Well amici, the holiday season is upon us and we're just a week and a few days out from Christmas which means I'm nearly three weeks late watching Love Actually. I've got all my presents wrapped in coordinating paper and under the tree already because I'm a holiday fanatic and this aforementioned tree has been up since the beginning of November in my house. However, if you're not like me and you've now found yourself with some pretty real time constraints, don't fear...I've got a pretty kickass list of ideas for the traveller in your life.
The Tesalate Beach Towel
The last beach towel you'll ever need. Tesalate is an Australian-designed beach towel created by two friends and launched in 2016. Their idea was to make a durable towel that was both compact, easy to carry around and most importantly, sand-free. Yes, I know that the word beach and sand-free are oxymorons but the Tesalate towel was created specifically to enable sand to slip off, in their words "leaving the beach at the beach". Naturally, it's both super absorbent and fast-drying, perfect for a quick jump in the ocean. Millenials (raise your hands!) are sure to love the array of patterns available. I chose a Missoni-like Towel for Two that I can't wait to try on my next beach holiday. You're sure to see it in my Instastories this February, so stay tuned.
The Tesalate Beach Towel
The last beach towel you'll ever need. Tesalate is an Australian-designed beach towel created by two friends and launched in 2016. Their idea was to make a durable towel that was both compact, easy to carry around and most importantly, sand-free. Yes, I know that the word beach and sand-free are oxymorons but the Tesalate towel was created specifically to enable sand to slip off, in their words "leaving the beach at the beach". Naturally, it's both super absorbent and fast-drying, perfect for a quick jump in the ocean. Millenials (raise your hands!) are sure to love the array of patterns available. I chose a Missoni-like Towel for Two that I can't wait to try on my next beach holiday. You're sure to see it in my Instastories this February, so stay tuned.
Mapiful
These have probably popped up once or twice or a million times on your Instagram. It all began with a cup of coffee and four friends talking about the possibilities of combining technology, design, and maps. The first idea was actually to create a spin on the traditional game “Snake” but on top of real-world maps. When working with maps, and designing them with that in mind, they realized that they wanted maps like that at home and imagined they weren't the only ones...they were right! Whether you're an expat and you want to hang your hometown in your living room or you fell deeply and madly in love in/with (pick your preposition!), the level of customization in these maps will let you find the exact place that you hold close to your heart.
These have probably popped up once or twice or a million times on your Instagram. It all began with a cup of coffee and four friends talking about the possibilities of combining technology, design, and maps. The first idea was actually to create a spin on the traditional game “Snake” but on top of real-world maps. When working with maps, and designing them with that in mind, they realized that they wanted maps like that at home and imagined they weren't the only ones...they were right! Whether you're an expat and you want to hang your hometown in your living room or you fell deeply and madly in love in/with (pick your preposition!), the level of customization in these maps will let you find the exact place that you hold close to your heart.
Lost Poet Wine by Atticus
Atticus always says, adventures run on whiskey, but I'd have to say that the best European adventures I've had were run on WINE. Fittingly, the Insta-famous poet and New York Times Bestseller has been dabbling in the grape industry, working directly with Winc Winemaker, Ryan Zotovich, to create a custom red blend that'll have you writing your own poetry in no time. What they created is a lush and velvety California blend that is eco-friendly and serves up the perfect balance of earth, fruit and wood. The wine is 70% Cabernet, 20% Merlot and 10% Syrah and comes with cute AF labels featuring the online sensation's most loved words.
Atticus always says, adventures run on whiskey, but I'd have to say that the best European adventures I've had were run on WINE. Fittingly, the Insta-famous poet and New York Times Bestseller has been dabbling in the grape industry, working directly with Winc Winemaker, Ryan Zotovich, to create a custom red blend that'll have you writing your own poetry in no time. What they created is a lush and velvety California blend that is eco-friendly and serves up the perfect balance of earth, fruit and wood. The wine is 70% Cabernet, 20% Merlot and 10% Syrah and comes with cute AF labels featuring the online sensation's most loved words.
