shopping for omorovicza skincare in budapest (and getting an amazing facial)!

(Budapest, Hungary).  Before I visit any new place, I always try to do a little bit of research on the local shopping - i.e., crafts or specialty items unique to the area.  While Hungary is known for things such as paprika, lace, and folk art - I wasn't particularly interested in such items.  The most famous wine in the region is the sweet dessert wine (Tokaji Aszu) and I definitely planned to get some of that - but what really interested me was trying out some skincare - namely the Omorovicza skincare line which is based on the "healing waters of Budapest".  Although it is available in the U.S., I was hoping to get it cheaper from the source.

my beauty must-buys when i'm in japan

On my last trip to Japan, I did A LOT of research on what to buy in the beauty and skincare department and returned with quite a haul from both high-end (e.g., Isetan and Takayashima Department Stores) and drugstore (e.g., Don Quijote, Bicqlo, etc.).  After a few months of trying a lot of the products, I have already discovered firm favorites that I know I will repurchase next time I go to Japan.  (And yes, I plan to return!)

They include in no particular order:

shopping at don quixote - a must stop in japan for quirky souvenirs, tasty snacks and drugstore beauty!

Don Quijote (or "Donki") is a discount chain store with over a hundred locations throughout Japan.  It's like Target on steroids!  They sell almost everything - including, drugstore beauty goods, pharmaceuticals, food items, liquor, souvenirs, cosplay costumes, electronics, household items, etc. etc.  It is a must stop even if you aren't interested in shopping because the offerings are just so vast and weird that you can happily spend a few hours in exploration and amazement.

 

Floor upon floor of goods!

I think most tourists go to the Akihabara ("Electric Town") location which is massive (about 7 stories high with a popular maid cafe and a claw machine arcade on the top floors).  (In case you don't know what a maid cafe is, it's basically an overpriced cafe serving very cute food - imagine chicken curry and other entrees, ice cream sundaes, and beverages in the shape of teddy bears and bunnies - all served by young Japanese ladies in french maid costumes... a bit odd, but apparently it's a thing in Japan.  I think you are required to buy a certain amount of food and drinks to be in the cafe - similar to a 2 drink minimum in comedy shows - but you are paying a premium.)   But I actually preferred the one in Roppongi - less crowds and I think the luxury section had better options for Louis Vuitton and Chanel bags.

galeries lafayette: go for the view, not the shopping

(Paris, France).  Galeries Lafayette is a high-end department store with a flagship store on Haussmann in an absolutely gorgeous building with an impressive glass dome.   It is definitely worth a visit just to go onto the terrace and get rewarded with a lovely view of Paris (and the Opera House).  However, shopping here is kind of a challenge, and here is why...

french pharmacy haul in paris

(Paris, France).  As an avid viewer of beauty youtube videos, I knew that I would have to pick up some skincare and makeup bits in Paris.  There are many French brands that are either more expensive in or not available in the U.S.  I did do some research prior to my trip so I had an idea of exactly what I wanted to pick up.  I also researched pharmacies - the most famous being Pharmacie City-Pharma in the St. Germain area but by all accounts, it's very crowded.  In actuality, there are pharmacies everywhere in Paris (just look for the green cross signs) and if you have time, do some price comparisons and you'll notice that they do vary greatly.  Not every pharmacy carries all the brands you may be looking for so you may have to go to more than one.

I've heard the pricing at City-Pharma is quite good which is why it's so well-known, but I noticed that the small Pharmacie T-LeClerc near the Hotel de Seze had really good pricing compared to the pharmacies in the Montmartre area where I ended up shopping.  If you are truly pressed for time and can't do price comparisons, then I'd recommend going to City-Pharma which has a large selection and good pricing or the one in the Galeries Lafayette which also has a large selection.  But remember there is also a pharmacy located in the airport.

So what did I end up getting?

las vegas north premium outlets - mini haul

(Las Vegas, Nevada).  One of my favorite things to do in Las Vegas is to outlet shop, and my favorite place to do it is the Las Vegas North Premium Outlets.  They recently opened up a new section with higher-end outlet stores (e.g., last call neiman marcus, saks fifth avenue off 5th, rag & bone, etc.) and the choices can be a bit overwhelming!  (See here for center map and store listings.)

What did I end up getting this time?

more tieks (my bona fide favorite travel shoes)!

Previously I reviewed my very first pair of tieks to determine if they were good travel shoes (see review here).  On my trip to Italy, I found myself wearing my tieks more than even my vibram running shoes because they proved to be more comfortable and much cuter!  Since that trip, I've learned that they are literally the most comfortable pair of shoes in my entire collection (excluding my birkenstocks and Uggs).  And even after 6 months of wear, they are holding up very well evidencing their durability.   So the temptation to acquire more colors was very very strong.

I did manage to resist for over 6 months, but recently I purchased two additional pairs - in matte black and in romantic blush.  And I'm happy to report that I love both of them!  The black is an obvious classic and can easily be worn with almost anything.  The romantic blush is silvery, sparkly, and adorable and can be worn with dressier outfits.  And as expected, they are both wonderfully comfortable.  I can't wait to bring a variety of tieks on my next trip - they take so little room in my luggage that I'll have more room for other important things (such as souvenirs)!

