I recently stumbled upon a blog post entitled “Before You Go To America Here’s 17 Things You Will Find Weird As A Foreigner.” As an American who has now lived abroad for over a year, I became very enthused by this piece. I always love hearing people’s reactions to American tendencies that are so-called “weird.” And while I don’t necessarily agree with the author of the article on a few of her key points, I don’t plan to dispel what she says. Rather, I encourage others to not look at cultural differences as being weird; but rather, people should start to view these discrepancies as the contributing details that make us want to venture out into the world–to see new places–to experience new things. If each of our cultures didn’t have their own quirks, what would ever make us want to travel?
I’m a Keeper
Recently, I have been OBSESSING over the new, Pinterest-esque app dedicated to fashion and home goods, called Keep. I have literally been spending hours on end discovering new trends and posting them to my look books. Even more exciting, one of the looks that I “kept” is being featured on the app’s trending page. Other fashion enthusiasts should definitely take a look and join this lovely community of Keepers: Join Keep.
Bavaria
Did my work just send me to the real life version of Disneyland? Garmisch, Germany can be described as nothing less than a magical land that I could only fathom reading about in a fairytale. Everything about this place has so much character—from the intricate woodwork and paintings on each Bavarian building, to the waitresses dressed in traditional German garb. Not to mention, this fairytale land is situated right underneath the Alps, where crystal clear creeks run through the plentiful garden landscapes.
Luckily, I managed to have an entire day free from work, so along with my co-workers, I travelled by cable car to Germany’s highest mountain–the Zugsitze. Aside from the frigid drop in temperature, my alpine journey was beautiful. And, once I had some gluhwein in my system, I was perfectly content.
I ended my trip with a quick trip to Munich–unfortunately, missing the kick-off of Oktoberfest by a mere 48 hours! However, my stroll through Marienplatz made the brief journey a worthwhile adventure.
As it goes, the third time was truly a charm when it comes to my German travels. I must admit that I have loved every moment of each German adventure (previously Stuttgart and Frankfurt); however, Bavaria takes the cake, or should I say apple strudel?
Fall into Fashion
Fall: my favorite season of the year. As with the leaves, you get to shed those summer brights and don some darker shades. Here are some of my favorite pieces for Autumn:
1. Warehouse Faux Leather Full Skirt 2. Anthropologie Arcata Stitched Buttondown 4. Zara Zipped Shorts 3. Elma Pointed Toe T Strap Flat by Renvy 5. Excess and Elegance Necklace 6. Vince Split Front Dress
Korčula
The picturesque island of Korčula, jutting out into the Adriatic Sea, holds a very dear place in my heart. Full of cobblestone walkways, rustic buildings, and plenty of friendly locals, the seaside village of Old Town Korčula ended up being my favorite destination on my summer getaway through Italy, Croatia, and the South of France.
When my friends and I arrived to the ferry port, our gracious apartment host, Vladimir, led us to our three story flat just meters away from the crystal clear sea. I was pleased to learn that Vladimir had created all of the intricate woodwork throughout the apartment—from the wardrobes, to the vanity stands, to the bench-seating kitchen table. The pale green woodwork that encompassed our little Croatian home accented the nearby water perfectly and added a pinch of charm to our stay.
As soon as the girls and I settled in, we immediately hit the town, where we stumbled upon a local café on the coast. My shrimp risotto accompanied my glass of Pinot Grigio perfectly, to say the least. Lunch was followed by an afternoon of lounging under the Croatian sun, with occasional dips in the sea. One of the girls transformed her iphone into an underwater camera which provided hours of entertainment as we attempted to imitate mermaids.
For our first evening in Korčula, we had one simple task—to find a waterfront restaurant that would allow us to take in the purple and orange sunset. The restaurant we ended up at turned out to be a frequented destination for us as the wait staff was beyond generous in every way. Following a delicious meal of four cheese gnocchi, our waiter whisked us away to the rooftop portion of the restaurant, which just so happened to be a trendy bar. Immediately we were surrounded with a round of drinks “on the house.” Not to appear rude, we then ordered a second round of drinks which we would purchase. Before we could finish, the bartender arrived with a pitcher of Sangria for our group. Finally, we decided to call it a night and went to pay our bill. Our waiter generously took the bill away and told us not to worry about paying, that it was all on the house.
Day two in Korčula began with a coastal run and was followed by the arrival of my lovely boyfriend. As per the day before, the rest of the afternoon was spent wandering through the cobblestone streets and basking in the sun and sea. Once again, we returned to our favorite dining spot for another wonderful meal. After dinner, we explored the old port full of newly docked yachts as we made our way to a little bar near the beach.
On my final day in Korčula, I embraced each moment as I knew this magical place would soon be a only a memory. Swimming, wine, and sunset watching-star gazing all allowed the finale of my Korčula adventure to be simply magical.
New Year, New Place
So now that I’m a real person, with a real job, it was time to upgrade my apartment. As the true fashion addict that I am, I decided to live directly in the heart of Dublin—right off of Grafton Street. For those of you unfamiliar with Grafton, it is as close as Ireland will ever get to a Newberry or a 5th Ave. I’m surrounded by the ever so lovely Ted Baker, Brown Thomas, and Massimo Dutti—just to name a few of my favorites.
Of course, as with every new residence, comes the opportunity to redesign your space. I must admit, I am a huge fan of white in an apartment. The simple elegance that white presents allows you to elaborate with pops of color here and there.
I also love combining textures and designs to create unique looks. Recently, I went on the prowl for a variety of jars ranging in sizes, shapes, and colors. Adding to my vintage-esque creme mirror, my floral perfume, and my Chanel “Chance” creme, my newest additions have added a bit of eclectic charm.
One of my favorite parts of traveling includes collecting bits and pieces that serve to remind me of the places I have been. To display several of my treasured collections, I have mounted a large bulletin board on one of my walls. This now proudly showcases a hand painted Roman scene, a handcrafted Venician mask, a black and white Dublin photo, and a cherished Polaroid photo taken on my favorite European island, Korčula.
As I’m beginning to settle into my new apartment, with the smell of fall in the air–or rather the smell of Bath & Bodywork’s Heirloom Pumpkin candle–I look forward to a new beginning.
Hello!
As a recent graduate of the Northeastern University International Business Program, I have been blessed with the opportunity to live in Ireland for an entire year (well, more than a year, but I’ll get into that later!). Not only has my time in Ireland taught me how to properly answer “queries” such as “where’s the craic?” and “what do you want to drink?” (Guinness…duh…), it has also provided me with the chance to explore Europe. I have now been to villages that I had never previously heard of and eaten cuisines that I can’t even pronounce–and I have loved absolutely every moment of this journey.
I came to Ireland with one true goal: to live out a happy-ending version of P.S. I Love You, with the gorgeous Irish man included. Just kidding 😉 I actually arrived to the green island with few expectations and a lot of excitement. Wanting to make the most of my time in Europe, I immediately began traveling. And when I say immediately, I literally mean, I moved into my apartment and booked the earliest tour to Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland followed by a trip to the Cliffs of Moher in the west of Ireland. And while I immediately hit the ground running, I never took the opportunity to collect my memories.
Recently, I was offered a full-time position with an Irish technology firm that will allow me to continue living in Europe, while also “forcing” me to travel the globe! I would have been crazy to deny such an opportunity. So, as I am now staying in Europe for an indefinite while longer, I invite all who are interested to join me as I recount my fondest memories over the past year, as well as explore new destinations in terms of design, fashion, culture, and all other aspects that make this world so enchanting!
wearisali 