Happy Cinco de Mayo, friends!
If you don’t have something yummy planned for today, let this be my encouragement to maybe have a TACO today…or an EASY MARGARITA…or my COCONUT TRES LECHES CAKE.
Life’s too short not to celebrate all the things 😉 .
Alrighty, this week’s TRAVEL TUESDAY is also a SHAY’S WAYS!
On my “to blog” list, I have this topic written down as it’s been highly requested over the years…SHOW US THE THINGS YOU HAVE AROUND THE HOUSE YOU BOUGHT WHEN YOU WERE TRAVELING.
As I’ve returned home from trips and shared the pics and details with you guys and/or shared my seasonal home tours, I’ve often included items we bought while traveling.
I thought this post would be pretty easy (ie; just walk around the house and take a few pics), but I was wrong. As I was snapping pictures, I realized there was a lot I wanted to say about the process of bringing items home from travel. I had tips/keys/thoughts about everything and thus today’s Shay’s Ways.
So, the first part is a little tour with photos of items sprinkled around my house that came home from trips and the second part are some of my “keys”.
I have been collecting items for my home from my travels since I was 20 years old. I even have two photos below of the first two things I bought to add to my home from that first (without parents) trip where I bought things with my own money for my own space. I did not take pictures of every single item we have from our travels because…we would have been here all day. I took photos of a lot, but the truth is, I’ve been collecting these things now for 24 years, so I have quite the assortment.
If you like this idea, the good news is that it’s never too late to start incorporating items into your home from your travels. It’s never too late.
Okay, pour yourself some coffee and settle in.
Here’s a little look at some of the items around our home we picked up while traveling (I will link the actual trips as often as I can below too!)…
These little Dutch homes are quite popular in The Netherlands.
Over two different trips to Amsterdam, I visited the same shop and brought a few back home with me.
They’re each different, and I find them so charming, cozy, and adorable. THE NETHERLANDS POSTS
I brought back this windmill (that also sits in my office) in Demark.
And in this photo, I have a little house that I’m *pretty sure* I bought in Belgium sitting on top of three coffee table books that I purchased in…Croatia, London, and Italy!
We bought this painting when we went to Greece with Tab and Erika! The artist rolled the canvas and placed it in a tube for traveling. We had it framed when we arrived back home.
These three pieces are from our favorite artist on Nantucket. We bought this triplet set before we had a home there. Pete’s art is sprinkled throughout both the McKinney and Nantucket homes. Each piece is special.
Speaking of Nantucket…
…we also bought this clock there from Freeman’s of Nantucket many years ago.
Upstairs, we have…
…this framed piece of art from a photographer we met at the market in Sydney, Australia.
It’s colorful and bright and happy and reminds me of that wonderful trip every time I walk past it. We paid the photographer for the art and the shipping. About a month after we returned home from Australia, it arrived at our front door 🙂 .
Over the years, we have brought home multiple clocks…
…this cuckoo clock came from Austria…
…and this one came from Switzerland. You guys, look at this precious picture…
…stop it! Look at sweet Smith!
This was the shop where we bought the clock in Lucerne, Switzerland.
I love every single thing about this photo. The clock hangs today in our library.
On a trip to London one time…
…we found this old doorknob that says…
…on the front. Kensington must have been little when I brought it home. Maybe two or three? It sits on her shelf in her bedroom to this day. I took it off to snap this pic 🙂 .
Speaking of London…
…it’s very hard to tell what this is in Smith’s room, but it’s a scull (the boat used in rowing).
We found this in an antique store on Portobello Road in London when we went for fall break in 2022 and since Smith rows crew, he wanted it for his room…
…it’s a funny little piece of art sticking out into his room, but he loves it.
This rug here in the hallway is one I’ve shown a million times in Halloween and/or Christmas decor posts (as I always love to jazz up that little area). Well, Andrew brought it home from Turkey many years ago when he was there on a mission trip.
I love my Turkish rug 🙂 .
I have purchased many, many, many seasonal decorations while traveling. One that stands out is…
…this little Advent calendar that Andrew and I brought back for the kids from Belgium in 2012. We use it every single holiday season.
We also love to pull out…
…this guy at Christmas too. He came from…
This guy comes out every holiday season…
…see him up there on the top left side? It’s my Santa nesting dolls that I purchased in Prague!
Alrighty, I did an entire post ALL ABOUT OUR LIBRARY recently where you can get the deets on all those old books, but spoiler alert: so so so many are from our travels.
