I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

If I were able to make one Christmas wish this year, I would without a doubt wish for snow. In New Zealand in December, fish would be more likely to fall from the sky– definitely not snow!

You guys in the Northern Hemisphere don't know how good you have it! Maybe I'm too influenced by cliche Hollywood Christmas films but I think there's something so magical about seeing the twinkling holiday lights reflect off the white snowy ground; being able to ice skate beside a massive Christmas tree; or sit in a cute little cafe on a wintery night, sipping on a toasty hot chocolate and listening to christmas carols– ah bliss!

I hope to have a Christmas like this one day. Honestly anywhere cold will do but if I had a choice, these are my top three white Christmas destinations...

...but first, some music to set the mood :)


1. Lapland, Finland 


Lapland in northern Finland is known as the hub of all things Christmas. They have reindeer, elves, a toy workshop and Santa himself, who is said to live in the nearby Korva-tunturi mountains (so, not at the North Pole after all?)!
Hey, if it's good enough for Santa, it's good enough for me! Hopefully I would get to see the Northern Light's while I'm there too!


Santa's village in Lapland (source)

Reindeer in Lapland (source)
 

2. Frankfurt, Germany


Frankfurt seems to become a bit of a winter wonderland in December. Their annual Christmas market looks as if it has an amazing, festive atmosphere– enough to fill any grinch with Christmas cheer! I think I would have a ball buying all kinds of cute knick knacks!
Also, the buildings seem to look a bit like giant gingerbread houses which adds to the christmassy look... that could be just me though ha!


Frankfurt's Christmas markets (source)

Some knick-knacks at the Frankfurt Christmas markets (source)


Gorgeous candle holders at the Frankfurt Christmas markets (source)

Amazing gingerbread houses (source)


New York City, USA


I guess it is true... I am overly influenced by Christmas movies! In my defence, most good Christmas movies are set in New York City. Hello?– Home Alone, Elf, Miracle on 34th Street, Serendipity!?
New York tends to make a big deal about Christmas, starting with the lighting of "the tree" at Rockefeller Centre. Shopping at Macy's or Bloomingdales with their amazing festive displays would be a surreal experience. One I'm sure I'd never forget!


Rockefeller Centre Christmas tree and ice rink (source)

Macy's at Christmas time (source)

Pretty lights on the trees (source)

So there you have it!

Where would you want to spend your ideal Christmas? Leave a comment below!

Rachel xoxo


Christmas Cookie Recipe


Is there anything like the smell of freshly baked cookies wafting through the house at Christmas time? I think not! 
I made these last year and they went down a treat with everyone. They are actually called Belgium Biscuits and aren't necessarily associated with Christmas... but whatever! I think they taste like Christmas in your mouth– it must be all the spices!

What you will need:

125g (4 ozs.) Butter
75g (3 ozs.) Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Mixed Spice
1 teaspoon Ground Ginger
1 Egg
225g (8 ozs.) Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder


1. Cream butter, sugar and spices together
2. Add egg and beat


3. Mix in dry ingredients
4. Knead on a floured surface


5. Roll out thin (about 5 mms) and cut into shapes
6. Bake on a greased tray for about 15-20 minutes at 180ºC (350ºF)


7. Allow to cool
8. Decorate to look "christmasy"(I used white icing with white chocolate writing fudge and silver cachous for the snowflake) 

Makes about 23


Let me know what you think!

Rachel xoxo

December Desktop Calendar

Original image source

I love this picture, it's so pretty! For some reason it reminds me Christmas time- perhaps it's the snow and twinkling stars!?

Christmas Is Coming!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE Christmas. I don't think I've ever fully gotten over that child-like excitement that comes from all things christmassy (that's a word, right?). The songs, the smells, the presents, the movies, family, friends and that general sense of togetherness never fails to put a smile on my face and a warm fuzzy feeling in my stomach!

Now, with just less than a month to go until the big day, I think we can finally get into the spirit of the season! So, to start us off, I give you some of my favorite "christmassy" things ever!

