5 Favorite Fall Things

I had the urge to make a list here on the blog today. (Okay, I have this particular urge on most days, but today it was harder to ignore.) Hmm... and what to make a list of? Fall time, of course! (To be honest, I'm looking outside the window and it's actually a very NON-Fall day and kind of hot. Damn you, Taipei!) 

Nevertheless, I'm already in full-on Fall mode and am thoroughly enjoying the cooler breeze in the mornings on my way to work, lack of unbearable humidity and somewhat lower temperatures. (My peeps here in Taiwan will totally understand why Fall time is such a relief after the humid Summer) * happily throws colorful Fall leaves in the air in celebration*

Today I'm going to share with you some things that have been contributing to my Fall-loving frenzy this year.

1. DIPTYQUE Mimosa candle

Hi, my name is Liesl and I'm addicted to candles. Seriously, who can resist the perfection that is DIPTYQUE!? When my previous candle flickered its last light and took its last breath, I had to scramble to get a new one. Always.must.have.candle.in.the.house. I've always wanted to give Mimosa a try, so I took one whiff at the store and Bob's your uncle, it was in my shopping bag. It smells deliciously sweet and fresh. What is it about having burning candles in the home that immediately turns up the cozy meter and contribute to that autumnal feeling?

2. KINFOLK Volume Thirteen

I received Volume Twelve of this gorgeous magazine as a birthday present a couple of months ago, and enjoyed it so much that I searched high and low in Taiwan for Volume Thirteen. (KINFOLK magazines are only published quarterly) I eventually bought it online and couldn't wait to get my eager beaver fingers on those beautiful pages. If you love gorgeous photography, interesting articles, recipes, interviews and, let's face, a lovely new lifestyle coffee table book, you will ADORE this magazine.

3. AESOP Fabulous face cleanser

And fabulous it is! Let me count the ways I love the AESOP Fabulous face cleanser; its simple signature packaging, high quality ingredients, and not to mention how wonderfully clean my face feels after using this. It's perfect for my sensitive skin, as it doesn't dry it out at all, and it's also gentle enough to use regularly with my CLARISONIC.

4. DIPTYQUE Do Son Eau de Parfum

I've had the DIPTYQUE Do Son parfum for a while, and only wore it for the first time on my wedding day back in February. I didn't reach for it as much during Spring and Summer, but lately this is my go-to fragrance. I have never received so many "you smell SO good!" compliments for any other of my other fragrances. Do yourself a favor and test this one when you have the opportunity, it's Tuberose heaven!

5. ACNE STUDIOS Canada scarf

I'm so impatient with the weather here in Taipei and just CAN'T WAIT to be able to wear my scarves! This cozy lambswool scarf from ACNE STUDIOS is a recent addition to my scarf stash, and is to die for. It will probably live around my neck in the next few months. For now, we just stare at each other, waiting impatiently for the temperature to drop a few more degrees. (But that doesn't stop me from rubbing the soft fabric against my face occasionally admiring it from a distance.)

What's one thing you've been obsessed with this Fall?

Shop my Fall Favorites

My ABCs of Travel

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This might be quite obvious, but I have been diagnosed with an incurable case of wanderlust. The Husband and I would barely be back from a trip when we find ourselves planning the next one. We've been incredibly fortunate to be able to travel to some very exciting places, and we still have a list as long as my arm of destinations we want to visit.

Recently, I stumbled upon the ABCs of Travel Tag over on a fellow wanderluster's (is that a word!?) blog, Travelust. I couldn't pass up this tag filled with travel questions, so here are my ABCs of Travel:

Age you went on your first international trip

I was about five or six years old when we took a family trip to Namibia. It was a 12-hour drive from my hometown in South Africa. We went there almost every year throughout my childhood, and Namibia is absolutely stunning!

Best foreign beer you've had, and where?

Beer is not usually my drink of choice, but I did have a couple of great ones at a local brewery in Asheville, North Carolina recently. I don't remember the names though.

Cuisine (favorite)

One of my biggest motivations for traveling IS food, so it's extremely hard to choose. Ahh!! I'm going with Thai food in Thailand. It's just so flavorful and interesting. I can eat that every day. But Italian is also high up there!

Destinations (favorite, least favorite, and why?)

My favorite so far was Paris, France. My least favorite was Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. Paris was magical on all levels and it totally exceeded my (very high) expectations. I didn't like Ho Chi Minh city, because it was so busy and I was tired from a long flight. But I would give the rest of Vietnam another chance in the future.

