Curated Travel: Packing Tips - Edited Accessories + New Favorites from grayc glass

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Curated Travel: Packing Tips - Edited Accessories + New Favorites from grayc glass

I've learned to minimize and refine my packing style through trial and error. I believe it was that three-week vacation to Italy and France in 2011, lugging an overweight suitcase on and off train platforms, up tiny staircases of hotels, and out of taxi cabs, that finally made me a believer in the less is more approach to packing and traveling. I was also grateful that neither Scott or I developed a hernia hoisting that bag up and down for three weeks.

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Throwback Travel: Our Honeymoon in Zihuatanejo

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Throwback Travel: Our Honeymoon in Zihuatanejo

Just yesterday I came across an album of old photographs and was mesmerized by the grainy images, long forgotten, captured between the slightly dusty covers. It was an album of our honeymoon, back at the ‘turn of the century’, in 2000. This was before digital cameras, Facebook check-ins, camera phones, and selfie sticks. It was pure, unadulterated relaxation and romance, just like any honeymoon should be. Due to hurricane season being in full swing in September, we opted for a honeymoon resort on the western coast of Mexico, now known as The Thompson Zihuatanejo.

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An Afternoon in Picturesque Varenna on the Shores of Lake Como, Italy

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An Afternoon in Picturesque Varenna on the Shores of Lake Como, Italy

There are places you stumble upon while traveling that simply need no explanation. On a hazy summer afternoon, we arrived by boat, from Bellagio. Between flashes of sunlight, bursts of showers, and a moody mist that wound around our afternoon, we experienced Varenna, on the shores of Lake Como. These images speak for themselves. Click on the gallery to open a slide show of charming Varenna.

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Dear Mom + Our MOST Exciting News Ever!!

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Dear Mom + Our MOST Exciting News Ever!!

Dear Mom,

From you, I've learned the value of a strong work ethic, tenacity, and the importance of leading with a warm smile.  From you, I've learned the value of cultivating lifelong friendships and nurturing those friendships with love and care. From you, I've learned when to let things go that aren't important in the scheme of life and thatyou can never please everyone.

From you, I've learned to enjoy the indulgence of a Belgian chocolate, a fine pair of Italian leather shoes, freshly cut flowers, and a strong cup of coffee, with cream, in the morning. From you, I have seen the life-altering power of faith, generosity, living with integrity, having a signature perfume and 'keeping it classy'.

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CURATED TRAVEL: Dream Destination - Grand Hotel Convento - Amalfi Coast, Italy

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CURATED TRAVEL: Dream Destination - Grand Hotel Convento - Amalfi Coast, Italy

Grand Hotel Convento - Amalfi Coast, Italy -  Set in a former monastery dating back to the 12th-century, this luxury hotel features stunning views of the Amalfi Coast. Seamlessly blending traditional architecture with contemporary decor, the hotel has an elegant ambiance and is ideal for a romantic Amalfi Coast vacation.

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Signature Style: Sensational Sleeves

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Signature Style: Sensational Sleeves

We are seeing them everywhere this season-- flared, gathered, tapered, capped, layered, slit, caped, draped -- those sensational sleeves. When I was in fifth grade I asked my mom to sew a dress for me with straight sleeves and 2 layers of fabric encircling the wrists. I was also very clear, I wanted it in daffodil yellow!!

Oh, how I felt I made a bold fashion statement in that yellow dress, circa early 70's, with those sensational sleeves. We can skip the references to my 'Big Bird' yellow taste, but I will confess I continue to have fashion affection for those sensational sleeves.

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Curated Hotel: Living 'Pura Vida' at Secrets Papagayo in Guanacaste, Costa Rica

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Curated Hotel: Living 'Pura Vida' at Secrets Papagayo in Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Our recent trip to Costa Rica was a travel bucket list item for us as our first trip to Central America. We fell in love with the casual, tropical vibe and the stunning natural beauty that surrounded us. Costa Rica is infused with the attitude of ‘Pura Vida’, more eloquent than mere words can express, it’s an attitude of living the essence of pure life.

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The Transportive Quality of a Great Read with Kristy Woodson Harvey

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The Transportive Quality of a Great Read with Kristy Woodson Harvey

I'm a sucker for an accent, especially a southern drawl. I'm sure my fondness for the sounds and pace of life in the south comes from my dad, born and bred in Pickens, South Carolina. I remember several visits to the south and being enamored with the gentle breezes, slower pace, and friendliness of the place.

When it comes to reading, I gravitate towards books that transport me to my faraway places, such as Italy or Paris, but I've recently added the South to my collection of favorite reading destinations, thanks to my most recent read.

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What I Gained By Giving Up My Shopping Habit [Retirement Series]

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What I Gained By Giving Up My Shopping Habit [Retirement Series]

The last time I indulged in my regular shopping habit was June 2016.  This may sound odd, but I’m tracking how long it’s been since I have darkened the door of my previous shopping addiction, TJMAXX.  It’s been nearly 10 months. I’m sure my friends working at the checkout stand assume I’m pushing up daisies by now!

As with many life transitions, like retirement/reinvention, being conscientious with finances is an essential piece of the puzzle.  I’m impressed by how much cutting the excess shopping can ease the strain of a reduced income. It’s a simple, but effective formula.

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CURATED TRAVEL: Dream Destination - Bora Bora in French Polynesia

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CURATED TRAVEL: Dream Destination - Bora Bora in French Polynesia

One of the destinations at the top of my travel bucket list is Bora Bora in French Polynesia. The shimmering turquoise waters and sparkling sugar sand beaches speak to a tropical paradise. The Tahitian experience, in over-water luxury bungalows, is the stuff of fantasy.

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