Other travel finds from this room include…
…this magnifying glass. I’m *pretty sure* it’s from England.
This though…
…is the most special because I bought this tassel in Venice, Italy when I was 20 years old. This and a painting (I’ll show it below in just a bit) were the two items I bought on that trip to add to my home. I went to Italy that trip with just my friend. The two of us spent two weeks traveling, exploring, eating, and loving our way through that beautiful country. I brought home a tassel and a painting and have them both in my home still to this day 🙂 .
I keep the tassel on this bookshelf in the library where I keep many of the old books I’ve purchased on my travels as well as that old placard (it came from London).
On the other side of the room…
…I have the Dutch people (came from The Netherlands) along with the iron dog (came from England)…
…and this little door sign which came from…Portobello Road in London.
I found…
…this guy in London too…
…there it is all together.
And there’s the clock from Switzerland again 🙂 .
There is a lot of art in here from our travels…
…the painting on the very top left side is the painting I brought home from Italy when I was 19. For the most part, these paintings were bought with the frames from antique stores when we travel (not from the artists themselves). That being said…
…this one we brought home from Russia and had framed…
…and this one from Salzburg we brought home and had framed. Look at the back…
…from that time we took two babies to Europe. Ha!
Andrew brought this painting home from Haiti after going there on a mission trip. Again, he brought home the canvas, and I had it framed.
These hand painted pieces of fruit are very popular in Italy. I have purchased several over the course of many trips to Italy. They’re sprinkled about too…
…here is some more Italian fruit…
…and do you see the apple there on the shelf?
Speaking of that shelf…
Back before I was married (I’m an old soul), I started collecting these Aynsley china pieces that originate in England. I’ve just always been drawn to this set, but the pieces are very hard to come by (I’m always looking for more). When I do find a piece…
…I often mark them with the place and date. Now that I’ve pointed this collection out, I bet you start to spot it in more of my photos.
This very very old kettle came from a brocante in Paris (flea market!). Isn’t it gorgeous?!
I love this gin bottle clock because it reminds me of the day that Andrew, Erika and I spent in London before watching Tab officiate an NFL game. We bought the clock on Portobello Road that morning and then watched the game that afternoon. It was a great, great day!
Andrew and I brought this elephant home from Bali, Indonesia…
…and it sits beneath two more pieces of art we brought back from Russia (and do you spy more Aynsley china?!).
These three pieces are from China! We bought these figurines the day we went to visit the Terracotta Warriors while we were in Xi’an getting Miss Ashby!
This painting here came from our trip to Ireland back in 2018. We were out and about in Ennis, Ireland with the kids and found this great antique shop that had this painting. We purchased it, and they shipped it back to the States for us.
The painting and frame are both antiques.
I bought this painting for Andrew on Nantucket for Father’s Day…
…I can’t remember the exact year (maybe 2019?). The artist has since passed and his shop closed, so it’s an extra extra special piece to us now.
Picked up this spoon rest in Italy once. It still makes me happy!
And back in 2009, Andrew bought his first bottle of alcohol to bring back as a souvenir from a trip. It is whiskey bottle that’s second from the right. We now collect bottles from all of our travels. These five here would be our most valuable/treasured ones.
From left to right:
Jameson from when we went to the Jameson distillery in Ireland and Andrew actually bottled this one himself.
We also visited this distillery in Scotland and brought home this now 29 year old bottle of scotch.
This middle bottle is from the Bushmills distillery in Northern Ireland.
This bottle from our trip to Bern, Switzerland in 2009 (I was pregnant with Smith!).
We brought this bottle back in 2015 from China when we were there getting our sweet Ashby.
We always bring back a bottle…
…this one just came home with us from Japan.
I have little signs or door knockers on so many of our interior and exterior doors. If you’ll start paying attention, I bet you end up seeing quite a few…
…this one came from Ireland (it means a hundred thousand welcomes).
And then this one has moved around three times with us…
…it came home with us from England and now it indicates where the pool bath is located 😉 .
Whew!
That was a lot of photos, friends!
Okay, here are my tips and tricks should you want to start bringing items home with you too…
#1: LOOK FOR BOTH OLD AND NEW
Don’t get stuck just looking for “old” things or just looking for “new” things. Bring home what speaks to you. What you love. I think it’s fun to have a mix of both the old and the new.