Event you've experienced abroad that made you say, "Wow!"

There are so many times I've had that experience! Here are just a few worth mentioning;
- Seeing Taipei101 (now the second tallest building in the world) for the first time when I moved to Taiwan.
- Admiring the view over Hong Kong from the Peak Tram observatory.
- Riding on the back of an elephant in Thailand.
- Walking around Times Square and Central Park in New York City, USA.
- Seeing Mount Fuji in Japan with my own eyes.
- The first time I touched snow when I was in North Carolina.
- Going on a gondola ride in Venice, Italy.
- Standing in front of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.
- Walking around the little alleys in Mykonos, Greece.
- Eating the local pizza in Naples, Italy.
- Enjoying tapas and sangria at a cafe on the sidewalk during sunset in Barcelona, Spain.
- Walking around on the streets of the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy.
- Looking up at the ceilings inside the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey.
- Being proposed to in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
- Visiting St Peter's Square and Basilica in Vatican City.
- Walking around the Colosseum in Rome, Italy.
Obviously I can go on and on and on...

Favorite mode of transportation

It really depends what we're doing or where we are. We tend to use public transportation, like trains, when we travel (it's also a great way to experience the daily life of the locals, and to get to know a new place very fast).

Greatest feeling while traveling

Watching a beautiful sunset, preferably with a glass of wine in hand, at the end of an eventful day of exploring and enjoying a new place, and reminiscing about the day's activities.

Hottest place you've ever traveled to.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates. I've been there three times during the summer, and the last time I was there the temperatures were above 40 degrees Celsius almost every day.

Incredible service you've experienced, and where.

I will never forget the friendliest staff I've ever encountered; at a lovely hotel in Koh Samui, Thailand. They treated us like VIPs, and I would stay there again just because of them.

Journey that took the longest.

Flying from Taipei to Tokyo to Detroit to Charlotte was a very, very long trip. But does a 12-day Mediterranean cruise count as one journey?

Keepsake from your travels.

I don't usually buy the typical souvenirs while traveling, but I will buy something like a scarf, or bag, or something for the house, and I'll always remember where I bought it.

Let-down sight; where and why?

I can't recall ever being let down by a sight while traveling. 

Moment when you fell in love with traveling.

It was when I just started traveling after graduating, and on my first trip to the States; I was in California by myself. I remember thinking how wonderful it was to see things in real life that I've only seen on TV. I realized that it was possible to see and experience all these places that I've only seen in magazines or on television for myself, and decided then and there that I would travel to as many destinations as I can, for the rest of my life.

Nicest hotel you've stayed in.

I've been in a few nice hotels, but there is one specific hotel in Koh Samui, Thailand that I will always go back to. Not only was the staff extremely friendly and helpful, our room was modern, luxurious and HUGE (the big windows opened to the hotel's pool) and we were a stone's throw away from the ocean. The food and drinks were delicious, too.

Obsession; what are you obsessed with photographing while traveling.

Anything and everything. Mostly food and famous sights.

Passport stamps; how many, and from where?

I just recently filled up my passport with stamps, so there are literally too many to count. Some countries I've entered multiple times, like Taiwan, Thailand, USA, Hong Kong and UAE. I hope I don't forget any, but here are the countries I've been to: South Africa, Namibia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, USA, UAE, Philippines, Japan, Italy, Vatican City, Spain, Greece, Turkey, France, Monaco and Vietnam.

Quirkiest attraction you've visited, and where?

Madame Tussauds, the wax museum, in Hong Kong was weirdly entertaining.

Really frightening; a place you've traveled where you felt unsafe or uneasy.

I've never been truly afraid while traveling, but I have felt uneasy. Riding the subway in New York City was pretty crazy, with strangers yelling at each other. Also, the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul was extremely overwhelming, with so many vendors trying to get you to come into their shops and basically pulling you in different directions.

Splurge; something you have no problem spending money on while traveling.

It's very important to me to sleep in a clean, comfortable and safe hotel. After a day of activities and exploring, I want to be able to go back to a relaxing atmosphere where I can lock the door and not worry about safety. So I'll splurge on a nice hotel in a convenient location.

Touristy thing you've done.

I love doing touristy things, and try my best to see all the well known sights in each city I visit. The Husband and I enjoy taking those red double-decker City Sightseeing buses when we are in big cities. The ones that run in Barcelona were especially great. You can relax while seeing a lot of the city. I guess that's VERY touristy.

Unforgettable travel memory.

So so many! But getting engaged in Paris must be THE most unforgettable memory.

