Take Me To The April Sun In Cuba...

Actually more like October sun in Noosa, which doesn't sound quite as exotic but you get the picture.

Holidays are awesome.  And overseas holidays are even more awesome.  Because seriously how could you not love seeing new places, trying new things (like yummy food), speaking a new language and numerous other reasons as to why travelling is just the best.

I am about to head off on my first overseas trip in 7 years.

Which is a) so nice, b) a little nerve wracking because I hate flying and c) just a tad depressing in that it has been 7 years since I last wandered around foreign lands.  Not that Australia is foreign but for now it's the closest I'm getting.  As you can imagine I have a pretty long list of all the places I want to go to, because List Girl is my middle name.

Hopefully one day I will be able to take off and permanently travel as I work my way through said list.  Until then I have this holiday and a pile of wonderful travel books to keep me going.

Men on the menu: delicious affairs from around the world / Bambi Smyth

"26 countries, 81 days, 294 meals and 75 blind-dates"

I'm a sucker for a good romance.

Any romance really.

So a story of a woman who travels the world looking for love sounds just my kind of thing

Romance and travel and food.    Just perfect, really.


 
Hitchy feet: a grown-up;s guide to running away from home and accidentally getting a life / John Card

"John Card was a bored 30-something high school science teacher when he decided to pack it all in and run away from life"

The idea of running away from it all sounds so tempting.

Certainly it's something that I've dreamed about.  Travelling the world and writing.  With a suitcase filled with chocolate and cherries.  And a laptop of course. 

Because life necessities.

The thing about Prague: how I gave it all up for a new life in Europe's most eccentric city / Rachael Weiss

"The story of a freewheeling Aussie girl who gives up her life in Sydney to live in Prague"

Travelling the world may sound tempting but so does the idea of going to live in a foreign country, immersing ones self in the culture, the language, the lifestyle... it all sounds very romantic.

The reality is probably far different and anything but romantic.

Still one can dream...

My sweet Paris / Caroline Mignot

"The top 150 places for dessert in Paris"

Food.  You just knew I had to go there.

Because how could I not.

After all I'm the girl who went to the same patisserie in Paris every day and tried something new. 

For a whole week. 

And it was delish.

Hot pink spice saga : An Indian culinary travelogue with recipes / Peta Mathias and Julie Le Clerc.

"A love affair with food, travel and India, celebrated by two of New Zealand's favourite foodies."

Another travel book and another book about food.

This time it's India and all it's bright and colourful delights.

I'm intrigued by the title alone

Home sweet anywhere : how we sold our house, created a new life, and saw the world / Lynne Martin.

"Lynne and her husband sold almost everything they owned and took to a global lifestyle, living out of a couple of suitcases"

My other half and I dream of this. 

Daily.

We have plans and counter plans and plans of plans.  And to go with those plans I have lists.  Endless lists of all the places and things I want to see.

And books like this just inspire me more.

The world's best cities : celebrating 220 great destinations

Because I love drooling over travel books filled with lots and lots and lots of wonderful photos I just had to include at least one book that filled this passion.

Of course looking through books like this means that by travel wish list just keeps getting longer and longer.

What's a girl to do?

Travel of course.

5 handy home hints that are so easy even I got them right

"I'm not going to vacuum until Sears makes one you can ride on."
- Roseanne Barr

Real simple : 869 new uses for old things / edited by Rachel Hardage and Sharon Tanenbaum ; photographs by James Wojcik ; illustrations by Kate Francis ; prop styling by Linden Elstran.
I'm not the best homemaker. Some days I feel like I should be concerned about it, and then I think that surely life is too short to be overly fussed about how to get softdrink stains out of the settee. (That would be Mr2's fault, not mine, I'd like to point out). The other day I came across a book about the 500 wonders of baking soda. Baking. Soda. I was a bit dubious, so I requested every book we have on baking soda (don't judge me with your Judgey McJudgerson faces) and am putting some of the tips to the test. (That'll be another post for another day). AND THEN I came across THIS BOOK which, you know, I just HAD TO HAVE. (I know, I talk/think in caps far too much). I showed it to friends last night and they related the most hilarious stories. I'm keeping them anonymous BECAUSE REASONS. I think you'll get a kick out of them, though, so here are their stories, followed by 5 home hints from this book that worked for me.

Friend1: I used egg in my hair once and it really worked. It was great
Me: Egg? Or egg white?
Friend1: Egg. The whole egg *slight pause* Whatever you do, though, don't use hot water to rinse it out because...
Me: No. No way. OMG no way. Scrambled eggs?! *trying not to laugh*
Friend1: Look...
Me: SCRAMBLED EGGS? You had scrambled eggs in your hair? *doubled over screaming with laughter* (Because I'm sympathetic like that, obviously)
Friend1: Well, yes, but, yes. YES *snooty look*
Me: *beyond words*

Friend2: I read somewhere once that if you need to get into tight shoes you take a bar of soap and run it around your heels and feet...
Me: *interrupts* Dry or wet?
Friend2: Dry. Anyway, you run it around your feet and then you can slide into your tight shoes easier
*all of us kinda pause and think about that*
Friend2: I've never done it, though, because I think my feet sweat so much I'd be worried that I'd leave a trail of bubbles wherever I go
Me: WTH? *doubled over - AGAIN - hooting with laughter*

Seriously, I'm not sure why people tell me anything because it either ends up in a blog post (albeit anonymously), or with me laughing at them. Mostly, both. SO! There's your dose of humour for the day. I'm not Suzie Homemaker. I'm never going to be. I can't say that I'm going to mourn that fact, either. Simple tips, though, like these, are things that I can manage quite happily. Maybe I'll make something like this a regular monthly post. What do you think?