PERIPATETIC.LIFE

peripatetic /ˌpɛrɪpəˈtɛtɪk/ adjective: travelling from place to place, for relatively short periods.

  • Interview with the founder of allthatitseams.com

    I have had the pleasure of speaking to the founder of allthatitseams.com and interviewed Caitlin Childs over her new autumn line products. If you have yet to check out her beautiful fashion items, make sure to do so and follow her on all social media platforms in order to keep up to date with the latest products and offers.

    1) I have had a look at your summer line; the products are gorgeous and versatile. What was your inspiration for making these?
    Thank you so much for saying that! Anytime I think of summer, my mind is immediately drawn to all of the activities available like the beach, pool, park, etc. I wanted to create products that were functional for all of these activities, rather than just being something pretty to look at. I wanted them to serve a higher purpose in everyday life.

    2) You have an array of beautiful bags and hair accessories online. For your new autumn line launch, will you be adding new products or designing different styles of bags and hair accessories?
    I was once given a fantastic piece of business advice that said, “Find what you are good at and perfect it before you expand.” I feel like I still have more to offer in the accessories industry before I expand. Once I get a great selection of accessories, I plan to expand to home decor and possibly other areas of the fashion industry where my skills would be useful.

    3) What else are we going to expect from your autumn line launch?
    For this collection, I was greatly inspired by the mountains. I have incorporated a lot of clean lines and rich colors that are reminiscent of a mountain scene. There is also a heavy influence of bundling up against the cold. Each of these products are designed to get you through the cold winter months comfortably and, of course, fashionably.

    4) Not only are your items highly fashionable and versatile but a percentage of the money from each sale goes to the animal shelter that you are partners with? Could you tell us more about this?
    About seven years ago, an adorable Rottweiler showed up to my door. Unfortunately, a neighbor called animal control on him, and he was relocated to a local shelter. I knew I had to have him and so I went to the shelter to officially adopt him. I was heartbroken to see that this happy, playful pup was now filled with terror and panic. From that point on, I made a promise to myself that I would do whatever I could to make sure these shelters had the funding to make sure that not only the physical needs of these animals were met, but their emotional needs as well. Each month, we donate to a shelter that we have a partnership with. We love creating new relationships with animal shelters who are in need of funding. In the future, I hope to grow this business to a point where I can donate to multiple animal shelters every month.

    5) For all my followers who are wanting to see more of your products, on which social media platforms could they follow you?
    Right now, we are most active on Instagram (@allthatitseams), Facebook (facebook.com/allthatitseams) and Pinterest (pinterest.com/allthatitseams). We love connecting with our tribe and would love to welcome everyone into our little family!

    Unfortunately, for my non U.S. readers, for the time being there is only shipping available in the U.S. Great news for all those based in the U.S who will be able to flaunt their new accessories whilst knowing they have also given a part to charity.

  • What to do in York, England

    The Northern English city of York may not be on top of everyone’s travel lists but aside to being the home of the notorious Guy Fawkes, and famous for their horse racing, York is a cosy, touristy town where everyone is more than welcome. Alongside their rich history, culture and vast amount of museums to entertain yourself, hopefully this article will strive you to visit the quaint Northern English town for yourself.

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    The home of the man behind the gunpowder plot, Guy Fawkes.

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    With their large selection of museums, including Jorvik, National Railway Museum, Yorkshire Museum and York Art Gallery, to keep you busy, and ample bars for a great night out. York is perfect for everybody, no matter what you want to do.

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    National Railway Museum

    York’s Minster is a beautiful photogenic building for all photographers to take advantage in grabbing an excellent photograph. The small street of ‘Little Shambles.’ is also beautiful and crammed with unique stores. Protect your wallet!

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    The street of Little Shambles

    Besides all the fun activities, the whole scenery York has to offer, oozes beauty for a great short escape. Whenever you have time while on your adventure across England do try to include York to your itinerary, you will regret it if you do not!

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  • My current travel companion

    I never forget my little friend when carefully selecting what to fill my backpack with before I galavant on my adventure. For the past year, through endless journeys across Europe and South America, my Nikon P900 camera has been a great friend. Today I will explain how I manage to capture my travel shots with my camera.

