Category Archives: Tips

The other day I went for a walk in centro while I was waiting to meet a friend and was struck by how many things had changed. This is Florence, Italy and stores do not typically come and go with nearly the speed or regularity as they do in most major American cities. In fact, most places in Italy are famous for remaining miraculously unchanged and wonderfully familiar each time you return. Perhaps this is why it struck me even more walking around a city I once believed I knew inside and out. This also got me thinking about some of our most popular blogs and if perhaps they were in need of an aggiornamento (update). Turns out, they were. So we’ve gone back and redone two of our followers’ favorites with updated addresses, phone numbers, and information while also adding some new tips and tricks to help you conquer the vintage and leather shoe world of Florence, Italy. Enjoy!
 
Tips for Shoe Shopping in Florence

Best Vintage Shopping in Florence

Technorati Tags: Florence, Shoe Shopping, shopping, vintage, Vintage shopping

As adamant fans of the art in Florence, it often breaks our hearts to hear that travelers to this fair city miss out on some of Florence’s renowned works. Of course there are many reasons to visit this multi-faceted town, but one of the main motivations has always been to see Florence’s breathtaking painting, sculpture, and architecture. According to UNESCO (although it may be a somewhat Western centric view), 60% of the world’s most important works of art are located in Italy and approximately half of these are in Florence.
 
Everyday we see tourists herded into the Uffizi and Accademia as if they are the only two museums in Florence and countless more make the mistake of thinking that because there is no line outside the many other museums and churches, that there is nothing to see inside. On the contrary, there are many places in Florence that are full of masterpieces and (relatively speaking) empty of tourists. In response to this trend, we’ve made this list of the art in Florence that (we believe) everyone should see before they leave (in truth, the list is WAY longer than this. We had to narrow it down. And then narrow again); some works will be familiar, while others, I guarantee, will be completely new.
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Technorati Tags: Art History, Art in Florence, Art of Florence, Best of Florence, Cellini, Florence, Florence museums, Florence tips, Fra Angelico, Giotto, Michelangelo, What to see

What to pack…
This question seems to plague many even when taking a trip as short as two days. Imagine a month or even a semester in Italy! I, on the other hand, love to pack. If you don’t believe me, see my Top Ten Tips for Packing Luggage or my Favorite Things series. At the end of my last vacation, I spent the evening with a friend packing her suitcases.
 
One of my very favorite things is the PACK THIS Packing List (see image below). It really is the ultimate travel and packing list, leaving nothing out. Well, okay, I think it leaves a few important things out. There are some items that are rarely included on standard packing lists and that I believe can make all of the difference. The good news is that you likely have all of these items at home already and they are all also light as a feather (AKA won’t contribute to that critical weight limit).
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Technorati Tags: Carrie's travel tips, how to travel tips, packing tips, travel tips, Traveling tips, what to pack

Traveling with jewelry can be a tricky task, even for the most seasoned traveler. Deciding what to pack, how to pack it, or what to pack it in may leave you frustrated.
 
It has happened that (in a mad dash to get out the door) I have opted to travel only with the jewelry that I had on and nothing else. As Julia Roberts once proclaimed, “Big mistake. Big. Huge!” Look, I’m not the girliest of girls and I don’t have piles of sparkly things lying around (I mean, they’re medium-sized piles), but I do love jewelry. I love the way a colorful necklace can take an ordinary outfit and make it a conversation starter. I love the way I feel when I switch from simple studs and flats to chandelier earrings and heels for an evening out. There’s no reason why you or I shouldn’t be able to enjoy our favorite jewelry and accessories when we’re away from home, right? Follow these tips for traveling with jewelry and I guarantee you’ll save yourself time, money, and the regret of under-accessorizing.
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Technorati Tags: Carrie's travel tips, how to travel tips, packing jewelry, packing tips, travel tips, Traveling with jewelry

Favoritethings. Julie Andrews sang all about them in The Sound of Music. You know, “raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…” Oprah still gives her favorite things away, too. Well, I can’t carry a tune and I can’t very well compete with Oprah and give away a parking lot full of cars. What I can do is share my favorite travel items. I actually have a long (and growing) list of favorite products and goodies that make my plane, train, boat, and car rides more enjoyable. For now, I am going to start with my Top 3 Favorite Travel Items that are (coincidentally) for the neck and up. Don’t worry, this is just the tip of the iceberg. I’ll clue you in on my other favorites and those for the rest of the body and beyond. Just keep checking back with Travel Tips by Carrie! Continue Reading…

Technorati Tags: Carrie's travel tips, packing tips, travel tips, Traveling tips