London – Europe’s largest city and one of the most famous capitals in the world. Incredibly iconic, vibrant and diverse, London is for everyone. There are a plethora of attractions, museums, historical sites, modern architectural structures, theaters, cafes, pubs and restaurants to fit everyone’s desires! For first-timers to London, it can all seem a bit overwhelming trying to figure out where to begin, what should you see in London and how to cram it all in in a short amount of time without going overboard.

In celebration of our upcoming trip to London, England to visit friends and family, I got a little carried away looking for London inspired travel decor. There was a time in my life where I could have easily decorated my whole house in black and white with red accents in a London theme. England was the first country I had traveled outside of the US to when I was 14 and I became QUITE obsessed with London!

We traded in Roman ruins, Venetian architecture, delicious pasta and gelato in Italy for a two week road trip through the Balkans visiting new, up & coming destinations as the mysterious veil over Eastern Europe is slowly disappearing. While we had wanted the romance of Tuscany and the Almafi coast, we decided that Italy is 1. Expensive. 2. Crowded 3. Typical for honeymooners. Don’t get me wrong, I have a serious love affair with Italy and I still want to go, but I found myself more intrigued by the lesser known. 

With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, cafes, restaurants and bars are all likely decked out top to bottom in frilly heart confetti and red balloons and streamers while flower shops are gearing up for the biggest day in sales as husbands and boyfriends run to grab a bouquet of red roses to express their love. Love is certainly in the air! Ok, maybe not really here in Germany (sadly) but that doesn’t stop me from still getting excited that it’s the season of love! 

For those wanting to explore more of Central / Eastern Europe, this itinerary will pack in a lot to do in four of the most fascinating capitals! First, begin your journey in Prague where you will be blown away with jaw-dropping architecture, colorful buildings and picturesque moments.

Nothing can get you into the holly jolly holiday spirit quite like a beautiful Christmas market, thousands upon thousands of twinkling lights and far too much Glühwein than is acceptable for one’s waistline. No other time of year is more magical than the holiday season anywhere than in Europe, but Vienna certainly knows how to do it best!

Have you visited Germany before or know someone who has fallen so head over heels in love with the country that you wished you could either live here or take it home with you? Well guess what, you can! If you loved the cuisine, you can bring home the recipes! If you loved the language, you can bring home funny books about the German language!

67 days until Christmas, but who’s counting, right? I know it’s only the beginning of November and we still have Thanksgiving to stuff our faces until we wobble over to the couch and watch a game of football. But, it’s never too early to start thinking about affordable gifts for those you appreciate the most, be it a friend, a lover or a family member, especially if they LOVE LOVE LOVE to travel! 

Men can often be the hardest to shop for during the holiday season and finding either what they need or what they want can be next to impossible. I know because I married a man who never ever shares what he wants or needs. That leaves me guessing what could he possibly need or want for our travels. 

The smell of a turkey in the oven, stuffing on the stove and a pumpkin pie sitting on the counter all blend into that one mouth-watering aroma all Americans look forward to every year. That is, if you have the goods. 

Thanksgiving is that beautiful time of year where we all come together to rejoice in another bountiful year, good health, best friends and a loving family. But sometimes, we’re not always home for the holidays and being gone during this time of year can make for some of the lowest points in the life of an expat.