    Although it is a bulky item, which accompanies many problems especially when adventuring, the Nikon P900 is a great buy for peaceful getaways and avid photographers trying to get awesome Instagram or blog photos. Although this huge piece of photographic equipment can be an annoyance, the quality is impressive, to say the least, and easy to use. These words come from myself, an amateur photographer.

    I do like to swap between my camera and my iPhone 6s plus simply due to the excessiveness of my camera. Seen as my phone takes decent pictures, not as glamorous as my camera, on a few trips and days I try to limit my photo intake and give my Nikon P900 a well deserved day off.

    Although I highly recommend the Nikon P900, I believe it is more for a relaxed holiday in where you want to find lovely places and practice your photography skills. For the more adventurous traveller, I recommend a smaller camera with less value just in case anything happens it will not be painful to see it go.

    My Nikon P900 can be bought in many good electronic stores, and luckily has seen a bit of a price drop since I initially bought last year. Here is a link to one of the stockists if you care to have a look. http://www.jessops.com/online.store/categories/products/nikon/coolpix-p900-digital-camera-96391/show.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMItK7Fjvyi1QIVlantCh30_gxTEAAYASAAEgLzR_D_BwE

    My bracelet which is on show in the photo is made by a wonderful organisation in which a percentage of money from sales go to help conserve the planet and wildlife. Their designs are amazing and made from natural stone and wood. Here is a link to their website in case you would like to check them out also if you would like to make a purchase make sure to use code Maria25 for a 25% discount. https://www.havenbracelets.com

    Happy travels, fellow travellers!

  • Travelling through Tuscany – Florence, Italy

    Home to an era of history rich with art and sculpture, and embellished in amazing culture with stunning scenery. Whether you are a history, or art fanatic, or simply want a short city break, Florence is calling your name! Sharing certain similarities with Milan, from their famed piazza du Duomo to their streets covered in glamorous designer stores. Florence is a real beauty one should visit even just once.

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    Arriving in the morning with the cheap cost of 8 euro, one way via train from Pisa, I managed to wander through the maze of people and find myself in the warm breeze breathing in the fresh air. My first stop was to see in person their Cathedral, Tower, and Dome which are very easily recognised and leave you speechless. The central plaza has a calming atmosphere, aided by the soft street music, although you do find yourself being careful to not bump into other tourists, as one can become lost between the large crowds. The only free entrance is to visit the Cathedral, although you do have to have your knees and shoulders covered or else you won’t be granted entry. With it being a warm day, street vendors do sell fabric, for a reasonable price, so that you are able to visit the beauty inside. Unfortunately, I did not have time to do that on my only day visiting the city.

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    A short distance from the Dome, through their famous narrow streets, and you find yourself outside the rather camouflaged exterior of Galleria dell’Accademia. Where none other rather than the famous statue, David by Michelangelo, resides. Alongside David, you see many rare unfinished sculptures by Michelangelo and an array of art to accompany it. Although there are only four rooms to explore and having to sometimes wait hours in line if you haven’t purchased tickets beforehand, it is worth it, especially if you have travelled from far away. Of course, booking tickets in advance would be the smartest option if you know your exact time you will be there. If you are in a rush and don’t have a ticket already, you could go in with a guided tour. Although those guided tours are vastly more expensive, I ended up paying forty euros for my single ticket but it did mean that I only had to wait thirty minutes and got to learn a lot more than if I had entered alone. You do also get to learn more of the history, the art and the sculptures, and the ultimate selling point is that do not have to queue.

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    Queue to enter Galleria dell’Accademia
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    Non other than the statue of David. The main attraction

    The last thing on my to do list was to visit the marvellous Ponte Vecchio. The beautifully elegant bridge which looks stunning, especially at sunset. Some of the beautiful sunset pictures I managed to capture were a treat! However, I will refrain and only post one of my them on this post.

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    Ponte Vecchio

    Overall, my most favourite city in Tuscany has to be Florence. It was an incredibly difficult decision to make, however, I feel it has more to offer. With a mixture of architecture, beautiful weather, art, history, culture, cuisine and friendly people it is great if you want to explore Italy and everything the country has to offer to the world.