#2: BUY UNFRAMED ART
If you can, purchase your art without the frame. It’s so much easier to bring a rolled up print or canvas home and then have it framed than to travel or ship a framed piece of art. When you can, roll it and go. It just simplifies everything.
#3: COLLECT BOOKS
Buy coffee table books from the destination or buy old antique books…just buy books. Books are great because you can use them in a variety of places at home. You can stack them, display them, read them…books are great souvenirs for the home. So many of my books are not in English which, in my opinion, makes them even more unique and special. I always write a note in my book of the place, date and people I was with when I purchased it. It’s a wonderful way to preserve the memory of a trip.
#4: FIND ITEMS THAT REPRESENT THAT LOCATION
If you’re in Venice, you’ll see a ton of masks or if you’re in Provence, you’ll see baskets and woven hats…it’s fun to purchase items that really represent that specific location.
#5: BRING BACK BOTTLES & DELICATES IN THE LAUNDRY
Even if you never open the bottle (like us!), collecting bottles of alcohol from locations is a great way to bring something home without spending too much (of course, you can buy expensive varietals too). How do we bring them home without the bottles breaking? We place them in our checked baggage (because it’s too much liquid to carry on) and pack our dirty laundry around it. We always have a bag of dirty laundry on the way home, so we use that as our “bubble wrap” for breakables such as bottles of alcohol. We have used this method for years and never come home to a broken bottle (or anything else fragile!).
#6: BRING AN EMPTY SUITCASE
If we are going somewhere to specifically find treasures, we will bring an empty suitcase with us. We have been to France a few times knowing we would visit the brocantes, so we checked an empty suitcase just to have the space to bring items home with us.
That being said…
#7: SHIP
It’s actually pretty easy to ship items back to the States. It’s also pretty affordable if you’re not in a hurry. You can ship back small items or large items…even crates of furniture…from other countries and voila, it will be delivered to your door a few weeks (or month-ish) later. If you’re buying from a shop and/or antiques seller, they will help you with this process. They want you to make that purchase, so they will help you get it shipped home.
#8: JEWELRY
A wonderful treasure to bring home that takes up practically no space is jewelry. Whether you buy vintage or brand new, that is an easy little find to bring home from your travels.
#9: CAREFUL WITH THINGS THAT NEED POWER
My mom and I have both purchased items that plug in from foreign countries (lamps and such). Keep in mind that if you buy these items, you will need to take them and have them rewired once you arrive back home (or else you can’t plug them into your US outlets). My father-in-law is an electrical engineer and has generously rewired several things for me over the years.
#10: BUY FABRIC
If you see beautiful fabric while you’re traveling (either vintage or new), buy it and bring it home. Once you’re in the States, it’s easy to have someone turn that gorgeous fabric into a pillow for your bedding or sofa.
#11:WRITE ON THE ITEMS
When you get home, make sure you either write on the item/photograph the item/do something to mark the item so that you always remember the date and place. It’s always so special to open a book or flip over a painting and see the date and place where I purchased it.
Whew! And that’s the post you wanted from me about THINGS YOU HAVE AROUND THE HOUSE YOU BOUGHT WHEN YOU WERE TRAVELING.
I’m exhausted now. Ha!
Alrighty, don’t forget, I have so many other SHAY’S WAYS you can check out as well.
Just look:
25 Keys to a Peaceful Morning
22 Keys to making Fall Cozy
19 Key Fall Kitchen Essentials
18 Keys to Prepping for a Trip
14 Keys to Simplify BACK TO SCHOOL
21 Keys to Savoring Summer
21 Keys for Working at Home {Summer Edition}
25 Keys to Outdoor Summer Entertaining
25 Keys to Maintaining our Yard
17 Keys to my Holiday Prep
11 Keys to a Cozy Winter
9 Keys to Returning from a Trip
12 Keys to Leaving Your Kiddos When You Travel
13 Keys to Meal Planning
8 Keys to Creating Daily Routines You Love
21 Keys to Elevating the Everyday
13 Keys to Managing Jet Lag
9 Keys to a Cozy Halloween Night
19 Keys to Hosting Festive & Easy Holiday Parties
12 Keys to Adding Activity into the Everyday
17 Keys to Working From Home
9 Easy Afternoon Energizers
14 Simple Luxuries
8 Keys to Finding a Gym
21 Ways I Hygge
12 Ways for a Happier Day
7 Keys to Reducing/Avoiding Motion Sickness
8 Ways to Add “Vacation” to the Everyday
10 Keys to Getting Ready to Workout
8 Ways I Stay Healthy When I Travel
7 Ways to Make the Holidays Fun for Teens
9 THINGS NOT TO DO AT THE GYM
7 Ways to Find Community
Now spill the beans please! Do you bring home treasures when you travel? If so, I’d love to know which items are the most special to YOU! Please comment and share!