Have you tried them yet?  If you are on the fence, I would recommend going for it!  Your footsies will thank you!  (And no this is not sponsored.  I have no affiliation with tieks other than I'm obsessed with buying their shoes!)

uniqlo - my stop for travel wardrobe essentials

I don't generally buy clothes at Uniqlo - the only exception being what I consider to be 'essentials' for my travel wardrobe.  As I may have mentioned before, I detest checking luggage so it's important to have travel clothes that are versatile, light, durable and do not take up too much luggage space.

My favorite essential at Uniqlo is their bra top (see link here), which is basically a tank top with a built-in bra.  I get them in a variety of basic and fun colors and I can usually pair them with a multitude of bottoms, jackets, and scarves to create a lot of different looks.  They dry pretty quickly so I can easily wash them while I'm traveling  and get multiple wears during a single trip.

My second favorite essential at Uniqlo is their ultra light down jackets and vests (see link here).  They are surprisingly warm for being so light and packable!  You can literally fold them up into a teeny bitty packet which barely takes up any room in your luggage.  I absolutely rely on these jackets when I travel during the winter.  (Note - They probably are not warm enough if you are actually going to be skiing or snowboarding in the snow, but for most city winter vacations, they'll do just fine.) 

Finally, Uniqlo has a series of Heattech clothing that is supposed to help you retain heat.  I use these for layering if I'm traveling to a cold location, but I don't find this series particularly cute, and I'm not sure they are as warm as my silk underwear.  But as layering pieces, they are sufficient.

Apologies that this post is going up in March - but the bright side is that since it's almost spring, the ultra light down jackets are all on sale now so it's a good time to pick some up!  

canadian shopping haul (aka i love maple)

(Vancouver, Canada).  I didn't really expect to buy anything on my trip to Vancouver other than maple candy.  I know they are basically glorified sugar cubes, but I have a soft spot in my heart for them.  It's very difficult to find maple candy in Los Angeles (other than at specialty stores around Christmas) and have you noticed how expensive real maple syrup is lately?

Anyways, so there I was roaming around for something uniquely Canadian to purchase.  For the first day or so, I failed miserably.  Most of the retail shops I saw were the same as those in Los Angeles.  Actually for the most part, being in Vancouver was a bit like being in the financial district of San Francisco or Seattle... It really didn't feel like I was out of the U.S.

But ultimately I saw a few items that caught my eye.  What were they?

traditional mosaic i purchased in florence, italy at pitti mosaici

Mosiac of the Duomo from afar.

(Florence, Italy).  One of the most memorable things that I purchased in Italy was a mosaic painting of the Duomo at Pitti Mosaici (Piazza Pitti 23-24r).  On my previous trips to Italy, I often admired the beautiful mosaics in shop windows but it wasn't until this recent trip - when I saw firsthand the amount of labor, skill and care that went into creating each piece - that I truly appreciated the amazing craftsmanship of traditional mosaics.

outlet shopping in florence at the mall

(Florence, Italy).  Outlet shopping isn't for everyone, but I love it!  The hunt for a good deal is positively invigorating!  I admit it's usually a pain to get to the outlets as they are always inexplicably far.  In addition, it takes time and patience to carefully sort through the deals amidst the throngs of shoppers and stand in line to pay.  But at the end of the day, when I gaze upon all my purchases and count all my savings - it's totally worth it!  It's even better while traveling because I can justify my purchases even more - hey, I'm on vacation!

eating and shopping in morocco

Morocco is a shopper's paradise. Their artistry is superb and geometric and abstract tribal designs work very well with modern aesthetics. Although you can buy many Moroccan items in the States, nothing beats the rush you will get when getting a deal on a purchase and as a bonus it will serve as a wonderful reminder of your time in Morocco. And their food isn't half bad either.

Shopping

• Leather slippers aka babouches. Still commonly worn by locals, these unique and portable items make excellent souvenirs.  They come in a variety of colors and are super soft- especially when made from goat or camel skin. Sazy Rock and I had a wonderful mini-adventure with a cobbler in Marrakesh who insisted we come up to his attic workshop - not advisable for a solo traveler!- while he custom-made several pairs of infant slippers while we watched. 60-200MAD.
• Blue ceramics. Decorative plates or tiles; be sure to have the fragile goods properly wrapped for transport back home. 
  

how to score a deal on louis vuitton purse in paris

Louis Vuitton strictly controls price. You are never going to find it on sale at Neiman Marcus or their own stores. And an item will never go down in price once it has gone up. So how do you score a deal? Shop in PARIS! What better excuse is there to go?

Here’s my How-To guide on snagging a deal on an authentic Louis Vuitton purse:

Step one: Pre-shop online at louisvuitton.com. Choose the handbag or wallet of your desire. If you are geographically close to a store that carries Louis Vuitton, go check it out in person; nothing beats seeing, feeling and weighing the goods in three dimension. Let’s use my well used and beloved Neverfull GM as example. Note: when I purchased this a few years ago, it did not come with the pochette and was cheaper.