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    You could only find a mannequin decorated with spaghetti in Italy! Found in a random kitchen shop in a small street
  • How to incorporate travel when you are on a budget

    Travelling is not only for those with huge sums of cash in their banks. I have a few tips which help me while travelling the world and hopefully help you as well.

    1) Bring only hand luggage
    This rule is only applicable if you are flying with a low-cost airline which sells cheap flights but charge a high amount for baggage. That is their business strategy as sometimes you end up paying more for your suitcase than for your ticket! So a good technique is to take a carry-on bag and handbag to maximise what how much you can take on board. Soon to come on my blog, I will talk about my best tips and tricks to pack light for your holiday!

    2) Don’t settle for the first deal
    Do your research it will pay off! It can be exhausting and time-consuming, but if you take out some time before your trip to analyse the best deals online then you can find yourself a bargain! There is much competition from hotels, planes, and tourist attractions and there is a large array of websites trying to get your attention to find the best bargain! They profit from your savings! My personal favourites which help me find good deals are Skyscanner, Kayak, and booking.com. They are simple to use and give good offers worldwide!

    3) Restrict your spending costs abroad
    Sure, sounds simple and obvious but the temptation to buy gifts and cute, useless souvenirs are enticing! I have a problem with saying no to little artefacts which I will possibly look back at in ten years, but the best memories are in your mind and your camera! Another remarkable thing about them is that they are free! Taking pictures and living in the moment is what you will treasure for life, so only spend your hard earned money for the food and the experiences you want to have in the country. Leave the shopping at home!

    4) Book in advance
    The closer you book your flights and hotel to the due date, the more expensive it will be! Booking at least one to two months in advance will mean you will save some extra cash and who does not like to save some money? If you find a bargain which seems too good to be true, it does not mean that it is, it just means that you are lucky! Once you see it, and you wait too long, of course, it will be gone because nobody who saw the deal could resist the offer. So don’t hesitate and take it!

    5) Travel during off-peak seasons
    Certain months, in particular, December, July and August, attract the most people. If it is possible, avoid these seasons as you can end up paying double the amount for no extra benefit. Plus you are amassed with hoards of tourists, which can be frustrating.

    I hope you find these tips useful and incorporate them in your future travels! Tell me which ones you already know use and which ones you find the most useful in the comments below! Happy travelling everybody!

  • Travelling through Tuscany – Manarola, Cinque Terre, Italy

    Manarola, possibly most famous for its photogenic scenery, made famous by Google images and attracts the whole world due to its different and tranquil style of life.

    One of the most popular out of the five towns in Cinque Terre, which translates to ‘five lands’, is noticeable. A great place if you enjoy lovely views, a calm atmosphere, delicious food, and escape to a small village. Although it does become hoarded with tourists, during the evening, it is a great spot to relax in a restaurant with a glass of wine and fine food while overlooking the rocks into the Mediterranean sea. Very easy by train from La Spezia and any of the neighbouring towns, I highly recommend for a relaxing evening with family or friends.

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    Although there is a small beach with little sand, cliff diving is a huge attraction for many. If you are a strong swimmer who wants to have a slight dip in the ocean, then cliff diving from Manarola is a great experience. Even being an onlooker is rather fascinating!

    Unfortunately, I did not have enough time to visit every city town, but that will be planned for my next trip to Tuscany! Fortunately, train tickets are super cheap in Italy. Therefore whenever I go to a country, I love to travel more than just the city I reside in. Read my last post about my time in Monterosso, Cinque Terre, and please subscribe to keep updated with my journeys! Next post will be about my time in Florence! So much art and culture, Florence stole my heart!

    Stay safe and happy travels everybody!

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  • Travelling through Tuscany – Monterosso, Cinque Terre, Italy
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    Arriving in Monterosso!

    Tuscany is radiant with beauty. From its novel cities to its rural towns. Cinque Terre is comprised of five quiet towns. Although they are small, don’t be fooled. The Cinque Terre region blooms in elegance and allure, which can be described as nothing less but a treat for the eyes.

    My first stop was to Monterosso al mare. A beautiful town with a gorgeous beach and atmosphere to match. Sunbathing and floating in the sea on a Monday at twenty-eight degrees Celsius is a great way to cure the blues, as the warm Mediterranean sea caresses and cares for you and your worries melt away and your eyes divert to the exquisite scenery which curves the ocean.

