I’ve been thinking of what to pack for our visit to LA and I’m pretty sure I’ve forgotten how to dress for 60/70 degree weather – it’s going to feel like summertime to me but just how much??? I do know, however, that I’ll be taking a few souvenirs from Morocco for family and friends. Weeks after our trip to Marrakech, I still find myself totally inspired by the city’s colors, patterns, and textures. Thankfully we brought back a few things to keep the design love going and boy am I enjoying them.
It’s hard to pick a favorite but if I base it on what I use the most, the leather slippers are it. After seeing tons of traditional pointy-toe or heel-less styles, these caught my attention with their modern silhouette and ultra bright colors. On closer inspection, you can see the handmade details in the contrast stitching and pen outlines on the sole. It’s details like these that reeeaaaaally make my heart sing.
We did find a rug after all and I cannot wait to get it cleaned, roll it out, and enjoy it – such a tease having it just sit there. It’s a vintage Berber rug and we spent a good amount of time choosing it while sitting amongst hundreds of colorful woven beauties and drinking sweet mint tea. I totally envision styling it something like this in our future house…it’s a lifetime souvenir for sure.
Two other exciting finds were a solid brass antique camel with the coolest designs ever and a hand-carved aluminum mirror that now helps keep the feng shui flowing in my office/guest room/closet. Apparently your back should never face the door but you can correct it with a mirror. I think it’s a nice complement to the diy wall display, too.
And those rad leather tassels? Those were a gift from the rug merchant and now I will give one of them to you! Put it on your purse, car rearview mirror, door handle, use as a (very large) key chain, or even jazz up a curtain tie with it – there are so many ways you can have fun with it.
If you’d like a shot at winning the tassel simply comment below with your favorite souvenir of all time; truck stop convenience store finds totally count too. I’ll pick a winner at random next Thursday and ship it to you asap!
Yay free stuff!
My favorite souvenir was one of my best friends, Samuele. I met him while I was in Italy and we are still very close.
that is so sweet! shared experiences and friendships are the ultimate souvenirs.
My favorite souvenir is my ATQ italian leather liquor bottle, with a lion knocker on front! I found it at a thrift store in Freeport.
xo, Tess
a lion knocker??? that sounds so rad.
Favorite Souvenir—an NYPD shirt I got on my senior trip to NYC. Still wear it weekly despite my husbands distaste, holes and all.
ha! ’till holes do you part…that is love.
Strangely enough I hardly ever buy anything on trips because I dread the thought of having to pack them or find a way of carrying them home. {I know, so lame} I think all of my favorite souvenirs consist of photographs from my travels and my small collection of matchbooks from amazing restaurants we have tried along the way.
photos do help keep luggage light! matchbooks are the best – decorative, practical, and free with yummy meals :)
Hi Anna Maria,
I love your blog and read it almost daily. I was introduced to it on Freutcake a while back and I’ve since fallen in love with your wonderful photographs and adventurous spirit. I spent part of my honeymoon in London and I envy you so! What a wonderful adventure you must be having :) My husband and I adopted the tradition of bringing home a “piece” of each place we visit several years ago. We collect tiny rocks, sea glass, sand, sometimes even treasures like a gold earring we once found at the bottom of the ocean in Ibiza, and we place them in tiny boxes or vessels that we seek out in each city. Most of the time, they’re little ceramic pill boxes but sometimes we’re lucky enough to find something really cool like an antique sewing box we spotted in a thrift store in Virginia. Every so often, we’ll sit around looking through our souvenir boxes and it brings us back to all of the places we’ve visited. It’s something I look forward to every time we travel. xoxo!
Thank you so much Paola! I absolutely love Freutcake so it’s so great to hear that you found me via Leah. Your dedication to curating your souvenir collection is incredible…sounds like it’s something you both really enjoy doing together, too. So sweet!
p.s. those little slippers are the cutest!
What a thoughtful giveaway! I think my favorite souvenir is the little silver vase a shop owner gifted me in a Parisian flea market. I had purchased some old locks and keys and he just threw the vase in!
I really LOVE your shoes – awesome colors!
p.s. Bring layers for L.A. – it’s not exactly summer weather but it’s definitely spring!
xo
cortnie
that was so nice of him!
thanks for the packing tip – it’s in the fifties in London and i feel all warm. how did that happen?
So far, my favorite souvenir from my travels would be a joint favorite. The small museum guide/outline books I got at the National Gallery in London and at the Louvre in Paris make my heart flutter every time I see them in the place on my bookshelf.
great way to remember walking through the hallways and galleries of the places that inspire you the most!
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My favorite souvenir is an old wooden toy from seal rock in san francisco – the wooden, painted butterfly sits on top of a wood platform – when you push the button underneath, the butterfly collapses until the button is released. So much fun and I will keep it forever. Love your new layout!
sounds beautiful! and thanks :)
My favorite souvenirs are the ones that I found, like some really cool shells from a beach in Nicaragua or a twisted piece of driftwood from a canyon in the Southwest. I love shopping for souvenirs too, but when you find something really cool it feels more special.
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