Enjoy!

Waiting for Santa (source)

Gingerbread house, yum! (source)

Elf! Possibly the best Christmas movie ever! (source)

Sparkly lights (source)

Frank Sinatra's jazzy Christmas tunes (source)

Ugly Christmas sweaters (source)

Milk and cookies (source)

Pretty Christmas trees! (source)

Christmas cat. So cute! (source)

Rockefeller Centre in NYC at Christmas time (sigh... one day) (source)

Believe me when I say, there's plenty more where that came from! Keep an eye out for more Christmas posts in the very near future!

What are your favorite "christmassy" things?
Is there anything you would add to this list?

Rachel xoxo

Take Two!


Charlie's favorite place to lie is very inconvenient!

 
I think it is high time that I broadened my blogging horizon! 

Places to Go and Things to See has been so much fun to do. I love writing about all the stunning places that I incessantly dream about going to but I have found myself wishing I could tell you more about the other things in my life too. The other things that excite, sadden, inspire, humour, inform and interest me!

November desktop calendar!

Better late than never, right? It's been a crazy few weeks but I have finally got around to doing this month's wallpaper!

New York is one of the top destinations on my 'go to' list! I can't wait to go there one day– maybe this will inspire me to finally get saving this month!

You can download it here.

Original image sourced from: awesome wallpapers blog

Rachel xoxo

Slow-mo Tokyo


To me, this video screams "Tokyo"– very modern and um... different(?). 

I especially like the cityscape shots and seeing all of those massive buildings rise above the smaller ones. The way they've been strategically placed in and around every crack and crevice is so amazing but it also makes me strangely claustrophobic thinking about being squeezed amongst it all! Is that just me?

What do you think of the video... weird or wonderful!?

Rachel xoxo

October desktop calendar!

The sun is finally starting to show its beautiful face here in Hamilton. It makes me so happy to be able to sit out in the sun and soak up some much-needed rays!

I wanted this month's desktop calendar to ooze sunny goodness! I really enjoyed collecting pictures of California for my 'California dreaming' post so much so that it has inspired this month's location– LA– more specifically, the Santa Monica Pier.

You can download it here.

Original image sourced from: flickr.

Enjoy,

Rachel xoxo

Quote for the day #6

Source: Pinterest

It seems Leo and I have a few things in common!

Rachel xoxo

California dreaming

Is it just me or does it seem like California has Summer on a perpetual loop!? Do they even have Autumn or Winter over there!?

I've been looking at a lot of pictures of the sunny state lately. I love the retro and grainy vibe that the sun rays give to a photo. It's almost as if you can feel the warmth through the screen! This is making me even more eager for Summer, I wish it would stop taking its sweet time and get here already!

Here are some of my favorites. Enjoy...

Source: Pinterest

Source: Pinterest

Source: Pinterest

Source: Pinterest

Source: Pinterest

Source: Pinterest

Source: Pinterest

Source: Pinterest

Source: Pinterest

Source: Pinterest

Source: Pinterest

Source: Pinterest

Rachel xoxo.

September desktop calendar!

Yay for the first day of Spring (or Autumn if you're living north of the equator)!

I have been loving the desktop calendars that some of my favorite blogs have been doing each month. It is such an ingenius idea! It's so handy to have your calendar right there in front of you when you log on to your laptop each day!

I have been wanting to do my own for a while now but honestly, my indesign skills were lacking a bit! But, after some practicing and testing, I feel that I can finally give you something that you can be proud to put on you desktop, so here you go!

The image in the background is of Paris- one of my favorite cities (you can see the top of the Eiffel tower in the background)! It was sourced from artwallpapers.biz.

You can download it here. Let me know what you think and if you want me to keep doing them!


Enjoy!

Rachel xoxo

New York City time lapse

I am loving vimeo at the moment! I have found so many amazing short films. This one, entitled 'new york city.', shows a beautiful time-lapse of New York. It may be the great scenery, the pretty night lights and/or the wonderful music, but it's making me want to go there even more than usual!

