AIRBnB INSPIRATION

The funny thing about traveling is (at least for me, anyway) the more I travel the more I want to travel. It's a self-perpetuating cycle of awesome adventure (and not so awesome hits to my bank account, ha!).

So while I am 'out of the office' so to speak in Hawaii, I thought I would share some travel wish list items I have been eyeing as I planned our current excursion. . . .

You know how Pinterest is the magical sorting hat of all things inspirational, aspirational and pretty (nerdy Harry Potter reference!)? I use it to put every visual idea in its proper place and as you can see for yourself here. Well recently I have been doing the same thing for travel with AirBnB.* I like the idea of building your trip around one-of-a-kind places to stay or living like a local in fantastic metropoles like Paris or Amsterdam.

Anyway, I thought I would share some of my recent 'wishlist' finds of fabulous rentable AirBnB places with you. Which one is your favorite?

Above: a stunning modernist apartment in Copenhagen ($228 per night)

The ultimate insider stay, how about a chic, minimalist house boat in Amsterdam? ($256 per night)

And while we're on cozy spaces, how about this sweet sixties-style Airstream on the beach in Rye, Australia? ($186 per night)

Or this sweet treehouse surrounded by lush greenery in St. Keverne, England? ($127 per night)
By the way, my family is (only partially ironically) obsessed with Treehouse Masters . . .

A gorgeous pool, floor to ceiling windows and a sleek design scheme makes this home in Puerto Escondido, Mexico seem almost too good to be true at . . . ($150 per night)

And last, but definitely not least, how about this sophisticated yet homey lighthouse in Medulin, Croatia? ($355 per night) I have been wanting to stay at this lighthouse for ages but the wait list is insane! Croatia may be easier!


Did I miss any of your favorite picks? Let me know in the comments!




*This is not a sponsored post! I just think AirBnB is cool and has some great travel options.

PARTY PLANNING: A TRAVEL-THEMED BIRTHDAY

For most of the summer I have been eagerly planning a birthday bash for my beloved Mom, who turns the big 6-0 in September. It's been cool to brainstorm together and think of various means to make the party feel as special and fun as she is. Needing a theme, we decided to reference her worldly ways and make it a travel-focused party complete with tons of vintage maps and globes (my favorite!). After the party I will be excited to share all the fabulous projects I put together, but in the meantime I thought I would feature some of my inspiration.

Here are a few parties and products that have been jump off points for my planning process:

A bright, cheery teacher appreciation party. How awesome is that pull down map? I may have bought one of my own . . . 

This classy globe-focused wedding. I love the idea of vintage globe centerpieces!

This cake topper is too cute, perfect for that first birthday party!

The moment we decided to go with the travel theme, I thought of this print by Lisa Congdon as inspiration for the invite. Aren't they great? 

So here are some of the pretty things I am thinking of incorporating into the party. Clearly we are going with a light blue, turquoise and yellow color scheme (conveniently similar to my Dad's party last year) with pops of other bright color here and there. Overall we want to capture the vivacious, fun-loving, adventuresome character of my dear Mom and, with these sweet ideas, I think we can do it! Any other travel-themed things you can think of that I missed? Suggestions are welcome!

one  pull down vintage school map, $59.99 | two ocean light string from bright lab, $29.95 | three metal globe bank, $18 | four fun yellow and white bouquet | five stripey straws, 25 for $6.85 | six chocolate earth balls, one pound for $8.99 | seven yellow streamers DIY

PETER SMART IS A DESIGN GENIUS

If only everything you interact with in your daily life were designed by someone as thoughtful and clever as Peter Smart. Shower curtains would always stay in the tub, keeping your floor perfectly dry. Coffee makers wouldn't have infernally finicky on/off switches, leaving you woefully brew-less in the morning. Tax forms might actually be legible, allowing you to submit these important legal documents without worrying that an errant '1' might make you look like you are trying to claim 11 imaginary dependents.

Why am I so confident in the skills of designer Peter Smart? Well, he recently traveled all over the world to try to solve 50 Problems in 50 Days simply using the power of design. My favorite proposed project to come out of the challenge is by far his reworking of traditional boarding passes for air travel. Instead of the infernally ill-shaped horizontal pass, Smart came up with a vertical format that incorporates things you actually want and need to know—such as your gate, travel time and destination weather—through sans serif fonts and a simple bold layout. The proposed pass even folds to precisely fit inside your passport, with just the cliff notes version of your travel info sticking out of the top. Brilliant!

So listen up, TSA and airlines world wide! Let's institute some productive, passenger-focused legislation and get this design in the works, chop chop!

Read more about Smart's proposal here.

AROUND THE WORLD

First things first:  many many apologies for being MIA recently.  This past week has been a whirlwind of activity (thanks to all those folks who came to visit me at Newton Open Studios despite the gorgeous weather!  It was a success!) and I am happy to say that I am now back in action.  To get back in the swing of things I thought I would highlight items with my favorite subject matter: MAPS!

