Found inside the Nordiska museet in Stockholm.
Author Archives: Ody
Wednesday Wishlist
I admit, I went a little crazy with my spending after my birthday and since I’m saving for a big trip for the end of this year, I have to really track my spending and live frugally. It’s a practice in restraint, but you know what I like to do? I go online, look at the goods, click ‘Add to cart’ and then close the tab. It works for me! I get the rush of acquiring the items by adding them to a cart, but by closing the tab, I avoid buyer’s remorse and the regret that goes with looking at your bill. That said, I loved looking at the following items which I would love take with me while traveling.
Tory Burch for Fitbit Metal Hinged Bracelet: You might have noticed how much I love to walk here,here, here, and here, and I like to track my steps. Fitbit keeps me active and hitting my daily 10,000-step target is one of life’s little triumphs.
Another way to stay healthy during trips is to keep hydrated. S’well water bottles have nice designs, but the Wood Collection is special because for every Wood bottle sold, the brand’s partner, American Forests, will plant one tree. My favorite parts? S’well bottles keeps your drinks cold for 24 hours, hot for 12, the bottles don’t condensate (condensation is always a hassle for me when I have to put a bottle in my bag), and – get this – 25oz holds an entire bottle of wine. Sold!
The Rags2Riches Kena Tote is a fashionable and eco-ethical bag that I would love to carry with me while getting lost in little side streets. How amazing would this look on travel pics? What I love about Rags2Riches is they upcycle scrap cloth, organic materials and indigenous fabrics, and providing jobs and training to artisans in poor communities in the Philippines. Read more about them here.
What items would you love to take with you on your next trip?
Sunday Song of the Day: 7/4 Shoreline
This week’s Sunday Song is 7/4 Shoreline by Broken Social Scene.
The photo of the day is one I took during my holiday in Lisbon, Portugal two years ago. I decided to be adventurous and lied on a surfboard went surfing at Costa da Caparica. As a first-time unsuccessful surfer, it was scarier than it was fun. By the time I kind of got the hang of it, the waves got too big and we had to get out of the water. My surfing instructor Rui from Epic Surf School assured me that although there are some naturals who get it the first time, there are also some who have to try a few times to learn surfing. As challenging and scary as it was, it’s definitely not my last surfing session. I’m looking forward to conquering waves while actually standing on a surfbort.
Have you tried surfing? I’m curious, what was your first surfing experience like?
Happy Sunday!
Portugal product packaging
Lisbon, which I visited in October 2012, has beautiful people, delicious meals, and breathtaking views. It’s a very hilly city, but with every uphill walk, the view is worth it. What surprised me though, was the all the beautiful product packaging I found there. I wanted to buy everything I saw, but with limited luggage allowance, I made do with taking photos of all the cool cans, boxes, and bottles.
Flashback Friday: colors & chocolate at M&M
{Back in March 2012, I went to London, one of my favorite cities and got caught in a sugar rush at M&M’s World}
We went to M&M’s World in London under the pretense that it’s for our 2 year-old companion Yssa’s entertainment. More than an hour later, it was apparent that all of us grown-ups had just as much fun, maybe even more, as Yssa. Who wouldn’t cheer up with so much color and sweetness?
While my favorite M&M’s flavor is peanut butter (I think it also might be the most fattening), I was on a mission to find the dark chocolate variety. I discovered them in New York and must have bought them at Duane Reade or CVS (seriously, I love drugstores). My friends and I munched the chocolate and Combos while having wine (we so classy). We loved the dark choc M&M’s and thought would find them at the airport, but couldn’t. Sadly they weren’t available in London yet*.
With 4 floors filled with merchandise, sweets and the lovable mascots that make for great photo opps, M&M’s world is like a small amusement park. For a chocolate junkie like me, it’s better than Disneyland.
 |
| I really loved this wall with 22 colors of chocolate candies. |
 |
| I couldn’t help filling a bag with my favorite colors plus white because according to the Official Colour Analyser, white is my color mood. |
 |
| Festive! Wouldn’t mind celebrating with a bottle of that 🙂 |
 |
| Yssa approves |
 |
| Red looking very official |
|
| recreating The Beatles crossing Abbey Road! so cute! side note: I passed Abbey Road twice by bus, but couldn’t quite figure out where this famous crossing is. Another excuse to go back to my beloved LDN 🙂 1 Swiss Court
Westminster, London WC2H 7 (in Leicester Square) Store Hours:Monday-Saturday: 10am-Midnight
Sunday: Noon-6pm * one week later, my colleague went to New York and got me a big bag of M&M’s Dark Chocolate ❤
|
Thursday inspiration
I loved seeing these vintage tin cans, especially the Johnson’s Baby Powder (I guess the other Johnson wasn’t born yet at that time), through the gridded window. Something old while on the way to try something new in Edinburgh.
Wednesday Wishlist
This delicate necklace with a cutout map charm from Seattle’s Travel Shop is a cute and simple way to show your love for travel. I’m into gold accessories right now, and I love this.
RedEnvelope markets this as a toiletry bag “perfect for the man on the go” but if it keeps things organized while traveling, looks sleek and sophisticated, and made of beautiful leather, it is also perfect for me.
I’m searching for the perfect white blazer, and this one from Elizabeth and James seems perfectly upgrade-worthy.
Tile is a revolutionary little gadget that you can attach to anything. Its GPS and iPhone app can keep track if you lose it. Brrrrilliant.
So tell me, what items are you wishing for? Got any cool {window} shopping tips for me?
Sunday Song of the Day: Budapest
One of my favorite things at home is my shower radio. I start my days with a shower and singing along to R&B songs. And with this confession, I also want to share the Sunday Song of the Day, Budapest by George Ezra, along with a photo I took two years ago in – yes, that’s right – Budapest. Have a great Sunday, everyone!
Thursday inspiration
Found at a museum in Oslo.
Rolling Stones in Vienna
I grew up listening to music from the ’60s and ’70s, which my dad often played during our car rides. My favorites were The Beatles and Queen. Another rock band that frequented our playlist was The Rolling Stones. Admittedly, I hadn’t listened to them in a long while, but when I listened to the Stones again to get reacquainted, I was surprised how many songs I was already familiar with, loved, and even knew the words to. Their music is classic and their songs still so relevant. That’s why when I found out they were playing a show in Vienna on June 16 at the Stadion, I knew I had to see the iconic band live.
Have you been to a rock show? I think this was just my second show, and I reconfirmed that rock show goers are really really into it. We had tickets for the standing area far from the stage, and a lot of people around us tried everything they could to get into the VIP area – trying to bribe the security guards (failed), pretending to be long-lost friends of people who were selling VIP area bracelets (got caught), passing their wallets to VIP bracelet sellers to get it back with the bracelet inside it (stupid, but it worked), and when the concert started, running past the security guards. Security eventually couldn’t stop the crowd from running past the barriers and to the stage.
My favorites from the concert were Start Me Up, Angie, Get Off My Cloud, You Can’t Always Get What You Want (to which I probably sang too emphatically – I’m going through a phase), and of course, (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.
Keith Richards is just the coolest.
No Stopovers 