Visas; how many, and for where?

Let's just say, my South African passport can't get me into many countries without a visa, so I have plenty! For USA, Taiwan, Japan and Europe.

Wine; best glass while traveling.

Lots of wine has been consumed during our travels. Best wine; Stellenbosch, South Africa and Paris, France.

EXcellent view, and from where?

Again, too many to choose from. The view from Montmartre over Paris, just before sunset, was pretty spectacular.

Years spent traveling.

I've only really started traveling in my early twenties, so I would say about about 7 years.

Zealous sports fans and where.

The Husband, during our Mediterranean cruise in August 2012. He was obsessed with staying up to date with the Summer Olympics that was going on in London at the time, and would have the TV on sports channels every second we were in our cabin.

I hope you enjoyed my A to Z travel post! I tag Kalong from Just an ordinary girl living in an extraordinary world and Carrie from My Several Worlds to do this post. If you would like to do this tag, please leave a link in the comments below so I can check it out.

Happy travels!

What's on my feet this Fall?

Bye bye sandals and summer espadrilles, see you again next year! I won't lie, I wasn't too sad to pack away my summertime shoes a couple of weeks ago, because that meant that it was time for my Fall footwear to come out of hiding (and in some cases, come out of the recently purchased boxes...)

Fall is my favorite "fashion season". There's just so much to be excited about! Jeans, sweaters, leggings, scarves, and of course THE SELECTION OF SHOES! (*happily throws arm-fulls of shoes in the air..)

I thought I'd share some of my favorite Fall footwear for this year:

Ankle Booties

ASH Jalouse suede booties

I've been drooling over the ISABEL MARANT Dicker booties since I can remember, but unfortunately those puppies will set me back a month's rent. (I know I can be a tad crazy with the shopping sometimes, but I kinda sorta sometimes know when to be responsible...ish... This is one of those times.) Anywho, I stumbled upon the Jalouse suede booties from ASH and fell in love. I purchased it in black, thinking that it will go with most of my evening wear, but liked it so much that I got it in the color Topo as well (thank you, SHOPBOP sale!.)

White Sneakers

SUPERGA Cotu trainers

Seeing as my trusty white KEDS have seen better days, I got a new pair of signature white sneaks for this year. I decided on the white Cotu trainers from SUPERGA. I always steered clear of the SUPERGA sneakers, only because I'm not a huge fan of the thick soles. But I was pleasantly surprised when I noticed a pair with a much thinner sole. Perfect! I'm such a big fan of the trainer/sneaker trend, by the way. I'm thinking of getting the ADIDAS Stan Smith sneaks as well...

Ballet Flats

TORY BURCH Reva flats

REPETTO Cendrillon flats

What would a Fall footwear post be without the mention of my beloved ballet flats. I believe you can't go wrong with a pair of classic black, and I wear the REPETTO Cendrillon flats a lot. I'm also in love with the new Reva flats I got from TORY BURCH recently. (By the way, the new Revas are awesome, because they don't have the annoying strap in the back.)

Slip-Ons

STEVE MADDEN Ecentric slip-ons

It seems that the slip-on trend from last year rolled over into this season. Great, because I have these Ecentric pony hair ones from STEVE MADDEN that I absolutely adore! They come in many different colors, but the classic black ones are my most-worn pair.

Loafers

H&M Loafers

I absolutely love the tomboy/menswear trend, and a pair of black loafers are always a winner! I got this pair from H&M, but I'm eyeing some patent black ones, too.

Espadrilles

STEVEN by Steve Madden espadrilles

Yes, espadrilles! In Fall. I have a pair that I can't even think about wearing in summer, it's just too hot and heavy. This pair is from STEVEN by Steve Madden, and, surprise surprise; It's black.

Shop my favorite Fall footwear

What are your Fall footwear must-haves?

SHOPBOP Friends & Family 25% Off

*** Offer valid from 08:00 EST on October 14th to 16th, 2014 ***

Hide yo' kids, hide yo' wife, and hide yo' credit card, because SHOPBOP is having one of their 25% off Friends & Family events! This event only occurs twice a year, and lasts for 3 days only, so you better hurry before your favorites get sold out. Now's the time to buy that watch you've been eyeing, or get that overpriced sweater you've been daydreaming about.

I, for one, do not let these magical events slip through my fingers. There's always something on my SHOPBOP wish list, and what better time to get it than with a humongous discount. All you have to do is enter the promotional code during checkout and voila! 