Here are just a couple of examples I found in my perusing of Etsy (it almost hurts me to tell other people about them since I want them all for myself!), from top to bottom:

1. Rand McNally Portrait Globe, whiteelephantvintage
2. Crossing Paths, amandajean
3. Atlas Envelopes, Bombus

Need to get your map fix in person?  I recently discovered two major map-related sites in Boston: A) the Globe Corner Bookstore in Cambridge which only sells maps, travel guides and travel related literature and B) the Mapparium in the Christian Science Center, a 3-story  stained glass globe.  Perhaps one day you will find yourself there . . . 

JAUNTFUL: CUSTOM TRAVEL MAPS

I like to travel. And as an obsessive planner, I like to head out of town with a plan about the best sights, eats and cultural spots to explore. For years I have tried to keep track of these elaborate lists through google maps, random notebooks, and convoluted email chains . . . . you name it, I've tried it.

Enter Jauntful, a new site that allows you to create, share and print personalized maps for any place in the world. It's still in preview mode so they are working out some kinks but I have been testing it out for a few weeks and I love it! I particularly like that you can search other users maps for fun insider tips to any place you can dream up. I have already used it for a brunch and bookshop recommendation and can't wait to look for more.

In between browsing sessions I have started my own maps for restaurants to remember in New York, things I want to do in North Carolina (headed there for a wedding next weekend!) and guides to my hometown of New Haven, CT and my beloved Boston (below).

Best of Boston for Design Lovers

The Best of the Elm City


Interested in seeing more? Sign up to join the preview here and check out my page here. And happy (imaginary) travels!


(images from the Jauntful Facebook page)

WORKING FOR THE WEEKEND

Do you all have anything fun planned for the weekend? Unfortunately I am on lockdown, spending all of the weekend working on essay that is due all too soon. Assuming you have more time for fun, here are some fabulous links to keep you occupied for the next two days.




Christoph Niemann's Abstract Sunday blog for the New York Times keeps getting better and better. I particularly loved discovering one of his latest posts (above) focused on "modern squash" aka pumpkins and gourds turned into modern furniture icons. Love it! (See my past Niemann favorites here, here, here, and here)


Speaking of modern design (and that Eames coatrack top left), this is an amazing DIY project.


I am obviously loving the trend of color, color, and more color in fashion right now. Makes me want these!


Not sure how I would get this up to my high rise NYC apartment (or where I would put it), but I need one of these!


This Etsy shop is chock full of the cutest things.


What?! An amazing New Zealand-based design blog? Wait until I tell my Kiwi hubby-to-be!


Why do some people learn faster? Fascinating!


Bubbles are totally magical.


This lovely lady makes me want to take more iPhone photos and fly to Scandinavia immediately.


While we are on the subject of travel, these two ladies (see here and here), know how to jet-set and still look great doing it. This travel/fashion tip is also genius; I followed it for several years now and it always makes me feel more put together!




Have a great weekend, all! See you back here on Monday.

FROM THE ARCHIVES: ITALIA

While watching the season premiere of Lost last night (I am so dork-ily excited) I decided to update my Flickr photostream with some of my travel photos. Previously I was only posting my travel photos on my personal Shutterfly account, but there are so many lovely shots--Italy really does have a transcendent light--that I couldn't help share them.

Check out more here.

TEXAS BOUND

What are you up to this weekend? I am headed to Austin, Texas! Though we will only be there for about 36 hours, I am super excited to go and hang out with my fiancé's family and see where my soon-to-be sister-in-law has been living for the last several years. She just got a super adorable puppy, so there will be lots of walks and playtime. :) I am looking forward to lots of sunshine, swimming and eating myself silly. Hope you have something equally fun scheduled!

Keeping travel in mind, I wanted to share with you a beautiful new travel e-magazine that has been making the blog rounds. It's called Wayfare and it is chock full of gorgeous graphic design and photography. It's one of those publications where you want to ear mark every page and hop on a plane immediately. Check it out the pilot issue here.


Need something else to keep you busy over the weekend? Here are some fun things I have recently discovered:

Have you read the Hunger Games (I read all three in a week!)? Then you are definitely going to want to see this cheeky post.

Speaking of books, I can't wait to add this new classic to my collection.

Also, this is the coolest bookmark I have ever seen.

Instaprint is taking Instagram to a whole. new. level. Wow!

I knew McNally Jackson was cool, but this machine just made it insanely cool.

The Bachelor may be over (at least for now) but this artist is making me want to go back and relive its most hilarious moments.

I have always wanted to be able to dance, so this video and this video are killing me. So cool!

Some great advice that I often have to remind myself to head. Just say no!

Louis C.K. does it again. Hilarious!

For my UCONN fans out there, here's more proof that we can't wait for Breanna Stewart to arrive. Go Huskies!


Happy weekend! See you back here next week!

TRAVEL IN STYLE

My current dream trip involves two major components (well three, if you include the company of my favorite man): British Airways and Globe Trotter luggage.  What better way to travel in style than first class on British Airways - with full beds, turn down service and the ultimate in gourmet food - with an armful of elegant leather bags?  It helps that the Globe Trotter website is beautiful (check out that store map!) and that British Airways flies to Athens (oh how I want to see the Greek Isles!).