I have one yummy (and easy!) recipe to share today for Cinco de Mayo! Even if you don’t celebrate this holiday, if you love coconut, you must try my COCONUT TRES LECHES CAKE!
Happy Cinco! I’ll see you tomorrow. xx
Diane Moore says
This was a very interesting post. You have beautiful keepsakes. I still have a little Tower of London and a mini Shakespeare book I bought on a trip with my parents 45 years ago 💗
Elspeth Mizner says
I allayed try to bring back sand from different beaches i go to and bring it back in a water bottle. Love the idea of writing where and when you got an item!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Natasha says
We have a “travel wall.” It started with a flower my husband wove out of grass on a Māori tour in New Zealand. I added a framed piece of all the coins I had from traveling in Europe in the 80s & 90s. And we’ve added pieces throughout the years. Sometimes we buy a specific piece of art but sometimes we add a wooden Mayan calendar, a framed certificate from our first baseball game somewhere, a street sign, or a framed piece of cork from Portugal, or a unique mineral from the Dominican. It’s very eclectic and there are no rules! We even have a couple of pictures of us on a trip with a unique photo frame from that trip! Did I mention there are no rules?!?!
And we’ve added to the coins over the years with coins from other countries too. It’s fun on trips to figure out, “What’s going on the travel wall from this trip?”
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh wow! I love this idea!! How cool and unique is this idea?!
Christina says
I love how this brings you so many memories. We collect ornaments from our travels.
Alison says
These are all so beautiful and special pieces. Thank you for sharing! I have a few pieces from different places I have traveled. I also traveled to Lucerne, Switzerland and got a cuckoo clock. So special! I have a piece of art from Venice, and a stein from Germany.
Laura says
I may have shared that before, but at minimum I always bring home a Christmas ornament or something I can turn into an ornament. The more unique and not “tourist shop like” the better. Then every year when I decorate my tree is a bin of memories. My mom did the same and now we buy two most places so my daughter has her own too.
Susan Jeffries says
We are heading to Austria soon and have been discussing bringing a clock home. I love yours! Did you ship it home or bring it in your suitcase? Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Mix and Match Mama says
We brought it home in our suitcase! I hope you have the BEST time in Austria!
Julianna says
I loved this post! I also love to travel & collect treasures. My favorites are my aboriginal art from Australia and painted tiles from Portugal. But, we always buy Christmas ornaments. I love decorating our tree each year as my husband and I reminisce about all the amazing places we’ve visited! We go to Italy in a few weeks and I’m looking forward to buying some leather items in Milan. I’ll also be on the lookout for a cool clock- maybe from the Murano glass factory?
Brice Auguste says
I was so surprised when I saw art from Haiti! I knew it immediately before I read underneath the picture, my husband is Haitian and I’ve been plenty of times ☺️
Mallory says
This was such a cool post! You have so many incredible & special finds! I love it.
Dana P says
These are gorgeous items, Shay! I have to admit that I really only bring home food/tea when we travel. You’ve given me food for thought. 🙂
Just a little note on shipping to the US- I don’t know about other places, but there have been bans on and off from shipping things here in France to the US. So before someone counts on that, I would be sure and check with the company you’re planning on shipping from. I have also wondered about the company Send My Bag. You can send a suitcase ahead of you rather than checking it on the plane (or just send it even if you’re not traveling). I’ve had friends use it successfully from the US, but I’m not sure if there are companies who do it in reverse? It might be a more affordable way to ship things back…
Kristen says
Love all your items. For the past 20 yrs , every time we go away we buy a christmas ornament from the place we traveled. Every year we love putting ornaments on our tree and talking about that time we visited. The entire tree is mostly travel ornaments and makes our family so happy!
Twila says
So many treasures (memories)! I’ve brought home sand from various ocean vacations and “plan” to put the sand in test tubes and display in a wooden bowl. (My “plan” probably won’t happen until I retire and I hope I can remember by then…🙃)
Debbie Hibbert says
What a fun post! You’ve collected some really beautiful things. I’ve not had a lot of travel opportunities … but I inherited a pretty large collection of salt/pepper shakers from my grandma, so I’ve added a few sets (from travel locations) to the collection. I have a china teapot that I purchased at a store (famous for their English china) from a shop in Victoria, British Columbia Canada. I’ve also picked up my share of souvenir coffee mugs. It’s always extra special to bring home things you can use or have on display.
