a car and my husband did all the driving. He did a fantastic job even though they drive on the left side of the road. It was a trip we talk about often. We got to see so much more than the typical tourist spots you that you are taken to when you are on a tour. Our next favorite trip was to Italy with our daughter and our 5 year old granddaughter. Our son in law stayed home with their youngest because he knew it would be too much with such a young girl. Our daughter traveled to a conference, and we tagged along. It was fantastic because she made all the arrangements! Our favorite spots are Lake Como, Milan, Bologna and Venice. The public transportation in Italy is great – we used taxis, buses, and trains.
Hi Lyn
Your Ireland trip sounds wonderful! We love Italy as well. We went travelled to a wedding several years ago (when the construction industry went in the bucket!!). It was the first trip we were able to be gone for two weeks! In the past I have always planned our entire trip, but may consider a tour this time. It is so time-consuming doing all the planning.
I also was going to suggest Ireland. My husband and I have been there 5 times (and Italy 5 times). But I am writing about Ireland because it’s not as high on people’s radar screens as Italy is. Our first trip was 1992, a milestone birthday year for me. You really need a car to see the best, most beautiful locations. Someone had told me before we went that it was the only place they ever went that looked exactly like the travel posters., and it’s true, it/s a beautiful country with a mystical mood about it. We think the most beautiful places are along the western and southern coast. My mom’s heritage is Irish (which is why I wanted to go) and she was a terrible, uninspired cook. I thought I would tolerate the food, but it was fantastic! They were “farm to table” in 1992, way before that term was popular here. We too stayed at Ballymaloe. We have probably stayed at 30+ different places over the years, some grand, some more modest but every single place was full of charm and hospitality. Check out the Dingle peninsula and stay in the town: great food (lobster!), music, shops, and on the peninsula plenty of history from prehistoric times. If you are interested, you can email me to ask questions or get recommendations.
Hi Sheila
I have heard so many wonderful things about Ireland as well. I am filing all of these wonderful suggestions. I knew I could count on you all!
I love that you show different outfits using repeat pieces – thank you!
Hi Marysue
I was hoping you all would agree!!
I like seeing how you use what’s in your closet in different ways. It inspires me to play in my own closet. We are taking several mini trips this summer to see family. Would love to plan a European vacation but that will be next year.
Hi Harriet
So glad to hear that!!