 
(Source: James Ogle on vimeo) 

Rachel xoxo

Big dreams

Sourced from: Pinterest

This blog is testament to the fact that I am a BIG dreamer! I have big plans for myself and I am determined to see them become a reality. I want to travel the world and experience new things... blah, blah, blah– you all know this by now!

Sure, I fill my little corner of the web with pretty pictures of beautiful places and I ramble on and on about what I love about them and what I would do if I was there but, as exciting as all that is, it is also really, really scary! The world is so big and I am so small; there are so many places to get lost– both physically and in translation!

This quote reminds me that being scared can be a good thing. It can mean that there is a big adventure ahead, just waiting to be had! I find that kinda comforting, don't you?!

Rachel xoxo

Well done, London!

Fireworks during the closing ceremony (sourced from: London2012.com)

I'm just sitting here watching the closing ceremony/ waiting for the Spice Girls to come out and I can't help but feel a little disappointed! Not because of the ceremony itself– it's pretty amazing so far– but because it is all ending! :(

I've made no secret of my love for London, it's one of my favorite cities! I've really enjoyed watching the marathons, triathlons and cycling events that toured this wonderful city from the streets. Aside from actually being there, I think it's the best way to see the London sights.

Also, I love the sense of unity that comes along with having the entire world represented in one place at one time and for one reason. It's so special and fills me with so much pride!

But even though these games are ending, I guess I can take comfort in the fact that the next games are that much closer! I can't wait for Rio 2016, let's see if they can out-do London 2012– it's not going to be an easy task!!

What was your favorite part of the games?

Rachel xoxo

Quote for the day #5

Sourced from: Pinterest

...and I can't wait to find it!

Rachel xoxo

Scenic movies: Woody Allen

I love watching movies! It's one of my favorite things to do, especially in the winter time! Lately, I've been watching a lot of Woody Allen films. They are so distinctively quirky and refreshingly different from your standard Hollywood blockbusters – which I love! But, the thing that I love most about Woody's films is the way he takes a location and somehow manages to transport you there through the screen! I liken it to watching a foreign film, just without the subtitles (for the most part– there are sometimes a few)!

If you have ever seen a Woody Allen film, you will know that they are not everyone's cup of tea– you either love them or you sit there confused, trying to figure out what all the hype is about! But, if you like films with a lot of stunning scenery, I would definitely encourage you to give one of his films a watch. These are some of his more recent ones...


'Midnight in Paris' (2011) is one of my favorites, probably because its set in the back streets and cafes of one of my favorite cities! The main character, Gil (played by Owen Wilson), is an American tourist on holiday in Paris, France with his fiance, Inez (played by Rachel McAdams). While wandering the streets alone at night, Gil is 'magically' transported back in time to the 1920s and adventure ensues!! 

Sourced from: Rotten Tomatoes

Sourced from: Sony

Sourced from: Sony

Sourced from: Sony

Sourced from: Sony  



'Vicky Christina Barcelona' (2008) is another goodie about two American friends, Vicky and Cristina (played by Rebecca Hall and Scarlet Johansson, receptively), who are holidaying in Barcelona, Spain. They both fall for the same man, Juan (played by Javier Bardem), which causes problems for their friendship. However, Juan seems to have his own problems in the form of his mentally ill ex-wife (played by Penelope Cruise).

Sourced from: Listal

Sourced from: Listal

Sourced from: Listal

Sourced from: Listal

Sourced from: Listal



I am also looking forward to seeing 'To Rome With Love' (2012) when it comes out here in December. From what I've heard and read, its about a group of individuals whose stories intertwine while in Rome, Italy. If the all-star cast (Penelope Cruise, Jesse Eisenberg, Ellen Page and Alec Baldwin to name a few!) is anything to go by, this should be a great film!

Sourced from: Rotten Tomatoes

Sourced from: Rotten Tomatoes

Sourced from: Rotten Tomatoes

Sourced from: Rotten Tomatoes



Enjoy!

Rachel xoxo