Nervous to order from SHOPBOP? Don't worry, I've ordered from them numerous times. Shipping is freakishly fast (it usually takes three to four business days to ship from USA to Taiwan) and shipping is free within the States. International buyers, know that you'll pay a small shipping fee and you'll be responsible for import tax and duties. SHOPBOP also has a convenient return policy. 

Use the code FAMILY25 at checkout to get 25% off your purchase. Have fun shopping, friends! Let me know if you decide to get anything. Here are my top picks from SHOPBOP:

Ready, set, SHOP!

Go to SHOPBOP.com

Tuesdays with Toby: My Daily Routine

Woof! Hello there humans of the internet. Mamma asked me to tell all her lovely friends here on the computer what my typical day is like. I'm not sure why, but I also don't ask too many questions and try my best to do everything she says, because she has access to that delicious chicken in the refrigerator... *drooling over the keyboard*

I start my day off in Mamma and Daddy's bedroom. (My friends at the park say I'm lucky because I get to sleep in a soft bed next to their bed at night.) I tried my very best to get on their bed a few times, but they weren't having it. I'm not sure why they don't want me, the cuddliest and cutest dog in the world, not to sleep with them on their bed?! I assume it's because Daddy is so tall and takes up most of the bed already. It's not that they don't want me there, there's just no space for me.

Mamma goes to work very very early. (I'm not sure what she does, but I know that it involves lots of little humans, and that's why she's so tired at the end of the day.) She's out of the house by 6:30 am, way too early for me to be bothered to get up from my cozy bed, so I just give her a kiss goodbye and close my eyes again until Daddy wakes up at a more reasonable hour. I have my breakfast and then I get to go on a long walk in the park. I love the park! There are so many things to smell and see and hear. I've also made plenty of friends. Although, I'm still quite weary of other doggies. (In this day and age, you just can't trust any old dog that crosses your path. Especially not that little white curly-haired gremlin that keeps trying to get jiggy with me...)

I get to spend the whole morning and early afternoon with Daddy. After breakfast and my walk, I like to hang out around the house with him, chew my bone, play with my toys, drink water, and nap. I also like to follow Daddy around until he goes to work, which is my least favorite time of the day. I have to cry and bark for a little bit so that he knows how much I'll miss him. But, this is also the time of day I get my KONG filled with chicken and treats. It's so delicious that I totally forget I'm alone for a few hours, and Daddy says it keeps me busy and out of trouble. I also have plenty of toys to play with. (The dog bones are my favorites!)

I'm not gonna lie to you lovely people, I'm a little lazy. I like to take it easy and sleep around the clock, so the time passes quickly until Mamma gets home. When I first came home with Mamma and Daddy, I used to bark and cry when she got back from work, but I quickly realized that she doesn't give me any attention when I'm making so much noise, so now I only greet her with a wagging tale and a slobbery kiss. She seems to like that because she'll talk to me in funny voices and give me the best hugs. 

After a while of doggy kisses and cuddles, I will have dinner. Sometimes I'm not that hungry yet, so I wait for a while before digging in. But I know I have to finish my dinner first before I can go on an adventure to the park again. After eating, I'll go wait by the front door for Mamma to put my leash on. 

Mamma taught me how to walk next to her, because in the beginning I thought it was okay to pull her in all directions and chase after every interesting sound and smell. Apparently, that's not okay. Most of the time, Mamma says I walk perfectly (just like Uncle Cesar showed her on that video she watched), but sometimes I'm feeling a little mischievous and try to pull her to go faster. She doesn't like that, and makes me sit and calm down before we can go on. I get too excited, she says.

After we get back from our walk, Mamma and I like to spend some quality time together. She'll ask me to do things and then she'll give me yummy treats when I do them. I can sit and lie down when she asks me to, but I'm not totally sure about staying yet, especially when she leaves the room. Will she come back!? I'm just not sure, so for now I'll just follow her.

When Mamma is doing things around the house, I'll follow her just to make sure she doesn't leave, but sometimes I'm confident she's not going anywhere (especially after she puts on her pj's and those frog slippers I want to, but are not allowed to, play with). Then I'll go and lie down on my favorite spot in the living room and chew on a bone.

Sometimes Mamma will bring out this magical device that she brushes me with. It feels so good, and Mamma thinks it's funny how much I love it. Not only does it feel great, I know I look pretty cute afterwards, too. (Well, that's what most humans say, anyway.)