Lisa D says
All the items you have collected over the years will always bring happy memories and smiles! Lovely.
Sarah M. says
We like to buy Christmas tree ornaments from our travels, it is so special to unwrap them each year and remember the trip. We have also bought artwork abroad and had it framed when we got home.
Paula Hobbs says
Wow, Shay!! This post was so special. Thank you for sharing your travels, stories and treasures with us. It reminds me so much of my Grandmama’s home and her love of art, treasures and travel. Two of my most treasured paintings are from her and my Papaw’s time in Spain. They now hang above our bed. So, so sweet!!
Sarah DeWald says
How wonderful that you are bring a little piece of your travels into your every day life.
Melissa says
Fun post- thank you! We buy unique Christmas ornaments on every trip and write the year on the back or bottom. We have collected so many over the years that we now have one tree that is our “Travel Christmas Tree” just for those. It is so fun to decorate it together and reminisce about our trips as we unwrap and hang the ornaments.
Jessica N says
It’s so special to have little memories from far away places sprinkled throughout your house!
Cheryl S says
A sweet peek into your special collection of memories! We’ve collected tree ornaments from our travels and hang them all on a designated “travel tree” at Christmas. It’s so fun “revisiting” the memories each year!
Alissa says
Great ideas! I always buy a Christmas ornament from the places we’ve traveled and write the year on the bottom. It’s fun to decorate our tree and remember all the adventures we’ve had.
Beth Valenta says
What beautiful treasures to share with us! I always get jewelry when we travel. I love the idea of writing the dates on each.
Laura Adams says
Fun and interesting post!
Anna says
Will you keep the liquors to drink on a special celebration or pass them down? 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
I feel like Andrew and I are “drink on a special occasion” people, so probably that one.
Bren says
I was going to ask this too, Anna! I love this idea so much!
Krista F. says
I loved this post! So fun to learn about all the treasures you’ve accumulated. I love that you think of those specific trips during your day when you spot them!
Susy says
Having a museum background, I document the provenance for the art I bring into my home. My children were so thrilled to see the Registrar Notebook I created with the following information held in a sleeve and a page for each art object we have in our home. The individual sleeves will accompany the objects for each of them into the future! The documentation process also deepens my own understanding for what I have in my home as I research more deeply.
We purchase a lot of street art from emerging artists we admire and capture the information in the moment of purchase. Besides travel, we also purchase art from emerging Native American artists.
Photo of art object (multiple views if sculpture)
Name of artist; biography of artist (life dates); photo of artist with us and art when purchased if possible (my favorite part)
Country origin for artist and art object
Date art was created
Date and location purchased; purchase price
Dimensions framed and unframed
Media
You are creating a true legacy!
You are also creating insurance documentation.
Mix and Match Mama says
I love these details, Susy! Thank YOU so much for sharing your process with your own treasures.
Susy says
❤️❤️❤️
Dawn Scheurich says
I love all your treasures and ideas, especially about books! We always buy a Christmas ornament from our vacations and I now actually have a “vacation tree” at Christmas that is dedicated to those ornaments! My sisters and my girls now also collect ornaments from their travels as well! Also, they typically fit very well in our suitcases!
Lori says
Oh my goodness! Thank you for sharing all of these treasurers that mean so much to your family. I especially love the kettle. I have a “lunch pail” that belonged to my husband’s grandfather. It sits on my dining room table and makes be happy every time I see it.
Jean E. says
I also have my grandpa’s lunch pail! It’s one of my favorite keepsakes!
Jennifer says
What great memories you have with all the treasures you have collected. Thanks for sharing your tips. Love the idea of the little signs or placards.
Heather Green says
What a fun review of travels all from items around the home. Thanks for sharing!
Pamela G says
I love this. Thank you for all this hard work…you are the best!!
MelanieL says
Loved, loved, loved this post about your travel finds!! Funny story, in 1995 my family brought home jarred minced garlic from Gilroy, CA (“the garlic capital of the world”) and lets just say the baggage claim at IND still smells like garlic! 🙂
Alexa says
We have mostly stuck to buying ornaments everywhere we travel. It makes putting up and taking down our Christmas tree extra special as we reminisce over past trips!
