Travel Confession #17 & Giveaway Winner

Now is about the time of year when I yearn to hop on the next plane that is bound south of the equator. 

{merci Tom Hide}

Bring on the sun of Sydney!

And it's also time to announce the winner of the Daniela Zagnoli Giveaway! Don't worry I didn't forget about you darlings!

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{merci weheartit}

Congratulations Va! 

I hope you find a fabulous way to sport these earrings and post for us all to see your fashionista creation you style them with!

Be sure to stay tuned at Brazilian Decor for the chicest items south of the Equator!

Travel Confession #17

It's almost another year and I can't wait! One of my favorite things about my travels is the possibility for exploration, and nothing gets me more pumped on possibility then the turning over to a new planner... yes I use an old school day planner... they can't be replaced.

{merci weheartit}

Have you brainstormed your 2011 adventures yet?

Travel Confession #16

I love going to a new place and discovering it through my camera lens. It is so exciting to get home and see my new passport stamp through a whole new angle. You get to relive all the fun memories through every snapshot.

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Any fun travel stories mes cheries?

Travel Confession #15

I love the beauty of a traveling romance, whether it is a fleeting memory stored with a spark in your heart or a long term love that no amount of miles can separate, they give life zest and butterflies, and something to write to your diary about.

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Meeting people on the road is already exciting enough so when you add a little flame into the equation its easy to feel like you are starring in your own Chic Flic. You get to see the side of a city you never considered, and that place will forever be touched with your fond memories of foot popping kisses and moonlit walks hand in hand.

{Weheartit}

Of course then when the trip is over you are left with your those memories that play likes reels on repeat constantly in your brain. They are the reason you are left smiling in the middle of a board meeting while you are daydreaming, or the reason you didn't notice the light turn from red to green. No one else may understand, but you were bitten by the travel romance bug and now no airplane will ever feel the same...

Are your airplanes shooting stars mes cheries?

Travel Confession #14

I love meeting friends along the travel road. It makes for such a fun adventure to bump into strangers and spark up a friendship. My last trip was to Italy was just that. On the flight from Paris to Pisa I bumped in to two Americans backpacking through Europe and we ended up spending our two days in Pisa together. While in line for Vespa Rentals, we bumped into a Lithuanian Basketball player who attended college in Virginia...small world. So the four of us took an Italian adventure via Vespas down the Tuscany Coast and went swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. Best European Adventure EVER.

{weheartit, Flickr, me}

What is your best European Adventure?

Travel Confession #13

I love visiting a place I have dreamed of all my life. I don't think I will ever forget my very first trip to Paris. That first time our metro popped up out of the ground only to smack us in the face with an amazing view of the Eiffel Tower. All I could do was gasp and stare, it hit me, I had finally made it to the place of my dreams! And even though the Parisian streets are no longer lined with gold for me, I do still love that city, and can't get tired of the old romantic beauty of the City of Lights.

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Now I am on my way back from yet another dream trip; Italy. I have had my own Roman Holiday and am super stoked about it. Now I don't only dream, but have actually been in all the places Audrey Hepburn discovered in her breakout film. Amazing. It is surreal to see things, that as an art major, I studied intently. Michaelangelo's David and Pieta, the Sistine Chapel ceiling, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps....aahh amazing!

See you soon mes cheries!

Travel Confession #12

I love the feeling of scratching notches off my travel checklist. Yes this means I have a list of places I want to go and the absolute greatest thing about this year has been the opportunity to make a huge dent in my lifelong dreams: See the Planet! I cannot imagine never wanting to explore. There are just too many great places to see to stay in one place!

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So today I set off for Pisa, Florence and then Rome and I will be on Cloud 9 respectively.

Where is your Cloud 9 located?

Travel Confession #11

Discovery new cultures, cuisines, and languages is so enriching. Its great to be able to learn so much and then adapt your own life to be a little mix of the best of all worlds. I travel expecting, and yearning, for these eye-opening experiences, but I'm always pleasantly surprised when I can go somewhere and still feel like home. In fact sometimes, home hits smack in between the eyes and makes you cock your head and say "What"?

When I was in Warsaw over the holidays I had one of those out of no where experiences. But its nice all the same, it lets you know that we're all connected in a way, and that no matter how far you venture you can always find something to give you a little hug of home now and then.

*thanks allposters.com for both pics*

In this instance, I was in the airport about the catch my plane back to France. I stopped to grab a bite to eat, and while I was eating I read my wine bottle label and my jaw dropped. I'm living in France, visiting Poland, and drinking...Sutter Homes California Wine! I laughed, and then checked to see if anyone was looking at me strangely.

Have you find home in a strange place?

Travel Confession #10

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,

I took the one less traveled by,

and that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

*thanks weheartit for the photo*

One of my favorite things to do when traveling is to venture off the tourist path and stumble into the local restaurants and hidden boutiques that you don't find in the travel guides. A chance to really see the culture of this new place and find something unique to take home with you.

What hidden treasures have you found?

