DIY - Global Coffee Table

For a few years now I've been saving bills from each country's currency I visit.  They don't take up as much space as coins and are super lightweight.  Every ounce counts when you are backpacking or living out of a carry-on for 5 weeks.  As a designer, my favorites are color and name driven.  Hong Kong is never one to blend in with the crowd and covers their bills in HOT pink.  Australia has been using Pantone's color of the year, Tangerine Tango for years.  Last but not least is India, for the sole reason I just miss paying in Rupees! 

 Instead of letting the bills gather dust we used them to decorate our drab Ikea coffee table.  Any glass top table with a layer underneath would work.  Plus it's a great conversation piece for your next dinner party.

                               A few more recipes for the dinner party I mentioned.
                                                  appetizer   /   main   /   dessert

Jellyfish

Recently I've been feeling like a jellyfish.  Wobbly from lack of sleep (puppy duty), Squishy from lack of Pilates Plus classes, Cloudy from our June gloom weather and Flimsy due to the insane schedule I have this month (2 bachelorettes, graduations, engagement parties all while relocating to San Diego).  

 

I took these photos while visiting the Vancouver Aquarium  which is perfectly set in the middle of Stanley Park.  Best way to visit?  Bike!  First, cycle along the seawall and follow signs to the aquarium.  For my Type A, must have a map travelers, visit here, Bike Map.  Don't forget to bring a lock!  

30 by 30

The Competition - 30 countries by 30 years old.  

** Post Update **  

Knocked off a few more countries.

At 29, I've seen 24 29 countries.

Where have I been? (in order of visitation)

St. Lucia - have your hair braided, fly on a trapeze and skip in the tropical rain. 

Italy - favorite European country. Milan, Lake Como, Venice, Portofino, Genoa, Lucca, Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, Cinque Terre, Forte dei Marmi, Capri, Positano, Amalfi, Naples, Sicily, Taormina, Lipari Islands.

Mexico - Manzanillo, Cabo (Day 1.

Czech republic - Prague, gorgeous but passport, camera and credit cards were stolen, be careful!

France - Niece while studying abroad, then Paris. 1st trip by myself, scary, exhilarating, a must for anyone!

Monaco - cleanest train station ever seen. Beautiful but a bit snoody.

Greece - Santorini and Mykonos.  Pelicans the size of a 9 year old hang out in the restaurant kitchens.

Spain - bus-ed it from Barcelona, Grenada, Sevilla, Portugal then train back to Madrid, train is the better way to go.

Portugal - Lagos and Lisbon.  The fresh fish rivals Fiji's.

Switzerland - Bern, Interlacken, Murren.

Bahamas - Relaxing, hot, dine on conch a hundred different ways.

British Virgin Islands - Sailed from Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, Willy T's (must get the t shirt!)

Canada - Montreal (an all time favorite), Vancouver.

New Zealand - Prepare for the adventure of a lifetime! I prefer South Island over North Island.

Australia - Melbourne, Sydney, Perth.

India - Rajasthan (Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ranthambore) Mt. Abu, Ahmedabad.

England - London, the food is amazing! if you avoid British fare except at high tea.

St. Martin - Favorite passport stamp, the font is fabulous.

St. Bart - Glamorous island living with a French accent.

Anguilla - Whitest sand I've ever seen.

Hong Kong - I'm more a Kowloon girl than Hong Kong island.

Vietnam - Hanoi and Sapa. Sapa was surreal; rice patties, water buffalo, tribal women half my size scurrying up mountains in plastic slip-ons. 

Fiji - nicest people I have ever encountered, you will laugh all day long here, perfect for a honeymoon.

Ireland - Dublin, Douglas (our favorite!), Killarney (ideal for the outdoors lovers), Inch, yes it really is called Inch, Dingle and Galway.  

Denmark - Copenhagen. Explore, eat,

Sweden - Malmo and Stockholm. (Where we would live in Stockholm.)

Germany - Munich, beers and pretzels the size of our heads!
Belize - San Pedro Island. 1, 2, 3, 4 

On the radar ~ Iceland, Peru and Bali.  Have you visited these 3?  Where should I go/do/eat/drink?

Dublin, Trinity College

Last night in Stockholm, Sweden

Nyhavn, Copenhagen, Denmark

Sunset, Fiji

Locally made textiles, Sapa, Vietnam