Mix and Match Mama says
I LOVE this!!
Kara says
We collect a Christmas ornament from all of our travels and we have a “travel tree” in our family room that we all love reliving those trips each year!!
Leslie Wilcox says
I absolutely love this post! Such gorgeous treasures.
Courtney Kendrick says
I love your collection! Great memories to remember for years and years! I love the elephant!
Jen says
I am a terrible shopper haha I always think things are made in that country I’m in but it ends up being a made in china situation when I flip it over. We stick with ornaments and then I started doing family photos in countries to remember special trips that really capture the local culture. Makes great prints for the house and xmas cards.
Lori R says
Your post makes me want to travel. I have some Christmas ornaments I picked up in Switzerland when I was there during college. I still like the memories they bring .
Sheaffer says
So many incredible treasures!!!
Erika Slaughter says
Are you telling me I should get a cuckoo clock this summer??
Mix and Match Mama says
YES!!!!!!! Andrew will come over and hang it for you. Bahaha!
Mary Jane McNeill says
Girl, y’all need to open up that Jameson Black Barrel! It is smooth! Nothing like having a glass from the factory. That was a fun tour!
Bren says
Shay, I could not have been more excited for this post! I have often read and wondered if you ever shared about things you perhaps brought home from your travels and today, here was that post! Seriously, I was so excited – so, so much to love! That china! Love it (and yep, I will be noticing and admiring it in posts to come). I mentioned above in Anna’s question that I too wondered about the bottles – how fun to have these to use some day on special occasions or when celebrating a memory from a trip. I have such a goal of getting a cuckoo clock. My grandparents had one (from Germany I think?) and we all loved that clock. I so enjoyed seeing yours!
Thanks so much, Shay. This post truly brightened my day and thank you for letting us take a peek into your travels and memories.
Tammy says
Those are all great keepsakes! We always do a Christmas ornament when we travel.
Debra says
I love this post – your collection is amazing and inspiring.
We always bring back a refrigerator magnet – we try to find an artistic, unique one rather than mass produced airport/souvenir shop magnets. We have so many we had a framed magnetic board made to house them in our office. It brings back so little happy memories every time we walk into the office.
We also bring/ship wine, champagne, liquor, as well as food items like salt, spices, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, or other items (Foie gras, tinned fish, etc.) unique to, and produced, in the region. We usually buy from small producer businesses and using these in our home and sharing them with family and friends.
I also love bringing back kitchen and dining utensils , if locally produced – the very best steak knives we have are hand made from a small production shop in Spain and I have a collection of hand made wooden spoons and wooden salt cellar that remind me of our trip each time I use them.
I also being back scarves if they are produced in the region I am visiting and get so many compliments on them.
My husband likes to collect beer glasses from beer regions as well.
I love the things you brought back and am now going to look for books and pieces of art.
I also love everyone’s idea about bringing back Christmas ornaments as well as having a travel Christmas tree!
Mix and Match Mama says
My dad’s parents always brought back refrigerator magnets. I loved looking through their collection when I visited. So many treasures you’ve accumulated too!
Chrissy says
My favorite book is the Harry Potter series. Every time I go to a new country, I buy the first Harry Potter book in that language. Then, if I return to a country, I’ll get the second book in the series, and so on! Now i have over 27 copies in 15 languages! Super cool to see the differences in all of the books, especially my Japanese copy that is read from back to front, and comes in two small booklets rather than one large one. It’s also always sets me on a bit of a treasure hunt to make sure I’m finding a bookstore along the way.
Stacie says
I love all of your little treasures. I try to find a Christmas ornament on most vacations for a keepsake.
Kelly says
I absolutely loved this post Shay! I have a big adventure coming soon and you’ve given me lots to think about when I’m shopping. I love to bring home books, which my husband hates because he insists on carrying them and they can be heavy. But they make me so happy whenever I see them/ read them. I also collect Nativities and I love getting them out every Christmas. I get so many comments on them when people are over. Depending on what country you’re in, it can be difficult to find them though.
Carissa says
Love hearing about all these special pieces! We bring home ornaments from our travels as well. Thinking about all these objects, I’d love to read a post sometime and hear about what special things in the home people would save in a fire (top 5/top 10) aside from the essentials like documents and medications. Would they include these items from travels or other things like kids artwork, special holiday decorations, family heirlooms, journals etc.?