Travel Confession #9

There is something calming about coming home after a whirlwind of travels. As much as I truly love being on the go, and exploring new lands, it is nice to get back to routine and SLEEP! I have had a wonderful visit home and seen many friends and family (and have ate my fill of yummy fattening American food) but alas my journey now takes me back to routine and work.

*thanks WeHeartIt for the photo*

Wish me safe travels!

Travel Confession #8

One of the best part about traveling is the anticipation leading up to the trip. Your voyage is still full of a million unknown variables that will hopefully create the vacation you are needing.

It is that sense of adventure that is bursting at your seems, ready to embark down the alleys of an uncharted place.

What is your favorite anticipation?

Travel Confession #7 and Giveaway Winner

As I have mentioned before I have a great love affair with music, and I think one of the greatest sounds in the world is when you take your seats before an opera, Broadway, or some live musical program and the orchestra begins to warm up! The flirty, incandescent sound of so many notes hopping around in organized freedom is so soothing.

*photo compliments of Flikr: Chris Halderman*

I was able to attend a Polish Opera in Warsaw on this New Year's Eve and was swept away by the thought that no matter where you go, music transcends all barriers. It needs no language because it speaks to the soul which has no use for words, but rather feeds on emotion. It needs no calendar because it is timeless and is not contained by minutes and hours, rather its effect continues long after its harmonic vibrations cease. And it needs no container because it is impossible to contain, rather it plays through the cars in traffic, dogs barking, footsteps of a runner, rain on a tin roof. Music resides in the hearts of people which can never be governed.

With love in mind...lets see who wins the lovely Je T'aime Ring Dish Giveaway from Chrissy Ann Ceramics!

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Congrats Tessa of T&T Crafts! I'm sure you'll love it, I know many who will be quite jealous of you. But don't be discouraged if you didn't win this time, we have another giveaway already going on for a great jewelry item from Gossimar Wings! Also, be sure to stop in to Chrissy Ann Ceramics; you can still secure your own Love Bird Ring Dish before Valentine's Day arrives. Thanks Chrissy Ann for offering this wonderful gift for the holiday!

Travel Confession #6

I love discovering a city in snow, it completely transforms it. Falling snow makes you dream, and feel free. It makes you want to twirl and catch snowflakes on your tongue. Fresh snow has a magical power to take this dirty world that we call home and make it clean and beautiful, even if for a short time. It is, in my opinion, the only reason it should ever be cold, and I love how something so little can have such a huge effect on so many things.

Enjoy a preview of Poland, my latest trip, where it snowed every day. More to come soon!

*Photo compliments of a friend of Embellished*

What is your favorite thing about snow?

Travel Confession #5

I love packing for a trip. I think about all the places I want to see and events I would like to do, and lay out all my clothes, organized into coordinated outfits. The travel size cosmetics and toiletries are so cute and are fun to save for such trips. On the flip side, I detest unpacking. It is just admitting its back to routine and for the moment adventures have ceased. Packing is definitely more fun with its infinite opportunity on its unpaved path ahead.

*photo compliments of flikrista.com from user AK Nacer*

What is your travel prep routine?

Travel Confession #4

I love airports...after you pass security! The rush of heading to a new location, the feeling of being on-the-go. Its one of the things I really enjoy about traveling.

*photo compliments of photoinduced.com*

What's your favorite thing about the airport?

Travel Confession #3

I love dreaming. Everytime I travel I usually, at some point, end up wandering the new place by myself. I adore those moments because its when I can be so inspired by my surroundings and how truly blessed I am to experience so many new places. I love finding a gorgeous view and sitting and just people watching. People are so amazing if you just sit back and admire them.

*photo compliments of www.simple-production.com*

Travel Confession #2 and Giveaway Winner

One of my favorite things to do is watch out the window as I am flying. I love soaring over the clouds and feeling free. When I was little I used to want to be like Jasmine and go on a magic carpet ride, I was so disappointed when I learned you couldn't actually hold a cloud. Needless to say, I always have the window seat on flights. And the best feeling of all is seeing my beautiful Charlotte, NC skyline go by me when I fly home. Because no matter how many places I travel nothing will ever feel quite the same as my beautiful Carolina!

And not to keep you waiting any longer lovelies...the winner is of the Mental Embellisher giveaway is...

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Post #7: Abigail! Congratulations. You can check out Abigail's blog here: Ample Goodies.

There are so many great options, what will you get? Be sure to post your styling of your awesome prize! I can't wait to see it!

Travel Confession #1

If you have read my blog for any amount of time you know I really am passionate about 3 things: music, fashion, and travel. This year has been an abundance of travel which has been extremely interesting for me as I broaden my horizons with new food, new traditions, and lots of new experiences. Since I have been on the road so much this year, I find myself clinging to anything that feels like home (something I have never done in my life).

From my recent trip to Stockholm I became inspired for a new posting series: Travel Confessions. Every person has something that they love about travel. Something in each place that makes them feel growth, freedom, or maybe just feel like home.

#1 I love that no matter where I go subways smell the same. It makes me feel like I will exit onto 5th Avenue in Manhattan rather than wherever I am at the moment. Its a nice feeling of America that I cling to with each train I take.

What is one of your travel confessions?