A Travel Outfit

Spring Travel by e.cordes featuring leather shoes

Before I come home, I'm going on a few more big trips with people I love this. I've been blessed to make so many memories with old and new friends during my time here, and I can't wait to make some more.

Because I'm planning these trips,  I've been thinking about my ideal spring and summer traveling outfit.  Actually dreaming about my ideal outfit, as I'm saving all my money to pay for these trips.  But if I had some disposable income right now, this is what I would buy for drinking tea in Bath or traipsing around Rome:

1. A stylish leather backpack, like this one from LeMode accessories, to carry all my necessaries, but keep me from looking too much like a tourist.
2. A light summer scarf in a fun color. If you want to look more European, the easiest thing to do is throw on a scarf. (Warning: in France, you will fit in better with a more muted color. But I've worn black all winter, and I'm ready for some color.)
3. A comfortable, cute dress that can be dressed up or down, in a suitcase-friendly material, like this one from Five Bamboo.  
4. Some basic jewelry that I could wear with other outfits, too. I've been learning to pack lightly this year.
5. A light spring jacket with a hood. Travel doesn't stop for a chilly evening or a sudden rainstorm.
6. Sunglasses.  I find it's easier to people-watch when they can't tell where your eyes are looking.
7.  Comfortable, cute sandals. I love how basic these ones are.
8.  Okay, I know a DSLR camera is not fashion.  But it's the one accessory that I've wanted to add to almost every outfit I've worn this year.
9. I like to carry a small fan to keep cool when I travel in the summer; my current one was purchased for one euro in Italy six years ago. It's starting to break, so I might be looking for a new one when I'm there this summer!

Anything else you think is necessary for fabulous spring and summer traveling?  I just realized I forgot to include my Nalgene water bottle, another summer travel must.

Girl with Too Much Free Time

{In case you were wondering how I amuse myself

 so far away from family and friends.}

Sometimes I open up Photo Booth and notice that the yellow scarf and the pearl earring that I have on makes me feel a little...Dutch, maybe?

So I spend the rest of the evening trying to recreate Girl with a Pearl Earring.

{This painting belongs to Jan Vermeer, not me.}

Unfortunately, my apartment and my mac don't have Vermeer-quality lighting.

But it still amused me for quite some time.

Then I wondered what the painting would have looked like if that mystery model had a twin:

{A conjoined twin, perhaps?}

Or if she had run into another artist, rather than Vermeer:

{Say Picasso...}

{...or Andy W.}

Or, if she went a different direction with the scarf:

{Vogue Hands}

Or if watching too many hours of America's Next Top Model had convinced her that a long neck and emotional eyes make her a model:

Don't you wish you were here, so you could hang out with me and my awesome scarf?

P.S. Major props go out to Erin, my fabulous cousin and the purchaser/gifter of this scarf. Bet she thought it was just going to keep me warm and fashionable.  Little did she realize its entertainment value...guys? Anybody still here?  Oh, it's just me who is really entertained by all this ridiculousness?