    I got the train from Pisa Centrale station to La Spezia Centrale, in where you can either buy a Cinque Terre card, which allows you to have access to all five towns, which is around thirty-one euros for two days which is just enough time to visit each town. Alternatively, you can buy separate tickets to each town for roughly four euros each way. I only had one day to explore and therefore selected only to visit Monterosso and Manarola, therefore found it cheaper to buy individual tickets.

    The train ride from La Spezia to Monterosso is roughly twenty minutes. Upon arriving you see glimpses of the shining sea through the tunnel. Once stepping off you see the masses of tourists and beach goers and the crowded rocky beach. If you wish to swim or leave your things, once leaving the train station on the left-hand side, you will find a tourist office that will securely guard your bags for a fee of twelve euros. Make sure to take your beach towel if you only think of staying for a few hours because sunbeds are mostly occupied and are priced around 25 euros.

    Don’t forget to enjoy the exuberant energy Cinque Terre has to offer once you arrive in the wonderful place. My next post will talk about my experience in Manarola, so please subscribe to keep updated!

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    Leaving Monterosso to get to Manarola!
  • What makeup essentials should you travel with?

    Who loves to travel but hates the dreaded heat of exploring the world around you? I made this list of makeup essentials to carry with you in a makeup bag that will help you do a full face for your adventure! The best part? I’m adding in a key product to help you keep your full face on all day even if you start to sweat or jump in the water! Let’s get started on my favorite “on-the-go” essentials!

    Of course, the first one on my list will be a makeup bag! Duh! Where else would you store these important beauty tools? Maybe your purse, but if you’re like me, you’d be digging for one item for an hour! Yea, everything goes in my purse, especially with two babies tagging along.

    Foundation is #1. I can’t do my makeup without foundation or I just feel like I’m naked and, well, I’m no nudist. Don’t get me wrong, I love being naked, but when I have clothes on, my face needs “clothes” too!

    To bring or not to bring concealer? Well, that is totally up to you! If you have a few blemishes or impurities you’d like to get rid of, well, grab it while walking out the door. My go to is Kay Von D.

    Another IMPORTANT tool to grab is your makeup brushes! Without them, well, just leave your makeup home too. So, show them babies the world and slay your face! I always take my Ulta brushes. They are soooo soft and blend/apply so easily!

    Mascara is a favorite makeup essential. I have thin and almost non existent lashes, so a good mascara to wow my lashes and make my selfies scream Lash Drama!

    Lipstick is a must have for me! I always want a pop of color. Me, personally, I’d grab 3-4 different colors incase I want to switch up colors during the day or over the time period of my travel.

    Eyeshadow pallets are key to a fabulous look! I grab two palettes; one a nude/natural and one a fun/funky palette. You can have a natural look one day and a bold the next! I always grab my Morphe palettes.

    Eyeliner is my life. It completes my eye look and I just can’t say no to a good winged liner. Give me arches or take me home. I love Girlactik’s eyeliner.

    Setting spray is the last product for makeup to grab. Everyone knows that without setting spray, your face will melt off. Urban Decay has a good one.

    Face cleanse will be another product. Why? Because you will need something at the end of the day to take off all of your makeup and remove any dirt and/or oils from your adventurous day.

    I hope this article helps you get your traveling makeup bag packed and ready to go. Slay all day and look fierce doing it!

    XOXO,

    Tamika Jones

    Mommy And Bloggin @mommyandbloggin.wordpress.com

    I would like to say a huge thank you to Tamika for collaborating with me and bringing some useful tips on wearing makeup on holiday! Make sure to check her out as she posts great content on the regular.

  • Travelling through Tuscany – Pisa, Italy

    Commencing with a new series following my recent adventure through the Tuscany region of Italy, I will start with recurring back to my latest journey in Pisa.

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    When anybody mentions Pisa, the first thing to cross everybody’s mind immediately is its glorious Leaning Tower. Seeing the tower with one’s own eyes and being stood in front of its presence is rather surreal, as you are graced with something so magical and beautiful in architecture and tale. There is nothing fake about the tower and is nothing less than a mesmerising wonder of the world. It is with thanks to Pisa’s soft soil that we are greeted with an incredible piece of architecture defying the law of gravity. For the time being, at least.