When Mamma goes to bed I'll lie down in their bedroom for a bit to make sure she's okay, and sometimes I'll nod off, too. Daddy gets home very late, but I kinda like that because it means extra cuddles for me before bedtime. (And, boy, do I love to cuddle.) They say I'm a very good boy for being so calm and quiet during the night. I try my best! But sometimes I have to wake them up if I need to go number one or two. After all, I'm still a pup and can't hold it in for too long. After that, I happily drift off into doggy dream land until the next day.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my daily life. Maybe it's not that exciting to you, but to me it's everything. Mamma says that I can talk to you guys here on some Tuesdays and tell you more about my adventures, so I hope you'll come back to check it out! Woof!

Love,

Toby

Before I turn 30...

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In ten months I'll be joining the "dirty thirties" movement. Contrary to how most people feel about turning thirty, it absolutely doesn't mean anything bad to me. In fact, I feel that your thirties are probably your best years. But that's just me.

Before I turned 27 I made a list of 10 Things I want to do before I'm 30. To be honest, I kinda forgot about this list, until boredom fate made me read through some older blog posts earlier. And, wow, I can proudly say that I've already crossed 6 things from that list.

I officially have ten months left to achieve the rest of my goals, and then it will be time for some new ones. I'm not sure whether I'll be able to cross everything off the list, but I'm going to do my best to make it happen. 

Here's the list of the 10 Things I want to do before I'm 30:

1. Adopt a dog

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We only adopted Toby 3 weeks ago, but already I can't imagine not having him around. This little fur ball has crawled so deep into our hearts, and I'm so thankful that he came into our lives.

2. Visit Paris

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What a blessing to have been able to visit Paris with The Husband. We went there for a week during the summer of 2013, and it was even more magical than I thought it would be. I would go back in a heartbeat, and it really IS one of the most beautiful cities I've ever been to.

3. Donate a lot of money to a charity

I don't know why I haven't done this yet, so I'm sure this will be the next thing I'll check off the list. Even though I sponsor a dog at a local animal rescue center, I also want to donate a considerable amount to a charity for rescued animals in Taiwan, as that's a cause I feel most passionate about.

4. Master liquid eyeliner 

Well, this one is debatable. I have been trying to do it more often (practice makes perfect), and I'm definitely getting better. But the thing with liquid eyeliner is, that you just never know what you're going to get. Some days it comes out perfectly, some days I just make a big mess on my eyelids and look like a raccoon. If I take my time, I can usually get it right. Not truly a "master", but I think this is probably as good as I'm going to get.  

5. Get engaged and married

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Check and check! The Husband and I got engaged during our week in Paris last year. (I know!) He proposed to me in front of the Eiffel Tower right before the tower lit up, while we were having a champagne picnic. There were literally thousands of people around us, but at that moment I felt that we were the only two people in the world. 

Seven months later we tied the knot in South Africa on a farm close to my hometown. Our friends and family flew in from around the world to celebrate our special day with us. It was absolutely perfect!

6. Fill up my passport with stamps

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I did it! My passport is officially full of stamps. Actually, on our last trip to the States, I got a little nervous about not having that much space left for stamps, but luckily it worked out fine. I love flipping through my passport and seeing all the countries I've been fortunate enough to visit. I can't wait to fill up the next one!

7. Go on a hot air balloon ride

Even though I'm so obsessed with this, everyone keeps informing me on how dangerous hot air balloon rides are. But I still really want to do it. (It's funny that I'm saying that, because usually I avoid any activity where I feel I might get hurt.) I know there are hot air balloon rides in Taiwan, but I want to go on one over the desert in the UAE. You know, like a magic carpet ride.

8. Write a children's book

The idea is in my head, but I haven't actually gotten to writing anything down. This is another item on the list that I truly want to achieve. Efforts must be doubled, as they say.

9. Buy myself an expensive designer purse

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I bought my first designer bag while we were in Paris. I figured THE shopping Mecca would be the best place to do it. Also, the 12% tax refund for tourists definitely spurred me on. I opted for the Louis Vuitton Speedy 30 bag in the Damier Ebene canvas. I think this bag is a timeless classic and I'll be able to keep it for the rest of my life. I use it quite often, as it goes with basically any outfit.

10. Apply for a master's degree program

Hmm, I'm not exactly sure about this one. On the one hand, I want to take time off from work to study Mandarin full time, but on the other hand I want to further my studies in my field (education). I'm not going to rush this decision, but who knows, I might have made up my mind by the time I turn 30.

I guess I'll have to get busy on the "unchecked" items. Be sure to check back in ten months to see if I managed to achieve the rest of my goals. Also, please share one goal that you'd like to achieve within the next ten months.

Happy Friday!