Homesick Candles
Ah travel. It's so wonderful to be in Paris with a baguette, pretending to speak French and finally having a reason to eat a croissant every morning (and as an afternoon snack). But even with the beauty of the City of Lights, we all inevitably have moments of homesickness. That's where these candles come in handy. Be transported to a place you love with these 100% natural soy wax, hand-poured beauties available in an array of location-inspired scents. At the moment you can choose from locations based on cities or states, but also on memories like "American Summer" and "Friday Night Football". Hey, you can take the homecoming queen out of the small town, but you can't take away the memories right? I'd love to know what an Italy candle smells like. Freshly-made pasta perhaps?
Ah travel. It's so wonderful to be in Paris with a baguette, pretending to speak French and finally having a reason to eat a croissant every morning (and as an afternoon snack). But even with the beauty of the City of Lights, we all inevitably have moments of homesickness. That's where these candles come in handy. Be transported to a place you love with these 100% natural soy wax, hand-poured beauties available in an array of location-inspired scents. At the moment you can choose from locations based on cities or states, but also on memories like "American Summer" and "Friday Night Football". Hey, you can take the homecoming queen out of the small town, but you can't take away the memories right? I'd love to know what an Italy candle smells like. Freshly-made pasta perhaps?
Wander(lust): Letters From A Wanderer
Travel through memories of first love and heartbreak set around the globe in places like iconic New York City in the morning and Rome at twilight. This collection of wanderlust-filled moments captured in words will satisfy anyone who has ever loved and lost a person, a city, or another life. That's the short blurb I chose to summarize my collection of short stories that were inspired by my own travels. Naturally I had to add my book to this gift guide. I know that I'm biased but I really think it's a wonderful gift for anyone that has travelled, wants to travel, or has simply always loved a good bout of armchair travel. It's small enough to throw into your carry-on without thinking about it and in fact, if you check out my Instagram @questadolcevita, you'll be able to see all the cool places people have taken this book so far. And if you have the book already and haven't sent me a photo, please do!
Travel through memories of first love and heartbreak set around the globe in places like iconic New York City in the morning and Rome at twilight. This collection of wanderlust-filled moments captured in words will satisfy anyone who has ever loved and lost a person, a city, or another life. That's the short blurb I chose to summarize my collection of short stories that were inspired by my own travels. Naturally I had to add my book to this gift guide. I know that I'm biased but I really think it's a wonderful gift for anyone that has travelled, wants to travel, or has simply always loved a good bout of armchair travel. It's small enough to throw into your carry-on without thinking about it and in fact, if you check out my Instagram @questadolcevita, you'll be able to see all the cool places people have taken this book so far. And if you have the book already and haven't sent me a photo, please do!
Once Upon an Expat and Life on the Move
Since we're on the theme of books, I absolutely must mention the two anthologies that I've been featured in. They were edited by expat Lisa Webb who has just recently returned to Calgary, Alberta after lifetimes abroad. These are the perfect gift for the expat in your life, or to treat yourself if YOU are the expat in your life. Each book is a collection of stories written from a diverse group of women with every living abroad experience under the sun. They are both available on Amazon.
Since we're on the theme of books, I absolutely must mention the two anthologies that I've been featured in. They were edited by expat Lisa Webb who has just recently returned to Calgary, Alberta after lifetimes abroad. These are the perfect gift for the expat in your life, or to treat yourself if YOU are the expat in your life. Each book is a collection of stories written from a diverse group of women with every living abroad experience under the sun. They are both available on Amazon.
Traveller Collective Keyring
So I wasn't sure if I should include this on a last minute list actually because I've checked and the website says any orders placed from today onwards won't be received until after Christmas. But for future Christmases, this keyring that allows the steady addition of new places is ideal for anyone with wanderlust and a slight tendency to keep score.
So I wasn't sure if I should include this on a last minute list actually because I've checked and the website says any orders placed from today onwards won't be received until after Christmas. But for future Christmases, this keyring that allows the steady addition of new places is ideal for anyone with wanderlust and a slight tendency to keep score.
Well there you have it friends, some of my favorite things to gift this holiday season. Hopefully I gave you a little bit of inspo or at least some things to add to your own list. Hope Santa brings you peace, love, and of course, lots of travel this year!
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