The Blog

It’s September and you know that that means. Fashion! And lots of it! Fashion week is that magical time of year when the world’s top designers release their latest collections in the “Big Four” fashion capitals of New York, London, Milan, and Paris.   There are runway shows, and store openings, presentations, and parties. Sounds like torture, right? :) We’re tipping our stylish hats to the amazing cities and trend setters out there keeping fashion fun, innovative, and alive.     EXPLORE

This week it’s all about the continent that has a 200 foot Buddha statue carved into a mountainside, a special feast day dedicated to monkeys, cherry blossom flavored potato chips, hotels staffed by robots, and a sport called sky biking. If you can dream it, Asia’s got it! This inventory of unparalleled wonders that awaits simply reminds us that life is sweet!    Seven Totally Singular Experiences in Asia  No place serves up one-of-a-kind adventures quite like Asia! Get started with our shortlist.  Travel Memories: Best of the Philippines: Boracay   If you love the idea of an island vacation, Boracay is considered one of the best islands in Asia and well, pretty much the world. It's famous for its blue waters and endless stretches of sandy powder white beaches. Thanks to the efforts of locals and the Philippines government, Boracay’s ocean remains crystal clear and clean. With so many things to eat and do (or not do and just relax), you’ll never run out of reasons to love Boracay.  MORE HERE   Behind the Charms Have you ever picked up a charm and thought, “OMG! I love this!” Of course you have. Have you also ever looked at that same charm and wondered, “but what is it exactly?” Happens all the time! There’s a lot of backstory packed in every little charm and we’re here to break it down.     Wanna see more puppet action? Check out this performance straight from the source! WATCH HERE   Holi Hijinks in Hampi, India     Add a fabulous dimension to your trip by planning it around a festival. If your destination is India, mark your calendar for Holi, the ancient Hindu festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil and is nicknamed “the festival of colors” for good reason! MORE HERE     EXPLORE

Where else can you find a 1,000 year old castle and the newest culinary craze sitting side by side? A city as big and bustling as Rome or as pocket-sized as San Marino? the least collection of Renaissance masterpieces and the most mysterious forests? SPOILER ALERT: It’s Europe. Europe is the continent that has it all and then some—the kind of place that would have been voted “Most Everything” in high school. You get what we’re trying to say. Europe is proof that life is sweet! Ask a Flight Attendant: Fave Under-the-Radar Destinations in Europe    Is there anyone who has traveled further or eaten more tiny bags of slightly salted peanuts than flight attendants? Our sources say, of course not! So, who better to ask for travel tips? In honor of National Aviation Day on August 19th, we asked five fabulous flight attendants to share their cherished travel tips for exploring the EU. Here are a few more things to look forward to.    Location: Rīga, Latvia This hidden gem is my homeland and an art nouveau lover’s paradise. To stay, there’s a wonderful airbnb converted from an old hemp storage unit into a rustic loft. Fun to go during summer solstice — women wear circlets of flowers and men wreaths of oak leaves. They party until the sun comes up with a large bonfire and lots of music. Be sure to visit Birini Castle, a beautiful property with lakes and storks and an amazing outdoor museum. On the way back stop at Ralkalni, where the shop sells candied fruits and berries and there’s an alpine slide for kids (though that didn’t stop me). —Lara B. Location: Delft, Netherlands Delft is located between Rotterdam and The Hague. Known for its “Delft Blue” earthenware, it’s a hugely appealing city for those interested in the Dutch history. The famous painter Johannes Vermeer also lived here. You can tour the Royal Delft factory where many items are still hand painted. It’s much smaller in size than Amsterdam but still has a canal, walkability, and charm that is worth seeing. You can get there from Amsterdam by taking a train from Amsterdam Central Station directly to Delft! —Diderique K.  Location: Lapad Bay, Croatia Dubrovnik, Croatia, although incredibly beautiful, is very touristy. I asked one of the hosts of the hostel where the locals go to the beach and her eyes lit up as she asked me, “Are you up for an adventure?” She told me to take the local bus outside the city limits. When I asked her where I should get off, she told me to simply ask the bus driver when we were at the post office, “and then just walk until you see the beach.” Sure enough, after I walked off the bus and down a pathway, the Cypress trees opened up to the most beautiful, crystal clear water. There was a trail that lined the water, dotted with platforms for diving and ladders on the rocks for easy access to swimming. It was well worth the adventure.   —Zoey R. Location: Ghent, Belgium The northwest city of Ghent is less touristy than Bruges or Brussels and full of great history. The medieval Castle of the Counts known as the Gravensteen is amazing and the main square is full of eateries, local shops, and vendors. Try the freshly made cuberdon candies from one of the sweets sellers. And don't miss the Tierenteyn mustard shop, an old apothecary style shop where the mustard is still sold out of big barrels.   —Patty F.    We <3 the Details   You know how it goes. You buy a charm that you adore. You wear it on your favorite chain and everybody asks you all about it. Then one day, the light hits your necklace just right and BAM! What’s that??? A little detail like an itty-bitty picture or a punny quip you never saw before. You might have noticed that we have a major thing for details. And the only thing we like more is sharing them with you.   Travel Memories: Lisbon     #TBT to Fado music all night and port wine for days. Retrace our steps through Portugal’s charming capital city by the sea. Read more HERE.   EXPLORE

  Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, or just because--there's always a reason to share a gift with the people we love. And sometimes those people are travelers! And sometimes those people are actually just ourselves. That's okay, too! Travel inspires so many great gifts (including JSC jewelry, of course!) and below you'll find just a few more of our faves to either take for the ride or enjoy while reminiscing of travels past or plan for the next big adventure.    QUE BOTTLE Do you know what takes up a ton of space in your luggage? Water bottles! But staying hydrated is super important. What to do? Cue the  Que Bottle! Que has created this super cute, silicon water bottle alternative. The bottles expand to fit up to 12 or 20 ounces of water depending on the model, then spiral down to be nice and compact when they're empty. They're great for trekking across Europe, days hikes, or just a little jaunt in the park. There are tons of colors to fit your style and Que even makes a handy little stainless steal cap with a loop so you can clip it somewhere to be more accessible.     SCRATCH MAP Is there anything more satisfying than a scratch off ticket? How about one that complements your wanderlust? And looks cool hanging in your living room? For those among us who love to log and list their adventures, the Scratch Map is a fun, visual way to keep track of where you've been and where you wanna go. Every time you cross a new destination off your to-do list, scratch off the gold foil to reveal pretty colors of accomplishment. Plus, they make new rainbow foil editions and scratch globes, too!         AIRPORTAG THROW PILLOW  Dream of  travel when you cuddle up to, you guessed it, an IATA Code pillow. Airportage Throw Pillow makes tons of square, squishy options to honor your favorite destinations all over the globe from to Auckland to Zurich. That's A to Z in travel talk. And you can choose the perfect size (from 16" X 16" to 26" X 26"), and  even customize them with passenger names, origin, and other flight info from the best trip ever. If you're feeling crazy, Airportag also makes comforters, shower curtains, backpacks, sleep masks, and kind of everything for house and home and travel.     HOMESICK CANDLES There's no place like home! And nothing smells quite like it. Homesick Candles knows that better than anyone and offers a whole product line based on the idea of olfactory memories. Their natural soy wax candles represent cities, states, and countries abroad with tons of different, complex scents that make us feel like we're right there once again. I mean, Vermont is a combo of apple, maple, and baked pie. Brazil is orange, mango, and ocean breeze. Who could argue with that?      ATLAS COFFEE CLUB Your coffee addiction, I mean, interest just might be your ticket to world travel! Indulge in your favorite morning pick-me-up and get a taste of amazing locations around the globe with Atlas Coffee Club. Each month you'll receive a bag of java from a new location complete with brewing tips, flavor notes, and an adorable postcard! Over 50 countries produce coffee so there's more than enough to sample. Choose your preferred roast and bean type and they'll do the rest. Bon voyage!     