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    The Leaning Tower of Pisa, also known as the freestanding bell tower

    Don’t be fooled. Pisa has much more to offer than it is leaning tower, as surrounding the tower you are greeted with divine architecture and structure from the Cathedral and Baptistry, which are neighbours to the leaning tower. You can visit all three attractions during the day, with the last admission in summertime being ten o’clock at night. The Baptistry and Cathedral do shut at an earlier hour, so it is advisable to go during the day. Luckily the queues are not very long, taken from my only experience, and buying tickets there is straightforward and practical. However, if you are confident of when you are going, then it may be simpler to book tickets online as there is not a huge price difference.

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    The view from the top of the Leaning Tower

    Going for a day or two in Pisa is more than enough to relax and see the sights as everything is merely a few minutes walk. Hotels, restaurants, the tower and shops are all located close to each other with the train station being a fifteen-minute walk, and the airport being a ten-minute drive. You can stroll through the botanical gardens, or take a peaceful horse and carriage ride through the streets to see and learn more about the tranquil town.

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    A few iconic sights, if you are an avid photographer or casual stroller, would be the river Arno, a five-minute walk from the Tower, and Santa Maria Della Spina Church, which is adjacent to the river. These little gems bring together Pisa, and they are a real beauty to the eye.

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    Santa Maria Della Spina Church
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    River Arno
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    The Botanical Garden, Orto botanico di Pisa

    Pisa is a vibrant, small city with the friendliest faces and fantastic cuisine met with stunning architecture. Luckily this tower can bring so many people to a hidden town and experience another amazing city in Tuscany. Don’t forget to take your generic tourist picture holding up the leaning tower!

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    If possible, take your picture at night! As there are no tourist crowds to worry about

    I wish everybody many happy adventures to come and do plead for you to visit Pisa, when in Italy! It’s a treat for the eyes and mind!

  • My reasons to travel

    To admire the world’s beauty, soak in the atmosphere through your veins and respect the different dimensions which are all situated on our planet Earth which offers us no other than exceptional elegance are amazing qualities in itself.
    Here is a handful of reasons as to why travelling is always on top of my spending list and hopefully convert you into it being on yours too!

    1) Life experience is more valuable than materialistic items will ever be
    Rather than spending your well-earned money on you are most likely to get bored off in a few months, why not invest money on something that could change for life. Not only does delving into the unknown force your mind and body to adapt to new surroundings but the planning it takes before the trip, has been scientifically proven to increase your happiness with the anticipation of the change of scenery which will be soon to come.

    2) It forces you to grow as a person
    Just like a plant, humans need to be watered every once in a while with an adventure to grow as a person. Every trip you take is an experience and will expand your mind to understand more of what is around us. Even one adventure a year is better than no adventure at all.

    3) You may find that the grass is greener on the other side
    You may feel that you a stuck and this is all your life will be. Your calling in life may not necessarily be what you think it is, and to find it you must chase it. A change of scenery is what the mind craves, and it boosts your sense of well-being. Start capturing photos on your phone or camera of energising greenery, and mesmerising white beaches, and you will begin to understand that your life can be as amazing as those pictures you took once you start making the right decisions.

    4) Invest in your education
    ‘Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness’ An eye-opening quote by the early twentieth-century writer, Mark Twain who captured the essence of learning with travel. Going to school may teach you the basics to sustain your life by having a job, but it cannot teach you how to fulfil the life you have been given. Travelling teaches you an array of cultures, languages, recipes, history, design and how different people decide to live their lives.

    5) Know your worth
    Travelling can be exhausting, painful, joyous, terrifying but it will teach you to become a better person at the end of the journey. If you can go through the perils of landing in a foreign country where you know nothing or nobody you help you understand the feeling of being vulnerable and lost, and you still overcome it. That is how you become aware of your worth, and that is something which nobody can erase from you.

    Not only does travel benefits you in your mental and physical health, but overall helps you to create a better life and makes you a fascinating, brave individual with a lifetime of stories to share. To all my avid travellers, keep exploring and stay safe!