Destination - Sleepy Gamla Stan

If you find yourself in Stockholm, Sweden, you must walk around the 13th century island of Gamla Stan.  During the week it can be overcrowded and jam-packed with tourists but on a Sunday afternoon you can cruise the cobblestone streets peacefully.  Visit adorable little shops, snack on buttery bagels and take some time off of the museums & monuments itinerary. 

Going to the Chapel

We are finally at base camp of our Mt. Kilimanjaro wedding season.  8 weddings in 5 months, 3 in one week, 2 maid matron of honor speeches and WAY too many glasses of champagne.  I'm exhausted!  We just returned from our last one up in Monterey.  The happy couple had perfect 75*, sunny and clear weather, she wore a dress so light and airy it could fly away and the late night sliders and fries were a hit!  You may remember her bachelorette party here.  Next year we only have 4 on the roster (hooray!).  

In honor of wedding season ending I put Pinterest to the test and rounded up some inspiration for you beautiful ladies still searching for the perfect dress.  Whether you are getting married at the courthouse, on a tiny island in a foreign country or in a 1,000 year old cathedral, you may be asking yourself, "How do you know?"  I knew when I didn't want to take my dress off.  I tried on about 50 but kept asking to slip into my favorite, over and over.  When you don't want to take it off, when you find the dress you want to sleep in, and when you feel sexy AND comfortable that's when you have found the winner! 

Thailand, Milan, Cotswalds, Stockholm, Sevilla, St Bart, California


Don't be afraid to do something different!  Go short, add a pop of color, wear 2 dresses throughout the night, maybe even 3!  Pair the Thailand top with some hot shorts and bare feet.  Hats?  They are storming back in, big and small.  It's your wedding day.  I don't care what your mom wants you to wear, I don't care what your mother-in-law thinks you should wear.  Wear what makes you feel like the luckiest girl in the world because you are, you get to marry the person of your dreams!

Color - Periwinkle

all photos - Gamla Stan, Sweden

foto of the day

Stockholm, day 3, 1st real meal in 4 days - stomach flu :(

day 12 of traveling one tends to get homesick for California cuisine so we couldn't resist an appetizer of "nachos".  which at a fancy waterfront restaurant in Sweden was a bowl of Dorito-ish chips, guac and peach salsa.  but hey, it was also the cheapest appetizer on the menu.
don't worry, we did follow it up with a plate of grilled scampi & lobster risotto while washing it down with the house red. cheers!

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