Ah, the refreshing simplicity of a classic road trip! Just you, the open road, some good friends, and a state of the art GPS system. Each mile invites us to sing along with the radio at the top of our lungs or simply bask in the glow of a glorious sunset. And while you’re not getting lost (even with the best GPS system, believe me), you’re making the kind of memories that last. Buckle up and pack your bags, we’re reminding ourselves that life is sweet because well, as we sing with the radio at the top of our lungs, life is highway.  EPIC PIT STOPS WORTH PULLING OVER FOR   Road trips are all about where you want to go. But also where you want to stop. That's right: pit stops. Now, there are pit stops and there are PIT STOPS. We're talking about the off-road gems that are totally epic--the kind of places that make you whip out your camera and wonder why you haven't been here before!   Get ready to raise your pinky finger as you waltz through the grand halls and endless gardens of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.  @biltmoreestate #historichome   Nevada’s Valley of Fire isn’t called that for nuthin’. Stretch your legs and casually admire some prehistoric petroglyphs in the red sandstone that feels like you’re walking through a sunset.  @valley.of.fire #NVStateParks   Wonder where Hemingway got his inspiration? And a cocktail or two? The literary giant famously checked in to New Orleans’s Hotel Monteleone where the bar is an actual, revolving carousel. @hotelmonteleone #MonteleoneMemories Wanna learn more about the best of the best of NOLA?    ROAD TRIP FLICKS TO GET YOUR READY TO HIT THE ROAD        Remember that crazy time you and your bestie hit the road only to outrun the law and find yourselves flying over the Grand Canyon in your ‘66 Thunderbird? Oh, wait. I think that may have been someone else. Either way, road trip movies inspire some of our best adventures so grab some popcorn and start planning your next on-wheels getaway.   Thelma and Louise (1991) Little Miss Sunshine (2006) Easy Rider (1969) It Happened One Night (1934) Almost Famous (2000) National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) Y Tu Mamá También (2001) The Muppet Movie (1979) Planes,Trains, & Automobiles (1987) The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)   MUSIC MAKES TRAVEL SWEET    Your trip= 47 hours. Your playlist= 47 hours. Wait, how? Spotify’s very handy, sort of new “soundtrack your ride" feature lets you customize your perfect playlist to match your musical tastes and how long you’ll be out on the road. Sweet! Get started HERE 

Two words. Two perfect hot, sweltering, summer day words. “Beach Day.” You can feel the sand beneath your toes and permanently stuck in your bathing suit bottoms just hearing it! A day at the beach can be so many things. It’s salt in the air, it’s blue skies that stretch on forever, it’s the perfect beach read, it’s the sunburn you never saw coming, and for some, it’s the surfing. The thrill seekers among us head to the beach to zip up their wetsuits and ride the waves. And probably still get a sunburn. Even if you’ve never stepped foot on a board, there’s something so quintessentially summer about surfing, you can’t help but feel like you’re riding the waves right there with them! This week we celebrate surfing and one of the reasons why life is sweet, especially in summer. SURFIN’ USA (AND BEYOND!)     The Beach Boys harmonized the praises of surfing in America but it turns out, chasing waves is a great way to travel the whole world. And if you have the balancing skills to be able to stand up on a big oval in the middle of the ocean, then more power to ya! From the Philippines to Costa Rica we’ve got your top spots to hang ten. Or you know, things surfers say!   Jeffreys Bay, South Africa UluWatu, Bali, Indonesia San Clemente, California, USA Oahu, Hawaii, USA Puerto Escondido, Mexico Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia Cloud Nine, Siargao Island, Philippines Playa Grande, Costa Rica Hossegar, France Nazaré, Portugal   TASTE OF SUMMER!   What’s better than an all inclusive trip to Hawaii??? Probably nothing. But in the meantime, some popsicles to honor one of the top surfing destinations will do! Just take one of Hawaii’s favorite drinks, the Lava Flow cocktail, add a little freezer time and you’ve got a poolside treat that’s a little taste of paradise. Ingredients 2 cups frozen pineapple chunks 1 cup pineapple juice 1/2 cup canned full-fat coconut milk 4 oz. coconut vodka (optional) 3 cups frozen sliced strawberries 1 1/4 cup apple juice 4 oz white rum (optional) Plus popsicle molds and sticks!  Directions Combine pineapple, pineapple juice, coconut milk, and coconut vodka in blender until smooth. Put aside. Blend strawberries, apple juice, and white rum then place to the side. Fill popsicle molds, alternating between the pineapple and strawberry mixtures. Pop in popsicle sticks and freeze for 3 hours. Cool down and enjoy!   Recipe and image courtesy of www.thelittleepicurean.com All About Art in East Hampton     If East Hampton was a member of a 90s boy band it would definitely be the sporty one. You know, with all its surfing, swimming, fishing, and sailing stuff. But it would also be the artistic one. The land of magical sunlight and sprawling natural landscapes, East Hampton has long been the muse for painters like William de Kooning and photographers like Peter Beard who venture to the Long Island’s east end to get inspired. And you will, too! Get an eyeful of some fun facts about the East Hampton art scene. Read more HERE.   EXPLORE